Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday 24, September, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 31

Monday, September 24, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Zhul-Qadah 7, 1433 AH

N150

FR ONT P AGE COMMENT FRONT PA

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Ban debates, kill democracy

ast week, the Attorney-General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), spoke down to the nation, and with a strong warning to stop forthwith the debate on the onshore offshore dichotomy in revenue sharing.

Reopening and continuing with the debate, he said, would overheat the polity and undermine the institutional integrity and constitutional role of the nation’s Supreme Court which had already ruled on the matter as well as the

sanctity of our judicial system. For him, the resuscitation of the debate is a deliberate attempt by some Nigerians to elevate the dichotomy matter to the level of an urgent national issue for the purpose of generating acrimonious wrangling in the nation. With the Supreme Court judgment on it, the minister said, the dichotomy matter was dead and buried, and must be left as such.

In all countries of the world, though in varying degrees, those in power try in all sorts of ways to, limit the information that

gets to the public about how the country’s affairs are being governed, or block opportunities for a better understanding by the public of the country’s situation in order to make more difficult greater unity among the people, or to check the spread of critical ideas and or progressive thoughts that question existing arrangements and conventional wisdoms.

Some do so crudely, and some in such subtle ways that the public suspect little or nothing.

Contd on Page 12

How suicide bomber struck Bauchi church 10 feared killed, several injured

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi, with agency reports

E

yewitnesses said severed limbs of victims littered the premises of St. John’s Catholic Cathedral Bauchi after worshippers were hit by a suicide bomber yesterday morning.

Though officials confirmed the killing of three persons, witnesses said they counted about ten bodies including women and children at the scene of the blast even as there were fears that some of the injured who were receiving treatment in Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX 23rd Sept., 2012

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.7 251.7 201 0.2867 41

S ELLING 155.7 253 202 0.3067 41.5

PARALLEL RATES As the fuel scarcity continues to bite, several Conoil tankers were found tucked away in a remote part of Katampe District of Abuja yesterday. Repeated calls by Peoples Daily to Mike Oduniyi, of Conoil’s corporate communication unit to explain why the tankers were there, were unanswered yesterday.

PHOTO: MAHMUD ISA

Nasarawa gov’s convoy in road crash >> PAGE 3

PHCN: BPE sells power generation coys tomorrow >> PAGE 2

EURO £ RIYAL $

North-west zone demands 10 new states >> PAGE 10

BUYING 202 257 40 158

S ELLING 204 259 42 160

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

18-19

Report

24-25

Law

26

Education 27-28 Health

PHCN: BPE sells power generation coys tomorrow

By Abdulwahab Isa

B

aring last minute changes, the seven bidders jostling for ownership of successor power generation companies created out of the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) will have their financial bids opened in public tomorrow (Tuesday) at an exercise to be conducted by Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

The firms seeking to take over the power generation business are Phoenix Electricity, Transcorp Consortium and Ampiron Power Distribution Limited, which seek to take over the Ughelli Power Com-

pany; CMEC Energy and GPN Nestoil Power Services Limited eyeing Sapele Power Company as well as Ampiron Power Distribution Limited, Mainstream Energy Solution Limited and North South Power Company Limited which have been pre-qualified for Geregu, Kainji and Shiroro Power companies, respectively.

BPE Head, Corporate Communications Chukwuma Nwokoh in a statement yesterday restated that the financial bids opening ceremony will hold tomorrow as scheduled.

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) had announced the results of the techni-

cal evaluation conducted for the 25 bids received by BPE for the six generation companies.

Seven bidders were said to have successfully met the cut-off mark of 750 during the technical evaluation process and were prequalified to have their financial bids opened on September 25.

Tomorrow’s exercise would be transmitted live.

Efforts to get update information from BPE on its preparation were futile as the Director General, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa could not reached on phone yesterday.

Meanwhile, the BPE has effected a change in the date for financial bids opining in respect to sale of distribution companies.

Nwokoh in a statement in that regard said the adjustment is in order to give bidders the required

15 working days to procure and submit their post-qualification security in accordance with the provisions of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the sale of successor distribution companies.

A new date of Tuesday, October 16, 2012 has been fixed for the opening of the financial bids of investors for the distribution companies whose technical proposals met the benchmark. The previous date for the event was October 10, 2012.

The shift in date was necessitated by the time lost from the postponement of the last meeting of the NCP from September 13, 2012 to September 18, 2012. BPE however said that all other dates in the timeline for the privatisation of the successor companies remain unchanged.

29-30

N5000 note: Jonathan has a listening ear, says PDP, Page 37

International 31-34 Discourse

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Victims of the Saint John Catholic Church suicide bomb attack receiving medical treatment, yesterday at Abubkar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, in Bauchi.

How suicide bomber struck Bauchi church Contd from Page 1 hospitals were in critical conditions.

Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State Chapter, Rev. Lawi Pokti, who spoke few hours after the blast said some of the injured were battling between life and death.

Already police has confirmed that one of the injured, a nine years old boy died on the way to the hospital.

The bomber was said to have come to the church situated opposite the Tafawa Balewa Stadium at about 9 am, which was service period in an Opel Vectra and detonated the bomb at the parking lot after security personnel at the church prevented him from getting into the main hall.

Witnesses said the explosive tore through the suicide bomber killing him and other around including children even as Police confirms that about 46 persons

were seriously injured.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Hassan Mohammed Auyo, who confirmed the attack, said among those injured were two policemen deployed to protect the church.

He said preventive measures taken at the church stopped the bomber from reaching his intended targets fully.

“When the suicide bomber targeted the church, he was prevented by the measures put in place. Instead he detonated his explosives in the parking lot killing one person, and among the injured victims taken to the hospital a boy between the ages of six to eight died while receiving treatment,” the policeman said.

However, a witness who identified himself as Yakubu Adamu said he saw the attack from outside the gate of the church. He told newsmen that he counted about ten bodies after the attack. Adamu also said he saw

severed limbs of the victims around within the scene.

“I saw about ten bodies on the ground. I saw legs and hands scattered around the scene,”Adamu said.

Another witness who spoke to Peoples Daily said the sound of the explosive was deafening adding that residents have been gripped by fear because of the attack.

“We came out from training inside the stadium we just passed the church when we hard aloud sound followed by fire and smoke, we have to run faster for our dear life,” he said.

As at the time of filing this report, security forces and rescue agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had already cordoned off the area to enhance rescue operations.

NEMA spokesperson, Yushua Shuaib, who confirmed the incidence, told newsmen that there were deaths and injuries.

“Apart from the suspected suicide bomber who was killed by the explosion, a woman and a child also lost their lives after the incident. Twenty two other injured victims are currently receiving medical treatment in hospital in Bauchi.” Shuaib, said in a statement.

Narrating the incidence, Chairman of the Bauchi CAN, Rev. Pokti said the attack took place when the first set of worshippers was leaving the church.

“The incident occurred around 8.55am when the first set of worshippers were coming out of the church and the second session was about to start. The suicide bomber came in an Opel saloon car but could not get through to the church premises so he hit the barricade at the gate and detonated his explosive device. He and three worshipers died while over 40 others were injured. Some of those injured are battling between life and death,” he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 3

Crash: Three dead in Nasarawa gov’s convoy …Gov’s son wounded T

FCT begins airlift of pilgrims September 27

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

T

hree persons including an aide of the Nasarawa state governor Tanko Al-makura have lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident when the official Hilux van they were travelling in had a head-on collusion with a heavy duty vehicle along the

Nasarawa- Toto road.

The son of the governor, Khalid Al-makura narrowly escaped dead as he sustained serious injuries in the accident.

The victims were conveying the governor’s son from Loko, where Al-makura has gone to deliver relief materials to victims of flood in the area.

Those who lost their lives in the crash include Khalid’s police orderly, one of the governor’s aides, popularly called Zaki and the driver of the van.

Confirming the incident to Peoples Daily yesterday, the Director of Press Affairs (DOPA) to Governor Al-makura, Mallam

Iliyasu Ali Yakubu, described the accident as shocking, adding that Khalid was rushed to the Keffi Federal Medical Center where he is presently receiving treatment.

Governor Al-makura was on his way back from an official function in Loko when the accident occurred.

Injured victims of St. John's Catholic Church bomb attack receiving treatment, yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

Anti-Islam movie: Ogun Muslims protest

By Muhammad Nasir

M

uslims in Ogun State yesterday showed their grievances by protesting over the movie released in the United States of America, which insulted the person of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), resulting to the death of the United States Ambassador in Libya and protests around the Muslims world.

A report monitored by our reporter yesterday on the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa service) noted that Islamic Scholars, Abdullahi Abubakar and

Ustaz Abdul’azeez Muhammad in Ogun state, said the protest was carried out peacefully without crisis between Muslims and Christians.

According to Ustaz Abdul’azeez Muhammad “Muslims will not tolerate any kind of insult that will tarnish the image of prophet Muhammad (SAW). Muslims will continue to show their anger as far as such incidents will continue.”

He added that the producer of the video, Sam Bacile, an alleged Israeli-American living in California, should have

concentrated on the teachings of his religion rather than causing trouble around the world.

It would be recalled that Muslims around the world have been protesting over the movie that insulted Prophet Muhammad (PBOH), which began by the attack on the U.S Embassy in Benghazi, suspected to be carried out by Al Qaeda elements.

The movie sparked off protest in Egypt, where protesters set American flags ablaze near the American Embassy.

The U.S Embassy in Nigeria fears that terrorists in Nigeria

may latch on the spreading rage against the movie to attack its citizens as security conditions in the country remained fluid and unpredictable.

“All U.S citizens should use caution and discretion when deciding to attend large functions or visit establishments identified as potential targets, and respond appropriately if they detect suspicious activities.”, the embassy warned.

It would be recalled that there were also protests in Zaria, as well as Lagos, Ibadan, Jos, Katsina and Ogun State.

Arik Air stalemate unnecessary, says Cardinal Okojie From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

F

ormer Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Cardinal Anthony Okogie has described the umpasse between the ministry of Aviation and the federal airport Authority of Nigeria which resulted to the grounding to of Arik airline as unnecessary.

Okogie while lamenting that the action was geared towards the killing of one of the only viable indigenous air carriers in the country, at the weekend, expressed regret that the very few airlines

still in operation were being threatened by all sorts of flimsy excuses by those at the corridors of power to frustrate them out of business.

The Cardinal Okogie yesterday in a statement made available to news men in Benin through the Director of Social Communications of the Benin Metropolitan See of the Catholic Church, Very Rev. Father Stephen Okojie, regretted that the very few airlines still in operation were being threatened by all sorts of flimsy excuses by those at the corridors of power with a view to frustrating them out of business.

According to him, “Nigerians find it difficult to go by the road, sea and the only viable means of transportation is being threatened by the powers that be. Now that they are threatening the few existing airlines in the country, the plight of the common Nigerians that travels by air is now worsened”.

“What do our leaders stand to gain by this? Whatever it maybe, they should remember that we came to this world naked and so shall we leave”.

“Is there any reason for us as a people to trust our leaders with the

so called acclaimed love for Nigeria? Why should we trust our present government propaganda on infrastructure development especially with the billions of Naira being pumped into the aviation industry?

“How do we reconcile the present grounding of the operations of the only viable Airline – Arik with the outrageous amount that the Ministry of Aviation is spending on the modernization of our Airports all over the country?

Who will use the Airports if the present Airlines are grounded for flimsy excuses?”

he first batch of FCT pilgrims for the 2012 Hajj would be airlifted from the Nnamdi Azikwe IInternational airport to the holy land on Sept.

27, an official said on Sunday.

The acting Director, FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Surajo Faskari, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that 550 pilgrims would be involved, adding that more than 3,000 pilgrims from the FCT would perform this year's Hajj.

The director said that arrangements had been concluded with the airline operators to ensure a smooth and hitch-free exercise.

Acccording to him, Kabo and Max Airlines will be involved in the transportation of FCT pilgrims to the holy land.

The director said that the board was committed to complying with the 30-day period given by the Saudi authorities for the airlift of the pilgrims to the holy land.

Faskari, also said that the board had just concluded a seminar for the officials and ad hoc volunteers.

“The programme was to enlighten the officials, especially those who are going for the first time on what hajj entails and how to handle and also educate the pilgrims.” (NAN)

Nigeria’s 20 economic dream depends on rail, energy — NLC From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

N

igeria Labour Congress (NLC) has noted that except the rail system of transportation and energy sector are made to function effectively, Nigeria’s dream of becoming one of the 20 leading economies of the world might become a mirage.

The Vice President of the NLC, Comrade Isa Aremu, made this submission during an interview with newsmen in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital over the weekend.

He said: “There cannot be any meaningful economic development or industrialization in the country without electrification and therefore I urge the federal government to fix the energy sector and the rail transportation system."

The NLC boss lamented that the private sector of the economy was virtually dead, stressing that the nation’s industries were not competitive, as much money was being spent while the cost of production rising.

Aremu urged the federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to concentrate on an appropriate monetary policy and lower interest rate so that Nigerians could borrow money to grow the economy.

He added that the NLC leadership had kept to its mandate by providing the voice not only for Nigerian workers but for the Nigerian people.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

THE PAGE 4 REPORT

By Abdu Labaran Malumfashi

I

n the space of three weeks, President Goodluck Jonathan blamed the media for his government’s abysmal performance to date.

On August 23 2012, while signing performance contracts with ministers at the State House Council Chambers, the president had lamented that “Before, the media used to be the voice of the ordinary people, but now, the media is the voice of those who own the media houses and those who owned the media houses have private jets and those who own private jets are not ordinary people.”

And on 18 September 2012, while speaking in Abuja at a lecture organised as part of activities marking this year’s independence anniversary, the president blamed the “political media” for overheating the polity.

The president has this to say about the media, “Take the media environment for instance.

We signed the Freedom of Information bill into law. It became the Freedom of Information Act but are we using it in the way it we are supposed to use it? Are some of us not abusing the privileges? The media environment that should have helped our transformation agenda are being used negatively. These are some of the issues we need to address.

“I believe political security is a big issue. There is this axiom that the pen is mightier than the sword. The sword is used to kill and destroy but what we use the pen to do is also very critical.

When you have society with these unending political conflicts, it is there on the media whether print, electronic or social media. It brings a lot of insecurity to the system and sometimes, people begin to doubt your government.”

“I believe it is not just the media. Like when we talk about the Boko Haram, we have political Boko Haram, religious Boko Haram and criminal Boko Haram. So, also in the media, you have the professional media and the political media.

“That is why I talk about the political media. Because of the interest of 2015, whatever you do is immaterial.

The government must be brought down”.

But, are we not placing the blame in the wrong direction, Mr. President? Is the media and critics responsible for the acute insecurity in the land, or the nauseating corruption in high places in the government, such as in the subsidy and pension scams? Is the media and or critics responsible for the comatose infrastructure in the country, or did they advise the President to remove fuel subsidy; an action that was universally condemned and protested against? Were they behind the controversial proposal for N5000 note, also roundly condemned by most but those who stand to gain by the suffering of fellow Nigerians? Or even the 2012 Presidential National Honours list, which was no less

Image problem: It is not the media, Mr. President To underline the importance of the media, the third US President and first to be inaugurated in the then new capital, Washington DC, Thomas Jefferson once said, “I would rather have a free press and no government, than a government and no free press.” He was President from 1801 to 1809.

Long before then, the lofty position of the media was acknowledged by the famous British statesman and philosopher, Edmund Burke, who coined the phrase Fourth Estate of the Realm, in reference to the media. He called the Reporter’s Gallery in the parliament as the Fourth Estate.

And in Spanish language, the media is called el cuarto poder (the 4th power), because it is considered to have as much power as the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. So why is our educated President, Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, uncomfortable with the Media?

President Goodluck Jonathan condemned by most Nigerians.

The list is endless, Mr. President.

But if you want to see the whole picture sir, just stand before a big mirror with all members of your cabinet, both formal and informal, and you cannot fail to locate where the problem of your government lies. You will discover, Mr. President, that the media or critics have absolutely nothing to do with the problem of your government, because no matter how hard they may try at mischief, they cannot deny you the credit where you deserve it, or vice versa. After all, when you were ‘elected’ with a landslide, the media and those described by Dr. Reuban Abati’ as cynics, the pestle-wielding critics, the unrelenting, selfappointed activists, the idle and idling, twittering, collective children of anger, the distracted crowd of Facebook addicts, the BBM-pinging soap opera gossips of Nigeria’ shouted to high heavens celebrating your victory in “the freest and fairest election since June 12”.

Lest you forget, the performance contracts you

President, NGE, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye needlessly signed with your ministers on August 23 2012 was purely on account of the woeful performance of most of them. And since you lack the courage to do the right thing, which is to boot out the nonperforming ones, you have to accept the criticisms that come your way through the media.

After all, the ministers had already sworn an oath on the Quran and the Bible when they were appointed in the first place.

In a piece titled, “How they govern us”, which he wrote in 2010 when he was the chairman of the editorial board of the Guardian newspapers, Dr. Reuben Abati had this to say about President Jonathan’s romance with Facebook and that year’s National Honours list; “President Jonathan has written that he had to respond to pressures mounted by visitors to his Facebook page. Oh God, are we now running a Facebook government in this country? This may be a good advertisement for the rapidly expanding new media, and participatory democracy, but it

also has its downside. Now that President Jonathan listens more to Facebook postings, his Facebook page may crash shortly with every Nigerian going there to voice their concerns. But did he need Facebook to see through the folly of official inconsistencies?

Curiously, the same people who praised the President for imposing a football ban, are also now saying the reversal of that decision is very wise. Ni-gerians!”

Then, “The National Honours list is out; it is a collection of controversial choices with the exception of a few. I think for example that Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala deserves recognition. Professor Tam David-West also, but he ruined his case by saying a CON is too small for him. He obviously wants a GCFR like President Jonathan. Why? Don’t you know he taught the same teachers who awarded Jonathan his Ph.D, (!) and by the time he served as Federal Minister, where was Goodluck Jonathan? That is what you get

when the national honours list is turned into a joke with such names as Patricia Etteh and other serving public officials.

But what did we expect?

Namadi Sambo got a GCON the day he became Vice President (is he still in this country?), and in “How Jonathan got his GCFR” (June 11), I had lamented the devaluation of national honours. These days, when good people are honoured nobody takes them seriously because of the kind of company in which they are placed. Those who govern Nigeria must learn to think before they act.

Now, as Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the President, Dr. Abati has this to say about the President’s critics in a piece titled, “The Jonathan they don’t know”; “They’ in this piece refers to all the cynics, the pestlewielding critics, the unrelenting, self-appointed activists, the idle and idling, twittering, collective children of anger, the distracted crowd of Facebook addicts, the BBMpinging soap opera gossips of Nigeria, who seem to be in competition among themselves to pull down President Goodluck Jonathan.

“This army of sponsored and self-appointed anarchists is so diverse; many of them don’t even know why or how they should attack the President”.

And, “President Jonathan is a clever, methodical and intelligent man, who is very adept at wrong footing all the persons who make an effort to second-guess or under-estimate him. He understands the complexity of Nigeria. He is acutely conscious of the historicity of his emergence as Nigeria’s No. 1. He knows that he is here as the leader of all Nigerians. He knows that he is a representative of all common persons, particularly the children of all blue collar workers who never wore shoes or got a chance to eat threesquare meals, and whose mothers and aunties could never be part of policy-making processes”.

And, the president still thinks the media and critics are his problem.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Tambuwal condemns Bauchi blast

By Lawrence Olaoye

S

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has condemned the suicide attack targeted at St. John's Catholic Cathedral in Bauchi, saying the attack was ignoble, wicked and horrendous.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, the Speaker urged the security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of the violent act are brought to justice.

He said the gains recorded by the security agencies in their battle against terror in the country in recent weeks should be built upon in order to protect the citizens at all times.

While condoling with the victims of the blast, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to be more prayerful and to provide useful information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators and their sponsors.

PAGE 5

Ijaw communities demand control of 13% derivation fund

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Ijaw oil communities comprising Gbaramatu, Ojulagba and Egbama kingdom of Delta state have demanded that their share of 27 per cent of the 13 percent derivation fund accruing to Delta state be paid directly to the affected oil host communities.

They made the demand in a letter to President Goodluck Ebele

Jonathan jointly signed by the representatives of leaders from the affected communities.

Their demand, stemmed from recent interactive session with a delegation led by the Chairman of Revenue Mobilization allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Engr. Elias Mbam who stated that the 13 percent fund to oil producing states ought to go straight to the local governments of the affected communities to mitigate the

impact of oil exploration .

The Revenue Commission boss had decried a situation where the funds meant to develop oil producing communities are hijacked by the states.

Seeking the intervention of President Jonathan in a letter singed by Comrade Jackson Kokodigbone, Chief Jeffery Benikurukura and Chief Ernest Okerenkoko on behalf of the affected communities in Delta state, a copy

obtained by Peoples Daily, the representatives of the affected communities noted that “in Delta , Edo, Ondo, Imo and Abia states, oil commission has been created through which a percentage of this 13 per cent derivation fund is paid to the host communities by the state government as a third party. This procedure and process has allowed the governors to take full control of these oil commissions to the exclusion of host communities”.

Hajj 2012: Group deploys members to departure points From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

A

s the airlifting of intending pilgrims from Nigeria enters its sixth day today, the Independent Hajj Reporters says it has deployed its members to all approved departure points throughout the country noting that the group would take all necessary steps towards safeguarding the interests of pilgrims throughout the Hajj exercise.

“We will not condone situations as obtainable in the past where Hajj service providers mal-treat or short-change pilgrims,” the group warned in a statement in Kaduna yesterday, noting further that, “Nigerian pilgrims paid for every single service offered by the Hajj service providers during Hajj operations.”

The statement signed by the National Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammed, and Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mahmoud, said the group was set to collaborate with the Inspectorate, Evaluation and Compliance Committee (IECC) recently constituted by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), to ensure that Hajj service providers do not short change pilgrims both at home and in Saudi Arabia.

By Muhammad Sada

T

he Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah has described a fabrication credited to the management of Arik Airlines, to the effect that the minister demanded a five percent equity holding in the airline as total and outright

L-R: Former Presidential Candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari, and former Sokoto state Governor, of Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, answering questions from journalists during his visit to General Buhari's residence, at the weekend in Kaduna.

‘PDP owns half of Nigerian political parties’

By Lawrence Olaoye Labour Party Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyawu, has said that out of the 62 political parties in existence in the country, 30 of them are owned and sponsored by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while only nine have functional offices in Abuja as stipulated by the electoral laws.

Nwanyawu equally urged Nigerians to salute the courage of President Goodluck Jonathan for upturning the plots by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to introduce N5000 note against the wishes of Nigerians.

Delivering a lecture titled 'Transformation of Nigeria Politics: The Labour Party Perspective' at the Institute of the Security Studies in Abuja over the weekend, Chief Nwanyawu called on the

National Assembly to make a law that would punish public officers who deliberately misadvise the government as well as those laws that will make electoral fraud impracticable.

According to him, Nigerians electoral system that encourages multi party system is a disservice to the nation and under such arrangement, electoral fraud can never be checked.

He said:"The best political system for Nigeria is a two party system. Such arrangement will make it difficult for rigging because it is just two parties, there will be no need for anybody to carry ballot boxes because there won't be such opportunity. Touts will not have jobs and the electoral tribunal will be useless because a clear winner will emerge just as was the case in 1992 general election between the SDP and NRC. The issue of merger

or alliance will not arise because it is just two of them and they have different ideologies," he stressed.

He also advocated for the removal of immunity clause on criminal matters and such crimes against the state in a way that even governors and all those in the position of authority will be made to face law when found wanting.

He noted that Nigerian judicial system is in deep rot, a reflection of the deep rot in the nation’s political system. “Understaffed, undermotivated and underpaid, Nigerian justices and the institutional structure they service are very open to political contamination; are morally and ethically compromised; and dispense justice in a manner that services the rich and harms the poor, the powerless and the voiceless.

“Even with the establishment of the EFCC and the ICPC, the

number of politicians who have been arraigned for various corruption-related offences since 2007 is infinitesimal and the rate of conviction next to nothing. Till date, over 90% of these cases are still pending in court, most at even the technical stages of moving motions and counter-motions on preliminary objections and jurisdiction of particular courts”.

“The comprehensive reform of the Nigerian judicial system is long over-due. The application of the law leaves much to be desired.

Faulty and self-contradictory judgments, mishandling of election petitions by judges who apply arbitrary legal principles, the use of the judiciary to settle personal and political scores, and the outright purchase of judicial decisions with impunity are some of the untoward realities that define the Nigerian judicial space”.

Arik Airlines equity allegation untrue, says minister falsehood.

According to a press release issued by Joe Obi, the S.A media to the minister “the 5 percent equity story is without any foundation whatsoever. It is absurd, malicious and ultimately laughable. The

Honorable Minister of Aviation could not have contemplated acquiring a stake in any airline, let alone Arik Air that is groaning from a crippling N85.4 billion debt overhang.

The time is ripe for Arik Air to change its business module

that ‘thrives’ on unprecedented accumulation of debts and liabilities. The futile attempt to impugn the integrity of the Aviation Minister by inferring a conflict of interest against her is at best diversionary. It should be obvious to the management

of Arik Air that blackmail is not a panacea for a floundering enterprise” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Aviation has directed her lawyers to seek legal redress over the allegation.

PAGE 6

Katsina muslims protests antiislam film From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

T

housands of Muslims, yesterday in Katsina took to the streets protesting antiIslam video posted on the YouTube disparaging the personality of the Holy Prophet of Islam, Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

The peaceful protests started from the Katsina central mosque and moved to Darma, Rafindadi, mobile filling station, Sabuwar Kasuwa, Kerau, General Hospital before terminating at the Central Mosque.

The protesters carried placards with different inscription denouncing producers of the evil film, America, Israel and the western world that supported such blasphemous acts.

The protesters including youth, women and children amid the chant of "Death to the producers of the film", "Death to America and Israel" burnt the American flag and the effigy of the U.S president, Mr. Barack Obama.

Addressing the gathering at the Katsina Central Mosque roundabout, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Katsina State chapter, Sheikh Yaqub Yahaya noted that the authors of the film were not true adherence of their religion.

He added "a true Christian or Judaism follower would not insult any religion or the Prophet of any religion. All these religions respect the personality of each Prophet of God".

Sheikh Yahaya cautioned Muslims against attacking the adherence of other religions in their midst, noting that "In Islam nobody is allowed to attack a Church, Synagogue or even where idols are worship. Any Muslim or deviate from this path is on his own pursuing a different agenda but surely not Islam".

NUJ decry poor relations with Zamfara FromSalisu zakari Maradun, Gusau he national body of the Nigeria union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed concern over the poor relationship between its members and the government of Zamfara state.

In a meeting in Gusau, the State capital, chaired by the national vice president of the union in charge of Zone "A", Suleiman Haidara Dangaladima, the council has resolvedto consult all relevant stakeholders as far as the relationship was concerned.

The zonal Vice president expressed optimism that the government would eventually give its ears to both the union and the stakeholders for the betterment and progress of the state.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

BPE postpones bids for power distributionfirms

By Abdulwahab Isa with Agency Report

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he Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has postponed the opening of financial bids for the sale of electricity distribution companies, earlier scheduled for October 10 to October 16.

A statement issued by BPE in Abuja, said the postponement was to give bidders the required 15 working days to procure and submit their postqualification security.

The agency said the shift in date was necessitated by the time lost from the postponement of the last meeting of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) from Sept. 13 to Sept. 18.

It assured stakeholders that all other dates in the timeline for the privatisation of the successor companies of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) remained unchanged.

The agency reiterated that the opening of the financial bids of investors for the five generation companies, whose technical proposals met the requirement would take place as scheduled on Tuesday. The statement named the three bidders shortlisted for Ughelli Power as Feniks Electricity, Transcorp and Wood Rock/Symbion Power/Medea/PSL/Thomasen and Amperion Power Distribution Ltd. For Sapele Power Plc, CMEC/ EURAFRIC Energy and JBN-Nestoil Power Services were shortlisted, while

Amperion Power Distribution Ltd emerged for Geregu Power Plc. Also Mainstream Energy Solutions was shortlisted for the Kainji Power Plc while North-South Power was listed for Shiroro Power Plc. On Afam Power Plc, the sixth generation company put up for sale, the privatisation agency said no bidder was technically qualified for the company.

Recall that on Sept. 18, the NCP approved a list of prospective investors qualified to bid for 10 electricity distribution companies in the country.

The electricity distribution firms proposed for sale are located in Ibadan, Ikeja, Abuja, Enugu, Jos, Eko, Port Harcourt, Yola, Kano, Benin and

Kaduna.

The NCP said Ikeja Distribution Company received the highest number of qualified bids with eight firms.

They are: Oando Consortium, Amperion Power Distribution Company Ltd, Honeywell Energy Resources Limited and Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company.

Others are Vigeo Holdings, Gumco, African Corporation AFC and CESC, Kepco/NEDC Consortium, West Power and Gas; and Rockson Engineering.

The Eko Distribution Company received the second highest number of bids with six firms showing interest.

Women on a peaceful protest to mark the 2012 World Peace Day Celebration, organised by Ministry of Women Affairs, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FG lauds NSCDC for prudent management

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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he Federal Government has commended the authorities of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), for effectively using N1.5billion to complete its gigantic academy structure in Sauka, along airport road.

The academy which comprises of NSCDC administrative block,

fish pound, dog training ground, Staff quarters, Auditorium, Parade ground, Clinic, Bank, Church and Mosque, Hostel building for male and female, Senior and Junior and senior officers mess, Indoor game facilities, football pitch, Armour and well equipped ICT facilities building, were all completed with the said amount.

Addressing journalists and the

Civil Society Organizations at the weekend, when the Good Governance team visited NSCDC Academy, Sauka, Abuja, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku described the Commandant General of Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin as the example of an honest public servant, who has been able to use the meager resources at his disposal

judiciously,adding that the corps has come to stay forever in the country contrary to the rumours of merger with other outfits. .While commenting, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Mallam Muhammad Garba, described Dr. Ade Abolurin, as a focused leader who has delivered more on the transformation agenda of President Jonathan.

N27m theft: Court acquits, discharges oil marketer From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, presided over by Justice Joseph Oyewole, has acquitted and discharged a petroleum product marketer, Adamu Yakubu Baffa of the allegation of stealing and fraudulent conversion of N27,155,000 by the Economic

and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC).

Delivering judgement in the charge of fraud and fraudulent conversion of the said amount brought against the petroleum marketer, the judge held that he found the defendant not guilty of the charge.

Justice Oyewole said that the sole issue for determination is

whether the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the one count of stealing alleged against him adding that being a criminal case, onus of proof is at all times on the prosecution.

Justice Oyewole ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the one count charge of stealing, fraud and fraudulent conversion

of money against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

The anti-graft agency had brought a one count charge against Baffa who was alleged to have sometimes in June 2004 fraudulently converted N27,155,000 which was said to have been entrusted in his care for a business transaction by one Alhaji Sani Mohammed Lawal.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Compel hotels to tune to local stations, Dokpesi urges NTDC

By Miriam Humbe

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L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Mrs. Ibikun Odesote, Director, Planning and Research, Mr. Chudi Uwandu, and Director Tourism, Mr. Johnson Odekina, during a press briefing to mark International Peace Day celebration, on Friday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

NASS receives 10 requests for new states in North-West — Rep

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he National Assembly has received 10 requests for creation of new states from various communities in the NorthWest geo-political zone, a member of the assembly has said.

Rep.Kawu Sumaila (ANPPKano) said in Kano on Saturday while answering questions from newsmen that two of the requests were from Kano State.

“There are a number of

parameters to be considered before creating a state such as landmass, population and Federal Constituencies.

“And in addition to that, 24 state assemblies must back or

support the requests,” he said.

He advised the communities agitating for new states to come up with reasonable demands in order to realise their dream.

(NAN)

One wounded in police, robbers gun duel in Lagos From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

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woman was shot on the leg as policemen from Area M Idimu in Lagos were said to have engaged armed robbers in a gun duel on Friday night. The policemen succeeded in foiling the robbery attempt in Abule-Odu, a suburb in Idimu area of Lagos.

Our correspondent gathered From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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ustice Olubunmi Oyewole of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, has acquitted and discharged a man, Leonard Duru, of the allegation of conspiracy and obtaining $399,868 (about N63,179,144) by false pretence from a Switzerland based company, Intronn Druck AG Company.

The judge while delivering judgement on each of the 18 count

that the armed robbers targeted the residence of one Alhaji Tasho, a popular business man in Unity Estate in Abule-Odu at 11pm.

They were said to have gained entrance to the man's villa through the window.

However the armed robbers did not meet Alhaji Tasho who is a major distributor of Nigeria Brewries Limited (NBL) at home

as he was out of the country.

The police engaged the robbers in a gun duel which we gathered lasted for four hours. The robbers were said to have surrendered to the superior fire power of the police which was led by the Area Commander, Mohammed Kaoje ACP. However, the armed robbers escaped with injuries. A woman

who resides at the compound was said to have been shot on her right leg. She is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

A police source disclosed that a handset of the robbery gang were recovered. He also added that the robbers who were many had operated in Agege and Ejigbo same day but the police had placed a manhunt on them.

N63m theft: Judge acquits, discharges man charge allegation made against Duru by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), maintained that he did not find the defendant guilty.

EFCC, had through its counsel, Mr. A.B.C. Ozioko, brought an 18 count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence against the defendant, Leonard Duru, who also

goes by the alias, Emmanuel Obieze, Dr. Enitan Obi and Mr. Obi. The commission had alleged that the defendant and others at large, between March 21, 1996 and July, 1996, with intent to defraud obtained a total sum of $399,868 from the Switzerland based company by falsely pretending that the money represented the cost of establishing

a branch of the company in Nigeria, a claim which they knew to be false.

The commission alleged that the defendant and others at large also forged the Central Bank of Nigeria letter dated April 4, 1996 and Teo Travel and Tours Limited purporting the documents from the companies respectively.

hairman of DAAR Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has solicited for collaboration between the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission, NTDC and the National Broadcasting Commission to make it mandatory for every hotel in the country to tune to local television stations as is the standard in other countries of the world.

Dokpesi made the statement while receiving the DG, NTDC and members of his management team at DAAR communications office complex in Asokoro, Abuja recently.

The meeting was convened at the instance of both parties to seek ways of ensuring that hotels across Nigeria offer local stations to their customers as practiced in other parts of the world.

While speaking, the chairman lauded the NTDC boss for commitment and steadfastness in his drive towards promoting tourism as an alternative to the present oil economy in Nigeria.

He admitted that he was humbled by the visit of Runsewe and his team adding that he belonged to the school of thought that celebrates the black skin just as he admonished all Nigerians to patronize Nigerian television stations.

Speaking further, Dokpesi decried a situation where hotels in most states in Nigeria, only offered foreign television channels and very limited local content.

The broadcast guru assured that he would do his beat by working assiduously with NTDC to ensure the proliferation of local content via indigenous TV channels as a way of promoting Nigeria’s rich culture and values.

Speaking, the NTDC helmsman noted that part of his itinerary to DAAR Group was to request for DAAR satellite decoders to be distributed to hotels and hospitality outfits as a way of opening a window to enhance tourism promotion.

Chief Dokpesi promised to make the decoders available to NTDC as soon as arrangements were concluded.

FOI: SERAP, WARDC drags FG to court over spending records From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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Lagos based non-governmental organisation, SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Women Advocates and Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), have dragged the Federal Government to the Federal High Court sitting in Ikeja, praying the court for leave, “to apply for judicial relief and to seek

an order of mandamus directing and or compelling the government to disclose and make available, upto-date information on government/public spending relating to maternal death prevention for the past five years.”

Joined as defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke and the Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu.

The suit came sequel followed to a Freedom of Information request by the groups dated August 13, 2012 and signed by SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni.

The motion exparte was brought pursuant to section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act, and Order 34 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2009, and signed on behalf of the groups by SERAP’s Staff Attorney

Chinyere Nwafor.

The organizations in the suit argued that “Under the FOI, they have the right to request for or gain access to information which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution.”

According to the groups, “the defendants/respondents have a binding legal obligation to provide the applicants with the information requested for.”

The information requested for according to the suit relates to the details of spending on prevention of maternal deaths for the past five years.

The groups in the suit argued that up till the time of filing the action, the Defendants/Respondents have failed, neglected and refused to make available the information requested by the Applicants.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the application.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 11

Top 4 alternatives to iPad

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eyond iPad, there are other tablets that have become more exciting and offering if not equal to the iPad, more than it. It's not hard to see the appeal of tablets.

Small, light, and extremely portable, they are ideal for consuming media.

Designed especially for the average, non tech-savvy user, they offer a rich range of applications and software to make media consumption ridiculously easy. The days of sitting on a table before the 'family computer' are long over. It's not unusual to find

Four ways to save money on electricity

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veryone agrees now that the electricity bills have risen far above what they were 12 months ago. The rise is occasioned by the radical increase in tariffs. It is thus becoming fashionable to do things that will reduce the electricity bill. Here are some proven tips that can help you save money, which would otherwise have been spent on electricity.

Turn off your lights A simple habit to remember and one which can save you a fortune. Turing off the lights when you leave a room and when you go out makes financial sense, and should appeal to your common sense too. Also Change your light bulbs to energy saving or fluorescent.

There is no substance to the myth that turning lights off and on uses more power than leaving them running, so no matter how long you are leaving a room for, turn off the light.

Not a fan If you are cooling off in front of a fan, make sure to turn it off when you leave the room. A fan is only going to make you feel cooler when you are in front of it and leaving it on when you are not there is not going to lower the temperature of your home.

Turn the TV off when you are not watching If you are going in and out of the room getting ready for work or cooking or cleaning, do not leave the TV on when you are not there to watch it.

Separate your fridge and stove If your fridge is next to your stove, your fridge is going to have to work a lot harder to keep cool with all that extra hot air around especially if you open the fridge while you're cooking.

Quote Being called very, very difficult is the beginning of success. Until you’re called very, very difficult you’re really nobody at all - Bette Davis

someone huddled up on the sofa with a tablet in their hands, browsing through a magazine app or watching some YouTube videos, even as the telly remains switched off, and the laptop consigned to some unused corner.

The iPad, of course, is the ubiquitous market leader, accounting for nearly 83 percent of all tablet sales. But it's not the only tablet in the market - not by a long shot - and there is a wide range of equally impressive and (often) more aggressively priced tablets on the market.

Here are five top alternatives to the iPad that can make any Apple fan envious.

Amazon Kindle Fire If there is one tablet that can dethrone the iPad from its Numero

Uno position, it's the Amazon Kindle Fire. This 7-inch tablet packs a gorgeous high-resolution touchscreen capable of rendering 16M colours, a dual-core processor, 8 GB of storage space, and Amazon's highly customized Silk browser. On the software side, it lets you access Amazon's wildly successful and extensive movie, music and eBook database, alongside hundreds of thousands of dedicated Kindle Fire apps. And best of all, at just $199, it won't burn a hole in your pocket.

If the iPad (or its $499 price tag) isn't your cup of tea, you can't go wrong with the Amazon Kindle Fire.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Samsung is locked in a tight battle with Apple for the title of the world's foremost mobile

computing manufacturer. It's Galaxy S and SII mobile phones have already given stiff competition to the iPhone in markets across the globe. Now, Samsung has jumped into the tablet fray with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1-inch tablet to replace Apple from the top of the pecking order.

Gorgeous, functional and exciting are some of the words that can be used to describe the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Weighing in at just around half a kilo (565g), this is a lightweight 10.1-inch tablet that boasts a 1280×800 screen resolution, 1GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of storage space. Built on the Android platform, it allows you to access all the wares from Android's extensive

marketplace, including millions of songs, videos and eBooks.

At $529, it's not exactly cheap, but if power is your credo, you can't go wrong with this tablet.

Asus Eee Pad Is it a laptop, or is it a tablet?

The answer is: neither. The Asus Eee Pad is the first in the line of revolutionary products that aim to bridge the gap between tablets and laptops. You can use it just like a conventional laptop, complete with a keyboard, or you can remove the screen and carry it around like a tablet. The end result is a product that combines the ease of use of a tablet with the efficiency of a laptop. With 1GB of RAM, a 10.1-inch high resolution screen, up to 32GB of storage space and 16 hour battery-life, there's little that you can't do with the Asus Eee Pad. On the price front, at just $299, it definitely beats spending $499 on the iPad! Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet What happens when one of the most respected business laptop manufacturers decides to dip its feet into the growing tablet pool? The answer: all round excellence, courtesy of the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet. Boasting the iconic ThinkPad expertise, this is the ideal tablet for businessmen on the move.

Loaded with features and productivity software that would make an iPad blush (including the unique note-taking 'tablet pen'), this 10.1-inch Android tablet boasts high resolution graphics, an extensive and expanding selection of apps, and 64GB of storage space.

Rounding up these features is the Lenovo trademark of reliability and top-notch performance.

Getting your kids align with the family business

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hen you're at your son's soccer game or helping your daughter with her science homework, it might be difficult to imagine ever turning your company over to one of them someday. The fact is, only onethird of family-owned businesses actually survive to the second generation. The same odds hold true for the subsequent generation, meaning that by the time these businesses get handed down to the grandkids, only about 10 percent are left standing.

Though it may be tough, it's not impossible to be part of that successful 10 percent when the next generation is properly trained. This guide according to inc.com will teach you how to put the "success" in "succession."

When they're young Talk to your kids about what they want from a career, and make sure they know they have a choice.

If they have started working, say for someone else, they can still begin informal training in your company; inviting them to executive education programs or letting them sit in on shareholder meetings. Later on, when they have acquired their ''own'' work experience, you may even try giving them a seat on the board to let them prove themselves

in action.

Bringing them into the company Once your child has learned the ropes working somewhere else, it's time to develop a plan to facilitate his or her in-company growth from

the ground up. Not only does your kid have to come to terms with taking things slowly, but you also have to come to terms with the fact that you may not be the best person to teach your son or daughter how it's done. Appoint a

key employee to be his or her mentor, or start your kid in a department that doesn't directly report to you.

Along the way, you should also make sure your kid gets acquainted with your client base, so loyal customers will be comfortable with the transition once it's time for you to pass the torch. Lead by example and show your kid how you communicate with clients, but don't push your son or daughter into client territory until he or she has a good knowledge of the business.

When you have more than one child Succession is really three different things: leadership, governance and ownership, and when you have more than one child ready to take on the business, it's especially important that you recognize the differences.

You may have a son who should only be a shareholder, a daughter who would be great on the board of directors and another son or daughter who would be the ideal chief executive officer (CEO).

By employing this strategy, you may be able to give all your kids a stake in the business without forcing them to compete for a single position.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

Ban debates, kill democracy Contd from Front Page

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iewed against this backdrop, Adoke’s warning comes as no surprise at all. But it is nevertheless disturbing. Very disturbing, in fact - and not just because it belongs in the category of crude attempts by the ruling powers to curtail debates and keep low the level of awareness among the public about the important issues of especially governance and accountability. It is disturbing because it portrays Adoke as a minister who appears to have totally lost touch with the realities of the country where he is the chief legal officer and as a minister who is not acting and working in synth with the rest of the government in which he serves.

First, we are surprised that Adoke holds the judgement of Supreme Court to be sacrosanct, when even the completely untutored in law knows that our laws and the constitution give litigants and citizens generally the right to approach the apex court with a prayer for it to reverse itself on any issue. Second, we are even more surprised that Adoke seems to have forgotten that there is a constitution amendment process now in progress in the county, which means that citizens now have an opportunity to canvass for the removal, addition or amendment of any provision of the constitution – including that the abrogation of the onshore/offshore dichotomy in allocation of derivation proceeds be reversed. Third, does Adoke live in another planet as not to know that ours is a nation where there are no

settled issues, where, therefore, everything is always on the table, especially at a time like this when the constitution itself is being reviewed?

Four, what is the fear? What makes the minister believe that re-opening the debate could generate ‘’acrimonious wrangling’’? Is Adoke saying that Nigerians are by nature an acrimonious lot who cannot conduct themselves properly in the public space when

“

An even more disturbing aspect of Adoke’s warning is its implication for our country and its young democracy. Debates are at the root of the democratic system of government debating issues that concern them?

Besides, is it not better to jaw-jaw than war-war? And, five, if Nigerians cannot debate the issue of how the nation’s Godgiven resource, their common patrimony, should be shared among its constituent parts, what else is there for debate?

But an even more disturbing aspect of Adoke’s warning is its implication for our country and its young democracy.

Debates are at the root of the democratic system of government. It is largely because democracy allows debates, the contests between and exchange of ideas,

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

and offers the people alternatives to choose from in terms of visions, programmes and candidates that the system claims superiority over other systems. It is through debates that the governed get to understand their own and their country’s situation and the leaders get to have a good understanding of the needs and aspirations of the governed. Take away debates and what will be left of democracy are its empty rituals.

We, of course, understand the fear being entertained in official circles, and which we are sure is largely what has informed Adoke’s warning, that reopening the dichotomy debate and getting the status quo changed will incur the wrath of the Niger Delta states and people and make the insurgents there return to the trenches. Our answer and position, though, is that the nation cannot, on account of this fear alone, ban debates on any issue. Ours is a young democracy that hasn’t yet established firm roots. And it cannot do so when debates on this or that issue are banned, when people are gagged and not given a say in how the country’s affairs are organised and run, and when our leaders claim superior knowledge and conduct our affairs in a cult-like manner.

In conclusion, we call on the Nigerian people to ignore the minister and his warning. Let the debates continue. Let the contests of ideas flourish. Let everything be put on the table. And let no self censorship or fears stand in the way of robust and meaningful debates about our country and its future.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM EDITOR, DAILY ABDULAZEEZ ABDULLAHI

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND JAMILA NUHU MUSA

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

By Ogbemudia Ode-Idahosa

T

he job of the President of any nation is not an easy assignment; people easily forget that the president is a human being like them, not a super human. They expect him to have answers to all their problems and want quick fixes.

Most ministers and advisers of President Goodluck Jonathan are not helping him; part of his problem is his advisers who cannot give him good advice. l don’t know if they are in his team to make sure he fails.

The well being of the people is the paramount interest of a good president and other members of his cabinet and when policies are being formulated, the present and the future of the people must be considered.

There are a lot of issues that bothers me so much as a Nigerian about this administration but l will mention just two for now, one, the Bakassi peninsula and two

PAGE 13

Jonathan and his cabinet

the currency reforms aka 5,000 naira single note and coins.

Let Mallam Sanusi tell the nation of any country that once had or still use 5,000 single note currency without inflation! lf he is saying inflation is low why then do we need 5,000 single note or are they not telling us the truth about the economic situation of Nigeria? lf we are to operate a cashless system which he has introduced, what is the purpose of 5,000 single note? Let Sanusi tell us, which of the coins is pratically (not theory) a medium of exchange today in Nigeria? lf none, why would he want to convert more currency notes to coins?

Aunty Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, few years ago was telling Nigerians both home and abroad that it would be better when we pay our debts and Nigeria paid

her debts something no nation has ever done before till now we have not see the effect of paying our debts in the lives of the people. She came back to serve in GEJ administration and started borrowing, why would she advise GEJ government to borrow? The source from which we pay our debts is still very much available and flowing, crude oil prices has not dropped to the level that Nigeria can no longer earn good money from it.

Bakassi peninsula was ceded to the Cameroun courtesy of International Court of Justice’s judgement and Nigeria has the right to appeal if it is not satisfied with the decision; that right of appeal will lapse next month.

The majority of Bakassi people don’t want to be part of Cameroun and there are a lot of new evidence that will make the

appeal successful but the president and his cabinet especially the minister for justice is not showing any interest.

Minister for Information, Mr. Maku said, “the Federal Government did not have a new position on the ICJ ruling and Nigeria’s position is in conformity with the judgement”.

We are told that professor Walter Ofonagoro, phd thesis was on Bakassi peninsula and he has come forward (he did before during General Sani Abacha) with facts that was not presented before the court but here is Nigeria Information minister telling us there is no new facts! lf GEJ, Maku or any member of his cabinet is from Bakassi, would they let it go to Cameroun just like that?

Every responsible leaders and governments are bound by the

wishes of the people.You are a minister or adviser does not mean you are more intelligent than other Nigerians but a privilege for you to serve your fatherland. lf GEJ, will hearken to the voice of Nigerians and do their wishes on Bakassi peninsula and the currency reforms aka 5,000 single currency note, he would have endear himself to many of his critics.

On Bakassi peninsula, they want his governemnt to appeal the decision of the Court at The Hague and if at the end the appeal fails, nobody will blame or hold him responsible for the loss of Bakassi to the Cameroun.

The people say no to a single 5,000 naira note and conversion of currency notes to coins.

Ogbemudia Ode-Idahosa wrote in from Cairo, Egypt.

How Nigeria can become a true democracy

By Olatunji Ariyomo

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t is difficult to watch the recently concluded political party conventions in the United States (US), particularly the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that took place in Charlotte, without wishing that they had taken place in Nigeria. TE party saw the need to front-load its best in order to be considered serious by the American public.

The US party conventions exposed the stark reality of Nigeria’s claim to democracy as nothing more than a bold-face attempt to pass off the notorious Mucuna pruriens as an everyday edible bean. The naked fact of our pseudo democracy is at the heart of what is wrong with Nigeria because real democracy is a key element to attaining leadership accountability or the institutional framework for propping up leadership whose emergence depends upon its ability to convince the people of its capacity to address issues that are of primary importance to them.

Consequently, even though many Nigerians continue to desire leaders like Barack Hussein Obama, the incumbent president of the US or a Bill Clinton, the chances of such leaders in Nigeria are very slim. When such do emerge in Nigeria, he would be a statistical outlier, a product of accident. He also stands the risk of being encumbered by the system, which in this case is the norm.

I identified two major differences in the Nigerian democracy when compared with the US or United Kingdom (UK) democracies. These are: (1) ownership of political parties, and; (2) mode of determining party representations in government.

The first affects the party as an institution while the second affects party’s involvement in government.

In both US and UK democracies, the political parties are owned by the masses (citizens who freely elect to become members of such parties) and

anyone who decides to join a political party can rise to the pinnacle of leadership in that party simply by being very active, very capable, very educated, very committed and by maintaining high moral standards and not simply by who they know. This is why on the average, a leader of any of the major parties in the US and UK is likely to be very knowledgeable about the economy, foreign policy and other issues that are of importance to the average American or Briton unlike in Nigeria where anybody irrespective of his ability can become anything simply by kowtowing to well connected godfathers.

There are ‘god-fathers’ in both the US and UK democracies as well, the difference however is that since actual representative selection shall be decided by “every member of the local” party, those ‘god-fathers’ are themselves forced by circumstance to scout for the best and most marketable people who can be promoted with their resources for the purpose of securing the approval of ordinary members of their parties and not by simply imposing them upon those members. They have no such power. The US Tea Party movement’s relative success at positioning its preferred aspirants for GOP tickets over a short period of time is a typical example of how ordinary folks can dynamically alter power equation in real democracies. It is inconceivable to expect such external youth led putsch to face the power brokers of Nigeria’s major political parties.

Anational leader of the ACN was once credited with saying that his party ‘elders’ have the supreme right to decide and impose candidates on the rest of the party. He even erroneously cited British model to justify his argument. He called the process consensus.

Usually, other aspirants except the one that has been so favoured would describe that same process as an

imposition. Yes, both great democracies (UK and USA) have room for consensus, but the consensus must also be decided by the members of the party, not a few ‘elders’. This is the core ingredient that makes real democracy such an appealing system of government. It is the reason political office holders in real democracies tailor service deliveries to meeting the pressing and legitimate needs of their people rather than simply skewing public policies towards creating unlimited pool of free money for godfathers. They know as a fact that they need the public for the survival of their political careers.

The selection of party candidates by the general house via a system akin to a Direct Primary protocol as practiced in the US and to some degree in the UK is the present missing link in our democratic experiment. It is the core ingredient that gives absolute power to select a candidate to the people of the constituency to be so represented.

It is the restraint that prevents Mafia-like syndicates from taking over the party systems in those places. It is also the key to the emergence of supposed underdogs as champions. Examples of such people include the much celebrated Barack Obama’s victory over Hilary Clinton in 2008. Had the decision to select the US Democratic presidential flag-bearer in 2008 been solely in the hands of Democratic Party

leaders, Obama would undoubtedly never have had a fighting chance. Also in the UK, if the decision to elect a new leader for the Labour Party in 2010 had been solely ‘in the hands’ of the party leadership, Ed Miliband would never have emerged. Ditto for David Cameron’s rapid rise to Tory leadership in 2005 as his party sought a brilliant (he made first class), youthful, moderate candidate who would appeal to voters.

The direct primary system empowers all members (not just delegates) of a particular political party to ultimately vote in the election of candidates that will represent such a political party.

Essentially, every member of the political party gets to have a say in the selection process. A direct implication of this is that it takes the power to pre-determine the outcome of party primaries away from a few people – a tiny rank of godfathers.

This directly promotes high leadership turn over, ensures a political party belongs to the people rather than to a small group of privileged men, eliminates capacity to stifle dissenters and enhances the ability of ordinary folks to get involved in party processes.

In the US, for instance, the primary election takes place under the supervision of the government agency in charge thereby being chiefly outside the control of the party organization.

The government also ensures that the person who won the

“

Why is this one of the most important issues in a democracy such as ours?

This is primarily because of Nigeria’s diversity and low level of political sophistication which makes any model that can be choreographed by a few sure disasters for the Nigerian masses

primary election is the one who will be on the ballot paper representing that party. After the rigorous state by state primary elections, most US parties would then hold a formal convention, which are large meetings attended by delegates. Unlike in Nigeria, these delegates are mostly selected via state transparent primary elections while those selected by state caucuses (similar to primaries) are in fact selected via public voting instead of secret ballots.

The delegates at these formal conventions are also mostly pledged to specific decisions as the winner would have even been known before that day. The system ensures that superdelegates (legislators, governors and selected politicians) are also not able to solely determine selection outcomes. Even the unwritten rule or custom that automatically grants a president and other politicians a second term ticket of their party in the US is interestingly supported by that party’s membership preference as well. The Gallup poll before the DNC showed that 89% of Democrats approved of Obama’s job record and as high a percentage wanted him on the Dem ticket in 2012.

Why is this one of the most important issues in a democracy such as ours? This is primarily because of Nigeria’s diversity and low level of political sophistication which makes any model that can be choreographed by a few sure disasters for the Nigerian masses. The few would hold on to power at all costs and escalate corrupt ion because they require unfettered access to public money to sustain their grip or oil what they call ‘their political machines’. The nation therefore needs a political model that embodies merit, transparency and fairness and that gives an assurance that the people in truth control their destiny with the hire and fire power right in their palms.

Olatunji Aryomo is reachable on oariyomo@nd-i.org

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Olabode Vincent: a patriot, a visioner and professional par excellence

By Ganiyu A. Ogunleye

W

ith the death of Mr. Olabode Vincent, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 3rd September 2012, Nigeria lost a patriot, a visioner and a professional par excellence. Popularly called O. O Vincent by CBN staff, he was very meticulous and fairminded. During his tenure spanning 1961 to 1982 he made tremendous contributions to both the banking industry and the Nigerian financial system. He was very passionate about human capital development, professionalism and adherence to ethical values. The following initiatives attest to his passion for human capital development.

He strongly supported CBN initiative of encouraging Nigerian professionals working abroad to return home to contribute to national

By Pelumi Olatinpo

E

mbassies are burning; an ambassador is dead; elite Marine units are being deployed to protect envoys; tear gas canisters are falling like rain droplets on vociferous mobs; chants of “Obama, Obama, we are all Osama” pierce an already raucous Friday afternoon; and yet, this eerily seems a beginning. I welcome you to earth—where the early 21st century is in full bloom.

Events of this past week have fueled passionate colloquies on the terms of our coexistence on an increasingly interdependent planet. The outrage and outburst in Muslim lands over a video produced in a Christian land, caricaturing the prophet Mohammed, have brought to fore deep and longfestering divides in our uneasy existence. Particular among these are those that ask what limitations should saddle our freedoms and what ought to be the role of the world’s biggest campaigner for freedom (the United States).

What started as protests against the blasphemy of Islam, soon mushroomed into exercises of discontent against the West as the scourge of failed policies that have kept these societies overly unequal, marginalized, and unstable. It is the reason we saw assaults on both the German and British embassies, though they had no dealings with the video in question.

What is also blatant is that extremists in these lands continue to use incidents like this as propaganda, tapping into a burgeoning and abundant resource of unemployed youth frustrated with life’s prospects.

It doesn’t seem to matter that you can’t criminalize the sort of

development. Between 1975 recruited overseas graduates foresaw the need to encourage resigned their Nigerians in diaspora to and 1976, CBN constituted a had recruitment panel that appointments, his position was return home as far back as the travelled to both the United that CBN needed not be upset 1 9 7 0 s .

Another major initiative Kingdom and the United States as long as such graduates were during his of America to tenure as r e c r u i t Governor was Nigerian t h e graduates Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text establishment a n d messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written of the Financial professionals Institutions in various contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 T r a i n i n g disciplines words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and Centre (FITC) in such as a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed 1981.

Even economics, to: though the accounting, establishment finance and The Editor, of FITC was one banking. It Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, of the should be 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. recommendations noted that Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com of the Okigbo CBN bore the SMS: 07037756364 Panel on the cost of their Reform of the return to N i g e r i a n Nigeria and provided hotel accommodation still serving the Nigerian Financial System, Governor for each of them and their economy. He advised that such Vincent ensured its prompt should be implementation. family members for three development His passion for months. When his attention regarded as CBN contribution Nigeria’s economic professionalism of the was drawn to the fact that a to Indeed, he workforce manifested in good number of the newly development.

various ways. A case in point was the establishment of a bespoke Bank Examiners Training Unit in 1981. He secured technical assistance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in Washington whereby a seasoned Bank Examiner, Mr Edward Nolan was seconded to the CBN to establish a Bank Examiners Training Unit for CBN Examiners.

That initiative enhanced the supervisory capacity of CBN tremendously.

While commiserating with his family over the loss of their patriarch, they should take solace in the indelible legacies he left behind. He lived an honest and fulfilled life. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Ganiyu A. Ogunleye, former Director, Banking Supervision Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and former MD/CEO, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC)

stupidity and harebrained-ness for which the video producer is guilty. After all, the right [freedom of opinion and expression and the right to impart such ideas through any media] exercised by the producer is contained in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—a document to which Muslim states like Egypt, Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Iran are all signatories.

If we are to go down the road of having violent protests every time some nincompoop somewhere decides to mock Buddha, Jesus or the prophet Mohammed (as it seems we are), then we could be at this every day, every week, every month.

The United States is made up of over 300 million citizens. In the age of YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, how does one government, even if it wanted to, effectively filter what nonsense makes it outside its borders? In repressive and tight-knit China, videos and accounts of government excesses still make it to the worldwide web on a daily basis. It is understandable how citizens in former authoritarian states like Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen could think any opinion in public space is sanctioned by the state. For in those states, Mubarak, Ben Ali, and Ali Saleh tightly controlled what was said and what could be said.

Consequently, in the face of this mass unrest, some exasperated public officials and private citizens in the U.S. are calling for isolationist policies. “It is high time we revised this foreign policy,” a friend told me

states without security, which freedom needs to flourish. Who wants to build a shopping complex where sniper fire and suicide car bombings are being exchanged like money on an hourly basis? We also know Russia or China will not provide this security. They’ve shown little interest in affairs outside their own national sovereignty and interests. So, it behooves the U.S. It might be romantic to wish the U.S. take a back seat to global affairs, but who really wishes a world where our freedoms and liberties are at the mercy of thuggish Vladimir Putin of Russia or Hu Jintao of China? In such a utopian world, mothers will sink their teeth into their babies as a result of hopelessness and frustration.

Power in itself matters naught, except for what good it is used. Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; freedom from torture and inhuman treatment; and so many others are not strictly Western ideals, they are yearnings of every soul, Muslim or Christian. To turn back on these values is to put our own freedoms, security, and world at risk. It would be naïve to think campaigners for human freedom can unilaterally disengage with no dire consequences. The ripples of those who actively plot to suppress freedom in the East will not stop in the East; they are bound to show up at our doorsteps, and what shall we then do, once we are no longer free?

Follow Femi Olatinpo on Twitter @pelumitv

WRITE TO US

In apologia of freedom last week. “I have not seen the Chinese, Russian or Canadian embassies bombarded with protesters around the world. If they don’t want us there, we should let them be. We have more important stuff to take care of at home.”

This frustration is highly understandable. For over half a century now, the United States has bankrolled global security with the blood, tears, and taxes of its citizens. In a host of the world’s most disastrous chaos, economic or physical, brought about by man or nature, or the prevention of these; the U.S. has spearheaded remediation efforts.

It has unique capabilities—for example, its annual defense budget dwarfs those of the next 20 countries combined. Alas, down the road, it has bungled its way through some foreign policy initiatives; one as recent as 2003, for which Barack Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize less than 10 months into office for essentially being the anti-Bush.

In so many instances, in key geographical locations, it has placed the values and freedoms for which it stands subpar to transient interests like politicoeconomic stability. It supported autocratic regimes like that of Mubarak in Egypt for almost 30 years, though it well knew this is the least stable form of government.

And these governments, in turn, birthed and fed the calamitous unemployment levels we experience today in Muslim states like Yemen and Egypt.

Whether the U.S. likes it or not, it’s now engaged in a battle for the hearts and minds of these millions of underprivileged, under-employed, and unemployed youth.

The alternative is to leave them to the care of extremists, who, like this past week, will recruit them as standing armies to attack Western interests and personnel.

We know there can be no development in any of these

“

What started as protests against the blasphemy of Islam, soon mushroomed into exercises of discontent against the West as the scourge of failed policies that have kept these societies overly unequal, marginalized, and unstable. It is the reason we saw assaults on both the German and British embassies, though they had no dealings with the video in question

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

T

here is no question about the fact that the media plays a larger than life role in every aspect of life in the United States of America. To appreciate the role of the media in the US, we have to look at the special role provided for it in the country’s Constitution.

Adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and ratified by conventions in eleven states it went into effect on March 4, 1789. It is of course significant that when the constitution was subjected to its first amendment, it tackled the issue of press freedom. The First Amendment in 1791 declared that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.”

This clause is generally understood as prohibiting the government from interfering with the printing and distribution of information or opinions.

Ironically, with all the constitutional guarantees and despite the fact that the US sees itself as the policeman of all freedoms in the whole wide world, the country cannot boast of operating the freest press in the world. The United States, as of 2012, is ranked 48th in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. This represents a dramatic 135% downward movement from the previous year. Only Chile, who dropped from 33 to 80, joined the U.S. in falling over 100% of their previous ranking.

The limits placed on the freedom of the press in the US are best shown in the case of the Cuban five. Arrested in Miami by FBI agents in September 1998, the five Cuban men were accused of the vague crime of conspiracy against the United States. Two of them, Gerardo, Ramón and Antonio, were additionally charged with Conspiracy to

By Kay Soyemi (Esq.)

I

f there is one thing that never ceases to amaze me about Nigerian politicians, it is their ability to speak tongue in cheek and their penchant for seeking to remove the matter in other people’s eyes without addressing the logs in their own.

Even more derisory is their ability to deliver judgements on matters that have woefully failed upon in their own jurisdiction when these are applied to others; without blinking an eyelid!

Such is the case of Senate President David Mark, who had the following to say when the matter of the disgraceful condition of the National Stadium in Abuja was exposed last week. This was what he said: You will recall that our contingent failed to win a single medal in the games. Our fortunes are even more dismal in football, which is a national pastime, and a great unifying factor.

After all, the National Stadium, Abuja, our supposed symbol of sporting excellence, was recently discovered to be decrepit, overtaken by weeds and reptiles. What is surprising, and very worrisome, is that our

PAGE 15

The US media and the Cuban 5 commit espionage. The US government never accused them of actual espionage, nor did it affirm that real acts of espionage had been carried out, as no classified document had been confiscated from them.

The accused men denied the charges but openly admitted that their mission in the United States was to monitor the activities of the groups and organizations responsible for terrorist activities against Cuba. It is of course common knowledge that since 1960 relations between the US and Cuba have been stormy.

Following the Fidel Castro led revolution, all US businesses in Cuba were nationalised without compensation; the US in response broke off diplomatic relations with Havana and imposed a trade embargo in response to Castro’s reforms.

Ok. The US has a right to maintain or break diplomatic relations with any country it chooses. But what surprises the progressive and civilized world is America’s decision to embark on acts of terrorism against its small neighbor. For instance in 1961 the US backed an invasion by Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs.

Fidel Castro, based on his intelligence network had prior information on the terrorist attack. He promptly confronted the insurgents and defeated them on the field of battle.

In 1961, the CIA began to make plans to assassinate Castro as part of Operation Mongoose. At least five plans to kill the Cuban leader were drawn up between 1961 and 1963. The case of the blockade against Cuba aside, one could go on and on mentioning the acts of hostility and many more acts of outright terrorism

emanating from the US against terrorists.

Cuba.

To the disbelief of the Cuban The Cuban five as the world government that was expecting was told in court were assigned to the terrorist to be rounded up, no the United States as undercover such action was taken. The only agents, not to work against the action, rather, was the arrest of U.S. but to gather information on the Cuban Five who had provided exile terrorist much of the evidence activities turned over to the a g a i n s t FBI! Cuba. After In court, armed they had with no hard gathered evidence against the e n o u g h Cuban Five, the case information, developed a bizarre the Cuban link with media and government journalism.

In i n v i t e d Miami the media Emmanuel Yawe representatives was a decisive tool to 08024565402 of the FBI to condemn them. royawe@yahoo.com come to The media was Havana to used to unleash an receive and discuss the evidence unprecedented propaganda of these terrorist activities and campaign of hatred and hostility plans as gathered. The meeting against the Cuban five. To this took place in June of 1998. In end they used a large group of official circles in Cuba, hopes were “journalists” – in true fact high that at long last, the two Government cover agents- who countries would act together to published articles and comments end terrorism. These hopes were time and again, day and night, nurtured by the fact that Fidel to produce an authentic flood of Castro had in a message delivered misinformation.

Between in the White House by Gabriel November 27, 2000 – when the Garcia Marquez to President trial started- and July 8, 2001 Clinton’s top Latin American when they were found guiltyadviser, Thomas Mack McLarty, The Miami Herald and El Nuevo and three senior NSC officials Herald alone published 1111 suggested a joint effort against articles, an average of more than exile terrorism – especially in light 5 per day. Something similar of Cuban information that the happened with the Diario de Las exiles were planning new plane Américas, thus totally bombings. saturating the printed press that What had happened? The FBI’s circulate there, some of which assigned a new Agent in Charge, are free..

Hector Pesquera, who was close to These so called journalists also the hardline Cuban exiles. acted through Radio and TV Pesquera apparently discouraged Marti which are funded from the investigations into exile US Federal Budget, they also used terrorism. He persuaded officials other Spanish radio and TV in Washington to go after the stations. It was impossible to Cuban Five rather than the exile escape the permanent flow of

propaganda anywhere in South Florida.

But the criminal action of the “journalists” – and the Government that paid themwent beyond mere propaganda.

They sought to influence the members of the jury by divulging materials whose presentation the Judge had forbidden. Obviously they could only have obtained the materials from the D.A.’s Office.

The “journalists” also harassed witnesses and jurors. The latter complained to the Judge saying they were frightened, because they were followed with cameras and microphones. This was acknowledged several times by Judge Lenard who asked the Government – obviously without success- to help her avoid situations that tarnished the image of the US Judicial System.

In August 2005, when the conviction of the Cuban five went up for appeal, the three judges in the Court of Appeals unanimously ruled the mistrial of the Miami process because it had taken place under what they described as “a perfect storm of prejudice and hostility”, created by the local media. The Amnesty International has also sent a report to the Attorney General outlining the organization’s concerns about the role of the media in the case.

In the face of these obvious lapses, the US government has refused to set the Cuban five free.

The case is now in its last, extraordinary stage. The focus of this appeal is the conspiracy of the Government with Miami media to condemn beforehand the accused and render a fair trial impossible.

It is a litmus test of how free the US press is.

Bonaventure, it is who as Senate President, has turned the NASS into an assemblage of elected public officials who were employed upon certain terms but have turned around to re-draw their own terms of emoluments and engagements without due regards to RMFAC or the electorate that employed them.

Rather, we were told minimum wages for the generality of Nigerians is a long road too far to travel. And, ah, heads did not roll!

Bonaventure, it is who as Senate President, forgot to remind Mr. President GEJ that you do not simply wake up one morning and proclaim, by fiat, that Nigerians must pay more for fuel as their New Year Gift!

Yet, heads did not roll!

Bonaventure, it is who as Senate President, refused to speak up and do the right thing during the UMYA “dying days” saga when the nation’s constitutional requirements in terms of succession was jettisoned for an ‘inchoate’ “doctrine of necessity” - an illegality unknown to the

proclaims that Ordinarily, such an appalling state of affairs ought to have been followed by voluntary resignations, or mass purges. But nobody has resigned, and nobody has been fired! When a comparatively minor issue of an overgrown stadium is reported on the pages of newspapers.

Well, I as Citizen Kay Soyemi (Esq.), demand from you, Citizen David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark that Nigerians agree that there is no doubt that a drastic overhaul of our politics and government ala administration is long overdue. This appalling state of affairs will no longer be allowed to continue and must be followed by voluntary resignations, or mass purges preferably yours and the entire NASS since you have ALL refused to resign and have refused to perform your duties and functions diligently and for the benefit of ALL Nigerians” Bonaventure, remove the log in your eyes first, you may see governance as an adventure but the impact of bad administration is killing Nigerians. It is not enough to mouth platitudes, but you must set examples by your own composure.

Kay Soyemi (Esq.) is on Facebook

Heads must roll! psyche is beginning to accept this malady as normal.

Ordinarily, such an appalling state of affairs ought to have been followed by voluntary resignations, or mass purges.

But nobody has resigned, and nobody has been fired!

Distinguished colleagues, there is no doubt that a drastic overhaul of our sports administration is long overdue.

In normal climes, conditions and circumstances or even coming from a different person, these would have been laudable words and demands, but coming from Mr. David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, this is a REALLY bad joke!

Bonaventure, it was as a Communications Minister, who opined that telephones were not for the poor masses and yet heads did not roll! Bonaventure, it is who as Senate President, has presided over the biggest amount of self-appropriation (call it misappropriation or downright perfidy and stealing) of the national wealth by lawmakers.

Yet, heads do not have to roll!

Nigerian Constitution - was foisted upon Nigerians. Yet, heads did not roll!

Bonaventure, it is indeed, as one of the unfortunate recurring decimals in our dismal national life and history, that has led us to this decrepit, beggarly, very worrisome state of affairs where our founding fathers (and mothers’) visions of a great nation now lie in utter ruins, overtaken by despair (weeds) and brigands posing as leaders (reptiles). Yet, heads did not roll!

Bonaventure, it is indeed, as one of the unfortunate set of brigands and jackboots that has held this country ransom for so many decades, that has led us to the point wherein diversity is no longer our unifying factor and strength but a divisive currency and source of weakness to the point where our psyche is beginning to accept this malady as normal . Yet, heads are not rolling!

Citizen Bonaventure, it is indeed, as our present Number Four Citizen, who loudly

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 16

Police nabs man, 52, for picking Senator’s pocket A

52-year-old man, Mohammed Lawal of Gwagwa village was at the weekend, sentenced to six months imprisonment by an Abuja Senior Magistrates Court for picking a Senator’s pocket in a hotel in Abuja.

Magistrate Ann Akobi sentenced the convict without an option of fine after listening to the First Information Report on the

one-count charge to which the accused pleaded guilty.

Police Prosecutor, Abdullahi Adamu had told the court that the matter was reported at Wuse Zone 3 Police Station by Abdullahi Kabiru of Prescort Village, Abuja on September 18, 2012.

He said the convict, under the pretence of begging, picked Senator Emmanuel Nkwocha’s pocket as the

Senator made his way out of the venue of a function in Abuja.

The prosecutor said that when the convict was caught he immediately dropped the money he picked from the Senator’s pocket.

Adamu said that during investigation, the convict confessed to the offence, which “contravenes the provisions of Section 287 of

A scene of an accident involving a car at Garki Area 8, Abuja, on Saturday morning.

the

Penal Code’’.

Magistrate Akobi said the convict having pleaded guilty to the charge the court would not fail to carry out its duty as enshrined in the law.

She added that a man of the convict’s age with a wife and children should be living an exemplary life and that the court had decided, after considering his age, to tamper justice with mercy. (NAN)

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Okrika sellers appeal to FCT minister to repair roads

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Chairman of Okrika (fairly used clothes) sellers, Zuba in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mallam Jubril

Shuaibu, has appealed to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to rehabilitate dilapidated roads in Zuba.

He said this is necessary to enable traders have access to various markets in the area.

Shuaibu, who made the

appeal an interview with Peoples Daily in Zuba, lamented that the people of Zuba were being neglected in the area of social amenities.

He advised officials of Okrika sellers in Zuba to be law-abiding citizens at their

business stands at all the times Shuibu also urged other dealers of fairly used clothes in the territory to come to Zuba International Market to sell their goods every Wednesday.

NPC conducts reproductive health survey in Bwari

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

I

n a bid to reduce the rampant cases of maternal and infant mortality, the National Population Commission (NPC) has extended its survey to Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), to ascertain the mortality rate towards averting the cases.

The Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Eze Odimegwu, told the council Chairman, Hon. Peter Ushafa

during a visit to the area that the survey was aimed at studying certain areas that urgently need to be addressed if cases of infant mortality rate in the country must be solved.

Represented by the Commissioner in charge of Jigawa state, the chairman said that the survey which was carried out in conjunction with a nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Measurement Learning Evaluation (MLE), would provide access to reproductive health,

especially maternal health services.

Odimegwu, added that the project which was financed by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation would aid women and girls to avoid unwanted or early pregnancy, unsafe abortions and pregnancy related complications.

He also averred that the project, would enable women to stay healthier, be more productive, offer them opportunities for education, training, and employment which, he noted, would

benefit the nation as a whole.

This was as he told members of the community to constitute a team of stakeholders on population in the country to give maximum cooperation to field workers, who would work assiduously to help in reducing cases of unwanted pregnancy and encourage child spacing.

Responding, Ushafa commended the chairman and promised that his people would work with the team in all areas to rid the society of the menace.

Sanitation: Committee deploys payloaders, bulldozers to Karu, Nyanya

By Josephine Ella

P

ayloaders, bulldozers and high tonnes tippers have been deployed to Karu, Nyanya and Mararaba by the Ministerial Committee on Clean and Green Greater Abuja Initiative for evacuation of the huge waste generated by residents of the satellite towns.

The Clean and Green workers, which commenced the evacuation of heaps of refuse in Afizere Road, Karu General Hospital, Karu Children’s Home and other parts of Karu on Tuesday last week, completed the mopping up of the refuse on Friday.

A statement by the Special Assistant (SA) on Media and Publicity to the Hon. Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Oluyinka Akintunde, disclosed that the evacuation of heaps of refuse in Nyanya and Mararaba was underway on Saturday.

Akintunde, who is a member of the Committee on Clean and Green Greater Abuja Initiative, said the committee was assisting the area councils in the area of capacity to clean up the satellite towns and regional road corridors.

The SA said that the councils were expected to clean up the villages, including the minor settlements.

On his part, the Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Olusegun Olusa, who led the evacuation and mop up exercise in Karu, Nyanya and Mararaba, said the refuse evacuation was part of the terms of reference of the committee and would be a continuous exercise. ”We are putting together sustainable waste management and enforcement strategies in the cleaning and greening of the satellite towns.

The Committee has established five subcommittees: Publicity and Sensitisation, Enforcement, Mop-up Operation, Parks and Greening, and Monitoring to carry out its mandate of cleaning and greening the satellite towns,” he said.

He disclosed that the committee through the Publicity and Sensitisation Subcommittee has undertaken an advocacy and sensitisation programme in the six Area Councils of the FCT. The Minister of State for FCT, had on August 23, 2012 inaugurated the Ministerial Committee on Clean and Green Greater Abuja Initiative to ensure a clean environment in the satellite towns.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 18

Abuja water treatment plants due for Dec’12, says minister

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

buja residents suffering from shortage of water scarcity may soon have relief, following the directive of the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to the contractor handling the 3rd and 4th multibillion-Naira new Abuja water treatment plants at the Lower Usuma Dam, M/S Bi-Water Nigeria Limited to deliver the project which is now 96 percent complete on or before December 2012.

The project which consists of two water treatment plants awarded in 2005 at the sum of N18 billion, according to the minister, when completed would undertake the treatment of 20m litres per hour to the city.

Giving the directive to the contractor, Senator Mohammed disclosed that the FCT administration has met all its contractual obligations.

He explained that all payments due for the project is up- to -date and so the government does not owe the contractor a dime, adding ‘the contractor has no reason to not deliver on the deadline.’

The minister, who was at the project site, on Friday, while inspecting on-going projects in the Territory as part of the FCT National Good Governance Tour, stressed that on his assumption of office, he had visited the site thrice and was been always told that the project is at 95 per cent completion.

“The current water capacity being treated and reticulated to the Abuja metropolis and its environs is about 10,000 cubic meters per hour and that when this project is completed and put into use; about 20 million litters of water will be treated and supplied to Abuja residents, which is three times the current production,” he said.

Mohammed, who reiterated that the Treatment Plants when completed will get its raw water from two sources which include the main Lower Usma Dam and the Gurara Dam about 74 kilometer away, said more plans are on ground to extend water supply to every community in FCT. In a remark, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku described the project as laudable capable of enhancing improved water supply to the city, said Abuja would have enough water supply to meet the population thereby making the problem of water scarcity a thing of the past.

Light rail: FCTA approves N178m compensation for villagers

By Josephine Ella

T

he Federal Capital T e r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA) has approved the sum of N178 million for compensation and resettlement of villages along the Abuja Light Rail right of way or corridors.

The FCT Minister, Senator

Bala Mohammed disclosed this at Idu, Abuja, while inspecting the on-going Abuja Light Rail project as part of the FCT National Good Governance Tour organised by the Federal Ministry of Information in conjunction with the National Planning Commission.

He said this was ensure that there is no impediment to the delivering of project on

Poor performance: AMMC terminates street light maintenance contract

By Josephine Ella

Abuja 35-storey twins World Trade Centre under construction near Church Gate building, inspected by journalists, during the National Good Governance tour, at the weekend.

Photo: Joe Oroye

FCT minister threatens to revoke undeveloped plots

By Josephine Ella

O

wner of undeveloped plots of land in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), chance the chance of loosing their property soon as the FCT Minister Senator Bala Mohammed has threatened to revoke such plots.

The areas or districts to be affected according to Senator Mohammed, who issued the threat on Saturday at the Site Office in Karmo District on the Day-3 of the FCT National Good Governance Tour are those already provided

with basic infrastructure.

He said when revoked, the affected plots would be reallocate to genuine and serious people interested in developing them.

The minister emphasised that the government has met all its own part of obligation by proving the required basic infrastructure and therefore allottees in such areas must rise to the occasion by taking possession of their property by developing them or risk revocation.

This was as he further warned that refusing to develop such plots signify that affected allottees are not

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interested in the property and thus will be taken to give to serious developers.

He disclosed that the provision of infrastructure in the Karmo is funded by the administration through its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

In a remark at the Site, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku commended the administration for not relying solely on the Federal Government allocation to undertake such a people-oriented project that has direct benefit to the Nigerian people.

Landlord, accomplice allegedly assault tenant, cart away cash Magistrates Court, Abuja for alleged Station.

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he Police on Friday arraigned two men, Charles Odama and Anthony Nsa, all of Arab Mpape, Abuja, at the Wuse Zone 6 Chief

criminal assault and theft.

Police Prosecutor, Issa Abdullahi told the court that Isaac Eze of De Lace Hotel, Mpape, reported the case to the Mpape Police

Police arraign man for cheating he police have arraigned one Mohammed Surajo of Anguwan Cement, Life Camp, Abuja, at the Chief Magistrates Court Wuse Zone 6, for alleged cheating.

Police Prosecutor, Buba Irimiya told the court that one Ona James of White House, Mpape, Abuja, reported the case to the Utako Police Station.

Irimiya alleged that the accused

schedule, as he expressed the commitment of the Federal Government in completing the Abuja rail project on or before 2015.

He said the project has attained 22 percent completion and would now be fast tracked with the receipt of the $500 million credit facility from the Chinese Exim Bank with interest rate of 2.5 percent.

According to the Minister, about one million jobs will be created when the project is completed; stressing that the project has been phased to ensure early completion and maximum benefit to Nigerians.

Also speaking during the tour, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku commended the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed for being able to achieve this feat.

deceived the complainant and collected N44,500 under the pretext of supplying some goods to him.

He also alleged that the accused person diverted the money to his own use.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravenes Sections 79 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded

not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Miss Vera Tukura, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum.

Tukura said that the surety should be a civil servant resident within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case to October 8, 2012 for further hearing. (NAN)

Abdullahi said the accused went into the complainant’s compound and damaged the door’s padlock and stole a chair belonging to his tenant.

He said that when the complainant confronted the accused they beat him up and forcefully collected N40,000 cash from him.

The prosecutor said the offence contravenes the Penal Code, but the accused pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Musa Jobbo granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety each in like sum.

Jobbo said the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned the case to October 11, 2012 for further hearing. (NAN)

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has terminated the street light maintenance contract for Wuse 1,Wuse 2, Mabushi and Shehu Musa Yar adua Way within the city centre over non performance.

A statement by AMMC Head Public Relations, Ifeanyi Ughamadu said the decision to terminate the contract was as a result of the failure of the contractor handling the areas to meet up with the demands of the authority of ensuring due functionality of the street lights.

The statement quoted the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Arc Reuben Okoya, to expressed sadness with the contractor’s inability to improve on his services despite several written and oral warnings.

The council, according to the statement, had noticed during its routine monitoring exercises at nights that most of the areas managed by a particular company , CON Engineering Limited, were in constant darkness and that all efforts made to ginger the company to action failed.

Okoya was also quoted to have expressed the council’s commitment to ensuring that the street lights in the city are in good and sound working condition especially given the current security challenges in the country.

He therefore, warned other contractors to ensure that the zones under their control are well maintained emphasising that the council would not hesitate to terminate the contract of any company that handles the street light maintenance job with levity.

In a related development, in order to ensure all round functionality of the street lights, the coordinator has constituted a special monitoring Committee headed by the Director of Facilities Maintenance and Management , to constantly monitor the areas covered by the Contractors and ensure their optimal performance.

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 22

INSIDE

- Pg 20

Appraising Arik Air, Aviation ministry face-off

Mob: 08033644990

FG requires N56 tr to bridge housing deficit

By Abdulwahab Isa

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whooping N56trillion would be required to tackle over 16 million country's housing units deficit.

The Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Gimba Ya'u Kumo gave the figure recently adding that, 16 million houses would be constructed at a conservative cost of N3.5million per unit.

"Fundamentally, the nation needs 16 million

housing units to bridge the housing deficits in the country; and providing these houses will cost N56 trillion at a conservative cost of N3.5million per unit.

"This is a colossal amount which cannot be funded only through the National Housing Fund (NHF), but requires urgent injection of funds from both the government and the private sector. That is why we are as well exploring offshore funding to boost financing for mass housing which the nation

urgently needs".

Kumo said the new management of FMBN has been pursuing new relationships with key institutions like the Nigerian Airforce, Nigerian Navy, the Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police, among others with a view to financing the building of staff residential estates for them through the NHF scheme.

In this regard, he said the bank has offered to finance the

building of 150 housing units in each state of the federation and Abuja for men and officers of the Nigeria Police which brings to a total of 5, 550 housing units adding that the police leadership has accepted to support this initiative.

Group petitions EFCC to investigate Arik Air for financial crimes

By Muhammad Sada civil society group, Future Aviators Vanguard has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate Arik Air limited for the diversion of N35 billion collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as Aviation Intervention Fund and other related matters.

The group also accused Arik Air of non-remittance of over N5 billion VAT belonging to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), a financial crime punishable under the EFCC Act. This was contained in a Press Conference addressed by its President, Paul Young Hanna in Kaduna yesterday, where the group also called for the prosecution of its Chairman; Chief Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide who they alleged has been blacklisted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The group said "as young Nigerians who are pursuing careers in the aviation sector, we cannot fold our hands and watch our future being mortgaged by unpatriotic and fraudulent profiteers who are destroying our future and bringing our much cherished profession to disrepute."

According to them, "we are greatly disturbed about unfolding developments in the aviation sector where innocent Nigerian air travelers were left to suffer owing to Arik Air's inability to settle its indebtedness running into several billions of naira.

More worrisome is what we read in the Friday, September 21, 2012 edition of This Day newspaper, where the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) blacklisted Arik Air among "debtors who failed to repay their loans to banks and had these loans subsequently transferred to AMCON".

"In a new circular dated September 17 and signed by the CBN's Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs. A. O. Martins, Arik Air Limited, belonging to Arumemi-Ikhide owes a whooping N 85.481 billion! This is apart from their roll call of indebtedness which includes FAAN N7bn, NCAA - N3 bn, NAMA N914m, NACHO - N285m, SAHCOL - N51m, AP -N769m, MRS - N527m, TOTAL - N98m, SO -N66m amongst several others."

The group further said "if the CBN can blacklist Arik Air and its Chairman for its financial insolvency,

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the aviation workers' union is therefore justified in picketing the Airline."

"Instead of humbly negotiating with their debtors, Arik Air played the ostrich by fabricating wicked lies against the well respected Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, stating that she demanded 5 percent equity holding in their company. We wait to see how many percent they will bequeath to Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the CBN Governor, following these revelations" the statement continued.

In conclusion, they called on the EFCC to as a matter of urgency investigate Arik Air limited and restore sanity to the system.

L-R: DIG Hamza, Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Ambassador Assam Assam, and state Commissioner for Information, Malam Danladi Bako, during the governor's visit to International investment Forum, at the weekend in Sochi, Russia.

N200bn entertainment fund: NEXIM disburses N700m to 6 practitioners

By Abdulwahab Isa

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ver N700 million of the N 2 0 0 b i l l i o n entertainment fund has been disbursed to six entertainment practitioners, Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Nigeria ExportImport Bank Rober Orya has confirmed.

The NEXIM boss dropped the hint at the weekend in Abuja at an occasion to review the performance of the bank in the last years under his tenure.

The six beneficiaries were granted the loan facility on meeting the requirements set out as guidelines for accessing the loan provided by federal government to develop entertainment industry.

The Federal Government in 2010, as part of the renew drive to accelerate non-oil sector development approved the disbursement of N200 billion as loan to facilitate improvement of entertainment/ arts sector.

He attributed the slow pace of the disbursement to noncompliance of stipulated guidance by most practitioners.

He explained that most of them that come forward for the loan had defective application lacking security back up(collaterals) that would guarantee laon disbursement.

Orya advised entertainment practitioners to desist from seeing the loan as grant, as according to him, the loan is a repayable facility and every condition would have to be met for disbursement to happen.

Giving a score card of his three years administration, he said the bank has been repositioned from a total loan portfolio of N14.6 billion in 2009 to N1.3 billion with a commitment that loan recovery effort will be sustained.

The bank's support to Nigerian exporters majorly small and medium enterprises (SME's)

including some that engaged in Greenfield projects has risen to N23.33 billion and issue guarantee to tune of $27.3 million between 2009 and August 2012.

NEXIM audited account for 2010 showed profit of N189 million

Shareholders approve FCMB, FinBank merger From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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hareholders of First City Monument Bank ("FCMB") and FinBank Plc ("FinBank") has approved the business combination of the two banks.

99.98% of FCMB shareholders voted in favour of the merger resolutions, showing overwhelming shareholder support and endorsement of the transaction and its benefits.

This followed regulatory approvals of the merger including an approval-in-principle from the Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") on 30th July, 2012.

By this approval, the entire

Management Tip of the Day

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Give employees freedom, within limits

ll managers need to decide how much latitude to give their employees. On one hand, micromanagement is demeaning and frustrating to capable employees. On the other, your job as a supervisor is to give your direct reports the

support they need.

To determine if you're giving employees enough latitude, ask them what decisions they feel they could make, but are not allowed to.

Then, remove what impedes their ability to make those decisions, if appropriate.

as against loss of N5.460 billion recorded in 2009.

"The bank has succeeded in creating awareness of its objectives, products and service offerings and undergone a re-branding exercise" he said.

Make sure to communicate the boundaries. Clearly define what employees can and cannot do, or identify a core set of required standards.

As long as those standards are met, people can have freedom to do what it takes to do their jobs.

share capital of FinBank has been cancelled and the bank dissolved without being wound up.

Consequently, all assets and liabilities of FinBank, including its real properties and intellectual property rights, have been transferred to FCMB. Following the meeting, Group Managing Director, Ladi Balogun said: "This approval is an important step towards the successful merger of FinBank and FCMB and is a pivotal moment in the evolution of FCMB".

With shareholder approval in hand, the next step for FCMB is to file the shareholder resolution with the SEC, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the courts. Once we receive approval we can finally complete the merger. This process is expected to be concluded in a matter of days at which point the two banks will begin to operate as a single entity.

"FCMB is one of Nigeria's most enduring institutions and with a solid reputation as a premier wholesale banking group and a wellrun and rapidly growing retail banking franchise. We look forward to building on this capability as a merged entity, with a greater focus on our customers", added Balogun.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS First Bank

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irst Bank of Nigeria Plc has introduced a platform targeted at the over 101 million active mobile subscribers in the country. The product, called Firstmonie, is expected to reduce the country's unbanked population.

According to statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission, Nigeria now has over 101 million active subscribers, with over 71 per cent teledensity penetration.

Speaking at the media launch of Firstmonie in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of First Bank, Bisi Onasanya, said the future of banking would be driven by various e-banking initiatives.

Onne FTZ

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he Ministry of Trade and Investment has put the total private sector investment in the Onne Free Trade Zone (FTZ) at $4.8 billion (N705.6 billion).

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, who made this disclosure during his visit to the facility in preparation to the forthcoming Oil and Gas Trade and Investment Forum 2012, added that over 30,000 jobs have so far been generated within the area.

According to the minister, Onne has generated revenues of about $5.4 billion (N847.8 billion) for the government since inception. "We are committed to providing the enabling environment for local and foreign investors to invest in Nigeria. This will enable us create additional jobs, create wealth and transform our economy", he added.

Honeywell

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or the first quarter (Q1) ended June 2012, Honeywell Flourmills Plc recorded a turnover of N10.739 billion compared with N9.318 billion attained within same period in 2011.

Profit after tax, according to the company also increased from N46million in 2011 to N475million within the period under review.

In the Q1 result presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday, the company explained that selling and administrative expenses stood at N1.257 billion as against N911 million in the previous year.

Niger State

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he Niger state government is discussing with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Bank of Industry (BoI) to establish a Shea butter factory, Director General, Niger State Export Promotion Council, Ahmed Kontagora said at a press briefing on Saturday in Minna.

The DG revealed tha t the discussions had reached advanced stage.

He said that the world market value of Shea nuts stands at $3.8 billion, adding that one tone of Shea nut in the state now sells for between 250, 000 and N300, 000.

Interbank rates fall 500 basis points on budget cash

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igerian interbank lending rates eased more than 500 basis points on Friday to an average of 10.83 percent, compared with 16.33 percent last week, after a cash dispersal from the August budgetary allocation to government agencies hit the system.

The Federal Government shares proceeds from oil sales from a centrally held account every month to its three tiers of government - federal, state and local - providing liquidity to the banking system and

determining lending rates.

The FG distributed N570 billion ($3.62 billion) from oil receipts to its three tiers of government last week, and traders said about half of the funds hit the system on Thursday, sinking the cost of borrowing among banks.

"We have a large volume of cash hitting the system from budget allocations on Thursday and rates have fallen more than 5 percentage points since then," one dealer said.

Dealers said the market opened with a cash balance of

about N317 billion ($2.01 billion) on Friday, compared with a negative balance of N42 billion last Friday.

The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) fell to 10.5 percent from 15.75 % last week, 1.5 percentage lower than the central bank's 12 % benchmark rate and 50 basis points above the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate.

Overnight placement and call closed at 11 percent apiece compared with 16.50 % and 16.75 %, respectively last week.

Dealers said rates should remain flat next week or inch up

marginally because of inflows of additional funds from matured treasury bills. "We see rates remaining flat or at most inching up a little next week because of more funds coming to the system from treasury bill maturities, unless the central bank embarks on a mop up exercise," another dealer said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),plans to issue 101.21 billion naira ($641.18 million) in treasury bills ranging from 3-month to 6-month maturities at its regular bi-monthly debt auction on Thursday.

NAICOM bureau aid payment of N1.22bn claims

By Abdulwahab Isa

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he intervention of the compliant bureau of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has led to insurance claims settlement to the tune of N1.22 billion in the first half of 2012.

The paid claims were in respect to 52 cases concluded by the Bureau during the period.

Data provided by NAICOM at the weekend indicated that the complaints bureau dealt with a total number of 349 cases and held four adjudication meetings.

Of the figure, 86 were fresh complaints while the remaining (263) are existing/ongoing cases.

The outstanding claims are currently receiving the attention of the Commission, with a view to achieving a quick resolution to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, particularly, members of the insuring public.

A statement supporting the claims payment issued by NAICOM

spokesperson, Lucky Fiakpa noted that complaints received this year centered mainly on non-settlement of claims on Motor Insurances, Marine, Life, Bond Issues and Pension matters.

The complaints were received from individual policy holders, beneficiaries, and government agencies, SERVICOM, Legal Aid Council and Public Complaints Commission. The resort to the Bureau for settlement of claims disputes by the insuring public is an indication of the level of awareness of this channel of dispute resolution in the Commission.

Insurance companies have been made to accept the fact that it is no longer business as usual as their responses and compliance with the Commission's directives had witnessed an improvement compared to previous periods.

Consequently, not less than 85 per cent of the insurance institutions responded to queries or directives issued to them for claim settlement during the period. Majority of the 15

per cent residual are largely claims already before courts of competent jurisdiction and therefore prejudicial for the Commission to intervene.

It will be recalled that as part of the Commission's commitment to consumers' education and value-

NDIC to organise risk–based supervision course for examiners

By Abdulwahab Isa

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o deepen the skills of banks' examiners, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) is organising a risk-based supervision (RBS) training programme for its examiners.

The program is being jointly conducted with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), a statement by the NDIC said.

The RBS training is based on a supervisory framework that is adopted by both the NDIC and the CBN. It also involves critical areas, such as overview of risk management, understanding the framework for riskbased supervision and risk mitigation techniques.

The NDIC had recently concluded the third leg of the RBS for 54 participants, out of which five (5) were from the CBN and 49 from Bank Examination Department (BED), Special Insured Institutions Department (SIID) and Zonal Offices of the Corporation.

The training was held from August 27 -September 7 this year at Golden Tulip Hotel, Lagos. The fourth leg of the RBS training programme is

Earnings Report for Banks Source:Pro-share Nigeria

to be held early next year in Abuja for the CBN and NDIC examiners in the Head Office and Zonal Offices.

It would be recalled that the first run of the training programme was organized by the Corporation from June 6 - 15, 2010 at Conference Hotel, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State for 54 participants out of which 44 were NDIC examiners and 10 from the CBN. The second run of the training programme was held from November 22 - December 3, 2010 at the same venue for 64 participants, all who were NDIC examiners.

In a recent development, the Managing Director/Chief Executive, NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim underscored the rationale behind the RBS for banks while declaring open the 12th annual national conference of Risk Managers Association of Nigeria in Lagos with the theme: "Financial Sector Stability and MacroPrudential Risk Regulation: Way Forward for Emerging and Developing Economies".

Alhaji Ibrahim said that the NDIC was collaborating with the CBN in implementing risk based supervision (RBS) of banks, to enable them effectively evaluate risks inherent in activities and risk management functions of banks.

The NDIC CEO, who was represented at the Conference by the Director, Asset Management Department of the Corporation, Mr. Adedapo Adeleke also told the gathering of risk managers that the various boards of insured institutions were expected to establish an enterprise risk management (ERM) system with clearly defined risk decisions that would be consistent with the established thresholds.

He charged the insured institutions to complement their risk management strategies by consistently assessing whether they were deploying their capital relative to their risk exposures and matching their assets with liabilities to avert liquidity crisis, stressing that the banks should always enthrone self regulation by remaining ethical in their business dealings and stresstesting their capital positions to complement statutory regulations.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

T/bills yields seen easing on strong demand

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ields on Nigerian Treasury bills are seen falling next week as investor appetite grows ahead of the country's inclusion on the JP Morgan bond index. Yields at next week's Treasury bill auction in Nigeria are expected to fall further due to increased investor appetite ahead of Nigeria's inclusion on the JP Morgan index and on the back of falling inflation.

The Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) plans to issue Treasury bills of all maturities worth a total 104.70 billion naira ($664.34 million) at its regular bi-monthly debt sale on Sept. 27.

At this week's auction, yields on the 91- and 182-day paper fell by more than 100 basis points.

Dealers said some foreign investors including pension fund and local fund managers were taking position in the market ahead of Nigeria's inclusion on the

JP Morgan index. The expected inflow of offshore interest in the local debt market to drive yields further down in the near term.

At the bond auction this week, marginal rates on the 5-year and 7-year paper dropped by more than 300 basis points as Nigeria prepared for its inclusion on JP Morgan's Government Bond Index for emerging markets (GBI-EM) from October.

"We still expect some yield

narrowing ahead for the FGN bonds, driven by the JP Morgan factor and the improvement in inflation prospects light," FBN Capital wrote in a research note on Friday.

Consumer inflation eased to 11.7 percent year-on-year in August, down from 12.8 percent in July, while the central bank kept its base interest rate on hold at 12 percent for the sixth time in a row on Tuesday.

Dangote enjoins local investors to invest more in Nigeria

By Abdulwahab Isa

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angote says foreign investors will find the Nigerian economy attractive for more foreign direct investments (FDIs) if local investors should increase their level of investments according to President/CE Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.

Dangote, in an interview with Euroasia Industry, a global leading magazine in the construction sector, said that instead of seeking for foreign investors, African and Nigerian investors should take

the lead by investing in the local economy. The success of these investments, he opined, would spur foreign investors to come and partake in the success story.

The business mogul has demonstrated his stance with huge investments in all spheres of the economy; the most recent is the commissioning of the line 3 at Obajana Cement Plant.

Dangote Cement have expansion projects worth about $2.5bn in additional capacity already on stream, with Lines 3 and 4 coming on at Ibese and

line 4 at Obajana.

Work, he said, will soon commence on $1 billion 6 million tons cement plant in Calabar.

First Aluminum shareholders decry non payment of dividends From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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hareholders, under the aegis of Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), have decried their investment in First Aluminum Plc, saying the company has not paid dividend in the past 10 years.

Speaking on behalf of the members, the Chairman of PSAN, Mr. Boniface Okezie, told journalists that the company had not paid dividends in last 10 years.

According to him, despite putting more funds in the company via a right issue, shareholders are yet to reap any return.

"It is disheartening to note that First Aluminum has not treated shareholders the way it should. The company has been making profit but the directors do not pass on part of the profit as dividends to shareholders. They receive

their sitting allowances and others but leave other shareholders without anything," he said.

Okezie noted that the company's products are in high demand, wondering why the management is not maximising the high demand to deliver good performance and reward investors.

"Attempts by shareholders to suggest ways how the company can grow are always been thwarted by the fact the company take its annual general meetings to areas where most of the shareholders cannot get to. This is bad and it is high time the management sat up to its responsibility," he said.

First Aluminum Nigeria Plc recently reported a 48 per cent decline in its profit for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The company's profit before tax stood at N324 million in 2011 as against N629 million

the previous year.

Addressing stockbrokers recently, the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Ben Elfrink attributed the profit decline to the operating cost, exchange rates and duty tariffs.

According to him, the increasing rate of importation into the country had affected the business severely, adding that it was important for Nigerians to patronise locally manufactured products.

He explained that currently, 85 per cent of all imported goods are substandard.

"Patronising Nigerian made products is better than buying imported products that are most of the time substandard.

Buying Nigerian made products has an extra value in developing the Nigerian economy and creating employment for Nigerians," he said.

He said, "It is not all about government. What drives foreign investment is local investment. We in the private sector need to do our bit and we need to invest in our economy."

However, he called on government to fix power issues in the country as to spur local investment. According to him, "Electricity is the most fundamental tool for change.

When you look at it, power alone can create a large middle class.GDP will grow by more than nine per cent if the government fixes the power within the next two years. You will see many people come out of the poor segment and into the middle class. That's why I keep saying that if there is enough power today, you will see 60 per cent of young graduates who are creative go and build businesses of their own."

To the foreign investors observing the economy from afar, he said "I can assure you that you can make more money in Africa than you can in Asia, and Nigeria is better than any other part of Africa in terms of return on investment. But you have to actually believe in what you are doing and you have to have a strategy for achieving your vision. Once you have this, the sky is the limit."

INVESTORS NEWS BEAT Bond Watch

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uring the past week, activities were characterised by speculation on the outcome of events lined up for the week ahead which include the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, FGN bonds primary auction and the release of August 2012 inflation figure.

Activities at the OTC market for FGN bonds continued to witness intraday volatility as a result of demand pressure from offshore investors. Earlier in the week, the market resumed with relative stability from where it closed the previous week.

However, there was a sharp increase in price across all maturities towards the end of the week.

Oando, Julius Berger

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wo out of the companies shortlisted to buy stateowned power utilities, which are also listed on the Nigerian bourse, namely Oando Nigeria plc and Julius Berger plc have witnessed significant mark-up in their share price since they declared their interest to bid for the state owned utilities.

In the case of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, the country's largest construction company by market value, gained for the first time in seven days after it was shortlisted among companies to buy state-owned power utilities as the company's stock gained 4.7 percent to N28.80 at the close of market activities, its first rise since Sept.

10.

New visa policy

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he Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, has said that the Federal Government's new visa policy to encourage investors has started yielding positive results.

Aganga said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas Trade and Investment Forum 2012.

T-bills

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Source:Pro-share Nigeria

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), plans to issue 104.70 billion naira ($664.34 million) from treasury bills ranging from 3month to 1-year maturities at its regular bi-monthly debt auction on Sept. 27, the CBN said on Thursday.

The apex bank said it will issue N21.84 billion in 91-day paper, N59.08 billion in 182day bills and N23.78 billion in the 364-day paper next week.

The CBN issues treasury bills regularly to reduce money supply, curb inflation and help lenders manage their liquidity.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 22

Appraising Arik air, Aviation ministry face-off

By Miriam Humbe

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rik Air has resumed domestic operations following an emergency meeting convened by the Federal Government to resolve the dispute between the airline, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Ministry of Aviation.

The meeting was chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and had in attendance the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Hope Uzodinma and the Chairperson, House Committee on Aviation, Nkeiruka Onyejoacha.

Recently, Arik suspended operations throughout the country because of a disagreement over an alleged N7 billion debt being money owed the airport authority by the airliner.

While the suspension lasted, industry observers have lamented that a very dangerous precedent is being set and that already, the disruption of the flow of operations have far reaching consequences for the industry.

Arik air is the only airline that operates in the northern part of Nigeria, especially areas that are very far from the centre like Maiduguri, Sokoto and many others. These areas depend solely on the patronage of Arik Air, especially since Air Nigeria withdrew its services from there.

So, for the aviation ministry, under whatever guise, to cause this company to fold up its operations is deemed unfortunate and a miscalculation, which thankfully, the government has at last resolved.

‌as Arik resumes domestic operations

Arik aircraft in mid flight A lot have been said and heard by way of disagreements and problems emanating from the aviation ministry largely because of the way and manner critics say the minister insists on running an otherwise fully professional agency for which she has no background knowledge and she appears not ready to learn from those she has found in the industry.

This is a government that has promised to promote investment and investors are watching to see how Nigerian investors and others already in these areas of investment are being treated by government.

For the aviation ministry to be at war with Arik, the largest local airline in the country is something that the presidency must look into. While this ugly development lasted, with the bad state of roads in the country, it is imaginable how many more

Aviation minister, Mrs. Stella Oduah

people may have died as a result of road accidents owing to the deplorable state of our roads.

At this point, serious soul searching must be done. There are already complaints about the way and manner the ministry issued DANA air permission to resume operations. Traditionally, there are certain steps that must be taken before any airline that was involved in an accident will be allowed to return. However, leaders in the industry don't appear to be satisfied that these critical examinations have been completed.

Up till now, nobody can say with any degree of certainty what happened. Some of the people who lost their relatives may be yet to bury them. They are yet to be compensated by DANA Air and other agencies that have responsibility for that.

To now expose the Nigerian flying public to this shock and instant disruption without notice was considered rather cruel.

In many parts of the world especially China, India, Europe and United States, officials of government are always there to facilitate the growth of industries because it is the private and commercial enterprises that provide the jobs required. Government cannot meet even one-tenth of the employment needs, but the private sector does.

For example, when government officials of India come to Nigeria, they come to promote the commercial interest of TATA, which is an internationally recognised manufacturer of vehicles and other services. Even recently, when President Obama visited Ghana, he went solely to discuss business for the commercial interest of his country. But in Nigeria, it is disheartening to notice how people who are appointed as ministers and supervisors constitute themselves into a menace by creating unnecessary tension for the administration that appointed them.

They see themselves as

opposition to the established business sector and rather than facilitate their growth, tend to employ every means to cripple the existing private sectors merely to promote their own private interests that is adolescent.

Recently, the former minister of power, Prof. Barth Nnaji was relieved of his appointment because of such conflict of interest. Very urgent steps must be taken concerning this issue because Arik is too important in the aviation industry to be allowed to close without any warning and without any contingency arrangement.

Only last year, Arik Air carried over one and a half million passengers and their cargoes across the country. So it is an important contributor to the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the economy.

Every one day Arik does not fly both locally and internationally, the Nigerian economy is the worse for it.

Critics say any action taken that will put families out of job and keep passengers stranded at airports is anti-people. Conflict of interests cannot be overruled here, as industry watchers believe that some of these actions are fronts for friends of some top echelon in the ministry who aviation are planning to float their own airlines to prevail.

This may be responsible for why they are making it difficult for

existing airlines to operate. This, in anybody's imagination, cannot be an agenda of transformation.

Another critical area where regular fliers are groaning over is the on-going rehabilitation of the nation's airports. This is perhaps, the only country in the world where its critical terminals are being grounded for renovation all at once. PortHarcourt, Lagos and Kano airports are all currently under repairs. Passengers are put under serious stress.

For instance, passengers arriving the Lagos airport are made to pass under a tent and especially during this rainy season, people have it really rough. Ideally, an important data analysis of passengers should have been made to see that they suffer far less than they are now.

No passenger to whom airport comfort and security are important will appreciate what is going on at the nation's airports which have been turned into construction zones simultaneously.

Observers are beginning to ask why the ministry cannot face these developments by starting from the most critical to the less critical so that the renovations can be carried out without obstructing and endangering the security of passengers. Certainly, this cannot in anyway, promote tourism. There is virtually nobody who will want to fly into Lagos from anywhere to be received in the manner the airports are.

Arik Air should be commended for its tenacity and ability to remain operational against all odds. The ministry should therefore, restrict itself to the task of ensuring that passengers' safety and critical navigational equipment are provided for at our airports.

Many Nigerian travellers would heave a sigh of relief as Arik Air resumes its domestic operation following the resolution of the dispute, with industry observers commending the Presidency for listening to the plight of Nigerians and subsequent intervention.

However, the consensus among stakeholders is that this critical sector of the economy should be adequately administered.

“

But in Nigeria, it is disheartening to notice how people who are appointed as ministers and supervisors constitute themselves into a menace by creating unnecessary tension for the administration that appointed them.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Media and SAVI: Promoting good governance and accountability

By Lawal Sa’idu Funtua

O

n September 10-11 2012, media practitioners from Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara states gathered in Kano for a workshop organized by the State Accountability and Voice Initiative, a DFID funded programme. The focus of the workshop was to equip media men on the basic skills needed for budget tracking and monitoring, an overview of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), its success or failure and the role of media in effecting

changes.

The workshop was kickstarted with a general overview of the SAVI by the Kaduna unit head of the programme, Mrs. Rabecca Sako-John. She noted that the goal of SAVI was to assist Nigeria manage its resources well, promote and assist citizens access to go good services and promote the triangular relationship between the media, civil Society groups (CSOs) and State Houses of Assembly’ she noted that a strong partnership between these important stakeholders would definitely bring

change and give voice to the voiceless.

Mrs. Sako-John further stated that some tools of achieving good governance such as the Freedom of Information Act and Fiscal Responsibility Act, (FRA) would be extensively discussed at the workshop.

She disclosed that SAVI has been working with other development agencies such as SPARC, ESSPIN, PATHS etc in order to widen the process and routes of achieving success. Mrs SakoJohn disclosed that the programme started in five states but later expanded to

three states while she said the programme would also begin in tow states, Anambra and Niger states.

However, the Kaduna SAVI unit head was quick to add that the programme was not meant to dictate to the CSOs on how to go about their activities but it only mentor them. She added that SAVI doesn’t offer grants but rather it only provides guide and small support to the CSOs. Mrs. Sako-John reiterated the role of the media in providing linkages for all actors on the demand side.

In the first presentation,

Organisers of the workshop

Participating journalists

the Freedom Radio station manager in Jigawa State, Malam Adamu Ladan discussed on the ‘Media as catalyst for change and promoting good governance’.

Ladan noted that the essence of his presentation is to reawaken the media’s response especially as its pertains its role as an agent of change. The presenter reechoed the constitutional role and responsibility of the media as a change agent and the need for the media to rise up to its duties especially in promoting voice and accountability.

Ladan further averred that the role of the media educating, informing, entertaining the public and surveillance and transmission of cultural values put its practitioners in a better position to effect changes in the ways things are done. He similarly observed that media as

catalyst through its contents and programming gives prominence to rights like right to present the truth, right to discuss and secure genuine agreement on collective action and enable the individual to influence decisions made by those in authority.

In her presentation at the workshop, a veteran journalists and activist, Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf took an overview assessment of performance and failures of the millennium development goals, (MDGs).

Hajiya Bilkisu disclosed that the aim of the MDGs that was adopted by the United Nations, (UN) in the year 2000 was to reduce poverty by half before the year 2015.

She noted that the salient goals of the MDGs include among others, promote accountability, health, education, environment, gender, women

empowerment, infant and maternal mortality.

Hajiya Bilkisu, who disclosed that the programme started five years late in Nigeria, argued that whether Nigeria was able to achieve the MDG goals or not was obvious for all to see. The verdict of the presenter and the participants at the

workshop was that even if little was achieve the many failures of the programme has overshadowed them.

The veteran journalists therefore tasked the media to be closely monitoring the MDG projects. According to her after the commissioning of a project the journalists needs to make another visit to see what actually

“

The veteran journalists therefore tasked the media to be closely monitoring the MDG projects.

According to her after the commissioning of a project the journalists needs to make another visit to see what actually happened thereafter

happened thereafter. She similarly urged journalists to bring out agenda over such issues for public discourse.

Conclusively she said media has a major role in ensuring accountability and good governance.

Similarly, an economist Dr. Uzo Amakon provided a general overview on Fiscal Responsibility Act, (FRAs) and Budgets as process of achieving good governance and accountability. Dr. Amasom noted that the FRAs are designed to enhance fiscal prudence by placing statutory obligations on the Federal, States and Local Governments to commit transparent fiscal and budget practices that can be evaluated over time. He added that the FRAs are in use in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand,

Peru, Russia, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

In the Nigerian context, Dr. Amasom said the 2007 Fiscal Responsibility Acts contains a mix of procedural and quantitative rules.

He however identified the limitations of FRAs in Nigeria which include technical and policy challenges where FRA provisions not being faithfully adhered to by the federal government and political economy factors where he said given the federal structure the FRA is not applicable to the states and oil windfall and distribution pressures.

On budget tracking, Dr. Amasom said budget tracking is close monitoring, assessment and evaluation of the budget process throughout the investment process that is from planning, allocation, disbursement,

implementation to the final stage of assessing the effect of the budget. He noted that budget can be tracked through various process but he said media remain an important tool of budget tracking. He noted that budget tracking eliminate waste and ensure accountable, prudent and transparent allocation and use of resources.

The Katsina unit head of SAVI, Mallam Ahmad Zilkiflu took the participants in to the journey of reviewing the lessons learnt from the workshop. In the end it was generally agreed that the brainstorming session has equip journalists with the basic skills of ways of ensuring good governance and giving voice to the voiceless. The journalists also promised to use the knowledge acquired at the workshop for the betterment of the society.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 08028402920 sundayejike@yahoo.co.uk

In Brief

Supreme Court gets two new Justices Stories by Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mariam Muktar will, on Wednesday 26th September, 2012 swear in two newly appointed Justices of the Supreme Court.

The newly appointed Justices of the apex court, according to a statement by the Deputy Director (Press & Information), Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mr. Akande Aweneri Festus are Justices K. B. Akaahs and S. S. Alagoa The event will take place at the Main Court Auditorium of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at 10:00 am.

The two Justices were recently appointed to the Supreme Court Bench by the President and Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan.

With the swearing-in of the two new justices of the apex court it would bring the number to 17 justices of the court.

Law Society practice mgt holds one-day training

T

he Law Society of England and Wales will be running a one day training programme on law firm practice management in Lagos on November 8, 2012.

This intensive course demonstrates the key components of business development for a law firm and is essential for those looking to excel in a domestic and international business context.

Participants will consider the meaning and delivery of effective practice management including: financial management, managing people, client relationship management, risk management, marketing and the importance of a business strategy to the growth of a law firm.

The course, which is supported by the Nigerian Bar Associations’ (NBA) Section on Legal Practice, is accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority for CPD. Discounted rates are available for members of the Law Society’s International Division and the NBA’s Section on Business Law and Section on Legal Practice.

Similarly, the Law Society of England and Wales and UK Trade Investment (Nigeria) will be leading a legal services market visit to Lagos and Abuja between November 5 and 10, 2012.

The delegation will bring together the best of both UK and Nigerian legal excellence. Firms will benefit from firsthand insights into forthcoming business developments and opportunities, networking with government, regulators, investors, commerce and industry and building new contacts and relationships with the leading domestic and international law firms.

Highlights of the programme include, economic briefing and legal services overview, high-level business and legal networking dinner at the British High Commission, Regulatory agencies forum, PPP, financial Services and regulatory agency forums, Law-firm match-making event, evening networking reception at the Deputy High Commission (Lagos), Optional participation in Lagos State’s premier business finance, law and development among other issues.

$15m alleged Ibori’s bribe and matters arising

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

F

ive years after laying fallow at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the federal government dust up the issue of the $15 million (about N2.4 billion) allegedly given to former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu by former governor of Edo State, Chief James Ibori to compromise the agency’s probe of allegations of financial crimes preferred against him while he held sway as the executive governor of Edo state.

The government had, in July this year formally approached a federal high court in Abuja with an ex-parte application, where-in it seeks an interim Order of the Court forfeiting the $15 million being an unclaimed property in possession of the CBN to the Federal Government of Nigeria pending the publication and hearing of the Motion on Notice for the final forfeiture order of the said amount.

The ex-parte application filed on behalf of the Government of Nigeria through Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) had the Federal Government, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the EFCC as Plaintiffs, and the Central Bank of Nigeria as sole defendant.

The application was hinged on five grounds, first, that EFCC officials received the $15million cash from an undisclosed agent of James Ibori in 2007 as bribe to compromise its investigation.

Two, that the commission, on 26th of April 2007 deposited the said cash into the strong room No 1 of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Three, that James Ibori had since denied ever giving the said cash to the Commission or any of its officers.

EFCC also argued that the money has remained unclaimed since April 2007 till date, and it has remained dormant.

Following that application in July this year, a Federal High court sitting in Abuja gave a 14-day ultimatum to the rightful owner of the money purportedly received from Ibori by former former EFCC boss, Mallam Ribadu to come forward and claim it or risked been forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Court sitting before Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in its ruling held that the $15 million alleged bribe money paid to Ribadu is to be temporarily forfeited pending the publication in a national daily and hearing of the Motion on Notice for the final forfeiture order of the said amount of money and that anyone interested in the money to appear before the court to state, within 14 days, reasons why a final order of forfeiture should not be granted in favour of the Federal Government.

A 14-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Mr. Bello Yahaya, a Police officer with the EFCC, in support of the application for forfeiture said: “On 25th April 2007, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the then executive chairman of the EFCC

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar called the investigation team headed by Ibrahim Lamorde, the then director of operations to pick up cash in the sum of $15million given to him and the commission through an undisclosed agent of the said James Ibori”.

Before the publication in a national daily, in Thisday newspaper as ordered by the court and the appearance of any bonafide owner of the sum in question before the court on September 17, 2012, being the adjournment date, the Delta state government, through its Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Chief Charles Ajuya (SAN) filed an application before Justice Gladys Olotu sitting as vacation Judge, asking the court to declare it the bonafide owner of the money, having been allegedly offered by the former governor while in office and that the money be released to its treasury.

The Delta State Government, in an affidavit in support of the application, said that the release of the money would facilitate the current developmental projects in the state.

The affidavit deposed to by one Nikiru Bridget Emakpor, a legal officer in the Ministry of Justice averred that Ibori was a governor of the state between May 29, 1999 and May 29, 2007, the period the money in dispute was allegedly offered by Ibori.

On that basis, the state said that the $15 million was the exclusive property of the state and is entitled to collect it as the bona fide owner.

The affidavit averred that any money, asset or property recovered from Ibori rightly belonged to Delta State and that same should be returned to it as it has always maintained its entitlement to any asset recovered from Ibori.

The deponent further claimed that all monies, assets and

properties recovered from Mr. Joshua Dariye, former Governor of Plateau State were returned to the Plateau State government just like those recovered from Chief Diepreye Alamieyesigha of Bayelsa were returned to Bayelsa State.

It was further contended that there should be no legal basis to treat the case of Delta State any different from others and that it is in the interest of justice that the money should be released to Delta state.

In a twist, a businessman, Mr. Chibuike filed an application on August 29, 2012 before a Federal High Court in Abuja claiming that the money belongs to him.

He said he gave the money to a former presidential aide and a serving Senator, Dr. Andy Uba, to finance the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2007 elections.

Barely 72 hours after filing an application for the return of $15 million bribe sum to him, he made a U-turn by withdrawing the matter.

The withdrawal made the EFCC to launch a full-scale investigation into how the bribe sum came about and the sponsors of the botched suit.

According to a reliable source in the commission, the embattled businessman was arrested in Lagos and flown to Abuja for interrogation where he made useful statement which could lead to how the $15 millon bribe was offered.

Achigbu had, in his application laying claim to the money said he first sought legal advice on whether he could raise money to donate to support the PDP and its candidates throughout the federation for the purpose of winning the 2007 general elections, adding also that he set a target of N3 billion which he intended to raise through himself and his associates.

According to the application, by April 2007 when the election had drawn near, he had raised money in excess of N2 billion after which he realised that such donations could only be made and accepted through a financial institution.

According to him, in order to legitimately apply the fund, he approached Andy Uba to advise him on relevant agencies of government to investigate and certify that the funds were raised honestly and in good faith with a view to donating same to finance PDP. He said that Uba advised him to deliver the fund to him (Uba) for onward transmission to EFCC, being the agency of the Federal Government sufficiently equipped to give legitimacy to the fund before it could be donated to PDP. In an affidavit he filed in support of the application, Achigbu, an ally of andy Uba said: “Andy Uba was a Special Assistant in the Presidency who offered to take custody of the fund with a view to inviting EFCC to carry out the audit and certification before being donated to the PDP.” The three Senior Advocates of Nigeria hired by the applicant to argue the case are Adeniyi Akintola, Okey Amaechi and Abiodun Owonikoko.

Achigbu said that after he had delivered the money to Uba, he had rumours about an attempt by Ibori to bribe the chairman of the EFCC. He said that he had nothing to do with Ibori as the rumour did not strike him as having any bearing with the fund he delivered to Uba for clearance by EFCC. However, on the night on August 27, 2012, Achigbu said he received a call from Uba informing him about the latest development concerning the $15 million and that the money in question was the same money he collected from him.

That Uba specifically confirmed to him that it was Ibrahim Lamorde, the then Director of Operations of EFCC, that was superficially instructed to receive the money from him (Uba) on April 25th, 2007.

Perhaps scared of the outcome of the matter, Achigbu instructed his counsel to withdraw his application laying claim of the money, a situation which irked a Lagos based human right lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo to approach and got an order of Magistrate Court in Abuja directing the Inspector-General of Police to conduct a thorough criminal investigation against Sen. Uba and Achigbu over allegations surrounding the $15 million Ibori bribe The Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Okagu made the order following a Direct Criminal Complaint filed before the court by Keyamo against the duo of Uba and Achigbu.

Keyamo accused them of conspiracy, abetment and bribery in respect of the $15 million Ibori bribe.

The Inspector-General of Police is expected to report back to the court with his findings on the 26th of September, 2012.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

17, 550 secondary school students fail promotion examination in Niger, says Commissioner

T

he Niger Commissioner for Education, Mrs Susan Gana, has said that 17, 550 senior secondary school students in the state have failed their 2011/ 2012 promotion examination.

Gana said this at a press briefing in Minna on Saturday that those affected had been demoted.

She said that 57, 510 students were registered for the promotion examination out of which 39, 959 passed.

The commissioner explained that government had taken special interest in the conduct of the internal promotion examination to ensure that only those who have the ability were promoted.

She said the state government had paid N440.4 million for its students who sat for WAEC and NECO last year to complement efforts of parents who also paid N191.6 million for their wards.

Gana however said that the government had changed its policy of paying for candidates sitting for WAEC and NECO after realising that parents were not monitoring their wards, “while the candidates are nonchalant because government is footing the bill”.

(NAN)

By Maryam Garba Hassan

T

he Management of the Federal College of Education Yola, Adamawa State, has appealed to government and well meaning Nigerians to assist the college in fencing its premises for security reasons.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the college, Bashir Abdullahi, said Provost of the college, Professor Abdul-Mumin Sa’ad made the appeal Friday in Yola, while delivering an address at the graduation ceremony of 300 beneficiaries of skill acquisition training of the State’s Local Apprenticeship Scheme in collaboration with the FCE Yola.

According to the statement, the Provost who was represented by the Deputy Provost of the College, Felix

PAGE 27

FCE Yola appeals for fending of college over insecurity Anyawu, said the College is very happy to graduate the 300 participants who have undergone rigorous training and are now proficient in their areas of endeavor.

He said out of the 300 students, 150 received training in Computer Studies, while the other 150 received training in Home Economics.

“We also wish to solicit the assistance of the Government in fencing the College as the College is faced with constant threat from thieves and hoodlums. We look up to the people and government of the State as we solicit for financial grant

to fast-track the introduction of degree programme in the College”, he said.

Professor Sa’ad also applauded the kind gesture of the State in collaborating with the College in capacity building, provision of classroom blocks in the College Model Primary/Secondary Schools as well as the construction of solar bore hole for the institution.

On his part, the Chief of Staff, of the State, Abdulrahman Abba Jimeta, represented by the State Commissioner for Commerce, Ahmad Gorko, urged the College to

continue supporting the State in its effort toward eradicating poverty among the people in the state.

Jimeta however urged the college not to relent in giving support in this regard saying this is the beginning of the collaboration between the government and the institution in its effort to help the people of the state.

He assured the college of the state government’s commitment towards boosting education in the state and that government will assist the college in whatever way it can.

L-R: Chairman, Presidential Visitation Panel on University of Abuja, Mr. Theophilus Osanakpo , Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'I, and Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Alhaji Musa Hassan, during submission of report of the panel to the minister, on Friday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

WAEC, NECO examiners want Minister calls for early childhood education on culture of peace more money, rof. RuqayyatuRufa’I, the salvage Africa from the violence had been making it difficult to “These plans will assist re-training Minister of Education, has that had continued to plague it sustain growth and development

E

xaminers of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have called for training and retraining to enhance their marking skills and that examination bodies should raise the amount being paid per script.

A cross-section of the examiners, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday, noted that such training would reduce inefficiency among examiners and mass failure by candidates.

NAN reports that NECO had last week concluded marking of examination scripts for the 2012 May/June school certificate examinations across the country.

Mrs Juliet Tedheke, who marked Mathematics, said the examination bodies should organize regular refresher courses for all examiners to update their knowledge and for uniformity in marking standards.

She said teachers of core subjects such as English, Mathematics and the sciences, should be exposed to experts’ knowledge.

“Professionals and experts, especially in Mathematics and English Language, should train markers from time to time.Some markers have not gone on any training in their subjects since they graduated. So, there is need for regular training,’’ she told NAN.

P

stressed the need to inculcate in children the culture of peaceful co-existence from early childhood.

The minister spoke on Friday at an event to mark the International Peace Day at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.

Rufa’I said that inculcating the culture of peaceful coexistence was imperative to

and ensure sustainable development adding that there was a need to instil in children the culture of tolerance, justice, fairness and togetherness to rescue Africa from violence.

She said that this would ensure that Africa was rescued from the “vicious circle of conflicts, destruction and stagnation that

in the continent.’’

“Peace begins with education.

Over the years, the UN has developed active learning in the areas of peace, non-violence and intercultural cooperation.

Teachers should access these resources now and explore the lesson and plan with ideas from the Peace Day activities.

AUN trains FCE Yola staff on ICT

By Maryam Garba Hassan

W

ith a view to sharing skill and knowledge on open access resources, the American University of Nigeria (AUN) has organized a two-day training for about 40 staff of the Federal College of Education (FCE) Yola, Adamawa State on elibrary.

A statement issued at the weekend by the College’s Public Relations Officer, Bashir Abdullahi, stated that the President of the AUN, Margee Ensign,said the American University is training the staff of the College on how best the staff can have access to global knowledge as part of a revolution towards teaching the skill to every Nigerian.

According to the statement, the college Provost, Professor

Abdul-Mumin Sa’ad, who was represented by the Deputy Provost of the college, Mr. Felix Anyawu, expressed appreciation to the AUN for making the college the first beneficiary of the ICT training and promised that the knowledge and skills acquired by the staff will be extended to the grass root.

“Community Service is one of the mandates of the tertiary institutions. We are happy that AUN is a leading example in community development services. We are also happy that FCE Yola is the first to benefit from this training. As teachers who train teachers, there are a lot of gains for us as we are going to take the knowledge back to the grass root,” Sa’ad said.

The Director of Library of the AUN, Ahmed Demirhan, noted that the University decided to

train staff of the College in view of the fact that the college under the leadership of the present Provost is committed to ICT and has put technical infrastructure on ground.

The statement further said that Demirhan, said the objective of the training was to teach staff of the college how best to download text books and make them available to students without having to pay for them and to ensure that Nigerians acquire this fundamental skill and knowledge.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chancellor of Adamawa State University, Professor Alkasum Abba, who described the training as “a golden opportunity for the College”, called on the beneficiaries to extend the knowledge they acquired to the community, the statement added.

teachers to spread the message of peace in their classrooms.In addition, educational institutions should prepare posters/drawings on captions conveying the message of peace and security at strategic points within their premises,’’ she said.

Earlier, the acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, said that the theme of this year’s celebration which is “Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future’’, was pertinent and could not have come at a more auspicious time and that without peace, no meaningful progress could be made.

“Youths are the focus because they are agents of change for the future and sources of dynamism for the present.Youths and women are among the priority groups for action peace and conflict resolution,’’ he said.

He said that through the right education, young men and women could learn to make important contributions toward peace, democracy and development through sports, internet, social and other media.

He however, expressed optimism that the occasion would provide the required platform to send strong signals to all stakeholders to brace up for the fight for global peace and harmony.

PAGE 28

By Maryam Garba Hassan

T

he major role of private schools all over the world is to satisfy the quest of parents and guardians who want their children to have qualitative and sound education. Thus, in Nigeria, they are established to fill in the gap created as a result of the woeful failure of public schools, where the standard of education has been on a roller costar freefall over the years.

But it comes with a high price, as these schools have gone into the vengeful habit of unilaterally hiking fees with disturbing regularity thereby making it possible for only the children of the privileged few to afford the exorbitant fees charged by the really good and even the not-so-good ones.

The quest for qualitative education is therefore having its toll on parents and guardians of children in private schools whose rates are on the prohibitive side and rising. The case is especially so within the FCT. However, despite the frequent hiking of fees by proprietors, there is no evidence to suggest that the resources they generate are subsequently ploughed back in order to improve the standard as most of these schools lack qualified teachers, equipped laboratories, as well as other teaching facilities.

Another problem with the private schools is that the method of teaching employed is often outdated, especially in the northern part of the country. Only the few schools owned and managed by foreigners in the FCT employ the new method of teaching.

The excuse often given by proprietors for the frequent increase in school fees is “to serve the pupils and students better and as a result of cost in learning materials in the country”.

Findings have revealed that a large number of private schools within the FCT have increased their fees by about 20% without seeking permission from the Department of Policy Implementation (DPI) that is in charge of private schools administration.

Recently, the Kano state government closed down about 40 private schools in the state on account of arbitrary increase of school fees by about 30% without approval from ministry of education, as well as for tax evasion, among other reasons.

Some parents who spoke with Peoples Daily expressed concern over the frequent unilateral increase of school fees by proprietors, especially in the last seven years.

A parent, who has two children attending the Nigerian Turkish International College, Abuja, lamented the rate at which the school authority increases fees unilaterally, describing it as alarming and discouraging.

The Principal Senior

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

FCT private schools and the upward review of school fees

A private school where pupils study under a tree despite the huge school fees paid by their parents.

Secondary section of the Nigerian Turkish International school, Abuja Mr. Sabrin told Peoples Daily that the school had to increase its school fees by 12% because of the new generator sets and furniture it brought from abroad to replace the old ones as well as increase its teachers salary.

According to him the decision was taken at a PTA meeting before it was implemented.

Peoples Daily investigations further revealed that most private schools insist that parents must pay school fees before resumption date otherwise their wards will not be allowed into the school premises on resumption day.

A teacher at Arwa Basic schools Abuja, the first private school in the FCT, said the school increases fees only when it is absolutely necessary.

“Our children need qualitative teaching, which is the main concern of any right thinking school authority. In the past, teachers with Diploma, HND and NEC were recruited to teach the children but now everything is changing, the requirements have been extended to teachers with degrees and stint in education line to teach the children so that they can compete favorably with other schools in the country. A good school is not only about beautiful buildings and location. The quality of

teaching the children are getting is what matters most to us at ARWA”, he said.

Executive Secretary of FCT Education Secretariat, Malam Kabiru Usman told Peoples Daily that there was a law that makes it mandatory for private schools to seek for permission from the Secretariat before increasing schools fees, lamenting that a number of schools do not comply.

He said the secretariat could only intervene when there is complain from parents, but points out that the parents do not complain, suggesting that they are comfortable with the arrangement.

Usman further explained that the decision to increase school fees must be accepted by parents as such decisions are supposed to be arrived at during Parent Teachers

Association (PTA) meetings before the school authority goes ahead to implement it.

He added that it is important for parents to attend PTA meetings and bare their minds on issues they are not comfortable with and those policies they think should be implemented to move the school forward.

On the reason for the increment in school fees, Usman said private schools increase their fees for a number reasons such as parents asking for extra services such as internet facilities in their children’s school rooms, in boarding schools, fridges in rooms and 24 hours air condition in the children’s rooms and classes.

“Some parents also request for tea and snacks in the afternoon for their children

“

However, despite the frequent hiking of fees by proprietors, there is no evidence to suggest that the resources they generate are subsequently ploughed back in order to improve the standard as most of these schools lack qualified teachers, equipped laboratories, as well as other teaching facilities

which attracts extra charges.

So, how do you regulate such schools”?

We know that there are schools that increase their school fees frequently but one thing about private schools is that they are partners in progress. In the FCT, they are assisting us in reducing congestion in government owned schools; they also help in reducing unemployment rate because they employ staff to work for them even though they do not employ qualified teachers.

On how the Secretariat assesses private schools in the FCT to ensure that they meet the stipulated guidelines before they are established, Usman said one had to buy a copy of the guideline from the department of policy implementation (DPI), which is in charge of the private schools within the FCT to know what is expected of him, the curriculum, and the kind of teachers allowed.

“The next step is for the applicant to apply after securing a plot for the proposed school which will be inspected by the staff of the secretariat, Department of Policy Implementation and Development Control will visit the site to ensure that you comply with the regulations and the site is suitable for the establishment of a school then an approval will be given to you.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 29

HIV/AIDS: ‘A preventive vaccine ‘ll set the stage for a curative vaccine’ A cure for HIV/AIDS still hasn’t been found, but there is the possibility of coming up with a preventive vaccine. The Director-General of (National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), Prof. John Idoko in this exclusive interview with our health reporter, A’isha Biola Raji, speaks on the importance of the preventive vaccine research and how the agency is preparing to leverage on that effort. Excerpts:

W

hat is the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the country at the moment?

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is 4.1%, according to a survey called Sentiment Surveillance done every two years among pregnant women are usually easier to get and they are like a mirror of the general population. 4.1% means that in the reproductive age group of 16-49, if you take every 100 of it, 4 of them are positive. The highest percentage Nigeria has ever reached is 5.8% in 2001; in 2006 it was 4.4%, 2008 was 4.6%, 2010 was 4.1%. There is a gradual decline particularly when you check the statistics from 2001 which was 5.8%.

The prevalence, however, looks at the total population and the people who are positive therein. To really know if the prevalence is reducing, we look at young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are just having their first sexual encounter; it is in this population that we see people that are newly infected.

In 2001, their prevalence was 6%, in 2010 it was 4.1%. Though the decline is not as rapid as we wanted it is actually a decline. We also have a report from a UN organisation that looks at HIV and it shows that, in the last ten years, 22 countries, 16 of them in Africa, have experienced a significant decline in HIV and one of these countries is Nigeria. We need to do a lot more to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS because we still have significant infections. Every year, we have over 300,000. Approximately, we have 1,000 new infections everyday in this country. If you look at the MDG 6, we have halted HIV but we have not reversed it, so we need to look at how we can reverse HIV. At the end of this year, we will know how we have been able to control the prevalence.

However, despite the decline, there are some states that are worrying us. These states have very high prevalence of between 10% and 12%. They include Benue, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, FCT, Nasarawa, Abia and Plateau. All these states have prevalence of more than 4.1%. We have decided to focus more attention on them.

Some NGOs have turned the fight against HIV/AIDS

into a business; what measure is the agency putting in place to checkmate this trend?

We do not regulate NGOs but we work with them. The first thing I would like to say is that, we need the NGOs, some of them are good and some of them are bad. If we want to really reduce HIV, we have to work at community level and at community level; there are two organizations that are very important, in fact, the community based organizations are even more important to us than the NGOs because those ones have women organizations and youth organizations. The bigger one is the NGO. We need them because at the level of the community, they are the ones that provide the service, they are the ones we work with to provide us with information that we work with. Many of them do a good job and many also are not effective so there are many steps now from our own end, we have funding mechanism for all of them called the HIV fund which is part of the World Bank credit.

This year, in order to ensure that there is transparency and accountability, every fund that is going to be given out would be given out at the state level. We would work with our agency at the state since every state has an agency for the control of AIDS because those ones know the NGOs and CBOs more than we do. Another thing is that, they are not just going to select these NGOs but there are criteria for selection. They would visit, inspect and evaluate the NGOs or even the CBOs. They are not going to do it alone, we are going to hire consultants who would work with them to profile and pre-qualify all the NGOs to making sure they meet all the criteria.

They must be registered, they must have premises, they must have experience, and they would check what their track record is in terms of their program, their bank account and all that. They are going to look at all these before they recommend them for award of fund and they are going to apply as there would be competition; it is not every organization that is going to get it.

There is going to be a panel that would look at it. Like I said, we are not going to be involved;

Prof. John Idoko it is going to be between the consultant and the NGOs. The consultant is an organisation that will be hired to profile, prequalify and select the NGOs and the CBOs and this year, we are more concerned with the CBOs because they are the local organizations that are closest to the people. They are more important to us than the NGOs; we want to build their capacity since they are always there; women organization, youth organization, the age grade group and so on. We will give them money since we believe they would be able to utilize it well and if we discover otherwise, that they are not using the money well, we cancel the grant. These are some of the ways we believe we are going to get some CBOs and NGOs to work. It is going to be difficult to say that every one of them is going to work perfectly but we are going to put checks and balances in place to ensure that any money we give them is used judiciously to impact people’s lives.

How has the agency been able to mobilize funds from foreign donors?

We write proposals since we get fund mainly from Global Fund and the World Bank. The Global Fund is competitive hence the proposals. We put all our partners together: government partners, private sector partners, civil society against AIDS, WHO and other networks.

We all come together to write proposals and we send them to Global Fund which will look at it and compare it that of other

countries before deciding on whether it should be paid. It is a World Bank credit so if there is need to write this proposal, we go ahead and write.

What is your major challenge?

The big challenge is that, we need to strengthen our prevention. That is one area we are very lacking; prevention of mother to child transmission.

Prevention is a big issue, every year in this country; almost 70,000 children are born every year by mothers who are HIV positive. Many of them don’t have access to intervention so they pass the virus to their children and these children, most of them die before they are even 5 years old. Half of these women require treatment so they can live a normal life. We are only able to treat 1/3 of these people. Many of them don’t even know they are HIV positive because they are not going for test due to stigma and discrimination and above all, you just mentioned it now; most of the money is coming from donor agencies. Where is our own money? 25% to almost 30% of the money that is used to deal with the issue of HIV come from donors but it is our work and it is our problem. So those are the major issues. We need domestic funding.

Recently, it was reported that NACA would get involved in vaccine research against HIV; will you shed more light on this?

By the end of this month, we will be launching our vaccine

plan. We have made a lot of progress with drugs; the drugs we use now can give life but it is not a cure. The only cure is when we have a preventative vaccine.

Most countries around the world are aspiring to have these vaccines but we need a lot of research to do it and the reason why every country needs to be involved is that there are different types of HIV, there is HIV 1, and there is HIV 2. HIV 1 has 10 different sub types and the question is do we need one vaccine or separate vaccines for the two? Every country has been encouraged to be part of the vaccine research. In the past we thought vaccine was almost going to be impossible but there are new studies now that have shown that, it may be possible to develop a vaccine. The study was done about two years ago in Thailand which shows that it is a small success that can be built on. We are the second most burdened country as far as HIV is concerned, we need to be engaged in HIV vaccine so we wrote our first vaccine plan in 2001 and we didn’t do much because our laboratories were not sophisticated enough and not well equipped and we didn’t have the human resources. Ten years down the line, we have improved; we have many laboratories now that are engaged in research and we have trained a lot of people to show that we are ready to engage in vaccine research. We have revised our plans and updated it and we are launching it on the 25th of September 2012.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Reducing maternal mortality through improved access to contraceptives

By Anna Angbazo

G

ynaecologists and other stakeholders are worried about the high maternal mortality rate associated with unsafe abortions.

They say if people embrace the use of contraceptives and other modern family planning methods, the rate will decrease.

Instances abound of couples that continue to have children against their wishes, just because they do not know how to apply any of the modern family planning methods which have proved to be efficacious with correct and consistent use over time.

A study commissioned by Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetrics of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Health shows that 20,000 women die from unsafe abortions in Nigeria annually.

The World Health Organisation defines unsafe abortion as, “a procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy either by individuals without the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimum medical standards.’’

The world body also notes that, “an estimated 200 million couples in developing countries would like to delay or stop child-bearing, but are not using any method of contraception.’’ Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB), notes that it is globally acknowledged that family planning contributes to reducing maternal mortality.

He says that increase in contraceptive use will improve the health status of women by giving them the chance to plan when they want to get pregnant.

He said, “Family planning reduces the need for unsafe abortion, family planning reinforces people’s rights to determine the number and spacing of their children, it is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of infertility.

“Family planning delays underage pregnancies, decreases the risk of health problems and death from early child-bearing and reduces maternal mortality.’’

Also voicing his concern, the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, says family planning practice is a veritable strategy of curtailing maternal and child mortality in the country. Dr Ukaire Binyerm, a gynaecologist, says it is wise for women to adhere to child spacing to avoid being anaemic. “Child spacing is

very good, we advise that at least a two-year gap is good, because the woman’s body needs time to recover. “This is a woman who has gone through the stress of pregnancy, lost some blood, has been breast feeding, stressed at home, and some even start going to work. It takes a lot both physically, emotionally and otherwise.

“We find out that in Nigeria, most women don’t space their children enough and they would not have rebuilt their iron deficiency, so many of them become anaemic, resulting in reduced immune system which exposes many of them to infections.”

He continued that, “The blood level is already low and that is not favourable at all for a pregnant woman, because anaemia in pregnancy has its own complications, including abortion and several other things.’’

He stressed that family planning is vital for every family as it reduces maternal mortality.

Mrs Fatimah Bamidele, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health also cleared that, not all the six million babies delivered annually are intentional, adding that if women have access to contraceptives, unplanned pregnancies which result to lifethreatening abortions will reduce drastically.

However, the 2008 National Demographic Health

Survey puts the utilisation of family planning in terms of contraceptive prevalence at 10 per cent, while unmet need is 20 per cent.

To beef up access to contraceptives, the Federal Ministry of Health has signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), to obtain $3 million worth of contraceptives.

Although the UNFPA Resident Representative, Dr Agather Lawson lauds the effort, she says such should be

Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu

sustained through regular budget provisions. This is because Nigeria’s population, at about 170 million, is the sixth most populous country in the world and with a fast growth rate. “The implications of the present rate of growth are frightening and necessary measures should be put in place, as demand for public services doubles every 20 years to 23 years.’’

She added that, the Department for International Development (DFID) has provided a grant of 18 million pounds sterling to Nigeria to purchase contraceptives for six years, while the Canadian International Development Agency has also provided $5 million dedicated to the purchase of contraceptive for five years.

While government and international agencies have shown commitment in concrete terms to the reproductive health of the citizens, couples, especially husbands, should encourage family planning practices, According to Dr Braimah Gyang, another gynaecologist, religion or tradition should not stand in the way of family planning practices, since there are also natural methods.

“What is paramount is for every family to have the number of children it can cater for, to secure the health of mother and child and in the interest of the nation,’’ he added. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 31

The sordid tale behind South Africa’s mine strife

Striking miners gathered for more than a month on the Marikana 'hill of death'

ANALYSIS

BY Safeeyah Kharsany

M

arikana - a quiet, dusty mining town northwest of Johannesburg along South Africa's rich platinum belt was catapulted into the limelight with a gory display of lethal state violence on striking miners more than a month ago.

Determined to fight for what they believed was their basic right, the conviction of the club and swordwielding strikers was affirmed when bullet-riddled bodies began to fall before the lens of the international media.

Unbeknown to most, tensions at Lonmin PLC - the world's thirdlargest platinum mine - had been seething for more than a year.

Embittered mineworkers were caught between corporate mining practices, union mudslinging and a disconnect with their representatives, which only exacerbated the wage dispute and literally left the strikers out in the cold since August 10.

On Tuesday, workers, unions and Lonmin finally came to a wage agreement. Workers accepted a pay rise of about 22 per cent, to $1,200 a month - down from the original $1,500 demand.

No union in South Africa has ever brokered such a high pay rise, and while some workers were still skeptical, all agreed to leave the Marikana "hill of death" and return to work. Strikes at other mines, however, continue.

It was work as usual for most at Lonmin's Karee mine, one of three in Marikana, when 3,000 rock drill operators exchanged their tools for

traditional weapons on August 10.

A whisper of frustration was also circling the air that morning.

Daluvuyo Bongo, of the National Unions of Mineworkers (NUM), said after discussions with its members fell through, workers said the unions no longer represented them.

He received word that strikers were heading to NUM's Marikana office, and were planning to burn it down - along with anyone inside.

Two security guards were killed and NUM representatives attacked.

"They were violent and uncontrolled," said Bongo.

The armed strikers then marched to the company's management offices.

They demanded a monthly pay rise to 12,500 rands ($1,500), but Lonmin management refused to speak to the workers, said Bongo.

Bishop Jo Seoka, president of the South African Council of Churches and Bishop of Pretoria, had mediated on behalf of the strikers.

He said it was not the first time that employees demanded more money. Workers approached the unions and their employer for a pay rise in July, but Lonmin refused to assist. That is when trouble began, Seoka said.

Lonmin cited a wage negotiation agreement - outside of which they cannot negotiate -

when asked why the operators went on strike on August 10.

"The rock drill operators went on an illegal strike after asking for an increase over and above the wage agreement we had confirmed with our bargaining forum," a Lonmin representative, who did not want to be named, told Al Jazeera But just a month earlier, the company agreed to a $92 per month housing allowance increase, after the operators embarked on an unprotected strike.

"This was Lonmin's first mistake," said Gideon du Plessis, secretary general of Solidarity, a smaller mine union.

Mahamed Rajah, professor of labour law at the Graduate School of Business Leadership, University of South Africa, agreed that a wage negotiation agreement had been binding.

"If there was a two year agreement in place, then the employer can't negotiate over those issues until that period is up."

Lonmin was "in effect, in violation to the collective agreement", said Rajah.

Only the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) held any credibility with strikers on August 16, as police tried to disarm them.

“

"AMCU saw the workers' plight," said Bishop Seoka. "They were more sympathetic towards them."

Gia Nicolaides, a local reporter who had been at the scene of the strikes every day since they began, said living conditions in the Marikana community were dire. There was no running water and no sewage system.

"There were dirty nappies and human faeces scattered everywhere. It was particularly dirty," she said.

Strikers said they were betrayed by their unions, according to Nicolaides.

NUM was also accused of soliciting bribes and corruption. Its leadership at the Marikana branch was suspended for refusing to hold required elections, leaving mineworkers without representation.

Making matters worse, Lonmin fired all 9,000 of its Karee employees when workers embarked on a strike against NUM in May. "They were stripped of all their years of service and all the long service benefits. So they started as brand new employees," said du Plessis.

Du Plessis said the strikes started out peacefully. "There were no reports of high levels of

But just a month earlier, the company agreed to a $92 per month housing allowance increase, after the operators embarked on an unprotected strike.

intimidation or carrying weapons."

Things deteriorated drastically, however. Two police officers were hacked to death by strikers on August 13, and three days later police opened fire, killing 34 miners and wounding 78 others. The area where they were gunned down is now called "the hill of death".

"This is more an issue of a wage demand, but the killing of the 34 strikers escalated the situation," said Bishop Seoka.

NUM's Bongo blamed rival union AMCU for the bloodshed.

At a press briefing in June, AMCU president Joseph Mathunjwa said the union had been a victim of a smear campaign.

He also accused NUM of "monopolistic tendencies", saying it behaved as if it had a "veto to represent the working class".

Mathunjwa said AMCU does not believe in violence.

Du Plessis accused the AMCU of playing a "destructive" role in the wage negotiations.

"The meetings that they [did] attend, they [did] not participate in the debates. Some of the meetings, they left early, so it's very difficult to negotiate with them," he said.

Du Plessis also said he believes the fired chairperson of NUM's Karee branch, Mawethu Steven, played a role in the unrest. Steven was hired by AMCU and started recruiting members. He was also living at the Marikana settlement, but he is now nowhere to be found.

"The police [are] looking for him ‌ He is hiding at the moment because the word is out that he was the instigator," du Plessis said.

The plight of the striking miners became embroiled in a bitter political struggle playing out in the country.

The ruling African National Congress will elect its leadership in December - a decision that will most likely determine the country's next president.

Keen to influence this decision, expelled youth league leader, Julius Malema, has been addressing crowds of miners and their suppporters, encouraging them to continue strikes and for others to join. He also blamed President Jacob Zuma for the killing of their colleagues.

Malema's call has reverberated across the mining sector, with two platinum mines and a gold mine also hit by strikes.

"If Malema can create instability in the country, it will make President Zuma look bad, because it would make Zuma appear unable to maintain stability," said Du Plessis, whose organisation Solidarity filed charges of incitement against Malema.

"Obviously Julius Malema has an axe to grind, but the poor Lonmin employees [were] basically a rent-a-crowd for Julius Malema."

Source: Al jazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 32

Libya to disband illegal militias T

Sudan, South Sudan leaders to discuss border, oil

L

eaders from Sudan and South Sudan will meet on Sunday to try to agree on border security so that South Sudan can start exporting oil again, a lifeline for both economies.

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and South Sudan's Salva Kiir will wrap up two weeks of negotiations in Ethiopia where the African Union (AU) has been mediating to try to end fighting along the 1,800-kilometre (1,200-mile) border.

The two countries must reach a comprehensive peace deal this weekend or risk incurring U.N. Security Council sanctions.

Such a deal would provide both nations with oil revenues needed to avoid economic collapse although they must also sort out other issues left outstanding at secession in July 2011.

The two reached an interim deal in August to restart oil exports from landlocked South Sudan through Sudan to its Red Sea ports after Juba had turned off wells in a row over export fees. But Sudan insists on first reaching a security accord.

The summit was due to take place in the southern capital Juba in April but was cancelled when the fighting broke out and South Sudan briefly seized an oilfield vital to Sudan's economy.

Both leaders met briefly in July on the sidelines of an African Union summit but have not held any formal summit for one year.

On Saturday, Sudan conditionally accepted an AUbrokered agreement, already agreed by South Sudan, for a demilitarised border zone along the entire border.

Bashir and Kiir are also expected to sign deals to boost trade and grant citizens of both nations residency in the other country, ending uncertainty for southerners stuck in the north.

Omar Hassan al-Bashir(r) and Salva Kiir

he interim Libyan leader, Mohammed Magarief, has vowed to disband all illegal militias in the aftermath of the US ambassador's death this month.

All camps and militias not under the authority of the government would be dissolved and no unauthorised checkpoints allowed, he said.

Militias that emerged during the fight to topple Col Muammar Gaddafi last year remain a powerful force.

Residents of Benghazi evicted militants in response to the envoy's death.

Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others Americans died during an attack on the city's US consulate on 11 September, which coincided with protests over an anti-Islam video produced in the US. Islamist militants have denied being behind the attack.

Libya has been awash with firearms as well as powerful regional brigades and local town militias since the uprising, the BBC's Rana Jawad reports from the Libyan capital Tripoli.

The government has relied on some brigades to help provide security, and many people will

Libyan forces searching motorist be watching closely to see how the authorities will go about achieving the mammoth task of gaining full military control over the country, she adds. "[We want to] dissolve all militias and military camps which are not under the control of the state," said Mr Magarief, the parliamentary speaker who acts as head of state until

elections next year.

"We call on everyone to stop using violence and carrying weapons in the streets and squares and public places."

One powerful militia in eastern Libya, the Abu Slim Brigade, has already announced it will disband and leave its bases in Derna, a town east of Benghazi.

Another militia, Ansar alSharia, which denies attacking the US consulate, is also reported to be leaving Derna.

Ansar al-Sharia was driven out of its headquarters in Benghazi over the weekend in unrest which left at least 11 people dead.

However, the militants left with their weapons.

interim deal in August to revive southern oil exports that must transit the north to reach Red Sea ports. But Sudan has insisted on first reaching a security accord - something which both parties have been unable to agree during two weeks of talks.

Hours before the UN deadline expired, Sudan's delegation said it had conditionally accepted a proposal by the AU, already agreed by South Sudan, to create a demilitarised zone along the entire border. It had previously objected to the zone running through a more than 22km long strip of grazing land.

"There is a proposal to accept this sector of the map with some special arrangements, military and administrative arrangements," Badr el-Din

Abdallah, spokesperson for the Sudanese delegation, told reporters in Addis Ababa.

Atif Keir, spokesperson for South Sudan's delegation, said talks were ongoing.

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, said in a statement that Bashir and Kiir must put aside differences over oil and borders at their summit and create "a new era of peace, cooperation and mutual development for the two countries and their people".

Friday's statement followed Thursday's call by the Security Council for an urgent agreement on the demilitarised border zone.

Meanwhile, outgoing AU Commission chief Jean Ping "looks forward to the summit between President Omar al-Bashir of

Sudan and President Salva Kiir of South Sudan," the AU said in a statement.

"He would like to encourage both presidents... to reach agreement on the outstanding issues in the post-secession relations between their two countries." The AU has been mediating in the talks between the two countries.

Catherine Ashton , the European Union's top diplomat, welcomed news of the Addis Ababa meeting and urged "both governments to conclude a comprehensive agreement on all outstanding issues".

In a statement on Friday, she said the two neighbours had already made significant progress, notably on oil and security issues.

UN urges security accord at Sudan summit

I

nternational bodies including the United Nations and the African Union have urged Sudan and South Sudan to reach a comprehensive agreement at a summit of its leaders being held in Ethiopia.

The two countries have taken a step towards a border security agreement that will allow oil exports to resume, officials said on Saturday, paving the way for their leaders to sign a deal to end hostilities.

Sudan's President Omar alBashir and his southern counterpart Salva Kiir are expected to work out the border agreement during the summit in Addis Ababa on Sunday, in an effort to meet the deadline set by the UN Security Council.

The neighbours reached an

Cameroon ex-minister faces jail over jet scam

A

court in Cameroon has sentenced former presidential hopeful and senior minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya to a 25-year jail term on embezzlement charges related to the botched purchase of a presidential jet in 2004.

The court handed down the sentence early on Saturday morning after a marathon overnight trial. The court handed the same sentence to Yves Michel Fotso, former director of defunct state air transport company CAMAIR. Hamidou Yaha was minister of territorial administration until he was sacked in December in a cabinet reshuffle by President Paul Biya. He was widely believed to harbour ambitions to succeed the 79-yearold leader.

Biya, who has been in power since 1982, launched "Operation Sparrow Hawk" in 2006 to combat

corruption in the central African nation.

The drive has seen several of his former aides brought to court, but critics say the anti-corruption campaign has been used to target

opponents.

The court in the capital Yaounde found the two guilty of embezzling 24 billion CFA francs ($47.52m) that was meant for the purchase of the presidential plane.

Marafa Hamidou Yaya steps out of court

In letters published after he was arrested in April, Hamidou Yaha denied he participated in any attempt to embezzle public funds and said he was a victim of a political plot.

"Investigations show that the 24 billion CFA francs ... for the purchase of the aircraft were diverted by Yves Michel Fotso for personal interests," the presiding judge said in sentencing.

Fotso was at the time director general of the CBC bank in which funds for the purchase of the plane were deposited.

"The investigations also show that his friend and then secretarygeneral at the presidency Hamidou Marafa Yaya was well aware of the money being used for personal interest but failed to use his position as a senior administrative officer to prevent the diversion of the money," the judge said.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Asia and Middle East

I

ran's support is crucial for finding a resolution to the civil war in Syria, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi said in his first interview with state television since taking office.

Morsi, who spoke bluntly in support of the Syrian revolution in Tehran three weeks ago, said

Morsi: Iran ‘vital’ to ending Syrian crisis on Saturday that Iran was "a main player in the region that could have an active and supportive role in solving the Syrian problem".

Despite Morsi's remarks at the Non-Aligned Movement summit last month, which were viewed as a stark challenge to Iran's policy of support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Egypt then invited Iran to join

Chinese official makes landmark Afghan visit

F

or the first time in nearly 50 years, a senior Chinese official has visited Afghanistan, a sign of increased foreign interest in the nation ahead of the planned withdrawal of American troops by 2014.

Zhou Yongkang, China's domestic security chief, met President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, state media said on Sunday.

Zhou made the four-hour visit the day before - a secretive trip not announced beforehand - aimed at shoring up ties between the neighbours, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The last senior Chinese official to visit Afghanistan was President Liu Shaoqi, in 1966, Xinhua said.

China cancels diplomatic event with Japan over islands

A

ceremony to mark 40 years of ties with Japan has been put off by China as the two countries' row over an island chain continues.

A Chinese official said the ceremony, due to be held on Thursday, was being postponed "until an appropriate time".

Asia's two biggest economies have argued for decades over the Japanese-held islands, known as the Senkaku in Tokyo and the Diaoyu in Beijing.

The unpopulated East China Sea islands may be rich in natural resources.

Chinese indignation grew recently when nationalist politicians from Japan visited the chain to commemorate the Japanese dead of World War II, when the country occupied much of eastern China.

Thousands of people have attended angry protest rallies in Chinese cities.

Japan's coast guard reported 20 Chinese marine surveillance ships in the vicinity of the islands last week.

They confirmed to Kyodo news agency on Sunday that the last such vessel had left.

The cancellation of Thursday's ceremony was confirmed by the Japanese foreign ministry.

Amid the rising tension, China's first aircraft carrier has been handed over to the navy of the People's Liberation Army, state media report.

The handover ceremony for the 300m (990ft) ship, a former Soviet carrier called the Varyag, took place in the north-eastern port of Dalian after a lengthy refit by a Chinese shipbuilder.

PAGE 33

Beijing has stepped up diplomacy with Afghanistan in recent months as the deadline for the withdrawal of US and NATO forces draws nearer.

China, which shares a 76km border with Afghanistan's far northeast, has already secured major oil and copper mining concessions in Afghanistan, which is believed to have more than $1 trillion worth of minerals.

"It is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples for China and Afghanistan to strengthen a strategic and cooperative partnership ... conducive to regional peace, stability and development," Zhou said, according to the report.

Zhou, a member of the elite Politburo Standing Committee of China's ruling Communist Party, has overseen a crackdown on unrest in his nation's Muslim-populated Xinjiang region, which borders Afghanistan.

Zhou's appearance in Kabul comes after Karzai pledged to work with China to fight "terrorism and extremism" in the region during a visit to Beijing in June, where he attended the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation meeting.

its Middle Eastern "quartet" of nations aiming to negotiate a solution to the Syrian crisis.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which both like Egypt support the Syrian rebels, are the two other members of the quartet.

"I don't see the presence of Iran in this quartet as a problem, but is a part of solving the problem," Morsi said, explaining that Iran's close proximity to

Syria and its strong ties with the government make it "vital" in resolving the crisis. "And we do not have a significant problem with Iran, it is normal like with the rest of the world's states."

The Syrian revolt erupted in March of last year, one month after the Egyptian uprising ended, over similar demands for democracy and freedom. But unlike Mubarak, who quit after

Iran's foreign minister visited Assad earlier this month

Siemens denies Iranian nuclear sabotage claim

G

erman engineering company Siemens has denied allegations that it planted explosive devices inside nuclear equipment destined for Iran.

Siemens said it has "no business ties to the Iranian nuclear programme".

An Iranian MP said the devices had been discovered before they could explode.

Iran is under UN sanctions and the MP did not say where the equipment had come from. Tehran is engaged in a standoff with Western countries which suspect it is building a nuclear bomb.

The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed "serious concern" that Iran had continued to defy UN Security Council resolutions which demand the suspension of uranium enrichment and had failed to resolve questions about possible nuclear weapons development.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Iran is only six or seven months from having "90%" of what it needs to make a nuclear bomb.

Zhou Yongkang

Anti-Chinese demonstrations in Japan

only 18 days of protest, Assad sent his military to crush the revolt, leading the rebels to take arms against him and prompting violent battles that have been going on for 18 months.

The United Nations says nearly 20,000 people have been killed in the conflict and more than 235,000 Syrian refugees have registered in Iraq,

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas Swiss ‘reject’ full ban on smoking in public spaces

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otels, restaurants and bars are currently allowed to have rooms for smokers but critics say this harms the health of those who work in them.

Restrictions introduced two years ago were watered down after lobbying from the catering trade and tobacco firms.

With returns from nearly all 26 cantons counted, the full ban seemed to have been rejected convincingly.

Zurich newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung suggested voters had rejected the ban by nearly twothirds.

In some cantons, more than 70% of voters rejected the ban, according to Geneva newspaper La Tribune de Geneve. Geneva itself bucked the trend by supporting the ban by 52% to 48%.

Geneva and seven other cantons have already imposed their own comprehensive bans on indoor smoking in places of employment while the remaining, smaller cantons have been less restrictive.

Jean-Charles Rielle, a doctor and member of the committee behind the proposal, told AFP news agency before the vote that they wanted to clear up the confusion.

"In the cantons where these laws [banning smoking rooms] are already in effect, we saw immediately... a 20% drop in hospitalisation due to cardiovascular incidents, heart attacks and these kinds of problems," he said.

However, Laurent Terlinchamp, president of Geneva's association of cafe owners, restaurateurs and hoteliers, said the proposed measures were extreme.

"In Geneva, where the law came in two years ago, we were told that a new clientele would start to come back to establishments," he said.

"But it's not the case today because profits are down 10% to 30% depending on the type of business."

La Tribune de Geneve suggests voters rejected a full ban because they did not want to force the smaller cantons into changing their local laws, and because of resentment at perceived state interference in people's lives.

Voters in Switzerland appear to have rejected a total ban on smoking in enclosed public places at a referendum.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Polls open in Belarus election amid boycott

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elarus is holding parliamentary elections without the country's main opposition parties, after a boycott was called on the grounds of election irregularities and illegal detentions.

Polls opened at 8:00am local time (05:00 GMT) on Sunday, and are expected to close 12 hours later.

The election must fill 110 seats in the Belarusian parliament, which has long been seen as a rubber-stamp body for President Alexander Lukashenko.

Lukashenko's landslide win in 2010 caused massive protests, which the authorities supressed with force.

The incumbent president has ruled the former Soviet nation of 10 million people since 1994.

Foreign observers have criticised elections in Belarus as being undemocratic, and the US and EU have both imposed economic and travel sanctions on Lukashenko's government over its crackdown on opposition groups and the media.

The country's two main opposition parties have urged people to go fishing and or pick

President Alexander Lukashenko mushrooms, rather than vote in what they see as a sham exercise designed to produced a chamber that would serve to reaffirm the legitimacy of Lukashenko's rule.

Four days of early voting by students, armed service staff and police in the tightly-controlled country have already produced a

19 per cent turnout, according to official figures, and there was no question of the boycott threatening the overall turnout threshold and the validity of Sunday's ballot.

"We spent about an hour just to find a polling station, let alone a voter to talk to. That is because voter enthusiasm is so very, very

low. Anyone here who expects or hopes for change pretty much knows that in an election like this one, they are most unlikely to get it," our correspondent said.

Scores of Lukashenko's opponents - including several who stood against him - have been arrested. Many now either lie low after periods in jail or have fled the country.

Human rights bodies say the run-up to Sunday's poll has been marked by arrests and detention of opposition activists.

State-run TV and radio have made no mention of the boycott call. Opposition groups have been prevented from holding street protests or giving out leaflets to support their timid action.

"These are all banned," said Anatoly Lebedko, head of the opposition United Civic Party, gesturing to a pile of leaflets on his desk which called on people to take their families to the park, go fishing or stroll in the woods rather than vote.

Activists who had tried to distribute them were stopped from doing so by police and the leaflets seized, he said.

Obama thanks Egypt's president over embassy protection

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.S. President Barack Obama has thanked the Egyptian president for securing the U.S. Embassy during protests against a film made in the United States that mocked Prophet

Mohammad and sparked worldwide demonstrations and violence.

Obama's rival in the U.S. presidential race, Mitt Romney, called for a tougher line with Egypt after protesters scaled the compound wall

Obama

and tore down the U.S. flag on September 11.

Police clashed with demonstrators for four days after that incident and barriers were erected to stop them getting near the compound.

In a letter, Obama repeated Washington's condemnation of the film and said he looked forward to working with President Mohamed Mursi to build on the "strategic partnership", Mursi's official Facebook page said on Sunday.

"In his letter, President Obama thanked the Egyptian president for Egyptian efforts to secure the mission of the United States in Cairo," according to the site.

Egypt was a close ally of the United States under Hosni Mubarak, whose 30-year rule was ended by a popular uprising last year. The U.S. government, a major aid donor to Egypt and long wary of Islamists, only opened formal contacts last year with the Muslim Brotherhood, the group

that propelled Mursi to power.

Obama told a Spanish-language network this month that the United States did not consider Egypt's Islamist government either an ally or an enemy.

When asked whether he thought of the United States as an ally in an interview with the New York Times published on Sunday, Mursi said: "That depends on your definition of ally."

The newspaper also said Mursi indicated Egypt would not be hostile to the West but would not be as compliant as Mubarak.

"Successive American administrations essentially purchased with American taxpayer money the dislike, if not the hatred, of the peoples of the region," he said, referring according to the newspaper - to backing dictatorial governments over popular opposition and supporting Israel over the Palestinians.

to strengthen Europe.

"However great the economic challenges may be, it remains and will

remain valid: We Europeans are united in the pursuit of our happiness," Angela Merkel said.

Germany and France vow to strengthen ties

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rench and German leaders have stressed they will remain committed in tackling European issues on the 50th anniversary of a post-WWII reconciliation speech.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Francois Hollande made the pledge in the German city of Ludwigsburg.

Speaking in German there in 1962, French President Charles de Gaulle said they were "children of a great nation which had made great errors".

The two allies are working closely to address the current euro debt crisis.

"Less than 20 years after the most horrible global conflict, it took boldness to call for the union of our two countries which had fought against each other

with such savagery," Mr Hollande said.

"It took boldness to believe in Europe, this continent which had just torn itself apart. It took boldness to turn resentment into hope."

France and Germany have "a very special responsibility, we form the heart of Europe", he said.

Mr Hollande spoke of the need to "create instruments that make us stronger: a fiscal union, a banking union, a social union, a political union".

At the end of his speech, President Hollande spoke in German addressing young people in both countries: "It is now your role to make the European dream a reality and give it a future."

The German chancellor said the two countries ought to work together

Merkel and Hollande

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2012

Gary Johnson campaign files lawsuit for not getting in the Presidential debates

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national poll released Friday (Sept. 21) showed Gary Johnson receiving 6 percent support when his name is included with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney while at the same time, the Johnson campaign filed a lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates for excluding the Libertarian Party presidential candidate from joining Obama and Romney in the upcoming debates that begin in October.

We'll start with the poll, which was conducted by Reason/Rupe of 1,006 adults, including 787 likely voters who say they "definitely" will vote in the next election.

When asked if they would vote for the Obama-Biden, Romney-Ryan or Johnson-Jim Gray tickets, the results from likely voters were: Obama/Biden 49% Romney/Ryan 40% Johnson/Gray 6% Vote for Someone Else 1% Would Not Vote less than 1% Don't Know/Refused 4% Johnson's name will be on the ballot in at least 47 states in November.

The poll also limited the choices to just Obama or Romney and when that question was asked, the results from likely voters were: Obama/Biden 48% Romney/Ryan 43% Vote for Someone Else 2% Would Not Vote 1% Don't Know/Refused 6% Judging from those numbers, it seems a Johnson candidacy may hurt Romney (whose numbers dropped by 3 percent) more than Obama (whose numbers grow by 1 percent) although the margin of error in the poll is plus or minus 4.3 percent.

Earlier this month, the former two-term governor of New Mexico scored at 4 percent in a CNN/ORC national poll and at 4.3 percent in a JZ Analytics national poll.

As for the presidential debates, the commission announced on Friday (Sept. 21) that Obama and Romney are the only candidates allowed on the stage for the three debates, starting on Oct. 3 in Denver.

Johnson was excluded because the commission requires that candidates must score at least 15 percent approval in surveys from five selected national public opinion polling organizations.

Anticipating the ruling, the Johnson campaign later on Friday announced its lawsuit on anti-trust grounds in US District Court for the Central District of California.

"Someone has to stand up and call this what it is: A rigged system designed entirely to protect and perpetuate the twoparty duopoly," senior Johnson

Senate passes funding bill to avoid October 1 government shutdown

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Gary Johnson

advisor Ron Nielson said in a statement. "That someone will be the Johnson campaign. We are today filing a lawsuit in Federal Court charging that the National Commission and the Republican and Democratic Parties, by colluding to exclude duly qualified candidates outside the Republican and Democratic Parties, are in violation of the nation's antitrust laws."

The legal basis for the suit claims that the commission's decision violates the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 by "indefensibly limit[ing] access of other candidates to the marketplace of ideas and the opportunity to be employed in these highest offices in the land."

Johnson's running mate,

Jim Gray, is a retired Superior Court judge from California and a plaintiff in the suit. He'll argue the motion on the campaign's behalf. No date has been set yet for a hearing.

The last time a third-party presidential candidate made it to the stage with the Democratic Party and Republican Party nominees was Ross Perot back in 1992.

Some background on the Commission on Presidential Debates: It was formed in 1987 and its rules on the presidenital debates and how candidates are selected have been used in every presidential election since 1988.

Its leadership is headed by Frank Fahrenkopf, a former head of the Republican National Committee,

and former Massachusetts senator Paul Kirk, a former head of the Democratic National Committee.

Back in 2000, Ralph Nader filed a lawsuit against the debates commission, arguing that corporate contributions violated the Federal Election Campaign Act. A circuit court in Washington DC decided in 2005 that it would not overrule the Federal Election Commission's ruling that Nader and other third-party candiates had failed to prove that the debates were controlled by the Democratic National Committee or the Republican National Committee.

Unlike Johnson's lawsuit, Nader's legal action did not base its argument on a potential antitrust violation.

Inside America’s ‘swing states’

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lthough more than 100 million citizens will vote in the US presidential election this year, the two major candidates - President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney - will spend the bulk of their time in just a handful of states.

This is a result of how the US electoral system is set up.

Whichever candidate receives the majority of a vote in a given state receives a number of "electoral votes" based on that state's population. It's a winner-take-all system: it doesn't matter whether

Obama wins by a huge margin in Florida or by a single vote, he'll win the same number of electoral votes.

So candidates have more incentive to focus on so-called "swing states" that could tilt towards either a Democratic or Republican candidate.

In the past three presidential elections, just 10 states have voted for presidential candidates of both major parties.

The 2008 election made a handful of states - Indiana, Virginia, and North Carolina - politically competitive for the first time in recent years. All three had voted

Republican in 2000 and 2004.

Polling data indicates, though, that there are unlikely to be any new swing states this time around.

And a few states that picked Obama in 2008 will probably swing back to Romney this time.

In 2004, the following voted Republicans: Florida, Ohio, Colorado, N e v a d a , Virginia, Iowa, New Mexico, North Carolina, Indiana and In 2008 the following states swing states voted Democrates: Florida, Ohio, Colorado, N e v a d a , Virginia, Iowa, New Mexico, North Carolina, N e w Hampshire, Indiana.

deeply divided and unproductive Congress wrapped up its final business before November's elections early on Saturday as the U.S. Senate passed a stopgap measure to fund federal programs and avoid an October 1 government shutdown.

The 62-30 vote on the funding bill, which now moves to President Barack Obama's desk to be signed into law, was delayed by days of partisan bickering over votes on unrelated measures aimed at boosting both Democrats' and Republicans' political fortunes.

For the new fiscal year which begins on October 1, the $524 billion measure slightly raises discretionary spending - which funds government agencies and everything from defense to national parks - from current levels.

It was needed because Congress' normal process of appropriating money for government operations broke down amid disagreements between Democrat and Republicans over spending levels and funding was due to run out after September 30.

"It is an inefficient way to fund the federal government but it is better than shutting it down next week," said Democratic Senator Daniel Inouye, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Congress' bitter fights over spending cuts and raising the debt limit last year led to threats of several shutdowns as temporary funding measures expired. The last time government funding actually ran out was late 1995 and early 1996, forcing then-president Bill Clinton to shut down non-essential services and furlough non-essential government workers for 28 days.

Saturday's vote allows lawmakers to return to their home states for a final re-election campaign push, but they leave a huge to-do list for their return after the November 6 election.

By keeping the government funded through March 27, Congress has somewhat lightened its postelection workload, which centers on dealing with expiring tax cuts, automatic spending cuts, a debt limit increase and other fiscal deadlines.

With relative peace over the budget, lawmakers will be able to tackle more difficult difficult questions - how to avoid $109 billion in automatic budget cuts that start on January 2, and whether to extend some or all of the tax cuts enacted under former President George W Bush, which expire December 31.

Moody's Investors Service has threatened to downgrade the U.S. credit rating if Congress' deliberations do not reduce budget deficits in a meaningful way.

Economists warn that the United States will slide back into recession if Congress fails to take action to mute the massive impact of tax hikes and spending cuts.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Reporting right, reporting safe (III) Being a paper presented by the Editor-in-Chief of Peoples Daily newspaper, Malam Rufa’i Ibrahim, at the All Nigeria Editors Conference last week in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

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he answer, in part, is a combination of all of the above. Certainly, laziness, incompetence, lack of commitment to the job and even corruption, are real problems for the journalism profession and the main reason for the increasingly low quality outputs of many of its products.

But in large part, the problem of the poor quality of media coverage of the North-East is the consequence of the value orientation and nature of media operation in our kind of socioeconomic system.

We have discussed earlier in this paper, issues of how the system’s economic logic and the pressures it exerts on media organizations to compete and survive, or sink, has led to the adoption of certain strategies, like focus on powerful forces, concentration on what is familiar and achieving conformity with the prevailing norms, which while helping the media organisations to survive also make them not only reflective but supportive of the dominant ideology and the prevailing social order based o it, with all its inequalities and injustices.

Relating this to the coverage of the North-East, note in particular that the source of the reporters’ stories about the insecurity situation there is almost always the JTF spokesman. He is the one who “briefs” them, the one who “chats” with them. He is both the voice and face of the authorities there. And the reporters almost literarily eat up whatever stories he dishes out to them.

What this means is that it is almost always the official line or version that gets the most attention and the biggest media space. Other views are featured, if at all, as mere incidentals.

This preference for the official version serves the reporter, editor and their organisation a most convenient and useful purpose. It simplifies the news production process. It ensures conformity with industry rules and norms, and reduces the risk of the organisation deviating in any significant way from the completion in both style and substance. This largely explains why, on some days you find almost all the newspapers in Nigeria reporting the same things and in the same style and language.

But it also serves an ideological function in that a reliance on the official version of events leads to the adoption by the media organisation of not just the worldview but, in some cases also, the instincts and policy orientation of those in power.

Along with this, the media operators also come to accept and internalise the rulers’ definition and characterisation of events and their profiling of groups in society.

It is largely this, combined with the personal prejudices of media

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku operators, that leads to the persistent profiling in the mainstream media of the Boko Haram insurgents as “terrorists”, and the Niger Delta activists as “militants”.

In the context of Nigeria today, who is a terrorist, a militant, or an insurgent. If the media in Nigeria is to report the insecurity situation right and safe, this is a question it has to address will all seriousness.

For, every kind of profiling has serious implications for policy, peace and security in the country.

The insistence by the media on labelling and profiling Boko Haram elements as terrorists certainly has serious policy implications. The reason is obvious. Terrorists, in many jurisdictions, are regarded as fair game, who should be killed anywhere and any time they are found. And they are also generally regarded as a group whose stories should not be told, whose activities should not be covered, so as not to encourage them. The usual refrain is that publicity is their oxygen. It may be so. But should we not as reporters and editors tell the world the stories of the sufferings the activities of both Boko Haram and state agents cause the people of this region?

Can we rightly claim to be reporting right and safe when we engage in such profiling that legitimates summary execution of fellow Nigerians, no matter their alleged crimes?

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING TO THE RESCUE? As said earlier, there is a lot that reporters and editors can do, notwithstanding the limitations within which they operate.

There are many possibilities, opportunities and rewards for the reporter or editor who has commitment, vision, courage and initiative.

Investigative reporting is clearly the most promising area for the display of and deployment of courage and initiative by the reporter in his job.

It is also, in my view, the only approach or strategy through which we as reporters and editors can give real meaning to our work, sharpen our professional skills, significantly improve our work capacity and efficiency and enhance our understanding of our country’s situation, in order to be better prepared and equipped to meet the challenges of reporting right and safe.

Here again, let us take the case of the North-East. Doubtless, the journalist operating here faces many difficulties and risks as a result of the insurgency situation. The insurgents are a murderous lot.

They will think nothing of bombing off or shooting any journalist they hold in any kind of suspicion – as amply demonstrated by their bombing of ThisDay office. The same can be said of the JTF, on the other hand. This makes the nosy journalist an endangered specie in this region.

But there is plenty of room for manoeuvre. There are institutions where discreet investigations can

be conducted by the courageous and skilful journalist. The police stations, the SSS offices and even the JTF and army formations themselves are places where the journalist can gather information about policy directions and the field operations of the security agencies.

Hospitals are the safest and also, perhaps, the most rewarding places for the investigative reporter.

Offices of the security agencies and the hospitals are places where an enterprising reporters can get useful information about the age bracket and social background of those engaged in the insurgency who get arrested, which will be helpful in enhancing our understanding of the situation.

It is in fact a sad commentary on our reporting of the insecurity situation in the North-East that our reporters there hardly ever go to the hospital in search of information and their editor don’t seem bothered by this lapse and the reporters’ laziness.

COLLABORATION OR COOPERATION? Let me now briefly address the issue I raised earlier in the paper, about whether journalists should see themselves as part of the

“

In the context of Nigeria today, who is a terrorist, a militant, or an insurgent. If the media in Nigeria is to report the insecurity situation right and safe, this is a question it has to address will all seriousness. For, every kind of profiling has serious implications for policy, peace and security in the country

security infrastructure and work in collaboration with the security establishment to contribute, through their work, to finding solutions to our security challenges.

This question is as old as the journalism profession itself.

Throughout the ages, and across different kinds of jurisdictions, there are cases of journalists working in close collaboration with and/or for their national security establishments.

It is true of Nigeria too. It is hardly a secret that a considerable number of practicing journalists in Nigeria today work covertly for or with the national security establishment. And it is also common knowledge that there are media organisations that are being wholly financed or assisted by the security establishment.

Matters of security are complex and sensitive. There is certainly no good reason why every profession or trade should not chip in its quota in the effort to ensure the peoples and the nation’s security. The journalism profession in particular has a lot to contribute in this regard.

But working in close collaboration with the security establishment can hardly be said to be in the journalism’s best interest - especially when and where the former is pursuing a questionable agenda that seems to be at odds with our objective national interest.

When reporters and editors work in close collaboration with the security establishment, they often endanger themselves and their profession, and, in the process, subvert the country’s objectives national security interest.

Yet, a relationship of confrontation is certainly not an option. What is required, therefore, is to strike a balance, and a very delicate one at that.

Journalists should be very careful of any close collaborative relationship with our security establishment as presently constituted for the very important reason that it is not clear what its agenda is or seeks to achieve, and even less clear whether the establishment itself, or one or more of its constituent agencies, is not part of the problem.

Journalists should be worried also about the security establishment’s limited conception of national security as a cloak and dagger effort in the pursuit of regime stability or preservation, and the fact that it still operates within the structures and rigidities of military-police authoritarian ethos.

Journalists, and progressive forces in the country must, as I said in my three-part column titled, “May Your Road Be Rough, Dasuki,” on the back page of Peoples Daily (July 3, July 10 and July 17, 2012), begin now to “shed the stifling legacies of the military state by embracing a more inclusive conception of national security that sees as its chief purpose the pursuit and defence of the welling and prosperity of the largest possible number of citizens at home and abroad.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 37

N5000 note: Jonathan has a listening ear, says PDP

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated his responsiveness to public opinion by reversing the planned introduction of N5000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh stated “The PDP led Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan has a listening ear. “Power to the People” is the slogan of our great party. The President has once more demonstrated that this slogan is inviolable and that under us, power really belongs to the people.”

The party assured that it would continue to anchor its policies and programmes on the needs of the people and will not relent in upholding interest of the nation.

“The primary concern of the PDP is to ensure the welfare of the generality of Nigerians. We know full well that the opinion of the people in every government policy and action matters a lot if we must achieve this cardinal premise of our manifesto. This is the essence of this decision by the President to reverse the introduction of the N5000.”

The statement commended the National Assembly for being the true representative of the

people and stated that the synergy between it and the Executive is a sure way to achieve unimpeded success of the transformation programme.

“The critical role of the National Assembly as the representatives of the people is tangentially commendable at this juncture. We pay a deserving tribute to the maturity of the leadership of the National Assembly, the Senate

President, Sen.David Mark (GCON) and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal (CFR) in meeting with the President and in working together with him to guarantee the best for the nation. There is no better way to express that democracy under our great Party as guardian has come of age.”

“We also commend Nigerians for their constructive

criticisms of our programmes.

Our Party appreciates this pivotal role of the public in the making of good governance and shall continue to promote it. It is for this reason that we established the Freedom of Information Act so that every Nigerian will have unrestricted access to information and be educated enough to make contribution on how the nation is governed.

L-R: Kogi state Deputy Governor, Architect Yomi Awoniyi, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Senate President David Mark, and Kogi state Governor, Captain Idris Wada, during the burial of late Rev. Father Jerome Kokumo Bello, at the weekend in Lokoja.

Kwara owes N6.8 billion, says ACN From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Kwara State chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)-led government of wrecking the state with its “financial recklessness and corruption” noting that the state is indebted to the tune of N6.8b The party Chairman, Kayode Olawepo, said in a statement issued in Ilorin that the CBN hammer was inevitable in view of what he called the “the financial recklessness and corruption of the immediate past and present PDP governments in the state.”

“It is interesting that this blacklisting comes amid empty boasts by KWSG officials that the state is viable and is in no financial mess. It is an embarrassing situation, even though it is a case of the chicken coming home to roost. We saw it coming, and had indeed warned against it,” he said.

Olawepo said ACN’s findings show that the state is indebted to the tune of N6.8b and was shortlisted for the penalty following its “failure to pay back its backlogs of loan which led to the purchase of the debts at an agreed price by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).”

The party called on the antigraft agencies to probe the alleged mismanagement that led to the state being declared unviable by the country’s monetary body, and bring to book anybody found wanting.

“The CBN circular said the state and others in the same condition have no viable means of paying their loans and so cannot be allowed to borrow again. In other words, the 45-year-old Kwara State is not a viable entity!

This revelation confirms our repeated alarm that Kwara state is being wrecked under the PDP Government, no thanks to

financial recklessness, misplaced priorities and wanton corruption.

“The fact that the CBN doubts the state’s ability to pay back the loan confirms our position that much of the so-called projects embarked upon are unviable and are mere conduit pipes with no benefit for the people of the state.

“To underscore the recklessness of the PDP Government in Kwara state, while the state fails to pay salaries and cannot pay pensions, it recently set up a committee to celebrate Nigeria’s 52nd anniversary in a grand style.

Also, while majority of the people live in poverty, this same PDPled state government is building a mansion for former Governor Bukola Saraki and using state funds to bail out ‘thriving’ Shonga Farm, which it once declared as a “private concern.”

“On the contrary, other states that receive comparable federal

allocation as Kwara do not have problems paying salaries and have not been declared unviable by the CBN simply because they have not mismanaged their funds in the way the PDP-led government has mismanaged the funds of the Kwara people.

“Once again, we call on the PDP government to stop living on a begging bowl - which is responsible for this mess - and instead show genuine leadership to bring out the best in the people who remain the most potent source of success.

“At the same time we call on the law enforcement agencies to investigate these allegations of financial mismanagement and to bring to book whoever is responsible for bringing the state to its knees in this manner.

Transparency and good governance demands this and the people of Kwara State have a right to know what has happened to their funds.”

Borno gets Acting A-G, appoints Amirul Hajj From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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orno state governor, Kashim Shettima, at the weekend approved the appointment of Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan as the Acting Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

Special Adviser to the governor on Communications, Isa Umar Gusau, in a statement issued to newsmen, said, Barrister Lawan was appointed to fill the vacant position left by the former Attorney-General, late Barrister Zanna Malam Gana, who was killed by unknown gunmen last week.

According to the statement released by the governor’s aide, until his appointment, the newly appointed Ag. AttorneyGeneral was the Special Adviser to the governor on legal matters.

It added that by the appointment, the new commissioner was empowered to attend all State Executive Council meeting (SEC), oversee the affairs of ministry of justice; conduct all other responsiblities and exercise powers of the A-G as enshrined by law.

The statement also quoted Shettima as saying that having worked closely with late Barrister Gana, the new Commissioner has the capacity of discharging his present responsibilities with zeal, commitment and integrity.

In a related development, the governor at the weekend approved the appointment of 31man committee for this year Hajj to Saudi Arabia, with the Deputy Governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha as the Chairman and Amirul Hajj.

The Special adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication, Isa Umar Gusau, in a statement issued to newsmen indicated that, the Chief Staff to the governor, Abubakar Kyari is to serve as deputy chairman of the committee. The Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Usman Durkwa is the committee’s secretary.

Others members of the committee comprised of Dr. Hamma Adama Biu, Sheikh Ali Mustapha, Sheikh Modu Mustapha, Sheikh Gwani Gafciya, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Salma Anas Kolo.

Others are member of the State Assembly, representing Biu constituency, Alhaji Yusuf Adamu and Hajia Adama Ibrahim, among others. The statement further added that the governor Shettima implored the committee to live up to expectation by ensuring hitchfree Hajj exercise.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Ondo must join regional integration- Akeredolu From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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ction Congress of Nigeria governorship candidate in Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu , at the weekend in Lagos, said there was need for the state to return the South West mainstream politics to enhance regional integration.

Akerodolu, a former President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), said the reintegration would benefit the state the more.

"We never said that every state

in the South-West must belong to the ACN but in the case of Ondo, we must work to make it a part of the region for its benefit.

"Ondo cannot afford to be a weakling among the six states making up the region. With regional integration, states will be able to raise more funds together than individually for projects that will benefit its people," he said.

He noted that the only way for positive change in Nigeria was for regions to grow at their pace, assuring "we will fight for Ondo to be part of

the integration."

Akeredolu hinged his optimism of winning the election to "the clamour of the people for positive change", saying the people of the state deserve a new government that would show greater concern for their plight.

"The rural areas in Ondo have been neglected totally for too long, my government will open up all the rural areas in Ondo," he pledged.

On allegation that he was handipicked as the candidate of the ACN, Akeredolu said: "I was not

handpicked by anybody. The process that produced my candidature cannot be faulted."

He also debunked allegations that the ACN was planning to rig the poll, insisting that it had no machinery with which to do so.

The briefing was attended by ACN National Publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the governorship running mate, Mr Paul Akintelure and Mr Dele Aleke, the former Lagos State Commissioner for information and strategy.

Ondo state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, addressing supporters, during his re-election campaign, on Saturday at Ose Local Government Area of the state.

Mimiko assures on revival of Ondo ailing industries From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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ndo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, at the weekend assured the people of the state of his determination to revive the ailing industries and establish more with a view to providing jobs for the people and boost the state economy.

Mimiko who was in Ose local government area of the state in continuation of his re-election campaign for the October 20 election assured the people of the area of resuscitating the Ifon Ceramic Industry which had become comatose.

The governor, who disclosed that steps had been taken to revive the moribund industry by his administration, noted that foreign technical partners had been brought and works were on adding that the company would soon come on steam as soon as constant electricity supply to the company was provided.

He equally assured that there

would be establishment of more industries in the state that would take the youths off the streets in his second term in office adding that already, all that were required to make this a reality had been done in the last three and a half years since he assumed office.

While assuring that the resources of the state would be evenly redistributed for its the development, the governor vowed not to be entrapped by any godfather who will dictate to his government thereby truncating the rapid development which the state had enjoyed in the last three and a half years.

While assuring the people of adequate supply of potable water, Mimiko disclosed that the construction of solar powered boreholes to several communities in the state were interim measures aimed arresting the hitherto acute shortage of water.

He disclosed that plans had reached an advanced stage towards the massive rehabilitation of water

dams all over the state that would provide clean water for people in the cities.

The governor however enthused that the people of Ose now have access to hygienic pipe-borne water following huge sum of money which his administration expended on the rehabilitation of their dam, which though built in 1965, had been abandoned by successive administrations in the state.

Mimiko who expressed optimism of a landslide victory in the election owing to the numerous developmental projects which his administration had done and for which the people had continued to appreciate by their show of love and prayers for him and his cabinet, he vowed to make Ondo state a real place of pride that would be a benchmark for others to follow in all ramifications if re-elected again.

Oyo ACN inaugurates Women Wing’s caretaker cmmittee From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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fter years of battle for recognition, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State has inaugurated a seven-man Caretaker Committee to direct the affairs of its Women’s Wing in the state.

In a release issued by the party publicity secretary, Hon. Dauda Kolawole, the committee has Mrs. Mabel Williams as the Chairperson, Mrs. Toyin Kareem as the Secretary, Mrs. Joke Adebowale as the PRO, Mrs. Bola Akilawon as the Treasurer, while Mrs. Dele Akinwale, Mrs. Felicia Adeniji and Mrs. Esther Adurogbanbga will serve as members.

It would be recalled that the party had earlier banned all activities meant for women groups following incessant crisis and unending war among the women leaders of the party in the state.

The Party Chairman, Chief Akin Oke while performing the inauguration described Women’s participation in political party development as a sure way to improve the status of political party systems.

“Achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society in which they work in equality and complementary, drawing mutual enrichment from their differences”.

He reminded them of the need to design and implement advocacy campaigns for the recruitment of women party members, supporters and voters to help to reinforce networking among women in all the thirty-three local councils of the state to promote the development of the party in the state.

He therefore congratulated the members by saying that their choices were strictly in recognition of their past contributions to the party, their competence and records of integrity

NASS receives 10 requests for new states from North-West – Rep

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he National Assembly has received 10 requests for creation of new states from various communities in the NorthWest geo-political zone, a member of the assembly has said.

Rep.Kawu Sumaila (ANPPKano) said in Kano on Saturday while answering questions from newsmen that two of the requests were from Kano State. ''There are a number of

parameters to be considered before creating a state such as landmass, population and Federal Constituencies. ''And in addition to that, 24 state assemblies must back or support the requests,'' he said.

He advised the communities agitating for new states to come up with reasonable demands in order to realise their dream.

On the issue of state police, the legislator who represents Sumaila/

Takai Federal Constituency, said he did not support the move in view of the complex nature of the country. ''In a country where you have over 400 tribes, it will not augur well for the establishment of a state police,'' Sumaila said.

According to him, some governors and other political office holders could use the state police to promote their vested interests.

(NAN).

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

NANS cautions against rigging in Plateau bye election From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) yesterday warned political parties that are planning to rig and to cause violence during the Plateau North senatorial byelections to desist as the electorates are more enlighten and are ready to cast and defend their votes.

President of the student association, Comrade Dauda Mohammed, said the students are pledging and lending their voices to the call for peaceful co-existence and strict adherence to due process during the bye-election.

It would be recalled that the seat became vacant following the death of Senator Gyang Dantong in Maseh village of Barkin Ladi LG during the mass burial of 50 mascarced.

The President of students’ national body in a press release in Jos advocated for free, fair and peaceful election regretting the series of political crises which have hindered the smooth running of academic activities, economic and social activities in the state.

According to him, “As concerned stakeholders, we are determined to ensure that our members are not used as instruments of breaching peace during the election as we are also prepared to give the necessary support to any credible candidate and those that identified with the plight of Nigerian students irrespective of his or her political affiliation. We urge government and every stakeholder to allow due process to prevail in order to guarantee a free and fair election”.

Dauda maintained that “We are not unaware of the various processes being embarked upon by the various political parties in choosing their candidates for the election and our greatest concern is towards ensuring that absolute peace is maintained through the process of the election”.

He appealed to students to participate fully in the election and vote in a credible person who has what it takes to salvage the zone from the current situation it has find itself. “It is important to let the general public know that despite the fact that the NANS secretariat is presently domiciled in Plateau state, all major tertiary institutions including the University of Jos are within the jurisdiction of the constituency where the election is to be held”.

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House Leader advocates genuine rallying point among Nigerian women

By Lawrence Olaoye

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ajority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat AkandeAdeola wants Nigerian women to unite and be their sister’s

keeper if they must take their rightful position in the scheme of things in the country.

She told a delegation of 2012 Gazelles/Total Women Initiative for Communication and Exchange who came on a

L-R: Deputy Clerk, National Assembly, Mrs. Cordelia Akunwafor, Executive Director, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, Total E and P Nigeria Ltd, Mrs. Ofili Okonkwo Edith, and Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola Akande, during a courtsy call on the House Leader in National Assembly, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

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women along for them to be comfortable and operate optimally.

The House Leader said having proved their mettles worldwide, Nigerian women stand to gain a lot if they stick together and help themselves in getting to the top.

She said “I made bold to say that women and indeed Nigeria stand to gain a lot if women in this country take their destinies in their hands, rally round each other and offer a hand of fellowship to themselves especially in individual and collective advancements”.

Hon Akande Adeola expressed appreciation to the Gazelles for being wonderful ambassadors of the country at a recent endurance competition held in Morocco and described their participation as brave and the participants as rare gems.

“By your brave participation which I witnessed in far away Morocco, you young women have made Nigerian women and indeed all Nigerians proud”.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Executive Director, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs, Total E&P Nig. Ltd, Mrs. Ofili-Okonkwo Edith had congratulated the Leader on her election as the first Female House Majority Leader of the Federal House of Representatives and commended her efforts at women development and empowerment.

Group plans civic reception for Suswam

By Augustine Aminu

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he Benue Youths in Diasporas Association has hinted that it has concluded plans to host the Executive Governor of Benue State, Rt. Hon Gabriel Suswam in a civic reception to celebrate his numerous achievements and most recently the National Award of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) with members of the Benue community in the Diasporas.

The President-General of the

group, Comrade Philip Agbese, who disclosed to pressmen yesterday at Abuja maintained that Suswam has remained committed to the ideals of good governance in the state and should be accorded such civic honour in order to propel him to do more for the people of Benue State.

Speaking on the recent National Honour of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) conferred on the governor by President Goodluck Jonathan, Agbese maintained that the award was a further testimony to the excellent leadership and visibility

of the Suswam led administration in Benue state.

He said the award was very historic in the sense that Suswam is not only the first sitting governor of the state to receive such a prestigious national honour, but also the youngest citizen of the state to be honoured in that magnitude and that a civic reception would avail the Benue Community outside the state the opportunity of interacting closely with him on some useful areas.

Agbese further confirmed that the award on Suswam has endeared the

administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to the hearts of countless Benue sons and daughters because Mr. President’s efforts are to concretize the dividends of democracy without boundaries in the state.

“I want to authoritatively confirm to you that the celebration of the award on our Governor cannot end in good number of years to come because it is a true reward for visible achievements and quality leadership which Governor Suswam has provided in the overall interest of Benue state,” he said.

Ajimobi pledges support to non-indigenes in Oyo From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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yo state governor, Abiola Ajimobi has pledged his administration's support to all non-indigenes resident in the state in order to promote

peaceful co-existence.

The governor gave the pledge while receiving the executive members of Ndi Eze Ndigbo led by its National President, Eze Hycint Nwabueze at the Governor's Office, Ibadan

Court of Appeal upheld Gov Nyako's election he Court of Appeal sitting in Yola, on Saturday upheld the election of Gov Murtala Nyako and his Deputy, Mr Bala Ngilari.

The presiding Judge, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, said the appeal

by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), its governorship candidate, Mr Marcus Gundiri and his running mate, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Namdaz, was lacking in merit.

courtesy call at the weekend that the general talk about women bickering amongst themselves holds no water as experience had shown that as women climb their career ladder, they need to hoist other

``This appeal is completely lacking in merit", Bulkachuwa declared while. delivering judgement on Saturday night.

The court confirmed the decision of the Adamawa Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which had earlier dismissed the petition by the appellants challenging the return of the governor as duly elected in the February 4, 2012 election.

Reacting to the judgement, Namdaz said they would appeal the ruling.

The News Agency o Nigeria ( NAN) reports that three other candidates - Brig.-Gen Buba Marwa of Congress for Progressive Change, Usman Ahmad of All Nigeria Peoples Party and Zainab Kwonchi of African Democratic Congress- had contested in the election won by Nyako. (NAN)

at the weekend.

He said that all tribes in the state would be properly accommodated and that their well- being would be ensured through the provision of adequate security for lives and property.

Ajimobi assured the Ndigbo that his administration would promote the interests of the Igbo resident in the state, whom he described as hardworking and enterprising.

He added that the provision of infrastructural development and clean environment had also been given priority by his administration in order to raise the living standard of the people of the state and ensure their

well-being.

The governor solicited for the support of all Ndigbo in the state for his administration, pledging that a conducive atmosphere would be provided for their business to thrive.

In his response, the National Secretary of the association, Eze Pampas Wahiwe, commended the Ajimobi administration for the massive infrastructural development, road rehabilitation and maintenance of clean environment.

He also lauded the government for the tremendous improvement it had made in the areas of education and healthcare delivery.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Information Minister charges public office holders on accountability T he Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has called on public office holders to exhibit the habit of spending government funds judiciously.

Maku made the call on Saturday during a tour of the Civil Defence Academy, Abuja, as part of the ongoing National Good Governance Tour of the FCT. He said that the CommandantGeneral of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had

shown commitment, transparency, accountability and good governance in building the academy.

The minister said, ``We saw all the work he has done in this academy with N1.5 billion to build the academy and put infrastructure in place.

“This is good governance in place with focus, wisdom and where there is honesty there will be result.

Resources allocated by

government should be used judiciously.''

Also speaking, Dr Usman Shamsudeen, Minister of National Planning, commended the Commandant-General for transparency in discharging his duties.

At the academy, the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, also commended him for a clear testimony on the use of the land given to the corps for the building

of the academy and infrastructure.

Mohammed assured the commandant of more land to put more infrastructure in place as requested by him.

Dr Ade Abolurin, Commandant-General of NSCDC, said that he had been able to utilised the resources given to him adequately to build and put infrastructure in place.

Abolurin said that the corps

had trained his staff both locally and abroad on the use of weapons, defence, and security among others.

“We spent N1.5 billion to build the academy, where we have our training school, accommodation for our staff, church and mosque, as well as a fish farm among others.

“We also have dogs that detect bombs and we give them adequate training everyday,'' he said.

(NAN)

NCP begins campaign in Ondo From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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L-R: FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ade Abolurin, during the National Good Governance tour to the NSCDC, on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

A'Ibom Assembly to enact laws to protect widows – Speaker

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he Akwa Ibom House of Assembly will soon pass three bills prohibiting unwholesome practices against widows in the state, the Speaker, Mr Samuel Ikon, has said.

Ikon said in Uyo on Saturday when he received officials of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) that the assembly was responding to the agitation by the organisation and other human rights groups in the state.

He explained that the laws

would stop the practice of forcing widows to forfeit the property of their dead husbands to their inlaws, and would protect children of the deceased who often suffer from such act. ``We are in the process of passing three private member bills into law, the bill prohibiting the obnoxious widowhood rite, and the distribution of assets after death. ``In passing this law, we will have a public hearing and invite the CLO and other people to it.

``We are doing this to reinforce the confidence of the people having been elected by them,''' he said.

Ikon gave assurance that the assembly would collaborate with the CLO to tackle other issues of human rights abuses, adding that the fifth assembly was committed to the protection of the rights of citizens.

Earlier, the state Chairman of CLO, Mr Clifford Thomas, acknowledged the efforts of the House in making laws that were

beneficial to the people.

Thomas said that the organization could collaborate with the assembly in promoting good governance and the protection of the rights of citizens.

He added that the collaboration would also be in the area of training, to help build the capacities of citizens not only on issues of human rights but also in areas vital to societal growth and development. (NAN)

Nasarawa promises more funds for grass roots development

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he Nasarawa state government on Saturday in Rinze, near Akwanga promised to release more funds for the development of the 13 local governments in the state.

Mr Dameshi Luka, the state's Deputy Governor, made the promise at the ceremony accompanying the distribution of materials for development projects in the Akwanga West Local Government Area. ``The state government is ready to release more funds to local governments and development areas which show commitment to quality service delivery,'' Luka, who was represented by Mr Samuel

Meshi, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, said.

He said the distribution of materials was to make life more meaningful as well as bring development to the people at the grass roots.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that materials distributed included transformers, an ambulance, a car, zinc and beds.

The rest are mattresses, pillows, bed sheets, essential drugs, blackboard chalk, batteries and a motorcycle for the monitoring of primary health centres.

The deputy governor further said a total transformation and upgrading of roads would begin at

the end of this year's rainy season across the development areas in the state.

He said the current administration in the state had high regards for the ordinary citizen and would ensure the provision of materials that would impact positively on their lives. ``The government, with your support, will not fail in its commitment to improve the standard of living in the state,'' Luka said.

He urged the benefiting communities to cultivate a good maintenance culture, adding that they should protect the materials to prevent them from being vandalised.

The deputy governor called on the people of Akwanga West Local Government to give the desired support to Gov. Umaru Al-Makura ``in order to get more dividends of democracy''.

In his remarks, Mr Freeman Kassa, the local government's Administrator, said the move to provide the materials was in line with the yearnings and expectations of the residents.

NAN reports that guests at the ceremony included Alhaji Mohammed Dan'Azimi, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, permanent secretaries, party leaders and traditional rulers. (NAN)

he National Conscience Party (NCP) has launched its campaign in Akure with a pledge to address the issue of poverty in the state if elected on October 20.

The National Chairman of the party, Dr Yinusa Tanko, made the pledge while declaring open the party’s secretariat on Hospital Road, Akure at weekend.

Tanko, who was accompanied by the party’s National Secretary, Comrade Ayodele Akele, State Chairman, Adelana Oladunjoye and the governorship running mate, Mrs Benedicta Ogbeto, said the state was the traditional home of the party.

He said the party had been repositioned to make positive impact during the election, adding that it was out to better the lots of the masses.

“No other party in the country can fight the cause of the masses like NCP, because its founder, Chief Gani Fawehinmi lived, fought and died for the down trodden people of Nigeria,” Tanko said.

The chairman, acknowledged the work done by incumbent governor, Olusegun Mimiko, but said the NCP would offer more quality services to the state.

“In NCP, we give credit to who deserves it, that is the essence of politics, but we will impact more positively on the lives of the people of the state generally and peasants in particular,” he added.

Tanko called on INEC to ensure a free, fair and credible election on October 20.

The chairman described the party as a movement, saying, “our members are everywhere, okada riders, traders, women, students and all down trodden people of this country are our members, and they are solidly behind us in Ondo state.”

He said the party had set up career development agency in all its state secretariats where unemployed youth would register.

In a remark at the occasion, Ogbeto said the party was out to solve the problems of the needy in the state.

She said it had developed a 10point agenda to address issues of development in the areas of electricity and water supply, roads construction, transportation, care for the elderly and pensioners as well as security and telecommunication.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

United earn controversial win at Anfield as City held

by Arsenal

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obin van Persie’s late penalty earned below-par Manchester United a 2-1 victory over 10-man Liverpool in an emotionally-charged Premier League clash at Anfield and champions Manchester City were held to a 1-1 home draw by Arsenal on Sunday.

Dutchman sealed the points when he fired his spot-kick past the Pepe Reina after Glen Johnson was controversially thought to have brought down Antonio Valencia. Video clips though showed there was no contact.

Liverpool’s Jonjo Shelvey had been shown the red card in the 39th minute again a controversial fashion, but in spite of the depletion Liverpool dominated the game.

The first match at Anfield was the first since this month’s Hillsborough report cleared Liverpool’s fans of blame for the deaths of 96 of supporters at the 1989 FA Cup semifinal.

However, Liverpool deservedly went ahead straight after halftime through Steven Gerrard’s volley, only for United to hit back six minutes later through a curling effort by fullback Rafael.

Van Persie’s late strike, his fifth league goal of the season, left Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers still awaiting his first league win of the season after five games, the club’s worst start to a Premier League campaign.

Despite being well below their best, United moved into second spot with 12 points, one point behind leaders Chelsea.

City drew for third time in their opening five games, Laurent Koscielny equalising late for Arsenal after Joleon Lescott had headed the hosts into a halftime lead.

Both sides are unbeaten with nine points.

Tottenham Hotspur have eight after Jermain Defoe scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers, Spurs’s first home win under new manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Demba Ba scored in a 1-0 win for Newcastle United over their former manager Chris Hughton’s Norwich City.

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he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday lauded the Flamingoes who were held to 1-1 draw by Canada in their opening game of the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women World Cup in Azerbaijan.

Football federation president, Aminu Maigari, said this yesterday stressing that the players were did not disappoint at all.

“The Flamingoes performed well in the opening match. They gave a good show of themselves and we believe they are capable of doing a lot better they did against Canada in subsequent matches.

“We are equally urging them

PAGE 41

FIFA U-17: Maigari lauds Flamingoes not to be disappointed by their inability to score more than the lone goal they scored. The federation hopes they will improve to achieve the goal of lifting the trophy,” he said.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that the Peter Dedevbo tutored girls were forced to a draw by their Canadian counterparts in the game the Nigerian girls showed lots of promises, but were delt in by claw footedness in front of goal just like the Falconets in recent FIFA U-20 championship.

However, Maigari said that the federation has reached out to the

technical crew to encourage to correct observed weaknesses so that their second game tomorrow will be different in execution and result.

“We have implored the coaches

... Coach promises to re-jig Flamingoes against hosts

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lamingoes’ coach, Peter Dedevbo said his wards will shoot accurate against hosts, Azerbaijan tomorrow in Lankaran.

Flamingoes managed a 1-1

Skipper of Golden Eaglets introducing his colleagues to the Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke before Saturday’s match against Junior Menas of Niger Republic which the Eaglets won 6-0

Eagles paid winning bonuses for drawn games

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embers of the Super Eagles were paid full win bonuses for the three draws in Malawi, Rwanda and Liberia.

According to a wire service, though the Eagles were to be paid $10, 000 for a win and half of that for a draw, but each Eagles received $10,000 for each of the three drawn games.

In the first of the draw in February, the Eagles were held to a goalless draw by the Amavubi of Rwanda in a 2013 Nations Cup qualifier in Kigali, then they were held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Malawi in a 2014 World Cup qualifier in Blantyre in July, and finally 2-2 draw with Liberian in the first leg

of the final qualifying game of the 2013 Nations Cup. The wire service quoted one of the Europe-based stars who featured against the Lone Star of Liberia as confirming that they were paid win bonus instead of the amount meant for a drawn game. “Yes, we received $10,000 for the draw in Liberia.”

A top official argued that the payment of full bonuses for these draws was to further motivate the players ahead of the challenges ahead.

“You will agree with me that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have done very well to adequately prepare the various national teams for major matches and

to tinker with the team’s tactics and ensure that the players play to instruction. We have also urged the players not to waiver in their efforts to get to the final and lift the trophy for Nigeria,” he said.

tournaments,” the official defended.

“It is the same spirit of ensuring nothing is left to chance for the Eagles to qualify for both the AFCON as well as the 2014 World Cup that it was agreed to make full bonus payments to the Eagles even after matches they drew.”

The Eagles host Liberia in a return leg match for the 2013 Nations Cup on October 13, while they lead their World Cup qualifying section with four points from two matches.

They resume their qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014 with a home game against Harambee Stars of Kenya in March.

draw against Canada in their opener on Saturday at the FIFA Under17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.

Dedevbo, who rued his wards missed chances against the North American side, said the lapses will be corrected before Nigeria’s next game against the hosts.

“After hitting the upright several times I was worried the players could not score but I knew in the second half they would score. I’m really happy they did.

“I and my technical crew will sit down and discuss what changes to make to sharpen the team’s finishing.

“I can assure Nigerians that the next game against hosts, Azerbaijan on Tuesday will be different. The players will be sharper and accurate at goal,” said Dedevbo.

He, however, praised his wards for grabbing the facesaving equaliser off hard fighting Canadians.

“The game was good for my team. We created scoring opportunities but could not utilise them. The Canadians came at us and took the lead, thank God we were able to up our game and we got the equaliser.

“I will say my players under performed in this game but I’m happy they equalised. I know they will be different in the next game, as their performance will improve as the tournament progresses,” he said.

An elated Chinwendu Ihezuo, who scored for Nigeria, is positive her teammates will up their game against Azerbaijan.

“I thank God for making it possible for me to score for my side. No doubt we missed so many scoring chances but I believe in our next match against Azerbaijan, I and other attackers will put better smile on the faces of Nigerians,” she said.

The team have departed for Lankaran, venue of their next must-win match against hosts, Azerbaijan on Tuesday, who were trounced 0-4 by Colombia.

FIFA defends World Cup mascot names

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orld football’s governing body FIFA, has defended its selection process for naming the 2014 World Cup mascot.

Brazilian fans have been critical of FIFA’s decision to force

the public to choose between three names selected by an independent panel.

The names Amijubi, Fuleco and Zuzeco have this week been put to a public vote in Brazil’s media.

“When the original plan was drafted, we thought about having an open system in which the public could suggest names,” FIFA said in a statement on Friday.

“However, it was impossible to put this process into practice due

to the complexity of legislation regarding intellectual property,” the statement added.

FIFA had earlier said that the names had been coined by a panel of experts who used fusions of Portuguese words meaning

joy, ecology, football and blue.

An online petition calling for a more democratic approach to the naming of the mascot a rare Brazilian species of armadillo received 30,000 signatures by Saturday morning.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Uruguay can shock the world in Brazil, says Forlan

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iego, what does your return to South America mean career-wise?

It’s a different situation in a different country. That’s what it means. After ten years in Europe it seemed to me to be the right time to change, and after my experience in Italy and having played in Spain and England, I felt that phase of my career had come to an end.

Were there no challenges left for you in Europe?

I don’t see it like that. I had ten amazing years there, even if there was the odd downside, like not playing that much at Inter Milan. I had offers to carry on there but then I got this chance to come to a big side in a very competitive league on a three-year contract. As if that weren’t enough, it also meant I’d be close to home, family and friends again. Everything conspired for me to make this return.

Do you see yourself going back to Europe?

To be honest, right now I’m not thinking about Europe or anywhere else. I’m 33 and I want to play for as long as possible, but I don’t know what shape I’ll be in when I’m 36 (laughs).

Did you think about playing in Uruguay?

No. The fact is, nobody knew I was going back to South America because the Inter offer was pretty much kept secret until the deal was done, which meant there was no time for any Uruguayan team even to think about me.

Do you feel like you have unfinished business there?

Not at all. And in any case, it wouldn’t be easy and I don’t want to give anyone false hopes. I’m happy with the decision I made. Inter are a big club.

What attracted you to the Brazilian league?

The fact that it’s always been a tough league, with six or seven teams fighting for the top four places, and which in the last few years has gone right down to the wire. The quality of football’s good, and you’ve got big teams and great derbies.

It’s a fantastic challenge.

How different is it to European football?

The thing that stands out most is the size of the pitches.

They’re bigger here and the space is harder to fill, but generally speaking the football is pretty dynamic here. The other differences are all relative and depend on the teams, the coaches and the players you have. Let’s face it, little teams sit back everywhere.

Let’s turn to the national team now. What’s your view on Uruguay’s performance at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament London 2012?

Well, it’s an obvious thing to say but that’s football. I’m not kidding when I say that standards have levelled off a lot and we had a real struggle in all three games. Look at United Arab Emirates. We ended up beating them but they controlled the ball and created several chances. And don’t forget Senegal, who were a fast, strong and technically gifted team and who

There is not much that has not already been said about Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan. Now 33, and a veteran of 17 seasons of top-flight football in Argentina, England, Spain, Italy and now Brazil, Forlan knows all about life in the spotlight, especially after his exploits at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, where he capped his side’s run to fourth place by pocketing the adidas Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament’s most outstanding player.

The stalwart sharpshooter gave FIFA.com an exclusive interview at his new base in Porto Alegre, where he spoke about his return to South American football with Internacional, Uruguay’s bid to qualify for Brazil 2014 and what lies in store in his already successful career. scored their second against us despite being down to ten men.

You don’t get any predictable results these days.

Would you have liked to have been there?

Just as much as the rest of the overage players who didn’t go. But we knew the rules and in my case I didn’t get carried away. I just accepted it and I’m sure my colleagues did too.

Oscar Tabarez said that was just one example of how mature the current squad is, a factor he believes is key to the success Uruguay has enjoyed lately.

Yes, relations are very good on and off the pitch, which helps when times are good and especially when they’re bad.

Do you think recent results are a sign that the team’s status as favourites is beginning to weigh heavily?

Not at all! People might believe all that stuff about being favourites but we don’t. We’re the same everywhere we go.

We believe in what we’re capable of doing and in how far we can go, but nothing more than that. World Cup qualifiers have never been easy for Uruguay. National teams here are getting better all the time and that’s there for all to see.

Even so, it can’t be easy having to deal with the euphoria of fans as passionate as Uruguay’s ...

(Interrupting the question) The fans are going through a very special time. We’ve had quite a few successes after a lot of barren years and it’s understandable that they’re happy and let it show, especially the younger fans. Even when I was a kid the only thing I saw them win was the 1987 Copa America, which was also played in Argentina. They see a

different Uruguay these days and people are happy. We should let them enjoy it.

Do you think you and they could take going through a fourth consecutive play-off?

No, it would be very hard (laughs). The fact is, though, all that matters is making it to the World Cup. I don’t care how we get there. It’s never been easy for us and the aim is to qualify as soon as possible. But if we have to go through the play-off to make it, I’d settle for that right now.

Is that the biggest objective of your career now, after winning the adidas Golden Ball at South Africa 2010, lifting the 2011 Copa America and becoming your country’s highest goalscorer of all time?

Without a doubt, but I’m not someone who needs to set objectives all the time to be motivated. I like to train, play and make a living from this job. As long as I’m as enthusiastic as I am now, the challenges will keep on coming.

You might end up being the player of the tournament again in Brazil.

First we have to qualify. Then I have to be selected, play and win games (laughs). The important thing about that award is that you shouldn’t go looking for it. It’s part of history now.

Let’s talk about your life outside the game. What’s the best and worst thing about being a footballer?

(Pauses) I chose to make a living from football and it’s fantastic. It gives you the chance to travel, to visit different countries, discover other cultures and have colleagues all over the world. You also sacrifice other things that you’ll never get back, like the time you’ve spent away from your family. There are sacrifices in every profession, though. The key is to be relaxed about who you are and not go around thinking, ‘How would my life have turned out if …?’.

You’ve experienced the good and the bad side of fame.

It affects you, of course it does, but it was my choice and I have to live with it. My goal was always to do things to the best of my ability without losing sight of who I was. I think I’ve managed that.

One last question. You’ve said that you intend to carry on playing for a long time yet. Are you scared of retiring?

Absolutely not. I know it’s going to happen sooner or later, but right now I’m just trying to enjoy all this. My idea is to stay in football later on and there are lots of ways of doing that, though I still don’t know in what capacity. One thing I am sure of is that now is not the time to stop and think about it.

“

People might believe all that stuff about being favourites but we don’t. We’re the same everywhere we go. We believe in what we’re capable of doing and in how far we can go, but nothing more than that. World Cup qualifiers have never been easy for Uruguay.

National teams here are getting better all the time and that’s there for all to see.

Diego Forlan

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE

Liuz Suarez

Whereas the person whose name is set out in the first column here under died date and place stated in the said column. whereas the person whose address had claimed relationship with the said deceased is set in the second column here under has applied to the High Court of Justice for GRANT OF LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION will be granted to such person unless a notice to prohibit the grant there of is filed in the Probate Registry High Court of Justice Birnin Kebbi, within TWENTY-ONE DAYS from the date of publication of this notice.

SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME & ADDRESS Insp. Abdullahi Iliyasu Nigeria Police Force Communication Dept.

Kebbi State Command.

APPLICANTS FOR GRANT Nasiru Abdullahi Tugar Boko Magama L.G.A.

Who died on the 22nd day of August, 2012 Dated at Birnin Kebbi on the 20th day of September, 2012 Signed: SABIU BALA SHUAIBU Probate Registrar

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 43

LSTA plans under-aged tennis clinic for Oct. 1

Don’t compare Super Eagles with illustrious 1994 squad, says Shorunmu

I

T

ke Shorunmu, the goalkeeper trainer of the Super Eagles, has urged Nigerians not to compare the current Super Eagles squad with the illustrious 1994 squad.

Shorunmu was reacting to suggestions that the present squad was no match to the squad that he was part of which also had the likes of Peter Rufai and Stephen Keshi in its ranks.

The former Eagles goalkeeper said such comparison would unnecessary because nothing in life was static and that things must change including soccer teams in terms of players, their skills and depth.

“The change we are talking about is what is currently going on in the team. I don’t want us to go back because life is all about change.

“Comparing the current squad with the previous squad is like comparing yourself with your former colleagues in your office; I know you don’t do that,’’ he said.

The former Stationery Stores FC of Lagos and Besikstas FC of Istanbul, Turkey, urged fans to be forward looking and not dwell on the team’s past achievements.

“The mission at hand is to train and get it right with the current players. Our own time has passed; we need to look at the present players in the team and work with them to get good results,” Shorunmu said.

He wondered why some fans were playing on the sentiment of who should be Eagles’ number one goalkeeper between Vincent Enyeama and Chigozie Agbim.

Shorunmu said that comparing Enyeama and Agbim would not be healthy for the team.

“When I flashback to the games where Agbim had manned the goalpost, he performed creditably. For Enyeama, he was with his team Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel throughout the preseason, and he did everything he needed to do as a goalkeeper.

“I believe he knows the challenge that lies ahead of him because others would be given the same opportunity to prove how good they are,’’ he said.

The Super Eagles would lock horns with the Lone Stars of Liberia on Oct.13 in Calabar in a make or mar clash after the two teams had battled to a 2-2 draw in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

he Lagos State Tennis Association (LSTA), on Friday said that it has scheduled Oct. 1 for a training and coaching clinic for players between ages seven and

12.

Kehinde Ajayi, the Technical Director of the association told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the programme was to discover talents at the grassroots in the state.

“The one-day programme at the National Stadium, Lagos, will engage the children in the basis of tennis to further develop their skills in the sport,” he said.

“Tennis must start from the grassroots, so that is why we want to organise the clinic for young players in the state,” he said.

According to him, it was the second time this year alone that the association would organize such programme for age grade children in the state the first one held last April.

He said that the Oct. 1 programme would be the last one for the children for the year.

Ajayi added that the association had also concluded plans for a U-13 competition before the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos in November.

The coach said that the association has concluded arrangement with an individual for the sponsorship of the proposed competition.

Manny makes major changes for Marquez

M

anny Pacquiao won’t have to worry about jet lag before his fourth fight against Juan Manuel Marquez as he is already making major changes to his preparations for the December 8 non-title fight in Las Vegas.

Instead of starting his training camp in the Philippines and then shifting to trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood for the final weeks, Pacquiao plans to do all his sparring at the southern California facility.

“No days will be wasted travelling between training camps in the Philippines and California,” Pacquiao said last week.

The two boxers started a three-city promotional tour on Monday by staging a news conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The tour continues with another news conference in New York on Wednesday.

The fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be the fourth in the intense rivalry between the two.

Pacquiao says this time he won’t make the mistake of underestimating Marquez when they square off in the non-title fight.

“I underestimated him in our last fight,” said Pacquiao.

“I will make the most of every training day to prepare for Juan Manuel.”

Between them Pacquiao and Marquez have won world titles in 12 weight divisions. The Grand Garden was the scene of their first and third fights.

Pacquiao, whose record stands at 54-4-2, with 38 knockouts, defeated Marquez by majority decision in November a third gut-wrenching result for Marquez against his Filipino foe.

In the build-up to that fight, Marquez had taunted Pacquiao with claims that he was the true winner of their first two clashes; a 2004 draw and a 2008 rematch.

“I am very excited to be fighting Manny again,” Marquez said on Monday. “I beat him the first three fights but did not get the decision; this time I will beat him again and I also will get the victory officially.”

Pacquiao’s seven-year, 15-bout win streak, was snapped in June when he lost a controversial split decision to Palm Springs boxer Tim Bradley.

Marquez (54-6-1, 39 KOs) is one of a handful of Mexicans to have won world titles in four different weight classes.

He lost his WBC title in the 2008 rematch when Pacquiao won on a split decision that was decided by one point on the scorecards.

“This fight will be the best of the four that these two great warriors have engaged in,” promoter Bob Arum Manny Pacquiao said.

Steven Keshi, Finidi George, Peter Rufai, members of the ’94 Super Eagles squad

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE Whereas the person whose name is set out in the first column here under died date and place stated in the said column. whereas the person whose address had claimed relationship with the said deceased is set in the second column here under has applied to the High Court of Justice for GRANT OF LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION will be granted to such person unless a notice to prohibit the grant there of is filed in the Probate Registry High Court of Justice Birnin Kebbi, within TWENTY-ONE DAYS from the date of publication of this notice.

SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME & ADDRESS Cpl. Aminu Adamu Nigeria Police Force ‘A’ Dept. State Headquarters B/Kebbi, Kebbi State Command.

APPLICANTS FOR GRANT Mary Aminu Unguwar Rugo Area Sokoto State.

Who died on the 25th day of January, 2012 Dated at Birnin Kebbi on the 20th day of September, 2012 Signed: SABIU BALA SHUAIBU Probate Registrar

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE Whereas the person whose name is set out in the first column here under died date and place stated in the said column. whereas the person whose address had claimed relationship with the said deceased is set in the second column here under has applied to the High Court of Justice for GRANT OF LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION of the personal property.

Notice is hereby given that the said LETTER OF ADMINISTRATION will be granted to such person unless a notice to prohibit the grant there of is filed in the Probate Registry High Court of Justice Birnin Kebbi, within TWENTY-ONE DAYS from the date of publication of this notice.

SCHEDULE DECEASED NAME & ADDRESS Insp. Samuel Inalegwu Nigerian Police force Dakin Gari Division Kebbi State Command

APPLICANTS FOR GRANT Aboh Samuel Nepa Quarters, Yauri L.G.A. Kebbi State.

Who died on the 11th day of March, 2012 Dated at Birnin Kebbi on the 17th day of august, 2012 Signed: SABIU BALA SHUAIBU Probate Registrar

CBN promises support for Super Eagles

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has offered to give the Super Eagles the necessary support to become worldbeater.

Ugochukwu Okoroafor, the Director, Corporate Communications Department of the bank, gave the assurance, while announcing the bank’s contribution to sports development in the country at the secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

He said the drop in the performance of the Super Eagles called for concern and as such, should not be left to sports people alone to handle.

“Just as they say politics is too serious to be left for politicians alone, so is sports too serious to be left to sports people alone. Everybody should get involved and that is why we are here.

“In soccer, we used to be number four in the world and for us not to be even fourth in Africa means we have to find out what the structural challenges are.

“We are no longer a strong force in athletics and can’t compare with Jamaica and you know Jamaica can’t

match Nigeria in terms of size and population.

“Most of the people running for Jamaica came from Nigeria. So, we have it and we used it in the days of Chidi Imo, Falilat Ogunkoya and others,” Okoroafor said.

He said the support to the Eagles and football in general was a replica of what the CBN had done to golf and tennis that have produced talents for the country.

The banker further said that the CBN had plans to also support the Beach Soccer Competition scheduled to take place at Jabi, Abuja, in November.

“We have our core mandate and what we do is in the context of corporate social responsibility. What we are doing is to help develop the society, so that we can have a stable economy, bearing in mind that we have our core mandate which is printing of currency.’’

Earlier, Mohammed Sanusi, NFF’s Director of Competitions, had solicited for CBN’s support for the Eagles, saying that football was the most popular sport in the country.

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS HULERA AHMADU KASIM, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. HULERA AHMADU KASIM. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NYSC AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr.

Diego Chavez

Bolt joins others to kick against advert ban

Sanchez, Chavez, IBF, WBA titles in weekend of surplus fights

J

uan Carlos Sanchez Jr has retained his IBF superflyweight title by beating Rodel Mayol in Mexico after 2 minutes 25 seconds of the ninth round of their fight in Los Mochis.

Making his second defence, Sanchez improved his professional record to 15-1-1, including 8 knockouts. Mayol’s record dropped to 31-6-2; 22.

Earlier veteran Jorge Arce beat another former world champion, Mauricio Martinez, on points over ten rounds in a featherweight bout. The scores were 99-90 on two cards and 97-92.

Arce, who has held titles in several weight divisions, improved his record to 64-6-2; including 46 short-cut wins.

Martinez now stands at 36-13-1; 24.

In Woodland, California, middleweight Paul Mendez knocked out Donyil Livingston with a low punch in the seventh round. The referee failed to spot the transgression and Mendez improved to 10-2-1; 4. Livingston now stands at 8-2-1; 4.

In Buenos Aires, Diego Chavez retained his WBA interim welterweight title by stopping Jose Miranda in the second round.

Chavez improved to 22-0; 18 and Miranda dropped to1212-3; 8.

In Niksic, Montenegro, heavyweight Jovo Pudar moved to 29-3; 16 when he beat Raphael Zumbano (32-61; 25) on points over 12 rounds to retain his PABA title.

Santa Ynez, California: Jonathan Romero beat Efrain Esquivias Jr on points in a super-bantamweight fight, remaining undefeated at 22-0; 12.

Esquivias now stands at 16-2; 9 after the bout for the second spot on the IBF’s ranking list. The scores were 119108 on two cards and 120-107.

Roman Morales (13-0; 6) beat Jonathan Arellano (13-11; 3) on points over eight rounds in a super-bantamweight bout.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Junior middleweight Gabriel Rosado improved to 21-5; 13 when he stopped Chris Whittaker (36-12-2; 21) in the tenth round.

Rosado knocked Whittaker down in the fifth and seventh and twice in the tenth before referee Steve Smoger stepped in a minute and 50 seconds into the tenth.

Light-heavyweight Sergey Kovalev (19-0-1; 17) stopped Lionel Thompson (12-2; 8) in the third round.

Welterweight Antwone Smith moved to 22-4-1; 12 when he upset Ronald Cruz (17-1; 12), winning on a split decision over ten rounds 96-94 on two cards for Smith and 96-94 for Cruz.

Antwerp, Belgium: Jackson Bonsu won the European Union’s vacant light-middleweight title and improved to 42-5-1; 29 when he beat Jimmy Colas (31-9; 13) of Haiti over 12 rounds.

Janthanuri, Thailand: Light-middleweight Patomsuk Pathompothong (20-1-1; 12) beat Filipino Dondon Sultan (18-19-3; 10) over twelve rounds to take the WBC Asia title.

The scores were 117-111, 118-110 and 119-109.

J

amaican Olympic champion Usain Bolt is among those joining a group of US track and field athletes fighting a rule that bars Olympians from using their names or likenesses for advertising during the Games.

The Track and Field Athletes Association, which includes high-profile American runners such as Sanya Richards-Ross and Bernard Lagat, announced Friday it had added international athletes.

The athletes are opposed to Rule 40, an International Olympic Committee rule that prohibits Olympic athletes from advertising in the days leading up to and during the Games.

In welcoming Bolt, Yohan Blake, ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce, 800-metre world record holder David Rudisha and 19 others from around the world, TFAA president Khadevis Robinson said, “in order to grow our sport, we must establish a unified voice across the international community of athletes.”

Asked about the issue at the US Olympic Committee assembly Friday, CEO Scott Blackmun said he was sympathetic to what the athletes are trying to do.

“We’d like to find ways for the athletes to benefit from their success at the Olympic Games,” Blackmun said. “We also understand there’s a critical need to protect the exclusivity” of the Olympic brand.

Zimbabweans dominate Cape Town Marathon

Z

imbabweans dominated the Cape Town Marathon yesterday morning, with Gilbert Mutandiro and debutant Alicen Manake clinching the respective men’s and women’s titles.

The diminutive Mutandiro, who was fourth last year, was not entirely pleased with his winning time of two hours, 19 minutes, 16 seconds (2:19:16) in cold and wet conditions.

The men’s lead group, running conservatively to combat the poor conditions, went through halfway in 70 minutes.

South African Lungile Gongqa finished 30 metres adrift in 2:19:23 and Zimbabwean Fokoroni was third, nearly two minutes further back, in 2:21:04.

Mutandiro said he had used the race as part of his build-up to the Macau Marathon in China in December.

Manake, running her first marathon, won comfortably in 2:51:36, having dominated the women’s race from the start.

Local athlete Nomvuyisi Seti was a little under five minutes behind at the finish, taking second place in 2:56:31, with fellow South African Cary Ann Smith taking third in a personal best of 2:57:37.

Only 36 seconds separated the top five runners in the men’s 10km race, which was won by Xolisa Tyali in 29 minutes, 40 seconds (29:40). Tyali edged out Sibusiso Madikizela by seven seconds.

Nolene Conrad crossed the line first in the women’s race in 34:31, easily holding off Namibian Lavina Haltope to win by 41 seconds.

Gilbert wins World road race title

B Gilbert Mutandiro, Alicen Manake, both won the men and women titles

Women’s Homeless World Cup: Team Nigeria in Group B

N

igeria has been drawn to play in Group B alongside Brazil, England, Argentina, India, Canada and Kyrgyzstan at the 2012 women’s Homeless World Cup in Mexico.

The competition will hold at Plaza de la Constitución, Zócalo, Mexico City from Oct. 6 to 14.

Yomi Kuku, the coordinator of Team Nigeria to the competition confirmed yesterday in Lagos that team which began training ahead of the game on Sept. 10 would round up preparation on Sept. 28.

Kuku, who is the Project

Director of Search and Groom, the NGO coordinating Team Nigeria to the competition, added that the team had been training at the Astroturf 2000 Osborne, Ikoyi, Lagos.

He said that the coaching pair of German Helen Schonbrodt and Jide Oguntuashe would lead the Nigeria’s team to the competition.

He said that among Nigerian players for the competition, are Sarah Iloduba, Toyosi Alogba, Nimot Ahmad, Omolara Kolawole, Sudan Abidoye and Peace Ozehudu from Lagos.

Others are Calabar-

RESULTS 42km: Men: 1 Gilbert Mutandiro 2:19:16 2 Lungile Gongqwa 2:19:23 3 Mike Fokoroni 2:21:04 4 Pumlani Nxusani 2:21:46 5 Abongile Snyman 2:24:39 6 Siyabonga Makhaluza 2:27:33 7 Paulus Ilyambo 2:27:46 8 Hein Camphor 2:30:21 9 Oupa Maseko 2:32:14 10 Luyanda Mapoyi 2:32:31 Women: 1 Alicen Manake 2:51:37 2 Nomvuyisi Seti 2:56:31 3 Cary-Ann Smith 2:57:37 4 Ndeshimona Ekandjo 2:58:59 5 Ursula Frans 3:01:10 6 Debbie Perry3:04:18 7 Bulelwa Mtshayi 3:06:2 8 Candyce Hall 3:14:23 9 Gillian Seiling 3:14:28 10 Ursula Turck 3:15:07 10km: Men: 1 Xolisa Tyali 29:40 2 Sibusiso Madikizela 29:47 3 Sityhilo Diko 30:01 4 Nkosinathi Madyo 30:06 5 Kristof Shaanika 30:16 6 Awonke Bungi 31:09 7 Luyanda Qolo 31:15 8 Godwin Swartz 31:17 9 Ricardo Jaftha 31:17 10 Nkosinathi Sotyantya 31:18 Women: 1 Nolene Conrad 34:27 2 Lavinia Haltope 35:14 3 Zintle Xiniwe 35:56 4 Bulelwa Simae 38:13 5 Busisiwe Matiwane 40:13 6 Keelyn van Breda 40:41 7 Heleen van der Walt Nicholl 40:58 8 Sandra van Graan 41:16 9 Kelley Hess 41:32 10 Sheryl de Lange 41:37

based Edikan Udoh, Regina Otu and Glory Henshaw.

Players on stand-by are: Rita Monday, Funmilola Adediran, Ololade Fadoyin and Damilola Omotosho from Lagos with Ruth Unwana and Uduak Jimmy from Calabar.

He added that hosts Mexico are in Group A alongside U.S., Colombia, Netherlands, Chile, Hungary and Paraguay.

Search and Groom, a Lagos-based NGO is widely known as organisers of street football competition in the country and had several times featured in international street soccer competitions.

elgium's Philippe Gilbert produced a scintillating burst of speed to win the world road race in the Netherlands.

The 30-year-old attacked on the last of 11 ascents of the Cauberg after 269km of racing on an undulating course.

Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen was second, four seconds behind, with Spain's Alejandro Valverde third.

Britain's Jonathan Tiernan-Locke was 19th, five seconds adrift, while 2011 winner Mark Cavendish quit through exhaustion with 110km to go.

Sprinter Cavendish had already indicated that the hilly terrain meant he had no chance of winning the race but the outgoing world champion put in a tremendous stint for his British team-mates.

After a relatively benign opening hour of racing, racing through the Dutch countryside from Maastricht, 11 riders established a break and Cavendish immediately went to the front of the peloton to control its pace and not allows the escapees to build an advantage of more than six minutes.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 45

PICTORIAL

a

b

c f

d

e

g

a/ European champions Germany began Azerbaijan 2012 with a 2-1 win over Ghana, but Anouschka Bernhard's side was made to work for their victory at the Dalga Arena. b/ Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra shook hands to bury the hatchet, but the game between Liverpool and Man Utd was soured by Jonjo Shelvey's reckless red card whetre Ten-man Liverpool took a shock lead through Steven Gerrard, but United hit back through Rafael and a Robin van Persie penalty. c/ Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has played down a row between Lionel Messi and David Villa during their 2-0 win over Granada. d/ Justin Rose is tied for the lead with American Brandt Snedeker after the third round of the PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta. e/ Former heavyweight champion Corrie Sanders dies after being shot during an armed robbery at a restaurant in his native South Africa. f/ Exeter inflict a first defeat of the season on Saracens with a gutsy 14-12 victory. g/ India finish on 170-4 against England in their World Twenty20 group match after Pakistan beat New Zealand by 13 runs.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

PAGE 47

FACTS * A strand from the web of a golden spider is as strong as a steel wire of the same size. * A toothpick is the object most often choked on by Americans. * About a third of all Americans flush the toilet while they're still sitting on it. * According to Genesis 1:20-22 the chicken came before the egg. * Soldiers from every country salute with their right hand. * The microwave oven was invented by mistake when an engineer testing a magnetron tube noticed that the radiation from it melted the chocolate bar he had in his pocket. * Moisture, not air, causes super glue to dry.

Source: Weird facts

JOKE

Conversation The following conversations took place between two blondes, (Mary and Gloria) after an English exam.

Mary: How was your paper Gloria?

Gloria: It was kind of hard, I didn't know the past tense of "think". I thought and thought and thought for a long time then finally wrote "thunk" Gloria: I guess you're wrong because I wrote "Thonk", after I thought 4 a while.

Mary: Sheet!!!!, and what about the past tense of "write"?

Gloria: I don't know what I wrote, I think I wrote "written".

Mary: That one, I didn't even bother. When I saw the next number asking for the past tense of "Go", I just went out of the exam hall….

Gloria: Me too, when I reached that number, I couldn't take it anymore. Those idiots give us exams beyond our scope....

PHOTO OF THE DAY Paris Towering Thumb is an over-sized sculpture on display in the La Défense quarter of the City of Light. Tipping the scales at 18 tons, Baldaccini modeled this 40-foot high digit after his own thumb.

Source: Reader's Digest

Quick CrossWord (33) ACROSS 1 Sofa with a backrest at only one end (6,6) 8 Pleasing to the palate (5) 9 Doom (7) 10 Hasten (4) 11 Perpendicular (8) 14 Large drinks container with a handle and spout (6) 15 In continual discomfort (6) 17 Flatter in order to gain favour (6,2) 18 Cheese part of milk (4) 21 Bedeck (7) 23 The __, cricket title contested by Englant and Australia (5) 24 Baked spud in its skin (6,6)

DOWN 1 Provide (for) (5) 2 Auxillary (9) 3 Meat-substitute bean (4) 4 Small personal cupboard (6) 5 (Of pans) coated with a substance for easy cleaning (3-5) 6 Exploit (3) 7 Clear an obstruction from (6) 12 Tiny dog with big eyes and pointy ears (9) 13 Study after school hours (8) 14 Get rid of (with cheap excuses) (3,3) 16 Strawberry basket (6) 19 Dancing club (5) 20 Saintly ring (4) 22 The briny (3)

Yesterday’s answer

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

FIFA U-17 female: All smiles for Asia

A

sian sides had a field day as Group C and D of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Azerbaijan 2012 got underway yesterday, with China PR outclassing Uruguay to win 4-0 and Japan hitting five goals against Brazil without reply.

Earlier in the day, Germany scraped past Ghana 2-1, while a solitary Fernanda Perez header gave Mexico the narrowest of victories over New Zealand.

The top scorer and Most Valuable Player at last year’s AFC U-16 Women's Championship, Yui Narumiya lived up to her star billing when she stepped out at Azerbaijan 2012 yesterday.

The JFA Academy Fukushima player had already opened her account for the tournament with her side’s third goal of the day when she added a stunning second to complete the rout of the Brazilians.

After skipping round her marker with some dazzling footwork inside the box, she smacked a rising drive against the bar and reacted quicker than anyone to lash the rebound into the opposite corner with a thumping volley.

Uruguay goalkeeper Gabriela Gonzalez had a FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup debut to forget. At fault for two of China PR’s opening three goals, the unfortunate custodian was then dismissed for handling the ball outside the box – the first red card ever to be shown in the competition – and left the field in tears.

Results Group C Mexico 1-0 New Zealand Brazil 0-5 Japan Group D Ghana 1-2 Germany Uruguay 0-4 China PR League results Man City 1 Arsenal 1 Tottenham 2 QPR 1 Newcastle 1 Norwich 0 Liverpool 1 Man Utd 2 Real Betis 1 Espanyol 0 Mallorca 2 Valencia 0 Atletico 2 Valladolid 1 Levante 2 R/Sociedad 1 Atalanta 1 Palermo 0 Bologna 1 Pescara 1

ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

0803 0805 0803 0805 0803

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE I don’t think we (Northerners) we have a leader now who would make a clarion call and everyone would follow like during the Sardauna period — Gen. Jeremiah Useni, Chair man, Boar d of Tr ustees Chairman, Board ustees,, Arewa Consultative Forum

Islam and the West (II) Though the lion and the antelope live in the same forest, the antelope still has time to grow up - Ghanaian proverb

T

he United States government has taken up to advertising its standard position on the offensive video which has stirred up widespread Muslim anger on Pakistani television in the last few days. In spite of this, the Pakistani authorities encouraged Pakistanis to join the popular protests against the video (read: US government) on Friday. So far the protests have claimed about 20 lives in Pakistan alone; and anger at the US does not appear to be abetting.

Nigerian Muslims joined the protests in numbers in Zaria and Kano, although these passed off peacefully. It is clear that the anger of Muslims will take more time to simmer down, and the US and the West will make more efforts at damage control. Until the next provocation, and the next outpouring of outrage.

These periodic outbursts of anger by Muslims at events which the West will see as the price to pay for a number of its non-negotiable values, such as the right to free expression and tolerance, as well as core values which are key elements in its liberal ideology that characterize the secular State and isolate it from matters of faith, will continue to feature in relations between the West and Muslims.

Characteristic predictable reactions to blasphemous publications against important symbols of Islamic faith are, in a way, symptoms of a deeper structural problem. Pakistan appears to have been more vociferous in its condemnations, but then Pakistan almost perfectly captures the paradox in relations between much of the Muslim world and the West. An overwhelmingly Muslim nation, it has lived with a lovehate relationship with the West for most of its life. It is the gateway and the strategic foothold of the US in its battle against Muslim hostility in Asia.

It is also on its own a virtual battlefront. It is the enemy the US tolerates and courts as a friend, because it will do much more damage otherwise. Its leadership receives billions in US aid, and encourages its citizens

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FIFTEEN MINUTES with Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed drbabaahmed@yahoo.com

Pakistani Prime Minister, Asif Ali Zardari

to hate the US for its drones; for its overbearing presence; for its contempt for their sovereignty, and for being the US: strong, powerful and non-Islamic.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and a number of Muslim countries also play the role of facilitating the search for dominance of the West in the Middle East and Asia. Most of them are unable to assuage deep and widespread pain that their countries are made available for the weakening of the Islamic faith. Intimate relations with the US makes Muslim nations reluctant or enable to take on the West on its role in Iraq; on its insistence that Iran should not develop nuclear technology; on the manner the Palestinian problem is being treated; on the

impunity of Israel, and on the manner western propaganda portrays Islam as the great evil of modern civilization. Muslims watch with anguish as dictators previously propped up by western nations resist the will of their people for change; and where their will prevails, they find that it has strategic content of western facilitation and influence. The Arab Spring is still unraveling, and how the Maghreb relates to the West is still in the works.

Syria's vicious civil war will most likely end up more as a victory for the West than of the people. In this small globalized world, some Muslims will feel everywhere they look they see the US and western interests.

And they will not be wrong.

Muslims overwhelmingly live in poor countries, and the US and European nations have a basic utilitarian approach to the poor.

Muslims are angry that they are weak vis-à-vis Christians and Jews. Most feel they have no business being in this position, but few bother to ask how they got into this position, and whether they are condemned as Muslims to suffer the often offending dominance of nations which are secular, overtly Christian, pointedly anti-Islamic or fundamentally Jewish.

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The Muslim community needs to ask some very difficult questions. Are Muslims doomed to take to the streets and suffer tear gas and bullets from their leaders every time some mischief maker decides to publish an offensive material over what they hold dear? Are there avenues to pressurize the US and western nations to tighten laws and regulations on they types of irritants which Muslim countries can utilize?

Leaders in Muslim countries have failed to build strong economies and the types of governments that should form organic solidarity with their peoples, and they are unable to shield Muslims from the periodic provocations and perennial injuries from the West which they complain over. This is why riots have become the reactions of choice by millions of Muslims every once in a while. But this pattern has also become routine, and since the West will not change its laws, or enact new laws which will more specifically limit the damage which blasphemy causes, these spontaneous and popular reactions will continue.

The Muslim community needs to ask some very difficult questions. Are Muslims doomed to take to the streets and suffer tear gas and bullets from their leaders every time some mischief maker decides to publish an offensive material over what they hold dear? Are there avenues to pressurize the US and western nations to tighten laws and regulations on they types of irritants which Muslim countries can utilize? If it is a crime to deny the existence of the holocaust; and it is legal for people of same sex to marry, and there are laws against calling certain races certain names, and even the Patriot Act, which seeks to shield US citizens by curtailing many of their privileges, why are western nations indifferent to the grievances of Muslims in a world where the West has so much at stake in peace?

To paraphrase a medieval philosopher, in politics as in everything else, the strong will do as he will; and the weak will suffer as he must. If Muslims want the type of respect from the US and western nations which will make them sensitive to its values, they must be strong enough to earn that respect. The biggest liability of Muslims across the world is not the US and Europe. It is their leaders who hide under the cover and support of the US and Europe to weaken their own people. The West does not necessarily represent Christianity, or even Judaism. Islam can live in peace with Christians and Jews, but it has to resolve some fundamental contradictions which weaken it.

At the heart of that contradiction is a weak and corrupt Muslim leadership which is propped up by the West.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141