Peoples Daily Newspaper, Thursday 25, October, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 54

Thursday, October 25, 2012

We took Ndume’s phones without consent, says SSS

. . . putting the people first

Grandsons edged out of Attah Igala stool contest

>> PAGE 2

>> PAGE 3

Zhul-Hajj 9, 1433 AH

N150

Jang accuses FG of shortchanging Plateau >> PAGE 5

Secret oil deals

How FG officials siphoned trillions

By Abdulwahab Isa with agency report

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acts have emerged on how some unscrupulous government officials struck secret cut-price deals with multinational oil companies to facilitate the siphoning of billions of dollars - amounting to trillions

– Ribadu C’ttee report of naira - oil and gas revenue over the last decade.

The revelation is contained in a report of a study carried out by the Petroleum Revenue Task Force

headed by former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Malam Nuhu Ribadu which it recently submitted to the Presidency,

Reuters reported yesterday.

The news agency said it saw the report which indicated that the sleaze had been going on since 2002 resulting in the nation losing

trillions of naira in underhand deals and shady transactions said to have involved top government officials during the period covered Contd on Page 2

Cynthia’s murder: FG to ban daterape drug, ruphynol

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

L-R: Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, presenting a letter of employment to Musa Mustafa, during the presentation of letters of engagement to nearly 7, 000 diploma holders recruited by the state government under its special empowerment scheme, yesterday in Damaturu.

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) has stated its intention to ban rophynol, the drug allegedly used to lace the Ribena drink given to Cynthia Osukogo, the 24-year old who was recently killed in a Lagos hotel.

Minister of Health, Onyeabuchi Chukwu, who disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the Council’s weekly meeting yesterday, revealed that government has directed the Nigerian Essential Drug List and Formulatory Committee to immediately look into the matter with a view to getting the harmful drugs out of circulation.

Popularly known as “date-rape

drug,” rophynol is a powerful sedative that is used as a hypnotic and anaesthesia.

Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX

24th Oct., 2012

CBN RATES BUYING SELLING $ 154.76 155.76 £ 248.1886 249.792 EURO 202.21 203.516 CFA 0.2885 0.3085 RIYAL 41.267 41.5 PARALLEL RATES BUYING SELLING EURO 202 205 £ 243 247 RIYAL 40 42 $ 155.5 158.50

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

18-19

S/Report

24

Earth

26

We took Ndume’s phones for analysis without consent, says SSS

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he Department of the State Se curity Service (SSS) yester day told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the mobile phones of the Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume were sent to for expert analysis without informing him.

Ndume is standing trial for his alleged involvement with the Boko Haram sect, which has killed thousands of people in the northern part of the country.

A prosecution witness and an official of the SSS, James Ene Izi, while under cross examination, said Ndume told him that he only met the convicted spokesperson of the Boko Haram, Ali Kodunga for the first time while under investigation by the SSS, even though there were telephone conversations between him and the jailed former spokes-

person of the sect.

Led in evidence-in-chief by prosecution counsel, Thompson Olatigbe, the witness further stated that "in the process of investigating Konduga, he mentioned the name of the accused person, one Saidu Pindar who is now deceased and some of the politicians that have influenced Boko Haram activities in Maiduguri.

"Upon this, we invited the accused person formally for interrogation and he made voluntary confessional statement where he admitted that he has been having links with the sect".

Ene Izi also stated that the confession was further confirmed as the phone number of Konduga was found on Ndume's mobile phone.

He however stated that Ndume claimed in the said statement that what linked him with Konduga was his membership of the Presidential Committee set up to look into the

insecurity in the North East zone of the country.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Ricky Tarfa, the witness told the court that Konduga did not finger the senator as one of those financing the sect.

Izi also stated that Konduga mentioned the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke in his statement, saying that Ndume had given him (Konduga) the AGF's phone number and asked him to threaten the AGF that there would be more violence in Maiduguri should the then governorship election petition tribunal rule against the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the state.

He also said that the investigative panel read in the confessional statement that he (Ndume) handed a compact disc CD, obtained from the Boko

Haram sect to the Vice President, Namadi Sambo and the Director General of the SSS. Izi however stated that the panel did not have any audience with the Vice President to confirm this claim by Ndume adding that part of the materials retrieved from the accused person's house included laptop, GSM phones and international passport.

Asked whether the panel read in the accused's statement that he was being threatened by the Boko Haram, Izi confirmed same adding that the panel also read in the statement that the accused was a member of the presidential committee set up to look into the security challenges in the North East zone.

After taking the evidence of PW 2, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole later adjourned till November 1, 2012 for continuation of trial.

How FG officials siphoned trillions

17-year-old brutalised by soldiers still in coma, Page 16

Inter’l Digest

31-34 36

Politics

37-39

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Contd from Page 1 by the study.

The period spans the administrations of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, late Umaru Yar’adua to the current administration under President Goodluck Jonathan. The period saw Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, Odein Ajumogobia, Edmund Daukoru and currently Diezani AlisonMadueke serve as Ministers of Petroleum Resources.

The committee which was set up to track all oil accruals following the January 2012 nationwide protest against fuel subsidy removal, which led to a campaign against oil corruption, reported that international oil cabals were buying crude without formal contracts, and that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had short-changed the Nigerian treasury of billions of dollars over the last 10 years by selling crude oil and gas to itself below market rates. It also said foreign oil firms had outstanding debts.

The report also said Nigeria

was the only nation to sell all its crude through international oil traders rather than directly to refineries, adding that such trades were often faceless.

It said some international oil traders who were not “on the approved master list of customers” had been sold crude oil “without a formal contract” so little could be obtained about the details of these deals, which can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

“This logically will serve to reduce margins obtainable on sale of crude oil,” the report said.

The committee said successive petroleum ministers handed out seven discretionary licences with $183 million in signature bonuses and royalties missing from the deals. Three of these oil licences, the report claimed were awarded since Alison-Madueke took up her position in 2010.

Also indicted is the Nigeria LNG, a company jointly owned by the NNPC, Shell, Total and Eni of buying gas at cut-down prices before exporting it to international markets at higher prices.

It indicted NNPC of getting an allocation of 445,000 barrels of crude oil per day to refine locally but has been selling itself this oil at cut-down prices, a practice which the report said cost Nigeria $5 billion in potential revenue between 2002 and 2011.

It indicated that NNPC made N86.6 billion over the 10-year period by using overly generous exchange rates in its declarations to the government but noted that that the money has not been accounted for.

The Ribadu committee recommended that the NNPC should be scrapped while an independent review of the use of traders be set up and a transparency law be passed requiring oil companies to disclose all payments made to Nigeria.

Reacting to the report, Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke was reported to have told Reuters on Tuesday that she received the report since last month but noted that it was a draft. She was quoted to have said that government was

still supposed to give input.

“It is a draft. There will be some areas where the government ... may have a slightly different opinion ... (and) will put its point of view to the committee”, she was reported to have said. She said she expects the final report to be with President Goodluck Jonathan within two weeks.

But reacting to details, the minister said there were no informal contracts adding that there were always official tender put every year which transactions she insisted were always made public. She also insisted that NNPC buys at international rates. She also denied giving discretionary awards during the current administration.

Meanwhile some multinationals mentioned in the report have kept mum with Shell declining comments on the ground that it has not seen the report and as such cannot comment on it. Total and Eni on their own part declined to comment because they invest in but do not operate Nigeria LNG, the role played by Shell.

Cynthia’s murder: FG to ban date-rape drug, ruphynol Contd from Page 1 It is known as the “date rape drug” because of its ability to cause semiconciousness and memory blackouts.

It is also strongly associated with unwanted sexual encounters.

When taken, it has effects such as slurred speech, impaired judgement, difficulty in walking, sedation, blackouts of up to 24 hours, amnesia, respiratory distress. It may also have paradoxic effects and trigger aggression.

According to an online free medical dictionary, overdose or death can occur if mixed with other drugs or alcohol.

Though banned in the United States, the drug is legally

prescribed in about 60 countries of the world for the treatment of insomnia.

It is also called such nick names as La roche , R2 , Rib , Roach , Roofenol , Roofies , Rope , Rophies , Ruffies , The forget pill etc.

A small white tablet with no taste or odour when dissolved in a drink, rophynol is swallowed as a pill, dissolved in a drink, or snorted.

It is frequently used in combination with alcohol and other drugs. Sometimes, it is taken to enhance a heroin high, or to mellow or ease the experience of coming down from a cocaine or crack high. Used with alcohol, it produces disinhibition and amnesia.

It has a long term effect of

physical and psychological dependence.

The minister also announced that FEC has approved a new Pharmaco-Vigilance Policy to deal adequately with the issue of adverse drug reaction in the country in a more coordinated way.

Chukwu stated that the approval of the policy by FEC following its earlier approval by the National Council on Health was imperative because of the need to keep record on reaction to drugs in the country.

“It is an organized way to monitor adverse drugs reaction so that Nigerians will know that their interest is being

taken care of,” he said.

The Minister remarked that Nigerians were not taking the issue of adverse reaction to drugs or even death very seriously but that the new policy would change that.

While noting that the National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has already introduced innovative ways to detect fake drugs by Nigerians, he remarked that the new policy was a new dawn for the country.

The Council also approved a contract worth N671, 417,165 for the design of the fourth section of the East West road linking Calabar and Oron.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 3

Grandsons edged out of Attah Igala stool contest From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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rand children of the late Attah of Igala, Aliyu Obaje have been sidelined in the ongoing succession contest for the royal stool. This became common knowledge when it was pointed out to aspirants to the stool that direct sons of the late Attah were still alive and that

grandsons would have to wait till direct sons have enjoyed their rights.

It would be recalled that the chairman of Third Class Chiefs, Chief Livinus Enemaku, had told reporters in Lokoja that it would be unacceptable for the grandsons to assume the position of Attah Igala while the direct sons were still around.

However it was gathered that as different “forces” were controlling the kingmakers, they may give in to the selection of a grandson which could spell doom as there are indications that the people of Igala Kingdom have given their support to the popular choice in the family of Ocholi.

Meanwhile, indications have

emerged that the name of the new Attah Igala has been forwarded to the office of the state governor for adoption and clearance, as the kingmakers have completed the screening of the candidates.

Sources close to the kingmakers told our reporter in Idah, yesterday, that the exercise was very successful as the aspirants showed

maturity in trying to lead the Igalas both at home and in Diaspora.

According to our source, contestants must be equipped with proverbs of Igala tradition and speak fluent unadulterated Igala and must be ready to carry the issue of Igala kingdom with equal responsibility such that the Ankpa, Dekina and Idah would accept.

Again, army vows to rout insurgents From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

T

he General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Gen. Garba Wahab, yesterday reiterated the commitment of the military with the civil authorities, the SSS and the police to root out insurgents across the Northern parts of the country.

Speaking when he received the executive members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna, led by its chairman, Mr. Luka Binniyat on a courtesy call at the 1 Div Headquarters Kaduna, Gen Wahab said the military patrols, soldiers on stop and search duties, soldiers on

the streets and particularly raiding of spots identified as hideout of criminals are aimed at ensuring security in the country.

He said the army would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Nigerians live in peace and security without fear.

He assured of the army’s readiness to ensure the security of lives and properties of Nigerians across the country.

Speaking, the NUJ chairman said the courtesy call was aimed at improving the cordial relationship between journalists and the Nigerian Army, adding that journalists believe such a mutual relationship will help boost the fight against insecurity in the country.

Update your land papers with AACSTRIS, AGIS – FCT Minister

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, has restated the administration’s commitment to eliminating corruption and fraud in the area council land titles in the FCT as a way of boosting confidence in the system.

While reviewing the activities of the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) and its council titles’ revalidation instrument, the Accelerated Area Council

Sectional and Title Reissuance Scheme (AACSTRIS), he called on allottees to update and validate their area council and sectional titles.

The Minister vowed that the FCT Administration would stop at nothing to stamp out fraudulent practices often associated with council titles.

He explained that the sharp practices were perpetrated through the carving of fake layouts, forgery of title deed plans (TDPs) and back-dating of plot allocations among others.

Budget: We have achieved 72% implementation – Minister

By Adamu Saleh

T

he Minister for Youth Development, Malam Inuwa Abdul-kadir, has said the ministry has achieved remarkable progress in the implementation of the 2011-12 budget allocation especially in the area of skills acquisition, agro scheme businesses and youth empowerment in general.

Abdul-kadir stated that the ministry was established in 2007 with a mandate to promote the physical, mental and socioeconomic development of Nigerian

youths through the advancement and protection of their rights within the Nigerian state.

He disclosed this when the Senate Committee on Youth and Social Development paid an oversight visit to the ministry in Abuja.

Earlier in her remarks, the chairman, Senate Committee on Youth Development, Mrs. Helen Esuene, said members of her committee did not visit the ministry to witch-hunt officials of the ministry but to partner with them in order to move the ministry forward through checks and balances.

People making last minute purchases in preparation for Eid-el-Kabir at Abubakar Gumi Central Market, yesterday in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN

Kogi flood victims warned as NIS, submerged houses collapse decorates 22 stated this while receiving 500 From Sam Egwu, Lokoja mattresses as relief materials from comptrollers ith the collapse of some Mouka Foam Limited in Lokoja, houses around Ganaja yesterday. as ACGs area of Lokoja, Kogi state,

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people whose houses were submerged by water recently have been advised to carry out an integrity test on their buildings before parking in.

Few persons who rushed back to their houses in the GadumoGanaja area, yesterday, ran for their lives as a building which had been washed from reoccupation crashed before the occupants could bring in other belongings to the house.

The chairman of Special Task Force on State Emergency Management Agency and deputy governor, Arc Yomi Awoniyi,

Represented by Ogu Onukutu, Adviser on Special Duties, he appealed to those who are rushing back to their previously submerged houses to do an audit test to establish that the building strength is okay and fumigation carried out to ward off reptiles before they could move in.

In her remarks, Mrs. Peju Adebajo, Managing Director Mouka Foam Limited, said the items were donated to aid in the rehabilitation efforts of the displaced victims, adding that the issue of assisting the displaced persons should not be left in the hands of government alone.

We won’t treat any security rumour with levity - FCT Police

By Lambert Tyem

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ederal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Commissioner, Aderenle Shinaba, yesterday, disclosed that the police will not take any security rumour with levity.

He urged all residents and

citizens in Abuja to go about their normal duty during the Sallah festivity.

Speaking at a briefing in his Office, Shinaba assured that FCT police command has been provided with over 75 vehicles to patrol the nook and crannies of the territory.

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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omptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs. Rose Chinyere Uzoma, yesterday elevated 22 Comptrollers of the service to the position of Assistant Comptroller Generals (ACG).

Performing the promotion ceremony yesterday at the NIS headquarters in Sauka, Abuja, Uzoma said the promotion was necessary as a result of recent restructuring and expansion of the service from three to seven directorates.

She affirmed that the service had devotedly pursued the restructuring program out of the conviction that it will not only enhance efficient and effective service delivery, but will bring about greater prospects of career progression for officers of the service.

She warned the officers not to take the promotion as self glorification but a challenge, adding that it is a call to duty especially in borders control, passport issuance, monitoring and supervision of officers under them.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

FG’s N5.5bn budget for generators and return of darkness For a nation dreaming to be among the world’s most developed countries by 2020, budgeting billions of naira on generators is certainly not the best way to go about achieving that lofty dream, especially against the backdrop of the fact that only about 4000 megawatts of electricity is generated eight years to the magic date. Certainly, no serious nation will budget a princely sum of N5.5 billion for the maintenance and fuelling of generators and another N200 million for the same purpose at some of its foreign missions if it is indeed desirous of taking the leap out of underdevelopment.

By Abdu Labaran Malumfashi

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mong other things, the 2013 budget estimates presented by President Goodluck Jonathan to the National Assembly (NASS) last month, must surely portray Nigeria as an unserious nation, and the reason for that is budgeting the sum of N5.54 billion for maintaining and fuelling generators and another N200 million for the same purpose at some of our foreign missions, in countries where they do not know the meaning of power failure. And this is a nation which, despite its aspiration to join the league of world’s most developed countries in the next eight years, is only producing about 4000 megawatts.

But South Africa, which is Nigeria’s main challenger for the continent’s economic leadership, is producing around 240,300 gigawatts-hours electricity annually.

The irony is that the budgeting of this huge amount is coming on the heels of claims of efforts to increase power generation by 10000 megawatts from the current 4000 by the end of 2013. But given the current power outage in the country, even that claim may seem debatable.

Out of the budgeted amount, health ministry and parastatals under it have N1.464 billion for generators out of which N1.246 billion will be spent on fuel, while N218 million will be used for maintenance of plants at the ministry’s headquarters, teaching hospitals and federal medical centres as well other federal health agencies and institutions.

Defence Ministry and military formations are allocated the sum of N620 million for the maintenance and fuelling of generators. Ministry of Education, along with its parastals and other institutions, is allocated N415million while Ministry of Agriculture and allied institutions and parastatals get the sum of N315 million.

Even the Power Ministry which is supposed to supply the electricity has budgeted N28 million to service and fuel its generators and plants.

Petroleum Ministry and parastatals will spend N128 million. Of the amount, N35 million will be spent on generators maintenance while

N42 million will be used to fuel the generators.

The presidency will spend N341 million to fuel and maintain generators in the State House and agencies under the Presidency.

Following speculation that power generation in the country has dropped by 1,000MW, possibly fueled by the ongoing power outage in many parts of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Mrs. Dere Awosika, in a recent statement, noted that “The attention of the Ministry of Power has been drawn to a report alleging that power generation has dropped by 1,000MW. The fact is that there is no iota of truth in the publication.

“At present, the peak generation has remained 4,439.5MW. This peak status was gained on September 5, and since then, it has been steady.

We have tried as much as possible to be transparent and provide relevant and accurate data. Our doors remain open.”

The statement also contained the assurances of the Minister of

Minister of State for Power, Darius Ishaku

State for Power, Mr. Darius Ishaku that the recent gains in power generation “will not only be consolidated, but will be improved upon.”

The recent sale of 60 per cent equity in the 18 successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has generated controversy with the governors of Delta, Edo and Ekiti states alleging sharp practices in the exercise.

Specifically, they rejected the choice of Vigeo Power Consortium as the preferred bidder for the Benin Disco, describing the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE)-organised bid processes as “highly fraudulent, not transparent and representing some racketeering interests”.

The process also raised eyebrows because some of the companies that won the bid are linked to some former military heads of state and leading personalities in the present government.

But the Chairman of the Technical Committee of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), Mr. Atedo Peterside dismissed the allegations as untrue.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 5

Jang accuses FG of shortchanging Plateau From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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overnor Jonah Jang of Plateau state, yesterday, said the Federal Government has short-changed the state, lamenting the absence of Federal Government projects in the state. Speaking while playing host to leader of the National Good Governance Tour (NGGT) and Minister for Information and Communications, Mr. Labaran Maku, Jang said the state

received N2.4 billion as monthly allocation while some states are collecting N15 billion saying there should be no basis for comparing his administration’s achievements with states that are allocated N15 billion.

He said: “I know this one is difficult but we must review the Federal Government’s allocation formula. A situation whereby Federal Government takes over 50 percent yet there a lot of work to do at the state level …we need to review the sharing formula”.

Jang who was military governor Gongola and Benue states, regretted the military interruption of democracy and advised serving military chiefs not to interrupt democracy again.

According to him, “if we have known, we wouldn’t interrupt and we are advising the younger ones not to interrupt. Let them allow the politicians to keep on making their mistakes and the beauty of

democracy is that the peoples are allowed to judge by themselves”.

He accused journalists of antagonising his administration and painting Plateau state as unsecure.

Ahmadu Bello Foundation donates relief materials to Kwara state From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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ir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation has donated relief materials to victims of flood disasters in Kwara state.

Items donated by the foundation include blankets, fabrics for men and women and cartons of noodles.

The leader of the Foundation’s delegation and former Chief Justice, Justice Salihu Modibbo Belgore, said the foundation was set up to promote the ideals propagated by the late Sadauna of Sokoto.

Justice Belgore recalled that Sir Ahmadu Bello never had a personal account as he used his resources for the good of the people.

The Kwara state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed in his remarks, urged the political class, especially those of Northern extraction, to embrace the sterling qualities of selfless service and brotherhood as espoused by the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, for the socioeconomic development of the polity.

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), with some women and their babies delivered at the NKST Wadata Camp, Makurdi, during his visit to victims of flood disaster, yesterday in Benue state.

Renew your pacts with Allah, Lagos traffic law: Court orders Oshiomhole enjoins Muslims accelerated hearing into okada riders’ suit sacrifice and selflessness From Osaigbovo Iguobo, Benin

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has enjoined Muslims to renew their pacts with Allah in line with the teachings of the Koran.

The Governor who gave the charge in a goodwill message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, to mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir said: “I rejoice with our Muslim brothers and sisters on this occasion of the Eid-el Kabir Festival.

“The message of unflinching obedience to Allah,

which are the hallmarks of the festival must not be lost on the faithful.

“We must never forget Prophet Ibrahim’s total obedience to Almighty Allah when asked to sacrifice his son, and all of us who call on the name of Allah must strive to be selfless and trust in His judgment as the All-Sufficient, Most Merciful, Most Gracious…

“I wish to remind all of us that, together, we have a duty to ourselves, our people and our nation to toe the line of peace with all men and imbibe the teachings of Islam”.

Effective management key to repositioning power sector, says ex-NIM boss

By Stanley Onyekwere

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ne time president and chairman of council, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Dr. Sally Nkem Adukwu-Bolujoko, has said for the ongoing reform in the energy sector targeted at attaining increased and steady electricity supply in the country to be realised, the question of how the sector is managed is important to ensure effective and sustained transformation.

According to her, over the years, huge sums are being pushed into the sector by successive governments, but due to poor management induced by politics and corruption, it appears like nothing is happening commensurate to the

funds allocated to address the problem.

The ex-NIM boss stated this in an interview with our reporter, calling on relevant stakeholders to change focus on how to reposition the sector by paying more attention on how to bring in persons of strong characters and managerial skills to spearhead the much needed transformation of the sector.

She however, noted that there is a remarkable improvement of energy supply to homes and offices in the nation’s capital, adding the progress can be sustained and replicated nationwide only if there is a good management built on merit, modesty and honesty to inspire other stakeholders in the sector.

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, presided over by Justice Aishat Opesanwo, yesterday, granted accelerated hearing into the suit filed by some commercial motorcycle operators against the Lagos state government for banning their operations in some federal highways in the state.

The court however dismissed an interlocutory application filed by the claimants which had prayed the court to restrain the government from implementing the new Lagos State Traffic Law. The suit was filed by the commercial motorcycle operators under the aegis of the All Nigerians Autobike Commercial Owners and workers Association (ANACOWA).

The defendants in the suit are the Lagos state government, the Lagos state House of Assembly

and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye.

At the mention of the case yesterday, counsel to the claimants, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, informed the court that they were withdrawing their interlocutory application.

Aturu said:” There is a need for us to withdraw our interlocutory application so that the court can hear the substantive suit in an accelerated manner.

However, Ipaye who is the third defendant and counsel to Lagos state government, informed the court that the law was already being enforced in the state.

Ipaye said:”My Lord, take judicial notice that the law came into effect on August 2, 2012.

“It was in reaction to its enforcement that the claimants herein only on Monday October 22, 2012 went on rampage”.

Counsel to Lagos State House of Assembly, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, said the reliefs being sought by the claimants in the interlocutory application were similar to the ones in the substantive suit.

The claimants had argued in the substantive suit that some of the restricted roads were federal roads listed under the Federal Highways Act, cap F13, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

They had prayed the court to declare section 3(1) of the law which prohibits the riding, driving or propelling of a cart, wheel barrow, motorcycle or tricycle on the Major Highways in Lagos, as unconstitutional.

The court however fixed November 16, 2012, for hearing of the substantive suit which is challenging the ban placed on the claimants from plying 475 roads in the state.

deposits.

Submitting the report of the committee to Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, head of the committee, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi (rtd), advised the government to set the pace in the exploration of the commodities before the Federal Government comes in.

He said the committee had floated two companies Midland Refinery and Petro Chemical Company and Midland Petrogas

Resources Limited to serve as special purpose vehicles for upstream and downstream activities for the state’s oil and gas resources development drive.

Responding, Governor Aliyu said that the committee will be transformed to a ‘standing committee’ and directed it to start looking at the possibility of resettling villagers in the affected communities so that the state will not witness the type of crisis witnessed in the Niger Delta.

Committee affirms presence of oil, gas in Bida Basin From Iliya Garba, Minna

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committee setup by Niger state government for the development of the Bida Basin in the state, yesterday in Minna, confirmed the presence of oil and gas in the basin; adding that the exploratory test well at Patti-Shaba-Kolo (code-named Talba-1 Well) and in two other locations will be carried out to determine the quantity of the

PAGE 6

Landlord, sons arraigned for alleged theft

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n 86-year-old landlord and his two sons, who allegedly stole their tenant's valuables worth N1.5 million, were yesterday charged before a Surulere Magistrates' Court, Lagos.

The accused are Nurudeen Alowonle, 86 and his sons Tajudeen, 51 and Lateef, 41.

They are facing a five-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful entry, stealing, willful damage to property and breach of peace.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Merve Mberev, told the court that the accused had on Oct. 1 unlawfully entered the apartment of their tenant, one Comfort Obot, and threw her belongings into the street.

Mberev said that the accused committed the act without an order of a court.

He said that the accused also stole two Laptops valued N300, 000, a flat screen television set costing N120, 000 and two digital cameras worth N450, 000.

Other items were two Nokia mobile handsets - N50,000; a box containing lace materials - N300,000; jewelry box with gold trinkets worth N150,000 and N200,000 cash.

The prosecutor said that the total value of things stolen was N1, 570,000.

Mberev said that the accused also damaged beds, wardrobes, mirrors, land phone, refrigerator and breakable plates worth N131,000.

The prosecutor said that the offences, which took place at No. 5 Ishaga Road, Surulere, contravened Sections 166(d), 285, 306, 348 and 409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State 2011.

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

The Magistrate, Mrs. M.A. Ladipo admitted each of the accused to bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties each in like sum, and adjourned the case to Nov. 21 for mention. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

17-year-old brutalised by soldiers still in coma From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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17-year-old, Usman Abulmiminu has been unconscious for the past three days at Biba Hospital located in Tudun Wada Kaduna, as a result of alleged brutality by soldiers.

One Mustapha, a brother to the victim told pressmen that last Saturday, soldiers belonging to Rigasa Military Strike Force had seized Usman as a result of a misunderstanding with one Saminu, who had reported to the said soldiers and asked them to intervene.

Mustapha said the soldiers took away the victim from his weeping mother who pleaded with them to no avail; as she had heard stories that nobody has ever gone with the soldiers and come out without a broken leg or arm.

"My mother alerted me that my brother has been taken by the military strike force. On reaching there, I saw Usman in a pathetic condition, as he was chained to a tree and was unconscious, I saw several wounds all over him".

"The soldiers then asked me why I was there and I replied that, I was there to see my brother, Usman. They

asked me: 'who is your brother?' And I pointed at the boy who was chained like a dog, to a tree", he said.

Mustapha continued: "The soldiers threatened me whether I wanted to look like him? I said no and they told me to pay for the hospital bill of Saminu who had fought with Usman. After paying the money (N3,000), the soldiers then released the unconscious body of Usman.

Mustapha said he took Usman to Biba Hospital and the victim is still unconscious receiving treatment.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of 1 Div. Headquarters, Col Sani Usman Kukasheka, confirmed

the incident to journalists. He said the army is aware of the case and the said the soldiers will soon be brought to book.

He also told journalists that the General Officer Commanding 1 Div Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen Garba Wahab, has ordered for the immediate transfer of the victim from Biba Hospital to 44 Army Reference Hospital for proper medication.

He then advised the residents of Rigasa to stop taking cases that are civil in nature to the military because the military are there to quell riots and not to delve into civil cases.

Stop execution of two prisoners in Edo, SERAP tells African Commission

SERAP wants African Commission to stop Edo execution From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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United Nations contingent in a march past, during the 2012 UN Day celebration, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

NMA supports Kaduna FMCH bill From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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he Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has thrown its weight behind the proposed Free Maternal and Child Health (FMCH) Executive Bill in Kaduna state.

The chairman of the association in Kaduna, Dr. Aliyu Usman Bappa, stated this during a press conference

to flag off the 2012 annual Physicians Week, yesterday in Kaduna.

He affirmed NMA's full support for the bill sponsored by 10 civil society partnerships known as Free Maternal and Child Health Care-Civil Society (FMCH-CS) partnership.

According to Bappa, "the bill is a welcome development and in fact we are working together, we have thrown our weight behind the FMCHCS partnership because this is

something that we believe will ensure continuity and sustainability of the programme by successive governments.

"Kaduna state free medical care for pregnant women and children under five programme is also a welcome development and I can tell you that NMA is fully in support and therefore an active player in the campaign for the passage of the proposed FMCH Bill".

Lagos based nongovernmental group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), yesterday, charged the chairman of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Modupe Atoki, to stop the Edo state government from executing one Calistus Eke and Olu Fatogun, who are currently on death row in Benin Prisons and face imminent execution despite the fact that their appeal is still pending before the court, and on the grounds that the death row inmates in Benin Prisons were becoming unmanageable.

SERAP in a request for provisional measures dated October 23, 2012, and signed by its executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, prayed the African Commission to invoke Article 111 (Rule of Procedure) authority to request that Edo state adopt provisional measures in order to stop what it termed the irreparable damage that would be caused to the two complainants and their African Charter rights.

According to the group, "There are serious, persistent and irreparable violations of the Complainants' rights to life, and to appeal to an independent and impartial tribunal, and fair trial guarantees during appeals require the commission's immediate and urgent attention.

Jonathan pledges completion of Kanshimbila Dam to avert future flooding From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi resident Goodluck Jonathan has assured that his administration would take steps to avert flooding in the country in the next 50 years by completing the Kanshimbila Dam in Taraba state by 2014.

The President who gave this assurance during his visit to Benue state yesterday to assess the damage caused by flood, lamented the economic loss

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suffered by the victims, assuring that the Federal Government would do everything to mitigate the effect of the flood.

President Jonathan also promised the release of funds to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to purchase improved seedlings that would be distributed to farmers across the country, adding that money will also be given to the Ministry of Health to ensure control of water borne diseases like cholera

and diarrhoea.

"Government is committed to turning your calamity into a blessing. Those of you who lost farmlands would be given high yielding seedlings to make you improve your farm produce. We will help you start new economic lives and pray that you do not suffer from such calamity again", Jonathan said.

He expressed appreciation to developmental partners, n o n g o v e r n m e n t a l organisations, faith based

organisations, security agencies and other well meaning Nigerians for their support to the flood victims across the nation.

Also speaking, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state, told the President that flood affected five local governments of Makurdi, Guma, Gwer West, Logo and Agatu; noting that over 4,378 males, 6,378, female, 9,300 children, 348 infants, 341 pregnant women, 8 physically challenged persons

were displaced by the flood.

The governor who commended the President for the release of N500 million, assured that the money and several relief materials received from different organisations and individuals would be applied strictly to alleviate the suffering of displaced persons.

He expressed fear of imminent food crisis in the state and appealed for quick intervention to avert this.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 7

Taraba NLC to build housing units for workers From Yusha’u Alhassan Jalingo

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L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, representative of Minister of Information, Mr. Sabo Ahmed, NTA Acting Director-General, Mr. Musa Mayaki, Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, and DirectorGeneral, National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Yomi Bolarinwa, during the public presentation of books titled “Reelviews” and “Behind the Scenes” on Tuesday night in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

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he rehabilitation of the railway track from Port Harcourt to Makurdi has been stalled following an attack on the contractor by Ishiagu community in Ebonyi state, an official said.

The Regional District Manager of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Eastern District, Mr. Felix Njoku, made the fact known this in Enugu yesterday at a press briefing.

Njoku said the community prevented the contractor, ESER West Africa, from using the railway quarry site located in the community.

“The Ishiagu Quarry Site is vested on the Nigeria Railway Corporation by the 1955 Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as Land Use Act of 1978 and now the Laws of the Federation 2007.

“Nobody has contested this

Disagreements halts Eastern railway project - Official

Muslim body condemns Mubi, Aluu massacres

position not even the Amaeze community in Ivo local government, the land owners”, he said.

The manager explained that the contractor won the contract to rehabilitate the railway track and was shown the NRC quarry to start the extraction and crushing of ballast stones for the project.

Njoku said that on getting to the quarry site, it was discovered that another company, M/S James J.S Construction Co. Ltd had taken over the place based on a ‘licence erroneously granted it by the Federal Government’.

By Muhammad Nasir he National Council of Muslim Youth O r g a n i s a t i o n s (NACOMYO), has admonished Nigerians to avoid taking laws into their hands, no matter the provocation.

The body in a statement to mark the oncoming Eid-el-Kabir, decried the unjust killing of UNIPORT students in Aluu Community in Rivers state.

It also denounced the massacre of students in Mubi, Adamawa state, describing the act as barbaric and retrogressive. It therefore urged government to carry out a thorough investigation into the incidents and ensure that the culprits face the wrath of law.

It noted that “the students killed belong to generation of tomorrow’s nation’s builders”, adding that their demise was detrimental to nation’s growth and development.

“It was also discovered on enquiry that the host community illegally granted the company permission believing that they were the land owners but they lack such powers”, he said.

Njoku insisted that the lease granted to J.S Construction by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in respect of the NRC quarry was in contravention of section 3 (1) of the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act, 2007.

He alleged that some members of the community in an attempt to extort money from ESER,

organised some youths to stage series of protests within the quarry site, disturbing the project.

“ESER has stopped work for some time now because they are not allowed to crush the required stones for their job, thereby altering the 10-month contract which is now entering its second year”, Njoku said.

The manager appealed to the federal and Ebonyi state governments as well as security agencies to urgently intervene in the crisis in order to ensure a speedy completion of the project.

(NAN)

Senator protests sale of communal land to foreign firm From Yusha’u Alhassan, Jalingo

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araba state government has been advised to revisit the large expanse of land sold to a foreign company – Dominion Farms in Gassol local government area of the state.

The senator representing Taraba central district, Abubakar Umar Tutare, gave the advice in Gassol town while reacting to complaints by farmers whose lands were affected.

Tutare said the over 30, 000 hectares of land taken away from local farmers and sold to Dominion Farms was too much.

According to him the people in the affected areas who were predominantly farmers have been rendered helpless and hopeless.

He observed that instead of selling their lands to a foreign company, the state government would have assisted the local farmers with adequate farm imputes to enable them produce food for the state and the nation.

araba state branch of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday signed an agreement with three companies for the construction of 3, 850 housing units for civil servants.

They are Tuff Construction, Famab Enterprises all in Abuja and Unitract Nigeria Limited, based in Jos. Signing the agreement on behalf of workers, the NLC chairman, Mark Ishaku Magaji, said the decision followed wide consultations with NLC affiliates and labour veterans on the viability or otherwise of the scheme.

The chairman said what labour did was in accordance with the law and that workers would soon resume the mandatory contributions to the housing fund.

Magaji who assured workers that their contributions would be given back to them on retirement, gave the companies one year to complete the projects.

Tutare maintained that history has shown that such foreign companies ended up becoming problems to their host communities instead of bringing development as is case in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and

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many other countries in Africa.

Earlier a spokesman of the farmers whose farms were sold to Dominion Farms, Danjuma Maisukuni, said with the sale of their farms they had nothing doing and urged Senator Tutare

to intervene.

Maisukuni observed that even the youth in the area who were selected and trained abroad

by Dominion Farms were yet to be offered employment by the company.

story by themselves.

According to the DG, it is obvious, that Africa cannot but rise in unison to protect and preserve the unique cultural identities of its various nationalities; build on their positives and strengthen national cohesion.

“For too long have we depended on others for news about ourselves; for too long have we depended on others to portray us to the rest of the world; for too long have we looked at ourselves through the colours of someone else’s prism; for too long have so-called experts from far away tried to tell us our own story”, he stressed.

workers’ salaries

NBC boss tasks policy makers, Kwara NULGE, govt at broadcasters on local content loggerheads over

By Stanley Onyekwere

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irector -General (DG), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Engr.

Yomi Bolarinwa, has stressed the need for African broadcasters and policy makers to rise to the challenge of local content in the global broadcasting industry as it is critical to promoting and protecting a people’s identity.

Bolarinwa, who made this point when he delivered a keynote address titled: “African broadcasting has come of age”, at the ongoing Africast 2012, in Abuja, said the time has come when Africans must make it clear that they can tell their own

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Kwara state and the state government are at loggerheads over the insistence of government that the workers’ three months salary arrears must be pay before Salah.

NULGE in a communiqué issued in Ilorin and signed by Comrade Afolabi Abayomi, stated that the union would go on strike indefinitely.

In its meeting of 22 October, 2012, held at the state secretariat of the union along Old Jebba Road, Ilorin, the union resolved to embark on indefinite strike action because of the following reasons: “Nonpayment of local government salaries for the past three month in-spite of the regular release of allocation from the federation account which has resulted in the impoverishment of our members...” among other grievances.

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Niger pilgrims at Muna tenets in Saudi Arabia as the Hajj rites begins, yesterday.

L-R: Executive Director, Sifax Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, minister of labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, and President-General, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Mr. Anthony Emmanuel, during the commissioning of MWUN’s building, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Flood victims receiving medical attention from an Army Medical Team at a displacement camp, yesterday in Ahoada, Rivers state.

Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Photo: NAN

Tailors working to beat their customers’ deadline ahead of Eid-el Kabir celebration, yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

People going on Sallah holiday, yesterday at the Iwo road Ojoo Motor Park, in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

NLC to intensify alliances beyond global trade union bodies

By Muhammad Nasir

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L-R: Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuleri, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Rowdy session in Edo Assembly over flood refugees’ death From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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he death of seven persons at the refugee camps in some parts of Edo State appears to have set the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) led State House of Assembly on collision course.

The plight of persons displaced by the overflow of River Niger caused a rowdy session Tuesday at the floor of the House when the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cordelia Aiweze was giving insight about activities of her ministry for the past nine months.

After her presentation, some lawmakers demanded for clarification about some grey

areas of her briefs, particularly deplorable state of Central Hospital, Benin and Uromi in Esan North East.

However, she was told to take a bow and go following the motion of Chairman House standing Committee on Health, Bamidele Oloruntoba representing Akoko-Edo Constituency.

Apparently unsatisfied with Aiweze briefs, Patrick Osayimwen, Johnson Oghuma and Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea representing Oredo East, Etsako Central and Esan South East respectively moved a counter motion which was preceded by voice votes in favour of the earlier application.

Oghuma, insisted that: “…

“With all the death recorded in my local government, we cannot continue like this… If you say antenatal is free and if you get there you don’t find any doctor…” he fumed, adding “If every Commissioner that comes to the House, presents his briefs and go without answering questions, then the purpose is defeated’’.

However, the Commissioner who stuck to her own gun had earlier told the legislators that the sectoral allocation for the year is N3. 9 billion, out of which, N2. 9 billion was devoted for the construction of 120-bed accident and emergency stateof-the-art Central hospital.

60% of global deaths caused by non-communicable diseases From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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0% of deaths recorded worldwide are caused by non-communicable diseases, a Chief Consultant Physician at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) has said.

He observed that the developing countries have a very high rate of noncommunicable diseases like diabetics, hypertension and other heart diseases compared to the developed world.

Dr. Adamu who spoke at the Health Safety and Environment (HSE) week organized by the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company (KRPC) tagged ‘Beyond Compliance’ stressed that the event addressed one of the fundamental issues

regarding healthy lifestyle because it focuses on how to attain a healthy diet as well as safety in the work place.

“So, if the staff of NNPC lives a healthy life, we will expect long life, fruitful and healthy active and will help to increase productivity in the industry. It will also snowball a healthy live in the family and will affect the society in general.

“It is in recognition of this that the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004 introduced the global strategy for physical exercise.

“If one maintains adequate physical exercise and healthy diet, he will live. A lot of disease have been linked to poor diet culture or practice and therefore if we educate the people on the right diet to

take, it will prevent many disease like diabetic, hypertension, cancer and other heart disease which are the leading causes of death worldwide,” he maintained.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the KRPC, Engineer Bolanle Ayodele stressed that focus on security compliance with regulatory standards may not be enough to achieving the goals of Health, Safety and Environment in the oil sector (HSE).

He said in order to go beyond complying with a set of rules ,NNPC is currently deploying the Health, Safety and Environment Management System for monitoring performance and for the continual improvement of the process.

he Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed to intensify its alliances beyond global trade union federations in order to succeed in confronting the challenges of globalisation and the threat to trade union and workers rights across the globe.

Speaking yesterday at the 37th Foundation Anniversary of HAKS-IS, the Second Largest Trade Union Centre in Turkey, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar said beyond building alliances at home, they have also extended their alliances abroad starting with the West African region.

“We have engaged our counterparts in Ghana Trade Union Congress on several issues of common interests using the platform provided by our bilateral agreement. We also have a bilateral agreement with the Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU. And

now, we have succeeded in having a trilateral agreement with COSATU, GTUC and the NLC. This has strengthened our collective voice in the African continent,” Omar noted.

Omar said the agreement was necessary because it has become very obvious that capital has formidable multinational focus and interest, adding that with the advent of globalisation, big business has developed transnational networks to attack trade union rights coupled with the overbearing influence they exert on various governments.

He also said, there was need to use bilateral relationship to mobilise progressive voices in continental and regional bodies such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and the European Union to take positive decisions on decent work, trade union rights as well as all other issues relating to workers rights especially at Export Processing Zones.

Oyo tasks journalism schools on GIS From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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yo State Government has urged schools of Journalism and departments of Mass Communication in various Polytechnics and Universities in Nigeria to urgently include Mathematics, Geography and Computer Science subjects into their curricula.

The is because, a little knowledge of the subjects is vital for modern day journalists to understand the use of geographic information system and Google fusion table to report their news with data.

The Director Press and Public Relations, Bosun Oladele, said this on behalf of Mr. Fatai Ogundairo the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, in Oyo State, while declaring open a 3-day workshop on Geographic

Information System and Google Fusion Table for selected journalists from media houses in Oyo state which was held at the Press Center, Iyaganku, Ibadan.

The Commissioner was of the opinion that the training would enhance journalism standard and bridge the gap between journalists in the State and that of its international counterparts by teaching participating journalists on how to use Geographic Information System and Google Fusion which are modern tools and technology for story-telling and news reporting among other uses.

Earlier in his address, the Executive Director of Poverty Alleviation Network and Self Dependent Initiative, a nongovernment organization based in Abuja which organised the training, Mr. Ossai Chuk, expensed unhappiness that few journalists attended the training workshop.

Flood disaster: Minister commends Jonathan

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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inister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for assisting the victims of natural disaster that rocks some states in the country, saying that the people of Benue state will not forget the gesture.

Moro in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Mr George Udoh, added that the people of Benue were moved by the assistance they received from the federal government.

He therefore described the

President’s visit to Benue state as a true reflection of his person and a loving servant leader who always identifies with the people at a critical moment in their lives.

“Sir, you have earlier demonstrated uncommon zeal to tackle this daunting flood disaster that affected all the geopolitical zones in the country with the inauguration of the national committee on flood relieve and rehabilitation, with the purpose of resettling and provide soccour to the displaced persons. This aptly capture you as a genuine leader who always connect with the people”, he said.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

FG moves to ensure sustainable energy security

By Muhammad Nasir

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etermined to sustain its pivotal role in the global hydrocarbon map, the Federal Government has said, it is committed to ensuring sustainable security of the energy mix to promote greenhouse energy initiative and to address the current flooding challenge that has bedeviled the country.

Speaking on the sidelines

of the World Energy Forum 2012 with the theme: "A Forum for World Leaders" in Dubai, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Engr.Andrew Yakubu said the Federal Government was keying into its abundant hydrocarbon resources to fast track socio-economic development in the country.

Engr. Yakubu averred

that the NNPC as a National Oil Company, was determined to join the global noble initiative that would come up with a road map geared towards energy sufficiency and low carbon economy.

The NNPC GMD said that, in line with global imitative on energy mix, the NNPC was also devising other renewable energy initiatives that would impact positively on the

environment adding that energy sustainability would continue to be the hallmark of the Corporation's operations.

He noted that as a developing nation, Nigeria would continue to key into progressive global energy initiative that would provide solutions aimed at diversifying its source of energy for development. He said the NNPC would continue to observe best practices in all its energy initiatives.

The World Energy Forum which is taking place for the first time outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. He called for concerted efforts by global players for sustainable clean energy for the growth and development of the people.

Kogi to sanitise flood relief camps From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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ogi State government has again warned those who are impersonating as victims of flood disaster in the relief camps in the State to leave the camps or face the wrath of the Law. A government statement in Lokoja yesterday said information at government disposal showed that several persons who were not affected by the flood are staying in the relief camps created for flood victims.

The State Government said

it would soon carry out identification exercise for all those who registered as victims and those in the camps.

According to the statement, all impostor, would be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

Special Adviser to the State Governor on Special Duties, Air Commodore Johnson Onekutu, (rtd), who disclosed this in Lokoja, said 100 bags of rice as well as other foodstuff like beans, Indomie, semovita and garri, as well as clothing and beddings have been provide for them.

Alafin accuses police of aiding crime From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

Sallah ram on display, yesterday at Apo roundabout, in Garki, Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

NULGE seeks autonomy in constitution From Muhammad Kaduna

Adamu,

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he National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) is seeking autonomy in the ongoing constitution review, the National President of the Union Comrade Ibrahim Khaki ADK has said.

According to him, a memo to that effect has already been submitted to the National Assembly for possible consideration because of their belief in the local government administration at the grassroots.

The President who spoke to newsmen in Kaduna shortly before attending the north west Zonal meeting of the union in Kaduna, preparatory to the public hearing on the constitution review to hold in Sokoto State, also frowned at the way the local governments were administered by the governors.

This, he said, contrasts with the purpose of establishing the local governments by the founding fathers, adding that, the diversity of the Nigerian citizens made it impossible to centralize all the governments in the country.

Comrade Khaleel observed that

after the first election of leadership at the grassroots in 1999, it was characterised by development throughout the country. He said the trouble facing the country today started after the centrally conducted election which ushered in leadership at the federal, state and local governments.

He said when the state governments realized some of the constitutional encumbrances , they capitalised upon it to deny Nigerians the opportunity to elect their own representatives at that level.

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he Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, yesterday, berated the Oyo state police command for aiding and abetting crime by providing security for an Oyo chief, Alhaji Ganiyu Ajiboye, who had earlier been charged to court over an alleged criminal offence .

It would be recalled that Ajiboye was installed as Baale of Ago Oja in Oyo town by the immediate past administration, but his title was declared by a high court as non-existent in the Oyo state Chiefs Law. He was recently charged before an Iyaganku Magistrate Court for violating a perpetual High Court order, which had restrained him from further parading himself as an Oba. Addressing the

PHCN firms may fall into wrong hands, says Uduaghan From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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elta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has solicited the intervention of the National Assembly to checkmate the process adopted by the Federal Government in the sale of the Distribution Companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Dr Uduaghan who made the call when the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Down Stream) Sector led by its chairman, Dakuku Peterside paid him a courtesy call in Asaba,

expressed worry that the companies would fall into wrong hands.

According to him, a situation where the communities and States directly affected are sidelined, does not portend good for the people and certainly would not make for peace in the areas.

The Governor observed that such shoddy process of sale, fraught with fraud was bound to throw up incompetent hands that would not be able deliver as expected.

He said the National Assembly should intervene to ensure that due process was followed taking

into cognizance the huge investments of State governments in PHCN. The governor who said that the privatization exercise should be done rightly, regretted the process could create more problems for the country.

Dr Uduaghan appealed to the authorities not to allow politics to take away the essence of regular power supply to the people .

Emphasizing further he said ''State governments play crucial roles in the energy sector, with the provision of transformers, setting up the network of electric lines.

Governors are deeply concerned over the power situation and when

the chips are down, it is the state governments that communities run to for transformers among other equipment."

He recalled that the nation experienced similar challenges in the petroleum sector when some oil wells were sold without involving the communities and the States, as most of them could not access the wells to operate.

In his remarks the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resource (Down Stream) Sector, Dakuku Peterside said the committee was in the state to oversee the implementation of the 2012 Federal budget.

Commissioner of Police, Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu, who paid him a courtesy visit in his palace Tuesday, the Alaafin said that the police in Oyo town provided security for the Baale, who regaled himself as an Oba during the last Muslim festival, thus encouraging him to further commit the offence for which he was arraigned, charged and granted bail.

The Alaafin told the police boss that indulging an accused person in such a case, was a constitutional breach.

According to the monarch, the Baale of Ago Oja ought to have been re-arrested for committing the same offence he was charged with, but instead, the police gave him cover.

However, he said" We are ever ready in Oyo to give support and cooperation to the police. We maintain law and order, reason the old Oyo Empire existed uninterruptedly for 600 years.

Accompanied by the Oyo Area Commander, Mr Dabo (Assistant Commissioner of Police) and some other principal officers of the state command, the police commissioner expressed delight for the opportunity he had to visit the palace and the Oyo Empire, "which I had read about when I was in the Secondary School", saying that, there was no way the police could work without the palace.

Mbu said, "We are your children. Whenever we make mistakes, as our father, endeavour to call your son, the Area Commander, to intimate him. If any of my aides misbehave, I will sanction them", he assured the monarch.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Compiled By Muhammad Sada

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ankruptcy is a very real possibility for many people these days. Poor planning, overspending, lack of savings, high-interest loans, lack of insurance and other factors can all lead to a negative financial situation.

Keeping control of your spending and having a sound financial plan can help you prevent debt or bankruptcy and achieve peace of mind about your financial future.

Instructions • Create a budget and stick to it. A clear budget that includes all of your monthly bills, food, entertainment and miscellaneous items will prevent you from spending thoughtlessly and buying on impulse.

•Maintain clear financial records and a regular payment schedule. Disorganization can cause you to overlook bills and overestimate how much you have to spend. Dedicate a specific time every month (just after payday is best) when you can sit down with your finances, pay your bills and determine how much you have to spend for the month ahead.

•Only use credit when you can pay it off within a few months. Using credit cards with no plan to pay the debt is reckless, irresponsible and can get you into big trouble. The longer it takes you to pay off the debt, the more interest that debt will incur--and the more you'll end up paying.

•Shred or tear up credit card applications that come to you

PAGE 11

How to prevent debt in the mail. Just because you get the application doesn't mean you need or want the card.

Destroying the application will prevent you from using it and protect you from potential identity thieves.

•Save for a rainy day.

Direct a portion of your paycheck directly into your savings account so you never even see that money. Aim to

save enough money to be able to pay your bills for 6 months in case you lose your job or have an accident.

•Maintain insurance coverage. Health and home insurance are absolute musts in order to avoid bankruptcy.

Unexpected medical bills, flood damage and fire damage can lead to ruin if you aren't properly covered.

•Pay taxes correctly and on

time. Unpaid accumulates bankruptcy.

tax debt that can cause

Tips and Warnings Use a computer program to maintain your financial records quickly and easily. If it doesn't take much time, you'll be more likely to keep it up.

Save your receipts and record what you spend and where you

To wear a permanet smile face, stay off Debt.

A guide to raising finance T

here seems to be constant divide between those looking to borrow money and institutional lenders. On one side are potential borrowers who believe that banks are not willing to support their business in the form of loans and advances. On the other banks which claim there are enough bankable projects or proposals to choose from.

These are options open to companies to improve cash flow through internal changes, and examine how potential borrowers should present a bankable proposal and what they can expect in the course of the application process.

Internal Sources of Funding Many organisations erroneously believe that access to finance is the beginning and end of

Quote "The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency.

The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency".

– Bill Gates

spend it. Having it in writing will help you track how well you are maintaining your budget.

Avoid co-signing on a loan you can't afford to pay. Co-signed loans are the cause of many bankruptcy filings.

Always insure your assets: you'll still have to pay the loan on your home, car, boat or motorcycle even if it is completely destroyed.

all their problems. Sometimes, this is indeed true - cash is the lifeblood of any business. However, many companies go about looking for funding in the wrong way and with the wrong mindset. Before a firm decides to borrow, it should first exhaust internal sources of funding, which are cheaper.

First, companies should explore supplier funding - also referred to as 'trade credit' or 'spontaneous financing'. Suppliers looking to grow their sales are often willing to offer generous payment terms, albeit at slightly higher costs. This type of funding is usually short term in nature; however, purchase of heavy-duty equipment can be negotiated for longer periods. The key issue here for organisations is to maintain good relationships with their suppliers by paying promptly and informing them of potential payment delays. Maintaining good relationships with suppliers is imperative, not only because suppliers are important to a company's success, but also because they serve as references for potential lenders.

Second, firms should examine their processes in order to eliminate waste and identify operational inefficiencies. Manufacturers need to consider how long manufacturing processes take and if they can be reduced, and how long it takes to get products to

market and then convert these sales to cash. The objective here is to streamline all internal processes and reduce them to the barest minimum without sacrificing quality. This will help free cash, and reduce the need for borrowing.

Furthermore, firms should eradicate any superfluous expenses.

Third, firms need to consider what assets and divisions can be restructured or sold. To achieve this, they need to identify which ones are not core to the company's future strategy, and are no longer serving their original purposes. Some assets can be sold and then leased back, while unused office or industrial space can be sublet. Firms should also seek to encourage debtors to make payments for sales earlier.

This can be achieved by offering discounts to clients who pay on time, or choosing to deal with established wholesalers for distribution rather than many retail buyers with questionable credit histories.

Lastly, firms should explore getting existing shareholders to increase their level of shareholding, or admitting new shareholders. Of course, this course of action should be considered in line with the shareholding structure of the company in question, the market conditions, and the type of company - public, private or limited by guarantee.

While careful management of

working capital has always been a primary concern, today's challenging financial environment has made it a growing imperative.

Companies with internal sources of funding are able to face challenges more confidently and are more prepared for market uncertainty.

What Constitutes a 'Bankable' Proposal?

A company may have explored all of the aforementioned options but may still require some external funding to expand, refinance some debt or take advantage of increased demand. In which case, the next step will be to consider a bank loan.

When companies are considering approaching a bank to raise finance it is advisable that they carry out some preliminary research before approaching a bank and bear in mind the following: Not every request for credit facilities will be favourably considered.

The fact that a request is declined by one bank doesn't mean that the same request will not be approved by another.

Countless loan applications are submitted to banks on a daily basis, so applications need to be of a high standard to stand out.

Banks need more loan proposals to be approved in order to increase their earnings capacity.

Different banks have different areas of expertise. Some banks

specialise in, or are more comfortable with, particular geographical areas or different industry sectors. For instance, some banks are regarded as 'trade banks' for their strong track record in trade financing. Other banks might be stronger in financing startups or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); some others are energy- or commodity-related banks, specialising in funding energy-related companies. Others still are regional banks, specialising in certain geographical areas - Africa, Europe, the Americas or Asia.

While some banks tout themselves as all-purpose, universal banks, in practice, most have certain areas of specialty.

As a potential borrower, it is important to take these factors into consideration when looking for potential lenders. An SME, hoping to raise funds from a bank whose strategy is not geared towards SMEs, will find its chances of success significantly reduced. It is possible to discover the focus of a particular bank by looking at its website, annual reports, strategic intent, landmark deals and client list, and by asking other firms within a specific industry or value chain.

While this may seem a simplistic approach, repeated failure to do so by prospective borrowers explains why some loan proposals are continually rejected.

Having identified a suitable bank, companies need to answer a number of seemingly obvious but often overlooked questions:

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

T

The lesson of Mimiko’s victory in Ondo

he preponderance of opinion among Nigerians seems to be that last Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo state was free and fair, and well conducted, in spite of some notable hitches here and there. And in many respects it was so.

What perhaps came as a surprise to many was the wide margin with which the incumbent governor, Mr. Olusegun Mimiko, floored his two main challengers, the candidates of the PDP and the ACN. And we in the Peoples Daily join other Nigerians to congratulate Governor Mimiko for what we believe is a well deserved victory.

But it would be foolhardy for us to believe that all went well and that there were no problems to which serious attention must be paid if we are to achieve the high levels of credibility and integrity that we want our elections to have. One of these problems that is worthy of mention here has to do with the security arrangements for the exercise.

Perhaps because of some past incidents of violence at elections in Ondo state and the fact that it was the only state in the country going to the poll, security seemed to be at the top of the authorities’ concerns during the preparations for last Saturday’s governorship election in the state. In a way, this is understandable. But, clearly, the

authorities overdid things. They went over the top in the security arrangements they put in place for the election and, by so doing, raised serious questions about whether an election can rightly be said to be free, fair and credible in a tense atmosphere engendered by heavy military and police presence.

With the deployment to Ondo of large detachments of troops from the Army, Navy, Customs and

“

Mimiko’s landslide victory is the result largely of his performance record and the doggedness with which he mobilised the Ondo electorate and people around, and built the party that was the vehicle for his ride to power Immigration; 11,000 policemen with an A.I.G and four commissioners at the head; a 3000-strong Civil Defence Corpse team; restriction of movements for most of the day; and an order to the troops to shoot and kill “troublemakers,” it looked more like the authorities had war in mind, not just ensuring security at an election. The problem with this is that such an excessive display of

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force in a state at a time people are exercising their civic responsibility is, to say the least, provocative, and, would have led to undesirable consequences, especially given the high level of indiscipline and impunity among our troops.

Mimiko’s landslide victory is the result largely of his performance record and the doggedness with which he mobilised the Ondo electorate and people around, and built the party that was the vehicle for his ride to power. Had he neglected the party, the outcome of last Saturday's election would most probably have been quite different.

Clearly, there is a lot other governors, especially that of Nasarawa who governs the only CPC- controlled state, can learn from Ondo and Mimiko.

One aspect of the election that is a happy development for our politics in Nigeria is the defeat of especially the ACN. It is most welcome that Mimiko wiped the floor with ACN's Oke and, by extension, Asiwaju Tinubu, the ACN leader himself. The ACN wanted an extension of Yoruba ethnic hegemony in the entire South-west.

Mimiko's victory made that impossible, and that is very good for Nigeria.

Mimiko owes Ondo people a duty to surpass, during his second term, his own good record of performance in his first term.

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OUR VISION

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

By Lagun Akinloye

O

ver the past few weeks, the worst flooding Nigeria has seen in at least half a century has led to deaths of hundreds of Nigerians, the displacement of over a million people, and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of hectares of farmland. Huge swathes of the country have been affected, particularly in central and southeastern regions, with houses, bridges and roads devastated.

Many displacement camps are now overcrowded and aid materials scarce, certain areas and cities are starting to suffer from shortages of food staples, some predict the loss of farmlands will endanger Nigeria’s food security in the longer-term, while others fear waterborne diseases could spread to epidemic levels.

President Goodluck Jonathan responded by calling the issue a “national disaster” and establishing a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to help those affected, saying at its inauguration: “the present administration will do everything possible to ameliorate the impact of this devastating flood on our people”.

This response is to be welcomed and the need for immediate and concerted relief action is urgent and crucial. At the same time, however, preventing similar events in the future requires an

PAGE 13

The need to prepare for the rainy day understanding of why the floods proved just so destructive, and a number of experts are pointing to the government and its lack of preparation.

Nigeria has two rainy seasons, the first lasting from March to the end of July and the second commencing in early-September and ending around mid-October.

The country often experiences flash floods in these periods, but this year the scale of latter rainy season was unusually intense.

In central Nigeria, which saw much of the worst flooding, heavy rains can lead the Niger River to overflow, requiring the Jebba and Kainji dams to be opened. This is what happened this September when, following weeks of intense rainfall, local authorities were forced to open the dams which were visibly overflowing and in danger of collapse.

Global warming has been pointed to a possible reason behind increased rainfall. In an article in the Nigerian Tribune, Iyiola Akande, the southwest zonal coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said that “there was an increase in the intensity and frequency of flood disasters in the world and that Nigeria was not an exception”.

Others, however, claim that the effects of the heavy rainfall

could have been more effectively handled by a better prepared and coordinated government response.

Through the Flood Early Warning Centre, Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment issued a forecast of heavy rainfall in midSeptember and warned of potential flooding in some parts of the country. But authorities failed to also take adequate steps to alert downstream communities or provide prevention and relief materials.

On the other hand, Nnimmo Bassey, executive director of Environmental Rights Action, suggested to Think Africa Press that another major problem was the “lack of coordination with the managers of the various dams in Cameroon and Nigeria”. He explained: “There ought to be systematic and controlled release of water from the dams before they get to catastrophic levels. This was not done. The result is what we are seeing.” The handling of the situation by Nigerian and Cameroonian authorities was, he said, “simply scandalous”.

Talking specifically about urban flooding, some such as Kayode Oyesiku, a lecturer at Olabisi Onabanjo University, have previously pointed to poor town planning and drainage in urban areas. “The major challenge over the years is that development

comes before town planning. There is no drainage”, said Oyesiku.

Indeed, urban flooding occurs primarily in towns located on flat or low-lying terrain, especially when little or no provision has been made for surface drainage or where existing drains are blocked by municipal waste and refuse.

Support for those affected by the flooding has come from Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Red Cross, and some private organisations. They have rallied round to provide rice, tents and other relief materials. The federal government has also set up an inter-ministerial committee headed by the Minister of Environment to assess the impact of flood disaster in Nigeria.

On October 9, in an attempt to mitigate the crisis, President Jonathan announced the disbursement of N17.6 billion ($110 million) in financial assistance to the affected states and the government agencies responsible for disaster management.

Jonathan also inaugurated a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation with the objective of assisting the federal government in its fundraising efforts. The committee is to be cochaired by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and business mogul,

alongside human rights activist Olisa Agbakoba, while the chairman of the telecoms company Globacom Mike Adenuga Jr. will serve as the chief funds mobiliser.

Olumide Idowu, Youth Engagement Officer of The Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC) told Think Africa Press that this was a “bold step” but questioned the government’s choice of personnel. “Will they not turn these funds into a jamboree for party officials and friends? Our prayer is that the funds released will get to the affected masses”, he said.

Indeed, the need to get relief to the millions affected is highly urgent and the multi-faceted scale of the disaster will require plenty of resources, manpower and political will to tackle. At the same time, however, if Nigeria is to avoid a similar fate in the future, the government must also learn from its mistakes in realms from town planning and drainage to engineering and dam management to coordination within and between governments.

If the menace of flooding is not honestly tackled, damage of the monumental scale witnessed this rainy season will be a recurring hazard for a people left to the mercy of nature.

Lagun Akinloye is reachable on lagun.akinloye@thinkafricapress.com

recovered from the blisters of the Fayose/Oni years when the state was converted from a sedate and almost anonymous state to a looming theater of war and enclave of dread. This is one huge hallmark of the Fayemi regime for his regime drastically brought down the boiling temperature of the state to near zero. This is the needed state of health through which other rich dividends could be harnessed and Ekiti is presently on the very threshold of savouring those dividends as could be gleaned from the profile of the state in two years of Fayemi’s leadership.

What better way to showcase the dividend than the fact that to celebrate his second years in office, Governor Fayemi is commissioning twelve roads in the state totaling over 108 kilometres? The governor is also going to commission 100 renovated public secondary and primary schools, six water and seven rural electrification projects. He will also commission the legacy projects, which include the Samsung Engineering Academy, the Civic Center, the State Pavilion, the Life Academy Iluomoba, the Governor’s Office and the Deputy Governor’s house in Ado Ekiti. These are projects slated to mark the second year anniversary alone and from here, we can glean that Ekiti is on the threshold of harvest, after a disastrous epoch in the hands of locusts.

Studiously and in his usual quiet and self effacing manner, Fayemi is leaving indelible imprimaturs in the governance of Ekiti. He is touching each sector of governance with that

rejuvenating feel needed to take back a state that was lost momentarily to brutes. From agriculture to roads, from public utilities to health, from education to employment, from poverty alleviation to general urban renewal, the sure and steady feet of the regime marches on and positively impacts on the entire length and breadth of Ekiti State.

Fayemi has worked very hard to restore the hallowed pedestal on which Ekiti stood and having done that, it is just natural that the rich harvest of democracy dividends the state is experiencing now will flow. We are going to take a glance at the incipient harvest Ekiti is.

In the area of agriculture, Governor Fayemi’s government has restored the farm settlements in such places as Orin, Iyemero, Ikun and other locations. The state has acquired thousands of acres of arable land across the state for the purpose of massive food production. The state has launched irrigated agriculture as a means of boosting food production. Also, through the Youths for Commercial Agriculture Development (Y-

ICAD) the state is engaging the youths through training and empowerment to take to agriculture as a profession. Under the scheme, 1,500 youths are presently in training and on completion of training; each will be given land and an expendable credit facility of N1.5 million to start off their respective agricultural enterprises. Ekiti State under Fayemi has established 7.000 hectares of cassava plantation while its Cocoa Growth Enhancement Programme targets 15,000 cocoa farmers that will be given agro chemicals and fertilizer worth N46, 000 each. The government has so far distributed 150,000 improved cocoa seedlings to farmers and targets 500,000 seedlings next year. Similar attention is being given to palm oil and rice production in a bold effort to make Ekiti a net exporter of food to other parts of the country.

In the educational sector, the Fayemi regime has recorded massive investments in a scheme that aims at a total overhaul of the decrepit face of public

education in the state. The regime has procured and distributed 33,000 laptops to students of public secondary schools in Ekiti and targets that by 2014, 100,000 school pupils in Ekiti will have their personal laptops in a bid to make students of the school’s system ICT compliant. Further to the distribution of the laptops, the State Government also signed a memorandum of Understanding with Samsung to connect Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti and the State College of Education, Ikere Ekiti to the on-going wireless community project as hundreds of computers have been procured ahead of their connection; even as Samsung is set to establish a service centre in the State.

Perhaps, it was because of this feat that the governor won the ICT Governor of The Year 2012 Award by the Nigerian Telecoms Award.

The state’s Operation Renovate All Schools in Ekiti (ORASE), which targets to renovate all the 180 public schools in the state within a record time remains the boldest effort by any government in the history of the state to restore the glory of public education in the state. The 100 public schools the governor would be commissioning in this year’s second year anniversary are the first tranche of the renovated schools and the remaining are to be commissioned in no distant time.

The ORASE scheme aims to transform the existing shackled structures in all public schools in Ekiti and replacing them with modern buildings, with aluminium roofing.

Peter Claver Oparah blogs at www.elombah.com

Fayemi’s Ekiti: On the threshold of harvest

By Peter Claver Oparah

E

kiti state’s governor, Dr, John Kayode Fayemi has put in two meritorious years in the service of his state, Ekiti. It is two years since that historical verdict that ended a long drawn battle by Fayemi to claim his stolen mandate and these two years have been eventful as they are fruitful. It is of no use repeating the enervating quest Fayemi put in his legal effort to claim his rightful dues. It was a period that was enough to sap a man, to tax a man to his limits and possibly force a man to recant. But Fayemi stood out those two lonesome years of persecution and state sponsored blitzkrieg mounted by those that usurped his mandate against him. A quintessential long distance runner, he showed no sign of flagging as the battle raged and even as all known and unknown war heads were trained on him, he refused to bow to the heat and sopped all the pressures as he waited patiently for a return of his stolen mandate. With the benefit of hindsight, those years honed him for the tasks ahead and the way and manner he has been delivering in Ekiti these past two years shows he brought priceless treasures from his years in the wilderness to the governance of Ekiti.

After two years of Fayemi’s governance, Ekiti has successfully recovered from the trauma that was inflicted on it by six years of brute leadership where a state that excels in education was subjected to the rule of brawns.

Ekiti, under Fayemi, has

“

Ekiti, under Fayemi, has recovered from the blisters of the Fayose/Oni years when the state was converted from a sedate and almost anonymous state to a looming theater of war and enclave of dread. This is one huge hallmark of the Fayemi regime for his regime drastically brought down the boiling temperature of the state to near zero

PAGE 14

By Kenneth Amaeshi

F

our young men were killed.

The video of their death went viral and unleashed deep-seated compassionate emotions amongst Nigerians. No matter their alleged crimes, many well-meaning Nigerians have condemned the heartless act of barbarism meted out to the young men in the strongest terms. My deepest sympathies and condolences go to the families of the deceased and their loved ones. The act was repugnant to the human mind, and many have been traumatised by watching the video. I have heard many moan and sob afterwards.

I have not watched the video, and have refused to watch it because the reports about it are rather too sickening. It comes across as a powerful visualisation meant for the brave-hearted, which I am not in this case. Many people who believe in life after death, and some holy books, often talk about the experience as the visual replay of one’s life on earth.

The emphasis on the visuals is not surprising because we relate more to what we see. The eyes provide a quick access to our inner being and emotions. Such is the power of visuals that they can orchestrate social change. The visual representation of the World Trade Center in flames following the Al Quaeda attack in 2001 (the infamous 9/11), for example, definitely changed the world.

While our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the four young men gruesomely killed in Aluu, I contrast their death with millions of Nigerians who die daily as a result of bad

By Paul I. Adujie Esq.

D

espite the upsurge of Christian and Islamic fundamentalism and fanaticism in Nigeria, there is dearth of volunteerism in Nigeria.

Volunteerism is profoundly absent and yet, Nigerians are said to be most religious.

What then is religiosity without selflessness or being our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper?

What does Christianity and Islam teach if not compassion?

What are the benefits of both religions?

I am not passionate about any religion, the only religion of which I could possibly be passionate, exercised and or animated about, would be, such religion named patriotism or nationalism or both. But so far, there are no such religions in Nigeria.

Here is the thing, I hate and loathe human sufferings, hardships and abject poverty, which leads to human desperation anywhere on earth.

Then, all of these take on a very personal tone, when Nigerians are the victims of pestilence, whether man-made or the natural courses of event or nature’s happenstances.

And so it is, that in recent weeks, the plight and predicaments of millions of Nigerians across our nation inflicted by the ravages of floods, have moved me to metaphorical

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

We died before the Aluu Four governance, corruption, greed and probably gone unnoticed. In fact, legitimate expectations to be paid selfishness. We obviously do not see most public officials crying to high for facilitating transactions, and recognise these as major killers, heavens do worse things everyday which are ordinarily their jobs, in addition to their salaries. because they are not at the fore of by their actions and omissions.

One also uncomfortably finds Contracts are not awarded solely our consciousness. They are latent and hidden from our eyes; but corruption looming and lurking in on merit and competence. The would it make any difference to our very strange places. It is public ability and willingness to reward collective emotions if their negative knowledge that the Nigerian Police, the public servant has become an essential impacts on the criterion in the society were d e c i s i o n visualised as the making process Aluu viral video? of assessing For instance, how Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text public value. many lives are messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written The reckless wasted when contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 rent seeking s o m e o n e words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and capitalist with embezzles funds a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed a penchant for meant for a to: the primitive hospital, or when acquisition of someone imports The Editor, capital is often fake drugs? How found at the many people die Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, other side of the on our roads 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. story.

He everyday as a Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com embodies this result of bad roads SMS: 07037756364 gory mentality and poor at its best, and t r a n s p o r t infrastructure, which could have for instance, is the visible epitomises the old saying: it takes been saved if not for the embezzled embodiment of corruption and its two to tango. This way, is legitimised, and misappropriated funds? How impunity in Nigeria. They exhibit corruption and celebrated; many lives are lost as a result of the unmatched competence and rewarded creative tactics in the art of anything against this legitimacy petroleum subsidy scam?

Corruption has become so extortion. It is their stock in trade, is seen as rather abnormal and ordinary in Nigeria – isn’t it called and they shamelessly don’t pretend obnoxious.

I am not for a minute the Naija factor? It is no longer the about it. After all, “man must preserve of the rich and the wack”. The public servants are also condemning the legitimisation, powerful, although the magnitude well versed in the politics and celebration and reward of of corruption. corruption, which the Nigerian of the impacts of the corruption dynamics induced by this class is more Oftentimes, it is couched in the society has happily accepted as a harmful and far-reaching, which language of “what is in it for me?” way of life. If not, why would one makes the sheer hypocrisy of the Framed as such, corruption in the sell his vote for a pittance, and why political class in hyping the Aluu public sector, perpetrated by the would many of those voted-in in recklessness, killings very disgusting. Were it public servants, comes across as a wallow irresponsibility, and ineptitude? I not for the evolution of the social reward for work well done.

The public servants now have have heard many people say media, the killings would have

WRITE TO US

Nigeria is the place to be, because that’s where the money is. When such utterances are probed, they reveal some bizarre form of happiness, contentment and fulfilment. At the end, I often wonder why anyone would condemn a society that has chosen to live by its own norms shrouded in the politics of corruption.

Despite this surreal romanticisation of Nigeria, it is either highly hypocritical or naïve of many Nigerians to be emotionally traumatized by the killing of the four young men in Aluu, when many more are killed by our collective everyday participation in corruption. The main difference between the two is that the former is visual and easily visible, and the latter is dark and hidden from our consciousness. Their death, whilst bitterly painful, is sadly a micro representation of the havoc we inflict on the country and on ourselves every day. It is only by looking inwards and visualising our actions and omissions that we can truly feel the pains we inflict on ourselves and others.

Fortunately, without others, we are nothing. The choice to be something or nothing is up to us.

As we mourn for the Aluu victims, we should in the same stride mourn for ourselves and our children. At the end, we are all walking dead!

Kenneth Amaeshi is a Visiting Professor at the Lagos Business School, Nigeria and member, Thought Leadership Forum, Nigeria.

Whither our spirit of volunteerism? and literal tears.

As a consequence, I wrote a series of articles in which I wondered aloud about the purpose and role of government at all levels or strata in Nigeria.

Nigerians, in the millions, have been underwater, submerged, inundated and saturated for weeks. Nigeria is waterlogged and Nigerians have cried out for help and assistance to weather the floodstorm or deluges.

Our primary queries have been directed at governments, local-municipal, state and federal, at least, these were the targets of my articles seeking reliefs, remedial measures and succors in all forms for victims of these unforgiving floods across Nigeria.

But evens as we may criticize and chastise the various levels of government and lack of relief, remedies, crises management inadequacies and plain ineptitude, what after all, are the roles for the rest of us citizens? Are we not, after all, our sisters’ and brothers’ keepers?

Are Nigerians not said to be the most religious people on earth?

How can we be said to be so religious, and yet, it does appear as if we usually look the other way when our fellow citizens face utmost adversity, such as the extreme plights and predicaments which we have all witnessed millions of Nigerians passed and

are still passing through since the onset of these floods from hell.

It is quite difficult and impossible to reconcile the opposite ideas of Nigerians being so religious and happy as a people, and simultaneously unwillingly to be their brothers and sisters keepers!

Why would Nigerians, great religionists, witness the killing and roasting of four young-men, whatever their affronts, and no good Christian or good Muslim intervened? But instead, someone meticulously recorded the obscene brutal murders, as it was normal?

How is it possible to separate conspicuously and loudly religious Nigerians, who are Christian and Islamic Fundamentalists and fanatical religionists, in their zealotry and extreme religious fervors, and the almost callous attitude towards the suffering of fellow citizens who have been submerged for weeks!

Where are volunteer efforts,

where are donated foods and blankets and even expression of empathies and sympathies from religious leaders and their congregations? Where are the volunteers? Where are selfless Nigerians helping those in need?

Should Churches and Mosques not be refuges?

Where are public-spirited works by Christians and Muslims amidst these flood catastrophes?

The majority of states and localities in Nigeria are flooded, but even so, there are states which are dry and without these flood disasters and displacements, and yet, many reasonable persons can observe as I have, that there are no trooping volunteers coming from areas which are not flooded.

There are no trickles and there are no deluging traffic of human army of volunteers, besieging the flooded parts of Nigeria with relief supplies and

“

But evens as we may criticize and chastise the various levels of government and lack of relief, remedies, crises management inadequacies and plain ineptitude, what after all, are the roles for the rest of us citizens? Are we not, after all, our sisters’ and brothers’ keepers?

donations!

There are more churches these days in Nigeria than any other symbols of development by way public buildings, say, similar to libraries or town halls, etc.

Where are the volunteers, the helpers and relief materials for flood victims in Nigeria? How can we be so loudly religious and callous or even wicked?

How is it possible for Nigeria, which has produced religious puritans, the Taliban imitators also known as Boko Haram, be the same nation that does not have public-spirited workers and volunteers? And where is the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Reverend Oritsejafor and Cardinal Okojie and Cardinal Arinze and every other claimer of religious supremacy and superiority?

Where indeed is TB Joshua, Pastor Adeboye, Pastor Oyedepo, Pastor Oyakhilome, Pastor Okotie and all these other jet-sets and executive jet plane owning pastors with designers suits?

Sadly, relief materials are not politically explosive and so, Boko Haram and other religious purists could not hope to garner the same national attention, as would their pandering and self-serving proclamations about competitions between religions, also known as crusades and the battles of civilizations!

Paul I. Adujie Esq is on Twitter

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 15

Dame Patience Jonathan and soft couch theory

By Olu W. Onemola

W

e have seen similar stories play out in the Nigerian media. We have all heard, read, and speculated about the badly kept secrets and lies from the lips and press releases of government spokesmen and women that ever-so-often mislead the Nigerian public about the whereabouts of their public figures. The first time it happened in recent memory, the individual in question was said to have gone on a tummy-tuck holiday. She never returned. May her soul rest in peace.

The next time it happened, for weeks all we heard were rumours about our supposedly ill and comatose President. Then we did not hear anything at all. We just saw a new man ‘acting’ as our President, until we finally heard what we did not want to hear. May his soul also rest in peace. So, I am sure that you can all imagine our anxiety and anger, when it seemed as if Part III of “Aso Villa Occupant Goes on Vacation” was being

released. Make no mistake, we love our Made in Nigeria movies, and even though we often criticize our leaders, given the nature of Part I and Part II, we taught we knew how this particular movie was going to end – and we were not looking forward to watching it. Until the main actor in Part III, Aunty DPJ, defied the odds and came back home. Now the story gets interesting…

We are a tough-talking, egobutchering people (if you do not believe me, do a random search for “Tonto Dike” and “music”).

However, even with all the flak that we give Aunty DPJ from time to time in the press and on social media sites, we are also quite empathic – especially when it comes to providing a support system for our brothers and sisters in emotional or medical-related distress. So, again, I am sure that you can imagine our displeasure when we began to look around, beginning on the 28th of August – when she was last seen in public – wondering where our Aunty DPJ had disappeared. To add salt to our pure water, you can

further imagine how shocking it was to hear from sources familiar with her whereabouts – after weeks of not hearing anything – that Aunty DPJ, our very own Permanent Secretary and First Lady Aunty DPJ, was abroad “resting.”

Resting? Resting? What kind of nonsense is that? Who in their right mind had the audacity to move the soft couch where Aunty DPJ usually took her rest in Aso Villa to Germany? I mean, after all, that sounds like the only valid reason (or not) to go to Germany just to ‘rest.’ Some people even had the effrontery, to suggest that Aunty was sick. Can you imagine that?

Anyways, Aunty is now back and has denied ever being admitted to a hospital and has not said anything about falling ill. She has also not told us anything substantial, other than the fact that: “God has said it all… when two or three are gathered in His name… he will be with them. And Nigerians gathered and prayed for me and God listened and heard their prayers, so I thank God for

that.”

Yes, we did gather, and we did pray. In our churches, mosques, shrines and homes, we prayed for Aunty DPJ’s safe return, regardless of the clearly audible radio silence from those in Aso Villa about her whereabouts. We prayed and wished her all the best, even though deep down, we had our reservations about the ‘resting’ theory, which was later accompanied by the ‘food poisoning’ theory.

In this regard, many of us have come to the conclusion that given the information that we have been provided by Aunty DPJ (in her October 18th remarks about her German vacation) and the statements from the seasoned spokesmen and women in Aso Villa about her ‘rest’, the soft couch theory seems like the most plausible explanation. Somebody forcefully took Aunty DPJ’s favorite soft couch out of Aso Villa – with all the security that it has – and moved it to Germany, and Aunty DPJ could not “rest” without it, so she had to go there

for eight weeks.

Be that as it may, I must reiterate that we are glad to have Aunty DPJ back home. However, there are a few things that still do not really sit right with me. As a self-respecting citizen, that has come to always believe and trust in everything that my government says, I have also come to accept that Aunty DPJ went to rest abroad for eight weeks on her favorite soft couch. However, what I do find unacceptable is the shroud of secrecy that seemed to accompany this eight-week vacation. I mean, really, what were they ashamed of? After all, given the level of corruption that is exhibited at all levels of our government, an eightweek taxpayer-funded rest and relaxation period for the First Lady is nothing to worry about. I just often find myself wondering why she could not just ‘rest’ here in Nigeria, until I catch myself and remember that she needed her soft couch, and somebody took it to Germany.

Except if there is another story…

Follow Olu W. Onemola @OluOne on Twitter

For Ekwueme, a timely birthday gift from Atiku

By Chudi Offodile

T

he annual awards and lecture of the Leadership Newspaper held at the Sheraton hotel, Abuja, on the 18th of September, 2012, provided an opportunity for Turaki, Atiku Abubakar present, what I consider, a befitting and timely birthday gift to Dr Alex Ekwueme, former Vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria [1979-2003], who turns 80 on October, 21, 2012.

Atiku Abubakar, himself, a former Vice President of Nigeria [1999-2007] while reviewing the structure of the Nigerian state at the event, had this to say: “I also want to recall that during the said 1994-95 constitutional conference, Dr Alex Ekwueme [GCON] former Vice President of the federation, introduced and canvassed for the concept of geopolitical zones. I was among those who opposed it because I taught that Ekwueme, coming from the defunct Republic of Biafra, wanted to break up the country again. Dr Ekwueme obviously saw what some of us, with our civil war mindset, could not see at the time.

There is indeed too much concentration of power and resources at the centre. And it is stifling our march to true greatness as a nation and threatening our unity because of all the abuses, inefficiencies, corruption and reactive tensions that it has been generating.

Continuing, he said: ‘There is need, therefore, to review the structure of the Nigerian federation, preferably along the basis of the current six geo-political zones as regions and the states as Provinces. The existing state structure may not suffice, as the states are too weak materially and politically to provide what is needed for good governance’.

Atiku Abubakar may not have intended his remarks to be a

birthday gift but I am convinced that it is a precious gift that is timely and befitting, because at 80 years, Dr Ekwueme has played his part as an architect, a successful one, a politician who became Vice President and a statesman who crafted an intelligent way forward for a country he truly loves.

Ekwueme’s idea connects to our history in a special way. It reconciles our past with the present and offers limitless opportunities for a bright future for Nigeria.

Atiku’s intervention marks a remarkable and fundamental shift in the ‘thinking’ of the northern political establishment.

Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida has in the past suggested that the country needs to be restructured.

Even General Buhari’s Congress for Progressive change, made restructuring of the federation, an issue in the last campaign but Atiku was direct and specific. He acknowledged the need to review the structure of the Nigerian federation, preferably along the basis of the current six geo-political zones as regions and the states as provinces.

Nigeria may be moving slowly but surely towards achieving a modus Vivendi on the question of restructuring. First is to cast away the ‘civil war mindset’ as Atiku has done and take a hard look at the journey so far. The way forward is a proper federal arrangement, a just and equitable power sharing formula that will command the loyalty of all Nigerians and pave the path for nationhood. The six geopolitical zones as federating units is the best formula put forward so far in our long search for a stable system in post war Nigeria. Atiku Abubakar’s candour, rare to find in our country is quite commendable, although he was silent on the issue of rotation of power, the other leg of the Ekwueme submission at the

constitutional conference.

Ekwueme was born on October, 21, 1932 in Okoh, Orumba North local government area of Anambra state. He completed his high school education at Kings College, Lagos on a government scholarship and passed the Cambridge school certificate examination with grade one in December 1949. He was one of the first four Nigerians to be awarded the Fulbright scholarship financed by the U S State department, following which he enrolled at University of Washington for the degree of B.Arch in Architecture and City Planning in 1952.

While pursuing his undergraduate degree in Architecture, he also earned a B.A in sociology in 1955. Concurrently, in June 1955, he sat for the B.A degree examination of the University of London as an external candidate in History, Philosophy and Constitutional Law and passed.

He received his M.A degree in urban planning in March, 1957.

He worked as an Architect in the United States, United Kingdom and finally in Nigeria where he set up the first Nigerian registered Architectural firm in Lagos in 1958. He was elected President of the Nigerian Institute of architects in 1965.

During the Nigeria/Biafra civil war, Ekwueme returned to Eastern Nigeria [Biafra] and became the Head of planning of the Biafra National Airports Board. He obtained his doctorate degree, Ph.D in 1978 from the School of

Architecture, Building Science and Planning of the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.

Once again, concurrently with his Ph.D research work, he registered for and obtained the L.L.B degree of the University of London in 1978.

Ekwueme was elected Vice President of Nigeria in 1979 as running mate to Alhaji Shehu Shagari on the ticket of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, [NPN].

They were re-elected in 1983 but were overthrown in a military coup in December of 1983. Several of the civilian leadership went on trial before a military tribunal set up by the military junta led by General Muhamadu Buhari. It is a tribute to Ekwueme’s incorruptibility that the panel announced publicly, after all investigations, that he had left politics poorer than he was when he entered it and that to ask for more from him was to set a standard which even saints would be unable to meet.

Ekwueme’s next political outing was as an elected delegate to the 1994-95 national constitutional conference where he served on the committee on the structure and framework of the constitution and where he made the ‘prescriptions’ for a durable and stable polity known as the six zonal structure. In April 1998, he led a group of eminent citizens popularly referred to as G-34 that confronted former military Head of State, late General Sani Abacha, asking him to perish the idea of

“

Ekwueme did not become President of Nigeria and today, may not even be a powerful figure in the party he founded [PDP] but the ideas he put forth will serve this Country well and his place in history is firmly assured

succeeding himself.

G-34 with other groups became the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] with Ekwueme as the founding chairman. Ekwueme failed in his bid to become the Presidential candidate of the party in the 1999 Presidential election.

He had delivered his local government, Orumba North, his state Anambra, and his zone, South East, as demanded by the party as a pre-condition for qualification to contest the Presidential primaries. Something went wrong but that is not the subject of this write up.

Ekwueme notified the Igbo Nation of his Presidential aspirations and asked them to follow him to the PDP. A significant number of Igbo political heavyweights, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Chief Arthur Nzeribe to mention but a few, refused and joined the APP as it then was. But Ndigbo had decided to follow Ekwueme to the PDP. The PDP swept the South East from local government elections to the gubernatorial elections. I stand on very firm grounds when I say, that almost all elected officials from the South East who were elected in 1999, on the ticket of the PDP, owe their political ascendancy to Ekwueme’s effort in rallying the Igbos behind his presidential aspiration. Did we keep faith? Again, that is not the focus of this discourse. Elili malu ngwugwu, mana ngwugwu ma onye kelie!

Ekwueme did not become President of Nigeria and today, may not even be a powerful figure in the party he founded [PDP] but the ideas he put forth will serve this Country well and his place in history is firmly assured.

Happy birthday, sir!

Chudi Offodile is a lawyer and former member, House of Representatives

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

FCT area councils share N1.89b revenue allocation

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Federal Capital Territory Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) yesterday distributed a total sum of N1, 894,400,916.45 among the six Area Councils being revenue and Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) allocations for the month of September.

The Area Councils include: Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.

The funds distributed are for the payment of primary school teachers and workers in the Area Councils, pension of workers and execution of capital projects in the Area Councils and Satellite Towns.

The Chairperson of FCT Area Councils JAAC and Honourable Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who disclosed this at the meeting of the Committee, said revenue allocation of N1,837,627,054.79 was received from the Federation Accounts allocation Committee for the Area Councils for September 2012.

Akinjide, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Engr.

Anthony Ozodinobi, also noted that the sum of N56,773,861.66 was received from the Federal Government being the Area Councils’ share of the SURE-P allocation for the month of October 2012.

The five per cent Value

Added Tax, according to the minister, accounted for the lion’s share of the revenue allocation to the area councils of N1.101 billion, representing an increase of N47 million or 4.5 per cent over the N1.054 billion received in the preceding month for VAT. The Statutory Revenue Allocation for the Area Councils also rose by N17.48 million from N675.20 million in August 2012 to N692.68 in September.

Of the N1.894 billion available for sharing to the Area Councils, the FCT Area

Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee distributed N844.57 million to the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) for p a y m ent of the primary school teachers’ salaries in the six area councils; N95.04 million to FCT Area Councils Pension Board (ACPB) being 15 per cent pension fund as statutorily required, and N18.94 million to FCT Area Councils Service Commission being one per cent training fund, also statutorily required.

The net revenue allocation of N935.85 million

was shared by the six Area Councils, with Abuja Municipal receiving N175.96 million; Gwagwalada, N172.86 million; Bwari, N165.46 million; Kuje, N145.50 million; Abaji, N139.71 million; and Kwali, N136.33 million.

Akinjide gave the breakdown of the distribution of the SURE-P funds as follows: Abaji, N6.96 million; Abuja Municipal, N16.77 million; Bwari, N9.28 million; Gwagwalada, N8.50 million; Kuje, N7.45 million, and Kwali, N7.79 million.

People travelling for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, on Tuesday at Jabi motor park, in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Man, 25, docked for alleged mischief, assault

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he police yesterday arraigned one James Ameke, 25, of Garki village, Abuja, before the Zone 6 Magistrates Court, Abuja, for alleged mischief and assault.

Police prosecutor Buba Irimiya told the court that, one Francis Femi, of Kubwa village,

Abuja, reported the case to the Utako Police Station on Oct. 18, 2012.

Irimiya said that the complainant parked his car by Crystal Lounge, Wuse 2, Abuja, waiting for passengers and the accused, due to reckless driving, allegedly hit his windscreen

valued at N15, 000.

He also said that the complainant confronted the accused but he slapped him.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 264 and 327 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Vera Tomtukura granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Tomtukura said the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned the case to Oct. 23, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

Public Complaints Commission to partner FCTA on quality service

By Etuka Sunday

I

n a bid to ensure that quality of service to the people, the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), FCT Branch has said it would partner with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in that regard.

The Commissioner, FCT Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Hon. Obunike Ohaegbu who made the disclosure on Tuesday when the officials of the Commission paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide said the synergy would strengthen the Commission in delivering on her mandate for the people.

According to him, “the PCC, FCT is interested in evolving a society where justice, fairness and equity prevail. In essence, we are not out to witch-hunt any particular agency of government or individual. Our main concern is to bring about good governance that would be responsive and responsible within the FCT. That is the mandate of the Commission within FCT,” he said.

Obunike said a seminar would be organised in partnership with the FCTA targeted at delivering on the core mandate of the Commission in the FCT- a determined effort to foster inter-agency collaboration.

He added that the seminar would reassured the common man and woman on the street that the PCC, FCT could help him or her get justice irrespective of the person or agency of government or corporate body complained against, saying that most people are not aware of the existence and activities of PCC in FCT. In her response, the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide advised the Commission to ensure that legal principles are brought to bear in the service of the Nation.

Promising her support for the Commission and urged them to respect the principles of innocence in the discharge of their duties.

Residents of Gwagwalada decry heap of refuse dump in the area

By Usman Shuaibu

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esidents of Gwagwalada area council, along Angwan Dodo Primary School in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has raised alarm that the area has been taken over by the heaps of refuse.

Some residents who spoke to Peoples Daily in Angwan Dodo, said that they feared a disease outbreak if urgent steps were not taken by the authorities of Gwagwalada Area Council to Clear the waste.

They expressed worry about the odour that was coming out from the refuse,

because it may affect school students of Angwan Dodo Primary School, if care was not taken A parent, Mrs. Ngozi John, said that the residents were not excited with the management of the area council to rise to its responsibility by evacuating

the waste.

The Village head of Angwan Dodo, Mallam Yahaya Mohammed Abako, said that despite the persistent appeals to the area council, nothing had done to evacuate the refuse bins.

Also, a business man in the area, Mr. Samuel Emmanuel,

said that apart from Angwan Dodo Primary School, other parts of Gwagwalada were littered with refuse.

When contacted, the acting H.O.D. environmental of the Area Council, Alhaji Ramalan Ahmed, he claimed that the area council had already commenced work to evacuate the refuse.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Wuse market management dispel bomb scare rumour

By Adeola Tukuru

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he Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the A b u j a Management Market Limited (AMML), Mr. Innocent Amaechina

yesterday said there was no bomb attack in Wuse market, FCT. This was made known to Peoples Daily, following a rumor making the rounds of a bomb scare in Wuse market, he stated

that the rumor is false.

In his words: There is nothing like that in the market, activities in the market have remained claim since morning and all the security officials are on standby".

Landlord loses claim against tenant

A

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FCT High Court sitting in Lugbe have dismissed a suit filed by a landlord, Timothy Gbugu, seeking to recover his premises from a tenant as lacking in merits.

The plaintiff had sued his tenant, Stephen Madason, and urged the court to order him to vacate his three bedroom apartment.

The plaintiff also urged the court to order the tenant to pay N960,000 rent arrears and another N64,000 electricity bill as well as cost of action.

In her judgment, Justice Angela Otaluka, held that from the evidence and pleadings before the court, the landlord had failed to prove his case and dismissed it.

Otaluka held that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant the first relief sought by the applicant. ``It is the opinion of the court that the jurisdiction of the court is robbed in respect of relief number one

that is seeking the possession of premises by the plaintiff. ``And failure of relief number one automatically affects the foundations of relief number two,'' the judge said.

The court also held that the landlord's case was fraught with contradiction because he claimed N962,000 in his statement of claims and in another endorsement N960,000 for the same rent.

Otaluka also held that it was futile for the landlord to join the claim for possession of his premises with electricity bill except with claim for arrears of rent and mense profit. ``The court, therefore, holds that the joining of the claim for the possession with the claim for unpaid PHCN bills is totally unacceptable in law and therefore fails.''

She further held that the landlord did not produce evidence of notice of intention to possess his

premise as contained in his statement of claim, adding that the notice was not tendered in evidence. ``The fact that the tenant has not paid his rent does not deprive him of being given a proper notice to quit. ``The tenant under the law is protected and deserves to be issued and served six months notice to quit.''

The tenant's Counsel, Ibrahim Idaiye, had submitted that the non tendering of the intention to recover the premises by the landlord's counsel, Omeke Kingsley, was fatal to the case.

Idaiye had argued that the landlord failed to meet the legal requirement for the recovery of premises as stipulated by law.

The law stipulates ``that for a court to have jurisdiction on any claim on possession, the defendant must be properly served with the necessary notice''. (NAN).

Man, 20, jailed 5 years for causing grievous hurt

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Senior Magistrates Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, sentenced one a 20-year-old man, Emmanuel Phillimon, 20, a resident of Area 8 by NEPA Office Nyanya, to five years imprisonment for causing grievous hurt without provocation.

In the alternative, the court asked him to pay a N10, 000 fine.

Phillimon pleaded guilty to the charge and the

prosecutor asked that he be convicted summarily based on his admission.

Police prosecutor Stephen Kwaze also prayed the court to award a N80,000 compensation to the victim to cover his medical expenses.

Senior Magistrate Jeremiah Danladi ordered the convict to pay N70,000 to the complainant as compensation for the victim's treatment.

The judge warned the

convict to pay the amount or earn another three months in prison.

Kwaze had told the court that the convict had stabbed one Idris Shaibu of Kugbo Mechanic Village in the chest, left hand and his right hand.

He said that the convict had claimed that the victim brushed him with his car which was not true.

The offence, he said, contravened Section 246 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

5 men charged with constituting public nuisance

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he police yesterday docked five men before an Abuja Senior Magistrates Court for allegedly constituting public nuisance late in the night.

The accused persons are Ogbona Chidi, 30, John Yuwon, 24,Joseph Osueke, 27, Ofobuike Olinya, 25, and Udeh Kelvin, 22, all of Lugbe village, Abuja.

Police prosecutor Jerry Elijah told the court that on Oct. 21,2012 at about 1.30 a.m., a team of policemen led

by insp. Yunisa Garba had arrested the accused persons inside a parked vehicle at the Lugbe junction.

According to Elijah, the junction is well known as a den of hoodlums.

He said that when the accused persons were searched, two wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and a knife were found.

He said the crime of "public nuisance'' was in contravention of Section 183 of the Penal Code.

The accused persons,

however, pleaded not guilty.

Senior Magistrate Bashir Alkali granted them bail in the sum of N10,000 and a surety each in like sum. The sureties must have a fixed residential address within the jurisdiction of the FCT, he said.

He added that the passport photographs of the accused persons and their sureties must be affixed to the bail papers and Alkali adjourned the case to Nov .22,2012 for further hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 17

Pedestrians crossing the ever busy Area 3 junction road, yesterday in Garki, Abuja.

Second hand cloth sellers loading their goods into a pick-up, yesterday in Garki, Abuja.

A labourer waiting for work, yesterday in Mabuchi, Abuja.

Auto mechanics repairing a Keke NAPEP, yesterday in Durumi district of Abuja.

Young men hawking various wares, yesterday at Wuse market motor park, yesterday in Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-owo

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

Airtel unveils new thematic campaign, ‘Padi Na Good Thing O’

Mob: 08033644990

Voice internet browser phone debuts in Nigeria …just talk and listen to the Internet using any phone

By Chris Alu

A

L-R: President, ICT University of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Professor Victor Mbarika, CEO Adamu Consulting, Dr. Haroun Adamu, and CEO, InternetSpeech Inc, Silicon Valley (San Jose) California, USA, Dr. Emdad Khan, signing a collaborative agreement during the launch of Voice Internet browser phone in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.

NAICOM mulls micro-insurance for low income earners, rural dwellers

By Abdulwahab Isa he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), regulatory organ for the insurance sector has begun the process of fine-tuning a policy framework for micro-insurance services designed to cater for the low income earners and vulnerable poor of the rural areas.

The policy document currently receiving inputs of stakeholders is designed for the protection of low-income earners against specific perils in exchange for regular premium payments proportionate to the likelihood and cost of the risk involved.

Commissioner for Insurance and CEO of NAICOM, Fola Daniel speaking at a stakeholders’ forum yesterday in Abuja, said micro-insurance was specifically designed for the protection of low-income earners against specific perils in exchange for regular premium payments proportionate to the likelihood and cost of the risk involved.

Giving further perspective on the evolvement of microinsurance, Fola said “by the middle of last year, the Commission in its continuing drive to deepen the Nigerian insurance market collaborated with the GIZ/MFW4A to conduct a nation-wide diagnostic study on the potentials of micro-insurance

T

in Nigeria. One of our goals was to generate at the end of the exercise, a document that will enable us take evidence based decision on the issue of micro-insurance in Nigeria and also serve as public resource in its own right”, .

Shedding more light in an interview with newsmen, he cited the current peril of flooding that has sacked numerous homes and washing away farmlands as according to him, the worse hit remain the local farmers whose farm land had been washed away without any form of protection or succour.

Fola reiterated a need for microinsurance designed for the vulnerable in rural dwellers and low income earners adding “we need to first of all design micro finance that take care of the need of the rural people, an insurance policy that relates with rural

people. As you know, the convention insurance is supply driven, but this one is demand driven and is environmental friendly. Look at the recent occurrence of flooding that sacked homes and washed farmlands, if a peasant farmer that invested all he had say N50,000 in a farm and everything got washed away by flood; if he

gets indemnify instantly with N50,000 , then he can move on with his life “.

Other agencies co-hosting the forum with NAICOM include Access to Insurance initiative (A2ii), the partnership Making Finance Work for Africa (MFWA4A) and the SEDIN programme of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).

FG to allocate N132bn to women businesses – Sanusi Abdulwahab Isa 132 billion of the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Funds billed for lunch later in the year would be channeled to businesses owned by women, Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has declared.

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The government gesture he explained yesterday in Abuja is to deepen financial inclusion, as well as encouraging women entrepreneurship.

He spoke in Abuja in company of United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, Her Royal Highness Princess Maxima of the

Management Tip of the Day

I

What to expect if you take a bad job

n this economy, many believe you'd be insane to turn down a job. Certainly, if you're unemployed, you might need to take any position offered to you. But if you're considering a job offer that you know isn't right for you, think about the risks: Getting stuck. Once you're

n audio/voice internet phone technology has been introduced into the Nigerian telecoms industry.

At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, InternetSpeech Inc and a Nigerian firm, Adamu Consulting, in collaboration with ICT University of Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the US presented this new technology and described the innovation as a milestone that will effectively bridge the digital and language divides, allowing easier accessing the Internet easily and enjoying all the features using any phone and user’s voice.

Dr. Emdad Khan of the InternetSpeech Inc, the company founded in 1999 and based in Silicon Valley (San Jose) California, USA, said it will deploy the Internet technology and service infrastructure to the Nigerian consumers, business and governments.

According to him, InternetSpeech access also means providing all features of the Internet including surfing, audio browsing, searching, sending and receiving e-mails, doing e-health, e-learning, ecommerce and e-agriculture capabilities amongst others.

“This application would be particularly useful in disseminating health information to the grassroots and assisting illiterate farmers in accessing markets across the world in addition to providing new techniques in farming”, he stated.

in a certain job, organisation, or field, it might be hard for employers to imagine you in a different role.

Poor performance. If you aren't committed to a job, you're unlikely to take it seriously. This will further your dissatisfaction and may make it difficult to get good references in the future.

Opportunity costs. You'll probably still pursue other jobs.

If you take the bad offer, you may miss out on future options that come along. Instead, you might decide to stay in the job market and do all you can to make other more promising offers happen.

Source: Harvard Business Review

Netherlands who was in Nigeria for the launch of Nigeria’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

“The fund specifically provides 60 percent of the amount to be targeted at businesses own and managed by women. The objective is to help them and it is going to be lending to them at a single digit interest rate,” Sanusi said.

Sanusi , had on the occasion of the launch of NNFIS Tuesday lamented that 39 million adult Nigerians are excluded from financial inclusion .

Speaking at the occasion, Princess Maxima observed that ”that are millions of micro and small enterprises that also need access to diverse financial services. Meeting this demand is of course a huge challenge, a very big challenge “she said and advocated for efficient payment system.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

Facebook

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he world’s most popular online social network, Facebook, has posted a loss of $59m despite recording revenues rise of 32 per cent during the third quarter. The company revealed that its income rose to $1.26bn, between July and September 2012.

Despite the revenue boost Facebook’s performance remains below par, following a loss of $157m in the previous quarter.

Facebook is still struggling to turn its online dominance into profits.

The company shares have lost about 50 per cent since its stock market listing in May. Mark Zuckerberg, Chief Executive Officer, Facebook, is happy that more subscribers enjoy more access to the website via mobile. He said 604 million of its 1.01 billion users access its site using a mobile device. “People who use our mobile products are more engaged, and we believe we can increase engagement even further as we continue to introduce new products and improve our platform,” he claimed.

Nigeria to hold Oil licensing

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igeria will hold an oil exploration bidding round before the end of the year, while licence renewal talks with Shell and Chevron over existing onshore fields are in their final stages, the oil minister told Reuters on Tuesday.

“We expect within the next couple of months a marginal bid round will be announced. We hope a major bid round will follow before the end of the year,” Diezani Alison-Madueke said.

“Shell and Chevron (onshore licence renewals) are … in the final stages now, those will definitely be out before the end of the year,” she added.

MTN

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s part of efforts to improve microfinance banking in Nigeria, MTN has introduced innovative microbank software called MTN XaaS, for microfinance banks.

The software, which is developed in partnership with Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), will be managed by MTN Business, the business-tobusiness division of MTN Nigeria, under the MTN Cloud Services platform.

According to the company, MTN XaaS Micro-banking software, as a service platform, has been designed to enable micro-finance banks (MFBs) carry out banking operations without having to pay so much in licensing, storage and implementation costs required for typical banking applications.

Airtel unveils new thematic campaign, ‘Padi Na Good Thing O’

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s part of effort to actualize its vision of being the most loved brand in the daily lives of Nigerians, Leading telecommunications operator, Airtel Nigeria has taken a significant step to unify Nigerians with a new thematic campaign that focuses on friendship and the importance of building a large network of true friends.

Dubbed ‘Padi Na Good Thing O’, the campaign reinforces friendship as a key influencer and enabler of success especially among youth.

It also highlights Airtel’s special appeal as the nation’s foremost telecoms operator with the tradition of connecting friends an strengthening bonds of friendship on life’s success journey.

Flagging off the campaign at a media launch in Ikeja, Airtel’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Rajan Swaroop said the campaign is a celebration of friendship, as it depicts how we can, as a people, collectively achieve success with the help of our network of friends by relying on their talents, hard work and dedication.

He further disclosed that Airtel is proud that Nigerians display an outlook of determination,

responsiveness and self-belief in the pursuit of life goals.

“These attributes, Swaroop noted “are in consonance with the universal knowledge that knowing the right people and staying connected with them helps people get ahead. This is an attribute that we share with our customers, hence the theme of the campaign.”

In his remarks, the Chief Operating Officer/Executive Director, Deepak Srivastava, promised that the company will continue to innovate and come up with more exciting and pocket-friendly offerings that would further deepen

Steve Evans, Etisalat boss to chair 2012 LAIF awards

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he Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has disclosed that the 2012 Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF) would be chaired by the chief executive officer/ Managing Director of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steve Evans.

The Executive Director of AAAN, Mr. Lekan Fadolapo also said that the body has concluded plans to hold one of the best LAIF awards industry has ever experienced.

Coincidentally, 2012 LAIF would be Bunmi Oke’s first as the president of the Association.

Evans, the multiple awards winning and respected CEO of the frontline GSM Company, Etisalat Nigeria will chair the grand finale and

Award Dinner scheduled to hold on November 3, 2012 at the prestigious Federal Palace Hotel Victoria Island, Lagos.

The theme for this year’s awards is ‘The best of LAIF’. The Awards was instituted in year 2006 by the AAAN with the aim of recognizing, rewarding and fostering creative excellence in all areas of m a r k e t i n g communications.

The awards has continuously promoted Nigeria’s creative potentials in the international circle as well as recognized outstanding creativity and created an avenue for the celebration of world class ideas.

One of the newly introduced categories is the Young LAIFERS Award.

This category according to Fadolapo is aimed at promoting excellence in brand strategy development as well as encourages craftsmanship in young practitioners.

relationships and also help customers to achieve success in all areas of endeavours.

He stressed that Airtel’s leading role as the ‘pro-people network’ is reflected in its bespoke range of products, services and offerings including the 500 percent bonus offer, which is currently the rave of the moment, 2Good packages, Wazobia, Club 10, Quick Talk and Club Business, to mention but a few.

Revealing the classy television ad of the campaign to the media, it throws up the narrative of a Nigerian Character, Half Dollar – a

Nigerian youngster who dreams big and possesses an awesome singing talent but yet to find his big break.

His friends are his biggest fans and when called upon, they use their collective strength and efforts to get him a lucrative recording deal that led to his much needed big break.

It will be recalled that in just about two years of delivering quality telecoms services to over 20 million customers, Airtel’s innovativeness have proven to be a big bargain, building relationships across sociocultural, political, religious and professional borders.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 21

NEXIM Bank to float ECOWAS shipping line Stories by Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Nigerian Export and Import Bank (NEXIM) Managing Director, Robert Ungwaga Orya has said the bank is facilitating the establishment of a regional shipping line that will boost trade flows within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) subregion.

Orya while fielding questions from reporters in Lagos, said there are huge potential in the subregion that needed to be harnessed. He regretted that West Africa has the highest transport and logistics cost.

NEXIM Bank with the mandate of diversifying the external sector of the economy away from the mono-product of oil has taken several steps as an export credit agency to deepen trade.

One of such steps , he affirmed is the discovery that trade in the West African sub-region was not growing.

He identified the movement of goods within the ECOWAS subregion as part of the challenge,

due to lack of efficient sea going vessels. He said Nigerians are not actively participating in the maritime business, saying until this is reversed, foreigners will continue to exploit Nigerians.

“Our exporters will not be able to enhance the volume of non-oil trade flows. So, what NEXIM has done is to find a way of facilitating the setting up of a regional maritime shipping line to be run by the private sector, because it is the private sector that is actually trading,” Orya stated. ”If you have to move goods

from Lagos to Tema port in Ghana by truck, with all the multiple check points, all the harassments from security agencies, lack of road infrastructure, it will take you like six days. But if you want to move you goods from Lagos to the same Tema port in Ghana, it will take you like 60 days. This is because they will first take our goods to Europe and then do transshipment.”

He regretted that under that scenario, if a N500 million loan, for instance, is given to a producer who produces 20

containers, before getting products to final consumers, all realisable profits would have been eaten up. The tonnages of goods in the past decades have moved from 4.7 to 13.2 million tones, but nothing has been done to improve the road infrastructure.

“We believe that for us to have a safe and sound banking environment we need to have professionalism and the CIBN are doing quite a lot in this direction.

They are ensuring that members of the institute apply ethics and professionalism in running the

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Mouka introduces ‘Super Subsidy Promo’

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Commissioner tasks MAN on public infrastructure he Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, has tasked the leadership of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), to serve as watchdog to all government infrastructures within their domain so as to cultivate a sustainable maintenance culture.

The Commissioner who made the call during a one-day working visit to Amuwo-Odofin Industrial Estate attributed the inadequacy in infrastructural provision across the State to financial paucity, however expressed the view that proper maintenance of the available public infrastructure by all stakeholders would help government bridge the gap the shortfall.

She assured members of the association that government was aware of the need to rehabilitate some road networks across the various industrial estates in the State, adding that while construction work was ongoing in some areas, others would be attended to within the resources available for such projects in the proposed 2013 budget.

She also warned road users, especially heavy-duty-truck drivers to always take cognizance of specified routes suitable for them to ply as well as the restriction order in some areas. This, according to her would further prolong the life span of such roads.

banks. He said the recognition by CBN was a great exposure.

“It is an exciting moment for me and I want to say that it will spur me to build capacity of the younger bankers. I think we need to leave a legacy. It will spur me to do more in capacity building to ensure that professionals who will take after us are well equipped,” he added.

UNIDO berates FG over undue attention to FDI

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he United Nation Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO has lamented the undue attention being paid to attracting Foreign Direct Investment by the Federal Government, while little is done in the area of promulgating policies that support growth of local manufacturing.

The UNIDO ECOWAS representative to Nigeria and Director, Regional Office, Abuja, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, said that unlocking sustainable wealth creation and overall economic prosperity depends much on the robustness of the manufacturing sector and its linkages with the domestic economy.

Kormawa spoke at the 42nd Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the Ikeja branch of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria in Lagos. However, he commended government over the estimated inflow of N6.8 trillion foreign and domestic investments into the country in the last nine months of the year.

He said the figure was particularly commendable owing to the detestable state of the economy and the manufacturing sector in particular. ”That much is evident in world economic history, especially the emerging markets that are rapidly challenging the more developed economies of the western world. The important

role of manufacturing sector in unlocking economic prosperity is well known, most recently from the Asian economic miracle driven by industrial growth,” he stated.

Kormawa explained that sizeable fraction of the investment inflow over the period accrued to the manufacturing sector. “There is a steady increase in foreign investment driven by greater international confidence in the economy and more aggressive privatization agenda of the government “In addition, Nigeria is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, as a result of greater efforts of the government in promoting economic diversification in the quest to reduce dependence on low value added production.

“So, there is some bad news, but I believe that there is some positive news that we need to celebrate.

The federal government under this administration deserves kudos,” he said. ”If the desire to see manufacturing as the main driver for unlocking sustainable wealth creation and prosperity would be achieved, Nigeria would require a major paradigm shift from the current calculus in the sector, especially if the sector is to achieve the over 30 per cent share of GDP that is

projected.

“For this to happen, the industrial vision should be developing and sustaining robust, technologically-driven and globally cost competitive domestic manufacturing that supports rapid economic growth and employment generation with due cognizance of environmental sustainability and with the ultimate aim of benefitting the average Nigerian, the communities and states where the industries are located.”

Earlier on in his opening address, the Chairman Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Ikeja Branch Rev. Isaac Ade Agoye noted that the year 2012 was very challenging for the manufacturing sector due to the harsh and unfriendly policies of government, high interest rate, inflation and high cost of raw materials and the sudden removal of oil subsidy on the eve of the New Year which led to a nationwide strike by the Nigerian masses.

Speaking further, he said Government efforts at transforming the manufacturing sector in the year under review recorded marginal success as a result of the magnitude of accumulated challenges in the economy and poor implementation of policies in the past.

Bemoaning the present

eading manufacturer of mattresses, pillow, beddings and other polyurethane products, Mouka Limited, has in line with delivering on its brand promise of adding comfort to life, introduced the Super Subsidy Promo aimed at providing discounts and freebies to its customers on any Mouka product purchased.

The Promo which will run between October 15th 2012 and January 15th 2013 is designed with the festive season in mind that customers can tap into.

Speaking on the Promo, Head of Commercial, Mouka Limited, Jude Abonu said “We believe that after paying more for goods and products in the country during the year, Mouka aims to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians by giving them that much needed discount they deserve.”

He went further to state that the promo further buttresses the caring and socially responsible nature of the Mouka Brand.

Explaining the mechanics of the promo, Jude said that customers, who purchase any Mouka mattress worth N15, 000 and above, get an instant free gift.

They also will receive a scratch card from the distributor and what they see is what they win.

Also, 080668523626 (0800MOUKAFOAM) is the number winners of cash prizes can send messages to redeem their prizes.

Compilation of winners and redemption of prizes would be on a monthly basis as names of winners would be published in a national newspaper.

Mouka distributors are not left out as they stand to win fabulous cash incentives from the promo too.

Customers can also visit the company’s website at www.mouka.com or visit the Mouka facebook page for more information For over five decades, Mouka has been manufacturing top quality Mattresses, Sheeting, Pillows, Polyurethane blocks and other foam materials for industrial use and home use. The Mouka promise is to deliver durable and quality products for the West African market and it delivers on high comfort in line with keeping to its promise of innovation.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 22

L-R: Acting Coordinating Director, Standard Compliance Group, Andy Ejemeyovwi, Coordinating Director, Support Service Group, Osy Chuke, Director Project Management Office (Non- Oil), Chiaka Okoye, International Monetary Fund delegate; Jaejoon Woo, Acting Executive Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service, Alhaji Kabir M. Mashi, International Monetary Fund delegate, Cheikh Anta Gueye, and Coordinating Director Modernization Department, Alhaji Abdullahi Attah, during a visit by IMF team to FIRS, recently in Abuja.

NAICOM, SEC to collaborate on supervision of companies Muhammad Nasir he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have agreed on the need to collaborate in the supervision and regulation of insurance companies quoted in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

This was made known when the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh, paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the National Insurance Commission recently.

In his welcome remarks, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr.

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Fola Daniel, noted that some 10 years ago, the Commission would have little or nothing to do with SEC because not more than three insurance companies where listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

But as at today, he added, well over 30 insurance companies are listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

“Some of the companies we have primary responsibility to regulate also have one or two things to file or do with SEC by virtue of the fact that they are quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. This, therefore makes it imperative for the two regulators to collaborate to ensure effective

supervision and regulation of the entities they have to deal with”, the Commissioner said.

Ms Oteh agreed with the Commissioner and stressed the need for the two agencies to collaborate in joint inspection and supervision of insurance companies that are listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. She said such collaborative exercises should be done more frequently to ensure effective supervision of the companies.

She commended NAICOM’s transformation agenda which she said has led to massive awareness about the insurance sector. She particularly noted the awareness

generated about the compulsory insurance products campaigns and said it was quite enlightening.

Ms Oteh also commended the Commission’s efforts in trying to introduce micro-insurance in the country. She would want to see the insurance sector playing a key role

Primary mortgage institutions to turn to banks in April

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resident, Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria, Mr Abimbola Olayinka, has said that primary mortgage institutions would turn to

Tax Tribunal orders Oando plc to pay FIRS N72 .92m

By Abdurrahman Abdulraheem

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he Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT) in Abuja ordered Oando Plc to pay the sum of N72.92 million as tax liabilities to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Mr Nnamdi Ibegbu (SAN), the Acting Chairman of the Tribunal gave the order following an appeal filed by Oando challenging the FIRS’s refusal to amend its tax assessment for the year 2003.

The judgement is expected to bring to a close the seven-year legal tussle between the multinational company and the FIRS.

Ibegbu also awarded the sum of N100,000 against Oando as cost of the appeal decided in favour of FIRS. Oando had in March 2003 dragged FIRS before the Tax Appeal Tribunal for refusing to amend its assessment on additional income tax and education tax for the year 2003 amounting to N72, 912,838.

The relief sought by Oando to quash the assessment served on it by the FIRS in respect of interest disallowed as deductable for the assessment year, 2003, was dismissed by the tribunal.

It also dismissed the appellant’s prayer seeking an order to prohibit the respondent

from assessing the appellant to any further tax assessment for the year 2003 in relation to interests and similar charges.

In the ruling on Oando’s appeal of the 2003 FIRS assessment, the Tax Appeal Tribunal upheld FIRS’s assessment and ordered Oando to pay N72, 912,838 as tax.

“The tribunal holds that the case of the appellant failed and the relief sought by the appellant, in this appeal, are hereby dismissed,’’ Ibegbu stated.

The tribunal therefore ordered that “the appellant is not discharged of the assessment of tax served on it by the respondent in respect of interests the

in the economy.

“Financial inclusion is very important because all over the world, insurance assets are critical for economic development. What we see happening in pension assets should also happen in insurance assets”, she said.

respondent disallowed as deductable for 2003 year of assessment.’’

It also granted an order that the respondent is not prohibited from assessing the appellant to any further tax in 2003 year of assessment in relation to interest and similar charges”.

The tribunal therefore directed that “the appellant shall pay tax as assessed by the respondent which is the sum of N72, 912,838.’’

Bright Igbinosa supported by Udoh Etebong and Ifoma Ihenacho represented FIRS in the appeal while Samuel Ibrahim and Shofola Bukola represented Oando, the appellant.

primary mortgage banks by April, 2013.

Olayinka, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that the name change would be in line with the reform agenda in the sector.

He said that part of the reform agenda required that all institutions in the sector should recapitalise by April 30.

“It is worthy to note that after consolidation, our name will change positively from the current primary mortgage institutions to primary mortgage banks.

“This name change is in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s reform programme for our sector,” he said.

According to him, the association will encourage members to establish consumer education desk for the purpose of organising consumer credit literacy programmes.

Olayinka said that the desk would also help the association and the CBN in promoting the reform agenda.

He said that after the consolidation, the association’s activities would focus on ways to lower interest rates on mortgage loans to make them attractive.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

The face of food security is female, says UN scribe Ban-Ki-moon mentorship in AWARD, I have learned to influence policy development for change by being tactful in my writing for different target groups and diversifying my work by not only publishing in journals but also in the media to reach people in the language they can understand.”

Njenga, a PhD fellow at the University of Nairobi working in affiliation with the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), said she was concerned about developing clean fuel briquettes to improve women’s income and protect their health and that of their children while conserving the environment.

“I am worried that we may reach a situation where in sub-Saharan Africa we will be able to produce food but fail to cook it because of a lack of cooking fuel; therefore it is a must that we prioritise biomass cooking energy as an important aspect of food and nutrition security,” Njenga said.

Roy Steiner, director of agricultural development at the Gates Foundation, said

In a major endorsement for investment in women – the bulk of food growers in the developing world – United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said food security could not be achieved without women, and that the world’s hungry also needed leaders to prioritise actions.

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irls and women are society’s best chance o overcome hunger,” Ban told a gathering of world leaders, researchers, farmers and policy-makers at the presentation of the 2012 World Food Prize.

Global leaders meeting in the midwest U.S. state of Iowa to discuss strategies to boost food production worldwide say the particularly challenging food security situation in Africa will require mobilising the continent’s best scientific minds, “ t

including those of African women.

“Ending hunger in our lifetime calls for harnessing the creativity of scientists and researchers…ending hunger also calls for better global governance…Ending global hunger can be done and is the right thing to do,” Ban Ki-moon said at this year’s ceremony for the World Food Prize, an international award recognising the achievements of individuals who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or

availability of food in the world.

Calling for global cooperation in providing leadership in food security at a time when nearly one billion people go to bed hungry according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Ban could have been talking about African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD).

This week, AWARD, celebrated for working to increase the number of women researchers and scientists in agriculture,

received close to 20 million dollars in new joint funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development.

The support announced at the Borlaug Dialogue, held Oct. 17-19 in Des Moines, Iowa, will allow AWARD to launch a second five-year phase to equip more women agricultural scientists in 11 sub-Saharan African countries, in addition to the hundreds of researchers already served since 2008.

Only one in four agricultural researchers in Africa is female, according to AWARD’s 2008 benchmark study. But it gets worse: just one in seven holds a leadership position in African agricultural research institutions. AWARD founder Vicki Wilde said this has left women underserved in the agriculture value chain and therefore in a weakened position in the fight against hunger.

“It comes as no surprise why it has been hard to achieve food security in Africa,” Wilde told IPS. “Part of the reason for it being so tough is that while women’s labour force participation in agriculture is the highest in the world in Africa, less than one in four agriculture researchers are women, and this has left us underserved throughout the agriculture

Women working in the field value chain.”

Wilde said women were not at the decision-making table on food priorities. She added that although

“

I am worried that we may reach a situation where in sub-Saharan Africa we will be able to produce food but fail to cook it because of a lack of cooking fuel; therefore it is a must that we prioritise biomass cooking energy as an important aspect of food and nutrition security United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

the AWARD programme and the fellows involved helped ensure that women were at the heart of agricultural development, advancing research and innovation to reduce hunger and poverty.

Another AWARD fellow, Professor Sheila Okoth of the University of Nairobi, has contributed significantly to reducing hunger through her research on solutions to combat contamination by aflatoxin, a poison produced by a fungus, of farm produce in Kenya.

“I changed tremendously following the training and exposure I had through AWARD,” said Okoth. “I am even more determined to help solve the aflatoxin problem that makes poor farmers even poorer.”

Okoth established the university’s first postgraduate mycology research lab, inspired by her threemonth advanced science training at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, which was sponsored by USAID through AWARD. (Inter Press Service, IPS)

bringing them on board is not the answer to every problem, it would ensure better and faster progress, and smallscale farmers – a majority of whom are women in Africa – would be better served by means of boosting food production and enhancing livelihoods.

“In Africa we need a new generation of leaders who are innovative, visionary, entrepreneurial, well-skilled and gender-responsive, and they have to respond to the priority needs of small-holders, most of whom are women,” she said.

AWARD, commended by major organisations at the Borlaug Dialogue, is a

competitive programme which this year has seen 3,000 applications from African women scientists for 320 available fellowships.

Wilde said her organisation has sought to widen the talent pool of implementers of effective food security policies.

AWARD is a career development programme that strengthens the research and leadership skills of African women in agricultural science, empowering them to contribute more effectively to poverty alleviation and food security in sub-Saharan Africa.

It offers two-year

fellowships focused on mentoring partnerships, science skills and leadership development. African women working in agricultural research for development from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, and who have completed a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in selected disciplines, are eligible.

Mary Njenga, an AWARD fellow from Kenya, is one woman with her sights set on changing policies and mindsets about the role of women in food security.

Njenga, an environmental scientist

linking agriculture to environment and energy issues, has focused on improving natural resources management to mitigate climate change.

She has done this by bringing technologies such as environmentally-friendly, simple fuel briquettes made from charcoal dust, sawdust and other organic byproducts to poor communitybased groups.

“I can work with women and come up with good technologies, but if I do not have a voice with policymakers, my technologies will remain in the books and not be adopted,” Njenga told IPS. “Through training and

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE

Flood: Bayelsa community commends NEMA

By Augustine Aminu, with agency report

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n appreciation of the Federal Government interventions measures in Bayelsa state where hundreds of people have been displaced and properties worth

...NEMA opens 19 Camps for IDPs in Rivers, Bayelsa

millions of naira were destroyed in the recent widespread flooding in the country, some nongovernmental organizations and youths from the area have expressed joy over the development.

Commending, the swiftness through which the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) came to set up relief camps

and the donation of various relief materials like mattresses, blankets, bags of rice, beans and other consumables.

Fielding questions from news men, a youth leader, Mr. John Ati said he have gone round Bayelsa and environs, and have seen that NEMA is on the ground to attend to the displaced persons.

According to him, they are

particularly delighted for the relief materials that NEMA and the Bayelsa State government have donated to the displaced persons.

In a similar vein, the Coordinator of StandNigeria Initiative, Mr. Dike Chigbue who was in Yenagoa alongside members of his delegations also praised the efforts of NEMA and the Bayelsa state government for its efforts to

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ational Emergency Management Agency South South Zone has opened 19 camps for displaced persons in Rivers and Bayelsa, to ease the plight of flood victims in the states.

A statement issued by NEMA in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria tagged the camps ‘Internally Displaced Persons’ camps.

The agency’s Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Umesi Emenike, in the statement, said that the opening of the camps was in line with the Federal Government’s assurance to assist the flood victims.

Emenike noted that NGOs, volunteers and communities had been supportive to the Federal Government’s effort to mitigate the suffering of flood victims in the two states. He said that the agency had registered no fewer than 40,000 people at various camps in Bayelsa State.

According to him, an average of 200-5,000 persons has been registered in each camp in Rivers State.

“Some of the camps are: Community Secondary School, Mbiama; St. Stephens, Ahoada, Local Government Area Secretariat; Akiniwa, CPS Ogbo; CPS Okogbe; Canti High school, Ahoada; RCCG Ndoni; GSS Akaboka, Rivers State.

“And those in Bayelsa include Igbogene , Samson Siasia Stadium Yenagoa, BDGS, Yenagoa; UBE, Kiama; Tombia and Biker camp,” he added.

The coordinator said that as at October 13, 2,982 persons were registered by NEMA officials in Mbiama 2 Community Secondary School Camp, Ahoada West in Rivers.

“As at Sunday, October 14, Samson Siasia Sports complex in Bayelsa had a total of 12,392 registered,” he said.

Emenike said NEMA had also delivered relief materials to the affected persons based on rapid response assessment needs.

He lauded some international organisations, especially UNICEF, on their support for NEMA with relief items such as medical and sanitary aids to women and children.

The coordinator commended the Dangote group for donating three trailer loads of relief materials to Bayelsa flood victims.

NEMA officials drilling on casualty evacuation

A scene of rescue effort by staff of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on a passenger bus that plunged into a river along IjebuOde-Ore Expressway recently.

provide succor to the displaced people; he however called on all the displaced people to see the situation as the will of God that humanity can’t question.

Recall that following the aftermath of the unprecedented flooding, NEMA have set up relief camps in Bayelsa and most states in Niger Delta region to accommodate thousands of people displaced by the disaster in the various states.

Over 70 buildings may be washed away In Ekiti - NEMA

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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has that if urgent care is not taken, about 78 residential houses, churches and bakeries situated on a water channel in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, may be washed away by the next flood.

Coordinator of the agency in the South-west, Mr. Adebiyi Babatunde, who gave the warning in an interview with journalists in Ado-Ekiti, after an assessment tour of the major areas affected by the flood in the state, called on the government to take proactive steps to rescue the people living in that area.

Areas visited by the NEMA boss included, Ajowa-Dalemo, Omisanjana, Moferere, and Iworoko areas of the state capital.

The NEMA boss said some of the structures on the water lodged areas are residential buildings, churches, schools; block industries fish ponds among others, with an average of four flats and nine people per household.

The NEMA boss suggested that if it will be difficult for government to relocate the people, it should dredge the river in the area. While blaming the people for some of the flooding, Babatunde expressed displeasure over the dumping of refuse in drainages.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE NEMA officials on a rescue mission to victims of recent Kogi flood in pictures.

YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Ensuring accident-free yuletide: The NEMA, FRSC partnership

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he increasing cases of automobile accidents in the country, especially during festive periods, have raised public concerns. As Muslims world over prepare to celebrate another Eid-el Kabir, it becomes paramount to once again remind Nigerians on the need for caution as they embark expedition to their respective home towns.

Citizens must be reminded that, previous years, automobile accidents killed thousands of people and left some with various degrees of injuries across the country. The last four months in a year, September, October, November and December, which are commonly referred to as ember periods; are seen as the period noted for road crashes in Nigeria.

Most times, people have always blamed the road crashes on a number of issues ranging from bad road network, over-speeding and other negligible practices. But, a statistical analysis carried out by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), shows that majority of road accidents occur during festive periods. Also, between December 2009 and March, 2010 7,737 road accidents occurred; and 472 persons in more than 500 road accidents were reported injured in different parts of the country in December 2010.

Undoubtedly, economic loss arising from road crashes has cost the nation a lot.

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) under the leadership of Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, has reiterated its desire to strengthen partnership with the Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC) and other relevant organizations such as the National Orientation Agency (NOA) purposely to intensify the level of campaign and sensitization against periodic disasters in the country. This is also to assist in grassroots disaster awareness creation to boost community resilience.

Apart from this, a joint-operation will not only help to complement the efforts of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) during the festive period, but also involve trained NEMA's Search and Rescue teams to assist in providing coordinated first aid assistance to accident victims during the festive period.

Furthermore, it is recommended that preliminary check should be conducted on general vehicle devices such as steering, lights, windshield wipers, horns, turning signals, side or rearview mirrors, restraint systems, tyre and ensures these are in good conditions. Many road users, and particularly commercial cab drivers, reportedly pay little or no attention to these devices and by so doing, jeopardize their lives and those of innocent passengers onboard. Therefore, road users are encouraged to use modern radial tires which are reported to be significantly safer than the bias-ply tires of 25 years ago. In every 10, 000 miles, have your suspension

and steering systems checked out by a competent mechanical engineer.

Effective use of anti-lock brakes prevent the wheels from locking up during emergency braking, thus, allowing modern vehicles to avoid many accidents that previously would have occurred. Not only will consideration for these be to the advantage of the road users, but also save hundreds of innocent lives from avoidable deaths. A number of auto crashes have been traced to the unethical behaviour such as consumption of alcohol identified with the road users before and while driving. It is a criminal offence driving under the influence of alcohol as it would be regarded as an act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit.

Overnight journey is another live-consuming-practice common to most Nigerians, especially among the business population who are of less chance to travel during day, as they are occupied with daily business activities. In journey of this nature, drivers and passengers are exposed to series of physical and emotional tiredness making them sleepy. This could result to instant road accident.

Besides, armed robbers prefer to carry out attack on the highways at night when the road users would be helpless. Imagine a situation where a number of passengers are forced to lie on the road serving a blockage to coming vehicle(s) for another round of attack. Many have been killed this way as upcoming vehicles usually run over them.

Avoid over speeding as the faster a road driver speeds, the greater the chance of accident.

Statistics show that overspeeding has been responsible for many fatal road accidents. Also a research conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has revealed that mobile devices used while driving is also responsible for a great number of auto crashes.

Also, in a study conducted in 2002 by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, it was estimated that about 2,600 people die each year and 330,000 are injured as a result of using cell phones while driving. It would be logical in this case to do away with cell phones and other technological gadgets while driving to avoid unnecessary distraction that could exhaust the mind. Finally, always obey traffic regulation and road signs such as traffic lights, instructional signals. For instance, if a traffic light shows red a driver must stop his vehicle before the stop line, while failure observe this is known as "running a red light" which is a criminal offence not only in Nigeria, but also United Kingdom.

Many have become victims of road accident for their disobedience, impatience and negligence to other safety regulations and instructions on the road. This article was first published on this column December, 2011; but reviewed to serve the current event.

Wishing you a blessed Eid-el Kabir celebrations!

PAGE 26

T

“

he flood was never expected, although they say there was a flood disaster in Lokoja more than 43 years ago, I’m sure its impact could not have had a similar magnitude,’’ Mr. Sunday Akubo, a resident of Lokoja, moaned, as he was being ferried in the flood-ravaged city to an upland for safety.

Having been informed of death and sufferings of some people at the various camps set up for Internally Displaced Persons, Akubo, whose home was totally submerged by floodwaters, decided to flee the town with his kindred.

“It was when I saw some landmarks from the canoe that I knew that we were sailing on the densely populated Adoja Long Drive in Lokoja, which is now totally submerged. You can then imagine what could have happened to the residents of the neighbourhood,’’ he added.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs Esther Paul, another victim, said: “It is a harrowing experience which could provoke a heart attack.

Imagine this scenario: you wake up in the morning and you do not have a place to call your home anymore.’’

Paul, who now resides in a camp, conceded that things had been quite tough for her family.

“Whenever I look at my children, I usually burst into tears because it has not been easy for all of us in the camp. I particularly pity nursing mothers. This place is like a refugee camp; it has not been easy living here with our children,’’ she added.

Unable to control her emotions, Paul recounted how her family lost all their belongings to the flood.

Mr. Atodo Wisom, a 27-yearold drycleaner, said that the flooding had rendered him homeless, while affecting his means of livelihood.

“I have no place to call my home, as my house is now underwater. My business has also ground to a halt,’’ he said.

Commenting on the flooding, Mr Emmanuel Bola Boro, a Director of Kogi State Agency for the Control of AIDS and a resident of the Adankolo Housing Estate in Lokoja, said that the flooding had traumatised many residents of Lokoja.

“It started like a child’s play when we saw River Niger gradually overflowing its bank; although the flood was not violent, it kept on increasing day by day.

“I was not affected but some of my neighbours who were affected never thought it was going to be as disastrous as this because it all started gently.

“Some people would wake up in the morning and meet the water at their doorsteps, gradually overtaking their homes. Others would wake up on their beds and step into a pool of water,’’ Boro said.

Habiba Umar, a journalist with the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation who also lives in Adankolo Housing Estate, said that some hoodlums had taken undue advantage of the flooding to commit crimes and loot affected houses.

“In recent times, people have been living in fear, as criminals

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Lokoja flooding: Victims narrate tales of woe

have taken the advantage of the situation to loot houses in our estate, as many residents have left the estate out of fear.

“At the time the government built this estate, they outlawed the building of houses in certain areas designated as green areas and waterways but to our dismay, some people began building on such places.

“Unfortunately, people who built houses on waterways were the worst hit by the flood with several of their houses submerged,’’ she said.

Many people, who live by the riverside in Kogi, admit that the flood took most of them by surprise.

There have been numerous tales of woes about the floods that recently ravaged several parts of the country. The victims’ accounts have been bizarre as well as disturbing and the situation compelled President Goodluck Jonathan to tour some of the affected areas.

“Nigeria is highly devastated by the flood,’’ the president exclaimed. “Sometimes when you watch on television, you do not appreciate what we are going through. I travelled from North to South to see things for myself and on Sunday, I was in my village after touring my state.

“I left my village on Sunday morning and as at that time; water was about entering my compound. As at this morning, information reaching me is that my house, up to the windows, is underwater.

“So, you can see what people are passing through within this period. But with the assistance of our development partners and

Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada people who are in the humanitarian sector, we will soon get over it,’’ Jonathan said after inspecting some flooded areas of Lokoja.

Observers, nonetheless, note that even though flood is a natural phenomenon; its impact could be mitigated if people abide by warnings of weather experts and town planning regulations on building plans and projects.

Citing a report of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), some weather experts claim that heavy rainfall this year as well as the release of water from Lagdo Dam and Lake Nyos in Cameroon heightened the flood incidents in Nigeria.

The experts, however, insist that the Kogi flooding could have been less destructive if the people had paid adequate attention to earlier reports and predictions of

flooding in Benue, Anambra, Adamawa, Edo, Kwara and Cross River, among others.

All the same, Mr Steven Mayaki, Kogi’s Commissioner for Land, Housing and Urban Development, stressed that the state government had always adopted anti-flood precautionary measures.

For instance, no layout along the waterways was earmarked for property development in Kogi, he said “The only reason why the government would put land in such areas into use would be only for recreational and tourism purposes.

“We have to discourage settlement along the waterways as there is enough land elsewhere where people can build their houses without any fear of flooding.

“I think a potent strategy on

how to prevent this calamity from recurring is by constructing an embankment by the riverbank.

“Once that is done, it would prevent water from flowing into the hinterland and the recurrence of flood disasters would then be avoided,’’ Mayaki said.

However, concerned citizens stress that the flood disaster should be a wake-up call for the government to initiate pragmatic plans to check the recurrence of flooding and assuage the plight of those affected by the current flooding.

Habiba Umar, a journalist, said that government should initiate public enlightenment campaigns on the effects of the flooding on the environment, while preventing the outbreak of epidemics.

“Government should try and help the flood victims because it is not easy. When you go to St. Luke’s Primary School, Lokoja, which is one of the camps set up for displaced persons; you will see more than 11 persons sharing a room.

“This is a very difficult situation, as it could even lead to epidemics and household quarrels,’’ she pleaded.

As a result of the floodwaters, Mr Steven Ajayi, a resident of Lokoja, called on the Kogi State Government to initiate a ferry service which would enable tourists to cross over to the other side of the state and even into Benue.

He said that the ferry service would also bring in more revenue for the state, while creating employment opportunities.

(NANFeatures)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

630 schools submerged by flood in Delta, says Uduaghan

G

overnor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has said that 630 primary and secondary schools in the state were submerged by flood.

Uduaghan gave the figure while receiving the South-South Traditional Rulers’ Forum, led by its Chairman, Dr Edmond Dakuro, in his office, in Asaba recently.

He lamented the devastation caused by the flood, adding that the state government had set up camps for the persons displaced by the incident.

“It has not been easy managing the flood victims; the state lost about 450 primary schools and 180 secondary schools to the flood.

They have all been submerged”, Uduaghan said.

The governor, who commended the Federal Government for approving N500 million for the management of the victims in the state, said the state government had set up a committee to manage the funds.

He thanked the traditional rulers for their role in maintaining peace and security and urged them to sustain the effort.

Earlier, Dakuro told the governor that the traditional rulers came to seek partnership with the political class toward strengthening security in the region.

He added that the forum was also concerned about the welfare of the flood victims and how the problem was being managed in the affected states in the region. (NAN)

PAGE 27

An unprecedented case of 6 scientists jailed in Italy S

urely, these are definitely not the best of times for the government and people of Nigeria, as they have continued to be at the mercy of the devastating effects of the recent menace of flooding which have swept across almost the entire country.

But as the government and people of Nigeria were battling to salvage the situation, an unprecedented case of the trial and sentence of six scientists to jail over the L’Aquila earthquake of 20009

ENVIR ONMENT ENVIRONMENT WATCH

By Ambrose Inusa Sule, mnes globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only)

science itself has been put on trial.

Some scientists have warned that the case might set a damaging precedent, deterring experts from sharing their knowledge with the public for fear of being targeted in lawsuits.

The prosecution held that the scientists should have advised the population of l’Aquila of the impending earthquake risk.

But is it possible to pinpoint the time and location of an earthquake with enough accuracy to guide an

Kwara yet to receive N300m flood disaster fund

T

he Kwara State Government says it has yet to receive the N300 million flood disaster funds from the Federal Government.

Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, the Special Adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Emergency and Relief Services, said this in Kaima Local Government Area of Kwara State while presenting relief materials to flood victims in the area.

He condemned insinuations in some quarters that N25 million released by Gov. AbdulFatah Ahmed for the purchase of relief materials for the over 7, 000 victims of the flood was part of the N300 million being expected from the Federal Government.

Abdullahi assured the victims that they would still receive assistance not only from the Federal Government but from wealthy Nigerians and spirited organisations.

Receiving the items, Sidiq expressed appreciation to the governor for the kind gesture and assured that the relief materials would be distributed to genuine flood victims in the local government.

Responding on behalf of the victims, Alhaji Ibrahim MagajiNgeri, thanked the state government for the gesture. He said the relief materials would cater for their immediate needs. (NAN)

Six Italian scientists and a government official were sentenced to six years in jail yesterday for multiple manslaughter in a watershed ruling that found them guilty of underestimating the risks of a killer earthquake in 2009. was playing out in Italy, with the world scientists’ community watching in disbelieves.

If it were in Africa, it could be misconstrued as political persecution; either for not supporting the government in power, or for other superfluous reasons. If it were in Nigeria in particular, people would have been on streets demonstrating in support of the scientists sent to jail for not been able to predict the 2009 deadly earthquake that killed 309 people. But this was in Italy, a very prominent country in Europe.

But world leading scientists say it is unheard of, claiming that till date, there is no instrument to predict major earthquakes before they happened. So, why were the seismologists and geological experts convicted, if that were true?

Early in the week, six Italian scientists and an ex-government official have been sentenced to six years in prison for ‘multiple manslaughter’, over the 2009 deadly earthquake in L’Aquila that devastated the city and killed 309 people.

The seven - all members of the National Commission for the Forecast and Prevention of Major

Risks - were accused of having provided “inexact, incomplete and contradictory” information about the danger of the tremors felt ahead of 6 April 2009 quake.

In addition to their sentences, all have been barred from ever holding public office again.

Prosecutors said the defendants gave a falsely reassuring statement before the quake, while the defence maintained there was no way to predict major quakes.

Among those convicted were some of Italy’s most prominent and internationally respected seismologists and geological experts.

Earlier, more than 5,000 scientists signed an open letter to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano against their trial that as now resulted to conviction.

“If the scientific community is to be penalised for making predictions that turn out to be incorrect, or for not accurately predicting an event that subsequently occurs, then scientific endeavour will be restricted to certainties only and the benefits that are associated with findings from medicine to physics will be stalled,” they said.

The decision to prosecute some of Italy’s leading geophysicists drew condemnation from around the world. The scholarly bodies said it had been beyond anyone to predict exactly what would happen in L’Aquila on 6 April 2009.

But the authorities who pursued the seven defendants stressed that the case was never about the power of prediction - it was about what was interpreted to be an inadequate characterization of the risks; of being misleadingly reassuring about the dangers that faced their city.

The decision to prosecute some of Italy’s leading geophysicists drew condemnation from around the world. The scholarly bodies said it had been beyond anyone to predict exactly what would happen in L’Aquila on 6 April 2009.

But the authorities who pursued the seven defendants stressed that the case was never about the power of prediction - it was about what was interpreted to be an inadequate characterization of the risks; of being misleadingly reassuring about the dangers that faced their city.

The case has alarmed many in the scientific community, who feel

effective evacuation?

“In the history of earthquake study, only one prediction has been successful”, explains seismologists.

“The magnitude 7.3 earthquake in 1975 in Haicheng, North China was predicted one day before it struck, allowing authorities to order evacuation of the city, saving many lives.

“But the pattern of seismic activity that this prediction was based on has not resulted in a large earthquake since, and just a year later in 1976 a completely unanticipated magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck nearby Tangshan causing the death of over a quarter of a million people.”

The “prediction” of the Haicheng quake was therefore just a lucky unrepeatable coincidence.

A major problem in the prediction of earthquake events that will require evacuation is the threat of issuing false alarms.

Scientists could warn of a large earthquake every time a potential precursor event is observed, however this would result in huge numbers of false alarms which put a strain on public resources and might ultimately reduce the public’s trust in scientists.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 30

Foreign policy issues rank low among voter priorities

H

ype for the third and final presidential debate tonight has been considerably less than for the two previous face-offs — perhaps for good reason. The debate is focused on foreign policy, and Americans don’t seem to care that much about it.

“War/foreign conflicts” and “terrorism/terrorist attacks” tied for a spot near the bottom of a list of issues from which respondents were asked to identify the most important, in Reuters/Ipsos polls

conducted since January. Only 2 percent of likely voters saw each of those two as issues of top importance.

In October, 43 percent of likely voters said the economy was the most important issue and 25 percent pointed to “unemployment/lack of jobs,” followed by healthcare (7 percent), morality (5 percent), “other” (5 percent), education (4 percent) and immigration (3 percent).

Not a single foreign policy-

U

Britain’s bookmakers see Obama returning to White House

.S. President Barack Obama will be elected for a second term next month if Britain’s bookmakers are to be believed.

The polls have Obama effectively tied with rival Mitt Romney in the two-horse race for the White House but the odds show gamblers putting their money on the incumbent.

British bookmakers offer political betting as a niche sideline to more lucrative wagers on sports like horse racing and soccer. They take bets from around the globe although not from the United States where such gambling is prohibited.

“It’s really exciting betting. The markets and the pollsters have a little competion on who is most accurate,” Richard Glynn, chief executive of British bookmaker Ladbrokes , told Reuters.

Two weeks before the November 6 election, Obama was 2/5 favorite with Ladbrokes, meaning a punter would have to gamble 5 pounds ($17.6) to win 2 pounds. Romney would offer a better return at odds of 15/8, allowing gamblers to win almost double what they wager.

Online gambling exchange Betfair, which cuts out the middleman by matching bets directly between gamblers, gives Obama a 66 percent chance of victory, to 34 percent for his Republican challenger.

Betfair claims that its exchage can provide a more reliable guide to the outcome of elections than some polls.

related issue has made it to 5 percent since the polling began in January, despite the recent unrest in the Middle East.

The agenda for tonight’s debate says moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News will ask President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney about the United States’ role in the world; Afghanistan and Pakistan; Israel and Iran; China and the future; and the Middle East and terrorism.

While few voters see these as the

It cites the notorious example of 2004 when exit polls pointed to a win for Democrat John Kerry but its exchange indicated the correct result,

nation’s most prominent issues, they are opinionated about foreign policy.

Fifty-four percent of likely voters said American foreign policy was on the wrong track during the week ending October 21, and just 30 percent approved of Obama’s handling of it in September, the last time that question was asked.

Obama held an eight-point lead over Romney — 41 percent to 33 percent — on the question, “Which presidential candidate has

a second term for George W. Bush.

“People betting their money make a much more hard-headed decision,” said Betfair spokesman

the better plan for the war on terror?”

But on the issue of recent antiAmerican violence in the Middle East, most recently in Benghazi, Libya, a plurality of voters — 28 percent — said they “strongly disapprove” of Obama’s handling of the matter. Still, Romney did not fare much better: Twenty-six percent said they didn’t know how he handled the violence, and 18 percent said they strongly disapproved of his reaction.

President Barack Obama(R) and Vice President Joe Biden acknowledge supporters during a campaign rally in Dayton

James Midmer.

“With polls, people sometimes say who they want to win.”

Britain’s largest bookmaker William Hill said it expected over one million pounds ($1.6 million) to be staked with it on the U.S. election the highest it has recorded for the vote.

Putting that figure in perspective, the bookmaker says gamblers will bet more on the English Premier League soccer clash between top two Chelsea and Manchester United this Sunday.

Political betting caters for gamblers left cold by sporting action, says William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

“It gets us to people that we otherwise couldn’t reach,” said Sharpe. “People tend to have one main passion that they will bet on because they have enough knowledge,” he added.

William Hill is also taking bets on two more senior roles up for grabs closer to home - the next Bank of England governor and the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

Obama flew to Dayton, Ohio, where he pointed out that Romney had said the government should not step in to prop up the industry during the financial crisis of 2008-2009.

“If Mitt Romney had been president when the auto industry was on the verge of collapse we might not have an American auto industry today. We might be buying cars from China instead of selling cars to China,” Obama said.

Florida is also a critical swing state in the election, and most polls show Romney leading there by a narrow margin.

Statistics compiled by the Miami Herald show that Republicans have a slight edge among the 830,000 voters who have cast their ballots by mail already. Democrats hope to even the score with early in-person voting, which starts on Saturday.

Obama campaign officials say their efforts to encourage supporters to vote early are locking in their advantage among minorities, younger voters and those who less reliably participate in elections.

“The Romney campaign has bet that young people and minorities won’t turn out. The early voting is proving the folly of that gamble,” Obama campaign manager Jim

Messina said on a conference call.

Obama supporters say they have expected a close race all along, given the polarized electorate and the sluggish economy.

“You knew this election was going to tighten up no matter who our opponent was,” Vice President Joe Biden said on CBS’s “This Morning” program.

To accompany their get-out-thevote efforts, both campaigns and their allies are saturating the airwaves with new advertisements in an effort to sway the remaining undecided voters.

Reuters/Ipsos polling indicates that roughly one in five voters may be undecided or willing to switch their support.

In a new ad set to air in swing states, Obama highlights successes like the auto-industry bailout and urges voters to read his plan for a second term.

“We’re not there yet but we’ve made real progress, and the last thing we should do is turn back now,” he says.

Restore Our Future, a group allied with Romney, released two new ads that will air in swing states.

“Barack Obama’s economy isn’t working. Demand better,” one of the ads says.

Obama says election comes down to trust P

resident Barack Obama warned voters on Tuesday that Republican rival Mitt Romney cannot be trusted to deal honestly with the public as the presidential campaign shifted from televised confrontation to a frantic dash for votes.

After three televised debates that have boosted Romney’s prospects before the November 6 election, Obama delivered what is likely to be his closing argument: that, unlike Romney, he has been honest with voters about his plans to deliver a broadly shared prosperity over the next four years.

“There is no more serious issue in a presidential campaign than trust,” Obama told a rally of 11,000 people in Florida. “Everything he’s doing right now is trying to hide his real positions in order to win this election.”

The charge ties together several critiques of Romney, from shifting policy stances that Obama mockingly attributes to “Romnesia” to a persistent charge that the wealthy former private-equity executive is more concerned with helping fellow millionaires than the struggling middle class.

Romney said Obama is resorting

to attacks in the absence of new ideas of his own.

“Attacks on me are not an agenda,” Romney told 6,000 people at a rally in Henderson, Nevada. “We haven’t heard an agenda from the president and that’s why his campaign is taking on water and our campaign is full speed ahead.”

Obama leads Romney among likely voters by a statistically insignificant margin of 1 percentage point, according to Reuters/Ipsos daily tracking poll on Tuesday.

Obama unveiled a glossy booklet outlining his second-term agenda, which will serve as an important prop for his massive grassroots network.

The campaign said it will print 3.5 million copies for volunteers to distribute in door-to-door canvassing.

The booklet contains no new proposals, but could help rebut what Romney aides say will be their central message in the final two weeks of the campaign: that the country cannot afford another four years of an Obama presidency because he has no plan to fix the sluggish economy.

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden called the plan a “glossy panic button.”

In their final debate on Monday,

Obama accused the former Massachusetts governor of a reckless and inconsistent approach to international affairs. Romney played down his disagreements with the president as he sought to present a reassuring image to a war-weary public.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll taken after the debate found that Obama won the exchange in the eyes of more voters, though there were few signs that his victory would substantially affect the outcome of the race.

Romney avoided gaffes that would disqualify him in the eyes of voters and emerged from the three debates with an energized base, a full war chest and a sense of momentum.

Most importantly, nearly half the electorate now sees him as a plausible president.

“These debates have supercharged our campaign, there’s no question about it,” Romney said.

Still, Obama holds a narrow advantage in the handful of battleground states that will decide the election. Romney will have a hard time winning the White House if he does not carry Ohio, where Obama retains a narrow lead thanks in part to his bailout of the U.S. auto industry.

After starting the day in Florida,

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 31

ANALYSIS

By Richard Falk

A

lso, I was disturbed by the way Obama dumped Reverend Jeremiah Wright when he became a liability to his electoral campaign, seemed embarrassed by his friendship with the distinguished Palestinian political historian, Rashid Khalidi, and made Rahm Emmanuel chief of staff, as his first major appointment.

Obama surrounded himself with economic advisers who were the same folks that had collaborated with the banks, hedge funds and big brokerage houses in the 1990s to facilitate the huge regressive redistribution of wealth in the spirit of "casino capitalism".

Unfortunately, these tell-tale signs of weakness of principle and ideology were an accurate foretaste of what was in store for the country during the next four years, although it apparently never dawned on the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to withhold its coveted award until Obama demonstrated that he was a deserving recipient, which sadly he never did.

What happened during the first term of the Obama presidency is definitely disappointing, although it is only fair to acknowledge that extenuating circumstances existed. Obama was dealt "a bad hand" in the form of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

American society was sliding to the right as exhibited by the rise of the Tea Party, and the election of increasingly reactionary politicians as senators and congressmen, creating the most right-wing Congress in memory.

It was difficult to govern in such a setting, and Obama compounded the difficulties by moving more than half way to meet the unreasonable demands of the opposition and continued to do so even in the face of their clear unwillingness to reciprocate in a corresponding manner.

Also, the pressures mounted

by Israel and its formidable AIPAC lobby led the White House to back pedal awkwardly with respect to its efforts to create an atmosphere conducive to a balanced peace process for Israel and Palestine.

On other issues, as well, Obama followed the pollsters and the party insiders more than principle, and failed to do what was best for the country and the world.

After promising to take climate change seriously, Obama led an international effort to avoid imposing legal constraints on carbon emissions.

Throughout his re-election campaign in 2012, he has done his best to avoid the looming challenge of global warming aside from blandly promoting energy independence and green technology. As a result, the near unanimous scientific consensus on the urgent need for mandatory strict limits on carbon emissions has been disastrously pushed further and further into the background of public consciousness.

Barack Obama

From hope to fear: 2008 versus 2012(II) For me, the 2012 elections have a different tone and relevance that is not less consequential than in 2008, although absent the uplift. I believe this time around the stakes in the presidential election have been reversed. The upcoming election is more about fear than hope.

The outcome is as fateful, or possibly more so, for the American people and the world, especially those living in the Middle East, but fateful also in the sense of avoiding the worst, not hoping for the best, or at least something better.

Romney's election, even if he means only 50 per cent of what he is saying, could lead to military confrontation with Iran, a completely free hand for Israel, an effort to undermine and control democratic forces in the main Arab countries, a trade war with China, a deepening of the world financial and employment crises, reduced respect for human rights, especially the reproductive rights of women, and a return to the overt lawlessness of the Bush presidency.

Obama if re-elected would likely be a more prudent leader, although continuing to throw the

weight of American influence mostly on "the wrong side of history". In this sense, although prudence is to be preferred to recklessness, there are no major principled differences between the candidates when it comes to foreign policy (on domestic policy there is).

Romney proposes that the US stay longer in Afghanistan, move closer to an attack mode with Iran and challenge China more vigorously on economic policy, and Obama agrees with all these positions but pursues them in a more nuanced way, with a greater seeming sensitivity to the risks and pitfalls, but nevertheless adhering to the same misguided and regressive policy options.

When fear rather than hope shapes our political consciousness, the effect on the citizenry is likely to be despair. Such an effect induces collective depression and encourages extremisms.

What is also scary is the degree to which those who are making us fearful are being aided and abetted by the deep pockets of extremist billionaires who seem clearly to sense their ability in this period to buy enough votes to distort the will of the citizenry. If

“

they should be successful, they will step up to the policy window to cash in their chips, which could produce some disastrous results at home and abroad.

In the background, of course, is the disappointment with the political consciousness of the citizenry that seems so receptive to such a dysfunctional and menacing political agenda as is being presented to them by the Republican Party; it further undermines our confidence that the democratic way as being enacted currently in the US can lead toward sustainability, security and justice in the years ahead.

With such an understanding why not support the Green Party candidacy of Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala? Their positions seem principled and admirable, and their alignments are with the poor and with the environment. Their platform is inspirational and congenial compared to what the Republicans and Democrats offer the American people. But their capacity to govern is untested and their level of support is minimal.

I ask myself whether a vote for the Green Party in light of these circumstances would be a wasted

At this point, I am not able to resolve my doubts. Is it irresponsible, given what is at stake, not to vote for the lesser of evils?

vote. It evades the question to observe that in some states, say California or Nebraska, the outcome is so clear that taking sides as between the candidates put forward by the Democrats and Republicans is meaningless.

The real test is whether it is worth voting for the Green Party candidates as a matter of principle because they are decent enough not to stoop to the dirty games of money and the accommodation of special interests that are poisoning the political process in the US. At this point, I am not able to resolve my doubts. Is it irresponsible, given what is at stake, not to vote for the lesser of evils?

Is it a misunderstanding of modern democracies to expect clear choices based on principled positions, respect for international law and human rights, dedication to environmental protection, sustainable economic policies and a commitment to social justice for the entire population?

Should we not insist on this misunderstanding to avoid ourselves being entrapped in a demeaning morality that overlooks crimes of state (for instance, drone terror)?

I must admit if living in a swing state I would vote for Obama, not having sufficient courage of my convictions to risk symbolic responsibility for a Romney victory!

Concluded Source: al Jazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 32

Sudan says Israel behind arms factory fire S.Africa labour hero urged crackdown on “criminal” strike

S

outh African millionaire businessman and one-time anti-apartheid hero Cyril Ramaphosa urged ministers to crack down on a violent platinum miners' strike the day before 34 miners were killed by police, according to emails revealed this week.

The emails cited on Tuesday by a lawyer for miners arrested over the August 16 "Marikana Massacre" are the latest evidence of a reversal of historical roles for the 59-year-old, who himself led a historic miners' pay strike under apartheid in 1987.

As a respected and influential member of the National Executive Committee of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Ramaphosa has long been touted as a possible presidential contender.

Hailed with Nelson Mandela as a champion of anti-apartheid struggle, the man who was once called "South Africa's Lech Walesa" now finds himself pilloried as a cold-hearted capitalist in his role of shareholder and board member of Lonmin, the company at the heart of the Marikana dispute.

The Marikana killings, the deadliest labour violence since apartheid's end in 1994, shocked South Africans and the world, drew damaging criticism of President Jacob Zuma and sparked a wave of labour protests still rattling Africa's largest economy.

An official enquiry into Marikana heard on Tuesday about emails sent by Ramaphosa a day before the shootings calling for "concomitant action" to tackle the strike.

"The terrible events that have unfolded cannot be described as a labour dispute. They are plainly dastardly criminal and must be characterized as such," reads one email sent by Ramaphosa to Lonmin chief commercial officer Albert Jamieson.

Wealthy businessman Cyril Ramaphosa

F

ire has engulfed an arms factory in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, following an explosion.

Culture and Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman said the government believed Israel had carried out a bombing raid on the Yarmouk plant.

Israel has not responded to the Sudanese accusation.

No deaths were reported from the overnight blast, but officials told local media a number of people had suffered from smoke inhalation.

Reports said flames from the blast spread to nearby buildings causing panic among local residents.

Speaking to reporters in Khartoum, Mr Osman said: "We think Israel did the bombing."

"Four military planes attacked the Yarmouk plant," he said, adding that the planes appeared to come from the east, Reuters news agency reports.

In April 2011, Khartoum held Israel responsible for an air strike that killed two people in a car near the city of Port Sudan. Israel did not comment on that incident.

It was also blamed for a strike on a convoy in north-eastern Sudan in 2009, but has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

The Yarmouk arms factory on fire Armed forces spokesman Col Al- as well as assessing human and Sawarmi Khalid said the explosion material loss". set light to surrounding grass and Witnesses reported seeing two or trees sending flames over a wide area, three fires with dense smoke and state news agency Suna reported. intermittent flashes of white light.

He said civil defence forces had Earlier, Khartoum governor contained the fire and that Abdul Rahman al-Khidir told local investigations were under way "to TV that the explosion had occurred determine the causes of the explosion at midnight and that a preliminary

investigation suggested it had happened in a store room.

"There are losses in the building and the authorities are investigating the cause," he said.

Some people had been taken to hospitals suffering smoke inhalation but otherwise there were no casualties, said Mr Khidir.

Mauritania president discharged from Paris hospital

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President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz

auritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has been discharged from the Paris hospital where he was being treated for a gunshot wound, a presidency official said on Wednesday.

Abdel Aziz, an ally of the West in its fight against against al Qaeda in Africa, was flown to France on October 14 after his government said a military patrol had fired on his convoy accidentally.

"The president has indeed left Hôpital Percy and has gone to Mauritania's embassy in Paris," spokesman Rassoul Ould Khal told Reuters, adding Abdel

‘Foreign fighters’ arrive in Mali

F

oreign fighters have arrived in a town in northern Mali, Gao's exiled mayor has said, confirming reports of an influx of jihadists to the north.

Sadou Diallo said between 60 and 100 Algerians and Sahrawis had come into the town about four or five days ago.

A resident in Timbuktu told the AFP news agency on Monday that Sudanese Islamists had arrived over the weekend.

Plans are under way for military intervention after Islamists took over northern Mali earlier this year.

Two weeks ago, the UN Security Council gave the regional bloc Ecowas 45 days to draw up a plan with the details of its offer to send 3,000 troops to the vast desert

region.

The Islamist groups and Tuareg rebels took control of northern Mali following a coup in

March.

The junta seized power, accusing the government of failing to deal effectively with a Tuareg

Some of the fighters said to have come from Algeria

Aziz was in good health.

He did not say when Abdel Aziz would return to Mauritania, a coup-prone West African state that is fighting the rising influence of al Qaeda's north African wing.

A French Defence Ministry source confirmed that Abdel Aziz had been discharged from the hospital, adding that he was planning his eventual return to Nouakchott.

News of Abdel Aziz's shooting prompted fears in Mauritania that he had been attacked by al Qaeda-linked gunmen, though the government has said the shooting was accidental. rebellion that had started in January - but Islamist groups then took advantage of the chaos and seized all the region's major towns, including the historic city of Timbuktu.

The Islamists, who have since fallen out with their Tuareg allies, have imposed a harsh interpretation of Sharia in the areas they control - there are reports of people being stoned to death and having their limbs amputated.

Mr Diallo said the foreign fighters were lightly armed and had arrived in Gao on 93 trucks.

"They were identified as coming mainly from Western Sahara and Algeria. They seem to be instructors. They bring small arms with them, not heavy weapons," he said, adding that one or two of the fighters were from Sudan.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Asia and Middle East

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he US has said it is backing Lebanese efforts to form a new coalition amid rising tension sparked by the killing of security chief Wissam al-Hassan.

US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland warned a power vacuum would pose a great risk to stability.

"The export of instability from Syria threatens the security of Lebanon now more than ever," she said.

PAGE 33

US urges Lebanon stability amid escalating tensions Deadly clashes erupted in Beirut and Tripoli after opposition figures blamed Syria for the attack on Gen Hassan.

On Saturday, President Michel Suleiman rejected an offer of resignation from Prime Minister Najib Mikati, whose coalition government is dominated by the pro-Syrian Shia Islamist

movement Hezbollah and its allies.

Mr Mikati said the president had asked him "to stay for a while longer" to "avoid a political vacuum".

However, the decision prompted Fouad Siniora, a prominent member of the Western-backed 14 March opposition alliance, to warn on

Sunday: "The Lebanese people won't accept, after today, the continuation of the government of assassination."

Speaking in Washington on Tuesday evening, Ms Nuland told reporters: "This is obviously a Lebanese affair."

"And while we don't want a vacuum of a legitimate political

Syria government agrees to Eid truce

Israel and Gazans in tit-fortat attacks

I

I

nternational mediator Lakhdar Brahimi has said the Syrian government had agreed to a ceasefire during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

"After the visit I made to Damascus, there is an agreement from the Syrian government for a ceasefire during the Eid," Brahimi told a news conference at the Cairobased Arab League on Wednesday.

He added that "most" rebel leaders contacted said they would observe a truce, but did not specify if this included commanders of the main rebel group, the Free Syrian Army.

"If we succeed with this modest initiative, a longer ceasefire can be built on it, and the launch of a political process," Brahimi said.

Shortly after the announcement, the Syrian foreign ministry issued a statement saying that the government would take a final decision about the ceasefire on Thursday.

"The army command is studying the cessation of military operations during the Eid holiday, and the final decision will be taken tomorrow," the statement said.

The holiday starts on Thursday and lasts three or four days.

Brahimi, a mediator appointed by the United Nations and League, did not specify the precise time period.

He met with the head of the Arab League Nabil al-Arabi for talks on the 20-month conflict.

Brahimi will also brief the United Nations Security Council on his efforts to secure the temporary ceasefire.

He will address the 15-member Security Council by a video link from Cairo on Wednesday, according to UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.

"Mr Brahimi is pushing extremely hard, as is the SecretaryGeneral, because this is an extremely important moment," Nesirky told reporters in New York.

The 15-member Security Council is bitterly divided over the conflict with Western nations pressing for international actions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and Russia and China blocking these moves.

But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the unrelenting violence is dimming hopes for Eid ceasefire.

authority, we do support this process that is now under way to produce a new government that's responsive to the needs of the Lebanese people."

She added that the US ambassador, Maura Connelly, was due to meet Lebanese politicians to discuss the possible shape of the new coalition.

A defiant Protester throws stone at Police in Damascus

srael has killed one Palestinian fighter in its second round of air strikes in as many days on the Gaza Strip.

According to the Israeli military, Wednesday's attacks were in response to a rocket fire, which wounded three people.

According to the Israeli police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, two of the three injured by the rocket fire into Israel were in a serious condition.

Israeli public radio identified them as immigrant farm workers from Thailand.

An Israeli military statement said: "Israeli Air Forice aircraft targeted a rocket launching site in the northern Gaza Strip. In addition, tank shells were fired towards terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.

Hits were confirmed."

Two loud explosions also shook Gaza City shortly after the attack that killed the Hamas gunman, no casualties had been reported.

China reshuffles top military ranks ahead of leadership change

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Lakhdar Brahimi

General Ma Xiaotian of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, inspecting the army parade at the army headquarters in Colombo.

hina reshuffled its top military ranks on Tuesday, weeks before a oncein-a-decade generational leadership change which sources said would see the outgoing air force commander promoted to vice-chairman of the military's top decision-making body.

General Ma Xiaotian, 63, was named air force commander, replacing General Xu Qiliang, 62, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Ma has been one of the secretive military's most visible faces, speaking at forums overseas and leading talks with U.S. defence officials aimed at building trust between the world's two largest economies.

The report did not say what would happen to Xu. But three independent sources with ties to the top leadership and the People's Liberation Army said Xu was tipped to be named one of two vice-chairmen of the powerful Central Military Commission.

The government generally does not comment on elite politics and personnel changes before the official announcement.

Xu's air force background means he can be expected to champion their interests at the center of power, including the development of China's first indigenous stealth fighter.

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas Russia says Syrian rebels have shoulderfired missiles

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Merkel opens Roma Holocaust memorial in Berlin

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yrian rebels have acquired portable surface-to-air missiles including U.S.-made Stingers, the Interfax news agency quoted Russia's senior general as saying yesterday.

Like Syrian President Bashar alAssad, Russia has laid most of the blame for continuing violence on armed government foes it says are aided by encouragement and arms from abroad.

Russia's military has learned "that militants fighting Syrian government forces have portable missile launchers of various states, including American-made Stingers," Interfax quoted general staff chief Nikolai Makarov as saying.

"Who supplied them must still be determined," he said.

There were reports in late July that the rebel Free Syrian Army had obtained nearly two dozen shoulderfired surface-to-air missiles, also known as MANPADs. A political adviser to the Free Syrian Army denied it.

In contrast to the Libya crisis, the West has shown little appetite to arm the Syrian rebels, worried that weapons would fall into the hands of Islamic militants.

Russia sold the government in Syria $1 billion worth of weapons last year and has made clear it would oppose an arms embargo in the U.N. Security Council because of what it says are concerns rebels fighting Assad's government would get weapons illegally anyway.

The West has criticised Russia for vetoing, along with China, three Security Council resolutions aimed at putting pressure on Assad to end a 19-month conflict. Moscow says it opposes foreign interference in Syria's affairs.

Activists say the conflict has killed more than 30,000 people since protests against Assad erupted in March 2011.

The circular pool in Tiergarten park, near the Reichstag, the German parliament building.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has opened a memorial in Berlin to Roma (Gypsy) Nazi Holocaust victims.

The memorial - a circular pool of water with a small plinth in the middle - is in Tiergarten park, near the Reichstag, the German parliament building.

The unveiling comes after years of delays and disputes over the memorial's design and its cost.

Experts say between 220,000 and 500,000 members of the Roma and related Sinti people were killed during World War II. President Joachim Gauck and some 100 elderly survivors joined Mrs Merkel at the opening ceremony.

They observed a two-minute silence around the pool as the triangular plinth was raised from below the surface with a flower on it.

Speaking just before, Mrs Merkel paid an emotional tribute to the victims.

"Every single fate in this genocide is a suffering beyond understanding. Every single

An earlier plan for the sailors to fly back on an Argentine plane was scrapped because of fears that the aircraft might itself be impounded as part of the debt dispute.

On Tuesday, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner condemned the Libertad's seizure and made it clear there would be no negotiations with creditors.

She said Argentina will not bow to "blackmail by vulture funds".

"As long as I am president, they can keep the frigate but nobody is going to keep the liberty, sovereignty and dignity of this country," she said.

NML Capital is a subsidiary of US hedge fund Elliot Capital Management, one of

Argentina's former creditors.

In 2001 and 2002, Argentina defaulted on more than $100bn (£62bn) of debt.

Most of these loans were subsequently restructured,

fate fills me with sorrow and shame," she said.

It was important to remember so that such atrocities were not repeated, she added.

"It is not only the

Panama president cancels land sale after clashes

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anama's President Ricardo Martinelli says he will scrap plans to sell off stateowned land in the duty-free zone of Colon, after violent protests.

Three people have been killed in the clashes between residents and security forces, local media report.

The protesters said the land sale, signed into law on Friday, would cost jobs and cut incomes.

The Colon region is the biggest duty-free zone in Latin America but is blighted by poverty and crime.

President Martinelli had said the sale of the state-owned land

Police disperse protesters with teargas

Seized Argentina navy ship’s crew leave Ghana

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he crew of an Argentine navy ship, which was impounded as part of a debt dispute more than three weeks ago in Ghana, have boarded a plane for Argentina.

Almost 300 sailors will leave on an Air France plane chartered by the Argentine government.

A skeleton crew will stay on board the three-masted Libertad to maintain it.

The tall ship was prevented from leaving Ghana after a local court ruled in favour of a US fund.

The fund, NML Capital, argued it was owed $370m (£231m) by Argentina's government as a result of its debt default a decade ago.

It is seeking $20m (£12.5m) in return for the release of the ship.

responsibility of educational institutions, as important as they are, but it's our responsibility, it's the responsibility of each and every one of us, because in indifference,

giving creditors about 30% of their money back.

However, some creditors including Elliot chose to hold out, pursuing the Argentine government through the courts.

The Libertad has been held in the Ghanaian port of Tema since October

would benefit the region.

But late on Tuesday, he said on Twitter: "If the people of Colon don't want the sale of lands in the Free Trade Zone, the sale will be repealed."

He said instead, commercial rents would be increased and the money reinvested in the region, as protesters had been demanding.

The president, who is on an official visit to Japan, has come under criticism for not breaking off his trip in the face of the continuing protests.

A 27-year-old woman became the latest person to die on Tuesday, following the death of a man and a nine-year-old boy in clashes over the past five days.

Opponents of the law included trade unions, members of the Colon Chamber of Commerce and a variety of civil society groups.

A government delegation which had travelled to Colon to

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 35

Entire Indian tribe threatens to commit mass suicide A

entire tribe of 170 Indians have vowed to com m i t m a s s s u i c i d e after a court in Brazil ruled they must leave what they

believe is sacred land, it was reported today.

The community of 50 men, 50 women and 70 children from the Guarani-

kaiowa tribe are camped inside a ranch in Brazil's southern state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The Indians claim the land

A spokesman for the tribe said they do not intend to fight the judge's decision but would rather die on the land than be made to leave

Boy has 38 stitches in his face after opening ice cold can explodes as he opens it

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utting a can of pop in a freezer may seem like the best short-term fix to enjoy an ice-cold drink.

But for one young boy in China, he will forever remember the day he did it.

On taking a can of cola out of the freezer after a few hours, the can exploded causing horrible injuries.

The can exploded sending aluminium shrapnel into the boys face, cutting into his skin.

has been the graveyard of their ancestors for centuries, according to Brazil's Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI).

But this week, Judge Henrique Bonachela upheld a petition made by the ranch's owner to have the tribe evicted from the land.

He decreed a fine of £150 for every day the tribe remains on the land, on the banks of Brazil's Joguico River.

A spokesman for the tribe today said they do not intend to fight the judge's decision but would rather die on the land than be made to leave.

And in a letter the tribe c a l l e d o n the Brazilian government to respect their wishes to be buried there along with their ancestors.

It read: 'Because of this historic fact, we would prefer to die and be buried together with our ancestors right here where we are now.

'We ask, one time for all, for the government to decree our extinction as a tribe, and

‘Dead’ man surprises family by walking into his own funeral

He ended up with 38 stitches on the lower part of his face, including seven on the inside of the mouth, and was lucky to avoid more serious injuries.

When a can of fizzy drink is frozen, the volume inside the package expands, and the carbon dioxide gas is squeezed out as it solidifies.

Thankfully most of the time, the 'explosion' will happen when the can is still in

the freezer, with the a s o m e w h a t mishaped can and a sticky liquid being the end product.

However, things for this young boy didn't end so well.

But far from hide away, the boys mother has taken to social networking website Weibo to post pictures of the horrible a c c i d e n t , w a r n i n g others of the dangers of putting fizzy A young boy required 38 stitches after opening drinks in the a can of cola that had been in the freezer freezer.

to send tractors to dig a big hole and there to throw our dead bodies.

'We have all decided that we will not leave this place, neither alive nor dead.'

A spokesman for CIMI described the development as of 'exceptional seriousness'.

And Federal Deputy Sarney Filho warned of the 'extremely worrying' situation.

In a letter to Brazil's Justice Minsitry, he wrote: 'This tribe has had its culture and lands attacked for centuries. They could now go down in history as being the tribe which wiped themselves out by committing collective suicide.

'We must take the necessary measures to avert the worst.'

Indian tribes in southern Brazil have for years been fighting for the country to recognise their traditional lands, many of which now belong to farmers and rich landowners.

Gilberto Araujo's mother, Marina Santana, was shocked and overjoyed to see her son after a friend told the man that his family thought he was dead

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family gathering to mourn the death of a relative were shocked to tears and fainting when the deceased man in question pitched up at his own funeral on Tuesday.

In a bizarre case of mistaken identity, news of car washer Gilberto Araujo's murder had been relayed to the family by local police in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday.

Shortly after, when the wayward vagabond's brother was called into the morgue to make a positive identification on the body, he saw his brother lying on the table and took the corpse home so his family could hold a wake.

Jose Marcos Araujo was so fooled by the likeness of fellow car washer Genivaldo Santos Gama to his brother Gilberto, that he

mistakenly confirmed the body to be his sibling's.

Police inspector Roberto Lima

said that Jose Marcos took the body to his mother's Alagoinhas home where a wake was held on Tuesday 'The confusion started when news started circulating that a car washer had been shot dead,' Jose Marcos' wife, Ana Paula, told the UOL Internet news portal.

'Police called my husband and told him that his brother had been killed and his body was at the morgue,' she explained.

Lima said the confusion was 'understandable.'

'The two men closely resembled each other and both worked as car washers,' Lima said adding that no further information on Gama was immediately available.

According to Gawker, the family had not seen or heard from Mr Araujo in the four months before the vexing case of mistaken identity.

Family gather outside Mr Araujo's mother's home in Alagoinas, Brazil after many fainted and ran away at the sight of the car washer walking into his own funeral

PAGE 36

T

aking a daily multivitamin pill may lower the risk of developing cancer in men, US researchers have claimed.

Their study followed nearly 15,000 men, aged over 50, for more than a decade.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reported a small reduction in cancer cases in men taking vitamin pills.

But experts warned that other studies had found the opposite effect and that eating a diet packed with fruit and vegetables was a safer bet.

Vitamin supplements are recommended for some groups of people, such as vitamin D in the over 65s.

However, the benefits of multivitamins on general health have been mixed. Some studies suggest they cause more harm than good when taken by healthy people while others have shown no benefit in cancer.

Doctors at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School analysed data from men who were given either a multivitamin or a sugar pill every day.

Diet emphasis There were 17 cancers per 1,000 people taking multivitamins per year

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

Vitamins may reduce cancer risk in men, study finds

compared with 18 cancers per 1,000 people taking the dummy pills per year.

One of the researchers, Dr Howard Sesso said: “Many studies have suggested that eating a nutritious diet may reduce a man’s risk of developing cancer.

“Now we know that taking a daily multivitamin, in addition to addressing vitamin and mineral deficiencies, may also be considered in the prevention of cancer in middle-aged and older men.”

The researchers do not know if a similar effect would be seen in women or in younger men.

Dr Helga Groll, health information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: “Although this study suggests that men in the trial had a slightly lower cancer risk if they took multivitamins, we can’t be sure from this research whether this is a true effect or down to chance.

“Many other large studies tell us that vitamin and mineral

Are vitamins a new frontier in fighting cancer? supplements don’t protect against cancer - they either have no effect or can even increase cancer risk in some cases.

“The best way to get a full range of vitamins and minerals is to eat a healthy, balanced diet with a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Most healthy people

shouldn’t need to take supplements although some may be advised to do so by their doctor.”

Source: BBCNews.com

Obesity predisposes one to breast cancer, says expert

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eople with obesity have higher risk of breast cancer, a physician with Garki Hospital in Abuja, Dr Adamu Onu, has said Onu, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, disclosed that studies had shown that obesity was partly responsible for the increase in breast cancer among women.

He, however, noted that

obesity does not directly lead to breast cancer but to other ailment, such as high blood pressure, bad cholesterol and stroke, among others.

According to him, obesity means having too much body fat; it is not the same as being overweight, which means weighing too much.

A person may be overweight from extra muscle, bone, or water, as well as from having too much fat.

‘’In this part of the world, we already seen more and more people been obese; in fact, there is a study that says one out of every three Nigerian women is obese.”

“There is what we call body mass index, that is a way we measure it; if we measure your body mass index and it’s above 30 that is the indication that the person is obese.”

He said that in order not to be obese, the normal body mass

index should be less than 25, adding that one should maintain a normal body weight.

Onu said that index could be calculated by measuring of one’s height in meters and the weight in kilogram then divided the weight by the height.

He said that to burn the fat one needed regular and moderate intensity exercises at least 5 times in a week, adding that such exercise should includes skipping, swimming,

jumping, jogging, among others for 20 to 30 minutes every day.

He advised that one should reduce the intake of carbohydrate, animal fat, adding that more intake of poly unsaturated oil would be much healthy.

“You can substitute fish for meat, chicken without the skin, take lots of vegetables and fresh fruits and have an active lifestyle.’’

Source: NAN

Skipping breakfast primes the brain to seek out fat

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rain scans show that skipping breakfast makes fatty, high calorie foods appear far more attractive later in the day, according to researchers.

Scans of 21 people showed the brain was more attracted to food if breakfast was missed so people had more food at lunch.

Scientists said it made losing weight challenging as missing meals made calorific food even more appealing.

Nutrition experts say breakfast is known to take the edge off appetite.

However, researchers were curious about what happened inside the brain to alter the food people choose to eat.

Scans Twenty one people, who were all normal weight, were shown pictures of calorie packed foods while they were positioned in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at Imperial College London.

On one day they were given no breakfast before the scans and on a different day they were fed a

Should breakfast be the start to every day? large, 730 calorie, breakfast an hour and a half before.

The researchers said skipping breakfast created a “bias” in the brain in favour of high calorie foods.

The results, presented at the Neuroscience 2012 conference, showed the brain changed how it responded to pictures of high calorie foods, but not low calorie foods, when breakfast was skipped.

They showed part of the brain thought to be involved in “food appeal”, the orbitofrontal cortex, became more active on an empty stomach.

When the researchers offered

the participants lunch at the end of the study, people ate a fifth more calories if breakfast was missed.

Dr Tony Goldstone, from Imperial College London, said: “Through both the participants’ MRI results and observations of how much they ate at lunch, we found ample evidence that fasting made people hungrier, and increased the appeal of high calorie foods and the amount people ate.

“One reason it is so difficult to lose weight is because the appeal of high calorie food goes up.”

Dr Catherine Hankey, a senior lecturer in nutrition at the University of Glasgow, said research had shown that breakfast “takes the edge off appetite” and that the latest study was an “interesting” insight.

She said breakfast was linked to stable blood sugar levels, which “keeps you on the straight and narrow”.

Future studies will investigate how obesity affects the same system in the brain.

Source: BBCNews.com

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 37

Edo PDP stakeholders move against Anenih, demand Exco’s dissolution

By Lawrence Olaoye

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L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, exchanging agreement document with Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, during a joint meeting of Lagos and Ogun state governments, yesterday in Abeokuta.

Photo: NAN

ANPP to computerize its membership database Umar Muhammad Puma

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head of the current move by the Federal Government to include diaspora voting in 2015 general elections, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has said it would soon begin the process of computerizing its membership database and general operations.

This was made known yesterday by the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, during an assessment visit of the UNDP to the party, at its National Headquarters in Abuja.

Dr Onu said the party is now set to show the nation its substance as it will now utilize this new trend to win elections and let the whole citizens see and feel the solid material it is made of and the

deliverables the people shall gain from her.

He added that the party has fundamental projects with which it prepares its members to impact on the nation’s fledgling democracy because, according to the National Chairman, the vision of the ANPP is to have the capacity not only to win election but to govern when elected.

He stressed that the party plans to invite Nigerian experts who are doing very well outside the shores of the country to bring their expertise to bear in capacity building through seminars and lectures. ‘‘Our party is a progressive party in that we are interested in the wellbeing of the Nigerian citizens; the people are at the centre of our philosophy as a party. We are currently driving a move away from politics of personality

which is prevalent in the nation to an issues-based and ideas driven politics; what is critical is trying to address the problems the nation has; this is the only way the country will grow,’’ Dr Onu said. ‘‘We are happy that the UNDP has visited us, and we want you to work with us on capacity building and also in the area of information dissemination. We have processes and plans that help to deepen our internal democracy system and grow the capacity of our members and leaders. We will train our leaders at the state levels and then at the ward levels. We also develop positions that will help advance democracy in the country. We have plans to invite experts to lecture sessions; that is, Nigerians who are doing well outside the nation will be

brought in to share their expertise with us in areas of health, agriculture, industry,” he added.

In his remarks, the UNDP national expert on democratic governance, Mr. Sadiq Abba, said their assignment in ANPP was to ascertain the party’s weaknesses and strengths in order to ascertain how to engage them in the ongoing political process.

Abba said that they were happy that the ANPP is strong and working hard and is not discouraged by the vicissitudes of the Nigerian political atmosphere. ‘‘We want to know the level of engagement of the ANPP with the UNDP. This interaction is a guide to our work.

We are happy that the ANPP is strong and working hard, and is not discouraged by the prevailing vicissitudes of the Nigerian political environment,’’ he said.

TMG rates Ondo election successful but with room for improvement

By Lambert Tyem

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ransition Monitoring Group (TMG) yesterday rated the governorship election conducted in Ondo state a success but submitted that there are rooms for improvement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

TMG in its preliminary report on the election noted that there were some cases of electoral malpractices and disruptions but

submitted that such were minimal but posited that the process of election in the country generally still needs more improvement.

TMG Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, while presenting the report in Abuja said “TMG is of the preliminary opinion that the Ondo State gubernatorial election of October 20, 2012 was generally well executed and that the lapses and malpractices witnessed, while distributing, did not significantly affect its outcome.

“Our detailed study of data collected by our field observers may or may not call for revision of this preliminary assessment.

Beyond these technical or procedural aspects of the election, however, we are deeply concerned that only a very small portion of electorate partook in it, implying a very narrow base for the new government”.

The TMG Chairman added “however, several of the old challenges and malpractices that have featured in elections since

1999 were again present in this election. These includes late arrival of election officials and materials at some polling units, resulting in the late commencement of the various phases of the election process; difficulties in the accreditation of registered voters due to the disappearance of their names from the voters register; buying of votes and other attempts to unduly influence voters and snatching of ballot boxes by unidentified persons among others,” the TMG noted.

group known as Concerned Edo PDP (Peoples Democratic Party)’s stakeholders has begun moves against the leadership of the former Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih in the state.

The Stakeholders in a letter addressed to the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Bamaga Tukur and signed by Dr. Framcis OmoOsunde Iyasere, demanded that the party’s Executive Councils both at the state and local government levels be dissolved so that the PDP could make the desired impact in the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

The statement read “Ahead of the planned local government election in Edo state, immediately after the swearing in of governor Oshiomole’s second tenure in November, there is need to urgently re-invigorate the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo state with a view to be able to make positive impact in the election.

“To re-invigorate the Party, as we earlier posited, is to firstly dissolve the present state and Local government executive committees because they are not the true reflection of the interest of others leaders, including Dr. S.O. Ogbemudia , Admiral Mike Akhigbe and others.

“The present state, local government and ward Executive Committee were handpicked by Chief Tony Anenih, and of course, cannot be said to be justifiable and true reflection of the interest of wider membership, as members of the committees were imposed.

“In our previous submission to you, we x-rayed the reason for the poor performances of PDP, in all the elections so far conducted in Edo State under the leadership of Chief Tony Anenih and his handpicked Chairman of the Party in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih without regard to the objection raised by Dr. S.O. Ogbemudia, Admiral Mike Akhigbe and other key stakeholders.

“So, for these great leaders to be part of the re-invigoration, their inputs must be sought while constituting the care- taker committees and the subsequent process of restoring peace, harmony and concord into the party. Let nobody deceive you, there is problem in the party in Edo state.

The group also requested Tukur to immediately suspend and withdraw the list of board appointees submitted earlier, from Edo State with a view to submitting an all inclusive list from the political gladiators. This, according to the stakeholders, would form the critical part of the peaceful resolution of factional crisis in the party in Edo state.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

DESOPADEC to check economic sabotage From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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elta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has requested the State House of Assembly to suspend appropriation of their 13 percent Derivation Fund from the five Oil and Gas Producing Ethnic Nationalities of Delta State, Ijaw, Isoko, Itsekiri, Urhobo and Ndokwa, and pay same into an escrow account pending the resolution of some weighty issues.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker and members of the Assembly and made available to journalists in Benin, the Oil and Gas Producing Ethnic Nationalities drew the attention of the lawmakers to the fact that in line with Constitutional

provision, the fund was not part of the consolidated revenue of the state.

They argued that the fund was created by the Federal Government to restitute for the loss and injurious impart of oil exploitation on the farmlands, streams and lakes of the oil producing communities, adding "it is our fair view that one kobo of the aforesaid fund ought not to be spent outside the oil and gas producing communities".

"We are not unmindful of the fact that the Delta state government established the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission whose function include the infrastructural development of oil and gas producing communities. Our position, however, is that the 50 percent of the 13 percent of the Derivation Fund

allocated to DESOPADEC, as well as the remaining 50 percent which the state government has appropriated for its use amounts to an aberration and improper user".

Consequently, the five Oil and Gas Ethnic Nationalities demanded that "in the premise, the reconstitution of the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) should be put in abeyance and the entire 13 percent Derivation Fund paid into an escrow account pending the resolution of the weighty issues in this petition".

The letter to the State House of Assembly was jointly signed by Pa J.O.S Ayomike, Sen. F. S. Okpozo, Chief (Dr) W. Okrika CON, Dr. K. O. Nwachukwu, Chief

P. E. Asagba and 20 others for and on behalf of the oil producing communities.

The Communities had earlier in their memorandum to the Senate Committee on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution demanded for a direct payment of their Derivation fund to a Derivation Board which they proposed should be composed by the oil producing communities based on their quantum of production, with two ex-officio members representing the Federal and State Governments.

They complained that they have been short-changed by the present arrangement in which their Derivation Fund is paid to the state government.

Delta State currently receives an average of N10 billion monthly as Derivation Fund from the Federal Government, but the oil producing communities say there is no development in their communities in spite of the huge derivation fund allocation.

Yobe engages 6,570 youths in special empowerment scheme

T

L-R: Representative of Senator Philip Aduda, Hon. Mamuda Mohammed, presenting bags of rice to Danjuma Ismali and Usman Jibrin, during distribution of Sallah gifts by the senator to FCT residents, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Jonathan hails Onaiyekan's elevation in Catholic Church

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has sent a congratulatory letter to Bishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan on his elevation to the rank of Cardinal of the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI. President Jonathan expressed belief that "Bishop Onaiyekan's elevation to highest echelon of the Catholic Church by the Pope

clearly shows that the exemplary diligence, dedication and commitment with which he has gone about his labours in the Lord's vineyard since his ordination in 1969 has been recognised and appreciated."

According to his spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, "the President notes that with Bishop Onaiyekan's elevation, Nigeria now has three members of the most eminent and distinguished College of Catholic Cardinals.

He welcomes this as an indication by the

Vatican of its continuing recognition of the immense contributions of the Church in Nigeria to the Worldwide Catholic Movement."

While wishing him a very successful tenure as a Cardinal, Jonathan prayed that God Almighty will grant Bishop Onaiyekan continued good health and the strength, wisdom and divine guidance he will require to discharge his new responsibilities to the Glory of God and his fatherland.

Plateau Govt. will not pay striking LG workers

G

ov. Jonah Jang of Plateau says striking local government workers will not be paid “even one

kobo''.

“Based on the international law of no work, no pay, workers who prefer to stay at home will not receive a kobo,'' the governor said in Jos yesterday during the town hall meeting in continuation of the National Good Governance tour.

The tour team is led by Information Minister Labaran Maku.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the local government

workers had been on strike for seven months to press for the payment of the N18, 000 minimum wage.

Jang, who expressed dismay over the strike, advised the workers to resume work while their grievances were being looked into. ``If they fail to resume, I will not pay them a dime,'' he declared.

He advised them to resume work and be paid so as not to starve themselves unnecessarily.

Jang explained that the statutory allocations for the 17 local governments was N1.8 billion and declared that the sum was

not enough for the full implementation of the N18,000 minimum wage.

“We held a stakeholders' meeting with the local government workers and I told them that only 50 per cent of the minimum wage can be paid, pending when the local governments' revenue improves.

“Surely, when the situation improves, we shall fully implement the minimum wage, but they do not appear to be listening.''

NAN reports that the good governance tour which started on Monday is expected to end on today.

he Yobe state government yesterday formally engaged 6, 570 youths who hold diploma certificates into its special empowerment scheme as part of its effort to reduce poverty and the effects of unemployment.

Speaking while presenting letters of engagement to youths enlisted in the government's empowerment scheme yesterday in Damaturu, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam said the initiative was part of his administration's effort to reduce poverty and ensure that youths are engaged in productive socio-economic activity.

"Joblessness breeds idleness and related vices including tendency to commit robbery, drug abuse, etc. It is for this reason that we decided to set up a committee to look at how we could engage our numerous diploma holders. I am glad to announce that the committee's recommendation that we pay them N15, 000 monthly is granted; they will start receiving their allowances from the end of November", Gaidam assured.

The governor said the monthly payment for the diploma holders will continue until they are able to find a permanent and pensionable job in the public service or private sector job or have become self-employed.

Geidam also revealed that the state government had earlier recruited 3,600 fulltime degree holders, NCE and HND certificates into the State civil service.

"We have now engaged over 10, 000 youths in less than one year and this is all part of our efforts to fulfill the promises we made to our people during our electioneering campaign", the governor said.

Chairman of the government's youth empowerment committee, Abubakar Lawan Yunusari, said the committee has recommended that the diploma holders engaged by the government would provide such services as environmental sanitation, crowd control during public activities or be attached to public sector organisations.

He said the committee had also recommended that those among them who want to proceed to universities or other institutions of higher learning to obtain higher certificates be provided scholarships to do so.

One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Ahmad M. Goni, said the scheme will change their lives positively and has given them confidence that the State government is a "caring one".

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 39

Kwara govt, NULGE at logger heads over workers salary From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Kwara state government and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees(NULGE) in the state are at logger head over insistent of government that workers' three months salary must be pay before Salah.

The NULGE's in a communiqué issued in Ilorin and signed by Comrade Afolabi M. Abayomi said the union would continue on strike indefinitely.

"The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Kwara state branch held an emergency state Executive Council (SEC) meeting today,22 October 2012 at the state secretariat of the union's secretariat along old Jebba road Ilorin and resolved as follows: "Having explored all avenue of negotiation on prevailing precarious situation in all local governments in the state which resulted in various promises which were not fulfilled, NULGE in Kwara state has therefore decided to embark on indefinite strike action because of the following reasons; "Non payment of local government salaries for the past three months, in-spite of the regular release of allocation from the federal allocation council (FAC) which has resulted into impoverishment of our member.

“Proposed retrenchment of Local Government workers by 50%. over deduction of local government's allocation to SUBEB which has resulted into surplus to SUBEB and deficit to local governments."

The Union added that total

failure of so called biometrics exercise which gulped over N136,000,000 and alleged taking over of total administration of local government administration by the state government was also part of reasons they embarked on industrial action.

They cited allegation of withholding various local government funds from federation account by the state government including MDGs fund, SURE-P Fund, NNPC refund, VAT, Excess Crude fund, etc which had left the local governments in total penury.

NULGE added "Overloading the local government with

unwarranted and unconstitutional responsibility such as funding of University Education, Junior secondary Education, clean and Green in addition to the compulsory primary education funding."

"In view of the above therefore, the state executive of our union has mandated all the gates of all Local Government offices to be closed forthwith from today 22 of October 2012. As we have resolved to withdraw our services until all issues enumerated above are fully addressed."

But the state government

through Secretary to State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, had compelled all local government councils in the state to pay all outstanding salaries and overheads, "including that of October, to all local government workers with immediate effect before Salah" He added that in line with the above directive, the state government has also directed the immediate release of N555, 200, 000 to the accounts of the local government councils from their excess crude account to enable them settle all outstanding salary arrears and other overhead costs.

Leader of Nigerian delegation to the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, in Quebec, Canada, Senate President David Mark, chatting with Speaker of the Republic of Serbia, Mr Nemojsa Stefanovic, when the latter paid a courtesy call on Senate President, on Tuesday

Abia speaker stresses need for culture revival

T

he Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Mr Ude Okochukwu, on Tuesday stressed the need for policy makers to step up measures to revive the cultural identities of Nigeria.

Okochukwu made the call when he received Princess Peace Ayoka, the Miss Heritage 2012, in his office in Umuahia.

He said though ministries of culture existed in all parts of the country, more efforts should be made by policy makers to showcase the country’s culture to

both local and international bodies.

“If the government and the private sector act in this direction, it will not only foster the socioeconomic development, but as well enhance the development of other sectors,’’ he said.

The speaker called on the Igbo to promote their language, noting that language remained a dynamic force in the cultural identity of any society.

“Your language will give you a pride of place no matter your level of academics because that is

what shows who you are and where you come from,’’ he said.

Okochukwu commended Ayoka for winning the 2012 edition of Miss Heritage and charged her to remain a worthy ambassador of Abia.

Earlier, Ayoka, an indigene of the state, told the speaker that her visit was to interact and inform the government and people of Abia of her programmes since winning the Miss Heritage pageant.

She said she was currently working to assist flood victims in

various parts of the country, adding that the collaboration of the assembly was needed.

“Although this year’s flood did not touch every community, there is the need for those not directly affected to come to the aid of those affected,’’ she said.

Miss Chinor Emeka, the founder of National Heritage Award and Cares Grooming Agency Nigeria Beauty Pageant, had in her introductory remark, described Ayoka as a bundle of potentials who could go places if groomed. (NAN)

Yakowa tasks Muslims on attitudinal change, tolerance

G

ov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State on Wednesday urged Muslims in the state to always be positive in their dealings with other Nigerians to promote peace, stability and development.

Yakowa, in a Sallah message issued in Kaduna and signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Reuben Buhari, said

such attitude would help the state to achieve its development agenda. `` While we celebrate the Eldel-Kabir, let it be a sobering moments for our state, so that we will increase our prayers for our state and country, and adopt positive attitudinal change that will help the state in hastening its developmental agenda. `` I hope that we will allow

the sacrificial spirit of the occasion to impact on our lives and transform into continuous peaceful coexistence amongst all inhabitants of Kaduna State. '' Yakowa further called on them to pray for peace, love and unity amongst the diverse people of the state, and country at large. `` All adherents of the Islamic faith must be willing to sacrifice their time and resources

for the good of their fellow men and the nation.''

He advised Muslims to remain steadfast to the tenets of their religion, which he said promotes peace and harmonious coexistence.

Yakowa also appealed to them to pray for the successful conclusion of the 2012 Hajj and the safe return of the pilgrims from Saudi Arabia. (NAN)

Eid el Kabir: PDP preaches sacrifice, submission to Allah's will

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday in special Eid el Kabir message to the people called for a deeper reflection on the abiding lessons of the feast which, it observed, centers on sacrifice and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, stated "The National Chairman of our great Party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur, on behalf of the National Executive Committee wishes to send our message of goodwill to all Muslims in Nigeria on the occasion of this great feast of Islam. We pray that the eternal lessons of Eid el Kabir will live beyond our celebrations and reflect closely in our daily lives, more especially in those elected and appointed into positions of authority so that sacrifice for our dear nation and love for one another shall always prevail."

He continued "This is a period that has seen the manifest commitment of the Federal Government gradually easing the teething challenge of insecurity and this is also a period that is witnessing a devastating fury of flood in our communities. The lessons of Eid El Kabir could not have therefore been more relevant.

The PDP can only be spurred to taking greater measures in selfless service to alleviate the sufferings of the people."

Ondo guber poll: Sokoto PDP Secretary commends INEC

T

he PDP secretary in Sokoto state, Alhaji Aminu Bello Sokoto, has called on INEC to ensure prompt and timely arrival of electoral materials during future elections.

Sokoto made the call on Tuesday in Sokoto in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He commended the commission for the improved the electoral process during the just-concluded gubernatorial election in Ondo state.

“INEC and security agencies should be commended for providing a level playing ground for ensuring credible election in the state.

“The Commission demonstrated a high sense of professionalism which gave room for a free, fair and credible election in Ondo state,’’ the PDP scribe said.

Sokoto explained that timely arrival of INEC staff and electoral materials would boost the confidence of the electorate in the ability of the commission to excel.

He stressed the need for politicians to promote political tolerance and understanding among their followers before, during after the elections. (NAN)

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

ANPP is ready for Diaspora voting – Onu

T

he National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples' Party (ANPP), Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, on Wednesday expressed support for the plan to allow Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in 2015.

Onu expressed the view when a UNDP team visited him in Abuja, a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Emma Eneukwu, said.

Onu said toward this end, the party was making efforts to open special branch offices overseas in preparation for the move. ''As government wants to embark on Diaspora voting, we are now computerising our membership database.

"We also open up special branches in the United States of America and in our neighboring countries here in West Africa. `` We are present everywhere, with structures in all the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT, since 1998. We are currently moving away from politics of personality to issuebased and idea-driven politics," Onu said.

He said ANPP had put in place fundamental projects to prepare members for the task of impacting on the nation's democracy.

Onu described ANPP as a progressive party with interest in adding value to the wellbeing of

the people. `` We want to equip our women, we want our young people to participate effectively in politics and we also encourage the disabled to join the political process,'' he said.

The leader of the threemember team, Mr Sadiq Abba, said the team was at the party secretariat to see how the party could work with the civil society for the good of the country.

He expressed optimism that

the 21-member National Rebuilding and Inter-Party Contact Committee recently set up by the party would relate with civil society organisations to enhance the nation's political process. (NAN)

L-R: Minister of State Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji Abdullahi, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Malam Mohammed Ali Gulak, and Minister of State for Education, Barrister Nyelson Wike, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Ondo election: Mimiko commends Jonathan, INEC From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

O

ndo state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko yesterday commended President Goodluck Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega for ensuring strict compliance to the one man, one vote democratic mantra and restoring

integrity into the voting process.

In the broadcast made at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the governor’s office, Akure, Mimiko thanked God for the successful conduct of the election and also the people for the prevailing atmosphere of peace and orderliness that guaranteed the outcome of the election.

He noted that he had striven earnestly in the last three years to

live by his promise to work for the people at all times adding that his endorsement for a second term represents their appreciation of his administration’s achievements.

He said “Our administration shall continue with the good works of benchmarking life enhancing programmes and projects for the people while your collective empowerment and freedom from the shackles of want and poverty

will remain a focus” He however offered a hand of fellowship to those in opposition to work together in synergy for the state.

Mimiko equally expressed gratitude to the security agencies, media organisations as well as local and international observers for their efforts in making the election a shining example to other states in the country.

A/Ibom Assembly passes vote of confidence on Speaker

T

he Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker, Mr Samuel Ikon, who was elected into the office on June 6 last year.

Mr Effefiong Antigha, Member Representing Okobo State Constituency, brought the notice of confidence at the plenary in line with order II rule IV, on matters of urgent public importance.

He said that there had been

sustained campaign of calumny from the local media, targeted at smearing and casting aspersions on the integrity of the house.

Antigha, who is also the Chairman, Committee on Information, said that the allegation of impeachment levelled against the speaker and the leadership was capable of tarnishing the image of the house.

The notice was received through a motion, moved by the House

Leader, Mr Okpolopum Ette, and seconded by Mr Onofiok Luke, Deputy Chairman Committee on Information.

In his contribution, Mr Ekong Sampson, Member Representing Mkpat Enin, urged newsmen to always confirm their stories before publication, saying the house was operating an open-door policy.

Sampson appealed to reporters to seek clarification on issues relating to the house from the assembly’s

information unit, instead of peddling rumours.

While reminding journalists of the ethics of their profession, the legislator stressed the need for them to balance their stories before publication.

In his response, the speaker expressed appreciation to his colleagues for their collective solidarity.

He promised to do his best to ensure that the confidence reposed in him by members was not in vain. (NAN)

Osun Speaker urges Muslims to celebrate Eid-el-kabir with moderation

T

he Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salam, has urged Muslim faithful, in the state to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir with moderation.

Salam gave the advice in his Eid-el-Kabir message in Osogbo,

on Tuesday.

He also appealed to the Muslims to remember the less privileged in the society by stretching their hands of fellowship to them, in consonance with Islamic injunction enjoining Muslims to share Allah's blessing

with others who were in need.

The Speaker also urged the faithful to use the period of the festival self-examination and stock staking on their commitment to the dictates of Islam and to pray for forgiveness and guidance from Allah, rather

that devoting it for "merry making, sacrifices and fun alone".

Salam further enjoined Muslims to be law abiding, submissive and be safety conscious, especially during the festival. (NAN)

Nweke jnr advocates documentation of activities of public officers

T

he Director-General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr Frank Nweke jnr, on Tuesday in Abuja called for the documentation of the experiences and activities of public office holders in Nigeria, for posterity.

Nweke made the call at a public presentation of two books titled, “Reel Views’’ and “Behind The Scenes,’’ written by Mr Afolabi Adesanya, the Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC).

Nweke, a one time Minister of Information and Communications, said the call became necessary to provide the opportunity for successors to learn from the experiences of their predecessors and improve their performances.

The Director-General, who was the Chairman of the occasion, said: “One thing lacking in our country today is the absence of documentation of our experiences in government and private offices’’.

He expressed optimism that his idea, if adopted, would be crucial to the development of the country.

“I, therefore, want to urge those in various offices to keep records of their activities and experiences.’’

He commended the author of the books for his contributions toward professionalising the film industry.

According to him, Adesanya’s ideas contributed immensely to the establishment of Video Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria and the actualisation of a degree awarding institution in film making, by the Nigerian Film Institute, Jos. He expressed satisfaction that some state governments were keying into Adesanya’s initiatives toward establishing film villages,with a view to restructuring and providing adequate facilities to boost film production.

“This will also encourage people to invest in the film sector,’’ the former minister said.

Earlier, Adesanya identified the support of the National Assembly and its appropriation of funds for the development of the film sector as accounting for the success of the film industry so far.

He stressed the need for film makers to improve on the quality of their films to guarantee the social relevance of such creative endeavour to the society.

Adesanya, however,cited inadequate funding, piracy; unprofessionalism, faulty marketing and distribution channel as some of the impediments against the growth of the industry.

Meanwhile, Mr Dele Ojo, the reviewer of the books, noted that they contained relevant sections, speeches, articles and comments that were profitable to academic works.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the books exrayed the historic development of film production in Nigeria, the future of the film industry and the role of the sector in Nigeria’s economic growth over years. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

PAGE 47

Say what?

Source: Reader's Digest

FACTS * A woman was chewing what was left of her chocolate bar when she entered a Metro station in Washington DC. She was arrested and handcuffed; eating is prohibited in Metro stations. * The New York City subway system, in an effort to raise revenue, is considering selling sponsorships of individual stations to corporations. Riders could soon be getting off at Nike Grand Central Station or Sony Times Square. * The Nike swoosh was designed by a Portland State University student, and purchased by Nike for $35. * Gerald Ford once worked as a cover model for Cosmopolitan magazine. * Gillette spent $1,000,000 to place razor samples in the welcome bags handed out at the Democratic National Convention, only to have them confiscated as they were considered a threat. This caused huge delays at all security checkpoints.

Source: Weird facts

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Quick CrossWord (55) ACROSS 7 Rural districts (6) 8 Extraterrestrials (6) 9 Deceitful (4) 10 Slipping by, as at time (8) 11 You’ve been sussed! (3,4,2,2) 14 Endings (11) 18 Rapid preliminary inspection (4-4) 19 At what time? (4) 20 Coiled like the thread of a screw (6) 21 Views (6)

DOWN 1 Arab chiefs (7) 2 Radiographer’s photograph (1-3) 3 Regard (6) 4 Country, formerly Nyasaland (6) 5 US state with the city St Louis (8) 6 Hole __, golfer’s dream (2,3) 12 Branch of mathematics concerned with points, lines and shapes (8) 13 Overruns (7) 15 Makes trifling objections (6) 16 Public disorder (6) 17 Ginger __, biscuits (5) 19 Movements of a dig’s tail (4)

Yesterday’s answer

A man sleeps in early morning among his cattle at a livestock market ahead of the Eid al-Adha festival in Mumbai.

Source: Reuters.com

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

FIFA bans three players for life

T

wo of Guatemala's most celebrated players have been banned from world football for life by FIFA for helping fix international friendlies and a Concacaf Champions League match.

Guillermo Ramirez and Gustavo Cabrera both played 100 times for Guatemala, including in 2014 World Cup qualifiers, and had captained the team.

FIFA said yesterday that Ramirez, Cabrera and a third national team player, Yoni Flores, are "banned from taking part in any kind of footballrelated activity, for life."

The players were involved in fixing Guatemala's 2-0 home defeat against Venezuela in June 2011 and a 3-2 loss in Costa Rica in May 2012.

FIFA said the charges also included a Concacaf Champions League groupstage match between Guatemalan club CSD Municipal and Santos Laguna of Mexico on October 19, 2010.

Santos won 6-1.

FIFA has extended the bans globally after they were imposed nationally last month by the Guatemala Football Association.

Ramirez is a 34-year-old midfielder, Cabrera is a 32year-old defender and Flores is a 29-year-old defender. FIFA did not detail how the players were involved in fixing matches.

Earlier in the investigation, FIFA also studied a fourth suspicious match Guatemala's 5-0 defeat against 2010 World Cup host South Africa in a friendly played in Polokwane two weeks before the tournament kicked off.

That match was refereed by Niger official Ibrahim Chaibou who has been linked with several match-fixing probes in which goals were scored from penalties for dubious handball offenses. FIFA investigators have been unable to meet Chaibou for questioning.

UEFA C/L results Zenit 1 vs Anderlecht 0 D Zagreb vs PSG FC Porto vs Dynamo Kiev Arsenal vs Schalke 04 Montpellier vs Olympiakos Málaga vs Milan Ajax vs Man City Dortmund vs Real Madrid

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE The task of philosophers is to get away from this illusion that they would save Nigeria because they would not.

– Prof. Oladipo Fashina, philosophy lecturer at University of Abuja

Sanusi’s irrational choice A

recent article by Dr Aliyu Tilde, a prominent political commentator, provides a stark illustration of the irrational relevance that traditional institutions in Northern Nigeria continue to have in the lives of even its educated people. In “The Contribution of Muslim Leaders to Insecurity in Nigeria,” Tilde complains about the ineffectiveness of Muslim leaders towards addressing perceived injustice against Muslims in Nigeria. He levels accusation of insensitivity at one set of ranking traditional rulers contrasting it with the sympathetic understanding of a middling trio of others. The latter set of Emirs are praised for their willingness to channel grievances to Government Houses and the Presidency even though Tilde admits that they have no real influence upon the residents of those addresses. In other words, Tilde condemns the failure to accept and deliver a message but sees merit in the acceptance and delivery of a message which will not be read. It is laughable for there is no real value in giving anyone false hopes.

Tilde’s article which speaks to the frustrations of ordinary people in their dealings with their leaders is oblivious to elected representatives in local and state governments as well as the National Assembly. It dwells in the region of the undeliverable. However, Tilde is not alone in his inability to see that the people can demand directly from the Governor over whom they have control what they seek from him through the Emir over whom they have none. It is a blindfold that covers a multitude. It should be useful to examine it and to remove it.

The CBN Governor and newly turbaned Danmaje of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, does not want us to do so. He wants to keep the people blinded by tradition. To liberate them from the clutches of misplaced reliance on traditional chiefdoms, we must expose and defeat ideas like Sanusi’s.

Most recently, Sanusi reminded us that his acceptance of a traditional title represents his choice of “the love and unity of Kano people” over “political ambition at federal or state level,” and that he is not at all interested in the elected office of President of Nigeria under a political party platform as some have speculated.

The traditional institution, he says, “belongs to all Kano people and joining one party alienates supporters of another.”

Sanusi would have us believe that the purple institution in Kano somehow stands royally above lowly politics to serve the interests of all Kano people. It is moonshine. Who but a man in the grip of a romantic obsession with antiquated tradition will speak of the exclusive preserve

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GUEST COLUMNIST Shehu Dikko (shehuspen+paper@gmail.com)

Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi of the male members of his family in preference to republican state government on the ground of people ownership? Who but a man in a trance, purblind to the fact that the Kano Emirate effectively died in 1903 will have you believe that “the love and unity of Kano people” is better advanced via the vacuous titles of Danmaje or Emir than those of Senator or Governor?

It is a bind but it serves Sanusi’s narrow personal interest. Bear in mind that many reviewers of his official pronouncements have seen in Sanusi a potentially great president for Nigeria; don’t forget that he concedes his choice to be irrational. Then think about why Sultan Bello approved as Emir of Kano, Dabo dan Mamuda, the descendant of no-one from whom Sanusi is proud to trace his descent.

Wasn’t he appointed to build, to do good work, because he was seen to have merit and capacity?

But the systems set up by Bello and his lieutenants like Dabo have long been overthrown, and rightly so. What remains of them is a caricature - all turbans and no swords. The Emir of Kano is now little more than just a title; by next year the present occupant will have spent 50 years as emir; what defines that long reign? What defines the similarly long reigns of Sultan Abubakar III, Lamido Aliyu Mustafa in Yola or Emirs Abdurrahman in Daura and Abdulkadir in Ilorin?

Now contrast George Washington or Abraham Lincoln and the lasting impact of a handful of years of republican nation-building.

Sanusi says he grew up in the palace. It is a place of grandeur, pomp and ceremony. Perhaps that rather than tenure is the attraction especially when we judge by the numberless occasions on which he has been seen to strut around in traditional palace regalia. All that predates Fulani rule, even the turbans borrowed from Arabia. The paraphernalia were created by pagan Hausa women, mostly. A republican office can also borrow and be made similarly awe inspiring.

Can one suspect eccentricity?

That Sanusi sees the position of Emir as some glorified pulpit from which to speak, and, despite his talk of lessons learned, to do so in such a characteristically controversial manner as to follow in the footsteps of the man who he has a tendency to rank above all other Emirs of Kano, his late deposed and exiled grandfather Muhammadu Sanusi, destination Azare, forgotten for decades until some popularity seeking politician remembers that plain Mr Sanusi once spoke out courageously in defence of a poor woman threatened with stoning for adultery, takes pity upon him, and relocates him to Wudil to rekindle his love and unity of Kano people.

But suppose Sanusi has no interest in going the way of his grandfather, what beckons?

Ordinary people, the poorest of the poor, take their complaints to the Sultan of Sokoto in face-to-face meetings every day, expecting him to have answers and solutions. That is explained by the fact that the one remaining good feature of the traditional institution is the accessibility of leaders. It is why Dr Tilde can place a direct call to Sultan Saad and feel entitled to grumble when the Sultan fails to return his call. Accessibility ensures that the Sultan stays very much in touch with the realities of daily living. It is odds on that were you to ask him or the Emir of Kano the current market price of a bag of maize, he would tell you what it is. The chances that President Goodluck Jonathan or Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso can do the same are close to zero.

Despite his knowledge of problems, the Sultan or Emir usually has no solutions or authority to implement them. In an interview Sultan Saad gave to Presidential spokesman Reuben Abati a few years ago, this fact came out quite

clearly. Yet given that many of these problems often have to do with the Naira and the incessant weight of expectations, the Sultan or Emir is forced to try to do something beyond what the small local budget is able to provide. Thus it is that the Emir sells that large farmland oppressively acquired by his great grandfather and thus it is that the Emir or one of his trusted subordinate officials gets to be seen in the company of this minister or that permanent secretary or on the board of that pharmaceutical or construction company. In short, he is forced to sell his honour. He becomes agreeable to any and every government policy or action; that earns him the contempt and derision of the very people who have led him to such behaviour but who nevertheless continue to demand, irrationally, that he speak out.

Dim is the terminus.

What then can Sanusi hope to accomplish as a grovelling Emir that many others in the vapid last one hundred years have failed to do?

What is the attraction in power without responsibility, said to be the prerogative of the harlot through the ages? Dabo was a man committed to expanding the frontiers of his influence in true Fulani tradition.

Were he alive today and asked to express a preference, he would opt for the rational and choose to be President of Nigeria - not a chief in one of its minor subdivisions long rendered impotent - for that is where real power lies; it is where he can best build and do good work for the love and unity of Nigerian, nay African people.

Neither Emir nor President is a position guaranteed to be Sanusi’s.

One requires quietly doing whatever it takes to get into and remain in the good books of the handful of geriatric men who will sit to make a recommendation for the approval of one elected official who must be pleased with you on an unforeseeable date; the other requires openly working to win the popular approval of millions of men and women, young and old on fixed dates in 2015, 2019, 2023.

Whether Sanusi rethinks his choice or not is up to him. But who would any longer take seriously the man who quotes Voltaire and Tom Paine with approval if, upon push coming to shove, he opts for the emir’s palace rather than the presidential villa. The irrational choice is not the enlightened choice.

It should be a waste and a mark of commitment to oppression to choose it. It behoves us to strive to rule it out completely by getting rid of the blindfolds upon the eyes of the Dr Tildes and the ordinary people of the North. And yes, we must demand that our elected representatives and governors be accessible too.

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