Peoples Daily Newspaper, Saturday, July 21, 2012

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

VOL. 1 NO. 100 SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Man dies making love to six wives

Men as beasts:

>> Page 4

>> Pages 12,13

RAMADAN 2 - 3, 1433 AH

Incest stories that beat the mind

N150

Mass sack looms in states >> Pages 9,10,11

Plateau crisis:

STF orders Fulanis to return to villages As military operations end Jang lifts curfew on troubled councils >> Page 5

30 perish in fresh Rivers fuel blast

Page 4

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY JUNE 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

News Extra Homosexuals tighten grip on Markurdi

By Uche Nnorom

D

e s p i t e the passage of the law prohibiting same sex marriage and copulation, homosexuality including sodomy and lesbianism is fast gaining root in some major cities of the country.

A sexual preference, which was before now, unthinkable in this clime is fast taking center stage with more and more people signing on as members of the abnormal practice, which has also started gaining ground as one of the illegal money spinners around.

Currently, cities like, Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Warri and Markurdi, among others are already under the grip. In some of these cities, homosexuality is gradually becoming a common sight after dark.

Currently, over 17,000 persons in Makurdi, the Benue State capital are reported to be homosexuals and this has increased the high rate of HIV/ AIDS prevalence in the state. The state, which prides as the Food Basket State has somehow maintained the lead in HIV/AIDS prevalence over many years now. This is despite the vigorous campaign mounted by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Dooshima Suswam to scale down the rate through advocacy and several seminars.

However, a new dimension has been introduced in the state with hot spots for homosexuals springing up in major towns like Makurdi, Gboko, Katsina-Ala, among others.

In Makurdi, major hot spots, including some hotels which were also hot beds for young university girls doing prostitution under the cover of darkness, have become good grounds for the new business from Sodom and Gomorrah.

Checks by Peoples Daily Weekend shows that most of these homosexuals are now bold enough to rent houses and stay in brothels where their customers patronize them. Though this is said not to be new in places like Kano, Lagos, Warri among others, it is already beating the minds of the sensible in Benue and it appears that they are fast taking roots.

Further investigation revealed that most of the people practicing this act are top shots in the society, who are prepared to pay their clients, most of whom are youths within the ages of 2030 years for perverse sexual activities.

The “ladies” are not there for grabs as they are said to have dusted the female prostitutes in their charges.

A young man who spoke to Peoples Daily weekend on grounds of anonymity said the men are prepared to pay as much as N200,000 for a time to satisfy

Same sex lovers take over red light zones

their satanic urges. He confessed that some of them however work as pimps to link these men to other gays in town.

“These men are ready and willing to pay as much as N200, 000 to us to satisfy their urge.

We also work as pimps and link them up to other gays in the society. It is a money spinner”, he said.

Our source, who was showing a little sign of remorse during the interview, confessed that a friend introduced him into the business adding that he was moved into it because of lack of job.

“I am a graduate of Sociology. I have made several attempts to get a good job but all to no avail. It was in that condition that one of my friends introduced me into this. At first, I did not like it but since I had no other way of surviving, I gave in to the pressure and here we are”, he said.

On whether he regrets been a gay especially as African culture frowns so much at homosexuality, he said he does not have any choice for now.

Further checks revealed that apart from HIV/AIDS, the practice leads to other serious diseases that attack the internal organs most of them leading to

death. Also there are reports that those who engage in the practice do so for diabolic reasons, including ritual practices for wealth and power.

“Yes there are many who contact various diseases and some of them die. They were not careful. In this type of thing, you need to be very careful and protect yourself from harm”, another homosexual told our reporter.

Meanwhile, residents and organisations in Benue have continued to condemn the growing practice and there are numerous calls on the state House of Assembly to act quickly to curtail this ugly trend that is already spreading like a wildfire.

There are calls that the state legislature should borrow a leaf from the National Assembly and pass a strict law against the practice, while the state executive is called upon to implement the proposed law to the letter.

Commenting on the matter, a businessman, Mr. Anselm Okey regretted that homosexuality is fast eating into the fabric of the society. He insisted that the practice was a taboo and negation of our cherished culture and

urged Nigerians to rise up against it.

“This is completely absurd. It is an erosion of our culture. Why should we imitate the western world where homosexualism is legalized to the detriment of our culture? Government should act fast and nip these in the bud”, he said.

Also commenting on the issue, Mrs. Angela Wuam, a nurse, also lamented over the development noting that this could be responsible for the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS infection amongst the men.

“I cannot imagine men having preference for fellow men.

Is it not absurd? I still wonder what pleasure one can derive from this. I think those indulge in the practice are not normal”, she said.

Also commenting on the matter, an Abuja based preacher, Simon Idumi said such practices have their root from what he described as the demonic world.

“These things are not ordinary.

They are not originated from this world. It is from the devil and it is part of the methods the devil is using to pollute the world. We have to be prayerful, that is the only way

to stop it”, he said.

Already, many organisations are seeking ways to tackle the problem. Commenting on the matter, the National Coordinator, JIREH Foundation, which is into HIV/AIDS advocacy, Ms. Josephine Haba, observed that most of the homosexuals are also heterosexual who keep female partners as a disguise to society to prove their innocence.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary of Benue State AIDS Control Agency, Mrs. Ashi Wende said homosexualism constitutes a stumbling to the agency’s campaign and war against the dreaded disease and called on the government to act fast.

The Benue state government is however, not folding its arms on the matter. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Orduen Abunku, who condemned the act, explained that gay marriage has been prohibited in Nigeria, assuring that the ministry will not allow it strive in the State. He promised that the government has put machinery in place to partner with NGOs, relevant government agencies and functionaries to halt the practice.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY JUNE 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 3

Crime

How woman who stole child in Nasarawa was nabbed

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

T

w o weeks ago, the people of Karshi in Nasarawa state noticed the presence of a strange woman in their midst, as they wondered what a seemingly mad woman was doing in the area they did not know that she had an evil mission, to steal a child. And that was what she did but she was caught red handed with the child whom she stealthily carried from the neighbourhood.

The woman (names withheld) had the 3 year child, who was creaming and struggling to set herself free strapped to her back.

However luck ran out on the woman when a young man in the village popularly known as Skandy saw her while driving past the area and accosted her on why the child was screaming so loudly and where they were heading to.

The woman said she was taking the child to her mother who was working in a farm close by. The time was about 5pm and rain was threatening to fall.

The scenario played out at a bushy part leading to Karshi London Boarding School. Skandy, who was driving along the road, few metres away from the school heard the cry of the child and stopped. What caught his attention, according to Hajiya Aisha Musa, the child's aunt who narrated the ordeal of the child, Ikilima, while speaking with Peoples Daily Weekend was how Ikilima was screaming and saying "she is not my mother, she is not my mother" in her local dialect.

At this point Skandy asked the woman to get in the car so he could take both of them to Ikilima's mother on her farm. The woman out rightly rejected the offer

The woman, holding stolen child, standing with members of the vigilante group in Karshi making Skandy to suspect foul play. Then he came out of his car and pulled out a knife with which he threatened to stab the woman if she did not tell him how she got the kid. Before long people were drawn to the scene.

Suspecting also that the woman may have stolen the kid especially as she refused to answer questions put to her as regards the child, they stripped her naked and threatened to burn her alive.

According to Aisha Musa, "a boy

The woman with the child, Ikilima, whom she stole in Karshi

who sells petrol even volunteered to get a jerry can of the commodity to be used in burning the alleged child-thief after she was stripped naked.

Scared that the people meant what they said, the woman agreed to go with Skandy with the allegedly stolen child and he drove straight to the district head, Alhaji Yabako's house while the people who had gathered at the scene rushed to the district head's house to confirm the allegation.

At the district head's house where more people had gathered the woman confessed to the crime.

In the words of Aisha Musa, "the woman said she stole Ikilima and that she and two other women were in the business of stealing and selling kids for a long time but that her two colleagues met their own death in separate attempts when they tried to perpetrate the act as they were burnt to death by people.

The woman, who said her father is an Idoma from Benue state while her mother is from Ohu in Nasarawa state said she regretted her involvement and pleaded for mercy but the people insisted that she must go the way of her colleagues as they got ready their sticks, clubs and stones as well as petrol, used tires and matches to kill and set her ablaze.

But the district head prevailed on them not to take the law into their hands and quickly smuggled her to the police station in the area through his fence from the back of his house.

Aisha Musa however said the woman is still cooling her heels at the police station because no one had bailed her as at the time of filing this report. She told Peoples Daily Weekend that she is a relation of Ikilima's grandmother known as Fatou.

She disclosed that after ikilima was rescued it was discovered that she was vomiting a foamy

substance and she was rushed to the hospital immediately, noting that the woman may have given the child something to drink, probably some medicine adding that the child is however in good health.

She expressed worry about how the development is a backlash against women in their role as mothers, and this can be seen in not just this type of case but in several other cases where women's injustice to children has eroded womanhood.

Recently, as reported in Peoples Daily Weekend, a woman in Lagos state poured boiling water on her step-son scalding his skin. Another woman burnt her house-help with a hot iron for burning her cloth which she intended to wear to work.

While yet another, did not see anything wrong with her husband sexually molesting her 13 year old house-help while she was away in the US. Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations 'Officer (PPRO) in Nasarawa state, Cornelius Ocholi failed as he could not be reached on his mobile phone.

But given such inhuman treatment by women, what is the benefit of the Child's Right Act to the Nigerian child? How far has it been able to incorporate children's rights and responsibilities to consolidate all laws for their protection and care? These and many more questions are begging for answers in respect of their rights.

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

News 30 die as fuel v essel e xplodes in P or cour vessel explodes Por ortt Har Harcour courtt

By Richard Ihediwa, with agency reports

B

arely a week after over 200 persons were roasted to death while scooping fuel from a crashed tanker in River state, tragedy has again struck the state as no fewer than 30 persons were yesterday burnt to death as multiple fire incidents and fuel explosions rocked four different locations in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The first explosion came when a fuel vessel went up in flames at the Abuloma Jetty.

The blast shocked the residents of the area as about 30 persons on board the jetty were feared dead.

Those who perished in the blast, include crew members, welders who came to carry out maintenance work on the vessel and some ladies, suspected to be students from higher institutions in the state.

Eyewitnesses at the jetty

blast said it occurred while welders were trying to fix a faulty section of the vessel. The explosion was said to have thrown one of the welders several feet above the vessel before he crashed back into the raging fire.

Three persons who managed to jump into the river were rescued and were rushed to the hospital by an ambulance

belonging to the Rivers State government, although they were still unconscious.

Two other smaller vessels near the vessel that exploded also went up in flames, but people around there used water pumping machines to put out the fire on the two ferries.

The blast came on the heels of another tragedy as early morning fire gutted the

premises of two media outfits; the Rivers State Newspapers Corporation, publishers of The Tide group of newspapers, and Silverbird’s 93.7 Rhythm FM radio station in Port Harcourt.

Earlier, the Joint Taskforce (JTF), operating in the region had set five tankers used for illegal bunkering on fire along the Eneka-Igwuruta road also in Port Harcourt.

Man dies making love to six wives From Uche Nnorom, Makurd

A

man, known as Uroko Onoja, an indigene of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue state has died while making love at the same time to six wives throwing his large family into mourning.

Onoja, who was said to be very wealthy and famous was also popular among women in the locality despite the fact that he was married to six wives.

Neighbours said he was always demanding for sex from his wives especially whenever he was drunk. It was after one of his drinking sprees that he met his untimely death.

Uroko had just returned home from a beer parlor heavily drunk and headed straight to the house of his

youngest wife unaware that all his wives had earlier conspired that he would sleep with them on that fateful day.

He attempted to put up some resistance but the wives threatened him with knives and stick.

The marathon sex began with the youngest wife and when it got to the turn of the fifth one, she discovered that her husband was no longer breathing. All attempt to resuscitate him failed as all the wives quickly fled into the forest.

The deceased body has since been deposited in a mortuary in the village even as the village head of Ugbugbu, Owukpa confirmed the incident and had in turn reported to the police who are said to have commenced investigation to unravel the cause of the death.

Housewife, 3 others nabbed over husband’s killing From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

A

housewife, Zainab Musa and four others are in police net in Katsina state over the alleged killing of her husband, Yusuf Ibrahim.

The Katsina police command spokesman, ASP Muhammad Koko Shehu who confirmed the incident to newsmen, noted that others arrested were Zainab Aliyu, Aminu Shazalla, alias Kankare, And Jamilu Salele alias Ayun Ruwa; while Mabarak Ibrahim and Ibrahim (alias Beach) were at large.

ASP Koko noted that the housewife, Zainab Musa was

alleged to have conspired with Zainab Aliyu and hired some thugs to beat up her husband to prevent him from taking a second wife.

Similarly, Peoples Daily Weekend learnt that the thugs were hired to beat up the deceased to teach him a lesson and warned him to desist from taking the new wife.

It was also gathered that it was in the process of beating him that one of the thugs stabbed him before he eventually died.

The police spokesman said that the suspect would be taken to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

The burnt vessel

Communities in riverine areas urged to keep off flood plains From Iliya Garba, Minna

R

esidents of riverine areas in Niger state have been advised to keep off flood plains of rivers Niger and Kaduna in view of impending flood as a result of heavy rains expected before the end of this year’s rainy season.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed

Kpotu Abdullahi who gave the warning in Minna, the state capital, explained that the alert had become necessary as a result of the heavy rains recorded this year which can invariably lead to flooding in the downstream areas of the two rivers.

He lamented that the riverine communities in the state and those in Kwara , Kogi and Kebbi states

have always experienced the flooding of their homes and farmlands on annual basis leading to loss of lives and valuable property.

He emphasized that “I also wish to advice our farmers to steer clear of the flood plains of rivers Niger and Kaduna as we have already heard of floods in some states of the country”.

Buhari commends media for pressure on Jonathan to implement subsidy report From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

G

eneral Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the last general elections, has commended the press for sustaining the pressure on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to implement the report submitted by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee which investigated the subsidy regime and indicted some Nigerians.

Gen. Buhari made the commendation in a chat with journalists yesterday in Lafia, Nasarawa state, when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura at the Presidential lodge.

On the perceived inability of the Jonathan administration to prosecute those indicted by

the report, the former head of state said: “I will congratulate the press for doing pretty well by sustaining the pressure on the government to prosecute the thieves”.

Buhari, who was in the Lafia to attend the wedding ceremony of former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal, recounted that during his time when he was head of state, Nigeria had only one refinery producing 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day, which was upgraded to produce 100,000 barrels per day.

He stated that another refinery was collocated to produce another 150,000 barrels, such that in Port Hacourt alone, “Nigeria was producing 250,000 barrels, with another 200,000 coming from Warri and Kaduna”, adding that there was a time the country was exporting 100,000 barrels a day of refined products, after

satisfying the home market.

Buhari however lamented that “corrupt successive governments have destroyed the petroleum industry and Nigeria became a net importer...”

On the workability of a merger between his party and the Action Congress of Nigeria, Buhari, stated that he visited Alhaji Ahmed Bola Tinubu in Lagos, alongside, Malam Nasir el Rufa’i, Jimmy Lawal, to talk over the issue of the merger, not only with the ACN but with other opposition parties, stressing that the only constraint to the opposition, “is for there to be a credible, free and fair election.”

He said the merger would work this time because of the ample time ahead for the opposition parties to discuss terms of the merger and alliances, before the next general elections.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 5

News

Plateau crisis: STF orders Fulanis to return to villages As military operations end Jang lifts curfew on troubled councils

By Richard Ihediwa, Nankpah Bwakan (Jos) with agency reports

I

t is good news for residents of four of the five troubled Plateau villages, including Fulanis and Beroms, who were evacuated last week as they have been cleared by the Special Task Force (STF) to return to their homes.

The clearance to return however has not be extended to residents of Mahanga, where the military operation is still going on.

The military had on Monday ordered the villagers to leave their homes following the decision to detail the STF to carry out a full-scale military operation in the five villages to flush out suspected militants after

Gov. Jonah Jang recent attacks by insurgents which led to the death over 100 people. The villages are Mahanga, Kakuruk, Kuzen, Maseh and Shong 2.

STF officials were seen yesterday briefing some Berom and Fulani leaders on the progress of the military operations for which residents were made to relocate to temporary camps.

However, those from Mahanga are to remain in their camps until the operation is completed.

Residents, especially the Fulanis who had started returning said they hoped that those launching the attacks have been chased out of the villages. They left their homes in compliance with the order from the defence headquarters that soldiers would raid locations believed to be hideouts of the suspected criminals launching the attacks and destabilizing the state.

To avoid what the defence headquarters described as “collateral damage”, inhabitants of the five villages were asked to move into a temporary camp provided by the state government.

Residents of a few other

villages - Kura-falls, Kuzukand Sharuk, Rim of Gashish and Bachit were allowed to remain in their communities but advised should to be “careful of their movement within the area and avoid places of military operations.

Meanwhile, Plateau state Governor Jonah Jang (rtd) yesterday approved the complete lifting of the curfew earlier imposed on Jos North, Jos South, Riyom and Barkin Ladi local government areas of the state with immediate effect. The Commissioner of Information and Communication in the state, Mr. Yiljap Abraham who disclosed this yesterday in Jos, said the relaxation of the curfew was after due consultation with the State Security Council and careful review of the security situation in the state.

According to him, “A return to a no-curfew therefore calls for extra vigilance by every citizen.

Government also wishes the Muslim Umma a happy Ramadan”.

Yiljap said: “By this action, government expects that citizens will use this period to work harder toward a safer and more peaceful Plateau”. The statement further urged citizens to reciprocate the government’s gesture by avoiding any action that would lead to breakdown of law and order and co-operate fully with the security agencies. It also advised all citizens to use the opportunity to pray fervently for the general well being of the state.

Workers protest military presence in PHCN Hqtrs,

“Its normal”-Military

By Joy Baba with agency report

N

igeria Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has expressed concern over the presence of the Army at the headquarters of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Abuja Chairman of the FCT branch of the union, Mr. Wilson Nwachukwu, expressed the concern while addressing journalists on the development.

He c l a i m e d t h a t the soldiers prevented workers from moving freely into their offices.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army said on Friday said the deployment of soldiers to the corporate headquarters of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was a “routine” exercise.

Chief of Staff at the Directorate of the Army Public Relations, Col. John Agim, made the clarification in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that deployment of soldiers at the premises of the PHCN was normal.

Agim said that the soldiers were not sent to dislodge the staff of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

He explained that the soldiers were directed to ensure that the workers signed before they could be allowed into the premises.

FG's collects 763bn in June

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

Staffs of PHCN protesting at the headquarters yesterday

Photo Mahmud Isa

12,000 women infected with VVF in Nigeria yearly From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

t least 12,000 women are infected with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) yearly in Nigeria, the National Demographic Health Survey has discovered.

A VVF surgeon, Dr. Ahmed Yola disclosed this while presenting a paper at a stakeholder’s meeting to review and develop fistula jingles for Bauchi, Kano and Katsina state in Bauchi yesterday.

He said VVF is an occurrence of abnormal hole between the bladder or rectum and the vagina, characterized by continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine.

Dr. Yola noted that most of the

women affected by the condition come from the remote villages which lack access roads, healthcare facilities and numerous barriers to seeking healthcare.

According to the VVF surgeon, it is common where ignorance and poverty are prevalent and affects young, short teenage girls of poor social economic background and women who are delivering for the first time.

He reiterated that the condition is common among older and even elderly women as well as uneducated women living in the villages with the latter mostly affected.

Yola then pointed out that 90 percent of VVF is caused by

prolonged, unattended and obstructed labour while other causes include harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation among others.

He said that VVF is prevalent both in the northern and southern parts of Nigeria, but is more conspicuous in the north, adding that VVF occurs wherever maternal mortality rates are high.

Sadly, he said, VVF accounts for 75 percent of loss of baby and is responsible for 55 – 60 percent of divorce rates in the country.

According to Yola, VVF often leads to unemployment, stigma and discrimination as well as depression and suicidal tendency among the women with the condition.

T

he Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has announced a gross revenue collection of about N763.553 billion for the month of June.

The figure is higher than the N579.301 billion received in May by N184.252 billion.

The Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Lawan Ngama, who briefed newsmen after the FAAC monthly meeting in Abuja on Thursday night, said the development was due to increase in company income tax, import duties and Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) on Production Sharing Contract (PSC) and Modified Carry Arrangement (MCA).

According to the minister, the gross revenue

available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) was N59.219 billion as against N60.084 billion distributed in the preceding month, resulting in a decrease of N865 million.

The minister announced that the distributable revenue for the month is N467.007 billion after the sum of N88.66 billion was transferred to non oil excess revenue. Also distributed among the three tiers of government is the N7.617 refunded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He stated that the total revenue distributable for the month of June is N526.227 billion. In addition, the sum of N35.549 billion is also earmarked for distribution under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 7

Kada News Non-payment of allowances: NYSC doctors, pharmacists protest in Kaduna *Say NUJ our last hope Stories by Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

M

e d i c a l doctors and pharmacists under the 2011 batch C and 2012 batch A of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Kaduna state have protested nonpayment of their eight months allowances.

The aggrieved doctors who thronged into the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna, on Thursday, regretted that the state government failed to fulfill its pledge to pay them the

money currently standing at N664,000 each.

According a spokesman of the protesters, Dr. Musa Atiku, government had promised that they would begin to receive their monthly allowances of N83,000 each, after four months into the service.

According to Atiku, “we were told that after four months, the state government will begin to pay us our allowances with which we can use to keep body and soul going but we were short of words when after the expiration of the agreed months our allowances were not forth coming.

“Initially, we reported our plight to our respective NYSC local

government Inspectors but we were referred to the zonal Inspectors and from there to the state Coordinator, yet we did not get the desired attention.

“We went to the Ministry of Health and the Commissioner referred us to Ministry of Economic Planning and on reaching there we were told the person we were supposed to see was not on seat.

“We kept going there consistently until somebody advised us that the only way we could get the attention of the authorities is to go to the press, which explains why we are here.”

NAWOJ canvasses legislation on violence against women

T

h e Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has advocated legal framework against genderbased violence, targeted at women.

According to NAWOJ President, Asabe Baba Nahaya, perpetrators of violence against women go unpunished and lamented further that the development has tended to destroy the family unit with heightened insecurity in homes and public places.

She spoke at a sensitization workshop on violence against women, with the theme, “Women and their rights,” organized, by the Kaduna chapter of on Wednesday. The group also used the occasion to launch the maiden edition of its magazine, “NAWOJ MIRROR.” Nahaya listed some of the forms of violence to include, sexual and physical violations, domestic violence and harmful traditional practices, among others.

According to her, “it is not just physical violations that women suffer, women are denied

inheritance rights in parts of the country and some even have their children taken from them in the event of the death of their husbands and sent away.

“When a woman dies, she is buried without fanfare but when the man dies, the wife is accused of killing the husband and she is made to go through harmful traditional practices, to prove her innocence.

“There is need for a multisectoral response beginning with a legal framework in the form of a legislation that prohibits, protects and gives redress to victims of violence against women and girls.”

Earlier in her welcome address, Kaduna state NAWOJ Chairperson, Hajiya Farida Abubakar, explained that the programme was designed for participants to proffer concrete solutions to curb the prevalent cases of violence against women.

According to her, “our role as journalists in the fight against this menace is very crucial and we will partner with other Nongovernmental organizations to ensure we succeed.”

PDP moves to reconcile aggrieved members

P Chairman of the occasion and former Governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, presenting a souvenir to Comrade Umaru Mohammed (left), for meritorious retirement after 32 years of service, at a programme organized by National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) in Kaduna…on Wednesday

e o p l e s Democratic Party (PDP) National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, says the party is doing everything possible towards reconciling its aggrieved members.

Mustapha who until his recent election was the Kaduna state Head of Service told reporters that, “we are dong everything possible

Group backs Katsina Emir on Gonin Gora

T

h e Federal and Kaduna state governments have been urged to give a listening ear to the calls for the relocation of Gonin Gora village along Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

According to the latest advocates of the move, Democratic Coalition for Free Speech, “no amount of bootlicking, sycophancy or praise singing should stop the dismantling of Gonin Gora so as to save the lives of commuters plying the AbujaKaduna route.”

Reacting to a press conference held by a group “Residents of Gonin Gora” recently in Kaduna which was a response to an earlier call by the Emir of Katsina, the coalition said, the village has no any economic relevance to justify its continued existence there.

“We just wonder of what economic benefit of Gonin Gora to Kaduna State. Gonin Gora is not an industrial estate, it contributes nothing significant to the revenue base of Kaduna State ….Beyond beer parlours and groups of young men who live on hard drugs and kill innocent travellers, it is hard to remember anything worth the

while about Gonin Gora and its unbeatable record of genocide.

“We take exception to the way and manner this new group tried to cover up the mindless killings of innocent Nigerian Muslims and Christians travelling through Gonin Gora since 1999,” the group said.

A statement of the group signed by Mohammed Abdulkadir Rigachikun, Chairman and Victoria J Maikasuwa, Secretary, said the Emir of Katsina was not the first Nigerian to advise that the town of Gonin Gora be dismantled to give peace a chance.

It pointed that: “many other

Invest in business ventures, Makarfi urges citizens

A

former governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi (PDP Kaduna North Senatorial Zone) says Nigerians should embark on business ventures as part of measures to survive the economic downturn in society.

Makarfi who spoke as special guest of honour at the commissioning of SAK Motors Nigeria Limited also described himself as a businessman and that he has been in the car business since 1986.

According to him, “business is the best whether you area a politician, or a teacher and so

on.”

Also speaking at the programme, Chairman, Kaduna State Car Dealers Association, Alhaji Ahmed Na Brazil, urged the well-to-do citizens to invest in car dealership business in order provide job opportunities for the youth and alleviate poverty.

Chairman of SAK Motors, Alhaji Shehu Kwarau, said he started business during his school days, “and I decided to open this company to contribute my quota towards the socioeconomic development of the state in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”

prominent Nigerians have voiced their misgivings about the killer squad in Gonin Gora. It is therefore sad that the Emir’s simple expression of opinion in a democratic set up should give licence to some faceless cowards to deploy gutter language against him.

to bring our aggrieved members back to the PDP fold.

“The PDP concentrates on three key issues of reconciliation, reformation and rebuilding so that the party should continue to be the party to beat.”

Mustapha lamented the prevalent state of insecurity especially in parts of the north and noting that the people must join hands with the Federal Government and the relevant agencies to restore peace in the area.

According to him, “it is unfortunate but we appeal for understanding because without peace, no foreign investors would love to invest in Nigeria.

“We need to have a conducive environment so that people can have job opportunities and reduce social vices in the country.”

Kaduna chapter of Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises inaugurated

T

h e Kaduna state chapter of the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises has been inaugurated with Alhaji Mustapha Mohammed Aliyu as chairman.

In his inaugural speech, Aliyu described the north as the poorest area in the country with the least developed economy.

He said that his association was set to partner with other stakeholders towards the establishment and sustenance of small and medium scale

enterprises in the area.

Also speaking at the occasion, a prominent industrialist and former presidential aspirant, Alhaji Lema Jibril, lamented Nigeria’s dependence on imported goods describing it as shameful.

According to him, “we import virtually everything from abroad which is pity and a shame for this country.

“We have to encourage our local small scale industries and we have to try to do things by ourselves in order to make progress.”

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 9

Cover

No more money

NSGF Chairman, Gov. Aliyu Babangida

NGF Chairman, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi

*Fear of empty coffers confronts states *Mass sack looms *Govs resort to direct labour, cut spending *Families fear the worse

By Richard Ihediwa, Ahmed Kaigama (Bauchi), Sam Egwu, (Kogi), Uche Nnorom (Benue), Olanrewaju Lawal (Ilorin)

I

t is no longer a doomsday prophecy; the realities are here. The nation’s economy is biting harder and many more Nigerians are faced with the harsh reality of poverty following growing job losses and high prices.

When the Senate first raised the alarm late last year that most of the states in the country were not economically healthy with some lawmakers calling for merger of some of them, the governors, led by the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, (NGF), Rivers state Governor Chibuike Amaechi insisted that such was not the case and that the states were healthy.

Senate’s position then followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Olubunmi

Adetunmbi seeking an investigation into a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission that many of the states are in distress.

Adetunmbi had presented documents which showed that the accounts of 33 out of the 36 states of the federation were in red A chart attached to the motion indicated that six states were classified as distressed, 15 states were classified as being in critical conditions, six were unhealthy while five were in tolerable conditions.

States said to be in distressed condition include Kano, Sokoto, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina and Osun. Those in critical

conditions are Ekiti, Plateau, Benue, Edo, Borno, Adamawa, Cross River, Enugu, Taraba, Ogun, Kogi, Yobe, Ebonyi, Ondo and Kaduna. Those classified as unhealthy include Oyo, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Gombe, Rivers, Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Kebbi, Delta, Abia, Anambra and Jigawa. AkwaIbom was rated as healthy.

A chart he presented to buttress his point also showed that some state governments have been taking the capital market alternative since 2002. The chart shows that between 2002 and 2011 Lagos state have taken N122.5 billion, Ogun (N50 billion), Bayelsa (N50 billion), Imo (N18.5 billion), Kwara (N17 billion), Ebonyi (N16.5 billion), Kaduna (N8.5 billion), Delta (N5 billion), Kebbi (N3.5 billion) and Yobe (N2.5 billion).

Since then the fortunes of the states have continued to nosedive and the governors are now crying for help to help

the states carry out responsibilities.

Presently, many of the states are in huge debt as they have not been able to pay contractors and civil servants for months in addition to huge pension arrear yet to be paid. Many governors are lamenting that their problems were worsened by the imposition of the N18, 000 minimum wage for workers resulting in increased demand on the state purse.

Many of the state are now deploying survival methods including cutting of spending, use of direct labour and mass retrenchment of workers.

It is feared that these measures will further impoverish the ordinary people who are now barely surviving with the hike in petrol prices which had resulted in increases in prices of goods and services in the country by about 100 percent.

See pages 10,11&12

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Cover

No more money Contd from page 9 Worst hit are states in the north, which now rely heavily on meagre allocations from the federation account following dwindling internally generated revenue.

Due to the sharing formula, which is based on oil derivatives, states in the north which are very large earn very much lower than those from the south, especially, the south south which are very small in terms of land mass and population.

Key finance officials at the federal level including Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala have continued to heap blames on the governors accusing them of mismanaging the resources available to them and not being able to make enough internally generated revenue resulting in over dependency on federal allocation.

Okonjo-Iweala, who had always criticised the position of the governors against the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, insisted that drawing monthly from the Federal Account to fund the state was sapping the nation, while the states were not saving anything for the future.

Already the situation is gradually pitching the north against the south as the southern governors are opposed to the demands of the northern governors for the review of the Revenue Formula so as to have more allocation for states. The southern governors are rather insisting on the implementation of complete fiscal federalism so that each state would strive to survive with the resources found in their territories.

On the whole, more than 70 percent of the allocations to states go to payment of salaries and allowances of workers and government running cost leaving virtually nothing to push infrastructural development.

Currently, many states in the federation can no longer pay salaries and are owing workers as federal allocations alone can no longer carry that burden, a situation which has spelt doom for the nation.

In a recent interview, Chairman of the Northern state Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Niger state Governor Aliyu Babangida threw caution to the winds and agreed that all was not well. He confirmed that many states in the federation were broke and finding it hard to meet their responsibilities.

In an interview with Economic Confidential online magazine, the governor said many states were having problems with poor internally generated revenue and as such could not execute projects.

He also said they had to rely heavily on monthly revenue from the Federation Account, adding that only Lagos State could be said to be financially bouyant.

“It is not only states in the Northern part of the country that are not in position to meet all their financial obligations.

Virtually all states in the federation, apart from probably Lagos, are in the same boat.

The situation has been compounded by the introduction of a new minimum wage for workers in all the states of the country irrespective of the fact that we are in a federation and the poor internally generated revenue base of most states after the payment of salaries.”

“Some states have gone to the capital market to get money to finance capital projects dear to the people while others recourse to loans from commercial banks.

This is why we have been asking that the revenue allocation formula should be reviewed. As the case is now, there is too much money at the centre so we need to

NGF Chairman, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi change the position because it is in the states and local government areas that we have the people. I will still want the revenue allocation formula to be reviewed. If for nothing, it has outlived its usefulness, especially when it is the law that it should be reviewed every 10 years”, he said.

Aliyu described as unfair, a situation where a state like Niger got between N4.2 billion and N4.5 billion as monthly allocation while some other states received 20 times the amount.

However, it appears that the northern governors must begin to find other ways of improving on the economy of their states as there are apprehensions that the demand for review of the formula may not easily scale through. This is especially as key actors at the federal circles and the southern states are more inclined to finding ways to increase internally generated revenue than in allocating more money for sharing.

Some months ago, governors of the six south south zone at their first ordinary session of the BRACED Commission Governors’ Council for 2012 hosted by the Cross River State Government in Calabar said the clamour for the alteration of derivation and revenue sharing formula by the North “was unfortunate and misplaced”.

In a communiqué read by Governor Liyel Imoke at the end of the meeting, the governors regretted the attempt by their colleagues in the north to link the increasing insecurity in parts of the country to the issue of 13 per cent derivation. They also questioned “the rationale of not exploiting other mineral deposits in different parts of the country while depleting the oil and gas reserves of the South-South and called for the entrenchment of fiscal federalism in the country instead of review of the revenue formula.

In the same vein key members of the National Assembly including the Chairman of the Senate Constitution Amendment Committee, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekeremmadu and other key federal lawmakers have continued to voice their support for entrenchment of fiscal federalism with Ekweremmadu describing it as “feeding bottle” federalism, which he said was not in the best interest

NSGF Chairman, Gov. Aliyu Babangida of the nation.

Those calling for fiscal federalism are seeking the establishment of system in which states are allowed total control of mineral finds in its territory while they pay royalty to the government at the center.

While the debate rages the ordinary people have been gripped by fear as states are now expected to take drastic austere measures for survival.

Already states in the north like Bauchi has started feeling the next level of the heat though the government had denied reports that it was going broke.

In a development that might soon hit other states of the federation, especially those in the north, the Bauchi state government had announced a massive cutback on statutory official commitments on grounds of financial incapacity.

The Secretary to the Bauchi state government, Ahmed Ibrahim Dandija, had already sent a letter to all state government offices on the decision to cut expenses even as the state is said to have resorted to direct labour in execution of projects apparently for lack of funds to pay contractors.

The said letter reads: “The current downturn in the nation’s economy is telling on the state government as a result of dwindling resources at its disposal. This has made it very difficult for the government to meet the competing demands being made on it”.

Consequently, Dandija said, the government has suspended all awards of new contracts, foreign trips for training, including overseas scholarship award, medical treatment/check up or other official matters “except where it’s absolutely necessary with express approval given by Governor Isa Yuguda”.

Letter number GO/SS/OFF/S/30/V.ll/ 943 added: “All unnecessary expenses by ministries, departments and agencies must be stopped. However where there is a critical and urgent need, the affected ministry must seek and obtain his Excellency’s verbal clearance through the secretary to the state government”.

The directive also suspended all requests for review of salaries and allowances by labour unions and reduced allowances for ad hoc – committees by 50%

as well as restriction on fresh employment.

Already the state has resorted to using more of direct labour system for which the state governor has approved the sum N3.9 billion.

The Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Bappa Azare, said direct labour was cheap and projects were completed within a short period and that it reduced debts for the state. Meanwhile fear has gripped workers in the state as they are now apprehensive that the next move by the government could be to right size its work force to cope with wages. A civil servant who did not want his name disclosed said workers are very much apprehensive and have started planning for any eventuality.

Meanwhile, in other states there have been a general downturn of the mood of people especially government workers and contractors. In Kogi state, the situation has put many business men and women in a state of uncertainty.

A check by Peoples Daily Weekend shows that what people are apprehensive that the development would worsen the hardship they are facing even as many civil servants in the state have now started engaging in other petty businesses to make ends meet.

While some argue that the present administration in the state was more concerned about the security of the citizenry and has been channelling more funds in that dircetion others were of the opinion that the new government in Kogi state under Governor Idris Wada has not fully stabilised and should be given some time to get its acts together and start the massive development of the state as promised by the governor during the campaign.

However, many residents of Lokoja, the state capital expressed worry that it appears the government is becoming too slow in its promise to harness the resources in the state for the benefit of the people.

In an interview, a businessman Shehu Abubakar said he is not happy that the state government has not awarded any contract since it came into power. He argued that it is when contracts are awarded that the system will start working as there are many sectors to develop. He argued that if there is contract Contd on page 11

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 11

Cover

No more money Contd from page 10 work around, many people would be engaged. He said that his argument is based on the fact that even the labourers in the state were complaining.

In Benue state, the story is almost the same. There are indices which show that the state could be facing financial difficulties though government authorities have dispersed fears, stating that the Food Basket State is financially healthy.

The state government had maintained that the short fall in the revenue allocation is responsible for some of the financial problems but assured that it has not in any way hampered the development of the state especially in the area of payment of staff salaries which has remained the cardinal objective of the Suswam administration.

Already the state has raised its internally generated revenue base through the Internal Revenue Board headed Mr. Andrew Ayabam to cater for both capital and recurrent expenditures.

Speaking to Peoples Daily Weekend, the State Special Adviser on Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Solomon Wombo debunked in some quarters that the local governments in the state are bankrupt.

He maintained that the state does not owe any salaries and that salaries of staffs including those at the grass root have been promptly paid.

“As I speak with you, government has paid salaries of council staff. Though there was a drop in allocation from the Federation Account from N3 to N2 billion, it has not in any way affected the payment of LG staff”.

However, when contacted on phone, the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Omadachi Oklobia said he was at the Federal Allocation meeting in Abuja and so could not comment on the issue.

Meanwhile, some civil servants who spoke on the issue on grounds of anonymity noted that their salaries were only delayed.

“Formerly we used to be paid 25th of every month but there is usually slight delay in the payment of our salaries even as there are some irregularities”.

But for the teachers in the state, it has remained tales of woes as government has continually delayed their screening so as to commence payment of their minimum wage, a situation which has seen most of them frustrated.

“At the moment there seem to be no hope in sight for us. We are tired. I think the government is really broke that they cannot pay us the minimum wage”, cried one Stella Abakpa.

In a similar vein, a cross section of members of the public has blamed the alleged financially bankruptcy on government’s huge expenditure during last year’s general election.

“Why won’t government be broke when it spent so much money prosecuting last year’s election? The amount of money the governor may have spent to get his reelection cannot be quantified”, frowned one Mr. James Shimawua.

Commenting, one Mr. Cletus Pila said he is not happy that the state government has not revamped the ailing industries so as to generate internal revenue as well as engage the youth gainfully, noting that as long as it continues to rely on funds from the Federal Allocation, not much development would be witnessed.

In Kwara state, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Demola Banu in an interview admitted that the situation is telling on

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala government at all tiers in the country but noted that the state is doing its best to meet its obligations.

“As a matter of fact, this situation is affecting the federal, states and local governments. In fact, some states and local governments do not have sufficient fund to pay their salaries, but in Kwara state we are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that we pay our workers as at when due.

“As a result of the dwindling revenue, there was a significant shortfall in the allocation to all the states and 774 local governments in May and June. There was a shortfall of about N355 millions in the allocation due to the local governments in Kwara state last month. That is why the recent conduct of the verification, auditing and biometric carried out in all the local governments in the state is very timely and important.”

Banu who did not confirm whether

Apprehensive Nigerians fear the worse

CBN Gov. Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

the state was among states that was said to be broke noted that the only way to resolve the financial crisis was to diversify the nation’s economy saying “we need to diversify our economy by encouraging the exportation of other commodities apart from crude oil, most especially now that many other African countries have discovered crude oil and also working hard to increase our IGR.” The Kwara state Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Adebis Israel Ayoku in an interview with Peoples Daily Weekend disagreed with Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babagida Aliu that 35 states of the federation were in financial crisis.

Noting that Nigeria was a country viewed from the prism of excruciating lack and want in the ocean of abundance he argued that it was wrong for the Chairman of Northern state Governors Forum to have concluded that state

governments in the country were experiencing financial problem while their federal revenue allocation were not reduced. He said instead, the state governors should check their unnecessary expenditures.

“Nigeria is a tragic metaphor when viewed from the prism of excruciating lack and wants in the ocean of abundance. It is a nation that is supposed to flow with milk and honey. Unfortunately, the contrary is the case. It is a system pockmarked with infelicities. Our dear nation is a basket case”.

On the whole, there are fears that harder times await Nigerians if governments at all levels do not come out with operable measures to ensure that the economy does not slide further. This is especially against the backdrop of the fact that the nation still has abundant natural resources begging to be exploited and developed in the common interest of the nation.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 12

Issues Men as beasts:

Incest stories that beat the mind

By Richard Ihediwa

S

o m e o n e said they are signs that the world is coming to an end. Another said people are simply going back to the dark ages; falling over the edge of the pyramid of civilisation.

To others, the devil is at work, possessing people and making them do his bidding.

In the last six years, there have been increased cases of abnormal sexual preferences with cases of homosexuality, incest between parents and children, among siblings; bestiality involving depraved men and animals, sex with the dead, child pornography among others have been on the increase and in some climes are gradually becoming a normal practice.

While such stories were heard from climes very distant from Africa and Nigeria, the practices are now gradually taking root in Africa and in Nigeria just as they are now competing for acceptance with normal practices in Europe and America where laws have been passed to support some of them including same sex copulation, abortion and even incest.

When in 2009, the story of the 73 years old Austrian Josef Fritzl who locked up his daughter, Elisabeth, then 42 in a cellar for 24 years and fathering seven children with her burst, it was as if the world had turned upside down. Little did the world know that humans have since turned beasts and that there were others in such devilish practices.

Father and daughter In Fritzl story, the Police said Ms Fritzl told investigators how her father put her to sleep with an anaesthetic on August 28, 1984 and even handcuffing her in a locked basement. Officially, she was declared a missing person, with Interpol opening an investigation.

A letter was sent to her parents asking that they stop searching for her and local authorities concluded she had been seized by a religious sect. She told police she spent years imprisoned in an underground chamber beneath the family home near the eastern town of Amstetten where she was "regularly abused" by her father and their incestuous relationship produced seven children.

Fritzl had told his wife, Rosemarie, and local authorities that three babies had been left by Elisabeth on their doorstep, in different years.

As if fired by the Fritzl story, other incestuous stories began to filter out. The same year, a man from Cass County in Missouri owned up after being arrested for having fathered four children with his daughter. According to Cass County Sherriff’s Office, then 47 years old Danny Rinehart confessed that he started having sex with his daughter when she was five and impregnated her on, at least four separate occasions when she

Salisu Hussain and daughter

became a teenager.

He claimed during interview with the police that his daughter, who is now 22, sometimes initiated sex with him.

The daughter was 14 years old when she had her first baby in the family's recreational vehicle in March 2004 in Oklahoma. The baby died four months later after falling off a couch. Three of the four children died. The father was arrested after one of the daughter's sisters contacted authorities, and investigators found the bodies of two of the babies in coolers buried on the property. He is being charged for rape and murder.

In Nigeria, in October 2011, a 38-year-old man, Salisu Hussain of Funakaye Local government, Gombe state admitted before a customary court in Bajo of having sex with his daughter Habiba Salisu. He attributed the act to the influence of black jinn. The black jinn, he told the court, hypnotized him, and he could not summon sufficient power to resist them.

Salisu Hussaini admitted that he deflowered Habiba when she was thirteen years old. He confessed that he often called his daughter in the night and told her that he was possessed by black jinn, and the condition they set for relieving his troubling condition was to make love to his daughter. He admitted that he had canal knowledge of his daughter only three times, and that he did not commit the act out of his free will. He insisted he was possessed by the black jinn; the jinn insisted that he must have canal knowledge of his daughter before they would free himself from the spell he claimed was cast on him.

In her testimony, Habiba said on the fateful night, the father knocked on the door and

ordered her to follow him.

According to her; “I followed him, without thinking of anything evil, since he is my father. But when he intimated me about his desire, I asked, if he was truly my father, why was he saying this. I told him I would not agree,” said Habiba.

When she expressed her stand, he cautioned her not to let anyone have a clue of what transpired between them. But in the morning, she told her step-mother about the night’s incident.

“My step-mother told me in response that I was only trying to tarnish the image of my father.”

But when she contacted him on the matter, Salisu Hussain told his wife that his daughter story was in fact true. For that reason, both stepmother on one hand, and father on the other, joined forces and insisted that Habiba must give in to her father’s amorous demand. They assured her that if in the process of deflowering her she got injured, it would be nothing to worry about because they would take care of her.

“My step mothers, Fatsuma and Altine held me; while one was fondling my breast the other was fingering my private part. As my body became weak as a result of their combined attack, they called my father. He came into the room and, in their presence, forced his manhood into me,” she told the court.

The Judge, Alhaji Muhammad Alhaji Yayajo, held that the accused was in good mental health and must be sentenced for the offence.

In January this year, a 45 years old man was arrested and detained by the Cross River state Police Command for allegedly defiling his 17-year-old daughter. The lady, who resides at Idundun in Akpabuyo Local Government Area

of the state, was also found to be pregnant for her father.

Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Hogan Bassey, confirmed the incident to newsmen. The man however admitted having sex with the daughter but denied impregnating his daughter as he insisted that he used contraceptives.

He was said to have blamed his wife for his predicament. According to him,“My wife failed in her marital responsibility and ‘man no be wood.’ How can my wife go to a market to buy goods and stay there for two or three weeks?” he reportedly said.

In her explanation, the victim reportedly said trouble started some months back when her father approached her one night and appealed to her to consider his

Pearl Carter and grandson Phil

request, since her mother was not around. The girl said she attempted to resist but was manhandled by her father who also threatened to kill her. She said she started enjoying the affair after her father had made love to her for three consecutive days.

In March, 2011, a house wife went public in Banana Island, Lagos state when she discovered that her husband have been having sex with his two daughters, one 13, the other seven. Reports had it that the mother was jolted by a scream from her daughters’ room. On her to way to her kids’ room to check out what it was all about, the husband who was coming from the same direction stopped her and cajoled her to go back to bed while he handles the situation himself.

The wife innocently went back to

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 13

Issues

Men as beasts:

Bizzare stories that beat the mind

Lasisi and the goat at the Police station

bed grateful for a caring husband.

She had barely dozed off when she was awakened again by a second scream. She rushed out and was accosted by husband coming from the direction of the kids rooms.

According to the report, he tried to make her go back again but she pushed her way through into the children's room only to see her seven years old lying in her own pool of blood while the house help was trying to clean her up.

The seven years old was said to have died at the hospital same night from complications. The thirteen years old also confessed that the father have been having sex with her . “I can’t remember when daddy started with me, but this night he went to baby's bed (her deceased seven old sister) and did it to her twice". The father is said to be walking freely after allegedly being released by the police on bail.

Last year, a Ghanaian, Baba Musah, admitted before Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Police that he had sex with his daughter on numerous occasions resulting in a pregnancy.

A local media, Daily Guide said the incidence was confirmed by the Ashaiman Divisional Co-ordinator of DOVVSU, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Christine Yevunoo, who said the man was arrested after the daughter reported the issue at the Unit.

ASP Yevunoo said the victim's stepmother, who was separated from the accused person, also confirmed the allegation against Musah who blamed the devil for his actions.

Mother and sons There have been stories of mothers having incestuous relationship with their sons even in Nigeria, though many of such cases are not reported.

However, the world was jolted last year when a Zimbabwean widow Betty Mbereko from Mwenezi in Masvingo and her son Farai admitted having sexual relationship and decided to marry after they noticed that Betty was pregnant for Farai.

Mbereko then 40, who was widowed 12 years earlier, has been cohabiting with her first child, Farai Mbereko (23). She said she has decided to marry her son because she does not want to marry her late husband’s young brothers, whom she says are coveting her.

Betty stunned a village court when she said the affair with her son had begun three years earlier. She said after spending a lot of money sending Farai to school following the death of her husband, she felt she had a right to his money and no other woman was entitled to it.

“Look, I strove alone to send my son to school and no one helped me.

Now you see that my son is working and you accuse me of doing something wrong. “Let me enjoy the products of my sweat,” she told the village court.

Farai said he was more than prepared to marry his mother and would pay off the ilobola balance his father had left unpaid to his grandparents. “I know my father died before he finished paying the bride price and I am prepared to pay it off,” he said.

“It is better to publicise what is happening because people should know that I am the one who made my mother pregnant. Otherwise they will accuse her of promiscuity.”

But local headman Nathan Muputirwa says: “We cannot allow this to happen in our village, mashura chaiwo aya, (This is a bad omen indeed). In the past they would have to be killed but today

we cannot do it because we are afraid of the police.” He warned them to break off their marriage or leave his village. They chose the latter and have left the village for an unknown destination.

It appeared that the story of Betty and Farai became a gate for other incestuous stories from Zimbabwe. Early this year, a local newspaper, Herald, reported that a man is on the run after his mother fell pregnant following an incestuous relationship over several years.

The local chief, Chief Chinamhora told state-run Herald newspaper that, “his aides were looking for Simon Matsvara and his mother Ethel Vhangare who is said to be five months pregnant.

“We are going to hunt for the two and we will punish them severely to send a clear message to would-be offenders that we do not tolerate such acts,” the newspaper quoted the chief. Neighbours in Pote village claimed that this was the second time Ethel had fallen pregnant by her son having suffered a miscarriage the first time back in 2008.

They said the pair started their relationship after Simon’s father, Agripah, suffered a stroke and relatives assigned him to help his mother look after his dad.A few months later, while her husband was still alive, Ethel admitted to villagers that she was pregnant and that her son was responsible.

Family elders reportedly fined the pair an undisclosed number of cattle and Ethel suffered a miscarriage two months later just before her husband died. But the pair continued with their relationship, resulting in another pregnancy this year which came to light when Ethel started absconding church services.

Also early this year, police arrested one Mr. Emmanuel Okon Akpan in Odukpani Local Government area of Cross River state for impregnating his father’s wife, Agnes Akpan. Emmanuel was said to have told the police that he decided to take Agnes since the father was old and can no longer satisfy a woman.

Grandmother and grandson The world was taken aback when news burst last year in Indiana, United States that 72year-old Pearl Carter have been having sex with her grandson Phil Bailey and have decided to marry and to have a baby by surrogate mother.

According to Australia's New Idea magazine, Pearl had a daughter, Lynette, who she gave up for adoption at age 18. In 1983, that daughter had a son, named Phil. After Lynette died of brain cancer, Phil decided to track down his grandmother: 'We both cried but kept talking for three hours,' she says. 'When he emailed me a photo, I thought what a handsome and sexy man he was before pinching myself – he was my

grandson!'

According to the report, “the attraction intensified when the two met. The pair spent the first week shopping, bowling and eating out.

During the second week, giggly on wine after a night out, Pearl decided she wasn't going to deny her feelings anymore.

'I called Phil into my bedroom, sat him on the bed, and then I leant over and kissed him,' Pearl says. 'I expected rejection but instead he kissed me back.'...That night, grandmother and grandson became lovers.

Siblings There have been stories of siblings having sexual relationship.

In many of the reported cases, the siblings only come to realise their relationship after the deed had been done. However, in Zimbabwe, a community in Pote village had fined a 26-year-old man and his niece, 22, from Mutonda village who had lived together as husband and wife since 2007. They bore two children now aged four and one.

Infant abuse Sexual relations between infants and adults have been on the increase but the world was jolted when the news of a woman who admitted allowing her five-monthold daughter to be raped by a man she met online came up last month in St Louis, United States. She was handed down two consecutive life sentences without probation.

A local news source, St Louis Today, reported that “Tessa L. Vanvlerah, 22, from St Louis, was charged with first-degree statutory rape and sodomy, as well as incest and child pornography. Her attorneys failed to convince a judge that she should get probation because she suffers from a psychological disorder. Dr Brooke Kraushaar said a dependentpersonality disorder caused Vanvlerah to participate in the sexual fantasies of Kenneth M. Kyle, 49, a college professor from California, even though she knew sex acts involving her then-fivemonth-old daughter were wrong.

“Kyle was sentenced to 37-anda-half years in prison in March after pleading guilty of abusing the infant during several occasions in 2009.

Along with hundreds of child porn

Betty Mbereko

images on Kyle’s computers, investigators found information that led them to the St Louis area, where Kyle had visited Vanvlerah four times in five months since meeting online. During those visits, prosecutors say the pair had sex with the girl and each other at various hotels”, the news source reported.

Men and animals In October, 2010 32 years old father of three, Semiu Lasisi was nabbed by neighbours and dragged to the police after he was caught having sex with a goat near a mosque after morning prayers at Ajimututu area of Akobo in Ibadan, Oyo state. Lasisi, after the prayers found a she-goat was lying with her two kids and decided to have sex with the animal.

Lasisi, a taxi driver blamed unknown forces and admitted committing the same act when he lived in Lagos. The Police Public Relations Officer in Oyo state then, DSP Olabisi Okuwobi said Lasisi’s act is categorised under the criminal code as unnatural sexual act.

In 2007, a local Sudanese newspaper reported the case of a man, simply called Tombe in Upper Nile state who was forced to marry a goat after he was caught making love to the animal.

With the dead The world was also taken aback in April this year when the Egyptian authorities passed a law empowering men to have sex with their wives within six hours after the death of their spouses.

This is after debates that the human can still have hormonal responses six hours after death.

The legislation however came on heels of a bizarre story of a 38 years old mortuary attendant who was nabbed by the police after she was found to have had sex with the corpse of a man she was detailed to wash at the Morning Glory Mortuary just outside of Lexington, Missouri in United States According to the report posted by online sources, “Police have charged Felicity Marmaduke with desecration of the dead and necrophilia. According to a statement made available to police

by Marmaduke, the alleged victim experienced a post mortem erection while being bathed.

“Being alone, Marmaduke straddled the dead man and proceeded to have sex with him.

Much to her surprise, the alleged victim came to orgasm after several minutes.A few weeks later, Marmaduke had a positive pregnancy test while receiving a routine medical exam.

“Upon telling her doctor the circumstances leading to the conception, the police were notified.

Marmaduke was arrested without incident at her dilapidated trailer home a few blocks from the mortuary. In a bizarre twist, Marmaduke plans to sue the dead man’s estate for child support”, the report said.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Community Watch

Sacrilege

How politicians pummeled a traditional ruler From Salisu Zakari Maradun Gusau

A

l l over the world, traditional rulers are always revered as the custodians of the culture and general identity of their people.

They are always respected and their opinion held in very high esteem.

Despite the prevalent cultural summersault, nobody would have thought that a traditional ruler will fall victim of physical assault by any of his subjects.

But it happened. A district head in Zamfara state got the shock of his life when he was pummeled in a beating spree that was alleged to have been organized and supervised by four lawmakers at the state Assembly Complex in Gusau, Zamfara state capital.

According to the District Head, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Sarkin Rijiya who is currently lying critically ill on hospital bed, he was attacked and beaten blue black at the instruction and supervision of certain state legislators.

The over 60 years old traditional ruler, who is the District Head of Rijiya in Gusau Emirate, is now bed ridden at the emergency ward of the Federal Medical Centre [FMC], Gusau, where he is in a desperate fight to live.

The traditional ruler, who was still groaning in pains at the time Peoples Daily Weekend called, said he now finds it difficult to urinate, which has made his stomach to be swollen, When he eventually urinates, it is full of blood, accompanied by lots of excruciating pains.

“What matter to me at this moment is my life, and not even the traditional rulership position.

I am praying to Allah to grant me good health and also want well spirited Nigerians to assist me with prayers for my survival”, he said in an emotion laden voice.

The beaten traditional ruler is heaping all the blames on one of the lawmakers, Dayyabu Adamu Rijiya, who he is accusing of masterminding the attack.

He said he was invited to the State House of Assembly on Tuesday to answer questions based on allegation by some said persons from the Rijiya District, which led to rigorous questioning session by the four lawmakers which he said included Rijiya. He also accused that lawmaker, of facilitating his earlier suspension as a District head.

The embattled District Head

District Head (Sarkin Yaki Rijiya) in his hospital bed added that after the drilling session by the four legislators, he was asked to go, only for him to be accosted within the Assembly Complex by hoodlums allegedly hired by the said lawmaker. He said the group was led by one Garba Mai-lena whom he said started insulting his parents and said very soon he will be deposed and sent packing from Rijiya saying the former government led by the People Democratic Party [PDP], which he supported was no more in power.

“I said government is for everybody and that all traditional rulers including the emirs were always loyal to government in power. I also said Garba Mai-lena you looked at me with my age as an elderly person and a traditional ruler and insult my parents but before I finished the statement, Garba Mai-lena landed a blow on my face which made me to fall on the ground. He and others started kicking me on my stomach and private part. They were ordered not to use weapons on me so that there would be no blood on me.

They were told to just kick and hit me until I die. That was all what I remembered because I lost consciousness only to find myself on this bed”, he said.

Sarkin Rijiya also alleged that earlier before the attack, Dayyabu Adamu had led some people including Rufai Marake, the Rijiya Ward Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP]to seized his farm which he inherited over 45 years ago, for supporting the previous state led PDP administration.

“I swear to Allah, everyday they send people to humiliate me and throw stones into my house and beat up my children.

Dayyabu Adamu and Rufai Marake in company of many hooligans some days back went to my farm on which I have been farming since the last 45 years and seized it”, he claimed.

When contacted the lawmaker at the centre of the allegation, Dayyabu Adamu Rijiya said he was not part of the committee but was invited on the instance of the embattled District Head so as to settle the rift between him and the traditional ruler because he was informed by the members of the committee that when the embattled District Head was invited last Friday, several evidences including tape recordings of the various allegations by the people of Rijiya

District were shown to him.

The lawmaker added that, at the sitting on Tuesday, neither he nor the traditional ruler said anything regarding each other until the end of the hearing after which people left.

He said he was having a discussion with the other lawmakers when the traditional ruler came back to the committee room a few minutes later with his body full of dirt to announce that he had been beaten by some hoodlums led by one Garba Mailena.

“We called the security people at the assembly complex which included the police, SSS and others.

They told us that the embattled District Head came out of the committee room and started boasting that those against him cannot do anything to touch him which made Garba Mai-lena angry. They said it was when the traditional ruler tried to step back that he fell”, he said.

Aminu Danjibga, who chaired the Tuesday’s committee sitting, also has this to say.

“We were still sitting and deliberating on when next to have another sitting when the District Head came back and said he has been beaten by one of the people who brought a complaint against

him. We don’t know what the police is doing about the case but we as members of the committee will continue with our assignment”, he reiterated.

The Speaker, Sanusi Garba Rikiji who spoke through the Public relation Officer [PRO] of the House, Nasir Biyabiki said the committee is yet to submit its report and that he was still yet to receive formal report on the attack on the traditional ruler.

Zamfara state Command, Police Public Relations Officer [PPRO] Haruna Abdulmalik [DSP], declined comments on the issue.

Investigation however shows that Governor AbdulAziz Abubakar Yari had sent the Commissioners of Health and that of Special Duties to visit the embattled District Head in the Hospital.

A source also said the state commissioner of Police, Usman Akila Gwary had also visited the Sarkin Rijiya.

Another source said ANPP leader in the state, Senator Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura has sent a delegation to visit the embattled district Head and also called for his immediate reinstatement.

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Special Report

Sokale:

A fun spot away from the highway

Main gate of Sokale garden

By Richard Ihediwa and Augustine Aminu

I

t is located in Dutse, Abuja popular satellite town; by the expressway connecting Duste and Bwari, another prominent Abuja satellite town.

The place is called Sokale, a name chosen by the early Yoruba settlers in the area, which literarily means “come down” commonly used for those alighting from a vehicle.

Sokale, a small settlement has become popular because of the presence of a garden, famous for its relaxation joints. Some call it paradise, others say it is a place of lust of the world, but there it is, hidden from the busy express way, in a world of its own, one might say.

From the highway, one would never imagine that it exists but venturing a little from the main road, hidden by cluster of bushes and mechanic sheds, one is confronted by the expansive community principally made up of cluster of merry red light and drinking joints. Sokale!

Those who see it as paradise do so because of the happy disposition of the guests and its unique flora occasioned by well arranged flowery footpaths with the ambience of a lover’s den as the sun sets in its golden orange bed.

On the other hand, those who see it as a place of lust do so because of the orgies of merriment that comes from liquor, cigarette and assorted cuisines including the fresh pepper-soup dishes, exotic meals and women of easy virtue in great number and all shapes and sizes, ready for action.

Though the daughters of eve were not like, with placards, seeking for whom to devour, their freeness even as they occupy tables

One of the joints

with friends especially as their clients can easily spot them for the night.

From the highway, there are two entrances into Sokale Gardens.

The first being through the main gate, while the other is through a foot path that enables one get into the garden through the back.

Surprisingly, as one leaves the highway to assess the main entrance, one is first confronted with a firebrand praying Pentecostal church with worshippers in fervent prayers for the lost world. As if reminiscent of the days of Noah and the ark just before the Flood, nobody appears to be interested in the church as petty traders in front of the garden make brisk business taking their toll on customers who had come to the park to have a good time.

As one gets to the gate, a private security man looks intently as you, though there are no gadgets to be double sure that there are no threats, there is this serenity in the air that seems to assure that all is well.

From the gate, one begins to feel the life in the garden. The flowery paths is indeed a beauty to behold as cars neatly packed and drinking joints neatly arranged show proper sense of planning by the management.

Immediately one drives through the gate, one is confronted by a sudden gush of easy life that comes from sight of fun makers at the joints, many of them conversing and laughing loudly.

One is quick to notice bevy of ladies in all the joints especially those immediately after the gate and those deep inside hidden by flowery trees.

Unlike many other gardens in Abuja, food, drinks and pepper soup

A Pentacostal church by the gate of the garden

here are relatively cheap though the quality is still high. Each joint is fit with plasma television showing movies from especially African Magic channel.

A customer at one of the joints refused to give his name but volunteered to tell our reporter more about the joint and why he patronises the place.

According to him, the garden was his hide away from the prying eye of people. “I come here all the time to unwind with friends. You can see that it is a cool place full of life. The place is well organised, there is security and things are cheap”.

Asked who the lady with him was, he said she was his girl friend, though he admitted that he was married. “She is my baby. I bring her here and we enjoy ourselves”, he said, as the young woman in her early thirties appeared to be a little shy.

Our source explained that in case one did not come with his girl friend, he can actually hook up with a lady at the garden and a

relationship could start, if you know your way around.

“I don’t want to call them prostitutes but they can meet your need. Many of them are very descent girls and you can relax with them”, he said looking around and pointing at some young girls milling around even as some of them were doing some chores in some of the joints.

However, at some tables were some groups of young girls in not indecent dresses but provocative enough to trigger some suggestions.

Asked if those who engage the ladies were not pricked by the sermon or prayers from the church, our source said he was not.

“The church people are there and we are here. And let me tell you many of the people who come here also go to church. Me I do not see anything wrong with people doing what they like” At the center of the garden is a well laid out lawn where customers sit in open air to enjoy their drinks

and fish or meat pepper-soup.

Behind the lawn is a block of rooms partly shaded with flowers and ornament shrubs.

Someone had earlier hinted that those were rooms where one could have what they call “short time” with the ladies of easy virtue, however, our source said he is not aware if such existed and at the same time he could not explain what those building were there for.

The mention of the rooms drew the attention of his initially passive friend. She said she had heard about the issue but could not say for sure if the rooms were meant for that purpose. She however said she was aware that the block on the other side of the lawn housed the administrative offices of the garden.

As darkness enveloped the atmosphere, Sokale Gardens began to exude its red light ambience that lovers desire and it was time for our reporters to further explore the place. What they saw as like any other fun spot; life was in its full gear. The show has to continue.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Ramadan

Tips for women at Ramadan

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

S

h a 'ban, the Islamic month before Ramadan has ended, and Muslims all over the world, have prepared for Ramadan with unprecedented motivation and high hopes to do many things so as to get the best out of the Holy month.

However, Islamic scholars say good intentions are not enough for the Ramadan, whether you are a man or woman.

Muslim women like others have high expectations for the blessed month, as well as more work load and duties to their families. To be able to achieve results in the things you are going to do during Ramadan, it is imperative to be able to manage your time very well especially as it relates to realistic plans.

Women have more duties in Ramadan, especially if they are career women; however, they still have the opportunity to get their reward from the Almighty Allah, and great love from their families as they go about carrying out their chores and seeing to the welfare of their husband and children in this special month.

Charity provides a widely open door for women to extend love to people apart from their families in different ways. For instance, cooking food for the needy, collecting money from relatives and friends for charitable purposes, teaching children the Qur'an before cooking your meals for breaking of fast, are among several activities that would bring you joy and Allah's blessings.

Women have also a very important and crucial role in helping their children understand what Ramadan is all about, and in organizing activities relevant to the holy month.

Ramadan is considered an

excellent opportunity for children to experience Holy acts which includes fasting, praying, playing, and helping others like the physically challenged or needy in the society.

Time management does not only imply cooking in time to meet the breaking of fast time, but how well you are able to minimise your work for maximum benefits. For instance, every woman has different priorities and abilities but it is necessary to know how to arrange them in such a way that they do not clash with each other.

You also have to weigh your capability against the task at hand. For instance, if you plan to host friends for iftar, breaking of the fast, how many people are coming? What are their preferences, when should you start preparing the meals, do you have enough hands to assist with the cooking? Get someone to help you with preparing, lifting, and washing the dishes, aside your house help let your kids help out as well.

These and many more options have to be considered.

Here are some useful guides Don't go to the extreme Don't place too high expectation on yourself. Play safe, do the little you can but be sure to achieve results. You can achieve a lot if you make realistic plans bearing in mind your responsibilities and how you are going to carry them out. So make it simple. Don't overwhelm yourself with lists of food items you should prepare everyday for breaking of the fast. Just make sure the meals are nutritious and have all necessary ingredients.

Get your kitchen prepared Prepare the different ingredients for your cooking before the Ramadan, like properly storing your spices, grinding the

dry ingredients, getting your gas cylinder filled and putting a kerosene stove aside to avoid any problems, like when the gas gets finished on a Sunday and there is no where to get a refill. Prepare your fridge; store a good amount of onions, garlic, and tomatoes and pepper as well as tomato sauce.

Refrigerate your washed meat and chicken and get them well spiced and marinated. Prepare some homemade drinks like your kunun zaki, ginger drink or zobo drink and leave them in the fridge, to compliment your banana shake or lemonade.

Keep your home organized so that you can get the things you need more easily. This will save time and make searching for items less cumbersome.

Set your priorities by starting

with the basic tasks followed by the less important ones.

Don't schedule what you think less prior, just focus on more important things and get them done efficiently.

Schedule your appointments and visits; avoid unnecessary outings, and put definite dates and times if it is possible.

Make it clear to your family and friends that Ramadan is a very special period, and emphasise that more time should be given to prayers and related activities.

Make a checklist to serve as a reminder. Also don't say you would do something that needs to be done today, tomorrow, if you have a task, do it immediately, this will even push you to do more and have a head start.

Take some rest and enough

Home made drinks like zobo can help

sleep to be able to complete the Ramadan month at the same pace insha Allah. Eat well, healthy food will give you the energy to work, pray, and do all your duties accordingly. Remember eating junk food is bad as well as too oily food.

Exercise. Many people think Ramadan is absolutely the wrong time to exercise, this is not true.

You can have few minutes of stretching or any kind of work that will make your body stronger.

Women who work or who have careers should be able to keep pace with Ramadan duties despite office work, they are mostly used to time management so things should be easier for them than stay- athome women or full time house wives.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 18

Relationship

Things that make men want to be in love A

l t h o u g h most won't admit it, men love to be in love. In fact, many men need to be in a relationship more than women do. This is because a good relationship is settling for a man, a place where he can share feelings that he might not be able to talk about with anyone else.

In our society, women are permitted to have close, bonded relationships with their girlfriends. They talk to each other openly, and turn to one another for support easily, but men don't. Believe it or not, for many guys their love relationship is the one place where they can allow themselves to be truly intimate. As a therapist I've counseled many men in relationships who agree. And after interviewing men to write my first two books, Why Men Leave and What He Can't Tell You... and Needs to Say, six reasons emerged that explain what they really like about relationships. Check them out here.

You might be surprised by what these guys say!

Feeling Free Enough to Really Be Himself "When I'm in a relationship, I'm a different man than when I'm not," Bob said. "When I'm out there running around with the guys, I feel part of a pack, on the hunt. Sure, it can be fun for a while. But, believe me, every one of the guys in the group is hoping to meet someone each night. And I don't just mean someone for sex. I mean someone for everything, the 'real thing.'" When asked what "the real thing" meant to him -- and his friends -Bob grinned. "It means someone who will take you for what you are. Who likes you that way. Who isn't going to start finding fault, but instead, start finding all the things about you that are terrific." When a guy is in a relationship where he is allowed to be himself, he feels more confident. He feels loveable and worthy.

Just by being there, the woman he is dating or married to reminds him that she chose him out of all the others. This kind of feeling is hard to get in any other way. It helps all aspects of his life Being Inspired to Be a Better Man Andy said he loves the challenge of relationships. He knows he has to work at it in order to make a love affair last.

"Relationships make me keep myself up, work out, look good, stay sharp, keep my

eye on the competition. After all, I don't want her running off with some other guy.

When things work out, I feel like a winner.

I feel proud showing her off to my family and friends too. It's like I'm saying, look what I have. Look who I am." For many guys like Andy, relationships are a big ego boost. They keep them on the sharp edge of life, and force them to be the best they can.

Having a Partner Who He Will See at the End of the Day For Tim, it's slightly different. Tim loves the rush of looking forward to spending a romantic weekend with the woman of his dreams. "When I'm in a relationship," Tim said, "the woman becomes the woman of my dreams. She's beautiful. She's fabulous. I think about her all week long and can't wait for us to be

together on the weekend (or sometimes weeknights). It makes the whole day exciting. When things get boring or rough, I think of her and feel great. "It's something to look forward to. It reminds me that there's a prize for me at the end of the road."

For a guy like Tim, being in a relationship fills his life with fun and joy. Seeing his girlfriend's smile or hearing her voice becomes the reward for all of his hard work. His relationship reminds him that there's more to life than the rough times, and he can enjoy himself every day.

Having the Chance to Make Your Day Edgar said that what he loves about being in a relationship is knowing that he can make someone else happy. Knowing that he's capable of doing this makes him

feel good inside. "It's the best feeling in the world," he said, "to see my girlfriend's face light up when I walk in the door. If I know she needs me and that I can make her happy, take some of her problems away, I feel terrific, like it's all worthwhile." This is a particularly interesting comment, because when I interviewed men for /Why Men Leave/, the number one reason they said they left relationships was because they felt they could not satisfy their partner or meet her needs. Not being able to make someone happy made them feel inadequate. Men need to feel as though they're doing a good job. And they need to hear the acknowledgement of that from the woman they're with. When a man feels like he can please his girlfriend or wife, it makes him feel wonderful about himself.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 19

Beauty Tips

Your skin needs your time

Cleansing The truth being told, you need to find a good cleanser that your skin responds well to, and stick with it. See the best cleansers for your skin type.

There's no need to spend N500 on a fancy wash. Stay clear of bar soaps as they tend

to dry out the skin. Choose a creamy cleanser if you have dry skin or a clear cleanser if you have oily skin.

Be careful not to cleanse too often. Washing at night should do you. If you have dry skin, consider cold cream like Pond's, which the French use.

Simply apply cream, then wipe off, no water needed (if you have hard water it can be especially harsh on skin).

Most women prefer the water method: Use warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores.

Use a dime-sized bit of cleanser, then rinse with cool

water. You wil also need take take off makeup with proper make up remover.

In the morning, a splash of cool water is all you need (it helps removes excess oil from your nightly moisturizing). Never wash your face with hot or cold water (both can be harmful to your skin). Also be careful about overcleansing skin because it causes rashes and also adult acne Exfoliate Exfoliation is the step most people skip in their weekly skincare routine. But trust me, if you start properly exfoliating your skin, you will notice an almost immediate difference.One of the reasons men's skin looks more youthful than women's is because men tend to exfoliate daily when they shave…weird right? But true. There are several ways to exfoliate skin: Scrubs work well by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that tend to dull your skin glow. We find exfoliating skin once a week with a facial scrub keeps skin glowing yearround. Make sure you use a gentle scrub with tiny grains.

Is a toner helpful? Some people swear by toners, some say, "toners are only for copy machines". That's not totally true…toners are meant to remove all remaining traces of oil, makeup and dirt, but a good cleanser should do this. I believe strongly it's up to you. If you like the way a toner feels on your skin. Ask around for people who

have used that particular product,Buy it. Use it. Enjoy it.

Moisturise A basic law of beauty is that everyone, no matter her skin type, should moisturize. Even if your skin is oily, it will benefit from. (The only exception is those with acne). Why? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin . So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it's crying out for moisture. Be careful not to overmoisturize ,it can clog pores.

Are eye creams necessary?

Hmmmmm maybe. Some cosmetic surgeons strongly recommend eye creams. Why? The skin around the eye contains no fatty tissue and is therefore very thin and susceptible to wrinkles. Special eye creams are formulated to "thicken" this area.

Sunscreen The number-1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so it's important to use sunscreen from your early years. A great way to do this is to purchase two moisturizers: One for night and one for day that includes Ultra V iolet protection. Don't use moisturizers with sunscreen at night, the ingredients are not meant to be and can aggravate skin.

At the end of the day you need a consult with a licenced Dermatologist before taking any decisions as regards skin care.

Source: Nigeriantop

PAGE 20

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Learning Book Review

By Augustine Aminu

Zahra and Coco

D

r . Fatima Akilu is a children’s author who has been working at a very senior level in the field of psychology and health for more than two decades. Her work has spanned three continents which include; Africa, Europe and America. She has been both an educator holding teaching positions in various universities and an advocate for a number of marginalized groups in Nigeria.

Fatima Akilu takes an abstract concept and makes it concrete in a most

meaningful, colourful way.

Each page or double-page spread of this creative work of arts contains one line of handwritten text with accompanying artwork.

Zahra and Coco alphabet and colour books are loaded with child appeal and are books that makes the work of the teacher or parents easy. The characters are large, boldly colored drawings are cherry and utterly charming. Each illustration does a superb job of expanding the sentence expressed in any page.

Zahra and Coco series are special illustrated books

designed for three to four years olds. This might as well be the first creative book for children of that age by a Nigerian author.

Alphabets are aimed at teaching pre- nursery and nursery children core vocabularies while exposing them to the good reading culture. One unique feature of this book is that it’s a book that teaches the fundamental values as well as impacting the nation culture to our children.

Zahra and Coco are books that, now more than ever, deserve a place on your bookshelf.

A

r e you the kind of parent who has absolutely no idea how to use a computer?

Someone who has never touched a computer before and just got a computer system by luck or as gift item? This article will help you become computer literate.

1. Ask real peoples.

Some good people to ask are your own kids. They know a lot about the computer, but they may be annoyed if you ask too much. Also, check out some books at the library about computers.

There are a couple of good books out there.

2. Learn the basic steps to get on the computer.

Learn how to turn the computer on, off, on standby if applicable, how to log off and how to put discs in the disc drive or USB flash in the flash drive.

3. Learn about the assorted programs and applications that you will be using. Install them on the

computer by placing the CD into the disc drive, and following the installation wizard that pops up on the screen. After installing, play around with the application. this will help you understand the program better.

4. Set up an email account, which will be required to register with just about any website that allows posting messages (ie: forums, blogs, and sites with built-in chat rooms). Find a free email provider you like such as Google, Yahoo, Hotmail. Sign up using their instructions.

5. Also, always keep your computer up to date with security patches and other updates. Learn to recognize spam and forged emails some of which can look very real. Learn about money mule scams so that you do not fall for them.

6. Learn to protect your computer by installing anti-spy and anti-virus software.

7. Explore a little on the web. Visit Google.com to

ICT ESSENCE with

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

16 Tips to make you computer literate search for sites that focus on some of your interests.

8. Some applications can help simplify things and before making choices, learn about the advantages and disadvantages of the program.

Remember, don't download anything if you are not sure about it.

9. Make sure your computer is good for your use. If you want to just use

12. Do not over estimate how good your computer is or how much room because your computer could overload.

13. Do not pay for help unless you have no other alternative.

14. If you download files, make sure to run a virus check on it before you open it. It may contain a virus or other mal-ware that can

it for taxes and email, performance is less useful but if you want to do 3D art, you need a more beefed up computer.

10. Get enough hard drive space! This is basically how much room your computer has for files. 250 GB should be sufficient.

11. Make sure the books you look at are up to date, also on many programs such as Microsoft Applications, there will be a button in the upper part of your screen that says "Help". This is a useful and quick access way to get answers.

pose a threat to your system.

15. Be careful about opening attachments in emails, especially from people you don't know, since the attachment may give you a virus. Remember, when it comes to viruses, if you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Stay protected.

16. Dangerous emails can also come from your friends. If they have opened and/or received an email with an attachment, it may hijack their address book and send the program to everyone in it.

“

Learn the basic steps to get on the computer. Learn how to turn the computer on, off, on standby if applicable, how to log off and how to put discs in the disc drive or USB flash in the flash drive.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Healthy Living

Surgical pin pops out of pregnant woman's stomach Mother believes needle was left inside her when she had her appendix out in 2009

A

mother-to-be was horrified when a surgical pin popped out of her stomach.

Kelly Donegan, 26, who's due to give birth in six weeks' time, had experienced a needling sensation on the left side of her stomach but was assured there was nothing to worry about.

But one day she looked down to see the pin poking through her skin just inches away from her unborn baby. She realised it must have been left inside her three years ago during an operation.

Donegan had noticed a tiny bump on top of the bigger baby bump and mentioned it to her doctor.

'He said it was nothing to worry about' she said.

'It must have been inside me since 2009, when I had my

appendix removed.

'My stomach is getting bigger and bigger and all the pressure must have forced it out.'

Even though Kelly is in pain, doctors cannot remove the pin until she has given birth.

'They can't even do an X-ray to see how much of the thing is inside me because X-rays are dangerous for pregnant women,' the mother of three said.

Donegan, who lives in Milton Keynes, Bucks, has been assured the baby will not be harmed.

However, Kelly will probably need another operation, complete with general anesthetics, to remove the pin after she has given birth.

'All they can do until then is trim the sharp end off it so it doesn't catch on things. It's horrible and it's also quite sore.

But there's nothing I can do except wait,' she said.

Waiting: Kelly Donegan can only have the pin removed after she has given birth

Donegan thinks the pin was left behind when she had her appendix removed in 2009

Brain health Intelligence may be somewhat innate, but wisdom can most certainly be learned. Here's how to wise up at any age.

Wisdom vs. Intelligence Although people value intelligence-understanding, reasoning, the ability to learnthey also respect wisdom, or the knowledge and experience that

we accumulate over a lifetime.

Cognitive scientists call the former "fluid intelligence," which does reduce somewhat during adulthood, and the latter "crystallized intelligence," which generally improves with age.

In some ways, wisdom is like beauty: we value it, we desire it, and we know it when we see it,

but it is nearly impossible to pin down such an ethereal quality.

But researchers have tried-and here's what they've found.

The definition of wisdom In the late 1980s, the Berlin Wisdom Project at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development defined wisdom as having: * Intellectual knowledge * Factual knowledge * Superior judgment * Excellent problem-solving skills * The ability to learn from experience * Humility * Emotional resilience, or the ability to rebound from a setback * Openness, or the maturity to be comfortable allowing the world to see you as you really are * A deep understanding of human nature, including empathy for people who are different or from other cultures Don't have all these qualities?

Almost everyone has the capacity to become wiser, especially if you strengthen these six habits that the wisest people all share in common.

They work at being social.

Studies show that people who stay connected to others demonstrate higher levels of wisdom than those who are more isolated. Make an effort to join a new club, reconnect with farflung friends on Facebook, or invite an old friend or new co-

worker for lunch. Next time you're at a party or gathering, single out someone who's standing alone and strike up a conversation. People generally love to talk about themselves; you, on the other hand, have a harder job: to listen closely.

They practice being openminded.

Wisdom involves being able to understand all sides of an issue without letting emotions or personal feelings get in the way.

Being open-minded means finding empathy and realizing that everyone has a life story that influences their actions. During the course of every day, make a note of the issues that bug you, and take a moment to see them from the other side.

They've learned how to say, "I could be wrong."

A wise person understands that it is impossible to know everything and that life is capable of taking unexpected turns.

Recognizing your errors can lead only to greater wisdom, and admitting that there are times when you could be mistaken will go a long way in solidifying your reputation as someone whose advice can be trusted. As the Roman philosopher Cicero said, "Any man is liable to err; only a fool persists in error."

They switch up what types of books they read.

While current events are important, both fiction and

nonfiction books can help you expand your worldview and allow you to explore new ideas and points of view. Mix up your bookshelf: Read histories, biographies and memoirs, funny reads, fictional books that expose you to new cultures and eras, and books that present a point of view or make a case about certain aspects of health/science, politics, and other subjects.

They tap into their selfknowledge.

You've learned a lot just by being alive, but have you taken the time to review all that you've learned? Try this exercise: write down your three biggest failures and three greatest successes. For each, review the events that led up to it and what lessons you took away from the experience. Look for patterns. This is not a time for regret or pride; the goal is to look at each experience, good or bad, as more fuel to enrich your wisdom.

They read the news.

You cannot make balanced choices unless you understand world circumstances and the experiences of others. If you don't already read a daily paper or news online, start by going through a single front-page article from a major respected news source, from start to finish, every day.

Don't just scan or skip around it; read every word. Eventually, try to get through the main articles of a full newspaper every day.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

With Aunty A'isha

Sights and sounds

Who discovered Vaccination?

PAGE 23

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

SHOR T ST OR Y SHORT STOR ORY

The Silent Passer-by

W

h e n I was a child, I didn't have hair on my head, just some

stubs.

I liked to watch my friends play. I would join them now and then, but I preferred watching.

Every day, we would see an old man walking by our playground, carrying an umbrella. He had big ears and a bald head. The moment my friends saw him pass by, they would shout, "Hey, deaf and dumb, what's the time?" They told me that he could neither hear nor speak.

It was early evening. I was standing at the gate of my house, when I saw the old man coming.

I was alone. There were no friends around to shout the usual words of 'greeting'.

But how could I let this man walk by without saying anything? So for the first time, I

asked in a soft voice, "Hey deaf and dumb, what's the time?"

The old man looked at me.

Then he looked at his watch and

replied, "It's five thirty."

I ran inside the house and never shouted at the old man after that day.

POEMS "Mom, I have a stomach ache and I am feeling sick!" Try this out at home and the quick response is bound to be, "Don't worry; we will take you to the Doctor!" More often than not, if the ache is because you haven't done your homework, the mere mention of the word 'doctor' cures you. Of course, if the problem is genuine no one will know the cure better than a doctor.

Know what the scariest thing about a doctor is? - That invariably you get an injection for all aches and pains. Do you know that a newborn child is given vaccination for many diseases? You may throw a tantrum and scream your head off to avoid the injection and inwardly mutter death threats at the person who invented such a painful method for treatment, but the fact remains that whenever we are sick an injection does the trick.

How did it begin? It so happened that one day in 1768, a young milkmaid visited a doctor in Gloucestershire, England.

Though nearly everyone in the district was then sick with smallpox, a dreaded disease at that time, the milkmaid was not affected!

In the eighteenth century, smallpox was a killer disease, as widespread as cancer now, but with the difference that the majority of its victims were young children.

When the doctor asked her the reason, the milkmaid remarked that she had already had cowpox, a disease with symptoms similar to those of

smallpox, though in a very mild form. The significance of her remark was not lost on a young medical student, Edward Jenner, who was also present there.

Jenner was intrigued by this simple explanation that those who caught cowpox could not catch smallpox. After getting his degree, he returned to Gloucestershire to practice medicine and to devote his spare time in research and investigation. He found out that the milkmaid had been right; people who had cowpox very rarely caught smallpox.

On May 14, 1796, another milkmaid, Sarah Nelmes, came to Jenner with cowpox. He conducted a daring experiment.

He took some of the virus from the boils on Sarah's hands and passed on the disease to James Phipps - his gardener's son - by scratching his skin with infected metal (vaccination). When James had recovered from the cowpox, Jenner tried to give him smallpox. James failed to contract the disease.

Edward Jenner had discovered a cure for smallpox!

Jenner named this inoculation process, "vaccination", from the Latin name for cow (vacca) and cowpox (vaccinia).

Vaccination at first had many opponents, but eventually its value became firmly established. Today not only has smallpox been nearly wiped out but you can get vaccinated or immunised against many other diseases like polio too! It is usually performed right from the birth of the child.

The Blind Boy O say, what is that thing called light,Which I can ne’er enjoy?

What is the blessing of the sight? O tell your poor blind boy!

You talk of wondrous things you see,You say the sun shines bright; I feel him warm, but how can he then make it day or night?

My day or night myself I make whenever I sleep or play;and could I ever

keep awake with me were always day.

With heavy sighs I often hear you mourn my hapless woe; but sure with patience I may bear a loss I never know.

Then let not what I cannot have my cheer of mind destroy; whilst thus I sing, I am a king, although a poor blind boy.

By Colley Cibber

HIS & HERS CORNER

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 22

With Aunty A'isha

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

AFRICAN TALES

MODEL OF THE WEEK

The boy and the apple tree "Sorry, but I do not have money, but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money."

The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily.

The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.

One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited.

"Come and play with me" the tree said.

A

long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it every day. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples, and took a nap under the shadow. He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.

Time went by, the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.

"Come and play with me", the tree asked the boy.

"I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees anymore" the boy replied.

"I want toys. I need money to buy them."

"I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?"

"Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house."

So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted.

"Come and play with me!" the tree said.

"I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" said the

man.

"Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy."

So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the man returned after many years. "Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you", the tree said. "No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite" the man replied.

"No more trunk for you to climb on." "I am too old for that now" the man said. "I really cannot give you anything, the only thing left is my dying roots," the tree said with tears.

"I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years," the man replied.

"Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, come sit down with me and rest."

The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.

This is a story of everyone.

The tree is like our parents.

When we were young, we loved to play with our Mum and Dad. When we grow up, we leave them; only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could just to make you happy.

You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how all of us treat our parents. We take them for granted; we don't appreciate all they do for us, until it's too late. May God forgive us of our shortcomings and may He guide us.

CREA TIVITY CREATIVITY

Camel egg carton craft What you need: -cardboard egg carton -brown paint or marker -masking tape -ball of tinfoil -wiggly eyes (optional) -wool (optional) What to do: Cut a two cup strip and a single cup from your egg carton Cut four strips from the lid of your egg carton for the legs.

Leave a bit of the lip of the carton for the feet Cut a piece from the center of the lid for the camel's neck. It's best if you can get one of the little lumps from the lid to slide into the camel's head Tape a ball of tinfoil into the back cup of the camel. This

weights the back so he doesn't constantly fall forward on his face.

Glue the pieces of the camel together.

The neck should be taped to the two cup section The other end of the neck

should be taped into the single cup The legs should be taped to the front and back of the two cup section.

Paint the camel brown Glue on wiggly eyes and a wool tail if you like.

Ahmed Badamasi Tahir, clocked 10 years last week, during which he also celebrated his Qur'anic graduation. Happy birthday!

ACTIVITIES Colour your Olympics hero and torch bearer with any colour of your choice. Happy 2012 Olympics. Hurray!

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21, — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Kannywood

Entertainment

Iyan-Tama's Kurkuku debuts to caution on judicial system From Bala Nasir, Kano

K

urkuku is the latest Hausa film produced by the renowned Kannywood producer cum actor and also proprietor of the Iyan-tama Multimedia, Alhaji Hamisu Lamido Iyan-Tama which will be released this week.

The film, Kurkuku which means prison in Hausa language, is based on a true life story depicting the travails of no other person than producer of the film himself, Iyan-Tama, no wonder it showcases him as its main character.

Kurkuku is the story of his sad experience when he had a brush with the immediate past administration in Kano state under the leadership of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. It was the period when Hamisu Lamido popularly called Iyan-Tama was arrested over a film he produced, Tsintsiya which the then Kano State Censorship Board claimed was not

censored by it in accordance with the censorship law of the state.

The film however, was sponsored by the office of a foreign embassy in

Nigeria which by law needed not to be censored by any state's censorship since it was so sponsored, more so as it was not even released in Kano but the

PAGE 25

film was found to be on sale at a shop somewhere in the state capital along with three other films namely, Kuruciyar Daso, Kuna and Yammaci.

Speaking with our Correspondent in Kano about his new film Kurkuku, Iyan-Tama said the most interesting thing about his ordeal was that producers of the three other films were neither invited nor arrested by officials of the state's Censorship Board.

He told Peoples Daily Weekend in an interview that from that moment he came to understand the reasons for his arrest and subsequent trial in court.

He explained that in spite of the entire defense which was beyond any reasonable doubt, he was jailed for no just cause.

He disclosed that though he spent a fortune in trying to get justice because of his conviction that he was wrongly convicted based on what he called spurious charges leveled against him, government officials of the Shekarau administration vowed to see him behind bars by all means. The injustice meted to him and the resources he had to part with in clearing his name made him to think deeply about the whole saga and the need for his ordeal to be captured in the new film, Kurkuku, to depict his prison experience.

This, therefore, is the reason he produced the new film and related its title to prison.

Another reason he is coming out with Kurkuku, according to IyanTama, is to educate the populace about Nigeria's judicial system, how it operates and the importance of fighting for their rights because human rights are rights that should not be toyed with in any circumstance.

Celebrity Birthday: 'Charming' Kate Henshaw turns 41

Nollywood

Is Tonto Dikeh calling When Desmond Elliot's mum reported him to the Ini Edo, 'Desperate police Old Cargo'?

C

a l l her Nollywood's most controversial, you might not be wrong. Tonto Dikeh has pulled another trigger that might go as one of the hardest shots in Nollywood.

The 58-tattoo bodied actress has fired a shot at Ini Edo as countdown to votes- to determine Future Awards starts. You will recall that in 2011, Rita Dominic accused Ini Edo of vote cheat when she tweeted, ""Ok, I have to announce this o! INI EDO, who had 200 votes last night has eclipsed the first actress by 200 votes."

Like a spider, this spurned lots of 'bitter' webs between Ini Edo and Rita

Dominic.

Now, Tonto has tweeted, "It's another nomination (THE FUTURE AWARDZ)*Hopefully, the Nollywood old desperate cargo'z will not pay engineer to increase their votes this time. #SHAME." The tweet has already generated mixed reactions from fans of both sexy actresses, Ini Edo who is 30 and Tonto wh is 26. Was Tonto's tweet necessary in the first place or was she trying to drive at a point?

The duo are major contenders in the Best Actor category they were nominated for The Future Award 2012.

Desmond Elliot Kate Henshaw

S

e x y and A-lister Nollywood's screen diva, Kate Henshaw was a year older today on the 19th, July 2012. The Cross River state born actress clocks 41.

Kate, who is the oldest of four children, was born in 1971. She first studied in University of Calabar, where she did remedial studies for a year before proceeding to Lagos University Teaching Hospital to study Medical Microbiology at the School of Medical Lab Science.

She started her acting career in 'When The Sun Sets' in 1993. In 2008, she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading

Role for the film 'Stronger than Pain'.

She is presently reported to be a single mother after her marriage to British-born Roderick James Nuttal, which crashed. Their union produced a daughter named Ella.

Kate is a face of Onga seasoning. She was once a Glo ambassador before she was reportedly dropped by the telecoms giant.

Kate is gradually becoming a pronounced activist. During the Lekki Toll Gate saga in 2011, she was very visible in fighting for the cause. At the January 2012 'Occupy Nigeria' protest, Kate was also vocal especially with her interview on a Lagos TV..

I

t 's hard to believe but it's true.

Desmond Elliot needs little or no introduction at all. Many people, at the mention of his name, will easily link it to Nollywood.This handsome dude whose wife has delivered a set of twins twice recently revealed that his mum took him to a police station to be disciplined twice.

“Anytime I erred, my mum would

hold me by my hand and drag me to the police station. She would tell the officer on duty to help discipline and beat me. People would beg on the way but she would not accept their plea until she has fulfilled her intention.

She would hold my short and drag me to the station. She did that twice when we were still living in Jos. She is such a disciplinarian,`` Desmond revealed!

Dayo Amusa gives free summer coaching class

When Yoruba actor, Golugo couldn't pay for BBA Stargame: Goldie arrives Nigeria N food at Lagos restaurant S Hamisu Lamido Iyan-Tama

T

h e r e is no doubt, that many things come with being a celebrity. Most times, as a public figure, one's life becomes a public commodity. Both the press and fans that look up to such celebreties as a role model are interested in knowing what is happening in their lives.

For popular Yoruba comic actor of Muniru Ati Ambali Yoruba movie fame, Adekola Tijani well known as Golugo, his sudden rise in the movie industry may have gotten him into this gist.

As a source told Nigeriafilms.com, Golugo was at a popular fun place at Ikeja recently, June 20, 2012 at about 3:45pm with a young robust lady he came along with. He was also at the place

with two other people.

When the said lady ordered for a snack worth about 250 Naira, Golugo raised an eyebrow saying that he had no such money to pay for what the lady ordered. We learnt that the young lady had earlier ordered for a drink worth 200 Naira before she ordered for the snack. The lady was said to have gone ahead to get the snack and told the comic actor to pay. She was later said to have left the restaurant without Golugo.

When it was time for Golugo to get something to eat for himself, he called on the attendant to get him Eba with Egusi soup and chicken but he insisted on 'draw' soup (like Okra, Ogbono or Ewedu) be added to the Egusi soup. The attendant told him

that he would have to pay for the extra soup, which would now cost N1,000.

While he was negotiating the price, the two others he came with made their intentions known to him that they would also eat something.

Golugo then called the waiter back that he wasn't interested in the food anymore. His excuse was that someone was waiting for him somewhere else.

Sources told Nigeriafilms.com that the actor left with the two others to a 'mama put' canteen around the area to order for what he could afford.

He was later spotted picking his teeth with a tooth pick, to do justice to the munched meat from the 'mama put' joint he went to fill his tank.

Golugo

i n g e r , Goldie Harvey has arrived Nigeria after she was evicted from the big brother Africa Stargame, competition.

She was one of Nigeria's representatives at the ongoing Big Brother Africa Stargame Season Seven, which also had Ola and Chris both, who earlier left the house.

Goldie arrived the country last night and was received by her label boss, Kenny Ogungbe of Kennis Music and Denrele Edun.

Goldie was booted out of the show after being nominated twice for eviction. She has come under heavy attack for reportedly putting up a romantic affair with housemate, Prezzo from Kenya.

She arrived Murtala International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos at about 8pm.

o l l y w o o d actress, Dayo Amusa has shown a good example, that there are many ways you an impact on the society and that you don't have to be a politician to respond to the needs of the community or humanity.

Dayo, who floated a crèche and child centre recently, known as PAYDAB CRECHE & CHILD CENTER, is to give free summer coaching class to pupils.

Tagged Summer Funfair 2012, it starts from August 6 to August 31, 2012 from 9am to 3pm at Tejuosho Street Off Barracks Bus Stop, Yaba Lagos. It will be a whole month free service to any child who feels like being a part of the programme.

Children are expected to enjoy many activities such as art and craft, music and dance, cognitive skills, games and lots more.

Kids that avail themselves of the one month summer coaching will also have the opportunity to take pictures with celebrities who will be coming regularly to give a lecture on arts and culture.

Dayo Amusa

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Hollywood/Bollywood Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise: Uninjured in garbage truck accident

T

hrough stealth activity, which included the use of burner cell phones, Katie Holmes plotted her divorce from Tom Cruise in secret and came out unscathed in the court of public opinion.

Now, similarly, the actress has left the scene of a car accident without any

significant injuries.

Multiple outlets confirm that Holmes and six-year old daughter Suri were hit by a garbage truck last night while driving in the star's Mercedes.

No one was hurt, but a police report has been filed.

"Suri was crying in the car," says a People Magazine insider, who adds that

Myla Sinanaj to Kim Kardashian: Step Off!

V

ery recently considered an ally of Kim Kardashian, someone who would help finalize her divorce from Kris Humphries, Myla Sinanaj now has one simple message for the popular reality star: Back the way off!

That's essentially what Myla Tweeted last night, calling out Kardashian for actions taken on her behalf in legal proceedings with Humphries.

A quick refresher: Kim wants to sign the divorce papers. Kris is dragging the split out in order to earn more money by somehow proving he was duped into a phony marriage. And Kim has subpoenaed Sinanaj under the belief that she can help provide information on Humphries that will damage his case.

But after initially

sounding like she'd gladly do the job concerning Humphries, Myla now claims to be BFFs with the basket-baller and addressed Kardashian last night with: Why don't you enjoy your Miami trip and stop sending private investigators to my house. Stop dragging me into your drama... I don't have to explain or apologize for who I chose to be friends with.

Subpoena or not!

Of course, Sinanaj is legally required to spill certain beans under the subpoena, but insiders tell TMZ she may assert that attorney Joe Tacopina did not have the authority to agree to said subpoena.

We're not sure why anyone would care about any of this. But we'll keep you apprised of the latest development when news breaks! thehollywoodgossip.com

Holmes was not driving the vehicle.

Strangely enough, the crash marked the second time in four days that Holmes and Suri have been involved in an accident.

Last Friday, a member of the paparazzi hit their car as they were arriving home after a trip to FAO Schwarz.

Michael Clarke Duncan progressing well after heart attack

M

i c h a e l Clarke Duncan remains in a Los Angeles hospital is recuperating following his cardiac arrest, but sources say the actor is progressing well and doctors are hopeful for a full recovery.

The actor collapsed at home and was given CPR by girlfriend Omarosa, and insiders now say the former Oscar nominee "is fighting like a mutha" for his life.

Duncan has been on a respirator since his admission, but he's "breathing above the respirator," those in the know claims, adding that he has a "very strong heartbeat" and physicians are optimistic he'll be okay though it might not be an easy journey.

The actor is sedated and it's conceivable he may suffer some kind of paralysis, though doctors believe those odds have slipped over the last couple of days. We'll keep readers apprised of Duncan's condition and we hope it only changes for the better.

Cocktail Box Office reports!

Aiming at Gen X, Cocktail has clicked with its target audience and has done a terrific job at the box office in its weekend.

Starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty, the film opened to a huge collection

of Rs. 11 crore, on Friday.

The collection went up to Rs. 12 crore on Saturday and Sunday saw a collection of Rs. 13 crore. Critics have given thumbs up to the acting performances of all the three actors. The music of the film was a big hit even

before the film released. So the total opening weekend's collection was Rs. 36 crore, which is pretty good for a rom com.

Saif Ali Khan might be a happy man as he along with Dinesh Vijan jointly produced the film.

Rani Mukherjee does a lavani number!

W

e 've seen Katrina Kaif grooving to a lavani item number, "Chikni Chameli", in Agneepath, Vidya Balan in "Mala Jau De" in "Ferrari Ki Sawaari" and now, the new item girl in town, to move to a lavani number is none other than our very beautiful Rani Mukherjee.

The song is choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant.

Sachin Kundalkar, director of the film said, "Rani does three item numbers in her dream in 'Aiyya'. In this film, the girl has this habit of dreaming. One of her item numbers is a lavani song, again in her dream."

"She was quite good with her lavani dance. She shared a great equation with Vaibhavi Merchant. She did rehearsals on the sets. So it's a rapid, classical, sensuous

lavani song," he added.

The film is titled "Aiyya" and is co-produced by Anurag Kashyap and Viacom 18.

Rani Mukherjee plays a Marathi girl who finds a man desirable because he smells good. She is paired opposite southern star Prithvi Raj. Kundalkar added, "Final editing happened yesterday, which was locked by Anurag Kashyap. He really liked the film".

Aamir Khan's son works with Rajkumar Hirani!

A

a m i r Khan's son Junaid is all set to make his debut with his dad in Rajkumar Hirani's film Peekay. He will not be acting but assisting Rajkumar in the film.

The film stars Aamir Khan with Anushka Sharma.

Basically, Junaid will be the first assistant to the director

Rajkumar Hirani. Reveals a source, the young Khan has been running helter skelter, all across the country, in search of a suitable location for the shoot.

The film is said to go on floors later this year.

Tells a source to a daily; "Junaid has always been fascinated by the various aspects of film making. He

used to often accompany his father to the sets of his films.

He always had a viewpoint.

And Aamir was rather impressed with it," At 17, the boy has already started following in his dad's footsteps. It is hoped that assisting a director like Rajkumar Hirani, will be rewarding for Junaid.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 27

Homes

Enliven your space with lovely flower vases

I

t is in your own hands to make your home look classy and elegant. You can add different kinds of decorative pieces for your home and garden in order to enliven your space and beautify them. Decorative flower vases, placed in a paved area adjoining your house or a raised platform with a roof that runs along the side of a house, like a porch, deck or patio, are one of the best items that tend to give a pleasing effect.

Place glass vases filled with attractive tulips or roses in your porch or at different strategic points in your home. You can also get tricky by trying the glass vases with odds and ends like colored stones, artificial berries and any other things which can be easily displayed from the glass.

If you wish to have a more expressive and elegant look, you may also want to use crystal vases which sparkle and reflect light quite nicely. Metal, wood and clay vases are the other options that you can fall back on to decorate your home. These days, home owners who want a touch of class are also interested in using synthetic materials like plastic or polymers which are designed to look like ceramic or stone.

Round flower-holders are recommended for full blossoms as they accentuate their shapes and give them more space to spread

out. A curvy bud vase is ideal for a single flower or a couple of thin stemmed blossoms. Feature your home with square flower vase to add a modern and fashionable touch to your home. You have to choose a glass flower vase if you want to place flowers with strong and healthy stems. However, for flowers with weak, uneven and thin stems, you can use baskets or porcelain containers. While selecting a right flower vase, consider the location where you wish to place it. If you want to keep it in a balcony or in the corner of a room, then choose a larger or taller vase. You can choose smaller and wider pots to place on tables in a patio. So, arrange flower vases at different locations of your home, inside and outside, to add beauty.

Your favorite flowers in attractive flower vases are surely an enchanting sight. Flowers can be bought fresh from the streets or flower boutiques but getting vases of your choice that also suit your interiors is quite a challenging job. There are many stores that offer beautiful flower vases that support floral arrangement and augment the natural beauty of flowers yet choosing the best is difficult. To begin with, you can follow these tips to select flower vases for the interiors.

Consider attractive yet simple shapes There are lots of flower vases available in different shapes like round long neck vases, cylindrical, bottle shaped, bowl

and flat shaped, and many more.

For corner table, you can opt for round long neck vases whereas for center side tables you can go for flat shaped vases.

Go for vases in neutral colours Loud and extra vibrant colours may fight with the colour of flowers to grab the attention.

Therefore, go for vases in neutral or muted colours so that they can complement the beauty of the flora, though you can choose attractive red color vases for your favorite white roses with leaves.

Making the right combination is the key that will really bring a beautiful sensation to the interiors.

Opt for the right kind of material You can look for vases made from glasses, ceramics, crystals, and metals that will assuredly add a unique zing. Also, several boutiques offer customization choices as well. Now, you can decorate your home or office according to your taste and creativity.

Ideal placement Beautiful vases are not made for accidental damage so proper placement is required. Also, the place should be suitable enough to grab the attention as your labor of selecting the perfect flower vase should not go in vain.

Follow these tips and your interiors are sure to stand apart from the rest and mesmerize your guests with the beauty of nature and the finesse of manual craft opinion-corner.net

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Cuisine W

e give thanks to the Almighty Allah for making it possible for us to see this year's Holy month, the month of Ramadan. Here's wishing you the best of every day of the blessed month and beyond. As you plan more healthy foods for your family, ensure that necessary steps are taken to give your kitchen priority attention, from the storage of food, to cleaning and cooking activities.

Here are some tips for a start: Marinate before you grill. Marinades not only make grilled foods taste better, they may also make them safer. A health expert once found that marinating chicken in simple mixture of olive oil, cider vinegar, garlic,

Pots & Pans

Ramadan Special

mustard, lemon juice, salt, and brown sugar reduced carcinogenic compounds in the finished product by more than 90 percent. Researchers don't know why; but they suspect that marinating draws out chemical precursors of carcinogens. Marinating is the process of getting your chicken, meat or fish doused in spices, salt, pepper and other condiments several hours before cooking, two to three hours before cooking but overnight is best.

Where there's smoke, there's cancer risk. Grilling meat, poultry, or fish,

whether over wood, charcoal, or gas, exposes the food, and whoever eats it to two separate carcinogens, or cancercausing agents as most of us have heard.

So be careful about smoke when grilling.

Researchers have shown in their works that many vitamins and minerals when eaten together give us the best of nutrition, such as iron and vitamin C. So take as many healthy vegetables or fruits in between the meat, fish or chicken. It is recommended to eat less meat, especially meat with too much fat.

Side dishes. When it comes to side

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

dishes, go for the greens. For example make salads from green leafy vegetables like spinach, or watercress, and cook your spinach with garlic and serve the food hot. Also try adding herbs like curry leave, moringa or zogale as it is called in Hausa, which contains diseasefighting antioxidants; in fact, herbs can help counteract some of the harmful effects of the other foods that you eat.

When making your coleslaw or potato salad (or another creamy side salad), replace part or all of the mayonnaise with nonfat plain yogurt.

Eat roasted corn instead of boiled one, it is healthier. Other healthy foods include eggplant, garlic, ginger drink and potatoes.

Soyabeans delight Eating foods made from soybeans may reduce the risk of some health problems, like coronary heart disease according to health experts. Whether you like soybeans or not, it is wise to include it in your meals. At this Ramadan, eat nutritious soybeans milk, bread, More research is needed, but the evidence so far suggests that it could be wise to include whole soy foods in the daily diet.

Soybeans also contain hormone-like substances called phytoestrogens that mimic the action of the hormone oestrogen. The health benefits of soy for menopausal women could include fewer hot flushes, protection from coronary heart disease and lowered risk of osteoporosis.

However, while whole soy foods have been shown to have health benefits, the benefits of taking phytoestrogen supplements are unproven. See your doctor or dietitian for further guidance.

Soy banana bread Soy banana bread can be a great treat for this Ramadan. It is soft, nutritional soy bread. Sprinkle it with powdered sugar or some nuts or sesame seed. It will give you not only a great taste but also a healthy bread for you and your family.

Ingredients: One cup flour Half cup. soy flour or black bean powder 1/4 cup soymilk " 1½ tsp. baking powder " ¼ tsp. baking soda " ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon " 1 egg " 1 c. mashed bananas (about 3 medium bananas with dark, over-ripe skins) " ¾ c. - 1 c. sugar

" 1/4 c. soybean oil or vegetable oil " 1 Tbs. Lemon juice or finely shredded lemon peel " Chopped groundnuts (optional) Method: 1. First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.

Mash the bananas.

3.

Combine all of the dry ingredients: flour, soy flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and sugar. Mix thoroughly.

4.

Then mix in all the other ingredients.

5.

Put banana mixed flour in a greased bread tin.

6.

If you want your bread to have a nut flavor, sprinkle some chopped groundnuts on top.

7.

Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or for 20-30 minutes.

8.

The bread is done if you put a toothpick or knife and it comes out clean.

9.

Remove the banana bread from the oven. Let it cool for 20-30 minutes. Slice before serving.

Baked soybeans 1 cup dry soybeans, soaked 3 tablespoons butter 1 onion, chopped 1 medium tomato, chopped 3 tablespoons soy sauce 2 teaspoons dry mustard teaspoon salt teaspoon red pepper

Soy banana bread Cook the soya beans and drain. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Combine beans, remaining liquid and ingredients in a dish and bake, covered, for 20 to 30 minutes, then uncovered for 30 minutes.

Add your chopped garlic and red pepper. You can also add some cooked maize or corn. This is optional.

Soybean milk Ingredients: 2 cups dried soybeans 2 litres of water 1 ginger root, grounded 1cup of sugar Soak beans overnight in water, drain, rinse, and throw away the water. Add water to the soaked beans then blend by adding water a little bit until smooth.

Pour in a pot and sieve with a clean cloth or smooth sieve.

Add ginger, and sugar to taste.

Boil soymilk for about 30 minutes but keep stirring to avoid spilling.

Remove from heat and sieve again then add vanilla or any flavour of your choice.

Add sugar to taste, and refrigerate. It is

a cool refreshing drink.

Soybean meal 2 cups cooked, drained soya beans 1 drained can, whole kernel corn (or fresh corn) 1 can tomatoes with chilli peppers 1 cup green pepper, chopped 1 tablespoon margarine 2 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon garlic powder Teaspoon basil leaves, crushed Teaspoon pepper 1 cup soft whole wheat bread crumbs 2 tablespoons cheddar cheese, shredded Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange beans and corn in alternate layers in a 2quart baking dish. Mash tomatoes with a fork; save 2 tablespoons tomato juice. Mix flour and seasonings and stir into the tomato juice.

Pour flour mixture into tomatoes and add green pepper. Heat until mixture comes to a boil. Pour hot sauce over vegetables. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese and margarine, sprinkle over vegetables. Bake about 20 minutes until browned.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Womanhood

Violence: Steps an abused woman can take

T

h e r e are quite a good number of women married to abusive husbands. This by far goes to have a daunting impact on the children in the marriage.

There also are a number of things that a woman can do to protect herself and her children from an abuser, and there are a number of signs and warnings to watch for in an abuser.

-This can be a learned behaviour. Often, when a young boy grows up seeing his father abuse his mother, he may grow up believing that is a normal marriage, and do the same with his wife.

-Some husbands, who, when sober, would never hit their wives, will become extremely violent when drunk or using drugs.

-Domestic violence can also be a

result of deep-seated insecurity in the husband. For example, if the husband grew up in an unstable home, or if he was treated as "not good enough" by other kids when growing up, or if he was betrayed by a loved one, these can result in insecurity. This type of insecurity can result in abusive treatment of his wife as a way of boosting his own self-esteem.

-Another possible reason for insecurity would be if the husband doesn't earn enough money to support his family, leading the wife to have to get a job. This can cause him to resent her for the fact that she has to work to help support the family, something which causes some men to feel like failures.

-Some men are controlling by nature, which can also result in

them being abusive husbands.

Some warning signs to look for in an abusive husband: -He wants you to account for every minute when you go to the store, or visit family and friends, etc.

-He tries to isolate you from family and friends.

-He is demanding and controlling, makes all the decisions, even telling you what to wear, how to clean the house, etc.

-He talks to you in a demeaning, humiliating manner.

-He criticizes you in everything you do.

-He destroys your belongings.

-He threatens to kill your pets.

-He threatens to kill you or himself.

-He shoves, slaps and hits you.

-He tells you you're a bad parent, or threatens to take your children away from you.

-He takes your money and makes you ask him for money.

-He intimidates you with weapons, such as guns and knives, etc.

-He acts as if the abusive behaviour is no big deal, or even blames you for it, saying that "you made him do it."

What to do if an attack is imminent or in progress: -If your abuser is threatening to attack you and you feel you are in danger, stay away from rooms where there is no escape -- such as a bathroom with no window -- or from a closet.

-Stay away from the kitchen, where there are knives. And don't ever think he can't overpower you and take the knife away from you.

Also, if it came down to it, do you really feel you could use the knife on him? Usually not.

-Get to a room with a door or a window through which you can escape.

-Teach your children not to get in the middle of a fight between you and your abuser, who could turn on them.

-Get to a room with a phone, so you can call for help.

-When you do escape, run to a trusted neighbor and call the police.

Steps you can take to keep you and your children safe and plan an escape: -Begin saving as much money as possible, even if it's only a few nairas at a time.

-Memorize the numbers of family and friends, and teach them to your children.

-Decide on a safe place to go if you need to escape.

-Pack a bag with money, an extra set of car and house keys, important documents (birth certificates, medical records, passports, etc.) and find a safe place to hide it -- but where you can get it quickly when needed. You can even give it to a family member or trusted friend for safekeeping.

-Enlist the help of a trusted neighbour to call the police in the event of a violent outburst. Have a signal so they know they need to call the police for you in a case such as this: their phone rings twice; a certain window shade is lowered; the veranda light is on, etc.

-Take photographs of any bruises or injuries as evidence of the abuse.

Once you have taken that first step and left your abuser: -Get a court order of protection and keep it with you at all times, and keep a certified copy at home (a Xerox copy is not the same as a certified copy).

-Change your daily travel routes.

-Car-pool if possible, so you won't be on the road alone.

-Use different shopping stores and change your bank.

-Use a different hairdresser if he knows who you had been going to.

-Teach your children who to inform if they see your abuser.

-Have an unlisted phone number and make sure your family and friends, boss, co-workers, your children's school, etc. know not to give your address or phone number to anyone.

-Cancel any joint bank or creditcard accounts, and open new ones in your own name.

-Keep a cell phone with you at all times.

-Keep pepper spray with you at all times.

-Ask a security guard to walk you to your car or the bus stop after work.

-Teach your children never to open the door to your abuser, no matter what he tells them.

-Have caller ID, and do not answer the phone if you don't recognize the name or number -- he could be calling from someone else's phone -- and teach your children to do the same.

Lastly, but certainly not least, once you do leave him, don't ever allow him to talk you into going back to him, saying he "is so sorry, will never do it again and has changed".

Men like this don't change, and don't ever fool yourself into thinking you (or your love) can change him. If you do go back to him, there is a very strong chance that the next time he WILL kill you. And don't ever agree to meet with him some place "just to talk". There are countless women who are now dead and buried because they agreed to "just one more talk". Don't even agree to a meeting in a public place thinking it will be safe to do so there. Women are just as likely to be killed by their abusers in a crowded parking lot, a restaurant, mall, etc. as they are in their home.

Use common sense, your instincts and all precautions, and STAY SAFE. wikianswers.com

PAGE 30

Archives

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Do you have old pictures for memories?

Send them to julius2001_a@yahoo.com

Musediku Adeniji-Adele (Oba of Lagos 1949-1964) introducing his chiefs to Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Nigeria in 1956

The Nigeria Post Office in Badagry, Lagos State. 1975

Colourful Durbar in 1959

Enugu Municipal Offices building, Enugu 1959

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 31

Leisure CAT WORD SCRAMBLES

With Augustine Aminu

With Augustine Aminu

Unscramble the first four words in each set of scrambles. Then use the circled letters to unscramble the final word. Some of the words may unscramble into more than one word, but only one word is related to the puzzle.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

QUOTABLE QUOTES “Politics is the art of the possible; creativity is the art of the impossible.”

-Ben Okri "Nigeria is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be."

- Chinua Achebe We are free, truly free, when we don't need to rent our arms to anybody in order to be able to lift a piece of bread to our mouths.

-Ricardo Flores Magon "Let's say there are prospects for a new Nigeria, but I don't think we have a new Nigeria yet."

- Wole Soyinka A house must be built on solid foundations if it is to last. The same principle applies to man, otherwise he too will sink back into the soft ground and becomes swallowed up by the world of illusion.

-Sai Baba

Source: Nigerian Village Square

Fashion PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Red: The hottest of warm colours Compiled by Miriam Humbe

R

e d is no doubt, excitingly hot. It's a strong colour that conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is Cupid and sensually perceptive. A stimulant, red is the hottest of the warm colours. Discoveries have shown that red can have a physical effect, increasing the rate of respiration and raising blood pressure. In some cultures, red denotes purity, joy, and celebration.

Red is also the colour of happiness and prosperity in China and may be used to attract good luck. It represents power, hence the red power tie for business people and the red carpet for celebrities and VIPs (very important people).

It is often the colour worn by brides in the East while it is the colour of mourning in South Africa. Fashion loving people use the colour red to grab attention, making people to notice them. For visual effect, use red with beautiful shoe and bag with other accessories like a bridal fan and jewelleries to match when you don't want to sink into the background.

A little bit of red goes a long way. Small doses can often be more effective than large amounts of this strong colour. Multiple shades of red and cream can combine for a cheerful palette to give you an exciting gorgeous look just like our beautiful model, Atinuke Osude as captured by Bella Naija.

Atinuke Osude

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 33

Business Special Intervention fund, part of aviation sector reform platforms, minister

By Muhammad Sada

T

he Minster of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Odua has disclosed the setting up of a special intervention fund for the aviation ministry so as to enhance the revamping and total rehabilitation of the sector to the required standards.

The minister, while addressing a meeting of African ministers on safety of aviation in Abuja, disclosed that the setting up of the special intervention fund will assist greatly in the transformation of the sector and also allow for more transparency in the affairs of the sector. Also, the ministry has commenced the implementation of phases 1 and 2 of the transformation project of the sector which covers the reconstruction of 22 airports across the country. Another component of the project includes the upgrading and replacement of aviation safety and security infrastructures and the rejuvenation of oversight and regulatory functions of the

Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to enhance safety of air operations.

In addition, the ministry has commenced preliminary works towards the development of four new International Airport Terminals at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja, Port-Harcourt International Airport (PIA), and Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

According to the minister, the dynamism of modern Airport operations has also propelled us to embrace the concept of aerotropolis aimed at harnessing the economic potentials that exist in the Country. The ultimate aim of these projects is to ensure that equipment, facilities and infrastructure at the Nigerian Airports are such that guarantee air safety, security, comfort and quality service delivery to enhance customer satisfaction.

PHCN workers in Lagos begin strike over terminal benefits

W

Fishery association targets 1m tonnes of fishes annually from aquaculture

By Augustine Aminu with agency reports

T

he Fishery Society of Nigeria (FISON) has said it plans to produce one million tonnes of fishes from aqua culture annually, Mr. Abba Abdullah, the President of the society has said.

Abdullah said on Friday in Abuja that about 700, 000 tonnes were currently being produced annually in the country.

Aqua culture is the cultivation

of both marine and freshwater species and ranges from landbased to open-ocean production.

He said that aqua culture fish farming would significantly contribute to domestic fish production, particularly when combined with improved inland fisheries management.

The president urged the Federal Government to help tackle some problems facing fish farmers in order to achieve the expected target.

“We want government to assist

us in the area of piracy and the issue of diesel. These are the two major challenges facing the association.

“The issue of securing the water ways is outside the mandate of FISON, these attacks have really impacted negatively on our members especially the trawl farmers and the coastal artisanal fishermen,” he said.

He called on the Federal Government to set up a Vessel Monitoring System to complement the joint security committee that currently patrol the water ways

orkers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Lagos on Friday embarked on strike to press for the payment of terminal and other benefits ahead of the privatisation of the company.

The workers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they would not return to work until their grievances were positively addressed.

NAN recalls that PHCN workers in Abuja on Thursday carried out a similar protest to push for the payment of the benefits.

Mr. Bede Opara, the President of the Senior Staff of Association of Electricity and Allied Company, said that the government ought to have addressed all pending issues before the privatisation.

“All labour issues and dialogues with the government have not yielded any positive results in the last 14 months,’’ Opara said.

He said that the issue of pension, gratuity and terminal benefits had not been settled.

“These issues should be settled because many of the workers have put in between 20 and 30 years of service.

“It will be wrong to embark on the privatisation without the workers getting their dues for serving the country for a long period.

“The workers who are protesting are using what they have to attract the government attention to address their plights,” he said.

Comrade Jacob Ishola, the Vice Chairman of National Union of Electricity Employees and Senior Staff Electricity Association and Allied Matters, Lagos State chapter, said that the workers want all their entitlements paid.

Ishola said that the workers disagreed with their redeployment to other ministries as the government had directed.

“We want the entitlements paid so that those who still want to remain in the service can continue, why those not willing to continue can leave the service,’’ he said. However, Mr. Chris Akamnonu, the Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company told NAN on phone that the shutdown of all offices had not affected the operations of PHCN. Akamnonu said that most consumers pay their bills through e-payment.

“The ongoing protest is not confined to Ikeja alone; I think it has to do with Abuja, which I strongly believe will be resolved soon. “The locking up of offices by the workers is wrong. I will appeal to them to call off the strike,” he said. (NAN)

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY JUNE 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Business

Who stole power from Nigerian homes?

N

i g e r i a n s are seriously bitter that power has been stolen from their homes for more than 22 years now. Since the Babangida regime, there have been unfulfilled promises of stable power supply.

In 2012, consumers are beginning to think that the promise of stable power supply by December 2012 made by the President Jonathan administration may not be actualized, going by the current power situation in most parts of the country especially in Lagos State. And the question on every lip today is ‘who stole power from Nigerian homes’.

Generators are fast becoming a necessity in most Nigerian homes due to the increasing unreliability of power supply such that many people now have to rely on generators to power their homes and businesses.

Power is an essential part of human existence. It drives the economy, gives life to small scale businesses and generally makes life a lot more easy and enjoyable.

Getting regular supply of electricity has long been a

comfort successive governments have failed to deliver.

This has really paralysed small scale businesses and has forced many flourishing industries to either fold up or about to. Meanwhile, the few ones that are able to stay afloat have no choice but to pass unto consumers the additional cost of production due to cost of fuel.

However, the acute power problem in most parts of the country has ensured that almost every household own a generator and even more than one at home. Consequently, families spend a substantial part of their earnings on fuelling the generators.

All these was compounded early this year when a litre of petrol, which formerly sold for N65 per litre and now N97 following a mass demonstration while, diesel has been fluctuating between N160 and N170 for years.

Also on the other hand, consumers are not happy with the rate at which they receive huge bills from PHCN every month and they would even

CAPITAL MARKET

M

arket outlook remained positive for the sixth week in a row as the unrelenting bargain hunting witnessed in the early trading days of the week help sustained the impressive posture while NSE ASI also garnered more weights to close above 23,000 psychological line during the weekly session.

Furthermore, Nigerian Stock Market sustained uptrend as ASI inches up by +1.04% to close market activities positive for the fourth session in a row while trading activities on the Nigerian bourse sustained the rally in the second session to close upbeat by +0.27% while NSE ASI closed above 23,000 psychological lines.

The bulls continued to dominate market activities in the third session to close upbeat by +1.03% due to continuous and unrelenting bargain activities witnessed across the main board.

Market resumed downtrend in the fourth session as the bears resurfaced with renewed sell

pressure witnessed across the main board while ASI dips by -0.77%.

Conversely, trading activities on Friday closed downtick as sentiments remained pessimistic.

Consequently, the key benchmark index dips by -0.01% while market closed the week with aggregate gain of +1.56%.

Further analysis on acquiring banks since transaction date showed that the share price of Access Bank Plc has recorded +51.52% gains with FCMB recording -15.38% losses while Union Bank Plc leads the chart with +103.83% gains. However, Sterling Bank Plc recorded -6.30% losses while ETI also closed negative with -11.65% loss recorded. See the tracking table below However, the All-Share Index in the week under review moved up by +1.56% to close at 23,095.31 as against an upbeat by +2.85% recorded last week to close at 22,741.05.

In the same vein, the market capitalization in the week

rather prefer to buy fuel for their generating sets despite their relatively low earnings and some of them have this to say: For, Seun Akanbi, she says she does not have a choice since the power situation in her area has not improved in any way.

“My job is so tasking, and so I cannot afford to cook every day. I have to store food in the freezer and to do this; I have to power my generators because we do not have power supply in my area.

For instance, we have not had electricity supply for almost three weeks at a stretch. I do not want to wait for PHCN again. I cannot afford to have the food I preserved in the freezer to get spoilt.

Thank God for generators,” she says. We have two generators: the small and the big one. We use the small generator during the day and the big one at night so we can power the freezers and other appliances, which the small generator wouldn’t be able to carry.

Akinjide, who uses diesel to power his generators, says his business might even collapse if

the power situation in Nigeria continues.

“There is no way we can depend on PHCN for the kind of my business and what we do here requires constant power supply.

For instance, we no longer depend on PHCN for operations on patients.

We cannot be scanning a pregnant woman or some people who have different ailments using PHCN, it can be crazy. The most annoying aspect of it is that they bring huge and ridiculous bills that you would wonder when you actually used up the power supply from them,” Akinjide says.

Mariam Arinze, says she spends an average of N40,000 monthly on her diesel engine generator. She states that she has another generator that also runs on petrol.

Chinedu Ikem, a teacher lives in a self-contained apartment in Festac says he has a generator to power his apartment in place of the elusive PHCN supply and even prefers to buy fuel than waiting for PHCN. However, as the situation is

bad for some people, to petrol attendants, it is a boom time.

These consumers in Lagos see the new tariff as a way of compelling people to pay more for darkness and also paying for what they did not consume.

Smart who owns a small shop complained that one month after the new increase, PHCN officials brought a bill of N10,000 as against the previous month of N6,000.00.

According to him, the new bill is just out outrageously and that he has decided that he would rather prefer to buy diesel to run the generator for his business than continue with such bills.

‘It is placing more burden on the few Nigerians who pay their bills regularly’ he said.

As Ehi, a business man, he says: “As you can see I have three generating sets. So I do not even bother myself whether there is power from PHCN or not. All these ‘stories’ about government improving power supply when tariff is increased do not appeal to me at all. At times we do not see light for a whole week. So what is the point.”

Market CAP records N89.73bn gains in the week green appreciated by N89.73 billion (US$598.20 million) to close at N7.34 trillion (US$48.97 billion) as against appreciation by N201.16 billion (US$1.34 billion) recorded last week to close at N7.25 trillion (US$ 48.38billion).

The total volume traded in the week closed at 1.63 billion units valued at N11.89 billion (US$79.28 million) compared with 1.45 billion units valued at N9.60 billion (US$64.01 million) exchanged in 18,233 deals last week. The volume transaction in the week when compared with the previous week data moved up by +12.11% as against upwards movement by +44.78% recorded last week. Weekly value also went up by +23.85% as against positive position of +12.94% recorded last week.

The volume traded in the top

ten most traded stocks for the week represented 73.90% of the entire market volume transactions and their total value accounted for 53.41% of the market value.

Financial Services sector emerged the most traded sector in the week in terms of volume. The volume traded in the sector this week alone closed at 1.21 billion units, valued at N6.88billion and exchanged in 12,971 deals compared with 1.13 billion units, valued at N5.39billion and exchanged in 10,331 deals in the preceding week. The volume traded in the sector accounted for 74.47% of the entire market compared with 78.18% of the ratio recorded last week.

United Bank for Africa Plc led the market volume for the week as it also top traded stock on the transaction volume chart last week.

The sector's volume transaction was mainly boosted by trading in the shares of the companies in the top-ten category.

Conglomerates sector followed with 130.21 million units valued at N182.07 million and exchanged in 909 deals compared with 77.87 million units, valued at N140.50 billion and exchanged in 680 recorded in the sector last week.

NSE All-Share Index opened the week on a positive note with +1.04% gains, bullish sentiments dominated the week while ASI closed negative on Friday by 0.01% with positive market breadth.

In the week under review, all NSE sectoral Indices closed positive as NSE Food recorded the highest gain by +4.02% while NSE Insurance closed with the lowest gain by +0.33%.

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Focus Soldiers rescue Kano communities, provide water and medical facilities

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

S

i n c e the beginning of the insurgency, soldiers have been very conspicuous all over Kano metropolis and environs striving to maintain law and order.

Residents of this thriving commercial city have lost count of the sight of multiple checkpoints and operational vehicles mounted by soldiers armed to the teeth prowling the streets of Kano in a bid to restore orderliness.

None among the residents could have imagined that that soldiers who are ever willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the corporate existence of the country have so

much milk of kindness and generosity to dish out to the people.

This gesture which was least expected became palpable when soldiers of the Headquarters of the 3 mechanized Brigade Bukavu Barracks Kano, came to the rescue of some communities in the state.

The communities are considered by many as troubled spots in the city, were offered basic life enhancing amenities such as boreholes and mobile medical outreach.

Expectedly, the people of the beneficiary communities not only sang the praises of the soldiers, they particularly applauded the gesture by the military

authorities, led by the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Onyeabo Azubuike Ihejirika.

Ihejirika who commissioned one of the boreholes in Unguwan Dabai amidst cheers, noted that the gesture underlines the fact that soldiers would do everything humanly possible to ensure the return of peace and tranquility to Kano state.

The Army chief who was apparently overwhelmed with the show of solidarity exemplified by the citizenry in the state urged the people of the community to support the military throughout the period of this crisis by providing information on persons they are

suspecting, assuring them that such information will be treated with confidentiality.

He said they should see the military as partners in progress who are out of their barracks to bring back peace to the state.

Malam Aminu Garba who spoke during the occasion on behalf of the community expressed gratitude to the military for providing the community with the borehole.

"I want to on behalf of my people say a very big thank you to the military, before now, we didn't know the military could do such a thing. We used to think that the military are only to protect us. This has shown that they have the people at heart and I think this is one of the benefits of democracy. I want to use this occasion to call on them to be more civil in dealing with the situation at hand, and we are always praying to God to bring an end to this crisis," he said.

Other communities that benefited and were subsequently commissioned by the Brigade Commander of Bukavu Barrack Kano Brigadier General Isa Abba are Sagagi quarters, Ciranci, Kwanar Dala, Dambazau, Kofar Dawana, Dorayi and Wandabai all in Kano state metropolis.

General Abba told some elders at Kwanar Dala in Kano while commissioning the project that, the military embarked on the project to strengthen its relationship with the community so that together they will tackle the present security challenges facing the state.

He reminded them that the military is not their enemy,

urging them to rather partner with them to overcome the current challenges, noting that the boreholes were donated to the communities in Kano states as part of the activities marking 149 years of the establishment of the Army in the country.

"We are here because of you, and your cooperation is what we need. Security issues are not issues for the security agencies alone to handle; we need your cooperation in achieving a peaceful atmosphere in Kano state," he solicited.

The Commander therefore urged the local communities that have benefitted from the 7 boreholes to see it as a gesture that is aimed at cementing their relationship with the Army adding that, so far Kano People have been great in supporting the activities of the Army, as such they will continue to reciprocate this gesture.

In his speech, commissioner for project monitoring and evaluation Alhaji Garba Ibrahim Mohammed who represented Kano state governor at the event said, the state government will continue to cooperate with security agencies in ensuring the restoration of peace in the state. He urged the communities that benefited from the army's donation to make good use of it.

In Kwanar Dala where a hand pump was equally provided by the Army; the entire area went agog upon the arrival of the Brigade Commander to perform the ceremony. There was heavy presence of the military in the area before the commission and unlike the usual panic movement among residents when they noticed heavy presence of the military, the entire community was calm knowing that this time around, it was not the usual operation that the Joint Security Task Force (JTF) carry out in any area suspected to be harboring insurgents.

Malam idris Aminu, who spoke to our correspondent at the venue of the occasion commended what he described as the foresight of the military for providing them with hand pump, revealing that the area have been suffering acute shortage of water for a very long time.

Although, Aminu said they required more than one borehole in the area considering their population but still remain grateful to the military authorities, calling on the state government to provide them with some basic amenities in the area.

"We are indeed grateful to this military people today because as you can see people are already queuing up to fetch the water immediately the commissioning is over. That is to show that, our people need water here. We are calling on the government and other well meaning individuals in the society to emulate what they have done today," he called.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY JULY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE EDITOR, DAILY AHMED I. SHEKARAU

DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND JAMILA NUHU MUSA

GM PUBLICATIONS ABDULAZEEZ ABDULLAHI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

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

Re: wealth For Sovereign the safety of fund Nigerian umrah pilgrims W

o r r i e d by the recent controversies over air transport arising from the recent Dana plane crash, the clampdown on terrorist activities internationally and the indiscriminate way unknown Tour Operators conduct Umrah activities during Ramadan without recourse to the federal constituted authorities, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in conjunction with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) gathered with all concerned stakeholders to find solutions to all related matters in the interest of the nation and Nigerian pilgrims.

The one-day meeting which was held at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja had in attendance the leadership of NAHCON, the Director-General of NCAA, Dr. Harold O. Demuren, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Aviation Matters, Capt. Shehu U. Iyal OON, representative of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator (Barr) Ibrahim Musa, Chairman of NAHCON Security Committee, Alhaji Balarabe M. Rano, Licensed Tour Operators, Chief Executives of Air Carriers, Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON), National Association of Nigeria Travels Agents (NANTA), aviation experts and resource persons.

The meeting was critical in its deliberations and brainstorming session, as it discussed the growing number of Nigerians who embark on the lesser pilgrimage – Umrah – to Makkah during the month of Ramadan and the strategy that must be instituted to ensure their safety.

Umrah, the discussants threw up, has grown to be so significant in Nigeria.

The number of pilgrims for this yearly holy journeys was in the past not captured, neither by NAHCON because a lot of illegal operators conducted the business nor by the NCAA and other relevant authorities because many of the pilgrims had no defined knowledge of who were the legitimate organizers.

Some people believed that the

WRITE TO US Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

Email: letters@peoplesdaily-online.com number of Umrah pilgrims used to be more than that of Hajj because Umrah is not a time-specific, place-specific and mannerspecific exercise. Throughout the month of Ramadan, and especially the last ten days of Ramadan, thousands of Nigerian Muslims join their counterparts from across the world to observe fasting, iftar and tarawih (night prayers) in the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah or Prophet Muhammad’s Mosque in Madinah.

This year, with Ramadan just few days away, there was a revelation that the number of expectant Umrah pilgrims who had secured their entry visas into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was over 60,000.

The issuance of Umrah visas had not stopped, though it was basically secured through Tour Operators. Based on that fact that the pilgrim population was high, it was a consensus that the business should no longer be allowed to be conducted freely by inexperienced, unlicensed and incapable tour companies.

The Director-General of NCAA, Dr. Harold O. Demuren, was as blunt as he is always known. “There will be zero tolerance on any things that is capable of causing insecurity during the Umrah operations.

We must ensure safety for the air carriers and security for the pilgrims,” he repeated many times.

To achieve this, according to the NCAA boss, there will be total security screening for all the pilgrims before boarding with due respect to their privacy in terms of religious and health backgrounds. To that effect, male security personnel will screen the male pilgrims while the female will screen the female.

He said there will be continuous safety checks on the airworthiness of all aircrafts used in the operations. To that effect, no aircraft will be allowed to move passengers from Nigeria to Saudi Arabia without being certified airworthy by all the relevant aviation regulatory agencies particularly the NCAA, even as he revealed that about 20 signatories were required to certify the worthiness of an aircraft before flying.

While noting that airlines must ensure enough rest period for their crew teams as internationally established, he related the powers of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), adding that only Tour Operators approved and licensed by the Commission will be allowed to participate in Umrah operations in line with the extant regulations of NAHCON Act 2006. Hence, NCAA will not deal with any company not cleared by NAHCON. Asserting that the age of aircraft was not important in ascertaining its airworthiness, he identified three things that differentiated the aviation industry in Nigeria from other developed nations: they have enough time to plan; they have a lot of money and they are ready to die for the cause they believe in.

On his own part, the Commissioner in charge of operations in the Commission, Barr. Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad MON, enumerated the guidelines for Umrah operations, as laid down by the NAHCON Act 2006.

He said the ultimate aims and objectives of regulating Umrah was to ensure that pilgrims got the value for their money during their journeys which NAHCON was established to ensure

compliance. He sought the enhanced cooperation of NCAA especially in the areas of ensuring that only airports certified by NCAA would be used for airlift of Umrah pilgrims, even while protecting the rights of the air carriers in Saudi Arabia.

To bring sanity to the system, he said, NAHCON can grant operational permits to smaller companies, which would only operate as agents to duly licensed Tour Operators. By this, an agent will be entitled to work for only one licensed Tour Operator both of which must sign a binding agreement to be supervised by the NAHCON. He urged the Tour Operators to ensure proper education, sensitization and orientation of their pilgrims especially on operational and security matters, and to develop an e-ticketing system in such a way that approved air carriers by NAHCON would be made to indicate date of return on pilgrims’ tickets.

On their parts, NANTA and AHOUN expressed support and cooperation with NAHCON for the various policies and efforts aimed at uplifting the standard in the Umrah and Hajj industry in Nigeria.

Both bodies appealed to NAHCON to always come to their aid in adjudication of legal matters with Saudi service providers and cases arising from their operations. They made an appeal to the Federal Government to intervene on scheduled air carriers who have indiscriminately hiked their fares in anticipation of the Umrah and Hajj operations. To this, the NCAA boss promised to investigate.

At the end of the meeting, participants called on the Federal Government not to scrap the NAHCON or subjugate it under any Ministry, but rather to support the Commission in view of the achievements it has recorded especially in the areas of bringing sanity to Hajj management and the conduct of Umrah operations in Nigeria.

Written By Muhammad Ajah E-mail mobahawwah@yahoo.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 37

Opinion Consolidating on the achievements of Governor Theodore Orji

By Christian Nwachukwu Jnr

O

n e need to go down memory lane to actually know the status of Abia State before coming on board of the people’s Governor, Ochendo.

Then, Abia State in its totally was wearing community features manifested in bad roads, poor health infrastructures, unemployment, kidnapping, armed robbery and hosts of other social vices.

But today the story is different owing to the actions of a working Governor, His Excellency Chief Theodore Orji. He has done marvelously well in transforming Abia State to be the talk of time. Education sector received tremendous attention.

Educational facilities in the state are been given face lift. Abia indigenes are being given scholarship to study abroad in other to enhance manpower development.

Before now, health sector was neglected by successive governments. On coming on board of the Governor, all the health institutions in the state were given adequate attention and are still receiving proper attention to carry out their activities. This he did by regular giving out cash donations to all the health institutions in the state coupled with

adequate provision of drugs in such hospitals.

The environmental side of the commercial nerve centre of the state was not what to ride home about during the periods of successive governments. Efforts were not intensified in finding the best management techniques in waste disposal at Aba and other parts of the state. The people’s Governor coming on board saw the need to revitalize the wastes at Aba and turn it into wealth creation by embarking on the necessary mechanism to make Aba and other parts of the state to assume status of clean cities. This the Governor did by engaging the services of competent hands with the government of Abia state to finding lasting solution to the horrible dumping site of waste at Aba. Today, one pass through the Aba without covering his or her nose and mouth with either hand or handkerchief. Ochendo is a working Governor.

Need not forget, is the issue of security in the state. The governor has done well in ensuring adequate security to the inhabitants of the state and beyond. Before now, kidnapping and armed robbery were the major order of the day in Abia state. Today, it is a story

of the past. The Governor wielded into finding lasting solution to this ugly trend and came up with improving security networks and granting unconditional amnesty to kidnappers in the state. Security networks were boosted by providing logistics and other materials by the Governor to the security agents in the state that cost the state billions of naira. One can sleep today with two eyes closed without fear of the unknown which hitherto was the other of the day.

In a bid to ensure steady power supply to the area, the government of the day in collaboration with federal government embarked on construction of power plants at Alaoji and Aba are notable sites for improving power generation especially the commercial nerve centre of the state, Aba. Other infrastructural facilities like portable roads were also embarked upon by the Governor all the communities in Abia state can now boost of portable road networks that lined each other throughout the state. Agriculture sector is not left alone in this regard. Farmers in the state are adequately empowered by giving soft loans to them and subsidizing

some agricultural inputs to encourage food production in the state.

Recently, the forgotten Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation Depot in Aba was commissioned by federal government. This was done with the help of Excellency Chief Theodore Oji. The Excellency provided enabling conditions for federal government to come in and rescue the moriboud company back to life. Thus the community where it is located was charged to ensure that the facility located in the community is protected. This is quite commendable.

Most of the laudable projects of His Excellency cannot be fully stated here hoping that all Abians most working assiduously to ensure that the dreams of His Excellency of Abia state are actualized to its fullness.

It is pertinent to state here that such laudable achievements of His Excellency should be given loud ovation while the citizens should on their own ensure that the facilities in their various domain are protected from vandalization. By doing so, we can consolidate on the gains and achievements if His Excellency, Chief Theodore Orji.

Nwachukwu wrote from Abuja

Tsauri: Rare blend of popularity and humility

By Abdul-Kareem Aliyu Maska

J

o u r n a l i s t s and politicians are normally at loggerheads but one quality they share is humility.

On second thought, perhaps the really dangerous politicians are the ones who begin as men of humility and end as paragons of humility.

The odd thing about political humility is that it is more evident at the beginning of a politician’s career than at the end. President Obama, for instance, was “humbled by the task before us” in his inaugural speech. Not many months later it was with “great humility” that he received a Nobel Peace Prize. As their careers draw to a close, however, most politicians feel more humbled than humble.

Political humility manifests itself differently in varying circumstances and makes possible a wide-range of democratic possibilities.

At the most general level, political humility consists firstly of self-knowledge; for the true democrat, this entails knowledge of one’s own limitations, dependencies, and capacities for further growth and learning.

This tension is one of the unique challenges of Nigeria’s democratic politics to the extent that very few among the country’s political actors, activists and movements are primarily concerned with articulating the true principles of political justice or political ideologies.

Among the few exceptions is a politician in Katsina, Alhaji Umar Abdullahi Tsauri who performs his politics as leader of the people with consummate skill, and enjoys the unreserved support of a great number of followers but never allows his politics to be marred by the slightest hint of vanity, conceit or self-adulation.

Alhaji Umar Abdullahi Tsauri One significant thing he always says he believes in is a noble concept of Islam as the path of divine presence through creed and humanity. Giving, is receiving.

Using this as his guiding principle, Umar Abdullahi Tsauri views politics on the basis of the opportunities it provides to serve people.

The phrase: “I believe we are here to help one another; to support, inspire, promote and give a hand when needed,” use to be the hallmark of his entire political career.

Those who knew Tsauri from childhood, testify that he has numerous secrets that work for his present rising popularity profile. Chiefly, Umar Tsauri keeps his friends. “Just because you might be in a new group of people does

not mean you should forget about them,” is his popular saying even in school.

They testify that even back in the school days, Tsauri used to go natural and was used to working very hard without expecting results right away and did it in his own steps.

“Trust me, the natural way is so much rewarding than the other million ways that are more dangerous,” Umar Tsauri once told a group of friends.

Tsauri is also well known for his acceptance that diversity is good which always shows that he is not immature, but he accepts others and looks beyond the differences. In politics, this is one of the most important qualities, and the most difficult for some people.

“Be active in your community, I'm not saying be an angel, but volunteer once in awhile, help someone out of pure courtesy. If you can join a team, make sure you do it because a team behind you makes life a lot easier,” is another of Tsauri’s popular lines to friends and political associates.

He is also known to have counseled his campaigners to always show the people that they care, and that they are ready to serve the public as much as they can. “You are there for them, even if you don't like them or even know them,” he advised them.

Born into a humble environment on 14th February, 1968 to the family of late Alhaji Abdullahi Tsauri and Hajia Binta Abdu Tsauri in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State, Umar started his education in 1975 at Na Alhaji Primary School in Dutsinma, after which he proceeded to Govt.

Day Secondary School in same town.

Tsauri left Secondary School in 1986 and proceeded to the School of General Studies, Bayero University, Kano, for a four year predegree programme in the faculty of Arts & Social Sciences.

In 1987, he was admitted for a degree programme for English/History studies at the Bayero University. In 1990, he taught at as a lecturer at Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum.

In 1991, on completion of youth service, he was employed by the Federal Civil Service Commission as an Information Officer. He later joined the Voice of Nigeria where he served until 1993 as a current affairs officer.

His appointment was confirmed in 1994 and he stayed there till 1996 when he joined the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

Having served in the Ministries of Agriculture, NEPAD, Cooperation & Integration in Africa, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation & Ministry of Defence, he is currently an Assistant Director. He has attended international seminars and courses in Singapore, Brazil, Canada, USA, Switzerland, UK and South Africa and served in many Federal Committees.

Already Tsauri has become a household name in Katsina, loved by many but dreaded by political antagonists who feel threatened by the rise in his popularity profile.

Umar Tsauri’s rare kind of political humility is seen in his recognition of democracy as a common project that always exceeds the self.

Tsauri’s political humility unlike most Katsina politicians entails a stance of openness, attentiveness, and regard for the people. His humility rather, is the result of an established intimacy with the common man and with the general society, the kind that results from reckoning with the idea of full civic equality.

Maska contributed this piece from Kofar Marusa, Katsina state.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 38

News Extra Incredible! Botswana twin sisters married to same husband I

t has been said that twins share almost everything but sharing a husband may seem unimaginable.

But Zambia's Livingstone-based twin sisters Gracious and Grace are happily married to a man they gave conditions to, when they said "take all or none."

The Tswana, Botswana twins are married to 25-year-old Kays Kaundula, who lives in Livingstone Island in Zambia.

Kaundula, his wives Grace and Gracious and his three daughters from the two twin sisters show off their family and lifestyles with pride.

Kaundula runs his own motor vehicle mechanical workshop in Livingstone Island's residential area and shares a house with his wives.

Kaundula however was later to discover that the sisters shared a cell phone and that in his conversations he proposed love to both sisters and both accepted.

A visit to plot 140, the residence of Kaundula, was met with sweet greetings from small girls, who are Kaundula's fouryear-old twins from his wife Gracious.

Gracious and Grace seem happily married and Gracious even says when her daughters grow up and decide to get married, she would want them to marry one man.

"I want them to be together just like us. This is what we planned for ourselves as we grew up and we are happy that we have achieved what is good for us and our children," she says.

Asked what they would do if Kaundula decides to get another wife given his polygamous status, the two sisters at the same time replied, "we will divorce him."

Kaundula's marriage is one which he says, was a confusion at first as he could not understand it after he met the two sisters.

"I was picked by an amateur football team to play in Gaborone in Botswana and after one game, as I walked out of the stadium I was greeted with a sweet voice from one of my wives, I can't tell now who it was. I was told that I had played a nice game.

"From there I continued talking to her not realising that it was both of them that were always on the phone, as I later discovered that they were using one cell phone so I was speaking to either of the two every time I called," Kaundula says.

He says their relationship continued from phone conversations until he later met them, and as if by destiny's design in Livingstone when they visited one of their sisters.

"After I left Botswana, I enrolled at Livingstone Institute of Business and Engineering studies and I happened to, one day meet one the twins when they came to visit their sister who was staying near the institute and from there, here we are," he said.

Kaundula, who is chief executive officer of Kays Auto Services dealing in engine overhaul, servicing, electric repairing and motor vehicle repair consultancy, says he was told by the twins when he proposed that they wanted to get married to one man and if he was not ready, he would have neither of them.

"I proposed and they told me that they have been discussing my proposals which I had been advancing through the phone.

Mind you it was one phone that they shared and at that time they were much slimmer than now and I could not tell them apart, so I accepted and got married in 2007.

"My dowry was paid to my mother in-law who has since passed on in Botswana," Kaundula says.

He said he underwent a few difficulties with his own family

when he told them of the marriage arrangement.

"Some opposed and others seemed to agree but also said I was overloading myself. One funny thing I realised later was that on the day I met the twin in Botswana, I was greeted twice by a person I thought had greeted me earlier.

"I did not know that they were twins. It also surprised me that I fell in love with both of them and when I proposed they also said I would get none unless I got them both. They say love is not shared but for me it's shared equally," he

says.

He says that he can now tell his wives apart, unlike the early days when he first met them.

Kaundula says they would both answer to any of their names when he called.

"When I call and say Grace I would get a 'yes' at the other end when actually I was talking to Gracious.

I have three daughters; one with Grace and twins with Gracious. I have Chiluba and Chipo aged four and another one month old. Chiluba who is named after my only surviving sister who is a teacher

“

I did not know that they were twins. It also surprised me that I fell in love with both of them and when I proposed they also said I would get none unless I got them both. They say love is not shared but for me it's shared equally

in Mansa and the other after my other sibling Chipo who is in Lusaka.

"My other daughter from Grace is Blessings. I also have another brother in Lusaka (named) Paul," Kaundula said.

Asked how people in the community react to the marital arrangement, Gracious and Grace say they have been told that they did a right thing.

"Our friends say we did a good thing and they envy us. I work at Tukale Lodge and my sister is at home helping with the children. On your question of him bringing another wife, our only resolve would be to divorce him, we are very happy with the way we are staying as a family and that is what we want for our children," Gracious says.

The sisters say they are the last children in a family of five and that all their relatives who are in Botswana approve of their marriage.

Kaundula has continued with his football career with Blue Arrows Football Club and train at the Zambezi Sports Club under the sponsorship of the Zambia Air Force.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 39

International Congo's ruling party posts strong poll result

T

he Congolese Labour Party (PCT) of President Denis Sassou Nguesso has reaffirmed its dominance in the first round of legislative elections.

In results announced on Friday by the interior ministry, The PCT took 57 out of the 69 seats that were won outright in last Sunday’s firstround vote.

Another 10 were won by the parties allied to the PCT; just one was taken by the opposition, while another went to an independent candidate, according to the ministry.

The other places in the 135seat parliament will be decided in a second round scheduled for August 5. Raymond Zephirin Mboulou, the interior minister, did not release figures for the turnout at the vote, but the Congolese Human Rights Observatory put it at only 15 per cent.

Observers from the Economic Community of Central African States and from the African Union also reported that turnout had been low, though they did not put a

figure on it. The PCT and its allies already held an overwhelming majority in the outgoing parliament, where the opposition had just 12 deputies.

The main opposition party, the Panafrican Union for Social Democracy (UPADS), claimed the lone first-round opposition victory. The PCT took 11 seats in Sassou Nguesso’s northern stronghold of Cuvette, where the president’s son Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso, a director at state-owned oil company SNPC, won outright.

The president’s daughter Claudia Lembouma Sassou Nguesso, who is communications advisor to her father, also won a seat in the capital Brazzaville.

Sassou Nguesso’s son-in-law Hugues Ngouelondele also won outright in the central town of Gamboma.

It was in Gamboma that a four-year-old child was injured by a stray bullet and two other people were wounded as opposition protesters stormed an elections commission office after polls closed on Sunday.

S

Nguesso's Congolese Labour Party has reaffirmed its dominance in the first round of legislative elections [Reuters]

US army allows uniforms in gay pride parade

A

Previously only armed services veterans were allowed to wear their uniforms at gay parades, not those on duty [Getty] secretary of defence for attention to the issue, Bardorf Parade.

“We further understand community and public granted approval for service Outreach, wrote in an internal members to participate, but organisers are encouraging memo. limited that approval in scope to service members to seek their approval to Citing national media the 2012 San Diego Pride commander’s march in uniform and to display their pride,” Bardorf wrote.

Nearly 400 military members have already signed Kamal border crossing near Iraqi Iraqi Army Brigadier General up to march in the parade, town of al-Qaim, on the Damascus- said the rebels forced the border according to organiser San Diego Baghdad highway and one of the guards from their posts but did not LGBT Pride. most important trade routes in the cross into Iraq. Al-Qaim is located Many more are expected to Middle East, Hakim al-Zamili, about 320km to the west of participate in the military head of the security and defence Baghdad. However, local Iraqi parade after the announcement committee in Iraqi parliament, officials said two other major went public, Fernando Lopez, the told a local television station on border crossings remained in director of public affairs for San Thursday. Qassim al-Dulaimi, control of the Syrian regime.

Diego LGBT Pride, told Reuters.

Syria rebels seize key border crossings

S

yrian opposition fighters have taken control of a number of border crossings with Iraq and Turkey, as state television said the country’s intelligence chief, who sustained injuries during Wednesday’s attack, has died.

Rebels were in control of the Abu

panish police have fired rubber bullets and charged protesters in central Madrid after a huge demonstration against economic crisis measures.

Thick smoke hung in the air early on Friday from plastic bins set alight by protestors chased by police, who hit them with batons when some tried to reach the heavily-guarded parliament at the end of a mostly peaceful march.

AFP reporters at the scene said dozens of protesters lingered, some throwing bottles at police, near the Puerta del Sol, the big square at the heart of the city where a march of hundreds of thousands wound up late Thursday.

A police official said that officers arrested seven people and six others were injured.

Earlier, tens of thousands of public employees, trade union members and other Spaniards have marching in 80 Spanish cities to protest the latest batch of austerity measures approved by the government.

The ruling conservative Popular Party used its majority in parliament to push through the measures on Thursday.

They include a rise in sales taxes and a wage cut for civil servants.

Chinese court rejects artist Ai Weiwei appeal

T

he US department of defence will allow active duty members of all branches of the military to don their service uniforms while marching in an upcoming San Diego gay pride parade.

The move, confirmed in an internal defence memo, marks the first time the military has granted such blanket permission since the September repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, under which gay individuals were allowed to serve in the military only if they did not divulge their sexual orientation.

“It is our understanding that event organisers plan to have a portion of the parade dedicated to military members,” Rene Bardorf, the deputy assistant

Spain police clash with austerity protesters

Beijing court has rejected artist Ai Weiwei’s appeal of a more than $2m fine for tax evasion, a case he says is part of an intimidation campaign to stop him from criticising the government.

Ai, an internationally renowned artist detained for three months last year after making remarks critical of the government, was barred from the court where the verdict was read on Friday.

His lawyer Pu Zhiqiang said the court ruled that authorities used legal procedures in their case against Ai’s design company, Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd. Pu said the ruling was made “totally without reason”.

Security was heavy outside the Chaoyang District Court.

Plainclothes and uniformed police were blocking roads and forcing media and diplomats to leave the area.

Beijing Fake Cultural Development was ordered to pay 15 million yuan ($2.4m) in back taxes and fines, in a penalty interpreted by activists as punishment for his criticism of the authoritarian government.

The company appealed the fine and filed a lawsuit accusing the tax bureau of violating laws in handling witnesses, evidence and company accounts in the case.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Wellness Zone

Phyllis Ogo Ogah phyllisogoogah@gmail.com +234 80 58425746 (sms) only

101 "Everyday" tips for losing 10 pounds (4) H

e l l o once again and welcome to a new weekend. How was your week? Mine was hectic. Guess what I noticed my pants are getting looser on the waist line and one of my readers called to say thank you. As we continue this series, please take time out to exercise while implementing these wonderful tips and you will sure be on your way to a new you, a journey of self discovery that will awaken and enliven you.

39. Graze 5 to 6 times a day.

Instead of sticking to just three meals a day, try grazing. Grazing means try having 5 or 6 smaller meals instead of three king sized meals. It is an excellent way of having smaller quantities of food.

40. Go ahead eat cheat food, but only for flavor. There are many things which you have to avoid from your diet but which you may have an undying craving for. Do not avoid them altogether. You could call them cheat foods and indulge in them once in a while. But take care just to tingle your taste buds, don't hog on them. Instead of that share them with others. In this way 41. Watch your fat intake.

Each fat gram contains 9 calories so by reading the total calories on a food and knowing the quantity of fat, you can estimate the % of fat, which should in no way exceed 30 % of the food.

Salads are a healthy option when managing weight but beware of calorie rich dressings and toppings.

French fries and ketchup are extremely unhealthy because they are saturated with fat and the ketchup is laced with sugar and other unhealthy additives.

42. Go easy on salt, as too much salt is one of the causes of obesity. Make it a point to really cut down on salt. Try to bring down your salt intake to half of what it was last year.

43. Change from table butter to cholesterol free butter. If you have a choice why not go for it, anyway it is healthier for you and tastes just the same. Bear in mind that these small changes can go a long way towards weight reduction.

44. Instead of frying things try baking them without fat.

Baking is by far a healthier method of preparing food than frying. Baking requires lesser oil or fat.

45. Use a non stick frying pan for your cooking so that you do not have to add oil. The golden rule is to try and avoid as much oil as possible and a non stick pan is the perfect solution to this problem. A non stick frying pan

French fries and ketchup are extremely unhealthy because they are saturated with fat and the ketchup is laced with sugar and other unhealthy additives.

A non stick frying pan is a perfect way of no or little oil frying.

Salads are a healthy option when managing weight but beware of calorie rich dressings and toppings. is a perfect way of no or little oil frying.

46.Boil your vegetables instead of cooking them, or even better, eat them fresh. However if you do not like eating your vegetables as it is, try steaming them without adding anything at all. This is probably the healthiest way to eat cabbages, cauliflowers and a host of other vegetables.

47. Carry parsley with you.

Parsley is an excellent thing to munch on in between meals. Not just is it good for you in terms of vitamins, but it is also a perfect way of making your breath fresher.

48. Choose low fat substitutes or no fat substitutes. There are plenty of low fat or even no fat substitutes available in the market so why not choose wisely.

It is much better for you heart too. Many people just go for

shopping and pick up whatever they can. They do not bother to find out if there are nay substitutes for the thing they are looking for. In the markets of today, you will be astounded at the range of goods that manufactures have to offer. In fact with all the hue and cry that is being made about weight loss, low fat after the first rains. So the next time you head for the stores instead of picking up what you have always picked up, see if there are better substitutes.

Remember that our bodies need nutrients and not just calories.

Fats give us nutrients but with more calories than what proteins or carbohydrates do.

49. Avoid crash diets. They are bad for health and you will gain what you have lost once you take a break. Crash diets are not a solution to weight loss. It might seem as if you have lost few pounds

but the moment you give up on the crash diet everything will bounce back with a vengeance.

Take a look at it in this way. Do you think that it is possible for a person to survive on a crash diet for the rest of his or her life?

Certainly not! So at some time or the other, you will have to give up the crash diet and then you will see for yourself that a crash diet does more harm than good on

the long run. Crash diets may have a lot to promise, but very rarely do these promises ring true. Crash diets are things people go on in order to wear an old dress or suit for a particular occasion.

That's the only purpose that they serve as far as I can see.

50. God gave us teeth for a reason...

Therefore we should develop a habit of chewing all food including liquid food and soft foods like sweets, ice creams at least 8 to 12 times. This is essential to add saliva to the food, as it is only in the saliva that sugar is digested. Often we find that whatever goes into our mouth goes down like lightning.

We hardly give the saliva any time to act on the food. So does digestion take place like it should?

Do we just stuff our tummies with food that doesn't get digested or in other words that doesn't yield the benefits that it should?

HEALTH TIP FOR THE WEEK Prepare a healthy breakfast and lunch the night before, to ensure you get your day off to a healthy start.

Consider packing breakfast, lunch, healthy snacks and water in an insulated lunch bag so you can grab it as you go out the door to work or school.

Keep moving!

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 41

Weekend NFF subjects U-15 players to MRI players and we want to see that they are as early as possible exposed to international competitions to build confidence at a tender age.

“So we are subjecting all our players, provided that they are U-17, to the MRI test. At the end of the day, we will get the required number and then they will start camping next week in Calabar,” Ikpeme said.

The director said the association would not accept overage players in any age grade competition, adding that it did not help the development of football.

Hitherto, the only birth certificates were tendered by players and accepted by the football federation as the yardstick for determining a player’s age.

Obuh cries out, says he’s under pressure to qualify

By Albert Akota

F

Members of the Golden Eaglets celebrate after scoring a goal in during of their matches in the FIFA U-17 Championship- Nigeria’99. The successors are being subjected to MRI tests to forestall another round of agecheat saga.

Ikpeme said the NFF is compelled to embark on the

By Patrick Andrew exercise because the MRI test is a directive from the he 18 players drafted to the Golden Eaglets will be Confederation of African Football (CAF) which equally subjected to bone tests (Magnetic Resonance desires to see grassroots development using the Africa Imagery -MIR) to ascertain their true ages as was Youth Championship (AYC) -meant for U-17- as the basis.

Ikpeme said it did not matter if they were selected by done with their predecessors in the Eaglets that were later the association for the test, adding that “whether they are flushed out following the results of the tests.

Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Director, Technical U-13, U-14 or U-15, the fact remains that they are still UDepartment of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), 17’’.

He said the U-15 are good players and the NFF had declared yesterday that the test is inevitable because the football federation wants to be certain that players in the decided to subject them to the test to ensure progression and early exposure when they participate in age group Golden Eaglets are truly within the age bracket.

According to Ikpeme, then NFF wants to forestall any competitions.

“So, there should not be any problem with regards to embarrassing situation by ensuring that all in members of the Eaglets are truly what they claimed to be and noted whether we have decided to use some of our U-15 players that once they are confirmed the football federation will to be part of that examination.

“The fact remains that they are U-17 and they are good turn attention to other pressing commitments for the team.

T

lying Eagles’ Head Coach, John Obuh, has admitted that he is under tremendous pressure to secure the country’s African Youth Championship (AYC) ticket. The tournament will be held in Algeria next year.

Though Nigeria will be playing Tanzania later in the month in the first leg of the qualifier, the coach said officials and the general public demands for qualification alike are almost overbearing on him. ahead of the scheduled for Algeria next year.

Obuh, who took charge of his team’s training in Abuja told our sports correspondent that the crucial nature of the qualifier has put him under immense pressure.

“When you are expected to do better than what you have done before then you will be under pressure. I believe am under pressure because I have achieve better results” said Obuh Asked when the five foreign-based players invited to join his team by the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) will arrived in the camp, the Flying Eagles gaffer declined comments.

Meanwhile, the country’s U-20 team will depart Nigeria to Rwanda where they are expected to engage their counterpart in a warm up match before heading to Tanzania to take on the Junior Taifa Stars on July 28 in the first leg of the 2013 AYC while the return leg takes place in Nigeria in a fortnight.

The Fying Eagles had played a goalless draw with a Nigerian premier league club Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) of Ilorin in warm up game after a scheduled international friendly with their Benin Republic counterpart could not hold.

Prime, Crown hit Fed Cup q/finals P

rime and Crown Football Clubs were the surprise quarterfinalists of the Federation Cup just as the big guns Kano Pillars, Enyimba and Heartland also sailed through.

Crown booked a place in the last eight of the cup competition after they came from behind to beat Kwara United 3-2, while Lagos group leaders Kano Pillars sent El-Kanemi Warriors packing with a 2-0 win.

Nasiru Ali opened scoring in the 33rd minute from a goal mouth scramble after Leornado Hiar failed to put El Kanemi ahead in the 24th minute. Eagles star, Gabriel Reuben, then put the game beyond them in the 84th

minute.

In Ibadan, Prime drew 1-1 with Sharks. In the 25th minute, Daniel Monday, deflected Gomo Onduku’s shot inside his own net to give Sharks the lead.

Prime fought back and were rewarded on the half hour through Akor Issah after he was set up by Akande Tope, 3SC goalkeeper’s younger brother.

The two teams therefore topped their group as Rangers redeemed themselves somewhat with a 1-0 win over Dynamite Force after they lost their first two matches.

Plateau United advanced to the next stage of Federation Cup after they beat Nasarawa United 2-0 in Port Harcourt,

while leaders of centre Heartland settled for a goalless draw with Gombe United to also go through.

Lobi Stars beat Enyimba 1-0 to top the Bauchi zone, which was boycotted by Warri Wolves.

2012 Federation Cup Quarter-finals BAUCHI: Lobi Stars vs Sharks LAGOS: Kano Pillars vs Plateau Utd IBADAN: Prime FC vs Enyimba PH : Heartland vs Crown FC

All matches will be played on Monday, 23rd July, 2012.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 42

CAF Champions League

Sunshine Stars take redemption campaign to Etoile N

igeria’s CAF Champions League flag bearers, Sunshine Stars are in no mood for complacency against hosts Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel as they seek to revive their dream of making impact at the prestigious CAF clubs’ fiesta at their first asking.

A fortnight ago, Sunshine Stars were dusted in front of their fans in Ijebu-Ode by defending champions Esperance of Tunisia. The loss was devastating but the team have learnt from the experience and hope to rekindle their campaign by winning in Tunisia on Sunday.

The team intensified its preparations by training under the floodlight where coach Gbenga Ogunbote took the players through serious technical and tactical drills.

Last year in the CAF Confederation Cup, the Akure team also fell at home to another Tunisian team Club Africain in the semi-finals, but later recorded a face-saving goalless draw in Tunis behind closed doors.

Sunshine are therefore yet to win against Tunisian opposition, meaning

they will be hard pressed on the trip to Sousse this weekend. However, they are undaunted by the task ahead of them.

Gbenga Ogunbote

Star winger Ajani Ibrahim said that they will play the game of their lives in Tunisia because the result will go a long

Former champion Mazembe ambush Chelsea in Lumumbashi

T

P Mazembe will be looking to take the scalp of Ghana’s sensational Bekerum Chelsea tomorrow in Lubumbashi when they tackle the visitors in search of their first 2012 CAF Champions League Group A win.

The four-time African champions are bottom of Group A after losing 2-1 away to record six-time winners Al Ahly behind closed doors in Cairo on July 8, the Ghana’s rave of the moment are on the high as league group stage leaders following their 3-2 defeat of Zamalekin Accra on July 7.

Zamalek’s tormentor Emmanuel Clottey, who scored a hat trick in that match, has boldly declared that he fancies his chances in Lubumbashi where Mazembe are undefeated in the Champions League.

“I know they (Mazembe) will try to mark me but they can’t stop me. I want to score to maintain my goal king lead so they can’t stop me. Only God can,” Clottey said.

Meanwhile, Mazembe have fitness concerns regarding dependable Zambia defender Stophilla Sunzu following his recent recovery from Malaria.

Furthermore, Mazembe coach Lamine Ndiaye will be hoping for a better show from his misfiring Zambia midfielder Rainford Kalaba, who struggled against Al Ahly a fortnight ago.

On a brighter note, Mazembe’s Tanzanian striker Ally Samatta who came off the bench to score Mazembe’s lone goal against their perennial Champions’ League group stage nemesis is fit and should start against the Bekerum.

Ahly’s Hossam Ghaly and Zamalek’s Mahmoud Abdel-Razek Shikabala fight for the ball during their Egyptian Premier League derby soccer match at Cairo Stadium two years ago.

to determine how far they go in Africa’s foremost club competition.

“This game is going to be tough no doubt, but we are going there to play the game of our lives,” he vowed. We will approach the game as a cup final because this game is very important to us as it will have a big impact on our position in the group, we are

up to the task.”

Sunshine Stars goalkeeper Moses Ocheje pulled off several saves against the rampant Esperance on the first match day and stressed that the team will fight for a result on the road.

“We know how important this game is to our ambition to remain in this competition and so we will give our best against Etoile to get at least a point,” he said.

Latest addition to the squad John Owoeri did not make the trip to Tunisia and as such the experienced winger’s Champions League debut for Sunshine will have to wait.

Cameroonian central midfielder Mendrano Tamen has also been ruled out due to a hamstring injury he picked up against Esperance.

CAF Champions league winners in 2007, Etoile du Sahel, are second behind local rivals Esperance in Group A of the Champions League after they won 1-0 at Aso Chlef of Algeria two weeks ago.

They are currently fifth on the Tunisian league table on 38 points after 24 matches, a massive 17 points behind leaders Esperance.

The club based in the beautiful coastal city of Sousse have fortified their squad with the signing of Bile Ben Messaoud.

The attacking midfielder has joined Etoile from AS Marsa, where he netted 10 times in 30 appearances.

The 22-year-old forward is now expected to join forces with Silva Dos Santos and Moussa Moussa when they go at their Nigerian foes tonight.

Ahly, Zamalek in crucial derby I

t will be the first time in over 100 years’ history that Cairo giants Al Ahly and Zamalek face each other behind closed doors on Sunday. It will also be the first time both will meet since the Port Said Massacre.

The Cairo arch rivals clash in the CAF Champions League mini league Group B, but this time the Military Academy Stadium stands will be empty as the security concerns is still an issue in the Egypt.

This derby is always a huge occasions, but this one might have extra significance for a country that is still coming to terms with itself.

Zamalek, as hosts, have taken the unprecedented step of inviting he country’s newly-elected president Mohamed Morsi and commander in chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi to attend, further evidence of the significance of the event beyond football.

The Day 2 fixture looks like a crucial one already for both teams, after Zamalek lost their opening group phase encounter to Ghanaian debutants Berekum Chelsea 32, when an injury time goal from Emmanuel Clottey completed his hat-trick

for the day.

Meanwhile Ahly enjoyed another injury time goal to squeeze past 2010 Champions TP Mazembe of the DR Congo 2-1 with Mohamed Nagy “Geddo” scoring in the dying seconds.

It will be the fifth time that the Whites and Reds lock horns in the continent’s premier club championship. They first met in the 2005 Champions League semifinal with Ahly winning both legs 2-1 and 2-0 respectively; and the Reds went on to win the title in that year.

In 2008 they met again in the group stage, with Ahly winning the first leg 2-1 and then they played to a 2-2 draw in the second. Ahly also went on to win the title that year.

The two clubs have 11 Champions League titles between them with Ahly record Champions League winners with six titles, followed by Zamalek who have five on their own.

Interesting enough the club side that is third on the list of titles won; with four titles, TP Mazembe is drawn in the same group with the two Egyptian sides making it a

fierce battle for the semifinal spots from this group. Debutants Berekum Chelsea also proving they’re not minnows in this group.

But would the “empty stands” affect the derby clash? Well, it seems so, at least the fans seem to think so. Hisham El Fiky, a regular fan at Ahly matches told Cafonline.com: “How come a Derby is played behind closed doors. This is beyond our imagination to see Ahly versus Zamalek in an empty stadium”.

His Zamalek counterpart said the same, with Ahmed Adel, a hardcore White fan telling Cafonline.com: “It’s unbelievable that we won’t be able to attend such a crucial game”.

It seems to also affect the technical staff, with Zamalek assistant coach Ismail Youssef saying “Both teams will be affected negatively with the absence of their supporters. We would have liked to have a full house for such a game”.

FIXTURES Etoile du Sahel v Sunshine Stars Sunday TP Mazembe v Berekum Chelsea Zamalek v Al Ahly

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Transfer

The season is over. Clubs are counting their blessing as well as losses and would like to make amends and even beef up their squads where noticeable lapses exist. And the transfer market is agog barely 24 hours after major European leagues dropped the curtain.

And so to keep abreast with latest rumours, we begin weekly doses of movements within the market both for players and coaches like.

Arsenal dismiss Manchester United bid on RVP

A

rsenal has dismissed Manchester United’s bid for Robin van Persie, with offers from Manchester City and Juventus also short of their

Swansea swoop for Michu

S

wansea City has announced the signing of midfielder Michu from Rayo Vallecano, subject to international clearance.

Michu, 26, has agreed a three-year contract with Swansea, with the transfer fee thought to be around •2 million.

The Spaniard spent one season at Vallecano after joining from Celta Vigo in 2011, impressing as he scored 15 goals in 37 league starts.

New Swans boss Michael Laudrup has already brought in Chico and Jonathan de Guzman for £2 million and on a season-long loan respectively.

Laudrup said: “It’s a fantastic signing. We are talking about a player who scored 15 goals in the Spanish league last year for a small club, who were saved by the bell in the last minute of the last game to avoid relegation. He was a big difference for them with his goals.

Valencia close in on Gago

V

alencia has confirmed they have agreed a fee with Real Madrid for midfielder Fernando Gago.

The 26-year-old Argentina international arrived in Valencia on Thursday evening after the fee reportedly in the region of •3.5 million - and personal terms were agreed, Los Che announced on their website.

Gago initially made a strong impression after joining Madrid for more than •20m from Boca Juniors in January 2006, helping the club to Primera Division titles in 2007 and 2008.

Sergio Canales looks set to join Gago in transferring from the Spanish capital to Los Che, with his loan move expected to be made permanent in the coming days.

The 21-year-old spent last term on loan at the Mestalla, but his opportunities were limited by two serious knee injuries.

PAGE 43

valuation.

It is understood Arsenal are reluctant to enter formal negotiations until a bid exceeds £20m and they are

hopeful of holding out for £25-30m.

Van Persie, 28, will not be part of the Gunners squad that leaves today for a pre-season tour to Asia.

Van Persie scored 41 goals in 53 games for club and country last season and was named Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ player of the year.

However, he suffered a disappointing Euro 2012 campaign, scoring only once as the Netherlands were eliminated at the group stage.

After meeting with manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis in mid-May, Captain Van Persie revealed he had disagreed with both men on the way the Premier League club should move forward.

Van Persie will remain in England while his team-mates are away on tour, working on his fitness at Arsenal’s London Colney training base.

Spurs needs 35m from Real madrid on Modric

A

day after Tottenham insist the Croatian midfielder can only leave for £35million, the Spanish giants say they won’t go above £27m Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has warned fans their bid for Spurs’ Luka Modric could hit a £7million stumbling block.

Modric is understood to have confirmed on Wednesday that he wants to join Spanish champions Real.

But while Spurs are demanding £35m, Perez says Real will only pay that figure in euros - which comes out at £27.3m.

Perez said: “The limit for the Modric deal is 35m euros. We will not pay any more than that for him.”

Manset signs for Sion

R

eading’s Mathieu Manset has joined FC Sion for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League new boys have announced.

The 22-year-old French striker joined the Royals from Hereford United in January 2011 and scored five goals in 28 league appearances for the club.

Manset spent the latter stages of last season on loan at Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua and has now moved to the Swiss Super League.

Reading director of football Nick Hammond told the club’s website: “Manny scored some important goals for us last season, and so played a part in helping us reaches the Premier League.

“However, he wants regular firstteam football and we can’t guarantee that this year; we’d like to wish him the best of luck in his future career.”

Manset becomes Sion’s latest signing of a close season that has seen them also bring in Rangers’ Kyle Lafferty and former AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 44

By Patrick Andrew

T

he plan by Nigeria Schools Sports Federation (NSSF) to stage the 5th National Schools Sports Festival later this year in Delta state has suffered another setbackfollowing the state’s rejection of the hosting right for the Games.

The NSSF had proposed, Oct. 11 to Oct. 21 for the event, Professor Patrick Muoboghare, Delta Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, said in Asaba that the state was rejecting the offer because of paucity of funds.

He said that there was no previous agreement between NSSF and the state on the matter, stressing that there was no provision for such sponsorship in the state’s 2012 budget.

According to him, the notice given to the state to host the games is short and not sufficient enough to consult the governor for approval.

“They can’t impose it on us after Rivers had rejected the hosting rights. Before such thing can be done in Delta, the governor’s attention must be drawn to it convincingly and it ought to have been provided for in the budget,” he said.

The NSSF had, in a letter dated June 2, signed by Mrs Olabisi Joseph, Secretary General, announced that it had granted the hosting right for the festival to Delta to be staged later in the year.

Muoboghare, in his response via a July 13 letter to the NSSF, said the notice given to the state was short and that no budgetary provision was made for it in 2012. It would be recalled that the federation had initially awarded the hosting right to Rivers, which later turned it down.

6 states for U-19 National Squash Championship An official of the Lagos Country Club, Haniel Hadison, said on Friday that six states are featuring in the two-day U-19 National Squash Championship for boys.

Hadison disclosed yesterday in Ikeja that the event, now in third edition and being sponsored by the Carglolux/Global Championship, will involve Benue, Niger, Kwara, Edo, Ogun, and Lagos.

Hadison, the squash captain at the club, said the grassroots tournament was meant to cultivate the interest of the youth in the sport.

“The Cargolux/Global competition would be sponsoring a U-19 National tournament for boys. This is a project to promote grassroots participation and thereby encourage our youths on the game of Squash to National level.

“It is the club’s way of showing their support for the development of squash in the country,” the captain said.

The official said the best three states at the championship would share a cash reward of N65,000.

“The National U-19 tournament will include players from Niger, Kwara, Ogun, Edo, Lagos, and Benue States. The best three winners of this year’s event will receive N30,000, N20,000, N15,000 to the first, second and third winners, respectively,” he said.

Hadison said consolation prizes would be given to the players, in addition to the provision of accommodation to the players and officials at the competition.

Gov. Emman Uduaghan, Delta State Governor

Delta rejects hosting rights for schools sports festival

Vincente Escobedo delivers a devastating punch on the jaw of Walter Estrada when they fought (WBO)

WBO Champ to defend title tonight

A

drien Broner, who is undefeated after 23 bouts, will defend his WBO junior lightweight title on tonight.

And it is unlikely to be a cruise. The 22-yearold Broner faces a potentially tough challenge from Vincente Escobedo, who has won 15 of his 26 professional bouts by knockout.

They meet at the US Bank Arena in Broner’s hometown, Cincinnati in Ohio.

Escobedo, 30, is from Woodland in

California. His only defeats were in fights against highly rated opponents – Daniel Jiminez in April 2006, Michael Katsidis in September 2010 and Robert Guerrero in November 2010.

Broner has said the bout would be his last in the junior lightweight division. He wants to move up to lightweight.

The champion, who comes into the fight with a record of 23-0, including 19 knockouts, made his professional debut in May 2008 when he

Wrestlers renew call for immortalisation of Power Mike

P

rofessional wrestlers in Anambra have again called on the state government to immortalise the late Micheal Okpala, a.k.a Power Mike, who brought honour to the country through his exploits in wrestling.

The wrestlers made the call yesterday in Awka when they visited the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Dr Edozie Aroh.

Patrick Ofolomah, the Chairman, Anambra Chapter, Nigerian Professional Wrestling Federation, said they had come to seek the government’s support in immortalising Power Mike. “Sir, we want to immortalise Power Mike, the ministry under your predecessor tried but due to some activities in the state, the file was not treated. We strongly believe that Power Mike will be immortalised under your leadership,” he said. Welcoming them, Aroh promised that the federation would enjoy the government’s support and expressed happiness that such a body was still strong in spite of operating on its

own.

“It is a thing of joy for me that this body is very conscious of what it is doing; we thank God that this administration is paying so much interest in sports.

“We want to put sports back to its pride of place in the state as Gov. Peter Obi had directed that every activity like this should be given utmost priority. So, we are going to support your activities,” he said.

Aroh said the government would partner with the federation in its grass roots sports programme to discover athletes.

“We are going to work with you to discover new Power Mikes from the streets and parks because if they are well managed, they can be better citizens. “And because of the nature of your sports, we must not depend on the schools, the best combat sportsmen and women are from the streets, so you have to help us to fish them out,” he added.

knocked out Allante Davis in the first round.

He won the vacant WBO belt in November last year when he knocked out Vincente Martin Rodriguez (34-2-1) in the third round. In his first defence, in February this year, he stopped Eloy Perez, whose record was 23-0-2 at the time, in the fourth round.

Escobedo, who has been a professional for seven years, knocked out Lonnie Smith (14-22) in the first round in March this year to win the vacant WBO NABO super-featherweight title.

His most recent fight was in May when he won on points over ten rounds against Juan Ruiz (23-9) to improve his record to 26-3; 15.

Broner, who represented the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games, has excellent foot and hand speed and power in both hands. But the slightly taller Escobedo, the WBO’s No 1 challenger, has a strong jab, throws good combinations and has a good chin.

However, the stronger and speedier Broner is expected to win, even on a late stoppage.

Former junior welterweight Adriano Marrero of the Dominican Republic has died in Santiago after suffering a heart attack.

Marrero boxed as a professional from February 1973 to August 1983. He met opponents such as Termite Watkins, Joshua Marquez, Johnny Bumphus and former WBA champion Saoul Mamby.

He also fought WBA champion Antonio Cervantes twice. In their second fight, on November 5 in 1977, he lost on points over 15 rounds in a challenge for the WBA lightwelterweight title. He retired with a record 2916-3; 4.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 45

WRESTLING:

Game for the strong

Compiled by Augustine Aminu r e s t l i n g is a sport as old as mankind itself.

Since the dawn of time men have been pitted against each other in physical hand-to-hand combat, making this almost certainly the most ancient of Olympic sports.

Wrestling is one of the oldest forms of combat with references to it as early as the Iliad, in which Homer recounts the Trojan War in the 13th or 12th century BC. The origins of wrestling can be traced back 15,000 years through cave drawings in France. Babylonian and Egyptian relief's show wrestlers using most of the holds known to the present-day sport. In ancient Greece, wrestling occupied a prominent place in legend and literature; wrestling competition, brutal in many aspects, was the number one sport of the Olympic Games. The ancient Romans borrowed heavily from Greek wrestling, but eliminated much of its brutality.

During the Middle Ages (fifth century to fifteenth century) wrestling remained popular and enjoyed the patronage of many royal families, including those of France, Japan and England.

Early Americans brought a strong wrestling tradition with them when they came from England. The settlers also found wrestling to be popular among Native Americans. Amateur wrestling flourished throughout the early years of the country and served as a popular activity at country fairs, holiday celebrations, and in military exercises. The 1st organized national wrestling tournament was held in New York City in 1888, while the 1st wrestling competition in the modern Olympic Games was held in 1904 in Saint Louis, Missouri. FILA was

W

founded in 1912, in Antwerp, Belgium. The 1st NCAA Wrestling Championships were also held in 1912, in Ames, Iowa. USA Wrestling, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, became the national governing body of amateur wrestling in 1983. It conducts competitions for all age levels.

It's a simple concept. Two men or women wrestle until one is declared the winner. Over the years, wrestling techniques have become more sophisticated and generally speaking the winner of any wrestling bout is the person who has the better technique, strength and overall fitness.

The object of the sport of wrestling is to put your opponent

on his back -- to pin your opponent.

A pin (or fall) is when you put your opponent on his/her back with any part of both shoulders or both shoulder blades of your opponent in contact with the mat for two seconds. When you pin your opponent, the match is over and you are the winner.

If nobody gets pinned, the winner is the wrestler who has scored the most points during the match.

There are five ways to score points in a wrestling match: 1) Takedown - (2 points) You score two points for taking your opponent down to the mat and controlling him/her.

2) Escape - (1 point) You score

one point for getting away or getting to a neutral position when your opponent has you down on the mat.

3) Reversal - (2 points) You score two points when your opponent has you down on the mat and you come from underneath and gain control of your opponent.

4) Near Fall (Back Points) - (2 or 3 points) You get near fall points when you almost but not quite get your opponent pinned. A near fall (near pin) is when... both shoulders are held for two seconds

within four inches of the mat, or... one shoulder touches the mat and the other shoulder is at a 45 degree angle coming down to the mat, or... the wrestler is held in a high bridge or back on both elbows.

If a near fall lasts for two seconds, you get 2 points. If a near fall lasts for 5 seconds, you get 3 points.

5) Penalty Points - (1 or 2 points) Your opponent is awarded points if you commit the following infractions.

Additional information from Wikipedia

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Politics

Edo guber: Factors that helped Oshiomhole to win

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

h e declaration of reelected Governor of Edo, Adams Oshiomhole did not come to many Nigerians and in particular his admirers by surprise. In fact, some of them expected it, though many of them were gripped by a level of trepidation. However, with the build-up of political events few days before the election, the trepidations began to wane especially as more and more political big wigs showed body languages in support of the governor in addition to the swelling army of foot soldiers including market women, students and workers queuing behind him.

True to some political permutation, Oshiomhole humiliated the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gen. Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (rtd) as he raked in 477, 478 leaving Airhiavbere struggling behind with 144, 235 votes to place second.

Since the announcement of the results, Oshiomhole supporters are opining that the victory has confirmed the governor’s control and the supremacy of his party in the state.

Several factors have been adduced for Oshiomhole’s victory. These include power of incumbency, reward for hard work, overwhelming popularity, instrument of propaganda, mass revolt against the PDP resulting in sympathy vote for Oshiomhole’s Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) among others.

This is in addition to Oshiomhole’s ability to handle the controversy surrounding the clamour for him to drop his deputy, Pius Odubu in the 2012 governorship election to settle political scores.

Analysts believe that Oshiomhole was able to harness heavy voted due to the efforts of his administrations towards massive development projects in the state. It is believed that the on-going projects initiated by the administration led the people to support Oshiomhole believing that his continuous stay would guarantee their completions.

After the first two years in office as governor, Oshiomhole realised that he does not need to go through the learning curve again after providing the needed strategy to support the deposition of the leadership of the PDP led State House of Assembly who were atavistic over

Gov. of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole ascendancy to power as a threat and dictatorial.

However, the change they were never prepared for occurred in February 2010 when the former Speaker, Barr. Zakawanu Garuba of the PDP was impeached thereby paving the way for the ACN to consolidate on the victory it secured from the Appeal Court rulings which either nullified the elections of some PDP members wrongly declared by the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) or ordering for a re-run election which came in favour of ACN. Also, the alleged inability for the state leadership of PDP to settle the internal crises in the party due to alleged selfish interest to satisfy certain individuals also pave a way for ACN to have upper hand as it weakened the PDP and its candidates ahead of the election.

In what appears as to be a deliberate attempt to unsettle the “seen and unseen forces” working against his re-election, Oshiomhole’s handlers stood against moves by INEC to embark on continuous voter registration exercise, which many of them felt would not be in the best interest of the ACN. Consequently, a day before the process kicked off, Oshiomhole’s supporters joined him to hit the street in a protest

march to INEC headquarters in Benin where he spoke against describing it as a PDP agenda and ploy to manipulate the election. Oshiomhole had in the protest march assured that he would not allow such.

He recalled that in Adamawa, Kebbi, Kogi and Cross River states where INEC had conducted gubernatorial elections, the commission had either suspended the exercise arising from the alleged acrimony or controversial grounds or register at designated local government headquarters.

His assertion was melted with accusation and counter accusations by PDP. Oshiomhole’s pedigree has also earned him the support of workers and labour unions as well as those of the ordinary people, many of who came out in great numbers for the election despite the rains to give the PDP a bloody nose.

The PDP sunk further when many people in the state linked the candidate to the waning apron string of godfathers, who critics believe were no longer calling the shot in the state. The PDP candidate, they felt relied heavily on such big wigs and the people appeared to had decided to throw do away with them and the party.

However, shortly after the announcement of his victory on Sunday, Oshiomhole admitted

that the PDP candidate raised the stakes ahead of the polls. This is especially connected with use of ethnic politics which made him become closer to the traditional institution for spiritual help.

Instead of subtracting from Oshiomhole, it added to his political fortunes. This is because the voting pattern in all the 192 wards which were in favour of ACN appears unidirectional and it defied all form of ethnic and political colouration. Probably, this will be the first time in the history of the state the people voted across primordial sentiment.

Apart from being a reputable driver of the party, Oshiomhole excelled, unlike PDP, which was seen as lacking in an enigmatic character as leader in the state, who could be used as a rallying point for development and execution of political strategies.

Also, it is believed that this is the factor that enabled the governor, who is set for another four years in office to penetrate the PDP ranks as the members sought endlessly for a figure to rally around as many of them were said not to accept the leadership imposed on them.

Political observers see the emergence of Oshiomhole in his first and second coming as watersheds in the political history of the state as it

demystified the legacy of key political godfathers in the state especially Chief Tony Anenih, who has been known as Mr. Fixit based on his famed ability to help impose leaders on the state in favour of his party, the PDP since the return of democracy in 1999.

In the general elections held in April last year, Anenih led the PDP to prove that he was a force to reckon with when the Party won all the seats in the Senatorial District except in the House of Assembly seat in Esan South which was won by the ACN. His fame started falling like a paper castle when Oshiomhole won in the Appeal Court leading to the removal of the then PDP governor Oserheimen Osunbor.

It has also been argued that the PDP candidate, Airhiavbere, who is seen as a green horn in Nigerian politics would not have scored up to 100, 000 votes, but for the sympathy he cultivated from the people of Edo South Senatorial District whose votes accounted for over 51 percent of those he got.

The fallout of the grooming that followed the PDP primaries on February 25 held in favour of Charles Airhiavbere has been seen as many as one of the factors that dealt a fatal blow on the PDP. This is because virtually all the people who worked for the party never got the support of the delegates who gave their support for the highest bidder.

The aggrieved aspirants, who lost including the former governor of the state, Prof.

Oserheimen Osunbor, Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere who had then just defected from PDP to ACN, Mathew Iduroriyeklemwen and Barr. Kenneth Imasuagbon insisted the lacking of fair play which many said further exposed the alleged lack of internal democracy in the PDP. In fact, some of the aspirants including Prof.

Osubor openly canvassed support for Oshiomhole’s reelected during the campaign visit of the later to the hometown of the former at Iruekpen, Esan West local Government area of the state.

Since his declaration as winner, Oshiomhole has been receiving series of congratulatory messages from Nigerians and institutions including President Goodluck Jonathan and other highly placed persons within the PDP. It is hoped that the governor will reciprocate by giving the people purposeful leadership in the next four years.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

PAGE 47

From the Pulpit Taking good care of your health

T

h e psalmist says, "I shall not die but live, and declare the works of God" (Ps 118:17) Ps 91:16 says, "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." (KJV) Yes, that scripture is true. God's portion for you is long life but you must avoid things that can cut short your life. Sometimes when people die, it is not because the time apportioned to them by God has come. Some deaths could be as a result of people not taking good care of their health.

Some people die prematurely because they abuse their bodies and jeopardize their health through anxiety and stress, unforgiveness, unwholesome eating habit, and other bad habits which violate the Word of God. Deut 4:40 says, "If you obey all the laws and commands that I will give you today, all will be well with you and your children. Then you will enjoy a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you for all time."

(NLT) John says in 3 John 2: "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers."

(NKJV) And in Ex 23:26, God says, "I will give you long, full lives."

(NLT) Ill-health is one of the prominent causes of pre-mature death, and many cases of ill-health are not as a result of demonic activities. Imagine someone who contacts HIV/AIDS as a result of sexual promiscuity and dies prematurely. That certainly is not directly a demonic attack though you may say the devil took him over to live a reckless sexual life.

But God's Word is clear on the need to avoid sexual immorality, and obedience to God would have saved several young men and women who have died prematurely through HIV/AIDS pandemic contacted via illicit sex.

(I concede there are others who didn't contact it through illicit sex) The point I am making is that obedience to the Word of God is a condition for good health. "Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones." (Pro 3:7-8 NKJV) Keeping the Word of God will make a man depart from evil and therefore give him health. Pro 4:2022 says, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh." (NKJV) The words of God are health to you if you keep them.

Emotional trouble, anxiety and stress Many have died prematurely as a result of emotional trouble.

Anxiety and stress have killed several people prematurely. Often one hears of heart attack or stroke.

Pro 12:25 warns, "Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression."

(NKJV) Many have terminated their lives as a result of depression.

Jesus warned against worrying in Lk 12:22-28 but rather to have faith in God. Worry changes nothing.

The antidote to worry and anxiety is to commit your ways, your needs, your problems to God in prayer and trust Him to take care of you. But many will rather continue to use their limited wisdom to grapple with issues that are many times beyond his ability.

Phil 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (NKJV) When a man loses

the peace of God even over legitimate responsibilities of life, his health is in pieces.

Anyone in business, career, ministry etc. who doesn't want to die prematurely must minimize stress in his life. Many are subjecting themselves to unnecessary stress because they have gone into ill-fitting jobs - jobs they have little or no temperament and aptitude for. They went into the jobs due to the financial reward good salaries and other benefits but they cannot cope with the demands of the jobs, and are being stressed out everyday. Such people don't need to die prematurely; they must prayerfully exit and let God lead them into jobs they're well suited for even if the financial reward is lower. Eccl 5:19 says, "And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life that is indeed a gift from God." (NLT) What about those who set unrealistic targets for themselves which put them under severe pressure that have negative consequences on their health?

Don't abuse your body If you want to live long, don't abuse your body by eating any food that doesn't do your body good; avoid smoking. It is surprising that despite the de-marketing of tobacco consumption through advertisement warning that those who smoke cigarette are liable to die young, many have chosen to die young by their continued smoking of cigarette. Avoid consumption of what can cut short your life; don't abuse your body. "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." (1 Cor 3:16-17NKJV)

GREEN PASTURES

By Pastor T.O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 Divine health and healing I cannot deny that people still fall sick themselves taking good care of their health. That's why God has promised to heal the sick whether it's caused by demonic attack or other factors. Jer 30:17 says, "For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,' says the LORD, 'Because they called you an outcast saying: 'This is Zion; No one seeks her.'" (NKJV) A similar promise is made in Jer 33:6: "Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth."

(KJV) Jesus said those who believe in him "will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them."

(Mark 16:18 NLT) While you should take physical precautions to stay healthy, you have a personal responsibility to also take spiritual precaution to believe God for divine health, and if you're sick, believe God for divine healing. Habitually confess in faith the Word of God concerning divine health. God's best for you is to enjoy divine health - stay healthy. And if you're sick, His will is to heal you.

"For I am the LORD who heals you." (Ex 15:26 NKJV) Put healing scriptures in your heart and in your mouth. "Are any among you sick?

They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well.

And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven." (James 5:1415 NLT) I'm not saying you shouldn't seek medical help. But don't let that replace God in your life. Even doctors know they care only God heals. While doctors attend to you, keep praying and hold on to your faith in God. If you're sick, I decree you healed in Jesus' name. Receive your healing. You're made whole in Jesus' name.

TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, kindly say this prayer now: "0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day.

I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God" I believe you have said this prayer from your heart.

Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May the Lord make you a Cedar Christian.

May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be.

The world is waiting for you (II) LIBERA TION LIBERATION AREN A ARENA

By Rev. Abel Duniya Gospel Power Liberation Ministries, Abuja GSM: 08033155167

W

e l c o m e back brethren. I know that the Lord has been faithful to you as you strive in His vineyard. In the last editions, we looked at what mankind is passing through today in the hands of the evil one. We came to the realisation that the world is waiting eagerly for you and I who believe in the name of the Lord to rise up to the occasion and bring hope to mankind.

The bible said the entire cre-

ation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God for their redemption. However, we have not been manifesting because we do not have enough fire in us to withstand the designs of the evil one.

The Lord Jesus promised that he will send this fire on believers so as to use them as his battle axe to deal with the evil one.

It is important to know that this fire will not manifest until we eagerly desire it and this is usually when one appreciate the need to

have such in his life.

Psalm 74. 20 says, “have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places full of the habitation of cruelty”. Look at Dan. 11.32.

“And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall be corrupt by flatteries; but the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploits”.

I want you to understand that God is counting on you to defeat the devil in these last days. God is counting on you for miracles of healings and deliverance of the people from demonic captivity.

But sincerely speaking, the fire most Christians have today is not enough to do the needed exploit.

Let me tell you why you must eagerly seek the fire of God. First you must understand that the only way to put the devil in his place is to live an upright life and I want you to know that you cannot do so without the fire of God. This is because it is this fire that helps you

to resist temptations, to be humble, to hear when God is warning, to make the right decisions at the right time and to be prayerful.

These are the factors that keep the devil defeated in the life of Christians. Many Christian today do not live a holy life because they do not have the fire that can ward off the devil.

It is the fire of God that helps us to be bold in times of adversary.

The boldness is needed to preach the gospel and to cast out demons.

When the apostles received the fire on the Pentecost Day, they became bold to preach and started converting people. The fire followed them and led them to perform miracles in the name of Jesus. The assurance by Jesus that His disciples will cast out demons and take up deadly things without being hurt can only come to manifestation when the fire of the spirit of God is at work. Many Christians are afraid to preach today and to con-

front the devil because they lack this fire.

The scripture is replete with testimonies of those who did exploits for God and you can be one of them immediately you are baptised with the fire that John said Jesus was going to baptise people with.

It is that fire that made the demons to recognise and obey apostles like Paul the way they obeyed the master, Jesus. When Jesus met a demon possessed man at the grave yard, he recognised the Lord and obeyed by leaving the man for swine. Also the demon possessed girl in Acts 19. 15, indicated this. She told the seven sons of Sceva who wanted to cast her out of the girl; “Jesus I know, Paul I know, but who are you?” She recognised and obeyed Paul and Peter. Will the devils fear and obey you today? Next week we will look at ways to contact this fire. Lets make it a date.

BIG PUNCH “It is also time to put our state in focus and pay greater attention to the positive attributes that bind us together as a people, devoid of ethnic or religious sentiment, as Islam means and preaches peace.

—Kaduna state Gov. Yakowa on Ramadan

SATURDAY 21 — SUNDAY 22, JULY, 2012

Ramadan The sacred month of Ramadan has arrived. We take a break from our ongoing discourse to welcome the month in which Muslims fast, doing so in obedience and devotion to God Alone. We welcome Ramadan which in very significant ways embodies the highest spirit of Islam, the month in which many of the most momentous events affecting the course of Islam and the destiny of humanly have taken place. We celebrate Ramadan by remembering one of the decisive moments in the history of Mankind, that is, the Conquest of Mecca.

Just before the event, an encounter had taken place which exposed to the wider world for the first time a glimpse of the spirit of the new Faith emerging under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet had sent a group of missionaries numbering fifteen to the borders of Syria. All but one were killed in a premeditated massacre by an Arab tribe allied to the Byzantine Empire.

The Prophet shortly after sent an envoy to the chief of a tribe in the same area, he also was brutally murdered. He then decided to put an end to such bloody provocations.

What follows is an account of an event, not far away from the Dead Sea, of a transcendental nature, which only a Prophet of God can inspire, which only Muslims can accomplish, an event of true majesty and sublimity.

Martin Lings writes: The Prophet mustered an army of three thousand men and put Zayd in command of them, with instructions that if Zayd should be killed Ja'far should take his place. 'Abd Allah ibn Rawahah was named as third in order of precedence. If these three should all be incapacitated, the men were to follow a commander of their own choosing. When the army reached the Syrian border they heard that not only had the northern tribes come out in considerable strength, but that [Byzantine Emperor] Caesar's representative had greatly reinforced them with imperial troops.

Altogether the enemy were said to be a hundred thousand strong.

Whatever the exact numbers of the combined Arab and Byzantine forces, the Muslims could see at a glance that they themselves were vastly outnumbered, on a scale which they had never yet experienced. Nor had any of them witnessed before such military splendor as that of the imperial squadrons which formed the centre of the host, with the Arabs on either flank. Their approach moreover had been anticipated, and the legions were ready for them, drawn up in battle formation.

Wishing to avoid an immediate engagement, for the slope of the land was against them, Zayd gave orders to withdraw southwards to Mu'tah,

ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

0803 0805 0803 0805 0803

where they would have the advantage, and there they consolidated their position.

The enemy, conscious of the great superiority of their numbers and bent'on making it an altogether decisive day, followed them to Mu'tah.

As they drew near, instead of retreating further as they had expected, Zayd gave the order to attack. At that moment the space between Mu'tah and Medina was

WEEKEND with

Ibraheem Sulaiman sa427420@gmail.com

Muslim praying folded up for the Prophet and he saw Zayd with the white standard leading his men into battle. He saw him many times mortally wounded until finally he fell to the ground, and Ja'far took the standard and fought until his life also flowed out from his wounds. Then 'Abd Allah took the standard and the attack which he led against the enemy was repulsed with a vigorous onslaught in which he too was killed and his men driven back in disarray.

Thabit ibn Arqam, seized the standard and the Muslims rallied, whereupon he gave it to Khalid who at first refused the honour saying that Thabit had more right to it. "Take it man," said Thabit; "I did but take it to give it thee."

So Khalid took command and knit the ranks together, and the enemy advance was so firmly checked that they drew back enough to enable the Muslims to beat an orderly retreat. It was a victory for the other side, but they gained no advantage from it; and of the Muslims, apart from their three leaders, only five were killed. It was thus something of a victory for Khalid; and when the Prophet told his Compan-ions of the battle and of the deaths of Zayd and ja'far and 'Abd Allah he said: "Then one of God's swords took the standard, and God opened up the way for them" -that is, for the Muslims to reach safety; and thus it was that Khalid came to be called "the Sword of God".

As the Prophet described the battle

311 689 606 327 454

7458 1765 3308 1969 0344

the tears were flowing down his cheeks, and when the time came for the prayer he led it and immediately withdrew from the Mosque instead of turning to face the congregation as was his wont. He did the same again at sunset, and yet again after the night prayer. Meantime he had been to the house of Ja'far. "0 Asrna'," he said, "bring me Ja'far's sons." With some misgivings at the gravity of his face she fetched the three boys. The Prophet kissed them, and then again his eyes filled with tears and he wept.

"0 Messenger of God," she said, "dearer than my father and my mother, what maketh thee weep? Hath news reached thee of Ja'far and his companions?" "Even so," he said.

"They were struck down this day."

She uttered a cry of lamentation, and women hastened to her side.

Umm Ayman and Usamah and the rest of Zayd's family were in his house. He had already condoled with them; and as he returned, Zayd's little daughter came out into the street in tears, and seeing him she ran into his arms. He now wept unrestrainedly, and as he clasped the child to him his body shook with sobs. Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah happened to pass by at that moment and searching in himself for words of comfort, he murmured: "0 Messenger of God, what is this?" "This," said the Prophet, "is one who loveth yearning for his beloved."!

Muhammad Husayn Haykal

recounts the extraordinary chivalry displayed by the three commanders appointed by the Prophet. Zayd, the first commander, had raised the white banner of the Prophet and marched forward towards the Roman and Arab forces, plunging deep into their ranks, fully conscious of the likely outcome. He died in the cause of God, and that is the supreme desire of every Muslim. 'Martyrdom,' notes Heykal, 'is not one whit lesser a blessed fate than victory.' The next commander, Ja'far raised up the Prophet's banner and fought valiantly until his horse was completely surrounded by the enemy. He pressed forward on foot to cut the enemy ranks down, the banner in his right hand. The hand was cut off. He picked the banner in his left hand, it too was cut off. He then kept the banner high by pressing it between his legs until he died, having been cut into two by a Byzantine soldier. The third commander, Ibn Rawahah, picked up the Prophet's banner, and plunged into the thick of the battle until God graced him with martyrdom. 'We have before us the certainty of one of two good things,' he had declared earlier to his fellow fighters, 'either victory or martyrdom - to join our brethren and be their companions in the gardens of Paradise, On then to the attack!' 'In martyrdom lies a final and lasting memory that one has

deemed the value of life to be wholly in that for which the sacrifice had taken place; that tenacity to life in humiliation and subjection is indeed a betrayal and destruction of life. To hold otherwise is, in fact, to lose the right to be counted among the living,' Heykal concludes his observation.

'Likewise, the man who exposes himself to death but does so for a mean cause; or saves his life from the danger of death when God, the Lord of Majesty, calls upon him to lay down his life in the cause of truth, has already met his death - but in ignominy. Is man capable of any nobler fate than that of martyrdom in the cause of truth?' Indeed, if we may add a point to Heykal's, people are martyrs for numerous causes, some die in the course of aggression, or corruption or plunder, some in the promotion of falsehood, some even die by stealing too much, eating too much, drinking too much.

The Muslims had put the entire world on notice that they were not like any power it has ever encountered before. Islam can never be destroyed by material forces, nor by any power humans may muster. After the battle one of the Roman commanders embraced Islam, but was promptly executed for treason. His death encouraged many others to embrace Islam and Islam began to spread in the territories under the authority of the Empire. And, according to Martin Lings: 'That influence was now rapidly growing throughout the tribes on all sides of the Yathrib oasis.

The reasons were not purely spiritual: the Prophet was now known as a dangerous and incalculable enemy and as a powerful, reliable and generous ally; by comparison, other alliances were beginning to seem less attractive and more hazardous. In many cases the political and religious motives were inextricably connected; but there was also a factor, slowworking yet powerful and profound, which had nothing whatsoever to do with politics, and which was also largely independent of the deliberate efforts made by the believers to spread the message of Islam. This was the remarkable serenity which characterized those who practiced the new religion. The Koran, the Book of God's Oneness, was also the Book of Mercy and the Book of Paradise. The recitation of its verses, combined with the teaching of the Messenger, imbued the believers with the certainty that they had within easy reach, that is through the fulfillment of certain conditions well within their capacity, the eternal satisfaction of every possible desire. The resulting happiness was a criterion of faith. The Prophet insisted: "All is well with the faithful, whatever the circumstances."!

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com ISSN: 2141– 6141