www.peoplesdaily-online.com weekend.peoplesdailyng.com
VOL. 3 NO. 41
SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
. . . putting the people first
RAJAB 16 - 17, 1434 AH
Amaechi floors Jonathan
N150
>> Pg4
Re-emerges NGF Chairman
Mysterious fire engulfs homes in Misau NEWS FEATURE page 40
From middle are Deputy Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Emir of Kano, Dr. Ado Bayero, Emir of Das, Bauchi, Bilyaminu Usman Bilyaminu and Secretary to the Kano State Government, Alhaji Suleiman Bichi, during the funeral prayer of Hajiya Rabi Ado Bayero (Uwar Soron Kano), wife of the Emir of Kano, at the Emir’s place on Friday.
NEWS
We are planning agric revolution in Kogi —Gov Wada AGRIC page 14
Emir of Kano loses wife >> Pg4
How ‘Yar’adua saved my life — Chief Alam WEEKEND.PEOPLESDAILYNG.COM
>> Pg 8
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
News Violent windstorm wreaks havoc at Katsina Varsity
Lagos 2015: George, Ogunlewe reconcile, says its time PDP takes over
From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina
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violent windstorm has wrecked havoc at Umaru Musa 'Yar' Adua University, Katsina were it affected almost all the 19 structures in the university. Katsina metropolis and its environs had on Thursday evening between 7-8 pm witnessed a mild rain that was accompanied by violent windstorm that affected both public and residential buildings including structures such as electricity poles and trees. During a visit to the university campus yesterday, deputy vicechancellor (academics) of the university, Professor Sani Abubakar Mashi confirmed that almost all the university structures were affected by the devastation. He disclosed that some of the structures affected by the windstorm include, the senate building, university clinic, ICT centre, new male hostels, laboratories in the faculty of applied sciences, university auditorium and sabbatical staff quarters among others. Mashi noted that the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema had already sent a team to assess the damages caused by the windstorm on the institution's structure. “We faced similar situation in the past but within a short time the government repaired all the damaged structures. I believe that this time also the governor because of his concern on the development of the university will quickly repair the damaged structures" he added. The DV Academics however thank God that no life was lost or injuries recorded as a result of the devastation caused by the violent windstorm, adding " it occurred after closing hours and the females students who lived in the campus their structure was not affected". Similarly Our Correspondent observed that most structures especially Filling Stations along Katsina - Dutsin-ma were badly damaged by the windstorm while some residential building along the same road and the new ring road were also affected.
By Ayodele Samuel, Lagos
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Damaged Chemistry lab at UMYU, Katsina after the rain storm
‘My god killed the policemen’, says Ombatse chief priest From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia
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s if the gruesome murder of over 100 security operatives two weeks ago in Alakio, Nasarawa state, was not enough, a twist has been added to the gory tale when the man alleged to be at the centre of the killings, Baba Alakio, the chief priest of the Ombatse militant sect, claimed that his ‘god’ was responsible for the death of the security operatives. Lega Agu, otherwise known as Baba Alakio, told members of the National Assembly on a fact finding mission to the village, led by Senator Solomon Ewuga, that the operatives died as a result of a divine intervention by his god to protect him as the spiritual leader of the Ombatse cult. Speaking to Sen. Ewuga in his native Eggon dialect, Baba Alakio said “I was told that security people were sent by the governor to come and get my head to his table and god killed them on arrival, although I was not even in my
house in Alakio but in a nearby village called Ashangwa". The chief priest maintained that Alakio village is on a plain land and wondered how ambush could be laid in such a place when the operation was carried out in broad daylight. "This is an open plain land so I wonder why people would say Ombatse ambushed trained security men”, he said. According to him, the governor or the security chiefs should have extended an invitation to him if he has noticed any breach from the Ombatse group. “I expected the governor or the security chiefs to have invited me if there was any problem, because I have no problem with anyone and I have never forced anyone to take oath of any kind to become an Ombatse member”, he added. Responding, Senator Ewuga said that he was in the village as a matter of national interest and also to see things for himself adding that the said community happens to be inhabited by his tribesmen. “Our visit is mainly for
national interest and the people here happen to be my tribesmen, even though this is not my senatorial constituency but most of the complaints and questions are channelled to me so I had to come. The act is unfortunate and condemnable in its totality and I also want the government to set up a judicial commission of enquiry to unravel the situation”. Ewuga said. He lamented that people keep accusing him of having a hand whenever there is any crisis between an Eggon man and anybody pointing it to be a build up to 2015 which he has never discussed with anyone what he wants to do in 2015. “The governor told the people of Nasarawa state that he was only interested in one term not me and I even warned him on that statement but he would not listen, so people should stop linking or mentioning my name about 2015, because I have never discuss my intention concerning 2015 with anybody”, he said
he reported battle over the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos state seems to have been unified as the two gladiators involved in the scuffle, Chief Olabode George and Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, on Wednesday night finally buried their differences, expressing their intentions to work together for the progress of the party in the 2015 election. George, a former PDP National Deputy Chairman, and Senator Ogunlewe, a former Minister of Works, had been engulfed in supremacy battle over the control of the state chapter of the party, a crisis that many believed contributed to the woeful performance of the party during the 2011 elections. However, after what appears like a long rope to internal reconciliation by the leadership of their party, the duo finally appeared in public glare to bury their differences, promising to close ranks for the party towards 2015 election. Gathered at the wake-keep ceremony of Lagos Socialite and member of the PDP, Late Tunde Savage, the two political personalities embraced each other, speaking glowingly of the end of their in-fighting. Speaking to newsmen on the future of the party, Senator Ogunlewe said, "We have all closed ranks. At least, you can see me and Bode George hugging ourselves. "We are one PDP now and we are working towards 2015 elections and that is the new drive of the Lagos PDP," he said. Chairman of the party in the state, Capt. Tunji Shelle, availed that the party is already repositioned to contest and win elections in the state. "We have moved beyond closing ranks. We are now glued together as a family. Before the end of this year, the family will be a more united, robust, happy and strong family that is ready to win elections." Other PDP leaders present at the occasion include, Dr. Segun Ogundimu, Mrs. Aduke Maina (PDP BoT member) and Dr. Remi Akitoye among others.
Housewife, 45, commits suicide in Zamfara
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45-year-old house wife, Malama Hadiza Sani of Gada Village in Bungudu Local Government area of Zamfara has allegedly committed suicide. Hadiza, who until her death was a local comedian, was said to
have killed herself with a sharp object in her husband's compound. Her husband Sani, a meat seller, told reporters yesterday in Gada that he left his wife alive for prayers in a nearby Mosque when the incident occurred.
Sani said that his son rushed to the Mosque about 20 minutes later and informed him about the incident. He said that he rushed to the house and found Hadiza in a pool of her own blood, with a sharp knife by her body.
Traditional head of the village, Alhaji Umar Keku, who confirmed the incident, described it as unfortunate and said that the village had never witnessed such a tragedy. Malam Lawal Abdullah, Zamfara Police Command
spokesman, also confirmed the incident. Lawal said that the police were investigating the circumstances that led to the death of Hadiza. The deceased is survived by nine children, all for her husband Sani. NAN
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
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News Three men docked over illegal possession of fire arms, ammunition
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he Police on Friday arraigned three persons at a Federal High court
in Jos, and charged them with illegal possession of fire arms and ammunition.
Abdullahi Yusuf, 24. They were arrested by soldiers attached to the Special Task Force (STF) for the maintenance of peace in Plateau during the communal
commission readiness to partner with Independent Hajj Reporters to sensitize the pilgrims on the need to utilize that opportunity to report any wrong doing in the operation through public awareness campaigns.
The partnership also involve convening a national workshop for all hajj stakeholders to work out ways of instilling good conduct on the pilgrims for them to be good ambassadors while in the holy land.
clash in Wase Local Government of the state, while in possession of the arms and ammunition. The trio, who reside in Wase town of Plateau, appeared before Justice Ambrose Allagoa on a onecount charge of illegal possession of fire arms and ammunition. The police First Information Report (FIR) stated that the three accused committed the offence on April 27, at about 5 a.m. The report read that the accused unlawfully possessed a Chinese AK 47, one single barrel gun and one magazine containing 30 bullets and some cartridges. It stated that the accused were also caught with a 30 millimetre live ammunition and a pistol. According to the FIR, the accused have no permit or licence to possess the arms and ammunition. It stated that during police investigations the accused failed to provide concrete explanations about the said weapons in their possession'' The FIR said that the suspects had committed an offence contrary to section 27 (i) subsection 29 of the Fire Arm Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When the FIR was read to the accused, they all pleaded not guilty to the charge and their counsel, Mr M.N Mailafiya, applied to the court for their bail. The prosecuting counsel, Mr Manjah Sunday, objected to the bail application of the counsel to the accused on grounds that the police were still investigating the matter. The judge ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter to June 12 for hearing. NAN
Sabon-Gari to Zaria Local Government Area. Abubakar Usman of Kaduna North is now the Pilgrim Officer of Sabon Gari L/Govt Area. Meanwhile, Sani D. Musa of Igabi is now the Pilgrim Officer of Kaduna North L/Govt Area, while Ya'u Inuwa was moved from Lere to Igabi Local Government Area. Abubakar Alhassan of Soba L/ Govt has been moved to Kaduna South to replace Aliyu Ishaq Yakubu who is now the
Pilgrim Officer of Kubau L/ Govt Area. Others include, Dauda Abdullahi of Makarfi Local Government Area who has now been transferred to Kauru, while Rilwanu Umar of Giwa has been transferred to Chikun Local Government Area to replace Yusuf Liman who is now the Pilgrim Officer of Lere Local Government Area.However, those of Birnin Gwari, Jema'a, Jaba, Kachia,
Zango-Kataf, Kaura, and Sanga Local Government Areas were not affected in the transfer. Malam Tahir said the transfer is with immediate effect and they are to ensure proper handing over as he urged them to discharge their duties with utmost responsibility and avoid acts that would jeopardize the efforts of the Board in ensuring hitch-free Hajj exercise in the State.
The accused persons are Mohammed Hassan 22, Shagari Maikano 23, and
Youth Empowerment, solution to insecurity – Tonye Cole By Ayodele Samuel,Lagos
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L-R: Managing Director, Agriculture Development Bank, Mohammed Santari, Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, during the signing of MOU between the Bank and the Ministry of Agriculture, yesterday in Abuja. Photo; Justin Imo-Owo
ounder of the Nehemiah Youth Empowerment Initiative (NYEI) Project, Mr Tonye Cole has stressed that empowering Nigerian youths would help put an end to insecurity challenges facing the nation. Cole speaking at the kick-off NYEI nationwide empowerment and awareness sensitization on youth empowerment and national security noted that an empowered youth will reduce the security challenges of Nigeria saying that the youths must be moulded to role models.
IHR partners ICPC on 2013 hajj By Agaju Madugba
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ndependent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organization, is collaborating with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to ensure a smooth hajj operation this year. This was disclosed when the Independent Hajj Reporters' delegation led by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad paid a courtesy visit to the office of ICPC Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta in Abuja. No fewer than 95,000 Nigerians will perform this year's holy pilgrimage to the holy land in Mecca, with an estimated 500,000 performing both hajj and Umrah (lesser hajj) annually. Muhammad said there are anomalies in Hajj operations which the organization is poised to correct through independent reports by the media. "We have noticed that there is no independent body to defend the right of pilgrims. There is therefore the need to create a synergy with the ICPC to restore sanity in the system," he said. ICPC's Head of Public Enlightenment Department,
Mr. Mike Sowe, who received the delegation on behalf of the chairman, said ICPC is planning to install free toll lines for intending pilgrims and other Nigerians to report corrupt cases. He expressed the
Hajj: Kaduna Pilgrims' Board reshuffles officers From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
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aduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has re-organized its pilgrims officers responsible for registration of intending pilgrims at the Local Government Areas of the State. Executive Secretary of the Board, Malam Tahir Umar Tahir made it known at a meeting with all the Pilgrim officers at Board's Headquarters in Kaduna. A statement signed by the Board's Public Relations Officer, Yunusa Muhammad Abdullahi in Kaduna, explained that the reorganization of the pilgrims officers is part of the efforts the new Executive Secretary is making to ensure hitch-free Hajj operations this year. The affected pilgrim officers include, Kabir Kasim who has been moved from
NMFUK condemns London soldier killing
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he Nigeria Muslim Forum based in the United Kingdom has condemned in the strongest terms, yesterday's killing of a soldier by two men in London. In a statement by its Ameer, Malam Muhammad Sani Makarfi, it said irrespective of who was behind the brutal murder, it is totally condemnable and does not reflect the teachings of the
Prophet (SAW). Malam Makarfi added that in the entire lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as has been clearly documented in all accounts, there was no time he preached or condoned violence. "This is, therefore, alien to Islam. Allah has clearly stated in the Holy Qur'an that taking the life of an innocent person is like slaying the entire mankind. This action does not
have any basis in Islam." The Ameer also called on Muslims to be very vigilant and ensure that their children are taught the true teachings of the Prophet (SAW) as contained in the Holy Qur'an and Hadith. "This will enable them practice the religion as it should be and will be portrayed in their actions at all times", he said.
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
News
Amaechi floors Jonathan, re-emerges NGF Chairman Splinter group reject Amaechi, supports Jang By Lawrence Olaoye
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i v e r s state governor, Rotimi Amaechi confirmed his political superiority over President Goodluck Jonathan and his foot soldiers in the Nigeria Governors' Forum yesterday when he reemerged the Chairman of the body. This is coming as some governors,suspected to be loyal to the President, have kicked against the result, insisting that the election was irregularly conducted and therefore rejected Amaechi as the new Chairman. The group, led by the Chairman of the People's Democratic Party Governors' Forum (PDPGF) and Akwa Ibom state governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, insisted that their candidate, Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang actually won the election. The outcome of the election was contrary to widespread speculations indicating that the Rivers state governor had lost the confidence of his colleagues in the NGF. Amaechi surprised bookmakers when he floored Jang with 19 to 16 votes. Announcing the results, the Director General of the NGF, Asishana Okauru, who doubled as the Returning Officer of the election, said the Governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari emerged the Vice Chairman unopposed when the Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, decided to step down for him. He said "The governor of Yobe state was not present, we counted all the votes and the chairman Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state emerged winner with a total vote of 19 against the governor of Plateau, Jonah Jang,
who secured the total votes of 16. "Now for Vice chairman, it is important to announce to youmthatbthere were four candidates, two of the candidates withdrew from the race but they participated in the voting process. Governor (Isa)Yuguda of Bauchi state and Governor (Ibrahim)Shema of Katsina state also participated in the election and at the end of it it is clear that our chairman emerged as the chairman of the gGovernors Forum for the next two years. The Vice Chairman position was equally up and there were two candidates: Governor Mimiko, governor of Ondo state
and governor Abdullazi Yari of Zamfara state. Just before we commenced the voting process, the governor of Ondo state withdrew from the race and yielded the position to the Governor of Zamfara who, as from today, is the Vice Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum." While rejecting the outcome of the election in a briefing, Jang said there was no way Amaechi could have won the election because 19 governors have earlier endorsed his candidature after Ibrahim Shema, Katsina and Isa Yuguda, Bauchi had earlier stepped down for him. According to Jang, he remains the authentic, chairman
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oint Task Force operating in Sambisa forest in Gwoza local government area of Borno state has rescued nine out of the 12 hostages taken from police barracks when the insurgents attacked Bama on May 7, 2013. The Director of Defence Information, (DDI) Brig. Gen. Chris Olukoade stated this yesterday in Abuja while addressing journalist on the findings of the Defence Headquarters Operational Assessment Team, led by Maj. Gen Lawrence Ngubane who visited the troops in the field to
of the NGF. Equally commenting on the result, Akpabio said the election s not properly conducted because Amaechi refused to step down from his position as the Chairman before the poll was conducted. He said his group has rejected Amaechi as their Chairman and
would only recognize Jang whom, he stressed, had the support of 19 of them. Governors with the Jang group include hose of Enugu, Delta, Plateau, Cross Rivers and Akwa-Ibom. Others are those of Ebonyi, Ondo, Bayelsa, Kogi, Bauchi and Anamgra states.
Hajiya Rabi Ado Bayero dies at 55 From Mustapha Adamu, Kano Hajiya Rabi Ado Bayero, wife of Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, died on Thursday, at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). She battled with a kidney ailment for about two years. She was taken to hospitals abroad and finally returned back to AKTH where she died. She was 55 years old and left behind six children, and about 20 grand children. Among her children is Alhaji Bashir Bayero, district head of Takai Local Government, Kano State. Our reporter visited the Emir's palace where he met the deceased family, including her children and grand children. Umar Ado Bayero, staff of NDIC (Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation), and the second son of the deceased described her death as quite painful and unforgettable. "I will never forget my
mother's death because of the fact that I am the most intimate to her among her children. So the pain must live in my mind forever." " Traditionally, we don't grow up with our mothers, we grow with our step mothers, but despite this tradition, I had become more intimate with my mother since my childhood." He recalled. "I can't even describe my pain for my mother's death. I can only pray for her soul to rest in peace and may Allah grant her Jannatul Firdausi, ameen." Tijjani Ado Bayero, another son of the deceased, described his mother's death as unforgettable and described the deceased as quite a good woman. "I lament my mother's death. It is something to say "inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajiuun", (we are from God and to Him we are returning.). It is quite painful to lose a parent, even though death is inevitable." " My mother is a good woman.
JTF frees nine Boko Haram hostages By Joy Baba
Gov. Rotimi Amaechi
ascertain the progress and effectiveness of the deployment in the operation. DDI added that the essence of the trip was to check compliance with the instruction given to the team by Defence Headquarters and to check progress of operation, where necessary make correction. Olukoade said the freed hostages consist of three women and six children adding that the rebels took to their heels upon sighting the troops, making it easy for the women and children to escape. According to him, "Abubakar Shekau had displayed the pictures of these women and children on his twitter page some time back bragging that they will hold onto
them for as long as the insurgency continues". The DDI further said the troops liberated the entire family except of three, a woman and her two children but noted that the troops are still combing the 16 KM forest and hopes that they will find them soon. Operation this time, he said, was targeted on their camps adding that every camp around Central and Northern Borno and several other places has been neutralised. He also said that there was no house-to-house operation this time noting that Sambisa forest has a lot of camps in it and the troops are putting more efforts to ensure that the 16KM forest is totally overhauled.
She is very patient; this is the loveliest in her behaviors. She used to treat everybody kindly irrespective of difference. She was the leader of all the women in the emir's palace, so she treated everybody equally. " Among her co-wives, she lived a healthy relationship with them. They never had a quarrel. I just pray for her soul to rest in eternal peace," he noted. One of her step daughters, Aisha Ado Ummatiti, described the deceased as her mother because she grew under her care. She also described the deceased as a person that didn't want to quarrel with anybody. "I am like a daughter to the deceased because she took my care of me until I grew up. She was so cool that she didn't want quarrel with anybody." Ummatiti also recalled her last moment with the deceased, saying they met and greeted each other when the emir returned
from a trip. "When the emir returned from his medical trip from England, we met and greeted each other. She asked me about my children and my husband and I said they are all fine. I will miss her so much. I pray to Almighty Allah to grant her Jannatul Firdausi, ameen." To Asma'u Usaini, one of the deceased's granddaughters, her death will remain ever green in her mind. She also joined the circle of those who described the deceased as a good and patient mother. "I really lost a lovely grandmother. She was a good and patient woman. I will never forget the pain of her death. But I have to accept death as inevitable." "My last moment with her was when we took her to hospital and she died in my presence, that is why I cannot forget that moment," she said.
Nigerian Navy marks 57th anniversary By Joy Baba
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he Nigerian Navy is scheduled to hold its 57th anniversary week from 24th May to 1st June 2013. The week long activities are expected to hold in all Naval commands in Nigeria. Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Dele Eze, represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor stated this while addressing journalist at the Navy Headquarters, Abuja. Ezeoba said the week will begin with inter-denominational
services, which will hold simultaneously in all the commands on 26th May at 10am while a special Juma'at prayer will hold in all the commands on 31st May. According to the CNS, "Other activities lined up for the week include; opening of ships to visitors on 29th May, medical rhapsody on same day, to host communities and a sea trip the following day". The Naval Chief further said a ceremonial sunset cocktail will commence by 5pmon June 1st, in all commands.
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
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News National Security: Okiro, PSC charged on effective policing From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos
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Kano state Governor, Engr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso listening to the Deputy Chief of Mission of United States embassy in Nigeria Mr. James Mac Anulty when he paid courtesy call on the governor in his office.
Alleged killers of NNPC engineers to remain in prison custody T
h e ten accused persons standing trial for the murder of three engineers of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and vandalising pipelines were yesterday ordered to remain at the Ikoyi Prisons by a Federal High Court. The accused, Joel Inerepamu (25), Rueben Oluwole (60), John Isaiah (28), Ineye Okposa (40), Timi Gunugunu (22), and Olisa Saheed (25). Others are Jigo Jiperende (31), Timi Koro (29), Johnbosco Igbhofose (26), and Peter Opidi (28).
At the last adjourned date, the accused were re-arraigned on an amended seven-count charge, following the addition of four more accused. They had each pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial judge ordered that they be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case for trial.Counsel to the first six accused, Mr George Iheanacho, told the court yesterday that the last four accused were yet to secure legal representation. Justice Mohammed Idris then advised the defence counsel to assist the accused persons get legal
representation from the Legal Aid Council. He however, issued an order for their continued remand in custody, pending their ability to secure legal representation and adjourned the case to June 18 and 19 for trial. The prosecutor Mr Justin Enang told the court that the accused on September 5, 2012 at about 6.pm in Arepo, Ogun State conspired to vandalise an oil pipeline located in the vicinity, and illegally scooped out large quantities of petrol for sale. Mr. Enang further alleged that on sighting engineers from the
NNPC, assigned for routine maintenance of pipelines in the area, the accused who were armed with guns, opened fire. He alleged that the accused shot and killed three of the engineers. According to the prosecutor, the offences contravenes the provisions of sections 3(6), 7(a), 7(b), and 17(a) of the Miscellanous Offence Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The offence of murder also contravenes the provisions of Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
NMA urges Kaduna govt. to punish truant, negligent doctors
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he Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Friday urged the Kaduna State Government to punish any of its medical doctors found wanting due to truancy. Chairman of the association in the state, Dr Aliyu Bappa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the association would support any genuine effort to improve health care delivery in the state. Bappa, who was reacting to the state House of Assembly’s planned investigation into allegations of truancy by
medical doctors working for the state government, however, warned that the exercise should not be used to victimise anybody. He said allegations against any doctor must be substantiated before action was taken. Bappa said he was not aware of the issues raised by the assembly to warrant an investigation and urged it to involve the association in the entire process. “We don’t know which investigation was carried out to reveal these findings. But as far
By Jamila Nuhu Musa
as our colleagues are concerned, I think they are trying to give the best or the optimum they could give in terms of their work. “`First of all, it will be very difficult to say that in a population of over 1,000 doctors, there isn’t one or two truants. But what we are trying to say is that if government has any problem, any allegation, let it substantiate it, and let it invite us and hear our own side of the story.`` Bappa, however, assured that the association would support efforts at ensuring sanity in the
healthcare delivery system in the state. “ Government will be fair to us if it gives us a chance at least to voice out our own side of the story. I cannot say that doctors are not involved in truancy; but I am calling on the government that anywhere it finds an erring doctor; it should punish that doctor to serve as deterrence to others. “We are doing it at the level of the Nigerian Medical Association and our regulatory body, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. ( NAN)
ormer Inspector General of Police; Mr Mike Okiro and the newly appointed members of the Police Service Commission have been charged to ensure that the Nigerian police is urgently reformed and decentralized for improved security in the country as they take over the hierarchy of police command. This point was made in Lagos by Veteran Olawale Okunniyi, Coordinating Secretary of Project Nigeria; an emergent political movement of eminent leaders of thought in the country, while commenting on the emergency rule declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in three Northern states Okunniyi, who is also PRONACO spokesman said there would have been no need for such precipitate action if policing had been effective in the country. He said what is required in the country is the National Political Summit already slated for next week in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state coupled with dynamic policing. It would be recalled that President Jonathan appointed Mr Mike Okiro recently, a former IGP to head the police service commission with a mandate to inject innovations into policing in the country raising hope in many quarters that the security situation in the country may soon improve. Okunniyi however seized the opportunity to clear the air on the fears expressed by those opposed to the appointment, stating that though Okiro is professionally and constitutionally qualified to head the commission, their concern is that the former police chief may compromise performance since he has been associated in the past with the leadership of the PDP. The Ogun state born political activist said “going by Okiro’s profile and exposure, he was a top police cop and legal mind, who is professionally and constitutionally qualified to head the police service commission. However, for Okiro or any other appointee to succeed in turning around the decaying Nigerian police, the commission must be effectively monitored and engaged by the civil society as enduring panacea to the worsening security situation in the country.”
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
(Send your crime stories to pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com) 08138559513 (SMS only)
Crime Cycle
Lagos Oba detained among robbers From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos
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first class traditional ruler in Lagos Oba Adeoriyomi Oyebo the Obateru of Egben Kingdom is currently telling the Police all he knows about the death of a mobile policeman whose name was simply given as Ikpi Ikpi at Mowo-nla village in the Ijede Local Development Area of Ikorodu. Subsequently the Police authorities in Lagos had invited the Monarch who our competent sources said arrived the Lagos Police Command on Wednesday few hours he paid a courtesy visit to the Daily Newswatch in the company of his wife to see the Commissioner of Police Umar Manko. He was taken aghast when he was ordered to be detained ,a development that has sent palpable tension across the sleepy community. The sleepy community notoriously popular for hoodlums and land grabbers activities, have lately been in the news for various degrees of heinous crime that have sent innocent residents to their early graves The latest incident was said to have started when the late Police Inspector apparently responding to a distress call in the early hours of Wednesday morning ,was said to have led his men,but that unknown to him ,the hoodlums and miscreants had laid an ambush and
immediately opened fire on them killing the Police inspector instantly while another police officer died hours later from machete cut at an undisclosed hospital in Ikorodu. Our Correspondent gathered that the hoodlums who belong to Imowo Nla youths but who for some time now have been denied the right to the sale of land were certainly on a mission of vendetta and must have opened fire on the Police whom they perceived will prevent them from carrying out attack targeted at some personalities they perceived as their enemies. There was however a twist in the whole saga as one Otunba Kamorudeen Lamina a Lagos based property consultant through a petition filed on his behalf by his Solicitors Falana& Falana Chambers is alleging malicious damage,unlawful invasion and theft of personal effect. He averred that on May 21 2013 at about 11:30 t0 12:45,one Ayeni a Deputy Superintendent of Police attached to Mopol 22 Ikeja led about 60 mobile Policemen to unlawfully invade his office at No.262 Sagamu Road, Odoigiyan,Ikorodu in Lagos He further averred that in the process,his office was burgled and his properties were carted away including the sum of one million seven hundred and fifty thousand Naira.
Not done yet he said, the same police officer in company of his men, invaded his residence at No.I Obagunle close,Odogunyan and in the process manhandled,handcuffed and dumped his security guard in the trunk of their car, before forcefully gaining entrance into the main building and carting away jewelry worth N1,600,000,00 and the sum of N2,650,000.00. He said that he became worried when he reported the invasion at the Shagamu Road Police Station, and was reliably informed that the raid was never recorded at the station and so was classed as an illegal and unauthorized invasion. He thereafter directed his complaint to the Area Commander at "Area N" Ijede who told him that one Oba Oyebo who was alleged to be harboring some hoodlums in his palace where they were said to be perfecting a grand plan to attack Mowonla village and that between the night of 20th /21st of May,2013,the hoodlums led by one Akorede Ogunsanmi aka Eiye,Ishola Alegunleye,Lawal aka Jeba Oji Ogijo invaded Mowonla village on the instructions and the authorization of Oba Oyebo The Police however arrested three of the hoodlums who were said to have confessed that the said Oba indeed authorized them to invade the community . He then wondered why both his
J
Oba Adeoriyomi Oyebo office and home should be invaded since there was no nexus between him and the crime committed at Mowonla Police competent sources however told our Correspondent that the said DSP Ayeni and some of his men have been ordered to be detained and interrogated by the Police High Command while about ten of the suspected hoodlums were also picked up at different locations in Lagos. As at the time of filing this report the royal father who sported a white Guinea brocade look forlorn amongst other armed robbery suspects detained in his cell.
Cynthia Osokogu: Witness reveal autopsy pictures to court From Matthew Irinoye, Lagos
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Professor of Forensic Medicine also Consultant pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. John Obafunwa, yesterday revealed pictures of the autopsy activities on the late Cynthia from the beginning to the end of the procedure before Justice Olabisi Akinlade of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. The pathologist, who testified as a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the suspected killers of Cynthia Osokogu stated that the killers tapped her mouth from the mouth back to the neck area He noted that the late Cynthia Osokogu's mouth was stuffed with a black and yellow hair net, a white handkerchief and the attachment of the weaveon she
fixed before her mouth was tapped. It would be recalled that 24 years old Cynthia was allegedly drugged and murdered in a hotel room last July in Lagos by Okwumo Nwabufor and Olisaeloka Ezike, who are charged on charges bordering on conspiracy to commit murder, murder and felony. Also, Osita Orji, a Pharmacist who sold the Rophynol drug to the alleged murderers, is accused of reckless and negligent act while Nonso Ezike, who pawned the deceased’s Blackberry phone, is charged with possession of stolen property. Further in his testimony, the professor stated that late Cynthia's lungs were heavily swallowed with blood weighing 400 and 500 grams rather than the normal 250-300gram,
adding that there were also tiny beads on the surface, attributing it to blood accumulation called Pulmonary Oedema. Obafunwa explained further that there were also tiny beads in the lining of her voice box while the kidney when sliced had dark spots in some areas indicating a shut down of blood circulation due to shock According to him, the seven bruises on Cynthia's thighs were suspected to be bite marks while when the corpse was skinned, deep bruises, which couldn't be seen on the skin were found on various parts of her leg The autopsy pictures revealed that Cyhthia's hands were tied with tape and a chain covered with blue plastic wrap and there were bruises at the back of her right hand and her mouth was disfigured The pathologist stated that
Cynthia's corpse which was labelled unknown when brought in, adding that the only clothing she had on was an under shirt with pink stripes While being cross examined by the defence counsels, Prof Obafunwa maintained that based on their examination and microscopic study, there was no evidence that the late Cynthia was suffering from any disease like Asthma or Tuberculosis The professor of forensic medicine had earlier testified that Cynthia died from asphyxia, that is, an absence of oxygen supply to the body, adding that the blockage of the deceased’s upper respiratory airways was the immediate cause of her death. The matter was adjourned till May 31, 2013 for continuation of trial.
Judge docks lawyer, 2 others for noise making
T
h e Chief Judge of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has docked a lawyer, litigant and court registrar, over alleged contempt of court. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three persons (names withheld) were discussing loudly in front of Auta's courtroom while proceedings were going on. The judge, who was being addressed by a lawyer, stopped
the proceedings abruptly and summoned the alleged offenders into his court. When the trio came into the courtroom, the Judge ordered them to stand at a corner, as he continued with the proceedings. At the end of the proceedings, he asked the alleged offenders to step into the dock, and rebuked them for making noise in front of a courtroom. "It is very unfortunate that
a lawyer and a registrar will engage a litigant in a discussion right in front of my court; this nonchalant behaviour should not come from people like you; especially you, a court registrar, who knows the rules of court. "The court is a place where silence must be maintained at all times; but I wonder what you expect law school students on attachment in my court to emulate from
Judge sentences 'disable-man' to 6 months imprisonment for drug trafficking
you", Auta said. However, he later discharged them and warned them not to do such a thing again. The judge also advised the law school students to desist from such an act which he described as contemptuous; urging them to be studious to be able excel in their examinations. NAN reports that the lawyer, clerk and litigant apologized to the court and stepped out of the dock soberly. (NAN)
ustice Musa Kurya of a Federal High Court, Lagos has sentenced one Wale Arowolo, 34, a physically challenged man to six months imprisonment for drug trafficking. The judge sentenced the accused after he changed his earlier ``not guilty'' plea to ```guilty''. Arowolo was charged with dealing in a restricted narcotic, Cannabis Sativa. "The accused is hereby convicted as charged and is accordingly sentenced to six months imprisonment, which will start running from July 3, 2012 when he was arrested," Kurya said in his judgment. The judge also advised the accused to sin no more as the sentence of the court was to serve as a deterrent to him. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Arowolo had been granted bail when he initially pleaded ``not guilty'' on May 15, but was unable to meet the conditions. Due to his inability to produce a surety, the court had ordered that he be remanded at the Ikoyi prisons and adjourned the case for trial. As the court resumed for trial on Wednesday, Arowolo's Counsel, Mr Cletus Obaye, had informed the court that the accused wished to change his plea. He said that the accused, who had been in custody since his arrest on July 3, 2012, had decided to face the law by pleading guilty, since he could not provide a surety. In view of the guilty plea, the counsel urged the court to be lenient in sentencing the accused, who is physically challenged. NAN recalls that the Prosecutor, Mr Jerry Igunbor, had told the court that the accused was arrested under a bridge in Onikan and about 500 grammes of cannabis sativa were recovered him. Igunbor said that the accused fled when he sighted officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, leaving one of his crutches behind but the officials caught up with him. The prosecutor said that the accused sold the drugs in the area. He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, 2004. (NAN)
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
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People
How Yar'Adua saved my life —Alamieyeseigha ... Relationship with Atiku was the beginning of my problem Former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Dipriye Alamieyeseigha, at a session with journalists in Lagos, bared his mind on the recent controversy that trailed the Presidential pardon granted him and his position on Jonathan's re-election in 2015, AYODELE SAMUEL was there.
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ir how do you feel about the State Pardon granted to you by President Jonathan and the barrage of criticism that followed it? People have the right to say their personal opinion. The federal government has taken a decision and I don't think those people who are criticizing my State Pardon have the information the federal government has. They don't know the contributions I have made towards sustenance of peace in this country. Maybe it could have been better let there be no oil; let there be no money to share at the federal government and at the federal level, then the impact could have been visible. Because things are so rosy and at the end of the month they go to Abuja and share the money, so they don't feel the impact and they know that people went into the creeks; slept in every camp to make sure that amnesty was achieved. Even the former President Olusegun Obasanjo will agree, how many commendation letters he himself wrote to me congratulating and thanking me for what I did. I risked my life, went as far as to the high seas severally to rescue expatriates at the risk of my life. People have forgotten all these things. And it was a negotiated thing. Number one is that I was going to be given pardon by the Federal Government; Yar'Adua's government. Jonathan was only a part of the negotiating team. The press recorded and reported it that when I was at the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Vice President Goodluck Jonathan visited me then in EFCC. It was part of the process. It is what Yar'Adua would have done. What is even this corruption that they are talking about? The whole thing was political and one day I will expose everybody. I have started writing; people are ignorant of what really happened. But if I open my mouth, some of them will keep quiet. It started during the time of Yar'Adua. It was a pardon that was negotiated. People don't know what happened, so they can talk. There is no person in this country that understands the issues surrounding Alamieyeseigha better than Mr. President. He was my deputy governor and he knew everything that happened then. I am already writing my memoir. At the appropriate time, you will know everything. You mean President Yar'Adua actually brokered the state pardon deal for you? Yes. Otherwise they would have even killed me. Without Yar'Adua, I would have died by now because so many attempts were made on my life. Who were those that wanted to kill you sir?
Well, he is somebody all of you know. Somebody who uses the phrase, Oga at the top. You know them and I will reveal them at the appropriate time. Please Sir can you describe the person? You know him and he will be exposed one day. So, you believe your pardon was in order? Yes. Like I said, this pardon was negotiated and if I fulfill my own part of the bargain, then why shouldn't federal government fulfill its part? Are you accusing the British government of conniving with your own country government on your case? British government that brought me to this country, didn't you hear that our own Attorney-General went to the British Court to say that Alamieyeseigha should not be allowed to come home? Have you ever heard that a sovereign nation will go to another sovereign nation to say that its own national should not come home? When people commit offense they run away from their countries, this one wanted to come back, they said he should not come back to his own country. Nuhu Ribadu was at the airport to identify me. Did you actually sneak into the country dressed like a woman? Why didn't they arrest me if I dressed like a woman? It is nonsensical. It was a computer graphic by a newspaper and there was an annotation under that photograph. People did not look at that. How can a Governor-General dress like a woman to escape? What actually led to your travail, did anything go wrong between you and Obasanjo? The summary of it is that Atiku Abubakar according to Obasanjo, nominated me as his running mate. End of story. And he said it was over his dead body; he would fight me and Atiku to the end of the world; that unless he dies, Atiku cannot be President of Nigeria. That was the beginning and the end of the story. But again I am going to tell my story. Did you take him seriously after that threat? Maybe the only mistake I made was that I left this country to Germany for medical surgery. Again I made a mistake for calling him when I recovered from the surgery that I just came out from the theatre. I started having funny calls and they started plotting against me. His impeachment from office? Were you not told how I was impeached? I did not appear before any panel. My House of Assembly people were forcefully carried
to Awolowo Road in Lagos, and under gun point signed my impeachment; taken to Abuja and with full police back-up and tanks taken to Yenogoa to pronounce my impeachment. Everybody knew what happened. Did Jonathan support your impeachment? If he had not succumbed, he would have gone with me. They would have taken me and him out. So where you angry with Jonathan at any point? No way. He is my younger brother. Did Jonathan give you support secretly during your time of travail? He will always be my younger brother though he supported what they did, he only succumbed, he is only one person and of course he would have also been removed. Have you spoken to Obasanjo since then? There is no need. The damage has been done but I have told him face to face that I have forgiven him and I have forgiven everybody. Is i t true that you want to run for Senate in 2015? It is not true. I am not talking about politics. I enjoy my freedom. Is there any lesson you have learnt, given your experience, and considering what is happening presently between President Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State? I have told Amaechi himself that he should use me as an example, that nobody tries government. He should learn that after God, it is government. Amaechi is in a regional government. There is federal government and there is President and the Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces. But most of these things the President himself does not know. It is people around that are creating this entire problem. If you call the two of them and you ask them what is happening, I am sure they would not be able to tell you what has happened between them. What is your opinion on agitations between North and South for 2015 presidency? This is a free country. The freedom of speech is key in a democracy. They have their own opinion but I will tell you without any doubt, that President Goodluck Jonathan will remain President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2015. So Aso Rock is not negotiable and not vacant in 2015? No. But there are so many oppositions
Chief Dipriye Alamieyeseigha from the North? They will all at the appropriate time join the moving train. What are you views on declaration of State of Emergency by Jonathan? I am fully in support of the decision by the President for what he did. He exhibited courage and that is what he should do. He is the Commander-in-Chief and he is backed by the constitution. The life of Nigerians which he has sworn to protect can no longer be taken over anyhow.
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What is even this corruption that they are talking about? The whole thing was political and one day I will expose everybody. I have started writing; people are ignorant of what really happened. But if I open my mouth, some of them will keep quiet.
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
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Emergency rule, refugee crisis and international ring In this analysis, Abuabakar Ibrahim looks at the State of Emergency imposed by President Goodluck Jonathan in the strong push to end the Boko Haram insurgency, its humanitarian effect and the role of the West.
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e f u g e e s in recent times are often associated with conflicts in the Horn of Africa-Somalia, Sudan; central AfricaCongo, Rwanda and the Central African Republic. In West Africa, we had the Cote d’Ivoirean election crisis while arid North Africa
and other Arab nations had their own measure of population movement from the Libyan, Algerian, Tunisian, Yemeni and the on-going Syrian conflict. From relative quietude, Nigerians saw these phenomena with cautious hope that things do
not blow out of proportion as well from the ingrained corruption, poverty, disease and ignorance also pervasive here. For instance, the same condition that ignited the Bouazizi revolution in Tunisia stared us in the face. Unemployment and school dropout rate
quadrupled due to economic strangulation amidst plenty. The end result is the scattered incidences of armed robbery, prostitution, fraud, kidnappings,pipeline vandalisation, oil
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Emergency rule, refugee crisis and international ring Contd from Pg 9 bunkering and the like. With time, the neglected youth found expression in violence. In the Niger Delta region of the south-south, ecological devastation caused by prebendal oil companies who deliberately ignored their corporate social responsibilities, sparked agitation for resource control and expulsion of companies defined as exploitative and nonchalant. But in the usual government reaction to what it describes as threat to national security or affront against the state, towns, villages and operational camps of militants were attacked leaving streams of displaced population regularly referred internationally as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). This coinage is symbiotic with the degree of displacement by internal conflict or natural disasters. However, with the surge in violent opposition to the instrument of the Nigerian state by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North after the extrajudicial execution of their
leader, Muhammad Yusuf by the police as well as the joint extermination of the mosques,adherents and homes of sect members, the Federal Government is confronted with an overwhelming security threat to the sovereignty, unity and stability to which it felt duty bound to quell with the huge force at its disposal. Last month, the Multinational Joint Task Force cobbled by Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroun descended on Baga, a fishing town in the Lake Chad Basin, killing over 200 residents over the death of a soldier in the hands of the radical sect members. The Baga pogrom for the first in years, caused massive exodus of Nigerian citizens across the border into neighbouring countries. The only comparable case was the massive exodus of eastern Nigerian citizens during the three year Biafran civil war between 1967 and 1970. The scale of the war coupled with famine and security concerns led to the land, sea and air migration of several thousands of the Ibo population to Cameroun, Sao Tome and
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We run from our homes because we knew what happened in Baga and we do not want it to happen to us. There are about 2,000 to 3,000 of us now in Bosso, including our wives and children," Abubakar said.
President Goodluck Jonathan Principe, Gabon and Cote d’Ivoire. Again, we are now faced with another refugee crisis, coming from the State of Emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan last week. The sweeping military action and curfews related to it, has again sparked another exodus. Thousands of people including women and children have fled the border towns of Borno and Yobe states into Niger Republic to avoid being caught up in the military operation aimed at rooting out insurgents from the areas. The refugees said they fled after seeing armed men in many trucks around their villages and feared a repeat of the Baga-style
mass killings of last month. Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states have been under a state of emergency since Monday last week, following wave of attacks by members of the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunnah Lidda'awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram. A military operation has been going in since last week, with fighter jets pounding on camps set up by insurgents near the border with Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Reports have it that between 2,000 and 3,000 people have fled the border towns into Bosso in Niger Republic. A refugee who gave his name as Abubakar said he fled from Malamafateri in Abadan, Borno State, to Bosso in the Nigerien state of Diffa. "We fled from Malamafateri in Abadan local government. We have been well received here by the people of Bosso. They are giving us food and they are assisting us. We run from our homes because we knew what happened in Baga and we do not want it to happen to us. There are about 2,000 to 3,000 of us now in Bosso, including our wives and children," Abubakar said. A woman who also fled said her two children got missing along the way. She said in the past days they noticed heavy deployment of troops around their villages, and therefore decided to flee to avoid being caught up in the fighting. "We fled to Niger because we saw armed men trooping into our areas. People are now running helter-skelter. As I am talking now, I have two children and I do not know where they are now, I just ran for my life," she said, without giving her name. Governor of Diffa State in Niger, Mamadou Fode Camara, said he had sent a government delegation and relief workers to Bosso to assess the needs of the refugees but added that most of the people who fled from Abadan are Nigeriens living there. Cell phone service had been erratic in Borno and Yobe since Thursday last week with the inability to reach telephone lines yesterday in either of the two states. In Maiduguri, where many areas were placed under a 24-hour curfew on Saturday, security forces intensified
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Emergency rule, refugee crisis and international ring Contd from Pg 10 house-to house search trying to fish out insurgents. A top security officer said that the Joint Military Task Force had trailed members of the Boko Haram sect, who were dislodged from the Sambisa Game Reserve and other camps on Thursday last week in Borno State. Nigerian Immigration Public Relations Officer, Ekpedeme King, in a statement on Sunday said that the dislodged terrorists had been in disarray with a large number of them heading for various borders but are making efforts to evacuate most of the large stock of logistics, including scores of vehicles in their holdings. Internally, residents of Maiduguri and other communities far from the border, who did not want to be caught in the cross-fire have also fled to some neighbouring states, including Kano, Gombe and Bauchi. In Adamawa State, the curfew imposed in parts of the state has been biting harder on residents, especially those living in the capital city, Yola, and the border towns of Mubi and Maiha. However, there is no report of crossborder migration. A resident of Jimeta-Yola, Ms. Rifkatu Iliya, said on telephone that “the curfew is still on and we are learning to live with it, those of us who go to work leave earlier than usual so that we are not caught up. However, she said “I will be lying if I say we are not living in fear, we have heard of the atrocities of Boko Haram in some
parts of the state and we have seen an increase in the number of security forces.” But a security source in Yola, who asked not to be named because she was not authorised to speak to the media on the issue, said the military crackdown, had been concentrated in Borno. “However, we in Adamawa are also on the alert because we are aware that the insurgents who are under intense pressure in Borno may want to seek a safe haven here. We are under instructions not to allow this to happen.” The role of the United States In a testimony in Washington, DC on Tuesday before the House Subcommittees on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights; International Organizations; Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade; Middle East and North Africa, Donald Y. Yamamoto, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs said in his opening statement said that the countries of the Sahel face a complex series of interconnected and ever-evolving challenges. “The crisis in Mali, and security vacuum following the Libyan revolution, exacerbated the Sahel’s longstanding political, economic, and humanitarian vulnerabilities. Instability in Mali and increased arms flows from Libya into the region, collided with a humanitarian crisis brought on by drought and poor harvests in a region already burdened by chronic poverty and food insecurity”. He said addressing the Sahel’s intertwined security and humanitarian problems demands a comprehensive approach by working closely with regional countries and organizations to
Adamawa state Gov. Alh. Murtala Nyako
improve their capacity to secure porous borders and challenge terrorists and transnational criminal networks. “The United States also continues to lead the robust international response to meet the needs of the Sahel’s most vulnerable people. Any short-term progress, however, could be jeopardized by the region’s continued political and economic frailties, including persistently poor governance, weak institutions, and the lack of economic opportunities, particularly for youth. Building strong democratic institutions and promoting inclusive government and economic growth are at the center of our approach as we attempt to solidify security gains and restore stability to the Sahel and its people”. Linked security “By extension, security in the Sahel and North Africa are inextricably linked. Porous borders and limited government presence and capacities mean that insecurity in one part of the region can quickly become a security threat in another. In 2011, one result of the Libyan revolution, among many others, was an increase in the flow of dangerous weapons and well-armed, experienced fighters into the Sahel. The collapse of Libyan security institutions caught the Sahel at an especially vulnerable time. In Mali, a rebellion in the north by heavily armed, primarily Tuareg rebel groups, together with weak governance in Bamako, corruption, and an ineffectual counterterrorism response, culminated in a March 2012 coup d’état. Terrorist and extremist groups, including alQaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), exploited the resulting political vacuum and seized control of the northern two-thirds of Mali. Terrorists enjoyed greater freedom of movement and, temporarily, access to a larger pool of potential recruits and training opportunities. At the same time, transnational criminal networks used wellestablished smuggling routes to increase their trafficking in weapons, drugs and people. Chad has been a steady route for illicit weapons trafficking out of Libya. However, the Chadian Government, with State Department support, has significantly increased its efforts to counter the illicit trafficking of advanced conventional weapons including man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). According to him,the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) has
Borno state Gov. Alh. Kashim Shettima
been the United States primary vehicle to assist these and other countries in the region to improve their capacity to monitor and control border areas and improve their overall counterterrorism capability. TSCTP supports a coordinated and comprehensive U.S. Government approach to building long-term security capacity in Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, Niger, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tunisia. The program is designed to support partner and regional efforts to contain and marginalize terrorist organizations, disrupt efforts to recruit and train extremists, counter efforts to establish safe havens, and disrupt foreign fighter networks. Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Chad are utilizing the training and equipment provided under TSCTP to contain the threat of AQIM and other extremist groups. The United States is in the process of providing up to $96 million to support AFISMA troop and police contributing countries, including Niger and Burkina Faso. Our support includes training, vehicles, communications equipment, and personnel equipment, which will help AFISMA contingents to transition from a regional force into effective UN peacekeepers. Addressing insecurity in Mali is only one piece of the Sahel’s security puzzle. Terrorists pushed out of Mali will show up in other ungoverned spaces. Instability in Libya and the lack of government control over its southern territory will continue to post an ever-present threat to the Sahel. Porous borders and insufficient reach by security services makes the Mali – Niger – Libya corridor an area of concern because it can facilitate the movement of terrorist groups and transnational criminal networks. We will continue to work with regional partners and organizations to build their capacity and improve regional cooperation to combat this shared threat. In closing, we must continue our efforts to approach the Sahel and the Maghreb’s interconnected problems with a comprehensive regional and international effort. Such an effort must address the immediate security threat posed by violent extremists and transnational criminal networks, while at the same time building the institutional capacity needed to address the Sahel’s political economic and humanitarian challenges”, Yamamoto said.
Yobe state Gov. Mal. Ibrahim Geidam
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Special Report
Discordant tunes and the search for the real Alakio killers With the recent visit to Alakio, the scene of the murder of scores of policemen in Nasarawa state, by national assembly members, led by Senator Solomon Ewuga, discordant tunes have emerged from the principal actors seeking to point out those responsible for the unfortunate incident, even as there is intensified effort to unravel the perpetrators of the May 7th mayhem. Ali Abare Abubakar, our Lafia correspondent reports.
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ince the unfortunate incidence that occurred in Alakio, a village 10 kilometres away from Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital, which led to the brutal murder of scores of policemen who were on official duty to the area, discordant tunes have emerged as some of the principal actors involved contradict each other as they seek to point out who was responsible for the killings. This is coming on the heels of concerted effort by the people and government of Nasarawa state geared toward unraveling the real Alakio killers, with Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura leading the search for the murderous lot who have succeeded in soiling the good name of the state. So far, and at every available opportunity, the governor has stressed the necessity of tracking down the killers and making them face the full wrath of the law, if only to serve as deterrent to others desiring to tow similar path of ignominy. When the representatives of the people of the Nasarawa South senatorial district paid him a visit at the Lafia Government House, to commiserate and sympathize with the government and people of the state over the incident, Almakura was vehement in his total condemnation of the killings, which he described as “an act of insurgency, belligerence, an act that is inimical to the survival of the society.” While using the opportunity to assure the people that the Alakio killings, is not something that government would just let go like that, Al-makura stressed that, “everyone that is connected or associated, one way or the other, with this devilish act that has resulted in creating agony in a lot of people and spoiling the good name of Nasarawa state, would be brought to book.” At a similar event, when the elders’ consultative forum of the old Lafia division (LADUF), came calling at the Government House on a solidarity visit, the governor did not hesitate to show his complete distaste for the unfortunate happening but also expressed his total commitment to unmasking the killers of the policemen in Alakio. According to the governor, what has happened is a calamity,
Sen. Solomon Ewuga a disaster and that even though it took place within the Nasarawa South senatorial zone; its negative repercussion would rub on the entire state, the nation and the entire black race, noting that the otherwise peaceful nature of the state has been violated by a “small clique of people who hide within their psyche an obsession for something that is not realizable by their effort but require the effort of all and sundry.” “The issue of Ombatse is one that is known to everyone in Nasarawa state. There is no hiding any fact, Ombatse, even though it is a cult militia group, they operate with careless abandon, without caring whether anybody is perturbed by their activities. They have done it not once, not twice, and inflicted misery in different societies, five towns as at last count. Now Ombatse have become a pain in the neck, even among the Eggon ethnic group because what culminated in the decision to get the Security Council
Baba Alakio to handle the issue appropriately was an issue where a proscribed and outlawed organization has continued to act as if there was no law, order and security.” Equally too, the entire people of the state joined in the total condemnation of the act, with various community leaders expressing disgust over the wanton killing of the
security operatives, urging both the federal and state governments to unravel the Alakio killers with a view to bringing them to justice. For Alhaji Tanko Wambai, CPC senatorial candidate in the 2011 general election and leader of the delegation from the Nasarawa South senatorial zone, the calamity that has befallen the
“
The issue of Ombatse is one that is known to everyone in Nasarawa state. There is no hiding any fact, Ombatse, even though it is a cult militia group, they operate with careless abandon, without caring whether anybody is perturbed by their activities. They have done it not once, not twice, and inflicted misery in different societies, five towns as at last count.
state called for a concerted effort to find the perpetrators of the dastardly act, saying that informed their visit to the Government House, to commiserate with the people and government of Nasarawa state as well as join forces with the governor in his determination to find the killers. While declaring their unflinching support to the government, Wambai informed the governor that the people of the zone as represented by their leaders, who were at the Government House, would solidly stand by him in this moment of grief and lamentation, warning detractors seeking to plunge the state into chaos to be mindful of the dire consequences of their acts. “We are therefore calling on both the federal and state governments, to as a matter of urgency, find these killers and bring them to book.” He warned further that if the killers are not fished out, then the fabric holding the society together would have been destroyed, paving the way for miscreants to conduct themselves with impunity, adding that, “one day we will wake up and there would be no laws, and someone can just walk into your house and kill you.” Wambai pointed out that if the people were however made to feel the impact of the law, then the society would remain safe, urging the government to act on any piece of information that would lead to the arrests of the perpetrators of the Alakio killings. On his part, Hassan Liman (SAN), leader of the delegation from the old Lafia Division Unity Forum (LADUF) lamented the gruesome murder of security operatives on their way to Alakio to carry out their lawful and constitutional duties, adding that” it has been in the public domain, the maiming and killing of the security operatives was said to have been carried out by members of the Ombatse militia group.” While noting with interest that the group was recently proscribed by government, Liman described the incident as unprecedented in the history of the country, “this cold blooded, unprovoked murder of security
Contd on Pg 13
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 13
Special Report
Our husbands didn’t know their mission before dying —Widows of slain policemen in Nasarawa
have not seen his body. I need government assistance for the education of my children. The day the Inspector General came, he promised us some money and said the money should be shared to all the wives of the policemen, whether you have seen your husband's body or not. But when I came here, they said the money would be given to those who saw their husband's body but that was not what the IG said. They have refused to give the money to some of us, what we collected so far was the cheque from the state government. Miss Blessing Amanabo, Sergeant Amanabo's daughter
I am 18 years old and a student of The Light Comprehensive College. I am writing my West African Examination Council examination now. I ‘m really upset by the death of my father and am still feeling the pain because we don't know whether he is alive or dead. I have called his number but it wasn't going. On that day, after the morning devotion, we greeted him and he said he was going to work and that was the last time we saw him. I’m trying to face my studies so that I can realise my ambition of being a lawyer. I can't join the police because I don't like it. I have passion for law and that is why I want to be a lawyer. Mrs. Nanchal Gangven, wife of the late Sergeant Yaknan Gangven I don’t know how to explain how I feel, but I feel terrible about it; I have three kids and am pregnant. The first child is four years in nursery school, the second are twins. I want the government to help my family by assisting us with scholarship for the children to the university. I had a dream that night that something terrible may happen.
He was serving in Nasarawa and I am in Plateau State. I had a dream around 2 am midnight and at that moment, I knew something was going to happen, something was wrong. When I woke up, we prayed against it and I called my husband but his phone was not going. My last conversation with him was around 5.30 on Tuesday evening (May 7,2013) when he told me they were going for a special operation, but he didn't know the place. He said they were not told the mission. We have retrieved his body and he was buried last Sunday. I have been getting support from his family and we are here to collect his entitlement. The government gave us some money for the burial and they said they would give us something today. There gave us some forms to fill. Mrs. Philomena Bami, wife to Corporal John Bami I have three children in primary school. I can't tell how I feel but I feel very bad. I feel terrible about the death of my husband. That day as he went to work, he called me that they were going on a special duty, but he didn't know where they were going. Later, I flashed him, but he
didn't call back. My body felt weak and I called one of his colleagues and asked him, "where is my husband, do you know where they went for special duty?”. He said, "Yes madam" and that I should just relax, I should sleep, but I said no, I cannot sleep if I didn't see my husband. I kept trying my husband’s number, but it wasn't going through. Then on Wednesday morning, I called that sergeant and he came to my house. I said, “I want you to tell me the truth; where is my husband?” He said, “unfortunately madam, your husband went for special duty and they have been killed”, then I started crying. Since then till now, I have not seen the dead body of my husband and I don't know if he is alive or not. If the government wants to help us, they should replace the dead officers with their children who are educated or with the wives who are educated. The money they are giving to us is already causing trouble in some families. We have not cashed the cheque and the relations are already fighting over it. We don't know what to do unless the government help us. The government could sponsor the children's education by giving them scholarship to the university.
Mrs Helen Amanabo
Mrs Nang Ganven
Mrs Philomena Bami
Mrs Blessing Amanabo
indicating who was responsible for the killings, together with all the condemnation and resolve to fish out the Alakio killers, events unfolding in the aftermath of the bloodbath seem to point out that the much needed resolution of this sordid episode may after all not be in the nearest future, as discordant tunes emerged from parties at the centre of the allegations relating to the killing of the policemen. The Eggon Cultural and Development Association (ECDA), an umbrella organization for people of Eggon extraction, with the Ombatse as a subset, in a press briefing, after joining in the condemnation of the murder of the policemen, described as “the greatest fallacies to link the Ombatse to the killings”, as according to Chris Mamman, national president of ECDA, “the
Ombatse is a spiritual movement and by its tenets if members of the sect killed anyone, they would be dead by now.” “Ombatse members did not engage with the security operatives in Alakio and as such are not responsible for the crisis,” Chris maintained. But as if that was not enough, another twist was added to the gory tale when the man at the centre of the unfortunate calamity, Baba Alakio, the Ombatse chief priest, proclaimed that it is his god that perished the operatives. While receiving members of the national assembly at his home in Alakio, the Ombatse chief priest told Sen. Solomon Ewuga, leader of the delegation that the killing of the policemen was by divine intervention by the Eggon deity to protect him
from the operatives who came to arrest him, behead him and present his skull to Governor Almakura. The 76 year old man, apparently unaware of the enormity of crime committed against the state, narrated that Al-makura has ordered the policemen to kill him and take away his head and that his god intervened, vanquishing the entire a hundred or so policemen, leaving behind the carcasses of the burnt vehicles used by the security men. No matter which of these claims one may chose to believe, particularly in this age and time, it remain to be seen where mysticism interface with the laws of our society, a big challenge of course, for the security personnel who must unravel the actual Alakio killers.
Over a hundred security agents including police officers were killed while on a mission to the Eggon village of Alakyo in Nasarawa State to contain the menace of the Ombatse cult. Leaving behind anguished families and altercations over compensations released by the state and security authorities. In this interview with our correspondent, Lambert Tyem who was in Lafia, widows of slain policemen expressed their anguish and how government can ease their pains. Excerpts:
M
r s . Helen Amanabo, wife of Sergeant Joseph Amanabo I have five children, two in secondary school and three in primary school. The day my husband went for the operation was the day he resumed for work from his annual leave. When my husband was about going for the operation, he called me and told me they were going for a special operation but he said they were not given the details of the mission or the exact place they were going. That was the last time I spoke to my husband and till date I still call his phone but it’s switched off. I was expecting him to come back the next day, but when I didn't see him, I went to their office to look for him, but a policeman asked me to go home, saying my husband went to Abuja for a programme. In the evening, I was at my business place in the market when I heard that the bodies of dead policemen were being brought from Alakyo where they were killed when they went to arrest Baba Alakyo. That is how I got to know that my husband was among the victims. So, I went to the hospital and checked, but I didn't see my husband's body till today. I went to his office and they asked me to come back later, but till now, I
Discordant tunes and the search for the real Alakio killers Contd from Pg 12 operatives.” He traced the killings to a culture of impunity, adding that it is also within public knowledge how the people of the zone and the state as a whole, were killed in Assakio, Agyaragu, Kadarko
area, Agbashi, BAD, Burum Burum, Gwandere and more. “We assure you, we will do our best to ensure that any person wanting to take our state back does not succeed and that the perpetrators are dealt with according to the rule of law.” Despite the clear link
PAGE 14
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Focus
We are planning agric revolution in Kogi —Gov Wada Recently, the Governor of Kogi State, Capt Idris Wada was in South Africa at the instance of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to deliver paper on Agriculture. In this interview with our correspondent, SAM EGWU, he spoke on the trip and its benefit to the State and Nigeria, Excerpts.
I
t has been speculated that Nigeria is not safe for business. What is your opinion on that? It is not true. Just as the Federal Government is working round the clock to diversify the nations’ economy from over dependence on oil, Kogi state is working hard to diversify the economy through agriculture. In fact, we want industrial breakthrough in the state from agricultural revolution being embarked upon in the state. From there, we can talk about food sufficiency. There will be no going back on agricultural transformation agenda in spite of initial challenges. Recently you were in South Africa to deliver a paper. What informed that mission? My trip to South Africa was at the instance of Federal Ministry of Agriculture because there was an appendix in the forum for Agriculture which was held in Cape Town, South Africa. There was a section in the forum which focus on Nigeria Agricultural transformation agenda and because Kogi State has keyed in to agricultural transformation agenda of the federal government fully, we have focused on accelerated agricultural development and stable crops processing development at Agbadu in the Western part of the state. I was invited to share my experiences in some grey areas with investors, with development partners on the effort that our state is making in translating agricultural transformation into reality, to address the challenges we are facing and also find out the opportunities that are available in Kogi State to offer to investors. I also touched on the political will on the part of our government which is the catalyst to investors’ confidence in agricultural transformation. I had the opportunity to present a paper on this subject which was well received. What is the benefit of the trip to South Africa? We are already enjoying the dividend of the conference, we had an encounter with Cadel, one of the highly reputable manufacturing company based in United States of America, they have agreed to partner with Kogi State in the area of cassava growing and processing at Agbadu in the Western part of the state. The company will grow special variety of cassava and the value chain element of agricultural transformation agenda for which they will establish starch processing factory to produce sweetener and sucrose for various food manufacturing industries. There is a lot of benefit in agriculture programme because it will create jobs for our teaming unemployed youths in the state. This programme will involve small scale farmers fusing into commercial farm. We have allocated 15 hectares of land to Cagil company for this programme and Kogi state
government has cleared three hectares of land for them because land clearing is a major problem in agricultural project. The representative of the company followed us from South Africa to Kogi State so that we have an extensive discussion on the project. The other fallout is another company called Cardinal Stone which has also declared interest to invest in the state in the area of cassava growing because they also have a programme on deriving agricultural value chain arising from cassava programme. This company is already in partnership with Nigeria flour mill to utilize the Agbadu cassava in Kogi state. I will be meeting with them very soon t o
in this Agro transformation? The challenges I identified was allocation of land which in most cases belong to the communities. On this aspect we gave investors confidence a n d their investment. The s e c o n d challenge I mentioned w a s security, we all know t h a t with what i s happening i n t h e country today, t o
Gov. Idris Wada continue our discussion and sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), this will lead to another cassava production for the benefit of the people. These are the outcome of the conference I attended in Cape Town, South Africa. What are the challenges envisaged
“
We are already enjoying the dividend of the conference, we had an encounter with Cadel, one of the highly reputable manufacturing company based in United States of America, they have agreed to partner with Kogi State in the area of cassava growing and processing at Agbadu in the Western part of the state.
bring foreigners into the country, you have to assure them of their maximum security and on this aspect I also gave them full confidence that Kogi State will provide maximum and adequate security to any serious investor who is willing to come to the state for the purpose of investment and this aspect will certainly have no cost effect on the investor. Also, the political will, showing that the government is willing to attend to issues that concern the investors and their investment in the state. Land clearing is one aspect in mechanized farming where prospective investors get discouraged because of the high cost of hiring bulldozers and excavators to clear the land and prepare it for farming. So, where Kogi State has offered to clear three hectares for the investors is a major incentive to motivate and encourage them. It is our hope and desire to invest vigorously in agriculture and be the best in Nigeria. I have to state it categorically, that Kogi State is very safe for investors. A typical example to buttress this assurance was the establishment of Obajana cement in the state which today is the largest cement company in Africa and very soon it will be the largest in the whole world. This clearly shows that the state is not only safe but comfortable for business. Secondly, we have the Ajaokuta steel company which again, is the largest steel complex in Africa, even though it is not
functioning properly as at now. Presently the state government and the federal government are making concerted effort to see the possibility of the steel complex coming back to life because if the steel complex is functioning adequately , it will create jobs and many subsidiary companies will come in to do business there. So, when I was in South Africa I made it clear to them that the issue of insecurity in some parts of Nigeria does not in any way affect Kogi state and as such the state is very safe for any individual and corporate organization to invest. Those who are peddling rumours of insecurity in the state are not sincere to themselves and to the state. This is an era of politics where some people will never see any thing good in the sitting government and this is one of the challenges we have in this country where some citizens, because of their selfish political motives, will destroy what belongs to our nation and our people . Any comment on insecurity in the state is not true and is totally irresponsible because Kogi state is very safe. In view of lean financial strength of the state, how are you mobilizing resources? We are not unaware of the l i m i t e d resources the state is presently facing, but I am also aware of the natural potentials and the endowment G o d Almighty h a s given the state. We are trying to leverage on this by inviting investors both within and outside the country who have the necessary financial strength to come and either work on their own or work in partnership with the state government. What the government is presently doing in agriculture is really like planting a seed which will have long term benefit to the people. Agriculture is a way forward to us as a state and the initial investment we are making is to show the way and that is why our focus in Sarkin –Noma, Koton Karfe and Ibaji is enormous and we have involved over 6, 000 people who ordinarily have nothing to do especially after the flood disaster that ravaged many communities. These people planted rice three months ago and they are harvesting it now and if they see that in three months they can earn a substantial amount of money, they will have interest and the zeal to do more and this will definitely reduce crime in the state. We, on our part as government, will not relent in our effort to assist farmers in the area of seedlings, fertilizer and other incentives to achieve this laudable project. Kogi state government does not intend to run farms, that is not our business, instead the government will encourage the people to farm in order to earn a living.
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE15
Issues
Kaduna Pilgrims Board:
The challenges before the new boss From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
W
hen the news broke early last week that a new Executive Secretary had been appointed for the Kaduna State Pilgrims Muslims Welfare Board by the Kaduna State governor, Alhaji Muktar Ramalan Yero, Muslims were eager to know who the person was, especially as the office remained vacant for almost one year since Ambassador Sule Buba was sacked. Although there were many versions of the story on the disengagement of Ambassador Buba from the board under late Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa government, Malam Yahuza Makarfi, Director Operations of the board was appointed close to 2012 Hajj exercise to oversee the activities of the board pending the appointment of a new Executive Secretary. Yahuza was no doubt, a simple, committed, hard working and brilliant staff of the board because he handled the 2012 Hajj exercise perfectly despite the numerous challenges associated with last year's exercise ,particularly, the Muharam issues. The manner with which Malam Yahuza and his team handled the 2012 hajj operation in the state was excellent, showing that the board has competent hands to conduct hitch free exercise at any time and under any circumstance. However, as Alhaji Tahir Umar Tahir resumed office as new boss of the board, Muslims wait to see what he has to offer to move the board forward and how he can make intending pilgrims in the state happier and more satisfied. Although it has been said that hardly can anybody satisfy a Nigerian pilgrim in the Holy land, we hope he will do his best, being a man said to be fully aware of Hajj activities in the country because he once served as Adviser to two governors of the state on Islamic religion and Hajj matters. This alone shows that he is an expert on hajj matters, in other words, he has the board at his finger tips. But nevertheless, Tahir still needs to be reminded of few major challenges or problems awaiting him as he settles down to work. Such challenges include the inadequate Hajj seats in the state, because so far the number of people demanding for the seats have outnumbered the 7020 seats allocated by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to the state. Some issues on implementation of Hajji activities in the state came to the fore during a fora and calls for attention. For instance the issue of recketeering and corruption in the sale of hajj seats to intending pilgrims across the states, not only in Kaduna, need to be also looked into because such allegation has element of truth. Experts on Hajj affairs said allegation of corruption emanating from sale of hajj seats has been a recurrent decimal such that in some states, pilgrims board executive secretaries have been removed from office due to these alleged corrupt practices surrounding hajj seats. In some states, governors and top level politicians do hijack large numbers of hajj seats from their respective state pilgrims' boards and sell them to cronies and thugs. These are known facts and therefore, Malam Tahir needs to be very careful. Even
though before he assumed office, we are aware that about 50 percent of the Hajj seats had already been issued out to the state intending pilgrims, people are still expecting to see how the remaining 50 percent of the seats would be shared among intending pilgrims that missed the first batch. Another problem has to do with the selection of State Hajj Officials who will help the pilgrims in the Holy land. All those that performed Hajj in the past including last year can testify to the fact that officials are key to the success of all operations. This is because the officials are mandated to coordinate and assist the pilgrims while in the Holy land. So, the task before the new pilgrims board boss is to ensure that only committed and hard working officials will be allowed to serve as officials in the state. If need be, the board should look at past records of all those who served as officials either in the Medical, Media, Social Guide, Security or preachers teams to select those who really devoted themselves and their time to pilgrims in the Holy land and not those who removed their uniforms to hide their identity from pilgrims. In the past, there have been reports or complains on how pilgrims were abandoned by the state officials in the Holy land and such attitude really painted hajj officials in bad light. However, the truth still remains that last year's pilgrims from Kaduna State have commended the state hajj officials for a job well done. In fact, most of the team performed excellently and that led to the success recorded in the state. Tahir needs to crosscheck that so as to ensure that only committed people would be allowed to serve as state officials to enable a successful hajj exercise this year just like in 2012. Similarly, the issue of sound and comfortable accommodation both in Makka and Madinah for pilgrims is another big issue the board's management need to take very seriously. No doubt, most of the accommodation rented for Kaduna state pilgrims in Makka and Madinah, especially last year, were far better in terms of proximity to the two strategic Mosques, when compared to where pilgrims from other states stayed. Therefore, there is the need for Malam Tahir to ensure that the same houses are retained if the board cannot afford to move further, closer to the Mosques, especially in Makka. The only house among the 13 houses rented by Kaduna State in Makka for its pilgrims last year that pilgrims complained
Alhaji Tahir Umar Tahir of was house number 3. So, there is the need for the new management of the board to ensure that the landlord rehabilitates it before renting it, if at all they still want to retain the house this year due to its proximity to Mosque. Finally, the issue of airlines that will be used to airlift pilgrims to Hajj. No matter what it will take, Malam Tahir must ensure that airlines that will be hired for the job have enough planes on ground. The era of selecting airline based on its past glory is over. Those who performed the 2012 hajj will tell you their bitter experience with one of the so- called best airlines in the country
“
Therefore, there is the need for Malam Tahir to ensure that the same houses are retained if the board cannot afford to move further, closer to the Mosques, especially in Makka. The only house among the 13 houses rented by Kaduna State in Makka for its pilgrims last year that pilgrims complained of was house number 3.
that airlifted the state's pilgrims. Apart from the unnecessary delays suffered by intending pilgrims, the plane used was also an old one. We hope and pray that Tahir addresses the issue this time around. No matter what one writes with regards to improved hajj exercise in this country, you can never capture all the problems associated with the exercise at once and that is why reports were made available every year by the state Amirul Hajj Team for stakeholders to read and improve on the exercise. Before his appointment as the board chief, according to a statement issued by his public Relations officer, Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed Abdullahi, Hon. Tahir Umar Tahir has served in various capacities related to Hajj administration in the country. He was the Pioneer Special Adviser to two Executive Governors of Kaduna State on Pilgrims and Islamic Matters, and was a Board member of the Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board. He was also appointed as a member of the committee that reviewed Hajj problems in the country. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration and Law, and is a member of various governmental and nongovernmental organizations across the nation.
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 16 with Sonde Abbah 0803-2159-249 (SMS only) asonde@yahoo.com
If ‘pounded yam’ be the music of life...
I
f music be the food of life, play on. So goes a popular saying . Ask some folks of Ngabagyi in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and they would croon that “if music be the 'pounded yam' of life, play and dance on." For proof - If any is needed, just check out the absorbing drama being enacted in this photograph.
Tiger: Out of the woods
T
he downfall of a man, they say, is not the end of his life. Ask the gold legend, Tiger Woods. A few years ago, Woods was in a big mess. His marriage crumbled, even as his career plummeted alarmingly. After the storm, comes the smile. Woods has not only bounced back as the world's number one golf player; he has also found a new love. Her name? Lindsy Vonn, a skier. What sport has joined together, let nobody put asunder, please. Tiger is out of the wood at last!
Clerics of the same feathers
Y
ou have heard that "birds of the same feather flock together." Like birds, like men of God of the same feather. And it so happened that recently, some men of God who are not only of the same feather (so to say) but hail from the same town - Akwanga in Nasarawa State - flocked together. The occasion: the annual Retreat held by priests of Catholic Churches from Nasarawa and Benue States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory. "It was a memorable one week event," declared one of them, Rev. Fr. Soja. "This event (Retreat) is held every year to enable us do some stock-taking, compare notes and plan ahead, with a view to serving God and humanity better."
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 17
Homes
Great storage spaces in little places W
h e n space is tight, every bit of storage helps. And even if spaces is not tight, I am of the opinion that you can never have too many places to organize or simply hide things. Other than the typical closets, cabinets, and drawers, there are many creative, advantageous places to hide and organize unsightly items. Let's start by looking at the typical kitchen. Appliance Garage Everyone has small appliances, many of which only perform one function and are not in use a majority of the time. No matter how much or how little space one has, storing the appliances when not in use can eat up a lot of valuable counter or cabinet space. A great solution to this problem is an under-cabinet appliance garage. Normally, the space between the counter and cabinet above is empty and unlike the colorful stand mixer, not every appliance is worthy of being left out on display. By simply adding a cabinet that goes all the way to the counter, a great hideaway is created. And as a bonus, if there is an electrical plug on the wall inside the appliance garage, the appliance only has to be move minimally to function. Under Bar One location that often gets overlooked is the "other" side of a bar or island. This is a opportune place to hide shallow cabinets,
extra drawers, or even a mini-fridge. By recessing these under the counter, there is still plenty of leg room for the bar top. Spice Drawer Another great storage idea is the vertical spice drawer beside the kitchen stove. This is a great way to take advantage of a narrow space that may be left-over between cabinets. Conveniently locating the drawer beside the stove allows for easy access while in the middle of preparing a dish. Peg Board Another great way to take advantage of a small, narrow space is by using peg board on one side of the drawer. This allows for items to hang in easy reach of the stove, while also allowing those items to remain hidden when not needed. Another space saving idea shown in the photo above is the use of drawers beneath the range, rather than one large cabinet. This allows better utilization of the space below and would be a great place to store pots and pans. Under Sink And let's not forget the space where items are often forever lost - under the sink. By using the drawer idea again in this location, items are kept organized and easily accessible without having to dig in the back of a deep cabinet. Small drawer If you prefer the cabinet below the sink, there are still other options to allow for extra
storage, such as this small tilt-out drawer. This would also be a great place to store toothbrush and toothpaste at the bathroom vanity, not to mention that the drawers would also work well in small bathrooms. Great for Bathrooms too Beside Toilet Another handy place to take advantage of extra storage in a bathroom is inside a partial wall. Many current bathroom designs feature a short wall separating the toilet from the rest of the room to create privacy, as shown here between the toilet and the bathtub. This design creates a great space for a vertical drawer, much like in the kitchen, making the wall not only functional for privacy, but for storage. Under and Behind Bed
A last place that many people use for storage, though it may not be as well organized, is under the bed. This is usually a last resort, a place to put things that have nowhere else to be hidden. The bed takes up the majority of the room, and when space is tight, it makes sense to use the space underneath for storage. A great way take advantage of this space rather than just stuff things into the abyss is a bed frame with drawers, such as the one shown here which includes another great storage idea - the bookcase headboard. There are many great storage spaces that take advantage of small and forgotten spaces; it just take a little ingenuity to find them. Homedit.com
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 26 — SUNDAY 27, MAY, 2013
PAGE 19
Beauty Tips
Hairstyles for certain head shapes D
epending on the shape of your face, various different cuts and styles can highlight your best features. However, if you choose an unflattering style, you can accentuate parts of your face that you may not want to show off. The typical face shapes are round, oval, heart shaped, and square. Does this Spark an idea? The round face -Women with round shaped faces want to avoid any style that adds with, the aim is to add length, so volume, curls, and thick waves are all DON'Ts. If you are going to add fullness, add it to the top off the head, so it adds length, not width. Long layers around the side of the head will give the illusion of a longer face, as will a middle part. Try to avoid bangs, as they will add bulk to the face, but if you must have bangs, make them thin and wispy, with angular ends. The oval face -The oval face shape has the most versatile look. You can wear your hair almost any way you choose, however some styles will accentuate certain features better than others. Styles that draw attention to the eyes, like those that add height to the crown of the head, are always flattering. Since oval shapes are the most flattering, the key is to show them off, by keeping the hair out of the face, so avoid bangs, and styles that drape over the eyes. The heart shaped face
-Those with heart shaped faces want to add both length and width to your cut and style. Side swept bangs and a chin length cut can achieve this look. Texture and angular, wispy will add volume and width to your face. Avoid adding volume to the top of the head unless your hair is longer than your shoulders, as this will lengthen the face, making it look thinner. Blunt bangs will shorten the face, so avoid if possible. The square face -Women with square faces want to soften facial features with the cut and style, so if you have a square shape wispy side swept ends are a must. Avoid blunt bangs, because they will increase the angular appeal, so instead, sweep bangs off to the side. Keep the cut short to medium length, and add volume and texture at the crown of the head. A side part will soften the features of the face much more than a middle part. The diamond face -If you have a diamond shaped face, the goal is to both widen and shorten the face with the cut and style. This can be achieved with the classic bob, as well as a shoulder length cut with wispy ends that accentuate the cheek bones. Blunt bangs work well on your shape to shorten your face. Side parts are much more flattering then parts down the middle. Avoid pixie cuts, and any style that leaves no hair on the neck, as this style lengthens the face.
Round face
The oval face
Heart face
Square face
Diamond face
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26 MAY, 2013
PAGE 20
Learning
With Emmanuel Eko 08165618872 junioremma419@gmail.com
Did you know that?
Natural A Call to Law Faith and Book Review
Freedom
By Shirley A. Roe
I
f you love “Braveheart,” you are going to become a fan of Shirley A. Roe. History woven into a spellbinding tale of castles, knights, druids, and love, by a master storyteller who is quickly gaining international acclaim. At a time when there appears to be a renewal of spiritualism in modern society, Shirley
Roe’s novel A Call to Faith and Freedom supports the knowledge that spiritualism and mysticism are indeed centuries old. This novel is not only entertaining but also educational, as she shares her extensive knowledge of Celtic faith with her readers in this exciting and action filled story of two Scottish Celtic clans. Elaine Fuhr, Alberta, Canada.
Now My Life Begins
L
ife can seem so unchanging in a small village. Some people can remain content with this their whole lives, while others thirst for change and want to broaden their horizons. Can true love overcome this need for change and keep you rooted? In Now My Life Begins, this is the dilemma faced by Jenny Barstow, who has grown up in Watsworth, England watching her mother live out her adult years as a servant at Watsworth Mansion. She
vows to break family tradition and climb up the ladder to a better position in life. The problem is, her childhood friend and true love, Tim McKitterek, is chained to Watsworth, supporting his mother and family after the disappearance of his father. Now their dream of leaving Watsworth and building a new life together is destroyed, and it is up to Jenny to live the dream alone and give herself the future that she has always strived for.
Author: Eli Colgram, Jr
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s a concept, natural law has been experienced by the common man, observed and described by the thinking man, and contemplated and versified by the philosophical man. This is because natural law as a concept has innumerable facets. In fact, no matter where an individual goes, what that individual does, or what that individual says, natural law is always there and natural law is immutable and inescapable, yet ever in flux. This brings us to this book, “Natural Law,” by Mr. Colgram. When the news of this review assignment arrived, this reviewer immediately experienced a pleasant on rush of names like Hegel, Kant, Rousseau, Locke, Newton, Hobbes, etc. By no means would this work be judged by such a yardstick, but it would be looked at with fairness and an open mind created by the study of the works of such minds. That the book is only pamphlet-sized was not an immediate negative.
Great thoughts can come in small volume. The fact that most chapters were only one or two paragraphs long was disappointing. The Introduction stated the work is the result of observation and experience along with being quite frank about life. This work would have been fulfilling if it had contained real examples of the behaviors described by the chapter titles. An enriching experience is what was expected to greater or lesser degree. What was found was a few pages of pronouncements in declarative sentences it is assumed the author wants the reader to take at face value without question all of what he writes as if from on high. To a thinking mind this is impossibility. This reviewer would love to give this work a second look if it were expanded at least ten-fold with the author providing real reasons as to how this all relates to natural law. The essence of the reading about natural law is that education is difficult and a challenge to how the reader views the world. The opportunity is eagerly awaited.
1.) A shrimp's heart is in its head. 2.) The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language. 3.) Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants. 4.) Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times. 5.) If the government has no knowledge of aliens, then why does Title 14, Section 1211 of the Code of Federal Regulations, implemented on July 16, 1969 make it illegal for U. S. citizens to have any contact with extraterrestrials or their vehicles? 6.) In every episode of Seinfeld there is a
A Journey to Heaven Author: Tammy Brodowski Mott and Bruce Brodowski
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Journey to Heaven is about the triumphant death of a child who had inoperable brain stem cancer. Emmy Mott was only three years old when she was given a maximum of eight weeks to live. However, with an outpouring of love and prayers for her, she lived for forty one weeks and lived past her fourth birthday! When Emmy passed away peacefully and comfortably on December 8, 2012, she had given a lifetime of love, hope and happiness to her family, her community and
thousands of other people whose hearts she had touched through her Facebook page. Emmy is adopted but her mother loves her like her own. Her mother, Tammy Brodowski Mott, together with Emmy’s grandfather, Bruce Brodowski, lovingly chronicled Emmy’s limited time on earth in detail since her diagnosis. It is touching to read about how MakeA-Wish Foundation, which helps children with life-threatening medical conditions and other organizations, voluntarily helped build a fond memory for Emmy and her family in their h e a r t w a r m i n g journey. A Journey to Heaven is not only their journey, but ours
as well, as we read and journey with them through laughter and tears. Tammy’s heartbreaking account of Emmy’s journey through trials caused by the cancer will touch every mother’s heart. However, the comfort she gets from her faith will also soothe any aching heart. There is so much love surrounding Emmy and so much love she gave in her final days. One gains an insight that even though death is devastating, it is not the end of love and hope. This book is a must read. There is so much to learn from this ‘journey to heaven’ that one emerges a transformed person after reading it.
Superman somewhere. 7.) A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why. 8.) 23% of all photocopier faults world-wide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their butts. 9.) Most lipstick contains fish scales 10.) Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different. 11.) If you sneeze too hard you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die. If you keep your eyes open by force they can pop out. 12.) In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand. 13.) It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky. 14.) A pregnant goldfish is called a twit. 15.) More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call. 16.) Horses can't vomit. 17.) Butterflies with their feet.
taste
18.) In 10 minutes, a category three hurricane releases more energy than all of the world's nuclear weapons combined. 19.) On average 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year. 20.) On average people fear spiders more than they do death.
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Wellness
Healthy Living
Exercise and Diabetes Management (I) E x e r c i s e forms part of the cardinal principles of Diabetes management. From our previous discussion in this column, we mentioned the place of Diet, Drugs and now Exercise in management of Diabetes. I like to thank those who called in to comment and ask questions, hoping that your concerns are addressed. Exercise is any physical activity intended to keep a person fit and healthy. This is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and notably key as part of an overall management plan in diabetes care. The US Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate intensity (example Brisk Walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic activity ( jogging or running) or an equivalent mix of moderate and vigorous intensity aerobic activity each week. Patients who engage in regular moderate to vigorous exercise have lower risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, hyperlipidemia (high lipids) and Blood glucose (sugar) control in Diabetes mellitus. A sedentary lifestyle has been associated to 28% of deaths from leading chronic diseases. It has been observed that although primary health care providers advice patients on exercise, it mostly ends as a verbal counseling. Few providers provide written prescription or perform fitness assessment. Exercise counseling needs to be followed with a prescription which should address the following: Type, Frequency, intensity, time and progression. Studies has shown that to get patients to change physical activity levels, requires motivational strategies beyond simple exercises instructions including patients education about goal setting, self monitoring and social support to ensure continuity of Exercise. The two familiar forms of diabetes are known as type1 and type2 diabetes. Type1 diabetes varies from type2 in that the body does not produce any insulin and insulin has to be administered exogenously. Type2 diabetes is mostly diagnosed in older people and ensues as a result of the body's inability to effectively utilize the insulin it produces. However, with the two types of diabetes, there is an imbalance of sugar metabolism and energy production mechanisms of the body. The benefits and risks of exercising in the two types of diabetes are different and an understanding of these benefits and risks are quite fundamental whilst advising patients living with diabetes. The universal rules for blood sugar management in combination with exercise are subject to alterations depending on the type of diabetes. With this in mind, this article will
concentrate on the benefits and risks of exercising in the two common types of diabetes. I will try to clarify some of the confusions linked with diabetes and exercise. In addition, this article will further explain- how energy is produced in the body, what happens during exercise and how it affects blood glucose levels, benefits and risks of exercise in diabetics, general rules for diabetics on insulin and general exercise tips for type1 and type 2 diabetics. How the body produce Energy from the food we eat Usually, after a meal, insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas is released in response to an increase in blood glucose level. This hormone stimulates the body's cells such as the muscle and fat cells to take-up excess glucose from the blood (insulin is a key which unlocks the cells) and utilizes it as a source of energy. This results in the lowering of blood glucose levels. During the course of physical activity, the body requires extra energy in the form of glucose for the exercising muscles. For short bursts of exercise, such as a quick sprint up or down the stairs, catching a bus or train- the liver and muscle cells release their stores of glucose for body fuel. A moderate continued exercise causes muscle cells to take-up glucose at almost 20x the normal rate. This tends to lower blood glucose levels. However, in the case of people living with diabetes, the body recognizes intense exercise as a form of stress and thus releases stress hormones which triggers the body's glucose stores to release and increase blood glucose to fuel the muscles. Benefits and risks of exercise in a person living with Diabetes. Physical activity which increases the heart rate and keeps it up for a prolonged period improves aerobic fitness. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise helps to decrease the risks of developing type 2 Diabetes as well as improving good blood glucose control. In the course of any moderate to strenuous physical activity, the body's energy consumption increases to meet up the energy demand of the muscles. This energy requirement is derived from various sources which are subject to type, duration and intensity of exercise. The benefits and risks of exercising in both Type1 and Type2 diabetes are quite different and a key understanding of these variations in the two types of diabetes is quite important. However, the risks do not outweigh the benefits, as good blood glucose control is the ultimate goal to be achieved in diabetes management. Exercise and Physical Activity in Type 1 Diabetes During the course of an exercise routine, type1 diabetics are required to take exogenous insulin to help their cells take up blood glucose and utilize it as fuel for the exercising muscles.
The consequence of having too little insulin in circulation or high levels of circulating exogenous insulin would result in either the release of counter-regulatory hormones such as glucagon and epinephrine which may increase already high levels of blood glucose and ketone production or increase utilization of circulating plasma glucose and hence the development of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). For people living with type1 diabetes, aerobic exercise/ antigravitational exercises such as situps and push-ups, slow walks for about 30 minutes and the use of the treadmill at a reduced minimal speed have been shown to be significantly beneficial. Benefits of regular physical activity in type1 diabetes -Lowers blood sugar during and after exercise -There is improved insulin sensitivity and decreased insulin requirement -There is a decrease in plasma low density lipoprotein (bad fat) and an increase in high density lipoprotein (good fat)
With Isaac Yakubu Akogu www.diabetesguidenigeria.blogspot.com, 08176179496, diabetesconcepts@gmail.com
A Diabetes expert, Mr. Isaac Yakubu Akogu, is also Pharmacist with over 16 years experience with specialisation in Diabetes Education.
-Helps in improving mildmoderate hypertension, thus, improving blood circulation and reducing pressure -Improved circulation to the lower and upper extremities since diabetics have poor blood circulation to the extremities. -Increased energy expenditure in addition to dieting for weight reduction -Increased strength and flexibility Risks of Exercise in a person living with Type1 diabetes There are several risks linked with exercising in a person living with type1 diabetes. These risks are usually seen in long-term insulin users and in adults who have developed long-term secondary diabetic complications. Since the body uses more glucose whilst exercising, you become more sensitive to insulin, thereby increasing the risk of blood glucose becoming too low and causing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). On the one hand, the consequence of having too little exogenous insulin in circulation could result in the
release of counter-regulatory hormones such as glucagon and epinephrine which may increase already high levels of blood glucose and ketone production thereby exacerbating long-term pre-existing secondary diabetic complications such as; -Proliferative retinopathy (damage to the retina) -Vitreous hemorrhage (leakage of blood into the areas in and around the vitreous humor of the eye) -Retinal detachment -Nephropathy (progressive kidney disease) -Increased proteinuria (presence of an excess of serum proteins in the urine) -Peripheral neuropathy and autonomic neuropathy (damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system and malfunction of the autonomic nervous system) -Soft tissue and joint injuries -Decreased cardiovascular response to exercise -Postural hypertension NB: However, starting some form of mild exercise plan could minimize these risks.
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 25
Entertainment
Kannywood
I have never taken advantage of any "How I lost my 'Honda accord baby boy' to Tonto Dikeh, mercy Johnson Nollywood robbers" – Kehinde Bankole female artist – Producer/director ratings nose-diving? gun at her brother's head; and ordered him to get out of the car and snatched the car. "My gold Honda accord baby boy car was snatched at gun point around Ogba,lagos.The car has registration number EKY855AL at the time of Theft. If any one notices an abandoned car of a Honda make; kindly call or reach me" - said Kehinde via BBM Naijagists.com also gathered that in the BM message, the Nollywood diva, disclosed she made an official police report on the same day of the incident.
By Kehinde Bankole
Maina Yusuf is an Actor, Director, Producer and the Cofounder of Kaduna based Zeeya'u films Nigeria Limited. In this interview with MOHAMMAD IBRAHIM, he explained the challenges film makers face in film making business. Tell us about your journey into Kannywood My name is Maina Yusuf, I am a Director, Actor and Producer of Hausa films based in Kaduna. I am a co founder of Zeeya'u Film Production Company, also based in Kaduna. My journey into Kannywood started a very long time ago when I was working with United Textiles, Kaduna. That time there were few actors and actresses in the state. When I was in secondary school I had interest in drama or acting if you like. In my school days I belonged to a Drama club in my college because of that I was once contacted to participate in a film with other friends. I started by featuring in a Hausa film called Wasila produced by Yakubu Lere. After that I continued to work in the film industry as a part time actor. After sometime I resigned and went into film business as a full time business. What role did you start with, in the industry? I started as an actor later I became director and now I produce my own films. I really benefited from this business because through it, I set up my own Company called Mayesha Estate Properties Management Company. I am also into car business, my company's name is called Mayesha Motors Nigeria Limited in Kaduna.
Tell us more about Zeeya'u films? Zeeya'u film is a company that is popular in Kaduna and Nigeria in general particularly among Hausa film makers, actors and producers. The company belongs to my wife. I also have my own company called Bright Way Entertainment. We later agreed to merge the two companies together into one. That is what happened so I forfeited my company and we decided to go with only Zeeya'u films. Today People know us as Zeeya'u and the company is still popular in the Hausa film industry. What are the challenges you encounter in this business of film making? Well, the challenges are numerous we cannot mention them all at once. In Zee'yau company alone we once had about 80 upcoming artists that worked under us. You can imagine having this large number of people under you. You will definitely face lots of challenges as some of them will come with unwanted characters. If you are able to control that kind of crowd alone then you can face any challenge in life. At the location during shootings of films, we faced challenges especially on how to coordinate some of the guys. Another big challenge is between us as producers, directors and actors; Most
times the actors after casting them in so many roles they end up disappointing you by staying away from the location. You will become worried because you have budgeted everything on the movie and because of an individual you have to add more days to finish the movie. Honestly, if you are not patient you may consider fighting with the person or even suing him or her for breach of contract but you have no choice but to be patient. Sometimes after casting an actor in your film for almost 10 scenes and he is expected to do 16 scenes, he may choice to be absent for days without any reason. These are some of the challenges we face.
How many films have you produced so far? Honestly, they are many but I can only mention few of them. "Zamani riga" "Babbar Mace" " Wata kewa kuka" akwai Sa rana" Fataken Dare" Bakin Takobi"Ta tafi ta barni" among others. Presently we are working on the next film called A dumulmula. Which of the Hausa actors or actresses do you like featuring in your films? As long as you are a good Hausa film actor of actress I can work with you. I am not the kind of person that discriminates among actors or actresses. This is just business so I feature any actor that suites my character in my story or script .My selection of actor or actress for my film is based on the script and role available. If I feel that Ali Nuhu is the actor that will suite my story I see no reason why I should not feature him. Likewise if I have a script for my movie and I discover that the role available will not march him I will look for another actor to feature. So, as far as I am concerned all actors and actresses are important to me. But I only feature actors based on the role I have for him. My script determines who I feature in my movie. What measures have you taken so far in addressing the problem regarding registering of members into the industry? Part of the measures we have taken to address the problem, include the introduction of forms for any person who wants to become an artist in Hausa film industry. In the form, there is a space where parent or guardian of such a person will fill as an indication that he or she supports and approved that his daughter is free to join the industry. There are also other rules and regulations which the person must abide with before he or she will be considered. All these are introduced as part of measures to sanitize the system.
Maina
There are allegations levied against male Directors and Producers of dating female artists before featuring them in films. How true is this? Yes! it's true but it depends on the individual. Most of the directors that engaged in this act are not professionals. They took advantage of the new timers in the industry because most of them are desperate
and are willing to do anything to be featured in a movie. As you know, actors and actress are models in society; everybody wants to be like them. So these girls always want to join the industry and in the process, fall into wrong hands at times. Most of them do meet those corrupt directors who always take advantage of the innocent girls with the promise to featuring them in films. Some of the good girls who reject or refused to sleep with such people will now go out and be telling the world that all directors are bad. That is why some of the directors with such character always lack respect among female artists. Even if he asks her to do something for him at the location she will misbehave. She does that because he is dating her. This attitude most times affects their jobs. However, we still have good directors among us who respect and threat female artists well without having any intimate affair or relationship with any one of them. For instance, I am proud to say that ever since I started directing and producing films, no female artist will say I took advantage of her before featuring her in my movie. I challenge any of them who say what I am saying is not true to come forward. This is why you hardly see those female artists misbehaving around me or while I am recording my movies because I have no any relationship with them apart from business. The same goes for Ali Nuhu who is also an actor and director, he respects himself so much that almost everybody in the film industry respects him too. You hardly see him playing around with female artists at locations and I don't think there is any girl that will come forward to say that he took advantage of her before featuring her in his movies. There are other people like that too who respect themselves. So it is very important for directors to respect themselves. We cannot deny the fact that directors are powerful individuals in the Hausa film industry. What is your final message to those directors who misbehave with female artists? They should be aware that misbehaving with female artists will tarnish their image. But I pray for them to see reason and stop having such relationship with the girls aside the serious work of the industry. We know most of these so called directors that go around giving the industry bad name through their questionable activities. Most of them are fake. Even though you cannot change a person by force, the only thing you can do is to let him understand that what he is doing is bad and will do him no good in future and the earlier he understands this the better for him. For the ladies who are desperate to join Kannywood, they should always be mindful of the people they mingle with. Let them always follow the right channels instead of going through the back door. This is all I have to say.
N
ollywood actress Kehinde Bankole is reportedly seeking assistance from the public to recover her stolen Honda accord baby boy car, just as she reveals how armed robbers at gun point snatched the car one evening, around Ogba area of Lagos state. The actress through a recent Blackberry (BBM) message announced, the robbers tried to stop the vehicle by pointing a
T
"Tonto Dikeh is no more on the most wanted list of producers and directors again. They don't know if she is a musician or an actor again. The report says, moreover Dikeh appears to be getting too much on her hands to the dislike of those in Nollywood; and for Mercy Johnson, her problem is just eating too much at a particular time, as she is having more than she can "swallow." It however, reports that in a
swift reaction, a Nollywood stakeholder, Oliver Peters through telephone refuted the claim, as not really true. "Tonto Dikeh and Mercy Johnson remain favourites of the industry; but for now, Tonto is so busy that she is not having much time for movie shoots, and the case with Mercy is that she just returned from abroad where she had gone to deliver her baby; for now she is taking her time off movie shoots", he argued.
some other ingredients to hide the rather disagreeable smell. While the claims seem dubious, some customers have reported a "glow" on their face after the treatment.
beneficial hormones have been able to build up overnight. Perhaps not surprisingly, the legitimate medical community has not recognized any benefit to the consumption of urine.
DC-CIK Cancer Therapy DC-CIK treatment is another controversial procedure which involves drawing blood from a patient suffering from cancer. The blood is then turned over to a lab, where it is concentrated, then injected back into the body after chemotherapy or surgery. It is said to promote healing. However, some dubious clinics in Hong Kong have begun offering the treatment to give patients a more youthful appearance. At least one death from septic shock has been reported, and several others have been sent to the hospital, infected by mycobacterium abcessus, a nasty bacteria known to cause lung disease and wound infections.
Toe-Besity Although many bodily modifications made in the name of beauty could be described as frivolous, toe narrowing is amongst the most foolish. A growing number of people, unsatisfied with "fat" toes, have been turning to podiatrists for help. The procedure, which is somewhat gruesome, involves splitting the toe open and grinding
down the bone and fat inside. While not a terribly risky procedure, it still carries the dangers inherent in any surgery. There is also usually a long recovery time. Micro-Needle Therapy The micro-needle roller resembles some kind of medieval torture device; sporting hundreds of tiny spikes, it is designed to puncture the skin at the microscopic level, both inducing it to heal itself and allowing for the penetration of creams. Many celebrities are said to use microneedle treatment, and it is particularly popular in China. To be continued next week
here is indication that the death knell for Tonto Dikeh and Mercy Johnson in Nollywood might has been sounded, as the actresses according to rumours making rounds in the industry, are beginning to get less attention and movie roles from producers and directors. According to Naijafilms.com, while the trouble with Tonto Dikeh, as a reliable source puts it is that,
Ex-MBGN queen delivers baby girl in US LIFE Most dangerous, insane E beauty treatments By Mike Devlin Since time immemorial, humans have been willing to endure grievous sacrifices to conform to society's idea of beauty. In Africa and Asia, the women of certain tribes wear deforming metal coils that deform their neck and shoulders. In China, where foot binding was in vogue, there remain elderly women crippled by the procedure. The Western world too has its bizarre practices. The obsession with youth leads people to take terrible risks, injecting their faces with toxins, going under the knife, even bathing in excrement… Below are ten of the most dangerous, disgusting, and downright ridiculous beauty treatments in the world. Thai Face Slapping While many of the procedures on this list are quite risky, the face slapping bit is in good fun. Offered by Bangkok masseuse Tata in her San Francisco massage parlor, the treatment consists of pinching and manipulating the skin and light slaps that are said to cure wrinkles and shrink pores. Whether this is at all helpful in restoring a youthful appearance is highly debatable, but it doesn't come cheap. A single 15 minute session will set you back $350. Stem Cell Cosmetics The use of stem cells in medical treatments remains highly controversial, with detractors claiming their use is "playing God". Very basically, stem cells can "transform" into any other cell, and are used by the body to make repairs. The only stem cell treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration is a bone marrow transplant in the instance of leukemia, but that hasn't stopped
many patients from seeking cuttingedge plastic surgeries, wherein the cells are drawn from the body via liposuction and then re-injected into the face, to repair wrinkles. Unfortunately, the procedure is in its infancy, and there is no way to predict exactly how the cells will behave. In at least one horrifying instance, a woman grew bones in her eyelid. Fish Pedicure The doctor fish is native to the rivers and springs of the Middle East, a toothless creature around the size of a guppy. Like a lot of fish, these guys are not particularly picky eaters. In fact, they have been used for some years to perform pedicures; gnawing the dead and callused skin away from the feet. The creepy procedure is apparently quite effective, and those who have had it done claim it is painless. However, in much of the world, just as these pedicures began taking off, they were banned, as letting fish in
communal baths chew on toes of multiple customers is not in the least sterile. Seized fish have been shown to carry a wide array of bacteria, including that which causes cholera and streptococcal infections. Bird Poop Geisha Facial The ideal of the geisha is quite foreign to Western sensibilities; her role often varied, anything from servant to concubine to entertainer, and everything in between. Perhaps the best known aspect of the geisha is her white pancake makeup, which was once lead-based and ravaged the skin. To restore their appearance, the geisha used a cream made from the droppings of nightingales, which contained revitalizing enzymes. Or so the staff at Shizuka New York, a posh Japanese spa in Manhattan, would lead you to believe. For just $180, they will paint your face with bird poo, carefully sanitized under ultraviolet light and mixed with
x-beauty queen and the winner of 2009 Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria (MBGN), Mrs. Glory Chukwu has given birth to a baby girl, in the United States Of America. The beautiful woman who relocated to the states last year welcomes her first child two weeks ago.
Urine Most of us have a relationship of absolute necessity with our urine; one quick flush and its gone. There is however, a small but dedicated community that extolls the supposedly restorative properties of urine. These people claim drinking urine can cure (or at least relieve the symptoms of) a vast number of diseases, ranging from lupus to multiple sclerosis, and even cancer. Urine is also used for beauty treatments; when applied topically, advocates claim it is excellent for the skin, clearing up psoriasis, eczema, and acne. The best urine is apparently taken midstream first thing in the morning, when
Urine treatment
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Hollywood Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban in romantic display on Cannes red carpet
H
ollywood actress Nicole Kidman looked drop-dead gorgeous while walking the red carpet as a jury member, at 66th Cannes Film Festival for the screening of American film Inside Llewyn Davis. Mid-day.com reports that the 45year-old Aussie stunner was accompanied by husband Keith Urban, and the couple did put on a romantic display and locked lips in front of the
Kristen Stewart: Relaxing, visiting Taylor Swift
world's media. According to the report, at the fest, Nicole Kidman has also given film critics a sneak peek of her next film Grace of Monaco, which is based on the life of Grace Kelly, one of the French Riviera's most famous residents. At the invite-only unveiling of the five-minute teaser, Kidman was by joined movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, whose company is behind the film.
Daniel Radcliffe turning people's confidant in pubs
A
ctor Daniel Radcliffe has said that he has been people's confidant in pubs, as some of them when drunk would start telling him something about their relationship with their parents, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Radcliffe, 23, rose to fame as boy wizard Harry Potter in the hugely
successful movie franchise of the same name. Femalefirst.co.uk quoted him as saying: "I have been people's confidant in pubs; somebody will be drunk and start telling you something about their relationship with their parents; and you can end up provoking a huge range of reactions."
Kristen Stewart
I
n the face of her split from Robert Pattinson, Hollywood queen, Kristen Stewart has reportedly turned to Hollywood's foremost expert on broken hearts, Taylor Swift, for help. Pop Sugar sources spotted the actress out in Los Angeles last night, allegedly
in a "good mood," while standing alongside a car. According to a witness, she was "talking, smiling and very relaxed, which may come as a surprise to those who have read Stewart is despondent over his new single status.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler talks up beautiful Kim Kardashian
J
Daniel Radcliffe
amie-Lynn Sigler is the latest celebrity to stick up for Kim Kardashian when he went on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" and talked Kim up. With tabloids and critics "True scum", according to Kim's sister, Khloe Kardashian continuing to slam the reality star for her weight, the actress, who is also expecting said she feels really bad for her(Kim). "It's hard being pregnant; and your body does change; I mean my boobs have like quadrupled in size and it's hard; but she's doing her best, and I think she looks beautiful. I mean she's carrying a baby; I feel bad for her", she expressed. Gloria Steinem and Cheryl Cole have also rushed to the expecting Kardashian's defense, with Sigler saying: "Kim's baby is due in July and you can bet Kim will cash in big time several weeks later with a magazine headline that screams she got her bikini body back; she'll then gets the last laugh... all the way to the bank."
Pregnant Kim
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 27
Bollywood 'Ghayal Returns' to hit screens with 'vengeance' next year
"I thought I was too ugly to become actress", says Shruti Haasan
A
ctress Shruti Haasan, daughter of legendary actor Kamal Haasan and actress Sarika, always wanted to be in showbiz, but was skeptical about facing the camera because she didn't find herself attractive enough to be heroine, on screen. "I always wanted to become actress, but I always thought I was too ugly to be an actress. I was always in the sport, in the sun and always running around. I always thought
A
ctor Sunny Deol is going to return with vengeance in 'Ghayal Returns', a sequel to the 1990 hit- movie 'Ghayal', by June next year, IANS has disclosed. According to the report, "Ghayal Returns" to be directed by Rahul Rawail will continue from where the 1990 hit-film Ghayal, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, which also starred Meenakshi Seshadri stopped. "For 'Ghayal Returns', now we have finally, finalised the story
heroines were so beautiful, how will I be that beautiful? But I always wanted to be in the entertainment business; as I always wanted to act, sing and be a part of it", said Shruti who also sings. The 27-year-old, who made her debut with Hindi movie 'Luck', will have two releases on June 19 - 'D-Day' and 'Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya'. "It is good it just happened," she said about the simultaneous
release of her two films and added: "I am happy about the two films; but for me, both the characters are so different from each other. In a weird way, it is nice that both the films are coming out on the same day; it just shows the range," she said. The actress, who has featured in more than half-adozen films so far, including Telugu movie 'Anaganaga O Dheerudu', finds her journey unconventional.
idea. We are writing the dialogues now. I am working on the technicalities and it should be out by June next year. "'Ghayal' was about character, so we are now taking the character further. He was in jail and now it has been over 20 years since. He will come out (of jail) and what he will be doing and how he deals with different situations in different ways will be the story (of the new film", Sunny told IANS.
Viewers' acceptance excites new 'Anandi'
I
t's not easy for an actress to play a role in which the audience has already identified a different face when Toral Rasputra, replaced Pratyusha Banerjee as Anandi on a popular show, "Balika Vadhu". However, for the actress who took the challenge and has found acceptance by the viewers, she is happy that finally the viewers are accepting her in the role. Sharing an incident, she
said: "Recently, we went to Kashmir for the shoot, and many tourists were there; many people came to me and told me that 'we liked your work in the show'," she said on the set of the show. "It was a positive sign from them (viewers); as for the very first time, I had gone out of the set to shoot, and for me, it's a good sign that slowly and slowly, people are accepting me as Anandi and I am really happy about it", she said.
Shruti Haasan
Tusshar to launch independent film production house
H
aving created a niche space for himself as an actor in Bollywood, Tusshar Kapoor, now ventures into film production, as he is set to unfold the name of his production house along with the news of his first film, reports Bollywood Hungama News Network. Talking about his ambitions with the production house, Tusshar said: "My production house will surely carve its own niche in the industry; because it won't be just another addition to the list of production houses
which already exist, as I won't produce anything that is mediocre." Explaining further, he says, "I will never make abstract, art house cinema. My films will be offbeat, but will also appeal to a mass audience. A good film eventually becomes commercially viable and that's what I am aiming for as a producer." The report says, while details are tightly being kept under wraps, sources reveal that the actor is in talks, and already in the process of short-listing a script.
Tusshar
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Cuisine Danwake Masa from overripe plantains After enjoying this menu, you definitely wouldn't be in a hurry to toss your over ripe plantains in the future. Ingredients: " 2 over ripe plantains " 1 cup of regular flour " A litre of vegetable oil " Pinch of salt Directions: Gently slice plantains open from top to bottom Add to a bowl and with a spatula, squish together. Add flour, pepper and salt to plantain pudding mix. After the pudding is gently mixed into a thick creamy paste, a spoonful at a time, scoop into a deep fryer or pan and allow to fry till golden brown. Remove fried plantain masa from cooking oil and mop up extra oil. And now it's ready to serve.
Furar Gero da Nono
T
his is a dessert of yoghurt with millet or ground maize. Nono is the Hausa word for the cow milk traditionally sold by Fulani milk maidens. Today, fura is sometimes drank with yoghurt. Ingredients: 200g millet flour or ground maize 100g soya bean flour 1 tablespoon of dried hot chilli powder 1/2 tablespoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon Guinea pepper 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon corn flour (cornstarch) 2 litres of water 1 litre of yoghurt (or nono) sugar, to taste Preparation:
In a bowl, stir together the flours and spices until thoroughly mixed. Add a little water and mix to combine then add enough additional water to bring the mixture together as a thick paste. Take about 2 tablespoons of this mixture and shape into balls. Pour the water in a pan, bring to a boil then add the dough balls and continue boiling for about 20 minutes, or until done through. Remove the balls of dough from the pot with a slotted spoon and pound thoroughly in a mortar. Reshape the mixture into balls and sprinkle with corn flour to keep them moist. Serve the balls accompanied by nono and sugar. To eat, mash the balls into the nono, sweeten to taste.
Pots & Pans
With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi
PAGE 29
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Womanhood
He left with his girlfriend, then came back Says woman trapped in abusive relationship
Amaka and her children
Continued from last week
M
y immediate plan was to move to a new apartment. I called my uncle in the UK the next day. I told him that Chris had left and that I needed to move ASAP, and if he could please send me some money. He was very upset. I tried to tell him that it was a very great thing, happy even, and that I was fine, but he was very angry. He couldn’t understand why Chris had left me with a two week old baby. And I said, “Don’t worry about it – we’re fine.” Well he said, “What kind of a person leaves a woman with a newborn and an 18-month old? That’s just crazy.” And I tried to pacify him and asked him to imagine if Chris had died. I would still be able to carry on with my children, so he was not to worry about it. I started to look for a place almost immediately, and my uncle asked me to give him a couple of days to a week and that he would send the money to me. I was so excited. I was checking the newspaper, which is how we looked for houses in those days. And about four days later, Chris returned. I was so surprised when he showed up. I was really taken aback. I was upset. I was shocked. I said, “What happened? Why are you back?” I said, “How about
Lydia?” He said, “Things were not what I thought with Lydia, so I’m back.” My dreams were shattered. My hopes were just dashed. It seemed as though I had been teased with the tiniest ray of sunshine in the darkness that had been my life. I mourned his return as my return to captivity. I went back to crying every day, not even caring what he said to anyone about my unending tears. By December 2005, Christine was not even a year old, but she was doing so well. She was brave, she was strong, she wore her cast about – just carried that thing about, not caring. She would sit at the top of the stairs and go down the stairs on her bottom with her cast making a racket as she descended the stairs. She played like every other little girl. She was unmindful of that cast. She just carried on like a very active and strong and beautiful baby that she was. She, of course, did not eat too much. She was not very great at eating. She was extremely picky, and she refused many different types of food. But, I did go to the pediatrician with her, and we also saw a dietitian and they assured me that whatever she would accept was fine. They also gave me a chart with minimum values that I was supposed to
adhere to, and I followed it down to the letter just to see that my baby was getting enough to eat. At this point also, I decided I would go to BCIT to take Medical Laboratory Science. I had researched it, and it seemed the shortest route for me to try to get back into Medicine that I left so many years ago. This was my purpose of coming to Canada – to get an education – and I could not
VCC, I also enrolled at the Vancouver School Board, and I took my prerequisites concurrently. I was able to complete all of the pre-requisites in those eight months. Chris, of course, refused at first to let me go to school, saying that I would not be able to look after the kids and go to school at the same time, and that he would not look after both kids. I said, “Fine, I will get someone to look after them.” And I did get someone to look after them. When he saw that he couldn’t use the issue of the kids to prevent me from going to school, he still kept trying. He just tried every way he could to stop me, but I wasn’t going to budge this time. I talked to everybody I could talk to in the Church. I called the people that he knew. I called just everybody I could call, and I told them that he was trying to stop me from going to school, and people just started to bombard him with questions. Once it became public knowledge that he was trying to stop me from going to school, there was really nothing he could do. And that’s always the way he operates. He will always hide his things. All the bad things that he did, he would always hide them so that he would always look so good in public, but once it came to the light that, this is what he is doing, then he would just back off completely as if he had never even done anything like that. He kept on saying, “If you go to school, where is money going to come from to feed the children?” And that he was not going to go to work. Therefore, I had to figure out a way for the children to eat. I just ignored him. Luckily for me, I got a grant – a return to work program from the government – and that was what we lived off on. The only times he had actually gone to work was in 2002, early 2002, shortly after he arrived. He worked at Wendy’s for about three months before he quit, and then shortly after David was born, he worked at
“
My car was great on gas, $30 of gas filled the tank and it took me to school in Burnaby from Surrey five days a week and back. On weekends, I would put the kids in the car and we would go out for drives all over the place. It was freedom for me and the children. lose sight of that at all. I found out that I needed all of Maths, Physics, Chemistry, biology, and English at the grade 12 level, so I set out to get those prerequisites done. It was already December, and according to the course outlines, I would not have been able to get everything done by August of 2006 if I was going to start school in September of 2006. So not only did I enroll at
Wal-Mart, and this again for about six months. He worked three days a week at minimum wage as an unloader at Wal-Mart. He actually bragged about how when they were unloading the trucks, they would break open boxes of just about anything they wanted. If they were thirsty, they drank juice. There were biscuits and other things to eat when they got hungry. It was just
alarming to me, and I was very scared by it. When he came home with things for David, I would ask for receipts, and he would get so angry and rage at me or he would hit me. I discussed this horrible issue with someone, and we agreed that the best thing to do was to ask him to stop working and to stay home. I felt sure that at some point he was going to get caught, and I didn’t really want to be involved in it. I supposed that I could be charged along with him for receiving stolen property or something like an accessory to the theft, or something. I knew that I would not be able to exonerate myself from being part of his stealing things from Wal-Mart, and the only option I had was to find a way to get him to stop working there. So after much discussion with my friend, we decided to tell him that I needed help with David and that way he would stop actually working in Wal-Mart. If he was not in Wal-Mart, then he would not be able to steal from there. I just had to find a way to let it seem as though I wasn’t telling him what to do, it was just a suggestion. I attended BCIT from December 2006 to October 2008. I passed all of my courses, and I aced my professional exams in spite of all of the abuses that I continued to endure at Chris’s hands. A good example was the issue of my car. I had a Mercury Tracer that I had bought just before starting my pre-requisites. The car was dark green with two gold stripes winding around it. My car was great on gas, $30 of gas filled the tank and it took me to school in Burnaby from Surrey five days a week and back. On weekends, I would put the kids in the car and we would go out for drives all over the place. It was freedom for me and the children. Going to school and coming back, I would pray, I would cry, I would ask God to save me from Chris. The car afforded me a private place to just be myself. It was such a reliable car. Of course, I never let Chris drive the car unless he made threats against myself or the kids or he took the keys by force. The major reason was that he had no drivers’ license since he arrived in 2001; due to his very limited knowledge, he was unable to pass the computer test, and of course, could not get licensed. He actually did not get licensed until 2011, I believe, and this is after he had taken the computer test possibly more than 15 times. So, from 2001 until 2011, he drove without a license – 10 years. Once he got a ticket, and the second time the car got towed, and David was in the car with him. He called me to come and pick them up. I had just got off from work luckily, and I went and I picked them up. I never let him drive my car, because I didn’t want anything to happen to my car, and the insurance would not pay for it because it was being driven by an unlicensed driver. To be continued………….
PAGE 30
Archives
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013 Do you have old pictures for memories? Send them to Junioremma419@gmail.com
Shehu Sani,MKO Abiola,Hajia Gambo Sawaba,Kaduna,1993.
Hotel in the Western Region of Nigeria in the 60s. Louis Armstrong meets Ahmadu Bello.
The guard of Nigeria Mounted police on the occasion of the visit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner (C.V.Harrison) at the Northern Police College, Kaduna.
Oladele Adebayo Ajose -- OBE (1907- 1978), a promoter of primary health care, University Vice Chancellor & one of the first Africans to 'hold a professorial chair'. Headquarters of the Western Region Housing Corporation, Ibadan, Nigeria.
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 31
Leisure WORD SEARCH
Photo of the day
Find the words which are listed at the right side of this page in the Word Search grid. The words can be forwards, backwards, up, down, or diagonal. Circle each letter separately and keep in mind that the letters in each words may be used in more than one words name. PET PRIVATE ANT MUSIC DO GRAND
Word search
MONEY FREE SEE LOVE SPACE PRODUCE
ST 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Brain Teasers 6.
1. Johnny. 2. Meat. 3. Mt. Everest. It just wasn't discovered yet. 4. There is no dirt in a hole. 5. Incorrectly (except when
1 . Johnny's mother had three children. The first child was named April. The second child was named May. What was the third child's name? 2. A clerk at a butcher shop stands five feet ten inches tall and wears size 13 sneakers. What does he weigh? 3. Before Mt. Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world? 4. How much dirt is there in a hole that measures two feet by three feet by four feet? 5. What word in the English language is always spelled incorrectly?
African proverbs 1. A big goat does not sneeze without reason (Kenya). 2. A child does not laugh at the ugliness of its mother (Uganda). 3. A fig tree found on the way is enough to keep you from starving (S. Africa-Azania). 4. A full stomach does not last overnight (Uganda). 5. A house that is built by God will be completed (Ethiopia). 6. A lion does not eat its own cubs (Kenya). 7. A log thrown into the water does not become a crocodile. 8. A man on the ground cannot fall (S. Africa-Azania). 9. A person cannot dance well on one leg only (S. AfricaAzania). 10. A stick which is far away cannot kill a snake (Uganda). 11. A sweet taste does not remain
forever in the mouth (Kenya). 12. A woman is a flower in a garden; her husband is the fence around it (Ghana). 13. All that we do on earth, we shall account for kneeling in heaven (Ghana). 14. An African should not be made to suffer the loss of an arm from a gunshot in Europe (Ghana). 15. An egg never sits on a hen (E. Africa) 16. An elephant does not die of one broken rib (S. Africa-Azania) 17. An elephant never fails to carry its tusk (E. Africa) 18. An empty tin makes a lot of noise (Kenya) 19. An eye deceives its possessor (Kenya) 20. Axes carried in the same bag cannot avoid rattling (Kenya). 21. Cattle are born with ears, their horns grow later. 22. Cattle lick each other because they know each other (S. Africa-Azania) 23. Chiefs are not chiefs to women (Uganda)
7.
Success Tips
Be raised with access to clean drinking water and sanitation. (Every tech billionaire I've ever spoken to has a toilet!) Try to be born in a region that is politically and militarily stable. Grow up with a family that is as steady and secure as possible. Have access to at least a basic free education in core subjects. Avoid being abused by family members, loved ones, friends or acquaintances during the formative years of your life. Be fluent in English, or have time to dedicate to continuously improving your language skills. Make sure there's enough disposable income available to support your learning technology at a younger age.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
CARTOON
PAGE 32
F
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Compiled by Emmanuel Eko
Brazilian hair... natural but not natural I
t is usualy called 100% natural and The hairs can hair.The most you should know country and still Different kinds and cuticles of the hair processing and are which makes it of it, is from its natural state. Brazilian hair colors such as brown, and
"brazilian hair" because of the proccessing method and final result. It is not processed, free of any damage to the cuticles. come from any country where ladies get very good famous is the virgin remy hair from Brazil, but that the virgin remy hair can come from any be called " brazilian". countries provide textures of virgin remy are all intact, free from facing the same 100% tangle free. only 1 lady's head,
different hair. The chemical direction, Each pack the hair is in
comes in a natural black, off black, medium brown.
d a r k d a r k
PAGE 34
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Business News Lagos state Govt rakes in N6.28b from land use charges in 2012
T
he Lagos State Government has said that it realised the sum of N6.28 billion from land use charges in 2012. Mr Tokunbo Abiru, the state Commissioner for Finance, announced this in Ikeja at a media briefing to mark Gov. Babatunde Fashola`s sixth year in office. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the current land use charges were introduced following the harmonisation of the various charges on land in 2001. According to him, the existing charges are the tenement rate, development rate, ground rent and the neighbourhood improvement charge. "The state realised N6.28 billion from land use charges in 2012; and the amount is an improvement over the N250 million recorded in 2008", he
explained. Abiru attributed the improvement to the comprehensive billing approach being adopted by the state government had helped to shore up its revenue profile in the period under review. "Out of a total number of 641,132 property enumerated across the state, 622,155, representing 97 per cent,were billed. "The outstanding 18,977 billable property, which mainly are raw records yet to be processed, but not exempted from payment are now receiving due attention.'' The commissioner expressed optimism that more revenues would be earned from land use charges this year going by the records of the Lands Company Ltd. Abiru appealed to residents to uphold the tradition of paying their
land use charges promptly, saying it will enable the government to deliver more dividends of democracy. On pensions, the commissioner disclosed that N18 billion had been paid by the state government to retirees in the last five years. Abiru said that N671 million had also been paid by the state`s underwriters as compensation to the dependants of 183 deceased workers. On the funding of the ongoing projects, he said three tranches of bonds valued at N275 billon had been issued by the state government to finance the projects. The commissioner, who recalled that the state recorded 89 per cent budget performance in 2012, said the 2013 budget of N499.6 billion was being funded in a bid to achieve set goals. (NAN)
FG plans new tariff regime for industrial sector
A
new tariff regime aimed at increasing local manufacturers capacity and boost investments in the industrial sector is underway, The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Olusegun Aganga, said. Mrs Yemi Kolapo, the Special Assistance to the Minister on Corporate Communications, said in a statement that Aganga made the plan known on Thursday when he inaugurated a committee on the matter. The statement said as part of efforts to achieve the goal, Aganga inaugurated a 12-member committee to work out appropriate tariffs to support the implementation of the
country's industrial policies. The aim is to reposition the manufacturing sector and increase its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from its current four per cent to 10 per cent over the next four years. The committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Dauda Kigbu. Other members of the committee are the President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Chief Kola Jamodu, the executive secretaries of the National Sugar Development Council
Others are the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, the directorsgeneral of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and National Automotive Council, among others. Their terms of reference are to propose strategies and measures that will increase the capacity utilisation and contribution of the industrial sector to GDP in line with the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan. The committee is also to propose tariffs for every sector under the purview of the ministry, identify major gaps between existing tariff regimes and the Common External Tariff regimes and propose solutions to smuggling.
Kano State Govt. ready to partner with NACCIMA to boost business activity in Kano
K
ano State Government has expressed its willingness to partner with Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) to improve business activities. Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso made the government's position known during the investiture of the new President of NACCIMA, Alhaji Badaru Abubakar,
at the Government House, in Kano. He said that no meaningful development could take place in any society without good ground for investment to thrive. "Within the last two years of our administration, we have committed huge resources toward creating an enabling environment for local business to succeed and
also attract foreign investors to Kano," the governor said. In his remarks, the NACCIMA president pledged to provide conducive atmosphere for business to thrive in Kano and Nigeria in general. He said that indigenous business men and women in the country would be given necessary cooperation to succeed in their businesses. (NAN)
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 35
Business
How NAFDAC demystified merchant of death in Lagos By Abdulwahab Isa
I
t was the end of the day for a syndicate who specialises in manufacturing and selling fake drugs to Nigerians It was the end of the road for one Mr. Olisaemeka Osefor who claimed to be representing a cartel of drug counterfeiters based in China. According to Olisaemeka the cartel specialises in the production and shipment of various fake and counterfeit drug products into the Nigerian market. Just like the popular saying, "everyday is for the thief and one day for the owners of the house", Olisaemeka was caught in the act last week by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC. He (Olisaemeka) and his team were said to have successfully produced and shipped into the country, various brands of fake drug products worth over N106, 210 million. But fate played a fast one on them following a tip -off which led the operatives of the Enforcement and Investigation Directorate of the Agency to raid a warehouse located at Progressive Traders market known for the sale of jewelries and cosmetic products within the Trade Fair Complex along Badagry Expressway, Lagos. The fake products were said to have been deliberately packed in plain cartons and rapped in sacks to conceal their identities and deceive the public. Curiously and of particular note was that of Neurogesic Ointment which was labeled as manufactured in Nigeria even when it was imported. Some of the counterfeit medicine discovered and impounded include Skineal Cream (158cartons x 10 x 24 x 15g), Funbact-A cream (43cartons x 30 x 12 x 30g), Mycoten Cream (719cartons x 40 x 10 x 20g), Neurogesic Ointment (131cartons x 40 x 10 x 35g), Rough Rider Condom (56cartons), Iman Luxury powder (20cartons) and Heal balm (205cartons) amongst others. Sadly, hospital reports have shown that hundreds of Nigerians lose their lives on daily basis to activities of these drug counterfeiters. The sad story of one time beneficiary of Kanu Heart Foundation is still fresh in the minds of Nigerians, who read the report of how the late beneficiary died after a fake drug was unknowingly administered to him shortly after a lifethreatening heart surgery. Every year, fake drugs worth billions of Naira are seized by NAFDAC, unfortunately, despite the activities of the agency to earnestly rid Nigeria of fake drugs; some Nigerians like Olisaemeka have continued their nefarious activities unabated. Just recently, the agency
destroyed fake drugs and others valued at N145, 969, 606 in Makurdi. Another raid and visit to about 12 suspected locations in Lagos alone for fake drugs had led to the arrest of 14 persons in the last one month. However, the case of Olisaemeka is just one of the many that the regulatory body had tackled across the country in recent times. Fake drug is now a common place in the country. But in the last few months, NAFDAC has stepped up its surveillance and enforcement activities to rid the nation of fake drugs and other unwholesome products regulated by it. It is instructive to note that the regulatory body has in the past four years of the current Director General's administration evolved many strategies against counterfeiting of drugs. Parading Olisaemeka before the media and the public at the agency's office in Oshodi, Lagos, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii described Olisaemeka's arrest amongst many, as one of the ground breaking efforts that the Agency has made in recent times. In view of the magnitude of the offence, the Agency according to the DirectorGeneral, has sampled the drugs against the suspect preparatory for his prosecution when investigations are concluded. While condemning drug counterfeiting which he described as worst than armed robbery and other crimes, Orhii said that "latest findings had proved that drug counterfeiters now operate from markets that deal on other commodities to shield their dubious activities from law enforcement agencies". But he had a strong message to those he described as the merchants of death, that NAFDAC was more than prepared to rid the nation of fake and unwholesome drugs when he maintained that there will be no sacred cows in the fight against drug counterfeiting and warned that any counterfeiter arrested will be prosecuted accordingly to the extant laws of the land. Acknowledging that the Agency cannot win the war alone; Orhii solicited the support and cooperation of all Nigerians
Olisaemeka Osefor to join hands with NAFDAC to combat the menace. To this end, the Agency has pledged to reward in monetary terms, any member of the public, landlord and market union whose report would lead to uncovering of any suspicious activity relating to NAFDAC regulated products around their communities while promising that such information will be treated with absolute confidentiality. Reiterating that China remains a problem to the fight against fake drugs in
“
However, Olisaemeka has confessed to being in business with a cartel based in China, where the fake products were sourced and stored in their warehouses before being shipped to Nigeria. He has also admitted that they have some other collaborators in Tin Can Island port where they often cleared the consignment illegally when they arrive Nigeria.
Nigeria, Orhii threatened that NAFDAC will begin prosecution of owners of warehouses used in stocking fake drugs. "It is imperative to also mention that landlords of warehouses stocked with fake drugs and other sub-standard products will henceforth be arrested and prosecuted as accomplices" he warned. Corroborating his views, the Director of Enforcement, NAFDAC, Mr. Garba Macdonald said that his officers will continue intensive surveillance to consolidate on the achievements so far that had led to the series of arrests of the syndicate importing fake regulated products into Nigeria. He revealed that his directorate was investigating many petitions of unwholesome activities of some importers and promised that no efforts would be spared to flush them out of the distribution chain. However, Olisaemeka has confessed to being in business with a cartel based in China, where the fake products were sourced and stored in their warehouses before being shipped to Nigeria. He has also admitted that they have some other collaborators in Tin Can Island port where they often cleared the consignment illegally when they arrive Nigeria.
PAGE 36
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
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Who is against new Government Re: Sovereign wealth fund House for Katsina? By Abdullahi Umar
R
e c e n t l y , the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Abdullahi Faskari, while addressing a group of journalists on the emerging trend of development in the state, disclosed that, ''the Katsina of 10 or five years ago is different from the Katsina of today. Things have dramatically changed in terms of infrastructure. You find people, who for some time now, had not been to the state asking questions before they can locate their way''. During that media briefing, Alhaji Faskari told the journalists the reason for the construction of a new Government House by the administration of Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema. According to Faskari, ''the essence of the new Government House is not because the current one is not good. Beyond that, the present Government House has been in existence since the colonial days. My office used to be that of the colonial masters' residence/ office, which we inherited after Independence. And when the state was created, it was converted to Government House. This Government House was not designed to be Government House. In other words, it has no layout plan, unlike, the new one we are building now. The colonial structure was just converted to a Government House, but the new one is specifically thought over, designed and built as Government house." In spite of this explanation, in the opinion of the few critics of the new Government House project, Katsina state does not need a new Government House, when it can continue to use the existing one. In their opinion, the state government misplaced priority by embarking on such a project when there is poverty related problems confronting the people of the state. It was during the Good Governance Tour of Katsina state that the state's deputy governor gave an insight into the achievements of the administration to the visiting journalists. Before then,
WRITE TO US Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com Governor Shema's approach to critics had been that 'the projects we executed and the beneficiaries will vindicate us'. In the emerging trend in Katsina state, when beaming searchlight on the new project, there are salient developments that the public, most especially those who live outside the state, need to understand. Since Governor Shema has opted for the approach of 'let the projects executed speak for themselves,' it is incumbent on us, the beneficiaries, to tell the story. It is on record that before Governor Shema's administration opened up the area where the new Government House is being constructed, the area, despite being part of Katsina metropolis, was a rural setting. Before then, a plot of land in Madoji village was being sold for between N40,000 and N60,000. Today, because of the new Government House project, a plot of land in there now ranges from between one million to three million naira. It is a known fact that many villagers there have become emerging millionaires because of this sudden economic transformation. Unfortunately, the few critics of this project, either out of mischief or ignorance, have decided to ignore the multiplier effect of the project to the economic life of the people of the state as a whole. From all indications, Governor Shema did not embark on the project because he cannot stay in the existing Government House. By the time the project is completed, Shema would have expended six and half years out of the eight-year two
tenures in the present Government House. What this portrays is the fact that the project is not executed for personal interest. Governor Shema has exhibited a high sense of purposeful leadership while discharging his responsibilities as a governor. His innovative ability by thinking of new and better ideas as solution to problems set him apart as an example of leadership per excellence. It is also not surprising that the only critics of the administration remains the duo of one Mustapha Inuwa, who was secretary to the state government, and one Ahmed Kaita, who was recently removed as member of House of Representatives by the court of law. They remain the critics simply because their idea of governance is sharing public money among the privilege few at expense of public good. This position was further buttressed by the Mustapha statement in the Daily Trust edition of Tuesday, April 3, 2012, where he said that commissioners under the administration of Governor Shema are not rich but poor. According to Mustapha Inuwa, ''you should not blame our Commissioners for their inability to take care of your social problems because they are poor; they are as poor as church rats. They don't have anything to give.'' The question Mustapha is unable to answer till date is, if Katsina state commissioners are being paid salaries and allowances, what other avenues does Mustapha expect them to get rich? In this current political dispensation,
when considering the indices and every parameter for assessment in terms of good governance and development, Governor Shema is an incredible icon of incomparable performance. Although this may not be known to many simply because, the region where the Governor hails from is always ready to sacrifice its best material on the altar of petty politics. It is an indisputable fact that since May 2007, when Ibrahim Shema was sworn in as Governor of Katsina state, he has taken bold steps in the provision of infrastructure, free education, enhanced health care services, agriculture development, youth empowerment and general well being of the people of the state. All these he has achieved out of clear vision of service to humanity. The most interesting thing about Katsina state government under the leadership of Governor Shema is that, while other states with lesser achievements are bewildered with debt portfolio, in terms of internal and external loans, the reverse is the case with Governor Shema's administration. He has transformed Katsina state beyond imagination with quantum of development projects without any debt overhang. Anyone who has monitored or observed Nigeria's political arena closely will discover that Governor Shema's brand of politics is premised on a high sense of responsibility. It is to his credit that since his entrance into politics and up till date that he has neither uttered any abusive word nor used foul language on his critics and opponents, even in the face of unwarranted provocation. It is worthy of note that in the emerging trend in Katsina State, the budget for the new Government House has not affected other developmental projects, simply because, the money for the project was realised from the profits that had accrued from the state's investments. Abdullahi Umar, writes from Katsina Local Government, Katsina state.
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 37
Opinion Politics of Emergency Rule By Mustapha Minjibir
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s the nation forges ahead in its strenuous struggle against Boko Haram insurgency with the imposition of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, one can confidently say that we are out of the state of seeming indecision that characterized the government's response to the challenge of insecurity. Prior to the widelyapplauded declaration of state of emergency in three states by President Goodluck Jonathan the nation was gripped with agonizing anxiety over the apparent deadly resilience of the insurgents to what was supposed to be a robust military intervention. This disillusionment spurred the concerted calls for dialogue and possible amnesty in palpable desperation. Unfortunately, there was no reciprocal response from the insurgents who defiantly doubled their attacks in the north-east sector where they had retreated to but certainly not for surrender purposes. By the time reliable reports confirmed that up to 14 of the 27 local government areas in Borno State had practically fallen to the forces of insurgency, there could not have been any alternative to a drastic intervention to re-assert Nigeria's sovereignty and decisively halt and eliminate the entrenched insurgents. Since the massive deployment of the military with all its arsenals to the three worst-hit states no one can deny that the battle has indeed been taken to the doorsteps of the terrorists with salutary effects on the situation. While all these scenarios are reasonable, logical and progressive in pursuit of the national interest, it was somehow objectionable to some groups of Nigerians for reasons that are patently
unpatriotic to say the least. Signs of the presence of hypocrites, blackmailers and allied refuseniks lurking around came up even before the state of emergency broadcast by President Jonathan as orchestrated opposition to the option erupted even from such unlikely quarters as the Northern Governors' Forum. All sorts of contrived arguments were bandied about dedicated to discouraging the government from moving in the right direction. It is to the credit of the President that he was able to execute the policy swiftly and deftly thereby earning the reconsidered endorsement of the nay-sayers soon after his broadcast. Now we know that the northern governors' unexpected cold feet reaction was propelled by their selfish interest which was fixated on the likelihood of emergency rule ousting some of their colleagues, recalling what happened in the Obasanjo era. Others who rallied round the governors in objecting to the imposition of emergency rule must be similarly motivated. Appropriately, the
majority of Nigerians who supported the imposition of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states have correctly concluded that the critics could not careless if the country gets overrun by the insurgents because it is so glaring that the nation was tottering on the brinks of destabilization. Not even the pro-dialogue advocates can successfully sustain an objection to the necessity for emergency rule. The carrot of dialogue and negotiated ceasefire and even amnesty have all along been on the table but was unattractive and unproductive due to the condemnable failure of the state governors concerned to muster their supposed local clout and connection as chief security officers of their states to effectively check the deadly activities of the insurgents in their midst before everything went hay-wire. Even in pursuit of the dialogue and amnesty option the governors performed woefully and had no encouraging results to show. The case for ousting them from office
“
Now we know that the northern governors' unexpected cold feet reaction was propelled by their selfish interest which was fixated on the likelihood of emergency rule ousting some of their colleagues, recalling what happened in the Obasanjo era. Others who rallied round the governors in objecting to the imposition of emergency rule must be similarly motivated.
during the period of emergency rule was unassailable! As if to score another point, the President again directed for the release of all women and certain category of the insurgents to complete the circle of the carrot and stick initiative. The inclusion of Adamawa State in the emergency rule cover was also the subject of agitated comments questioning the rationale. Even Governor Nyako who, as a retired military top shot, ought to know better went on air to express misgivings even as he had no choice but to submit to superior authority. It should not be difficult to understand that the borders of the three states now under emergency rule are strategically critical to the success of any military offensive in the areas affected, given the increasing evidence of cross-border incursions and foreign elements'involvement in boosting the insurgency. As with the emergency rule it is not surprising that the people of Adamawa have since come to terms with the strategic sense of it all. All said, President Goodluck Jonathan has cleared any lingering doubt about his capacity to act decisively when the occasion arises and has proven his innate patience and focus to address emerging issues copiously. He should use the lessons of the politics of imposition of emergency rule to put governors in their proper place down under whenever the national interest is the subject matter. After all at the end of the day, he is the Commanderin-Chief as well as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and on his shoulders rest the fate of the nation especially in times of adversity. Posterity will prove him right! Mustapha Minjibir wrote from Kundila Housing Estate, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria
Thisday Correspondent and Ndoma-Egba's kind gesture By Michael Jegede
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u d e Okwe, a hard-working practicing journalist covering Cross River State for Thisday, a national newspaper with headquarters in Lagos, is reported to be suffering from a life threatening heart-related malady. It has been widely reported that the Thisday correspondent, who resides in Calabar, is in urgent need of over N8m for an operation in India that will enable him to remain alive, and continue to do his most cherished job of educating, entertaining and informing the public. Reports have it that after a series of futile effort in hospitals in Calabar, Okwe, with the backing of the Cross River State government, was flown to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where he was admitted into the Primus Inter Specialty Hospital, Karu, Abuja, for almost a month before he was discharged. Series of tests at Echo-Scan Heart Centre and Heartland Cardiovascular Consultants in Abuja were said to have revealed that the journalist has enlarged heart. Medical reports from Heartland signed by the Medical Director, Dr. Onye Achilihu indicated that, "Mr. Okwe has severe heart failure due to cardiomyopathy. He will urgently need proper treatment which will include optimal medical therapy, cardiac
catheterization, and angiogram to exclude a reversible cause. In addition, he will need internal defibrillator to prevent sudden cardiac death." Okwe, who is said to be currently lying helpless at his 8, Edem Oyom Street, off Mbukpa Road residence with a failing heart and swollen legs, had cried out: "The heart problem is still there but it has been brought under control. But the doctor said I have an enlarged heart and I need N8 million for heart transplant in India. If the money can be raised quickly, it would be better because the doctor said too much delay might lead to sudden death. The doctor said my heart has enlarged like twice the size of a normal heart and for it to normalise again, I need heart transplant. My heart has become flat and the blood circulation is very poor." He continued: "Government should assist me because I don't have N8 million. Where will I get such money? I am appealing to members of the public, churches, philanthropists to help me out of this condition because I still have enough to offer journalism and the society. This sickness is weighing me down and I am really missing journalism. Each time I miss news, I don't feel happy. It's affecting my family already. I have four children in the university and for a man who is down, it is not easy. I am just appealing to the public and the
government for help. I know Governor Liyel Imoke has tried but I urge him to do more. My brother who is a teacher has done the little he could within the limit of his resources. My younger ones are not financially strong. Please, I need help." Perhaps, it was this cry of the dying newsman that fell into the ears of the Senate Leader, Senator Victor NdomaEgba (SAN), who recently made a donation of N1.5m as his own contribution to the entire sum needed to save the life of the man, who believes very strongly that he still has a lot to offer in the pen profession. Ndoma-Egba, a three-term Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, and lawyer turned politician is known as a man with high philanthropic spirit, who has made significant impact in the service to humanity and contributed greatly to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria. The Senator, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while making the donation in Calabar, pointed out that he was moved by the worsening health condition of the writer. Represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Sam Arikpo, the Senate Leader appealed to other well-meaning citizens to come to the aid of the journalist so that his life can be saved. Ndoma-Egba's kind gesture towards
Okwe has been commended by many Nigerians, who noted that it was quite benevolent of him to have deemed it fit to make the said donation, while calling on other well-to-do individuals in the society to follow suit. For instance, in a piece captioned: "Ndoma-Egba: A senator's lifeline to ailing journalist", Group Features Editor of Daily Independent Newspaper, Mr. Emeka Alex Duru, quoted Dr. Ijeoma Duru, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gender Care Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organisation as saying: "Ndoma-Egba has shown a good example. I call on other endowed Nigerians to follow suit. Life is not about how much you have in your pocket but how you impact on others. Jude Okwe should not be left to die. All must rise up to his assistance. Ndoma-Egba has taken the lead. That is a good one". The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Cross River State, Ndoma Akpet, who applauded the Senator for his act of magnanimity, urged other philanthropists, organisations and professional colleagues of the media practitioner to support this life saving mission. According to him, the union cannot afford to allow Okwe go the way of all flesh as his service is still much needed. Michael Jegede, a journalist and public affairs commentator wrote in from Abuja
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Online comments PDP directs govs to deliver states in 2015 Which states did PDP win? Can people of Yobe, Borno,Adamawa
and other Northern states including all of the South
Jonathan orders release of Boko Haram suspects
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PDP Chairman, Bamanga Tukur
here can't be peace again in those areas. Those killed will never forgive Goodluck's soldiers. These insurgents will also be looking for avenue to attack government. Stories from Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan etc justify this. –TO
– Alamieyeseigha
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These people want Nigeria to be in chaos which will not happen by the grace of God. They have stolen money with which they now enjoy drinking alcohol and womanizing and
they don't want that to stop. Jonathan would surely leave through elections . Sanusi A Yaradua Frustrated politicians like Alamieyesegha and Edwin Clark should be quiet. They are unpopular in Nigeria. Their support for the second term bid of Jonathan is enough to end Jonathan's ambition. Nothing is worse than calling somebody a thief! – Benjamin Adjutant
APC and Tinubu factor
Jonathan
ur team here in South Africa does not have the people we can call the leaders starting from our managers and coach. Since 2006-2013, there has not been a stable team in South Africa. Just feeling sorry for the seven poor guys who have been training without knowing that they are doing well. Safa Awunamali is turning all sponsors off. Why…….Why – Minenhle
Borno: Residents groan as curfew bites harder
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his is a very serious problem we are facing in this region. I hope this state of emergency will
actually solve the insurgency and terrorism problems! May Almighty Allah help us all, Ameen!!! – 9jaSon For Naija :
Islam and the five mysteries (I)
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ne is not surprised at the behaviour of Tinubu as he is only showing the true form he is made of; to wrench power from the center at all cost and be given the opportunity to expand his kingdom materially. Not surprising though he has not commanded any respect from Yoruba leaders. He has hung on the neck of the Lagosians and who will remove this yoke o? It is left for people of Lagos to take decision. He will never be granted the status of a National Leader and his alliance with Buhari will collapse. As for Lai who has said a lot of senseless things,it is no surprise, because the vituperation will determine how much money is coming in. They will soon fade away. – Bayo
Morocco to host qualifier for 2013 FIFA Beach World Cup
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2015: No vacancy in Aso Rock y votes and my families' votes will not go for Jonathan in 2015. It's our votes that will decide if there is vacancy in Aso Rock not Alamieyesegha or Clark. – Olu Odushe
Western and part of Eastern states vote for PDP? 2015 will decide. –TO
U
Alamieyeseigha
We're introducing the 1st 6-star hotel on the African continent in
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buja - GM, AES Luxury Apartments. This is impressive, a six star hotel in Nigeria, wow! So,.what do you have for corporate organizations ,rates etc. – Mustapha Adam
ntil the Nigerian Muslims Nigerianise Islam, nothing any of your Imam says or any of you quote from the Qur'an makes any meaning to any Nigerian not of Islamic stock and I am sure of those Muslims who are really devoted and peace loving. By Nigerianisation, I mean that Islam should not wear the face of violence and should never look like members of Boko Haram. Islam is pure and peaceloving and respects the dignity of human life. Human life has no qualification. It does not have to be Islamic to be respected. Leave violence to the Middle East people who have refused to embrace peace in this world. Violent Islamism is foreign to our nation. – Gbenga Gbenga Sheik Abubakar Gumi
PAGE 39
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 11 — SUNDAY 12, MAY, 2013
International Obama pushes for end to perpetual U.S. 'war on terror'
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welve years after the "war on terror" began; President Barack Obama wants to pull the United States back from some of the most controversial aspects of its global fight against Islamist militants. In a major policy speech on the regime's counterterrorism policy at the National Defense University at Ft. McNair, in Washington, Obama narrowed the scope of the targetedkilling drone campaign against al Qaeda and its allies and took steps toward closing the Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba. He acknowledged the past use of "torture" in U.S. interrogations; expressed remorse over civilian casualties from drone strikes; and said that the Guantanamo detention facility "has become a symbol around the world for an America that flouts the rule of law." After launching costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States is tiring of conflict. While combating terrorism is still a high priority for the White House, polls show by large margins that Americans' main concerns are the economy and domestic concerns such as healthcare. "We have now been at war for
well over a decade," Obama said near the start of his address. Toward the end, he added: "But this war, like all wars, must end." Faced with criticism about civilian casualties in attacks by unmanned aerial vehicles, Obama said the United States would only use those drone strikes when a threat was "continuing and imminent," a nuanced change from the previous policy of launching strikes against a significant threat. Under new presidential guidance signed by Obama this week, the Defense Department will also take over some lethal drone operations from the CIA. That would subject drone attacks to more scrutiny from Congress and might lead to the Pentagon taking over drone operations in Yemen, but not in Pakistan, where the CIA is likely to continue to run the program. With al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden killed in a U.S. raid in 2011, a number of the group's top members taken out in drone strikes, and the U.S. military role in Afghanistan winding down, Obama made clear it was time for a policy shift.
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about his administration's counterterrorism policy at the National Defense University at Ft. McNair in Washington, May 23, 2013.
British security services questioned over soldier’s murder
B
ritain's security services faced questions over whether they could have done more to prevent the murder of a soldier hacked to death in a busy London street after it emerged that his suspected killers were known to intelligence officers. The two suspects, Michael Adebolajo, 28 and Michael Adebowale, 22, are under guard in hospitals after being shot and arrested by police after the murder of 25-year-old Afghan war veteran Lee Rigby on Wednesday in broad daylight. They have not yet been charged. Adebolajo, filmed justifying the killing as he stood near the body holding a knife and meat cleaver in bloodied hands, was born in Britain to a Nigerian
immigrant family. Adebowale is a naturalized British citizen born in Nigeria. Another man and a woman have also been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, an early indication that police are investigating whether the attack was part of a wider plot. Prime Minister David Cameron said a parliamentary committee would carry out an investigation into the role of the security services. Britain's MI5 domestic spy agency had been aware of the men, but neither was considered a threat, a government source told Reuters. Dramatic video footage showing the moment when police shot the two men was published on a British newspaper's website on Friday.
Kenya seeks help to drop Hague charges against Kenyatta
K
enya has asked other African countries to urge the International Criminal Court (ICC) to drop crimes-against-humanity charges against its new president and his deputy. The position is contained in an African Union document seen by Reuters. Uhuru Kenyatta became the second sitting African leader facing trial at the warcrimes tribunal when he won an election in March with an absolute majority in a ballot that saw huge voter turnout. Many African nations signed up to the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, but a
widespread feeling on the continent that it is targeted by the tribunal has left the court deeply unpopular with many. South Sudan's President Salva Kiir said on Thursday his country would never become a member of the ICC, saying it appeared to be preoccupied with prosecuting African leaders. The paper submitted to African foreign ministers at an AU summit in Ethiopia said the ICC trials risked destabilising Kenya when it was undertaking deep reforms to avoid a repeat of the post-election violence five years ago that killed more than 1,200 people.
UN says arrest of militia leader in Cote d'Ivoire, a welcome development
T
he United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) has described the arrest of Ivorian militia leader, Ouérémi Amade as ` a welcome development'. The Deputy spokesman of the mission, Kadidia Lebron, made this known at a news conference at the UN base in Sebroko, Abidjan. Kadidia said that the security situation in the country would witness some measure of calm, following the arrest. "UNOCI welcomes the action and describes it as a welcome development; it will be to the advantage of the peace process in the country. "UN forces have engaged in massive patrol of the different regions of the country in support of the national forces during the week,'' she said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amade was arrested in the western part of the country on May 16 by men of the Republican Force of Cote d'Ivoire (FRCI). The militia leader, who was detained at a military camp in Duékoué, had been transferred to Abidjan where he was currently being interrogated. Reacting to the arrest, the Ivorian Human Rights League (LIDHO) has said that Amade's arrest would curb the culture of impunity which it said was fast developing in the country. It said that the arrest had reassured the people that the government was willing to enforce law and order. The body urged the government to go beyond the arrest by ensuring proper prosecution of the militia leader over crimes committed in the country.
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
News Feature
…As demons insist on returning ‘home’ Mysterious fire engulfs homes in Misau
From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi
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ysterious fires have repeatedly burnt over thirty houses at Gwargayandi ward very close to the emir’s palace in Misau, Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi state allegedly caused by evil spirits (demons)who had lived there over two hundreds years ago. The mystery started at the medicine store of one Mallam Babaji Jika and other stores very close to his own repeatedly despite efforts by good Samaritans to control the fire to no avail for the past three weeks. Our correspondent gathered that the people of the area came in large numbers to control the flames in the house but yet the flame jumped from one place or house to another. It was gathered the evil spirits claimed the place belongs to them and had left it over two hundred years ago but now have returned to reclaim their land. As such, they asked occupants of the place to vacate them or face the penalty. A resident of the area in Misau, Alhaji Juji Abba Kolo said they have witnessed this type of incident. He said, “I have seen several fire incidents but not this type because it keep on reoccurring for the past three weeks, infact people in the area are tired of putting out the fire” He said some of the women living in the area affected by the mysterious fires were so disturbed by the inferno and had to consult exorcists who told them that the demons want their land back. According to the experts, the demons(jinns) left over 240 years ago to other places and have now decided to return and would want their home back. Bappa Mohammed Jika, who is also affected by mysterious fire incident said he had seen wonders in his house for the last three weeks but with prayers, he
Victims of fire incident started rebuilding the damaged building. “The fire started in our house in Gwargyandi ward in Misau from one room to another, from one store to another but mind you it did not consume the whole but some parts of the building even buckets and food items. We had sleepless night all the days of the incident. So people began to believe that it is the work of demons. From then, we kept on praying and reciting the Holy Quran both morning, afternoon and evening. That is how we gradually began to get over it in this area”, he said. He said, “a lady called Maryam was attacked by the
demons when passing by our house and they told her to go and bring Bappa Jika , that they want to see me and they apologised to her for causing the damage in the house”. Hajara Adamu Gwargyaldi who also expressed worry, said, “ I have never seen something like that in my life because the fire kept burning on and on. If you control it here, it would jump on another structure from one room to another. For the two weeks, we don’t sleep. Malam Muhammadu Manga Abba is the cleric that prayed during the period of the incident. He said, “this type of incident need more and more prayers and recitation of
Quran to cast the demons out of the area.The people really witnessed abnormal fire. Thank God, it is coming under control”. The district head of Misau, Alhaji Ahmadu Ahmadu Chiroman Misau confirmed the incident, saying it was caused by the demons but with the prayers and frequent recitation Quran, “we have overcome the fire in the area” He added, “We don’t know if the place is owned by the demons. All I will say is that those people living in this area inherited it from their great grandfather. For somebody or demons to come now and claim it is their home for 240 years is a
mystery”. A member representing Misau in the state House of Assembly Misau Alhaji Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo who also confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said he visited the place when the incident occurred and how the fire gutted houses and rooms in the area. He appealed to the people in the area to remain calm, prayerful and have faith over incident that “is an act of God”.“We should also thank God that everything has come under control” He then pledged to report the incident to the state government and also request for fire service vehicles for the local government
4 Alh. Ahmadu Ahmadu district head of MIsau
Mallam Manga Misau
Mal. Hajara giving account of the incident
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 41
Weekend
RomanWeidenfeller Robert Lewandoski
Bastian Schweinsteiger
UEFA Champion League
Flair, exuberance, experience clash in an allGermany Champions League final By Patrick Andrew
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ayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund collide today at Wembley Stadium in the maiden allGermany final in Champions League history. Previously only Italy, Spain and England had that distinction. For Bayern, who suffered successive finals defeats, it is an opportunity to break the jinx of losing rather disdainfully to seemingly weaker oppositions in the finals of 2010
Jurgen Klopp, coach of Dortmund
and 2012 respectively. The defeat to Chelsea in particular at their own Allianz Arena, courtesy a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out misadventure, evokes sore feelings and, therefore, today's derby must offer an incentive to erase that painful memory. Conversely, nine years after almost going bust, Dortmund hope to sustain their soaring form by repeating their 1997 success, when a young Lars Ricken came off the bench to seal a 3-1 win over Juventus with an audacious 25-yard chip. In essence, Bayern and Dortmund are driven by different motivations. The former desires to break a jinx while the latter's may be, among others, to rekindle its continental reckoning. Already, Bayern's exuberance has seen them torn Barcelona to shreds and established indubitably their superiority in the Bundesliga with 25 points clear of Dortmund to clinch the title. But Dortmund has shown no little pedigree. They ended the dream of Real Madrid and ultimately cut Jose Mourinho to size. The pains inflicted on Real were more remarkable in that Robert Lewandowski singularly destroyed their hitherto dreaded
defensive network netting a hattrick plus one. The game would also be a revenge mission of some sort for Bayern. They were drubbed five times in a row to Dortmund during the Ruhr club's back-toback Bundesliga title successes in 2011 and 2012. True, they have redressed the balance this season, avoiding defeat in all four of their most recent contests en route to a near-on flawless triumph in the German title race. Yet securing the UEFA Champions League at the expense of their local rivals imposes a halo image of a different kind. The rivalry between them had been yielded mixed results. Both have crossed paths 100 times so far, with Bayern emerging the top dogs with 45 victories, just 25 losses and 30 drawn games. The 91 points hall this season just 11 less than the possible 102 points in the league and suffering just a single loss, against Bayer Leverkusen, sets a record and must have annoyed Dortmund. Statistically, Bayern are clear favourites for the title, given their record of two wins and two draws against their opponents this term. Besides, Bayern have racked
up 29 goals at a rate of 2.42 per match, and will take to Wembley's hallowed turf as the most prolific team in the competition this year, while Dortmund sit third on the list
after netting 23 times or 1.92 per game. In terms of tactical differences and strength, Bayern and Dortmund offer variations on the same theme: They both press their opponents high up the
Continued on page 42
How they qualified • Bayern Munich: - Winners of Group F (ahead of Valencia, BATE Borisov and Lille); 4 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat, 13 points - Round of 16 v Arsenal (3-1, 0-2) - Quarter-final v Juventus (2-0, 20) - Semi-final v Barcelona (4-0, 3-0) • Borussia Dortmund: - Winners of Group D (ahead of Real Madrid, Ajax and Manchester City); 4 wins, 2 draws, 14 points - Round of 16 v Shakhtar Donetsk (2-2, 3-0) - Quarter-final v Malaga (0-0, 3-2) - Semi-final v Real Madrid (41, 0-2) • The stats Bayern have contested nine European Cup finals so far, winning four and losing five. They stand third on the list of clubs to have reached the most showpieces, with Real Madrid having disputed 12 and AC Milan 11. Victory would take them level with Liverpool on five separate triumphs, behind Madrid's nine and Milan's seven.
• Dortmund were the opponents when Bayern recorded their biggest ever Bundesliga win in 1971/72, current club President Uli Hoeness scoring twice in an 11-1 triumph. • Dortmund lifted the Champions League trophy in Munich when they won their maiden final 3-1 against Juventus in 1997. • The two sides crossed paths in the quarter-finals of this competition in 1997/98, Stephane Chapuisat pouncing in the 109th minute to give Dortmund a 1-0 extra-time success in the second leg following a goalless first meeting. • Wembley will be hosting its seventh European Cup decider and the second since the iconic venue was rebuilt. • This will be the fourth final between two teams from the same country after an all-Spanish showpiece in 2000, an Italian affair in 2003 and the 2008 match between English clubs.
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 — SUNDAY 24, FEBRUARY, 2013
Players to watch Goalkeepers: 1-Roman Weidenfeller, 32: The goalkeeper, who has never won a Germany call-up, has been outstanding, and almost single-handedly kept Real Madrid at bay in the last four. Renowned for his stunning reflex saves at point-blank range. Midfielder Marco Reus, 23: A dazzling player who looks as if he has been part of the team for years. Often unstoppable down the wing due to his pace, Germany international Reus can also play as a centre forward and likes to shoot from long range.
David Alaba
2013 UEFA Champions League trophy
Previous UEFA Champions League finals highlights
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pain are the most successful nation with six triumphs, one more than Italy. Spain's wins - 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2011 - came from nine final dates while Italy were victorious in 1994, 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2010 from their 11 appearances. England emerged victorious in 1999, 2005, 2008 and 2012 and were losing finalists in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011
Jupp Heinckes, coach, Bayern Munich Continued from page 41 pitch, move the ball from defence to attack with bewildering speed and play with a 4-2-3-1 formation featuring wide players on each flank and a lone striker. But there is slight departure tactically. Dortmund are more lightweight and lean towards a more counter-attacking style. Little wonder Jurgen Klopp once described as "the best playmaker a team can have". This season, Dortmund have
while Germany were winners in 1997 and 2001 and runners-up in 1999, 2002, 2010 and 2012. AC Milan have played more finals than others, the 2007 was their sixth appearance. They equalled Real Madrid's record of three victories with that triumph against Liverpool in Athens, a mark Barcelona matched in 2011after beating Man Utd in the final. Italy with 26 has the most appearances per nation in alltime European Cup finals - of those 12 have ended in victory and 14 in defeat. England has recorded 12 wins from 19 final appearances. Spain has 22 final appearances (13 wins/ nine defeats), Germany 15 (six wins), Portugal nine (four wins) and the Netherlands eight (six wins). There have been three previous finals between teams from the same country: in 2000 Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 at the Stade de France, three years later AC Milan defeated Juventus on penalties at Old Trafford and in 2008 Manchester United
overcame Chelsea in Moscow, also on spot kicks. In the previous 20 Champions League finals, there have been 14 outright wins and six matches decided on shoot-outs. A total of 51 goals have been scored with the most common results being 2-1 and 1-1, which have happened on four occasions; three finals have finished 1-0.
pressed in shorter bursts, yielded possession to their opponents, yet have been ruthless in the counter-attack and finishing. However, it has its own disadvantage as Klopp admitted. Klopp said his team tried to do too much in the Champions League last season, when they pressed their opponents relentlessly and dominated matches only to finish bottom of their group behind Olympiakos, Arsenal and Olympique Marseille. Bayern do more than press opponents. They press their
opponents high up the pitch. It means they bring on the physical presence that limits the period between losing possession, regaining and getting the ball to the opponents' vital area to eight seconds. That was what made the difference against the tikitaka Barcelona. So, placed side by side with Dortmund, they are more of a possession team, not unlike Barcelona but employing a style that's more direct and physical than freeflowing shame of losing the ball style of Barcelona.
Franck Ribery
Fifteen European Cup finals have gone to extra time. The finals of 1958, 1968, 1970 and 1992 were decided in the additional period, while the 1974 showpiece between Bayern Munich and Club Atlético Madrid ended 1-1 after 120 minutes with Bayern subsequently winning a replay. The other ten finals were settled by a penalty shootout after extra time: in 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2012 when Chelsea FC defeated Bayern 4-3 in the shoot-out after a 1-1 draw. Milan's 4-0 win against FC Barcelona in the 1994 final remains the biggest winning margin and the Rossoneri were also involved in the highest scoring showpiece when they shared six goals with Liverpool in 2005 before penalties. In terms of the European Cup, Madrid's 7-3 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960 remains the most impressive while Bayern (1974 v Club Atlético de Madrid) and Milan (1989 v Steaua Bucuresti) also recorded 4-0 successes.
But then, having charmed neutrals with their breathless counter-attacking football over the last three seasons, Dortmund would hope that the system albeit not totally unfamiliar to Bayern would facilitate their rise above them. With Roman Weidenfeller making more crucial saves than any other goalkeeper in this year's tournament (41) and a ruthless finisher in Robert Lewandowski second only to Cristiano Ronaldo in the scoring stakes, Dortmund sure will not be intimidated.
Striker Robert Lewandowski, 24: Europe's hottest forward, the Pole has yet to reveal whether he will see out his contract at Dortmund or move on, with the latter the more likely option. With a record of 10 goals in 12 Champions League games this season - including four against Real Madrid in the semifinal - he has enhanced his reputation and attracted the attention of some of Europe's top clubs. Bayern Dante, 29: The Brazil international has he joined Bayern cemented the central defence with his physical and skilled game as well as his perfect timing. He has become an integral part of their titlewinning team and their run to the final of both the German Cup and the Champions League. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, 28: Named by his coach as the "best midfielder in the world at the moment", the versatile Schweinsteiger is desperate to prove it with a major title. "Schweini" wants to make amends for his missed penalty in the final last season that led to Chelsea's title victory in Munich. Javi Martinez, 24: The Spanish international is elegant and strong, Martinez links up perfectly with Bastian Schweinsteiger to help orchestrate their game and press opponents early on. Striker Mario Mandzukic, 26: The Croatian is in a find scoring form. He has been less effective in Europe, notching only two goals in nine matches, but nonetheless dangerous.
Matt Hummel
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, JANUARY, 2013
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NBBF recalls coaches ahead of Afrobasket tournament
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he Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) has recalled three former coaches of the men's senior basketball team, D'Tigers. Top on the list is Ayo Bakare, the head coach of the team who resigned nine months ago after Nigeria's poor outing at the London 2012 Olympics. Others are Sani Ahmed and Ayinla Johnson, former assistant coaches of the team. Ahmed, who is currently the coach of Kano Pillars basketball team, was an assistant to Bakare at the London 2012 Olympics. Tijani Umar, President of NBBF who announced the decision yesterday, said the decision to recall them was based on their exploits in the past. Umar also said they were recalled to help fine-tune the team ahead of the Afrobasket tournament scheduled to take place in Cote d'Ivoire from Aug. 20 to 31. Umar said the idea of recalling them was for continuity and sustainability, adding that it was necessary to build the team around people who had tremendous belief in the country. He observed that the experiences of the coaches were needed in the national team, in spite of their resignation after the country's first round exit at the London 2012 Olympics. The first Vice-President of the NBBF,
Mukhtar Khaleh, had said a new coach would be appointed for D'Tigers by the incoming board but Umar, dismissed that arguing that no other coach in the country has achieved so much like Bakare. ``Just google his name and see what he has achieved; the answers are there. We are bringing a returnee person to come help the team block the holes. ``Ayinla Johnson was assistant coach of the senior men's team about six years ago; he has been out of the country but back now coaching the Union Bank team in Lagos and he is making a lot of impact. ``So, Ayinla brings a lot of value to the table. He is a utility guy with a US passport which makes it easier for him to travel. We can send him to go and set up camp, scout players as well as games.'' Umar said ``every consideration that we had for selecting the staff was guided by reasonable considerations; no sentiments at all.'' The NBBF president also said assistant coaches of the team, Abdulrahman Mohammed and Ogoh Odaudu had been appointed as part of the federation's succession plan. Mohammed is the current assistant coach of an Abuja based basketball team, Markmentors, while Odaudu is with the Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt. "These
D’Tigers coaches are young and we need to start a succession programme. ``When the older coaches retire or they
WBO African Champion, Ekpo, vows to defend title June
I
saac Ekpo, the reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) African Super Middleweight Champion, on Friday reiterated his resolve to successfully defend his title in his upcoming title defence in Cotonou, Benin Republic, in June. The 31-year-old boxer said in Lagos that it would be difficult for any opponent to stand in his way. ``I am confident that no opponent will last till the 5th round in the ring with me, before I knock the person out, as no one can stand my punches and skills now. ``I am physically, mentally, emotionally and medically fit to confront anyone now, the postponement of the fight from May to June has made me to prepare harder, though not encouraging,`` he said. The military officer, who won the title on Dec. 10, 2012 by knocking out Said Mada of Algeria in Lagos, declared that he feared no foe even as his manager said he being adequately prepared to dismantle his opponent, Ajice Powers from Ghana. According to Ekpo, ``my manager, Anthony Kamal, has imparted in me the necessary skills that will guarantee the successful defence of the title. ``My manager knows the game; his father was the manager of Azuma Nelson of Ghana, a former professional boxer, widely considered the greatest African boxer ever. `` I am battle ready to face any opponent who thinks he can rob me of my title; I am confident and proud that I will retain my title. ``I know it will not be an easy fight. Many opponents are willing to take the
title, but I will not give in to fear as God had told me to fear no one,`` he said. Ekpo, who promised Nigerians that he would try to bring back the glorious days of Nigerian boxing, appealed to fans to pray for him. Ranked eighth in the world by the WBO, Ekpo has had a total of 21 fights, losing one, won 20; out of which 15 were by knock-outs, and five by points' decisions.
The pugilist, who also won the West African Boxing Union title in 2012, expressed his determination to become the world unification boxing champion. The fight, which was initially billed for May in Lagos was postponed to June 30 in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
have to move out for one reason or the other or we think they can't perform again, these guys will step into their shoes,'' Umar added. Umar said that slots were also being reserved for ``strength and conditioning coach as well as statistics coach''. He said the statistics coach would help the head coach to study the match for possible changes. The president said Scott Nnaji was also appointed head coach of the Women Senior National team, D'Tigress, while Lateef Erinfolami, Adewunmi Aderemi and Emmanuel Odah were picked as assistants.
Again, Ivory Coast beat Nigeria as Supersand With this result, Nigeria finished Eagles bow 4-5 Group B as runners up and will likely face
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he second consecutive times Ivory Coast towered above Nigeria in continental fieta. First, the Junior Elephants twice dented the pride of seemingly unassailable Golden Eaglets at the CAF U-17 Championship, and lifted the trophy at the expense of the Eaglets. Now, at the CAF Beach soccer championship the sand Elephants trampled on the Supersand Eagles yesterday in a game that was seen as an opportunity for Nigeria to regain control. In February, the Super Eagles against form book predictions outclassed the starstudded Elephants of Ivory Coast and eventually the most prestigious soccer trophy of the continental, something the Ivoriens have dreamt of and twice failed to clinch. The Supersand Eagles were beaten, nonethless, they could yet qualify for a place FIFA Beach World Cup with a semifinal victory. A brace by Abdul Azeez Abu and goals from Babatunde Badmus and Emeka Ogbonnaya were not enough to stop their West African neigbours from getting the much needed victory at the Mazagan Beach in El Jadida. The Ivoriens were inspired by impressive Sakanoko and Ludovic who proved so tough for the Nigerians to curtail in the keenly contested encounter.
defending champions Senegal in the first semi final of the tournament to be played today. The Sand Eagles must win this tie if they hope to represent Africa at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti.
Oswald joins race for IOC presidency
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orld rowing chief Denis Oswald has become the fifth candidate to succeed Jacques Rogge as president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In a statement on the Around the Rings website, the 66-year-old Swiss lawyer said he would hold a press briefing on Monday in Lausanne, Switzerland ``to outline my vision for the future of the IOC.'' Oswald competed as a rower at three Olympics and is head of the International Rowing Federation. Germany's Thomas Bach, Ng Ser Miang of Singapore, Richard Carrion of Puerto Rico and Wu Ching-kuo of Taiwan have already entered the race for the IOC presidency. Rogge steps down in September after 12 years as president.
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 4 — SUNDAY 5, MAY, 2013
Monaco has announced they have reached an agreement with Porto for the signings of Joao Moutinho and James Rodriguez.
Leicester go into their ninth successive Premiership final with the same starting XV that eased past Harlequins in the semi-finals.
British number one Laura Robson will play former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the first round of the French Open.
Carl Froch swears he will exact revenge on Mikkel Kessler when they meet for a second time in London today.
Germany boss Joachim Low has told L'Equipe the way to achieve success is to adopt the "attractive and quick" style of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
P I C T O R I A L
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
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Feature
Free surgery: Kaduna North gives back to society From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
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ver five hundred people suffering from different types of ailments but could not afford medical attention in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have benefited from the free surgical treatments sponsored by the Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Sulaiman Sama'ila. For the chairman, it was a sort of giving back to society or to the electorate what they gave to him, even though, according to him, it was part of his effort to fulfill the promise made to the people during campaigns. Thousands of ordinary people were targeted for the one week free surgical operations but in the one week exercise, over 520 people benefited. The programme was held at two centers within the local government. The first centre where surgery was conducted for patients was the Primary Health Center, Badarawa while Unguwar Rimi centre was for those with eye problems. The Badarawa Health centre was filled beyond capacity with men, women, children and the aged, all waiting to be screened before checking by the doctors. About four surgeons hired by the local government chairman performed the surgeries. According to the organizations, most of the beneficiaries were selected through their ward Heads, Imams, District heads among others. It means that only those who were truly sick and could not afford their medical bills benefited. A family physician, Dr. Dalhatu Mohammed said they treated ailments with surgical conditions for people who cannot afford it. "These are people that really cannot afford to treat ailments they suffered for years. As far as the people are from Kaduna North, we treat them. In a day, we do almost about 40 surgeries and this is the fourth day. We have about four surgeons doing the work. On the major ailments majority of the patients came with, he said, " the major ailments we have treated are as followers hydrocele, Hernia, appendicitis, lipoma, Urine Fibroid, UrineVaginal prolapia, thydroidechony, owarian-lyst and catart. We have done about 130 cases within four days. We hope to achieve the target by Friday hopefully," he said. 50 year old, Malam Ibrahim
Murtala Mohammed after the surgery
Hauwa Idris, another beneficiary Mohammad, a bricklayer, was one of the beneficiaries and has this to say. "Honestly, we don't know how to show our appreciation to this gentleman for this gesture to us. He brought doctors to treat us of the illness we have been carrying with us for years. Could you imagine I have been suffering from excission for almost six years. " I am a bricklayer and I don't have money to remove the illness. The last time I went to hospital, they charged me 20 thousand but I don't have that kind of money. I left it in me until the chairman arranged for this free surgical treatment for masses like us. If God will provide more of his kind in the society, I don't think people will suffer in this country. Right now as I am talking to you,
there are thousands of people that cannot afford minor surgeries and so they live with it till they die," he said. Another beneficiary,68 year old yam seller, Malam Shehu Mahmud had his appendix removed and other surgeries conducted. " I am married with two wives and 13 children and I have been ill for about three years. I was once charged N70,000 for the surgery but since I do not have money, I left the hospital without having anyone to assist me. Here I am now feeling better after receiving free treatment courtesy of the local government chairman, Allahamdullih," he said. According to the old man, he will continue to pray for Allah's protection for the good things he
has done for him. For 38 years old, housewife, Hauwa Idris, it was a big relief as she was operated of fibroid and about 46 pieces were removed from her womb. " I have been going to hospital for scanning and it was detected that I had fibroid but because we don't have money, we decided to leave everything to God, but then I was still feeling pains in me. " But thanks to Allah for this gentleman's gesture to the less privileged in the society. If not for him, I don't think I could have afforded the surgery," she said on her hospital bed. The chairman, Sulaiman Samaila who was also at the venue of the exercise said, " It was part of our electioneering campaign promises that we made to our people.
We told them that the moment they gave us their mandate, we will not let them down. So when we came into office, we looked at major issues that if executed, will touch the lives of our people “The promises include education, health, employment and infrastructure. But after deliberations, we settled to start with health and that is why we decided to look for people that really need medical attention, those who couldn't afford the bills. "We budgetted huge amount of money for the exercise and I am really satisfied with the number of people that turned out. I am very happy that with the free health services, we are able to touch the lives of many. Many more free projects will soon come their way," he said.
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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
Agriculture
Insecurity: 'We must rebuild dams and go back to the land' Dr. Ilyasu Aliyu Gital is the Program Manager of the Bauchi State Agricultural Development Programme as well as the Caretaker Chairman, Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area. In this interview with our correspondent Ahmed Kaigama, Gital spoke on the potentials of agriculture especially cotton production in the state.
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a s there been any plan by the government to forestall deforestation especially from the Northern fringes? Well, at the global level, I can’t answer that but at the state level, I know there are concerted efforts, there is the Ministry for Environment, there is Forestry, and afforestation programme government has been planning but it's not sustainable for us to always depend on government. We cannot succeed. If you see those countries that succeeded in curtailing the effects of deforestation, they did that through established shelter belts. It is the communities that look after the shelter belts. If you go to the Northern part of the state, I know over 10, 000 hectares of land has been put under afforestation. If you go back after one or two years, you see nothing there. People expect that the government that established will be there to maintain it. It is not government affair alone. Communities have to come in and get involved in trying to see that all the shelter belts have been sustained so that the trees will grow. We are just cutting down trees, if you go to the villages and ask a person how many trees he has felled this year, he will tell you between 9 and 10, but he has not planted a tree during the period. It is a thing that the press and everybody will have to get involved in trying to mobilise the people, show people the importance of afforestation not deforestation. So, this is an enterprise that everybody has to get involved. We must to be involved in trying to see what we can do for the environment. Environment to us, is a trust license. So, if we hold our environment in trust, everybody will work towards seeing that he delivers the trust given to him by God. That is, in trying to see that all the forest is sustained, plants have been nurtured to maturity, and without that I don't think we are going anywhere, the effect will still be felt. What is happening now because of this global warming is partly as a result of felling many trees without replacing them. Has the cotton production embarked upon by the state government been accepted in your local government? Well, Tafawa Balewa is among the 13 out of the 20 local government areas in the state that is producing cotton. We produce high quantity of cotton, but the
issue of cotton is a national one. The price of cotton is too low for any farmer that produces it, so we have negotiated with the government.I'm a member of the cotton production implementation committee in the state, and we have been talking to the government to come in and purchase farmers cotton at subsidised rate. What I mean by subsidy is, if it is selling in the market at N90 per kg, government can come out and purchase it at N110 or N120 per kg, they have subsidized with N30. So, with that, farmers will bring out their cotton, they will break even and that will promote cotton production in the next season. But with poor price now, farmers will go nowhere to sell cotton and if you ask them to produce the following year. I believe with that subsidy when they buy it, many companies will come later and buy the commodity and government will sell it at very reasonable prices . So, as far as Tafawa Balewa local government is concerned, we are a cottonproducing local government. What we are waiting for now, is the good market to sell. What about the planned public-private partnership in cotton production in the state? The government deliberately went out and brought in WACOT, the West African Cotton Company. WACOT is a private company, and government is a public enterprise. But the price the company offers is far below what is expected, but then because government came in, it is even better than the price of individuals coming to purchase. WACOT is buying at N98 or N100 per kg, but some people, merchants for that matter are coming and only offering N70 per kg. So, the PPP is working because it has improved the pricing policy but then we are not comfortable with the price, but we are asking government to increase the price so that other private entities will come and compete with he government so that they will get the cotton and go. So, without cooperating with other agencies, we cannot go it alone. We are wooing investors to come and invest in cotton production in Bauchi state and part of the investment is giving good price to the farmers, reviewing the ginneries so that we add value and that definitely will add value to the price, and more farmers will go into cotton production. How do you see the
possibility of establishing cotton ginnery in the state? For now, we don't like that. I will not encourage that for now as a professional. I will not encourage the state government to spend its money in trying to establish a cotton ginnery because we have a company that has a cotton ginnery nearby in Gombe producing below standard and capacity.So, if you establish another one here in Bauchi, all the companies will be performing below capacity and it is not healthy for the economy. It is better to encourage marketing so that when more cotton is been produced, the state can establish its own cotton ginnery, which means it will have enough cotton to gin and that means the machines and workers will not be idle, they will not be paid salaries for doing nothing. But if you establish a cotton ginnery here in Bauchi, you employ people, the machines will be there but not running, people will be collecting salaries doing nothing and it is not healthy for the economy. How do you see the provision of earth dams as panacea for enhancing irrigation farming? It is not wise to depend on rainfed agriculture and succeed. We have to do some kind of water harvesting and construction of dams is part of water harvesting, and if you construct these dams, you have to use the water for irrigation. if you see the kind of climatic change we are experiencing now, more rains are coming. If you don't construct dams, the heavy flooding taking place will destroy farmlands, but if there are dams, it will be collection areas for the excessive running water and it will not cause flooding. It is important for any government, but you know the politics of dam construction. His Excellency came with the zeal to continue the construction of the decade's old abandoned Kafin Zaki dam, but international
Dr. Ilyasu Aliyu Gital politics incited some other states downstream to disagree. Federal Government is disagreeing, the international organizations are disagreeing, but they are disagreeing not because dam construction is not good but because they believe if dams were constructed, throughout the year farmers will be busy and will get something and will not expect from outside. So, it is important for our governments to know that dams must be constructed, and must be utilized for the purpose of irrigation farming, and other uses like hydro-electricity supply, fishery production, livestock production and would also enhance livestock production because if you construct a dam, the area will be green, livestock will move to the area to feed. So, throughout the year, you will have healthy livestock. Construction of dams have a lot of advantage that if you start counting them, you will not finish. we will encourage government to do that, but you know dam construction is also not an easy task. It involves a lot of money, which means private companies
“
It is not wise to depend on rain-fed agriculture and succeed. We have to do some kind of water harvesting and construction of dams is part of water harvesting, and if you construct these dams, you have to use the water for irrigation. if you see the kind of climatic change we are experiencing now, more rains are coming.
and individuals will have to come in, in complementing the efforts of the government to achieve that. But may be, we have not gotten enough investors in this area, that's why it is moving at slow rate. But when these dams are fully utilized and more revenue is being generated, I think it will encourage private people to come and partner with the government and then start developing the dams. As an agriculturalist, won't you exploit some agricultural potentials to improve the fortunes of people in the local government area and invariably improve revenue generation? Go round the Tafawa Balewa local government area and see the way people are engaged in seasonal farming, and you know that definitely things are changing for the better. In the last two years, because of insecurity and lack of mobilisation, you go to the river banks and see nothing happened, but this year, infact the flood relief committee was with me and we went round Tafawa Balewa and some of the mitigation measures they were advocating and when they saw farmers, we visited almost all the fadama areas.When they saw the level of activities taking place at the fadama sites, they were impressed and said it seems people have gone back to land to compensate what they missed during the rainy season. So, I believe agriculture is doing very well in Tafawa Balewa local government area, and most fadama crops that are being produced elsewhere are also being produced in Tafawa Balewa.
PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
PAGE 47
From the Pulpit Who are you listening to? (II)
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raise the Lord! I welcome you to the second part of this series which I began last week. Before I stopped last week, I said you shouldn't listen to rumour mongers or backbiters; you shouldn't listen to those who want to cause enmity between you and someone else, and are giving you unsolicited information. Unfortunately, Saul listened to the Ziphites who came to tell him that David was hiding in the hill of Hachilah, opposite Jeshimon. So Saul went again in pursuit of David to kill him, and this was the second time David could have killed Saul but David again refused listening to his men's suggestion. "So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. Then Abishai said to David, 'God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!' But David said to Abishai, 'Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?'" (1 Sam 26:7-9 NKJV) On this occasion, David actually prophesied the end of Saul! "David said furthermore, 'As the LORD lives, the LORD shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish.' The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go." (1 Sam 26:9-11 NKJV) Saul later perished in battle; David didn't
kill him. He only took the spear and the jug of water by Saul's head. David and his men went away - no man saw or knew it; they were not awake but were all asleep, "because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen on them." Don't listen to those who set you against others. Don't become a victim of others' devices. Hear what David told Saul: "If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the LORD." (1 Sam 26:19 NLT) The enmity between Saul and David must have been a human scheme considering the fact that David had asked Saul in 1 Sam 24:9 why he was listening to the words of men who said he sought his harm. Once again, beware of rumour mongers - they have their own motive. What are those around you telling you? In 1 Sam 30, David and his men pursued, overtook and recovered all that the Amalekites who had raided and burnt Ziklag had carried off from David's camp including the women, children and everyone else. After this victory, David demonstrated that he was not just a great warrior but a very considerate leader because he was very careful the kind of advice he listened to. 1 Sam 30:21-22 says, "When they reached Besor Brook and met the two hundred men who had been too tired to go with them, David greeted them joyfully. But some troublemakers among David's men said, 'They didn't go with us, so they can't have any of the plunder. Give them their wives and children, and tell them to be gone.'" (NLT) That sounded like a very fair decision. But David knew that was not
FAITH DISCOURSE WITH
Pastor W. F. Kumuyi Matthew 7:7-11
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i t h i n the unparalleled teaching of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord now reveals the great privilege of praying. For many believers, this is a much-neglected privilege. If Abraham, Moses, Elijah or Daniel were here today; if they were to have the great and precious promises which we have, their power and impact would have been indescribable. We have great victories and great possibilities before us and they are ours for the asking. Every area of our lives can have a divine impartation; our spiritual and moral lives can be transformed and renewed; all our needs can be supernaturally supplied; all our situations and circumstances can be changed for the better; we can be holier, healthier and happier; we can be free from oppression and be victorious over all temptations; we can receive and experience abundant grace and strength to be all that the Lord has purposed for
our lives - if only we would ask in prayer. The Lord has already assured us that “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Let us learn to ask Him; let us reverse the Persian decree and make a decree within ourselves not to ask a petition of men but of God, making our requests known unto God (Daniel 6:6-10; Philippians 4:6). Practise asking God for your needs and expecting an answer until praying in faith becomes a habit. 1. UNLIMITED PROMISES FOR ALL BELIEVERS Matthew 7:7,8; 21:21,22; John 14:12-14; 15:7,16; 16:23,24; James 1:5-8; 1 John 3:19-22; 5:1115. All believers have been given “exceeding great and precious promises.” “All things that pertain unto life and godliness” have been given unto us (2 Peter 1:3,4; Romans 8:32). All we need to do is
a good decision; he knew it would bring division into the camp. Hear what he said: "No, my brothers! Don't be selfish with what the LORD has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the enemy. Do you think anyone will listen to you when you talk like this? We share and share alike - those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment." (Verses 23-24 NLT) From then on, David made this a law for all of Israel, which they continued to follow. Did you see the quality of David's decision contrary to what those who wanted to cause confusion asked him to do? Beware of the type of information or advice those around you are giving you; don't take hook, line and sinker what those in leadership position under you are telling you. Distill the information they are giving you. Every leader should be aware of this otherwise he will be used by the leaders under him to achieve their hidden agenda. David demonstrated a large heart which every leader should have. He was generous not only to those following him who some people had wanted to be denied of the booty, he went ahead to share the spoil with others who were not even in his army. "When he arrived at Ziklag, David sent part of the plunder to the leaders of Judah, who were his friends. 'Here is a present for you, taken from the LORD's enemies,' he said. The gifts were sent to the leaders of the following towns where David and his men had been: Bethel, Ramothnegev, Jattir, Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, Racal, the towns of the Jerahmeelites, the towns of the Kenites, Hormah, Bor-ashan, Athach, Hebron, and all the other places they
GREEN PASTURES By Pastor T.O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 had visited." (Verses 26-31 NLT) What a great thing David did! But did you notice that without David knowing it a season of his life was just about to pass away because Saul was just about to die. Chapter 31, the very next chapter after this incident, the last chapter of 1 Sam, details the death of Saul. David thereafter began to rule as king first over the tribe of Judah for seven years and later over the entire nation of Israel 33 years. Who are you listening to? Advice is good. (Pr 11:14, 12:15, 15:22, 19:20, 20:5, 18, 27:9) But don't listen to just any counsel but wise counsel. "For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety." Prov 24:6 KJV) Don't despise advice - you'll always need good advice. Prov 25:11 says, "Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket." (NLT) You must know that it is not everybody who gives good advice. "The godly give good advice, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense." (Prov 10:21 NLT) Prov 10:31 says, "The godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off." (NLT) According to Prov 15:7, "Only the wise can give good advice; fools cannot do so." (NLT) I believe God has spoken to you already. Who are you listening to? Respond to God now! TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus. I urge you to take the following steps:*Admit you're a sinner and you can't save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life - your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start to attend a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. There you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God. Kindlysaythisprayernow: "0Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God" I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be.
Asking in prayer with great assurance “ask” in prayer. The Lord has put great emphasis on asking. The word “ask” appears in every verse of Matthew 7:7-11. “Ask, and it shall be given you” (verse 7). “For every one that asketh receiveth” (verse 8). “If his son ask bread” (verse 9). “Or if he ask a fish” (verse 10). “How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” (verse 11). Moreover, the first letters of the words, Ask, Seek, Knock form the word ASK. Many of us lack physically and spiritually because we do not ask God in prayer as we ought to. “Ye have not because ye ask not” (James 4:2). Here, our Lord teaches on prayer as a privilege as well as a precept. It will be strange for a son to always ask strangers to supply his needs and never ask the Father. It is dishonouring to God if His children are always asking people to meet their needs and never asking God Himself. The Lord commands us, ask. Ask God first, ask Him always, ask Him trusting, ask Him expectantly, ask Him as an obedient son asks a faithful Father and He will answer unfailingly. “Ask, and it shall be given you.” 2. UNANSWERED PRAYERS AND THE
BARRIERS Matthew 7:7,8; 20:20-23; 1 Samuel 12:19; 8:7,19,20; Hosea 13:9-11; James 4:3;Psalms 78:17,18; 106:14,15; Proverbs 1:2430; 28:9; Zechariah 7:12,13;Isaiah 1:15-20. No believer should have any of his prayers unanswered. Our redemptive right, family right, kingdom right guarantee answers to prayer as we walk with God, seek only His will and let the mind be in us which was also in Christ. Praying “according to His will” (1 John 5:14), helped by the Holy Spirit who knows the mind of God (Romans 8:26,27; 1 Corinthians 2:16) and desiring only what God desires, we can always expect answers to our prayers and we shall not be disappointed. Are there hindrances and barriers? Why do we sometimes experience failure in having our prayers answered? Any failure we experience is always our fault (Deuteronomy 3:23-26; Joshua 7:11,12; 2 Samuel 12:15-23; Psalm 66:18; Ezekiel 14:1-6; Matthew 6:5-8; Luke 18:10-14). God is a faithful God. Remove the barriers and God will answer your prayer. 3. UNCLAIMED PROVISION OF BLESSINGS
AND BENEFITS Matthew 7:11; John 4:10; 2 Peter 1:3,4; 1 Kings 3:5-14; 2 Kings 2:9-15; Psalm 2:8;Jeremiah 33:3; Ezekiel 37:1-10; Zechariah 10:1; Luke 11:13; Matthew 18:18,19; Ephesians 3:20,21. Parents delight in providing the necessities of life for their children. They readily provide food, daily needs and even good gifts for all their children without partiality or unhealthy preference. They are even willing to give toys to their infants but they become concerned if their adult sons always and only ask for toys. As we grow up, our needs and desires change to correspond to our growth and maturity. We discover that we need more than bread and fish and our parents notice our mental, social, physical, emotional, spiritual growth by the things we ask for. Our prayers often reveal whether we are baby christians, growing christians or mature christians. There are great, uncommon promises and provision which we have not claimed. Many precious promises of grace for godliness and success in ministry and fruitfulness are ours. Let our prayers grow with our growth in knowledge and growth in Christ.
BIG PUNCH “For instance, Clause 3 (2) (e) page 7 of the gazetted declaration submitted by the executive talks about utilisation of funds of any state of local government in emergency areas but we are not comfortable with the clause.” —Hon. Victor Ogene, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs
SATURDAY 25 — SUNDAY 26, MAY, 2013
After the distraction W
e have said sometime ago and we venture to say it again that the current insurgency in some parts of Northern Nigeria, bloody and tragic as it is, is only a distraction, and therefore nobody should be deceived into believing that it can alter any of the fundamentals of Nigeria. When the dust settles, as it must, the whole truth will ultimately unfold. But when you survey the upheavals in some parts of Africa where blood flows relentlessly spreading human tragedy of seismic proportions you know for a certainty what is at stake: diamond, gold, oil, but above all, power. Central Africa is being consumed by Blood Diamond, and this resource rich region is reduced to a vast ocean of tears, death and destruction. The current occupation of Mali by France, which Nigeria supports, has introduced a new element in the continuing tragedy of West Africa, a region which has experienced more than its fair share of epidemics, famine, poverty and misrule. So welcome to a new era of Blood Gold, Blood Uranium, Blood Oil. Welcome to all the global carnivores, China, France, Germany, USA, UK, welcome indeed to the New Scramble for Africa. Welcome also, in Nigeria, to Blood Democracy or, if you like, Blood Politics - it is all about power, who dominates it, who controls it, who perpetuates it. Blood Democracy gave birth to insurgency, first in the South West, South East, South South and then North East. In the South South, they are proud to say that terrorism contributed to their ascendency and it surely can perpetuate their ascendency. So what started as an experiment in political opportunism has blossomed into a monster poised to consume its author, as a result, the democracy Nigeria has invested so much of its resources and energy to sustain, is gradually turning praetorian, one face civil, one face military, a poisonous mixture that fits the description of Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr, - "a large praetorian bureaucracy, filled with ambitious, possessive . . . and often sycophantic people, makes work and makes trouble." The introduction of the Army into what lies purely in the domain of politics on the pretext of fighting insurgency is threatening the very survival of democracy itself. Fighting a war it does not
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understand and not professionally equipped for, the Nigerian Army arrogated to itself the powers it does not possess, and behaved in a manner unbecoming of a unifying national institution. Its conduct in Baga and Giwa for instance depicts a military force whose mind is utterly deranged, whose conscience is mortally wounded. When the attention of the world focused on its atrocities against its own people Nigeria was scandalized, its reputation damaged considerably. Adam Nossiter of The New York Times was told that the soldiers took a small child from his mother and threw him inside the fire. Nossiter reports what he saw in a government hospital. 'On a recent blazingly hot Saturday, a convoy of two armored cars and an ambulance barreled into the sandy grounds of the sprawling state hospital, sirens wailing. Wary Nigerian Army machine gunners flanked the ambulance, and the attendants wore face masks against the odor in the 109degree heat. It was not the only convoy that day, said rights advocates who also observed the scene. "The numbers can be outrageous; they bring them in an ambulance, two or three ambulances, loaded," the security official said. These are mostly young Nigerians murdered secretly in cold blood by soldiers and then dumped in hospitals in broad day light in a brazen display of impunity. Dr Kole Shettima of MacArthur Foundation states that soldiers behaved 'essentially as aliens in alien land', buttressing his point with several examples. One relates to a pregnant woman who was stopped at a military check point by a soldier. The soldier asked her if she was carrying a Boko Haram. The woman was outraged. She grabbed a bottle and hit the soldier. Other examples, 'too painful to recall' concern the former Borno State governor, Mohammed Goni, who is probably the most respected former civilian governor of both Borno and Yobe states and Vice Marshall Daggash (rtd) who was a Chief of Defence Staff in the 1990s. They were humiliated by wild and savage soldiers. Ten soldiers guarding him watched, Kole Shettima recalls, while Nigeria's most accomplished General, Muhammad Shuwa, was gunned down in his residence.
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President Jonathan Every citizen of the affected states, high and low, are liable to humiliation and mental and psychological abuse. Young men are routinely arrested, some summarily executed, countless others simply disappear. After all soldiers don't keep record, their record, Kole Shettima observes alarmingly is in a black hole! But the child whose father is killed or simply disappears has the record written in his memory and in his consciousness. The woman whose husband is murdered even in her presence retains the memory forever in her innermost consciousness. The people who have been so traumatized, abused, liquidated, or killed by starvation or suffocation also have the records writ large in their collective memory and in their collective consciousness. The world, too, has the record. And Almighty God keeps the master record. Janine di Giovanni, of The Council on Foreign Relations and an award winning author wonders [Daily Beast 27/4/2013] how little
African life is valued, not only in Africa but all over the world. Boston Bombing and Baga massacre took place within twenty four hours of each other. Boston's bombing claimed three lives, and there was such an outpouring of grief across United States, even, says Giovanni, an 'obsessive global news coverage', some of the journalists even 'struggling with new angles, having exhausted their personal supply of misery.' America, led by its president, mourned, tears running down his face, drawing sympathy from the world. In Baga, however, where Nigeria's own army massacred over two hundred innocent citizens, there was no president to mourn, no nation to grieve. So the world too did not mourn the death of the children of Africa thrown into the fire, the adults forced into the fire set by the soldiers to burn and die, the men and women either shot dead or burned to ashes. Giovanni wonders loudly about the 'perverse truth' about Africa - Rwanda, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria... But
why, she was asked by a female friend, are Europeans so obsessed with the plight of their own kind and appear to be oblivious - or is it fed up? - with the woes and travails of Africa in particular? Is it because, she asked, the Europeans are GOOD LOOKING? - and let's complete the logic for her - and the Africans are UGLY LOOKING? 'Boston will linger forever in our minds, and I don't want to diminish it. But I cannot forget the image of a Nigerian woman, weeping, after losing her children in this week's violence,' Giovanni sums up her feelings. 'Acres of newspaper inches have been devoted to the dead in Boston. Did anyone write about her? Boston is still on the front pages. But in northern Nigeria, the sad truth is: who really cares?' Truth is, GOOD LOOKING people do care for their people, UGLY LOOKING people don't. From Blood Democracy we go quickly to Blood Oil. There appears to be two powers running parallel to each other on the Nigerian territory - Federal Republic of Nigeria, which extracts its oil from its territory and sells in the international market, and Oil Thieves, who extract oil from Nigeria and sell, too, in the international market. The Thieves take twenty percent, of Nigeria's oil revenue while Nigeria and its one hundred and fifty million people is allowed eighty percent, for now. Mutiu Sunmonu, Chairman of Shell Companies in Nigeria, stated the problem very clearly in an open letter released last April which received world wide press coverage. 'The massive and growing problem of oil theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta,' he wrote, 'has reached unprecedented levels...This is costing the nation many billions of dollars a year in lost revenue.' He added: 'It may never be possible to assess the exact figures, but it's clear that a well financed and highly organized criminal enterprise exists on a phenomenal scale - a parallel industry with a supply chain to export crude oil overseas that includes loading and shipping operations. Most of the stolen oil ends up in ocean-going tankers that transport it to refineries in other parts of West Africa, Europe and beyond. Those involved - both in Nigeria and outside - mastermind this multibillion-dollar business using influence, corruption and violence to protect their interests.'
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