Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday 23 April, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 77

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Again, fire guts Abuja INEC building

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Jimadal Akhir 13, 1434 AH

N150

‘Only good leadership’ll end insurgency’ >> 40

Soldiers, insurgents battle

Scores flee Baga Over 10,000 displaced, Women, children worse hit Jonathan orders probe Shettima directs reconstruction of homes >> See story on page 2

Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (2nd left), consoling a victim at a hospital when he visited on Saturday following fracas between gunmen and soldiers that left scores dead in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area.

From Yusha’u Alhassan, Jalingo

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peaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Istifanus Haruna Gbana, his Deputy, Mr. Abel Diah and

Taraba Speaker, others impeached the Majority Leader, Mr. Charles Maijankai, have been impeached.

This followed a motion moved

by the member representing Lau constituency, Joseph Albasu, and seconded by the member representing Gembu

constituency, Abubakar Jugulde, under matters of urgent public importance.

Defending the motion,

Albasu told members that the Speaker, Istifanus Gbana, failed to lead and forward a list of Contd on Page 2

Oshiomhole vows to check Igbinedion’s ‘rascality’

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PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

CONTENTS

Soldiers, insurgents battle: Scores flee Baga

News

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri, with agency reports

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch

23

Defence

27

Agriculture

29

No more fuel scarcity?, Page 4

Int’l

36-34

S/World

35

Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-45

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

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here were indications yesterday that more than 10,000 persons were rendered homeless following last weekend’s bloody clash between soldiers attached to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) and suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Baga town of Kukawa local government area of Borno state.

Reports said that some 185 people were killed in the incident as survivors fled their homes to the neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad which share boundaries with Baga, located about 230 kilometres from Maiduguri.

The Federal Government set up the MJTF in collaboration with the governments of Cameroon, Chad and Niger, to maintain security at the border areas with each country manning its territory.

The fighting in Baga was said to have started last Friday and continued till Sunday afternoon as the insurgents reportedly fired rocket-propelled grenades while soldiers sprayed machine-gun fire into neighbourhoods filled with civilians.

As at yesterday, our correspondent reports that no fewer than 200 residential houses were razed, aside from the unspecified number of business premises and vehicles destroyed.

Eyewitness accounts and survivors say the casualty figure may have risen as more corpses of the victims who initially ran into the bush with gunshot injuries but died were being recovered and deposited at the Baga General Hospital.

A Baga resident escaped to

Maiduguri said that about 20 corpses were recovered from the bush while a number of others had gunshot wounds and burns.

Authorities had found and buried at least 185 bodies as at Sunday afternoon, according to Lawan Kole, a local government official in Baga.

Many of the bodies had been burned beyond recognition in fires that razed whole sections of the town, residents said, in accordance with Muslim rites.

Commander of the MJTF, BrigGen. Austin Edokpayi, said Boko Haram extremists used heavy machine guns and rocketpropelled grenades in the assault, which began after soldiers surrounded a mosque they believed housed members of the group.

According to him, the insurgents used civilians as human shields during the fighting.

“When we reinforced and returned to the scene, the terrorists came out with heavy firepower, including (rocket-propelled grenades).

However, local residents who spoke to an Associated Press journalist who accompanied the state officials said soldiers purposefully set the fires during the attack.

“Everyone has been in the bush since Friday night; we started returning back to town because the Governor came to town today,” grocer Bashir Isa said adding that, “to get food to eat in the town now is a problem because even the markets are burnt and we are still picking corpses of women and children in the bush and creeks.”

Meanwhile, Governor Kashim Shettima has ordered immediate release of relief materials including food items and clothes to victims of the violence.

According to a statement by

Isah Umar Gusau, the Special Adviser on Communications to Shettima, the governor has also ordered the State’s Ministry of Works to immediately mobilize to sites in Baga town and start the reconstruction of houses that were destroyed.

He said a committee is expected to investigate and submit a report on the cause of the crisis, take records of all those killed or injured, take stock of all houses destroyed and recommend appropriate compensation.

“The number of persons killed as well as houses destroyed has not been accurately ascertained by any competent authority as government awaits the report of its committee or any reliable source of information to ascertain accurate figures.

“A news report claiming 185 persons were killed and 200 houses destroyed, published in a Nigerian newspaper and a news agency on Monday, April 22, 2013, were solely based on accounts by some residents in Baga, who spoke with the Governor during his visit, as the author (s) reported the news without any independent verification for accuracy and with no form of investigation whatsoever. Governor Shettima however believes that regardless of the number of persons affected, the incident was gruesome and highly condemnable since the life of a single human being is as important as the lives of thousands of humans,” the statement said.

It said Governor Shettima had on Saturday, visited the town for on the spot assessment during which he strongly condemned the incident while he met with Military authorities to get their side of the story before the committee he sets up completes its findings to determine the next line

Again, fire guts Abuja INEC building

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported a fire incident at its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) building in Abuja yesterday.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said that the incident occurred in the office of the former Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), located in the ICT Building.

Kayode said that men of the Fire Service attached to the Commission off the fire adding

that the incident did not affect the commission's facility.

He also said that an initial assessment had indicated that incident might have resulted from an electrical fault, adding that all the relevant agencies had started investigation into the cause of the fire.

An eyewitness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fire started at about noon, razing the ADR office.

NAN reports that the Commission's staff were seen loitering around the building while a security man was directed to inform Zenith Bank officials oc-

cupying a section of the building to evacuate.

NAN further reports that the entire floor of the building was waterlogged as smoke filled the air and the commission's staff members were evacuated from the building.

NAN recalls that a similar incident occurred on Jan. 7, razing the office of the Commission’s Director of Voter Registry in the same ICT building.

Also, on May 16, 2012, the INEC Electoral Institute went up in flames. (NAN)

of action.

The governor also ordered release of funds to the Ministry of Works to gather all consumables and move earth moving equipment and brick making machines to Baga town to begin reconstruction while he held several meetings with stakeholders from Kukawa local government area to take firm measures that will further ameliorate the condition of surviving victims and other residents, the statement said.

Similarly, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered security operatives in the country and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to conduct an indepth probe of the Friday alleged killings of civilians during a cross-fire between Nigerian soldiers and Boko Haram at Baga in Borno State.

In a related development, the President will tomorrow (Wednesday) inaugurate the Turaki-led National Committee for dialogue and the peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North.

This, according to a press release by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, is intended to pave way for the emergence of peace and an end to the continuous loss of lives to wasteful violence.

Yesterday’s directive by the president for the probe of the Baga incident, followed his receiving a preliminary briefing from the Military High Command on the incident yesterday.

“Rules of engagement for the military and security agencies are already in place for this purpose and the investigation ordered by President Jonathan into the incident in Baga is to amongst other things, determine whether or not these rules were fully complied with,” the statement noted.

Abati also said “the President has also ordered the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and Federal health agencies to liaise with the Borno State Government and take urgent steps to provide immediate relief and medical support for all who suffered losses and injury in the fighting at Baga. “ The presidency indicated that there is a gap between what actually happened and the information given by the foreign media, saying that the latter was blown out of proportion thus making it necessary for the government to get a proper appraisal on the incident.

Taraba Speaker, others impeached Contd from Page 1

allegations levelled against him during yesterday’s sitting.

The said allegations included gross misconduct, diversion of members’ allowances amounting to over N9 million, divide and rule system of administration, and unruly behaviour, leading to the loss of confidence in the

House leadership.

Albasu also noted that Gbana failed in his responsibility to hold meetings and that he had consistently used four members to pilot the affairs of the House thereby reducing the standard of the Legislature.

Seventeen members out of the 22 voted for the impeachment of the Speaker

and the others.

Meanwhile, the House elected Haruna Tsokwa, member representing Takum 1constituency, as the new Speaker.

The new Speaker promised to run an open door administration and thanked the members for electing him.

He called on members and staff of the House to cooperate

with the principal officers for the development of the state.

The other members of the new executive for the House are Mr. Albasu Kunini from Karim Lamido constituency as Majority Leader, Mohammadu Gwampo from Yorro constituency and Josiah Kente from Wukari constituency as Chief Whip and Deputy Majority Leader respectively.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

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2015: You must work extra hard to defeat PDP, Aliyu tells opposition From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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iger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday told members of the opposition merger party, that that they must work extra hard if indeed they intend to defeat the ruling people’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the 2015 presidential polls.

Aliyu spoke in Lagos at the book launch of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Witness to History, Action Congress of Nigeria and the Struggle for Democracy, Liberty.

Present at the programme was the ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, along with former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Senators Ganiyu Solomon, Oluremi Tinubu and Gbenga Ashafa, Olorunimbe Mamora, former governors of Ogun and Ekiti, Chief Segun Osoba and Niyi Adebayo, respectively.

Aliyu who chaired the ceremony explained that the PDP, “is not saying there will not be election but opposition party must work hard to get there.

“For my ruling party, we need to appreciate the works of others as this will gives the opportunities to listen to different views before we make policies for the nation.”

Aliyu recommended the book to all political parties, scholars of contemporary Nigerian history and all Nigerians.

Also speaking at the programme, Buhari described the merger of the opposition political parties as the alternative that

Insecurity: America to partner Nigeria on insurgency

By Joy Baba

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hief of Defence Staff, (CDS), Admiral Ola Ibrahim, says the United States of America (USA) is ready to partner with Nigeria on the challenges of defence related issues and insecurity currently plaguing the nation.

The CDS stated this yesterday when a team of the US House Services Committee Congregational Delegation visited him in his office at the Defence headquarters, Abuja.

Ibrahim noted that Nigeria has enjoyed support from the US especially in the area of oil theft in the Niger Delta.

According to him, “America qualifies to be our friend and the spirit that underlines their visit here today is to relate with us on defence related issues.

“On one hand, how we can manage our local matters of insurgency and on the other hand, how we participate in the African Support Mission in Mali.”

would meet the aspirations of Nigerians.

According to him, “I congratulate ACN for already conducting their convention in readiness for the merger.

“The CPC and ANPP conventions will hold in May and this merger is going to be real as we also are going to ensure that

our votes counts and we will ensure that there is free and fair election.”

In his address, the ACN National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the APC as a government in waiting.

“We have been in the opposition for too long,” Tinubu said, adding that, “in fact, we

should stop using the term opposition. We are progressives.

Lagos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, in his welcome address had chided ruling the PDP for allegedly saying that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2015.

Some others who were also at the programme included, Chief

Tom Ikimi, Chief Rasaq Okoya, Senator Chris Ngige, Gen. Alani Akinrade (rtd), Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, Senator James Kolawole, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and the Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, as well as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

From left: National Publicity Secretary, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Lai Mohammed; former Ogun state governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; former Chief of Army Staff, General Alani Akinrinade (rtd); CPC Presidential Candidate in 2011, General Muhammadu Buhari and leader of ACN, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the launch of a book “Witness to History” written by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Electricity: FG signs agreements with investors

By Etuka Sunday

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n furtherance of the power sector reform efforts which focus on privatisation to ensure a stable and efficient power supply in the country, the Federal Government yesterday signed transaction agreements with investors in the sector.

The event which was held at the State House also witnessed issuance of certificates to some other investors in the sector for successfully paying 25 per cent installment of the purchase price of five PHCN successor generating companies and 10 successor distribution companies.

The execution of World Bank Partial-Risk Guarantee Support Agreement for gas supply to Egbin Power Plant was equally signed between the power firm and Chevron Nigeria Limited.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Goodluck Jonathan, assured investors of government’s commitment to ensure that the privatisation programme of the power sector is successfully completed.

According to him, “inadequate power supply will be brought to an end by God’s grace.

“This government will not relent in its effort to bring the much needed transformation in the sector to its reality.

“This government cares about you and until you can sleep well at night without the irritating noise of generators, we will not relax.”

Also speaking, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo,

stated that Nigeria’s installed available generation capacity had risen to 6,000mw while generation capability had increased to 5,228mw, with peak generation at slightly above 4,500mw.

President Biya orders release of Boko Haram suspects

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resident Paul Biya of Cameroun may have or dered the release of some Bokko Haram suspects held in prisons in Cameoun over insurgency activities, a source disclosed yesterday.

Biya’s gesture, according to our source, was part of the mutual understanding and nego-

tiations leading to the release of French hostages held in captivity for over two months by some Boko Haram members.

“The negotiations were supervised by Cameroonian Islamic clerics because the Bokko Haram members trust them more than the Nigerian clerics,” the source said.

PIB: South-south wants PEF scrapped Convicted pension boss Olaoye Bayelsa state Commissioner for challenges court jurisdiction By Lawrence Energy also subscribed to he people of the South-south

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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onvicted pension thief, John Yusufu, yesterday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that it lacks the jurisdiction to try him on the charges against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The trial of the former Director of Police Pension Office was stalled at the last adjourned date following alleged severe discomfort by the accused person that raised fears of ill-health.

The convicted pension thief

told the court in a preliminary objection filed through his counsel, Gabriel Tsenyen that it has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

His argument is that his trial before the Federal High Court amounts to double jeopardy since the same agency had earlier filed a suit which led to his conviction by an Abuja High Court.

In opposition to the objection raised by the accused, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the Yusufu’s application is an attempt to stall a fresh trial against him.

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geo-political zone of the country yesterday urged the National Assembly to expunge the provisions of the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) from the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Prof. Dagogo Fubara, who presented the position of the government of Rivers state on behalf of Governor Rotimi Amaechi, spoke at the ongoing zonal public hearing by the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee chaired by Rep Ishaka Bawa in Port Harcourt yesterday.

Rivers’ position, to which

substantially, argued that keeping PEF in the new PIB negates the concept of commercialization and full regulation policy of the government.

He said, “the existence of net surplus revenue accruing from petroleum products marketing companies and the concept of the Petroleum Equalization Fund should cease to operate especially when the Federal Government is no longer disposed to petroleum product subsidy and insists on full deregulation.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Fuel scarcity in Nigeria

No more fuel scarcity?

By Etuka Sunday

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uel scarcity in Nigeria has, over the years, become a household "name" of sorts due to its perennial nature. Whenever the "name" is mentioned, many people are gripped with fear and, as a result, engage in panic buying because of fuel's importance to human activities. For a country like Nigeria that depends almost solely on fuel, nothing could be more worrisome than its scarcity.

Whenever there is scarcity of fuel, activities are grounded and the economy suffers. The reason is not far-fetched. Unlike in other countries of the World where alternative sources of power like wind, solar, and biomass are used to drive their socio-economic development, Nigeria depends on fuel as the only source to power generators, vehicles and other machinery.

What is particularly unconvincing to people about the perennial shortage is the fact that Nigeria is among the top sevan oil producing countries in the world.

They are therefore quick to attribute every fuel scarcity to graft or managerial problem even when some are caused by vandalism or theft. Some scarcity could be as a result of the maintenance been carried out on the facilities at the depots, but this is often judged to be a way of punishing the citizenry.

Last year, in June to be prĂŠcise, Nigeria witnessed a serious shortage of fuel apparently due to the turn-around maintenance that was being carried out by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). This singular act made Nigerians to cry to high Heavens, with some even calling for the resignation of the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke since, according to them, she was passively looking at the situation without proper

intervention.

Nevertheless she was quick to tell Nigerians to stop complaining about fuel scarcity since it was caused by their demand for transparency and accountability coupled with the government's determination to ensure such in the petroleum sector.

In her words, "We cannot eat our cakes and have it. We cannot keep calling out for transparency and accountability and pointing at corruption if we are not prepared to bear some of the hardship that will obviously come when you are trying to clean up a sector."

She attributed the shortages being experienced in almost all parts of the country to stringent measures being taken by the Federal Ministry of Finance in the payment of subsidy claims. She assured that only genuine subsidy claims by marketers would be entertained in line with the transparency and accountability policy of the government.

She assured Nigerians of steady supply after the turnaround maintenance and explaining further that: "Initially, the queues came out of the whole fuel subsidy issue and the fact of course that verifications of certain amounts and certain marketers' claims

were being made very stringently and this had to be done."

Indeed, since the beginning of this year, there has been a reasonable improvement in the availability of fuel for Nigerians due to the turnaround maintenance and rehabilitation of some facilities as promised by the Minister.

So far the NNPC's aggressive facilities rehabilitation programme has witnessed the revamping of the hitherto comatose PPMC Benin Depot recommissioned complete with the rehabilitation of the 89.9km Warri-Benin pipeline; Aba Depot has also been re-commissioned with the recovery of the Port Harcourt - Aba pipeline to restore product supply to the depot.

Also the Okrika PPMC Jetty has also been rehabilitated and recommissioned while rehabilitation and expansion of the Atlas Cove Jetty is also ongoing.

On the 14th January, 2013, the NNPC chief, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, visited Arepo on a nonthe-spot assessment of the ruptured System 2B Pipeline which had caught fire as a result of the activities of oil thieves who hacked into it assured Nigerians that the incident (the third in a series of

attacks on the System 2B Pipeline that supplies products to Mosimi, Ore, Ibadan and Ilorin Depots) would not cause fuel scarcity in any part of the country, therefore immediately mobilised engineers to the site to clamp and fix the ruptured points to restore pumping of petroleum products as promised.

On February 26th 2013, the GMD kept faith with his commitment to restoring sanity to the Arepo axis by paying a working visit to the site. This time around, the tour was designed to consolidate on the ongoing clearance of the system 2B right of way by engineers of the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps. And also herald the introduction of the state-of-the art Horizontal Direct Drilling System, HDD, designed to redirect the pipelines and ensure that vandals and hackers to gain easy access to the pipelines by burying them deeper into the ground.

Aside from the extensive plan to revamp depots and product supply pipelines, the GMD has embarked on aggressive expansion of NNPC Retail Limited.

The idea is to increase its retail outlets across the country in such

When communication is undermined, misunderstanding cannot be avoided. One cannot read your thoughts until you deliberately express them. In communication, assumptions must also be avoided because they can lead to misconception of intentions.

a way as to increase its product dispensing capacity to enable NNPC retail respond appropriately and adequately to issues of artificially induced fuel scarcity.

Today, across the country fuel supply has remained stable and the NNPC via PPMC has evolved adequate measures to avert potential re- emergence of fuel queues anywhere in Nigeria.

Penultimate week, there were speculations in a section of the media of the possibility of fuel scarcity in the South-West of the country. But that was dismissed at the weekend by the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its downstream and marketing subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and urged members of the public to disregard it.

NNPC's acting Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Tumini Green explained that the speculations were not true, saying that there has not been loading from the depots in the South-West since last week Monday, adding that it was only the depot at Atlas Cove which was temporarily shut down for the maintenance of its power generator, which is a standard industry practice.

Green added that the Atlas Cover depot is not a loading but a storage depot, underscoring that fact that loading could not have been affected.

"What happened was that one of the major generators at the Atlas Cove was undergoing a routine maintenance which resulted in a shutdown of pumping activities.

The suspension of pumping from Atlas Cove for maintenance did not in any way affect distribution activities as the depots serviced by the Atlas Cove Jetty through the System 2b Pipeline have enough products to keep all the states in the South-West Zone wet throughout the period of the maintenance", Green stated.

She said the depots under the System 2B Pipeline have an average of 5.4 days fuel sufficiency with the breakdown as follows: Mosimi-6.4 days, Ibadan-5.9 days, Ilorin-4.2 days and Ore-5.1 days, urging members of the public to avoid panic buying as there is enough fuel in all the depots to service the zone.

Whether the speculations are true or not, one thing could be deduced from the whole scenario, and that is communication disconnect between the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), its downstream and marketing subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and the populace. What stops the management from telling Nigerians of every plan of system maintenance before it is carried out, analysts?

When communication is undermined, misunderstanding cannot be avoided. One cannot read your thoughts until you deliberately express them. In communication, assumptions must also be avoided because they can lead to misconception of intentions. Nigerians deserve to know the actions of government to avoid unnecessary rumours, speculations and fears, particularly when an issue as vital to us as oil is involved.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 5

Oshiomhole vows to check Igbinedion’s ‘rascality’ From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday vowed to prosecute the father of the former governor of the State, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, if he does not desist from undermining the laws of the state.

Oshiomhole said: “I want to send a warning to Chief Igbinedion that he should take it easy. He has acquired a lot of government land that the people have not engaged him on. He walks as if he is above the law. I have not looked back because my mandate is to look forward”.

The governor made the strong comments during the swearing-in of 14 newly elected local government chairmen in the State yesterday, barely 48 hours after Igbinedion was

Minister tasks media on balanced reportage

… ‘Elders must teach younger ones responsible behaviuors’ allegedly accused of leading a large noumber of armed mobile policemen to his hometown at Okada, the Administrative local government Councils area of Ovia North East local government area of the State, during Saturday local government election.

Oshiomhole said “there is evidence that he (Igbinedion) has undermined the prosperity of the state for a very long time.

Those who live in glass houses do not throw stones...I want to put him on notice that if he continues with elderly rascality, I will bring him to justice.

“He must never, ever underestimate the fact that I have the will and I have the capacity to deploy that will, if he crosses the law he will be cut to size. Elders must teach the younger ones to behave responsibly”.

According to him, “ he reduced himself as a high chief, reduced himself to a thug, leaving where he is registered to vote and going all the way to Okada on a day movement was restricted across the state; he got to Okada and illegally used

Mobile policemen to be walking on the street, going to the polling station where sensitive election materials were being kept in order to vandalize the sensitive electoral materials to ensure elections did not take place”.

He said that the septuagenarian “who claims to be Esama of Benin be leading the way for thuggery in Okada. If he misleads himself into believing that he has the birthright to continue to appropriate, privatize the resources of Edo State, he is living in a fool’s paradise. Edo money will never flow to the Igbinedion house any more”.

“I want to reassure not only Edo people but all Nigerians that I am committed and I remain committed and I shall ever be committed to the principle of one man one vote. It is not a choice. In a democracy, there is no alternative to that’, he maintained.

The governor said “in the last election there were issues that I was deeply troubled myself. The fact that election materials did not arrive on time from Lagos.

As a responsible government, we

did our best to ensure that those materials were properly secured. We did our best to ensure that those materials, talking to authorities in Lagos, to provide security to ensure that those materials were delivered to EDSIEC.” “All the stories that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were peddling that results have been written is absolute rubbish.

The fact that the materials arrived late from Lagos under the supervision and escort of a Federal Government police dismisses all the rubbish they were talking”.

He called on EDSIEC to apologise to people of the state for the lapses recorded in the election saying: “I have told the EDSIEC Chairman and his group that they must tender apology whether by themselves or the contractor or both for getting election materials late into Edo State. Even though I can see that they meant well, I have told them it is not about saying I am sorry, but saying so to the good people of Edo State”.

He urged the new chairmen to do projects that would add

value to the lives of the people adding: “respect people, but don’t appropriate or subordinate the resources of your local government to please individuals no matter who he is or the role he claims to have played in your election”.

Speaking on behalf of the new Local Government Chairmen, Chairman Ovia North East Local Government Area, Mrs. Lucy Omagbon, assured the governor that they would work to ensure the development of their Local Government Areas.

Meanwhile, The Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Cromwell Idahosa has constituted a three member Local Government Election petition tribunal in line with Edo State Local Government Electoral Law 2012 (as amended).

The decision which was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, H. I Enemaku, Esq, listed the members as Chief Justice Efe Ikponmwonsa as Chairman, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele, 1st member and Justice Stephen A. Omolua, 2nd member of the committee.

By Usman Shuaibu

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inister of Transport, Senator Idrisu Umaru, has advised media professionals to always ensure that balance and objectivity is their watchword and avoid reports that can cause disunity among Nigerians.

The minister who was represented by a Deputy Director, press, protocol and public relations in the ministry, Mrs. Yetunde Sonike, gave the advice during a retreat organised by the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria held at Customs Staff College in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Umaru appealed to the media to continue its cordial relationship with the maritime sector so as to move it forward.

Presenting a paper titled “Effective Media/Public Relations Synergy for Maritime Development”, a director of Peoples Media Limited, publishers of Peoples Daily newspaper, Mallam Garba Sehu, urged the journalists to deem it necessary to expose government functionaries who are engaged in corrupt practices.

Shehu advised public relations officers across the country to protect the image of the organizations instead of engaging in propaganda.

On his part, the President, Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN), Mr. Bolaji Akinola, noted that the association was the umbrella body of accredited journalists covering and reporting the maritime industry in Nigeria and appealed to the Federal Government to pay serious attention to the maritime industry for the overall development of the nation.

President Goodluck Jonathan (3rd left), Executive Director, Global Fund, Dr. Mark Dybul (middle), Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (2nd left), managing Director, Access Bank/Chairman, friends of the Global Fund Africa, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhede (3rd right), and others, after their meeting the president, yesterday, at the state house, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Kogi’s Grand Khadi urges Muslims to uphold truth

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he Grand Khadi of the Kogi State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Zakariyya Mohammed, has tasked Muslims to adhere to the tenets of Islam and uphold honesty in governance and every other circumstance.

Mohammed gave the charge on Sunday in Ankpa, headquarters of Ankpa local government council of Kogi state, at the 8th day Fidau

prayer for the late Hajia Maimunat Musa, wife of Justice Yunusa Musa of the state High Court of Justice.

The Grand Khadi urged the Muslim Ummah to undertake every responsibility given them with utmost fear of God saying that at the end of the sojourn on Earth, everyone would face Allah’s judgement.

According to him, Islam has highlighted the dangers

involved in subjecting truth and justice to the whims and caprices of leaders.

Mohammed who described the death of late Maimuna Musa as tragic, urged the family to take her demise as the will of God and take solace in the fact that “God is the ultimate.”

Husband of the deceased, Justice Musa, in his emotionladen remarks, said he thanked God Almighty who decided to

take her when he wished.

Musa thanked the state governor, Capt. Idris Wada for the concern shown the family during the period.

In his sermon the chief Imam of Ankpa represented by Alhaji Yakubu Owelle charged Muslims to have a rethink in whatever they do, saying “death does not give second chance for people to amend their errors of the past.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

There can’t be peace without justice – Gov Ahmed From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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wara state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has traced the state of insecurity in parts of the country to injustice.

Ahmed spoke yesterday in

Jigawa to train 450 nurses, midwives

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lhaji Habibu Muhammad, the Chairman, Nigeria National Association of Nurses and Midwives (NNANM) on Monday said the state government would train 450 nurses and midwives.

Muhammmad told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse that the training would boost healthcare delivery services in the state.

He said the participants would be drawn from the 27 local government areas of the state.

He commended the state government for rendering free medical services to accident victims, pregnant women, children of between zero to five years and other vulnerable group.

Muhammad also commended the state government for its commitment to the rehabilitation of healthcare facilities and its continuous employment of health workers in the state.

“I am happy to say that health workers in the state receive the best salary in the country. We will do our best to justify the gesture.” (NAN)

Shema condoles Benue govt over Late Dep. Gov From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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overnor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina state has condoled the Governor and people of Benue state over the death of a former Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Ogiri Ajene.

Shema’s condolance is contained in a statement signed his Senior Special Assistant, Media, Alhaji Lawal Ahmad Matazu.

The Governor described the late Agere as a man of integrity and a detribalised Nigerian who he contributed to the development of Benue state.

He noted that his death is a loss not only to Benue state but Nigeria as a whole and pray God to give the people of Benue and his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Ilorin, at the North-Central zonal public hearing of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), organised by the House of Representatives.

According to him, “if we have agreed that we want to live together as a nation where we have common values, that we all wish to hold dearly to our hearts, they must be clearly spelt out on equitable terms based on justice.”

The Governor who urged the National Assembly to pass the PIB on the principles of equity and justice in order to promote peace and development in the country,

noted without justice, there cannot be peace in the country.

He said the National Assembly should also ensure that interests of all stakeholders are captured in the Bill with particular reference to the security and economic issues confronting the country.

As Ahmed put it, “we must see problems in any part of the country as national problems.

“If there is environmental degradation in the riverine areas where oil is being produced, every Nigerian must show concern because

they deserve to have a good environment, they deserve to live like other Nigerians and they deserve good roads, clean water, hospitals and schools.

“While oil producing areas must enjoy the benefits of being part of the oil producing communities, the revenue generated from oil must be used to develop other parts of Nigeria because the oil may not be the major revenue earner for the country in the future.”

He recalled that agriculture was a major national revenue earner in the past before oil was discovered

while coal mined in Enugu played critical role in driving the national railway system before oil was discovered.

Governor Ahmed regretted that Nigeria’s oil wealth was not used to drive infrastructural development but the development of tastes for foreign goods.

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum and Gas, Hon. Bassey Ewa, in his remarks said the forum was organised for all Nigerians to make input into the bill to reflect the interests of all Nigerians.

Ladipo Market President remanded in prison over alleged fraud From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos

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Suspected bomber of Thisday Newspapers Kaduna office, Mustapha Umar, was arraigned at the Federal High Court, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Jigawa farmers want FG to enhance fertiliser distribution

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armers in Dutse, Jigawa state, have appealed to the Federal Government to expand the scope of the Growth Enhancement Support scheme (GES) programme to enhance access to fertiliser and other inputs at the grassroots.

The farmers made the call in separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Dutse.

The Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) is one of the critical components of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

It was designed for the specific purpose of providing affordable agricultural inputs such as fertilisers and hybrid seeds to farmers in order to increase their yields per hectare and make it comparable to world standard.

The scheme’s approach is to target beneficiaries through the use of electronic system known as e-wallet, by encouraging the engagement of the private sector in the distribution and delivery of fertilisers and other critical inputs directly to farmers.

NAN reports that farmers in Dutse have commenced the clearing of farmlands in preparation for the farming season.

Malam Hamisu Maigiro, a maize farmer, said the call was imperative in view of the limited number of farmers registered under the GES programme.

Maigoro noted that the GES initiative had dealt with the difficulties experienced by farmers in accessing fertiliser.

“There is the need for government to expand the scheme

to promote participation and enable more farmers to benefit from it,” he said.

Another farmer, Ismaila Haruna, said that early distribution of the commodity was necessary, so as to ease the sufferings of farmers in accessing the commodity.

Haruna advocated for effective fertiliser distribution measures to guard against its diversion.

NAN reports that more than 10, 000 registered farmers benefitted from the GES programme in the 2012 farming season.

Meanwhile, the Jigawa Government has awarded contract for the supply of 6,000 tonnes of assorted fertiliser for distribution to farmers in 2013.

(NAN)

resident of Aguiyi Ironsi Market, popularly known as Ladipo Market, Mr. Jonathan Okoli, was yesterday arraigned before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja over an alleged N52 million fraud instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

Okoli is facing a three-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.

The EFCC counsel, Mr. Anslem Ozioko, alleged that Okoli had between 2009 and 2010, collected a total sum of N52 million from members of Aguiyi Ironsi International Market Traders Union.

Ozioko noted that, the money was entrusted to Okoli for the payment of trade permits and auto dealers fees by members of the association.

The prosecutor alleged that Okoli diverted the money to his personal use and failed to remit the payments to the Lagos state government and Mushin local government Area.

He said Okoli’s alleged offences contravened Sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 and 390(8) (b) and (9) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge while Justice Olabisi Akinlade ordered him to be remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending the hearing of his bail application fixed for May 16.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 7

Kogi promises to make agric people’s main livelihood From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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ogi state governor, Captain Idris Wada, has said that his administration was working hard to make agriculture the main stay of the people of the state.

The governor who stated this during the flag-off of the harvesting of the accelerated rice farming embarked upon by his government last december, said government was putting in place conducive environment to encouraged people to go into farming.

He said the introduction of the accelerated rice farming in the nine flood affected local government areas would not only guarantee enough food for local consumption, but would

also produced enough for external markets.

According to him, the state government has directed the 21 local government areas in the state to clear 250 hectares of land for various agricultural programmes that would further ensure food security.

While thanking the federal government for its various interventions aimed at making the project a success, he said that the state and the federal ministry of agriculture was already planning aerial attack of birds that destroying the matured rice.

He stressed that the state would go into the cultivation of crops like cassava, beans and other produce which are being farmed by the local farmers on a very small scale at the moment.

Niger appoints Esheti DG, Volunteer Service

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iger state government has approved the appointment of Hon. Yakubu Mohammed Esheti as Director General of Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS).

A letter signed by Secretary to the Government of Niger State, Hon. SaiduNdakoIdrisKpaki, said that the appointment was based on merit, experience and integrity of Esheti who was a member of Niger State House of Assembly from 2007 to 2011.

According to the letter, “I write to convey approval of the Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azuBabangidaAliyu, for your appointment as Director General, Nigerian National Volunteer Service (NNVS) with immediate effect.

“Your appointment is based on merit, experience and integrity as a former Honourable Member of House of Assembly.”

Esheti, a seasoned real estate professional, is expected to bring over two decades of public and private sector wealth of experience and administrative skills to bear in the discharge of his duties as the first occupant of the office.

As Director General, Esheti, a Masters Degree holder in Real Estate and Property Management from University of Salford, Greater Manchester United Kingdom, would also be expected to bring his extensive industry, professional, political and international networks to help in the realisation of Niger state’s vision of becoming one of the top three states in Nigeria by the year 2020.

L-R: Kaduna state Governor, Alhaji Ramalan Yero; Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo; and Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yarima Ngama; after a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Lagos residents urge govt to refurbish jetty for improved water transportation

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ome residents of Eti-osa East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State yesterday urged the state government to refurbish the only jetty in the area to boost water transportation.

The residents made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN reports that the jetty, situated at Ade-Lamgbosa in Ajah, is dilapidated, though still being used.

The leader of the Ajah Youth Forum, MrKunleOluyemi, said that improved water transportation would alleviate the transportation problems of the residents.

“Most of our people travel

by road; renovation of the jetty will provide a good alternative transport means,’’ Oluyemi said.

A businessman, MrKazeemLiadi, also told NAN that the renovation would decongest traffic on the roads.

He said that many residents had resorted to travelling by road because of the jetty’s poor state.

“The jetty is not functioning properly; it has been dilapidated.

“Government should renovate this old jetty so that more boats, ferries and some others can berth safely there,’’ he said.

A fish seller, Miss ToyinOluyemi, told NAN that the council area needed a standard jetty for water

transportation.

“It is cost effective to travel by sea than to travel on land.

It is easier, faster and safer,’’ Oluyemi said.

A boat operator, MrTunjiBakare, said the rehabilitation of the jetty would boost tourism in the council area.

He urged the Lagos State Government to provide more boats and ferries for water transportation in the council area and other parts of the state.

“With a proper jetty and more ferries, ships and boats in the council area, road traffic congestion will be much reduced as travellers will have an alternative means of transportation, “ Bakare said.

(NAN)

Flood: Ministry orders release of water from dams to accommodate excess rain in 2013

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inistry orders release of water from dams to accommodate excess rain in 2013 The Federal Ministry of Water Resources said on Monday that it had ordered the release of water from various dams across to country to enable the dams accommodate the excess rain expected in 2013.

Dr. Emmanuel Adanu, the Director Dams and Reservoir Operations, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Monday in Abuja.

NAN recalls that NIMET had predicted heavy rainfall in some states of the federation this year.

The agency said that the

rains would be above normal in comparison with 2012 in the northern states of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, including the north central states of Niger and Kwara.

NAN learnt from experts that the catchments areas of River Niger and parts of the Niger Delta had higher chances of even more rainfall this year than previous years.

Adanu said that the instruction for the release of water from the dams was given in respect to all dams that had release structures.

Fortunately for us, the western side of the country is where River Niger is and we have enough of dams on the Niger

system; if we start operating them very well, we will be able to absorb some of the flood.

“They should release water from almost all the dams that have such release structures so as to empty it sufficiently to accommodate the flood that will come; the last flood that came didn’t have much effect on the western part.

“It was only on the Benue side that had effect because the rainfall there was heavy and there are few dams on that system to regulate.”

On the dams ready for commissioning, Adanu said eight multi-purpose dams and a water treatment plants were ready for commissioning as

they were all 100 per cent completed.

He said that the dams had the capacity of creating over 30, 000 jobs for the teeming unemployed youths due to its irrigation capacity.

The director said that two of the dams — Mashi Dam in Katsina and Galma Dam in Kaduna — had the capacity for hydropower generation.

“We have eight dams plus one treatment plant ready for commissioning; we have Inyishi dam in Imo state; IbioniIbom in AkwaIbom, Sulma in Katsina, Mgbowo in Enugu.

“We have the treatment plant in Owena, Ondo State; Dutsi Dam in Katsina, Mashi in

Katsina, Amauzari in Imo; and Galma in Kaduna and all of them are for multipurpose use.

“Two of them have hydropower capacity, the others have multipurpose water supply and irrigation and then each of them has a job-creation attachment.

After commissioning, we intend to create a lot of jobs.”

According to him, the ministry has a standard for the operation and maintenance of all the dams in the country to ensure sustainability of the project.

NAN recalls that the eight dams and the water treatment plant cost the ministry over N30 billion. (NAN)

PAGE 8

R-L: President Goodluck Jonathan, being received by Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo , Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomen, and Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, during the power reform transactions signing ceremony, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

108KG of suspected Cannabis Sativa with a fake Superintendent of Police uniform displayed during briefing by NDLEA Commander, Mr Para Bawa, yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

L-R: Brazil Ambassador to Nigeria, Joao Andre Lina, Cameroon Ambassador to Nigeria, Salaudeen Abbas, and Iraq Ambassador to Nigeria, Ali Bauder, during the NigerianTurkish Friendship and Cultural Festival, at the weekend in Abuja.

Dutse indigenes who won prices at the just concluded national Qur’anic recitation with the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sanusi, yesterday in Dutse.

R-L: Adamawa deputy governor, mr bala ngilari (r) presenting relief material donated by the Nigerian Red Cross, to a victim of last year’s flood disaster, Abdullahi Umaru, yesterday in Yola.

Photos: Joe Oroye, Mahmud Isa & NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

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PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Price of food items on the rise in Sokoto

By Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto

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rice of food items has gone up in the last few days in Sokoto, Sokoto State due to higher transportation cost, Peoples Daily checks have shown.

The price increase affected staples like rice, wheat, beans, sugar, garri, tomato and pepper.

In a survey conducted by our correspondent in Sokoto at Kara Market, popularly known as perishable market, yesterday indicated that the price hike has caused a drop in demand for these items.

Malam Garba Illela, one of the traders, attributed the price hike to higher cost of transporting the goods to Sokoto. He said that most of the goods come from Kaduna which is about 500km away from Sokoto.

He described the situation as worrisome by the transporters, whose excuse is that they spend a lot of money in conveying the goods to Sokoto, leading to their increasing price exorbitantly.

His word: ``The transporters' excuse is that they spend a lot of money on fuel and they must increase their fares to remain in business,'' Illela

said.

A bag of rice, which was formerly sold for between N7, 500 and N9 000, now costs between N9 500 and N12 000, depending on the brand.

A `congo' measure which was formerly N250 is now N350 and N400 respectively.

A 20 litre of palm oil now sells for between N7 000 and N7 200 against the previous price of N3, 000, while a tuber of yam that sold for N200 now attracts between N300 and N450.

A `congo' measure beans that sold for N200 now attracts N350, while the white specie that sold for N150 now attracts

N250.

The same measure of wheat which sold for N170 is now N220, while a bag of sugar that cost N8, 000 now sells for N12 200.

Mrs Okechukwu, a trader, told People's Daily that the price of palm oil would likely drop in April going by market trends in the past.

She said that the price of provision had remained unchanged.

At Beverage Market in the nerve city, a basket of tomatoes that was formerly N2 000 is now being sold for between N5 000 and N7 500.

The price of onion in the market, however, remains the same.

Hauwa Isa, a 100 level student of the Federal Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, said things were no longer easy for residents, particularly students.

Farouk Malami, who is also, a student, appealed to government to look into ways price of food items could be reduced.

Constitution review: ALGON commends Representatives, Nigerians on report

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L-R: Director, Disease Control and Immunisation, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Emmanuel Abanida; Executive Director/CEO, NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Muhammad; and President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, during a visit by NPHCDA team to NMA office, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FG set to ban rice importation From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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inister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, has said that the Federal Government will ban the importation of rice from 2015.

Maku dropped the hint while on an inspection visit to the Labana Rice Mill Company in Birnin Kebbi, explaining that the move would boost the nation's agricultural development.

According to him, government has already set aside about N450 million to support the agriculture sector as well as increase the capacity of Bank of Agriculture.

In order to support the farmers by given them loan and other Maku said that, "President Goodluck Jonathan is ready to fight poverty through agriculture and we should go back to the farm which was our major occupation before the discovery of oil.

He urged the state government to continue to partner with the private firms in order to reduce the level of unemployment and promote the country's economic growth.

Managing Director of the

...Assures on local sustainability by 2015 company, Alhaji Abdulahi Idris Zuru, said that the Labana Rice Mill was established in 2011.

The Minister also visited the silo complex as part of his Good Governance media tour where he assured that there will be stability in electric power supply throughout the country, soon.

"We are fighting to ensure full steady power generation in order to improve our companies and industries," Maku said.

Meanwhile, the Federal Director of Agriculture in Anambra state, Albert Odukwe, says the proposed ban on the importation of rice would not affect the availability of the commodity in the country.

"The planned ban on importation of rice by 2015 is not going to affect the availability of the commodity in the country because we did our home work very well,'' Odukwe, said in Awka yesterday.

He said the ministry conducted extensive analysis on Nigeria's rice potentials before arriving at the proposed date, adding that there

was massive revolution in the agricultural sector, especially on rice production.

He said that construction of a 25,000 metric tones silo at Igbariam in the state, had reached 90 per cent completion stage, adding that efforts were on to build and revamp more rice mills in the country. ``The Ministry under the Honourable Minister Adesina looked at the situation very well and found out that we have the potential to grow rice to sustainability level by that time. ``It is in line with this policy that we embarked on the revitalisation of our rice mills in the country so that after harvesting it could be processed. ``We have done 90 per cent job on the silos project at Igbariam; what is left is the setting up of an administrative block. ``We also have some new rice mills we are setting up in the country; like in Anambra here, the ministry through the assistance of the state government was able to secure two lands at Omor and Ezira

for rice mill projects. ``So, by the time we have it like that throughout the country you discover that before that time we would have been producing more than we can consume."

Odukwe said that the adverse impact of last year's flood disaster was not felt due to the ministry's programme, noting that the ministry was not relenting on its food security programme this farming year. ``The impact of the floods of 2012 was not felt because we had a proactive food and crisis management programme in the ministry. ``For this farming season, all registered farmers in Anambra and across the country shall received subsidised fertiliser with federal and state governments paying N2,750 per bag on behalf of farmers. ``They will also receive cassava stem cuttings and highyielding variety seedlings among others free of charge to ensure high productivity this farming year.''

Odukwe advised farmers to look out for text messages from the ministry as from April 29 that would inform them where and when to go and assess the subsidized fertilizers.

he House of Representatives ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution of the Nigeria has been commended for presenting the collated result of the people's session on the review exercise.

The commendation is contained in a statement by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) issued yesterday in Abuja.

ALGON National President Nwabueze Okafor said in the statementin Abuja on Monday that ``the voice of the people was given unhindered access'', and that he was vindicated by the outcome of the result. ``I am personally happy because the outcome of the result, to a large extent, is the pay off of our consistency in our advocacy for the past one year,'' he said.

Okafor also commend Nigerians for their demonstration of strong political will and consciousness on the issue of local government. ``The 360 Federal Constituencies in Nigeria witnessed a large number of Nigerians who supported and ensured that relevant issues regarding the six templates that affect local governments were thoroughly discussed and widely supported,'' he said.

He said that the views regarding issues of local government such as state joint account allocation, autonomy, fixed tenure for local governments, and abolition of the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) were all voted for.

According to him, the leadership of the House of Representative ``did extensively well in their painstaking efforts to collate, verify and make it a public document that Nigerians can give thumbs up''.

Okafor added that ``those who stick to these principles and practice will always have acceptable outcomes, and that is why the views of the people must be respected. (NAN)

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Behold some shocking things your spending reveals

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he chrome skull shift knob that I gleefully replaced the original shift knob with on my 1998 Mazda 626 several years ago has quite a story behind it. I had wanted one for ages, particularly since it would be such an incongruous detail on my boring car, and my partner bought and installed one for me to get himself out of the doghouse: knowing well that an ironic skull shifter knob would go over much better than the traditional flowers.

What a chrome skull shift knob says about me The gathering and analysis of information about consumers based upon (among other things) their spending patterns and habits.

For example, a data showed that consumers who bought things like felt pads for the bottom of their furniture, carbon monoxide detectors, and birdseed were extremely diligent about always paying their bills on time. Why do these purchases matter? Because they can give some insight into the psychology of the purchaser. In the case of felt furniture pads, someone who cares about protecting his hardwood floors is also someone who is likely to want to protect his credit score. Carbon monoxide detectors and

Money Tip:

Guard your wealth

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f you want to make sure that all of your hard-earned money doesn't vanish, you'll need to take steps to protect it. If you rent, get renter's insurance to protect the contents of your place from events like burglary or fire. Disability insurance protects your greatest asset - the ability to earn an income - by providing you with a steady income if you ever become unable to work for an extended period of time due to illness or injury.

If you want help managing your money, find a fee-only financial planner to provide unbiased advice that's in your best interest, rather than a commission-based financial advisor, who earns money when you sign up with the investments his or her company backs. You'll also want to protect your money from taxes, which is easy to do with a retirement account, and inflation, which you can do by making sure that all of your money is earning interest through vehicles like high-interest savings accounts, money market funds, CDs, stocks, bonds and mutual funds.

Quote "Peopleofthesametradeseldommeet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices."

- Adam Smith

birdseed indicate a sense of responsibility for others-why else pay to feed birds you don't own?

And of course, things like chrome skull car accessories and other aftermarket car additions generally indicate someone who does not necessarily buy into the importance of financial responsibility, although that was certainly not true in my case.

While banks vehemently deny that they use data mining to make any changes to a cardholder's interest rate, credit limit, or other aspects of their account, the information is readily available to banks and card issuers, and gathering, analyzing, assessing, and selling that data

is perfectly legal.

And some life changes make you a poor credit risk Of course, not all life changes are as happy as the arrival of a baby or the purchase of a new house. Credit card issuers are very interested in determining when a cardholder might be going through a divorce. Not those banks are interested in your romantic life per se; it's just that divorce is often a precursor to major financial troubles. So credit card issuers want to know what behavior is likely to indicate your marriage is on the rocks and if you might start missing payments.

What kinds of information indicate future divorce-related financial problems? Anything from a shift in buying habits, like switching from a high-end

department store to a costconscious Store, to charging a session of marriage counseling on your credit card. When these changes occur, your card issuer may be interested to know and keep an eye on your accountalthough it is important to once again point out that credit card companies deny making any decisions or changes to cardholder accounts based on data mining.

What else are they doing with your data?

While the use of data mining in managing the various risks of the credit card industry is not something that banks are going to openly talk about, there are a few indications of what this data mining is used for, other than promoting products.

Clearly, the credit card

company felt that paying individuals to voluntarily close their accounts would be the least risky option; a decision they presumably came to after examining the information about those cardholders' spending and payment patterns.

But the data available through your credit card usage is not just useful to the credit card industry itself. Insurance companies are also interested in your buying habits. For instance, The Economist reports that "people who frequent ATMs so they can make cash payments tend to live longer than those who prefer writing cheques or paying with credit cards…Why this should be is not clear: some speculate that ATM users tend to be more spontaneous types, who like to have cash in their pocket and whose lifestyle may be more active."

Kevin Pledge, a data analyst with Insight Decision Solutions, takes the insurance industry's interest in purchases to a somewhat paranoid level: in the eventuality that data miners (and insurers) take a look at your food purchases, he has given up using his loyalty card to buy junk food at grocery stores and pays for his burgers in cash.

The bottom line Mr. Pledge's paranoia may be justified. The fact of the matter is that your information is available to data miners, and privacy law will take some time to catch up. Until then, banks and other industries will continue to take advantage of the enormous amount of data available: to sell to you, to assess your riskiness, and to tailor their services to your needs.

Being aware of this practice is the first step in making sure it doesn't bite you in the butt.

How do you reconcile your job with frequent online demands?

E

very week, I see employees knocking their employers or customers on social media.

My Facebook feed often includes a post office employee talking about the "stupid" things people ask him, several Wal-Mart employees complaining about their bosses, customers, and working hours, and department store employees calling out customers as lazy.

Times have changed, and, for most of us, online interaction and social media are a part of everyday life. But are your online activities jeopardizing your job? If you're not sure, chances are the answer is yes.

How online activity affects your employment: It can get you fired.

No matter who your employer is, certain activities can serve as grounds for firing or reprimands.

Talking badly about your employer, company, or customers is bad for business. Check if your company has a clause outlining social media and your responsibility outside of the office to uphold the company's image.

And if you think your employer can't gain access to your online posts,

think again. A good rule of thumb is to remember that everything you do has the potential to be made highly public. Deleting posts, blogs, or comments doesn't actually delete anything. A copy of everything you post online is still stored in multiple places and can be retrieved by the right person.

It can come back to haunt you, even if you're not talking about your company.

Using hate speech or engaging in online discussions that include harming another person or their reputation through your comments can result in a lawsuit, or it can serve as grounds for dismissal from your job.

Discuss posts in a respectful manner and refrain from getting on a soapbox. If your employer investigates your comments online and feels that you're acting in a manner that could reflect badly on the company, you could be let go.

Just don't be hateful or intolerant, and you won't have to worry about this.

It's important in hiring decisions.

Now more than ever, your online activities can be the deciding

factor in obtaining employment.

Many companies include a basic online search and criminal background check as a normal part of the hiring process. If they don't like what they see, they'll choose another applicant.

It's considered a reflection of character.

Conducting yourself well online also reflects your personal character and ability to get along with others. A common proverb says that a true reflection of a man's character is revealed in how he treats those who cannot do anything for him. Likewise, your character can be measured by how you treat those whom you believe have no power to affect your life.

Commenting on others' blog comments can sometimes turn into a battle of wits or opinions, and sadly, name calling is common.

Treat your fellow blog commentators as those who are entitled to disagree with your views and don't give in to the temptation to feel as if you've "won the fight" by calling names or disrespecting others.

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

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

North's worsening education crisis

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t is common knowledge today that Nigeria has some of the worst education indicators globally. It is also apparent that the northern part of the country makes the highest contribution to this abysmally low rating of Nigeria in the comity of nations, in terms of educational attainments. For instance, the Tenth Education for All Global Monitoring Report - the report of an independent study commissioned by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) - shows that Nigeria has 10 million out-of-school children, the highest in the world. The same report, which was made public in October last year, revealed that the worst case scenarios in Nigeria are in the North: "In some areas in the North-west of the country over 86% of poor females have less than two years of schooling".

The findings of the EFA Report, no doubt, are disturbing. But even more worrisome are the statistics showing the number of candidates who, two Saturdays ago, sat for the 2013 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) seeking admission to the 104 Federal Unity Colleges across the country. According to the figures, of the 87,555 pupils who took the examination

nationwide, Lagos state had the highest number of 23,329 pupils, while Yobe had the lowest figure of 86 candidates. Undoubtedly, Yobe's situation is replicated across the 19 northern states. And though the statistics are for only candidates who sought placements in federal colleges, they paint a fairly gloomy picture of the overall quality of education

“

What all the above statistics point to is a uncertain future for the younger generations of northerners in the region.

Incidentally, the conduct of the common entrance examination coincided with another damning revelation by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, on the extent of the educational backwardness of the region.

Sanusi said at the Isaac Moghalu Foundation leadership lecture in Abuja: "If you take a state like Jigawa, based on available

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statistics, girls' completion rate in schools is as low as 7.8 per cent; that means out of every 100 girls that start school, less than eight complete". Again he said, "In the North-west of Nigeria, and this is a frightening statistic, 70.8 per cent of young women between the age of 20 and 29 are unable to read compared to 9.7 per cent in the Northern region; now, how do we build the country when 97 per cent of the women in some of its most populous parts do not complete secondary education?"

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, recently expressed similar concern, warning that Northern leaders were mistaken by building "walls of faith" rather than consciously putting children in the region in schools. "People are still being lured into believing that all they need is to raise walls to protect their culture and faith", he said.

What all the above statistics point to is an uncertain future for the younger generations of northerners, unless this ugly trend in our education sector is urgently reversed. We, therefore, urge the 19 northern state governments to do far more than they are doing now to ensure that all children in the North have access to quality schooling to guarantee a better future for the region, and Nigeria in general.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

By Femi Fani-Kayode

O

n 20th April, 1653 (exactly 360 years ago ), Oliver Cromwell, who was the Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the greatest statesman and revolutionary that England ever knew, stormed the English “Rump Parliament” at Westminster, sacked it and boldly took power.

Cromwell was undoubtedly one of the greatest and most courageous men that ever lived and he is certainly one of my heroes. Not only was he moved by a compelling and irresistible zeal and thirst for righteousness in high places and by the power of the Holy Spirit, but he, like the Biblical Jehu, was ready to sacrifice his life to bring change to England. He abhorred corruption and injustice and his puritan roots and Christian fundamentalist background caused him to oppose the excesses of the Catholic Church in his day and the awesome power and influence of the Catholic Bishops and their Pope.

Quite apart from saving her from the excesses of Catholicism and the sheer brutality of the Jesuit Order and the Spanish Inquisition, Cromwell also saved England from the tyranny of absolutist monarchs and the evil of corrupt parliamentarians. He was indeed the father of modernday parliamentary and participatory democracy in Great Britain, and it was he alone that shattered the myth of “divine right of kings” to rule with “absolute power”.

Let us consider the words that he spoke and read them once again. Let us imbibe their spirit and feel their power and passion. These are sacred and divinely-inspired words that were spoken 360 years ago to a sitting, all-powerful Parliament that had just triumphed in a civil war against the King of England and had chopped off

PAGE 13

A word for our leaders his head. Cromwell, who was a Member of Parliament himself, had led the armies of that Parliament into the field of battle on numerous occasions.

He was indeed the Commander of its army and the main inspiration and motivator for the revolution and rebellion against the King. Not only did he defeat the Royal Army of King Charles 1st in various battles and win the civil war, but he also apprehended the King, arrested him, brought him to justice before the courts of law and had him executed.

This was the first time a King was brought to justice before a Court of Law and executed in the history of England. All seemed well, and the House of Commons ruled until Cromwell noticed how the new-found power of this new Parliament had utterly corrupted its members.

I look at Nigeria today and the behaviour of our collective overlords reminds me very much of the behaviour of the pre-Cromwellian “Rump Parliament” in England. Can anyone be in any doubt that it

is time for us to speak those same words that Oliver Cromwell spoke to the English Parliament on April 20th, 1653 to our own our leaders here in Nigeria? Are those words not more appropriate for our leaders today than at any other time in our history? Yet who will utter them? Who will go forth courageously and speak truth to tyranny in the power of the Lord? When will our God raise our own deliverer? Where is our own Oliver Cromwell or our own biblical Jehu? When will the Nigerian people say “enough is enough” and demand the change that they so desperately crave and yearn? When will they wake up from their accursed slumber and wipe away the mess with which they have been stained, smothered, blinded, deafened and silenced? When will the luciferian spell that has been placed upon them be finally broken? When will they be free of this unwholesome bondage and be rid of their godless fears?

When will their shackles be finally broken and when will they see, feel, hear and live

“

Why has fate been so cruel to us and why has our star refused to shine brightly? Why do we always take ten steps forward and twenty steps backwards? Why is our case and example one of constant failure, ineptitude, defeat, shame, lack and incompetence? What is wrong with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and what plagues and afflicts the Nigerian people? Since 1960, every single one of our potential deliverers has failed.

again? When, O when, will our people be free and when will they become the pride of Africa that they were destined to be?

Why has fate been so cruel to us and why has our star refused to shine brightly? Why do we always take ten steps forward and twenty steps backwards?

Why is our case and example one of constant failure, ineptitude, defeat, shame, lack and incompetence? What is wrong with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and what plagues and afflicts the Nigerian people? Since 1960, every single one of our potential deliverers has failed. They have not been allowed to emerge, and even when they do emerge, they have not been allowed to succeed. They have been killed, jailed, vilified, belittled or destroyed by the system and the neo-colonial conservative forces that have sworn to resist change. Worse still, the sheer naivety, nauseating timidity and simple lack of insight and foresight of the ordinary people, who seem to have cultivated an extraordinary capacity to tolerate injustice, incompetence, wickedness and evil in their land, does not help.

As a matter of fact, it is that attitude and that cowardly and weak mindset that has sustained the disastrous system that has held Nigeria captive since 1960.

The average Nigerian would rather go to the church or to the mosque to bear his or her mind to the priest or imam and pray about his or her numerous challenges rather than march in the streets and demand a change for the better from their Government and President. Yet it is only in our country that men and women suffer from such a lack of firm resolve and such a sorry and tepid affliction. Karl Marx’s view that “religion is the

opium of the masses” has no greater meaning or significance anywhere in the world than in Nigeria where we all, in a most cowardly manner, hide behind the cleric and imam’s ornate robes and refuse to insist on our God-given rights from the government and the state. What a tragedy we have become! We deserve nothing but pity.

Other nations have been blessed with many Oliver Cromwells over the years, yet sadly it is not so with us. Illfortune is our portion and we are cursed because we enjoy killing and vilifying all of our heroes and deliverers whilst others recognize and revere theirs and grant them the right and opportunity to do that which they were born to dothat is to take their respective nations by the scruff of the neck, to take them from strength to strength and to lead them to glory. A few examples will suffice.

The United States of America had George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy.

France had Marat, Robespierre, Napolean, Jaques de Gaulle and Francois Mitterand. Russia had Lenin, Stalin and Gorbachev.

Germany had Count Bismark and Helmut Schmidt. Britain, a truly blessed land, had Cromwell, William Gladstone, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.

All these names belonged to great and noble men and women who made their mark and created a great legacy for their respective nations and peoples even though some of them were murdered, jailed and cut short whilst doing so. Yet, in the end each and every one of them triumphed because they made a difference to their generation and to those that came after them. In the Nigerian context the question is this- when will our great stars emerge and when will Nigeria’s time to shine on the world stage come?

Fani-Kayode is a former federal minister

The 2015 game plan against Jonathan

By Ose Oyamendam

I

t is becoming annoying why no one believes I will run for the presidency, governorship or anything in 2015. My closest friends, at least, that’s what I call my friends that I borrow money from on a monthly basis as if I’m drawing a share of their salaries, laugh every time I bring it up. But, my patience hit a swirling fan earlier in the week when I brought it up with my wife. “Please, don’t use me to research a screenplay. I’m not in the mood,” she scoffed.

In some countries, they hang people for treason for even having thoughts like that. But, this is the 21st century; you mention hanging and people scream human rights. You ask for food and they call you a sexist and when you say well, can I have the sex then, they tell you you’re an illiterate who went to a night school where there was no dictionary.

Anyway, I’ve come up with a game plan for 2015. And, since everyone’sdoubting me, I’m going to make President Goodluck Jonathan pay for it.

I’m going for his job. It’s about time someone who wears his

hat backwards took over from the man who wears a bowler hat. This is the 21st century, people, not the pre-colonial days! First thing I’m doing is claiming I’m from the core north, somewhere like Gusau is perfect. Thank God I’ve eaten enough tuwo in this lifetime to qualify to be a Fulani on dietary grounds. The president had an agreement that he would only serve one term and give way to the north. I know this is the truth because one evening I read some governor from the north swearing the agreement exists. Then after I went to bed, I dreamt of the agreement. I saw it in my dreams! Of course, Jonathan is denying it! What’s he supposed to do? Say yes and fox trot back to the Delta? The girl who gave my happily married pastor syphilis on a trip to Hong Kong last year also denied the gift.

Next, I need a party because I know all those bad belle people at INEC would not register a man with a confused accent as the founder, presidential candidate and oneman national executive council of his party. So, I’ll join the opposition alliance. I I’m tall enough to impersonate General Muhammadu Buhari

but I need to start exercising and bleaching though. Every candidate needs a manifesto, even in Nigeria. I toyed with idea of just throwing down N1000 notes from helicopters with a post it on it that says, “more to come if you elect me”.

But, I’ve been told that Lamido Sanusi may not give me a government-secured Central Bank loan for that. And, he’s most likely to threaten any bank who grants me a political loan with extinction. Jeez, some people will do anything to keep their bosses in power!

Since I can’t get a monetary manifesto, I decided I’m going musical on the campaign trail.

Everyone in Nigeria agrees we have problems. Even my friend’s drunken uncle who still thinks “that boy from Jos” is the head of state knows Nigeria has problems. Last time he saw me, he said, “there’s a problem o, my boy! You know how much a bottle of ogogoro costs these days?’ Everyone knows one man is responsible for it.

Goodluck Jonathan. Fuel crisis, Jonathan. Expensive foodstuffs, Jonathan. Scarce beer, Jonathan. Pricy call girls, Jonathan. Cases of gout, Jonathan. Family problems, Jonathan. So, I’m getting into

the studio with my rapper friend and we’re going to cut the best campaign slogan ever.

It’s so catchy I’m thinking they may move the grammy awards to Abuja next year. It goes, “when I say problem, you say Goodluck! When I say problem, you say Goodluck! Problem!

Goodluck! Problem! Goodluck!”

I will dance into Aso Rock with that chant. I’m so sure of victory I’ve started designing my clothes for the inauguration. That would shut my yeye friends up. As for the wife, I’m marrying a traditional ruler’s daughter in each of the thirty-six states.

That would set her straight. Of course, you know that after my slogan hits the airwaves, Jonathan’s annoying media folks are gonna come out and rewrite history. They will say the president’s name was never Goodluck and some drunken nurse wrote that by accident.

Knowing these folks and how badly they need the northern votes, they may even claim his name was Abubakar and he was born in Sokoto to Delta parents who had brought fresh fish to their friends up north.

Not to worry, I have a campaign commercial ready to go. We who are in the know,

know that the president’s name was never Goodluck. He changed it on the way to class one day when he saw Melford Okilo’s poster and decided he wanted to be a governor when he grew up. Think of it, who brings a whining, crying baby home and name him goodluck.

We know his real name and it’s not even as fancy as Ebere.

That is our 11th hour campaign surprise.

I’ve got to keep this last plan top secret so we can surprise everyone. In the very unlikely case I lose the election, I’m going to sue someone to prove that the president is not trained to rule people. His degree’s in zoology.

He went to school to learn how to take care of animals. I went to school to learn how to gossip about people. That makes me more qualified. You want to know who’s sweating hard right now? Yup, you got that right.

The man himself. If you want to join the winning train to Aso Rock in just two years from now, send me a fat check. I may just give you a oil well when I become his excellency.

Ose Oyamendan is a Hollywood-based, Nigerian filmmaker. You can follow him on his new twitter page at @iam_ose.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 14

Where is the Nigerian economy headed?

By Ifeanyi Uddin

T

here is this local quirk which never ceases to amuse (and amaze) me.

A robust capacity for mimesis ensures that no sooner is the sod turned on some groundbreaking activity, than several copycat versions make their debut. One explanation for this is the serial failure of our criminal justice system. A key consequence of which is a shameful disregard (or, who knows, maybe even, ignorance) of property rights.

Copyrights and intellectual property rights almost have no meaning in this environment. So soon therefore, as a business idea births, a glut arises in the market for the goods/services associated there with. Does this explain the penchant for regulatory capture? At least, then, the resulting cosseting offers protection of the sort that other forms of property rights offer entrepreneurs in other climes from would-be competitors. This idiosyncrasy is, however, replicated across every facet of our national life. Even phrases soon go viral, long before their meaning has had a chance to sink in. One current such phrase is the “base effect”.

effect” has In a worked well as backhanded an compliment to explanation. the monetary Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text Early last authority’s messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written year, a raft of fight over the contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 fiscal last three measures by words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and years to keep the federal a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed domestic government to: prices stable, drove part of the domestic interest with The Editor, prices up very this set of Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, fast. Given words reflects 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. this fact, in a growing Email: opinion@peoplesdaily-online.com order for the concern on SMS: 08134607052 inflation Main Street count this with the fine year to have print of macroeconomic high rate in the recorded anything close to management. Until recently, corresponding period of the last year’s numbers, we much of the debate about previous year and recorded would need to have had what is wrong with our high inflation rate, a similar similar sized shocks to economy has focused on the absolute increase in the price prices.That, thankfully, did drag to growth that rampant index now will show a lower not happen. Thus, as a corrupt practices in the inflation rate now.” Once relative measure, the public sector represent. every month since January, consumer price index has Lately, though, much of the newspaper headlines have led trended downwards all focus on what we can do to with reports on softening though the first quarter of lend a fillip to economic domestic prices, as reported this year. None of this, growth and development has by the official bean counters. however, says that absolute transferred to inadequate On this measure, headline prices were kinder to the husbandry at the inflation has dropped from pocket this year than they macroeconomic level. the 12% year-on-year rise at were last year. In fact, the As with anything used which it closed December National Bureau of Statistics over and again, though, this (NBS) reports in its March one phrase runs the risk, very 2012 to 8.6% in March.

Other measures (especially of inflation bulletin that “In soon of running behind its the anecdotal kind), however, March, the composite CPI original meaning. Basically, have been less benign to the increased by 0.71 per cent it describes the fact that in pocket. month- on-month from index any economy where “the This is where the “base levels recorded in February”. price index had risen at a

WRITE TO US

So, prices are not rising as fast this year as they did last year. But they are still up.

For policy considerations, my take remains unchanged. The economy will run into strong fiscal headwinds in the coming months as politicking heats up ahead of the general elections in 2015.

Inflation will be the least of our worries as an economy when this process starts, as a looser purse will build imbalances across the economy. The central bank will then struggle to keep the economy on an even keel even as the small fiscal buffers we have built up are rapidly run down. All of this will happen, alas, as we begin to see downward pressure build up on oil prices in the international markets. OPEC is contemplating a quota cut to help shore oil prices up. If we ignore here the proclivity of OPEC members to cheat on their quotas, that should add a new order of pressure on our fiscal position. And the loss to domestic production from oil theft, and forced shutdowns?

Picture is of huge threats to the economy, going forward.

Ifeanyi Uddin, an economic historian and theorist, works as a business strategist in Lagos

Jonathan Amaechi: Anatomy of old brinkmanship

By Ifeanyi Izeze

I

t is unfortunate for this country that Rivers state governor, Chibuike Amaechi, is heading the Nigerian Governors Forum at the same time as Goodluck Jonathanis presiding over the affairs of this nation. What should have been taken as constructive engagement fromthe governors’ league is clearly being missed in the mash of biased interpretation simply because Amaechi and the President are from the same “village” and the former is perceived to have made himself available for use by those who allegedly feel Jonathan should not have been the president in the first instance.

Jonathan is presiding over a system and that system was a system he inherited. The negativity in that system is what Amaechi is protesting against, not Jonathan as a person. But there is no way Amaechi will not have conflict with Jonathan because he is the current custodian of that system and that system is there for a reason, - to serve the narrow interests of whoever is presiding rather than the rest of us. Right from when Amaechi became the Chairman of the Governors Forum, he was already suspected of harbouring an anti Ijaw sentiment in the back of his mind. And combined with the suspicion that Rivers state had sympathy for Atiku during the 2011 presidential primaries, the Amaechi ‘s Nigerian Governors Forum was marked as enemy by

the Jonathan camp. This is just a background.

It is important we ask whether the real issue is the 2015 presidential election or need for change. The squabbling is deeper than just ripples of 2015 Presidential election. The fundamental root of it is a gross misunderstanding between the two both as individuals and as political camps. And it is very unfortunate both men have been surrounded by events and people that played into the present gross mistrust. No doubt, this country would have gained some mileage in repackaging the fiscal relationship between the central government and the federating units but for the deliberate misconception of the intent of the proposals from the governors’ forum because of the person and perceived disposition of the current leadership. Let us even ask: if President Jonathan were to be from the north or elsewhere and Amaechi as the chairman of the governors’

forum, from the south-south, could it have been possible that some proposals from the forum would have been treated as genuinely patriotic and for the good of the people of Nigeria?

This is the case on the surface: No doubt, the Presidency is plotting the removal of the Rivers state governor as chairman of NGF. The formation of the PDP Governors Forum was part of the stink operation to rescue President Goodluck Jonathan’s2015 political ambition. The splinter group chaired by the Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio was formed to checkmate the scheming and brinkmanship of Amaechi’s governors’ forum perceived to be gradually becoming a hazard to the Jonathan’s presidency- now and in time to come.

Also as alleged by Amaechi, the Presidency was uncomfortable with his leadership of the forum because of his opposition to deductions

“

from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and the litigation by the states of the federation against the establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), from which the federal government has taken out more than $1 billion as its seed capital.

The Rivers state governor may also have incurred the wrath of the Presidency because he also advocated that states should be allowed access to those commonwealth funds rather than for the federal government to manage them on behalf of the federating states.

Thinking the Presidency would cease from meddling in the political activities of the governors’ forum when it is obvious his mind is made up that the group threatens his reelection chances in 2015 is outright naivety. How does Amaechi expect the resolution of the oil well dispute between Rivers and Bayelsa states to be addressed as a condition for his remaining in the PDP? This is not possible just as the caging of

It is important we ask whether the real issue is the 2015 presidential election or need for change. The squabbling is deeper than just ripples of 2015 Presidential election. The fundamental root of it is a gross misunderstanding between the two both as individuals and as political camps.

the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike whose activities the governor alleges gives him heat in the state. Bros who bewitched you!

It was expected that since his radical stand on some of these issues is already being misinterpreted as an attempt to flex muscles with the President or rather federal government, Amaechi should know he would be forced to pay the price of confronting established orthodoxies because in Nigerian politics the soul that sinneth against “oga at the top” shall die- now or in time to come and being on the side of the people (if that’s what he is doing) would at least give him something to shout about.

Whatever the PDP is trying to do now to dissuade him from jumping into the opposition camp is only because they still need him badly. The real colour of the chameleon will unmask soon after the April 2015 presidential election. Mark my words! Was it not the height of self -delusion by the PDP to say that the leadership of the party was piqued by Chibuike Amaechi’s recent romance with governors and members of the merging opposition coalition as that was an indication that the governor might quit the party?

What do they expect him to dogo back to his village on pity party or go on his kneels to the Presidency when he fully knows that nothing he does now can pacify the people that want him out or rather in for trouble?

Ifeanyi Izeze is reachable on iizeze@yahoo.com

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 15

Something more than money

People are often unreasonable and self-centered, forgive them anyway./ If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway./ If you are honest people may cheat you.

Be honest anyway./ If you find happiness people may be jealous.

Be happy anyway./ The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway./ Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway./ For, you see, in the end it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway – Mother Theresa.

happiness) money would be as meaningless to one as “suya” is to a toothless man. (Many folks out there would laugh over this and swear that with money they can buy anything they fancy, including happiness, peace and good health; good luck to such persons).

ome years ago while on assignment in Kaduna I witnessed something that excited me profoundly.

Something at the M.S. Group of companies. As I was conducted round the company’s welldesigned compound, I saw with my own eyes the assorted facilities devoted exclusively to maintenance, safety and staff welfare. These, along with some other stuff, eloquently testify that here truly is an outfit that goes the extra mile in a deliberate effort to ensure excellence in every facet of its operations.

What, you may wonder, is all that exciting about this?

Number one: in a country where little or no importance is attached to maintenance, safety and the like, the situation at the M.S. Group is, in my view, refreshingly different. Number two: as someone who is not only an advocate of such a corporate culture but actually practices it in my small outfit over there in the village, witnessing

something like this excites one.

Why so? Because, you see, the conventional “wisdom” is that it is foolish to “waste” one’s money on such “useless” things. Except that thing will fetch you instant gratification, the conventional “wisdom” is that it is stupid to invest in it. For example, the branded books and shirts which my nursery/ primary school gives our pupils, staff and parents alike free of charge, are regarded by some as wasteful, and/or extravagant.

“What will you gain from all these?” a family member or relative would ask you. “Why are you wasting your resources like this, Sonde?”

My response to such is simple: money is not everything. Money is important - in fact, it is very important. Even the Bible emphasizes this. Without money you can do little or nothing. But is money everything? I sincerely don’t think so. As veritably important as it is, money is not everything. There are one or two things that are more vital than money.

Consider good health, peace of mind and happiness. As important as money is, some of us would never exchange our health, peace, and happiness for money. The reason is simple: without these precious privileges (good health, peace of mind and

pure joy and satisfaction that no amount of money can give, that is.

In the same vein, one feel privileged that this noble profession called journalism has been a platform for touching lives - even if only a few lives - in various ways. How many times have one used the pen to impact on some lives one way or the other over the years? Countless times. We are talking, mind you, of situations whereby you would use your own personal resources to publish stories for individuals or groups or communities, without expecting anything in asonde@yahoo.com return, let alone 0803-2159-249 (SMS only, pls) demanding.

Take, for example, a Something more than certain gentleman based in money? Yes! Giving, for Lagos, for whose outfit I have example. The happiness derived published many stories in several from giving needs to be newspapers between December experienced in order to be 2011 and March 2013. One of fathomed or believed. Especially such stories covered two whole the sort of giving that is without colour pages. “Two colour pages any ulterior motives. In my own of a national paper cost about one case, no any other giving has million naira o, Sonde,” one of been as satisfying and heartmy colleagues, Naomi, said to me warming as the little nursery/ in the course of our production primary school established in my that day. “How much will your hometown way back in 2007. man and his union pay for all Mind you, I could have easily this work?”. and conveniently established it I told her that I may not even here in Abuja. Doing so would be thanked for my effort, let have made me a multialone get a gift or “payment”. millionaire within only two or “Then why do you keep doing it three years. Instead, I “foolishly” for such people?” she continued. set it up in a “bush” village - with In response I related to Naomi one all the attendant constraints, of my recent experiences with stress and pressure. The result? the said Lagos -based gentleman.

Ever since then the project has I had once requested for a certain become a veritable source of joy favour from him. A minor and satisfaction to one; the sort of favour at that. All in vain. He

never granted it, despite his initial assurance.

“He said that he was in Kano having a Board Meeting”, I said to Naomi. “And that was that.”

“You mean he denied you? And you keep doing more stories for him, Sonde?” she asked incredulously.

“Why not? Not only for him, but for many other such persons too. Whether they appreciate it or not, it doesn’t matter. Mind you, it’s not as if I have never gotten any gifts from some persons before; in fact I have received some token gifts once in a while; I won’t deny that. The point is, money mustn’t be the prime motivation. Rather, the desire to impact some lives should be the main motivation.

As we parted that day, I could imagine Naomi saying to herself something such as “There goes the world’s biggest fool.” I simply smiled. Many of us are like that.

We have this belief that money is everything. Whatever we do must be based on money or immediate gratification. If money is not attached to it, then, in many people’s view, it is not worth doing.

Such folk are entitled to their opinions. But in my humble view, everything should not be about money, no matter how valuable money is! As Mother Theresa put it succinctly, “The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway./ Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway./ For, you see, in the end it is between you and God./ It was never between you and them anyway.”

By Omano Edigheji hima Ubani, Alao Aka Bashorun, Gani Fawehinmi and Beko Ramsome-Kuti are in my thoughts. They were heroes of the democratic struggles in Nigeria. They were selfless individuals who sacrificed personal comfort for the common good. Today, the political space has been hijacked by elements best described as criminals, who terrorize the rest of society. They have hijacked key levels of the state, economy and society.

Nigeria is today a country where poverty, inequality, under- and unemployment are increasing. The majority of our youths and graduates are unemployed and unemployable, the latter because of the poor quality of education in the country.

There is a general acknowledgement of the decline of the Nigerian education system.

The passed rate in WAEC attests to this point. But this decline is partly due to the neglect of the education sector by successive governments at all levels. Why are the elites, both economic and political elites, neglecting and destroying, a system that they benefited from? Their predecessors, in my case, the second republic political leaders invested in my secondary school education. Why are political leaders not investing in education system today?

How can our past education system be better than that of today and tomorrow? Any

society that progresses should ensure that its today and tomorrow is better than its past.

That today’s political elite is not investing in the education sector destroys our tomorrow. Sending their children to study overseas might have immediate personal benefit, but in the long turn if the education system is not fixed, it might be shortsighted for the elite and society. This is because tomorrow, it is those that attend the poor education system today that will be in charge of key state institutions as well as key positions in the social and private sector.. The likely results will include further erosion of morality, poor institutions that will be unable to provide public goods and protect citizens and their properties; and a private sector that is unable to compete globally.

Insecurity, including the emergence of religious and ethnic militias, is currently on the rise because of poor governance. Our people are dying because of poor governance. At the same time, highly political connected individuals are getting richer.

With the slightest illness they go abroad for medical treatment and send their children to schools in Europe and North America.

Ghana and South Africa have been added to their list of countries where they send their wards to school.

The political and economic elite, however, have become victims of the rot they created in the country (not God’s wish), and if unaddressed will destroy them.

Insecurity in the country has claimed the lives of some of them.

Some others have been victims of kidnapping. Especially in the South East and most parts of the North, the elites cannot go back to their home towns and villages because of fear of being kidnapped and because of the general insecurity, including armed robbery. As a consequence, they are holed up in major cities such as Abuja and Lagos. What this mean: insecurity has stripped the elites of freedom of movement in their own country.

The Nigerian elite have become victims of their own creation – poor governance. In their shortsightedness, they forget that not all illnesses will give them sufficient notice to secure visas and flight tickets before they strike. Heart attacks do not give anyone the privilege to acquire visas and flight tickets before it hits you. The result is that some

education system, roads, the railways, and the aviation sector; and ensure that the security forces are well staffed and equipped. Instead of spending money on condolences’ adverts and spending billions on overseas’ medical care yearly, the economic and political elites should invest the necessary resources on our national health sector. Instead of having elaborate burial ceremonies, the elites should immortalize their loved ones who passed away by making investments in the education sector, including through scholars, sponsorship of research, establishing chairs, and so on. These they should do for self-preservation or what is generally known as enlightened self-interest.

If they do these things and establish inclusive political and economic institutions it will be a demonstration of purposeful and visionary leaderships. Unless they do this, the political and economic leaders will be consumed by the rot they have created in the country. In effect, good governance and improved social and physical infrastructure as well as inclusive political and economic institutions are not only needed by the Nigerian people but by the elites. If these are done, we will be moving closer to the democracy that Chima, Gani, Aka and Beko envisioned and fought for.

Dr. Omano Edigheji is Executive Director, Centre for Africa’s Progress and Prosperity (CAPP), Abuja, Nigeria

S

SONDE’S DIAR Y DIARY

By Sonde Abbah

Nigerian elites and crisis of leadership C

among the Nigerian elites have died unnecessary deaths. Save for the dysfunctional healthcare system, such people will have been attended to in local healthcare facilities and would have been saved. That the Nigerian elite do not realise this reflects their narrow mindedness.

Their recourse to foreign hospitals also shows their lack of self-worth and awareness. There is no society where an elite with self-respect resorts to overseas medical care as the first port of call. An elite with a sense of the self will ensure that the nation’s healthcare delivery system is able to cater for their needs.

Even if the economic and political elites “don’t give a damn” about the Nigerian people, they should give a damn about themselves by expanding and improving the country’s social and physical infrastructure. They should fix the health sector,

“

The Nigerian elite have become victims of their own creation – poor governance. In their shortsightedness, they forget that not all illnesses will give them sufficient notice to secure visas and flight tickets before they strike. Heart attacks do not give anyone the privilege to acquire visas and flight tickets before it hits you

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

FCTA flags off re-surfacing of township roads

By Adeola Tukuru

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Praise singers at a public function in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

PHCN installs 232,466 free prepaid meters in FCT A

buja zonal office of the PHCN installed pre-paid meters free of charge for 232,466 consumers in March, its spokesman, Mr Debo Adegoke, has said.

Adegoke told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that more consumers would still benefit for the free installation scheme.

He explained that out of the meters installed in March, 19659 went to consumers in Apo; 21203 to consumers in; 13390 went to consumers in Gwagwalada; 14142 went to some in Gwarinpa;

consumers in Jabi got 17509, while those in Karu got 78416.

In Keffi, consumers got 442 pre-paid meters; those in Kubwa got 34155; in Lokoja, they got 114; Minna got 8403; Suleja got 24, Wuse got 24,995, Bida got 11, Lafia got 2, while Okene got only one meter, he added.

On frequent power outages in the country, Adegoke explained that there were only two reasons why there could be power outage in the PHCN’s Network and he gave the causes as follows“There are two major reasons

for power outage, it could be a planned power outage or it could be a forced one.

“Forced in the sense that we were not expecting it, so it could come as a result of equipment failure or as a result of load shedding from the national grid.

“So if it is load-shedding from the grid, we do not have control over it or if it is equipment failure, equally we do not have control over it.

“It is only planned outage, what we mean by planned outage is we want to maintain our

equipment, so we shut down or there is going to be construction along some lines thereby we require taking off light to be able to do that construction or to do that plan.

“When it is planned, we have the ample time inform our customers of our intention to shut down.

“But when it is forced on us we have no control over it; really at the end of it when everything is normal we can now apologise to them for what has happened and tell them the reasons”. (NAN)

Church inaugurates 2 boreholes, lab in Nasarawa

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he Redeem Christian Church of God (RCCG) has inaugurated two motorised water boreholes in Zhipe and Saka communities in Karshi Development Area of Nasarawa Stateand home economics laboratory built in Government Junior Secondary School in Karu, FCT. Pastor OlajideOluwajobi, Pastor-in-charge of Nyanya Province 3 of the church in the FCT, said the two water projects cost about N4 million and that the home economics laboratory built in Karu cost N800.000.

According to him the projects were part of the corporate social responsibility of the church.

Oluwajobi said the facilities were provided to address some basic needs of the people, adding

that lack of water had caused a lot of health challenges for the communities.

He told members of the benefiting communities to count themselves lucky as many others also had similar needs.

“This (bore-hole project) is in line with the vision of our General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, that communities must be affected by the church to better their lives.

“I encourage other churches to use their resources to touch the lives of people around them positively.

“As I talk to you, we have inaugurated many of these projects in various communities nationwide,’’ he said He urged the benefiting communities to make good use of

the facilities.

He said the church’s medical evangelism discovered the challenge during their outreach programme in the benefitting communities, noting that a large percentage of the residents had contacted bilharzia (Schistosoma).

AlhajiAlhassanMohammud, EsuZhipe, thanked the church for assisting them, adding that members of the community suffered lack of potable water as the authorities did nothing to ease their plight.

He said the assistance would go a long way in reducing the health challenges in the community.

“We will enjoy this facility with our wives and children and everyone. I lack words to express

my appreciation to the church.

“We have been trekking far to get drinking water; sometimes, we experience snake bite while searching for water,’’ the Esu said.

At Saka village, Alhaji Mustapha Haramde, also thanked the church for assisting the community, promising to mobilise people to fellowship with the church.

He said that the church’s assistance would reduce the suffering of the people.

Also the principal of the school, Mrs Naomi Joseph, said the laboratory would give the students a sense of pride.

Joseph commended the church for the assistance, adding that the facility would aid the students in passing their examination. (NAN)

he Federal Capital T e r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA) has flagged off the re-surfacing of some Abuja township roads built over 30 years ago in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, said the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan believes in opening up new districts like the Abuja Land Swap Model which was flagged off recently in Dallas Carraway District in the Federal Capital City and maintaining the existing infrastructure.

Senator Mohammed stated that some of these roads built since the inception of Abuja as a project over three decades ago have shown signs of failure as their integrity has been eroded over time, informed the decision of his Administration to take such roads covering 24 kilometers in the 1 st Phase of the transformational removal and re-surfacing.

The Minister emphasized that because the FCT Administration has followed due process in awarding the contract, price competitiveness and quality was the watchword and government got the entire work in the 1 st Phase awarded at a wonderful cost of N2.7 billion which is unprecedented.

He restated that the FCT Administration has decided to undertake the projects because it has direct bearing on the residents of the Federal Capital Territory; stressing that Abuja is the mirror through which the World sees Nigeria.

His words: “This is the vision of Mr. President in terms of Transformation in making sure we open new frontiers, we maintain what we have, so that we can give infrastructure to residents of the Federal Capital Territory at par with international best practices because we believe in the dynamism of governance”.

Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr. AdamuIsmaila who briefed the Minister at the occasion noted that some roads in the Phase I of the Federal Capital City built over 30 years ago have shown sign of failure while they were expected to last for 15 or 20 years maximum.

The Executive Secretary remarked that some of these roads are in Phase I of the Federal Capital City particularly in Wuse I and Garki I districts respectively.

Engr. Ismaila disclosed that the contractor handling the projects has not even been paid mobilisation fee and has done 60 percent of the job so far as some of the roads have been completed.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 17

Labourer in court for alleged theft

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he police yesterday arraigned a labourer, Sunday Jonathan, 22, of Ushafa Village in Bwari, Abuja, before an Upper Area Court in Kado, Abuja for alleged joint act and theft.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Simon Ibrahim, told the court that the matter was reported by one Douglas Bako of behind Modern Market, Wuye, Abuja at the Utako Police Station on April 16.

Ibrahim said the accused and

two others now at large, formed a common intention and burgled the complainant’s car which was parked at Crystal Lounge in Wuse 2, and made away with a camera valued at N100,000.

He said that the accused was arrested by security men while trying to escape the scene.

Ibrahim said that during police investigation the accused confessed to committing the crime, saying he handed over the camera to his friends who ran away with it.

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

If found guilty as provided under section 79, the convict shall be liable for the act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone.

If one is convicted under section 287 he/she shall be punished with imprisonment term for which may extend to five years or with an option of fine or with both

A man selling local jewelry beads to his client in Central Area, Abuja.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Delivering a ruling on the bail application, the Presiding Judge, Mr Ahmed Ado, admitted Jonathan to bail in the sum of N40,000 and two sureties in like sum.

Ado said the sureties must have a fixed and reliable address and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the matter to May 6,2013for hearing. (NAN)

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Court orders woman to remarry after husband’s abandonment A n Abuja Area Court yesterday ordered the dissolution of the marriage between Abubakar Mai-Shayi, of Lugbe Zone 5 and his wife, Zainab, over husband’s disappearance from matrimonial home for a year.

Delivering Judgment, the Judge, Alhaji Haruna Masanawa, held that Zainab was free to marry another man.

Masanawa said that

Abubakar’s whereabouts remained unknown to his wife for the last one year and neither did he leave behind any means of livelihood for her.

“Having deserted his matrimonial home for over a year and remaining incommunicado to the plaintiff, leaving no means of livelihood for her, his marriage is hereby dissolved.

“However, since the marriage was consummated

under Islamic Law, the plaintiff must wait for three months from the date of this judgment before remarrying.

“If the husband returns before the end of the three months waiting period, the dissolution will become null and void and the marriage will be restored,’’ Masanawa said.

Zainab had filed for divorce after her husband deserted their matrimonial home for an

unknown destination for over a year without a reason.

She told the court during the hearing of the matter that her husband, with whom she had a baby boy, had stopped communicating with her and left no money or any foodstuff for her and the baby.

She then urged the court to dissolve the marriage to enable her remarry a man that would take care of her. (NAN)

Court grants bail to businessman over alleged breach of trust, cheating

A

n Abuja Grade 2 Area Court in Kado yesterday granted bail to one ChiagoziemOguagbaka of Suit B6, Shakir Plaza, Area 2, Garki, who was charged with alleged criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Ahmed Ado, granted the accused bail in the sum of N80,000 with one reliable surety in like sum, after he pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Ado ordered that the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case to May 31 for further hearing.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Simon Ibrahim, told the court that MrUmeh Charles, of Fortis Micro Finance Bank, Abuja, reported the case to the Utako Divisional police station on July 9, 2012.

Ibrahim said that on March 28,

2011, the accused applied and took a loan facility of N1 million for a period of 90 days.

He also said that Oguagbaka allegedly diverted the money to his own personal use and could not pay at the exact date of agreement.

The prosecutor said the accused issued a dud cheque which bounced back, and during police investigations, he confessed and admitted to the crime.

He said that the offences contravened the provisions of sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

If convicted under Section 312, the convict will be punished with imprisonment that may extend to five years or be fined or both.

Also, if convicted under Section 322, the convict shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or be fined or both. (NAN)

Agent docked for criminal breach of trust, cheating

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he police yesterday arraigned a property agent, Emmanuel Bigwan, 38, of Area 3, Garki, Abuja at an Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly absconding with N300,000 belonging to one Miss Ruth Benard.

The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, said the accused was standing trial on a three-count charge of joint act, criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Emmanuel told the court that Benard of Jabi, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja on April 4.

The prosecutor said that the complainant was in search of accommodation when she came in contact with the accused , a property agent.

He said the accused introduced Benard to one Gabriel, who showed her several houses after which she made a choice.

Emmanuel said that Gabriel also introduced the complainant to one Alhaji, who is the caretaker of the house Benard decided to pay for. He said that the complainant paid N300,000 into a Diamond Bank account belonging to one Luke Apreser at Wuse 11, Abuja.

“After this, the caretakers could no longer be reached.

Instead, they began to insult her on phone.’’

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 79, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

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

Section 312 states that whoever commits criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment with a term which may extend to seven years or with fine or with both.

Section 322 states that whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.’’

The accused pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Mohammed Zubairu, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200,000 with a surety in like sum.

He said the surety must either be a civil servant not below grade level eight or a businessman, having a business address in any of the government approved markets or plazas in the FCT. (NAN)

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Traditional ruler asks Kuje chairman-elect to build school in Chukuku

By Usman Shuaibu

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he Village head of Chukuku in Kuje Area Council, FCT, Mallam JibrinSarki, has called on the chairman-elect of the council, Hon. Ishaku Teteto build a secondary school in Chukuku as one of his agenda when he assumes office.

He said that if a secondary school was built in Chukuku, it would deter the children from travelling out to attend schools in the neighboring villages.

Sarki, who made the call in an interview with Peoples Daily, urged the newly elected chairman to do everything possible to also provide basic necessities of life for the people of the area.

He called on the chairman to construct more boreholes in the area, so as to arrest the problem of shortage of water faced by the residents.

He further appealed to the chairman and the leadership of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to join hands to put an end to epileptic power supply in the area.

Sarkialso pleaded with the chairman-elect to provide fertilizers for the farmers on time to enable them to carry out their farming activities successfully.

Church doles out items to Kuje orphanage home

By Adeola Tukuru

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he Chief Cornerstone Parish, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Treasure Island Garki, has donated items worth thousands of naira to Christ Foundation Orphanage home in Kuje Area Council, FCT. Pastor Adedapo Adeyemi who led some Parish members to the orphanage home stated that the donation was in line with the parish’s commitment of taking care of the poor in the society.

In his words: “The cardinal duties of the RCCG Cornerstone parish are to attend to the poor, visit the helpless, help Orphanages and ensure that whatever they lack, such as food, clothing and medication are provided”, he said.

Adedapo said that the gesture would also help strengthens the faith of Orphans and ensure that when they grow, they will become individuals whose behaviours will be admired by many.

Earlier in her remark, the proprietress of the Orphanage home Mrs. Patricia Kuta, commended the members of Chief Cornerstone Parish for the gesture, adding that it will no doubt encourage Christ Foundation home.

Items distributed were rice,toiletries, vegetable oil,clothing, cartoons of Indomie, and biscuits to enable them support their feeding.

A scarvenger looking for scraps after a cleaning exercise by the Department of Development Control of the FCT.

Abuja craftsmen seek corporate sponsorship to boost artworks

S

ome craftsmen in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has solicited for corporate sponsorship to boost their activities in crafts production.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the call because of the need for individuals and corporate bodies to compliment government’s efforts.

They said that the acquisition of a permanent site in Abuja to accommodate the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) was crucial to the development of arts in the country.

A craftsman, Mr Chike Emembo, canvassed for public private partnership to ensure rapid development of the arts and cultural site.

“Let the private sector invest money, time and energy and have faith in the system and believe that it is going to work,’’ Emembo said.

Mr Malqwi Maidugu, the council’s Executive Secretary, on April 12, formally presented the documents of ownership for the 3.24 hectares of land to Tourism Minister Edem Duke.

NAN recalls that there was a lingering tussle between the council and the Department of Arts and Culture as well as the Federal Capital Development Authority, on the ownership of the land.

Miss Cynthia Irene, another artist, called on corporate bodies and individuals to borrow a leaf from government and organise creativity events like the just

concluded 2013 National Creativity week.

The four-day event served as a platform for attracting stakeholders’ attention to the potential in the sector and lures them into the development of the creative economy in Nigeria.

She said that having such events on regular basis would boost arts and crafts as well as contribute to the growth of the nation’s economy.

Mrs Joan onyeuju, the Chief Executive Officer, Saint Carolina Boutique, Abuja, said that creativity was a talent that should be nurtured.

Onyeuju said the 2013 creativity week had afforded craftsmen the opportunity to interact and chat a way forward in the business of arts and crafts.

The practitioner, who left banking for crafts, described the event as a platform for arts and crafts display, noting that more opportunities would be needed for greater display.

She, however, advised youths to become more creative as the move would make them become gainfully employed as well as employers of labour.

“I will advice the youths to be creative and not to depend on only office jobs.

“In November 2012, I was able to travel to three different countries and it is due to the fact that I am creative.

“It is good to be creative because you will always have daily income and you can never have empty wallet,’’ Onyeuju added. (NAN)

FCT perm sec bags distinguished personality award

By Adeola Tukuru

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he FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu has received a Distinguished Personality in Diligent Service to Fatherland Award from the National Association of Niger-Delta Students.

Presenting the award to the Permanent Secretary on Friday in Abuja, National President, Association of Niger Delta Students, Comrade Lucky Emonefe said that

the Association’s fact-finding mission nominated Engr. Chukwu for the prestigious award after a meticulous survey of his antecedent, especially his leadership qualities.

The National President noted his “patriotic, diligent and committed service to our dear country” as well as his overall commitment to his duties as public servant.

Comrade Emonefe said that the Association with over 10 million membership on behalf of good people of Niger Delta region stand

bold to appreciate the selfless contributions of Permanent Secretary and assure him that they will always stand by him especially as he uncommonly strive to assist the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed in actualizing the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The National President disclosed that the leadership of the Association will soon organize a seminar and sensitization programme tagged from ‘gun militancy to pen

militancy’ to re-psyche the Niger Delta youths from violence to nonviolence struggle.

Responding, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu appreciated the honour done to him; saying that the honour is indeed for the entire FCT Administration.

While thanking the Association, Engr. Chukwu remarked that the award would spur him to greater heights to contribute more to his fatherland.

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

Mob: 08033644990

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 21

UN, PTDF to partner on capacity building

Nigeria loses N9.3trn annually to inaccurate billing points - Aganga

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he Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, said Nigeria lost about N9.3 trillion to inaccurate measure and billing points annually.

Aganga made this known yesterday in Abuja at the inauguration of the ``Legal Metrology Web Portalwww.weightsandmeasuresnigeria.com''.

The legal metrology is the regulation and control of measurements and measuring instruments. It is an essential requirement for the sale of retail and wholesale foods, petrol and other goods.

Aganga said the Federal Government was poised to

addressing the challenges associated with measurement and billing.

To this end, the minister, said that the Federal Government had approved the commencement of the implementation of the new policy on weights and measure.

He said the implementation of the policy would help the Federal Government to save about N474 billion annually and generate about N17 billion in 2013.

Aganga said the legal metrology would ``ensure proper inspection verification and certification of meters for proper billing system of electricity, water, hydrocarbon and telecommunication.

The minister said it would also go a long way in eliminating N775billion wastage every month due to inaccurate measure and billing points by Nigerians.

Aganga said that the Federal Government was determined to ensure that adequate measures were put in place to enable Nigerians get value for their money on local and imported products. ``All over the world, there is legal metrology, which ensures that what you buy is accurate and legal. ``If you look at the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative Report, there are a lot of leakages in the oil

and gas industry either because the meters are not working or they are not installed at the right places. ``But for the first time, President Goodluck Jonathan, has given us approval to commence that operation across all sectors of the economy, we are starting with the oil and gas, telecoms and power sector.''

Aganga said the launch of the website, which was the first of its kind, would promote accountability and transparency as well as increase the revenue generation of the government.

He enjoined Nigerians to embrace legal metrology in all the sectors of the economy.

Aganga said the system was critical to the economic advancement of the country as it instills confidence in domestic trade, protects the consumers as well as confer integrity on imported goods and products.

In his remarks, Alhaji Bashir Zoru, the Director of Weights and Measures Department said the website was key to fair trade in Nigeria.

Zoru said the operation of the site would help to address the communication, information and empowerment challenges, in order to serve the public more effectively.

He said the department had identified the website as a critical component of its PR and communication strategy.

The director said with the website, stakeholders would be informed of the latest policies and obligations in the use of legal metrology. (NAN)

NCC flags off Mobile Number Portability

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L-R: Director-General, Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogu, Executive Director, World Bank, Malam Mansur Muhtar, CBN governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during a news conference with Nigerian newsmen at the World Bank and IMF spring meetings, on Sunday in Washington DC. Photo: NAN

NSE index appreciates by 0.29% W eekly transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) opened on Monday on a positive note with the market indicators recording marginal growth due to gains by some blue chips.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AllShare Index grew by 96.08 points or 0.29 per cent to close at 33,090.05 against the 32,993.97 posted on Friday.

Also, the market capitalisation rose by N31 billion to close at N10.58 trillion from the N10.55 trillion recorded on Friday.

CAP led the price gainers' chart with N1 to close at N38 per share.

GTBank came second on the gainers' table with 88k to close at N25.09, while Glaxo gained 80k to close at N49 per share.

Zenith rose by 50k to close at N19.70, while Presco

garnered 47k to close at N24 per share.

Conversely, Lafarge Wapco topped the losers' chart, dropping N3 to close at N38 per share.

MRS Oil trailed with a loss of N2.24 to close at N20.16 per share and was followed by Unilever with a loss of N1.70 to close at N51.30 per share.

PZ Cussons lost N1.50 to close

at N40.50, while Cement Company of Northern Nigeria dipped 90k to close at N9.60 per share.

In all, investors staked N3.44 billion on 317.66 million shares in 4,687 deals, an increase of 24.37 per cent against the 255 million shares worth N2.53 billion traded in 4,452 deals on Friday.

Standard Alliance

Insurance emerged the most traded equity with 93 million shares worth N46.50 million traded in two deals.

FBN Holdings trailed on the activity chart, accounting for 32.66 million shares valued at N620.71 million exchanged in 434 deals.

Zenith Bank sold 28.62 million shares worth N559.80 million in 370 deals. (NAN)

Management Tip of the Day

Find out how skilled a job candidate really is

T

he point of a job interview is to make sure the candidate has the necessary skills to do the work. But aside from references, how can you determine if a potential employee actually knows what he claims to know? Here are two tips for finding out how deep a

person's knowledge and experience goes: Ask "how" and "why." When an interviewee relays a success story, drill down to understand as much as you can. Keep asking, "How did you do that?" or "Why?" until you get to a question the candidate can't answer. This isn't always comfortable but it

will shed light on his true capabilities.

Bring in a fellow interviewer.

With two people conducting the interview, one of you can focus on asking the right questions and the other can listen attentively to responses.

Source: Harvard Business Review

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday flagged off the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) service in Lagos.

Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, said that MNP was one of the services that would deepen competition in the industry.

He said that with the launch of MNP, telecom consumers would no longer need to acquire new numbers to move from one network to another.

According to him, subscribers will simply take their existing numbers along with them to any network of their choice.

“The power and freedom of choice will henceforth rest with the consumer.

“If a consumer is dissatisfied with the quality of service being provided by a service provider, he or she can simply port out of that network to any network of his or her choice without losing existing number.

“Consumers will no longer need to worry, trying to memorise new numbers, making changes to their business cards, letter heads, billboard advertisements, etc, whenever they need to change their service providers,’’ he said.

The NCC chief, however, said that there were rules governing the process of customers porting from one network to another and regulating the implementation of network providers.

He said that the rules were detailed in the ‘MNP Business Rules’ already available on the Commission’s Website.

According to the EVC, the Commission has also developed Regulations for Mobile Number Portability. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Diamond Bank’s balance sheet hit N1tn

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he Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Oti, has said the bank's balance sheet in 2012 hit the N1tn mark.He also said the bank would open more branches to meet the demand of its growing customers.

The managing director, who spoke in Jos at a customer forum, said the bank posted a profit after tax of N27bn in the 2012 fiscal year but regretted that dividend would not be paid to shareholders as it intended to plough back the amount set aside into the business as retail earnings.

Cash-less Policy: Skye Bank to install 15,000 PoS

A

s part of expansion of the cash-less policy to some states other than Lagos State, Skye Bank Plc has concluded arrangements to roll out some 15,000 points of sale terminals in the states covered by the second phase of the policy.

The Central Bank of Nigeria had recently announced that by July this year, the cash-less policy would be extended to states such as Ogun, Anambra, Rivers, Abia and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja after a successful pilot test in Lagos.

A statement by the bank on Friday quoted the Group Head, E-Channels, Skye Bank, Mr. Chuks Iku, as saying that the bank had deployed about 7,000 point of sale terminals in Lagos State alone, adding that another 8,000 units would be deployed in the next phase of the rollout.

To ensure the success of the exercise, Iku said branches of Skye Bank in Kano and the FCT had been trained and consequently commenced customer education in relation to how PoS could be used, providing product knowledge and creating awareness about the policy and other payment channels.

Zenith Bank raises profit by 25% in Q1 2013

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he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday published Zenith Bank’s first quarter (Q1) 2013 results healthy y/y growth across the headline income lines to lead profit after (PAT) higher by 25 per cent y/y at N23.1 billion.

The bank’s net interest income of N45.6 billion and noninterest income of N17.8 billion grew double-digits, by 19 per cent and 29 per cent respectively while profit before provisions of N63.4 billion increased 22 per cent y/y.

BP’s legal gamble may trim spill bill by billions BP Plc’s attempt to get a U.S. federal court to pin at least a sizeable amount of the blame for the Deepwater Horizon disaster on other companies may have saved it billions of dollars.

A

fter failing to settle claims from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill through negotiations, the British oil company opted in February to go to trial with plaintiffs ranging from small businesses to the U.S. government over the damages it will face.

The decision rests with U.S. District Court Judge Carl Barbier, who could issue findings on blame and the level of negligence as early as July.

Legal experts say BP appeared to succeed in shifting some of the blame for the disaster to rig owner Transocean Ltd and cement provider Halliburton Co. In doing so, it may have shaved a slice off a liability that could stretch into the tens of billions of dollars.

BP "put their faith in the hands of the court," said Blaine LeCesne, a tort law professor at Loyola University in New Orleans who has followed the trial closely. "It looks like that might have paid off."

Of course, if Barbier determines that BP was grossly negligent then it could more than offset anything it has saved by getting the rap for the disaster shared more broadly.

LeCesne, and two other legal experts who followed the trial but spoke privately on the matter, believed BP had some success in offloading blame for the worst U.S. offshore spill, which was caused by a blowout on the Deepwater Horizon rig that killed 11 people exactly three years ago on Saturday.

During the trial last Wednesday, Transocean may have taken a hit from BP's final witness, Andrew Mitchell, a 40-year veteran of the offshore oil industry and now an International Safety Management Code consultant.

Mitchell described the rig captain's response to the crisis as "completely inadequate."

That came on top of Transocean's previous admission that its employees misinterpreted a crucial pressure test on the well and evidence that a dead battery in the blow-out preventer kept the device from closing the well hole.

Transocean declined to comment on specifics of the trial, but said it remained confident in the case it presented.

Halliburton also took some blows.

Last month the company belatedly introduced cement samples into evidence.

Then this month, Halliburton

A typical oil rig produced documents, including test results BP lawyer Mike Brock said he would have liked to have had while Halliburton witnesses were still on the stand.

Another document included an email in which a Halliburton executive said their company was one of the "contributing parties" responsible for ensuring a sound cement job.

"It's very troubling the way Halliburton has handled this entire matter," Judge Barbier said of the documents, adding that he was considering whether to impose sanctions in response.

Halliburton did not respond to a request for comment.

Testimony in the first phase of the trial ended April 17. With an estimated 70 million pages of evidence to weigh, the parties have 80 days to file legal briefs as Barbier considers blame and negligence in the non-jury trial.

Phase two would determine exactly how much oil spilled so damages can be assessed, a process due to start in September. Legal sources say it is possible Barbier could delay announcing his phase-one trial conclusions until after the next phase, so total fines and penalties may not be known until 2014.

LeCesne expects BP could shoulder about 70 percent of the blame and that Halliburton might bear a heavier share of the rest due to testimony regarding the failure of its cement mixture in attempts to plug the well.

"I'd say Halliburton is likely to have an equal or higher percentage attributed to it than Transocean," LeCesne said.

BP spokesman Geoff Morrell said the evidence presented at the trial showed BP was not grossly negligent and the accident was the result of "multiple causes, involving multiple parties."

BP has been determined from the start of the oil spill to avoid the decades of litigation that Exxon Mobil Corp endured after the 1989 Valdez accident in Alaska. But the complexity of BP's case meant a last-minute deal in February was elusive, so it landed in court.

BP has already allocated $42 billion to cover clean-up, fines and other costs. A gross negligence finding by Barbier could add billions to the civil penalties and expose BP to punitive damages claims. BP's liability under the U.S. Clean Water Act alone could reach $17.5 billion if BP is found grossly negligent. Billions more could be piled on in economic damage claims from Gulf Coast

states, while a third set of claims, for natural resource damage, have not yet been filed.

Just in the past few days, the states of Mississippi and Florida have filed suit against BP over the spill. Louisiana and Alabama have been parties to the civil litigation for two years.

While some observers think the results of the trial's first phase will prompt a settlement of many remaining claims, LeCesne believes the parties will continue to duke it out in court. He also thinks even if BP did reduce its share of the blame during the trial, a very costly ruling against BP is in the cards.

"It's by no means a certainty, but I think it's more likely than not there will be a finding of gross negligence," he said.

John Levy, a maritime and complex litigation expert at Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, said all the money at stake is what made the Deepwater Horizon case special among maritime cases.

"On smaller cases, people will just work it out," he said.

"Here, you're talking about numbers that end with the word billion. It's worth fighting over."

(Reuters)

PEOSPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Report as at Monday, April 22, 2013

PAGE 23

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

In the centre of a storm For the umpteenth time in recent years, mega Pastor, Chris Oyakhilome of the controversial Christ Embassy Church fame, is stuck in another allegation of shady financial deals. Musikilu Mojeed provides details of the flamboyant pastor’s latest escapade....

S

ecret documents have allegedly linked the family and associates of one of Africa’s most popular pastors, Nigerian televangelist the Rev. Chris Oyakhilome, to an offshore company in the British Virgin Islands.

A business associate of the pastor says some directors in the company held shares on behalf of the pastor’s daughters, Sharon and Charlyn, who are now teenagers.

The company in question is Gmobile Nigeria Limited, an offshore firm incorporated in 2007 in a Caribbean tax haven, the British Virgin Islands, according to a cache of documents reviewed by Premium Times and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). The shareholders listed in the documents include Oyakhilome’s wife, Anita; another pastor in his

organization, Thomas Amenkhienan; a business associate, Aigobomian Inegbedion; and another British Virgin Islands’ company, GTMT International Group Limited.

Oyakhilome is founder and president of one of Africa’s largest Pentecostal churches, Believers Loveworld Inc. (aka Christ Embassy), which claims “hundreds of churches … affecting millions of people” in all the continents of the world, with a strong presence in the United Kingdom, South Africa, United States, Canada and Nigeria.

He has also set up satellite broadcast channels in the United Kingdom (LoveWorld TV), South Africa (LoveWorld SAT) and Nigeria (LoveWorld Plus). He hosts a TV show, Atmosphere for Miracles, which airs on television networks in Africa, North America, Australia, Asia and Europe, according to his

church’s website.

His church has a series of business interests, the website says, that include vibrant TV and Internet ministries and a publishing outfit that churns out the popular “Rhapsody of Realities” booklet, which is like a second Bible to members of his church.

He is as controversial as he is entrepreneurial. Critics believe he is excessively flamboyant, dressing most of the time in expensive suits, top-of-the-range shirts and ties and exotic shoes.

Some of his critics have alleged that he has staged miracles, bringing forth impotent men, infertile women and people with AIDS who testified they’d been instantly healed. In the wake of controversy over faithhealing practices by Oyakhilome and other pastors, the Nigerian government banned unverified miracles from

The BVI offices of offshore services company CTL. Photo: Alex Shprintsen

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome…His wife and associates had their hands in a pie in a tax haven television in 2004.

His wife, Anita, is also a pastor in the church. She heads the international division of the ministry and is regularly credited with growing the church’s presence around the world.

Until now, there has never been any suggestion that she was involved in financial dealings.

Documents reviewed by ICIJ and Premium Times show that Anita Oyakhihome held 17, 750 of Gmobile’s 50,000 shares, with Amenkhienan owning 1,500 and Inegbedion 750. The fourth shareholder, GTMT International, also a British Virgin Islands’ company, owned by South African investors, held 30,000 shares.

The documents show that some of these individuals held shares in trust for two minors. The records don’t identify the minors, but Inegbedion confirmed that the minors referred to in the documents were the Oyakhilomes’ daughters, quickly adding that there was nothing wrong with that.

“Their parents bought the shares for them because they have rights to own shares,” Mr. Inegbedion said. “A dayold child has a right to own shares in companies.” He declined to say which of Gmobile directors held shares

in trust for the girls.

The Oyakhilomes did not respond to emails sent to their personal and church websites.

Setting Up Gmobile In 2007 Anita Oyakhilome and her partners retained the services of a Dubai-based company, Covenant Management Consultancy (CML), to help it register Gmobile Nigeria Limited in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a Caribbean chain largely controlled by the United Kingdom. On June 26, 2007, CML in turn approached BVI-based Commonwealth Trust Limited (CTL) to complete the task of setting an offshore company.

After some preliminaries — including name checks and consultation with lawyers — CML’s Susha George wrote to CTL’s Shonia Mathew on July 3 giving her the go-ahead to incorporate Gmobile. In that same two-paragraph message, George informed CTL “two shareholders of this company are minors.” She also asked whether additional documents or procedures were needed for the minors to be owners of the company.

Mathew replied the same day, saying that shares of the company could only be held in trust for the minors.

“Please note if the beneficial owners are minors, then the shares would need to be held in Trust for them until they are of age to act in that capacity,” she wrote, adding that “it may be wise to contact an attorney regarding the formalities of the company.”

Seven days after Gmobile’s incorporation, company records show, shares were issued to Anita Oyakhilome, Amenkhienan, Inegbedion and GTMT Limited, a BVI company.

Another curious aspect of the company, which became dormant on May 1, 2009, was the makeup of its board of directors. Its first director was not a human being but another offshore company, Covenant Managers Limited, an offshore firm also set up by Dubai-based Covenant Consultancy Limited in July 2005 to offer nominee services to corporations and individuals incorporating companies in the BVI. In the offshore world, nominee directors or shareholders serve as stand-ins that allow the real people behind companies to keep their identities hidden.

As first director, Covenant Managers approved the opening of a bank account in the United Arab Emirates or any other place in the world.

It is not known in which bank the account was eventually

opened nor whether it was used to move funds.

After Covenant Managers officially resigned, GTMT directors were brought on board together with Anita Oyakhilome, Inegbedion and Amenkhienan as directors.

They were Willem Johannes Jacobus Van Der Merwe, Karen Ann Smith and Daniel John William Mills.

Reporting by Premium Times determined that Van Der Merwe, Smith and Mills were based in South Africa but we could not ascertain how they came to be associated with the Oyakhilome clan.

Inegbedion said the idea of incorporating Gmobile in a tax haven was suggested by the South Africans, who he said argued that BVI was an ideal neutral ground for the business partnership the Oyakhilomes were forging with GTMT to carry out the business of distributing data compression software in Nigeria.

“We were looking for a neutral ground where both parties could feel safe,” Inegbedion said in a telephone interview. “So we had to go to British Virgin Islands. But it was our partners who handled the registration.”

The only South African partner Premium Times was able to track down, Karen Ann Smith, declined to comment on the formation and businesses of Gmobile. “You are on the wrong trip, guy, as I’m not

interested in talking about that business,” Mrs. Smith said on telephone. When she was pressed for details, she said, “You are wasting my time, as I have no interest in speaking to you.”

Fleeting Appearance Gmobile does not appear to have carried out any business in Nigeria, South Africa or the BVI. Inegbedion and another individual who identified himself as Danny Mills made a fleeting appearance before journalists in Lagos in October 2007, almost four months after Gmobile was registered in the BVI, to say the firm was unveiling a GMobile product which allows users to maximize data storage and make an array of communications and services possible.

Danny Mills was

introduced as the international sales director of Gmobile, while Inegbedion was introduced as chief operating officer of an unknown firm, LW GNet Nigeria.

Apparently, nothing has been heard of that product since that event. Today, Inegbedion introduces himself on his Facebook page as managing director of Paradigm Biz Solution Limited, a company the Nigerian Corporate Affairs Commission also says does not exist in its database.

Remmy Nweke, a wellregarded Lagos-based communications reporter, was among those who covered Gmobile’s press conference at the time. “Well, they came and met the media and said they were rolling out an irresistible

“

BVI Financial Services Commission found CTL, the offshore services firm that helped the Oyakhilomes to incorporate Gmobile, to be in repeated violation of the BVI’s anti-money laundering law between 2003 and 2008

Pastor Tom Amenkhiena… spiritual and business partner of the Oyakhilomes

product,” Mr. Nweke said via telephone. “But that was the last we heard of them. They simply disappeared.”

Inegbedion said Gmobile was unable to roll out the product because the company’s partners in South Africa failed to deliver after his team, led by Anita Oyakhilome, paid $1.8 million for a distribution license.

To all appearances, Gmobile was simply a failed business venture. But other companies incorporated in tax havens such as the BVI have become known for involvement with illegal activities, including money laundering and tax evasion.

Taking advantage of the loose laws in several jurisdictions, offshore companies are easy to form in tax havens and owners can remain anonymous while using nominee directors as fronts and deploying the corporations to hide ill-gotten assets, launder funds, dodge litigation or evade taxes.

Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, for example, was convicted of stealing public funds while he was governor of the oilrich Nigerian state of Bayelsa. The state recovered more than 17 million British pounds from him, including assets he held through Solomon and Peters Limited (a company registered in the BVI) and Santolina

Investment Corp. (a company incorporated in the Seychelles). Last month, he received a presidential pardon.

Nigeria’s anticorruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has also accused another exgovernor, Abubakar Audu, of using two offshore companies in Bermuda (another tax haven) to hide ill-gotten assets. Audu denies the allegations.

Dealing with a questionable firm The BVI Financial Services Commission found CTL, the offshore services firm that helped the Oyakhilomes to incorporate Gmobile, to be in repeated violation of the BVI’s antimoney laundering law between 2003 and 2008.

Thomas Ward, a cofounder of CTL who has worked as a consultant to the firm since it was sold to the new owners in 2009, said the company worked hard to make sure it didn’t take on shady clients.

“We believe we chose our clients carefully and we believe they honoured their agreements with us,” he said.

But at times CTL’s staff was “either deceived or previously honest customers changed.”

Source: TIMES

PREMIUM

Aig Inegbedion…. "Nothing wrong with the Oyakhilome girls holding shares".

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 26

Union threatens to cut off power supply at Airforce formations Stories by Joy Baba

E

lectricity union threatens to cut off power supply at all AirForce formations The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has said it will withdraw power supply to all formations of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) soon as a means of showing their anger over alleged brutality meted out to their members in Ilesa and Ipetu-Ijesa of Osun State by officers of the Nigerian Air Force Institute of

Safety, Ipetu-Ijesa.

NUEE’s top echelon took this decision after a meeting to deliberate over this action

by NAF in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The zonal organising secretary, Comrade Agyake Anthony explained that on Saturday, a patrol team of the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Safety, Ipetu- Ijesa, allegedly brutalised and injured some NUEE members who were on official duty at Ilesa.

Among the victims he said were Comrades Rafiu

Jolayemi and Abiona Segun.

The Air Force officers, according to him, were led by S.B Seweje and T.B Beke, who said they were acting on superior orders.

According to him “the patrol team that carried out this dastardly act allegedly acted on the order of their boss and was led by officers S.B Seweje and T.B Beke.

“They went round the 33/ 11KV injection substation and later the 132/33KV Ilesa transmission substation, beating, assaulting and

kicking members of staff on duty to the extent that some of them sustained varying degrees of injuries. Till date, the Nigeria Air Force has refused to accept responsibility and apologise for their action and all representation made concerning this issue have gone unheeded.

“As we condemn this callous and dastardly act in very strong terms, the safety of staff in carrying out their duties is not guaranteed.

“Consequently, our men

L-R: Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Dele Ezeoba presenting a trophy to 15-year old; Master Edward Iloghalu overall winner of the kitty, while his wife Mrs Vivian Ezeoba looks on.

will withdraw their services from all Airforce formations in the country, as we cannot continue to suffer this level of violence, especially in a democratic dispensation.

“An injury to one is an injury to all. Enough is enough.”

Ezeoba urges Nigerians to be courageous

T

he Chief of Naval Staff, (CNS) Vice Admiral Dele Eze has urged Nigerians to be courageous in all they do as courage and strength of character comes from the inner sub consciousness of the individual entity.

Ezeoba stated this yesterday in Abuja at a dinner organised in his honor at the IBB golf and country club by members of the club.

He noted that courage and strength of character is the most difficult thing to have as value because the society we live in demands all that we have at once without recourse to those core values.

According to him " It is not easy, it is the most difficult thing to have as value because the society we live in demands your head, your legs, your hands all at once without recourse to those core values of tenacity of purpose and strength of action and character".

In his welcome address, chairman of the organizing committee and former group managing director of NNPC, Mr Austine Oniwon eschewed the humility virtues of the CNS adding that with such great humility, sky is the starting point for him.

Obada lauds NAF over readiness to tackle challenges

T

he Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada has lauded the readiness of the Nigerian Air Force to face challenges confronting the nation through adequate training and acquisition of some modern helicopters.

Obada, who was represented by the Director Air Force in the Ministry, Mrs Olasumbo Siyanbade stated this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital over the weekend at the closing ceremony of a two week programme, EXERCISE EBIYE RIN-the Civil-Military Operations Exercise organised by the Mobility Command of the Nigerian Air Force.

According to her “A number of events over the past few years in our country have given the

issue of Armed Forces preparedness and essential role in disaster management increased prominence. The various air crashes, bomb blast and the wide spread flooding to mention a few, are indicative that we cannot wait until disasters occur before we start planning to manage their consequences.

“I do know that the acquisition of additional medium and heavy airlift helicopters would not only improve Search and Rescue, medical evacuation and logistics movement in times of disaster and crisis. I will therefore, as a matter of urgency, continue to pursue and take advantage of every opportunity to ensure that the Armed Forces is well equipped to meet up with its

constitutional responsibilities and other governmental imperatives.’’

She further expressed satisfaction with the programme noting the children that were evacuated to 445 Nigerian Air Force Hospital, Ikeja for various surgeries. She said it was her hope and utmost desire that the lessons and the experiences gathered during this exercise would help to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters in Nigeria when they occur in real life situations.

In his remark, The Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Alex Badeh said, there is no doubt that our democratic experience since 1999 has brought immense improvement to the Nigerian Air Force adding that the fortunes of the NAF steadily

improved within this period.

He also said that NAF has gradually jettisoned the stigma of an almost dormant Air Force of the late 90s. Fortunately the Nigerian Air Force of today is progressively building capacity and capability to effectively respond to crises and to a good extent, project air power.

Badeh further said that the democratic dispensation has brought fortune to the force unlike in those days the Nigerian Air Force was as Air Vice Marshal Gberevbie (retired) puts it, ‘A carpenter without hammer’.

He then expressed appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan for his leadership support as well as the sacrifices made by Nigerian tax payers whose resources have

been made available to us.

The Air Officer Commanding, Mobility Command, Air vice Marshal O.A Idowu gave kudos to the Chief of Air Staff, other top Air Force Officers and his team for the full support given to his committee.

He was optimistic that with the experiences and knowledge acquired, the Air Force is indeed ready for any eventuality that the country could face in the nearest future.

The closing ceremony was attended by all the top brass of the Air Force, the representatives of other service chiefs, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, former governor, DSP Alamieseigha, some members of the National Assembly and other prominent members of the society.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 27

JTF arrest four, recovers items in Yobe raid

By Joy Baba

T

he Military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Yobe state over the weekend raided a suspected Boko Haram hideout in Majari village of Gujba Local Government Area arresting four suspected imsurgents in the process.

The spokesman of the Task

force, Eli Lazarus, in a statement released in Damaturu said that “at about 23 hours on Wednesday, the men of the JTF raided the suspected terrorist’s camp in Majari Village close to Buni-Yadi the headquarters of Gujba Local government area” The statement further said that four suspects were arrested in the camp while one Isuzu pick-

Nigerian Army stations regiment at Ogbaru bunkering site

T

h e N i g e r i a n A r m y h a s stationed a regiment at Ogbakuba Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area, where 23 illegal bunkering refineries were uncovered.

A joint operation by the Army and the Navy uncovered 23 illegal small ‘refineries’ on the River Niger coastline in Ogbakuba Community.

A team of army engineers from 14 Field Engineering Regiment, Onitsha, had started using cylinder gas to cut the various equipment used by the bunkerers.

The officers and soldiers deployed from the regiment had kept watch over the movement of illegal refiners on

the River Niger and other adjoining communities.

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Ashimiyu Olaniyi, had stated that the army would intensify efforts to stop illegal refineries and oil bunkering in the South-East and South-South.

“The Chief of Army Staff has directed that these activities and other crimes within the coastline and creeks of the River Niger must be stopped.

The Nigerian Army will not relent in its duties to put an end to oil bunkering.

“And there will be zero tolerance of such activities and other crimes committed in the River Niger and its creeks,’’ he said. NAN

up Van, 10 motorcycles, bomb making materials as well as 200 rounds of ammunition were also recovered from the hideout.

A police anti-riot Gun, one pistol, one Dane gun, 43 tear gas canisters, two Police uniforms, one laptop and desk top computers were also recovered from the suspects.

The JTF spokesman also said 13 military kit pads, four police

barrettes, helmets and boots as well as medical box with assorted clothing, cooking pots and food items were also found at the camp.

He explained that the pick-up Van was specially covered with mud to avoid spotting it from a far while the exhaust was specially compressed to avoid much noise.

While appealing for cooperation, the spokesman

assured that the JTF is working hard to overcome the activities of the terrorists in the state and the country at large.

The Yobe state Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, recently imposed a dusk till dawn curfew in the state sequel to the wave of attacks being launched on security forces and innocent citizens by the dreaded Islamist sect Boko Haram.

JTF impounds 2,500 tones of stolen crude

T

he military Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, operating in the Niger Delta, said it has impounded a vessel allegedly laden with some 2,500 tones of stolen crude at Okuboto creek in Bayelsa.

Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwackukwu, the spokesman for team, said Sunday the arrest was made while the vessel was on the verge of filling the fourth of its compartments.

The vessel is currently in custody of Headquarters Sector 2 for preliminary investigations prior to prosecution, he said.

Separately, a barge, allegedly engaged in oil theft activities, was impounded along Golubo creek of Bayelsa while conveying stolen petroleum product, the JTF spokesperson said.

Mr. Nwachukwu said the crew of the barge, fled into the

mangrove forest on sighting military, abandoning their barge.

The barge has been towed to AGIP Brass Terminal for safe custody while preliminary investigation is ongoing to identify the owners, he said.

The seizures could not be independently verified. But the task team’s claim appears an escalation of security effort at responding to increasing oil theft in the oil region.

The JTF said in another anti oil theft raid by troops, 30 boats conveying alleged illegally refined petroleum products were intercepted along Aruton and Ugborodo communities of Delta state.

The boats were arrested loaded with plastic tanks filled with stolen petroleum product, and other items, including 11 hand gloves, one packet of electrode, a bunch of

clips and 2 pumping machines, were recovered.

The operation, which lasted from April 7 to 14, saw the destruction of eight illegal crude oil refinery camps along Oboro, Kpukpugbene in Burutu and Sagara, near Escravos in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta, Mr. Nwachukwu said.

Also nine steel tanks and 187 large plastic reservoirs used by the oil thieves to perpetrate the crime at the camp sites were destroyed at the site where they were discovered.

The spokesman further said that 21 suspects, arrested at various crime locations, were currently undergoing preliminary investigations in various sectors of the task force and would be subsequently handed over to prosecuting agencies.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 29

FG to establish onion factory in Kebbi, lauds state govt. for promoting commercial rice production

By Mohammed Kandi, with agency report

A

s the tour of Good Governance Team led by the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, continued its inspection of various states across the country, the minister on Sunday announced that the Federal Government is establishing an onion processing factory in Aliero Local Government

Area of Kebbi State to check the losses suffered by farmers.

Maku also commended Kebbi Government for encouraging commercial rice production and establishing rice mills.

He promised to facilitate the venture in collaboration with relevant authorities saying "I will work closely with ministry of agriculture to facilitate speedy establishment of

the onion factory to sustain commercial production of the commodity and end the losses suffered by farmers."

The minister, who described onion production as a viable venture that would be of social and economic benefit to the farmers and the country, however, described the efforts made by the state on rice production and processing as "first among others'' during his inspection

of the 20-kilometre rice farm in Argungu town.

He advised Governor Saidu Dakingari to expand the scope of rice production as the Federal Government planned to ban rice importation by 2015.

In his remarks, Governor Dakingari said efforts were being made to support rice farmers to produce 300,000 tonnes during dry season farming

and assured farmers of timely provision of agricultural inputs.

He said a team of prominent farmers, top government functionaries and politicians from the area would be sponsored on study visit to Morocco on production, processing and preservation of onions.

It would be recalled that the mill was established in 2003 with machinery designed for local rice processing.

Flood: Anambra to distribute N1bn loan to farmers

T

he Anambra State Government said it has set aside over N1 billion as loan for distribution to farmers affected by flood disaster across the state in 2012.

Governor Peter Obi made the announcement on Saturday when he launched the 2013 farming season at the state Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in Awka.

Obi said that the support was aimed at assisting the farmers to cushion the effect of the flood, adding that, agriculture remained the engine that would drive the state and national economies as well as key to achieving the vision of fighting extreme poverty and hunger.

The governor assured that his administration would sustain prompt payment of counter-part funding for agricultural programmes and empower farmers to attain their desired progress in their chosen vocation.

Obi, however, urged them to ensure prompt repayment of loans, to encourage government to provide more support for them and to enable other farmers to benefit.

"Government has always worked in partnership with farmers to improve agricultural output and to increase food production."

The governor added that the effort was aimed at helping "the citizenry to have enough food on the table and return the lost glory in agriculture."

In his message, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, congratulated the state government for taking the initiative.

Adesina, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Mr Albert Odukwe, said that the state had always played key role in supporting the Federal Government in agricultural projects. (NAN)

Women farmer in Adamawa State

Deadly Hydrogen Sulfide greatly enhances plant growth, boost food, biofuel production

H

ydrogen sulfide, the pungent stuff often referred to as sewer gas, is a deadly substance implicated in several mass extinctions, including one at the end of the Permian period 251 million years ago that wiped out more than three-quarters of all species on Earth.

But in low doses, hydrogen sulfide could greatly enhance plant growth, leading to a sharp increase in global food supplies and plentiful stock for biofuel production, new University of Washington research shows.

Frederick Dooley, a UW doctoral student in biology who led the research said, "We found some very interesting things, including that at the very lowest levels plant health improves. But that's not what we were looking for."

Dooley started off to examine the toxic effects of hydrogen sulfide on plants but mistakenly used only one-tenth the amount of the toxin he had intended. The results were so unbelievable that he repeated the experiment. Still unconvinced, he repeated it again -- and again, and again. In fact, the results have

been replicated so often that they are now "a near certainty," he said.

"Everything else that's ever been done on plants was looking at hydrogen sulfide in high concentrations," he said.

The research is published online April 17 in PLOS ONE, a Public Library of Science journal.

At high concentrations -- levels of 30 to 100 parts per million in water- hydrogen sulfide can be lethal to humans. At one part per million it emits a telltale rotten-egg smell. Dooley used a concentration of 1 part per billion or less to water seeds of peas, beans and wheat on a weekly basis. Treating the seeds less often reduced the effect, and watering more often typically killed them.

With wheat, all the seeds germinated in one to two days instead of four or five, and with peas and beans the typical 40 percent rate of germination rose to 60 to 70 percent.

"They germinate faster and they produce roots and leaves faster.

Basically what we've done is accelerate the entire plant process," he said.

Crop yields nearly doubled, said Peter Ward, Dooley's doctoral adviser, a UW professor of biology and of Earth and space sciences and an authority on Earth's mass extinctions.

Hydrogen sulfide, probably produced when sulfates in the oceans were decomposed by sulfur bacteria, is believed to have played a significant role in several extinction events, in particular the "Great Dying" at the end of the Permian period. Ward suggests that the rapid plant growth could be the result of genetic signaling passed down in the wake of mass extinctions.

At high concentrations, hydrogen sulfide killed small plants very easily while larger plants had a better chance at survival, he said, so it is likely that plants carry a defense mechanism that spurs their growth when they sense hydrogen sulfide. "Mass extinctions kill a lot of stuff, but here's a legacy that promotes life," Ward said.

Dooley recently has applied hydrogen sulfide treatment to corn, carrots and soybeans with results that appear to be similar to earlier

tests. But it is likely to be some time before he, and the general public, are comfortable with the level of testing to make sure there are no unforeseen consequences of treating food crops with hydrogen sulfide.

The most significant near-term promise, he believes, is in growing algae and other stock for biofuels.

Plant lipids are the key to biofuel production, and preliminary tests show that the composition of lipids in hydrogen sulfide-treated plants is the same as in untreated plants, he said.

When plants grow to largerthan-normal size, they typically do not produce more cells but rather elongate their existing cells, Dooley said. However, in the treatment with hydrogen sulfide, he found that the cells actually got smaller and there were vastly more of them.

That means the plants contain significantly more biomass for fuel production, he said.

"If you look at a slide of the cells under a microscope, anyone can understand it. It is that big of a difference," he said.

Source: ScienceDaily

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 28

Exposing the anti-GMO legal machine

By Jon Entine Over the past week, we've seen a preponderance of stories about the so-called "Monsanto Protection Act," more accurately known as Section 735 of HR 933. The Genetic Literacy Project reports the story behind the story.

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t's a small provision attached to a massive agricultural spending bill signed into law by President Obama last week. According to agricultural biotechnology detractors, Section 735 is the "most dangerous food act ever" and a "terrifying piece of policy". Why? Because, they claim, among other things, it purportedly allows biotech companies to sell seeds that can cause serious consumer health problems. Here is how Gawker frames it: Section 735 effectively shields large biotech companies, like Monsanto, from the federal courts in case something is found to be harmful in their geneticallymodified seeds. Because of Section 735, federal courts would be powerless to stop Monsanto from selling their product.

Just as "shocking," activists claim, the provision was secretly written by Monsanto, stealthily inserted into the bill in the dead of night by its Congressional backroom lackeys and then placed on the desk of President Barack Obama, who is so in hock to biotech special interests that he sold out the public and signed the bill, rider intact, therefore undermining American democracy. No kidding. That's the way even mainstream bloggers and news outlets discuss this legislation.

"Monsanto teams up with Congress to shred the Constitution," shrieked one Huffington Post headline. Hundreds of thousands of angry anti-GMO protestors have signed online petitions expressing their outrage.

Let's separate the facts from the fury. The "stealth" claim is just plain wrong. This provision was drafted last year and has been in printed versions of the bill that have been circulating widely in Washington for more than nine months; no one, let alone hypervigilant anti-GMO campaigners, were caught by surprise. For example, late last fall, Stonyfield Farm, a division of Dannon that makes organic diary products and is actively engaged in a range of anti-technology agricultural campaigns, ran a blog post demonizing the provision that its opponents now claim was written in the dead of night and slipped into the measure.

Even if the courts find that a (genetically engineered) crop shouldn't be planted until more research is done about its safety, no one could stop that crop from being planted, even temporarily.

This provision clearly tells us that Congress thinks public health and safety should take a back seat to the expansion of GE crops.

The Stonyfield blog post raises the second gross mischaracterization now making the rounds of anti-GMO websites and many mainstream news outlets: allegations that the provision would benefit the biotech industry at the expense of consumer safety. For example, Russia Today

GM Tomatoes news claims the rider "would strip federal courts of the authority to immediately halt the planting and sale of genetically modified (GMO) seed crop regardless of any consumer health concerns."

This characterization is hokum. What does the biotech rider actually state and what is it designed to address?

To date, no court has ever held that a biotechnology crop presents a risk to health, safety or the environment. But make no mistake: it's not because the courts or the government approval process is lax. Just the opposite. Getting approval for any transgenic crop or food is like running a torturous gauntlet, both arduous and bureaucratic. Companies are required to provide years of internal and independent data, which are carefully reviewed by various government agencies.

Beyond that, the USDA cannot approve a new seed variety until it conducts an Environmental Assessment. This is the point where the process gets even messier-and where anti-biotech activists and lawyers do their best to gum up the works in hopes of generating a critical mass of negative public opinion.

By law, the EA must consider any and all factors relating to the "human environment," which is very ambiguously defined, leaving all kinds of legal openings for hostile groups to target. If an antiscience group such as the Center for Food Safety or the Institute of Responsible Technology or the Union of Concerned Scientists challenges the EA for not considering one issue or another, the as-

“

sessment can be deemed insufficient and a new one must be ordered.

In fact, this has happened twice in recent years, with alfalfa and sugar beets. Alfalfa hay, a nutritious, easily digestible livestock feed and $8 billion a year business, is the country's fourthmost-valuable crop. Monsanto makes GM alfalfa seeds, as part of the company's Roundup Ready line. They are genetically modified to tolerate glyphosate, an herbicide that is commercially known as Roundup. When farmers use Roundup, which is considered a mild herbicide, instead of other harsher chemicals to kill weeds, they actually cut down on overall toxic chemical use.

After an exhaustive review, the USDA gave Roundup Ready Alfalfa the green light in 2005.

But the Center for Food Safety contended that the government hadn't adequately evaluated the potential environmental consequences, although the agency believed it had. In 2007, in Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms, a federal court agreed with CFS, prohibiting Monsanto from selling Roundup Ready Alfalfa pending yet another assessment.

This was incredibly disruptive to thousands of farmers who had planted alfalfa, which is a perennial crop so does not have to be reseeded each year. The legal status of a field of GM alfalfa planted legally after the USDA had deregulated GE alfalfa was suddenly changed under the court ruling.

Farmers were being told that they had to follow a new set of rules

An injunction is a drastic and extraordinary remedy, which should not be granted as a matter of course," Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the 7-1 majority, concluding that the US District Court in San Francisco had "abused its discretion.

in handling their crop. For more than four years, they didn't know if the technology was going to be available for their use. The confusion and patchwork of conflicting regulations, court decisions and labeling requirements dealt a sizable economic blow to one of the country's most important export crops. The ongoing chaos was exactly the kind of commercial uncertainty that anti-GMO forces were hoping to manufacture.

The alfalfa case standoff eventually made it to the Supreme Court. The evidence in support of the safety and public benefits of GM alfalfa was so strong that in 2009, the Obama Administration had Solicitor General Elena Kagan file a brief on the biotechnology company's behalf, even though the government was not a defendant in the appeal. To no scientist's surprise, in June 2010 SCOTUS overturned the lower court's injunction that had prohibited Monsanto from selling pesticide-resistant alfalfa seeds.

"An injunction is a drastic and extraordinary remedy, which should not be granted as a matter of course," Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the 7-1 majority, concluding that the US District Court in San Francisco had "abused its discretion."

The temporary injunction, by then determined to be abusive, proved a financial disaster for the farm industry and many individual farmers who had suspended planting alfalfa pending a final resolution. The almost identical disaster scenario has played out over sugar beets. 95% of which is from GE seeds. In 2010, the Center for Food Safety and some organic farmers who stood to gain by attacking conventional and GM crops convinced a court on procedural grounds-there was no finding of environmental or health dangers-to void the fiveyear-old approval of transgenic sugar beet seeds. Despite no evidence of any potential harm, that November, a federal judge ordered the GE sugar beet seedlingsall but 5% of the nation's croppulled from the ground, as re-

quired by law. If that decision had stood, it could have destroyed as much as half of America's granulated sugar production on purely technical grounds. The saga only ended in July of last year when the USDA ruled once and for all to allow unrestricted planting of Monsanto's GMO sugar beets.

It was a victory for science, but the professional "antis" considered it a victory as well. After all, they had caused billions of dollars in unrecoverable damage to the American farm economy and rattled the cages at the corporations they considered "evil". That's certainly something to crow about.

The rider was specifically designed to prevent such egregious abuse of the court system and regulatory process. The legislation does not, as critics allege, allow farmers or Monsanto to sell seeds proven to be harmful. Rather, it provides legal consistency so farmers and businesses do not get yanked one way or the other based on the temporary findings of competing court systems as activist challenges make their way up the legal food chain. Going forward, the provision will protect farmers who buy GM seeds and plant them under the belief that it is legal to do because the seeds have been subjected to extensive USDA scrutiny and approval.

The so-called Monsanto Protection Act has nothing to do with consumer safety or limiting biotech's liability for making "dangerous" products, as even mainstream news outlets, like Salon, have claimed. That's just bad reporting.

In the two cases heralded by campaigners-alflafa and sugar beetsonly technical concerns about the evaluation process were raised; consumer safety and the environment was never the issue.

No product is exempt from the law when health or environmental problems are identified. If the USDA or a court determines that a biotech seed or crop or food does not pass environmental or health muster, it will be pulled from the market and banned. But until that happens, because of this provision-let's call it the Food and Farmer Safety and Health Protection Act-USDA safety determinations cannot be arbitrarily overturned by rogue courts responding to anti-science activists-what appears to have happened in the alfalfa case, until the Supreme's intervened with its overwhelming 7-1 decision.

The howling over the so-called Monsanto provision is all show and little substance. Its goal was to protect farmers against rogue antitechnology campaigners. Congress and the Obama Administration knew exactly what they were doing-and they did the right thing.

Anti-GMO campaigners are clearly positioning themselves for another offensive against a new wave of GM crops and foods, with new pesticide tolerant grain varieties and a host of nutritionally enhanced grains, such as Golden Rice and drought resistant wheat, in their crosshairs.

Yes, we should all be concerned.

Jon Entine, executive director of the Genetic Literacy Project, is a senior fellow at the Center for Health & Risk Communication and STATS (Statistical Assessment Service) at George Mason University.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2012

Restoring citizens' confidence in Nigeria's judiciary

Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke

By Dada Ahmed and Friday Idachaba

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y most accounts, the wind of corruption is blowing across virtually all the facets of human endeavours and national life in Nigeria.

However, concerned observers lament that the social problem has also affected the judicial arm of government, which is largely regarded as ``the last hope of the common man''.

Such worries are aptly captured in the comment of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar, at a recent function in Abuja.

Mukhtar was quoted as saying at the opening of the 2013 Refresher Course for Judicial Officers, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI), that in Nigeria, ``the rich get bail, while the poor get jailed''.

Naturally, the chief justice's comment is thought-provoking and it elicits some reservations about justice delivery in the country, while motivating concerned stakeholders to start thinking of how to tackle the menace of corruption in the judicial sector.

This is more so as the observation about the emerging trends in the country's legal system was made by the CJN - Nigeria's foremost judicial officer.

Mukhtar anchored her sentiment on perceptible anomalies in the country's judiciary, stressing that the negative development had resulted in a public uproar or placard-carrying scenario against the judgment of a court of record''.

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mukhtar

According to her, the phenomenon does not augur well for the judiciary.

She, nonetheless, warned: ``Where, therefore, a judge is found to be complicit in writing and delivery of judgment, the National Judicial Council (NJC), as the constitutional regulatory body, will not hesitate to wield the big stick.''

Sharing similar sentiments, many observers believe that the country's judicial system is not what it ought to be, insisting the review of the entire system is long overdue.

As part of efforts to sanitise the judicial system, the NJC announced the suspension of two judges and placed four others under observation for allegedly compromising their professional standards.

Specifically, the NJC is investigating one of the judges, Justice Abubakar Talba for the judgment he delivered in the ``EFCC versus the Police Pension Commission'' case, involving Mr John Yusuf, a Deputy Director in the commission.

The judge sentenced Yusuf to two years' imprisonment or a fine of N750, 000 for his role in the N32-billion police pension fund's scandal.

As expected, the judgment provoked widespread resentment, particularly among advocates of justice, and it also marked the onset of the citizens' appraisal of efforts made by the leadership of the judiciary to check corruption and other aberrations in the judicial sector.

In a swift reaction, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former governor of Anambra State, commended Mukhtar for her avowed determination to sanitise the judiciary.

He, however, urged the chief justice to investigate more areas of corruption among the country's judicial officers.

All the same, legal experts urge the Federal Government not to limit its current efforts to sanitise the judiciary to the suspension, investigation and dismissal or retirement of judges.

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We have seen a situation in this country where an unemployed person, who was arraigned for stealing a paltry sum of money, was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour.

In the same court, another person, who allegedly stole N40 billion, was granted bail because he has strong connections

Mr Mohammed Adams, a Lokojabased legal practitioner, particularly urged the government to revisit the report of the Justice Kayode Eso Panel of 1994, which indicted 47 judges.

He underscored the wisdom in the proposed action, saying that many of the indicted judges were still administering justice across the country, many years after the panel's report. ``It is quite unfortunate that some of the judges, who were indicted by the Kayode Eso-panel many years ago, are still dispensing justice. ``Their retirement from public service will go a long way in boosting the government's efforts aimed at ensuring that the judiciary, which represents the hope of the common man, is indeed bearing its name to the letter,'' Adams said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Johnson Alabi, a civil servant, said: ``We should commend the nation's number one legal officer for raising her voice against the negative trend in the judiciary in such a courageous manner but her observation reinforces the desire to straighten out things in that arm of government. ``We have seen a situation in this country where an unemployed person, who was arraigned for stealing a paltry sum of money, was convicted and sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour. ``In the same court, another person, who allegedly stole N40 billion, was granted bail because he has strong connections,'' he added.

However, Malam Mohammed Musa, the Chairman of the Lokoja chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), attributed the alleged corruption in the judiciary to factors such as poor remuneration of judges, undue political influence in the appointment of judges and ``godfatherism''.

He said that other factors included the intellectual bankruptcy of some judges, especially at the lower levels of justice administration, and the domineering influence of some traditional rulers in the country.

Musa called on the Federal Government to ensure the full autonomy of the judiciary, in line with the provisions of the constitution, while addressing issues relating to the remuneration, training and retraining of judicial officers.

He, however, stressed that the employment of more capable officers into the bench and the strengthening of internal mechanisms aimed at checking the activities of ``inept and corrupt judges'' would go a long way in addressing the menace of corruption in the judiciary.

All in all, observers underscore the need for all the stakeholders to make concerted efforts to tackle all the perceptible aberrations in the country's judicial system so as to preserve its integrity and restore the people's confidence in it.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 31

Too many elephants in African parks?

By William G Moseley

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nternational environmental organisations have been working in southern Africa for decades to support parks and conservation efforts in the communities adjacent to them.

While these efforts have been beneficial in some areas, an obsession with the protection of certain high profile species, such as the African elephant, has actually been counterproductive in some cases. While the numbers of African elephants are declining globally - and these animals certainly deserve protection in many regions - in other areas their numbers are so high that they are causing overall declines in biodiversity.

Botswana's Chobe National Park covers approximately 11,000 square kilometres and has an estimated elephant herd of 70,000. International visitors to the park are often treated to an amazing scene of hundreds of elephants bathing in the Chobe River or frolicking on nearby plains. But biologists estimate that the park actually has seven times the number of elephants it can reasonably support over time. The result is a landscape

ANALYSIS within the park that is heavily degraded as elephants - while a delight to those on photo safari are incredibly destructive as they uproot trees and trample vegetation. High elephant numbers also drive down total biodiversity, including other types of wildlife which tourists come to see.

International conservation agencies have been working with communities around the Chobe National Park to encourage the conservation of elephants. In exchange for cooperation in elephant conservation, local communities receive a share of ecotourism revenues as a reward and to compensate them for crop losses due to raiding elephants. While support and collaboration with local communities is good and only fair, especially considering the costs people endure by living close to wildlife, the goal of protecting elephants at all costs seems misguided in this situation.

Making matters even worse is a recent Government of Botswana ban on hunting

elephants. This ban not only further stresses the environment, but eliminates a significant revenue stream to local communities from international hunting permit sales.

So why do international conservation organisations and some governments, like that of Botswana, persist in the excessive protection of some sub populations of elephants even when it is bad for biodiversity and local livelihoods? The answer varies from an irrational obsession with - and narrow focus on - certain high profile species, to a more legitimate concern that the culling, or controlled killing, of elephants in some areas may foster hunting in other areas where elephant numbers are low.

Animal rights activists also decry the killing of any wildlife, much less elephants which are known to have strong familial bonds and mourn the loss of deceased members. Still others believe that culling will depress ecotourism revenues, either directly through a diminished safari experience or, indirectly, when international protests over controlled elephant culling dissuade tourists from visiting

certain countries.

The reality is that many of these problems could be overcome. While a narrow focus on certain charismatic species may provoke an emotional response and related donations from western publics, an ecosystem approach considering the total health of environments would lead such publics to think about and appreciate total biodiversity. Furthermore, while controlled culling could fuel hunting in other areas if it were linked to trade in ivory, the destruction of tusks after organised culls would limit such a market and associated hunting.

Even animal rights might be partially assuaged if culls could be organised differently. While the traditional approach is the random thinning of animals, removing entire family units (while it sounds cruel) would minimise the sense of loss that related elephants often experience. There are also, of course, other means to control elephant numbers than culling, such as contraception and relocation, but the latter is especially limited because of cost.

Finally, the wildlife tourism experience in a place like Chobe National Park would not be

Although the numbers of African elephants are declining globally, in some areas there are too many [Getty]

reduced by even a halving of the resident elephant population. The reality is that tourists come to see a wide variety of wildlife and they are often disappointed, for example, if they do not see as many members of the Big Five (elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino) as possible. While elephants are a big initial attraction, tourists soon grow bored and want to see other animals, species whose counts are often reduced by overly high elephant numbers.

Global conservation organisations, some governments and ecotourists must move away from a paradigm of preservation at all costs of certain high profile species and adopt more of an ecosystem perspective. We must also realise that some species may be endangered or threatened at the international or regional scale, but actually exist in too high a number in some parks and conservation areas.

This blindness to "too much of a good thing" is often detrimental to the livelihoods of rural people who live near parks, diminishes the ecotourism experience, and destroys biodiversity, the very objective of conservation.

Source: Al Jazeera

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Somali journalist gunned down in Mogadishu U

Ivory Coast holds landmark local elections

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vory Coast's citizens have voted for local officials in the first polls since post-election violence killed thousands of people two years ago.

Sunday's polls, however, were boycotted by the opposition party of former President Laurent Gbagbo, highlighting the slow progress of reconciliation in the West African country.

Five months of violence erupted after Gbagbo refused to leave office despite having lost the November 2010 run-off vote to current President AlassaneOuattara.

The country's UN peacekeeping mission had said its forces would assist Ivorian security forces in keeping order.

Albert Koenders, special representative of Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary-general, said on Friday that the campaign period had been marred by "some regrettable incidents, including unacceptable intimidation in certain constituencies".

A spokesman for Ouattara's Rally of the Republicans political party also warned earlier in the week of a "rise in tension", but voters in the commercial capital of Abidjan said this weekend that the campaign had been conducted peacefully.

Turnout appeared to be low on Sunday. In a section of Abidjan's Yopougon district, a bastion of Gbagbo support, workers at one polling station said they had processed only 10 voters more than two hours after doors opened.

Ouattara voted with his wife at a school in Abidjan's Cocody district just before noon.

"The local elections are an opportunity to assess and to reassess the will of the people, and to implement the policies and projects that are wanted by the people at the local level," he said.

President Alassane Ouattara

nidentified gunmen shot dead a reporter working for the state Radio Mogadishu in the west of the capital, state media and residents said.

“Mohamed Ibrahim Rageh was shot dead by men armed with pistols as he stood outside the gate of his home in the Dharkenley district of Mogadishu,” state radio Mogadishu reported.

The gunmen escaped the scene and government security forces have cordoned off the area and started searches for the attackers.

Rageh, who worked for state radio and TV, Radio Mogadishu and Somalia National Television, is the fourth journalist to be killed in Mogadishu since start of the year.

Officials said they have

leads to the perpetrators of the killing of the reporter and are in pursuit of the culprits. No group has claimed responsibility for the killing.

Local journalist union, National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), condemned the killing and called on authorities “to investigate this and other senseless killing of media workers.”

Last year was the worst for Somalia journalists as 18 reporters were gunned down in the country, the biggest in a single year.

International and local media watchdogs consider the horn of Africa country as the worst inAfrica for journalists to operate and in the world after Syria.

Source: Xinhua

IMF set to open new training centre for Africa

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he International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde said Sunday that the Fund will open a new regional training centre in Africa.

After meeting with chairman of the African Caucus at the IMF, Lagarde said in a statement that the IMF will open a sixth regional technical assistance centre that will serve the continent in Accra later this year, to "meet the needs of nonfrancophone west African countries."

She also noted a training institute in Mauritius, which was announced in December 2012, will begin operations in the next few months. It joins a network of centres around the world in helping develop countries' policymaking capacity by transferring

economic skills and best practices.

Through its technical assistance and training, the IMF has contributed to helping country officials gain the skills to design and implement sound policies.

The statement also said that most countries in Sub-Sahara Africa continued to record robust growth, but activity in middle income countries in the continent remained sluggish, in part reflecting closer trade linkages with Europe and, in some North African countries, complex political transitions.

"Looking ahead, growth is projected to remain robust in Sub- Sahara Africa, while recovering gradually in much of north Africa, " according to the statement.

Source: Xinhua

IMF managing director Christine Lagarde

South Africa to close drug patent loophole

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outh Africa plans to overhaul its intellectual property laws to improve access to cheaper medicines by making it harder for pharmaceutical firms to register and roll-over patents for drugs, a senior official said on Monday.

Central to the reforms is closing a loophole known as “ever-greening”, whereby drug companies slightly modify an existing drug whose patent is about to expire and then claim it is a new drug, thereby extending its patent protection and their profits.

If approved by parliament, the changes should mean cheaper medication for cancer and HIV/AIDS in South Africa, which has one of the world’s highest HIV infection rates.

“We have a policy position that says ‘Let us have a strong system that will not grant easy patents,’” said MacDonald Netshitenzhe, head of policy at the Department of Trade and Industry.

“Because if you grant easy patents, a weak patent, there will be people that take it a little bit forward and claim an extension on the original

patent,” he told Reuters.

South Africa’s position was supported this month by a ruling from India’s top court that dismissed an application by Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG to win patent protection for its Glivec cancer drug.

Lobby groups such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF) want South Africa to follow India’s example and add a specific clause preventing companies from gaining patents on existing drugs, in a move that would help generic drug manufacturers.

“South Africans are missing

out on affordable versions of lifesaving medicines because generic competition is blocked by frivolous patents that prevent or delay generic competition,” Julia Hill of MSF’s Access Campaign said in a statement.

As an example, Hill said India had avoided patenting Novartis cancer medication imatinib, as opposed to South Africa, which granted an initial patent in 1993 that only expires this month.

In addition, Hill said South Africa had granted secondary patents on imatinib to extend Novartis’ monopoly until 2022,

meaning it costs $34,000 a year to treat a patient - 259 times more than the cheapest Indian generic alternative.

Netshitenzhe said South Africa, an emerging economy with pressing public health needs, wanted to improve access to medicines, including generics, and was ready should drug firms come out fighting against the proposed patent law changes.

“They can lobby but nobody will be able to withstand this tsunami of access to medicine,” he said.

Madagascar’s minister of Agriculture Rolland Ravatomanga on Saturday during their meeting in Antananarivo, capital of the country.

It is an additional fund to the 84 million USD agreed by IFAD to improve the building capacity of farmers in Madagascar, the statement added.

22 million USD of this fund will

be used to the fight against locust in Madagascar.

IFAD ranked also Madagascar at the third place in Africa in term of good use of funds given by IFAD to agriculture development in the country.

Since 1979, IFAD has funded 14 rural development projects in Madagascar for a total of 208.3 million US dollar, according to the data from IFAD.

IFAD to allocate 53 million USD to Madagascar

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he International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will allocate 53 million USD to promote agriculture development in Madagascar, a statement from the ministry of Agriculture said on Monday.

The statement said that the Director of IFAD’s East and Southern Africa Division, Mr Perin Saint-Ange, told it to

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 33

Report documents ‘Rohingya persecution’

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thnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have been committed against Myanmar’s ethnic Rohingya people, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), a New Yorkbased nongovernmental organisation.

According to the report released yesterday, entitled All You Can Do is Pray, more than 125,000 ethnic Rohingya have been forcibly displaced since two waves of violence in May and October 2012.

Satellite images show almost 5,000 structures on land mostly owned by Muslim Rohingya have been destroyed, says the

report.

The October attacks, the report states, were coordinated by Myanmar government officials, an ethnic Rakhine nationalist party and Buddhist monks. The deadliest attack took place on October 23, in which witnesses say at least 70 Rohingya - including 28 children - were massacred in Mrauk-U township.

The UN has described the Rohingya as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.

Most Rohingya who live in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state are denied citizenship by the Myanmar government,

South Korean minister cancels Japan visit over war shrine

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outh Korea's foreign minister canceled a trip to Japan yesterday after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an offering to a shrine seen as a symbol of Japan's former militarism, a South Korean government official said.

China also objected to Abe's offering on Sunday to the Yasukuni shrine, where 14 Japanese leaders convicted as war criminals by an Allied tribunal are honored, saying Japan had to face up to its past nationalistic aggression.

Abe, an outspoken nationalist, made a ritual offering of a pine tree to the shrine. He did not go there but two Japanese ministers and a deputy chief cabinet secretary did visit it on the weekend.

Such gestures upset Asian victims of Japan's war-time aggression, including China and South Korea.

"We are disappointed," said a South Korean government official.

"Through a diplomatic channel, we sent a message several times that we did not want any visit to the shrine before our minister's trip," said the official, who declined to be identified.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se had aimed to discuss the direction of relations with his Japanese counterpart during his planned visit, the official said.

"It is now almost impossible to have a constructive conversation," the official said, referring to the decision to cancel the trip.

For Koreans, the shrine is a reminder of Japan's brutal colonial rule from 1910-1945.

China, which also suffered under Japanese occupation, also takes offence when Japanese leaders pay their respects at the shrine.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Japan's relations with its neighbors hinged on its acceptance of its history.

Japan's Finance Minister Taro Aso (2nd R) bows as he visits the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, in this photo provided by Kyodo April 21, 2013.

which claims they are illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh and often refers to them as “Bengali”.

The Myanmar government has done nothing to prevent the violence, alleges the report, and at times government forces have joined in the attacks on the Rohingya.

“The Burmese government engaged in a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya that continues today through the denial of aid and restrictions on movement,” Phil Robertson, HRW’s deputy Asia director, said.

“The government needs to put an immediate stop to the

abuses and hold the perpetrators accountable or it will be responsible for further violence against ethnic and religious minorities in the country.”

In response to a letter from Human Rights Watch, the Myanmar government asserted that “the armed force, police force and militias handled the conflicts between the two communities in accordance with the existing laws, rules and regulations taking care of providing security in order to restore law and order and tranquillity”.

Allegations that the police used excessive force to handle the outbreak of violence in June

Asia & Middle East “were unfounded and not true information”, the government said, adding that authorities faced “unfounded bias” from media both within and outside the country.

The government also said it has established an independent commission to study “the conflict” in Rakhine.

Conflicts between Muslim Rohingya and Buddhist Rakhine have long roiled Rakhine.

During World War II, clashes between the Rakhine, who supported Japanese forces, and the Rohingya, who supported the British, led to many deaths.

Syria army seizes Jdaidet al-Fadl 'killing dozens'

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yrian government troops have seized a town near Damascus, killing at least 80 people, including women and children, opposition activists say.

The army stormed the town of Jdaidet al-Fadl after five days of heavy fighting, they report.

Syria's Sana state news agency said government forces "inflicted heavy losses upon terrorists" in the town.

At least 70,000 people have died since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011.

The latest killings come as the army tries to break a ring of

rebel-held areas around Damascus.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UKbased activist group, said it was able to identify at least 80 people killed in Jdaidet al-Fadl, to the south-west of the capital.

The SOHR - which has also released footage of the bloodshed - said some of the victims were summarily killed. There were reports of as many as 250 deaths, it added.

The organisation documents and reports incidents and casualties in the

Syrian conflict and says its reports are impartial, though its information cannot be verified.

Meanwhile, Reuters news agency quoted an activist in a nearby area as saying that 85 people had been summarily killed in the town.

Abu Ahmad al-Rabi said this included "28 shot at a makeshift hospital after Assad's forces went in Jdaidet al-Fadl".

"We fear that the victims of the massacre are much higher," the activist added.

The Sana news agency confirmed the fighting had taken place in Jdaidet al-Fadl.

US in major arms deal with Israel

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he United States is to equip Israel with a range of advanced missiles and fighter jets, new defence Chief Chuck Hagel has said on a visit to Jerusalem.

The deal is part of a $10bn arms package involving Israel, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Mr Hagel said the weapons would allow Israel to maintain its qualitative military edge over its neighbours.

The arms deal with the US' regional allies comes at a time of heightened concern over Iran's nuclear programme.

Israel and the US have said they would be prepared to take military action to stop Iran's nuclear activity, which they suspect is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

Iran denies the claim, insisting its programme is for peaceful, civilian purposes.

In a news conference with his Israeli counterpart on Monday, Mr Hagel said the US will make available to Israel a set of advanced military hardware.

This includes anti-radiation missiles designed to destroy enemy air defences, advanced radars for its fleet of fighter jets, KC135 refuelling aircraft and Osprey V22 transport aircraft.

The KC135 are capable of being used in a long-range

operation by Israel against Iran.

The sale of V22 would also mark the first time the planes have been released to any country outside America.

Mr Hagel said President Obama had made "not only maintaining but improving Israel's [military] qualitative edge a top priority".

He told reporters that all options for dealing with Iran remained on the table, while Israeli defence secretary Moshe Yaalon said "one way or another

US Defence Chief Chuck Hagel

Iran's nuclear programme will be stopped".

Mr Hagel also said the US would continue to invest in Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defence system, saying Washington would seek a further $220m for funding, on top of $460m it has spent on the programme already.

The defence secretary's trip is the first leg of a tour of Middle East allies, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 34

Tobacco magnate wins Paraguay election Europe and Paraguayans have elected HoracioCartes, leader of the Colorado Party and one of the country's richest men, to the post left vacant by President Fernando Lugo's impeachment last year.

The millionaire businessman won a five-year term with 46 percent of the vote over 37 percent for Efrain Alegre of the ruling Liberal party, the Electoral Court announced after most votes were counted. Five other candidates trailed far behind.

Cartes, 56, had never voted before he joined the Colorado Party four years ago.He pledged to reform his party, which was tainted by corruption during its 60-year reign until 2008.

"I'll need help from all the Paraguayans to govern in the next five years," Cartes said on Sunday night.

"Poverty, the lack of jobs for young people and international issues await us."The UN estimates that more than half of Paraguayans live in poverty.

Paraguay's census bureau puts the number at 39 percent in a country which is South America's third-biggest producer of soy, corn and sunflower seeds.

The president-elect owns controlling shares in banks, investment funds, agricultural estates, a soda maker and tobacco plantations.

Cartes is well-known in Paraguay as president of Libertad, the club that won last

year's national football championship.

Alegre, 50, a lawyer and career politician, recognised his defeat despite saying earlier that he might challenge the outcome.

"The Paraguayan people have spoken. There's nothing more to say," he said in a brief concession speech.

Alegre's Liberal Party took over the presidency after withdrawing support for Lugo

and clearing the way for his impeachment in June.

Congress removed Lugo, a leftist and former Roman Catholic bishop, after finding him guilty of mishandling a botched land eviction in which 17 police officers and peasant farmers were killed.

Some of Paraguay's neighbours compared the twoday trial to a coup and imposed diplomatic sanctions on the

South American nation.

The leftist coalition that swept Lugo to power has since split, although the former president was again on the ballot, this time as a Senate candidate.

Lugo's administration was rocked by a sex scandal, after he admitted to having fathered two children out of wedlock while he was still a priest, and he faces at least two other as-yet unresolved paternity suits.

R

Horacio Cartes

Assad's opponents.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said an embargo was unnecessary in the first place because such supplies were prohibited by international law.

If the embargo is removed, "the international obligations of the EU countries, which prohibit supplies of arms and ammunition to nongovernment actors, are not going anywhere", he said at a news briefing after talks with his Guinean counterpart.

Russia has used its U.N. Security Council veto power to shield Assad from Western efforts to push him from power or increase pressure upon him to end violence in a conflict that

has killed more than 70,000 people since March 2011.

Moscow has for months been calling for implementation of an declaration agreed by world powers including Russia and the United States in Geneva last June that called for a transitional government.

However, Washington disagrees with Moscow's assertion that the agreement requires Assad to step down.

Lavrov said he and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry would discuss ways to promote a peace process in Syria at talks on the sidelines of a NATO gathering and a Russia-NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.

"We will discuss what we,

Russia and the United States, can do to convince those who ... are resisting the peace process to step onto the path of implementing the Geneva agreements," Lavrov said.

Russian and U.S. diplomats have held several meetings for that purpose since late last year, to little effect.

Lavrov said that in a telephone conversation with Kerry on Saturday, "I sensed confirmation of the intention ... to seek as swift as possible a political solution".

But he said the West had not done enough to encourage all Assad's foes to show readiness for dialogue with the government: "So far there is clearly not enough movement on this."

Serbian government backs landmark Kosovo deal

S

erbia's government has approved an EU-brokered deal with its former province of Kosovo, paving the way for progress in both sides' drive to join the EU. The deal ushers in a normalisation of ties which have been strained since the 1999 Kosovo conflict.

EU foreign ministers are expected to send positive

Strike grounds hundreds of Lufthansa flights

M

Russia warns EU not to lift Syria arms ban as UK keeps pushing

ussia warned the European Union on Monday not to lift an arms embargo that has prevented weapons supplies to Syrian rebels, despite British and French lobbying.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Sunday that EU foreign ministers, who last month rejected a FrancoBritish proposal to ease the ban, would in coming weeks discuss the question again.

Russia, which says it is continuing to implement weapons contracts withSyria but is no longer delivering arms that could be used in the civil conflict, has vehemently opposed any supplies of weapons to President Bashar al-

Americas

signals to Serbia and Kosovo on Monday.

Many countries recognise Kosovo as independent, but Serbia is among those, including Russia and China, who do not.

Under the deal, Serbs in northern Kosovo will have their own police and appeal court.

Both sides also agreed to not block each other's efforts to seek

EU membership.

The Serbian government accepted the "first accord on principles which regulate normalisation of relations, reached during the dialogue on Kosovo in Brussels," said a statement on Monday quoted by the AFP news agency.

Earlier, Serbian Prime Minister IvicaDacic said that "if the government accepts the

agreement, I expect Serbia to get a date to start membership talks with the European Union".

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but many of the ethnic Serb minority in Kosovo have refused to recognise the authority of its mainly ethnic Albanian government.

ost of Lufthansa's, Germany's national airline, domestic, European and long-haul flights have been cancelled due to strikes by ground personnel and cabin crews.

"Due to strike action announced for April 22, nearly all Lufthansa flights to German and European destinations must be cancelled," the airline announced in a statement.

The firm said it had scheduled only around 20 of its usual 1,650 short-haul flights for Monday, and warned that longhaul routes would also be seriously affected.

At Frankfurt airport, Europe's third-busiest hub, 46 out of 50 intercontinental flights would be scrapped, with longhaul flights from Munich also grounded.

Services union Verdi called the strike after three rounds of pay talks with management ended without agreement.

Verdi is demanding a 5.2 percent pay increase for 33,000 Lufthansa ground staff, plus employees of various subsidiaries, as well as cabin crew members who are Verdi members.

The escalating pay dispute threatens to cause transport chaos across Germany, Europe's largest economy.

It comes a month after Lufthansa cancelled nearly 700 out of a total 1,800 flights due to half a day of warning strikes.

Lufthansa board member Stefan Lauer said the action, described as a 24-hour warning strike, was "de facto an all-out strike" that was "a completely excessive measure that can in no way be justified in view of the current state of negotiations".

Verdi has accused management of "playing with employees' fears about their future and their jobs" in refusing to make any concrete guarantees.

The union has complained that the offer proposed by management represented an increase of less than one percent over a period of one year.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 35

Eyeball scraping - the vanishing trade practiced by Sichuan barbers B arbers in China's Sichuan Province have practiced the art of eye-cleaning with a sharp blade for centuries.

Like many other ancient traditions, this dangerous trade is slowly vanishing, but you can still find a few barbers willing to scrape your eyeballs with a knife for as little as RMB5 ($0.80).

According to an old Sichuan saying, cleaning the eyes makes the beauty of life more visible, and some people are prepared to go under the knife to make sure they don't miss a thing.

Nicknamed "knife-blade eye cleaning", the practice of scraping a person's eyeballs and eyelids with sharp utensils has been a part of Chinese culture ever since ancient times. The craft was supposedly popularized by brothers Zhou Chengfu and Zhou Chengyin, who followed their father's footsteps and excelled in the technique of servicing the eyeballs, ears and necks of clients, but in recent years it has almost died out. Still, if you look hard enough, you can still find eye-cleaning stands even in modern cities like Sichuan's capital, Chengdu. 53year-old Liu Deyuan has been successfully running his small eye-cleaning business for 7 years, offering a head shave and an eye scrape for just RMB5.

With many long-term clients lining up to get their eyes cleaned every month, the skilled barber says business is still pretty good.

Before he starts scraping away at his clients' eyes, Liu rinses his sharp blade in the same water he uses to shave their heads. He holds their eyes open with his left hand while using the

right one to guide the knife back and forth on the inside of their eyelids and then on the eyeball.

He then grabs a metal rod, inserts it under the person's upper eyelid and slides it left and right like a windshield wiper. He repeats the process for the lower eyelid, and when he's done, Liu moves to the other eye. The whole eye-scraping process takes

about 5 minutes, and by the end, the client's face is streaming with tears. 55-year-old Peng, one of the barber's most loyal customers, says he doesn't dare move a muscle while Liu is working his magic, but that afterwards his eyes feel much better.

And if plunging sharp tools inside someone's eye sockets

wasn't dangerous enough, there's also the issue of improper hygiene. Liu Deyuan uses the same knife for all his services (haircuts, shaves and eye scraping), and the rod is used for several clients during the day, as he only disinfects his tools at night, by leaving them in a bowl of alcohol. Most of his customers don't seem to mind, however, and say in all the years they've used his services they've never had a problem.

Liu told reporters from the

Chengdu Business Daily newspaper that he started studying the art of eyeball scraping when he was 17, and trained for three years before practicing it on paying customers. He has never once slipped up and says the secret lies in the strength and flexibility of his wrist and steadiness of the hand.

If you thought water was enough to clean the eyes thoroughly, think again…

Photos via QQ

Florida father shoots dog to retrieve son’s finger

A

n 11-year-old boy was expected to be released from the hospital Monday after doctors were unable to reattach his pinky that was bit off by the family dog, according to the Bradenton Herald.

Fernando Brignoni, from Tampa, was attempting to pet his dog and stuck his hands through the slots in his dog’s cage when the dog completely bit off his finger, a Manatee Sheriff’s Office report said.

The boy’s father took the dog out of the cage, shot it multiple times and removed the severed finger from the dog’s stomach, the report said.

“You don’t know what you will do for your child,” the

father, Luis Brignoni, 41, told the newspaper. “You don’t know where you get the strength from.”

The boy was airlifted to All Children’s Hospital and later transferred to Tampa General Hospital.

But the doctors decided not to reattach the finger due to the damaged nerves, the father told the Herald.

A preliminary investigation by the Manatee Sheriff’s Office supports the father’s accounts of the events and said it appears to be an accident.

Manatee County Animal Services took possession of the remains of the dog, authorities said.

Source: nbcbayarea

PAGE 36

By Rachel Reilly

P

aracetamol could be used to help treat emotional pain and anxiety, according to a new Canadian study.

It found that the common painkiller could help alleviate the symptoms of existential dread - the anxiety that arises from uncertainty surrounding the meaning of life and death.

The researchers knew from previous research that both physical and social pain - such as bumping your head or falling out with friends - can be alleviated with paracetamol.

Lead researcher Daniel Randles from the University of British Columbia said: 'Pain extends beyond tissue damage and hurt feelings, and includes the distress and existential angst we feel when we're uncertain or have just experienced something surreal.

'Regardless of the kind of pain, taking [paracetamol] seems to inhibit the brain signal that says something is wrong.'

He and his colleagues speculated that the uneasiness we feel when faced with thoughts of death might involve similar brain processes.

They wondered whether it would it be possible to numb that type of suffering with a simple pain medicine, too.

The study involved 120 university students who were divided into two groups. One group was given a 1000mg pill of Tylenol, an American brand of paracetamol, and the other was given a placebo sugar pill.

Some from both groups were asked to write about dental pain while the rest were asked to write about what would happen to them after they died.

All participants were then asked to read about the arrest of a prostitute.

Participants were asked to set

C

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2012

Popping paracetamol could also help treat emotional pain

Taking a painkiller can numb emotional pain, say experts

The humble paracetamol was shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety an amount for bail, ranging from nothing to ÂŁ325, for the hypothetical prostitute.

As expected, the control group who wrote about dental pain - who felt no existential anxiety - gave relatively low bail amounts of around ÂŁ195.

However, those who wrote about their own death and took no paracetamol, gave the highest amounts, suggesting a

fee of around ÂŁ260.

The second part of the study required watching a surrealist video by director David Lynch and then a video of rioters.

Researchers found that people who took paracetamol were less judgmental about the behaviour of the rioters.

The study demonstrated that existentialist dread is not limited to thinking about death,

but can be experienced in any situation which is unpredictable or surprising.

'We're still taken aback that we've found that a drug used primarily to alleviate headaches can also make people numb to the worry of thinking about their deaths, or to the uneasiness of watching a surrealist film,' said Randles.

The researchers believe that

these studies may have implications for new treatments in the future.

'For people who suffer with chronic anxiety, or are overly sensitive to uncertainty, this work may shed some light on what is happening and how their symptoms could be reduced,' concluded Randles.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Are crooks really criminally minded?

riminal activity could be all in the brain, meaning offenders cannot control their behaviour and need treatment to help them stay on the straight and narrow, according to a British academic.

Many repeat offenders, killers and psychopaths share abnormal patterns of activity that could help to explain why they turn to crime, neuroimaging of their brains by Adrian Raine has previously found.

Psychopaths and murderers also have low activity in the front parts of the brain related to processing emotions, selfawareness and being sensitive to violence.

Now, in his new book The Anatomy of Violence, Raine, a criminology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, says that those who commit domestic violence, aggressive teens or lesser offenders also share those abnormalities and keep doing 'the same wrong things'.

He says: 'The seeds of sin are brain-based' but could be tackled with the right treatment.

Abnormal brain activity could be the cause of criminal behaviour for some 'The finding suggests that many people currently being punished for their crimes cannot actually control their behaviour, and should be seen

as suffering from a disorder that needs treatment,' he told the Sunday Times.

Raine and a team of neuroscientists found that the

ventromedial prefrontal cortex - a part of the brain associated with decision-making - is found to be shrunken in habitual criminals with psychopathic tendencies.

In repeat impulsive offenders, the part of the brain related to learning from your mistakes - the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex - has been found to be underdeveloped.

Previously, research has shown that low activity in the anterior cingulate is linked to a higher risk of reoffending while shrunken amygdalas, related to emotions and morality, have been found in teenagers with conduct disorders - described by doctors as aggressive and anti-social traits.

These include burglary, violence and pathological lying.

Graeme Fairchild, a clinical psychology lecturer at Southampton University, told the Sunday Times: 'If the parts of your brain involved in feeling guilt or empathy are damaged, then there is an issue of diminished responsibility. It is too early to use this research

Offenders studied by Adrian Raine had low activity in parts of the brain associated with emotions in courts, but we have to ask if they are truly to blame for their behaviour.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 37

APC will oust PDP in 2015- Yerima

By Umar Muhammad Puma

F

Enugu state Deputy Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi (4th right), with members of House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum, during the committee's visit to Enugu state Government House, yesterday in Enugu.

Photo: NAN

PDP govs' Forum campaigns for Tukur

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) Governors' forum yesterday vowed to rally support for the party's Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, towards actualizing his agenda of reconciliation and rebuilding of the party.

This is even as the Chairman of the party's Board of Trustees (BoT)', Tony Anenih, held a meeting with Tukur behind closed door at his residence to appraise their efforts at repositioning the party.

The PDP Governors Forum chaired by the governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio, also disclosed that it would hold its meeting tomorrow in Abuja to review activities within the party since the last time it met, in addition to taking the reports of different committees it set up on the South-west and Adamawa, among others.

The Forum, according to its Chairman, had sent notice of meeting to the PDP governors, even as he disclosed that he had started making personal contacts with the governors in

As Anenih,Tukur meet in secret order to ensure a good attendance.

Akpabio and his counterpart from Bauchi, Alhaji Isa Yuguda, last week, had a formal meeting with Tukur in Abuja to chart new strategies aimed at relaunching the party to enable it surmount its challenges.

The meeting between Tukur and the PDP governors, which held at the residence of the National Chairman recently, drew fresh agenda on how to put the ruling party in a good stead for fulfilling its dream of winning more states by 2015.

Similarly, the party's BoT Chairman held a closed door meeting with Tukur in his residence to harmonise ideas on the on-going reconciliation moves within the party.

Details of what Tukur and Anenih discussed at the meeting was still pending, but indications are rife that both leaders had used the meeting to dispel insinuations and media reports that they have been working at cross purposes.

However, Akpabio in company with the governor of

Bauchi state and the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Barrister Olisa Metuh, has assured the Chairman of cooperation and support by the PDP Governors, whom he said have been most committed to the interest of the party in their respective states.

While dismissing reports of alleged gang up by the state governors against Tukur, the forum's Chairman promised to deploy new initiatives towards re-invigorating the body for the purpose of strengthening the unbeaten record of the ruling party during the next round of elections in Nigeria.

Commenting on his earlier charge to the PDP members to work towards delivering more states to the party by 2015, Tukur insisted that the ruling party would improve on its current rating by winning more states in the next elections.

He said, "Already, we are a winning party with 23 out of 36 states of the federation. As a party with a drive for success,

we cannot sit down and say we are okay with 23 states. If we need to do well, we have to set higher tasks for ourselves and that is what we all must work on. Our members should go out and start preparing to win more states.

"The difference between PDP and other parties is that we are always hard working. We were the only party that toured the nooks and crannies of Nigeria to sell our party manifesto before the 2011 elections. Then we won in 23 states. As a leader, I want an improvement, and I have told our members to start working hard for improvement. That is how to stay on top.

"If you look around, all the good awards from different organisations are being carted away by PDP governors. The Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Akpabio just bagged the Leadership Man of The Year Award. It was not the PDP that organised it, it was a national newspaper. What that tells you is that we have products and the materials required to make us fulfil our dreams".

UPP postpones launching in honour of Achebe

By Umar Muhammad Puma

F

ollowing the release of programme for the funeral rites of Professor Chinue Achebe, the United Progressive Party (UPP), in honour of the departed literary icon has postponed its planned commencement of nationwide launching of the party in all the 36 States of the Federation and

the Federal Capital Territory.

In a statement made available to newsmen by the Nationwide Publicity Secretary, Chief Ogbuechi Dike said the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party shall meet to approve a timetable for the launching of the party across the nation immediately after the interment of Prof. Chinue Achebe.

He added that all State Chapters and relevant Committees of the party that have been working on earlier scheduled programme are directed to await the new schedule after the funeral of Prof. Achebe.

“We crave the indulgence of party faithful across the country for whatever inconvenience that this might

cause them. No sacrifice is considered too much to be made in honour of Prof. Achebe who had made Nigeria proud in the comity of nations”.

The statement further reveal that all officers and members of United Progressive Party are further directed to participate fully in all activities and functions designed to give honour to the late Prof. Achebe.

ormer governor of Zamfara State, Ahmed Sani Yerima, has assured Nigerians that All progressive congress (APC) will take over power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next general election. “we have done it before, even more than two times, in Kano in 2003 and in Zamfara in 2011, where we defeated the incumbent governors of these states, so to me it purely depend on how well the opposition APC prepares for the election, otherwise it is not a big deal, we have good intention for this country and by special grace of God we will succeed”, Yerima said while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja.

He also said the newly formed APC is well prepared and equal to the task. “APC has come to stay, there is no doubt about that, and Insha Allah we will take over from PDP come 1015”, he said.

Meanwhile, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), yesterday inaugurate its convention committee headed by the Governor of Zamfara state, Abdullazeez Abubakar Yari, while the national publicity secretary of the party, Emma Eneukwu serves as the secretary.

Inaugurating the committee, the national chairman of the party, Ogbonnaya Onu, said through the merger, the participating political parties will lose their individual identities to be submerged into the All Progressives Congress.

This, according to him, is in the best interest of Nigeria’s young democracy, the happiness of the people and for the greatness of the Nigerian nation.

“Today’s ceremony is about what we do today for a tomorrow that will guarantee happiness for all.

It is about how we organize ourselves so that our great Party can play the role history demands of it in the challenge of returning power to our people”. “i am confident that you will succeed, because we all know that the ANPP in the APC is the answer.

As committed democrats of the finest disposition, history demands that you organise a successful Convention that will immortalize the place of our great Party in the history of the political development of our beloved nation”.

“Our country is in great distress.

Wherever we look, we see problems and problems. We live in darkness.

People feel insecure. Our schools and hospitals are not working as they should. Unemployment and poverty have crippled the dreams and ambition of many Nigerians.

Hope for a bright future has continued to fade for many people, day after day. Things cannot continue this way. There must be a change for the better. The time to effect that change, is now”, he said.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Kwara gov commends move to pass PIB

G

o v e r n o r Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has commended the move toward passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), saying it would boost control of benefits accruing to oil producing communities.

Ahmed made the commendation yesterday in Ilorin at the North-Central Zonal Public Hearing on PIB organised by a House of Representatives adhoc committee.

He also advised the National Assembly to ensure equity and justice so as to promote peace and development in the country.

According to him, what has eluded Nigeria since independence is the absence

of equity and justice.

“If Nigerians have agreed to live together as a nation with common values, there must be equitable terms based on justice,” he said.

The governor also stressed the need for the interests of all stakeholders to be well catered for in the PIB with regard to the security and economic issues confronting the country.

Ahmed argued that Nigerians must consider the problems facing any part of the country as a national, saying: “ If there is environmental degradation in the riverside areas where oil is being produced, every Nigerian must show concern because they deserve to have a good environment.

“ They deserve to live like other Nigerians; they deserve good roads, clean water, hospitals and schools.’’

He recalled that agriculture was a major national revenue earner in the past before oil was discovered while coal mined in Enugu played critical role in driving the national railway system.

Ahmed expressed regret that Nigeria’s oil wealth had not been used to drive i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l development.

Earlier, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum and Gas, Hon. Bassey Ewa, said the forum was meant to collect the inputs of stakeholders into the bill so that it would reflect diverse interests. (NAN)

CPC North West legislators endorse merger plans that we the elected members

N

ational and State A s s e m b l y members from the North West, under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to ensure the success of the proposed merger with ANPP, APGA and ACN. The lawmakers, who met at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, pledged to give “every assistance to

make the merger a reality”.

Sen. Abu Ibrahim, representing Katsina South, told newsmen after the meeting that the members made their input to the documents ahead of the party’s national convention, where the drafts would be ratified.

“We considered the draft constitution and manifesto of the All Progressive Congress (APC), which we have made our input, and this shows

of the CPC are hundred per cent in support of the merger .

“We will make sure this merger go through, we will give every assistance to make it a reality because this is the only way to save Nigeria from mismanagement, and save this country from destruction.

“We support the merger and affirm our faith in our leaders to take the right decision,’’ he said. (NAN)

L-R: Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, congratulates Mr Emmanuel Momoh, Chairman, Etsako Central Local Government Area after his swearing-in, yesterday at the Government House, Benin City.

Bauchi CPC factions reconcile for APC From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) warring factions in Bauchi state have finally reconciled to pave way for the success of the merger efforts which has brought APC. The Chairman of the CPC’s Contact and Mobilisation committee recently inaugurated by CPC leadership, Solomon Ewuga, made the disclosure during inauguration of the North East sub Contact and Mobilization committee of the CPC in Bauchi yesterday.

According to him, the North East zone became the second to be inaugurated in the country ahead of the national convention of the party on 11th May this year.

Ewuga explained that the

decision of the committee to reconcile the factions of the party in Bauchi state was for the betterment of the party and Nigerians, saying that henceforth no more any factional leader in the party as the Shehu Barau Ningi group agreed to cooperate with the Acting Chairman Ali Sa’idu to move the party forward.

Solomon Ewuga said that the party witnessed a lot of challenges during its struggle to established democracy in the country, hence the need for all members to come together and move the party forward, especially now that the party is facing merger with other opposition parties.

“Nigeria, especially the Northern part of the country, witnessed unnecessary killings of innocent lives; we need to

put our house in order and move together to be able to provide direction to Nigerians. You are aware that without power, no meaningful changes could be able to come, hence the need to come together”, he added.

In his remark, the State acting Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ali Sa’idu, said the party lost election in the state during the last general election due to the internal crisis that bedeviled the party, but prayed God to give them the wisdom to avert future occurrence.

The Zonal coordinator of the committee, Ibrahim Waziri, said all state chairmen of the party are appointed as state coordinators to oversee the affairs of the committee before the convention of the party scheduled for 11th May, 2013.

PDP governors told to project party successes through new forum

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday urged its governors to use the newly formed PDP Governors’ Forum to project successes recorded by the PDP-led governments across the country.

Mr Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, gave the advice in a statement he issued in Abuja while commending the formation of the forum.

He described the action as “a step in the right direction,’’ adding that the formation of such forum for PDP governors was long overdue.

He also urged the governors to use the forum to promote the people-oriented policies and programmes of the

PDP, which were in the peoples’ interest.

Metuh said that while the general Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) was a laudable idea, the PDP Governors’ Forum should be used by PDP governors to effectively project the party’s activities.

“The leadership of the PDP commends the PDP state governors for forming the PDP Governors’ Forum and electing a new chairman.

“It is long overdue for the PDP to have its own governors’ forum with its own chairman.

“The new PDP Governors’ Forum must, therefore, use its large membership to project the people-oriented policies and programmes of the PDP,’’ Metuh said.

He urged PDP governors to be conscious of the fact that there was a big divide between the PDP and opposition parties in terms of policies, programmes and manifestoes.

He, therefore, urged them to use the new forum to forge a partnership that would clearly show the successes achieved in PDP-controlled states.

“We must show something that is different between the performance of the PDP governors in office and the performance of the opposition.

“Let the difference be clear.

It is not a thin line. It is a large wall dividing the PDP and the opposition parties,” Metuh said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 39

US raises concerns over Nigeria’s human rights abuses T

he most serious human rights problems during the year involved abuses committed by the militant sect “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad” (Hausa: Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad)—better known by its Hausa name Boko Haram (“Western education is anathema”)—which conducted killings, bombings, kidnappings, and other attacks throughout the country, resulting in numerous deaths, injuries, and widespread destruction of property; abuses committed by the security services with impunity, including killings, beatings, arbitrary detention, and destruction of property; and societal violence, including ethnic, regional, and religious violence.

Other serious human rights problems included extrajudicial killings by security forces, including summary executions; security force torture, rape, and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of prisoners, detainees, and criminal suspects; harsh and life-threatening prison and detention center conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; prolonged pretrial detention; denial of fair public trial; executive influence on the judiciary; infringements on citizens’ privacy rights; restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, and movement; official corruption; violence and discrimination against women; child abuse; female genital mutilation/ cutting; the killing of children suspected of witchcraft; child sexual exploitation; ethnic, regional, and religious discrimination; trafficking in persons for the purpose of prostitution and forced labor; discrimination against persons with disabilities; discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity; vigilante killings; forced and bonded labor; and child labor.

Impunity remained widespread at all levels of government. The government brought few persons to justice for abuses and corruption. Police and security forces generally operated with impunity. Authorities did not investigate the majority of cases of police abuse or punish perpetrators.

Authorities generally did not hold police accountable for the use of excessive or deadly force or for the deaths of persons in custody.

Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life The government or its agents committed numerous arbitrary or unlawful killings.

During the year Joint Task Forces (JTFs), composed of elements of the military, police, and other security services, conducted raids on militant

President Goodluck Jonathan groups and criminal suspects in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, and Yobe states, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries to alleged criminals, militants, and civilians. According to credible eyewitness accounts, JTF members committed illegal killings during attempts to apprehend members of the extremist group Boko Haram in several states, including Borno, Kano, Kaduna, and Yobe states and surrounding areas. Local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), international human rights groups, and political and traditional leaders from the affected states accused the security services of indiscriminate and extrajudicial killings, illegal detention, inhumane treatment of detainees, and torture during the year.

On October 9, witnesses in Maiduguri claimed members of the JTF “Restore Order,” based in Maiduguri, went on a killing spree after a suspected Boko Haram bomb killed an officer.

Media reported the JTF killed 20 to 45 civilians and razed 50 to 100 houses in the neighborhood.

The JTF commander in Maiduguri denied the allegations. On November 2, witnesses claimed the JTF shot and killed up to 40 people during raids in Maiduguri. The army claimed it dismissed some officers from the military as a result of alleged abuses committed in Maiduguri, but there were no known formal prosecutions in Maiduguri by year’s end.

Reports also surfaced during the year that the JTF based in Maiduguri illegally detained and killed suspected members of Boko Haram in the Giwa barracks in

Borno State. Former detainees accused security forces of torture and mistreatment, which in some cases led to the death of detainees. Authorities publicly denied the claims, describing them as inaccurate or unbalanced.

During the year both Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) released reports critical of the conduct of security forces in these raids.

Although the constitution and law prohibit such practices and provide for punishment of such abuses, torture is not criminalized, and security service personnel, including police, military, and State Security Service (SSS) officers, regularly tortured, beat, and abused demonstrators, criminal suspects, detainees, and convicted prisoners. Police mistreated civilians to extort money. The law prohibits the introduction into trials of evidence and confessions obtained through torture; however, police often used torture to extract confessions.

JTF use of excessive force during raids on militant groups and criminal suspects in the Niger Delta and many states in the North resulted in deaths, injuries, mass rape, displacement of civilians, and other abuses.

Prison and Detention Center Conditions Prison and detention center conditions remained harsh and life threatening. Prisoners, a majority of whom had not been tried, were subject to gross overcrowding, food shortages, inadequate medical treatment, and infrastructure deficiencies that led to wholly inadequate sanitary conditions. Reports

indicated guards and prison officials threatened inmates with extortion or levied fees on them to pay for the maintenance of the prison and subjected them to physical abuse; in some cases female inmates faced the threat of rape. Female prisoners pregnant at the time of incarceration gave birth to and raised their babies in prison.

Domestic and international human rights groups reported the existence of unofficial military prisons, including the Giwa military barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State. HRW and AI cataloged cases of illegal detention, inhumane and degrading treatment, beatings, torture, and extrajudicial killings in these prisons. AI estimated 200 to 500 people were detained at the Giwa barracks.

Those interviewed for the reports claimed families and lawyers did not have access to suspects detained in these facilities, and authorities moved detainees frequently and without notice, making it difficult for families or lawyers to locate a detainee. The government claimed Giwa barracks was only used as a military barracks, and did not serve as a detention center. Boko Haram suspects were reportedly held in inhuman conditions at the Special-Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) detention center, also known as the “abattoir,” in Abuja. On November 26, suspected Boko Haram militants attacked the SARS detention center, freeing an estimated 30 detainees, possibly including Boko Haram members.

Arrest Procedures and Treatment While in Detention Police and security forces have authority to arrest individuals without first obtaining warrants, if they have reasonable suspicion a person committed an offense, a power they often abused. By law police may detain persons for 48 hours before charging them with an offense. The law requires an arresting officer to inform the accused of charges at the time of arrest, transport the accused to a police station for processing within a reasonable time, and allow suspects to obtain counsel and post bail.

Police routinely detained suspects without informing them of the charges or allowing access to counsel and family members.

Provision of bail often remained arbitrary or subject to extrajudicial influence. Judges often set conditions of bail too stringent to be met. In many areas with no functioning bail system, suspects remained incarcerated indefinitely in investigative detention within the prison system. Authorities kept detainees incommunicado for long periods.

Numerous detainees alleged police demanded bribes to take them to court to have their cases heard. If

family members wanted to attend a trial, police often demanded additional payment.

Police held persons who happened to be in the vicinity of a crime for interrogation for periods ranging from a few hours to several months. After their release authorities frequently asked them to return for further questioning.

Security force personnel arbitrarily arrested numerous persons during the year. Human rights groups accused the government and security forces of arbitrarily arresting male inhabitants of Maiduguri or family members of suspected militants following Boko Haram attacks.

The number of such cases remained unknown, but AI and HRW catalogued examples of such cases throughout the year.

Denial of Fair Public Trial Although the constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary, the judicial branch remained susceptible to pressure from the executive and legislative branches and the business sector.

Political leaders influenced the judiciary, particularly at the state and local levels. Understaffing, underfunding, inefficiency, and corruption continued to prevent the judiciary from functioning adequately. Judges frequently failed to appear for trials, often because they were pursuing other sources of income and sometimes because of threats against them.

In addition court officials often lacked the proper equipment, training, and motivation to perform their duties, with the lack of motivation primarily due to inadequate compensation. During the year Supreme Court judges called for a more independent judiciary.

In August 2011 the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended to President Jonathan he suspend the president of the Court of Appeals, Justice Ayo Isa Salami, after the latter refused the NJC’s directive to apologize to the NJC and to then chief justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu. Salami had accused Katsina-Alu of interfering in the proceedings of the 2007 Sokoto state gubernatorial court case. In an attempt to settle the dispute, the NJC set up three panels to investigate the disagreement.

The panels declared neither justice was at fault, declared the issue resolved, and requested Salami apologize to the NJC and Katsina-Alu. The Nigerian Bar Association reached contrary findings, and Salami refused to apologize. After the NJC suspended Salami, President Jonathan used his constitutional authority to recommend the compulsory retirement of Salami and appointed Justice Dalhatu Adamu as acting president of the Court of Appeals.

Source: US Department of State

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 40

Dana crash: Senate to criminalise corporate manslaughter

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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gainst the backdrop of Dana Air which crashed with 156 Nigerians on board, the senate yesterday held public hearing on the Bill seeking create the offence of corporate manslaughter.

In line with the intentions of the Bill, corporate organisations whose acts of negligence on duty results to death of Nigerians, either as staff or customers, will therefore be punished by either fine or as may be directed by the court.

In addition, this bill, when passed, will also punish government agencies who run contrary to the provisions of this bill, including ministries and

departments.

Declaring the public hearing open, Senate President David Mark, represented by the Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma Egba, regretted that up till now, managers of corporate bodies are protected from crimes of corporate manslaughter, which are punishable in other jurisdictions.

He said that the bill which seeks to create a new offence to protect Nigerians, should be treated as a noble and innovative idea, calling on stakeholders to come forth with suggestions and contributions that will help the senate make the law in a way to stand the test of time.

Earlier in his speech, the chairman of the senate committee on Judiciary and Human Rights,

who also chaired the hearing, Dahiru Mustapha, said the public hearing is aimed at collating inputs from the public, which will later be presented on the floor of the senate for further deliberation.

He said that when the bill becomes a law, it will go a long way to entrench corporate responsibility among managers of corporate bodies, especially in the interest of their workers.

Dahiru, who pointed out that the practise is already in place in developed democracies, expressed joy that in a shortwhile, culpable deaths caused by negligence will be prosecuted.

While expressing hope that the hearing will create platform for Nigerians to bare their minds on

the issue, he said that the senate will be better informed if the public comes forth with their recommendations.

Moreover, the sponsor of the bill, Pius Ewerido, said that after Dana crash, many believed that time has come for Nigeria to rise up against wastage of lives of Nigerians.

He said that the thought was that as elected lawmakers, the senate has the duty to make laws that will protect Nigerians from deaths caused by recklessness and carelessness of managers in both government and corporate bodies.

Meanwhile, all the agencies, departments and corporate bodies that came supported the bill, but said that the fine for contravention should be stated.

Oyo ACN backs Ajimobi over sack of Accord Party nominees

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he ACN in Oyo State yesterday expressed support for Gov. Abiola Ajimobi over his sack of Accord Party nominees in his cabinet.

This was contained in a statement signed by ACN Publicity Secretary, Mr Dauda Kolawole, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

It said the party would continue to support the on-going transformation agenda of the state government under Ajimobi.

The party recalled that the agreement entered with the Accord Party leader, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, had caused a lot of disaffection in the ACN at the inception of the Ajimobi administration. “ The gentleman agreement entered with Ladoja has caused disaffection in the ACN but for the wisdom, understanding and maturity of Gov. Ajimobi, the story would have been different in ACN,’’ it said.

The party said it was proud of the governor’s achievements, adding that the days of bad governance was over in the state.

It urged all its members in the state to seize the opportunity of the collapse of the alliance to come together and work for the success of the party in future elections.

ACN also commended its delegates to the last convention held in Lagos where the merger process was ratified. (NAN)

Ogun govt. probes AdoOdo crisis

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L-R: Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Yarima Sani, Zamfara state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Yari, and National Chairman, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, during the inauguration of ANPP Special Convention for the propose merger of opposition political parties, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Only good leadership will end insurgency, says Abdulsalami Abubakar

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ormer Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar yesterday said that the current security challenges would end if there was good leadership that was honest, transparent and accountable to the people.

Abubakar stated this in Kaduna at a seminar with the theme: “Combating Security Challenges and the way forward for Nigerian economic transformation”.

The seminar was organised as part of the ongoing 34th Kaduna International Trade Fair.

The former head of state, who was the chairman of the occasion, said that the use of force had never solved such conflicts, as

shown in countries like Somalia and Afghanistan.

Abubakar said, “In the long run, force has never solved any country’s problems.

“There is, therefore, the need for the country’s authorities to reexamine our current strategies of obviously relying more on force than in trying to win the hearts and minds of the public through good governance, transparency and accountability.”

He also advised the federal and state governments to accord high priority to agriculture, which “is the biggest employer of labour and contributed more than 40 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product”.

“In other words, even though oil contributes nearly all our public

revenue, agriculture is far more important to the growth of our economy and the resolution of the problem of unemployment in the country.”

Abubakar also advised states and local governments to make education free at primary and secondary level, so as to ease the burden on ordinary Nigerians.

The former head of state said even though there were no quick solutions to current security problems, Nigeria must put a stop to the continuing security threat nationwide.

“We must realise that there are no quick fixes to these threats. What is important is that we put a stop to the country’s continued slide towards becoming a failed state and

then face the long and hard road of returning our country to greatness.”

The Guest Speaker, Prof. Mike Kwanashe, Vice-Chancellor, Catholic University, Abuja, attribute the present insecurity in the country to the mismanagement of our politics and economy by the political class.

He called for a national emergency programme to create employment for the youth and reduce the level of poverty, especially in the North East.

“It is not just to send the JTF there, but to follow that with concrete economic programmes that people will see and say yes, the Nigerian state is concerned about our plight.” (NAN)

he Ogun government yesterday set up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to investigate the cause of the recent crisis in Ado-Odo community.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Monday by Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, the Secretary to the State Government.

It said the five-man commission would be headed by Justice Elizabeth Osinuga while Mr Johnson Ojo would serve as the Secretary.

“The panel is to identify individuals, groups of persons and institutions directly or indirectly responsible for the unrest and ascertain the extent of loss of lives and damage to property during the crisis.

“The panel is also to recommend ways of avoiding a re-occurrence of such unrest, “ the statement said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some youths in the town had attacked the palace of Oba Lateef Akanni, the Olofin of AdoOdo, on April 15.

The action led to a reprisal attack by supporters of the monarch which later resulted in violence in various parts of the town.

Property worth millions of naira including the palace of the Olofin, were destroyed while several people sustained various degrees of injuries.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 41

50 Nigeria athletes to feature at Okpekpe Race, says Alli Supreme

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usuf Alli, the Technical Coordinator for the maiden Okpekpe 10km International Road Race yesterday said 50 Nigerians athletes would feature at the competition, even as the organisers have received confirmation from Ethiopian and kenyan runners.

Alli revealed the names of some of the Ethiopian athletes that have indicated interest to include Deriba Merga, Tilahun Regassa and Sofia Shemsu, while Kenya’s Moses Masai and Timothy Toroitich of Uganda are also expected.

The race, scheduled for May 4 in Edo, will start and end in Okpekpe village in Etsako-East Local Government Area, with participants running through hills and valleys, according to Alli who also said that Nigeria

Aminu Maigari, NFF president

planned to feature the athletes as a build-up programme to develop upcoming athletes in long distance races.

“We want to develop our long distance runners because it is not our strong area but we are hopeful that with events like this, we will improve,’’ he said.

Alli, who won the 1990 Auckland, New Zealand Commonwealth Games gold in long jump, also said that accommodation would be provided for the participating athletes in Benin City and Auchi.

He confirmed that the Nigerian athletes, who are already being camped at Afuze near Benin, are undergoing training to ensure they are in top shape and probably among the winners.

“The athletes have been in camp for some weeks now in

Benin because we thought that would be the best place for them to camp and acclimatise,’’ he said stressing that long distance runners like Aminat Olowora, who was discovered at the 2012 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Lagos would feature at the event.

Some of the other Nigerians who are to participate in the female category are Deborah Palm and Janet Dung, while Emmanuel Yang, Kefas William and Sadiq Aluko are among the males.

He said that changes had been made in the prize money for the women runners, with the winner receiving 10, 000 dollars. The second position will cart away 7, 000 dollars and third place will receive 5,000 dollars.

The winner in the male

Moses Massai

By Patrick Andrew and Albert Akota

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that this latest action comes barely six months after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) sets up the Interim Management Committee and charged the members with the responsibility of supervising the 2012/13 season as well as conduct elections into the board of the NPL. However, rather than stick to the terms of reference, the Club Owners observed according to its acting Chairman Barrister Isaac Danladi the IMC opted to digress and even did that without taking the clubs into cognisance.

Two weeks ago, the body had met in Abuja and directed the IMC to call an emergency congress where observed hitches would be addressed but the ultimatum expired on Sunday without the directive being met.

Instead of a congress, the club owners were threatened with punitive actions by the NFF should they do anything against the interest of the IMC. Aware of the likely response from the NFF, the club owners declared their intent to stretch the battle for the right thing to be done beyond the shores of Nigeria.

“We have documented events including the illegal constitution of the IMC , which

later metamorphosed into the LMC, will forward same to FIFA. We know the NFF will ban some of use or use other foul means to attempt to arm-twist some of us, but we are ready and will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the right thing is done,” a member said.

“Based on the issues we raised against the Nduka Irabor-led committee, we re-affirm our statutory right as members of the league clubs which is the supreme and legislative body of the league,” he re-echo the communiqué issued after the meeting yesterday.

They regretted that the league has been ruled for seven weeks without rules and directed Irabor to handover to the Tunji Babalola, the Executive Secretary with immediate effect.

Further, they directed Babalola to put machinery in motion for the release of rules guiding the league season to avert indiscriminate decisions and sanction.

They commended the league sponsors Globalcom, Minister/ Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC) Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and the president of the NFF Alhaji Aminu Maigari for their contributions to the league.

Isaac Danladi, Acting Chairman, Club Owners

igerian Premier League Club Owners yesterday in Abuja sacked the Nduka Irabor- led League Management Committee, despite a stern warning from the Nigeria Football Federation a day earlier against doing anything that might put the LMC in a bad light.

Seventeen members of the 20team league rose from an emergency meeting yesterday and again declared the LMC illegal because it had been registered without the consent of the clubs at a properly constituted congress as required by the league statutes for such major decisions.

Also clubs distanced themselves from the “illegal” LMC because its shares are owned by two persons- Nduka Irabor, who controls 80 percent and Aminu Maigari, 20 percent, rather than the clubs.

The total values of Nduka’s shares is N20m while the one held in trust by Maigari for the NFF is N5m. “Consequent upon the illegal registration of the LMC by Nduka Irabor, we hereby disassociate and derecognise the LMC forthwith” the communiqué read in part.

Court coach says Nigerian leagues need repackaging

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Club Owners dare NFF, sacks LMC N

Nduka Irabor, Chairman LMC

category will receive 25,000 dollars, the first runner-up 15,000 dollars and the second runner-up 10,000 dollars.

nless the authorities repackaged the domestic leagues the much sought after sponsorship and growth would remain a mirage, according to the Haggai Henry, the Chief Coach of Supreme Court FC an Abujabased amateur clubsides.

Henry regretted that both the Nigeria Football Federation and its subordinate bodies have failed to look inward to fashion out modalities for running an attractive domestic league that would generate undue corporate interest and crowd patronage.

The coach, who was sad that in spite of the abundant talents and the readiness of technical officials to rise up to the challenges of modern leagues, elements at crucial decision making levels have failed to respond with visionary policies and shrewd administrative mechanism to advance the course of the game in the country.

“It is sad that we are playing good leagues in empty stadia.

Ironically, we have talents in the league. Unfortunately, the local leagues seem to lack the attraction not in terms of talents, but packaging and the political will from organizers necessary to attract and draw patronage from the crowd and corporate sponsorships,” he said.

Further, Henry believes that had there been sound packaging, Nigeria would have profit from the Super Eagles’ AFCON conquest especially since the heroes of the tournament were domestic league players like Godfrey Oboabana and Sunday Mba. “Look the NFF failed to maximised the Super Eagles’ Nations Cup win. We thought that the organisers of the various leagues under the supervision of the NFF would have taken advantage of that victory to grow the league.

“Sadly, they did not and the leagues remain epileptic even in the face of abundant talents.

The leagues need repackaging and the organisers must do something to draw peoples’ attention from the English Premier league to the Nigerian leagues,” he said stressing that while the domestic leagues were going on Nigerians prefer to sit at home and watch the foreign leagues on DSTV. Meanwhile Supreme Court FC defeated NAF Rocket 2-1 in a derby decided at the Old Parade Ground on Saturday.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

NWF to honour performing governors with competitions

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lanrewaju Mohamed, the President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), has revealed that the federation has completed plans for a wrestling tour of ‘some deserving states’ in the country.

According to him the tour to be tagged: “Good Governance and Peace Awards to the Performing Governors and Senators in Nigeria,’’ would be in conjunction with the U.S-

based Current World Wrestling Federation (CWWF).

Mohamed disclosed that the tour would involve both national and international amateur and professional wrestlers and added that there would be two events in May in Lagos and Kwara States and would later move to the East and some states in the South-South.

“The events will be staged across some states of the federation, in

recognition of some serving governors and senators for their achievements in their states and senatorial districts.

“The essence of the tour is to honour some of our state governors by acknowledging their hard work and to also familiarise wit h the local wrestlers in the states visited.

“When you take a look at what Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State is

doing to turn Lagos into a

Bolaji Abdullahi, Sports Minister

Mega City. When you see what Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State is doing to change the fortunes of the state through employment and physical changes in the state.

“And when you go to Imo State and see how beautiful Gov. Rochas Okorocha has turned the state in a short time, they all deserve worthy recognition,’’ he said.

According to him, the recognition to the selected governors and senators for

their achievements would encourage other governors and lawmakers to emulate them.

Mohammed added that the federation would also use the tour to mobilise youths in the various states visited for them to acknowledge the achievements of their governors and senators.

The president said he believed the tour would promote wrestling generally in the states to be visited.

Tennis coach urges NTF, corporate Kano taekwondo organisations’ partnership coach to focus on A improved techniques

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brahim Yahuza, the Kano State Taekwondo Coach, said on Friday that new innovations in coaching and judging in Taekwondo would be its focus in the second quarter of the year.

Yahuza said that he was given a scholarship by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a quest to attain professional coaching standards in Taekwondo.

The coach, who confirmed in Lagos that he would be attending the final part of his IOC training on April 26 in Switzerland, believes focusing on improved would in turn assist in imparting knowledge to budding taekwondoists in the state.

“Last November, I attended the first phase of the coaching workshop in the U.S. and now I am preparing to complete the programme this month,” he said.

Yahuza assured the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) that upon completion of the seminar, he would come back to enrich the knowledge of the coaches

and judges in the country.

He said that the international coaching seminar was a privilege for him and he intended to share his knowledge with the NTF on his return.

veteran tennis coach, Kehinde Ajayi, has urged the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) to deliberately create avenue to woo corporate organisations to its side and thus generate more sponsorships for its programmes.

Ajayi , who said this in Lagos, insisted that lack of sponsorships for NTF

Uche Chukwumerije (jr)

Mba urges referees to raise performance for international recognition

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FIFA consultant, Linus Mba, on Friday urged Nigerian football referees to step up their performance, to enable them get international recognition.

Mba made the remark at a one-day interactive session in Lagos, organised by the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) to educate referees on the latest rules of the game.

The consultant, while answering a question on why Nigerian referees rarely officiates in i n t e r n a t i o n a l competitions like the World Cup and the

Olympics, said this was due to their low performance in the local league.

“Lack of outstanding performance is the factor.

There is no other magic for a referee to get international recognition than an outstanding performance “There is need for the Nigeria referees to step up their level of competence in officiating matches.

Football is a universal sport, and has a global standard of measuring performance,” Mba said.

The former member, CAF Referees Committee, urged the match officials

to always be in their right frame of mind before officiating, to be able to judge match situations properly.

According to him, a mentally stable referee is in a better state to read players intentions and actions as that would help the referee to make good judgments.

The Match Commissioner and Referees’ Assessor for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, said that referees’ physical fitness, eye contact and ability to communicate easily with the assistant referees was essential.

According to him, such erring judgments could most times lead to disputes, which he said, could earn the match officials national and global condemnation.

He said that Peter Edibi, a Nigerian referee recently invited by CAF to attend a seminar in Brazil, was invited because of his outstanding performance in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Mba also urged the officials to always keep themselves abreast with the new rules of the game by attending courses regularly.

programmes have had adverse effect on the development and promotion of the sport in the country.

According to him, the fortunes of tennis have dwindled in the country largely because of lack of competitions, The coach said that players needed regular competitions for them to be able to rub shoulders with their foreign counterparts.

He said that lack of competitions was also affecting the rating of Nigeria’s tennis players on the international circuit.

He added that only the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Junior Championships, sponsored by the CBN and the Lagos Governor’s Cup Tennis Championships, by the Lagos State government, were the two major tournaments on the federation’s calendar.

“The NTF has so many programmes, but lack of sponsors is hindering their execution, I, therefore, appeal to the NTF to lobby and woo former corporate sponsors.

“If the NTF is able to reach out to its former sponsors, they will tell them why they stopped sponsoring tennis competitions and other areas which the federation should improve upon, to enhance the sport.

“Tennis is a very expensive sport which cannot thrive, except with the co-operation of government and corporate organisations,’’ he said.

The coach appealed to sports philanthropists in the country to sponsor tennis players to the international circuit, for them to be able to earn good ranking points.

Ajayi, who is also the Technical Director, Lagos State Tennis Association (LSTA), said that the state associations would benefit immensely from the NTF’s programmes if the

federation was able to win back its sponsors.

He disclosed that the association would scout for more talents in the schools through the 174 grassroots programmes recently approved by the state government, which would begin in May.

19th NSF: Lagos dreams beach volleyball win in Calabar 2014

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he Lagos State V o l l e y b a l l Association (LSVA) has expressed its determination to ‘harness its coastal potentials’ to win the Beach Volleyball events expected to debut at the 19 th National Sports Festival, in Calabar in 2014.

The association’s Technical Director, Taiwo Oladipupo, said in Lagos that the state was doing everything possible to ensure that it tops other states because at present they have the best team in the sport.

“Presently, the state has the best team for beach volleyball and will defeat any other state that dares to compete with us at the festival.

“We have everything needed to be the champion of beach volleyball; we live in a coastal region and we have had numerous beach volleyball competitions.

“Had it been that beach volleyball was included at the last festival in Lagos, the state could have clinched the male and female gold medals at stake, “ he said.

Oladipupo said that association had resumed preparations for the sport immediately it received news of its inclusion in the next national sports festival.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 43

Winner expresses mixed feelings over golf prizes Tennis

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coach urges Golden Eaglets perfect penalty kicks officials to share knowledge

amuel Amadi, the overall champion of the 2013 Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Shell golf tournament, has expressed mixed feelings over the prizes awarded winners at the one-day competition.

Amadi said after winning the annual tournament was held on Saturday at the Air Assault Golf Club, Port Harcourt, that he was awarded a “poor quality trophy”, but thanked God for becoming a force to be reckoned with in the game.

“Although the trophy is not good enough, I thank God I have been recognised

in the game. The trophy is not encouraging, I was expecting something bigger or monetary prize but what I was given was only a trophy,” he said.

Amadi added that his victory was due to hard work and determination.

“Well, my winning was not by my making; it is the will of God and I’m happy that I have made it,’’ he said.

Ordinace Emeji, one of the amateur golfers, urged government to give attention to golf like every other sports in the country.

The player said government’s inadequate promotion had hampered the growth of the game.

T

Lack of fund halts NWBF’s preparation for African senior qualifier

he Nigeria W h e e l c h a i r B a s k e t b a l l Federation (NWBF) over the weekend disclosed that it was not making any preparation for the African senior qualifier in Angola in June due to lack of funds.

Adoki Obererilere, NWBF Technical Director, said in Lagos that the federation had not received any fund from the National Sports Commission (NSC) for the qualifier.

“We have submitted our proposal to the NSC for the release of funds; we are yet to get any positive response.

The African qualifier is to get the single ticket to represent the continent at the world championship in Holland later in the year. “But I am afraid the senior team may not be able to attend the qualifier due to lack

of fund,” Adoki said.

The director said that although the U-23 team, last month lost the only African ticket to hosts South Africa for the world championship in September in Turkey, the team had sponsors.

“The U-23 team was jointly sponsored for the world qualifier by the Lagos State Government and our Grand Patron, Victor Ochei, who is also the Speaker, Delta House of Assembly.

“However, our senior team seems to be unlucky with no sponsors yet and

... As Ochei redeems $50,000 pledge to NWBF U-23 team

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ictor Ochei, the Grand Patron, Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation (NWBF), has redeemed his financial pledge of $50,000, about N8 million to the Nigeria U23 team.

Though the team lost the only African ticket to the hosts at the final of the world qualifier held last month in South Africa, Victor Anusa, NWBF Secretary, confirmed in Lagos that Ochei paid the amount into the federation’s account on April 18.

Anusa said that Ochei, the Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, had promised the team the amount on its arrival from the qualifier.

“Although, Nigeria

failed to qualify for the world championship slated for September in Turkey, Ochei still redeemed his pledge to the team.

“Ochei, after paying the money, said that the award is for the 17-man team, made up of 12 athletes and five officials for the continental qualifiers.

Ochei added that the money was meant to encourage the physicallychallenge persons in our society to look beyond their disabilities and seek a worthwhile career in sports,” Anusa said.

The secretary promised that the money would be presented to the team on April 22 for sharing among the athletes and the officials.

Emeji said that Nigeria would excel in the game if government could develop it like other sports.

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olden Eaglets’ coaching crew is leaving no stone unturned as they perfect strategies ahead of tomorrow’s decisive semifinal game against Tunisia at the Grande Stade de Marrakech.

CAF has informed the Nigerian team that there won’t be an additional 30 minutes of extra time should any of the semi final matches end in a draw.

The continental soccer

no response from the NSC,’’ Adoki said.

Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, NNPC Managing Director, lauded the talents displayed at the one-day

tournament, saying the standard showed that the game was growing in Nigeria.

governing body is strictly abiding with the regulations instituted by FIFA since 2011 that all knockout matches at the Under-17 level, must progress straight to penalties if tied at the end of 90 minutes-FIFA reportedly eliminated the extra time period to avoid players’ burnout.

At Monday’s training at the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali Stadium in Marrakech, the coaches took

time off the regular training regimen to teach the players in the art of perfect penalty taking.

“We are taking no chances at all and you can see that we are taking everything seriously. We don’t want to depend on the lottery of the penalties. We would try our best and win the match in regulation time,” Garba noted after the shootout exercise.

According to him, some of the senior national

Bolaji Abdullahi, Sports Minister

team players in 2012 graduated from the national U-23 team, they have not been able to feature in any competitive events.

The director said early camping and probably some warm-up matches would help the players to sharpen their skills for the Angola championship.

“But some of the senior players are not based in Lagos; the federation has to carter for their transport fare to Lagos and camping.”

He urged the NSC to urgently fund the federation in its preparation for the qualifier, stressing that it had exhausted other avenues for sponsorship.

H

enry Ubochi, the Head Coach, Delta State Tennis Association, has urged officiating and technical officers to share knowledge among their colleagues for the growth of their various sports.

Ubochi, just back from a week long course in Accra, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that he gained a lot from the seminar in Ghana.

“I gained lots of new technical skills from the seminar and I am ready to impart the knowledge in my colleagues.

“In view of this, I am imploring the Nigeria Tennis Federation to organise a seminar in Lagos for me to divulge the new skills I gained in Ghana to my colleagues,’’ he said.

According to Ubochi, the ultimate dream of any official is to be invited for international officiating, while technical officials always dream of coaching national or international teams.

Ubochi added that for the officials to have effective proficiency, they must attend regular seminars and workshop and also feature in regular competitions The coach noted that there were lots to be gained with regular interactions among coaches and other officials.

Ofem says promotion in WCL should elicit NSC support

A

national cricketer, Endurance Ofem, believes the brilliant performance of the Nigeria cricket team that gained promotion to the World Cricket League (WCL) Division 6, should ginger more financial and moral support for the sport from the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Nigeria gained promotion from WCL Division 7 to WCL 6 at the tournament held in Botswana between April 6 and April 1 to seal a spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League in New

Jersey, U.S. in July.

“With the promotion, I hope the NSC will now give more support to the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) and the national team for the development of cricket in the country.

“The national team had done its part to qualify Nigeria for the ICC Division 6 of the ICC World Cricket League.

“We promised to deliver at the tournament in Botswana and we did by moving up higher from Division 7 to Division 6. It is now left for the NSC and the NCF to support the team for greater

performance,’’ Ofem added.

According to him, Nigeria would have crashed out of the ICC if it had not been promoted, because the WCL Division 7 was scrapped after the Botswana competition.

“The World Cricket League now runs from Division 1 to Division 6. So, if Nigeria had not been promoted, we would have gone with the scrapping.

“So, the success recorded in Botswana by the national team should spur the NSC to believe that the team could also deliver, just like the national football teams.

“In the past five years, Nigeria had been in Division 7. So, the

promotion is a confirmation that Nigeria is improving in the game of cricket. I am so happy that we took a step ahead by moving from Division 7 to Division 6 and definitely, we will move forward,’’ he added.

According to him, the NSC had accorded much attention to football in the country, to the detriment of other so called ‘lesser sports,’ saying that there is no sport greater than the other.

Ofem regretted that many sports were dying in the country as a result of their neglect by the NSC, but added that cricket had been able to stay alive and should be assisted to strengthen its growth and popularity by the NSC.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

SSS 1 pupil wins Chief of Naval Staff Golf tourney

Fury promises Klitschko knockout

A

15-year-old SSS 1 student, Edward Iloghalu, came tops at the Chief of Naval Staff Golf Tournament, held at the IBB Golf Club in Abuja on Sunday night.

Ilooghalu, who emerged the overall best after returning 94 gross and playing off handicap 26, said that he started playing golf at age of eight.

“I play golf almost every day.

My dad, who is a member of the IBB Golf Club, encouraged me to start playing golf at the age of eight,” he said.

At the award and dinner night held in his honour, Vice Admiral Ezeoba said he was humbled and honoured by the gesture.

He said the tournament had given him so much to appreciate and think about, adding that the evening would remain memorable to him for a long time.

“I think the spirit of togetherness that the IBB Golf and Country Club brings to a large extent, simplifies the spirit

of brotherhood in this country.

“We have people in this hall who came from all walks of life, across the country just to be part of this fun today,’’ Ezeoba said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the organising committee of the tournament, Mr Austin Oniwon, a former Group Managing Director of NNPC, had said that the event was put in place to honour the CNS, who he described as a “complete gentle man and a fine officer”.

Oniwon noted that everybody wanted to be part of the event at the preparatory stage, adding “this commitment of members shows a reflection of Ezeoba’s humility’’. “ Humility pays and therefore we urge you to continue in this way,’’ he said.

Other players, who came top at the tournament, are Brig.Gen. John Shagaya (Rtd), who won the senior men competition; Sgt Amina Wilfred, who won the best gross, and Sand Suwa, who won the longest drive.

T

Tyson Fury

yson Fury has vowed to knockout world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko and sees himself as the real challenge to the Klitschko brothers who have dominated the heavyweight divisions.

He reiterated his desire to take on Wladimir after picking himself up off the canvas to beat Steve Cunningham over the weekend in New York.

It was a far from impressive performance from the Briton, but he fought back to preserve his unbeaten record and he is a step closer to a shot at the younger of the Klitschko brothers.

The IBF eliminator win means only Kubrat Pulev stands between Fury and a shot at Klitschko and he is prepared to take on the Bulgarian on his way to the champion if necessary.

“I have arrived,” Fury said of his win over Cunningham on his US debut. “I can guarantee one thing and that is excitement.

“When Wladimir Klitschko fights me I will knock him out just like I knocked Steve Cunningham out. If I have to go through Pulev first then fine - I will knock him out too.

“I want him next and I am going to do to him what has been done to him three times before. I’ll knock him out.”

Li Na glows as she makes Time Magazine cover C

Li Na

hina lawn tennis Li Na still can’t get over being on the cover of the latest Time Magazine as one of the world’s 100 most influential people. She grinned from ear to ear when her attantion was drawn to the cover yesterday at the Porsche Grand Prix, where she’s the second seed behind Russian title holder Maria Sharapova.

Li smiled, clenched her fists, and said “I was so excited. At first I thought ‘who’s that? I know that girl.’ It is pretty cool.”

The 2011 French Open champion is one of four athletes in the elite list of American magazine, the others being Italian footballer Mario Balotelli, skier Lindsey Vonn and fellow-American basketballer LeBron James.

She follows in the footsteps of other tennis players who have been on the Time list, such as Serena Williams and Roger Federer, with former great Chris Evert saying in her salute that Li has “transcended her sport” and is “such a breath of fresh air.”

Most notably, though, according to Evert, is Li role back home in China.

“Tennis has exploded in China. The country now has some 15 million tennis players;

116 million people watched Li win the French Open. That kind of exposure is crucial to our sport, and it never would have happened without Li. At tournaments, I’ve seen her charm the crowds. When she smiles, everyone melts,” Evert said.

Li, the first Asian player to win a grand slam title with her 2011 triumph in Paris, said: “I wish I can help tennis in China.

There has been a lot of growth in the last six-seven years.

Children now know tennis, they know our life.

“It was very tough when I started. My goal was to be national champion because I couldn’t get any information on what was happening (in tennis) around the world.”

Li expects great players to emerge from her country soon and surpass her in what she names the twilight of her career at age 31.

“They can do much better than me. I have seen so many good players,” Li said. “I am not young anymore. I want to enjoy tennis.”

Li’s immense popularity makes it difficult for her to train in Beijing. Things have become a little better now that she has a private training facility, but she still escapes to Germany where she likes “the

beer” best and regularly trains in Munich.

Now comes Stuttgart where she starts her 2013 clay season which is to culminate at the French Open starting in late May. Li won the Shenzhen title in January and made the Australian Open final where she lost against Victoria Azarenka after rolling her ankle twice. The ailment kept her out of action until the Miami Masters in March where she went out in the quarterfinals against top ranked Serena Williams.

Stuttgart is a good test because seven of the top 10 are set to play there on indoor clay.

The top four - Sharapova, Li, German Angelique Kerber and Sara Errani of Italy - have a first-round bye.

Li has not gone beyond the quarterfinals in her previous showings, but says she has trained well and hard again with coach Carlos Rodriguez.

“The practice is still tough,” she said with a smile, explaining that even her husband as hitting partner is told by Rodriguez to chase her around the court, but maintains the view that her marriage is “much better” now that her husband is no longer her coach.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

PAGE 45

Xavi and Bastian Schweinsteiger are the midfield lynchpins for their respective club Phil Ball headed to the bar to take in Valencia's thrashing of Malaga as the referee sides and are due to face off in the UEFA Champions League. FIFA.looks at a selection of prompted some anger. fascinating numbers involving the pair.

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Great Britain loses their Fed Cup tie against Argentina after Elena Baltacha is beaten by Maria Irigoyen in Buenos Aires.

Priscah Jeptoo capitalises on Tiki Gelana’s fall to win the London Marathon, with Tsegaye Kebede winning the men’s race.

FIFA caught up with USA goalkeeper Hope Solo about her own development, USA's rise to become Olympic champions and the role of Pia Sundhage in the team's success.

Bath confirm they are in talks to sign Wales international Gavin Henson from London Welsh for next season.

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Dortmund hoping for a double over Madrid

B

orussia Dortmund’s players celebrate their victory over Malaga Borussia Dortmund is hoping to repeat their success against

Bayern president Uli Hoeness

Germans worries over Spanish performance in UCL

Real Madrid in this season’s group stage when the teams meet again in their UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg clash at the Signal Iduna Park.

The outgoing German champions took four points off Jose Mourinho’s side. They won 2-1 at home as they finished above the outgoing Spanish champions in Group D. They are now looking to complete a hat-trick of home victories against Spanish opponents in the 2012/13 competition, having beaten Málaga 3-2 in the quarterfinals.

While Dortmund is eyeing a second European Cup final, Madrid is aiming for their 13th.

They have suffered three semifinal defeats since last winning the trophy in 2002 but have got the better of Dortmund at this stage before.

Madrid ended Dortmund’s

B

ayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger (centre) celebrates victory after defeating Juventus Bayern Munich will be brimming with confidence when they face Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions league semi-final tonight.

B

ayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund having reached the Champions League semifinals, there are concerns the German league will suffer from what is being dubbed a ‘Spanish situation’ with the pair set to dominate the Bundesliga for years to come.

Bayern host Barcelona in today’s semifinal first-leg having cruised to the Bundesliga title with alarming ease and a massive 20-point lead, while second-placed Dortmund, who have won the last two league titles, host Real Madrid on Wednesday in the last four.

Bavarian giants Bayern have won 22 of the 50 Bundesliga titles since the competition started, but this season has been extraordinary even by their lofty standards.

Dortmund are one of only four teams to have avoided losing to Bayern in the league as Munich have claimed a record 26 wins from 30 games with four matches still to go this season.

Bayern president Uli Hoeness has voiced concerns of the Bundesliga following the Spanish league, where either Barcelona or Real Madrid have shared the title every year since Valencia’s win in the 2003/04 season.

Hoeness has said the Bundesliga clubs must act to make sure the revenue from television money is distributed fairly among the 18 teams to ensure every club has a fair chance of competing for the title.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp compared this season’s Bundesliga title-race to the Scottish league where Celtic is now dominant after the demise of Glasgow neighbours Rangers.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

reign as European champions when the teams met in the 1997/98 semifinals.

With Bayern Munich hosting Barcelona, there is an added spice to this season’s last four in the Champions League. The Germans have been looking up to Spain for years as a football model, seeking to learn from the nation that ended their country’s hopes of winning titles in two major recent tournaments.

Germany coach Joachim Loew and his colleagues at big Bundesliga clubs have made no secret of their admiration for the Spanish game.

Loew has even adopted a “false nine” system often used by Spain, without a designated striker.

Bayern Munich underlined that respect by making a Spaniard, Javi Martinez, the most expensive acquisition in

Bundesliga history and then went a step farther by hiring a Spaniard as its next coach Pep Guardiola, the former Barcelona icon.

The last four Champions League finals have included either Bayern or Barcelona and these two sides will be involved in an epic battle to book their spot for this season’s finale in Wembley.

The Bavarians defeated Juventus 4-0 on aggregate in the previous round, while the Catalans squeezed through on away goals after their tie against Paris Saint-Germain ended 3-3.

Bayern have already been confirmed as champions in the Bundesliga and that allowed coach Jupp Heynckes to rest some of his regular players during their domestic fixture against Hannover 96 over the weekend.

However, the champions proved to be too strong as they dispatched Hannover 6-1 with Mario Gomez and Claudio Pizzarro netting a brace each, a

positive omen with leading scorer Mario Mandzukic out of the first leg due to suspension.

“Once again, the players have proved we don’t have a B-team, we only have an A-team,” said Heynckes.

“I’m delighted for the players who’ve otherwise not played very often. It’s not always easy, and you repeatedly have to deal with hardship cases.

“I’ll decide who plays against Barcelona on Monday or Tuesday.”

Tito Vilanova’s side also enjoy a healthy 13-point lead in La Liga with just six matches left to play but they were unable to play their normal football over the weekend, labouring to a 1-0 win over Levante.

The Blaugrana will now look to lift their performance for Tuesday’s clash and midfielder Xavi Hernandez says they are

Now, over the next couple of weeks, the Germans will find out how close they have come to their model.

Ronaldo

Confident Bayern await Barcelona already geared up for a demanding encounter.

“Tuesday will be brutal,” Xavi told reporters. “”Munich is a city that lives for football.

“They have one of the most important stadiums in the world, but in the end, of course, we want to be playing in the grand final at Wembley.

“True, they are currently in a stratospheric form,” the Spaniard added. “But in the Champions League the smallest details decide games.

“We will do everything we can to achieve a good result in Munich.”

Lionel Messi has been battling with a hamstring injury and did not feature against Levante on Saturday, but the Argentine is expected to be fit for today’s clash, while Bastian Schweinsteiger is also due to return for the German side.

Barcelona wait on Messi fitness

L

ionel Messi has travelled with Barcelona for today’s Champions League semifinal first leg at Bayern Munich and is expected to start the game at the Allianz Arena.

Messi missed Saturday’s 10 La Liga win over Levante as he continued his recovery from a thigh injury.

Although yet to be given the medical ‘all clear’ by Barca’s doctors, he trained with his team-mates at Barca’s Ciutat Esportiva training ground on Sunday morning, and was on the plane to Munich with the squad yesterday.

While midfielder Sergio Busquets and reserve keeper Jose Pinto also look to have shaken off knocks to be available for the game against the recently crowned Bundesliga champions, Barca’s statement also

confirmed that defenders Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol will miss the game due to injury.

With Adriano Correia suspended, youngster Marc Bartra

Lionel Messi

is expected to be coach Tito Vilanova’s choice to start at centrehalf alongside Gerard Pique.

Barca’s only experienced fit centre-half told AS that he had

faith that Barta, 22, was ready for such a big test.

Pique denied Barta, who was rested against Levante after starting Barca’s three previous La Liga games, was not forceful or decisive enough in challenges.

But he accepted a suggestion that gaining experience away from the Camp Nou, as he himself had done earlier in his career at Manchester United and Real Zaragoza, could help youngblaugrana players develop.

In other team news, Pedro Rodriguez and Alexis Sanchez look set to flank Messi in Barca’s attack against Bayern. That would mean Cesc Fabregas, who got the late winner against Levante on Saturday, and David Villa, who missed a first-half penalty in that game, would be on the bench.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

Strange Life Facts •Since the body of every living organism is made of cells even unicellular organisms are considered as living beings.

•It is said that left handed people live nine years shorter than right handed people.

•The strongest muscle in the human body is the tongue.

•At birth, a baby has about 300 bones, but as it ages to adulthood there are only 206 bones in the body. Additionally, babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2-6 years of age.

•Penguins have the capability to convert salt water to fresh water.

•Sharks do not locate their prey using sight. They use their keen sense of smell and their ability to hear the heart beats of the prey to capture them.

•The mouth has more bacteria then the entire population of the earth.

•The most lethal electric eel can give a shock of 650 volts.

•According to a study, it is very hard to tell a lie to a person whom one finds sexually attractive.

•A mouse reaches sexual maturity in 35 days, while a female gorilla reaches that stage in six years.

•Swearing is distinctly separate from speech and is also located in a different part of the brain.

•The average force of the sneeze can be as high as 100 kilometers per hour. So, sometimes sneeze can dislocate the spine, rapture the ear drum or even cause a heart attack.

•About one billion grains of pollen can be released by a single ragweed plant.

•It has been found that snails can sleep for three years without eating anything.

•Pain travels through the body at 350 feet per second.

•The only fish that can blink both the eyes is the shark.

•The largest eyes in the world are those of giant squids.

•On an average, it takes about seven minutes to fall asleep.

•The formidable hair of the rhinoceroses is made of compacted hair.

•Every minute about 300 million cells die in the body.

•Almost 85% of all plant life lies in the ocean.

•Did you know that the human brain is capable of processing more than 70, 000 thoughts in a day and apparently contains more ideas than the total number of atoms known to man? Also, were you aware that all human thinking is done by chemicals and 'electricity'?

Truly weird!

•You must know that a human body depends on arteries, capillaries and veins to transport blood in the body. However, did you know that if all these blood vessels

PAGE 47

Say what?

SUDOKU

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Last edition’s solution

That's got to hurt: A tractor drives over Balbir Singh (right) and Lakha Singh (left) at India's Rural Olympics Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE There is no single member of the amnesty committee who is capable of reaching out to the Boko Haram sect.

. . . putting the people first

TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2013

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Wolves now wants N100m for Mba, give Rangers deadline for Agbim

W

arri Wolves now wants Rangers or any other domestic league demanding the services of AFCON hero Sunday Mba to be ready to cough out N100m transfer fee for the player.

Also, the club have given Enugu Rangers two weeks ultimatum to pay up an agreed N8m transfer fee for Chigozie Agbim. "We also have it documented that Rangers would pay the said amount within two weeks.

"Before the Nations Cup we had told Rangers to bring about N15m for his services, but right now I am not sure Mba would go for anything less than N100m," stated a top official of the club.

Last week, Rangers confirmed they have cleared Nigeria international goalkeeper Agbim from Wolves and so the player manned goal for them in Sunday’s CAF Champions League third round clash at home.

Vice chairman of Warri Wolves, Alex Amudo, confirmed to a wire service yesterday that both teams have agreed the fee. "We agreed that Rangers should pay N8m for Chigozie Agbim down from our initial demand of N15m.

Meanwhile, Rangers officials are confident they will soon resolve the transfer logjam involving AFCON hero Sunday Mba, who is also expected to shift base from Warri Wolves.

Overseas-bound Sunday Mba has not featured in the league since winning the Nations Cup with the Super Eagles in February. His only competitive game was the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Kenya last month in Calabar.

Sunday Mba

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- Bulami Mali Gubio, spokesman, Borno Elders and Leaders of Thought on why the government-appointed panel to work out an amnesty deal with Boko Haram will fail

Margaret Thatcher and misapplied death etiquette N

ews of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s death (in the morning of April 8) instantly and predictably gave rise to righteous sermons on the evils of speaking ill of her.

British Labour MP Tom Watson decreed: “I hope that people on the left of politics respect a family in grief today.” Following in the footsteps of Santa Claus, Steve Hynd quickly compiled a list of all the naughty boys and girls “on the left” who dared to express criticisms of the dearly departed Prime Minister, warning that he “will continue to add to this list throughout the day”. Former Tory MP Louise Mensch, with no apparent sense of irony, invoked precepts of propriety to announce: “Pygmies of the left so predictably embarrassing yourselves, know this: not a one of your leaders will ever be globally mourned like her.”

This demand for respectful silence in the wake of a public figure’s death is not just misguided but dangerous. That one should not speak ill of the dead is arguably appropriate when a private person dies, but it is wildly inappropriate for the death of a controversial public figure, particularly one who wielded significant influence and political power. “Respecting the grief” of Thatcher’s family members is appropriate if one is friends with them or attends a wake they organize, but the protocols are fundamentally different when it comes to public discourse about the person’s life and political acts. I made this argument at length last year when Christopher Hitchens died and a speak-no-ill rule about him was instantly imposed (a rule he, more than anyone, viciously violated), and I won’t repeat that argument today; those interested can read my reasoning here.

But the key point is this: those who admire the deceased public figure (and their politics) aren’t silent at all. They are aggressively exploiting the emotions generated by the person’s death to create hagiography. Typifying these highly dubious claims about Thatcher was this (appropriately diplomatic) statement from President Obama: “The world has lost one of the great champions of freedom and liberty, and America has lost a true friend.”

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GUEST COLUMNIST Gleen Greenwald

Margaret Thatcher Those gushing depictions can be quite consequential, as it was for the week-long tidal wave of unbroken reverence that was heaped on Ronald Reagan upon his death, an episode that to this day shapes how Americans view him and the political ideas he symbolized. Demanding that no criticisms be voiced to counter that hagiography is to enable false history and a propagandistic whitewashing of bad acts, distortions that become quickly ossified and then endure by virtue of no opposition and the

powerful emotions created by death. When a political leader dies, it is irresponsible in the extreme to demand that only praise be permitted but not criticisms.

Whatever else may be true of her, Thatcher engaged in incredibly consequential acts that affected millions of people around the world. She played a key role not only in bringing about the first Gulf War but also using her influence to publicly advocate for the 2003 attack on Iraq. She denounced Nelson Mandela and his ANC as “terrorists”, something even David Cameron ultimately admitted was wrong. She was a steadfast friend to brutal tyrants such as Augusto Pinochet, Saddam Hussein and Indonesian dictator General Suharto (“One of our very best and most valuable friends”).

And as my Guardian colleague Seumas Milne detailed last year, “across Britain Thatcher is still hated for the damage she inflicted – and for her political legacy of rampant inequality and greed, privatisation and social breakdown.”

To demand that all of that be ignored in the face of one-sided requiems to her nobility and greatness is a bit bullying and tyrannical, not to mention warped. As David Wearing put

“

This demand for respectful silence in the wake of a public figure's death is not just misguided but dangerous.

That one should not speak ill of the dead is arguably appropriate when a private person dies, but it is wildly inappropriate for the death of a controversial public figure, particularly one who wielded significant influence and political power.

it this morning in satirizing these speak-no-ill-of-thedeceased moralists: “People praising Thatcher’s legacy should show some respect for her victims. Tasteless.” Tellingly, few people have trouble understanding the need for balanced commentary when the political leaders disliked by the west pass away. Here, for instance, was what the Guardian reported upon the death last month of Hugo Chavez: To the millions who detested him as a thug and charlatan, it will be occasion to bid, vocally or discreetly, good riddance.”

Nobody, at least that I know of, objected to that observation on the ground that it was disrespectful to the ability of the Chavez family to mourn in peace. Any such objections would have been invalid. It was perfectly justified to note that, particularly as the Guardian also explained that “to the millions who revered him – a third of the country, according to some polls – a messiah has fallen, and their grief will be visceral.” Chavez was indeed a divisive and controversial figure, and it would have been reckless to conceal that fact out of some misplaced deference to the grief of his family and supporters. He was a political and historical figure and the need to accurately portray his legacy and prevent misleading hagiography easily outweighed precepts of death etiquette that prevail when a private person dies.

Exactly the same is true of Thatcher. There’s something distinctively creepy - in a Roman sort of way - about this mandated ritual that our political leaders must be heralded and consecrated as saints upon death. This is accomplished by this baseless moral precept that it is gauche or worse to balance the gushing praise for them upon death with valid criticisms.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with loathing Margaret Thatcher or any other person with political influence and power based upon perceived bad acts, and that doesn’t change simply because they die. If anything, it becomes more compelling to commemorate those bad acts upon death as the only antidote against a society erecting a false and jingoistically self-serving history.

Culled from The Guardian

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 805 727 9862. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141