Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday, August 28, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 12

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Shawwal 10, 1433 AH

N150

Nigeria not ripe for state police, says Jonathan Says Govs will abuse it Vows to shock his critics by 2013

By Richard Ihediwa and Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, with agency report

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has said the nation is not ripe for state police, noting that it can easily be abused by state governors.

Jonathan, who stated this at the opening of the 52nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja yesterday also dismissed his critics, asserting that he was not a miracle worker who will solve all the nation's problems with a wave of the hand but vowed to shock his critics by 2013 when the dividends of his policies would have started manifesting.

The clamour for state police had recently split the polity with the northern state governors rejecting it while some of their colleagues from the south had supported it with the backing of some prominent Nigerians including former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX

27th Aug, 2012

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.8 245.6 194 0.2748 41

SELLING 155.8 247 195 0.2948 41.5

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 201 257 40 159

SELLING 203 259 42 161

Kano police dismiss triggerhappy cop >> PAGE 3

R-L: Outgoing President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, and representative of Senate Prsident, Senator Victor NdomaEgba, during the opening of NBA’s 52nd Annual General Conference, yesterday in Abuja.

PHOTO: JOE OROYE

Senate stops N5000 note

By Richard Ihediwa

T

he Senate has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to forthwith, suspend the proposed introduction of the N5000 note saying doing so could be dangerous to the economy.

Chairman, Senate Committee

on Banking and Currency and Financial Institutions, Senator Bassey Otu, who made the position of the Senate known at a news conference yesterday said it was the view of the Senate that it was wrong for the bank and the executive branch to unilaterally embark on such major currency restructuring without recourse to

the National Assembly and other critical stakeholders.

The upper house said that the planned restructuring; especially the introduction of new N5000 notes is capable of sending negative signals about the value of the naira and the economy especially as many interest groups and professional bodies have

already condemned it.

Already, a letter containing the resolution of the Senate (suspension order) has been prepared and is expected to be transmitted to the CBN governor today. The letter directed that the CBN should stop all action on the planned restructuring until the Contd on Page 2

Mother of 4 commits suicide

Okene prisons at risk - Investigation

External reserves rise to $37.8bn

>> PAGE 5

>> PAGE 7

>> PAGE 19

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

CONTENTS News Editorial

2-11 12

Jonathan, Boni Yayi discuss terrorism, regional stability

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-20

Agric

27-28

Newsxtra

29-30

Mua’zu was much better than Yuguda, says former Dep. Governor, Page 37

International 32-34 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday at the State House, Abuja, held a meeting with President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic who paid him a courtesy visit.

Terrorism in Nigeria, peace and stability in West Africa and bilateral cum economic ties

between the countries topped the agenda of the one-hour meeting.

Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting through an interpreter, Boni Yayi said he had congratulated his Nigerian counterpart on the massive efforts being put in place to battle terrorism in the country.

"He congratulated President Jonathan for the effort he is

making within ECOWAS countries to secure our sub-region and together they talked about the situation in Guinea Bissau, Mali and other countries and they commended all the efforts of their colleagues in these countries.

So, they have shared the same vision regarding the topical issue of the time – peace, stability and good governance. And they also talked about international governance in the world…

“The issue of the Badagry-Seme road has been discussed because

that road is now in bad condition and it needs rehabilitation.

“The two Heads of State have agreed on the rehabilitation of that road because the free movement of persons is very essential.

“Just like France and Germany used to do, President Yayi proposed to President Jonathan who agreed that the Cabinet from Benin Republic and the Cabinet of Nigeria should meet here for Joint Cabinet meeting whereby they will also take stock of the priorities in the two countries”.

Nigeria not ripe for state police, says Jonathan Contd from Page 1 Babangida as well as organsations such as the NBA. Noting that a police formation under the complete control of the state could be abused by the state executives, Jonathan said the police became worse for it with the introduction of the policy of deploying men from the rank of Inspector downward to their states of origin.

Reacting to criticisms that his administration was not delivering on its mandate, the President said he will surprise his critics by 2013 saying by then, his policies would have started bearing fruit.

He said: “I think I am the most criticised president in the whole world, but I tell this noble audience that before I leave, I will also be the most praised president. I have experienced that before in my governor journey in Bayelsa state. In fact, people who were close to me will tell you that even after the election, I told them that in my first 12 months please cover your ears because you will hear all kinds of things. But as we progress, you will see (changes).

“We are working very hard to stabilise power. We are working very hard to resurface our roads.

We have security challenges, which we are also working very hard to bring to reasonable control.

It is not easy; we don't have the magic wand, except the miracle worker that with the wave of the hand, probably will help to throw all these challenges away and prosperity will appear. But in pure governance issues, it takes time.”

He said he was the most criticised President in the world at the moment because his critics failed to understand that the country'’s current challenges predated his administration.

“Sometimes, even people who have held offices in government criticise me to the extent of personal abuses. Sometimes I ask, were there roads across in the country and Jonathan brought flood to wipe out these roads? Or we had power and I brought hurricane to break down the entire infrastructure?

“If they say Boko Haram is because of poverty; were there massive irrigation projects in the North where agriculture can thrive and massive farms and Jonathan brought drought to wipe out these farms? Well, time will tell. What I can tell Nigerians is that let those who criticize continue to criticise. We will do our best and as we progress, Nigerians will know the truth and we'll see that we are committed and will surely transform this country,” he said.

Jonathan insisted that his administration had initiated polices that would ensure the political, social and economic transformation of the country and reminded his critics that he delivered on his promise to deliver free, fair and credible elections before the conduct of the 2011 general elections.

He argued that the assessment of the polls by local and international observers was a testimony that he kept his promise. He also recalled that his administration had proposed a new Anti-terrorism Bill 2012 to address the current security challenges in the country.

Jonathan said his administration considered the NBA as a partner in progress and commended the association for choosing a topical theme for the conference.

He said the theme of the conference; “Nigeria as an Emerging Market: Redefining our Laws and Politics for Growth”, was in line with the public-privatepartnership-oriented policy of his administration.

He urged the association to review its rules of engagement, which he said, barred its officers from directly getting involved in day-to-day governance either in an advisory or participatory

capacity.

The President disclosed that he had appointed the outgoing President of the NBA, Joseph Daudu (SAN), as Honorary Legal Adviser, but he (Daudu) declined the offer based on the rules of engagement of the association. He said he was still willing to appoint the incoming President of the association to the position if the rule could be reviewed.

Earlier, Daudu had advocated state policing and called for the devolution of the power of the office of the President for the country to achieve peace, security and economic progress.

He contended that the office of the President of Nigeria was the most powerful when compared to other countries of the world practicing the same system of government.

Guest speaker at the conference, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Kukah, agreed with former CBN Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, that Nigeria was an economic miracle waiting to happen. He however said for the national miracle to happen, the political class needed to be creative by initiating programmes that would win the trust and commitment of the followership.

Senate stops N5000 note Contd from Page 1 National Assembly is convinced on the merits of the new policy.

Stating that the Senate was not against the independence of the CBN to handle monetary policy, Otu said the CBN should not have unilaterally embarked on the project adding that it was wrong for the bank, which spent huge sums on similar policy in 2005 to start contemplating another restructuring of naira at this time.

Stating that the Senate was not against the independence of the CBN and its powers to manage the currency, Otu said the upper house wants to ensure that necessary checks were taken care of especially as there are already fears that the introduction of the new high currency may be harmful to the economy.

He said: “Senate is not really against the independence of the

CBN, but what we want in place is proper check and that there should be checks and balances in all these things that we do. So, I believe that at some points we will be able to sit down together and look at the merits and demerits, but till date we do not know anything about it and we do not know what the people stand to gain and until that is properly put through, we say everything about it must stop. We are sending a letter to them to stop all further actions on this until the Senate is properly briefed “I believe that a project of this nature requires parliamentary approval because there are numerous and fiscal implications on the entire economy. This type of action is only taken where there is a major crisis and the CBN must be very careful in order not to send a wrong signal or message to

households, domestic sector and even the external ones that the Nigerian currency is valueless, which I believe it is definitely not, and that for every unit of value they need to carry a large quantity of cash.

“The CBN in 2008 and 2009 came up with a proposal to redenominate the currency, that was even to take off the zeroes. This was just 2008 and 2009 and here we are in 2012, we are seeing a kind of policy somersault even though we understand the dynamics of the sector very well. I believe that we have to be well briefed on this. Also in 2005, the CBN undertook a major currency restructuring which ran into billions.”

Otu also expressed reservations about the conversion of some notes to coins saying it will be counter-productive and

subtract from the street values of the denominations. He said the coins will eventually be used as raw materials by smiths and advised that it should be introduced after certain checks would have been put in place.

“Till date, a proper value has not been done to know its costs to the Nigerian taxpayers and the extent of the benefits. The 2005 coinage did not work at all because both the goldsmiths and the blacksmiths converted the coins to moulding bangles, earrings and so on.

“So, we believe that the coinage works very well where there is infrastructure to take it like a half, probably like a parking where you go and put it and so on We have not developed that real basic infrastructure and those coins most of them are nowhere really to be found”, he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 3

929 still awaiting trial in broken Edo prisons From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

he Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) in Edo state has disclosed that a total of 929 inmates are awaiting trial at the ill-fated Oko Prisons.

State Controller, Mr. Jimoh Ewulo, disclosed this yesterday during an interaction with newsmen. He said 984 inmates were held at the time the bandits struck. Of the figure, 55 have been convicted, while others were awaiting trial with none on the death row.

Gunmen numbering over 20 had attacked the prisons on August 19, 2012 during which eight inmates were freed, sending jitters down the spines of residents at the neighbourhood.

L-R: FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martin Uhomoibhi, and Resident Coordinator, UN System in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, during UN System in Nigeria meeting with the Federal Government, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Boko Haram: Don’t wait for FG, ex-minister tells north From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

F

ormer Minister of Industries, Air ViceMarshall Mahammodu Yahaya, says the north may have to wait till eternity if the area relies on the Federal Government to resolve security challenges arising from the activities of Boko Haram.

“If we are waiting for the Federal Government to solve this problem, it is not going to be solved as northerners must solve the problem themselves, Yahaya told reporters in Kaduna last weekend as part of activities to mark his 70th birthday anniversary.

He accused governments at all levels of not taking proactive measures in handling matters and noted that the key to solving all problems confronting Nigeria is at the National Policy for Strategic Studies (NIPPS), located at Kuru, near Jos. According to Yahaya, “what are the northern leaders doing?

Boko Haram did not start in one day. It started from something but we ignored it.

“The nucleus of Boko Haram is supposed to be from Borno. What role did the governors there play…?”

Adamawa furious at Cameroon over flood disaster

Kano police dismisses W trigger-happy cop

From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

T

he Kano state Police Command has dismissed a police sergeant, Laminu Adamu attached to Gwale Division for killing a teenager identified as Hassan Muhammad.

Speaking on the outcome of the orderly room trial of the officer yesterday in Kano, the

deputy spokesperson of the command, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, said the officer was found guilty and has been dismissed from the force.

It would be recalled that the dismissed officer had opened fire on the 11-year-old Muhammad in Gwale area close to the police station shooting the victim on the head. The boy eventually died on

his way to the hospital.

Majia revealed that after his dismissal he has been charged to Court 25 in Nomansland, Kano, for culpable homicide.

The police image-maker added that the Commissioner of Police charged the officers and men of the command to always be civil and professional in discharging their duties.

Corruption: Buhari slams Jonathan, Obasanjo, IBB From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

F

ormer Head of State and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday alleged that corruption in the petroleum subsector of the economy started during the regime of former military President, Ibrahim Babangida and that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had equally perpetuated it, reaching its crescendo at the inception of the present regime of President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to Buhari, serial corruption at the highest level of

leadership in the country is responsible for the current state of insecurity in Nigeria.

Buhari spoke when he received members of CPC, led by a member of the House of Representatives from Funtua/Dandume Federal Constituency of Katsina state, Dr. Mansur Abdulkadir, on a courtesy visit.

He explained that these leaders decided to toe the line of corruption because they had the mind of cheating the masses.

For the nation to move forward and attain its potentials for sustainable development, Buhari insisted that “the people must come out with trusted leaders to steer the

affairs of the nation,” adding that, “there is no country in the whole world where impunity thrives like in Nigeria.

“The biggest challenge of Nigeria is for adequate security to be in place and ways in which we can protect the riches of this country and provide job opportunities for the youth in the country so that we can build more industries as it was before…

“All leaders should stand and keep promises made to the people. We cannot move forward if things that are supposed to be put in place are not done…” he said.

hile residents of communities affected by flood in Adamawa state continue to count their losses, the state government insists that the Republic of Cameroun must be made to compensate the state over losses suffered.

Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr. Kobis Ari Thimnu, made the declaration yesterday after a meeting with local government Heads of service who presented reports on the extent of damage of the flood in their respective locations.

Preliminary reports had indicated that 30 villages were washed away but emerging reports indicates that about 125 communities were affected with a lot of residents still missing.

Mr. Thimnu recounted that the trend has become a yearly affair but said this year's volume was unprecedented and blamed the disaster on the authorities of Cameroun whom, he said, released water into the Benue at short notice.

"The unfortunate aspect is we were only informed on Friday that they would release the water on Saturday so there was no time for us to warn our people to move to higher lands; so they took us unawares", he lamented.

$15m Ibori bribe: Parties to slug it out in court tomorrow

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

H

earing in the ownership of $15 million (N2.4 billion) suit filed by the Federal Government before a Federal High Court in Abuja is billed for tomorrow.

At the center of the ownership battle for the money are the Federal Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

(EFCC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on one side; and the Delta state government on the other.

The money alleged to have been offered as bribe by former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori to former chairman of the EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu to compromise the fraud allegation preferred against Ibori, is being claimed

and counter claimed by the Federal Government and Delta state.

While the Federal Government is laying claim to the money kept in CBN custody since 2007 on the ground that Ibori denied ownership of the money, Delta state is however asking the court to declare it the bonafide owner of the money, having been allegedly offered by the former

governor while in office.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the Federal Government, EFCC and CBN which jointly instituted the ownership suit did not appear in court on the grounds that they were not served with hearing notice.

Delta state government, represented by the state’s Attorney-General and

Commissioner for Justice, Chief Charles Ajuya, applied for an adjournment to enable fresh hearing notice to be served on the applicants in the suit.

Consequently, the trial Judge, Justice Gladys Olotu sitting as vacation judge, adjourned the matter till tomorrow and ordered that parties in the matter be served with a hearing notice.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

THE PAGE 4 REPORT Implications of N5,000 note on nation’s economy The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s plan to introduce a higher currency denomination of N5, 000 note has sparked heated debate from different sectors, particularly on the implication for the nation's economy with financial experts warning that the move would do more harm than good to the economy, Aminu Imam reports

T

he CBN is set to unveil a bank note five times more valuable than its current largest denomination bill as part of a major overhaul to its currency.

The planned introduction of the N5, 000 note, slated for early next year, would take place less than a decade after the country introduced a 1,000 naira note, and will be the fifth time in 13 years that new denomination notes are introduced in the country.

In announcing the new denomination, Central Bank Gov. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said the new 5,000 naira bill, as well as changing notes from 20 naira down into coins, would help the country's economy by providing a "befitting currency structure".

The proposal, according to some experts, does have logistical upsides. Large purchases in Nigeria often involve bricks of 1,000 naira ($6.25) notes carried around in black plastic bags. Banks throughout the country must have "bulk counting rooms," where tellers wearing surgical masks run piles of bills through counting machines. Bank ATMs also can quickly run out of cash over weekends.

However, some worry that the new note will invariably accelerate the disappearance of low denomination notes and coins and engender an inflationary push.

Sanusi himself noted the higher-value notes would mean there's less currency in circulation throughout the country.

In remarks, Sanusi said that "inflation in Nigeria is a monetary phenomenon," while pointing to the nations of Germany, Japan and Singapore as nations with large denomination notes and low inflation rates.

However, analysts have argued that those nations have manufacturing bases unrivaled

by Nigeria, which, not only has a weak industrial sector, but remains almost entirely dependent on crude oil exports for government spending.

But changing smaller denominations to coins represents a risk as well, which the CBN Governor acknowledged by admitting that "public apathy" greeted coins already in circulation. By making N20 a coin, there will be pressure among those in Nigeria's informal economy to raise prices to avoid accepting the coins. That could mean rising prices on everything from tomatoes in the local market to rides on taxis and motorcycle taxis.

Also, the effect the new currency regime could have on those buying goods in the many

CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi local markets, in a nation where most earn less than $1 a day, could be a tremendous pinch on pockets.

Higher denominations, if introduced, would make it easier to move large quantities of cash, prompting financial analysts to assert that the proposed N5,000 note will be inconsistent with monetary policy positions being championed by the CBN over the past two years and, in particular, this year.

They have expressed the

worry that the move would not only further speed the devaluation of its currency and hurt the nation's poorest, but would do more harm than good to the Nigerian economy.

Though he did not disclose the cost implication of the new higher note and the re-designing of the old ones, Sanusi said the bill would complement the bank’s cashless policy as it would substantially reduce the volume of currency in circulation, particularly in the long term.

“

...large denomination will aid the perpetration of fraudulent financial activities and counterfeiting. It will also facilitate corruption in government business.

But financial critics have suggested that it would be a contradiction to the CBN policy to migrate to a cashless economy.

The Chief Executive Officer of Financial Derivatives, Mr. Bismarck Rewane, an economist, said that there was no need for high denomination notes with the cash-less policy, even as he conceded that it would not negate the cash-less policy.

“The fact is that the plan was conceptualised about four years ago before the introduction of the cash-less policy. Now, with the cash-less policy, we don’t need the high denomination notes as everybody is going cash-less,” he said.

Professor of economics and former Director-General, Nigeria Institute of Economic and Social Research, Ibadan, Mike Obadan, is also against the proposal. According to him, the proposal “is totally unnecessary because the conditions that could necessitate the introduction of large denominations of the Naira, such as hyper inflation, are not in operation. The government has consistently given official inflation figures in the lower double digit range, suggesting a non-hyper inflation.”

Former President of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu also believes “there is no basis for the plan by the CBN to introduce the N5,000 denomination particularly with the on-going cash-less policy."

H e pointed out that "the aim of the cash-less policy is to fight corruption and money laundering and also reduce the high cash movement. The introduction of higher denomination would only be encouraging the very things that the cash-less policy is fighting against”.

Unegbu however, agrees that there is no relationship between high denomination and high inflation.

"I don't support the argument that it would fuel inflation. This is because there is no study anywhere that has shown that higher denominations increase inflation.

“The only problem is the nature of our economy which is characterised by low productivity, low manufacturing processes, high interest rate regime and so on. If the economy was strong there would be no reason to worry about higher denomination fuelling inflation.

“Look at a country like Japan for instance, they have the 10,000 Yen as a single denomination, yet it is not causing inflation. This could be

due to the strong economy. That does not mean that we need higher denominations right now. What I think the CBN should be considering is revaluing the currency or redenomination like they did in Ghana”, Unegbu said.

Also, a chartered accountant and managing director of the Kaduna-based NetCorp Consulting, Mr. Leke Fakayode believes that the introduction of the N5, 000 note will lead to the coinage of N100, which “going by the Nigerian experience, is next to being consigned to oblivion” and warns that Nigerians should be guided by the history of our experience in minting higher denominations of the Naira.

“Printing higher denomination devalues the currency and is an indirect acknowledgment that our currency is not doing well in the foreign exchange market,” Fakayode said.

“There are many other implications of printing higher denominations of the Naira, First, it will render the talk about a cashless society a farce and a matter of lip service only.

“Second, large denomination will aid the perpetration of fraudulent financial activities and counterfeiting. Third, it will also facilitate corruption in government business. Fourth, the conversion of 50 and 100 Naira notes into coins may promote inflation in the economy as the public’s aversion to high denomination coins may drive prices of small items of goods and services up”, he stated.

He also believes it is inconsistent with the current CBN’s “cashless” economy. “The talk about large Naira bill is inconsistent with the cashless society policy of the CBN. Cashless society policy implies less use of cash for transactions while preference is for electronic means of payment and transfers.

“The government cannot be de-emphasising the use of cash with one hand and promoting the opposite with another. This is what a larger denomination of Naira bill would entail,” he said.

According to him, “the expenditure for notes design and its printing is adequate seed capital for a number of small and medium business schemes.

The N5, 000 currency note is not a priority item for economic management at this time”.

He advised the CBN not to countenance the introduction of any higher denomination of the Naira or embark on another major reform at the moment in order to avoid the problem of one reform too many without consideration for the absorptive capacity of the economy.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Flood: 5 dead, 200 farmlands, 820 houses destroyed in Katsina From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

T

ragedy struck in Katsina, weekend as a flood disaster killed five persons and destroyed 200 farmlands and 830 houses in Katsina.

Confirming the incident to Peoples Daily, the Director, Katsina State Relief Emergency and Rehabilitation Agency, (RERA) Alhaji Suleiman Hassan Rawayau, disclosed that three persons died in Runka village, one in a village in Kurfi and two in Mai'adua.

He further disclosed that an ice rain in Kofa and Tubanni villages in Kusada local government destroyed 200 farmlands of various crops in the affected areas.

Rawayau noted that of the destroyed homes, 720 were in Mai'adua, 70 in Illela village while 30 were in Runka.

According to him, the state Emergency Response Committee, had gone round to assess the situation with a view to assisting the victims.

Also speaking, the NEMA's North-West head of training, Aliyu Shehu Kafin-Dangi noted that the situation had been assessed and reported to the government.

Stop execution of Nigerians in Gambia, SERAP urges FG From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

S

ocio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), yesterday, called on President Goodluck to prevail on the Gambian authorities not to execute two Nigerian and over 30 Gambians on death row in Gambia.

The call followed reports by Amnesty International that at least nine of the 47 death row prisoners have already been secretly executed.

President Yahya Jammeh had vowed to kill all 47 death row inmates by next month, in a national speech to mark the Muslim festival of Eid. According to Amnesty International, more persons are under threat of imminent execution in the coming days.

SERAP in a statement signed by its executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, observed that: "Under section 81(4) of the Gambian Constitution, the Gambian parliament must adopt a memorandum of execution before any execution can take place" and that "no such memorandum has so far been adopted" with some cases still being appealed.

"The only way now to stop the imminent execution of the two Nigerians and the Gambians is for President Jonathan to publicly ask the Gambian authorities to abide by their international legal obligations and halt any unlawful secret executions", SERAP stated.

PAGE 5

Mother of four commits suicide in Ibadan From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

A

widow and mother of four, Madam Juliana Oluwafemi, was yesterday found dead as her lifeless body hung on a tree around Odo-Ona bridge at Odo-Ona area of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

It was wailing and crying as

family, friends and co-tenants of the deceased wondered what could had been responsible for the action of the 55-year-old woman.

Peoples Daily gathered from deceased's friend (who pleaded anonymity) that her friend was not indebted to anybody but however said, "she called me last week Thursday that we need to see

and discuss and I told her that she is free to visit me either at home or shop at her leisure".

"I did not hear from her until Saturday when I learnt she was missing. Since then,we have been looking for her until we found her body here this morning. Like I said, she was not indebted to anybody, what happened to her is not

ordinary .Somebody somewhere must be responsible for her death ,and I know the person would definitely reap what he or she had sown in due course".

A tearful sister of the deceased, who also refused to mention her name, lamented that she saw her sister for last time on Wednesday last week.

L-R: Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi, Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, during the duo's visit to the Emir of Dutse, yesterday in Dutse, Jigawa state.

Photo: NAN From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

P

rominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, has urged the state governments particularly the Muslim-dominated states in the North to continue aiding the needy during the Ramadan fast.

In a post-Ramadan chat with journalists in Bauchi From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

F

ormer 's Foreign Affairs minister, Prof.

Bolaji Akinyemi, has openly criticised his former boss, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida on his support for the ownership of police by state governments.

Babangida was quoted recently as saying, "I don't think the incumbent governors could use the state

Dahiru Bauchi applauds states for aiding needy during Ramadan recently, he said most of the state governments in the North, assisted the Muslims faithful especially the needy in the provision of foodstuff and fruits for fast breaking during the

Ramadan period.

"I want to commend governments in the country for feeding people during this Ramadan period, they have done what is expected of them, I will

commend them for the sympathy they have shown to the needy by providing them with food in this blessed month of Ramadan especially during the breaking of fast", he said.

police to intimidate anybody, honestly the fear is unfounded. Left to me, the whole essence of governance is to provide security for the people and in whatever way this is achieved is acceptable".

Reacting to the former president's comment

yesterday at a lecture he presented to mark the 21 years anniversary of the creation of Jigawa state, Akinyemi argued that the country ought to have learnt lessons from the past when, "during the First Republic, the Native Authority police was used to suppress and oppress opposition leaders, their

rallies broken up and hauled into prisons and some were murdered".

He said, that the present day political leaders, especially at the state level have a high rate of intolerance "that have led to many elitist refugees in Abuja and Lagos having been driven away by their governors".

IBB, Akinyemi differ on state police

PDP to blacklist non-performing officials

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday declared that the 2015 ambition of its serving officials would be anchored on their current performance, warning that poor performing officials would be blacklisted.

This is coming as the party prepares to celebrate its 14th year anniversary on Friday.

The PDP which made the declaration in a statement through its national

‌celebrates 14th anniversary publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said such was in line with the dominant operative principle and preoccupation of the leadership of the party under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

According to the party, "the onus of lifting higher, the flag of the party rests squarely on the party's elected and appointed officials at the three tiers of government; the PDP is

determined more than ever to make party members in positions of authority conform to an irreducible performance minimum."

"Recall that upon our election in March this year, our national chairman in his acceptance speech promised that the opportunity given to us to serve was a historic chance to give a new direction to the leadership of the nation as a ruling party.

Despite commendable levels of achievements, we must concede that a lot still needs to be done. Nigerians are asking their leaders to make personal sacrifices and self denials and the PDP now demands it. Our focus on the performance chart of our members in government is a crucial pedestal to achieving our pact with the people whose mandate we have‌" the party asserted.

PAGE 6

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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frontline political activist in the country, Olawale Okunniyi has cautioned the Federal Government not to waste time and resources on its intended dialogue with the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

Okunniyi, the spokesperson of the Pro National Conference Organisation (PRONACO) made this assertion yesterday in Lagos while reacting to a statement credited to Abul Qaqa, Boko Haram's spokesperson in the press

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

FG, Boko Haram dialogue is futile, says PRONACO denying the latest reports of dialogue with the government.

Qaga had been quoted as saying inter alia: "We are calling on the government to know that once it is not Sharia law that will be adopted in Nigeria, and Quran as book of laws in Nigeria in setting aside

Govs' wives urged to develop grassroots with pet projects

By Maryam Garba Hassan

T

o guarantee the overall development of the country and ensure the success of the Transformation Agenda as well as achieve the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), wives of state governors have been charged to use the platform of their pet-projects to champion sustainable development initiatives in their respective states with emphasis on the grassroots.

A statement signed by the Assistant Director Press at the Ministry of Women Affairs And Social Development, Saghir el Mohammed, said the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, gave the charge in Abuja yesterday, when the wife of the Kogi state governor, Hajiya Halima Ladi Wada, paid her a working visit.

According to the statement, the minister said for any meaningful development to be effective and thorough,

government must develop the rural areas and empower the rural women whom she described as "the backbone of the economy".

She emphasised the need for relevant government agencies to provide access roads into the rural areas for movement of goods and services that are necessary to sustain development initiatives and projects.

The minister further urged wives of state governors to establish skills acquisition centres in their respective states and local governments to train women in various economic ventures, healthcare and political empowerment.

Earlier, Hajiya Halima Wada told the minister that the Kogi state government is gender sensitive having appointed nine women into the state cabinet, consisting of three commissioners and six special advisers.

Constitution that is mainly infidel's product, then the government should not dream about peace in Nigeria. There is no single day that Mujahideens will stop fighting in Nigeria until that is achieved and we are hopeful to triumph over Nigerian government".

Okunniyi noted that with the demand put forward by the Boko Haram sect, which according to him is purely based on faith and ideology; revealing the sect's belief that the Nigerian government is run by

infidels, the Jonathan government needs no soothsayer to know that any official interface and negotiation with Boko Haram is futile.

He doubted if the sect will have the trust and believe in any negotiations not involving other aggrieved groups and regional interests in Nigeria on the political and constitutional restructuring of Nigeria leading to autonomous federations in the country.

The PRONACO scribe

however described Boko Haram's demands as bothering on self determination and political autonomy driven by Sharia laws and the Quran as against the frustrating and corrupt unitary structure imposed by the 1999 military constitution. "We welcome their unambiguous demand for self determination and political autonomy in the Northern region and think that is clearly legitimate, if their aspiration is in the majority in the North of Nigeria".

L-R: Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, and Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, during their visit to the emir, recently in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.

Police warns against harassment of citizens NCC supports Niger to compel GSM From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Nigeria Police Force has warned its officers and men against any form of harassment of journalists and innocent Nigerians.

The Assistant InspectorGeneral (AIG) in charge of the Zone 12 comprising Bauchi, Borno and Yobe states, Mr. Ibrahim Abdu, who gave the warning, said discipline is prime on his agenda.

While briefing newsmen, AIG Abdu stated that police brutality of innocent citizens had given the force a bad reputation among Nigerians, saying that there was the need for the police and the community to work together.

"Only when the community and the police can truly work together for their common good will citizens feel that they can trust the police," Abdu stated, adding that it was in view of this that, "police community relations committee will be restored in the zone with the aim of bettering the public image of the police as well as perpetuate its growth".

According to him, there is need for community policing, saying that it was bore out of the fact that the people had negative impression about the police as a brutal force, submitting that it would enable the force to partner with the people with a view to building confidence in them to see the police as their friends.

He stated that this became imperative now that the country was facing security challenges, adding that community policing would be used effectively towards reestablishing the integrity of the police.

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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Lagos based lawyer, Obi K. Mbamalu, yesterday, commended the recent withdrawal of some charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against Pinnacle Oil and Gas and others who were alleged to have been indicted in the oil subsidy scam.

According to a statement signed

by Mbamalu yesterday, recent happenings with regards to the oil

providers to obey land regulations From Iliya Garba, Minna

N

igerian Communication Commission has thrown its weight behind the Niger state government in compelling GSM service providers to, without further delay, comply with its new land regulations in the state or close down.

The Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Dr. Peter Saleh Sarki, who presided over a joint meeting held at the NIGIS Conference Hall in Minna, the state capital,

expressed dismay over the nonchalant attitude of the service providers towards the new land regulations in the state.

He said in 2009, the ministry had commissioned a consultant to undertake a mass audit on the need for service providers to comply with the new regulations in the state, stressing that "we convened this meeting to among other things provide a lasting solution to some of the grey areas between the service providers and the state

government".

Sarki warned that telecom service providers operating within the state must comply with the notice earlier served them by the state government with no other option.

He then commended the NCC for its understanding and urged service providers to take the government serious as well as reminded them of their social responsibility to their host communities, adding that "we appreciate the efforts of NCC for its intervention towards finding an amicable solution".

Subsidy fraud: Lawyer commends EFCC over withdrawal of charges against some firms subsidy scam has allayed fears in some quarters that the dropping of the charges was a ploy by the antigraft agency to compromise the trial.

According to him, "from the affidavit filed by the EFCC, seeking the withdrawal of the charges, it was obvious that the agency acted in

good faith as it was honest enough to admit that the companies and individuals were charged to court in error".

Mbamalu stated further that the commission must be commended for doing the right thing by not wasting tax payers' money on a matter that it knew, abinitio, would not fly.

"EFCC must also be commended for moving past the era of prosecution by ambush and intimidation by ensuring that matters were properly investigated and the understanding that it would not do the commission any good to go on with matters that could not be won, even if the people at the time feel otherwise", he added.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 7

Okene Prisons at risk – Investigation From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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nless urgent measures at rebuilding the collapsed portion of the perimeter fence around the Okene Federal Prisons in Kogi state are taken, hoodlums may take advantage of the challenge to free inmates, against the backdrop of recent jailbreaks in the state, neighbouring Edo state and

other parts of the country.

An impeccable source who disclosed this to our correspondent in Okene, yesterday, alleged that the state government had been intimated over the situation for quite sometimes now but nothing has been done.

The source further added that it was the state commissioner of police’s quick

intervention that has so far averted security challenges near the prison as the place is located in an area close to the expressway where armed bandits operate at will.

Our reporter gathered that this situation had been like this for some time and that representations had allegedly been made to the Minister of Interior for attention but to no

avail; and that the lives of both workers and inmates were no longer safe.

A visit to the site confirmed that that a portion of the fence has been compromised and that zinc sheets and wood have been used to block the collapsed portion.

Attempts to speak with the Prison Public Relation Officer in Lokoja, met a brick wall as the

TETFund launches sponsored journals, allocates letters for 2nd phase

Members of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Abuja branch, during a road show on impact of sharp practices on the infrastructural development to mark 2012 engineering week, yesterday in Abuja.

By Maryam Garba Hassan

T

he Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) yesterday made the public presentation of the 52 sponsored Journals of Professionals Associations in Abuja and presentation of letters of allocation to 50 professional associations of the second phase.

In her address, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, said the launching of the journals was the fulfillment of the promise made by the Federal Government to assist Tetfund with N2 billion to boost the education sector and cut down the huge amount of money spent on foreign journals through scholarly publications and for Nigerian students to have fresh knowledge for national development.

The minister however gave the directive to Tetfund to distribute copies of the journals to all the higher institutions in the country including the nine newly established universities.

She commended Tetfund for the initiative, and appealed to other professional bodies whose associations are not in the second phase to exercise patienceto be patient as every professional association will benefit from the fund.

Earlier in his address, chairman of the book development fund committee, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, said the objective of the idea which as conceived by Tetfund in 2010, was to promote the production of journals by professional associations, enhance indigenous sponsorship and book production, revive reading culture in tertiary institutions in the country and reduce over dependence on foreign books.

According to him, all the 52 journals presented to the public are of local and international standard.

In his brief, the Executive Secretary of Tetfund, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, said the sponsorship of scholarly journals through the N5million given to each of the professionals associations by his organisation which is the first of its kind in Africa, and has been emulated by countries like Ghana, Tanzania, Mauritius and Sierra Leone who were in Nigeria in 2010 to study the Tetfund system of assisting tertiary institutions.

woman was said to have traveled out of town, on an official assignment, but an officer in the office who would not disclose her name told our reporter that several letters had been written to the state government without response.

It would be recalled that armed bandits had broken into the Koton-Karfe Prisons in the state earlier in the year.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

UNIBEN ASUU slates strike for Thursday From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

cademic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Benin chapter, yesterday, directed its members to abstain from work on Thursday 30th August 2012.

The move is in solidarity with the River State University of

Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, following the appointment of Prof. B. B Fakae as the acting vice chancellor of the university by the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

A statement by UNIBEN ASUU chairman, Dr. Anthony MonyeEmina, berated Governor Amaechi over his hasty decision in the

appointment of an acting vice chancellor.

It also accused the Prochancellor of the University, Justice Adolphus Karibi-White for allegedly conniving with the government by mobilising security agents and students to disrupt meetings of the union wherein some members of ASUU were reportedly attacked in

a brawl.

Dr. Monye-Emina vowed not to succumb to the hard-line posture of subtle threats, declaring that “like other universities, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt is a product of law which must be respected and protected by those entrusted with the responsibility of governance”.

Ajimobi advocates removal of LGs from constitution From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

G

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has called for the removal of local government from the constitution to make it a residual responsibility of the state.

He also advocated for the

review of the Revenue Allocation Formula to emphasise the Derivation Principle and allocation of larger percentage of resources to states.

The governor made the call in a keynote address delivered at a Roundtable on Federalism in Nigeria in Chicago, United States of America, at the weekend.

Governor Ajimobi, who spoke on the topic “The Need for True Federalism in Nigeria: A Perspective from Oyo state”, said that the 1999 Constitution should be reviewed to grant more responsibilities to states.

The review of the Constitution, he said, should also ensure the reduction of the responsibilities of

the Federal Government to common services like Foreign Affairs, Currency, Immigration and Defence.

The governor, while expressing his support for the creation of state police, said that there should only be inter-state and federal checks and balances to prevent or reduce abuse.

Yuguda has not accomplished what Muazu accomplished, says Gadi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

E

mbattled former deputy governor of Bauchi state, Alhaji Garba Gadi has declared that Governor Isa Yuguda had not been able to accomplish what his predecessor in office, Dr. Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu had accomplished.

Gadi who was the former

deputy governor of the state during Yuguda’s first term in office, stated this while speaking with journalists in Bauchi. He said despite being in the saddle now for more than five years, the governor had not been able to accomplish what his predecessor did.

He admonished Yuguda to concentrate on governance and ensure that he leaves a legacy in the state at the end of his tenure in 2015.

He said despite the fact that Mu’azu did not get up to what Yuguda had got so far, he was able to do more than 100 times what the current administration in the state has done.

“Isa should sit down, concentrate and at least leave a legacy in the state. Ahmadu Muazu did more than 100 times what Isa has done despite what Isa has received. In the last six years, Isa has got over 100

percent of what Muazu received from the national coffers but Ahmadu Muazu had done 100 times more than what Isa has done,” Gadi, who was impeached in controversial manner, said.

Gadi stated that what was currently going on in the Bauchi state government was unfortunate, declaring that he was happy not to have been part of what he called “nonsense”.

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Kogi on top of security challenges, says deputy gov From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

T

he people of Kogi State have been called upon to have faith in the present administration as it has the potentials to place the State on sound economic track just as it is on top of the security situation.

Deputy governor, Arc Yomi Awoniyi gave the assurance on Sunday at an interdenominational thanksgiving service to mark

the anniversary celebration of Kogi State, held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Grace Cathedral, Lokoja.

While accepting that there were challenges at the take off of the present administration, Awoniyi said, the present administration was aware of the desire for quick development, and was establishing policies that would improve the living conditions of the people.

He maintained that the

road sector would receive a boost, stressing the quick passage of the State Emergence Maintenance Agency bill currently with the Kogi State House of Assembly, would enable the government to fix all bad roads across the state, especially the Obajana-Egbe roads.

Awoniyi stressed that despite its multi ethnic nature, the state is peaceful and currently attracting investors.

In his sermon, Pastor Kayode

Ajibade, State Vice President of the Christian Association of Nigeria,CAN, called on the people to have a change of heart as the only way the nation could get the desired change.

He commended the state government for organizing the thanksgiving service adding that a nation that fails to remember God ends up in crisis, just as he observed that though the nation may be going through rough times, God, he said, is about taking the nation to greater heights.

L-R: Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i, and Acting Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Rose Okoh, during the public presentation of TETFund sponsored Journals for Professional Associations, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Yuguda commissions 50 mass transit buses From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

G

overnor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state has commissioned 50 units of 14-seater buses through the intervention of the Federal Government N10 billion public mass transit scheme spread across the country.

Commissioning the 50 buses at Steyr Nigeria Limited in Bauchi yesterday, Yuguda said that the state’s Yankari Transport Service(YTS) purchased the buses on loan through the assistance of the Urban Development Bank.

He said, one of the main priorities of his administration

“after my inauguration into office for a second tenure”, was to provide adequate transport services, which he noted “will boost employment opportunities in the state” Governor Yuguda lamented the lack of management and decay in the transportation sector in the country, “The transport sector in the country has undergone very big challenges. I recall vividly how the federal government liquidated Nigeria Airways because of its lack of Management. The most disturbing aspect of the Liquidation of this air transport company was that it kick-started at the same

time when Saudi Airlines was established and until today, the Saudi Arabian Airlines is still working while Nigeria Airways packed up. As a result of the liquidation, a lot of people lost their jobs and they resigned themselves to fate. What more can I say, the railway lines and water transportation is still backward today”, he said.

Yuguda warned the management of YTS against negligence of duty and misappropriation of funds and advised the company to improve on its services , adding that with time the company would be sold to private investors so as to ensure the

efficient running of its operations.

He however appealed to YTS management to motivate its staffs with incentives to make them hardworking, and called for the constant maintenance of the vehicles and periodic training programmes for drivers to enlighten them on traffic rules and regulation.

In her remarks, the state commissioner of Commerce and industry, Hajiya Amina Mohammed Katagum said YTS also run free transportation services for children in four local governments which includes Shira, Katagum, Darazo and Giade.

Suspend new N5, 000 note - former ICAN official

A

former Chairman of Ikeja District of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Mr. Okeowo Oderinde, has advised the Central Bank of Nigeria to suspend its proposal to introduce new N5,000 notes and coins.

Oderinde said in Lagos yesterday that the apex bank should not to be hasty in introducing the N5, 000 notes and new coins.

He, however, said that the new proposal would not be antithetical

to the cash-less policy.

Oderinde said that rather the N5, 000 notes would “aid and support” the cash-less system, but stressed that the introduction of the note be deferred till after 2013.

Oderinde said that it would be proper for the cashless policy to have attained full implementation in all states of the federation before the new currencies would be introduced.

He also said it was important to tame corruption so that

Nigerians could experience the positive aspects of the introduction of the N5, 000 notes and new coins.

“The new policy will aid corruption as it will be easy to carry large sums of money around.

“The N5, 000 note will have the advantage of making transactions easier”, he said.

He said the proposed policy would also boost transactions in banks and reduce the number of customers waiting “endlessly” in

banking halls.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor, CBN Director of Corporate Communications, told NAN yesterday that the N5, 000 notes would strengthen the cashless policy.

He said that the apex bank’s decision to introduce the N5, 000 notes would improve the gains from a cashless system.

“Our proposal is in line with global best practices in reviewing our legal tender on a regular basis”, he said. (NAN)

NOA commends police over Cynthia

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri has commended the Nigeria Police Force for its efficiency in investigating the murder of Miss Cynthia Osokogu in Lagos with view to bringing the culprits to justice.

Cynthia was said to have met her death when she was lured by a Facebookfriend to Lagos.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary of the agency, Paul Odenyi, said the satisfactory manner in which the police handled the matter was a clear indication of the preparedness of the force to discharge its duty of solving crimes and ensuring the security of lives and property in the country.

Omeri observed that the noticeable alertness of the police in recent times was a result of ongoing reforms by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar.

While tasking the police to fully unravel the perpetrators of the “heinous crime”, the NOA DG condemned the emergence of cyber and social media crime , saying such acts were not in our character as a people and therefore should not be imported into our social experience.

“We must therefore caution our youths and teenagers to be very careful and security conscious in their usage of social media. We must all personally censor what information we share about ourselves on social media as well as control the extent of our engagement with unfamiliar persons over the net”, the NOA boss said.

Lamido of Adamawa tasks youths on productivity From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

T

he Lamido of Adamawa and ruler of the Fombina Emirate Council, Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, has urged youths in the state to develop their talents for maximum productivity.

The premier gave the call in his palace in the state capital yesterday when Alhaji Abdulazeez Nyako paid him a thank you visit over the conferment of “Sarkin Matasa” title on him by the monarch.

Dr. Barkindo noted that political and religious crisis were always fuelled by youths in any society but maintained that the onus of peace still rests on them.

He said Nyako’s selection was based on his immense contributions especially in the area of youths mobilisation and positive influence over them for the overall development of the state.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Lagos flood: NEMA to evacuate wrecked ships From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

F

ollowing the recent order by the Federal Government, the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has concluded plans to remove all wrecked ships from the Nigerian coastlines to prevent further maritime disasters.

The agency’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecast, Dr. Charles Agbo revealed this while on inspection visit to Kuramo beach in Lagos at the weekend.

Dr. Agbo, who stood in for the Director -General Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who was earlier scheduled to lead the multistakeholders team for an assessment tour of the disaster area, said the agency has mapped out a comprehensive approach at forestalling future occurence.

Speaking further, Agbo pointed out that sea rise was a natural phenomenon due to the effect of

climate change experienced globally, adding that all stakeholders should henceforth embark on a public sensitisation drive in Nigeria In his words “NEMA will mobilize all resources within the country including those from the private sector and community leaders to reduce the vulnerability of Nigerians to disasters”.

He advised beach users not to neglect information disseminated through such enlightenment campaigns and to look out for signs indicating troubling or rising sea waves to enable early evacuation from the waterfront In a related development, the Agency’s Information officer in Lagos, Ibrahim Farinloye said nine bodies have so far been recovered as at last Friday with the latest picked up near the Nigeria Navy dockyard in Lagos First Lowland Micro-Finance Bank.

Ilorin Land disputes: Gov Ahmed to review controversial law From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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s Ilorin Emirate Descendant Progressive Union(IEDPU) and other stakeholders continue to raise eyebrow over the alleged seizure of land belonging to people of the areas, the Kwara state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has pledged to review the controversial clauses in the law to address the concern of the people.

Governor Ahmed, who stated this at the weekend while briefing journalists on the matter said the government and the Union have agreed on many issues which he

said did not call for stakeholders to go public on the pages of newspapers.

He also disclosed that the nullification of Offa local government election was purely political while the party involved had the right to seek redress at the court of law.

“Issues have been raised in respect to the urbanization law which was signed in 2009. The first issue that was raised were concerns by the Ilorin Emirate Descendant Union on the application of the law. And so much has come to the fore that requires some level of

classification. We need to recognize the fact that as a government, we have the responsibility of delivering service to the people because we are only custodian of public resources. “ Having had the opportunity of working in the ministry of Finance for about 7.5 years, I am quite aware that the resources of the state require to be augmented and we can do that largely through internally generated revenue. That is what prompted us to look at what portion in generating revenue.

“We felt like making some revenue from land”, he said.

FG to partner Bayelsa, other states on raw materials devt

By Joy Baba

T

he Minister of Science and Technology has said the ministry is ready to partner with Bayelsa state government and all other states of the federation to develop a Ward Based Cluster Concept (WBCC), a system meant to help those in the rural areas in converting raw materials into capital for investment.

The minster stated this in Abuja on Tuesday when he received the Bayelsa state Commissioner for Science and

Technology, Mrs. Uwason Jack and her team.

He said the ministry was leaving the municipal level to the rural areas to teach them skills by which they can fall back and develop entrepreneurship.

Earlier in her speech, the Mrs Jack said she and members of her team came down to their parent ministry to get deeper insight into general policy and administration of the ministry since the ministry was new in the state. This, according to her, would help them establish the ministry properly in the state.

Aggrieved staff of federal ministry lockout controller From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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rotesting staff of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Jos, the Plateau state capital yesterday locked out the State Controller, Arc M.M Laminu over alleged injustice, demanding for his removal over alleged incompetence to discharge his responsibilities effectively.

The staff also accused their boss of short-changing them of their entitlements.

The aggrieved staff mobilized early yesterday at the Federal Secretariat, office of the Controller and locked up his office and those of other high ranking staff of ministry, chanting solidarity songs seeking the removal of the controller.

However, personnel of the National Security and Civil Defense Corps also occupying a portion of the Federal secretariat averted what might have degenerated into possible breakdown of law and order as some staff who did not in support the protest, were combat-ready to clash with their colleagues calling for the ouster of the Controller.

Reacting to the allegations, the embattled controller, Arc Laminu

denied all the charges levelled against him stressing that the action of the staff was against civil service law and uncalled for.

He acknowledged that the staff had written a petition on the matter to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja questioning his reputation but did not copy him saying he however got wind of the petition.

Laminu said the aggrieved workers should have awaited the outcome of the petition rather than taking laws into their hands.

He said the irate staff were rather opposed to some of the polices introduced to sanitise the Ministry and were looking for ways to destabilise him.

Laminu warned that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against the protesting staff who violated laid down procedures in complaining on civil service issues they felt comfortable with.

According to him, the state commissioner of police has since been informed of the action of the staff so as to order a further breakdown of law and order in the Plateau state now in the state of fragile peace.

R-L: Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan, presenting African Governance and Corporate Leadership Award 2012 to a member of the Executive Chairman Team, Delta state Basic Education Board, Prince Ogaga Oghene, during Ben Nwabueze Constitutional Law Public Lecture, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Micro bank pledges to support farmers affected by flood in Plateau From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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he First Lowland MicroFinance Bank Ltd yesterday pledged to empower farmers and assist those whose farmlands were washed away by the recent flood that ravaged the Southern zone of Plateau state.

Chairman of the bank, retired Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep made the bank’s position known at the 2011 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mabudi, the headquarters of Langtang South local government area.

He said the decision of to give loans to local farmers was borne of the financial institution’s dream having recorded 17 percent growth in the 2011 financial year.

Wuyep disclosed that the bank was just three years old describing it as a friendly and

people-oriented place which provide basic financial service especially to those who are desirous of handy and homebased banking services.

According to him, the MicroFinance bank would as part of its social responsibility commence a youth football competition to identify and encourage young talents as well as expand its branches to other localities so as to offer job opportunities for teeming jobless youths and women.

He disclosed that against the volatile background, the bank recorded an impressive growth with the total asset of N97.2 million, customer deposit of N42.4 million, customer loans of N73.4 million and revenue growth of N39.4 million as well as operating expense that rose from N15.3 million to N21.2 million.

According to him, “With the

humble success, we will continue to assist the local farmers and carry out our social responsibility of reaching out to the people in the society”.

The Managing Director of the bank Mr. Amos Balami stressed that the bank would be more involved in financing agriculture and agricultural related businesses in the agrarian economy of the Southern zone as part of its social responsibility.

He added that despite the unfavourable economic climate and glut suffered by yam traders who are mostly customers of the bank in the 2011 financial year leading to losses, the bank was able to make profit and pay dividend of 7 per share to share holders on the share values that has increased by 50 percent and the bank is making efforts to raise shareholders’ fund to N100 million by December.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

MONEY SENSE

How mushroom farming mushrooms millionaires!

M

ushrooms are the edible fleshy fruiting bodies of certain fungi, which in our villages are gathered wild by women and children who through their expertise are able to distinguish the edible from the poisonous ones.

Mushrooms can be commercially grown both for local consumption and export market under controlled scientific conditions.

Mushrooms, being fungi, have not the green material called chlorophyll, a very important ingredient, which enables other plants to manufacture their food.

Because of this absence of chlorophyll in their lives, mushrooms have to depend entirely for their nutrients on organic foods or decaying materials.

These nutrients are usually provided by a mushroom-growing medium called substrates of compost.

Generally mushrooms are a seasonal vegetable which thrive more noticeably in our rural areas during the rainy season when women and children go with their baskets round the forests and such very humid and dark places to gather (harvest) skillfully the mushrooms that have sprouted, grown and matured there.

The quantities gathered are not anything to satisfy even the families of those who gather them.

However greater quantities can be and are usually grown on a large scale (commercial basis) both to cater for local use and for export.

Under this method, the problems

Quote In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield - Stephen James: Author

Do you know what the CBN says about your bank charges?

Guide To Bank Charges (Bankers Tariff), Effective January 1, 2004. (Iv) Section 7: Straight Forward Handling of Documents 1

Description Export Documents Delivery

2 Import Documents a) Delivery b) Bills for acceptance and return to principals c) if in respect of (b) bill is returned for collection and payment.

Maximum Charge Section 8: Inward and Outward Letters Description Inward Letters of Credit (Export) 1 Processing and Registration of Nigerian Export (NXP) form 2 Advising Commission a) When a Nigerian Bank simply verifies authenticity of the Credit and delivers same b) When a Nigerian Bank has to rewrite the Credit

of seasonality of supply of mushrooms and hence the scarcity and consequent skyrocketing of prices are overcome to a reasonably high extent.

In Igboland mushrooms are called ero or elo, while in Yorubaland it is olu. To the connoisseurs of mushroom, the meaty vegetable is a delicacy eaten more for its nutritive value (because it is said to contain a high percentage of protein) than for its medicinal value. In reality, recent scientific researches (both local and international) are churning out an array of inherent chemicals in mushrooms, which hold great

medicinal potentials in providing solutions to such debilitating diseases as diabetes, cancer, hepatitis, heart disease, hypertension, influenza, common cold, arthritis, gallstone etc.

Mushrooms are heavily consumed in such countries as China , Japan , and other Asian countries as food and medicine.

But here in Nigeria, they are consumed for their nutritive functions. However many people are now accepting them for the medicinal uses to which they are put.

Attitudes are now fast changing and consumers want mushrooms overseas.

10 reasons why some people fail (II) 6. You think there must be a pre-established role for your life, and you might be screwing with it.

The error in thinking here is clear - agency is a figment our brains rely on to manage difficulty with as little trauma as possible. The first thing to do is recognize that, and then recognize that the role for your life has only one true agent - You! 7. Your career appears to be well-established and that's good‌right?

Well, maybe that's good, sure.

The question becomes, is "established" what you really want? Maybe it is, and that's cool.

But if "established" means you can't reach beyond certain imposed parameters to achieve anything else that you truly

PAGE 11

want, then maybe it isn't so useful after all. Like most things, this is a personal choice and it doesn't have a right or wrong answer. But it's worth acknowledging that you may very well be "establishing" yourself out of greater achievements.

8. You are afraid of losing what you have built A totally legitimate fear, and one we should kick out of our perspectives as quickly as possible. Here's one example why: Remember this little thing we've been suffering through for sometime now called a recession?

The reality is, you can lose everything in a heartbeat through no fault of your own, so why allow that fear to stop you from reaching out for what you really want? Push forward.

9. You think, "maybe I've hit my ceiling."

The proverbial "ceiling" - so long have ye been with us, and yet so little have ye given us. I side with the late great Peter Drucker, who said (paraphrasing from this classic article on Managing Oneself) if

you reach a point in your career where you think you won't progress any further, then start focusing on the next part of your life. Actually, he added, you should start thinking about the next part of your life well before you begin it. The point is, forget about ceilings and focus on achievement. When you start using the cultural stereotype of the ceiling as an excuse, you are achieving nothing and will continue to do just that.

10. Confusion about where to go Of all of these 10 ideas, this one is the most difficult. Gearing up the cerebral feedback loop for achievement is one thing, but without a sense of focus and direction, all of that energy isn't going to yield very much in the end. Sometimes you have to let the energy flow for a while without too firm a sense of direction and see if focus emerges organically. Once it does, you can then nurture it into a more structured method for getting where you want to go.

(Concluded)

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

P

Performance contract: Beyond its symbolism

resident Goodluck, on August 22, asked his ministers who had gathered for the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council to sign a “performance contract”, requiring them to perform or be sacked. Now, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and his National Planning counterpart, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, as well as the President’s spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, are falling over themselves to explain the whole thing to bemused Nigerians.

“It is historic and will change the way things are done in the country”, said Maku. On his own part, Dr. Usman had this to say: ”Unless we find a credible way of measuring performance we’ll not know we are making progress”. He described the signing of the contract as “a momentous occasion for government and Nigerians”, adding that it “will help government to focus on performance, transparency and accountability.” According to him, the inspiration has come from the experiences of the United Kingdom and South Africa.

Dr. Abati is no less effusive in his praise for his boss, showing his impatience with those who have criticized the concept. “This is the first time in Nigerian history that a sitting president would ask his ministers to sign a performance contract”, he said, adding, “I think that is something Nigerians should celebrate.”

On the import of the “contract”, Abati said: “The whole emphasis is to

send a signal to both Nigerians and every player within government, at all levels, that the mandate Nigerians have given to everyone in government is to deliver; the best way to serve Nigerians is to deliver; it is to perform.”

Abati is partly right. By all means, the President should be commended if he has done something truly commendable.

The problem with his performance

“

Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, is the chief examiner in this case. Under her, the Nigerian economy has stuttered in reverse gear. If any minister deserves the sack now it should be her contract idea is that Nigerians cannot see beyond its symbolism. A strong suspicion is that Jonathan is trying to find a way to justify a cabinet reshuffle that has been rumoured for close to a year now. But does he have to justify the removal of a non-performing minister? Presumably, he hired the ministers, in the first place and so he can fire them whenever he so chooses!

However, a performance test for the

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

ministers suggests only one thing, which is that the president knew next to nothing about the capability of the men and women he “picked” as ministers and aides. If they were not his own choices but were imposed by his party or they simply muscled their way into his government because they funded his campaign to be elected president , then they hardly would share his vision of the country, if indeed he had one.

National Planning minister, Dr. Usman, spoke of transparency as being one of the tenets that the performance contract is expected to entrench in governance. However, Nigerians cannot be fooled by this president that has defied overwhelming public opinion in favour of his making public his assets on taking office.

Besides, how credible will be a performance test that will be administered by one of the ministers that is expected to be tested too?

Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is the chief examiner in this case. Under her, the Nigerian economy has stuttered in reverse gear.

If any minister deserves the sack now it should be her.

We at Peoples Daily believe the best and most practical test of the performance of every government and its functionaries is written on the faces of millions of ordinary Nigerians; at present, over 70 percent of some 160 million citizens of this country live below the poverty line. Mr. President, this is the result of the test you need.

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OUR VISION

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

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

By Tunde Ajibade

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan is on the offensive. The press is highly politicized, he said lately. It was to the hearing of his cabinet ministers. It must mean he wanted to recruit foot soldiers in this war against the Nigerian press. And to think he doesn't need to formally go on a recruiting exercise.

Ministers already know what to do where the opposition is at issue.

Officials under ministers know how to do it even better; this set is more dangerous because it keeps institutional memory. When, for instance, the nation was to defend the Bakassi Peninsula against Cameroun at the World Court almost ten years ago, some government officials remembered that lawyers such as Itse Sagay had been anti-government sometime in the past. In that case, this lawyer and others like him, eminently qualified, and who could have made a better case for Nigeria were excluded from being on the team.

The point is: What the president said has implications, and they are not limited to the Executive Council Chamber where he said it.

"Before, the media used to be the voice of the ordinary people," the president had said, "But now, the media is the voice of those who own the media houses and those who owned the media houses have private jets and those who own private jets are not ordinary people.

So the media is now the voice of the powerful people. So, we have to have a way of assessing ourselves.''

Have a way of assessing ourselves.

That was the issue the president

PAGE 13

Jonathan’s war on the press meant to talk about when he called his ministers together to sign a contractual agreement on performance, during which time he took time off to declare war on the press.

Why a contractual agreement more than a year into the current administration? One would think this should have come with the ministers' oath-taking from the first day of their appointment. This ceremony about signing a performance contract also follows periods when the president makes his ministers take turn to brief him, and brief Nigerians too about their activities. It also comes on the heels of the information ministers' planned tour of the country with pressmen to inspect projects. It must mean Nigerians don't yet see what the administration has achieved, so the government wants to show structures that oil money had been used to erect, rather than jobs created for unemployed Nigerians, or values so far added to items for which the nation has a comparative advantage. The same thing the press has been pointing out, but for which it is now being accused.

Now what should the press do in a democracy? It has been described as the fourth estate in the realm. It plays a role in every facet of the life of a nation's development.

It's relevance becomes even more obvious in a democracy, where there must be an opposition, and the

opposition serves as alternative government. Is every press that does not sing the praises of the government in power an enemy of that government? And can the government do without the press?

Will lampooning the press help the cause of the government? Is this the only country where the view of some sections of the press reflect the opposing views of their proprietors?

Is this the first time in the country that the opposition press goes the way that made the president said it is politicized? Detailed answer to all of those is not the focus of this piece. But suffice it to say that some of the most outstanding tabloids that have survived have politicians as their founder, so some papers here have politicians as their owners is nothing to make anthills out of. Papers of the opposition parties of yesterday have been known to become the paper of the ruling party the day after, and the previous pro-government papers back in the opposition. It is unfortunate if some people don't see the relevance and possibility of that in a democracy such as Nigeria's.

In several ways, the president's comment amounts to another war, an addition to the war that the press faces. The terrorist Boko Haram has declared war of its own. It wants the press to report its own version of what news is. It has bombed and killed news hunters, and is still threatening more bodily harm.

Now it is the president's turn to

pressure the press to report his own version of what is factual, meaning the press should not reflect the criticisms of the opposition. One concern here is the extent to which some government officials may follow the president's word through.

The extent to which they may follow the president's words to the point he may not have intended, excluding Nigerians from where they could contribute their best just like some did the other time when it was time to fight for the soul of Bakassi. And the loser? The country at large. As things stand, it is expected that the section of the press that is identified as opposing the president is tagged, and is sure not to be allocated advertisement slots from ministries. It is incalculable the harm this nation does itself on the altar of petty, pedestrian pattern of looking at issues, issues that are taken as a part of the bricks of democracy in some other nations while their leaders look for higher goals to attain.

It is important to point out that the same press that is being taken on now, contributed its quota to the making of this current republic, the one in which the president is a beneficiary? This writer, while on the political desk of The Guardian newspaper in Lagos in the days of a goggle-wearing general, had a first hand knowledge of how much news hunters struggled to reflect the voice of the opposition even in those

perilous days. They struggled to remain professional even at the risk of having their offices closed down.

Comments such as this from the president belittles the battles news hunters fought for this nation. It amounts to cheapening the Nigerian press. And this is one press on the face of the earth that no government can cow. Military rulers failed at it. Now that civilians in agbada are in power, tolerance for the views of the opposition should be taken for granted; opposition view is accepted in saner climes as a desirable. It must be a reason the strongest, the most accountable and responsible governance is found in democracies where the press also reflects the views of the opposition. In short, views of the opposition keeps the polity alive, keeps debate and communication going, and the press's version of opposition's view is taken as serious as the latest unemployment figures. On the whole, one should think performance has a way of speaking for itself. It is where the president ought to take this war. He should take it up with the ministers, and politicians in his party that occupy offices in every tier of government. That way, Nigerians will be able assess for themselves if their press is politicized, or is performing its required role in a democracy.

cooked to suit the exploitative whims of those that run our sectors. We are running a system where practical outcomes do not matter but what the operatives of any sector scribble as miracles they wrought from their expensive enterprises that end up enriching them more than the state.

We are running a bizarre scam where operatives dupe and shortchange the system and remain adamant to shift grounds and that explains why nobody quits public office in Nigeria for serious infractions. A system where some people can connive with government officials to steal N3trillion in one fell swoop can tolerate anything, least of all a deliberate wastage of a mere N3 billion for a barren Olympic jamboree, which ours turned out to be.

Before we condemn those that are running our sport ministry, we need to ask which sector is spared the kind of terrible results that are being recorded in sports. Is it infrastructure?

Is it the Energy sector? Is it the educational sector? Is it the power sector? Is it National security? Is it the Health sector? Is it the Agricultural sector? Is it the Transport and Aviation sector? Is it the Finance sector? Pray

which ministry has a more excellent report than the humbling output than we had from the sports ministry? Which sector in Nigeria is spared the blistering ruination that is being freely vended on the country and which has firmly landed it on the firm grips of failed nationhood?

With a confused, grossly incompetent, horribly corrupt and mindless leadership, what is assured is that what we are experiencing at present would be bested in the years to come as we continue a sure footed descent to perdition and national ruination.

Coming to our profound failure in sports, it is all too easy to see what is happening to us from the momentary issue of not winning any medal in the London Olympics but this is not the case. Granted, what is happening at present predates the present regime and its operatives but they have been grossly exacerbated by the lack of direction and unaccountable template of the present. For us to arrest the drift, we must back track to the past to know where we started drifting. Do we have a trusted system for discovering and grooming our sportsmen for

sporting glory? Do we have a durable process that will ensure we discover the abundant talents in Nigeria and drive them to success? Do we have an immutable policy that allows talented Nigerian sportsmen and talents to tap in and maximize their talents? Do we have a meritorious policy that ensures that only the best represents Nigeria in any sporting competition? If we prod further, we would find ourselves going back to the same profligate government system that has failed us thus far so we should veer off and see the limitless possibilities that exist in a system driven by individuals, with the patriotic fire and zeal to excel.

Let us ponder if it was through a sheer accident that St. Finbars College, Akoka produced such soccer greats like Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Samson Siasia, Chris Anigala among many other legendary sportsmen that represented our country well in global sports for instance. It was not through accident but through the conscious efforts of an Irish priest, Fr. Dennis Slattery and this picture is replicated in such other schools like Igbobi College, St Gregory's College, CMS Grammar

School, Ansar Ud Deen College, among many others in Lagos. Such similar cases exist in all parts of Nigeria where the educational system drove our quest for excellent human potentials, not only in the sports sector but every human endeavor.

I suggest a return of those good old days when competitive sports was deliberately promoted in the nation's schools. Any school without comprehensive sports facilities, among other basic requirements, should not have any business being recognized as a school in Nigeria and there must be a compulsory sports competition among Nigerian schools.

I think the key word to Nigeria's enhanced participation in future sporting contests is early discovery.

Every other thing follows from there.

For us to make any worthwhile impression in global sports, we must embark on a deliberate discovery of our unsoiled and unspoiled talents, equip them with the basic skills that will assist them to grow into complete sportsmen that will compete for honours in all spheres of global sports.

Just like in every sector, the schools will lead this quest of rediscovery but the fear of all of us that have watched the steady decline of Nigeria at present is that no one is heeding and no one will act and we will live to witness more dismal results not only in sports but in every sector of the wobbling country in the coming years.

Tunji Ajibade is reachable on tunjioa@yahoo.com

Avoiding repeat of our London flop

By Peter Claver Oparah

A

nd so Nigeria returned from the London Olympics empty handed? And so we came back not even with a wooden medal?

Before this latest disaster, we watched with awe as Nigeria was eliminated from participating in the 2010 World Cup, 2011 African Cup of Nations and from virtually all the age group football competitions. We watched as we couldn't qualify for both the male and female Olympic soccer competitions, which completed a total rout of Nigeria in all global and regional soccer competitions. Meanwhile, as this tragedy continued, Nigeria, which, at a time was ranked the 5th best team in the world, continued a free fall in the monthly FIFA rankings, which sees Nigeria struggling for position with soccer backwater nations in Africa. For a country that has made so much fuss of soccer's role as the only uniting factor in a hugely fractured nationhood, this should be a worrisome development and a bad omen that would have signalled a serious effort at soul searching.

But do we blame the managers of Nigerian football when every sector in Nigeria is hit by an irreversible atrophy? Do we blame the aficionados of the Sports Ministry for still maintaining their straight faces even as Nigeria failed to record a presence in an over ninety country medal count? Are we surprised that it is Nigerians that were humbled by that outing and not the officials that led us to that sorry pass? We run a system where results are either forged or

“

Before we condemn those that are running our sport ministry, we need to ask which sector is spared the kind of terrible results that are being recorded in sports. Is it infrastructure? Is it the Energy sector?

Peter Claver Oparah can be reached on peterclaver2000@yahoo.com

PAGE 14

By Tunde Rahman

H

e was hired by his principal, President Jonathan, to defend him, to be his armour-bearer, what Chief Femi Fani-Kayode was to Chief Obasanjo when the Ota-born general was president. But Dr. Doyin Okupe is at present on the cross. The Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs recently appointed by the President to deflect attacks on him is now compelled to defend himself. The opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), claiming he has a shady past, is stridently calling for his sack. The party claims Okupe is on the list of those being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on account of a contract running into millions of naira he obtained from the Benue State government while serving in the administration of former President Obasanjo as Special Adviser, Media and Publicity which he failed to execute.

Dr. Okupe seems disturbed, and this should be understandable. He has been busy defending himself at every turn.

He did same again last weekend on Channels Television. As I watched him field questions on the issue on TV, it would seem Okupe is not holding back. He admits a company in which he had substantial interests did a contract with Benue State government and that there was contractual agreement.

However, he says after some work had been done by his company there were disagreements over payment and his company had to stop

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Okupe on the cross work. He says the disagreement soil stabilisation. million. The amount has since got to the Industrial Arbitration He said the government at that jumped to N700 million.

Court. The Economic and time made a 30 percent advance Okupe's counsel Yemi Financial Crimes Commission payment of N691 million to the Gbonegun, however, denied that (EFCC) also got into the matter. contractor to commence work. his client's company bolted away He was interrogated, detained and According to him, by July 17, with any money, saying if it did, later released.

2006, the total amount paid to the the state government would have Meanwhile, legally had the Benue recourse to the S t a t e bank guarantees government, issued and would which had have held the Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text earlier said its b a n k s messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written hands were tied accountable and contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 over the issue recovered its words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and because the money. He said a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed controversial the company to: contract was went far beyond the issue of awarded under The Editor, mobilisation in the regime of Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, respect of the f o r m e r 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. contract and that Governor "in fact the George Akume Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com c o m p a n y and only SMS: 07037756364 received other Akume could payments over a s p e a k authoritatively on the matter, has contractor stood at N886, 8 period exceeding two years suddenly found its voice. But don't million. The project was meant to continuously for work done that forget the rivalry between be completed within 18 months, went far beyond the level of Governor Gabriel Suswam and his but he said the dream was never mobilisation". He said, "Disputes predecessor Akume and the realised as the amount of work done about certificates of payments arose inclination for one to undo the was later estimated at the sum of in the matter of these contracts as it other. Opening up on the matter N195, 7 million because the is not unusual between a contractor on Wednesday, the state's contractor was said to have and its employers. These issues were commissioner for works and abandoned work. The state at different times thoroughly transport Benjamin Arshaver said government allegedly pressured investigated by the EFCC. At no the government would take steps the company to complete the work point in time was a case of fraud or to recover what he called its until the project duration elapsed. any criminality whatsoever found oustanding balance from Okupe. The government claimed the against the company, otherwise the Arshaver said Okupe's company, company is indebted to it to the tune EFCC would have since taken the Value Trust Investment Limited, of N635.7 million after about N55.2 matter to court." Gbonegun added was awarded a contract for the million was allegedly recovered from that both parties agreed to go in construction of 230 kilometre it. An online report, initially relied for arbitration in accordance with rural roads on April 24, 2004 at on by the opposition, had claimed the provisions of the signed the cost of N2.3 billion using loamy Okupe bolted away with N200 contract document.

WRITE TO US

While not claiming to know what exactly transpired in respect of the contract, I do know, however, that Okupe was detained for a day or two at the EFCC office in Ikoyi over the transaction. I think it was around 2005 or so. In fact, a close friend of mine had visited him then at the EFCC detention centre and Okupe had told him it was a contractual transaction between two parties and that there were disputes about certificates of payments. He had argued then that EFCC had no business in the matter. Dr. Okupe was later released by the anti-graft body.

At the time Okupe was no longer in the President Obasanjo's government as the latter had dropped him as his spokesman and replaced him with the late Chief Tunji Oseni. At that time, former President Obasanjo had become hostile to him. The EFCC then under Malam Nuhu Ribadu investigated Dr. Okupe and released him. My sense here is if the EFCC, which had investigated the case at a time Okupe had fallen out of favour with the Obasanjo government, had found nothing criminal against him and had released him without taking him to court, what is the hue and cry about the matter now if not that some people are just out to play politics. However, I think the threat by the Benue State government to take the matter back to the EFCC in a bid to "recover its balance" should be a welcome development by all parties in order to get to the root of the matter and rest the case once and for all.

Tunde Rahman can is on facebook.

Tourism in Africa is slowly coming of age

By Kingsley Ighobor and Aissatta Haidara

J

et-lagged, 500 delegates from around the world arrived in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in May to deliberate on the path to Africa's tourism future. To unwind, Zimbabwe's Tourism Authority, host of the congress of the Africa Travel Association (ATA), had organized a fun-filled welcome. The delegates toured Victoria Falls, one of the world's seven natural wonders, where they participated in bungee jumping, gorge swinging and ziplining over the Zambezi River. They then went on safari, encountering lions and elephants. Later they savoured local cuisine and danced enthusiastically to traditional music.

The host's intention was clear: see, feel and believe. Zimbabwe's showcasing spoke louder than routine speeches. It spurred tourism ministers from Ghana, Namibia, Uganda and other African countries to become bullish about the continent's potential.

Said US Ambassador Charles A. Ray, "Zimbabwe, even with its political uncertainty, is a potentially huge market."

Tourism watchers are upbeat. In 2004, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) approved an action plan to make Africa the "21st century destination."

Taleb Rifai, secretary-general of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), recently stated that "Africa has been one of the fastest-growing

tourism regions of the last decade." The sector already employs about 7.7 million people in Africa. Mr. Rifai cited data showing steady increases in Africa's tourist arrivals, from 37 million in 2003 to 58 million in 2009.

Tourism revenues are the lifeline of many economies. About 50 per cent of Seychelles' gross domestic product (GDP) comes from tourism. The rates are 30 per cent in Cape Verde, 25 per cent in Mauritius and 16 per cent in Gambia.

The World Bank reports that tourism accounts for 8.9 per cent of East Africa's GDP, 7.2 per cent of North Africa's, 5.6 of West Africa's and 3.9 per cent of Southern Africa's. In Central Africa, tourism contributes just 1 per cent.

Despite the chest-thumping, Africa's share of global tourist arrivals is relatively small. There were 980 million international tourist arrivals in 2011, of which only 50 million traveled to Africa. North Africa suffered a 12 per cent loss in 2011 from the previous year due to that region's political unrest, denting the continent's share of international arrivals. But that loss was partially offset by a 7 per cent uptick in

sub- Saharan Africa, which gained 2 million arrivals.

Overall, the 2011 data shows that Africa performed better than the Middle East, which lost 5 million arrivals.

Generally, the continent's top earners are Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritius, according to UNWTO. What draws tourists to a country, region or continent? "I wanted to see something different from Europe and I decided to visit Kenya and Tanzania. It is a different feel I got, and I like that," Sven Brun, from Norway, tells Africa Renewal. The McKinsey Global Institute, a think tank, maintains that tourists are attracted to countries with good infrastructure, safety and security, and sanitation. Janet Kiwia, the managing director of World Jet Travel and Tours in Tanzania, adds that bad roads, poorly maintained airports, power outages and other shortcomings keep tourists away.

There are concerns over the safety of Africa's aircraft and airspace. In just two days in June, two planes crashed in Nigeria and Ghana, killing more than

“

160 people. In 2009 the World Bank found that 60 per cent of runways in North Africa were in excellent condition, but only 17 per cent in subSaharan Africa were. In addition, many sub-Saharan airports are small and have trouble dealing with huge arrivals. Most depend on a single airline and some have no connections to major carriers.

A report by New York University, the World Bank and the ATA calls on industry operators to apply innovative approaches to managing the different types of African tourism, which it categorizes as "safari," "nature" and "culture." The report recommends "going beyond traditional safari to include new adventures" by tapping tour operators' creativity.

Culture tourism requires aggressive promotion. Like food festivals in Mexico and music and cultural festivals in Jamaica and Trinidad, African festivals can draw visitors. Film festivals in Zanzibar and Burkina Faso attract culture tourists.

Africa needs to "develop flagship tourist attractions and communicate brand

Africa's domestic tourism (by resident visitors) has been flagging. Not more than half of Kenyan chief executives have seen an elephant, notes Victoria Safari, a Kenyan tourism company.

effectively," advises a McKinsey report.

Africa's domestic tourism (by resident visitors) has been flagging. Not more than half of Kenyan chief executives have seen an elephant, notes Victoria Safari, a Kenyan tourism company.

"Africans should know Africa better than the white person from outside," it adds, recommending cheaper transportation rates and ease of travel to encourage African tourists.

Currently it costs about $1,500 to travel 1,800 miles from Luanda, Angola, to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, but only $1,100 to go from London to Dar es Salaam, a distance of 4,600 miles.

Some countries are moving in the right direction. Frommer's, a US travel guide series, named Ethiopia one of the world's top 12 destinations in 2007. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa attracted more than 300,000 foreign visitors. Only recently, renowned international singer Youssou N'Dour became Senegal's minister of culture and tourism, which may help boost tourism in his country.

It may take some time before Africa catches up with Europe, which received 480 million tourists last year. But as international arrivals hit the milestone of 1 billion worldwide in 2012, Africa should aim for a bigger slice of the pie. The right infrastructure, safety and security, and effective communication of the continent's attractions can be starting points.

Kingsley Ighobor and Aissata Haidarawroteinfrom New York, United States

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

By Emmanuel Onwubiko

T

he Dutch owned multinational crude oil conglomerate recently issued a media release in which it claimed that it spends huge sums of money to protect and safeguard the lives and property of the company and their staff in the oil rich but criminally neglected and marginalized Niger Delta communities in Southern Nigeria.

Media reports both internationally and locally which was published on Tuesday August 21st 2012 showed that Shell, which has very notorious image among residents of oil bearing but devastated communities in the Nigeria Delta spends princely sums of hard currency in payments to armed security operatives for the purposes of protect their commercial crude oil drilling operations.

It is also a fact that the majority of the armed security operatives that work in the crude oil producing facilities in the once volatile Niger Delta Communities are drawn largely from the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed forces who work under an official designation as joint military task force. It is uncertain if these huge payments were made directly to official coffers of the Nigerian Armed forces for the purposes of securing the facilities of Shell and the lives and property of the staff or if the payments were made to the armed security operatives on that the huge fund simply disappeared into the pockets of the commanders.

According to media reports, Shell may have spent over $383 million (N61.3 billion) to secure its facilities and personnel in the Niger Delta between 2007 and 2009, going by a disclosure recently from a Londonbased industry watchdog platform.

The expenditure profile arose during the period when militant insurgency in the oil rich region was grave. This period must have been before the then Umaru Musa Yar'adua government introduced a general amnesty program for repentant militants who surrendered their arms and ammunitions voluntarily.

PAGE 15

SHELL's expensive misdeeds, security Specifically, in 2009 alone, $65 million (N10.4 billion) was reportedly expended on security issues by the oil giant on state official operatives and $75 million on "other" security costs to private companies and individuals.

Also, an estimated $127 million was spent on unexplained category marked "other", the documents showed. It is alleged that the fund classified as 'other' may have been used to bribe Government officials and other members of the ruling elite.

There is evidence that indicates Shell used this 'other' budget for a variety of questionable purposes," the report said. United States diplomatic cables published by Wikileaks disclosed exclusively that some of the company's funds were channeled to militant groups in the Delta, according to Platform's report.

My take on this report that says Shell spends a lot of money to secure operational staff and facilities is that

Contacted by local media, a spokesperson at Shell's Nigeria subsidiary did not comment on Platform's figures, saying only that protecting company staff and assets is "Shell's highest priority".

"Shell's total support for government forces in Nigeria reached an estimated $65 million. This is staggering transfer of company funds and resources into the hands of soldiers and police known for routine rights abuses," Platform alleged.

The group's Nigeria researcher, Ben Amunwa, told AFP those payments were "a stunning failure of due diligence," as Shell was well aware that Nigeria's security forces had long been accused of brutality by international and domestic rights groups.

Amunwa said the report was based on documents given to platform by a source closely familiar with Shell's security budget, who approached the watchdog independently.

the huge security expenses come about because the oil firm is notorious for not keeping clean records when it comes to corporate social responsibility.

It is a hard fact that when business transactions are conducted in fairness and the host communities carried along, it therefore follows that even the members of the communities where such commercial activities take place would automatically takes up ownership of the protection of the operational staff and facilities.

Shell particularly is notorious for violating human rights which should underpin its operations in host communities in the Niger Delta region. There are several respected reports that have indicted the company for these violations. The company has recently been named as a serial violator of the environmental rights of the people of their host communities.

On April 25th 2012, report filtered

out from the London based global human rights body-Amnesty international that a major oil spill in the Niger Delta was far worse than Shell previously admitted. Amnesty international alongside Center for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), had secured the information based on an independent assessment they jointly conducted reportedly. To underline the gravity of the environmental devastation caused by the oil spills as reported by the global human rights watchdog, it was discovered that the spill in 2008, was caused by a fault in a Shell pipeline which resulted in tens of thousands of barrels of oil polluting the land and creek surrounding Bodo, a Niger Delta town of some 69,000 people.

The previously unpublished assessment, carried out by US firm Accufacts Inc. found that between 1,440 and 4,320 barrels of oil were flooding the Bodo area each day following the leak. The Nigerian regulators have confirmed that the spill lasted for 72 days.

Shell's official investigation report claims only 1,640 barrels of oil were spilt in total. But based on the independent assessment the total amount of oil spilt over the 72 day period is between 103,000 barrels and 311,000 barrels.

As usual, Shell disputed these well considered findings of these internationally respected nongovernmental institutions that uncovered these grave crimes against the environmental rights of the people of the oil producing communities that are the host communities of shell commercial activities.

In that light, Shell's Corporate Media Relations Manager, Mr. Tony Okonedo, in his response, said: "Under Nigerian regulations, oil spill incidents are investigated by a joint team of operators, communities, security agencies and regulators. A similar team investigated the spills in Bodo, and we stand by their findings.

should break it up into manageable components; southerners are being massacred in northern Nigeria; both regions could survive without the other, and what is wrong with Nigeria cannot be made right by any other means. There some more reasons but those are the ones most frequently cited.

What is amazing is the consistency of these points over time. Those of us who are old enough to know will recall that each of the above points was made to justify the secession of Eastern Nigeria from the rest of the country.

Those who ignore history are bound to repeat it. Here are the reasons why Eastern Nigeria as Biafra was supposed to be a good venture: There is solidarity among the southern states; the south can survive because it has oil and is the engine that drives Nigeria; we are Christians and have western education and live western lifestyle and therefore would get support from the West; the north cannot make it on

their own; it is too cowardly to fight the east and the west would be neutral (remember Awo’s promise: as east goes so will west). No force in Africa could subdue Biafra There are some other reasons but these are also enough This is another amazing set of facts. Please note that these points are also very consistent with the current demand for a Southern Nigeria Republic. It has been forty years since the Biafran experiment was conducted and obviously we have learned nothing and we have forgotten nothing. The assumptions about how Biafra would survive did not materialize. The supposed eastern solidarity became a nightmare; the expected western support went to the opposite direction as the only western support (food supplies) Biafra got was from the World Council of Churches (Protestant Churches) and from Caritas (Roman Catholic). United Kingdom,

Italy, Ireland, countries with over 98% Christian population, paid no heed.

Western Nigeria joined in the campaign against the East; Delta and the ethnic communities in the East declined affinity with the hinterland; oil exploration quickly went away from the equation; etc, etc. A force in Africa with assistance from Europe, Asia and Middle East eventually vanquished Biafra costing about 2 million in lives lost.

I have some questions for the advocates of the Republic of Southern Nigeria: •What makes you believe in southern solidarity?

•Do you know of southern politicians who are not corrupt or have demonstrated the capacity for governing? Use state governors as the starting point or if you rather, a local government?

•Are there southern federal ministers that have performed better than their northern

“

We do not agree with Amnesty International's assessment of the spill investigation process.

"The spill volume was ascertained on the ground by experts at the time and agreed by all parties - who signed off on the joint investigation report. As has been stated previously, SPDC admitted liability for two spills of about 4,000 barrels in Bodo caused by operational failures, as soon as their cause had been verified in late 2008 and early 2009.

"We do not agree with Amnesty International's assessment of the spill investigation process. We have recently had the investigation process, which is common to all operators in the Niger Delta, independently verified by Bureau Veritas.

In a scholarly report carried on the website of www.ethical corp.com authored by Anthony Ewing on February 17th, 2011, I am able to adduce that business executives such as shell petroleum company in their operations in Nigeria must observe international best practices and strive to refrain from wanton destruction of aquatic lives and the beautiful environment of the oil bearing communities as a way of winning the confidence, trust and friendship of the people.

The Nigerian government has a constitutional obligation to ensure that oil companies operating in this country comply with extant fundamental human right provisions in Chapter four of the Constitution of Nigeria of 1999. It is bad that armed security operatives belonging to the Nigerian Armed Forces who ought to discharge the constitutional duty of protecting the territorial integrity of the Nigerian state and people from terror gangs are now paid handsomely by foreign oil firms operating to provide cover for them while they embark on an unprecedented devastation of Nigeria's physical environment.

brethren? Or legislatures? Or court judges?

•From whence would these new southern rulers come from?

•Given what is going on these list services, can the Igbo and Yoruba truly form a union?

•Who would call for this new Republic? Who would declare the secession? Fashola? Obi? Chime?

•How would Yoruba opinion be ascertained? The Igbo opinion.

The Ogoni opinion, the Ibibio, the Annang, the Efik, the Edo, the Itsekiri, etc opinions?

•Will the capital be Lagos or Enugu or the old Calabar? Each was a capital before.

These are the simplest of questions. I will leave the philosophical questions to the likes of Nwakanma, Osuji, Ojo, Adeboye, Oranika, Egbe, Nwosu, etc, to wrestle with.

Let me restate that those who ignore history are bound to repeat it.

Emmanuel Onwubiko is reachable on facebook.

Nigeria’s break-up is someone’s pipe dream

By Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba

T

he debate about the future of Nigeria is in full swing and it is a good debate.

Those who want the country divided into north and south give the following reasons: It is a creation of an European power for economic reasons; there is no natural affinity between the two regions (north and south) and there are strong religious differences between Christians and Muslims.

They also claim that there exist strong ethnic differences in the country; it was and is being led by people who have no desire to build a one united nation; it started right from the beginning when independence was strongly opposed by the north; corruption is everywhere, both in government and outside of government; break-up would free the bottled up enterprising spirit of the southerners.

Then they say there is no political freedom on the land; the country is too big to manage; we

Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba wrote in from Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

EFAB residents blame construction coy for erosion

By Adeola Tukuru

R

esidents of EFAB estate located in Mbora District in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised alarm over erosion threats caused by the activities of a construction company, Messrs Sammyal handling roads and drainages projects within in the area.

The Chairman of the EFAB Land-Lords and Tenants Association, Mr Chambers Okorie lamented that the

excavation has eaten deep into some compounds within the estate.

He emphasised, while addressing journalists in Abuja that the expansion of the gully has heightened as a result of the construction activities of the company workers, who use heavy duty machines for the clearing of trees, thereby exposing the environment to gully erosion.

Okorie said that residents have alerted the company which visited the area assess the

effect of the excavation but did nothing to control or avert the impending danger.

Further lamenting the plight of residents he said: “When this project was awarded two years ago, we made inquiries and we understood that FCDA had awarded the project for the construction of roads and drainages within the Mbora community.

“We sent our representatives to thank the Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed for responding to our plight of

Children and the teachers of Graceland Baptist Church, New Nyanya, a during holiday Bible study session titled "Follow God" led by Pastor Apolonia Aluko, at the church auditorium yesterday, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

neglecting our community with the provision of infrastructure but, our Joy is now turning to sorrow due to negligence attitude of Messrs Sammyal construction, the contractor handling the project. The community is now battling with both the environmental problem and security challenge due to the washing and the collapse of the fence”.

He said that the erosion had posed serious threat to over 60 houses in the estate calling the Minister of FCT, Senator Mohammed and other relevant agencies to intervene as according to him, further escalation would cause an ‘earth quake’.

One of the victims of the erosion in the estate, Mr Obed Amazu, said he had spent N9 million to raise a fence which was finally washed away by down pour.

He called on the relevant authorities to come to the aid of the residents.

When contacted, Chairman of the company, Mr Sammy Adigun, said the location of the houses on the particular area was wrong.

Adigun maintained that the houses were close to both the road and the drainages under construction.

He said it was the responsibility of the residents to control the erosion and not his company.

He advised the affected residents to make their plight known to the relevant authorities, adding that it was the responsibility of EFAB to protect their environment or to take their complain to the Federal Capital Development Authority(FCDA).

Zuba fruit sellers task FCT minister on road rehabilitation

By Usman Shuiabu

T

he Secretary of the Nigeria Fruit Sellers Association, Zuba branch in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Ibrahim Yusuf has called on the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to as a matter of urgency rehabilitate the dilapidated roads in Zuba to enable motorists have access to the fruit market.

He also appealed to the minister and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to provide electricity for the people in order to boost socioeconomic activities.

Yusuf, who made the call in an interview with Peoples Daily in his office in Zuba, said that residents were being neglected in the area of potable drinking water and begged the authorities of Gwagwalada Area Council to drill boreholes in the area to arrest the situation.

He urged members to join hands with officials of the association to move the association forward, while advising sellers and buyers to desist from any act capable of causing dispute among them in the market.

He said officials of the association would continue to welcome useful advices from members for sustainable development of the market.

Yusuf thanked the third class Chief of Zuba for giving necessary assistance to the association to operate and assured indigenes of Zuba of his continuous co-operation.

NURTW calls for establishment of mobile court on highway Man, 30, bags one year

T

he Mararaba chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Nasarawa state, has called for the introduction of traffic mobile court on KeffiAbuja highway.

Chairman of NURTW, Mr Bernard Adeyi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mararaba that the introduction was “absolutely necessary”.

Adeyi said that establishing court on that route was necessary “to facilitate immediate trial of reckless drivers and other road traffic offenders.

“The rate at which motorists are violating traffic rules and regulations on the highway calls for serious measures and adequate attention by relevant authorities,” he said.

He said this would serve as a check and deterrent to reckless road users, especially now that ember months were around the corner.

The chairman also advised the Nasarawa state Government not to encourage multiple transport unions because of incessant quarrelling, conflicts and infighting among the unions.

“The few that is operating should be brought under one umbrella for proper supervision and control. We don’t experience any crisis in the Mararaba chapter. We don’t fight with our fists or any other weapons here.

“Instead, we fight legally by taking our case to the law courts if need be and if we win, we stand by it, if we lose, we also stand by it’’, he emphasised.

He called on the

government to assist in training the union employees to enable them carry out their duties in a more organised and professional manner.

On their contributions to the welfare of road users in the area, he said that the union was doing a good job in Nasarawa state, adding it had helped in ensuring free flow of traffic on Keffi-Mararaba sharp corner axis of the Abuja highway.

“There is no more hand bag and cell phone snatching at the Mararaba axis as was the case before. Through the efforts of my men and the police, Mararaba bus stop is now a safe place for everybody,’’ he said.

Adeyi, however, appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to assist the union volunteers with honorariums, rain coats and other incentives to motivate them. (NAN)

imprisonment for theft

A

n Abuja Magistrates Court has sentenced one Kabir Mohammed, 30, of no fixed address to one year imprisonment for causing hurt and theft.

The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Vera Tukura, sentenced the accused without an option of fine.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr John Ijoga, told the court that the matter was reported to the police by Mr John Omogbai of New Karshi, Nasarawa and one Aisha on July 30, 2012.

He said the accused and two others, who are now at large, attacked and dragged the complainants into a bush around the National Mosque Bridge, Abuja and took away

their belongings.

Ijoga told the court that the accused person took the bags of the complainants, containing security guard uniforms, some clothes, a blackberry phone and N23,000 cash.

He said the complainants sustained injuries in the course of the action.

The prosecutor added that the policemen on patrol in that area arrested the accused and during police investigation, he confessed to have committed the offence.

He said the offence contravenes Sections 250 and 287 of the Penal Code.

The accused person pleaded guilty to the offence and asked for leniency. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 18

VIO officials batter journalist over alleged recording of operations

By Josephine Ella

S

Traders moving out of Mpape with belongings after the recent demolition of the Mpape new market, Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Kubwa residents decry deplorable state of road

By Adeola Tukuru

R

esidents of Pipeline Extension in Kubwa District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have decried the deplorable state of the road linking the area.

A cross section of the affected residents, who described the situation as an “eye sore” in an interview with our reporter, called on the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed and the Chairman of Bwari Area Council to facilitate the rehabilitation of the road.

They lamented that many lives and property had been lost on the road, particularly the Kubwa village route down

to Pipeline Extension 1 and 2, due to the dilapidated road.

Lamenting the ordeal this has subjected residents to; Mr Izu Ochinme said that the problem has been giving residents sleepless night, particularly during the raining season. ”It is awful, what motorists and commuters have gone through as a result of this bad road. The situation of the road is so devastating that any vehicle coming from an opposite direction has to wait for the one on the other side to pass before moving, thereby resulting to hold-up,” he said.

On his part, a commuter, Jame Ogebo also expressed displeasure with the Bwari

Area Council administration for neglecting the area as he stressed the need for the reconstruction of the road.

“We have not felt the impact of the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, Hon Peter Yohanna in Kubwa since his assumption of office despite that we are part of those that voted him in.

“If for anything at all, he should at least assist us reconstruct this road. If the government does not want to rebuild the road, they should provide an alternative route for us,” he demanded.

Also reacting to the situation, a business woman popularly known as Mama Daisy said that she had been robbed on the road twice while

the Okada she boarded was waiting for another to pass.

Corroborating other respondents earlier, another resident in Pipeline Extension 2, Mrs Janet Akor said residents live in perpetual fear of being involved in an accident while plying the dangerous road.

“Each time an incident occurs, we are always the first people to move in to rescue victims. We have seen many vehicles, especially trucks and private vehicles breaking down on the road. It is terrible, yet we have leaders who do not care about our well being”, she added.

This was as she urged the government to help by completing the road project without delay to ameliorate the sufferings of residents.

Indigenes make case for revival of Gbagyi culture

G

bagyi indigenes under the auspices of the Original Inhabitant of FCT, has called on political figure representing the indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) to support in reviving and promoting the culture of the Gbaygi people.

The President of the association, Mr Danladi Jeji, who was speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday, said that their support would go a long way in developing the culture of the people.

He said if politicians representing the original

inhabitants of the FCT would help the people come together by settling their differences, there would have a unique socio-cultural relationship among them.

He said these relationships could, as well be translated to the establishment of transparent leadership in the country.

His words: “Our politicians must help the original inhabitant of the FCT to come together and to forget their differences because for now we have a case. The Federal Capital Territory has come to stay and the administration must

therefore, not forget that they have a role to play in the area of bringing the people together”.

Continuing, he added that: “Our people have chosen to leave their land for the government, but government must, therefore, support us so that the culture and language will not go into extinction”.

The President urged the original inhabitants not to lose focus, but work harder towards the achievement of their goals.

He emphasised the need for the people to also come together, adding that religion

and politics must not be a barrier toward the establishment of a meaningful culture.

He further called on the people to take it upon themselves as a duty, to educate their children to sustain their culture.

Jeji appealed to the Nigerian government to provide necessary social amenities that would give support to the education of the original inhabitants of FCT. He also said that the Abuja Master Plan should further be revisited and designed in such a way that it would include the needs of the people. (NAN)

ome officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Directorate of Road Traffic Service, popularly known as VIO yesterday, battered a journalist for allegedly recording their field operations.

The BusinessDay reporter, Kehinde Akintola was physically assaulted by leaders of the VIO task team, led by a man simply identified as Shehu on allegation of recording their operation at the NICON Junction in Abuja without permission.

Recounting his ordeals in the hand of the traffic officers, Akintola told journalists that:"He(Shehu) punched me three times on the nose and ordered me to give him my Blackberry which I refused but submitted to the police team, who were calm and watching the assault meted on me".

The journalist, who said he was on his way to an Editorial meeting, said he willingly submitted the phone to the police to search through and verify the claim or otherwise of Shehu who was on mufty instead of the VIO uniform, during the operation.

"After they search through the phone they could not find any recording or picture of their operation as claimed.

They resorted to blackmail alleging that I had deleted the recording," he continued.

He said that the phone was seized and held for over 4 hours by the Police Inspector, identified as Zakari and leader of the police task team, who said the phone has to be investigated.

Akintola said that the case was reported to one of the FCT Minister's Special Assistant on Media, who in turn, contacted the VIO Director, Wilson Alade who apologized and eventually directed that the phone should be returned to him.

This according to him, however did not materialize until over 2 hours, thereby impeding him for carrying out his assignments for over 6 hours.

When contacted to retrieve the phone, Zakari said all smart phone users in the FCT are liable to commit "sabotage" against the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and the IG of police through recording of police operation without permit.

Further justifying the action, he explained that if Akintola had successfully recorded the operation and went away to post it on social media, the recordings would have attracted members of the public to make all form of negative comment against the IG and the FCT minister.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 17

Corn sellers waiting for patronage, yesterday in Suka village along Airport Road, Abuja.

Young girls hawking local walnut, recently in Wuse 2, Abuja.

People patronising second hand wears, yesterday in front of Garki market, Abuja.

Young men loading wheelbarrows into a van, yesterday in Garki, Abuja.

A middle-aged man eking a living with a small sewing machine, yesterday in Apo village, Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-owo

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

N

igeria’s external reserves pool rose sharply last week compared to its gradual increase since last month, by $715.91 million in seven days to $37.876 billion as at August 23, 2012.

The latest figure as updated on the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website represents a four month high as the reserves had hit its highest in years.

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 21

Shell to invest N640 billion in two Nigerian oil and gas projects

Mob: 08033644990

External reserves rise to $37.8 billion The country’s reserves having reached N37.768 billion in early June, was depleted by N1.166 billion or 3.08 per cent within a month in June/July 2012, but recorded a 1.9 per cent increase within three days last week.

The reserves, which begun in 2012 with a year low of

N32.985 trillion as at January 3, 2012, had steadily climbed to N37.768 trillion which was recorded as at June 6, 2012.

The minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, had last month in a meeting with the Organised Private Sector (OPS)

emphasized the need for the country to buffer up its reserve.

Okonjo-Iweala, who insisted that there was the need to build up the reserves to $50 billion before the end of the year (2012), said the development would serve as cushion for the Nigerian economy in case of any global economic recess.

She said: “There is a lot of

global uncertainty, and in that respect, we still need to make sure that we build sufficient buffers to protect us.

“If anything should happen, we don’t have enough in our excess crude account or the reserves to save us. So, we need to turn this around and build buffers sufficient to take care of the country for three months”.

Association bemoans low patronage of tourism business

By Miriam Humbe with agency report

T

he Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria, (FTAN) yesterday in Abuja said that poverty was responsible for the low patronage of tourism in Nigeria.

The Deputy President of the association, Mr. Tomi Akingbogun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “poverty brings starvation of the mind and lack of appreciation for tourism’’.

He said that Nigerians were happy people, full of life “but hardship had reduced them to people who only think about the essentials of life without leisure’’.

Akingbogun said that the issue of average Nigerian not appreciating tourism was because they had been made so poor that the issue of tourism seemed not to be of importance.

He said that this had affected the growth and development of tourism which called for concern.

According to him, in the past, what we all know Nigerians for is that Nigerians love life and tourism is life.

“Nigerians love to enjoy, relax, but suddenly Nigerians are not relaxing. They cannot relax when they cannot meet their

FirstBank Headquarters, Lagos

First Bank to hold EGM on Sept 24

By Aminu Imam with agency report

F

irst Bank of Nigeria Plc yesterday said it will seek shareholders’ approval to transfer its subsidiaries into a new holding company, in order to meet a regulation that risky capital market business be kept separate from retail and regular business banking.

The top-tier Nigerian lender, said it will ask shareholders’ on Sept. 24 to approve the transfer the assets of its subsidiaries into a holding company called FBN Holdings Plc, including its capital market and asset management units.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) two years ago directed lenders in Africa’s secondbiggest economy to either sell their stakes in subsidiaries

…to seek shareholders’ approval to restructure involved in activities including insurance, asset management, capital market and investment banking - or adopt a holding company structure, where those activities are separate from the holding of retail deposits.

In doing so, it aimed to prevent depositors’ funds being used to speculate in the capital markets, to avoid a repeat of the near collapse of several overleveraged banks in a 2009 financial crisis.

It will subsequently delist the bank from the Nigerian Stock Exchange, it said in a notice to shareholders, who will get stakes in the new entity equivalent to their existing holdings. (Reuters)

Management Tip of the Day

Don’t pursue a doomed idea

W

hen it comes to innovation, irrationality can be a blessing. Many a great decision has resulted from people taking risks that didn’t make logical sense at the time.

But irrationality can also blind innovators to real problems. Here are three ways to seek the right amount of

reason:· Find a devil’s advocate. Look for someone who can poke holes in your thinking and point out when you’re being dangerously irrational.· Test your hypotheses. Turn your proclamations into experiments. Use them to check your logic.· M a k e

resources scarce. An abundance of time, money, or people should accelerate innovation, but it often does the opposite. Set early deadlines, consciously constrain funding, and keep teams lean to pressure-test your idea before you get too far down the road.

Source: Harvard Business Review

daily needs.

“What has happen to Nigerians in the last 20 to 25 years is economic bash; they have been bashed and beaten to submission.

“The average Nigerian is so poor now that a matter of relaxation does not even occur, when he has not even feed himself.

“We are talking about having three square meals, educating yourself, having security in your neighbourhood, having access to affordable health services. Do we have all this in place for the common man?

“So how can the common man relax or go to visit tourist site,’’ he said.

Akingbogun said that the increase in corruption was as a result of poverty which stimulated starvation of the mind. (NAN)

Don says introduction of N5000 note negates cashless policy

A

don, Dr. John Udoidem, yesterday said that the planned introduction of N5, 000 note by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would negate the apex bank’s cash-less policy.

Udoidem, a lecturer in the Department of Banking and Finance, University of Uyo, said that with N5,000 notes, more naira would be in circulation contrary to the objective of a cash-less system.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Uyo that “the same regulatory agency that is planning to introduce the N5, 000 notes is also planning a cashless policy”.

“People will move about with large amounts of money which directly negates a cash-less system.

“Again, the proposal will ease business transaction which literally is an impetus for Nigerians to carry more of money. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Afren

A

fren Nigeria is championing skills development in petroleum engineering at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

The first effort is through support to Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Department at the University gain accreditation again after losing the programme in 2008.

The investment by Afren in the Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Department in the university began in 2010 and has seen the provision of laboratory equipment, scientific journals and textbooks.

VeriFone

V

eriFone System Inc. announced it has received orders to date for 80,000 units of its VX 520 payment solution as banks and merchants seek to meet the requirements of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) ”Cash-Less Lagos” initiative.

Orders for VeriFone solutions represent more than half of the 150,000 total systems that the CBN expects will be deployed by the end of this year to comply with its mandate.

VeriFone supplies and supports payment systems for banking, retail, petroleum and other vertical markets in SubSaharan Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.

UNIDO

T

he Global Environment Facility (GEF) project on ‘Mini-grids based on renewable energy (biomass) sources to augment rural electrification’ was launched recently in Abuja, with representatives of the United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO) and the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) as well as stakeholders present.

According to UNIDO country Representatives, Dr. Patrick Kormawa and Director of UNIDO Regional Office in Nigeria, noted that the initiative which is expected to kick off in Ebonyi, is to promote renewable energy (biomass) based mini-grid as an alternative to diesel based energy generation systems in Nigeria.

Access Bank

A

ccess bank has received ISO27001: 2005 certification from the British Standard Institute (BSI).

The certificate. which was presented to the bank at its Lagos, Head Office over the weekend, is in attestation of its enviable security management process.

The certification was in recognition of its commitment to ensuring safety of its transaction platforms and information assets, which guarantees the highest level of security for customers’ details and information.

NNPC to intensify exploration in Frontier Inland Basins — Minister Stories by Muhammad Nasir, with agency reports

P

rof. Ita Iwa, Minister of Science and Technology, said that the Federal Government had directed NNPC to intensify its exploration in the Frontier Inland Basins of the country.

Iwa dropped the hint in Abuja yesterday at the opening ceremony of a two-day summit on the Nigerian Frontier Inland Basins.

The summit was organised by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in conjunction with the National Centre for Petroleum Research and Development (NCPRD).

The Minister said that President Goodluck Jonathan gave the directive in line with the aspiration to shore up national crude oil production capacity and bolster the nation’s proven oil and gas reserves.

He said, “This administration intends to boost the country’s oil and gas reserve from its current level of 37 billion barrels of oil and about 187 trillion cubic feet of gas.’’

Iwa said in compliance with the president’s directive,

Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Iwa, NNPC, through its subsidiary, Integrated Data Services Limited, in collaboration with China National Petroleum Company, had deployed the latest technology in the hydrocarbon business.

He said, “The technology is to locate the possible areas, where there is sufficient hydrocarbon in the Nigerian portion of the Chad Basin.

“There is an on-going effort by the corporation to put

finishing touches to a comprehensive framework designed to herald the intensification of exploration activities in the Nigerian portion of the Chad Basin.

“Interest in this basin is hinged on the discoveries of commercial hydrocarbon deposits in Chad, Niger and Sudan, which have similar geological formations.”

Iwa, represented by Dr A. A. Talabi, Director, Technology Acquisition and Assessment in the ministry, said that to increase Nigeria’s proven oil reserve, the search for hydrocarbon must not be restricted to the Chad Basin.

He said, “It must involve extensive search in the entire Nigerian frontier inland sedimentary basin, which include the Benue Trough, Anambra Basin, Sokoto area, Bida Basin and Dahomey Basin.”

He advised that the ongoing efforts by the NNPC’s New Frontier Exploration Services Division leading the search of crude oil in the inland basins must be sustained for it to realise its objectives.

The minister also observed that the previous exploration

Oil rises above $114 on storm threat, stimulus hope

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rude oil futures rose above $114 a barrel on yesterday, lifted by worries that a tropical storm could suspend U.S. oil production and hints of another round of monetary stimulus by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Supply cuts have already

played a role in pushing prices up nearly 30 percent since June with international sanctions hitting Iranian exports and maintenance affecting North Sea oil flows.

Brent crude futures were up $1.04 at $114.63 a barrel yesterday. U.S. crude was up

$1.0 at $97.20.

Tropical Storm Isaac swirled into the Gulf of Mexico yesterday and meteorologists at Weather Insight, an arm of Thomson Reuters, predict the storm will spur short-term shutdowns of 85 percent of the U.S. offshore oil production capacity.

DPR, oil firms frustrate recuperation of N1.42tr royalties to FG - NEITI

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he Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and oil companies are said to have frustrated the efforts to remediation action involving $8.8 billion underpayment in royalties to government.

The disclosure was made recently by former Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), chair Prof. Assisi Asobie in Abuja, while handing-over to the National Stakeholders’ Working Group of NEITI led by Ledum Mitee, adding that the figures were revealed in audit reports covering 1999 and 2008 and efforts to recover the monies were hampered by the DPR. He said: “Our attempt to implement the remediation

action recommended in the audit reports were frustrated by the DPR. Initially, we did not have the capacity to determine the actual amount underpaid, but later they came to say the amount was actually more than our audits stated, which is understandable because the audit sampled the industry.

“When we asked them what the new amount was, they were not forthcoming, and these are some of the challenges you will face and the pressure is much.

Most companies do not pay the amount of royalties stipulated in the law and nothing is being done by those in charge,” he added.

He explained after waiting endlessly for the DPR, NEITI wrote to the companies to pay

up, saying, “The companies wrote us back directing us to read the NEITI Act.” “They pointed out that ours is to ensure that they paid the money, but not to actually collect the money because we are not a revenue agency. That is a dilemma you have to solve,” he said.

He explained that it is more important for the new board to pursue public accountability in the application of oil revenues by various levels of governments across the country as contained in the NEITI Act. Asobie stressed that while the global body, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) requires only revenue flow, NEITI Act has a broad demand on the agency.

efforts in Nigeria frontier inland basins had so far yielded no significant results in spite of the fact that those basins showed signs of possible hydrocarbon deposits.

The Director-General of Energy Commission of Nigeria, (ECN) Prof. Abubakar Sambo stressed the need to continue to search for more oil and gas to add to the national reserves.

This he said would increase the foreign exchange earnings and meet the vision 20-20:20 aspiration of Mr. President Transformation agenda.

According to him, the opening of the inland basins will no doubt result in new reserve discoveries and afford interested entrepreneur room to grow.

Shell to invest N640 billion in two Nigerian oil and gas projects

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oyal Dutch Shell, operator of Nigeria’s largest oil fields, has agreed to invest about $4 billion (N640 bn) with its partners in two oil and gas projects in the country.

The Shell Petroleum Development Co. of Nigeria, which operates as a venture with Eni SpA, Total SA and the government will develop the Forcados-Yokri project and the Southern Swamp associated gas gathering project, the company said in a statement.

The projects are expected to pump 100,000 barrels and 85,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day at peak, respectively.

Southern Swamp will “collect gas, reduce flaring, while there is associated oil production and it will produce gas for domestic use for power,” Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry told reporters yesterday in London. Both of the projects “are very strategic” for Nigeria. The Forcados-Yokri fields are located in shallow waters in the west of the country.

Shell, based in the Hague, last month said it planned to invest about $3.5 billion in a natural-gas project in Imo state. It is working on 17 gas projects in Nigeria, set to cost a total of $6 billion, according to the company.

Shell is still looking for buyers for its two oil and gas exploration licenses in the African nation. The company has already found investors for four permits in its effort to reduce its geographical spread across Nigeria, Henry said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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How to tackle poverty, unemployment - Aliko Dangote

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resident of Dangote Group and member of the National Economic Management Team, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has urged Nigerian businessmen to invest in the country and delve into manufacturing as a sure way of reducing unemployment and poverty among the people.

Also, according to him,investing in the local economy would help in reducing inflation which has reduced the

purchasing power of Nigerians.

Speaking at an investment Forum in London, the foremost entrepreneur challenged Nigerians to look inward and invest saying opportunities abound within the national economy for investment to thrive better than many foreign countries.

Alhaji Dangote noted that the government of President Goodluck Jonathan was very desirous of seen as many

Nigerians as would embrace the on-going economic transformation agenda of the administration and put efforts together to lift Nigeria’s economy through investments in manufacturing.

He stated that the manufacturing sector holds the key to any meaningful economic development if Nigeria is to be ranked amongst the top 20 Economies of the World in 2020 (Vision -20:2020) as being

targeted by the Federal Government.

Said he: “The manufacturing sector is critical to the actualization of this vision. It is one of the most powerful engines for economic growth as it acts as a catalyst to transform the economic structure of a nation”.

Dangote stressed that manufacturing had one of the highest multiplier effect on indirect employment generation and urged government at various levels to see to the provision of infrastructure, to ease the burden on businesses and serve as incentives to investors.

To this end, he promised that

his business conglomerate has put in place and would not deviate from its growth strategy of organic expansion and development of Greenfield projects to make Nigeria net exporter of basic products to save her foreign earnings.

In doing this, he disclosed that Dangote Industries would extend its policy of import substitution to cover other sectors like sugar, wheat, and salt by investing in production to meet consumption needs and export purposes, thereby removing the country from the list of importers of the commodities.

GTBank donate school laboratories, facilities From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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L-R: Former member, House of Representatives, Hon. Aniedi King, Etinan community Leader, Mr. Henry Etuk, and President, Etinan Federal Constituency Forum Abuja chapter, Chief Jackson Ndueso, during the forum launch of skills acquisition empowerment scheme for women, on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

N5.6m price tag launched by Etisalat for broadband innovation

By Muhammad Sada with agency report

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35,000-dollar (N5.6 million) prize for innovation in mobile broadband product or service in Africa has been launched by telecoms firm, Etisalat Nigeria.

This was disclosed in a statement by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Steven Evans made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos at the weekend, which said that the prize - ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ – was mainly aimed at encouraging and celebrating valuable innovation in the African market.

According to the statement, the award will be in two categories and both prizes would be for driving as well as facilitating mobile broadband use in Africa and that the award would be one of the major attractions at the 15th Annual Africa Com Conference, scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, in November.

It said that the first prize of 25,000 dollars would be for the most innovative product or service launched in the last 12 months and

the second prize of 10,000 dollars was for the most innovative idea. ‘’At Etisalat, we believe that the next big thing in telecommunications in Nigeria and Africa in general is broadband and we are pushing this agenda very seriously, being the first to launch a 3.75G network in Nigeria.’’ ‘’We have launched this award

because we realise the importance of innovative broadband projects, products and services, which have improved the way we live and work and innovation is core to our business strategy at Etisalat and we see ourselves as a young and innovative business, setting, the pace for others in the Nigerian telecommunications industry” the statement said.

uaranty Trust Bank (GTB) has provided facilities and laboratories in selected schools in Bauchi state.

The North-East Senior Manager of Guaranty Trust Bank Mr. Ahmed Lawi Liman, who stated this at the weekend while commissioning the newly constructed chemistry laboratory donated by Guaranty Trust Bank at the Government Day Secondary School, Bauchi.

He explained that the donation is part of the bank’s effort to discharge its social responsibility to the society, noting that they have been executing projects in the school since 2006 so as to revamp it and motivate teachers and students.

Liman said that although the

500 entrepreneurs to benefit from Google online training

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o fewer than 500 Nigerian Entrepreneurs will benefit from this year’s Google online training for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The training, tagged: “Succeed Online” is part of effort by the online search engine to assist small and medium business owner in the country to make better use of

U.S pledges to strengthen bilateral relations with Nigeria

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he Consul-General to the U.S Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Jeffrey Hawkins yesterday said that his country would assist Nigeria in solving some of its challenges, including insecurity and environmental degradation.

Hawkins ,who said this in Lagos, added that this was to promote and strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries. He said this at the 2012 International Partner Forum, organised by the Commercial

Service Department of the Embassy.

“Business between Nigeria and the U.S businessmen is important to both countries' bilateral relations.

“We need to explore the markets and improve the existing bilateral relations between us,” he said.

The Envoy said the U.S. government was prepared to support Nigeria in solving environmental challenges and problems, as well as ensure security of lives and

school is owned by the government, the bank deemed it proper to contribute in rehabilitating public schools across the country in the areas of beautification, structural renovation and provision of instructional materials in order to boost education, which is the basic ingredient for meaningful development.

The Senior Manger also assured of his bank’s commitment to continue the gesture and asked the general public to patronise the bank.

While responding, the state commissioner of education, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Aminu commended GTB for the gesture, saying that this type of gesture will go a long way in contributing towards development of education in the state.

properties.Hawkins said Nigerian government should create an enabling environment for investors in order to promote trade and investment between both countries.

“We want to develop new markets across the world and Nigeria has a huge market; she is our target, `` he said. Mrs Rebecca Armand, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy, urged the Nigerian government to expedite action on infrastructure development. (NAN)

the internet in reaching more customers and meeting their business goals.

Speaking on the training, Marketing Manager for SME products at Google Nigeria, Bunmi Banjo said the objective of the free online training series is to educate small and medium business owners on crucial tips that would help them boost the impact of their online presence.

She also said business owners with websites can benefit from a comprehensive online presence which includes good use of social media and listings, blogs among others at no cost.

The Succeed Online training series is part of the Get Nigerian Businesses Online programme (GNBO) launched in September 2011. The initiative has so far enabled over 25,000 SMEs in Nigeria to build their own websites for free.

The programme is a joint initiative by Google and partners such as Ecobank to help SMEs create their first websites and help them make the most of the opportunities offered by the Internet.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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Meet Africa's Top 5 banks CEOs Standard Bank Group, Absa Group, FirstRand, Investec and Nedbank are the five biggest banks in Africa, with a combined asset base of $535 billion. Yet how much is really known about the CEOs that run these African powerhouses? Take a look at the five biggest CEOs in African banking.

Maria Ramos, Absa Group

5 Jacko Maree

Jacko Maree, Standard Bank Group

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aree, 53, is a former Rhodes scholar and the CEO of the Standard Bank Group, Africa's largest financial services conglomerate.

The $23 billion bank operates in 33 different countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Turkey, Russia, Argentina and Jersey.

Maree is also chairman of The Banking Association in South Africa and a former director of the International Monetary Conference.

He has been named South Africa's most trusted CEO three times. Maree is all about adapting, with Standard Bank recently changing policy and focusing more on Africa. In the past 18

months though, the bank has sold an operation in Russia and is selling off another in Argentina.

It cut staff in London, where it once employed more than 2,000 to about 1,200, and it more than halved employees in Hong Kong and looks set to slash headcount in Brazil.

At the same time, the company says it's opening new branches in key markets in Africa such as Nigeria where it added 145 new branches in the past year and a half to total 175. It says it will have 200 by February 2013. "You have to change the business model to [suit] what's going on in the industry," says Maree.

Stephen Koseff

3-year-old South African Ramos heads up Absa Group, South Africa's largest bank.

Absa is majority-owned by Barclays and posted sizeable profits last year. She is in charge of the integration of Barclays and Absa's African units in order to further its "One Bank in Africa" strategy and push regional growth.

Ramos joined Absa in 2009, having previously had a rich career in the public sector, serving as Group CEO of Transnet Limited, the state-owned rail, pipeline and ports agency. She also served as South Africa's director general of the National Treasury in the first post-apartheid government. She is married to former finance minister Trevor Manuel.

Ramos has spotted an opportunity to team with Barclays and take advantage of their network to reach more people across Africa. The two are engaged in discussions about a possible combination of the majority of the Barclays Africa operations with Absa by 2013.

The move, which is in line with the strategy to operate as one bank in Africa, is expected to involve the combination of Barclays' interests in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and the Indian Ocean with Absa, with Barclays Bank PLC remaining as the majority shareholder of the combined African operations.

Michael Brown

Michael Brown, Nedbank

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ike Brown became Nedbank CEO in February 2010, succeeding the retiring Tom Boardman. Prior to that he was the group's chief financial officer and an executive director, holding those positions since June 2004.

The bank recently announced a 25 per cent rise in first half earnings and said it was on course to meet its growth targets for the full year. The group's headline earnings rose to 3.5 billion rand ($419 million), up from 2.8 billion rand for the same period

the previous year, while headline earnings per share increased by 23.5 percent.

Brown said the results were underpinned "by good revenue growth, prudent provisioning, responsible expense management and increased capital and liquidity ratios". He has been a vocal critic of the Basel III capital requirements, saying: "In its present format it is unworkable in a developing market, such as South Africa, which also happens to have a developed mortgage market."

(Source: Ventures Africa)

Jacko Maree

Stephen Koseff, Investec

Sizwe Nxasana, FirstRand

urrently under pressure to cut costs at the bank, Koseff is paid a cool $5.3 million per year. The 60-yearold took over as CEO in 1996, after being the No. 2 executive for eight years.

Since Investec's shares started trading on the London Stock Exchange in 2002, he has spent $1.2 billion on three all-stock acquisitions in Britain, including the 2007

xasana, who succeeded Paul Harris as CEO of FirstRand in January, is South Africa's best-paid bank chief after the bank boosted his remuneration to $6.4 million.

The 53-year-old received more than double the 2009 remuneration of South Africa's second- highest paid bank CEO, Standard Bank Group's Jacko Maree. He served as Chief

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purchase of sub-prime mortgage provider Kensington Group Plc, investment manager Rensburg Sheppards Plc in 2010 and stockbroker Evolution Group Plc last year.

He is the most under pressure of all the CEOs, and this year had his compensation cut 87 percent and his bonus denied after profit dropped and returns hit a record low.

N Maria Ramos

Executive Officer of Telkom SA Limited from 1998 to 2005 and National President of Absa Group Limited from 1991 to 1994. He holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science and is a Chartered Accountant.

Nxasana is overseeing a acquisition strategy at FirstRand, having recently announced that it was to buy a 75 percent shareholding in Merchant Bank Ghana.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

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A couple’s near fatal checkpoint experience F

or this couple Steven Tsua and Jennifer Tsua, July 4 th will remain indelible in their lives. On that day, Jennifer Tsua and her husband, both residents of Vandeikya local government area of Benue state, Makurdi around 7pm in a Honda car, 96 model with registration number AJ 464 GbK for Vandeikya. And when they approached a checkpoint mounted by the Nigerian Air Force, not too far away from the Makurdi Air Force Base along GbokoMakurdi road, they also queued up to be checked.

When it came to their turn, they were checked and told to go.

As her husband was still manoeurvring the car to avoid any of the drums placed on the highway around the checkpoint to slow down vehicles as they approached, they heard the sound of a gunshot and before

To say insecurity has become Nigeria’s major challenge is to say the obvious.

What is not too obvious is that people sometimes are hurt by those paid to safeguard them. This was what happened recently to a couple in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, reports Uche Nnorom. they realized what was happening, Jennifer screamed, “I have been shot,” and her head dropped on the door of the car. Steven, on seeing Jennifer in that condition, was mollified; he too collapsed due to shock.

At that point, the Air Force officers on duty drove them in their car to the Air

Athanasius Atser Kyausu took in the couple

Force Base hospital that was close by. Few minutes later, Steven regained consciousness and began to cry profusely as he thought his wife, Jennifer, had been and killed. Steven waited anxiously till around 11pm when Jennifer was referred to Benue State Teaching Hospital for further medical

treatment.

At the hospital it was found out that Jennifer had been hit in the right hand side of her ribs and left leg, and the x-ray showed one bullet had hit the knee cap and the other one stuck in the bone called tibia. An ambulance was provided and Jennifer was taken to Benue State Teaching Hospital (BSTH).

The driver of the ambulance reportedly refused to sign the hospital papers before treatment was commenced on Jennifer but an Air Force officer who came in few minutes later did so.

Due to the extent of the damage, a team of six doctors was hurriedly brought together and Jennifer was operated upon. Two bullets were removed from her left leg during the operation and two implants were fixed inside the knee cap and one fixed inside the left leg. She was told that she would carry the implants for a period of six months and after that she would return to the hospital for another surgery to remove the implants.

When our reporter visited Benue State Hospital, Jennifer, was still on admission and in great pain and could hardly speak.

When asked whether the Nigerian Air Force had taken responsibility of underwriting her medical bills and paying for other damages, her husband said no.

“I have spent more than to N300,000 right now,” he revealed, adding, “most of the drugs prescribed for her I have to buy from a pharmacy. And when she is discharged from the hospital, only God knows how much money will be charged. I live in Vandeikya but I tell you, there is no pharmacy in Makurdi that I don’t know since my wife has been on admission here.

“I have four children and I have left them to come and take care of my wife in the hospital. When she was being operated upon for ten hours, I

Jenneifer Athanasius on her hospital bed at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi

thought she had died and they didn’t want to tell me.

“I love my wife very much and she loves me too. It has not been easy caring for her especially at night. She will not know exactly how to position her leg and she can’t even lie on her back properly because of the other gun injury on her back. The nurses too are doing a great job but most importantly, I am grateful to God that she is alive.

“As for my car, it is still

at the Air Force Base premises. I went to get it but I was told to pay N12,840 before I will take the car. I think that the money includes charges for the treatment and the ambulance used to transfer my wife from their hospital to Benue state Teaching hospital.”

When asked why they were shot at, Steven said the Air Police investigator, Corporal Danjuma Samuel Sabo, told him that the soldier who actually shot at them was the

same man that had checked and told them to go but that the man targeted a bus

behind their car.

He was also told that the man who he simply referred

“

I love my wife very much and she loves me too. It has not been easy caring for her especially at night. She will not know exactly how to position her leg and she can’t even lie on her back properly because of the other gun injury on her back. The nurses too are doing a great job but most importantly, I am grateful to God that she is alive

to as Suleiman had been locked up in the guardroom.

On the 16 th of July this month, he was again informed by the Air police investigator that Suleiman had been taken to the Benue State criminal Investigation Department.

When the Air Police investigator was called to confirm the incident, he declined to comment, saying that he was not the person to give confirm what happened.

This case is just one of

several that often go unheard of. Whether the Nigerian Air Force is planning to settle the medical bills of Jennifer at a future date is not yet known.

What actually warranted the shooting only those on duty that day could explain.

Meanwhile the husband had sought redress from the Benue state House of Assembly through Hon. Abraham Agba but the process can be terribly slow.

Recently, Steven and Athanesius Atser Kyausu, who

has been taking care of the couple’s welfare since they were admitted in the hospital, went to Criminal Investigation Department of the Benue state Police Command, where they were earlier told by the Air Police investigator that Suleiman was taken, but to their shock Suleiman was not there. In fact, the personal assistant to the Benue state Police Commissioner said he was not aware that someone with that name like was ever in their custody.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

ADP has cushioned effects of high price of agricultural inputs – Programme Manager

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r Onyema Nwodo, the Programme Manager, Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ENADEP), said the programme had gone a long way in cushioning the effects of high price of agricultural inputs.

Nwodo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu recently that the programme started by subsidising the price of fertilisers.

He also said the programme ensured that all the farmers in the state got fertilisers at the appropriate time.

The programme manager explained that the programme also provided seeds of yams, cassava and maize, among others to farmers in the state.

Nwodo added that the main target of the programme was to make seeds available to all farmers in the state at the appropriate time to boost food production in line with the fourpoint agenda of th e s t a t e government.

“Presently, we are collaborating with all the farmers' associations and all the stakeholders in the agricultural sector when we want to distribute herbicides to farmers in the state.

“This has gone a long way in improving the efficiency of this year's harvest.

“The issue of removing weeds in our farms is no longer productive in modern agricultural practices.

“To conform to the acceptable global practices in agricultural production, ENADEP is committed to ensuring that herbicides are at the door step of every farmer in the state,'' he said.

“My office has equally made a very serious effort in line with the present international accepted practice to distribute pesticides to all the farmers in the state.

“You can believe me that the quality and quantity of any agricultural produce is directly proportional to the necessary control measures put in place in protecting our farm seeds,'' Nwodo said.

He said the programme had responded to the yearnings of all the farmers in the state by providing herbicides to them to guarantee a bumper harvest.

(NAN)

L-R: Executive Director, editorial matters, news agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Dipo Ogbede (l), with Ifad President, Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, during the latter's visit to NAN Headquarters, on Sunday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Smallholder farmers will feed the world by 2015 - IFAD D

r Kanayo Nwanze, the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) , has projected that small holders farmers will feed the world by 2015.

Nwanze, who made this projection while fielding questions at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Sunday, said that 500 million households were already producing 80 per cent of food for global consumption.

According to him, the highest producers are in the developing countries.

He expressed delight at the turnaround in the fortunes of smallholder farmers, which, he

claimed, began with his assumption of office as IFAD's helmsman in 2009.

He said prior to the latest development, the international community had undermined smallholder agriculture and regarded it as hopeless practice.

“I said that 500 million households produce 80 per cent of the food that is consumed globally and most of them are in the developing world; we must focus on smallholder agriculture.

“Smallholder agriculture was looked down by most of the international community as a hopeless practice.

“Today, the private sector, governments of the north and of the

south, recognise the powerful role of smallholder producers to feed not only themselves but to feed the world.''

Nwanze said that his vision on assumption of office, which was directed at smallholder farmers, the youth and women, had been sharpened as discussions at international fora on agriculture usually placed emphasis on issues related to these three groups.

“We have turned this around not just by speaking but, by demonstrating what this can do.

“We have been able to help to organise farmers, farmer's organisations, women's organisations, linking them to

international markets.

“In Guatemala, the farmers' organisations we work with are the major suppliers of French beans to Wall Mart, in Miami, United States.

“Cocoa producers in Sao Tome are the main suppliers of high quality cocoa to Café Direct in the UK and so on and so forth.

“In Uganda, oil palm producers have now worked together with a company producing aggressively more than10percentofoilpalmrequirements.''

According to him, his vision in 2015 istobeabletocreatemarketopportunities through IFAD partnerships for smallholder farmers to enable them to become highly commercialised.

...Western investments in African agriculture is no land grab

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he International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has rejected the perception of agricultural investment by Western nations in developing countries as ``land grabbing'' or neo-colonialism.

IFAD President, Dr Anayo Nwanze, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at a forum in Abuja on Sunday that the term land grab gave an impression that the people's land were being taken over without their consent.

“The term land grab is a certainly an unfortunate one in the sense that it gives you the impression of people coming to grab your land without your consent.

“On the contrary, we know that the so-called land grab is done by consent of those concerned in those countries.

“Either by invitation or otherwise and that is why I tend not to accept the terminology land grab

and I refer to it as investment in agriculture.

“For the simple reason that it takes two to tango. Perhaps it's a governance issue in some countries, attracted by money that is offered and this is why the international community has put together what is called guidelines to responsible investment in agriculture.

“The idea is to help provide guidelines to both investors and recipients of this process.

“I don't think there is anything wrong if somebody says he wants to invest in my country, now it is how they do it and how we negotiate it.

“Countries have the responsibility to negotiate the best they can to ensure the benefit of such investments that accrue to the country and to the population.

He expressed regret that African markets were the least developed in the world, adding that the continent

also lacked the capacity to generate energy.

Nwanze said, however, that Africa is the next frontier for development.

“Africa, in my own opinion, is next frontier for development; we have an opportunity here to capitalise on it; it is not neo-colonialism, if we know exactly what gain is at stake here.

“Where else in the world do you have opportunities for generating energy: energy for agriculture, energy for industrialisation, energy for electrification?

“Where else in the world do you have so much rich agricultural land?

Do you know that Africa has 60 per cent of all available agricultural land worldwide? Do you know that Africa uses less than 13 kg of fertilisers per hectare?

“Do you know that less than five per cent of all agricultural land in Africa is irrigated? Do you know

that farmers in Africa, less than 5 per cent use improved seed varieties? Do you know that African markets are the least developed?

“If you turn all these statistics around and you talk about climate change, which other part of the world can you invest one dollar and double your yield, yet, not polluting the environment, increasing wealth, creating vibrant markets.

“I would say that rather than cry that people are grabbing our lands, let's ensure that we help our leaders who are negotiating this land deals, make the best out of it.

“Ensure that it is time-bound and that the communities that are affected benefit from it.

“So, rather than cry foul, I will say let's take the problem head on and turn it around to the benefit of those countries that posses the potential to feed themselves and feed the world.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Institute Director says food wastage increases pressure on global water resources

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r Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director S t o c k h o l m International Water Institute (SIWI) yesterday called for global action to reduce food wastage to relieve the pressure on water and land resources.

Holmgren made the call while addressing global leaders during the opening ceremony of the 2012 World Water Week in Stockholm with the theme: "Water and Food Security".

"Reducing food wastage is the most direct way and smartest route to relieve pressure on water and land resources," he said.

The Executive Director said a quarter of all the water used in the world was taken to grow over one billion tonnes of food that was not usually consumed.

"That water, together with the billions of dollars spent to grow, ship and package the food is sent down the drain," he said.

Holmgren added that half of the cases of malnutrition worldwide resulted from illness and infection from dirty water or unhygienic sanitation.

He urged participants to discuss the latest innovations and successful practises to provide clean water and safe sanitation to over two billion people who do not have access to these amenities.

Also speaking, Jose Graziano Da Silva, Director General, Food and Agricultural Organisation, (FAO) said that investment in small holder farmers was critical to food and water security.

"Throughout the world, 2.6 billion small scale farmers till the land, raise animals and fish and are the main providers of food in the developing world.

"If we want them to produce more sustainably, preserving natural resources, adapting and contributing to the mitigation of climate change we need to help them," he said.

He said agriculture still hold the key to sustainable water and food security for all people.

PAGE 28

Association urges govt to attract youths into farming A

lhaji Dandamma Yabo, Chairman, Yam Sellers Association of Nigeria (YSAN), in Lagos urged the Federal Government to attract more youths into farming.

Yabo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that such a move would help in creating jobs for the unemployed youths, and reduce the crime rate in the society.

"Agriculture would have been a major tool of government in creating jobs but it is very unfortunate that our government did not exploit it", he said.

Yabo advised government to work directly with genuine farmers, saying that no industry or factory could create jobs like the agriculture sector. ``Most youths look at farming

as the last hope of an individual. ``There is need to erase this impression by the youths. `` Government must create a forum where it can dialogue regularly with grassroot farmers. ``At such forum, farmers would be able to discuss their challenges directly with the government on how government can assist them,'' he said.

Yabo said that government could only transform the agricultural sector by making direct contact with genuine farmers.

He said that he was aware that government made effort to transform agriculture, adding that such transformation could only work if government made direct contact with genuine farmers.

(NAN)

Lives stock on display, during the last year agricultural show, at Tudun Wada, in Nasarawa state.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Women leader praises IFAD for assisting cooperative development in A/Ibom

A

women leader, Mrs Glory Thompson, has lauded the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for facilitating the development of women cooperative society in OrukAnam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

Thompson, who gave the commendation at an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN in Oruk-Anam, said that IFAD had facilitated the development of women

cooperative society in village since its arrival in 2008.

"They taught us how to do business, keep records and helped us to form cooperative. We are a registered cooperative society in Akwa Ibom.

"Now our women cooperative group is worth N500, 000 in savings from here, we give loans of N25,000 each to interested members."

Thompson, who disclosed that the cooperative arrangement was

better than the Osusu Club (contribution), added, "our women are happy."

She said that aside the cooperative society, IFAD had also trained her at the Songhai Farm in Rivers State, where she remains a member of the vegetable/Plantain farming group.

"We are 20 in that group involved in promoting the growing of Afang, a community based natural resource used as vegetable in cooking soup."

"My prayer is that IFAD should

Drought, food supply fears boost small-scale irrigation - study

F

armers in South Asia and subSaharan Africa are increasingly taking up small-scale irrigation schemes as drought threatens the security of food supplies, a report by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) said.

"With food security back on the international agricultural agenda and climate change increasing the uncertainty of rainfall, it is an opportune time to reconsider investments related to irrigated agriculture," the study said.

Small-scale irrigation technology, such as motorised pumps and hosing to access groundwater, could cost a sub-Saharan African small holder 250 dollars or more.

But could improve crop yields by

between 75 and 275 per cent, the report said.

"Factors are working to potentially move the world into another food crisis like 2007-2008, triggered by a U.S. drought. ``The late onset and irregularity of the South Asian monsoon in addition, pose their threat too," Colin Chartres, IWMI director general, said in an interview.

"If there is more investment in small-scale irrigation, it means food supply in those countries is more secure. ``It won't replace the need for staple cereal crops, but it gives farmers more insurance against a food crisis."

Small-scale irrigation schemes usually cover areas less than two

hectares. Farmers largely initiate and finance irrigation equipment individually or in small groups and use low-cost technologies such as buckets, watering cans and pumps.

In Ghana, around 185,000 hectares are under small-scale irrigation schemes, benefiting half a million small holders, and some 170,000 farmers in Burkina Faso water vegetable crops in the dry season using small-scale irrigation, IWMI estimates.

Vegetable production has nearly tripled in the Burkina Faso to 160,000 tonnes in 2005 from 60,000 tonnes in 1996 and is still growing, the report said.

Food and water security are high on the world's agenda as the U.S.

experiences its driest summer since the 1930s, sending grain prices to all-time highs.

Climate change is also increasing the uncertainty of rainfall, meaning that groundwater supplies are not being replenished and rainwater is difficult to collect to feed crops.

The majority of the world's poor live in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and most of these people live in rural areas and work in agriculture.

Sub-Saharan African agricultural productivity is the lowest in the world, mainly due to poor water availability, access and management.

Meanwhile, frequent droughts, flood-prone terrain and water logging after monsoons hinder productivity in South Asia.

not withdraw from the community because through IFAD sponsored adult education, many women can now read and write."

Thompson said that IFAD had assisted the community to build an adult education centre within the community Primary School premises and also provided some instructional materials.

In a separate interview, a plantain farmer, Mr Ubong Jimbo, told NAN that IFAD had assisted him to plant 305 stands of plantain.

He said the body gave him training on plantain planting and ways of applying fertiliser.

Jimbo, however, complained that farming had been labour intensive and appealed for financial support from IFAD to hire labour.

At Nung Ikot Ikot Udo Offiong village, still in Oruk-Anam LGA, IFAD assisted the community to build a town hall, which serves as a meeting point for discussion on community development.

Speaking with NAN, the State IFAD Programme Officer, Mrs Essien Uwe-Bassey, said that IFAD spent less than N700, 000 to build the 250 seat -capacity town hall.

"This was possible because the community cooperated with the IFAD team and supplied labour and other materials.'' (NAN)

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

He volunteered to fight for Britain, now this soldier faces deportation and jail

By Ian Drury, David Williams and Glyn Strong

H

e has served in the British Army for four years with an 'exemplary record', but Poloko Hiri has now been ordered out of the UK - because of a speeding offence.

The 32-year-old from Botswana has had his application for citizenship rejected by the UK Border Agency who claimed the single offence was a sign of 'bad character'.

Officials ruled the soldier should be bracketed with murderers, rapists and drug dealers - ordering him to

quit the country by next Friday.

It is a decision that effectively leaves Sapper Hiri stateless as he faces certain arrest, prosecution and up to 25 years in jail if he returns to Botswana which deems enlisting in a foreign army a criminal offence.

His case has left the Government accused once again of 'betraying' the military, following round after round of spending cuts.

And it comes days after the furore over Fiji-born Lance Corporal Bale Baleiwai, 32, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, who was threatened with deportation last month because he was disciplined by his commanding officer for a fight

with a colleague in 2010.

Following an outcry, he was granted an 11th hour reprieve.

Campaigners for Sapper Hiri contrast his case with that of foreigners who have been allowed to stay despite awful crimes, such as Iraqi Aso Mohammed Ibrahim, who left a girl of 12 to die under the wheels of his car.

Sapper Hiri's supporters have urged David Cameron to intervene, pointing out the UKBA's decision is at odds with the Premier's pledge to uphold the Military Covenant, society's duty of care to servicemen.

Sapper Hiri said: 'For speeding, I am being treated the same as a

On exercise: Spr Hiri with the Royal Engineers in Canada last year

By M C Rajan and Sam Shead

'Stateless': Sapper Poloko Hiri is now being denied citizenship in the UK due to a speeding fine which he received in April 2011 A UK Border Agency spokesman said: 'Each claim for settlement is considered on individual circumstances and in line with published policy.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Serial bride: Woman marries more than a dozen men before, disappears with all their money

A

Marriage crazy: Shahanaz is originally from Kerala

murderer or drug lord or a burglar.

'I am trapped. If I go back home I'll be thrown in jail. If I stay here, I'll be breaking the law.'

The veteran, who has a sixmonth-old baby girl Peo in London with his ex-girlfriend, enlisted as a Commonwealth serviceman in the Royal Engineers in August 2008.

Sapper Hiri, who lives in Leeds, became a design draughtsman drawing up plans for bases, roads and other construction projects - and joined 73 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 21 Engineer Regiment.

He completed exercises in the UK and Canada. In August 2011, he gave 12 months notice he wanted to leave the Army to take a degree in archaeological technology at London South Bank University - a move 'fully supported' by commanders.

In April this year, he applied for British citizenship ahead of his Army leaving date, August 31. But the UKBA rejected his bid because he had received a ÂŁ100 fine and five penalty points for speeding on the M1.

The Army was 'genuinely concerned' that Sapper Hiri could be arrested and prosecuted if he was sent home to Botswana.

Veterans Aid chief executive Dr Hugh Milroy, who has been helping fight Sapper Hiri's case, said: 'We recruited Poloko and now we are treating him as if he is illegal.

'It springs to my mind these people appear disposable, almost like slavery, and no-one seems to care.'

Since January, Veterans Aid has dealt with 70 former Commonwealth soldiers who face being thrown out of Britain.

young runaway bride from Kerala, India, is being chased by police after leaving countless men with broken hearts and empty pockets.

Shahanaz, believed to be 33, has allegedly married over a dozen men in the last few years.

Though some reports claimed she has 'married' over 50 times, officials claim that only 15 have surfaced.

Shahanaz first married approximately 11 years ago to a man named Siddique, with whom she had a child.

However, her marriage-spree only came to light when two of her husbands approached the Chennai Police and follow up complaints were made by several other victims.

A total of seven formal complaints have now been made against her but it is possible many more embarrassed victims exist.

The first to submit a complaint was a Manikandan, 24, who works at a car showroom.

Shahanaz told him she was in search of a man that had cheated on her friend after promising to marry her.

According to the Indian Express, the two spoke many times over the phone and soon became close.

She told him that she was orphaned early in life and claimed to be an advocate

at the Madras High Court. She also said that she was studying for civil service examinations.

The two got married in April without the approval of Manikandan's parents.

Two months later, Shahanaz convinced Manikandan that she needed to stay in a women's hostel so that she could prepare for civil service.

Manikandan claimed he sold the jewels he had bought for the wedding so that Shahanaz had some money to take with her when she left.

Two weeks later, she went missing from the hostel and is yet to be traced.

As the city police started probing the case, another person, Prasanna, a district levelfootballplayer,cameforwardsaying he too had married her some years ago.

Once again she cited civil service preparations as a reason to move into a hostel and then disappeared with his valuables.

According to Prasanna, there was an incident when another person claimed that Shahanaz was his wife and approached the police.

The inspector at the women's police station questioned both parties, but allowed Shahanaz to go with Prasanna after the woman told the officials that the other person, Suresh, was a just a friend while Prasanna was her husband.

The couple also produced a photo album of their marriage to strengthen

their claim.

Police have now found out that Shahanaz has also married others including: a Rajesh, a Chandrababu and a Saravanan. More names are still emerging.

Police are now pursuing the thief and they suspect she may have been involved in other criminal activities as well.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 30

Woman, 46, shed skin ‘like a snake’ after extreme reaction to drugs she took

A

mother who was prescribed drugs to combat a rare autoimmune condition made her shed her whole skin - like a human snake.

Mary Holder, 46, lost 98 per cent of her skin and almost died when her body burst into blisters and burns after she took medication to treat lupus.

Called Quinoric, it was recommended to the mother-oftwo even though medics knew it could cause the painful skin condition Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

But even doctors were stunned by her violent reaction, which even made her eye balls peel, and all of her hair fall out.

She was rushed to hospital with third degree burns, which were so severe medics could only describe her as a "walking open wound".

At its worst, Mary was placed in isolation and warned by doctors to say her final goodbyes to her family.

When she miraculously pulled through, her body had been so badly damaged she had to learn to walk again. But determined to stop anyone else suffering her agony, she launched a bid to force warnings to be added to all Quinoric packaging.

Now drugs chiefs have asked the pharmaceutical firm, which makes Quinoric, to add warnings to their packaging about the dangers of the excruciating snake skin illness, SJS. Mary said she refused to give in even though all the liquid in her body dried up - leaving her no tears to cry.

She said: 'It is the worst pain of my life, your body wants to die. But when you are told to get your family around you because this could be it, you find strength from somewhere.

'It is hard to explain but I wasn't going to die and I wasn't going to let it beat me.

'I refused to say goodbye to

my family and my husband stayed by my bed every minute of the day.

'It was exceptionally difficult for my family to cope with, my daughter was so traumatised by the sight of me she only visited me once, she thought she would never see me again.

'I nearly went blind, my hair fell out by the hand-full and was covered in three degree burns, I thought I would never feel well again. I felt like I had been scorched and set fire too.

'The consultant who prescribed the drug to me was shocked to see my condition. He told me, 'Well Mary, you look like you have been dropped in a bath of acid'.'

Mary, of Chichester, Sussex, was diagnosed with lupus in January 2011 - a condition where the immune system starts to attack healthy cells, tissue and organs.

She was prescribed Quinoric by medics to help treat it, but after taking just four tablets her lips became swollen and she suffered shortness of breath.

Mary scanned the medical advice leaflet and stopped taking the medication when a painful rash began to develop on her body.

She made constant visits to her GP, who prescribed steroids, and applied dressings to the blisters and sent her home.

Warning: Mary Holder lost 98 per cent of her surface skin after she took medication to treat lupus.

She has campaigned to have the skin reaction added to the list of possible adverse side-effects But by the time a doctor finally diagnosed her with Stevens-Johnson syndrome Mary was in constant agony and could barely walk.

Her husband of 27 years, forest manager Michael, 48, rushed her to St Richards hospital, Chichester, where she was placed in isolation room to help combat the infection.

Some of the medication Mary needed to take following a reaction to the drug Quinoric

Worst pain of my life: Mary was told she could die but refused to give up

By February 1, 2011, she had shed all but two per cent of her skin and she was advised to say her final goodbyes to her children Leanne, 18, and Christopher, 23.

Incredibly, after a week in intensive care Mary pulled through, but is still battling to recover from the lasting effects of the illness.

Following the illness, Mary launched 15 month battle for warnings about the dangers of SJS be included on the drugs packing and in the accompanying user information.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MRHA) has now asked Quinoric manufacturer, Bristol Laboratories, to create a new leaflet highlighting the risk of side affects with their drug.

Mary added: 'I look at my body and it does get me down, the scaring on my legs is horrific.

I am lucky to be alive but my body will never been the same again.

'We are having to move as I can am no longer financially able to help support the family and I just feel like because of me my family is being broken up, prodded and poked.

'My illness put all of them through so much I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.'

A spokesperson for MRHA said: 'We are sorry to hear that Ms Holder has suffered serious side-effects from her medication.

'Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a very rare side-effect and the patient information leaflet for Quinoric includes an easy to understand description of the symptoms of SJS rather than just referring to SJS which most people would find difficult to understand.'

Bristol Laboratories said it had included all the information on the medication leaflet as required by law. The company added it would not comment on

an individual's case.

However, a spokesman said: 'Patient information leaflets are intended to be written in an easy to understand style for people so that they supplement the discussions that take place between the patient and their doctor.

'As a UK-based pharmaceutical company, Bristol Laboratories Ltd is required to provide in the patient information leaflets included in the packages of drugs that it distributes only and exactly the precise wording that is prescribed by the Medical Health Regulation Agency.

'Bristol Laboratories Ltd is a responsible and ethical company which complies with its regulations in respect of patient information and works closely with the Medical Health Regulation Agency to ensure that patients are well informed of all possible sideeffects.

'The legal responsibility for the patient information leaflet lies with Bristol Laboratories as they are the marketing authorisation holder.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Mary Holder in intensive care, suffering from StevensJohnson Syndrome

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 31

ANALYSIS

By Dan Hind

T

he Coalition of the Radical Left ("Syriza") in Greece includes communists, socialists, and environmentalists, reforming socialists and revolutionary communists. It campaigns on a shared platform, but each constituent party retains its own identity. Eight years ago in 2004 it secured just over 3 per cent of the popular vote. Since then, while the established parties of left and right took turns mismanaging the economy, the coalition has grown in popularity. It is now the second largest party in the country, winning nearly 27 per cent of the vote in the election in June this year.

The Greek electoral system combines some majoritarian elements with proportional representation and its particularities no doubt have some bearing on the nature of the Syriza coalition. But I wonder whether reformers and revolutionaries in the Englishspeaking world, Britain in particular, and England most especially, have something to learn from Syriza's example. The British electoral system is punishingly difficult for small parties to break into. Nationalist parties are strong in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but the big three parties dominate the electoral map in England.

After decades of campaigning, the Green Party has managed to win one parliamentary seat. Salma Yaqoob's Respect wins seats here and there, now and then, most recently in Bradford West. But the growing disenchantment with the current political and economic settlement finds scarce expression in the political class or the major media.

The Labour, Conservative and Liberal parties are all now thoroughly implicated in an economic crisis that is bad and getting worse. Yet at the moment they have the luxury of being able to ignore those who do not share their basic assumptions. What passes for responsible opinion in Westminster unites around the need to impose austerity on the majority in order to placate the markets and restore the animal spirits of the financial sector. The Coalition is to be protected until 2015, despite its manifest administrative incompetence and intellectual bankruptcy. Presented with evidence of their alarming lead in the polls, Labour MPs insist that they have a long way to go before they can regain the trust of the British people. The Labour leader Ed Miliband wants us to believe in him, it seems, but not too much.

The Labour movement decisively broke the Liberal-Conservative duopoly in 1945 by converting the vast reserves of solidarity and trust created in workplace struggles into votes in national elections. But while Labour's breakthrough secured important social advances - most notably a National Health Service the party now seems intent on policies that do little or nothing for its longsuffering supporters. It is not a plausibly left-wing party, for all that most of the few socialists still in Parliament are Labour party members. It doesn't have a convincing agenda for thoroughgoing reform and appears reluctant to acquire one.

This creates an opportunity for the Green Party, for disaffected former supporters of the Liberal and Labour parties, for TUSC and Respect, for the

Greek lessons Syriza united a diverse coalition in Greece - could other countries like England emulate the results? [EPA]

new movements associated with the student movement and the occupations of last year, for campaigners against austerity and those who have mobilised to resist the hollowing out of the welfare state.

Much of the political nation has been asphyxiated by the combination of the first-past-the-post electoral system and the BBC. But though all too many have been denied the oxygen of publicity they are still there, and they are losing patience. Perhaps all the parties and groups listed above cannot find enough common ground to sign up to a coalition against austerity and a political culture that now seems almost comically bereft of ideas and imagination. But some of them can particularly if this shared programme acknowledges that no consensus yet

exists for what will have to be a farreaching political and economic settlement. We can't print money and give it to bankers indefinitely, after all.

A Coalition of the Radical Left in Britain could perhaps also agree to campaign for an end to the country's predatory foreign policy, for the dismantling of the offshore network, for democratic control of the central banks, urgent action to address the threat of catastrophic climate change, and reform of the national media regimes. In my view this last measure is the most important. We urgently need a public culture in which we are able to discuss imperialism, the economy, and the environment in ways that connect meaningfully with the facts. The existing arrangements

“

A Coalition of the Radical Left in Britain could perhaps also agree to campaign for an end to the country's predatory foreign policy, for the dismantling of the offshore network, for democratic control of the central banks, urgent action to address the threat of catastrophic climate change, and reform of the national media regimes.

seem designed expressly to prevent the emergence of such a public culture.

Still the Britain is as it is.

Territoriality is key. Winner-takes-all, single seat constituencies favour those who can present themselves as a national government in waiting while drawing on local organisation and established loyalties. There are no plausible challengers to incumbents at the moment because no single party seems capable of breaking the grip of the incumbents nationwide. But more and more people reject the governing consensus and are anyway sceptical about traditional parties, professional politicians and the habits of sentiment they seek to exploit.

Perhaps they will support a programme of reform that opens the way to further changes. Perhaps they are ready to take responsibility for the predicament in which they find themselves. They can vote for a candidate who has subscribed to the shared platform - a set of transitional demands, as they used to say - without having to support their long-term agenda. Assemblies could be convened to debate the platform and indicate who they would like their candidate to be. The platform can provide the foundations for new kinds of political association.

Clearly those who are disenchanted with the established parties disagree with one another on many issues. At times a wild energy surrounds our differences while our shared principles go unremarked.

There is nothing like the dream of a better world to bring out the worst in people. But still, I remain an optimist.

The unreformed political and

communications condominium currently denies millions a meaningfully public status. Their concerns are not represented in the national debate and they have no immediate means to articulate, much less secure, their objectives. An amalgam of reformist and revolutionary parties and individuals, organised around a comprehensible agenda, can begin to give form to the undoubted desire for change, in England in particular. At a minimum an effective Coalition of the Radical Left would force the Labour to become more straightforwardly social democratic. (It might also strengthen the hand of progressives in Scotland as that country takes on new powers and responsibilities.)

If things continue to deteriorate at the present rate, it might be the means by which we secure a much more thorough transformation.

The obstacles are formidable but they can be overcome because they have to be. It is too late for faith in the swindles of representation, too late for the purity of abstention.

Things are too serious. Let's focus on what we want and unite around an electoral alternative to the goons, frauds and chancers who currently run the show. We'll still have plenty of time to tear lumps out of each other on Twitter.

Dan Hind is the author of two books, The Threat to Reason and The Return of the Public. His pamphlet Common Sense: Occupation, Assembly, and the Future of Liberty, was published as an e-book in March. He is a member of the Tax Justice Network. Source: Al Jazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 32

Togo women call sex strike against President Gnassingbe W South Africa miners start returning to work

M

iners at South Africa's Lonmin-run platinum mine in Marikana are beginning to return to work after a strike in which 44 people were killed, many by police.

Al Jazeera's Tania Page, reporting from Rustenburg near Marikana in the North West province, said on Monday 13 per cent of the 3,000 miners had returned to work to heed the new deadline issued by management.

Those who refuse to resume work will be sacked, said our correspondent.

"We have only seen a handful of miners arriving, but we did see a busload go past here," said Page.

"One of the things to remember here is that while this deadline has been given by Lonmin, over the weekend they did back away from that threat to fire these workers."

She said the government and religious leaders were mediating in talks between unions and Lonmin management to resolve the pay dispute which triggered the strike.

Jacob Zuma, South Africa's president, is expected to face some tough questioning over the violence when he appears before the national executive committee of his ruling African National Congress in the capital Pretoria on Monday.

Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from Johannesburg, said Police patrolled the area around the mine as workers trickled back to work with officers frequently questioning people walking in groups.

Armed private security guards controlled access to the mine where the morning underground shift started at 5am (0300 GMT).

"I came to see if it is safe to return to work. Police have advised us not to mill around in groups around the mine, they say it is for our safety, " said Johannes Ndebele outside a shaft entrance.

"I decided to return to work because the strike has not been successful, but other people back in the hostel want to continue with the strike. They say they want money first," he added.

Operations at the Marikana mine, the world's third-largest platinum producer, ground to a halt on August 10 when 3,000 rock drill operators started a vigil on a hill, demanding a 300-per cent pay rise.

The strike degenerated into violent clashes between workers, leading to the deaths of 10 people, including two policemen.

omen in Togo have been urged to abstain from sex for a week from Monday to push their demand for reform.

The ban has been called by opposition coalition Let's Save Togo, made up of nine civil society groups and seven opposition parties and movements.

Opposition leader Isabelle Ameganvi said that sex could be a "weapon of the battle" to achieve political change.

The coalition wants President Faure Gnassingbe, whose family has held power for decades, to stand down.

"We have many means to oblige men to understand what women want in Togo," Ms Ameganvi, leader of the women's wing of the coalition, told the BBC. She said she had been inspired by a similar strike by Liberian women in 2003, who used a sex strike to campaign for peace.

"If men refuse to hear our cries we will hold another demonstration that will be more powerful than a sex strike," she added.

Togo has been run by the same family for more than four decades.

President Faure Gnassingbe took power in 2005 following the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema,

Isabelle Ameganvi said holding the strike would ensure women's voices would be heard

who ruled Togo for 38 years. The president was re-elected in 2010.

The strike was announced at a rally on Saturday in Lome, attended by thousands of people.

The rally was held to protest against recent electoral reforms, which demonstrators say will make it easier for Mr Gnassingbe's party to win re-election in the parliamentary polls set for October.

Activists say that the strike will motivate men who are not involved in the political movement to pursue its goals, which include an end to the system allowing unlimited presidential terms.

Earlier this month, two antiGnassingbe protests were dispersed by police using tear gas and more than 100 people were arrested.

The sex strike was welcomed as a

political tool by some women in Lome.

"It's a good thing for us women to observe this sex strike as long as our children are in jail now. I believe that by observing this, we will get them released," Abla Tamekloe told the Associated Press.

"For me, it's like fasting, and unless you fast, you will not get what you want from God."

The demolition of the large Sha'ab mosque happened in broad daylight on Saturday, drawing condemnation from government officials and Libyans across the country and abroad.

In Zlitan, witnesses said that an armed group, claiming to be Salafis, carried out the assault on the Sufi shrine, the tomb of Abdel Salam alAsmar, a 15th-century Muslim scholar.

The president of Libya's newly

services, said that the interior minister's resignation had been accepted by both the prime minister and parliament.

Hurr said that 17 people had been arrested in connection with the desecration of the Sufi shrine.

The attackers destroyed the mosque, which contained Sufi Muslim graves in the centre of Tripoli, a day after Sufi shrines in the city of Zlitan were wrecked and a mosque library was burned.

elected National Congress, Mohamed al-Magariaf, called the prime minister to an emergency meeting on Sunday.

"What is truly regrettable and suspicious is that some of those who took part in these destruction activities are supposed to be of the security forces and from the revolutionaries," Magariaf told reporters on Saturday night.

He did not elaborate on how security forces took part.

A public protest was planned for Sunday at the Algeria Square in Tripoli, calling for support against "the lawless minority" that carried out the attacks.

A Reuters reporter saw the bulldozer level the Sha'ab mosque as police surrounded the site and prevented people from approaching and did not stop the demolition. Inside the mosque, empty graves lay open in the rubble.

"A large number of armed militias carrying medium and heavy weapons arrived at the alSha'ab mosque with the intention to destroy the mosque because of their belief graves are antiIslamic," a government official said.

He told Reuters that authorities tried to stop them but, after a small clash, decided to seal off the area while the demolition took place to prevent any violence spreading.

"The SSC [Libya's Supreme Security Council] joins the ... condemnation," Abdel Moneim alHurr, the council spokesman, said.

A man who appeared to be overseeing the demolition told Reuters the interior ministry had authorised the operation after discovering people had been worshipping the graves and practicing "black magic". The ministry was not available for comment.

Libya minister quits over Sufi shrine attack

T

he Libyan interim interior minister has resigned, after members of the newly-elected parliament accused his ministry of not doing enough to stop attackers who bulldozed a Sufi shrine and mosque.

The official Libyan news agency LANA reported that Fawzi Abdel-Al submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib on Sunday.

Abdel-Moneim al-Hurr, the spokesman for Libya's security

Kenyan cleric ‘with al-Shabab links’ killed

A

radical Kenyan Muslim cleric, blacklisted by the US and the UN for allegedly supporting Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab, has been shot dead, his wife said.

Aboud Rogo Mohammed was killed on Monday in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

Following the killing, protests have erupted in Mombasa in which one person has been killed.

"A car behind us aimed at my husband, they shot him on the right side," Haniya Said, the widow, said screaming in grief.

Witnesses said the car was riddled with bullets.

A photograph released by his supporters showed Mohammed's bloody corpse slumped behind the wheel of a car.

"He died as we rushed him to hospital. Why have they killed my dear husband?" Said said, before she and her children were taken to the hospital.

Thousands of protesters gathered in Mombasa following Mohammed's killing, blocking off streets around the mosque

where he had often preached.

Kenyan police fired teargas to disperse people protesting, according to the Reuters news agency.

They set fire to vehicles and chanted slogans in his support, while others reported running battles with the police.

Several protesters were injured, and the Mombasa to Malindi highway has been closed by demonstrators.

A police source confirmed Mohammed had been killed.

"He has been shot dead, he was in a vehicle with his family including wife and children when they were attacked," the source told the AFP news agency.

Joseph Kitu, the regional deputy police chief, confirmed a shooting incident, but gave no further details.

Mohammed was placed on a US sanctions list in July for "engaging in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security or stability of Somalia", specifically for recruiting and fundraising for al-Shabab.

The United Nations Security Council placed a travel ban and asset freeze on the cleric in July, saying he had provided "financial, material, logistical or technical support to al-Shabab".

He was the "main ideological leader" of Kenya's Al Hijra group, also known as the Muslim Youth Center (MYC), the UN said in July.

The group is viewed as a close ally of the al-Shabab in Kenya.

Mohammed "used the extremist group as a pathway for radicalisation and recruitment of principally Swahili-speaking Africans for carrying out violent militant activity in Somalia," the UN said.

MYC leader Sheikh Ahmad Iman Ali, in a message posted on Twitter, said: "We are on the right track when our leaders get shahadah [martyrdom]."

"He will remain in our hearts forever," the MYC added.

Another message offered the grim warning that the "kuffar [unbelievers] will pay" for his death.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 34

Asia and India PM rejects coal scandal accusations Middle East

M

anmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, has dismissed accusations that his country lost vast amounts of money in a coal scandal, calling the charges baseless in a Twitter message.

Singh, who was in charge of the coal ministry from 2004 to 2009, defended himself on Monday after

earlier being shouted down by opposition politicians in parliament.

Parliament has been virtually paralysed since the national auditor released a report two weeks ago saying the sale of coal blocks without competitive bidding was expected to net private companies windfall profits of up to $34bn.

The main opposition has demanded Singh's resignation.

"The prime minister must

resign" members of the Bharatiya Janata Party shouted, drowning out Singh who had stood up in parliament to make a statement defending his government.

Singh's office instead posted his defence on his official handle on Twitter, the microblogging site.

"I wish to say that any allegations of impropriety are without basis and unsupported by the facts," Singh's office tweeted, adding that the auditor's

observations were "clearly disputable".

Speaking outside parliament, Singh told reporters: "Let the country judge where the truth lies."

A string of tweets went on to accuse the auditors of using faulty logic and disputable math to produce their report.

Singh also said that as the minister in charge at the time in question he would take full

responsibility for the decision not to switch the government's method of allocating coal fields to an auction system sooner.

At one point he tweeted, in Hindi, an Indian saying: "My silence is better than a thousand answers."

Singh's government has come under fire in recent years for a string of corruption scandals that has tarnished his image as an upstanding technocrat.

Typhoon Bolaven heads to Korean peninsula

A

powerful typhoon is heading towards the Korean peninsula after battering Japan's Okinawa prefecture with heavy rains and wind.

Typhoon Bolaven was expected to pass near South Korea's southern island of Jeju early on Monday before moving to the Korean peninsula, the Japanese meteorological agency said.

At least five people were injured and hundreds forced to evacuate homes on Sunday in Okinawa due to the Category-4 typhoon, one of the region's worst storms in years with peaked winds of 252km.

Residents of Naha, Okinawa's capital, were advised to stay indoors as public broadcaster NHK showed footage of deserted streets lined with trees felled by strong winds.

As of 0200GMT, the typhoon was about 300km north of Naha, moving

north at a speed of 40km with gusts of up to 216km per hour, the agency said.

Traffic in Okinawa remained paralysed on Monday, with all flights to and from Naha airport and ships linking the main island with smaller islands in the chain cancelled.

"But if the weather permits, airlines may be able to resume flights in the afternoon," an airport official said.

On Sunday, roads and bus services were closed on the island while an elevated rail link in Naha city had also been shut down, news reports said.

About 17,500 homes in Okinawa and 58,300 homes in Kagoshima prefecture, just south of the Japanese mainland, were hit by blackouts, according to local officials.

At least five people were injured and hundreds forced to evacuate homes on Sunday in Okinawa [Reuters]

Taliban storm Afghan post in ‘insider plot’

T

aliban insurgents overran an Afghan army post in the troubled southern province of Helmand in a predawn attack, killing 10 soldiers, authorities have said.

Four soldiers were wounded and six others were missing following the attack in the province's Washir district, a senior police official, Colonel Mohammad Ismaiel Hotak, told AFP news agency.

"There was an attack on one of our posts in Washir district. Ten soldiers are dead in that attack," said Hotak, the deputy head of the regional coordinating body for the Afghan army and the US-led NATO force.

Daud Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Helmand provincial

administration, confirmed the incident and said the attack was an "insider" plot in which some army soldiers helped the Taliban attack the post.

"The Taliban attacked a post in Washir and killed 10 soldiers. Four other soldiers were wounded and five others have gone with the Taliban with their guns," he said. "It was an insider plot."

Separate attack in Laghman province Hotak could not confirm Ahmadi's account but said an investigation was underway.

If it is confirmed that the attack was facilitated by soldiers, it will be the latest in a string of insider attacks on Afghan and NATO security forces.

Syria military helicopter crashes in Damascus

A

Syrian military helicopter has caught fire and crashed after it was apparently hit during fighting between government forces and rebels in the capital Damascus, an activist group has said.

Activists said the opposition Free Syria Army claimed that it had shot down the helicopter. Syria's state-run media on Monday confirmed there had been a crash in Damascus, but it gave no further details.

Several videos posted on YouTube showed the helicopter flying above buildings while flames gradually engulf it as it abruptly turns, nose dives and spins towards the ground before disappearing from view.

State media said the helicopter

crashed in al-Qaboun district, which is close to the western Damascus neighbourhood of Jobar.

Al Jazeera's Rula Amin, reporting from Beirut in neighbouring Lebanon, said it was still unclear whether the aircraft was shot down or if it had merely crashed.

"But if this indeed was the work of the rebels it poses the question of how effective they have been in smuggling very significant weapons and advance weapons to the capital Damascus," she said.

"To bring it all the way to Damascus, hundreds of kilometres [away from rebelheld areas], is going to be a major breakthrough for the rebels and a major concern for the government if this is indeed the work of the rebels."

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, embraces his counterparts from Benin Republic, Mr Boni Yayi, during the latter's visit, yesterday to the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Unverified amateur footage shows an aircraft on fire, apparently plummeting into the Al Qabun area of Damascus.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Europe and German leaders dismiss call for Greek euro exit Americas

G

ermany's centre-right government has criticised a leading conservative politician for suggesting that Greece will have to leave the eurozone.

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said "bullying" of Greece must stop.

And in a TV interview Chancellor Angela Merkel said "everyone should weigh their words very carefully".

Earlier, Christian Social Union leader Alexander Dobrindt, an ally of Mrs Merkel, said he expected Greece to leave the eurozone in 2013.

He said he saw "no way round" a Greek exit. He also called the European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi "Europe's currency forger".

His party, a junior coalition partner of Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), is preparing for an election in Bavaria and Germany's general elections next year.

Last week Mrs Merkel reiterated that she wanted Greece to stay in the eurozone. And on Sunday she told German ARD television that "we are in a very decisive phase in combating the

Mrs Merkel says the eurozone is in a "very decisive phase" in the crisis euro debt crisis".

Greece is under pressure to speed up far-reaching reforms, including privatisation and civil service job cuts, in order to continue receiving instalments of its 130bneuro (ÂŁ103bn; $163bn) international bailout.

It is the second massive bailout agreed for Greece since the 2008 debt crisis shook the global economy

and German politicians have made it clear they will not stomach a third.

Mr Westerwelle warned that remarks like Mr Dobrindt's could harm Germany's reputation as the eurozone tackles the debt crisis.

Comments by the head of Germany's Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann, also signalled divisions at the top over the ECB's handling

of the crisis.

In early August Mr Draghi announced plans for the ECB to buy the bonds of countries like Italy and Spain, whose borrowing costs have reached levels widely regarded as unsustainable.

He is expected to give details after a 6 September meeting of the ECB's governing council.

But Mr Weidmann, one of 17

US Gulf Coast braces for Tropical Storm Isaac

T

ropical Storm Isaac has gained strength as it approaches south Florida, with forecasters warning it could develop into a more dangerous Category 2 hurricane.

The governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama declared states of emergency on Monday after Isaac hit the northern Gulf Coast on Sunday. On its way to the US, the storm left seven people dead in Haiti and caused havoc in Cuba, bringing down trees and power lines.

Florida declared a state of emergency on Saturday and funding has been put into place to implement emergency plans to respond to the storm.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said that 15 low-lying parishes outside New Orleans's

newly built $14.5bn flood-defence system would probably come under mandatory evacuation orders by Monday.

Robert Bentley, the governor of Alabama, ordered mandatory evacuations in the southern counties of Mobile and Baldwin.

Rick Scott, Florida governor, cancelled his plans to attend the Republican convention in Tampa, which was to run on Sunday and Monday.

Isaac has forced the party to make changes to their schedule, with party officials scrambling to make sure candidate Mitt Romney's message to voters does not get blown off course.

Forecasters said the storm was expected to reach the Florida Keys later on Sunday at near hurricane strength.

"Currently Isaac is a tropical storm that's expected to become a hurricane as it reaches Key West ... then it will move into the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to strengthen further," Jessica Schauer of the US National Hurricane Centre said.

"Our forecast is that as the system moves northward it is forecast to strengthen to a Category 2. Definitely the northern Gulf Coast should be preparing for a hurricane right now. A Category 2 hurricane is capable of top sustained winds of 154-177 kph."

Expecting earlier that Tampa would be in Isaac's sights, Republican convention organisers had cancelled Monday's opening events and tried to squeeze as many speakers and activities into three days as had been planned for four.

Al Jazeera's Alan Fisher,

reporting from Tampa, said that there are several reasons Republicans are considering delaying the convention.

"First of all, there is the safety issue. Also, they don't want to be seen to be partying while parts of this coast, perhaps even as far along as Louisiana, are struggling because of the weather," he said.

"The convention here has decided that it will start as scheduled on Monday, but they will immediately adjourn and so essentially all of Monday's programme has been postponed."

A hurricane warning was in effect for the Keys, including the Dry Tortugas, and for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach south to Ocean Reef, among some other areas, officials said.

one of the biggest in the world, as he paid a visit there on Sunday.

"Some philosopher said, I don't know who, that 'life must go on'," said Chavez, describing as "irresponsible," experts who have suggested that the government had inadequate safeguards in place at the site.

Both Amuay and the ministry of energy have estimated the 645,000 barrel-per-day refinery can restart work in two days.

International oil prices have ticked upward as a result of the fire, and investment bank Goldman Sachs noted on Monday that similar major fires "typically [have] caused months in delays".

Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman, reporting from the town of Punto Fijo, said the refinery's director "told me that they have the latest, most modern technology to put out [these kind of] flames, [but] they haven't

been able to do so".

Vice-President Elias Jaua, who travelled to the area in western Venezuela, said on state television late on Saturday that the dead included 18 National Guard troops and that six of the bodies had not yet been identified. Other officials said earlier that the dead included a 10-year-old boy.

Five of the injured remained in hospital and were being evaluated, while two were transferred to a burn unit in a neighbouring state and the remainder discharged with minor burns.

Balls of fire rose over the refinery, among the largest in the world, in video posted on the internet by people who were nearby at the time.

The explosion shattered walls of nearby shops, ripped out windows from homes and left the surrounding

streets covered with rubble and twisted scraps of metal.

In a neighbourhood next to the refinery, shopkeeper Yolimar Romero said she was at her computer when a shock wave swept over the area shortly after 1am.

"At that instant, the whole house shook as if it were an earthquake," she said. "The windows went flying off with their frames and everything."

The Venezuelan president pledged to help the people who have been displaced from their homes at the refinery complex, which also houses workers and their families, and in impoverished neighbourhoods nearby.

Rafael Ramirez, the energy minister, said the explosion was triggered by a gas leak, the cause of which remained to be determined.

Chavez denies neglect in Venezuela oil fire

V

enezuela President Hugo Chavez has ordered an investigation into an explosion and ongoing fire at the country's biggest fuel refining facility that has left at least 41 people dead and more than 80 others wounded.

Firefighters continued to struggle on Monday to put out the blaze at the Amuay refinery. It erupted on Saturday and continues to burn in two storage tanks, threatening to spread to nearby fuel storage facilities.

The Venezuelan leader promised an investigation into the tragedy and three days of national mourning were declared ahead of his trip to the refinery in the country's far north.

Chavez, fighting a re-election campaign ahead of October 7 polls, slammed reports that poor maintenance was responsible for the accident at the state-owned refinery,

eurozone central bank chiefs involved in ECB policy, said the plans risked making central bank financing "addictive like a drug" for struggling eurozone governments.

He warned that it was "close to state financing via the printing press" and could be a violation of EU rules preventing government-togovernment subsidies.

Traditionally the ECB has been reluctant to undertake large-scale bond-buying because it is seen as inflationary, and the ECB's priority is to keep inflation under control.

But during the eurozone crisis the ECB has been buying up sovereign debt to help ease the market pressure on struggling, debt-laden eurozone countries.

At the weekend the German and French governments indicated that Greece's plea for a two-year "breathing space" in meeting its bailout obligations was unacceptable.

Eurozone leaders are waiting for a crucial report on Greece's finances, due in late September. It will be delivered by the troika supervising Greece's fulfilment of the bailout conditions - the ECB, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Commission.

Greece's continued access to the bailout lifeline depends on a favourable report from the troika.

Athens is trying to finalise a package of 11.5bn euros of spending cuts over the next two years.

US arms sales shoot to record levels

U

S weapons sales more than tripled in 2011, reaching a record high, according to a new congressional report.

The country sold $66bn worth of arms last year, up from $21.4bn in 2010. The previous record had been $31bn in 2009; global arms sales declined slightly after that because of the economic crisis.

America's largest customer was Saudi Arabia, which purchased more than $33bn worth of weapons from the US, including dozens of F-15 fighter jets, missiles, and other materiel.

The United Arab Emirates and Oman also both spent billions, purchases driven in part by fears over Iran's regional ambitions.

The Obama administration has touted these deals as a major stimulus for the US economy, saying the Saudi arms sales alone would generate some 75,000 new jobs.

The US also arranged several multi-billion dollar deals with Asian nations, including an agreement with China to sell transport planes worth more than $4bn.

All told, the US sold 78 per cent of the world's arms in 2011.

Russia was a distant second, with $4.8bn in arms sales.

The report was prepared by the Congressional Research Service, which conducts studies for US lawmakers.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Why recurrent miscarriages may actually be caused by 'super-fertility' W

omen who suffer r e c u r r e n t miscarriages may actually be 'super-fertile', experts have claimed.

The problem - which affects around one in 100 women occurs because their bodies are in fact too good at letting embryos implant in the uterus, they say.

Embryos that would not normally survive the earliest stages of pregnancy, in some women may last long enough to give a positive pregnancy test, a study led by Professor Nick Macklon, a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton, found.

Prof Macklon, who is also director of the Complete Fertility Centre Southampton, said: 'In half of women who have recurrent miscarriages, we don't know what the cause is, and many affected women feel guilty that they are simply rejecting their pregnancy.

'But we have discovered it may not be because they cannot carry; it is because they may simply be

super-fertile, as they allow embryos which would normally not survive to implant.'

Prof Macklon, working with colleagues at University Medical Centre Utrecht in the Netherlands, compared cells from the lining of the wombs of women who have suffered recurrent miscarriage and those with normal fertility cycles.

They found cells from those with recurrent miscarriage move towards embryos, encouraging implantation regardless of quality, but those from normally fertile women were selective.

Prof Macklon explained: 'Only around 30 per cent of every 100 natural conceptions makes it to a baby and the rest are lost early in pregnancy.

Mercifully, most women remain unaware of these losses because they happen before they miss their period.

'When poorer embryos are allowed to implant, they may last long enough in cases of recurrent miscarriage to give a positive pregnancy test.'

False hope: Some embryos may last long enough to give a positive pregnancy test - even though they will not survive longer Prof Macklon, who is chair of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Southampton, said the research, published in journal PLoS ONE, was a significant moment for sufferers.

He said: 'For the first time, women who have suffered with this extremely difficult problem can take some comfort by having a clearer understanding of the causes and realising they are not bad at carrying but

perhaps too good.

'With much better understanding of how the female body selects - or doesn't select - embryos, we hope to now explore ways we can fix this.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Getting lost in a good book can help keep you healthy

R

eading is good for you. I would say that, of course.

I'm a novelist - I've written five books for teenagers - and it's obviously in my interest to encourage people to read.

But there's increasing evidence that reading for pleasure isn't just another leisure pursuit, or merely a way of improving literacy skills and factual knowledge.

It might actually be good for our mental and physical health too.

In an age of Twitter and short attention spans, reading novels - which requires intense concentration over a long period of time - could be the antidote.

Neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield says that reading helps to lengthen attention spans in children and improves their ability to think clearly.

'Stories have a beginning, a middle and an end - a structure that encourages our brains to think in sequence, to link cause, effect and significance,' she says.

'It is essential to learn this skill as a small child, while the brain has more plasticity, which is why it's so important for parents to read to their children.

'The more we do it, the better we get at it.'

Reading can enrich our relationships by increasing our understanding of other cultures and helping us learn to empathise.

A recent study at the University of Michigan found that there had been a 48 per cent decrease in empathy among college students, with the

sharpest decline in the past ten most technology dependent years, suggesting, although not proving, a correlation.

Encouraging reading could counteract this.

'In a computer game, you might have to rescue a princess, but you don't care about her, you just want to win,' explains Baroness Greenfield.

'But a princess in a book has a past, present and future, she has connections and motivations.

We can relate to her. We see the world through her eyes.'

According to John Stein, emeritus professor of neuroscience at Magdalen College, Oxford, reading is far from a passive activity. 'Reading exercises the whole brain,' he explains.

'When we "get lost" in a good book, we're doing more than simply following a story.

Imagining what's happening is as good at activating the brain as "doing" it.'

New MRI scanning techniques now enable science to prove this. In 2009, an American brain-imaging study showed that when we read and imagine the landscapes, sounds, smells and tastes described on the page, the various areas of the brain that are used to process these experiences in real life are activated, creating new neural pathways.

In other words, our brains simulate real experiences, just as if we were living them ourselves.

This doesn't happen when we're watching TV or playing a computer game.

Getting stuck into a good

Brain exercise: Imagining an event in a book is as good at activating the brain as actually 'doing' it. novel appears to be beneficial to our mental health. As the old saying goes: 'You're never alone with a book.' Reading not only staves off feelings of loneliness, it helps us to wind down, destress and forget our own problems for a while.

In 2009, researchers at the University of Sussex found that just six minutes of reading can reduce stress levels by more than two-thirds, more than listening to music or going out for a walk.

It is thought that the concentration required to read distracts the mind, easing muscle tension and slowing the heart

rate.

Reading may be good for physical health too, preventing brain ageing and disease.

A study, just published in the Archives of Neurology, from the University of California, Berkeley, found that engaging in brain-stimulating pursuits including reading on a daily basis - from a young age - could help prevent Alzheimer's by inhibiting the formation of the amyloid (protein) plaques which are found in the brains of those with the disease.

Scientists scanned the brains of healthy adults aged 60 and

over (average age was 76) with no signs of dementia and found those who had been doing daily brain-stimulating activities, such as reading, playing chess, and writing letters since they were six years old showed very low levels of amyloid plaques.

But those who did not enjoy these activities had lots of plaques.

Although the study was small and did not take socio-economic effects into account, it is certainly an indication that reading may be as good for the brain as it is for the mind.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Angry bull with bucket stuck on head causes traffic chaos in Scotland

Hungry bear steals unattended picnic hamper from car

T

he large brown bear was filmed on a smartphone camera rummaging through the backseat of a silver convertible by a passing motorist.

It must have smelt something tasty wandering past the vehicle, parked next to some woodland, and soon enough had its paws on a big box full of goodies.

Having been initially scared off by the sound of the approaching vehicle, it was not long before the light fingered grizzly returns to grab some more food, leaving belongings strewn across the side of the road.

MORE: Bear breaks into sweet shop seven times in just 15 minutes

Leaping up on to the car, the bear pulls out the cooler with its mouth before opening it up to see what's inside.

'Look at that! He's just found the treasure!' comments the laughing amateur cameraman recording the bear's every move.

He adds: 'They say you shouldn't leave anything in your car.'

The video was uploaded onto video-sharing website YouTube where it has racked up thousands of hits in a matter of days.

One amused user commented: 'I LOVE bears! They are so crafty. This guy is teaching these silly people a valuable lesson'

Like a bull in a china shop: An irate bull and bucket caused traffic chaos in Scotland this week (Picture: File)

I

t usually does not take much for a bull to start seeing red, with a troublesome feeding bucket proving to be the cause of particular annoyance for this angry animal.

The large bull caused chaos after wandering blindly onto a busy road in South Ayrshire, Scotland, just after lunchtime on Tuesday having escaped from a nearby field.

Frustrated motorists were left stranded in lengthy tailbacks on the A77 Ballantrae to Girvan Road as the rampaging bull blocked all moving traffic.

Police were quickly called to the scene, as the visibly distressed animal struggled to free its head from the round metal dish.

There were delays for more than 45 minutes along the

road as police services dealt with the incident, according to local media reports.

The farmer who owned the bull was eventually alerted to the breach of security before managing to gain control of his escaped livestock.

After removing the feeding tray from his animal's head, the farmer also saw to repairing his trampled security fence.

Caught red handed: Cheeky bear grabs the goods (Picture: YouTube/Petsami)

Couple exchange vows in world's first jet pack wedding

Puck up: The day went off without a hitch (Picture: YouTube: AP)

Just married: Grant Engler and Amanda Volf using their jet packs (Picture: Barcroft)

D

onning water-powered jet packs, loved up couple Grant Engler and Amanda Volf became husband and wife at an unusual marriage service on Newport Beach, California, on Thursday.

The couple swapped rings on the beach before zooming into the air for their first dance to Frank Sinatra's Come Fly With Me to loud cheers from wedding guests.

The groom wore a black

wetsuit with a bow tie, while the bride was dressed in a white veil combined with board shorts and a surfing shirt.

As a former wedding planner, Ms Volf admitted she was looking for a unique way to celebrate her big day.

'Grant and I are kind of outdoorsy, adventurous-type people,' explained the 25-yearold.

'As you can imagine, to do

something like this you'd have to be.'

She added: 'I've never really dreamt of my wedding, but if I did, I think this would be it.

'I was a wedding planner and I've seen a ton of weddings, but this was the first unique one I have seen since working in this industry.'

Whatever the pair have planned for their honeymoon, it's unlikely it will be anything boring.

Ready for take-off: The newly married couple (Picture: YouTube/ AP)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 37

Mua’zu was much better than Yuguda, says former Dep. Governor INTERVIEW

Y

ou refused to leave ANNP when you were the deputy governor claiming not to betray your people which definitely led to your impeachment, and now you are in CPC, why the sudden change?

Actually, you will know that a lot us who were in ANPP were honest to the party because of General Buhari. I was his coordinator from 20022007 until I became the deputy governor; but unfortunately I was impeached because I refused to decamp to PDP. I insisted that I will stay in ANPP because I was having the mandate by the people. So it will be uncharitable for anybody to abandon a mandate given to him by the people. That was why people will observe that I stayed in ANPP until after the gubernatorial candidate was selected. So then I was free in such that I have discharged my obligation to the electorate who voted us into the office. I naturally belong to Buhari group of thought; he is an elder statesman.

How has life been outside government house?

Honestly, life has been good to me but unfortunately what is going on in the government is not encouraging. I mean the nonsense going on in Bauchi today, I am happy I am not part and parcel of the nonsense that is happening What are these nonsense?

Let me give you a very simple answer which everybody knows in the state where we cannot pay salary as at when due, only that one is enough.

There was a ruling by the court t that the present administration should pay all your entitlements, what is the situation?

We are still in court, the government is reluctant. You know the legal process in this country is very slow; the important thing is not about the money, and that is what I have been telling people. I wouldn’t have been here doing all these things if it’s all about money, but about my name.

The money does not mean anything to me, even though the governor has said it in one or two occasions that I should go and sit down and get the

Alhaji Garba Gadi, former deputy to Governor Isa Yuguda who suffered impeachment, in this interview with newsmen speaks on why he dumped the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) just as he rates Adamu Mua’zu’s administration better than the incumbent in Bauchi. Our Bauchi correspondent, Ahmed Kaigama, was there. Excerpts: calculation of the entitlement but I said it’s not a matter of money, it is my name. I have never been queried in my life; I have not stolen kobo in government; I am proud to tell you that for the two years and two months was in government, I never stole one naira.

Do you have any plan to contest for any election in 2015?

When I decided to contest for the position of a Senator in 2007 in my zone, Bauchi North, it was not my intention, but my people called me to contest. That was how I picked my form to contest for Senate, but Isa (Yuguda) later came to my house that I should contest for deputy governorship which I said I will never. But I told him that if my joining you will help to dislodge PDP in Bauchi state, I will make myself available but if in any way you want somebody to take over from you, let him come.

What have you been doing since you left the office as deputy governor?

Actually, I have been part and parcel of the team that is working towards renewing CPC, particularly working with the National Chairman.

What is your advice to Governor Isa Yuguda?

Isa should sit down, concentrate and at least leave a legacy in the state. Ahmadu Muazu did 100 times better than Isa despite what he has received in the last six years.

Isa has gotten over 100 percent of what Muazu received from the national coffers but Ahmadu Muazu has done 100 times more than what Is has done so far. It’s unfortunate for him, I sympathize with him.

You said you sympathize

Alhaji Garba Gadi

with your former boss; do you still have any relationship with him?

No, I don’t have any relationship with him except that he is Mallam Isa Yuguda What is your reaction to the crises rocking CPC in the state which has resulted into factionalization?

It is unfortunate we, politicians because of our personal interest in most cases, have faction, but all we need to do is to learn how to live with those faction or crises and ensure that we make amend and a lot is being done at national level to renew the CPC and the same thing is being done in Bauchi state.

CPC is in merger talk with ACN, what do you

“

The believe of the people is that PDP has seized to be a political party; it is a club and generality of the people believe that to get the power back, political parties, that is CPC, ACN and ANPP should come together and dislodge the PDP so that we can have good political system in the country

people want to gain from this?

The believe of the people is that PDP has seized to be a political party; it is a club and generality of the people believe that to get the power back, political parties, that is CPC, ACN and ANPP should come together and dislodge the PDP so that we can have good political system in the country.

CPC had the opportunity of dislodging PDP during the last general election but they threw away the chance, what is your take on this?

I don’t know whether we flogged it, but we have been suppressed. Imagine, the money diverted to fuel subsidy which all of us here are suffering, then where is that money? It went for campaigns, and virtually most people were involved. So, it is not a question of losing the election, it is the question of suppression and that suppression can only survive if the political parties can not come together. If they can mobilize themselves like we did in 2007 in Bauchi or like they did in Zamfara state, I can assure you that there will be a change of government.

What is your reaction on

the recent corruption saga involving politicians?

My first reaction was that of disbelief. This is because of the way we were brought up in the public services. But later it dawned on everybody that it is true; it is corruption which is more than armed robbery. No and in this case, nobody will come back to Bauchi, after stealing billions of naira, to say that I should support him. I can assure you that if there will be anything tomorrow, people will react based on whom you are and not for your religion, tribal or association. It will happen sooner than later.

What is your reaction to the call on President Jonathan to resign following insecurity challenges in the country particularly in the northern region?

Honestly, the question of calling the President to resign is the opinion of individuals.

Everybody has a way of thinking; there is a process and if he fails to resign, there is a procedure to follow by National Assembly. So the law makers can do their job.

Following the insecurity situation in the country, are you optimistic that in 2015, Nigeria will still be together?

I believe that in spite of all this insecurity, Nigeria will survive it; to me Nigeria will come out stronger.

What is your saddest moment as a politician?

This is a very difficult question, it is personal; but I am sad that we are yet to get the right people. We are very lucky during our time, there were employment, prospects in the public service and private sector, but unfortunately I sympathies with those of you just growing because you are not getting all these. Whatever I own, I owned it directly and from the source legitimately which unfortunately you cannot get now because you cannot go to Federal Mortgage Bank and get loan to build house, not to talk of government giving you a loan, or commercial bank to give you a loan to build a house; and you cannot afford all these on your own.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

CPC blasts Jonathan over N5.6b pay to ex-militants

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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ongress for Progressive Change (CPC) has criticized President Goodluck Jonathan for allegedly paying a total amount of N5.6 billion to former Niger-Delta militants’ leaders to guard the oil pipelines in the last twelve months.

In a statement issued yesterday

by its Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, CPC said that the payment was a display of ethnocentrism and cronyism on the part of the President.

President Jonathan was reported to have paid ex Niger Delta militants, Tompolo Ekpumopolo, Asari Dokubo, Ateke Toms, Ebikabowei Boyloaf Victor Ben, various sums amounting to N5.6

billion, to keep their boys off the pipelines.

Condemning the payment, the party recalled that Jonathan’s regime had, earlier this year, awarded the contract for the nation’s Maritime security to Global West Vessel Specialist Agency, which a private firm owned by Ekpumopolo.

The party therefore regretted that the decision of the President to

president Goodluck Jonathan

place the maritime security of Nigeria in the hands of Epkumopolo’s firm, not only contravenes the constitution of the country, but also subordinates the Nigerian Navy to the private firm.

Part of the statement read, “As part of the political indiscretion and opacity associated with this regime, a contract, at an undisclosed cost, was awarded in July 2012 to the company owned by Tompolo for the supply of 20 patrol boats to the Nigerian Navy.”

Against this background, CPC observed that these actions are financial imprudence by the President Jonathan’s government, lamenting that the government seems not to ‘give a damn’ if the nation totters.

While revealing that the Federal Government plans to spend $450 million on the amnesty programme for this year, despite the increasing theft of crude oil in the Niger-delta region, the party said that the vagueness in the ‘clandestine payments’ leaves many questions unanswered.

Meanwhile, the party has attributed these payments to reasons why some ex-militant leaders threat fire and brimstone if the National Assembly ventures to impeach President Jonathan for non-performance, calling on National Assembly to consider and handle the issues decisively.

ACN agents hacking into my Facebook account - Oni’s aide alleges From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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edia Aide to the National ViceChairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), SouthWest, Mr. Lere Olayinka yesterday accused the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government in Ekiti state of hacking into his Facebook account with a view to copying postings and comments wit a view to manipulating them.

Olayinka disclosed this that he got wind of the sinister act through a reliable source on Sunday.

His statement reads “It has come to my attention that my FACEBOOK account is being tampered with by people suspected to be agents of the Ekiti state government.

“I was reliably informed on Sunday that my postings and comments on some people on my Facebook Thread are being copied and printed out for sinister motives.

“The plot, I was informed, is to manipulate the postings and

comments and use them to further some fraudulent plots of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, especially on the pending case filed at the Supreme Court by former Governor of Ekiti state, Chief Segun Oni, alleging unethical relationship between the suspended President Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami and some chieftains of the ACN before, during and after the October 15, 2010 Appeal Court judgment that removed him from office.

“It should be noted that on several occasions, my e-mail and Twitter accounts were hacked into and I have had to change my passwords on such occasions. On two of such occasions, I could not send mails with my e-mail account for days.

“I would have ignored this information but for the fact that the ACN as a party is noted for criminal acts of forgery and manipulation of records to advance the course of the selfish

political agenda. The following instances will suffice.

“Immediately after the 2007 governorship election, the ACN (then Action Congress) went to town with stories of how they filmed some notable indigenes of Ekiti State, including the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe while rigging the election for the PDP. Video pictures of these personalities were manipulated in what is known in Ekiti as “Ori Olori, ese elese” (Morphing and synching) and were billed to be presented at the Tribunal if not for the exposure of this criminal act through an article titled; ‘Nigeria: Morphing and Synching in Ekiti?’ published in Thisday newspaper of May 13, 2007.

“It is also on record that Sulyman Babakebe, one of the ACN counsel from Yusuf Ali Chamber, procured fake Adrian Forty affidavit and went further to swear to another affidavit, claiming that Adrian Forty was indeed in AdoEkiti on May 11, 2007.

The party also forged Police and State Security Service (SSS) reports and presented same to the Osun and Ekiti states governorship election petitions tribunal respectively, Oni’s aide alleged.

Chief Segun Oni

By-election: Agro-chemical dealer wins CPC primaries Kaduna Assembly ticket primaries held in Zaria on Aliyu Ja’afaru, Mohammed of the outcome of the primaries.

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Zaria-based agrochemical dealer, Alhaji Kasimu Iliyasu, has won CPC’s primaries to be the party’s flag-bearer for Zaria by-election into Kaduna State House of Assembly.

Declaring the result after the

Sunday, the Returning Officer, Sen. Mohammed Garba, said Iliyasu polled 59 votes to defeat eight other contestants.

Garba said other contestants were Mohammed Ibrahim, who scored 29 votes; Abass Hassan, 17 votes; Umar Sani, 13 votes, while

Tukur and Hussaini Usman got five, three and two votes respectively.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that immediately after the declaration of the result, all the contestants rallied round the winner indicating acceptance

The seat became vacant following the death of Alhaji Mustapha Bawa, representing Zaria-city at the Kaduna State House Assembly, in July after a brief illness.

INEC has slated Sept. 15 for the by-election. (NAN)

Dungs joins contest for Plateau North senatorial seat

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former Military Administrator of Delta, Retired Col. David Dungs, says he would contest in the Oct. 6 by-election for the vacant Plateau North senatorial seat.

“I will contest for the seat, but for now, I am not sure of the platform to contest on. The people will decide,” Dungs told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Sunday.

The seat became vacant after the death, on July 8, of Sen. Gyang Dantong, during a stampede when gunmen attacked mourners at Maseh, a village in Riyom Local Government Area.

Dungs had lost the seat to Dantong when he contested on the platform of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) during the 2011 general election.

“The people believe that I can help the crises-ridden senatorial district.

“At a point, I felt I should not run again, but since they want me in the race, it is their responsibility to choose the platform because PDP, where I used to be, appears to have selected a candidate without a primary election.

“So, the people will decide where I should go since they have said that they are ready to support me to the national assembly.

“I will work with them and I will consult widely because I will be going there on their behalf. I will be responsive to their yearnings and work according to their dictates.”

Dungs promised to use his vast experience to bring peace to the senatorial district.

“My prayer is that God should give me wisdom to bring peace to my people as I have done in other places. I know my contribution in the restoration of peace in Liberia at a critical period that Samuel Doe was killed.

“I was posted to Delta state as Military Administrator at the peak of crises and I believe that God used me to restore peace in the state.

“For me to replicate what I did in other places, I need a platform and that platform is the senate.

The senate is meant for experienced elder statesmen to put their heads together and tackle challenges.”

He said that peaceful coexistence was crucial for any society to move forward, and urged stakeholders in the constituency to allow the people to decide who would represent them in the senate.

“The people of Plateau North appeared poised to choose their representatives. This time, they are wiser and appeared determined to protect their votes.

“Again, INEC is improving by the day and we are optimistic that the electoral body will deliver the people’s will like they did in Edo.” (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 39

N5, 000 note will aggravate sufferings, says ANPP

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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he All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has said the proposed introduction of N5000 denomination by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will only succeed in aggravating the sufferings of the people.

The Party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Emma Eneukwu said “It is an established fact that the Nigerian populace is averse to the use of coins, and therefore the decision by the Federal Government to convert some lower denomination notes to coins smells of a premeditated agenda to further mop up cash from the nation space and whip the Nigerian people in the process, just as it had done

through the increase in the pump price of fuel and hike in electricity tariff.

“In fact, one does not need an economics professor to know that this move will eventually cripple the value of the naira; countries like Japan, Germany and Singapore do not have strong currencies because they printed higher denominations,” the party stressed.

Eneukwu added that going cashless has nothing to do with printing N5, 000, but everything to do with introducing valid strategies for redirecting the nation’s commercial transactions into the virtual space.

“Right now, what the CBN and the Federal Government should be engaged in is establishing a clear and

comprehensive electronic fraud management framework, as well as delineating of responsibility among key stakeholders, and advocating enabling laws that will inspire confidence in the country’s epayment network, both locally and internationally; not to saddle the helpless masses with

more burdens,” the party added.

The ANPP therefore urged the government to call the CBN to order, and mandate it to streamline the resources that would be wasted in this ill-timed and unreasonable exercise into more people-friendly fiscal projects with the aim of reviving the fast-waning confidence of

the masses in the government.

“We believe that this lame project, instead of curing the economic problems of the nation, will only succeed in deepening the already egregious chasm between the haves and the have-nots of this well-endowed country,” it warned.

It is illegal to select candidate without supervision - INEC

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head of the Plateau North senatorial byelection, INEC said on Monday that it was illegal for political parties to select their candidates without its supervision.

The senatorial by-election to replace the late Sen Gyang Dantong, has been fixed for Oct. 6.

Mr Bencyn Ikpe, INEC Public Affairs Officer in Plateau, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that “the process of selecting or electing a candidate by the political parties must be supervised by the commission.”

“Outside that, any other process adopted by the parties are illegal.”

Ikpe, however, said that the Oct. 6 date arrived at at a parley with political stakeholders and security agencies, was tentative and needed to be ratified by the commissions headquarters in Abuja.

He said the date would help the electoral body to arrive at a realistic timetable.

“We are already working on a time table, but we cannot release it until we get a confirmation from Abuja.

“But we need such tentative dates to be ready to notify political parties at the appropriate time on when to start off of campaign activities, collection of nomination forms, submission and then date for final election,” he added.

“Until Abuja confirms the timetable and date, no political party is expected to start any activity of any sort, including holding primary elections.”

He, however, said that individuals, who have interest in emerging as their party’s candidates, were not barred from making internal arrangements toward achieving their ambition.

NAN reports that two aspirants, Mr Gyang Pwajok of the PDP, and retired Col John Dungs, former Delta military administrator, have already declared their intention to vie the vacant seat.

Pwajok, until his declaration, was Chief of Staff of the Plateau Government, while Dungs has yet to establish a platform for his ambition.

Dungs told journalist at an interaction recently that he was waiting on his people, who called him into the race, to direct him to the right party since PDP appeared to have decided on Pwajok even before any primary election.

NAN recalls that Dantong, along with the Plateau House Majority Leader, Gyang Fulani, PDP, died on Sunday, July 8, 2012 at Maseh village in Riyom Local Government area, at a stampede when gunmen attacked mourners at a mass burial. (NAN)

ACN appraises self as Osun marks anniversary

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the ruling party in Osun, said that it had put the state on the path of growth.

A statement by Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the party’s local Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy in Osogbo, said that Gov. Rauf Aregbesola’s administration had made life meaningful for the people.

According to the party, as Osun marks its 21st anniversary on Aug. 27 it has been able execute meaning programmes two years

after it assumed power The party said that the rainy season that used to be a period of grief due to poor drainage network was no longer so.

The statement stressed that the ACN had addressed the youth unemployment by putting in place the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme.

“Within 21 months of being in charge of governance and management of the state’s finances, the ACN government has virtually turned things around,” the statement added. (NAN)

L-R: Permanent Secretary in the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Aliyu Numan in a handshake with Alhaji Gambo Lawan, after their meeting with Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, recently at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Edo CPC lauds Buhari leadership From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

he Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Edo state chapter has paid tribute to the leadership style of 2011 party’s Presidential Candidate Gen. Muhammad Buhari (Rtd) for being a beacon of hope in the tuitions journey towards good governance in the Country.

Vice Chairman, Edo CPC, Comrade

Francis Ikonomwan disclosed this when he led members state Executive members on an Ed-fitri visit to the Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Mallam Abdul Fatai Enabulele.

According to Ikonomwan, Buhari is the “only former military Head of State that can save the country from the high level of corruption and insecurity bedeviling it.

Given the mandate, Buhari will bring

transparency, honesty, rule of law and his wealth of experience to the fore.”

Mallam Enabulele condemned the act of killing under the guise of religion, adding that “We are not happy to see worshipers being killed.” The Cleric also expressed support for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and CPC merger talk; pointing out that: “Nigeria needs an iron hand to fix its problems.”

Okene killings: Senator commends security operatives over arrest of culprits From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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enator representing Kogi Central at the National Assembly, Nurudeen Mohammadu Abatemi-Usman, has expressed happiness that the masterminds of the Okene killings at the Deeper Life Church have been arrested, and urged the police to dig deep with a view to knowing the motives behind the dastardly act.

The lawmaker assured that those behind the killings would not escape the long arm of the law. AbatemiUsaman gave the assurance in Okene yesterday when he paid condolence visits to the headquarters of the Deeper Life Church and the paramount ruler of the area, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, over the incident.

The lawmaker who just returned to the country from lesser

Hajj described the Okene massacre as wicked and callous saying no mindless individual can distort the harmonious co-existence in the area.

He called on the people of the area to remain united irrespective of their religious beliefs, pointing out that they should not allow themselves to be cowed to submission by some undesirable elements.

The Senator further disclosed that political, community and traditional leaders in the central would be meeting with the head of the security agencies and the state governor on the 7th of next month with a view to finding lasting solution to the problem in the area.

He said they were also putting heads together on how best they could assist the families of the victims of the attack, praying God to give their loved ones the fortitude to bear the

irreparable loss.

The Senator equally enjoined the people of the area to give peace a chance, emphasizing the need for them to work collectively, irrespective of their differences so as to attract development to the area.

Responding, the regional pastor of the Deeper Life Church, Okene, Raphael Irewole, thanked the Senator for identifying with them at this moment of grief, praying God to comfort the families of the departed.

The royal father, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, called on the security agents to go after the criminals and their sponsors, no matter how highly placed just as he commended both the federal and the state governments for their prompt responses which helped to douse frail nerves and the eventual return of peace in the area.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Nigeria is not ripe for state police – Sen. Marafa

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en.

Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) yesterday criticised the ongoing agitation for the establishment of state police as the country moved to amend the 1999 constitution.

Marafa said in Gusau while fielding questions from reporters that considering the orientation of Nigerian politicians, the country was not ripe to have state police.

According to him, establishment of state police will

mar political process in the country’s democracy, particularly the long quest for credible elections.

He cited the example of local government election conducted by some states where the ruling parties took advantage of the security operatives to win all available seats. “ The federal police force is there, the commissioners of police are answerable to state governors to a very large extent, so I do not

know why people are agitating for state police,” he said. ”We should enact laws that will safeguard our future not to those that will only suit our interests at least for the sake of Nigeria.’’

He added that members of the National Assembly would rise against any attempt by any person or group to create confusion or do anything that would endanger the unity of the country.

Defending this position, Marafa noted that the present crop of

National Assembly members were people of proven integrity who would stop at nothing to ensure that the country remained a united country.

Commenting on budget implementation debate in which the National Assembly recently engaged the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, the Senator stated that the lawmakers were not happy with the way budget implementation was being abused yearly in the country.

He said both the Senate and the House of Representatives had the concord that 56 per cent implementation of the 2012 budget announced by the minister was far from the truth.

“Leaders must summon courage to tell those they are governing the true positions of things, and, apologise where they failed to meet public expectations.

And where they failed to perform they should even apologse; It is not a big deal,” he said. (NAN)

Gov. Ahmed calls for restructuring of the Nigeria Police

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L-R : INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, National INEC Commissioner, Dr Abdulkadir Oniyangi, and his counterpart, Ambassador Lawrence Wuruku, during 2012-2015 strategic plan retreat, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

CPC chairman backs state police

C

ongress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday in Abuja called on the Federal Government to affirm creation of state police in the ongoing constitution review.

CPC National Chairman Tony Momoh, who made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that such step would strengthen the security of the entire nation.

“The population of Nigeria is

too heterogeneous to stick to police at the national level, it has not been effective, the Constitution must provide for state police. “ Momoh also advised the Federal Government not to legislate on birth control, adding that it was a cultural thing.

“Nigeria is a multi-religious society and birth control and marriage is a cultural thing.”

According to him, control of what happens in the lives of

people in relation to birth, marriage and other social functions which are cultural in nature; those are areas to be left to the community. “ “The facts and practical way of live teach us the way we live, it is a cultural and religious thing, it should be left for that , not one for law making or constitution making.

“For instance you cannot legislate one man one wife in

Nigeria, because it is not in agreement with our religious believe and our cultural practises.”

The national chairman, however, pointed out that it was the economy that was teaching us sense what to do even in the area of marriage.

Momoh told NAN that through education, people should even economically be advised on what to do. (NAN)

Edo SSG calls for involvement of traditional rulers in security matters

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he Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Dr Simon Imuokheme, has called for the involvement of traditional rulers in security matters.

Imoukehme made the call on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Agenebode in Etsako

Local Government Area of Edo. He also made a call for their inclusion of the traditional rulers in the area of community development.

According to him, their involvement will help tackle the challenges of insecurity in the country, as well as that of development in the rural areas.

Imoukheme said that principally, traditional rulers roles should be spelt out in the country’s constitution.

“Traditional rulers have a role to play in the governance of this country because seriously when the chips are down, it is them we run to. When there are crises, we invite them

to talk to.

“If this is done, it will be a good omen for this country. In the past we had the House of Chiefs.

“We are not saying we should have a house of chiefs, but they can be given responsibility in the area of security and community development,” he said. (NAN)

Lagos Assembly committee begins screening of local governments' account

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he Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Public Account has commenced the screening of the financial accounts of the state's 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA).

Mr Dayo Fafunmi, (ACN-Ifako Ijaye I), Chairman of the Committee, who said this on Monday while receiving reports from some chairmen, noted that the exercise

was to review the financial returns of all the councils.

Fafunmi said all councils were expected to forward their bank statements, vouchers and other documents relating to contracts awarded, including those yet to be executed. ``The whole exercise is not a witch-hunting one but rather, to carry out legislative oversight function and also to ensure proper

accountability of our local councils. ``Every money budgeted for must be accounted in line with Local Government Administration Law of 1999, `` he said.

The lawmaker advised all the council chairmen to be prudent in their spending and work closely with their treasurers to ensure probity, transparency and accountability.

The chairman, Onigbongbo

LCDA, Mr Babatunde Oke, said that the council had over the years improved on revenue generation, and recently embarked on commissioning of development projects.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among the councils chairmen that appeared before the committee as at today are, Onigbongbo, Apapa, Ikeja and Igando-Ikotun LCDA. (NAN)

ov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has advocated the complete restructuring and proper funding of the Nigeria Police to strengthen its response capacity to security challenges.

The governor however dismissed calls for the establishment of state police, saying it was desirable but nor feasible.

Ahmed said in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin that the police needed to be transformed and provided with modern technology to perform more effectively.

He noted that the security situation in the country has made it imperative to completely re-structure the nation’s security network and to provide the various security organisations with adequate funds and equipment.

On the establishment of state police, the governor said it would create additional financial burden on the state governments.

“It is like opening a new line of expenditure in addition to the expenditure pressure already on the ground.”

According to him, people clamouring for state police are doing so out of fear because of the current security challenges in the country.

He noted that many people failed to take into account the current financial, political and social situations which could lead to the misuse of the state police.

“I am looking at it from the angle that presently the federal government has not been able to meet the financial needs of the police.

“If we should go ahead to establish state police we shall only be opening a new line of expenditure; and how do we finance that.

“I believe that the existing police should be supported to move to the next level by providing them with adequate tools to work with.” (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 41

Oparanozie, Okoro pass FIFA doping test

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ederation of International Football (FIFA) has given Falconets forward, Desire Oparanozie and Chidinma Okoro clean bill of health at the on-going FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The duo were subjected to doping tests on August 19 shortly after the team’s opening game against Korea Republic.

FIFA medical officials had collected their urine sample for

a doping test.

According to a release by FIFA on Sunday and which was conveyed to the Nigerian team, both players were cleared of taking any performance enhancing drugs.

It is the practice of FIFA to randomly pick two players from both sides after a game for the test. “l am happy with the results.

It is a good one for the team especially at this crucial time,”

revealed head Coach, Edwin Okon.

Falconets have already qualified for the quarter-finals of the competition, leading group B with a total of seven points from three matches.

It won its first match 2-0 against Korea Republic, drew its second 1-1 with Brazil and won its last qualifying match against Italy, 4-0.

The Falconets will meet Mexico

We used Olympic broadcast rights fund to pay workers’ salaries, says NOC Scribe

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

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he Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has taken the alleged misapplication of grant from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for preparation of Team Nigeria athletes and the additional N50m from the National Sports Commission (NSC) to another dimension as it disclosed yesterday that it invested N80 million on the payment of workers’ salaries.

In apparent reaction to the raging controversy over alleged misapplication of grant from the IOC and the Federal Government’s allocation, its Secretary-General, Tunde Popoola, said the NOC, which has appealed to the government to release a further N15m shortfall to it to clear some debts, had to spend extra order to purchase television rights to enable Nigerians to watch live telecast of the London Games.

“We had to go through some stress to get the thing done so that Nigerians can watch. We got the media rights from the IOC, let me put it that way, through Octagon.

“We got N50 million from the Ministry of Sports and needed the shortfall to be able to pay for the rights they purchased from South African Octagon,” but dismissed allegation that the NOC was oweing its workers backlog of four months’ salaries.

Only last week, it was reported

that the workers were being owed four months salaries. The story itself was corroborated by some workers who confirmed that they were yet to be paid for four months.

“If they have not received, may be for two months. For us and for what we did we are also stakeholders in the NOC. You will recall that Nigeria got the media right to show the Olympics in Nigeria, you know it was bought by the NOC. Peoples Daily Sports recalls that Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, had watched his hands off the matter of the IOC grants to the NOC stressing that its leadership will not be asked to account for it.

Popoola said further in defence of his embattled committee that midwifed a failed Team Nigeria to the London Olympics where Nigeria could not win any medal in spite receiving N2,3 billion.

“And yet we had to go through some stress to get the thing done so that Nigerians can watch. We got the media rights from the IOC, let me put it that way, through Octagon. And for the reasons which is very, very sad and I am sorry. That is part of our effort to generate revenue in the first instance.

“And secondly of course, to ensure that Nigerians as they are get to see the Olympics live. So, the reason why is that we got that money; we had to pay 80 million, which is very clear.

“And we were doing all these

in one of the quarter-finals matches on Aug. 30.

Meanwhile, Assistant Coach, Florence Omagbemi, has praised Oparanozie who is featuring in her fifth World Cup appearance and has a goal to her credit against Korea Republic, for her consistency.

During Nigeria’s last group match, she had the opportunity of increasing her tally but had her attempt at goal was saved by Italian keeper, Laura Giuliani. Nigeria takes on Mexico in the quarter final on Thursday.

things before and you know 80 million is not what comes by to the NOC on a regular basis.

“So of course the time the staff were carried along they were aware, because as it is, its like a family in that house now, they all challenged but I’m just throwing that one aside.

“So we go the money and NSC, and what you know is NSC not Federal Government. They gave us the N50 million, so we were short

of funds by actually going to the Olympics.

“So this is just the real scenario, so its not anything too difficult. But I can assure you now that since some incomes are coming in, and by next week all chances of people will be paid as well.”

He re-assured the staff that their outstanding salaries would be paid as soon as proceeds from the investment began to come in.

Meanwhile, both the NOC’s spokesman and its treasurer, Mr Tony Ubani, and Malam Misau Bappa, respectively said they were not aware that the workers were owed salaries.

Patrick Ekeji, DG, NSC

Jack Rogge, IOC President

Federation Cup Okorocha lauds Heartland, says victory typifies team work, dedication

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overnor Rochas Okorocha of Imo said yesterday that the retention of the Federation Cup by Heartland FC of Owerri was the outcome of team work and dedication. Heartland, the defending champions, on Sunday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 2-1 in the final of the 67thedition of the competition at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Okorocha,in a statement signed by the Imo Commissioner for Information, Chinedu Offor, urged the state’s athletes to emulate Heartland’s victory to uplift the state.

The governor assured that the state government would reward the players greatly for their victory, stressing that this was the time for Imo to excel in all aspects of human endeavour.

Okorocha, who dedicated the victory to God, urged the people of Imo to support his administration to enable it to bring more honours to the state.

FIFA applauds Onigbinde’s role in football development

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orld soccer ruling body, FIFA has again applauded the immense contribution of the Nigeria’s foremost football technocrat, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde to the development of the round leather game globally.

This was contained in a letter of commendation dated August 20, 2012 and signed by Jerome Valcke, FIFA secretary general addressed to the former Super Eagles handler.

The letter reads “the FIFA president will like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for all the work that you have accomplished as a member of a FIFA standing committee,” “As a sign of appreciation, please accept this pennant (attached) as a piece of memorabilia.

Thanks to committed and loyal people like you, we have been able to progress and develop the beautiful game,” Showering praises of the Modakeke high Chief, FIFA boss prayed for success of Onigbinde in both professional and private level.

Onigbinde became a member of the Technical Committee of Federation Internationale De Football Association (FIFA) in1994 and rose to become Technical advisor.

He was a member of the Technical Study Groups at Finals of FIFA Competitions namely 1997 Youth World Championships in Malaysia, 1998 World Cup Competition in France, 1999 Female World Cup Competition in the USA, 2003 World Youth Championships in United Arab Emirate (UAE) and 2009 U-17 World Cup Competition Nigeria 2009 It is recalled that Onigbinde joined the Cofederation Africaine De Football (CAF) in 1988 as a member of Technical Development Committee, and later became a Technical Instructor.

THURSDAY’S QUARTER-FINALS FIXTURES

Sani Ndanusa, NOC President

Nigeria v Mexico Japan v Korea Republic Friday 31 August Germany v Norway Korea DPR v USA,

Chief Adegboyega Onigbinde

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Eto’o turns down Cameroon

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amuel Eto’o has rejected the chance to make a comeback for Cameroon, saying the team environment is still plagued by “amateurism and bad management”.

The 31-year-old forward was recalled last week for the African Nations Cup first round first leg against Cape Verde Islands on September

8, eight months after he was suspended for having led a player strike over unpaid bonuses.

The row caused Cameroon to cancel a friendly in Algeria.

“I regret to inform you I’ve decided not to participate in any game with the national team since the flaws I kept denouncing

as a captain have not been solved,” Eto’o wrote in a letter to the Cameroon soccer federation published on his website.

“The national team environment is still made up of amateurism and bad management which do not suit the requirements for high-level sport,” added the four-times African Footballer

of the Year who has played for his country more than 100 times.

Former Inter Milan and Barcelona striker Eto’o now plays for wealthy Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala.

The two-legged match between Cameroon and Cape Verde Islands will decide a place at the 2013 finals in South Africa. The return leg is in Yaounde in October.

Sunshine Queens will win Women Challenge Cup, says coach

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unshine Queens FC Chief Coach, Wale Ifabumuyi, yesterday expressed his team’s readiness to win the 2012 Women’s Challenge Cup starting on Wednesday in four centres across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the preliminary stages of the competition would hold in Abuja, Akure, Calabar and Owerri.

Ifabumuyi told NAN in Akure during the team’s training session that his team was in group A at the Abuja centre, alongside Oguche Babes, Plateau Reps, Apa Queens and Adamawa Queens. The coach said that he was confident of

his team’s preparation for the competition, saying the team had blocked all loopholes that could impede their victory.

“I am happy with the team’s progress compared to last year’s and I believe they will come back to Akure with the gold cup. “The team is well prepared and we are optimistic of returning home with the trophy. “The team has improved considerably from its position of last year and we all believe that the team is going to Abuja to win because we have all toiled for it,” he said.

Ifabumuyi said that his team would leave for Abuja on Tuesday, to attend the draws slated for Wednesday.

All NPL final matches to be telecast

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he Nigeria Premier League plan a multiple telecast of live games on September 7 for the final day of the season to forestall match fixing.

League leaders Kano Pillars as well as closest rivals Lobi Stars and Enugu Rangers all have a chance to be crowned champions on the final day of action on Friday, September 7, and as such

officials have agreed that all the matches involving these teams will be shown live on TV simultaneously to forestall any pre-determined arrangements.

Pillars are top of the table on 64 points from 37 matches, Lobi Stars are second and a point behind, while third-placed Enugu Rangers have 61 points.

Rangers will be home to

Sharks on the final day of the campaign and would hope to win, while Pillars and Lobi lose tricky away games in Sunshine Stars and Kaduna United, respectively.

There have already been insinuations that some of the games have been prearranged, but the organisers said that by showing the matches on TV the public eye will be fixed on any

Kano Pillars vs Rangers match

underhand dealings.

“The final matches of the season will be played on Friday, September 7 after we agreed with the television company to ensure the matches involving the championship contenders will be shown at the same time,” NPL executive secretary Tunji Babalola informed MTNFootball.com “We believe this will give all the teams a level playing ground and that a worthy champion will emerge after these games.”

Like last season, this league will again go to the wire and the NPL have also made arrangements for trophy presentations at Kaduna, IjebuOde and Enugu, where a champion would be crowned.

“We have made arrangements to be able to do a trophy presentation in the three venues where a champion will emerge. That was what we also did last season, when the battle was between Dolphin and Sunshine Stars,” disclosed Babalola.

The champions and the runners-up will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Champions League, while the third-placed club will feature in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup.

David Tyavkase

Heartland ruined us, Iorfa laments Lobi loss

By Albert Akota

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he Technical Director of Lobi Stars, Dominic Iorfa, said they were short of words to express their disappointment after losing the 2012 Federation Cup to defending champions, Heartland of Owerri.

Heartland defeated Lobi 2-1 in an epic final at the Teslim Balogun, Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, on Sunday to retain the trophy they won last year.

Lobi scored the opening goal of the encounter when Ezekiel Bassey nodded home a classic pullout from David Tyavkase in the 5th minute.

“We were desperate to defeat Heartland, but they came back strongly into the match, it was frustrating, Heartland broke our heart,” Iorfa said.

Jolly Osas equalized for the Naze Millionaires in the 24th minute, while back-breaking added on time goal by Brendan Ogbu spoilt Lobi Stars’ dream.

Commissioner wants Asaba stadium relocated

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r Chike Ogeah, t h e Commissioner for Information in Delta, yesterday called for the relocation of the Asaba Township Stadium, saying that it was wrongly located.

Ogeah made the call in Asaba while fielding questions from newsmen on the state-of-affairs as Delta turned 21 years.

He said that the location of the stadium in the city centre had

affected its development as it lacked sufficient space to accommodate necessary facilities and for expansion.

He, therefore, called on the Asaba community to provide the government with an alternative land for the construction of a stadium befitting the state capital.

“The fundamental problem with the stadium project is that it was built in the wrong place. If you ask me, we can convert

what we have there now into an indoor facility.

“I suggest that the people of Asaba should look elsewhere for land for the government to build a new and befitting stadium,’’ he said.

Ogeah, who blamed the delay in the completion of ongoing projects in the state on “dwindling finances,’’ promised that most of the projects would be completed before the end of the tenure of the current administration.

He described Delta at 21 as ‘great’, saying that the celebration of this year’s anniversary would be low keyed, a deviation from previous years.

The commissioner said the government had decided to ‘tone down’ the celebration of this year’s anniversary and use the occasion to focus on stocktaking.

He said the government had made a lot of investment on security to complement the Federal

Government’s effort in that direction.

Ogeah, who admitted that most of the roads in the state, especially in Asaba, were in poor condition, said that rehabilitating them during the rainy season would not produce a good result.

He said that the government’s priority now was the construction of drains that would facilitate the building of more enduring roads during the dry season.

“Heartland spoils our plan, we were sad to see our dejected fans walking out of the stadium like that; they came all the way from Makurdi with their drums and trumpets.

“This is not the best way to repay their support Tyavkase, who led Lobi’s midfield against heartland, toldPeoples Daily Sports after the match.

Iorfa, former national player, agreed that both teams played good football in the final, but blamed their loss to ill-luck.

“I was disappointed with the outcome of the match.

We played to win the Federation Cup and we are even targeting a double, to emerge champions of the Nigeria Premier League this season.

“Unfortunately, we have lost the Federation Cup title now. I think we will take the defeat in good faith and return home to prepare for our last Premier League tie against Kaduna United,” he said.

While the players and officials of Lobi departed the stadium with red eyes, the champions, Heartland, who were motivated by their governor from Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, celebrated the new silver trophy.

Okorocha, who watched the final match with the chief host, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has promised to reward the Owerri-based team for their gallant feat.

Meanwhile, Fashola honoured former heroes of the National Challenge Cup, led by Christian Chukwu, Muyiwa Oshode, Ismaila Mabo, Shuaibu Amodu, Emmanuel Okala and a few others.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Manchester United, Everton battle for Jim

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anchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is teeing up a shock swoop for Leicester City’s young centre-half Liam Moore.

Fergie sent his chief scout Jim Lawlor to watch the -teenager in action at the weekend as he sizes up a move, possibly before the window shuts on Friday.

Lawlor ran the rule over the 19-year-old England youth cap, who has only played a handful of games for the Foxes but is already attracting huge interest.

Everton spy Alan Stubbs a classy defender in his time was also watching, along with the chief scouts of Sunderland and Tottenham as the grapevine buzzes.

Leicester has not put a valuation on Moore but could be in for a decent windfall as some big guns prepare to take an early punt on a promising English prospect.

Sampdoria signs Poulsen from AZ Alkmaar

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ampdoria have completed the signing of D e n m a r k winger Simon Poulsen on a threeyear deal.

The 27-year-old moves to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris following the expiration of his contract with AZ Alkmaar.

Poulsen, who can also play at left-back, collected the latest of his 21 caps at the recent UEFA E u r o p e a n Championships.

After missing out on the chance to feature in Samp’s shock victory at AC Milan yesterday, Poulsen could make his Serie A debut against Siena on Sunday.

Arsenal ponder more signings

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rsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he could make further signings after admitting his side lacked a cutting edge in the 0-0 draw with Stoke.

The result means the Gunners have failed to score in their opening

Lukas Podolski

two Premier League games after selling Robin van Persie to Manchester United.

Arsenal have already signed French striker Olivier Giroud, German forward Lukas Podolski and Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla, who impressed at the Britannia Stadium.

But Giroud and Podolski struggled to test Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic as the Gunners failed to create many clear-cut chances.

However, despite the problems in front of goal, the Gunners manager was content with a draw and praised Arsenal’s defensive performance as his team kept their second consecutive clean sheet.

Manchester City close in on Sinclair for £6.2m

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cott Sinclair looks set to complete his move to Manchester City on Tuesday for a transfer fee believed to be £6.2million.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said after the 2-2 draw with Liverpool that he hoped the deal would go through before Friday’s deadline, but according to Sky Sports it will be done a lot sooner than that.

Michael Laudrup left Sinclair out of his Swansea squad that beat West Ham 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday in a sure sign that Sinclair’s future lies elsewhere.

Mancini is looking to add a host of new signings to his squad before the transfer window closes on Friday.

PAGE 43

Transfer

The season is over. Clubs are counting their blessing as well as losses and would like to make amends and even beef up their squads where noticeable lapses exist. And the transfer market is agog barely 24 hours after major European leagues dropped the curtain.

And so to keep abreast with latest rumours, we begin daily doses of movements within the market both for players and coaches like.

Spurs offer for Willian 24-year-old. rejected Shakhtar want £20

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ottenham have had a bid of almost £12 million for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Willian rejected by the Ukrainian club.

The North Londoners have agreed a •37 million deal for the sale of Luka Modric to Real Madrid means they will be back in with an improved offer for the

million for Willian, while it is unclear whether Spurs would be prepared to pay that much, the Modric sale means they will table an increased bid.

Earlier yesterday, reports quoted Shakhtar officials as saying that an offer from Tottenham had been turned down, but White Hart Lane boss Villas-Boas is eager to

add to his attacking options and has made the Brazilian his top target.

Willian

Nice, Lyon swap Monzon, Pied

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rgentine leftback Fabian Monzon joined Lyon on a four-year contract deal that saw French forward Jeremy Pied move in the opposite direction to join Nice.

Lyon announced the deal yesterday evening, revealing that they had paid Nice •3m potentially

rising to •4m with bonuses.

Pied, 23, joined Nice for •3m, meaning that the only money that will change hands between the clubs will be for any bonus payments that Lyon have to make as part of the terms of the Monzon deal.

Monzon, 25, arrived

in France last season and scored eight goals in 34 matches in his debut campaign with Nice.

The seven-cap A r g e n t i n a international had previously played for Boca Juniors, his formative club, and Spanish side Real Betis, where he spent the 2008-09 season on loan.

Aston Villa want two more players

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ston Villa manager Paul Lambert will hold talks with club owner Randy Lerner in the next 48 hours as he looks to bring in two more new signings before the transfer window closes.

Lambert’s home debut ended in a 3-1 defeat to Everton - a second successive loss after a 1-0 defeat at West Ham on the opening day underlining the need to bring in reinforcements.

Lerner is understood to have initially wanted to offload Alan Hutton and Stephen Warnock before bringing in new players as he continues to lower the wage bill at Villa retain an interest in Blackburn Rovers defender Martin Olsson and want to add more of a goal threat to help Darren Bent, but Lambert feels Stoke’s Kenwyne Jones or Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe would be out of his price range.

Jiracek completes Hamburg move

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etr Jiracek has undergone a medical at Hamburg and will sign for the club in a •4 million deal from Wolfsburg.

Jiracek, 26, will join after being told by coach Felix Magath that his services are no longer required in Lower Saxony despite the Czech Republic international only arriving at Wolfsburg in January.

Hamburg also

Petr Jiracek brought Croatian midfielder Milan Badelj, 23, to the club from Dinamo Zagreb earlier this month.

Wolves sign Rennes winger

W Razak Boukari

olves manager Stale Solbakken has made Rennes winger Razak Boukari his sixth signing of the summer.

Boukari, 25, has signed a four-year contract at Molineux and could make his debut against Northampton in the Capital One Cup on Thursday.

The Togo international was initially wanted

by West Ham United, but their £10 million purchase of Wolves winger Matt Jarvis opened

Tottenham submit bid for M’Vila

Modric completes Real move

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ottenham have submitted a bid to sign 22-yearold France midfielder Yann M’Vila from Rennes, according to the Ligue 1 club.

It is understood Spurs have proposed a fee of £12.7m with add-ons, although Rennes want an unconditional £15m.

After M’Vila rejected moves to Zenit St Petersburg and Shakhtar D o n e t s k , Tottenham’s bid is the only one on the table at present.

M’Vila made 61 appearances for Rennes and France last season, featuring in three of his country’s four Euro 2012 matches.

up Boukari’s route to Molineux.

Boukari started his professional career at French Ligue 2 side Chateauroux, from where he joined Lens in 2006. In four years at Lens, he made over 100 appearances and scored 11 goals, moving to Rennes in 2010.

Boukari scored seven goals in 37 appearances for Rennes as the club finished last season in sixth place in Ligue 1.

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Luka Modric

uka Modric has completed his transfer to Real Madrid after signing a five-year contract with the Spanish champions.

Tottenham Hotspur is reported to have received £33m for the Croatia playmaker, who passed a medical at the Bernabeu this morning.

Modric joined Tottenham from Dinamo Zagreb for £16.5million in 2008 and was highly influential under former manager Harry Redknapp.

He made 160 appearances for Spurs, scoring 17 goals, and his transfer comes alongside a new partnership between Tottenham and Real.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Seven Meet records fall in Dubnica as Olympic champions capture two

Javelin accident kills German athletics official

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74-year-old man, Dieter Strack, has died of a javelin injury after he was accidentally speared by a 15-yearold javelin thrower.

Strack, was rushed to hospital in the German city of Dusseldorf after the accident on Sunday, officials say he died of his injuries. The competition was called off after the incident.

The 15-year-old competitor who threw the javelin is receiving psychological counselling, police spokesman Andre Hartwig told the Associated Press. A statement on the website of the local athletics association identified the man as Mr Strack and said he was a “much-loved and experienced” sports judge.

“All of us who were there are horrified and in shock... We will always remember Dieter Strack,” the statement said.

Occasional accidents occur in athletics disciplines such as the javelin and the hammer, but deaths are extremely rare.

In 2007, French long jumper Salim Sdiri was speared by a javelin at an athletics meeting in Rome and had to be taken to hospital for his injuries.

Award winner Obuh promises more

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lying Eagles coach John Obuh has promised to do more after he was conferred with a special award by Abia State yesterday in Umuahia.

“This is a sure sign of better things to come,” vowed Obuh after he was honoured among 21 distinguished personalities from Abia State to mark the 21st year of the creation of the eastern Nigerian state.

“I am greatly elated to

John Obuh

be recognised by my people and I will continue to do my very best in all my endeavours to get this form of recognition.”

He added: “No doubt, I believe that this recognition comes with its challenges and I believe that God will give me all the strength that I will use to excel. “This award really means a lot to me and all my family members and words alone can’t describe how I feel. I am indeed very grateful to the government and good people of Abia for this award.”

The conferment of the ‘Oke-Oji Abia’ on the 52year-old Obuh was staged at the Michael Okpara Auditorium in Umuahia.

Abia State Governor T.A Orji was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Emeka Ananaba, as well as several top government functionaries.

Obuh has been flying high the flag of Abia State as a top-notch coach, who among several other accomplishments led Nigeria to win the 2011 African Youth Championship.

Olympic champ turns down N150 million professional offer

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lympic Games champion Ryota Murata has turned down a $1 million offer to turn professional.

Murata also has no plans to defend his title at the 2016 Olympics. Instead, he is considering a future away from boxing.

The 26-year-old Murata ended Japan’s 48-year wait for an Olympic boxing gold medal by winning the middleweight title in London earlier this month. He now plans to take an extended break before deciding on his next move.

“It’s the end of a chapter for me and boxing,” Murata told the newspaper Nikkan Sports.

“Basically I don’t have plans to continue with my career.

“I have already quit once and came back,” said the

champion, who briefly left the sport after failing to make the team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

He has been offered a $1 million (R8.4 million) contract to turn professional but Murata, who beat Brazil’s Esquiva Falcao Florentino in the London final, plans to study sports science and foreign languages.

He is also far from enthusiastic about the possibility of going for a second gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, insisting he would rather coach boxers.

“I’m not thinking about a return. There will be new, young boxers in Rio and I won’t be of interest to the media,” said the native of Nara in western Japan. “I just want time off.”

Svetlana Shkolina

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even meeting records fell at the 10th Athletics Bridge Zdenek Hrbacek Memorial in Dubnica, Slovakia, on Sunday.

It all started in the men’s 100m where the first sub10 second performance in Slovakia was recorded.

Nesta Carter, after great start, ran 10.01 (0.0), a Slovak All-comers record that more precisely was clocked at 10.007.

His Olympic 4x100m relay gold medal colleague Michael Frater was second in 10.12 just edging Dwain Chambers who was credited with the same time.

Timothy Kitum, the 17year-old Olympic bronze medallist in the 800m, tried to attack the World junior record over 1000m but the runners did not follow the pacemakers. At the end Abraham Rotich clocked a meet record 2:17.08 ahead of Australian Jeff Riseley 2:17.63 with Kitum third 2:17.96.

Earlier in the 800m another young Kenyan, junior Edwin Melly, produced a meet record 1:45.82 beating Nicholas Koech (1:46.82).

Dawn Harper tried hard to attack her own meet record but in the rain came up short.

She still produced a high calibre 12.68 (-0.4) victory ahead of Queen Harrison (12.81) and Canadian Priscilla Lopes-Schliep who celebrated her 30th birthday with a 12.94 performance for third.

Another meet record and Slovak all-comers mark came in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase by Lydia Chepkurui who clocked 9:30.82 beating Fancy Cherotich (9:35.03) and Ukrainian Helsinki medallist Svitlana Shmidt who clocked 9:37.90.

There was a dramatic finish in the women’s 1000m where Brenda Martinez of the U.S. was given the win ahead of Marina Arzamasava of Belarus, who was credited with the same time.

Interestingly Arzamasava began the race as a pacemaker.

Slovak Olympic 1500m finalist

Lucia Klocova was next 2:38.72, a national record. The next two finishers also dipped under 2:40: Angelika Cichocka of Poland in 2:38.78 for fourth and Amela Terzic fifth with a 2:39.79 Serbian record.

Hungarian Krisztian Pars dominated the Hammer Throw with 79.84m over a strong field where sixth place was worth 76.16m. In a slippery circle, shot putter Tomasz Majewski attacked the 21-metre barrier with a 20.98m best. In the women’s Hammer Throw German Betty Heidler ruled with 75.19m as Cuban Yipsi Moreno, with a 74.86m last throw, beat

London gold medallist Tatyana Lysenko (74.76m).

Another meet record fell in the women’s High Jump where Svetlana Shkolina first cleared 1.93m and then 1.97m to twice improve the event best during a rain fall. Despite the unfavourable weather she also gave the enthusiastic crowd three tries at two metres.

Pole vaulters were in shape but unfortunately due to the rain their event was stopped at 5.74m where three were still jumping. Before then Czech Jan Kudlicka cleared 5.67m with his first attempt for another meet record.

Krisztian Pars spinning to victory in Dubnica

World leader Vitezslav Vesely won the Javelin Throw with 80.47m and also saved his energy for the Samsung Diamond League final in Zurich when passing his last two throws.

The only Slovak win of the day produced another meet record with Matej Toth, who was eighth at the Olympic Games, winning the 3000m Race Walk in 11:05.95.

Elsewhere Laverne Jones-Ferrette of the US Virgin Islands beat a good field in the women’s 100m field in 11.29 (-1.0) and Aliaksei Tsiapik of Belarus, a Helsinki medallist, won the Triple Jump with 16.58m (-0.2).

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

PAGE 45

5 1

6

2

7

PICTORIAL 1/ FIFA.com reviews action from the final group matches at Japan 2012 with Norway, Korea DPR and USA winning through, however the Stars and Stripes suffered a blow with a recordbreaking 3-0 loss against heavyweight rivals Germany.

2/ Manchester United new boy Shinji Kagawa claims he will only improve after scoring on his home debut against Fulham.

3

3/ Barcelona are once again being challenged by a team from Madrid, but this time it's Rayo Vallecano, writes Phil Ball.

4/ Luka Modric has joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of ÂŁ33m after passing a medical in the Spanish capital.

5/ Man City are preparing ÂŁ60 million worth of bids in the next 24 hours to try to land Roberto Mancini's targets before the transfer window closes on Friday.

6/ Para-cyclist Jon-Allan Butterworth apologises for his comments criticising fellow athletes for not preparing seriously.

7/ Nottinghamshire coach Mick Newell confirms they have made an offer for Glamorgan's England Lions seamer James Harris.

4

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

Grant, Taiwo emerge winners at the 4th Lagos Gov Open Squash tourney

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op seeds Adrian Grant and Yemisi Taiwo on Sunday emerged the Men’s and Women’s Singles champions, respectively, of the fourth Lagos Governor’s Open Squash Championships at the Ikoyi Club, Lagos.

Grant defeated second seed Sodiq Taiwo in three straight sets— 11-7, 11-9, 11-8, to emerge the men’s singles champion, while Taiwo tallied at two sets each with second seed Kally Yashim before she rallied round at the fifth and final set to win at 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 2-11, 11-9.

The Men’s Singles champion Grant, won 10,000 dollars (N1.5m), his runner-up, U.Sbased Taiwo, won, 7,500 dollars

(N750,000).

The Women’s Singles champion, Taiwo of no relation with the Men’s Singles runnerup, collected 3,000 dollars, while her runner-up, Yashim earned 1,500 dollars.

Grant, who said that he was delighted to participate and emerged the champion of the competition, also commended the organisers for inviting foreign players to compete at the championship.

“I am so happy to participate in the competition; the organisers did a good job by inviting foreign players to compete with the local players.

“This arrangement of exposing local players to

international players at home will go a long way in developing squash in the country,’’ he said.

Taiwo, the runner-up, admitted losing to a better opponent, saying that Grant was ranked high in the Professional Squash Association. “All I need to do is to improve on my performance so I can defeat him when next we meet,’’ he said.

Taiwo also commended Lagos State government for sponsoring the competition.

The Women’s Singles champion, Taiwo, said that she got to the finals through hard work and determination but commended her opponent for putting up a good fight.

Taiwo, who urged private Kim Clijsters Factfile

Kim Clijster, hopes to crown her impressive carrer with US. Open title win

•Country: Belgium •Date of birth: 8 June 1983 •Height: 5ft 9in •Plays: Right-handed •Turned professional: 1997 •Singles titles: 41 •Doubles titles: 11 •Career matches won: 653 •Career matches lost: 180 •Australian Open: W (2011) •French Open: F (2001, 2003) •Wimbledon: SF (2003, 2006) US Open: W (2005, 2009, 2010)

US Open: Clijsters hopes to climax career with Flushing Meadows title

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hree-time US Open winner Kim Clijsters and the first wildcard to win the US Open is hoping to end her career on a high by winning at Flushing Meadows, which began yesterday in New York.

The 29-year-old Belgian, who announced her retirement in May and has been on a farewell tour throughout this year, has been restricted by injuries just six tournaments. But she is confident that the last Grand Slam of the year will cap her flourishing career with success.

“I’m in maybe the best shape that I have been in and my goal is to try and win the US Open.

I’m still focusing on trying to be in the best shape that I can be.

My mindset is not any different and I really believe that physically I can do itClijsters said.

Clijsters, who reached the Olympics quarter-finals,losing 2-6, 5-7 against women’s number one Maria Sharapova, is optimistic ahead of the New York Slam.

“This place is magical for me,” she said. “I have had so many beautiful memories. I love the surface, I love the atmosphere and I’m excited.

“I want to play well so I’m focusing on that for now. I’ll be

as ready as I can be and not look too far ahead. I’m focused on just trying to play my best.”

Clijsters first retired in 2007, following a series of chronic injuries, but returned two years later to become the first wildcard

to win the US Open.

She went on to win a third Flushing Meadows title in 2010 - after winning the event for the first time in 2005- and the Australian Open title in 2011, after which she topped the world

Maria Sharapova, serious contender for the title

organisations and individuals to sponsor competitions in order to develop the sport in the country, expressed delight over her victory.

“Honestly, I am happy that I emerged the winner, I got to the finals not by luck but by hard work,’’ she said.

Deji Wellinton, the Chairman, Main Organising Committee of the competition later said that the success of this year’s event would improve Nigeria’s ranking at the international level.

Wellinton thanked Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State for providing the organisers with N10 million for the hosting of this year’s event.

Meanwhile, the third and

fourth place winners in the men’s category were given 4,000 dollars (N600,000) each, while the fifth to the eighth winners were given 1,500 dollars (N1.3m) each.

The third and the fourth place winners in the women category were given 750 dollars each while the fifth to the eighth place winners were awarded 250 dollars each.

Delta beat Lagos three straight sets 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 to win the Men’s Team event and collected N250,000, while Lagos earned N200,000.

Ondo defeated Plateau two sets to one at 11-6, 7-11, 11-5 to win the Women’s Team event and collected N100,000, while Plateau got N75,000.

The event also featured U-16 male and female events as exhibition matches, while the players were given trophies, canvass, rackets, balls, bags and medals.

rankings for the first time in five years.

Sharapova and Britain’s Andy Murray have been among a host of fellow tennis players to pay tribute to the three-time champion.

“There’s so many great things besides the fact she’s been an incredible tennis player and champion. She was always so focused and determined one of the best athletes the game saw in women’s tennis,” Sharapova said.

Meanwhile, Murray, who is also trying to continue his impressive form following his Olympic gold medal win said: “As a person, which is much more important than the tennis, she’s a lovely person.

“I’m sure she will be remembered as one of the best players of the last 15, 20 years and also one of the best people.”

If Clijsters is to win her 42nd career title she is going to have to be at her best, with several players in with a shout of winning the tournament.

Following her recent Olympic win, which saw her thrash the world number one Sharapova 60, 6-1,Serena Williams will go into the event as one of the

favourites, something that will not faze her.

“You’ve got to embrace it whether you’re the favourite or the one to beat or whether you are not,” the American said.

“And I embrace it. In Wimbledon I wasn’t the favourite, I embraced that.

Hopefully I can do my best here.

“I don’t feel pressure. My dad said the only pressure you have is the pressure you put on yourself. If I win, that would be great. If I lose, I realise I’m going to go home and be devastated.

But there’s always tomorrow.”

Williams, who has won the tournament three times, was suprising beaten in last year’s final by Sam Stosur but sister Venus is backing her to be the one to beat.

“She’s amazing,” Venus said.

“I think when she’s playing great and feeling confident - even when she isn’t - it still takes a hurricane to beat her.”

Clijsters added: “To me, Serena is the best ever because physically she just stands out.

She’s fast, she’s strong, she has a very good eye as well. What we have seen over the last few months is the best player ever.”

Serena Williams, favoured by rivals to win

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE The form of the dialogue is that back-room channels are being used to reach across with the sole objective of understanding what exactly the grievances of these persons are — Dr euben Aba ti, Pr esidential Dr.. R Reuben Abati, Presidential spokesman on indirect talks between FG and Boko Haram

SPORTS Democratically accountable, LA TEST LATEST

CAF Champions League Sahel expulsion hands Sunshine unassailable semi-finals ticket

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igeria Premier League (NPL) club, Sunshine Stars have advanced to the semifinal of the Caf Champions League following the disqualification of Tunisian club, Etoile du Sahel.

Etoile were thrown out of the tournament as a result of crowd trouble when the Sousse club faced another Tunisian side, Esperance on Matchday 2.

The development saw Sunshine Stars automatically progress to the last four of Africa's premier club competition and the Stars' coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has now voiced his emotions following the news.

"I'd be lying if I said I'm not elated at the news. I'm very happy but we were still on course for qualification even before they were disqualified so this is just a bonus," he said.

Sunshine Stars will now prepare to face either Al Ahly or TP Mazembe who look the most likely sides to progress from Group B of the competition but Ogunbote is not looking too far ahead.

"We will do our best in Tunis. We have just resumed camping ahead of that match.

The boys’spirits are high now and by the time we break the news to them that we are already in semi-finals, the spirit will be higher,” he said.

“The game against Esperance will be tough, don't forget that they beat us here and that is still fresh in our mind, it is not time to boast but we will do our best to achieve the best result we need there."

"We are not thinking of which team we will meet in the semifinal but if I am to choose, I will pray that God gives us a team that we can overcome and qualify for the final," he said.

Sunshine Stars have remained unbeaten in the competition after their 0-2 home loss to Esperance on Matchday 1.

Last year, Sunshine reached the semi-final of the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup before they bowed out to Club Africain of Tunisia on aggregate.

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not federal or state police (I) FOR THE T

he debate about whether or not to have state police is raging. But it is, to a considerable extent, becoming impoverished by the day. And this largely because of the quality of some of the interventions, the fact that wrong questions are being asked and wrong answers gotten, and the volte-face of the Northern governors on the issue.

The nineteen Northern governors, it will be recalled, were, at first, one with their Southern counterparts that the constitution should be amended to make for state police, but later reversed their position. This has added a new, if unhealthy, dimension to the debate, pitting the North against the South on the issue and feeding the incubus of suspicions and the fears between the two sides. Just as many a Southerner sees the Northern governors' volteface as suspect, a part, perhaps, of a grand design for achieving domination of the country using, among other things, the federal police, so many in the North see the insistence by Southern leaders on state police as part of a secessionist agenda. And in this cauldron of mutual suspicions and fears, what float at the top and engage many people's attention are the peripheral and not the really fundamental issues in the matter.

Along with this, and no less disturbing, is the issue of many people posing the wrong questions and, therefore, getting the wrong answers There is clearly an obsession among many in this debate about the matter of control of the police, and with which tier of government this should rest federal or state.

The governors' position is hinged on this issue of control.

They are canvassing a constitutional provision that gives them control, or at least a considerable measure of it, in the operations of the police in their states. And, looking at things on their face value, the governors seem to have a good case. They are the political heads and chief security officers of their states. It is they people look up to and hold responsible for ensuring the security of their lives and property. Each of them spends millions of his state's resources every month to ease police operations in the state and keep the Police Commissioner and the

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MASSES

By Rufa’i Ibrahim ruf585@hotmail.com

IGP, Mohammed Abubakar

top officers sweet. Why then should the governor not have control over the operations of the police in his state, especially when and where there is a real threat or actual breakdown of law and order in the state?

These arguments may be seductive, but they are wrongheaded. More importantly, the governors' argument and insistence on having control over the police operating in their states is the strongest reason against state police. Why should any body - whether the president, or governor, or local government chairman, or any public officer at all- control the police in their operations? Why do the governors want to control the police? In what way will the nation be served and its security ensured by the

governors having control over the police in their states, or establishing their own police formations?

History, read objectively and properly understood, is always a guide. In the 50s and 60s we had regional and Native Authority police in the country. There is absolutely nothing in our history of those years that supports or recommends the establishment of state police today, but there is everything in it that warns against such a move. In fact, what shouts back to us loudest from across the decades of our history is the fact of the gross abuse, in the 50s and 60s, of the regional and Native Authority police by the powers that be at the time who, here unleashed them against political opponents, there used them to settle personal scores and everywhere and generally used them to oppress the powerless and poor Nigerians.

The Nigerian public may have a short memory, but it cannot forget so soon the countless cases and incidences of abuse of the police by those in power at the time, many of which have been recorded and well documented.

Former President Ibrahim Babangida, who has now cast his vote with the advocates of state police, has urged us not to worry or be disturbed by past fears

which he says are now unfounded.

"Why should we think that what happened in the 50s when the regional police were used to intimidate members of the opposition political parties will continue to happen under the present dispensation? I don't think the incumbent governors can use the state police to intimidate anybody. Honestly, the fear is unfounded," he said in a statement marking his 71 st birthday.

And we ask: why should we not think that a repeat of what happened in the 50s is possible, or even likely? What has happened in the intervening years to make a repeat unlikely? And why should we take his word that the incumbent governors will not misuse and abuse state police the way their predecessors did?

No. Our fears are not unfounded. There is, in fact, a good basis for them. For, although we are in a civilian dispensation, our politics is not tethered to law, our country is still the land of impunity, we lack strong institutions that can check abuses by officials, there is very little respect among officials for the restraining decencies-laws and regulations-which prevent abuse and quick resort to impunity, and, from 1999 till date, there has not been much that is encouraging, or re-assuring or ennobling in the ways our leaders conduct our affairs.

Clearly, it is IBB's optimism - if this is what it is - that is unfounded.

It is either that he is not reading the signals correctly from his Hilltop mansion, or he wants to lure the nation again into embarking on another round of the experimentation with ideas and institutions that was the hallmark of his eight-year rule.

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Clearly, it is IBB's optimism - if this is what it is - that is unfounded. It is either that he is not reading the signals correctly from his Hilltop mansion, or he wants to lure the nation again into embarking on another round of the experimentation with ideas and institutions that was the hallmark of his eight-year rule

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