Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday 21, May, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 2

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Emergency rule and agony of residents >>4

Rajab 12, 1434 AH

N150

Insecurity: APC’ll discourage Buhari alleges money politics conspiracy >>2 — Shekarau >>3

2015: No vacancy in Aso Rock — Alamieyeseigha

By Lawrence olaoye, Abuja and Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

F

ormer governor of Bayelsa state and a beneficiary of state pardon by President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Dipriye Alamieyeseigha, has declared that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2015.

Alamieyeseigha while speaking yesterday at the 3rd general conference of the Southern Nigeria Peoples

Wait for 2019, Clark tells North He has lost touch with reality — Galadima Assembly (SNPA) said the northern agitators will, at the appropriate time, join the moving train. “They may have their opinion, but I can assure you that President Jonathan will remain

as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, come 2015," he boasted.

Similarly, the former Minister of Information and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has also

warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must only field President Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate for its Presidential primaries against the 2015 Presidential election.

Asked what would happen to the inalienable constitutional rights of other Nigerians to aspire to leadership position in the country, Clark said “there is an Contd on Page 2

Borno, Yobe: Normalcy returns as curfew is relaxed  Army re-opens blocked roads  120 insurgents arrested  200 more soldiers arrive Adamawa From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri, Umar Dankano, Yola & Joy Baba, Abuja

R

esidents of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital , and environs heaved a sigh of relief yesterday with normal life gradually returning as operatives of the Joint Military Task Force, (JTF) reopened several roads and streets, earlier blocked following the imposition of the 24-hour curfew imposed in some areas.

Residents of the town were earlier traumatized by biting effects of the curfew imposed by the military authorities since last Saturday, groaning under intense sufferings, due to acute shortage of foodstuffs and other assorted commodities.

However, our correspondent reported that the situation was quite impressive yesterday as residents of the curfewimposed areas got a little bit freedom of Contd on Page 2

Operations Commander, Brigadier-General Fatai Alli (left) addressing soldiers on arrival yesterday in Yola for the state of emergency operation.

Photo: NAN

N9bn contract for VP’s residence inflated — Senate >> 3

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

CONTENTS

Borno, Yobe: Normalcy returns as curfew is relaxed

News

Contd from Page 1 movement between 7am to 5pm, as against the initial 24-hour restriction of movements.

It was gathered that the military resolved to relax the curfew following the rising outcry from all quarters over its negative effects inflicted on the residents.

Some of the affected areas, which were hitherto deserted, with no single socio-economic activity, have now become beehive of activities, with shops, markets and other commercial centres opened.

Similarly, the Yobe state government has announced a review of the curfew imposed on the area.

A Government House press statement yesterday explained that in view of the need to sustain the relative peace that all parts of the state currently enjoy, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, approved an adjustment of the hours during which public movement is restricted around the state.

Consequently, according to the statement, restriction on movement starts from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am daily throughout the state with effect from yesterday.

According to the statement

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Editorial

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Op.Ed

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Letters

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Opinion

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Metro

16-18

Business

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Stockwatch

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S/Report

24-25

Defence

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Agric

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Feature

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signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information, Abdullahi Bego, “the decision for this adjustment follows a meeting that His Excellency the Governor had with heads of law enforcement agencies in the state.

“His Excellency urges the general public to continue with the exemplary support and cooperation with security agents to ensure lasting peace in the state.

“His Excellency the governor also urges the public not to relent in prayers to the Almighty Allah for the restoration of peace in the state and the country in general.”

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters, Abuja has debunked speculations that residents of Maiduguri metropolis and its environs are fleeing to neighboring Niger Republic.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI) Brig.

Gen Chris Olukolade.

The statement also said the photographs used in most media to depict fleeing resident are questionable as they do not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment of the state.

The DDI further disclosed that

120 insurgents were arrested while trying to organize burial of one of their commanders who died in an encounter with the Special Forces the previous day.

“The arrested insurgents are in the custody of the Joint Task Force where they are being interrogated,” the Army Chief stated.

According to the DDI, terrorist fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained as they have had understanding with the Multi-National Joint Task Force in various locations towards the border adding that advancing troops have also observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the insurgent groups.

Olukolade in the statement further said the Special Task Forces have now secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo after destroying all the terrorist camps sited in the vicinities of these localities No fewer two hundred troops have arrived Adamawa state to effect the implementation of the state of emergency slammed on the state even as more are expected to move in from

neighbouring Yobe state.

Addressing the troops at the 23rd Armoured Brigade Headquarters in Yola yesterday, Brigade Commander Brig. Fatai Oladifo Alli, who is also the operational officer, urged the soldiers to be disciplined and observe decorum.

He charged the ranks and file of the troops deployed in the state to abide by rules of engagement.

"You are on national assignment that you should be cautious to avoid any act that could tarnish the image of the Nigerian army.

As gallant soldiers, you are expected to be disciplined and show sense of professionalism while discharging the assignment," he said.

While assuring the people of the state that the soldiers will not go out of the track during the operations, Alli however noted that the residents are cooperating with the Army and that there is improvement in security situation of the state.

“I can assure you that as soon things improve, the curfew could be reviewed and I hope people will continue to be law abiding and assist with useful information that could assist in tracking suspects,” the Brigade commander said.

2015: No vacancy in Aso Rock — Alamieyeseigha Emergency rule and agony of residents, Page 4

Int’l

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Strange World 35 Digest

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Politics

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Sports

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Leisure

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Columnist

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Contd from Page 1 incumbent who has not done a second term, so northerners have no place, it’s not yet the turn of a northerner. They have the right to contest as Nigerians, but in other parties, not in PDP,” he said.

“In 1979, former President Shehu Shagari contested with other people for the ticket but in 1983 he alone contested the primary even though there were men of timber and caliber in NPN who would have contested with him at that time, but the party gave it to him unopposed. We don’t believe in double standard.

“We of the South-South believe that it is in the interest of Nigeria, in the unity of our country that Jonathan should contest; no one should strike him out; movement of power or power rotation is not proper at this time. In the constitution of Nigeria, every president has two elections to be contested. Shagari did it in 1979 and in 1983 he did it again; then in 1999 Obasanjo did it and in 2003 he contested again. In 2007, Umaru Yar’adua of blessed memory did it and if he had remained alive, he would have done it again in 2011. So Jonathan is not a different person; he’s a Nigerian; the President of Nigeria, therefore he too has the right to contest again. Nothing is new about it because Constitution says you must contest for two elections and rule for eight years.

It is only then you are disqualified,” Clark declared.

Speaking on threat of violence if President Jonathan did not return, Clark said “No one owns the country more than anybody; Nigeria belongs to all of us and there is nobody who is superior to another. If you are talking about

peace, peace for who? So if a northerner does not rule this country won’t there be peace?

They have ruled for over 38 years, we have only ruled from the south for less than 14 years, and when Lugard united this country, he didn’t say the north is superior to the south. We are all equal in this country, and anybody can aspire to the highest position in this country, so nobody has the prerogative to rule others.”

Responding to Clark’s statement, Buba Galadima, National Secretary to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), who reacted in a telephone conversation with our reporter in his capacity as a partisan Nigerian, said it was unfortunate that an elderstatesman of the Ijaw leader caliber could make such statement.

Galadima said “Ordinarily, I would not want to join issues with Chief Edwin Clark as a cultured man with a background with high respect for elders but what he has said only demonstrated the fact that he is an ingrate. All Chief Edwin Clark has ever been in life has been with the support of the north. He became the Federal Commissioner of Information under the leadership of General Yakubu Gowon, a northerner, through which he climbed into national relevance. Though he has his inalienable right as a Nigerian to express his personal opinion, it is unfortunate that Chief Clark could, at his age, could be advocating for chaos in the country.”

According to him, the Ijaw leader and Asari Dokubo, in their disparaging statements, have only succeeded in whipping up sentiments in favour of the north and that their outbursts would

only ginger the northern leaders to come together to speak with one voice ahead of the 2015 Presidential election.

He pointed out that Clark’s declaration that the PDP should not field any other candidate aside from Jonathan in 2015 only goes to show the disdain the octogenarian has for democracy and democratic tenets. Galadima concluded that Clark must have lost touch with the nation’s political realities and must enjoy the sympathy of the people due to his old age.

Meanwhile, the SNPA in communiqué released after its meeting has restated the need for a national dialogue to discuss the manner of coexistence in the country to avoid crisis. The Assembly observed that as the country was moving towards the

precipice, there was the need for all the ethnic groups in Nigeria to dialogue.

It also charged Jonathan to urgently tackle corruption which it regretted has become a national malaise. It also wanted the President to address the issue of youth unemployment to reduce the rate of crime emanating from youth restiveness.

While admitting that there was need for a peoples' constitution, the conference was of the strong conviction that making a constitution was the exclusive right of the people insisting that the National Assembly's duty is only to amend the clauses.

The Assembly however stressed that the decision to return or stop Jonathan in 2015 is the responsibility of Nigerian electorates.

Insecurity: Buhari alleges conspiracy From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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ormer Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, has insisted that the present security challenges facing the nation was deliberately created to cripple its development and undermine its security.

Buhari who stated this, yesterday while on a sympathy visit on the Emir of Daura in his palace, noted that no nation would develop under the present circumstances of insecurity, destruction of lives and property.

According to him, “no religion will condone an act of terrorism and no nation will have peace and meaningful progress under the present situation. We have to

join hands to reverse the ugly trend.”

The three times presidential candidate of both the ANPP and CPC, lamented that the economy of people living within the Kano and Maiduguri axis has been completely cripple, describing the Daura attack and similar attacks in all parts of Nigeria as unfortunate and criminal.

“I therefore wish to join all well wishers and peace lovers to sympathize with the people of Daura over the incident.

“There is no religion that promotes the act of terrorism. We should therefore voice our condemnation against it’ he stressed.

Responding, the Emir, Alhaji Faruq Umar Faruq, described the incident as an act of God.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

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APC will discourage money politics – Shekarau From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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ormer Presidential candidate under the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) during the 2011 presidential election and former governor of Kano state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has said that the All Progressive Congress (APC) will discourage money politics and money bags from hijacking the party.

Shekarau a key player in the APC merging process, who revealed this in a media interactive session at his Kano

residence yesterday said that politicians who use money to buy votes should have a re-think because that goes contrary to the ideals of APC.He further maintained that none of the merging political parties came with any condition of how positions should be shared amongst them at the level of merging parties.

According to him, “whoever thinks he can come and usurp the people’s power and aspiration because he is money bag, should have a rethink.

“No condition was given by any of the merging parties in their

coming to form APC. Ours is just to see for the total dethronement of the ruling party.

“And I am assuring you is that we are going to give a serious opposition based on democratic principles.

“The way some people wanted to crush the effort of the APC by forming other APCs was nothing but a crude way of doing it.

Thanks to the National Electoral Commission (INEC) that dwarfed the plot by rejecting the fake APCs. “As at now nobody has been mentioned as the leader of APC.

And nobody has started talking of who contests what. And any contest to come will be base on the criteria of the merging parties.

“We all agreed to be on the same level playing ground, not minding of who has what number of governors or legislators either at the national or state level. We take ourselves as equal. Right from the take-off we said let us forget all the differences.”

“Whatever assignment APC assigns to me, I am ready to accept as long as it is done in the proper process and channels,” he concurred.

L-R: Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Ecobank, Mr. Thierrry Tanoh, and President Goodluck Jonathan, during the latter's official visit to the president, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

N9bn contract for VP’s residence inflated — Senate

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

V

ice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Domingo Obende, has alleged that the additional N9 billion sought by the FCTA to complete the Vice President's house is inflated.

Obende who spoke in an interview with the Senate Press Corps yesterday expressed dissatisfaction with the budget saying it is sky rocketed.

According to him, "how can a building that is almost completed gulp the actual cost of building it," as he noted that the Senate was yet to take decision on the cost of the official lodge of the Vice President.

Peoples Daily had reported that in addition to the N7.1 billion approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2009 for design and construction of the Vice President’s new official residence, additional N9 billion is being demanded by the authorities of the FCTA to complete the project.

UniAbuja crisis: FG inaugurates audit c’ttee

By Etuka Sunday

Aviation unions shelve strike as Minister wades into dispute From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

L

abour and Productivity Minister, Emeka Wogu yesterday pacified two industrial unions in the Nigeria aviation sector who has hitherto threatened to ensure the airspace is inactive as they pressed for additional emulation and other perks of office.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) was the arrowhead of calls since last week to ground the industry over dispute with the management of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

However, respite came the way of the travelling public especially the international routes as the parties agreed to shelve the proposed action following resolutions reached at a meeting in Abuja convened at the instance

of the Minister of Labour and Productivity Chief Emeka Wogu with leadership from the two Unions and the management of NAMA. The workers had earlier staged a protest in Lagos to press home their agitation for full implementation of the approved salary scale by the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission before the resolution yesterday.

A statement from the office of the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Mr. Joe Obi said the parties unanimously agreed that due notification was not given to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in the aforementioned dispute.

Part of agreement reached in the meeting include referring the issue of determination of the basic salary and other allowances for the staff of NAMA concerned to be taken up by a Committee headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Aviation.

Southern group says Nigeria on the precipice

Demands ‘national dialogue’ From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly ended its third conference yesterday in Lagos demanding what it called national dialogue to discuss the manner of co-existence of the different nationalities in the country.

In the communique after the conference, the group observed that the country was moving towards the precipice and that there was the need for all the ethnic groups in Nigeria to discuss the matter.

The communiqué urged President Goodluck Jonathan to take appropriate steps to convoke the dialogue latest by December 2013.

In addition to that, the Assembly also charged the President to tackle corruption which it regretted has become a national malaise.

The Assembly also wants Jonathan to address the issue of youth unemployment in order to reduce crime rate arising from youth restiveness.

On the state of emergency declared in three states in the north, the Assembly commended the President saying the matured way he has been handling crises in the country was welcome.

Present at the Assembly include former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Edwin Clark, Rt Rev, Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi, former Secretary to the federal government, Oni of Ife Okuade Sijuade, Chief Olu Falea, former Chief of Defence Staff Oladipo Diya, former Goveror of Anambra state, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, National Coordinator Oodua Peoples Congress Gani Adams, Alabo Graham Douglas, Former Bayelsa Governor Diepreye Alamieyasiegha and Prof Anya O Anya were among those present.

A

ll is set for the long awaited peace to return to the troubled University of Abuja following the inauguration yesterday of an audit committee.

The five-man committee which has its members selected from within and outside the university is to work and submit its report within four weeks.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at the school’s permanent site, the ProChancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University, Dr. S. O. Ogbemudia, said, the decision to set up the panel was reached by the Council as directed by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Ogbemudia gave some of the terms of reference for the committee to include determining the number of academic staff and the regularity of their appointments, number of nonacademic staff, qualifications and dates obtained and appropriateness or otherwise of the total number of staff, among others.

According to him, “all staff and students certified at the end of this exercise should be properly identified as staff and students of the university for a specified, renewable period and authenticated by the appropriate university authority.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Emergency rule and agony of residents Abdu Labaran Malumfashi

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t was not for nothing that not a few individuals and organizations had voiced their opposition when it filtered out that President Goodluck Jonathan was planning to declare a state of emergency in states that were under serious security challenge. The opposition political parties and the Northern Elders Forum, among others were opposed to it. Even those in support, it was a guarded one laced with caution. But even without the state of emergency condition, many innocent citizens in those places exposed to the security challenges had fatally fallen victims of the overzealousness of security operatives and many more ended up wrongly arrested, detained and tortured, even as yet more were rendered homeless, in the government's efforts to address the security challenges with brute force.

This is even against the counsel of US and other Western nations, who, as it were, have taken the so called war against terrorism to a questionable level. Indeed, there have been widespread allegations of extra judicial killings and other atrocities leveled against the security agencies operating in those places, notably Borno and Yobe states, the home base of the insurgent Boko Haram group, which is presumed to be at the back of most of the killings, bomb attacks and other criminal activities in those states and beyond. To be sure, some human rights groups have even threatened to drag the security agencies before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crime against humanity following the demolition of Baga town by the military after the alleged killing of one soldier by the insurgents.

Indeed, human rights groups and other activists have severally accused the military and other security agencies of extrajudicial killings and wrongful arrests ever since the beginning of the Boko Haram crisis when their leader, Mohammed Yusuf and his father in law were allegedly extra-judicially executed by the police in 2009 during the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar'adua.

Indeed, few people outside the Jonathan government gave their imprimatur when the President eventually declared a state of emergency on Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states exactly a week ago today.

But this was not the first time a state of emergency was declared by the Jonathan administration in the north to address security challenges. In January last year, a state of emergency was imposed on parts of Borno, Yobe, Plateau and Niger states shortly after the 2011 Christmas Day bomb attack at Saint

Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim Theresa's Catholic Church in Suleja, Niger state, which left more than 40 people dead and many more injured.

Few days after last week's declaration of the state of emergency, the Army shut down parts of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in a 24-hour curfew following the detonating of a bomb on Saturday by Boko Haram insurgents, which led to the death of two Maiduguri residents. The curfew was only relaxed yesterday after taking its toll on the people of the affected communities.

Spokesman for the JTF, LtColonel Sagir Musa, announced the curfew in a terse statement at the weekend.

According to the statement, "The task force, in order to sustain the ongoing special operation in the face of recent Boko Haram attacks in some areas within Maiduguri metropolis, is imposing 24 hours curfew with effect from

“

Saturday".

Expectedly, as the 'war' rages between the military, which has deployed thousands of troops to the affected states, and the Boko Haram insurgents, innocent residents have have continued to bear the brunt of the conflict, more so in the light of the imposition of the round the clock curfew.

Already, over 2000 Nigerians have reportedly fled their homes in Abadam local government area in Borno North Senatorial District on machines, cars and bicycles and others on foot and crossed over into Niger Republic.

Just as disturbing is the fact that not only are residents fast running out of basic necessities such as food, water and medicines, even those falling sick cannot seek medical attention in hospitals as the curfew has condemned all but a few to remain at home. While the living are caught in a state of siege, even those fatally caught in the crossfire are not

Without doubt, such state of affairs is only to be expected, especially under a 'war' condition in which only one of the combating sides is visible. Collateral damage therefore is an inevitability that can only be minimised.

allowed to rest in peace, as getting their corpses to the cemetery or mortuary have become problematic under the curfew.

According to reports, over 50 trucks and trailers conveying food items, toiletries, firewood, petrol and other items to border towns were at the weekend prevented from leaving Maiduguri. Also, many trucks and trailers conveying similar items were stopped in other areas that link border towns, like Gamboru Ngala Road in Custom area.

One of the drivers the trucks, Goni Alkali lamented "My vehicle has been here since Friday afternoon. I am supposed to convey these items (toiletries) to Monguno, but to my surprise, I was stopped here by soldiers who said they would not allow me to pass."

Most affected areas are Gamboru, Mairi Kuwait, Bakin Kogi, Kasuwan Shanu, Ruwan Zafi, 202 Quarters, Dikwa Quarters, Low-Cost, Sinimari, 505 Housing Estate, Chad Basin Area, 303 Housing Estate and Baga Road.

A resident of 505 Housing Estate, who managed to move out of Maiduguri lamented that people in the curfew areas were in distress.

"Borehole operators cannot pump out water for the people and community markets where vegetables and cereals are sold have been closed which makes it difficult for families to get anything," he said.

He said people were taken unawares, and so they did not have chance to stockpile any food.

"Most of them live hand-tomouth and their breadwinners have to go out and look for what to give their families every day. Now that everybody is at home, you can imagine the trauma they are passing through," he said.

He said residents of the densely populated Kwanar Yobe area rely on the few households with water reservoirs to get water.

Without doubt, such state of affairs is only to be expected, especially under a 'war' condition in which only one of the combating sides is visible. Collateral damage therefore is an inevitability that can only be minimised.

In that regard, leading Lagosbased lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana warned the security operatives against using extra judicial measures in the execution of their assignment during the campaign, saying that any person who participates in such crimes should be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.

"Anybody that is found liable in the situation that is going on will definitely be taken to the Hague [for] trial," he warned, adding that "That's why we have warned the JTF operatives to watch out and to be very careful."

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

2013 budget: Reps approve N259bn for FCT

R-L: Senate President David Mark; Esther Uzoma Barrister Ugochi Okpe of SERAP, Professor Patricia Donli of Gender and Constitution Reform Network, and Amina Salihu, during a workshop on 2013 budget monitoring, evaluation and reporting for grassroots, yesterday in Abuja.

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

Photo: Mahmud Isa

How NASS saved Adamawa, Borno, Yobe govs - Reps

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he House of Representatives yesterday disclosed that it was the intervention of the National Assembly that saved the jobs of the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

Briefing newsmen on what transpired between the Presidency and the legislature before President Goodluck Jonathan's pronouncement on a state of emergency in the three states, Deputy Chairman, House committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep Victor Oghene, said the declaration of state of emergency was not exclusively

done by the President but with the input of the leadership of the National Assembly (Nass) Oghene disclosed that it was the idea of the leadership of the NASS that the whole democratic structures in the states affected by the emergency rule be not collapsed. the intervention of the NASS leadership that preserved the jobs of governors Murtala Nyako, Ibrahim Gaidam and Kashim Shettima of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe respectively.

According to him, the NASS leadership impressed it upon the President that it would send a negative signal if the affected governors and other democratic structures in the

state are sent packing. “Oghene maintained that the spate of insecurity in the country has been worrisome to the House necessitating the summon it issued for the President to appear before it in June last year. He added that the invitation extended to Service Chiefs by the Senate also confirmed the fact that the security situation in the affected states was unacceptable.

He also stressed that the cooperation between the Legislature and the Executive that culminated in the declaration of the state of emergency should be encouraged to blossom so that the three organs of government

would be working harmoniously towards the development of the country.

Responding to a question as to whether the President has not breached the constitution by not officially writing to the Nass informing it about the emergency close to the constitutional 48hrs allowed by the constitution, clarified that Jonathan, by virtue of the provision of the constitution is bound by the provision only after the pronouncement would have been gazetted.

According to him, the President has not broken any law by not writing the National Assembly informing it of the proclamation as at now because the proclamation has yet to be gazetted.

Achebe: Transition c'ttee releases burial arrangement

By Mohammed Kandi

C

hairman, National Transition Committee responsible for the burial of late Prof. Chinua Achebe, Prof.

Uzodima Nwala, yesterday said all arrangements have been concluded for funeral of the departed poet and literary genius.

Nwala who described late Achebe as a "prolific writer who used his pen wisely" to project the ideas and values of his country positively world over, informed that the remains of the "versifier" would be laid to final rest on Sunday, May 26th.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, Nwala said the funeral rites which would last a week will commence on

Sunday, May 19 and run through Sunday May 26.

According to him, President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors, diplomats and international literary dignitaries from all over the world will be in attendance.

Details of the programme showed that Sunday, May 19, will be a day of prayers and religious worship to at the National Christian Centre, Abuja which will run concurrently in other centres across the country and abroad.

Nwala, said that Monday, May 20, will feature a symposium by the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

"The day will also showcase tributes and a number of

cultural troupes drawn from different parts of the country at the same venue."

He said the body of the deceased will arrive the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on May 21, where reception will be organized before the body departs for Enugu, "where it will be welcomed by south-eastern governors, led by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state."

He said, "it is also expected to proceed to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) for academic procession and ceremony. Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo will on the same day observe what the committee referred to as Ohanaeze Night of Mourning and Ikoro Salute, in honour of late Achebe at its secretariat in Enugu."

"Achebe's remains will leave Enugu for Awka, Anambra State, Wednesday, May 22 for the commencement of a celebration of life ceremony in which all state governors and federal ministers are expected to participate at the Alex Ekwueme Staduim," Prof. Nwala said.

"The funeral will climax with the interment of the professor, fondly called Iroko on May 23, after a church service at St. Philips Anglican Church, Ogidi."

Meanwhile, Anambra state Governor, Dr. P e t e r O b i , described the late Achebe as "true nationalist who deserves a state burial."

Governor Obi said the deceased was Africa's best writer and Ambassador for his country, praying that God grants him eternal rest.

he House of Representatives yesterday passed the sum of N259 billion as statutory revenue for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in 2013.

Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who presided over the sitting of the House after desolving it to Committee of Supply, undertook its clause-byclause deliberation with members.

The passage came after what the House described as satisfactory explanations of all items in the initial proposed budget by FCDA officials.

Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Raphael Nnana Igbokwue, led debate on the Bill. He briefed his colleagues on work done so far by his committee since the budget scaled Second Reading in late April.

A breakdown of the budget indicates a sum of N 1 6 0 , 4 6 7 , 4 4 9 , 4 0 2 representing 60 per cent as capital budget.

The FCDA officials, led by its Permanent Secretary, John Obinna Chukwu, had appeared before the House Committee on FCT May 3, 2013 for the budget defence.

Igbokwue also informed the House that 18.5 per cent and 21.5 per cent of the budget would be for personnel and overhead costs respectively.

These included N522 million for FCT Urban Affairs, N4.3 billion for Public Buildings, with Engineering Services gulping N52.9 billion.

Insurgency: Army set to improve civil-military relations

By Joy Baba

T

he Defence Headquarters said yesterday it was ready to adopt measures that would strengthen civil-military relations to help improve on internal security management.

Speaking at a three-day seminar it organized in conjunction with the United States, Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim who was represented by the Chief of Communications, Air Vice Marshal S. O. Smith, said the seminar was designed to devise plans that would bring civilians and the military closer in all operations and remove mutual suspicion.

The seminar was Tagged, "Civil-military in a democracy: Synergizing all potentials for enhanced national security."

Director of Civil-Military Relations, Major-Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim, in his speech, regretted that there were a lot of misconceptions on military operations.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

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Briefly NURHI initiates Edo market women into family planning

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he Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), yesterday took the family planning campaign to various communities in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

The Initiative which, among others, aims at reducing the high maternal and infant mortality in Edo state, according to the Programme Manager, Mrs. Adetoke Akinbami.

Akinbami who addressed leaders of market women from Egor, Oredo and Ikpba Okha local government areas, said beneficiaries of family planning were people in the community.

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Kaduna private school owners protest obnoxious tax regime

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resident of Kaduna state chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Dr. Vincent Ogini, has said that the association would protest various forms of taxes imposed on it by the state government.

He urged government to review the taxes for the benefit of education development in the state.

According to Ogini, in October last year, government came up with what it terms five per cent annual revenue fees for private schools in the state.

“The new levy now mandates schools to pay to the State Private Schools Board, fees ranging from N500, 000 to N1 million based on the category of the school,” he said.

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

Emergency rule not political - Senator

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enator Domingo Obende has said that the ACN caucus at the National Assembly will view the declaration of emergency rule in three states based on national and not party interest.

Obende made the statement at an interactive session with Senate correspondents in Abuja on Monday, adding that it was more the position of the nation than that of the party.

“What I think we are going to be looking at tomorrow is not the position of the ACN but that of the nation and whether it is going to be better for Nigeria.

NAN

L-R: Benue state Governor, Gabriel Suswam; Niger state Governor, Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu; Akwa Ibom state Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio; and Chairperson, Northern Governors Wives Forum (NGWF), Mrs. Dooshima Suswam, during the NGWF Peace Forum and launch of polio eradication almanac, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Due process saves FG N572bn

By Abdulwahab Isa

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ue process certification of procurement transactions has saved government N572 billion, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) said yesterday.

The BPP Director General of BPP, Emeka Ezeh, confirmed the figure to journalists in Abuja at a collaborative workshop for procurement officers, organized by the International Law Institute (ILI), Washington and BPP. Giving the breakdown, he said that a total of N450 billion was saved between 2007 and 2011 while about N122 billion

was saved last year.

“We are gratified as a nation that we have embraced the path of procurement for our socio-economic and political development. More than 10 years after the commencement of the reform, and barely five years after the public procurement Act, 2007, we have continued to consolidate on our gains, while charting new paths to the institutionalization of methods in the public contracting process” he declared.

He said the sum of N450 was saved for government in 2007, adding that this year’s collection has not been made

because of the complications in the budget.

“As stakeholders in the implementation of the Act, we have to establish a synergy so that we can properly ensure that all hands are on deck in our bid to stamp out corruption through best procurement practices”, he noted.

The bureau, he said, has moved to the next level by beginning to register, classify and categorise contractors and consultants working or intending to work on Federal Government projects as part of the bureau’s statutory responsibility.

Lagos CJ promises to release more inmates by June From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos

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agos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, yesterday said that a new batch of awaiting trial prison inmates would be released before the end of June.

Phillips made the statement during a visit paid to the Nigerian Prisons, Ikoyi by

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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he National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has organized a sensitization workshop and training for the first set of teacher-educators to look into teacher standards in the colleges of education in the country.

Speaking at the occasion yesterday in Abuja, the commission’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Muhammad IbnJunaid, said the training was part of the processes of ensuring adequate implementation of Teacher Standards in colleges of education, acquaint institutions with the contents of the

members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch, as part of activities marking their 2013 Law Week.

The Chief Judge who was represented by Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Ogundare, noted that she was already working on a list of those who were recommended for release from among the prison inmates.

She acknowledge that some of them have stayed in the prison as awaiting trials longer that they would have stayed if they had been tried and convicted.

“I assure that before the end of this quarter in June, I will visit you and release those that qualified to be released”, she assured them,” she said.

NCCE organizes sensitisation workshop for first set of teacher-educators standards and train lecturers on the modalities of implementing the standards for all S and T programmes in NCE-awarding institutions.

He said the objective of the workshop was to review the standards by topic and definition for a quick overview of the contents, highlight the process involved in the development of the standards and deliberate on modalities for successful implementation of the standards.

‘The S and T standard I part of the newly introduced document to ensure quality of Sand T teacher educators. The S and T teacher standard were evolved to focus on training of S and T teacher educators and they should know.

The documents will serve as a benchmark for the production of intended specialist TeacherEducators to facilitate effective teaching and learning in the Colleges of Education in Nigeria”, he said.

New NTDC Chief Executive resumes work

By Miriam Humbe

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he new Chief Executive of the Nigerian Tourism D e v e l o p m e n t Corporation, Mrs. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, has solicited the support of both management and staff of the corporation as she unveiled her policy thrust.

Sally spoke at a session attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mrs. Nkechi Ajele and other officials of the Ministry alongside NTDC management staff, last week with the aim of familiarizing with the entire staff of the corporation.

Sally who is a 1986 Law graduate from the University of Lagos, said she would operate an open-door policy revealing that her core values are discipline, integrity, hard work and most importantly, humility.

She maintained that she was proud to be a patriotic Nigerian who viewed her appointment as a call to service just as she admonished staff to be good ambassadors noting that the focus will be to market tourism destinations by collaborating with relevant agencies.

According to her, with the help of God, her wealth of experience and the cooperation from staff, she was poised to take the corporation to the next level while reaffirming her allegiance to the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke and President Goodluck Jonathan as they strive to achieve the transformation agenda especially in the tourism sector.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, Illegal / Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following number - 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on - 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on - 07051246833, 08191778888.

www.kn.gov.ng/new/

98 th KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

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the Efforts of REMASAB:Office of the Secretary to the State Government requested for the release of the sum of N19,000,000.00 to enable purchase of five (5) units of Fanton Tractor 60HP vehicles to re-enforce the Street Sweeping capacity of REMASAB. Each cost N3,800,000.00. Council approved as requested for the release of the sum of N19,000,000.00 to the Office of the State Government to procure and allocate 5 units of Fanton Tractor 60HP vehicles to the Ministry of Environment for use by REMASAB as stated above.

olitics is according to scholars ‘authoritative allocation of values.’ Thus, politics is not holding political party membership card, standing for elections, participation in electioneering campaigns nor being in the seat of power, no matter the significant of such activities (in politics) but the ability to manage human and material resources efficiently for the benefit of the society when elected. Politics is not aimless but purposeful activities for the implementation of policies for the development of the society. Successful leaders are people with vision, mission and a commitment for their implementation. Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is a politician consumed by his sincerity of purpose to lead the State to prosperity. He is one of the few politicians that understand what politics is and his leadership quality and commitment to delivering beneficent programs since assuming office for the second time supported our assertion. Kano State is being transformed and the citizenry are responding through open and tacit support. The State is witnessing capital development in all sectors, from Health, Education, Agriculture, Water Resources, and Women and youths empowerment.

The ninety eighth (98th) Kano State Executive Council Sitting was held today Wednesday 15th May, 2013 (5th Rajab, 1434AH) under the Chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. The sitting was premised under the main theme “Towards Positive Expectation of Bumper Harvest in the 2013 Cropping Season”. In continuation with its laudable feat, Council deliberated upon forty five (45) memoranda submitted by thirteen (13) MDAs. Twenty four (24) of them were approved for execution with an expenditure One Billion, Four Hundred and Forty Five Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Six Naira, Seventy Six Kobo (N1,445,792,236.72) covering twenty one (21) projects. Thus: 1. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT Twenty five (25) memoranda were submitted for deliberation by Council on behalf of some MDAs from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. ten (10) of them were approved for execution as follows; a. Presentation on the Need to Compile Inventory on all MDGs Projects Spread Across 14 State of the Federation Including Kano and Request of Funds to Execute the Purpose:Office of the Secretary to the State Government notified Council, through contents of this memorandum, of a submission by the State Ministry of Planning and Budget, intimating Government of a communication received from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSP-MDGs) highlighting its readiness to compile inventory on all MDGs projects spread across 14 States of the Federation including Kano with a view to producing consolidated and comprehensive data on investments activities.

Essentially, 135 personnel will be deployed from Abuja to work along with 16 officials drawn from 3-MDg line Ministries in the State which include Education, Health and Water Resources as well as the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the MDGs programme support unit to monitor conduct of the exercise. The exercise covers six (6) days for which the State Government is to provide for accommodation, transportation, fuelling and feeding allowances for the 135 enumerators/coordinators on arrival to Kano. The 44 LGCs are to shoulder similar responsibilities affecting the enumerators deployed to their respective domains.

So, Council was requested to consider and approve for the following: i. Constituting of the 16-Man State Supervisory Committee to be drawn from the 3-MDG line Ministries, Office of the Secretary to the State Government and the MDGs State programme support unit to monitor the conduct of the exercise. ii. Directing the 44 LGCs through the Ministry for Local Governments to note their expected role in the

e. Request for Funds to Enable Conduct of 2nd Graduating Ceremony as well as Provision of Take-Off Capital to the 2nd Batch of Graduates from the Kano State Hospitality and Tourism Institute:The Al-mighty Allah has granted us the longevity to witness the graduation of the 2nd batch of trainees of the Kano State Hospitality and Tourism Institute. 148 trainees are graduating as the second batch each of which has to be provided with the sum of N150,000.00 as take-off capital totaling to the sum of N150,000.00 x 148 = N22,200,000.00. So, in all, Council was requested to approve for the release of the sum of N22,200,000.00 for the successful conduct of the 2 nd graduation ceremony of trainees from the Kano State Institute of Hospitality and Tourism.

ENGR. RABI`U MUSA KWANKWASO Executive Governor, Kano State

exercise. iii. Release of the sum of N12,727,445.00 to facilitate for accommodation, transportation, fuelling and feeding allowances to the 135 enumerators.

Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the sum of N12,727,445.00 as requested to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to facilitate for the stated purpose in (iii) above as well as the execution of item i. and ii. b. Request for Sponsorship and Release of Funds to Enable Professional Training of Indigenous Eligible State Candidates drawn from Askarawan Kwankwasiyya:The sum of N3,227,000.00 was approved for release

by Council, as requested, to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the State Youth Directorate for Empowerment to enable sponsorship of 170 State Indigenous person drawn from Askarawan Kwankwasiyya- thus; 20 Degree/HND holders for two (2) Courses.

80 National Diploma holders for ten (10) Courses.

70 O’ level Certificate holders for seven (7) basic professional Courses.

The courses are to be conducted under the postgraduate programme and skills and Craft development at the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) and are in line with the empowerment policy of the present administration. c. Presentation on the Need to Flag-Off the 2013 State Flood Awareness Campaign by the Ministry of Environment in Collaboration with Relevant Stakeholders in the Environment Sector:Contents of this memorandum notified Council of the incidence of flood disaster in the State in the year 2012 which claims many lives and destroyed properties worth millions of Naira. As such, the Federal Governments alerted all States in the Nigerian Federation to embark upon extensive awareness campaign so as to forestall any unforeseen unfortunate developments. Details of the communication were presented for Council’s consideration.

Council noted, considered and approved for the immediate flagging-off of massive awareness campaign to avert unforeseen happenings during the 2013 rainy season. d. Request for Funds to Enable Procurement of Street Sweeping Vehicle-Fanton Tractors 60HP to Re-enforce

Considering relevance of the request and its congruence to the empowerment policy of the present administration, Council approved for the release of the requested sum of N22,700,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the Kano State Hospitality and Tourism Institute to enable conduct of 2 nd graduation ceremony at the Institute complete with the disbursement of N150,000.00 to each of the 148 beneficiaries. f. Request for Funds to Enable Conduct of the Veteran Cup Tournament:The Veteran Cup Tournament is an annual event organized by retired players from successful and active football career. The 2013 tournament is to be hosted in Kano.

Council acknowledged the honour and approved for the release of the sum of N5,000,000.00 in support of the execution of the tournament stated for August, 2013 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to local organizing committee for the tournament for its successful conduct. g. Request for Funds for the Printing of 1000 Copies of a 250-Page Compendium on the Activities and Achievement of the Present Administration from Inception to Date:The State Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture requested for the release of the sum of N9,920,000.00, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to enable printing of 1000 copies of a 250-page compendium on the activities of the present administration from inception to date.

The request was considered relevant and in line with the policy of the present administration to operate transparently as Council approved for the release of the requested sum of N9,920,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture to enabling printing 1000 copies of 250-page compendium on the activities of the present administration from inception to date for all and sundry to be aware. h. Request for Funds to Enable Procurement and Allocation of Fairly Used Vehicles to Designated Special/ Personal Assistants Attached to the Various of Honourable Commissioners and Office of the State Governor:The sum of N55,685,000.00 was approved for release to the Office of the Secretary to the State CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 9

Government to enable purchase of 70 fairly used vehicles for use by 70 designated Special/Personal Assistants attached to the various Honourable Commissioners and Office of the State Governor at the cost of N795,500.00 per unit (i.e. N795,500.00 x 70 = N55,685,000.00). This was considered necessary so as to provide convenient transportation means for the Officers for effective discharge of their services.

equipment have been completed and the Clinic is ready for commissioning but for furniture. The memorandum prayed for the release of the sum of N6,22,968.50 for the procurement of furniture for the eye clinic. Council approved the request.

j. Request for Funds for the Procurement and Allocation of Five (5) Units of Toyota Camry 2013 Model Vehicles In Respect of Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors of KUST, Wudil and Northwest University, Kano:Contents of this memorandum politely notified Council of the need to provide befitting operational vehicles to the Chancellor and pro-chancellors to the two Kano owned State Universities. Five (5) units of Toyota Camry 2013 Model vehicles were recommended for the purpose by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. Each costs N9,135,000.00. So, the five (5) will cost an aggregate sum of N45,675,000.00 which was requested for release by Council to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Council approved as requested for the release of the sum of N45,675,000.00 to the Office of the State Government to facilitate for the procurement and allocation of the stated number and type of vehicle according

The memorandum reminded the members of the sum of N48,639,451.39 expended on the rehabilitation of KASCO fertilizer warehouse for the use of the Ministry of Health.

The rehabilitation was executed in preparation for the receipt of DFID PATHS2 commodity support for the State.

Out of the expected 45 forty feet containers expected from DFID PATH2, 35 were delivered and are now being kept at the site awaiting distribution to State Hospitals and Health centers. The containers comprised various State-of-theart hospital equipment and medical consumable for the use of the health centers. The total values of the expected equipment/commodities stand at a whopping sum of N1.2 billion.

Ministry of Rural and Community Development The Ministry of Rural and Community Development submitted two memorandums, which were deliberated and approved. a) Request for the installation of a Relief Transformers at Tudun Yola Quarters in Gwale Local Government The contents of this memorandum explained the present administration’s positive response and interventions through the provision of relief and dedicated transformers, high and low tension wires, cables, etc bringing succour to various communities in the State. The memorandum informed the sitting that Tudun Yola Quarters, Gwale Local Government has been facing persistence electricity supply failure due to overloading of the existing transformer and power outage. This explains the reason for the request of 500KVA 33/415 relief transformer at the sum of N5,646,323.00. Council approved the procurement and installation of the 500KVA transformer as requested. b) Repairs of vandalized electricity networks (phase ii) across the State The State Government has since inception expended more than N300 million in rural electrifications and the rectification of vandalized electricity networks throughout the State. This administration is committed to the provision of social and economic services not only to the urban but also to the rural areas. Of recent, the administration approved the construction of 5kilometer roads in each of the 44 Local Government Areas to improve commuting and modernize the rural areas. This is besides the drilling of hundreds of boreholes in the rural areas for the provision of potable water. Thus, this memorandum is in line with the policy stand of the administration for requesting the repairs of vandalized electricity networks across the State. Council approved the sum of N20 million for the project.

Ministry of Health The Ministry submitted 4 memorandums for the deliberation of the Council, which were all approved for execution. a) Request for funds for the procurement of office furniture/working material for the Eye Clinic at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Since the inception of this administration over N500 million was expended on the renovation, landscaping and supply of equipment to the State Hospitals. The Dental Centre along Zaria Road and Infectious Disease Hospital for example, which were left unattended by the previous administration have undergone extensive rehabilitation. Rehabilitation works were also executed at Hasiya Bayero, Gaya, Gwarzo and Gezawa General Hospitals, etc. Recently, the administration awarded contract of the sum of over N65 million for the rehabilitation and procurement of ophthalmic equipment to the Eye Clinic of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital. This is the basis for this memorandum.

The memorandum informed members that the contract for the rehabilitation and supply of the

b) Need for Landscaping and fortification of Rangaza Stores along Yadakunya Road

Nevertheless, to ease distribution and the sorting out of the items there is the need to clear the sandy/marshy area of the premises as well as construct a shade. This is the basis for this memorandum. Council appreciated DFID PATH2 deliveries, which will greatly support healthcare in the State. Council directed Kano State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) to mobilize its machines and clear the site for the Ministry of Health. c) Completion and Landscaping/interlock tiling of the newly established State Primary Healthcare Management Board Council recalled the establishment of the State Primary Healthcare Management Board as well as State Agency for the Control of Aids along Zaria Road. The contents of the memorandum requested the release of the sum of N64,131,487.04 for the completion of the construction of conference hall and mosque, and landscaping/interlock tiling of the compound. Council approved the submission.

In the same vein, the Ministry submitted a request for the rehabilitation and equipping the School of Health Technology, Kano for the upcoming re-accreditation of the school by the Community Health Practice Registration Board of Nigeria. The Board is the body regulating the practice and training of all Community Health cadre in Nigeria. The memorandum requested the sum of N26,860,946.68 for the renovation works of the facilities and the procurement of teaching aid. Council approved the request.

Ministry of Water Resources The State has 19 major earth dams for irrigation and the supply of potable water to its teeming population. Out that number 17 are under the control of the Ministry of Water Resources. The memorandum informed members that 11 of the dams are in good condition to contain and avert severe flooding. However, 6 of the dams, namely Bagauda, Kafin-Chiri, Ruwan Kanya, Tudun Wada, Magaga and Guzu-Guzu are in precarious condition. These dams require rehabilitation. This explains the basis of this memorandum by the Ministry of Water Resources. The Ministry requested the release of the sum of N120,969,352.34 for the repairs/rehabilitation of the 6 dams, which was approved for execution.

Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport Request for funds for the construction of the 2nd Phase of Kano State Sports Institute Kano Sports Institute was amongst the 21 institutions established by this administration for youths empowerment and skills acquisition. This institute is meant to be a sporting institute with the main aim of training youths sports and sporting activities. This is the first Sports institute in this part of the country and when completed can compete with any of its kind. The sum of N543,026,175.30 was requested by the prayers of this memorandum for the construction of mini-stadium, 2 students hostels, cafeteria, common road, renovation of 10 staff quarters, indoor and outdoor sporting facilities, mosque, etc. Council deliberated on the need for the execution of the 2nd Phase to facilitate the completion of the project in time and approved the request.

Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture The Ministry submitted two memorandums, which were approved. The first memorandum was on a request for Kano Pillars Football Club to participate in the Premier League Competition this year. This memorandum was a follow-up to an earlier one submitted of which a Council Committee was set up to reappraise the request in relation

to signing/transfer fee unpaid to players. Council deliberated and approved the release of the sum of N69, 350,000.00 for the settlement of 2012/2013 signing fee allowances and balance payment of transfer fees for the same year.

Related to the above, is a memorandum submitted to redeem Government pledges to outstanding players who won medals for the State in various sports. The sum of N10,800,000.00 was approved.

Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been a front running in the training and empowerment of youths and women. Thousands of women have undergone training in the Poultry Institute, Fisheries Institute and Livestock Institute. Usually after training post training package are being supplied to the trainees to facilitate practicing of what was learned at the institutes. This brings us to the basis of the memorandum under review. The first batch of 400 students of the Fisheries Institute has completed their training and was assigned burrow pits to practice their new skills for economic empowerment. The memorandum requested the release of the sum of N35,178,000.00 for the procurement of post training package and logistics for the 400 trainees. Council approved the request.

Ministry of Higher Education Council recalled the approval of the sum of N397,938,760.00 for the payment of scholarship to Kano State students of higher institutions. This amount was the backlog inherited from the previous administration.

To ensure that such backlog does not accumulate the Ministry of Higher Education submitted a request for the payment of continuing students of year 2010/2011 and 2011/2012. The total number of students screened by the Scholarship Board to be paid is 23,793. The sum of N360,169,249.00 was requested to settle the students.

Council approved the payment.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 98TH EXCO SITTING STAKEHOLDERS MEETING ON FIVE (5) KILOMETER ROADS ACROSS THE STATE Council noted the visit by the Hon. Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning and a team of engineers and some consultants to assess the level of work in progress. Council wishes to commend the contractors for the level of the work and calls on them to continue with the work.

PRESENTATION OF AWARD TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR Council witnessed the presentation of an award to His Excellency Governor Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

by Bebeji Local Government Students Association as the ‘’BEST GOVERNOR’’ In Nigeria for his Giant stride in transforming the educational sector in Kano state.

Similarly, Council also witnessed the presentation of award to his Excellency by Global Educators for Initiatives as ‘’THE BEST GOVERNOR’’ who cares for the well being of the family, youth development/ employment, school feeding and giving scholarship to deserving students.

VISIT BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR TO FRANCE AND QATAR Council noted the visit by his Excellency Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to France where he attended a summit and signed a memorandum of understanding by the Association for the development of education in Africa.

During the deliberation both parties pledge to work together for their mutual interest and for the development of Education and training in Kano state and will collaborate in the following areas: a.

Teacher and school leadership development b.

Skill development c.

ICT Integration into General Education d.

Books and learning materials Accordingly, his Excellency also met with the former MD of PAN where they deliberated on the Development of technical education.Furthermore, council also noted the visit by his Excellency the Governor to Qatar where he visited Aspire Sports Academy. During the trip, he also visited Qatar foundation and was shown the model of Education.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture, Kano State For update on the activities of Kano State Government click to www.kano.gov.ng/new.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, MAY 20, 2013

Continue from page 9

Laying the Foundation for Sustainable Education in Kebbi State

Another Model Scondary School constructed by the Dakingari administration

9. Establishment of additional 27 Junior Secondary Schools out of which 8 are for girls SECONDARY EDUCATION 1. Recruitment of secondary school Teachers: 1000 qualified graduate and HND teachers were recruited with special emphasis on core subjects.

2. Plans are under way for continuous training and retraining of all teachers through refresher courses and workshops during vacation period.

3. Expansion and rehabilitation of schools. Construction of 50 blocks of 3 classroom across the state. 10 blocks in each of the 5 existing zonal education offices.

4. Renovation of senior secondary schools in each of the 5 zones.

5. 200 V.I.P Toilets were constructed in some selected senior secondary schools at 40 toilet per zones.

Staff Quarters at Lailaba Comprehensive Secondary School Argungu

UPGRADING OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS 1. The following schools are to serve as Model Secondary Schools not just in Kebbi State but in Nigeria. The 5 keys schools are as follows i. Kanta Unity college argungu ii. Nagari College Birnin Kebbi iii. Government Girls Science College, Yauri iv. Government Girls Unity College, B/Kebbi v. Government Science Secondary School, Zuru The following projects were undertaken for each of the above 5 key schools: 1. Rehabilitation and furnishing of key Laboratories for chemistry, physics, Biology and introductory Technology.

2. Multipurpose Hall: Construction of a Multipurpose Hall of 800 seat capacity for each schools.

3. Library: Construction and furnishing of a library of 250 students’ capacity.

4. School Buses: 30-seater buses were procured for each of the 5 key schools.

5. Water: 50, 000. 00 litre motorized boreholes with overhead tanks were constructed for each schools.

6. Electricity: Each school was provided with 300KVA generating set.

7. Sick Bay: Each school was provided with a sick bay.

8. Sporting Facilities: Provision of sporting facilities for the five schools.

9. Double Bunk Beds: Thousands of Bedings were procured for the five schools.

10.Mattresses: 5, 000 mattresses were supplied for these schools.

SCHOOL FEEDING The free school feeding project is one of the best among the states that practice it. It is only in Kebbi State that even day students are given breakfast free. As for the boarders they are given three (3) meals everyday.

Enhanced feeding of Chickens and eggs to student has also been introduced to all Secondary Schools in the state.

Students’ Hostel, School of Health Technology, Jega

FREE REGISTRATION FOR WAEC/NECO Education is free at all levels in the state, examination fees for WAEC Continue on page 25

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, MAY 20, 2013

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and NECO are also paid by the government. There is scholarship to tertiary institutions, including registration fees and in-service scheme for teachers that want to further their education while in service.

"The Ministry for Science and Technical Education was carved out of the Ministry of Education with about 14 special science schools under its care.

"There are four (4) tertiary institutions in the state including the state polytechnic about to take off. a. The state has 287 ECCD centers b. 1617 primary schools c. 107 detached junior secondary schools (JSS) d. 181 senior secondary schools (SSS) e. Four (4) tertiary institutions. f. Rehabilitation and expansion of existing schools for conducive learning environment e.g GSC, Zuru, GSTC Zuru, GSC, Dakingari, GGSC, Yauri, Nagari College, GSTC Bunza etc. g. Upgraded 50 Day Secondary Schools into boarding schools. h. Completion of Technical College, Saminaka.

I. Paying scholarship allowances to indigenes of the state in institutions of higher learning�.

TERTIARYEDUCATION Kebbi State University of science and Technology, Aliero was provided with the following: a. 1No. Toyota Jeep b. 6No. Toyota Saloon Cars c. 2No. Toyota Camry Cars d. 1No. Water Tank e. 1No. Fire Fighting Vehicle f. 1No. 30 Seater bus. g. 1No. Hilux Double cabin with AC h. 1No. Ambulance Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu was provided with the following: a. 3No. Toyota Saloon cars b. 2No. 18-Seater buses College of Basic and Advanced Studies, Yauri was provided with the following: a. 3No. Toyota Saloon cars b. 2No. 18-Seater buses

HIS EXCELLENCY SAIDU USMAN N. DAKINGARI EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, KEBBI STATE

With all these developments and more to come, many analysts contend that Kebbi State is on its way to shedding its status as an educationally disadvantaged state and building a foundation for a sustainable educational system for future generations.

Plans are in top gear for Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu and College of Basic and Advanced Studies, Yauri to move to their permanent sites.

The government has directed the state University of Science and Technology to establish faculty of Education for the purpose of producing qualified teachers, especially in science aspect.

SCIENCEAND TECHNICALEDUCATION Establishment of Ministry of Science and Technical Education: In line with national policy on Education in the country, a new Ministry of Science and Technology Education was caved out from the Ministry of Education to boost science and technical education up to SSCE level. This is a major achievement that is in line with the national policy on education for science and technical education in the country.

Establishment of 5 New Science Colleges The present administration under the leadership of His Excellency Alh. Saidu Nasamu Dakingari approved the construction of 5 New Science Secondary Schools across the state.

The New Schools are:1. Model Science Secondary School, Bayawa (Boys) 2. Model Science Secondary School, Jega, (Boys) 3. Model Science Secondary School,D/Gari (Girls) 4. Model Science Secondary School, Warah (Boys) 5. Model Science Secondary Schools, Ribah (Boys)

Administrative block of one of the five science secondary schools in the state

Lailaba To enhance Technical Education in the state, His Excellency decided to construct one Technical School in each Senatorial District.

Conversion of Conventional Secondary Schools to Science Colleges.

In order to give room for intakes to Science schools, four secondary schools were converted to Science colleges. They are as Follows: 1. GSS Aliero 2. GSS Koko 3. GSS D/Gari 4. GGCSS Argungu

Laboratory block of one of the five science secondary schools in the state

Computer To provide computer education and ICT the present administration secured a set of computers and distributed them to all Science schools.

Sponsorship of Higher Education The present administration also sponsored students to read medical and related courses in India and Sudan. In addition to that, some students were also sponsored to go for basic and remedial studies under Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. These students are to read Science and Medicine after completion.

ROLL CALL OF ACHIEVEMENTS Giving a breakdown of development in the education sector of the state, Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Abdullahi Kamba Kamba, stated thus: "This government has established and built 255 primary schools from 2007 to date. “Also 101 junior schools were established by the state government from 2007 to date and 63 junior secondary schools were upgraded to senior levels with boarding facilities built for their convenient take off.

Dining Hall and Students Hostel of Model Secondary School at Bayawa Augie L.G.A

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Briefly NOUN matriculates 65 students in Gombe

N

ational Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) at the weekend matriculated 65 students.

Speaking during the ninth matriculation ceremony, the university's Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe, explained that school was established to provide quality education to the teaming populace.

According to her, NOUN last year accredited 30 undergraduate programmes and recently introduced a Master in Public Administration.

From David Hassan, Gombe

ACN chief hails Jonathan over state of emergency

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former Kogi state Secretary of Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN), Dr. Akwu Umar Goodman, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for declaring a state of emergence in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states.

Goodman who spoke to journalists in Lokoja at the weekend, said Jonathan took the right step describing it as the "last option which will bring the senseless killings in the northern part of the country to an end."

He urged the military to smoke out the trouble makers in record time in order to ensure normalcy in that part of the country.

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

NEITI blames FG over extractive industries’ poor ranking

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he Nigeria Extractive I n d u s t r i e s T r a n s p a r e n c y Initiative (NEITI) yesterday expressed worry over the poor ranking of Nigeria in the recent global report issued by the Revenue Watch Institute, which it attributed to the failure on the part of government to implement its recommendations on various issues surrounding resource governance in the country.

The report which measured the quality of extractive industries governance in 58 countries, ranked Nigeria 40th position out of 58 resource-rich countries across the world.

According to the ranking, the extractive industries governance in Nigeria is very weak.

By Etuka Sunday

L-R: Delta state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan; Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Uche Ekwunife; representative of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Kogi state Governor, Captain Idris Wada; and Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Mailafiya, during the National Conference on Environment, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Tax remittances probe: 11 banks shun Reps committee

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Finance has threatened to issue a bench warrant to 11 chief executive officers of banks if they failed to appear before it tomorrow.

The banks are Zenith Bank, Sterling Bank, Stanbic IBTC and Sky Bank. The others are Keystone Bank, Heritage Bank, First City Monument Bank, Ecobank, City

Bank and Enterprise Bank.

Chairman of the Committee, Abdulmumini Jibril, issued the warning at an investigation hearing on all commercial bank's tax remittances to the Federal Government, as a result of alleged sharp practices by some banks designated tax-collecting banks on collection and remittances to government.

According to him, the reasons for the investigation is to improve the

revenue drive of government and to specifically open up new revenue opportunities, consolidate on existing sources of revenue and block leakages and waste.

"Our vision is to strengthen the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and optimize the potential of our tax system.

"To this end, we are embarking on a sector by sector review of tax compliance and remittance and we will look into different sectors that

will include aviation, construction, oil and gas, communication among others."

"What we seek to do, is ask you to give more or worst give exactly what you are expected to give in accordance with the laws of the land as at when due. This will sufficiently deal with your responsibility as tax payers. We intent to look at your role as collecting agents to see how well you have complied with laid down rules and regulations," he said

selected as officials.

According to him, "using politicians as Hajj officials is not the best.

"Both politicians and clerics must understand that selecting them as Hajj officials means going there to help and coordinate pilgrims in the Holy Land. The idea of going there to abandon the pilgrims must change.

"Another major Hajj problem is selfishness as there is the need to also make sure that all those who will be selected as officials must be credible people, not those who will disguise and abandon the pilgrims as soon a they land in the Holy land."

Responding to some of the points highlighted during the

meeting, the Board's Executive Secretary, Tahir Umar Tahir, called for proposals from all stakeholders on how to improve Hajj exercise in the state.

"I have listened to so many contributions from our scholars and politicians on how to improve the exercise.

"Our doors are open for proposals on how to improve Hajj exercise in Kaduna.

"We also hope politicians among us will give us the chance to appoint people of credibility as Hajj officials because that is the only way we can assist our pilgrims in Holy Land," he said.

On the possibility of using the Mando Hajj camp this year, he emphasized on the need for Islamic scholars to educate the Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) who have been occupying the camp since 2011 to vacate the center.

According to him, the Board pays N5 million every year for Kaduna International Trade fair complex currently being used as temporary Hajj camp.

According to Tahir, "this is why recently when we visited the Emir of Zazzau, I pleaded with him to assist us over the IDPs.

Islamic scholar traces Hajj problems to politicians

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

A

Kaduna scholar Sheikh Salihu Mu'azu, has fingered politicians for the perennial problems associated with Hajj operations in the country.

Speaking at a town hall meeting with stakeholders as part of the 2013 Hajj exercise organized by the Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muazu admonished politicians to fear Allah and allow on persons who are competent to serve as Hajj officials.

He also urged the Board to ensure that only those who will truly work hard for the pilgrims in the Holy Land are

Gambari family sues Kwara govt, Saraki over family land From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

S

eriki Gambari and Head of the Gambari family in Ilorin, Alhaji Yahyah Ahmed Serikin, and Mallam Mashood Attairu Serikin have sued the Kwara state government and the immediate past Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, over alleged acquisition of their family land for private use.

The claimants in the suit number KWS/153/2013

accused the defendants of having converted the family land which covers the Kwara State Staff Development Centre and Shoprite Shopping Mall situated at Fate road Ilorin, to private use after government had acquired it for public purpose.

In the suit which was obtained by our correspondent, the claimants stated that the accused persons excised a parcel of land of 3.024 hectares from the land originally acquired from the claimants' family by the government for "public purpose."

Ajimobi receives religious leaders' blessings for second term From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

G

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo yesterday received the blessing of religious leaders in the state for a second term in office.

Ajimobi who was the guest of honour at the third session of the Fifth Synod of the Ibadan North Anglican Diocese, was eulogized for his outstanding performance in the past two years.

President of the Synod and Bishop of Ibadan North Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Segun Okubadejo, who led the prayer, described Ajimobi's emergence as governor as a divine

intervention in the affairs of the state.

Okubadejo said that he was marveled at the unprecedented transformation of the state eve as he prayed God to use Ajimobi to break the second term jinx in the state.

"With your performance so far, God may use you to break the second term jinx in Oyo State to become the first governor to have a second term in office.

"You promised the people of Oyo state during your campaign that you would make life better for them; you are fulfilling your promises and meeting the expectations of the electorate."

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Financial rules to master for a happier life C hances are very good that it's not the money we are after, but to be happy. Yet, many of us mistakenly chase the elusive idea of "having more money" and we end up working endlessly while we sacrifice our happiness to reach this goal.

If you want a good motto to live by, it should be this: "The journey is the reward." Here are five things you can do this year to increase your happiness.

MONEY TIP:

Using public relations to build brand credibility

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or the majority of new businesses and professionals, one of the key assets they lack is credibility and authority in the marketplace.

Most new businesses are (at best) a very small blip on the giant radar that is our world.

As an entrepreneur, you are faced with the challenge of not only getting your brand out there in front of the eyes of the world, but also convincing your target audience to trust you, even when you may lack the capital, resources or influence of an established organization.

As the CEO of a public relations firm, I am often tasked with the challenge of doing the same for my clients who are startup and early-stage companies. The good news is that it can be done- and I have done it successfully for dozens of clients. The even better news is that thanks to new technology, social media and the fast-paced information-driven world we now live in, it can now be done faster and more inexpensively than ever before.

The goal of positioning a brand as an authority in your industry is within the grasp of any business of any size- the playing field has been leveled.

But it starts with organizing a solid plan for doing so. So, I am going to share with you a few of the elements we use at my public relations firm, Fifth Avenue Brands, to craft a high-impact branding and media outreach strategy for our clients.

- Contributed by Richard Lorenzen

Quote Let's be honest. There's not a business anywhere that is without problems. Business is complicated and imperfect. Every business everywhere is staffed with imperfect human beings and exists by providing a product or service to other imperfect human beings.

- Bob Parsons

Make only one goal The start of the year also marks the favorite time to make new goals, but we often make so many that we end up not reaching any. There's no shame in making just one goal and meeting it. The satisfaction of a job well done is so fulfilling.

Aim to improve a tiny bit Many high earners will tell you that they aren't happy with their income. This is because they are already used to the amount of money that they are making. Everything is all relative. In order to feel happy, make improvements. And it doesn't even have to be related to making money, either.

Weight loss, family ties, time management, starting a budget, and many other goals will all make you happy as long as you are making progress. The bonus is that if you are always aiming to improve a tiny bit, it will help you start a routine faster because you will feel less overwhelmed by a completely new project.

Shrink your to do list No one likes to have things piling up. Try to stop thinking and worrying about what you have to do and just do it. You will be much happier with fewer tasks on your to do list and more

accomplishments under your belt.

Swap TV time for activities out of your home The average person spends about four hours in front of the TV daily. That's time you could be using to improve all facets of your life, time you could be exercising, and time you could be spending with your family.

The No. 1 complaint most adults have is probably not having enough time, so why spend any time in front of the TV, gaining weight while you bleed your life away?

Indulge often!

No matter how much you love seeing your net worth grow, frequent indulgences make us happier than socking money away and seeing a bigger account balance. The obvious problem is that we don't have unlimited funds, so why not trade some of your bigger expenditures for small indulgences?

Instead of a big car payment, why don't you go out for dinners more often? Instead of an expensive annual vacation, why don't you go on a mini-road trip every month? By spending frequently but with smaller amounts, you will find that you get much more satisfaction out of every dollar that you spend.

Take your financial responsibility, even with financial adviser

T

here are many questions that people can ask from their financial advisers.

I think the most important thing is actually not choosing a financial adviser, but deciding that you are the person who is responsible for your money, no matter who you choose. If someone is helping you with your finances, you own responsibility for those finances.

In order to save money, cancel memberships for

things you do not use. For instance, if you have a gym membership, but you never go to the gym, why do you need the membership? All that this is doing is costing you money that could be spent on more important things.

This might seem painful, but if you want to save money, cut out monthly unnecessary expense. This could save you some money yearly or more, and it forces you to engage in more productive and healthy

forms of entertainment again.

Go outside, read books and interact with your family for entertainment.

Don't throw away money on needless or hidden monthly recurring charges.

You may be paying for services that you don't need or unknowingly agreed to.

Avoid these types of charges by carefully looking over your bank statements every month.

Look for and eliminate any charges that you're unfamiliar with, or that

you no longer need.

See if your employer provides you with discount benefits. Many times, if you work for a large company, they can pass their discounts on to you for various insurance plans or even your cell phone.

Think carefully before making any financial decision.

Don't make a decision based on fear or panic. It is okay for you to stop and take the adequate amount of time you need before you make any kind of decision. That is especially true for large financial decisions. Now you just need to take a deep breath and do the right thing.

Learn to live frugally as a way of life. Consider going with only one car for your family. Your car is probably the second most expensive item in your budget, after your home. This can be a short-term strategy to help you catch up on bills and build up your savings, or an ongoing lifestyle change.

Fees are something that you will have to deal with as the year goes on, so you should be conscious of them so that they do not add up. Try to be aware of any ATM fees and drive carefully on the road so that you do not receive tickets or fines from any government officials, like FRSC, Lagos' LASTMA, VIO, and so on, which are unnecessary expenses.

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

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

A

Esprit de corps, not rancour

federal high court, sitting in Abuja, recently ordered the Directorate of State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigeria Police Force to pay N5 million each to the Peace Corps of Nigeria, a registered NGO, for closing its offices in some of the 36 states and publicly stripping its uniformed officers. That was after the SSS had dispatched a so-called security report to state governors, saying that the Corps was an unregistered paramilitary unit and therefore a security risk.

The Corps' trustees went to court and a verdict was entered in its favour. Justice Evon Chukwu upbraided the SSS and the police for overstepping their bounds. He asked them to henceforth operate within the ambit of the laws that set them up.

According to him, closing down the offices of the Corps and unclothing its officers amounted to a breach of the constitutional right of Nigerians to freely associate. However, he reduced the damages demanded by the Corps from N250 million to N10 million.

The import of the judgement does not lie in the costs awarded against the two security agencies but that a fellow Nigerian had the courage to tell them that they were not helping the country by constantly feuding with sister security agencies. The Peace Corps is only the latest victim of the overzealousness and impunity of the SSS and the police. They have repeatedly clashed with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), also a publicly funded paramilitary agency.

Nigerians are justified to express their horror over physical clashes among security agencies that have escalated in recent time. Pity of it all, this conflict is not over how best to confront the nation's rising security challenges, not least the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the north, but how

much jurisdictional space they can corner.

To be certain, interagency rivalry, which usually comes up in crisis situations, is not peculiar to Nigeria. Even in advanced societies disagreements do occur, usually over the quality of intelligence they provide. But the overall goal is to achieve some mileage in crime fighting. We have seen it happen in the United States where security is a touchy issue. The Nigerian situation, however, is profoundly different, and this is why it is disturbing. The growing Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges call for interagency cooperation and coordination. Sadly, it seems the security

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the wrangling is not over what value to add to the nation's security architecture but over pecuniary gains agencies in the country are yet to appreciate this imperative. Healthy rivalry can enhance the quality of intelligence, something we are notoriously deficient in. But destructive confrontation, including public stripping of other security agencies' personnel, is what we don't encourage.

The excuse usually given by the SSS and the police for attacking the other agencies is that they encroach on their jurisdictional territories. This may be true in some instances. The police may assume the duties and responsibilities of the NDLEA, SSS, Customs and Immigration, FRSC, NSCDC and vice versa. That is to be

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”

expected where the officers of the appropriate agency are not immediately available at the scene of a crime. But once arrests are made, the suspects should be handed over to the right agency. This is the kind of cooperation we expect between the several agencies.

But come to think of it, we should not be surprised that our security agencies demonstrate more antagonism towards each other than cooperation. The reason is that there are more security agencies than the nation perhaps needs and they come with ill defined mandates. Worse, in our country where corruption has become a thriving business, more so in the corridors of power, the more room an agency has to operate in the more illegal money it will make. So the wrangling is not over what value to add to the nation's security architecture but over pecuniary gains.

We recall our January 4, 2013 editorial on the conflict between the police and NSCDC in which we pointed out that the feuding was "part of a larger problem, arising from a multiplicity of government agencies with conflicting or ill-defined mandates. This is the case, unfortunately, in particularly the security apparatuses… Rather than complement each other the security agencies are engaged in dangerous infighting. And this has dire implications for the nation's overall security as we already are seeing in the inept handling of the Boko Haram insurgency and the rise in criminality generally.

"The only way we see the situation changing for the better is for the government to rethink the nation's security architecture, streamline the security agencies to avoid duplication of mandate and train their personnel to appreciate the value of working together rather than engaging in unhealthy rivalry." Our position has not changed.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM MANAGING EDITOR ABDUL-AZEEZ ABDULLAHI

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, DAILY HAMEED M. BELLO

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND JAMILA NUHU MUSA

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

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 13

CJN, we trust you to ensure justice in Rivers state

By David Dappa

J

ustice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar is the first woman to occupy the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) since the nation had its first indigenous Chief Justice in 1958. This also makes her the 13th indigenous head of the judiciary. Her appointment is coming at a time when President Goodluck Jonathan is implementing affirmative action by giving women strategic positions.

Justice Mukhtar has been described as highly principled.

She is known to have an

aversion to acts inimical to due process. The reforms she is introducing in the judiciary to clean it up and improve its image will, undoubtedly, enhance the justice system. We are therefore pleading that Justice Mukhtar let her reforms extend to Rivers state.

Many well meaning individuals have been alarmed by the state of the judiciary there. They argue that there has been a systematic and continued abuse of the judicial process which is controlled by the executive. We appeal to the Chief Justice to reverse this and sanitize the system.

All law abiding citizens are praying that the integrity and principled stance in the dispensation of justice the CJN is championing will be seen in Rivers State. If Justice Mukhtar can sanitize the judicial system in Rivers State, her name will be written indelibly in the sands of time.

It is often said that the law court is the last hope of the common man. The people of the state are waiting, hoping and praying for the success of your reforms.

David Dappa is a freelance journalist who wrote in from Asaba, Delta state

“

Many well meaning individuals have been alarmed by the state of the judiciary there. They argue that there has been a systematic and continued abuse of the judicial process which is controlled by the executive. We appeal to the Chief Justice to reverse this and sanitize the system

Why most Nigerians don't trust Jonathan

By Charles Omole

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s the Cuban missile crisis raged in October 1962; the US president sat in the White House and called the leaders of the key nations that were members of the UN Security Council to get their support for American position at the UN. The world was on the brink of a nuclear holocaust. The Russians denied everything the Americans claimed and the stage was set for a monumental nuclear confrontation. Up till this point; there was no objective evidence as to who was telling the truth; Russia or America.

So it was simply a game of whose report to believe.

It was reported that the French President, Charles de Gaulle received a call from President Kennedy asking for the support of France in the impending UN vote on this matter. The French president offered his unqualified support for the American position. Few days later a French minister asked the President why he supported the Americans when there was no conclusive evidence of their claim.

Charles de Gaulle was reported to have responded boldly "The word of the American President is good enough for me".

That statement demonstrated that Trust is key to any meaningful relationship between governments and also between governments and the people. It is not always possible to provide clear evidence of government decisions; either due to national security concerns; or the conclusive evidence does not exist. If there is trust in the relationship between the people and its government; a lot can be achieved as the citizens rally round its leaders to move the nation forward. This intergovernmental trust was one of the unwitting victims of the Iraq debacle. Many leaders

now do not trust the American position on many things today.

This will hunt the global diplomatic scene for decades to come. There used to be a time that the American position was accepted by the world without any question; not any more.

The foregoing brings me to the case of the Nigerian government and the lack of trust by many Nigerians. Over the years; the fabric of trust has been eroded by successive Nigerian leaders; thus creating a cynical and untrusting citizenry. Many expectations of the people have been dashed.

An average Nigerian does not believe anything the government says. Each new administration is given an initial window to prove itself and as always they all fail by unveiling their predisposition and addiction to lies, corruption and deception.

Hence many Nigerian have grown to expect lies and sometimes the worst from their government.

Focusing on the Jonathan administration; it is sad to see how a potentially

transformational government has squandered its goodwill and productive expectations.

Many Nigerians, including myself had high expectations of the Jonathan administration at the beginning. But now; it is a different story. There is a wise saying that states: if you sell-out your relatives at a cheap price; you cannot buy them back at an expensive amount, because once they lose trust in you and see your betrayal; that will be it. For me; the Jonathan administration seems to have forgotten the adage that it is the little foxes that spoils the vine. It is the 'little' acts of deception and lying that erode trust and make it difficult to believe the big things; even if they are now true.

For example; when you have the President's office telling the nation that the First Lady was not sick but merely taking a break; despite all the reports to the contrary. Aso Rock denied all reports of any illness of the President's wife.

Only for a few weeks later to hear the First Lady herself tell

“

Nigerians that she almost died and had to undergo several major operations in foreign hospitals. It is clear; we were lied to. Yet no apology till date.

There are several instances of these "little" lies by the government and the presidential team. That much cannot be disputed. So how does President Jonathan expect us to believe him on "big" issues like the menace of Boko Haram and national security situation when he has already lost credibility and the trust of the people through "series of little" lies. It is indeed the little foxes that spoil the vine. The President may indeed be telling the truth about many of the major issues confronting the nation today; but how can we believe him and his team when they have shown themselves unworthy of our unflinching trust.

From my experience; honesty in "little" things is the hallmark of real honesty. It is more difficult to lie about big and major issues due to the complicated and multifaceted nature of such things. But it is

From my experience; honesty in "little" things is the hallmark of real honesty. It is more difficult to lie about big and major issues due to the complicated and multifaceted nature of such things.

But it is much easier to lie about minor and small matters; thus revealing your dishonest nature. So a person that refuses to lie about minor issues (that many cannot verify in any case); will tend to remain honest when the big, more verifiable matters come up. If you ask me what time I went to bed last night and I am honest in my response (even though you have little way of verifying my answer); it will be easier for me to be believed if asked what time my flight to London took off from Lagos; (as there will be many more witnesses to the departure time)

much easier to lie about minor and small matters; thus revealing your dishonest nature. So a person that refuses to lie about minor issues (that many cannot verify in any case); will tend to remain honest when the big, more verifiable matters come up. If you ask me what time I went to bed last night and I am honest in my response (even though you have little way of verifying my answer); it will be easier for me to be believed if asked what time my flight to London took off from Lagos; (as there will be many more witnesses to the departure time).

So my counsel to President Jonathan is to demonstrate his openness and honesty first in little matters. Build a "portfolio of honesty" in the eyes of Nigerians. He should instruct his team to either give out honest responses to all matters or simply 'no comment'. This portfolio of honesty will help to build goodwill with Nigerian; thus making it easier for us to believe the leadership when big issues come up. Honesty does not mean divulging every single information about an issue; it simply means being honest about the thrust of an issue; even if you then refuse to go into specifics, for good reasons. But the deliberate deception that has been often evident in the words and actions of the Presidential spokespersons and government officials need to stop.

We want to be able to believe our leaders. We need to be able to believe our leaders.

Our prayer is that one-day will come, when an average Nigerian will be able to proudly say; "The word of the president is good enough for me". Let that paradigm shift and process begin today.

Charles Omole is Charles@Prodelinternational. com

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 14

Killing two birds with a stone

By Ibrahim Biu

E

ven critics of Senator Bala Mohammed, the FCT minister, appreciate his handling of the land swap issue. They like the idea and have not held back from making their views known to whoever cares to listen. Some of the critics believe that the minister wants to use this land swap formula to kill two birds with one stone as it were. And this is true. It is what the land swap is all about and possibly even more. The minister is trying to provide critical infrastructure in the nation's capital city at a time when there are inadequate funds at the top level in the face of an ever increasing population.

Senator Bala has discovered that land swap is the remedy to the challenge of population explosion, lack of infrastructure and a lean purse. Its introduction will take care of the two problems

By Samuel Ogundipe

E

levating the fallacy of the false alternative to Boko Haram insurgency, Bola Tinubu, and a few others in the Action Congress of Nigeria, believe Nigerians who welcomed President Jonathan's state of emergency in three northern states, and who think 3 years of Boko Haram's heinous activity are enough, are mediocre. This is less a thought than a flight from thinking, which involves making sensible distinctions.

On April 15, the morning after Mr. President's sober announcement on national television, Bola Tinubu, the latest steward of modern Nigerian reactionary progressivism, warned that President Jonathan's attempt to initiate the beginning of the end of Boko Haram's senseless killings of Nigerians would amount to "excruciating hardship" for residents of the 3 affected states.

He also theorized that the President's action is a harbinger of total federal government takeover of those states and a "deliberate ploy to subvert constitutional democracy".

Really? If the President really intended to do as Tinubu averred, what would have stopped him from doing so? The inanimate Constitution? After all, former President Obasanjo did exactly that in Plateau and Ekiti with little or no consequence to him.

Between wishing success to the Joint Task Force and sending in new troops to combat Boko Haram, there's as much a middle ground for honest politicians as there is between President Jonathan, an ostensibly patriotic man sincerely worried about the lingering state of insecurity, and Tinubu, a promiscuous political juggernaut.

Tinubu, whose political godfatherism is unrivaled in Nigerian politics, has been politicking with Boko Haram

would surely and even help make the the FCTA to indigenous tackle other inhabitants problems Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text happy. which include messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written FCTA has the twin issue contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 gone far with of payment of the words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and compensation, implementation a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed resettlement of the new to: and formula. integration of Already 13 Abuja's The Editor, organizations original Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, have signed communities 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. the who have of Email: opinion@peoplesdaily-online.com Memorandum recent been SMS: 08134607052 of complaining Understanding about their integrate these people into (MOU) with the FCDA to be status in the scheme of things their approved schemes with a part of the project and it is in the federal territory. In an view to carrying the expected that the companies effort to address this problem, inhabitants along in whatever will perform according to the the minister recently directed they are doing. One of the government's expectations of that all investors involved in indigenes, Engr. D. Bousa, providing critical the land swap deal or project suggested recently that infrastructure in many should be ready to pay Senator Bala has the land districts so that owners of plots compensation to and properly swap initiative to kill two could develop them. This resettle the indigenes. birds with one stone, that is, to gesture will also facilitate the Not only that, as part of provide infrastructure and payment of compensation to their corporate social rehabilitate the inhabitants those deserving of this. responsibility, the core simultaneously. This, he said, The recent inauguration of investors must try to

WRITE TO US

APC and Tinubu factor issue for a while. When asked, sometimes ago at a symposium, his solution to eradicating the sect, Tinubu said, "The emergence of Boko Haram is indicative of the failure of People's Democratic Party". PDP's culpability in Boko Haram's emergence is, at best, a speculation. What is not speculative, however, is the fact that Tinubu's response sounded more like an attempt at political mudslinging than it does about proffering an honest solution to a gigantic problem that threatens the nation's very existence.

It seems a metaphysical servitude that substantial part of the population would readily condemn, and sometimes justifiably so, anything coming out of Aso Rock. And even more so if opposition politicos like Tinubu are in the vanguard of such outcry. Nigerians, however, are wary this time--which is a good thing: What kind of people would we have been if we had rebuked Mr. President's bold step and embraced Bola Tinubu's trite of vituperation and division? The president's action was constitutional, too.

As if anyone is nonplussed, Lai

Muhammed, a Sancho Panza to Bola Tinubu's Don Quixote, who has never seen a national security matter he won't politicize, didn't wait for Mr. President to say, "Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria", before blasting out his ukase to ACN political Pravdas, "One hopes the President's action is not linked to the politics of 2015.

With the three states militarized, there can neither be electioneering campaign nor voting there. We had warned earlier that as 2015 approaches, the Jonathan Administration will increasingly take measures that will make it impossible to hold election in many states The over militarization of some states in the north, the plan to destabilize the South-west using slush funds from the so-called oil pipeline protection contract and the infantile threats from some Niger Delta militants seem to be part of this plan." This statement strikes even the most apolitical as petty.

Boko Haram has killed 2, 510 according to my last count. The sect has destroyed properties in excess of billions in dollars and shook the country to its very foundation. Yet all the largest

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party in opposition could do is throw a tantrum over an action as popular as the state of emergency declaration?

Reminds me of a statement from the Presidency last month which castigates Tinubu as a "political liability". That statement couldn't have turn out prescient early enough --like he holds a degree in oracle studies. We might as well just file that under his list of academic qualifications.

However, Congress of Progressive Change, the second largest contributor to the birth of All Progressives Congress, released a statement praising the President's decision and urging the citizenry to rally behind him for its successful execution: "However, it is gratifying that the President did not behave like a former President who removed the political structures when he declared a state of emergency in some states", asserted Rotimi Fashakin, the Party's spokesman who ostensibly understands that there's more to opposition status than cheap fuss-budgeting. "We need to rally round the President in this trying period. We pray that with this action, peace will eventually return to the states",

It seems a metaphysical servitude that substantial part of the population would readily condemn, and sometimes justifiably so, anything coming out of Aso Rock. And even more so if opposition politicos like Tinubu are in the vanguard of such outcry. Nigerians, however, are wary this time--which is a good thing: What kind of people would we have been if we had rebuked Mr. President's bold step and embraced Bola Tinubu's trite of vituperation and division?

The president's action was constitutional, too.

a 30-man committee to look into issues related to the proect shows the seriousness of the minister about tackling its challenges. The land swap is besides the fact that all the six area council chairmen in the FCT are indigenes and seven indigenes are holding sensitive positions of responsibility equivalent to the position of a permanent secretary or ambassadorial appointment.

These high level appointees have been doing everything possible to take development to the doorsteps of their respective areas as expected of them.

However, this is not to say that everything is in order in the affected areas. No. There is still a lot to be accomplished.

And it is precisely for this reason that minister is leaving no stone unturned in his effort to improve the lives of the FCT residents, especially the indigenous inhabitants, in line with President Goodluck Jonathan's transformation agenda aimed at affecting people's lives positively.

Ibrahim Biu resides in the Abuja, FCT. he wittingly concludes.

To understand the magnitude of opprobrium Tinubu and the ACN have ensnared themselves --and how popular the President's declaration was-- I've excerpted the reaction of Mr. Femi Falana, hardly a fan of President Jonathan or the PDP, for your digestion: "President Jonathan deserves commendation for acting within the ambit of the constitution. Unlike President Olusegun Obasanjo who illegally removed elected governors under the guise of a state of emergency President has not dissolved democratic structures in the affected states. That is in order because an elected governor can only be removed by impeachment, resignation or on ground of infirmity of body or mind and NOT through a state of emergency. For the avoidance of doubt the proviso to section 11 (4) of the constitution which empowers the National Assembly to take over the legislative powers of a state in case of emergency states that " nothing in this section shall be construed as conferring on the National Assembly power to remove the Governor or the Deputy Governor of the State from office".Having complied with the constitution with respect to the state of emergency in 3 states President Jonathan should henceforth demonstrate to Nigerians that the days of presidential impunity are gone for ever in the country."

It is no gainsaying that US Democratic Party campaign ad about Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie stealing America's democracy in the run up to the 2010 midterm elections contributed to its political shellacking that year, the ACN's response to Mr. President's state of emergency proclamation could be the last straw that breaks APC's back.

Samuel Ogundipe's professional profile is on LinkedIn.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 15

Wigan, Woods, and wonders of faith I believe in the power of desire, backed by faith, because l have seen this power lift men from lowly beginnings to places of power and wealth; I have seen it rob the grave of its victims; I have seen it serve as the medium by which men staged a come-back after having been defeated in a hundred different ways - Napoleon Hill in his book, 'Think And Grow Rich'

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taging a come-back after being defeated again and again in different ways. This is undoubtedly one of the most stirring of human dramas.

Watching someone as he or she tries to rise from the ashes of defeat to the Promised Land of success is as absorbing as it is memorable.

Consider the golf player, Tiger Woods. His world fell apart a few years ago following a series of infidelities on his part. Not only did Woods' marriage crash, his career was also in tatters. From being the world's number one golfer, he plummeted to one of the lowest, losing one match after the other. Sponsors ditched him in droves. The mighty had truly fallen.

But just when some started composing Wood's obituary, he roused himself. The power of desire swung into action. The desire to overcome adversity and attain success, that is. Wood's desire, backed by faith, inexorably took on a life of its own. Gradually, Tiger Woods started to emerge from the woods, so to say. So much so that

he has since regained his position as the world's number one golfer.

This is even as he has found love again after his failed marriage.

The story of Wigan Athletics football club of England is no less engrossing. Despite all their Herculean efforts, Wigan had recently found themselves on the brink of being relegated from the English Premier League. Yet even as they struggled against relegation, the modest team somehow managed to waltz all the way to the final of this year's FA Cup. To put this feat in perspective, note that all but only one of the biggest clubs in England had failed to reach the final of this competition. Not even Chelsea,

the reigning double champions of Europe, could make it to the final. Not even Manchester United, the Premier League champions, could reach the semi final round, never mind the final.

Reaching the final was one

where the "power of desire, backed by faith," came in. Despite their precarious situation, despite the formidable odds against them, Wigan kept faith alive.

And triumphed. The small David (Wigan) vanquished the mighty Goliath (Manchester City).

One could, needless to say, go on and on, citing thousands of such examples - examples of men, women, and teams who, after being written off by everybody, bounced back spectacularly. asonde@yahoo.com Men and women 0803-2159-249 (SMS only, pls) who, powered by the "drug" called thing, trying to win the trophy desire/faith, are catapulted from against a big team like grass to grace. Men and women Manchester City was a different who, energized by the elixir ball game. It was like a David called faith, overcome seemingly trying to defeat a Goliath. This is insurmountable odds to make the

SONDE’S DIAR Y DIARY

By Sonde Abbah

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Neither discouragement nor disappointment, neither betrayal nor failure, would stop them.

The power of desire backed by faith. "The medium by which men staged a come-back after having been defeated in a hundred different ways". The power we all need in order to make it

impossible possible.

Barack Obama is undoubtedly one of the living examples of such mountainmoving faith. Until Obama came along, few of us ever believed that a black man would ever be president of the United States. More so as the renowned evangelist, Jesse Jackson, and his ilk had tried gallantly but ultimately futilely.

The poser on most lips when a certain Barack Obama joined the White House race, therefore, was: "Barack who?" Nobody gave him a chance, particularly as his challengers included a heavyweight like ex-First Lady Hilary Clinton. But none of that would faze Obama. Buoyed by his desire/faith, he soldiered on till victory was secured.

Obama, Wigan, Tiger Woods, and their ilk have one thing in common: "the power of desire backed by faith." So hooked or "addicted" to this life-changing principle/power are they that nothing would deter or discourage them. Neither discouragement nor disappointment, neither betrayal nor failure, would stop them.

The power of desire backed by faith. "The medium by which men staged a come-back after having been defeated in a hundred different ways". The power we all need in order to make it in our family life, marriage, business, career, relationship, ministry, and life in general. May we all be blessed with this power!

Amaechi and the Sword of Damocles

By Grace Nimi George

T

he sword of Damocles is frequently used as an illustration of the everpresent peril that awaits those in positions of power that abuse them. More generally, it is used to denote the sense of foreboding engendered by a precarious situation. I intend to use this story to illustrate the situation of the Rivers state governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. I also recall the drama in which the state's House of Assembly sacked the chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Prince Timothy Nsirim, the ViceChairman and all the 17 councillors.

Political observers have interpreted this development as the Rivers state executive surreptitiously manipulating the Assembly to witch-hunt those suspected to be enemies of the governor. The Assembly has been tele-guided to carry out the bidding of Amaechi. It was indeed what one can describe as "the voice of Jacob, but the hands of Esau". This kind of development does not bode well for the progress of Rivers state.

The Chairman and other council members were purportedly sacked over

allegations of abuse of public funds and breach of security. The House, which also froze the account of the council, called on the government to appoint a Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the council until investigations into the allegations were concluded. According to media reports, the chairman of the eight-man House Committee on Local Government Affairs, Mr. Lucky Odili, said the committee recommended the suspension of the officials to enable the allegations against them to be thoroughly investigated. The Speaker of the House, Mr. Otelema Amachree, who presided over the sitting, said there was no need subjecting the issue to a debate since the

recommendation was an interim report.

However, the state branch of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, condemned the sacking of Obio/ Akpor Council, describing the action as "illegal". In a similar response, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deplored the suspension of the elected officials, saying it was an "abuse of legislative process". The party advised the councillors and Obio/ Akpor people to remain calm and be law abiding as the action will be challenged in court.

On April 23, 2013, Governor Amaechi duly constituted a seven-man caretaker committee for Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. That action has thrown up two critical

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ethical questions. The first question is: why should Amaechi usurp the mandate of the people of Obio/Akpor freely given to the elected officials. This smacks of political victimization.

The case of the sacking of the chairman of Okrika Council, Tamunokuro George Oba, is still fresh on our minds. He was sacked in the most spiteful and unethical manner. No reason, however feeble was given for his removal. To relieve him of his position, his signature was forged and appended to a fake letter of resignation (purported to have been authored by him). Even when the Okrika Local Government Area Chairman passionately protested to everyone that he did not write

Those in power must use their positions cautiously and judiciously. The governor must stop flexing his muscles and trying to play a tin-god. He is advised to borrow a leaf from the wisdom of President Goodluck Jonathan, who last week declared a state of emergency in three states - Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.

President Jonathan did not dismantle the structures of democracy in those states by removing their elected governors.

his own letter of resignation and that his signature had been forged by unknown persons, all his entreaties fell on deaf ears.

Amaechi was hell bent on demonstrating his power as the king maker and power taker who's every whim and caprice must be obeyed.

Those in power must use their positions cautiously and judiciously. The governor must stop flexing his muscles and trying to play a tin-god. He is advised to borrow a leaf from the wisdom of President Goodluck Jonathan, who last week declared a state of emergency in three states - Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. President Jonathan did not dismantle the structures of democracy in those states by removing their elected governors.

As an elected official holding the highest office in Rivers state, the governor must tread cautiously. Amaechi must understand and appreciate his own precarious situation lest the Sword of Damocles which he so readily wields in the local government areas of his state falls on his own head. A word is enough for the wise.

Grace Nimi George is a political commentator and sent this article from Port Harcourt

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

NOUN matriculates 118 students in Gwagwalada

L-R: Minister of State for FCTA, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, and newly elected Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Hon. Yohanna Peter Ushafa, during the swearing in of the area council chairmen by the FCT Minister, yesterday in Abuja.

By Usman Shuaibu

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Photo: Mahmud Isa

Security remains a priority, Minister tells newly elected chairmen

By Adeola Tukuru

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he newly elected Chairmen of the FCT Area Councils who were yesterday sworn-in by the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has been urged with to put security of lives and property on the front burner of their Administrations as the era of politicking is over.

Senator Mohammed emphasized that security remains a major concern and all efforts must be put in to ensuring security of lives and property within their domains.

In his words: “Security remains a major concern and as you take office, you must hit the ground running to ensure security of lives and property within your domains”.

According to him, “this Administration has set up machinery for effective surveillance of the FCT and you

will be expected to immediately commence effective security monitoring of your Area Councils as well as collaborate with FCT law enforcement agents to achieve a round-the-clock watch over your domains”.

The Minister assured that the FCT Administration as usual would continue to ensure that all the Area Councils receive all funds due the Area Councils Statutory Allocation.

Senator Mohammed therefore called on the new Chairmen to reciprocate the FCT gesture by avoiding waste, ensuring accountability in the management of public resources and complying fully with the Procurement Act. He reiterated that his Administration will not shirk its responsibility for effective supervision of their operations and warned that ‘any Chairman found wanting

would be made to account fully for his commission or omission’.

Welcoming guests to the occasion, the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide hoped that the new Chairmen would complement the efforts of the FCT Administration to fast-track development at the grassroots.

Oloye Akinjide advised that the “welfare of the people remains the greatest law and the greatest manifesto above Political Party, section or creed”.

She reiterated that election is over and the forest fires are over; adding that what remains is the challenge of development, which neither turns in winner nor loser, neither victor nor vanquished.

“We will remain committed to building a plural and inclusive society in the FCT in particular and Nigeria in general”, the Minister of State

stressed.

Those sworn-in include Yahaya Garba Gawu-Abaji Area Council; Micah Y. JibaAbuja Municipal Area Council; Yohanna Peter Ushafa- Bwari Area Council; Abubakar Jibrin Giri-Gwagwalada Area Council; Ishaku Tete ShabanKuje Area Council and Daniel Ibrahim-Kwali Area Council.

The Chairmen were swornin by the Ag. FCT Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim M. Bukar but was represented at the occasion

by Justice Hussaini Baba Yusuf of FCT High Court, Maitama District, Abuja.

The Chairman of Bwari Area Council who responded on behalf of other Chairmen, Mr. Yohanna Peter Ushafa appreciated the kind gesture of the FCT Ministers and promised to cooperate with the FCT Administration in achieving its policies and programmes.

he management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), the special centre for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Gwagwalada area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has matriculated a total number of 118 students out of 400 students that got admission into the university.

Disclosing this during the 9th matriculation ceremony, the Director of the centre, Dr. Emmanuel Jerome Umoh who read the speech of the Vice Chancellor at the occasion, Prof.

Vincent Ado Tenebe, said that NOUN is a federal university established by the act of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1983.

He also pointed out that the university was established to provide quality education for the people of Nigeria.

His words: “the University is a legal entity in Nigeria operating programmes that are duly approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) which is the only recognised agency for approval and accreditation of the universities programmes in Nigeria”.

He explained that last year the NUC accredited their courses and that the university passed all the thirty undergraduate programes assessed, adding that the university had got a accreditation to run MPA and MBA programmes.

The Vice-chancellor told the gathering that the National Open University of Nigeria has a lot of collaborations and partnership with the international institutions which include Commonwealth of learning (COL), International Council for Distance Education (ICDE), Indira Ghandia of Open University (IGNOU) and Open University of the United Kingdom (OUUK) among others.

Tenebe, however, advised the matriculating students to face their studies squarely, as according to him, the mission of the university is very clear, “to provide functhional, cost-effective, flexible learning which is adds life-long value to quality education for all who seek knowledge”.

Encourage albino children to be more relevant in the society, says mother

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mother of two albino children, Mrs Jane Peter, residing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , has stressed the need for parents with albinos to encourage them to be more relevant in the society.

She told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that parents with children living with albinism should ensure that they were well informed on issues of

albinism.

According to Peter, I am doing my best to make sure that my kids who are living with albinism do not have freckles by protecting them from the sun.

She said, “I always ensure they wear hats and long sleeves when going to school.

“The school allowed me to provide special uniform for my children, the school teachers

make them seat in front of the class due to their sight.”

Peter, therefore, urged the government to continue the good work and ensure that people stopped discriminating against albinos.

She also appealed to the government to provide jobs for albinos, especially the qualified ones looking for jobs.

Also speaking, her albino

child, Miss Golden Peter, told NAN that teachers and educators should be given adequate information about children living with albinism.

She said, “Albinos are human beings like you but they face challenges; with well informed teachers they can overcome some of these challenges.

“We can live a meaningful

live and become doctors, pilots, lawyers and even teachers.’’

She debunked misconceptions that albinos did not eat salt or pepper, that albinism was a contagious condition and that albinos were not intelligent.

The young lady, who is always top of her class, said that albinos ate normal diet and that albinism was a genetic condition

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 17

INSIDE FCT COURTS

Landlord loses bid to quit tenant from property A

n Abuja High Court on Friday struck out the case of a landlord, Mr Nasiru Ahmed, who sued his tenant because he did not serve quit notice on the tenant appropriately.

Delivering judgment, Justice Angela Otaluka held that the tenant, Sunday Nwachukwu, remained a legitimate tenant until statutory quit notice was issued and served on him as required by law.

“The plaintiff’s inability to serve the defendant with the requisite six months notice to quit rocks the foundation of the suit and invalidates the

proceedings.

“There is no doubt from the evidence before the court that the tenancy agreement between the parties is a yearly one under the statute which, therefore, must be guided by the recovery of property law.

“In the instant case, the defendant only received a seven days notice of the plaintiff’s intention to recover possession of his property from him, therefore, this case is hereby struck out,’’ Otaluka said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmed had, through his Counsel, Mr Sunday Dick, sued Nwachukwu for

failing to pay his rent and refusing to vacate his apartment after repeated demands.

The plaintiff had asked the court to grant an order, compelling the defendant to pay the arrears of rent and vacate the apartment, a three-bedroom flat at the Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe.

The plaintiff’s counsel had told the court that the tenancy agreement between both parties was a yearly tenancy which expired on Feb. 29, 2012.

Ahmed, therefore, urged the court to order the defendant to pay him N500,000 as cost of action and N50,000 monthly

from March 1, 2012, until the defendant vacates the apartment.

However, Mr Chinedu Odo, the Defendant’s Counsel, had told the court that his client was not served with the statutory six months quit notice by his landlord.

Odo argued that the plaintiff’s failure to serve the defendant with the requisite six months quit notice had robbed the court of jurisdiction and power to hear and determine the case.

He, therefore, urged the court to strike out the case.

(NAN)

Ngabagyi cultural troupe entertaining during a public function, recently in Dei-Dei, Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Police arraign 2 men for alleged shop-breaking

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he police in Abuja have arraigned two men, Promise Alisi and Suleiman Buba, in a Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly attempting to steal from one John Ozoka.

Alisi, who lives in Gwarimpa and Buba of GSM Village, all in Abuja, are charged with alleged trespass, shop-breaking and attempt to commit an offence of theft.

The police prosecutor, Mr Abdullahi Adamu, told the court that Ozoka, also of GSM Village, lodged a report about the duo at the Wuse Police Station on May 13.

Adamu said Alisi and Buba broke the glass door of Ozoka’s shop, valued at N7,000, and entered the shop located at the GSM Village.

“Alisi and Buba were about

stealing some GSM phone materials from the shop when they were arrested,’’ he said.

The prosecutor added that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 348, 358 and 95 of the Penal Code.

Section 348 of the code stipulates that whoever commits criminal trespass shall be punished with imprisonment for a term

which may extend to one year or a fine, or with both.

Similarly, Section 358 states that whoever dishonestly breaks open any receptacle which contains property shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or a fine, or both’’.

Alisi and Buba, however, pleaded not guilty to the

charges, and Senior Magistrate Christopher Oba granted each of them bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety each in like sum.

Oba said the surety should possess a reasonable means of livelihood and a traceable address within the jurisdiction of the court, and adjourned the case to May 27 for hearing.

(NAN)

Butcher, 32, charged with alleged joint act, theft

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butcher, Ernest Udesen, 32, was on Friday arraigned before the Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, Abuja for alleged joint act and theft.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Paul Anigbo, told the court that on April 29, one Jumai Rekiya of the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, Abuja and Joseph Adekunle of New Bwari, Niger State, reported the accused at the Lugbe Police Station, Abuja.

Anigbo informed the court that on the same day, the accused and three of his friends now at large, boarded the same vehicle with the complainants from Area 3 Junction to Lugbe.

“On reaching Pyakasa Junction, the accused pretended to drop from the taxi and when the driver stopped, the accused and his friends snatched Rekiya’s handbag.

“The handbag contained her personal belongings, including her ID card, Fidelity Bank ATM card, Police micro finance card, a handset worth N195,000 with other valuable items.’’

The prosecutor said that when the accused was questioned, he could not give a satisfactory account of himself.

He said that the offences contravened sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code.

Section 79 states that “when a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention of all, each of such person is liable for the act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone’’.

Section 287 states that whoever, commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or with both’’.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Christopher Oba, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 and a surety in like sum.

Oba said that the surety should be a civil servant with the FCTA or someone with a landed property within the FCT. The magistrate adjourned the case to May 25, 2013for hearing. (NAN)

Conductor jailed 6 months for escaping from court room

A

n Upper Area Court sitting in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, has sentenced one Abdul-Aziz Abdullahi to six months in jail for escaping from a court room.

The Judge, Mr Vincent

Gwahemba, handed down the sentence after Abdullahi pleaded guilty to the onecount charge against him following his re-arrest.

The police prosecutor, Mr Samuel Okoro, had told the court that the convict, who

resides in Aso-pada, Mararaba, took to his heels when police brought him to court to face trial for an offence of conspiracy.

“He was later caught by some people who immediately handed him

over to the police.’’

He said that the offence was punishable under Section 172 of the Penal Code.

The accused person had pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

(NAN)

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Personal Safety tips for Borno Citizens/other good Nigerians 1. Always move with your Identity Cards or any formal means of identification 2. Avoid movements except where necessary, otherwise stay at home/work place.

3. Avoid unnecessary gatherings and prolong stay outside your house and environs 4. Dress decently and always try to look responsible. Awful appearance attracts suspicion 5. Avoid making unnecessary calls while driving so you stay attentive; avoid ramming onto checkpoints or causing disturbance/ panic amongst residents 6. Before hitting the road with a car, make sure your boot is empty, except for basic tools or necessary items that will not attract questions 7. Avoid giving lifts to unknown persons 8. Avoid accommodating unknown persons in your house 9. Identify all security check points on your daily routes and at all times, slow down on approaching each of them 10. Be patient while at security check points or in traffic jam.

11 Never you try to run away/speed off when stopped by security agents 12.Always be in possession of as much as possible food stuffs at home and other basic amenities (Water- and common drugs that do not require prescription) 13. Disallow unknown persons from standing or seating by your gate, outside your house or place of work. While approaching, be suspicious of unknown persons outside your house, gate or any destination.

14. Do not spread information that you have NOT officially confirmed. Rumour is the number one threat to public peace 15. Always tune to radio and television sets for local announcements and news; be well informed at all times. Read and listen to other mass media contents 16. Watch the car behind you while driving, ensure you are not being trailed and should you suspect being trailed, stop and inform security agents.

17. Store security hotlines (08064174066; 07085464012; 08154429346; 08142333138) in your phones and share with neighbors, friends and families 18. Pass on security related information to security agents through emergency numbers 19. Never you call security numbers or send SMS in the presence of ANYONE; call security numbers or send SMS when you are alone and if you must call in the presence of any other persons, do it only when it is necessary and ensure the persons are is well known to you.

20. Keep watch from a secured distance to know when something is wrong around your neighborhood. Call emergency numbers if you suspect anything going wrong. What affects your neighbor, could affect you. Be your brothers’ keeper and continue to pray for peace.

Always remember that security is a SHARED RESPONSIBILITY. Your personal safety starts with the help that you render.

Courtesy: UNITED BORNO GROUP FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND VIRILE POLITY

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

Dangote, Elumelu, others to speak at LBS conference From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos BA students of Lagos Business School (LBS) are set to host one of the biggest conferences in Africa on May 31. This is the inaugural edition of the LBS Africa Business Conference, a gathering of leading entrepreneurs, investors, regulators and financiers across the continent.

As Africa gains increasing recognition as the world’s next economic frontier, there is more than ever a compelling need for emerging African businesses to be strategically positioned to face the influx of global challengers.

The LBS Africa Business Conference aims to bridge the

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gap between emerging future business leaders and entrenched business leaders through a robust information exchange platform.

Aliko Dangote, chief executive officer of Dangote Group and the richest black man in the world is the guest of honour. He will be delivering a keynote on the conference theme: ‘Breeding African Lions: Imperatives for Building Globally Competitive Businesses’.

Also delivering a keynote on the theme is the propagator of ‘Africapitalism’ and chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu.

Mob: 08033644990

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

PTDF new Executive Secretary assumes duty

AMCON to retire N2tr of bonds in 2013, 2014 From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos he Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) yesterday said it plans to retire N2 trillion worth of its N5.7 trillion of bonds this year and next, from bad loan recoveries and

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refinance what’s left with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

AMCON said it had made “great progress” on recovering bad loans and that after the refinancing, the CBN will be the sole holder of its bonds. It said retiring the 2 trillion Naira

worth of bonds will cut its liabilities by 35 percent.

AMCON will also start divesting its shares in three lenders nationalised by the CBN in the next 30 days, starting with Enterprise bank, it said in a statement.

UBA sees up to 40% loan growth for oil, power projects From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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nited Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), Nigeria’s fifthlargest lender by market value, plans to increase loans by as much as 40 percent this year to fund oil, power and manufacturing projects.

“We have some deals in the power sector,” besides investments in “oil and gas that have the largest chunk of our portfolio,” said the bank’s chief financial officer, Ugochukwu Nwaghodoh, in a telephone

Nigerians send nearly •500m a year home from Ireland - World Bank

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igerian migrants in the Republic of Ireland are now sending nearly halfa-billion euro back home each year.

World Bank figures reveal that •468m in ‘remittances’ was sent from Ireland to Nigeria in 2011; that’s an average of more than •26,000 for each of the 17,642 Nigerian nationals in Ireland, including children. This is far in excess of the sums sent home by Poles from Ireland who sent $224m (•174m), even though there are more than 122,000 Polish people in the country.

Monies sent from Ireland by foreign migrants are three times higher than the amount of money being sent home to Ireland by the Irish abroad.

World Bank statistics show that Irish people living in other countries sent more than $750m (•560m) back home in 2011, but foreign workers here sent remittances of $2.4bn (•1.8bn) home during the same year. The largest amount of money leaving Ireland was to Britain, at over •529m in 2011. This was followed by Nigeria (•468m) and Poland at (•174m).

interview. That compares with growth of about 13 percent last year to N659 billion ($4.2 billion), he said.

UBA sold its bad loans to the Asset Management Corp. of Nigeria (AMCON), set up by the government in 2010 to buy troubled debts from the country’s lenders and stabilise the financial system when loans to stock market speculators and gasoline importers threatened the industry with collapse following the global financial crisis.

Having improved risk management and with a nonperforming loans-to-assets ratio of about 2 percent, “one of the bank’s key focus is robust loan growth,” Nwaghodoh said, with loan-to-deposit ratio expected at 45 percent.

The Federal Government is selling majority stakes in power plants and letting private investors acquire holdings of as much as 60 percent in six transmission and 11 powerdistribution companies spun out of the former state-owned utility.

Banks have also increased lending to the oil industry as smaller producers expanded drilling. Companies including London-based Heritage Oil Plc (HOIL) and Lagos-based Neconde Energy Ltd. bought stakes in fields owned by Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Eni SpA and Total SA.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr. Godknows Igali, Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi, and Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding, Mr. James Olotu, jointly briefing journalists after their meeting on power sector with Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, recently at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

By Etuka Sunday with agency report

V

ital Voices Global Partnership and Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ) yesterday announced plans to host a Supporting Public Advocacy for Regional Competitiveness (SPARC) program and Forum in Lagos.

The one-day forum for women is scheduled for Thursday 23, May 2013, and will highlight businesswomen’s advocacy efforts for increased economic empowerment across four African countries, namely Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and host Nigeria.

According to the Senior

Nigeria to host African Business Women’s Advocacy Forum Program Manager, Africa of Vital Voices Global Partnership, a Washington DC, United Statesbased organization, Celena Green, this year’s SPARC Forum in Lagos will discuss: “The importance of women’s leadership in Africa’s economic growth”, and the advocacy efforts that women’s business organisations are undertaking to promote greater investment in women, and improvements in the business environment that will provide equal opportunities for women’s economic participation.”

Management Tip of the Day

T

Job seekers: Focus on achievements

he whole point of reìsumeìs and cover letters is to sell your skills. Rather than simply listing the responsibilities in the positions you’ve held (as many candidates do), call out specific ways you’ve made a difference in those roles.

Suppose you’re in sales: Did you exceed your annual

targets? By what percentage?

Or, if you’re a customer service manager, did you reduce the number of complaint calls?

How did you do it — and by how much? Quantify whatever achievements you can, and include promotions and other acknowledgments of your success.

For example, you may have

started as a production manager and then, after six months, taken on full control of the firm’s quality assurance program.

Mention accomplishments like that — they reflect the trust you earned and your level of competence.

Source: Harvard Business Review

“Research has shown that gender equality is not only the right thing to do, but also good for business. Companies and governments that diversify their procurement see improved savings and efficiencies by opening the process to new players.

“Companies that have greater diversity in management and leadership also see greater returns, allowing them to be more prosperous, create jobs, and contribute to development and poverty alleviation. That is why women and men in the SPARC program are together advocating for equality of opportunity.” she said.

Green adds that SPARC Forum will comprise two panels; the first panel will focus on the impact of women in leadership positions in the private sector, while the second panel will be on the importance of government investment in women’s business development. About 75-100 attendees from civil society and public and private sectors are expected at this event.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

Red Cross

T

he Lagos branch Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Mr. Mobolaji Onibudo said the society has concluded plans to build a youth development centre to help educate youths in the country.

Onibudo told reporters in Lagos while unveiling Red Cross 150 years anniversary Logo in Lagos.

He said the centre would be geared towards positively impacting on the lives of the Nigeria teeming youth’s population particularly massive unemployment.

Lagos

From Suleiman Idris,

Nigeria LNG declares force majeure after Shell pipeline leak

N

igeria LNG Ltd., Africa’s largest liquefied natural gas export terminal, said it declared force majeure on exports following a Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) halt on deliveries after discovering a supply pipeline leak.

Force majeure, a legal step that protects a company from liability when it can’t fulfill a contract for reasons beyond its control, was declared on May 15.

The declaration followed Shell’s shutdown of its Gbaran Ubie and Soku gas facility after the pipeline leak, Kudo Eresia-Eke, a Nigeria LNG spokesman based in Abuja, said today in an email.

“Nigeria LNG is working

with Shell Petroleum Development Co. and its other gas suppliers to seek mitigation measures,” he said. Gas supply to Nigeria LNG has been cut by as much as 50 percent by the Shell shutdown, he said.

Nigeria LNG operates the Bonny Island plant, which has six production units, or trains, able to produce 21.7 million metric tons of the chilled gas a year, or about 8 percent of the world’s total, according to data from the International Group of LNG Importers. The company supplied 12 percent of the world’s LNG for near-term delivery in 2011, according to the group.

The halt is “likely to have significant impact on liquefied

natural gas prices,” Dolapo Oni, a Lagos-based oil-and-gas analyst at Ecobank Research, said in an e-mail.

A Feb. 5 force majeure on gas deliveries to Nigeria LNG after a similar pipeline leak cut shipments and helped boost spot LNG prices in northeast Asia to a record on Feb. 4, according to data from World Gas Intelligence.

Nigeria LNG, which has longterm contracts with buyers in Spain, Italy, France and Turkey, exported 333 cargoes in 2012, the most since sales began in 1999, according to a report on its website.

(Source: Bloomberg)

NAICOM

T

he National Insurance Commission of Nigeria, (NAICOM) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) of the United States, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a formal basis for co-operation and technical assistance.

This is in recognising the increasing international activity in insurance markets and the corresponding need for mutual cooperation between the relevant supervisory authorities, The purpose of the MoU is to help maintain efficient, safe, fair and stable insurance markets in Nigeria and the United States for the benefit and protection of policyholders.

From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

Emirates Group

T

he Emirates Group has announced its 25th consecutive year of profit and company-wide growth ending the year 2012-13 with Arab Emirates Dirham -AED 3.1 billion ($ 845 million) net profit, up 34 per cent from last year.

The group said it ended the year in a strong position despite continuing high fuel prices and a weak global economic environment.

The financial year, it said, also ended with some very positive newly reached capacity milestones throughout the business. It has also passed the 39 million passenger milestone.

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

PTDF new Executive Secretary assumes duty

By Etuka Sunday

T

he newly appointed Executive Secretary , Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye yesterday assumed duty with a call on management and staff of the Fund to be more proactive and diligent in providing service to the people.

PTDF, in a statement quoted, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye as saying that he would maintain an opendoor policy with little protocols in his administration of the agency; the objective being to provide transparent and result oriented leadership.

Dr. Oluwole Oluleye’s appointment as Chief Executive of PTDF is seen as a positive development, in view of his vast knowledge of the Oil and Gas Industry having served as pioneer Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) between 2003 and 2009, and member/secretary, Presidential Projects Assessment Committee.

As a fellow of the International Labour Organisation, Dr. Oluwole Oluleye is stepping in as the 6th Executive Secretary of PTDF and will be bringing his wealth of experience in the industry and the academia to confront the numerous challenges of PTDF capacity building initiatives.

Pre-paid meter byepass offenders on the increase in Osogbo – Official

I

ncrease in number of electricity consumers who by-pass the pre-paid meter has become a problem for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in its Osogbo District, an official said.

The district’s Business Manager, Mr. Banji Fagbote, disclosed this in a statement A fire incident gutted a power transformer at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)'s transmission issued by the company’s sub-station, at Ikeja-West, Ayobo-Ipaja, in Lagos last Tuesday. spokesman, Mr Timothy Adesanya in Osogbo, Osun at the weekend.

“To this end, the PHCN has commenced a house-to-house razil raised a record from 12 countries participated,” emerging market corporate debt search to fish out those that had their pre-paid R$2.8bn (US$1.4bn or N said industry regulator ANP, the sale – which was heavily bye-passed meters. A penalty of N50,000 227.2 bn) in its first national oil, natural gas and bio- oversubscribed. auction of licences for oil fuels agency.

The auction included awaits such offenders,’’ the exploration blocks in five years, The blocks included off-shore requirements for local content at statement said.

Fagbote warned that the with oil majors including and on-shore sectors. Total, BP more than 62 per cent for the ExxonMobil, Chevron and BP and Brazilian national oil exploration stage of the fields and Osogbo Business Unit of PHCN winning blocks, as well as BG company Petrobras were the nearly 76 per cent for the was ready to put a stop to the ugly development. He described Group of the UK. main bidders in this region. development phase.

The auction, the first of Among the oil majors, Total The auction, which will help as “criminals’’ those who several expected this year, comes committed R$371.9m for 10 reinvigorate Brazil’s oil industry engaged in such illegality. “This has become as the discovery of shale gas is blocks, BP R$261.3m for eight, after years of delays, marked the development expected to lead to the US ExxonMobil R$63.9m for two and return of Exxon to the country, worrisome to the business unit becoming a net exporter of fossil Chevron R$31.4m for one. in partnership with Brazilian and those perpetrating such act should stop forthwith or be ready fuel.

For Brazil’s government the billionaire, Eike Batista.

In spite of this concern there strong demand represents a Brazil’s oil and gas sector is to face the consequences,’’ was intense competition at the thumbs-up for its oil sector at a seen as one of the most promising Fagbote said.

The PHCN official also auction, with 142 of 289 blocks time when many had questioned frontiers for the industry, after pre-paid meter on offer sold. Oil companies paid whether it would continue to the discovery of huge fields off the advised large premiums over the attract the desired investment. southeast coast under a 2km customers to make their meters accessible for periodic minimum offer price.

It follows Petrobras’s sale last week layer of salt. checks.(NAN) “Of the total, 39 companies of $11bn in bonds – the biggest (Source: Financial Times)

Brazil oil licences raise record N227.2bn

B

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Zinox Technology Group builds assembly plant in Lagos Stories by Chris Alu with agency reports

Z

inox Technology Group has completed the installation of its state-of the-art PC/Phones assembly plant in Lagos.

The plant, which has been powered after

successful tests for reliability, is the first of its kind in Africa and it has the capacity to assemble inhouse brands as well as execute contract manufacturing for other brands.

The Corporate Affairs consultant of the Zinox Group, Mr. Echika Ezuka

said that the digital plant with multi-class functionality produces smart desktops, laptops, tablet PCs and is structured to produce a wider range of gadgets with available components.

Ezuka said that this digital plant has enhanced the capacity of Zinox to keep

ABU collaborates with Etisalat on Masters Degree in telecoms engineering

T

he Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria is collaborating with Etisalat to establish a Masters Degree programme in telecommunications engineering.

Etisalat, said, through its spokesman, Mr. Adekoye Stevens that the programme is being organised in partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Etisalat Academy, telecoms manufacturing

company, Huawei, and Plymouth University in the United Kingdom.

This new development it is expected to increase training of more students who will add to telecommunications manpower in the country.

Nokia, Ericsson and Huawei agree on Operational Support System interoperability

N

okia, Ericsson and H u a w e i technology, the three major Operational Support System (OSS) vendors have initiated and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) enabling the utilisation of OSS innovations across the industry.

To help operators simplify network operations and reduce costs, the companies have agreed to cross-license the OSS interfaces used for multi-vendor network management.

By enabling multivendor interoperability ‘up front’ between the OSS of all three vendors, OSS is

aimed at promoting competition by simplifying operations, reducing the overall integration costs as well as speeding up the time-to-market of new services.

The reciprocal agreement will cover fault, performance, configuration and basic network event and trace management for the northbound interfaces from Radio Access, Circuit Core and Packet Core network management systems.

Under the terms of the MoU, the signing parties are committing to bilateral cross licensing agreements for multi-vendor network management.

The cross-licensing and interoperability testing is open for third-party OSS vendors by joining the OSS. “The OSS marketplace is a patchwork of standards and proprietary interfaces that are controlled by the IPR owners. With crosslicense agreements, we want to help operators take full advantage of the best available products in our industry,” said Peter Patomella, Head of Operations Support Systems (OSS) business at Nokia Siemens Networks.

“Openness and fairness have been the guiding principles in the agreement of the OSS Interoperability Initiative”, he stated.

Cisco unveils new unified access product

C

isco, a communication company, has introduced a new Unified Access product that will aid users to simplify their operations.

The Unified Access is an intelligent network platform that will help spur connected experiences

and operational efficiencies.

It will enable and support the bring-yourown-device (BYOD) trend, and the Internet of Everything (IoE).

The solution will also enable users to intelligently connect people, processes, data, and

things with greater intelligence, security, and efficiency than ever before.

The Cisco Unified Access solution will deliver an integrated and simplified intelligent network platform based on “one policy, one management, and one network” paradigm.

pace with international quality standards.

According to him, Zinox would now be more competitive in terms of pricing, delivery and after sales support while increasing the rate of introducing new products”.

The new plant, Ezuka, added, is an opportunity for Zinox to customise large

orders for its customers.

With an installed capacity and digital certification of 1,250 PCs daily, the Zinox digital plant is expected to open new vistas to the entire IT sector – nurturing new brands, improving the quality of existing brands, and introducing new levels of flexibility with product design and architecture, all

at costs that would reduce prices.

Mr. Uche Onyechere, head of operations of Zinox, said that the experts who were drawn from China and South Africa to install the digital plant also confirmed that Zinox now runs a full-scale digital assembling, which is rated globally with a failure rate of 0.001.

New NBC boss assumes duty

T

he new Director – General of the N a t i o n a l Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr. Emeka Mba has assumed duty following his appointment by the Federal Government last week.

He replaced Yomi Bolarinwa, and on his arrival at the NBC headquarters, Mba was received by the board of management of the Commission led Mr. Mark Ojiah, secretary of the Commission.

In the spirit of his assumption of duty, the new DG met with the management of the Commission and later proceeded to meet with the entire staff of the Commission.

Ojiah welcomed the new director general to the Commission and presented the staff to him.

He informed staff that the DG would later go around the various offices to meet one-on-one with every staff member and

probably ask some pertinent questions on what he or she does, so that he could get an overview of the Commission’s operations first hand.

Mba, in his remarks, thanked members of staff of the Commission for the warm reception accorded him and added that it was a tremendous opportunity for him to be a part of the National Broadcasting Commission.

He further added that the NBC had one of the most arduous tasks of any government agency at the moment considering the political developments in the country, and commended the staff of the Commission for their track record.

Mba also told the staff that the Commission, in the past, had single handedly done an excellent job and prayed that he be able to continue with the laid down tradition and assured staff of his support and hoped that he could also count on their support.

The new DirectorGeneral further added that it was a huge honour for him to be made the Chief Executive of the NBC and promised that he would not fail in his own responsibilities to staff, adding that from the record of hard work of staff of the Commission, his job as the DG was sure to be successful.

Malam Auwalu Salihu, Head, Public Affairs, responding on behalf of the staff of the Commission, welcomed the new Director-General in the traditional style of the Commission and assured the DG that the Commission had a robust workforce of high quality staff, diligent and dedicated to their jobs, assuring the new Director-General that they were ready to support him towards a successful tenure.

Before his new appointment, Mba had served as Director-General of the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board.

Google maps revamp promotes ads and personalises details

G

oogle has unveiled a new version of its Maps web service, which it says has been “rebuilt from the ground up”.

The redesign aims to personalise the product, deciding what to label to best match each user’s interests. It also features new icons highlighting businesses running ads and promotions, which overlay the map.

This may make the maps more attractive to advertisers who have tended to focus on Google’s main search page and rival platforms.

The development was announced at Google’s I/O developers conference in San Francisco.

Until now, companies running pay-per-click marketing campaigns on Google’s Maps service had their locations identified by a blue pin rather than the red marker used for other

businesses.

However, it was not always obvious what the pins referred to as users had to select them or crossreference a list on the side of the screen to discover what organisation each represented.

Now the names of businesses are shown on the

map itself and the first few words of their ads appear in a box superimposed over their location. In addition if they are running a special offer, a blue shopping-tag icon appears next to their name.

The firm said it hoped this would make the wider product “more engaging”.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 22

Nexim Bank and its structural transformation of Nigeria’s economy

By Roberts Orya

N

igeria is the natural leader of Africa. For decades, our dear country has been Africa's foremost producer and 8th world largest exporter of crude oil to the international market.

Nigeria is strategically located to take advantage of modern forms of transportation to enable her participation in cross-border trade, and build a virile domestic economy.

Our population growth rate of average 3 per cent since the last national headcount of 2006 currently has the population estimate at more than 160 million. This in combination with impressive GDP growth average of 6 per cent over the last decade has more recently amplified the importance of Nigeria within the international community.

Indeed, a stable country outlook brought about by our return to democracy in 1999, and the robust reforms which several organs of government have continued to deliver, are endearing the country to both local and foreign investors, chiefly from enterprise point of view.

Our clime is one richly endued with natural and human resources.

Therefore, the numerous and abundant potentials of Nigeria, which are widely recognised, actually include the opportunity for our country to provide the world one of the most inspiring stories of human development that China and emerging Asia seems to now tell exclusively.

But the Vision 2020 tells that policymaking in Nigeria takes cognisance of our potential to leap forward in the global economic, and, in effect, diplomatic order in a few years ahead.

However, it is evident that the important story of Nigeria's advancement from where we are would not be told by earnings from our hydrocarbon reserves (although we have one of the world's largest); our success would be driven by a robust manufacturing industry; selfsufficiency in agriculture for food and processing so that excess yields could tap export markets; world-class service sector to serve domestic industries, global outsourcing and export markets, and commercial access to wider range of mineral deposits that dot every nook and cranny of our country.

The inherent limitations of crude oil-fuelled economic growth, in terms of employment generation, pro-cyclical access to funding for development, and corruption, have come to the fore after the 1970s when as a young nation we came into sudden and abundant wealth from crude oil sales.

The structural

President Goodluck Jonathan transformation of the Nigerian economy is underway. Although we recognised it as a necessity, lack of national ownership and successful implementation elsewhere created the rally against the Structural Adjustment Programme imposed

by International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the '80s. But since then, successive administrations have continued to harp on the need to restructure the fabric of the Nigerian economy.

However, what the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has done, perhaps more than any previous regime, is combine commitment with practical actions in diversifying the Nigerian economy away from sole reliance on crude oil for external revenue.

The management of Nigerian Export - Import Bank (Nexim Bank), which I head as managing director cum CEO, has identified four sectoral anchors of the economic Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) in order to support it and enhance success of the programme. Succinctly, these sectors are Manufacturing, Agro-processing, Solid minerals and Services, which we encapsulate as our "MASS Agenda."

From the institutional viewpoint of Nexim Bank, I am excited at the prospects of playing a role in diversifying the Nigerian economy and harnessing the immense potentials of the sectors which had, hitherto, been neglected.

Indeed, the role Nexim Bank is playing is unique as a development finance institution (DFI).

Multilateral DFIs, best exemplified by the World Bank

Roberts Orya at global level, and African Development Bank (AfDB) at continental level, are alternative financial institutions. Their ubiquity is not represented by brick and mortar; quite unlike commercial banks, DFIs are not known by the high number of branches they have even in the high streets of Lagos, London, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, New York and Dubai. Rather, the spread of development finance institutions are seen in people and businesses they impact.

Quite often, DFIs are bearers of risks which commercial lenders would term excessive, and therefore avoid. New industries, new initiatives, people without financial collaterals, projects which cannot pay commercial cost of finance, etc have been beneficiaries of funding by DFIs. This way, business formation can continue, people can continue to innovate, bias against social and reputational collaterals are reduced, and projects can be incubated and nurtured to when they can attract lending from commercial banks.

In light of the foregoing, the role of development finance institutions are of critical importance in Nigeria where banking penetration is less than 15 per cent of the population, commercial lending rates are prohibitive, land titles are not even available to owner occupiers, but where innovators are born daily, and where we have to eradicate poverty.

And of course, delivery of necessary (infrastructural) projects to aid implementation of programmes under the plan of structural transformation of the Nigerian economy cannot be funded by governments' tax

incomes considering several longterm projects that cannot be delivered by commercial lending. If this is true with government, it is true also for businesses, perhaps more so.

Therefore, while at global level the World Bank lends to governments to deliver crucial projects, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) lends to private sector businesses. And in Nigeria, there are a handful of DFIs which are promoted by the government to support businesses beyond the limits and inclinations of commercial lenders.

Nigerian Export - Import Bank is the official and sole Trade Policy Bank of the Federal Government of Nigeria. In this regard, Nexim Bank provides financing, riskbearing facilities, market information and value-added advisory services to businesses towards deepening exportoriented investments in the country's non-oil sectors of manufacturing, agro-processing, solid minerals and services, for job creation and economic growth.

This mouthful raison d'etre quickly introduces the ownership, functions, focus and goals of Nigerian Export - Import Bank. At the same time, it connects you to my passions and the passions of the executive management and staff of Nexim Bank since my tenure in September 2009.

Nexim Bank is your banker if your business aligns with the objective of the Nigerian government of the day which seeks accelerated economic diversification and increase in export revenue through economic activities other than in the oil sector. Nexim Bank has

provided 12 billion naira in lending to Nigerian export manufacturers in the period August 2009 to April 2013, with many of them carrying the "Proudly Nigerian" label on their products in the West African subregional market and globally.

Similarly, Nexim Bank has funded agro-processing export businesses, to the tune of 6.6 billion naira over the same period.

In the solid mineral sector, we are working in partnership with industry stakeholders to take formal mining off the ground again. Although mining is capital-intense, the Nigerian solid mineral sector needs more than funding. The legal and regulatory frameworks in Nigeria are works -in-progress.

The Mining Act has been reviewed to reflect the ideals of all market participants. Nexim Bank has so far provided over 2 billion naira in early funding to help some commercial miners to develop their site in order to start operation and invite further funding from other sources apart from the long-term commitment of Nexim Bank to the nascent industry.

The Nigerian Creative and Entertainment Industry Stimulation Loan Scheme (NCEILS) which Nexim Bank manages for the Federal Government reflects Nexim Bank's adherence to prudential guidelines on crediting provisioning. Whilst the fund lends at below commercial rate, it is not a grant. It is meant to fund businesses across the entertainment value-chain including filming production, cinema operation, music recording, intellectual property development, recording studios, etc., as a revolving fund with repayment terms.

Irrespective of the challenges operators in the industry have faced with developing good proposals, we believe this is a cultural issue, and not an insurmountable technical limitation. Thus, Nexim Bank has to date disbursed over 1.4 billion naira for the Fund.

Entertainment industry project proposals under review exceed 5 billion naira in value.

Including disbursements to the creative and entertainment industry, Nexim Bank has disbursed 8.5 billion to the services sector, covering support to transportation and hospitality industries.

In my next article in this series, I will share my views on the drive for job creation under the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, and the role Nexim Bank is playing to sustain existing jobs in our focal industries while supporting creation of new ones.

Roberts U. Orya is MD/ CEO, Nigerian Export-Import Bank.

PAGE 23

PEOSPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Report as at Monday, May 20, 2013

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Waste as potential source of wealth

By Olayemi Okeniyi

I

t is not uncommon to see Nigerians tossing trash out of the windows of their cars.

This habit is displayed by owners and passengers of all types of vehicles; and it is not age-specific as the perpetrators are sometimes youngsters who are prompted by adults to throw out trash from the vehicles.

Such wastes could be food remnants or wrappers, plastic bottles or empty aluminum cans of soft drinks, nylon bags or torn newspapers containing shelled nuts or snacks.

But what are the health implications and economic benefits of solid waste generated through this habit?

An environmentalist, Mr Taiwo Adewole, warns people to avoid indiscriminate disposal of waste, adding that they should become friendlier to the environment to ensure good health.

He insists that all human activities that could lead to environmental degradation ought to be discouraged.

“Activities like tree felling, which lead to desertification or sand filling and land reclamation which, at the end of the day, could cause flooding must be checked.

“Flooding and other environmental problems in the country have claimed many lives and property worth billions of naira; yet,

not much is being done to stop further natural disasters,’’ Adewole says.

Commenting on the public attitude to sanitation, Alhaji Idi Farouk, the DirectorGeneral of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), stresses that improper disposal of polythene bags has negative effects on the soil, while blocking drainage channels and causing flooding.

“That is why NOA suggests that the polythene bags used for packaging sachet water should be replaced by biodegradable ones because biodegradable bags would disintegrate in the soil overtime and become manure,’’ he says.

Farouk says that the polythene waste could, however, be collected and converted into plastic pipes for use in sewage disposal, as it is done in Kenya.

Speaking on the usefulness of waste, Prof. Oladele Osibanjo of University of Ibadan advises the government to adopt integrated waste management as a panacea to the country’s environmental and unemployment problems.

“Waste is made up of many valuable materials such as metals, plastics, papers and glasses, among others.

“The fundamental problem in our waste management procedures is that many homes and industries across the country do not know how to handle

Minister of Environment, Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia

their trash.

“So, they simply dispose of it or burn it but the refuse is supposed to be collected, separated and segregated into recyclable and actual trash,’’ he adds.

Osibanjo explains that waste from food is biodegradable, meaning that it can decompose and be used as manure or organic fertiliser.

“Waste is a gold mine, if properly managed; everything we call waste can be recycled for re-use. We can turn waste to wealth, we can also turn waste into energy,’’ he says.

Osibanjo stresses that with the volume of waste being generated in the country, there is need move from outright waste dumping to integrated waste management techniques, as part of efforts to develop the economy.

Waste management experts say that a lot of waste is daily generated by the residents of urban centres across the country.

For instance, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) says that each resident of Lagos generates an average of 0.5 kilogramme of waste every day.

This, in essence, means that LAWMA collects about 10,000 tonnes (10 million kg.) of waste daily and this tends to explain why the landfills established for waste disposal are somewhat filled up.

Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr Ola Oresanya, says that the solution to the state’s waste management problems is not in refuse burning or creating additional land-fills but in recycling of the wastes.

He says that recycling involves a process that changes wastes into new products, adding the process also reduces air and water pollution that usually occur when conventional wastedisposal methods are used.

“We’ve been able to evolve new strategies to make people to recycle their wastes in Lagos; these are aimed at changing the perception of the people not to see wastes as rubbish but as resources.

“We’ve been able to introduce recycling banks; we have the buying-back programme where people bring their trash and we pay them.

“The waste includes assorted materials like water sachets and right now, if you bring it, we pay N30 per kilogramme of paper, plastic bottles and other things like

Scavengers looking for valuables at a public refuse dump site, in Abuja. these,’’ he says.

Oresanya expatiates that through its “Waste-toEnergy’’ programme, LAWMA is now generating electricity from refuse at Ikosi market, adding that the project will be extended to cover more markets this year.

Nevertheless, stakeholders believe that more government involvement is

required in implementing waste-recycling progammes, stressing the need to introduce enforceable penalties for persons who fail to dispose of their waste in proper ways.

Mr Azie Emmanuel, a rural health worker, notes that in virtually all the cities and towns, people discard their waste indiscriminately, adding

that refuse mounds have somewhat become part of the nation’s landscape.

“Due to the fact that these wastes are not biodegradable, they contaminate the soil and disrupt the growth of crops,’’ he says.

Emmanuel, therefore, calls for stringent rules to compel manufacturers, especially big bottling

Photo: Mahmud Isa companies, to recycle plastics and the polythene and aluminum containers discarded by consumers.

“Recycling should be part of the conditions for them to be allowed to operate here; so as they are producing containers, they should also recycle the used ones and our environment will be neater,’’ he says.

Minister of

Environment, Mrs Hadiza Mailafia, insists that the management of waste requires immense technical, human and financial resources.

“Advocacy and sensitisation on communitybased approaches to waste management, establishment of pilot projects on integrated waste management and waste-to-wealth initiatives

will also facilitate the sustainability of waste management.

“Waste transformation, environmental health and sanitation facilities for water and flood control, among others, is the focus of the ministry’s investment,’’ she says.

Mailafia says that the ministry will also establish facilities for hazardous waste

management, expressing Nigeria’s willingness to work with other countries in that regard.

She adds that the Japanese Government has provided N100 million to conduct feasibility study on the waste reprocessing in Nigeria.

Observers note that a plastic recycling plant has been established in Katsina

State, while Lagos State is planning to achieve its goal of recycling about 70 per cent of its waste by 2015.

They, nonetheless, underscored the need for all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to similarly adopt modern waste management procedures to create wealth from their garbage.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 26

State of Emergency: One week on

By Joy Baba

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan last week declared state of emergency in three states in the North Eastern part of the country to put an end to the persistent attack on citizens by the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

The states are; Borno, Yobe and Adama .

Following the President’s directives, Defence Headquarters Abuja immediately deployed troops to the three states to fully take over security activities wihin the states.

The first major move of the Joint Task Force (JTF) first major move was to secure the Nigerian borders around the three states. This, the force said was to stop infiltration of other insurgents into the country .

The Nigeria Police and other security agencies commenced operations immediately to man the nation’s border territories and deny terrorist the free atmosphere to operate. The military operation focused on tracking down criminal elements within the vicinity of border communities prone to terrorist activities.

These operations involved massive deployment of men and resources which was aimed at asserting the nation’s territorial integrity and enhancing the security of constituted governmental structures in all territories within Nigeria’s borders.

Participating troops were also briefed on other operational plans which include; arrests, cordon and search especially directed at apprehending those who have been violating the sovereignty of Nigeria through terrorist training for insurgency and related activities.

This first phase of operation, according to military sources was aimed at putting an end to insurgent activities in these parts of the country.

A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, (DDI) Brig. Gen Chris Olukolade after the deployment, assured law abiding citizens that every effort had been put in place to ensure safety of civilians and non-combatants while the operation lasts.

Olukolade in the statement enjoined all citizens to cooperate with the troops and supply necessary information on criminal and terrorist activities or movement in their localities as the operation was intended to safeguard the nation’s interests and citizens in all parts of the Federation.

Meanwhile, in a swift raid last week, advancing troops of the Special Task Force destroyed some terrorists camps cited in the forests of Northern and central Borno as heavy weapons including anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns were also destroyed in the process.

Troops deployed to Borno after the declaration of the state of emergency The special operations which preceded troop’s movement resulted in the destruction of much of the insurgents’ weapons and logistics such as vehicles, containers, fuel dumps and power generators.

All border posts within the three states were manned by security agents to prevent escape or infiltrations by insurgents.

The DDI in another statement said that Defence Headquarters was quite satisfied with the progress of the operation and the fighting spirit of participating troops at this point

and urged the Special Task Force to sustain the tempo.

As the war against terrorism continues in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa with the mission to rid the nation’s territories of all insurgent activities, the Special Forces on the third day of its operation, apprehended 65 persons confirmed to be terrorists as they made attempts to infiltrate Maiduguri while fleeing from various camps now under attack.

Information from Maiduguri in particular, shows that a total of 11 vehicles, 4 tricycles and 24 handsets were

seized in the process, with all the suspects in custody of the Joint Task Force currently being interrogated.

After apprehending some of the insurgents, other members deserted their erstwhile camps, thus availing the troops the opportunity to occupy the camps.

In another development, the troops engaged and dislodged elements of insurgent groups who carried out attacks on citizens in localities such as Gamboru ward on Friday night.

At the end of the encounter, a total of 10 suspected terrorists

Fake Camoflage used by members of Boko Haram insurgents during their operations being displayed at Army headquarters recently in Abuja.

Photo: Joy Baba

were confirmed dead while weapons such as Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers, assorted ammunition and rifle magazines were recovered.

These areas are currently being combed to fish out any of the surviving insurgents.

According to military sources, ‘some of the fleeing insurgents from various camps have been noted to be in search of fuel from neighboring communities’.

The Defence spokesman, urged citizens to report to JTF, any group of persons roaming around the local communities with large quantities of containers in search of fuel.

In order to sustain the operation, the military had to impose 24 hours curfew in some wards in the Maiduguri metropolis on Saturday.

These areas include; Gamboru, Mairi, Kuwait, Bakin Kogi, Kasuwa Shanu, Ruwan Zafi, 202 quarters, 505 housing estate, Dikwa quarters, low-cost sinimari, Chad basin area, 303 housing estate and Baga road area.

After a mop up of scenes of battle as at Sunday night, 14 terrorist were confirmed dead, while, 7 vehicles and 13 were telephone handsets recovered with a total of 20 terrorists apprehended as they fled.

Regrettably, three soldiers died, while seven were wounded and are being treated in a military medical facility. One soldier was declared missing.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Stories by Joy Baba

I

n its bid to checkmate movement of pirates and other criminal activities on the sea, Nigerian Navy surveillance operations at the Gulf of Guinea have installed digital facilities that will make their operations easier.

With this facility in place, officers and men of the command can conveniently monitor onshore and off-shore activities in the Gulf of Guinea, tracking down pirates, smugglers, pipeline vandals and all those involved in economic sabotage more effectively.

PAGE 27

Navy installs digital facilities to checkmate crimes on sea At the inauguration of the ICT intelligence centre at NNS Victory, Calabar, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Joseph Aikhomu said he had earlier briefed the Chief of Naval Staff about this ICT centre and he commended the initiative.

According to Aikhomu, ‘with the establishment of this ICT centre, Navy’s reaction to developments at the Gulf of Guinea would be swifter’.

He further commended the company, which installed the facility, Protection Plus Services Ltd, for assisting the command in the discharge of its duties.

“This centre is significant in many ways as we all learn every day. It is also meant to teach our officers and men ICT knowledge considering that modern world is information driven. We shall deploy it to full use. The money spent here is not the issue but the knowledge that will be acquired and the ease with

which our job will be done,” Aikhomu said.

In his address, Commander of NNS Victory, Commodore James Oladapo Oluwole said the centre would be open for use by sister services, who want to train their personnel and that the portal would be at the disposal all officers and men of the command.

Obada eulogises late pilots

M

inister of State for Defence, Erelu Olushola Obada, has described the death of the two Air Force pilots killed in the fatal Niamey air crash as a gallant sacrifice for peace to reign in the entire African continent.

Obada stated this recently in Abuja at the burial ceremony of late Squadron Leader Benjamin Ado and Flying officer Ayuba Layelmenson, the two pilots that died in the ill-fated Alpha Jet in Niger Republic on 6th May, 2013.

According to the minister, “we

must see their death as a call to duty to serve humanity.

“We must not let the sacrifice they paid with their lives be in vain and as we continue to confront the present security challenges in some part of the continent and at home, let us emulate the selflessness, courage and commitment exhibited by the late officers” She further urged Nigerians to do all they can within their powers to bring the security challenges we are facing to an end.

Nigerian and Pakistan Air Force to strengthen ties in air sector

N

igerian Air Force and its Pakistan counter have come to an agreement strengthen ties between the two countries in the air sector, training and operations.

Pakistan Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Tahir Butt, who is on a five days working visiting to Nigeria stated this when he paid courtesy call to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Admiral Ola Ibrahim in his office in Abuja.

Butt further said that there had been a long standing relationship between the Pakistan Air Force and the Nigerian Air Force and his visit was to get first hand information on how to build on the relationship that already exist.

The Pakistan Air Force is expanding both in fleets and various areas adding that training was needed for the officers to come out with the desired standard.

The Air Chief said his country will do all within their reach this to help the Nigerian Air Force in the areas they can so that they can achieve what they want to achieve since Pakistan Air Force still have morale reasons to listen to any request from brotherly country like Nigeria He said despite the expansion, the Pakistan Air Force still feel compassion and have morale reasons to listen to any request from brotherly country like Nigeria.

In his words ‘When two people get together the momentum that will come up will be much

better and will be very rewarding to both countries’.

“So we will continue that course and we have discussed some of the areas and we will further discuss some of the areas in our mutual interaction.

“To find out what we can gain from each other and help each other and we will try and do that as tangibly as possible.

“There are a lot of areas, a lot of interactions that take place only on the table in the correspondence and interactions, but some of them failed to be realized materially”.

In his welcome address, Nigerian CDS, Admiral Ola Ibrahim said Pakistan and Nigeria have a lot of things in common adding that the Nigerian Air Force has a very rich history as they train across the globe.

He noted with excitement that in the sub-region Nigerian Air Force was the most visible and they have been instrumental to the deployment of our forces.

“What apparently probably unites us now is what we teach in our colleges everywhere crisis management.

“And a few of own officers that trained with you came home with a lot of experiences and a lot of ideas about how to solve our peculiar challenges, ‘’ the CDS said.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh who had earlier received the Pakistan Chief said on his visit to Pakistan he discovered that they were self sufficient by doing things themselves.

L-R: Police Force Public Relations Officer, CPS Frank Mbah; Air Force Director of Public Relation and information, Air commodore Yusuf Anas; Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen Chris Olukolade; Naval Director of Information, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, and spokesperson of the Department of State Security Service, Ms Marylin Ogar, addressing journalists at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja on the security in the country recently.

Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, presenting coolers to the widow of the late Squardron Leaders Benjamin Ado, during the burial at military cemetary, Abuja recently.

Photos: Joy Baba

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 29

Adoption of direct seeding improves soil quality

S

tarting in the early 1980's, prairie farmers gradually switched from conventional tillage to adopt direct seeding, the seeding of crops directly into undisturbed or cultivated soil.

Direct seeding of crops has improved soil quality, increased soil organic matter and improved nutrient supplying power of the soil. Generally, over a period of years of direct seeding, not only has soil organic matter increased, but there are other improvements in soil quality such as better soil tilth.

"No-till leaves more crop residue on the soil surface to protect surface soil from the damaging forces of wind and rain," says Dr Ross McKenzie, senior research scientist agronomy with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

"Elimination of tillage means less oxygen is added to the soil, which stimulates microorganisms that break down and decompose residue. Crop residue on the soil surface reduces contact with the soil organisms that decompose residues. As a result, surface residue and remaining root material stay in the organic form longer. This contributes to increased soil organic matter."

Prairie farmers are using more diverse crop rotations with cereals, oilseed and pulse crops in their rotation. This generally results in higher crop yields by interrupting the life cycle and impact of some weeds, insects and diseases.

More diverse crop rotations and increased crop yield means more surface residue and root material is returned to the soil to improve soil organic matter. In a long-term crop rotational study initiated in 1992 at Bow Island, in Alberta's Brown Soil Zone, McKenzie has been comparing traditional wheat fallow rotations with extended rotations that include more diversified crop

systems. Soil quality, including soil organic carbon, was measured 6, 12 and 18 years after the trials were initiated.

"There was a significant increase in soil organic carbon, a reflection of organic matter, in the first six years," said McKenzie.

"The increased organic matter has continued after 12 years and 18 years; however,

By Mohammed Kandi, with agency report

more food with fewer resources while reinvigorating rural economies. It can be achieved through collaboration, investment and innovation among all stakeholders.

The World Economic Forum's New Vision for Agriculture initiative engages leaders of business, government, civil society, farmers organisations, development partners and other groups to work together to achieve sustainable agricultural growth.

The initiative also works at the global level with the G8 and

the increase has flattened out as the soil organic matter levels have approached an equilibrium or steady state."

Organic matter acts like a glue to bind soil mineral particles together. Using low disturbance direct seeding systems not only improves soil organic matter, but other benefits include improved soil structure, which in turn

improves water infiltration into soil.

When the only soil disturbance occurs at seeding, there are fewer disturbances of root and earthworm channels.

This also increases the water infiltration rate of rain water into soil and reduced water runoff.

The more water that can

penetrate and be stored in soil, the greater the crop yield potential.

Direct seeding contributes to increased crop water use efficiency. This is particularly important in the drier soil regions in southern and south central Alberta.

Increased crop water use efficiency results in more stable crop yields and farm income.

Source: The crop site

More African women making effort towards the attainment of the global food security

Global food security and the new vision for agriculture S

equel to global calls and urgent need for developing sustainable agricultural systems that would facilitate food security and forestall economic crises, especially in Africa, and in order to feed a population of 9 billion in 2050, the world will need a New Vision for Agriculture delivering food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity through agriculture.

This will require producing

G20, and facilitates nationallevel partnerships in 11 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This includes seven African countries engaged in the Grow Africa partnership, jointly convened by the African Union, NEPAD and the World Economic Forum. The initiative has published a Roadmap to achieve the vision, and a Transformation Framework outlining steps toward nationallevel agriculture transformation Meanwhile, over the past three years, food security and economic crises have highlighted both the urgent

need and the potential for developing sustainable agricultural systems. Nearly one billion people - one out of six globally - lack access to adequate food and nutrition.

By 2050, the global population will surpass 9 billion people, and demand for agricultural products is expected to double. At the same time, the world's agricultural systems will be increasingly challenged by water scarcity, climate change and volatility, raising the risk of production shortfalls. Substantial gains

in agricultural productivity can be realized through investment, innovation, policy and other improvements.

However, realizing these gains will require an exceptional level of collaboration among stakeholders in the agricultural value chain, including governments, companies, multilateral and civil-society organizations, farmers, consumers and entrepreneurs.

Stakeholder alignment around shared priorities and large-scale initiatives is therefore key to success.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

10m farmers to benefit from GES in 2013 F

By Mohammed Kandi

ollowing the ongoing Ag riculture Transformation Agenda of the agriculture sector, the Federal Government is targeting about 10 million farmers in the 2013 Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme.

The Director of Fertiliser, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Akingbolawa Osho, who disclosed this in Abuja, said that the government would soon distribute one million tonnes of fertiliser to the farmers.

He said the government was ready to provide adequate funds for the seed companies to enable them to produce sufficient seeds, as well as allow them address the challenges encountered at the inception of the scheme.

Osho said: "We have about 800,000 tonnes of fertiliser on the ground already. To empower the seeds companies, in 2011 December, the Federal Government got the assistance of the Federal Ministry of Finance, which gave us guarantee for the loans that were given out by all the commercial banks to our seed companies."

How can Africa grow more food with most of its farmers still engaging labour-intensive farming?

"In fact, that was what really made our seed companies to be able to move from that 2,000

tonnes to about 13,000 tonnes in 2012. We have already sensitised all the fertiliser com-

panies that we need nothing less than about a million tonnes of fertiliser this year because

we are targeting 10 million farmers," he explained.

"This year, the guarantee is being given by the Nigeria Incentive-Based RiskSharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) which the seed companies are using to get financing from the commercial banks.

It would be recalled that the GES scheme, which is a F edera l Gov ern men t i n i ti a tive under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, aimed at subsidising the cost of major agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and seeds.

Under the initiative, farmers had accessed inputs through an electronic distribution channel known as the e-Wallet and the conditions of the e-Wallet scheme stipulate that a farmer registered under the scheme pays 50 per cent of the cost of farm inputs while the federal and state governments pay 25 per cent each.

One of the requirements for the scheme is the national farmers' registration exercise, where farmers' data are captured into the ministry's central databank.

Fertilisers provide mixed benefits to soil in 50-years - Kansas study

F

ertilizing with inorganic nitrogen and phospho rus definitely improves crop yields, but does it also improve the soil?

The latest study to tackle this question has yielded mixed results. While 50 years of inorganic fertilization did increase soil organic carbon stocks in a long-term experiment in western Kansas, the practice seemingly failed to enhance soil aggregate stability-a key indicator of soil structural quality that helps dictate how water moves through soil and soil's resistance to erosion.

The results of the research, which was carried out in continuous corn that was also irrigated and conventionally tilled, were somewhat surprising to lead author Humberto Blanco, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln soil physicist. The findings appear in the May-June issue of the Journal of Environmental Quality.

Fertilization typically leaves behind more crop residues in fields, he explains, which in turn can boost soil organic carbon levels. But unexpectedly in this case, "we didn't see improvement in soil aggregate stability even though soil organic carbon concentration increased," Blanco says, noting that soil particles usually bind together more strongly in aggregates as soil organic carbon concentrations rise.

He cautioned, however, that more research is needed over a wider range of management and climatic conditions, particularly since studies of fertilizers' impacts on soil structural properties, such as aggregate stability, are currently few.

"Definitely the effects of inorganic fertilizer application on soil properties will depend on tillage and cropping systems," Blanco says. "So we need to look at this in other long-term experiments."

In the present study, he and co-author Alan Schlegel studied a randomized and replicated experiment that was set up in 1961 at Kansas State University's Southwest Research-Extension Center in

Tribune. The experimental plots of irrigated and tilled (disk/chisel) continuous corn have received six different rates of ammonium nitrate fertilizer (range 0 to 200 pounds/acre) for 50 years. The plots also received two rates of triple superphosphate fertilizer (0 and 18 pounds/acre) for 50 years, and a higher phosphorus rate (36 lb/acre) for 19 years.

Growing corn continuously under conventional tillage and with high inputs of water and fertilizer may seem outmoded, but this management system is "not uncommon," as demand for corn grain and crop residues grow, Blanco says.

When he tested soils from the experimental plots, he saw soil organic carbon concentrations rise gradually with increases in nitrogen fertilization at soil depths from 0 to 6 inches, although not at deeper ones. Similarly, phosphorus fertilization increased soil organic carbon at depths of 0 to 3 inches and 6 to 12 inches.

But Blanco observed a different trend in soil aggregate stability, especially when nitrogen and phosphorus were applied together at high rates. At a depth of three to 12 inches, for example, adding more than 80 pounds of nitrogen per acre reduced the number of

stable soil aggregates by 1.5 times when no phosphorus was applied, by 2.1 times at 18 pounds of phosphorus/ acre, and by 2.5 times at 36 pounds of phosphorus/acre.

"It's clear that we need inorganic fertilizers to meet the increasing demands for food production, so it's important to look at how the extensive use of inorganic fertilizers affects soil properties in the long term," he said.

"The hypothesis is that inorganic fertilization combined with conservation tillage-strip till, no-till, and others-may improve soil structural properties relative to conventional tillage systems."

Source: The crop site

Expert describes biosafety as tool for food security

A

plant breeder, Mr Aromolaran Benserah, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the biosafety bill into law, while describing biosafety as a tool for food security.

He made the call recently in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He rues that the debate on biotechnology has lingered for so long and that proponent of anti-genetic manipulation needed to be more enlightened on the issue of biosafety.

He suggested that the issue of biosafety should the intro-

duced into the Agricultural Value Chain (AVC) programme of the present administration.

"Agricultural biotechnology is a cutting-edge technology that can drive agricultural value chain and the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) successfully and President Jonathan should be commended for appreciating these lofty goals.

"However, government should take the issue of biosafety very serious as it can help increase crops productivity and ensure food and nutritional security,''

Benserah said.

Benserah argued that biosafety could increase the income levels of rural farmers if properly managed.

According to him, it can also help re-launch the country to a major dependable agricultural income earner in the world.

He urged the Federal Government to empower research councils in the country in order to unravel some of the many controversies of biotechnology.

He said that the success of the biosafety bill rests on seed

security and that seed security was not restricted to the ability to make seeds available to farmers alone.

He observed that there are immense opportunities of biotechnology for the safety of mankind.

NAN recalls that the Senate had on June 1, 2011 sent the bill to President Jonathan for assent.

The passage of the Biosafety bill was predicated on the emergence of technology a powerful tool that could help boost agricultural productivity in many countries. (NAN)

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2012

Appraising Nigeria's quest for guinea worm-free certification

By Chijioke Okoronkwo

F

rom all indications, Nigeria is set to be certified free of guinea worm disease, a scourge which has ravaged parts of the country over the years.

Reports from the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (NIGEP) indicate that Nigeria has attained a guinea wormfree status and is eagerly awaiting the visit of the International Certification Team (ICT) next month.

NIGEP statistics show that a total of 653,620 cases of guinea worm disease were identified in 5,879 villages at the inception of NIGEP in 1998, while the last case of the disease was reported in Nigeria on Nov. 11, 2008.

Guinea worm disease is caused by a nematode worm, dracunculus medinensis, which grows in the human body of an infected person and emerges from different parts of the body after maturity.

Guinea worm disease is prevalent in poverty-stricken areas and it is contracted by drinking water from ponds and other unprotected or unsafe water sources.

NIGEP, which was established by the Federal Government in 1998 to coordinate the fight against the disease, has worked concertedly with other stakeholders to achieve this feat.

At present, the agency is galvanizing all stakeholders toward ensuring that Nigeria becomes certified as a guinea worm-free country come June.

The NIGEP Coordinator, Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu, said that guinea worm disease had been eliminated in the country through concerted efforts aimed at implementing disease-eradication strategies.

She recalled that in 2008, a total of 38 cases of guinea worm disease were reported from Ekerigwe, a suburb of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, Ezza Nkwubor and Utamazi in Enugu East Local Government Area (LGA) as well as Owahi-Ubahu in Nkanu East LGA in Enugu State.

However, Anagbogu noted that from December 2008 till date, Nigeria had maintained a zero-guinea worm disease status for 52 consecutive months.

She stressed that water supply in the villages that were hitherto at risk now stood at 97 per cent, while only two villages in Benue State, under NIGEP's focus, had yet have safe water sources. ``UNICEF has promised assistance in these villages; Orizor in Oju LGA and Eka Ulayi in Ado LGA of Benue State,'' she said.

Anagbolu said that NIGEP had some set targets in efforts to achieve up to 85 per cent timely reporting from all health facilities - public, private, primary, secondary and tertiary -- in all the country's 774 LGAs from the current level of 57 per cent. ``The targets are to achieve at least 80 per cent sensitisation of the general public in rural and urban areas towards knowing about the reward put in place for reporting guinea worm infections. ``They are also to let all the health staff at federal, state and local government levels to know the case definition of guinea worm disease and the appropriate response to a suspected case,'' she said.

The NIGEP coordinator said that as part of efforts to achieve these targets, action was being expedited in the ongoing nationwide data harmonisation and documentation.

Anagbogu said that there were intensive advocacy, social mobilisation, awareness creation and supportive supervision activities in all the states of the federation.

She solicited the support of media

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu outfits, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, market unions, among others, in this regard.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Buki Ponle, a veteran journalist and a member of National Certification Committee, said that guinea worm disease would be the second disease to be eliminated after small pox.

He noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had confirmed that guinea worm disease, which had plagued people for thousands of years, was on the verge of eradication. ``The UN agency says guinea worm will be eradicated only after transmission of the disease in the affected countries has been interrupted for a minimum period of three years; Nigeria is already at this

stage. ``WHO officials say finding and confronting the last remaining cases of guinea worm disease is the most difficult stage of the eradication process because cases usually occur in remote, hard-toreach areas. ``However, ensuring wide access to safe drinking water and promoting health education and behaviour change is the best way to prevent guinea worm infections,'' Ponle said.

Besides, international organisations in charge of efforts to eradicate guinea worm disease worldwide have reaffirmed that the disease has been eradicated in Nigeria via its partnership with stakeholders.

For instance, Dr Emmanuel Miri, the Country Representative of the Carter Centre in Nigeria, recently asserted that

“

The UN agency says guinea worm will be eradicated only after transmission of the disease in the affected countries has been interrupted for a minimum period of three years; Nigeria is already at this stage.

Nigeria was free from guinea worm disease.

Miri, who noted that the nongovernmental organisation had been waging a war against guinea worm disease in the past 16 years, said that the centre had succeeded in efforts to wipe it out of Nigeria. ``In the global guinea worm eradication component of our programme, we have achieved a very rare feat, which is the successful eradication of the disease in Nigeria. ``Nigeria was at one point in time rated as the most endemic guinea worm country in the world but through our efforts, the disease has now been completely eradicated. ``Anytime from now, a WHO team and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter will come to Nigeria to officially certify the country guinea worm-free,'' he added.

Miri said that the organisation had offered to pay a N25,000 reward to anyone who reported any case of guinea worm from any part of the country to the centre.

He said that in spite of the monetary inducement, no one had reported any new case of guinea worm disease from any part of the country in the past three years.

Miri said that the centre, which was founded about 30 years ago, had been able to realise its aims and objectives.

He said that the main objectives of the centre were to wage war against diseases globally and to achieve global peace, democracy as well as poverty eradication in developing countries.

Observers say that it is heartwarming to note that Ebonyi, previously ranked high in the index of guinea worm endemic states in Nigeria, now has a different and cheery story to tell.

The Ebonyi State Government emphasised that the state had not recorded any case of guinea-worm infection since 2007.

Dr Sunday Nwangele, the Commissioner for Health and Environment, said that the feat was achieved through the determination and commitment of the government. ``Ebonyi State was known for guineaworm infestation for several years but today, I am glad to say that our efforts and policies on water, sanitation and health have curbed this development. ``The government has both upgraded and protected the Ezillo water scheme and it has started two other gigantic water schemes at Oferekpe and Ukawu to further improve water supply in the state. ``The water projects will reticulate potable water to every part of Ebonyi State, while sanitary officers have commenced house-to-house inspection as part of our efforts to maintain clean and healthy environment," Nwangele said.

In the same vein, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Mohammed Pate, recently gave the assurance that guinea worm disease was almost a thing of the past in the country.

Pate said that Nigeria had moved away, from being among the most guinea worm endemic countries in the world, to achieving a zero-guinea worm disease case status.

He noted that the Federal Government was making determined efforts to ensure that Nigeria got guinea worm disease-free certification from the ICT. As Nigeria eagerly awaits the visit of the ICT next month, observers stress that the tempo and verve that led to the eradication of the guinea worm disease in Nigeria should be sustained before and after the visit.

They also insist the country should be more proactive and extra vigilant in efforts to curb any resurgence of the disease.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 31

Regional language campaigners denounce France ANALYSIS

C

ampaigners for French regional language rights have called on UNESCO to grant them "cultural asylum" and accused the French state of systematic linguistic discrimination amid growing concern for the future of languages such as Breton and Occitan.

Protesters gathered outside the UN cultural organisation's Paris headquarters on Wednesday carrying banners that said: "French state killing our languages."

They included representatives from an alliance of groups also representing Basque, Catalan, Alsatian and Corsican speakers as well as the indigenous languages of France's overseas territories.

Alexis Quentin, the secretary general of EBLUL/ ELEN France, a Europe-wide network of language campaigners, said a delegation meeting UNESCO officials had been "well received".

"They insisted that they need UNESCO to acknowledge that French regional languages are in a poor situation because France does not respect international conventions and treaties," Quentin told Al Jazeera. "We want UNESCO to officially ask the government to pay attention to the protests in this country."

'Historic day' ean Francois Laffont, an Occitan language campaigner and the head of the delegation, told reporters it was an "historic day for the languages of France".

A spokesperson for UNESCO told Al Jazeera the delegation had delivered a petition, but said it was not the organisation's role to comment on the matter.

France is a signatory to several UNESCO treaties protecting diversity of languages, including the 2001 Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, which calls on members to safeguard linguistic heritage and promote multi-lingualism.

Yet it is among only a handful of European nations that has not ratified the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages, which is considered the main legislation promoting the rights of lesser-used language speakers across the continent and a current prerequisite of European Union membership.

Davyth Hicks, head of the Brussels-based Eurolang language advocacy group, pointed out that if France was

J

language across southern France.

But the situation is probably worse than UNESCO's figures suggest. Its most recent edition of the atlas, dating from 2010, estimated the number of Breton speakers at about 250,000, but many of those are elderly and the language faces a sharp demographic decline over the next decade. angiLouarn, a campaigner from the northwest region of Brittany, told Al Jazeera that Breton was in danger of dying as a social language because speakers were discouraged from using it and many young people saw little benefit in learning a language with no official status.

"It's getting worse all the time," he said. "Whenever we try to do something to use Breton in daily life we face a lot of obstacles. Every day you are discriminated against as a Breton speaker, so it is very difficult to go on."

Since coming to power, Hollande's government has reiterated its recognition of the need for fresh measures to protect and promote France's regional languages.

Vincent Peillon, the education minister, said on Monday that the government remained in favour of ratifying the European charter, but acknowledged that it faced legal difficulties.

M e a n w h i l e , AurelieFilippetti, the French culture minister, established an advisory committee on languages in March, and said that ratification of the charter was only one measure among many needed to encourage linguistic pluralism.

"We need to break once and for all with the idea that learning a language involves unlearning another," said Filippetti. "And reconnect with the idea that it is a plurality of languages, alongside French, that can give our country its true face, a nation open to the world, confident in its rich heritage, making its history key in adapting to the challenges of the future."

But Quentin dismissed the committee as a distraction, pointing to the fact that crucial legislation on education policy currently under scrutiny in the French parliament did not include adequate measures to promote regional languages.

"A committee has no power.

A committee is just for the show, and nothing concrete," he said. "It was created by the culture ministry to consider new legislation. But a very important piece of legislation regarding education is about to be voted on, so it is already too late."

Source: Al Jazeera

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One activist said that if France was an aspirant EU state its application would be rejected because of its lack of basic protection for minority languages [AFP] an aspirant EU state its application would be rejected because of its lack of basic protection for languages.

"The fact that language activists have had to resort to such a desperate measure as calling for cultural asylum for their languages at UNESCO only reflects the pitiful state of national and linguistic minority rights in the French state," he told Al Jazeera. "Since the French Revolution, which was meant to uphold equality, it has worked hard at what can only be described as a cultural genocide, removing and now eradicating regional languages from public life."

Wednesday's protest was timed to coincide with the the first anniversary of French President Francois Hollande's inauguration in order to highlight his failure to make good on a campaign promise to ratify the regional languages charter.

Measures for that purpose were absent from a package of proposed constitutional reforms put forward by JeanMarc Ayrault, the French prime minister, in March.

In a statement, Colette Capdevielle, a member of the National Assembly for Hollande's Socialist Party in the Basque region of southern France, said the policy had been dropped because of the negative opinion of the Council of State, the country's highest judicial body, which ruled in 1999 that ratification of the charter would "violate the constitutional principles of the indivisibility of the Republic".

The status of French as the

country's only official language is enshrined in article two of the French constitution which states: "The language of the Republic shall be French." ut Quentin said the Council of State was not a democratic body and that there was growing popular support for regional language rights, even if that required amendments to the constitution.

"Hollande made a promise, so we are very disappointed," he said. "And we know, from Paris, from the country, from the towns, from the villages, people are upset. Even a majority of deputies [in the National Assembly] are upset.

"The majority of civil society is for that evolution for respecting regional languages, and a majority could be found, within the government and the opposition, even for changing the constitution."

Campaigners say there are approximately five million

B

people in France who are fluent in one of the country's regional languages.

The use of languages other than French was once banned outright and speakers say they still face discrimination in public life, with no provision made by the state for public education and regional language media, which are considered vital safeguards for languages to flourish.

"Regional languages in France are completely expelled from the institutions, from schools, from the media, from the constitution, from the law, and nothing is legal," said Quentin.

NESCO'S atlas of endangered languages lists 26 under threat in France, including Breton, once the world's most widely used Celtic language with about one million speakers just one century ago, and Occitan, a group of related dialects that were once the predominant

U

“

But Quentin dismissed the committee as a distraction, pointing to the fact that crucial legislation on education policy currently under scrutiny in the French parliament did not include adequate measures to promote regional languages.

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Mali: ECOWAS Parliament calls for legal action against coup perpetuators

By Abdulkadir Isa

Congo's army clashes with rebels near Goma

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ongolese soldiers clashed with rebel fighters for the first time in nearly six months on Monday near the city of Goma, just days before U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is due to visit the troubled eastern borderlands.

Fighting began in the early morning after the Tutsidominated M23 rebels attacked government positions around 10 km (6 miles) north of mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's largest city, a military spokesman told Reuters.

M23 seized and briefly held Goma last November despite the presence of thousands of U.N. soldiers.

"The fighting has been with heavy weapons. It's still continuing although it is less intense ... We're sending reinforcements. We must protect the town of Goma at all costs," Colonel Olivier Hamuli said.

M23 spokesman AmaniKabasha said that M23 had initially driven off an attack by the FDLR, a Rwandan Hutu rebel group based in Congo's volatile east, before coming under attack from government artillery.

"We are not responding to their shelling, but what we're hearing is not good, that (Congolese president Joseph) Kabila is sending reinforcements. He needs to calm down," Kabasha said.

No casualty figures from the clashes were immediately available.

The fighting comes after months of stalled peace negotiations and as Tanzanian troops, part of a new U.N. brigade charged with neutralizing armed groups including M23, began deploying in the east.

Ban is due to arrive in Goma this week as part of a visit with the president of the World Bank, aiming to draw attention to the conflict in Congo, where millions

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he ECOWAS Parliament has called on the ECOWAS heads of state and governement to institute a legal action on the perpepuators of the March 22 coup d'etatin Mali.

This call came as the Parliament unanimously endorsed the resolution of the committee set up to look into the challenges of the Mali crises and fastrack the recovery process.

In the report submited to the Speaker of the parliamnet, Ike Ekweremadu, three measures were outlined to the ECOWAS Heads of Governemnt saying, governments should "initiate a

The Mali report was the last among other committees to be treated marking the end of the three-week long ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament.

In his closing remark, the speaker said the Parliament is not mindful of expansion of its power only, but also the doggedness of the house on reawaking the youth of the subregion. He also said the parliament has resolved to transform the parliament from what it was to a parliament West Africans will forever be proud of.

The second session of theParliament is expected to reconvene next september in Abuja.

ECOPARL Speaker, Ekweremda

Ike

South Sudan army retakes town from rebels in east S

outh Sudan's army has retaken an eastern town captured by rebels two weeks ago, a military spokesman said on Monday, in a conflict that has uprooted thousands of people and hampered government plans to explore for oil.

Army spokesman Philip Aguer said four soldiers and a dozen rebels were killed during a brief battle on Sunday to recapture Boma town in Jonglei state, where the government wants to search for oil with the help of France's Total.

"The SPLA (army) restored order and control of Boma yesterday. I was there myself," Aguer told Reuters.

But Peter KonyiKubrin, a spokesman for rebels also known as the South Sudan Democratic Army, denied they had lost the town.

Since winning independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan has been struggling to impose its authority across vast swathes of territory awash with weapons after decades of civil war with Khartoum ended in a peace deal in 2005.

Rebel leader David YauYau, a former theology student, raised a rebellion in 2010 after failing to win a seat in local elections.

He accepted an amnesty in 2011 only to take up arms again a year later to end what his group's manifesto calls corruption and

the unfair dominance of the ruling party.

The United States and several European powers urged the government to find a political solution to the conflict.

"We stress that the worsening situation in Jonglei state

requires a political and not a military solution," said a statement by several Western embassies in the capital Juba.

The embassies said they were alarmed by the recent looting of private homes and compounds of foreign aid groups in Pibor,

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Bottling Company, Mr. Segun Apata, former President of South Africa, Mr. Thambo Mbeki, President Goodluck Jonathan, and Panel Member, World Bank Inspection Panel, Zeinab B. Elbakri, after a high level panel meeting on illicit financial flow in Africa, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

President Morsi rules out Sinai abduction talks

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Ban-ki moon Ban is due to arrive in Goma this week.

case before the ECOWAS Court of Justice, against the perpetutors, coperpetuators and accomplices of the acts of the human rights violation committed during the occupation". The report futher urged the ECOWAS Heads of government to "enforce the prescribed sanctions on persons already identified who were found guilty of obstructing the transitional process, in particular the ex-junta and their political allies"and also ensure necessary steps are taken to involve ECOWAS in the process of preparing electoral operations, campaign activities and the candidates before and after elections.

he Egyptian president has ruled out negotiating with the abductors of seven members of the security forces seized last week in the Sinai Peninsula.

In a statement, Mohammed Morsi said there was "no room for dialogue with the criminals".

He was speaking after a video emerged apparently showing the three police officers and four soldiers pleading for their release.

The kidnappers are said to be demanding the release of political detainees.

Mr Morsi's statement came after a meeting with senior politicians on Sunday.

The president wrote on his Twitter feed that "all options are on the table" to free the hostages and that the government in Cairo would "not succumb to blackmail".

The seven men were captured while travelling in minibuses in northern Sinai, east of the city of El Arish.

While the identity of their captors is unclear, the BBC's Shaimaa Khalil in Cairo says reports suggest they are jihadist

militants.

State media said earlier that local Bedouin tribal leaders had been asked to act as mediators.

In the unverified video posted online on Sunday, seven blindfolded men are seen with their hands on their heads. One appeals to President Morsi to rescue them, by securing their freedom through the release of political detainees from Sinai.

The abductions have prompted angry police to shut down border crossings with Gaza and Israel until the hostages are

released.

The peninsula has become increasingly lawless since President Hosni Mubarak was ousted in 2011.

There have been several incidents in which Western tourists and other foreigners have been kidnapped.

Correspondents say they are usually released fairly quickly, but some migrants from poorer regions seeking a better life in the West have been seized and brutally mistreated by people traffickers.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 33

Asia and Middle East

Imran Khan's party wins Karachi revote

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he party of former Pakistani cricket star Imran Khan has secured victory in a repeat election held in one constituency of violence-plagued Karachi, election officials say.

Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party's candidate, ArifAlvi, secured 77,659 votes to beat his closest rival KhushbakhtShujaat of the MuttahidaQaumi Movement (MQM) who polled 30,365 votes, Najib Ahmed, the election commission spokesman, said giving the unofficial results.

Polling was re-run after complaints of ballot-stuffing in the upmarket district of the vast port city, Pakistan's economic engine, during the May 11 general election.

Voting was held under tight security in 43 polling stations on Sunday, a day after Zahra ShahidHussain, a provincial vice-president for the PTI, was shot dead outside her home in the city.

The win sets the stage for protests and counter-protests, as the city reels from Sunday's killing.

Hussain was attacked hours before re-elections took place in the NA-250 constituency of Karachi.

The motives behind the attack remained unclear, but Khan has blamed the rival MQM, which has a stronghold on Karachi.

Hussain "was leaving her home for some work when three gunmen attacked her. She thought they wanted to snatch her purse and handed it over to them but they killed her," FirdousShamim, a local PTI leader, told the AFP news agency.

Police said all three assailants escaped after the attack late on Saturday.

"They shot her with one bullet near her chin and she could not survive," NasirAftab, a senior police official, told AFP. ImtiazTyab, reporting from the capital Islamabad, said that a message on Twitter sent out by Khan, accusing MQM of being behind the attack, had "charged the political debate in Pakistan".

AltafHussain, the MQM leader, is wanted on murder charges in Pakistan and leads his party from self-imposed exile in England.

Imran Khan

India, China pledge on border row

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isiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has said India and China must "improve mechanisms" to settle a longrunning border dispute, pledging his commitment to "peace and tranquility".

Premier Li was speaking during a joint address with his Indian counterpart, PM Manmohan Singh, in the capital, Delhi.

Mr Singh said special representatives from the two countries would meet soon to discuss ways to end the row.

The meeting comes after a recent flare-up in border tensions.

Premier Li arrived in Delhi on Sunday in the first stop of his maiden foreign trip since taking office.

The two neighbours are the world's two most populous countries.

During Monday's talks, the two sides discussed trade ties and other bilateral issues and signed eight agreements.

"We don't deny there are problems between the two sides," Premier Li said. "We need to improve border related mechanisms and make them more efficient," he added.

"Both Mr Singh and I believe there are far more interests than differences between our two sides.

We need to confront issues with a broad mind, and tackle them in a mature way," he said.

PM Singh said India and China had "agreed that our special

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) with Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in Delhi. representatives will meet soon to continue discussions seeking an early agreement on a framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable boundary settlement".

"Peace and tranquillity on our border has to be preserved," he said.

A decades-long border dispute flared up last month after India accused Chinese troops of crossing the countries' de facto frontier.

The dispute over the territory in the Ladakh region has dogged the two countries since the 1950s.

At an informal meeting on Sunday night, Mr Singh told Mr Li that a recent military standoff on the Himalaya border could affect relations between the two countries.

Both sides, however, were keen to ensure that the border spat did

Two killed in Yemen drone strike

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wo people were killed on Monday in a drone strike on their vehicle south of the capital Sanaa, tribal and government sources said.

The strike follows another on Saturday in which at least four people were killed in Abyan governorate, in southern Yemen. A Yemeni official did not say who was behind the attack, but previous strikes have been carried out by the United States.

Monday’s strike occurred at dawn in the Radda area in alBayda province, but the sources

gave no further details and Washington does not usually comment on drone strikes.

The United States has stepped up attacks on Yemenbased al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), once described by a senior U.S. official as the group’s most dangerous branch after a plot by it to attack international airliners was foiled.

Yemen is next to the world’s top oil exporter Saudi Arabia and major crude shipment routes.

Yemeni officials have said

that at least six suspected militants were killed in two drone strikes last month.

Another six suspected al Qaeda members were killed in January.

Militants allied to AQAP exploited Arab Spring chaos in Yemen in early 2011 to seize control of some towns in the country’s southern provinces, including Radda and Jaar, where Saturday’s strike occurred.

Although they were pushed from the towns last year they continue to fight government forces.

China asks North Korea to free seized boat

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hina says it has called on North Korea to secure the release of a fishing boat and its crew seized earlier this month.

Owner Yu Xuejun said the vessel had been in Chinese waters when the 16-man crew were seized on 5 May. Mr Yu said the North Korean captors were demanding a 600,000 yuan ($100,000, £66,000) ransom.

State-run Xinhua news agency said that diplomats in Pyongyang had been asked for help on 10 May and were working on the issue.

"Upon receiving the call, the Chinese embassy promptly made representations to the... DPRK [North Korean] Foreign Ministry, asking the DPRK side to release the boat and the fishermen as soon as possible," the agency quoted Counsellor Jiang Yaxian of Beijing's

embassy in Pyongyang as saying.

It called for the crews' "legitimate rights and interests" to be safeguarded, he added.

Boat-owner Mr Yu told Global Times newspaper he had received eight calls from the people holding his crew demanding the ransom.

There have been incidents in the past in the Yellow Sea, which lies between China and the Korean peninsula and has rich fishing grounds.

In May 2012, 29 Chinese fishermen and three vessels were seized by unidentified North Koreans.

They were freed after two weeks and it was not clear whether a ransom had been paid, nor whether the captors had been the North Korean authorities or autonomous kidnappers.

China has traditionally been

North Korea's closest ally. But in the wake of Pyongyang's third nuclear test, on 12 February, ties between the two have chilled.

Beijing backed expanded sanctions on Pyongyang over the test and some of its banks have suspended transactions with North Korea's main foreign exchange bank.

Chinese state press has also become more vocal on the issue, openly debating the merits of alliance with Pyongyang.

Since Saturday, North Korea has fired five short-range missiles off its coast: three on Saturday, and one on both Sunday and Monday.

"North Korea again launched what appears to be a KN-02 shortrange missile," a defence ministry official told South Korea's Yonhap news agency on Monday.

"We are closely watching the

not derail a general warming in relations between the neighbours and the two leader talked of "more shared interests than differences".

China is already one of India's top trading partners and both countries have already agreed a new $100bn (£65bn) bilateral trade target for 2015.

Premier Li said he had agreed to address India's concerns about the size of the trade deficit with China.

On his arrival in Delhi, Premier Li said said his decision to choose India for his first foreign visit since taking office "indicates the great importance Beijing attaches to its relations" with Delhi.

During his three-day visit in India, he is also expected to meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi and leader of the opposition in the LokSabha [the lower house of Indian parliament] SushmaSwaraj.

He is also scheduled to address university students in Delhi and business leaders in Mumbai, India's financial capital, before travelling on to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany. movements of the North's military in case of further launches."

The tests also prompted a warning from UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon on Sunday.

"I hope that North Korea will refrain from such actions," Mr Ban, who was visiting Moscow, told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency. "It is time for them to resume dialogue and lower the tensions."

North Korea routinely testfires these kinds of missiles, but such a sustained launch period is unusual, the BBC's Lucy Williamson reports from Seoul.

There is worry in South Korea that, after suspending the joint Korean economic zone Kaesong Industrial Complex, and restarting its mothballed nuclear facility, North Korea is planning further actions that may ignite an international response, our correspondent adds.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas Colombia FARCseeks 'more time' for peace deal

Canada's top aide quits over expenses scandal

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olombia's left-wing FARC rebels have rejected criticism that efforts to end almost fifty years of conflict are moving too slowly.

FARC lead negotiator Ivan Marquez said achieving lasting peace in Colombia would take "more time".

He spoke as the rebels and the Colombian government marked six months since peace talks began.

President Juan Manuel Santos has said he hopes a deal can be reached within months rather than years.

Peace negotiations began in Cuba in November.

Mr Marquez told reporters in the capital, Havana, on Sunday that he did not understand why the pace of talks was being described as slow.

"You have been watching the Giro d'Italia (cycle race).

Some people want us to go at this pace, but if we go at this pace, we will fail."

"We have to approach these issues with serenity, with depth if we really want to form the solid basis to build a stable and long-lasting peace," he said.

Talks remain stalled over the issue of land redistribution in Colombia, the first of a fivepoint agenda.

The Colombian government has promised to return millions of hectares of stolen land to displaced peasants, one of the rebels' main demands.

But Bogota insists that the rebels must first put down their guns and cease hostilities.

Jorge Restrepo, director of Colombia's Conflict Analysis Resource Centre, a private and independent research group, told Efe news agency that "no big changes have happened" in Colombia since the talks began.

"We have seen an intensification of violence that violates the human rights of indigenous and AfroColombian communities and human rights defenders."

Mr Restrepo argued that the Farc could be trying to gain time "to retrain... and to gather strength".

Colombia's internal conflict began in the 1960s.

It has already claimed the lives of tens of thousands people and left millions more displaced from their land.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he accepted Wright's resignation with great regret [Reuters]

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he top aide to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has resigned over his role in a mounting expenses scandal which is threatening to undermine the Conservative government.

Nigel Wright, Harper's chief of staff, quit on Sunday after secretly

giving a C$90,000 ($87,000) cheque in February to Mike Duffy, a member of the upper Senate chamber, to help him cover living expenses he had improperly claimed. News of the gift leaked on May 14.

Opposition legislators said the cheque broke ethics rules that

forbid senators from taking presents and made a mockery of the government's repeated promises to increase accountability in Ottawa. Duffy, a former national television journalist, resigned from the Conservative caucus on Thursday.

Officials told reporters on Friday that the chief of staff - who says he did not tell Harper about the cheque - would be staying.

"In light of the controversy surrounding my handling of matters involving Senator Duffy, the prime minister has accepted my resignation," Wright said in a statement.

"I regret the impact of this matter on the government, our caucus, and all of my colleagues," added Wright, a businessman who had been on secondment to Harper's office from private equity firm Onex Corp. He started work on January 1, 2011.

The expenses scandal is one of the biggest crises to hit the Conservatives since they took power in early 2006 promising to clean up government after a series of scandals helped bring down the previous Liberal administration.

The Conservatives are in "fullout political panic", said Charlie Angus, a member of parliament and the ethics critic for the official

opposition New Democratic Party.

Angus said Wright's resignation would not halt the NDP's call for an official probe into the matter.

In a sign of the potential damage the scandal could do to the government, Conservative MP Brent Rathgeber told Global Television that his voters were angry.

"Any suggestion that taxpayers are treated disrespectfully is met with significant concern, I would say even angst," said Rathgeber, who represents a constituency in the western province of Alberta, a ruling party stronghold.

Pamela Wallin, another Conservative senator whose expenses have been questioned, quit the caucus late on Friday.

Wallin is also a former television journalist.

Opinion polls show the Conservatives trailing the Liberals, who have steadily grown more popular since Justin Trudeau - the telegenic son of former Liberal prime minister Pierre Trudeau was elected leader last month.

Harper said he had accepted Wright's resignation with great regret. The next election is not due until October 2015 and the Conservatives have a comfortable majority in the House of Commons.

David Cameron warns overseas territories on tax

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rime Minister David Cameron has urged British overseas territories to "get their house in order" and sign up to international treaties on tax.

He wrote to 10 territories and crown dependencies, including the Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man, which operate low-tax regimes.

Critics claim such places are used by companies for tax avoidance or evasion.

The plea came ahead of a G8 summit in June, when the UK is expected to push for tighter tax measures.

"With one month to go, this is the crucial moment to get our own

houses in order," Mr Cameron wrote in the letter.

"I respect your right to be lower tax jurisdictions... but lower taxes are only sustainable if what is owed is actually paid."

The 10 territories that received the letter are Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Anguilla, Montserrat, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Some have been described by the UK government as having "complex tax arrangements".

Low taxes and light touch regulation have seen some of them become major centres for

international business.

But the lack of transparency in their banking systems has left them open to accusations that they are being used to avoid paying taxes.

Mr Cameron urged them to sign international protocols designed to allow tax information to be shared more easily between countries, and also to take measures to improve their own transparency.

"Put simply, that means we need to know who really owns and controls each and every company," he said.

Tax avoidance, where companies operate within the rules to avoid paying taxes, and tax

evasion, which is outside the law, have risen high on the political agenda in recent months.

High-profile companies like Google, Amazon and Starbucks have faced criticism in the UK for the low levels of tax they appear to pay compared with the size of their businesses.

On Sunday, Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt defended the company's tax affairs.

He said the search engine giant "has always aspired to do the right thing", but added that "international tax law could almost certainly benefit from reform".

Writing in the Observer, he said he wanted "to move the debate forward".

EU worried over Russia's human rights record

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he European Union criticized Russia's human rights record on Sunday, saying it was increasingly concerned at a wave of restrictive legislation and prosecutions against activists.

The 27-nation bloc cited the cases of protesters arrested at a demonstration on the eve of President Vladimir Putin's inauguration last year who are still awaiting trial, and a new law requiring charities with funding from abroad to register as "foreign agents".

"Both sides discussed at length the worrying situation of civil society in the Russian Federation," the EU said in a statement, which

followed a meeting on human rights with Russian officials in

Brussels on Friday.

Human rights groups in Russia

(L-R) Russian President Vladimir Putin, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

accuse Putin of a clampdown on dissent since he returned as president, which they say is designed to tighten his grip on power.

On a trip to Moscow this month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry avoided harsh criticism of Russia's record on civil liberties as he sought the Kremlin's help in securing a political solution to the conflict in Syria.

The European Union said it would closely watch developments affecting non-governmental organizations in Russia, and asked the government to ensure that defense lawyers were able to work freely.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 35

Pupil, 10, who spots 'grammar mistakes' in her English exam writes a letter of complaint

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schoolgirl who spotted grammatical ‘mistakes’ in her English exam has written a letter of complaint to Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Eagle-eyed Rebecca Lee, 10, a pupil at Christ Church Primary School in Clifton, Bristol, noticed commas ‘missing’ from two questions in her SATs last Tuesday.

The Year Six pupil says she was so ‘annoyed’ by the basic punctuation errors that she wanted to take her complaint to the top.

So she wrote to Mr Gove saying: ‘I understand that you are very keen for us to all learn our complex sentences and use of accurate punctuation.

‘I believe that your department should also use the correct punctuation in all SATs tasks.’

The schoolgirl said she hoped to hear back from Mr Gove.

Rebecca, from Clifton, said: ‘The exam wording should be setting an example and I was annoyed. I had to write.

‘I’ve not heard back yet and am still waiting - Mr Gove’s busy but I do hope to get a response back.’

The ‘mistakes’ were in a section of the exam on complex sentences - and had commas ‘missing’ from two sentences.

Education Secretary Michael Gove, left, and the letter he was sent by Bristol schoolgirl Rebecca Lee, right One sentence read: ‘If there is not enough rainfall this month there will be a drought’ and ‘As he was the chief of the tribe the final decision was his.’

This afternoon a spokesman for the Department for Education defended the lack of commas in the exam paper.

He said: ‘The commas here are a matter of choice. They can be used to mark out clauses that appear at the beginning or

Rebecca Lee, 10, from Bristol, wrote to Education Secretary Michael Gove over punctuation errors in her SATs

the end of a sentence, but they are not necessary.

‘We decided to use commas sometimes and not at others to make the tests more like real life where people will have their own styles.

‘The only clauses that must be surrounded by commas are those in the middle of a sentence.’

The same sentences featuring commas in the correct places - had appeared in

an earlier part of the exam on grammar.

Around half a million pupils around the country took the same exam last week.

Rebecca’s mother Jo Lee, 40, a town planner, said: ‘A group of children were discussing in the playground that there had been a mistake and that it wasn’t right.

‘Rebecca said she thought she should write to whoever was responsible and found that

it was Michael Gove. I helped her write the letter and we emailed it.

‘It’s great that she decided to do it. Generally, I encourage her to do these types of things to stand up to the people who are supposed to be setting an example. I’m fully behind her.’

The Government’s Standards and Testing Agency is meant to check if exams are up to scratch before pupils take them, but a spokesman insisted

that using commas in complex sentences was ‘a matter of choice’.

Rebecca’s teacher Barney Braithwaite said many of his pupils noticed the mistake when they undertook the new spelling, punctuation and grammar test.

He said: ‘I laughed my head off when I had heard that Rebecca had sent the letter. She obviously felt moved enough by the mistakes.’

Airline mix-up: Couple arrive in Dhaka, Bangladesh, instead of Dakar, Senegal A

couple who planned to fly from Los Angeles to Dakar, Senegal, found themselves 7,000 miles away in Dhaka in Bangladesh after an airline mixed up their flight.

Sandy Valdiviseo and her husband Triet Vo intended to take a Turkish Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Dakar but an airport code mix-up saw the couple sent to the wrong

continent.

The airport code for Dakar is DKR, while the code for Dhaka is DAC. The couple flew from Los Angeles to Istanbul and had a four hour stopover.

They then boarded a plane for the final leg of their journey and did not realise anything was amiss.

'When the flight attendant said we were heading to Dhaka,

we believed that this was how you pronounced Dakar with a Turkish accent,' Valdivieso told the Los Angeles Times.

They only realised when they saw a map of the flight's route in the air that they were on their way to Bangladesh instead of Senegal.

After arriving in Bangladesh, it took nine hours for the couple to secure flights to Senegal.

The carrier insisted on listening to a phone recording of Ms Valdivieso booking the flight to Dakar before they admitted they had put wrong airport code had been put on their tickets.

Turkish Airlines flew the pair back to Istanbul, where they caught a plane to Dakar.

There was no extra charge for the flight from Bangladesh.

The couple's luggage which also traveled to Bangladesh

arrived in Senegal two more days later.

The couple have battled for four months to receive compensation from the airline over the incident.

They have since been offered two free tickets to anywhere on the Turkish Airlines' network.

'We are very, very sorry that this happened,' an airline spokesperson said. dailymail.co.uk

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Talking on a mobile phone can give you high blood pressure attacks in the UK caused by high blood pressure.

It has long been known that high blood pressure can significantly increase the risk of heart disease.

Now wide variations in blood pressure are also recognised as an important risk factor compared with readings that show little difference over a 24-hour period.

Considered the 'silent killer', high blood pressure affects about a billion people worldwide, including more than one in four people in the UK and a third of adults in the United States.

By Emma Innes

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sing a mobile phone can give you high blood pressure - perhaps due to the stress certain conversations can cause, new research suggests.

Researchers found that talking on a mobile phone triggers significant increases in the blood pressure that corresponds to the 'surge' that occurs with each heartbeat.

This is the number which doctors pay most attention to when assessing a patient's risk of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers took 12 blood pressure readings at oneminute intervals from 94 patients with mild hypertension (raised blood pressure) The participants, whose average age was 53, were seated in a comfortable armchair in a doctor's consulting room and were left alone after the first blood pressure reading was taken.

Researchers phoned the patients at least three times and found that when the patient was on the phone or receiving a call, their blood pressure reading jumped from 121/77 on average to 129/82.

The American Heart Association says less than 120/ 80 is a healthy reading for adults age 20 and older.

The researchers also found that patients who got more than 30 calls a day seemed to have developed a form of immunity to the blood pressure spikes.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Talking on a mobile phone triggers a significant increase in the blood pressure that corresponds to the 'surge' that occurs with each heartbeat Dr Giuseppe Crippa, of William of Saliceto Hospital in Italy, said: 'The subset of patients who were more accustomed to phone use were younger, which could show younger people are less prone to be disturbed by telephone intrusions.

'Another possibility is people who make more than thirty calls per day may feel more reassured if the mobile phone is activated since they are not running the risk of missing an opportunity.'

Every day there are 350 preventable strokes or heart

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People who get more than 30 calls a day develop a form of immunity to the blood pressure spikes

Fish oil 'can restore the brain after junk food'

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ish oil can counter the negative effect junk food has on the brain, say scientists.

More than a decade of research has shown that high-fat diets can impact the brain by disrupting 'neurogenesis', a process that generates new nerve cells.

Now University of Liverpool researchers have discovered that diets rich in omega-3s, such as fish oil, can prevent these negative effects by stimulating the area of

the brain that controls feeding, learning and memory.

The team from the University's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease originally set out to look at research from across to world to see whether the data suggested that omega-3s had a role to play in aiding weight loss.

However, although data from the 185 research papers indicated fish oils do not have a direct impact on this process, it found that they play a significant role in reversing

Research: Scientists say fish oil can counter the negative effect junk food has on the brain

Teenage girls who exercise are less likely to be violent

the damage high fats can cause the brain.

Researcher Dr Lucy Pickavance explained: 'Body weight is influenced by many factors, and some of the most important of these are the nutrients we consume.

'Excessive intake of certain macronutrients, the refined sugars and saturated fats found in junk food, can lead to weight gain, disrupt metabolism and even affect mental processing.

'These changes can be seen in the brain's structure, including its ability to generate new nerve cells, potentially linking obesity to neurodegenerative diseases.

'Research, however, has suggested that omega-3 fish oils can reverse or even prevent these effects. We wanted to investigate the literature on this topic to determine whether there is evidence to suggest that omega-3s might aid weight loss by stimulating particular brain processes.'

The research papers showed that on high-fat diets hormones that are usually secreted from body tissues into the circulation after

eating - which protect neurons and stimulate their growth - are prevented from passing into the brain by increased circulation of inflammatory molecules and a type of fat called triglycerides.

Molecules that stimulate nerve growth are also reduced.

But it appears - in studies with animal models - that omega-3s restore normal function by interfering with the production of these inflammatory molecules, suppressing triglycerides, and returning these nerve growth factors to normal.

Dr Pickavance added: 'Fish oils don't appear to have a direct impact on weight loss, but they may take the brakes off the detrimental effects of some of the processes triggered in the brain by high-fat diets.

'They seem to mimic the effects of calorie restrictive diets and including more oily fish or fish oil supplements in our diets could certainly be a positive step forward for those wanting to improve their general health.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

irls who engage in regular physical activity are less likely to engage in violent behaviour, according to a new study.

The research, presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Washington, DC, analysed results of a 2008 survey completed by 1,312 students at four inner-city secondary schools in New York.

The survey included questions on how often students exercised, how many sit-ups they did and the time of their longest run in the past four weeks as well as whether they had played in an organised sports team in the past year.

Students also were asked if they had carried a weapon in the past 30 days or if they had been in a physical fight or a gang in the past year.

The results showed that females who exercised regularly were at a much lower risk of behaving violently.

Females who exercised more than 10 days in a month had decreased odds of being in a gang and those who did more than 20 sit-ups in a month had lower odds of carrying a weapon or being in a gang.

Girls who reported running more than 20 minutes the last time they ran had decreased odds of carrying a weapon.

Source: Dailymail.ok

Regular exercise has been shown to make girls less aggressive

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 37

Emergency: Examining mixture of politics and constitutionality ANALYSIS

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he recent declaration of state of emergency in three states of the North East region of the country including Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states by President Goodluck Jonathan has continued to generate debates amongst the citizenry. What has continued to elicit heated debates in the declaration is the seeming politicization of section 305 of the 1999 constitution as amended upon which the President relied in the declaration.

Most commentators, including some from the opposition bent, however are not opposed to emergency rule per-se but the worry is that they are concerned that the provision is being applied half- heartedly. While majority of Nigerians are unanimous in the belief that the activities of the insurgents,ncommonly referred to as Boko Haram Sect, needed to be curbed by whatever legal means, some believed that doing such should be divorced from politics for the exercise to be meaningful, effective and successful. Admittedly, prior to the declaration, the sovereignty of the nation and it’s avouched indivisibility have been tested and any further delay by the President would have been dangerous.

Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the imposition of a state of emergency in the country or any part of it.

The section empowers the President to issue the declaration by way of official gazette. It added, however, that a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly must ratify the executive proclamation within two days, if the legislators are in session, or 10 days, if they are not.

To some critics, Jonahan’s emergency declaration in those states being plagued by the scourge of insurgency should have been total with its attendant collapse of all democratic structures. They argue that the three state governors, members of the states Houses of Assembly and all other local representatives, going by the letter of the constitution, should have lost their positions for the period under which the state of emergency would thrive. They pointedly referred to the similar declaration by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Plateau and Ekiti states during his tenure.

Thus the state of emergency declared in three east northern states of he country has been described as not only pretentious, but short of attributes of a true

President Goodluck Jonathan

Gov. Murtala Nyako

Gov. Kashim Shettima

state of emergency. Reacting to the development recently, National Coordinator of Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence (FJHD), Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi, expressed his displeasure over what he described as “President Goodluck Jonathan’s playing to the gallery with the state of insecurity in the named states as shown in his address to the nation.”

According to the Warri-based lawyer, the retention of the democratic structures after the order to deploy more troops to the troubled states made a mockery of the touted state of emergency.

“A state of emergency, in the real sense of it, ought to begin with the dismantling of all democratic institutions with, at least, an administrator, to administer the affected states for a specified period,” Ikimi said.

Another observer, also a former Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Dr Wunmi Bewaji, has urged the National Assembly to “shoot down” the president’s declaration of the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states because it was done in bad faith.

Bewaji said the state of emergency had rubbished the assignment of the committee put together by the Federal Government over granting of amnesty to the insurgents.

The former lawmaker noted that the declaration was hasty, adding that “President Jonathan should have allowed the amnesty committee to carry out its assignments and come up with recommendations on how to tackle the problems.”

According to him, “a state of emergency, in normal parlance, is a declaration of war. In one breadth, you are talking about an amnesty programme that will make you dialogue with the socalled terrorists and you set up a

committee to do the job with their terms of reference.

“Having given them the job, one would have expected that you will, at least, wait for a feedback from the committee.

This declaration has even put the lives of the members of the committee in danger.”

“There is something behind this declaration of emergency than meet the eye and that is 2015 President Jonathan is playing politics with this declaration of state of emergency.

These are opposition territory and it is clear that what the president is looking for in those areas are not peace and security but something that could give him a political foothold in the areas. This is never going to work. Declaring war on a section of the country as he has done is never going to work,” he said.

But responding to critics, Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said his principal’s action of declaring a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states does not violate any part of the Nigerian constitution. Abati in an interview with Channels

Television recently said though the constitution gave the President the power to declare a state of emergency on any state where there is a breakdown of public order and public safety, it does not empower him to remove democratically elected officials.

Those arguing in support of he President posit that Jonathan had done the best in the situation which he found himself.

According to them, it would have been politically suicidal for him to declare full blown emergency, the way former President Obasanjo did, because the opposition would have feasted on him. John Ochri, a political analyst said “ There is need for the President to weigh all the political consequences. Don’t forget that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rotimi Anaechi had earlier warned that the governors are against the declaration of state of emergency in any part of the country.

Jonathan would have played into he hands of the opposition if he had declared full blown emergency that would sweep away all democratic institutions in the three states.

“

Those arguing in support of he President posit that Jonathan had done the best in the situation which he found himself.

According to them, it would have been politically suicidal for him to declare full blown emergency, the way former President Obasanjo did, because the opposition would have feasted on him

Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam “Besides, the new variant of emergency rule had once been declared in some local governments in Yobe, Borno, Plateau and Niger states in 2011. Removing the governors would have been beyond Jonathan’s constitutional powers because he must have two-third approval of members of the National Assembly before he could do so. He is faced with a desperate situation; a minjte delay could be dangerous tok the continued existence of this country. To me, he had acted within the confines of his powers by consulting widely before taking the action. Remember that leadership of the National Assembly recently disclosed that they were adequately consulted by the President before the declaration.”

Nevertheless, criticisms have continued to trail the declaration even as the soldiers are combing the nooks and crannies of the affected states with a view to dislodging the insurgents. The question begging for answer now is how the government would harmonize its earlier resolve to dialogue with insurgents by setting up a committee headed by the Special Duties Minister, Mallam Kabiru Taminu Turaki, and it’s recent declaration of war on those expected to be reconciled with the state.

The emergency declaration however has demonstrated a high level of political ingenuity of Nigerian leaders and their ability to balance constitutionality with politics without offending the sensibilities of important stakeholders.

Criticisms notwithstanding, the people are unanimous in their belief that the unity and sovereignty of the country must be preserved by all constitutional means available.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Acting governor has no hand in Taraba Assembly’s leadership change, says Majority Leader INTERVIEW

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s the new majority leader of Taraba State House of Assembly, what is your mission and vision for the House?

My mission is to see how to bring together all the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State including the erring members who would have left the party because of one grievances or other. It is my duty to make sure that I coordinate them and, if need be, return them back to PDP; and for those who are in PDP already, it is my duty to make sure that we consolidate to face any challenge that may later come.

There are these allegations flying around that the former leadership of the House was sacked because of mismanagement and maladministration.

How true is that?

You are talking to the right person because I am the one that sponsored the motion that led to the impeachment. I want to tell you that impeachment is not new among legislators because it is a general practice all over the world.

Yes, I sponsored the motion and it was borne out of the fact that we discovered they are not living up to expectations and, as legislators, they are just first among equals. And it was just thoughtful about us, we say okay since they are not performing the way we wanted them to perform, we decided to effect change so that some legislators could come on board and steer the House of Assembly. And yes to a larger extent, some of the allegations boiled down on maladministration and you know maladministration is an indefinite term, it is generic.

It is not limited to only one

Honourable Joseph Al-basu, Majority Leader of the Taraba State House of Assembly and a staunch member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in this interaction with newsmen explains the real reason why the former leadership of the Assembly was swept away in an in-House coup. The lawmaker also examines the crises rocking the PDP both at the state and national levels and posits hat such would make the party even stronger. Agaju Madugba reports. Excerpts:

Honourable Joseph Al-basu factor or indices. For that, it is all encompassing and financial embarrassment was one of them, but we didn’t take it as one of the concessive factor. All we know is that they have not been leading the way we wanted them to lead us, and that was why we removed them from office. I don’t want to use the word impeachment because it is too harsh; so we decided to remove them from office.

By May 29 2013, we will be celebrating another democracy day.

“

Do you think Nigerians have benefitted from the so called democratic dividends in the last 13 years?

Yes, and I am tempted to tell you that democracy is all about government of the people by the people and for the people. We are leading the people and they demonstrate that they have decided to give us their mandate they can testify to the fact that we have been doing what we are supposed to do; because for anybody to be called upon and be given the mantle of

You know crises are inevitable in any organization because crises are part of organization right from ages. In annals of human history, even the European and the American nations, we all know are centers of crises even before now. So crisis is part of any governance

leadership, it is a clarion call.

A clarion call to serve man and above all, it is a clarion call to serve God. So, to a larger extent, you can see that a day never passes that leaders have not commissioned one project or the other compared to the military regime. If you open your newspapers, radio and television stations, you will find one project or the other being commissioned in different places in the country either by the local government chairmen, governors or even National Assembly members in their constituencies. So,Nigerians have benefited very immensely from dividends of democracy.

What is your take on the crises in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)? Don’t you think it will affect the Party’s chances in 2015?

You know crises are inevitable in any organization because crises are part of organization right from ages.

In annals of human history, even the European and the American nations, we all

know are centers of crises even before now. So crisis is part of any governance. Now if you say there is crisis in PDP, you are not wrong, but I am telling you that the crisis in PDP is not comparable to crisis in other parties. And as a party, we are doing everything possible to make sure that we resolve the crisis within us and that is why you see that the crisis itself is making the party (PDP) to wax stronger because as people are leaving the party, more than the numbers that are leaving are still coming back to joining the party. So for that reason the party has drawn up a blue print on how to manage the crisis because I still remember sometimes last month that the national chairman embarked on a tour of the country for national reconciliation. I was part of the team in Bauchi, and we knew what transpired. I am telling you, before 2015, that a lot people even including those from other political parties will join the PDP. Is it true that the acting governor masterminded the sack of the former principal officers of the house?

There is no way any body would have said that the change in the leadership of the house of Assembly was masterminded by the Acting Governor. You know that there is clear cut separations of power between the legislature and the executive. Like I did say, it is a legislative process, and all over the world that is being done. It is not as if it is new. You can see that in Niger State over time in a week they had about three Speakers. So, what I am trying to tell you is that those that were saddled with the responsibilities to steer the House of Assembly are not better than anybody; like I did say, we are first among equals. It can be anybody. And by the time the honourable members observe that those that they have been asked to steer or to pilot the affairs of the Assembly have out-lived their usefulness, definitely they can effect change and that’s exactly what happened. It has nothing to do what the acting Governor.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 39

NHIS: Bauchi spends N800m on civil servants From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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auchi state government has expended over N800 million on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), for its civil servants, according to the Head of Service, Abdon Gin. Gin spoke at the weekend when he received members of the Executive Committee members of the Bauchi state chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) led by its chairperson, Hajia Kaltume Abdulahi Shall.

According to Gin, about 14,000 civil servants have so far benefitted from the scheme since its introduction in 2009.

In order to sustain the scheme as well as make it effective, Gin said his office set up a committee on revitalization of NHIS in the state.

He appealed to civil servants to assist government by giving their contribution for the sustenance of the scheme noting that, “government has been shouldering the expenses alone and we want you to assist by contributing your five per cent.”

He expressed the determination of the government to support NAWOJ programes to enable them

Gombe set to train youth on skill acquisition From David Hassan, Gombe

G

ombe state government has concluded an arrangement to train 1000 youth in its ultra modern skills acquisition centres located at Lubo, Tongo, Kashere and Ture mai.

The Commissioner of Youth Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation, Alhaji Mijin Yawa Sani Labaran, who dropped the hint at the weekend, said the programme falls in line with the project of Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo’s youth empowerment scheme.

He said the state would soon commence recruitment the youth who will participate in the three months programme.

The Commissioner also explained that at the end of the training, the state government will provide each trainee with appropriate resettlement kits to assist them setting up their businesses.

He said that the Federal Government’s National Industrial Skills Development Programme had made effort to fast track the achievement of the National Industrial Revolution under the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.

achieve their aims and objectives.

Speaking earlier the NAWOJ commended the Head of Service for ensuring a good working relationship between

the state government and civil servants saying, “we are not unaware if your role in cementing the existing cordial relationship between government and workers in the

state and we hope you will maintain the spirit.

“The Bauchi state Governor has made history by being the first state under the present dispensation to disburse loans

of brand new cars and other gestures to its workers as well as ensure that different categories of workers undergo training g within and outside the country.”

L-R: Founder/Chairperson, Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT) Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Ali-Ibrahim, former Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Grace Bent, and a Director in the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Iran Ajufo, during WILAT DAY celebration, at the Weekend, in Abuja.

Photo: Jamila Nuhu Musa

Transport Minister pledges support for WILAT Nigeria

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

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inister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, has expressed his ministry’s readiness to support Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT), in their quest to enhance professionalism and career advancement.

The Minister noted that women have demonstrated a resolve to play key roles in the nation’s development of the critical sectors of the economy.

Umar, who spoke through Alhaji Suleiman Nagogo, at the occasion of WILAT’s Day, said that, “I am happy to state here that WILAT Nigeria offers community services especially to women and children concerning

transportation.

“As the patron of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport as well as WILAT-Nigeria, let me assure you of my unwavering support and cooperation.

“What you require most is the enabling political and social environment to realize your potentials.

“Having realized the importance of women in nation building generally and in the transport industry in particular, there is the need to encourage and empower them so as to enable them make optimal utilisation of their potentials for sustainable socioeconomic development.”

Also speaking, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, described WILAT as an organization of highflying women

who pioneer new frontiers for Nigerian women.

Maina who was represented by Mrs. Iran Ajufo added that, “since its inaugural flag off in June 2010, its members have been involved in a lot of enlightenment campaigns as well as advocacy programmes that have helped in the mentoring of young female students in Logistics and Transport in higher institutions so as catch them young.

“WILAT has also helped in policy formulation, offering community services for women and children in the transport area, educating the general public on safety precautions in transport as well as getting involved in voluntary traffic control when the need arises”.

WILAT, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) was established to tackle matters concerning women

and to also help them progress in their various careers so that they can contribute their quota to national development.

It is the first and largest female group within the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

The founder of WILAT, Aisha Ali-Ibrahim, expressed concern over women who work in insecure environment, saying they needed to be protected in order for them to put in their best.

On her part, Managing Director, Ports and Terminal Operations Ltd in Rivers state, Mrs. Lizze Ovbude, lamented that though the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has been in existence since 1955, not many women have ascended the top rungs of the organization’s leadership ladder.

Man docked for allegedly killing brother with “charmed ring” From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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32 years old civil servant, Ismaila Ahmed was on yesterday arraigned before a Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court I, for allegedly killing his younger brother, Iliyasu Ahmed, with a “charmed ring.”

Ahmed of Inoziomi quarters in Adavi local government of the state was charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide,

punishable with death.

According to the Police First Information Report, the accused was alleged to have on October 27, 2012 at about 6.30 pm, beaten the deceased “with criminal charm ring” and his brother slumped and died.

The deceased, according to the prosecution, was involved in a fight with one Buhari Abdullahi (now at large) when the accused, in the bid to separate the fight, beat

his brother, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecuting police officer, Samuel Ikutanwa, urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody, saying that investigation into the matter was still going on.

Counsel to the accused, Muazu Abbas, appealed to the court to grant the accused bail saying that the court had the power to remand or release as he urged the court to exercise its discretion in favour of

the accused.

He said that the accused before his arraignment was on police bail and also tendered a letter written to the court by one Suleiman S. Obadegba, uncle to the deceased, of the family’s intention not to pursue the case.

The Chief Magistrate, Levi Animoku, in his ruling released the accused on bail in the sum of N100,000 with a reliable surety who must be resident in Lokoja.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

L-R: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatimah Bamidele, Captain Oluwale Okegbenro Okedigba, his new wife, daughter of Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande, Oluwadamilola Onyeche, and BrigadierGeneral O.D. Okedigba (rtd), during the marriage ceremony of Captain Oluwale and Oluwadamilola, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo Joe Oroye

L-R: Senator Mohammed Mohammed, and Hon. Mohammed Mungonu, during All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) National Convention, recently in Guzau, Zamfara state.

L-R: President, Association of Pathologist of Nigeria, Dr. Kanneth Iregbu, and President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, during a media briefing on misinformation of the general public on issues about NMA, yesterday in Abuja. hoto: Justin Imo-Owo

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos state Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, Olufunmilayo Balogun, Lagos state Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mohammed Oyinlomo, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba, and Ronke Osho, during a press briefing by Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, recently in Lagos.

Photo: Olawale Rotimi

Students of Adamawa state Polytechnic in Yola, busy parking their belongings following a heavy rainstorm that destroyed their hostels yesterday.

Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUES DAY, MAY 21, 2013

Adamu says Supersand Eagles won't underrate opponents

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udu Adamu, Head Coach to the Super Sand Eagles, said yesterday that the team would not underrate any team at the Africa Beach Soccer Championship in Casablanca, Morocco The competition is scheduled to kick-off on May 22 in Casablanca, while the Sand

Eagles departed the country on Sunday for Morocco.

It would be recalled that 12 players were selected from the 18 players that were called into the Badagry camp in preparation for the 2013 Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti.

"Being Africa's number one in Beach soccer and as one of the most respected teams in Africa, we are working round the clock to ensure that we maintain the status quo. ``We will not underrate any team in this tournament because if we do, it will be at our own peril,'' he said stressing that after playing three friendly games the team should be mentally ready to face any opponents.

PAGE 41

``We played three friendly matches when we were at the Badagry camp. The boys are ready, confident, but not over confident; we will handle each team same way,'' the coach added.

He said that the team had to travel earlier in order to acclimatise and to be fit in before the competition proper.

It would be recalled that Supersand Eagles were first runner up in 2011 in Casablanca after losing to Senegal by 7-4.

The team have qualified for World Cup four times in a row, while Senegal and Cameroun made three and two appearances, respectively.

CHAN: Eagles to host Cote d'Ivoire July 6

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igeria's home-grown Super Eagles will host the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire between 6th and 7th July in the first of a two-leg qualifying fixture for next year's African Nations Championship, the Confederation of African Football has decided.

This was contained in CAF's letter to the Nigeria Football Federation, which indicated that the return leg will come up in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, between 27th and 28th July.

Initially, the first leg of the qualifying fixture was fixed for June,

Moses, Kalu out of World Cup qualifying, Mexico clashes as Ejide, Ujah arrive

By Patrick Andrew

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helsea and Super Eagles attacking midfielder Victor Moses and Kalu Uche are out of the high-profile international friendly with Mexico, the World Cup qualifying matches against Kenya and Namibia and the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament.

Both players are ruled out because of injury. Moses, who was outstanding in the Nations Cup finals where the Eagles emerged champions, is excused to go for treatment for his recurring injury.

Also, Uche too said on the advice of his doctor he needed time off to attend to an injury that he had endured while the Turkish League was in session.

The midfielder may likely undergo minor surgery.

Ironically though, Chelsea say Moses will be with the squad at their pre-season tour of USA to be monitored by closely by doctors, but would not participate in the tour.

According to Demola Olajire, Head Coach Stephen Keshi was anything but happy over the development especially as it was said that the

players did not inform him before now.

"We have the players to deliver the World Cup ticket, and to make Nigerians proud in Brazil," he said nonetheless.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Austin Ejide was the first foreign-based professional to hit the camp in Germany, and was soon followed by striker Anthony Ujah.

The duo are to team up with colleagues for the Mexico, 2014 World Cup qualifying matches and the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament. Vincent Enyeama had earlier arrived in camp.

Kalu Uche, out

Anthony Uja, in

Victor Moses, out

Igali, other presidents for IOC Assembly to defend wrestling

By AlbertAkota

P

resident of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) Daniel Igali and other heads of wrestling federations are to attend the International Olympic Committee (IOC) General Assembly in St Petersburg Russia to argue against the exclusion of wrestling from the 2020 Olympics.

The meeting is slated for next weekend. Though the final

session of the General Assembly where representatives are expected to vote would hold on September 9 this year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, efforts are on to garner supports for the retention of the game.

Disclosing this to Peoples Daily Sports in Abuja, the newly elected President said exclusion of the game would be detrimental wrestling and noted however that the IOC would overturn the decision.

"The International

Wrestling Federation has constituted a five- man committee to peruse the earlier decision and make recommendation to the IOC. I am one of those representing Africa. We will have a meeting in St. Petersburg in 10 days time. Later, we will be meeting with the IOC officials to make presentation.

"We are very hopeful that that the decision against wrestling will not stand.

However, we still want to do

our own part.

"Wrestling can't be eliminated because they are 202 national federations that are affiliated to it and we have about 71 countries that competed in wrestling in the last Olympic.

"They want to eliminate wrestling that has been there before the birth of Christ is not possible. What happened that led to the elimination was politics, and I don't want to go into that," he said.

following Nigeria's triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa and the Super Eagles' involvement in the FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013 same month of June it was moved forward.

Nigeria have never played in the African Nations Championship, which is the continental tournament for players based on the African continent.

The first edition was staged by Cote d'Ivoire in 2009 with DR Congo emerging champions, while Tunisia was triumphant at the second edition staged by Sudan in 2011.

Next year's showpiece will be the biggest in the competition's history, with 16 teams to take part for the first time, double the number that took part in the first two championships.

Lagos contracts 106 coaches for athletes' training

T

he Lagos State Government has contracted the services of 106 coaches to help discover and nurture athletes to national and international standards and to implement the 144 developmental programmes recently approved.

The state Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Development, Wahid EnitanOshodi, in a statement yesterday said that the employment was with immediate effect.

The statement said that the coaches were on contract, to put them on their toes and enable them to work assiduously, in tune with the efforts of the state government to develop sports in all spheres. ``The coaches are employed on contract so that we will know those that are working and those who are not and their contract will be renewed based on their performance. ``Any of the coaches who did not perform optimally to improve the athletes shall be relieved of his or her duty. ``Contract agreement is what is in tune in the sporting world today and this to ensure that they are not dormant but are active in their jobs'' the statement said.

Oshodi said the state was ready to host competitions and thus exercise its facilities and offer athletes chance for exposure.

"Our infrastructure is of top quality which will enable the state to host more sporting championships. ``Hosting competitions would also help us to sustain the tempo of activities that were witnessed during the hosting of the 18th National Sports Festival last year. ``This would go a long way in ensuring that the state becomes a destination for sports and tourism, like other mega-cities in the world," the statement said.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Director urges boards members to surpass predecessors

T

he Akwa Ibom Director of Sports, Anedi Dickson, has appealed to the newlyelected board members of the various sports federations in the country to endeavour to perform better than their predecessors.

Dickson said that the new boards' members should ensure that surpassing the achievements of their predecessors should be their target. ``Nigerians will not be expecting anything less from the newly-elected board members and would also not expect them to falter in discharging their duties. ``The new board members should ensure that they do better

Taekwondoists task new board on regular tourneys

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aekwondoists yesterday in Lagos, tasked George Ashiru, the newly-elected President, Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), to ensure regular competitions in the federation.

They urged the new board to work harder than their predecessors to be able to surpass the past records and achievements of the former board.

According to them, it is time the lost glory of the federation is restored through the grooming and nurturing of discovered talents in the game to stardom.

Adaeze Asigbe, a fin weight taekwondoist, said that regular competitions would aid athletes to be in good form to excel in both national and internationally competitions.

She added that regular competitions were yardstick to measure the performance of coaches. ``Only regular competitions can help discover good athletes and help coaches to know if they are performing or not, I urge the new board to ensure they organise more competitions,'' she said.

Musa Fasasi, a welterweight taekwondoist urged the new board to organise regular coaching clinics for coaches, referees and taekwondoists to update their skills on the current rules and regulations of the game.

He stressed that such clinics would engender athletes to excel at international competitions and win laurels for the country. ``Apart from regular coaching clinics, I believe coaches and referees have the technical abilities to discover world class athletes, they should be given the free hand to operate,'' he said.

Alimat Animashaun, a lightweight athlete said that the NTF should procure more modern equipment and exposed athletes to them.

She also said that the sport had gone scientific adding that athletes must be in tune with the modern trend for them to excel at international competitions. ``I always marvelled at the modern equipment our foreign counterparts used for training when I watch their video, compared with what we have here, I hope the NTF can follow suit,'' she said.

Nigerian youth athletes after winning the 100m dash in Warri than their predecessors because only that way can they have a

successful tenure. ``And they should not also fail

to learn from the mistakes of the previous board members," he said.

The director noted that although some boards were reelected, while others are newlyelected, they should all work for the progress of the various sports they administer.

He advised the various sports federations to ensure that they regularly engaged athletes in competitions and not to solely depend on the National Sports Commission (NSC) for their source of funding for events. ``Federations are to ensure that they engage athletes as often as possible in competitions, so that athletes remain focused and encouraged. ``Sport federations do not have to depend on the government for its funding, but should endeavour to seek funding from corporate bodies or membership sponsorship of tournaments," Dickson said.

The NSC on May 14, conducted elections into the various boards of the sports federations in Abuja.

Hopkins, 48, to defend IBF title July T

he oldest boxing champion to win a 'world' title, Bernard Hopkins, will defend his IBF lightheavyweight title against Karo Murat- a German- in Brooklyn, New York, on July 13.

Hopkins, who will be 49 in January next year, broke his own record of being the oldest champion in boxing, by nearly two years in March when he won a unanimous decision over Tavoris Cloud to win another title.

He confirmed in April that he would take on mandatory challenger Murat in his next fight.

New Golden Boy Promotions have announced that the bout will take place at the Barclays Centre.

Murat, a 29-year-old of Armenian heritage, has a professional record of 25-1-1, with 15 knockouts. His only defeat was in 2010 against Welshman Nathan Cleverly.

In his most recent bout, in June last year, he stopped Sandro Siproshvili, a Czech.

Hopkins, whose record stands at 53-6 with two drawn and 32 knockouts, had to face Murat or forfeit the title under terms of a deal that allowed him to step in front of Murat to challenge Cloud.

"Murat has nothing to lose and everything to gain by fighting me," Hopkins said on Sunday. "He knows he is fighting a 48-year-old, but he has to understand that there aren't any other 48-year-olds like me."

Murat said he was looking forward to sending Hopkins into retirement. "His biggest strength is his experience, but I will reveal his weaknesses in front of his own fans," the challenger said. "I will be in the best shape of my life."

100 students attend Lagos Judo Coaching Clinic

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o fewer than 100 secondary students are participating at the fourday Lagos State Judo Association (LSJA) coaching clinic which began yesterday at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos.

Harrison Amoye, one of the instructors, said that the main objective for inviting the students was to introduce them to the basics of the sport.

Amoye stressed that the rudiments of the sport, at the early stage, would stimulate the students' interest and enable them to pick a career in the sport.

He said that the clinic, an initiative of the state judo association, was to introduce the sport to the schools, in order to ``catch them young.'' ``When the technicalities of the sport is introduced to them, this will stimulate their interest, then we are sure of discovering some of them and nurturing them for the future,'' Amoye said.

The clinic, scheduled to end on Thursday, is organised by LSJA and sponsored by De-United Foods Ltd, makers of Indomie Noodles.

Moses promises Nigeria C'wealth Games medal redemption

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Bernard Hopkins

loria Moses, a gold medallist at the 2011 National Sports Festival, has vowed to fly the country's flag at the podium during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

According to her, she hopes not just to represent Nigeria at the Games but bring her podium honours. ``My target is to represent the country at the Games, and I need to work hard to make my country proud because it takes commitment and hard work to achieve success,'' the weightlifter said.

Further, she appealed to the newly re-constituted board of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) to ensure that lifters are henceforth availed of regular competitions to sharpen their skills.

Moses lamented the inadequate competitions and stressed that national federation's elections held in Abuja on May 13 had temporarily diverted focus. ``Now that the national federation's election and inauguration has been concluded, the boards should assist us by ensuring that competitions are organised. ``Such competitions are meant to appraise our level of development.

Aside from winning medals, we really need to be kept busy from now onwards,'' she said.

According to her, she won three gold medals at the 2011 festival - the Garden City Games.

She noted that some of athletes that excelled at the EKO 2012 in the sport were discovered at the national competitions organised across the country.

Moses, then urged coaches in the sport not to `rest in their oars', in the training of athletes ahead of major competitions.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 43

Mourinho had to go, can Real Madrid be better off without him T

he Portuguese's position had become untenable in recent weeks, especially after Friday's debacle in the Copa Del Rey. Now he's leaving, but the club can grow stronger without him The Portuguese was sent off, admitted he had been a failure this term, snubbed the King of Spain and abused the referee in the car park, his exit was merely a matter of time.

It has not been all bad in these last three seasons: Madrid claimed the Copa Del Rey by beating Barcelona in his first campaign, won La Liga with a record points total (100) last term and also added the Spanish Supercopa in the current campaign.

But much more was expected from the 50-year-old in terms of trophies and, in any case, it is the damage done off the pitch which will have forced Florentino Perez to cut ties with the man in which he placed almost unconditional faith three years ago in an attempt to dethrone Barca and bring La Decima to the capital club.

Mourinho failed to bring a 10th trophy in Europe's premier club competition, losing out in three successive semi-finals, and he leaves a long line of controversies which made yesterday's announcement the only option for Perez as he attempts to save face in a summer when elections will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu (even though there are unlikely to be any other candidates).

The Portuguese has caused controversy almost from the outset. In his three years, he has publicly attacked players, fans, journalists, Madrid's youth-team coach, the board, referees, rivals and almost everyone else imaginable.

And this term, his decision to drop club captain IkerCasillas has led to deep divisions within the playing squad. There was no way back after that.

Friday only served to exacerbate the bad feeling.

Mourinho's fantastic final record was blemished by defeat to Atletico at the Bernabeu, of all places, as the Portuguese became the first coach in 14 years to lose a match against the team's crosscity rivals.

A punished Pepe was left out, while a sad Casillas watched on from the bench. Chaos ensued as Madrid lost their heads and even Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for kicking out at Gabi.

And Mourinho was unable to find dignity in defeat as he bemoaned bad luck, claimed Atletico had been fortunate, refused to pick up his loser's medal from the King of Spain and abused the referee before leaving under a cloud.

It was a cloud that could never be lifted and Florentino, himself

Jose Mourinho

“

The Portuguese has caused controversy almost from the outset. In his three years, he has publicly attacked players, fans, journalists, Madrid's youth-team coach, the board, referees, rivals and almost everyone else imaginable. jeered by a section of Madrid fans in the aftermath of the damaging defeat, knew he had to act.

"The achievements of this season have not been sufficient for the demands of a club such as Real Madrid or a coach like Mourinho," Perez explained at a press conference. And he added: Every coach has his personality. Has he made mistakes sometimes? Sure. He himself recognises that, but the level of pressure he is under is not normal. There have also been times when he has passed the limits of what is normal."

The timing of the announcement was also shrouded in significance because Monday was Casillas' 32nd birthday. And for the Madrid captain, Mourinho's exit represents the best possible present.

For Florentino, a man who has made his millions in construction, it is time to build again. And although Mourinho's sides traditionally struggle when he moves on (as seen at Porto, Chelsea and Inter), Madrid's solid base means the club can have reason to believe in a successful season under their new coach (likely to be Carlo Ancelotti) next term.

Some players will leave this summer, but Mourinho's move will allow old wounds to heal, while Casillas can be quickly restored to his rightful place in the Madrid goal.

In defense, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane can be the foundation for a strong side, while promising right-back DaniCarvajal is set to return to the club after a year in the Bundesliga to solve what has been a problem position under the Portuguese.

Mourinho's honours

In midfield, Luka Modric looks the part, while Cristiano Ronaldo will be the flagship of the next sporting project and funds are likely to be made available for a new star striker, too.

So the new coach inherits a top team with some of the world's finest footballers and the chance to make them even better.

Proper man-management should solve many of the current problems and with a more elaborate tactical plan to boot (and not just a counter-attacking system), the sky is the limit for this Madrid team.

Mourinho had to go and now the club can move onwards and upwards, with much more dignity too. And if they do so, he is unlikely to be missed.

Madrid's Achievement

PAGE 44

Schwanitz alerts Adam as Malachowski close to world leads

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hristina Schwanitz set new markers in the women's Shot Put with her first throw to land the shot at a personal best 19.76m, with her second she cracked the 20m mark with 20.12m and in her fifth throw she was set new record with 20.20m.

Three personal bests were close enough to Valerie Adams' world lead 20.37m. And it seems we may not wait for long before Schwanitz challenges the dominance of Adams.

Shaken in Shanghai was Gong Lijiao, a bronze medallist at last year's London Olympics and a fixture in the top five at global championships since the Olympics before that in Beijing in 2008. Gong took second with 19.73m.

Piotr Malachowski allowed no such shock as he led the men's Discus after three rounds with his 64.33m then exploded to a 67.34m in the fourth round, a distance bettered this year only by Australia's Benn Harradine who threw 68.20m in Townsville on 10 May. Beijing Olympic champion Gerd Kanter was second with 63.14m and Robert Urbanek third with 62.85m.

Olympic bronze medallist Warren Weir won the 200m in 20.18 from the fast-finishing Justin Gatlin (20.21) and Jason Young (20.22).

In the women's 400m Hurdles, Zuzana Hejnova finished strongly to beat Angela Morosanu, 53.79 to 53.85, both under the previous world lead.

Caterine Ibarguan

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Shanghai IAAF Diamond League

Jinzhe shocks three Olympic champions to set new World-leading record

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i Jinzhe,shocked top stars at the Shanghai Diamond League over the weekend to set one of the four new and nine world-leads meets records.

Cautiously, he first leapt 7.91m, then 7.93m inn the second and finally 8.20m to dust London Games' Greg Rutherford; Beijing, Irving Saladino; and Athens, Dwight Phillips, champions.

The other world leads came from Kirani James in the 400m, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m, an (outdoor lead) from Francine Niyonsaba in the 800m, from Genzebe Dibaba in the 5000m, Conseslus Kipruto in the 3000m Steeplechase, Zuzana Hejnova in the 400m Hurdles, Caterine Ibarguen in the Triple Jump and Tero Pitkamaki in the

Li Jinzhe Javelin.

As part of the excitement of the Shanghai meet, Olympic champion and World recordholder Aries Merritt pulled up

before the first hurdle in the 110m Hurdles, Carmelita Jeter exited the track on a stretcher after finishing third in the 100m and Rutger Smith suffered a severe leg injury in the Discus.

The race, won by 2011 World champion Jason Richardson in 13.23 from Ryan Wilson (13.25) and Xie Wenjun (a personal best 13.28), had been dramatic from onset.

Merritt's injury had been expected. He had adopted a precautionary measure following his cramping sensations in his right hamstring in the warm-up.

On the other hand, Jeter clutched her thigh as she hobbled through the last few steps of her 100m, won by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in a world lead of 10.93. Smith fell in the Discus circle and it is feared he may have ruptured an achilles tendon.

Li's winning distance of 8.34m came in the fourth round and he passed his final two attempts. He had to watch nervously as Aleksandr Menkov produced a big last-round effort, but when the jump was measured at 8.31m, victory went to Li. Li missed the Chinese national record 8.40m, set by Lao Jianfeng back in 1997, by just six centimetres. No problem, he will try again at the Beijing World Challenge meeting, he said.

After that, "I will try to win a medal at the World Championships," said the 23-year-old, who now goes to fourth on the Chinese all-time list.

‌ James, Dibaba, Kiprop, Pitkamaki win loaded events

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he men's Long Jump was one of several quality events in Shanghai.

Kirani James has carried all before him the past two seasons, winning the World Championships and Olympic titles at a precociously young age.

Things do not get any easier, however. Here he faced London minor medallists Luguelin Santos and Lalonde Gordon, as well as former World and Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt.

James had made up the stagger on Merritt as they came onto the final bend. Briefly the pair ran in step before the young Grenadian pulled away to win in 44.02.

Merritt beat Santos for second, 44.60 to 45.11.

James's time equalled the meeting record set by Jeremy Wariner in 2007 and is the fastest ever 400m time witnessed at a Diamond League meeting. James is the only non-US athlete to have broken 44 seconds for 400m and he has started 2013 in the same manner he finished the Olympic year.

The women's 5000m pitted Olympic champion Meseret Defar against Ethiopian teammate Genzebe Dibaba and Kenyan pair Sylvia Kibet and Viola Kibiwot.

Defar led into the final lap before Dibaba produced a stunning burst with 200m to go.

She sprinted clear to complete a 59-second final lap and win in a world lead of 14:45.92 from Defar (14:47.76) and Kibiwot (14:48.29).

Eight women broke 15 minutes.

Asbel Kiprop seems to be condemned to run interesting races. This time, he snatched a laststride win in the 1500m from Mekonnen Gebremedhin, 3:32.39 to 3:32.43, but only after going from third

early in the race to mid-field in a field of 16 with a lap to go.

At the bell, Kiprop was giving the leaders - including Silas Kiplagat, Abdelaati Iguider, Nick Willis and Gebremedhin - 10 metres. But he closed down the back-straight then surged off the final bend to pass his rivals one by one.

Collins Cheboi took third place in 3:32.96. Willis fell as he clipped Kiplagat in the straight but got up to finish 13th in 3:40.72.

In men's Steeplechase and women's 800m, World junior champion Conseslus Kipruto outpointed Paul Kipsiele Koech and Hillary Yego over the last lap to win in 8:01.16, also a meeting record.

He remains No.2 on the world junior all-time list and puts him just two-and-a-half seconds away from the World junior record.

Francine Niyonsaba impressively won the women's 800m in 2:00.33, ahead of Janeth Jepkosgei and Malika Akkaoui.

An 87.60m world lead took 2007 World champion Tero Pitkamaki to a narrow victory in the men's Javelin. The Finn had previously held the world lead at 86.40m.

Second-placed Vitezslav Vesely

threw 86.67m to also better the previous world lead while Dmitriy Tarabin threw 85.36m for third.

Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott could manage no better than 79.02m for sixth, while his predecessor in 2004 and 2008, Andreas Thorkildsen, failed to register a valid throw.

Mutaz Essa Barshim beat Bohdan Bondarenko in the men's High Jump on count-back, clearing 2.33m on the first attempt as against Bondarenko's second.

In Doha last FridayBondarenko won from Barshim, so the two now lead the Diamond Race with six points apiece. The pair also equalled

the meeting record of 2.33m set by Yaroslav Rybakov in 2006.

Yelena Isinbayeva took only two jumps to win the women's Pole Vault. In her second attempt, she soars over 4.70m which left her well clear of Mary Saxer's personal best 4.60m and Silke Spiegelburg's 4.55m.

Caterine Ibarguen started the women's Triple Jump with 14.35m, a distance immediately topped by her closest rival, Olha Saladukha with 14.43m. Ibarguen progressed to a world lead 14.69m in the third round while her rival stuttered to three consecutive fouls

Genzebe Dibaba

Conselus Kipruto

LOSS OF DECUMENT

This is to inform the general public of the loss of land document of plot 2, Karsana North Distuct with File No. 106472, issued to one Amb (Dr) Yohanna Y. D Margif being issued to him by Yakudi and sons Nigeria Limited, Alla effort made to trace the above proved abortive if ound please contact the earest police station.

PUBLIC NOTICE THE MAIGORO SEED FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART 'C' OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. SAMA’ILA BARAU MAIGORO 2. HALIMA ISMAIL BARAU 3. SANI ISHAQ BARAU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES AMENDED 1. TO PROMOTE ENTERPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT AMONG THE YOUTH. 2. TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 3. TO ENCOURAGE THE YOUTH AND THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN BOTH EDUCATION AND ENTERPRENEURSHIP. 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. MUHAMMAD NASIRU SIDI 08034523532

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

PAGE 45

1

Lionel Messi has reaffirmed his commitment to Barcelona, claiming that he "has never thought about playing for any other club.

4

5

6

3

pictorial 2] Paralympic gold medallist Oscar Pistorius will not compete again this year as he awaits trial for murder.

3] Daniel Vettori could play in the second Test against England after joining the New Zealand squad earlier than planned.

4] Rafael Nadal dropped only four games as he beat Roger Federer in 68 minutes to win his seventh Italian Open title.

5] PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi believes that terms have been agreed between the Italian and the Spanish club but says he will not allow his coach to depart without talks 6] Shakhtar Donetsk's Fernandinho has revealed that he wants to join Manchester City. The Brazilian replied to a question from a City fan on Twitter and confirmed he hopes to move to Manchester

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PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Iheagwam wants focused athletes at IAAF WYC

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retired athlete, Tina Iheagwam, has advised athletes for the July 10 to July 14 IAAF World Youth Championships in the Ukraine to remain focused and be good ambassadors of the nation at the meet.

Iheagwam, a 200m gold medallist at the 1991 All Africa Games in Cairo, Egypt, said that the athletes, who are currently in camp at the University of Port Harcourt, should not do anything to tarnish the image of the country and their careers. ``All I am saying is that they should be focused and hold on to their dreams; they should be good ambassadors because their action will speak a lot about them and the country.

El-kanemi won't go on, says manager

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anna Mala, the Team Manager of the Maiduguri-based Elkanemi Warriors, has dismissed speculations that the club would lose its status in the elite premier league and be relegated especially following its non-encouraging outings in the league.

Mala disclosed this in Maiduguri stressing that the club will pick up as the season progresses adding that so far the players' performances have been promising. ``We will re m a i n i n t h e premier league at the end of the season no doubt. I can assure you that El-kanemi will not go on relegation because we have all it takes to excel,'' he said.

Mala blamed some of the club's poor outings on teething problems, saying that the management was doing everything possible to rectify the problems. ``We have realised that the club lacks good attackers. We are already working on the problem and hopefully we will be able to get new players in the upcoming transfer window,'' he said.

Mala said that the management would also overhaul the team at the end of the first half of the league to ensure effectiveness. ``I want to specifically thank the state government for its numerous support to the team. I will also thank the supporters' club for their patience and support to the club,'' he said.

The El-kanemi Warriors had campaigned in the lower division for about nine years before it gained promotion into the premier league in 2012

``For them to have been called to camp means they have proven their worth, so they should not lose the reason for being selected,'' she said.

According to her, this is the time for the athletes to embrace scholarship opportunities, saying athletes have the opportunity to win scholarships to further their

education abroad. ``Depending on their performance at international meets, schools in Europe and the U.S in particular, will be at the venue to scout for talented athletes for scholarships. ``Scholarships are there waiting for them, the ball is in their court to actually do their best,'' she noted.

Iheagwam urged the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to tutor the athletes on the disadvantage of using performance enhancing drugs, saying for every competition, athletes should be warned and taught the consequences. ``If there are no initial warnings about the damage

performance enhancing drugs can cause, it can cause a lifetime effect to the athletes, especially for these young athletes,'' she said.

According to her, the regular training for the athletes currently in camp in Port Harcourt for the meet should include tutorials on avoiding banned substances.

3SC places technical crew under close watch

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he board of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan yesterday revealed that the team's technical crew has been under close watch and could be sacked if they failed to meet expectation.

Toyin Akintunde, the Chairman of 3SC Board, who disclosed this in Ibadan while addressing newsmen, said this

was sequel to the 2-0 home defeat suffered by the team to Heartland of Owerri in a Week 12 match of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The technical team has as members Coaches Babatunde Odubola and Akeem Busari.

He added that the move was also to ascertain whether the technical crew would comply

with the decisions of the team's management, having met all the players' requirements. ``We all sat down to x-ray the match after the loss and the players apologised for the error, promising that they will do well in subsequent matches. ``We have taken a few decisions which are not for public consumption yet, and

Enyimba's difficult moments will be over soon, coach assures

Enyimba players wearing mournful faces after an unrewarding game

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alisu Yusuf, Head Coach, Enyimba FC of Aba, has assured that the team would soon overcome its difficult moments in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Giving the assurance yesterday, Yusuf said after the team's 2-0 victory over Bayelsa United at home in Aba, that the players have been improving with each game.

He urged the club's supporters to be patient with the team, saying that it had started improving performance at home. The bashed Kano Pillars 3-0 before the latest win.

"We are more worried than you are are even the technical crew members are not sleeping, all in an effort to make things work. ``We are aware of the important task facing us, but the teeming supporters should show more support now, more than ever and give us the chance to improve, which we have since started,'' Yusuf said.

However, he said that injuries were taking a toll on the players and affecting their game even as he coach challenged the players to finish the season strongly, as they chase their seventh league title.

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMALLY KNOWN AS YUSUF UMAR, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESS AS YUSUF MOH’D DAN BICHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. KANO STATE POLYTECHNIC AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

He said that the players' 50 per cent salary slash by the club management had made them to sit up.

It would be recalled that the management of the team made good its threat to levy sanctions on the team, following its State FA Cup final 0-1 loss to Abia Warriors on May 5.

On his part, Enyimba's Executive Chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu, told newsmen in Aba last month that it was the club's decision at its meeting on May 6. ``The time for talking is over and the time for action, strong actions, has come,'' Agwu declared.

He said that the salaries of the players have been slashed by 50 per cent and they were no longer allowed to drive their cars outside the club's premises.

for now we shall be watching to see if things are the way we want it to be,'' he said.

On the call by fans that members of the technical crew be changed, Akintunde said: ``It is normal for fans to make their own request but is the duty of the management to know what to do in situations like these when results do not favour the team.''

Mighty Jets sign 8 new players

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ighty Jets of Jos have recruited eight new players to strengthen its squad ahead of the battle for promotion into the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), an official of the club said.

Ferdinand Mbun, Media Officer of the club, confirmed yesterday in Jos that the club's management took the decision after it found out that the team needed some reinforcements. ``The move became necessary when the technical crew discovered at the end of the first stanza of the Nigeria National League (NNL) that some players were no longer doing well. ``The players recruited are two strikers, four midfielders and two defenders. The players were signed on during the transfer window of the NNL but have not played, since they have yet to be issued clearance to do so by their former clubs. ``Hopefully, some of them will feature this weekend in our local derby against Plateau United of Jos,'' he said.

The media officer said that the club, which was promoted from the amateur division to the NNL last season, was still in contention for promotion to the NPFL. ``Jets are currently fifth on the log --- NNL group A, with 30 points from 21 games. ``We still have nine matches before the end of season. We believe that with the new recruits, the team is in a position to gain promotion,'' he added.

According to him, Jets' 3-0 win over visiting Kogi United of Lokoja at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos on Sunday was the beginning of the team's rebirth.

Mbun commended the Plateau Government for the support it was giving to the oldest club in the State.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

Some Interesting Facts Every time you lick a stamp you consume 1/10 of a calorie.

The pound sign # is called anoctothorpe.

There was once a town in West Virginia called "6?.

Napolean made his battle plans in a sandbox.

Roman Emperor Caligula made his horse a senator.

If you ate too many carrots you would turn orange.

Pluto's orbit crosses Neptune's making Pluto the eighth planet from the sun.

The earth is approx.

6,588,000,000,000,000,000 tons.

The force of 1 billion people jumping at the same time is equal to 500 tons of TNT. Popeye was 5?6.

The first word spoken on the moon was "Okay".

Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon with his left foot first.

The average speed of Heinz ketchup leaving the bottle is 25 miles per year.

The percent of women who wash their hands after leaving a restroom is 80%.

The percent of men who wash their hands after using a restroom is 55%.

PAGE 47

The Eifel Tower has 2 500 000 rivets in it.

"Jaws" is the most common name for a goldfish.

On an average work day, a typist's fingers travel 12.6 miles.

The longest word in the Old Testament is Malhershalahashbaz.

The longest time a person has been in a coma is 37 years.

2500 lefties die each year using products designed for righties.

A baby is born every 7 seconds.

10 tons of space dust fall on the Earth everyday.

On average, a 4 year old child asks 437 questions a day.

The three words in the English language with the letters uu are: vacuum, residuum and continuum.

A baby in Florida, USA, was named:

Animal breeders in Russia once claimed to have bred sheep with blue wool.

A dog in East Africa says "woo-woo".

A dog in Bangkok says "bahk-bahk".

A dog in Japan says "wan-wan".

A dog in Russia says "gahf-gahft".

A cow in Thailand says "oo-ah" A cat in Japon says "neow".

A cat in Thailand says "mao".

A pig Japan says "moo-moo".

A pig in Thailand says "oot-oot".

A pig in Russia sayds"ha-roo".

A rooster in Germany says "ay-eeache-ache" Penguins are the only bird that can leap into the air like porpoises.

India has 50 million monkeys.

By some unknown means, an iguana can end its own life.

Pigs can cover a mile in 7.5 minutes when running at top speed.

Say what?

True will laughing life bucky boomer manifest destiny.

His middle name is George James.

Every year the sun loses 360 million tons.

SUDOKU

PHOTO OF THE DAY

A penguin colony makes its way back across a sea sprayed landscape, in Returning from the hunt, Source: Dailymail.co.uk

by Michael Lohmann.

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

England coach dad charge with sexual assault

T

he father of former Manchester United player and assistant coach of England Gary Neville dad have been charged with sexual assault, prosecutors said yesterday.

The 63-year-old, who has worked as an agent for his sons, will appear at a court outside Manchester, northwest England, next month.

The Neville brothers were part of Manchester United's championship-winning teams under manager Alex Ferguson during the 1990s and 2000s.

NazirAfzal, head of the Crown Prosecution Service in northwest England, said: "Greater Manchester Police has investigated an allegation of sexual assault by Neville Neville in March 2013.

"I have reviewed all the evidence that they have gathered and have authorized the police to charge him with one count of sexual assault by penetration against a 46-yearold woman.

Neville has been bailed to appear at Bury and Rochdale Magistrates' Court on June 12.

Having spent his entire career at Manchester United, he is now part of England manager Roy Hodgson's coaching squad.

Younger brother Phil Neville, 36, captains Everton but will leave the club when his contract ends next month. The defender-midfielder won 59 England caps.

Liverpool player assault case dismiss

L

iverpool footballer Raheem Sterling has had a common assault charge against him dropped after a witness failed to turn up to court.

The case against Mr Sterling, 18, from Woolton, was dismissed at Liverpool Magistrates' Court after prosecutor Rob Jones offered no evidence.

The England star had been accused of assaulting a woman in Toxteth, Liverpool, last November.

The winger had previously entered a not guilty plea via his solicitor.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Exorcise the spirit of violence by never offering violence in self defence. — Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, speaking at Eighth Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in Abuja

Emergency: GEJ has lost the plot A

lright, we grant that the insecurity situation that the nation faces is serious, if not grave. We grant also that there is need for taking tough measures to ensure public security, a primary responsibility of governments.

We know, of course, that in preparing to wage wars, countries often do, as part of the propaganda lead-ups, take many deceptive measures, including especially exaggerating the threat posed by the enemy, embellishing stories about the "crimes" or "sins" committed by the enemy and generally exploiting the amorphous fears and anxieties of their publics by demonizing the enemy and projecting the dread of its possible victory. It is not unlikely that there was some of this in the build-up to the declaration of emergency by President Jonathan last week.

But even if we make allowance for all this, it will be difficult not to agree with the authorities that firm action was clearly indicated by the situation on the ground in the three states -Borno, Yobe and Adamawa-now under a state of emergency.

As confirmed by even independent sources, the insurgents had, seized considerable chunks of the Nigerian territorial area in the North-East region (the epicentre of the insurgency); succeeded in establishing their control and rule in over ten local government areas in the seized territory; acquired and amassed sophisticated weapons; established own camps and operational headquarters in their own chosen locations; burnt the Nigerian flag and hoisted theirs; and become more daring and adventurous.

If not exactly that, the situation was like having a State within a State -a situation that no State tolerates unless it is too weak and powerless to change it. It was an unacceptable situation that the Nigerian State had to respond to.

But the question is, in what way or ways should the State respond?

In this, as in other even more difficult situations that nation sometimes become confronted with, there is not just one kind of response. There are options from which to choose. And choosing the options that in the long run lead to a permanent solution to the problem, and at the least cost to the nation in terms of human lives and material is the mark of true and good leadership.

Confronted with this situation, the challenge before President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) was both conceptual and practical.

Conceptual in that it required of him to first properly assess the situation and gauge the extent of the threat, understand why and how the situation had degenerated and brought us to this point and fashion the most appropriate responses. And practical in the sense that he has to vigorously pursue the chosen response or

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FOR THE MASSES

By Rufa’i Ibrahim ruf585@hotmail.com

President Jonathan responses.

There is hardly any evidence of exertion on his part as regards the conceptual part of the problem.

And even in regard to the practical aspect, it is clear that he did not, as a good leader should, improvise wisely when the unacceptable situation arose, begging for action.

What we've seen from him as a response, so far, has been a surrender to expedience in which what has been offered and is being vigorously pursued as a solution is more of the same. This response has been informed by both a faulty perspective of the problem with which GEJ has been all along been working, and by a mindset that not only refuses to explore options but also consistently produces policies that speak only to narrow, partisan interests. But it is also, to a large extent, a response that shows the extent to which our top military commanders and advisers have wrapped their tentacles around GEJ and asserted their grip on policy. These forces, it is clear, have succeeded in planting in GEJ's mind the grand delusion that force alone will do it, that there is no alternative to the military option. And it is now clear that he and his government have lost the plot.

If there had been any doubts before, it should now be obvious to all that the military option has always been the most preferred one for GEJ. Certainly, a declaration of a state of emergency barely two weeks after a committee on dialogue and reconciliation has been inaugurated and started work, and doing so without seeking the opinions of the committee members, was the surest way to kill off the last faint hope of a

peaceful solution to the problem.

The committee members know better, but it is really difficult for one to see if their being around as a committee will serve any useful purpose, given what has happened.

It was clear from the very day of the committee's inauguration when GEJ called on them to perform magic that he didn't intend to take them and their work seriously. And it is now even clearer, from what we now see in the warfront, that a decision on the declaration of emergency had been taken long before the setting up and inauguration of the committee.

The government intends to, and believes it can finish off the job by shooting its way through. As the commanders have said repeatedly, this is a total war. And with thousands of troops at the front, tanks, aerial support and all, it will certainly be a very bloody war.

But will it end the problem and lead to a lasting solution, which is what Nigerian desire and expect the authorites to bring about?

Since 2009, when the insurgents were pushed, largely by the Nigerian State's violence and brutal conduct, to take up arms, the approach and policy have been to use force to defeat the insurgents. Since then, the soldiers have been on the prowl in that region, daily killing, maiming, burning, destroying, sacking whole neighbourhoods, illegally detaining and torturing suspects and behaving like an occupation army in a conquered foreign territory. They raid shops and destroy markets. They target mainly the youths. And they detain and torture women and children.

But far from cowering and defeating the insurgents, the latter have only been growing in strength, gaining mastery of military tactics, expanding their contacts, becoming more audacious and, as we have now seen, considerably increasing its numerical strength and military capability to the extent of acquiring territory and operational bases from which they can launch a full scale war against the State. And this kind of war being one in which the insurgents and the innocents are hard to tell apart, it is the civilians, the innocents, that have been caught in the crossfire and forced to bear the brunt of the war.

And the state of emergency, as we are already seeing, can only and

bring more deaths, more torture, more displacements and more hardship and suffering for the innocents.

What then is the guarantee that an escalation of the State's violence and massive military action of the scale we are now witnessing will solve the problem?

The insurgents may be flushed out of their bases in the Sambesi forest, but, being masters of the terrain, they will shift bases. The fact is that, as has been the case in Iraq and Afganistan, when the state swamps an area with force, the insurgents shift bases. And, in many cases, they find support, even succour, among the populations in the new bases and areas they move to. This is especially so in Nigeria where the State and the armed forces are clearly losing the war for the hearts and minds of the population.

There is clearly the need for a rethink, for a change of policy and tactics. All along, the authorities have viewed and treated the security challenges in the country, and the insurgency situation itself, as merely a law and order problem. It is not. The problem runs much, much deeper. Its roots are firmly entrenched in our political and socio-economic system . And the earlier the authorities understand this and proceed on the basis of such an understanding, the better for all of us.

Whatever else Boko Haram is, it is largely the consequence of the failures and failings of our leaders, past and present. It is the consequence of things our leaders failed to do, or did badly. In the insurgency situation in the country, we are reaping the fruits of bad governance, misrule and impunity of our past and present leaders, and of the massive theft and corruption that have permeated the system, leaving the public treasuries empty of the resources needed to build infrastructure, schools, hospitals and establish welfare programmes that give hope to the masses of our people.

Our leaders always think that they can get away with their misdeeds. It's time they knew that things have changed a lot, that the Nigerian people too have been making a quiet but definite transition from a subservient and obsequious lot to a rebellious one.

Our leaders need to know and understand that so long as corruption continues to thrive on the massive scale that it now does, so long shall we continue to have insecurity and insurgency, because the people will continue to fight against deprivation and injustice in the land.

If the government is really itching for wars, let it wage a total one on corruption. And let it now begin to, on a serious basis, address the concerns of the Nigerian people. These, not force, are the real solutions.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141