Peoples Daily Newspaper, Thursday, May 24, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 8 No. 44

Thursday, May 24, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Rajab 3, 1433 AH

N150

Gowon wants Boko Haram to embrace dialogue or…

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

F

ormer Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon yesterday told the Boko Haram sect to either embrace dialogue offered by the federal government or be

ready for “fire for fire”.

Speaking at the 2012 Oyo state Education Summit held at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, Gowon said the sect’s insurgency had lasted long enough and he urged a ceasefire across the country

“Boko Haram sect has two options, either they accept and embrace dialogue or Nigerian security operatives engage them in an open fire for fire approach but I pray they embrace dialogue in their own interest,” the former

leader said.

He appealed for patience from Nigerian, saying the government “is trying its best and is ever ready” to tackle insecurity and other related challenges confronting the nation.

Job seekers in front of Chams City office at Central Area in Abuja, yesterday

Gowon pleaded with the political opposition not to the government of not doing anything about the problem, saying that “terrorism is a global phenomenon which cannot be Contd on Page 2

Photo: NAN

Senators reply Obasanjo

Point out the rogues among us Reps order investigation

By Umar Mohammed Puma

T

he Senate has challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to name the criminals and rogues he alleged

to be in the National Assembly.

On its part, the House of Representatives yesterday in plenary ordered on investigation into Obasanjo’s allegation.

Senate spokesman

Nigeria is world’s sickle cell anaemia capital, says WHO >> PAGE 2

Enyinnaya Abaribe announced the Senate’s position at a news conference yesterday in Abuja.

It was called to respond to newspaper reports credited to the former President alleging

3 killed, 1 injured in Benue cult clash >> PAGE 5

that there were rogues and criminals in parliament.

Abaribe said the Senate would not allow itself to be dragged into any exchange with the former President.

He said rather Obasanjo would be doing the nation a great service by making known the identities of those lawmakers he referred to as dubious Contd on Page 2

Kwara to grant Miyetti Allah raises alarm over impending N500 million facility to SMEs Plateau attacks >> PAGE 6

>> PAGE 19

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Earth

27

Newsxtra

30

Nigeria doesn’t back US push Point out on Boko Haram, says Minister the rogues among us

A

United States Congress push to designate Nigerian militant group Boko Haram a “foreign terrorist organisation” would not help efforts to start dialogue and does not have Nigeria’s backing, Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed said yesterday.

Boko Haram, which backs the implementation of Sharia in the Northern states and dismisses western education as “haram” (sacrilege), has been linked to 700 killings in over the last 18 months.

It is believed to have links to al Qaeda.

“We are looking at a dialogue to establish the grievances of the Boko Haram”, said Mohammed on the sidelines of a meeting between South Africa and Nigeria in Cape Town.

“I think the attempt to declare

them an international terrorist organization will not be helpful.”

The federal government held indirect talks with Boko Haram in March, but discussions broke down quickly and the militant group said it could not trust the government.

Recently top government officials and politicians including Vice-President Namadi Sambo and Senate President David Mark have spoken strongly in favour of dialogue with the sect.

Pressure has been growing on the Obama administration to formally designate Boko Haram a “foreign terrorist organisation.”

Scott Brown, a Republican senator from Massachusetts, wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton late last week, urging her to designate the group as a terrorist organization.

U.S. Representatives Peter King and Patrick Meehan, chairmen of the House Homeland Security Committee and its counterterrorism subcommittee, released a letter they sent to Clinton suggesting the administration was moving too slowly.

Boko Haram, which means “western education is sinful”, has claimed responsibility for months of attacks in Nigeria’s northern states.

Its attacks have mainly targeted the police, churches and outdoor drinking areas.

“Boko Haram is not operating in America and America is not operating in Nigeria,” said Mohammed.

“They are not involved in our internal security operations, so I don’t think it would be of much significance really in that respect.

But we don’t support it.”

Nigeria is world’s sickle cell anaemia capital, says WHO

By Julius Ogar

M Blatter says FIFA gradually becoming corruption free, Page 41

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

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

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ore than 30 million Nigerians are carriers of the sickle cell anaemia, Senator Gyang Dantong, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, has said.

“The carrier frequency of anaemia is between 20 per cent and 30 per cent in Nigeria and findings have shown that with its population, there are over 30 million carriers,’’ Dantong, a medical doctor, said yesterday in Jos, the Plateau state capital.

In a paper ‘Sickle cell anaemia: a genetic disease of public health concern’ he presented at the Alumni Lecture of the University of Jos, Dantong said that 20 in every 1000 new born babies in Nigeria are carriers, adding that out of the 200,000 fresh cases recorded in Africa annually 150,000 are Nigerians.

30m Nigerians are carriers “Results of the findings are frightening and this is why the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2006 reported that Nigeria was the world’s capital of sickle cell anaemia,” he said.

He described sickle cell anaemia as worse than HIV/ AIDS in mortality and morbidity rates, as well as economic losses.

According to Premium Times, Dantong called for planned and sustained policies to prevent it, and suggested intense counselling for intending couples as a major step.

He also called for legislative backing to compel intending couples to be tested before marriage.

The senator has suggested

the establishment of a test centre in each of the 774 local government areas for early detection, proper management and care of victims.

He also advocated the screening of new born babies, using the High Performance Liquid Chromatography, establishment of bone marrow transplant centres in the six geopolitical zones and free treatment for children under five years.

“But we must note that government alone cannot tackle sickle cell anaemia; the NGOs, faith-based organizations and philanthropic individuals should pick up the challenge in the fight against it to help the society,’’ he said.

Don’t let Nigeria break up, world Muslim, Christian leaders tell FG From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

A

20-man international in ter-faith delegation of Muslim and Christian leaders led Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad of Jordan and General Secretary of World Council of Churches, Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, arrived Nigeria yesterday and told the nation’s leaders to do everything possible so that Nigeria does not break up.

Speaking at an interactive session with a cross section of

religious leaders in Kaduna, Muhammad, said to be a direct descendant of the Prophet of Islam, said that Nigerian leaders should always preach unity to the citizens, adding that “no matter the problem, do not allow Nigeria to break up because the country is better off together as an entity.

“You have the greatest responsibility to make Nigerians live peacefully. We believe in your country, and you live together as human beings, work-

ing for the development of the country.”

The delegation had earlier visited Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, where Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa urged the international community to come to the aid of displaced victims of the post-April 2011 presidential election violence in the area.

Yakowa described the violence as devastating as several people were killed and property destroyed.

Contd from Page 1 characters.

“The National Assembly has great respect for the person of the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the National will never engage in any talkback to the president,” Abaribe said.

“We actually feel that the former President would help the National Assembly and Nigeria, in the new spirit of transparency and openness, by naming those that he knows as either rogues or criminals.

“The Senate commends him (Obasanjo) for his concern and contributions to the development of the country.”

Abaribe urged “well meaning Nigerians” to assist the National Assembly with relevant information to promote transparency and openness in governance.

“This will help us to sanitize the polity and we sincerely thank him (Obasanjo) for his role in Nigeria as someone who cares very deeply about the Nigerian state and how it is at the moment”, he said.

“We also urge other Nigerians who are concerned about Nigeria to, in the spirit of transparency, let us know whatever information that they have so that we can use it to check ourselves to make Nigeria a better place.’’

Also reacting to Obasanjo’s comment, the Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties Chairman (CNPP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, said “if our senators are criminals and rogues Obasanjo should tell Nigerians how many former presidents are rogues and criminals.”

He said the CNPP has instituted a case against him (Obasanjo) at the Federal High Court, Abuja for mismanagement of public funds during the eight years of his presidency.

Gowon wants Boko Haram to embrace dialogue or…

Contd from Page 1

solved over-night.”

“People of this country should stop painting government as irresponsible about the issue of insecurity”, he said, adding, “Nigerian don’t know what it takes to tackle terrorism anywhere in the world.”

He expressed confidence in the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies operatives to overcome the problem very soon.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 3

Jonathan swears in youth devt minister

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has directed the Minister of Education, Prof.

Ruqayyatu Rufai to flush out those he described as “political students” who gained admission into the University of Abuja through the back door.

He gave the order for the setting up of a committee for that purpose after swearing in Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir from Sokoto state and six new members of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) shortly before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in State House Abuja yesterday.

Abdulkadir who has now been deployed to Ministry of Youth

Development, replaces Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman also from Sokoto state who resigned his post as minister of sport to contest the last gubernatorial election of the state, which he lost.

With this development, former Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, who has also been overseeing Sports, now retains the Sports Ministry as the substantive Minister.

The President who regretted the decay in the civil service and the need to cleanse the system, noted that things could not be allowed to continue the way they were.

According to him, “during political dispensation, we hear too many stories about political influences about employment of people into government.”

Don’t interfere with prosecution of oil subsidy thieves, group warns AGF Barrister Inuwa Abdulkadir taking the oath of office as new Minister of Youths Development before President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

JTF raids militants’ hideout, kills 1 in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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he Joint Military Task Force (JTF), in Borno state said yesterday that its troops raided a hideout of suspected militants in Gamboru ward of Maiduguri, the capital city, killing one person.

Spokesman of the JTF, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa in a statement issued to newsmen, explained that the task force was tipped on the presence of suspected terrorists in

compound at the area, which prompted a team of soldiers to storm the house.

According to Lt-Col. Musa, when the soldiers raided the residence, the suspect opened fire at their direction, leading to a gun duel, which left the terrorist dead.

“At about 5 35 am on Wednesday, following a tip off from concerned citizens, our men were directed to the residence of a terrorist who was gunned down after a massive gun battle, while two AK47 rifle, 1623 round of

7.62mm ammunition, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition were recovered”, he added.

The spokesman also stated that a Chadian was arrested in Sinimari area while trying to steal an electric generator set.

He explained that a search was conducted the suspect’s house, leading to the recovery of several items comprising of 10 cartons of unassembled motorbikes, bike engines, five DVD players and 75 packets of SIM cards, among others.

Cop, civilian killed by robbery suspects From Sadeeq Aliyu, Sokoto

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esidents of Marina area of Sokoto metropolis were thrown into confusion in the early hours of yesterday when suspected armed robbers shot a policeman and a civilian in a bid to free their colleague arrested Tuesday night after a robbery incident.

Our reporter gathered that there was a robbery at Zumunci Pharmacy on Sultan Abubakar road Tuesday night, in which which one of the suspects was arrested by police. It was learnt

that at around 6 a.m. yesterday, the robbery suspects who escaped, regrouped to attack Marina police station where they suspected their colleague might have been detained.

Sources revealed that on their way to the police station on foot, they sighted one of the supposedly policemen who arrested their colleague and opened fire on him and a civilian who was around when the incident occurred.

The state’s commissioner of police, Aliyu Musa confirmed the story and identified the slain police

officer as Inspector Adamu Sai`du while civilian killed along with him was found to be one Sani Abdulkarim, a tailor within the area.

He also said the robbery suspect arrested was Haruna Hamza by name, who hails from Ambursa village in Kebbi. According to the commissioner, efforts have been intensified to track down the remaining suspects.

Meanwhile, the police commissioner has dismissed the rumour that some explosives were found at the scene of the robbery incident, saying that it was purely a robbery attack.

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), yesterday, warned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke not to interfere with the prosecution of the oil thieves indicted in the House of Representatives’ probe report on subsidy management.

CACOL executive chairman, Debo Adeniran, in a press statement, noted that the Minister of Justice lacks credibility to handle the herculean task of the prosecuting the persons and corporate organisations indicted in the report, coupled with his alleged investments in some of the oil

companies fingered by the House of Representatives’ report.

“Mr. Mohammed Adoke has been found to be aiding and abetting crimes and criminality; he has withdrawn many corruption cases from the courts.

He is a sympathiser of many corrupt Nigerians; we hope handling over the report to him is not to poke holes in the evidence contained in the report.

“We are not opposed to diligent investigation and prosecution of the heartless cabals who looted public funds with impunity, but we hope this is not a delay tactic to douse the threats from every quarter, an attempt to make the time factor intervene,” Comrade Adeniran said.

Help us tackle smuggling, Customs appeals to EFCC

By Lambert Tyem

T

he Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde yesterday in Abuja appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to come to the aid of his Service in tackling the rising tide of smuggling in the country.

He made the appeal during a courtesy call on the EFCC chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja.

According to Ag. Head, Media & Publicity of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, Dikko noted that smuggling of vehicles should no longer be blamed on innocent buyers but on the dealers and threatened

that Customs officers found harassing motorists over smuggling will henceforth be arrested.

“Innocent people are harassed along the road while driving their vehicles which they bought legitimately from car dealers. The dealers that really smuggled these cars are left displaying the vehicles along the road with impunity.

“I will like to seek the assistance of the EFCC to attack the disease rather than the symptoms. The person who bought such cars innocently does not deserve the harassment being meted out to him by our officers. Honestly, such harassment is illegal.

“I have sent a message to officers harassing innocent persons on this issue that they will also be arrested”, he promised.

Court sets aside warrant for Saraki’s arrest over alleged N21bn fraud

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

A

Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, set aside the warrant of arrest issued against the immediate past governor of Kwara state, Senator Bukola Saraki.

The trial judge, Justice Gladys Olotu, while ruling on Saraki's

application to withdraw his application seeking to stop the police from arresting him, said that the police undermined the authority of the court when it issued a warrant for Saraki's arrest and also declared him wanted after they (the police) submitted to the jurisdiction of the court.

She also set aside the order

issued by the police declaring Saraki wanted, on the grounds that such an order foisted a fait accompli on the court.

The judge rejected the arguments of the police counsel, Mr. Femi Falana that the court did not have the power to stop the police from carrying out their constitutional duties.

According to her, once a party has submitted a dispute to the court and the other party has been served; the proper thing to do is to allow the court to determine the dispute.

The Judge however said that the plaintiff's case has been overtaken by events, adding that: I’m of the view that the

plaintiff has unfettered right to come to court.”

She upheld the arguments of counsel to Saraki, Mr. Lawal Rabana that it did not lie in the mouth of a party to declare a case an abuse of court but that it should be the duty of the court to so declare after hearing all the parties.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 4

Navy celebrates week, to commission locally built vessels

By A’isha Biola Raji

T

he Nigerian Navy is set to commence its 56th anniversary celebration this week with the commissioning of a locally constructed 31 metre Seaward Defence Boat.

This was disclosed by Naval Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral James Bamidele Oladimeji while briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday.

Oladimeji said commissioning of the vessel by President Goodluck Jonathan would be last on the agenda of the weeklong event starting from Thursday, May 24, to Friday June 1.

According to him, the Seaward Defence Boat which is geared towards achieving the transformation agenda is the first locally constructed vessels in the West African sub region which represents leadership position of the Nigerian Navy.

He said, “it is expected that this milestone would herald a future of sustained development in the Navy towards achieving national transformation.”

Among other achievements recalled by the Navy was taking delivery of an offshore patrol vessel from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) which had since been renamed NNS THUNDER. The new patrol vessel according to him, has arrested illegal vessels on the country’s waterways.

On security challenges in the country namely trafficking, militancy, sabotage, piracy and attacks on shipping, Oladimeji called for creation of a third operational command with its temporary headquarters at Yenagoa. This according to him, was to improve capacity of Nigerian Navy especially in the Niger Delta.

Ogun police arrest four suspects, recover weapons From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

O

gun State Police Command has yesterday arrested four suspects in connection with recovered ammunitions comprising 26 AK 47 Magazines, 7 Pump Action rifles and 20 live cartridges as well as charms.

The Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa

Adejobi disclosed this feat to newsmen in Abeokuta, explaining in the press statement that the discovery and arrest took place at Ifo town, in Ifo Local Government Area of the state.

He gave the names of the suspects as Ugochukwu Anih, Ndubusi Kingsley,Ismail Rahman, Ayomide Adedoyin, adding that the suspects are due to appear in court as soon as

investigations were concluded by the authority.

In a related development, Adejobi said that three suspects were arrested with vandalized NITEL cable in Iperu town of the state. The suspects identities are Balogun Abiodun, Lateef Muritala and Shehu Sulaiman.

The command assured that it would not relent in its efforts to protect lives and property in the state and environs

ACN wants EFFC to probe Kwara Assembly scandal From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Kwara state chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has called on anti graft agencies to intervene in the allegation of mismanagement of House of Assembly fund levelled against the Speaker, Barrister Abdulrazaq Atunwa by the former Chief Whip, Alhaji Iliyasu Ibrahim who has been relieved of his post.

The ACN also condemned the manner in which the Assembly members treated the petition against the Speaker and other leaders in the House.

The party’s state chairman, Mr. Kayode Olawepo in a statement made available to journalists in Ilorin yesterday, described the action of the lawmakers as inhuman.

“Kwara ACN is disturbed at the happenings in our dear state, especially the dance of shame in the State House of Assembly, the overbearing attitude of the PDP which now determines how the

House is run, and the inhuman treatment being meted to Hon. Iliyasu Ibrahim just for speaking out against what he deemed to be corrupt tendencies of Speaker Razaq Atunwa.

“Firstly, we reject the outcome of the kangaroo committee which dismissed the petitions written against Speaker Razaq Atunwa. The haste with which the committee concluded its assignment raised genuine concerns about possible hijack by the PDP leadership, led by no other person than a senator whose name is synonymous with corruption and abuse of office.

“The allegations made against Atunwa were made against him as the Speaker, not as a PDP member.

Therefore, its investigation must involve the members of the opposition party in the House for it at least to show that it was not treated as a purely PDP affair. That did not take place”, he said.

Kano couple found dead in car buried From Bala Nasir, Kano

T

he bodies of the couple found in a car at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital’s parking lot were buried yesterday in Kano.

The funeral rites conducted by their respective families at the hospital performed after doctors had carried out autopsy on both the deceased.

Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Malam Aminu Inuwa told Peoples Daily that the families decided to hold the funeral rites in the premises of the hospital and thereafter took their bodies to a graveyard and buried them there.

He, however, stated that any information about the circumstances of their death could only be released by the police.

Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer of Kano command, DSP Rilwanu Dutse,

confirmed that bodies of the couple have been released to their families.

Yobe state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam (middle), speaking during an inspection of ongoing reconstruction of Potiskum-Jakusko-Garin Alkali road project, yesterday. With him was the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo (2nd left).

iPad theft: Orphanage disowns suspect

By Mohammed Kandi

T

he Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Christ Treasured Royal Orphanage located in BokoKwali, Abuja, has disowned one Pastor Ayim Emmanuel, arrested last Saturday for allegedly stealing an iPad at a book launch and who claimed he was an employee of the ministry.

Director of Orphanage,

‘How we found ghost commissioner’ From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

P

lateau state government said the discovery of a ghost commissioner, on the state government payroll was as a result of the introduction of computer data base.

Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Davous Mans, stated this at the on-going scorecard presentation by the state’s administration adding that those who forged the appointment letter of the ghost

commissioner are currently on suspension.

According to him, the letter of appointment of the ghost commissioner was forged and slot into the computer data base with those behind the forgery only going to the bank to collect the salary.

He said government was yet to ascertain the amount paid to the ghost commissioner but emphasised that those involved might be on their way out of the civil service.

Chaplain Commandant Erhuotor Abraham Efe, according to a statement issued on behalf of the BoT, distanced the Orphanage from such act, declaring that “Pastor Emmanuel Ayim as published in People’s Media on the 22nd of May, 2012, as the Coordinator of Christ Treasured Orphanage is not known to the management of the Home.”

“He is impersonating and extorting money from people for his personal benefit, the public is hereby informed that the Orphanage’s image is being tarnished by this individual and probably others.

Whoever transacts business with him does so at his or her own risk for the Orphanage has no agent or broker employed for such purpose.” the Director said.

Meanwhile, a member of the Board of Trustee, of the orphanage, Evangelist Christopher Jonas, who said the ministry was infuriated at reading from the pages of newspaper such “shocking development”, described the incident as deliberate attempt to tarnish the image and reputation of the organisation.

According to him, “the

ministry has full knowledge of all its employees as all employment procedure must be scrutinized by the BoT and we have never engaged any name called Anyim Emmanuel, but I am not surprised because most criminals use religion just to get off the hook.”

Evangelist Jonas also said: “my attention was drawn to the publication by our Chairman, Rev. Abraham Erhuotor who is overseeing the Bayelsa branch of the orphanage, directing me to intervene before our image is battered by an imposter.”

On investigation “the Police told me the suspect, Anyim Emmanuel, was released two days earlier and that he is currently awaiting trial in Wuse Zone 6 Court on charge of theft, but they didn’t mention the date neither did they cite the time,” Evangelist Jonas explained.

It would be recalled the suspect was on Saturday 23, 2012, arrested, a day after he made away with an iPad, belonging to a journalist while presenting himself as part of the organizers of the book launch held at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre on the said date.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 5

3 die, 1 injured in Benue cult clash From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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hree persons were killed while one was critically injured yesterday as two rival secret cult groups clashed at the Benue State University, Makurdi.

The incident occurred at the first campus of the institution

when suspected cultists invaded a house on Pever Agenga Street, Logo 2 and killed one Dennis Terna Gabin, a 200 level Biology student of the university.

Our correspondent also gathered that the cultists had earlier at Logo 1 area of Makurdi, axed another student to death.

An eyewitness who lives in the

compound where the incident happened, told our correspondent that the cult boys numbered about 10 came to the house in the midnight and forced the student’s door open.

He said that the cultists shot sporadically in the air after macheting the student to death and quickly left the house

while students fled their residence.

However, the incident triggered a reprisal attack from a rival cult group who went on rampage and also inflicted severe machete cuts on another student whom they left in a pool of his blood.

The new Police Public

Relations Officer in the state, DSP Philip Agena, who confirmed the incident, said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of E’ Division had intimated him of the clash in the morning adding that his men have been deployed to the area to prevent further attacks, adding that no arrest have been made yet.

INEC lawyer stalls certificate forgery trial against Rep From Sadeeq Aliyu, Sokoto

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earing in the case of alleged forgery of certificate against Bello A. Ka’oje, a member of the House of Representatives representing Bagudo/Suru Federal Constituency of Kebbi state at the Federal High Court Sokoto, has been further adjourned due to the absence of INEC’s counsel.

When the case came up for hearing yesterday, counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Steve Nwoke, told the court that there was no representation from the second defendant which is INEC and sought for adjournment and urged the court to serve INEC counsel with notice of hearing in the next adjourned date.

Counsel to Bello Ka’oje Mr. K. Ogbonna, did not object to the plea for adjournment and Justice I M Sani adjourned the case to June 14th, 2012 for continuation of hearing.

In the suit filed by Abubakar

Ahmed, he is asking the court to find out whether Ka’oje did not give false information to (INEC) in the form CF 001 he submitted to INEC for the purposes of election to the position of member representing Bagudo/Suru Federal Constituency in Kebbi state during the 2011 election.

He also sought the court to determine whether Ka’oje is not liable to be disqualified from holding the position of member House of Representatives and if the election has been concluded.

The plaintiff deposed to affidavit that the defendant did not finish from Government Secondary School Ka’oje in 2006 and was also not admitted into Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa in 2004; adding that Ka’oje actually dropped out of GSS Ka’oje in 1990.

He alleged that by 2004 when Ka’oje claimed to have been admitted to Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, he had no school certificate that he could have used to secure admission in the said polytechnic.

Tell me the truth, Shettima tasks aides From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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orno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, yesterday called on his commissioners and special advisers participating in an ongoing retreat to tell him the true situation in all sectors of the state’s economy and not to defend the government.

Governor Shettima who gave the charge at a close-door technical

session of the retreat holding at Government House in Maiduguri, noted that it is only when top officials open up on problems that solutions will be proffered to move the state forward.

The governor’s spokesman, Isa Umar Gusau, who disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday, said that the governor also tasked the commissioners to get set to brief the session on what they plan to achieve and provide a time frame within which they are to accomplish their goals.

‘Accountants, builders, other professionals aid corruption’

By Lambert Tyem

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he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, in Abuja lamented the high rate of connivance of professionals with fraudsters in committing economic crimes in the country.

Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, noted that accountants, builders and other professional bodies are major tools for corruption in the country.

According to Lamorde, professionals are always linked to most technical issues involved in many economic crimes the commission is investigating.

“Most of the corrupt cases we encounter are aided by one

professional or another. In money laundering for example, bankers and accountants are involved, in estate and property- related crimes, quantity surveyors are also involved,” he said.

Wilson Uwujaren Ag. Head, Media & Publicity of EFCC, said Lamorde made this observation while receiving a delegation of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), led by its President, Mr. Segun Ajanlekoko.

The EFCC helmsman urged the association to identify bad eggs in its fold and sanction such people, stressing that it was not in all cases that people steal raw cash but in some instances rely on professionals to doctor documents that will aid them in perpetrating corrupt acts.

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday at State House, Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Kano censorship tribunal jails pornography dealer From Bala Nasir, Kano

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he Kano state Censorship Tribunal has sentenced one Muhyiddin of Sabon Gari quarters in Kano to one year imprisonment for selling pornographic CD plates in his shop located within Sabon Gari residential area.

Counsel to Kano Censorship Board, Barrister Hassan Hussain, had earlier told the tribunal that Muhyiddin was found in possession

of 115 copies of pornographic CD plates when his shop was raided by officials of the board.

This according to him, contravenes sections 94 and 97(a) of Kano State Cinematographic Licence and Regulation Law of 2001 which makes the accused liable for conviction to a one year imprisonment or a fine of N50,000.

When the presiding magistrate, Sani Isma’il asked Muhyiddin to defend himself on the allegation, he pleaded guilty

to the charge.

At this point therefore, counsel to the Censorship Board, Hassan Hussain, applied for trial summarily because the accused had pleaded guilty as provided in section 157 of the CPC. At this juncture, Magistrate Sani Isma’il however, asked if there is any previous record of conviction against the accused but was told there wasn’t any.

Delivering his judgement, Magistrate Sani Isma’il, said obscene or pornographic pictures have the tendency to corrupt public minds.

Bank guard beaten to death over alleged traffic offence From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

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alamity befell the family of Samuel Adoke, a security guard with a first generation bank in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, yesterday, when the said Samuel was allegedly beaten to death by officials of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps.

Our correspondent gathered that the man met his untimely death in the hands of the agency

officials for allegedly contravening traffic order, having been accused of driving on the 6-lane road scheduled for commissioning next Monday It was learnt that the victim who was riding on motorcycle, was flagged down by the officials in Oke-Sokori area of the town, but in reaction told the traffic officers that that was the only route to his home which he could access, a development which was said to have resulted in an argument.

In the course of the argument

officials of the traffic agency were alleged to have pounced on Adoke, which subsequently made the victim to slump, while the officials fled the scene.

As at the time of this report, one of the suspects has been arrested by the police, while others are on the run. The Commander of the Traffic Agency, Ayo Sangofadeji refused to speak on the issue when contacted.

The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed the incident stressing that Ogun state Commissioner of Police, Okoye Ikhemefuna has ordered full investigation into the matter.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

STF kills 2 Kogi robbers amidst upsurge in attacks From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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wo notorious armed robbers who have been making life unbearable for commuters along Ankpa-AdokaOtukpo-Makurdi road in the eastern flank of Kogi state, have been shot dead by a combined effort of joint military and police task force recently constituted.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ankpa, Mr. Adebowale Williams who disclosed this to news hunters in Ankpa, expressed police readiness to comb the nooks and crannies of the local government to wipe out the undesirable elements.

Mr. Williams who called on the people to be vigilant, said that the recent armed attack on the ancient town of Ankpa was an ill-wind.

He urged the criminals operating within the territory of Ankpa to repent or leave as the area could not accommodate criminals..

While urging the general public to give useful information the police on miscreants, he tasked the people to reject criminals in their midst.

It would be recalled that a woman returning from hospital after being bed ridden for seven months was shot dead by robbers operating along Ankpa-AdokaOtukpo road at Emere junction A vigilante leader from the community, who would not want his name in print has called on authorities to deal decisively with those caught to serve as deterrent to others, stressing that the killing of the woman who survived from the hospital, was pathetic

Miyyeti Allah raises alarm over alleged plot to attack Plateau From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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he Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has alerted the Special Task Force (STF) in Plateau state over plans by an unidentified group to launch fresh attacks on the people of Plateau state.

In a letter addressed to the Commander of STF and signed by the state secretary of the association, Malam

Muhammad Nuru Abdullahi, the association expressed surprise that while the process of reconciliation between the association and the Beroms in the state, initiated by STF is already yielding positive results, some group of people are planning to unleash mayhem on them.

According to the letter, “Our intelligence gathering has intimated us of a plan by some disgruntle elements

among the Beroms who are organising and training their members to launch a fresh attack on the Fulani".

The letter further alleged a conspiracy with some personnel of the STF to get involved in the impending attack, urging the STF commander and other security operatives to rise and protect the lives and property of its members and other innocent citizens.

Workshop for Fadama III community facilitators rounds off

By Muhammad Sada

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training workshop on rural infrastructure management organised for Fadama III community facilitators rounded off yesterday after a week and two days session (from 14th to 23rd of this month), with Fasen Consulting Managers as the training consultants.

The workshop, which took place at Area1, Garki, Abuja, was to develop the manpower capabilities

of the project community facilitators so as to enhance the achievement of the desired goals of Fadama III project which are: to increase the incomes of users of rural land and water resources on a sustainable basis.

It would also facilitate demanddriven investments and empowerment of local community groups, improve productivity and land quality.

Fadama III community project is assisted by the World Bank.

Borno spends N50m on water supply monthly From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri orno state government said yesterday that the sum of N50 million is being spent monthly on the provision of potable water in Maiduguri and environs.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Mai Sheriff, disclosed this at a ministerial press briefing as parts of activities marking the forthcoming Democracy Day. The commissioner said though the administration inherited the current security challenges facing the state, they were able to drill 100 boreholes and rehabilitated 2000 existing ones within the first 100

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days in office.

He said "the Maiduguri Water Treatment Plant is providing over 45 million liters of water daily to most parts of Maiduguri and Jere local government areas in addition to drilling of over 135 boreholes across the state".

Alhaji Sheriff stated that the ministry procured various water treatment chemicals to run the Maiduguri treatment plant, 48 trucks of AGO and 21 drums of engine oil within the period under review, adding that the second phase of water works would soon commence in Jere to further improve the water supply within the metropolis.

FCT pilgrims’ accommodation the best, says DG

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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he FCT Pilgrims’ Welfare Board’s Director General, Ado Surajo Faskari, has said, the board has secured a befitting accommodation rated as the best among all accommodations for this year’s intending pilgrims.

Surajo made this known yesterday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the progress recorded by the board on this year’s Hajj exercise.

“The accommodation for this year’s FCT intending pilgrim’s was rated as the best or among the best by the Commission’s delegation sent to the holy land to inspect accommodation for pilgrims. We

are optimistic that our pilgrims will not have accommodation problem which in the past brought hitches to the exercise”, he said.

According to him, the one storey building rented by the FCT Pilgrims’ Board could accommodate the board’s 2,851 intending pilgrims and has met all NAHCON’s new rules that requires accommodation providers to fulfill among other things, the provision of housing capacity for not less than 500 pilgrims in a building, the accommodation’s proximity to the Grand mosque, a standby vehicle to transport pilgrims to the grand mosques and provision of adequate toilet facilities in the ratio of eight pilgrims per toilet.

L-R: Visiting Professor, University of Nigeria,Charles Okigbo, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, and Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, during a visit by Ken Nnamani Foundation to NOA offices, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

FG to boost cocoa production with N5.6m

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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he Federal Government has pledged to release N5.6 million counterpart fund to the International Cocoa Coordinating Organisation (ICCO) to boost cocoa production in the country.

Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, stated this yesterday while receiving the ICCO team led by its African Regional Director, Dr. Koname Lucien in Abuja.

Ortom noted that if revamped and well focused by the government and all stakeholders, cocoa would create jobs and wealth for the populace.

"We are taking steps toward paying our counterpart funding which is over 60 percent, and N5.6 million will be released in the next few days.

The minister therefore pledged the government's technical and other support to the organisation to enable it succeed in its investment in the country for the benefit of all.

Earlier, the ICCO team leader explained that the organisation was working on an international project to re-enforce the capacity of cocoa producers in the West African subregion by ensuring effective use of pesticides.

Lucien listed the five countries involved in the project as Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana and Togo, saying that Nigeria had been a very important member of ICCO since 1972 and also a part of previous international cocoa agreements.

Also speaking, the Project Manager of ICCO, Mr. Yunusa

Abubakar informed that part of their aims was to produce good cocoa to the international market, saying "we are creating awareness among farmers and stakeholders by providing training on responsible pesticide use and to enhance institutional capacity to monitor residue.''

Cooperation key to Africa’s development- VP

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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ice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has reiterated the need for cooperation between African countries for sustainable development of the continent.

He made this assertion Tuesday, when he met with the President of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma, in Cape Town.

The Vice President, who extended the greetings of President Goodluck Jonathan to President Jacob Zuma, called for efforts to ensure the success of the Bi-National Commission agreements.

He promised that an office

in Nigeria's High Commission would ensure the follow-up to the established roadmap, to enable proper and timely implementation of the resolutions reached.

Sambo noted that "as Africans, no one can help solve our problems but ourselves and as such must device ways and means to ensure the rapid development of our region."

Earlier, Mr. Zuma, traced the role of Nigeria in South Africa's apartheid struggle and declared Nigeria a family adding that they were not in competition with Nigeria but in cooperation for the good of both countries.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

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Foundation donates artificial Bunkering: JTF arrests 17 suspects, destroy ship – Official limbs to Plateau residents

By Mohammed Kandi

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olaram Charity Foundation in collaboration with the Centre for Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (CAPWD) has distributed over 200 artificial limbs to some amputees from Plateau state.

The effort is in tandem with the foundation’s desire to sustain its corporate social responsibility in Nigeria.

President of CAPWD Omotunde Ellen Thomson said, partnering with the foundation was necessary to assist the amputees live their normal lives without being discriminated against.

She further appealed to individual and organisations to

Salami: ACN says Jonathan administration lacks honourable character From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has said the statement by the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation Mohammed Adoke, that Justice Ayo Salami's reinstatement as recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) will be 'subjudice', is the clearest indication yet that the Jonathan administration lacks honourable character.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the statement has also confirmed the widely-held belief that the Presidency orchestrated Salami's suspension in the first instance, as part of a wider plan to cow the judiciary and silence upright judges. ''In the end, this is all about the PDP losing Ekiti and Osun states, which the party appropriated to itself through a most shameful and egregious electoral heist, rather than the consequences of the disagreement between the nation's two top judicial officers over the Sokoto election. ''AGF Adoke's shocking and disingenuous statement has also exposed the reason behind the temerity of Segun Oni and Olagunsoye Oyinlola to continue to assault the judiciary and anyone who had anything to do with the cases in Ekiti and Osun states. After all, they know they have the backing of the Attorney-General and the Presidency,'' it said.

ACN said the Jonathan Administration's moral deficiency has been exposed by the fact that a President who gleefully and speedily approve the suspension of Justice Salami as President of the Court of Appeal is now stonewalling and pussyfooting when called upon to reverse that decision by the same body that recommended the suspension.

emulate the effort to reduce redundancy and street begging among citizens.

Plateau state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Barr. Olivia Daziem, commended the foundation and assured of the state government’s readiness to support persons living with disabilities in the state.

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he Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Niger Delta on Monday, arrested 17 suspects and destroyed an oceangoing vessel involved in an illegal loading of stolen crude oil.

Lt. Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the spokesman of the JTF, who disclosed this to newsmen yesterday in Akssa, gave the name of the vessel as

MVTamuno-Ibi. Nwachukwu on Tuesday took newsmen to the location of the vessel off the Atlantic shores of Akassa Island, in Brass local government area of Bayelsa state.

He said JTF operatives intercepted the vessel late on Monday, with 17suspects on board. (NAN)

“At about late hours of yesterday (Monday) our troops from 5 Battalion intercepted a vessel christened MV TamunoIbi, with 17 suspects on board off the shores of Akassa. It was carrying about 600,000 litres of stolen products.”

Nwachukwu said that after the arrest, the captain of the vessel, one Mr. Edward Davies, tendered a naval permit purportedly issued to a company in Port Harcourt. (NAN)

L-R: China’s Cultural Counsellor, in Nigeria, Jin Hongyue, Director General, National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Malam Yusuf Abdallah Usman, presenting souvenirs to Mr. Shan Baoxiang, during a sendforth for him, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NAFDAC smashes fertility vaccine syndicate in Onitsha

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he National… (NAFDAC), yesterday, smashed a syndicate who specialised in the sale and distribution of fertilityenhancing vaccine in Onitsha, Anambra.

The agency confiscated thousands of doses of 16 different kinds of the vaccine during the operation.

Mr. Benson Kine, the Deputy Director of NAFDAC’s Special Zonal Office, Onitsha, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha.

He said the agency was able to uncover the syndicate when it acted on intelligence reports from the agency’s enforcement directorate in Abuja on the group’s activities.

Kine said Mrs. Blessing Umeh, an alleged fake nurse, was found to be in possession of the said vaccines in Abuja.

The deputy director said that Umeh claimed to have bought the vaccine from one Mrs. Eucharia on Chidex Line of Bridge-Head Drug Market, Onitsha.

He said the agency was able to trace the said Eucharia to the drug market where she confessed to sourcing the said vaccine and other unregistered drugs from Ghana.

Kine quoted Eucharia as saying that she had been in the business for some time now. (NAN)

Fashola to share N4.5bn savings among 57 councils From Bimbo Ogunnaike, Lagos

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state has earmarked N4.5b excess crude oil savings for distribution among the 20 local governments, LGs and 37 local council development areas, LCDAs as intervention to assist them in improving the living conditions of the people in the third tiers of government.

The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye made this

disclosure yesterday during the ongoing ministerial briefing on the activities of his ministry in the last one year.

The commissioner said plans have been concluded to get the councils working again and meet public expectation in quality delivery of developmental projects, in spite of challenges confronting them.

His words: “For there to be congruence of purpose in the scheme of things among two other levels of government, that is, the state and the councils, efforts is geared for the release of

sum of about N4.5b from excess crude oil saving by Mr. Babatunde Fashola in term of funding in order to assist the 20 Local Governments LGs and 37 Local Council Development Area, LCDAs in providing sustainable capital projects; production of agricultural goods, security, among others for the teeming populace.”

The commissioner, therefore, urged Lagos residents to actively partake in the governance at all level through provision of information that would benefit governance at grass root level.

Federal High Court gets 12 new judges

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of 12 judges for Federal High Courts in the country.

A statement made available to newsmen by the Deputy Director (Information) of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Mr. Soji Oye, stated that the President’s approval followed the recommendation of the council for the appointment of the judges.

Those appointed are: the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry

of Justice, Kebbi State, Suleiman A. Aliyu, a legal practitioner; Mrs. Oluremi Omowumi Oguntoyinbo, the Secretary of the National Judicial Institute (NJI); Mrs. Ayua Pheobe Msuean; and Mr. Nganjiwa Hyeladzira Ajiya, a private legal practitioner.

Others are the Deputy Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice, Gombe state, Musa Haruna Kurya; Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Sokoto State, Mohammed Lawal Abubakar; Miss Uche Nma Agomoh, also a private legal practitioner as well as the Chief Registrar of the

Federal High Court, Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel.

Also appointed are: the Deputy Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice, Imo state, Mrs. Evelyn N. Anyadike; Mr. Fatun O. Riman, Chinda Ruhuoma S. Adele, a Chief Magistrate in Rivers state judiciary and the Deputy Chief Registrar, Federal High Court, Abuja, Mrs. Folashade O. GiwaOgunbanjo.

The statement added that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the NJC chairman, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, will swearin the newly appointed judges on Monday May 28, 2012.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

L-R: Alhaji Rafi’u Babatunde Tinubu, Alhaji Yahaya Yusuf, Dr Hamidu Mohammed, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed, and Alhaji Garba Bwai, being sworn in as new Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) Commissioners, yesterday at State House, Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

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L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Godknows Igali, Nigeria Wash ambassador, Engineer Ebele Okeke, and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, during the 2012 Lake Chad Day Celebration on Tuesday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

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Oil bunkering vessel, Mv TamunoIbi captured and set ablaze by the JTF off the shores of Akassa island, in Brass local government area of Bayelsa state. Photo: NAN

Vaccines impounded by NAFDAC after smashing a syndicate operated by an Abuja-based fake nurse, yesterday at bridge-head drug market in Onitsha. The vaccines include; SII Tetanus, Envax B Injectable Hepatitus B Vaccine, Glutamate BCG, Polioral Attenuated Oral Polio, Meningococcal A and C, Vax-Men-Ac Meningococcal and others.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

NIREC meets Jonathan on security challenges

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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he country’s present security challenges topped the agenda when executive members of the Nigeria Inter- Religious Council (NIREC) met with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House yesterday.

The meeting which was held behind closed doors had the Executive Secretary of the

Council, Prof Ishaq Oloyede in attendance alongside the two cochairmen of the Council, Sultan of Sokoto, Abubakar Sa’ad for Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA)as well as President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

While details of the discussion were not revealed, Prof Oloyede who spoke to State House correspondents on behalf

of the co-chairmen said: “We have presented our suggestions to the President on improved security and happiness in this country.”

He continued: “Our suggestions were well received and of course, he also let us into many other things because you know he has a vantage position and definitely, we expect him to have more information at his disposal than we have. And he

shared what we believe will be very helpful to us.”

Speaking on the need for both Christians and Muslims to see terrorism and terrorists as common enemies that must be fought, he said: “We want all the people in this country to know that we are together in this boat and the boat must not be rocked and we should do everything possible to live harmoniously together.

Mark canvasses tax relief for broadcast media houses

By Joy Baba

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enate President, David Mark, yesterday advocated tax incentives for

Yobe gov revokes NguruMachina road contract …Orders contractor to make refund

broadcast media houses in the country to assist them in addressing the challenges of operational costs.

Mark said this while receiving the leadership of Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria (IBAN) in his office, said the members of this body deserved tax incentives if they must meet the challenges of digitization before 2015.

A statement issued by his Special Adviser, media and publication, Kola Ologbondiyan,

quoted Mark saying, “you need tax relief. I will support your demand because it is genuine and you need to be economically stable to meet the challenges of digitization,” he said.

He urged broadcasters not to be discouraged by the current economic and security challenges, adding that government will continue to create environment that will allow them to function.

“I will support tax incentives and intervention funds as loans because you contribute to the

nation’s economy by providing employment, informing and educating Nigerians,” Mark further said.

Earlier, the IBAN Chairman Mr. Osa Sonny Adun, told Senator Mark that the group is seeking urgent amendment to the Act establishing National Broadcasting Commission to cancel the 2.5 percent fees payable to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from turnover of private and public broadcasters.

From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

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overnor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state has revoked the contract for the construction of the 60-kilometer Nguru-Machina road, first awarded during the administration of former governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim.

The governor announced the revocation of the contract yesterday, during a visit to the project site as part of his tour of ongoing and completed road projects across the state.

He expressed disappointment that despite huge resources expended on the road, the level of work attained so far has been ‘woefully disappointing’.

Gaidam said the road was initially awarded at the cost of N2 billion to A.K Construction Ltd, but in 2007 when the current administration assumed office, the contract was reviewed to N2.4 billion.

“Despite the review and our determination to ensure completion, the contractor continues to be slow and even inactive. More so, the quality of work leaves much to be desired”, he said.

The governor asked the state Ministry of Works to establish contact with the contractor and open up discussions with a view to getting him pay back the balance of money paid by the government but for which no work was executed.

Governor Gaidam also explained his administration’s particular commitment to the roads sector, saying the focus on opening up the state through various road projects is to make movement easier and facilitate economic and social activities.

The works commissioner, Lawan Shettima Ali, had told the governor that the contractor had refused to be forthcoming when pressed by the ministry to return to site.

Lake Chad: 30 million farmers to be employed

By Mohammed Kandi

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ver 30 million people residing across the Lake Chad region are billed to benefit economically from Federal Government’s plan to resuscitate the lake, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, stated yesterday.

The minister who made this known in Abuja, during the celebration of the 2012 Lake Chad Day, with the theme “Let Us Strive to Save the Lake Chad”, noted that rejuvenating the lake would provide employment for millions of farmers in the country.

“Over 30 million people from this region will benefit from the project outlined by the Ministry of Water Resources to bring back the Lake Chad to life.

Resuscitation of the Lake will generate employment for millions of farmers across the country because of its irrigation capacity,” he explained.

Alhaji Tijani who lauded the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, for the initiative, described the lake as one of the largest in the world, adding that “it is the largest inland fishery point for the country and had provided varieties of fishes for different parts of the country.”

APSON seeks review of Edo tax policy R-L: New Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Deaconess Joan Olatoyosi Ayo, being led in oath-taking by Senior Special Adviser to the President on Legal Matters, Barrister Jamilu Arabi, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Court dismisses Falana’s suit over NASS members’ salaries

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Femi Falana challenging the increase in the salaries and allowances of the Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

The trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, while ruling on the preliminary objection filed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, held that Falana is not eligible to institute the action, which has the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Attorney General of the

Federation (AGF) as well as the Accountant General of the Federation as the defendants.

The Judge, who is also the Chief judge of the Federal High Court also held that the Lagos based lawyer also failed to prove what damages he would suffer on the account of the alleged jumbo salaries earned by members of the National Assembly.

According to the Judge, Falana’s suit did not disclose any reasonable cause of action, saying that the action was, “speculative, hypothetical and academic’’, adding that the plaintiff did not establish how the action of the National Assembly had affected him personally.

The judge stated that the RMAFC was the ideal institution to institute such action, pointing out that, “This is not issues around fundamental rights violation; the fact that he is a legal practitioner does not confer him the locus. He must show by way of affidavit evidence how the increase in the salaries and allowances of the Senators and House of Representatives members has negatively affected him.”

“The interest of the plaintiff must be tangible, real in law and not a caricature that stems from personal aggrandizement; the suit is therefore dismissed for lacking in merit,’’ Auta said.

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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ssociation of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Edo state chapter, has called for a downward review of the tax paid by private school owners to the state government.

The association equally called for a review of the guidelines and policies governing private school operations in the state including the requirement that school owners must produce tax clearance certificates for three years, PAYE details and renew their operational licenses before enrolling candidates for even the First School Leaving Certificate examinations.

Chairman of APSON, Bishop Opukeme Godly, who stated this on Tuesday while addressing newsmen, however commended the state government for renovating public schools in the state.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Bauchi students to protest shutdown From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he National Union of Bauchi State Students (NUBASS), is planning to stage a one million man march to protest the decision of the state government to close down Tatari Ali Polytechnic in Bauchi.

The president of the union, Comrade Buhari Abubakar stated this in a press conference at the NUJ secretariat Bauchi saying that the union has given the state government till Monday to rescind its decision or face a mass protest by the students.

Comrade Buhari stated that the protests will take place if their

demands are not meet, saying that parents, students and sympathizers would join the mass protest to register their dissatisfaction with the decision of the government.

“We are urging people to go and verify the claims by the state government about construction as

no single project is been done by the state government in the name of relocation, same thing in the main campus, the only project there is that of ETF which started two years ago and will not be completed in the next six months. The ETF projects include laboratory and ten classes, which even if completed will not be

enough for engineering students alone,” he said.

The President explained that as a result of the closure, many students, especially female, that come from distant places and don’t have money to go back to their bases, are being forced to sleep in motor parks and mosques.

Over 6, 000 unqualified teachers discovered in Kebbi From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

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Bauchi state Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda (right), vaccinating a baby during the inauguration of the short interval additional dose (SIAD) campaign against polo, on Tuesday at Udubo, Gamawa local government area.

Photo: NAN

Professional drummers fight over proceeds at project commissioning From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

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mild drama yesterday occurred in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital at a public function when commercial drummers also known as praise singers engaged themselves in a fight over proceeds realised at the ceremony where the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun was special guest of honour.

The occasion was the official

commissioning of an ultra-modern block of 8-classrooms mega structure built by the old students association of the African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta in partnership with Nigerian Breweries Plc. Governor Ibikunle Amosun is also a former student of the school.

However, the drama occurred shortly after the commissioning of the project, as the praise-singers numbering about eight were given some cash by one of the personalities at the ceremony, and

in a twinkle of an eye, another group claimed the money was meant for its members.

This development led to exchange of hot words and almost snowballed into physical combat.

The praise singers who threw decency into the wind, as they were seen shouting on top of their voices, with their drums put aside in a manner that suggests that they were set for open battle over the controversial cash.

Earlier at the occasion, Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun

Igbo community commends Gov Yuguda From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Igbo community in Bauchi state has commended Governor Isa Yuguda for carrying everybody along in the scheme of things irrespective of religious and ethnic differences.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Isa Yuguda on Igbo affairs, Chukwuebere Joseph made the commendation during the swearing in of newly elected

leaders of Igbo communities in Bauchi.

He described Bauchi state as one of the most peaceful state in the North East. “We are all indigenes of Bauchi state because our governor said anybody that has spent more than 3 years in Bauchi has become an indigene of the state."

According to him, Governor Isa Yuguda gave them appointment, employed Igbo youths and also assured the Igbo community that whenever they have any

challenge his doors are wide open.

Joseph charged the new executives to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring fairness and justice while carrying out their duties.

The new executives include, President General, Eng, Hitler Umesiri; Vice President General, Rev Domnic Okocha (JP); Secretary, Chidi Chukwunta; Treasurer, Onyema Okereke and others. The new officials were sworn by their legal adviser, Barrister Nonso.

tasked members of the Alumni Associations in the state to always consider contributing to the infrastructural development of their former schools.

Noting that education remained the best any parent could bequeath on his child, the governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to uplifting the standard of education in the state describing the donation as a sample of excellent partnership which his administration expects from corporate organizations doing business in the state.

The National President of the Alumni Association, Olubodun Oke said the Alumnus was moved into providing the structure having been disturbed by the unhealthy cramming of students in the few available classrooms.

Olubodun, lamented that many classrooms now accommodate over 100 students all crammed together with hardly any space for the teacher, contrary to those days where a classroom is meant for maximum of 40 students.

bout 6,423 nonprofessional teachers have been discovered in Kebbi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) between 2011 and 2012.

Presenting its report yesterday before the acting Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu, the chairman of the committee on National Teachers Institute (NTI), Alhaji Abdulahi Mohammed Lamba said that the number of unqualified teachers varied according to their local governments.

Responding to the report, the Deputy Governor of Kebbi state Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu commended the committee for their job and promised to implement it with full consideration.

“We are committed to sanitizing our schools to make sure that the breeding grounds of our future leaders are good enough for teaching and learning,” he said.

‘Nigerians should insist on implementation of subsidy probe report’ From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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he Senator representing Nasarawa South senatorial district, Suleiman Adokwe has called on Nigerians to continue to pressure President Goodluck Jonathan and the Executive to implement the report of the House of Representatives committee on fuel subsidy regime.

Speaking with reporters in Jos yesterday, the senator frowned at the fact that poor Nigerian have always been at the receiving end of corrupt activities of some few people.

According to him, “the duty of the lawmakers in the oil subsidy scam is what they have done. We have our constitutional roles, which is that of making the law and oversight functions by investigating all government activities. The Executive must now do theirs which is implementation."

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

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Party chieftain laments lawlessness on Kebbi highways From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe The chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Kebbi state chapter, Alhaji Aliyu Bature, has expressed dismay over how indiscipline and lawlessness has taken over the highways in the state.

Alhaji Bature, who was in Damaturu yesterday, said it is obvious for any motorist and traveler on the highways in Kebbi state to notice that bumps and blockades have become the norm rather than the exception.

According to him, these practices have become so rampant that almost all the villages along the highways have erected their own, in order to force motorist to limit their speed when approaching these places.

He said that all these practices have, rather than safeguarding the lives of these villagers, endangered their lives and those of travelers on the highways.

Bature said that a lot of accidents have occurred on these highways as a result of these bumps and blockades killing innocent motorists and travelers who are traveling on these highways for the first time, unaware of these erections.

“At night these erections have proven to be more dangerous for travelers because many times motorists have run into them unnoticed resulting in fatal accidents with loss of many innocent lives”, he disclosed.

Group charges community on potable water From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

Bauchi based nongovernmental organisation, Fahimta Women and Youth Developmental Initiative (FAWOYDI), has stressed the need for people to always drink and cook with clean water to enhance healthy life.

The programme coordinator, Arkila Yelmin made the call while speaking at a two-day workshop organised by FAWOYDI in collaboration with RTI/LEAD, a USAID sponsored project.

Yelmin lamented that most of diseases like typhoid fever are being contracted from a dirty environment and dirty water.

He condemned the attitude of digging wells beside sewage tanks or pit latrines, saying that some people drink and cook with water from such well which is not good health. According to him, urine and faeces could easily mix with the water which is dangerous for health.

He therefore advised them to always ensure they drink and cook from a good source of water as well as ensure they live in a clean environment in order to avoid water borne diseases which can easily kill.

L-R: National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay Nigeria, Ms. Faith Nwadishi, representative of NEITI, Mrs. Obiageli Onuora, and National President, Host Community Network of Nigeria, Prince Barbs Preye during the NEITI’s national stakeholders summit on NEITI, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

2012 admissions: FG directs institutions to T abide by new guidelines

NDIC advocates support for education sector From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

I

n line with the decision of the Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to fix 180 and 160 as the national cut-off marks for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for polytechnics, colleges of education and other diploma awarding institutions, the Federal Government has directed various institutions to adhere absolutely to the new guideline.

Disclosing this in Abuja yesterday after the 2012

combined Policy Committee meeting on admissions to degreeawarding institutions, national diploma, Nigeria Certificate in Education, and national innovation diploma-awarding institutions, the Education Minister, Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, who chaired the meeting, explained that the guidelines stipulated a 70:30 ratio in favour of technology/non technology for national diploma programmes.

She further pointed out that universities and colleges of education are to maintain a

60:40 science/arts ratio, adding that the institutions must observe admission benchmarks on the bases of merit, catchment area and educationally lessdeveloped states, according to the guidelines.

Also speaking, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, advised private universities against admitting students without following the guidelines.

He also observed that most universities were unable to fill their admission quota during the last admission exercise.

Benue govt to clamp down on illegal institutions From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

B

enue state government has vowed to clamp down on illegal schools and tertiary institutions established for commercial purposes.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Elizabeth Ugo, who frowned at the proliferation of illegal schools during an interview with journalists, appealed to the indigenes of the state to desist from patronising such institutions as a way of driving their proprietors out of business.

Mrs. Ugo lamented that inadequate funding remains the biggest challenge confronting the educational sector of the state, maintaining that even if the entire budget of the state is committed to education, it would be insufficient while urging managers of the sector to always ensure judicious as well as transparent application of the available resources to achieve optimal results.

“The provision of computers in schools, the employment of more teachers, the provision of adequate infrastructure, the development of

tertiary institutions, etc, are all priorities that compete for the limited resources and this calls for judicious application of scare resources,” she said.

She however, expressed worry over the low science orientation of students’ population in the state in spite of Governor Gabriel Suswam’s giant stride in developing science and technology education; and enjoined parents and guardians as well as other stakeholders to assist in educating the youths on the importance of science and technology.

…state TV to go on air before December

T

he Benue state government has said the state owned television station, Benue Television Corporation, has witnessed a tortuous journey owing to the non installation of some vital and critical components, assuring that the station will commence transmission before the end of this year.

The station which started with the preceding government has failed to transmit for more than 10 years now.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Conrad Wergba, made this known yesterday at the commencement of the 2012 ministerial briefing to commemorate Democracy Day at

the Ministry of Information complex.

Mr. Conrad said the present administration has succeeded in moving the project beyond the inertia of the past such that in the last three months of 2010, the station commenced trial transmission but had to discontinue because of improper installation of the mast which was not high enough.

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), has called on stakeholders and philanthropist in the country to assist in improving the nation's education sector.

Chief Oyebisi Ilaka, a member, Board of Directors of NDIC representing the South-west zone, made this call at the commissioning ceremony of four blocks of classrooms at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo sponsored by the NDIC. He said the future leaders of this country must be people of intellect and robust character saying there is need to reach where these minds are being nurtured, the education sector, which is one of the ailing sectors.

According to him, “it is a common knowledge that most of the institutions of learning in Nigeria lack infrastructural facilities resulting in poor standards of education. And NDIC has taken it upon us to improve the standard of education in Nigeria.”

Ilaka, who was the facilitator of the project, also said NDIC aimed at moving the country forward on the path of social and economic development.

He also disclosed that the Ajayi Crowther University was one of the institution of learning that benefited in the third phase of the corporation's project-based funding scheme with a grant of N20 million.

In his address, the Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University,Oyo, Prof Kolawole Jaiyeoba, appealed to the Federal Government to extend the Education Trust Fund intervention to private universities.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

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Women police officers and Regulation 124

n Tuesday, May 15, the Federal High Court in Lagos gave a courageous decision that has untied single women police officers from the apron string of a decadent and anachronistic police regulation that practically stops them from getting married until they have served in the force for three years.

Not only that, the female officer cannot pick and marry her man without the permission of the Commissioner of Police of the state command under which she serves.

This is what Regulation 124 of the Police Act says, and here are its exact wordings: “A woman police officer who is desirous of marrying must first apply in writing to the commissioner of police for the command in which she is serving, requesting permission she intends to marry and giving the name, address and occupation of the person she intends to marry. Permission will be granted if the intended husband is of good character and the woman police officer has served in the force for a period of not less than three years”.

Thankfully, the courageous decision of Justice Stephen Adah has rendered this obnoxious regulation a nullity. We also commend the NGO, Women Empowerment and Legal Initiative (WELA) and its lawyer, Funmi Falana, for the taking on,

unblinking, the all mighty Federal Government, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Truly, it is a shame that this terrible order has existed this long.

There are two issues here: the first is the three-year ban on marriage for women police officers; and the other is that a commissioner of police

“

R124 has no place in our statute books. That the government even tried to justify it was shocking indeed. Now that it has been voided, we hope the police authorities will take steps to bury it for good and move to remove other offensive orders such as the one that says women police officers married to civilians must move out of barracks must give his consent. As WELA argued rightly in court, the ban is discriminatory because it affects female officers only. In this sense, R124 is in breach of Section 24 of the 1999 Constitution which prohibits discrimination against citizens on the basis of sex. And so do Article 2 of the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights and the Convention

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

on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); Nigeria is not only signatory to both, it has also domesticated their provisions. The second issue – the consent of commissioner of police - touches on another fine point of law – the dignity of the female police officer and her constitutional freedom of choice.

The argument of the federal attorney general that R124 exists to “protect women officers from falling into the hands of criminals” and the three-year ban is to stop them from getting pregnant rather begs the question whether the commissioner of police is the right authority to vouch on the character of the man a woman officer wants to marry. We think the people to do that should be the parents of the man and woman who plan to become husband and wife, and perhaps the leaders of their communities. Even these can only give advice; the ultimate choice is that of the woman.

In these modern times, R124 has no place in our statute books. That the government even tried to justify it was shocking indeed. Now that it has been voided, we hope the police authorities will take steps to bury it for good and move to remove other offensive orders such as the one that says women police officers married to civilians must move out of barracks.

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CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE EDITOR, DAILY AHMED I. SHEKARAU

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 13

Dankwambo and the price of politics

By Bashir Bello Akko

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ate Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the first Prime Minister of Nigeria once stated: “…anyone who wants to invite abuses for self and the loved ones; who wants misguided denigration to accompany him; who wants unsavory searchlight beamed on his background and family; who wants criticisms to edge commendation in his service and conduct; who wants betrayal, aspersions and sentimental judgment constantly cast upon him, should be a practicing politician”.

Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, currently Gombe State Governor, is a trained financial manager who has been in the service of managing public funds from his days as a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to that of Account General of Gombe State, and then to the position of the Accountant General of the Federation, AGF. He is tall in the knowledge of public service but almost short in the knowledge of politics.

Dankwambo’s political rough road began on winning the governorship ticket and ultimately coasting to electoral victory as Gombe State Governor.

Although he was adamant that service to his people was what made him leave one exalted office of national stature, OAGF, to another seemingly lower but still esteemed one of state level, his critics insist that the chair was

actually “bought”, even though no one could provide any evidence as proof..

The second sore point to some of the governor’s critics was the delay in constituting his Executive Council early in the tenure, which he insisted that he needed to look ahead before leaping, and has to get an Action Plan for each commissioner before appointing any and assigning responsibility. So he appointed eleven sector-based committees, whose individual recommendations were synthesized into the government’s Action Plan, which then provided the Blueprint for the administration’s vision. Although his critics initially saw it as mere delay tactics that will only arrogate unitary powers to him for so long, it is now a different story; especially after inviting back those sector-based committees to assess his performance in line with the Action Plan.

Then came the Hon. Farouk Lawal Fuel Subsidy Report from the House of Representatives, which erroneously joined Dankwambo among the indicted in managing the Petroleum Fuel Subsidy Support Fund. Perhaps the Report was instigated, perhaps too it was inadvertent, whatever was the reason, the Report accused him of signing 128 cheques of N999 million each in less than 24 hours when he was the AGF. For some reasons,

this accusation was given the widest possible press publicity.

Although Dankwambo immediately refuted the allegation in several national Media Houses, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, OAGF, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, also had to go public in the refutal of that allegation, including writing individual letters to the House Adhoc Committee on the subsidy investigation, clarifying that the Office of the AGF does not pay individual contractors but oneline payment to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government, MDAs. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, was the first to take a full page advertorial in ThisDay Newspaper of Monday April 23, 2012, (Pg 61) refuting that the OAGF pays contractors and not Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, MDAs. This was followed by that of PPPRA which appeared the next day in the same paper (Pg 12D), which owned up to writing and paying those cheques as against the incorrect reported position of the House Committee that said it was the OAGF. On the same day and in the same Newspaper, (Pg 60C) the OAGF clarified its role in monetary payments, explaining that it only releases money to the Accounts of MDAs,

and in this instance, that of the PPPRA, and not as mistakenly reflected in the House Report that it directly paid contractors of fuel supply.

This forced the House to rescind the wrong allegation, and delete the name or Office of the AGF earlier mentioned and indicted in the Report. This was done during its sitting of Wednesday April 25, 2012, as reflected in its Votes and Proceedings Paper covering Amendment XLII, and substituting the word OAGF with PPPRA. Those of us not opportune to attend that House session read it in many national Newspapers the following day Thursday April 26, 2012, e.g. Leadership (front page and page 8); BluePrint (front page and page 6); Daily Trust (front page and page 5); The Nation (front page and page 2); The Sun (page 5) e.t.c.

Dankwambo is however regarded as a newcomer in politics who needs to learn the ropes well and fully understand the nitty-gritty of the game.

Those who want a failed Gombe State could easily capitalize on these inflammable issues and create a chasm between the Rex Governor Dankwambo and Ex Governor Goje. If they succeed in getting the giants clash, then Gombe State will suffer because Governor Dankwambo will expend precious time in tackling the fight than exerting enough energy in giving the state the desired lift. Luckily, both leaders; Goje being now a Rex Senator,

and Dankwambo an accomplished administrator and the Rex Governor, are men of towering experience and abundant love for Gombe State, who will not allow distractions from mischievous politicians, as well as needless and unsubstantiated rumours, if any, to blow out to open confrontation.

If they forge a common front to lift Gombe to the desired heights, those fanning the embers of discord will only have dismal success, or at best be regarded as glorified failures. Gombe State may be relatively young and small, but its politics is ever, robust, vibrant and dynamic.

Governor Dankwambo should realize that even being in politics alone has a price to be paid; more so, if one is performing. If he expects an easy ride and a smooth sail all through, then political scientists will characterize him as a virtual day-dreamer. If however he takes to the advice of Ivor Jennings, then he will see opposition, no matter how bitter or unsavory, as a “necessary accompaniment to functional democracy” and as only a “catalyst for positive development”.

Governor Dankwambo too should know that the words of Late Balewa, though said 47 years ago, are still as valid. All he needs do is to make an allowance and prepare well for such other bitter side of the political coin.

Bashir Akko is an Abujabased journalist.

JFK and Buhari: Spot the difference

By Ayo Turton Those who possess wealth and power in poor nations must accept their own responsibilities. They must lead the fight for those basic reforms which alone can preserve the fabric of their societies. Those who make PEACEFUL revolution impossible will make VIOLENT revolution inevitable – JFK, March 13, 1962.

J

ohn F. Kennedy, the celebrated President of the United States, made this speech at the White House in his address on the first anniversary of the Alliance for Progress reception for Diplomatic Corps of the Latin American Republics.

Recently, retired General Buhari was reported to have said “If what happened in 2011 (that is, alleged elections rigging) should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood” Even though the speech was reportedly made in Hausa language as “kare jini, biri jini” Some commentators who are speakers of Hausa language have argued that the reporters did not do proper justice to the comment by their interpretation within its contextual understanding in Hausa language. I would say such defense is unnecessary.

For disclosure, I am not a supporter of Buhari quests for the Presidency. As a matter of fact, I

am fiercely opposed to his candidacy for many reasons not subject matter of this article but the major one simply being that I am opposed to Nigeria recycling retired Generals that have contributed to ruining the country in the first place.

Back to the comments of JFK and Buhari, when we consider and do a thorough analysis of both comments looking at both the connotative and the denotative meanings, the truth is that there is no difference.

Revolution means change, and the only way known to our Constitution to ensure a peaceful transition from one government to another is the principle of one man, one vote. The greatest injustice that could be done to a man under a democratic system of government is to deprive him of his right to freely choose his own leader. JFK made references to peaceful elections and democratic governance while making that speech before concluding that those who make this peaceful change impossible will make violent change inevitable. How is this comment different from what Buhari said when he said that if the 2015 elections are rigged, both the baboon and the dog would be bloodied.

Both comments denotatively mean the same thing that violence would occasion robbing people of their rights to peaceful change.

What has Buhari said that is new? His comment is nothing but a mere reminder of our past experiences with election rigging.

About the time John F. Kennedy was making his comment about the inevitability of violence as the aftermath of rigged elections in 1962, the reality was playing out in the Western Region of Nigeria, where a political party with the support of the federal government tried to rig itself to power. The aftermath was a bloody riot known as Operation Wetie, yeah, Buhari was right both the baboon and the dog were bloodied this eventually led to the demise of the First Republic and the civil war were millions of lives were lost, what is new? We should thank Buhari for reminding us not castigate him.

In 1983, Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was a presidential candidate in that year’s elections warned against rigging of elections with a caveat that people of our generation may never know democracy if the elections were rigged, but as usual those who owned Nigeria at the time refused to heed his warning and a more mildly tempered advice not being a military General. Of course the elections were massively rigged and what followed was another bout of violence many lives were lost and many properties were destroyed, yeah, the baboon and the dog were soaked in blood,

people were dragged on the streets and set on fire, I was old enough to witness it. That led to the demise of the Second Republic, Buhari along with IdiAgbon led the coup that terminated the second republic due to violence occasioning the rigged elections of 1983, so he should know what he is talking about. We should thank him for reminding us!

Why is it that people are focused on the predicted reaction but not the action that is a necessary condition to trigger the reaction? I believe if the amount of energy that have been devoted to criticizing the comment is being diverted to making sure that the 2015 elections are not rigged then the predicted violence would have been made impossible! What Buhari said is what has characterized our political history since two years into our independence, we should be more concerned with making sure that the condition precedent to the prediction does not happen than fighting what is inevitable according to John F. Kennedy.

The same JFK was the one that said: “A nation that is afraid to let his people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people” Who is afraid of the truth in Nigeria? Potential riggers of elections?

Not a few Nigerians quietly wished that our own revolution would come when the waves of revolution known as the “Arab Spring” took over North Africa.

Those leaders made peaceful change impossible in their countries, they hold their countrymen by the jugular refusing to let go and therefore made violent change inevitable.

We would all agree that Nigeria needs a change and maybe we should start by ensuring the conduct of peaceful elections, maybe we should start by stopping by all means necessary, those who rob us of our freedom and our rights. Maybe we should start to fight in a new way for those voices that have been deprived of being heard through the ballot boxes as dictated by our Constitution.

On March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry an American gentleman at the Virginia Convention said: “...it is in vain sir to extenuate the matter.

Gentlemen may cry peace, peace- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun…What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

This speech was the one that Continued on page 15

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

What is wrong with Buhari’s statement?

By Tochukwu Ezukanma

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emocracy ensures peaceful transfer of power because it recognizes the people as the ultimate repository of power.

And as such, power is derived solely from the will of the people.

Democracy does not guarantee the election of good leaders.

However, it empowers the people to peaceful remove bad and/or discredited leaders.

The election that brought Goodluck Jonathan to power was fair and free.

Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for him.

However, he has proven to be the worst president that this country has ever had. Nigerians are exasperated by his failure to fulfill any of his campaign promises.

And they are frustrated by his insensitive and inhumane economic policies. Therefore, it is most likely that in 2015 they will endeavor to remove him, peacefully, through the ballot box, from the presidency.

But what of if the constitutional right of the people to democratically change an underperforming president is subverted by entrenched interests and forces of greed and insensitivity in 2015? It might lead to violence in this our volatile and already violence-rife country. After all, “those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable.”

The Goodluck Jonathan administration exhibits disquieting dictatorial tendencies. It has virtually no respect for the right of the people to peaceful protest. In its selfrighteousness, it feigns immaculate blamelessness.

Consequently, it takes no responsibility for its repeated political blunders. Instead, it blames everybody and

By Obinna Akukwe

S

ince Goodluck Jonathan ascended the throne of Nigeria as President after the demise of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua , one of his favourite routine has been seeking the face of God in prayer. During the constitutional crisis leading to the death of his predecessor, Goodluck was made so uncomfortable by different power plays that he had course to receive prayers from different Christian groups genuinely concerned about the precarious fate of Nigeria. Thus one of the first things he did as Acting President was to call on Jasper Akinola, then Primate of the Anglican Communion to suggest names of those to guide him spiritually and oversee the chaplaincy of State House Chapel.

Primate Akinola gave him three names from which he appointed a chaplain.

The attempt by President Goodluck to seek divine guidance in the handling of the affairs of Nigeria was hijacked by different groups of religious leaders especially from the different Orthodox and Pentecostal denominations who turned the exercise into a multibillion naira business.

everything for its continued the House have constitutional and The health care delivery system bungling of national governance. legal validity? Was it not remains in a disgraceful state. It It is paranoid and defensive, thus, supercilious and overbearing to must be the worst in the world it is rattled by every criticism. It dismiss the resolution of the because it accounts for the highest overreacts to every critical legislature as just their “opinion”? rate of maternal and infant comment, be it pedestrian or lofty, Finally, in a move that repudiated mortality in the world.

The supply of electricity is now pertinent or irrelevant, wrong or every tenet of democracy and was right. disconcertingly reminiscent of worse than it has been in a very These dictatorial tendencies military highhandedness, the long time. The economic and self-righteousness were president rolled out tanks and consequences of inadequate irrefutably evident in the deployed soldiers in the streets of provision of electricity are administration’s handling of the Nigerian cities to intimidate staggering. It is forcing many Nigerians’ disapproval of the Nigerians into not expressing industries to fold up and tens of removal of the fuel subsidy. The their democratic right to peaceful thousands to loose their jobs Minister of Labor, Emeka Wogu, demonstration against detestable because privately generated power is very expensive and refused to understand that to government policies. renders many increase the b u s i n e s s price of petrol v e n t u r e s in a swoop by unprofitable. It more than increases the cost 100% was a Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text of production tactless and messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written across the board heartless move contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 by 30 to 40 that was to words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and percent, and d e e p l y a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed these increased infuriate the to: costs are Nigerians invariably masses.

He The Editor, passed on to the chose not to Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, consumer. His realize that 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. anti-people with such economic policies unspeakable Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com foster deepening provocation, SMS: 07037756364 poverty and no matter how economic misery passive and docile Nigerians are, they must In his campaign, Goodluck amongst the generality of raise a voice in protest. With his Jonathan promised to curb Nigerians. In addition, his half closed eyes and his look of a corruption, improve health care government has demonstrated street brawler or a night club delivery, boost electricity supply, increasing inability to protect from criminal bouncer, he had the temerity to etc. Thus far, he has not made good Nigerians blame the protest on some on any of these promises. His predators and terrorists. Many opposition figures that were purported war on corruption is a Nigerians believe that the inciting the people against the charade; and Nigeria remains one country is dangerously hurtling government. of the most corrupt countries in towards a precipice.

If Nigerians are to grade his The presidential spokesman, the world. His government’s it will score Ruben Abati, speaking for a recent refused to prosecute an presidency, petulant and arrogant egregious case of corruption – the something scraping to a zero. presidency, and of course, with a 1.7 trillion naira oil subsidy scam Therefore, it is almost certain streak of his own false feeling of further reinforced an that Nigerians will elect a new importance, dismissed a unvarnished fact: his president in 2015. With their resolution of the House of administration lacks both the votes, they will protest against Representatives as just an moral authority and political will Goodluck Jonathan’s continued opinion. Does not the resolution of to rein-in corruption in Nigeria. stay as the president. In such a

case, decorum dictates that the president drinks of the politician’s hemlock – rejection by the electorate – and calmly, accepts the people’s electoral verdict.

But if his government’s responses to an earlier protest are indicative of its attitude towards protests in general, then, Nigerians have reasons to be apprehensive of the presidential election of 2015 when it is obvious that the people will again protest against his government (this time with their votes). Will his political party, People Democratic Party (PDP), in desperation to remain in power in defiance of the will of the people, rig the election?

What of if his administration, as in the past, jettisons every precept of democracy and resort to extra-constitutional methods?

Extra-constitutional methods like: dismissing the electoral verdict of the people as the shenanigan of an excitable rabble incited by seditious rabble-rousers; disregarding the constitutional validity of an election result because it considers it merely an opinion that can be ignored or over ruled by the elite few with an exclusive claim to wisdom, knowledge and legitimacy; and rolling out tanks and deploying soldiers around the country either to intimidate the people from voting their conscience or to impose its will on them?

It is reasonable to expect that if these happen, there will be trouble – violence – inescapably attended by bloodshed. Was that not all Mohammadu Buharia said in his own words? And what is wrong with such a direct, unequivocal and honest statement? Absolutely, nothing!

Tochukwu Ezukanma can be reached on maciln18@yahoo.com, 0803 529 2908

Immediately president Goodluck signified his intention to contest for the Presidency, coupled with the threat of PDP northern elders on zoning, a financial breakthrough came for those spiritual leaders. All manners of prophecies on how Babangida, Atiku and others wanted to kill the President was making rounds.

They so much frightened the president with such theories and convinced him of the need to release hundreds of millions of naira to different prayer projects to secure his presidency.

Many and diverse Christian groups made brisk business out of the situation. Money ranging from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of naira was released numerous times for this prayer project. Some conferences were sponsored by the presidency.

Unknown to the President, he has become a source of mega financial breakthrough for some people. These religious leaders

biggest problem. They also failed to encourage him to muster the will to break the various cabals holding Nigeria hostage. They only anointed him with oil; some gave him special Bible, special oil and special handkerchief to use to defeat his electoral enemies. They delivered the message of triumph to him and failed to include the message of service to humanity.

The presidential prayer project was elevated to another proportion when some religious leaders with prophetic anointing were brought into the picture. This group led by a young prophet based in Port Harcourt but who frequents Abuja for special programme at the Women Development Centre, mesmerized the president and his inner caucus with prophecies, calling people by their names, phone numbers, account numbers and other family secrets. By the time he was over he collected his share of the

WRITE TO US

Nigerian pastors and the presidential prayer project usually organise minister’s conference or pastors meetings and request all attendees to put down their names for onward transmission to the president.

They baited the impoverished and unsuspecting pastors and church workers that the President wants to be paying them monthly for prayers for Nigeria. These undiscerning pastors will then struggle to put down their detail which is later forwarded to the presidential prayer coordinators as evidence of a standing prayer squad. Some collected the names of their church workers during workers meetings and forwarded to the prayer coordinators in the State House as evidence of a standing prayer group. They used this tactics to collect money running into billions of naira from the president’s inner campaign fund.

These are some of the pastors that prophesied to Babangida before the Ciroma Concensus

Committee rejected him and preferred Atiku to run on behalf of the north. They then switched over to Atiku and when he was manipulated out of the PDP primaries, they switched over to Goodluck Jonathan. The only person they did not carry the prayer project to was Buhari because they know that only a ‘thank you’ greeting will come out of there.

When the PDP convention was fast approaching President Goodluck personally visited some mega churches around the LagosOgun axis for political prayers and sent highpowered emissaries to others for prayer support. Those privies to those meetings and private discussions noted that there was no attempt by these religious leaders to equally convince the president of the need for a free and fair elections; neither did they impress it upon him to fight corruption, which is Nigeria’s

Continued on page 15

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 15

Before relocating to Nigeria

By Jon Chikadibie Okafo

S

ince the advent of our “nascent democracy”, the government of Nigeria has continued to sell the idea of relocating home to those in the diaspora-come and help develop our nation. The message is the same and always alluring, “the country is working, there are jobs waiting for you at home; just get on that plane and come help us build a strong nation”.

Well, I took that advice, boarded a plane and landed here for good.

Now, having spent close to nine months in Nigeria without any job, I believe I am qualified (academically and otherwise)to share my thoughts with those in diaspora that are nursing the idea of coming back home. One big shock is waiting for you here, especially if you have spent some years living in a developed country where the system is rational.

For starters, this country is no respecter of foreign degrees and professional qualifications. If you apply for a job and to the glory of God you get invited for an interview, please try as much as you can to hide your “foreign accent”; nothing irritates a typical Nigerian Human Resources person like having to interview a “been to”. It is an offence to speak good English herena only you go school for jand?

The government of Nigeria is one big mirage, a massive mobile fraud-the distance separating

what the rulers of this country say and what is really on ground is like walking from Lagos to Amawbia in Anambra State. I sinfully believed those government officials that frequently flew into London on first class tickets to “tune” both Nigerian professionals and students to return back home.

Reason being that they all assured us of jobs; “the country needs people with your experience”, bla bla bla.

Well, here I am-jobless, violated, sweating and being forced to contend with a class mind-frame that crassly violates all the decent things I learnt in Europe. I have sent in more than a thousand job applications and in the spirit of thanking God for little mercies, I was lucky to be invited to ONE interview by a faceless “firm”. When I called to confirm my availability, I could not let the chance of finding out what business they were into pass; they wanted me to come for an “interview”, pay N8, 000 and be taught how to market GNLD products. I won’t bore you with my reaction.

To say that there are no jobs in Nigeria would be completely misleading and false. There are jobs here but the number of candidates chasing those jobs will actually shame the devil. Civil Service jobs in Nigeria are the exclusive preserves of those with the right connections, those that can pay the heart-quaking bribe

sum being demanded by the recruiters, those from a particular part of the country, and those that believe that by invoking “Holy Ghost Fire” and similar faith trades, the jobs will be clinched.

Before thinking of relocating to Nigeria, you must tutor yourself on how best to be a chameleon; in this case, you will really be good at changing your age and appearance. Employers in Nigeria seem to be in some kind of cold war with anyone whose ages fall with the 32-40 brackets. You will be doing yourself a great disservice if you take the saying that “age is nothing but numbers” too seriously.

The system here is killing me and quite a good number of Nigerians are happy with the putrefaction. The government and private employers of labour continue to short-change fellow citizens who only moan impotently and sing praises to God. The government of Nigeria is really churning out povertyfertilizing policies while the likes of a certain former Comrade Reuben Abati makes a living by lying to Nigerians. Truth be told, there is nothing democratic about our democracy.

From the Federal, State, down to the Local level, those that run our government continue to feed fat while superintending over a largely diseased, traumatised and sick populace. The lies, treachery, daylight robbery, sinister insensitivity, brazen stealing that

go on within the government circle is outrageous. Every year, budgets are read in Nigeria, projections are made, spurious projects “executed”, fairy-tale jobs are created, while billions disappear into private pockets.

For the records, government officials now steal in billions, no more in millions-the EFCC should go eat cake!

Not so long ago, the banking sector was the only regular employer of labour. That was until the bubble bust and to our amazement, it was revealed that the top shots in the industry were actually robbing depositors of their funds and sustaining a baffling life-style of opulence and luxury. Consequently, thousands of innocent men and women were sacked for those dodgy banks to remain afloat.

Banks now prefer to hire OND graduates rather than university graduates who they pay peanuts (N30, 000 pm). Not just banks, most employers tell people with foreign degrees “sorry, we no fit pay you”. Is it really an offence to study in a developed country where the standard of education is actually high?

Well, before you make up your mind to make Nigeria your home, you must have to consider certain things. For starters, you must make sure that there is a big “party chieftain” that will do the leg work for you. You do not get a good job here on merit;

somebody must talk to somebody who has the keys to your treasure.

It does not matter if you cannot write you name in any languagena pidgin English we dey speak for office here.

Most importantly, be ready to lie about your religious leanings and inclination. Most would-be employers would shred your CV in your presence the moment you suggest that you are a free thinker, i.e., a man who prefers not to be bothered with things other than reason, science and technology. Be ready to join in a spontaneous prayer session and please, please, please, pretend to “speak in tongues” even if just to amuse yourself. Finally, you must learn to say “God bless you”.

In conclusion, am I regretting coming back to my country in search of “the golden fleece”? No, no regrets.

Am I happy trudging from one office to the other in search of an elusive job? “God forbid!” Is there any indication that things will change for the better in this country? Is there any pointer to a situation whereby our government will work for the masses rather than stuffing private pockets with stolen wealth? Is there….? What? We all need to pray more, offer more thanksgiving and tithes, then pay more tithes, and pray for our leaders!

Jon Chikadibie Okafo can be reached at johnteddyus@yahoo.com

Nigerian pastors and the presidential prayer project Continued from page 14

national cake in hundreds of millions of naira which he used to buy a house in Maitama, Abuja.

This young prophet confirmed the speculation making rounds in pastoral circles in the nation’s capital that he was given N500 million naira ($3.3million dollars) as National Breakthrough Offering.

His equally young friend and prophet based in Abuja who

married a pretty lady with a lavish, celebrity laden wedding reception at Thisday Dome in 2011 was reported to have collected up to N450 million naira ($3million dollars) as prayer offering.

Another Abuja based Pentecostal Bishop from a northern state was accused of collecting hundreds of millions of naira for a section of the prayer project. He was also rewarded with a brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep by the President.

He has finished a stately designed compact cathedral in the outskirts of Abuja. When some pastors who mobilized their members to constantly pray for the peace of the nation out of patriotism confirmed that indeed billions of naira flowed for prayer project without their knowledge, it created disaffection and some cried foul. The same prayer business that took place in Abuja was replicated all over the country. Religious leaders of all

JFK and Buhari: Spot the difference Continued from page 13

swung the balance in convincing Virginia House of Burgesses to pass a resolution delivering the Virginia troops to the US Revolution. This was the revolution that led to the independence of America from the British a year after in 1776.

To those emergency “gentlemen” in Nigeria castigating Buhari, let it be known to you today that Nigerians are already dying due to election rigging, it is in vain to extenuate the matter. If all Buhari speech would achieve is to raise our consciousness against elections rigging, it is a welcome development, if all Buhari speech would do is to wake up Nigerians from their slumber deep, it is a welcome development, if all that comment would achieve is a onetime Big Bang action that would

put a stop to installmental deaths on our roads due to their state of neglect, so be it, deaths in our hospitals due to lack of necessary facilities and drugs, so be it, put a stop to people dying of poverty and hunger due to mismanaged economy and embezzled commonwealth, so be it, if the comment would occasion one last time fight that would put a stop to kidnapping, everyday deaths from armed robbery, political assassinations, Boko Haram and other elements of insecurity, so be it. Whichever way you may look at it, we are dying by installments anyway and like Patrick Henry said “gentlemen may cry peace, peace- but there is no peace, the war is actually begun…” the baboon and the dog are already bloodied. It is time to give Nigerians liberty or

death! For those clergymen criticizing Buhari, Patrick Henry speech that led to a wide support for the revolution was made in a church; St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia.

Peace is not the absence of violence, we do not need the eerie peace of the graveyard.

And for those who for political expediency and other considerations conveniently failed to understand and see the inevitability of Buhari’ s comment either contextually or historically, let me re-translate it to you, if you make “PEACEFUL change impossible in 2015, you make VIOLENT change inevitable” Many of us have gleefully quoted this speech in the past, hypocrites we all are!

Ayo Turton is a U.S.-based lawyer.

denominations used various styles to benefit from the prayer national cake through links to the president The funds used to sponsor all these prayers were drawn from the inflated subsidy bills which released abundant resources to prosecute the elections.

Weeks before the removal of fuel subsidy, these prayer tycoons saw another opportunity to take their already enhanced financial status to the Bill Gates level. They frightened the presidency with prophecies of how Buhari, Bakare, Babangida, Atiku, Tinubu and Fashola wanted to sponsor fuel subsidy protests and how God wants to deliver him from these evil men. They prescribed prayer and fasting for the president and his inner caucus before the removal of fuel subsidy. President Goodluck and his inner caucus observed days of fasting and prayers between the 26th and 31stof December, 2011.

President Goodluck was shocked at the level of resistance to the fuel subsidy removal. He was equally frightened at the security reports that a continuation of this protest into the second week could precipitate a revolution with unpredictable consequences for the thieving elites. When Nigerian Labour Congress capitulated under controversial circumstances and suspended the mass protests, the prayer groups praised their

prayer prowess for labor’s sudden volte-face.

They were handsomely rewarded again for averting the popular Occupy Nigeria protest and a possible revolution.

The constant harassment of the nation by Boko Haram has become another spiritual money spinner. Various groups are receiving prayer money running into billions of naira in the name of securing the President against Boko Haram attacks. They failed to impress on the president to expose his fellow party men linked to Boko Haram. This spiritual stance of pampering Boko Haram sponsors while the nation is on fire is a source of disagreement between the national leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some of the prayer tycoons. CAN leadership believe that the President is too timid in his handling of terrorism while the merchants believe that the president’s security is of paramount importance.

This prayer business has become a multi billion naira breakthrough from the time President Goodluck signified interest in contesting for the presidency. They failed to give Jonathan the much needed spiritual guidance on how to bring about a transformed Nigeria, devoid of corruption, mediocrity, lawlessness and injustice.

Obinna Akukwe

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Boy, 15, accused of raping 10-year old

FCT school of nursing, midwifery for upgrading

n Abuja Upper Area Court on Tuesday ordered that a 15-year old boy (name withheld) because he is a minor) of Army Barracks, Kurudu, Abuja, be remanded in prison for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl.

Police prosecutor Stephen Eimgeo told the court that on May 16 at Gida Dayo Orozo, the accused requested for water to drink from the victim in an uncompleted building.

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Eimgeo said that as the victim presented the water to him, he held her two hands, pushed her to the ground and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her.

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

The judge, Umar Kagarko, ordered that the accused be remanded in Keffi Prison and adjourned the case to July 4 for further hearing. (NAN)

Man jailed 5 months for impregnating a minor

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Gwagwalada Upper Area Court yesterday, sentenced one Paul Simon to five months imprisonment without an option of fine for impregnating a girl, aged 15.

Simon of Keffi, Nasarawa State was arraigned on a one count charge of “procuring a minor”.

The police prosecutor, Insp.

Martha Paul, told the court that from December 2011 to March 2012, Simon promised to marry the minor, but had failed to do so.

She said since then, Simon had been having sexual intercourse with her, and as a

By Josephine Ella

ursing Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has commenced a one-week facility tour of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) School of Nursing and Midwifery in Gwagwalada as prerequisite for up grading of the school into College of Nursing.

The Chairman of the accreditation team, Mrs Philomena Aladei, who led other members of the council on the tour on Tuesday, said the visit was imperative to ensure that facilities in the school meet the required standard.

Aladei added that the accreditation exercise was also to ensure that staff of the school are highly qualified in order to achieve the overall objective of providing improved health care delivery to the citizenry.

She said that the accreditation exercise, which commended on Tuesday, would continue till Tuesday next week, adding that what is on ground would determine whether or not the schools would be upgraded to the proposed College of Nursing.

In a remark, the Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya remarked that

nursing is the most important profession in health care, owing to the indispensable role they play in the life of patients.

He said that in line with the agenda of the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, the secretariat is striving to ensure that residents are offered quality health care services at all levels.

Dr. Onakomaiya said that this is evident in the facilities provided in the school, which he said include e-library service, internet services, computer laboratory, new hostel blocks, qualified staff among others, to ensure that the required standard is strictly adhered to.

result, the minor became pregnant.

Simon pleaded guilty to the charge and begged for leniency, promising to take responsibility for the baby.

The prosecutor, however, urged the court to try Simon summarily since he had accepted liability.

The Judge, Mr Babaginda Hassan, sentenced Simon to five months imprisonment.

Hassan also ordered that the convict should also pay a fine of N10,000 or to add one month imprisonment to the five months.

(NAN)

Guard arraigned for allegedly stealing goods worth N2.85m

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bubakar Bulama, a Security Guard, yesterday, appeared before a Wuse Zone 6 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on a two-count charge of stealing 285 cartons of tiles and window glasses.

Police prosecutor Christopher Roko, told the court that one Victor Nwokolo reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on May 18.

Roko said that Nwokolo of Room No. 155, House of Representatives building, National Assembly, Abuja, said the accused conspired with his friend, Sumaila Aliyu, to commit the crime.

He said the items, worth

N2.85 million and entrusted to the accused for safe keeping, were stolen from the complainant’s building site.

Roko said that during police investigation, the accused confessed to committing the offence, but the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Senior Magistrate Grace Adebayo granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in the like sum.

She said the sureties, who must be civil servants on Grade Level 04, must be living within the FCT and must depose to an affidavit of means.

Adebayo adjourned the case to June 18 for hearing. (NAN)

Man charged with killing another

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he police, yesterday, arraigned one Samsung Sani, 27, before an Upper Area Court, Gwagwalada, Abuja, charged with causing the death of one Francis Ejike.

Sani, a resident of Bukuru, Chika Local Government of Kaduna State, was arraigned on a one count charge of causing Ejike’s death through dangerous driving.

Police prosecutor, Cpl. Martha Paul told the court that the accused, on May 5, drove his J5 bus with registration number AGU 11 AX along Kaduna/Lokoja

highway, and knocked down Ejike, a resident of Giri in FCT. The prosecutor said that Sani also damaged two other vehicles, a Mercedes Benz with registration number BA 673 ABC and a Hyundai bus with number XG 361 RSH. Paul said that the value of the damage was yet to be known, but Sani pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Judge, Babaginda Hassan, ordered that Sani be remanded in prison.

He adjourned the case to July 4 for hearing. (NAN)

R-L: Representative of FCT Coordinator of NYSC, Mrs. Dawa, head of Gwako community, Mr. Zakari Kauro Agaba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Ambassador Godknows Igali, and corps members, during the commissioning of a borehole donated by NYSC MDG’s Corps members, yesterday, at Gwako community in Abuja.

Photo: James Bature

2 labourers in court for attempting to still machine

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ohammed Sani, 25, and Usman Mohammed, 26, of Kado village Abuja, were yesterday, arraigned before an Abuja Magistrate’s Court for roaming in an attempt to steal machine.

The Police prosecutor, Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, told the court that the case was reported on May 17 at the Life Camp Police Station by one Idris Amodu, a security man attached to SIL Estate along Aguwan Cement Village Abuja.

Emmanuel said that the accused persons were caught on the same day roaming around the estate in an attempt to steal a welding machine belonging to the complainant.

He added that during police investigation the accused persons were caught with other items which include ladies cloths, charms, and a cutlass.

Emmanuel said the offence was contrary to section 95 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Sani, the first accused, said: “We were just passing when the security man with the policemen

on duty stopped us and asked us what we were doing and they started to search us.’’

The second accused, Mohammed said all the items found with them during the police investigation belonged to them, stressing: “We did not steal them.’’

The Magistrate, Jacinta Okeke, granted them bail in the

sum of N10, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

She said the sureties must be religious leaders in the rank of a chief imam, a head pastor or a traditional head of the area were the accused persons reside.

Okeke adjourned the case to May 28 for further hearing.

(NAN)

House member tasks FCT PDP on unity

By Adeola Tukuru ember representing Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali constituency in the House of Representatives, Alhaji Isa Dobi, has called for unity among PDP executives in FCT Area Councils.

Dobi, who made this call in Kwali at the inauguration of new executive members of PDP in Kwali Area Council, urged the executives to imbibe the spirit of leadership by example.

“Today you have taken the mantle of leadership of PDP in Kwali Area Council and as leaders you are supposed to live by example. You must be

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transparent in all your dealings especially with your party supporters.

“As executives, you must maintain the same level of relationship with all the aspirants because it is a great offence in our party to take side on issues bordering the aspirants,” he said.

He called on the executives to ensure that a level playing ground was established for aspirants in the interest of unity at the end of the party’s primaries in the council.

He said the party would ensure that a popular candidate was presented for 2013 Area Councils election to ensure that the party takes the mantle of leadership in the council.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 17

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Two traders settling scores with fisticuffs, yesterday at UTC market complex, in Garki, Abuja.

FCT’s multi-million naira “build, operate and transfer” car park project abandoned for many years.

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Beauticians safe plating hair in an open space, yesterday in Garki market, Abuja.

PHOTOS: Mahmud Isa & Justin Imoowo

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Sympathisers gathered close to the remains of Baba Adamu, killed last Friday by a hit-and-run-car at Berger round about, in Abuja.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

World Bank provides 37,000 free prepaid meters in Kubwa T

he management of Kubwa Business District of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) said the World Bank had provided 37,000 single and two phase prepaid meters for customers in Kubwa, FCT. The Business Manager of the district, Mr Usman Maku, said on Wednesday in Abuja that the district was also expecting 7,000 three phase meters and 30,000 single phase prepaid meters.

Maku told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the meters

were supplied free, as the World Bank was bankrolling the project to ensure that PHCN customers enjoyed the same billing system.

According to him, the old analogue billing system will be discarded once the prepaid meters are installed.

Maku listed areas in Kubwa where the project would cover to include Dutse Alhaji, Dawaki, Bwari, Deidei, as well as the catchment areas of the Kubwa Business Unit.

The business manager, who

said only the three-phase meters were currently being installed because the single-phase was out of stock, urged customers to exercise patience “because everybody would get a meter”.

He promised that the single-phase meters would be installed at customers’ residences as soon as they were available.

The PHCN, however, has a lot to do in terms of public sensitisation “to stimulate public interest in the pre-paid meters’’, he said. He warned Kubwa residents to be

careful as some fraudsters, who claimed to be officials of PHCN were going about soliciting for money to install the prepaid meters for customers.” We have received reports from customers that one Mr. Anthony is going from house-to-house extorting money ranging from N10,000 to N15,000 depending on the type of the meter, from customers to instal prepaid meters for them.”The holding company had also sensitised the public through posters and fliers that “this is a

World Bank project and the meters are free, no dime should be paid for it.”

We have equally informed the police and the State Security Service (SSS) and they are trying their best to ensure that the fraudster is brought to book.’’

Maku said that the project, when completed, would help to improve PHCN’s cash collection, adding that energy theft would be reduced as customers would no longer bye-pass their meters to connect light. (NAN)

Boundary disputes: FCTA sets up committee

By Josephine Ella n order to address the lingering boundary disputes between the area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and contigous states, the FCT administration has constituted a committee.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Minister of State FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who doubles as the committee’s chairman said that experts from National Boundary Commission have been invited to be part of the committee to play advisory role.

She assured that the committee would ensure a peaceful co-existence of the FCT communities and their contagious states.

She therefore, called on chairmen of the six area councils to promote inter-community relations by strenghtening harmonious relationship both within and outside boarders of their respective domain.

The minister said

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that members of the committee include the Director General, Satellite Town Development Agency, Director Surveying and Mapping, Director Urban & Regional Planning (FCDA) and Solicitor General, Legal Services Secretariat (FCTA).

Others, she added are chairmen of all the area councils of the FCT, Secretary Area Council Service Secretariat, Director, Abuja Geographic Information System, Commissioner of FCT Police Command and Director, SSS FCT. According to her, the term of reference of the committee include, taking joint measures to promote inter-community relationship both cohesion, evolving measures of equitable joint utilization of share borders resources, facilities and amenities along state and area council boarders.

The minister added that the committee is also to encourage negotiated settlement of boardary dispute and other related issues in preference to court action among others.

Man, 28, sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for stealing

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n Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday sentenced a 28year-old man, Abu David of Kpana Village, Jabi, Abuja, to six months imprisonment for stealing.

Senior Magistrate Abdullahi Ilelah, however, gave the convict an option to pay N5,000 fine.

He also ordered the convict to pay N40,000 to the complainant as compensation for the stolen item.

Earlier, Police prosecutor Philips Apolos had told the court that one David Osu of Daki Biyu village, Jabi, Abuja, lodged the complained against the convict at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on May 15.

Apolos said the complainant and the convict first met in a bar in November 2011.

He added that while they were drinking, the convict said he wanted to go and ease himself, only for him to make away with the complainant’s motorcycle, valued at N40,000.

The prosecutor said the convict eventually sold the motorbike at N8,000 at the Jabi Pantaker Village, in contravention of Section 287 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charge and the prosecutor asked for N40,000 to be paid as compensation to the complainant for his stolen motorcycle.

Ilelah sentenced David to six months imprisonment, with an option to pay N5,000 fine.

He also directed the convict to pay N40, 000 as compensation to the complaint.

(NAN)

Workers struggling for transport at the Federal Secretariat after close of work yesterday.

Photos: Mahmud Isa

FCC indicts FCTA for lopsidedness in recruitments

By Josephine Ella he Federal Character Commission (FCC) has indicted the Federal Capital Territory Administration of lopsidedness in its recruitment exercises.

FCC commissioner

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representing the FCT, Mr. Yunana Dawudu, made the comment when he led members of the commission on a courtesy visit to the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide.

He however, charged the administration to ensure that

FCT constitutes 18-member boundary committee

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he Minister of State for FCT, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide, on Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated an 18member boundary committee mandated to amicably settle all disputes between the FCT and its neighbours.

Akinjide said that the committee was also to ensure that existing boundary disputes do not degenerate into conflicts.

The minister noted that there were several disputes within the territory and with neighbouring states, adding that some of the

disputes had existed since the creation of the FCT. She said that the disputes were sensitive and could cause ethnic clashes if not properly handled.

“The sensitive and volatile nature of these disputes may lead to serious ethnic and communal clashes if not properly handled by the FCTA, thus necessitating the reconstruction of the FCT boundary committee.”

She stated that the objective of the committee was to ensure peaceful co-existence between FCT communities and their neighbours. (NAN)

federal character principle is reflected in all its recruitment exercises, as he appealed to Akinjide to intervene in correcting existing imbalances in future recruitment exercises.

Dawudu noted that the law setting it up the commission mandated it to ensure that there is balance and fair representation of all states in recruitment exercises in the FCT administration and its six area councils.

Reacting, the minister of state pointed out that most of the imbalances in the administration were historical, saying however, that there was no excuse for imbalances in recruitment as every part of the country had qualified people to fill any position.

While emphasising the importance of the federal character principle, Akinjide described it as an instrument of national unity, inclusion and justice because of the diversities in the country, as she assured that the administration would ensure that the principle is reflected.

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

Kwara to grant N500 million facility to SMEs From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Kwara state commissioner for Commerce and Cooperative, Alhaji Saka Onimago has disclosed that the sum of N500 million loan would be distributed among the registered cooperative societies in the state as part of the government efforts to strengthen the state economy.

Onimago, who disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing also disclosed that N150 million have released for the 250 cooperative societies duly registered with the ministry.

While analysing the activities of the ministry, Onimago said the state government had completed the plan to ensure that free trade zone was fully utilized among the cooperative and business men and women who are making use of the cargo terminal and shopping malls in the state.

In the course, he said the ministry has processed the release of funds for the procurement of needed equipment and materials for all cooperatives in the state as well as monitoring their performances, to ensure prompt repayment of the loan.

He added that the state

Flight schedule

government would provide a minimum of 300 shops at Baruten local government area, which share border with a neighbouring country to ease the exportation of at least three processed or semi-processed produce at a significant level.

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he Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) has recorded N857 million as income in its first quarter of 2012 operations, according to its unaudited financial results.

The result shows substantial increment over a figure N664 million recorded first quarter 2011.

Other highlights of the un audited result shows that the administrative costs fell by 26.4%, from N200million in Q1 2011 to N147million for the same period this year on the back of disciplined cost optimisation initiatives?

The organisation's Profit before tax increased from N399million in the first quarter of 2011 to N610 million in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 52.9%.

Profit after tax of N518million representing a 62%

INSIDE

- Pg 20

SMEDAN partner NEPAD on SMEs development

Mob: 08033644990

Nigeria’s economy slows down in Q1

By Aminu Imam

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igeria’s economy grew 6.17 percent in the first quarter this year, down from 7.68 percent in the fourth quarter last year, due partially to the removal of government fuel subsidies, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said yesterday.

Transcorp records N857m income in Q1

By Abdulwahab Isa

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improvement compared to N319 million for the 1st Quarter of 2011 The company achieved the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in line with statutory regulation.

Transcorp's president and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Obinna Ufudo said, "We are excited by this early and positive indication that our turnaround and transformation initiatives are already taking root and yielding results."

He further stated that "We will continue to sustain the trust of our key stakeholders by delivering sound financial returns, diversifying our portfolio mix in the Energy, Agri-business and Hospitality sectors and adhering to best corporate governance practices.

In the coming months we will accelerate the pace of execution of our corporate strategy towards even stronger results for the rest of the year".

According to the bureau, the nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2012 was estimated at 9,142,858.51 million naira as against the 8,311,227.61 million naira recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2011 On oil sector, the report said the estimated crude oil and condensates production decreased in the first quarter of 2012 when compared with the level produced within the corresponding quarter of 2011.

The decrease in crude oil production with their associated gas components, it said, resulted in a decline in real terms of -2.32 per cent in oil GDP growth in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the 0.05 per cent growth recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

Nigeria’s oil production fell to an average of 2.35 million barrels per day (bpd) in the first quarter of this year, from 2.4 million bpd in the fourth quarter 2011, NBS said.

However, it observed that the non-oil sector continued to be a major driver of the economy in the first quarter of 2012 despite its decline when compared with the corresponding quarter in 2011.

“The sector recorded 7.93 per cent growth in real terms in the first quarter of 2012 compared with 8.73 per cent at the corresponding period in 2011.

The 0.8 percentage point

decrease in growth was as a result of decrease in some of the non oil sectors such as manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, etc.” it said.

Agriculture in Nigeria, the report noted, is predominantly rain-fed, the reason farmers suffer tremendous crop failure whenever there are changes in rainfall patterns. “Quite often, farmers’ traditional ways of determining when to commence farming fails on account of uncertainties brought about by climatic changes”.

T h e telecommunications sector recorded a real GDP growth of 32.83 per cent in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 33.36 per cent re-corded in the corresponding period of 2011. “ T h e result surpassed earlier growth forecast for the quarter of 5.34 per cent, which suggests the economy is more resilient than otherwise anticipated. N e v e r t h e l e s s , stronger growth is expected in the second quarter of 2012 as a result of recent sectoral policies in the non-oil sector. The 0.96 percentage point decrease in real GDP growth recorded in the first quarter of 2012 was as a result of decrease in both oil and non oil sectors (manufacturing, wholesale and retail, telecommunication, among others)”, the report further explained.

L-R: Executive Director, Bank of Agriculture, Malam Waziri Ahmadu, Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Samuel Negedu, and National President, National Association of Microfinance Banks, Mr. Jethro Akun, during a stakeholders preparatory meeting for the forthcoming international investor's conference, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY) LOS-A BJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30 ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35 ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35 ABJ -SOK (MON): 09.35 ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10 ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

AEROCONTRACTORS (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 06.50, 13.30, 19.45 LOS-ABJ (SUN): 12.30 LOS-ABJ (SAT): 16.45 ABU-L OS: 07.30, 13.00, 14.00, 19.00 ABU-LOS (SUN): 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 ABU-LOS (SAT): 18.30

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06, 15.30, 17.10 ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40 ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00 LOS-KANO : 08.10 KANO-LOS: 11.25 KANO -ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO : 10.08

IRS AIRLINES LOS -ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

CFA • £ RIYAL $

22nd May, 2012 BUYING 0.2817 197.5055 244.5343 41.2489 154.7

SELLING 0.3017 198.7822 246.115 41.5156 155.7

PARALLEL RATES

ABJ-LOS: 11.30, 3.45, 4.45 LOS-KANO: 6.15 LOS-KANO (SAT/SUN): 16.30 KANO-LOS: 07.30 KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

Management Tip of the Day

EXCHANGE RATES

CBN

• £ RIYAL $

BUYING 210 250 40 156

SELLING 212 252 42 158

S

Turn obstacles into assets

uccessful people work with what they have to achieve their goals. This include surprises, obstacles, and even disappointments.

Next time you face a challenge, think about how it can help you.

Use negative feedback to gauge whether to invest more resources or pull the plug before it’s too late. Take your boss’ rejection of your idea as a chance to come up with a better one that he will love.

Use discouraging market

research findings about your product to develop a feature that customers can’t live without. Instead of setbacks, see these events as gifts and make them work for you.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 21

La Casera unveils new thematic campaign Stories from Suleiman Idris, Lagos

I

n demonstration of its belief in the popular axiom that life itself is a collection of stories, La Casera Apple Flavour carbonated soft drink has unveiled a new thematic campaign, the Apple Story, to further thrill and engage its teeming consumers, in continuation of its year-long 10th anniversary celebration.

Asking the consumers a rhetorical question: 'What's your Apple Story?', the new thematic campaign is designed in a manner that engenders interaction with the target audience and encourages them to participate in the conversation.

Inaugurating the campaign, the Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr. Prahlad Gangadharan, said that the new campaign was designed to bring about a better connection between the brand and the target consumers in an exciting way.

He noted that the campaign, which is in furtherance of the year-long celebration of La Casera's 10th Anniversary, is pivoted on excitement, energy and fun, the three major intrinsic brand offerings of the drink.

In his remarks, the General Manager Marketing, Mr Dave van Rensburg, described the thematic campaign as an exciting and expandable

Access Bank, Intercontinental merger wins M&A award

T

he merger deal between Access Bank and the defunct Intercontinental Bank in 2011 has been adjudged Africa’s top merger and acquisition (M&A) deal by The Banker Magazine.

The magazine, a member of the Financial Times stable of publications, therefore selected Access Bank and Intercontinental Bank deal as the “2012 Mergers and Acquisitions Deal of the Year” for Africa.

Access Bank was the first to embark on a seamless acquisition of Intercontinental Bank following the approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the bank and others to be sold to save depositors of their investments.

Intercontinental Bank has since been integrated into the bank making Access Bank to emerge top five banks in the country.

The Banker’s ‘Deals of the Year’ awards celebrate the most impressive transactions in capital raising, M&A Corporate and SSA bonds, infrastructure and project finance, loans, structured finance, equities, restructuring, Islamic finance and this year a newly added trade finance category.

platform that would build an emotional connection with the consumers by encouraging them to share personal and exciting stories for a chance to win prizes.

According to him, consumers would have the chance to

participate in special radio hypes on the La Casera Apple Story in selected popular radio phone-in programmes on leading radio stations in key cities in Nigeria for a period of four weeks.

Consumers are expected to call into the programmes to

share their Apple Stories and also log on to the company's website, Apple stories.

Mr. Rensburg added that a prize would be given out daily on each radio station to the consumer with the most exciting story while the three

overall most interesting stories will be selected for grand prizes at the end of the four-week duration of the hypes.

Tiger Brands sees 30% revenues from Africa

S

An ideal LED outdoor billboard on display

Etisalat launches Easy Business Suite for SMEs

By Muhammad Sada

G

SM Network operator, Etisalat has launched a scheme for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) called Easy Business.

The suite is designed to add value to SMEs, increase their profitability and serve as a onestop-shop for all their communication needs.

Chief Commercial Officer of Etisalat, Mr. Wael Ammar says

the solution comprises of premium, compact and complete variants, all with bonus minutes and free monthly SMS. Also the suite boasts a call rate of 25kobo/ second to all networks in Nigeria.

The rate also applies to international calls in China, USA, UK landline, India and Canada.

Ammar said, “We have considered that most SMEs have

limited budget, and based on this, we have decided to improve our package for SMEs so that they can minimise the telecommunications cost for doing their business.

“The most interesting part of the package is that it is easy to use, requires little or no customization and skill because we understand that business owners are usually busy and may not have the time for high technological products.”

.....Blames power outrages for poor services

A

fter being fined N 1.17 billion alongside MTN, Airtel and Globacom by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Etisalat has admitted to the poor service delivery.

However the company has blamed poor power supply, sabotage and other infrastructural shortfalls as responsible for the quality issues.

Industry observer, Oladipupo Oguntayo speaking

on the NCC fines said, “it’s like penalizing your kids for failing their exams altough you didn’t buy them any textbooks.

In an emailed statement to Reuters, Etisalat said, “This year alone we are investing more than half a billion dollars in expansion of our network capabilities and capacity.”

Etisalat said the fines averaged $2 million/carrier for “non-compliance with the quality of service targets set by

the regulator”.

The company cited poor infrastructure as a challenge affecting its service delivery matrix in Nigeria.

“Foremost among these is the absence of reliable power which necessitates that every one of our over 3,000 cell sites needs to be served by two generators which run 24 hours a day and need regular maintenance and provision of weekly supplies of diesel,” it said.

outh Africa’s largest food company, Tiger Brands , is targeting its operations in the rest of Africa including Nigeria to bring in at least thirty per cent of the company’s annual revenues CEO Peter Matlare said on Tuesday at the group’s interim results presentation.

The company’s international businesses including a complete ownership of Nigerian biscuit makers Deli Food Nigeria Limited and a 49 per cent stake in UAC Foods already contribute about 15% to revenue.

The group would consider greenfield projects and acquisitions and it is in talks with the giant mill, Dangote Flour for a possible tie up.

“The expansion into new markets, primarily in the rest of the African continent, remains a key strategic thrust, both through acquisitions and exports.”

Tiger Brands, which owns brands such as Koo and All Gold, said group turnover for the halfyear increased 12,1%. On a comparable basis, excluding acquisitions, turnover increased 5%. Strong export growth and a profit turnaround at Langeberg & Ashton Foods contributed to this relatively strong underlying performance, it said.

A muted local environment, however, led to domestic turnover growth of 3,4%, negatively affected by lower volumes across a number of products.

Despite the challenging local conditions the group grew headline earnings 5,2%.

The new international acquisitions “performed to expectations”, the group said.

Last year, Tiger Brands bought 100% of Deli Foods Nigeria, a biscuit maker, for 296,3m rand.

It later paid 421,1m rand for a 49% stake in UAC Foods Nigeria, a manufacturer of branded food products.

The company confirmed earlier this month it was in talks with Dangote Flour, a deal analysts valued at $150m if 80% of the shares were acquired at the market capitalisation.

An analyst at Avior Research, Jiten Bechoo said consumers were looking for value and that Tiger’s cost improvements were bearing fruit.

“It was a good result, improvements in the consumer brands division were encouraging. In this competitive environment they have maintained margins.”

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

New fertiliser company to debut in Nigeria

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

A

People living with disabilities, during an empowerment programme organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for the South-west, on Tuesday in Akure, Ondo state capital.

NEF plans to stimulate over 500,000 businesses T

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

he Nigeria Entrepreneurs’ Forum (NEF) is set to organise a start-your-ownbusiness- seminar in June that will train 200 participants in Abuja.

According to the NEF President, Dr Sydney Inigbedion, who led a delegation to a courtesy call on the Minister of state for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom on Tuesday, the business workshop will train 200 youths on a fortnight basis and will extend to other parts of the country after its kick off in Abuja on the 9th of June, 2012.

According to Dr Inigbedion, the seminar targets the creation of over 500,000 news business in the next few years.

“The new businesses are expected to start employing 2-5 persons, thereby creating employment opportunities while building wealth,” he added.

The NEF president also spoke on the ban on rice importation from 2014, saying the forum had started the distribution of micro equipment to aid the local production of rice to the 36 states of the federation starting with Bayelsa, Niger and Adamawa.

The NEF leader sought more

cooperation and support from the ministry to fulfill its mandate of boosting entrepreneurship, job and wealth creating in the country’s economy.

Responding, the minister assured the delegation of the ministry’s readiness to support its activities.

On the request of Dr Inigbedion for a letter of consent to be sent to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to ease NEF’s registration, Dr Ortom told members of the delegation to send a letter of request to the ministry in order to get the said consent letter.

2 NIPP projects in Rivers stopped by NASS committee

By Muhammad Sada

T

he National Assembly Joint Committee on Power has ordered that work on two electricity projects in Rivers state, under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), be put on hold.

The decision to stop the project was made by members of the committee, led by Senator Philips Aduda, due to dissatisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the projects going on in Eneka and Oyigbo in the oil-rich state, as handled by Strabek Engineering Services Limited.

They also expressed surprise that refurbished transformers, not new ones, were mounted for the power project.

Speaking with journalists after the inspection, Senator Aduda announced that work at the affected sites would stop until experts carry out a proper

verification exercise on the transformers supplied to the contractors.

According to Aduda, “As we are looking at this project, I want to say that we are dissatisfied with it and we have asked the contractor to stop work forthwith because there is a lot of defects as you can see,” he said, adding: “We will call the contractor and look at the project again with a view to ensuring that the proper thing is done. In the power sector, we have had various problems and the committees will stop at nothing to ensure that power projects are carried out with the level of seriousness they need.”

This, he said, is the only way Nigerians can begin to enjoy regular power supply. “You can see for yourselves the defects in the structural works at the project sites,” he added.

Managing Director of the contracting firm, Nelson Chima,

however said that work on the projects were still on-going, so modifications and corrections could always be effected, adding that the company was handling five projects under the NIPP at a contract value of N1.8 billion, whereas it had been mobilised with only N300 million.

new fertiliser company with the capacity to produce 2.4million metric tonnes of urea fertilisers annually is set to debut in the Onne Free Trade Zone in Rivers state.

The President/ Chief Executive of the Norwegian firm (Westfert Limited), Mr. Thore Eilertsen, who disclosed this when he visited the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom in Abuja, said the company is billed to take off next year.

"We have the technical knowledge and understanding of urea production and we are well equipped in that regard. We use the latest technology and we intend to produce 2.4 million tonnes of fertiliser per annum,'' he said.

Eilertsen said the company, when established would create additional jobs of between 1, 500 and 2, 000 for Nigerians, adding that this would be doubled by the

time the field work properly commences.

Besides, he assured that the domestic production of urea would move the country away from the importation of fertilizer while the company would start exporting the commodity to the international market as soon as local consumption is met.

Eilertsen therefore sought the support of the federal government in realising the project, which he said, had been in focus for two years.

Specifically, the company chief executive informed that the firm, which he said was an affiliate of the largest fertilizer company in the world, needed 60 hectares at the Onne Free Trade Zone for the project take off on a good note.

Responding, the minister assured the investor of government's support, pointing out that "Nigeria decided to drive the economy through the organized private sector to ensure business growth in the country."

Tourism association wants govt. to classify hotels

T

he Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) has stressed the need for the Federal Government to classify hotels in the country for them to meet international standards.

The president of the association, Mr. Samuel Alabi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday that it was unfortunate that the issue of classification of hotels was yet to be resolved.

“What we have now is registration of hotels by Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) as international, national or urban hotels, which is a third party affair.’’

The Vice-President of the association, Mr. Tomi Akingbogun also told NAN that the lack of classification of hotels portrayed the country in bad light and made it difficult for people to trace a hotel of their preference.

He said, “It is unfortunate that for more than six years the issue of classification has not been resolved and no hotel has been classified to meet the

international standard of classification.’’

He urged tour operators, hoteliers and other tourism practitioners to work with FTAN in order to move the tourism sector forward.

Akingbogun said, “Some associations have internal problems about leadership, but we all need to work together.

“Tour operators are supposed to work closely with hotel owners because they need to realise that they need each other.

“Tourism is wide and new associations emerge everyday.

We are doing our best to let them know that FTAN is the umbrella body of the tourism sector.

“It is not our job to tell them what to do, but we need to enlighten them to know that they need each other to grow and improve in their various businesses.’’

Akingbogun said that the private tourism sector, which the association represented, was working toward bringing the Nigerian tourism sector to limelight. (NAN)

NAFDAC begins registration of food vendors, water packages, others in Bauchi

T

he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday said that it had commenced the registration of food, water and drug vendors in Bauchi State.

The Head of the agency in the state, Mr. Michael Attah, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.

Attah said the exercise was

part of the agency’s efforts at strengthening its regulatory activities to facilitate easy monitoring, identification and effective compliance to NAFDAC‘s safety standards.

According to him, the agency has begun an enlightenment campaign aimed at sensitising all key stakeholders to the exercise.

“In a bid to improve on its regulatory activities, NAFDAC is

trying to create a data base for all stakeholders, for all regulated products - food, sachet water, bottle water, medical devices , chemicals and all regulatory items of NAFDAC; we want to reach out to our stakeholders to have their data captured in our data bank”, he stated.

Attah warned that businesses that failed to register in the on-going exercise would be sanctioned. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

How western companies connive in the looting of Nigeria As western oil companies loot some $140 billion a year of Nigeria’s black gold two thirds of the country’s 100 million people live on less than $2 a day, writes Thomas Mountain of Counterpunch newsletter.

By Thomas C. Mountain

N

igeria’s “official” oil production figures show about 3 million barrels a day being pumped from western oil companies’ oil fields into the holds of western tankers though for decades now informed observers have estimated up to one third of all Nigerian oil is actually “stolen”, secretly loaded onto oil tankers after bribes are paid to corrupt government officials.

If 4 million barrels of oil are being shipped out of Nigeria daily at $100 a barrel, times 30 days a month times 12 months you arrive at almost $150 Billion a year in potential oil revenues for Nigeria.

The problems is not just theft but the fact that the western oil companies are literally looting Nigeria’s oil,

paying as little as a 9% royalty.

Do the math, 9% of $150 Billion minus the one third oil that is stolen and the Nigerian government only receives about $10 billion a year of this amount.

Simply put, at $100 a barrel the western oil companies get $91 and Nigeria only gets $9. Or more shockingly, Big Oil makes $140 billion a year vs.

Nigeria’s $10 Billion.

The Big Oil robber barons famously promote themselves as “investors” in Nigeria though when looking at the loot they are making from what should be Africa’s richest country it is doubtful that they have invested $140 billion in Nigeria in total over the last decades (Big Oil is notorious for sticking the host countries with a major share of infrastructure expenses,

deducted from their royalty checks).

In other words Big Oil has made its investment back almost exponentially. And all the while Nigerians are hungry, sick and increasingly fed up.

What have the people of Nigeria gotten from all this wealth being looted from their country?

Malnutrition and disease are rampant across the country. Many if not most of Nigeria’s children have never seen the inside of a school room. Many if not most of Nigeria’s people simply cannot afford even primary medical care. Malaria, water borne diseases, TB, HIV/ AIDS, the list of sicknesses killing Nigerians in the thousands every day is criminal.

Nigeria’s environment has been a victim with a large

Nigeria is in constant need of IMF bailouts and pays the price for such predatory loans. Earlier this year after Queen of the IMF Christine Lagarde paid a visit Nigerian President “Badluck” Jonathan was forced to kneel down and kiss her feet,

swath of the coast laying under a toxic blanket of oil, mainly as a result of the criminal failure of Big Oil to do even basic maintenance on its pipelines.

Yet Nigeria has the largest, best equipped army in west Africa, the better to enforce Pax Americana. As I write Nigerian troops are pouring into Guinea Bissau, there to restore “democracy” something they have done many times in the past.

Nigeria should be wealthy, its people the envy of Africa if not the entire developing world. Instead its cities are filled with homeless children begging for their daily bread.

Nigeria imports almost all of its fuel needs, selling its oil for $9 a barrel and buying back the gasoline, diesel and kerosene made from its oil for hundred$ a barrel.

Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke is Nigeria’s Petroleum Resources Minister

NNPC corporate headquarters, Abuja

Fuel tankers parked near an oil terminal in Lagos, Nigeria

An oil drilling faciliy

promising to more than double the price desperate Nigerians are forced to pay for their fuel.

The kleptocrats that rule Nigeria under the banner of “democracy”, for they stole the elections fair and square, cannot even provide electricity to their people, with most Nigerians receiving only a few hours a day of electric supply if any at all.

Nigeria’s other infrastructure, what little there is, decays by the day with even its once functional railroads now barely operational.

Yet this is all applauded by the west, with Nigeria’s President a permanent member of the so called G-20 council of world leaders.

One of the leading candidates for the title of “Queen of African Kleptocracy”, the Nigerian Finance Minister complained

bitterly after she was rejected by Pax Americana to head the USA majority owned World Bank. Talk about the fox wanting to rule the chicken coop?

All this looting and theft has left a once proud and self sufficient people on the brink of a major explosion with government repression barely containing a cauldron of ethnic/religious violence that continues to erupt in murder and mayhem.

Muslims killing Christians, Christians killing Muslims, and the army killing ethnic rebels taking up arms over the looting and destruction of their homelands by the western oil companies.

These days the western media have begun carrying alarming reports of a dramatic decline in Nigerian oil production, down according to some reports by as much as 25% in the last few months. As

bad as matters are already for Nigeria’s suffering millions what is to come may be far worse, for without even the small morsels that their western masters allow to fall from their oil burdened tables the Nigerian economy is headed for a collapse, being almost completely dependent on their oil exports.

What is going to happen if Nigeria’s oil fields begin to run dry? Only time will tell, though thanks to the looting of Nigeria one might be forgiven for holding little hope for what should be one of the jewels of Africa.

Thomas C. Mountain is the most widely distributed independent western journalist in Africa, living and reporting from Eritrea since 2006. He can be reached at thomascmountain at yahoo dot com.

PAGE 28

By Mohammed Kandi

F

ollowing the threatening impacts of the recent gas explosions at Chevron’s Funiwa platform, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has delivered additional relief materials to about 38 communities affected by the disaster in Southern Ijaw and Brass local government areas of Bayelsa state.

The agency, according a statement issued by its head of press and public relations, Yushau A. Shuaib, had initially distributed some relief materials to the affected communities but later discovered from a detail assessment of the situations that the disaster had spread to more areas, which necessitated the delivery of more items.

The statement said the items were distributed directly to the victims by NEMA staff and the state officials in collaboration with other stakeholders and security agencies.

Representing the DirectorGeneral of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, at the occasion, Director Search and Rescue of the agency Air Commodore Alexander Bankole, said the items were approved by President Goodluck Jonathan to cushion the effects of the disaster and enable the recovery of the communities.

Receiving the items on behalf

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE NEMA distributes relief materials to 38 Bayelsa communities of the state government, Special Adviser to the Governor on Emergency, Mrs Faith Orubo Opene, commended the federal government for the kind gesture.

She also lauded NEMA for the timely assessment and delivery of the materials and promised that the items would be distributed accordingly.

Meanwhile, items delivered to the victims include 1000 bags of garri, 1200 bags of rice, 600 bags of beans, 500 kegs of vegetable oil, 500 kegs of palm oil, 300 bags of salt, 500 cartons of bath soap, 200 bags of sugar and 200 units of sewing machines. Others were 200 units of grinding machines, 1000 pieces of treated mosquito nets, and 500 cartons of threein-one tea, 500 blankets, 500 wax prints, 1000 buckets and 300 cartons of buckets.

It recalled that there was gas explosion in Chevron’s Funiwa platform located near koluama community in Southern Ijaw which occurred on 16th January 2012 causing a huge fire that burnt for several weeks and spillage that affected the nearby riverside communities.

Special Adviser on Emergency to the Governor of Bayelsa State Mrs Faith Orubo Opene receiving relief materials delivered by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for communities in the state affected by the recent gas explosion.

Windstorm: NEMA issues safety guidelines

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called on the public to avoid fallen electric poles, bill boards and trees during windstorm.

NEMA South-South Information Officer, Mr Roberts Ekemini, made the call in a statement in Port Harcourt to inform the public on what to do during windstorm.

Ekemini was reacting to the guidelines issued by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) which speculated that 2012 rains in the South-South were likely to be characterised by heavy windstorms in the region.

He said that anybody driving should pull off the road and stop away from trees, bill boards, telecommunications mast and electricity poles.

“Do not panic, take quick actions to help yourself and help others; turn off the stove if you’re cooking; turn off your gas and electricity from the main switch.

“Never burn charcoal indoors; turn off the generator if you are indoors, move away from windows or objects that could fall,” he said.

Ekemini said that anybody living in multi-storey homes should go to the lower floor of the building, adding that the public should avoid overpass (flyovers), power lines and other hazards.

He advised that people should walk, if possible into a safe building as well as listen to local radio for emergency

instructions.

The information officer said that after the storm, people should leave damaged buildings and avoid the buildings until declared safe by authorities.

“Do not use matches, candles, open flames or electric switches indoors if you perceive gas; leave the building, turn off the gas source and call the fire service.

“If the power goes out, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to keep food frozen for longer periods,” he said.

Ekemini said that people should provide assistance to neighbours, especially the elderly or disabled during windstorm.

“Monitor your potable water to be sure there is no contamination of your water supply. Tune to your local radio for information from the emergency authorities about the location of emergency shelters, medical aid and distribution of relief materials,” Ekemini said.

He said that to forestall any ugly incidence, all hands must be on deck, stressing that NEMA would continue to enlighten the public on the danger of such disaster to humans.

“By taking action now, you can save lives, reduce the damages caused by the windstorm and other weatherrelated hazards,” Ekemini said.

He urged the public to contact any emergency management office or NIMET to find out the type of storm likely to occur in their area. (NAN)

DG, NEMA (centre), with students and corps members during a quiz competition on disaster management in Abuja.

A section of the relief itmes delivered to Bayelsa state by NEMA.

NEMA's Director, Search and Rescue Air Commodore Alexander Bankole, addressing Bayelsa state officials and representatives of the communities.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Averting ammunition hazards

R

An Official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the Barau Dikko Specialists and 44 Army Reference Hospitals, Kaduna assessing the condition of victims of the recent twin bomb blast in Kaduna.

NEMA take disaster mgt to Anambra schools

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has inaugurated Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Club (DRR) in 10 pilot schools in Anambra State as part of an Hyogo Framework of Action, involving children and youth in community-based disaster management programmes.

The event which took at Girls Secondary School, Amaenyi, in Awka, witnessed huge turnout of Government functionaries, school principals, teachers and students.

Speaking at the event, the Director General-General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammed SaniSidi, emphasized the need for stakeholders to take seriously the issue of emergency preparedness and response at the grassroots level.

Represented by the agency’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Charles

Adakole Agbo, the DG noted inculcating disaster consciousness among the children and youths across the country was paramount saying “we must strive to instill in them the culture of risk identification, reduction, preparedness and mitigation in their formative years.”

The DG reiterated that plans are underway to extending the programme to all the zones in the country, explaining further that “children and youths are potential leaders and formation of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Club, which is a way of bringing awareness of new way of living and acculturation especially among them.”

In his remark, Chairman of Anambra State Post-Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC), Sir Norbert Obi, commended NEMA for the initiative, and promised to extend the gesture to other schools in the

state.

He also said it was necessary to work out modalities in appointing Desk Officers in each Local Government Areas to oversee the affairs of the programme for its sustainability.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Maja Umeh, encouraged the children and others present, to put into practice whatever is learnt so as to have a disaster free society which will in turn ensure environmental sustainability.

The South East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Dr. Onimode Abdullahi Bandele, however, explained that the inaugurated club members will be trained in basic first aid and emergency management issues to make them useful to their immediate communities and ensure sustainability of the environment where they live.

NEMA Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Charles Adakole Agbo, delivering a speech on the occassion of the club’s induction in Secondary Schools recently in Anambra state.

ecently, while over 200 lives were lost to an arms dump explosion in Brazzaville, over 2000 others were injured due to its devastating consequences .

Several news reportage and analysis indicated that despite efforts and preventive measures being put in place by various countries to ensure adequate storage, disposal and transfer of its ammunition carefully, hundreds of lives are lost annually across the world at depots.

The Brazzaville incidence was described as one of the remarkable damages to lives and property of people across the globe; just as the explosion of Bomb Store at Ikaja Cantonment in Lagos state, had led to the death of over 1000 people in January, 2002.

Similarly, no fewer than 12 live were lost to a massive explosion from ammunition seized from an Iranian shipment in Mediterranean island, in 2009. The explosion of ammunition at Naval Pier in Port had also claimed 5 live and left 60 others brutally injured in New Jersey in April, 1946, while five other Russian soldiers were killed during an explosion which occurred at an ammunition depot in central Russia in May, 2010.

Meanwhile, in a recent solidarity visit to the Congolese victims of bomb explosion on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammed Sani Sidi, attributed various causes of bomb dumps’ explosion world over to subjecting containers carrying explosives to hot mediterranean climate for a long period.

He noted among other things inadequate maintenance, poor storage facilities, improper physical security test and insufficient stockpile management as factors responsible for such disasters.

Consequently, states are advised to poses suitable locations for the storage of their ammunition and ensure adequate shelter and ventilation around the ammunition depots. For instance, in Russian Republic of Udmirtia, the hot and dry weather has triggered a series of explosions at a munitions depot in the settlement of Pugachyovo in July, 2011 leaving over 100 people in devastating situation and damaged 3000 building and facilities.

Adequate maintenance of the ammunition depot must be put in place to avert the danger of depot explosion.

There has to be efficient method of ensuring balance and environmental safety as well as other factors when storing a mix of munitions. States must also realize that certain munitions must not be stored together; and should not store flammable or combustible materials, acids, and explosives with dissimilar material or items that present positive hazards to the munitions.

In the analysis of United Nations (2010), safe storage of ammunition is a key issue as stockpiled ammunition can become unsafe if not properly stored. Unintended

explosions of ammunition depots have affected over 60 countries worldwide, leading to thousands of casualties over the past 15 years and new areas of explosive remnants of war contamination.

The proper training of all personnel involved in the handling, transporting and use of explosive ordnance is an important factor in seeking to ensure its reliable operation as intended. States should therefore adopt and maintain suitable training programmes to ensure that personnel are properly trained with regard to the munitions with which they will be required to deal.

There is a need to prevent, combat and eradicate unlawful trade of harms and ammunition.

Safeguarding weapons through the provision of appropriate laws and regulations is a very vital step; this will help to ensure that neither weapons nor ammunitions are diverted into the illegal sector.

Ensuring appropriate border controls will help to prevent unlawful trans-border shipments.

In this case, adequate education and training must be put in place for the population at large regarding the risks of ammunition depot explosion.

In order to ensure the best possible long-term reliability of explosive ordnance, States are encouraged to apply best practice norms and operating procedures with respect to its storage, transport, field storage, and handling in accordance with the United Nation Charter on Explosive Ordinance which states that “ammunition should be stored in secure facilities or appropriate containers that protect the explosive ordnance and its components in a controlled atmosphere, if necessary; a state should transport explosive ordnance to and from production facilities, storage facilities and the field in a manner that minimizes damage to the explosive ordnance; appropriate containers and controlled environments should be used by a state when stockpiling and transporting explosive ordnance.”

Furthermore, a long distance must be maintained between the ammunition depot and civilian residence. In addition to the existing explosive unit in every nation armed forces. there is a need to put in place, effective Quantity Distance Units with Explosives Safety Specialists to determine the risk of exposure by examining blast, fragment, and thermal hazards of a given amount of explosive using accepted protection principles to determine levels of hazard a person is exposed to at a given distance from the explosives as it has been argued that only distance from the blast will provide protection from the blast wave of an explosion.

A state planning to transfer explosive ordnance to another State that did not previously possess that type of explosive ordnance should endeavour to ensure that the receiving State has the capability to store, maintain and use that explosive ordnance correctly.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Kwami residents appeal to Gombe govt to control erosion

S

ome residents of DuleFalam community in Kwami Local government Area of Gombe State have appealed to the state government to check the indiscriminate packing of sand in the area for construction purpose.

Some farmers, who spoke to newsmen in Gombe, said that the practice by truck drivers had led to serious erosion and the washing away of their farms.

Alhaji Sale Tinka, one of the respondents, said that erosion had disrupted his plan to develop the area into a farm house to supply cow milk and other farm produce.

Tinka also said that some cows had died and that several complaints to the government on the matter had not yielded any good result.

Malam Mohammed Usman,

the Ward Head of Wuro Bunde, said that many of his subjects had been affected and that if the trend continued, they would be forced to relocate.

Another victim, Malam Abdullahi Inuwa, a private legal practitioner, also urged the local government to take action against the tipper drivers and warned that farmers might resort to legal action.

In his reaction to the development, Alhaji Idris Mahdi, the Commissioner of Water Resources, Environment and Town Planning, said that the government would soon intervene in the matter.

On the erosion which had eaten deep into some farmlands, the commissioner said that the government would soon make a formal request for Federal Government intervention.

(NAN)

Afforestation: Kano govt to plant 1m trees to check desert encroachment

T

he Programme Manager, Kano State Afforestation Programme (KNAP), Alhaji Maitama Danbatta, has said that arrangements have been concluded for planting of one million tree seedlings in 2012 to curtail the threat of desert encroachment in the state.

Danbatta, who disclosed recently in Kano, further noted that “We decided to produce this number of seedlings in order to check the menace of desertification particularly in the affected areas.”

He said the seedlings would be produced in eight designated nursery centres across the state, adding that, already, the nursery centre had been established in Danbatta, Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, Bunkure, Dawakin Kudu and Takai Local Government Areas as well as at the Project Monitoring Unit in Kano city.

According to him, the seedlings will be distributed free to communities, schools, NGOs, self-help groups and other stakeholders.

“We also intend to distribute the seedlings to interested individuals who may want to plant a tree in their farms or respective places of abode. During the distribution, priority will be given to frontline local government areas in the NorthWestern and North-Eastern parts of the state that are prone to desert encroachment,” he explained.

Danbatta said that the state government had planned to rehabilitate the existing 50 kilometre- shelter belt as part of renewed effort to combat the menace in the state.

It will be recalled that the Federal Executive Council had in its last weekly meeting approved the take off of the Great Green Wall Environmental Programme designed to check desert encroachment in 11 frontline states including Kano.

Similarly, Plateau

Government on Tuesday said that it had distributed one million tree seedlings to the 17 local government areas (LGAs) in the state to combat deforestation.

Commissioner for Environment, Mrs Sarah Yusuf, who gave the figure at a ministerial briefing in Jos, said each of the 17 local government areas received 40,000 seedlings.

Yusuf said that the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, and the 3 Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, received 100,000 seedlings each.

The commissioner said that the measure was imperative to fight deforestation and to ensure that certain trees did not become extinct in the state.

She said that open burning of waste, as well as clearing of farm lands for cultivation and felling of trees for timber, had intensified the natural greenhouse effect, causing global warming.

According to her, nature balances the flow of energy and nutrients while forests play a very vital role in these cycles like the carbon cycle where deforestation causes carbon dioxide to remain in the atmosphere.

Yusuf said that the destruction of the forests also caused climate modification of an area mostly leading to desertification and aridity.

She advised the public against indiscriminate felling of trees and that for every tree fell, two tree seedlings should be planted as plants emitted oxygen which was very essential to humans and animals.

The commissioner advised people to grow economic trees in their homes, adding that such trees served as sources of income, as well as acted as wind breakers during heavy wind storms.

(NAN)

Environmental hazards: Mobil, Chevron, Shell top gas flare chart

By Mohammed Kandi, with agency report

D

espite devastating health danger and environmental hazards caused by gas flaring to some communities in the Niger-Delta region, some multinational oil companies in Nigeria still flare gases even at the detriment of inhabitants living along the coastal region.

Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN), according to the Monthly Petroleum Information published online by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) topped the gas flare chart for the month of January, 2012.

The latest report, obtained online In Eketin Eket, Akwa Ibom, recently, said that Chevron and Shell placed second and third respectively, while

MPN, an ExxonMobil subsidiary, flared 9.85 billion standard cubic feet (bscf) of gas into the atmosphere in the month under review.

The oil firm produced 38.64 bscf and utilised 28.77 bscf of its associated gas for fuelling its operation, re-injection, and sale to industrial users.

Chevron followed by flaring 8.25 bscf of gas to the atmosphere out of its 19.23 bscf of gas produced under the joint venture category.

Shell Petroleum Development Company came third on the table of gas flare volume with 5.44 bscf of gas flared even as it produced the highest volume of 76.4 bscf of gas.

Shell, however, used 70.45 bscf of its gas produced for power generation, sale to third parties and re-injection to stabilise oil

production.

Across the entire industry, a total of 30.16 bscf, about 13.97 per cent of total gas production was flared at the oil fields in onshore and offshore oil fields in Nigeria in the month under review.

The data also showed that MPN produced a total of 116,914 tonnes of Condensate from the oil firm’s $1.3 billion East Area Natural Gas to Liquids facility located off Akwa Ibom coastline.

MPN, operator of the NNPC/ MPN joint venture got 59,625 tonnes of condensate while NNPC 57,289 got tonnes of the condensates also known as Natural Gas Liquid.

The report also said a total of 125,563 tonnes of condensate was lifted for export from the Qua Iboe export terminal.

Gurara waterfalls in Niger state.

Kwara govt spends N1bn on water reticulation I

n its effort to provide steady water supply in Ilorin as well as ease the suffering of citizens in the metropolis, the Kwara State capital, the Government has exhausted the sum of N1 billion on water reticulations.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Idris Abubakar, made tthis known recently, at an inter-ministerial briefing on the activities of his ministry in the past one year.

According to him, pipe laying network of Ilorin metropolis is near completion while other phases of the water reticulation will be completed by the

contractor to ease water problem in the state.

“Government has paid N1billion to a Chinese firm for the water reticulation and it will be completed soon. Water is rationed in the metropolis now because the existing facility cannot sustain the supply, but when the reticulation is completed, water scarcity will be a thing of the past,” the Commissioner explained.

Abubakar also said that all water works in the state had been rehabilitated, while 40 boreholes had been sunk in the three senatorial districts to meet

the government agenda of water provision to the people.

Similarly, Commissioner for Energy, Alhaji Abubakar Kanike, said that 15 projects had been completed while more than 50 transformers were procured and installed in various parts of the state.

According to him, the gesture is aimed at boosting the socio-economic activities of the state through electricity supply.

He said that the Ganmo power step down, built by the state government would be fully utilised when electricity improved in Nigeria. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 27

We shall meet at the Benue belt T

his was the caption for a cover story I did some years ago, when I stumbled on a report entitled: “Nigeria LandUse and Vegetation Maps.” The study was carried out by FORMECU between 1976 and 1995.

The report gives an overview of the Nigeria Ecosystems.

It proclaims that between 100 and 150 years from now, only “Benue-Belt” would likely remain of the Nigeria’s Landmass, should we remain lukewarm to the increasing menace of the various ecological problems that are eating out the heart of the country like cancer.

Going by the report, Nigeria’s Landmass is going through a dismal tunnel, and if not checked, the end which is, “We shall meet at the BenueBelt”. Not an alarmist’s talk.

Taking a cursory look at the ‘Nigeria Land-Use and Vegetation Maps,’ would make your heart skip. We may be lukewarm believing that our generation would not reap from out present uncaring attitudes towards the conservation and protection of our environment.

The report emphasized, that if the seriousness, ecological problems deserve was not given, generations of our children and grand-children would find themselves within the “BenueBelt”, with their number heavily depleted, to perhaps 2.5 million from the present 160 million people in Nigeria.

“Out of Nigeria’s total land area of 923,768 km, 698,462 km or 75.6 percent is prone to one type of ecological problems or another.”

According to the report, the Arid-zone has extended southward from latitude 120N to latitude 10 30 N. Main areas affected are Borno, Kebbi, Sokoto and Yobe States, which is characterized by harsh climate with a long intense dry season coupled with disastrous drought and a short erratic unreliable raining season that last for about 120 days every year.

Desertification is the bane of the Sahel and Sudan-Savannah Ecological Zone as classified by the Federal Government, comprised of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Gombe, Jigawa, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states.

The southern borders of the Sahel and Sudan Ecological Zone had moved from 50 to 100 km south of their positions since 1978. Lake Chad which has been predicted could vanish in this century if action is not taken, has receded beyond the borders of Nigeria and remains so far most of the year. Other rivers that have been adversely affected are Komadogo, Yobe, Gongola, Sokoto-Rima, HadejiaJama’are. In addition the main

that supposed to, abnitio, map out programs of action to checkmate these avoidable ecoproblems for the generation that would succeed us. That’s what usually happens in our clime.

Though, there may have been a long list of efforts by the government at different levels to protect and conserve our environment; the question is; are these efforts actually geared towards a long term to attain sustainable development for generations that would succeed us?

Looking at all the efforts made so far in this country, towards environmental

ENVIR ONMENT ENVIRONMENT WATCH

By Ambrose Inusa Sule, mnes globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only) sustainability, I have not seen anything futuristic in their designs and contents.

Unless something is done urgently, by the authority to check the metastasizing environmental problems in the country, in order to avoid going through the dismal tunnel, the end which the report has already predicted. Authority should engage in efforts to salvage the environment and avert a cataclysmic end.

There’s no doubt that the simple reason why we have gotten to this precarious state

of our environment, is that past administrations did little or nothing to reverse this downward trend with billions of Naira meant for ecological problems annually, either been diverted or out-rightly embezzled.

If we do not want our children’s children to meet at the ‘Benue-Belt’ with their number heavily reduced, we should as a matter or urgency embark on a very serious action programs to curtail the prevailing ecological problems.

Tomorrow might be too late.

Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Jibril Mailafiya areas affected are Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kano and Yobe.

Desertification, it stated has increased from 1.1 million hectares in 1978 to two million in 1995. Sand dunes in areas of Borno, Kebbi, Sokoto and Yobe states have increased to 480,000 hectares in 1995 from 80,000 hectares in 1978.

In the same report, the estimated soil erosion occurrence in Nigeria is wind erosion which is predominantly in the north with high velocity wind that is most active during the dry season. This it stated covers 127,218km2 and gully erosion which is nationwide, but more acute in the south-east with areas of 18,517km2 sheet and other types are nationwide but more severe in areas devoid of vegetation with areas of 552,727km2.

The main areas affected by gully erosion are Anambra, Bauchi, Borno, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, Imo and virtually the whole Niger Delta region.

Over the years, efforts have been made at different levels of government to control this myriad of environmental problems. Most of the efforts so far have been in the area of study and documentation without giving them the attention they deserve in terms of control measures.

In the first place, a study supposed to be a piece of work that is done to find out more about a particular problem. In this instance, the study was commissioned by the federal government to find out more about the ecological state of the country.

After such a study and report made available to the authority that commissioned it, mechanisms were supposed to be put in place, for programs of action. As it were, don’t be surprised that the report would have gathered enough dust in the file cabinet of the authority

Gov Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state (first left) and his deputy Engr. Abubakar D. Ali (center) looking at new equipment and machinery procured for environmental sanitation.

Director urges governments to enforce wastewater treatment

T

NEWS

he Federal Ministry of Environment has called on the Federal and State Governments to enforce the treatment of wastewater to ensure that citizens across the country have access to safe water for consumption.

Deputy Director, Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Environment, Mr Ahmed Alfa, made the call while fielding questions from journalists recently in Abuja.

“The issue of fresh water in the country is becoming serious due to industrial waste pollution of water and with the drilling of boreholes, the water can be contaminated,” he said.

Alfa said that the drilling of boreholes by most communities

had given rise to effluent discharges resulting to the pollution of fresh water for consumption of the people, adding that “Effluent discharge is an out flowing of water or gas from a natural body of water, or from industries.”

He noted that most industries usually pollute the environment with effluent discharges, which in turn pollute fresh water, saying “this causes hazard to the people in the community drinking water from the boreholes.”

“Boreholes should be used normally in Nigeria because we don’t have serious water supply in terms of availability. The problem we have is that we have not been able to capture water bodies that will provide fresh drinking water for us,” he said.

Alfa said that the Ministry of

Environment had been working toward ensuring that the level of water pollution was reduced to the barest minimum.

He, however, called on the Ministry of Water Resources to tackle the challenges of water pollution faced by the country.

“Extraction of water through the use of borehole causes cracks on land which subsequently affects the surrounding structures,” he said.

Alfa said that the ministry had been addressing the issue of water pollution through the efforts of the National Environmental Enforcement Regulatory Agencies.

He said that efforts would also be made through the privatepublic partnership for construction of central facility in all the industrial cities in the country. (NAN)

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Black farmhand found guilty of murdering South African white supremacist Eugene Terre’Blanche A

South African court has found black farmhand Chris Mahlangu guilty of murdering Eugene Terre’Blanche, a white supremacist prominent during the dying years of apartheid, in a wage dispute.

A second man, who was a minor at the time of the April 2010 murder, was found guilty of housebreaking in Ventersdorp, a farming community about 80 miles west of Johannesburg where Terre’Blanche owned a farm.

The case has served as a reminder of the bitter historical divisions in a country now dubbed the ‘Rainbow Nation’ and ruled by the African National Congress, the party that helped end apartheid in 1994.

Many see Terre’Blanche as a relic from a bygone era, with his murder doing little to stir fresh racial tension.

‘After all the evidence given, I conclude that accused number one is guilty as charged,’ said Judge John Horn.

Prosecutors said Mahlangu and his co-accused broke into Terre’Blanche’s home, where they found the 71-year-old asleep and bludgeoned him to death with an axe.

Terre’Blanche, a burly man known for his thick white beard and fiery rhetoric, led the hard line supremacist Afrikaner Resistance Movement.

Its members adopted military uniforms and flags with a symbol reminiscent of the Nazi swastika, and called for an all-white homeland in the post-apartheid South Africa.

A small group of his armed

Chis Mahlangu was found guilty of murdering white supremacist Eugene Terre'Blanche with an axe supporters attempted a coup in the black-run “homeland” of Bophuthatswana shortly before the first all-race elections in April 1994 but retreated after meeting resistance from security forces.

Graphic images of three AWB

men being shot dead at point blank range in the middle of a road by a Bophuthatswana policeman marked the end of any AWB pretensions to be a serious military force.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Protesters awaiting the verdict are confronted by police during a demonstration for the accused outside the court in Ventersdorp, South Africa.

A member of the white supremacist Afrikaner Resistance Movement (AWB) stands outside the Ventersdorp Magistrate court on Tuesday.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 31

ANALYSIS

By Kate Hudson ondon, UK - As Chicago prepares for the first North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) leaders' summit ever to be held on US soil, many will reflect on the organisation's strength, durability, and the way in which it has adapted to a changing world.

Indeed, few international institutions have undergone such an extreme makeover as NATO. From its ostensible origins as a defensive alliance facing off against the Soviet Union in 1949, it has seamlessly morphed into an openly aggressive, globe-straddling operation, whipping recalcitrant states into line in its self-appointed capacity as the righter of international wrongs. Vigilantestyle, it can ride roughshod over the qualms of the United Nations - and often the restrictions of international law - to assert or impose its own view of peace and freedom. Occasionally it presents a softer face, protecting aid or pursuing humanitarian goals, yet no one is in any real doubt that NATO is all about hard power.

But how long can it go on like this? While NATO may seem unstoppable and at the peak of its powers, this month's summit will showcase differences of opinion as well as increased inside and outside opposition. This is not in the least surprising because although major global jamborees like to present a successful business-as-usual image, the reality is that the core NATO states are facing some pretty serious problems that will undoubtedly affect the agenda.

The United States and Europe are experiencing massive economic crises, and the US has been fundamentally weakened by its poor economic performance and lack of internal investment over decades. As dynamic economic rivals have emerged, it is clear that the US cannot maintain its status as the single global superpower in an increasingly multi-polar world, nor is it desirable that it should do so. The fact is that while the US has declined in many respects, it has increasingly used NATO to support and advance its global power projection. But one big question is whether NATO states will continue to foot the bill.

A cursory glance at NATO's recent history shows that whatever its changing rationale, or the nature of its supposed enemies in the post-Cold War period, its core function has remained to advance US global interests and foreign policy goals. This became apparent at the end of the Cold War, when the Warsaw Pact was dissolved but NATO wasn't. Rather than scaling back its military presence, the US moved to fill the positions vacated by its previous rival. As the countries of eastern Europe embraced free-market economics and multiparty democracy, the US moved rapidly to integrate them into its sphere of influence via NATO expansion - faster than western Europe embraced eastern Europe via the European Union.

This was an effective strategy indicated by the "new Europe" issue at the time of the war on Iraq - with Poland vigorously backing the US, against the "old Europe" of Germany

L

NATO has 'seamlessly morphed into an openly aggressive, globe-straddling operation', says author (EPA)

Time for NATO to face new realities and France. At NATO's 50th anniversary in Washington in April 1999, a new "Strategic Concept" was adopted. This moved beyond NATO's previous defensive role to include "out of area" - in other words, offensive - operations. The geographical area for action was now defined as the entire Eurasian landmass and the war on Afghanistan started soon after.

NATO's last leaders' summit in Portugal in November 2010 took the NATO vision beyond Eurasia, releasing a new Strategic Concept entitled "Active Engagement, Modern Defence". It recommitted to an expansive and interventionist military agenda with a projected global reach. This included an expansion of its area of work to "counter-terrorism, cyber-security, and the proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons" and, in the words of British Prime Minister David Cameron, "securing failed states on the other side of the world".

It's an open question whether Cameron was referring to Afghanistan or whether he had a vision of new interventions, but it is certainly the case that the US will face problems over the Afghanistan intervention at this summit. This has been a NATO-led war since 2003, when it assumed control of the International Security

Assistance Force (ISAF) established in 2002. Currently, there are almost 130,000 troops from 50 countries in Afghanistan under the auspices of ISAF, with NATO members providing most of the force. Most of these - about 99,000 are US troops, 22,000 of which are due to return home this year.

Clearly there is a strong drive within Washington itself to get the whole thing wound up. Earlier this year US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said that the administration wanted to wind up combat operations before the withdrawal deadline.

But US allies are already opting out. Last month Australia announced that it would be withdrawing most of its force of about 1,550 troops before Australia's 2013 elections, which is earlier than originally planned. Germany, which has 4,500 troops there, says it wants them home as soon as possible. But the biggest challenge on this front is likely to be newlyelected French President Francois Hollande.

France already announced in February of this year that it wanted to bring home 1,000 of its 3,600 soldiers before the end of this year. Now President Hollande says he will bring them all of them home by then. Not surprisingly, the NATO wires are buzzing about how Hollande must be persuaded to reconsider, and one can only

“

imagine the type of pressure he will be under. But the reality is that he will also be under pressure from the French people - and his standing as a new president. Sarkozy took France into an unprecedented level of cooperation with the US and NATO. It is hard to see how this will continue in the context of French political change and a shifting global political and economic balance.

The US is also going to face problems on the nuclear weapons front. It's well-known that NATO is a nuclear-armed alliance, but not that up to 200 US B61 nuclear bombs are stationed in five countries across Europe: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey. There is increasingly strong opposition to these weapons, including from the governments of some of the "host" nations. This opposition is particularly strong from Germany, where Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has repeatedly called for their removal, which the US has refused.

There is no doubt that this issue will be discussed again and the US will be under increasing pressure to remove them. Of course there may be some desire from the administration to defer such a decision - which could be interpreted as weakness - until after the next US presidential

NATO's last leaders' summit in Portugal in November 2010 took the NATO vision beyond Eurasia, releasing a new Strategic Concept entitled "Active Engagement, Modern Defence".

election. But in reality, NATO's nuclear policies conflict with the legal obligations of the signatories to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Articles 1 and 2 of the NPT forbid the transfer of nuclear weapons to non-nuclear weapon states, and US/NATO nuclear weapons in Europe are located in non-nuclear weapons states. In spite of a recent softening of language on nuclear issues, and gestures towards a nuclear-free vision - particularly from Obama NATO continues to assert its need to retain nuclear weapons. As the new Strategic Concept states: "The supreme guarantee of the security of the Allies is provided by the strategic nuclear forces." It rejects a policy of "no first use" of nuclear weapons. In other words, NATO would be prepared to use nuclear weapons in a first strike.

This position is not lost on the Russians, relations with whom will also doubtless be discussed at the summit. While the "hostile camp" tension that existed with the Soviet Union has vanished, at least in theory, Russia remains the chief military counter-weight and rival to the US and NATO on a global scale. The decision at the 2010 NATO summit to integrate the US missile defence system with a European theatre missile defence programme under the auspices of NATO has caused major problems in relations with Russia. Concerns remain that missile defence will enable the US to attack another country without fear of retaliation and US adherence to missile defence continues to threaten the survival of the new START Treaty on bilateral US/Russia nuclear reductions.

So the participants face some interesting and no doubt tough debates during their Chicago deliberations. They will also face noisy and significant protest from outside. NATO summits have been an increasing focus for anti-war and anti-nuclear protestors over the past few years - the demonstrations at the NATO summit in Strasbourg in 2009 were the largest in 30 years.

Reports suggest that the tide of public opinion in the US is turning against NATO and particularly the war in Afghanistan. There is the cost issue of course, but also an increasing sentiment that war, with the death, mutilation and trauma it brings to those who actually fight it - let alone civilian victims - is just not the answer. This year, peace activists in the US will be joined not only by their European counterparts but also by US trade unionists and supporters of the Occupy movement which has made such an impact on US society over the past year.

The mood is clearly changing at many different levels. It's time for the NATO leadership to face the new realities.

Dr Kate Hudson was chair of the UK-based Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament from 2003 to September 2010, when she became general secretary.

She is a leading anti-nuclear and anti-war campaigner nationally and internationally.

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 32

Egyptians vote in landmark presidential election Mali coup leader condemns violent protests

T

he leader of Mali's coup has condemned the beating of the interim president by demonstrators and called for a peaceful transition of power in the West African country.

Caretaker President Dioncounda Traore suffered minor head injuries when protesters stormed his palace on Monday, in the latest setback for efforts to stabilise Mali after the coup and deal with a subsequent revolt by northern separatists.

"The CNRDRE firmly condemns these acts of violence," coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The CNRDRE calls on the Malian people to contain themselves and respect all efforts taken towards an end of the crisis and a peaceful transition."

Protesters, who accused Traore of being a member of a self-serving political elite responsible for decades of misrule, occupied the presidential palace for several hours during a street demonstration in the capital Bamako.

Sanogo agreed with the ECOWAS West African regional bloc last week to allow Traore to preside over a one-year transition to full civilian rule.

As part of the accord extending Traore's mandate, Sanogo won status and privileges normally accorded former heads of state, including a pension for life and other perks.

The fact that unarmed protesters, mostly dressed in jeans and t-shirts, were able to occupy the palace compound despite the presence of security forces raised questions over whether they had tacit support from sections of the military.

"ECOWAS will make the necessary inquiries to establish who ordered and carried out this reprehensible attack and apply the appropriate sanctions," the 15-state body said in a statement.

Protesters occupied the presidential palace for hours during a street demonstration in the capital Bamako [Reuters]

Egyptians Go to Polls in Landmark Presidential Election

E

gyptians are voting in their first free presidential election, 15 months after ousting Hosni Mubarak in the Arab Spring uprising.

Fifty million people are eligible to vote, and large queues have formed at some polling stations.

The military council which assumed presidential power in February 2011 has promised a fair vote and civilian rule.

The election pits Islamists against secularists, and revolutionaries against Mubarakera ministers.

Until a new constitution is approved it is unclear what powers the president will have, prompting fears of friction with a military

which seems determined to retain its powerful position.

A mixture of optimism and trepidation has been running through the queues of voters at the polling stations I've visited this morning.

The optimism comes from the simple fact that they can vote for a leader at long last, and the hope that the winner will be able to get to grips with Egypt's serious problems. The most common call this morning is for a "strong leader".

That's because of the trepidation they're feeling about the size of the challenges Egypt faces. The biggest are economic (not enough jobs) and about

security (crime and violence has spiked since the police collapsed during the revolution last year).

The leading candidates are Islamists and former ministers from the old regime. The secular activists who led the campaign to oust President Mubarak have not been able to seize the imagination of the Egyptian people.

Voting began at 08:00 (06:00 GMT), and throughout Wednesday long lines of voters were seen outside polling stations around the country. Voting continues until 20:00, and will resume for a second day on Thursday at 08:00.

The interior ministry estimated turnout at less than 25% in some areas, and around 40% on

others.

Proceedings have been largely peaceful, with the health ministry reporting just 13 injuries across the country, due to overcrowding at polling stations and high temperatures.

NGOs and rights groups monitoring the elction have reported some complaints. Egypt's National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), an organization aimed at promoting human rights in Egypt, told the BBC they received 50 complaints on electoral violations ranging from delay in opening voing booths, to campaigning for candidates outside polling stations during voting.

Somalis flee Afgoye advance by African Union troops

T

housands of Somalis are fleeing fighting as African Union forces advance on Afgoye, an Islamist stronghold near the capital, Mogadishu.

The troops have advanced to within 10km (six miles) of the key town held by al-Shabab, an AU spokesman, said.

Residents in the area between the capital and Afgoye said many people had either left for Mogadishu or fled into surrounding countryside.

Al-Shabab is under pressure on a number of military fronts in the country.

But the group, which joined al-Qaeda earlier this year, still controls much of the country and mounts frequent attacks in the capital - despite being expelled from its bases there last August.

The Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective central government since 1991 and has been racked by fighting ever since - a situation that has allowed piracy and lawlessness to flourish.

At the moment, the UNbacked transitional Somali

government, whose mandate expires in August, only controls the capital.

The road between Mogadishu and Afgoye town is known as the Afgoye corridor and is home to one of the biggest concentrations of internally displaced people, with up to 400,000 living in makeshift camps.

Residents have been asked to stay as African Union troops say they are avoiding built-up areas and camps around the main Afgoye road.

The UN says it has not received reports of a significant movement of people.

But Afgoye corridor residents told the Al-Jazeera, Somali Service that many feel too scared to stay put and thousands have started to leave.

The town of Afgoye, 30km north-west of Mogadishu, lies on a strategic crossroads for routes to the north, west and south of Somalia.

Hundreds of Somali government forces backed by AU soldiers and tanks launched a fresh offensive on the town on

Tuesday, moving out in a predawn attack from Daynile, a suburb of Mogadishu.

"In a couple of days we should be able to complete our objective - which is capturing that town," AU spokesperson Lt Col Paddy Ankunda.

Analysts say if they take Afgoye it would be a major blow to al-Shabab - and help secure the capital, where the group continues to stage suicide attacks.

But al-Shabab said Somali

Service that its soldiers are putting up strong resistance, and said they had killed one AU commander.

Three AU soldiers were injured in the fighting, including one seriously and who has been flown to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Lt Col Ankunda said.

Over years of fighting in Somalia, nearly 1.5 million people have been forced from their homes and are internally displaced.

AU troops say they are avoiding built-up areas as they advance towards Afgoye

PAGE 33

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Rich countries pledge $4bn aid to Yemen Sanaa, said, "This money is crucial to Yemenis, as malnutrition rates have doubled since 2009".

Our correspondent added: "This is a humanitarian pledge but the Saudis are

interested in Yemen's own security - political and military.

Poverty and security go hand in hand."

'Providing expertise' Support for Yemen "includes providing expertise and help in all

fields including economy, security and military", Saud said.

Alistair Burt, UK's junior foreign minister, said at the end of the meeting that Britain would contribute $44m.

Returning Lebanese tell of kidnapping

S Saudi Arabia and Western states pledged more than $4bn in aid to Yemen at the Riyadh conference [Reuters]

C

ountry on the brink of "catastrophic food crisis", aid groups say, as Saudis promise to pick up the bulk of the tab.

Wealthy donor nations, with Saudi Arabia in the lead, have pledged $4bn in aid to Yemen as it grapples with a fragile political transition and struggles to contain the growing threat by alQaeda.

Seven aid groups gave warning on Wednesay that

Yemen was on the brink of a "catastrophic food crisis" and urged the participants in the Friends of Yemen meeting in Riyadh to bolster efforts to salvage the situation.

The Arabian Peninsula country was rocked by an uprising last year that forced Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down as president in February.

"To ensure Yemen's security and stability, the kingdom will provide

$3.25bn to support development projects there which will be agreed upon with the Yemeni side," Prince Saud alFaisal, Saudi foreign minister, said.

"The Yemeni government is exerting courageous efforts, but without the help of its brothers and friends, Yemen will not be able to solve the crises it is facing."

Al Jazeera's Jane Ferguson, reporting from

EU leaders to tackle debt crisis at summit

T

he leaders of the 27 countries that make up the European Union are to meet in Brussels to try and find a way to keep the debt crisis in Europe from spiralling out of control and promote jobs and growth.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain, where the economy and banking system are at the frontline of the crisis, will meet newly elected French President Francois Hollande in Paris ahead of the evening summit to discuss policy positions - a marked shift away from the traditional Franco-German axis.

At nearly all previous summits over the past two years, Hollande's

predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy met German Chancellor Angela Merkel beforehand to fix a strategy, prompting criticism from other leaders.

In that respect, Hollande's victory has significantly changed the terms of the debate, with his call for greater emphasis on growth now a rallying cry for other leaders.

That has set up a showdown with Merkel, who supports growth but whose primary objective is budget austerity and structural reform.

Hollande said on Wednesday he would do everything to keep debt-hit Greece in the eurozone after talks with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Noda, EU leaders unite on tackling debt crisis

"I will do everything I can in my position to convince the Greeks to choose to stay in the zone and everything to convince Europeans who might doubt of the necessity of keeping Greece in the eurozone," Hollande told journalists.

In his first EU summit, Hollande has also chosen to make a stand on euro bonds - the idea of mutualising eurozone debt - despite strong German opposition to an idea that has been hotly debated for more than two years.

He will have support from Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, among other leaders.

yrian rebels deny role in abduction of Shia pilgrims as violence in Syria heightens sectarian tensions in Lebanon.

Several members of a group of Lebanese Shia Muslim pilgrims caught up in a kidnapping in Syria have returned to the Lebanese capital, sources say.

The 34 female pilgrims arrived at Beirut's airport on Wednesday. They were travelling with at least 11 men and a Syrian driver, who were abducted on Tuesday in the the northern Syrian city of Aleppo and are still being held.

The Syrian media said an "armed terrorist gang" was responsible.

"After we crossed the Turkish-Syrian border, a white car with gunmen inside stopped us," Anaam Yateem, one of the women

pilgrims, said on arriving at Beirut airport.

"They pointed their guns and got into the buses. First they took us to the fields saying that they are taking us away from the shelling, while they took us there to kidnap the men ...They said they are the Free Syrian Army."

However, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), an armed group seeking to overthrow the

government of President Bashar al-Assad, says it is not involved in the kidnapping.

'Splinter group' Adnan Mansur, Lebanon's foreign minister, identified the men behind the abductions as "a splinter group of the armed Syrian opposition", but did not give details.

Lebanese women (right), whose husbands were kidnapped in Syria, arrived at Beirut airport on Wednesday [AFP]

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Philippine top judge rushed to hospital T he leaders of the 27 countries that make up the European Union are to meet in Brussels to try and find a way to keep the debt crisis in Europe from spiralling out of control and promote jobs and growth.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain, where the economy and banking system are at the frontline of the crisis, will meet newly elected French President Francois Hollande in Paris ahead of the evening summit to discuss policy positions - a marked shift away from the traditional FrancoGerman axis.

At nearly all previous summits over the past two years, Hollande's predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy met German Chancellor Angela Merkel beforehand to fix a strategy, prompting criticism from other leaders.

In that respect, Hollande's victory has significantly changed the terms of the debate, with his call for greater emphasis on growth now a rallying cry for other leaders.

That has set up a showdown with Merkel, who supports growth

but whose primary objective is budget austerity and structural reform.

Hollande said on Wednesday he would do everything to keep debt-hit Greece in the eurozone after talks with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

"I will do everything I can in my position to convince the Greeks to choose to stay in the zone and everything to convince Europeans who might doubt of the necessity of keeping Greece in the eurozone," Hollande told journalists.

In his first EU summit, Hollande has also chosen to make a stand on euro bonds - the idea of mutualising eurozone debt - despite strong German opposition to an idea that has been hotly debated for more than two years.

He will have support from Italian Prime Minister the currency area to prepare contingency plans in case Greece decides to quit the bloc, an eventuality which Germany's central bank said would be "manageable".

Three officials told Reuters news agency that the instruction was agreed on Monday by a

teleconference of the Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) - experts who work on behalf of the bloc's finance ministers.

"The EWG agreed that each euro zone country should prepare a contingency plan, individually, for the potential consequences of a Greek exit from the euro," said one euro zone official familiar with what was discussed.

The news comes at a highly sensitive time, just hours before

the EU leaders gather to try to breathe life into their struggling economies at the summit over dinner on Wednesday.

Although minds will be focused by the prospect of Greece exiting the currency area, which has earned the monicker "Grexit" and is something policymakers say they want to avoid, disagreements over a plan for mutual bond issuance and other measures to alleviate two years of

debt turmoil have already been laid bare.

Pier Carlo Padoan, the OECD chief economist, said "the crisis in the euro area has become more serious recently, and it remains the most important source of risk to the global economy".

Padoan told Al Jazeera: "There is a risk of serious recession which could be sparked off by events like Greece, if that happens it could affect the global economy".

Morgan Stanley defends Facebook IPO procedure

Renato Corona is the first chief justice of the Philippine Supreme Court to face impeachment proceedings [Reuters]

Power outage protests hit Myanmar

H

Facebook IPO Triggers Morgan Stanley Subpoena

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illiam Galvin, the Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth, issued a subpoena to Morgan Stanley over an analyst's discussions with investors on Facebook.

"The Securities Division has put out a subpoena to Morgan Stanley in connection with the analyst's discussion with certain institutional investors about the revenue prospects for Facebook," a spokesperson for Galvin's office said on Tuesday.

"Morgan Stanley followed the same procedures for the Facebook offering that it follows for all IPOs. These procedures are in compliance with all applicable regulations," a Morgan Stanley spokesman said in an emailed statement.

The analyst's revisions came after Facebook revised its prospectus on May 9, which the firm forwarded to all of its retail and institutional clients, according to the statement.

Troubled launch The much-anticipated social media site's initial public

offering has been steeped in controversy since it started trading on Friday. Much of the controversy stemmed from a Nasdaq glitch that caused the stock to delay trading by 30 minutes.

As of Monday afternoon, some customers of Fidelity Investments, Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab were still waiting to see if their trades for Facebook shares were completed on Friday.

Reuters new agency then reported late on Monday that the consumer internet analyst at lead underwriter Morgan Stanley cut his revenue forecasts for Facebook in the days before the offering, information that may not have reached many investors before the stock was listed.

On Tuesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority called for a review of the Facebook IPO call. When markets closed, shares were down more than 18 per cent, to end at $31.

undreds angered by chronic power shortage take to the streets in what is said to be the biggest protest since 2007.

Hundreds have taken to the streets of Myanmar's major cities to protest continued power outages throughout the country.

The demonstrations, which began on Sunday, reached Yangon, the largest city, on Tuesday evening.

About 75 per cent of Myanmar's 60 million people are without regular electricity, according to the Asian Development Bank.

Power cuts are a daily occurrence even in Yangon.

Seen as a test of recently announced reforms in the Southeast Asian nation,

Tuesday's protests included an evening march at the Sule Pagoda, the centre of demonstrations in 2007 and 1988 that were crushed by the military which ruled for half a century until last year.

The hour-and-a-half long peaceful demonstration saw protesters lighting candles and praying for electricity as they circled the pagoda.

In the north, an estimated 1,000 people protested for a third straight evening in Mandalay, the nation's second-largest city.

The Mandalay protest marks the biggest demonstrations since a 2007 monk-led uprising in which dozens were killed and hundreds arrested.

"Don't give us reasons. We don't want any excuses, we just

The evening march at Yangon's Sule Pagoda was the first since protests in 2007 were crushed by the military [Reuters]

want the results we need. We are demanding round-the-clock power supply for everyone," Win Cho, a former independent candidate in the 2010 elections said of the chronic power outages in the country.

"We have no electricity sometimes for two days. Even getting drinking water is absolutely difficult,'' said Cho Cho Myint, a protester from an eastern Yangon suburb.

Protests are rare in Myanmar, where dissent was suppressed during 49 years of military rule, which ended last March when a reformist, quasicivilian government, took office.

Demonstrations have since been legalised, although rights groups say the laws are accompanied by tight restrictions, including a requirement to notify authorities several days in advance of a rally.

"I heard about this demonstration to end the electricity issue on the internet hoping the government will notice what citizens are feeling and will find out a way to solve it. As a a citizen, I feel responsible to take part in this demonstration," said one demonstrator who didn't give his name.

Deal with China "The government is in a very difficult position now," said Aung Thu Nyein, a Burmese economist who moved to Thailand after participating in demonstrations in Myanmar two decades ago.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 35

A home where buffaloes roam: Couple share their house with two giant beasts

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ave you herd the one about the couple who live with two buffaloes?

Here are the pictures to prove it.

RC Bridges, nicknamed 'The Buffalo Whisperer' and his wife Sherron, share their Texas home with 2,400lbs Wildthing and recent 900lbs arrival Bullet.

Both are still growing, and could reach up to 11ft tall and weigh as much as 2,500lbs.

The couple are seen relaxing in their lounge with one of the huge beasts, and in another photograph one buffalo tries to climb on to the family car.

Wildthing, who is seven-yearsold, acted as the best man when his owners renewed their wedding vows in 2006, after five years of marriage.

RC, 63, said: 'He carried the rings on his horns and threw them off one at a time for us to catch.' RC, who is a cowboy and horse trainer, has worked with buffaloes most of his life.

After losing an eye in 2004 he had to sell his herd - except for one young male, Wildthing, who he decided to keep as a pet.

His photographer wife Sherron, 39, who is part Native American and makes traditional-style clothes and

Wacky: RC Bridges, nicknamed 'The Buffalo Whisperer' and his wife Sherron, share their Texas home with 2,400lbs Wildthing and recent 900lbs arrival Bullet headdresses using the animals' hair, said: 'We love our buffaloes.

I think if either one of them died, RC would probably go along with them.'

Bullet, a female, who is threeand-a-half years old, still hasn't

been potty trained, or become familiar with the family's pet wolf, Jewell Spirit. She was given to the couple after her previous owner found her too hard to control.

RC said: 'Her owner told me if

I could catch her, I could have her. She kept getting out of the pen and the sheriff's department was mad about it. Well, I just caught her, put her in a trailer and brought her home.'

Buffaloes can be very

dangerous animals.

Their curved, sharp horns are two feet long, and lethal, and they are able to run as fast as 40mph.

RC said: 'I knew they were crazy animals but it actually turned out way better than I thought it would be. I always dreamed of training a buffalo, but I never thought about training two.

'They're like my buddies.

Bullet likes to be with me at all times, she'll even give up food to be close to me.' RC, who insists his friends and relatives still visit the family home, added: 'They're not afraid to come over because I keep everything safe.

'But most of them think I'm going to get hurt or killed. I don't think you can ever take all of the wildness out of the buffaloes, though. I've been hurt a lot, so I guess its just part of the game.'

Nevertheless, the couple's two grown-up children, son Will and daughter Taylor, are proud of the family pets and have even broken world records with them.

RC said: 'My son was the first person to ever ski behind a buffalo - on water skies and on sand. My daughter was the first person to ever snow sled behind a buffalo.'

Helping out in the garden: The buffalo take part in all kinds of tasks around the house, including a spot of lawn-mowing

Scrapping EFCC, ICPC: Wrong signal to anti-graft crusade Contd. from Back Page in the long term will add to the problems. Care must be taken to guide against the repeat of 1999 incidents in Red River Delta province of Thai Binh Village in Vietnam, when the wave of rural unrest on public perception of corruption led to razing the houses of a number of local government officials thought to be corrupt. The nation can not afford another carnage now that the menace of Boko Haram is ravaging several parts of the country.

It should be noted that accepting the recommendation will send a wrong signal to the international community that Nigeria is not serious about reducing the level of corruption in the country.

The grave implication of this is that our efforts as a nation to attract foreign investors, especially in the power

sector will be in jeopardy. The recommendations, if approved and implemented, will further worsen Nigeria’s rating in the annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of the Berlin-based global Transparency International (IT). Already, there has been a steady falling in the country’s rating by TI from 2008.

Furthermore, the move may also affect the nation’s relationship with the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) represented by the World Bank and IMF, which portends a grave consequence for our financial rating in the global business environment. Nigeria can not afford another blacklisting by the global financial community owing to policy inconsistencies.

At this critical juncture in our determined efforts to right the wrong of the past, the government should be able to bear the cost of

monitoring compliance by funding anti-corruption adequately. Also worthy of note, is that if Nigeria is to succeed as Singapore in terms of reducing system-wide corruption, the rule of law must be internalized to a greater extent in the Nigerian civil service instead of pursuing a rationalisation of government agencies. Attaining these will involve of a lot of financial commitment from the government. Across all spectrums, Nigeria’s fourth democratic rule is regarded as the most expensive in the world, where an average Federal lawmaker is said earn salaries and allowances far in excess of a sitting president of the United States of America.

What is lacking generally in Nigeria is absence of deep thinkers who are capable of navigating the series of challenges facing the nation and provide time-cost

solutions, in the mode of first set of Nigerian political leaders that spread across the then three geopolitical zones. Our policy makers and legislators must do a critical assessment of our government and work toward blocking all leakages in public funds. The commitment and political will of Nigeria leadership to create strong institutions in the country is very crucial if the objective of the current reforms aimed at reducing wastage is to be realised. As President Obama rightly noted during his state visit to Ghana two years ago, what we need in Nigeria are strong institutions and not strong leaders.

I am of the view that what should be of priority to the government at all tiers is implementing the outcome of last year’s international conference against corruption held in

Marakesh, Morocco. Participants at the end of the two-day side-event organised by Roberto Villarreal-led Division for Public Administration and Development Management of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), stressed the need for the strengthening of the public sector and involvement of citizens and civil society groups in the war against corruption. On the whole, Nigeria can not achieve much in her efforts at ensuring transparency and accountability in service delivery without implementing these recommendations. Scrapping the two anti-graft agencies will send a wrong signal to the international community about our level of commitment to reduce the incidences of corruption.

Sina Babasola sent this piece from London

PAGE 36

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ot only are they our favourite pet, but dogs are now being used to diagnose conditions and even recognise dangerous symptoms.

So if you thought Pudsey’s dancing on Britain’s Got Talent was impressive, read on for the wonderful ways a pooch can help your health.

DIABETES Diabetes alert dogs are being used to alert type 1 diabetics that their blood sugar is too low and they are at risk of a dangerous ‘hypo’.

This can happen through not eating enough or from accidentally taking too much insulin, but some diabetics might not notice the warning signs, such as going pale and feeling shaky.

Without treatment they may lose consciousness.

A diabetes alert dog can detect a change in body odour that can indicate low blood sugar, says Dr Claire Guest, of the charity Medical Detection Dogs.

‘We train our dogs to lick, nudge and stare at someone having a hypo, to make sure the person knows they should fetch their medical kit.’

AUTISM Dogs have been found to reduce anxiety and aggressive behaviour in children with autism within a matter of weeks.

Dogs for the Disabled has a free scheme that helps train the family dog to help with an autistic child.

‘We do things like teach the dog to put their head in the child’s lap, which calms them down when they are distressed,’ says Joel Young, of the charity.

‘They also help on outings when autistic children can

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

How your dog can smell a diabetic attack before it strikes sometimes wander off.

PAIN In the U.S., a charity called Paws for Comfort uses a dog breed called Xoloitzcuintli, also known as the Mexican hairless or Xolo, to help people with chronic pain brought on by conditions such as fibromyalgia.

All dogs have a naturally high body temperature, but as the Xolo is virtually hairless it feels hotter to the touch.

When these dogs snuggle up to their owners, their body warmth provides relief similar to that provided by a heating pad.

DEMENTIA Labradors and retrievers are being trained to prompt people with dementia to eat at mealtimes, take medicine, and take rest and sleep when needed.

A study published recently in the Western Journal of Nursing Research found having a residential dog had helped reduce agitation in Alzheimer’s patients and boosted social interaction.

EPILEPSY Astonishingly, dogs can be trained to act as a warning system when someone is about to have a seizure.

They can give as much as 40 minutes’ notice — plenty of time for someone to take medication to prevent the seizure or to get help.

It is thought that dogs smell chemical changes in the body that take place before a seizure.

Some dogs are trained to lie

Diabetes alert dogs are being used to alert type 1 diabetics that their blood sugar is too low and they are at risk of a dangerous 'hypo'. down next to the person having the seizure to stop them from moving and hurting themselves, or they may go and get help.

NARCOLEPSY Narcolepsy affects around 25,000 people in Britain and causes sufferers suddenly to fall

her until she comes to — and if he is unable to wake her will go and seek help.

He is also learning to pick up on a change to Kelly’s scent when an attack is imminent, so she can sit down.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Umbilical cord blood test could reveal how susceptible your baby will be to colds

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Dogs have been found to reduce anxiety and aggressive behaviour in children with autism within a matter of weeks.

asleep as they go about their everyday routine.

Theo, a cocker spaniel from Chadwell, Essex, has become the first dog in the world to be trained to wake up his owner, teenager Kelly Sears, when she has a sleeping fit. He licks and nudges

octors have created a test that detects how strong a baby’s immune system is at birth - and how likely they are to fall prey to colds in their first year.

A team from Washington University School of Medicine developed a technique that identifies which babies have a diminished immune response to viruses from a sample of their umbilical cord blood.

They found these babies were more likely to go on and suffer respiratory infections in their first year.

‘Viral respiratory infections are common during childhood,’ said lead author Dr Kaharu Sumino.

‘Usually they are mild, but there’s a wide range of responses - from regular cold symptoms to severe lung infections and even, in rare instances, death.

‘We wanted to look at whether the innate immune response - the response to viruses that you’re born with - has any effect on the risk of getting respiratory infections during the baby’s first year.’

The team used blood samples taken from 82 babies in the delivery room to measure for a specific immune system response to viral infections known as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).

The researchers isolated a type of white blood cell, from the babies’ cord blood and infected these cells with a common

respiratory virus. They then measured the amount of IFNgamma protein the body produced in response to help fight the virus.

The parents of babies who produced high levels of IFNgamma reported they had fewer colds over the year. Meanwhile

the babies who produced low levels suffered more frequent colds. They were also more likely to experience ear and sinus infections, pneumonia and hospitalisations due to respiratory illness.

This latest study along with previous research in mice and human cells, supports the idea that finding a way to boost the body’s i n n a t e immunity via the IFN-gamma s i g n a l i n g system could help babies to fight a broad range of viruses.

Dr Sumino said: ‘We’re not there yet measuring IFNgamma levels is complex. But in the future, if we can develop a relatively easy way to find out if someone has a deficiency in this system, we would like to be able to give a drug that can boost the innate i m m u n e Babies were more likely to suffer from viruses response.’ if they produced low levels of a specific immune Source: boosting protein Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 37

Obi has killed APGA, says Ezugwu Umeh, and I am giving him a time, if he doesn't know what he does on this particular issue, by either suspending the governor for us to know how to manage our party, we will stand up and suspend both of them. I don't believe in managing crisis, call the crisis let us cut the head and let the party stay. I am happy we now have another state, which is Imo state and look at what the governor is doing in that state; that is a model of what APGA is supposed to be doing in Anambra. Whether he likes it or not, we will use Imo to get the entire South East. What does it cost to do that, as a governor, cant you fund APGA in other states?

INTERVIEW Willy Ezuwgu was APGA's Senatorial candidate for Enugu North in 2003 election but now the National Secretary of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP). In this interview with Okaforadi Ikechukwu, he spoke on the faceoff between Gov. Peter Obi of Anambre state and APGA National Chairman, Victor Umeh. Excerpts

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here is a threat

by APGA stalwarts to suspend the National Chairman of the party for alleged inefficiency, how true is this allegation?

APGA as a party has done so well within the period Victor Umeh became the Chairman, even when there were struggles in the court. I am saying this because, through Umeh, APGA is able to have two governors today. Based on the question you asked me, I have said that we should give that glory to Umeh, having been able to produce two governors for APGA. It is just like in a football club, a coach may not know how to coach, but his luck has been able to make the club to be winning. The same case happens in politics. Look at the number of seats he has been able to win for APGA in the National Assembly. So, no amount of intimidation will make those of us that are not from Anambra state, who are members of the party, to deviate from saying the truth.

Though the problem started long ago because we have had several court battles and finally they have ended. Now, the problem we are having today is the Governor of Anambra state, whom all of us fought for and prayed for, before he was able to make a governor.

All he did is to kill the party that brought him to limelight. So, the major problem we are having today in APGA is no body but Governor of Anambra state, who has killed that party in that state.

You alleged that Gov Peter Obi has killed the party; can you point out instances Sir? In every political party, in Nigerian context of democracy, for a sitting governor to lose his bye elections; we are Nigerians, you find out that there must be problem somewhere, and this is because the governor does not believe in the party. This is because he has completed his second tenure, so he feels he has no business with the party any longer. Secondly, he has refused to conduct local government elections in Anambra state, which drives and sustains the grassroots politics in Nigeria.

For the past six years since he has been in power, he refused to conduct local government elections and if you don't have local government Chairman in place, which machinery will carry the party along? He insisted in using appointed caretakers. But he is floating, it is even undemocratic.

With the local government elections, you have the chairmen and the councilors, and these chairmen and councilors manage APGA machineries in all the wards. But today in Anambra state, such things doesn't happen despite that APGA governor has been there for over six years.

Moreover, during the bye elections in Anambra state, when the APGA candidates are campaigning, you cannot see Peter Obi going to campaign with them, to show them solidarity, like what the ACN governors do, like what the PDP governors do, and Labour Party governor also does. So, what he intends doing with APGA he has not finished yet, but we will not allow it happen. He should just leave APGA and let us organise our party. Among the six major parties today, out of 57 political parties in Nigeria, APGA is rated fifth or sixth, but if well supported, it would have been number two, but ACN has taken it. I give kudos to Bola Tinubu, who, like the governor of Anambra state, had only one state and in the next election, he was able to take over the whole South West.

But in APGA, in the case of Peter, with what he calls himself as intelligent, he has not been able to get one state for the party. Now, the chairman was able to get another state for us, and he is tackling him because he wants to destroy the party before he leaves.

So among these things I have pointed out, the major issue is his refusal to conduct local government elections. There is no basis for anybody to call himself governor of a state if you don't have local government chairmen. You are appointing caretakers, what is caretaker? Does caretaker have a ward? Does caretaker have a local government to cater for? They report to the governor and whatever pee nuts the governor

Willy Ezuwgu gives them, they say thank you, because he appointed them, they are his labourers. But in elective posts like the chairmen of local governments, it is autonomous.

You do what you what to do with your allocation. In Enugu, the governor was able to conduct local government elections. Ebonyi state has done it. Only Anambra state is left.

There is a speculation that Obi refused to conduct the LG elections because he and Umeh were not able to reach a consensus on candidates?

If such reason is what he has given, it is a blatant lie.

The man has not been able to tell Anambra people what he has been doing with local government funds. It is very unfortunate that in the last six years, he could not conduct local government elections in the state, and he is

claiming that it was because he brought his candidates and Victor Umeh brought his candidates and they were not able to agree; it’s a lie. If he has the interest of the party at heart, what stops him from two of them sitting down and harmonise the lists of their candidates and run then out for the elections. Don't be surprise that even in a free and fair election, because of his single handedness and lack of support for APGA, he will lose the election in most of the local governments. He is the only sitting governor in Nigeria who has lost all the bye elections in his state, ask yourself why? It is very simple, he is not carrying people along in the party. Go and see the kind of relationship that is going on between Labour Party (LP) Chairman and Governor Mimiko of Ondo state, and that is why is very difficult for ACN to take over that state. I am telling Victor

“

Among the six major parties today, out of 57 political parties in Nigeria, APGA is rated fifth or sixth, but if well supported, it would have been number two, but ACN has taken it. I give kudos to Bola Tinubu, who, like the governor of Anambra state, had only one state and in the next election, he was able to take over the whole South West. But in APGA, in the case of Peter, with what he calls himself as intelligent, he has not been able to get one state for the party.

You said Obi does not fund APGA, but his SA on parks and markets, Sylvester Nwobu-Alor, said the problem between Umeh and Obi started when Umeh could not give account of the money Obi gives him monthly for party administration?

The Nwobu-Alor you are talking about is his uncle. He does not know anything about how APGA is run. They have not been able to prove the N20, million they alleged that they have been giving the Chairman. This is media propaganda; they have taken him to EFCC and they have conducted their research, yet they could not find anything. Small time they will tell you it is N10, 000000.00, the next minute, they will tell you it is N20, 000000.00; they just mention money. Let them show the proof. We are the people that formed this APGA, go and ask people like Arthur Eze, these are people who funded APGA not people like Peter Obi; flying in like ant and coming to destroy the party that they do not know how it started.

With this crisis in APGA, does the party hope to win South East in 2014?

In no way, it will not affect us; we have now dictated the problem. If you are sick and you are able to diagnose the problem, the next thing to do is to find the best medicine and kill the sickness. Hence we have known that the problem of APGA is the Governor of Anambra, what we will now do is to let him go. We are not saying that he should not join another political party, but that he should not destroy the party we have grown for years. All we need to do in 2014 is to have credible, popular and acceptable governorship candidate for APGA in Anambra. Mind you, when you are talking about money, in Anambra, if business men are one thousand, you have over two hundred billionaires, so his money is nothing to a lot of them there. It is a state where you match money with money.

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Northern youth rally round Magajin Garin Sokoto

By Umar Mohammed Puma

T

he Northern Youth M o v e m e n t Transparency, a nongovernmental lent youth organization, has support to Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba Marafa, who who has come in for criticism by some groups in Taraba for executing a contract in their state as non-indigene.

In a statement by the President and Secretary General of the organization, Abdulrahman Usman and Ayuba Daniel, respectively, it said the Sokoto prince is being persented by some Taraba groups for handling a contract in Taraba while he is not an indigene of the state.

"As an organization whose aim and objective is to unite all the diverse peoples of the North, we strongly condemn the purported persecution of Alhaji Hassan Danbaba Marafa, Magajin Garin Sokoto based on ethnicity and his state of origin," the group said.

"As a non- governmental organization, we support any group whose mission is to query perceived corrupt acts by individuals or organizations anywhere in the country. In fact, we shall be willing to partner with such groups in order to ensure transparency and accountability in the process of ensuring good governance".

They added that "we cannot allow any group or individual to bring issues that will create disharmony in the already security-challenged region. The said contract was awarded to a duly registered company owned by a Nigerian. The contract has been executed according to the terms and specifications.

Taraba State government who gave the contract neither complained nor rejected the contract.

"Most importantly, the petitioners are not questioning the cost or noncompletion of the contract which is the rehabilitation of boreholes and water schemes for 48 communities. Instead they are challenging why the contract should awarded to a non-indigene. This is why we believe that the petition lacks merit."

It urged the group to desist from its divisive campaign and instead divert their energy into activities that will create harmonious relationship among the various communities in the North. "All northerners are brothers irrespective of their religious and ethnic affiliations or social status," the statement said.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

FEC okays special election offences tribunal T

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved the establishment of a Special Election Offences Tribunal to try people involved in violence before, during and after any election in the country.

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, disclosed this after the Council meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.

Maku said that the decision of the council was part of the key recommendations of the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu Panel on the 2011 post election violence.the panel was set up to investigate the remote and immediate causes of

the 2011 post election violence which erupted in some states.

Maku said that a white paper committee set up by the President and chaired by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms Ama Pepple, submitted its report to Council. ``The Federal Executive Council is reviewing what happened and indeed the merit of this recommendation accepted this proposition to establish a special tribunal to try election offences in the country. ``This we believe will make it possible for speedy dispensation of justice. ``It will also ensure that all those who take liberty to spread violence,

to cause mayhem in elections in this country are not only brought to book but that judicial process to try them should be such that will be quick and orderly in the dispensation of justice,'' he said.

Maku said that Council also approved the prohibition of youth groups set up by some political office holders and used as militia group during elections.

He said that the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice was directed to liaise with the InspectorGeneral of Police to work out modalities to stamp out such groups.

The minister said that council also approved the

recommendation by the committee that civic education be introduced in schools to educate students on the principles of democracy.

Similarly, he said INEC and other relevant agencies were mandated to carry out massive education of the electorate on political tolerance.

Speaking in the same vein, Pepple said that the committee had recommended that government should embark on employment generation programmes to engage the youths.

She said that the committee also recommended the setting up of police posts in identified volatile areas in the country. (NAN)

L-R: Chairman, Oyo state House of Assembly Committee on Education, Hon. Segun Ajanaku, and Speaker Monsurat Sunmonu during a public hearing on a bill to establish a technical university for the state.

Photo: NAN

Bill to reduce powers of AGF passes second reading

By Umar Mohammed Puma

A

bill that would reduce the powers of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice on yesterday passed through second reading in the floor of the House of Representatives.

Section 174 of the constitution

states that ``The Attorney-General of the Federation shall have power to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National Assembly.

The bill seeks to amend section 174 of the 1999 Constitution as

amended, which provided for the powers of the AGF. The powers conferred upon the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation under subsection (1) of this section may be exercised by him in person or through officers of his department. the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of

2015: ‘Power major concern of CPC’

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

he battle of between President Goodluck Jonathan and 2011 Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Presidential Candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), which began last week have been described as a necessary tool to guide the Country well-earned democracy.

Buhari who said in his

words: 'God willing by 2015, something will happen. They either conduct free and fair election or they go a very disgraceful way.

If what happened in 2011should happen again in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the Baboon will be soaked in blood', he said.

Addressing newsmen in Benin City, yesterday, Edo South Senatorial CPC Leader, Comrade Francis Ikonomwan, vowed that the outcome of July 14th 2012

governorship election will be an indication that power resides with the electorates irrespective of whose ass is gored stressing that, power is the major concern of the party.

Ikonomwan commended the boldness of Buhari for telling Nigerians the truth on the face of insecurity, unstable economic, poverty, and corruption the PDP government since 1999 have failed to conquer.

justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.''

Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (ACNLagos), while contributing in the debate said section 174 gave the AGF enormous powers to institute, prosecute and withdraw criminal proceedings even when instituted by an individual or government.

Hon. Bimbo Daramola (ACNEkiti) said that those powers are meant only for the peoples to leave peacefully and operate on the basis of equity. Therefore, there is the need to separate the office of the AGF and that of the Minister of Justice. Adding that the ICPC and the EFCC should be remove from the AGF office.

The bill was referred to the ad hoc committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution for further legislative inputs.

Another bill, seeking to amend the EFCC Act, 2004, was stepped down to enable the house to get some clarifications from the Committee on Rules and Business.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 39

Our democracy has yet to yield dividends - Ex Ambassador

L-R: Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Hon Patrick Obahiagbon, former Ekiti state Governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Ogun state Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and former Edo state Governor and Vice-Presidential candidate of the ANPP in the last general election, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, during Oyegun's decamping to ACN, on Tuesday in Benin City.

INEC to introduce democratic studies in Cross River schools

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River is seeking a partnership with school heads to inaugurate democracy studies in primary and secondary schools in the state.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini, made this known yesterday at a workshop for Principals of secondary schools in Cross River. ``INEC believes that this will be an effective entry point for a partnership to help propagate the democratic culture which can be developed to create an enduring practice of public participation informed by knowledge.''

Represented by Mr Chris

Okereke, INEC's Administrative Secretary in the state, Igini said the partnership would help in setting the agenda for policies geared towards development.

He said that citizens should be empowered by information on the underlining principles of democracy in order to participate in the democratic process. ``For these reasons, we in INEC we will be working with partners who are masters in the art of knowledge propagation in the dissemination of the information that will ensure that democracy endures in Nigeria.''

In his paper, Mr Christopher Odock of the Department of Political Science, University of Calabar,

stated that voter education in schools would lay a good foundation for credible elections in Nigeria.

Odock said that the introduction of voter education in Cross River secondary schools was a step in the right direction, noting that it would be tantamount to ``catch them young''. ``If a society or family desires to raise citizens who understand, appreciate and sustain democracy and democratic process, then the best time to start is when they are young, when the mind and spirit are still free of negative preoccupations."

He said that voter education would engender in citizens behaviour that is appropriate to the peaceful conduct of elections, acceptance of

results and tolerance of competition and opposition.

Odock underscored the need to work out various strategies for implementing voter education in the state's school system because it would go a long way in sanitising the electoral process. ``The success of any voter education programme will be heavily influenced by the history and socio-political environment within which it is planned and implemented,'' he said.

He commended INEC for the initiative, saying that voter education was imperative for the consolidation of Nigeria's democracy and its political stability.

(NAN)

APGA chairman calls for return to regionalism

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he National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has called for a return to regionalism to achieve the required balance of power in the country.

Umeh , who in Enugu yesterday, received the officials of the U.S. Consulate General from Lagos, said that certain parts of the country had been grossly cheated in the scheme of things, particularly since the end of the civil war.

He said the current 36-state structure did not elicit the trust of the people because it was foisted on them by the military.

Umeh said the people trusted the

post-independence regional governments because they worked for them through the provision of infrastructure and people-oriented programmes.

The chairman said a return to the regional structure would ensure a return to competitive development based on comparative advantage instead of the current rush for federal allocations.

Umeh said the only way the current state structure could ameliorate the situation was for the National Assembly to create one additional state and 40 additional local Government in the South East without creating more in other zones.

“Our democracy has been epileptic because of military interventions. The democracy we have now is not of the people because the constitution was drafted and foisted on the people by a military government that had interest in selfsuccession.

“We have been struggling to achieve a balance of power. We are divided in the midst of unity,'' he said, adding that regionalism with a weak centre would ameliorate the situation.

On whether he supported the call for a sovereign national conference, the APGA chieftain said that was the only way Nigerians could agree on

the way forward on a round table.

“Everybody should come with his own basket to the round table and let us see what each can offer. There we can agree on the best way forward for the country,'' he said.

Umeh said his party was fighting hard to win more states in the south east so that no single party would lay claim to overwhelming majority in the country, adding that this would encourage the formation of coalitions to control the centre.

He also said that APGA would field a candidate for the 2015 presidential election and that it would encourage a coalition of all the opposition parties to challenge the ruling party. (NAN)

NNPP urges security agencies to work together

T

he National Secretary, of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Mr Agbo Gilbert, yesterday advised security agencies to work together in tackling security challenges in the country.

Gilbert gave the advice in Abuja, that the Police, Navy,

Army should work in synergy as they all have the responsibility of protecting the citizenry. ``It is high time they are alive to their responsibilities until the security challenge is reduced to the bearest minimum,’’he said.

Gilbert said individuals and corporate organisations should be ready to assist security personnel by giving them relevant information that could expose the hoodlums in the society.

The party secretary said that the security challenge could also be surmounted through dialogue and

public lectures to educate Nigerians on various issues affecting the corporate existence of the country.

Gilbert emphasised the need for the Federal Ggovernment to harness the human and economic resources in country to achieve its social and economic transformation agenda. (NAN)

The former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Alhaji Yahaya Kwande, has said that the nation's 13-year-old democracy has yet to record much progress, said the nation was becoming poorer as it celebrated its 13 years of democracy.

"I must tell you that the nation's democracy is retrogressing in the sense that the First Republic was better than the Second Republic and the Second Republic was better than the military administration."These strata of administration seem to be in the hands of the military and these people, we learn, unite and support themselves.

"Those who are in authority and those who are not, even active politicians, and are retiring to their homes are together. They take decisions to take care of themselves."

Kwande said that more people now "run after those that have money in order for them to survive and not because they want to do that."

"Some of these common men have brain and some of them don't like what is happening, but there is nothing they can do because they are poor.''The former Diplomat urged the nation's political leaders and the military to intensify efforts to improve the democratic process.

Kwande also urged them to be fair and just to the ordinary citizens and provide more dividends of democracy to them. (NAN)

2015 elections: NGO advocates 2-party system From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

T

he Executive Director, Changing the Face of a Nation Initiative (CFNI), an NGO, Mr Olorunfemi Adedurin, , yesterday advocated for a two-party system in the 2015 general elections.

Adedurin stated this in Lagos while observing that multi-party system had not favoured the nation's political system.

Adedurin argued that few political parties fielded candidates during the 2011 general elections.

In the 2011 general elections, how many parties out of the 63 registered political parties won seats?.

"So the reduction of the political parties is the best thing that will ever happen to our electoral process in the 2015 general elections,'' he said.

But a former chieftain of the ACCORD Party in Lagos, Alhaji Ismail Mohammed, said that multiparty system was the best for a multinational, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society such as Nigeria. ``Right now, multi-party system is not working in Nigeria because it is being surmounted by various interest groups, especially the National Assembly that deprived the political parties the grants that the constitution gave to them. (NAN)

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Rig 2015 election, risk chaos, ACN warns PDP From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos he Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has lambasted the PDP and the Jonathan administration for its desperate efforts to twist the statement made recently by General Muhammadu Buhari, warning against the consequences of rigging the 2015 general elections.

The party says by its agitated response which seeks to malign and impugn Buhari for that timely warning, the PDP is betraying the fact that it is planning a horrendous rigging of the 2015 election as that is the only way through which the PDP can retain power after a complete destruction of the country in 13 years of better forgotten rule.

In a release in Lagos, signed by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Joe

T

Igbokwe, the party says it aligns itself totally with the views expressed by Buhari that Nigeria risks very dire consequences should the PDP think that it will continue perpetrating electoral fraud and be allowed to benefit from it in 2015.

It therefore warns the PDP to take Buhari's warning seriously and stop its present effort of blackmailing Buhari with problems whose roots are traced to PDP buccaneers' tendency with state power.

"When we try to ruminate what is happening in Edo State presently, where the PDP is trying to concoct sham registration exercises en route the state governorship election, we have good cause to believe with Buhari that the PDP, with its amoral lust for power, risks setting the country on fire in 2015 should it continue its nefarious acts of rigging every

election and manipulating the judiciary to get away with such criminal acts.

"We know that ordinarily, the PDP would not have reacted in the worrying manner it did if it was not planning to rig the forthcoming general elections as it has done previous elections but we warn them that such planned rigging will spell doom for them."

"From the worried reaction of the PDP to Buhari's statement, it should be gleaned that another audacious electoral heist is in the offing and it behooves all Nigerians of goodwill to unite and collectively rebuff PDP's effort to blackmail Buhari and quell the concern of Nigerians over the continued defacement of the country's electoral process through rigging by the PDP. We see through the unsecured attitude of the PDP to Buhari's warning and notice a veiled commitment of the PDP to

R-L: Senate President David Mark, presenting a book to Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Deng Boqing, during the envoy's visit to the National Assembly on Tuesday. Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

continued rigging of the country's election. We will resist this and will encourage our supporters to resist further plans to rig elections in Nigeria in 2015.

ACN is adding its voice to those of concerned Nigerians who are suffering the collective burden of successive PDP administrations that stole their way to power and employs that to loot the country dry that it is either we have free, fair and credible election in 2015 or there will be chaos across the country.

We want to state that time has come for a country in the kind of miasma Nigeria is enmeshed in presently to seek ways of walking out of the problem and we believe that PDP's shameless defense of election rigging is a sure way of deepening the unending rot Nigeria has been sunk in for the past thirteen years. We believe that a free and fair election where Nigerians elect competent leaders that will steer us out of the PDP created doldrums is the starting point to that national recovery," ACN said.

According to ACN, "we are forced to ask: is there anything the PDP and its government are planning with the 2015 general election that other Nigerians don't know such that they were resorting to cheap and infantile blackmail, insidious name calling and muck raking with a clear and harmless warning against election rigging? Is the PDP irreverently committed to election rigging that it betrays its discomfiture at any statement made against election rigging?

"With the reckless way and manner the PDP and the federal government reacted to Buhari's statement, it is almost certain that while Nigerians are hoping to leverage on the 2015 general elections to effect positive changes in their sordid conditions at present, the PDP, true to its character, is planning to steal power in 2015. We warn that such would be firmly and stoutly resisted by agitated Nigerians who have been completely

CPC accuses Hanga’s group of anti-party activity

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has accused the Protem National Chairman of the party, Rufai Hanga of conniving with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to create confusion and disaffection in the party.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Rotimi Fashakin, said that in the latest plot, the PDP plans to use the some members of party, led

by Hanga to rally party members to a meeting today, in other to pass a vote of no confidence on the substantive National Executive Committee (NEC) of the CPC. He alleged that PDP earlier used this group of CPC members to put on hold all financial transactions of the CPC's account with First Bank Plc, adding that, having been paid for a two-year lease of his property, Hanga had sought to renege on agreement by attempting eviction of the party.

"We feel compelled to let Nigerians know the level of desperation of PDP and its paid agents in derailing the nation's democracy."

However, reacting to the accusations, the Protem Publicity Secretary of the CPC, Dennis Aghanya, described the claims as allegations, pointing out that it is part of the attempt by the Tony Momoh group to divert attention from realities on ground.

He explained that the Protem state Chairmen of the

party, on their initiatives, decided to meet within the week to discuss the latest development regarding the recent outburst against the leader of the party, Muhammadu Buhari, by PDP. He argued that the Protem state Chairmen of the party had been meeting, wondering why this particular case will raise eye brow among some people.

He disclosed that the outcome of the meeting within the week would constitute the agenda to be deliberated by the Hanga led NEC

dehumanized in thirteen years of traumatic PDP rule.

"With its sordid record of shameless election rigging, brigandage, serial plundering of the country, impunity, judicial manipulation, breeding and sustaining insecurity, worst ever unemployment, total infrastructural breakdown, among other negative hallmarks of its feel on power, it is understandable why PDP feels that only continued stealing of power through fraudulent elections will sustain it in power.

"But PDP needs to know that Nigerians are tired and fed up with its nuisance value and will do everything to prevent another electoral heist in 2015.

We warn that the PDP is playing with fire on their present scheme to steal the Edo election, after losing the battle against a competent and well performing governor. We also extend the warning to INEC that they will not escape the anger of the people should they continue to pander to the inordinate desire of the PDP for more power when it is obvious that Nigerians are fed up with the PDP."

Three arraigned for voter’s card offences in Edo

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

hree persons have been arraigned at the magistrate courts in Afuze, headquarters of Owan West LGA of Edo State for electoral offences. They were alleged to have conspired in the procurement and dealing in INEC Voters Cards contrary to section 124(5) and punishable under section 120 (!) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

The three accused-Richard Usikhifo, 61, Segun Omoarebu, 40 and Ajayi Ohikhuemi, 30 were charged before Magistrate court at the Afuze Magistrate Court yesterday for unlawfully conspiring to commit an offence wit: procurement and dealing in INEC Voters Cards contrary to Section 124(5) and punishable under Section 120(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

They accused were slammed with four counts charge including unlawful possession and deal in INEC Voters' Cards belonging to persons other than as provided in the Act, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 120 (1)(d) of the Electoral Act 2012 as amended.

But the accuse Persons pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned for further hearing.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

By Patrick Andrew

T

he Super Falcons today will fly out to Zimbabwe via South Africa, ahead of the 2012 African Women Championship qualifying match against Zimbabwe in Harare at the weekend.

Falcons depart for Harare today The team had earlier been scheduled to travel yesterday but could not because of the late arrival in camp of two foreign-based players. The delegation will depart

Blatter says FIFA gradually becoming corruption free

F

IFA is heading into calmer waters after a series of corruption allegations over the last two years, its president

Sepp Blatter

PAGE 41

Sepp Blatter said ahead of today’s congress in Zurich.

“I am an optimist. I am sure you will see at the congress that we are back in the harbour, not heaven yet, but we are taking more people on board and are heading to calm, clearer waters. “The change began over the last year, or when the Ethics Committee started to act, and we have lost, directly or indirectly five members of the executive committee. That is a big number and new people have come in,” Blatter ahead of the world soccer body’s annual congress which begins today.

Blatter was speaking against the backdrop of events prior to and following his election for a fourth and final term as FIFA president, last

from Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight.

The delegation will connect a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg to Harare on Friday year. This year’s Congress, set for today and Friday in the Hungarian capital, will be presented with a new set of statutes aimed at making FIFA more transparent.

Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, a FIFA vice-president, and Mohamed bin Hammam, who were both disciplined and expelled for their part in a bribery scandal.

Nigeria’s Amos Adamu was suspended for three years while five others also bagged varying sanctions.

Bin Hammam of Qatar, one of the game’s rich power-brokers, was due to stand against Blatter for the FIFA presidency but withdrew his candidature days before the vote and was later banned from football for life by FIFA for trying to bribe Caribbean delegates to vote against the Swiss.

Ricardo Teixeira of Brazil, who, like Warner, was involved in repeated corruption allegations, quit earlier this year on health grounds.

Warri Wolves hammer Sharks 4-1

S

harks suffered a humiliating 41 bashing in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) yesterday at the Warri City Stadium in a rescheduled game.

Sharks, who only last week lost 01 to Akwa United, had been on a roller coaster with impressive results but jolted as Wolves produced a terrific display to halt the run of Blue Angels.

Goals from Ike ThankGod, Uruemu Egbeta, Gift Atuliwa and Bright Obada rendered ThankGod Amaefule’s effort purely academic.

Wolves now move up to 4th on the NPL standings with 39 points from 25 matches.

The Warri-based club are ahead of Akwa United, Dolphin and Gombe United, all on 39 points, owing to their superior goals difference.

Coach of Sharks, Imama Amapakabo praised Wolves for the win but insisted that his side lost due to ‘technical and not tactical mistakes.’

Heartland moved five places to 8th on the log after their 1-0 success against Ocean Boys at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

The Naze Millionaires had Kabiru Umar to thank for the win as his welltaken penalty after 74 minutes gave the Owerri side maximum points and took their points tally for the season

to 37.

Ocean Boys remain in the bottom two on 26 points, as they finished the game in Owerri with 10 men after they had a man sent off.

Seun Sogbeso’s goal proved decisive as Kwara United defeated Sunshine Stars 1-0 in another rescheduled NPL game decided yesterday.

Results Heartland 1 Ocean Boys 0 Warri Wolves 4 Sharks 1 Kwara Utd 1 Sunshine Stars 0

NFF hails Abdullahi’s appointment as substantive Sports Minister

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Bolaji Abdullahi, now substantive Minister of Sports

he Nigeria Football Federation has applauded the decision of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to appoint Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi the substantive Sports Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Maigari, who was speaking from Budapest, Hungary where he is attending this year’s FIFA Congress, applauded the redeployment of Abdullahi, who was made the supervising Minister of Sports following the resignation of the substantive Minister, Mallam Yusuf Suleiman.

“Mr. President has taken a wonderful step. It shows clearly that His Excellency has been

following events in the sports sector, and the excellent role that Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has been playing in ensuring peace and then, progress.

Without peace, there can be no progress or growth.

“The NFF is very happy with Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi being fully committed to the National Sports Commission. In such a short time as Supervising Minister, and even with the distractions/challenges of having another full Ministry to take charge of, he has done so much to put things right,” said Maigari.

Maigari commended Mallam Abdullahi’s dispassionate handling of matters and personal commitment to bringing to an end, needless crises and conflicts that had hampered the development of the Nigeria game for almost two years.

morning while the match will hold on Sunday. The return leg comes up on June 16.

The team is made up of Goalkeeper and Captain Precious Dede, Assistant Captain Stella Mbachu, Tochukwu Oluehi, Gloria Ofoegbu, Ngozi Ebere, Chidinma Okoro and Onyinyechi Ohadugha.

The others are Evelyn Nwabuiku, Onome Ebi, Joy Jegede, Gladys Akpa, Regina Macfancy, Akudo Iwuagwu, Perpetua Nkwocha, Amenze Aighewi and Abosede Olukayode, Desire Oparanozie, Shola Oyewusi, Rita Chikwelu, Gloria Iroka and Esther Sunday are also in the team.

While addressing the newsmen on Wednesday, Head Coach Kadiri Ikhana said that the team was on the verge of making the country proud.

“We have been in camp for some weeks now and we have done a lot of work. I believe that we have a team that will do Nigeria proud.

“We are not only knocking out

Zimbabwe but going to Equatorial Guinea in November to retain the African title,” he said.

The Super Falcons have won every edition of the African Women Championship bar one since the inaugural event in Nigeria in 1998.

The only edition where the trophy went a different direction was the 2008 edition in Equatorial Guinea, which the host country won.

Perpetua Nwkocha of Super Falcons

Eagles to stay at Metropolitan, Namibia at Channelview

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he Super Eagles, will set up camp at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar from May 27 for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Namibia’s Brave Warriors at the U. J. Esuene Stadium on Sunday, June 3.

NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, who disclosed this yesterday, also revealed that the visiting team, Brave Warriors, will be accommodated at the Channelview Hotel in the city.

A release from the NFF indicated that the football federation has written to the Namibia Football Association requesting for the Brave Warriors’ date ofarrival and size of delegation. The Warriors are presently training in Germany.

The match officials, including Match Commissioner, Mr. Jammeh Bojang from The Gambia, will stay at the Axari Hotel. It would be recalled that Khalid Abdel Rahman

Coach Stephen Keshi

from Sudan, was named the centre referee, Waleed Ahmed Ali, Mohammed Idam Hamid, are the first and second assistant referees respectively, while the fourth official is Badr El Din Abdel Gadir.

Meanwhile, the NFF also confirmed that the match will kick off at the U. J.Esuene Stadium at 5pm Nigeria time.

….CAF names Doue for Eagles, Rwanda match

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he Confederation of African Football (CAF) has named Ivorian Arbiter, Noumandiez Doue as Referee for next month’s 2013 AFCON return leg match between the Super Eagles and the Amavubi of Rwanda.

A release signed by Ademola Olajire, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Chief Media Officer, said that Doue, 42, has been an international referee since 2004.

He was also the centre referee when the Super Eagles were sent packing from the 2012 AFCON Tournament after they were forced to a 2-2 draw with Guinea.

Doue will be assisted at the June 17 match by compatriots Songuifolo Yeo 42, international assistant referee since 2004 as Assistant Referee 1.

Moussa Bayere 37, international assistant referee since 2006, as Assistant Referee 2 and; Bienvenu Sinko 32, international referee since the beginning of this year as Fourth Official.

The Match Commissioner is Abdoulaye Lawandji Mahamat from Chad. Both teams played a 0-0 draw during the first leg in Kigali on February 29.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Lagos FA backs Greensprings Kanu Football Camp

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Nwankwo Kanu

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aiwo Osawe, a retired FIFAbarged Referee has said that poor coverage of the country’s football league scene had made it impossible for the world at large to know how competent Nigerian referees are.

Osawe on Tuesday in Benin, that in spite of the lack of publicity “our referees are the best in the world. As an official, who was on the FIFA listing for nine years during my active days, I can tell you that my colleagues are the best in the

Two female volleyballers selected for Beach qualifier in Sierra Leone

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wo female players will represent Nigeria at the qualifier of the 2012 U-21 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Junior World Championships.

The qualifier scheduled to hold from May 29 to June 3 in Sierra Leone is to select the African countries that will feature at the world championships.

Ismail Charkuma, the national coach, disclosed yesterday on telephone that the players, Jummai Bitrius and Promise Ebere were the best the country had.

“They are good players and I know they will prove their skills at the qualifier. If our male team could not qualify, then our females, I believe will put in their best.

“They have been training together, so I am optimistic that that they will qualify for the World Championships,” he said.

The coach said that the team will depart Nigeria for Sierra Leone on May 27 to allow them enough time settle down before the competition starts. “We promise not to disappoint since our male could not qualify,” he said.

The 2012 U-21 FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch Junior World Championships is schedule to hold from August 29 to September 2 in Canada.

he maiden annual Greensprings Kanu Football Camp has received the official endorsement of the Lagos State Football Association. The camp, which would be run by some coaches from England, has been scheduled to hold from July 1 to July 7 in Lagos.

A statement from the Greensprings school said on Tuesday in that the Lagos the FA Vice-Chairman, Tade Azeez lauded the school for initiating such ‘laudable project’ and promised to send some coaches to run the programme.

The statement quotes him as saying that this would go a long way in complimenting the efforts of the FA in talent identification.

Azeez said he believed that the involvement of the former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu would help to drive the project.

“I want to commend Greensprings for helping us to do our job. This kind of initiative is laudable especially, coming from a school like Greensprings.

“We are confident that the school will do it better, so that others will take a cue from them.

The camp is the brainchild of Greensprings School, Lagos in collaboration with Nwankwo Kanu as well as support from the West Africa School Sports Union (WASSU).

No fewer than 500 students from private and public schools are expected to be part of the camp.

Nigerian refs competent, says former FIFA-badged referee world.

‘The only snag is that we do not have good publicity for our local league. We all watch the English and the Italian leagues. You could see the level of officiating in those matches. My assessment is that even with our poor technology our worst referee here will be the best out there if given the opportunity,” he said.

Osawe decried the prevailing “pull-him-down syndrome, which has blighted the profile of the country’s domestic football”.

“But as I said before, we do not have the means of showcasing our potential and our people, rather than encourage what they have,

Nigerian referee on duty have chosen to pursue the bringhim-down syndrome.”

The retired referee, who officiated about nine challenge cup finals in his active days, explained that “I watch both English Premier League and the Spanish La Liga and I see some obvious mistakes made by the match officials.

“Yet, their media don’t castigate them the way we do here in Nigeria. If our referees were to make a tiny percentage of the mistakes they make, the Nigerian media will ask FIFA to delist their names from the list. Our referees are good but the environment is not too friendly to encourage them to thrive,” he said.

NFF says technical director, Saintfiet, to take up post July 1

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he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), says everything was being done to ensure that its newlyappointed Technical Director, Tom Saintfiet, resumes work latest in six weeks time or July 1 The Belgian was appointed in March but was yet to resume even after the resumption date was twice missed. But the NFF’s General Secretary, Musa Amadu, said yesterday that arrangements were almost concluded for him to arrive in the country to start work in earnest.

“There are so many things coming up and we have not been able to conclude on his assumption of duties.

“But I cannot say Saintfiet will resume before the Super Eagles’ qualifiers in June. However, I am sure that once we are able to put these matches successfully behind us, we will get him to start work,” he said.

The former Ethiopian and Namibian manager was expected to resume work before the Super Eagles play the three matches lined up for them in June, two of them in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and one of them in the

2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Amadu, who denied that the National Sports Commission (NSC) was not aware of Saintfiet’s appointment, said the Belgian had been eager to arrive in Nigeria to resume duties.

He however regretted that getting a work permit for the Belgian had been the major challenge the association faced.

Tom Saintfiet

He insisted that football federation had been working in collaboration with the NSC to ensure the problem was resolved.

“In spite of the difficulties associated with securing a work permit for foreigners coming to Nigeria, provision has been made in collaboration with the NSC to resolve all contending issues regarding Saintfiet’s arrival in Nigeria,” he said.

Aminu Maigari

NOC bought Games' broadcast rights to protect partners, says Ndanusa

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he Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) said yesterday in Abuja that it has bought the 2012 Olympic Games broadcast rights in Nigeria to protect the property rights of its partners.

While announcing the broadcast partners at a news conference, NOC President Sani Ndanusa said the partners were among those, who had committed their resources in support of the Olympic Movement.

"This is part of our resolve to safeguard the rights of NOC partners.We endeavoured to ensure that our partners are in a position where they are given the first right of refusal in terms of commercial advertisements via the Olympic Games' broadcast networks,'' he said.

The NOC is reported to have spent N80 million in acquiring the Free-to-Air Broadcast Rights from Octagon, a South Africa-based company.

The company is in-charge of the Broadcast Rights for Sub-Saharan Africa and NOC has since signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the contract.

It is the first time the NOC is wholly acquiring the rights within its territory.

NOC has named the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) as its key partners in the broadcast project.

Ndanusa pointed out that the project was an ambitious and ground-breaking one with potential for yielding good dividends.

He said this was why NOC engaged the services of a media and marketing consultant, Connect Marketing, which was a subsidiary of Octagon in Nigeria. ``It will provide expert and marketing services for this project. We encourage all our media friends as well as public and corporate organisations to take advantage of the massive business opportunities provided by the Games' broadcast. ``They should use this to further boost their products and services,'' the NOC President said.

Speaking at the event, Yetunde Akin-Olaiya, a representative of Connect Marketing, said the company's packages were in three categories.

She said the Platinum package could be acquired at the cost of N70 million, the Gold package at N55million, and the Silver package at N35million.

The broadcast rights of the Olympic Games belong to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), whose Marketing Commission in turn markets to various interested global and regional organisations.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Since bursting on the scene during Nigeria ’99 FIFA U-17 Championship, Landon Donovan has been phenomenal and he showed why when FIFA.com took him on sundry issues including Los Angeles Galaxy’s start to the Major League Soccer season, the dominance of Mexican sides in the CONCACAF Champions League, the appointment of Jurgen Klinsmann as USA coach and why the FIFA World Cup is so special.

With an attacking ensemble which would be the envy of many teams across the globe, can the Galaxy capture a second MLS cup?

Well in our league, and particularly in LA, we have an owner here who is very committed to not only winning but to making sure we are putting an exciting product on the field. Most places around the world it’s just about the football, but we are still trying to build our game, so we need to have, hopefully, an exciting product that people want to pay money to come see. We’re fortunate that we’ve got an owner and a coach who are committed to that and it’s fun for me as an attacking player because I get to play alongside some of these great, talented players.

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ooking at the current table and the CONCACAF Champions League, it wasn’t the start you would have hoped for. What do you credit that to?

It was tough. We are certainly a much better team than we showed early on. I think a big part of it was not having myself and Robbie [Keane] there from the beginning of the pre-season. We were a little bit disjointed to start and it kind of showed on the field.

We weren’t playing terribly, but our league is parity-driven, so if you are a little bit off-form and a team is playing well they can beat you. So it’s not like we are Manchester United or Barcelona, where you have a bad day and you can still win 2-0 or 3-0. We have a bad day and we can lose games, and that’s what happened at the start of the season.

Monterrey have qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup. It always seems to be the Mexican teams that reach the final of the competition.

How close are MLS teams to narrowing the gap?

We’re close, but there are realities. We’re the exception, but most Major League Soccer teams have a payroll of $3-4m USD for the entire squad.

Some Mexican teams have a payroll of $20-30m USD. The reality is that the teams who are paying more for their players generally win. We’re getting better – our league is committed to continuing to spend more money, but they’re running a business so they’ve got to be smart about it.

We’ve had a number of teams, even with the discrepancy in pay, doing very well and getting very close. Last year, Real Salt Lake went close against Monterrey – and were less than 45 minutes away to advancing to a Club World Cup. It’s only a matter of time, but as long as we’re progressing I think we’re still OK with that.

Do you think the Galaxy may be the team which are in the best position to narrow that gap?

Yes, if our team is healthy. We’ve got enough talented players to pull off plays and score goals.

One deficit we had at the start of this year we were missing arguably our most important player in Omar Gonzalez, our centre-back, and I think we paid for it. We gave up some pretty soft goals early on and goals that you wouldn’t expect to give up if Omar was there. So I think if we were a healthy team, we’d have a realistic chance to do well.

Turning to the national team, what do you think Jurgen Klinsmann wants to achieve with USA?

PAGE 43

Klinsmann gives USA 2014 hope, says Donovan

we’ve pulled off some special results, but the best teams do that consistently.

We want to get to a place where we can do that. Jurgen’s very adamant about pushing us, even to the point of getting out of your comfort zone and I think it’s done wonders for a lot of our guys so far. It was a little slow to take hold early on, but I think guys are started to adapt now and understand what his demands are and it’s getting better and better.

In terms of pushing you to the limits, is that physically, mentally, or is it both?

I think it’s both. I think it’s continuing to challenge guys, particularly younger guys, to not be content with, you know, if you had a good season last year, don’t be content with that, keep going. If you had a good game last week, don’t be content with that, get better. The physical part, he has been very demanding in the camps so far, but it’s all in a positive way and I think we’re starting to see the benefits of it.

How have you responded to him personally?

You’ve missed a couple of games through illness and injury.

Well, I’ve known Jurgen a long time now and I think we have a lot of respect for each other. For me, it was great to have him appointed because of our relationship. I think we see not only soccer the same way, but we see the world in the same way. We both believe in really good, positive energy and he wants to fill us with confidence and give us the ability to express ourselves. And as a creative, attacking player that’s all we ever want and so, it’s been great – it’s been a little frustrating for me because I haven’t been able to be in the squad for a while, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get in again and be with the team.

How confident are you of reaching Brazil 2014?

Well, it’s never easy in our part of the world. I think the assumption probably from around the world is that this is an easy place to qualify. The reality is, it’s not - it’s difficult and it always has been and always will be. But, I think particularly what we’re seeing in recent history is that the footballing world is getting smaller and smaller, and teams are getting better and better.

In the past, if we played the El Salvador national team in qualifying, out of 23 guys in their squad, they had 22 guys that were playing in El Salvador.

Now you might get eight which are playing in El Salvador, two in Mexico, three or four in the US, and some in Costa Rica or other parts.

They’re pushing themselves more and getting better and better. So, that’s the way football is going. I’m sure people see it around Europe, with some results you wouldn’t expect from some of the smaller nations against bigger nations. I think that trend is going to continue as the world gets smaller.

Landon Donovan

“

I think particularly what we’re seeing in recent history is that the footballing world is getting smaller and smaller, and teams are getting better and better.

Jurgen Klinsmann He keeps his goals pretty broad. He wants progress and those of us who have been in the game for a long time here in America know that’s what it is about. It’s about continuing to progress.

It would be a little unrealistic to expect we are going to go win the World Cup in 2014. We’ve had a number of games over the past ten years where

What makes the FIFA World Cup so special for you personally?

Well, I think for most Americans, particularly my age, it’s all we knew of football. Growing up I had four TV channels, and none of them in America ever showed a soccer game – literally ever. So, I never watched soccer on TV growing up and never had the opportunity to really follow world-class players. I didn’t watch the Champions League, I didn’t watch the Premier League, I didn’t watch La Liga – I had no idea.

So the only chance we got to really watch football was the World Cup, so that became my dream. My dream was ‘OK, well, this is the event that matters. This is what I want to do’, and that’s always made it really special for me. I’m a big sports fan in general, and to have the opportunity three times now to do something like that, there’s no doubt it’s been the most special times in my career.

Finally, tell us something about yourself which we wouldn’t find on the internet already?

I think a lot of people don’t realise that I’m actually half-Canadian. At one point, I could have had the opportunity to play for Canada! I think more importantly, my dad always secretly hoped I’d be a hockey player, but growing up in sunny Southern California I think the odds were low!

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Juventus chase United player

Transfer

The season is over. Clubs are counting their blessing as well as losses and would like to make amends and even beef up their squads where noticeable lapses exist. And the transfer market is agog barely 24 hours after major European leagues dropped the curtain.

And so to keep abreast with latest rumours, we begin daily doses of movements within the market both for players and coaches like.

J

uventus are close to sealing a deal for highly-rated Manchester United youngster Paul Pogba, according to the club’s general director Giuseppe Marotta. Pogba, 19, has been at the centre of a tug-of-war between the two sides for some time, with his current deal at Old Trafford set to expire this summer.

Juventus have made no secret of their desire to bring Pogba to Turin and have been in close contact with the player’s Italian agent Mino Raiola - who brought former-Ajax youngster Ousmane Bouy to the club in January.

Marotta said.”We have lured him away from Manchester United. We respected the rules. Pogba, for his own reasons, didn’t intend to renew. We informed the club and we are now waiting for an answer. Talks are well advanced.”

However, when asked about supposed Juventus interest in high-profile strikers Mario Balotelli and Edinson Cavani, Marotta played down the reports as pure media speculation.

“We have never thought about Balotelli, he doesn’t fit the profile we are looking at, a profile which isn’t based solely on technical ability,” he added.

City deny offloading Balotelli, Tevez to AC Milan

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Balotelli

anchester City has d i s t a n c e d themselves from reports in Italy of a swap deal involving Carlos Tevez or Mario Balotelli and AC Milan defender Thiago Silva.

These were sparked by a meeting between Mancini and Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani at the Italian club’s headquarters on Monday.

Meanwhile, City have admitted defeat in their attempt to resurrect Owen Hargreaves’ career after he

was released at the end of a one-year contract after playing only 13 minutes of Premier League football.

In total, the injuryplagued former Manchester United and England midfielder made four appearances - just over twoand-a-half hours of action following City’s surprise move to sign him as a free agent last summer.

It was an improvement on Hargreaves’ record in his last three years at Old Trafford that saw him play only six minutes of first-team football due to chronic knee problems.

United chase £12m Baines

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anchester United have opened talks with Everton to sign England left back Leighton Baines in a massive deal.

United supremo David Gill has contacted Goodison chief Bill Kenwright to open the bidding and the Old Trafford club is prepared to pay £12

Paul Pogba

Newcastle sign Amalfitano on free transfer

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ewcastle has signed French midfielder Romain Amalfitano.

The 22-year-old will arrive on a free transfer after his contract with Stade de Reims expired.

Amalfitano, who helped the French club win promotion to Ligue 1, joins compatriots Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa at the Sports Direct Arena.

The Magpies, who

finished fifth in the Premier League last season, will be looking to bolster the squad having qualified for the Europa League.

Manager Alan Pardew was rewarded for leading Newcastle to their highest placing in the top flight in eight years by winning the Barclays and League Managers’ Association manager of the year awards.

Arsenal offload 7 players for cash

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rsene Wenger will make a push for a giant clear out before pressing ahead with more summer signings.

Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson, Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou could all face the axe to make room for Junior Hoilett, Salomon Kalou,

Yann M’Vila and Steven N’Zonzi Bendtner has returned from a loan spell at Sunderland but they do not want to buy him and his most likely destination is Germany.

Fabianski is keen to move on to get regular games while Vela is wanted by Real Sociedad and Espanyol.

Denilson is preparing to come back from a loan spell at Sao Paolo and is determined not to be forced into a pay cut from his £50,000-a-week contract.

The biggest obstacle facing Arsenal’s clear out although Manuel Almunia who is on West Ham’s radar - is out of contract and

A n d r e y Arshavin is likely to make his loan move to Zenit St Petersburg permanent.

Arsenal may also listen to offers for Johan

Djourou as they look for a new centre half. The club is hoping to get rid of Sebastien Squillaci even though Spurs appear to have jumped ahead in the race to sign Nicklas Bendtner

Sao Paulo reject Chelsea £32m bid for Moura

moment it is Chelsea that is the closest team to Lucas.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has targetted another four European titles after Saturday’s Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich and drawn up a summer hitlist featuring the likes of £50m-rated Radamel Falcao and Brazilian striker Hulk.

Lucas Moura

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uropean champions Chelsea have wasted little time in showing their ambition to dominate the Champions League by making a •40m (£32.3m) bid for Brazilian starlet Lucas Moura.

The 19-year-old Sao Paulo winger, who has a £64.6m release clause in the contract, is also wanted by Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Sao Paulo rejected the Chelsea offer but President Juvenal Juvencio admits they are close to winning the race for Moura.

He was quoted as saying in the Evening Standard: ‘At the

Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen.

Blackburn’s Junior Hoilett, free agent Salomon Kalou, Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila and Blackburn’s Steven N’Zonzi are all on the radar but Wenger has already insisted they will not spend too much in the market.

Crewe midfield prodigy Nick Powell, 18, is also on Arsenal’s hit-list - they face competition from Chelsea - but any of the bigger deals are only likely to be sanctioned after first signs of progress are made on the clear out.

million for the classy defender.

Kenwright does not want to lose Baines and will ask for more - with £15 million the least the Toffees will accept - but the negotiations are now on.

Baines is waiting on word before heading off with England for Euro 2012 duty, he will not rock the boat and is waiting on the bid being accepted.

However Sir Alex Ferguson wants to strengthen in key areas and Baines has proved his quality, starring for David Moyes’s men since he joined them from Wigan.

David Gill

Chelsea eye Hulk to replace Drogba

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orto ace Hulk is keen to replace Didier Drogba as the striker revealed he is open to talks on a move to Chelsea.

The European champions hope to team up the Brazilian with his former club-mate Radamel Falcao, the Atletico Madrid striker who is top of Chelsea’s shopping list.

The 25-year-old, who can play as a central striker or wide of Falcao or Fernando Torres, scored 21 goals in 38 appearances this season.

Porto have previously said he would only leave if a club met his whopping £80million release clause, but his keenness to move means bidding could start around £35m.

Sevilla sign Lopez from Villarreal

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evilla have announced the signing of goalkeeper Diego Lopez from recently relegated Villarreal.

Lopez, 30, brings to an end a five-year spell at El Madrigal after the Yellow Submarine suffered a heartbreaking final day

demotion from the Primera Division.

The former Real Madrid shot-stopper has agreed a five-year deal with Sevilla, who finished in a disappointing ninth place in La Liga this season.

“It’s all been very quick. I’m very happy and looking

forward to wearing the Sevilla shirt and trying to help them continue being a big club.

“It’s a big club for lots of things, for their fans, for what you feel when you go to play there. You always feel a little bit of envy when you experience that from outside, and now I’m very

excited to be able to live it from the inside.

Lopez, who has been capped once before by Spain, joined Villarreal from Real Madrid in 2007 after seeing his path to the Bernabeu No. 1 jersey firmly blocked by club captain Iker Casillas.

Hulk

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

PAGE 45

PICTORIAL

A\ West Indies will find the going in Nottingham even tougher than they did at Lord's, says former England captain Alec Stewart.

B\ Arjen Robben has been urged to leave Bayern Munich by his Netherlands team-mates after being booed by Bavarian fans in a friendly at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, with Wesley Sneijder stating he would love the winger to join him at Inter Miilan.

C\ Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas is hopeful the current Gunners skipper, Robin van Persie, remains at Emirates Stadium.

D\ Liverpool's American owners are considering an approach for former Barcelona manager Louis Van Gaal, as they look to replace ousted sporting director Damien Comolli in the coming weeks.

E\ Dale Johnson reveals how the Champions League draw could put Europe's leading title winners in one group.

F\ Geordan Murphy quits international rugby after failing to make the Ireland squad for the tour to New Zealand.

D

G\ Athletics expert Steve Cram does not expect a lot from Dwain Chambers who faces Usain Bolt at a meeting in the Czech Republic.

A E

B

C

F

G

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

Weah for Soccerex Lagos

Irregular power supply hampers table tennis training, says NTTF

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frican football legend, George Opong Weah, will be in Lagos as one of the speakers for the maiden edition of Soccerex Seminar Lagos scheduled to hold on September 27 and 28.

According to the organisers, Weah is one of numerous top football persons expected to speak on “key regional and international issues such as football in West Africa.”

The Liberian has been included in a list of speakers who will also talk on youth development and other burning issues that concern West Africa especially.

“Weah’s immense football experience and standing with Africa make him a fantastic addition to the Seminar Lagos and will add weight to a conference line up which will address key regional and international issues such as Football in West Africa, Youth Development, The Business of Football, Doing Business in West Africa and Social Responsibility,” a statement from Soccerex read.

The event will be the first international football business event to take place in Lagos.

It will provide international delegates with a first-look at an exciting, football-mad market in Nigeria.

Former Arsenal vice chairman, David Dein, who is expected to be part of the gathering said: “Nigeria is like my second home – I have been travelling there for over 30 years. The passion and ability that West Africa has for the beautiful game is immense and the economy is now growing rapidly, resulting in increased opportunities around football. In that sense it is perfect timing that Soccerex has decided to come to Lagos.”

Chief Patrick Ekeji

varied speed, saying that the machine helps in improving the speed and accuracy of players.

“The issue of power supply in the hall has become a major setback in our developmental programme; we have standard training equipment, yet, cannot use it because of inadequate power supply.

“Robo Pro-plus is international standard training equipment, which helps to nurture upcoming players in the right direction and bring them at par with their

contemporaries during competitions,” Bello said.

According to him, the federation has prepared a comprehensive training schedule as a follow-up programme for various categories of identified players in all competitions.

The NTTF official said, “ the scheme is to raise three teams in the cadet, junior and senior categories, and select players from them for international competitions.”

Bello said that players train in the morning and evening, so as not to jeopardise their personal schedules.

London 2012: Yakmut says Team Nigeria will do well A

lhassan Yakmut, the Chairman of the Coordinating and Advisory Committee, Team Nigeria, for the London 2012 Olympic Games, has urged states and local government areas to do more for sports development.

Yakmut said in Lagos that by such gesture, the country would not lack talents to represent it at major sporting fiesta like the Olympic Games.

Yakmut decried the decline in grassroots sports development, adding that it had stunted the flow of talents that would have enhanced the country’s profile in international sports.

“The grassroots development programme is

Vlasic doubtful for Olympics

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he Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) on Tuesday flayed the irregular power supply to the knock-up hall, National Stadium, Surulere, which has prevented training with Robo Pro-Plus equipment.

Nasiru Bello, the NTTF’s national coach, lamented in Lagos that the incessant power failure at the arena mostly at night had compelled him to conduct training without the equipment.

Bello described Robo Proplus as a programmed machine used in training players with the ball at

lanka Vlasic, one of the world’s best high jumpers, may miss the London Olympics because of health problems, the Croatian said on Tuesday.

The 28-year old Vlasic, who holds the second best jump of all time with 2.08 metres, has had surgery on her left ankle and heel this year, but the recovery was complicated by a prolonged bacterial infection.

“This whole season, particularly London, is in question. I will make my decision a day before the Olympics,” Vlasic told reporters in her native city of Split on the Adriatic coast. Vlasic has had a history of health problems, culminating in thyroid surgery which sidelined her for most of 2005.

She recovered to win gold at the 2007 world championships and she took silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Vlasic, world champion again in 2009, finished second at last year’s world championships in South Korea after struggling with a knee injury and poor form for most of the season.

“I don’t want to go to London and jump 1.90 or 1.95.

Everyone knows what I want in London. I don’t want to fear whether I’ll make it to the finals or not. That would be devastating,” Vlasic said.

not forthcoming because the two tiers of government the state and local governments - seem to be lagging behind in the development of sports.

“So the harvest at the level of the elite is not commensurate with the population of the country; so we are going to make sure that the state and local governments are encouraged to go back to sports as one of the veritable avenues for youths development.’’

The chairman revealed that the committee would soon submit a position paper on the steps the country could take to guarantee a more effective preparation for future Olympic Games.

“Well, the recommendation of the committee is going to give for better performance will definitely reflect on

Chika Chukwumerije

Three lifters won three gold medals each at Ibile Games

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hree female weightlifters won three gold medallists in different categories of the event yesterday at the ongoing Lagos State Sports Festival tagged `Ibile Games'.

The lifters Adijat Olarinsoye, winner in the 48kg, Blessing Duweigha 33kg and Seun Akinpelumi in the 58kg categories.

Speaking yesterday at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun the female lifters who clinched the three gold medals each in their weight categories in the snatch, clean and jerk, said they were delighted to accomplish such feat in their maiden participation in the Games.

Duweigha, who could not contain her excitement, said she was not intimidated by the size of her fellow contenders, stressing, “despite their huge size, I believed in myself.

“You will never know how much you really put in, until you actually win. At a point I lost hope in the event, I felt I was not concentrating because I was nervous,'' she said.

A cheerful Akinpelumi said she was grateful to her coach who, encouraged her to stay on, even ``when had pains in my left arm. My coach really motivated and cheered me on''.

...Winners emerge in softball, baseball

I Blessing Okagbare

Margret Etim

long term planning including early preparation for 2016.

“The preparation is an ongoing exercise and all agencies responsible for preparation are determined to make Nigeria’s outing a very historic one.’’

Yakmut stressed that

monetary inducement was part of the Advisory Committee’s strategy to stimulate the athletes to perform better at the London Games.

“Our projection is that we are going to do our best and we are going to pick medals by the grace of God. We have assorted incentives, but the amount has not been quantified, but already some private sector organisations have started making commitment for gold medals, silver and bronze.

“The makers of Cowbell Milk have made promises to N1.5 millon for gold and product for one year, N1 million for silver, N500,000 for bronze.”

Yakmut said the athletes and officials would assemble in Surryei, which is 30 minutes drive from the Olympic park from July3-18.

Tosin Oke

gbogbo-Bayeku LCDA yesterday defeated Ejigbo LCDA by eight runs to seven to win the gold in the softball event final at the "Ibile Games."

Ifako-Ijaiye LGA, defeated its Lagos Island counterparts by six runs to two to win the bronze.

In baseball final, Coker Aguda LCDA defeated Lagos Island LGA by two runs to zero to claim the gold, while Ifako- Ijaiye LGA beat Ejigbo by four runs to one to win the bronze.

In judo male event, Sodiq Akinlabi of Lagos Island beat Mark Iliya of Oriade LCDA with 20 points to win the gold in the 66kg.

The duo of Ujiagbe Kennedy of Bariga LCDA and Emmanuel Soneye of Iru LCDA won the category's bronze medals with 10 points each. In the 48kg judo female event, Balikis Zubaur of Yaba LCDA has 50 point to win gold.

Esther Ayewunmi of Lagos Island LGA has 30 points to win silver while Elisabeth Omohogion had 20 points to claim the bronze.

The Games will end on May 26 at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The Games, which is a prelude to the 18th National Sports Festival in November in Lagos and will end on May 26, is meant to prepare the state athletes for the festival.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

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THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Senegal to bid for Afcon 2019

S

enegal have revealed plans to bid for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, 20 years after it first hosted the showpiece in 1992.

Sports Minister El Hadj Malick Gackou said yesterday said he had been working with the football federation to make sure the 2019 edition was held in the West African nation.

The minister also said he had discussed the matter with CAF president Issa Hayatou, and that the bid would be part of the country’s new social programme known as “Senegal Horizon 2020”, meant to revamp the sports industry by investing in grassroots training and infrastructure.

South Africa will host the 2013 edition initially awarded to Libya, while Morocco will take charge of organisation in 2015.

Due to the 2011 civil war in Libya, South Africa, which was supposed to host the 2017 edition, traded years with Libya to host the 2013 as the North African country will now host the 31st edition in 2017.

Drogba carries Olympic torch

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vory Coast captain Didier Drogba was cheered yesterday by thousands of fans while carrying the Olympic torch through the centre of Swindon in South West England.

Many fans, some wearing Chelsea blue jerseys mobbed the Olympic torch relay route to catch a glimpse of the 34-yearold striker who helped Chelsea clinched their first UEFA Champions League title on May 19 at the Allianz Arena against German outfit Bayern Munich.

The former Marseille ace waved to the crowd as he trotted along with the torch.

Drogba announced on Tuesday he would leave Chelsea by end of June when his contract expires but did not reveal his next destination, although many are suspecting China.

His dad Albert Drogba told reporters in Abidjan on Tuesday that the striker said he was still confused on the choice of his next club that his future was in the hand of God.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere, wholehear tedl y, one-dir ectionall y, holeheartedl tedly one-directionall ectionally without rre egret or rreser eser vation eserv — William H. Sheldon

Scrapping of EFCC, ICPC: Wrong signal to anti-graft crusade O

ne of the major paradoxes of contemporary Nigeria in the last two decades is that the nation takes one step forward and three steps backward.

This assertion is apt when one considers the inconsistency in policy formulation and implementation.

The Federal Government, headed by Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has set up several ad-hoc committees to look into specific areas of our national life that deserve urgent action as part of his transformation agenda. One of such committees, the Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies, headed by one-time Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye, submitted an 800-page report to the President for consideration.

It recommended the scrapping of 38 agencies and merger of 52.

In addition, it recommended that 14 others be reverted to department and a total reduction of the 263 statutory commissions, departments and agencies to 161.

Among agencies recommended for scrapping were the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The presidential committee said that the affected agencies should be scrapped because they perform duplicated and conflicting functions of the Nigeria Police Force. Since this report was submitted to Mr. President on the 16th of April, scores of the populace have condemned the recommendations, especially the section pertaining to the scrapping of the three agencies said to be active.

Firing the first salvo, the Chairman of Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and AntiCorruption, Senator Victor Lar, described the recommendation by the Oronsaye-led committee as “an absolute nonsense and retrogression”. He argued that instead of discarding the two antigraft agencies, more bodies should be created if the country is to win the war against corruption. The Senator went further that the agencies were created by an Act of the National Assembly, adding that it was only the National Assembly that had the power to

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Stephen Oronsaye reduce the number of government agencies. To him, what the presidency had done has no effect except the laws establishing the agencies were amended or repelled.

Others who have faulted Oronsaye’s recommendation included two past Chairmen of the ICPC, Justices Mustapha Akande and Emmanuel Ayoola. Akanbi said that scrapping the anti-graft bodies would weaken the fight against corruption, noting that the ICPC and EFCC would not have been created had the police been effective in tackling corruption cases in the country. He explained that the mirage of security challenges facing the country makes the creation of these agencies imperative. Ayoola, in his own reaction, said that scrapping the agencies was not the

right solution. Instead, he called for strengthening of the institutions for better performance, especially in the wake of new incidences of corruption in the country.

Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, Emeka Ngige, SAN, Yusuf Ali, SAN, Chief Tayo Oyetibo, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and scores of civil society groups have also condemned the move.

Specifically, Chief Ngige said that the recommendation was an indication that the fight against corruption was not being taken serious by the present Federal Government. He concluded that the move if approved by the government, would make corruption the centre piece of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda. The Nigeria Labour Congress, in its own reaction, said that the recommendation would compound the already worse unemployment situation in the country. Besides the opposition from individuals and groups, the recommendation has attracted editorial comments in most of the national newspapers on the desirability or otherwise of the committee’s suggestions.

An analysis of the reactions showed that facts and statistics needed to persuade the government to jettison the

“

It is an irony that democracy which many Nigerians had hoped would bring better life to them has failed to yield any positive dividend after 13 years of uninterrupted civil rule, owing to high level of corruption and bad leadership – ‘twin-sisters’ threatening the very foundation of our nation

recommendation were hardly advanced by those who voiced their opposition to the move. This write-up is meant to fill the gap.

In my previous article on the state of the anti-corruption agencies in some print and online media last year, I gave figures and statistics from other countries to support the need for more anti-graft agencies in Nigeria. It is an irony that democracy which many Nigerians had hoped would bring better life to them has failed to yield any positive dividend after 13 years of uninterrupted civil rule, owing to high level of corruption and bad leadership – ‘twin-sisters’ threatening the very foundation of our nation.

Alan Doig in his seminal work on corruption tilted: In the State We Trust? Democratisation, Corruption and Development stated emphatically that reforms without strong state institutions and civil society groups would not produce the desired results.

According to him, “the shrinking of state sector, without any complementary strengthening of state institutions and skills, turn a bloated weak state into a small weak state, further reducing its capacity to check corruption”. In the academic paper published in 1999, Doig argued that any country that follows that path will be worse off. His words, “Worse, the combination of a weak civil society and weak state allows small, predatory political machine, the more easily to dominate an unorganized electorate -– and take control of the institutions of the state”. The committee, it was said, recommended the scrapping and merger of government agencies with a view to reducing the nation over bloated civil service and wastage in public spending. This suggestion is begging the question, or what some people will describe as attacking the symptoms without tackling the root cause of the problem. Scrapping the two anti-graft agencies without strong institutions in place will only increase the scale and magnitude of the menace of corruption in country.

It is my firm belief that at this stage of our national development; what we need is a more grounded approach to address the multifacetted problems confronting the nation rather looking for short term and liberal approaches that Contd. on Page 35

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