Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday 24, June, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 26

Monday, June 24, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Sha’aban 16, 1434 AH

N150

Mogaji prepared Tinubu for leadership — IBB >>3

UK lists Nigeria, Ghana, India, others ‘high risk countries’ lVisitors to pay N750,000 bond

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

V

isitors from Nigeria and other ‘high risk’ countries from Africa and Asia will have to pay a £3,000 (about N750,000) cash bond to enter Britain.

The money will be kept by the British Government if visitors do not return home by the time their visas expire.

A pilot scheme, introduced by Home Secretary Theresa May, will target hundreds of people coming to Britain on six-month visit visas from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The countries have been picked for their high number of visa applications and what the British government sees as relatively high levels of immigration abuse and fraud, according to a Sunday Times report.

The bonds, to be introduced from November, will only apply to non-EU migrants, otherwise they would fall foul of European rights to free movement.

“This is the next step in making sure Contd. on Page 2

L-R: Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engineer Abiye Membere, Group Managing Director of NNPC, Engineer Andrew Yakubu, and Managing Director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Mr. Victor Briggs, after the board meeting of NPDC, at the weekend in Warri.

As NASS resumes tomorrow...

Six-yr single term, c’ttees reshuffle divide lawmakers

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi & Umar Muhammad Puma

M

embers of the National Assembly are expected to resume from their two weeks break tomorrow with the

Senate deliberating on on whether to push further the controversial six-year single term proposal by its committee that reviewed the 1999 Constitution.

And, in the House of Representatives, the impending

NGF: Fashola can’t sue me — Jang >>6

reshuffle of the committees has forced some lawmakers to adopt various strategies to ensure their nomination into the areas considered as juicy.

Ahead of the tomorrow’s resumed sitting at the Senate, a

‘Mandela in critical condition’ >>3

competent source hinted that, “it is expected that the six-year single term proposal will top the agenda on the items which the Senate will consider.”

According to the source, other issues include the equally

contentious debacle on state creation, local government autonomy and autonomy for state houses of assembly, independence electoral commissions, among others.

Contd. on Page 2

Uneasy calm as PDP inaugurates interim exco >>2

PAGE 2

News

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

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Uneasy calm as PDP inaugurates interim Exco

By Lawrence Olaoye

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s the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) inaugurates the interim members of its National Working Committee today, there are speculations that the crisis in the party may still be far from being over.

The interim NWC members are to replace the ones who last week resigned their positions at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC)’s meeting held at the party’s headquarters, Abuja.

It was learnt that tension has begun to build up again in the party as there are suspicions that most of the ousted NWC members, who were made to resign their positions owing to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s reports which pointed out some irregularities in the conduct of the 2012 party convention which produced them, may be dropped at

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igeria is no going back on full implementation of Transfer Pricing regulations and its implementation, Acting Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service( FIRS), Alhaji Kabir Marshi, has declared.

He said that FIRS was ready to work with the business, community

Int’l 31-34 Strange World 35 Politics 37-38 Newsxtra 39 Sports 41-46 Leisure 47 Columnist 48

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the NWC members faulted by the INEC. That was why it was resolved that the same delegates from the states who participated at the 2012 congress would be retained.

“But the news coming that the Congress would be made open to other contestants is disturbing and if such happens, it amounts only to insincerity and betrayer by the party leadership,” he added.

It was further learnt that there are moves to ensure that certain members of the NWC never made it back to the PDP executive on accounts of their association. A certain NWC member from the South south may lose his position for being too close to a governor in the zone considered opposed not only to President Goodluck Jonathan but to the leadership of the party.

Some other political godfathers who hitherto have no representation aboard the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led NWC have begun to make deft moves to sponsor their lackeys to

represent their interests in the party’s leadership ahead of 2015 general elections.

Apart from the politics of the party Exco, there are indications that some aggrieved governors on the platform of the PDP have yet to bury the hatchet in spite of the seeming peace achieved after the party’s NEC. It was gathered that some of the aggrieved governors have begun fresh plots to get the National Chairman removed at the July 20th Special Convention. Part of the plot, according to a source within the party, is to cause a rift between Tukur and the President in order to soften the ground for the final offensive against him.

The source added that Tukur’s removal to score certain political point may be part of the preconditions the aggrieved governors would give to Jonathan for their support for his second term bid on the platform of the party.

No going back on pricing regulations, says FIRS By abdulwahab Isa

Govs crisis and 2015 roadmap, Page 4

the July 20 Special Convention.

This suspicion was further swelled by the comments made by the Chairman of the PDP Convention Committee, Professor Jerry Gana, last weekend that the vacant positions would be made open for all interested candidates to contest even though the zoning arrangement would be maintained.

Gana had told newsmen that the party would not stop anyone wishing to contest from doing so but this comment did not go down well with the ousted NWC members who believed that the Special Convention was to regularize their election held in 2012 as not to serve as a fresh exercise for all to participate.

A source close to one of the ousted NWC member who pleaded anonymity lamented “We are beginning to feel uncomfortable with the development ahead of the Special Convention. What we were told before was that the convention would be made to regularize the election of

and multinationals to smoothen, rough edges and explain grey areas.

His no going back commitment on Transfer Pricing regulations, came as tax experts and multinational taxpayers, gathered over the weekend in Lagos to examine issues that impinges on Transfer Pricing implementation modalities.

A statement issued by FIRS Director of public Communications

Emmanuel Obeta quoted Marshi saying that implementation of TP was key to achieving Nigeria’s economic prospect of vision 202020.

“We are not here to discuss whether there will be Transfer Pricing or not because there is going to be Transfer Pricing. We are not even going to discuss when to start implementation because we have

agreed that it will start at the beginning of this year. We are here to talk to ourselves on the progress we have made on the implementation of TP and assure ourselves that we are ready to work with the business community”, Mashi said.

Transfer pricing is a profit allocation method used to attribute a corporation’s net profit or loss before tax to tax jurisdictions.

Six-yr single term, c’ttees reshuffle divide lawmakers Contd. from Front Page Peoples Daily reliably gathered that another proposal in the report which the senators may reject is the proposal which seeks to create pension for past leaders of the National Assembly, at an amount equivalent to the salary of the current Senate and Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative.

A Bill on the proposal which was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, had been rejected earlier by the lawmakers on the ground that it will create instability and acrimony among the Senators.

It would be recalled that the senate committee reviewing the 1999 constitution, at the end of the last session, submitted its reports to the senate, at which the Senate President, David Mark, announced that debate would be suspended on

the report pending the resumption on the 25th of June.

According to Mark, the need to suspend the debate to resumption was to enable the lawmakers use the recess period to study the import of the report, saying this would enable them come up with informed point of view when debate is opened on it.

Mark had equally pointed out that in tomorrow’s debate, the Senators are expected to speak individually either for or against the proposal, other than the voice vote that is usually the case.

Since the issue of six-year single term came to the public domain, tension has mounted against it, with various interest groups, including political parties, criticizing the proposal.

Moreover, the House of Representatives also condemned the proposal, emphasizing that it would veto the section that proposes six-year single term when come to

their chambers.

Some Senators from the South-South geo-political had also indicated their intention to reject the section in the report.

President Goodluck Jonathan had through his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, disapproved of the proposal.

He had argued that since his Jonathan was elected on a two-term Constitution, reviwing that aspect of the Constitution would mar his chances at seeking re-election in 2015.

House of Representatives There are about 94 standing committees at the House of Representatives and they draw funds from the budget amounting to about N4bn for their operations.

Reports indicate that “poor legislative output” may have informed the decision of the House leadership to reshuffle the committees expected to begin

tomorrow.

Although the two houses of the national assembly have tended to thread divergent paths regarding the proposed review of the 1999 Constitution, there are indications that the House of Representatives may eventually dump the report of the Committee on Review of the Constitution.

Chairman House of Representative committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, while reacting on the issue said the report of the House would not support the six-year single term proposed by the Senate.

According to him, “we are bringing out our own report soon and in it, we have retained the structure of four years with two terms as it is in the Constitution.

“When we present our report, of course, there will be a conference committee between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

UK lists Nigeria, Ghana, India, others ‘high risk countries’

Contd. from Front Page our immigration system is more selective, bringing down net migration from the hundreds of thousands to the tens of thousands while still welcoming the brightest and the best to Britain,’ Mrs. May told the Sunday Times.

“In the long run we are interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services.”

A second scheme will cover countries such as Kenya, the

newspaper reports, which are considered to be lower-risk because immigration officials have fewer doubts about migrants’ plans to return home.

About 2.2 million people are granted visas to enter Britain every year.

Last year alone 101,000 people from Nigeria were granted sixmonth visas.

Mrs. May’s plans, revealed by the Daily Mail in March, will be expanded to cover thousands of visa applicants and extended to

work and student permits as well as tourists.

The Home Secretary plans to reduce annual net migration to under 100,000 by 2015.

Official figures earlier this year showed that the Government’s squeeze on entrants from outside the EU had pushed immigration into Britain to its lowest level in nearly a decade.

The £3,000 bonds are part of Mrs. May’s plans to bring annual net migration to under 100,000 by 2015

The number coming to live in Britain fell by 74,000 in the 12 months to June last year as curbs on students and workers from outside Europe began to bite.

“We have reviewed all migration routes to the UK and have put in place measures to reduce immigration,’ said a source close to the Home Secretary when the plans were unveiled.

“The latest statistics are encouraging and show that net migration continues to fall. But our work is not complete.”

PAGE 3

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

News Mogaji prepared Tinubu for leadership —IBB

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he eighth-day fidau prayers for the late mother of former Lagos state Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, held yesterday at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, a ceremony that attracted various dignitaries from within and outside the country.

Former President Ibrahim Babangida in his tribute said that

the late Mogaji left behind a legacy of excellence in service to humanity.

According to Babangida, “during her long eventful lifetime, she had recorded so many achievements that had touched on the lives of many Nigerians.

“She was a devout Muslim, a loving caring wife, mother and grandmother who showed affection to her family and all other people without discrimination.

“She was a regular feature in our

home because of the relationship she built with my late wife and me.

“We benefitted from her experiences and wisdom and she built many bridges not only for us but for many other people from various walks of life.

“The late Alhaja was a powerful mobilizer because of her magnanimity in philanthropy, fear of Allah, ability to communicate through genuine interfacing and interaction with people.

“She had earned the respect, confidence and trust of all the people who came her way.”

Babangida told Tinubu to that, “you are therefore roundly qualified to carry on her good deeds and works so as to keep alive the memory of her life.

“Your record of service to the good and great people of Lagos State and the rest of the federation and your political ideals, reach, structure and network are the evident fruits

of her labour in nurturing, guiding and educating you so as to be useful to humanity.”

Some of the other dignitaries at the event also included former Secretary-General of the Common Wealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, governors of Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Edo, Imo and Ekiti, the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E. A Adeboye, among others.

Shehu Wunti, former Bauchi deputy governor dies at 79 From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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former Bauchi state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Shehu Wunt, has died after a protracted illness at the age of 79 years.

A statement signed by the Press secretary to the Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Abubakar Aliyu Wunti, said that Alhaji Shehu died in Cairo Egypt.

He is survived by his wife, four children, brothers and sisters, He was a time a Federal Commissioner of Transport.

Until his death, he was Chairman and Chief executive officer Cubits Nigeria Limited and member Bauchi state Elders Advisory Committee, He has since been buried according to Islamic rites, in Cairo Egypt.

400,000 Nigerians living like refugees, says Commission

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R-L: President Goodluck Jonathan, being received by Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Mr. Philemon Yunji Yang, at the Yaounde International Airport for the Gulf of Guinea Summit on maritime piracy and armed robbery, yesterday in Yaounde.

‘Mandela in critical condition’

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elson Mandela has become critically ill in hospital, the South African presidency has announced.

In a statement, President Jacob Zuma said Mandela’s doctors were “doing everything possible to get his condition to improve.”

“He is in good hands,” said Mr. Zuma.

South Africa’s first black president, who is 94, was taken to hospital earlier this month for the third time this year, with a recurrent lung infection.

The statement said Mr. Zuma had visited Mr. Mandela in hospital in Pretoria on Sunday evening and was told the former president’s condition had worsened over the past 24 hours.

“The doctors are doing everything possible to get his condition to improve and are ensuring that Madiba is well-looked after and is comfortable.

He is in good hands,” said President Zuma, using Mr Mandela’s clan name by which he is widely known in South Africa.

Mr Zuma appealed for prayers for Mr Mandela and his medical team.

There has been little information about Mr Mandela’s condition in recent days.

On 13 June Mr Zuma, who releases all updates relating to the revered leader, said the former president’s health continued to improve but that his condition remained serious.

More recently, one of Mandela’s grandsons, Ndaba Mandela, said his grandfather was getting better and he hoped he would be home soon.

Mr Mandela’s wife, Graca Machel, thanked all those who had sent messages of support, saying they had brought “love, comfort and hope”.

The former president and Nobel

Peace Prize winner is believed to have suffered damage to his lungs while working in a prison quarry.

He contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while being held in jail on the windswept Robben Island.

Mr Mandela retired from public life in 2004 and has rarely been seen at official events since.

On Saturday, it emerged that the ambulance in which Mandela was taken to hospital on 8 June broke down, meaning he had to be moved to another vehicle.

But Mr Zuma said he had been assured that “all care was taken to ensure his medical condition was not compromised”.

“There were seven doctors in the convoy who were in full control of the situation throughout the period. He had expert medical care,” he said.

Mr Zuma also denied reports that the former leader had suffered a cardiac arrest.

he National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons says that Nigeria has 400,000 persons living in ``refugee-like situation’’.

Hajiya Hadiza Kangiwa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, said this on Sunday in Abuja, while speaking at the World Refugees Day solidarity concert organised by the commission.

The concert was organised as part of the activities lined up to mark the World Refugees Day. ``In Nigeria, we host over 4,000 refugees and asylum seekers; Nigeria’s displaced persons living in `refugee-like situation’ are over 400, 000 persons. ``These are individuals and families whose lives have been upended, whose communities have been destroyed and whose future remains uncertain. ``We hope people will reflect on how they can join hands with the government and NGOs to help these people who have lost everything, to show solidarity for refugees and displaced people around the world,’’ she said.

On a global scale, Kangiwa noted that more than 44 million people around the world had been forcibly displaced from their homes and communities.

She stressed that more than one million fled their countries in 2012, due to a wave of conflicts in Mali, Syria and Somalia, amongst others.

Kangiwa said that the concert was organised to pay tribute to courageous people, who were the unwavering hope of the world’s refugees and displaced persons.

She added that the concert was to create public awareness of the plight of the refugees.

Speaking, the Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, gave the assurance that the Federal Government had always remained committed to the principles of international protection for refugees and asylum seekers in Nigeria.

Turaki said that the government was working in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to enhance the welfare of refugees, while protecting asylum seekers and providing assistance for them. ``The asylum regime in Nigeria is one of the most generous in Africa in that asylum applications are processed swiftly and fairly, while refugees are not detained or denied freedom of movement. ``Many refugees are gainfully employed and they are contributing to the national economy like many other Nigerian citizens; however, many of them remain vulnerable and are in need of special care,’’ he said.

Speaking on behalf of the refugees in Nigeria, Dr Djibrine Kadjiam, the Chairman of Chadian Refugees in Nigeria, who was represented by another refugee, Mr Beguy Benjamin, said that the Chadians in Nigeria were more than 10,000.

Kadjiam, however, appealed to the Federal Government to make clear distinction between refugees and asylum seekers and those perpetrating crimes in the country.

He called for more support in the areas of health, shelter, education, protection and working permits.

(NAN)

The Page 4 Report

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Govs crisis and 2015 roadmap T

By Lawrence Olaoye

he cracks in the ranks of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) will continue to elicit reactions from discerning political pundits in the country. The body,which is a club of the nation’s political leaders, has consistently attracted applause and condemnations even before the schism occasioned by the ambitions of some political heavy weights in the country.

The NGF crisis has brought to the fore the political aphorism that there is no permanent friend or enemy in politics but permanent interests. To an average Nigerian politician, nothing matters but interest. It is not however criminal for anyone to pursue his or her interest within the constitutional allowance but it becomes inimical to the polity when Machiavellian tactics of the end justifying the means is being adopted as it recently played out in the NGF. Several reasons have been adduced for the needless crisis in the NGF, but analysts are unanimous in their submissions that ambition and the rat race to the Presidency in 2015 is at the heart of the crisis. President Goodluck Jonathan, it was argued, had perfected strategies to ensure that those governors he considered antagonistic to his second term bid are cut to size. Apart from goading the leadership of the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to ensure the hijack of party machineries from those governors opposing his second term bid, he also worked to weaken the NGF, the platform being used by the opposition to rattle his government.

Although Jonathan made frantic efforts to whittle down the influence of the NGF first by creating a parallel body known as the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) and made his trusted supporter, Akwa Ibom state governor, Barrister Godswill Akpabio, its chairman, the alternative plot to replace the substantive NGF Chairman and Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, with his lackey failed woefully.

Amaechi who contested for a second term against all odds floored his Plateau state c o u n t e r p a r t , Jo n a h Ja n g , considered to be having the backing of the Presidency with 19 to 16 votes.

With Amaechi emerging the winner of the NGF election, 16 governors who voted for Jang, have resolved to stick to their guns by recognizing Jang as their leader. The Jang group has been carrying on

Governor Jonah Jang and Governor Rotimi Amaechi

with the activities of the NGF with recognition from the Presidency leaving out about 20 other governors who are obviously opposed to his leadership.

The implication of the NGF voting pattern, observers posit, could be a foretaste of what to expect in 2015. The support given to Amaechi, who had openly indicated interest in the Vice Presidential slot with the assumption that the North would produce the President in 2015, is a potent threat to Jonathan second term ambition.

While the Jang faction has been making frantic efforts to swell his camp through reconciliatory persuasion of those governors in Amaechi’s faction, such efforts have yet to yield the desired results as his membership remains the same.

Nevertheless, it would be presumptuous to conclude t h at A m ae c h i s t i l l r e t ai n his original 19 governors because he has yet to call a meeting where those who identified with him during the NGF election would present themselves to the public. Chances are that those who voted for him may not have enough balls to openly identify with him.

Those governors in Jang camp are the ones loyal to the President and observers have pointed out that they are doing same to safeguard their political future. While some of them who are in their first term are supposedly doing same to earn their second term tickets on the platform of the ruling party, others who are serving out their terms are perceived to be working ahead for consideration for juicy

“

The implication of the NGF voting pattern, observers posit, could be a foretaste of what to expect in 2015. The support given to Amaechi, who had openly indicated interest in the Vice Presidential slot with the assumption that the North would produce the President in 2015, is a potent threat to Jonathan second term ambition.

appointments in the post 2015 political calculations.

With the Amaechi NGF camp populated by governors in the opposition, this portends a great danger to the ruling party even with the opposition merger in the offing. There are calculations that those governors in the ruling PDP may have begun to strategize on the possibility of dumping the party for the merger and the NGF election is being generally viewed as a test case. Division among the PDP governors, with the opposition dictating the pace in the Amaechi’s NGF, if not well handled, may result into some of the aggrieved PDP governors ditching the ruling party for the new All Progressives Congress (APC) to realize their political ambitions.

Pundits have consistently maintained that the division among the governors could injure the polity but what is clear is that it has the potential of entrenching extreme hostilities among that nation’s political leaders. For instance, Kano state governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, who had dismissed what happened at the NGF a a political game also declared that those governors who announced their withdrawal from the membership of the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) have lost political relevance in the region. He was promptly replied by the factional Chairman of the NGF, Jang, who referred to Kwakwanso as an enemy of

the north.

The Plateau state governor in a statement signed by his Information Commissioner, Yiljap Abraham stated “Governor Kwakwanso’s account of events during the Northern Governors’ Forum, which led to the adoption of Governor Jonah Jang as the candidate of the region for the chairmanship of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has thrown a moral glitz on Nigeria’s political turf.

“His admission that he personally nominated Governor Jonah Jang and asked Governor Suswam of Benue to support his move only because ‘it was a game…’ clearly showed a mind luxuriating in unethical lyrics. That the Kano State Governor could walk cool out of the room wherein ‘they’ had decided to set up Benue and Plateau for a national ‘fall’ tells us a bit about why we may not capture back soon Nigeria’s political morality.

That he could nominate Jang as consensus candidate and still not ‘vote’ for him showed an incredible double-speak!”

The language adopted in Jang response obviously may not go down well with the Kano state governor and his ilk in north who are loyal to the NGF leadership of the Rivers state governor Amaechi. This is because it queried the morality of their action, a little short of calling them betrayers. This of course may generate avoidable bad blood among the leaders.

With the withdrawal o f t he Ba u c hi a n d Be n u e state governors, Governor Isa Yuguda and Gabriel Suswam respectively from the Northern State Govnors’ Forum (NSGF) chaired by the Niger state governor, Dr, Babangida Aliyu, the spirit of oneness and unity of purpose in the north had been seriously injured. With the clamor for return of the presidency to the north in 2015, the latest division brought about by NGF crisis would not be in the best interest of the region.

The distractions caused by the crisis has made most of the governors lose focus on the issue of governance in their states, analysts have observed. According to them, ultimate losers in this power game and political muscle flexing are the ordinary Nigerians who would be deprived of dividends of democracy. Valuable time that is supposed to be voted to strategizing on how to make lives better for the ordinary Nigerians are being dissipated on needless politicking.

PEOPLES DAILY| WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2013

PAGE 5

Governor Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari’s Giant Strides in Linking up Kebbi State Towns and Villages with Access Roads

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itting pretty in Nigeria’s Sahel region and right on the fringes of the Sahara Desert, Kebbi State in northwestern Nigeria is in great need of access roads for its mostly agrarian population.

It is pertinent to add paradoxically, that some parts of Kebbi State are flood-prone and riverine, making accessibility not only difficult, but posing serious obstacles to the construction of motorable roads.

With determination and singleness of purpose, however, the state government took on these geographical challenges head on and most of the riverine communities can now be accessed by road. This and other reasons are why the state government has invested heavily in the construction of new roads and rehabilitation of old rural and urban roads across the state.

The administration of Governor Saidu Usman Dakingari has transformed formerly impassable rural and urban roads from their hitherto deplorable conditions. The state has invested well over N15 billion (fifteen billion naira) in road construction since June 2007.

Speaking on the road projects undertaken by the state government, the Commissioner of Works & Transport, Kebbi State, Alhaji Bello Tuga, said each of the three Senatorial districts of the state has tremendously benefited from this policy thrust of the government – an action he describes as a complete departure from the past.

Alhaji Tuga gave the breakdown of the work done so far as follows: • Construction of 66km Kingakwai-fana Dakingari including 5km township roads in Dakingari-Kamba with spar to Aljannare. The cost of the project is N4.6 billion.

• Construction of 106km Bunza-Zogirma-Kuka-GulmaNatsini road at the cost of N4.9 billion.

• Construction of 42km Malando-Ngaski road including 5km Ngaski township roads at the cost of N2.2 billion.

• Construction of three (3) bridges along MaladoNgaski road (45m, 90m and 30m length) at the cost of N 610 million.

• Construction of two (2) bridges along Bunza-ZogirmaNatsini road (45m and 30m length) at the cost of N262 million.

• Construction of Birnin Kebbi township roads 3rd phase (Lot A) dualisation of PDP Junction-Badariya end.

• Kofa Sabuwa Old Prison junction to Badariya road.

• Kofa Sabuwa Takalau road.

• Haliru Audu Roundabout, Rafin Atiku Junction to Makera Gwandu with side drains at the cost of N2.6 billion.

• Construction of 50km Liba-Aia, Kwaifa-Giro road and two (2) bridges at the cost of N2 billion.

• Design and construction of Kangiwa and Bui township roads, with a length of 7kms at the cost of N54. 3 million.

• Repair work along Sarandosa-Suru road at the cost of N55 million.

• Construction of Gindi-Sambawa-Gamjeji road, (27 kilometers length) at the cost of N2 billion.

• Rehabilitation of Koko-Kende road (35 kilometers length) at the cost of N1.18 billion.

• Rehabilitation of Dagere-Gwandu-Malisa road (38 kilometer length) at the cost of N928 million.

• Rehabilitation of Gingi-Mungadi road (29 kilometers length) at the cost of N819 million.

• Rehabilitation of 20 kilometer Bagudo Junction Tuga bridge road at the cost of N712 million.

• Rehabilitation of 10 kilometer Zuru Senchi road at the cost of N620 million.

• Construction of 21 kilometer Sabongari-Goru-Kardi-

Continued on page 8

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

News

2015: Nigerians have right to elect President of their choice - ACF

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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varieties were approved out of a total of 16 nominated for registration and release.

The seven crops are four maize varieties namely Sammaz 38, Sammaz 39, Ife maize Hyb 5 and Ife maize Hyb 6, two sorghum varieties namely PD86W15 and PD86W16 and one sweet potato variety named UMSP0/3.

On maize, he explained that International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan led others

in developing all the four varieties.

Awoyemi explained that the first variety, Summaz 38 was recommended for release based on its intermediate level of pro - vitamin A content, high yield, resistance to southern corn leaf blight disease.

Awoyemi said the variety was also resistant to southern corn leaf spot, curvularia leaf spot and maize virus diseases.

For the second maize, Summaz 39, he said it was recommended

based on the same qualities but it had a higher level of pro - vitamin A content.

Awoyemi said Ife maize Hyb-5 was recommended based on its early maturity and Striga disease resistance.

The Committee Chairman said Ife maize Hyb-6, was recommended based on the same quality but in addition, for its drought tolerance, and resistance to Striga, Corvularia, streak, leaf spot and bacteria blight.

eadership of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), yesterday said all Nigerians have the right to associate, hold opinions and to elect anybody as president come 2015 general elections.

It will be recalled that last Thursday, the Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Aliko Mohammad was quoted to have accused the Presidency of using divide and rule tactics on Northern leaders, particularly among ACF members.

According to the Forum, when the time comes for politics, candidates from the northern region or zones should campaign for acceptance across the nation and not in their region or zones alone.

ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, while reacting to Thursday’s comment by their chairman in Kaduna said this was how democracy could help strengthen the unity, stability and harmony of the Nigerian project.

He described media reports that said the Forum chairman urged northerners not to vote for President Jonathan as a complete misrepresentation of what the Chairman meant. “ T h e Ch ai r man o f ACF knows that people have the right to associate, hold opinions and change their minds. Members of ACF have the right to change their minds, including decamping across political parties. And that is why the change of mind which manifested during the elections into the Nigerian Governors Forum should not be allowed to factionalize both the Nigerian Governors Forum and Northern States Governors Forum the way they have been factionalized”.

parading himself as such.

Jang, Plateau state, Asishana Bayo Okauru, Osaru Onaiwu and the Registered Trustees,Nigeria Governors’ Forum, are joined as 1st to 4th defendants respectively in the suit.

In a preliminary objection filed last Friday by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) on behalfofGovernorJang(1stdefendant) and Osaro Onaiwu (3rd defendant), he told the court that Fashola has no locus standi (lacks the legal right) to institute the action and prayed the court to dismiss or strike it out.

Oyetibo specifically prayed the court to terminate Fashola’s suit at the interlocutory stage on the grounds that the writ of summons was not issued in accordance with procedural due process and that an Abuja High

Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the plaintiff’s suit.

According to the preliminary objection, even if an Abuja High Court has jurisdiction to entertain the suit, the plaintiff lacks locus standi to bring the suit, arguing further that since Fashola does not claim to have contested the election for NGF, he is bereft of a legal right to institute or sustain the action.

Oyetibo also argued that Governor Amaechi whom Fashola claimed won the election has neither complained to the court that his mandate has been usurped or to be named or joined as party to the suit.

On the contention that the court lacks jurisdiction, he submitted that any dispute within NGF cannot be

taken to an Abuja High Court by virtue of Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), which prescribes that disputes should be resolved at the Federal High Court instead.

He further contends that the way the suit is couched - between the Governor, Lagos State and the Governor, Plateau state, the plaintiff has suggested a dispute between Lagos and Plateau states Governments, which automatically strips every court of jurisdiction, save the Supreme Court which is bequeathed with the exclusive jurisdiction to determine or resolve disputes between Governments of states or stateGovernments and Federal Government.

Similarly, in Jang and Oniawu’s statement of defence filed by Oyetibo,

they claimed that, “traditionally, the NGFdoesnotholdelectionstoproduce a chairman. It is the practice that the chairman of the Forum is appointed byconsensus of the members. Where a consensus cannot be reached, the candidate supported by a simple majority would become the chairman.

“Governor Amaechi was informed that nineteen of the thirtysix Governors of the states of the Federation have indicated in writing their decision to support Governor Jonah Jang as Chairman of the NGF. Despite the fact above, Governor Amaechi still insisted that there must be an election and that he must preside at the meeting”, they said.

L-R: General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Dr. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, during the turbaning of General Danjuma as Jarman Zazzau by the emir, at the weekend in Zaria. Photo: NAN

No data on foreign tourists in Nigeria - Minister

By Stanley Onyekwere

M

inister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, has said that there is no official data on foreigners who come into the country for tourism.

He attributed the development to what he described as the nonactivation of the nation’s National Tourism Development master plan which is supposed to pave way for the generation of data for

the sector.

Duke made the disclosure as guest on a current affairs programme “90 minutes” on AIT, and monitored in Abuja.

According to the Minister, an estimated 6,600 people enter the country everyday predominantly for business purpose but there is no data on those on tourism traffic.

He said, “for now, it is predominantly business that propels traffic into Nigeria.

“So, if you get data on what the traffic into Nigeria is; some say about 6,600 people flying in and out of Nigeria every day, but we don’t have the data for tourism, because the data for tourism is supposed to be generated as part of the activation of the National Tourism Development Masterplan.

We know why people will come for business; they want contracts in oil and gas; they want contracts in infrastructure; they want agriculture and so on; but

if they want to come to Nigeria for tourism, what would be the fascination?”

According to him, “When we activate the master plan and develop the tourism satellite account, it gives us a platform to determine who is coming for business, and who is coming for leisure and entertainment; it is therefore important for us now to develop the critical elements of that fascination, and work diligently to attract them to come.

Crops: Committee releases new varieties for farmers From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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hairman, National Varieties Release Committee (NVRC) Chief Oladosu Awoyemi, has announced the release of seven new hybrid crop varieties to Nigerian farmers and seed companies.

Awoyemi who spoke in Ibadan at the 18th meeting of National Committee on Naming, Registration and Release of Crop Varieties, Livestock/Fisheries said the seven

NGF crisis: Fashola can’t sue me – Jang

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he chairman of a faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang has asked an Abuja High Court to dismiss or strike out a suit filed by Governor Babatunde Fashola, seeking to restrain him from parading himself as chairman of the forum.

In Fashola’s writ of summons filed byahumanrightslawyer,FemiFalana (SAN), he said Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers state was re-elected as chairman of the NGF on Friday, 24th May, 2013 and contends that Governor Jang’s claim to the chairmanship was baseless and thus should be restrained by the court from

News

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 7

Briefs

Oyo approves N1.2b for compensation over road projects

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yo state has government has released N1.2 billion to be used as compensation to persons affected by the road dualization projects in Ibadan and some other major towns in the state.

The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Bimbo Kolad, in a statement at the weekend explained that 1,304 persons will benefit from the programme.

According to the statement, the decision to pay the compensation followed the completion of valuation and verification as well as the submission of the photographs of the affected structures and the verification of title documents submitted by the claimants.

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

Fear of cow rustlers grips Plateau communities

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eports from Yelwan Shendam of Shendam local government area of Plateau state indicated at the weekend that activities of cow rustlers have continued to be a source of nightmare to residents.

A competent source hinted that the usually armed rustlers may have stolen about 300 cows belonging to one Alhaji Datti with the latest incident last Friday involving 45 cows belonging to one Alhaji Buba of Doka village.

Our correspondent learnt that the communities have written letters of complaint to the Commander of the security personnel in charge of the area.

When contacted the Information Officer of the Special Task Force(STF), Captain Mustapha Salisu, said they were aware of all the issues noting that they had rescued some of the cows.

R-L: Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Niger state governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, former Ogun state governor, Otunba Segun Osoba, and Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okoracha, during the wedding of general Abdulsalami’s daughter, on Saturday in Minna, Niger state.

43,400 PHCN workers to get severance entitlements

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o fewer than 43,400 workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are eligible for severance benefit, the Ministry of Power has said.

Mrs. Kande Daniel, the Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the Minister of Power, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

“The committee, headed by

2015: Group wants Jonathan to run

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

Rep gives N4.5m scholarship

E

ight hundred and forty-three students yesterday benefited from a N4.5 million scholarship awarded by a member of the House of Representatives from Zangon Daura/Baure Federal Constituency of Katsina, Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura.

Speaking at the award ceremony at Zangon Daura, he said his decision to initiate the annual bursary awards was informed by the importance he attaches to education.

He explained that the students are currently studying at various tertiary institutions both in Nigeria and abroad.

While doctoral students were given N20,000 each, Masters students were awarded N15,000; Bsc and HND students got N8,000 and N7,000 respectively, and NCE/ND students got N5000 each with distance learning students being given N3,000.

By Umar Muhammad Puma

the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali, has cleared over 43,400 workers for the payment of the benefits.”

She said that this figure constituted nearly 93 per cent of total workforce of PHCN. Daniel said that the committee was still working on the records of the remaining workers to clarify various issues.

By Agaju Madugba

T

he North, South New Nigeria Forum has congratulated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, for surviving recent moves to remove him from office.

Addressing a press conference at the weekend, the group’s Chairman and former Minister of Education, Alhaji Dauda Birma, also said that Nigerians should give President Goodluck Jonathan another opportunity in 2015 arguing that there is the need for him to complete a number of the projects he has initiated.

The group thanked the 23 governors who “spoke with one voice” to ensure that Tukur retained his position during the National Executive Council meeting.

He urged them to see Tukur’s survival as the collective victory for the realization of party’s vi-

sions.

According to Birma, “President Goodluck Jonathan is entitled to another four years in office, after seeing off his remaining two-year mandate in office.

“It is incumbent upon every card carrying PDP member to identify with the leadership of Bamanga.

“After the NEC meeting, Bamanga emerged even stronger in his position as Chairman of the party.

“This is a demonstration of his acceptability by the generality of the people and we must thank the governors of PDP, all the 23 of them because they all spoke with one voice.

“We undersatand that there is going to be a national convention sometime in July.

“By the time the convention takes place, the party will galvanize itself and face the future challenges.”

The special assistant said that the committee commended the workers for their patience and cooperation.

“The Implementation Committee for the Settlement of Entitlements of Workers of PHCN has commended the high level of cooperation of the workers.

“Their records have passed biometrics test and have been issued benefit statements showing

their expected terminal benefits.

“They are to make necessary correction and return the statements to the committee within one week,’’ Daniel said.

She said that the committee members embarked on sensitisation tour in the different geographical zones to enable the workers understand the process of computation.

The special assistant said that the sensitization tour had been very useful and had produced feed backs.

NAN reports that members of the committee comprise representatives of unions in the electricity industry and those of the Federal Government.

Zamfara killings: Police arrest two suspects From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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ollowing redeployment of Police Unit scheduled to permanently operate at Kizara and the neighboring communities in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara state, two suspects in connection with the recent killings have been arrested.

Parading the suspects in Kizara village on a condolence visit last Saturday, the state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, told newsmen that, after a thorough investigation carried by the security in collaboration with the vigilante group, one Buba Madugu from the village, aged about 40, has been arrested over having link with the dangerous group that invaded the village for killings early this week.

“In his confessional statement, the prime suspect has mentioned the name of one Inusa Dan Malam from neighboring Fulani hamlet as the second suspect, who was also arrested with established evidences”,

Yari contended.

Earlier, Governor Yari told the gathering that, he held a meeting with his Kaduna state counterpart early this week in Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Ramalan Yero, on how best the security agencies from the two states could jointly comb up the terrible jungle making the incessant attacks and robbery a history.

“I am giving you assurance that henceforth, all peace-loving communities along this axis can sleep heavily with two eyes closed in the night, as the deployed security personnel will remain on patrol 24 hours.

“Besides, we will continue tapping the relevant information from the just arrested suspects to track down the main link for justice,” Yari assured.

A village member who pleaded anonymity said that the father of Inusa Dan Malam has testified that his son left home a day before the attack in Kizara, until Saturday when he was arrested while on his way back home.

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Governor Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari’s Giant Strides in Linking up Kebbi State Towns and Villages with Access Roads

Rehabilitation of Zuru-Dambite road

Bawada road at the cost of N936 million.

According to the commissioner, all these projects are either completed or nearing completion. The same applies to their payments.

In addition to the above projects, there are over 10 completed capital projects undertaken by the Dadingari administration in Kebbi state from its inception to date.

They are: • Bena township drainage (2.2km length) at the cost of N171 million.

• Jandutse Junction Alelu road (4.4km length) at the cost of N81 million.

• Rehabilitation of Zuru-Dambite road (4km length) at the cost of N91 million.

• Construction of 1.6km Birnin Kebbi township roads 3rd phase (Lot B) at the cost of N570 million. a. GRA access road b. Rafin Atiku Junction to Haliru Audu Juma’at Mosque c. CIB office Junction to Badariya Junction road.

• Rehabilitation of 128 kilometers Kamba-KangiwaBui road (Lot A) at the cost of N1.45 billion.

• Runway markings (Lot C) at the cost of N27 million.

• Fencing works (Lot B) at the cost of N51 million.

• Supply of fire fighting vehicles and an ambulance at the cost of N38.8 million.

• Construction of round about along Birnin Kebbi Sokoto road at Gwadangaji at the cost of N28 million.

• Repairs of washout section along Gindi Mungadi road at the cost of N6.5 million.

• Construction of Warra farm access road at the cost of N580 million.

Another Makera bridge under construction

The newly constructed 140km Koko-Zuru road

Continued on page 9

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 9

Governor Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari’s Giant Strides in Linking up Kebbi State Towns and Villages with Access Roads

Govvernor Saidu Dankingari flagging off the construction of Bunza township road.

Jega- Mungadi road constructed by Governor Dakingari’s administration to enhance transportation in the rural areas

Consultancy service for design of proposed roads in Kebbi State (Lot A & B). The project is handled by SAHELASSOC (Lot A) at N51.8 million, and GANDEN-SEYDI (Lot B) at the cost of N52 million.

Alhaji Bello Tuga also provided a breakdown of completed projects and on-going ones as follows: • The Kyangakwai-Fana-Dakingari including 5km township roads in Dakingari and Kamba and spar to Aljannare which was awarded to CGC at the cost of N4,592,119,925.35 has been completed.

• The Rehabilitation of Bui-Kangiwa-Kamba road which was awarded to Habib at the cost of N1,450,989,13438 has also been completed. While construction of MalandoNgaski road including 5km Ngaski township roads has also been completed and the construction of three bridges along Malando-Ngaski road has also been completed.

• The construction of two bridges along BunzaZogrima-Natsindi road has also been completed while the Dualization of Birnin Kebbi township road (LOT A) is still ongoing and construction of Liba Aida-KwaifaGiro roads and two bridges which were awarded to Borini Prono has been completed and the design and construction of Kangiwa and Bui township roads which were also awarded to Road Nig. has been completed and the construction of Gindi Mungadin road has also been completed.

• The rehabilitation of Bagudu Junction-Tuga Bridge and the construction of Sabongari-Goru-Kardi-Bawada road have been completed.

• Other projects that have been completed recently are the construction of Birnin Kebbi township [Lot B], the construction of Gesse Phase 1, the construction of Gesse Phase 2 and also the gully erosion control at Tudun Wada, Birnin Kebbi.

• The asphalt overlay along airport access road, rehabilitation of Gwandu-Malisa road, rehabilitation of

Construction of International Airport at Ambursa by Governor Dakingari’s administration intended to boost air transportation for the development of the state.

Continued on page 17

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

News Briefs

Army foils assassination attempt on ex-Kogi LG chairman From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

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ilitary men in Offa have succeeded in foiling an assassination attempt on the former Offa Local Government Chairman, Prince Saheed Popoola.

It was gathered that some thugs believed to be working for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the town stormed a restaurant where Popoola and his friends were relaxing.

A reliable source informed our correspondent that they started shooting sporadically into the air and shouting “PDP, PDP, Power!” and thereafter broke some empty bottles.

The source disclosed that unknown to them, some army and Navy officers were around who later apprehended them and handed them over to the Police.

Our Correspondent who contacted Popoola on phone on Sunday confirmed the incident stressing that three of the suspects were arrested and transferred to Police Headquarters, Ilorin, CID department.

The Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin Kwara State Augustine Kolawole Bello has confirmed the arrest of three suspected assassins in Offa, Offa Local government Area of Kwara state.

They were alleged to be planning the assassinated of the former Chairman of Offa Local Government, Prince Saheed Popoola at a restaurant.

The Army Spokesman who confirmed the arrest while speaking with Journalists said “Our personnel arrested three men at a restaurant close to the former Offa LG Chairman’s residence. They caught them with three pistols. They have been handed over to the police for further investigation.

“We are confirming that we arrested those men with weapons and we handed them over to the police for further investigation.”

Also, Kwara State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSP Olufemi Fabode said “three men were brought to the state CID Ilorin yesterday. But presently we cannot ascertain who they have gone to attack.

National TRAIL fetes distributors, vendors

A

s part of its one year anniversary celebrations, the management and staff of TRAIL Publications Limited, publisher of National TRAIL newspaper, hosted the Abuja Newspaper Distributors Association (ANDA) and Newspaper Vendors’ Association, Abuja Chapter (NVAA) at the Rhema Resort and Bar, Utako, Abuja last weekend.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer of National TRAIL newspaper, Stanley Yakubu, expressed appreciation to the distributors and vendors for their partnership and support in the sale and distribution of the paper within the past one year, noting that “without the partnership and support of these important stakeholders in the business of newspaper, it would have been very difficult for the newspaper to remain on the news stands for a year.”

He however, urged the two associations to ensure that they put in more efforts towards ensuring that the paper is given prominence on the news stands as this will help in popularizing the newspaper.

Chairman of ANDA, Comrade Otu Otu Eno noted that this was the first time a media organization would deem it fit to celebrate its anniversary with the “foot soldiers” of the media which are the distributors and the vendors, and pledged to liaise with his counterpart in the vendors association, Samuel Ejimoh, to ensure the success of National TRAIl.

L-R: Deputy Corp Marshal (Operations), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi. Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja. Professor Bello Shehu, and Director Clinical Service of the hospital, Dr. Jaif Momoh, during the FRSC monthly walking/ jogging exercise, on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin

Minister advocates entrepreneurial training for

By Stanley Onyekwere

M

inister of State Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammad, has said that neglect of entrepreneurship skills development could have devastating consequences for youth in the country.

Muhammad stated this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at the inauguration of the Youth Empowerment through Entrepreneurship for Wealth Creation and Sustainable Development Programme, organized by the Directorate for Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Government, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Bank of Industry (BOI), Administrative Staff College

of Nigeria (ASCON) and National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND).

The Minister who is also the Chairman, Presidential Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) underscored the importance of entrepreneurship skill development to the growth of nation’s economy.

He noted that promoting youth empowerment has the potential of job creation, enhanced technological development through innovation and fostering of economic dynamism.

He noted that entrepreneurship skills development has been largely neglected adding that ``As a matter of fact, where efforts have been made, it is evident that there is no systematic attempt to look at it from a sustainable and practical angle. This can portend devastating

consequences for youths and the country as a whole”.

Mohammad who said the federal government was poised to curb this trend noted that countries wishing to propel and sustain youth development and growth must seriously invest in entrepreneurship skills development that meets the demand of society. He described entrepreneurship as an engine for nation’s economic growth.

The minister said youth empowerment could be made more sustainable where access to funding is made available.

According to him, it is based on this fact that financial institutions have been brought on board to access and analyze viable business plans with a view to providing loans to enterprises on a very concessionary basis. He said the goal and objective of the programme were in line with the present administration’s

transformation agenda aimed at providing young people with a brighter future.

Youth empowerment according to him will also help in addressing some of the socio-psychological problems and delinquency that arise from joblessness; and promote innovation and resilience in youth.

He commended the passion and support of stakeholders for the programme.

Acting Director General, Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa, (DTCA) Mr. Suleiman Shuaibu also reiterated the need for synergy among stakeholders to empower youth in the country so as to achieve wealth creation and sustainable development in the country.

The programme was attended by 215 youth drawn from 31 local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

Gynecologist harps on medical implications of marriage

By Maryam Garba Hassan

A

consultant gynecologist at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Dr. Hajara Umar has tasked the Muslim Ummah on the medical implications of staying without spouse.

Dr. Umar spoke at the weekend in Abuja while delivering a lecture on “Staying spouseless: Medical implications”, at a symposium with the theme “Muslim women

are beautiful” organised by Muslim Men in Business and Profession, in conjunction with its women counterpart, the criterion.

Dr. Umar who lamented the current trend of career women who focus on western idea of building a career before getting married in their prime and when they have high chances of having more children, said medically the right age for a woman to get married is between the ages of 18 and 25.

She blamed the increase

in number of HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), abortion and abandonment of babies at birth on the streets and death during illegal abortion on the decay in moral decadence in the society as well as embracing of western culture of building a career before marriage.

According to her, a 26year old single woman is predisposed to one seed of fibroid and the risk of cancer of the ovary because no fertilization has taken place in her ovary adding that taking

of clomine fertility drug by women above 30 years of age to aid them in having children or multiple births also put them at the risk of getting cervical cancer particularly when they have more than one sex partner.

The consultant also said the risk of miscarriage is high among women who stay without marriage up to the age of 30 years and above while women who have clocked 40years of age are prone to having children with birth defect such as Down Syndrome.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 11

Money Sense

Good financial decision can help you build real wealth

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ou may have goals you want to accomplish at a specific period, be it getting married, buying your first home or starting a new job; it all requires good financial decision and planning to achieve, experts have said. In making great financial decisions, you may need to adjust your current spending habits in order to reach your goals and at the same time build real wealth.

Creating a solid financial plan will make it possible for you to navigate your financial steps without financial stress, says Miriam Caldwell, personal finance specialist.

According to her, one of the most exciting times is when you are about to get married. It is exciting to begin planning and preparing for your wedding. After the wedding you will begin your financial life together with your spouse.

Money is one of the most difficult topics to deal with in a marriage. It is important to address this issue from the very beginning of your marriage.

This will help you and your spouse work towards the same goals. Open communication about your finances will help your marriage be successful.

Another big and exciting time she said is when you purchase your first home. This is a big decision and commitment. You need to be sure that you are ready to purchase a new home. Additionally, you need to understand the terms of your mortgage. You should have enough money set aside to cover emergencies home repairs. It is also important

to consider the additional cost of insurance and property taxes. If you plan carefully you should be able to transition into home ownership easily.

Finding a new job is another financial step of your life. Caldwell said after a few years in the workforce, you may be ready to move onto a new career. You can look for promotions inside your company, or you may look elsewhere to find better benefits and a more lucrative salary.

This is an important step. You want your income to continue to grow, and making the move at the right time is part of that. You should make sure that you are prepared to make the changes a new job would require.

You can also take additional classes or certification training to make yourself more marketable.

She said you may also reach a point where you want to buy a new car. Buying a car is necessary. It is important to prepare yourself for this purchase. If possible you should pay cash for your car, but if you can’t you need to shop for the best loan options available. Additionally you should be careful on how much you spend on your car, because a payment can limit what you can do in the future.

If you are in debt, there is need

Don’t drive yourself nuts One drawback of monitoring your spending by computer is that it encourages overzealous attention to detail. Once you determine which categories of spending can and should be cut (or expanded), concentrate on those categories and worry less about other aspects of your spending.

Watch out for cash leakage If withdrawals from the ATM machine evaporate from your pocket without apparent explanation, it’s time to keep better records. In general, if you find yourself returning to the ATM more than once a week or so, you need to examine where that cash is going.

Quote “The only good luck many great men ever had was being born with the ability and determination to overcome bad luck. - Channing Pollock: Illusionist, Actor

limiting what you can do with your money. Choosing to live debt free life is one of the best decisions you can make for building real wealth.

Additionally, you should begin to seriously invest your money. You will be responsible for your own retirement costs. Investing is essential if you want to live comfortably and not

worry about your later years. It can also help you pay for your children to attend college. Investing your money can be intimidating if you do not understand what you are doing.

However, if you find a good financial planner, he should be able to explain everything to you in detail, Miriam has said.

enjoy fewer crowds, comfortable temperatures and cheaper airline ticket prices. The Caribbean and Mexico have great weather in late April and May, but prices for flights drop during these months as they fall after spring break and before summer vacation.

But remember to consider these caveats of travelling during the off-season: Hotels often do their renovating when there are fewer crowds, which could mean staying in a place with a lobby under construction or an obstructed view from your window. Still, the rates will drop accordingly, often between 10 percent and 20 percent.

Some hotels will offer a free room upgrade during this time as well. Museums may limit their

hours or even close on certain days during the non-peak season. Make sure to check that the attractions you want to visit will be open and available before booking an airline ticket.

Also, airlines typically release new airfare sales midweek, says Warren Chang, vice president and general manager of Fly.com, an airfare search engine. According to him, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in particular tend to be the peak times to find cheap airline tickets.

While the sales often target the coming weekend and the following weekend, they are not limited to these. To save yourself some legwork, scour travel websites and sign up for e-newsletters from travel sites that list the best deals for the

week.

When booking a flight, arrange your schedule to travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, if possible.

As an added bonus for Saturday travellers, airports tend to be less crowded on the weekend, which can reduce stress levels for you and your family as you move through security and head to your gate.

If you will need to check one bag or more on the flight, find out how much you will be charged before purchasing the fare. Most airlines and travel sites offer this information online. For instance, airfares are generally lower during what Nicole Hockin, author of TravelSmartBlog.com. called the ‘shoulder season’. This is the period of time between high and low season.

Any season can be a shoulder season, depending on your destination. For example, Europe’s high season lasts from May through September, but if you travel to London in October you’ll enjoy fewer crowds, comfortable temperatures and cheaper airline ticket prices. The Caribbean and Mexico have great weather in late April and May, but prices for flights drop during these months as they fall after spring break and before summer vacation.

When booking a flight, arrange your schedule to travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, if possible.

As an added bonus for Saturday travellers, airports tend to be less crowded on the weekend, which can reduce stress levels for you and your family as you move through security and head to your gate. If you will need to check one bag or more on the flight, find out how much you will be charged before purchasing the fare.

Most airlines and travel sites offer this information online.

Research your plane ticket to save cost, stress

R Money Tip: Ways to save money

you get out of debt. Once you begin to settle down in the working world, you should get serious about getting out of debt and using your money wisely.

Once you are debt free, you can begin to accumulate real wealth.

This will help you to achieve your dreams and move forward. If you continue to make payments you are

esearching before you book your next vacation or plane ticket can save you the headache and the added costs of your next flight. If you research very well, you can get airline tickets to wherever your travels will take you for less than what you’d expect.

For instance, airfares are generally lower during what Nicole Hockin, author of TravelSmartBlog. com. called the ‘shoulder season’.

This is the period of time between high and low season.

Any season can be a shoulder season, depending on your destination. For example, Europe’s high season lasts from May through September, but if you travel to London in October you’ll

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

EDITORIAL

Zamfara: One murderous attack too many been threatened by activities of vigilantes and conventional security operatives. In November last year, 20 villagers lost their lives in Kabaro town while a month earlier, 27 were killed in Dangulbi village.

15 people were also killed in Birnin Magaji in February 2012. Lingyado village was also hit in August 2011

“

F

or the umpteenth time, suspected armed robbers have struck in another village in Zamfara state and, as it was on previous occasions, they left 50 persons dead and a streak of destruction. Kizara village was attacked last Tuesday night in an operation that was said to have lasted over five hours. Among those gunned down were the village head, the chief imam and his deputy.

The robbers were said to have embarked on their deadly mission to eliminate members of the local vigilante group set up to assist policemen in defending local communities against marauders.

The hoodlums, on motorcycles, were believed to have stormed Kizara at about 4 am, encircled it and opened fire on any living thing they saw after going from house to house in search of the vigilantes. According to an eyewitness account, the leader of the vigilantes was killed and many houses were torched during the attack.

To be sure, this is not the first time that dare devil robbers have attacked villages particularly in Zamfara state. Since 2011, over 80 people have been killed by armed robbers who have

We wonder why our security forces have still not found it urgent to take the fight to the armed robbers

when 19 people were killed.

We are appalled by the seeming lackadaisical manner in which both the state and federal governments have been treating these incessant banditry attacks particularly in Zamfara and other North-western states. Apparently, the authorities don’t have a strategy to bring a lasting end to the violent activities of these hoodlums who seem to lay siege at will on any village of their choosing. If reports that policemen

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on guard duty in Kizara were withdrawn two days to the attack are true then it suggests that the bandits may have informants among the villagers.

We wonder why our security forces have still not found it urgent to take the fight to the armed robbers who, it is alleged, have carved out a large expanse of territory in some of the forests in the state, now referred to as an axis of death. As with other tragic attacks, it is difficult to entirely absolve the security agencies especially the police of blame in the Kizara tragedy. The state’s acting governor, Ibrahim Wakkala Mohammed, struck the nail on the head when he said, while on a condolence visit, that negligence on the part of the police was responsible for what happened.

The onus, therefore, is on the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed and indeed his boss, President Goodluck Jonathan, to rise to this onerous challenge posed by the hoodlums and ensure that the lives and properties of defenceless villagers in Zamfara and other parts of the country are secure. While on a visit to Kizara village, the IGP said that this attack would be the last.

We hold him by that promise.

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PAGE 13

Opinion Reform and reconciliation in PDP

By Atiku Abubakar

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ational dailies recently reported that President Goodluck Jonathan had succumbed to pressure from aides to establish a committee that would intervene in and resolve the crisis of confidence rocking the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party. According to these reports, the President’s aides were concerned over the implications of PDP’s internal crises and President Jonathan’s undisclosed future plans. These undisclosed future plans, whatever they may be, need to be separated from the genuine and long overdue reform of the party to avoid conflict of interest. President Jonathan might harbour personal designs to continue in office beyond 2015 and it is incumbent upon him to permit the establishment of a nonpartisan committee that will have the autonomy and authority to devise the appropriate strategy to resolve the ongoing turmoil within the Party without interference from the Presidency or from anyone.

I am one of the founding fathers of the PDP. I cannot afford to be indifferent to these regretful developments within my party whereby people are treated according to their loyalty to certain interests. The selective suspension and restoration of party membership, the preoccupation

with all sorts of designs for 2015 and the escalation of sectarian and tribal threats over the upcoming election is embarrassing for the image of our Party and our country. These can only affect the Party and the nation negatively by distracting the attention of those elected to govern from discharging their primary obligation to us.

It is not surprising that both the Party and the nation are in turmoil largely because those at the helm are unable to rise above it all.

At the outset, our idea was to establish a party committed to democratic values that would be greater than the individuals at its helm and accountable to its members and to Nigerians as a whole. The current wholesale deviation of the Party from its founding principles has resulted in its losing domestic and international credibility as the harbinger of democracy in Nigeria.

We are losing our pride of place as the Party of choice for Nigerians by the way we conduct our affairs and creating, thereby, a vacuum for others to fill. This is regrettable indeed.

The task of reforming the PDP is urgent. We cannot afford to watch and do nothing while the democratic foundation we worked hard to establish is being eroded by selfish interests. Most Nigerians perceive the PDP as a party that does not respect the provision of its

own constitution. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is currently investigating the PDP leadership for failure to abide by the provisions of the PDP constitution. The INEC claims that the PDP failed to hold free and transparent elections when selecting members of the National Working Committee. Worse still, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party which must, by statute, meet at least once every three months met for the first time last Thursday since the current leadership took charge almost a year ago. Whim and caprice has replaced the Party’s Constitution.

Over the last four years, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, two fine gentlemen, headed separate committees to reform the Party and to restore it to its original glory. Members of these committees sacrificed their time and energy to help the party with constructive and implementable recommendations capable of moving the Party forward. It is curious to many of us why the party leadership lacks the moral courage to implement those recommendations. Can impunity and imposition ultimately replace the will of the people? In the words of George Washington, one of America’s founding fathers, “No man is good enough to govern another without his consent”.

There has to be a better way.

As a stakeholder and a founding member of the PDP I call on other PDP elders to join hands in pulling the party out of this needless crisis.

It is time we restore the sanctity of the PDP Constitution and remind ourselves and all Nigerians what the PDP stands for – democracy and a better future for them. If we fail in this mission then we would have failed ourselves and Nigerians who trusted us with the mantle of leadership.

I call on the executive arm to leave the Party alone and make a more productive use of its time to govern the country. It will be unhealthy and unhelpful for the government to insist on running the Party and the country at the same time. In mature democracies such as the United States, the President becomes a statesman and the leader of the whole country once his election victory is announced. He leaves party management to party apparatchiks and delve into partisan matters only at policy level. If this model has worked well for the United States, I cannot see why it should not work well for us. The presidential system has its own internal logic and protocol. We need to understand this logic and protocol if our system is to succeed.

The President has no business setting up any committee on party matters when his interests are widely believed to be central to

the ongoing acrimony within the party. It is therefore imperative that we establish an independent committee comprised of credible and neutral members to look into the crises of the Party dispassionately and offer a lasting solution because no one can impose their preferred solution on a Party as diverse as our own. All members must be treated fairly whether or not they belong to the President’s camp. Otherwise, we will force people to exercise other options available to them, which the Party may not like.

On its part, the leadership of the Party must realize that its constituency is the entire membership of the Party. It must not allow itself to be seen to be pandering to special interest.

Collectively, we have a duty to save the PDP from disintegration while preserving its democratic principles and its vision for a better Nigeria. A house divided against itself cannot stand. The threats the Party face today are real. Anything short of a total reform will not stand. Nigerians are watching us. If we leave them as a Party, they will leave us. And If we do not tell ourselves the truth, the electorate will tell us when their chance to do so comes.

Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President, wrote this piece in a statement on reform and reconciliation in PDP.

2015: Wamakko, Tukur and PDP drama

By Aminu Mohammed

T

he greatest people are those who have made mistakes and have learnt from those mistakes. Mistakes are therefore lessons of life for people to learn from and either shape their lives or adjust their lifestyles. Show me a man who has never made a mistake and I will show you a man who may never rise up from a fall. The so-called largest party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made so many mistakes and has never learnt any lesson from those mistakes that is why it is always suffering from all ailments like HIV, malaria, ebola and many other illnesses that have bedevilled the party. Recent happenings in the PDP have shown that it is very, very sick and its major sickness is lack of purposeful leadership.

There are many contradictions within the ruling party and it seems this time around the fall that beckons the PDP may not lead to a rise. Between 1999 and 2011 when the last general elections took place, the PDP has produced more than six chairmen and all of them were disgraced out of office after they had served their “masters” very well. First, it was Barnabas Gemade who fell out with Obasanjo after Solomon Lar experienced the same fate as the first chairman of the party.

Audu Ogbeh had his own share of the disgrace and then Ahmadu

Ali, then Nwodo and Bello. The emergence of Bamanga Tukur was not different from most of his predecessors who came through the abuse of power. Bamanga Tukur was disgraced at the north east zonal primaries but because president Goodluck Jonathan wanted him to do a “dirty job” for him, he was forced on the party despite losing at the primaries.

When the present PDP chairman took over, his mission was to deal with all members of the party perceived as “enemies of the presidency”.

Most importantly, he was given a mandate to fish out among the PDP governors viewed as opponents” of the presidency and do whatever he can to stop them even if he has to sack them.

Bamanga Tukur unmindful of the unlimited power of state governors started a fight with them and shortly after he was sworn in, the battle line was drawn. His test ground against the governors was the election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum which was postponed earlier in the year to May 2013 and when the incumbent chairman was seen as likely winner, the PDP created a PDP Governors’ Forum to prevail on its members to stop Governor Rotimi Amaechi of River state. He was unstoppable. Having searched for a candidate that could give Amaechi a fight and failed to get a credible and willing PDP governor,

the Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang who could not win a free and fair election in his state was asked to serve as a “mere tool” because the PDP knew Jang could not withstand Amaechi in all ramifications except when it comes to mismanaging human resource like we are witnessing in Plateau state.

The progressives in the PDP voted for Amaechi while the mediocre went with Jang.

Having been disgraced at the NGF election, the PDP suspended Governor Amaechi over an issue which the party claimed was unconstitutional. As if Amaechi’s suspension was a mere joke, then came the suspension of the Sokoto state Governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko but unlike Amaechi, Wamakko gave it back to the PDP leadership and called for the immediate sacking of the PDP chairman. According to Wamakko, Tukur was not fit to be PDP chairman because he has caused many divisions in the party and has personalized the party like a limited liability company.

Gov. Wamakko called for the sacking of the political adviser to the president, Ahmed Gulak who has been doing the dirty job for the presidency”.

As if the president sensed danger of mass exodus from the PDP, he took to Wamakko’s advice and set up a reconciliation committee under his leadership

to bring all the warring factions together and the first step was to lift unconditionally the suspension of Wamakko who is the only PDP governor to have a 100 percent PDP dominated state. From the position of councillorship to the Senate, Sokoto state is the only state with PDP elected members from the grassroots.

The political battle between Wamakko and the PDP mafia did not start during the Bamanga Tukur era but what the latter failed to realize was that the Sokoto state governor is a “political phenomenon” and there is no stopping a man whose time has come. Bamanga had wanted to catch the tiger by its tail and in the process is about to be consumed by his own selfish agenda. Wamakko has said it all, that the PDP did not contribute to his victory in 2007 because with only 2 months to election time, the PDP could not have campaigned for him to beat other candidates. However, the people voted for him because they had confidence in him, they believed in him and if he had remained in the ANPP, he would still have won. Again, in 2012, the PDP at the national and state levels went to war with him and he triumphed over them.

The on-going war between Bamanga Tukur and the Progressive PDP governors like Wamakko will only consume the PDP national chairman because

the governors are the biggest stake holders of the party. The PDP chairman is a mere stooge and for him to survive, he needs politicians like Wamakko to tutor him on how not to deal with political opponents. With the 2015 general election campaigns already heating up, it is doubtful if Bamanga Tukur can withstand the test of time. The road to a deadly crash by the PDP chairman has already begun and with the way Bamanga is picking on PDP governors, it appears his days as PDP chairman are limited.

Time however will tell whether Jonathan can protect the PDP chairman or he would allow him to crash just like those before him.

Bamanga dared where he was not supposed to and whoever finds himself in the lion’s den knows his chances of survival are very, very minimal. Before he finally crashes, there is no doubt Wamakko has scored another political victory and like someone once said winning for Wamakko is an all the time thing.

It is a habit for him and all those who dared his political strength ended up by the road side. The man, Wamakko is a political prince of the north whose political profile has been rising and rising and with 2015 approaching, his political interest as a national figure is not doubtful. Gaba dai gaba dai Wamakko.

Aminu Mohammed is with Millennium Media Consultant, Sokoto

PAGE 14

Letters & Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Between Kwankwaso and Jang, who is enemy of the North

By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

A

s the political atmosphere gets charged by struggles for control of the battle of Nigeria’s highest elective office and who gets what when and how as far as the 2015 is concerned, governors of the states controlled

by Peoples Democratic Party have been blasting each other on the outcome of an election that would have produced a new Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum. Since the return to civilian rule on May 29, 1999 there was never a time when the Presidency was accused of meddling in the affairs of a governors’ forum. Until now.

Jonathan’s Presidency has realised that the governors are very powerful in determining who becomes the presidential candidate of the PDP. It has been so since 1999, despite the fact that the forum is not

constitutionally recognised.

Last May, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum chaired

by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state conducted an election in which Amaechi clearly defeated Jonah Jang of Plateau state. Jang is said to be the nominated candidate of

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the North but despite that he was elected by governors loyal to the Presidency. Jang has formed a faction and he is yet to recognise the Amaech-led Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

The crisis led Gov Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state to opt out of the Northern state Governors’ Forum, followed by Gabriel Suswam of Benue state. Jonah Jang is holding meetings and

governors loyal to his faction are still attending his meetings.

In view of the above scenario recently the Governor of Kano state Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso granted an Interview to journalists in Abuja where he criticised Isa Yuguda and Suswam for abandoning

the Northern state Governors’ Forum. Governor Kwankwaso went on to explain how he trapped and drafted Jang of Plateau state into the elections which he lost to Governor

Amaechi of Rivers state. But in a front page story carried by a national daily on June 21, 2013 Governor Jang, in a statement through the Plateau state Information Commissioner, Pastor Yiljap Abraham, accused Governor Kwankwaso of being an enemy of the North. From the statement credited to the Plateau state government one will come to one conclusion and ask an important question: who is an enemy of the North between governors Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state and David Jonah Jang of Plateau state?

Abbas Yushau Yusuf can be reached on abyushau2@ gmail.com

Nigeria: Kill corruption before it kills you

By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

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ow everybody believes that the day Nigeria is able to make up its mind to end its obscene and ruinous romance with the stubborn monster called “Corruption”, this country will automatically witness the kind of prosperity no one had thought was possible in these parts. Just imagine the amount of public funds reportedly (and un-reportedly) being stolen and squandered daily under various guises by too many public officers and their accomplices, and the great transformation that would happen to public infrastructure and the lives of the citizenry if this organized banditry can at least be reduced by fifty percent!

Now, is this monster divorceable? Of course, yes. But are there any signs that anyone in the corridors of power is genuinely interested in ending the strong grip it maintains on the very soul of this country?

That is the problem. It is sheer foolishness to expect many of them to willingly block the very hole from which great goodies also flow to them just because some other persons are also benefiting from there. No, you can neither fight corruption with soiled hands nor retain monopoly of it! It spreads like cancer.

And the whole thing appears now to have been so horribly compounded by the emergence and successful empowerment of a very formidable class whose sustenance and longevity solely depend on its ability to continue sustaining the culture of corruption and bleeding the country pale.

This problem began when public office gradually ceased to be a platform for rendering selfless service to the people and transformed into the easiest route to financial empowerment. And

since then, several generations of public officers have passed through this route, looting the nation blind with utmost impunity, and retiring into incredible abundance, without any fear of anyone ever prying into the clearly unearned wealth they flaunt with utmost abandon. Thus, an ever-swelling cult of looters has emerged, whose nuisance value has remained the undisputed headache of the nation. And since it is becoming increasingly difficult to find former council chairmen, governors (military or civilian), ministers, presidents (military of civilian), army generals, police chiefs and several other categories of public officers who are not sitting on boundless, mysterious wealth, it has also become impossible to persuade most of today’s rulers to resist the temptation to surpass the unedifying exploits of their predecessors.

Indeed, wealth has become everything and hardly any public officer cares again about leaving behind a sterling legacy and good name. And so, virtually no

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Nigerian governor, for instance, would find it ennobling to wake up every morning, after he had left office, to engage in honest labour to earn a living. That would automatically demean him, and present him as “inferior” to his colleagues; in fact, even his people may begin to call him a big fool for returning from the Government House a “poor man.” And so the desperation to retire into boundless wealth and comfort is the sole motivation for all the mindless stealing going on everywhere.

Who now will break this cycle? Can such a person be found today even in the so-called antigraft bodies set up to battle the monster to the ground? That’s one question we need to answer sincerely, because, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find any person among those ruling us today who is more interested in acquiring a good name than accumulating unearned riches.

Over the years, a cult of corruption has emerged filled with the country’s political and economic elite, and the sole qualification for

initiation into this cult is wealth, boundless wealth, mostly stolen from the public treasury, and ownership of a couple of exquisite mansions in choice areas in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, London, New York, Paris, Dublin, Dubai and so on. I doubt if the point being made here should in the least sound strange to anyone who has lived in Nigeria.

How then can this monster be tamed? How can anyone make all corrupt past public officers to give up all they had stolen and live normal lives with resources whose sources are explainable, in order to make those currently in office to resist the temptation to steal?

Where would any one possibly start? And who would lead such a campaign given that even among the country’s security officers, anti-corruption operatives and judicial officers are many whose desperation to accumulate unearned wealth even surpasses that of the corrupt public officers they are hired to check? When will Nigeria be made a functional state so that people would not need to go to great lengths to steal in

But should we give up? No! Never! No society should ever sit passively and watch the scum and scoundrels in its midst (no matter how formidably empowered) seize its tomorrow and murder it. That country is doomed which has shameless thieves as most of its kings. Ask yourself today: What are the antecedents of your governor, lawmaker or councillor? Can anyone possibly succeed in rebuilding the very house he is busy carefully plundering? It amounts to unqualified foolishness on the part of the majority to allow themselves to be perpetually enslaved by an immorally smart minority?

order to provide for themselves the amenities and comforts they had failed to put in place for the entire citizenry when they were in power?

By the way, assuming there is anyone really interested in rooting out corruption, where would such person even start from? The sheer number, clout and destructive ability of members of this cult are simply too intimidating.

Some have over the years even progressed and matured to become refined, patrician “elder statesmen” (and women) with vast “family business” empires, commanding enormous respect, but still subterraneanly doing enormous harm to the country.

Yet the only day jobs anyone could remember they ever did were serving in public offices with clearly stipulated salaries, which when put together could not have created those giant towers of wealth. They are mostly proceeds of crime!

But should we give up? No! Never! No society should ever sit passively and watch the scum and scoundrels in its midst (no matter how formidably empowered) seize its tomorrow and murder it. That country is doomed which has shameless thieves as most of its kings. Ask yourself today: What are the antecedents of your governor, lawmaker or councillor?

Can anyone possibly succeed in rebuilding the very house he is busy carefully plundering?

It amounts to unqualified foolishness on the part of the majority to allow themselves to be perpetually enslaved by an immorally smart minority? A time comes in the life of a nation when the people must rise with one voice and bellow a big NO! And that time is now! Especially, as 2015 approaches.

Ugochukwu Ejinkonye via scruples2006@yahoo.com

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Comment

NASS, the Presidency and impeachment clause

T

he National Assembly’s decision to amend certain clauses of the 1999 Constitution has raised eyebrows.

Of particular concern is a bill before the House of Representatives which seeks to ease the removal from office of a President, Vice President; Governor and Deputy Governor.

This latest onslaught on our Constitution is perfectly in line with the stormy history of constitutions in Nigeria. We started this journey in 1914 when the country was administered as a Crown Colony of the United Kingdom. The constitutions enacted during this period were those of 1913 (which came into effect on 1 January 1914), 1922, 1946, 1951 (the Macpherson constitution), 1954 (the Lyttelton constitution).The 1954 constitution was followed by an enactment by a British order in council to give Nigeria its first constitution as a sovereign state on 1 October 1960.

Under this constitution, Nigeria retained Queen Elizabeth II as a titular head of state. Three years on, independent Nigeria got a second constitution which established the country as a federal republic. It came into force on 1 October 1963 (Nigeria’s third anniversary as an independent nation). The 1963 Constitution, which was modelled on the Westminster system continued in operation until a military coup in 1966 overthrew all of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

The 1979 Constitution, which brought in the Second Republic abandoned the Westminster system in favour of an American-style presidential system, with a directly

elected executive. To avoid the pitfalls of the First Republic, the constitution mandated that political parties and cabinet positions reflect the “federal character” of the nation: political parties were required to be registered in, at least, two-thirds of the states, and each state had to have, at least, one member of the cabinet from it. This constitution was also kicked out with other democratic structures when the soldiers came in 1983.

The 1993 Constitution was intended to see the return of democratic rule to Nigeria with the establishment of a Third Republic, but was never fully implemented, and the military resumed power until 1999, The 1999 Constitution restored democratic rule to Nigeria, and remains in force today. But even this constitution has had its fair share of the vagaries of our assaults on constitutions.

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Emmanuel Yawe 08024565402 royawe@yahoo.com In the middle of his second term, President Olusegun Obasanjo set in motion a process of constitutional retouch. It started with the Constitutional Reform Conference, convened by his government. The conference itself started on a very shaky foundation

In Nigeria, we have, unfortunately, turned our constitution into a toy – we fiddle with it like small children. If in 2005, we could see Obasanjo’s hand in the constitutional amendment process because he wanted to perpetuate himself in office, the current attempts are aimed at easing Goodluck Jonathan out of the Presidency. Again, we are in the process of personalizing the constitution

because there was no enabling law setting out clearly the functions, powers and limitations of the conference. Its deliberations were dogged by controversy and even though it ended inconclusively, its recommendations went to the National Assembly for debate. This put the country through frenzied constitutional manipulations. A long list of items to be amended was put up by a committee led by Alhaji Nasir Ibrahim Mantu. Eventually, when the vote was taken, the whole process of constitutional review was voted out. This was apparently so because, rightly or wrongly, the country felt the scheme was intended to give a third term opportunity for President Obasanjo.

The constitution of every country is its supreme law. It is supposed to be impartial and impersonal. Unfortunately, we have always tried to personalize it in Nigeria. The 1963 Republican Constitution mentioned Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in it. Since then we have formed the habit of having personalities in mind while drafting our constitutions. Maybe that is why they cannot stand the test of time because once the individual targeted in the ‘supreme law’ expires, as every homo-sapiens is bound to, the law becomes obsolete.

Take a look at Great Britain and the United States of America, two of the stable democracies we have tried to emulate. The constitution of the US, for instance, was adopted on September 17, 1787 and went into effect on March 4, 1789.

Since it was adopted, it has been amended only twenty-seven times.

On the other hand, the British who colonized and introduced us to the art of constitutional governance do not even have a written constitution. Theirs is drawn from traditions, treaties, judicial precedents, conventions and numerous other sources.

In Nigeria, we have, unfortunately, turned our constitution into a toy – we fiddle with it like small children. If in 2005, we could see Obasanjo’s hand in the constitutional amendment process because he wanted to perpetuate himself in office, the current attempts are aimed at easing Goodluck Jonathan out of the Presidency. Again, we are in the process of personalizing the constitution. This, to me is a major setback to constitutionalism.

The idea of having a permanent President as dreamed up by Obasanjo was repugnant. He may have been a good and competent leader. Still, he needed not more than the two terms specified in the constitution.

Similarly, the impeachment of a president is an extreme measure.

It is a weapon of last resort and should be used very sparingly.

To simplify the process in such a manner that the president can be removed the way class prefects are fired in secondary schools is a recipe for anarchy. This will put the country through a wrenching ordeal, the end result of which is too frightening even to contemplate. It is not about Goodluck Jonathan.

It is about having a strong, stable Presidency in a country with a million fault lines.

Reputation: Good news from Barcelona

By Jossy Nkwocha

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his headline will surely elicit excitement or scorn. Let me go straightaway and announce the good news: Nigeria, this year, made it onto the list of the 50 Most Reputable Countries in the World in 2012! This was the result of the 2012 Reputation Track conducted by the US-based Reputation Institute (RI), the world’s foremost organisation that imparts reputation knowledge and monitors the reputation of organisations, places and leaders. The announcement was made at the just concluded 17th international conference on corporate reputation, brand identity and competitiveness held on 5-7 June 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. Nigeria was noted to have made significant improvement in its reputation. Before now, the country was not even considered for ranking.

The not-so-good news, however, is that Nigeria was rated 47th out of 50. It scored only 31.54% mark above Pakistan (26.59%), Iran (21.34%) and Iraq (20.32%). All the eight countries that scored below 40% (China, Colombia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc) were noted for poor/bottom tier reputation. Two other African countries – South Africa (33rd) and Egypt (39th) made the list in the weak/vulnerable reputation category. Canada, Australia and Sweden topped the list of countries

with strong/robust reputation.

The criteria for the ranking were three: effective government, advanced economy and appealing environment.

A good reputation makes visitors to feel good about the country, makes them to respect the country, and makes them to make positive comments about the country and its people. A good reputation makes investors to invest in the country; and tourists to visit the country. A strong/ robust reputation is an invaluable, intangible asset to any company, country or leader. That Nigeria was indeed mentioned among the world’s 50 most reputable countries was, therefore, cheering enough for me at the conference, especially with all our concerns about corruption, insecurity, challenges of governance, poor economy, weak institutions, decayed infrastructure, high unemployment, among others.

Nonetheless, the fact that Nigeria was mentioned among the most reputable countries in the world would certainly excite many Nigerians, especially government officials who would now incorporate the information into their campaigns. But for serious minded professionals, this is a wake-up call for strategies to pull Nigeria up the reputation ladder in the ranking for next year. Besides, this result shows that reputation is not earned by sloganeering, propaganda or the so-called

“image-laundering” which is the practice of quacks. Reputation is the result of hard work -- effective governance, appealing place, good people and strong economy.

Slogans are only devised to communicate the goodness.

Investors want to invest in countries where their investments would be profitable and safe, where there are infrastructures to harness the investment, where the people are friendly, and where there is respect for the rule of law.

Tourists want a beautiful place where they can go, watch exciting scenes, meet friendly people and go back home safe. Spain has no oil. Its economy is sustained mainly by tourism. In 2012, the country recorded 57 million tourists. Out of that number, Barcelona, where the RI conference was held --- a very beautiful city--- had more than 43 million tourists! And although summer was not yet on, Barcelona as at last week was already brimming with thousands of tourists, young and old.

The Nigerian government must find a way to build and manage its reputation through a strategic approach. Whoever is in charge must understand the concepts of corporate reputation and branding.

Such a person must work very closely with the President (as is done in companies) and the key ministers of government. Indeed the Country’s Chief Reputation Officer (CCRO) is the President himself. What he says or does adds

or subtracts from the country’s reputation.

If the President truly leads by example, if he truly fights corruption, if he is truly in effective control of governance, if he truly promotes rule of law – all these will enhance the country’s reputation.

That means that the minister or special adviser in charge of the country’s image/reputation must be the President’s and the Government’s key advisor. Indeed, like in the companies, he must exercise some level of oversight on all ministries and agencies of government, and report directly to the President.

The government in Spain, for instance, takes the country’s reputation very seriously. Two years ago, Spain found itself in the throes of a serious economic crisis. The government appointed a minister in charge of Brand Spain. The minister, Mr. Carlos Espinosa de los Monteros, addressed us at the conference and spoke very strongly on the strategies the government devised to rebuild the reputation of Spain and keep tourists coming in again. Spain was on the 18th position in the 2011 reputation ranking. In 2013, they moved up to 16th position. This was not achieved by mere sloganeering that Spain is good, come to Spain! Mr. Monteros said that his office monitors every credible reputation ranking, every important newspaper article about Spain, every comment about Spain by critical stakeholders, every

report of any misbehaviour of any government official or agency --- and follows up to ensure that the right things are done. He was not employed as an attack dog. Mr. Monteros also ensures that good things about Spain – its strengths— are communicated effectively through various channels in many parts of the world, especially the G-8 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom and United States of America) where the major economic decisions of the world are made.

I have a story to illustrate my point: When I arrived Barcelona Airport on 4th June, 2013, my luggage was missing. I reported at the Airport’s Help desk. The officer in charge promptly contacted the Airline which promised to deliver my luggage that evening. The officer went further to contact my hotel to confirm my reservation.

Thereafter, she asked me to go to my hotel and wait for the luggage, which she promised would be delivered to me the next day in my hotel. By the time I got to my hotel, the information was already on display. And as promised, the next day, my luggage was delivered to me in good condition. The system worked for me; and I felt even better about Spain. Indeed, I think Nigeria has a lot to learn from the Reputation Institute and Spain!

Jossy Nkwocha, sirjossynkwocha@ yahoo.com.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 16

Couples urged to promote peaceful values

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he importance of peace in the home and its impact on societal peace formed the crux of discussions when the Men’s Fellowship of the All Saints Anglican Church Wuse, organised a couples’ dinner as part of activities to mark this year’s extended Fathers Day celebration.

Speaking on the topic: “Your marriage can be sweeter and better,” at a dinner held in Utako, at the weekend, Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chaplain, Venerable Obioma Onwuzurumba, who was the guest speaker, stressed the need for couples to live peacefully, so that they can raise peaceful children, who will in turn grow into peaceful citizens in a peaceful society.

He also stressed the need for couples to love one another, have time for one another and live according to the plan of God for marriage.

“We cannot do it better than God has said. If God has said that the reason why he started marriage in the garden is for

Adam to have someone to help him, someone with whom he can share everything that God has given him, and it should be done out of love for one another, to do otherwise means aiming not to get the result”, he said.

Vicar of the church, Venerable Nnamdi Okpunu, described marriage as the nucleus of the society, saying, “When there is peace in the homes, there will be peace in the community, so, if we can build our homes then we are sure we will have a peaceful society.”

He advised couples not to lose focus despite the challenges in contemporary times and urged young people on the need to get married in good time to guard against sexual sin.

Speaking on the relevance of the event, President of the Men’s Fellowship of the church, Sir Christopher Ozumba, said the essence was to “bring couples in the church together to relax and listen to the word of God about marriage and how healthy it is and how marriage helps the church.”

Health secretariat scribe decries lack of funding, manpower

By Adeola Tukuru

S

ecretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat(HHSS) of the FCTA, Dr. Ademola O. Onakomaiya, has identified gross inadequate funding as one of the major challenges facing the secretariat, expressing worry over the threat it poses to the provision and management of quality healthcare facilities in the territory.

Ademola who stated this during an interactive session with newsmen, also said another major problem is inadequate manpower to effectively meet healthcare demands in hospitals in the territory, as professional doctors are reluctant to come to Abuja, because of the high cost of living.

He said for example, the secretariat had in 2012 received N4.2 billion out of which N3.9 billion was paid as salary leaving only N300 million.

According to him, the incessant power failure is threatening the smooth running of FCT government hospitals as most of them are being run on diesel which is gulping 8090 percent of internally generated revenue from such hospitals, adding that the secretariat is considering the use of inverters for the labour wards and accident/emergency wards in some of its hospitals.

The secretary said the construction of the N4.2 billion 220bed Utako hospital is 59% completion because the contractor, PPC Medical Systems is being awaited to complete the installation of equipment before handing over to the FCTA. He however, cited some of the achievements of the secretariat to include a two 3-bedded intensive

care units in Wuse and Asokoro hospitals, a world class eye center in Kubwa district hospital, 5-bedded emergency pediatric unit Wuse and Maitama district hospitals including dialysis centres at Wuse and Asokoro Hospitals and a radiological centres in Kubwa and Gwarinpa district hospitals.

The Secretary said the FCTA also introduced the community based health insurance scheme with over 8,000 enrollees in 60 FCT rural communities where people are expected to pay only N1, 500 per annum as contribution while FCTA pays N13,500 for each member as subsidy.

He further assured that Karu District hospital in Abuja is expected to take off fully before the end of 2013, saying “the inability of the contractor to complete the job has brought untold hardship to residents of the area.”

The completion of the hospital he noted will reduce the problem of congestion in hospitals especially those in the city centre as well as the Asokoro and Nyanya General hospital.

Expressing disappointment on the slow pace of work on the contract which was awarded in 2005, with a completion period of 84 weeks, he urged the company to work towards meeting up with the deadline or have it revoked and given to a more serious contactor.

According to him, four months is enough to complete the job insisting that the people of the area have suffered and that the FCT Administration would not condone unserious approach towards important projects.

People buying cassava, at Karichi market, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Mother of abandoned baby seeks help to reclaim baby O ne miss Favour Abdulazeez, who claimed to be the mother of a baby girl that was abandoned at the backyard of an apartment in Kuje, Abuja, has solicited for financial assistance from the public to enable her to reclaim and cater of the baby.

Abdulazeez told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that she had abandoned her baby because she was jobless, divorced and had no means of fostering the child.

She said that when she kept the carton with the baby inside the bush, she did not go away but hid in the bush to know who would pick the baby.

She stated that she did this to enable her know the person who would pick the baby girl to enable her to do a follow-up.

“All along, I was monitoring the baby’s situation, I know those

who picked the baby and took her to the police. “I was listening to their conversation from my hideout, I even followed them from a distance when they were taking my baby away,” she said.

Abdulazeez, who turned up at the police outpost in Gwagwalada on last week Friday, to claim ownership of the baby, added: “I told the police that I would take care of my baby if only the government would assist me with a job or a trade no matter how small.’’

However, when approached on the matter, the Police Area Command in Gwagwalada, Insp.

Yahaya Musa, declined comments on the matter, saying that he was not authorised to speak to newsmen on the matter.

Musa instead referred NAN reporter to the social welfare unit

of the Gwagwalada Area Council for further enquiries.

NAN further reports that Head of the Social Welfare Department of Gwagwalada Area Council, Mrs HanatuTuru, said that she was aware of the incident.

She said police should be allowed to conclude their investigations.

According to the report, Abdulazeez was said to have been delivered of the baby girl on June 13 and secretly put her in a carton and took her to a nearby bush behind her house at night, where she abandoned the baby.

A resident in the area, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that Abdulazeez is her neighbour, adding that it was the cry of the baby that drew the attention of passers-by who later took the baby to the police outpost. (NAN).

AMML to carry out security audit on Wuse market

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) over the weekend said it had resolved to have a Security Audit in Wuse market, following last week’s burglary incidence that affected two shops in the market.

In a statement signed by the Corporate Affairs Manager of AMML, Innocent Amaechina, said a meeting was held by the representatives of the Private Security Company in charge of the Market and Abuja Investments Company Limited

on the need to close rank to forestall future occurrence, bearing in mind that security should be every body’s business.

Amaechina said it was resolved at the meeting that they will set up a security audit of the market, revisit the tradersattendants identification process within the market, and most importantly, the security company restated its commitment to indemnify the cost of the stolen items if indicted and as soon as investigations on the incident “Traders should endeavour to cooperate with

MML and security agencies towards ensuring a diligent prosecution of burglary cases that may occur.”

Also the Managing Director of AMML, Abubakar Faruk Usman who sympathised with the affected traders noted that it was not a time to tread blames but a time to close ranks and ensure that the ugly incident does not repeat.

According to him, AMML engages one of the best security companies in all of its facilities regretting that not even that can guaranty a full proof security.

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 17

Governor Saidu Usman Nasamu Dankingari’s Giant Strides in Linking up Kebbi State Towns and Villages with Access Roads Zuru Senchi road, repair work along Sorandosa Suru road, construction of Jega township roads drainage, construction of three bridges along Malando-Garin-BakaNgaski road and rehabilitation of Koko-Kendo road have all been completed.

• However, the construction of Bena-Danumaru-MairairiKebbi-Zamfara road is ongoing and the rehabilitation of Natsinin-Augie road is also an ongoing project.

• Other ongoing projects are the construction of Maga Kebo-Riba road; while the construction of Kaoje-Illololo road, Lemi-Kanbogu-Kende road, rehabilitation of ZuruRibah road and the construction of Sanchi-Alenbelu road including two bridges have been completed.

• By far the biggest of all the projects in the transport sector in Kebbi State, is the ongoing construction of the Kebbi International Airport. The upgrading of the airport runway, apron, control tower, terminal building, installation of communication equipment and electricity supply are ongoing projects.

• The Giro-Kawara-Suru road and bridge have also been completed while the construction of one 3-span and one 2-span bridges along Dirin Makukui road, the rehabilitation of Bachaka-Bagani road, the construction of Birnin-KebbiMakera road including bridges, the construction of KawaraMaruwa-Goron-Dutse road including bridge, flood control drainage on Ngaski-Lopa road and the construction of one 6-span bridge and multi-cell box culvert along Fakai-Bajida are all still ongoing projects.

• More ongoing projects include the construction of roads and drainage at Shiyar Sarakuna Birnin Kebbi, the construction of Jega-Alelu-Jandusti-Andari road, the construction of Bunza township roads the construction of one 5-span bridge along Kangi Korama link, the construction of Gwandu township roads and also the construction of Saminaka-Dugu road are all ongoing projects.

• Dualization of PDP junction to Badariya @N389 million.

• Dualizaiton of Kofar Sabuwa to Takalau @N140million.

• Dualization of Gidan Halifa to old Prison Badariya @ over N309million • The dualization of Arugungu township road, construction of Kende-Sharabi road, the construction of Bendu-Maianbari-Dakingari road and the construction of Sabiel-Kashinzamba road were awarded recently.

Some the contract also awarded recently are the construction of Bagudo-Zaria-Kalakal-Besse road: Bagudo township road: the Laga-Tari road; KaojeLafagu road and the rehabilitation of Sani Abacha bypass.

With these projects, the Kebbi State government is sure footed on the road to service delivery in transforming the economy for its people who can now easily move their farm produce to the market as well as get easier access to hospitals, schools and other social services.

One of the four bridges on dukku-makera road under construction

Newly constructed Patrick Aziza road from Gesse Eastern gate to bypass road by legislative quarters

Newly constructed Patrick Aziza road from Gesse Eastern gate to bypass road by legislative quarters

Kangiwa township road constructed by Governor Dakingari’s administration

PAGE 18

Metro

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

INSIDE FCT COURTS

Carpenter arraigned for stealing from client

Dry cleaner gets 18 months jail term for cheating A A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates’ Court has sentenced one Umar Usman, a 25-yearold dry cleaner, of New Site in Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe, to 18 months imprisonment for cheating.

Senior Magistrate Christopher Oba sentenced the accused with no option of fine, and also urged him to pay a compensation of N300, 000 to the complainant.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Paul Anigbo, had told the court that, one Mrs Aishat Mohammed, from Suleja, Niger, reported the matter to the Lugbe police station.

Anigbo said that sometimes in the month of May 2012, the accused, and one other, now atlarge, conspired and duped her of the sum of over N2 million.

He said that Mohammed

had given them the money on the grounds that they help treat her of her illness due to her poor health condition.

Anigbo, however, informed the court that during the police investigation, the convict confessed to the crime.

He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 79, 397 and 322 of the Penal Code.

Traditional musicians entertaining guests at public function, yesterday in Abuja,

The accused had pleaded guilty to the charge and told the court that he offered to treat the woman out of compassion for her.

“I introduced her to a Malam in Sokoto State who was supposed to pray for her to recover from the illness and did not know that he had collected such amount from her; as I collected from her was the sum N300, 000.’’ (NAN)

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

carpenter, Bashir Suleman of Federal Housing Authority, Lugbe, was arraigned by the police, in a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, for stealing building equipment, valued at N107,000.

The police prosecutor, Mr. Jeremiah Elijah, told the court that the matter was reported at the Lugbe Division Police Station on June 15, by one Ifeanyi Ude of the same address.

Elijah alleged that Ude engaged the accused to do some work at his construction site and later discovered he had stolen some equipment from the site.

The police alleged that Suleman stole two wheelbarrows, one gear box, some block moulding plates, four shovels and a pumping machine, valued at N107, 000.

The prosecutor said during investigation, a block moulding plate, two wheelbarrows, a shovel and some parts of the pumping machine were recovered from the accused.

Elijah said the offence contravened section 288 of the Penal Code.

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

The presiding magistrate, Mrs Folasade Oyekan, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, saying that one of the sureties must be a civil servant and the other should be working in a reputable organisation or own a property worth the said sum.

She adjourned the case to July 11 for hearing. (NAN)

Five men jailed six months for public nuisance

Man arraigned for joint act, theft P

O

ne Abdulmalik Umar was arraigned by the police at the Abuja Grade 2 Area Court at Kado, for alleged joint act and theft.

The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Christopher Roko, told the court that on June 14, one Zainab Hammar of Flat 2, Dalhatu Bayero Estate, Wuse 2, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station.

Roko said that the complainant

reported that the accused had on the same day, formed a common intention and criminally stolen her hand bag, containing valuable items, including two handsets, valued at N10,000 and the sum of N7,000 respectively.

He said that the complainant boarded a taxi from her house to the Yoruba Mosque in Maitama and on getting to K-City Plaza at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, the accused and

others now at large attacked her and snatched her bag.

The prosecutor said that during police investigation, the accused confessed to the crime, saying that he had knowledge of the other two but failed to produce them.

Roko said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 79 and 288 of the Penal Code, respectively.

The offences carry seven-year jail term with fine or both.

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

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr Ahmed Ado, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N40,000 and a surety.

Ado thereafter adjourned the case to July 22 for further hearing. (NAN)

Theft: Guard bags 3 months imprisonment

O

ne 23-year-old Emmanuel Auta, a security guard at Greenhound Security Services, Abuja, was sentenced to three months in prison, by an Abuja Chief Magistrates’ Court, for stealing stacking shelves iron valued at N300, 000.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ramatu Gulma, sentenced him without an option of fine.

She said that the sentence was to serve as a lesson to the convict and a deterrent to other intending offenders as the crime of theft was

a serious one.

“The offence of theft is a serious one especially as he is a security guard who was entrusted to safeguard the premises and properties.

“He however did not furnish the court with a reasonable excuse for his action,’’ Gulma ruled.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Emmanuel Adiku, had told the court that on June 18, one Akundinobi Chinedu, of Greenhound Security Services, Abuja, reported the matter to the

Maitama police station.

According to Adiku, the convict, who was a security guard with the company, was attached to Gift Palace Limited to work as a security guard.

He further informed the court that in the course of his duty as a security guard to the company, he stole some shelves iron valued at N300,000 from the premises.

Adiku said that the convict, after stealing the irons, sold them to a scavenger passing by at the cost of N2, 500.

He urged the court to try the convict summarily under Section 157(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code after the convict pleaded guilty to the charge.

Auta apologised for his crime and begged the court for leniency.

“I am a family man with my wife, children and brothers to cater for and I did not have money to feed them; that was why I went to steal.

“I ask for forgiveness from the court and would not commit such offence again,’’ Auta pleaded.

(NAN)

olice have arraigned one Abubakar Adamu and five others in a Kubwa Magistrates’ Court in the FCT for public nuisance.

The other accused persons are Hamed Yusuf, Damboyi Kpukur, Eze Ubochi, Denis Abutu and Barau Ali. The Prosecutor, Mr. Igonor Ocholi, told the court that the accused persons were apprehended by a police patrol team led by Insp.

Alhasan Sinako on June 17 while smoking weeds around Byazhin Road, Kubwa, Abuja.

“Their activities constituted a threat to other law-abiding inhabitants of the area”, Ocholi said.

He said that the offence contravened Section 183 of the Penal Code.

The first five accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge, while the sixth accused pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr Samuel Edhiarhi, sentenced the five to six months imprisonment with an option to pay N10, 000 fine each.

The magistrate said the convicts shall also be given six strokes of the cane each.

Edhiarhi granted the six accused bail in the sum of N30,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case to July 8 for hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 19

INSIDE

We did not order freezing of religious groups account – CBN - Pg 20

Samsung unveils tablet that runs both Windows 8 and Android

- Pg 22

L-R: Chairman, Agriculture and Food Security, Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, Chairman, Ashante Mines, Ghana, Mr. Sam Jonah, and Mr. David Haworth, during the 14th meeting of the Honorary International Investors Council (HIIC), recently in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

NNPC/NPDC pledge efficient management of acquired oil blocks

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and its subsidiary the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), have expressed their readiness to professionally and efficiently run some of the assets and oil mining leases transferred to it by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC. The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr.

Andrew Yakubu stated this at the weekend after the board meeting of the NNPC/NPDC in Warri, Delta state.

Engr. Yakubu said the corporation along with its flagship company, NPDC, is repositioning to ensure that its acquired assets remain productive to ultimately boast the revenue inflow to the Nigerian economy.

“With the divestment of Shell, NPDC is the top and

the only option for indigenous participation that will replace companies like SPDC and other companies that wanted to divest their equities. So NPDC therefore, has taken over this obligation of value addition as the flagship operator of the upstream business of NNPC. NPDC is the gateway of capacity development and capability development of the upstream activities in Nigeria, Engr. Yakubu informed.

He said the activities of the NNPC/NPDC in warri has made NPDC the highest local producer of gas to the domestic gas requirement of Nigeria and this has gone along way in meeting the Federal Government aspiration in the area of power generation stressing that with the new status, NPDC remain the biggest indigenous gas supplier in Africa.

The NNPC helmsman noted that as a socially responsible Corporation, the NNPC/NPDC

will step up its activities in the area of providing social amenities such as class room blocks, educational scholarship, providing health facilities roads and water to communities where its operations are domiciled.

He added that by partnering with the various tiers of government in providing basic amenities to oil bearing communities, a conducive environment that would guarantee smooth operations of the acquired assets would be provided stressing that the NNPC/NPDC would continue to touch the lives of Nigerians in many positive ways.

According to him, the assurances from the Warri communities indicate that the coming of NPDC to Warri would help in sustaining community development efforts in line with international best practices.

It would be recalled that through the support and

vision of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the NNPC/NPDC took over the management of some OMLs in the bid to meet the aggressive target of producing 250,000 barrels of crude per day in 2015 by NPDC.

CBN

Exchange Rates

as at 21th June, 2013 Buying Selling

$

154.75

155.75

€

239.10

240.68

£

204.33

205.65

Riyal

41.26

41.52

Parallel Rates Buying

Selling

$

157.50

158.40

€

250

253.00

£

206.00

210.00

Riyal

43.00

45.00

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY

Lessen the damage from the inevitable cultural faux pas

W

hen working in a foreign setting with different norms and rules, you’re likely to make cultural mistakes.

But you can lessen their impact by engendering people’s trust in the first place. Make sure your foreign counterparts believe you care enough to try to learn about their culture, even if you haven’t fully mastered the rules.

Work hard to show genuine interest, curiosity, and respect.

But, you also need to be

authentic. Don’t fake an interest in Indian food, for example, if you could care less about culinary arts.

Find a pursuit that genuinely appeals to you and explore that.

Otherwise, it will be clear to your colleagues that you’re trying to ingratiate yourself, not learn about the ins and outs of their culture.

Source: Business Review

Harvard

Money Market

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 20

Company News

Airtel Nigeria

I

n line with its corporate vision of becoming the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians, leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has partnered with the Lagos State Police Command to beef up the security of lives and property across the State.

The Telecoms Operator joined the Lagos state Police Command to commission an ultramodern Police Post in Lekki, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos.

Aside renovating the police post, Airtel also donated a 20KVA Generator and a brand new Patrol Sports Utility Vehicle as empowerment tools to aid effective policing in the area.

NDIC

N

igerian Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC) on Thursday said that the Federal Government had concluded plans to address the challenges facing the microfinance banks.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDIC, Mr. Umaru Ibrahim, made the disclosure at the opening of a two-day workshop organised for operators in the microfinance banking sub-sector in Enugu state.

The strengthening of the microfinance banks, he said, would them to provide more efficient services to the people in the rural areas.

NIPP

S

uccessful investors will take over the 10 National Integrated Power Plants (NIPP) in June 2014, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has said.

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, said disclosed this to prospective investors at Roadshow in Hong Kong, according to a statement by Head of Public Communication at the privatisation agency, Mr. Chigbo Anichebe.

The sale of the 10 power plants is currently being handled by the BPE and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

We did not order freezing of religious groups account – CBN

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Friday denied reports that it had ordered the freezing of accounts of religious groups over alleged links to terrorist groups.

Director, Corporate Communications, Ugochukwu A. Okoroafor, in a statement, debunked the speculation, saying it was completely untrue.

The statement said that “the CBN has NOT ordered the closure or freezing of the bank account of any religious body or any institution whatsoever as alleged in the publications and posts. There is, therefore, no iota of truth in these allegations,” The CBN stated that prior to 2006, Nigeria was on the infamous list of the NonCooperating Countries and Territories (NCCTs) of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog on financial crimes.

“However, by 2007, as a result of loopholes in Nigeria’s legal and regulatory system, the country was included in the ‘grey list’ of countries that had not made appreciable progress in their Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime by FATF. “It was therefore incumbent on Nigerian authorities to ensure that her financial processes and procedures as well as the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act (MLPA) of 2011 and the Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) Act of 2011, were in conformity with FATF recommendations and international best practice. “ Consequently, all Designated Non-Financial Businesses

and Professions (DNFBPs) operating accounts in all financial institutions in Nigeria were required to update their account information to ensure that their respective businesses and vocations were registered as stipulated by the relevant statutes”, it stated.

On August 2, 2012, the CBN issued a circular requiring all such account holders classified as DNFBPs to update, within 6 months, their account

information in their respective banks. This deadline was extended by another 3 months through another circular dated February 25, 2013.

“On June 18, 2013, following exhaustive discussions with various interest groups, the CBN conceded yet another 8-month extension to December 31, 2013, for all such account holders to comply.It is, therefore clear that the new deadline has neither come nor is the measure targeted

at any institution or person, be it religious, financial or social.

“The circulars are in line with global best practice and consistent with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, it further stated.

The apex bank appealed to reporters and publishers to “exercise great circumspection in the publication and circulation of rumours and fabrications that may undermine the good intentions of public policies.”

Interbank rates flat on maturing bills, budget flows

N

igerian interbank lending rates ended the week unchanged at an average of 11.33 percent, as maturing treasury bills and anticipated flows of public funds kept the market from tightening.

The central bank repaid about 160 billion naira ($990 million) on Thursday in matured open market operation debt notes, swelling liquidity.

“The cost of borrowing in the market had gone to an average of 14 percent for overnight in the week because of shortage of funds, but dropped on Friday after the cash flow from matured bills and expectation of budget allocation,” one dealer said.

Dealers said the market opened with a cash balance of about 76.65 billion naira on Friday, compared with 136 billion naira a week earlier.

The secured Open Buy back (OBB) was unchanged at 11 percent, 100 basis points lower than the central bank’s benchmark interest rate.

Both overnight placement and call money closed at 11.5 percent apiece, same level last week.

Traders said rates will drop to around 10.25 percent for overnight next week by the time cash from the May budget allocation to government agencies hits the market.

The Federal Government distributed N620.7 billion in May revenues to its three tiers of government – federal, state and local, but bankers said half of the amount is expected to hit the money market by today, helping to provide liquidity support for the banking sector. (Bloomberg)

Expert commends Rivers state on economy diversification

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Chairman of Integrated Medical Industries (IMI), Dr Sampson T. Parker has commended economic foresight of Rivers state government led by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

He said that Amechi’s vision of developing an alternative economy to compete with the current oil based economy will transform Rivers ahead its peers.

Dr. Parker made the declaration in Austria, at the first test- run of the Integrated Medical Industries

Earnings Report for Banks

(IMI) Power Plant built by GE Jenbacher GMBH & CO, a subsidiary of General Electric.

Dr. Parker was quoted in a statement as saying that “Oil has been good to Nigeria and the Rivers people but Governor Chibuike Amaechi believes that the best way to sustain the development of Rivers State is to develop an economy that is independent of oil. That is why the Rivers state government has invested heavily in manufacturing, farming, education and health and energy. We are already seeing results, as youth unemployment is reducing” .

The captive power plant with 624, 612 series will provide 14 megawatts of electricity to Integrated Medical Industries Manufacturing plants in Port Harcourt.

The GE 624 engine which has been described as top of the range will be commissioned in Africa for the first time when it is installed at the IMI factory in Port Harcourt early next year.

The 624 is the world’s first 24- Cylinder engine, making this a double first. The Integrated Medical Industries (IMI) is a company owned by the Rivers State and Federal Government, although it is wholly financed by the Rivers State Government.

The company has embarked on a $275m expansion. While it currently produces about 160 million syringes a year, this figure will rise to 1.3 billion syringes, 1 billion hypodermic needles, 105 million IV-giving-sets, 90 million litres IV solution per annum on completion of expansion in 2014.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 21

Capital Market

TOP GAINERS

Investors Newsbit

Ecobank Nigeria

Source: NSE/Proshare

TOP LOSERS

O

ut of $1.75 billion revenue generated by Ecobank Group in the financial year 2012, Ecobank Nigeria accounted for huge $743 million revenue.

At that level, Ecobank Nigeria beat other fourteen Francophone/West African countries like Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Gambia.

The 2012 financials of the Ecobank Group presented to shareholders at its 25th annual general meeting in Lome, Togo shows that Nigeria accounted for $9.1 billion total assets of the Group which stood at $20 billion in the review year.

Total Nigeria Plc

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otal Nigeria Plc has posted a turnover of N217.84 billion for its 2012 operations, against N173.95 recorded in 2011, while profit after tax also increased from N3.81 billion in 2011 to N4.67 billion during the year under review.

Reviewing the company’s performance at the 35th yearly general meeting of the company in Lagos at the weekend, the company’s Chairman, Mr. Momar Nguer explained that profit before tax stood at N7 billion, from N5.9 billion in 2011.

He added that earning per share also rose from 11.23kobo to 13.76kobo in 2012.

Mainstreet Bank

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ainstreet Bank witnessed major turnaround in 2012 as key performance indicators showed the beneficial impacts of recent initiatives on the overall outlook of the nationalized bank.

Audited report and accounts of Mainstreet Bank for the year ended December 31, 2012 showed that the bank turned around from its losing streak with the replacement of previous loss of N4.4 billion with a profit of N24.1 billion.

The report showed marked improvements in all key financial indices. The report indicated that the bank grew its gross earnings to N47.9 billion within the period under review.

NSE ASI depreciates by 2.11% … loses 2.094 shares on investment

Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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nvestment losses occasioned by drop in share price of blue chips quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) has resulted in the market shedding a total of 2.094 shares as a turnover of 1.631 billion shares worth of N21.680 billion in 30,952 deals were traded by investors in contrast to a total of 3.725 billion shares valued at N75.874 billion that exchanged in 39,060 deals the previous week.

Equally, the NSE All-Share Index (ASI) depreciated by 2.11% to close on Friday at 36,464.39 while the market capitalization of the listed equities on the main board also declined by 2.11% to close at N11.715 trillion. Also, the NSE 30 Index sheds 1.99% to close at 1,744.40.

During the week, all the NSE indices depreciated except one: NSE Consumer Goods (2.21%), NSE Banking (0.97%), NSE Oil/ Gas (0.96%), NSE-Lotus II (1.59%), NSE Industrial Goods (1.60%) and NSE-ASeM (1.27%).However, NSE Insurance rose by 0.54% to close at 144.23.

Analysis of activity in the market showed that the Financial Services sector (measured by volume) led the activity chart with a turnover of 1.103 billion shares valued at N10.552 billion traded in 16,479 deals. The Financial Services sector represented 67.67%, 48.67% and 53.24% of the total traded volume, value and deals respectively.

The Conglomerates sector followed with a turnover volume of 141.198 million shares worth N412.127 million in 1,046 deals contributing 8.66%, 1.90% and 3.38% of the total equity turnover volume, value and deals respectively. The Consumer Goods sector came third with a turnover volume of 141.018 million shares worth N8.071 billion in 6,365 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely Zenith Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (measured by turnover volume) accounted for 419.396 million shares worth N3.542 billion in 3,173 deals contributing 25.72%, 16.34% and 10.25% to the total equity turnover volume, value and deals respectively Thirty two (32) equities appreci-

ated in prices during the week lower than thirty four (34) equities of the preceding week. Forty-nine (49) equities depreciated in prices lower than fifty-two (52) equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and twelve (112) equities remained constant higher than one hundred and seven (107) equities of the preceding week.

Also traded during the week were 80 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) valued at N165, 960 executed in 3 deals compared with a total of 197 units valued at N421, 356 transacted last week in 4 deals.

In addition, 2,740 units of FGN bonds valued at N303, 805 were traded during the week in 22 deals in contrast to 1,770 units valued at N194, 830 transacted last week in 15 deals.

Report on the OTC market for FGN bonds as well revealed that a turnover of 272.822 million units valued at N310.619 billion in 1,903 deals were recorded this week in contrast to 184.033 million units worth N206.534 billion in 1,179 deals recorded in the preceding week ended June 14, 2013

Multiple taxes may force hotel proprietors out of business - Ekong

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r. Onofiok Ekong of the Hotel Owners Forum Association (HOFA), said at the weekend that multiple taxes on hotel proprietors by government agencies could cripple Nigeria’s hospitality industry.

Ekong, who is the President of the Association, gave the indication in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The HOFA chief said that the multiple taxes could force hotel proprietors out of business in the country, if immediate solution was not provided. ``Hotel operators are faced with daunting challenges; apart from losing members of the association through closure and outright change of purpose. ``The lamentations of the exist-

ing ones over multiplicity of taxes can only be ignored to the detriment of the economy. ``Government needs to engage all stakeholders in a holistic discourse to enable it to understand the magnitude and dimensions of the challenges facing the industry. ``This will help to bring out recommendations that will help Nigeria have a more investmentfriendly tax regime,’’ he said.

Ekong, however, called on the Federal Government to take all necessary steps to reverse the trend.

The HOFA official said that hoteliers pay a variety of taxes, which had made it so difficult for them to stay afloat.

The taxes include the consumption tax, value added tax, compa-

ny income tax, withholding tax, health certificate, and waste operation permit.

Others are vehicle emission fee, contravention charges, business premises and administrative charges for environmental audit.

Ekong said that the multiple taxes had contributed to the increased charges by the hotels operators in the country, saying that the numerous taxes were affecting the growth of the industry.

He said that the hospitality industry contribute greatly to the nation’s economy through payment of such taxes being collected by government agencies.

He called for urgent intervention and incentives to operators to enable the hotels stay afloat.

(NAN)

Shareholders laud Union bank’s return to profitability

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hareholders of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. have commended the bank for returning to profitability after a year of poor financial performance, even as they are optimistic that the new board of Directors and management will work hard to transform the bank to an enviable standards.

At the 44th Annual General Meeting of the bank held at the lakeside Hotel, Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar, Cross River State, the shareholders unanimously approved the bank’s audited account for the financial year ended 31st 2012.

Shareholders had specifically commended the Central Bank of Nigeria- appointed Management for stabilizing the bank just as they lauded the Union Global Partners Limited, the core investors for their timely recapitalization of the bank which salvaged their investment.

The Chairman of the Bank, Senator UdomaUdoUdoma assured the shareholders that the board and management had evolved a transformation programme that will tackle all the issues militating against the bank.

He also noted all the comments and observations of the shareholders and promised to address their concerns.

The results for the year 2012 revealed that Gross Earnings for the Bank totaled N96.5 billion, up 35 percent from year-end 2011 while Gross Earnings for the Group rose 33 percent to N112.8 billion.

Profit Before Tax for the Bank was N8.1 billion, up from a loss of N102.6 billion the previous year.

The Group recorded Profit Before Tax of N9.1 billion compared to Loss Before Tax of N107.7 billion in 2011.

Profit After Tax for the Bank was N7.9 billion as against a loss of N76.7 billion in 2011, while Profit After Tax for the Group was N7.4 billion compared to a loss of N82.6 billion in the previous year.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Biz Extra

Four tricky Facebook scams to avoid F rom snake-oil salesmen and pool-hall hustlers to Nigerian princes and Spanish prisoners, scams were happening long before the Internet. Unfortunately, the Internet has only made things worse.

Modern scammers can reach billions of potential victims with a single message.

And their scams are getting better every day. If you aren’t paying attention, you could fall for a scam and not ever realize it.

One of the easiest places to encounter online scams is Facebook.

Facebook encourages sharing, which means certain scams can travel far and wide.

These aren’t harmless scams either. Some of them can install viruses that take over your account or steal your money. Yikes!

Here are four popular scams that should set off your warning bells as soon as you see them.

1. Free giveaways The easiest scam to fall for on Facebook is a free giveaway. You’ll see everything from gift cards to free tablets, laptops and smartphones. Who doesn’t like free?

Just one catch! You have to give the “company” your information. Or you have to download a program to qualify.

This is a variation on a classic survey scam. These trick users into giving out their information or downloading malicious files onto their computers.

With the information you enter, a scammer has a

foothold into stealing your identity.

Entering your cellphone number often leads to bogus premium charges appearing on your wireless bill.

It’s true that some companies do give away free stuff through Facebook.

When they do, however, it’s promoted on that company’s official Facebook page.

If you check the company’s page or website and don’t see the giveaway, steer clear. Even if it’s real, only enter through the company’s official page.

And only if it’s a company you trust. Scammers like to set up fake sites and pages that mimic the real thing.

2. Viral videos Almost as exciting as free gadgets is seeing the latest viral video. However, many supposedly salacious celebrity “videos” posted on Facebook aren’t videos at all.

When you click to watch, you’ll be asked to update your video player first. You’ll even be provided with the updated program file. How helpful!

Of course, the program is

really a virus. Plus, it will automatically share the scam with all of your friends.

This one is easy to avoid.

Type the video’s title into Google. You should see a link to it on YouTube. If the video isn’t on YouTube or a legitimate news site, it’s a scam.

3. Custom profiles Another common scam offers to change your Facebook profile look or layout. A famous version was the Facebook Black scam . It supposedly gave you a slick, black color scheme.

These scams try to trick you into installing a rogue Facebook app. If you do, you give the scammer access to your personal data. It will also spam your friends to try and trick them.

Again, this scam is easy to avoid. Just remember that there’s no official, or unofficial, way to change your Facebook layout. A program like Social Fixer can change the way you see it, but nothing will change the way other people see it.

4. Who viewed your profile?

Knowing who views your profile is the Holy Grail of social media. Who doesn’t want to know who is cyberstalking them?

That’s why this scam has been around almost as long as Facebook. No matter how often Facebook says it isn’t possible, people still want to believe it is.

So they gladly download apps or visit websites that turn out to be malicious. And they give full access of their Facebook profile to strangers.

No good can come of that.

The best you can do is see who has unfriended you . Of course, that only works after you’ve activated one of the tracking services.

These are the most popular scams, but it’s really just the tip of the iceberg. I keep you updated on the major ones on my Facebook page , so be sure to “Like” me. If you want to keep track of every scam happening on Facebook, the site Facecrooks is updated with scams as they break.

(Source: Fox News)

Samsung unveils tablet that runs both Windows 8 and Android

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amsung has unveiled a tablet that can switch between the Windows 8 and Android operating systems.

The Ativ Q has a 13.3in (33.8cm) screen that sits over a keyboard that can be folded out for typing or set to act as a stand.

In addition it has a stylus.It comes just over a fortnight after Asus unveiled its own laptoptablet hybrid which also runs both Microsoft and Google’s systems.

One analyst said he expected this to be a trend that other firms would follow.”It’s a very cost-effective way for manufacturers to offer extra value to consumers at a time when it’s very hard to differentiate benefits from one device to another,” said Chris Green, principal technology analyst at Davies Murphy Group.

“You can tap into the industry-standard Windows

productivity solutions - from Office to third-party programs as well as all the mobile apps of Google’s system. It’s the logical next step.”

The Ativ Q runs off Intel’s new Haswell chip and Samsung said it offered up to nine hours of battery life. It added that the device’s screen had been designed to be bright enough to be used outside on a sunny day.

The launch was announced at a press conference in London.

Samsung also showed off another touchscreen computer, the Ativ Tab 3 which it described as the world’s thinnest tablet to run the full Windows 8 system, as well as new PCs. Among the other announcements was the Galaxy NX - a camera which allows its lenses to be changed, runs off the Android system and supports 4G data transfers.

It marks the firm’s latest attempt to sell a device which offers higher quality images than

the typical smartphone, but also allows pictures and video to be edited with apps and uploaded to the internet.

It adds to a product line that also includes a handset featuring a 10x optical zoom.”The Galaxy NX camera looks impressive and is more likely to appeal to serious photographers than its S4 Zoom, which is quite a bulky smartphone because of the lens on the back,” said Graeme Neill, deputy editor at Mobile Today.

“Samsung’s main difference from its rival Apple is the sheer volume of products it brings to market.”It is really determined to be making a smartphone, tablet, camera and laptop for everybody, from those who want high-end devices to consumers on a budget.”

The announcements come at a time when the South Korean firm’s stock has come under pressure.

Samsung Electronics shares have fallen by nearly 14%

Samsung added an Android-powered interchangeable lens camera to its Galaxy line-up since 4 June after a number of banks cut their profit forecasts for the company. They said they were worried its flagship Android device, the Galaxy S4, was not selling as well as they

had previously predicted and raised concerns about rising competition from Chinese smart device makers.

(BBC News)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 23

Stock Watch

Report as at Friday, June 21, 2013

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 24

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, Illegal / Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following number – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

103th Kano state executive council meeting

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oday Wednesday 19th June, 2013 (10th Sha’aban, 1434AH) the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and third (103rd) sitting presided over by Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. The day was “eve” to the rescheduled date (13th June – 20th June) the entire Kano State Government was to go on retreat to Abuja where top functionaries will convene to recapitulate, reassess, redress, etc. the performance of the incumbent administration.

Postponement of the trip to Abuja on retreat by the State’s top Government functionaries was necessitated by the need for the entire Cabinet to be present along with the citizenry in Kano State while His Royal Highness the Emir of Kano celebrated his “Golden Jubilee” on the throne of Traditional Rulership of Kano (1963 – 2013).

The fifty (50) years meritoriously and eventfully spent by His Royal Highness the Emir of Kano, Alhaji, Dr. Ado Bayero was prayerfully celebrated in jubilation as heralded with a colourful durbar witnessed by many National and International dignitaries/ celebrities, generality of which paid sincere tribute to the entire Kano Emirate in respect of the tenets and good leadership of the Emir and prayed for more years on the throne in good health for him (Alhaji Dr. Ado Bayero).

Importantly, the Kano State Government (i.e. the Cabinet, Permanent Secretaries, Directors, etc.) has to proceed on retreat, as a worthwhile undertaking, to Abuja scheduled for 20th – 24th June, 2013.

Retreats, as cited in the Communiqué released/issued at the end of the 2nd retreat for Political Office holders, top Government functionaries and Directors held at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja (7th – 10th December, 2012), are important undertakings because they strengthen the existing synergy and common focus among the various categories of the leadership within the service hierarchy as a means of improving service delivery.

Relentlessly, forty-five (45) memoranda were submitted by eight (8) MDAs for deliberation by Council of which twenty-eight (28) were approved for execution with an expenditure of One Billion, Three hundred and Four Million, Nine Hundred and One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty Two Naira, Eighty Five Kobo (N1,304,901,982.85) covering twenty five (25) projects. Thus: 1. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR/ HON. COMMISSIONER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS This Office submitted eleven (10) memoranda for deliberation by Council.

Five (5) of them were approved for execution as follows: a.

Presentation of Proposal Submitted by the House Numbering and Street Naming Committee for Data Capturing and Production of Identification Cards for Kano State Residents:Council recalled the setting up of House Numbering and Street Naming Committee and the release of over N300 million for the implementation of the program, which is aimed at identifying places and people living within the area. Government is aware that some part of the metropolis have no street names nor house numbering. And even where they exist they are hardly known or utilized by the citizenry because location signage may not be available or identifiable. For this, locating houses/streets is becoming a frustrating venture and a painful exercise. Street addresses are, therefore, critical information for administrative, emergency response, research and security purposes. Since the beginning of the program citizens have been responding favorable by cooperating with the enumerators and Government officials in charge of the program. Thus, when completed the program will transform the metropolis into a modern city where houses and streets could easily be identified like in any developed nations.

The contents of this memorandum presented the results of the critical appraisal of the proposal submitted by the Office of the Deputy Governor/Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments as mandated by the State Executive Council.

The thirteen (13) – items proposal was critically studied consequent upon which the followings were identified; • A legal framework need to be created with an enabling Institutional framework to give legitimacy to the policy decision with devolution of responsibility to an entity to be entrusted with implementation of Kano State residents registration and ID Card issuance to conform with the following policy objectives: i. To provide data bank that would be a reliable and comprehensive source of information to assist Government in decision making/processing in all Public Policy Issues pertaining to residents and their social distinctions. ii. The identification card(s) should be for everybody and include blood group and thumb print (which do not change with age). iii. That the Residents ID Card should be for the purpose of “Stands for”; as an index for determining the resources required for formulation and implementation of Government policy programmes. iv. To enhance the ability of Government for better planning of Services and their requirements in Education, Health, Water, Security, Environment, Housing, Transportation and other Sectors. The essence is to enable Government to be in a well – informed position all the time to plan and execute precisely as affects the human factor.

So, Office of the Deputy Governor/ Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments recommended to Council to consider and approve the following; • That legislation be enacted for the establishment of Kano State Resident Registration Agency with specific functions and structures to carry out the policy considering its objectives listed (i. – iii) above.

• That a study of the Lagos State Agency be undertaken with a view to share their experiences.

Council appreciated the presentation and approved contents, therefore, as well as directed the Attorney General/Honorable Commissioner Ministry of Justice to prepare a draft Law establishing the Kano State Resident Registration Agency according to the details presented. c. Presentation of Request for Funds for the Establishment of the Remaining 27 Micro Finance Banks in the State:This Government policy towards the eradication/alleviation of poverty amongst its teeming population led to numerous strategies, such as the establishment of skill acquisition institutions and that of opening Microfinance Banks. The setting up of these Banks was based on the premise that financial services play vital role in the economic growth and development of any society. Microfinance Banks provide services that have direct impact on the downtrodden citizens whose financial request or requirement may not be considered by the normal banking sector.

These Banks provide needed financial help as they specialize in providing small-loan and other banking services to individuals and communities having limited or no access to financial assistance for their economic advancement. Thus, the facilities provided by these Banks enable individuals/ communities to develop small businesses thereby stimulating their potentialities.

This explains the reasons behind the preparation and submission of this memorandum, which was a request for the second phase of the establishment of Microfinance Banks in the remaining 27 Local Government Councils in the State. The first phase witnessed the establishment of 27 Banks. In the said communication, Council was informed of the fact that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted approval in principle for the establishment of the remaining twenty- seven (27) Microfinance Banks in Kano State with all the necessary statutory need of the requirements completed. With this approval each of the 44 Local Government Areas will have Microfinance Bank to service the credit, savings as well as currency and cash disbursement of the local communities.

Following this approval, Council instructed/ mandated the 27 Local Government Councils concerned to speed up completion of construction/ renovation of suitable office accommodation of their respective Microfinance Banks premises based on the specifications provided by the apex (Central) Bank of Nigeria. Details were presented for consideration by Council.

Essentially, each of the concerned 27 Local Government Councils is expected to expend a

Gov Kwankwaso contributory sum of N10,507,037.04 to total up to the aggregate sum of N283,690,000.00, which was requested for release by Council to enable final establishment of the remaining 27 Microfinance Banks in the State.

Council noted, considered the request and approved the release of the sum of N283,690,000.00 as equally contributed funds from the 27 remaining Local Government Councils to procure and install IT equipment, furniture and electricity generating sets for the remaining 27 Microfinance Banks. d. Presentation of the 4th Progress Report from the Kano State Committee on House Numbering and Street Naming:Office of the Deputy Governor/Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments presented the fourth (4th) periodically submitted progress report from the Committee on House Numbering and Street Naming. The report contains progress achieved so far, challenges and associated requests to facilitate further progress in the exercise. The fourth (4th) progress report was summarized into nine (9) items climaxing at; i. 301,488 number of houses/land were enumerated in the eight (8) metropolitan LGCAs. ii. 29,619 uncompleted houses were enumerated. iii. 37,405 vacant plots were enumerated.

Eight (8) challenges were itemized by the Committee which tantamount to the following eight (8) prayers for Council’s consideration and approval; • Release of the sum of N15,060,415.17 to the eight (8) metropolitan LGCAs as 2nd payment for the cost of producing the remaining folders and forms for the exercise based on disaggregated profile as contained in the report.

• Release of the requested sum of N308,053,950.00 to the main Committee to produce House Numbering Plates.

• Payment of N1,342,000.00 to NETCLICK CONSULTANTS for software development.

• Direct the Ministry for Local Governments to present a design for Office accommodation for the House Numbering and Street Naming units at respective Local Government Levels.

• Release of N5,000,000.00 to the main Committee for publicity.

• Release of the sum of N5,040,000.00 as allowances for the eight (8) LGCAs sub – Committees.

• Release of the sum of N510,000.00 as allowances for members of the main Committee.

• Release of the sum of N312,000.00 as operational funds for three (3) months to the main Committee.

The request was considered credible as Council granted approval for the release of the requested aggregate sum of N335,318,365.17 to the Ministry for Local Governments to facilitate the prayers listed above in respect of the House Numbering and Street Naming exercise in the eight (8) metropolitan LGCAs. e. Presentation of Official Solution

for Support from the National Resources Development Fund:Contents of this memorandum tacitly notified Council that, Kano State Government made submission to the Presidency for support from the National Resources Development Fund under the Presidency seeking for intervention in the initial sum of N45,870,000,000.00.

Kano State submission was raised to include ecological problems bedevilling the State and environmental degradations. But, the tradition of qualifying for access to the fund requires that State Governments have to defend their submissions before the Commission which ultimately recommends to the President what to be given to which State after due verification.

Importantly, Kano State Government was slated to make its formal presentation to the RMAF Commission on Tuesday 25th June, 2013 as per the Power Point already produced.

As such, the Deputy Governor/Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments requested for mandate by Council to represent Kano State in making the presentation on the stated date accompanied by the Honorable Commissioners for Agriculture, Planning and Budget, Environment and Water Resources who may contribute and add credence to presentations under the respective spheres of their Ministries whenever the need arises.

Financial implications of the trip was assessed and estimated to the aggregate sum of N1,030,000.00 which was requested for release

by Council to enable the undertaking of the trip.

Approval was granted by Council for the release of requested sum of N1,030,000.00 to the Office of the Deputy Governor/Hon. Commissioner for Local Governments to enable him along with the earmarked team of Commissioners undertake the important trip referred to in this submission.

2. MINISTRY OF HEALTH Two (2) memoranda were submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Health. Both were approved for execution as follows: a. Presentation of Request for Funds for the Procurement and Allocation of Three (3) Peugeot Model Ambulance Vehicles for Use by State Owned Hospitals:The Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Health applauded Council for the approval granted for the procurement and allocation of ten (10) Toyota Standard Emergency Response Ambulance vehicles dedicated for use by the Kwankwasiyya Medical Outreach Health Delivery Services, which are put to earnest and appreciated use by the citizenry.

The Ministry of Health has identified Ambulance Services as among the fundamental requirements for the Health Sector improvement/ transformation. Need for the allocation of more Ambulance vehicles for use at the State owned hospitals has been established and Council was requested to grant approval for the release of funds to enable procurement and allocation of three (3) Peugeot Model Ambulances for use in the State owned hospitals.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the sum of N15,800,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to procure and allocate two (2) units of Peugeot Model Ambulance vehicles at the rate of N7,900,000.00 (VAT inclusive) each to the Ministry of Health for use at the State owned hospitals. b. Presentation of Request for Funds for the General Repairs/Renovation Works at the Maternity Wing of Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital:In appreciation of the concern and attention accorded to the general requirements for the total transformation of the health sector in Kano State, particularly the health care delivery system/ facilities, the Ministry of Health requested Council, through contents of this memorandum, to approve the release of the sum of N61,755,780.02 to facilitate the general repairs/renovation of the female/maternity complex at the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital.

Considering the relevance of the request and congruence of the projects with the policy of the present administration to provide qualitatively for the Health Care Delivery System in the State, Council approved the release of the requested sum of N61,755,780.02 to the Ministry of Health to enable the execution of the referred projects at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital.

3. MINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT This Ministry submitted three (3) memoranda for deliberation by Council.

Only one of them was acknowledged.

Thus: Presentation of Information Memorandum (IM) on Proceedings and Resolutions of the National Council on Women Affairs and Social Development at its 13th Meeting Held in Lokoja, Kogi State (2nd – 7th June, 2013):Contents of this memorandum maintain that the National Council on Women Affairs and Social Development is the second highest decision making body on matters relating to Women, Children and people with special needs and the theme for this year’s meeting was “Environmental Degradation: A Challenge to Sustainable Development and Empowerment of Women and the Vulnerable Groups”.

The Kano State delegation at the meeting tabled/presented three (3) memoranda, which were deliberated upon and considered favourably. The memoranda were presented for consideration by Council as each was titled thus: i. Memorandum on Upgrading of Kano Reformatory Center at Kiru to the Level of a Reformatory Institution. ii. Memorandum on the achievements recorded by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. iii. Memorandum on the achievements recorded by Kwankwaso administration from 2011 to 2012.

Relevant excerpts from the three (3) referred memoranda were presented to Council along with the possibility of aligning the State Emergency Relief Agency and the Directorate of Youths Empowerment to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation.

4. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT Eighteen (18) memoranda were submitted on behalf of some MDAs from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. Ten (10) of them were approved for execution as follows: a. Request for Funds to Procure and Allocate One Unit Each of Honda Pilot Jeep and Toyota Hiace 18– seater Bus to the Office of the Special Adviser, Protocol Directorate:Contents of this memorandum maintain that this request was already approved for execution what remains is approval for the release of the sum of N19,400,000.00 by Council to enable the Office of the Secretary to the State Government process the procurement and allocation of the two (2) vehicles to the Office of the Special Adviser, Protocol Directorate as follows: i. One unit of Toyota Hiace 18 – Seater Bus

N7,500,000.00 ii. One unit of Honda Pilot Jeep N11,900,000.00 Total N19,400,000.00 Council approved as requested in compliance to the request presented. b. Request for Funds to Procure and Allocate Two (2) Vehicles to the Office of the Kano Government Printer:Office of the Secretary to the State Government submitted a request for funds to procure and allocate two (2) vehicles to the Office of the Kano Government Printer for the use of the Managing Director and the Corporation Officials in their shuttles.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the sum of N7,500,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to procure and allocate one (1) unit of Toyota Hiace 18 – Seater Bus to the Office of the Kano Government Printer to ease the transportation needs of the organization. c. Request for Funds to Sponsor three Additional Number of French Teachers for a One (1) Month French Language Training in France Slated for 1st – 26th July, 2013:The Kano Senior Secondary School

Continued On Page 9

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013 Management Board (KSSSMB) intimated Government on the commendable resolve of the Nigerian Association of French Teachers (NAFT) to sponsor two (2) Kano State Indigenous French Teachers for a one (1) Month French Language Training in France (1st – 26th July, 2013).

To supplement the gesture, the KSSSMB as endorsed by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, requested for the release of the sum of N3,487,260.00 to sponsor three (3) additional number of Kano State Indigenous French Teachers to the two (2) sponsored by NAFT program.

Credibility of the request prompted Council to approve the release of the requested sum of N3,487,260.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the KSSSMB to sponsor the three (3) additional number of Kano State Indigenous French Teachers for the one (1) month training in France. d. Presentation of Return of Unused Funds by Kano Drainage Committee and Request for Funds to Execute Yet Another Project:Office of the Secretary to the State Government declared, on behalf of the Kano Drainage Committee, the return of the sum of N595,200.00 to Government Treasury after successfully executing the approved projects on clearing blocked drainage along Kofar Nassarawa to Kasuwar Rimi Road. Details on the scope of works executed at the aggregate cost of N595,940.00 were presented to Council for consideration.

Nevertheless, the Committee requested for the release of the sum of N1,424,150.00 to enable it cover the works required for the remaining length of the blocked drainage in order to complete the clearing exercise whose scope was presented for consideration by Council.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the requested sum of N1,424,150.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the State Drainage Committee to enable completion of the stated project. e. Presentation of a Letter of Goodwill and Request for Assistance by the Kano State Butchers Association:The Chairman Kano State Community Reorientation Council submitted a letter of goodwill from the Office of the Chairman Kano State Kwankwasiyya Butchers Association, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for consideration by Council.

The Association applauds the present administration under the capable leadership of the second incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE over its tremendous achievements in two (2) years spanning areas such as Education, Health, Water Supply, Environmental Sanitation, Women and Youth Empowerment – of which 10,000 butchers benefitted while another 10,000 await to benefit from the gesture.

Relatedly, the Kano State Kwankwasiyya Butchers Association fervently appealed to the Government for assistance in providing the following: i. A serviceable vehicle ii. Office accommodation iii. Office furniture etc.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the sum of N7,500,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to procure and allocate one unit (1) of Toyota Hiace 18 –Seater Bus in respect of the Kano State Kwankwasiyya Butchers Association. f. Request for Funds to Enable Some Honourable Members of the State House of Assembly Undertake a Trip to Indonesia for a Workshop: Thirteen (13) Honourable Members plus the Clerk/Permanent Secretary of the Kano State House of Assembly were identified to attend a workshop in Indonesia designed to look into different Legislative environments in the Kano State and Indonesian Parliaments as well as to efficiently enhance the Inherent Legal process including preparatory work, process transparency and normative constitutional constituency.

Decidedly, seven (7) days were recommended for consideration by Council at the total cost of N22,591,744.00, which was requested for release to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to enable the thirteen (13) Honourable Members plus Clerk/Permanent Secretary of the State House of Assembly attend the stated workshop in Indonesia for seven (7) days. Approval was granted as requested. h. Presentation of Report on the Outcome of the Ramat International Under – 16 Soccer Tournament held (13th – 20th February, 2013):The Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture communicated, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, intimating Government that the Kano State contingent that participated in the 33rd edition of the Ramat International Under – 16 Soccer Tournament held on 13th – 20th February, 2013 won the first position. This feat qualified the team to represent Nigeria at the International Youth Soccer Festival slated for 27th July – 23rd August in Oslo, Norway.

Compliments were extended to the present administration under the 2nd incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE for its unwavering support towards sports – especially Soccer by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria.

The presentation was appreciatively acknowledged by Council. i. Request for Funds to Sponsor the Year 2013 Students’ Peace Summit and Swearing in Ceremony of National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS):Financial assistance was sought from Government, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, by the National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS) to enable the conduct of the activities mentioned above. Details were presented to Council for consideration.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the sum of N8,760,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS) as assistance for sponsoring the Peace Summit 2013 and the Swearing in Ceremony of the new leadership of the NAKSS. j. Request for Funds to procure and Allocate Operational Vehicle to the Office of the State Coordinator, Afforestation Project:The nature of official functions at the Office of the State Coordinator, Afforestation Project compelled the Senior Official request for the allocation of a serviceable vehicle to enable the conduct of his official duties smoothly.

The request was considered credible as Council approved the release of the sum of N6,950,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to enable the purchase and allocation of one (1) unit of Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick Up vehicle to the Office of the Kano State Coordinator Afforestation Project.

5. MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND BUDGET Presentation on the State and Local Government Reform Project (SLOGOR), a World Bank Assisted Project:Contents of this memorandum concertedly notified Council of a Letter routed through the Office of the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Planning and Budget from the World Bank Office Abuja. The Letter introduces a new project tagged; “The State and Local Government Reform Project (SLOGOR).” Based on discussions held already a letter conveying Kano State interest in the project was communicated to them.

Essentially, the whole thing is about Capacity Building relative to Accountability and Transparency.

• Objectives of the project The main objectives of the project are to better Public Sector Governance Reform, Budget Management as well as improve credibility of the budget. It also intends to reform External Audit and Security System in the Public Sector Service Delivery.

• Target Institutions The Reform Project targets areas such as Finance, Budget Process, Auditing, Internal Revenue Generation and Governance generally.

The World Bank Project covers Anambra, Cross River, Osun, Jigawa, Kano and Yobe States and has earmarked the sum of 77Million US Dollars for the six (6) States.

• Expectation from each of the six (6) States i. Set up a composition of the key implementation structure for the State including; • The State Project Steering Committee.

• Project Technical Committee and Project Coordinating Unit.

Notably, a team of Officials from the National Planning Commission/World Bank/EU is expected to visit the States between 10th – 12th June, 2013 to ascertain level of preparation for the take – off of the project.

As such, the following were presented for consideration and approval by Council; i. Usage of the Former Office of EU Project, which has winded up as the Secretariat of the new project. ii. The list of the proposed eleven (11) – Members Steering Committee on the implementation of the SLOGOR. iii. The list of the proposed thirteen (13) – Member Technical Committee on the implementation of SLOGOR. Council acknowledged the presentation in appreciation and approved the composition of the list of SLOGOR Steering Committee and directed the Secretary to the State Government to formally inaugurate them after which their Chairman inaugurates the Technical Committee.

6.

MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport submitted six (6) memoranda for deliberation by Council. All were approved for execution as follows: a. Request for Funds to Enable the Construction of Covered – Lined Drains Using Concrete Rings and Laying of Garden Interlocking Tiles in Some Wards within Kano Municipal LGCA:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport concertedly notified Council, through contents of this memorandum, of the erstwhile deplorable and poor sanitary conditions prevailing in most settlements/communities within the ancient city of Kano. This continues to be of concern as the problem is identified to be mostly associated with the existing drainage system. Such is normally

PAGE 25 left open and allows passage of “Night Soil” freely across most of the residential areas/houses due to inadequate provision of toilet facilities. Again, the drainage system provides excellent breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other serious disease carrying vectors including rodents, flies, etc.

Other unwholesome human activities are known to further escalate the problem, which prompted the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to identify six (6) locations in eight (8) wards within Kano Municipal LGCA for the execution of the required projects presented above. Details on the scope of works required were presented for consideration by Council for which the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested for the release of the aggregate sum of N265,930,763.15 by Council to execute.

The request was considered relevant as Council approved the release of the requested sum of N265,930,763.15 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable the execution of the project mentioned above. b. Presentation of Request for Funds for the Take – Off of Kano State Driving Institute at Wara – Tallawa Along Zaria Road:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport politely reminded Council, through contents of this memorandum, of its approval granted for the release of funds for the take–off of the Driving Institute via Executive Council Extract NO. SSCA/CA/EX/10/302 in which the Contract for the supply of furniture and installation of other learning facilities was awarded to Emirates Project Ltd. at the cost of N34,907,825.70.

The Company accepted the contract and actually commenced the supply and installations of the stipulated facilities, but observed that the price quoted for the two (2) simulators (i.e.

N656,100.00 = N328,050.00 x 2) was wrong. A correction was effected and presented for consideration by Council. Thus: SN Cost price for Easy New 2010 26

“Screen Simulator” i. Cost price 6,680.00 US Dollars N1,055,440.00 ii. Shipment 3,625.00 US Dollars N572,750.00 iii. Installations 1,425.00 US Dollars N225,150.00 iv. Insurance 125.00 US Dollars N19,750.00 v. Total 11,855.00 US Dollars N1,873,090.00 The correct price per one (1) Simulator is 11,855 US Dollars (equivalent to N1,873,090.00) making the cost for two (2) to be 23,710 US Dollars (equivalent to N3,746,180.00), which was requested for release by Council to enable the procurement and installation of the two (2) Simulators at the Driving Institute at Wara – Tallawa along Zaria Road.

Council approved as requested since the Contract has already been awarded only amendments need to be effected. c. Presentation of Update and Review of the Contract Awarded for the Construction of Covered Sewage Conduit/ Road Along Jakara – Kwarin Gogau River:Contents of this memorandum reminded Council of its approval for the award of the Contract mentioned above at the contract sum of N8,700,602,557.50. This was welcomed by the entire citizenry in Kano State especially the Community of the nearest vicinity to the site in question irrespective of the cost of the project.

Succour and lasting solution to the pathetic and lamentable loss of lives and properties were hopefully brought to glaring view of the good people of Kano State.

Nevertheless, professionalism and concerned prudence guides performance in service delivery by this administration, which gingered the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to technically reappraise the initial concept for the entire project for an alternative equally applicable concept at a lower cost (from rectangular to circular cross-section). This was achieved details of which were presented for consideration by Council. A new equally feasible lower cost to the sum of N5,564,487,900.20 was arrived at with a total saving of N3,136,114,657.30 when compared to the original contract sum awarded at the sum of N8,700,602,557.50.

Jubilating, Council acknowledged the presentation and congratulated the good people of Kano State over realization of the monetary saving, which could be deployed to other meaningful endeavours for the benefit of the people of the State. d. Request for Funds to Enable the Continuation of the Construction of 2 – Bedrooms Prototype Housing Units for the Resettlement of Flood Victims at Token Village, Warawa LGCA:Provision of opportunities and access to decent housing/infrastructural facilities for use by the citizenry in Kano State is among the laudable cardinal resolutions of the present administration in Kano State under the capable leadership of the second incumbency of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. The laudable policy is celebrated and heralded tangibly by approvals granted for the execution of the following, but a few housing projects: i. Sale of GP Houses to their occupants. ii. Construction and sale of commercial housing units at Kwankwasiyya, Bandirawo and Amana Cities.

iii. Construction and distribution of 2 – Bedroom prototype housing units at Kunchi, Makoda, Warawa and Kwankwaso Towns.

As such, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport tacitly reminded Council of its approval granted for the construction of 586 two–Bedroom prototype housing units via Executive Council Extract NO. SSCA/CA/EX10/1/246. So far, 70 housing units were constructed to 100% completion level and were already allocated to the flood victims in the 2012 flood disaster at Token Village in Warawa LGCA under phase I of the project. This warrants for the need to continue with the program with the construction of 100 more prototype housing units at the aggregate sum of N75,334,240.00 with each costing N753,342.40.

The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested for the release of the sum of N75,334,240.00 to enable the construction of 100 more two– bedroom prototype housing units for distribution to more flood victims.

Approval was granted as requested by Council considering credibility of the project and its congruence with the housing policy of the present administration. e. Request for Funds to Enable the Execution of Road Maintenance Works Within Kano Metropolis by KARMA:Since inception, this administration has established new parastatals such as the Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), Kano Roads Maintenance Agency (KARMA), Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, etc. to reinvigorate the public service and provide service to the community. Kano Roads Maintenance Agency (KARMA) was established with the sole purpose to maintaining roads in Kano State, especially in the metropolis.

So far, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport acknowledged the efforts of the administration in the provision of machineries and equipment worth millions of Naira to support the performance and function of the Agency. A few weeks ago, the sum of N90 million was released to the Agency to execute roads maintenance within the metropolis. The contents of this memorandum informed Council of the progress achieved by KARMA especially on the repairs and general renovation of fifteen (15) selected roads in the metropolis. Details were submitted for consideration by Council.

Progressively, the Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested Council to approve the release of the sum of N263,500,000.00 to enable KARMA undertake the followings: i. Continuation of road maintenance N100,000,000.00 ii. Repairs of abandoned machines N20,000,000.00 iii. Purchase of new machines N143,500,000.00 Total N263,500,000.00.

Council noted, considered the request and approved the release of the sum of N50,000,000.00 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable KARMA continue with the good work started on road maintenance in the metropolis. f. Request for Funds to Enable Take – Off of the Established “Waste to Wealth Program (LEDA JARI)” at Zaura – Babba, Ungogo LGCA:Provision of skill acquisition and general empowerment opportunities for youths of both genders is among the cardinal preoccupation of the incumbent administration in Kano State.

Many celebrated established examples abound in the State of which the program cited above is among. Others efforts could been seen through the establishment of skills acquired institutes such as the Institutes of Fisheries, Institute of Poultry, Livestock Institute, Hotels and Hospitality Institute and the Lafia Jari Program. These facilities were established to make the teeming youths self-reliant and employed.

In any case, the “Waste to Wealth Program (LEDA JARI)” is yet to take–off due to the requirements of certain necessary facilities consequent upon which the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport assessed the scope of works required at the aggregate cost of N21,297,560.70, which was requested for release by Council to enable the followings: i. Renovation and construction

N6,452,600.00 ii. Supply/installation of 33KVA electricity transformer and some internal electricity fittings, perimeter and motor control center, construction/ reticulation of motorized water borehole

N3,252,262.50 iii. Drawings/bill of quantities N11,592,698.20 Total N21,297,560.70.

The request was considered credible as Council approved the release of the requested sum of N21,297,560.70 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable the execution of the stated projects so as to facilitate the immediate take–off of the “Waste to Wealth Program (LEDA JARI)” at Zaura – Babba, Ungogo Local Government Council Area to engage youths for their and State economic progress.

7. OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE Presentation of the Proposal for the Establishment of Kano Pensioners Multi – Purpose Cooperative Society:The Head of Civil Service reminded Council

of instructions issued to him at its sitting of Wednesday 22nd May, 2013 to appraise a proposal for the establishment of Kano Pensioners Multi–Purpose Cooperative Society.

The proposal was dutifully appraised, which yielded the following findings/recommendations; i. The proposal was conceived so as to provide a platform for promoting the socio – economic well–being of pensioners who served in the State Public Service (State and Local Government). ii. The Kano State Pension Fund Trustees (KSPFT) based on its enabling Law has the latitude to invest its funds into legitimate businesses including share – holding. iii. The Cooperative Society could be registered with the State Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism being the relevant organ vested with such powers as enshrined under CAP 33, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria, 1991.

So, Council was requested to consider and approve the following four (4) prayers: • The establishment of Kano State Pensioners Multi – Purpose Cooperative Society in line with the provision of CAP 33, Laws of Kano State of Nigeria, 1991.

• The setting up of a care – taker Committee to be drawn from the Pension Union and KSPFT, while the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism is to provide a Secretary to the Committee.

• The investment of 51% equity share – holding into the Cooperative Society by the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees, which should be recovered within a period of three (3) years through gradual acquisition of such shares by members of the Society.

• The release of N10,000,000.00 as seed fund for the Kano Pensioners Multi – Purpose Cooperative Society.

Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation and approved the execution of the four (4) prayers listed above.

8. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Presentation of Proposal and Request for Funds for the Procurement and Distribution of Post Training Packages to the 2nd Batch of Graduating Trainees at Kano Fisheries Institute Bagauda:The Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources concertedly informed the attentive Council, through contents of this memorandum that, training for the 2nd batch of students at Kano Fisheries Institute Bagauda will end next week.

A total of 400 participants were successfully trained on general fish farming, fish production and Hatchery Management, fish preservation techniques and packaging, fish Agribusiness and Kwankwasiyya Logic and Philosophy.

So, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources sought for approval by Council for the release of the sum of N43,898,000.00 to enable the procurement and distribution of post training packages to the 400 trainees and provide for other logistics. Details were presented for consideration

by Council.

Council noted, considered and approved the release of the trimmed down sum of N40,000,000.00 to the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to enable authorities at the Fisheries Institute Bagauda execute the stated purposes – especially procurement and distribution of post training packages to the graduating participants which agrees with the empowerment policy of the present administration.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 103RD EXCO SITTING 1. GRADUATION CEREMONY OF 1000 WOMEN FROM POULTRY AND FISHERIES INSTITUTE BAGAUDA Council acknowledged the successful graduation of 1000 Women who were trained on Poultry and Fisheries farming selected across the 44 Local Government Areas in the State. Council wishes them success and prosperity in their future undertakings.

2. DFID SUPPORT ON AIR FORCE PILOTING IN THE STATE Council acknowledged with appreciation the continued support of the DFID Group towards Social and Economic development of the State.

Council welcomed the support DFID is extending on the State policy of training and encouraging youths to join pilot profession.

3. CELEBRATION OF THE 83rd BIRTHDAY & 50th GOLDEN JUBILEE ANNIVERSARY OF THE EMIR OF KANO ALH. (DR.) ADO ABDULLAHI BAYERO Council witnessed with delight the successful celebration of the 83rd birthday and the Golden Jubilee (50th) anniversary of His Highness Alh. Dr. Ado Abdullahi Bayero on throne as the Emir of Kano. Council wishes him better health.

4. PRESENTATION OF AWARDS Council witnessed presentation of awards received by the State participants at the 6th African Arts & Crafts Expo (AFAC) through the History and Culture Bureau, which was held in Abuja on 6th – 15th June, 2013.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture, Kano State

LAW

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

AGF urges early completion of NBA secretariat Stories by Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) has asked those responsible for the building of the new Secretariat of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to ensure early completion.

In a remark at the ground breaking ceremony of the new secretariat in Abuja on Friday, the AGF said early completion of

the project is necessary to avoid additional expenses on the structure, even as he applauded the leadership of the association for embarking on the project.

He charged all those involved in the project to ensure its early completion to avoid cost overruns and ensure that all those involved in the construction works, scrupulously adhere to the building specifications.

“Once more, I congratulate the leadership of the NBA and mem-

bers of the association for this laudable achievement”, Adoke said.

Earlier in his address, the NBA President, Chief Okey Wali (SAN), said the association, being the largest in Africa deserves a magnificent edifice and assured that the building will be completed within the expiration of his tenure in office as the NBA President.

“With 100 branches spread across the 36 states, the NBA deserves a magnificent edifice of its

own. This building project is going to cost a lot of money to complete it, but we believe it is doable.

We can raise the money.

“I therefore use this opportunity to call on all our members, both in the public sector and private practice to support this laudable project. I assure all our members that all the financial assistance we will receive from them shall be prudently managed and accounted for.

“Our dream is that the NBA

House Building Project is completed within the life span of this administration. I have no doubt in my mind that we can do it. Yes we can.

“But then, to get it done, calls for sacrifice and commitment.

Nobody builds in comfort; building is a task that calls for sacrifice.

Therefore, the NBA House Building Project will call for sacrifice from the National Officers of the NBA and the Members of Secretariat staff”, the NBA boss said.

Christmas day bombings: Suspect opens defence July 5 CJN attends

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aving frustrated attempts by the alleged mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla in Niger State, Kabiru Umar, alias Kabiru Sokoto, a Federal High Court in Abuja has slated July 5, 2013 for the suspect to open his defence in the case of terrorism preferred against him by the Federal Government.

Kabiru Sokoto had, at the completion of the prosecution’s

case on May 16, 2013, asked the court sitting before Justice Adeniyi Ademola to discharge him on the ground that the prosecution failed to link him to the offences for which he was charged.

But, Justice Ademola, while dismissing Kabiru Sokoto’s nocase-submission on Friday, held that the prosecution had succeeded in linking the suspect to the offenses for which he was charged through the evidence placed before the court.

“Having held that a prima facie case has been made against the accused person, his no-casesubmission fails. In the circumstance, the accused person has a case to answer. He is hereby called upon to open his defense,” Justice Ademola ruled.

Kabiru Sokoto’s counsel, Ibrahim Umar, had argued in his submission on June 14, 2013 that the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence to link the suspect with the charges of terrorism lev-

eled against him.

He prayed the court to discharge and acquit him, contending that the evidence so far led by the prosecution failed to establish any offence against his client.

Umar further argued that the evidence by all the six prosecution witnesses amounted to hearsay and urged the court to disregard it.

Kabiru Sokoto is facing trial on a two-count charge bordering on terrorism.

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he Supreme Court of Nigeria has put paid on the legal tussle over the right occupant of the Delta State Government House.

The apex court, in a ruling, on Friday dismissed an application by the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Chief Great Ogboru, seeking to compel the court to upturn its earlier ruling that upheld the election of Emmanuel Uduaghan as Governor of Delta State.

In the ruling delivered by Justice Suleiman Galadima, the apex court said the application was an abuse of court process and noted that a similar application was filed and withdrawn by the lawyer that first represented the DPP candidate, Mr. Sabastine Hon (SAN).

The court also ruled that Ogboru has failed to convince the court that he did not direct Hon to

withdraw the earlier application.

The Supreme Court ruling which brought to an end Ogboru quest to wrestle the Governorship of Delta State from the incumbent Emmanuel Uduaghan, through the judiciary, was widely commended by Deltans.

The commissioner, Directorate for multi-lateral relations and Abuja office, Gloria Okolugbo, in her reaction, said the ruling of the court will move Governor Uduagan into more action in the development of the state.

She said the Supreme Court decision has put an end to the needless litigation instituted by the DPP governorship candidate in the state.

Hon. Okolugbo commended the Judges of the apex court for their courage, saying that the judiciary has again proven itself as the last hope of the common man.

T

Arms cache: Tahir Fadlallah slams N10bn libel suit against Newspaper

he Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar has travelled over the weekend to attend the World Association of Jurists conference holding in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, Israel from today till Thursday this week.

A statement by the Media Aide to the CJN, Ahuraka Yusuf Isah said, Justice Walter Onnoghen and the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Sunday Olorundahunsi are also billed to attend the conference.

The CJN will be one of the distinguished speakers billed to share their knowledge and expertise on global economy and the rule of law at the conference.

This year’s conference which will discuss, “Global Economy and the Rule of Law in a Changing World’’, would have in attendance of Chief Justices, Judges, Attorneys, Law Professors, Government Officials and other legal professionals from around the world.

The WJA was formed, in 1963, in response to an international outcry for a free and open forum where judges, lawyers, law professors and other professionals from around the world could work cooperatively to raise public support for the institutions that govern and enforce the administration of international law.

he Chairman of Tahir Guest Palace Limited in Kano State, Tahir Fadlallah has slammed a N10 billion libel suit against Leadership Newspapers over an alleged libel.

In a writ of summons and statement of claim filed by his lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), Tahir and his company, Tahir Guest Palace Limited have claimed N10 billion damages against Leadership Newspapers and its Editor, Baba El-Nafaty.

The offensive publication, titled, “Owners of Amingo stores and Tahir hotels arrested”, was contained in the May 31, 2013 edition of the Leadership Newspaper.

A statement of claim filed by the plaintiffs reproduced the offensive publication and asserted that the publication defamed them.

The plaintiffs denied all the accusations and insisted that all the allegations made against them and

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar

Three Lebanese suspects arraigned for keeping an Illegal armoury in Kano coming out of the Federal High Court, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Delta guber: S/Court ends legal battle as it affirms Uduaghan victory

world association of Jurists conference in Isreal

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contained in the Leadership newspapers was malicious, adding that no other newspaper published the report the way the defendants had done.

The plaintiffs are seeking of an injunction restraining the defendants, their agents from further publishing defamatory words against the reputation of the plaintiffs and N100 million cost of the litigation, in addition to the N10 billion damages.

The plaintiffs averred that all allegations made against them were false and malicious.

According to the plaintiffs, malice can be inferred from the fact that all other newspapers that reported the same story did not publish anything about them and that the press release of the Joint Task Force (JTF) which was the source of the publications did not mention the plaintiffs.

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Education

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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f Nigeria hopes to become a major player in the world economy going by its Vision 20:20 20, it is very clear that the most crucial vehicle for driving and achieving such an ambitious goal, apart from the provision of power, is a skilled and competent workforce.

In spite of the more than 100 universities, over 120 polytechnics, as well as dozens of other tertiary institutions in the country, educational institutions have not been modeled to address the rising socio-economic needs of the nation as there has been a consistent neglect of competence and undue emphasis on paper qualification.

To address this issue and ensure that certificates of graduates can be defended based on their output if employed, the National vocational qualification framework (NVQF) was introduced by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to ensure that graduates carry out their jobs to the required standards.

The NVQF is a competence-based qualification designed to ensure training/learning through series of practical, work-related tasks which enables the trainee to develop skills, knowledge and necessary attitude to do a job.

It is a hierarchical setup of skill levels through which a trainee may progress from the lowest to the highest level of competence.

The first attempt at incorporating NVQ into Nigeria’s skills was in 2004 through a partnership between the NBTE and the British Council, but received little support.

The initiative, however, was given a boost when the National Steering Committee on NVQF was inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I in 2010.

The Minister has constantly placed emphasis on the development of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) as the pathway to achieving this goal, evident in her two frontline plans; access and quality in the education sector.

In the Four-YearStrategic-Plan for the development of the education sector, Ruqayyatu identifies TVET as one

wallybabe2010@gmail.com, 08050639900

Tackling the challenges of

of the critical areas that the Nigerian Government is focusing on to address challenges relating to skills development and eradication of poverty.

According to her, the specific areas addressed by the Task Team set up to identify challenges and proffer solutions in this regard, identified the establishment of the NVQF as a key factor.

The NBTE, headed by the Executive Secretary, Dr. Mas’udu Kazaure on its part identified other challenges as; lack of awareness on the imperative of TVET, as many learners and guardians tend to have preference for university education, educational institutions placing less emphasis on the manpower need of the industry, poor manpower planning and implementation, as well as the focus on academic rather than following global trend towards industry based standard.

While these challenges are well appreciated, and even the vision 20:2020 Blueprint and other national policy documents are unequivocal in respect of this challenge, there is, however, no definitive strategy to addressing it effectively.

Employers and professional groups no doubt need to institutionalise qualifications in the country as a top requirement for competent, flexible and competitive workforce, a deficiency which informs the decision by technologybased companies sending their trainees and employees abroad for training.

To tackle these challenges, the Four-Year-StrategicPlan had recommended the establishment of the NVQF, increasing awareness for Vocational Enterprise Institutions (VEI’S) and Innovative Enterprise Institutions (IEI’s), establishing a TVET consolidation Fund, increasing physical infrastructure in TVET institutions, promoting parity between Degree and HND holders, as well as increasing awareness and sensitisation campaigns for TVET. Others, according to the Plan are implementing

“

We must, however, admit that the need to address these challenges effectively is arising at a critical time in our nation’s history, a time when we are facing daunting challenges such as rising insecurity, low levels of productivity, high rate of corruption, graduate unemployment, coupled with the dwindling fortunes of the country’s education sector. the national policy on TVET, establishing Tracer study of TVET graduates, empowering and training of Out-Of-School youths through TVET, reviewing the Blueprint on TVET and establishing more functional Vocational Training Institutions, among other plans.

A report from the Ministry however revealed that these plans are being hampered by follow-up problems, bureaucratic bottlenecks and most seriously, funding.

We must, however, admit that the need to address these challenges effectively is arising at a critical time in our nation’s history, a time when we are facing daunting challenges such as rising insecurity, low levels of productivity, high rate of corruption, graduate unemployment, coupled with the dwindling fortunes of the country’s education sector.

According to the Minister, these challenges require new thinking, new technology and new ways of collaborating; an open innovation approach to solving problems that is based on partnerships among industries, companies, governments research organisations and

Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I

the academia.

Dr. Shakirat Oriyomi, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Association of Proprietors of Innovative Enterprise Institutions also urged government to ensure the implementation of the policy on inclusion of trade subject in schools curricula by states and speed up the process of the development of the National Qualifications Framework (NVQF).

Oriyomi advised the Federal Government to use public private partnership to ensure the standardisation of vocational skills, boost the economic market, and build professionals that would be comparable to any globally. ``Government should take the implementation of the basic Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Fund seriously and embark on a sensitisation drive of the NVQF to reduce the desperation for university certificate,’’ she added.

On the other hand, after all being said and planned, it is imperative to note that for any type of goal to be achieved in the midst of these increasing challenges that

have continued to hamper the socio-economic growth of the country, only radical changes through bold creative leaps can ensure that Nigeria moves with the global train.

Undoubtedly, Nigeria further needs to draw-up an innovation Framework and strategy such as the NVQF, taking into account its peculiar needs for economic advancements and the many talents that have continued to be left untapped.

As the challenges of repackaging our graduates for the daunting task of rebuilding our nation lies ahead, exploring many sources of growth become more significant if the country aspires to meet its developmental needs by building more competent citizenry.

While ensuring a competent workforce, the ideals of the NVQF should be pursued vigorously to ensure that trainees under the TVET and innovations are encouraged and given the opportunity to develop strategies for building a nation that will be at par with others considering its vast natural resources.

PAGE 28

advertorial

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

The President, Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ), National Headquarters, Area II, Abuja.

Sir,

Complaint Over Perpetration Of Blackmail, Extortion, Defamation And Libel By One Mallam Tukur Mamu, The Publisher Of Desert Herald Magazine Against The Hon. Minister Of Fct, Senator Bala Mohammed, Con, Fabs.

I

write on behalf of the Hon. Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed,CON, FABS to draw your esteemed attention to the unprofessional conduct of one Mallam Tukur Mamu, the publisher of Kaduna based Desert Herald magazine.

Mallam Mamu has been serially indulging in acts of blackmail, extortion, defamation and libel against the person of the Hon. Minister and other top officials of the FCTA Administration through several advertorials, stories and interviews in at least four successive editions of the Desert Herald magazine. He has also granted many exclusive interviews to the Leadership Newspaper one of which was published on June 6, 2013 spanning two full pages.

Following his serial blackmail, defamation and libel against the person of the Hon. Minister and the FCT Administration, we feel duty bound to alert you as a highly placed stakeholder in our noble profession of journalism with the hope that you will take steps to call him to order.

In pursuit of his own strange brand of journalism, Mamu seems to have thrown decorum and the ethics of the journalism profession to the dogs. From nowhere, he came up with a banner advertorial on the front page of the Desert Herald edition of May 14th 2013 announcing to the general public that he had virtually concluded work on a 284page book detailing what he described as the rot within the FCT Administration under the incumbent Minister. In the promo he ran on the so-called book, he called the Hon. Minister a sick and corrupt person among others while inviting all and sundry to post their contributions to what he claimed to be the last chapter of the book.

We view Mallam Mamu as a professional blackmailer and extortionist whose stock in trade is moving from one highly placed public office holder to another with cleverly woven tales of nonexistent corruption and scandals. His ultimate aim in doing so is to create anxiety and panic in the minds of his targeted victims before pouncing on them to extort huge sums of money.

profession by bribing such a daring extortionist and blackmailer via the payment of the sum of N15 million he had demanded to kill his make-believe book on his imaginary rot within the FCTA. FOR EMPHASIS, SIR, SENATOR BALA ABDULKADIR MOHAMMED, THE HON. MINISTER OF FCT HAS VOWED NEVER TO SUCCUMB TO PAY ANY EXTORTIONIST AND BLACKMAILER AS THE LIKES OF MAMU WOULD WANT HIM TO DO. The Hon. Minister believes that doing so would be a great disservice not only to the noble profession of journalism that he is a proud member of, but also help in energizing the cankerworm of extortion and blackmail to continue to spread and flourish in our society. The Hon. Minister equally believes that bowing to the cajolery of Mamu and his cohorts will not be pleasing to Almighty Allah, the Creator who watches over every action of all mortals. He would rather choose to please God and suffer distractions and attacks from mischief makers and the gullible than do the biddings of (the) Mamus of this world and their gang masquerading as journalists or publishers.

The Hon. Minister holds you and your members in high esteem as professionals who will at all time stand firmly for high ethical and moral standards, balance, objectivity and fairness in the journalism practice. It is his strong belief that there still abound many credible journalists in the country who hold on to the ethics of the profession.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Hon. Minister has declared his intention to seek redress in a court of competent jurisdiction, he believes that the Nigeria Union of Journalists, as custodians of the ethics of the profession cannot fold its hands while impostors and blackmailers like Tukur Mamu continue to dent the image of the profession. He therefore requests that you use your good offices to investigate the antecedents of Mamu and his activities as a serial blackmailer with a view to placing a disclaimer on him.

Please note that we have enclosed a copy of the letter of intent to sue Mallam Mamu, including transcript, as well as a CD of his telephone In the current case of the FCTA, Mallam Mamu made a well conversation with me during which he demanded for compensation chronicled attempt to blackmail and extort N15 million from the to drop the story.

FCT Minister through my humble self (the SA Media to the Hon. Minister). Mamu’s escapade however, back-fired on him as the Thanks in anticipation of your speedy response to this petition. telephone conversation he had with me on Wednesday 15th June, 2013 was recorded. It was after the recorded conversation that he Yours Sincerely, sent two text messages to my phone asking for payment of the sum of Nosike Ogbuenyi N15 million Naira (as a condition for him to discard his controversial book project) and forwarding his account number with the First Bank Special Assistant (Media) to the Hon. Minister of FCT Hon. Minister’s Office, FCTA Secretariat, Area 11, Plc for the payment.

Abuja.

Sir, it is the Hon. Minister’s belief that through his nefarious activities including extortion, Tukur Mamu has caused needless 21st June, 2012 distraction to many innocent Nigerians and has brought the noble cc. 1. Nigerian Guild of Editors 2. Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria profession of journalism into disrepute. Therefore, the Hon. Minister 3. Nigerian Press Council has no regret in refusing to flout the rules and ethics of the journalism

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 29

Healthy Living

WHO, UNICEF commend polio taskforce, says Ado

By A’isha Biola Raji

T

he federal government organized polio taskforce has been applauded by UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) for aclueving sixty per cent reduction in the spread of poliomyelitis.

The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad made the comment Friday while responding to questions from journalists at a send forth meeting organized in honour of Mr. Niyi Ayegboyin, who was retiring after thirty five years of service in health sector, and as the agency’s Photographer.

According to Dr. Ado, the opening statement of

the Independent Monitoring Board was quoted to have read, “In no time has so much achievement been made.”

He agreed that, most cases this year are coming from security challenged states like Yobe and Bornu, seventy percent of which are from Bornu state. “The seventy per cent cases in Bornu are as a result of insecurity and we are working towards ensuring that is resolved,” he mentioned.

He said in the last six months, cases have reduced generally by fifty per cent.

“Only type one polio is in circulation in 16 LGAs out of 774 LGAs across the country.

Type two and three, which are more dangerous, have not been circulating. This means that, population immunity has improved from fifty five per

cent to over eighty five per cent in polio endemic areas,” he explained.

He however commended the like of Mr. Niyi popularly known as Baba Photo for making the success in the fight to exit polio a reality. “This impending success couldn’t have been achieved by the Directors or the ED but people like Baba hence the need to appreciate him,” he called.

He said the retiree’s effort in documenting pictures and recordings have gone a long way in data compilation which had translated to most of the success recorded by the agency.

Mr. Niyi in his speech thanked God and his family for the privilege and support since he started as photographer in 1978 at the ministry of health.

Dr. Ado Muhammad

How to recognise and avoid indigestion

I

ndigestion is often a sign of an underlying problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, or gallbladder disease, rather than a condition of its own.

Also called dyspepsia, indigestion is a term used to

describe a feeling of fullness or discomfort during or after a meal.

It can be accompanied by burning or pain in the upper stomach.

Symptoms of indigestion The symptoms of indigestion include: Bloating (full feeling)

Belching and gasNausea and vomiting Acidic taste Growling stomach Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen Abdominal pain These symptoms may increase

in times of stress.

People often have heartburn (a burning sensation deep in the chest) along with indigestion. But heartburn is caused by stomach acids rising into the esophagus.

Those at risk for indigestion People of all ages and of both sexes are affected by indigestion.

It’s extremely common. An individual’s risk increases with excess alcohol consumption, use of drugs that may irritate the stomach (such as aspirin), other conditions where there is an abnormality in the digestive tract such as an ulcer and emotional problems such as anxiety or depression.

Causes indigestion Indigestion has many causes, including: Diseases: Ulcers GERD Stomach cancer (rare) Gastroparesis (a condition where the stomach doesn’t empty properly; this often occurs in diabetics) Stomach infections Irritable bowel syndrome Chronic pancreatitis Thyroid disease Medications Aspirin and many other painkillers Estrogen and oral contraceptives Steroid medications Certain antibiotics Thyroid medicines Lifestyle: Eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations Drinking too much alcohol Cigarette smoking Stress and fatigue

Swallowing excessive air when eating may increase the symptoms of belching and bloating, which are often associated with indigestion.

Sometimes people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of these factors.

This type of indigestion is called functional, or non-ulcer dyspepsia.

During the middle and later parts of pregnancy, many women have indigestion. This is believed to be caused by a number of pregnancy-related factors including hormones, which relax the muscles of the digestive tract, and the pressure of the growing uterus on the stomach.

How to diagnose indigestion If you are experiencing symptoms of indigestion, make an appointment to see your doctor to rule out a more serious condition. Because indigestion is such a broad term, it is helpful to provide your doctor with a precise description of the discomfort you are experiencing. In describing your indigestion symptoms, try to define where in the abdomen the discomfort usually occurs. Simply reporting pain in the stomach is not detailed enough for your doctor to help identify and treat your problem.

First, your doctor must rule out any underlying conditions. Your doctor may perform several blood tests and you may have X-rays of the stomach or small intestine. Your doctor may also use an instrument to look closely at the inside of the stomach, a procedure called an upper endoscopy. An endoscope, a flexible tube that contains a light and a camera to produce images from inside the body, is used in this procedure. www.healthliving.com

PAGE 30

Healthy Living

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Avoid risky lifestyle: Prevent stroke or have stroke account

By A’isha Biola Raji

S

troke according to experts is the unexpected loss or death of cells that are present in the brain. This death is caused as a result of inadequate or sudden stop of blood flow to the brain.

A lot of people especially in Nigeria prefer to believe that stroke condition is caused by ‘attacks from enemies’, not knowing that, it is problem associated with blood vessels in the brain.

This notion was cleared by a group of experts at a stroke awareness campaign organized by Stroke Action Nigeria last Week in Abuja.

According to Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, a Consultant Neurosurgeon, Abuja Director, Stroke Action Nigeria and Member, Abuja Brain and Spine Group, “A stroke is sometimes referred to as brain attack or a cerebrosvascular accident (CVA). It occurs when blood flow is interrupted to a part of the brain. “When blood cannot supply oxygen and nutrients to the brain, and also remove waste products, brain cells quickly begin to die.”

Contrary to the belief of many that stroke is a disease of the heart, it has been proven medically that, it rather occurs in the brain with different symptoms depending on which part of the brain is affected.

This wrong perception, (that it’s a problem of the heart), has made its prevention become issue of uttermost importance.

The death of any part of the brain according to the Surgeon is based on the part of the brain blood seize to flow into.

Liver Dr. Ogungbo said, “Depending on the region of the brain affected, a stroke may cause paralysis, speech impairment, loss of memory and

reasoning ability, coma or death.”

He however warned there is a particular type of stroke called transient stroke which comes and goes away immediately to pave way for a major stroke. Due to the danger of having a major stroke, he advised whoever suspects symptoms of stroke no matter how short the time to go for immediate brain scan.

He said, “Whenever stroke is suspected, there is need for patient to undergo brain scan immediately.

If delayed, the brain can become permanently damaged.”

Since everybody, including children, especially those that have sickle cell anemia are predisposed to stroke, he advised the general public to either adhere to ways of preventing it or start saving (stroke account) to take care of the major cost of surviving its attack. He said, “Even a baby in the womb can have stroke hence be born with stroke.”

He called for all hands to be on deck especially the neurologists to train people and create awareness thereby saving lives. “It is important for all hands to be on deck. As a neurologist, the neurologists you have trained well might be the one to take care of you if you happen to have stroke attack. We have to work together,” he said.

At the event, Dr. Ogugua OsiOgbu, Consultant Gerentologist and stroke Ambassador, Stroke Action Nigeria, who has lost both parents to stroke, described the condition as the third leading killer and leading cause of adult disability.

She said, “Due to myth, people result to alternative medicine which is not helping the situation. “Anyone can suffer from stroke, though

eighty per cent are preventable through risk factor management.”

Dr. Ogugua said the major cause of breakdown is that, people find it difficult to identify or recognize stroke symptoms. According to her, “Majority of people tend to overlook the symptoms of stroke due to denial, they think nothing can be done to manage the condition; they tend to worry about the cost of surgery. They think symptoms will go away or they have fear and don’t trust hospitals.”

Since the objective of the campaign is to create awareness on how to prevent stroke and also identify its symptoms, the Gerentologist listed ways of preventing stroke which she described as simple assessment of lifestyle.

She said, “In order to prevent stroke, people need to know their blood pressure, stop smoking ,reduce intake of alcohol for those that find it difficult to stop, know your cholesterol level and reduce it if there is need to, if you are diabetic, follow your doctor‘s recommendation carefully in order to control your diabetes, include exercise in your daily routine, reduce fat and salt intake and if you experience any stroke symptoms, call for help immediately. Every minute matters.”

Describing ways of identifying stroke symptoms, she enumerated the FAST method which will enable whoever is around a patient to also act fast, by checking his/her F-Face: To know if one side of the face has dropped, ask them to smile, A-Arm: Ask the patient to raise his/her two arms and see which one dropped,

S-Speech: Ask the patient to repeat a phrase and T-Time: Is the time to act fast.

In her words, the Nurse Consultant in stroke care and Chief Executive officer Stroke Action Nigeria, a National Stroke Support Strategy, Rita Melifonwu described the importance of rehabilitation and the need to share the experience she gathered in the United Kingdom as nurse to bare on the rehabilitation and helping the victims of stroke live an independent life with the help of physiotherapists and volunteers otherwise known as stroke ambassadors.

She called on wellmeaning Nigerians; speech and language therapists, clinicians, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, doctors and nurses to come out as stroke ambassadors in every state to help out in the rehabilitation of stroke survivors.

She said, “We need more people across the states, in different areas at the grassroots so that people affected, people that need information can have it.”

The centre is however looking forward to the collaboration plan with ministry of health to keep the centres running. “We are currently working with few survivors, we want to have ambassadors that would work in their various localities with the survivors,” she mentioned.

According to Ms. Rita, there are now thirteen groups in each state. “At the moment, we are sending crucial survivors back to the hospital but we intend to be able to take care of them soon at the centres,” she said.

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

International

On the Espionage Act charges against Edward Snowden ANALYSIS

By Glenn Greenwald

W

ho is actually bringing ‘injury to America’: those who are secretly building a massive surveillance system or those who inform citizens that it’s being done?

The US government has charged Edward Snowden with three felonies, including two under the Espionage Act, the 1917 statute enacted to criminalize dissent against World War I. My priority at the moment is working on our next set of stories, so I just want to briefly note a few points about this.

Prior to Barack Obama’s inauguration, there were a grand total of three prosecutions of leakers under the Espionage Act (including the prosecution of Dan Ellsberg by the Nixon DOJ). That’s because the statute is so broad that even the US government has largely refrained from using it. But during the Obama presidency, there are now sevensuch prosecutions: more than double the number under all prior US presidents combined. How can anyone justify that?

For a politician who tried to convince Americans to elect him based on repeated pledges of unprecedented transparency and specific vows to protect “noble” and “patriotic” whistleblowers, is this unparalleled assault on those who enable investigative journalism remotely defensible? Recall that the New Yorker’s Jane Mayer said recently that this oppressive climate created by the Obama presidency has brought investigative journalism to a “standstill”, while James Goodale, the General Counsel for the New York Times during its battles with the Nixon administration, wrote last month in that paper that “President Obama will surely pass President Richard Nixon as the worst president ever on issues of national security and press freedom.” Read what Mayer and Goodale wrote and ask yourself: is the Obama administration’s threat to the news-gathering process not a serious crisis at this point?

Few people - likely including Snowden himself - would contest that his actions constitute some sort of breach of the law. He made his choice based on basic theories of civil disobedience: that those who control the law have become corrupt, that the law in this case (by concealing the actions of government officials in building this massive spying apparatus in secret) is a tool of injustice, and that he felt compelled to act in violation of it in order to expose these official bad acts and enable debate and reform.

But that’s a far cry from charging Snowden, who just turned 30 yesterday, with multiple felonies under the Espionage Act that will send him to prison for decades if not life upon conviction. In what conceivable sense are Snowden’s actions “espionage”? He could have - but chose not - sold the information

A new NSA data centre sits beyond a residential area in Bluffdale, Utah. It will be the largest of several interconnected data centres spread throughout the US. Photograph: George Frey/Getty Images he had to a foreign intelligence service for vast sums of money, or covertly passed it to one of America’s enemies, or worked at the direction of a foreign government. That is espionage. He did none of those things.

What he did instead was give up his life of career stability and economic prosperity, living with his long-time girlfriend in Hawaii, in order to inform his fellow citizens (both in America and around the world) of what the US government and its allies are doing to them and their privacy. He did that by very carefully selecting which documents he thought should be disclosed and concealed, then gave them to a newspaper with a team of editors and journalists and repeatedly insisted that journalistic judgments be exercised about which of those documents should be published in the public interest and which should be withheld.

That’s what every single whistleblower and source for investigative journalism, in every case, does - by definition. In what conceivable sense does that merit felony charges under the Espionage Act? The essence of that extremely broad, century-old law is that one is guilty if one discloses classified

information “with intent or reason to believe that the information is to be used to the injury of the United States, or to the advantage of any foreign nation”. Please read this rather good summary in this morning’s New York Times of the worldwide debate Snowden has enabled - how these disclosures have “set off a national debate over the proper limits of government surveillance” and “opened an unprecedented window on the details of surveillance by the NSA, including its compilation of logs of virtually all telephone calls in the United States and its collection of e-mails of foreigners from the major American Internet companies, including Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, Apple and Skype” - and ask yourself: has Snowden actually does anything to bring “injury to the United States”, or has he performed an immense public service?

The irony is obvious: the same people who are building a ubiquitous surveillance system to spy on everyone in the world, including their own citizens, are now accusing the person who exposed it of “espionage”. It seems clear that the people who are actually bringing “injury to the United States” are those who are waging war on basic tenets of transparency

“

and secretly constructing a mass and often illegal and unconstitutional surveillance apparatus aimed at American citizens - and those who are lying to the American people and its Congress about what they’re doing - rather than those who are devoted to informing the American people that this is being done.

The Obama administration leaks classified information continuously.

They do it to glorify the President, or manipulate public opinion, or even to help produce a pre-election propaganda film about the Osama bin Laden raid. The Obama administration does not hate unauthorized leaks of classified information. They are more responsible for such leaks than anyone.

What they hate are leaks that embarrass them or expose their wrongdoing. Those are the only kinds of leaks that are prosecuted.

It’s a completely one-sided and manipulative abuse of secrecy laws.

It’s all designed to ensure that the only information we as citizens can learn is what they want us to learn because it makes them look good. The only leaks they’re interested in severely punishing are those that undermine them politically. The “enemy” they’re seeking to keep ignorant with selective

The Obama administration leaks classified information continuously. They do it to glorify the President, or manipulate public opinion, or even to help produce a pre-election propaganda film about the Osama bin Laden raid.

and excessive leak prosecutions are not The Terrorists or The Chinese Communists. It’s the American people.

The Terrorists already knew, and have long known, that the US government is doing everything possible to surveil their telephonic and internet communications. The Chinese have long known, and have repeatedly said, that the US is hacking into both their governmental and civilian systems (just as the Chinese are doing to the US). The Russians have long known that the US and UK try to intercept the conversations of their leaders just as the Russians do to the US and the UK. They haven’t learned anything from these disclosures that they didn’t already well know. The people who have learned things they didn’t already know are American citizens who have no connection to terrorism or foreign intelligence, as well as hundreds of millions of citizens around the world about whom the same is true. What they have learned is that the vast bulk of this surveillance apparatus is directed notat the Chinese or Russian governments or the Terrorists, but at them.

And that is precisely why the US government is so furious and will bring its full weight to bear against these disclosures. What has been “harmed” is not the national security of the US but the ability of its political leaders to work against their own citizens and citizens around the world in the dark, with zero transparency or real accountability. If anything is a crime, it’s that secret, unaccountable and deceitful behavior: not the shining of light on it.

Source: Guardian.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 32

International

Commissioner lauds Japan’s community project in Cross Rivers state

of 15 Boreholes and 1 Spring Protection facility in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State. He said the people of the community stand the opportunity to better their lives from the boreholes.

In his speech at the event, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria,

Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, said “People often say water is life and is considered as one of the most basic human needs…lack of access to safe water was extremely severe in the 16 communities in Ogoja LGA, especially in dry seasons when the nearby water sources dry up, people in these 16

communities had to travel hours in search of water”.

Mr Shoji added that “a lot of community members suffered from water borne diseases. That was the main reason why this intervention by the government of Japan came in”… and “We are handing over 15 boreholes and 1 spring protection facility today.

This means that people in 16 beneficial communities will be able to gain access to potable water” He further assured that members of his embassy “are making effort to improve the lives of impoverished people in Nigeria” as “Under the scheme ‘Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects’, the Embassy has implemented a total number of 131 projects since 1998 in various areas such as water supply, primary education, primary health and agriculture, and the total amount of grants disbursed amounts to approximately 8.3 million US dollars”.

The envoy concluded saying “I always think that the achievement could not have been realized without the cooperation of implementing partners, relevant government agencies and, of course, the people at a community level”.

Tradition title holders of the community in response to the ambassador, appreciated the kind gesture and pledge to make the best use of the facilities in the betterment of lives of residents of the entire Ogoja community.

a Pretoria hospital two weeks ago.

The government also said the health of Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, had not been endangered when the ambulance that rushed him to hospital earlier this month broke down and another had to be called.

“All care was taken to ensure that the former president’s medical condition was not compromised by the unforeseen incident,” Maharaj told the AFP news agency.

The ambulance had engine trouble on its way from Mandela’s Johannesburg home to a specialist heart clinic in Pretoria, about 55km away Doctors are “satisfied” that Mandela suffered no harm during the wait for a replacement ambulance,

Maharaj said.

He said the “fully equipped ICU (intensive care unit) ambulance” had a “full complement including intensive care specialists and

ICU nurses”.

Mandela, who was jailed for 27 years for resisting white minority rule, was taken to hospital in the early hours of June 8.

(18 miles) from the town of Banisa, in Manderacounty.

One report said it happened in a camp for displaced people.

The attack follows fighting on Friday between two clans in the same

area, which left at least six people dead. Hundreds are reported to be fleeing.

Police have now deployed more officers to the region.

A police officer in Mandera

Commissioning of borehole by Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Ryuichi Shoji (M), Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Cross River State, Chief Peter Ojie (2nd), and other representatives at the commissioning of the borehole in Ogoja.

T

he commissioner for Local Government affairs, Cross Rivers state, Chief Peter Ojie has said the Japanese Grant project in the state will improve quality of lives of the beneficiaries.

Mr Ojei made this remark at the commissioning ceremony

Mandela ‘getting better’ - Grandson

F

omer South African president and antiapartheid icon Nelson Mandela is getting better and is expected to be discharged from hospital soon, his grandson Mandla Mandela has said.

Mandla’s remarks about Mandela, who is battling a serious recurrent lung infection, came after Thabo Mbeki, who succeeded Mandela as president in 1999, said on Thursday that the 94-year-old Nobel laureate was not going to “die tomorrow”.

Despite both men’s comments, Mac Maharaj, spokesman of Jacob Zuma, the South African president, said in a statement on Saturday that Mandela remained in a “serious but stable” condition and that his health was little changed since his admission to

Madiba

100 Somali police officers to get AMISOM training

By Abdulkadir Isa

T

he African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has yesterday, Sunday commenced training of 100 Somali Police officers.

In a press statement by the mission, it said “The officers will undergo a 13-day training aimed at equipping them with the skills to facilitate future trainings and capacity building exercises earmarked for the force”.

AMISOM’s Police Training Co-ordinator Dr. Benjamin Agordzo in the release, commended the commitment displayed by the Somali Police Force officers and affirmed AMISOM’s continued support and partnership with the force.

He said, “We are here as partners, ready to work side by side with members of the Somali Police Force with whom we share common goals and objectives…Over the course of the next two weeks, the trainees will be introduced to facilitation skills, management of training environments and other concepts central to their work”.

Dr Benjamin affirmed that “This training is part of a long-term plan to engrain a robust training element in the local police force through the training of its own members as facilitators and trainers”.

And it is expected that “At the end of this training, the officers will be able to conduct trainings of their own across the country and this will be a boost for the force”.

Grenade attack in Kenya kills 10 A

grenade attack has killed at least 10 people in the northeast of Kenya, close to the Somalia and Ethiopia borders.

More than 12 people were injured in the attack, some 30km

was quoted by AFP news agency as saying: “Those killed were in one of the IDP (internally displaced people) camps where people displaced in recent attacks have been staying.”

No group has so far claimed

responsibility for the attack.

Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper reports that the suspects are believed to be from Ethiopia and targeted a car carrying a Banisa town commissioner.

PEOPLES DAILY , MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 33

International

Palestinian leader accepts PM’s resignation

P

alestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who announced on Thursday that he was quitting just two weeks after taking office.

“The president accepted the resignation of the prime minister and designated him to head an interim government,” Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdaineh said on Sunday.

Hamdallah’s resignation was prompted by disagreements with his two deputies.

The prime minister heads the Palestinian Authority, the self-rule

government in parts of the West Bank that handles day-to-day

affairs of Palestinians While he is not involved in

diplomacy, the timing of the change comes as a tricky time for Abbas.

Fighting rages after Doha meeting on Syria

F

ighting has erupted in Syria’s capital Damascus, the northern city of Aleppo and in Lebanon, a day after world powers pledged to lend further support to the Syrian opposition.

In Damascus on Sunday, rebels launched an attack on a police post in the northern part of the city, which left four policemen and three fighters dead, a watchdog said.

Bombs also hit the capital, with at least two people reported to have died in a central area, Mazzeh 86, which is home to a members of President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite minority, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog.

In neighbouring Lebanon, at least two Lebanese soldiers were killed in the coastal city of Sidon on Sunday in clashes with followers of a Sunni cleric who is a fierce critic of Hezbollah’s military intervention in neighbouring Syria, a security official said.

Meanwhile, French President Francois Hollande said Syrian rebels should retake zones which have fallen into the hands of extremist groups to limit the success of Assad’s forces.

Speaking in Doha on Sunday after meeting with world powers to discuss the conflict, he said: “The opposition must retake control of these areas and push these groups out.”

If extremist groups “benefit from the chaos in future, (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad will seize this as an excuse to continue his massacres”.

On Saturday, western and Arab countries agreed to give urgent military support to rebels fighting Assad’s forces, and to channel that aid through a western-backed rebel military command.

In a statement following talks in Qatar on Saturday, ministers from 11 nations in the Friends of Syria group agreed “to provide urgently all the necessary materiel and equipment to the opposition on the ground”.

Their final statement also condemned “the intervention of Hezbollah militias and fighters from Iran and Iraq”, demanding that they withdraw immediately from Syria.

Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, announced on Thursday that he was quitting just two weeks after taking office.

Asia & Middle East

US Secretary of State John Kerry is about to return to the region as part of his push to renew the IsraeliPalestinian peace process.

The 54-year-old hamdallah was named to the position on June 2 following the resignation of Salam Fayyad.

Abbas had asked Hamdallah, the former head of al-Najah University in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Nablus, to form a new government.

A new 24-member cabinet under Hamdallah’s leadership was sworn in on June 6, and u pon accepting the nomination Hamdallah quickly pledged to follow a similar path to Fayyad, saying he would leave the government line-up largely unchanged.

Fayyad himself resigned in mid-April after months of difficult relations with Abbas that reached a crisis over the resignation of finance minister Nabil Qassis, which the prime minister accepted but the president did not.

That power struggle resulted in Fayyad stepping down but staying on as caretaker prime minister upon Abbas’s request, with his term drawing to a close on June 2.

Pakistani Taliban claims attack on foreigners

P

akistan’s umbrella Taliban movementclaimedresponsibility for killing nine foreign climbers in the Himalayas, saying it had created a newwingtoattackforeignerstoavenge US drone strikes.

Gunmen had stormed a base camp on Saturday night in a remote part of northern Pakistan and killed nine tourists and one Pakistani guide who were part of a Nanga Parbat mountaineering expedition, police officials said.

Spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan telephoned the AFP news agency to say that the killings were intended to avenge the death of the second in command of the umbrella Tehreeke-Taliban (TTP) in a US drone strike late last month.

“We did it and we claim responsibility for this attack,” Ehsan said in the call from an undisclosed location.

“One of our factions, Junood ulHifsa, did it. It is to avenge the killing of Maulvi Wali ur-Rehman,” he said.

“We want to convey to the world that this is our reply to US drone attacks,” he added.

Rehman died on May 29 in a US drone attack on a house in North Waziristan,themostnotoriousTaliban and al-Qaeda stronghold in Pakistan on the Afghan border.

Ehsan told AFP that Junood ulHifsa was a new wing set up by the Taliban “to attack foreigners and convey a message to the world against drone strikes”.

Ali Sher, a senior police officer in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan province, told the Reuters news agency that the gunmen fled after the attack, which took place at about 1 a.m. local time on Sunday, Sher said.

Reuters said five Ukrainians, three ChineseaRussianandtheirguidewere killed in the attack.

A senior government official said a large number of security personnel had been sent to the area.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, said that the attack took place at a base camp, 4000 metres above sea level, for the western face of the Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world.

He said this is the first attack

against foreigners in that region and the remoteness of the area made retrieval of bodies possible only by helicopter.

Hyder said that this incident puts Pakistan in a difficult situation as the country is planning to host other mountaineering expeditions this year.

He added that since it takes two days to travel to the base camp, officials said the gunmen could still be trying to escape and have sent military helicopters for search and rescue.

Gilgit-Baltistan, which borders China and Kashmir, had been considered one of the more secure areas of Pakistan but has witnessed a spate of attacks by armed groups targeting members of Pakistan’s Shia minority in recent years.

Foreign groups implicated in Morsi jailbreak

A

nEgyptiancourthassaidthatthe Muslim Brotherhood conspired with Hamas and Hezbollah to storm a prison in 2011 and set free 34 high-level Brotherhood members, including current President Mohamed Morsi.

Judge Khaled Mahgoub on Sunday named two members of the Brotherhood, Ibrahim Haggag and Sayed Ayad, among conspirators in the attack on Wadi el-Natroun prison complex in northern Egypt.

The attack took place in January 2011, days after Morsi and other highlevel members had been arrested without charge by the security forces of Hosni Mubarak, and as a popular uprisinggainedmomentumagainstthe Mubarak regime.

The court statement is the first to hold the Brotherhood, the Palestinian groupHamasandLebaneseShiagroup Hezbollah responsible for the attack on the Wadi el-Natroun complex.

The judge said Haggag and Ayad

took part in the attack with “those [foreign] elements who violated the sovereignty of the Egyptian state and its territory in addition to spreading chaos throughout the republic”.

Headdedthat the operations led to the release of “thousands of prisoners who are a danger to society”.

The court\s evidence has been passed to the prosecutor-general’s office, with a request that Brotherhood members who escaped - which would include the president - should be questioned.

A source in the prosectutorgeneral’s office has told Al Jazeera that it will investigate the case, although there has been no official statement.

More than 11,000 inmates escaped during the operation.

Thirteen inmates were also killed, according to Mahgoub, who said the attackers were equippedwithmachine gunsmountedontrucksandSUVs,and hugeearth-movingvehiclestodemolish walls and gates.

Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi

Mahgoub said Hamas fighters crossed theGazaborderonJanuary25, 2011, while Hezbollah fighters crossed into Egypt on January 28. The prison break took place a day later.

Morsi and other Brotherhood leaders maintain they were freed by local residents, and Hamas has denied involvement.

The court statement stems from a case which began in January when a former inmate appealed against a three-month conviction by a lower court for escaping Wadi el-Natroun.

The defendant was acquitted on appeal

by Judge Mahgoub, who on Sunday referred evidence to the prosecutorgeneral.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

International Snowden ‘arrives at Moscow airport from Hong Kong’ A

plane believed to be carrying US intelligence fugitive Edward Snowden has arrived in Moscow from Hong Kong, from where the US was seeking his extradition on charges of espionage.

There is speculation that he might fly on to another country.

Hong Kong said Washington had failed to meet the requirements for extradition.

Mr Snowden, an intelligence contractor, fled to Hong Kong in May after revealing details of internet and phone surveillance by US intelligence.

The Aeroflot Airbus, flight SU213, landed in Moscow at 17:10 local time (13:10 GMT).

The Russia 24 TV channel has said Mr Snowden does not have a Russian visa, so will stay in the airport overnight before flying to Cuba on Monday.

A source at the airline company was quoted as saying that, from Cuba, he would fly on to Venezuela.

Both countries are believed unlikely to comply with any US extradition request.

There has also been speculation

about Ecuador as a possible destination.

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said a car from the Ecuadorean embassy in Moscow, bearing a national flag, was seen at the airport just as the plane arrived.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is currently sheltering in the Ecuadorean embassy in London after being granted asylum last year.

Wikileaks has issued a statement saying that it has helped to find Mr Snowden “political asylum in a democratic country”.

Mr Snowden’s departure from Hong Kong casts further uncertainty over the prospect of him facing justice in the US. On Saturday, the White House contacted Hong Kong to try to arrange his extradition. But the territory’s administration, in a statement issued on Sunday, said the documents submitted by Washington did not “fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law”.

As a result, Hong Kong says it requested further information from the US government.

call on Enrico Letta’s new government to deliver more than empty rhetoric on the issue.

Saturday’s rally,

organised

by Italy’s three largest union confederations, CGIL, CISL and UIL, was the first major protest since Letta’s broad,

left-right coalition took office after an inconclusive election in February.

Italian unemployment hit 12 percent in April, the highest level on record, and joblessness among people under 24 is at an all-time high above 40 percent.

The protesters demanded growth measures and protection for workers who are sent into pre-retirement without a pension.

Union chiefs including Susanna Camusso, leader of the country’s largest union CGI, criticised Letta for what they called a lack of action on an urgent problem.

“We can’t accept these continuous promises that aren’t translated into decisions that give a change of direction,” Camusso said.

The government released $4bn last week for infrastructure projects to create 30,000 jobs.

But Luigi Angeletti, head of the UIL, said the country could not afford the piecemeal approach to policy adopted so far, especially when the ruling coalition is so fragile.

Thousands rally in Italy against jobless rate

A

n estimated 100,000 workers and jobless people have marched in Rome to protest against record unemployment and

Protesters took to the streets of Rome on Saturday

Brazil clashes continue despite President’s plea

N

ew clashes have taken place in Brazil despite President Dilma Rousseff’s attempt to respond to protesters’ demands and halt the violence.

Trouble was reported in Belo Horizonte and Salvador, the two cities hosting Confederations Cup matches on Saturday.

Largely peaceful protests continued in dozens of Brazilian cities on Saturday, including Sao Paulo.

President Rousseff announced several reforms on Friday as she tried to bring an end to days of demonstrations.

The demonstrations began over transport fare rises in Sao Paulo, but quickly grew into nationwide rallies encompassing a raft of issues, from corruptionandthepoorqualityofpublic services to the cost of hosting the current Confederations Cup and next year’s Fifa World Cup. A crowd gathered in the centre

of Belo Horizonte on Saturday and marchedtowardstheMineiraostadium, where Mexico were playing Japan in the Confederations Cup, the eight-team football tournament seen as a curtainraiser for next year’s main event.

Police put the number of protesters at more than 60,000 people.

The clashes began when a group tried to break through a perimeter set by thepoliceandtheNationalGuardaround the stadium. Riot police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

The trouble escalated after dark when car dealers had windows broken, some shops were looted and protesters set fire to a car and several other objects on the streets.

Authorities sent in mounted police officers and fired more tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Thousands of fans had to wait to leave the stadium because of the clashes, local reports said.

Clashes were also reported in Salvador, the north-eastern city hosting Brazil’s Confederations Cup match against Italy.

In Sao Paulo, tens of thousands of people joined a march blocking one of the city’s most important roads, AvenidaPaulista, in a protest against a proposed change to the law.

Thechangecouldlimitthepowersof theFederalAttorney’sofficetoinvestigate corruption and abuse of power cases, critics say.

It was federal prosecutors who were behind Brazil’s biggest-ever corruption case into an illegal scheme that used public funds to pay coalition parties for political support.

Severalsmallerdemonstrationsalso took place elsewhere.

Oneofthebiggestwasinthesouthern city of Santa Maria where some 30,000 people took to the streets. Amongst the issuesangeringdemonstratorstherewas

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff

the slow pace of a trial of those accused overanightclubfirethatkilled242people in January.

Another mass demonstration is expected in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.

TheBBC’scorrespondentthere,Alastair Leithead,sayspeopleappeardetermined that the protests will go on despite the president’s televised address.

Europe and Americas

Albanian activist killed as election begins

A

n Albanian opposition activist has been killed and a commissioner from the ruling Democratic Party wounded in an exchange of gunfire shortly after voting began in Sunday’s tense election.

The police named the victim as 53-year-old Gjon Pjeter Gjoni, an activist from the Socialist Party in the town of Lac, about 60km northwest of the capital Tirana.

Mhill Fufi, a candidate for Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s Democratic Party, and another person were injured in the shootout.

Sonia Gallego, reporting from Tirana, said she had no confirmation about whether any voters had been shot.

Following the shootout, the Socialist Party leader Edi Rama, who is trying to unseat Berisha, cancelled his own scheduled vote to go to Lac. Th e e l e c ti o ns are be i ng held against a backdrop of accusations of vote-buying and voter roll irregularities, sparking fears of a repeat of the 2009 polls which ended in a political crisis.

The vote will see the country’s 3.2 million voters choosing legislators for the 140-seat assembly.

A day before the vote, the Central Electoral Commission remained paralysed, with no progress made in a bid to replace three of the commission’s seven members.

The members resigned in April over a dispute between Berisha’s ruling coalition and Rama’s Socialist-led opposition.

A Western diplomat who asked not to be named warned of a “great risk the results [of Sunday’s polls] would be contested, either by the outgoing coalition or by the opposition”.

EU officials said the vote “represents a crucial test for the country’s democratic institutions and its progress towards the European Union”.

Albania’s EU membership application has been rejected twice in the past in part because of its governance problems.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 35

Strange World

Inside China’s walking school where children march 1,000 km across the country

T

he XuXiangyang Education and Training Workroom, or the Walking School is an atypical educational facility which enrolls Chinese problem children and forces them to walk up to 1,000 kilometers through across the country in order to teach them discipline and make them take responsibility for their actions.

In a Chinese society which leaves no room for failure, spoiled kids, school dropouts and troublemakers risk getting left behind in a competitive race for success. To make sure that doesn’t happen, parents who have exhausted all other options enroll their children in the Walking School, a special boarding school based in Chengdu which forces them to march cross-country all day long and teaches them military discipline. Founded by ex-army veteran XuXiangyang, this correctional facility is inspired by the Red Army’s long march in the 1930s, and has a reputation of turning ineducable delinquents into outstanding members of society. Children between between 8 and 18 are brought here, often by force, and

left to deal with the hardships of military life to hopefully change their ways.

With China’s one child policy and the country’s booming economy, many city kids are starting to take everything for

granted. Showered with gifts by their parents, they grow up as little princesses and emperors and some of them lose interest in school, develop bad manners or turn into delinquents. There is no place in Chinese society for

Photo: blog.voc.com.cn

Dangerous railway therapy practised in Indonesia

W

hile it might look like they are protesting against something or staging a gruesome mass suicide, the people of RawaBuaya are actually looking to cure their illnesses by laying on the train tracks.

In western countries, most people think high levels of electric energy cause cancer, but to the inhabitants of RawaBuaya, in Indonesia’s West Java, electricity is the ultimate cure. From young children to old folk, they all lie on train

such bad apples, so the Walking School tries to get them back on track before it’s too late. In this brutal mobile school, children are not only forced to walk tens of miles every single day, but also sleep in trucks, eat their frugal

meals on the side of the road, wash their own clothes by hand and take orders like good little soldiers. They learn discipline, responsibility and authority. ”By walking with and living in a group, they will be able to shake off their laziness and selfishness,” XuXiangyang says. The struggle to educate his own rebellious son inspired him to found the Walking School, and he is convinced marching long distances helps the young recruits learn about themselves and others.

The price of the program is 2,000 yuan (US$250) per person each month, but for many parents it proves a great investment, as their offsprings start to look back on their previous behavior and acknowledge their mistakes. According to one of the military instructors, “walking is the most basic training, it wears them down and stretches them to the limit.

When they are tired they start to reflect.” Bleeding blisters, severe leg pain and exhaustion will do that to a person. So if you thought Western brat camps were tough, think again.

Man survives saw In stomach

tracks passing through their settlement, hoping the electric energy from them will cure their various sicknesses. Not even the potentially lethal trains passing on opposite tracks don’t seem to be scaring these Indonesians away.

The tool lodged inside Mr Steinmedc’s stomach

A

Photo by EnnyNuraheni/REUTERS

farmer has survived after being taken to hospital with a circular power saw lodged 10cm into his stomach.

Gregory Steinmedc was sawing wood at his home in Campina Mission, Brazil, when the tool slipped and sliced through his abdomen.

His wife, Frida, carried out first aid to stop the bleeding before taking the 56-year-old to the nearest hospital 30 miles away.

The blade apparently missed all Mr Steinmedc’s vital organs and doctors took twoand-a-half hours to remove

the tool.

Surgery was complicated by the fact that he had a previously transplanted kidney.

Doctors said Mrs Steinmedc had saved her husband’s life by not removing the saw.

Dr. Mauricio Romano said: “Coming to hospital was the correct thing to do because one should never remove an object like this before surgery due to the risk of bleeding.”

Mrs Steinmedc said her husband had “seven lives” and thanked doctors for saving him.

Source: oddnews.org

PAGE 36

advertorial

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 3, 2013

THE POSITION OF CONCERNED CREDIBLE NORTHERN JOURNALISTS OF NIGERIA (CCNJN) ON THE MATTER OF BLACKMAIL, EXTORTION, DEFAMATION AND LIBEL BY MALLAM TUKUR MAMU, THE EDITOR-INCHIEF/PUBLISHER OF THE DESERT HERALD MAGAZINE AGAINST THE HON. MINISTER OF FCT, SENATOR BALA ABDULKADIR MOHAMMED, CON AND FCTA PRESENTED DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AT THE NUJ PRESS CENTRE, UTAKO, ABUJA ON SUNDAY JUNE 23RD 2013

D

ear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen we are a group of Concerned Credible Northern Journalists of Nigeria (CCJN) comprising like-minded journalists from the North who believe in free, fair, objective and balanced journalism. Our group holds firmly to the ethics and ethos of the noble pen profession.

As a dispassionate movement, we have been highly disturbed by the recent controversy over alleged blackmail, mischief, extortion, defamation with the Editor-in-Chief/Publisher of the Desert Herald Newspaper, Mallam Tukur Mamu at the centre.

OUR INVESTIGATIONS AND FINDINGS Due to our sincere concerns, we have investigated and asked probing questions about the controversy wherein Mallam Tukur Mamu has embarked upon the writing of a 284-page book on alleged corruption in the FCTA involving the Hon. Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and others. We have thoroughly analyzed the claims and statements, both directly and indirectly, coming out of the two sides. We have carefully listened to the audio of the recorded conversion between Mallam Tukur Mamu, the publisher of Desert Herald Newspaper and the SA Media to the FCT Minister, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi. We have confirmed and established the link between the succeeding two text messages sent to the SA Media

by Tukur Mamu soliciting the payment. The nexus between the phone conversation and the text messages is self-evident.

We have also seen the certified two text messages where Mallam Mamu asked to be paid N15 million and forwarded his account number with the Kaduna branch of First Bank, Plc. Our findings are quite revealing and disturbing because they inexorably point to the direction of deliberate blackmail and mischief by Tukur Mamu, using the Desert Herald, with the aim of achieving one goal – extortion.

We have found untenable Mallam Mamu’s claim through several interviews he granted to the Leadership Newspapers that he sent the two text messages to the SA Media asking for payment of N15 million for advert placement and media consultancy. There is no provable evidence whatsoever to support this wild claim by the Desert Herald publisher. He has not tendered any duly approved proposal for advertisement or media consultancy to support his claim that he solicited for the payment for such services. There is no mention of the words advertisement, consultancy or proposal in the conversation.

AN ILL-MOTIVATED ONE-SIDED BOOK We, the Concerned Credible Northern Journalists of Nigeria (CCJN), have also found the motive behind Mallam Mamu’s trumpeted 284-page book on alleged rot within the FCT Administration as ill-conceived, mischievous, criminal, un-journalistic and defamatory. Otherwise, how can any serious and sincere journalist set out on such a huge project without caring about the need for balance, fairness and objectivity, the pillars upon which credible journalism rest.

If Mallam Mamu was really out for a genuine journalistic publication then he would have endeavoured to seek the other side of the story from the FCTA and the Minister before rushing to conclusion through his so-called 284-page book. If he had ab initio taken such a step, then it would have given his work credibility and balance. But unfortunately, he did not do that for reasons best known to him.

Perhaps, that is what exposes the mischief and criminality behind the controversial book as a tool for blackmail and extortion. We totally condemn this evil tendency. Blackmail and extortion in journalisms are dangerous viruses that must be frontally fought and up-rooted by all genuine professional journalists.

THE COLLOBORATORS IN CRIME For the above reasons, we equally totally condemn the efforts of the Editorin-Chief/Publisher of a particular Abuja based newspaper for ignobly standing out as the only major newspaper proprietor who has openly come out to support this condemnable act of blackmail and extortion. We call on this publisher to retrace his step or we would have no choice than to classify him together with Mallam Mamu in the league of extortionists and blackmailers. As the old proverb says, “birds of the same feather

flock together”. We have not forgotten the recent altercation between the controversial publisher and the Yobe State government over a similar incident of criminal blackmail. The matter is still in court.

And for those persons who may be attacking the FCT Minister because he has not allocated land to them or awarded juicy contracts to them, our appeal to them is to be patient with him because he cannot possibly allocate land to every journalist or Nigerians.

In view of the foregoing, we wish to state our total condemnation of the unprofessional conduct of Mallam Tukur Mamu for serially indulging in acts of blackmail, extortion, defamation and libel against the highly respected person of the Hon. Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed.

Tukur Mamu has committed these criminal and wicked acts against the Minister through several advertorials, stories and interviews in at least four successive editions of the Desert Herald magazine and many lone interviews to the Leadership Newspaper one of which was published on June 6, 2013 in two full pages.

As stakeholders in our noble profession of journalism, particularly in the Northern part of Nigeria, we cannot continue to fold our hands and watch while serial blackmail, defamation and libel are being carried out by Mallam Mamu against innocent persons whose only sin is refusal to pay N15 million ransom.

FCT MINISTER’S DOGGED COMMITMENT TO MEDIA ETHICS We commend the FCT Minister for his courage, doggedness and commitment to the ethics of the journalism profession by refusing to pay the N15 million ransom despite the attendant attacks, blackmail and misrepresentation. We hereby call on other patriotic and dedicated public officers to follow the good examples of Senator Bala Mohammed by refusing to bow to extortionists and blackmailers.

The FCT Minister and his chief media aide, Nosike are indeed good ambassadors of the journalism profession and we are proud of them. We are staunchly behind them in this war against the cankerworm of extortion, blackmail, defamation and treachery. The good thing about this war against extortion is that at the end, when victory is achieved many people who had been silently undergoing serial blackmail and fleecing by the extortionists would be set free from the traducers.

WHY TUKUR MAMU IS NOT A JOURNALIST We wish to state that Mallam Tukur is not a journalist. He is not a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists. Despite parading himself for eight years as the editor-in-chief of the Desert Herald, he is not a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Similarly, as a publisher, he is not a member of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

Publishing a junk cannot qualify him as a a member of the journalism profession. Tukur Mamu is like an unguided missile while his junk paper, Desert Herald is a loose cannon for blackmail, hacking and extortion. Any reasonable journalist hobnobbing with this lone wolf does so at his or her risk. Now that the stage is set for him to appear in court to defend himself against charges of defamation, libel and extortion, all credible journalists should leave him alone to defend himself.

We also have information that Tukur Mamu, in the face of the looming litigation which he personally attracted to himself, is now desperately trying to mobilize a ragtag crowd to demonstrate in his support tomorrow, Monday in Abuja. Mamu cannot claim any right under the Nigerian media laws because he is not a journalist by membership or association. We urge all our colleagues to distance themselves from this impostor who has subjected our noble profession to ridicule.

We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately arrest and prosecute Tukur Mamu on charges of extortion based on the strength of the overwhelming evidence adduced so far. That will certainly serve as a strong deterrent to other extortionists masquerading as journalists.

We thank you all for your attention.

Signed: Mallam Aminu Manu President Abuja, Sunday 23rd June 2013.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 37

100 PDP members defect to CPC in Nasarawa state

By Umar Muhammad Puma

O

Borno state Governor,Alhaji Kashim Shettima, signing attendance register at All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) National Executive Committee meeting, on Saturday at the party’s headquarters, in Abuja.

4000 delegates expected at PDP Congress - Gana

...as PDP govs plan out of court settlement with Amaechi

By Lawrence Olaoye

C

hairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Convention Organising Committee, Professor Jerry Gana, has said that about 4000 delegates are expected to participate in the July 20th Congress in Abuja.

He said “The offices that are vacant will be opened to all interested members of the party and we have already written to INEC to inform them that the NEC of our party has resolved to reconvene the convention on the 20th of July for the national convention.

The only zonal congress that has been affected is the one for the south west which we have now scheduled for the 11th of July.”

Meanwhile, Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Governors’

Forum (PDPGF) and Akwa Ibom state governor, Barrister Godswill Akpabio, yesterday disclosed that the body has begun to negotiate the possibility of out of court settlement with suspended Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

Akpabio, who is also the Deputy Chairman to Professor Jerry Gana’s PDP Special Convention Committee, told newsmen after a meeting that the ruling party is always in a position to resolve issues internally without external icing it.

Responding to question on his efforts at reconciling the PDP governors in his forum, the Akwa Ibom state governor said “Reconciliation among governors’ is on-going. If you noticed, almost all the PDP governors were in attendance (at the NEC meeting), even the recently recalled brother

of mine, Governor of Sokoto also attended the meeting. If there was any PDP governor that was not there, probably he was on official duty for the federal government and for this nation, because I know Governor of Benue state, Governor Suswam is a member of a federal government committee going around looking for investors in the power sector. I think they travelled to Hong Kong. So you can see peace is gradually returning to the fold of the entire PDP.” Talking about Amaechi, he said “I recalled I said, when I was asked by journalists that the NWC lifted the suspension on governor of Sokoto and wanted to know about the governor of Rivers state, I pointed out that the governor of Sokoto did not go to court and the other matter regarding my brother the governor of Rivers state was in

court and therefore was sub judice.

But we are exploring all means to ensure out of court settlement and to bring everybody back everybody back to the fold. I think it is important to note that we are very determined through the PDP governors forum to bring all our brothers together. The intention of our forum is not lose a single governor; instead we want to increase in number.”

Equally commenting, Delta state governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, disclosed that reconciliation is ongoing within the governors on the platform of the party.

On whether the PDP is threatened by the APC merger, Uduaghan said “I don’t think the party has ever been threatened. Like the President said, it is good that we have a stronger opposition but it is not that there is any threat.”

ne hundred members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the weekend decamped to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Keffi, Nasarawa state.

Speaking at the reception held for the decampees of the Nasarawa West Zone, Nasarawa State Governor, Umaru Tanko Almakura, represented by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters, Barrister Sani Yakubun Hauwa, while formally receiving the decampees said the event was part of activities to prepare for the merger of CPC into the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Hassan Lawal, who was a special guest at the occasion said the PDP decampees were welcome into the CPC fold, but warned that there are challenges for the CPC even as he urged them not rest on their oars.

“PDP is a party of hypocrites, there is no democracy in PDP. As we can all see the crisis rocking the party (PDP), this is a vindication of my stance and decision to leave them for good. This is why I am happy for those leaving the party for CPC for onward merger into the APC,” Lawal said.

Member representing Keffi/ Kokona/Karu Federal Constituency, Rep. Isiaq Ahmed Kana, said the event shows that the people are happy with the achievements of the CPC’s administration in the state, hence their formal declaration for the CPC. “This is one of the happiest days of my life and as far as I am concerned, our people are happy with me for fulfilling more than half of my campaign promises in my mid-term tenure. It shows the people have been convinced that the CPC is real and not just a party of promises without fulfilment unlike the PDP which left an empty treasury when the CPC took over,” Kana said.

The state Commissioner for Works, Housing and Tansport, Engr.

Wada Yahaya Mohammed, said the CPC in the state is large enough to accommodate everyone and that there would not be problems integrating the decampees into the party.

Accord Party threatens mass revolt over taxation by ACN in Oyo From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

A

ccord party in Oyo state has threatened mass revolt by the people of the state capital against various form of taxation imposed on traders, commercial vehicles owners/operators by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led government.

Speaking in a press statement issued in Ibadan by Accord chieftain, Comrade Kunle Adeyemi,

the party said it was fast becoming unbearable of a democratically elected government to foist hardship on people who, through their franchise, voted Isiaka Ajimobi into office as governor.

According to him, “The reign of terror visited on inhibitants of Oyo state with the urban renewal development programme of the ACN led government, commercial commuter operators are now compelled to register the vehicle

owners, drivers and stickers with imposed tariff of N6, 500.

“The implementation of the new traffic regime, apart from vehicle licence and road worthiness, would further bring untold hardship on the people who were already impoverished with various taxation and levies imposed on them.”

Comrade Adeyemi noted that “the untold hardship is biting hard on people whose meagre sources

of income had been jeopardised by the urban renewal programme embarked on by the government while life and living condition are fast becoming deplorable.”

For example, a taxi driver who registered a cab with all necessary documents are now being forced to register as an operators. The cab owners were not left out of the new taxation regime. The brunt of such imposition of taxation comes on the innocent people of the state

whose sources of income had been whittled down with various forms of government policies.

Hawkers and those selling by the roadside, Accord alleged,were being clamped down into prison yards without trails, while laymagistrate of such courts sit very late in the evening . Victims of such arrest were then taken to Agodi Prison yard for not being able to effect payment due to close of official hours.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Politics

Merger will broaden ANPP’s chance in 2015 general elections, says Onu

C

hief Ogbonnaya Onu, the National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), says the party’s merger with other opposition political parties will enable it control more states in 2015.

Onu said this while delivering a speech during the party’s National Executive Committee meeting (NEC) only the weekend in Abuja. ``This merger has strengthened the hands of our governors and success in future elections can now be better guaranteed.”

He expressed optimism that if the party continued to take the interest of the nation into consideration ``it stands excellent chance of forming government at all levels.’’

Onu said that the three major opposition political parties - ACN, ANPP and CPC, had met all the conditions prescribed by law and contained in the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended for them to merge.

According to him, it is now left for the political parties involved to fulfil the conditions for the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party.

The chairman urged all the party members concerned to continue to work until their aims and objectives were fully realised.

He reminded them that if APC was finally registered, a lot of work still needed to be done for the new party to grow and come out victorious in 2015. `` Let no one ever think that it will be easy to defeat an incumbent government. ``It can be done; but a lot of hard work will be needed. Challenges will come, our patience will be tested, and our ability to persevere will also be tested.

Onu also expressed confidence that with free and fair elections, APC would realise its goals of producing the next president of Nigeria. ``Serious efforts must be made to ensure that every vote counts and every voter matters. ``Every effort must be made to ensure that environment is made conducive created to ensure elections free and fair.”

He added that with a credible electoral process, “Nigeria will be stronger; the nation’s democracy will grow and paved way for the unity, peace and prosperity of our dear country.”

Onu attributed the success the party had achieved, so far to hard work, dedication and commitment by its members. (NAN)

2015: AD’ll win Lagos again, says party Chieftain From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Alliance for Democracy (AD) Lagos State chapter has said it is ready to reclaim the state from the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)in the next election.

Addressing newsmen at the weekend, the state chairman of the party, Chief Kola Ajayi, said his party has begun serious membership drive in the state ahead of 2015 elections.

He said that the membership registration /update kicked off statewide on Friday, June 21, 2013.

“Our renewed vigor for membership drive is to bring the AD back to its glorious days when it used to be the no one party in Lagos State,” he disclosed.

Ajayi said that the AD would contest in all elective positions in the 2015 polls within and outside Lagos.

“We contested the governorship election in 2007 with Hakeem Gbajabiamila as our candidate. We already have five persons that have indicated interest to contest on our platform” the State Chairman added.

He said residents of the state are tired of the current government anti- masses policies. “Lagosians need a change, we know they are fed up of the present government, they need an alternative, a credible alternative, our party would provide the alternative for them to embrace” Ajayi continued, “We see and experience on a daily basis what is going on in Lagos, especially as it concerns the anti-poor policies and actions of the state government, our party AD is determined to challenge

L-R: Former PDP National Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, former Kaduna state Governor, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi , former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu and former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, during Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees meeting, recently at the State House, Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

the ACN or APC to ensure good governance in Lagos State; good governance must not necessarily be anti-poor or anti-masses before the state is transformed.”

The Party has also debunked the insinuation that it has merged with other parties to form a new political group. Ajayi said that the AD remains an entity recognised

by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He described as false and deliberately misleading propaganda that AD does not exist, or AD has merged with other parties, “AD exists, we are alive, well and functioning, despite billions of naira spent since 2008 to erase our name and identity from the minds of the people of Lagos, some powerful people in this state are afraid of the existence of AD in Lagos, AD is the longest ruling part in the history of Lagos, apart from AD that governed Lagos for straight 8 years between 1999 and 2007, no other democratically elected party has ever done that, UPN under Chief Jakande ruled Lagos for 4 years and 3 months, current Governor Fashola ruled Lagos as AC for 4 years, he was reelected as ACN and who knows, he might be governor of yet another party before 2015” He said if AD as a party has truly gone out of existence, its councillorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State would not have participated in the recent council election, where Itoro Edet of AD polled 6,841 to defeat his ACN challenger who scored 3, 426 votes.

PDP NWC sack, an act of God, says Iwuanyanwu

By Lawrence Olaoye

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founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu, has decribed the recent sack of some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party as an act of God and a divine intervention to save the party.

Iwuanyanwu, who had contested for the office of the National Chairman in 2008 and National Publicity Secretary in 2012, while addressing newsmen at the weekend noted that the 2012 convention, which brough the cked official on board was marred with irregularities as delegates were

not allowed to vote the candidate of their choice.

Iwuanyanwu, who said he is ready to again contest for the office of the National Publicity Secretary during the July 20, 2013 special National convention, as approved by the party National Executive Committee (NEC) last week urged the leaders of the party to get it right this time, noting that the consequences of not getting it right will be very bad as 2015 is getting close.

He said that the decision to sack the NWC members and getting it right during the special convention on July 20 will heal the wounds of 2012 national convention by allowing delegates to choose their leaders

through a transparent, open and democratic process.

While fielding questions from journalists, Iwuanyanwu argued that the position of the National Publicity Secretary was zoned to South-east and not a particular state in the region, adding that any person from the zone, who desire the position can go for it.

He said: “Now that we have witnessed the inevitable consequence of impunity and conspiracy against the will of the people, the proposed convention will hopefully facilitate the emergence of leaders, who are totally accountable to the party rather than owing allegiance to the remote control of some god fathers and pharaohs

with hidden agenda.”

He noted that since the 2012 national convention of the party, all has not been well within the family.

“Things have fallen apart and the party has gone through an unprecedented period of trials and tribulations, conflicts and crises: characterised by disharmony, disloyalty, gross indiscipline, outright rebellion, turbulence, bitterness, rancor and acrimony and the manifestation of strange pedigrees totally unknown and strange to our great party. It is imperative that something drastic has to be done to save our party from the drift and ominous cloud that have gathered in the horizon.

party could assert its authority on NGF. “I personally see NGF as a desirable pressure group. Whether you call it PDP NGF or other parties NGF, they are desirable pressure group. Desirable in the sense that they are leaders of various states and they are elected, they are representatives of their people and they are doing very well for their people.

“You can’t ignore them.

Therefore any party who wants dividends of democracy for the people must carry them along. But that such group should be dictating to the party, no! They are not an organ. Particular section of PDP says they should allow pressure group to build.”

He added that different pressure groups in PDP are given guidelines so that dividends of democracy would reach out to the people.

“So, NGF is a separate body, independent body, autonomous body and whatever crisis they have is autonomous to their operations”.

Speaking on zoning of candidates, Baraje said PDP would follow constitution in choosing its candidates at the appropriate time stressing that the Electoral Act would also be adhered to in order to ensure that the party is more acceptable by the electorates.

NGF crisis peculiar to pressure group, says former PDP boss From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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ormer Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje has said the crisis rocking Nigeria Governor’s Forum(NGF) is peculiar to independent pressure group.

Baraje, who made this assertion during graduation ceremony of 81 pupils of Baraje Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies,Ilorin at the

weekend noted that NGF is a just pressure group which does not has any constitutional role in PDP. The former PDP Acting Chairman explained that the party has little authority it could assert on the Forum since it was not part of the organs of the party.

“The NGF is an internal crisis.

If you look at the PDP constitution, it is not an organ of the party and therefore, there is little on how the

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Ramadan: Sokoto approves N31.5m for assistance From: Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto

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overnor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto state has approved over N31.5 million for the donation of N5,000 each to be given to indigent persons for the forthcoming Ramadan fast.

“The beneficiaries will be drawn from the 63 districts of the 23 local government areas of the state and the gesture is as usual, aimed at enabling them to break their fasts with relative ease,’’ Maidoki said.

No fewer than 6,300 indigent persons, including widows and widowers, would benefit from the annual gesture by the state government.

The Chairman of Sokoto state Zakkat and Endowment Committee, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, said in Sokoto.

He said that 6,420 orphans selected from the 63 districts would get 6,420 pieces of clothing materials worth N6.3 million for the Sallah celebrations.

Maidoki commended Wamakko for sustaining the annual gesture to the poor.

Government had earlier earmarked N56.7 million to buy food and clothing materials for indigent persons during the Ramadan, an official said on Saturday.

According to him, “begging is not allowed by Islam. Even if one is in serious need or a problem, he or she is allowed to seek for help only to solve that particular problem.

“Commercializing begging or turning it into a business venture is abhorred by Islam and nobody should engage in it,’’ Maidoki said.

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News Extra

Lagos lawmakers support President Jonathan on two-party state

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ome members of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) have endorsed the proposal by President Goodluck Jonathan for adoption of two-party system in Nigeria.

Mr. Taiwo Kolawole, the Deputy Speaker, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday that two party system would strengthen the country’s democracy.

“For me, two-party system is ideal for the country at this point in time.

“That does not mean that other parties will be jettisoned, but its

adoption must follow due process of the constitution,” he said.

Mr Olusegun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, said that two-party system would proffer lasting solution to ethnic and tribal polarization of the country.

“That is why we always refer to the period of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC) in terms of political development.

“That was the time when we had two Muslims as candidates; the late Chief Moshood Abiola and Alhaji Bashir Tofa, and nobody

complained about religion.

“The system brought unity to the country in all ramifications,” he said.

The lawmaker said that the system would allow and encourage independent candidates to contest elections.

Mr Bisi Yusuf (ACN Alimosho Constituency 1) said that the twoparty system would be the best for Nigeria’s democracy.

He said that the system would allow Nigerians to discuss issues instead of personalities.

“The two-political party system will give this country the best of

democracy.

“It will allow Nigerians to debate more on issues and not personalities and this would allow the best candidates to emerge,” he said.

The lawmaker said that twoparty system would also allow true representatives to emerge.

NAN recalls that President Jonathan recently canvassed for the adoption of the two-party system in Nigeria, saying that this would be in the interest of the nation.

He made the suggestion in Abuja at the Peoples Democratic Party National Executive Committee meeting.

NIMET cautions on flood From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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head of the much anticipated flood in some parts of the country, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has said that it was monitoring the amount of rainfall in the country to enable it foresee areas that will need more attention.

Giving aN update of rainfall pattern since January to May this year, Director General of NIMET, Dr Anthony Anuforom, warned that Nigerians must take precautionary measures this raining season in order to avoid another likely flood disaster.

The rainfall has not established in some areas as the onset dates have not been attained, he told participants at an evaluation workshop adding that the rainy season will start late June in some areas stressing that it was not surprising to see that the soil moisture was showing water deficit.

Anuforom advised Nigerians to ensure that gutters and drainage systems are cleared of debris for easy flow of water.

He explained that between January and May, reports indicate there has been a slightly higher rainfall than normal in the last 30 years. He added Abeokuta, Calabar, Ijebu Ode, Lokoja and others has recorded higher rainfall than 2012.

L-R: Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, presenting the trophy to Captain of Hasla football Club, Ibrahim Saleh, after the final match of Emir of Bauchi 2013 football competition, on Friday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

Ali Kwara arrests 8 robbers in Jigawa From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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he police attached to the famous hunter, Alhaji Ali Kwara, have nabbed a notorious eight-man gang of armed robbers that have been terrorizing Jigawa and neighboring states.

Parading the suspects yesterday in Dutse, Kwara said the robbers were nabbed after they attacked Gwaram and Sara areas where they robbed and raped wives of their victims.

The robbers who were operating

along the major roads linking Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe and Adamawa states were later handed over to the Jigawa state Police Command .

Kwara stressed that, “I volunteered to be apprehending armed robbers along that axis simply because Jigawa state Governor Sule Lamido has indicated a positive mind towards fighting corruption.

“I have arrested many of them in the past only for them to be released by either the police or from the courts through lawyers and judges.

“So, I have taken the decision to arrest and hand over the miscreants to the state.

“That is why each time I arrest the armed robbers I always want Governor Lamido to know before handing them over to the police for prosecution.

“This is to avoid anything that would warrant the armed robbers to be set free law enforcement agents, lawyers or the authorities concerned.”

However, narrating his ordeal in the hands of the armed robbers, one of the victims whose wife was also raped,

said that, “they came around 1. 30 am and asked all of us to give them money or they would kill us.

“After they carried out their dastardly act, they raped my wife and left with many valuables.”

While the gang leader of the armed robbers, Baushe, said he was forced to join the gang by hardship, as, according to him, “my profession is hunting but when I started armed robbery my mother was so bitter about it because I am the only child she has, I quit only to returned back later, that is why I was arrested.”

Insecurity: NYSC members re-deployed from Adamawa From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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ollowing the current state of emergency, authorities at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have re-deployed over 1,000 corps members earlier posted to Adamawa state, to Bauchi state.

Our correspondent gathered

that with this arrangement Bauchi state NYSC is expected to host a total of about 2,400 corps member for the 2013 Batch B youth corpers.

The NYSC Public Relations Officer in Bauchi, Mr. Artu Markus, said that, “Bauchi state will host the corps members deployed to Adamawa state for this

prgramme in view of the prevailing security challenges in the north east region.”

The statement t further explained that the formal opening of the orientation and swearingin ceremony of the batch ‘B’ 2013 would be presided over by the Bauchi State Governor Mallam Isa

Yuguda at the orientation camp starting from Tuesday 27th June, 2013.

The statement quoted the state Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Nuhu Kwaghe, as appealing to the people to accord the new corps members hospitality that the state has been known for over the years.

Photos Splash

PAGE 40

Representatives of Chaplain, Kuje Prison, Mr Ukwande Samuel (middle) receiving foods and toiletries items from President, Trinity Band Society of the Methodist Cathedral of Unity Church, Wuze, Mr. Uche Oti, and other members of the society, during the society’s humanitarian visit to Kuje Prisons inmates, on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

R-L: Author of the Book, “Mrs. Odunola Rowaiye, member, International Federation of Women Lawyers, Barrister Madubuko Gladys, and Revered Ajibola Phillip Ayoade, during the public presentation of the “Beautifying the Widows of Zion”, in mmemoration of International Widows Day, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

L-R: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Delta state Legal Adviser, Barrister Jim Elueni, Delta state Commissioner for Directorate for Multilateral Relations and Abuja Office, Hon. Gloria Okolugbo, Commissioner for Information, Barrister Chike Oge, and Commissioner for Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Sir Ken Okolugbo, discussing after the Supreme Court verdict on Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel. Uduaghan election as the governor, on Friday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

L-R: Marketing Executive, Anglophone West Africa, MoneyGram, Kofi Akyea, Product Manager, UBA Plc, Evelyn Isen, and a student of Lagos State University, Scott, Mary Adeola, during the presentation of cheque to the beneficiary of Girl Child Education Initiative of MoneyGram, recently in Lagos. Photo: Olawale Rotimi

R-L: Company Secretary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria ( Transcorp) Plc; Chinedu Eze, Chairman, Transcorp Plc, Tony O. Elumelu, President/CEO, Transcorp Plc, Obinna Ufudo, and Director, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, during the 7th Annual General Meeting of the Company, on Friday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, in Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 41

La Roja stop Super Eagles as Uruguay hammer Tahiti W orld and European champions, La Roja of Spain were a shade better than AFCON champions, the Super Eagles of Nigeria as they romped over them 3-0 yesterday in the last group match of the FIFA Confederation Cup, in Brazil.

Also, Tahiti were sent packing from the tournament by Uruguay who scored eight times without conceding to secure easy passage to the knockout stage and will face Brazil in an all-South American semi-finals. La Roja will face Italy in the semifinals.

Stephen Keshi’s team gave a brave performance against the reigning world and European champions, but were ultimately outclassed by superior opponents who could have won by a larger margin had they been more ruthless in attack.

Nigeria almost found themselves a goal down with just 60 seconds on the clock, as Andres Iniesta burst through on the left side of the penalty area before being denied from a tight angle by a low save from goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

In the third minute Spain claimed the early goal they were looking for, as Iniesta fed the ball to Jordi Alba, who beat a couple of weak challenges before steering a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Nigeria regularly troubled the Spanish defence and forced ‘keeper Victor Valdes into a couple of decent saves thanks to the pace and power of Brown Ideye and Sunday Mba, but they lacked a real cutting edge in attack.

La Roja, in turn, created several opportunities to add to their advantage before the half time break, but striker Roberto Soldado was twice denied by good Enyeama saves, while Cesc Fabregas directed

a close range effort onto the post when he should have found the net.

Ideye was gifted with a great chance to level the scores six minutes into the second half when Valdes missed a Musa cross from the right, but the attacker was unable to control the ball or direct a shot toward the unguarded goal.

On 62 minutes the Super Eagles were punished when substitute Fernando Torres doubled the European side’s advantage,

Roberts Soldado controls the ball as Godfrey Oboabona shadows him.

he Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Akwa United have progressed to the 2013 Federation Cup Round of 32 matches.

Akwa United overcome hard fighting Yarma Light FC 2-0 in the Round of 64 games yesterday at the Emmanuel Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala. Striker Ezekiel Mba scored from the penalty spot in the first half while attacking winger, Ubong Ekpai grabbed the insurance goal in the second half of the thrilling encounter.

The Uyo-based side will now

face Makwada United in the Round of 32. Akwa United coach, Justin Tenger said experience won the game for his side against their youthful opponents.

“It was a balanced encounter and the result could have gone either way. Yarma Light though largely an academy but they proved themselves to be a strong force.

They didn’t exhibit any complex playing against a premier league side, they’re impressive and not a push-over.

“I think some elements of experience played a vital role in our victory though the two goals were

indisputable.

“I think the luckier side won because I paraded a depleted side in the encounter. I played 85% rookies who have not tested league action as the regulars were disenchanted with the happenings in the side.

“I believe this hard earned win will serve as a wake-up call on the management to decide forthwith the path the side will follow in this year’s Federation Cup by promptly responding to the cries of the players. Complaint of poor welfare treatment is deafening and is actually affecting the performance of the side even in the league.

By Patrick Andrew

The college team also won individual prizes. Saleh Yahaya emerged the Youngest Player of the tournament, Aliu Mohammed and Sadiq Umar won the Most Valuable Player and Highest Goal scorer awards respectively.

In a reception organised for the college by its founder and chairman of HNK Rijeka FC in Croatia and vice-president of Croatia Football Association, Captain Damir Miskovic, the players were praised for exhibiting rare soccer artistry that made them outstanding throughout the tournament.

Miskovic, who has had over 30 years business relationships

in Nigeria and in the process has contributed to its economy, said at the reception that he only wants to give opportunity to youth, especially those with obvious soccer talents.

He lauded the players for not letting him down stressing that he would continue to support them both in their career and education.

“We are also so happy with the way you conducted yourselves throughout your stay in Croatia.

You are indeed worthy ambassadors of Nigeria. I want to urge you to pay serious attention to your education.

You cannot play football forever.

I also played football but had to stop

minutes left to play.

Meanwhile, Abel Hernandez grabbed four goals as Uruguay’s reserves won 8-0 against Tahiti yesterday taking the South Americans into a Confederations Cup semifinal with Brazil and sending the Pacific islanders home after a third successive drubbing.

FIFA U-20

Flying Eagles to bounce back against Cuba today

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Akwa Utd outscore Yarma in Cup tie

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powering home a diving header from Pedro’s left wing cross.

Nigeria sub Muhammad Gambo could have pulled one back on 74 minutes when he received the ball in the box after great work by Ahmed Musa down the right flank, but he scuffed his effort wide of goal. Spain added a third with two

igeria will hope to beat Cuba today to get their U20 World Cup campaign back on track after an opening day 3-2 loss to Portugal.

Two-time champions Portugal denied the Flying Eagles a great comeback on Monday night, when Bruma scored the winning goal two minutes after skipper Abduljaleel Ajagun’s superb strike had drawn Nigeria level at 2-2.

Cuba too were denied at least a point when South Korea came from a goal down to win 2-1, meaning both Nigeria and Cuba go into their second game of the championship in search of their first points in Turkey.

The Flying Eagles were on Saturday spurred on by the visit of director of finance from the sports ministry Mustapha Mohammed, who encouraged the team to rise to the occasion against Cuba.

The six-time African champions are expected to ring some changes in midfield and attack as they go for broke on Monday afternoon.

Defensive midfielder Moses Orkuma is expected to join the fray along with Ovbokha Agboyi as coach John Obuh reverts to his preference for two holding midfielders.

Sporting Braga-bound Chidi Osuchukwu disappointed against Portugal and may likely lose his

first-team place.

Obuh has admitted Cuba are unknown quantity, but assistant coach Yakubu Maidajin was dispatched to watch their opening game against Cuba and should have some useful information about this island-nation.

The Flying Eagles are on a daily allowance of $100 and a win bonus of $2,000-a-man compared to Cuba, who are paid a daily allowance of $8 each and do not get a match bonus. Debutants Cuba said it was a dream to qualify for Turkey 2013.

They accounted for Nicaragua, Canada and Costa Rica to reach the semi-finals of the CONCACAF U20 Championship, where they lost 2-0 to USA and finished fourth to qualify for the World Cup. They play a 4-4-2 formation and are physically strong and athletic and in striker Alejandro Reyes they have an imposing striker, while Luis Saez is the organiser in midfield.

Results Chile 2 Egypt 1 N/Zealand 0 Uzbekistan 3 England 2 Iraq 2 Uruguay 0 Croatia 1 Today’s matches Nigeria vs Cuba Spain vs Ghana France vs USA Portugal vs Korea Rep.

11 Abuja Football College for trials in Croatia

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leven rookies from the Abuja Football College are currently undergoing trials with various clubs in Croatia after they excelled at the recent invitational tournament.

The academy soccer outfit became the only club from Africa to win the 61st edition of the Karanka Reveria International invitational tournament.

The college team defeated 16 youth teams from eight countries including hosts Croatia, Macedonia, Hungary, Slovania, Bosnia, a feat that was not lost on the other participating teams.

when I got injured. We shall help you in your educational pursuit because if you can combine football with education, you will have a better future.”

Also speaking, one of their coaches, Ahmed Ahmed expressed delight with their response to training noting that they have what it takes to excel provided they remain discipline.

“We are also happy that even as the tournament is 61 years old, we are the first African team to win it. Now most of the players have got the necessary international exposure and the sky will be their limit,” he said

Damir Miskovic, Chairman of Abuja Football College

PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 42

Sports “My desire is to keep giving my best to the country and hopefully, fly the country’s flag high.” fter winning her treble in Calabar on Friday at the All Nigeria Athletics Championship, Blessing Okagbare has promised to total commitment to Nigeria’s quest for laurels at the forthcoming World Championship in August.

The runner, who failed to win a medal at the 2012 London Olympics Games despite competing against some whom she had beaten prior to the Games, said she hopes to sutain and improve

A

Okagbare promises to give her best to Nigeria on her present form ahead of the World meet in two months time.

On Friday, she wrapped up third gold medals in the 100m, 200m and in long jump where she posted 6.68m.

Her winning jump though was a far cry from the national and world record distance jump held by Chioma Ajunwa,

set at the 1996 Olympics, in Atalanta. The multi-talented police women jumped 7.12m to clinch the first individual Olympic gold medal for Nigeria.

Nonetheless, Okagbare was delighted with her performance especially considering that she was focusing on the forthcoming

World Championship but reiterated her resolve to keep Nigeria in athletics front burner.

“I’m happy I won. It’s been a good championship for me and one I will always remember. I hope to keep improving on my performance with God on my side.

“My desire is to keep giving

Bolt pulls out of Ostrava event

Odumosi dreams improved 400m hurdles performance

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joke Odumosi hopes to step up her performance in 400 hurdles before the World Championship in August.

The winner of the Calabar championship and current national 400m female record holder was optimistic she would improve because of her training technigues which he hopes would put her in proper frame for the world championships.

She clocked 56.35 seconds ahead of Ndu Ogonna, who claimed the silver at 56.87 seconds and Ann Nwaogu, the bronze prize winner who made 58.19 seconds.

However, Odumosi of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), who holds the national record of 54.40 seconds set in 2012, failed to match her own record in the championship.

“I know I have improved a

lot. This year is slow coming and I know I’ve improved a lot but I give God the glory things are getting better.

“Every time I run, I try to be more aggressive from the blocks I attack the hurdles and hoping my strength helps me to finish strong.

I’m ready for the world championships,” Odumosi said.

Meanwhile, Henry Okorie of the Nigeria Customs won the men’s 400m hurdles gold medal in 51.30 seconds.

Okorie’s finishing time was, however, a far cry from the national record of 48.50 seconds set by Henry Amike in 1987.

Lucky Iyoha of the Nigeria Prisons Service won the silver at 52.86 seconds, while Steve Fika of NSCDC won the bronze at 53.18 seconds.

J

Blessing Okagbare, hopes to win laurel at the World Championships in August

Taiwo to use `Winner-Takes-All’ squash tourney to re-launch self

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odiq Taiwo, the current national number one male squash player, says he plans to use the forthcoming Winner-Takes-All tournament to launch himself back to stardom.

Taiwo and three others, Longdi Dasbak, Bodam Jonathan and Yalmy Kallil, were suspended in April for boycotting the final of David Mark championship in Abuja over prize money.

The Winner-Takes-All tournament will hold in

Minna, Niger, from July 2 to July 6, but Taiwo like Dasbak has dismissed assertions that the suspension would have adverse effect their colleagues’ preparation and performance at the Minna tournament.

“Since our two months ban will expire before the competition next month, we intend to use the competition to launch ourselves back to stardom. We also want to prove that we are ever ready for any competition. ``Although we have been

my best to the country and hopefully, fly the country’s flag high,” Okagbare said.

Ese Brume of Delta grabbed the silver with a distance of 6.42m while Doris Amadi of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) bagged the bronze with a jump of 6.31m.

away since April, we have never relented on training and preparation for the forthcoming competition,’” he said.

Taiwo said that the brand new cars prize each for the male and female champions at the tournament were enough attraction for any player to participate.

According to him, this is the first time in the history of squash tournament in the country that such attractive prizes will be offered. ``Although I have not

competed in the last two months, but that does not mean I have not being training, I have what it takes to win. ``The prizes at stake will motivate a number of players to come well prepared for this tournament. I believe that it will be highly competitive and this will bring out the best in us,’’ Taiwo.

Taiwo said that with more of such attractive prizes, the game of squash would definitely regain its lost glory in the country.

amaican sprint star Usain Bolt announced yesterday he was pulling out of the June 27 Golden Spike event in Ostrava in the Czech Republic, choosing instead to stay at home for training.

“I want to apologise to my fans in Ostrava, but this year I will not be coming to the Golden Spike meeting,” Bolt said in a statement offered by the organisers.

“Instead I will stay in Jamaica with my coach for an extra week to focus on training before coming to Europe,” said Bolt, who won the 100-metre title at the Jamaican championships last Friday, clocking 9.94 seconds.

In Ostrava, Bolt was originally scheduled to run the 4x100m relay together with another Jamaican star Yohan Blake who pulled out earlier.

Bolt, Blake, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter set a 4x100m relay world record time of 36.84secs at the London Olympics last year.

Countryman Asafa Powell is still listed to compete in the Ostrava relay.

The event’s star list also comprises Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva (pole vault), Australia’s Sally Pearson (100m hurdles), Russia’s Ivan Ukhov (high jump) and New Zealand’s Valerie Adams (shot put).

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

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PEOPLES DAILY| MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

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Sports

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ol. Sam Ahmedu (rtd), the Chairman, Dodan Warriors Basketball Club of Lagos, has expressed satisfaction over his team’s outstanding record in the ongoing DStv/Men’s Premier League.

A delighted Ahmedu said after his club defeated Royal Hooper’s of Port Harcourt 7565 in a week 9 match of the Atlantic Conference of the league, a win that ensured that they maintain their top spot of the conference’s league.

Dodan led Hoopers with 10 points in every quarter of the match, while all effort by Hoopers to reduce the score margin pushed Dodan to play harder and sustain the lead. ``The success story, so far, is credited to the players’ will to yield to instructions and the level of discipline.

DStv/Men’s Basketball

Dodan Warriors’ strings of successes delights Ahmedu ‘’I am proud of my players and my coaching crew; it feels good watching them perform and turning out good results every other week. ‘’However, they are yet to hit the all time greatest Dodan Warriors Team; but if they maintain their standard, they may carry the league’s trophy in the final 8 playoffs. ‘’My prayer is for them to keep up the good work and not see themselves as exceptional

Broner remains undefeated, dethrones Malignaggi in WBA title clash

yet, because once that sets in, they may lose their focus,’’ Ahmedu said.

In another match, Comets Club of Lagos trounced city rivals-- Police Baton-- 61-58.

Police Baton is currently at the bottom of the eight teams in the conference, having lost 13 of the 17 games played so far.

The Police were obviously in the red zone as there were only 11 matches left to the end of the season, after which only one

team in the conference would be relegated.

Coach Mark Balogun of the Police admitted that his team was obviously in a danger zone.

He, however, expressed optimism that his team would work harder and strive to match up with other contenders, saying: ``it is not over yet for us.

Lagos Islanders, in the third match of the day, came from behind to defeat their city

rivals, Union Bank 65-64, to the delight of many Islanders fans at the stadium.

The victory had enabled Lagos Islanders to maintain their fourth position in the league table and would climb to the third if they defeat Union Bank in the second leg.

Union Bank, however, needed to subdue the Islanders in the return leg, in order to consolidate their second position in the league.

Periban attempts to block Bika’s punch to no avail

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drien Broner remains undefeated after slugging it out with Paulie Malignaggi in a WBA welterweight title clash.

Hard hitting Broner silenced loudmouthed Malignaggi in in New York by a split decision to dethrone the local hero on Saturday night. he had moved up two divisions to challenge the former champion and justified that by convincing two judges who scored him 115-113 and 117-111 while the third judge gave it to Malignaggi at 115-113.

Malignaggi threw by far most of the blows in the bout but Broner landed the cleaner, more damaging blows in a performance that must have impressed Floyd Mayweather, who was at ringside.

The new champion provided much of the commentary, sound effects and advice for Malignaggi as he kept up a verbal assault. He even landed a kick between the legs that did not impress the referee.

It was, as expected, an entertaining scrap at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, where Malignaggi has been a local hero for several years. But the champion did not have the power to match his work rate.

Broner, only 23 years old, won his third “world” title”. He held the WBO superfeatherweight title until last year and is still the WBC lightweight champion.

His record now stands at 27-0, with 22 victories inside the distance. Malignaggi’s dropped to 32-5, including seven knockouts.

Malignaggi, 32, who is heading for a parttime career in broadcasting, used to hold the IBF light-welterweight belt but lost three of his five fights between 2008 and 2010.

Ricky Hatton stopped him in the eleventh round, Juan Diaz beat him on points over twelve and Amir Khan won their fight in the eleventh.

Bika wins WBC title, calls out Ward “It means a lot. Periban was a very tough guy. I respect him. Like all Mexicans, he comes to fight.” ameroonian Sakio Bika has finally won the WBC super-middleweight title in his fourth attempt and promptly called out Andrew Ward for a rematch.

He defeated Marco Antonio Periban in New York over the weekend to achieve his ambition. It was Periban’s first defeat as a professional.

Australia-based pugilist, who was born in Cameroon, won the fight on a majority decision after two judges scored it 116-112 and 115-113 and the third called it a 114-114 draw.

Bika, who failed in three previous attempts to win a “world” title, took the vacant WBC belt after 12 hard rounds at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, where Adrien Broner later beat Paulie Malignaggi in the main bout.

Bika, 34, improved to 32-5 with two draws. Periban, 28, fell to 20-1 – and objected strongly after hearing the decision.

“I won this fight, and the people in the crowd know I won this fight,” said Periban.

“He’s not the champion. That’s not justice.

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He’s going to take that belt, and it’s going to be a lie.”

Bika improved to 4-4 in fights that have gone the full 12 rounds. Periban had never been past the tenth round before; a factor the Aussie credited for helping him withstand a last-round flurry by Periban.

“It was very hard to survive,” Bika said.

“I always work hard. When you are working hard, everything comes out right.”

Periban, who suffered a scalp cut on the left side of his head in an accidental clash of heads in the eighth round, staggered Bika in the 12th but could not capitalise.

“It was definitely a strong fight. I showed my best against him, and I deserved to win,” Periban said. “I’m a better boxer, a cleaner boxer. He started the head butts. He even hit me in the neck one time.”

It was the first world title fight for Periban but the fourth for Bika, who had lost unanimous decisions to unbeaten American Andre Ward and Welshman Joe Calzaghe and drawn with Germany’s Markus Beyer in the previous three.

The WBC stripped the title from Ward earlier this year, saying he had not fought

a mandatory challenger soon enough nor shown proof to support his claim of a shoulder injury that had required surgery.

Bika called out Ward for a rematch after his victory. “If Andre Ward wants to fight me, come to my manager. I’m ready,” Bika said.

“I want to fight him. I want to fight the best.”

Earlier, heavyweight Seth Mitchell avenged his knockout defeat to Johnathon Banks, though he was far from impressive in doing so.

Mitchell, a former linebacker at Michigan State, knocked Banks down in the second round and did enough to win rounds after that. He ended up taking a unanimous 12-round decision in a fight that was heartily booed by the spectators for a lack of action.

Banks stopped Mitchell in the second round of their first fight last November, but didn’t seem interested in pushing the action in the rematch.

He hurt Mitchell with a flurry of punches in the third round and scored well in the fourth, but he threw only occasional punches in a cautious effort the rest of the way.

Mitchell was fighting just two weeks after his wife gave birth to a stillborn son.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

PAGE 45

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formally known as AMINA MUSA, now wish to be known and address as AMINA MUSA IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid, and general public take note.

THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE THIS SPACE IS FOR SALE

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

Some Interesting Facts Total fertility rate of the world is 2.59 children born/ woman.

The highest temperature produced in a laboratory was 920,000,000 F (511,000,000 C) at the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor in Princeton, NJ, USA. At least 1,000 million grams, or roughly 1,000 tons of material (dust) enters the atmosphere every year and makes its way to Earths surface.

Lake Baikal is about 20 million years old and contains 20 percent of Earth’s fresh liquid water.

Nearly 70 percent of the Earth’s fresh-water supply is locked up in the icecaps of Antarctica and Greenland. The remaining fresh-water supply exists in the atmosphere, streams, lakes, or groundwater and accounts for a mere 1 percent of the Earth’s total.

The largest meteorite crater in the world is in Winslow, Arizona. It is 4,150 feet across and 150 feet deep.

The Pacific Ocean has an average depth of 2.4 miles (3.9 kilometers).

Earth is the only planet on which water can exist in liquid form on the surface.

Chile (Africa) is the driest place on Earth, gets just 0.03 inches (0.76 millimeters) of rain per year.

There are between 100,000,000,000 and

Leisure 1,000,000,000,000 stars in a normal galaxy.

The lowest dry point on earth is the Dead Sea in the Middle East is about 1300 feet (400 meters) below sea level.

In 1783 an Icelandic eruption threw up enough dust to temporarily block out the sun over Europe.

The EARTH has over 1,200,000 species of animals, 300,000 species of plants & 100,000 other species.

Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only system today that can show your exact position on the Earth anytime, in any weather, no matter where

you are!

Tibet is the highest country in the world. Its average height above sea level is 4500 meters.

Laika (dog) became the world’s first space traveler.

Russian scientists sent the small animal aloft in an artificial earth satellite in 1957.

The warmest sea in the world is the Red Sea, where temperatures range from 68 degrees to 87.8 degrees F depending upon which part you measure.

The origin of the word “volcano” is derives from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.

The Largest Ocean of the World is the Pacific

Say what?

Ocean (155,557,000 sq km), It covers nearly one-third of the Earth’s surface.

Mars has two satellites, Phobos and Deimos. The Earth has only one natural satellite, but it’s the Moon.

The temperature of Earth near the center, its thought to be at least 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit (3,870 Celsius).

Luxembourg is the r iches t count r y of t he world, the gross national product (GNP) of Luxembourg is $45,360.

Earth is referred to as the BLUE PLANET. Because from space, the oceans combined with our atmosphere make our planet look blue.

SUDODKU

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Maternal instinct: Two abandoned tiger cubs are nursed by a pug at the Oktyabrsky Health Resort in Sochi, Russia.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2013

SPORTS LATEST

Confederation Cup: Italy suffer double injury blow

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onfederations Cup Daily: Brazil and Italy march on Brazil and Italy both advance to the semi-finals while Mexico leaves the tournament with a bit of pride.Tags: Soccer, Confederations, Cup, Mexico, Japan, Brazil, Italy Brazil fights off Italy Brazil and Italy advance out of Group A with Brazil taking the top spot.Tags: Soccer, Confederations, Cup, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Mexico Brazil tops Italy in thriller Neymar scored on a free kick and Fred added two more goals to lift Brazil to a 4-2 win against Italy in the Confederations Cup.Tags: Brazil, Italy, Confederations Cup Italy has been dealt a massive blow after the loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup with both Ignazio Abate and Riccardo Montolivo added to the injury list.

In a game which Italy boss Cesare Prandelli believed his squad ‘deserved’ a better result, Abate had his Confederations Cup dream cruelled, his tournament over after dislocating his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Montolivo was sent to hospital for tests after suffering a knock that may have caused “head trauma”.

“The dislocation was reduced straight after and (Abate) is feeling better, but he will certainly not be able to play the next games,” Chief medic Professor Enrico Castellacci told the media.

On Montolivo, Castellacci added: “I don’t want to worry anyone, but it is only right to make absolutely sure there are no problems.”

However, there is some good news for the Italians, with Andrea Pirlo, who missed the game against the Brazilians, a chance to play in the semi-finals.

“We are working on it and hope he can recover soon,” Castellacci said. “As there are fewer players available, we need his character.”

Meanwhile, Prandelli was pleased his side were able to overcome the early losses of Abate and Montolivo, praising his players’ performances against the home side.

In the Brazilian camp, both defender Dante and forward Fred were delighted to find themselves on the scoresheet against the resilient Italians.

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QUOTABLE QUOTE Gov. Danbaba Suntai of Taraba state has lost significant control of his ability to recognize people or speak coherently and most often times drools like a baby.

— US doctors treating the injured Taraba state governor

The bandits of Zamfara One life taken in cold blood is as chilling as millions taken in pogrom -Dele Giwa

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ook around you. Nigeria’s brand of criminality is ‘democratized’.

It takes this format. Lets begin with the notorious flashpoints. Northeast. Here it takes the form of insurgency. A bunch of misguided youth routinely commits arson, murder and sundry crimes in the name of God. Next is South-south.

Here, another bunch of self-guided, fortune seeking not so youthful militants have decided to help themselves to state resources.

Next is Southeast. Here, it is a thriving business of kidnapping and abduction. A well-oiled machine with tentacles in the security services thrived and probably still flourishing years after its infamous leader who went by the name Osisikankwu was killed by soldiers sometime in 2010.

And in the Northwest, a band of barefaced bandits is calling the shots. They routinely unleash their brand of ‘democratic dividends’ on a hapless citizenry. This is chilling.

In two short years, gangsters in Zamfara state for example, have killed more defenseless townsfolk than Boko Haram did in one single attack. This is not hyperbolic. Yet ‘nomadic’ governor, Abdul-Aziz Yari, was jumping for joy that his ‘good’ governance has kept Boko Haram at bay. Our political leaders never cease to amaze me. In ‘the lack of shame’ department, few can equal the brazenness of Yari.

In truant leadership, he takes the lead in the whole of Northwest.

With little or nothing to show as his mid term score card, he resorted to the delusion of ‘good governance keeping insurgents away’ orchestra.

This probably explains why he eagerly told unimpressed state house reporters soon after he led traditional rulers and other public office holders from the state to visit the President, Goodluck Jonathan as his major ‘achievement’.

Zamfara and some parts of

“ 311 689 292 327 454

MONDAY with

Ali M. Ali aliyumaliyu@yahoo.com

Gov. Abdul-Aziz Yari Kaduna are on a roll presently.

Banditry is gradually becoming a way of life. From 2011 to August 2011,these outlaws went from house to house searching for members of the vigilante groups in some villages under Dansadau Emirate.

Ten persons were reportedly killed in the attack.

The criminals were said to be on a revenge mission after some of them were said to have been extrajudicially executed by members of the local vigilante groups mobilized by the people of Dansadau and environs to halt incessant robbery cases.

Emboldened they returned to what has become to them conquered territory, in October of that same year and killed 23 persons and injured many others

in the same village; they made away safely.

January 2012: Not less than 15 traders were ambushed and killed, their corpses burnt in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State, allegedly by the same gang.

June 2012: The same gang returned to Dansadau; they went from house to house, killing the residents and setting their houses ablaze unchallenged for hours by security agencies. 27 residents were killed in that orgy of bloodbath July 2012: Armed robbers said to number about 50 invaded some two villages in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State, looting and killing 11 persons.

October, 2012: Dogon Dawa was thrown into mourning as 24 people lay dead after a rescue mission by armed robbers to free some of their arrested comrades in crime.

Last Tuesday the robbers returned with greater vengeance.

In a dare devil operation that lasted for more than five hours, the bandits killed at will sparing no one, unrestrained by age or gender. The people of Kizara village may have heard of nightmare but were stranger to it. Now they know what it is. It is criminals riding motorcycles and raining bullets.

Like the previous attacks, this last one was a revenge attack on vigilante groups.

I shudder to think that Yari still thinks that he is doing ‘good’ governance in his troubled state.

Unless there is a different Zamfara from the one these miscreants are kings, the governor and his government should really tackle

And in the Northwest, a band of barefaced bandits is calling the shots. They routinely unleash their brand of ‘democratic dividends’ on a hapless citizenry. This is chilling. In two short years, gangsters in Zamfara state for example, have killed more defenseless townsfolk than Boko Haram did in one single attack 7458 1765 9046 1969 0344

this menace headlong. Unlike the Boko Haram menace, the Zamfara killings are the handiwork of common criminals driven solely by profits.

From the dawn of time, criminals have always dared the state and they almost always and invariably get crushed. They are not ideologues. They are simply attracted by the ease with which they could make money from the villages and villagers in those areas. The state government under Yari should, as a first step, take full responsibility of protecting the citizens and not pass the buck.

The security agencies, on their part, should intensify intelligence gathering. They must protect and keep the identity of informants,a secret. Otherwise, these robbers may turn out worse than the confused ideologues pretending to wage a crusade against infidels.

Bayero Golden Jubilee Last week, the venerated emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, celebrated a milestone. He clocked 50 years on the throne. It was remarkable. I recall the very first time I interviewed the monarch some 20 years ago. I was the news editor of the state run Triumph in 1993, and hot headed. The emir had just clocked 30 years on the throne and had welcomed us, the Triumph team which I led to his palace. Looking back now, some of the questions I asked the emir were quite provocative and he answered them forthrightly with an amused tinge in his eyes.I pointedly asked the emir how many kids he had at the time. My colleagues in the team stared at me disapprovingly, but the emir answered by saying “All the people are our children.”

At the end of the session we collectively prayed for the emir wishing him long healthy life. And I asked that I hope to return to the palace when he clocked 50 years on the throne for another interview session.

Late last year the emir received the management of this newspaper, which I was privileged to lead ahead of the official opening of our Kano office. Again the emir was his usual warm self. I also reminded him of the encounter 19 years earlier and the quest for an exclusive interview when he marks 50 years on the throne.

Despite his advanced age and the vagaries of life,the emir has held himself stoically and dignified.

The monarch has been the face of stability in the otherwise topsy-turvy politics of Kano. My generation has not known any ruler with such profound influence in the last half a century than Bayero.

Allah ya ja zamanin Sarki!

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141