Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday 22, July, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 46

Monday, July 22, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Ramadan Timings Three killed in for Abuja Lagos building MAGRIB

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700,000 children in Nigeria living with brain disorder >> 7

Blame Rivers crisis on Patience Jonathan — CPC lAmaechi’s rumoured expulsion breeds anarchy — ACN

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi, Abuja and Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

O

pposition Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday accused the First

Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, of stoking the fire of crisis in Rivers state.

The party in a statement by its National Publicuty Secretary, Rotimi Fahakin, also stated that President Goodluck Jonathan

Indigenes repel attack, kill five gunmen in Kaduna

has failed to learn basic lessons and this explains why numerous tragedies have been befalling the country since he became the president.

According to the party, the President and his regime

undermine the aspirations of the nation for gratifying the whims and caprices of his family just as it pointed out that the intractable crisis in Rivers state was stoked by the ‘first family’.

It stated: “this remains a blight

in the unenviable tenure of the Jonathan regime thus far. The recent Freudian slip from Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan as the raison d’etre for her pugnacious stance against peaceful governance Contd. on Page 2

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A

bout five marauding gunmen, suspected to belong to an unknown militant group, terrorizing the people of Fadan Kaje in Zango Kataf Local Government of Kaduna state yesterday lost their lives to the resistant indigenes who repelled their attacks.

A source told our reporter that the group specializes in carrying out night attacks on the people but met resistance from the vigilant indigenes and lost five of their members. It was however gathered that some indigenes who participated in the gun battle also sustained various degrees of injuries.

A security source told our reporter that “We are still gathering information from the scene, but the fact is that about five of the gunmen who attacked the village have been killed by the indigenes of the area.”

He added that this was the first time gunmen menacing the area suffered casualties since they commenced their guerrilla attacks in the area.

Meanwhile, another source informed that Contd. on Page 2

Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani (3rd left), launching the federal government distribution of relief materials to victims of Boko Haram crisis, yesterday in Maiduguri. With him are Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai (3rd right), and chairman, distribution committee, Alhaji Gaji Galtimari (2nd right).

Photo: NAN

Why PIB’ll emancipate oil sector, by Alison-Madueke

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PAGE 2

News

CONTENTS News 2-10 Editorial 12 Op.Ed 13 Letters 14 Opinion 15 Metro 16-18 Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 S/Report 24-25 Law 26 Education 27 Health 29-30

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Benue, Nasarawa set up peace c’ttees over border skirmishes From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

T

he Benue and Nasarawa state governments have resolved to set up peace committees aimed at curtailing recurrent skirmishes involving Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers along the borders separating the two states, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The two state governments arrived at the resolution following a second peace meeting held at the Lafia Government House on Friday, with both Governors Gabriel Suswam and Umaru Tanko Almakura in attendance, as well as traditional rulers, members of the executive and security councils of the two states, members of the Houses of Assembly of the two states, chief executives of Local Government Councils and representatives of the border communities from the two states among others.

The peace committees, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, jointly signed by the governors of the two states, would comprise of representatives of local government areas from the

border areas, community leaders, traditional rulers and Fulani leaders from the areas.

The peace committees, according to the statement, are to be saddled with sundry responsibilities, chief among such would be to; assess the impact of conflicts in terms of damages, profiling migrating herdsmen, advocacy and enlightenment as well as mopping up of illegal arms from the belligerents.

The two state governments are also expected to liaison with the federal government with a view to setting up grazing areas for herdsmen.

Earlier in an opening address, Gov. Al-makura, reiterated his call on the need for the people of Benue and Nasarawa to be united and to live in peace with one another.

According to him, ``we strongly need this unity, if we are to continue to forge ahead as a united and indivisible entity,’’ The governor noted that without peace and unity, socio-economic development will continue to elude any society.

He stressed that there was need

for the two neighboring states and indeed all Nigerians to continue to learn to live in peace with each other, irrespective of religious, tribal, political or ethnic differences.

“Nigerians must also be free to live in any part of the country. The nation belongs to all of us,’’ he added.

While appealing to the border communities to always imbibe the spirit of togetherness and to remain calm as government has evolved measures to forestall further occurrence of conflicts, Al-makura maintained that as Nigerians, “we should always be our brothers’ keepers and continue to be patriotic.

Governor Gabriel Suswam on his part, pointed out that with genuineness and sincerity of purpose from all stakeholders, the recurrent crises bedeviling the two states would be nipped in the bud, he therefore challenged stakeholders to accord the meeting the seriousness it deserved by contributing meaningfully.

Suswam maintained that all stakeholders would be assigned responsibilities at the end of the meeting emphasizing the need for all hands to be on deck.

Indigenes repel attack, kill five gunmen in Kaduna Contd. from Front Page

the indegenes actually lost three persons in the gun battle.

The gunmen whose mission was not known as at the time of filing this report were said to have held the town hostage for about two hours shooting sporadically to scare away members of the community.

However, our reporter gathered that the dead men were cattle rustlers who attempted to steal cattle from the farm of a retired Army General’s farm.

The farm attendant was said to have raised the alarm which attracted the security attaché of the General. They were said to have engaged the rustlers in gun battle.

Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, who confirmed the killing said the police has started a manhunt for the invaders and called on members of the public to help the police with information that could lead to the arrest of the gunmen.

Blame Rivers crisis on Patience Jonathan — CPC

Nigeria’s incurable corruption indices, Page 4

Int’l 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest 36 Politics 37-38 Sports 41-44 Leisure 47 Columnist 48

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Contd. from Front Page in Rivers state is a real cause for concern.”

The CPC further noted that the reasons given by Patience Jonathan for masterminding the crisis in Rivers, has revealed a four-year incubation of a dastardly plot by the President’s wife to destabilize a federating unit within a Federal state.

The party also condemned the partisanship displayed by the Nigeria Police, under Mohammed Abubakar, sayin that it is a huge reversal of gains that had been made in the Police since the end of the second republic in 1983.

The CPC recalled that it was in the second republic (1979-1983) that the police was last used as a tool by the Federal Government in undermining the federating states within the Nigerian state.

“We recall how the old Anambra state commissioner of Police, Mr. Bishop Eyitene, was planted as a thorn in the flesh of the state governor, Jim Nwobodo; what is playing out in Rivers state seems, to us at CPC, as a rehearse of that unfortunate narrative,” the party stated.

It also observed that the current leadership of the Nigeria police has shown such partisanship that betrays its complicity in the exacerbation of the Rivers crisis.

The party equally pointed out that the decision by the police to invite Chidi Lloyd, the House Majority Leader, for questioning, and the security details of the Rivers State governor, without a equally inviting the five legislators

that purportedly impeached the Speaker installed by a 32-member Assembly, only showed a Police leadership that is not willing to assert its autonomy.

In addition, the party condemned last week’s reshuffling of the security aides of the Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, without his knowledge, saying it runs foul of decency and apolitical professionalism by the Inspector General of Police.

Meanwhile, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has accused the PDP of being unrelenting in its grim determination to overheat the polity and set the country on fire, if that will satisfy one man’s personal ambition to hold on to power.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it was left with no choice than to reach that conclusion after a faction of Rivers PDP reportedly loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan mulled expulsion of the Rivers state governor when people of goodwill are calling for resolution of the lingering crisis.

The ACN noted that the overzealous ruling party (PDP)’s sole interest is power, without caring about the responsibility that goes with it, hence it must be checked through all constitutional means before it plunges the country into unmitigated chaos.

Acknowledging that whatever transpired within the PDP is not its business, the ACN said its concerns stem from the dangerous impact that the Rivers crisis can

have on the polity, especially its implication for the country’s fledgling democracy, to which most of the rabble-rousers in the ongoing crisis contributed nothing. ‘’Because of the danger their actions pose for our polity, we are concerned that these trouble-makers are hell bent on annihilating Gov. Amaechi. Those who have accused us of crying more than the bereaved do not get it. We are indeed the bereaved once anything happens that can torpedo our democracy and destroy our country. This is why we will also be unrelenting in calling on all Nigerians to call the puppets and puppeteers in Rivers to order. ‘’Needless to say, in the words of the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka: The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny,’’ the party said.

It said the reason that Gov. Amaechi has been targeted by his all-powerful enemies, who have used national institutions including the police - against him, are his strenuous defence of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), which he chairs; His battle for his state and its people over their oil well dispute with Bayelsa, which is in furtherance of his efforts to live up to his oath of office and constitutional responsibility, and his audacity in rejecting dictations from an unelected self-important personality on how he governs his state. ‘’It is no longer news that Gov. Amaechi, as the Chair of the NGF, exercised his mandate with dignity by fighting for true federalism,

especially as it relates to the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF).

In the process, he ruffled some feathers. But those who are irked by his efforts should have known better than to stake the credibility of their high office on stopping, at all costs, Amaechi’s re-election. ‘’They also forget that state Governors are elected just like the President, that they are not subordinate to anyone and that nowhere in the constitution is it said that Governors must report to the President or agree with everything he proposes ‘’As for the allegation that the Rivers Governor failed to heed the instructions from high (though unelected) quarters that he must halt the demolition in Okrika, we leave Nigerians to judge whether somebody occupying a post that is unknown to the constitution can override one who is a creation of the constitution....regarding that person’s constitutional mandate. We leave it for Nigerians to determine whether a state Governor, who is the Chief Security Officer of his state, should have no say over the security of the state, just because an overbearing ‘political’ Police Commissioner has assumed extra-powers at the behest of his puppeteers!’’ ACN said.

The party again appealed to all people of goodwill not to keep silent while naked power is unleashed in Rivers state, warning that if the crisis spirals out of control, the entire country will be the victim.

For us, this is not about politics.

It is about the rule of law and the survival of our nation.”

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 3

London returnee passenger dies at Lagos airport From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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n unnamed London based Nigerian who arrived into the warm embrace of his wife and brother was not fortunate to meet the larger families and friends in Owerri as he was said to have slumped and died while waiting at the entrance to the departure hall of the General Aviation Terminal GAT in Lagos yesterday.

The male passenger, whose identity could not be ascertained as at press time last night, information said, arrived the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos aboard an Arik Air London-Lagos plane at the early hours of Sunday.

However, the airline spokesperson Mr. Adebanji Ola

denied any such incident occured.

Eyewitness told our reporter that the passenger was on his way to Owerri before he slipped off the ground of the newly remodelled terminal and started bleeding from his nostril, he was rus he d to the Aviation Clinic inside the terminal where medical personnel confirmed him dead.

Mr. Adebanji Ola said the airline was not aware of any such, affirming that “We are not aware of such thing, none of our passenger died today, ask the vendor or people where you get your information from, let them tell you where the person is going to and which flight the passenger boarded. As far as I am concerned such incident did not happen today to any of our

passenger” Also, General Manager Corporate Communications of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. Yakubu.

Dati noted that the passenger was accompanied by his wife and his brother when the incident occurred stressing that they both proceeded to Owerri after the incident occurred.

He however told reporters that “At about 0600 hrs, a transit passenger on Arik flight enroute London-Lagos-Owerri slumped at the entrance of the departure hall, terminal 1. He was immediately rushed to the Aviation Clinic where he was confirmed dead.

The passenger’s wife and brother who were with the deceased later proceeded to Owerri”.

Three killed in fresh Lagos building collapse From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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13-year-old girl was among two other persons who was killed yesterday in another building collapse in Surulere while six others were reportedly trapped in the building.

This comes a few weeks after a collapsed building killed about seven people in the Ebute Meta area of the state.

The latest incident occurred at house number 29 Ishaga Road, Surulere in the

early hours of yesterday with the National Emergency Management Agency officials sending out an alert stating that out of the people trapped under then collapsed building, three had been rescued and taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

Also the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) Director-General, Dr. Femi-Oke Osanyintolu, said three of those pulled out from the rubbles required surgeries as soon as possible.

In its reaction, the Lagos State

Building Control Agency (LABSCA) said it had warned the builders to avoid structures marked as unsafe.

Speaking at the site of the incidence, General Manager of LABSCA, Mrs. Abimbola Animashaun Odunayo, told reporters that the collapsed structure was one of those marked as unstable in the area.

“We sealed it and asked them to stop building because of the inferior materials they used and the personnel constructing it. But they ignored our warnings.”

Again, FAAN explains under-utilisation of Kano airport From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has again attributed the underutilisation of the Aminu Kano International Airport to the state of socio-economic activities which have remained on the decline as a result of security challenges occasioned by the activities of Boko Haram.

FAAN said the recent reports alleging that the airport was dormant are not justifiable affirming the facility is being affected by the impact of the insecurity which has stifled most economic activities in the state.

The FAAN General Manager, Corporate Communications of

FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, explained that media attacks against the project is merely to score cheap political goals as the criticism stemmed from ignorance and mischief of some antiprogressive elements.

“This report alleged that there was sabotage by FAAN and the Ministry of Aviation to make the terminal and perhaps the airport dormant, but this is not true.

“We wish to state that Kano has been and will continue to be one of the major airports in Nigeria and it is because of the importance attached to the airport that FAAN embarked on rebuilding the domesticterminal which was commissioned in early 2011.”

The airport viability and

utilisation according to him is dependent on passenger movement, adding that it would be difficult for economic activities to go on under threat to lives and property.

“If the terminal or the airport is alleged to be dormant, it means that there is low passenger movement and it is not the responsibility of FAAN or the Ministry of Aviation to attract the passengers to the airport.

“The under-utilisation of the airport could be explained by the security situation in Kano and we believe that if the state government is working effectively with the federal government which has made efforts to eliminate insurgents in the north, air travelers will start coming to Kano and airlines which had already been designated will feel safe to operate from the airport” he told reporters.

I’m ready for reconciliation, says Tukur

By Lawrence Olaoye

N

ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday gave the assurance that he would be ready for reconciliation with any aggrieved member of the party.

Tukur who spoke through his Principal Secretary, Gearge Korgba, said he bears no animosity against

anybody even as he reinstated that his main motive is to move the party forward.

The National Chairman statement is viewed as a reaction to some reports in the dailies insinuating hat the PDP boss represents the stumbling block in the reconciliation efforts in the PDP. He recently had a face-off with the leadership of the party’s Special Convention Committee chaired

by Professor Jerry Gana over the preparation for the Special National Congress as well as that of the South West zone.

Although President Goodlick Jonathan had intervened in the feud by mandating the Gana committee to work together with the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) chaired

by Tukur, there are insinuations that all is not well within the party’s hierarchy.

News Ramadan Timing Day 13 TOWNS MAGRIB ALFIJR Aba 6.51 5.04 Abakaliki 6.49 5.06 Abeokuta 7.08 5.23 Abuja 6.55 5.04 Akure 7.00 5.15 Argungu 7.09 5.03 Ankpa 6.48 5.05 Auchi 6.56 5.11 Azare 6.47 4.46 Bama 6.32 4.33 Bauchi 6.46 4.52 Benin 6.57 5.16 Bichi 6.55 4.53 Bida 7.00 5.09 Birnin Gwari 6.58 5.04 Birnin Kebbi 7.12 5.09 Biu 6.35 4.34 Calabar 6.45 5.07 Damaturu 6.40 4.39 Daura 6.56 4.50 Dutse 6.51 4.51 Enugu 6.50 5.07 Funtua 6.59 4.59 Gombe 6.40 4.46 Gwoza 6.33 4.35 Gumi 7.07 5.06 Gusau 7.00 4.59 Gwadabawa 7.09 5.03 Hadejia ` 6.49 4.45 Ibadan 7.05 5.18 Ife 7.04 5.17 Ilorin 7.05 5.18 Jalingo 6.38 4.47 Jere 6.54 5.00 Jos 6.49 4.55 Kabba 6.58 5.11 Kafanchan 6.52 4.59 Keffi/Nasarawa 6.55 4.54 Kaduna 6.56 5.00 Kano 6.54 4.53 Katsina 7.00 4.54 Kontagora 7.03 5.09 Lafia 6.48 4.59 Lagos 7.06 5.23 Lokoja 6.55 5.23 Maiduguri 6.33 4.34 Makurdi 6.48 5.01 Malumfashi 7.00 4.53 Minna 6.59 5.06 Port Harcourt 6.50 5.12 Ringim 6.51 4.51 Shagamu 7.06 5.21 Sokoto 7.09 5.03 Warri 6.58 5.16 Yola 6.34 4.43 Zaria 6.55 4.58 Cotonnou-Benin 7.09 5.28 Ndjamena-Chad 7.24 4.27 Niamey-Niger 7.22 5.16 Younde-Cameroun 6.30 4.56 Source: Society for Propagation of Islam Kaduna

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2013

The Page 4 Report Nigeria’s incurable corruption indices

By Evelyn Okakwu

A

fresh report by T r a n s p a r e n c y International (TI) recently stated that Nigeria still ranks high in the county’s involvement in the crime of corruption. Nigeria, a country regarded by many as the giant of Africa, has for decades suffered from the many effects of corruption as the menace has more often than not deprived her of the privileges that would otherwise have been open to her as a developing, but great nation.

One of the most populous countries in Africa, Nigeria offers investors abundant natural resources, a low-cost labour pool, and a potentially large domestic market. However, much of the market potential remains dormant as decades of military rule combined with the oil boom have created dysfunctional elements in the business environment.

Rather than experiencing an influx of investors into the country to tap the wealth of opportunities available to them, Nigeria faces huge political and economic challenges posed by the activities of a few selfish individuals, powered by corruption and as such, the country can only boast of a few equally selfish investors who take advantage of our many fruits of corruption such as the high rate of power outage witnessed in some parts the country to introduce the sale of electronic products like power generating machines, among others.

Since the discovery of oil in Nigeria in the 1970s, Nigeria has experienced dramatic changes in its economic status which would have taken the country to its promise land but for the bottlenecks unfortunately created by corruption.

With the discovery of oil, Nigeria’s economic development began enriching the military, political and administrative elite, a development which spurred corruption and resulted in the loss of credibility of public institutions in the eyes of many Nigerian households and companies.

Human Rights Watch 2007 estimated that the endemic nature of corruption in Nigeria led to the loss of USD 380 billion between independence gained in 1960 and 1999, when this country’s democratic elections was held. The enrichment of the elite is also shown by the fact that Nigeria’s former military leader, Sani Abacha, looted the country of an estimated USD 4 billion.

A January 2011 report by the Global Financial Integrity Initiative estimates that Nigeria has had 130 billion USD worth illicit outflows in the 2000-2008 periods. And another report in March 2010 reveals that Nigeria had the largest cumulative flows of illicit money from 1970-2004.

In a confidential report seen by Reuters in the oil sector last year, it was stated that Nigeria lost out on tens of billions of dollars in oil and gas revenues over the

Goodluck Jonathan last decade from cut price deals struck between multinational oil companies and government officials.

In a report filed in as part of documents necessary for the probe of the oil sector last year by former EFCC chairman Nuhu Ribadu, billions of dollars of revenue was missing in unpaid debts from signature bonuses and royalties, in Nigerian oil industries. Also, from the report it was gathered that Nigeria LNG, a company jointly owned by the NNPC, Shell, Total and Eni had paid the country for gas at cutdown prices before exporting it to international markets.

TI last year, had reasons to accuse Nigeria of trying to jeopardize its efforts in providing the world with the general rates of corruption, worldwide. In a letter sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, TI said, “The problem began when it noticed that the rate and scale of scams and corruption probes coming out of Nigeria in 2012 were beyond anything the Anti-corruption agency has ever

dealt with”.

When the pension fund scam broke out, TI stated that the three specialists working on Nigeria complained about overwork and threatened a lawsuit against it because they had to work 23 hours a day from Monday to Sunday just to cope with the figures coming out of that scam. Consequently TI moved specialists away from zero or low corruption countries such as New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Singapore, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, and Canada. The specialists working on all these countries were transferred to the Nigeria desk.

While the reinforced Nigeria desk was coping with the pension fund scam, the fuel subsidy scam and the SEC scam also broke out and the figures involved were so vertiginous that TI had no choice but to transfer all six hundred country specialists working on two hundred countries to the Nigeria desk. As such, with all six hundred of TI’s experts struggling to cope with corruption data

“

A January 2011 report by the Global Financial Integrity Initiative estimates that Nigeria has had 130 billion USD worth illicit outflows in the 2000-2008 periods.

emanating from just one country, the integrity of the CPI process for 2012 was deemed compromised as TI had no staff to work on the remaining one hundred and ninety-nine countries.

Therefore an emergency board meeting of the agency was convened, which reviewed the situation and board members suggested that given the scale

of these corruption scandals emanating from Nigeria in just the first four months of 2012, there appeared to be a conspiracy on the part of this country’s political class to overwhelm TI and thereby make it impossible for it to work on and release the 2012 CPI. This TI concluded, since it

was not possible to release data on just one country to the rest of the world in December 2012.

The Agency therefore wrote to the Presidency seeking compensation for the high volume of work created form it

by Nigeria adding that a refusal by the Presidency to grant it the compensation sought would attract legal action as the anticorruption agency stated that it had been empowered to institute such actions against Nigeria accusing Nigeria of deliberately trying to disrupt its work.

Although reports have it that effort have been made in the past to recover this stolen assets, there has been no official documentation till date as to what the recovered funds have been used for. Instead, Nigeria has continued to battle with the reputation of being one of the world’s most corrupt countries, ranking at the bottom of various corruption-related indices. Both households and companies continue to perceive corruption as

one of the most severe problems in Nigeria.

A TI’s Global Corruption Barometer 2010/2011 report indicates that 40 percent of household respondents considering the government’s actions in fighting corruption as ineffective, while political parties and Parliament are perceived by the respondents to be amongst the most corrupt bodies in Nigeria.

According to the US Department of State in 2012, dealing with the tax system is another area of concern for companies, as the tax administration is highly uneven and lacks transparency. This has led to high levels of tax evasion and tax officials demanding bribes and facilitation payments in return for lower tax rates.

The problem of corruption emanating from the confines of countries leadership is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. In the latest reports by Transparency International on Monday, July 8, Global Corruption Barometer 2013 reveals that in too many countries the institutions people rely on to fight corruption and other crime are themselves not trusted.

Although the general analysis of Nigeria by this latest report says that when compared to

other countries involved in corruption Nigeria has a percentage involvement of 40 percent, as against other African countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia with 84 percent involvement and 75 percent involvement respective. This makes those countries the two most corrupt, as put by the report by the TI’s recent report, while South Africa has 47percent involvement in the scam.

Notwithstanding, Nigeria, like many other countries need to do quite many things to rid this country of the menace of corruption and its attendant effects as the TI in its latest reports, rightly puts it that politicians can lead by example through publishing asset declarations for themselves and their immediate family.

Political parties and individual candidates, meanwhile, must disclose where they get their money from, in order to make clear who funds them and to reveal potential conflicts of interest”.

Indeed, in the words of Huguette Labelle, Chair of the Board of Transparency International: “Governments need to make sure that there are strong, independent and well-resourced institutions to prevent and redress corruption.

Too many people are harmed when these core institutions and basic services are undermined by the scourge of corruption.

Finally Nigerian leaders must bear in mind that a refusal to heed this necessary and urgent advice might spell doom for this great country in the not-so-distant future.

News

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has described the draft oil reform law currently before the National Assembly for legislative action as a vibrant document which would remain relevant to the oil and gas industry long after the exit of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Speaking to journalists at the weekend at the end of the 2-day Senate public hearing on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Mrs. Alison-Madueke called on stakeholders in the Oil and Gas Industry not to politise or personalise the provisions of the Bill stressing that the draft legislation was not proposed or written with any administration in mind.

The Minister who was speaking against the backdrop of fears in some quarters that the proposed law vests too much discretionary powers in

Reps want stiffer penalties for human traffickers

PAGE 5

Why PIB‘ll emancipate oil sector, by Alison-Madueke the President and Petroleum Minister, explained that the responsibility for the exercise of the powers proposed in the Bill for the President and Petroleum Minister will ultimately rest on any administration in power at the time and so should not be personalized.

“By the time the PIB is fully articulated and implemented the current President and Minister of Petroleum Resources may no longer be in office.

“This Bill takes a while before it is operational,’’ the Minister stated.

Drawing a parallel between the PIB and the Power Sector Reform Act of 2004 which was passed over eight years ago and is currently being implemented by the Jonathan administration, Mrs. Alison-Madueke argued that it was important for the law to sufficiently empower any administration to act in the best

interest of the Nigerian people.

She stressed that the proposed transition period after the passage of the Bill is at least three years, adding:``Note, there are over 80 regulations to be made for this Bill to be operational.”

Commenting on the reported enormous discretionary powers granted to the petroleum minister in the PIB, Mrs. Alison-Madueke explained that the so called powers are not different from those vested on the Minister’s counterparts by the petroleum laws of the United kingdom, Malaysia and Norway, stressing that the powers granted the Nigerian Minister by the PIB is less than those of her counterparts in the laws of advanced petroleum producing countries.

Alison-Madueke stated that the PIB establishes a flexible fiscal regime that will increase government revenues and yet encourage investment in the

petroleum sector, noting that it allows for production-based incentive system which in the long run will accommodate every player in the industry.

Addressing the concerns on the provisions for multi-faceted regulatory bodies in the PIB, the Minister said this was basically as a result of the complex nature of the industry, adding that an unwieldy, mammoth entity that hosts two separately run organizations is not a mode of efficiency and that the disaggregated regulatory system would enable speedy response to variety of issues that may arise from time to time.

On the issue of the Host Communities (HOSTCOM), the Minister noted that it was established to mitigate the human and environmental conditions in the region and to assuage the feelings of the host communities towards oil and gas companies.

``The issue of host communities should not be personalised or politicised. Bear in mind that we expect to find oil in other parts of the country especially in the inland sedimentary basins in the years ahead. And the provision will take effect wherever oil is found. So it is totally unfair to suggest that the HOSTCOM Fund is designed to favour a particular part of the country. Don’t forget that the host community fund has been in the Bill from the beginning, we did not create it,’’ Mrs. Alison-Madueke said.

Declaring open the public hearing, the Senate President, David Mark said the National Assembly was anxious to pass the PIB and urged all the stakeholders to make objective submissions that would create a win-win situation for the Federal Government, the International Oil Companies and other operators in the petroleum industry.

By Umar Muhammad Puma

H

ouse of Representatives Committee on Human Rights has condemned option of fine charge for those convicted of human trafficking.

Chairman of the Committee, Beni Lar, who said over the weekend during her Committee’s oversight of the National Agency for Prohibition of Persons in Trafficking (NAPTIP) said option of fine was a slap on the wrist for those caught engaging in the nefarious act.

As a result, the Committee is seeking a seven-year jail term for convicted traffickers without option of fine.

In addition, the Committee described the envelope system in the preparation of budgets of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) as a major barrier against technological and economic development of the country.

Lar, said the House is poised to legislate against the envelope system as a bill to that effect has scaled second reading already.

“The National Assembly is determined to provide an effective legal and institutional framework to fight human trafficking menace in Nigeria.

Human trafficking has bedeviled this country and it is a crime against humanity but unfortunately, it is one of those scourges that Nigeria has not been able to tackle effectively up until now.

“In view of this we are looking at amending the bill setting it up to provide for stiffer penalties for those convicted of trafficking”.

“Judicial process is a challenge for this agency but the National Assembly is prepared to take away the option of fine and replace it with a seven year jail term,” she said.

The Committee also expressed displeasure over the non-presence of the agency in many parts of the country.

L-R: Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman, Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), AbdurRahman Balogun, and representative of FCT Minister, Alhaji Sule Mohammed, during MMPN’s 8th annual Ramadan lecture, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

JTF denies alleged mosque attack in Borno

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

T

he Joint Military Task Force in Borno state (JTF) yesterday denied report of an attack on the El-Amin Daggash Mosque in Maiduguri on Saturday evening during the Ramadan Tafsir of the Mosque.

Our correspondent reported that there was rumor of an attack on the mosque by some gunmen who opened fire on worshipers.

Sources said four suspected insurgents stormed the mosqued and fired several shots on the worshippers, but the attackers were later

captured and killed by angry mob.

It was gathered that all the whorshippers in the mosque were unhurt in the shootings by the suspected insurgents as pandemonium pervaded the scene, with everyone scampering for safety.

However, spokesman for the JTF, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement issued to newsmen denied that there was attack on the mosque.

“The Joint Task Force (JTF) wishes to clear the air on what happened at the vicinity of El-Amin Daggash Mosque in GRA, Maiduguri on Saturday

20, July 2013. The incident was not a terrorist attack as no worship centre in Borno state was attack in recent time’’, the statement declared.

According to task force, there was pandemonium when a policeman pursued someone who allegedly stole a tricycle and a bag of rice to the vicinity of the mosque.

The JTF spokesnan added that the policeman who was in Mufti pursued the alleged thief to the vicinity of the mosque and fired two shots which created pandemonium in the area when Ramadan preaching was going on at the mosque.

“The firing by the policeman attracted the attention of worshippers including youth vigilante group that were within and around the mosque. As a result, there was pandemonium that led to the death of a minor while three others sustained injuries”, he further added.

According to him, the youth vigilante group popularly known as civilian JTF try to lynched the policeman but he was rescued by the JTF who took him away. He added that the Toyota Carina Car belonging to the policeman was burnt down by the youth.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 6

News

Yakubu Kankara dies at 77

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

T

R-L: Overall Best Graduating Student of Muslim Community Centre, Abuja, Asma’u Baffa Jibril, receiving plague from Permanent Ministry of Health, Ambassador Sani Bala Saulawa, during the graduation and prize giving day ceremony of the centre, on Saturday in Abuja. Photo: Justn mo-Owo

Nigeria, India sign agreement on off-grid solar powered system

By Etuka Sunday

N

igeria through the Ministry of Power at the weekend entered into agreement with an Indian company to set up an off-grid solar powered system that will provide additional megawatts to the nation’s energy sector.

To ensure the actualisation of the project, Bharat Heavy Electricals, an India-based power industry had put pen to paper with the officials of the Ministry of Power in Abuja.

From the plan unveiled at the Ministry, Bharat Heavy Electricals has been given the nod to commence studies with a view to climax it with the setting-up of solar based independent projects in selected locations starting with Bida in Niger State.

Leading the Indian side is the Secretary of Government of India, Department of Heavy Industry, Dr. Sutanu Behuria at the signing ceremony, while Dr. Godknows Igali signed on behalf of the Nigerian

Government.

The Permanent Secretary (Power), after the signing ritual, expressed delight at the prospect of the proposed project, as it will unbundle the enormous potentials in the power sector.

A statement by the Deputy Director/Head of Press, Timothy Oyedeji, assured the visiting Indians of Nigeria’s open door policy for genuine investors in the sector and therefore called for more collaboration between his country and India.

Responding, the leader of the Indian delegation, Dr. Behuria expressed his country’s interest in the provision of funds in various forms for the development of Nigeria’s power sector.

He assured Nigerians that the company has what it takes to deliver as it had garnered experience from its operations in 12 African countries.

This robust experience he said, will come in handy in assisting Nigeria realize its vision for uninterrupted power supply.

he Village Head of Tudu in Kankara local government area of Katsina state, Alhaji Yakubu Nadabo Kankara is dead.

Kankara died on the 11th of this month at the age of 77.

He died after a brief illness and has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

The deceased who was a school teacher before his appointment as village head of Tudu, is survived by three wives, 17 children, and 65 grandchildren.

Kankara was also an uncle to the immediate past chairman of the Board of Directors of Media Trust Limited, Malam Abdulmumin Bello. Among his male children are Alhaji Naziru, Alhaji Sada, Alhaji Abdullahi, Alhaji Ibrahim, Alhaji Abubakar, Alhaji Hamza, Alhaji Tukur, and Bello Nadabo.

His female children include Hajiya Fatima, Hajiya Zubaida, Hajiya Bilkisu, Hajiya Hadiza, Hajiya Safiya, Hafsat, Zainab, Asma’u, and Aishatu Nadabo.

Alhaji Yakubu Nadabo Kankara

Kebbi sets up

700,000 Children in Nigeria living with brain disorder committee on intellectual disabilities and others Air Vice Marshall Femi Gbadebo care for such children From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

A

bout 700,000 children in Nigeria are living with Cerebral palsy, a health disorder that affects the brain of victims making them act abnormally just as it causes impairment in other areas of their lives like movement and speech delivery.

A Nigerian Consultant Paediatrician and Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences at the University of Lagos, Professor Afolabi Lesi, said this while lamenting the growing rate of the cerebral palsy in the country.

Professor Lesi, who spoke at the National Family Cerebral Forum, organised by Benola : A Cerebral Palsy Initiative, in Lagos, said a recent report puts the figure at between five and 10 children per 1, 000 as against the between two and four children per 1, 000 in the United States.

He said about 60 to 80 percent of the cases in Nigeria have seizures,

while others are not complicated.

“So if 700, 000 people are affected, about 3.5 million people are directly affected including 1.4 million parents.” Professor Lesi attributed some of the causes if the ailment to include alcoholism on the part of pregnant women, delay in the process of delivery of a child among others.

Founder of Benola Palsy Initiative,

(Rtd) regretted that even though the existence of the ailment is becoming widely known in Nigeria, little has been done to alleviate the pains of sufferers.

“The reason for this is that in Nigeria and indeed most parts of Africa, stigma along with societal and cultural pressures often combine to force parents who can afford proper

to hide them from public view, while those who can ill-afford the needed care either abandon the children or use them as tools for begging.

“In fact, it is my strong belief that this state of neglect is what contributes to a large extent to the high rate of infant mortality in our rural communities.

“Kongila road needs urgent attention”

By Joy Baba

A

Minna based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Alhaji Ibrahim Danjuma Kongila, has appealed to Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger state, to as a matter of urgency intervene by ordering the rehabilitation of Kongila road which is currently in a deplorable condition.

Ibrahim made the appeal when officials of the Monitoring and Evaluation Team went on an

inspection of the condition of the road in the area.

A press statement by the Focal Officer, Directorate of Strategies Malam Umar Mohammed Kwat achi, t he Islamic cleric stated that considering the state’s historic status and socio-economic activities of the residents of the area, it had become imperative for government to ensure that residents of Kongila area enjoy better roads.

An elder in the area, Malam Muhammadu Usman, also lamented the deplorable condition of the road and appealed to the governor for intervention.

Former councilors from the area, Hon. Nasiru Mohammad and Hon. Abdulrazak, both spoke on the poor state of the Kongila road and also appealed to the Governor to intervene through the relevant agencies of government to rehabilitate the road.

afforestation

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

K

ebbi state government at the weekend inaugurated a 15-man committee on aforestation implementation and also to plant trees to fight desert encroachment.

Inaugurating the Afforestation Implementation Committee, the Chairman Kebbi state Sure-P Trust Fund, Senator Abubakar Abdullahi Na Amo, said that the committee had a lot of responsibilities most especially on the environmental hazard.

He said that the committee would be headed by Ishiyaku Daudu, the Kebbi state Commissioner of Environment. He explained further that the formation of the committee has become necessary in view of the serious challenges facing the environment like erosion, and deliberate cutting of trees by man which often make the environment prone to desertification.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 10

News Briefs

Bauchi state council to host NUJ 2013 NEC meeting

F

rom Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi state chapter has inaugurated a 13-man committee for the 2013 National Executive Council meeting slated for August.

Inaugurating the committee at the NUJ secretariat in Bauchi

Wada tasks LG chairmen on development From Omale Adama, Lokoja

G

overnor Idris Wada of Kogi has directed the 21 Local Government Councils in the state to adopt Community-Driven Development (CDD) management strategy to fast-tract even development in all the rural areas of the state.

The governor gave the directive at the weekend while inaugurating two micro projects at Ministry of Mercy (MOM) Orphanage hostel block and a block of three classrooms constructed by the state Community and Social Development Agency (KGCSDA) at Anisha village in Lokoja.

Wada said the participatory approaches of the agency through the CDD strategy in managing development across the state could be a dependable vehicle for the Transformation Agenda Programme of his administration.

Commending the commitment and frugal management of scarce resources at the diposal of the agency, governor Wada said the CDD approach was, “a process where beneficiaries of development actions are themselves the initiators and drivers of the development processes”.

Jonathan’s China visit will boost trade – NOA

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Director General, National Orientation Agency, Mike Omeri said the recent state visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the People’s Republic of China will boost economic relations between the two countries.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary of the Agency, Paul Odenyi, indicates that Omeri, was speaking in audience with his counterpart from the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Dupe Atoki.

He added that the benefit will include importation of high quality products into Nigeria.

The statement said the visit was to strengthen existing cordial relations between the two organs of government and to evolve more effective strategies for consumer rights promotion and protection in Nigeria.

yesterday, the state Chairman of NUJ, Dahiru Garba Muhammad said the National Secretariat of the union gave Bauchi council the opportunity to host this year NEC meeting.

The chairman who said Bauchi state has not been able to host the meeting in the past nine years stated the last time the meeting was hosted in the state was in 2005.

He disclosed that about 120 delegates from across the country will attend the meeting, assuring that the state council of NUJ will ensure success of the occasion and enjoined the LOC members to justify the confidence reposed on them by making it a successful occasion.

The Committee is to be chaired

by Ibrahim Mohammed Goje from Bauchi state Radio Cooperation while Bulak Afsa from NTA will serve as the secretary.

R-L: Yobe State Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, in a handshake with Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Fouad Rajeh, during the governor’s visit to the envoy, on Friday, in Abuja.

Adamawa emirate accuses suspended secretary of being police spy From Umar Dankano, Yola

T

he Adamawa Emirate Council said its suspended secretary, Mallam Umaru Yahaya is a spy of the Nigeria Police Force.

Assistant Secretary to the council, Alhaji Khalil M. Kawu disclosed the development at a press conference held at the Lamido palace at the weekend saying that, the startling discovery by the council was through a document of radio signal sent to the suspended secretary from the Police authorities for a promotional examination.

“The council got in possession of a document, in fact a radio signal

from Police authority inviting the suspended secretary (Umaru Yahaya) to attend a promotional examination as a police officer, in Kaduna”, he alleged.

Khalil explained that, after an investigation was carried out through a letter to the Police state command, Yola, it was found that, the invitation for promotion examination was genuine and that, actually the suspended secretary was an undercover police spy with the rank of Assistant Superintended of Police (ASP) who have been serving with the emirate for two years.

It would be recalled that, the

Adamawa Emirate council under the leadership of Lamido Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa sometimes last year suspended the said secretary for alleged misappropriation of emirate’s funds to the tune of over N300 million to his personal use.

The emirate reported the matter to the police for further investigation and thereafter, a suit was instituted against him which is still before a court of law in Yola.

According to Khalil, further investigation and search of the suspended secretary’s residence led to the discovery of service uniform and I.D card bearing his name.

The emirate regretted that, this

was the same man that presented himself through some respectful members of the public who unknowingly vouched for him to be appointed into a sensitive position as secretary of the emirate.

“It was nemesis that led to the uncovering of such a smart and dubious character. For two years he was collecting double salary which is wrong under the civil service law”, he decried.

When contacted on the issue, Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) of the command, ASP Muhammad Ibrahim confirmed that it is true the suspended secretary is a police spy.

Police arrest two cow thieves

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

T

he Zamfara State Police Command has arrested two suspected Fulani cow thieves and recovered 157 cattle ranch, suspected to be stolen from Kafur Local government area of Katsina state.

The suspected thieves, who

were alleged to move the stolen cows along Zamfara- Birnin-Gwari forest on their way to Niger State, were engaged by the detectives of the police CIB, one of them was gunned down and now receiving medical attention in Niger state hospital.

The Commissioner of Police, Akila Usman Gwary, said

intelligence security report was received almost a week before the operation and that, with the support of the people in the area, all the 157 stolen cattle were recovered.

He declared that, two among the suspects narrowly escaped arrest during the operation, but assured the public that adequate

security measures have been put in place to get them arrested within the shortest possible time.

He appealed to all those that lost their cows from within and outside the state to come forward with the proof of ownership and if satisfied, they will be handed over back their cattle without further delay.

Adamawa lawmaker presents free fertiliser to farmers From Umar Dankano, Yola

F

armers and fishermen in Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency were at the weekend assisted with bags of fertilizer and those in the riverine areas were also assisted with canoes to alleviate their communication system.

The member representing the Federal Constituency, Hon. Aishatu Dahiru, who flagged-off her free fertilizer distribution to small

scale farmers in the constituency in Yola at the weekend, said the contribution was her widow’s mite to the less privileged people of her constituency.

Dahiru said the gesture was to assist peasant farmers in the constituency and urged beneficiaries not to sell the commodity but to use it for the purposes for which they were given, while the canoes were to ease the transportation of those living in riverine areas of the state.

She stressed that her commitment to ensure quality representation of the constituency was non-negotiable and urged them to continue to be peaceful and law abiding in the face of the current state of emergency imposed on the state.

The beneficiaries, in their respective remarks at the occasion appreciated the gesture, describing her as a caring and committed ambassador of the constituency who has shown relative identity to

the downtrodden people.

The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Salihu Hamid and the chairman of Yola North, Alhaji Ibrahim Njobdi, lauded the lawmaker for the gesture and urged others to emulate her for the purpose of alleviating the sufferings of the people of the constituency.

They stressed that the commodity was not for sale and that anyone caught selling the fertilizer would be arrested and will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 11

Money Sense

I

grew up during that period when an employee could expect a job to last for decades: when most jobs contained an included medical insurance; when most consumer loans were at fixed interest rates that couldn’t be raised.

Someone who came of age in the mid-1990s or later would not be shocked and in fact, they’d probably be pretty puzzled that anyone was surprised. Younger workers know perfectly well that their job will disappear if there’s a 15-minute period in which there’s no work for them to do. They have no personal memory of the days when the whole point of a “layoff” was that it was temporary - that laid-off workers could expect to be called back when production started up again.

(They quite likely have no personal memory of production ever starting up again - their experience is of production moving overseas.)

Because of this division, I want to present the strategies for making your household economy a bit less fragile in two pieces.

Twentieth Century Strategies First, the ordinary strategies that have been the core of household security for most of my lifetime, the ones you can read about in any standard book on personal finance. I call them twentieth century strategies, although their heyday was really from about 1945 through 1990.

“Emergency fund Have an emergency fund with six months minimum expenses.

(Keep at least a little of it in cash.)

The main purpose of this money is to tide you over if you lose your job. It’s also there so that you’re not forced to take on debt to cover an unexpected expense.

In addition to a fund of cash,

Money Tip: Thank your best customers

I

t turns out that Thanksgiving’s not quite over. Take this opportunity to determine who your best customers are and reach out to them. Sounds simple, but how will you identify your best customers?

Each business “has a different definition of what best means,” said McBean. This exercise “forces you to define what best is,” he added. You may find that it’s not the customers who spent the most but the ones that sent more business your way.

McBean added “at end of the day, you have to keep your customers.” Letting them know that you appreciate their business is one way to accomplish just that.

Quote In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfills your potential... it’s no different in the financial realm.

-Suze Orman

How fragile are your finances? keep enough basic supplies on hand to see your household through a blizzard or a flood or a power outage that shuts down the ATM machines. (If you buy the supplies for this stockpile at a discount, you can also score some huge tax-free investment returns.)

“Avoid debt I’ve written before about how debt makes your finances fragile.

When you have specific dollar payments that you need to make, you’re utterly bound to the money economy.

Especially avoid credit card debt. Although things are a bit better now thanks to a couple of new laws that restrict banks from changing the terms and conditions of a debt, credit cards remain a risky way to borrow money. If you really think borrowing is the right move, consider doing what people used to do: taking out a loan. Borrow

money for a specific purpose at a specific fixed rate, with a specific fixed repayment schedule.

“Limit fixed expenses It’s not only debts that crush you when there’s an interruption in your income. Every recurring expense makes your finances more fragile. If you’ve never had to resort to emergency belt-tightening, you’d probably be surprised just how low you can get your spending on a temporary basis. But every fixed expense: rent utilities, cell phone contract, and fitness center membership, is a fixed-naira amount that you’ll need to pay out, even if you have a sharp drop in income or a sharp increase in expenses.

“Buy appropriate insurance If you can possibly afford it, you need to insure yourself against the risks that would otherwise ruin your finances. That means health insurance and liability insurance in particular. If you own a home or

a car, and you don’t have cash to replace them, you need to insure them as well.

In the United States, for example, health insurance is a huge problem. If you’re old or sick, the only way to get health insurance is to work for a large company that provides it as an employee benefit.

Nineteenth and twenty-first century strategies These additional strategies weren’t so important during the decades of the New Deal and the Great Society. But they once again become important in today’s world, just as they were in the early decades of the last century and before.

“Improve your employability Keep your skills up-to-date.

Keep your documentation of them up-to-date. Stay in contact with your network of former coworkers, former managers, and former employees. Don’t depend on your

employer to do anything beyond paying you for the work you’ve already done. Take responsibility for your own career management.

“Make the things you need This used to be ordinary, but fell by the wayside as cheap shipping and specialization enabled much higher standards of living for people who worked for wages or a salary and bought everything they needed.

Full-blown self-sufficiency was always a hard way to live, but a little strategic partial self-sufficiency can make your household much less fragile. Each little thing that you can provide directly (rather than buying it in the money economy) is one more area where your household doesn’t have to depend on anyone but yourselves.

Have another source of income The idea that a single breadwinner following a one-job career path could provide a stable source of income for a family has been dead for a long time. Most households have long sent a second (or even a third) family member into the workforce.

I recommend having a little capital deployed to earn money: stocks, bonds, rental property, etc.

Having a hobby that can be scaled up to a small business during periods of unemployment is good.

Perhaps even better is a family business (or family farm) that can be run by just one member of an extended family, but that can provide employment for any family member who happens to be out of work. (That’s pretty much the way families were always run, from the dawn of civilization until well into the industrial revolution. It was a good strategy then, and I expect it will return as a key organizing principle of the economy going forward.)

How long to keep your tax records?

M ay be you’ve heard of that seven-year rule?

It says that you should keep all your receipts and records for at least seven years. That’s not true in all cases, but knowing what you should keep, and how long you should keep it, can be confusing and complicated.

According to the IRS website, there are no hard and fast rules on how long you should hang onto documents. Nor are there rules for how you should keep them (paper copies, online, or scanned and stored to a hard drive). You will just need to have access to them if you should ever get audited or need them for other purposes.

The tax-review period

The basic period for IRS tax review is three years. Yes, that means that even if you filed your taxes this year, got your refund or paid your taxes due, the IRS can audit you for up to three years. If it is suspected that you filed a fraudulent claim, or you owe more taxes, there is a chance you could be asked to show some documentation. So a good rule of thumb is to keep everything related to your taxes for at least three years.

Special circumstances Outside of the three-year tax review window, there are other reasons that you could be audited or asked to show your tax documents. The length of time the

IRS has to ask for these documents varies. Here are some examples: “ If you goofed on reporting your income by more than 25%, the IRS can audit you and ask to see proof of income for up to six years. So it’s a good idea to hang onto your tax-related documents if you think you may have underreported your income in any way. “ If you didn’t file a return but should have, you need to keep your tax records indefinitely. “ If you amended your tax return to get an additional refund, you should keep your tax records for three years from the date of your amended return. “ If you filed a fraudulent return, there is no limit on how long you should hang onto your tax records.

“ If you claimed a loss from a worthless security, then you need to hold onto those records for seven years.

Other reasons to keep records Even if you don’t need some of your records for IRS purposes anymore, you may want to consider if you need them for another reason before tossing them. For instance, you may need documents related to your home for insurance purposes. If you own an item or piece of property, it’s a good idea to hang onto any documentation related to those items. You could find yourself needing them for a warranty or return.

It’s also a good idea to hang onto your past income tax returns.

There are so many programs that require proof of income, such as food stamps and medical aid assistance, and usually furnishing a past tax return is all the proof you need. It’s also helpful in having past tax returns to prepare future returns.

When we decided to build our first home a few years back, our bank was a stickler about having proof of income, primarily because I had recently transitioned to the realm of the self-employed. I had to provide both proof of income as well as a recently filed tax return.

In any case, it’s a good idea to hang onto all tax records for at least the three-year period that you could be audited.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

EDITORIAL

LG Autonomy: Don’t override the wish of Nigerians handpick their stooges and plant them into office.

Worse still, state governments have cornered all allocations from the Federation Account to the local councils and are today treating them as their honey pots. Some states have

revenue to local governments in the federation. This is followed by section 6b which provides that the House of Assembly of a state shall make provision for statutory allocation of public revenue to local governments in the state. So who is in charge of making provisions for the funding of local governments - The National Assembly or the State Assemblies?

These were some of the contradictions that we thought the No doubt, the groundswell of public constitutional review exercise would opinion in the country today, as far clear and which regrettably the as this matter is concerned, is in Senate dumped at its final sitting on the matter. support of autonomy for the local We are therefore appealing to the councils. And the National Assembly Honourable members in the lower should not go against the popular chamber to reconsider the decision wish of Nigerians in this regard of the Senate and give the local councils their autonomy as this was the original aim of the authors of the created an illegal fund, which is alien 1999 Constitution. to the Constitution and which they call Also, we are urging our senators to “joint account”. All allocations from reconsider their stand on this matter the Federation Account are deposited when they finally meet with members here only to be siphoned out by state of the House to harmonise positions governments, leaving pea nuts for the on the various amendments to be councils. made to the Constitution.

The state governments are today No doubt, the groundswell of taking advantage of ambiguities in public opinion in the country today, the Constitution and reaping where as far as this matter is concerned, is they did not sow. Part 11, section 6a in support of autonomy for the local of the Constitution provides that the councils. And the National Assembly National Assembly will make provision should not go against the popular for statutory allocation of public wish of Nigerians in this regard.

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

“

D

ebates on the proposals for a review of the 1999 Constitution came to a close in the Senate recently on a sad note. The Senate in its own wisdom jettisoned a clause which would have abolished the states and local governments joint account and granted autonomy for local councils.

This is indeed a sad decision. Local governments in Nigeria have come a long way from colonial time to the first republic, the military years and now this democratic dispensation.

All the intellectual energy and other resources expended on finding the best system of governance for this tier of government that deals with the grassroots people directly have now been thrown to the dogs by the Senate.

Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, state governments have treated the local councils as if they are conquered territories.

The Constitution provides that the governments at the local councils must be formed through elections.

In contempt of this provision, state governments have formed the habit of sacking chairmen - particularly those who disagree with them - and appointing sole administrators to replace them. Even when elections are held, the states through the State Electoral Commissions simply

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 13

Opinion Democracy ÷ Dame = Dam-ocracy

By Sonala Olumhense

I

make this small contribution to a growing school of study which is strenuously trying to understand Dame Patience Faka Jonathan, Nigeria’s First Lady. For want of a better name, I will call them the Damologists.

This effort is at some personal risk, as Mrs. Jonathan has previously denounced me in a newspaper advertorial, an unwanted but telling distinction.

It began with an article entitled: ‘Patience Jonathan: Nigeria’s Most Powerful Woman,’ on October 27, 2007.

Reflecting on how Mrs. Jonathan had been halted twice in one month by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for money-laundering only for both matters to disappear, Nigeria style, I asked: “If Mrs. Jonathan can so effectively laugh at the so-called war on corruption, does that not make her the First Lady? On what basis does she perform her functions – the recommendations of the EFCC? Why has Mrs. Jonathan assumed the status of untouchable, or is she truly the nation’s most powerful woman?”

I do not know if Turai Yar’Adua enjoyed the reference to another woman as the nation’s most powerful ahead of her, but it did not matter. I was in the front row of the first class to study the emerging phenomenon from Rivers State.

The first thing to understand is that Dame Patience Faka Jonathan is no ordinary Nigerian. I know the history books refer to her as

the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, but that is wrong, and I say that not because she famously numbered herself among the widows during the 2011 election campaigns. After all, those same infernal books also refer to her as a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State, and we know that to be false.

Who, truly, is Dame Jonathan?

She is a teacher, a cautionary tale.

Her principal mission is to teach Nigeria a lesson.

Let me demonstrate.

Dame—or The Dame as she is often referred to—was not her title when she was first introduced to the national limelight during her money-laundering confrontations with the EFCC in 2006.

When Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja was authorizing the freezing of the N104 million pending the conclusion of an investigation into the money-laundering offence against her on August 22 of that year, she was no Dame. When the EFCC announced three weeks later had seized another $13.5 million from her, she was no Dame, just the wife of the governor of Bayelsa State.

It is instructive that within two years, both cases against Mrs. Jonathan all but vanished, generally mentioned only twice thereafter. In the first, in 2010, Nuhu Ribadu, the EFCC supremo who introduced her as a moneylaundering suspect in the first place, denied there were ever cases.

He did not substantiate the claim, say where the monies were, or answer the key questions.

In the second mention, in July 2011, the Coalition Against

Impunity and Illegality (CAGIL) announced a legal action against the EFCC for refusing to bring Mrs. Jonathan to justice over the $13.5 million money laundering allegations.

By then, of course, Mr. Jonathan had obtained the presidency in his own name, and, I think, explained to the Dame the true meaning of his “Transformation Agenda:” life on the executive jet with the keys to the Central Bank in your hands.

Also, in that mid-2011, Mrs. Farida Waziri, a confidante of some of Nigeria’s most corrupt persons, had been given control of the EFCC and had started to dismantle its records, disperse its personnel, and unhinge its credibility.

Among her unsung victims, as the EFCC descended into infamy, was one Osita Nwajah who, as EFCC spokesman in 2006, had made the announcement in the international press concerning Mrs. Jonathan’s $13.5 million albatross.

But things don’t always go according to the best Nollywood dreams, and Mrs. Jonathan disappeared from public view in August 2012. Reports of her hospitalization abroad were either ignored by the government headed by her husband, or denied.

One of the most important denials was by Mrs. Jonathan herself. Returning to the country in October 2012 following several mysterious weeks abroad, she denied ever being sick. She did not even know the hospital about which she was linked in sickness, she swore.

Patience’s pretence lasted about four months. In February 2013, at an Aso Rock Thanksgiving service in which she was reported to have wept publicly, she confessed how she had actually been so sick in September and October of 2012 she had endured eight or nine surgeries in one month.

“It was God himself in His infinite mercy that said I will return to Nigeria,” she said, swearing to work for the underprivileged from then on. “God woke me up after seven days.”

That was five months ago, during which time she appears to have found no time for the underprivileged. Instead, in the crisis in Rivers, her home state, she has helped push the country to the brink.

The pattern here suggests that Mrs. Jonathan thinks of herself as Mrs. President. Either that or somebody has been too scared to explain the facts of life to her.

Either way, Mrs. Jonathan has made it her business, her style and her focus to engineer crises wherever she goes, to expend authority she does not have, to squander public resources to which she lacks official access, and to drag the presidency into sharkinfested political waters.

If you want proof Mrs. Jonathan thinks she is Mrs. President or owns one half of the presidency, read last week’s imperious public statement she made on her involvement in the Rivers State crisis.

“This office wishes to call on all feuding parties in Rivers State…

It is our position…We subscribe to

the fact that…”

This office? Our position? We? If you cannot locate in the Nigerian constitution the office to which she alludes, or cannot identify the political person on behalf of which she uses those pronouns, it should be easy to appreciate the difficulties that face the Nigerian state.

This is why Mrs. Jonathan has become Nigeria’s most dangerous woman. She diminishes and imperils the presidency as an institution. Her range of vision stops at power as a tool for massaging her considerable ego, or ice-cream for her appetite. As economies and communities she has halted in mid-step for hours have found out, power for her is a game.

Sadly, in this subversive role, it is President Jonathan that has empowered his wife. While other leaders support their First Lady’s initiatives to provide hope and sustenance to the poor, or opportunities to the talented, his own political ambitions have blinded him to the alchemy he has brewed.

In case it is unclear, the Jonathans have accomplished two things. The first is that they arrived with a lot of baggage to which they are drawing renewed attention.

The other is that under their dual presidency, this Dam-ocracy, noon may yet be darker than the night.

The lesson Mrs. Jonathan teaches Nigerians is the need for perpetual vigilance in order to protect the little we do have.

Sonala Olumhense is reachable via sonala. olumhense@gmail.com

As our senators re-constitutionalise child marriage

By Ogechi Ekeanyanwu

I

t is important to separate religion from politics. It is true that most Nigerians are religious, but there is, certainly, morality besides religion. And with variety of beliefs out in the world, the focus should rather be on the greatest good, rather than pacifying personal religious beliefs and interpretations on the grounds that it is an untouchable, a sensitive issue.

This is why the Nigerian constitution should be secular, tending to all in the society, upholding the rights and dignity of every human person regardless of personal beliefs.

Now, the members of the National Assembly are currently voting what laws should go into what would become the newly revised constitution. A constitution they promised will be “participatory and all inclusive”.

They had said the “review process that will aim to address the concerns of all Nigerians.

“We intend to consult with all shades of opinion and interests.

As the holders-in-trust of the peoples’ mandate, we know that achieving constitutional change requires peoples’ participation and we will not proceed to amend

any section of the Constitution that does not meet the criteria of popular public support,” the lawmakers promised.

But at the centre of their debate, surprisingly so, is whether or not to outlaw child marriage. Of course, this is one of the malignant symptoms of patriarchy, as it places a girl child at the mercy of a man (paedophile) who finds her attractive enough to marry; talk about repulsion.

At the senate voting session, majority of the senators had passed a vote outlawing a clause that upholds child marriage.

The 1999 Nigerian constitution, a very tricky and contradictory one, provides for a secular system of governance, yet integrates Islamic law. It is incomprehensible how this is possible and what should suffice when one part of the constitution, say the secular, conflicts with another part, the Islamic.

This was the case, as former Zamfara State governor cum senator opposed strongly the removal of a clause that constituionalises girl child marriage under the guise of religion.

According to him and rightly so (according to the Nigerian

constitution), removing the clause will be tantamount to disregarding Islamic law, which the constitution incorporates and protects.

Note that this man married a 13-year-old Egyptian child in 2009 amid strong condemnations.

Four years later, on the floor of the senate as a senator (who voted him into that position?) he still defends his actions, insisting that a girl child is of age once a man marries her.

Currently section 29 of the Nigerian constitution permits Nigerian adults – adult hood being pegged at 18 years according

“

to the constitution- to forsake their citizenship if they wish.

In addition, the section considers a female who is married, to be considered to be of age. This is regardless of the female’s age.

While it is commendable that at first, the senators voted overwhelmingly to outlaw the clause, it is despicable, that they decided to revisit a second time, despite a Senate policy excluding repeat votes on clauses.

It again eludes comprehension how one man forced the senate to revisit an issue and forced them to a second round of voting, despite a stipulated policy against

Is it not high time that natural justice and fairness take precedence? This is just one of the reasons feminists arise, with anti-feminists dismissing the advocacy for gender equality as trivial. How is it that a constitution meant to protect Nigerians, in fact, puts a vulnerable group, girl child, at the mercy of paedophiles?

revisitation.

The second time around, the vote, with a 60-35 result in favour of outlawing the clause was not sufficient to be removed from the constitution.

The constitutional amendments require two thirds, 73 legislators, for a proposal to pass.

Mr. Yerima had his way gaining rights to marry more children since he is permitted to have more than one wife.

But should we sit and watch as Nigeria, supposedly a secular state, accedes to religion to the detriment of the girl child.

Is it not high time that natural justice and fairness take precedence? This is just one of the reasons feminists arise, with antifeminists dismissing the advocacy for gender equality as trivial.

How is it that a constitution meant to protect Nigerians, in fact, puts a vulnerable group, girl child, at the mercy of paedophiles?

It will be the right time to remind the legislators to keep to their promise of making the constitution all inclusive. It will be the right time to stop excusing injustice in the guise of either religion or culture.

Ogechi Ekeanyanwu is available on LinkedIn

PAGE 14

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Absurdities of unaccountable state, light fingered politicians (I)

By Jaye Gaskia

W

here do we begin from?

Well, let us start by explaining what we mean by impunity and why it is important for us as a people to confront it head-on, reject, and resist it in its totality!

By impunity we mean the lawless acts of institutions and personnel of state that undermine the very fabric of legality and constitutionalism, and jeopardize legitimacy, thus undermining the very foundations of human civilisation and societal existence.

In this write up we intend to go through a litany of acts of impunity by the state and the ruling elites that compromise and jeopardize our collective existence as a people and nation. It is important to know that these acts are social, political and economic in nature, and that their combined effect is such that it retards our national development and impoverishes an increasing majority of citizens.

In general terms on the economy, the Federal government has ‘invested more than N2tn in special intervention funds targeted at various sectors of the economy [including Agriculture – N200bn; Aviation – N300bn; N300bn on Power Intervention; N75bn on grooming enterprise leadership; N32bn entertainment intervention fund; N100bn Textile intervention fund; N126bn Export expansion grant; N200bn indigenous pharmaceutical intervention fund;

N300bnHotel & Leisure intervention fund; N7,5bn to 25 companies from national automotive intervention fund;N200bn small & medium scale enterprise grant;N200bn restructuring & refinancing fund; etc since 2010, yet absolutely nothing has been shown as positive results of such intervention

Meanwhile according to NEITI, the FGN is owed Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, N1.536tn [$9.6bn] in text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written non remitted contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters revenue by the - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your International name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be Oil Corporations addressed to: [IOCs] operating in The Editor, Nigeria.

And with Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, respect to 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. the vexed Oil Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com subsidy scam corruption SMS: 08134607052 conduit pipe; subsidy claims funds. sector); in spite of the more than rose from less than N600bn in Industrial capacity utilization N20bn in combined annual 2010 to more than N2.7tn in continues to hover around 35% maritime and oil pipelines 2011 with spurious claims for 60 of installed capacity, with more security contracts to just 5 militant million liters per day of imported than 1,000 large scale enterprises ‘Generals’ from the Niger Delta refined products. And although as a closing shop between 2000 and [excluding recent reports of a new direct consequence of the January 2010, accompanied by more multi-billion naira contract to one Uprising, the subsidy claims have than 2,000,000 million jobs lost of the OPC factions]; the country drastically reduced and fallen to [776,000 jobs lost from the textile continues to lose approximately the pre 2011 levels of claims for less industry alone]from those shut 250,000 to 350,000 barrels of than 40 million liters per day of down enterprises. crude oil, and several million liters PMS, sharp practices continue to At another level, according of refined products monthly, at be witnessed in this sub-sector of to the Adamu Fika Presidential a combine annual loss of $10bn the industry. committee on reform of the public to crude oil and refined products So for instance although NNPC service, since July 2007; salaries theft, with an average annual claimed by March 2013 to be of just 18,000 top federal civil incidence of more than 1,500 refining 10 million liters of PMS servants and state personnel have cases of pipe lines vandalism being per day through the domestic gulped N1.23tn annually, much reported. According to the NNPC, refineries; PPPRA claims it has no more than the entire annual federal between 2002 and 2012 16,083 record of such production capacity capital vote for any single year since pipelines breaks were recorded or input into the economy, and 1999. with only 1,398 attributed to continues to pay for claims of Let us turn to the oil (petroleum mechanical faults.

39 million liters of PMS per day

WRITE TO US

from importers. And although the Federal Ministry of Finance could not verify N232bn in subsidy claims in 2012, only N29bn of this amount has been recovered from the indicted marketers.

Yet in spite of this unprecedented scale of fraud and treasury looting in the subsidy regime, not a single marketer has been successfully prosecuted, nor has any single personnel of the petroleum ministry or any of its parastatals, including the NNPC been indicted, let alone prosecuted.

Nevertheless it is inconceivable that the level of fraud in this sector could have been undertaken without official connivance or at the very least negligence.

What is even more amazing is that whereas since 1999 over $12bn has been expended on Turn Around Maintenances [TAMs] of the four domestic government owned moribund refineries, nevertheless, capacity utilisation at these refineries have not exceeded 50% of installed capacity!

We have also been told that since 1999 over N1.4tn has been spent on 34,000 KMs of Federal roads, without any appreciable improvement in the condition of roads in the country. Instead, more than N250bn is needed in additional funding for instance to complete the East West Road project, a road project that has been funded by successive governments since 1983.

Jaye Gaskia is on twitter: @jayegaskia

The useful tragedy of Port Harcourt Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú

S

ince the beginning of this democratic experiment in 1999, getting elected into public office has turned majority of those elected to serve us into power-drunk, opportunistic, insufferable arses. Last week, the elected thugs of the Order of St. Patience Bulldozer presented us another useful tragedy to learn from. With Nigerians you really never know; acting out in public is most often the dramatic extension of the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob. Senior Apostle Evans Bipialaka was only acting on behalf of his personal savior, benefactor and master St. Patience Bulldozer (his “jesus christ”).

When it comes to Nigerians, our body politic suffers less from ignorance, more from repressed memory and most from impunity.

In life, mistakes of buying often occur in the marketplace, where you can overpay for something decent or you can overpay for junk.

Under the People’s Democratic Party, Nigerians not only overpaid for indecency and absolute junk, we have also paid for contagion.

The blame is ours and the joke is on us.

Why is this tragedy useful? It is useful because we now know and appreciate how depraved we are and the uncivilized message we are sending the civilized world.

Markets display choice to buyers, we have made our choices in those we elected and they represent what is wrong in us and with us. We have made bad choices and actions do have consequences attached, the blood sport of the Rivers State

house of Assembly is one of such consequences. Fortunately, the law does not involve choice, the law is about compliance if enforced.

Being a consumer is discretionary; being a citizen is not. We are consuming the choices we made at the elections. We have consumed the bizarre spectacle of slaps, beatings and mace whacks.

Who knows what next we are to be fed? The useful lesson of our political tragedy is; being a citizen isn’t discretionary. Citizens have a set of rules to live by. What is the law about public conduct in this country? What is the law about impeachment under the Nigerian constitution? Do you wonder why arrests have not been made? St. Patience Bulldozer has become the law in Rivers State and in Nigeria.

She has hijacked the presidency.

The unruly baboons of Port Harcourt are her apostles, they are protected.

Let’s not kid ourselves, the very stuff of the Nigerian tragedy is ethics. The drama in Rivers State is an encounter with ethical problems of native corruption, impunity and power grab. At the core of every tragedy is an ethical struggle and ethical encounters in communal tragedies take many forms. Its various forms are unfolding in all sectors of our national life. There can be no doubt as in this case, that tragedy occurs when desires conflate with ethics, plunging the protagonists and antagonists in turmoil. Nigerian political tragedy is a set of plays, a concentric circle of the most absurd. A theater where no law is inviolate, where the laws of numbers are perverted.

At the heart of our tragedies

is an art form where practical politicians and law enforcement make cynical and unscrupulous use of power for their own ends.

We are a militarized society, a society steeped in violence, where violence is now a sport, it has become so common as to seem less outrageous. Unfortunately, our capacity for outrage is exhausted. We live in a country where politicians tell us what they want and induce how we think; a callous misappropriation of mass indolence.

How have we come to this as a nation? How can we understand how we have come to be at the brink of political catastrophes, educational dilemmas, lingering energy deficits, religious upheavals, escalating terrorism, place-based kidnappings, progressive ecological crises and resource descents? To know how, we must take our citizenship more seriously. Civic misbehavior is ratcheting up into a set of cataclysmic forces going into 2015. We should stop being deluded, praying instead of taking our destinies in our own hands.

Our problems and actions are home grown and manufactured.

It is not initiated by any malicious outside forces or extraterrestrial elements, but rather, resulting from the inappropriate, selfish, corrupt and malevolent decisions of individuals and small groups, most often acting alone and sometimes in concert. The self-moralizing and misplaced response of Ayo Osinlu the Chief Priest, Order of St. Patience Bulldozer is a testament to this fact. He told us Rotimi Amaechi

launched into a river he had no skills to swim in. The subliminal message to us is; Rotimi launched into their river and can become food for crocodiles. We were advised to leave him to his fate, even Prof. Wole Soyinka was given enough warning to cease and desist from questioning Jonathan’s rampaging “domestic appendage of power.”

I still believe in the goodness of man and in one Nigeria.

However, I cannot ignore the despair and despondency brought about by the destructiveness and unsustainability of our civic misbehavior and mass complacency. We must be awake to the reality that our endemic national despair comes from having years of unmet expectations, plunder of our resources by a few and most of all the election of saboteurs into political office. The apostles of greed can accuse of those of us who speak and write about their recurring malfeasance as taking far too narrow and pessimistic view of Nigeria and our politics but the infestation is no longer localized.

It is festering. I am taking the pessimistic view because there is nothing optimistic about Nigeria.

Collectively, we must never waver on the need to highlight, promote and elect leaders that are refreshingly honest, driven and patriotic. Jointly, we must commit to a commanding passion – a greater Nigeria and Nigerians outraged by oppression, corruption, stealing, conversion, impunity, cronyism, deplorable education, fatalistic health systems, and every dangerous adjectives

of ”-isms”, “-sions” and “-tions” plaguing Nigeria. In place of elected brutes and political thugs, we must elect a set of leaders who know and believe that everyone matters, that we all are unique and entitled to a simple life of dignity, freedom and happiness. We must take our citizenship seriously and pay attention to small things, knowing small things lead to big things and small evils lead to bigger evils.

Again, another lesson in the useful tragedy of Port Harcourt is; this federation as structured leads inexorably to the unsustainable outcome of a disunited Nigeria.

We are luxuriating in maladaptive behaviors viz. misappropriation, conversion, tragedy of the commons, resource overconsumption, ecological overshoot and many more. Our current path can only lead to ruin. Is there a way we can behave more honorably and reasonably? I don’t know. I don’t know because I wondered if the assembly thugs of Rivers State were raised by savages. Everyday in this country, we deplore the loss of moral values, the extent of national decay, impunity, abuse of power, disorientation of youths, cultism, police brutality and arbitrary powers deployed by unelected spouses. The full list of ethical questions facing us today, would be much longer knowing who we are and how pathetic our rationalizations have become.

Pray, what kind of children can the Orangutans of Rivers sire? It is, what it is. God bless Nigeria.

Bámidélé AdémóláOlátéjú is available on Twitter @olufunmilayo

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 15

Comment

Nigeria: A nation of cultists, rapists and pedophiles

By Ikechukwu Mbachu

M

y heart bleeds as I write; I can’t help but ask how did we get into the sorry pass?

How did we sink this low? Where and how did we lose it as a people and a nation?

Nigeria is rapidly becoming a theatre of the absurd, not a single day goes by without news of one sordid tale or another. In Nigeria, the obnoxious and awkward does not rain, it pours! Nothing is news in Nigeria anymore. Nigerians have sadly developed a thick skin for bad news. Nothing shocks Nigerians anymore. According to the late cerebral journalist, Dele Giwa, Nigerians have been shocked to the level of “un-shockability.”

In just three weeks Nigeria have witnessed enough absurdities that would probably totally crumble some other countries.

In the last three weeks, news headlines include stories of multiple buildings collapsing in a day, in a country where there was no natural disaster. The incineration and painful death of 42 innocent persons in a school in Yobe State; children whose only crime was seeking for knowledge.

The scandalous score line in two football matches, (67-0 and 79-0) which is reminiscent of the Nigerian example of democracy, where 16 is greater than 19 and 5 is greater than 27. Add to these, the River State House of Assembly

mayhem, the news of a pastor raping two eleven years old girls and the Senate’s indirect approval of marriage of underage girls.

If happenings in Nigeria in recent times are indicative of the future, then I am afraid we are in big trouble with our leaders both spiritual and temporal as their only purpose it would seem is to ruin the country. How else does one explain the sight of lawmakers frolicking and associating with miscreants?

How does one explain the rape of children by pastors? How does one explain the circuitous endorsement of marriage to minors by people who should be making laws against such condemnable practices?

Nobody is in doubt that cultism, rape and pedophilic activities are very prevalent in Nigeria and constitute a real menace. But it becomes particularly worrisome when leaders both spiritual and temporal indulge and actively promotes the very evil they are supposed to fight against.

The first case in point is the River State House of Assembly mayhem. Watching the YouTube clip of the melee, one couldn’t help but cringe in horror at the barbarity of the whole thing, the vulgarity, the viciousness and savagery, I couldn’t help but shudder in disgust at the kind of leaders (I find it very difficult to call them leaders) we have in this country. Is this the kind of democracy Nigerians deserves? Is this the democracy we

fought for? Rivers state legislators seem to have contrived their own version of democracy; democracy of thugs for thugs and by thugs?

Watching the clips, I was appalled by three things; The invasion of the hallowed ground of the state assembly complex by hoodlums and the chanting of cultist slogans right in the presence of so many law enforcement officers. Apparently, the security officers were so focused on making their individual paymaster happy that they simply forget their duty and joined in the fight. The sight of a lawmaker boasting to fellow cultists about how he viciously attacked other lawmakers made my gut churn with revulsion. But the most brutal and unforgettable image was that of a lawmaker attacking a fellow legislator with the intention to maim/permanently incapacitate him. What kind of human being does that if not a hoodlum or hired killer? In saner climes, all the lawmakers and officers who took part in that show of shame would have been rounded up and brought to justice.

But this is Nigeria, a country where anything goes. The only thing that matters is the power behind you and the higher the power behind you, the greater the level of obduracy.

Watching these clips, I am deeply worried about the future of the country. A lot of people in Nigeria agitate for the generational

shift in terms of leadership.

They oppose the preponderant proportion of those they see as old and tired men holding political positions. They desire more space for youths in our political landscape. While, I share the same sentiments, however the “wrestlemania” fight in rivers state has partially forced me to have a rethink. Most of the gladiators in the melee were youths full of gladiatorial energy and they exhibited it very well in their fight.

So how are we sure the youths are better than the so called elders?

Away from the Rivers state brouhaha, it is clear that the country is descending into moral anarchy when news of pastors who are supposed to act as moral guides raping underage girls turn to a daily headline. How come pastors who are supposed to be on higher moral grounds are descending to the level of brutes? What could be responsible for this perversion?

How come the so called spiritual leaders are giving in to the allures of the flesh? How come our spiritual leaders who should serve as moral compass for the nation have become the very people committing the most heinous crimes?

While one is reluctant to comment on the current controversy in the senate concerning the age of marriage because of its controversial nature, suffice to say that considering the

precarious state of the girl child in Nigeria, any law that remotely looks like it supports underage marriage is simply abhorrent.

While on the surface the bill may have nothing to do with underage marriage, however its passage will embolden pedophiles (especially people like the bearded senator from Zamfara state) with such sentiments.

In conclusion, while, the Fela Anikulapo Kuti called those in high places VIP (vagabonds in power) I chose to call them CRPP (cultists, Rapist Pedophiles in Power): In all honestly, there is no gainsaying that conduct of our leaders (spiritual and temporal) leaves a sour taste in the mouth. If we don’t get it right morally, how are we going to get it right developmentally and technologically? The truth is with these kinds of morally bankrupt leaders Nigeria might remain in the cul-de-sac of underdevelopment for a very long time.

Everything happening in Nigeria points to a nation that is plummeting, a nation that is decaying, a nation whose moral fibers is been torn to shreds by its leaders. Nigeria has become a nation of cultists, rapists and pedophiles in high places. Can we continue like this? I seriously doubt it, something just have to give!

Ikechukwu Mbachu wrote in from Brandenburg Technical University, Cottbus, Germany

Has the West fortified moral right to plead Africa’s cause?

By Abdulkarim Yusufu

I

t has become very fashionable lately, especially among Western print media to rail against China’s forays into Africa.

China, among other things has been accused of a new form of colonization.

In 2010, a senior US official, Johnnie Carson, addressing an audience in Lagos, described China as “ a very aggressive and pernicious economic competitor with no morals”.

Since the media are essentially mouth pieces for their respective governments, it seems a case of a jealous lover castigating and casting aspersions on a rival. What is troubling though, is prominent African leaders especially those we admire and whose opinion we value greatly, Jacob Zuma, the President of South Africa for his work and sacrifices during Apartheid and Lamido Sanusi the Governor of The Central Bank of Nigeria for his work in sanitizing the banking sector in Nigeria among others singing the chorus without substantiating what it is that China has done that smacks of re-colonization.

When one is raising an alarm, it never sits well in the absence of a cause.

We value the judgment of these leaders as we should and will support their assertions without any reservations if they are valid and are legitimate criticism against China or anyone else because we know that their hearts are in the right place. They, more than anyone have earned the moral right to plead our cause. That said, our leaders cannot be perceived as gigantic amplifying mouthpieces

raising the volume of apparent false whispers that smacks of the West’s assertions and subservient heteronomy.

I am not an apologist for China but no one has pointed out specifically what China has done in her relation with Africa that can be construed as colonization. If there is, it should be pointed out, investigated and nipped at the bud before it takes root but not at the prodding of the West.

Our leaders should resist the bait and not become pawns in the West’s power play with China. The West has done wrong by us and do not have any inclination to change.

They have forfeited any moral right to plead our cause and this latest effort is not sincere but rather an avaricious vicious self-interest clothed in hypocritical outrage.

Over five hundred years of interaction with Africa has produced nothing but misery for Africans. It is a little bit self-serving and ironic to try and play the protector since all the West has ever done is keep Africa then and now perpetually underdeveloped.

A legacy of rapacious colonization left Africa bereft of any capital to make the leap to modernization and whether we realize is or not, we are still hampered by the effects of colonialism. You cannot tell a man to pull himself up by his bootstraps after you have stolen his boots and he lacks the straps to pull himself up with.

Now that China is making an effort to provide the bootstraps, the West will, and is doing all that it can to scuttle this because it is not in their best interest to see Africa develop.

If Africa is slipping from the

orbit of the West, the West has itself to blame. They had the chance and obligation to do right by Africa for our mutual benefit but they chose not to. Not only have they not made any meaningful effort to invest in Africa but have lately embarked on a most insidious foreign policy, a campaign to besmirch Africa and Africans inthe eyes of the world.

The West could have embarked on a Marshall type plan for Africa to our mutual benefit. As any Economist will tell you, the United States more so than Europe benefited greatly from the Marshall plan. The result was a ready market for American goods and services and greater prosperity for all. It turned out to be, not just altruistic but rather a shrewd commercial project. There is no reason to think the same result will not be obtainable if a Marshall type project was implemented in Africa.

This project though is one thing the West will not do even if the greater benefit will accrue to them.

It is certainly not because of the economic returns on the project if the experience of Europe is any indication to go by. When senior US policy makers decided in the 1960’s that the United States will not support a Marshall plan type policy for Africa, the die was cast even though such an effort was precisely what was needed to build the infrastructure for long term economic growth.

“As a National Security Council staffer noted in June 1965 in briefing McGeorge Bundy, President Johnson’s special assistant for National Security Affairs, the president’s mandate for the State Department “cautions that substantial increase

in US foreign policy assistance expenditure [to Africa] are not envisaged” “Sachs.” The West will rather embark on pretend help through foreign aid program that makes little or no impact on economic development. The aim of foreign aid is to keep Africa a beggar continent. The reason it makes no impact is that there has in fact being little foreign aid to Sub-Sahara Africa.

According to Jeffery Sachs in his book “The end of poverty” “ Contrary to popular perception, the amount of aid per African per year is really very small, just $30 per Sub- Sahara African in 2002 from the entire world. Of that modest amount, almost $5 was for consultants from the donor countries, more than $3 was for food aid and other emergency aid, another $4 went to servicing Africa’s debt, and $5 was for debt relief operation. The rest $12 went to Africa. That is $12 per person for a year. He continued “Since the money down the drain argument is heard most frequently in the United States, it is worth looking at the same calculation for US aid alone.

In 2002, the United States gave $3 per Sub-Saharan African.

Taking out the part for US consultants, food aid and other emergency aid, administrative cost and debt relief, the aid per African came to a grand total of 6 cents per person is anyone’s guess. Don’t they realize that sometimes nothing is better than something? At least you get to keep your dignity intact.

Foreign aid is a mirage and a feel good gesture for the donors.

Moreover all it does is enable the donors to secure access to power structures in the recipient countries arid allow them to exert

undue influence that is in no way commensurate with the impact it makes on economic development.

If the West really wants to help Africa, they can restructure their subsidy programs to their farmers that impoverish African farmers and open their markets to African producers. They can embark on nation building or at the very least build basic infrastructure for African countries as compensation for the long years of rapacious colonization that they practiced with relish in Africa.

With all the wealth they took out of Africa, what will it cost them to help build power generation plants for example across Africa knowing full well that Africa cannot develop when all the electricity generated in Sub-Sahara Africa amounts to only 150 billion KWh/ year excluding South Africa and is less than one third of the electricity produced in France alone at 510 billion KWh/year.

Through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) launched in 2000 in accordance with the program of “Zou Chugu” (to go global), China has stepped in to help after so many years of neglect by the West with infrastructure loan projects through her Exim Bank.

She has made loans worth $67.2 billion excluding Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) between 2001 and 2011 surpassing the World Bank at $54.7 billion, an agency charged with funding development projects. The Western media, a dedicated mouth piece for their respective governments has chosen this time to sow dissension between African countries and China.

Dr Chima Iheke resides in Arkansas, USA

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 17

Metro

New transport policy: How private car owners smile to banks Feature

By Adeola Tukuru

F

ollowing the FCT’s administration policy to withdraw mini buses operated by private individuals from the city centre, some private car owners have also begun brisk business by picking persons headed for their routes at a fee, as people scramble for the few available vehicles.

Artisans like Mechanics, painters and even civil servants are now making brisk business in the city as some ‘wise’ ones among the mini bus drivers have started re-painting their mini buses mostly to white colour in order to escape the security watch stationed at major entrances into the city to ensure that no green mini bus entered.

Peoples Daily also observed that many private car owners now leave their offices to engage in transport services within the city center which is another challenge for the FCT Department of Road Transport Service otherwise called the VIO. But, this act is more pronounced when they are returning from work in the evening. Many of the “big men” are involved in this act, perhaps to save residents from long hours of waiting on the roads and make some money to augment the cost of fueling of their cars.

A car owner, who is also a civil servant, Mr. Segun Olasetan, said since the ban of mini buses in the city centre, he picks passengers to work in the morning and during closing hours, adding that he makes roughly N3, 000 per week.

He said “In fact, I don’t lack money to buy fuel again. You

Stranded passengers, at Nyanya Bus stop in Abuja.

know as a civil servant, one will have to wait to end of the money before he is paid, but now with this little business, I am able to cope with my family”.

According to him, the only major problem he faces in the business is when some passengers try to challenge him on why he should charge a higher price other than the normal price mini buses collect.

“Some of them will insult you that will you be collecting N150 from them while El-Rufai buses collect N80 or N100 and when I try to explain that my car is different from these buses ,we begin to argue”.

Another, taxi driver, Joe Onoche, said the business is

more lucrative now that the government have banned the minibuses in the city centre.

According to him, commuters have no alternative than to pay the amount they charge them or trek. If it were before ,we don’t make more sales like these because our passengers will either enter the mini-buses to their various destination or wait for the El-Rufia buses which at times comes once in a while or don’t come at all.”

Investigations showed that vehicles that had been left at home by residents who were accustomed to boarding commercial vehicles now join legions of cars on the roads within the city. Similarly, it has been a season of harvest for taxi operators in the city since

Passengers boarding Abuja Urban Mass Transit, recently at Berger junction.

the policy became operational.

One only needs to go to the Federal Secretariat, at about 5pm, and bus stations within and outside the FCT, early in the morning, to know that the hyped high capacity buses are not meeting the yawning expectations of the city’s population. Frustrated residents have to wait almost endlessly for the buses to appear and take them to work or bring them back home.

When our reporter sampled the opinion of some residents, Mrs. Agnes Abraham said: “The idea of this transport policy is not okay. People get stranded when they are going to work or coming back. The El-Rufai buses are not enough.

This is really affecting people,

Photo Mahmud Isa

especially those who have to be at their offices early.”

On her part, a business woman in Garki market , said: “Labour should wade in. People cannot get to their offices on time. And there is traffic jam.

You’ll find bus stops packed with people but with no buses in sight. This makes people turn up late to work”.

According to Stella Okon , a recharge card seller in Area 1shopping centre said “though I am not used to ‘Araba’, one thing I notice is that these long buses waste time. When you are coming from Nyanyan to Area 1 with ‘Araba’, you can make the trip within 20 to 25 minutes. But with these long buses, you may end up spending an hour.

“I think the government should provide more buses, so that people will not be stranded. The number of buses we have is not enough. I stay in Lugbe but have to come to town every day to work. I observed that those staying in Lugbe are better placed than those in places like Kubwa, because we don’t have much stress. Another thing is that fares have doubled.

Before the June 3 deadline, the Special Assistant on Media to the FCT Minister, Nosike Ogbuenyi, had told residents that his boss, Senator Bala Mohammed had put all necessary arrangements in place for the take-off of the new policy. Ogbuenyi gave the assurance to residents that the high capacity buses were more than ready to assume operations in stead the regular mini buses or ‘Araba’.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 16

Develop FCT satellite towns, Reps charge Minister

By Lawrence Olaoye

H

ouse of Representatives has tasked the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, on the urgent need to embark on accelerated development of the several satellite towns in the territory.

The House committee on FCT chaired by Rep Emmanuel Jime urged the Minister not to neglect building of infrastructures in the satellite towns at the mercy of ongoing capital projects within the capital city.

The committee said the call was imperative in view of large population

of residents living in such areas, in addition to enormous socio-economic inputs they make into Abuja as the nation’s capital.

It also disclosed that the efforts was directed at ascertaining the judicious use of funds appropriated in the 2012 and 2013 budgets, under FCT Statutory Appropriation Acts.

Some of the satellite towns include; Kubwa, Yanyan, Lugbe, Gwagwalada, Zuba and Karu which currently account for over 60% of Abuja inhabitants.

According to the Chairman, “the planning and development of the capital city and that of the satellite

towns are to be implemented simultaneously” Jime made this charge at a recent interactive session which the committee held with the Minister in Abuja, in its bid to access progress of initiatives of the Satellite Town Development Agency, STDA under her supervision.

According to him “the general benefits of the STDA projects are the enhancement of socio-political wellbeing of the people living and doing business in those areas” He added that “other benefits are formal and informal employment generation, providing links to

villages and access to residential and commercial plots for building development in order to decongest the city” The Minister in her response said the STDA has continued to make affordable mass housing scheme for residents of the satellite towns its focal point since its inception in 2003.

She said “The affordable housing programme is directed specifically to leveraging the housing stock in the satellite towns, with affordability as its key component in terms of housing typology, construction and infrastructure”.

L-R: Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Kubwa Mr. Ofora J.I, Chairman PCRC Kubwa, Otunba Bolaji Adigun, Chairman of the ocassion, Alhaji Turaki Ismaila Aliyu, Chairman PCRC FCT Command, Prof. Nick Ezeh, the Area Commandant, CSP Hayatu Usman at the one of day Interactive Forum by the Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC) in Kubwa, Abuja.

S

I She said that work on the centres located in Gwagwalada, Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area Councils were at various stages of completion and will soon be reopened for use by rural women.

The centres were established as springboard of economic empowerment for women especially at the rural communities where women face enormous socioeconomic challenges.

She commended Mr President,

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for fulfilling his promise of according women high representation in his cabinet and other appointments.

She stressed the need for women to do away with negative stereotypes and aspire for greater challenges.

Earlier in her address, the President, National Council of Women Societies, FCT chapter, Mrs Nancy Bulus commended the secretary for the support she has

given to the NCWS since she came into office.

She expressed her appreciation to the Minister of State, FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide for the donation of a Coaster bus and various innovative programmes that have helped to improve the welfare of women in the FCT. Mrs Nancy Bulus, however, called for the strengthening of the SURE-P programme with emphasis on youth empowerment.

Minister tasks media to promote peaceful co-existence

By Adeola Tukuru

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igerian media has been called upon to promote and champion peaceful coexistence and unity of the entire country.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed made this call over the weekend at the 8th Annual Ramadan Public Lecture entitled “Islam In a Multi-Religious Society” organized

T

he Christian Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria (CMDA) in Kwali Area Council, FCT over the weekend provided free medical treatment to 4,000 people suffering from different ailments in Kwali.

The Secretary of the association, Dr. Chima Onoka said that the doctors were the specialists responsible to attend to the residents with various ailments in the area.

Onoka pointed out that the foreign doctors who came from USA and Canada were for a special medical outreach programme in Kwali and urged the residents to co-operate with them at all the times.

On her part, the Supervisory Councilor for Health in the Area Council, Mrs. Hannatu A. Waziri, appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to give more monthly allocation to the council to enable the chairman to focus on the developmental projects.

The beneficiaries who spoke to People Daily expressed satisfaction over the treatments being received so far from the medical doctors.

By Adeola Tukuru

FCTA to resuscitate abandoned Women Devt. Centres ecretary, Social Development Secretariat, Mrs Blessing Onuh has disclosed plans by the secretariat to resuscitate some abandoned Women Development Centres in the FCT Area Councils.

Mrs. Onuh stated this when the executive officials of the National Council of Women Societies, FCT chapter, paid her a courtesy visit in her office.

By Usman Shuaibu

Insecurity: PCRC chairman harps on need to checkmate youth

Photo: Adeola Tukuru

By Adeola Tukuru

4,000 residents get free medical treatment in Kwali

by the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), in Abuja.

The Minister who was represented by the Assistant Director / Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister Muhammad Hazat Sule, insisted that without peace no nation can achieve much in terms of development or even in the practice of our religious beliefs as enshrined in the holy books.

Senator Mohammed reiterated

that only through peace and stability would the entire country achieve sustainable development in all spheres.

The Minister emphasized that all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and indeed every Nigerian have a stake in the project Abuja.

While noting that Ramadan is a period of spiritual rejuvenation, he enjoined Muslims to use the holy

period to continue to pray for the country and her leadership.

Senator Mohammed also urged Muslims to follow the injunctions of Allah (SWA) and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during and after this holy month of Ramadan, which he stressed, is an inspiration to Muslims to show compassion, mercy and kindness to their fellow brothers irrespective of religion.

n the aim to curb insecurity in various communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Chairman of the Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC), Kubwa division, Otunba Bolaji Adigun has called on the need to checkmate youth from the grassroots.

Bolaji noted this over the weekend during the one day Interactive Forum of the PCRC in Kubwa, with theme: “Leveraging on Information as a veritable tool for effective community policing”.

He explained that the essence of the programme is to interact with other security agencies on the best way to secure Kubwa.

In his words: “We are going into the grass root to sensitize the people, especially the youth because most these people who commit all manner of crimes in the country are the youth, a lot has to be done to tackle the issue on time before it becomes wide .We have to check our youth as early as possible”.

According to him, Nigeria is going through its own share of developmental challenges and security is one of them, “That is why we need to compare notes, after taking stock of where we are, where we are coming from and collectively chart the way forward into arriving at the desired destination as a people”.

Bolaji assured that with the crop of experienced and professional officer operating in a democratic atmosphere today, this perception challenge is now becoming a thing of the past.

PAGE 18

Metro INSIDE FCT COURTS

Court grants bail to houseboy who allegedly abducted 14-year-old girl

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Grade 1 Area Court sitting in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, on Friday granted bail to a houseboy, David Yakubu, 20, arraigned for allegedly abducting a 14-year-old girl.

Yakubu, of Aso B in Mararaba, was arraigned on July 11, for alleged abduction of the daughter of Mr Daniel Dutse, a civil servant, of same address.

Counsel to the accused, Ndubisi Kalu, on resumption of hearing applied for bail in favour of the accused. ``The accused is a young man with a bright future, we urge this honourable court to grant him bail on a most liberal term,’’ he submitted.

The presiding judge, Mr Albert Maga, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in like sum.

He, thereafter, adjourned the case to Aug. 8,2013 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Pregnant woman in court for allegedly beating up neighbour T he police on Friday arraigned a pregnant woman, Abigail Emmanuel, 27, in a Grade 1 Area Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State for allegedly beating up her neighbour, George Abga, over a misunderstanding.

The accused who lives in Custom’s Quarters, Mararaba, was arraigned on a four-count charge of criminal intimidation, criminal force, causing hurt and

mischief.

The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Inuwa Maigida, told the court that Abga, reported the incident at the Mararaba Divisional Police Station on July 16.

Maigida alleged that the accused attacked the complainant in his room without provocation and inflicted serious injury on his right leg.

The prosecutor, further alleged that the accused used words

to intimidate the complainant and thereafter, destroyed his electronics in the process.

He said that the offence were punishable under the provisions of sections 397, 265, 244 and 327 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, the punishment can get imprisoned for one year or pay fine or both.

The accused, who did not have legal representation, pleaded not guilty.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Albert Maga, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50,000 and a surety in like sum who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

Maga ordered that the surety must be someone with a reasonable means of livelihood, whose address must be verified by the prosecutor.

The case was adjourned to Aug. 8, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

Man, 60, jailed for converting company’s money to personal use

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n Upper Area Court in Karu, Abuja, on Friday sentenced Sally Adeoso, 60, to six months imprisonment for criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and theft.

The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, convicted Adeoso after he pleaded guilty to the charges levelled against him.

Kagarko, however, gave the convict the option to pay a fine of N30,000 and warned him to desist from further committing crimes.

The Prosecutor, Mr Albert Okara, had told the court that the case was reported by Mr David Asonibare of Association for Reproduction and Family Health (ARFH) to the Life Camp police station.

He said the case was transfered to the state Criminal Investigation Department, FCT command, on March 1. ``The convict, being a former accountant with the AFRH, was entrusted with the organisation’s cheques, valued at N25 million. ``The said amount of money was for the execution of some projects and activities of the organisation. ``He sent the sum of N15 million to Okpon through his GTB account for Okpon to play a pool game for him,’’ Okara said.

He also told the court that the convict absconded from work on Dec. 10 after defrauding the organisation.

Okara said the charges against the accused contravened sections 97, 312 and 289 of the Penal Code.

He also said he had earlier authorised the AFRH to sell his property, plots of land at Maraba, Nasarawa State and Orozo, Abuja to recover the said sum. (NAN)

A teenage boy pushing wheelbarrow yesterday in Garki market, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Mechanics docked over criminal breach of trust

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wo mechanics were on Friday arraigned before an Abuja Grade 2 Area Court, Kado for alleged joint act, criminal breach of trust, cheating and mischief.

They are Anthony Nkume of Daki biyu village and Vincent John of Jabi village.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Simeon Ibrahim, told the court that on July 8, one Steve Olaleye of

Sky Memorial Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, reported the matter to the Utako police station.

He said that the complainant reported that sometime in April 2012, he entrusted his GMC vehicle to Nkume to repair.

He said Nkume, a mechanic and John a panel beater, formed common intention and collected N385,000 to do the work.

Ibrahim said after collecting the said amount, the accused abandoned the vehicle after vandalising it and ran away.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provisions of sections 79, 312, 322 and 327 of the Penal Code.

The offences carry a seven-year maximum imprisonment or with fine or with both for anyone who

jointly commits these offences.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.

The Presiding Officer, Mr Ahmed Ado, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100, 000 each and a surety occupying any post in the mechanic association or the chairman of the association.

He adjourned the case to Sept.

20, 2013 for further hearing. (NAN)

Court remands man in prison over sale of adulterated drugs

A

Karu Upper Area Court in Abuja on Friday ordered that one Patrick Onwumere, 34, be remanded in prison custody for allegedly selling adulterated drugs.

The Presiding Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, gave the order after the police arraigned Onwumere.

Kagarko, who refused to admit the accuse to bail, adjourned the case to July 22, for hearing.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp.

Sanni Yakubu, told the court that on July 14, the Special Investigation Bureau of the FCT Police Command, acting on a tip off, arrested Onwumere.

Yakubu alleged that the

accused was arrested in a shop at Karu Market, Abuja, with fake Baygon and Raid insecticides, products of Johnson Nigerian Ltd. The prosecutor alleged that the accused filled the containers with Johnson Nigeria Ltd original trademarks, with fake insecticides.

He told the court that some

of the counterfeit products and equipment, used in the act were recovered from the accused.

Yakubu further said that the charges contravened sections 374, 198, 188, 189 and 322 of the Penal Code.

Onwumere, pleaded not guilty to the charges.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 19

INSIDE

N300m Nollywood capacity fund takes off, FG launches website

Stories by Abdulwahab Isa

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s prelude to accessing the N300 million special interventions fund for movie practitioners, the official website for the fund will go live today by 12 pm, Ministry of Finance confirmed yesterday.

A capacity building fund initiated by President Goodluck Jonathan recently , the N300 million is the first part of the N3 billion support fund for Nollywood pledged by the President to deepen the entertainment industry .

Statement issued by Paul C Nwabuikwu, Special Adviser to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance gives website domain for the fund as www.projectactnollywood.com. ng.

To benefit from the Capacity Development Fund, interested institutes must show evidence they were registered before 1st January 2013 and be competent enough to train according to global best practices (including

for organizations partnering with training programmes from reputable international film institutions) on a sustainable basis.

The Fund is open for applications from July 2013 to December 2013.

Courses commencing after 31st December are eligible provided the application is received before 31st December 2013.

Individual practitioners in various aspects of movie craft and production can apply for various specified grants under the Fund to boost their skills and capacity.

The Presidential Intervention Fund, called Project ACT Nollywood, is managed by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of Tourism, Chief Edem Duke.

The Capacity Building Fund is the first of a series of initiatives planned under Project ACT Nollywood. It is made up of two components.

The first is a Training Fund of N150 million dedicated to training and skills acquisition for Nollywood Practitioners in all competencies along the entire value chain of Nigeria’s movie industry.

These include Scriptwriting, Directing, Production and Production Design, Special Effects, Lighting, Sound, HD Techniques, Acting, Cinematography, Make-Up, Editing, etc.

The second component is the Capacity Development Fund which is also worth N150 million.

It will give grants to existing Nigerian-owned private institutes that offer training courses, programmes and technical certification in the movie industry.

Additionally, the Capacity Development Fund may be used to upgrade existing facilities, procure equipment and develop internal capacity to offer a set of courses/training programmess, which address key skills gap.

Speaking on the development,

the Coordinating Minister said that the establishment of the fund underscores government’s commitment to supporting Nollywood in recognition of the film industry’s contributions to the economy and projecting the country.

“This is the first of the initiatives planned under Project Act Nollywood. And it shows that the President is keeping his word to the industry and to Nigerians.

Nollywood deserves this support because it has added value to the economy by creating jobs and acting as an ambassador to the country, projecting Nigeria to many parts of the world that hitherto knew little or nothing about the country.”

She stressed that Project ACT Nollywood is not for sharing to practitioners but that the overall objective is to support the industry in a sustainable way that practitioners can leverage on to improve their capacity and output in key areas.

NSE: Investors wealth up by 2.5% - Pg 21 CBN urges risk managers to seek collaboration in managing emerging risks

- Pg 22 CBN

Exchange Rates

as at 19th July, 2013 Buying Selling

$

154.76

155.76

€

236.17

237.70

£

203.09

204.40

Riyal

41.26

41.53

Parallel Rates

L-R: Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang, his wife and founder, Women in Agriculture and Youth Empowerment (WAYE) foundation, Talatu, and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, during the 5th and 6th graduation ceremony of skills acquisition training programme, recently in Jos. Photo: NAN

World Bank offers tips on how Africa can transform agriculture, end poverty

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he World Bank has offered tips on ways Africa continent can convert its unused tracts estimated at over 202 million hectares to reduce poverty, boost growth, jobs and shared prosperity.

In a report released today in Washington DC, the global bank notes that Africa countries and their communities could effectively end ‘land grabs,’ grow significantly more food across the region, and transform their development prospects if they can modernize the

complex governance procedures that govern land ownership and management over the next decade.

Africa has the highest poverty rate in the world with 47.5 percent of the population living below US $1.25 a day.

The report “securing Africa’s land for shared prosperity,” authored by World Bank Vice President for Africa Makhtar Diop, notes that despite abundant land and mineral wealth, Africa remains poor .

As a way out of the hunger quagmire it suggests that “Improving land governance is vital for achieving rapid economic growth and translating it into significantly less poverty and more opportunity for Africans, including women who make up 70 percent of Africa’s farmers yet are locked out of land ownership due to customary laws.

The status quo is unacceptable and must change so that all Africans can benefit from their land.”

Buying

Selling

$

157.50

158.40

€

250

253.00

£

206.00

210.00

Riyal

43.00

45.00

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY

Difficult boss? Talk to his former employees

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alk to his former employees. If your boss isn’t a good guide and doesn’t support you, it’s up to you to get what you need. If you can easily get in touch with someone who used to work for your boss, invite him out for coffee.

Explain that you’re eager to develop in your role, and that you’d like to pick his brain about working with and

learning from your boss. Pitch it as a tutorial, not as a gripe session: See if he can share insights about her mentoring style, for example, and tips on how to earn her trust.

Even if you feel safe confiding in this person, assume that anything you say could make its way back to your boss and edit yourself accordingly.

Source: Harvard Business Review

Money Market PAGE 20

Company News

13 Nigerian banks make world’s top 1000

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hirteen Nigerian banks made the list of this year’s Top 1000 World Banks Ranking of The Banker magazine of the Financial Times Group, London, United Kingdom.

Zenith Bank Plc, however, topped Nigerian banks in this year’s rating, while Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, which had been out of the league since 2009 when the banking audit revealed that the lender was undercapitalised, returned to the league of top global banks.

A statement from the Country Representative – Nigeria of The Banker, Mr. Kunle Ogedengbe, listed the 13 Nigerian banks to include Zenith Bank, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and First City Monument Bank Plc.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Sterling Bank grows half-year profit by 97%, optimistic on rights issue From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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terling Bank Plc has recorded a strong financial performance as its profit after tax increased by 97 per cent from N3.01 billion recorded of last year to N5.92 billion.

The first-half report came on the heels of initial filings showing extensive shareholders’ interests in the bank’s ongoing N12.5 billion rights issue.

Sterling Bank is raising N12.5 billion through a rights issue of about 5.889 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N2.12

per share. The bank had traded at a high of N3.05 at the stock market. The shares have been preallotted on the basis of three new ordinary shares of 50 kobo each for every eight ordinary shares of 50 kobo each held as at May 20, 2013. Application list, which opened on June 24, 2013, will run till July 31, 2013.

Interim report and accounts of Sterling Bank for the six-month period ended June 30, 2013 showed that earnings per share doubled to 38 kobo in 2013 as against 19 kobo in comparable period of 2012, underlining the increasing

attraction of the bank as a highyield stock. Investors responded positively to the earnings report as the bank’s share price rose by 0.38 per cent to N2.67. This implies double-digit six-month earnings yield of 14.2 per cent.

The report showed that profit before tax rose by 93.5 per cent to N6.27 billion as against N3.24 billion recorded in corresponding period of 2012.

The bottom-line performance was driven by the bank’s growing brand acceptability and customers’ deposit as well as efficient cost and risks management. Gross

CIBN engages stakeholders to fast-track financial inclusion in Nigeria

Apple buys Nigeria’s Echeruo’s app

From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

T

A

pple has acquired Chinedu Echeruo’s HopStop.com, according to The Wall Street Journal’s publication, AllThingsDigital.

Founded in 2005, HopStop.com makes mobile applications for both iOS and Android that cover over 300 cities. The application helps people get directions or find nearby subway stations and bus stops. Terms of the deal had not been disclosed as at the time of this reporting.

HopStop has often been compared to Israel’s Waze which was recently acquired by Google for $1.1 billion.

The move is seen as Apple’s plan to bolster its map offering especially given Google’s recent acquisition of Waze.

A serial entrepreneur, Echeruo grew up in the East and attended King’s College, Lagos. He attended Syracuse University and the Harvard Business School in the United States and founded HopStop.com after working for several years in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Leveraged Finance groups of J.P Morgan Chase where he was involved in a broad range of M&A, Financing and Private Equity transactions. He also worked at AM Investment Partners, a $500 million volatility-driven convertible bond arbitrage hedge fund.

GSK courtordered meeting holds Tuesday

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hareholders at a courtordered meeting will on Tuesday pass a resolution for the reduction in share capital between GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc (GSK Nigeria) and the holders of the fully paid ordinary shares of 50kobo each in the company among other issues in Lagos.

earnings rose by 28 per cent from N32.68 billion to N41.86 billion.

While interest income grew by 18 per cent from N26.34 billion to N31.08 billion, net interest income grew faster by 27 per cent to N15.17 billion in 2013 as against N11.96 billion in comparable period of 2012.

Key balance sheet items also underscored the continuing fundamental strength of the bank.

Total deposits rose by 21 per cent from N466.85 billion recorded as at December 31, 2012, which was the opening figure for this year, to N564.93 billion by June 2013.

L-R: Dean, School of Media and Communication, PAN Atlantic University, Prof. Emevwo Biakolo, Vice President, Human Resources and Charge Management, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mrs Felicia Obozuwa, Vice-Chancellor, Pan Atlantic University, Juan Elegido, and representative of the managing director of FCMB, Mr Ikechukwu Kalu, during the presentation of cheque to Pan Atlantic university by FCMB, on Friday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Skye Bank builds N150m ICT Centre for OAU From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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s part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, Skye Bank Plc, said it had built a N150 million ultra-modern information technology Centre (ICT) at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife to promote research and scholarship.

The ICT Centre which has been designated as a Centre of excellence in software engineering, seeks to develop the required local science and technology human resource for the nation’s post basic institutions with built-in functional ICT capacity, using information technology driven , participatory and student-centred teaching and learning approaches. The World Bank and Step B were the other financiers of the project.

The Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti while speaking during the handing over

and commissioning ceremony of the project in Ife, stated that the application of information technology in nation’s educational institutions would aid teaching and learning, data storage, serves as information resource centre, ease students registration and payment of fees, among others.

“As a responsible corporate organisation , Skye Bank partnered with the school to build this stateof-the-art Information Technology Centre that we are commissioning today to underscore our commitment to build capacity for the university in the area of research, automation of tasks and data storage and retrieval”, Durosinmi-Etti said.

He expressed the hope that the ICT Centre would help in evolving ways Information Technology can help in bringing about new ways of teaching such that students can learn outside of the brick and mortal format that is prevalent today.

The Vice Chancellor of the

institution, Prof Bamitale Omole, said the ICT centre would be utilized to harness modern technology for effective and efficient learning and research.

“The problem of large classes will soon be a thing of the past as lecturers and students can interact real time online”, Omole said.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Pro-Chancellor of the school, Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba, said with “this magnanimity from Skye Bank, the University should maintain its lead in ICT education with a view to developing software that are technologically advanced, but purposely indigenous”.

He said OAU would soon be able to produce indigenous computers, i-pads, i-pods and other gadgets to address the challenges facing the nation.

The ICT centre has a telepresence unit, cloud computing laboratory, software studio and internet access laboratory

he Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has concluded arrangements to engage key stakeholders in a special forum, with a view to articulating an effective framework that will fast-track realisation of efficient financial inclusion system in Nigeria.

The stakeholders’ Forum is scheduled to hold on July 23 – 24, 2013, at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The forum will serve as a vital platform for participants to brainstorm on topical issues such as an overview of Financial Inclusion (including Concepts, Rationale, Scope, Merits, Demerits, implications, etc); Regulatory and Statutory Imperatives for Financial Inclusion in Nigeria; Identifying and Managing Risks Associated with Financial Inclusion initiatives; Information Communication Technology in Effective Implementation of Financial Inclusion in Nigeria; National Financial Inclusiveness Programme: The Role of Stakeholders; National Financial Inclusion Framework and Models: Experiences and Lessons from India and other Jurisdictions; Financial Inclusion in Malaysia: Framework, Success Factors, Challenges and Solution options, among other issues.

The event which will attract experts from the Reserved Bank of India, Central Bank of the Philippines and other parts of the globe will further enhance the experience and knowledge of banking and finance practitioners in Nigeria. Officials from CBN, NDIC, Banks, financial consultants, Insurance, NSE, SEC, PENCOM, Media, NGOs, Government agencies and parastatals and others who are expected to participate on the deliberations.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Stocks rally for fourth week on China - Bernanke

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uropean stocks rose for a fourth week, the longest stretch of gains in two months, boosted by Chinese economic data and assurances from the Federal Reserve that its stimulus program remains flexible.

BHP Billiton Ltd. and Rio Tinto Group climbed more than 3.5 percent after the world’s largest mining companies each reported an increase in iron-ore output.

Carrefour SA surged 8.1 percent as sales in the French retailer’s home market stabilized. Banco Popolare SC and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc led a rally in financial shares.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced 1.2 percent to 299.85 this past week, the highest level since May. Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke, giving evidence to the House Financial Services Committee on July 17, said the U.S. central bank’s quantitative-easing program is “by no means on a preset course” and bond purchases could be reduced more quickly or expanded as economic conditions warrant.

“The markets put a dovish spin on Bernanke’s testimony to Congress,” said Ioan Smith, a strategist at KCG Europe Ltd. in London. “In the end he didn’t say anything new, but the lack of any definitive signals on the timing of QE tapering gave stocks a boost.”

European equities climbed on July 15 as a report showed China’s gross domestic product expanded 7.5 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier. That matched the median economist forecast in a Bloomberg survey and the government’s target rate for 2013.

China’s Finance Minister Lou Jiwei had signaled the previous week that the world’s secondbiggest economy may expand at a slower pace this year than the government target. Separately, the People’s Bank of China said yesterday it will remove the floor on lending rates offered by the nation’s financial institutions, giving banks more freedom to set borrowing costs.

The Stoxx 600 has still declined 3.5 percent from a near five-year high on May 22 amid speculation the Fed will begin tapering bond purchases as soon as September. The benchmark measure has climbed 7.2 percent this year.

Minutes from the Bank of England’s July 3-4 meeting released this week showed officials voted unanimously to maintain the central bank’s 375 billionpound ($572 billion) stimulus program. Paul Fisher and David Miles had previously called for an increase in asset purchases.

In the U.S., earnings at banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) and Morgan Stanley beat analysts’ estimates and jobless-benefit claims fell to a two-month low. The benchmark Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rallied to a record.

Capital Market PAGE 21

NSE: Investors wealth up by 2.5% …mkt records 0.212bn new shares F From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

ollowing price gains by major blue chip companies, equity transactions on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) regained an upbeat last week as the twin market indicators -market capitalization and the NSE All-Share Index soared by 2.5% and 2.53% respectively to close at N12.138 trillion and 38,328.29 last weekend .

Similarly, the market recorded additional 0.212 billion new shares upon investment as a turnover of 1.886 billion shares worth of N15. 536 billion in 28,619 deals were traded in contrast to a total of 1.674 billion shares valued at N18.266 billion that exchanged hands in 25,367 deals the previous week.

Analysis of the activity in the market showed that, the Financial Services sector (measured by volume) came top and accounted for 763.653 million shares valued at N7.276 billion traded in 14,740 deals; thus contributing 40.50%, 46.83%, 51.50% to the total equity turnover volume, value and number of deals respectively.

The Conglomerates Sector followed with a turnover volume of 704.825 million shares worth N1.137 billion in 1,122 deals and

contributed 37.38%, 7.32% and 3.92% to the total equity turnover volume, value and number of deals respectively. The Services sector came third with a turnover volume of 169.556 million shares worth N335.382 million in 943 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, ABC Transport Plc and FBN Holdings Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 900.568 million shares worth N2.693 billion in 3,714 deals contributing 47.76%, 17.33% and 12.98% to the total equity turnover volume, value and deals respectively Also, the NSE 30 Index appreciated by 3.06% to close at 1,812.57.

Four of the NSE indices appreciated during the week: NSE Consumer Goods, NSE Banking, NSE Insurance, NSE Oil/ Gas and NSE-Lotus II rose by 4.72%, 1.27%, 0.28%, 9.37% and 3.30% respectively, while NSE Industrial Goods and NSE-ASeM depreciated by 0.45%, 0.50% respectively. ( Fifty (50) equities appreciated in prices during the week higher than thirty seven (37) equities of

the preceding week. Thirty-nine (39) equities depreciated in prices lower than forty-seven (47) equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and five (105) equities remained constant lower than one hundred and ten (110) equities of the preceding week.

Further analysis of the transactions showed that IPWA Plc led the gainers table in per centage terms, increasing by 57.32 per cent or N0.47 kobo to close at N1.29 kobo, IHS Plc followed with a gain of 46.33 per cent or N1.20 kobo to close at N3.79 kobo while Forte Oil Plc appreciated by 46.31 per cent or N9.42 kobo to close at N29.76 kobo.

Other stock that recorded price appreciation were Mrs Oil Nigeria Plc 33.05 per cent, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc 23.22 per cent, UTC Nigeria Plc 21.54 per cent, Champion Breweries Plc 20.79 per cent, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc 19.61 per cent, 7UP Bottling Company Plc 18.18 per cent ABC Transport Plc 17.27 per cent.

On the contrary, Berger Paints Plc topped losers chart in percentage terms, shedding 15.36 per cent or N1.68 kobo to close at N9.26 kobo, Paint and Coatings Manufactures Plc trailed with a

loss of 12.17 per cent or N0.23 kobo to close at N1.66 kobo while Port Land Paints & Products Nigeria Plc 12.16 per cent, TransNationwide Express Plc 11.95 per cent, Jos International Breweries Plc 10.00 per cent, Academy Press Plc 10.00 per cent, Arbico Plc 9.97 per cent, Nigeria-German Chemicals Plc 9.91 per cent, B.O.C Gases Plc 9.73 per cent and Pharma Deko Plc 9.66 per cent.

Report on the OTC market for FGN bonds revealed that a turnover of 126.816 million units valued at N146.010 billion in 1,054 deals were recorded this week in contrast to 110.898 million units worth N120.136 billion in 653 deals recorded in the preceding week ended July 12, 2013.

Also traded during the week were 30 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) valued at N60, 220 executed in 2 deals compared with a total of 20 units valued at N38, 920 transacted last week in 1 deal.

In addition, 8,200 units of FGN bonds valued at N911, 125 were traded during the week in 10 deals in contrast to 4,100 units valued at N443, 665 transacted last week in 18 deals.

L-R: Deputy Director, Capacity Building, Nigerian Institite of Management (NIM), Mrs Jumoke Obasa, Director-General, Nigeria Employment Consultative Association (NECA), Mr Segun Oshinowo, principal consultant, consultants & associates ltd, Mrs Grace Awosika, fellow of NIM, Mrs Kemisola Jiboye, and representative of NIM president, Mrs Lucy Newman, during a women in management and leadership conference, recently in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

IoD tasks stockbrokers on corporate governance

From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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he Institute of Directors Nigeria, has enjoined stockbrokers to comply with corporate governance principle in order to enhance accountability and facilitate market growth.

The Institute’s President, Mrs. Eniola Fadayomi, who gave the admonition when she and other members of the institute paid a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), noted that strengthening the corporate governance would make the market more credible as

well attract the needed investment to grow the economy, “We are partnering with the exchange because they are dealing with companies driven by directors who are our members. Corporate governance is a profitable venture because when people believe in you, they will do business with you.”

Revealing the institute’s intention to collaborate with NSE, she commended the management of the NSE for enforcing strict compliance of corporate governance

in the market, while assuring that the institute would not relent on its efforts of developing credible directors that would become good drivers of corporate governance in their organizations and the financial institutions they represent.

“Part of the objectives of IoD is to develop directors that will be drivers of corporate governance in their organisations and quoted companies because these companies are open for public scrutiny and accountability.

“We express our appreciation

through the NSE Chief Executive Officer, Oscar Onyema for enforcing corporate governance in the exchange to foster a seasoned growth.

The exchange is now seen as a credible institution and our confidence in you are growing.

She cited non-compliance to corporate governance principle as one of the major causes of recession, adding that the Institute has resolved to strengthen the partnership in order to make the issue of credibility become stronger in the market.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Economy

By Abdulwahab Isa

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t the close of deadline for submission of Interest by willing investors in the 10 plants of the Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) by last Friday, a total of 110 submissions have been harvested by Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria (NDPHCN).

Director General BPE Mr. Benjamin Dikki, while confirming the figure said the opening and analysis of the 110 submissions will be

Eko PHCN collaborates with local firm to fastrack metering installation

NIPP plants: BPE begins analysis of 110 bids today done today, Monday.

Speaking at Abuja after drawing the curtain for the submission process at the headquarters of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), a firm that is jointly owned by the three tiers of government undertaking the projects, he confirmed that until the government opens the bids it will not be able to state the number of expression of interest it received for each plant. Dikki, however, noted that details of the submissions will be made public in due course, especially when the organiza-

tion has properly analyzed their contents.

He added that after the analysis, the bureau will move to the next stage of due diligence, packaging and submission of financial proposals.

He said: “Opening of these submissions will commence on Monday. We will analyze the expressions of interest according to the individual plants. And before the end of the week when all the submissions have been opened and analyzed, we will announce the specific number of expressions of

interest. “Prior to 5.00pm deadline adopted as part of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) timeline for submission, bidders were still scampering to beat the project deadline.” Following the BPE timeline, the NDPHC gate at Maitama was shut at 5.00pm as late bidders peeped into the company’s premises to no avail”.

Meanwhile, NDPHC, the Managing Director, Mr. James Olotu disclosed that bidders made 106 submissions to the NIPP office and four to the BPE office before the deadline.

T

he Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) under the EKO Electricity Distribution Company has partnered with two local meter manufacturers to begin Credit Advance Payment for Metering Installation (CAPMI) .

Chief Executive Officer of EKO Electricity Distribution Company, Mr Oladele Amoda, said this recently at the launch of CAPMI programme in Lagos.

He said that the programme was an intervention scheme by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to address the challenges of estimated billing of customers.

Amoda said that CAPMI was designed to fill the gap created by the old metering system as contained in the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) ll.

He said that the programme would ensure that customers of PHCN, willing to pay in advance, would get prepaid meters within a maximum of 45 days and a minimum of 48 hours. ``When a customer credits our account with N25,000 for a single-phase meter, he will get metered within 48 hours or 45 days. ``This interval includes days of inspection of where the meter will be installed by our technical staff to avoid diversion or hoarding,’’ he said.

Mr Kola Balogun, the Chairman of one of the indigenous meter manufacturing companies, MEMMCOL, said that the company had production capacity of 50,000 units of meters per day.

Balogun said that the company was willing to embark on a 24-hour meter installation daily to willing customers. ``What created gaps in the old programme were inadequate supplies. ``We have enough capacity to meet our customers’ demands to permanently solve the issue of outrageous bills,’’ he said.

Mrs Mojisola Abdul, the President, MOJEC Meter Manufacturing International, commended the distribution company for the programme.

She gave the assurance CAPMI would bring a permanent solution to outrageous billing.

(NAN)

L-R: Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Mr. James Olotu, Director General, National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, Engineer Reuben Okeke, and Ekiti state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, during the meeting of the board of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) presided over by Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, last Friday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

NRC chairman wants autonomy for rail sub-sector

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he Chairman, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Alhaji Kawu Baraje has advocated full autonomy for the nation’s rail sub-sector, to make it more functional for economic development.

Baraje made the call recently in Ilorin, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the granting of auton-

omy to the rail sub-sector, from the transport sector, would bring more social and economic development to all parts of the country.

The chairman also said that ``making the NRC a commission, that would be taking directives from the Presidency, would hasten national development.

According to him, autonomy for the Railway Corporation will also make it more effective and

easier to manage.

Baraje disclosed that the corporation would commence fast moving rail systems by 2015, in line with global realities.

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for reviving the rail transport sector.

The NRC chairman recalled that the rail sub-sector had been in comatose in the last 22 years.

(NAN)

structure in the state and the score the government gave itself. ``There are many unfinished and abandoned capital projects in various locations within Lagos.

There are many roads in deplorable conditions. ``How could they have achieved 83 per cent on capital expenditure within three months?’’ he asked.

Okurounmu urged the state government to present data to support its claims. ``Let the government provide

a comprehensive list of capital projects it executed in the second quarter. ``It is the public that can give credit to any government for a good performance,’’ Okurounmu said.

Gov. Babatunde Fashola had, few days ago, said that his administration recorded 83 per cent budget performance from April to June 2013.

The governor said this during a second quarter/half year budget appraisal in Ikeja.

He said that the performance was an improvement over 61 per cent recorded in the first quarter.

(NAN)

Budget performance: Financial expert says LASG’s claim unrealistic

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financial expert, Mr Titus Okurounmu has described as unrealistic; Lagos State Government’s claim that it achieved 83 per cent budget performance in the second quarter of this year.

Okurounmu, a former Director of Budgets in the Central Bank of Nigeria, said in Lagos that it was not possible for the government to make the achievement.

The former director spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that there was a disparity between the condition of infra-

CBN urges risk managers to seek collaboration in managing emerging risks

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he Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi advised risk managers to collaborate with various institutions to enhance capacity for managing the nation’s emerging risks.

Sanusi gave the advice in Lagos while delivering a keynote address at the 13th Annual National Conference of Risk Managers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN).

The theme of the conference was, ``Emerging Risks in an Emerging Economy’’.

The governor noted that emerging risks, which he described as large-scale events or circumstances, had been systemic and were beyond the capacity of a single enterprise.

Sanusi, who was represented

by Ms Folakemi Fatogbe, the Director, Risk Management in the CBN, pointed out that such risks impacted negatively on the economy. ``Emerging risks can become good opportunities if they’re identified, assessed and managed for competitive advantage. ``With interconnectivity with industries, bodies, financial institutions and other world economies, identification, assessment and management of risks will be better addressed,’’ he said.

Mr Ademola Adeniran, the Director, Risk Management, Deloitte Nigeria, noted that emerging economies and new risks had both altered and powered world growth in the past years. ``Regulatory changes, fiscal pressures, political and social unrests are creating an uncertain business environment. ``This instability makes the future of financial services difficult to predict and challenges traditional risk methodologies. The Immediate challenge is how to anticipate and adopt, rather than simply react,’’ he said.

Adeniran identified political, bribery, environmental and social, terrorism risks, among others, as the major emerging risks in emerging and developing economies.

Also speaking, Mr Daniel Asapokhai, the Managing Partner, PriceWaterCoopers, said that it was illogical and unprofessional for managers to wait until something happened before acting.

He said that the approach was unhealthy in risk management.

Asapokhai blamed the nation’s recent financial crisis on inadequate risk management culture, absence of corporate governance and supervisors’ poor response. ``While dealing with already emerged risks, provisions should be made for emerging ones,’’ he said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

Population explosion: The frightening fertility, teenage pregnancy among Nigerians

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he scholars, who were drawn from various international organisations were of the opinion that the country’s growth portends great danger, especially when the people giving birth are not ready and do not have any plan of raising children.

Speaking to mark the occasion, the United Nation (UN), Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Resident Representative Daouda Toure, said Nigeria has the highest fertility in the continent, with 121 births per 1,000.

Toure, who was represented by Bilali Camara, said that the figure is alarming “when compared to 7 live births per 1,000 in Algeria, 63 live births per 1,000 in Ghana and 64 live births per 1,000 in Togo”.

He noted that the major drivers of adolescents’ fertility in Nigeria are: poverty, sexual abuse, ignorance, socio-cultural and also religious factors.

The UN Resident Coordinator, frowned that the issue is gradually affecting the continent negatively and had thrown a lot of teenagers out of school to become a burden and problems to the society.

“Unfortunately, this menace is a serious problem to the society which must be addressed. To address the high incidence and consequences of adolescent pregnancy in the country, the UN system is supporting the government to implement basic education programme. The Child Right Act 2003, which criminalises child marriage; and in the enactment of policies and guidelines to advance the health and development of young people”, he stated.

Also, in his message to mark the day, United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said the world is relying on young girls to transform it.

He said the choice of the topic; “Adolescent pregnancy” was necessary, in order to attract global attention.

“Far too many of the estimated 16 million teenage girls who give birth each year never had the opportunity to plan their pregnancy which at child birth can cause great

The National Population Commission (NPC), a fortnight ago assembled veteran scholars of international repute at Rockview Hotel, Abuja to deliberate on the World Population Day; The forum had the theme; “Adolescent pregnancy”. In their separate presentations, the scholars ranked Nigeria as the only country in Africa with the highest fertility rate. Tobias Lengnan Dapam, who was there, reports.

Cross section of participants at the event disabilities, such as obstetric fistula, which is a leading cause of death for these vulnerable young women.

Adolescent girls also face high level of illness, injury and death due to unsafe abortion.

“To address the problems, we must get girls in to primary schools and enable them to receive a good education through their adolescence. When a young girl is educated, she is more likely to marry later and delay child bearing until she is ready. This will help her to produce healthier children and have a higher income.

“We must also provide all adolescents with ageappropriate, comprehensive education on sexuality. This is especially important to empowering young women to decide when and if they want to become mothers. In addition, we must provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services that cover family planing and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections; Including HIV”, he said.

0n his part, the National Population Commission (NPC), chairman Eze F. Odimegwu, revealed that Katsina state, has the

highest recorded number of teenage pregnancy and motherhood in the country, with 65 percent, while Edo state recorded the least, with 2.7 percent.

Represented by the Chairman, Technical Management Team of the Commission, Festus Uzo Odimegwu said that the increasing incidence of teenage pregnancy in the country can be attributed to about one third of the population.

He said about 44.5 million were young people between the ages of 10, and 24 in 2006, adding that by the year 2016, the number

would have increased to 60million.

“Because of marriages, early sexual exposure and pregnancy, coupled with poor health service, teenage girls are at risk of sexual and reproductive health problems.

The teenage maternal mortality rate at 0.822 per 1000 women yearly in Nigeria is high.

According to him, “Teenage pregnancy in Nigeria has shown a slow decline since 1990. In 2008, about a quarter (23%)of teenagers (15-19) had begun child bearing, a 5% decline from 1990 level of 28.3%.

However, these rates,

according to him, are 2 1/4 times higher in the rural areas than urban areas.

“Teenage pregnancy varied markedly in northern and southern zones, as well as urban and rural areas; they are higher in the northern geo-political zone’s rural areas. One in every three teenage girls in the North has started child bearing in 2008 compared with one in every ten in the south.

“Pregnancy is the biggest killer of teenage girls worldwide. It is imperative to know that pregnancy is responsible for 50,000 deaths in the country”.

The chairman further said that most of the victims of adolescent pregnancy were mostly low-income earners.

“Cases of adolescents mostly occurred in the poorest regions of the world. This figure rises to over one in three girls. Almost all adolescent births-about 95 percent- occur in low and middle-income countries”, the chairman said.

Similarly, representative of the United Nations Funds for Population Activities (UNFPA), Osaretin Adorin said the manner in which parents shy away from discussing the issues has encouraged its growth in the

society, and urged them to discourage the Act so as to give their children a better future.

Adorin, frowned that most of the victims were all within school age. He however said, according to the Child Right Act, the practice is illegal, and urged the media to help in sensitising the environment.

Speaking on the causes of teenage pregnancy, the Founder/Executive Director, Sexual Offences Awareness and Rehabilitation (SOAR Initiative), Chinyere Eyoh observed that negligence by parents, who are mostly low income earners, were responsible for the increasing cases of teenage pregnancy in the country.

She said that the girlchild mostly fall victim of molestation and rape to people close to them, adding that the rate at which parents shy away from discussing issues of sex with their children is also a contributing factor.

“It is unfortunate that molestation of the girl child usually started from the home. Most of the uncles these days are advocates of child molestation. They take advantage of the girls whenever their parents are not at home. A similar thing happened to me when I was growing up.

“Parents should educate their children on sex so that they will not learn it from outside. It is everybody’s responsibility to help in the fight so as to create a greater future for the girl-child in the country”, she stated.

He urged government to create more programmes that will educate parents and the victims of sexual abuse so as to reduce the spread of the abuse in the country.

On her part, the programme officer, Education as a Vaccine (EVA), Okwonkwo Chinelo said the effects are so dire in the country, and called for collaborative efforts to resolve the problem.

Judging by all these, the government should rise up to its responsibility and create quality institutions where the nation’s population would learn. The consistent

strike by primary, secondary and tertiary institutions is a major factor that will encourage the girl-child to commit such act.

There should be serious efforts to control the country’s population and cater for them effectively instead of allowing an already confused population to keep increasing.

On this, the NPC said, “We are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring effective implementation of the Nation Population Policy”, adding that it would implement strategic architecture and the various intervention by the federal government in health and education sector, job

creation, social infrastructure and power reforms to reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy and also mitigate negative impact on the girl child and the society.

However, religious scholars who bared their minds on the issue were of the view that the two dominant religions were advocate of procreation. Rev. Fr. Victor Shehu said “the church has never frowned at the rate of fertility and there is nothing wrong with it as long as it is done the right way and not against the will of God. The Bible teaches us and encourages us to go out and procreate, so as to multiply.

But let us not in the course of doing that give birth to

“

Katsina state, has the highest recorded number of teenage pregnancy and motherhood in the country, with 65 percent, while Edo state recorded the least, with 2.7 percent

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon

children out of wedlock”.

However, he said people should pro-create according to their income so as not to give birth to children who will end up in the street instead of the classroom.

According to him, “Most of the people who indulge in despicable acts are those whose parents have fallen short of providing them the basic needs of life.

Also speaking, an Islamic scholar, Sheik Sa’ad Yusuf, said the Quran has never been against procreation. He said the Holy book encourages marriage and pro-creation, quoting Surat An-Naĥl (The Bee), verse 72, saying that men were created to marry and produce children so as to multiply the world.

“Increase in population is not the cause of poverty anywhere. China and India are more populated than us and still richer than us.

Our problem stems from misunderstanding the scripture. Children are from God and it is not for any man to question his will”.

He said parents have the greater responsibility of teaching their children the good virtues of life, so that they will in-turn transfer same to others.

National Population Commission’s Chairman, Eze Festus Odimegwu

LAW

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Alleged unlawful dismissal: Court to hear Maina’s suit tomorrow Stories by Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he National Industrial Court will tomorrow commence hearing of a suit brought before it by Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina against the Head of Service and six others, wherein, he is challenging his unlawful dismissal as a deputy director in the civil service.

Maina, who instituted the action through his counsel via originating summons, wants the court to quash the purported dismissal from service.

But the President of the court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo had, at the last adjourned date, ruled that a case of unlawful dismissal could not be commenced through originating summons but by way of complaint through writ of summons.

The Judge held that the affida-

vit and counter- affidavits before the court showed a cloud of controversy regarding the position of the claimant in the civil service.

Adejumo discountenanced the submissions of the counsel for the claimant and declared that the case would not be effectively and judicially determined through originating summons.

The President however, ordered the claimant to file his complaint by writ of summons and serve the defendants within 14 days to enable the defendants file their defence and ordered the defendants to file their statement of defence and counter claims within 14 days upon receipt of service from the claimant.

“I am in agreement with the submissions of the learned counsel for the defendants that, a case of dismissal cannot be commenced through originating summons but

Lawyer faults constitutional review process

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constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Dr. Tunji Ababyomi has described as ridiculous, the current constitutional review process embarked upon by the National Assembly. Ababyomi, in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal on the review process said legislative authority is only valid if it is based on the consent of the people.

He described as betrayal of trust the attempt by the lawmakers to impose on Nigerians, an amended constitution hued out of a dictatorship constitution decreed over the people of Nigeria.

“As for the amendment itself, one must feel sorry for this nation because of the organic confusion your amendment intends. For example, your strange amendment seeks to allow you to make for Nigerians a brand new constitution.

“Haba, can the National Assembly give the Nigerian people a constitution? It is indeed sad that the National Assembly, under the present leadership is always inclined to surface dress national problems at high abnormal cost, that grows out largely out of selfish desires, instead of fundamental sacrifice that will

honour today and enhance tomorrow.

“Well, you may do your wish, amend the illegitimate constitution, and foist it on the people.

But hear my voice, things will not change, the climate will remain harsh, the pain will expand, development will delude Nigeria and if this nation is not careful the hope of our people in her will expire”, he said in the letter.

writ, by way of complaint.

Adejumo had earlier ordered all the counsel in the suit to address the court on whether it was proper for the case to commence by originating summon as, according to him, the matter had generated public interest and would want to apply caution in determining the suit.

Maina is praying the court to order the defendants to reinstate him as chairman, Customs, Immigration and Prison Pension Office (CIPPO) and Deputy Director (Admin), Federal Civil Service.

He also wants an order of the court directing the defendants to pay him N2 billion in damages and N500 million as compensation.

Maina was the Chairman, CIPPO and Pension Reform Task Team before his dismissal.

Attempted murder on Judge: Appeal Court grants bus driver bail

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he Court of Appeal in Lagos has granted bail to a 32-year-old commercial bus driver charged with attempted murder of a Lagos High Court judge, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo.

Quadri Kasali was first arraigned at a Tinubu Magistrate court, Lagos on March 9, 2012 for a charge of alleged attempted murder of justice Adebajo but he

S/Court proceeds on vacation today

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he Supreme Court of Nigeria will today, 22rd day of July, 2013 proceed on a six-week annual vacation.

A statement made available to newsmen by the Chief Registrar of the Court, Sunday Olorundahunsi said: “The general public is hereby notified that the Supreme Court of Nigeria will proceed on annual vacation as from Monday the 22nd day of July, 2013”.

The statement said the apex court will however resume on 16th September 2013.

Already, Federal High Court judges nationwide proceeded on

Maina

their annual vacation last week and will resume normal legal activities on 16 September, 2013.

High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and justices of the Court of Appeal will also proceed on their own vacation soon, and are expected back at their desks in September.

It was learnt that Justice Ramat Ahmed Mohammed and one other judge would act as the vacation judges at the Federal High Court, while Justices Jude Okeke and Peter Affen have been selected to act as vacation judges for the FCT High Court.

pleaded not guilty.

He was denied bail by Chief Magistrate M.A Ladipo who ordered his remand in prison custody.

His bail application before Justice Christopher Balogun of the Lagos High Court was also dismissed on the ground that there was no particular address attached to his bail application and that there was no concrete evidence that he will show up for trial.

Dissatisfied, Kasali through his lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) appealed against the ruling and urged the Court of appeal to grant him bail.

The appellate court, in its ruling delivered by Justice Shagbaor Ikyegh held that the offence of attempted murder with which he was charged was a bailable offence.

The court granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000.00 and two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must have landed property in Lagos State. They are to file an affidavit of means.

The court noted that the appellant is presumed innocent until proved guilty adding that there were no facts in the counter affidavit of the respondent

(Lagos State) disputing the fact that he is a first time offender.

It also held that it is the duty of the respondent to bring facts before the court that will show that the appellant will not attend his trial and not the other way round.

The court also quoted from the ruling of the lower court which stated that the Appellant is likely to be mobile as he is a commercial bus driver, which it found to be perverse and grant him bail on the strength of his supporting affidavit.

Meanwhile, Justice Balogun has adjourned till September 20, Kasali’s application to quash the charge leveled against him.

Opposing the application, senior state counsel, Femi Adamson argued that challenging the charge means challenging the powers of the Attorney General and urged the court to dismiss the defence counsel’s submission in its entirety because it lacks merit.

According to the charge sheet, Kasali on March 1, 2012 was driving a commercial bus with registration number XA 242 KLK at Moloney St., Lagos Island at 2.20 p.m. where he obstructed other road users.

FOI: SERAP drags FG to court over N700bn expenditure

S

ocio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Federal Government before Federal High Court, Ikoyi over failure to provide information on the spending of the N700 billion borrowed between December 31, 2012 and April 30, 2013, and details of projects on which this money was spent.

The Suit Number FHC/L/ CS/978/13 was filed last week following a request made under the FOI Act by the organization,

which joined the AccountantGeneral of the Federation, Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN) as defendants in the suit.

SERAP wants the court to declare that, by virtue of the provisions of Section 4 (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the 1st defendant is under a binding legal obligation to provide the plaintiff with up to date information on the spending of the N700

billion borrowed between December 31, 2012 and April 30, 2013 and details of projects on which the money was spent.

Other reliefs sought by SERAP are that, the court should declare that the failure of 1st defendant (Accountant-General) to provide it with the information requested is a breach of section 4(a) of the Freedom of Information 2011, an order of mandamus directing and/or compelling the 1st defendant to provide the plaintiff with up to date information as requested.

According to the organization, “by the clear provisions of section 2(3)(d)(v) of the FOI Act, documents containing information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public or other funds of a public institution, constitute part of the information which a public institution is obligated to publish, disseminate and make available to members of the public.”

The organization also argued that the 1st defendant “is legally mandated by the provisions of section 4(a) of the FOI Act to com-

ply with a request for access to public information except where the FOI Act exempts a public official from so disclosing.”

The organization further argued that the 1st defendant “has no legally justifiable reason for refusing to provide the plaintiff with the information requested” and urged the court, “to compel it to comply with the provisions of the Act by providing the plaintiff with the information requested.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the application.

Education

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 27

Poor funding responsible for UNI Abuja accreditation crisis-Senate Committee

By Maryam Garba Hassan

T

he Senate Committee on Education has attributed the lingering crisis rocking the University of Abuja to poor funding by the Federal Government that owns the institution.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who made this remark when he led other members of the Committee on oversight function to the University, said the institution ought to have attracted special funding by the government in view of its strategic location in the Federal Capital Territory.

He, however, said going by the efforts of the management, the University was on the way to overcoming the serious challenges that had hindered it from realising its potential adding that the three programmes that had faced accreditation problems which had been a dent on the image of the University in recent times have either overcome or were on the verge of overcoming their problems.

“In summary, the institution has negotiated the blind corner and seems to be in the way to fast growth,” Chukwumerije said.

It would be recalled that the three unaccredited programmes which were proscribed by the Federal government that led to unending crisis in the University are Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Engineering as a result of which some of the students of the programmes had stagnated for about eight years for four to five years programmes.

The Senate Committee Chair-

man said that the University of Abuja occupied a unique position in the Federal Capital Territory and therefore deserved priority attention in the national budget provisions.

On whether the University would be considered for a special financial grant in view of its peculiar challenges, Senator Chukwumerije said the Committee normally recommend special provisions for special challenges observed during such visits and that will be done for the institution.

He said in terms of its general status as the only university domiciled in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it will always have special attention in the budget.

He said while responding to a welcome address by the Vice chancellor of the University, Professor James Adelabu that the Senate Committee on Education should be seen as a partner in progress of tertiary institutions adding that their oversight visit should not be seen as a witchhunt but rather a welcome opportunity for both sides to discuss any progress and grey areas with a view to finding solutions to the problems of the institution.

He said that the committee appreciated the peculiar challenges of the University but stressed the need to lift the university far above its present level because it was the cynosure of all eyes and therefore a ready reference point by first time visitors to the country.

Chukwumerije, said the posi-

Zinariya int’l sch graduates 46, awards parents, outstanding staff

By Maryam Garba Hassan

Z

inarriya International School, Maraba, Nasarawa state at the weekend graduated eleven students from its secondary section and awarded some of its staff for their outstanding performances in various categories.

The school management also recognised some parents for their years of patronage, prompt payment of their wards’ school fees.

Wife of the FCT Minister and proprietress of the school, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, said the school will by next academic session introduce programmes such as fish farming, gardening and poultry with the aim of addressing the problem of unemployment among Nigerian teeming youths.

Speaking at the school’s Speech and Prize Giving Day and the launch of the school magazine” the Focal Point” Director of the school, Abdulmalik Abdallah said the school which started with four students 5 years ago, this year graduated 32 out of which 11 were from the secondary section and registered with the WAEC, NECO and NBTE adding that arrangement are in top gear to accredit the school for

JAMB by next academic year.

Abdallah further explained that the school is making arrangement to start assisting its students to gain admission into various Universities of their choices by next year.

In his key note address, the school PTA Chairman Malam Marafa Mohammed, commended the school for the introduction of moral lesion as part of its curriculum which he described as a “unique invention” to address the issue of moral decadence in the society and urged parents to indulge in the programme.

He called on parents to create time to visit the school once in every term to assess the students and the progress the school is making.

Representative of the FCT Minister and Managing Director, FCT Broadcasting Corporation, Malam Abbas Hassan who commended the school management for their curriculum and extra curriculum activities, said with the presentations made by the students, the future of the nation is a bright one.

He called on parents to ensure that they give quality education to their wards.

tion of the university placed far greater responsibility on it than on other universities in the projection of the country’ image to foreign visitors.

Prof. Adelabu told the committee of the efforts made by the university management to rectify the defects observed in the three new programmes which were now set to resume full academic activities adding that despite its

travails of recent, the university had excelled in other spheres of academics.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) had recently given indications that the Medical programme of the University would soon take-off in view of the structures and personnel already put in place by the University authorities.

The Council which reserved

the result of the verification visit because of what is described as “high level interest”, clearly showed that the University was ready for full commencement of its College of Health Sciences.

Accordingly, the University has taken over the Gwgwalada Specialist Hospital, which it has renamed as University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja as part of requirement for running of the medicalprogramme.

The Council’s verification team led by Prof. Francis .C. Akpuaka expressed satisfaction with the facilities and quality of academic staff put in place for the take-off the medical programme.

L-R: President, National Associations of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Comrade Sani Suleiman, President, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Comrade Ladi Iliya, Vice-President, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Comrade Alfred Jimoh, and the Deputy President, NASU, Comrade Sunday Adeyemi, during the unions joint press briefing on unfulfilled agreement between the union and Federal Government, on Friday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Muslim Community Centre graduates 54 students

By Abbas Aminu Bamalli

T

he Muslim Community Centre, Abuja (MCC) has celebrated its 16th joint Speech and Price Given Day and the presentation of the 16th edition of the school magazine ‘the learner’.

The joint speech and price giving day which held in Abuja at the weekend comprised of the 5 schools under the MCC, Fou’ad Lababidi Islamic Academy, College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Fou’ad Nursery and Primary School, Institute of Education and Tahfeezul Qur’an programme.

In his speech, the Principal of Fou’ad Lababidi Islamic Academy, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu Kperogi, said the schools has graduated 54 students and the academic performance of the students has been encouraging as it reflected in their WAEC and NECO results.

Kperogi said, with the type of moral, spiritual and academic discipline imparted on the students throughout their study period the sky will be a starting point for them as they have been groomed to compete favourably with their peers.

“In our drive to achieve our target of 100% academic excellence, we have introduced an assignment control unit to help keep the students engaged in meaningful venture in and out of the school” he stated.

In his remarks, Chairman

governing board of the Centre, Sen. U. K Umar, represented by Prof. Isma’il Taiga said the centre has facilitates the conduct of numerous activities for the unity and development of the Muslim Ummah and the nation, such as headquarters of the committee of FCT Imams, Muslim Da’awah groups, funeral rites, collection and distribution of Zakkat and Sadaqah, and counseling and dispute resolution service.

He said the centre has evolved a reward policy for teachers whose students’ performed very well in their WAEC and NECO exams to encourage excellent performance, adding that it organised a four day workshop on capacity building for all its teaching staff aimed at im-

proving the quality of their teachers in various areas.

“In our continued efforts and desire to satisfy the yearnings of the Umma and the nation, we have taken some good steps to establish a university for which a planning committee has been established”. He stated.

Representing the head of service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, a Permanent Secretary at the civil service commission, Alhaji Sani Saulawa Bala, commended the MCC for their activities which make great impact on the lives of the students and the civil servants, describing the centre as a centre of excellent in producing excellent and highly talented graduates.

Jigawa Varsity to commence academic activities soon From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

F

ollowing the National University Commission’s (NUC) recognition of the newly established Jigawa state University, the state government is to recruit academic and non- academic staff for the state University located in Kafin Hausa.

The Commissioner for Education Science and Technology Prof. Haruna Wakili who made this known while commenting on the recent recognition of the University by the NUC, said the

2013/2014 academic session of the University will commence by the end of the year.

Prof. Wakili stated that the second phase project of the University will soon be awarded after the recruitment of the academic and non -academic staff of the University adding that program on applied science, education and humanity will also commence.

The commissioner assured that the state government will continue to support the institution to achieve it desired objectives.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Re-Wadada and Al-Makura’s appalling two years

T

he stage is being set for the game of politics to be played by actors (some amateurs while others are more professionals) in the search for offices and relevance through various avenues and antics, all in a bid to win the electorate to their sides.

Some of these actors may not be actually seeking any offices for themselves but are fronting for others (may be their masters) in order to be considered for some reward in the event of success being attained.

It may be in the light of either scenarios (seeking office or reward) that some politicians across Nigeria today utilize the media, the best way they can, in order to release few political words from their dictionaries to tell the world, particularly Nigerians, that they are still hovering around somewhere unnoticed and so should not be forgotten so fast; since some of them have actually been forgotten soon after they left plumb political offices for the simple reason that nothing much, if any, was achieved by them to warrant their being remembered.

Former House of Representatives Member, a “vibrant” young politician of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP who represented the Keffi-Karu- Kokona Federal Constituency but lost out to the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC), candidate Ishaq Kana in the April 2011 elections, is one who seem to have slept too soon after the electoral defeat that he has to find all ways possible into political reckoning as the wind of change has blocked him out completely from political relevance in his constituency and Nasarawa state.

Talking in the pages of newspapers or any other media is a legitimate right of every Nigerian, not to talk of let alone politicians who can even afford to buy pages to advertise their points and strategies.

That is exactly what Hon. Ahmed Wadada did, on page 52 of Daily Trust of Thursday, July 18th, 2013 when he granted an interview expressing his opinion on issues bordering on Nigeria, particularly Nasarawa state and Northern Nigeria. The interview was titled: “Al-Makura’s 2 years appalling-Wadada”.

I do not have any right or reason to challenge Wadada for exercising his right to expression as guaranteed by the constitution of Nigeria. Wadada knows this so much as a former Federal law maker and thus wasted no time in utilizing this opportunity. He must be commended for his efforts in championing the cause of development in the North through his “Northern Reawakening Forum (NRF)”. That his forum has “achieved” the much listed in that interview is commendable.

With modesty and all sense of responsibility, this piece is not out to join issues with Hon. Wadada who is nationally known, least from an unknown and obscure person like me. I respect his position in national circle but wish that certain things were not said by him, or were better put by him so that he is not branded as one of those desperately seeking political offices or relevance as the year 2015 draws nearer with political birds beginning to sing different tunes to unsuspecting electorates, who will readily dance without asking questions.

In response to a question on the “unresolved” crisis bedeviling the PDP in the state which is capable of affecting his party in 2015, Wadada retorted that “the citizens of Nasarawa state have gotten to know the difference between boys and men”. He reasoned that this is due to the fact that the CPC led administration of Al-Makura has done very little to justify the confidence reposed in it by the electorate in the state when a “huge political hurricane” swept the PDP administration and some of its legislators at both the state and federal levels away, leaving them to cry as little babes after their mother abandoned them.

One must agree more with Wadada that “a better Friday would be noticed from Wednesday”. This

aptly describes achievements made so far by the two year-old administration of Al-Makura which Wadada has deliberately refused to see. It is not surprising that he is adopting this style which is synonymous with politicians in the country. One is tempted to think aloud here that such a position has been taken to by Wadada because he has chosen to “…continuously be critical of the CPC government under Al-Makura”.

Certainly, the posture of Hon. Wadada stems from the fact that they belong to different political climes. I find it difficult to associate with his assertion that it is “not because we belong to different political platforms or any sentimental reason, but for the betterment of Nasarawa state”. He can only tell this to the birds of the sky and not rational political beings that ought to ask questions, especially about governments they lined up in the sun and rain to vote into office.

If for twelve years the PDP, Wadada’s party held sway in the state with him in the Federal legislature, the question begging for answer is: where was he when PDP administrations plundered the state without any criticism of its none performance to the level of its rejection at the polls? If Wadada agrees that “twelve years and two years are wide range of times”, in terms of rating the PDP and CPC, it must be accepted that the CPC has not spent a quarter of the time PDP spent and so describing the two years as “appalling and disappointing” is clearly “like a political crime or suicide to compare it with previous regime” (to use Wadada’s words).

The African proverb that says a pot calling a kettle black must have done so out of ignorance looks apt in describing the position of the former federal law maker. Wadada has only succeeded in displaying his ignorance about what is happening in Nasarawa state, or is into some mischief common with politicians. Claiming that President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the state was cancelled because “the state has no projects for him to commission” goes to show his retarded or complete memory loss.

In the four years of the last administration of the PDP, one is not sure if any project was commissioned by the immediate past Governor, not to talk of a big one which would have elicited the attention of Mr. President. Wadada shot himself (the PDP) in the foot, as one hardly remembers any time a President came to the state to commission a project executed by the PDP since Obasanjo last did that of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) office-turned into Akwanga General Hospital, or the fertiliser “blending plant” in Lafia (where Obasanjo himself chided the PDP administration then).

President Goodluck only visited the state for party congresses or on campaign. What a shame for the party that controlled both the state and Federal levels then!

As for the present administration, Wadada and those of us from the western senatorial zone cannot pretend not to be receiving radio and television signals from the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS), a situation that was unobtainable in the PDP days. People like Wadada used to run to Abuja to tell their electorate what they had in stock, but today, he can only refuse to do so in Keffi, which has a fully-equipped and digitized NBS station for reasons of being “critical” and “sentimental”.

Remember that Lafia also has a similar station, and which the National Broadcasting Commission recently commended the present administration for its revolutionary strides in the media industry.

The NAGIS (Nasarawa Geographic Information Service) office in Karu, which is raking unimproved revenue for the state, is what people like Wadada should embrace and improve upon and not just call Karu a “cash cow and investment haven”.

The Diamond Bank-Jos Road loop and Wamba bye pass-Central Primary School road in Akwanga;

Government House – Lafia-East Road, Awe Street, Super Cinema-New Market Street, Agwai JunctionAngwan Nungu as well as Tudun-Gwandara-Angwa Nungu streets are some of those road projects constructed and commissioned by Al-Makura in just two years!

Wadada should cite any road constructed by the PDP in Keffi. Come to think of the Abdu Zanga and State University roads being done by the present administration in Keffi town, the abode of Wadada.

These are aside the numerous rural roads being done to open up the areas to Wadada and others who will enjoy during campaigns.

That Nasarawa town was without water for over 10 years, yet the likes of Wadada never cared to speak out, is no longer news. What may be news is that the taps there are now running with water while the Nasarawa Water Scheme Upgrading is making steady progress.

Of course, the long abandoned NassarawaEggon water scheme which former Plateau state Governor, Solomon Lar started was completed and commissioned by the regime, whose tenure Wadada regards “appalling” even while it is half way into its mandate. Electricity transformers provided for villages across the state to improve power supply and thereby boost the economy are some of those issues Wadada has chosen to be “appalled” with.

God will help us.

If Wadada is unaware that the resources coming into Nasarawa, his beloved state is meager, he must be double speaking here. The previous administrations ran by the PDP complained in like manner. Those administrations actually justified this position, by embarking on taking of loans within and outside the country and leaving the state as one of the most indebted in the country. Sadly, this administration is battling to settle such “questionable” loans which are deducted at source by the PDP-led federal government.

It was common place then for loans to be collected in order to pay salaries, yet Wadada closed his eyes to this despicable and unacceptable act resulting from misappropriation of “the meager resources” we were told available to the state then. He also refused to draw attention of the previous administrations to “our geographical location” which he rightly argues “has kept us at a very advantageous position; which is our proximity to the FCT”. Why did he not offer advice then that “Mararaba here, in Karu Local Government Area is a cash-cow, an investment haven” with a view to attracting the desired revenue to the state? Being a financial expert, a banker for that matter, this is the least consultancy he should have offered, unless his eyes have only suddenly opened to these opportunities.

Even though Wadada claims he is not aware of the hands behind his posters adorning the streets of Lafia and Akwanga ( Southern and Northern) Senatorial Districts, the questions bogging an innocent mind is why these are not found in his zone if he actually lived up to expectations while in the House of Representatives. If a prophet is rejected in his land, something must definitely be amiss.

Charity, they say, begins at home.

Wadada should not contemplate contesting the Senatorial seat of his zone even if Senator Abdullahi Adamu will not, as he will have to campaign his intestines out to win the support that enabled him go to the House of Representatives, where he went and floundered in terms of performance. He knows too well that the governorship seat is well beyond him and thus the wise concession; the electorates are watching. We cannot be fooled twice, as we are getting wiser by the day and from acts of politicians.

Sadiq Tijjani writes from Nasarawa town, Nasarawa state.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 29

Healthy living

Harmful traditional practices, major cause of childhood blindness says minister

By A’ishaBiolaRaji

M

inister of health, Prof.

OnyebuchiChukwu has described some practices at birth by parents as one of the causes of child blindness or visual impairment.

The minister said this in Abuja at the weekend during the occasion of a one-day programme for the families of children with visual impairment organized by the Association for the Education and Aid of Children with Visual Impairment (AEACVI).

Prof. Chukwuwho listed causes of childhood blindness as, uncorrected refractive errors, cataract, glaucoma, corneal scarring from vitamin A deficiency, measles, opthalmitis of the newborn and majorly, harmful practices.

He said as efforts are going on to address childhood blindness through immunization, vitamin

A supplementation and nutrition education, there is need for parents and teachersto avoid causing injuries to children’s eyes while giving them discipline.

He however commended the ongoing bill at the Kwara state House of Assembly which will forbid parents from neglecting their children who have suffered conditions that have resulted in blindness. “Unfortunately, legislation alone will not do , p artn er s, pr of essional associations, health workers unions, nongovernmental organisations will be required to play roles in making sure that various laws banning child neglect achieve their aims, he called.

Calling for improved awareness on sight impairment, AlhajiMoshoodJimoh, deputy director, public relation, who represented Dr. Paul Orhii, NAFDAC boss, reiterated the

agency’s resolve to intercept fake drugs often related to child blindness. “There is need to upgrade awareness, at NAFDAC, we are resolved to publicize the event in order to encourage parents,” he pledged.

In his words, the founder of Albino foundation in Nigeria, Mr. Jake Epelle said students who have lost their sights have every right to demand for additional time called ‘a time and a half’ during examination.

He said, “The federal ministry of education has approved that you demand for extra time.”

According to him, WAEC (West African Examination Council) was once accused of stepping on the rule but have since then promised not to only give the required added time but also provide braille that will aid the students’ performance.

“They have not done you a favour, it is your right,” he said.

In her opening remarks, the President of the association, Mrs. Ozo-OnyaliOgechukwu said AEACVI said the association was conceived out of grieve they (her family) passed through when her daughter was diagnosed of congenital problem.

According to her, ithas necessitated the need to make a change by providing technology, professional tools and healthy living for children suffering from visual impairment and blindness.

She urged well-meaning

Healthy tips for Ramadan To ensure adequate nutrition and continued good health during Ramadan, you can make use of the following tips:

P

rior to Ramadan, a Muslim should always consult with a doctor about the safety of fasting in individual health circumstances.

Even if you are generally healthy, recognize that Ramadan will take a toll. Plan your schedule and meals ahead of time in order to make sure you get the nutrients, hydration, and rest that you need.

Eat suhoor just prior to dawn.

Yes, it’s hard to get up at that hour, which is why it has many benefits and rewards. It will help you to wake up for the Fajr prayer. The suhoor meal is Sunnah and this morning meal is generally recognized as the single most important meal of the day. Do not overeat, though.

Focus on taking in foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates and protein, fruits or vegetables, and plenty of water. For example, an egg on whole-grain toast, a few crackers with peanut butter, some orange slices, and two glasses of water.

During the hottest part of the day, stay in cool areas (indoors or in shade) and limit your physical activity. Rest if possible.

Avoid gorging yourself when breaking the fast at sunset. Follow the Sunnah, break your fast with dates and either milk, water, or fruit juice. After the Maghrib prayer, continue with a light starter such as soup and crackers. After a long period of fasting, you need to bring your fluids and blood sugar level up

Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhiii presenting his agency’s public enlightenment materials to the minister of Finance and coordinating minister of Economy, Dr. NgoziOkonjo –Iweala when he paid her a courtesy visit on Thursday

Nigerians to come to the children’s aid by assisting them in getting quality education.

She said, “Over one million Nigerians are blind with three million visually impaired but only few of them are educated.

“There is need to stamp out the stereotypes by equipping schools with special education teachers as well as necessary materials for learning.”

Also represented at the event are ministers of federal capital territory and women affairs, Senator Bala Muhammad and HajiaZainabMaina.

without overdoing it.

During the early evening (after Maghrib), have a healthy and balanced dinner. Do not overeat, and be sure to drink a few more glasses of fluids.

During the evening hours, resist the temptation to drink tea, coffee, and soda. When visiting friends or family, ask for glasses of water.

Serve yourself, your family, and guests a “dessert” of fresh fruit and nuts. There are lovely choices available in this season, and they are much healthier than chocolates and candy.

Sip on water throughout the evening. Aim for 8 glasses by bedtime. To help you keep track, fill and refill a water bottle with a measured amount of water, and be sure to finish it.

Light exercise, such as walking for 15-20 minutes, is best done in the evening hours.

Avoid fried and spicy foods as they may cause heartburn or indigestion.

Speak to your doctor about an appropriate multi-vitamin.

Continue to brush and floss your teeth several times a day.

Wash your hands regularly, and avoid those who cough or sneeze.

This is important to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria which may cause illness.

Quit smoking! www.hudaabout.com

PAGE 30

Health Living

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Abuja summit: Jonathan enumerates agenda against tuberculosis, Malaria, HIV/AIDS

By A’isha Biola Raji

I

n a bid to bring an end to pandemics of tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS, President Goodluck Jonathan has agreed to co-chair the 4th replenishment of the Global Fund.

Sustaining the noble mission of the fund has become imperative after the end of the just concluded AU + 12 summit on HIV/AIDS and other tropical diseases. Urging other African leaders, President Jonathan while listing the agenda spelt out by the leaders called for support in order to fund and support the global mission. “It is in this light that I have accepted to co-chair the replenishment global fund. “I call on all of you to support me to ensure that Africa makes a big statement at the replenishment meeting which comes up in the last quarter of this year,” he called.

However, the African Heads of State have seriously resolved to take serious action toward the elimination of the pandemics.

Actions they intend to take to achieve this include, scaling up the implementation of the earlier “Abuja Commitments”, implement effective and targeted poverty elimination strategies and social protection, programmes that integrate HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria for all particularly vulnerable populations, increase access to prevention programmes targeting the youths, (especially young women) in order to ensure an AIDS-free generation as well as eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV while keeping mothers alive.

Other programmes include sstepping up of the mobilization of domestic resources so as to strengthen the health system while ensuring that strategies are in place for diversified, balanced and sustainable financing for health, in particular AIDS, TB and Malaria through development of strategic health investment plans and strategies for innovative financing which include sourcing from the private sector.

They also explored in particular, the importance South-South Cooperation and collaboration with the BRICS partners to scale up investment in African pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, especially for generic essential medicines and other essential commodities as well as the use of effective insecticides for control of malaria, including the use of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), where there is merit.

According to the President, the presence of all the African leaders, soon after the gathering in Addis Ababa, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the union, signifies the importance of health, as pivotal to the peace, security and development of African continent.

The summit according to him connects with continuing coordinated efforts to keep the fight against HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and other Related Diseases, high on the agenda of union.

President-Goodluck-Jonathan

The infectious Diseases he said, remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa, and hence pose serious challenges to the aspirations for sustainable socioeconomic development. Across Africa continent, infectious diseases have not only slowed down economic growth, they have contributed to the depletion of human capital, food insecurity, and high maternal and child mortality.

The Government of Nigeria realizes that HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and Other Infectious Diseases pose a significant threat to Human and Economic Development. Motherto-Child Transmission of HIV, Treatment for people with HIV, Polio, Maternal and Child Mortality, and TB incidence are some of the challenges currently receiving attention from the Government of Nigeria.

In the intervening years since the national benchmarks, the Abuja Declaration of 2001, and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Declaration of Commitment in 2006, Africa has against several odds, made significant progress towards reducing incidences of these diseases.

He pointed out that, the continent is still far from attaining all the targets, to sufficiently secure the well-being of the countries and

their future. “To consolidate our progress in addressing the heavy burden of these infectious diseases in Africa, we must with increased urgency, develop a stronger, home grown, sustainable health financing framework. We must take ownership of the process, and drive its implementation, he called.

However, one of the outcomes of the 2001 Abuja Summit on the three diseases was the establishment of the Global Fund by the United Nations and the G8. Since its establishment, the Global Fund has grown to become one of the major funding mechanisms for the three diseases.

It is against this backdrop, that the theme of the just concluded copy Summit, ‘Ownership, Accountability and Sustainability of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Response in Africa: Past, Present and the Future was adopted.

This has made it necessary for sustained commitment from governments and leaders across Africa, to imbibe wider and robust solutions to these diseases. “In many respects, this Summit affords us yet another opportunity to address the following, review together, the level of achievement of the set targets of the 2001 and 2006 Summit Declarations, to identify gaps, constraints and challenges to the achievement of these Declarations

“

“I strongly advocate that Africa should look inwards in the search for solutions. “We must begin to de-emphasize reliance on external funding and importation of essential medicines required for our treatment programmes.

and MDG targets, to identify new strategies that will enable a more realistic course of action towards achieving the targets, to obtain renewed commitment by African Leaders for addressing these diseases and promoting health and well-being in Africa and to prepare Africa’s common position at global fora such as UNGA. He said the time for a final and concerted solution to the diseases is now as the human, societal and financial costs of inadequate action or no action at all, will be too grievous to contemplate. “To attain universal access and meet the Millennium Development Goals, we must now do things differently.

“We must set clear and decisive goals and identify and implement the best adaptable strategies for best and quickest results.

“I strongly advocate that Africa should look inwards in the search for solutions. “We must begin to de-emphasize reliance on external funding and importation of essential medicines required for our treatment programmes.

“We must stand in solidarity with one another, be proactive to our health challenges and increase inter-continental scientific research partnerships and development efforts to compliment the various national and regional plans already underway,” he called.

Speaking further, the President pointed at the need to sustain ownership and sustainability in order to form the basis of the next plan of actions. “Our goal should be to find local solutions to our challenges translate planning into implementation and develop our continent at the pace we desire.”

He however said that, more funding will be required to achieve all the listed objectives and that Africa must continue to strengthen collaboration between government and other stakeholders so as to reduce duplication of efforts and waste of resources.

Pledging Nigeria’s support,

he pointed how Nigeria has recently, along with other African countries adopted the African Union Roadmap on Shared Responsibility and Global solidarity for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, based on the three pillars of Innovative Financing, Universal Access to Medicines and Diagnostics, and Committed Leadership and Governance. “We will continue to play an active role in vigorously supporting the objectives of the Roadmap and their beneficial advancement,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s commitment is further underlined by a special purpose programme which has been developed to accelerate the implementation of key interventions with respect to HIV/ AIDS. “This programme, which we have tagged the President’s Comprehensive Response Plan (PCRP), will help us to bridge existing service gaps, address key financial, system and coordination challenges, and promote greater responsibility and accountability for HIV/AIDS responses, at national and sub-national levels.

“The plan is targeted at achieving universal access to the prevention, treatment, care and support to all Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS,” he declared.

Declaring his administration’s commitment to the fresh initiative, the President formally presented President’s Comprehensive Response Plan (PCRP) on HIV/ AIDS for Nigeria.

He said, “In demonstration of our commitment to the Abuja Declaration 2001, I have also directed the immediate development of a new and creative framework for sustainable financing of health to meet the targeted objectives.

He however acknowledged the important contributions of all the development partners to the fight against infectious diseases.

“I thank all UN Agencies, the Global Fund, and the United States Government, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and other bilateral and multilateral agencies, for their immense support for HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria interventions across Africa.”

He said for long time now, political instability, insecurity, and infectious diseases have beclouded all efforts at rapid development and effective optimization of the abundant potentials of the continent. “Now, there is renewed hope, that together and with home-grown initiatives we can systematically and comprehensively address these tough challenges,” he added.

Recognizing the people’s readiness for tangible results and concrete action, in order to improve their quality of life, he declared his hope for a productive summit, meeting the needs of the people by achieving the set goals which he envisaged from collective determination.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 31

International

Bin Laden’s killing: national sovereignty as notional fraud A ANALYSIS

preliminary reading of Pakistan’s Abbottabad Commission (PAC) instituted to ascertain the May 2011 incident in which the US conducted a covert military operation to kill Osama bin Laden. The PAC reveals a number of things – one being that the idea of national sovereignty is a notional fraud.

A nation-state is not sovereign in its affairs. In practice it means a mightier or the mightiest nation-state, regardless of law and ethics, may ‘sovereignly’ decide what is good for its own nation and by extension for the international community - which in itself means a handful of Western plutocracies.

Beyond the dictum that might is right, Bin Laden’s killing shows that the existing international institutions are well behind the events of the 21st century, which is evident in the helpless statement of local Chief Minister (P. 201): ‘an FIR could not be registered against President Obama…

Hillary Clinton, or US forces’.

The US’ successful operation shows that the official distinction between government and civil society, state and non-state actors, national and international is fragile.

Before proceeding, some clarifications must be made. The Abbottabad Commission Report (ACR), obtained by Al Jazeera, is far from complete. For instance, page 197 is missing. Table of Contents mentions Executive Summary to be available on page 15 which, however, is blank. Also, the ACR, comprising 336 pages and 32 Chapters, doesn’t have any annex or appendix at the end although it mentions several of them (e.g., on p. 132, 165, & 214).

Blatantly honest, the ACR is on occasions inconsistent. Regarding the number of Pakistani citizens killed it gives the figure of 4 on page 244 and of 3 on page 305. Importantly, the US refused to cooperate with the Abbottabad Commission.

Sovereignty: notional, notional, and imperial The key aim of the ACR is to assuage humiliation and embarrassment Pakistan faced: humiliation because the US operation took place on its soil; embarrassment because people didn’t know Bin Laden lived there.

Its primary audience is ‘the people of Pakistan [who] were outraged on learning the covert, deliberate and major violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’ (P. 102 ACR report)by the US which regarded Pakistan as a ‘friend’ in its War on Terror. In fact, in 2004, Pakistan was given the status of a major non-NATO ally. From the perspective of non-powerful nationstates as well as international norms and law, clearly it was a subversion of Pakistan’s sovereignty. To analyse this is to ask what sovereignty means.

According to Stephen Krasner, the former Director of Policy Planning with the US Department of State, sovereignty is used in four ways -

The building where Osama bin Laden was killed was demolished in Abbottabad, February 26, 2012. domestic sovereignty, the exercise of authority within a specific state; interdependent sovereignty, the exercise of authority to control passages across national borders; international sovereignty, recognition of one state by other states, and Westphaliansovereignty, exclusion of outside forces in the execution of domestic authority. These four interrelated meanings of sovereignty respectively connote territory, control, recognition and autonomy.

The ACR’s mention of violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty mainly refers to Westphalian sovereignty which assumes juridical equality among nation-states. However, the reality behind this assumed equality is that some states are more powerful than others. That is, the stark asymmetry of power makes a given state powerful enough to undermine the sovereignty of others. Krasner, therefore, calls such sovereignty ‘organised hypocrisy’.

Employing several case studies, he argues that many countries of Europe, especially Eastern and Central, ‘never enjoyed Westphalian sovereignty for a single moment of their existence as international legal sovereigns’.

What sustains this hypocrisy is the existence of an imperial sovereignty currently presided over by the US. So overwhelming is this imperial sovereignty that soon after the US

operation, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UK told media that it happened with Pakistan’s ‘consent’. The US’ declaration that they hadn’t secured any such consent left Pakistan baffled, to say the least. No Pakistani official ever called the US operation a violation of sovereignty; it was Pakistan’s Parliament which, 11 days after the operation, named it so (p.

253 of ACR).

The exercise of imperial sovereignty is not always and necessarily coercive; it can also be ‘voluntary’. To attack Afghanistan in 2001, India voluntarily offered its ‘airspace, intelligence, even military support’ to the US. The magazine India Today dubbed the US refusal as follows: ‘America can’t see the true friend in the fog of war’.

The recent case of rerouting the private plane carrying Evo Morales, Bolivia’s President, from Russia to his home country and the refusal by many European countries, including France, to enter their air spaces demonstrates how imperial sovereignty works. While Bolivia’s vice president called the plane’s rerouting as being ‘kidnapped by imperialism’, this didn’t become a headline in the French media.

The Absent Universal Institution To say that the current system of the nation-states is based on

“

organised hypocrisy presided over by an imperial sovereignty is not sufficient. How about international law, norms and ethics? The ACR cites views of many prominent scholars and legal experts, Pakistani as well as international, about the covert operation and the killings, including of 3/4 Pakistani citizens. All these citations regard the operation as a violation of international law. On page 302, it mentions ‘increasingly criminal and pathological nature of US policies’.

Yet, the Pakistani government made no effort to raise it in the international forums, political or legal. In fact, it did not even seek the legal opinion from its own Ministry of Law (p. 219).

In this context, the helpless statement of the local Chief Minister that ‘an FIR could not be registered against President Obama…Hillary Clinton, or US forces’ (p. 102) is worth noticing.

What he meant was that a legal case could not be lodged at the level of the province whose Chief Minister he was.

However, the question is: is there an effective, accessible international body or universal institution where it could be pursued to ensure accountability, transparency and justice for the people across the globe?

How do we resolve the conflicting accounts of the US’ killing operation - a planned ‘assassination’ to some, ‘act of national self-defence’ to the US

The ACR’s mention of violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty mainly refers to Westphalian sovereignty which assumes juridical equality among nation-states.

(p. 257)? How and in which forums can the contentious issue that drone attacks are legal according the US law and illegal according to international law, as the ARC mentions (p.201), be debated and defined? Are existing international institutions inadequate, if not utterly out-dated, in addressing such questions? More importantly, what primarily guides the existing international institutions -principles, ethics or naked national interests?

Where is the Non-State?

Contrary to the official and pervasive distinction between government and civil society, state and non-state actors, national and international, the ACR details how they can be confusing and fragile.

The key breakthrough to the location of Bin Laden’s residence and his own identification was provided by a Pakistani doctor who headed the vaccination program launched, in association with the USAID, by the NGO, Save the Children (ch. 12). The ACR notes ‘deeper US penetration in Pakistan’ (p. 327) in various forms.

According to a top official of Pakistan’s intelligence, the outfit, the Haqqani network was jointly created by the US and Pakistan to fight the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. President Ronald Reagan had indeed invited the founder, JalaluddinHaqqani, for dinner to the White House. Pakistan as well as the UK and Italy, the ACR records, had been in touch with the non-fighting members of the Haqqani network whose names did not figure in the sanction list of the United Nations (p.202). The current bitter animosity between Pakistan and the US is prefaced by an intimate friendship between the two in the past.

Returning to the issue of sovereignty, key subject of the ACR, Stephen Krasner appropriately observed: ‘There are no universal structures that can authoritatively resolve conflicts’. The momentous episode of Bin Laden’s killing and the issue of sovereignty it raises urgently points to the need for forging a universal institution at the centre of which should be the fair pursuit of global justice - not the exaggeration of raw national interest, but the defining feature of the current world system of nation-states. To this end, the termination of mutual hostility between India and Pakistan, which the report briefly refers to, should be a stepping-stone to inaugurate a post-nationalist regional confederation.

Many associated or believed to be associated with world’s most wanted man were sent to Guantanamo detention centre where the distinction between life and death seemed so slim.

From the thick descriptions in Chapter 2 and 3 in the ACR, it appears that Bin Laden had to build his own detention centre; the notable difference being that in the Abbottabad house he lived in he was both the jailer and the jailed.

Source: Al Jazeera

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

International UN voices fears over Somalia media law

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

T

he United Nations has raised concerns about a new media law in Somalia only days after UN experts sounded the alarm over corruption in the African country’s new government.

The UN Human Rights Office has urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government to review a new law that would require journalists to reveal sources and prevent them spreading information against

Islam or Somali traditions, said a statement released on Sunday.

Rupert Colville, spokesman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the legislation was “vague” and “could easily be used to curtail freedom of expression”.

The draft legislation, which could become law within two months, requires journalists to reveal their sources if published information stirs up public sentiment.

It would suspend journalists accused of violating the media legislation.

A group of UN sanctions experts said in a report released last week that “irregularities” remain rife with the central bank acting as a “slush fund”

to hand out the government’s meagre resources to individuals who do not have to justify use of the cash.

“During the period of the current government, between September 2012 and April 2013, 72 percent of withdrawals were made for private individuals,” said the report.

Because of the country’s strife and the limited scope of the government the 2013 budget was estimated at only $84m, but nearly a third of that comes from international donors.

The UN report said Finance Minister Mohamud Hassan Suleiman “has made every good faith effort to reduce the scale” of the payments but they are “so pervasive as to be beyond his control without a fundamental

restructuring of the system”.

The report said Central Bank of Somalia governor Abdusalam Omer, who has a US passport, was “key to these irregularities.”

The UN experts said production of the Somali port “continues to be fraught with fraud and corruption” and that fees from Mogadishu port, a key source for the government, were being diverted.

It said a monthly average of “at least” 33 percent of the port fees cannot be accounted for.

The experts also said that large amounts of humanitarian aid was diverted but that aid groups, including UN agencies, had developed “a culture of denial and secrecy” so the extent of the problem is not being made public.

Egypt’s cabinet meets amid protests

E

gypt’s new cabinet has held its first meeting and urged parties to keep their demonstrations peaceful, as a panel named to amend the constitution called on all sides to contribute.

In the latest violence, fighters in the Sinai killed two soldiers and a policeman on Sunday.

Forging ahead with an army “roadmap” for political transition, Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy launched a public relations campaign to boost the army-backed administration’s credibility abroad.

The caretaker cabinet, in a meeting chaired by prime minister Hazem Beblawi, urged “all political parties to express their opinions peacefully, and to renounce violence,” after weeks of mass protests in the capital by pro- and anti- Mohamed Morsi demonstrators, some of which have led to deadly clashes.

The meeting focused on Egypt’s battered economy and the security situation.

Unidentified gunmen shot

Female members of the Muslim Brotherhood in a march to protest death of three women [Reuter

dead the three members of the security forces in the town of El-Arish in separate attacks, in the Sinai region that has seen regular attacks on security forces since Morsi’s ouster.

A newly appointed panel of four university professors and six judges also held talks on drafting a new constitution at the Shura Council, or upper house of parliament, the

official MENA news agency said.

The head of the panel, the president’s legal adviser Ali Awad Saleh, told reporters that the body would accept suggestions for amendments from all groups and political parties for the next week.

At its first meeting on Sunday, the new cabinet called on “all political parties to

pursue the peaceful expression of their views, and to renounce violence”.

Meanwhile, a few thousand women, children and men marched from the site of a round-the-clock, pro-Morsi vigil in a Cairo suburb on Sunday to protest the deaths of three women who were killed in a protest o n S a t u r d a y . “ Why, Si si w h y , w h y d i d you kill our sisters?” the crowd chanted, referring to General Abdel Fattah alSisi, the defence minister who played a central role in forcing Morsi from office f ollowing mammo th str e e t protests against the leader.

Supporters of Morsi, who was ousted after a single turbulent year of rule, have pressed demonstrations, holding marches and protests across the country since hi s f al l .

Thousands of Morsi loy alists h ave be e n massed in Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya square for about three weeks, demanding his reinstatement and denouncing General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief behind his overthrow.

Child migrants from Africa flood Italy - report

D

ozens of African child migrants are having to sleep on the bare earth outside the reception center on Italy’s Lampedusa following an upsurge in the number of boats reaching the tiny island, agency Save the Children said.

Lampedusa is wrestling with a big backlog in unaccompanied minors because Italian authorities stopped considering North Africa as being in a state of emergency some months ago, meaning no national agency is now charged with housing them.

More than 800 migrants are now staying on the island, Italy’s southernmost point, bringing a reception center built to accommodate just 250 to the point of collapse, the agency said.

“In the last 10 days many new immigrants have arrived and there is a serious problem because unaccompanied minors are not being transferred. The new arrivals are added to those already housed in the center, which should only be a transit point,” the agency’s Raffaela Milano told Reuters.

“We’re talking about children who arrive in Italy alone after journeys that are often lengthy and dramatic, who need immediate protection and support and must not fall victim to institutional inertia,” she added.

The children are forced to sleep outside without bedding, along with adults, and have trouble accessing the reception center’s limited toilet and shower facilities. The youngest of the unaccompanied children is an 11-year-old Somali boy.

Only two local officials are on hand to process the unaccompanied minors and their work is aggravated by the lack of a national database for places where they could be housed, Milano said. She urged Italy’s Welfare Ministry to arrange for the swift transfer of the children.

Pope Francis visited Lampedusa’s reception center this month and commemorated the thousands of migrants who have died making the treacherous crossing from North Africa in flimsy boats.

Mali abducted election officials released

T

he workers were seized on Saturday in the Tessalit area while handing out voter identification cards, they said.

Tuareg rebels were suspected of having abducted the officials.

Mali recently lifted a state of emergency in place since January, when France intervened to help drive out Islamists occupying the north.

The governor of northern Kidal province, Adama Kamissoko, told the Associated Press news agency the workers had been kidnapped by fighters from a Tuareg rebel group.

They were picked up on Sunday by French forces and driven to a military camp a short distance from Tessalit, he said.

French troops, deployed in Mali earlier this year, are in the area with Chadian forces, who are part of the UN stabilisation force, Minusma.

It is not clear, however, how many were taken - reports vary from two to six people.

In Tessalit, about 200km (125 miles) north of the main provincial town of Kidal, officials said the town’s deputy mayor was one of them.

They were said to be unharmed.

The abduction was ordered by a member of the Tuareg National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), who was arrested and was now being questioned in Tessalit, an unnamed official in Kidal told AFP news agency.

Tensions have risen in the Kidal region of northern Mali ahe ad of the 28 July presidential vote, aimed at restoring civilian authority over the country.

Tuareg separatists took p art in the 2012 re be llion that led to Islamist militants seizing northern Mali. The Islamists soon took charge of the region.

French and West African forces intervened in January to force the militants out of the desert towns but security remains a concern.

Tuareg rebels held the town of Kidal until a June deal with the government.

Under the deal, fighters from the MNLA are allowed to remain in the town but they are supposed to disarm.

Kidal is the only town in Mali where the Tuaregs form a majority.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 33

International

Abu Qatada refused bail

by Jordan military court A

Jordanian military court has refused bail to Islamist cleric Abu Qatada, who faces terrorism charges after being deported from the UK. His lawyer TaysirDiab said no reason had been given for the refusal.

The 53-year-old preacher was convicted in absentia of plots against Westerners in Jordan in 1999. He faces a retrial there. No date has been set.

He was arrested in the UK in 2001 and fought an eight-year battle against extradition that ended three weeks ago.

Just hours after his deportation, military prosecutors charged him with conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts - relating to a plot to bomb American and Israeli tourists during Jordan’s millennium celebrations.

The Palestinian-Jordanian cleric was remanded in custody

for 15 days and taken to eastern Jordan’s Muwaqqar prison.

Under Jordanian law, those convicted in absentia have the right to a retrial.

“The state security court today refused to release Abu Qatada on bail,” MrDiab said on Sunday, quoted by AFP news agency.

“The court gave no reason for its decision. I will meet with Abu Qatada on Wednesday to look into the issue and decide future steps.”

Abu Qatada, whose real name is Omar Othman, was granted asylum in the UK in 1994 but the Security Service came to view him as a threat as his views hardened.

The cleric’s deportation was finally able to proceed after the UK and Jordan signed a treaty agreeing that evidence obtained through torture would not be used against him.

“It is highly poisonous, it’s highly toxic, and, therefore, it has to be diluted when used as commercial pesticides,” said district magistrate Abhijit Sinha.

“Typically it has to be diluted five times. So one litre of monocrotophos is mixed with five litres of water.”

The children fell ill within minutes of eating a meal of rice and potato curry in their one-room school on Tuesday, vomiting and convulsing with stomach cramps.

The deaths sparked protests in Bihar and highlighted the negligence of authorities.

The lunch was part of India’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme that covers 120 million children and aims to tackle malnutrition and encourage school attendance.

Complaints about the bad quality of food are widespread, and students in remote parts of India say the food itself is not the only problem.

Po o r i nf ras t ru c t u re h as

marred the scheme in some schools, which do not have a proper kitchens for cooking the meals and sanitary locations for children to eat.

Police said on Friday they suspected the oil was kept in a container previously used to store the pesticide.

They are still looking for the headmistress of the school, who fled after the deaths.

The World Health Organisation describes monocrotophos as highly hazardous.

Abu Qatada

Pesticide found in deadly India school meal

A

n initial forensic report has confirmed that the free school lunch that killed 23 children this week in Ind ia’s e ast e rn state of Bihar was contaminated with a pesticide, a senior police official has said.

The report found the meal was prepared with cooking oil that contained monocrotophos, an organophosphorus compound that is used as an agricultural pesticide, Ravindra Kumar, a senior police official, said on Saturday.

Japan ruling bloc ‘wins’ upper house poll

J

apanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling bloc has won majority of seats in the upper house of parliament in elections, giving it control of both chambers for the first time in six years, according to exit polls.

The predicted win was seen as an endorsement of Abe’s economic programme, which has helped spark a tentative recovery, and gives him a legislative mandate to pursue difficult economic reforms he has promised to help sustain growth in the long run.

The victory in Sunday’s elections, where half the seats in the 242-member upper house were up for grabs, could also embolden Abe to advance his nationalistic goals, which could further strain relations with China and South Korea.

Based on exit polls, public broadcaster NHK predicted that Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito won a combined 71 seats, giving them a total of 130 seats in the chamber, more than the 122 needed for a majority.

Official results were not expected until early on Monday.

Rob Bride, reporting from Tokyo,

Abe celebrates his party’s victory.

said, “The economy played a very big part in this election.”

Another issue which brought people to the polls was the way in which the two chambers were governed by opposing political parties.

“There is also a sense that this twisted diet of different parties controlling the different houses hasn’t worked. So there were many people voting LDP because they wanted to see an end to the deadlock.”

Voter turnout was reported to

be low, suggesting a lack of public enthusiasm.

Abe says his top priority is to sustain the economic recovery helped along by aggressive monetary and fiscal stimulus since he took office in late December.

Asia & Middle East

Netanyahu welcomes talks with Palestinians

I

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians, saying that they are “an essential strategic interest for Israel” – a move the Hamas government in Gaza called “very dangerous”.

“The negotiations are important not only to end the conflict with the Palestinians but also in light of the nuclear threat from Iran and the civil war in neighbouring Syria,” the Israeli leader said.

He further said he had in mind a number of objectives, preventing the creation of a bi-national state between the Jordan River and the sea, “which will endanger the future of the Jewish State, and preventing the creation of another Iranianbacked terrorist state within Israel’s borders, which could no less endanger us”.

Netanyahu’s remarks were his first reaction to the statement by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who said Israeli and Palestinian negotiators had agreed to meet to pave the way for a resumption of direct talks.

The last round of direct talks broke down in 2010 over the issue of Israeli settlement building in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israel has decided to free some Palestinian prisoners as part of efforts to restart talks, Israel’s Yuval Steinitz, minister for intelligence, international relations and strategic affairs said.

Steinitz said the prisoners were “serious cases” but did not reveal how many of them would be freed.

Earlier on Friday after days of meetings with both Netanyahu a nd P al e sti ni an P r e si d e nt Mahmoud Abbas, Kerry had said the groundwork had been laid for the resumption of talks.

But Steinitz emphasised that Israel was not bound to a freeze on settlement activities.

“There is no chance that we will agree to enter into negotiations that begin by defining our territorial borders and possible concessions, or a construction freeze,” he said.

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said the resumption of direct talks with Israel was “very dangerous”.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Abbas’ decision to resume the talks with Israel “contradicts the national consensus that the Palestinians agreed upon”.

“Resuming the talks only serves the occupation and gives it a cover for its settlement expansion,” Zuhri said.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

International

Trayvon Martin’s parents lead rallies in US T

rayvon Martin’s parents have been joined by celebrities, civil rights activists and other protesters as they led rallies in New York and Florida to show their anger at the acquittal of the neighbourhood watch volunteer who shot and killed their unarmed teenage son.

Sybrina Fulton led a protest of more than 1,000 people in New York, along with veteran civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton, where she told the crowd that the picture painted of her son, Trayvon, during the trial depicted a man she did not recognise.

“He was a child,” she said during her speech to the hundreds-strong crowd.

Prince Philippe (R)with wife, Mathilde

C

rown Prince Philippe has been sworn in as the new Belgian king after the emotional abdication of his father Albert II.

“We have moved on from the verdict. Of course we’re hurting of course we’re shocked and disappointed, but that just means we have to ro ll up o ur sleeves and continue to fight.”

Singers Jay Z and Beyonce also came out to the New York rally.

In Miami, a crowd of hundreds singing the protest song “We Shall Overcome” joined Trayvon’s father, Tracy Martin, to demand that George Zimmerman, acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter exactly a week ago, face civil charges.

Cath Turner, reporting from New York, said that the

Martins and other organisers had continually called for the protests to remain peaceful.

“There is still a lot of emotion one week after the sentence was handed down. The purpose of these rallies is to pressure the Department of Justice in to bringing civil charges against George Zimmerman,” our correspondent said.

Zimmerman has always maintained he shot Trayvon in self defence.

Critics contend Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, wrongly suspected Martin, 17, of being a criminal because he was black.

Zimmerman called police to report Martin, then left his

car with a loaded handgun concealed in his waistband.

A fight ensued in which Zimmerman suffered a bloody nose and head injuries before he shot Martin once in the heart.

Marches, under the banner of “Justice for Trayvon”, also took place at federal courthouses in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta and dozens of other cities.

Violence at protests earlier this week led to arrests in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area.

Speaking at the White House, President Barack Obama cautioned against violence, as he urged all Americans to try to understand the Martin case from the perspective of African-Americans.

The Oxford- and Stanfordeducated, trained air force pilot took the oath as the country’s seventh king in a ceremony in parliament.

To warm applause, King Philippe, 53, promised to uphold the constitution.

Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.

One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises.

In his final address before signing a legislative act to step down, 79-year-old King Albert said his country must remain a “source of inspiration” to Europe.

He stressed his wish that Belgium - split between the Dutch-speaking north and the

French south - remained united.

His resignation on the grounds of ill-health came after nearly 20 years on the throne and was timed to coincide with Belgium’s national day.

In a colourful ceremony topped off by trumpet fanfare and cannon-fire, Philippe took his oath in the country’s three official languages - Dutch, French and German.

This was a reminder of the delicate political task that awaits him - trying to mediate across the divide between French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders, where support for independence has been rising fast, says Chris Morris.

Flag-waving supporters gathered in the midday sun waiting

for their new king and his wife, Mathilde, to greet them from the balcony of the nearby royal palace.

“The new king is a bit of history,” said Xavier De Graef, draped in the red, yellow and black of the Belgian tricolour.

“That doesn’t happen very often so we wanted to be here,” Mr De Graef, from French-speaking Liege, told Reuters news agency.

But not everyone was celebrating.

The far-right separatist VlaamsBelang party boycotted the swearing-in ceremony.

In the abdication ceremony at the royal palace in Brussels, the former monarch told his son: “You have all the emotional and intellectual qualities to serve our country well.”

Philippe becomes new Belgian king as Albert II abdicates

G20 to focus on growth over austerity

J

obs and growth will be the new focus of the G20 as a meeting of ministers have agreed to move away from the austerity measures championed by member states such as Germany.

The group of finance and labour leaders and bank governors from 20 major and emerging economies had been meeting in Moscow over the weekend to map out the future fiscal plan.

Hosts Russia said G20 policymakers had soft-pedalled on goals to cut government debt in favour of a focus on growth and how to exit central bank stimulus with a minimum of turmoil. “(G20) colleagues have not made the decision to take responsibility to lower the deficits and debts by 2016,” Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said.

“Some people thought that first you need to ensure economic growth.”

Delegates pledged to make the shift from austerity cuts to growth and job market stimulation as carefully as possible to avoid derailing volatile financial markets.

“We do not see any revival of growth in Europe yet, and Japan we’re keeping our fingers crossed,” said Indian Finance Minister Chidambaram Palaniappan.

“The best case scenario for today would be for the advanced economies to get growth going.

They must keep in mind the impact of their actions on the large emerging economies.”

Escalating youth unemployment rates, which are approaching 60 percent in weaker Eurozone economies such as Greece and Spain, means key G20 members, including the United States, made clear ahead of the meeting that the fight against unemployment should be at the centre of the agenda.

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov

Other states, like Germany, are known for wanting to keep a strict eye on fiscal discipline.

A final draft of the meeting’s agreement, obtained by Reuters

said an action plan to boost jobs and growth, while rebalancing global demand and debt, would be readied for a G20 leaders summit in September.

Europe and Americas

France veil row sparks unrest

C

rowds of youths have thrown stones at French police and set fire to cars in a second night of disturbances in the Paris suburb of Trappes.

The trouble was sparked by the arrest of a man whose wife was told by police on to remove an Islamic facecovering veil, banned in public.

The worst of the trouble took place in the early hours of Sunday. In one reported incident, a car was driven at police but no-one was hurt.

“It’s beginning to spread to surrounding areas Elancourt and Guyancourt,” David Callu of the SGP police officers’ union told BFM-TV news channel.

Four people were arrested and 20 cars burned, Interior Minister Manuel Vallssaid in a statement.

Up to 300 people attacked a police station in Trappes where the man was being held.

One leading Muslim group disputed the authorities’ version of events, blaming police “provocation”.

The suspect, described as a Muslim convert aged 21, was later released on Saturday pending an appearance in court, French media say.

The ban on wearing the full face veil in public was introduced in April 2011 with the threat of a financial penalty for not observing it.

Reinforcements from the CRS riot police were drafted in and Interior Minister Manuel Valls said they would remain in place until calm was restored. Thirty riot police vehicles were seen outside the Trappes police station.

In the latest violence which erupted in Trappes and several neighbouring areas, busshelters and cars were torched and fireworks directed at police, who responded with tear gas and baton charges.

Tensions in France’s highimmigration city suburbs continue to fester, the BBC’s Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield reports.

Although there has been no sustained unrest since the 2005 riots, sporadic violence is far from rare, he adds.

In 2005, a state of emergency was imposed when a wave of rioting spread across France, sparked by the deaths of two teenagers in a Paris suburb.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 35

Strange World

Fake braces worn as fashion accessories

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t’s at times like this that I simply don’t understand fashion trends. I mean, what would prompt otherwise normal teenagers to consider something as horrendous as braces to be a fashionable accessories?

Don’t get me wrong, I think braces are an extremely useful dental tool and I used to wear them as well, but I always dreamt of the day I would be done with them forever. Kids in countries like Thailand, Indonesia and China, however, think very differently. For them, braces have become a huge teenage fashion statement.

As unfathomable as the trend sounds, there’s actually a reason behind it.

Just as ‘plump’ people were thought to be attractive at one point – as a sign of prosperity – braces to the Asian kids are a sign of wealth, status and style. The reason: genuine orthodontic braces are quite expensive.

A set of braces in Bangkok would set you back about $1,200. So all the kids want to wear what the rich kids are wearing. Braces are also popular among young celebrities and youth icons like Indonesian heartthrob AndikaKangen and Thai pop singer Earn the Star. Many Thai and Indonesian websites display pictures of Gwen Stefani sporting braces back in the 90s.

Apparently, she had recently confessed that her braces were a

Some young girls showing off their’ fake braces.

‘fashion choice’, and she’s since become an instant hit with Asian kids. The internet is littered with countless blogs and websites on fashion braces. I tried googling them and found that braces are available in an explosion of colors and varieties.

So what about the kids who don’t really need braces; how do they keep up with the fashion trend, you ask? Simple – fake braces. The market is completely flooded with a host of fake and

knockoff braces that can be purchased for as low as $100.

In Indonesia, these are called kawatgigiuntukgaya or behel and the best part of using them is that you don’t need consent from a medical professional. All you need to do to get one is visit the local beauty salon – where beauticians will be all too happy to slap a pair on your teeth at an affordable price. If you’re more into DIY, you can purchase kits from stalls at local markets or even online. Not only do you get them in a variety of colors, you can also get special designs like Hello Kitty, Mickey

Mouse or just plain flowers. To use the fake braces, you press the wire to the desired size, insert the ends between your last two molars and you’re good to go.

As exciting as fake braces are, they do have a downside.

Apparently, wearing them for long periods of time poses some serious health risks. Real braces come with risks of their own, such as decalcification, tooth decay and mouth sores, but reports in the press have suggested that these fake contraptions might even be deadly. The use of fake braces is said to have caused the

death of two Thai teens, so far.

They caused a thyroid infection in one 17-year-old in the Thai city of KhonKaen, resulting in a fatal heart failure. Another 14-year-old from Chonburi died after using braces that she purchased from an illegal stall. Because of these incidents, the Thai government has imposed a ban on the import, production and sale of fake braces. Anyone caught selling them can be imprisoned for up to six months, and has to pay a heavy fine of about 50,000 baht ($1,300). Importers have it worse; they can get sentenced to one year in prison. The government took these strict measures after studies showed that the metal used in fake brace wires contained lead.

Unfortunately, these measures have had the reverse effect of what was intended. Now there’s an entire underground ‘fake braces black market’ blossoming around the silly fashion accessory. DIY kits are still sold online and in flea markets, on the sly. Fake braces have become popular with the rebels now, and are associated w ith a scrap p y motorbike subculture called dekwehnwehn (Dek – Kids, wehnwehn – the sound of a motorbike revving up).

In Indonesia, however, things aren’t so bad, because sales are still legal. But it’s a different kind of ‘weird’ there, because adults have caught up with the fashion trend started by kids. This might sound pretty strange to those who have grown up in the Western world, with childhood scars of having been teased about their braces. Well, at least it’s some consolation that somewhere in the world, kids are at peace with their braces.

Orangutan boxing is growing in popularity Tokyo’s legendary black hot dog

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Thai theme-park, outside Bangkok has become a popular tourist attraction by organizing orangutan boxing matches.

Huge crowds of tourists and “sport” enthusiasts gather at Safari World to watch orangutans duke it out in 30 minute-boxing matches.

Forced to wear boxing gloves and shorts, the two primates have been trained to hit each other for the entertainment of man. Although organizers claim the orangutans have been trained to simulate

being knocked-down, animal activists say it’s a clear case of animal cruelty.

It’s sad to see thousands of tourists cheer as two 250-pound primates pummel each other, or hear them whistling when a female orangutan, wearing a bikini, displays the round number, but it’s the world we’re living in.

These peaceful creatures don’t fight because they like to, but because they’ve been trained to do so, an because they would be beaten if they didn’t.

These two primates have been trained to hit each other for entertainment.

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apan is known for its selection of weird foods, and today we can add one more item to the ever-growing list. The Black Terra Hot-Dog is one of the most popular fast-food delicacies sold in the Akihabara district of Tokyo. It’s over 30 centimeters long and looks like it’s been cooked a few hours longer than necessary.

Black hamburgers have been around for about a year now, ever since Burger King launched its Premium Kuro Burger in Japan. It has black buns and dark ketchup, but the meat patty and vegetables retain their natural colors. But the people over at Vegas Premium Hot-Dogs, in Akihabara, Tokyo decided to one-up the giant fast-food chain by creating a food item that is entirely black as charcoal. Vegas was already famous for the size of its delicious hot-dogs, which span over 30 cm in length, but ever since they introduced the Black Terra Hot-Dog, in March, their popularity has grown even more.

You would expect clients to be turned off by the rubber-like sausage, but apparently people who see this delicacy advertised

The Black Terra Hot-Dogis entirely black as charcoal

on the billboards in front of the fast-food joint just can’t resist the urge to try it.

By now, you probably think the images have been manipulated in Photoshop, but I can assure you the Black Terra Dog is very real. So how is a food that looks like rubber safe for human consumption?

Some people claim the buns and sausage are infused with squid ink for coloring, but according

to a number of reports in the Japanese media, Vegas Premium Hot-Dogs actually uses edible bamboo charcoal powder, which is used as a food dye throughout Asia. I know it looks bad, but apparently it doesn’t alter the taste at all and it’s good for your health.

The Black Terra Hot-Dog costs ¥600 ($6) and is just one of the three delicious treats sold by Vegas Premium Hot-Dogs.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Digest

How drinking a glass of water can make your brain 14% faster I

By Fiona Macrae

f you’re struggling to come up with the answers, then a glass of water could be the best solution.

Drinking water can sharpen your mind, research shows.

The effect is particularly marked if a person is thirsty.

The University of East London researchers believe that once thirst is relieved, the brain is left to focus on the task in hand.

They carried out an experiment on 34 men and women who completed a number of mental tests twice – once after a breakfast of just a cereal bar and again after a cereal bar washed down with a bottle of water.

None had eaten or drunk anything overnight and all were asked how thirsty they were at the start of the experiment.

Those who said they weren’t thirsty were equally quick at the test of reaction time with or without the water.

But those who were thirsty sped up after having a drink, making them up to 14 per cent quicker than before, the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience reports.

The researchers think the

The original energy drink... Quenching your thirst with a glass of water could help your brain work 14 per cent faster, according to new research carried out by scientists at the University of East London water helped by freeing up the parts of the brain that were busy ‘telling’ the body it was thirsty.

They said: ‘These results are consistent with water consumption

freeing up attentional resources that were otherwise occupied with processing the sensations of thirst.’

Researcher Caroline Edmonds said: ‘It is not going to hurt you to

have a drink of water when you are working hard.’ She pointed out that tea and coffee will also help hydrate you.

Dr Edmonds has previously

shown that children who have a drink of water ahead of sitting tests fare up to a third better.

But water doesn’t always work wonders. In Dr Edmonds’ latest study, the volunteers did worse at a particularly complex mental manipulation after drinking it. The reasons for this were unclear.

Separate research has found that failing to drink enough water can make your grey matter shrink, making it harder to think.

British researchers scanned the brains of teenagers after an hour and a half of cycling.

Some exercised in three layers of sweat-inducing clothing – including a bin liner worn next to the skin, a hooded chemical warfare suit and a track suit.

Others were much more lightly clad in shorts and T-shirts.

Those who were wrapped up lost around 2lb in sweat – and their brain tissue had shrunk away from their skulls.

Just 90 minutes of steady sweating can shrink the brain as much as a year of ageing.

But after a glass of water or two the brain quickly returns to normal.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Indulging while pregnant could make your child obese

By James Gallagher

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or some mothers-to-be, pregnancy is the chance to indulge in a little more at meal times with a lot less guilt.

But expectant mums who ‘eat for two’ could be raising their baby’s future risk of obesity, a study shows.

Infants were almost three times more likely to be larger, heavier and have more body fat

Expectant mothers who ‘eat for two’ could be raising their baby’s future risk of obesity, a study shows

if their mothers gained too much weight early in the pregnancy, researchers found.

The risk is lower for those who avoid p u t t i n g o n m u c h weight – or do so closer to the end of gestation. Researcher Dr Margie Davenport says it is a warning that eating for two could be putting the long-term health of children at risk.

‘Infants who are larger at birth tend to become larger children, and that creates a risk for developing into obese and overweight children and adults,’ she said.

Her study, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynaecology, looked at 172 mums-to-be in Ontario, C a n a d a , b e t w e e n 1995 and 2011. More than half gained excessive weight during gestation, despite health advice and an exercise regime.

Mums who gained weight during the first half of the pregnancy were 2.7 times more likely to give birth to babies who were bigger and heavier, with more than 14 per cent body fat.

Dr Davenp o r t a d d e d : ‘Expectant mothers and health professionals need to be aware of pregnancy weight-gain guidelines and follow them to build a foundation for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.’

Pregnancy and diet expert Sarah O’Hara agreed that an assumption that expectant mums

had to eat extra was unhealthy.

‘For many mothers, eating for two is taken too literally,’ she said.

‘People feel like they’ve been given an allowance to eat whatever they want, and that can lead to weight gain.’

Other studies have shown that overeating can lead to complications at birth.

S p a n i s h researchers found that efforts to keep the weight of pregnant women down, such as taking a brisk walk three times a week, can halve the risk of having a heavy baby – which cuts the risk of emergency surgery or C a e s a r e a n section.

S o u r c e : Dailymail.

Studies have shown that overeating can lead to complications at birth - such as co.uk emergency surgery or Caesarean section

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 37

2015: Youth canvass for northern presidency

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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northern youth group, Arewa Youth Movement, (AYM) has called for a President of northern extraction to succeed Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as President of the Federal republic of Nigeria.

The group in a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Abdulrahman Abu, short listed

individuals which they believe can tackle the present level of underdevelopment, insecurity and disunity in the country.

The youth group stated “Although the nominees cut across different ideological orientations and political parties, they are mainly liberals, progressives and even radicals. The names were selected from the 3 geo-political zones. Clearly, some states have

stronger candidates than others, and the process is continuous, based on agreed criteria for further pruning.”

Those mentioned by the group include Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker House of Representatives, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Lawyer, former Chairman, EFCC, Mallam Rufai Ibrahim, Journalist, Publisher,

and Senator John Shagaya, former Minister, Politician.

“In drawing up the list, consideration was also given to leaders from different backgrounds which included (their) credibility, good education, consistency, public sector experience, patriotism, national and international acceptability, and firmness and strength of character to implement

Rivers’ crisis to end soon -Ijaw, Izon leaders

Oyo state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, waving to ACN supporters, while recieving decampees from PDP and Accord Party on Friday in Ibadan.

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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Photo: NAN

Wadada seeking recognition - Al-makura’s Aide

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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enior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to Nasarawa state governor, Sani Musa Mairiga, has described the remarks by the former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, on governor Al-makura as unfortunate aimed at seeking recognition.

Wadada had in an interview with a national daily criticized Al-makura’s two years in office as appalling and

disappointing, pointing out hat President Goodluck Jonathan would have no single project to commission when he visits the state later this week.

Mairiga, in a statement made available to newsmen, said President Jonathan’s proposed visit to Nasarawa state was at the request of the Federal High Court authorities to commission the FHC complex in Lafia and not meant to inspect projects.

“It must be noted that the

state government is the one trying to persuade the presidency to commission one or two projects executed by Al-makura’s administration, but is yet to get clearance or approval”.

The media aide, said, “Al-makura would not waste his time replying a character whose academic and working records are questionable and smeared in ignoble deeds.

More so, one can not be suprised at such a character bearing in mind his upbringing and parental

background.”

“Wadada is completely detached from the reality on ground since he hardly stay in the state, he goes about gallivanting and boot-licking for self recognition.

“This is a man that betrayed the FCT minister who tried to resuscitated him after his disgraceful defeat at the poll. He should bury himself in shame because what his PDP failed to achieve in 12 years in Nasarawa state, CPC has done in two years,” he stressed.

LG relocation: Group condemns attack on Rep Dogara From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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group under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency Forum, has condemned the attack on the personality of a memberrepresenting the member representing the area in the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, by some elders and community leaders of Tafawa Balewa It could be recalled that last

fundamental development projects.”

The group is optimistic that one of its nominees will emerge as the next President of Nigeria, after a continuing process including public debates and public scrutiny of the potentials of the candidates.

The other nominees will then be expected to support the winner to run the country well on the basis of collective leadership.

month that elders and community leaders from the area had last week condemned the lawmaker for criticizing therelocation ofthe Tafawa Balewa Local government headquarters to Bununu by the Bauchi state Government.

In release signed by the Chairman of thegroup, Hassan Lawan Bununu and the secretary, Danjuma Mohammed Dass and made available to newsmen in Bauchi at the weekend , the group distanced itself and condemned in totality the

position taken by the so called elites and community leaders as they did not speak on our behalf of the people.

The group stated that those condemning Dogara were seeking cheap popularity over the matter having failed in the past to bring velopment to the area.

The group added “we believe that Representative Yakubu Dogara position to open up the matter of the relocation of the local government headquarter of Tafawa Balewa to Bununu is part of his constitutional

responsibility to his constituents which he has their mandate, irrespective of religion or ethnics leaning.

It stated that Dogara as a lawmaker and lawyer he knows quite a lot about the constitutional provision as regards to relocation of local government headquarters It stated further that contrary to the views of his detractors, Dogara has demonstrated high sense of responsibility by preaching peace in all his dealings.

eaders of Ijaw and Izon Groups at the weekend in Lagos said that the crisis in Rivers state was an in-house issue and would not affect governance in the country.

Mr Joseph Evah, the President of the Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG) told Newsmen in Lagos that calm would soon return to Rivers.

Evah made the declaration while speaking to newsmen after solidarity visits of Ijaw and Izon Leaders to Dr Federick Fasehun, Founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Chief Gani Adams, OPC Coordinator.

Evah said that the groups were still consulting on the Rivers crisis.

“The problems in Rivers will not lead to any negative thing in the Niger Delta. We are doing our homework and our brothers in the creek are here to consult with us. I want to assure that there will be calm soon in Rivers” Evah however decried what he described as massive negative campaigns deliberately spread by some people over the Rivers crisis.

On 2015 and North’s agitation, the Ijaw Monitoring Group Leader said that the every Nigerian has the right to fight for his or her interest.

“The North has supported us before and have right to fight for their interest. We beleive that they would reason with us along the line” he said.

Earlier while speaking during the courtesy, Leader of the delegation and Izon Nationality Group, Chief Timi Ogoriba described the crisis as in-house. He alleged that those fueling the crisis were doing so to cash in on it.

Ogoriba said that the groups solidarity visits was also geared towards getting support for Jonathan’s 2015 “We will continue to canvass support for Jonathan for 2015 because he has constitutional rights to run,” he declared.

He said that the solidarity visit was to seek the opinion of the people on President Jonathan’s administration so they could advise him appropriately as their son.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Politics

Group cautions PDP on South West crisis From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Forum of Peoples Democratic Party PDP Local Government Chairmen in Lagos State has urged the party’s national leadership to be cautious in handling the issues in the South West zone.

The advice came on the backdrop of calls by some people that the PDP former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, should be removed from the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Forum,Honorable Mufutau Babalola ,the group stated that the crisis brewing in its South West zone was being engineered by the opposition.

“We are absolutely disgusted

with the crude, destructive politics presently playing out in the South West. We are using this opportunity to caution the National Leadership of our party about the deliberate attempt of some fifth columnists, whose sole motivation and purpose is to cause disunity and disaffection among the rank and file of the PDP in the South West” the Forum warned.

It decried the current evil machinations of some not so hidden hands to malign and taint the image of its leader and the PDP former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George.

“There is no doubt that this is part of the grand strategy of the opposition forces as we embark on the epic struggle towards 2015. Let there be no doubt about it: the silly,

petty and mischievous demand that Chief Olabode George should be removed from the party BoT is part of the orchestrated agenda of the Action Congress of Nigeria to cripple the credible voice of Chief Bode George in the South West.

“This is geared at weakening and decimating the party. That is the long and short of it” it stated.

“For record purposes, Chief Olabode George is a statutory life member of the national caucus of the party. He is a life member of the National Executive Committee and of course a life member of the BoT “He occupies these positions by the virtue of the offices he had once held in the party. He was at various times the National Vice-Chairman of the South West, Deputy Chairman

South and National Deputy Chairman of the Party.

“The constitution of the party therefore entitles him to the life membership of BOT, NEC and the National Caucus.

“Chief Bisi Akande was jailed for four years by the Buhari regime for corrupt enrichment. And yet not a voice has been raised since the man eventually contested and became governor of Osun State.

“Presently Akande, who is ACN chairman, is yet being proposed for the chairman of APC. Let them remove the log from their own eyes before pointing accusing fingers at others” the group further stated.

It warned mercenaries in South West zone of the party who claim to be PDP in daytime but are dining and

Yuguda, commissioner disagree over Airport contract

R-L: Anambra state Labour Party Governorship Aspirant, Dr, Ifeanyi Ubah, Labour Party National Vice-Chairman, South- East, Comrade Callistus Uju-Okafor, and a member of Anambra state House of Assembly, Hon, Emeka Emeka, during the governorship aspirant interaction with the media on Friday in Abuja.

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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overnor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and his Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abubakar Ahmed Faggo, have disagreed over the construction of Bauchi International Airport.

Yuguda had assured, in one of his engagementthes with newsmen shortly before he awarded the contract for the project that funds meant for the execution of the airport and new Specialist hospital projects were kept in a dedicated account in Bauchi.

Faggo however told the ministerial press briefing organized by the Ministry of Information in Bauchi that the airport project is being funded from his ministry as, according to him, the sum of N 5 billion has already been paid for the project.

“The Ministry had paid the sum of Five billion naira (N5, 000, 000, 000.00) on behalf of the twenty local governments as counterpart funding for the establishment of the Bauchi International airport”, he said.

He said similarly that the sum of N2.5 billion was also released for the construction of the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, reflecting the initial contract sum, and construction work has now reached 60% completion.

It would be recalled that contract for the construction of the Bauchi International Airport which now reaches 95% completion was awarded to Triacta Nigeria Construction Company at a cost of N7.9 billion.

Faggo attributed the disparity in the contract sum to the airport standard expansion to be a Cargo terminal which requires additional work, as details on the project are available to the Monitoring and Due Process Unit of the state.

He explained that the Ministry’s contribution to the airport contractual sum is being backed by an Appropriation law passed by the State House of Assembly, adding, “You don’t release money without legal backing”.

wining with ACN in the night to be careful.

“It is an established fact that Chief Bode George is a selfless, committed and self-sacrificing leader of our party not only in the South West but in the whole nation.

The challenges he had faced in the past, including the convoluted trial and undeserved incarceration are all products of very disdainful and wicked politics.

“His imprisonment was orchestrated and sponsored by the ACN clique. The truth is that Chief Bode George remains the strongest bulwark against the ACN domination of the South West. He is their greatest headache because he cannot be bought or purchased” the group stated.

Photo: Justin ImoOwo

PDP to Buhari, Tinubu: You’re dictators

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday cautioned leader of the Cpngress for Progressive Change (CPC), Gen. Mohammadu Buhari and his Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) counterpart, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, that irrespective of their presence to upholding the tenets of mocracy, they remain dictators.

The party in a statement made available to newsmen by its Acting National Publicity Secretary,

Barr. Caesar Okeke, urged both opposition leaders to stop parading themselves as saints and democrats insisting that Nigerians already know their dictatorial antecedents.

According to the party, the two men are bitter because they know that “they will lose the 2015 general election despite the so called merger of their parties which is built on deceit, corruption and falsehood and as such want to invent excuses” ahead of time.

The PDP added “Buhari

and Tinubu, who are wellknown despots, lacked the moral justification to pontificate on democracy especially when all their actions are dictatorial.”

The PDP said the CPC in castigating Buhari’s former aide, Yinka Odumakin, for exposing the atrocities of the CPC leader and those of ACN officials in a recent statement shows the CPC as a party characterized by falsehood.

“Buhari has refused to change his dictatorial tendencies. He has continued to impose himself as

leader of any political party where he finds himself and use his despotic powers to handpick candidates for elections. In 2003, he forced John Nwodo Jr. and other presidential candidates in the then APP to step down for him leading to the famous ‘I weep for Nigeria’ statement by Nwodo. In 2003 Buhari imposed himself and failed. In 2007 and 2011 he imposed himself and failed. If he imposes himself and his lackey Tinubu or Tinubu’s wife as runningmate in 2015, he will also fail”, the party said.

Progressives ‘ll rule Oyo for 50 years - Ajimobi From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said at the week-end that the progressives would rule the state for the next 50 years and thus finally seal the fate of those he called reactionary elements.

The governor stated this while receiving hundreds of decampees from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party from Ibadan North Local Government Area of the state into the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ibadan.

The decampees, who were mostly political office holders during

the Senator Rashidi Ladoja and Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala administrations, hinged their decisions to join ACN on what they termed the brilliant performance of Governor Ajimobi in the last two years.

Ajimobi, while speaking at the ceremony held at Awolowo Avenue, Bodija in Ibadan and witnessed by members of the state Executive Council, state party executives and stalwarts, congratulated the decampees for deciding to join the ruling party.

While welcoming them into their new party, he urged them to see themselves as part and parcel of

ACN, promising that they would be treated equally as the party belonged to all. The governor advised that rather than forming their own group, they should fully integrate into the party, even as he called for unity which he said would put the party in a good stead for the forthcoming election.

The governor congratulated the people of the state for enthroning a progressive party during the 2011 general elections, expressing happiness that the performance of his administration in the last two years had justified the confidence reposed in the

progressives. ``With this brilliant performance and the turning around of Oyo State, the reactionary elements have finally been sacked in the state. By the grace of God, the progressives will rule this state for the next 50 years,’’ he said.

The ACN State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, in his remarks, promised that the new members would not be discriminated against but rather, would be fully integrated into the party and made to enjoy equal benefits like other members.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Tambuwal calls for EU support in fighting oil theft

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peaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal on Sunday in Abuja called for the support of the European Union (EU) in fighting oil theft in Nigeria.

Tambuwal made the call at the end of the 25th session of African, Caribbean, Pacific and European Union (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

At the three-day event, the Speaker said the ugly development of oil theft was having negative effects on the country’s economy.

Speaking on the country’s security situation, he said government had taken some measures which include the declaration of state of emergency in some affected areas to check insecurity. ``We have taken extreme measures to restore normalcy in affected areas in terms of security,” Tambuwal said.

On women, he said the Nigerian parliament had taken steps to ensure that women were given special roles in the scheme of things in the parliament.

He said 63 per cent of women in the country’s parliament are heading key standing committees.

Tambuwal commended delegates from other countries for accepting to come to Nigeria without minding some negative reports about the security situation in the country.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 26th session of the Joint Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November

PAGE 39

News Extra

Bauchi to include labour union on orphans, vulnerable board From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Bauchi state government is making efforts to include labour union leaders in the board of the state Agency for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

The state government had evolved a policy that would make it compulsory for every civil servant in the state to pay 1% of his or her salary for the running cost of the agency.

The organized labour has consistently rejected the compulsory deduction from workers’ salaries, saying there is nowhere in the world where an agency established by government could be funded from workers’ pay.

The Bauchi state government in its bid to force workers contribute from their salaries for the running of the agency has requested the legislature to amend the law establishing the agency.

The government wants the amendment to include labour union leaders on the board of the agency, ostensibly as a motivation to lure the entire workforce to succumb to the compulsory contribution.

The government’s request to

the legislature was contained in a letter No GO/SS/OPP/S/83/T.1 from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmad Ibrahim Dandija.

The letter was signed by Aliyu A Abdulkadir and addressed to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yahaya Mohammed Miya.

In the letter the SSG said “I attached a request from the office of the Head of Service for an amendment of the law to include the labour unions on the board of the agency and to allow them to give input on the modalities for the deductions which will form part of the amendment process”.

A letter number GO/ ESM/S/LAB/21/T. signed by the permanent Secretary establishment, Hashimu Dori on behalf of the Head of Service Mr Abdon Gin for the request of the amendment to the law was earlier sent to the Secretary of the state government.

According to the letter, the new law establishing the agency had provided that part of the funding structure of the agency would be 1% monthly contribution of the

salaries of workers in the state.

It further said that 2% would be deducted from salaries of public officers which implementation commenced in January 20 13 whereas the organized labour issued a 21 day ultimatum to the head of service demanding for the retraction of deductions from their salaries.

The labour also want refund of what was already deducted and requested for the deletion of the portion of the law that allowed for the deduction from workers’ salaries.

The Chairman Joint Public Negotiations Council, Aliyu Muhammad when contacted on the issue told newsmen that the lawmakers has no right to make law for deductions from workers’ salaries.

According to him, even the 18,000 minimum wage is not on the concurrent list but on exclusive list reserved to the executives.

Also contacted over the state government push for the amendment to the law, the Bauchi state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alhaji Hashimu Mohammed Gital said

they were not against the law but should done in a way that should not infringe the right of a worker in the state.

Gital explained that the labour initially kicked against the law due to the way it was concocted despite the fact that it was geared to assist a charitable organization, expressing optimism that the amendment sought to the law will not deprive the right of a worker.

On the incorporation of labour leaders into the board of the agency as the amendment sought, Gital said, “it is not necessary that labour leaders must be on the board of the agency unless otherwise if it is looking for people of proven integrity which the labour could boast of.

“You can’t deduct workers’ salaries and channel it through Due process and say it is charity because it has to be voluntary but not the way it is being sought now”, he said. According to him, workers contribution of 1% of their salaries for the running cost of the agency should be voluntary but not a must as any worker can challenge the action in an Industrial court.

LASG to clamp down on uncertified drivers, says commissioner

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he Lagos State Government will soon clamp down on drivers not certified by its drivers’ institute, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, says. ``Drivers – private and commercial – who are not certified by the institute may not qualify to drive on Lagos roads henceforth,’’ Opeifa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday. ``It will soon be an offence for drivers plying the roads not to attend the drivers’ institute for certification.’’

NAN reports that the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) was established in 2007 with centres in Ikorodu, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos Island and Epe. The commissioner said the institute had so far certified 100,000 drivers, a figure he said was disproportionate to the high population of drivers in the state. ``All drivers need retraining, particularly on issues of safety, security, traffic rules and regulations, as well as road signs and adequate knowledge of their vehicles.

Opeifa, however, appealed to drivers and employers to take advantage of the institute’s services to avoid embarrassment from law enforcement agents. (NAN)

Cross River Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke (middle), with members of King’s College Old Boys Association, 1978 set, during the 30th year re-union, at the weekend in Calabar. Photo: NAN

Borno to set up primary health care agency

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he Borno state government said yesterday in Maiduguri that it planned to establish its Primary Health Care Development Agency in a bid to fast-track the implementation of its health care programmes.

Gov. Kashim Shettima stated this shortly after he was presented with an award as the 2012 North-East Best Performing Governor in Polio Eradication.

Shettima said the objective was to prepare ground for the provision of comprehensive health care services to the people, especially those at the

grass roots.

He said the state House of Assembly had already passed the bill for the setting up of the agency. ``I want to state, without fear of contradiction, that Borno is committed to improving health care delivery to its people especially in the area of improving maternal health ``The State House of Assembly has just passed the bill for the establishment of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency,’’ Shettima said.

He added that the state government had put in place

machinery for the take-off of the agency. ``We are putting in place structures for the take-off of the agency in a very short while,’’ the governor said.

He said the target was mainly to eradicate maternal mortality in the state by 2015.

Shettima however thanked the Federal Ministry of Health for the award, and praised the state’s Commissioner for Health. ``I think the credit should go to the Commissioner for Health, Dr Salma Kolo, for her hardwork and

dedication to duty,’’ she said.

Presenting the award, Dr Mohammed Pate, the Minister of State for Health, said it was in recognition of the governor’s efforts in the campaign against polio in the state. ``We wish to commend your successes in polio eradication in the last two years. This commendation is more essential when you consider the security challenges facing the state,’’ Pate said.

He urged other state governors to emulate Shettima by striving hard to eradicate polio from Nigeria.(NAN)

Photos Splash

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Dr. Reuben Abati (2nd left), performing the dust to dust right, during the burial of his mother, last Friday in Abeokuta.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (middle), in a group photograph with a delegation from Federal Ministries of Health and Agriculture, after their visit to the governor, at the weekend in Maiduguri.

Muslim faithful after receiving Ramadan gifts, at the Annual Moshood Salvador Ramadan Lecture, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

L-R: A student of Madalla Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, Tudun-Wada, Zaria, A’ishatu Shehu, receiving a prize from ward head of Gangare TudunWada, Alhaji Ja’afaru Muhammad, during the school’s speech and prize giving day, at the weekend in Zaria, Kaduna.

Bayelsa state governor, Hon. Seriake dickson (left presenting a Silverbird unique personality award to movie actress, mrs. Omotola jalade-ekeinde (middle), during the most Beatiful girl in Nigeria beauty pageant, on Saturday night in Yenagoa. with them is chairman, Silverbird group, Mr Ben Murray-Bruce (right).

Photos: Joe Oroye and NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

PAGE 41

Match fixing: National Assembly warns NFF to be transparent

By Albert Akota

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he House Committee Chairman on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya, has warned the Nigeria football federation (NFF) not in any way kept under the carpet the outcome of its investigation on match fixing.

Speaking with Peoples Daily Sports in Abuja, the lawmaker said the era of mere

investigation of issue of match fixing in Nigeria are over and any attempt to truncate with the judgment by the football house the House committee without delay would come in.

Gaiya complained: “I was very scandalized, I was very disappointed, that African Champion involved in such scandalous goals, for God sake that outcome further put our

football many years to come behind and I thank God that NFF immediately also condemned such act and promise they are going to go down deep to fish out the all culprits.

“As a committee we are watching, waiting the committee outcome, because we are expecting that at the end of their investigation all culprits that they found culpable should

be punished severely.

“And if no such thing is done or if there is any attempt to shield under the carpet that is when my committee will come in and act. But we need to allow those who are primarily concerned to supervise and oversee the league to do their own before we step in to the matter.” the Kaduna state born lawmaker assured.

Chelsea’s Makanjuola dazzles as Eaglets’ screening end

By Albert Akota

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helsea’s youngster, Habib Makanjuola, may have forced his way into the hearts of the coach Manu Garbaled Golden Eaglets’ crew after he practically bowled over the fans as the screening exercise ended at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Centre in Abuja over the weekend.

Many youngsters including Oviemuno Ejaria who is attached with Arsenal and US-based Abuchi Obinwa have been impressive during the trials but Garba reckons that players would be picked eventually based on merit, adding that Makanjuola has something to offer.

Makanjuola was at the right place at the right time as his first day coincided with the arrival of football lovers and he was the cynosure of all eyes.

“I think the boy (Makanjuola) has some qualities and he is very comfortable with the ball, “a delighted Garba said afterwards. “ But that is not to say he’s going to walk straight into the team because we have also noticed some few areas that he would need

to work upon.” Makanjuola, a former National Under-13 player, hails from Ifon in Osun State and has reportedly won several personal awards in domestic and international competitions before his breakthrough at Chelsea.

“I’m a Nigerian boy through and the only country I want to play for is Nigeria,” said the 14-year-old boy, I’m delighted to be here to show what I can do but I can see that there are also many good players here.

“But I’m determined to do the best I can to be part of the Golden Eaglets to the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates,” he affirmed.

In the meantime, Garba the chief coach has earlier described the exercise as very successful after discovery of new players that could help the cause of the team at the World Cup in UAE. “Players on the shortlist including those that represented the country at the last CAN Under-17 Championship in Morocco would converge in the Cross River State capital, Calabar for intensive preparation ahead of the trip to the UAE in October.

Makanjuola and coach Garba

Eagles change training rule, depart on Thursday for Abidjan

By Albert Akota

T

he Super Eagles will today alter their training schedule to evening time to coincide with the time the CHAN qualifier final round qualifier game will be played on Saturday in Abidjan, Head Coach Stephen Keshi has directed.

Yesterday the players were given a free day after a hectic training session on Saturday morning that lasted for over two hours with the technical crew saying the training was necessary to keep the players in top shape ahead of the return to training today evening.

Saturday’s training session which was watched by NFF

Technical Director, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and the popular All Stars Club of Abuja, was a delight to watch as the coaches seek to instil discipline and Spartan order in the team ahead of the game in Abidjan.

Meanwhile, the team will take on the Pastor Chinedu and Dr. Oby Ezekwesili inspired, ‘The Everlasting Arms Parish ‘(TEAP) FC in a test game tomorrow evening at the Goal Project site in Abuja.

The last time both sides met last year, the Super Eagles laboured to a slim 1-0 win, in a game that was described as one of the best test matches for the team by Head Coach Stephen Keshi.

Team Coordinator, Emmanuel Atta, said he expects another testy tie from the opposition after last week’s 1-0 win over FC Abuja in another test game. “We expect

Keshi

a tight game but we are talking of the national team and we expect nothing other than victory”, he said.

“The team is expected to jet out on Thursday through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, according to Team Scribe, Dayo Enebi Achor.

“All logistics have been perfected by the NFF Leadership and we must always thank the Aminu Maigari led Executive Committee for this.

Hopefully by Thursday the team should be off to Abidjan to complete the process of qualifying for the first time for the CHAN tournament after two near misses”, he said.

Gaiya

SWAN condemns plans to disband FCT Queens

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he FCT chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) has uncovered plans by Federal Capital Territory administration to disband the FCT Queens, the only female team in the centre of unity.

It beats SWAN’s imagination that rather than addressing several issues that have been raised about the state of sports in the territory with particular emphasis on the non-payment of the salaries of the FCT Queens and the deliberate refusal to set up the sporting associations, the FCT administration could only respond to the allegations by planning to disband the female team.

SWAN believes that such plan is a confirmation that those who manage sports in the territory lack the basic administrative acumen, and definitely do not have the interest of the welfare of the youths of the territory at heart.

The FCT Sports Writers therefore, enjoin the Minister of State in the territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide being a woman, to use her esteemed position to ensure that the Secretary of Social Development, Blessing Onuh and the Director of Sports, Mohammed Alim Musa do not succeed in disbanding the team.

SWAN affirms that a problem cannot be solved by creating another and urges the Minister of State not to allow herself to be rubbished by those who have displayed total ineptitude in the art of managing sports and advise that rather than disband FCT Queen, Alim Musa and Blessing Onuh be redeployed to create room for those who understand what it takes to manage sports.

We also remind the FCT Minister that it is part of the FCT administration’s social responsibility to engage the youths of the territory and going ahead to disband the FCT Queens would not augur well for meaningful developmental agenda for youths in the territory.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Sports 56 contingents hit Bulgaria today for summer Deaflympic Games

By Albert Akota

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ot fewer than fifty six players would represent the country in the 22nd editions of the summer Deaflympic Games billed from 24th of July to 4th of August in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Making this known to newsmen over the weekend in Abuja, president of the Nigeria Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) Alhaji Usman Nahuche said the federation would participate in three medals prospective events, adding that the players and the officials takes-off from Lagos to Bulgaria yesterday hit Sofia today.

Nahuche who believe the participating events which include football, athletes and table tennis would raise the country’s flag high in Bulgaria, however assured that the contingents would not return nothing less than ten medals.

He further said that the players have undergone intensive camping at Abuja national stadium for one month to ensure gold medals are

Members of Deaf Eagles in a group photograph during their preparation for the SOFIA 2013

Photo Albert Akota

guarantee.

“I want to assure Nigeria that the contingents will not return without medals because the last edition the federation

won medals for the country with few numbers of players let alone now we have high numbers who are ready to make the country proud.

“The contingents have undergone intensive training under the tutelage of Coach Olawye Akinreme for complete one month, I can assure Nigeria

without fear that the boys and girls in their respective events will win medals “Nahuche assured.

In his remark, the Director General of the National Sports commission (NSC) Gbenga Alegbeleye lauded the president for his confident to win medals for the country and promised to support them morally and financially in order to make the country proud in Bulgaria.

“We are here to bid the team farewell and I want you to know that for us to have supported you to any level you must justify yourselves in your respective games, ‘I want to implore you to be good ambassadors of the country so that we can be proud of you more.

“I also want you to surpass the record you had at the last edition of this tournament, so that you can also be celebrated,’’ the NSC DG said.

He implored the contingents to be good Ambassadors to the country by obeying the rules of the games as well as the law of the land throughout the two weeks event.

Garba hails new discoveries as Eaglets’ U-17 screening ends

By Albert Akota

T

he Head Coach of the Golden Eagles, Manu Garba, has expressed his delight on the quality of players discovered at the national U-17 trials held at the Abuja national stadium in Abuja.

This is contained in a release signed by the team’s Media Officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin, and made available to Peoples Daily Sports.

The statement said that the coach expressed his excitement, particularly on the performance of Chelsea’s Nigerian youngster, Habib Makanjuola, who distinguished himself during the screening, held at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Centre.

The trial was part of the screening process to select players who would represent the country at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, scheduled for the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in

Keshi donates boots to Deaf, Dumb national team

By Albert Akota

S

uper Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi over the weekend extended a hand of fellowship to the National Deaf and Dumb team which is currently preparing for a tourney abroad with the donation of a hefty set of boots and shin guards to the team.

Keshi

The donation was made after the national team’s training session at the FIFA Goal Project site, where the other team has also been training daily, sometimes keeping the national team to wait on them to resume training.

Keshi said the donation was to encourage the team to excel at the forthcoming tournament as he has been very impressed with the way and manner the team has been going about their preparation for their tournament.

Coach Peter, who received the donation on behalf of the team, thanked the national team coach for the gesture and promised that the team will do its best to give a good account of itself at the tourney that it was heading for outside the country.

Efforts to get details of the team’s trip abroad and their schedule were not successful as Coach Peter, who is also a special sports coach did not reply to enquiries about the team’s movement.

October.

“I think the boy (Makanjuola) has some qualities and he is very comfortable with the ball.

“But that is not to say he’s going to walk straight into the team because we have also noticed some few areas that he would need to work upon.”

Makanjuola, a former national U-13 player, had reportedly won several personal awards in domestic and international competitions before his breakthrough at Chelsea.

The statement said that Makanjuola, 14, expressed his joy to have received a call-up to the U-17 team and pledged his future to the

country.

“I’m a Nigerian boy through and through and the only country I want to play for is Nigeria.

“I’m delighted to be here to show what I can do but I can see that there are also many good players here.

“But I’m determined to do the best I can to be part of the Golden Eaglets to the World Cup in the United Arab Emirates,”he said.

The statement noted that players on the short list include those at the African U-17 Championship, held in Morocco who would converge in Calabar to prepare for the UAE in October.

Garba

Taekwondo coach assures medals in 2016 Olympics

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he President of the Professional Taekwondo Coaches Association of Nigeria (PTCAN) Ferguson Oluigbo, has assured that the country’s taekwondo athletes will win medals at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.

Oluigbo said that the country’s profile in the sport had soared following the election of one of its top officials into the international board.

He said that the election of George Ashiru, President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF), was a reflection of the trust the board had for his leadership qualities.

Ashiru was also recently elected as the Vice-President of the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union (CTU).

The elections took place on July 12 at the 3rdAnnual General Meeting of the CTU in Mexico.

Oluigbo added that the development would usher in new ideas and techniques, in terms of

Chukwumierije

training fighters to attain peak performance to enable them to excel at international competitions.

“Now that we have one of our own as vice-president of the CTU, it invariably spells out one thing and that is the development of the game in the country.

“I assure you that Ashiru will

bring about positive changes in the sport because he will be exposed to fresh ideas that will be injected into the sport,” he said.

The president also said that he was optimistic that taekwondo would be one of the sports that would make the country proud at the 2016 Olympics.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Al Nasr still hope for Odemwingie deal Chadli

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ubai-based Al Nasr remains hopeful of signing Peter Odemwingie despite West Bromwich Albion rejecting an £850,000 offer.

A number of Premier League clubs including Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Fulham also retain an interest in the Nigeria forward, who has been seeking an exit since January, when he failed in a highprofile attempt to join Queens Park Rangers.

Fulham and Sunderland have joined us so it’s more complicated now, but we still want to keep on negotiating. We think we can get him for less than £2 million but it depends on the club Al Nasr] if they want to go higher and then it depends on the player.

PAGE 43

Sports

Tottenham agree to sign FC Twente winger C T

Terry not safe at Chelsea, says Mourinho

ottenham are close to completing the signing of Belgium winger Nacer Chadli from Dutch club FC Twente.

Spurs have agreed an undisclosed fee, thought to be about £7m, for the 23-year-old, who has won 14 caps.

FC Twente won 65% of their Eredivisie matches last season when Nacer Chadli played. Without him, they only won 25%.

He will join Andre Villas-Boas’s squad for preseason training in Hong Kong next week, once he agrees personal terms and passes a medical.

Chadli joined FC Twente from AGOVV Apeldoorn in 2010 and has played 106 times for the club, scoring 31 goals.

Two of those came in Champions League matches against Spurs in the 2010-11 season.

Chadli will become the third Belgian player at White Hart Lane, alongside Mousa Dembele and Jan Vertonghen.

And he will be Villas-Boas’s second summer signing after the £17m capture of Brazil midfielder Paulinho.

A

Andre Santos

Chadli

Newcastle confirms interest in Gomis

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ewcastle United manager Alan Pardew has expressed his desire to sign Lyon striker Bafetimbi Gomis as he looks to boost the club’s attacking options.

The 51-year-old recently revealed plans to sign a new forward in order to “take the game to other teams” and said the club is searching “worldwide” for extra firepower.

The specualtion carries added spice following Papiss Cisse’s fallout with the Magpies over his refusal to wear a shirt sponsored by loan company Wonga, and the Senegal striker has not travelled to Portugal with his

Santos joins Flamengo from Arsenal ndre Santos has signed for Brazilian club Flamengo following a disappointing two-year spell at Arsenal.

A statement on the English side’s official website read: “Arsenal Football Club can confirm that Brazilian left back Andre Santos has joined Flamengo in a permanent deal. Everybody at Arsenal would like to thank Andre for his contribution to the club and wish him well for his future career.”

The left back fell out of favour last season after struggling for form and fitness following a knee injury

helsea manager Jose Mourinho insists Captain John Terry is “not safe” and must prove himself worthy of a firstteam place and a new contract.

Terry, 32, was skipper in Mourinho’s previous spell from 2004 to 2007 and has a year left on his current deal.

Mourinho said: “He’s not safe, and he knows he’s not safe. The only thing he knows is safe is our friendship, but professionally, nobody’s safe.

Terry, whose first spell as skipper under Mourinho heralded six trophies, was no longer a guaranteed first choice under Mourinho’s predecessor Rafael Benitez last season, however Mourinho believes the centre-back still has a lot to offer.

in his first year at the club.

The 30-year-old made just 12 appearances in his final season and joined Brazilian club Gremio on loan in February.

With Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal ahead of Santos for the leftback position at Emirates Stadium, the Brazil international will now be hoping for more first-team action ahead of the 2014 World Cup. He made a total of 33 appearances over two seasons for the Gunners, scoring four goals, following his £6.8 million arrival from Fenerbahce.

team-mates for the club’s pre-season tour.

France international Gomis is the latest name to be linked with a move to St James’ Park and Pardew is hoping to bring the former Saint-Etienne man across the Channel.

The 27-year-old has attratcted interest from numerous Premier League clubs, with Aston Villa and Swansea reported to be keeping a close eye on his situation.

The news comes after Gomis, who wants to leave Lyon, was told earlier this month he is no longer part of the club’s plans.

John Terry

Benitez declares admiration for Damiao

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Gomis

PSG deny Rooney link

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aris Saint-Germain boss Laurent Blanc has dismissed the idea of signing Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney because he would prefer to strengthen his midfield.

Although David Moyes has repeatedly stressed that Rooney is not for sale, doubts over the England international’s future remain, with the 27-year-old said to have been left “angry and confused” by suggestions he is not a key part of the new manager’s plans.

Chelsea have seen an offer rejected while Arsene Wenger has

said Arsenal would be capable of paying the player’s wages, and PSG were also thought to hold an interest.

However, with the signing of Marquinhos on Friday, PSG have taken their spending past the £100 million mark this summer and, having brought in Edinson Cavani from Napoli, Blanc does not believe he needs any more forwards.

Meanwhile, Blanc has rubbished reports that the likes of Mamadou Sakho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti could be sold.

apoli boss Rafa Benitez has stated his appreciation for the talents of Brazil’s Leandro Damiao, leading some to speculate the Serie A club is set to make an offer for the striker.

Damiao has been linked with Tottenham for some time after impressing for the national team and his club side Internacional.

Benitez, meanwhile, says he admires the 23-year-old as he continues his search for a new strike partnership at Napoli following the departure of Edinson Cavani to Paris Saint-Germain.

“Two attackers will arrive: one who is more of a centre-forward and the other a support striker.

“We are looking for players at a fair price, but it is clear that to compete at a certain level we need players with experience and international quality.

Damiao

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Sports

Federer loses to Delbonis in Hamburg semis

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op seed Roger Federer lost to Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis in the semi-finals of the German Tennis Championships in Hamburg.

Delbonis, ranked 114th in the world, beat the 17-time Grand Slam champion 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-4) on the clay.

Federer, 31, had been trying out a larger, more powerful racquet frame in Hamburg after losing in the second round of Wimbledon last month.

“I’ve been very close on numerous occasions to changing racquets in a bigger way,” he said at the start of the week. “But then very often, time was the issue.

Maybe also just the records of Grand Slams - I was always keeping on playing quarters and semis - so then it was also a bit more difficult to change it because of the time.

“I tried everything I could at this tournament. It’s been a difficult week throughout. But

I’m happy I fought through many matches. It gives me the matches I was looking for.

“I was clearly hoping, after winning a tough one yesterday, to somehow get through today and then give myself an opportunity to win the title tomorrow.

“It’s disappointing, but defeats like that happen sometimes. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to the final, but nevertheless, I did have four good matches and these are the

kind of matches I need.”

Federer had taken a wild card for Hamburg and Gstaad as he looks to find some form, and try out the new racquet, after losing in the quarter-finals of the French Open and round two at Wimbledon.

The Swiss will then head to the American hard courts ahead of the US Open, which begins on 26 August.

Delbonis, who goes on to face Italian Fabio Fognini in the final, said: “I feel like I’m dreaming. My key was to enjoy the match and enjoy playing this kind of player, because he’s the best of all time.

The 22-year-old Argentine left-hander will be playing in his first ATP final on Sunday after coming through two rounds of qualifying and five matches in the main draw.

Coe wants four-year ban for fail drugs tests

Federer

Tour de France: Froome set for victory

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Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell recently tested positive

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ondon 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe wants the ban for failing a drugs test to be increased from two to four years.

The double Olympic champion’s claim comes after sprinters Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell provided positive samples.

While the 1500m gold medallist from Moscow 1980 and Los Angeles 1984 does not believe trust in the sport has completely evaporated, Lord Coe is concerned people are losing faith in athletics.

“It is depressing. Trust sits at the heart of this,” said Lord Coe, who is also vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

“I don’t think trust is gone entirely, but it was a bad day for the

sport. The big challenge here is to go on fighting; this is not a fight we can afford to lose.

“It is about trust. If fans can’t trust the athletes and go there knowing what they are watching is questionable, then we will descend to American wrestling where most of the crowd know it is fake and, worryingly, don’t care.”

Lord Coe believes that athletes are currently taking risks by cheating as the two-year ban does not take enough time out of their career to be a deterrent.

But the London 2012 organiser and current British Olympic Association chairman knows that lifetime bans are not possible.

The BOA, before Coe was elected chairman, had a policy of banning

any British athletes from competing in Olympic Games for life if they had previously failed a drugs test.

However, in April 2012 the governing body lost its battle with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) to keep the policy.

It allowed athletes such as Dwain Chambers, who failed a drugs test in 2003, to compete at London 2012.

“The legal inhibitor to be able to do that is profound. We are not going to be able to have life bans, they would be challenged and when we have done it we have lost.

“Four years does make people think, it is a big chunk of your career but two years with appeals is often only 18 months. Too many athletes have been prepared to take the risk.

riton Chris Froome is set to win the 100th Tour de France after finishing third on the penultimate stage.

Froome, 28, leads by over five minutes and will not be challenged on Sunday’s traditional procession into Paris.

Froome will become the second successive British winner when he crosses the line on the Champs Elysees following Sir Bradley Wiggins’s victory 12 months ago.

He has led since stage eight and finished the 20th stage, from Annecy to Annecy-Semnoz on Saturday, with a lead of five minutes three seconds in the

general classification.

Quintana’s first ever stage wins also secured the Colombian the polka dot jersey for the King of the Mountains to go with his white jersey for the best-placed rider under 25.

Peter Sagan, from Slovakia, took an an unassailable lead in the points classification with victory in the intermediate sprint to deny Mark Cavendish a chance of winning the green jersey.

Cavendish, who has won the last four sprint finishes on the Champs Elysees, currently shares the record with the legendary Belgian Eddy Merckx.

Chisora knocks out unbeaten Scott

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Chisora

ritish heavyweight Dereck Chisora stopped unbeaten Malik Scott with a sixthround knockout at Wembley Arena.

Chisora caught Scott with an overhand right on the ropes and the American appeared to misjudge the count, failing to get to his feet in time.

Scott started the brighter until the dramatic punch late in the sixth round.

Scott’s corner was unhappy with the referee’s count but the fighter accepted the defeat.

“He hit me with a good shot,” said Scott. “I gave myself an eight, got up at nine and everywhere in America the count goes up to 10.

“Everyone knows I beat the count but Dereck won a clear fair, fight and we’re not going to turn this into something

Froome

Farah breaks Cram’s 28-year record

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ouble Olympic champion Mo Farah broke Steve Cram’s 28-year 1500m British record at the Diamond League in Monaco.

The Briton is remarkably the sixth fastest man over the distance, clocking three minutes

and 28.81 seconds to also become the European record holder.

Farah, the 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic champion, was second behind Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop who recorded a world-leading time of 3:27.72.

PAGE 45

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Sports

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l

1. Two goals direct from free-kicks gave Zambia the 2013 Cosafa Cup title over holders Zimbabwe, while South Africa beat the surprise team of the tournament Lesotho to claim third.

2. Brendan Rodgers has admitted that Liverpool need to get Pepe Reina off the wage bill, with the ‘keeper set to join Napoli on loan.

3. England bowl Australia out for 235 to win the second Test by 347 runs in the final over the day.

1

4. ABAE is confident its boxers will not miss October’s World Championships, despite being provisionally suspended from international events.

5. World number one Serena Williams recovered from her shock early exit at Wimbledon by beating home hope Johanna Larsson to win the Swedish Open.

2 3

4

5

PAGE 46

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

The Open 2013: Mickelson superb 66 to win at Muirfield P hil Mickelson came from five strokes back to clinch his first Open title and fifth major on a dizzying final day at Muirfield.

The 43-year-old American triumphed by three shots from Sweden's Henrik Stenson, with English pair Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood four back, alongside Australia's Masters champion Adam Scott.

Mickelson surged to the third leg of a career Grand Slam of all four majors with a stunning five-under 66 The left-hander, who won the Scottish Open, last week, birdied four of the last six holes and was in tears on the final green as he hugged caddie Jim 'Bones' Mackay.

Mickelson, who won the Masters in 2004, 2006 and 2010 and the US PGA in

2005, continues the list of illustrious former champions at Muirfield, which includes such greats of the game as Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo (twice) and Ernie Els, who was defending champion this week.

American Mickelson becomes the third consecutive player in his 40s to win the Open, after Els and Darren Clarke.

Westwood, seeking a first major title at the 62nd attempt, led by two going into the final day and moved serenely into a three-shot lead after five holes. But he took two to get out of a pot bunker on the short seventh and from then on was always struggling for momentum in a 75.

Mickelson

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

Some Interesting Facts

T

he average person generates over 4 pounds of trash every day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year.

• In 2009, Americans produced enough trash to circle the Earth 24 times.

• Over 75% of waste is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it.

• We generate 21.5 million tons of food waste each year. If we composted that food, it would reduce the same amount of greenhouse gas as taking 2 million cars off the road.

• Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to listen to a full album on your iPod. Recycling 100 cans could light your bedroom for two whole weeks.

• Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy used to make alum cans from new material.

• Americans throw away 25,000,000 plastic bottles every hour.

• Over 87% of Americans have access to curbside or drop-off paper recycling programs.

• In 2009, Americans threw away almost 9 million tons of glass. That could fill enough tractor trailers to stretch from NYC to LA (and back!).

• In 2010, paper recycling had increased over 89%

since 1990.

• If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we could save about 25 million trees each year.

• You can’t change other people, and it’s rude to try.

• It is a hundred times more difficult to burn calories than to refrain from consuming them in the first place.

• If you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, you may be talking to someone who knows way more about whatever you’re talking about than you do.

• The cheapest and most expensive models are usually both bad deals.

Leisure

• Everyone likes somebody who gets to the point quickly.

• Bad moods will come and go your whole life, and trying to force them away makes them run deeper and last longer.

• Children are remarkably honest creatures until we teach them not to be.

• If everyone in the TV s ho w you’ r e w a t chin g is good-looking, it’s not worth watching.

• Yelling always makes things worse.

• Whenever you’re worried about what others will think of you, you’re really just worried about what you’ll think

of you.

• Every problem you have is your responsibility, regardless of who caused it.

• You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time.

• If you never doubt your beliefs, then you’re wrong a lot.

• Managing one’s wants is the most powerful skill a person can learn.

• Nobody has it all figured out.

• Cynicism is far too easy to be useful.

• Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit a s com p e l l in g a n d complicated as yours.

Say what?

SUDODKU

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This 40ft dragon’s skull appears to have washed up on a shore — to the amazement of a dog walker. It was in fact a model installed at Charmouth beach on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast to mark the third series of fantasy epic Game Of Thrones.

Source: TheSun.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013

SPORTS LATEST

Williams beats Larsson to win Swedish Open

W

orld number one Serena Williams recovered from her shock early exit at Wimbledon by beating home hope Johanna Larsson to win the Swedish Open yesterday.

The American dropped serve twice in the first set but overcame those setbacks to win 6-4 6-1 in Bastad.

Williams, 31, has now won 51 matches and seven titles in 2013.

She had been a strong favourite to win her 17th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon earlier this month, but lost to Sabine Lisicki in the last 16.

Williams chose to return on clay at the relatively low-key Swedish event, and victory brought her a first ever title at an ‘international’ level tournament, the fourth tier below Grand Slams.

The second seed was Romanian Simona Halep, ranked 30th in the world, so it was no surprise that Williams won all five matches without dropping a set.

She did not have it all her own way in the final, however, struggling in the early stages and letting out a huge scream when she finally slammed a forehand winner at 3-1 down.

Larsson, the Swedish number one and world number 76, had her chances but could not convert as she struggled to make enough first serves.

Williams eventually found her range and from 4-3 down lost just two more games on her way to capturing the 53rd WTA title of her career.

She remains unbeaten on clay this season, having also won in Rome, Madrid and Charleston.

In Hamburg, Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis could not follow up Saturday’s win over Roger Federer with another victory, as Fabio Fognini won the German Tennis Championships final 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-2.

. . . putting the people first

I pray God touches Amaechi’s heart as per his hot temper because when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers.

— First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan on her relationship with Rivers state Governor Rotimi Amaechi

Now that Al-Mustapha is free…

M

ajor Hamza Al-Mustapha is jumping for joy.He should be. Anyone with the vaguest idea of prison shouldn’t begrudge him his newfound freedom. Prisons anywhere are hellholes.In Nigeria,prisons are like being in the belly of an elephant suffering constipation.

For 15 solid years, he was in the slammer for a crime, the Appeal Court now said he didn’t commit.

What a price to pay for 15 minutes of fame. To waste 15 years as price for doing one’s job is costly, too costly even by our standards. In Nigeria’s deadly shortened lifespan of 45 years, this means that he has spent one third of his life behind bars. And for what?For a crime he didn’t commit. The law, truly, is an ass. It wasted a decade and a half to confirm what was long suspectedthat Al-Mustapha’s prolonged trial was more political than judicial.

On July 12,a Friday, in the year of the lord 2013,the ‘fearsome’ CSO to late General Sani Abacha, regained freedom. His acquittal by the Appeal court in Lagos was as dramatic as his arrest and detention so many years ago.

Lets open the grey pages of history. His trip to Golgotha began on October 21,1998.On that fateful day, Al-Mustapha and cotravellers were arrested on sundry allegations. Among them was one that engenders a choking mirthpossession of ‘illegal’ firearms.

Firearms to a soldier, to me, is what a pen is to journalist. A soldier - and one that was a very powerful Chief Security Officer to a fearful leader, heading a hassled regime, without firearms will be a complete dunce. A bigger nitwit will be one that would keep ‘illegal’ firearms when he was no longer CSO.I are skeptical if the Major was a dimwit.

If he were, he probably wouldn’t have lasted a day in the dog-eat-dog jungle that was military politics.

But this was Al-Mustapha code named ‘Lion heart’. He was not too many people’s favourite person at

“

Serena Williams

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Ali M. Ali aliyumaliyu@yahoo.com

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha the time. He certainly wasn’t my ‘man of the year’. I recall a personal not too pleasant encounter in 1994.

The regime which he attained dubious infamy had called for the first and only ‘international press conference’ at the heavily fortified Aso Rock Presidential Villa where the late Abacha was holding court.

A hapless Walter Ofonagoro, the Minister of information at the time, thought it was his ‘show’. He was mistaken. In attendance were curious media executives and all the industry’s local and international icons.

By rank, I was far too junior as deputy editor of the state run but now rested Triumph to being that August Assembly. In breezed a haughty stoned faced Al-Mustapha

literally shoving aside a visibly bewildered Ofonagoro. I witnessed my idols being shepherd like cattle by the unsmiling ‘thirtyish’ looking Major barking orders and shoving people. I took an instant dislike. I thought it irreverent to hound world-renowned editors.

These were my own “Generals” being tossed by a common ‘Major’ who probably couldn’t report a straightforward story in the newsroom! Editors are known to have ruin governments with just a lone story or editorial.

In the course of the subsequent four years, the man stepped on toes. Diplomatically expressed, he trampled on heads, walked on faces and crushed security threats with a swagger.

At the height of his glory, he frustrated the 1995 coup plot against Abacha. Its alleged sponsors including the late Shehu Yar’adua and Chief Obasanjo were hurled into jail. A court found both former No 1 and 2 guilty of the crime charged. By law, both men were to be executed, ironically, by a piece of legislation signed by Obasanjo as Head of State in 1976.

The charitable however, dismissed the plot as ‘phantom’ that it existed only in the realm of imagination. They argued that the ex leaders were victims of an egoistic regime petrified by its own shadow.

Obasanjo particularly was seen as the ‘conscience’ of the nation. A gadfly and nemesis of bad governments. Internationally

In discharging this onerous task-he spared no ox. He left ‘no turn unstoned’. You call it ‘no stone unturned’.

His subordinates revered him. His contemporaries marveled at his temerity. His superiors dreaded his snare. As CSO, he was ubiquitous. He was on duty 24/7. He had his finger in every pie so long it had the potential to spell ‘trouble’ for his boss, the C-in-C. His loyalty was totally unwavering.

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he was seen as a statesman who ‘willingly’ handed power in 1979 at a time it was fashionable to sit-tight.

The knowledgeable and versed in the labyrinthine politics of the time, countered that there was, indeed, a conspiracy to forcefully end the regime in power.

Seen but barely heard, Lion heart’ was whispered as the ‘muscle’ who wasn’t impressed by the Generals’ profile and ensured that they faced the music of their misdeeds. Where the faint hearted feared to walk, he treaded with sure-footednesss welling his enemy list by the day. Less than two short years later in 1997, serving Generals led by the No 2 man in the regime got caught in the snare of Al-Mustapha planning to upstage Abacha. Again, and dutifully, Lion Heart was at hand doing what he knew best protecting the life and person of the Commander-in-Chief.

In discharging this onerous task-he spared no ox. He left ‘no turn unstoned’. You call it ‘no stone unturned’.

His subordinates revered him.

His contemporaries marveled at his temerity. His superiors dreaded his snare. As CSO, he was ubiquitous.

He was on duty 24/7. He had his finger in every pie so long it had the potential to spell ‘trouble’ for his boss, the C-in-C. His loyalty was totally unwavering.

Generals likeVictor Malu who call a spade by its name recommend and commend Al-Mustapha as the quintessential CSO. The hit on Kudirat Abiola was tragic. It is unpardonable. The killers shouldn’t go unpunished.

They must be fished out no matter how long it takes. Other unresolved murders too, shouldn’t be left hanging. Bola Ige, Harry Marshall, AK Dekiboh, Isyaku Muhammad etc. deserve justice. These men were brutally murdered post AlMustapha’s days. Their killers are still at large.

A lazy government blames armed robbers for the heinous crimes of snuffing lives of citizens perceived as stumbling blocks.

Al- Mustapha is lucky. Probably because he was innocent of the crime, he lives to tell his story. Those who designed his life behind bars didn’t reckon with his resilience.

But nonetheless, as a security top gun, he failed to appreciate Idi Amin’s justification of silencing the enemy when there is a change of government. “Any time there is a change of government in Africa, heads will roll” .I just wonder why he didn’t flee the country like the notorious Frank Omenka of the DMI. Now that Al-Mustapha is freed; I would expect his tormentors to ‘flee’ or to open a new frontier of battle.

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