Peoples Daily Online by Peoples Media Limited

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 95

Friday, December 21, 2012

. . . putting the people first

NASS passes N4.99 trillion for 2013 >> PAGE 2

Court voids Pwajok Fulani’s election in Plateau >> PAGE 3

Safar 7, 1434 AH

N150

EFCC declares ex-Kogi governor wanted >> PAGE 3

Gunmen kill two, kidnap Frenchman From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

nknown gunmen in the late hours of Wednesday launched an attack on Rimi town in Katsina state where they bombed a police station and a residential house, killing two persons and kidnapping a French man working on a windmill project. The expatriate, identified as Mr. Francis Colump, was kidnapped in Gidan Jimina in Unwala Quarters of Rimi town after the house he was sharing with the two dead persons identified as Abubakar Salisu, 25, and Rabe Dan Ungwa, 45, was attacked with explosives. It was not clear how both men died but the assailants kidnapped the French expatriate working with a windmill company, VERGNET S.A France. When Peoples Daily arrived Rimi town in the early hours of yesterday, the police station had been entirely razed by an improvised explosive which was hauled into the building by the assailants. An eyewitness disclosed that the gunmen numbering Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX

20th Dec., 2012

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.76 249.02 201.11 0.2894 41.24

SELLING 155.76 250.63 202.41 0.3094 41.53

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 207 255 42 157

SELLING 209 256 44 158

LEFT: The Rimi police station bombed by suspected gunmen, in Rimi, Katsina state. RIGHT UP: Mr Francis Colump, site engineer with S.A Vergnet, the firm handling Katsina Windmill Power project, was allegedly kidnapped, yesterday.

VP absent as Yakowa is buried …my father’s death has united Nigerians – son From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna with agency report

eading a Federal Government delegation, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday paid more tribute to the late Kaduna state governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim

Yakowa, at the interment of the deceased in his home town of Fadan Kagoma, Jema’a local government area of the state. “Yakowa had no ethnic or religious divide in his blood, he was a nationalist, a bridge builder”, Jonathan noted in his tribute during a requiem mass

for Yakowa at the St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Fadan Kagoma. He added that Yakowa loved his people irrespective of their religion or tribal inclinations. The ceremony was attended by prominent Nigerians from across the country, including

the Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi; Peoples Democratic Party national Contd on Page 2

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

CONTENTS

NASS passes N4.99 tr for 2013

News

By Richard Ihediwa, Umar Muhammad Puma & Ikechukwu Okaforadi

2-10

Editorial

Op.Ed

Letters

Opinion

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

S/Report

Religion

Senate, PDP and the tyranny of the majority, Page 37

Int’l

31-35

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-46

Leisure

Columnist

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Peoples Daily wants to hear from you with any news and pictures you think we should publish. You can send your news and pictures to: letters@peoplesdaily-online.com pictures@peoplesdaily-online.com contact@peoplesdaily-online.com

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

he two chambers of the National Assembly yesterday passed a hamonised budget for the 2013 fiscal year, approving a total of N4.987 trillion which shows a N63 billion increase over the N4.924 trillion proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan in the initial budget he submitted in October. However, no provision was approved for the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) following the insistence by the House of Representatives that it would not approve any budget for the agency as long as President Jonathan continues to ignore its demand to sack the SEC Director General, Ms Arunma Oteh. The passage of the harmonised budget followed a consensus reached by the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly on the new expenditure and revenue profiles of the budget including the adoption of a common oil crude oil benchmark of $79 per barrel as against the $75 initially proposed by Jonathan. Out of the overall N4.987 trillion passed, the National Assembly approved a total of N1.621 trillion for capital expenditure while a total of N2.386 trillion was approved for recurrent spending. The new budget figure represents an increase of about 5 per cent over the N4.7 trillion appropriated for 2012 out of which N2.41 trillion was used for recurrent while N1.5 trillion was approved for capital projects. The revenue estimate of the budget was predicated on daily crude production of 2.53 million barrels per day at the price of

$79 per barrel at an exchange rate of N160 to the United States dollar. The gross federally collectible revenue was projected at N10.84 trillion of which the total revenue available for the Federal Government’s budget was pegged at N3.89 trillion. A look at the 2013 budget shows that the, federal legislators approved a total of N591.7 billion for debt services and the sum of N387.976 billion for statutory transfers. The major breakdown of the budget as passed shows that the legislature increased the provision of the Ministry of Education from N426.53 billion proposed by the executive to N432.760 billion. It moved that of Ministry of Defence from N348.91 billion to N364.415 billion; Power Ministry had it budget was moved from N74.26 billion to N77.363 billion while that of Agriculture was increased from N81.41 billion to N83.204 billion. The passage of the budget in the two chambers followed the adoption of the reports of the Appropriation Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives with lawmakers approving the harmonised figure before embarking on end of year recess. In the Senate, the Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Ahmed Maccido who presented the report of his committee said the final figures were derived from extensive consultations by stakeholders across the country. In the House, Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Hon. John Enoh noted that the country is still in the throes of a “worrisome infrastructure deficit across the length and breadth of the nation, which should be of huge concern to all”.

Speaking after the passage of the money bill, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha who presided at the sessions enjoined all standing committees of the National Assembly to carry out their oversight function in order to ensure full implementation of capital projects. However giving an insight into the decision of the House of Representatives to shelve the budget of the Security and Exchange Commission Chairman House committee on Media, Rep. Zakari Mohammed, said the House stood on its decision not to approve any budget for the agency until Oteh is removed over allegations of abuses. “As far as we are concerned, we would not touch that budget until and unless what we have said is done. If we resolve and we have done our findings and say this is the situation. Of course we don’t have the authority to say let her go, but we will always meet. “It is like a child who has offended his parents; they will meet at the dinner table. In SEC’s case, we have met at the dinner table and we want to see what monies will be used to run SEC in the year coming because. We believe that as an arm of government, we have our independence we should be given our own regards. We did not just wake up to say this is the situation it was a resolution of the House. The resolution of the House has the force of law. “Even though people will say it is merely advisory, it was not advisory when we had the doctrine of necessity that brought up the first beneficiary who are the executive arm today. The Senate are with us on this matter. Oteh must go as far as we are concerned. If she doesn’t go, we won’t touch the budget”, he said.

Gunmen kill two, kidnap French man Contd from Page 1

about 30 stormed the town around 9:30 p.m on Wednesday and divided themselves into two groups; then they simultaneously attacked the police station and the house where the expatriate lived. The source said the two men died in the attack during the raid while a mobile policeman attached to the house was critically injured. It was gathered that the policemen on duty at the police station took to their heels when the gunmen stormed their premises and started firing at the building. Sources said it was after the policemen had fled that the bandits used a gas cylinder to blow the station. The Katsina state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji confirmed to newsmen at the premises of the burnt Rimi police station that two people were killed during the attack while the injured mobile policeman was receiving treatment in a hospital.He also said a French expatriate was kidnapped by the assailants. Magaji said that he was in Rimi to see the situation for himself while giving the assurance that his command would do all within its powers to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book. Meanwhile the security has been beefed up in the town while the affected areas have been cordoned off by security agencies.

VP absent as Yakowa is buried Contd from Page 1 chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur; former PDP national chairman, Chief Solomon Lar; former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar; as well as National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, among several other dignitaries. Vice-President Namadi Sambo was however, conspiciously absent. Jonathan said government would continue to support the widow and family of the late Yakowa. Cardinal John Onaiyekan presided over the church service while the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Hassan Matthew Kukah, described Yakowa’s demise as beyond human questioning. He dismissed as untrue, reports that a section of Kaduna citizens celebrated Yakowa’s passage and noted that Yakowa broke the jinx by emerging the first Christian to be governor

of Kaduna state. “The achievements of Yakowa as governor, particularly in development and in building bridges of unity, are testimonies to the fact that governance is not an exclusive right of a group”, Kukah said while urging Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero to ignore parochial opinions of some individual people who advocate politics of exclusion of certain groups and sections in society. “Do not be tempted by what the wicked people claim, that the Muslims have taken back what belongs to them,” Kukah admonished Yero, adding that “politics of exclusion should be reversed for a creation of a just and even society”. In his address, Yero described Yakowa’s electoral victory during the 2011 governorship elections in Kaduna as a significant milestone and watershed and that the deceased

pursued his programmes with single minded determination. “The fruits of his labour had started manifesting before the cold hands of death took his life, in the most tragic manner, the reality of which I am yet to come to terms with”, Yero lamented. According to him, “my late boss, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, exhibited uncommon leadership qualities. He was an embodiment of patience, simplicity, patriotism, peace, commitment to duty, thoroughness, honesty, nationalism, team player, experience in public service and a host of other sterling qualities that time and space will not permit me to mention. Also speaking, Mr. Peter Yakowa, son of the late governor yesterday said the death of his father has helped to unite Nigerians. “It was a grand design by God to show northerners and southerners that we are indeed

brothers and sisters”, Peter said during the funeral mass for his late father. “A lot of people described the crash in Bayelsa as an accident, I describe it as a grand design by God to show Mr. President and Nigerian that Patrick Yakowa was indeed their brother…” Peter described his father as an apostle of peace, who always preached peace at every opportunity and spent his life serving humanity. He urged people in the state to support Yakowa’s focus on peace and unity, and to also support the new governor. “He has made the ultimate sacrifice, and that sacrifice was made on the altar of peace. I pray that this sacrifice will not be a wasted sacrifice. I pray there will be peace in Kaduna state”. Also, Mrs Amina Yakowa said she has come to terms with the demise of her husband, as people had testified to his good nature while alive.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

PAGE 3

Court sacks Pwajok, Fulani, orders fresh bye-election in Plateau By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday, set aside the October 6, 2012 bye-election into the seat representing Plateau North Senatorial District and BarkinLadi state constituency in Plateau state, following the death of

Senator Gyang Datong and Hon. Gyang Fulani respectively. Senator Pwajok, who was elected under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as replacement of Senator Gyang Dantong who was murdered during a funeral crises in Jos. The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola in his judgment,

ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct another election within 90 days. The court also granted a consequential order against the duo of Sen. Gyang Pwajok and Hon. Kaneng Gyang Fulani to stop parading themselves as representatives of the affected constituencies

with immediate effect. The judge further ordered the affected lawmakers to vacate their offices as Senator and House of Assembly member respectively, having ordered a re-run of the said 6th October, 2012 bye-election conducted by INEC. The applicant had approached the court after the names of its

candidates for the affected constituencies were rejected by INEC prior to the election that produced Sen. Pwajok and Hon. Kaneng. The court held that INEC no longer has the power to reject names of candidates nominated by political parties, following the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010.

330 angle for SWF vacancy By Abdulwahab Isa

Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (middle), assessing a test drip irrigation project at a farm centre, yesterday in Maiduguri.

EFCC declares ex-Kogi gov wanted By Sunday Ejike Benjamin & Lambert Tyem

…as Audu seeks court’s order to stop arrest

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, finally declared former governor of Kogi state, Prince Abubakar Audu wanted for offences bordering on conspiracy, stealing and misappropriation of public funds. The commission had before now threatened to declared Audu wanted following his failure to respond to invitations from the anti-graft agency. Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, recalled that attempts by the EFCC to arrest Audu at his 32, Sulaiman Barau Street, Asokoro, Abuja residence on December 11, 2012 failed as he allegedly evaded arrest. "The former governor is alleged to have fraudulently enriched himself to the tune of over N4 billion while he held sway as governor of Kogi state between 1999 and 2003. "The move to arrest the exgovernor followed a Supreme Court ruling of November 23, 2012, which dismissed the ex-governor's appeal to continue to protract his corruption trial by EFCC.

"The Commission implores anyone having useful information about the whereabouts of the suspect to notify its offices in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano and Enugu or report at the nearest police station", EFCC announced. Meanwhile, Prince Abubakar Audu, has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop the EFCC from launching fresh legal attack on him on the grounds that it would amount to "an abuse of court process". Audu, in an originating summons filed by his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, asked the court to stop EFCC from commencing any fresh process of investigation and or prosecution against him in respect of his tenure as Governor of Kogi state, since he has already been charged on an 80-count case currently pending at the High Court of Lokoja, Kogi state. He is specifically praying the court to declare that the Respondent's (EFCC) letter No: CR: 3000/EFCC/ ABJ/ISOS/TM.11/ VOL. 7/37 dated December 11, 2012 inviting him for an interview, with a view to arraigning him afresh before a

Federal High Court in Abuja in the face of a pending charge duly initiated by the anti-graft agency at a High Court in Lokoja sitting before Justice S. T. Hussaini with respect to the same offences he was alleged to have committed as governor, amounts to a gross abuse of court process. He also wants the court to declare that he cannot be legally arraigned and /or prosecuted by the respondent or any other person or authority within the Federal Republic of Nigeria in respect of offences allegedly committed during his tenure as Governor of

Kogi state between May 1999 and May 2003 when there is a subsisting charge pending before the High Court of Justice in Lokoja and the Court of Appeal, Abuja in Appeal No: CA / A / 381c / 2011, alleging the same offences committed during the same period and arising from same facts as the pending and extant charges. Audu also wants the court to hold that the Supreme Court decision delivered on November 23, 2012 overruling his appeal did not effectively and finally terminate his trial on the 80-count charge at the High Court of Justice, Lokoja.

o fewer than 300 applicants are eyeing the positon of Chief Investment Officer of Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), it was confirmed yesterday. Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala also confirmed that the strategy document that will give operational bite to Sovereign Wealth Fund is ready. This is coming two months after its inauguration by the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, a statement by the minister’s media assistant, Paul Nwabuiku announced yesterday. The statement also said its investment policy guidelines and the processes for the three fund mandates of the NSIA are almost finalised. The strategy document was ratified by the Board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) led by Alhaji Mahey Rasheed to ensure that the blueprint is ready on time, the board has met twice since its inauguration on October 9 to review and reshape the draft submitted by the management team led by Uche Orji, the MD of NSIA. The statement quoted minister as assuring that the country is poised to benefit significantly if the momentum is maintained. “There is still a lot of hard work ahead, we need to remain focused and disciplined so that we can reap the rewards. We are not yet there but we are on the right track. The question we must keep asking ourselves is: Other countries have benefitted from SWF. Why not Nigeria?”

NLC suspends industrial action in Plateau state By Muhammad Nasir

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Plateau state branch, has suspended the current industrial action in the state. This was contained in a resolution reached between the Government of Plateau state and the NLC yesterday on the on-going industrial action by workers over the implementation of the

N18,000 national minimum wage mediated by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu at the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Abuja. Agreement was reached between the Plateau state government and the leadership of the NLC, that the Plateau state government should pay the salaries of workers with 55% implementation of the minimum

wage from June, 2012, adding that the salaries of October, November and December, 2012 shall be paid as agreed immediately. The parties both agreed that the payment of June to September, 2012 salaries will be addressed by the government of Plateau state, Minister of Labour and Productivity, and the president of the NLC, Abdulwaheed Omar within one month from the due date of the communiqué.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

PAGE 4

Rep to support downsizing of workforce, if… By Umar Muhammad Puma

member of the House of Representatives who is also the vice chairman, House Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Aminu Sulaiman (PDP Kano state), said yesterday that he would support downsising of the nation’s workforce as canvassed by the Central Bank governor if the categories of workers are principal officers scattered around ministries and parastatals. The lawmaker disclosed this to Peoples Daily in his office that he would support the idea only if it affects the category of workers whom he described as living on blood of Nigerians and who do very little for the nation. “We should reduce those office holders who goes about with several PA’s and SA’s, and who have in their convoys six to seven official cars, fuel and serviced by the tax payers’ money... “But if you tell me that the levels from 12 down needs to be pruned, then I would score that person first from the rear, which means zero as far as I’m concerned”, he said.

Inadequate fund cause of poor disaster management – NEMA From Illya Garba, Minna

he two-day workshop on strengthening disaster preparedness and mitigation at the state and local government levels in the country organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has ended in Minna, Niger state capital with a call on three tiers of government to adequately fund the agency. Communiqué issued at the end of the workshop with a theme, “the role of nongovernmental organisations, community based organisations and private sector in disaster management”, participants unanimously agreed that funding remains the major challenge in managing disasters. Also, inadequate professionals to manage emergencies is part of areas that needed urgent attention as there is the need for trainings and retraining for critical stakeholders especially non-governmental organisations (NGO’s), community based organisations (CBO’s), and the private sector on first aid in the event of disaster. The communiqué, while advocating a collaborative effort in disaster management, implored youth as vanguards of change to help in sensitising the rural dwellers/communities on the need to secure the property of accident and disaster victims rather than taking them away. Participants in the workshop therefore called for effective grassroots disaster management, and that communities should be carried along on disaster and emergency enlightenment and advocacy programmes.

Boko Haram: Court admits improvised explosive devices as exhibits By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

00 pieces of improvised explosives devices (IEDs), allegedly retrieved from the six suspected members of Boko Haram linked to the Suleja bombings in Niger state two years ago during their arrest, have been admitted as evidence by a Federal High Court in Abuja. The court sitting before Justice Bilkisu Aliyu however refused to take custody of the explosives and bundles of connector wires and ordered the State Security Services (SSS) to take them away for safe keeping.

The suspects, Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana, Mohammed Ali, Musa Adamu and Umar Ibrahim were docked on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism. They were docked on September 30, 2011 for allegedly masterminding series of bomb blasts in Suleja, Madalla, both in Niger state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The explosives which the court admitted as evidence yesterday were allegedly retrieved from the suspects in July 2011 in Kaduna state. According to an SSS radioactive expert, Michael

Adebayo who testified before the court, the explosives are easily triggered by constant contact and as such he could not bring them out in the open court for further analysis. He explained that once the explosives are connected to cordex cables which were also tendered as exhibits before the court; they are capable of razing down a five storey building with over 7, 000 metres impact. Earlier, two other prosecution witnesses confirmed that the IEDs were indeed recovered from the suspects, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana-Umar, Mohammed Ali

and Musa Adam who were arrested on July 28, 2011 at Gumel Junction, Kachia in Kaduna state with the items. They added that other items recovered include four handsets and a black Honda civic car. The suspects were alleged to have caused the deaths of several persons through the use of improvised explosive devices at a political rally and at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Suleja and Dakwa Village in Bwari. The case has now been adjourned to January 9, 2013 for further hearing.

Chairman, Board of Directors, Peoples Media Limited (PML), Malam Wada Maida (middle), exchanging documents with Chairman, Board of Cooperative Pension Project Limited, Mr. Ike Wiilie-Nwobu (2nd right), during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Peoples Media Limited and Cooperative Pension Project Limited, yesterday in Abuja. With them are Director of Peoples Media Limited (PML), Malam Bilya Bala (2nd left), Chief Operating Officer of PML, Malam Ali M. Ali (left), and Consultant of Cooperative Pension Project, Mr. Tom Ndibe (right). Photo: Mahmud Isa

Korean agency to donate educational facilities to FCT By Maryam Garba Hassan & Christiana Popoola

CT Secretary for Education, Malam Kabiru Usman, has disclosed that plans are on the way for the secretariat and the Korean Organisation for International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to construct an ECCD, basic and secondary school in the FCT. According to him, this plan when executed will be one of the

biggest education projects donated to any state in the country and that already, land for that purpose has been provided. Usman made the disclosure Tuesday in Abuja at this year’s FCT Education Secretariat media luncheon. While thanking the donors, he however attributed this feat to the secretariat and the FCT administration for creating an enabling environment, its

demonstration and ability to optimally utilise donated infrastructure which, he said, attracts more aid from friendly donors and development partners. He said the development has addressed the challenge of inadequate infrastructure and facilities that confronted the FCT administration in the past. According to him, FCT still retains one of the highest levels of examination ethics in the country as it has absolute zero

Ibom Airport contractors tasked to meet deadline From Mike Etim, Uyo

he Chairman of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Appropriation and Finance, Barrister Onofiok Luke, has urged contractors handling the N16 billion projects on maintenance, repair and overhaul, (MRO Unit) new terminal building, and taxiway at the Ibom International Airport to latch on the dry season so as to meet the 2013 deadline set for completion. Luke made the call when he led other members of the committee on inspection of facilities at the airport as part of

project inspection across the state to access their performance as regards budgetary allocation to such projects. Based on the work so far done, and the state-of-the-art facilities being used for the project, the committee chairman expressed the satisfaction that at completion the Ibom International Airport will rank among some of the best airports in the world. The Project Coordinator, International Airport Development Company, Mr. Marco Fennenue and the project Manager of ALCON, the firm handling the project, Mr. Mirko

Dalle Nogare who conducted the lawmakers round the project, stated that their target is quality and timely delivery of the projects. The project Managers stated that the MRO building will be completed by the middle of next year while other components will be completed in 2014. The lawmakers also inspected the 20 th Anniversary Specialist Hospital at Itam near Uyo, where the main contractor handling the work, Ghitto Construction Company, stated that the world class hospital will be completed in September next year with 287 beds.

tolerance for examination malpractice. Fielding questions from the media on why Junior Secondary School, Jikoyi in Abuja which has won several international awards for the country is still saddle with problems of infrastructure and learning facilities, Usman said the FCT was afraid to invest in the school because the FCT and the Young Shall Grow Motors are in court over the land the school is situated on; adding that though the court has awarded the land to the Young Shall Grow Motors, the FCT government is trying to settle out of court. As part of its achievements, Usman said the secretariat has in collaboration with the British Council trained 200 English teachers under the Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT); adding that the Secondary Education Board also trained teachers of core subject areas including the newly introduced trade subjects in all the area councils. He said that teachers in FCT teachers are among the highest paid in the country and that the FCT is the first to pay 27% teachers allowance in the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

PAGE 5

NIGERIA MOURNS YAKOWA

Yakowa: Sambo urges Kaduna to sustain legacies By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

ice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has urged the Kaduna state government to consolidate on the good works which late Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa started. The Vice President made this call in Kaduna on Wednesday during the wake-keeping ceremony for the late governor which took place at St. Patrick's Chaplaincy, Government House, Kaduna. "Allow me to seize this

opportunity to call on the state government to consolidate on his legacies by continuing the good works he started for the good people of Kaduna state," he said. The Vice President while eulogising late Yakowa, stated that he would miss his invaluable advice, noting that the shock of his death made him cry and grieve for the country as it had lost one of her best. "Kaduna state in particular and the nation in general have lost a gentleman, a patriot, a nationalist, a highly detribalised

Nigerian, a bridge builder, a seasoned public servant and thoroughbred politician with an unrivalled pedigree of service to state and humanity. “A man of the people, Yakowa was humility personified. He was affectionate and loving and loved by all. His love knew no bounds and cut across tribe, gender and creed.

No wonder, the slogan Yakowa Nakowa literally meaning ‘Yakowa the man of the people’ has become the most popular mantra for the people in the state. Children sing it; adults chant it; and the aged memorised it. “This mammoth procession of people from all walks of life that has gathered today on this wake-keep for this great man is a testimony that Yakowa has lived a life dedicated to the service of humanity," the Vice President said. In his homily, the Archbishop

of Kaduna, Most Reverend Man-Oso Ndagoso urged Nigerians to borrow a leaf from the life and times of the late governor whom he described as a gentlemen who was loved and cherished by all. He challenged the new leadership in the state to build on his legacies. The event which included a Mass, had readings from parts of the Holy Bible by several personalities including the wife of the late governor Mrs. Amina Yakowa, who read from the Book of Prophet Daniel. (Daniel 12:1-3).

…bags posthumous award From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

igeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), is to honour late governor of Kaduna state, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa with a posthumous award in recognition of his tremendous achievements during his tenure. National president of the union, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel disclosed this while speaking to newsmen at the Government House, Kaduna shortly after paying a condolence visit to Governor Mukhtar Yero over the death of the former governor. Late Yakowa and five others were killed in a navy helicopter crash last Saturday in Nembe, Bayelsa state. Comrade Khaleel said the award is to immortalise the name of the former governor in view of his exemplary leadership which has brought about a lot of innovations and transformation of local government administration in the state.

He said the former governor would be remembered for his bold steps and measures which opened a new chapter in government/ labour relationship, as the leadership of labour unions were always involved in decision making on issues concerning workers in the state. The NULGE boss said local government workers appreciated the effort of the former governor for resolving the problem of irregular payment of salaries by making the payment of salaries first line charge from local government statutory allocation, while he was among the first governors to approve the N18,000 minimum wage. Meanwhile, the Kaduna state chairman of NULGE, Comrade Shehu Abubakar also described the death of the former governor as a great loss to the workers and the entire people of Kaduna state.

R-L: President Goodluck Jonathan consoling wife of late Kaduna state Governor, Mrs. Amina Yakowa, during the funeral church service for the late Yakowa, yesterday at Fadan Kagoma, Kaduna state.

…as Dankwambo condoles family, state By Maryam Garba Hassan

overnor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe state, has condoled the people of Kaduna state and the family of late Governor Patric Yakowa, over the death of the former governor, alongside the former National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi. In a condolence letter signed by the governors' Senior Special Adviser, Press, Junaidu Usman, Dankwambo described the late Yakowa as “truly Nakowa” and a true servant of his people who had no element of religious or ethnic bias gaist his subject and in his entire day to day activities. "We are going to miss his vast knowledge and experience”, Dankwambo lamented.

Casket containing the remains of late Kaduna state Governor, Sir Patrick Yakowa, lying in state during the funeral service for the late governor, yesterday at Fadan Kagoma, Kaduna state. Photos: Joe Oroye

PAGE 6

Turath College graduates pioneer students By Joy Baba

urath College of Islamic Studies, an affiliate of Bayero Univeristy Kano, recently graduated its pioneer students in a colourful ceremony at the school premise, in Goron-Dutse Kano. The college had 54 pioneer graduands who obtained both Diploma and NCE certificates. Turath, which commenced its academic session barely three years ago under the auspices of Qadiriyya Sect of Africa, is aimed at providing Arabic studies, Islamic studies and other necessary religious knowledge for its graduands. The graduation ceremony had in attendance dignitaries and VIPs amongst whom were the governor of Kano state, Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, representative of Minister of Education, Prof. Rukayyatu Ahmad Rufa'i among others.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

IGP special squad, Ali Kwara recover arms, ammunition From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

wo AK 47 rifles and126 i v e ammunition have been recovered from suspected armed robbers in Adamawa state by a joint patrol team of the police and popular robbers' l

huntsman, Alhaji Ali Kwara. Ali Kwara disclosed to newsmen yesterday in Bauchi that it was the Special Anti Robbery Squad set up by Inspector General of Police and attached to his team which made the recovery in the Adamawa axis.

According to him, "actually, we have chased some group of armed robbers terrorising people in the Northeastern part of the country, we pursued them from Bauchi to Gombe and we met them in Adamawa state where they exchanged fire with our

Spark ignites fire at Lagos Airport From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

FRSC: New drivers' license will reduce carnage on highways From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

ederal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has declared that the issuance of the new driver's license by the Federal Government will help in reducing carnage on highways. The acting sector commander of the FRSC Bauchi state command, Mahmud Kachalla, stated this yesterday when he commenced the issuance of new commercial drivers' license in Bauchi. According to him, eye tests and proper medical checks are conducted before eligible drivers get the new license. He cautioned motorists over loading during Yuletide period and advised them to acquire the new license in order to enhance their operations for the development of the country. The officer in charge of licenses, Mrs. Sabani Musa, said the renewal or the purchasing of the new license would cost N6, 350 only.

Kano state Governor, Engineer Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso (middle); leader of Qadiriyya Sect of Africa, Sheikh (Dr.) Qadiriyya N. Kabara, and Wazirin Qadiriyya; Malam Usman Yusuf Makwarari, during the commissioning of an ultra-modern theater hall, recently at the Turath College of Islamic Studies, Goron Dutse, in Kano.

Qur'anic competition: Zamfara gov calls for prayers From Salisu Zakari Maradun, Gusau

uslims in the country, particularly those in Zamfara, have been implored to pray for the success of the state in the forthcoming national Qur'anic Recitation and Memorisation Competition for the year 2013, which is currently going on in the state. Governor Abdulaziz Yari made

the call at the occasion of the official opening ceremony of the event held in Gusau, capital of the state. Yari ,who was represented by his deputy, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad, said the attainment of success everywhere in the world relies on prayer, which is considered to be the strongest weapon as well as good behaviors of the people. Wakkala also called on youths, more especially Muslims, to always respect the teachings of Islam, by

engaging in the activities of the religion, and shun anything capable of tarnishing its image. He explained that the state government is ready to provide whatever is needed during and after the exercise, adding "all our prayers and hope is to succeed and win the highest cup". The deputy governor therefore urged the participants to fear Almighty Allah and make use of what they are going to learn in the competitions.

Gombe flags off first conditional cash transfer in Nigeria By Maryam Garba Hassan

overnor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe state has flagged off the disbursement of conditional cash transfer to 1,500 beneficiaries under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) across the 114 wards in the state. With the launching of the programme in collaboration with the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministry of Youth Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation and the MDGS to alleviate extreme poverty by the year 2015, Gombe state became the first state in the North-east sub-region to

policemen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When they realised that we are about to defeat them they abandoned two AK 47 rifles, 126 rounds of live ammunition some amount of money not up to N50,000, and their Opel Vectra car and fledâ&#x20AC;?. He reiterated their commitment to sanitise the region from the menace of armed robbers and sought prayers and cooperation from the public in order to succeed.

implement the programme targeted at improving the living standards of the people of the state as well as developing their human resource potentials through education and healthcare. Speaking at the ceremony, the governor said the programme was a joint venture between the federal and the state governments to assist in eradicating poverty among the people. According to him, the second phase of the programme would be flagged off by 2015 with 4,500 households to benefit from it. "Survey shows that a significant percentage of our people are trapped in

abject poverty, and this has been the painful reality for generations. "Women, particularly widows, the aged and people living with disabilities make-up a large proportion of this group", he said. He said such groups were often inadvertently excluded due to their inability to meet programme requirements, like counterpart contributions. Dankwambo called on all wellmeaning Nigerians and philanthropic organisations to support the programme, adding that government is ready to partner with them to ensure the success and sustainability of the

scheme. Alhaji Mijinyawa Labaran, the state Commissioner of Youth Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation, said the programme has become a basai for tackling poverty, educational backwardness and poor health indices as well as a progressive strategy for human capital development of the poor. In his remarks, Alhaji Audi Adamu, Special Adviser to the governor on MDGs, said the basic objective of the programme was to reduce the intergenerational transfer of poverty and reduce the number of poverty and vulnerable groups in the community.

park from a welder atop a building at the new extension construction site of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport-beside the 'D' Wing-yesterday resulted in a minor fire incident which burnt some of the foam meant for decking the new building. The fire which began at about 11.30 am lasted for 15 minutes before firemen attached to the international wing of the facility put it out, there was no casualty as the building was mainly made of heavy iron rods used for the construction. When our correspondent arrived the scene, piles of burnt foam were still lying on the ground, soaked with water. Mudi Kamorudeen, who had arrived the airport to receive his brother who was coming in from Dubai aboard Emirate Airlines billed to touch down by 12.30 noon, told our reporter that a workman ground mistakenly ignited the fire due to inexperience. He said: "The guy on the ground l am sure does not have training in managing or putting out such things when it happen, l was watching the beautiful construction activities from the first floor of the airport building when the guy wielding at the top told the young man on the ground that a spark from the wielding at the top had fallen on the foam pile and he should quickly put it out; but the guy just took another foam and placed it on the burning one thinking it will just put out the fire, that is how the whole pile of foam began to burn". He said luckily the construction site was full of heavy iron and nothing else was affected by the fire.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Civil Defence pledges better service in 2013 By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

L-R: Representative of Minister of Petroleum, Ambassador Abdullkadir Musa; Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment, NNPC, Malam Attahir Yusuf; and Executive Director, Austoma, Mr. Anthony Ezekwesili; during the liquefied petroleum gas stakeholders' strategic policy conference, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Nigeria yet to maximise the potentials of its satellites – Expert D By A’isha Biola Raji

irector, Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD), Dr. Spencer Onuh, said in Abuja yesterday that Nigeria had not maximized the potentials offered by its satellites. Onuh, in an interview, said that governments at all levels and some agencies were yet to embrace the potentials of space technology. “We have not been able to

maximise them. Why? Because we need to work with the number of agencies, which are not still free to embrace our stretched hands. “Even when we say ‘look we can do this and that for you’, they are not coming in fully; they are coming with a little bit of hesitations”, he said. He stressed the need for federal and state governments, as well as ministries, departments and agencies to embrace the use of satellite

technologies, adding that it would be a win-win situation if they embraced this technology. “The good thing is that it is not even as expensive when compared to buying the technology from outside, and the benefit that will accrue to you from it is in sequential form”. The director said the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and its centres had experts, who were ready to assist in deploying these applications.

“Even if you are not sure if whether we have the technology you need, talk to us and we will advise you appropriately. “Whatever image you want to process, we have the capability and capacity in Nigeria”, he said. Onuh added that the agency needed the support of every Nigerian to push forward, to sell the knowledge of satellite application to primary and secondary schools, polytechnics and universities. (NAN)

Agric scientist move to improve pest control From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi Nigerian agricultural scientist, Prof. Buba Ibrahim, in collaboration with some global researchers’ has formed an association named Network for Euro-Africa Agricultural Scientists. The association, which has the aim of developing inexpensive and environment friendly strategy for the control of pest in Nigeria using biological solutions, came at the end of the agricultural scientists’ workshop in Tanzania. According to a document from the workshop, the idea of developing the biological solutions came at the end of the workshop held through research collaborations by the agricultural scientists across Europe and African universities held at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dare-Salaam, Tanzania. The workshop which theme was “Use of Natural Products (fungi & botanicals) for Pest Control” was attended by researchers from five countries

namely, Nigeria, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. Findings by the agricultural scientists research indicated that the use of pesticides in the control of pest in Nigeria has, over the years, proved dangerous to wild life and toxic to human health, and slowed down Nigeria’s quest for selfsufficiency in food production. The workshop was sponsored by the British Council through Development Partnership in Higher Education (DElPHE), a grant awarded by UK’s

Department For International Development (DFID). The grant, according to the workshop, was aimed at providing support research collaboration between United Kingdom’s higher institutions and Universities from developing countries. The overseas coordinator of the Programme, Prof. Buba Ibrahim Ahmed said the workshop participants were divided into nine teams each with identified research materials to use for the control of pest using biological solutions.

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

Lecturers issue strike notice

Joint Consultative Forum, (JCF) of all the three Katsina State governmentowned tertiary institution has directed its members to as from the 23rd December, 2012 embark on an indefinite strike due to alleged government failure to meet their demands. This was contained in a statement signed by the chairman of the forum, Comrade Tukur Dahiru Bakiyawa, its secretary, Comrade Muttaka

Mamman Kurfi and treasurer, Comrade Abubakar Ammani. The statement recalled that members of the forum had no option other than to embark on an indefinite strike due to series of failed promises made by the government whenever the issues of their demands were raised. The forum disclosed that out of the five demands presented to the government, only two were honoured while the other three, including payment of 2012

He explained that the research include the development of sustainable production of edible, medicinal and entomopathogenic fungi, and vector pest control of arthropod disease vectors with particular focus on mosquitoes. Others are the development of protect ants using wax moth as an alternative to the Murine model for testing pathogens and therapeutics, as well as the identification, development and sustainable production of semiochemicals for a range of applications.

yearly increment, promotion of officers on CONPCASS/ CONTEDISS 12 and above and payment of promotion arrears, were not yet honoured. The statement which stated that the strike action has the backing of ASUP, COEASU, COLAASU and NASU, stressed that the national bodies of these unions have vowed to join the strike once it started, in solidarity with their Katsina counterparts. The forum urged parents,

he Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has said it has concluded plans to improve on its record of this year and to be on top of its duty more than ever. NSCDC CommandantGeneral, Prof. Ade Abolurin who dropped this hint during the corps’ Christmas carol, added that the complex nature of the society necessitates the need for the security agencies to always improve on their technique. “We also need to improve because those who perpetuate crime against the country and its citizens are also improving on their devilish activities. If we must contain them, then we need to step up and be more vibrant than we were” Abolurin said. He called on Nigerians to embrace one another and be more peaceful so as to move the country forward, “ live together and fight the evil that is destroying us as a people”. Similarly, ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Prison Service (NIP), Zakari Muhammed noted that the two faiths do not preach hatred, but wondered why certain disgruntled elements in the country have hijacked the peace that is meant to develop the people and its economy. Muhammed said the spirit of Christmas should be extended to the inmates, so as to make them ponder over what took them to prison, with the aim of refining them to be better in life.

Minimum wage: Kebbi teachers commend state govt From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

fter much pressure and persuasion, the Kebbi state government has finally agreed to pay the N18,000 minimum wage to its primary school teachers, with effect from March this year. Speaking with Peoples Daily in his office yesterday, chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Danlami Aliyu Ribah commended the state government for taking the bold step to pay the minimum wage to primary school teachers. Ribah explained that after consultation with Governor Sa’idu Usman Dakingari, the government ordered for reification of the arthritic teachers on the pay roll of the state government by setting up a 12 man committee which included him (Ribah). He pointed out that after two months of the verification exercise and report submitted to the government, the governor graciously agreed to pay the minimum wage starting from November along with December salary. The NUT boss also stated that the government has agreed to pay the backlog of arears of the new wage by next year while more qualified teachers would be recruited into primary schools across the state.

PAGE 8

Oyo state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (left), and visiting polytechnic, Ibadan, students who were on a solidarity visit to the governor, yesterday in Ibadan.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Officers and members of Federal Road Safety Commission, during the launch of Operation Safe and Free Flow of Traffic, yesterday in Lagos.

Part of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos gutted by Scene of a multiple auto-crash on Onitsha-Owerri road, yesterday in Onitsha . fire, yesterday in Lagos.

Photos: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

PAGE 9

Orubebe owns five new plots in FCT, Anti-Corruption Network alleges By Umar Muhammad Puma

he Anti-Corruption Network (ACN), Wednesday said it has uncovered another set of five plots of land owned by the Niger Delta Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe. The group, in a press

BRISIN: Activists task Jonathan on minister’s conduct

conference in Abuja by its executive secretary, Dino Melaye, revealed that five properties purchased by Orubebe were not declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau. The group said it has obtained documents indicating that Orubebe was the owner of the properties identified. One of the documents is the certificate of occupancy for Plot 2722,

Kyami District in Abuja. The plot contains 1883.63 square meters. Another certificate of occupancy obtained by the group shows that Orubebe owns Plot 2460 in the expensive Maitama area of Abuja and Plot 1736 in the Guzape area of Abuja with a certificate of occupancy issued in 2008. The Minister for the Niger Delta minister also allegedly acquired Plot 2057 in the

highbrow Asokoro area. The choice properties were acquired in the last three years that Orubebe has been a minister, first under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and later as one of the most powerful figures in the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan, ANC claimed. It would be recalled that a petition by the network against Orubebe to the Code of Conduct

Bureau, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, (ICPC) alleged that Orubebe accepted a luxury building as gratification from one of the contractors handling the ministry’s projects and thus violated the Public Procurement Act in the awards of contracts in the ministry. Melaye said:”By the virtue of his standing to influence the award of contracts, Elder Godsday Orubebe abused his office by accepting a gratification of palatial mansion on the property allocated to him in Abuja, FCT contrary to Section 12 of the Act”.

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

itizen Advocacy Group (CAG), a network of civil society activists, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene urgently in the stalemate created in the execution of the Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN) approved by the Federal Executive Council to save the Nigeria’s economy from collapse and corruption. Reacting to a newspaper report through their spokesperson, Olawale Okunniyi Wednesday in Abuja, the group warned the Federal Government on the adverse effects of the nonexecution of the BRISIN project on the economy and the anticorruption crusade of the country.

Bauchi to keep environment clean through solid waste management From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

n an effort to tackle the sickening environmental problem, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state has reiterated his commitment to proper management of solid waste and awareness campaigns. Yuguda stated this at a workshop on environmental sanitation and solid waste management organised by RTI/ LEAD Nigeria in Bauchi, yesterday The governor who was represented by the state commissioner of Information, Engr. Damina advocated the collaboration of all tiers of government in addressing devastating effects of improper environment. Yuguda charged the participant to come up or develope ways of improving synergy with relevant stakeholders that would help proper environmental sanitation and solid management for better results. He then enjoined participants to use the forum to come up with fresh ideas that would provide avenues to fund the new technologies for waste transformation in the state.

Hampers with charismas gift, on sale yesterday in Wuse market, Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Suswam’s aide, don trade words over book From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

pecial Assistant to the Benue state Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. James Uloko has accused a University don, Mr. Mkor Aondona of intellectual theft. In a press statement yesterday made available to Peoples Daily in Makurdi, Mr. Uloko noted that an intellectual work of the university don entitled ‘Who is Who in Contemporary Tiv Politics

and Development’ was a brainchild of ‘Who is Who in Benue Politics and Development’. The governor’s aide who doubles as the Secretary of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Who is Who in Benue Politics and Development, said Mr. Aondoana had deceptively requested to be a member of board of their book and upon acceptance, stole the concept for his own book. “We want to hold that the publication of Mr. Aondoana’s

book is a bastardized and clever modification of the original concept of the Who is Who in Benue Politics and Development”. But in his reaction, Mr. Aondoana insisted that the work which is slated for public presentation on Friday December 21st. is his intellectual work, maintaining that it was completely different in content and scope from the Who is Who in Benue Politics and Development

book. “My work is completely different from their project. You need to see both works and thereafter draw your conclusion; there is completely no basis for “the outburst by the individuals doing so”. “I am a university lecturer and I know the implication of infringing on an intellectual work, I have not done it before and I don’t intend to do so for whatever reason”, he added.

Kogi donates health equipment to TB, Leprosy centres From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

etermined to achieve a healthy society in Kogi, the Kogi state government has donated health equipment and operational vehicles to tuberculosis and leprosy centre in eight local government councils of the state. Presenting the items to the local governments yesterday, the state Commissioner for Health, Omede Idris, said the items would boost the anti-TB and leprosy operations in the state. He said the TB and leprosy programme are supported by development partners. Federal and state government, adding the state was providing her own counterpart fund to support the programme for the first time.

Idris added that through the counterpart fund, the state government has made it possible for the ministry to provide some of the supporting equipment the local government needed to carry out their assignments “It is on the bases that we are providing microscope, computers, digital camera for the

TB and leprosy centre where diagnoses is being done. Also, we are providing office equipment, motorcycles and vehicles for effective supervision and monitoring”, he said. According to him, the government want to lift the health status of the state to a better pedestal in terms of

Senate aviation c’ttee orders contractor to finish Ilorin cargo terminal From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

he Senate Committee on Aviation on Wednesday ordered the contractor handling the Ilorin cargo terminal to complete the project on time. The Chairman of the

Committee, Hope Uzudinma who stated this during the team’s inspection tour of aviation structures in Ilorin also described the helicopter crash that killed Patrick Yakowa and Adrew Owoeye Azazi as saddening stressing that the committee’s inspections were meant to avert

preventive and curative medical cases and sensitization,while calling on the beneficiaries to protect the equipment. The beneficiary local governments were Adavi, MopaMoro, Omala, Lokoja, Kogi, Ofu, Okehi, Kabba/Bunu local government as well as TB and Leprosy headquarters, Lokoja. recurrence. He noted that the efforts of Kwara state government to embark on the terminal project was commendable stressing that the Senate was looking for ways to assist the state when the project was completed. Speaking on the outcome of the committee’s oversight tours, Uzodinma did not disclosed the committee report saying” we are keeping that to ourselves”.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

FCE Okene spends N10m on staff training From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

rovost of the Federal College of Education Okene, Associate Professor Iyela Ajayi has disclosed that over N10 million was expended on staff training in 2012. Ajayi disclosed this during the capacity building workshop organized by the institution for lecturers at the college auditorium in Okene, Kogi state. According to him, his administration strongly believes

in human and capital development, through training and retraining of academic, nonacademic and management staff. He added that a situation where lecturers still recycle the knowledge acquired many years ago, would not augur well with the current technological advancement in education. Ajayi who described knowledge as dynamic, charged lecturers of the institution to utilize the opportunities provided by

Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETF) to seek for more knowledge and to improve in their capacity as teachers. The provost further stated that the college was desirous of collaborating with TEFT to send lecturers outside the shores of Nigeria for more knowledge. He, however, charged the lecturers to intensify effort in research work, as teaching without research would be an effort in futility. The Chairman, college of

education academic staff union (COEASU) Mr. Yunusa Isah stated that the capacity building workshop was designed to avail the lecturers the knowledge to publish their research work and articles online , so as to be read worldwide. Earlier, the chairman of the organizing committee, Chief Onanomadu Edmond, said the theme was aimed at inculcating the knowledge of writing proposals to attract tertiary education trust funds and other grants in the field

of science, humanities and education, noting that lecturers in the institution should source for grant both locally and internationally. He disclosed that the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) has reiterated the need for capacity building on individual which he said requires the development of conditions that allow individual participation to build and enhance existing knowledge and skills.

ATRE 2012: Stakeholders advocate unity towards renewable energy By Stanley Onyekwere

Pensioners protesting on Wednesday at the main gate of the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kogi board members expose can of worms in Wada’s govt From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

isaffection, utter regrets have begun to trail Capt Idris Wada's appointment of board Chairmen and members in the list so far released yesterday in Lokoja. A release made available to journalists and signed on behalf of Concerned Citizens by Mr. John

Ademu stated that the governor’s approval of the constitution of members of the Board for the 26 government parasatals, agencies and commission, did not go down well with the people. The fear of Capt Wada’s probable failure in governance is stemming from the fact that he is recycling people who failed the state under former Governor

Ibrahim Idris. Ademu said that education would be worst off if Wada returns Chief Sylvester Onoja as chairman and technical adviser to the teaching service commission, the area he paralysed when he was the commissioner for education, noting that those who were opposing most of his draconian laws would be punished.

The people of the state who who have confidence in the transformation agenda of the governor, Ademu said yesterday, believe that Ibrahim Idris was still in control. They said that those who enslaved the state have once been given the opportunity to consolidate their planned punishment on the people.

takeholders at the the 2nd Renewable Energy Investment Forum organised by the Bank of Industry and United Nations Development Programme (BOI/UNDP) on Wednesday, in Abuja, have called for coordinated effort by relevant authorities involved in the quest to achieve renewable energy goals in Nigeria. This was revealed by participants at the Forum, made up of different interest groups, executives and heads of Ministries and parastatals, research institutions, foreign and local consultants, financial institutions, UN systems and developmental partners as well as renewable energy companies in Nigeria. According to them, over the years the bane of the country’s investments in renewable energy systems (RES) has always been the piecemeal and uncoordinated approach in which RES projects are embarked upon in the country. Speaking at the Forum, the Managing Director, BOI, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, disclosed that most nation’s RES projects in the past are mainly pilots or for political and social reasons by agencies at the federal, state or local government levels.

‘Lakemfa, a gift from Nigeria to Africa’ Expert decries decline in local research By Muhammad Nasir

inister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, has described Comrade Owei Lakemfa as a gift from Nigeria to Africa, as the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) will benefit immensely from his wealth of experience. A statement issued yesterday by the Assistant Director Press, Samuel Olowookere said the minister made the remarks in his office yesterday, when the immediate past Secretary-General of OATUU, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu presented the new Secretary General of the Organization, Comrade Owei Lakemfa to him. Congratulating the new OATUU scribe, Wogu said: “African workers welfare and

right will receive commensurate improvement and recognition during your tenure as the Secretary General of the Union”. Wogu stated that “the kind of support we extended to your predecessor will equally be extended to you”, adding that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration would continue to be labourfriendly with utmost attention to the enhancement of the welfare of Nigerian workers In their separate remarks, Comrade Lakemfa and Comrade Sunmonu appreciated the Minister of Labour and the Federal Government for its pro-workers policy and support to OATUU as demonstrated by the upward review of Nigeria subvention to the organisation.

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

esearch expert, Prof. Adigun Agbaje on Wednesday expressed concern over research funding in Africa and called on government to create an enabling environment for research. He stated this at the 2012 Media Briefing and Training on Reporting of Research Findings organised by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) in Ibadan. According to him, statistics and publications on Africa are being defined for us by foreign experts. ''It is very important for us to rediscover ourselves by ensuring that we support the

research community. This is to ensure that our voice on issues linking research to development, begins to be heard,'' he said. He disclosed that media professionals need to develop skills in appropriate interpretation of technical data to facilitate effective policy creation and implementation. According to Prof. Adigun Agbaje of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, ''use of language in specialized reporting is very important because of a growing need to communicate research findings effectively through '' appropriate communication skills because researchers most times interprete data with technical terms”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Assess your financial assets/ â&#x20AC;Śfor self liabilities to improve performance improvement T I Invest in yourself

f you have future plans such as sending your wards to school, building a house, setting up a business, buying a car, among others, then it is important you know your current financial status, experts have said. Although, it may be hard to price yourself, but as the saying goes, you will never know how to get somewhere unless you know where you are right now. It is advisable you quantify your financial assets and liabilities. Doing this, they say, will surely enable you to create a comprehensive financial plan as well as provide a measure to ascertain the level of your financial progress. Pricing yourself helps you to know your net worth, prioritise your investment portfolio, improve investment and savings habit and control your spending habit. For instance, you may be thinking that you are doing well in an aspect of your assets without knowing that you are declining in the other. Without overemphasising the benefit of quantifying your assets, Adewale Adeleke, managing partner, WA

Professionals, Lagos, said for more accurate assessment of individuals and family financial status, it was recommended the assets and liabilities are not only quantified but also documented. This, he said, could be done in tabular form by listing all assets in quantities, unit value and total value in a manner that total values of assets are determined. The same things should be done to all liabilitiesbeing what individual or family owes others. It is, however, important to understand these financial assets and liabilities. Differentiating between these two concepts, Adeleke explained that financial assets are both fixed assets and liquid assets. The assets that cannot be easily converted to cash such as, building, land, company, stocks, motors vehicles, jewelleries, cloths, among others. They also include assets that are cash or can easily be converted to cash, such as cash on hand and in bank, fixed deposits, stocks and so on. While liabilities are what individuals or family owe banks, friends, credit purchases, insurance premium that has fallen due,

rent that has fallen due, salary owed domestic staff and others. On the other hand, experts say net worth is largely about balancing your assets with your debt to see which way and how far you lean. Net worth is the amount of money representing how much you would have if

Evaluating your financial health by tracking your personal finance

he first step to getting your personal finances under control is to clearly understand where you are. Review all of your finances listing your assets and debts, including any loans, credit cards or other liabilities. Many banks will go through a similar process to evaluate your financial health, where they compare your income and assets with your debts and liabilities to come up with a percentage called your debt to equity ratio. It is important to be honest and thorough, as you will need to use this information to help build your financial plan. Find a method of tracking your personal finances, either with a simple book and paper ledger or with automatic software packages like Quicken or Microsoft Money. This will not only help you track

Quote Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Dale Carnegie

and budget how you spend your money, but the software can integrate with many online banking services which allow you to keep a virtually real-time picture of your spending. The important thing to do is to be consistent and make sure all of your spending and budgeting is tracked for a complete picture. Once you have an accurate picture of your personal finances, you need to identify your short and long term goals. When do you

want to retire? Are there specific purchases you are planning? Are there any time frames to consider? Are you planning for your children's education or just interested in being debt-free? Once you understand what's important to you, you will understand what needs to be done to get there: how much you'll need to earn, how much you'll need to save, and over what period of time. Basically, know where you are, and where you want to be.

you were to sell all your assets and pay off your debts. To determine your net worth involves taking a good hard look at all aspects of your finances which include the good, the bad and the ugly. To calculate your net worth, experts say after gathering all the information about your assets and liabilities, you simply need to add up all of the amounts listed under assets, and separately, add up all of the amounts listed under liabilities. You should end up with two numbers: a grand total of assets and a grand total of liabilities. Finally, subtract the total liabilities from the total assets; you then have your net worth. However, it is wise to approach financial experts who will employ their expertise to help you improve your financial defects such as short cash supply, irrational assets structure, insufficient preparation for possible risks, and ensure your financial security and that of your family. They can be based on overall examination of your consumption and liabilities, suggest an asset portfolio, addressing your particular problems so that you will be able to maintain proper liquidity of your assets. Also, while developing financial management plan, experts will carefully consider all aspects of your financial status, which include your family situation, household assets, cash and financial assets, real assets and investment, as well as your liability, income, expenditure and will to take risk.

he need for financial investment cannot be overemphasised, yet there are other areas of investment that are significant, and part of which is you. Why self investment? For real self development, you need to invest in yourself. When you progress and it seems your goal achievement is very slow, it then calls for the need to reassess yourself to find out whether you have invested in yourself or not. Investing in yourself is as important as having a savings account you can confidently go to withdraw money when needed. The presence of that money provides you with a sense of confidence and security, according to experts. Goddy Ikeh, a consultant to enable, believes in investing in yourself because it is key for success. To him, investing in oneself means self development, encouraging everyone to invest in him/herself. Also, according to Adewale Adeleke, managing partner, WA Professionals, Lagos, self investment is the ladder to success in life. Adeleke says investing in yourself means self development, a development that helps to do things in a better and more efficient manner, saying it is a way of building a reading culture, development of an organisation, systems, building a formidable networking skills, eating healthier foods, spiritual development, among others. He advises anyone who wants to achieve success in life to invest in him/herself because it is the best way to get the best out of life. What ways can you invest in yourself? Going to conferences, seminars and purchasing books to gain timely information are all part of investing in yourself. For instance, in partnership with Securities and Exchange Commission, Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria and Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria last week held an annual capital market conference 2011 - with the theme 'Can Nigeria Lead Again? It focused on improving investors' confidence, regulation, governance and adjudication, deepening the Nigeria capital market and reforms of the stock market. This is one of those conferences you can take advantage of to invest in yourself. Other areas you might want to invest some time, money and thought include your appearance, your skill, and your health. Your appearance can have great effect on your confidence. In some cases, people assess your level of development by your appearance. Investing in your appearance might mean saving up for a good suit, getting up 10 minutes earlier to have time to look your best for work, asking a fashionable friend for advice on your usual 'look,' and taking some time to revamp your wardrobe, ensuring you have clothes that mix and match well.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

Unending assaults on journalists by SSS operatives

n Saturday, December 15, 2012, at 11.15 pm, Mr. Ozioma Ubabukoh, The Punch correspondent in Enugu, was accosted by seven men who claimed to be operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) on his way home from work. Ubabukoh's assailants forced themselves into his car and in his house they told him pointedly that they came to warn him to stop doing a story he had planned on the rumoured death of Enugu state governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime. The operatives ransacked the journalist's apartment, seized his computer and Blackberry phone and threatened violence if he tried "anything funny". Ubabukor 'cooperated' and got off lightly, but not so Kazeem Ibrahim, The Nation's correspondent in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, who was almost killed by persons believed to be SSS operatives. Ibrahim, who had gained entry into the venue where the 50th birthday anniversary of Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa was being celebrated, was stopped by the SSS personnel. He identified himself as a journalist but that did not wash with them; one of them dealt him a slap. That was not all; the other three SSS men fell on the reporter in a cowardly free-forall, beating and kicking him until he fainted. Anietie Ukpe, Chief Press Sectary to Governor Akpabio, who was at the scene of the assault, tried to save the reporter but was told sternly to keep off. Ibrahim was so savagely assaulted that he was unable to stand on his feet and had to be helped by other journalists

who rushed him to the hospital for treatment. He was attacked from behind, as he told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) which sought to know what had transpired. "They came from my back, held my neck, pulled me to the ground and continued beating me. I lost consciousness at that point," he said. In Akwa Ibom state, in particular, government events have become

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The physical violence that is being meted out to journalists is a sad throwback to the days of the military in power when soldiers gleefully bloodied journalists and beat their chests openly for what they had done rendezvous where journalists are assaulted by SSS men and other sister security agencies. Generally speaking, official functions in Nigeria are attended by overzealous SSS operatives who take delight in elbowing and ruffling journalists, displaying the arrogance and haughtiness of bullies, and feeling secure in their perceived sense of invincibility. They do not stop there as they often seize cameras, recorders, computers, phones

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and other equipment they find on their victims. The two cases we have cited are just few instances of attacks on journalists by security personnel across the country. These operatives, it is obvious, have the support of the establishments they work for, which explains the frequency of the assaults. The physical violence that is being meted out to journalists is a sad throwback to the days of the military in power when soldiers gleefully bloodied journalists and beat their chests openly for what they had done. The only difference is that today, it is not soldiers but SSS men and, to a lesser extent, the police that are doing so. It is noteworthy that most of the unprovoked violence is against local pressmen while their foreign counterparts are treated deferentially. Again, it is the independent press that is targeted while government-owned media are generally spared. We at Peoples Daily condemn the unprovoked attacks on journalists in this country not only because they offend against human decency but also breach the freedom of the press provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. We hereby implore the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to take all lawful measures to ensure the safety and comfort of its members in the line of duty. These should include demanding apologies and compensations from the employers of the assailants, and where this fails, legal actions should be pursued. These bullies called security operatives must be taught to conduct themselves in a civilized manner.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

PAGE 13

Rape of Nigerians and country By Albinus Chiedu

he Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary offers three different definitions of rape against which the current situations in Nigeria could be considered. First, it defines rape as the crime of forcefully having sex with someone against the person’s wish. Despite the stigma attached to this sexual crime, which has resulted in underreporting of incidents, a recent study indicates that the rate of the crime has gone up from 12.5 per cent to 80 per cent in Nigeria. There are several cases which are very irritating. Now and then, it is reported that a teacher has raped a student. A religious leader has raped his flock. Robbers have raped a victim. A man has raped a sisterin-law or daughter-in-law. A

master has raped a housemaid. A security man has raped his master’s wife. A boss has raped his staff. A father has raped his daughter. A young man has raped a grandmother. A minor has raped a fellow minor. A traditional ruler has raped a subject. An 80-year-old man recently raped an 8-year-old girl. What is really happening? One unfortunate thing about the crime of rape is that cultural constraints and other factors in this clime all work against female victims and restrain them from reporting the incident when it occurs. Besides, the Nigerian Criminal Code needs to make it easy to prove an allegation of rape. In other words, the rape laws of Nigeria need to be rewritten to match contemporary realities. There is also need for adequate sex education. Sexual lust is a thing of the mind and when the human mind is being

fed with pornographic pictures and materials all the time, there is a tendency to get desperately lustful and commit this heinous crime. Therefore, it is important for people to begin to guard their thoughts as instructed by the holy books. The second definition of rape according to the same dictionary is “destruction of the natural world, often for profit.” Day after day, the natural world of the nation called Nigeria is being destroyed for the benefit of a few people in its leadership. This explains why the nation was recently ranked as the 35th most corrupt nation in the world by the global corruption watchdog, Transparency International. Over the years, the nation’s natural and financial resources have been destroyed, mismanaged, looted and in some instances, laundered by those

privileged to be in the corridors of power. For example, according to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, over N40 billion was laundered out of Nigeria between January and August 2012. The destruction or rape of the university system is equally on-going. Apart from the fact that the Federal Character Principle is making it difficult to recruit fresh quality PhD holders as lecturers at various tertiary institutions, professors are constantly retiring without replacements because comprehensive academic research activities are no longer being sponsored and conducted. On a regular basis, Nigeria’s human resource nucleus is being destroyed as quality medical doctors; lawyers, engineers and other professionals are

continuously relocating from the country as a result of unfavourable conditions of the environment for their existence and professional practice. The quality of graduates produced by the tertiary institutions are getting more watery by the day while many innocent workers are dying from criminal attacks such as terrorist bombing, armed robbery and assassination. Insecurity is on the rise and foreign investors are leaving the country as people die unnecessarily on daily basis. The country is being raped and is seriously bleeding. The punishment for rape in the 1999 Constitution should be extended to the incumbent and past leaders of Nigeria who have participated in gang-raping the nation and its poor innocent masses with the organ of corruption. Deacon Albinus Chiedu’s profile is on SkyGhana.com

Education as bulwark of freedom By Muhammed Abdullahi Tosin

reedom would be meaningless, if existent at all, in the absence of education. This is because knowledge is paramount in every sphere of life. It is the most potent tool for charting the growth and development of a society. The process of acquiring, reforming and utilizing and imparting knowledge is what is termed ‘education’. Education is a broad, functional term – implying all forms of training, learning, practice and experience that improve a person’s output from cradle to grave. While in a strict sense, there is no one without education or knowledge, I take ‘education’ in this context to mean ‘formal and functional learning or acquisition of skills’ so that one who has not consciously undergone any training can rightly be classified as uneducated. Freedom denotes the liberty to act freely and independently within the limit of the law without being coerced or unduly influenced. It is a person’s right to think independently, associate with whom he wills, say and believe what he likes, move to and live where he chooses and engages in what activities please him, provided no law is violated. It is my contention that a person who lacks education is not free but in shackles in every area of his being. The world over, education is recognized as indispensable. International legal instruments including the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the constitution of every nation of the world guarantee it. The fact that only 45 of the 117 Nigerian universities in are in the north region, about 10 million almajiris (pupils memorizing the Qur’an and

begging to fend for themselves without any formal education) and many more of their youth do not attend any formal institution of learning reveals how educationally deficient the region must be. In politics and governance, education ensures there is sanity and fair play. In the first place, no community would give legitimacy and loyalty to an ignorant, unlearned fellow as its leader. Education guides the leader to know that the loyalty and cooperation of his constituency can only be sustained by persuasion, propeople programmes and valuebased welfare schemes. Such knowledge liberates him to become the leader. Also, if the people are learned, they would be active participants in the governance process which would give them the unfettered freedom to occupy the driver’s seat in determining their political destiny. In advanced nations like Britain and France where scholarship flourishes, elections are seldom rigged, political opponents rarely persecuted, electoral violence infrequently heard and military intervention never seen. The reason is not far-fetched: the learned people are vigilant and would simply not allow themselves to be toyed with like chess pieces. In educationally deficient states however, the rulers ‘ride’ their docile subjects like donkeys. The purposeless killing in the 2011 post-election crisis in Nigeria is still fresh in mind. A society’s development in politics cannot be quicker than its growth in learning. Education frees man from the shackles of economic servitude. It teaches him to give value to his money-making endeavour. If an untaught mind produces and sells popcorn, he would not sell beyond his stall and he would most probably not enjoy the

patronage of the elite who may not feel comfortable standing by the roadside procuring the snacks. bA learned person however would give worth to the trade. He could brand it by packaging the popcorn in sealed can, plastic or nylon with his trademark printed on the pack. Then he engages vendors who would buy from him in bulk and resell to the common man in his domain and the crème de la crème in their imposing houses and offices. This would see the educated entrepreneur selling his product and name to all in far and wide places and at a much higher price. He would have equally created employment for the vendors. On the global scene, the USA, according to the Digest of Education Statistics in US 2010, has 10% of her population in the university system in 2009 alone while Nigeria, according to the Nigeria’s Bureau of Statistics, has just 0.35% of her population in the university system that same year. Hence, the USA has one of the most vibrant economies in the world while Nigeria remains underdeveloped. In present times, education is the sole legitimate criterion which determines who gets what percentage of the national resources and income.

Professors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, medical doctors and engineers work in their conducive, air-conditioned offices, taking decisions, signing documents, giving expert advice, making prescriptions and proffering pragmatic solutions to the problems of the world. They do what they love doing and earn handsome income, live in gorgeous mansions and are reckoned with in the society. The life of the uneducated man, by contrast, leaves much to be desired. He toils tooth and nail in the scorching sun and the heavy downpour cleaning the toilet, scrubbing the floor, clearing the bush, pushing trucks, dusting shoes, running errands and enduring constant scolding. He gets a pittance for a salary, puts up with starvation and malnutrition and sleeps, in Nigeria for instance, in dilapidated shacks, uncompleted buildings, under bridges or even on trees at night. He is in economic chains for the simple reason that he is educationally deficient. The educated man is free to guard against infringements on his God-given rights. The constitution of every nation and the UDHR guarantees some minimum levels of human rights which are inalienable and which must be enjoyed by all and

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Education frees man from the shackles of economic servitude. It teaches him to give value to his money-making endeavour. If an untaught mind produces and sells popcorn, he would not sell beyond his stall and he would most probably not enjoy the patronage of the elite who may not feel comfortable standing by the roadside procuring the snacks

sundry irrespective of age, sex, religion, tribe or colour. These include the rights to freedom of movement, of conscience and religion, of association, among others. However, these rights cannot enforce themselves except that those who posses them vigilantly guard against their violations. Education would help a man know his minimum rights, how to protect them and how to seek redress when such are infringed upon. An illiterate is oblivion of his rights and their protection. If I possess a cake, but am unaware that I am the owner, will I protest if another person arrogates it? Even if I am aware of my ownership rights over the cake without knowing how to repossess it from the trespasser, will I enjoy the ownership rights? Education equally guarantees liberty for man from the fetters of obscurantism. The modern society is replete with misinformation and stereotypes about many things. The media – rightly tagged the fourth arm of the realm – controls the thinking and worldview of the masses. Only the learned beings would be capable of sifting information to extract facts from myths and misconception. Only he would be capable of independent and clear reasoning, deep research and critical analysis and be liberated from intellectual servitude. If a teacher constantly tells his primary 2 pupil that lizards grow to become snakes would the student not absolutely believe and fanatically proclaim, albeit without any proof, the “fact” anywhere in the world? The uneducated by the same logic are slaves of misinformation. But such a lie cannot be popular with a college student whose intellect is not dwarfed. Muhammed Abdullahi Tosin can be followed on Twitter @Oxygenmat

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

America’s gun law and the rest of us By Mike Onwukwe

ike a sick patient, someone needs to give American her medication because she is due for the next dose. Any time a frustrated US citizen wants to end his miserable life, he looks for people to go down with. A kindergarten or primary school full of innocent pupils comes handy. Or they go to shopping malls or coffee bars and any other populated place. He goes to the school of his choice and mow down a good number of students dressed in immaculate and sparking uniform, thanks to an archaic and age-old American gun law that permits everyone including lunatics to bear arms. Once ready, such lunatic goes on killing spree not with a rifle that can load manually each time you fire. No! He goes there with automatic sophisticated rifle that reloads itself each time you pull the trigger. And these harbingers of fatal pellets come handy in the next arms shop or can be sourced online. The US is blinded by pride and self aggrandizement and worse still

gun ownership is enshrined in going kids will soon become not going for a kill mission? The endangered species in the US. defensive gun ownership has the constitution. He does not recoil in the quiet Folks pay little attention to this been grossly abused. The NRA – corner of his room and drink 15 and events like this be it in National Rifle Association has tablets of Aspirin; he does not Columbine High school or refused to acknowledge the fasten a heavy stone or metal elsewhere come for a dime a reality. In US, gun running is a around his neck and plunge dozen. big business and people are headlong ready to do into the anything to kill river; he any bill that seeks does not to curtail it. This drink a law has put rifles Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text c r u d e in the hands of messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written concoction of highly dangerous contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 cement or and demented lost words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and b u f f e t souls and they a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed himself with have turned to polonium terrorize the to: 220 or sarin defenseless. Guns gas. No. He that are supposed The Editor, looks for a to be in the Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, more bestial frontlines are now 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. and dastard part of menu we Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com way of see in private SMS: 07037756364 ending his houses. Guns serve life as well as only a stew of bad Proponents argue that and worse. others. Firearms in many hands individuals need gun to protect Gun violence killed all the don’t and cannot save lives, the themselves when the police are good people I know. Martin country and humans can. This is not there. Simply put - Luther Jr, John F. Kennedy, a war by other means. Let me Automatic and semi automatic Columbine High school warn. Civilized and peace loving rifles have no business in peoples’ students and recently the people cannot justify this needles homes. What do you need mass murder called Anders and mindless extermination of Bushmaster, Desert Eagle, Uzi, Brevik who killed 77 people in children and with the rate we are Magnum and M-16 for if you are a resort in Oslo. Gun-related

WRITE TO US

death top all fatal accidents and other related homicide cases combined in the US. We don’t live in a perfect society but we should limit the shrews and cretins with guns in the US. US has about 300 million guns far above the number of human beings. This means that some individuals have more than one rifle. A good option would be to arm the teachers but my beef with this is that one day the teachers will turn the guns on the pupils because US is a dysfunctional society. Guns don’t kill people, people do! Last Friday, in Newton Connecticut played out the worst massacre in the US history when one ancient ape and grave digger called Adam Lanza snuffed life out of 26 people for no reason. Only in the land of whining over sized babies can this happen. This tragedy should be the ticking point and it is clear that something is needed to be done. It is called National Tragedy. Mike Onwukwe can be reached on mikeonwukwe@gmail.com

Peoples Daily, you’re unfair to FCT minister By Ibrahim Biu

ince his appointment as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has been trying his best to reposition as the nation’s befitting capital city. He has proved to be a selfless and hard working leader. In fact, he is even rated as one of the outstanding and no-nonsense FCT Ministers so far. But it appears some never-do-wells and other disgruntled elements in the society have been using a section of the print media to not only attack and blackmail him but to distract his him from concentrating on the good things he is doing in Abuja in line with Mr. President’s vision and transformation agenda. To say the least, hardly has any minister been thrown into the murky waters of politics the way Senator Bala has and yet he is still able to maintain his cool. He has been criticised, slandered, blackmailed and even libelled in the past few months or so, yet the man has continued to do his best for the FCT. The latest of such attacks and open hostility or vilification of Senator Bala and his team of dedicated workers at the FCTA/FCDA is the editorial of the Peoples Daily of Wednesday, December 19, in which the paper attacked the minister without any justification whatsoever. This time around the editors do not seem to be happy with the stand of the minister

when he recently reiterated the determination of the FCTA to continue with its demolition exercise. He had, according to the newspaper, become insensitive when he told the Senator Smart Adeyemi-led Senate FCT Committee that the FCTA planned to demolish 31 more estates built in Abuja. He said the purpose was to sanitize the city. In spite of such vilifications and unwarranted attacks, Senator Bala has remained undaunted in the cause of holistically implementing the Abuja master plan in an effort to reposition the FCT and to make it one of the best cities where things are working. The primitive war being waged by his critics through the use of some media has not deterred him from pursuing the programme of moving Abuja, the FCT, forward. In the recent editorial, he was accused of demolishing structures, both illegal and legal, and that his action would deny people residential accommodation. But what are the facts on the ground? Are the affected houses actually not illegal structures? Information available to this reporter has indicated that all the affected structures which were recently pulled down were not approved by the FCTA as required by law. The Development Control Department which is the organ responsible for issuing such approvals has categorically denied issuing any such approval to the estate owners. Those who purchased the affected houses have also not secured such building plan

approvals individually, according to the Department. So why should the minister be a subject of undue criticism? Is the newspaper saying that the FCT should allow acts of illegality to go unchecked simply because it will benefit some few selfish people even if they are poor? If this is the case, why would an armed robber be executed by hanging even though it was discovered later that the money he robbed the rich of was given to some poor people in many villages? The cases of Anini in Edo state and Abokaro in Plateau State are all clear examples of what we are talking about. Also the recent arrest and prosecution of armed robbers in Bauchi, where it was discovered that the thieves removed valuable properties from some rich fellows, sold them off and later distributed the money to some poor youths and the aged at Azare is a clear example of how such cases should be treated. Illegality cannot be legal because of the culprit’s actions.

No doubt, such criticisms against Senator Bala are attempts or efforts to either discredit or distract the minister which are being made by members of the opposition or by persons who are desperate to score cheap political points, having perhaps failed to secure one or two personal benefits from Bala Mohammed. But such efforts have not affected the minister’s dogged determination to continue the good work he and his team are doing in the FCT. For example, as far as the provision of infrastructure is concerned, all parts of the FCT are being attended to and the indigenes are the beneficiaries. There has been no discrimination whatsoever. He has continued to lead his team on the path of development, prosperity and accountability. Similarly, the recent signing of MOUs with 13 companies on the land-swap project which has generated more than N13 billion to the

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In spite of such vilifications and unwarranted attacks, Senator Bala has remained undaunted in the cause of holistically implementing theAbuja master plan in an effort to reposition the FCT and to make it one of the best cities where things are working. The primitive war being waged by his critics through the use of some media has not deterred him from pursuing the programme of movingAbuja, the FCT, forward

FCT account is a clear indication that the minister is doing his best not only to provide cheap houses but to also improve the economy of the FCT. In addition, the FCTA has entered into other agreements with some organizations to provide more amenities in all the satellite developing areas of the FCT aimed at bringing about rapid development of the areas. To me, Senator Mohammed is a detribalised leader who is determined to move Abuja forward and should be encouraged by everybody so that he will be able to properly implement all the beautiful projects he has so far initiated like the land-swap model, the PPP and the Abuja rail tract projects, etc so that he will be able to, in the next few years or so, complete work on them for the benefit of the whole country. He does not deserve the type of criticism and vilification that is being visited on him as some people are now doing. Senator Mohammed’s skilful and unsentimental way or method of tackling serious issues at both the FCT and the national level should be encouraged. He deserves the cooperation and understanding of not only residents of the FCT but the whole country to enable him move Abuja forward. Progress is, no doubt, being made in the FCT under the Senator M o h a m m e d - l e d administration. The administration’s effort to reposition the FCT should not be derailed under any guise. Ibrahim Biu sent in this piece from Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

By Polycarp Dama

few days back, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, was in Plateau state, apparently on a solidarity visit to the state branch of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), whose members have been on a rather very long strike. In the past seven months, workers in the state’s 17 local government areas have stayed at home in a dispute with the state government. The trouble began in April when the workers downed tools demanding to enjoy the N18, 000 National Minimum Wage. After negotiations, they agreed to a fifty per cent pay rise. However, instead of going back to work after that not- so -small victory, the workers insisted that they be paid for the months they were on strike, a demand the state government has refused to grant arguing, quite correctly to my mind, that it will not pay them for the months they did not work. The workers are even now saying that they are no longer willing to accept the 50 per cent rise they had earlier agreed on but will insist on the N18, 000 minimum wage or else the strike continues. As the leader of one of the labour unions in the country and one to which the NULGE is affiliated, it was quite alright that Comrade Omar was in Plateau to By Lanre Giwa

igeria is sick! We are a nation stumbling in the dark like the blind because our eyes, aka the PHCN, suffer from an epileptic glaucoma syndrome. We are a nation crippled because our land, sea and air infrastructure is so broken, disjointed and dilapidated that certain parts of the country are now disconnected from the main. Yes, we are sick! I recall marvelling at that grand theatre and feeling a sense of national pride and awe. Nigerians were once proud to be Nigerians; we had a heritage and were courted by the developed world. If you’re confused about the definition of national pride ask the Americans. Or why go so far, you’ll never see an Egyptian cleaning the underground stations of London, you’ll never see South Africans washing corpses in the morgues of New York. A people who have fled their nation to eat at the dunghill of another cannot be proud of the nation that took away their dignity. The kids of today will never know that the Naira was once stronger than the Dollar and at par with the British Pound. They’ll never know that Gowon once declared that we had so much money we didn’t know what to do with it. Remember the Udoji awards. They will never know that Shagari once declared that we did not have a single kobo in debt as a nation. That was in 1980. Now, only 32 years later, things couldn’t be further from the truth. What infernal ailment turns a giant into a dwarf in 32 years? We had a functioning civil service which was being run by citizens this country had encouraged to return home from

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NLC and striking Plateau workers show solidarity with the workers. I also concede that sometimes while on such a visit, what the leader will say for public consumption may be quite different from what he may have said in private to the workers and to the employers with whom the workers are in dispute. Even after making this concession, I feel that the statement credited to Comrade Omar during the solidarity visit leaves much to be desired. The Comrade was reported to have said that he was in Jos to show that the NLC sympathised with their plight and was behind them in their fight. What some of us expected Omar to have said was to have told the workers that their plight was selfimposed and that they needed to reconsider their stand on the protracted face-off with the state government. Omar also ought to have publicly called on the workers to go back to work because their argument of eating their cake and wanting to have it back has no basis in labour law or convention. Labour leaders have a duty and a responsibility to publicly chide workers who have erred in order to get them to do the right thing the next time around. The time has come in our country for leaders to insist to their followers that the proper things be done at all times if we all hope to have a better nation. The strike instrument has

been terribly abused in our country and the time has come for patriotic labour leaders to let workers know this. Strike is supposed to be a warning shot. It is supposed to be short, sharp and calculated to deliver a specific message of disaffection in a manner that will not destroy the system but help to preserve it. Strike is an acceptable instrument designed to tell unreasonable, obdurate and oppressive employers that the workers are serious about what they are asking for. It is meant to gently but rudely nudge recalcitrant employers to sit up and listen. It is not meant to be a declaration of a sustained war of attrition which will leave the workers themselves, the public they are supposed to serve and the economy of the country prostrate as has become the practice in Nigeria. The NULGE in Plateau has illserved its people. It is extremely sad that in a country where millions of qualified, able and willing people cannot find a job, those who are privileged to have found jobs and to serve the nation at the LGA level, the basic level of development, have refused to serve. They have chosen instead to hold people to ransom by withholding their services on frivolous grounds and for so long a time. These people who have

chosen to do this do not deserve sweet talk about solidarity from a personality like the NLC leader. What they deserve instead is stern rebuke and a not-so polite counsel to resume work immediately. Labour unions in Nigeria must realise that in the game of life you do not win all the time. You win some and you lose some. Any leader who takes labour out on a strike and expects to win 100 per cent each time is one on a selfdestructive mission. It is possible that given the resolve of Governor Jang not to accede to the NULGE workers’ demand, there are many among them who want to forget the months that have been lost and resume work and continue with their lives but their leaders won’t let them because they do not want to lose face. Such an attitude is uncalled for. The NLC should not just express solidarity with workers who are on just any strike. It has a responsibility to advise them to retrace their step if their action amounts to a war of blame. We are all engaged in the search for a better and stronger Nigeria. Such a Nigeria cannot be found if those who are employed to work for the improvement of the country decide to stay at home for the simple reason that someone has correctly refused to pay them for work they did not do.

The Nigerian ailment the Diaspora. Many of them trained and highly skilled administrators in developed societies and enticed back to Nigeria to build the country. He summarily sacked droves of them from their senior positions and persons who once again were ill-prepared for leadership were thrust into their seats. There was the sad story of a UK-trained senior doctor who was pursued out of his government-allocated residence in Ikeja GRA. He ended up squatting in a friend’s garage until the depression of his situation drove him to suicide. Another great mind lost… Needless to say, the fellows who took over made a mess of the entire civil service and we are yet to recover today. Of course, these individuals having witnessed what had happened to their predecessors must have vowed never to fall victim to the whims and caprices of the next military junta. They went on a feeding frenzy and you know the rest. Corruption and the Nigerian civil service became one and the same word. No file moves today without some oiling of the wheels, the fact that one is a committed and dedicated taxpayer notwithstanding. It is a nation that eats its finest minds because the military made it so. Let me expatiate further using John Maxwell’s scale of leadership. For those who have read his bestselling book the “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”, he mentions a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is the lowest form of leadership and 10 is the highest. He explains that a level 8 leader is not intimidated by fellow level 8s neither by level 9s or 10s but is very comfortable in their midst and works with them to

achieve great goals. However, the lower down the scale you go the more the likelihood of finding tin-gods and small minded dictators. So you would typically find a level 5 leader surrounding himself with level 1, 2 or 3 leaders who kowtow to him and make him feel important. He is easily intimidated by other level 5s and certainly is intimidated by minds operating at a higher level than his. This explains why he would surround himself with mediocrity, yes-men and A.G.I.Ps (Any Government In Power), individuals prepared to give the military man whatever he wants and make him feel all powerful just so they can reap the benefits notwithstanding how idiotic the scheme. This is the cause of Nigeria’s woes and its chief ailment. We’ve never had leaders with the real stuff of leadership since the first coup when a man totally unprepared for leadership found himself at the helm of affairs. Each successive military regime was the same in its effect. The military gave birth to our current so-called democracy so how can we expect that the scale has changed. At best we’ve been ruled by level 4 leaders without the cerebral capacity required to

manage a highly complicated household with 3 landlords who each speak a different language and were just forced to stay in the same house by a cunning colonial master who understood that a house divided against itself would never stand. All to his advantage. Our differences as a people caused the first coup to fail, our differences make it impossible for us to experience a unified uprising similar to the Arab spring. Understand that Nigeria is made up of 150 million people (questionable considering the absence of the cerebral capacity required to conduct an accurate census in this country), less than a tenth are truly educated. An even smaller fraction are actually civilized (one needs to make the distinction between being educated and being civilized and selfaware). If therefore the remaining 130million (almost 90%) are operating at a mediocre level due to years of subjective and mentallyretarding military rule how can you expect Nigeria to look like Germany where the minds of its people are fully engaged?! That’s why people say that if you cart all the Nigerians to Germany and do

“

The resurrection of intellectualism in Nigeria and the deliverance of its people from mental decay is a task we must pursue vigorously. The enlightened do not burn their fellow human beings with tyres and smash in their skulls no matter the crime

The NLC also has a responsibility to educate workers and urge them to step up their work ethic. The attitude to work of the average Nigerian worker, especially the ones in the public sectors, is simply deplorable. At the drop of a hat he is ready not to work. The question is: If oil money was not flowing freely, from where do the NULGE people expect money to come with which they will be paid for sitting at home? When local government workers are not out there in the markets, parks, houses and shops collecting rates, taxes, bills and generating wealth from other activities, from where do they want money to drop so they can be given welfare like some invalids? Governor Jang has adopted the right position on this issue. The workers should engage in a conversation with themselves. If they do, they will surely agree to themselves that they acted wrongly. The next step they should take is to show remorse and resume work immediately in the interest of the development of Plateau State. This they should do also because they longer they persist on this clearly ill-advised strike, the more they are denying themselves of salaries and allowances. Polycarp Dama lives at 38 Bokkos Road, Jos, Plateau state

likewise to the Germans, Nigeria will end up looking like Germany in 5 years while Germany will end up looking like Nigeria. This is the stark truth. You can fight it all you want. It is true because it is a people that make a nation and not the reverse. And a person is nothing if the mind is lost. When people ‘lose’ their mind we know where they end up. They are conveniently moved out of life’s cycle or they end up roaming the streets naked and no different from beasts of the field. The mind therefore defines the man. The Nigerian mind has been brutalized, oppressed, harassed, bullied and tortured by the military. Or how do you explain a man flogging motorists to clear out of the way when a siren sounding tin-god needs to get to his guest house to pounce on his waiting girlfriend? The ‘chancing’ you endure daily and yet remain hopeful shows your strength of will and your confidence in that ageold naija cliché that ‘no condition is permanent’. One day you too shall flog your own and chop your own. I do not begrudge you, my brothers and sisters, for to expect angelic behaviour from you when a man pokes you in the eye daily with peppered digits is the stuff of gospel movies. The resurrection of intellectualism in Nigeria and the deliverance of its people from mental decay is a task we must pursue vigorously. The enlightened do not burn their fellow human beings with tyres and smash in their skulls no matter the crime. No! That is what savages do. A savage is not very far from the primal, bestial nature of the animal kingdom where violence determines the lay of the forest. Lanre Giwa is reachable on engrgee@yahoo.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

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Abuja residents speak on how best to celebrate Christmas VOX POP Sister Roseline, staff, community voice magazine am a Christian and I can assure you that Jesus was not born on Christmas day. It is a date that was generally set by Christians all over the world to mark the birth of Jesus Christ our Saviour. During Christmas a lot of good things happen. People plan their weddings, house warming, thanksgiving and so many good things. As a Christian, celebrate Christmas by going to the church on that day and say thank you father for the birth of Jesus. Appreciate his birth and people should fear God because by doing so these country will be good. All those that go about from one beer parlour to another drinking their destiny away should please stop because by doing so God is not happy with such a life style as it does not show the Christ in us. Daniel Ogalabu, staff in Butterfield Bakery Nyanya Christmas is a time to come to Christ because Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day. It is a time to reflect and not a time for enjoyment. It a time to celebrate but it does not mean we should kill ourselves or get drunk or drive recklessly and get involved in accident. I think the best way to celebrate it is to visit the charity homes, motherless babies homes, the blind, deaf and dumb and present gifts to them. Haruna Bala, student This Christmas is just like every other Christmas we have celebrated so we only pray that we celebrate it successfully. Christmas should be celebrated by showing more love to another as we have been taught in our various religious ways. Although I am not a Christian, but I will join my Christian brothers and sisters to have the best of this period. Sally Effiong, applicant Christmas is a festive period in which you can show love to your friends and family. It is a time you get to meet those you haven't seen in a very long time. I plan to travel to my state of origin (cross river state), where Christmas is well celebrated and we have what they call Christmas village where people gather in the evening to celebrate Christmas and also exchange gifts and buy gifts at a very low rate because of the season. To me, the season calls for bonus and special offers. People should show love no matter how small it is. Ozidi Ofodibe, driver My plan for this Christmas is to marry a new wife. Although there is no money but I will try the best I can to make sure I

Christmas means different thing to different people and with barely four days to this year's celebrations, one can practically see and feel the usual thrills and frills associated with the festivity in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT). Amusement Parks and other entertainment centres are all set to receive funny seekers while shops and markets have been inundated in the last few days with people shopping for assorted ahead for the celebration. Our reporters, Beauty Amaike, Jessica Enekole Enokela and Ominyi Comfort Odu went around the FCT to sample the views of residents on what Christmas means to them and how best it should be celebrated. Their opinions were as varied as their faces.

Sister Roseline

Daniel Ogalabu

Haruna Bala

Sally Effiong

Ozidi Ofodibe

Celestine Terfa

Loveth Chidinma Obinna

Julie Ayeju

Adeboye Adebimkpe

celebrate it because I can't afford to miss it. Christmas is not the cause of lack of money, but is because of the problems that come up during this time. I will like to advice people to take things easy during this Christmas season so that they don't get into problem. Celestine Terfa, salesperson, Ugosanche Resource Nig. Ltd This period is a period for forgiveness and I will celebrate this Christmas by travelling and visiting my friends, family, and

loved ones. This period is a time of turning a new leave from our bad life styles, loving one another and making changes and amendments in your life. Loveth Chidinma Obinna, business woman Christmas is a celebration of love, a time of thanksgiving and travelling. How I usually celebrate Christmas is that I go to church and celebrate the birth of our saviour after which I visit old friends that I have not seen for a very long time. It should be celebrated giving thanks to God

for the gift of life. Most importantly, Christmas should be celebrated by being together with our family. Julie Ayeju, business woman This is a time that calls for celebration because it is our Lord's birthday. It is also a time of happiness. It should be celebrated by serving God faithfully and truthfully. This period should be celebrated by thanking God for guiding us throughout the year from January to December. Closeness to God is also very

important this Christmas. Adeboye Adebimkpe, social entrepreneur Christmas is a time to actually reflect on ones achievement throughout the year. It is a time to also celebrate and the celebration is not about being merry merry all the time because my church teaches me that Christmas is a time to prepare for the year ahead. Christmas should be celebrated with the love of God in our hearts. Because only true love for God and one another can actually make this nation grow.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

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INSIDE FCT COURTS Court sentence two for stealing pumping machine

Kubwa Upper Area Court in Abuja has sentenced two men, Sumaila Adamu and Ibrahim Saleh, to six months imprisonment each for stealing a pumping machine. The presiding Judge, Malam Munir Lawal, however, gave the convicts an option to pay N3,000 fine. Police Prosecutor, Igonor Ocholi had told the court that the two were arrested on December 12, 2012 in Byazhin, Kubwa, by two security men, Shuaibu John and his colleague, Yusuf Kabiru. “The accused were found in possession of the pumping machine, but could not prove ownership when asked to do so,’’ Ocholi said. He said the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 79 and 319 of the Penal Code. The convicts pleaded guilty to the charge. (NAN)

Sex-starved man demands N1.2m refund from wife’s parents

man, Malam Mukailu Naibi of Keke village, Kaduna, whose wife allegedly starved him of sex for two years, has demanded N1,2 million as compensation from the wife’s parents before an Abuja Area Court. Naibi, while testifying at the resumed hearing of the case, told the court that the amount, covered the bride price he paid before marrying Maryam, his wife. He also told the court that the amount also covered the cost of damages done to the house after Maryam allegedly

set it on fire before fleeing to court to seek divorce. He also tendered written documents with records of all expenses made on his estranged wife and her parents, in addition to a witness to testify in his favour. Naibi, aged 37, had told the court that his wife had refused to make love to him since they got married two years ago. He also accused her of setting their house on fire. “Your Worship, since we got married two years ago,

my wife never allowed me to make love to her for once and all my attempts to do it always led to fighting. “I married her out of love and I still love her, but with this development, I have no choice, but to ask the court to grant her divorce wish for the sake of peace,” Naibi said. In her testimony, Maryam, who is 16-years -old told the court that her husband made love to her once, but that she was not impressed and so she wanted a divorce. “I don’t love him, I don’t love anybody who bears his name

and I hate anybody who loves him,” she told the court. Maryam’s mother who was her only witness in court denied most of Naibi’s claims but admitted some, saying that Maryam’s father was in a better position to clarify some issues. The Judge, Haruna Masanawa, after hearing all the submissions of the parties in the case, ordered the court’s registrar to summons more witnesses, including Maryam’s father. He adjourned the case to January 16, 2013 for further hearing. (NAN)

Two men sentenced for stealing company diesel

wo men, Tony Omale and Chris Johnson have been sentenced to two months imprisonment by a Magistrates Court sitting in Kubwa each for joint act, trespass, mischief and attempt to steal diesel belonging to Syman Nigeria Limited, Kubwa, Abuja. Presiding Magistrate, Ibrahim Mohammed said he gave the convicts light sentence because they were first-time offenders. “Since the convicts are first-time offenders, this Court will tamper justice with mercy. They are sentenced to two months imprisonment each without any option of fine,’’ he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convicts were first arraigned on May 11, 2012. Police Prosecutor, Danjuma Abdullahi told the court that Maija Dania, a security guard at Syman Nigeria Limited, Kubwa, reported the case on April 24. “On that day, the suspects criminally trespassed into the premises of the company in a Toyota Corolla car with Reg. No. BX 456JJJ, carrying several Jerry cans. “They were attempting to siphon diesel from the company’s tank when the police apprehended them,” he said. The prosecutor said that the convicts committed the offences of joint act, criminal trespass, mischief and attempt to commit, which contravenes Sections 80, 348, 327 and 95 of the Penal Code. They pleaded not guilty to the charges. (NAN)

Young men relaxing after off-loading bags of gari, yesterday in Garki market, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Police arraign two for allegedly stealing 100 pieces of blocks

he Police in Mararaba, Nasarawa state, has arraigned two men before an Upper Area Court for alleged criminal conspiracy and theft. Benjamin Ushia, 30, and Jacob Wase, 18, both residents of City College of Education Road, Mararaba, were accused of stealing 100 pieces of nine inch

blocks, valued at N5,000, belonging to one Epraim Sasotu of New Nyanya. Police Prosecutor, Stephen Kwaza told the court that the matter was reported at the Sani Abacha Police Station on December 14, 2012. He said the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 97 and

287 of the Penal Code. In his ruling, the Presiding Judge, Mr Victor Gwahemba, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 each with one surety each in like sum. Gwahemba ordered that the sureties must be responsible persons and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

He also held that the sureties must deposit their passport photographs with the registrar of the court. The Judge warned that the accused would be remanded in prison custody if they failed to meet the bail conditions, and adjourned hearing on the case to January 9, 2013. (NAN)

Woman gets jail sentence for stealing ex-husband’s wig, gown

34-year-old woman, Elizabeth Akinagbe, h a s been sentenced to three months imprisonment by a Kubwa Magistrates Court for stealing. The Magistrate, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, in his judgment, sentenced the woman to one month imprisonment on each of the three-count charge of house breaking, theft and criminal force.

Mohammed, who said that the sentence would run concurrently, however, gave the convict an option of N20, 000 fine. The convict was arraigned on May 23, 2012 following complaints by a lawyer, Victor Olise, a resident of Jayi village, Arab Road in Kubwa. Prosecutor, Lucas Ephraim told the court that Olise reported that on April 19, the convict broke into his house and stole his wig and gown.

Ephraim said that the convict also stole female underwear and family photographs, adding that the offences contravenes Sections 346, 287 and 288 of the Penal Code. The convict had pleaded not guilty to the charges. She told the court that she was formerly married to the complainant, adding: “I had three children for him, but since our separation, he has denied me access to the

children. “I took his wig and gown to compel him to allow me see my children, but I didn’t take any other item from his house,’’ she said. Olise, however, told the court that the convict abandoned the children with him. “When she abandoned the children, I had no other choice than to take them to my people in the village for adequate care,’’ Olise said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

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NOTAP, RMRDC give grants to 10 FCT secondary schools

ational Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) have donated N4 million to 10 selected secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT). The schools that were given the grant are the Vocational Enterprise Institutes at Kuje, Karshi, Gwagwalada, Bwarri, Abaji, and Kwalli, and the Government Secondary schools at Garki, Nyanya, Dutse and Karu. Dr Umar Bindir, DirectorGeneral, NOTAP, said the grants were part of the agencies’ collective resolution to popularise and promote innovations in secondary schools. Bindir said that the grants were also part of NOTAP’s plan in anchoring the African Day for Technology and Intellectual Property on the continent that was being celebrated every September 13, 2012. He said the grant would serve the purpose of unleashing creativity, inventiveness and innovations in students. He told newsmen that the N4 million was an equal joint contribution by NOTAP and RMRDC. According to him, NOTAP would work closely with the education boards to ensure that the grants were used judiciously to further spur the students’ creative thinking for national development. Prof. Peter Onwualu, Director-General RMRDC, said that there was need to bridge the gap in technological innovation in the youth. He pointed out that education should be balanced with handsome experiences in technological advancement. “The new generation of youth should be able to have a well built educational capacity with high level of skills and experiences, he said”. Onwualu, said that the grants were to help students develop technological designs and fabricate machines that would aid national development. He encouraged youths and principals to tap into projects that were highly resourceful, especially through the raw materials. According to him, the minister for science and technology, was planning a world based cluster project aimed at harnessing the recent technology in all research institutes in Nigeria. He said the idea was to inject the discovered technologies into the production of goods and services especially in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). (NAN)

Old women waiting for alms yesterday in Karu village, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Absence of pipe borne water worries Karu residents By Ominyi Comfort Odu

or more than five years, some residents of Camcy Close in Karu Site, Abuja have being with pipe borne water supply, a development that has forced them to rely on water vendors. Investigations revealed that the residents have been spending so much money to buy water from vendors in the absence of supply from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board. Speaking to our reporter in an interview, the residents, who bemoan their ordeals, appealed to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to intervene to ameliorate the situation. Some of the residents said they have not had water for over five years, complaining that it cost them so much money to purchase water from water vendors,

popularly known as mairuwa. One of the residents, a student, Inigo Iboh said she had lived in the area for over three years and as big as her compound is, they are not connected to pipe borne water supply. “In fact we cannot even boast of a bore hole or even one well. I buy a full truck of water everyday which costs me N240 and if I need to wash and do other domestic jobs that involve water, one truck is not always enough, so at end of every year, I spend close N250, 000.00 on water,” she lamented. She said she had complained to her landlord, though he promised that he would look into the matter, but up till now he had not done anything. Iboh said she could not tell if the water board was aware of the situation. “To be sincere, I am not

comfortable with the money I spend on water even though water is an essential commodity. My problem is not as if the water comes and goes off, there is no water at all. And I just hope the landlord as well as water board look into it”, she said. Another resident a civil servant, Olalade Olubori also said he had lived in the area for four years, observing that some of his neighbours have water but their own case is different. He also complained that he has been spending so much money on water, saying that he was trying to adapt to the situation. His word: “I am trying to adapt to the situation I find myself. I spend N2, 400on water every month it means, I spend close to thirty thousand naira on water per year”. A business man, who simply

identified himself as Moses said he had lived in the area for two years without pipe borne water supply. He complained that he spends up to N240 on water. “I have complained on different occasions to the landlord but he has refused to address the precarious situation”, Moses said, appealing to the government to come to their aid. Similarly, a business woman, Aminatu Abubakar , who have lived in the area for five years, said she spends close to N200,000 on water in one year. “The rent has been increased, yet the landlord is not making proper use of the increment. We expect that he provides bore holes for us but none of this has been done. We therefore appeal to the government to listen to our cry in order to make life worth living for us,” she added.

Cooking gas retailers lament price increment

ooking gas retailers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have lamented the rising cost of the commodity which, they said, had gravely affected patronage. Some of the retailers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the price of the product had increased gradually over the past weeks making customers to resort to using other cooking fuel. The retailers said in the past month they were refilling a 12.5kg cylinder with N3,200 and selling to their customers at N3,500, adding that they were now buying at N3,800 and

selling at N4,000. Nnamdi David, the Manager of ND Cooking Gas Ltd, told NAN that it was already a tradition for cooking gas dealers to hike the price of the product during Christmas. “We are tired of the increment, it is almost like a tradition in the business and it is making the business less lucrative for some of us,’’ he said. The Manager of Nedu Gas Limited, Chinedu Okoro, said the business had become very difficult to run during the period. “During the Christmas period, my blood pressure is

always above normal because of the difficulty in managing this business,’’ he said. The Manager of Sony Best Gas Limted, Sony Nnwaokoye, said that in spite of the hard time, he was still making a lot of money. “I am making a lot of money this Christmas period because I stocked up my shop when the commodity was selling at N3,200. Now it is selling at N3,800, so while my colleagues sell to their customers at N4,000, I sell to my customers at N3, 900 “My customers are very happy with me, because I am selling cheaper than others; now

I have more customers than before”. Meanwhile, a gas dealer, who pleaded anonymity for fear of been misunderstood by the marketers of the product, told NAN that the marketers exported more of the product during this period. “A marketer told me that during this period, there is a high demand for the commodity abroad. “Most of them prefer to sell abroad and make more profit than selling in Nigeria and making less profit,’’ she said. (NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

13 percent derivation: Oil communities write NEITI

Mob: 08033644990

PHCN achieves another power generation peak of 4,374.1MW By Udenna Orji

n a new development recorded on Tuesday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has again announced another power generation peak of 4,374.1MW surpassing the generation peak of 4,349.7Megawatts (MW) attained on Monday. In the press statement signed by the company’s Assistant General Manager (Public Affairs), Mr. Dave Ifabiyi said that the new generation peak is in line with the resolve of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to improve the power supply situation in the country, by consistently expanding and reinforcing power infrastructures in the generation, transmission and distribution companies, resulting in the gradual but steady increase in power supply

nationwide. Reiterating the resolve to achieve a generation target of 4,500MW by the end of December this year, TCN further noted that the generation, distribution and transmission companies are determined to achieve this milestone, even as gas supply continues to improve. It further assured that the transmission grid is quite robust and will continue to efficiently move power generated to distribution companies nationwide. Undoubtedly, the new generation peak of 4,374.1MW will result in a boost in electricity supply which will invariably impact positively on the socioeconomic activities of Nigerians. Therefore, the MD/CEO TCN, Engr. Olusola Akinniranye appealed to electricity consumers to help protect all power equipment within their communities.

FG to halt importation of packaged sugar

he Federal Government will end imports of packaged sugar from Jan. 1 to boost local investment and achieve self sufficiency in production of the sweetener, the National Sugar Development Council said. Imports of machinery for local sugar refineries won’t be subject to tariffs, Lateef Busari, executive secretary of the council, said in an e-mailed statement today from Abuja, the capital. Investors in domestic processors and “sugarcane-to- sugar value chains” will get a five-year tax

holiday, he said. Nigeria spends $10 billion annually importing rice, wheat, sugar and fish, according to the Agriculture Ministry. The West African nation plans to reduce imports and boost domestic food production by 20 million metric tons by 2015. Imports of raw sugar for refining will be approved by President Goodluck Jonathan only on recommendations from the Trade and Investment Minister, Busari said. (Bloomberg)

L-R: Gambo Hamza Garba, Director Finder Consulting Limited,Tijjani M. Abdulahi, Executive Chairman, Finder Consulting Limited, Mohammed Mustapha Bintube, MD/CEO, Jaiz BankPLO and Abubakar Usman, MD/CEO, Brun Development Company Limited during the partnership signing ceremony in respect of the FCT Land Swap Scheme between SPDC and Jaiz Bank Plc.

Nigeria to start cement exportation in 2013, says Aganga By Abdurrahman Abdulraheem & Stanley Onyekwere

he Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga has disclosed that Nigeria will start exportation of cement before the end of the year. Aganga speaking in Abuja at the second Annual Seminar for Trade and Investment correspondent at the Transcorp Hillton in Abuja on Monday said for the first time, the country will start exporting cement, adding that this will happen before the year runs out. Aganga said the backward integration policy adopted by the

government is the most successful policy in the country. “According to him, “Despite economic dynamism, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is committed to formulating policies that would stimulate the growth of all sectors in the country, particularly manufacturing”. ” I just spoke with Dangote and other stakeholders and there was assurance that the exportation will start before the end of the year. “It is on record that all the papers to facilitate this are ready.” Aganga said the Federal Government is also working on

the policy that will bring down the price of cement as from next year. “There is no doubt that we have enough cement in the country. The government is coming up with a policy that will bring down the price of cement. This will come up next year. On the shutting down of Dangote Cement in Gboko, the minister said:” The shutting down of Dangote Cement in Gboko has nothing to do with importation. He (Dangote) didn’t say it was because of importation. “In fact, I want to tell you that for the first time, government has not issued out license to anybody this year”.

Akwa Ibom Trade Fair groans under low patronage Ashaka Cement to increase From Mike Etim, Uyo

ne week after it was declared open, the Akwa Ibom Trade Fair tagged: “Akwafair 2012” is still groaning under low patronage. The fair according to the chairman of the organization Mr. Nseyen Ebong was aimed at complimenting and facilitating the state government uncommon transformation programme and was expected to last till the 21 December 2012. Speaking further, the chairman said 52 companies had earlier indicated interest from 28 countries to participate in the fair, stating that low patronage being experienced by the fair now was normal since most fairs do not peak until towards the end. In spite of the low patronage by attendance and participating companies he stressed: “We hope it is going to be one of the biggest fair on the east or the Niger because we are bringing foreign investors to

create nexus with the local ones”. Our correspondent who visited the fair, with the theme: “Towards a greater industrialization of Akwa Ibom state” taking place at the Ibom Hall ground in Uyo, observed that apart from multinational companies like GlaxoSmithKline Samsung, Network Travels, Slot, the presence of the other 28 companies said to have indicated their intensions were yet to be felt.

production capacity by 3 million tonnes From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

shakaCem Plc, a subsidiary of Lafarge Group, has launched a development programme to increase its capacity from existing 900,000 tonnes to 3 million tons in the coming years just as it said it has improved investment in the local communities. This was contained in a statement signed by the Managing

Director, Mr. Neeraj Akhuory, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Bauchi. Akhuory said that the decision to increase capacity was taken during company’s Board meeting held in Abuja on 14th December 2012. In the statement, Akhuory disclosed that the Board of Directors announced that technical feasibility studies on raw material reserves, power and

Management Tip of the Day Take more vacation

n a world of ever-increasing demands, people are spending less time out of the office and taking fewer days off. Fall victim to this trend, and it will harm your health and productivity. Instead, do the following:· Take every day of vacation you’re given. Don’t hold it over and don’t tell

yourself that you don’t have the time. You’ll get more done at a higher level of quality if you take time off and come back to the office rested.· T r u l y disengage when you’re away. If you don’t, you won’t be getting the full benefits of time off. If you have to answer email, set aside one short chunk of time to do so.·

Don’t settle for three or four days off. Short periods are fine, but they’re not sufficient. If you have an intense job, it takes at least two consecutive weeks away from work to fully restore yourself. Source: Harvard Business Review

infrastructure undertaken by the company were progressing well, particularly with regards to additional limestone and coal reserves that were at an advanced stage. The Managing Director said that Lafarge, as majority shareholder of Ashaka, gives great importance to Nigeria in its emerging markets portfolio and is committed to strengthening its existing businesses and develop new activities in this country. He said that the Board recognised the contributions of Lafarge towards enhancing AshakaCem’s performance and current production capacity, in particular the company’s initiatives in the usage of coal from Gombe State to substitute expensive imported fuel oil and the increase of clinker and cement production. In addition, the company said it is also completing a project to provide electrification for 3 villages in Maiganga where it operates its coal mines.

PEOPLES DAILY,FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

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COMPANY NEWS Qatar

he government of Qatar is plotting to invest $390million (N62.4 billion) in Nigeria’s transport sector. Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga dropped the hint yesterday while speaking at the 2nd annual seminar for Trade and Investment correspondents and Group Business Editors. Aganga said the two countries have concluded arrangement to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the new investment, which he said would further create thousands of employment for the nation’s teeming youths. Besides, he said Qatar was interested in importing locomotive products from Nigeria to boost its transportation system and economy in general.

13 percent derivation: Oil communities write NEITI By Abdulwahab Isa

il producing communities in six states of the federation have solicited the intervention of Nigeria Extractive Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on the misapplication of 13 percent derivation by their states’ government totalling N7.282 trillion. They claim the governors’ action and mis-application of the accruing fund has left the

communities in hunger and abject poverty. They stated this in a letter addressed to NEITI and signed by Chief William Igere, representing Delta state, Pastor Macpherson Kurobo representing Bayelsa state, Chief Harry Opaks representing Rivers state, Saviour James Okon representing Akwa Ibom state, Princess Nomwen Uhunmwangho, representing Edo state and Comrade Samuel Ebiwanno representing Ondo state.

ICT Polytechnic

hief executive of DataPoint Microsystems Institute, Mr. Lucky Uduikhue has said that the company is planning to building a private information communication technology (ICT) Polytechnic that will give students the opportunity to learn deeper in micro-software. The chief executive stated this at the 12th convocation ceremony of the Institute recently in Lagos. According to him, the Institute is partnering with EC-Council University of India to build the Polytechnic whose foundation would be laid next year. Uduikhue said the Institute will partner students in eSecurity, e-Governance, Access Control, Systems, ERP, SAP software, ICT assets management, card security systems, and “affiliate with professional bodies to take Data-Point to the next level in Nigeria and in subSaharan Africa before 2015.

SON

he Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has introduced a mobile petroleum laboratory to tackle the menace of adulterated petroleum products in the country. SON’s Director-General, Mr. Joseph Odumodu, in a petroleum stakeholders meeting with petroleum products dealers and marketers in Lagos, explained that the introduction of this mobile petroleum would help address the issue of adulterated petroleum products which impacts negatively on the socioeconomic life of the nation. The D-G explained that cases of explosions are rife resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property, cars, equipment and the likes pointing out that outside outright destruction, there is a constant breakdown of engines and equipment using compromised petroleum products.

They urged NEITI to intervene in the illegal and unconstitutional payment of 13% derivation into any state government account. The affected oil and gas communities restated the legal position that the 13% derivation fund is not part of consolidated revenue of any tier of government nor part of state joint local government account as the 13% derivation fund is the first charge on the Federation Account as provided in the Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They insisted that 13% derivation fund exists before any revenue formula or revenue sharing by FAAC. The amount due to 13% derivation fund is kept aside constitutionally or removed from the total oil revenue before sharing between the Federal, State and Local Governments before any FAAC meeting. Therefore, they said, it is illegal and unconstitutional to pay 13% derivation fund through any state government account.

The oil and gas communities also appealed that while NEITI in carrying out the financial audit on the 13% derivation fund, they should visit the oil and gas communities to undertake physical audit of these communities to see the degree of poverty, lack of infrastructure, lack of means of livelihood, level of devastation, environmental degradation, pollution and health hazard. Only last week, the Federal Government directed NEITI to commence the audit of the 13 percent derivation revenue accruing from the extractive sector to all natural resource producing states in the country with a view to determining how the disbursements have been utilised by natural resource producing states. This was disclosed by a representative of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Faith Ossai Nwadishi, who said the directive was given recently by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Group calls for uniform aviation operations supervision By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

L-R: Kebbi state Accountant General, Malam Dakingari Mohammed, and Yobe state Commissioner for Finance, Malam Kaigama Umar, during Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

non-governmental coalition, Civil Society Aviation Coalition (CSAC) has advised both the Federal Government and the National Assembly to introduce a legal framework that will compel all aircraft and helicopters in use in Nigeria whether military or civilian to come under the aviation ministry’s supervisory and monitoring scope. A statement signed by the coalition’s Executive Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko

NNPC laments activities of pipeline vandals By Muhammad Nasir

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC) on Wednesday decried the unending incidents of pipeline hacking and product theft which is currently posing great danger to the efficient distribution and supply of petroleum products in some parts of the country. Speaking against the backdrop of the recent line break in Ije-ododo community in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, Engr. Andrew Yakubu stated that if left on checked, the nefarious activities of pipeline marauders could cripple the smooth operation of the downstream sector of the industry. Engr. Yakubu who declared open the 3rd Triennial Delegates Conference of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, PENGASSAN, in Abuja noted that less than one

week after the vital system 2B was restored after extensive repair work on the ruptured Arepo point, the Corporation has been compelled to shut the line owing to Monday’s attack on the Ije-ododo point. “We had over 774 break points since August 2012 from Atlas Cove to Ilorin depot. Between Atlas Cove and Mosimi depot, we recorded 181 break points, from Mosimi to Ibadan, we had 421 raptured points and from Mosimi to Ore, we recorded 50 vandalized points. Also between Ibadan and Ilorin we had a total of 122 break points,’’ the GMD stated. He informed that though the NNPC is working hard to ensure effective distribution of petroleum products across the country through increased trucking, the trucking option comes with enormous cost which is totally unsustainable. “PIB or no PIB, privatisation or no privatisation, no industry

can survive under this kind of arrangement,’’ he said. Records indicate that with the incessant attacks on the nation’s vast artery of pipelines about 70 percent products distribution is through trucking or what is known in the industry parlance as bridging into the hinterlands. This requires massive fleets of petroleum product trucks of up to 1,212 trucks load out from the depots every day to meet the daily estimated national consumption. At an average vehicle turnaround of about 8-10 days from the South to the North and re-turn, a minimum of 10,000 trucks are required to ply the roads daily. Despite the challenge posed by the shut- down of the system 2B line as a result of the attack, the GMD said he remains optimistic that Nigerians would not suffer undue hardship during the yuletide season.

and the National Publicity Secretary, Maimuna Al-Hassan, expressed their deep shock over the “very unfortunate helicopter accident involving the Navy Augusta Helicopter.” While commemorating this unfortunate development, the coalition then called on President Jonathan and the National Assembly “to consider ways and means of introducing workable legal framework to make it compulsory that all aircraft including military helicopters are monitored to ensure the highest standards of maintenance and safety to fly within Nigerian airspace.” Currently, the Federal Ministry of Aviation has no legal backing to supervise and monitor military and police helicopters operations, making it impossible by officials of the ministry to determine the safety status of any of these military helicopters. The coalition however said that if such legal framework was put in place, it would enable Nigeria maintain common National Aviation safety standards in compliance with global best practices and thereby save the country from the embarrassment of incessant helicopter crashes. Only last year, the group recalled, late Deputy Inspector General of Police Mr. John Haruna, in charge of operations, was killed in a police helicopter crash in Jos, Plateau State. They therefore exonerated the federal ministry of aviation of blame in the circumstances that led to the unfortunate weekend plane crash which claimed the lives of the Kaduna State governor, Patrick Yakowa and former National Security, General Aziza, since military planes and/or helicopters do not directly fall directly under the purview of the Aviation Ministry.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Optimising revenue yield of stamp duties collection through enforcement of tax law (2) Deadline for payment of stamp duty and penalty In Section 23, the law states that unless provisions are made in the Stamp Duties Act, (such as documents that must be stamped before execution e.g. insurance policies) any unstamped or insufficiently stamped instrument may be stamped within 40 days from its first execution. One exception to this rule is the case of instruments chargeable by ad valorem duty which has a time limit of 30 days. However, where an Instrument is not duly stamped within the time limit stated above, the person liable to a penalty shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to payment of the unpaid duty and a fine of N20 and where the unpaid duty exceeds N20 there is a further penalty or interest on such duty at the rate of ten percent per annum from the day on which the document was first executed up to the time when the amount of interest is equal to the unpaid duty. Judicial Interpretations Tax appeal tribunal The Tax Appeal Tribunal has the power to adjudicate on disputes, controversies arising from the Stamp Duties Law. Aggrieved persons and the FIRS may appeal against a decision or assessment demand notice or non-compliance by a person (in case of the Service) within 30 days from the date on which a copy of the order or decision which is being appealed against is made. State High Court Any person who is dissatisfied with the assessment of a Commissioner may, within 21 days after the date of the assessment, and on payment of duty in conformity therewith,

FIRS Headquarters, Abuja

appeal against the assessment to the High Court of the State in which the assessment was made and may for that purpose require the Commissioner to state and sign a case, setting forth the question upon which his opinion was required, and the assessment made by him. The Commissioner shall thereupon state and sign a case and deliver the same to the person by whom it is required, and the case may, within seven days thereafter but not later, be filed by him in the High Court and thereafter be heard by the said court. Upon the hearing of the case, the court shall determine the question submitted, and, if the instrument in question is in the opinion of the court chargeable with any duty, shall assess the duty with which it is chargeable. If it is decided by the court that the assessment of the Commissioner is wrong, the court shall assess the correct amount of duty. Rates of stamp duties Any charge not prescribed by the Act remains illegal. Rates of duty are prescribed for each head of charge and fall into two categories; Fixed Duties which comprise fixed sums payable on certain instruments. Instruments that are subject to fixed duties include the following; Memorandum and Articles of Association Payment receipts of money amounting to N4 or upwards Guarantor forms Proxy forms Admission as a barrister or solicitor An ad-valorem duty is calculated by reference to value; usually the value of the consideration recorded in the instrument. Instruments that are assessed under ad-valorem include;

FIRS Ag Chairman Alhaji Kabiru Mashi Nominal Share Capital amounts or increase in share capital of companies Promissory notes Contract notes Mortgage and debentures Property valuation Policy of life insurance. Exemptions in the Stamp Duty Act S. 513 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) provides for exemptions from payment of Stamp Duty. Some instruments relating to a company under liquidation.

Liquidation involving a compulsory winding up backed by a court order or voluntary winding up. The instruments exempted by this section include but not limited to mortgage charge or other encumbrance on property or forming part of the asset was of the company to be liquidated. Other instruments include any power of attorney, proxy paper, writ or order in respect of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property. A property sold by a liquidator should therefore enjoy this exemption. Treaties/Agreements made wither between the Federal Government and foreign private corporations, international organizations or other foreign governments are exempt from stamp duty. Also exempted by the stamp duty act are company reconstructions and amalgamations. Other exceptions include: Admission as a military advocate Bill or Note issued by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Letter of credit granted a Nigerian authorizing draft to be drawn in Nigeria for payment not in Nigeria. Transfer of shares in the Government or legislative stocks or funds of Nigeria. All instruments on which the duty would be payable locally by Government. All instruments relating to the transfer of shares (Gains are now charged under CITA/ PITA).

All instruments on which the duty would be payable by Government. Bond given by public officer for the execution of his duties. Treaties and agreement entered into between the Federal Government and other foreign governments are exempted from stamp duties based on reciprocity of relations. Optimising revenue yield from stamp duty Enforcement of the rule/law that Federal Government should impose, charge and collect duties on instruments relating to matters executed between a company and an individual, group or body of individuals, while, State Governments should do the same in respect of instruments between persons and individuals. Each authority should ensure it keeps to its jurisdiction. Failure to stamp through imposition of penalties and offences should be enforced. Postage stamps not meant for stamp duties cannot be used. The use of postage stamps by individuals for agreement is not a stamp duties document in law. There is an urgent need to communicate to concerned stakeholders and increase awareness in this regard. If an instrument falls within two heads of charge the Government can only levy on the duty, but may choose the higher (Speyer Bros V. CIR HL, (1908) AC92) The organization of the stamp duty office should elicit efficiency and effectiveness. Imposition of penalty for late stamping must be imposed accordingly. i.e. Pay the unpaid duty Penalty of N20. If the unpaid duty is more than N20, there will be an interest on such duty of 10% per annum until this is equal to the unpaid duty. The amount of interest is equal to or less than the unpaid duty. Rates appear to be too low. There is need for increase in amount of duty and therefore, amendment of the law should be proposed. There is an urgent need for publicity on the law and administration of Stamp Duties for awareness, thereby increasing the tax base and revenue to government. On Self- Assessment, should there be an amendment to the law to reflect it? Stamp Duty is an old tax type that was created a long time ago. In the face of increased government spending and low revenue income there is need for all tax leakages to be plugged to enhance the revenue collection profile both at the state and federal level. Therefore, all documents of a contractual nature must be stamped to ensure the legality of such instruments, while increasing government revenue concurrently. (Concluded)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

PAGE 22

Report of the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, Nov 2012 (XIII) indicates the name of the awardee(s), concession awarded, the signature bonus and the minimum work program commitment.

Findings 4.7.2.1. NNPC'S Role in petroleum revenues

NPC manages various oil revenue streams on behalf of the FGN, with proceeds from crude oil and gas sales being the largest. As the national oil company owned by the FGN, NNPC represents the interests of the Federation in the Oil and Gas Sector via the various fiscal regimes and thereby mobilises and collects revenues due to the Federation from sale of crude oil and gas resources8. Various reviews conducted by the Task Force showed that the NNPC does not receive the required capital to grow its assets or meet operating costs. Its status as a statutory corporation makes accessing third-party financing extremely difficult. Lacking a more efficient or sustainable option, NNPC has increasingly relied on the FGN for lines of credit which include formal and informal loans, and deduction of oil revenue due to the Federation Account. At the same time, fiscal and debtor-creditor relationships between NNPC and Government are blurred. The NNPC Act of 1977 offers little help, and Section 162(2) of the Constitution would seem to require the Corporation to forward all oil revenues to the Federation Account. NNPC participates to a limited degree in the annual appropriations process, but budgeted sums have fallen short of costs for decades. 4.7.2.2.Revenues from NNPC subsidiaries The Task Force found that NNPC retains revenues generated by its subsidiaries listed earlier in the report, to finance operations. In our review, the legal basis for this practice was unclear. Business justification may also be weak, given the poor performance records and unprofitability of many of these subsidiaries. From submitted information, the Task Force has not received adequate information to determine specific amounts in NNPC subsidiary revenue which is withheld from the Federation Account. It is also unclear what portion of retained earnings Government could properly recover as debt. However, the practice raises red flags around subsidiary governance and requires immediate reform. We found that there are no clear guidelines on this practice. Most of the trading companies, for instance, are incorporated with offices and accounts outside Nigeria. All but Duke Oil are joint ventures with major traders, but rules for how the partners share profits were not

4.9.2. Findings 4.9.2.1. Upstream licensing rounds

Natural gas to liquids (NGLs)/Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) provided to the Task Force. Accountability of subsidiaries to NNPC Group also appears weak with opaque management structures and Boards reportedly do not meet regularly.

4.8.Taxes 4.8.1. Overview The PPTA governs the taxation of companies engaged in petroleum operations. It is the principal legislation on the assessment of the oil companies' taxable profits and the distribution of these profits between the government and the companies. The Act defines petroleum operations as, "the winning or obtaining and transportation of petroleum or chargeable oil in Nigeria by or on behalf of a company for its own account by any drilling, mining, extracting or other like operations or process, not including refining at a refinery, in the course of a business carried by the company engaged in such operations, and all operations incidental thereto and sale of or any disposal of chargeable oil by or on behalf of the company". Any other activity not covered by the above definition is liable to tax under the CITA. The PPTA states that the income of a company shall be taken to be the sum of: (a) the proceeds of all chargeable oil sold by the

company in that period; (b) the value of all chargeable oil disposed by the company in that period; and (c) all income of the company for that period incidental to and arising from any one or more of its petroleum operations. Incidental income includes interest income, rent/ hire of equipment and services provided to other petroleum companies. Key Provisions Key provisions of the PPTA include: o Rates: 85% for Joint Ventures (reduced to 65.75% for companies in the first 5 years of production) and 50% for PSCs. o Estimated tax for a year to be prepared and filed not later than the last working day in February. o Revision to be made if there is any significant change in the parameters used in the estimate i.e. production, cost and price. o Final returns to be filed not later than May 31 after year end. 4.9. Signature Bonus 4.9.1. Overview Signature bonuses are paid to the State in order to secure the rights to explore a certain oil and gas field or block. The amounts to be paid are determined by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and collected by the DPR. Successful concessionaires receive Award Letters which

Whilst the law allows discretionary grants of oil licenses, best practice suggests that best value is realised from a transparent bid process for oil and gas licenses. The government between 2000 and 2007 has endeavoured to set up a transparent bid process but the use of discretionary grants even during those same periods of time remains. Design of the five major licensing rounds Nigeria held between 2000 and 2007 was satisfactory. There are however allegations of practices that undermined competition and due process; setting aside bid guidelines, arranging "forced marriages" between companies, and awards outside of the auction process or to low-ranked bidders. Denying investors access to geophysical data from blocks up for sale has also kept Nigeria from getting full value for its acreage. In past rounds, faulty data management practices by the NDR have affected the results of the bid rounds. The Task Force from its review identified various issues that have resulted from the management of the past bid rounds. These are discussed below. o Lower demand and fewer qualified bidders: Each of Nigeria's 2000-2007 rounds drew less interest and fewer qualified bidders. The only contestants left by 2007 were small independents and indigenous players with low capacity. Only 57 percent of blocks offered in 2005 drew even a single bid; by 2007, the number was 40 percent. This came at a time of strong global competition. In comparison, Libya's 2005 auction attracted 100 bids for 15 blocks. o Uncompleted deals: Nearly half of the awards in 2005 ended in default. Overall it appears that less than 50 contracts were signed on the roughly 175 blocks offered in 2000-2007. o Weakened government returns: Acreage which in 2005 attracted signature bonuses of over $100mn, but saw bidders default, fetched less than $20mn when re-offered in 2006 and 2007. One OPL netting government $76mn went for $6.5mn two years later. Compare this with Angola, which in the same period captured recordbreaking bonuses through open,

well-managed bid rounds. oPoor growth of the indigenous petroleum sector: Conduct of past bid rounds also undermined the stated goals of boosting "local content" and nurturing serious Nigerian operators. Of the 24 marginal fields awarded in the early 2000s, less than 10 have produced oil. Marginal field production is around 10,000bpd, according to NNPC. o Low development of acreage: This is the ultimate consequence of past licensing practices. Only around half of the over 80 blocks won between 2005 and 2007 are being explored or mined at present. NNPC reports that of the roughly 60 PSCs signed, six are currently producing. o Public controversy: All of Nigeria's past licensing rounds led to official probes, reports of scandals in the media, and several court cases. Litigation has delayed development of some blocks for a number of years. During the period from 2005 to 2011 a potential revenue of $321m in signature bonuses is tied up in litigation. 4.9.2.2. Outstanding Signature Bonuses due to the Federation The DPR provided the task force with information indicating that 67 licenses were awarded between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2011. A total of Sixty (60) concessions were awarded during the 3 bid rounds in the period (2005, 2006 and 2007). Expected revenue from the bid rounds was approximately $2.26billion. Cash received of the revenue expected in relation to the bid rounds was $1.7billion leaving $566 million unpaid. An additional seven (7) concessions were allocated at the discretion of the office of the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources in 2008, 2009 and 2011. The expected revenue from the discretionary allocations was $414.45million. Of the expected amount of $414.45million, only $231.79million has been paid to date and $183million remains outstanding and is due to the nation's treasury. The signature bonuses per concession over the periods reviewed range from $150,000 to $310million. Of the $414.45 million expected for the seven discretionary allocations, three (3) were awarded at $150,000 each to Afren Energy Services/ Oriental, All Grace Energy and Green Energy Nigeria Limited.

PEOSPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Report as at Friday, December 20, 2012

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

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Will President Barack Obama push US to stand by the side of brave Africans? W

hen President Obama visited Accra, Ghana in 2009, he delivered two distinct political messages within one overarching moral imperative: “History is on the side of brave Africans”. His message to African governments and leaders was emphatic: “Make no mistake: history is on the side of these brave Africans, and not with those who use coups or change Constitutions to stay in power. Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong i n s t i t u t i o n s … [G]overnments that respect the will of their own people are more prosperous, more stable, and more successful...” His message to the people of Africa was inspiring, upbeat and passionate: “You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people. You can conquer disease, end conflicts, and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes you can. Because in this moment, history is on the move.” President Obama also made a solemn promise to Africans: “What we will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance on parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard; on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption... to advance transparency and accountability.” Now, at the cusp of the beginning of President Obama’s second term, we have to ask some tough questions: Are there more African strongmen in 2012 than in 2009? Are there fewer brave Africans on the streets and more of them in jail in 2012 than in 2009? Does Africa today have more debilitated institutions than it had in 2009? Do more African governments respect the will of their people today

Is the US standing with brave Africans or in bed with Africa’s strongmen? Now, at the cusp of the beginning of President Obama’s second term, there are some tough questions about his promises to Africa, writes Prof. Almayehu G. Mariam than they did in 2009? Is there less conflict in Africa today than in 2009? Does Africa today have good governance and is the rule of law the rule in Africa? Are more opposition voices heard, more civic participation seen and more youth and women involved in the political process in Africa today than they did in 2009? Does the U.S. today “stand with all those who seek to advance human dignity”? Is history in Africa today on the move forward to democracy, freedom and human rights, or is Africa marching backwards into the darkness of dictatorship and tyranny? Is the US today standing tall with the brave Africans or in bed with Africa’s strongmen? According to

the U.S. Department of State’s Human Rights Practices Report for 2011 (May 2012), many of the “brave Africans” President Obama spoke about in 2009 are jailed, tortured, silenced, on the run, dead or just scared stiff under relentless official harassment and persecution. Arbitrary arrests, lengthy pretrial detentions, torture, and mistreatment of detainees by security forces, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, illegal searches and seizures and infringements of citizens’ privacy rights, restrictions on freedom of speech and of the press and assembly in one form or another are the common facts of African daily life. African societies and institutions are

Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Ngeuma

decimated by official corruption and bloated bureaucracies. Justice is traded to the highest bidder in politically-controlled judiciaries; and rubberstamp parliaments crank out laws and proclamations like a Chinese toy factory. African societies are plagued by discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender, language, religion, culture and region. Among the most flagrant violators of human rights in Africa is the regime in Ethiopia. In May 2010, the ruling party in that country “won” 545 of 547 [99.6 percent] seats in parliament. A White House Statement on that election turned a blind eye and voiced muted “concern”: An environment

conducive to free and fair elections was not in place even before Election Day. In recent years, the Ethiopian government has taken steps to restrict political space for the opposition through intimidation and harassment, tighten its control over civil society, and curtail the activities of independent media. We are concerned that these actions have restricted freedom of expression and association... In a speech given at the National Endowment for Democracy in October 2012, Karen J. Hanrahan, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor characterized the deplorable human rights situation in Ethiopia as merely a “challenge”:”In Ethiopia, we are faced with a challenge. The principal question is how to work constructively with both the government and civil society to advance democracy and human rights when the government has limited political and civil space. This has included restrictions on civil society organizations, the curtailment of media freedom, and the conviction of journalists and members of the political opposition under the Anti-terrorism Proclamation. We’re particularly concerned about the Charities and Societies Proclamation and the Anti-terrorism Proclamation...” The “challenge” Hanrahan talks about includes the arrest of “more than 100 opposition political figures, activists, journalists, and bloggers,” massive suppression of the independent press, virtual bans on civil society and nongovernmental organizations, beatings and torturing of detainees by security forces and poor prison conditions. It also

includes the unlawful persecution and imprisonment of the 2012 PEN America Freedom to Write Award winner Eskinder Nega; Reeyot Alemu, the 2012 winner of the International Women’s Media Fund’s Courage in Journalism Award; Woubshet Taye, editor of a popular weekly, opposition party leaders Andualem Aragie and Natnael Mekonnen among many others. The evidence reported in the latest U.S.

has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” Such is the indisputable fact of life in Ethiopia today and no amount of empty talk about “concerns” and hollow promises about overcoming “challenges” will change the situation! According to Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson

“

These quite modest accomplishments in Africa fall far short of President Obama’s lofty and eloquent words and majestic promises in Accra and his Administration’s actions to support good governance and promote human rights in Africa State Department Human Rights Practices Report on Ethiopia (May 2012) shows that describing the human rights situation in Ethiopia as a “challenge” and glossing it over with a polite expression of “concern” is tantamount to adding insult to injury. The human rights situation in that country should provoke unmitigated moral outrage and immediate and direct action to uphold democratic principles and standards of universal human rights. Perhaps current U.S. leaders could learn valuable lessons from their predecessors who faced similar “challenges” posed by tyrannies and dictatorships. President Truman once said, “Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of the opposition, it

who heads the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, there are “five pillars that serve as the foundation of U.S. policy toward Africa.” These include “(1) support for democracy and the strengthening of democratic institutions including free, fair, and transparent elections; (2) support for African economic growth and development; (3) conflict prevention, mitigation, and resolution; (4) support for Presidential initiatives such as the Global Health Initiative, Feed the Future, and the Global Climate Change Initiative and (5) working with African nations on transnational issues such as drug smuggling, money laundering and trafficking in persons.”

Carson reported that U.S. policy in Africa “in recent years” has contributed to democratic transitions in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger; successful elections in Nigeria; and a referendum that led to the independence of South Sudan. The Bureau promotes African economic development through the annual Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forums. It is actively striving to end sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and eliminate the atrocities perpetrated by the Lord’s Resistance Army throughout Central Africa. Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global food security initiative, is focused on 12 African countries... In her Preface to the U.S. Department of State’s Human Rights Practices Report for 2011 (May 2012), Secretary Hilary Clinton declared: “In my travels around the world as Secretary of State, I have met many individuals who put their lives on the line to advance the cause of human rights and justice. In ways small and large, they hold their governments accountable for upholding universal human rights... The United States stands with all those who seek to advance human dignity...” These quite modest accomplishments in Africa fall far short of President Obama’s lofty and eloquent words and majestic promises in Accra and his Administration’s actions to support good governance and promote human rights in Africa. Shakespeare said, “Action is eloquence.” Though there is always a gap between political rhetoric and political action, one should not confuse the eloquence of words with the eloquence of action. But this is not the time to look back and engage in

US President Obama

recriminations, teethgnashing, belly-aching and finger pointing. We shall march to our President’s battle cry and “Keep Moving Forward”. Americans are generally known for straight talk, cutting down to the chase or cutting out the bull. It is one of the great qualities I have always appreciated in ordinary Americans and some of their great leaders. They say what they mean and mean what they say. It was “plain talkin’” President Harry S. Truman who said, “I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they

thought it was hell.” So, I will do a little bit of straight talking. We have heard enough of human rights pontifications and declarations. We know all about the “challenges”, “problems”, “difficulties” and “issues” in improving human rights and good governance in Ethiopia and the rest of Africa. We have also heard enough grousing, whining and complaining in Diaspora Ethiopian communities, particularly in the U.S., about what the U.S. has done, not done or could have done to promote good governance, democracy and human rights

in Ethiopia. In President Obama’s second term, there are only two choices: Put up or Shut Up! Put another way, the U.S. can step up and stand tall with the brave Africans or roll over in bed with the shameless and cowardly dictators who cling to power through handouts, World Bank and IMF loans and the barrel of the gun. Professor Alemayehu G. Mariam teaches political science at California State University, San Bernardino and is a practicing defense lawyer.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

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ANALYSIS By Danny Schechter

ike in politics, it always seems to take scandals to usher in media reform. And scandal, forever part of a formula driven by sensationalism that spark circulation and rating wars, is now a permanent part of the terrain as so many media outlets across so many platforms furiously compete against each other for market share and mind share. As a general rule, most media prefer to stay out of the media so as not to call attention to their choices or techniques. As corporate entities, they prefer to fade into the background, except when they are promoting their programming or hyping their personalities. While focusing on their news offerings, they want to remain invisible in the news lest their own agendas and profit maximising strategies become too public. But, sometimes, media practices cannot be contained internally, thanks to disgruntled former employees and whistleblowers. In Britain, the mighty Murdoch Press found itself raked over coals of indignation when phone hacking practices at its most profitable newspaper were exposed. Outrage led to the News of The World being closed, while a criminal investigation resulted in convictions that involved top editors and members of the police establishment. It even forced the resignation of one of Rupert Murdoch's sons who was revealed to have been less than truthful in a Parliamentary probe. Later, as the Economist reported: "An inquiry into media ethics (or lack of them) by Lord Justice Leveson has heard in excruciating detail how tabloid reporters and their sidekicks bullied, stole and cheated with impunity, while their bosses hobnobbed with police officers and politicians. The public is rightly fed up." At the end of November, Leveson issued a report, no less than 1,987 pages in length, focused mostly on abuses by the tabloids which quickly agreed to new rules to quiet the debate, even as David Cameron, the Conservative Prime Minister - once a very public friend of the Murdoch machine - distanced himself in the name of freedom of press. Few in the press denied there were problems, but, true to form, they challenged the Judge's proposals in the name of higher principles. Explained the Economist: "Lawmaking at speed is seldom sensible. It seems especially weird to demand rapid action when the alleged tabloid crimes that so annoyed the public - hacking phones, bribing policemen and so on are already illegal."

Leveson issued a report, focusing on abuses by the tabloids owned by the Murdochs.

As Britain debates new rules, the US plans more deregulation I would add that these practices were not news and have been accepted and practised as if they were legal for decades, certainly back to the days when I went to the London School of Economics on the edge of Fleet Street, then the Mecca of print journalism, where the clever headline was always valued more than ideas of substance. This was the pre-hacking era when newsmen were, ironically, even then known as "hacks" - and few denied it. Soon, it was clear that it was not just the sensational press that had troubles. The mighty BBC went through its own crippling scandal that felt like one of its own soap operas after charges that a popular host had abused children, and t h e n , that a well-known investigative programme got its facts wrong. Recently, a Royal hoax call led to the suicide of a nurse and trigged yet new charges of media irresponsibility. The duo radio hoaxers went into hiding

because of the furor over their shtick. "Across the pond", in the US, as the British say, there's more surveillance by the government than the media. The Murdoch interests and the Fox News Channel, known less for news than partisan political babble, would in any other country be considered a scandal in violation of news ethics. In the US, it is #1 thanks to clever packaging and its appeal to angry white men. It is also in America where Fox's fortunes will, it is rumoured, contribute to Murdoch acquiring yet new major media titles, like the LA Times, Chicago Tribune and even the Financial Times. A slap on the company's wrist for its criminal practice in Britain has not slowed its momentum globally. Here, there are no new rules or regulations being proposed. Quite to contrary, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, appointed by no less than

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Barack Obama, wants more deregulation and is proposing to lift rules that have limited broadcasters from "cross ownership", that is, owning newspapers in communities they nominally already "serve". Every media reform group is up in arms against proposals that they say will lead to more monopolies and media concentration. In the US, the media is all about the market. Notions of public service are antiquated and only paid lip service to. Media moguls have little accountability and even less transparency. At the same time, public dissatisfaction with media practices grows as a majority of news consumers abandon old media for new. TV channels now fight even harder for eyeballs by dumbing it down even more. Recently, when channels worldwide (including Al Jazeera) devoted hours and hours to recycling live and mostly perspective-free

In the US, the media is all about the market. Notions of public service are antiquated and only paid lip service to. Media moguls have little accountability and even less transparency.

coverage of the shooting of elementary school children by a 20-year-old who grew up in a media environment saturated by violence, I only saw one angry comment on all the exploitative media pandering. All Giordano, a veteran media writer and critic, posted what he labelled a "rant" on Facebook to indict the type of media coverage that dumbs us all down, but at the same time, seems beyond any reform remedies and missing from the discourse. "Before television, there were guns. Were there schoolyard mass murders back then? I really don't know. But I would guess they were not as frequent back before the mass media noise machine made every schoolyard shooter an instant media star. So is it the guns? Or is it the TV? I refuse to watch cable news coverage of crises that only serve to make an entire public hysterical and shrill. You want to do something about it and you don't have a gun to throw away? Turn off the TV! And until you turn off the TV you really have no moral high ground to tell other people what to do. (End of rant.)" Sadly, concerns like this have few media reformers behind them or media outlets willing to hear them. They would insist they are only giving the people what they want. Source: Al Jazeera

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Egypt prosecutor retracts resignation offer New probe into Winnie Mandelalinked pair

specialised missing persons unit in South Africa has opened a new investigation into the 1988 disappearance of two men last seen in the company of Winnie MadikizelaMandela, the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, prosecutors said. Authorities said new information caused them to reopen the case of Lolo Sono and Siboniso Tshabalala. The two young men figured into MadikizelaMandela's chaotic life in Soweto when she ran a soccer club and faced a host of allegations that she and those under her committed violent attacks. The National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa's Missing Persons Task Team, assigned to investigate disappearances from the apartheid era, is handling the investigation. Already, investigators have taken DNA samples from Shabalala and Sono's family members, spokesman Makhosini Nkosi said in a statement. "The investigations into this case are still ongoing and possible burial sites are still being examined on the basis of recently obtained information," Nkosi said. "No exact burial sites have yet been confirmed or excavated." Madikizela-Mandela married Mandela in 1958 and they spent 27 years apart while Mandela was imprisoned by South Africa's racist white government. While beloved by some, her behaviour grew increasingly erratic in the 1980s as crackdowns against her and the African National Congress liberation movement grew increasingly intense. She and her former bodyguard unit, known as the Mandela United Football Club, were accused of committing 18 killings and other crimes during this period. The violence by young men she allowed to sleep at her house and sponsored as a soccer club caused the mainstream anti-apartheid movement to ostracise her. Exiled ANC leaders, on instructions from her jailed husband, ordered the club's disbandment.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Talaat Ibrahim

gypt's new public prosecutor Talaat Ibrahim has retracted an offer to resign made following protests about his appointment, Egyptian media say.

Mr Ibrahim is quoted as saying he made the offer under pressure on Monday, and that it was up to the justice minister to decide whether he should stay on. Mr Ibrahim was appointed by

President Mohammed Morsi last month, after his predecessor was sacked. The dismissal angered senior judges who saw it as an attack on their authority.

There are growing tensions between President Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood supporters on one side, and his mainly secular political opponents and the judiciary on the other. Mr Morsi adopted sweeping new powers in a decree on 22 November, stripping the judiciary of any power to challenge his decisions. One of his first decisions was to sack chief prosecutor Abdel Maguid Mahmoud - who was first appointed by former President Hosni Mubarak. The decree spurred protests and clashes between Mr Morsi's supporters and opponents. Under pressure, the president revoked the decree but kept the new prosecutor-general in place. After his appointment, Mr Ibrahim was given the job of reexamining all investigations into the deaths of protesters when Mr Mubarak was in power. Mr Ibrahim offered to stand down a day after a final round of voting in a referendum on Egypt's controversial draft constitution.

Thousands fleeing South Sudan clashes seek U.N. refuge

ouths armed with sticks, machetes and spears battled police in a South Sudanese town, forcing thousands of civilians to seek refuge in a U.N. compound, the United Nations and residents said. A local journalist said he counted four dead bodies after the clashes broke out on Wednesday in the northern town of Wau, and had heard more than 15 people may have died. South Sudan won independence from Sudan last year. Since then its

government has struggled to assert control over an impoverished country the size of France that is awash with arms after decades of civil war, rebellions and tribal clashes. Details were unclear but government spokesman Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the clashes broke out in Wau after the bodies of six Dinka tribespeople were found. It was believed the six were among 28 farmers abducted in retaliation for another outbreak of deadly violence in the town earlier this month when security forces opened fire

on a protest against plans to relocate a local authority's headquarters. "Six bodies were brought to Wau town three days ago raising tension among various communities in Wau, which is believed to be the cause of yesterday's violence," Benjamin told a news conference in the capital Juba. It was not immediately clear why the kidnappers had chosen to abduct those farmers. Human rights groups regularly accuse South Sudan's army and police, a collection of former guerillas, of heavy

handed tactics and human rights abuses - charges dismissed by the security forces. Up to 300 armed Dinka youth set fire to several buildings in Wau, the main town of South Sudan's Western Bahr El Ghazal state which borders Sudan, according to the United Nations. Police used teargas to disperse the protest, while shooting could be heard, residents said. "Some youths ... began the shooting. Police intervened and began exchanging fire with them," a witness said.

Rwandan ex-minister jailed 35 years for genocide

wandan former minister Augustin Ngirabatware was sentenced to 35 years in jail by the U.N. war crimes tribunal on Thursday for incitement and involvement in the country's 1994 genocide. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), based in the northern Tanzanian city of Arusha, said the former Rwandan minister of planning instigated, planned, aided and abetted attacks on and killings of Tutsis during the genocide. Ethnic Hutu militia and soldiers butchered 800,000 minority Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus in the tiny east African country in just 100 days between April and June 1994. The former Rwandan politician, 55, was arrested in Germany in September 2007. Before taking up his cabinet post, Ngirabatware had been a university lecturer. Ngirabatware is also a son-inlaw to Felicien Kabuga, Rwanda's most-wanted man, court documents showed.

The United States has put a $5 million bounty on Kabuga's head, under the "Rewards for Justice" program to bring to justice those most responsible for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Ngirabatware was also found guilty of distributing weapons at checkpoints, the court said. "The trial chamber convicted Ngirabatware of genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and rape as a crime against humanity," ICTR said in a statement. "At least some of these weapons were used by the Interahamwe militia to kill Tutsis ... the trial chamber found that Ngirabatware directly and publicly incited the killing of Tutsis at the Cyanika-Gisa roadblock in February 1994," said the ICTR. As minister for planning in Rwanda, Ngirabatware ran a ministry that controlled significant funds and negotiated loan deals with global development agencies such as the World Bank, court documents at

the time he was indicted showed. The court also found Ngirabatware guilty of participating in a joint criminal enterprise, whose members shared the common purpose of destroying, in whole or in part, the Tutsi ethnic group, and exterminating the Tutsi civilian population in the Nyamyumba commune. The court that after the case against Ngirabatware, it had no

Augustin Ngirabatware

more suspects on trial, though there are still nine more accused still at large. The ICTR spokesman Danford Mpumilwa said this was the last case at trial level, and the court is now hearing only appeals. Established by the U.N. Security Council to prosecute suspects accused of genocide and serious violations of international humanitarian law in Rwanda in 1994.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Asia and Middle East

outheast Asian nations and India vowed on Thursday to step up cooperation on maritime security, a move that comes amid tension with China in the potentially oil- and gas-rich South China Sea. In a vision statement agreed at a summit in New Delhi, India and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) set their sights on a new "strategic partnership" that

PAGE 29

ASEAN leaders look to India for maritime security would bring closer political, security and economic cooperation. Significantly, they underlined the need for freedom of navigation, a contentious issue because of competing claims with Beijing over parts of the South China Sea, though there was no mention of China in their

Yemen's president shakes up the army

statement. In speeches, the Philippines and Vietnam referred to tensions in their region, but India's foreign minister sought to distance New Delhi from the wrangling over the South China Sea. "There are fundamental issues there that do not require India's

intervention," External Affairs Minister Salman Kurshid told a news conference, adding that issues of sovereignty "need to be resolved between the countries concerned". An ASEAN summit ended in acrimony last month over China's assertiveness in the South China Sea,

with its leaders failing to agree on a concluding joint statement. The South China Sea has become Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint as Beijing's sovereignty claim over a huge, looping area has set it against Vietnam and the Philippines as the three countries race to tap possibly huge oil reserves. Malaysia and Brunei, also members of ASEAN, as well as Taiwan also claim parts of the sea.

emeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has announced the restructuring of the army and defence ministry, in a bid to remove allies of former head of state Ali Abdullah Saleh, the country's state television reported. Hadi took a series of drastic decisions on Wednesday, including one scrapping the elite Republican Guard which was under the command of Saleh's oldest son Ahmed, the broadcaster said. It was not yet clear whether Ahmed would remain in the defence ministry. Mohsen Khosrouf, a retired army brigadier, said Wednesday's moves were "the most important decisions" taken by Hadi and warned, "no one can resist these decisions because they are backed by international resolutions, and any challenge will be a challenge to international community." Incumbent Hadi took over the reins of power in Yemen more than a year ago, after Saleh stepped down as part of a power transition agreement brokered by the US and neighbouring Gulf countries, following a year-long uprising against his rule. Restructuring the army was a top demand by Yemenis after Saleh's ouster in February, but Saleh is still in Yemen and many blame him for behind the scenes maneuvering to stall the new leadership's reform efforts. The moves on Wednesday come after thousands of Yemenis marched across the country on Friday, demanding more rapid reforms and the removal of Saleh's aides from key government and military positions.

Delegates at the ASEAN-India summit

1,000 doomsday cult members arrested in China

olice in China have carried out further arrests of members of a doomsday cult for spreading rumours about the imminent end of the world, state media say. Almost 1,000 members of Christian group Almighty God have now been detained. State media terms Almighty God an "evil cult" - the same description it applies to the banned Falun Gong group. The sect predicts Friday will usher in three days of darkness and has urged its members to overthrow communism. Its adherents believe 21 December is the last day in the Mayan

long count calendar and thus signifies the end of the world. The belief has gained considerable popularity in China where the film 2012 was a box office hit. It is not just followers of Almighty God who think the world will end on Friday. A farmer in Hebei province, Liu Qiyuan has built seven survival pods which can contain 14 people each. The pods, made of fibreglass, float on water and can survive storms. Mr Liu told Agence France Press: "If there really is some kind of apocalypse then you could say I've made a contribution to the survival of humanity,"

Hadi (L) took over from Ali Abdullah Saleh but many say Saleh's aides have been blocking reforms.

Iraq's Jalal Talabani in Germany for treatment

raqi President Jalal Talabani has arrived in Germany for further treatment after a reported stroke, Berlin says. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle wished the 79year-old Mr Talabani "a quick and full recovery", without providing any further details. German doctors earlier said Mr Talabani's condition had improved sufficiently to permit travel. He has struggled with his health and has often been treated abroad. Mr Talabani was reportedly rushed to the Baghdad Medical City on Monday evening. Iraqi officials conceded in

private that his condition was serious and state television reported that he had suffered a stroke. "He is starting to regain his senses. He is able to feel pain, and this is a sign of progress," Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told the Associated Press. A veteran of the Kurdish guerrilla movement, Mr Talabani is Iraq's first president from the ethnic group. Mr Talabani's illness comes at a time of heightened political tensions between Iraq's Arabled central government and the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in the north.

A Falun protester closely watched by Police in Beijing.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

PAGE 30

Europe and Americas President Hollande accepts French injustice in Algeria

resident Francois Hollande has acknowledged the brutality of France's colonisation of Algeria, but stopped short of a full apology. Speaking on his first visit to the country as president, Mr Hollande told the Algerian parliament: "I recognise the suffering that colonialism inflicted on the Algerian people." But he added that he had not come "to repent or apologise". Thousands of Algerians were killed in a bloody seven-year war of independence. The French army has been accused of carrying out massacres and using torture as it sought to quash the pro-independence movement. Many French people also died in revenge attacks before Algeria gained independence in 1962. Mr Hollande said there was a duty of truth to recognise the injustices. But he said his visit opened a new era of a partnership between equals. Mr Hollande's predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy, also acknowledged that France's 132-year colonial rule was unjust on his first visit to the country five years ago. But he, too, would not apologise. 'Soothe memories' Ahead of his visit, 10 Algerian political parties called on Mr Hollande "to recognise, apologise for and compensate" for France's crimes. The popular El Watan newspaper said such an act would "soothe memories that are still painful". Mr Hollande, however, would only go as far as recognising that the full truth about the war should come out. In his speech to mark 50 years of independence, he said: "Establishing the truth is an obligation that ties Algerians and French." "That's why it is necessary that historians have access to the archives." Christian Fraser in Paris says many of Algeria's youthful population no longer see France as the enemy but they do want to be treated as equals. Trade ties About 700,000 Algerians live in France and Mr Hollande is keen to make it easier for Algerians and French to travel between the two countries. He is also eager to boost trade, which stands at about 10bn euros a year (ÂŁ8bn, $13bn). China, Italy and other countries are increasingly muscling in on trade with the former French territory. Travelling with Mr Hollande are executives from some of France's top firms. Renault has announced it is to build a factory in Algeria, which will produce 75,000 cars each year. It is the first carmaker to establish production facilities in the country. Mr Hollande has also invited Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to pay a state visit to France.

Seized Argentina navy ship Libertad leaves Ghana A

n Argentine navy ship detained in Ghana since October has been released and has now left the country. The Libertad set sail from Ghana's main port of Tema after a United Nations court last week ordered its release. Argentina sent almost 100 navy personnel to man the threemasted training ship. It was impounded after a financial fund said it was owed money by Argentina's government as a result of a debt default a decade ago. On Saturday, the UN Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ordered Ghana to release the ship, arguing that it had immunity because it was a military vessel. It set a deadline of 22 December for the ship to have left the port. The court said that holding the ship was "a source of conflict that may endanger friendly relations among states". In November, sailors on board the Libertad reportedly pulled guns on Ghanaian officials when they tried to board the vessel to move it to another berth.

The lengthy diplomatic row began when the ship was prevented from leaving Ghana on 2 October, after a local court ruled in favour of financial fund NML Capital. The fund is a a subsidiary of US hedge fund Elliot Capital Management which is one of Argentina's former

creditors. The fund said it was owed $370m (ÂŁ233m) by the Argentine government after the country defaulted on its debt in 2001 and 2002. NML Capital was seeking $20m in return for the release of the Libertad.

Most of the loans on which Argentina defaulted were subsequently restructured, giving creditors about 30% of their money back. However, some creditors including Elliot chose to hold out, pursuing the Argentine government through the courts.

Navy personnel arrive at Kotoka International Airport to sail the Libertad home.

Putin backs Russian ban on US adoptions

ussian President Vladimir Putin has defended a ban on Americans adopting Russian children, which has been proposed by the Russian parliament. He said the bill, a response to the

US Magnitsky Act which bars entry to Russian alleged human rights violators, was "appropriate". Russian officials, he said, were not allowed to sit in on US cases involving the mistreatment of

President Vladimir Putin

Russian children. In a marathon news conference, Mr Putin also restated his views on Syria. He also spoke about relations with fellow ex-Soviet states Ukraine and Georgia and sought to dispel speculation about his health. 'Anti-Russian law' A number of cases where Russian children have apparently been mistreated by US adoptive parents have made headlines in Russia. Mr Putin said he still needed to read the Russian bill in detail, though he backed it in principle. The rate of adoption in Russia is low. Some 3,400 Russian children were adopted by foreign families in 2011, nearly a third of them by Americans. "The State Duma's response may

be emotional, but I consider it to be appropriate," Mr Putin said, referring to Russia's lower house. He called the Magnitsky Act "unfriendly". The act replaced the US Jackson-Vanik amendment, which dated back to the Cold War. "They have replaced one antiSoviet, anti-Russian law with another... That is very bad. This, of course, in itself poisons our relations," Mr Putin said. He said the US had its own human rights abuses to address, pointing to mistreatment of prisoners at Guantanamo in Cuba and Abu Ghraib in Iraq. Moscow, Mr Putin said, had "practically no interests" in Syria but did not want to see "mistakes" made in Libya repeated. Libya, he said, was "falling apart" as a result.

Greece's treatment of migrants shameful- Amnesty

reece faces a "humanitarian crisis" over its mistreatment of asylum-seekers and migrants, according to a report by Amnesty International. The group accuses the government of detaining thousands of refugees, including many children, in "shameful [and] appalling" conditions. Greece is a major gateway for migrants from Asian and African countries as they try to enter the European Union. Attacks against foreigners have been on the rise in the debt-stricken nation. The report claimed that Greece systematically fails to provide the most basic requirements of safety and shelter to the thousands of asylum-

seekers passing through the country ever year. "Greece is clearly failing very significantly to absorb and respect the rights of the many migrants that are crossing its land and sea borders with Turkey," Amnesty International spokesman John Dalhuisen said. "It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the EU has a humanitarian crisis not beyond its borders, not on its borders, but within its borders." 'At mercy of violence' In particular, the report highlights the plight of unaccompanied children held in "very poor conditions" at the recently opened Corinth detention centre, calling it a breach of international standards.

The study also draws attention to the "dramatic increase" of racially motivated attacks, now reported on an almost daily basis.

Mr Dalhuisen said many migrants found themselves "at the mercy of violence" in the capital, Athens.

Asylum-seekers and migrants being checked by law enforcement.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

PAGE 31

Vodka saved circus elephants- trainers A

Man attempts 3 failed carjackings in same parking lot n unknown man attempted to carjack three different victims in the same shopping center parking lot in southern California on Thursday, officials said. According to police, the carjacking attempts happened around 2:50 p.m. in the parking lot of a Target store in Oceanside, Calif. In the first attempt, the suspect allegedly approached a woman as she was exiting her car. He showed her what she believed was a knife and ordered her back into the vehicle. She got inside and drove away, leaving the suspect behind, police said. The man then immediately approached another woman exiting her car in the lot. Police said he brandished a handgun and told her to get back inside her car.

The victim ignored the suspect and ran into the Target store to report the attempted carjacking. Police said the man then approached a third woman in the same parking lot who was getting out of her car. He attempted to steal her vehicle at gunpoint, ordering her to remove the club device from her steering wheel and leave her keys in the car. The victim complied, removed the club and left the keys in the car. Before walking away, she activated some sort of kill-switch that disabled the ignition. The man tried to start the car but instead became locked inside the vehicle. He smashed through a window to get out and fled the scene, police said. None of the three victims was injured.

A Circus elephants and its trainer

rainers in Siberia are crediting watered-down vodka with saving two circus elephants - possibly similar to this Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey elephant - from the cold. Circus trainers claim two of their elephants were saved from the deadly Siberian cold by vodka. Emergency ministry spokesman Alexander Davydov

said Friday that the elephants were in a trailer that caught fire Thursday outside the city of Novosibirsk, forcing trainers to take them out into the bitter cold before another truck arrived to deliver them to a warm gym at a local community college. The Komsomolskaya Pravda daily reported that trainer Leonid Labo had the animals, aged 45 and 48, drink 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of vodka diluted in

warm water - and a veterinarian said later that only the tips of their ears were frostbitten. Although scientists say that alcohol can make humans feel warmer but actually lowers their core body temperature, Novosibirsk zoo director Rostislav Shilo told the daily that the vodka saved the animals from frostbite and pneumonia, without harming or even intoxicating them.

Police Line

Contd. from Back Page

regime that will be open, transparent and accessible to every citizen. It is a well-known fact that in countries like the UAE, Canada and France, where land reforms have been successfully implemented, its impact has been rapid economic growth, improved access to housing, the development of industries that thrive on land like enhanced commercial agriculture amongst others. Constitutional lawyers believe that it might be better to obliterate the current antidevelopment thrust and dysfunctions of the Land Use Act either at once or in stages. Doing so at once would require the federal and state legislative and executive arms of government to concurrently consult with one another on the need to harmonize their positions so that the amendment requirements for this Super Act of Parliament could all be done at once. Other lawyers who believe that the "harmonization" of positions could take many years to achieve under a federal constitutional, and that given the rising economic significance or exchange value of land whose quantity is fixed against an exploding population, advise that the approach be staggered. There appears to be broad consensus on the aspects of the Act that need amendment, improvement and

repeal. An attempt to amend the Land Use Act was made in 2009. Former President Umaru Musa Yar'adua sent 14 amendments titled Land Use Act (Amendment) 2009 to the National Assembly for debate and adoption, following which the approval of the states' houses of assembly would be sought. The proposed bill sought to vest "fee simple" ownership of land in the hands of those with customary rights, enable farmers use land as collateral for loans for commercial farming, limit the requirement of the Governor's consent to assignment only which will drastically reduce bottlenecks, and render such consent unnecessary for mortgages, subleases and other forms of alienation of land. Yar'adua also proposed that independent land reform commissions be established at national and state levels to exercise some of the powers of state governors under the current Land Use Act. These are commendable first steps, even if considered not bold enough for many lawyers and real estate professionals. This administration would do well if it critically revisits the proposed amendments, revise and expand them where necessary, with the aim to have the relevant gaps handled in the ongoing review of the Constitution. If this

government can effectively implement land reforms, perhaps, our claim to being Africa's giant would have some substance in it, a generation from now. So what is the way forward for land reforms? The first critical step would be to remove the Land Use Act 1978 out of the constitution and make it an ordinary law. Thereafter, it could be changed as an ordinary federal legislation, or better still to allow each state to make its own land use legislation. It is our considered opinion that in competing for investors' attention, progressive states would align their land legislation with the requirements of a progressive political economy. Far more important to entrench in the Constitution is a mandated system of digitized land registration that will be graphical, transparent and accessible to everyone upon the payment of a token fee in each state of the federation. It is important that all the 38 land registers be able to communicate with one another for the benefit of citizens, bankers, lawyers and real estate professionals. Once secondary transactions in land are removed from the most highly retrogressive "governors dual statutory consent to assign and mortgage", land related investments would become highly

Why Nigeria must revisit land reforms

There are some provisions of the Land Use Act that have had unintended consequences and negative impact on the utilization of land, development of commercial agriculture, housing and the real estate markets in the country. For instance, even with a Right of Occupancy issued in one's favour, one cannot sell, transfer, assign, sub-lease or mortgage or otherwise deal in the title without obtaining the prior consent of the state governor. This "consent' can take between weeks and several years, is expensive and fraught with corruption. Surely, if something is gifted to me and recognized as belonging to me for the next 99 years, I should be able to sell it without the consent of the person that gave me the gift. These and other "control freak" type of clauses ought to be removed from the Act and eliminate the corruption associated with citizens' compliance with its provisions. The Act is long due for appropriate review and amendment. The government's primary aim should be to bring relative ease to land dealings, delegate some of the powers vested in the state governor to other officials or an independent body and legislate a nationwide, computerized land registration

bankable. Such transactions have the potential to increase the share of mortgage loans of the GDP to over 25% and concurrently raise the extant portfolio of mortgages and real estate assets to up to 60% of the consolidated Nigerian banking balance sheet within a decade, from below 0.5% which is the current contribution of landrelated asset class to both metrics. Not a few voices, however, are of the view that what matters is for the new law to attract investments into commercial agriculture and housing finance. Both are needed to stabilize and empower our rural peasantry and the middle classes. For instance, amending the Pension Reforms and Insurance Acts to set aside a proportion of the funds for investments in commercial agriculture and real estate will help a great deal. Finally, constitutional amendment of the Land Use Act 1978 should not be considered in isolation, but along with new and long overdue foreclosure and securitization laws. The three laws when enacted would make every governing entity in Nigeria sustainable through land-related income and property taxes. Once these reforms are in place, Nigerians will begin to define 'home' not as their states of origin, but where they live and work. That is the mindset needed to bring about a new Nigeria.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2012 With Tobias Lengnan Dapam 07036990957

Amina to premier in London October 17 The much anticipated movie ‘Amina’ is set for its world première at the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square on the 17th October, 2012, Pulse.com has revealed. The movie which is a British/ Nigerian production, is a psychological human drama, featuring Nollywood top shots like; Omotola Jalade – Ekeinde and Van

Vicker, alongside top British movie stars like; Wil Johnson, Vincent Regan and Alison Carroll, aka Lara Croft. Pulse.com further said that Amina could be best described as a British film with Nollywood

sensibilities. The film which was Written, produced and directed by Christian Ashaiku, an innovative Nigerian born London based filmmaker; Amina tells a deeply emotional and dramatic story dealing with the

themes of love, loss and redemption. Amina is told in flashback and tells the life story of a gifted young woman (OmotolaJalade-Ekeinde) who, devastated by a series of life changing events suffered a total breakdown and finds herself

Doha Film Institute hires new CEO

Olu Maintain dumps US lover for Mochedda

oha Film Institute, the independent cultural organisation that brings Qatar’s film initiatives under one banner, has appointed Abdulaziz AlKhater as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hollywood reporter has said. Al-Khater will now take over from acting CEO and DFI board member, Mansour Ibrahim AlMahmoud. DFI chairperson and founder, her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani said that “The all-encompassing approach of DFI to promote a robust film industry in Qatar has helped us to create a distinct identity not only in the region but also globally. The appointment of Mr Abdulaziz Al-Khater, who has a wealth of management expertise, will be strong value addition in driving the future growth of the Institute.” She also thanked Al-Mahmoud for his work during what she described as DFI’s Boredom and the feeling that everything was a waste of time, an illusion that nothing was good. On his part, Al-Mahmoud said the incoming CEO “brings with him extensive experience in leadership and business management, with a strong local and regional focus.” Al-Khater, has wealth of experience in management, banking, information technology, operations, finance, and logistics. He joined DFI from Al Khalij Commercial Bank, now established as one of the key financial institutions in the region. Speaking about the prospects of the industry, Al-Khater said: “I am looking forward to being part of a growing cultural organisation that had established itself both within the region and internationally as an Institute dedicated to developing Arab talent and creativity.” He added that the DFI is poised for an era of growth “as it continues to evolve and foster the development of local and regional film industries.”

The new CEO of DFI, Abdulaziz Al-Khater

incarcerated in a mental hospital, but only one person could help; her doctor (Wil Johnson), but he must overcome his own demons before he could help Amina confront her past. Expectedly, UK movie practitioners have described Amina as the ace card that would place Nollywood more firmly in the international movie scene and grant it more recognition than it currently has.

ensational Nigerian musician, Olu Maintain, has dumped his United State lover, Natalie, for a Nigerian singer, Mochedda, Nigeriafilms.com has revealed. Sources close to the Yahoo zee crooner told Nigeriafilms.com that Olu was recently spotted getting fond of Mocheddah, whom he vowed to some friends to go down low with. It was also learnt that both Olu and Mochedda are presently planning to do a duet together. The sources furthr said that Natalie was not aware of the recent romance between Olu and the singer, as she was always been told by Olu and his friends that Mochedda is just a colleague.

Ice Prince releases Aboki album Mikel launches music label, signs four artists

uper Eagles and Chelsea FC midfielder, John Mikel Obi has never hidden his love for music as it is practically seen whenever the footballer is not on the field of play for both his country and club, he listens to music from his devices with his headphone.

Nigeriafilm.com gathered that the Jos, Plateau State-bred footballer has taken his love for music to another level by floating his own music label named Matured Money Minds (MMM). The label which was recently established is fully under the control of his

younger brother, Patrick. MMM already has about four artistes. They are; Splash, Kido, Edgar and Charass. Sources also revealed that the artists who already have their own songs were working assiduously to shoulder with the biggest artists in the music industry in Nigeria.

hocolate City artiste, Ice Prince Zamani drops the much anticipated video for his latest single “Aboki”, Pulse.com has revealed. This was his first single after his much acclaimed E.L.I album. The song was produced by Chopstix of the Grip Boiz City, and was directed by the talented Phil Lee in Los Angeles. Ice Prince looks to be preparing for another album, as we look forward to more singles.

Hollywood film Awards to honour Argo casts

he Hollywood Reporter has learned that the cast of Argo, the Ben Affleck-directed drama about the 1979-81 Iranian hostage crisis, will receive the Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award at the 16th annual Hollywood Film It said that the first awards show of the 2012 Oscar season and its gala ceremony will hold on the 22nd October, 2012, at the Beverly Hilton. Representatives of the cast who are expected to attend the event include Affleck, Oscar winner Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston and John Goodman. The Hollywood Film Awards, which were determined by Hollywood Film Festival founder and executive director Carlos de Abreu and his advisory team, recognize individuals for both career achievement and work released within the calendar year. Previous recipients of the

Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award include Crash (2005), which went on to win the best Oscar picture as well as Bobby (2006), Hairspray (2007), The Secret Life of Bees (2008) and best picture Oscar nominees, the Social Network (2010) and the Help (2011). Similarly, De Abreu tells THR that “We are very proud to recognize the actors who form the cast of Argo for their outstanding performances in this special film.” Argo, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival in early September was one of the best received films at the Toronto International Film Festival and will later this month be released nationwide by Warner Bros, on the 22nd October, 2012. THR recently revealed the identities of several other films and people to be honored at this year’s Hollywood Film Awards, including

the recipients of the Hollywood Director Award, Hollywood Actress Award, Hollywood Supporting Actor Award, Hollywood Supporting Actress Award, Hollywood Producer Award, Hollywood Animation Award, Hollywood Comedy Award,

Casts from the Argo movie

New Hollywood Award, Hollywood Breakout Performance Award, Hollywood Cinematographer Award, Hollywood Editor Award, Hollywood Production Designer Award, and Hollywood Visual Effects Award.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012 With Tobias Lengnan Dapam 07036990957

Jackie Chan joins 'Expendables 3,' eyes new project with Chris Tucker

he next installment of "The Expendables franchise" will now take on a more distinct Chinese flavor, with Jackie Chan joining the Sylvester Stallone project in what the Hong Kong star described as a significant role, Hollywood reporter has said. "Sly had invited me to be in "The Expendables 2", but I was too busy filming CZ12 and couldn't make a commitment to the film," said Chan at a Kuala Lumpur press conference promoting Chinese Zodiac, Malaysian film portal Cinema Online, has said. It added that the Chinese Icon agreed to feature in the third part, on the condition that he will not appear as a minor character with few scenes. Chan said he also suggested Stallone rework the new film into a more "buddy-buddy" movie to suit his own style - one that brought him much fortune in the "Rush Hour franchise". Stallone is now refashioning the script to that effect. Production is expected to begin next year. While "The Expendables 2"

performed modestly this past summer at the U.S. box office, the film surpassed expectations with strong ticket sales in China during its September run, earning $53 million -- bettering "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Amazing Spider-Man",which were released at about the same time. Produced by Nu-Image and Millennium Films with investment from China's Le Vision Pictures and directed by Simon West, "The Expendables 2" saw Jet Li returning to a franchise in a small role, and also the presence of Yu Nan, the actress previously more wellknown for her roles in arthouse fare - her most internationally prominent role is in "Tuya's Marriage", the "Wang Quan'an" movie which won the Berlin Film Festival's top prize in 2007. However, it is not yet confirmed whether the pair will return for "The Expendables 3". Meanwhile, Chan also revealed he might soon be reunited with Chris Tucker in a buddy comedy along the lines of

Chris Brown in Lagos for concert

merican singer, Chris Brown is already in Lagos for the Expo hall of Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos for a show tagged Chris Brown Lagos concert, Nigeriafim.com has said. It added that the American star will be supported at the show by some Nigerian artists like LOS, DRB, Burna Boy, Ms Jaie, Mercy from Idols, Aje Butter, Tiwa Savage, Naeto C and Seyi Shay.

Tunde leaves StylPlus, rebrands to native boy

Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Banj

Jackie Chan the three "Rush Hour" films they co-starred in. The project is tentatively titled "Skip Tracer", according to Chan. "The script is currently viewed by Chris Tucker," he said. "Personally, I feel that if he were

to pick it up, it would be better if we turned it into "Rush Hour" 4 but I do think that three movies for the franchise is a perfect ending. It would be better to start a new buddy movie with someone new."

...as Nicolas Cage sets to join the party

s the world gears up for the action star summit, "The Expendables 2", producer Avi Lerner is looking ahead to the next installment in the testosterone-fueled franchise -and he is already convinced to add Nicolas Cage to his list of

cast, Hollywood reporter has said. "We've got Nicolas Cage to play [one of the characters]," Lerner tells Total Film. Sources close to Cage tell The Hollywood Reporter there is no official offer yet.

The producer also is circling a number of other icons of Hollywood machismo, with an eye towards further expanding a dream ensemble that already includes the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis,

Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris. "We've approached Clint Eastwood to be one of the guys," Lerner said. "We're talking to Harrison Ford. [And we want] Wesley Snipes when he comes back from prison."

"I want my children back"-zakky Adze cries out

couple of months back, www.nigeriafilms.com, revealed the ugly situation in the life of the touch light singer, Zakky Adze and

his estranged wife, Hadiza, who left the house when her husband turned her in to a punching back. However, the popular

L-R: Zakky Adze, wife and children

musician has cried out over the safety of his kids, accusing his wife and a nongovernmental organisation, 'Project Alert' of illegally

holding onto his children. He said, "my question now is, why is 'Project Alert' keeping my children? I haven't set my eyes on my children for almost a year now. In fact, my Christmas is going to be a black Christmas without them. What kind of organisation will promote divorce? "They never called me or sent me a text all this while to hear my own side of the story. Instead they just saw an opportunity for cheap publicity and to make money because all they did was send me a letter after they have filed for divorce and asked me to pay N300,000 every month and then went to the press. Zaaki's outcry, according to some of his aides, is coming after Hadiza barged in on him at his office without prior notice, demanding to see their daughter (the only of the three children left in his custody)

nable to reclaim the glory of their hey days, Tunde of Styl-Plus has left the group, Pulse.com has said. It added that the group which comprised of Tunde, Shiffi and Zeal set female hearts a-melting with their hit track 'Olufunmi', saying that the album was a massive success but the same cannot be said about the subsequent album they released. Since then, their singles have been greeted with a less than lukewarm attitude. Tired of the downward slide, Tunde has decided to leave the group and go solo. Hence forth, he would be known as "NativeBoy". Word reaching Pulse.com indicated that Tunde has recorded a few single that would soon be released. He has also started a new record label by the name of B.A.T Records.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

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Angelina Jolie to direct World War 11 drama 'Unbroken'

he film tells the story of Olympian and war veteran Louis Zamperini, who survived on a raft for weeks after a plane crash and was later captured by the Japanese. Angelina Jolie is in talks to direct the World War II drama "Unbroken", for Universal Pictures and Walden Media,

Hollywood reporter has said. It added that the film is an adaptation of the 2010 book by Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit: An American Legend) and tells the story of Olympic athlete and war veteran Louis Zamperini who survived a plane crash during the war and clung to life on a raft for 47

days. He was captured by the Japanese and sentenced to time in a prisoner of war camp. Meanwhile, the biggest book to the big screen adaptation was a 25 year old story. Hillenbrand's book spent 108 on the New York Times bestseller list, including 14 weeks at No. 1. "I read Laura Hillenbrand's brilliant book, and I was so moved by Louie Zamperini's heroic story, I immediately began to fight for the opportunity to make this film," Jolie said in a statement. "Louie is a true hero and a man of immense humanity, faith and courage. I am deeply honored

to have the chance to tell his inspiring story." The news was announced by Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson and cochairman Donna Langley, and Walden Media CEO Michael Bostick. "In her life and in her work, Angelina has embraced stories and causes involving great struggle and triumph over tremendous odds and the basic human condition," said Fogelson and Langley in a joint statement. "She has a real ability to illustrate the strength in human spirit which will be essential in telling Lou's story of survival and great heroism."

Hollywood reporter further revealed that the latest draft of the script was written by William Nicholson (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Gladiator, Les Misérables), with an earlier draft having been written by Richard LaGravenese. Matthew Baer and Erwin Stoff are producing with Mick Garris who is also the executive producer. Jolie made her directorial debut with 2011's "In the land of blood and honey". This would be her first time helming a film for a major studio. Jolie is represented by UTA for directing and attorney Robert Offer.

There is nothing in marriage other than children, says Fathia

Angelina Jolie

P-Square's African tour train lands today in Uganda

he tour of African countries embarked upon by the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye of P-Square are already setting foot in Uganda for a much talked about concert. Coming from the success made from their much talked about show in Rwanda last week, the music group is in high spirits in making the Ugandan show bigger and better, Pulse.com has said. It recalled that the group has had massive sold-out shows in countries like

Cameroun, Congo, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Rwanda-giving them a high in a show dubbed 'Chop My Money Concert' in Uganda. The Nigeria-born entertainers are aimed at setting the Lugogo Cricket Stadium, Kampala, Ugandavenue of the event on fire. P-Square had a turnover of over 100,000 fans that came to watch them perform at the concert. Their new single 'Alingo', is currently enjoying good reviews locally and internationally.

oruba sexiest actress and mother of three, Fathia Balogun who was once rumoured to be planning her third marriage said there is nothing in marriage other than children, Nigeriafilms.com has said. It added that the actress was reported to have told a friend at a movie location recently that there is nothing else she left behind in marriage she has to go and take back. "I was surprised when it was rumoured sometimes ago that I have fixed another wedding date. What am I looking for again in marriage after three

children? My prayer is just that, God should just bless me with riches and good health and help me in my career to

be able to give the best to my children. There is nothing I need in marriage than children", she said.

Fathia Balogun

Kel, KB, Tillaman, Ajebutter, others for December edition of 'One Mic Naija'

or every month in the year, 'One Mic Naija' has thrown open its platform for the discovery of new talents in the entertainment industry in Nigeria, especially with those in the music sector, Nigeriafilms.com has said. It added that monthly concert has gradually become

a place where most up and coming artists want to go to showcase their God-given talents. The already made artists too have also not failed in giving their supports to the young ones interested in the show. It recalled that this year has seen artists like Dammy Krane, Ese Peters, Solidstar,

Chidinma, Eva and Sound Sultan gracing the stage of 'One Mic Naija'. The year has featured a blend of fresh and established acts, as well as Hip-Hop, Naija Pop, and Soul music genres. However, at the last leg of 2012, 'One Mic Naija' is posed to make the December edition one of the best ever.

'The Master' named best movie by Toronto Film Critics

he Toronto Film Critics Association has named "The Master", Paul Thomas Anderson's cult-leader drama, as the year's best film, Hollywood reporter has said. It added that the group also gave Anderson top honours for best director and best screenplay, while Philip Seymour Hoffman was named best supporting actor. "The Master", which earned awards for Anderson, Hoffman and co-star Joaquin Pheonix after it bowed in Venice, more recently dominated the award-giving from the Los Angeles Film Critics

Association and was named the best picture of the year by the San Francisco and Kansas City film critic groups. However, recently, after a meeting to vote their own annual awards, Toronto film critics also named Haneke's Amour the year's best foreign-language film after the Jean-Louis TrintingnantEmmanuelle Riva starrer won the Palme d'Or at Cannes. In voting for the acting categories, Denis Lavant won the best actor prize for his star turn in "Holy Motors", while Rachel Weisz took the

best actress prize for her performance in Terence Davies' "The Deep Blue Sea". And Gina Gershon was named best supporting actress for her work in William Friedkin's Killer Joe. Toronto film critics also named ParaNorman, Chris Butler and Sam Fell's stopmotion horror comedy, as the year's best animated feature. The Canadian critics also named the three finalists for their association's best Canadian film award: Denis Côté's Bestiaire; Goon, directed by Michael Dowse; and Sarah Polley's Stories We Tell.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

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08050639900 wallybabe2010@gmail.com

an you give us a brief history of your life? I was born on the 1st of December, 1968 in Kano but I am an indigene of Katsina state. I attended RafinDadi Primary School in Katsina in 1970 and proceeded to Government Girls Secondary School Kankia where I spent two years before I was transferred to Government Girls College, Dalain Kano where i completed my secondary school education in 1974. I proceeded to ABU Zaria school of Basic Studies programme and a year later, went for my degree programme and graduated in 1979 with a BSC in English and Literature. I did my compulsory NYSC in 1979, after that my first working career was with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Kano in 1979 where I worked for 10 years. I was employed as an administrative officer and through the years, I grew to the level of manager at the administrative department before I transferred my services to the CBN in November 1990 and was posted to Bauchi branch because my family was there too; I worked there until the year 2004. I was employed as a manager and rose through the ranks to the post of senior manager and assistant director respectively. I had the opportunity to become the branch controller in acting capacity for 9months and in 2004, I was transferred to the head office and worked in human resourcesdepartment for 5-6years until 2010 before i was transferred to the branch operation department and I was there for a year and was fortunate to be promoted to the rank of a director in 2011, that was where my career in the bank ended shortly after my promotion as a director when I voluntarily retired from the services of the bank on personal grounds. I am married with five children and five grandchildren. What informed your decision to go into the media and later the banking sector? To start with NTA, naturally as a fresh graduate you just send your application to where ever you think you can get employed because then there was nothing like guidance or counseling from anybody to tell you that with your qualification this is the right place to go. I decided to apply to NTA because i had a friend who did her NYSC with NTA and was speaking well about the organisation so, I sent in my application and fortunately I was invited for an audition and was set before the camera. Their idea then was for me to work as a newscaster, apparently, maybe my audition was good but for some personal reasons, Idecided I was not going to work on the screen and was on the verge of dropping the appointment because of that when the then Secretary to NTA said rather than to lose me, they will oblige and take me to where I will work behind the scenes so, we negotiated and that was how I got to the administration department where I worked for 10years. For the CBN, with all sense of modesty, I got to a point where I felt I needed to grow more and was looking for a more challenging job, so I got the information that CBN

‘I was the first woman controller in CBN Bauchi branch’ Hajiya Hadiza Muhammed Abubakar is a former Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and presently Managing Director of Lemozin Properties Limited, in Abuja. In this interview with Maryam Garba Hassan, she discussed extensively on how she rose through the ranks in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and became the first woman Bauchi branch controller, the present CBN’ administration’s policy of gender equality, among others. was recruiting and I applied and was invited for interview, I made the scores and was given the job, so you can see the trend. With NTA I was looking for a job and with the CBN I was looking for a challenge. Luckily, in the CBN one can easily be trained, you can come with sociology, English or political science certificate and will get the training you need to become a good banker. I got a lot of financial management training and management training both in Nigeria and abroad and within a short time I was able to adapt. What is your take on the gender friendly administration of the present CBN governor? The present administration’s idea of giving women bankers equal opportunity with their male counterparts and to compete with the men and give them their rights, is a good one. I was one of the first women who benefitted from that policy, I competed with men and in the end got the job not only because I am a woman but because women are been given the chance to prove their lot, so that policy has continued and a lot has been happening in the CBN with regards to women empowerment and fortunately, the women are up to the task. What would you consider your greatest achievements while in active service? When I decided to join the CBN I remember quite a number of people including my husband asked me if I could do that considering my responsibilities at home and my reaction to that was, I am sure there are women in the system, if they can cope, why can’t I cope? So I joined the CBN with the belief and determination that I was going to succeed despite the fact that I am a woman and the thought that it is difficult for a woman to succeed in that kind of environment. My greatest achievement was to have come to the CBN with my Arts background and to have competed favorably with my men and women colleagues and excel. It is not for me to rate or assess myself but I want to believe that I have done my best. In 1994 when I was in Bauchi branch there was a procedure the CBN does at the end of the year where each department will select its best staff, in 1994, I was nominated the best staff in Bauchi branch. Career in the banking industry for a woman is very tasking especially while she is still having her family. How did you achieve that

Hajiya Hadiza Muhammed Abubakar feat? I quite agree with you that it is difficult and quite challenging. I have a very supportive husband which without his support I don’t think all I did would have been possible, he was there for me and he understands. I am also fortunate to have a very supporting family because at each point in time, I can recall I had one sister or the other staying with me. So that reduced the pressure and I was able to do a balancing between the family and the job but certainly it wasn’t easy. How would you describe the role women play in the development of the economy? I would want to say women have come a long way and are doing wonderfully well and giving the men a fight for their money. When I joined the CNB in 1990, I could recall there were very few women managers and the bulk of the women were mostly typists, notes and coins counters and very few senior staff but, today if you go to the bank, there is a woman deputy governor, there was one before and there have been several directors and there are

still directors and women senior officers at the executive level. So, todays CBN is not that of yester years where you see women at the back ground. The opportunity is there because the governor is gender sensitive and believes women can do it. What would you have become if not a banker? If not a banker, I would have probably been in the class room teaching because I like imparting knowledge. But my passion is to work with NGOs and give back to the society what we have been given. Presently, I am member of several NGOs. What is your most challenging moment as a woman banker? There have been many but I will single out my stay in Bauchibranch where I became the Branch Controller,without any prior notice the load fell on me due to the sudden demise of the then branch controller in the EAS airline crash of that year. I woke up one morning to become the acting branch controller on a Monday morning after I received a message that I had to step into his shoes. That number of months

was not easy but I did my best and from the comments I had from my supervisor, I know I tried my best. I was virtually the first woman to become acting branch controller and that opened the way to others. It was quite difficult but I thank God that I did it well and succeeded. What are your plans now that you have retired from active service? Earlier on, I said I voluntarily retired from the banking sector though it was not time for me to retire as I still have like 4 years to go but I opted out on personal grounds. One of those reasons was, I needed time for myself because my priorities have changed, I have come to a level in my life that I needed to dedicate my time and myself to my God so, one of the first things I did after my retirement was to enroll into Islamiyya and right now I am learning the Qur’an and Arabic and for keeping busy, I joined an Abuja based NGOs called Al Ansaruddeen, it is a faith based NGO and the core objective of the Ngo is orphanage though we do other projects, I am also a member of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) right from Bauchi, a member of Jamiyyatulbiddi, NGO with the objectives to assist indigent students who are bright but don’t have the resources to go to school. When I retired, I opened this office mainly to have some place where I will sit down and get my thoughts together and see what I can do. This is a family business which was started by my husband who is a lawyer and has a property management company called Lemazon properties limited as well as a law firm which he gives priority to. When I came in, I took over the property management company as the managing Director which keeps me busy. What is your advice to the young generation? My advice to the young generation must especially young women is that they should be committed to whatever they do and should do it very well because with commitment there is nothing one cannot overcome. Once you start something and you see that there are challenges and you back out, then that defeat you but where there are challenges you go headlong and face it, you will overcome. You need dedication, commitment, focus and you should know what you want to do, where you are going and keep your eyes focused on your goals and you will achieve it.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

By Ifeanyi Nwoko

he recent killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt, by mob action at Aluu community of Rivers for allegedly stealing cell phones and laptops has continued to generate concerns. This has once again brought to the fore, the issue of jungle justice. Some analysts attribute the development to lack of trust in justice administration, but lawyers, human rights activists and other stakeholders say that is no justification for people to take laws into their hands. Mr Eze Onyekpere, the Director-General, Centre for Social Justice condemned the high incidence of jungle justice in the country. He said it was wrong for people to “ take laws into their hands simply because of loss of confidence in the law enforcement system. “The fact that a person was not found guilty by a court of law does not act as a defence for one to take the laws into one’s hands,” he stressed. According to another legal practitioner, Mr Richard Ahonaruogho, the law does not prescribe jungle justice. “When you kill somebody in the process of a mob action, you have committed murder; that is why anybody that is caught in a mob action is held liable for the offence. “If the person is injured, you have inflicted bodily harm, there are laws for it. “There is nobody that is permitted to take laws into his or her own hands under the criminal code,” he said. Ahonaruogho explained that the reason for such act was not unconnected with the fact that people have lost faith in the police and the judiciary. Mr Emmanuel Sawyer, the head of legal unit, Nigerians Saving Nigerians, an NGO, notes that the Nigerian legal system is against jungle justice. “If you look at the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all our relevant laws: the Penal Code and the Criminal Code, they are all against jungle justice. “It was when man was in a state of anarchy that this could have been applicable,’’ he noted. Another lawyer, Mr Johnson Nwafor, said that although the law allowed for a private person to arrest an offender, such offender must be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies without inflicting injuries on the person. He attributed the resort to “ self-help’’ to lack of faith in the judiciary and the law enforcement agencies. “A lot of people are saying that the judiciary is not doing enough in the sense that they expected every person alleged to have committed an offence to be convicted. ’’ He said that many accused were acquitted because of the inability of the prosecution to convince the courts that the the offence was committed by the accused. Nwafor said that the court could only pronounce an accused

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Tackling jungle justice menace in Nigeria

“

Indecent assault is something that people have not been punished for, people can sympathise on the streets but the law has not protected the women. As it were, in our laws, indecent assault against a man is a felony in our criminal code which attracts three years’ imprisonment but for a woman, it is a misdemeanour and attracts only two years’ imprisonment

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke person guilty if the case was proved beyond reasonable doubts. Hajia Saaudatu Mahdi, Secretary-General, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, also condemns jungle justice. She noted in particular, that women accused of stealing or other criminal acts were stripped naked, while perpetrators go

unpunished. “Indecent assault is something that people have not been punished for, people can sympathise on the streets but the law has not protected the women. “As it were, in our laws, indecent assault against a man is a felony in our criminal code which attracts three years’ imprisonment but for a woman, it is a

misdemeanour and attracts only two years’ imprisonment. “Even at that, nobody has been punished, so you can see that implementation of the laws has been a challenge but we are doing our best to ensure that this stops,” she said. Onyekpere said that there was the need for massive sensitisation to enable people to understand that no one is permitted to carry out unlawful acts. “We should seriously be thinking of how to reform the Nigeria Police Force and the prosecutorial agencies. “If we can reform our system, then the people will have more faith in the system, there will no longer be the temptation to say, let’s do this and end it once-andfor-all,’’ he said. Mr Enyinnaya Uwadileke is

another legal practitioner. He said the judiciary must be seen to deliver ‘substantial’ justice and check acquittals based on lack of evidence. According to him, substantial justice is when even a layman is convinced that justice has been done, rather than judgments based on technicalities which some lawyers will rather prefer, to stall prosecutions. Stakeholders are, however, of the view that sensitisation is substantially required to change attitude, and public perception about jungle justice, as many innocent souls have been lost when jungle justice is applied. Justice administration should also be strengthened and reformed to restore people’s confidence in the administration of justice. Source: NAN

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

A hot shower, a stroll round the park and a curry: The expert’s guide to beating your cold in just 24 HOURS

hen the dreaded lurgy strikes, day in bed can seem like the only option. But with Christmas just around the corner, few of us have the time - or inclination - to put up with a hacking cough or aching muscles for long. Now, help is at hand from a leading expert. Here, Professor Ron Eccles from the Common Cold Centre at Cardiff University tells MailOnline how to beat the bug in just one day... 7AM – TAKE A HOT SHOWER When you wake up feeling dreadful, chances are you won’t feel like staggering to the bathroom straight away. But a steaming hot shower could be just what the doctor ordered. The hot water can soothe your throbbing limbs while the steam can help clear bunged up sinuses. 8AM – BREAKFAST ON PORRIDGE WITH BERRIES Diet is essential in helping you on the road to recovery. Reach for the orange juice to build up your vitamin C and throw some antioxidant-packed mixed berries into a large bowl of warm porridge. Time to take action: Professor Eccles’ step-by-step guide should have you fighting fit by the following morning 10AM – STEAM YOUR FACE During a cold you can end up with a streaming nose, or even worse you become completely bunged up, which causes throbbing head pain. Here, a mixture of over-the-counter medicines and home remedies help. Tackle the symptoms of colds with over-the-counter medicines

such as aspirin, paracetamol, cough syrups and lozenges. Look for lozenges with a strong taste such as Covonia’s Double Impact Lozenges. Strong flavours will promote salivation to help coat and soothe a sore throat. You can also try putting your head over a steaming bowl of hot water for five minutes to help soothe and clear the airways. MIDDAY – GO FOR A STROLL You may feel reluctant to brave the cold outdoors, but a gentle stroll before lunchtime can improve your mood and boost your immune system. So don’t worry that it will make you worse. If you have a head cold with a runny nose and mild symptoms, you can exercise if you feel up to it. 1PM – SWAP YOUR SANDWICH FOR CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD At lunchtime, ditch the usual

sarnie and crisps for some lean chicken and salad. Protein helps build immune cells and helps to prompt the immune response. People who cut meat out of their diet will often suffer with more frequent and longer lasting colds. 3PM – PUT THE KETTLE ON Herbal teas and other hot liquids help thin mucus and expel it from the body. Meanwhile, glugging a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice won’t have an immediate effect but it will increase your Vitamin C levels which is good for recovery and boosting immunity later in the week. 6PM – EAT A CURRY At dinner time, turn up the heat with a spicy curry or a chilli con carne. Ingredients like ginger, garlic and chilli peppers are renowned for their antiviral and anti-bacterial properties, as well as their ability to clear the sinuses. Plus,

Time to take action: Professor Eccles' step-by-step guide should have you fighting fit by the following morning.

Winter virus: If you can't afford to stay in bed, follow Professor Eccles' step-by-step guide. Drinking herbal teas can help thin mucus and expel it from the body

they might be the only foods you have a chance of actually tasting. The spices can help get rid of germs from the system and clear the airways. 8PM – SOAK THOSE ACHING LIMBS End the day by giving those tired and aching muscles a soak in a nice hot bath. A final steam can knock the cold virus on the head by helping to expel it from the body.

10PM – GET EIGHT HOURS SLEEP It is important for your body to recharge and a good night’s sleep will help you get your strength back as quickly as possible. To keep your immune system in tip top shape, try to establish a regular sleep pattern. Avoid stimulating drinks like coffee and alcohol late in the evening and don’t watch TV or do work in bed. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Being stressed is as damaging for your heart as smoking five cigarettes a day

re you stressed? If so, your chances of heading to an early grave are significantly higher. New research has found that people who reported feeling anxious and overwhelmed were 27 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack. The study, led by Columbia University Medical Centre researchers, was published in the American Journal of Cardiology. The researchers looked at six previous studies where people had been asked about their perceived stress with questions such as ‘how stressed do you feel?’ and ‘how often are you stressed?’ The groups were separated into high and low stress scores and then followed for 14 years to track the number of heart attacks. Those who were the most stressed were 27 per cent more likely to have a heart attack. The effect of stress was so profound that the researchers compared it to smoking more five cigarettes a day. It was also likened to a 2.8mmol/l increase in LDL cholesterol and a 2.7/1.4 mmHg

increase in blood pressure. The British Heart Foundation says that people who are at high risk of, or already have, heart disease should aim for an LDL cholesterol level under 2 mmol/l. Therefore, it says the figures suggest a 2.8mmol/l rise is more than double the recommended cholesterol levels for heart and stroke patients. A healthy blood pressure reading should be below 140/ 90mmHg. LDL cholesterol is considered

a risk for heart disease that can lead to heart attack because it contributes for narrowing of the arteries that supply blood flow to the heart from plaque buildup, or atherosclerosis. Higher blood pressure puts stress on the heart and contributes to stiffening of the arteries, making them more susceptible to blockage. It is thought to be responsible for 50 per cent of all heart attacks and strokes. The researchers did further analysis to try to learn what

American researchers found people who reported feeling stressed were 27 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack

might unpin the link between stress and heart disease. They found that while gender was not a significant factor, age was. Among older people, the relationship between stress and CHD was stronger, suggesting

Stress has also been found to increase levels of 'bad' cholesterol and blood pressure, which are risk factors for heart disease

the effects of stress compound over time. They also noted that older people tend to have worse risk factors such as high blood pressure and raised cholesterol to begin with, and that stress may interact with those risk factors to trigger a heart attack. ‘These findings are significant because they are applicable to nearly everyone,’ said study author Safiya Richardson. ‘The key takeaway (message) is that how people feel is important for their heart health, so anything they can do to reduce stress may improve their heart health in the future.’ Her co-author, Donald Edmondson, assistant professor of behavioural medicine at CUMC added: ‘This is the most precise estimate of that relationship, and it gives credence to the widely held belief that general stress is related to heart health.’ Heart disease is Britain’s biggest killer. Around 270,000 people in the UK suffer a heart attack every year and and nearly one in three die before they reach hospital. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

ANALYSIS By Richard Ihediwa

he revered Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, first Nigerian Senate President, in his inaugural address after his election on January 11, 1960 came out boldly to tell Nigerians what manner of persons should be in the Senate and what manner of conduct is expected of senators, being the highest representatives of the people at the nation's highest lawmaking body. He said: "The upper houses of the legislature usually attract to their deliberations a certain aura of dignity that is based on tradition and immemorial custom. "From these has evolved the idea that members of the Upper House constitute elder statesmen of the nation whose knowledge of the world and grasp of practical human problems entitled them to be respected not necessarily as paragons of perfection but as repositories of the accumulated wealth of wisdom about manners and mores of mankind". As the Senate adjourns plenary for the year, stakeholders have been taking stock of its performance and of course conduct of lawmakers especially in the last six years. In a way, there appears to be a growing consensus that the Upper House as a bloc has performed creditably well though such cannot be said on individual basis regarding some lawmakers. While there is an acceptance that the Senate as a body has done creditably well in promoting the stability of the nation, there is a considerably waning on the issue of conduct of lawmakers especially at plenary showing a drifting from the character and conduct envisaged by the first Senate President. Though a large number of senators have conducted themselves in manners portraying them as elder statesmen, a handful of others have failed to attain this level as their deliberations have largely failed to attract a certain level of dignity, a development that shows them as lacking in Azikiwe's expectation to be respected as leaders and "repositories of accumulated wealth of wisdom about manners and mores of mankind". Over the years, there is a noticeable drifting from the practice among senators of the jettisoning of partisan interest and leanings to focus on national issues. Largely under this culture which came to a considerable height, under the leadership of former Senate President Ken Nnamani, lawmakers in the Senate seat and debate on terms of equality

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Senate, PDP and the tyranny of the majority

Senate President, David Mark and mutual respect irrespective of party and sectional divides which evokes the aura of dignity that is based on tradition and immemorial custom which the great Zik spoke about. Though majority of Nigerians acknowledged the efforts of the current Senate leadership under Senate President David Mark to champion a Senate that has become a beacon of national stability, parliamentary observers are deeply worried that in the last few years, there is a gradual shift from the senatorial custom of dignified conduct among lawmakers. Indeed observers are worried about the conduct of a handful of lawmakers from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who have reduced the hallowed chamber of the Senate to a theatre of frivolities and infantile heckling based on partisan biases. In fact, there is a gradual entrenchment of some kind of tyranny of the majority as the PDP lawmakers use every opportunity they get to heckle and talk down on lawmakers from the other parties with particular attack on the minority leadership under the watch of Senator George Akume. Whereas there is the common understanding in the Nigerian democratic experience that Senators, when elected, have become senators of the Federal Republic, representing the interest of Nigerians based on equality of states, it appears that despite the charges from the Senate President, senators from

PDP Chairman Alhaji Bamanga Tukur the PDP still see themselves as representatives of their parties and not of the people. Some of them, by the way they treat lawmakers from the other parties, appear to fail to understand that every senator is an embodiment of a section of the country and heckling them in essence means deriding the people who they represent in the parliament. Many senators from the PDP do not see anything wrong in bringing in their party sentiments into debates on national issues. In fact, some of them will overtly pride themselves as belonging to the biggest party in Africa as if to indicate that they are in the Senate at the mercy of the party and not the people. There have been instances activities of the Senate have been put on hold because the PDP has one meeting or the other. There have been instances

where lawmakers from other parties have been shouted down and "bullied" by PDP lawmakers when they want to make a point considered not to be in the interest of the ruling party. Sometimes the "bullied" lawmaker would have to cry out to the presiding officer for protection before he would be allowed to at least air his view. This development clearly negates the principle of free speech and equality in the parliament, especially as it is common knowledge that the majority will always have its way; however, the argument is that in that case, the minority should be allowed to have its say. Strongly speaking however, pundits are seriously worried that the partisanship promoted at plenary by some PDP senators has degenerated to attacks on individual lawmakers and that on the Minority Leader, George Akume, has become a case in

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There is a gradual entrenchment of some kind of tyranny of the majority as the PDP lawmakers use every opportunity they get to heckle and talk down on lawmakers from the other parties

point. Somehow in the last dispensation, they did same to Minority Leader, Maina Ma'aji Lawan. There have been instances where some PDP lawmakers initiate distractions whenever Akume is given the floor to make contributions or to second a motion as his duty requires. Of serious note in the current dispensation has been the conduct of two PDP senators one from the South East and the other from the North Central. Essentially it appears that these senators in their early fifties for reasons best known to them to try to rubbish Akume every time he takes the floor to contribute. Every time Akume is recognised, this duo will initiate side talks with other lawmakers. They will even initiate consultations that would cause unnecessary movements in the chambers. Their actions would eventually draw the attention of other lawmakers and ultimately distract the minority leader and cut his flow of thought and speech and portray him as incompetent. Sometimes these lawmakers will start unnecessary low tune mumbling that would get to heckling which would at the end disrupt the speech of the Minority Leader. Sometimes, he would found himself begging for protection from the Presiding Officer which, in most cases delay in coming. In some instances, the PDP Senators will initiate diversionary issues when minority Senators have the floor, citing explanations or information instead of raising point of orders to be allowed to speak. Sometimes they raised points of order that are irrelevant to the discourse all aimed at distracting the minority lawmaker. Commenting on the development, a PDP lawmaker insisted that heckling is part of parliamentary practice to sway opinion and capture votes to ones side. "You see heckling is a normal practice among parliamentarians. Though I don't like it and I don't use it but it is there and the majority party usually uses it to cow the other parties. It is a worldwide parliamentary practice but I don't think it should be in our Senate because people look unto us for direction", he said. However, critics are quick to point out that though the Senate President has achieved

Contiuned on page 39

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Offa LG: Kwara PDP, ACN trade words over High Court judges T K

Enugu Assembly tasks commissioner on youth employment

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

wara state chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) have expressed divergent views on constitution of High Court Judges sitting on Offa local government election tribunal. PDP through its Publicity Secretary, Ma'sud Adebinpe, the allegation by opposition party that the assigned Judges were biased was unpatriotic. But the the state Chairman of ACN, Kayode Olawepo in a statement said "PDP being the

beneficiary of such anomaly, we don't expect the party to be objective or rational in its reaction. The sabrerattling is therefore expected - and is true to type. We are glad that after much shadow-boxing the PDP at last admitted that only two judges are hearing that petition, claiming the third person has been away on a medical trip abroad. Clearly, as is also detectable from the PDP statement, the said judge has not been sitting on the panel. Now, if the two judges sitting have cause to disagree on the petitions before them, whose opinion becomes the majority decision as must be the case in time of dissension? This clearly

defeats the puerile and suspicious defence the PDP has mounted. "Interesting enough is the fact that the PDP was silent on our allegation that the panel has been granting only applications brought by the PDP while turning down ACN's. This speaks for itself. As for the issue of defection, and finally, the PDP spokesman was probably at the Mars when Prince Saheed Popoola openly dismissed claims of his so-called defection and reaffirmed his membership of ACN." The PDP Publicity Secretary in a statement insisted PDP has absolute confidence in the ability of the Panel to do justice and not in any way in

doubt in the sincerity of the membership as presently constituted. "The composition as claimed by ACN was a misinformation to deceive the unsuspecting public. As an interested party the session was properly constituted as provided for by the law and they should disregard the unpatriotic and unfounded claim. "To put the record straight the Panel was not only properly constituted but was made up of three eminent judges whose credibility and ability were not in any way doubtful," the ruling party insisted.

R-L: Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly e Committee on Works, Hon Rotimi Olowo, wife of Lagos state Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon Segun Olulade, and others, during the visit of Mrs Fashola to the House, yesterday in Alausa Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Bolaji Olasunkanmi

Legislators laud early passage of 2013 budget

ome members of the House of Representatives in Abuja yesterday commended the house for the early passage of the 2013 budget. They gave the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Rep. Ossai Ossai (PDP-Delta) described the timely passage of the Appropriation Act as ‘a good thing. “You can see that clause two was inserted that projects that have not been done in 2012 had been rolled over to 2013. That is the beauty of the budget. “You know, we made it clear that every virement must receive the authorisation of the National Assembly and failing to do that attracts a penalty. “There is an Act to that effect and we want to bring the Act to life, that is what we intend to do at the end,’’ he said. Rep. Uzo Azubuike (PDP-Abia)

said that members were satisfied that the budget had been passed. “Today we are satisfied that the budget has been passed. We can say House of that the 7th Representatives has done very well in 2012. “ You can see that there is a level of understanding between the House of Representatives and the Senate. We are moving together, when we raise issues we concur.

“You see that on the issue of benchmark, to move Nigeria forward, we settled for $79 per barrel oil benchmark,’’ Azubuike said. Azubuike said that the peace, tranquillity and harmony prevailing in the two chambers created an environment for development. Rep. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta) noted that before the passage of the budget, the house set out to look at

what the executive had been doing concerning the budget in the area of implementation. “We are trying to be sure that funds appropriated, especially the capital components, were actually implemented,’’ Elumelu said. Rep. Garba Datti (CPC-Kaduna) and Deputy Minority Leader said that having passed the budget on Dec. 20, it was left for the executive arm to implement. (NAN)

he Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odo, yesterday urged the Commissioner for Poverty Reduction, Mr Godwin Ogenyi, to work with relevant agencies to tackle unemployment among the youth. Speaking at an interactive session with the commissioner on the government’s efforts to provide jobs for the youth, Odo advised the commissioner to be more proactive to secure jobs for the youth in the state. “This is necessary because from what you said so far, you do not have sufficient information about what is going on in the implementation of the SURE-P in the state. “As of last month or two, there was an advert in the internet for would-be beneficiaries to apply online for the programme in which 5,000 youths were expected to be employed. “So try and link up with the chairman of the SURE-P implementation committee for a better result,’’ Odo said. He advised the commissioner to liaise with the lawmakers as they were ready to assist him in reducing unemployment in the state. The speaker urged the assembly members to make formal recommendations that could assist the commissioner in performing better. Earlier, Ogenyi told the lawmakers that though the implementation of the SURE-P was below expectation, his ministry had set up a data bank of unemployed youths and artisans with which to link them to job providers. Ogenyi said that 3,000 youths have been selected to benefit from the SURE-P in partnership with the NDE while another 1,000 would benefit from the entrepreneurship scheme. He said Enugu was one of the 20 states to benefit from a 300 million-dollar World Bank loan in the first quarter of next year, adding that 10,000 youths would be absorbed by the scheme. The commissioner requested for increased budgetary allocation to enable the ministry to perform better as the benchmark of N200 million in their 2013 budget was inadequate to effect the desired change. Meanwhile, the speaker has dissolved the assembly committee on education, saying the leadership would look into its activities next year. (NAN)

Anambra govt dissolves National Youth Council executive

he Anambra government has dissolved the executive committee of the National Youth Council in the state. Announcing the dissolution at a news briefing in Awka yesterday, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr Edozie Aroh, said the government had set up a

seven-man committee to conduct elections into the local government arms of the council. Aroh said the state would not allow the activities of the council to be at a standstill, which was why it set up the interim committee. He directed the Nwabufor Nwankwo-led executive to hand over all NYC official documents in

their possession to the new committee within 48 hours. “By this release, all immediate past executives of the council are hereby directed to hand over all congress official documents and other official materials in their possession to the steering/congress planning committee within the next 48 hours.

“The idea is to have a win-win situation; while we are soothing frayed nerves we are also working on modalities to effectively conduct free and fair elections at the congress,’’ Aroh said. The commissioner said the local council congresses were expected to be concluded before the end of January. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Kwara governor presents N94.4b. 2013 budget to Assembly From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

he Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has presented a budget proposal of N94.4billion for the 2013 fiscal year, representing a 10 per cent increase over last year's projection of N85.1b. Presenting the budget proposal, titled "Sustained Prosperity" to the State House of Assembly yesterday, Ahmed said the budget was designed to boost infrastructure, accelerate agro-led wealth creation, create jobs and sustain the state's development. He said "It is also aimed at reducing the state's dependence on federally-allocated revenue and attract foreign and domestic investments into the state. The governor who disclosed that the state was facing challenges of limited financial resources said his administration was determined "to provide good governance to the people through a systematic focus on our interlinked priority areas. "Our resources may be limited but our resolve to overcome these challenges and provide good governance for the benefit of the people is boundless," he assured. In the budget, a total recurrent revenue of N58.1b was proposed while recurrent expenditure was put at N51b. He also disclosed that total recurrent surplus was N6.3b while total capital receipt was estimated at N42.6b with total capital expenditure also pegged at N42.6b. Out of the sectoral allocation, roads network received capital expenditure of N7.9b followed by Education and Human Capital Development with N7.6b with Tertiary Education, Science and Technology and Agriculture Development each receiving N4.3b and Health allocated N3.3b. The proposed capital expenditure on Water Supply also stood at N1.9b, Sport and Youth Development took N1.4b and N1.2b was allocated to Energy. Others are Housing and Urban DevelopmentN249m, Commerce and Cooperatives-N181m, Information and Communication, N421m, Environment and ForestryN799m, Social Welfare Culture and Tourism-N110m.

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PDP hails timely passage of 2013 budget by NASS By Lawrence Olaoye

he Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) yesterday hailed the National Assembly for its timely passage of the 2013 budget proposals submitted to it by the xecutive. The party in a statement released to newsmen and

signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh,attributed the timely passage of the budget to the maturity of the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives and described the development as a clear indication that democracy is not only gaining firm footing

but safe in the hands of the PDP. PDP stated "The National Assembly which our great Party leads has demonstrated that it has come of age in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities. It has also shown that the people of Nigeria are its primary constituency and that their interest is

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Victor Ogene , and a member of the Committee, Hon. Lanre Odubote, during the press briefing on 2013 budget passed by the House of Representative, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

supreme. The seriousness and the high degree of scrutiny which guided the consideration of the 2013 budget proposal, serves directly, the long stringent quest for transparent and workable national budget. We commend them for this." According to the party, "good governance is directly dependent on the twin factors of patriotism and capacity for delivery, saying that the PDP led National Assembly has demonstrated both. "The Senate under Senator David Mark and the House of Representatives under Hon. Aminu Tambuwal have shown that they are patriotic and are capable in their legislative and oversight functions. The efficient re-alignment of 2013 budgetary provisions to reflect the needs of the people is a surer way to drive national growth within the fiscal time frame." It added further "one of the core elements in the 3Rs agenda of the Bamanga Tukur leadership of our Party is the fidelity of the officials elected and appointed on our platform in meeting up with our performance target. The National Assembly which we lead has shown that it is ready to do its own beat." The party also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the early presentation of 2013 budget and expressed pleasure at the mutual cooperation and synergy between the executive and the legislature describing it as an oil for lubricating the engine of growth.

Former Kebbi governorship candidate wants CAC reformed From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

former Kebbi state gubernatorial candidate under NDP, Salihu Isa Nataro, who is also an Associate member of the Institute of

Management Consultant of Nigeria, has called on Federal government to urgently strategize and reform the Corporate Affairs Commission in order to stop receiving annual returns fees and reduce

registration charges. Speaking to our reporter on phone, the former gubernatorial candidate said that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is aiding corruption by charging

companies a regressive taxes ''Whether you make profit or not, you must pay that compulsory annual charges that will push prices upward especially government contracts,'' he said.

Senate, PDP and the tyranny of the majority Contiuned from page 37 serious stability in the Upper Chamber, he should do more to protect the interest of senators from the minority parties especially as they do not represent parties but constituencies based on national equality. Pundits recall that in the past, Senate under Senate President Ken Nnamani, lawmakers are always called to order by the presiding officer when they try to heckle other parliamentarians. They recall that Nnamani

would always ask a senators coming with point of order or information or those who heckle to wait for the person who has the floor to "finish his nonsense" after which the one who thinks himself wise will come up with his "sense". Commenting on this, a minority senator who would not want his name mentioned in print prayed the Senate President to adopt the same process strictly so as to give all lawmakers a sense of worth. According to him: "Many of us are not happy over the issue of heckling in a parliament where

we know we are equals and we are representing people based on the principle of equality irrespective of our parties. When you are elected, you become a senator of the Federal Republic and not senator of a party. So we believe there should be mutual respect among us. "I know the Senate President, David Mark is doing his best to keep order but he should do more. During the time of Ken Nnamani, he will ask you to allow the senator to finish with his nonsense then you can talk your sense. By so doing, he protected all the senators and gave them a sense of

belonging irrespective of their political parties. "We want Mark to do the same. We have chosen him to be our leader and he must know that he is the leader of all of us. He has made us to see ourselves as one family, so he should ensure that his statements that the Senate is one big family is practiced in a way that every body is given a sense of worth", he said. On the whole, it is essential that the leadership checks the situation as the Senate embarks on its end of year break which commenced yesterday. The leadership must ensure that the

ill will and bad blood that is being created by a handful of PDP senators is capable of truncating the unity that is highly needed in ensuring that Senate continues to play its vital role in providing leadership to the nation It is essential that senators must understand that they are equal and have a common destiny which is realised by mutual respect and team spirit. Any attempt from any source to create dissension and make some senators feel less important than the other is not good for the parliament and the nation's democracy.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Stories by Albert Akota

uper Eagles handler, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has said he called up experienced right back, Chibuzor Okonkwo, because he believes that every person deserves to be given a second chance in life no matter what, but the player must now justify his call up. It will be recalled that Okonkwo was among the first set of home based professionals Keshi invited last December but after a few days in camp he bolted out of the country for a fruitless trial with English Premier League side, Aston Villa. This was after Keshi had decreed that home based players must be ready to stay at least six months with the national team before attempting to travel abroad for greener pastures. Since then he has been overlooked. But Keshi said he deserves a

Okonkwo must justify call-up-Keshi second chance because he’s a versatile player and has the experience that can impact positively on the national team. “But he has to prove that he’s

Stephen Keshi

a better player in terms of discipline and action on the pitch”, he said. Okonkwo played the second half in the 1-1 draw against Nasarawa United on Thursday and showed flashes of his old self. Meanwhile former Super Eagles striker, Benedict

Akwuegbu, former Club Owners Scribe, Arthur Kwame and Ondo Football Agency Director, Mike Idoko, were part of the crowd that watched the national team played out a 1-1 draw against Nasarawa United and gave the team thumps up. Kwame said he believes the

team was on its way to the glory days, Idoko on his part said he was thrilled by the quality on display by players from the Nigeria Premier League, while Akwuegbu said he came to lend his support to the team ahead of the championship in South Africa.

CAF ‘B’ License course ends in Abuja

C Chibuzor Okonkwo

NFF admits owing Keshi N10m uper Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi is currently owed two months of his wages by his employer according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Alhaji Aminu maigari. The amount for the two months owed Keshi by the NFF is N10 million (around $63,000).

PAGE 41

The NFF President admitted on Wednesday morning on a sports show via Silverbird Television that the manager is yet to get an official car and accommodation. But he explained that the situation is not “deliberate.” “Yes he (Keshi) is owed two months but it is not a deliberate attempt by the federation to do so. Remember that he just returned from vacation. But that will be sorted out soon. “Concerning the official car and house, as the president of the federation no one has asked me if I have a car of my own. There’s an existing car which is six months old but soon we will have all this sorted out. “And let me also say Keshi hasn’t complained because he’s focused on getting the job done. Last time a report about this came out he told me he didn’t speak to anyone about it,” said Maigari.

AF ‘B’ License Coaching Course organized by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) came to a close at the FIFA Technical Centre, Abuja yesterday where 80 Nigerian coaches participated in the 10-day programme. Ghanaian expert Ben Koufie was the assessor at the course, which also has Nigerian heavyweights Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, Dr. Kashimawo Laloko and James Peters as coordinators. Declaring the event closed NFF President Aminu Maigari noted the performances of national teams in their various international competitions and qualifying campaigns could not have been possible without good coaching. “It is my belief that this further CAF ‘B’ course has further enriched our coaches, with the positive impact that this will definitely have on the performances of our National Teams at various international championships in the coming year, “he said. Maigari was represented by Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh because he was in Ghana for the 2012 Glo-Caf African Football Awards. In his own remark, NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu congratulated the participants and noted that “the commitment of the NFF to regular FIFA and CAF courses for our various professionals on the field derives from the vision of this administration to constantly encourage indigenous experts on the field

of play. If you check our records, you will discover that this is the first NFF administration to entrust all our National Teams in the hands of indigenous coaches. “While we strive as a Federation, with limited resources, to keep holding these coaching courses and seminars, it is important that the coaches themselves continually show a desire to keep abreast of the trend at home and internationally. “Another point that must be stressed here is the need for our Coaches to imbibe the present administration’s vision of zerotolerance for age cheating. We are determined, as can be seen in the new age-grade teams

that we present for international competitions that the era of winat-all-cost is over. The age-grade competitions, it needs not be emphasized, are developmental in nature and essence. At the end of the day, those who cheat not only harm themselves, they are not guaranteed victory. Our much younger and leaner U-17 boys trounced the ‘matured’ U-17 team of Mali to qualify for the 2013 African U17 Championship holding in Morocco,” he said.

1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner Henry Nwosu (MON) and 1994 winners Benedict Iroha (MFR) and Alloy Agu were among the participants.

Ben Koufie

FCT wins national U-13 championship

Alhaji Aminu Maigari

he FCT U-13 team yesterday defeated their Ogun state counterparts 3 -1 to emerge the champions of the 2012 National U-13 Youth Championship in Abuja. The match which was played at the FIFA Goal Project Centre of the Abuja National stadium, witnessed quality exchanges from both teams, but it was the FCT team that eventually triumphed 3-1 in the 90 minute regulation time, despite not having the full control of the game. Goals scorers for the FCT include Iko Seth, Meshach Awoje,

and Sunday Ugor while Ibrahim Danladi scored Ogun states only goal in the match. In his remark, the President Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who was represented by his special assistant on finance, Taiwo Odebunmi, promised that the NFF will continue to grow football from the grassroots. “NFF is determined to ensure that only the right players of the right ages represent our National Teams at the age grade levels. We want to eradicate age cheating and also ensure that we have the data base of our player.

“The players who are picked from this tournament will be exposed both locally and also through international tournaments like we have been doing in the past.”Maigari assured. Meanwhile, in the third place match, which was played earlier in the day, Kaduna state beat Niger state 2 - 0 to go home with the silver medal. Certificates were also given to the three best placed teams. Meanwhile, the National U13/U-15 team coach Danladi Nasidi says he has picked 56 players from the just concluded

2012 National U-13 Youth Championship in Abuja. He said the selected players will be called to the National U-13 & U-15 team camp by early next year. “First I must confess that I’m very pleased with what I’ve seen here tonight, and from here I’ve been able to pick 12 U-15 players and 44 U-13 player to make a total of 56 that will have the opportunity to come fight for shirts when our camp opens in January. “ Danladi said. Eight state teams, Sokoto, Edo, Kaduna, Imo, FCT, Ogun, Niger and Ekiti participated at the games.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Niger’s defender confesses difficulty to play against Ghana

Kofi Dankwa

iger defender Kofi Dankwa says he f e e l s ‘uncomfortable’ to play against his country of birth, Ghana, at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The 23-year-old Ghanaian played for former Ghana Premier League side Zaytuna FC before travelling to Niger in 2006. Dankwa was first

selected into the Niger U20 team for a tournament in France before progressing to the national team. The Esperance Zarzis player has become a firm staple in Coach Gernot Rohr’s side. Dankwa is a sure bet to make Niger’s final 23-man squad after being named in a provisional 26-man squad. Ahead of Niger’s final Group B match against the

Black Stars on 28 January, the centre-backcum-midfielder says he is in a tight corner. “It is not all that comfortable for me but I have to respect my motherland and also respect Niger,” Dankwa said. “Asamoah Gyan even called me two days ago and told me to prepare very well. It will be difficult

Niger state govt begins plan for 19th National Sports Festival

playing the Black Stars but I trust everything will go well.” Dankwa’s goal qualified the Mena to their debut Nations Cup finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early this year. He missed their opener against Gabon but played in their two remaining matches as they failed to progress from the Group stage.

iger state Government has directed its sports ministry to begin immediate plans for the state participation in the 19th National Sports festival expected to be hosted by Calabar the Cross River state capital in 2014. The early preparation of the state for the festival is

to enable it surpass its performance in the 18th edition of the national fiesta during which the state was placed 16th on the overall medals table winning in the process 4 gold 2silver and 5 bronze medals. Commissioner for sports Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi told newsmen that the state government has approved the recruitment of all the medallists at Eko 2012 into the state civil

service while athletes who are from the state but participated for other states are to be encouraged to return to the state. Alhaji Abdullahi said that government has also approved the upgrading of sport facilities in the state to provide avenues for athletes to prepare for the next festival even as he said that seasoned coaches will be recruited to replace ageing ones in the state sport council.

On Niger state Tornadoes football club Alhaji Abdullahi said the governor has taken special interest in the club now demoted from the elite division adding that Governor Aliyu has directed that everything should be done to ensure the darling team returned to the premier league. A new technical adviser is to be recruited to handle the team while new players and a versatile

goalkeeper will be engaged ahead of the new season. The Commissioner disclosed unlike in the past where the team suffered from inadequate funding a proposal has been made to the state government to grant the club semi financial autonomy saying that if the plan scale through the executive council the club could receive an overhead fund of N16.5m monthly for all its expenses. In addition Abdullahi said that corporate organizations are to be encouraged to fund the club while they will be given tax rebates for their efforts by the government.

ormer Super Eagles Coach, Christian Chukwu has said the latest FIFA world ranking will count as nothing at the

2013 AFCON in South Africa. FIFA’s ranking on Wednesday saw Nigeria move up five spots from

their previous 57th position to 52nd while they maintain the 10th spot in Africa. Chukwu said the world football body ranking is based on quality friendlies nations are engaged in and insisted that the country’s status will improve further before the next ranking. “FIFA ranking is all about friendly matches. I know between now and the next ranking we would have played more friendlies and will surely move further up the ladder. “Of course, if we perform well at the Nations Cup it will up our ranking and we’ll take our rightful number five position. “It’s nothing to worry about as far as the Nations Cup in South Africa is concerned,” said the former Nigerian captain to supersport.com.

Chukwu said he is satisfied with the level of preparations for the Afcon game even as he insists that performance should be the basis for the selection of players. “I’m satisfied with the preparations so far; I still believe the team will up their preparations as the D-day draw nearer. “Ideally performances on the field of play should decide who gets a shirt not whether you’re a local or foreign-based player.

“I don’t care whether we take 100% local or foreignbased players to South Africa as far as the basis is on performance. “My interest is to see in place a solid squad that will excel at the Nations Cup,” said. The next Fifa ranking will be on January 17 few days to the start of Afcon 2013 in South Africa. Cote d’Ivoire remains Africa’s best while Spain continues to keep their number spot in the world.

From Illya Garba, Minna

Chukwu downplays FIFA ranking F

Christian Chukwu

Obinna Nsofor

Nsofor gives up on AFCON

ussia-based forward Obinna Nsofor has admitted his chances of making the Nigeria squad to the AFCON are “very slim”. Nsofor is back in Nigeria on holidays and has revealed he has not received a call-up for next year’s Nations Cup. A nagging knee injury last season ensured the former Inter Milan forward has not been involved with the Super Eagles since coach Stephen Keshi took charge last year November. “I have not received an invitation for the Nations Cup. My chances are very slim of making it to the competition,” said the Lokomotiv Moscow star. Nsofor, who has featured at three Nations Cups – 2006, 2008 and 2010, said he will now support the team to win a long overdue trophy in South Africa. “I believe in the team because there is so much talent there. We just need to play with all the commitment, “he said.

Sunzu valued at £3m

eading target Zambia defender Stopilla Sunzu is believed to have been valued at £3million. Thae TP Mazembe defender is reportedly close to moving to struggling English Premiership club Reading

in the New Year. The 23-year-old defenders’ stock has been on the rise since his i n s p i r a t i o n a l performances in defence for Zambia in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon earlier this year on Chipolopolo’s way to winning the 2012

Africa Cup. Sunzu also successful took the decisive postmatch penalty that helped Zambia clinch its’ first-ever Africa Cup title when they beat Cote d’Ivoire 8-7 after the final finished scoreless in extra time.

Celtic is happy to be underdogs in UCL – Ambrose

eltic defender Efe Ambrose has said Celtic is happy to be the underdogs in a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clashes against Italian champions Juventus. Celtic yesterday drew Juventus in the knockout stage of the Champions League with the first leg at home on February 12. The Nigeria

international defender Ambrose said being underdogs would be good for his Scottish club as the pressure is now heavily on Juventus. “We all know Juve are highly rated and will be the favourites against us, and that will only put them under pressure while we will be more relaxed,” Ambrose said.

“Reaching this level of the competition is the result of hard work and God’s mercy, so that’s what we still do and hope for against Juventus. He added: “Every team that reached the last 16 have to be strong. Juventus are a big team no doubt, but we are not afraid to face them. We respect them for their achievements but

that’s that. “We will put ourselves together to go past them because we have strong team who can take on any team in the world. The other Nigerian in the competition is Chinedu Obasi, whose German Schalke 04 is up against Turkish champions Galatasaray. Celtic manager Neil

Lennon, who described the match-up as a “glamour tie”, said it would have been great if the first leg were away from Celtic Park, but added that his team hope to make the most of playing in front of their fans after they were unbeaten at home in the group stage of the competition and even accounted for mighty Barcelona at home.

Efe Ambrose

PAGE 43

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

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PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

2013 Nations Cup finals

Togo wants Adebayor back in AFCON squad

he Football Association of Togo wants Emmanuel Adebayor to come out of retirement to join Sparrowhawks for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. Tottenham Hotspur striker Adebayor said he was once again retiring from international

Eagles force Nasarawa to 1-1 draw

ewly promoted Nasarawa United were forced to a 1-1 draw by the Super Eagles in a test game played in Abuja yesterday. After the game, Nasarawa coach Alphonsus Dike urged the national team handlers to work on the concentration of the players. “The players were quite good and among the best in the country, but the need to improve in the area of concentration because that was what caused the goal my team scored against them,” he said. The Eagles featured Femi Thomas, Solomon Kwambe, Benjamin Francis, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuewke, Gabriel Reuben, Sunday Mba, Fegor Ogude, Tony Okpotu, Ejike Uzoenyi and Gambo Mohammed in the first half and brought on a new set of 11 players in the second half. The Eagles dominated and should have been at least two goals up in the first 10 minutes, but the chances they created were wasted by Mba, Reuben and Gambo. In the 18th minute, a defensive mix-up by the national team allowed Nasarawa’s Ibrahim Ibrahim to grab the opener. The Eagles then lifted their game in search of an equalizer and they were rewarded when a Nasarawa defender held a goal-bound shot and from the resulting penalty Mba leveled scores in the 44th minute.

Stephen Keshi

The new set of Eagles in the second half like Gomo Onduko, Ubale Mannir, Papa Idris, Henry Uche, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Zango Umar and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, seemed to have more fluidity, but Nasarawa kept it tight at the back to run away with a 11, draw. After the game a not too happy Stephen Keshi sent the players back to the pitch for another 20-minute drill. In the meantime, Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has said he has handed experienced right back Chibuzor Okonkwo a second chance and he expects the player to now justify his call-up. It will be recalled that Okonkwo was among the first set of NPL stars Keshi invited last December, but after a few days in training camp he bolted out of the country on trials at English Premier League side Aston Villa. This was after Keshi had ordered that the players must be ready to stay at least six months with the national team before attempting to travel abroad for greener pastures. But Keshi said Okonkwo deserves another chance because he’s a versatile player and has the experience that can impact positively on the national team. “But he has to prove that he’s a better player in terms of discipline and what he can do on the pitch,”he said.

football after a bonus row following a 1-0 friendly victory in Morocco last month. Adebayor, 28, scored the winner against the Atlas Lions and also netted in both legs of the qualifier against Gabon that sealed a place at the January 19February 10 tournament in South Africa. His absence would be a massive blow to the Sparrowhawks, who were drawn with title favourites Ivory Coast and former champions Algeria and Tunisia. “I am doing everything I can to get Emmanuel back,” Togo coach Didier Six told the country’s media. “He is a worldclass footballer and captain of the national team. “Emmanuel will have the final word on the matter but I will put all my strength into getting him to change his mind. He is very important to our ambitions. Adebayor retirements stemmed from unpaid bonuses and the alleged poor treatment of the national team when travelling around the continent a complaint not unique to Togolese footballers.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Eagles need more committed players – Keshi

he Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has refused to rule out the possibility of including midfielder, Kalu Uche and striker Imoh Ezekiel from his final squad of players for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. Both players have been in sparkling form for their respective clubs this season. Uche who has scored 5 goals in 35 appearances for the Super Eagles is second on the goal

scorer’s charts in Turkey with 9 goals for Kasimpasa FC. Imoh who is yet to be capped at international level, is one of the most coveted youngsters in the Belgian Jupiler pro league. The 19-year-old has scored 10 goals for Standard Liege this season and has been tipped by experts to achieve great things in the game. Keshi has said that he has been monitoring the progress of both players and revealed that they could still be on the Nigerian

plane for the 2013 Afcon. “Yes I am aware of their performance and right now, I have not shut the door on any player. Any player who is a Nigerian and who can help us will have a chance,” he said. Keshi will release a list of foreign-based players that could potentially make his final squad for the tournament on December 25. “Will there be surprises in the list? Well Nigerians should wait and see,” he concluded.

he Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi says it will be difficult for the Super Eagles to win a third Cup of Nations title next year as coach Stephen Keshi is building a new team. “It will not be easy for Stephen to be building and contesting at the same time. Government does not expect much from the team because it is still a new one. “I want to make it clear that they have not been given any targets by us. The coach and players need support from every Nigerian, and the government will give whatever support they need,” the minister said. Nigeria and defending champions Zambia are expected to advance from Nelspruit-based Group C at the expense of Burkina Faso and

Ethiopia, and the runners-ups could face title favourites Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Angola draw against 10-man Gambia and defeated Cameroon 1-0 in the second of three friendlies scheduled for this week with Rwanda providing the opposition in Luanda today. Midfielder Mabina was the match-winner at Tundavala Stadium in south-western city Lubango, scoring nine minutes after halftime in a match between teams lacking Europebased stars. The Black Antelopes are in Group A with South Africa, Morocco and debutants Cape Verde Islands and want to improve on a poor 2012 Cup of Nations showing that led to a first round exit. Mali have arranged friendlies against Bahrain in

Manama on December 23 and 26 as they prepare to tackle Group B favourites Ghana, Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Port Elizabeth.

Eagles may not win Nations Cup – Minister T

Bolaji Abdullahi

PAGE 45

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

\1/ Singapore have taken a giant stride towards winning a record fourth AFF Suzuki Cup after claiming a 3-1 lead over Thailand in the home leg of the final. \2/ Manchester United draws Real Madrid in the Champions League, while Celtic get Juventus and Arsenal play Bayern Munich.

\3/ India is set a target of 158 to beat England in the first of two Twenty20 internationals in Pune, after Alex Hales hits 56. \4/ Rory McIlroy is named the European Tour golfer of the year after topping the European and United States money lists. \5/ WBO lightheavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly will defend his title against mandatory challenger Robin Krasniqi on 16 March.

\6/ AC MilanBarcelona, Arsenal-Bayern Munich, Real MadridManchester United were among the ties determined at the Round of 16 draw in Nyon.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

Say what?

PAGE 47

Quick CrossWord (95) ACROSS 1 Steal in transit 5 Move smoothly like water 7 Misprint 8 Chastity 9 The __ of Navarone, film 13 Self-service restaurant 15 Great! 16 Poked, podded 18 Route going sharply from side to side 20 Cow’s low 21 Push about roughly 24 Uncomplicated 27 Medieval Scandinavian sea warrior 29 South Australian lake 30 George Bernard __, writer of Pygmalion 31 Mount, climb

SUDOKU Getting Started Each sudoku puzzle is a 9 by 9 grid of horizontal and vertical rows, evenly separated into 9 squares with 9 spaces each. Instead of word clues, each puzzle’s solution is determined by the pattern of the numbers already filled in you. You solve the puzzle by filling in the missing digits so that, when completed, each row and each square will have all the number from 1 to 9; each number will appear in exactly nine spaces within each puzzle.

DOWN 1 Chaos 2 Grate harshly 3 Woo 4 Sharp pain 5 Cloud at ground level 6 Travelling container for toiletries 10 Calm, collected 11 Teetotal 12 West African country south of Algeria 14 Sinewy 16 Tom Stoppard play 17 __ Thompson, British actress 19 Barbara __, 1966 hit for the Beach Boys 22 First sign of the zodiac 23 Trimmed 25 Wood used in the making of bows 26 Expressing irony 28 Dancing on __, celebrity skating show

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Yesterday’s solution

It takes a lot of bottle to put up this 10ft Christmas tree. Source: TheSun.co.uk

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

FA announce new antiracism sanctions

new anti-discrimination drive by the Football Association will punish clubs that fail to deal with racism by players, coaches or fans and could be in place by next season. The FA is also aiming for at least 10% of referees and level one coach to come from ethnic minority backgrounds, while players and coaches arriving from abroad will take part in mandatory induction lessons to ensure that they are aware of the British cultural environment. Following on from a government summit in February plans will now be submitted to the government and they have already been agreed by the FA, Premier League, Football League, Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) and League Managers' Association (LMA). FA chairman David Bernstein said: "This is a commitment on behalf of English football to ensure the game is inclusive and free of discrimination. Only by the sum of all our parts working together, will we affect further and greater change. A number of high-profile incidents have led to the fruition of this plan, including cases involving Chelsea's John Terry and Liverpool's Luis Suarez as well as chants from fans of Chelsea and Sunderland. The FA will set up an 'Inclusion Advisory Board' to oversee the plan, which will also call on UEFA to consider "minimum standard codes of conduct" as part of the European governing body's club licensing system. The action plan states it will "review the sanctions regime to ensure that it is timely, appropriate and proportionate and effective at all levels. There have been suggestions that a minimum five-match ban will be brought in for racism. The plan also calls for the recruitment process for managers and coaches to be reviewed, with a voluntary code set up.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE As long as I am the governor of this state, I will do all my possible best to make them feel happy. I will do all my possible best tosee that they only miss the owner of the house, they will never suffer. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; New Kaduna state governor Mukhtar Ramallan Yero, to the family of his predecessor Patrick Yakowa

Why Nigeria must revisit land reforms T

hough pervasive insecurity and the fear of kidnapping means that some Nigerians will be unable to travel 'home' for Christmas this year, the millions who are poorly accommodated in the towns and cities where they live and work have little option but to travel to places where they probably have well-built houses that otherwise remain empty for most of the year. And this leads to the posers: Where is 'home'? How can Nigeria guarantee equal access to land for its citizens? How can we make land available and affordable to all citizens? Can land reforms mitigate Nigeria's food insecurity and housing shortages? The history of land ownership, utilization and development in Nigeria dates back to the pre-colonial era when the customary land tenure existed. The customary tenure was considered an impediment to agricultural development due to absence of secure, clearly defined property rights. The fact that agreements were made orally as opposed to in writing meant there was a high risk of parties not upholding their agreements, and disputes arising when time and old age lead to loss of memory or death. Land reforms can be very challenging since they involve amending laws regarding land ownership, re-claiming land controlled by one group and redistributing same in favour of other groups. That is why the current Land Use Act enacted in March 1978 by the Obasanjo military government marked a defining moment in the history of land development in Nigeria. However, the Act made up of eight parts and fifty-one sections, has become the subject of numerous litigations regarding customary ownership, methods of land acquisition, and resource ownership. The Act was first incorporated by reference into the Nigerian Constitution in 1979, and it has remained there ever since, making it a "Super Act" that can only be tampered with via constitutional amendment. This has had unintended consequences we will dwell upon shortly. The main tenet of the Land Use Act of 1978 is its omnibus

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NASIR EL-R UF AI EL-RUF UFAI ON FRID AY FRIDA elrufai@aol.com

Chief Obasanjo ...enacted Land Use Act in 1978 provision which vested the trusteeship of land in the governor of a state or the president in the case of the Federal Capital Territory. Since 1984, the president delegated this trust in land to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory as an amendment to the FCT Act of 1976. Further references to 'state governor' in this piece therefore include the minister of the FCT in case of Abuja. The Land Use Act remains a well-intentioned legislation that sought to reduce inequalities and avarice in acquisition of land. It recognized that urban land would be more valuable and sough to classify and control the process of its acquisition. It differentiated between urban and rural land, while placing a size limit of 5,000 square meters for residential land as the maximum that can be allocated to an individual. The Act delegated the trust in land in rural areas to Local Government councils, but the Court of Appeal in 2001 ruled that the six area councils in the FCT had no such powers to allocate as what was delegated to the minister by the president could not be further sub-delegated in law. This government cannot

overlook the pivotal role the Land Use Act was expected to play in solving Nigeria's housing crisis. The Land Use Act ought to have enabled the Federal Mortgage Bank and the various state ministries in charge of housing and urban development to work together to create an active primary and secondary markets in housing and a mortgage system. So far, this has not happened. Rural land is assuming increasing importance due to the future intensity of agriculture and mining activities. It is estimated that 60 percent of the world's uncultivated arable land is in Africa. In Nigeria, more than 30 million hectares of arable remain uncultivated or untouched by human activity. Our capacity to deploy these for commercial farming and mining is only limited by visionless leaderships at federal and state levels. As a nation that has just witnessed its worst flooding and still has most of its farmland under water, the only indices for measuring our capacity to guarantee food security is our level of land and agricultural development. We should take to heart ways of ensuring that our farmers in particular have easy access to arable land and infrastructure to take produce to storage and markets. The Land Use Act, with some improvements can facilitate these. The Land Use Act simply converted outright ownership (or freehold, perpetual or 'fee simple' titles to land) to Rights of Occupancy which are leaseholds with a tenure not exceeding 99 years. As a result of this, even the ownership rights of ancestral land acquired over generations and passed on as inheritance, were upturned in favour of the state governors holding in trust

for all citizens of Nigeria. The constitution recognizes the right of the state to acquire land where necessary, provided compensation is paid. This ensures an impartial and even handed balance between the constitutional right of the individual and public interest represented by government regarding land acquisition and re-possession. But in a country pervaded by information asymmetry, corruption and abuse of power by public servants like Nigeria, putting all territorial land in the trust of a state governor perhaps is the biggest strength and weakness of the Land Use Act. The recurrent problem with this simply is: the requirements for compensation when Rights of Occupancy are revoked for overriding public interest are observed more in breach. Worse, where compensation is paid at all, it is always both inadequate and inordinately delayed. The beneficiaries of the confusion arising from the constitutional and statutory loopholes are usually the high and mighty in the society. At times, the complete disregard of due process is brazen - as manifested in the tussle for land in an area of Abuja reserved only for federal and state government buildings between the first lady and her immediate predecessor! If this kind of scenario can play out at that level, clearly, the ordinary citizen whose title to land is at the discretion of a governor has a lot to worry about. Despite the fact that land is entrusted to the state governors, the extent of that right is limited by the principle of "Eminent Domain" and other which vest control of the skies above the land and minerals resources existent below the surface to the Federal Government. This has brought about some conflict, especially amongst the oil and mineral producing areas of Nigeria when title to land is vested in one person while another has license to mine the land and fly above it!. For land reform efforts to be effective, they must address comprehensively the congruence between land and minerals ownership and control. Contd. on Page 31

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