Tuesday, October 21, 2014. Edition.

Vol. 14 No. 75

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

..

. putting the people first

Fayose accuses Fayemi of building N50m bedroom in Govt House

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2015 guber ticket

Thul-Hijjah 27, 1435 AH

Soldiers kill 25 Boko Haram, recover arms in Borno

N150

Insecurity: Jonathan in closed door meeting with Sheriff, Marwa >> page 2

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Wamakko woos Tambuwal with free nomination form l As Speaker attends APC stakeholders meeting l He remains PDP member, says spokesman >> page 2 L-R: Former Minister of Youths Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders meeting, yesterday in Sokoto.

Photo: NAN

As WHO declares Nigeria Ebola-free...

Precautionary measures to continue – Jonathan 190 Days after

By Doyin Ojosipe,Lawrence Olaoye and Olanrewaju Lawal

T

he World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday finally declared Nigeria officially free of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), a viral infection that has infected

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Contd on Page 2

Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 2

News

CONTENTS

News 2-10 Editorial 12 Op.Ed 13 Letters 14 Opinion 15 Politics 16-18 Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 S/Report 24-25 Feature 26 Defence 27 A/Culture 28-29 Feature 30

Wamakko woos Tambuwal with free nomination form From Raji Bello, Sokoto and Umar Muhammad Puma with agency report

I

ndication has emerged that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, may have concluded arrangement to join the race for 2015 Sokoto gubernatorial election under the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Speaker yesterday attended a stakeholders meeting convened for members of the APC in Sokoto state, which was held at Presidential Lodge of Government House, Sokoto, that lasted for two hours. The latter part of the meeting was held behind closed doors after Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko gave the opening remark.

Associates of the Speaker said his presence at yesterday’s meeting may herald his official defection from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

An informed source who was part of the closed session of the meeting, but spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the Speaker was persuaded by all stakeholders in attendance to accept the party nomination form, as a ‘prize’ for his loyalty to the governor.

“The meeting was convened to welcome Mr. Speaker back to his former political fold and it is true that he had obtained APC nomination form for governorship ticket.

“In fact, he graciously accepted it and is now part of us.” another party member who attended the

closed door meeting informed our correspondents.

Speaking earlier, Governor Wamakko who presided over the meeting admonished the Speaker’s loyalty, trustworthness and doggedness against all odds.

The governor told the stakeholders not to be surprised for seeing Tambuwal in their midst, adding that “he has always be part of them from onset.”

He also hinted that he was in custody of all the party nomination forms brough it from Abuja, but undecided on how to make it available to the aspirants. “All what I want is unity of purpose.” he charged.

He further explained that, though he (Tambuwal) may not have been with the party all this while, however; he had kept faith with his political roots and as well protected the interest of the state.

His words: “We sent you to Abuja to go and experience the flame of political fire; you have tested it and came out victorious.

You are now with us as one family.

Wamakko added that it is time for him to begin the preparation for a new successor that could continue from where is about to stop.

He also urged the party members to be united and work hard to ensure that APC retains all elective positions in the forthcoming general elections in the state.

Tambuwal is said to have perfected plans for his gubernatorial ambition, preparatory to his decamping today at the plenary.

The Speaker’s defection has long been expected. While he has

remained officially a PDP speaker, Mr. Tambuwal is believed to have long fallen out with the party. He has been absent from key party functions for a while.

A source at Monday’s meeting, according to a Premium Times, said Mr. Tambuwal told the gathering to accept him as “one of you starting from today”.

The Sokoto meeting was for APC officials to choose a consensus candidate for the state’s gubernatorial and other elections.

Asked about his possible defection, the source said if he attended the meeting “what does that tell you, will they allow someone that is not their member to attend their meeting?”

A competent source also confirmed to Peoples Daily that already, the Sokoto state chapter of the APC has set the plan in motion to receive Tambuwal in Sokoto, in a grand reception to be attended by the national and state officers of the party.

Earlier, Tambuwal was said to be among those who were into the presidential race, especially when former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), who had once encouraged the Speaker to go for higher responsibility.

Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the Speaker of Representatives, Malam Imam Imam Monday denied media reports that his principal, Aminu Tambuwal has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu

Tambuwal, has not defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, Imam, said in a statement on Monday.

He however confirmed that the Speaker attended a political meeting with Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, on Monday, adding that Tambuwal’s consultation on his political future continued.

The statement came on the heels of widespread reports in the social media that the Speaker had dumped the ruling party for the APC. Imam’s statement reads: “Due to various media inquiries about the purported defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal, we wish to state the following: “That today, Monday, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, led other members of the party on a reconciliation meeting to Sokoto but the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a member of the NEC of the PDP, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal CFR, was not invited to the meeting.

“That Rt. Hon Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was later invited

by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, to attend the meeting of their political family to discuss the political future of Sokoto State.

“That the Speaker, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal, duly obliged and attended the meeting.

“That consultations on the Speaker’s political future continues and the outcome will be made public at the appropriate time.”

added.

Nigeria was the 4th West African country to be hit by the Ebola outbreak in July, when a Liberian – American Consultant, Patrick Sawyer collapsed at the Lagos airport, later taken to a private hospital, in Obalende, Lagos Island, diagonized and certified to be infected with the deadly disease, where some health workers were infected, leaving some of his primary contacts dead of the infection.

Sawyer, the only Nigeria’s index Ebola case, died about two weeks later. The country recorded another six casualties both in Lagos and Rivers states.

At a press briefing in Abuja, WHO’s Country Representative for Nigeria, Dr. Rui Dama Gaz declared, “The virus is gone for now.

The outbreak in Nigeria has been defeated. This is spectacular success story that shows to the world that Ebola can be contained.”

The confirmation of the EVD in Nigeria had thrown the country into fearful long periods of aggressive contact tracing, isolation, quarantine and careful treatments, which had beaten the report that Ebola survival rate was slim, even as 12 out of 19 infected persons had survived the disease.

At the last count, Nigeria recorded 19 cases of the virus, out of which seven died, amongst them doctors and nurses.

Nigeria has not recorded a new case since October 2.

Reacting, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said all precautionary measures put in place to checkmate the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country remains despite that the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the nation is free of the disease.

Jonathan in a briefing on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, welcomed the WHO certification but warned that the war will only truly end when West Africa, Africa and the world are declared free of Ebola.

According to him, “The President consequently directs that all the antiEbola measures taken after the entry of the virus into the country should remain in place and that health officials should continue to actively screen persons entering the country through its air, land and sea borders for any sign of the virus.

Similarly, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kwara state chapter, has said it is a good

development, the declaration by the WHO that Nigeria is free of the dreaded Ebola virus.

In a media briefing in Ilorin on Monday to mark the 2014 Physicians’ week, the NMA, Kwara state chapter chairman, Dr. Ayinla Abubakar, who was represented by his vice, Dr. Olawale Musbau, said the feat was a demonstration that Nigerians are capable of addressing their national challenges.

He, however, said government at all levels and all stakeholders, including the public must not relax and be complacent since WHO has declared Nigeria Ebola-free, adding that all Ebola-preventive measures should still be observed.

He stated that the feat was achieved by what he called the exceptional commitment of government to stamp out the deadly disease in the country and the unalloyed resolve of the medical practitioners to lead the challenge.

“We need to face the challenge of remaining free from Ebola by taking due precautions and abiding by the preventive strategies; improve on our public relations and learn more as a group on ways of communicating our good motives in restructuring the health system of the country.

Precautionary measures to continue – Jonathan Contd from FrontPage

2015: Miyetti Allah promises to deliver 23m votes to Jonathan – Page 31

Metro

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Int’l 35-38 S/World

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Sports 41 Columnist 48

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about 9,216 and killed 4,555 people, in West Africa.

The global body said Nigeria has completed an extended 42 – day observation period a time testworthy of international certification, and called the country’s ability to contain a deadly virus a “spectacular success”, with commendation for swift and coordinated actions by the Nigerian government to curtail the spared of the deadly virus in the country.

“The lines on the tabular situation reports, sent to WHO each day by its country office in Nigeria, have now been full of zeros for 42 days,” WHO said, in a statement yesterday.

“This is a spectacular success story that shows that Ebola can be contained. The story of how Nigeria ended what many believed to be potentially the most explosive Ebola outbreak imaginable is worth telling in detail.”

WHO had last week explained that, 42 days from the last Ebola case will give enough confidence to declare a country free of an epidemic outbreak; “the 42 day period is twice the generally accepted maximum incubation period of the virus,” it

Insecurity: Jonathan in closed-door meeting with Sheriff, Marwa

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday held a meeting with former Borno state governor, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff and the former military administrator of Lagos state, Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa.

Although details of the meeting are not readily available as at the time of filing this report, there are

insinuations that they may not be unconnected with the ongoing negotiations with the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents for the release of the over 200 Government Secondary School girls they abducted over six months ago.

A cease-fire deal was last week brokered with the leadership of the insurgents with a subsequent meeting held in Chad between Jonathan’s Private Principal Secretary, Hamman

Tukur and the leadership of Boko Haram yesterday.

Prior to the Niamey meeting brokered by President Idriss Derby of Chad between the Nigerian authorities and the Boko Haram representatives, speculations were rife that the abducted Chibok girls would be released after the parties may have finalized their agreements yesterday.

It was reported that both parties in the crisis agreed to cease-fire

on condition that the insurgents would exchange some of their prime members in Nigerian prisons for the Chibok girls.

But the girls were yet to be released as at the time of filing this report.

Approached for comments after the meeting with the President on his mission to the State House, Sheriff said “I can’t talk to you now. I’m rushing to see the Chief of Staff.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 3

News

Court stops Jimoh Ibrahim’s Newswatch

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L-R: Outgoing Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Country Representative of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, and Minister of State for Health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, during the announcement of the certification of Nigeria of free from Ebola virus by WHO, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Soldiers kill 25 Boko Haram, recover arms in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

N

igerian soldiers last night shot dead 25 members of the Boko Haram terrorists group, during an attack on Damboa town in Borno state, security officials have said.

It could be recalled that Boko Haram had on July 17 hoisted their flags in Damboa, after a deadly gun battle that left several soldiers and

a Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the military base in Damboa.

Damboa is 85 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital; it also shares border with Sambisa forest, where Boko Haram has its largest training camp.

An official of the vigilante group, popularly known as the Civilian JTF, Muhammad Gava, who confirmed the attack to newsmen on phone, said the terrorists stormed Damboa at about 5 p.m., on Sunday.

“My members of the vigilante group in Damboa had informed me early this morning that the attack was repelled and more than two dozen of them were killed”, said Gava.

He added that “the gunmen, according to our vigilante members in Damboa, came from the direction of Sambisa forest and driving several pick-up vans and some military-like armoured personnel carriers”.

A security personnel, who de-

clined identification, also confirmed the incident to reporters, saying soldiers had quickly responded with superior firearms upon receiving distress call. “There was an attack on Damboa on Sunday and our soldiers had effectively repelled them and killed 25 of them during a gun duel.

The soldiers recovered several ammunition, including a ‘Buffallo Armoured Personnel Carrier, which the terrorists abandoned”, he said.

2015: APC govs to meet over party’s presidential primaries

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) said it has concluded plans to meet in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital on Wednesday October 22, 2014, to discuss and take a stand ahead the party primaries and others issues bothering the party.

According to a source, who reliably told Peoples Daily that

the meeting was also to discuss and take a stand on the alleged constitutional lacunae the party is going through, which the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) is planning to hold an extraordinary convention to correct.

The source said the party leadership resolved to hold the convention due to a threat from one of its presidential aspirants who had threatened to go to

court after the primaries if the constitutional matter is not corrected.

Confirming the latest development to journalists shortly after party NEC meeting at the weekend, the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said party leaders did discuss at the meeting the need to amend the constitution and get NEC approval for the extra-ordinary convention,

which will take place on Oct. 29” Mohammed said, “Principally, we proposed certain amendment to the constitution of the party that will allow the party to function much more efficiently and to that extent we will hold what I call an extraordinary convention of the party on the 29 of this month in Abuja to submit the proposals of their amendment to the national convention of the party,”

Fayemi built 50m bedroom in new Govt House, Fayose alleges From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose, has described the newly-built Government House in the state as a show of wickedness to the people of the state by the immediate past Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Fayose, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the new Government House was an act of insensitivity to the plight of Ekiti state people, many of whom cannot afford to feed once in a day.

Speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, Olayinka said no progressive-minded Ekiti state indigene would see the out-ofthis-world luxury provided with

over N3.3 billion borrowed funds for Fayemi, his wife and children and will not weep for the state and its people.

Olayinka, who said Fayose was alarmed at the waste of Ekiti state resources to provide comfort for a single family, out of the thousands of households in the state, added: “The governor would have preferred to sell out the property and use the funds to provide basic amenities and employment opportunities for the people.”

“It is simply wicked for a governor to be more interested in this manner of ostentatious comfort at the expense of the people. The bed on which Fayemi slept before he left government alone costs over N30 million; that of his wife costs over N20 million!

“Between Fayemi and his wife, what was spent on their bedrooms, toilets and bathrooms will be in the region of N100 million”, he alleged.

“How can a responsible government use borrowed fund to provide this kind of luxury for the governor and his family alone in a state where a lot of people cannot afford to feed once in a day?

“People should ask the outgone governor what was really wrong with the abandoned Governor’s Lodge used by his (Fayemi) predecessors?

“Shouldn’t such funds expended on the hilltop edifice have been used to resuscitate the moribund textile factory in AdoEkiti that was turned to lock-up shops to provide employment for

our teeming unemployed youths?

“Also, was Fayemi living in that manner of opulence before he became governor?

While reiterating Governor Fayose’s avowed commitment to the masses, Olayinka said: “Left for Governor Fayose, he won’t use that aristocratic government house because it is a symbol of oppression in itself.

“He will prefer to live where Ekiti people can easily see him, touch him, eat with him and discuss the progress of the state together.

“But abandoning it would amount to colossal waste of public funds.

“Let me assure you Governor Fayose will not hide himself from the masses.”

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has quashed the Share Purchase Agreement which transferred ownership of Newswatch Communications Limited to Global Media Mirror Limited owned by businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim.

The court also awarded N15.7 million damages against Jimoh Ibrahim and the other respondents in the suit.

Presiding Justice Ibrahim Buba also made an order halting further publications of Newswatch Daily, among other reliefs sought by the petitioners.

The minority shareholders who petitioned were Mr. Nuhu Aruwa and Prof. Jibril Aminu, while the respondents were Newswatch Communications Limited, Global Media Mirror Limited, Jimoh Ibrahim, Newswatch Newspapers and Corporate Affairs Commission.

Justice Buba, in his judgment, upheld all the prayers of the minority shareholders, who had filed the suit to challenge the validity of the takeover of the company. The court held that the respondents could not prove that they paid up for the shares.

The judge, therefore, stated that the case of the petitioners had merits. “The court grants all the reliefs as set out on the petition at the inception of this case as follows: an order setting aside the contract entered into between the first and second respondent companies by virtue of document titled “Share Purchase Agreement” between Newswatch Communications Limited “Seller” and Global Media Mirror Limited “Buyer” and executed by the parties therein on or about May, 2011.

The court held that it had come to the inevitable conclusion that the petitioners have discharged the burden placed on them and have proved their case, while the first to fourth Respondents have failed woefully to discharge the burden placed on them.

Mr. Nuhu Aruwa and Prof.

Jibril Aminu, had filed the action seeking for an interlocutory injunction restraining the first to fourth respondents Newswatch by themselves, their agents or privies from publishing and selling to the public or causing to be published and sold to the public a daily and weekend newspaper known as Daily Newswatch, Saturday Newswatch and Sunday Newswatch, as advertised in the National Mirror newspaper of January 15, 2013 pending the hearing and determination of the substantial suit.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 4 Report Fiscal reforms and plummeting global economy

By Ese Awhotu

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gainst the backdrop of a fragile and uneven global economic recovery, the International Monetary Fund’s, IMF policy steering body, the International Monetary and Financial Committee has met to discuss ways to boost growth and to foster a sustainable, balanced, and job-rich global economy.

Bold action is needed, especially on structural reforms, said Singapore Finance Minister and IMFC Chair Tharman Shanmugaratnam, referring to changes to the fabric of an economy that can help to jump start growth.

“We all recognize that structural reforms have been too slow and we’ve got to pick up the pace,” he stated, speaking during a press conference on the heels of a recent IMFC meeting.

“Our single biggest focus is to be on the reforms that enable us to lift potential growth and build a better tomorrow,” Tharman said. “If we don’t focus with urgency on that, we won’t solve even today’s problems.

We’ve got to bring the long term into the short term, and that has to be our whole way of thinking about how we complete this recovery process.”

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde emphasized the need for swift action on reforms, adding that reforms can spur growth in both the short term and over the long haul.

“Structural reforms and infrastructure investment can address the demand, short-term side, and the supply, mediumterm issues,” said Lagarde.

According to her, “First, growth and jobs remain a priority. More infrastructure investment, appropriately designed and implemented, can also help increase growth and jobs.

“Second, spillovers and spillbacks. The membership acknowledged that the Fund is uniquely placed to analyze risks and policy spillovers in a multilaterally consistent manner.

“Finally, the IMF must push on to complete financial sector reform. There was strong support for the Fund’s work with the Financial Stability Board on global regulatory reforms, including on the risks arising from shadow banking, and on making banks better fit to support the recovery.”

In its communiqué, the IMFC also endorsed the IMF’s work on international taxation and on sovereign debt restructuring issues. Lagarde added that the IMF will be promoting the use of strengthened collective action clauses, which are already being used by some sovereign bond

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

issuers.

Lagarde stressed the urgent situation in the countries affected by the Ebola crisis.

Consequently, the Fund moved quickly to provide a total of $130 million in additional financing to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to help them deal with the immediate economic consequences of the Ebola outbreak.

“The purpose is to eradicate Ebola but not isolate the countries themselves,” said Lagarde, noting that all three countries are under IMF financial support programs.

Presently,the three countries worst hit by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa are working on a post-Ebola recovery plan, Sierra Leone Finance Minister Kaifala Marah said.

He told an October 11 news conference during the 2014 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., that he had recently met with

“

the finance ministers of Guinea and Liberia to explore a postEbola strategy.

“We have decided that we will come up with a holistic strategy that we will share with our partners, both bilateral and multilateral,” Marah said, adding that the three ministers had resolved to “use country strategies to be able to help our countries out.”

Marah recalled due to its strong mining sector, Sierra Leone had for the last few years been one of Africa’s fastestgrowing economies with a 2014 growth rate of 11.3 percent, “We were doing well and our macroeconomic fundamentals were also strong. We were doing well on roads, on energy, on tourism, on agriculture.”

Foreign investment flows were also buoyant as the country attracted major companies, Marah stated. The government was even reviewing its 2035 target date for Sierra Leone

attaining middle income country status, with a view to bringing the date forward. Then came Ebola, in May, and everything was reversed.

“Ebola has made me appreciate and begin to understand that fragility is selfreinforcing, because if we had had the right infrastructure, the right institutions, and the right human capacity to be able to confront Ebola, we would not have suffered as we have.”

Marah said mining companies were cutting back operations in Sierra Leone and manufacturing activity has declined. “Cocoa and coffee, which account for 90 percent of agricultural exports, is also at the bottom now, because people have abandoned their farms everybody is running away from Ebola. Construction also is bad, because many of the contractors have abandoned their sites.

“Tourism is down 50-60 percent. Air travel is about to stagnate and strangle the whole sub-region. We have been isolated. Whether that is a global best practice or strategy, someone has to advise us. But it really is killing our economies,” Marah said, adding that the isolation amounted to an “economic embargo” on the subregion.

Marah welcomed the international response to the Ebola outbreak and seen as not only a sub-regional thing, but a global challenge to humanity.

Kenyan Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich said the Ebola outbreak is also having spillover effects in East Africa. “In Kenya we have had tourism cancellations which have affected our growth, and we have revised our growth down this year.” Kenya’s position as a regional hub means it has seen transportation being affected

by Ebola effects, and this was affecting the overall growth outlook, Rotich added.

Rotich said the Kenyan government is worried about economic prospects in the euro

“Finally, the IMF must push on to complete financial sector reform. There was strong support for the Fund’s work with the Financial Stability Board on global regulatory reforms, including on the risks arising from shadow banking, and on making banks better fit to support the recovery.”

area destination for most of Kenya’s exports. Strong growth in sub-Saharan Africa, another key Kenyan export market, could also weaken as a result of the Ebola outbreak, and this is also an area of potential vulnerability for the Kenyan economy.

Chad’s Minister of Finance and Budget, Bedoumra Kordje, highlighted security as a factor affecting economic growth in Africa. “Stability is an issue for much of Africa, and we must integrate this into our analysis and evaluations.”

Kordje said Chad, in particular, is ready to champion this cause because the country is in its longest period of stability since independence, and the country is reaping the rewards of its achievement.

But Chad is also surrounded by threats to its security, Kordje stated. “That means we must invest in security, because it is simply part of our reality if we wish to maintain the stability of our country.”

Kordje also stressed that there could be no development without infrastructure. “But infrastructure is expensive, and Africa cannot finance it with concessional financing. We need grants, without which we will stagnate or go backwards.”

He said low-income countries cannot fulfill their wider development ambitions either if the financial assistance offered is only on a concessional basis. Grants are the best way to finance the lasting growth of poor countries, Kordje said.

Lagarde also said that she was pleased with the IMFC’s support for the extension of the zero interest rate charged on loans to low-income countries and said she would put a proposal recommending extension forward to the IMF’s Executive Board in the very near future.

Lagarde said that approval and implementation of the 2010 quota reforms was urgently needed. She said she hoped that the U.S authorities would ratify the agreed governance reforms and the doubling of quotas by the end of the year.

Issues of economic growth and unemployment are of particular concern to Nigeria.

Even with commendable efforts ongoing, the nation’s unemployment rate is frightening.

Recent data indicates that as at 2010, about 33.13 million Nigerians were unemployed, with more than 60 per cent of this figure being youths.

However.as at the first half of 2014, the economy has created over 500, 000 jobs but given that over one million persons enter the job market annually, there appears to be room for improvement.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

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Sheikh Zakzaky calls for supreme sacrifice to salvage society L From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

eader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky says, in the face of prevailing deeprooted self-centeredness, corrupt practices and moral decadence, the society is in dire need of people who will sacrifice their lives and all that they have to salvage the society.

The Sheikh, who was speaking at this year’s Sallah feast, organized by the Resource Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria held

at the Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah, Zaria, said, the Eid sacrifice, as epitomized Prophet Ibraheem, was symbolic for humanity to sacrifice their all for the society to be upright. He said, Prophet Abraham passed God’s test for heeding to his command to sacrifice his son; “the son, Isma’il was not meant to be sacrificed, it was just a test, and he passed the test”, he added.

“Instead, Imam Hussain (AS), grandson of Prophet Muhammad was sacrificed. He was the highest example of sacrifice in human history, who sacrificed himself, his

whole family and all that he had to salvage this religion. Without this sacrifice Muslims could not have distinguished between kings and men of God”, he said.

Sheikh Zakzaky also cited example of the supreme sacrifice of Prophet Isa (Jesus), according to the Christian version, in which he was said to have been crucified to save the world.

“This is the kind of sacrifice this society needs now. Every society has its hero, who has undertaken an action to champion its cause that is worthy of

emulation.

The question is: who will bell the cat, to save the rats from the invasion of the cat? Every one of us wants to live while tyranny, oppression and injustice flourish, which is capable of devouring the whole society”. Speakers at the occasion included Pastor Yohanna Buru from Kaduna; Pastor Ayuba Duchi, representing CAN Bauchi State; Evang. Musa Misal, CAN Youth leader, Gombe State; and Pastor Gaiyus Esomati, Balanag local government area, Gombe state.

L-R: Taraba state Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Schools Agricultural Programme, Dr. Baraka Sani, during the presidential flag-off of the National Schools Agricultural Programme, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Gusau, Dasuki bickering: Groups threaten to dump PDP

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

wo northern political groups, Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) National Strategy and the Public Affairs Youth Forum have threatened to defect from the ruling PDP unless President Goodluck Jonathan calls to order the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki over his alleged sour relationship, with the Minister of Defence. Gen. Aliyu Gusau The groups expressed dismay over the seeming cold war between the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed Gusau

and the National Security Adviser, Col.Sambo Dasuki, insisting that unless President Jonathan intervenes, the development might not augur well for national security.

The groups, in an open letter to the president signed by the National Coordinator, Abdullahi Umar Ladan and issued to journalists in Kaduna yesterday, stated that they were disturbed by this development and might even consider leaving the PDP if the situation was not properly handled, because Gusau and Dasuki were respected northerners who must not be

involved in such bickering.

“We are political groups of the PDP who have branches in 19 northern states of Nigeria.

The PDP youth forum has been known to be at the vanguard of leadership, enlightening Nigerians on the noble ideals of this administration.

“As youth leaders in these states, who believe in the administration’s transformation initiatives, we call on President Goodluck Jonathan to prevail on the National Security Adviser (NSA) on the way and manner he has been disgracing our elder, the Minister of Defence, General

Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.”

“The NSA needs to understand the critical importance of his office and therefore, should try to steer clear of politics, since he is not occupying a political office.”

“Consequently, we give 7 days’ ultimatum, within which a action needs to be taken; or if Mr. President did not intervene, we would be ready to pull out of PDP. ”We will not be in a house where our elders gave no value.

We appeal to our supporters across the nation to remain calm and wait for the next decision,” the statement concluded.

Sokoto Poly graduates 21,062 students .From Raji Bello, Sokoto

S

okoto state Polytechnic, at the weekend, conferred Fellowships on eminent personalities that included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and Governor Aliyu Wamakko, of Sokoto state.

The institution graduated 21,062 students, being the combined sets of 2001/2002 to

2012/2013 academic sessions, at its maiden convocation ceremony held at its convocation arena.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Professor Bashir Garba, described the maiden convocation as historic as the institution combined 12 academic sessions.

He said the institution was established in 2002 to uplift education in the state, adding that it has 21 departments and currently runs 40 academic programmes which included

Higher National Diploma, National Diploma and Certificate programmes.

Garba stated that the Polytechnic was committed to maintaining the tradition of producing quality graduands that could compete favourably with their counterparts across the world.

Speaking on behalf of other awardees, Governor Wamakko pledged that they would continue to be good ambassadors in that chosen endeavours, especially

within the society.

The governor also promised to do more in the provision of adequate funds and facilities to the Polytechnic in order to stand out among contemporaries.

The rest of the awardees were Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr. Masa’udu Kazaure; Rector, Cape Coast Polytechnic, Ghana, Professor Lawrence Atepor, and Chairman, Sokoto State Taskforce on Water Supply, Alhaji Namadina Abdulrahman

Jonathan flagsoff national schools agriculture programme

By Lawrence Olaoye

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday flagged-off the National Schools Agriculture programme, aimed at encouraging youngsters in secondary schools across the country to get interested in taking agriculture as a vocation.

According to him, the primary goal of the programme was to build technical and entrepreneurship skills in the students, to run agriculture as a business, equip school leavers with practical life skills, create jobs for themselves and to enable the youth develop a positive attitude towards agriculture.

Its first phase, a School Agribusiness Club (SAC), is to be established in selected schools from 12 states of the federation across the six geo-political zones.

Each club will comprise 120 students.

The programme, he added will also focus on food/vegetable production, horticulture, aquiculture, poultry, apiary, livestock, production, small scale irrigation, nutrition, processing, and packaging, and entrepreneurial skills for members of the SAC. Jonathan stressed that his administration places high premium on the young people and this accounted for the programme aimed at catching them young.

He pointed out that one of the challenges faced in the sector is the ageing population of the farmers, which have consequently made the young people see the profession as an occupation for the poor and less-privileged.

“Farming is a white-collar job, but the approach is what is wrong” he said.

On the choice of secondary schools in the programme, the President noted that statistics have shown that the second school system provides the highest education for Nigerians.

About 4,400 students, spread across the country, will be involved and about half a million youths will benefit from the programme.

Also speaking at the event the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina said food is also one of the biggest moneymaking ventures in life, hence the need to bring in the young people into the business.

Recalling that Nigeria was the first in the world to implement the e-wallet system, he said the World Bank has agreed to scale up the programme.

“This further strengthens our resolve to modernise agriculture” he said, adding that “all the schools will be duly registered under the e-wallet GES system”.

The Education Minister, Ibrahim Shekarau also noted that school wasn’t only about reading and writing or just acquiring knowledge but also being exposed to the activities outside the world.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

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News

Police arrest man for raping 16-month-old baby in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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olice in Bauchi state has disclosed that they arrested a 20-year-old man in Ningi, the headquarters of Ningi Local Government Area of the state for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 16-month-old baby.

A statement made available to journalists by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Haruna Mohammed, said the arrest was made on Sunday.

According to him, the suspected rapist, one Anna’s Adamu was nabbed by police detectives from the Ningi Area Command at about 6am.

“On the 19/10/2014, at about 0600hrs, police detectives attached to Ningi Area Command arrested one Annas Adamu, male and 20-year-old of Stadium road, Ningi LGA. “Suspect had unlawful canal knowledge with his neighbour’s daughter, a 16 months old baby inside his matrimonial bedroom,” the PPRO said in the statement.

He added that the scene of the crime was visited by the detectives who rushed the victim to the General Hospital, Ningi, for medical examination where penetration was confirmed.

He, however, said that the police were investigating the matter.

Yoruba leader urges Jonathan to tackle socio-economic hardship facing Nigerians From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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Yoruba community leader in Kaduna state, Alhaji Saka Yusuf has said president Goodluck Jonathan should listen to the yearning of the people and make positive decisions that will impact changes on the socioeconomic hardship currently being experienced by the people, otherwise the people will be forced to look for a change.

Alhaji Yusuf who made this assertion yesterday in Kaduna

while speaking to newsmen said the present hardship being experienced in the country is unacceptable and it is time for those who are at the helm of affairs to introduce programs that will impact directly on the wellbeing of the people.

“We have to tell each other the truth and that is, the present hardship in the country has not been witnessed since the independence.

Our people today are looking for what to eat, but they cannot find any.

Their children are out of school and those who manage to complete their education are roaming the streets.

“As if that is not enough we are faced with security challenges that has never been experienced in the country. Today our people are being massacred on daily basis and all we hear is that government is on top of the situation. “I am a trader because I don’t want to call myself a businessman that word has been bastardised. Everybody hides under the name to commit atrocity, but if you ask our politicians today

what is their occupation they out rightly tell you that they are politicians. I don’t know when politics has become a trade mark.

School dropouts today sees politics as the easiest way to get rich and that is why drug barons sponsor people into elective positions “But let me sound this note of warning, this will not continue, because Nigerians are crying to their creator on daily basis and we are about to hear the answer to our prayer, because there will be a change in the land and 2015 will determine that.

Members of Civilian Joint Task Force speaking to a reporter, on Sunday at Chibok town, in Borno state.

Photo: NAN

Kaduna state loses another pilgrim in Makkah From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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aduna state, on Saturday lost another pilgrim from Sabon Gari Local government area of the state in Makkah, which brings the number of pilgrims that died from the state to two.

It could be recalled that a pilgrim from Kaduna-South local government area of the state died few days ago.

The recent death happened in afternoon, after the pilgrim, who was said to be an elderly man, complained of stomach pain. According to those who saw him before his death, he was looking healthy.

“We heard he was looking healthy; but few minutes to the Asr (evening prayer), he complained of stomach pain, so he told his roommate he would not be able to attend congregation prayer in Ka’abah mosque, but that they should help by getting him a drug on their way back from the clinic; only to meet his lifeless body in the room when they returned,” said an anonymous state official.

He prayed to Allah to forgive the dead pilgrims, saying they were all destined to die in the Kingdom by their creator and so it happened.

Peoples Daily also gathered that all the paper works were completed between the state’s Pilgrim Welfare Board and the Saudi government before the corpse was handed over to Saudi authority for burial.

Gowon at 80, a blessing to Nigeria-Sam Nda-Isaiah

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

F

ounder of Leadership Newspapers and Presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sam Nda-Isaiah said Gen. Yakubu Gowon has been a blessing to Nigeria and that his efforts at ensuring the nation healed after

the civil war was the reason the nation was able to embark on a gradual recovery and prevent a reoccurrence of the civil war.

Nda-Isaiah who stated this in a statement issued yesterday also called for the reform of the NYSC into a two year compulsory Military service programme for all graduates to enable the nation

fortify its national security and increase Nigeria’s defenses and readiness for war.

He said that figures emerging from the current security situation have put the numerical strength of Nigeria’s military personnel at a little over 300,000 which is totally inadequate to protect a country as big as Nigeria.

Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah said with our population we should have one of the largest and most professionalized armed forces in the world.

Alternatively, he said the NYSC can be used to create an army of graduate business owners and entrepreneurs who will create jobs instead of being job seekers.

Fashola’s 2700 days in office, a waste of taxpayers’ money - Group

By Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

A

s Lagos state governor, Raji Fashola gives account of his 2,700 days in office, a coalition of youths, under the aegis of The Ambassadors, has described the celebration of the 2700 days in office of the governor as nothing but a waste of taxpayers’ money, while advising that such resources should have been channeled into poverty alleviation policies in the state.

The group in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Opeyemi Ahmed said that

governor’s second term in office has been unimpressive, despite the huge resources spent and the massive loans collected, thus, rated the administration very low in terms of human development index.

Similarly, the group called for probe of all Fashola’s project, saying that most projects executed in his second tenure are facade.

The chairman, also said that the issue of motorcycle commercials (okada) returning back to roads of Lagos state is not a rumour as its evident in Mile2 and Badagry expressway.

It noted that the state

government has failed the residents of the state, saying the state, having a population of over 10 million people is regarded as a mega city, should use the population capability to improve the state not to de-populate the city.

The statement, quoting comrade Adeyemi, said: “There are major things that governor Fashola is expected to be tackling not celebrating his 2,700 days in office. The state still lack amenities. Lagos road are very terrible. They are either bumpy or blistered with portholes. There are places in Lagos that has no

pipe-borne water. Ejigbo local government area, for example, is lacking from pipe-borne water, access road, and drainage system.

“The state government almost jeopardized the unity of this country, when it tried to deport easterners. The state would thrive in its quest to attain mega city if the population capacity is put to use positively. But by attempting to deport easterners, there will be a seed of disunity in the country which might lead to civil war if not managed properly. The state’s economy cannot be built by indigenes alone”, the statement said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

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News

President Jonathan to commission multi-million naira Unilorin projects From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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resident Goodluck Jonathan would commission ten capital projects executed by the authority of University of Ilorin on Thursday.

The projects, which cost not less than N250 million each comprises of multi-purpose hall, faculty of education building, metallurgical engineering building, central research laboratories and other faculties, lecture theatres among others.

The Vice-Chancellor of the

University, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali (OON), who stated this during a press conference to commence 30th convocation ceremony of the institution said the authority are ready to accommodate more students if it get more fund from federal government to expand it structures.

He disclosed that over 30,000 students were on campus and supposed to provide accommodation for stressing that less than 4,000 were living in the institution.

Ambali, who sought for more funds on research, said Nigeria need to establish disease prevention research centres to be used to curtail communicable diseases like Ebola, nasal fever and malaria among others.

While speaking on the 48 firstclass graduates produced by the university, the vice-chancellor said the stable academic, conducive environment, qualifies teachers and well-behalf students contributed to the unique figure of the grade in the history of the institution.

He also confirmed that the

institution led Nigerian universities in this year ranking, as number one and 20th in Africa, stressing that it would work hard to secure a place among the best 200 in the world.

The institution, according to the vice-chancellor is graduating 6,328 with 5,438 and 890 first degree\diploma and higher degree\diploma.

He added that apart from 48 first class, 1,190 second classes upper, 2,814 Second class lover divisions were recorded while 1,067, 84 made third class and pass among those graduated.

Participants during the opening ceremony of capacity building workshop for Imams and Islamic scholars, with them: ‘’The Roles of Islamic Scholars in the Promotion of Peace and Security’’, yesterday at the Muslim Community Centre, Wuse, in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Yobe: 161.8 million people now have access to water, says Commissioner From Uche Uche, Damaturu

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obe state government has met its target of increasing the level of water and sanitation by the year 2013 with water supply coverage estimated to be about 67% and 66% for urban and rural areas respectively, while sanitation coverage is 62% for both urban and rural settlements.

This shows that an average of 66% or 161.8 million of the state population now have access to

safe or improved drinking water sources, which is 1% increase above the state target of 65% coverage by the year 2013.

To achieve this, according to the commissioner in the Ministry of Water Resources, Alh. Sidi Karasuwa, the ministry designated 20 towns as urban and semi-urban centers, in order to determine the type of water supply facilities to be provided so that through the rural water Supply and Sanitation Agency,

the rural areas would be provided with portable water supply and sanitation.

The commissioner added that the ministry also put in place a strategist plan and targets for implementation, through collation of a comprehensive data at the rural areas which would greatly facilitate in determining the ‘gap and capacity’ to achieve the implementation by increasing the supply level to 65% by the end of 2013.

In order to overcome the water supply problems in the state capital, Damaturu, the state government had completely taken over the completion of the abandoned Damaturu Water Supply Project from the federal government and awarded the contract for the Well Field A and Service area, which have the capacity of 6mgln of water underground and 1mgln overhead tank for distribution, at the cost of N1.145 billion.

Yuguda appoints acting SSG, COS From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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overnor Isa Yuguda, of Bauchi state, has approved the appointment of Alhaji Mahmud Maijama as Ag Secretary to the State Government and Hon Tanko Y Dutse as Chief of Staff Government House, with immediate effect.

The appointment followed the resignation of the secretary to the Bauchi state government, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo and Alhaji Abdulkadir Mohammed, Chief of Staff government house.

A press release, signed by the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Adamu Alkali, made available to newsmen in Bauchi yesterday, said others who resigned from the state Exco to

aspire for political appointment are Hon Abubakar Ahmed Faggo, Commissioner Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Isa Mohammed Wabu, Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture and Alaji Bappah Azare, Commissioner Ministry of Special duties.

Others are Hon Sani Mohammed Bura, commissioner Ministry of Works and Transport, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu , commissioner Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Alhaji Tasiu Mohammed, commissioner Ministry of Environment.

It said: “Subsequent to their resignation, the governor has directed the outgoing commissioners to hand over the activities of the ministries to their permanent secretaries,

pending the appointment of new commissioners.

The statement stated that governor Yuguda has accepted their resignation saying “All the above former members of the Exco resigned in order to aspire to elective offices during the forthcoming 2015 General election.

Governor Yuguda thanked them for their service to Bauchi state and wished them good luck and Allah’s guidance in their future aspirations.

The statement said the new SSG, Alhaji Mahmud Maijama in addition to his function as SSG will continue to serve as commissioner, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development .Alhaji Hammayo had resigned in order to aspire for

elective office in the forthcoming 2015 election.It was gathered that Hammayo, who was also commissioner overseeing Ministry of Lands and Housing and Ministry of Budget and Planning has concluded arrangement to contest governorship election in the state under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), come 2015.

Hammayo hailed from Misau local government area of the state with the former Minister of state for Health, Prof Ali Pate who is also nursing the ambition of contesting gubernatorial election.

Hammayo was appointed as SSG in April 2014 after the sack of former SSG, Ibrahim Dandija, who served as SSG from 2007 till 2014.

Kaduna: Gbagyi community reaffirms support for Gurara state From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he Gbagyi community of Kaduna state has begged to be left out of the present controversy trailing the proposed creation of Gurara State from the present Kaduna state, because its stand in support of the Gurara State cannot be altered.

A member of Jere Traditional Council in, Malam Philibus Tukura made the assertion yesterday in Kaduna, while speaking to the media.

According to Malam Philibus, the Gbagyi ethnic group supports the creation of Gurara state out of present Kaduna state for peace and accelerated development, adding that those kicking against the proposed Gurara state are contradicting the position of their chief, Dr. Usman Sa’ad who is a signatory of the memo requesting creation of the state that was recently named among 18 recommended states by the national conference.

Tukura who is district head of Gujeni and chairman of all district heads in the chiefdom, said during a press conference along with David Joshua, the Magayakin Jere in Kaduna that, “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to make clarifications regarding this sensitive issue; we have heard one person who has been going round on our behalf, that we are against Gurara state and will either prefer to be with the rest of Kaduna state or merge with Federal Capital Territory.

“It is not true, but false; we are part and parcel of the agitation for the creation of Gurara state for peace and accelerated development.

Our chief, Dr. Sa’ad Usman is a signatory to the memo seeking Gurara state; and his wife, Mrs. Esther Usman is our senator and she is committed and doing same.

“And so any move by anybody who is not a member of our council or a leader to make such a statement is not good and really trying to bring confusion in our area. We are Southern Kaduna people and seeking for peace and development and we are with what our people want.”

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EDITORIAL

ver two-thirds of the 360-strong Federal House of Representatives, last week (October 15), approved a number of changes to the 1999 Constitution, some very commendable but others nauseating. There were 71 amendments altogether.

Firstly, we commend the House for removing the vexatious immunity clause in the Constitution. This provision says certain political office holders, including the President and state governors, cannot have criminal charges brought against them while in office. This immunity has been turned to impunity whereby officer holders have engaged in criminal excesses including open pillaging of the public till. In the past, several state governors had used the money they stole to bribe their lawmakers not to initiate impeachment proceedings against them. The governmentappointed anti-graft agencies have been too impotent to take concrete action even when the facts are barefaced.

To the extent that this present crop of federal lawmakers has had the courage to remove this noxious clause, which is the Achilles heel of our democracy, we can call them our true representatives. There are other salutary amendments such as the endorsement of independent candidature in elections. This gives the voter a choice outside the traditional political parties. No doubt, this will reinforce the sinews of our political life.

The lawmakers also backed a referendum for state creation.

dismissed federal lawmakers as an unproductive lot. Now the Emir of Kano, Sanusi who has since rechristened himself AlhajiMuhammduSanusi 11, spoke on ‘The Future of Nigeria’s Economy’ at Igbinedion University in Benin, Edo state. According to him, as long as a quarter of the nation’s annual budget (over 136 billion then) went to the National Assembly as allowances and salaries, it would be difficult to achieve any meaningful development with the remaining 75 percent, in view of the numerous challenges urge the Senate facing the nation. even the proviso given that is yet to vote on byNot the lawmakers that the pension will not be paid the amendments to life if the would be beneficiary is out of office will show more maturity impeached mitigate the seriousness of their blunder and insensitivity. and respect for There are hundreds of of Nigerians who Nigeria’s poor masses thousands have given their productive life the service of this nation but by rejecting the life in do not receive regularly the they get as pension. pension suggestion. pittance Are we saying that hard work doesn’t pay?

What is more, some of the only as far as the good work the officers listed as beneficiaries lawmakers did goes. of the life pension will likely go They did the rather on to contest the governorship unimaginable in approving life of their states and probably pension for key leaders of the win. Already there are National Assembly. They include pensions that await them at the President of the Senate the end of their tenures. How and the Deputy, Speaker of the many pensions will they draw House of Representatives and at the expense of the citizenry the Deputy Speaker. How can in their lifetime? We urge one rationalize this in a situation the Senate that is yet to vote where these officers already on the amendments to show draw hefty salaries for doing more maturity and respect very little legislative work?In for Nigeria’s poor masses November 2010, former by rejecting the life pension Governor of the Central Bank suggestion. The state Houses of of Nigeria CBN, SanusiLamid, Assembly should do similarly.

They, however, rejected the amendment of Section 9 to allow for a referendum in determining the fate of the recommendations of the National Conference that sat through May and August this year. Very understandable as a vote for it would have amounted to shooting themselves in the foot. A lot of the recommendations impinge directly on the powers of the legislature. However, that is

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

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Opinion

Horns and Lagos traffic

By Ifeanyi Uddin

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ne of the more interesting dimensions to the management of the Ebola Viral Disease is the recourse by the medical profession to symptomatic treatment. Besides quarantining victims, hospitals, at present, simply monitor their vital statistics, infusing them with blood when necessary (and possible), and regularly rehydrating them.

Thus, addressing only the symptoms of this ailment: a deadly haermorrhagic fever, towards the end of its course, patients are said to lose upwards of 10 litres of bodily fluids daily. But this attending to symptoms is only because there are currently no known cures for the disease, yet.

Interestingly, where known cures are available, the practice of concentrating on “symptoms” is a major invitation to fail. The ostrich, famously, buries its head in the sand trying to address its anxieties.

Despite the diverse physiological mechanisms that often, underpin it, avoidance behaviour only leaves one increasingly vulnerable as real threats build up. Watching Lagosians observe a “horn free day” last Wednesday, I could not but wonder at how policies are twisted inside out here. First questions for me were obvious ones. Are we (denizens of this

sprawling metropolis) mostly agreed that the blaring of car horns is welfare-negative? Do Lagosians simply love to hoot away? Or are there traffic episodes that call for horns to be used – and often, for that matter? On the balance of evidence, there is a strong case for responding in the affirmative to the second of these queries. (Lacking the necessary competence to weigh in either way, I ignore the first question.)

Decibel levels in the state are literally deafening. Prime place goes to the places of worship.

Despite statutes forbidding the practice, churches and mosques bid for third party attention with noise so virulent as to be ungodly. The state government’s unwillingness/inability to bring this practice under leash may just be out of a love of noise. Then, there is our sense that no retail outlet worth being thus described may exist without bullhorns: shops selling music media lead the way, here. But our street hawkers (bread and butter, porridge mixes – in the early morning) come pretty close.

The din at what passes for trade fairs seals this argument.

Yet, for traffic participants in Lagos, the “noise” from vehicle horns serves a different purpose.

Weak traffic participants (cyclists, and pedestrians, largely) could, for obvious reasons, not have been

part of the “horns-free” day. Yet, their road use is a crucial stimulus for the horns response. The absence of sidewalks and dedicated cycle paths mean that too many of these road users interact with traffic in often irresponsible ways.

The horn is the currency without which these exchanges would have been more fatal. Ironically, while on the Marina and its axial roads, a World Bank-funded road network ensured that wide kerbs adorned the edges of the roads, the Lagos State government, by installing huge concrete flower vases in the middle of these pavements forces pedestrians back on to the main roads.

There was much confusion too, whether the “horns free day” applied to the ubiquitous yellow buses ― “danfos” ― (the main plinth of urban mass transit in the state). For one, most of these do not have horns installed on their vehicles. They, notoriously, accelerate loudly behind and besides other vehicles to advert other road users’ attention to their uncomfortably close presence.

Add to this, the fact that the state government had once revealed that most drivers of these buses are visually impaired (but do not wear eye glasses) and/or drive under the influence of some narcotic, or the other, and you wonder what large purpose could have been served

by including them under this initiative.

The horn therefore is a useful tool for navigating the chaos that is driving in Lagos. Having learnt to drive in a jurisdiction where one gave way to traffic on one’s left without compulsion, it has been hard not to use my horns driving in this town. Regular traffic (aside that is, from cyclists, pedestrians, and the “danfos”) do not have respect for lane markings.

On multi-lane roads (the 3rd Mainland Bridge, for example), most drivers in Lagos exhibit quantum mechanical properties: they are on each lane at once until observed by a rapidly approaching driver, and beeped at; only then settling for a particular lane.

Even when these vehicles cease straddling lanes, knowledge of lane use is non-existent. I was taught that the outer right lane is for slow moving vehicles, while the left one is for overtaking. In Lagos, the reverse is the case, except when your vehicle breaks down. Then you build a bunker in the road to protect yourself against other road users. How many road users in the country (we move outside Lagos, here) are aware that they are obliged to give way if by traveling too slowly traffic builds up behind them?

The point was reached where I could have given a left arm not

to drive in Lagos. I tried. But the short distance from my house to the bus stop was of a different challenge. The “area boy” owned much of this real estate; and like the trolls guarding the bridges in the primary school storybooks of old, you had to part with a toll to go past these set of Lagosians.

What would I give for the comfort of mass travel (underground or magnetic levitation) in Lagos? A lot, really.

And at this point I wonder how much of the reduced use of horns in places where such mass transit schemes are in place, is the result of most commuters being off the roads at any given point in time?

It would seem, therefore, that the immediate task before the government in Lagos State is to educate road users about their rights and responsibilities in order to improve traffic ecosystems across the state. A second order responsibility is to build more roads with kerbs and dedicated cycle paths, enabling weak traffic participants to move about without jaywalking. But by far the biggest challenge is to build mass transit systems that take more commuters off the roads. Until then, I’ll keep my horns blaring to keep all around me safe.

Ifeanyi Uddin is on Premium Times Editorial Board

How PDP whips dissenters into line using EFCC

By Musa Abubakar

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nsidious corruption in high places was what gave birth to the creation of agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

Diligent as these agencies were meant to operate, beneficiaries of corruption in all forms began to fight back with all the foul means at their disposal. As time went on, government agents joined in assisting or conniving and indeed, abating or participating in acts of corruption.

As in a manner of institutionalisation, the federal government, in one body language or the other began selective prosecution of suspected corrupt government officials, businessmen, etc. Today, government does not seem to be firm with corruption.

There exist sacred cows. Identified corrupt people are allowed to get away with the breach of the law or the perpetration of corruption and evil. When former president Obasanjo saw the need for “a fundamental reorientation within the country to build a robust culture of resistance to corruption,” less did he know that there would rather be a full blown orientation across Nigerian divide for robust culture of assistance to corruption.

If Obasanjo thought that until 2005, there was no political will to fight corruption; truth is that the will is still nonexistent. The romance between the federal government and former governors that are indicted by EFCC/ICPC speaks volumes of language that is not in tandem with reason. Again, thinking that the era where leaders’

stewardship was consigned to history books is no longer the case is truly the case. Stewardship after office has since been unexamined.

His thought that history will never remove the searchlight on the conduct of those in leadership positions, as it is now, “the reliance on immunity, bureaucratic complexity and other such escape routes” is not only an option for those in leadership positions but also those outside it.

Nigeria is no longer a country “that is determined to mobilise available resources to the benefit of all” or one that is there to “challenge inherited contradictions and negative coalitions” or one that is ready to “dismantle all structures that had hitherto approved of corruption and primitive appropriation of public values and resources.” For upwards of seven years, cases against former governors, ministers, national assembly members and scores of political big-wigs pursued by Nigeria’s anti-corruption body – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have dragged at snail-step in the watchful eyes of the international community.

As 2015 elections draws close, there now exists marriage of convenience with the accused persons trooping into a haven that they feel safe – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Interestingly, as a ruling party at the national level, the party has become has become a rescue platform for these class of people alleged to have plundered public funds running to Billions of the Nigerian Naira. Among these governors are Peter Odili (Rivers), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu),

Attahiru Bafarawa (Sokoto), Orji Kalu (Abia), Jolly Nyame (Taraba), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo) and Ayo Fayose (Ekiti).

Others include Mohammed DanjumaGoje(Gombe), Aliyu Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa) and BunuSherif (Borno) who is linked to the sponsorship of the dreaded Boko Haram.

Although these cases have not been determined by the courts and the suspects set free, the PDP has continued to accept them into the party with sheer show of pride. Already, Peter Odili, Attahiru Bafarawa, Boni Haruna (who was cleared by the court), BunuSherif (named as sponsor of Boko Haram) and Ayo Fayose have joined and been accepted into the PDP. Gbenga Daniel is said to be set to join in a couple of days. Chief Bode George, who was jailed for 30 months in October 2009 for an N85 billion scam in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has returned to the mainstream politics in the PDP. Without clearance by the courts, a noliprosecu has been entered for some accused persons by the Attorney General of the federation, the bargain according to feelings in some quarters, being the accused readiness to join the ruling party.

If there is one thing that continued to bother former governor Attahitu Bafarawa, that thing is his prosecution by the EFCC for the N13 billion public funds alleged to have been cornered by him. The exit route for him therefore is his defection to the ruling party.Here is a man that has been on prosecution by the EFCC since 2007 as a result of

findings by a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which indicted him for gross financial misconduct.

His joinder with the PDP is seen by pundits as aimed to escape the EFCC sledge hammer.Following the indictment, the Sokoto State High Court granted leave for the prosecution of Bafarawa and others on a 47 count charge. This was with respect to specified alleged offences bordering on criminal breach of trust and conspiracy in violation of insert sections of the Panel Code Act of Northern Nigeria.

Why many of these EFCC suspects including businessmen, politicians, etc defect to the ruling party is the belief that the EFCC/ ICPC cases preferred against them would be dropped and presidential pardon granted them.

In return, Mr. President would be expected to enjoy their support for his presidential ambition.

The suspicious manner, by which the ruling party accommodates people that have criminal cases in courts, is wrapped in both national and international shame.

An ex-ICPC boss said recently that “the whole thing is suspect and it is unfortunate because you are encouraging other people to commit crimes and get away.

It is the same thing with plea bargaining when you say you will return part of the money and chop the rest.”

A judge of Taraba State High court, Justice Philipus Andedur, recently took a swipe at the EFCC stressing that the antigraft agency adopts selective justice in the prosecution of suspects. “Arraigned suspects were perhaps unfortunate people who probably were unable to

interfere with investigations.” The judge disclosed this while hearing a case brought his court by the EFCC against two former NULGE officials in Yoro local government of the state. He added that those who looted large sums of money were allowed to move freely while those who stole small sums were prosecuted.

In spite of President Jonathan’s religiosity, he has continued the tyrannical abuse of power and exploitation of ethnic differences and prejudices to serve his personal ambition.

Instead of demonstrating courage to tackle corruption and introduce changes and innovations that Nigeria needs, he prefers to use government agencies in a selective manner to avenge or settle old scores. The EFCC has continued to be used to target politicians who are not in the good books of the President while many that have spent their time enriching themselves are suckling to the present in the hope that he would protect them from the fate of Ibori when they leave office.

The President is more interested in rehabilitating those that have been convicted for corruption rather than ensuring that things are put in place to make it more difficult for politicians to misappropriate public funds.

The likes of Niger state governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and his Jigawa state counterpart, Sule Lamido were rumoured to have been threatened with the EFCC. They rescinded their hitherto stand to defect with other G-5 governors to the APC. Musa Abubakar wrote in from Kaduna.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion

America’s commitment to a secure Nigeria

By James F. Entwistle

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ecent media reports on U.S.-Nigeria security cooperation may have led some to question the United States’ willingness to support Nigeria’s war on terrorism. Our support is unwavering and comes from the highest levels of the U.S. government. When I presented credentials to President Goodluck Jonathan almost one year ago, I told him the United States stands with Nigeria in its efforts to defeat Boko Haram. That commitment is as true today as it was then.

Our support to Nigeria’s war against terror takes many forms and has been consistent from the beginning. It involves military training as well as information sharing. Security cooperation between the United States and Nigeria promotes

Contd from BackPage

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ong before the adoption of Geneva Convention in 1950 on the protection of civilian population and guaranteeing the rights of prisoners of war, Islam started practicing ethics in this regard. The Holy Quran asks its believers not to exceed the limit in war. “Fight in the cause of God those who fight you but do not transgress limits: For God loveth not transgressors.”

(Baqara 190) It is forbidden in the Islamic code of war to do anything for taking revenge and creating terror. Prophet (peace be upon him) used to give instructions to his solders not to kill civilians who are not directly engaged in war, old men, women, children and not to destroy property like trees, crops as he prohibited killing of priests and destroying places of worship.

Regarding prisoners of war and wounded persons in war, he used to treat them as he did with his own men. He distributed prisoners of Badr among his fellow companions and asked them to consider those persons as their guests. Some of them embraced Islam moved by this friendly gesture. His decision in releasing the prisoners was more unique. He fixed an amount for this according to their financial position and freed many of them just on the basis of teaching ten children by each prisoner.

PEACE: War is conditional in Islam. If there is a breach of contract and beginning of hostility from the enemy side, then only the Muslims are allowed to engage themselves in war. So, whenever there is a cessation of hostile activities there must be the end of war.

In such a situation Muslims are asked to cease fire and negotiate peace treaty. There are many

the professionalization of Nigeria’s security forces and strengthens their contributions to international peacekeeping missions. Our cooperation emphasizes a whole-of government approach that underlines the importance of human rights, civilian protection, and adherence to rule of law at all levels as key tools in the fight against terror.

Over the years, the United States has always been willing to share appropriate military equipment with Nigeria. That remains the case today but must be understood in the context of our global policy on arms transfers. The U.S. government undertakes a rigorous evaluation process before proceeding with the sale of military equipment to any country, including Nigeria. The U.S. Departments of State and Defense review

all potential arms transfers for their consistency with U.S. policy and interests, as detailed in the U.S. Conventional Arms Transfer Policy. This includes any requests from a country that we have sold or donated weapons to resell or donate those same weapons to another country, such as Nigeria.

We examine whether an arms transfer makes sense for the needs of the prospective country.

Part of our review considers whether equipment may be used in a way that could adversely affect human rights. The United States believes that we bear a certain level of responsibility for how the equipment is ultimately used. We take this responsibility very seriously and our laws require strict accountability for all sales. Contrary to what some commentators have claimed, the fact that we carry out a careful

review of equipment sales to Nigeria does not mean that we are not providing equipment – sometimes transfers are approved, and sometimes they are not. We look at each Nigerian case very carefully, just as we do in the case of transfers to any other country.

I would also like to emphasize that the provision of new equipment alone is not a cureall that will quickly resolve the current security situation.

Military equipment may be part of the equation to end the Boko Haram insurgency, but successfully ending the struggle against Boko Haram requires much more. For example, meeting the basic needs of soldiers – making sure they have the proper attire, are welltrained, and are properly fed – in the field is equally critical. In addition, providing economic

opportunities to alleviate poverty is essential in order to offer potential extremist recruits a viable alternative to a life of crime and violence. To foster the stability, security, and prosperity of its citizens, Nigeria must effectively address all aspects of the terrorism equation, and we stand with the Nigerian government in its efforts to do just that.

The United States and Nigeria enjoy a long and healthy relationship. We recognize that security is a critical dimension of our partnership. We want to help Nigeria create a secure and stable environment for its citizens. I look forward to continuing to work with the Nigerian government, civil society, the private sector, and all Nigerian citizens to achieve that goal.

James F. Enwistle is the US Ambassador to Nigeria

verses of the Holy Quran in this regard, such as; “If they fight you then you also fight them. But if they cease, then let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression.”

(Baqarah 19).”If they withdraw from you and not fight you and send you peace, then God hath opened no way for you (to fight against them).”

“And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression and there prevail justice and faith in God altogether and anywhere: but if they cease verily God doth see all that they do.” (Anfal 39) “But if the enemy inclines towards peace, so thou incline (also) to peace and have trust in God...” (Anfal 61)The relevant portion of UN charter regarding ceasefire and maintaining international peace and security comes closer to these ideals.

TREATY: Conclusion of treaty and honouring the same is one of the basic pillars of Islamic diplomacy. The Holy Quran asks the Muslims to negotiate peace treaty for ending war and establishing friendship with other nations as it asked them to adhere very strictly to it. Breach of treaties and agreements has been described as condemnable act.

“And take no friends or helpers from their end (non believers): except those who join a group between whom and you there is a treaty (of peace) or those who approach you with hearts restraining them from fighting you as well as fighting their own people.” (Nisa 90) “Will ye not fight people who violated their oaths (treaties) plotted to expel the apostle and took the aggressive path by being the first to assault you?” (Taubah 3).”…and fulfil every commitment, for (every) commitment will be enquired

into.” (Bani Israel 34).”How can there be a league, before God and His apostle with the (fighting) pagans, except those with whom ye made a treaty near the sacred Mosque. As long as they stand true to you, stand ye true to them. For God doth love the righteous.” (Taubah 7) “O ye who believe!Fulfil all obligations.” (Mayedah-1) Prophet (peace be upon him) made many treaties with different groups of people during his life and honoured them even when some clauses of certain treaties turned to be unfavourable to him. The famous treaty of Hodaibia contained some clauses which apparently were not favourable and opposed by majority of his followers.

But he signed it in the greater interest of peace and upheld it till it was revoked by other party.

There are examples that he was engaged in war for honouring his treaty and agreement with different tribes.

GLOBAL DIPLOMACY: During the 19th century there developed what is known as “international diplomacy”, conference diplomacy, “multinational diplomacy” or “global diplomacy” meaning that negotiations are conducted simultaneously with a group rather than with one state. It has as its emphasis the finding of the common interests of many states rather than those of only two states.

There is no doubt that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the first man in human history to initiate the process of global and international diplomacy in the truest sense of the term. He established contact in different ways specially sending envoys to the emperors and rulers of the world inviting them to embrace Islam and establishing

justice in the world as well as for cooperating with him in various fields. This process continued in a wider scale during the later period of Islamic Khalifat. In this way he laid the foundation of global contact. Development of UN system in modern time may be described as culmination of this process.

Prophet (peace be upon him) made a breakthrough in diplomatic history by sending special envoys with his letters to Emperor Heracleus of Roman Empire, Emperor Khasru of Persian Empire, Egyptian ruler MukauKeus, Ethiopian Emperor Najjashi and others inviting them to embrace Islam and rule their respective countries with justice.

DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY: Islam strongly favours the idea of granting special immunity to the envoys and diplomats. Prophet (peace be upon him) and great Khalifas used to receive foreign envoys with great honour and treat them as respected persons. As a mark of respect he allowed a Christian delegation to offer their worship inside his mosque. Killing of a special envoy Haris by Shorahbi, Ruler of Muta, was one of the reasons for which he sent a force to punish the killer. This was the background of famous Muta operation. In this process the way to the conclusion of “Vienna Convention” adopted in 1961, was paved.

One of the basic beauties of Islam is that it upholds justice and fairness at all levels and in all circumstances. The Holy Quran clearly asked the Muslims to uphold the principle of justice even in their dealing with their enemy. The Holy Quran states: “Stand out firmly for God as witnesses to fair dealing and let not hatred of any nation to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that

is next to piety.” (Mayedah 9) Muslims have also been warned not to be swayed away from fairness due to self interest, nepotism, favour for the rich and disfavour for the poor. The Holy Quran states: “O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents or your kids and whether it be (against) rich or poor.”

(Nisa 135) These principles are applicable to both national and international affairs, thus serving to be the basis of international law and justice.

Islam always encourages greater cooperation among different groups of people for achieving noble objectives and opposing evil forces. The Holy Quran states: “Help ye one in righteousness and piety but help ye not one in sin and rancour.”

(Mayedah 3).Prophet (peace be upon him) sought cooperation of Madina people when he was in Makkah and conducted the “Memorandum of allegiance” in Aqaba twice having met secretly the pilgrims of Madina in the early period of his mission. This was the nature of the regional cooperation. He then sought cooperation of Emperor Nazzashi of Ethopia by sending some Muslims over to his country requesting him to grant refuge to them. From this the principles of international cooperation can very easily be derived.

In fine, it can be stated very clearly that as a comprehensive code and system of life, Islam did not leave the diplomatic arena of life unattended. Rather it gave diplomacy a respectable place by elevating it to the honourable place of being a means to achieve noble goals of human society.

Diplomacy in Islam

Mohammad Zafor via nafaznoor@hotmail.com

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 15

Comment

The making of great thinkers of our time

By Mulikat Etudaiye

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n history, the great thinkers and philosophers of all time did not hold on to title-philia. I see it as their good understanding and manifestation of what learning entails— the more you learn the more humble you declare yourself. Scholars who establish themselves beyond their mere so called disciplines, they are in multidisciplinary, and they hardly regard a title or any specialized academic regalia as anything.

The example of Isaac Newton himself, William Shakespeare, Ibn Khaldun, Raze aka ar-Razi. In Nigeria we have the likes of Yusuf Bala Usman (who was comfortable with only ‘Dr-title’ to refer to his hot PhD, despite his academic outstanding excellence. M. M. Yusuf and Ibrahim Mu’azzam (lecturers in the political science department of Bayero University, Kano), the personalities who teach PhD students without traditionally having one, are the next examples.

This is simply because they had galvanized in them what it all takes to be in the seat of professors.

It is not quite the heap of educational certificates one posses that exerts the rays of moral philosophy, taken or mistaken in the ‘disciplined’. Rather, it is the rhetorical question of what quality you are able to present in a discipline, not in your title or your paper qualification that relinquishes your status as angel or demon in the society today. Though, college graduates are awarded certificates in ‘character and learning’, the aesthetic parable of ‘certificaterism’, title-philia mixed together with other ‘ism (s)’ bewildered their originality of character and left them alone with ‘learning’ – if at all they tend to .

The bigger picture of this problem is vehement in the realm of the academia; it is the pride of every graduate to attain an excellent grade in academia, even if it takes to commit every material into memory without grasping the context, an

insinuation of the part discovery of the work of Carmen Mc Cane depicting typical African students style of enquiry to knowledge.

But Africans believe in it probably because at least the outcome would yield a fruitful job or turn someone to be a celebrity. Our reference to what we believe, and do, usually reflects our state of being in a little mental slavery; for example, it is common among people of learning to refer a system of education as ‘Western Education’: 6 3 3 4 system, etc. And the system was even maintained in other civilizations including the eastern world or the Near East. If not refer as ‘Western Education’, then what?

Why not reframe it ‘Contemporary Education’, yes contemporary, because it is not western or eastern… it is human.

Well, it is not bad to attain excellent grades. Nay, it’s a key— which opens doors of good job, clue of becoming a celebrity. The moral question of humility is what tarnishes the image of academic

excellence, the epidemic of the gods of paradigms, hypotheses, quotes and critics is growing wings and feathers to fly without limit or brake in the aura of learning in which there is nothing new but a replica of the olden known things. When something is discovered, then in the heart of the discoverer, germinates a seed of boastfulness.

And if mistakenly some sort of teasing fellow summoned that person with bare name – without title, hmmm...Where ever there is title philia there is problem! Ask me why? Okay! Let’s begin rally. It is a common knowledge that those who contribute immensely and/or founded a discipline are commonly refer to their names without title.

Only a few could be necessarily holding titles, and if it happens you come across their original write ups, no doubt you will only come across attributed names without titles.

It is the impact of these gurus that prepared the world to witness a tremendous progress in all fields of human endeavor. While for them it

is not only their effort but also their humility that made them emerge as heroes in what they achieved, and they are still achieving, because their contribution to humanity is still existing and relevant.

Acknowledging their work is a necessity before you could be recognized as one of a kind or awarded a first, second or third degree. The virtue of knowledge sailed the ship of humanity from the very first beginning of man race.

Man is blessed with knowledge to overcome obstacles and foster development around his environs, and to the larger extent relate well with his creator, not to be boastful arrogant. Ah! Take a good look at the episode of Satan, Adam and the angels before their Lord; Adam and Satan are both knowledgeable, but God chose Adam over Satan because Satan is boastful arrogant.

So, it’s an olden phenomenon.

By Mulikat Etudaiye, Mass communication Dept, Bayero University, Kano.

Global ICT community meets in Zapatista (I)

By Y. Z. Ya’u

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he Zapatista Movement in Mexico had fascinated me for years. They as a movement, not only symbolizes creativity, optimism and determination but also the meeting point where technology and social revolution merged. For years, the image of the movement is an iconic geekdriven, making effective use of internet especially to communicate and mobilize rural communities in Mexico to support its struggle.

As an activist and advocate of the information technology, I have somehow, even if anachronistic, that reflected what I am: a social crusader who sees technology as a tool to remake society.

Although red-revolution seems to be going out of fashion (other colors are taking over), the information technology is still unfolding. I have for years now occupied myself with it, following this soft revolution and it was therefore without hesitation that I accepted to be part of an event that reflected me in a country that produced a movement that combined the two of my preoccupations: ICT and social revolutions.

The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) had in its wisdom decided to host the 19th World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) in Guadalajara, Mexico and it was a unique opportunity to try my curiosity. The WCIT is the largest IT event globally and brings professionals, policy makers, researchers, business people and activists together to review progress and strategize on how to further the contribution of IT in the development trajectory of humanity. Make no mistake of course; a lot has also to with creating market and business opportunities for those of us in the sector, posing as altruistic prophets of the revolution.

World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) is the leading recognized international voice of the global ICT industry, whose members from over 80 countries and economies represent

more than 90 percent of the world ICT market. WITSA is dedicated to advocating policies that advance industry growth and development; facilitating international trade and investment in ICT products and services; strengthening WITSA’s national industry associations; and providing members with a broad network of professional contacts.

The congress itself held at the international conference centre, the Expo Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco State of Mexico. Mexico is federation of 31 states. The choice of Guadalajara might have been informed by three factors. First was the willingness of the State Government to host such a major event. Second was of course the bid that the country had won to host the event. Third, was that the Mexican Chambers of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology Industries (CANIETI), the local WISTA affiliate itself wanted to showcase Mexican technological development. The excellent facilities at the Expo make it simply incredible. In quality, size, facilities, and everything, there is none of its types in Africa, certainly not in Nigeria where the whole land of our international centre at Abuja could not fill one of the halls at Expo.

The conception of the Expo itself is remarkable. Within a walking distance, there are over 10 top class hotels, forming a ring around the Expo. This means that whichever hotel you chose to stay, you have no need for taxi to get to the venue. Jalisco had its reason to host the event: to showcase its own success stories not only within the ICT sector but as a major technical centre in the Mexico. The state with a population of 7.3 million people, 1.4million of which is in the capital), it is one of the populous states of the country. It has a total of 61,358 hotel rooms, more than 11,100 of which are luxury. The land of the famous Mariachi music is also a vibrant cultural centre with a number of beaches off the Pacific Ocean.

Although the exhibition was a huge success (3,000 delegates from more than 73 countries: The exhibition area had 11 international pavilions, 52 exhibitors from the

IT industry and more than 1,000 business meetings took place during the congress) with more participants spending more time going round the stands at the exhibition than listing to the pious lectures of the ICT preachers (did I not tell you that for many, the event was market and business opportunity), it was lopsided. Exhibition was dominated by companies from the USA, Mexico, Brazil (from the America continents) with only the notable presence of Spain (Europe) and Taiwan. Africa was obviously underrepresented with only Nigeria having a stand.

This was not surprising as we are predominantly an ICT consuming continent. We had very little to exhibit. We probably could have gone for shopping but even in this, African is poor performer.

This poor performance of Africa was graphically driven home by the presentation by Dr. Benat BilbaoOsorio of the Centre for Global Competitiveness and Performance of the World Economic Forum. Giving the highlights of the 2014 Global State of ICT Readiness, he disclosed that the best performance African country, South Africa is ranked number 70 with the bottom 20 largely consisting of African countries. Nigeria is at number 112, one step ahead of last at 113th. The Networked Readiness Index (NRI) is a comprehensive assessment of the present state of networked readiness in the world, aimed at holistically assessing the way that countries go about leveraging ICTs and benefiting from them in terms of enhanced competitiveness and well-being.

The four-in-one event actually picked off on 27th October with WISTA Board meetings which were concluded the following morning with WISTA General Assembly at which new leaders were elected.

Those elected included Mr. Santiago Gutierrez, CANIETI as Chairman WITSA Board, Mr. Roger Latchman, IT Association of South Africa as Deputy Chairman and Eng. Tarek A. Monem Taha; Egyptian Information Technology, Electronics and Software Alliance (EITESAL) as Treasurer. Also elected regional vice chairman that included our own Engr Florence Seriki MFR;

Information Technology Industry Association of Nigeria (ITAN) as Vice Chair for Africa, Mr. Nizar Zakka; Professional Computer Association of Lebanon (PCA) (Middle East and North Africa), Mr. Yannis Sirros; Federation of Hellenic Information Technology & Communications Enterprises (SEPE) (Europe (EU & EEA)), Mr. Takashi Igarashi; Japan Information Technology Services Industry Association (JISA) for Asia Pacific, Dr. Silvia Bidart; Cámara de Empresas de Software y Servicios Informáticos (CESSI) for Latin America and Dr. Boris Komrakov; The Scientific and Technological Association of Belarus (Infopark) for Europe (Non EU) Of key importance was the presentation on Post 2015 Development Agenda and the Role of ICT. This was done by Mukhisa Kituyi, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD). ICTs were critical to the achievement of many of the MDG goals. In particular, ICTs were to play great role in the actualization of the targets under education, reduction of poverty, supporting environmental sustainability and enhancing gender equity and justice. Its application in the healthcare sector such as in the form of tele-medicine, e-health initiatives, and would have great impact and would thus support the achievements of the health related targets of the MDGs. The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) between 2003 to 2005, convened by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) on behalf of the United Nations recognized this and set up targets that were to aid the achievement of the MDGs. Now that we are talking about a post 2015 development, it was necessary to see how ICT could be factored in the realization of that agenda, no matter what shape it may take.

The rest of the second day was devoted to a series of technical workshops. These included spaces for open innovation, computer club housing: inspiring youth through

technology, health informatics, technology entrepreneurship, human factors in engineering, cloud computing and closing the skills gap among many others.

The conference proper commenced on Monday, 29th October with a series of statements and a major presentation by Dr. Benat Bilbao-Osorio of the Centre for Global Competitiveness and Performance of the World Economic Forum. The second session entitled Digital Agenda featured three national digital agendas, namely that of host country, Mexico, Taiwan and Nigeria. Both Mexico and Taiwan could be said to have more or less consolidation agenda in the sense that they already have made significant progress. Taiwan raking in the network readiness is 14th, among the top 20s while Mexico is at 79, below South Africa.

Mexico performed badly in the digital content (English bias?) and surprisingly in skills). In a way therefore, if there was an agenda to listen to, it was Nigeria. Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Mobolaji Johnson made a good presentation, outlining the four pillars of the country’s digital agenda which are accelerating broadband access, local content, e-governance and digital inclusion.

Listening to her one comes up with the impression of a robust agenda.

Trouble is the implementation. Nigeria has always extremely good plans non paper and poor implementation in reality.

The official opening ceremony which followed the second session was addressed by the Governor of the State of Jalisco. Following the opening sessions, the rest of the day was spent in various thematic sessions including. In all there were 107 speakers participating in 14 panels, 10 keynotes, 14 workshops and 11 special events. The day closed with a welcome dinner. The second day of the conference proper which was Tuesday, 30th September, was also a spent on thematic sessions with delegate of course taking of time to go around the exhibition.

Y. Z. Ya’u via yzy@citad. org

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 16

2015: Senator Maccido picks PDP nomination form From Raji Bello, Sokoto

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R-L: Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, discussing with National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, before APC National Executive Committee meeting, recently in Abuja.

2015: Buhari floors Jonathan in online poll started by presidential aide

By Ali Abare Abubakar

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n a rather dramatic twist of event, an online poll started by a presidential aide, Reno Omokri evidently to test the popularity of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 general election, backfired with Gen Muhammadu Buhari of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) leading the incumbent with a large margin.

However, disturbed by the trend, aides of the president allegedly manipulated the voting process, breaching the gap between Jonathan and Buhari

to just a moment when the president was slightly ahead of the opposition candidate before terminating the poll.

As at 3.20pm on Sunday, three days after the poll commenced, Buhari remained ahead of President Jonathan.

The poll asked Nigerians to vote: “If the Nigerian Presidential election were held today, who would you vote for between President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari?”

Checks by Peoples Daily revealed that on the Build Up Nigeria blog where the “Build Up Nigeria Poll: 2015 Presidential

Elections” has been running since October 16, a total of 22,511 votes had been cast by Nigerians with Buhari garnering 11,153 votes which represents 49.54%.

President Goodluck Jonathan however still trailed with 10,814 representing 48.04% of the votes.

A total of 544 votes were ranked among the undecided which represents 2.42%.

Reports on Saturday showed that Buhari was ahead by over 60 percent. But Jonathan’s supporters appear to have joined the voting race to narrow the gap Sunday before the poll was stopped.

he Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammad Maccido has expressed optimism that the party will win all the elections in 2015 and at all levels.

Maccido, who is currently representing Sokoto central Senatorial zone in the National Assembly disclosed this in Sokoto shortly after obtaining the nomination form for his reelection bid at the cost of N4.5 million.

He said the party’s structure and its electoral strength are grounded not only in the state but across the federation.

His words, “The party will also take over Sokoto State in 2015. God will make this possible. I am appealing to the people of the state and Nigeria in general to continue to repose tremendous confidence in the PDP. “PDP is the party to beat in Nigeria and it will continue to be formidable as well as wax stronger,” Maccido added.

“The PDP has worked for Nigeria and it will continue to work and the party has come to stay. The party has delivered dividends of democracy to Nigerians and it will continue to do so,’’ Maccido, assured.

The Senator also said that PDP would continue to give top priority to women and youth’s empowerment, as well as other vulnerable groups.

Kwara PDP women’s wing seeks unity, more positions From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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omen wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kwara State chapter at the weekend appealed to the aspirants in the party to work for the unity and allot more political positions to the women.

The party women, who assembled in Ilorin under the banner of Kwara Central Senatorial district, noted that only President Goodluck Jonathan administration fulfilled promises to women by appointing many of them in his cabinet.

Speaking at the event, wife of a PDP gubernatorial candidate, Hajia Kafayat Sulyman Ajadi charged

women in the state to vote enmass for the candidate that has agenda for women and children in the state.

Ajadi who said 2015 election in the state must be different, said women must not scatter their votes stressing that they should elect leaders that they can trust.

Earlier, the women leader, Alhaja Kuburat Abdullateef in her remark, said the purpose of the forum was to unite women and ensure that they get more political positions for their colleague in the forthcoming election in the state.

She said if women contest for House of Representatives, Senate and House of Assembly as well as governor, the lives of children and the entire women would change.

Impeachment threat meant to coax Al-makura to PDP – APC chieftain From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

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chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Abia state, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said that the recent impeachment saga initiated against the Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Almakura by the state House of Assembly was meant to woo

the governor into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He averred that if the governor had defected to PDP, no mention of impeachment would ever have been heard in the House of Assembly, describing the governor as a man of principles.

The APC chieftain made the assertion yesterday in Keffi, headquarters of Keffi local government area of the state,

while speaking at a rally organized by supporters of the APC in the western senatorial zone of the state in support of Al-makura’s second term bid.

“Governor Al-makura has shown that he loves his people.

He considers their interest first in whatever he does. He deserves to be re-elected” Onu stated.

He alleged that certain persons were still working towards

initiating fresh impeachment proceedings against the governor which he said would again fail.

Onu who described Governor Al-makura as a true servant of the people pointed out that his (Al-makura) administration has recorded huge successes in the areas of schools, hospitals, roads among others, adding that a second mandate for the governor in 2015 would be a reward for

hard work.

Earlier, state chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Philip Shekwo who commended the organizers of the rally said the support being accorded the APC in the state was due to the exemplary leadership qualities exhibited by the governor but however pointed out that the governorship race was open to all interested individuals.

You are on your own- Adamawa ALGON tells LG chairman who defects to APC From Umar Dankano, Yola

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damawa chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has said that the chairman of Gombi Local Government, Alhaji Umar Rufai who decamped to APC over the weekend is on his

own.

Speaking to newsmen on the development, the state chairman of ALGON who is also the chairman of Fufore Local Government Council, Alhaji Sahabo Aliyu, also said that the claim by Rufai that some local government chairmen would soon join him was not true.

Aliyu said Rufai’s decision was personal and not the position of the local government chairmen in the state.

“Rufai is on his own; I want to assure the people of Adamawa that all the remaining 20 Local government chairmen in the state are still in PDP and have no plan to move to any

political party.

“We are all elected under PDP and our loyalty is for PDP and his Excellency, Gov Bala Ngilari who is our new leader in the state”, Aliyu said.

Aliyu urged the people of Adamawa to continue to support the state PDP led government of Ngilari which he

said was committed to ensuring justice and fairness to all.

It will be recalled that the chairmen who were elected under PDP in 2011 defected with former Gov Murtala Nyako to APC and later return to PDP when Nyako was impeached and Ahmadu Fintiri took over as Acting Government.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 17

Politics

2015: Buhari’s crowd, APC’s gain, PDP’s woes Analysis

By Ali Abare Abubakar

T

o even the most vitriolic critic of former Head of state and national leader of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen Muhammadu Buhari, the crowd that gathered penultimate Wednesday at the Eagle Square in Abuja to witness his declaration to gun for the ticket of the APC to enable him challenge incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election, was indeed a source of worry and apprehension to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The crowd, pulsating, tumultuous and enthusiastic flooded into Abuja from across every part of the country, locking down the capital city as all headed for the Eagle Square, a move that many agreed might have ruffled not a few feathers among the echelon of the ruling party.

For many, the crowd that came to witness Buhari make known his intention to contest for the presidency for the fourth time, was unprecedented in the political history of the country, with his supporters thronging the venue in droves, conveyed in all manner of vehicles from every part of the country in a manner quite unlike the hired crowd usually associated with similar events.

Similarly, to even the most acerbic critic of President Goodluck Jonathan, it is unlikely that any person could rule Nigeria for almost six years without contributing in some way to the development of the country. It could be possible that Jonathan’s best may not have been enough for the country but certainly the president has done his bit to further the cause of nation building.

They came on their own, Buhari’s supporters, with nearly all perceiving their hero as the messiah the country so much needed to put things back on track, with one supporter from Jigawa State lamenting that “Babangida, Dangote, T. Y Danjuma and their likes are the only people standing in the way of Buhari, they don’t want him to rule because they are scared of what he could do to them.

Let them allow him this time so that we can see how far he can go.”

For this supporter and many others, Babangida represented the establishment, the elites in power who would do everything possible to keep the status quo, not minding the wish of the ordinary people who all along desired change, perceived that change in the carriage and mien of Buhari but are at the same time apprehensive whether their yearnings could still be dashed like previously on the altar of greed and self centeredness.

They swarmed to the Eagle Square that Wednesday, like moths drawn to light, instantly setting up economic activities at the venue as businessmen cashed on the popularity of Buhari to produce souvenirs depicting a smiling Buhari, with supporters using personal funds to buy a calendar, a ring, a wristband, etc to take back home. Quite unlike the effort of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) to sell the candidature of President Jonathan by distributing free souvenirs to unwilling supporters along Nyanya-Mararaba axis a few days back.

A supporter seated in the midst of a contingent from Zamfara bought over a hundred Buhari calendars, asking the vendor to distribute same to those seated and a look of satisfaction creased his face as he rejoiced in no small measure in helping in his own way in forwarding the cause of his principal.

“Go and bring more!” he instructed the vendor who removed his GSM handset to place more orders having run out of supply.

Rising corruption in the country, with Nigeria sliding further down in the corruption perception index, with the country ranked 144th out of 177 nations, as released by the German-based Transparency International in its December 2013 reports, coupled with insecurity across the country particularly the northern part of the country where activities of the Boko Haram have continued to ravage communities, resulting in the death of several people, the destruction of economic lives of residents, leading to scores fleeing the affected areas to seek refuge, combined to portray the PDP leadership as not only ineffectual but is perceived to be the most insensitive administrations in recent times.

Gen. Mahummadu Buhari The Oduahgate, the Malibu oil scandal where $1.1 bn was allegedly shared among cronies of the president, the missing $20 bn as alleged by former CBN governor now Emir of Kano, Sunusi Lamido Sunusi and the arms for cash deals which recently saw South Africa seizing almost $15m from the Nigerian government, the raising impunity and open disregard for the rule of law, with PDP supporters allegedly beating up a judge while the court was in session in Ekiti State, remained indelible pointers to how low governance has reached, in effect dwarfing any modicum of achievements recorded by the ruling party under President Jonathan.

With the country again ranked third among world’s ten countries with extreme poor citizens, as released by the World Bank in its 2014 report, where it stated that 70 percent of Nigeria’s 170 million population live in extreme poverty, living on $1.25 (N200) or even less per day, furthermore dealing a blow to the government’s much hyped rebasing of the country’s economy, it is no wonder that the ordinary people feeling emasculated under the present arrangement, desperately yearn for a change in the status quo.

Also, Nigeria was rated one of the worst governed countries

in Africa based on the 2014 Mo Ibrahim index of African Governance, with the country rated 45.8 percent lower than the African average of 51.5 percent and ranked 37th out of 52 in the overall governance scale. The report maintained that governance and service delivery was at its lowest ebb in the history of the country.

From available record, no other political party is better poised to reap bountifully from the raising discontent and near disillusionment among the citizenry with the ruling party than the APC, which birth was not only phenomenal but unprecedented in the political history of the country, like the crowd during the Buhari declaration.

For the first time, rival political parties willingly gave up their identities to fuse into a formidable opposition to challenge the so-called largest party in Africa, with the APC presently controlling 14 out of the 36 states in the country, with strong representations at both chambers of the national assembly.

With Buhari’s crowd and several other factors going in the way of the party ahead of the 2015 general election, it is however still not yet uhuru for the APC if the party is not able to cash on Buhari’s mass followership and to turn such into a winning streak.

Unlike previous times when Buhari emerged the presidential candidate of the APP, ANPP and CPC, when consensus was the norm and he remained unchallenged, the APC presently have about four major aspirants who may not necessarily agree to a consensus arrangement and may seek for the presidential primaries to hold.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, a political heavy weight, who many believed has the zeal and determination to upset the status quo and to chase the ruling PDP away from the mantle of power, reports indicated, told his supporters that party primaries is the best form of consensus.

On his part, Gen Buhari while addressing youths from across the country under the auspices of the Buhari Network Centres, informed that he was willing to work with any of the aspirants that may emerge victorious during the party’s national convention, urging his supporters to transfer their loyalty to the party which he said was the platform.

However, the crowd that turned up that last Wednesday at the Eagle Square and several others from across the country that were not able to come to the venue, have eyes and ears only for Buhari, a man they staunchly believed could rescue the people and the country from the obvious decline and restore hope back.

Their loyalty and veneration for their principal was unquestionable and unmatched, with many fearing that denying Buhari the APC presidential ticket could as well spell doom for the party but with him as presidential candidate, many are of the view that half the battle has already being won.

A supporter among many others, calling back home to update a relation that was not able to make the journey, put his phone on speaker as soon as Buhari began his address, eyes glazed from veneration.

“Can you hear him speak?

Sai Mai Gaskiya!” the supporter hollered.

When he last contested against President Jonathan in 2011, under the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a party that came into existence barely six months before the election, Buhari garnered over 12m votes.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 18

Politics

Bauchi PDP chieftain dispels media report that FCT Minister has shelved guber ambition From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Bauchi State has dispelled media reports suggesting that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has shelved his gubernatorial ambition, just has he declared that the minister is still very much in the race.

Speaking with journalists in Bauchi yesterday , Alhaji Danjuma Barde, stated that there was never any time that Senator Mohammed announced his withdrawal from the governorship race.

Barde, a one-time deputy

chairman, Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state, said that because the FCT Minister was not among the seven ministers that quitted the President Goodluck Jonathan administration last week did not mean he was no longer interested in replacing incumbent Governor Isa Yuguda at the Government House, Bauchi, as the next governor of the state.

He stated that Senator Mohammed had wanted to quit but was prevailed upon by President Jonathan to hold on for now with a view to enabling him (the President) to sort out some issues concerning the Bauchi State governorship race.

“I can tell you authoritatively

that there was no time Senator Bala Muhammed withdrew from vying for the Bauchi State PDP ticket to contest for next year’s governorship election on the ticket of the party,” Barde said.

“What happened was that he was prevailed upon by the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan to hold on a little to enable him resolve some issues bordering on the Bauchi State governorship contest.”

Barde declared that the fact that the minister did not resign by October 20 deadline by the party did not mean that he could not eventually leave the FEC, saying that the 2010 Electoral Act (as

amended) stipulated that any aspirant ought to resign three months before the election.

He added that as of today, the FCT Minister was the best of the candidates jostling to fly the PDP’s flag in the 2015 governorship election in view of his antecedents and the successes he recorded in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which he was poised to replicate in Bauchi in order to take the state to greater heights.

He, therefore, advised the ruling party to give its governorship ticket to Senator Mohammed with a view to avoiding the disastrous outing of the party in the 2007 election when it woefully lost to the now defunct

All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP).

“Of all the aspirants interested in getting the PDP ticket, Senator Bala Mohammed is the best of them all. Sentiment apart, he is the only one capable of delivering Bauchi State for the party.

“PDP should not make the mistake of not fielding the minister as its standard-bearer in next year’s governorship election to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2007 when the opposition ANPP defeated the ruling PDP in the state all round,” he said.

Governorship forum condemns trimming down of aspirants In Benue From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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R-L: PDP National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, Chairman, FCT Indigene and Goe-political Leaders Forum, Ambassador Ayuba Ngbako, and representative of Senator Philips Aduda, Barrister Musa Salihu, during the FCT Indigenes and Geo-political Leaders Forum visit to Chief Clark, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PDP has infested Nigerians with politics of money, says Gen Buhari From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, has said that the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has infested Nigerians with politics of Naira and Dollars which has destroyed the country to the marrow.

He stated this in his address to the Northern Stakeholders Interactive meeting of the All Progressive Changes (APC), held in Kaduna over the weekend.

According to General Buhari, it is a wrong assumption by Nigerians that the main problem of the country is that of ethnic and religious politics, saying that Nigerians will throw away ethnic and religious belief for the politics that they have been suggested to and that is Naira Dollars.

“The ruling party has systematically impoverished Nigerians to the level that many of them believe that it is only Naira that can save them. They don’t see succor coming from their fellow ethnic brother or people who share the same fate with them. All they now know is that money is the solution to their problem and that is why some of them worship people who looted the treasury openly.

“I give an example of myself. I have vied for the presidency three times and failed at the all the three attempts and I end up at the Supreme Court. Let me give you example of my case in 2007, seven judges were to deliver the judgment, three delivered judgment in my favor and the three of them are from southwest, south-south and

south-east.

“The other four judges who delivered judgment against me are all from the north and not only that they are Fulani and Muslims like me. It was later that some of them came back to me to confess that they could not resist the power of Dollars that was given to them. So are you going to say that they are against me because of ethnic or religion? No! They did what they did because of their pocket and personal greed.

“So I have been telling every Nigerian that it is not the problem of that you are from the North, East or West, but that of greed and selfishness implanted upon Nigerians by the leaders that has made them to lose their sense of reason, and if PDP remains in power for another four Nigeria will fail as a

state” Buhari said.

In his own remarks, the Deputy National Chairman, APC North, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, said the meeting was conveyed in order to share experience of leaders of the party from the region, adding that the esteemed leaders of the party from the region played a great role as guardians and conscience of the APC. “We are very conscious and encouraged by our age old northern values and tradition of seeking the opinion of and drawing from the experiences of leaders and elders whenever matters get to a head. We are therefore by this meeting getting ourselves prepared on how to face the forthcoming responsibilities and discharge them to the admiration of the whole country,” he said.

ollowing last week’s trimming down of governorship aspirants from the MINDA axis of Benue State by the PDP Elders Forum, the MINDA PDP Governorship Aspirant Forum has out rightly rejected the exercise, describing it as invalid or binding on them.

It would be noted that the PDP Elders Forum at the weekend in Makurdi met and trimmed down the number of governorship aspirants from the MINDA axis from 21 to only four.

Amongst the aspirants selected include; the immediate past minister of State, Trade and Investment Hon. Samuel Ortom from Guma local government area, Hon. Terhemen Tarzoor former Speaker of Benue State house of Assembly from Makurdi LGA, Engr. Felix Atume, former Registrar of Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria, COREN from Gwer west LGA and former commissioner for Justice, Barrister Alex Adum from Gwer LGA. Condemning the exercise, the chairman, MINDA PDP Governorship Aspirant Forum, Prof.

David Ker and ten other aspirants maintained that the exercise is a huge failure on the grounds that the position and action of the elders could not be premised on any foundation of credibility and transparency.

Ker insisted that the criteria adopted by the Elders Forum in selecting their preferred aspirants remained unknown and shrouded in mystery and therefore unacceptable to them.

The aspirants called on their supporters to remain focused and committed more than ever before in their campaigns in the hope that merit and transparency would be the yardstick for the emergence of one of them as governor in 2015.

They also pledged their loyalty to the leadership and authority of the PDP in the state and promised to work for the success of the party at the 2015 general elections.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 19

business@peoplesdailyng. com 08142929046

EFCC investigates Chinese coy over alleged N30m fraud

By Aminu Imam

A

Chinese company, Sanju Sunny Nigeria Limited, also known as China Railway No3 Engineering Nigeria Limited is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), for its

involvement in an alleged N30, 460, 000 fraud, a source within the commission has told our reporter Documents obtained by our reporter showed that Sanju Nigeria Limited had claimed it used the money to bribe some Nigerian government officials

in order to facilitate several contracts.

Sanju Ltd claimed it had offered bribe to several states’ officials, which includes state governors, state finance ministers, bank managers, officials of EFCC, and an assistant to Nigeria’s First Lady. In one of its claims,

Sanju had claimed it offered the Kaduna state Ministry of Finance $20,000 to facilitate approval for the construction of Kaduna housing projects. It also claimed it gave officials of African development bank in Ghana the sum of $2000 to facilitate work at Mina road

project.

Sanju also claimed it gave cash gifts to officials of Gombe ministries of finance and works in 2011. The amounts, which ran up thousands of dollars, was to facilitate the quick approval of a dam project in the state. Some of the payments went as far back as 2010.

Our reporter gathered that a group of Chinese nationals had secretly petitioned the EFCC to draw the attention of the Nigerian government.

The petitioner said all they want is for the Nigerian public as well as government to be wary of dealing with the company.

“These are they kind of people who give our country bad image. We want the Nigerian government to take note of their nefarious activities and ensure that nobody does business with them,” he said.

When contacted, the EFCC spokesman neither denied nor confirmed the report, but stated that the commission will make public any case it was prosecuting.

L-R: MD/CEO Broadbased Communications Ltd, Prince Henry Ise-Okojie, DGM GT Bank, Mr. Isa Omagu, Chris Erewele, Executive Director, Broadbased Communications Ltd, Chief Marketing Officer, Broadbased Communications Ltd, Mr. Chidi Ibisi, during the launch of the Horizontal Directional Drilling, recently in Lagos.

Gas shortages, vandalism, bane of electricity generation-Minister

By Miriam Humbe

T

he Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has attributed the inability of government to sufficiently deliver on reform efforts in the power sector to the shortfall in supply of gas and incessant attacks on the infrastructure that supply these power plants by vandals.

Prof Nebo said this yesterday in a speech presentation titled: Nigeria’s Power Sector

Transformation Story – Lessons from Emerging Market Economies at the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE Presidential Expert Group Meeting on Developing an Infrastructural Scorecard Roadmap for Nigeria in Abuja.

“Due to the current shortfalls in the supply of gas, many power plants built to provide power to Nigerians are only able to utilize a fraction of their installed capacity. Of

the original six power plants that were privatized, not one is functioning at up to seventy percent of installed capacity.

“To make matters worse, many of the gas infrastructure that supply these power plants have come under attack by vandals with various agendas.

Oil thieves are breaking up gas pipelines in hopes of finding oil to steal. Political enemies are hoping to reduce power supply in one area or the other in an effort to

People should write How ATM boosted my report point of sale services card- Dagogo in Nigeria -Jack >>Pg 20

>>Pg 21

sabotage opponents”, he said.

He however said government, through the Minister of Petroleum Resources is locating gas power plants closer to gas sources in marginal fields and our inland basins to reduce the risks and costs of gas transportation over long pipelines as well as assessing options for domestic use of Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG as fuel for power plants located at far distances from gas sources or supply lines.

CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele

CBN Exchange Rates as at 20th OCTOBER, 2014

$ € £ Riyal YEN CFA

Buying

154.7 256.94 212.44 41.25 1.49 0.30

Selling

155.74 258.60 213.81 41.52 1.50 0.32

Employment: SMEDAN 2,500 entrepreneurs’ training to cost N370m >>Pg 22

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 20

Energy

People should write my report card- Dagogo-Jack The former Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP), Engr. Beks Dagogo-Jack in this interview with Energy Correspondents explained the rationale behind his exit as PTFP Chair. Etuka Sunday chronicles his reactions. Excerpts:

W

hat is the reason for this media briefing sir?

I am resigning my position as the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power, effective October 19, 2014. I did so after wide consultations with my principals and with those I have relationship with. This was done in good faith because I shall be presenting myself as one of the aspirants for the office of governor of Rivers State on the platform of the PDP for the 2015 elections.

So it is only proper and by the constitution of our party that nobody seeking such office should be in government employment later than 20th of October. I am making this public through the media today but in fact I have done it officially.

In the interim and based on the succession plan that we have here, Engr. Clement Oke, who currently is the Senior Performance Monitor for the Fuel to Power Team shall be the acting chairman of the PTFP. Is it not dangerous delving into

politics considering the fact that you either win or loss?

There is no mission which will improve society that is not risky.

No challenge designed to take people from level one to two that is risk-free. So I do not plan to worry about the risks. I commit to the mission and will deal with the risks as they come.

What is the legacy you left as chairman?

You are asking me to write my report card but it is always better for other people to write it. But what I will say is that we did not allow the electricity reform to go the wrong way. We insisted that it stays on course and we remained focus. We didn’t get dissuaded and didn’t allow people to change the minds of the leadership so far as the reform is concerned. We supported the system and very soon the power situation in Nigeria will be what we want it to be.

Did you just change your mind to run for an elective office or have you been

Engr. Beks Dagogo-Jack nursing this for a while?

You seek some clarification somewhere from your question. By the way I was brought, people get called to serve. So if they call you to serve and the station they call you to serve is of a political nature, they believe that you have what it takes to do that work. I am really different from people who seek office so that their status will

change so that they can do things the way they want. But I am not one of them. If I’m called, I will respond and when I respond I will put my best on the table.

If I don’t have the capacity for the position you called me for then you are making a mistake.

So when I was coming into this, there was a wealth of expression of interest and desire at different levels saying you can do this. We see an opportunity by putting you forward there to give us a different level of service. I responded, but not immediately because there were lots of consultations.

I agreed that if you all believe that I can provide this level of service, I will give it a shot but it is politics. So I must go through the political process and compete with other people and beat them.

It has been in the news that some government functionaries are interested in governing Rivers State and that state has been characterized with a lot of political brouhaha. Do you see the

political landscape in the state as pliable for you as a person?

I appreciate where you are coming from but I also sympathize with the circumstances that brought us to that location where we are today. The truth of the matter is that the people we are striving to serve when you win an election are not animals.

The place that we want to rule is not a jungle. So why are the people trying to rule behaving like they are in the jungle?

For if the people you want to rule are not animals and the area you want to govern is not a jungle, why are you behaving like an animal?

It is difficult for me to understand because it is human beings that you are trying to rule and the places you want to govern are societies full of different classes of people and different tribes. So why do we treat the area as a jungle and treat the people we are trying to serve as animals.

Power: ‘Why FG signed MoU with 3D Hitech’

By Etuka Sunday

T

he federal government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 3D Hitech System Ltd., and two other companies for additional 500 megawatts of electricity.

Speaking on the deal, the Chief Executive Officer, 3D Hitech System Ltd, Mr. Patrick Azi stated that the ground breaking ceremony for the 500MW gas fired turbine to be cited in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, will soon be held and gave assurance of its installation within 6 – 9 months.

The agreement was signed with 3D Hitech System Ltd, SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Corporation and CGC Nigeria Ltd, with a view to ensuring a boost in the generation and distribution of power supply in the country.

Also speaking, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo at the ceremony urged the companies to deliver on their promise so as to beef up the level of power supply.

According to him, “Nigerians are hungry for power and would still demand for more, even if the output of these MoU were doubled, tripled or quadrupled”.

Nebo commended the 3D Hitech system Ltd because of the capacity it has demonstrated in the test running of the 110MW of power it is currently working on,

R-L: Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), 3D Hitech System Ltd., Mr Patrick Azi signing 500 megawatts electricity agreement, recently in Abuja. which will soon be commissioned, adding that the 500MW gas fired turbine to be cited in Ajaokuta would also go a long way in enriching the national grid.

The Minister, who stated that transmission was fast becoming a major bottleneck in the distribution of electricity, commended both the CGC Nig Ltd and SEPCOIII for their interest

in financing and provision of transmission infrastructure, describing it as a move in the right direction.

According to him, the money being injected into the area by private institutions will no doubt, go a long way to inject more life into the transmission network. He further assured them of necessary moral support and government

backing in the realization of its mandate.

Also responding, the Managing Director, CGC Nig. Ltd, Li Xuhui, who stated that the company’s MoU was signed for the financing and execution of transmission projects, assured that it will work assiduously to ensure the funding is made available for the strengthening of the transmission

network.

In the same vein, the Executive President, SEPCOIII, Zhang Hongsong, assured that the company will ensure that the supply, refurbishing and replacement of transmission materials are given top priority so that the goal of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda is fully realized.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 21

ICT

How ATM boosted point of sale services in Nigeria

By Chris Alu

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here are mixed feelings about the re-introduction of the inter-bank ATM charge. However, to properly evaluate the impact of the policy reversal, it is important to understand the origin and ideas behind ATM charges.

Historically, ATMs where introduced into banking to reduce operating cost, stemming from the idea that computers theoretically should be cheaper to operate and more available than human tellers at a bank branches.

At inception of ATMs over 33 years ago, the banks predominantly covered the cost i.e. the interchange fee, which included a switch fee as well as an annual operating fee to be part of a network.

Later, Banks introduced a surcharge fees to customers using other networks, similar to our Remote-On-Us charges.

In Nigeria, the banking industry has invested significantly in ATMs since their introduction over a decade ago.

There are over 11.39 ATMs for every hundred thousand Nigerians. To maintain a 24/7 operations ATMs, banks incur a cost, which is more significant in Nigeria when you consider the cost drivers for operating ATMs: Power, Network connectivity and technical/operational human capital support costs.

The Bankers Committee in 2012 had certain objectives, which I believe has been achieved. Back then the goal was about eliminating the fees to promote cashless adoption by changing consumer behavior.

Now in 2014, the Bankers Committee has a different objective: preserve the viability of ATM network in Nigeria by making sure that the banks can cover the operating expenses related to their ATM networks.

The push back from stakeholders clearly indicates that the original intention to raise sufficient bank customers’ awareness and gain adoption on the cashless policy has been achieved. Now that POS terminals are now available and in used nationwide, Cardholders have options and alternatives to ATMs today which were not available in 2012. They can bypass the ATMs and engage POS terminals directly by electing to patronize merchants’ offering options beyond cash.

It’s interesting to note that other countries, such as the US with less infrastructure challenges, charge higher network surcharge fees, sometimes as much as $3.00 to their customers.

In summary, the policy will have an overall impact

L-R: Director, Consumer Protection Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Umma Dutse, CBN Head, Consumer Education Division, Hadiza Kashim, and CBN Head, Market Conduct Division, Consumer Protection Department, Muhammad Bima, addressing a news conference on consumer sensitisation and awareness campaign, yesterday in Bauchi, Photo: NAN

of improving ATM network sustainability in Nigeria through revenues now available for ATM upgrade and enhancements that will also offset ATM operating costs for banks.

For consumers, it will trigger the next behavioral change for cashless policy adoption and drive the economy faster towards achieving the objectives of the policy by causing them to look to merchants help to leapfrog the ATM and its fees by offering POS terminals at point of the sale.

The cashless policy in Nigeria has a primary aim or goal to achieve a cashless economy.

This is a vision statement.

At present, no nation in the world can claim to have 100% consumer cashless transactions.

In Nigeria, policy makers have continued to do what is necessary.

Engage industry participants and stakeholders from all sectors, solicit input on proposed policies, effect such policies and measure for impact and implications on the economy over a season before further adjustments.

This is exactly what happened with the introduction and enhancement of various policies over the last two years, such as the Lagos Cashless Pilot, the adoption across six other states and now the entire nation for POS terminals at Merchants; likewise the ATM Fees withdrawal and reintroduction of ATM Remote-On-Us fees at any financial institutions across the nation.

Other policy adjustments are the various reviews in the deposit and withdrawal fees for cash transactions at banks.

Macroeconomic monetary policy adjustments are not a dash but a marathon. The primary objective now is making the informal sector formal and getting the unbanked banked.

After the rebase of our GDP, the informal sector accounts for about 57% of our GDP. This sector is perhaps also the highest employer of labor in the economy.

This is why the cash transactions are still high in the economy. To address it, continual policy adjustments for improvements coupled with strong awareness campaigns targeted towards stakeholders in the informal sector is required.

The sector must be made aware of the benefit of becoming formal, without necessary emphasizing on eliminating cash.

There is a strong motivation for big merchants to adopt POS terminals. For one, the large volume amount of cash transactions that they engage in on a daily basis, even with the withdrawal of deposit fees for corporates still presents a high cost for merchants due to Cash-InTransit services cost that is no longer borne by banks that merchants now have to incur.

Others are avoiding robbery, theft and fraud which merchants are highly susceptible to when they maintain a vault like a bank.

For big merchants, these costs far outweigh 1.25% being charge for accepting card payment via the POS channel.

Smaller merchants in the formal sector are not structured to evaluate these types of costs and sometimes when they can, the business

cannot accommodate the T+1 settlement process associated with POS transactions; cash flow is a daily lifeline for majority of these small merchants.

As a service provider, we at Global Accelerex have observed that when a small business meets the evaluation criteria for a bank such as turnover volumes etc. and qualify for a POS terminal, they still do not use the POS terminals either because of the settlement process or the nature of their customer interaction.

In addition, because the majority of these small businesses deal with the customers and suppliers that live or function in the informal sector with cash preferences, cultivating e-payment habits is challenging.

The major challenge is getting small merchants to wait a day for settlement and part with the proceeds from revenue to move funds electronically.

It is a tough sale to any small business.

There have been recommendations by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to review some of its rules to ensure consumer quality experience in the industry.

Such improvements will have a direct impact on POS Terminal connectivity since the majority of these terminals depend on Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to back haul connection to the switch and payment network.

The quality of the POS terminal hardware and software solution also plays a major role in service level experienced.

Rigorous testing and

certifications is required to ensure that terminal solutions achieve the service level that guarantees business operations’ uptime to merchant and consumers.

For example, Global Accelerex is a CBN fully licensed Payment Terminal Service Provider and as such we provide services on the acquiring side of the payment system to banks and merchants.

From a product perspective, the offer standard and customized POS terminal solution (hardware and software) to banks and merchants that are uniquely tailored to their business requirements.

There solutions have a rich set of application programming interface that enables seamless integration with merchants’ core business systems e.g.

ERP Systems, CRM Systems, Business Operations Support Systems etc. so that they have visibility of their Order to Cash or Service to Payment business processes.

It is also recognize that some merchants do not have the IT Operations for such large scale back office system and offer the ability for medium to small scale merchants to connect to our VAS Platform and enjoy similar benefits that large merchants can afford.

The also do this on a pay as you go basis for such merchants.

Merchants that subscribe to such services are equipped with Real Time Analysis of their business transactions at a fractional cost.

This is what most small to medium merchants are appealing for easy reconciliation of daily transactions.

As well as provide custom solutions for Agency Banking and IGR Collections. Depending on bank or merchant’s use case, our solutions can also be tailored to integrate our PoS Systems to the merchants’ system on premises or on the cloud.

From a services side, they have Service Level Agreements with merchant acquiring banks to provide terminal agnostic PTSP services to merchants they have acquired.

Our merchant support officers are spreading across the nation armed with tools and technology to help achieve one objective – terminal up time for merchants’ business operations.

They are complemented with tools and technology from our headquarters to help with work order from banks, manage deployments, triage support issues, document resolution and put terminals promptly into service for use.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 22

Business

Employment: SMEDAN’s 2,500 entrepreneurs’ training to cost N370m From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

I

n order to cushion the effects of unemployment in Nigeria, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) yesterday

said it has completed plans to train about 2,500 prospective entrepreneurs under its General Entrepreneurship Development Programme (GEDP)to the tune of N370 million.

Each of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory is to

get about ten million naira to run the programme, depending on the type of training to be provided.

Director General of the Agency, Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, who made this known during the flag-off of the 2014

GEDP in Kaduna yesterday, informed newsmen that the training was to build, broad and deepen the capacity of the cooperatives, enhancing their entrepreneurial competences, while ensuring effective and functional linkages to vital

L-R: Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, Kaduna state Deputy Governor, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga, and Colonel Shehu Muhammed (rtd), during the official flag-off of SMEDAN 2014 general entrepreneurship programme, yesterday in Kaduna. Photo: Bashir Bello

Toyota recalls 247,000 vehicles in U.S. over Takata air bags T oyota Motor Corp (7203.T) recalled 247,000 cars, SUVs and pickup trucks in the United States on Monday because of potentially defective front passenger air bag inflators from Japan’s Takata Corp (7312.T) that can rupture and spray metal shrapnel, according to U.S. safety regulators.

That raised the number of vehicles affected by regional recalls launched in June by several automakers due to the Takata air bags to more than 4.5 million.

The regional recalls by Toyota and other automakers including Honda Motor (7267.T) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ (FCHA. MI) Chrysler Group began in certain high-humidity areas of the United States after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started investigating reports of air bag explosions in Florida and Puerto

Rico. Prompted by NHTSA, Takata and automakers have been trying to determine whether exposure to high humidity caused any defect in the inflators collected though the regional recalls.

“At this point, the issue appears to be a problem related to extended exposure to consistently high humidity,” NHTSA said in a statement on Monday.

“However, we are leaving no stone unturned in our aggressive pursuit to track down the full geographic scope of this issue.”

Toyota recovered replaced air bag inflators from areas of South Florida and Takata evaluated them starting in August, according to the NHTSA documents.

On Oct. 10, Takata informed Toyota that a number of the inflators performed “improperly” during testing. Five days later, after reviewing the data with NHTSA, Toyota decided on the

recall.

Over the last six years, Takata has recalled about 16 million vehicles globally for defective air bags, including the regional recalls.

The Toyota vehicles affected

by Monday’s recall are from model years 2002 through 2005, according to the NHTSA documents. They include the Lexus SC coupe, Toyota Corolla small car, Corolla Matrix small car, Sequoia SUV and Tundra full-size pickup. Also part of the recall is General Motors’ (GM.N) Pontiac Vibe, which was built by Toyota.

The vehicles being recalled are registered or originally sold in areas of South Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa, according to the NHTSA

documents.

A Toyota spokeswoman said the automaker was not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths related to the recall.

A U.S. spokesman for Takata could not be reached for immediate comment.

Dealers will replace the front passenger airbag inflator with a newly made replacement.

If a replacement is not available as a temporary measure the dealer will disable the air bag and advise the customer not to use the front passenger seat, according to the NHTSA documents.

Other automakers affected by the regional recalls include BMW (BMWG.DE), Ford Motor (F.N), Mazda Motor (7261.T), Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T), Nissan Motor (7201.T) and Fuji Heavy Industries’ (7270.T) Subaru. (Reuters)

supports.

According to him, participants would be trained in various areas such as personal and business visioning, customer care, sales techniques, agriculture and agro-allied business among others.

“It is to be noted that this flag-off signifies the beginning of the GEDP in all states of the federation and is expected to ensure the empowerment of about 2,500prospective entrepreneurs to the tune N370million in the 36 states and the FCT. “The idea is to see that we impact basic entrepreneurship skill into the participants so that when they go back they will equally impact similar skill into other members of their cooperatives. We are starting in Kaduna with 15 corporate bodies drawn from the three senatorial constituencies with each of them represented by three members. So we are training 45 of them. “The overriding desire is to ensure generation of more employment opportunity for Nigerians and equally help to reduce the level of poverty. When people are trained in entrepreneurship and equipped with startup capital, linkages for financial institutions in Nigeria, they employ others, “he added.

In their separate remarks, two of the participants, Mrs. Mary Adamu from Press Cooperative Society and Chairman, Cooperative Union, Igabi and GadanGayan Commercial Farmers, Alhaji Abdullahi Hassan said whatever skill they acquired would be taken back to other members of their cooperative societies.

Flagging-off the 2-day training, Kaduna state Deputy Governor, Ambassador Nuhu Audu Bajoga called on participants to be attentive during the training so that they would have full confidence on how to improve their businesses with modern technology.

‘Euro Zone Monetary Policy must stay very accommodative’

E

uro zone monetary policy needs to remain very accommodative, ECB Vice President Vitor Constancio said on Monday, and called for the central bank to be given new powers to tackle unregulated part of the banking markets.

“We are in a situation of low inflation and low growth in the euro zone, monetary policy needs to be very accommodative,” said at an event at London think-tank Chatham House.

He adding that “new instruments” were needed to give more control outside the more traditional banking sector as it takes up its new role as a panEuropean supervisor. (Reuters)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Stock Watch

Report as at Monday, October 20, 2014

PAGE 23

Peoples Daily, Tuesday, OCTOber 21, 2014

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

Ebola outbreak: How Nigeria is beating the killer virus A

n i g h t m a r e sce n a rio of Eb ol a ra gin g u nchec ke d a m on g millio ns of slumdwellers in Af ric a ’s largest c it y h a s give n way to a ra re e xa m p le of a vic t ory ove r the virus . Am id t h e glo o m s u rrou n d in g the esc a l a t in g c ris is in We s t Af ric a , develo pm e n t s in La gos sho w how t h e righ t techni q u e s a t t h e righ t speed can b rin g a b ou t a welco me re s u lt .

With a p op u la t ion of mo re than 1 7 0 m illion , Nigeri a is Af ric a ’s mo st po pu lou s n a t ion and there w e re f e a rs that Eb o l a w ou l d t a ke ho ld whe n a Lib e ria n Americ an a rrive d w it h the di se a s e in J u ly .

Instead, a l on g w it h mu c h sm a lle r Se n e ga l , Nigeri a i s n ow on t h e b ri nk o f b e in g c l e a r of the vi ru s f or a 42 - da y peri o d at w h ic h p oin t the Wo rld He a lt h Organi za t ion ( W HO) c an decla re it Eb ola -

Nigeria, unlike other Ebola-stricken countries, is succeeding in wiping out the disease through rigorous monitoring, the BBC’s Science editor David Shukman reports. f re e .

Th e o ut c o m e c o ul d so easily have been far uglier, and the f a c t t ha t t h e n e w s is h a p p i e r i s d ue t o an astonishing story of m e d i c a l d e t e c t i v e w ork.

T e xt - bo o k c a s e Th e s t a r t i n g -p o i n t w a s t he a r r i v a l o f P a t ric k Sawyer at La gos a i r p o r t w h e r e h e c ol l a p s e d a n d w a s s u s p e c t e d o f s uffe r i n g f rom ma l a r i a .

Ta k e n t o a p r i v a t e c l in ic , tests were c a rrie d o ut a n d d ur i n g t h e w a i t fo r t h e r e s ul t s s e ve ra l s t a ff b e c a m e in f e c t e d .

By the time c on f irm a t i o n o f E b o l a came t h r o ug h , the in f e c t io n s h a d s p r e a d to 11 of the staff - four of

whom later died. This was the point where things c o ul d have gone catastrophically wrong.

A n o ffi c i a l r e s p o n s e d i d n o t g e t o ff t o a fa s t s t a r t b ut b y g o o d fo r t un e a t e a m o f experts working to tackle polio was in

p l a ce and r eady t o be r e d i r ect ed.

What fo llo wed was a t ext -bo o k cas e o f o n e o f t he guiding p r i nciples o f dis eas e c o n tr o l: ident ifying a n d t r acking do wn e v e r yo ne who m ight p o s s ibly hav e been i n co nt act wit h t he p a t i ent .

It began wit h t he m e dical s t aff and t h e ir families and t h e n ext ended t o t ake i n incr eas ingly lar ge n um ber s .

A n init ial co nt act

“

lis t o f 281 peo ple s o o n incr eas ed t o a s t agger ing 89 4 - each o f t hem v is it ed and checked r epeat edly fo r s igns o f infect io n.

2 6 , 000 h ome s B ut t he s leut hing did no t end t her e.

S pecialis t s t hen calculat ed ho w m any peo ple wer e liv ing wit hin a par t icular r adius o f t he 89 4 peo ple who wer e being m o nit o r ed.

This depended o n t he dens it y o f t he ho us ing in each par t icular

In an ideal world, the same approach of careful record-keeping and diligent footwork would now be applied to the battered countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone but that is not very likely

Nigeria was quick to check the temperature of new arrivals: fever is one of the first symptoms

Despite the best efforts of health workers, stopping Ebola across West Africa will be immensely difficult

????????

ar ea.

The r es ult was t hat o fficials and v o lunt eer s em bar ked o n r o unds o f v is it s t hat wo uld t ake t hem t o an ext r ao r dinar y 26 ,000 ho us eho lds . A key po licy t hr o ugho ut

t his ar duo us pr o ces s was t o inv o lv e t he co mm unit ies and t o enco ur age peo ple t o be as ho nes t as po s s ible abo ut t heir m o v em ent s and co nt act s . It o bv io us ly wo r ked.

School children in Nigeria wash their hands as they learn about Ebola prevention

In a l l , there ha ve been 19 conf i rmed ca ses of i nf ecti on i n Ni g eri a a nd ei g ht dea ths, i ncl u di ng Pa tri ck Sa wyer f i g u res tha t a re tra g i c f or the f a mi l i es i nvol ved bu t i nf i ni tel y sma l l er tha n they mi g ht ha ve been.

In a n i dea l worl d, the sa me a pproa ch of ca ref u l recordk eepi ng a nd di l i g ent f ootwork wou l d now be a ppl i ed to the ba ttered cou ntri es of Gu i nea , Li beri a a nd Si erra Leone - bu t tha t i s not very l i k el y.

Ni g eri a , thou g h

notori ou s f or i ts corru pti on a nd i nef f i ci ency, evi dentl y ha s a bu rea u cra cy tha t f u ncti ons ef f ecti vel y enou g h f or the stra teg y to cou nter Ebol a to su cceed - u nl i k e the three ha rdest- hi t cou ntri es w hi ch w ere su f f eri ng f rom extreme poverty a nd the a f terma th of conf l i ct even bef ore the vi ru s stru ck .

Burn in g em bers T here i s one more note of ca u ti on i n thi s ta l e: ma k i ng su re the storm ha s rea l l y pa ssed. T he di rector of the US Centers f or D i sea se Control a nd

Preventi on, D r T om Fri eden ha s w a rned tha t Ebol a i s l i k e f i g hti ng a f orest f i re - “l ea ve one bu rni ng ember, one ca se u ndetected, a nd the epi demi c cou l d rei g ni te.”

As an exa mpl e, he descri bed how a t one sta g e i t ha d been thou g ht tha t every ca se i n Ni g eri a ha d been i denti f i ed, when i t tu rned ou t tha t one ha d been mi ssed, resu l ti ng i n a new cl u ster of ca ses i n Port H a rcou rt. T ha t i nci dent ha s now pa ssed a nd the cou ntry rema i ns on cou rse to

compl ete the requ i red 4 2 da ys to be cl ea r.

Bu t w i th the WH O ju dg i ng tha t a s ma ny a s 15 Af ri ca n cou ntri es a re a t ri sk , these rema i n a nxi ou s ti mes.

And a new concern i s emerg i ng a mong speci a l i sts: tha t the sca l e of the ou tbrea k i s now so l a rg e a nd so sprea d over so ma ny a rea s, tha t f ol l ow i ng Ni g eri a ’ s exa mpl e of tra ck i ng dow n l i tera l l y every ca se ma y never be possi bl e, whi ch mea ns the di sea se ma y l i ng er, someti mes u nseen, someti mes not, f or deca des to come.

Patrick Sawyer, seen here with his daughter, became the first person to die of Ebola in Nigeria

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 26

Feature Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf urges world help on Ebola

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the whole world has a stake in the fight against Ebola. In a “letter to the world” broadcast on the BBC, she said the disease “respects no borders”, and that every country had to do all it could to help fight it.

P

resident Johnson Sirleaf added that a generation of Africans were at risk of “being lost to economic catastrophe”.

The Ebola outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people across West Africa, including 2,200 in Liberia.

International donations have so far fallen well short of the amounts requested by UN agencies and aid organizations.

In the worst-affected countries - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone about 9,000 people have been found to have the Ebola virus, which kills an estimated 70% of those infected.

Fragile states The letter, commissioned by the BBC and read out on the World Service’s Newshour programme, starts with the words “Dear World”.

She goes on to say that the fight against Ebola “requires a commitment from every nation that has the capacity to help - whether that is with emergency funds, medical supplies or clinical expertise”.

“We all have a stake in the battle against Ebola,” she says. “It is the duty of all of us, as global citizens, to send a message that we will not leave millions of West Africans to fend for themselves.”

She said it was not a coincidence that Ebola had taken hold in “three fragile states... all battling to overcome the effects of interconnected wars”.

Liberia, she noted, had about 3,000 qualified doctors at the start of the civil war in the late 1980s - and by its end in 2003 it had just three dozen.

“Ebola is not just a health crisis,” she added. “Across West Africa a

“

A woman suspected of having Ebola virus cries outside a hospital. generation of young people risk being lost to an economic catastrophe.”

Donation shortfall The latest crisis in West Africa is the worst-ever Ebola outbreak. The virus spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated

environments. Donors have given almost $400m (£250m) to UN agencies and aid organisations, short of the $988m requested.

Separately, the UN has also appealed for donations to a $1bn Ebola trust fund, intended to act as a flexible source of back-up money to contain the disease. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Friday

A sick family waits for treatment for Ebola on the roadside in the Liberian capital Monrovia

The latest crisis in West Africa is the worst-ever Ebola outbreak. The virus spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments. that the fund, which was launched in September, had received just $100,000 (£62,000) in donations so far.

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told the BBC he was “bitterly disappointed” with the international community’s response.

“If the crisis had hit some other region it probably would have been handled very differently,” he said in a BBC interview.

The Ebola virus has claimed more than 4,000 lives during the current epidemic in West Africa, the largest outbreak since the virus was discovered nearly 40 years ago.

However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 9,000 people have been infected during the outbreak. Ebola is a serious infectious illness which often proves fatal.mThe virus, which is thought to have originated in fruit bats, was first detected in 1976 in an outbreak near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

How is the disease caught and spread?

People are infected when they have direct contact through broken skin, or the mouth and nose, with the blood, vomit, faeces or bodily fluids of someone with Ebola. The virus can be present in urine and semen too.

Infection may also occur through direct contact with contaminated bedding, clothing and surfaces - but only through broken skin.

It is still unclear how long the virus exists on surfaces but there is some evidence to suggest it can last up to six days. Bleach and chlorine can kill Ebola.

The disease is not airborne, like flu. Very close direct contact with an infected person is required for the virus to be passed to another person.

It can take up anything from two to 21 days for humans with the virus to show symptoms.

People are not infectious until the symptoms develop. People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus - in some cases, up to seven weeks after they recover.

How not to catch Ebola: Avoid direct contact with sick patients as the virus is spread through contaminated body fluids Wear goggles to protect eyes Clothing and clinical waste should be incinerated and any medical equipment that needs to be kept should be decontaminated People who recover from Ebola should abstain from sex or use condoms for three months.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Defence

Page 27

ANALYSIS

Secret trial of mutineers: Will justice be done?

By Joy Baba - Yesufu

T

he Nigerian Army General Court Martial last week began another round of trial of 59 soldiers comprising of two corporals, nine lance corporals and 48 private soldiers belonging to the 111 Special Forces Battalion, Maiduguri, Borno State.

The officers and soldiers were alleged to have been involved in activities termed as mutinous in the military cycle.

They were arraigned on a two-count of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny.

The Army Court Martial had in September sentenced 12 soldiers to death after being found guilty of mutinous act in May this year in the course of the current fight against insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country.

Report has it that the 12 soldiers, who were tried by a General Military Court Martial and sentenced to death for mutiny, have filed an appeal against their death sentence asking the Court of Appeal, Abuja, to upturn the verdict of the military tribunal.

The General Court Martial led by Brig. Gen Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, found the 12 soldiers guilty of mutiny, criminal conspiracy to commit murder by shooting at the vehicle of the then General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Maj Gen Ahmed Abubakar and sentenced them to death by firing squad.

The 59 soldiers presently facing trial are being accused of refusing to join the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops at Mulai Primary School, Maiduguri, for an advance operation to recapture Delwa, and to prepare the ground for further operations to recapture Bulabulin and Damboa from Boko Haram insurgents in August.

All the 59 soldiers, who were arraigned, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them by the Judge Advocate of the court, Lt. Col. Ukpe Ukpe.

Commander of the 111 Special Forces Battalion troops, Lt. Col. Timothy Opurum in his testimony said the alleged mutineers simply refused to obey his orders to participate in an operation to retake some part of Borno state.

On the other hand, Chief Femi Falana, SAN, who appeared for the accused faulted Opurum’s claims, as he (Falana) told the court martial that the soldiers simply asked for weapons to fight. Falana’s argument was collaborated by Opurum’s admittance that his soldiers were overpowered by Boko Haram terrorists owing to the superior weapons and number of the insurgents.

As much as we cannot fault the military rules and regulations, one thing observers have constantly hammered on is for the right thing to be done at all levels then see who defaults after all things are in place

“

Some of the soldiers arraigned for mutiny before nailing the culprits.

Instructions have been given, ‘go and recapture Delwa’ and the soldiers say, ‘give us weapon to obey your instruction to the latter’. Should we term this as mutiny too? These soldiers truly need the weapons to be able to face the enemy head long.

You cannot fight with even

Instructions have been given, ‘go and recapture Delwa’ and the soldiers say, ‘give us weapon to obey your instruction to the latter’. Should we term this as mutiny too? These soldiers truly need the weapons to be able to face the enemy head long.

a child who has a little table knife without a corresponding object or something superior to it to be able to bring the child down. The child will end up killing you.

A source from the battle field who spoke to us on condition of anonymity said they actually signed to die for the nation if the need arise but didn’t sign to go and commit suicide.

Facing the insurgents without any serious weapon as far as the source is concern is embarking on a suicide mission.

At the moment, journalist have been banned from covering the trial of these 59 soldiers, making it a secret one. Nigerians pray and hope that when judgement will be delivered finally on the case, it will be fair to all concerned.

M e a n while t he Nige r ia n Government and the Boko haram sect were reported to have agreed to a ceasefire last week which brought smiles to some faces while others expressed doubt.

As much as this is a welcome development as Nigerians as a whole irrespective of their tribes and religion are tired of this wanton killings and destruction of properties, Military authorities should tread carefully in accepting such sudden truce from a terrorist group.

Observers have opined that they insurgents may have agreed to a cease fire in order to go underground to plan mother of all attacks.

Who will Federal Government hold responsible if the sect reneges on their part of the agreement?

R e p o r ts have it that the dreaded sect attacked a Gerta and Fina villages in Michika local government of Adamawa state on sunday night despite the truce.

Five persons were reportedly killed in the attack while several houses including that of the the village head of Gerta were burntdown.

This development is coming few days after the Federal Government announced a cease fire between it and the sect.

Nigerians urge the military not to let let down their guard though it is assumed there won’t be any form of attack from the military to the insurgents.

Security should still be in high standards in public places like churches, Mosques, hotels, shopping malls, public places and even our homes as it has always been.

Those saddled with the responsibility of securing lives and properties should not relent in their efforts to ensure they are permanently on top when it comes to security matters.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 28

Agriculture

Concerns in agricultural biotechnology (II)

By Prof. E. EfiomEne-Obong, FAS

C

urrently, a Facebook group is distributing information on the negative effects of a new product by Monsanto, on laboratory rats in an experiment carried out in France. Monsanto is said to have released the product for use after only three months testing.

This cannot be possible because a company is not allowed to release such products for public use. There must be years of testing by the company, governments, scientists in different parts of the world, International Agencies etc.

Investigations by individual scientists, laboratories and organizations like FAO, WHO, International Food Biotechnology Council (IFBC), the Allergy and Immunology Institute of the International Life Science (ILSI), the European Economic Union (EEC) and many governments, have yielded protocols for the assessment of potential allergenicity of the novel proteins introduced in GM Foods. Protocols have also been worked out for testing the possible genetic drift of transferred genes into untargeted organisms and the environment.

The year 2001 was particularly, elevating to Biotechnology as four major events took place. First, the United States Senate declared May 13-20, 2001 as the National Biotechnology week. Second, the United Nations (UN) entered the Biotechnology debate in spring 2001, by releasing recommendations of the FAO and WHO on allergenicity testing of foods from GM crops, and declaring them safe.

Third, the UNDP released a commissioned report on “Human Development – Making New Technologies work for Human Development.” This report gave an analysis of the potential of biotechnology and other technologies to contribute to reducing world poverty. Fourth, the European Federation of Public Perception of Biotechnology, released the Briefing Paper No 10 on “Antibiotic Resistance Markers in Genetically Modified (GM) crops”.

They pointed out that “antibiotic resistance markers only confer resistance against specific antibiotics. They do not result in antibiotic production.

There are, therefore, no antibiotics present in food produced from plants using biotechnology”.

The developments came a year after the release of the Inter Academy of Science Report (under the auspices of the Royal Society, London, the USA National Academy of Sciences, the Brazilian Academy of Science, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Indian National Academy of Sciences, the

Cauliflower farmers working at Cauliflower field near Ludhiana, India Mexican Academy of Sciences and the Third World Academy of Sciences), in favour of Transgenic Plants in World Agriculture.

The People’s Republic of China was the first country to commercialize a GM crop- a virus resistant tobacco variety followed by a virus resistant tomato in the early 1990s. In 1994, Calgene obtained the first approval in USA to commercialize FlavrSavrTM delayed ripening tomato. This was followed by the registration in 1996, of AgrEvo Canada’s Liberty Link Canola – variety Innovator-.Since then, the world wide area under commercially grown GM crops has tremendously increased with insecticide and herbicide resistance traits accounting for up to 60% GM crops grown.

The major countries growing GM crops are USA, Canada, China, Argentina, Australia, Mexico, and South Africa, in that order. Many other countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas have now introduced genetically modified crops and products, although the European Union is lagging behind.

In 1996, the global area under GM crop cultivation was 2.8 million hectares. This increased to 12.8 million in 1997, and in 2012, while the European Union was still lagging behind with 129,000 hectares, the global GM crop cultivation rose to 170 million hectares. The EU, however, seems to have double standards regarding GM products. After the mad cow disease in animals fed with local offal, the EU now imports over 70% animal protein feed

requirement, mainly soybeans from countries like Argentina (100% GM), Brazil(82% GM) and USA (93%GM ). Meanwhile, European farmers are not allowed to grow GM soybeans.

Most Academies of Science and scientists in the EU are currently mounting pressure on their Governments to allow the use of genetic modification in crop improvement.

The emerging themes from the recent Planting The Future (PTF ) meeting of the European Academies of Science Advisory

“

Council(EASAC ) and the Network of African Science Academies( NASAC) to the European and African governments and the public are on; Developing capacity to harness crop genetic improvement technologies (GCIT), Legislation, Policy disconnect on GM Technology, Science Communication, Partnerships, Funding , Infrastructure and Technical Support.

Almost all countries in the world, except a few like Nigeria, have laws on Biosafety and

After the mad cow disease in animals fed with local offal, the EU now imports over 70% animal protein feed requirement, mainly soybeans from countries like Argentina (100% GM), Brazil(82% GM) and USA (93%GM ). Meanwhile, European farmers are not allowed to grow GM soybeans.

Intellectual Property Rights.

Many countries in Africa, including South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Cote D’Ivoire and Zambia have introduced genetically modified crops. South Africa was the first country in Africa to adopt GM crops and today a considerable hectarage is under cultivation, mostly Bt cotton (Bollard) (introduced in 1997), Bt yellow maize (1998), Bt white maize (2002), Ht soybeans and cotton (2001) and Ht maize (2003). Under the CSIR-CRI Collaborative Research project, Ghana is working on improving protein quality in sweet potatoes, Nitrogen and water use efficiency, and salt tolerance in rice. They have also introduced BT cotton and resistant cowpea into the country.

It is necessary to point out that the recent statements by the Minister of Agriculture, is about the regulation of the introduction and use of genetically modified products into Nigeria. This has been done by most countries. The truth is that genetically modified crops, food and pharmaceuticals have been in use in Nigeria for more than one decade; brought in by companies, groups and unofficially by Nigerian tourists.

What is wrong with the regulation of the introduction and use of these products? Why should we not know what is being brought into the country; where, how, why and when these products are used in the country? The laws may even ban the introduction and use of certain products as well as protect the Intellectuol Property Rights of Nigerians, and even the Rights of Nigeria to the abundant endowed natural products.

Finally, in the recent workshop on Agricultural Biotechnology in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, organized by the Network for African Science Academies (NASAC) and the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) in February, 2014, recommendations were made to increase the use of biotechnology in food production in Africa and Europe.

As summarized by Prof.

Walter Alhassan, president of NASAC“the engagement of Africa in agricultural biotechnology should aim at attaining Sir Gordon Conway’s doubly green revolution i.e., increasing food production with less land use, less agricultural inputs and less water. This is in line with the concept of Sustainable Intensification”.

It is, therefore, necessary to harness the potential of All tools of biotechnology to include marker –assisted selection and genetic engineering in support of conventional breeding, mutation breeding and integrated pest management procedures for Agriculture. No technology should be excluded,a priori, on ideological grounds.

Professor E. EfiomEneObong, FAS is of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar, Calabar.

Page 29

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Agriculture

Lawmakers, stakeholders urged on biosafety law sensitization

By Mohammed Kandi

S

peaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said that Biotechnology has become Global Economic Development recommended for countries to advance and tackle immediate global challenges.

Tambuwal disclosed this recently at the opening of report presentation to the House on the passage of biosafety bill.

Represented by the House Leader, Mulikat Akande Adeola, the Speaker noted in his Keynote address Titled: “Legislating Biosafety Law For National Economic Development and Food Security”, that the sensitization “is timely because biotechnology has become an offer for Economic Development globally, and the Biosafety Bill is before the House of Representatives for consideration.”

“The Forum is to share with us the potentials biosafety has

to offer, particularly in the field of agriculture, from increased yield to environmental safety; The growing world population is a major challenge that has led to increased demand for food, feed, fibre, loss of agricultural land, shortage of water for irrigation, climate change, increasing demand for renewable fuels, reduced agro-biodiversity and loss of natural habitats (biodiversity),” she said.

“The application of biotechnology under a legal framework, therefore, can be a valuable tool for addressing the several challenges arising from national population growth and giving consumers in Nigeria the sense of choice and availability of quality products under a sustainable environment”, she reiterated,” she added.

She noted that the Biosafety law “is the only safety valve to be able to secure our environment from being a dumping ground for GMO’s and to promote safe adoption of biotechnology for

national development.”

“I therefore wish to use this medium to urge the Honourable Members to give the Biosafety Bill a speedy passage in order for our country to be on the same page with other countries in the world who are already domesticating this all important technology”, she appealed.

In his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Muhammad Tahir Monguno expressed optimism that the Bill would be passed before the end of the seventh Assembly.

He said: “We are hoping that at the end of the day the Bill is signed into law because it is in the interest of the country, especially for the purpose of diversification of our economy, from mono-economy that depends on oil, to an economy that has other sources of revenue like agriculture.”

“We need to adopt modern technologies like biotechnology with a view to increasing food

production, especially against the backdrop of the fact that our population is rising at a geometric progression while food production is decreasing. There is therefore, need to increase the food production by way of adopting modern technologies to meet the increasing population we have in the country”, he added.

Similarly, the DirectorGeneral, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) Lucy Ogbadu, appealed for the support of the Lawmakers to ensure the speedy passage of the bill.

Ogbadu, who said Nigeria, cannot afford to miss out on gene revolution, however, appealed for improved budgetary allocation for the effort.

The Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) Prof. B.Y. Abubakar request for speedy assent of Biosafety Bill to enable the country enjoy the benefits of biotechnology as other countries are doing.

A biotechnology cotton field in the state of Maharashtra in India

2014 Agric Show: Women farmers demand grants, capacity, infrastructure

W

omen farmers on Monday advocated for agricultural funds specifically tailored towards women, extensive capacity building programmes and resuscitation of dilapidated infrastructure at the grassroots.

A cross section of women made these demands at the ongoing National Agricultural Show organised by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The women listed challenges confronting them to include the lack of funds, poor market access, inadequate storage facilities and undue processes in accessing credits.

Mrs Lizzy Igbine, the National President, Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association, while commenting on the needs

of women farmers, said adequate funds were needed for field trials, land preparation, planting and harvest.

“For women, the budgetary funds cannot be accessed and we have problems with undue procedures in accessing bank loans; many banks don’t even grant loans to rural farmers.

“Our lands to them have no value; we cannot use them as collateral and especially as women, land papers were not handed over from our forefathers.

“We therefore, want President Goodluck Jonathan to give grants, especially to women farmers and to help reduce the bottlenecks associated with securing loans in banks.’’

Other women farmers who listed poor linkages to appropriate markets, urged government agencies to utilise the

current farmers’ data through the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme to ensure adequate markets.

They urged government to buy back farm produce direct from farmers to encourage valuable income for them, while creating definite rural famers markets to decrease glut and wastage.

Echoing similar views, Prof. Patricia Donli, Chairman, ActionAid Nigeria, while speaking on “Agriculture Investment and Nutrition Security”, noted that the sector’s budget was decreasing annually.

Donli further disagreed the claim by the Food and Agriculture Organisation that Nigeria had already met the MDG Goal 1of halving the number of poor and hungry people in Nigeria.

“I think Nigeria has not met the MDG Goal 1; we have a lot

of poor and hungry people in Nigeria, although the Agricultural Transformation Agenda is a step in the direction.

“Nigeria’s budgetary allocation has fallen below the target recommended by the Maputo Declaration; we need at least 10 per cent of the national budget, showing we are not yet serious about investment in agriculture.”

The chairman said low cultivation of arable land in Nigeria, continuous land grabbing issues and the exclusion of women in agricultural financing, discouraged good income for women farmers.

She, therefore, called for the resuscitation of extension services, restoration of rural infrastructure, climate change mitigation and adaptation measures for an improved agriculture sector. (NAN)

FG-Boko Haram Truce: Farmers will go back to land, says AFAN President

A

ll Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) said, on Friday, that farmers in the conflict-torn North East zone of the country would return to their farms following the truce reached between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram Sect.

AFAN National President Kabir Ibrahim said this while reacting to the announcement of the ceasefire agreement by the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, in Abuja.

Ibrahim said it was a commendable move which would spur farmers’ return to the area.

He, however, stressed that if the truce was genuine, then the Federal Government should work towards sustaining the agreement to ensure lasting peace in the area.

He stressed that farmers in the area would require assistance to be able to return to the profession.

“We have to look at what the farmers had gone through and see what areas to help them in terms of seedlings, markets and processing outlets.

“Also, inputs like fertilisers should be given more than what others have received; if these are implemented, dealing directly with the farmers, they will come out of the wood work.”

He stressed the need for full engagement of the youths in agriculture, taking into cognizance the turmoil they had been through during the insurgency.

Echoing similar views, Dr Tunde Arosayin, AFAN’s National Technical Adviser, said farmers needed to be compensated with shelter, food, clothing and farm inputs.

He urged the state government and local government authorities to partner with the Federal Government and international organisations to rehabilitate displaced farmers through makeshift accommodations.

“We have to rebuild and reconstitute; so, soft landing is what the people displaced over a year need; most have lost everything, including lands, homes and even capital.

“I can tell you that over 80 per cent of those populations are willing to go back because as displaced people, they cannot access sizable lands for farming activities.

Arosayin maintained that the news of the ceasefire was indeed pleasing to all farming communities in the country. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 30

Feature Can Nigeria-Boko Haram deal free the Chibok girls?

The Nigerian government has announced what it says is a truce with Boko Haram militants and a deal to free more than 200 abducted school girls. Will Ross accesses the situation.

Campaigners across Nigeria have campaigned for the release of the abducted schoolgirls.

I

f this turns out to be true it will be some of the best news Nigerians have heard for decades.

The fact that the announcement comes from the top of Nigeria’s military ought

to give it considerable weight.

This is not a whisper or a rumour of a deal. It is a statement from the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh.

But there is massive scepticism

“

here, and some question whether the announcement was in any way timed to coincide with the imminent announcement that President Goodluck Jonathan is going to run for re-election.

The surprising thing is Nigerian officials had not given any indication that negotiations with Boko Haram were taking place. There had, however, been plenty of rumours of talks being held in neighbouring Chad sparked by President Jonathan’s surprise visit to Ndjamena last month.

Air Marshal Badeh gave very few details apart from saying a ceasefire had been struck with the group known as Boko Haram and that the Nigerian military service chiefs had been instructed to comply.

Then he walked away - no more details and - certainly - no questions from the media, who had been expecting a somewhat duller statement following a meeting between the top brass of the Nigerian and Cameroonian military.

T h e n i t w a s o ve r t o t h e politicians and spokesmen to fill in the large gaps, including the fate of the Chibok girls, who have to an extent already become political pawns.

President Jonathan’s principal private secretary, Hassan Tukur, told the BBC that as part of the deal 219 abducted schoolgirls who have been missing for six months would be freed by Boko Haram.

But (and it is a very big but) he said more talks would take place

next week to work out exactly how the girls would be released.

One-sided announcement But what is the position of the jihadists who have been causing havoc across the north-east? That is the big question.

It would, of course, be more convincing if the news of the deal had come from both sides.

On Friday, the Voice Of America broadcast an interview with Danladi Ahmadu, a man calling himself the secretary general of Boko Haram (hardly a regular title for a jihadist group).

I have failed to find anyone who has ever heard of him. He said a deal had been struck with the government.

The surprising thing is Nigerian officials had not given any indication that negotiations with Boko Haram were taking place. There had, however, been plenty of rumours of talks being held in neighbouring Chad sparked by President Jonathan’s surprise visit to Ndjamena last month.

The presence at those talks of the controversial ex-governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, added fuel to the rumours. He has long been accused of having links to Boko Haram - an accusation he denies.

With Nigeria’s elections due early next year, it would be a major boost for the governing People’s Democratic Party if a deal were to be struck soon. Political games?

A deal with Boko Haram now would fuel the belief that this conflict is more to do with Nigeria’s internal politics than to do with religion.

It would also prompt the question as to whether there are politicians from whichever party who are willing to see thousands killed and entire communities torn apart for their own personal gain?

Many Nigerians will remain extremely sceptical about the news of this deal.

The military and the government have in the past released statements about the conflict which have turned out to be completely at odds with the situation on the ground - including one report which said almost all the Chibok girls were free.

The celebrations here will not begin unless the violence stops and the hostages are home.

Source: BBC Africa

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 31

Politics Extra

Chris Adabah remains the candidate to beat for Reps-Benue PDP stalwart INTERVIEW Ahead of the 2015 House of Representatives poll, the Benue State political arena has been electrified since debonair business tycoon; Christian A. Adabah joined the fray.

In this interview with Our Correspondent, Uche Nnorom, the Assistant Director of Abba Elizabeth Educational Support Services (AEESSS) Odoba Otukpa in Benue state, Sonia Abbah speaks on the PDP aspirant’s chances in the forthcoming race and other pertinent issues.

Y

ou are one of those in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State who have been trumpeting the virtues of Chris Abah; what inspired this?

The inspiration is anchored on the Bible’s admonition that we should give unto Caesar what is due to him. Over the years I, like thousands of others, have watched with keen interest the manner this gentleman has been impacting on many individuals and groups, nay communities here in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State and far beyond, using his personal resources.

For instance, he has donated uncountable number of transformers to various communities, electrified others, and built flats for several poor families. This is aside from the world class property he has just constructed for St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Odoba Otukpa. If an

individual can do so much for his people with his own personal resources, we can only imagine what he can do when he is in a position to use our common wealth for the progress and development of not just Ogbadibo, bur “Zone C” (Idoma land) as a whole.

With such outstanding qualities, why did he not make it in the past, and what gives you confidence that he will win this time?

Well, it’s an open secret that Hon Chris Adabah was coasting home to victory in the last general election before enemies of progress aborted his dream over spurious claims which, thank God, have since been exposed as baseless and wicked fabrications. Like our people say, falsehood may gallop for many miles, but truth would surely overtake it and prevail. And that’s exactly what has happened in this noble gentleman’s case.

Chris Abbah Adabah And now that the coast is clear for him and his famous “Service Project 2015” (as his campaign outfit is fondly called) I have no doubt that he shall triumph with a landslide come 2015. With due respect to his opponents, Hon Chris (a.k.a Mad Lion) is the man we in Idoma land are yearning for to take us to the proverbial Promised Land.

That nickname (“Mad Lion”) sounds interesting; what must have…..

(Cuts in) Indeed, it’s a remarkable nickname, remarkable

in the sense that it embodies the essential Chris Adabah, a self-made man who started from the scratch to the apex of his chosen profession; a quintessential grass-to-grace story.

Despite his humble background, he had what USA President Barrack Obama called “audacity of hope”.

With faith, hope, courage and determination, he has sparkled like a million stars at a relatively young age. His story is an inspiration for all of us particularly the younger generation.

In other words, his life, his

entrepreneurship and his heart of gold (as evident in the uncommon philanthropy which has earned him universal acclaim and love) all these virtues point of the probability that with a man like him at the National Assembly, unprecedented transformation will definitely be witnessed across the land within a relatively short period of time.

With the array of aspirants jostling for the PDP ticket, do you think “Mad Lion” can win the contest?

Of course! As said earlier, with due respect to the other aspirants, I sincerely don’t think any of them can compete with Hon. Chris in terms of pedigree, popularity, service to community, and so forth.

Indeed, he stands out like an Iroko tree when compared with the rest of them.

The National Assembly, mind you, is not a place for upstarts and starry-eyed, inexperienced politicians, but tested and trusted leaders such as Hon. Chris. Come to think of it, Ogbadibo, Okpokwu and Ado LGAs in particular and “Zone C” in general has been denied of quality representation for too long.

Against this backdrop, it goes without saying that with a man like “Mad Lion” at the helm of affairs ( so to say) our level would inexorably change sooner than later. Hence, some of us feed that the least we could do is to mobilize as much support as we can for this visionary and dynamic gentleman and his ilk. It’s about time we as a people enthroned God-fearing and selfless politicians rather than corrupt and selfish political jobbers.

Adamawa youth vanguard urges former NPA boss to seek elective post From Umar Dankano, Yola

A

pressure group, Adamawa Youth Vanguard, has urged former Managing Director of Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), Engr Omar Suleiman, to contest for the Adamawa Central Senatorial Zone.

Addressing a press briefing

in Yola, spokesman of the group, Jamil Yusuf, said the youths were calling on Suleiman to join the race in any party of his choice because of his credentials as a philanthropist and someone who had performed well in his assignment at NPA and other places.

Yusuf said the present Senator

representing the zone, Sen Bello Tukur, has failed the people in terms of quality representative hence the need for a positive change.

Yusuf said Adamawa Central is a unique zone that requires people with needed exposure to represent it at the national assembly.

“Adamawa Youth Vanguard

unanimously agreed to shout out a clarion call of salvation to Engr Omar Suleiman to please come home to save our land.

“Our calls still goes to the people of Adamawa central senatorial zone to forget all forms of sentiments, let’s get a revolver and mover of goodness that can touch all and sundry”, Yusuf said.

He urged Suleiman to answer the clarion call or risk being labeled a betrayer.

“Suleiman should answer this call or else we will label him a betrayer for abandoning us at this critical moment”, Yusuf said.

Suleiman served as Managing Director of NPA from 2010 to 2012.

2015: Miyetti Allah promises to deliver 23 million votes to Jonathan

By Lawrence Olaoye

A

Fulani group, Miyetti Allah Kaual Social-cultural Association, yesterday assured President Goodluck Jonathan that it would mobilize its members and ensures that he gets no less than 23 million votes at the oncoming 2015 Presidential election.

Briefing newsmen on the commitment of the group to Jonathan re-election, Miyetti Allah’s National President, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, disclosed they have begun preparations for the launch of Ruga to Ruga campaign to ensure that they succeed in delivering the votes for the President’s re-election.

According to him, the total population of Fulani pastoralists across the country is in excess of 27 million people, going by the last population census results in the country.

He said the group’s leadership had directed all its members resident all over the 36 states of the federation to register wherever they may live and vote en bloc for Jonathan.

“We have established the Ruga to Ruga for Jonathan to ensure that we take part in the polity and avoid the mistakes of the past where we lost our people to political violence.

In Southern Kaduna alone, we lost 517 of our members,” he lamented.

Explaining why the organisation

chose to back Jonathan’s reelection bid, Bodejo said “This endorsement is done after a careful analysis of the love and affection Mr. President have extended to the Fulani Pastoralist in Nigeria by entrusting his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the hands of a proud son (of a) Fulani Pastoralist, Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu and the appointment of our patron, an accomplished academic and politician, as his Adviser on Political Matters and many other highly placed political appointees serving in his government- our interest is surely protected.”

He added that Jonathan, through his policies, has ensured that they were provided with an

enabling environment for them to pursue their livelihoods.

The group also commended the government’s efforts at addressing insecurity problems, especially those directly affecting it members.

It called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to revisit the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee on Farmers/Fulani herdsmen conflicts constituted by his predecessor with a view to implementing the far reaching resolutions recommended in various reports from states visited by the committee.

Asked what the association had done to seek redress for its members killed at the recent violence that broke out in Nasarawa state, Bodejo

described the crisis as multifaceted and politically motivated.

He disclosed that his group was involved in the investigations carried out by the former IGP into the matter just as he urged the authorities to implement the resolutions contained in the reports.

He also cautioned the media to desist from profiling Fulani herdsmen as a violent group insisting that most crises leading to clashes between the people and farmers do not always originate from them.

Bodejo maintained that the herdsmen would be the last to support the breakup of the country because they are, by nature, itinerary nomads who cris-cross the country to graze their cattle.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 32

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

171st KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

Accomplishments are the precise preserve of the accomplished. Such is the copious case in Kano State currently under the able leadership of His Excellency Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. This time around, the tenure is premised on the specific resolve to positively transform the lives of the citizenry in Kano State for the better through the provision of impeccable services by the Government via its organs, system and structure marshaled/guided by the steadfast Engineer – cum – polished politician.

The resolve is generally achieved through the commendable performances by all sectors in the execution of projects, programmes and policies which were allowed to stagnate in Kano State prior to the return of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE whose current second spanned three (3) and a half eventful years in which all sectors were reinvigorated. Multitude Of tangible projects, programmes and policies aimed at positive transformation of the social, economic, spiritual, etc. wellbeing of the good people of Kano State were and are still being executed across all sectors prominent among which include Education, Infrastructural Development/Maintenance, Health, Agriculture, Empowerment, etc. Consolidating and completing the initiated efforts in all aspects are at hand and attainable.

Continuing with the laudable trend, the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and seventy first (171st) sitting on Wednesday 15th October, 2014 (21st Dhul Hijjah, 1435 AH) where thirteen (13) MDAs submitted forty eight (48) memoranda cutting across seven (7) Sectors for deliberation of which Council approved thirty three (33) for execution with an expenditure of One Billion, Three Hundred and Fifty Six Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy Nine Naira, Eighty Nine Kobo (N1,356,834,879.89) covering thirty one (31) projects while the remaining two (2) are on policy issues. Thus; 1. THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT/ MAINTENANCE SECTOR The administration of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso continually declared to transform the State by the provision and maintenance of qualitative infrastructure among his promise throughout the campaign for Office prior to the election. All the premises and resolutions were reiterated and emphasized in the inaugural speech delivered on 29th May, 2014.

Impressively, each promise was fulfilled and the performances transcend common expectations and imaginations. Various mega tangible physical developmental projects were and are continuing to be executed and maintained. The list and impact are beyond this medium. Only few examples can be cited as follows; • General Construction of all categories of roads and related structures that enhance and ensure ease for movement for people from homes to places of works, market, recreation, visit to relations and friends, etc. and improve their socio – economic wellbeing.

Mega examples comprise the construction of flyovers at three (3) prominent congested locations in Urban Kano (i.e. Silver Jubilee Roundabout to Kofar Nassarawa; Ibrahim Taiwo Road by Gidan Bello Dandago; Triumph Publishing Company to Tafawa Balewa Road); construction of new major and link roads; expansion of many prominent existing major roads and continued maintenance of others. Construction of 5KM roads in each of the 44 LGCAs in Kano State, etc.

• Facilitation of vitally required transportation of potable water to Greater/Urban Kano and Rural Areas from various Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) to areas of demand via provision of water supply pipelines for impressive distances Using 1000 mm and 600mm Ductile iron pipes. In fact the total investment so far in the water sector exceeds 19 Billion Naira in the last three years.

Examples are as follows; i.

Watari Water Treatment Plant to Gwaron Dutse. ii.

Watari Water Treatment Plant to Tsanyawa. iii.

Gezawa Joda to Yankaba, Dakata, etc. iv.

Tamburawa to Yankaba. v.

Kafinchiri to Sumaila, etc.

• Provision of Street Lighting and Interlock Tiling of pedestrian walkways of numerous major roads in Kano Metropolis.

• Establishment of Tiga and Challawa Gorge Dams Independent Hydro Electricity Power Stations.

• General renovation of Government owned buildings/facilities for effective utilization, etc.

The laudable trend was maintained as Council approved for the execution of the following five (5) projects in line with the Infrastructural Development/Maintenance policy of the present administration as follows; a) Request for Funds to Enable Construction of Three (3) Blocks of 3 – Seater and Completion of One (1) Block of 6 – Seater (i.e. 16 – Seaters) Public Conveniences at the High Court of Justice Complex, Miller Road, Kano:Under the current second tenure of His Excellency Gov Kwankwaso a number of projects were executed in the judicial sector. 28 New Magistrate and 27 Shari’a courts were constructed and fully furnished at a total cost of over 1.12 billion Naira. Equally the High courts that were in state of dilapidation for many years were given complete renovation. In continuation with this laudable policies of providing conducive working environment that will ultimately engender quick dispensation of justice, a request was submitted to Council for consideration from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport at the estimated cost of N9,449,037.80. to provide Toilet facilities.

Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport in respect of the cited issue involving six (6) projects. Details were presented along with the following two (2) notations; i.

That physical assessment of the six (6) projects revealed that four (4) of them were executed to 100% level of completion while the remaining two (2) are at 70% and 85% completion stages respectively. ii.

That the contingency sums totaling N3,628,186.78 for the six (6) projects was deducted from the total contract sum of N65,451,722.85 due to its non utilization on unforeseen works, thus leaving a balance of N61,823,536.07 to pay for the completed works and the remaining two (2) projects at 70% and 85% level of completion.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the release of N61,823,536.07 to enable the completion of the six projects.

Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso In line with the present administration policy to ensure sanity and hygienic working environment, Council considered and approved for the release of the stated sum as per the breakdown below; i.

Construction of three (3) blocks of 3 – Seater Public Conveniences = N5,816,460.42. ii.

Completion of one (1) block of 16 – Seaters Public Conveniences = N3,632,577.38. b) Request for the Release of Additional Funds for the Provision of Five (5) Security Plazas Located at Various Locations in Kano State:In fulfillment of his campaign promises the Government of Eng Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has massively invested in the provision of infrastructural facilities especially in road construction, expansion and modernizing existing road network to ease transportation within the state and the city.

This include the construction of flyovers and underpasses.

In continuation with this, The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport recalled Council of its approval granted for the execution of the projects based on a master plan presented by a Consultant.

The contractors mobilized to site but faced problems with the initial BEME for the projects which culminated to the request for an upward review of the original BEME from the sum of N533,722,560.88 to the revised sum of N663,926,552.13 with a variation of N130,203,991.26 upon utilization of the contingencies in the Contracts.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the revised initial contract of the five (5) Security Plaza from N533,722,560.80 to N633,926,552.13 within a variation of N130,203,991.26. c) Request for Funds to Enable Replacement of 500KVA. 33/415V Electricity Transformer at Daburau and Installation of 300KVA.11/0.415KV Electricity Relief Transformer at Shekar Maidaki Bangaren Gabas, Madobi and Kumbotso LGCAs Respectively:Cognizance of the resolve by the present administration to provide qualitative infrastructure for the benefit of the citizenry in the State. The Ministry of Rural and Community Development submitted the request in the sum of N9,039,363.00.

Council acknowledged the presentation of the request and approved the release of the stated sum for execution of the project. d) Presentation on the Need to Close the Road Leading to Bagauda Bridge and Request for Funds to Effect Reinstatement of the Affected Sections of the Road:Heavy downpour of rainfall caused excessive erosion problems along the approaches to Bagauda Bridge. Details were presented along with the request for the release of the provisional sum of N11,224,148.37 to effect necessary repairs required so as to enable easy passage for the users of the Bridge and Road.

Council appraised the details presented in pictures and approved the release of the provisional sum of N11,224,148.37 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable execution of the repair project. e) Presentation on Request for Instructions and Release of Funds to Undertake Emergency Works at Various Locations in Kano State:The Project Monitoring and Evaluation recalled Council of its earlier directive to study and advise Government on a request for Funds from the

2.

THE EDUCATION SECTOR An educated nation/community is a successful one. This made the Education Sector to be celebrated as the highest beneficiary of the positive transformation efforts extended to all sectors. The Education Sector is completely transformed for the better and at all levels and ramifications.

Many new Basic Education Schools, Senior Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions were constructed while expansion and renovation of existing ones are continually being carried out.

Many Governments owned unused buildings/facilities were converted for use as Schools.

In fact evidences are ubiquitous across the State and the impact is impressive to the point whereby provision of Education is free of charge at all levels.

Two (2) memoranda that directly relate to the Education Sector were approved for execution as follows; a) Presentation on the Review of the Running Cost of Seven (7) Kano State Owned Tertiary Institutions in Consideration of the Free Education Policy of the Present Administration:The Ministry for Higher Education submitted the presentation on behalf of the three (3) Member Committee enacted to consult with Principal Officers of the State owned tertiary institutions in order to arrive at a realistic figure to enable them successfully run the institutions to the end of the current financial year.

The Committee did its work judiciously and submitted the report based on which four (4) prayers were presented to Council for consideration of which only one (1) was approved for execution as it relates to the recommended sum of N437,462,149.70 seven (7) Kano State owned tertiary institutions.

Council acknowledged the presentation and approved for the release of fifty percent (50%) of the requested sum of (i.e. N218,731,074.85) to be disbursed among the seven (7) institutions. b) Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable Provision of School Furniture to Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in Kano State:Cognizant of the resolve by the present administration to positively transform the education sector in all ramifications, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Education submitted the cited request for consideration by Council.

Details were presented and summarized as follows; • Senior Secondary Schools (50%) i.

Furniture requirement = 40,000 plastic furniture. ii.

Cost = N540,977,000.00.

• Junior Secondary Schools (100%) i.

Furniture requirement = 24,868 wooden/iron furniture. ii.

Cost = N646,568,000.00.

Total = 64,868 Plastic and wooden/iron furniture at N1,187,545,000.00 which was requested for release by Council for the stated purpose.

Council acknowledged the presentation and approved for the release of 50% of the request in the sum of N593,727,500.00 as per details below; i.

Release of N323,284,000.00 for the procurement of 12,434 wooden/iron furniture for Junior Secondary Schools. ii.

Release of N270,488,500.00 for the procurement of 20,000 plastic furniture for Senior Secondary Schools.

3.

THE INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION SECTOR Dissemination of information to sensitize and make the general public aware on current issues are among the cardinal resolutions of the present administration in Kano State under the leadership of the second (2nd) incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Transparency in the operations of Government and its general activities is the guiding principle of this administration. Currently, all Government operations are digitalized and institutionalized along best practices.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) is adopted while all Government operations are digitalized.

Progressively, the information sector is improved in State and Government does not hesitate to approve the execution of relevant projects related to the information sector. Examples abound, especially the series of approvals granted to improve the operations/performance of Radio Kano, ARTV, etc.

In this vein, four (4) memoranda related to the information sector were approved for execution as follows; a) Request for Funds to Enable the Publication of Kano State Contd on Page 33

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014 Today and Its Hausa Language Version “Jihar Kano A Yau” Magazines:Sustaining the publication of the cited magazines needed no emphasis from the Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture. So far, twenty one (21) editions each of the two (2) magazines were published and released monthly from January, 2012 todate. The magazines present highlights of Government programmes, policies and activities and are circulated within and outside the State.

Council was requested to approve for the release of the sum of N7,680,000.00 to enable publication of six (6) editions each of the two (2) magazine for the months of October, 2014 to March, 2015. Details were presented for consideration.

Council noted, considered and approved as requested. b) Request for Funds to Enable Restructuring of the Film Library into a E _ Library for the Censorship Board:The Film Industry plays a significant role in the entertainment sub – sector at which the Censorship Board plays an important role in the regulation of the products from the Industry for employment, promoting cultural norms and the consumption of the public.

Details on the eight (8) items required for the purpose were presented along with the request for the release of the sum of N669,900.00.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved for the stated sum to enable the re – structuring of the Library to E _ Library. c) Request for Funds for the Production of 2015/1436 AH Official Multiple Pages Calendar and Diary:The annual routine nature of the request from the Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture was considered as Council approved for the release of the requested sum of N33,465,000.00 to enable the following productions; i.

Production of 50,000 Copies of Multiple Pages Calendar = N20,915,000.00. ii.

Production of 1,000 Copies each of Desk and Pocket Diaries = N12,550,000.00. d) Presentation of Special Invitation and Request for Funds to Enable Participation of Kano State Contingent at the National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) Scheduled from Saturday 19th to Sunday 26th October, 2014 at Abakaliki, Ebonyi State:NAFEST was introduced to Council, through contents of this memorandum, as a wholesome annual affair that draws participants from all States of the Federation and the FCT; Non – Governmental Organizations (NGOs); Private Artists, Creativity Associations, Tertiary Institutions and other Stakeholders in the Art and Culture Industry. NAFEST 2014 is premised on the theme “Celebrating Nigeria at 100”.

Council was notified that the State participated in the event since its inception and won trophies as best performing State in many activities at the event.

Accordingly, Council approved for the release of the sum of N5,000,000.00 to enable the State Contingent participate at the event.

4.

THE HEALTH SECTOR “Health is Wealth”. So the saying goes. The present administration of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE acknowledges this and never relent on its resolve to accord priority to the general positive transformation of the Health Sector in the State. An unparalleled number of approvals were granted for the execution of projects to do with the transformation of the Health Sector/Facilities/System. Examples are; • General renovation of the Kano Dental Center.

• General renovation of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.

• General renovation of Hasiya Bayero Pediatric Hospital.

• Renovation of General Hospitals at Rano, Gwarzo and Bichi • Establishment of Primary Health Care Board, etc.

Continuing with the trend, two (2) memoranda directly related to the Health Sector were approved for execution as follows; a) Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable Purchase of Hospital Mattresses, Pillows and Bedding Materials for Thirty Five (35) Kano State Government Owned Hospitals and Repairs of Beds, Lockers, Overhead Tables and Drip Stands for some Selected Hospitals:The request was summarized and presented in nine (9) items estimated to cost the sum of N41,262,402.55 which was requested for the purpose.

Approval was granted by Council considering relevance of the request and the details presented. b) Request for Funds to Procure Hospital Beds, Mattresses and Beddings for the VVF Center in Dambatta LGCA:The Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development (FORWARD) was introduced to Council, through contents of this memorandum, as a Non – Government Organization (NGO) that owns and runs the VVF Center in Dambatta LGCA. The Ministry of Health submitted the request on behalf of the Organization which was endorsed by the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration.

Essentially, Council was notified that the Organization requested for Kano State Government’s assistance by the release of N2,021,244.75 to enable procurement of six (6) items for use by clients/patients at the Center.

Council considered and approved as requested.

Further to above, the Council approved the release of funds for the promotion/enhancing the educational development of the students/officials of Health Sector as follows:a) Request for Funds to Enable Conduct of Final Qualifying Examination for Medical Laboratory Technicians and Assistant Students of the School of Health Technology. Council approved the release of the sum of N469,000.00 for the examination. b) Request for Funds to Convey Dental Health Technicians and Dental Surgery Assistant Students to Offa, Kwara State for Final Qualifying Examination (20th – 24th October, 2014).Council approved the release of the sum of N3,018,000.00 for the examination. c) Request for Funds to Conduct Final Qualifying Examinations and Indexing for Pharmacy Technician Students of the School of Health Technology, Kano. Council approved as requested the release of the sum of N625,000.00 for the conduct of the final qualifying examinations and indexing for the students.

5.

THE TRADE AND INVESTMENT SECTOR Kano State is covertly referred to as the “Center of Commerce” in Nigeria and the present administration in Kano State upholds and heralds the name by according adequate attention to the trade and investment sector.

Activities related to commerce, industrial production and manufacturing at all levels are recognized and the State Government participates through the activities of Kano Investment and Properties (KSIP) Company, KACCIMA, etc.

PAGE 33 As such, two (2) memoranda directly related to the Trade and Investment Sector were approved for execution as follows; a) Presentation and Request for Funds to Enable Participation of Kano State Contingent/Co – Hosting the Nigerian Raw Materials Exposition (NIRAM EXPO 2014):This memorandum was a more comprehensive presentation of an earlier submitted one which was directed to be re – submitted.

Seven (7) precise notations were submitted for consideration by Council along with the following two (2) prayers; i.

Council to consider and approve participation of Kano State and co – hosting the NIRAM 2014 exposition. ii.

Approve the release of the sum of N8,500,000.00 for the purpose.

Council noted, considered and approved as requested. b) Presentation of Performance Report/Retirement of Expenditure for the Third (3rd) Quarter (July – September, 2014) and Request for the Release of Operational Funds for the Fourth (4th) Quarter (October – December, 2014) in Respect of the Kano State Consumer Protection Council:The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism submitted the cited presentation and request on behalf of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to Council for consideration.

Details on the retired expenditure for the third (3rd) quarter 2014 were presented along with achievements of the Consumer Protection Council in the quarter in addition to the request for the release of the recommended sum of N4,800,000.00 to cover for thirteen (13) items earmarked for the increment of expenditure in the fourth (4th) quarter.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved the requested sum as operational funds for the fourth (4th) quarter.

6.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION/SANITATION SECTOR The Environmental Protection/Sanitation Sector enjoys priority consideration by the present administration. Several approvals were granted to reinvigorate the sector heralded by the following; i.

Reintroduction of the month – end Saturday environmental sanitation exercise at homes and surroundings. ii.

Introduction of the month – end Friday sanitation exercise at Government offices/workplaces. iii. Procurement of modern heavy duty equipment for use by REMASAB in the evacuation of heaps of refuse in Kano metropolis. iv. Procurement of uniforms for street sweepers engaged by REMASAB. v.

Procurement of working tools for the road cleaners engaged by REMASAB. vi.

Establishment of shelter-belts for impressive distances against desert encroachment, etc.

Continuing with the laudable trend, the Ministry of Environment submitted one (1) memorandum for deliberation to Council for consideration. Thus; Request for Funds for the Fencing of the Newly Established 22KM Shelter-belt in Makoda and Gabasawa LGCAs under the Great Green Wall Project:The stated 22KM shelter-belt was established in the year 2013 courtesy of the release of N14,451,455.00 by the present administration for the purpose.

Relatedly, the Federal Ministry of Environment recommends that all newly established shelter-belts be fenced so as to protect the planted saplings/investment from destruction by both human beings and animals.

In this vein, the Ministry of Environment requested for the release of the sum of N14,760,828.76 to enable provision of the four (4) items required for the fencing project.

Council considered the details presented and approved as requested.

7.

THE EMPOWERMENT SECTOR This sector is among the most prominent in consideration of the priority attention it enjoys from inception of the current administration.

All segments of the society are considered and empowerment programmes cut across all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Sponsorship for education at all levels locally and abroad, establishment of skills acquisition institutes/granting of take – off capital, provision of training on crafts and petty trading, provision of entrepreneurship training for small and medium scale entrepreneurship/provision of take – off capital, etc.

In a nutshell, the most prominent empowerment schemes executed under the present administration include the following; i.

Sponsorship for over 2,500post graduate Kano State Indigenous students for studies at institutions/universities abroad. ii.

Establishment of twenty Four (24) skills acquisition institutes and granting of take – off capital for the beneficiaries to be self reliant. iii.

Skills acquisition training programme and the granting of take – off capital to women executed by the State Community Reorientation Council (CRC) across the 44 LGCAs. Over 300,000 women benefited under this scheme. iv.

Lafiya Jari (Health is wealth) program where over 1,500 youth benefitted with training on patent medicine store business and take-off grant of N150,000 each. v.

Rehabilitation/reorientation/skills acquisition training executed at the Kiru Reformatory Institute, etc.

The effort to empower the unemployed youth and underprivileged women, etc. continued as Council approved for the execution of fifteen (15) memoranda related to empowerment where approved as follows; i.

Request for Funds for the Full Take – Off of the Hospitality and Tourism Institute at Former Daula Hotel:To tackle the pervasive unemployment among our teeming young men and women the Government established 24 skills acquisition institutes to train the youth in various trades and skills to enable them establish their businesses and hence become self reliant. Among these institutes, is the Hospitality and Tourism institute which has already taken off at its temporary site. About 1,500 have so far graduated in various skills. It has so far trained travel Agents, House Keepers, Bakers, Event Managers, Women and Men Photographers, Video coverage etc. The permanent site of the institute has now been completed at a total cost of over N350 million. For the full take off of the institute the Ministry of works submitted a request of N66,238,652.03 which was subsequently approved for release by the council. i.

Request for Financial Assistance to Kano Sky Academy Football Club. Government since inception and in line with the campaign promises of His Excellency’s vision paid a great deal of attention to Sports development in the state. To achieve this Sports Academy Karfi was established, Sports college and Mahaha Sports Complex. Spots equipment

and gears were procured and distributed to 88 football clubs across all the 44 Local Governments worth over N1.2 Billion. This is in addition to assistance rendered to all clubs in all the divisions. This informed the Council To approve the release of the sum of N1,000,000.00 as financial assistance to the above club. ii.

Request for Funds to Enable Kano State Para Soccer Team to Participate at the International Polio Day in Abuja (18th – 25th October, 2014). Council approved the release of the sum of N801,000.00 as requested for the participation of State Para Soccer Team in the competition. iii. Request for Funds to Enable Reimbursement of Expenditure Incurred by the National Hockey League (22nd – 30th August, 2014). iv.

Council approved the release of the sum of N906,700.00 as requested. v. v.

Request for Funds in Respect of 181 Second (2nd) Batch of Students for One (1) Year Top – Up Degree Programme and 197 Spill Over Cases from the First (1st) Batch at the International University of East Africa, Kampala, Uganda:TheInformatics institute was the first to be established among the 24 institutes with initial students take-off of 218. At the end of their Diploma course 197 were secured admission at International University of East Africa, Kampala in Uganda to top-up and be awarded Degree in their chosen carrier. The institute reported the student’s performance was extremely good with over 40 students making first class and about 111 with second class upper. The character of all the students was very impressive as attested by the authorities. Many of the students express their happiness at the opportunities given, as attested by Mustapha Uba, Falalu Abubakar, Lynda Mazi Anayo, Nabila Umar Faruk, Garba Tijjani and Halima Suleiman on behalf of other students.

Another batch of 181 that just completed their training have also been secured admission and hence a request of N366,573,390.00 was presented

by Ministry of Science and Technology to cover for their Tuition fees, Accommodation, feeding Etc, which the council subsequently Approved for release. In another related development the Ministry submitted requests for:ii.

Release of Funds for the Sponsorship of Kano State Indigenous Youth to Participate in the 2014 Science and Technology and Innovation EXPO, Abuja (19th – 24th October, 2014) at the sum ofN2,836,750.00. iii.

Release of Funds for Organizing a Two – Weeks in – House Training of Newly Employed 100 Computer Assistant at the sum ofN217,000.00.

Consideringthe importance of these request council graciously approved for execution of the programs. xi.

Request for Financial Assistance from Trade Union Congress of Nigeria Kano State Chapter to Enable them Attend a 3 – Day International Workshop in Lome, Togo (4th – 6th November, 2014):Kano state Government was the first State in Nigerian Federation to fully implement N18,000 Minimum wage in January 2012 to all state civil servants. The Government of Gov Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso continues to pay salaries on 25th of every month to all the civil servants to date since assuming power in 2011. Before the Second coming of His Excellency, pensioners use to receive N135 per month. The Governor in his magnanimity raise the minimum amount to be received by every pensioner to N5,000.00 per month. In a related development Government continues to train and re-train civil servants both within and outside the country.

Most of the Ministries, parastatals and Agencies have been Renovated to provide conducive working environment for the civil servants. This consideration and Indeed many other gestures, have engendered cordial working relationship between the Government and State Civil Service.

This informed the council decision to consider this request and approve sum of N500,000.00each for release to the Following unions:xi.

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria Kano State Chapter xii. Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Services, Technical and Recreational Services Employees xiii. Nigeria Civil Service Union to Enable them Attend a Seminar in Kaduna (26th October – 1st November, 2014):UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 171ST KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING 1.

SWEARING – IN OF THREE (3) NEWLY APPOINTED PERMANENT SECRETARIES AND ONE (1) STATISTICIAN GENERAL. Council witnessed the swearing – in of three (3) newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Statistician General who were deployed to the Following Agencies; S/N NAME POST STATION POSTED 1.

Sagir Wali Abdullahi Permanent Secretary Council Affairs Directorate 2.

Aminu Shuaibu Rabo Permanent Secretary Special Duties; Secretary to the State Government Office 3.

Ibrahim Garba Kabara Permanent Secretary Project and Monitoring 4.

Babbale Ammani Fagge Statistician General Bureau For Statistic 2.

2014/2015 SCHOOLS CALENDER Council noted and acknowledged the re-opening of Schools on Monday13th October, 2014 with full attendance in all Schools and appreciates the Ministry of Education’s efforts on the provision of Facilities in all Schools for effective Measure on the control Ebola virus.

3.

PRESENTATION OF AWARD TO GOVERNOR ENGR. RABI’U MUSA KWANKWASO, FNSE BY KWANKWASIYYA PORTHARCOURT Council Witnessed the Presentation of award to GovernorEngr.

Rabi’uMusaKwankwasoFSNE by Kano Indigenes residing in Port Harcourt in appreciation of the developmental Projects so far being initiated by the current administration.

PREPARED BY: Council Affairs Directorate, Office Of The Secretary To The State Government, Government House, Kano.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 34

Metro

Remember Nigeria needs prayers- Aduda tells Christian pilgrims

By Evelyn Okakwu

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A farmer removing coconut shell with a cutlass, at the recent National Agric show in Tudun Wada Nasarawa state. Photos: Mahmud Isa

FCT-SURE-P: 1, 000 youth undergo industrial training

By Stanley Onyekwere

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s part of its National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (FCT SURE-P), has commenced an orientation training for over 1, 000 youth.

The two-day orientation programme, facilitated by the FCTSURE-P, commenced yesterday at the Dame Patience Jonathan’s Youth Support Center in Nyanya, Abuja witnessed a large turn-out of youths that will be trained in different industrial development skills such as plumbing, tiling and POP. According to the organisers, the programme was designed to address the current paradox in the

country, where many youths are unable to find jobs, while on the other hand, industries claim they have jobs available, but cannot find people with requisite skill to fill such vacancies.

Speaking at the event, the FCT Coordinator of SURE-P, Mr. Isa Ari, described the training as another milestone in achieving middle level manpower in the Federal Capital Territory, stressing that FCT SURE-P is out to achieve the best for the residents.

He said this current batch is one of the numerous programmes designed for unemployed youths in the territory, calling on the trainees to come out with the best during and after the training.

Earlier in his her remarks, the Director General and Chief Executive of ITF, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, identified the development of relevant industrial

skills as one of the most critical issues facing the country.

She noted that the emphasis on skills development globally is increasingly “employable skills” which are practical and immediate skills needed by industries in the market place.

According to her, “it becomes clear, that when there is skills gap in the economy, growth in labour and productivity are hampered and unemployment rate remains high.”

She stressed that the development of relevant skills is one of challenges facing the nation today, stressing that such neglect has contributed to the high rate of unemployment.

Chukkas-Onaeko affirmed that the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), which is the driving force of the National Enterprise Development Programme

(NEDEP), was initiated to provide technical vocational skills training and entrepreneurship development to Nigerian youth.

She used the occasion to reveal that since 2012, ITF has trained 37, 000 youths in various industrial skills, adding that the essence of the programme is to make youths selfreliance in the society.

FCT SURE-P Project coordinator, Mr. David Gende told our correspondent that the trainees are drawn from the six Area Councils of the FCT, even as he enjoined them to develop positive and rightful attitude throughout the 3 months duration of the training.

One of the trainees to be trained in tiling, Miss Nancy Bitrus, who spoke to journalists shortly after the orientation exercise expressed confidence on the programme, assuring that she will come out better in a male dominated skill.

he leader of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) delegation for the 2014 Christian pilgrimage exercise, Senator Philip Aduda, has called on pilgrims participating in this year’s pilgrimage to remember that Nigeria needs their prayers.

“My advice to the pilgrims is that they should not forget that Nigeria needs prayers, that the 2015 election is here and that the country needs prayers so that the cases of insurgency and other challenges will be tackled by our leaders, successfully “I call on the pilgrims to pray for peace, not only for Nigeria, but also for Israel, Greece and all the other parts of the world,” Aduda stressed.

He made the call while speaking at the flag off of this year’s pilgrimage exercise, where 250 pilgrims departed the FCT for Israel, at the weekend.

Speaking earlier at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim’s Commission, (NCPC) John Kennedy Opara, called on them to pray also for lasting peace in Isreal, and Greece, stressing that pilgrimage was a call to global prayer.

“Pilgrimage is a spiritual engagement; a call to individual and collective prayer.

“Israel is a very secure place, one of the most secured in the world.

We know that safety is in the hands of God, but we have done all that we ought to and we can assure you that we will by God’s grace, maintain the zero mortality and abscondment rate that the commission has had, for quite some time now,” he noted.

Also at the event, the Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, noted that Christian pilgrimage had improved the relationship between his country and Nigeria.

“Last year, marked the first time in the history of Nigeria when a sitting president came with his ministers to Israel on holy pilgrimage.

…AEA graduates 33 young entrepreneurs

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), at the weekend performed graduation ceremony for 33 young Nigerians in its 2nd Youth Enterprise Programme (YEP) at its Head office, in Mabushi area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In her speech at the event, Chairperson of the occasion and Managing Director AEA, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, congratulated the graduands, urging them to put into practical use the skills, it took them about eight weeks to acquire so that to become self-reliant and employers of labour, in the nearest

future.

According to her, the over 30 trainees were adequately equipped with requisite entrepreneurial skills such as writing of business plans, human resource management, customer care and generally all that is required for them to start and successfully manage any business enterprises that would be sustainable.

Represented by AEA’s Enterprise Development Manager,

by Mrs. Raliat Alimi, the MD reiterated that the organization was fast-tracking processes that would provide the new trainees access to financial resources that would enable the establish business

ventures of their own, in line with their various business plans.

She added that the FCTA’s enterprise arm was included as a beneficiary of Central Bank of Nigeria funds for Small Scale Business enterprises.

Stressing that together with her microfinance institutions across the Territory, she noted that AEA would be able to provide necessary financial assistants to them and as well enlighten them how to access such funds from Bank of Industry and the World Bank, to establish and grow their business ventures.

On his part, a representative of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, Mr. Eze Alan Ifeani, who presented a

paper on Voluntary Tax Compliance under the Self-assessment System, urged all intending entrepreneurs to keep their records straight.

He stressed that they should not to forget to pay their tax when they start making money, as the FIRS would only come knocking when they fail to do self-assessment compliance.

One of the graduates, Miss Jane Francis Johnson, who did not hide her excitement, said attending the programme was an eye-opener for her, because she now knows what it really takes to start and run a successful business.

“Before now, I thought that with my money, I would just rent a shop

and start a business, but here I was taught on the appropriate steps to take; I learnt how to properly keep banking and accounting records, register my business and also pay tax,” she revealed.

Similarly, another beneficiary, Mr. Toma Agio, said that it was an opportunity he was craving, where he would meet experts with experience in the Nigerian market and that was achieved.

The AEA’s Youth Enterprise Programme is designed for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, fresh graduates and other unemployed youths within the ages of 18 and 35, who are desirous of developing enterprise skills.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 35

International Afghanistan conflict: Life inside a Taliban stronghold international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

ANALYSIS

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s international troops prepare to leave Afghanistan after more than a decade of war, the Taliban retains a strong presence in parts of the country.

The BBC’s Panorama programme has gained unique access inside a Taliban stronghold, little more than an hour’s drive from the capital, Kabul.

As we turned on a dusty road into the mountainous Tangi Valley, we were just 60 miles (97 km) south-west of Kabul and already deep in Taliban territory. The valley is known as the gateway to Kabul, and it is from here that attacks have been launched on the capital.

It is in the key province of Wardak - the scene of some of the most violent battles between Nato and the Taliban in recent years.

Having reported from Afghanistan for 10 years and been kidnapped by another group of Taliban fighters in Helmand, I was all too aware that this was a dangerous place, especially for Western journalists.

I had arranged to meet Said Rahman, the Taliban’s selfappointed leader in the area, popularly known as Governor Badri. Now aged 27, he started fighting as a teenager against the American-led forces that swept the Taliban from power in 2001.

He says he will continue fighting until the Americans have left the country. He also wants to extend Islamic rule across Afghanistan.

Governor Badri claims the Taliban do not need to “impose” their vision - though in fact many Afghans oppose the group and its violent methods.

“The people are Muslim and want an Islamic government,” he says. “Westerners don’t want an Islamic government here. The ones we scare and kill are the enemies of this land.”

Granting access to a reporter was an opportunity for publicity, and Governor Badri was keen to show off the area he claims to control. He took me to a hilltop and pointed to the huge former American base of Combat Outpost Apache that was abandoned three years ago.

Everything that was left behind was taken. “Even the barbed wire we gave away to cemeteries, madrassas and mosques,” he says.

From here we could also see the site where the Americans suffered the most deadly single attack of the Afghan war in 2011, when a Chinook helicopter was shot down by the Taliban, killing 38 people, including 17 US Navy Seals.

Not far off is what remains of the Afghan army presence, a hilltop base.

Army spokesman Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi told me the Afghan military was in full control of Wardak province.

But Taliban forces were moving freely in the Tangi Valley, even during the day. Governor Badri says the Afghan soldiers rarely venture out, except in heavily armoured convoys.

Taliban control is especially evident in the Tangi Valley’s schools. The Imam Abu Hanifa School has about 50 teachers

Said Rahman (left), popularly known as Governor Badri, is a self-appointed Taliban ruler in the Tangi Valley and 1,400 students. There were classes in maths and science, but the Taliban make sure religious teaching is at the heart of the curriculum.

Remarkably, this school that runs to a Taliban agenda is funded by the Afghan government in Kabul.

And much of the government’s education budget comes from the West, including Britain.

There were no girls to be seen at the school, or indeed anywhere else in the area.

The official Taliban line is that their infamous ban on girls’ education has now been relaxed.

But the headteacher, Mohammed Salem, candidly admitted that there were no girls’ schools in the area and no plans to build any.

When the Taliban governed Afghanistan, harsh and brutal punishments were meted out

by Sharia or religious courts.

The amputation of limbs and the stoning of adulterers still happen in areas the Taliban controls.

In the Tangi Valley, a trial over

a land dispute was being held in an orchard, Governor Badri was sitting as the judge and jury.

“With the help of Allah our decisions will be much faster than Kabul’s Supreme Court,” he said.

“Once we make a decision, that’s it. They don’t need to appeal to a higher court.”

It is for Sharia and Islamic government that Governor Badri says the Taliban “sacrifice ourselves, create martyrs and give our blood” fighting American-led forces.

Nearby, a young boy was playing with a Kalashnikov. Asked what he was going to do with the AK47, he simply replied: “Shoot people”.

His father added proudly that he hoped his son would “become a real mujahid”, or holy warrior.

Governor Badri is one of the most wanted men in the area.

He says US special forces have launched several raids to kill or capture him, and he has been repeatedly targeted by drones.

The last attack missed him by

“

half a metre, he adds, wounding him and making him deaf in one ear. “Whenever I’ve turned on my mobile the drones come,” he says, “so I try not to use my mobile.”

During the four days I spent with the Taliban, I was allowed to talk to a range of people. Some were selected, and I was nearly always under the Taliban’s watchful eye.

Some locals said they were happy to have a respite from the constant state of war that existed when foreign forces were on the offensive, but others were nervous about voicing any criticism.

“We are scared of both sides,” one man who wanted to hide his identity told me. “No-one here can tell the truth.”

Before I left the Taliban proudly paraded their fighters before me in an orchard. Even here the men carrying rifles and rocket launchers were warned to spread out and cover their faces, for fear of presenting a target to drones when grouped together.

One of the Taliban military

The official Taliban line is that their infamous ban on girls’ education has now been relaxed. But the headteacher, Mohammed Salem, candidly admitted that there were no girls’ schools in the area and no plans to build any.

leaders in the Tangi Valley, Commander Inteqam, boasted of using American technology such as Google Earth to choose targets.

Sporting designer sunglasses and speaking perfect English, the commander claimed that all of the Tangi Valley was under Taliban control, and that the next goal was to take Kabul.

But Kabul is now a fortress city.

Nationally, the police force has more than 150,000 officers and the army is heading towards 200,000.

Many of these soldiers and police are stationed in and around the capital.

Gen Azimi, the army spokesman, insists that “the Taliban’s military strategy is a complete failure”.

From what I could see, the Taliban may effectively control some strategic areas like the Tangi Valley, but they are a long way from mounting a full-scale offensive against Kabul. Without the big cities, the Taliban will never control Afghanistan.

“The Taliban’s weakness is that they use mines, explosions and suicide attacks,” says Col Mirwais Taraki of the police Rapid Reaction Force, who are specially trained to stamp out insurgent attacks.

“They haven’t got the power to launch a full offensive against our troops.”

Afghanistan’s new government signed a deal last month allowing the Americans and British to leave behind special forces and military trainers.

Even so, as the West reduces its support, there is a risk that more Afghans could find themselves living under the Taliban.

Courtesy; BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 36

International

West Africa ‘could lose an entire generation’

Children ‘hacked to death’ in DR Congo town

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t least 22 people, most of them women and children, have been hacked and clubbed to death in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, just days after a similar massacre took place, a government official said.

The attack on Friday evening in the town of Eringeti, in North Kivu, left 10 women, eight children and four men dead, a local government official told the AFP news agency.

“Most of the victims were killed with machetes, axes and hoes,” the non-governmental group Civil Society of North Kivu said in a statement.

Notes from the field The area around Beni, especially to the north, is tense after several attacks in the last ten days.

Many homes are deserted, although people don’t really have anywhere to run to, and nobody knows where the next attack might be.

The attacks on Friday night sparked unrest - people blocked the main road with rocks and fires because they are angry at the attackers, and at the Government for failing to protect them.

Several children had their heads “bashed against the walls” it said, blaming the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan rebel group, that has terrorised the area for much of the last two decades.

Al Jazeera’s Malcolm Webb, reporting from the town of Beni, said the latest attacks took the total number of people killed in last 10 days to over 80.

“People here are understandably distraught,” our correspondent said.

Steve Wembi, a journalist based in Kinshasa, told Al Jazeera that some of the victims were also shot to death and there were many others who had escaped with injuries.

“A military source told me that 11 out of the 22 victims were Congolese soldiers but the Civil Society of North Kivu maintains all victims were civilians,” Wembi said.

The attack occurred some 50 km from the town of Beni, where at least 26 people were slaughtered with machetes on Thursday, raising doubts about government claims that the Ugandans had been defeated.

Amisi Kalonda, government administrator for the Beni area, said he was heading to Eringeti along with an army contingent but was so far unable to say if the rebel ADF - who have bases in the DR Congo were to blame.

Sirleaf said that at the end of its civil war, which ended 11 years ago, Liberia had just 36 doctors left

L

iberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says Ebola has brought her country to “a standstill” and that West Africa is at risk of losing an entire generation to the disease.

There is no coincidence Ebola

has taken hold in three fragile states Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea all battling to overcome the effects of interconnected wars Ellen Johnson Sirleaf “Across West Africa, a generation of young people risk being lost to an

economic catastrophe as harvests are missed, markets are shut and borders are closed,’’ the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said in a “Letter to the World” broadcast on Sunday by the BBC. “The virus has been able to spread

so rapidly because of the insufficient strength of the emergency, medical and military services that remain under-resourced.’’

In neighboring Sierra Leone, emergency food rations were distributed for a third day on Sunday to give a nutritional lifeline to 260,000 residents of an Ebolastricken community on the outskirts of the capital, Freetown.

The Waterloo area in Freetown has 350 houses under quarantine with people suspected of having the Ebola virus and infections in the district are rising, according to the UN World Food Program.

Packets with food for 30 days were delivered to the quarantined homes and to Ebola patients at treatment centers.

Sirleaf noted that the three affected countries were already in bad shape when the outbreak of Ebola, West Africa’s first. began.

“There is no coincidence that Ebola has taken hold in three fragile states Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea - all battling to overcome the effects of interconnected wars,’’ Liberia’s leader said, adding that Liberia once had 3,000 medical doctors but by the end of its civil war, which ended 11 years ago, the country had just 36.

Zambian President Micahel Sata goes for medical check-up

Z

ambia’s President Michael Sata has gone abroad for a medical check-up amid persistent speculation that he is seriously ill.

Mr Sata’s office said the 77-year-old leader flew out on Sunday but it did not disclose his destination.

Mr Sata made a rare public appearance last month to tell parliament: “I am not dead.”

The BBC’s Meluse Kapatamoyo says this is the first time the authorities have said he is seeking medical treatment.

Defence Minister Edgar Lungu has been named acting president.

Vice-President Guy Scott, who is of British descent, cannot fill in for the president as neither of his parents were born in Zambia, as the constitution requires.

Known as “King Cobra” for his venomous tongue, Mr Sata was elected Zambia’s president in 2011.

It is unclear whether he will return by Friday to preside over celebrations to mark 50 years of Zambia’s independence.

Mr Sata has not been seen in public since returning from the UN General Assembly last month, where he failed to make a scheduled speech, the AFP news agency reports.

Mr Sata is due to preside over Zambia’s independence celebrations on Friday

Madagascar ex-leader ‘will not be deported’

M

adagascar has announced that the southeastern African country’s former

President Marc Ravalomanana will not be deported and will instead be asked to take part in the national

On Saturday, police used tear gas to break up a rally by supporters of the former president

reconciliation efforts.

Ravalomanana was placed under house arrest after returning from exile earlier this week.

“We are not a country that exiles or deports its own citizens. That’s not at all our mentality. He is here and we hope that Mr Ravalomanana will actually participate in this [reconciliation] process,” said Henry Rabary-Njaka, chief of staff of Madagascar’s presidency.

Earlier on Saturday, Madagascar police used tear gas to break up a rally by supporters of the former president, who was overthrown in a coup.

Up to 300 people turned up for the banned protest in the capital Antananarivo, throwing stones

at police cars and setting fire to cardboard boxes.

One man had two fingers crushed while trying to move a huge stone to block a road, the AFP news agency said, adding that he was arrested by the police and taken to hospital.

The police arrested two others, including a politician who addressed the gathering, AFP said.

Ravalomanana is effectively being held under house arrest in the city of Antsiranana in the north of the Indian Ocean island, with no means of communicating with the outside world.

While he did not say when Ravalomanana would be released, Rabary-Njaka said the situation “will evolve very, very quickly”.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 37

International Asia & Islamic State: Turkey to let Middle East China Iraq Kurds join Kobane fight gets

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urkey is to allow Iraqi Kurdish fighters to cross the Syrian border to fight Islamic State (IS) militants in Kobane, in what is being seen as a policy reversal.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said talks on the subject were continuing.

Tens of thousands of people

have fled months of fighting in Kobane between IS forces and Syrian Kurd defenders.

The announcement came shortly after the US carried out air drops of weapons to the town’s Kurdish fighters.

Meanwhile the US-led coalition has carried out its first air strike of the day, on the south-west of the

town, says the BBC’s Kasra Naji on the Turkish border.

He says Kobane has been largely quiet for the second day running, with Kurdish fighters apparently having driven IS militants from most of the town.

But the Turkish government decision is nevertheless a major boost for the defenders’ morale, our

Turkey has up till now been reluctant to allow Kurdish Peshmerga fighters to cross the border

correspondent adds, and soon for their fighting capability.

Turkey, faced with a long insurgency by its own Kurds, has up till now barred access for Kurdish fighters to Syria.

The government in Ankara fought a decades-long conflict with the PKK, which it brands as a terrorist organisation. The PKK campaigns for greater autonomy in Turkey and has links with the Syrian Kurds defending Kobane.

But the Kurdish Rudaw news agency reports that Ankara has now accepted a request from Massoud Barzani, the Iraqi Kurdish leader, to allow Iraq’s Peshmerga forces through Turkish territory.

Turkey has come under pressure from its own Kurdish population, and more widely, to allow fighters in to help push IS out of Kobane, a town that has become highly symbolic of the wider battle against IS. “Turkey has no wish see Kobane fall,” Mr Cavusoglu added.

But a senior Kurdish official responsible for defence in Kobane, Ismet Hesen, told the BBC that his forces already had the initiative against IS and they needed heavy weapons rather than extra manpower.

Japan ministers quit on corruption charges

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apan’s Justice Minister Midori Matsushima has resigned, hours after the resignation of Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi.

Ms Matsushima had been accused by the opposition of violating election laws.

Ms Obuchi is alleged to have misused funds from her political support groups and other donations.

Correspondents say the resignations are a major setback for PM Shinzo Abe, who wants to bring more women into the top levels of government.

Mr Abe said he took responsibility for having appointed both women, and that they would be replaced within a day. Both are members of

his governing conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Ms Obuchi, 40, was one of five women appointed by Mr Abe in his cabinet reshuffle last month and was tipped by some as a future prime minister.

But allegations emerged last week that her staff had misused thousands of dollars of campaign funds.

Ms Obuchi has not acknowledged personal wrongdoing, but at a televised press conference on Monday, she said she was resigning because “we cannot let economic policy and energy policy stagnate... because of my problems”.

“I take seriously the impact I have caused,” she said. She also

apologised for being unable to contribute to key goals set by Mr

J

of rebooting a slowing economy and working with a potentially hostile opposition that has already landed

some blows against him.

Widodo, the first Indonesian president not to come from the ranks of the country’s established political, business and military elite, took the oath of office in a ceremony at the parliament in the capital, Jakarta, attended by regional leaders and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

He has climbed up to the top of the pyramid but he’s still weak within the powerful political class.

Achmad Sukarsono, political analyst.

A former furniture salesman, the 53-year-old Widodo rose from humble beginnings to become

Abe, including economic recovery and “a society where women shine”.

Shinzo Abe has now lost two of the five women he appointed to his cabinet in September

Indonesia’s President Widodo sworn in oko “Jokowi” Widodo has been inaugurated as Indonesia’s new president, facing the challenges

Widodo won July’s election with 53 percent of the vote

Jakarta’s governor before winning July’s election with 53 percent of the vote.

“This is the time for us to unite our hearts and hands, this is the time for us ... to reach and realise an Indonesia that has political sovereignty, economic independence and cultural character,” he said in his inaugural speech.

Thousands gathered on the streets of the capital, Jakarta, waving flags and banners to celebrate the unprecedented ascent of the smalltown businessman to leader of the country with the world’s biggest Muslim population.

ready for Ebola

C

hina’s health authorities urged local health administrative departments and hospitals to fully prepare for potential Ebola cases on Monday, as the virus keeps spreading.

Hospitals designated to treat Ebola cases should secure supplies of apparatus, medicines, disinfectants and protective gear for necessary treatment as well as ambulances for patient transfers, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said in a statement.

Hospitals were urged to map out detailed work flows to guide medical workers as emergency responses to the virus, it said, stressing effective quarantine measures and safe disposals of medical wastes.

According to the commission, health institutes should have ample research facilities and materials for Ebola case analysis.

So far, no confirmed Ebola cases have been reported in China.

A total of 9,191 Ebola cases had been reported in West Africa, with 4,546 deaths, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization.

Head-on bus collision kills at least 24 in Bangladesh

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head-on collision between two passenger buses in Bangladesh’s Natore district, some 210 km west of capital Dhaka, Monday evening left at least 24 people dead and dozens of others injured, local police said.

The district’s police chief Bashudev Bonik told Xinhua over phone, “At least 20 passengers were killed on the spot and four others succumbed to their injuries on the way to hospital.”

The accident which occurred at around 3:00 p.m. local time also left some of passengers of both the buses critically injured, he said.

All the injured were rushed to local hospitals and clinics, he said, adding that cause for the accident is not immediately available.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 38

International Europe and Americas

Ukraine crisis: Amnesty deplores abuses by both sides

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uman rights group Amnesty International says there is evidence of atrocities committed by both warring sides in eastern Ukraine, but not on the scale reported by Russia.

There is “strong evidence” implicating Ukrainian government forces in the summary killing of four men at Nyzhnya Krynka, a new Amnesty report says.

When the bodies were discovered Russian media spoke of “mass graves” there.

Shelling has continued in some areas despite a truce agreed on 5 September.

“There is no doubt that summary killings and atrocities are being committed by both proRussian separatists and pro-Kyiv [Kiev] forces in eastern Ukraine, but it is difficult to get an accurate sense of the scale of these abuses,” said Amnesty’s Europe and Central Asia director John Dalhuisen.

Amnesty urged both sides to investigate such killings and other abuses thoroughly, because some had been “deliberately misrecorded”.

“Some of the more shocking cases that have been reported, particularly by Russian media, have been hugely exaggerated,” Mr Dalhuisen said.

The pro-Russian rebellion began in Donetsk and Luhansk in April, inspired by Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March.

The separatists in the predominantly Russian-speaking east were enraged by the overthrow of elected pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Amnesty compiled its report based on research conducted widely in eastern Ukraine in August-September.

In the Nyzhnya Krynka case, an Amnesty delegation visited the site on 26 September.

Four bodies were found believed to be local residents - and Amnesty says there is no doubt that Ukrainian government troops and volunteers were in control there when the victims went missing.

There is also evidence of summary executions by proRussian separatists in the region, Amnesty says, including the killing of two captives in Severodonetsk in July.

Two bodies found in April near the town of Raigorodok, in rebelheld territory, bore signs of torture, Amnesty says.

“Victims have included proUkrainian activists and suspected sympathisers, local criminals and detained combatants,” an Amnesty press release said.

A rebel commander quoted

by Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency says the separatists are now attacking Ukrainian positions near Schastye, a town in Luhansk region.

Duchess of Cambridge’s second baby due in April T he pregnancy had already been announced but the due date had not been released.

In a statement, the palace said the duchess continued to suffer from extreme morning sickness but her condition was “steadily improving”.

The duchess will make her first public appearance on Tuesday since her pregnancy was announced in September.

She will join Prince William to officially welcome Singapore’s President Tony Tan as he begins a four-day visit to the UK. The duchess will also attend the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014 awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London.

The duke and duchess’s second baby will become fourth in line to the throne, behind older brother Prince George, who was born in July last year.

For the second time, the duke and duchess have been forced to announce a pregnancy before the duchess passed the significant 12week milestone.

There was intense media interest in the birth of Prince George, third in line to throne

The duchess is again suffering from acute morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that may require supplementary hydration, medication and nutrients.

It af f e c t s 3 . 5 p e r 1, 000 pregnancies, causes severe vomiting and can lead to

dehydration, weight loss and a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine, called ketosis.

BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said there had been concerns that the duchess’s symptoms would persist, and there would be “relief” that her condition was improving.

He said the royal statement

referred to “a baby” - apparently ruling out the possibility of twins.

With the new baby behind Prince George in line to the throne, our correspondent added that Prince William might have “a hope - it could be a deluded one - that there won’t be same same intense focus” from the media and public.

US airdrops weapons for Kurds fighting ISIL

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he US military has airdropped weapons and supplies to Kurdish fighters defending the Syrian city of Kobane against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, despite its ally Turkey’s declarations opposing such a move.

The airdrops on Sunday were the first of their kind and followed weeks of US and coalition air strikes in and near Kobane, a city located near the Turkish border.

Redur Xelil, a spokesman for the People’s Protection Units (YPG), confirmed the weapons delivery and said Kurdish fighters hoped to receive additional assistance.

“The military assistance dropped by American planes at dawn on Kobane was good and we thank America for this support,” he said.

“It will have a positive impact on military operations against Daesh and we hope for more,” he added.

He declined to detail the weapons included in the delivery but said they would “help greatly” as Kurdish forces battle to keep ISIL from overrunning Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, AFP news agency reported.

Turkey rejects any arms transfers to the Kurdish fighters in Kobane despite the fact that the

group has repeatedly fired mortar rounds near the Syrian-Turkish border.

In a statement on Sunday night, US Central Command said C-130 cargo planes made multiple drops of arms, ammunition and medical supplies provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq.

It said they were intended to enable continued resistance to the ISIL’s efforts to take full control of Kobane.

The Central Command said earlier on Sunday that it had launched 11 air strikes overnight in and around Kobane.

“Combined with continued resistance to ISIL on the ground,

indications are that these strikes have slowed ISIL advances into the city, killed hundreds of their fighters and destroyed or damaged scores of pieces of ISIL combat equipment and fighting positions,” it said.

Turkey views the main Syrian Kurdish group, the PYD, as an extension of the PKK or the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which has waged a three-decadelong insurgency in Turkey and is designated a “terrorist group” by the US, EU and NATO. “The PYD is for us, equal to the PKK. It is a terror organisation,” Erdogan said on his return from a visit to Afghanistan.

Race discrimination commissioner Tim Soutphommasane

told Fairfax Media the original ruling meant Muslim women were being

treated differently to non-Muslim women.

“No-one should be treated like a second-class citizen, not least in the parliament,” he said.

“I have yet to see any expert opinion or analysis to date which indicates that the burqa or the niqab represents an additional or special security threat.”

Labor opposition member Tony Burke welcomed the backdown but said the initial decision should never have been made.

“What possessed them to think that segregation was a good idea?” he said. “Segregation was previously introduced, apparently, with no security advice attached to it and no security reason attached to it.”

Australia parliament reverses face veil rule

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ustralia’s parliament has abandoned amid an outcry a controversial plan to make women wearing the niqab or the face veil sit in separate glassed public enclosure in the building due to security concerns.

The backdown on Monday followed a decision on October 2 to seat people wearing face coverings in areas normally reserved for noisy school children while visiting parliament.

It followed heated debate about potential security risks since the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) organisation.

The ruling was condemned by human rights and race discrimination groups, and Prime Minister Tony Abbott asked that it be reconsidered.

The ruling to let covered women sit in separate areas was condemned by rights and race discrimination groups

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 39

Strange World

The rope-sleeper: Chinese uses single rope as a hammock

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hile the rest of us roll around in bed all night trying to find that elusive ‘sweet spot’, 51-year-old Liang Yanguo can make himself quite comfortable on a single-rope hammock. That’s right, his favorite resting spot is actually a sling made of a single nylon rope tied between two trees.

Nicknamed the ‘Kungfu Man’, Liang has been spotted lying on a rope at a park in Huangyan, C h i n a’s Zh e ji a ng Pro vin c e.

Sometimes he hangs on with one hand while the other rests on his chest. He is also able to kick up his legs and open his arms, or even bring his palms together to salute passersby. Irrespective of the position he assumes, he always appears calm and Zenlike.

Morning exercisers and passersby at the park often stop to chat with the Kungfu Man, or click a few pictures. He obliges by communicating with them, while managing to remain perfectly still on the rope. He recently revealed to reporters that he learned the technique from his Kungfu master.

In the beginning, he needed three ropes bundled together to keep his balance. “I would lay on one rope and use both hands to

grasp the other two ropes,” Liang explained. “Still, I fell off a few times.” Over time, he mastered the skill, and he can now make do with just a single rope.

It turns out that he started practicing the rare skill after he

was diagnosed with throat cancer three years ago. “Although the surgery was very successful, the doctor said if I didn’t rest well, I might only have the last six months to live,” he said. “The disease almost used up all of my

savings and I was unable to work.”

So he turned to rope balancing and says the skill has really helped him in recovery.

Liang said that anyone can give rope balancing a try, if they’re strong and can remain focussed.

“People without any experience in Kungfu can also do it, as long as they can keep balance with their bottom, shoulders, head and the rope,” he explained. “What matters is if they can concentrate without any distracting thoughts.”

Woman drunk on vodka goes swimming in a river, wakes up 75 kilometers downstream

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hen 57-year-old Shen Ailan got drunk on two whole bottles of baijiu – a type of Chinese vodka – she decided that a dip in the river was just what she needed to ‘clear her head’. So she dived into the waters of the Yangtze River at Huangshi city, Hubei Province, and passed out soon after. When she finally opened her eyes, she found herself in Ruichang City, Jiangxi province - roughly 75 kilometers away from where she had went into water!

“I decided a dip in the water would clear my head and I remember wading into the water,” she said. “It was the middle of the day and the next thing I knew was everything had gone black.”

Having blacked out in the water, it’s a real miracle that she survived.

She was found suffering from acute hypothermia, and the medics who treated her speculated that she might have become semi-conscious after going into the cold water.

They added that her body must have acted automatically to keep

her head above water as the river’s current swept her downstream.

Despite the rough waters and the numerous bridges, boats and ships en route, Shen wasn’t even seriously injured. If she had hit any obstacle at all on the way, she would surely have been instantaneously

killed. Luckily nothing of the sort happened; she woke up 10 hours later and started calling for help.

Shen’s cries were heard by Li Chunfu, a villager from Ruichang.

He plunged into the water and pulled her out. ”I could smell the alcohol on her when we took her out

of the water,” Li recalled.

“I have no idea what happened between going into the water and being pulled out, but I am only grateful that I survived,” the woman told reporters. “And I can certainly say that I won’t be going near alcohol again for some time.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

SporT 41 Page

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, OCTOBER 21, 2014

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

AFCON 2015: Musa says Congo win is important

By Taofeek Lawal

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Musa

igeria and CSKA Moscow of Russia dashing winger, Ahmed Musa, has said that the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Congo in November will determine the fate of Nigeria. The dashing forward explained that winning at the Stade Municipal in Pointe-Noire on November 15 will rekindle hope of Nigeria’s Super Eagles defending their title next year.

The former Kano Pillars forward is happy that the Super Eagles have finally got themselves back in track to qualify for next year’s AFCON after an unimpressive start in the qualifiers.

“It is good we have shown that we are still in it after the kind of start to the qualification, which is unfortunate. As African champions it will be very bad if we fail to qualify. That is why the game against Congo is a very important one that we must win. Once we win that, then our place at the Nations Cup will almost be guaranteed. But it won’t be easy as we think because every team in our group also wants to play at the Nations Cup too.

“But the good thing is that we have finally won a game in the qualifiers, and that is good for the confidence of the team. We will continue to work hard so that we can qualify, and we will take each game as they come,” he said.

The former Nigeria goal king scored twice as the Super Eagles defeated Sudan in Abuja last Wednesday to stand any chance of qualifying for next year AFCON.

Ik Uche scores 100th La Liga goal S

uper Eagles striker Ikechukwu Uche has joined the exclusive list of players that has scored up to 100 goals in Spain. The Villarreal forward who netted twice on Sunday night in the game against Almeria was on social media, twitter to celebrate his latest milestone achievement. “Great game last night…very proud to have scored my 100th goal in Spain. Just want to thank everyone for the support.”

IK Uche who started his sojourn in Spain back in 2002-2003 season with second division side, Racing de Ferrol remains one of the most potent strikers Nigeria can boast of presently. Uche was a big hit in his first season in Spain and that saw him moving away from Racing de Ferrol to another Segunda team Recreativo de Huelva, for a fee of about US$300,000, and scored 12 goals in his first year, becoming the league’s top scorer in the 2005–06 campaign at 20 in just 28 appearances.

IK Uche’s exploits effectively saw Recreativo de Huelva return to the La Liga after a three-year absence.

Aside Villarreal, IK Uche has also starred for modest sides like Real Zaragoza, Getafe and Granada.

Indeed his return to the Super Eagles will be a welcomed idea for many who are keen to see the African champions make it to the 2015 AFCON billed for Morocco.

NFF sends referees to England for capacity building Pg 42

Uche

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 42

Sports NFF sends referees to England for capacity building

By Albert Akota

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has concluded all arrangements to send the best of Nigerian referees to the United Kingdom for a special refresher course beginning in the first week of December.

The three week capacity building exercise is aimed at preparing the best of Nigerian arbiters to become better officiating officials in the coming years and to enhance their opportunities of commanding greater recognition by international soccer bodies.

According to the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, this move is part of the vision of the new NFF Executive Committee to enhance the capacity of our referees for the kind of prominence on the international stage that a leading football powerhouse like Nigeria deserves.

“The new NFF Board is

Baze University celebrates 1st convocation with polo tourney

determined to train and retrain our referees, as well as coaches and administrators with an eye on better output. There is no reason why Nigerian referees should not be holding their own globally. We have the men and women, and all they need do is enhance their knowledge of modern techniques of the profession.

“In another six months, we will get another company to sponsor another batch of referees to another refresher course. It is a continuous exercise. But selection of beneficiaries will be based on performance on the domestic scene.”

Pinnick says one of the cardinal programmes of his administration is to improve refereeing in Nigeria, and he sees no reason why a Nigerian referee should not be on duty at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.

The eleven lucky arbiters on the trip to England in this first phase, who will be led by the Chairman of the

Nigeria Referees Association, Alhaji Ahmed Maude and the Chairman of NFF Referees Committee, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’, are Ferdinand Udoh, Abdullahi Shuaibu, Usman Isah, Samuel Pwadutakan, Orowole Tope, Egudia Efosa, Peter Ogwu, Paul Umuago, Musa Dung Davon, Olayinka Olayide and Ukah Ndubuisi.

It would be recalled that as Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission, Mr. Amaju Pinnick sent two respected referees, Messrs Paul Umuago and Dave Egho to England for capacity building, and the duo officiated Legends’ games at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, homes of English Premier League topdogs Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC respectively.

The trip is being sponsored

by Senforce Insurance Brokers, which also sponsored Umuago and Egho on their trip to England, and which has always partnered Delta State Sports Commission on capacity building.

Eagles will bounce back, Amodu believes

Amodu wants Nigerians to be moderate with Eagles’ AFCON result

By Albert Akota

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By Albert Akota

B

aze University on Sunday in Abuja organised a polo competition to celebrate its first convocation ceremony.

Baze University an Abuja-based institution was established in 2011 and a total of 64 grandaunts took part in the 2013/2014 convocation ceremony. The five chukkas polo competition which was part of a series of the ceremony’s event, galloped off at the Abuja Guards Polo Club saw Baze University pitched against Nile University in the battle for supremacy.

At the end of the match, the former defeated the later 6 goals to 5 to win the convocation’s cup competition. There was a strong synergy among the Baze team which was orchestrated by the captain of team, Salihu Dasuki alongside the high- scoring Nura Suleiman, Pen Abdul and Aminu Kago. Although, it was not an easy win for Baze as the Nile quartet of Adulrahman Kukuri, Khalil Haliru, Mohammed Bunza and Muktar Adhama gave a good fight before they finally bowed down to the supremacy of Baze.

Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Proprietor and ProChancellor, Baze University, said that the idea behind the competition was to celebrate the grandaunts as well as encourage the development of the sport in schools.

Referee in action

Eagles

S

uper Eagles interim coach Amodu Shaibu has declared that the AFCON qualification situation of Nigeria is not as bad as being painted.

Nigeria are third in Group A with four points from as many matches and must win their remaining two matches against

South Africa and Congo to stand any chance of qualification.

“The challenge now is that, although its a difficult task, but it’s not impossible,” Amodu declared Coach Amodu is expected to meet with the NFF leadership this week.

igerians have been advised to be moderate in their expectations from the Super Eagles.

The new head of consortium of coaches, Amodu Shuaibu who will be assisted by Yusuf Salisu and Ogunbote Gbenga has promised to give his very best but he has asked Nigerians to be moderate in their expectations of the Eagles.

Amodu Shaibu who has qualified Nigeria for the World Cup twice but wasn’t allowed to lead the team to the biggest football tournament was named along with with Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Alloysius Agu to guide the Eagles through the last two matches of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa.

“We have been given an assignment that is tough and very challenging but not one that is impossible to accomplish.

We will give it our very best and see how things can be turned around.”

“I think this situation is very similar to what we had in the qualifiers to the 2002 World Cup. We worked hard, did our bit and were fortunate to have results elsewhere also going our way.”

“We cannot control just as there a lot more we can influence. I can assure everybody that we will give this assignment all we have and then hope that all other things fall in

place for us.”

“Let us all be modest in our expectations so that we do not put ourselves under undue pressure. Let everybody involved in the game in Nigeria pull together in the right direction and then we see what we can achieve with the next two games as mandated by the Nigeria Football Federation.” Shaibu said.

On his specific plans for the games in November, the Super Eagles coach said a detailed plan of action will be unveiled to the media as soon as ongoing deliberations are concluded.

“Planning has commenced.

A lot of deliberations and discussions are already going on.

We need to be very thorough with all aspects of our planning. Once we have concluded all these, we will unveil them to the media.” he concluded.

The Super Eagles are third in Group A of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers behind South Africa and Congo.

Nigeria will need maximum points from their remaining games to be sure of their place at the biennial tournament she won in South Africa in 2013.

Amodu Shuaibu

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 43

Sports

2014 Glo CAF award holds in Lagos T

he Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the 2014 CAF awards will be once again be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria.

This would be the third time the Nigerian former capital will be hosting the event after last year and 2008.

The ceremony will take place on Thursday, January 8, with anticipation high on who will claim the prestigious Player of the Year award last won by Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Toure.

A statement on the CAF website confirmed the awards up for grabs on the night as follows: Player of the Year, Player of The Year – Based in Africa, National Team of the Year, Club of the Year, Referee of the Year, Coach of the Year, Most Promising Talent, Women’s National Team of the Year, Women’s Player of the Year, African Legend, CAF Fair Play Award, Youth Player of the Year and Platinum Award.

Nominees for the different awards will be announced at a later stage.

Toure… 2013 CAF Player of the Year

Liverpool, Everton battle for Ayew

M

erseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton are to battle it out in pursuit of Marseille winger Andre Ayew.

The 24 year old French born Ghana international has rejected the latest contract offer from his Ligue 1 employers and can leave the Stade Velodrome next summer on a free transfer deal, leading to a great deal of interest in his services.

Swansea City, Hull City and West Ham are all keeping tabs

Player dies after goal celebration

on Ayew though moves to either Liverpool or Everton may prove more attractive to the Marseille speedster.

Ayew has demanded £50,000 a week from the club he has represented since the age of 16 but Marseille have refused to break their wage structure to accommodate the attacker.

Marseille sit seven points clear at the top of Ligue 1 after an encouraging start under new boss Marcelo Bielsa.

Biaksangzuala jersey retired by the club

I

Ayew

ndian footballer Peter Biaksangzuala has died from the injuries he suffered as he landed awkwardly while celebrating a goal.

The 23-year-old damaged his spinal cord doing a somersault after scoring an equaliser for Bethlehem Vengthlang FC against Chanmari West FC. Biaksangzuala was taken to hospital and had surgery, but passed away.

The match in which he sustained his injuries was a state level game in the Mizoram Premier League.

A statement on the Mizoram Premier League’s official Facebook page read: “It has been a sad day for Mizoram football and the demise of the footballer shook his teammates, footballers and fans alike all over Mizoram.

“Peter was a defensive midfielder who had always been aggressive and hard working, a true team player. “Peter’s club Bethlehem Vengthlang FC will retire his jersey no. 21.”

Bethlehem Vengthlang FC is a club based in the north-east of India.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 44

Sports

Pacquiao makes basketball debut M

anny Pacquiao swapped the boxing ring for the basketball court this weekend as he made his professional basketball debut on Sunday, just a month before he is set to defend his WBO welterweight crown.

Pacquiao started Sunday’s game for the newly formed KIA Sorento of the Philippine Basketball Association.

The 35-year-old played only seven minutes and committed two turnovers in his team’s 80-66 win over the Blackwater Elite at Philippine Arena. Boxing icon Pacquiao, who joined the pro league team as a player-coach, played in a pre-season game earlier this month, finishing with one point and two turnovers after a 10-minute stint.

Pacquiao said after the game he would take a break from his KIA duties to focus on the defence of his WBO welterweight crown on November 22 in Macau against undefeated junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri.

At 5ft 6in tall, Pacquiao does not have the typical stature of a basketball player, but is a big fan of the sport.

Manning breaks NFL record

Sexist remarks: Tarpischev under pressure

T

he International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to seek an explanation from Russian member Shamil Tarpischev for his derogatory comments about Serena and Venus Williams.

Tarpischev, who is president of the Russian Tennis Federation and captain of their Davis and Fed Cup teams, has been widely condemned for calling Serena and Venus ‘the Williams brothers’ on a Russian TV chat show, with Serena describing his comments as ‘sexist, racist and bullying’ on Sunday.

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) reacted swiftly, fining Tarpischev the maximum of 25,000 US dollars and banning him from any

P

eyton Manning broke the NFL record for touchdown passes as he helped Denver Broncos thrash the San Francisco 49ers. The 38-yearold quarterback eclipsed Brett Favre’s previous record of 508 by throwing his 509th and 510th scoring passes during the 42-17 win.

Manning set his record in 246 games - of which 208 were with the Indianapolis Colts - while Favre reached his mark in 302 games.

“I’m very honoured and humbled

to join a pretty unique club,” said Manning. “I was glad it was here in Denver. The fact we won the game certainly allows you to celebrate with your team.

“The touchdowns I’ve thrown have helped us win a lot of games.

That’s the only reason [the record is] somewhat special.”

Manning, who missed the 2011 season with a neck injury that required surgery, joined the Denver Broncos in 2012.

“Well deserved Peyton,” tweeted Favre. “Congratulations on breaking my record. Onto 600.”

involvement with the WTA for a year.

‘The WTA and the USTA (United States Tennis Association) did a wonderful job of making sure that - in this day and age, 2014 - for someone with his power, it’s really unacceptable to make such bullying remarks.’

Tarpischev was also criticised

by Russia’s highest-profile player, Maria Sharapova.

The French Open champion said: ‘I think (the comments) were very disrespectful and uncalled for, and I’m glad that many people have stood up, including the WTA. ‘It was very inappropriate, especially in his position and all the responsibilities that he has,

not just in this sport, but being part of the Olympic Committee.’

The IOC has yet to decide whether to impose any sanction of its own, with a spokesman saying: ‘The IOC will directly contact Mr Tarpischev to ask him for a full explanation of his comments.’ Tarpischev, 66, has been a member of the IOC since 1994.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore, world number one Williams said: ‘I thought (the comments) were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 45

Sports

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l

1.Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist will captain Scotland in the autumn internationals against Argentina, New Zealand and Tonga.

2.European 10,000m champion Jo Pavey says she is aiming for her fifth Olympics at Rio 2016 and has no plans for retirement.

3Martina Navratilova slams the International Tennis Federation’s “silence” after one of its members mocks the Williams sisters.

4. Justin Gatlin, who has served two bans for doping, is not on the final shortlist for the World Athlete of the year award.

5. Nigeria striker Ike Uche has said he is delighted to have netted his 100th goal in Spain.

1

2 3

5 4

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

PAGE 46

Sports Germany football dominance will continue, coach believes

G

ermany coach Joachim Low has always been a composed and selfconfident character, yet in recent weeks the 54-year-old has appeared with an even greater sense of calm, a consequence of winning the long-desired FIFA World Cup Trophy he had worked so meticulously towards.

While undoubtedly enjoying being a world champion, Low is now eager to build on that achievement with his squad and the Black Forest native, renowned as a tactical mastermind, already has the next objective in his sights.

After captain Philipp Lahm, record goalscorer Miroslav Klose and defensive rock Per Mertesacker all stepped down from international duty, there are a number of positions to fill in the Germany side.

Furthermore, looking ahead to UEFA EURO 2016 in France, he is determined to cement his team’s status as the best in the world by leading them to continental glory too.

At the FIFA/UEFA Conference for National Coaches and Technical Directors in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, Low took time out to discuss Germany’s triumph at Brazil 2014 and the emotions it subsequently stirred up, as well as looking ahead to the future.

You have had an eventful past few weeks. Could you sum up your feelings over the last two and a half months since winning the World Cup at the Maracana?

Of course there was a feeling of immense joy immediately after the final whistle blew. For the first two or three days afterwards you feel like you’re in a daze before it sinks in that you’ve actually won the title.

That’s an incredible feeling.

And returning home after eight weeks away, you finally get a feel for the impact it all had your compatriots.

There were hundreds of thousands of people in the streets in Berlin to welcome us home.

That was unbelievable.

What happened after that?

People talk to you about it wherever you go and gradually it dawns on you just how much it affected people emotionally. And with time you also realise that winning a World Cup title is an achievement that will remain for eternity.

Now we’re in the record books and it’ll never be forgotten.

It’s a great feeling to be able to leave that kind of legacy.

In sporting terms, when do you feel the side began to develop into what it is now? And what were the key moments along the way?

It was a long, hard journey that started back in 2004 with

Joachim Low

Jurgen Klinsmann. There were difficult moments accompanied by a lot of criticism, but we systematically continued along our path.

We wanted to win a major title again and we asked ourselves what we needed to do to achieve that. In certain areas we worked incredibly meticulously and we were never satisfied if things were only ‘good’. Of course, there were some defining moments too.

We lost the EURO 2008 final and were also knocked out in the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup and EURO 2012. But I always said that our development had constantly moved forwards since 2004 and I was absolutely convinced that we would be able to take the last step, which we did in 2014. The time was ripe and the team was ready.

You may have always been sure you were on the right track but the German public exerted a great deal of pressure on the side to succeed. Do you feel like winning the World Cup was a justification of your work to the public?

Not necessarily, but it does give you a sense of justification within the national set-up, with the coaching staff and the players you work with. We set ourselves new aims every step of the way and constantly wanted to improve.

And when you manage to do that and maybe also help individual players reach a higher level, then that’s hugely satisfying as a coach.

After the international retirement of Mertesacker,

Klose and Lahm, Germany have lost three key players.

How difficult will it be to adapt to their absences?

It’s completely normal to have those kinds of changes in national teams after major tournaments and in a way it makes room for younger players to come through.

That said, I’ve worked with each of those players for ten years and we have a great deal of trust in each other. We’ve gone through good and bad times together.

All three of them were massively important for us in terms of their personalities. They were characters who made a big contribution through their way of interacting in the squad, as well as with the values they took to the field with.

In footballing terms there’s no question that losing those three players is a massive blow.

Per Mertesacker was a stabilising element in defence, Miro Klose scored a record number of goals and Philipp Lahm consistently played at a world-class level for ten years. We will definitely miss them.

Germany currently boast a wealth of young players who are already performing at a very high level. How much did that affect your decision to extend your contract as national team coach again?

We do have a few problems in some positions but we don’t have an endless supply of world-class players, as is often suggested.

However, we do have several outstanding talents, that much is true.

I simply felt that I still have the motivation to go to EURO 2016 with this team, a side that have already achieved so much and are still very young.

A lot of the players haven’t reached their peak yet. We’ve got plenty of young players and others are coming through so I think we all still have a lot of big challenges ahead.

How important to your work are the findings of analytical meetings like the FIFA/UEFA Conference for National Coaches and Technical Directors in St. Petersburg?

We also work with statistics and have our own criteria. What do we want to see from our players? For example, for us the total distance a player covers is not all we look at, rather the intensity with which he ran.

How many fouls do we commit in a game? How many times do we win the ball back? And how many passes do we make in the final third? There are certain things that are very important to me and that I always take into the next game - and of course into the next few months and the coming two years.

You have already started on the road to France 2016 with a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Scotland in Dortmund in Germany’s opening European Championship qualifying match. What medium-term conclusions can you draw from that?

Let me put it this way: winning the [World Cup] title was wonderful and it gave us a great deal, but now we start from scratch again. Participating at a World Cup and going all the way to the Final brings its own set of challenges for the period afterwards.

The players only have a short pre-season and don’t have much of a break. On top of that there are a few changes in the team and we had five or six players who pulled out due to injury. Those are the

problems we’ll be dealing with in the coming weeks.

I experienced something similar in 2006 and 2010. After a World Cup, which is draining for the players, there are always times when someone is unavailable for a short time due to injury. With that in mind I’m gearing up to make changes in October and November and we’ll have to find a way to bridge over those months.

Towards the end of the qualifying campaign next year I think we can try and get the team into form ahead of the next tournament.

How do you assess Germany’s European Championship qualifying opponents in Group D? We’ve played against Poland a couple of times already. They’re a team that have fantastic players, and I’m not only talking about Robert Lewandowski and Lukasz Piszczek.

A lot of their squad play in the Bundesliga and big leagues around the world. They know our players very well and have plenty of experience. They’re a side in their prime and they’ve made a lot of progress. On top of that, Ireland and Scotland are very powerful teams too.

The group is no foregone conclusion. We can get through it, but can’t take anything for granted.

As difficult as it is to become world champions, Germany are now the side everyone wants to beat. Have you sensed that?

It’s difficult to say. I think sometimes teams do give one or two per cent extra when playing against the reigning world champions. We went from being number two to number one so we’ve got a target on our backs.

Having said that however, teams were always highly motivated when playing against Germany anyway.

If someone beats Germany during qualifying then it’s always a huge success for that country.

That’s something we’ve been used to for many years now.

Germany’s Philipp Lahm holds the World Cup trophy as he celebrates with teammates Sami Khedira

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014

Page 47

Tribute General Yakubu Gowon at 80

By Adamu Fika, CFR

I

n 1958, the National Economic Council set up a Joint Planning Committee (JPC) consisting of officials of economic ministries of all the governments.

The council, which was chaired by the Prime Minister with each premier leading the delegation of his respective government, held its meetings twice a year on rotational basis and each meeting lasted a whole week. The Joint Planning Committee was chaired by the Chief Economic Advisor to the Federal Government; and it held its meetings every month and prepared the agenda of the meeting of NEC. Both the Council and the committee continued to function during Gowon’s administration, except with the Supreme Military Council, made of all the military governors and the administrator of the East Central State, taking over the function of the National Economic Council. In 1972, General Gowon created a new body, the National Economic Advisory Council under the chairmanship of the Federal Minister of Economic Development and Reconstruction as an intermediary body between SMC and JPC. The members of the council included representatives of the organised private sector to ensure that the interests of the private sector were fully taken into accounts in the Development plan.

Another inter governmental consultative body was the National Council on Establishment which handled staff matters and ensured that the various governments within the federation adopted similar conditions of service in the public service, have to compare with one another by offering different levels of remunerations and other conditions of service. The National Council on Establishment was chaired by the federal minister of establishments with his counter parts from the states as members. The council also had a subordinate official committee to service it and General Gowon allowed and greatly facilitated the work of this council.

In April 1970, General Gowon launched the third five year National Development Plan, with the theme of Rehabilitation, Reconciliation and Reconstruction. With it, Gowon turned out a series of people oriented policies, established institutions and organs of government and created an environment for the development of a vibrant middle class in accordance with the saying that ‘a strong middle class is the bedrock of democracy.’

General Gowon’s fiscal policy set out in the Plan document: To make available for financing economic development the maximum flow of material resources, consistent with minimum consumption requirements; To maintain reasonable economic and price stability in the face of inherent inflationary pressure; To minimise existing inequalities in wealth, income and consumption standards, which may tend to undermine production efficiency, offend a sense of social justice and endanger political stability.

During the five-year period of the second National Development Plan, General Gowon’s administration scored successes in virtually every aspect of human endeavour. In the field of education were the two federal universities at Ibadan and Lagos adequately funded, the Federal Government contributed substantial funds through NUC to the regional universities and other tertiary institutions. He also built two unitary schools in each of eleven states, in addition to the Kings and Queens Colleges in Lagos. Similar adequate funding was also given to the health sector particularly to teach-

Yakubu Gowon ing hospitals. In line with the philosophy behind their establishment, unity schools recruited their student from all over the country, which is a way of integrating Nigerians at tender ages; and he also created the National Youth Service Corp to integrate them at the tertiary level In the transport sector, the Gowon administration built or expanded the seaports at Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri and Calabar; and constructed airports of international standard in about ten cities together with terminal buildings including international wing at the prestigious terminus at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Ikeja, Lagos Through the implementation of the Second Development Plan, General Gowon’s Government scored great successes in various sectors.

In The Education Sector Primary school enrolment rose from 3.5 million in 1970/71 to 4.5 million in 1972/73 Secondary school enrolment rose from 344,300 in 1970/71 to 649,900 in 1972/73 The Federal Government established 22 secondary schools in 11 states and three Federal Schools of Arts and Science at Mubi, Ogoja and Sokoto. It also took over the University of Nigeria, Nsukka at the request of the government of East Central and South Eastern States Government.

University enrolment also rose from 14,500 in 1970/71 to 25,000 in 1972/73 In the Health Sector The Federal Government substantially made funds available to University Teaching Hospitals at Ibadan, Lagos and Enugu and specialist hospitals at Benin, Enugu and Ilorin. For Lagos Teaching Hospital, the Federal Government provided funds for expansion of several units of the hospital including dentistry, catering and dinning, radio diagnosis etc.

In the Field of Oil and Mining

Sector—The Federal Government acquired majority share holding in virtually all oil production companies and entered into producing- sharing contracts with some of the new companies varying from 65% to 70%. The government was thus put in a very strong position in oil industry. Simultaneously, the Federal Government established the National Oil Corporation, which enabled it to participate in the oil industry actively. The Enugu coalmine was rehabilitated completely.

In the Transport Sector—About 3600 miles of roads were constructed.

Enugu airport was constructed following the construction of the airport at Lagos, Ilorin, Jos and Calabar. Also, constructed were the airports at Kaduna, Maiduguri and Sokoto. The Nigerian airways acquired two Boeing 707, two Boeing 737 and two F.28 aircrafts.

The Nigerian Ports Authority completed the rehabilitation of the war- damaged facilities at Port Harcourt and Calabar while the National Shipping Line bought two new ships. The STD facilities were extended to Ibadan, Kaduna, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Bauchi and Kano and interstate roads linking major cities were constructed.

In the Agricultural Sector—Produce price for the major crops increased between 1972/73 and 1974/75 by large percentages: cocoa, 97%, palm kernel 129%, palm oil 209%, soya beans 89%, Beniseed, 107%, seed cotton 98%, and groundnut 109%.

Rate of inflation dropped from 12.6% in 1971/72 to 4.2% in 1972/73.

Gowon’s greatest achievement was in the industrial and commercial sector. He introduced the indigenisation program through which certain categories of businesses were reserved exclusively for Nigerians while in other Nigerians should hold a minimum of 40%. He also introduced the policy of industrialisation through assembly plants which would adopt backward integration so that the plant would

“

eventually become a fully manufacturing concern with greater portion of the raw materials sourced within Nigeria.

In this regard, two car assembly plants were established in Lagos and Kaduna and truck assembly plants were established in Kano, Ibadan, Enugu and Bauchi. Other manufacturing concerns started or expanded during the period of General Gowon include textiles, cement, paper production, steel and sugar among others Thus, General Gowon recorded tremendous achievements during his 9-year period of leadership. He succeeded in governing Nigeria mainly because of his personal character and his leadership by personal example.

He was very honest, conscientious, and humble, and was never swayed by thoughts of Personal aggrandisement.

Autonomy of State Governments The Nigerian Constitution of 1954 through which Nigeria formally became a federation, provided full autonomy for the Regions in respect of all matters within the competence of the legislature of the regions, as defined in the legislative lists in the schedule of the Regional governments. When the states were created in 1967, they were given the autonomy of the regional government.

He had refrained from interfering in all facets of the public service. Public officers and especially career officers were allowed to rise in their cadres and careers normally and according to the conditions of service prevailing in their respective cadres. He concerned himself only with the appointment and removal of officers where the law vests such responsibility in the Head of State.

General Gowon was prudent, accountable and transparent in the management of public finance. The law of the land had already clearly set out how public resources, including finances were to be managed and used. All government incomes must first enter

To minimise existing inequalities in wealth, income and consumption standards, which may tend to undermine production efficiency, offend a sense of social justice and endanger political stability.

the Consolidated Revenue Fund and the process of releasing and expending them has been duly defined. All expenditure must be appropriated by the law- making body (Supreme Military Council). A warrant could then be issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General would then authorise funds release. This was a constitutional issue which the Gowon Administration strictly adhered to. To his credit, this approach ensured probity and discipline in the use of the country’s revenue. General Gowon would never direct the release of funds for any other purpose. Any such release followed the procedure enunciated in the Constitution and in the relevant law.

From 1966/67 to 1974/75 financial years, when Yakubu Gowon was the Head of State, the revenue which accrued to the Federal Government totalled slightly over nine billion naira out of which the expenditure incurred for salaries and allowances as well as the lost from the Civil war and the many projects executed totalled slightly over five and a half billion Naira with about three and half billion surplus. After nine years as Head of State, he could not at a stage pay the school fees of his children. It was General Buhari’s administration that approved the payment of the fees and also allowed him a little fund for his basic comfort.

The Home Front This article will be incomplete if tribute is not paid to Mrs Victoria Gowon.

Throughout the leadership of the country by her husband, she kept her distance from governance of the country. She never interacted with people other than persons close to her. Nor did she even ask for employment for any person. She was content with being the wife of Head of State and ensured tranquillity in the home, which was necessary for her husband to deal with the great task of managing the complete problems of Nigeria.

Nigerians saw Victoria only occasionally, usually when she accompanied her husband to public functions such as Independence Day celebrations. She conducted herself with decorum and within the constitution and the law in which there is no provision for public executive functions involving tempering with public funds. Because of what we have seen of the conduct of wives of Nigerian public office holders, I think Nigerians owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs Gowon for doing it the way it should be done.

I would like to end this article with another quotation from Chief Awoniyi’s citation on General Gowon on the occasion of that 70th birthday; and I quote: “In retrospect the overthrow of General Gowon on the 29th July 1975 marked a watershed in the history of this country.

A benchmark of what we had been and what we can still become given the right leadership. He is a watershed between humane, predictable, carefully planned governance on the one hand, and arbitrariness, insensitive ruler ship masquerading as dynamism on the other hand. Today, nearly three decades down the years, we have experienced a decline in probity in governance and in everything that is honourable through duplicitous, self- serving manipulative leadership. We have witnessed the destruction of time-tested systems and procedures which are indispensable to orderly, transparent governance.

To do away with them is to destroy the basic ingredients for transparency and accountability and to facilitate the enthronement of corruption in the conduct of public affairs through arbitrariness, impulsive decisions and actions.”

I am sorry to state that today the bleak situation in Nigeria described by the late Chief Awoniyi has become much worse. And with God is the refuge. I wish the General Gowon many happy returns of the day.

Concluded

www.peoplesdailyng.com

QUOTABLE QUOTE The North is in a shambles. Citizens have become refugees in their country. The need to have the next President from the North, but there are challenges requiring vigilance and courage.

tuesday, october 21, 2014

SPORTS latest

Amodu promises to salvage Eagles’ AFCON hope

By Taofeek Lawal

T

he caretaker coach of the Super Eagles Amodu Shuaibu has asked that Nigerians be moderate in their expectations of the team even as he promised to give his best in salvaging Nigeria’s hopes of participating at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Shuaibu, along with Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Alloysius Agu were named in the new Super Eagles technical crew on last Thursday with their immediate task being prosecuting the last round of qualifying matches to Africa’s biggest soccer showpiece next January.

“We have been given an assignment that is tough and very challenging but not one that is impossible to accomplish .We will give it our very best and see how things can be turned around. I think this situation is very similar to what we had in the qualifiers to the 2002 World Cup. We worked hard, did our bit and were fortunate to have results elsewhere also going our way.”

“There are some things that, as humans, we cannot control just as there a lot more we can influence. I can assure everybody that we will give this assignment all we have and then hope that all other things fall in place for us.”

“Let us all be modest in our expectations so that we do not put ourselves under undue pressure. Let everybody involved in the game in Nigeria pull together in the right direction and then we see what we can achieve with the next two games as mandated by the Nigeria Football Federation, he said.

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. . . putting the people first

– Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno state

Diplomacy in Islam

T

he word ‘diplomacy’ comes from the ancient Greek word ‘Diploma’ denoting a folded document used for identification or conferring a favour. Eventually, the connection with documents disappeared. Edmund Burke of France first used the word in written English in 1796 when he referred to “the double diplomacy of France.”

The word ‘diplomacy’ now has different meanings. In the narrow sense it means the procedures and process of negotiation usually between sovereign states.

In a wider sense it includes almost everything connected with maintaining relations with different states and organisations during war and peace times.

Besides traditional aspects of diplomacy, modern diplomacy absorbs into its fold economic, social, cultural, scientific, technical, spiritual and intellectual dimensions of relations among various nations.

Moreover, there is a separate pattern of diplomacy called “multilateral and international or global diplomacy” that is concerned with issues not connected with a particular nation or country, but with entire human society or international community.

Human beings organised in groups, whether tribes, kingdom, nation or city state, have always had some kind of relationship with others. The ancient kings of Babylonia, Assyria, Egypt sent envoys to negotiate with other rulers as early as 155 BC. The Queen of Sheba visited king and prophet Solaiman (A) in 950 BC what today would be called a diplomatic mission. In 6th century BC the Greek city states often sent representatives, known as heralds to other cities to plead a cause before public body.

In pre Islamic period, diplomacy was confined to a very limited field and considered to be devoid of ethical consideration.

Islam’s contribution to diplomacy is to give it a comprehensive shape by widening its scope and blending it with ethical and moral flavour, thereby laying the foundation of modern mode of diplomacy.

Besides war, peace, treaties etc, Islam brought into diplomatic fold issues relating to prisoners of war, international cooperation for goodness of mankind, global action against enemies of humanity, expression of positive and active solidarity with people struggling for a legitimate cause, creation of global awareness for beneficial and against harmful action, immunities for diplomats etc.

DIPLOMACY AND ETHICS: The diplomacy and ethics go

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Tuesday Column Mohammad Zafor

Sultan Saad Abubakar together in Islam is proved from the verses of the Holy Quran and traditions of the holy prophet and it is substantiated by many events of Islamic history. The verse No 13 of surah “Hujurat” states, “O mankind, we created you from a single (pair) of male and female and made into nations and tribes that you may know each other.

Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you”. This verse clearly indicates that the act of maintaining relations among nations for knowing each other is a desirable thing. It also shows that we must follow the right and honoured way in the sight of God thereby placing ourselves in the honourable place in the comity of nations. Here enters the concept of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ in the arena of diplomacy.

Our beloved prophet (peace be upon him) would start all his diplomatic letters with Bismillah and quote verses of the Holy Quran therein, thus giving them a religious touch. He would ask the Muslim soldiers to abide by certain ethical norms even during war. This would speak of his strong attachment to ethical mode of diplomatic activities during peace time.

Of late there emerged a feeling among the world leaders about the importance of ethical aspect of diplomacy. The concern for human rights, elimination of racial discrimination and arms control, the policies of non interference

in the internal affairs of other countries, non use of force in the settlement of disputes expression of solidarity with the people struggling for freedom and liberty, conclusion of different arms control treaties emanated from this feeling. In fact, had there not been ethical consideration, there would not have been different humanitarian programmes undertaken by different international organisations. In the absence of this consideration this planet would turn into a place not suitable for human habitation. In that case there would be the reign of brutal forces threatening the very existence of human race.

There is misunderstanding regarding war in Islam. But the fact is that the concepts of war and peace in Islam are consistent with the norms of modern civilisation.

Islam does not permit one to use arms unless compelled to do so. Islam is against unnecessary killing of any animal or destruction of property and is against war for grabbing land. Islam follows some basic principles for starting a war and some ethics even during the war. The goal of war in Islam is elimination of injustice and establishing peace and justice.

It does not support war unless it is compelled to go for it after exhausting all possible ways to find out a peaceful solution.

So, considering this the scope of offensive war becomes very limited. War in Islam is always preceded by last effort of negotiation by sending special envoy with proposals of peace.

War in Islam aims at attaining the following objectives: 1. To prevent the belligerent party from creating disorder, tumult and turmoil. The Holy Quran says, “Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. And fight them until there is no more tumult or oppression and there is justice and faith in God.” 2. To save the oppressed people from the hands of oppressors when requested for.

The Holy Quran says, “And why should ye not fight in the cause of God and of those who being weak, ill treated (and oppressed)? men, women and children whose cry is: Our Lord! Rescue us from this land whose people are oppressors: and raise for us from thee one who will protect: and raise for us from thee one who will help.” (Nisa 75)

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3. To compel one group of the Muslims to accept the verdict of the ‘Ummah’ (community) to end hostility, when there is a war between two groups of them. The Holy Quran clearly states: “If two parties among the believers fall into a fight, make peace between them: but if one transgresses against the other, then fight ye (all) against the one that transgresses until it complies with the command of God. But if it complies then make peace between them with justice and be fair, for God loves those who are fair.” (Hujurat) This can be extended for all. 4. To free this world from brutal forces by curbing their power whenever they try to raise their ugly heads, for ensuring peace, security and order in the world. This may be derived from the following verses of the Holy Quran, “By God’s will they defeated him: And David slew Goliath: and God gave him power and wisdom, taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not God check one set of people by means of one another, the world would indeed be full of mischief and disorder. But God is full of bounty to all the worlds.” (Baqarah 251) The relevant articles of the UN Charter regarding reducing tension, elimination of threat to international peace and security and curbing the tyrant force, echo those principles. Use of force for prevention and removal of threats to the peace has been accepted by all and incorporated in the UN Charter details of which are given in Articles 39, 40, 41, & 42 of the same. There is no single evidence that Prophet (peace be upon him) and his followers fought any war just to widen the frontiers of Islamic states without being compelled to engage into it in the light of above mentioned principles and objectives. The verses of the Holy Quran and traditions of the holy Prophet (peace be upon him) state in unequivocal terms and words that Muslims are not allowed to exceed the limit and continue their fight after the enemies cease the operation.

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