Peoples Daily Online

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 100

Friday, December 28, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Safar 14, 1434 AH

N150

7 parties to survive INEC de-registration

By Richard Ihediwa

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here are strong indications that only seven political parties will survive the on-going de-registration of parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2015 general elections.

INEC has in the course of the exercise delisted a total of 33 parties even as information filtered out during the yuletide that the commission is still reviewing the existence of certain parties and is likely to announce further de-registrations early in the new year.

There are very strong indications that unless the smaller parties rally to shore up their structures, only seven political parties including the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and newly registered United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) may survive after the pruning exercise which continues into the new year.

It was learnt that the commission, instead of implementing a blanket deregistration, has been handling the exercise in batches ranging from the very moribund that could not perform during the 2011 general election to those that perished soon after the elections and those that are not Contd on Page 2

L-R: Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, presenting the 2013 budget proposal to Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. AbdulKareem Lawan, after addressing the Assembly, yesterday in Maiduguri.

Fire guts Obasanjo’s Abeokuta home >> PAGE 3 PD INDEX

27th Dec., 2012

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.77 250.46 204.72 0.2935 41.266

SELLING 155.77 252.08 206.05 0.3135 41.53

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 207 255 42 157

SELLING 209 256 44 158

Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam (left), speaking after inspecting 300 new houses built by the state government, yesterday in Damaturu. With him are the state Deputy Governor, Engr. Abubakar D. Ali (right), and other dignitaries.

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

S/Exchange S/Report Islam

23 24-25 26

Exposed: Abuja minister lied to Nigerians, promised fake, nonexistent jobs, Page 4

Int’l

31-35

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-46

Leisure Columnist

47 48

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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

Lagos explosion: Fireworks importer, seller on the run From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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en of the Nigerian Police Force in Lagos yesterday began manhunt for importer and store owner of Jankare fireworks store that caused Wednesday''s heavy explosion leading to lose of lives and properties worth millions.

A police source told Peoples Daily yesterday that both the importer and owner of burnt store where the fireworks are stored are presently on the run to evade police arrest.

The Lagos State House of Assembly also at its sitting yesterday called on security agencies to fish out those behind the importation of the fireworks and mini-explosives that resulted in the tragic incident at the Jankara area.

Also panic broke out among officers the Nigerian Custom service stationed at the borders on how fireworks which remains contraband came into the country.

A top Custom officer who pleaded not to be mentioned said the Custom Service will investigate the importation of the illegal fireworks.

The custom officer said the Controller General had summoned top officials in the state to explain how the fireworks came into the country despite orders to tighten all loose ends ahead of the festive priod.

“We are going to investigate how the knock outs came into the country, we have customs officers at our borders and we have an anti smugglers special squad whose duties is to

Custom under fire over importation

check smuggling of contrabands and any officer indicted will be made to face the law.”

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ngozi Braide noted that the ban on fireworks usage during the yuletide has not been lifted and the police would now begin enforcement of the ban.

“Using fireworks and bangers in Lagos State is still banned. Investigation will commence on the importation of such explosive materials. Are they supposed to store such explosives in a warehouse in a residential area? Whenever Lagosians see such things henceforth, they should call the attention of the police. In the past, these explosives have been used by criminals to commit crime. It has been abused,” she said.

Also Governor Babatunde Fashola who spoke with newsmen at the scene said: “We make rules, we break them. All of these items are under one form of prohibition or the other and we have men and women at our various entry and exit points”.

“How did they get in?, how did they enter?, who shipped them?, who imported them and who cleared them?. Who approved them to come in.

Those are very serious issues.

We must also ask ourselves, must we do every business?”, the governor asked rhetorically.

A lawmaker representing the affected area at the state

House of Assembly, Hakeem Masha, raised a motion for the arrest of the perpetrators of the Boxing Day tragedy in his constituency, said the incident was serious because the warehouses were sited among residential buildings in the area.

The lawmaker said the owner of the warehouse that caused the fire was yet to show up, but residents of the area confirmed that the businessman has been stocking the mini-explosives in the warehouse since October.

Supporting Masha’s another Lawmaker Ipoola Omisore, said the incident was a reflection of the inefficiency of the country’s security agencies.

Omisore wondered how banned products still found their way into the country.

According to him, the incident showed that the Nigerian Customs Service as well as the police are not doing enough.

Omisore said the federal government must look critically at strengthening the country’s law enforcement agencies and reviewing their activities if the country must become a better place.

Another lawmaker, Wahab Alawiye-King, said the issue has always been a major source of concern to the people of the affected area even before this recent incident.

According to him, the business people has been using the building for that purpose.

“In the current situation

where you do not know the difference between the sound of a knock-out and that of a gun or even bomb, is it wise to still allow fireworks and other such things into the country?

“You can imagine how many houses were destroyed, the properties that were burnt as a result of one person’s carelessness,” he said while maintaining that the importers of the fireworks must be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others in the business.

Meanwhile about 20 houses including the twelve which were affected by the Boxing Day "Knockout fire" were yesterday demolished by men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA. The demolition of the buildings on Ojo Giwa and Okoya streets commenced early yesterday morning, when LASEMA General Manager Dr. Olufemi Osanyintolu who supervised the exercise explained that the ten buildings were so badly damaged and their demolition was necessary to avert another disaster in the area.

Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA) were seen pasting notices on the affected houses intimating the occupants of the decision of the agency to carry out some structural test on the buildings.

Occupants of the marked houses have been given 48 hours to vacate the buildings in order for a proper test to be carried out.

7 parties to survive INEC de-registration Contd from Page 1 likely to carry on before the next elections.

This however, does not preclude registration of new parties as any political association or deregistered parties that meets the requirement for registration as a political party would be registered, a top official at the commission hinted.

The INEC source explained that the de-registration exercise is a continuous one adding that parties found not to have met the requirements of the electoral law would be delisted. He said deliberations on a fresh list of parties that have been penciled out for de-registration based on the provisions of the Electoral law has reached advanced stage and may be made public in the coming weeks.

Section 78(7) of the Electoral Act, 2010, as amended, provides that “the Commission shall have power to deregister political parties

on the following grounds: (i) breach of any of the requirements for registration, and (ii) for failure to win presidential or governorship election or a seat in the National Assembly or state Assembly election”.

The source however said the deregistration exercise is not meant to decongest the political space as speculated by some quarters but to ensure that all parties participating in the electoral process are viable and met the requirements of the law.

According to the official, “Many people are saying that INEC is deregistering parties because it wants to decongest the political space. No. That is not true.

We can have as many parties as possible as long as they meet the requirements of the law. You must understand that the issue of registration and de-registration of political parties is a continuous one.

Nobody should take it that immediately a party is registered

it cannot be deregistered. The laws are clear on this.

So what INEC has been doing is to look at all the parties in relation to the provision of the electoral act.

What INEC is doing now is to take the parties in batches and look at how they stand and that process is on going. It is likely that many more parties might not survive.

So as we speak the exercise is going on still”, he said.

Asked which parties are likely to be axed, the officials said stakeholders can ascertain by looking at the provisions of the electoral law and the state of the remaining parties. He said the deregistration of parties does not in any way stop the effected parties for applying for re-registration after meeting the requirements of the law.

“These things are very clear.

INEC is not is not doing a random selection. Any body who wants to know the parties that would survive should look at the

provisions of the electoral law and simply isolate those that meets the requirements of section 78. Those are the ones that are likely to survive but that does not mean that we will have only those parties in the next elections. Of course the deregistered parties could later meet the conditions for registration and if they do that, of course they will be registered.

Meanwhile, there are feelers that the de-registration of parties may spell doom for ruling parties at state and federal levels as the delisted parties are now said to be having serious merger discussions with major opposition parties for a mega opposition party ahead of the 2015 elections.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court, Lagos has fixed March 6, 2013 to deliver judgement in the suit filed by one of the deregistered parties, the National Conscience Party (NCP) which challenged the powers of INEC to de-register political parties.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

PAGE 3

Fire guts Obasanjo’s Abeokuta home From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo’s multi million naira hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, was yesterday razed by a raging inferno which damaged household goods worth millions of naira.

The fire, reportedly started at about 4.25 pm after an electricity power surge, just barely about 20 minutes after Chief Obasanjo left for his other house located in ItaEko area of the town.

A security guard in the estate said the fire sparked from Baba’s private office, very close to his bedroom, before the security in the premises raised alarm, and the state fire service were contacted.

The firemen, he said came to the estate with two fire fighting vehicles to curtail the fire after a number of valuables were consumed.

No life was lost, but some damaged property were being moved out by men of the fire service and officers of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Smoke oozing out of a section of former President Olusegun Obasanjo's Hilltop building, yesterday evening, in Abeokuta.

Photo: NAN

Kaduna deputy gov to Gunmen kill business mogul, seven be sworn-in today others in Borno From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

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he new deputy governor of Kaduna state, Amb Nuhu Bajoga, is to be sworn-in at the General Hassan Katsina House, Kaduna today (Friday).

The controversy surrounding Bajoga’s emergence was laid to rest yesterday following his confirmation by the state House of Assembly.

Governor Muktar Ramalan Yero had last week forwarded Bajoga’s nomination to the House for screening, a development which was trailed by protests from sections of southern Kaduna people.

Those opposed to Bajoga had contended among other issues, that he is too old for the job especially

given that Yero is 44 years old while Bajoga is 63; and that with Bajoga as deputy governor, southern Kaduna will lose the chairmanship of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state which Bajoga held before his nomination.

But the House of Assembly, sitting in an executive session yesterday, confirmed Bajoga as deputy governor although the nominee was absent during the proceedings which lasted less than 10 minutes.

However, placard-carrying youths from southern Kaduna were in front of the Assembly complex demanding that the area be allowed to retain the position of the PDP chairmanship.

Army demolishes house in Kaduna From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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house located in Namadi Sambo Road by Makarfi Road in Rigasa district of Igabi local government in Kaduna state was yesterday demolished by the Nigerian Army.

An eyewitness who gave his name as Ibrahim Yusif, told newsmen at the scene of the operation that the soldiers numbering about 50 stormed the house around 1 30 am with armoured tank and besieged the whole of the area searching residents.

According to him, neighbours close to the house were forced to lie on the ground including women and children as the soldiers asked if they know the suspected occupants of the house.

Yusif added: “I saw dead bodies of the occupants while their children were taken

away by the soldiers; but we don’t know where they were taken to.

The Army, in a statement yesterday night, said five persons were killed in the raid.

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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he 10-day peace enjoyed by residents of the troubled city of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, was scuttled yesterday when unknown gunmen went on rampage, killing a prominent business mogul and seven others.

Both attacks were reportedly carried out in separate areas by different groups of young men, armed with assault rifles and other dangerous weapons.

Late Girigiri, aged 68, hailed from Gashua local government area of Yobe state, but settled in Maiduguri, upon establishing his business empire there.

The incident occurred at about 4.30pm, when the assailants raided the Bolori stores along Baga road, which is the area with large number of warehouses for consumer goods.

The gunmen, according to witnesses, walked into the area and met the deceased seated in front of his warehouses,

pretending to be normal customers.

However, upon approaching the man, they instantly fired at his direction, killing him on the spot.

Immediately after the incident, all roads leading to the area were cordoned by dozens of heavily armed soldiers.

Later in the day, another set of gunmen invaded a compound in Gamboru ward and slaughtered seven persons.

The attackers were said to

have held the victims at gunpoint, before using sharp objects to slit their throats.

Spokesman of the Joint Task Force, (JTF) Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, confirmed the first incident, saying only three persons were killed.

Borno state police command also confirmed the murder Alhaji Gashua. Spokesman of the command, DSP Gideon Jibril, confirmed the incident saying it was not yet clear if Gashua was killed by insurgents as those behind the act were still unknown.

…as JTF kill suspected insurgent, recover weapons in Yobe From Uche Uche, Damaturu

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he men of Joint Task Force in Yobe state have killed one suspected insurgent, recovered arms and ammunitions in an encounter.

The spokesman of JTF, Lt. Eli Lazarus who disclosed this to newsmen in Damaturu, while also displaying the items recovered,

said the encounter took place at about 2 pm yesterday, at Gujba local government area of the state.

Items recovered included 5 AK 47 rifles, 211 rounds of ammunition and 10 magazines, one Mitsubishi canter truck, two Kasea motorcycles, materials for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), medical supplies and police uniforms.

Retirement controversy: Officers were duly notified – Army

By Joy Baba

…allege disgruntled retirees have links with Boko Haram

he Nigerian Army has said the 51 officer retired earlier this month were duly notified of their retirement date and they all knew they will be leaving the army come December 2012; adding that the anonymous text making rounds alleging forceful retirement was baseless.

The Director of Army Public Relations, (DAPR) Brigadier General Mobalaji Koleoso, stated this yesterday in Abuja while addressing journalist on the said

forceful retirement.

Koleoso further said notices of retirements are usually sent by the military secretary to officers due for retirement six months ahead of their retirement dates.

Such officers must have attained their mandatory retirement age or have exhausted their chances of being promoted to the next rank.

These officers he said are given six months to prepare for their retirement and are expected to turn in their voluntary

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retirement letters or risk being retired compulsorily at the end of the period.

According to the DAPR "the administration of the Nigerian Army is governed by rules and relations. All the 51 officers retired have been notified earlier in the year of their retirement and most of them had voluntarily written regarding same.

"Subsequently, the Army Council approved their retirement from service having attended the

mandatory age ceiling for each rank. Retirement from any noble profession, especially the Nigerian Army is considered a noble exit which every officer hopes for. To now turn around to give such a milestone exercise a negative flavour is to say the least, mischievous".

Koleoso further alleged that those complaining of their forceful retirement are working with Boko Haram insurgent with the aim to cause civil war in the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

PAGE 4

Exposed: Abuja minister lied to Nigerians, promised fake, non-existent jobs A

n ambitious pledge by the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide, of “massive” recruitment before year ending, has turned out an elaborate deception, with just days away from December 31, 2012.

New slots of about 10,000 jobs were to be provided for Abuja under the federal government subsidy reinvestment programme, the minister had said.

But days to the year’s close, the openings are nowhere near reality.

Neither the advertisement, registration, pre-selection calls, nor recruitment tests have taken place, PREMIUM TIMES has found.

Weeks of inquiries have proven the idea of preliminary registration for the jobs as Ms. Akinjide announced separately in August and November, to not only be a ruse, but a subject unknown to several officials of the FCT administration. One official said the selection had been concluded since March.

The contradictions come as the intervention programme, the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, faces mounting criticisms over its failure to deliver on proposed projects, with critics dismissing the initiative as a drain pipe that squanders badly needed funds, while unemployment, which it was partly meant to address nationwide, escalates.

If anything, the inconsistencies at the Abuja ministry point to the indifference authorities accord a pressing national need as jobs creation, which are often eagerly promised by officials, but hardly delivered.

Ms. Akinjide gave her promise as a passing remark while addressing two women groups in August and November.

“There will be massive employment before the end of this year and we have started registration of unemployed women and youth in the FCT,” the minister said in a remark to the National Council for Women Societies, Abuja chapter, who visited her office on November 13.

Applicants were to be “be employed into different fields and also vocation acquisition programmes,” of the SURE-P plan, the minister said.

To demonstrate seriousness, Ms. Akinjide advised interested women and youth to register with the FCT Social Development Secretariat as of November.

No registration Repeated visits to the office and contacts to other arms of the FCT administration supposedly responsible for the “recruitment” since November have proven no such job drives

FCT Minister of State, Olajumoke Akinjide exist, and officials have consistently denied knowledge of any job-related registration.

At various units of the FCT Secretariat at Garki, Abuja, a week after the minister’s promise, all key officials spoken to said they were unaware of the plans.

PREMIUM TIMES also observed no registration took place.

“As you can see, there is nothing like that going on, maybe you could get further clarification from the minister’s office,” one official said on anonymity, fearing sanctions if he were identified.

Despite the apparent absence of the exercise, a spokesperson for the minister, Oluyinka Akintunde, insisted the plan was afoot.

Mr. Akintunde denied the minister had misled the unemployed by announcing a non-existent exercise, possibly as a passing political remark. He said as part of the SURE-P, the programme was being administered by a central presidential task team.

He also said the plan was targeted at the grassroots and the recruitment was meant to done on the basis of electoral Wards.

“There are provisions made for these things, and there are people working on them,” Mr. Akintunde insisted.

“The

minister did not lie.”

Yet, he provided no verifiable detail about where the listings were actually done, and no explanation was given as to why, if the registration existed elsewhere, Ms. Akinjide had given a different venue.

Again, the exercise existed nowhere, as PREMIUM TIMES found none ongoing within Abuja as the minister claimed.

At one of the FCT units our reporters were referred to for clarification, an official who spoke under anonymity said the so called grassroots registrations had been completed since March, and 15,000-more than the 10,000 required- were captured.

“We even had excess

application,” the staff said.

Rosy initiative, fat budget, no delivery At least 370,000 jobs are to be created under the SURE-P, with each state and Abuja providing 10,000 in partnership with the federal government.

A second component of the programme is tagged the Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, designed to enhance the employability of another 100,000 unemployed graduates across the federation. That will involve internship placements with interested companies.

A new website has recently been dedicated for registration into the GIS.

“

As you can see, there is nothing like that going on, maybe you could get further clarification from the minister’s office,” one official said on anonymity, fearing sanctions if he were identified

But the 470,000 total slots, a potentially significant figure for an ever-soaring unemployment rate, have barely taken off even at the state level, months after the SURE-P was created.

The programme’s dismal performance, despite its huge multibillion budget, recently alarmed federal lawmakers.

At a budget meeting a fortnight ago, the National Assembly joint committee on petroleum downstream, declared the programme a scam that has failed to keep any of its promises of job creation, and accused Christopher Kolade-led SURE-P committee of reckless spending.

The lawmakers accused the subsidy committee of duplicating projects with ministries, and defrauding the nation by making double payments for projects also financed by the ministries.

Most shocking, the National Assembly committee found out how the SURE-P committee claimed spending N2.2 billion on “secretariat services” and another N75 million on travels between July and October.

Another N27 billion was also spent on “Public Works for Youths”, and N8.9bn for the purchase of 800 buses. Details of how the monies were allocated were not provided to the lawmakers.

“The SURE-P funds should not be seen as crude oil money which everybody is sharing,” Magnus Abe, the Chairman of the Senate Downstream Petroleum Committee warned as the committee pressed for more information.

For 2013, SURE-P is to spend N273.52 billion.

At a separate meeting, Mr. Kolade claimed the amount involved with office administration was N1 billion and not N2.2 billion as earlier stated. He knocked off criticisms trailing the committee’s failings by declaring he will not quit.

“I will not quit, if you attack me, I will defend myself. The National Assembly and the SURE-P Committee and everybody are supposed to be working for Nigerians not individuals,” he was quoted as saying at a media luncheon in Lagos.

Across the states, the confusion has played out, with barely any state releasing provable data of how much of the 10,000 jobs have been in the months that SURE-P existed.

PREMIUM TIMES’ attention was first drawn to Ms. Akinjide’s bogus job announcement for Abuja, after early responders to her notice of registration alerted that no such exercise was taking place at the designated venue.

Reporters, who visited the secretariat and the FCT head office at Area 11 repeatedly, confirmed same to be true.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

PAGE 5

NGO alleges slow, high cost of road construction in Nasarawa

By Stanley Onyekwere

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Children enjoying themselves yesterday at Millennium Park, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

NRC transports 450 army recruits to Lagos N

igerian Railway Corporation (NRC), yesterday, revived hopes for a cheaper means of transportation in the country as it conveyed 450 newly-recruited soldiers from Zaria to Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the new recruits had just finished their training at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria and were posted to Lagos state for service.

Mr. Adekunle Ayeni, the Railway District Manager (RDM), Northern District, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria that the corporation has been repositioned to render quality and reliable services.

Speaking later to newsmen after the soldiers left, the RDM said “we want

to assure Nigerians of quality and reliable services, as the new recruits will arrive in Lagos after 25 hours”.

NAN reports that the passengers’ train with five coaches took off from Zaria at 1.15 pm and was expected to arrive in Lagos at 2.15 pm on Thursday.

Ayeni called for patronage from government agencies, private

organisations and individuals “as their contributions towards the revitalisation of the rail system”.

While commending the efforts of the Federal Government towards reviving the railways, the manager appealed for more funding to enable the corporation serve Nigerians better.

He assured that the essence of

re-introducing rail services was to provide efficient and effective transportation of goods and people across Nigeria.

NAN reports that Col. Sa'id Jibril-Balarabe, the Commander, Recruit Centre, Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, led the soldiers to the railway station where they boarded the train.

Balarabe declined making comments on the mode of transportation but NAN gathered that the recruits were heading to Lagos for their first posting. (NAN)

Jigawa flood victims get relief From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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igawa state government yesterday presented relief materials for distribution to flood victims in Kiyawa local government area.

Presenting the items, the

chairman flood assessment and monitoring committee, Alhaji Abdulkadir Jinjiri, said the relief materials include 145 cartons of indomie noodles, 10 bags of rice, 40 bundles of textile materials, salts, stoves, plates and mosquito nets among

others.

He said the food items were only meant for those who lost their farm lands.

Receiving the items the council chairman Alhaji Dahiru Madaki promised to provide additional food items to the victims.

non-governmental organisation based in Nasarawa state, Action for Balanced State (ABS), has decried the slow pace of infrastructural development going on in the state, placing the blame on the government.

Specifically, ABS has alleged that the construction of roads across the state which started in a commendable fashion by the governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura administration, has significantly slowed down.

In a statement signed by its Director of Administration, Hassan Shehu, ABS said that it was not surprised by the development, alleging that the cost of road construction in the state is too high.

It further alleged that in Lafia, the capital of the state, each kilometre of road is being constructed at the cost of N200 million by some contractors who got the jobs through a process that can be described as far from the ideal.

According to the statement, this very high cost of road construction cannot be sustained in a poor state like Nasarawa, calling on the people, particularly members of the House of Assembly, to intervene in the matter with a view to stopping the state from becoming bankrupt.

It urged the House of Assembly to investigate the process of purchasing and distribution of relief materials to the victims of flood in Loko and Udenge, alleging that top government officials and some aides of the governor handled the purchase and refused to allow the emergency relief agency in the state to do its job.

"More cases of violent ethnic clashes could be witnessed in the state as part of the build-up to the 2015 general elections. We advise the governor to be selfless and proactive in handling the security affairs of the state", the statement added.

Offa stool: Ruling House takes Olofa to Appeal Court From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Olugbense Ruling House has appealed the judgment of a High Court sitting in Offa, Kwara state, which dismissed the suit it filed against the current Olofa of Offa, Alhaji Mufutau Gbadamosi, Esuwoye II of Anilelerin Ruling House.

The High Court had in July dismissed a suit filed by Alhaji Sheu Oyeniyi, Magaji of the Olugbense Ruling House, seeking to invalidate the enthronement of the current Olofa of Offa, Alhaji Mufutau Gbadamosi In the appeal filed on December 20, 2012, counsel to the appellants/claimants, John Olusola Baiyeshea prayed that the court to set aside the judgment of

the High Court which was in favour of Oba Gbadamosi.

Baiyeshea argued that “the trial judge wrongly rejected Exhibit ‘G’ in evidence. It is the original copy of the Kwara state government press statement of 1969 informing the general public and the whole world that the chieftaincy crisis in Offa was resolved by the government which recognised two ruling houses in Offa: the Olugbense and the Anilelerin ruling houses and also established rotational chieftaincy in Offa between the two houses”.

He further observed that “a combination of credible, cogent, concrete and strong oral and documentary evidence and exhibits presented by the claimants/appellants are strong

enough to be relied upon to give judgment in favour of the claimants.

"The purported appointment of Alhaji Gbadamosi (5th respondent) is liable to be nullified, and the 2nd claimant/appellant, Prince Abdulrauf Adegboyega Keji, is entitled to be declared and installed as the Olofa of Offa.

“The principle, notion and doctrine of fairness, justice, equity and estoppel are applicable in favour of the appellants in this case in determining the right of the Ruling House to present the candidate (Prince Keji) and not the current Olofa to fill the vacancy in the stool of Olofa created by the death of the immediate past Olofa of Offa in 2010 from the same Anilelerin ruling house as the 5th respondent.

“Your lordships are urged to give judgment in favour of the appellants accordingly and order that the 2nd appellant be installed by the state government as the Olofa of Offa forthwith. Alhaji Gbadamosi’s appointment/ installation ought to be nullified and an order of perpetual injunction be made to restrain him from further parading himself as the Olofa of Offa”.

The Senior Advocate who challenged the appointment of Oba Gbadamosi on different issues want Appeal Court to decide “whether the learned trial judge was/is right in holding that Exhibit ‘G’ though an original copy of a public document must be certified to be admissible in evidence, thereby refusing to

attach any weight thereto; "Whether the learned trial judge was/is right in holding that the newspapers (which contain evidence of rotational chieftaincy in Offa) were wrongly admitted in evidence and that the exhibits are not worthy of being accorded any weight and expunging them from record; "Whether there is evidence on record to show or prove that the Olofa stool is rotational between the Olugbense and Anilelerin ruling houses and that it was/is the turn of the claimants/appellants, the Olugbense Ruling House, in 2010 to present the candidate to fill the vacancy created in the stool by the death of the immediate past Olofa of Offa from the Anilelerin Ruling House.

PAGE 6

Pensioners shut Ilorin Post Office over unpaid arrears From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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igeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), NIPOST, Kwara state chapter, yesterday locked up the General Post Office, Ilorin over alleged unpaid 20 months arrears of pensions.

At about 8 am, many pensioners of NIPOST had gathered in front of the facility with different inscriptions challenging the Accountant-General of the Federation and Minister of Communications to pay them their entitlements.

Some of the inscriptions read thus: "NIPOST Management, no payment, no work throughout the federation until our 20 months is paid", "You denied us from celebrating the yuletide with our families; this is totally uncalled for". "You are killing us, inhuman and totally contagious".

Speaking with our correspondent, the state chairman of NUP, NIPOST chapter, Alhaji Mohammed B Jiddah, said the pensioners would not back out until their arrears are paid.

"The NIPOST management, owe us 20 months’ arrears and they promised us at the beginning of this year that they would not owe us. They told us that by the end of September, they would settle us.

"But to our dismay, they have not responded. No money for Christmas, no money for New Year. Since this is the only languages they understand, that is why we embarked on this protest".

Jidda who disclosed that about 165 pensioners in the s tate were dying because their entitlements are being withheld, said if there was no directive from the national headquarters of NUP to shelve the protest, they would continue with it.

He however appealed to both the Accountant-General of Federation and Minister of Communications to release their money stressing that many pensioners have died due to poor health while other are still struggling to survive because of inability to get money for medical treatment.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

Insecurity: Borno gov weeps From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

‌presents N184bn budget of 2013

overnor Kashim Shetima of Borno state yesterday, wept just before concluding the presentation of the 2013 Appropriation Bill before the state House of Assembly.

Shettima, who lamented how the current security challenges confronting the state had paralysed virtually all socio-economic activities. presented the sum of N184, 307, 992, 800 as 2013 budget proposal to the assembly.

A breakdown of the budget

shows that Ministry of Works and Transport got the highest allocation of N36 billion.

The budget also shows that Ministry of Education was appropriated the over N21 billion, with Ministry Health getting N14 billion. Agricultural sector got the sum of N9 billion, with the Ministry of Budget and Planning receiving the least share of N600 million.

Presenting the proposal at the floor of the assembly, Governor

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Shettima said the budget would be funded from the statutory federal allocations and internally generated revenue.

Tagged "Budget of Collective Renaissance", the governor said it would be driven by passion, prudence, and firm commitment to ensure its successful implementation.

He said his administration had been able to implement 80 percent of this year's budget, which stood at about N185 billion (one

Yobe govt procures hospital beds N117m

By Uche Uche, Damaturu

I L-R: Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mobolaji Koleoso, and Chief of Staff, Directorate of Army Public Relation, Colonel John Agim, during the media briefing on the retirement of some army officers, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Dialogue with Boko Haram begins next year - Okupe From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he presidency has again expressed readiness to begin dialogue with the Boko Haram sect next year to put a stop to the series of bombings being masterminded by the group.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Thursday through his the Senior Special Assistant on

Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, President Goodluck Jonathan said even though he has not foreclosed direct interface with the group, the dialogue would have to be constructive with highest level of sincerity.

He said the Federal Government was not against dialogue but that the real representatives of the sect must first of all be identified

before genuine dialogue can take place.

"I believe that most Nigerians are interested in dialogue and that this ultimately would be the best way of resolving the issue, but dialogue would have to be constructive. You have to identify genuine people and when the proper stage is set for dialogue, the government would surely be interested", he said.

the nation would not have been in this mess.

"Goodluck Jonathan's case should teach every Nigerian a lesson not to vote any candidate with no manifesto into power.

When he said he would not promise Nigerians anything, we never knew he was that clueless. He is always moving from one excuse to another to justify his ineptitude and that of his cabinet.

"He claimed they are taking things slow not to make mistakes, but juxtaposing that with the rate of looting in his tenure, one would be amazed. This is a president that the

nation was defrauded to the tune of over N5 trillion under his watch within two years, it means his government is quick to steal and slow to transform the nation for better. It is unfortunate that the president has disappointed the confidence reposed in him by the Nigerian masses, "Adeniran submitted.

Comrade Adeniran however called on President Jonathan to buckle up to transform the nation positively and curb the excessive corruption characterising his government, which has made Nigeria a laughing stock among the comity of nations.

Group flays Jonathan over 'slow government' From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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oalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), has condemned in strong terms, President Goodluck Jonathan, for justifying his slow style of governing the nation.

Reacting to the speech of the President at a Christmas service in Abuja, that his government appeared slow because it did not want to make mistakes, the executive chairman of the Coalition, Debo Adeniran, noted that the slow pace shows that President Jonathan lacks the ability and will power to lead

hundred and eighty-five billion naira).

Reiterating his administration's call on the members of the Boko Haram sect to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue, Shettima said he was ready to rehabilitate those that follow the part of peace.

The governor also called on the opposition to join hands with the government to collectively move the state forward.

Receiving copy of the bill, Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji AbdulKareem Lawan, acknowledged the positive performance of the executive, despite the security challenges bedeviling the state, and pledged to co-operate with it to transform the state.

Nigeria to the desired haven.

"President Jonathan has shown that he does not possess the ability to move this nation forward. How many years does he need to achieve his transformation agenda? He was a vice president, became acting president before he became the President, and still needs more time now not to make mistakes.

President Jonathan has been in power for close to a decade, he had the luxury of time to learn what he ought to then. It is however unfortunate that our President only learns what he wants to and retains what he wants to, if not,

n the effort towards improving the health sector through the provision of improved facilities in the state, Yobe state government has procured hospital beds and beddings worth N117 million.

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam revealed this yesterday during an inspection of the procured materials at the state health management store along One Million Road in Damaturu.

He said the new bed materials would be used to replace the old ones which he said have lasted without replacement since 1998, adding that the new materials would be distributed to all the health facilities in the state.

He has therefore ordered immediate distribution of the materials within 20 days.

The governor while inspecting the new ultramodern hospital along Potiskum Road in Damaturu, the state capital, commended the state ministry of works for the road network executed within the hospital, at a cost of about N200 million through direct labour.

He said his administration would continue to encourage the ministry through the award of more contracts to be executed through direct labour which he said reduces the cost of contracts.

The Governor also visited the Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital in Damaturu where he inspected a completed amenity ward, which he said would soon be commissioned and put to use.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

Aregbesola inaugurates new school uniforms today From Inumidun Ojelade, Osogbo

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overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, will today, launch the much-expected Osun Schools’ Uniform (O’Uniform) at Ede. The inauguration which takes place at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Ede marks the beginning of the new uniform scheme in the state.

This was contained in a statement released by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, In 2012, the administration of Aregbesola introduced free school uniforms for all students in public primary and secondary schools across the state.

The uniforms, which are in different designs for elementary, junior and high model schools, would be spread across all schools in the state.

The uniforms are being sewn locally by about 3,000 local tailors in the state with a view to stimulating the state’s economy and promoting the local contents policy of the Aregbesola administration.

The uniforms also created employment opportunities for the tailors, many of whom were trained by the state government.

Madalla blast: We've redeemed N25m pledge– CBN

By Abdulwahab Isa

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said it had redeemed the N25 million pledge to the St. Theresa Catholic Church Madalla in the wake of its bombing on Christmas day last year.

The CBN clarification came against the backdrop of a new story in the media alleging the bank was yet to redeem its pledge to the bomb blast victims.

The CBN in a statement by its Director Public Communications, Mr. Ugochukwu A. Okoroafor said: "We wish to use this medium to state categorically that the Bank redeems all pledges without delay, and this includes that made to the Madalla bomb blast victims. As is the usual practice at the CBN, donations of this nature are made directly to the state government where the incident occurred. The same process was followed to effect the donation to the Ikeja Cantonment bomb blast victims in Lagos in 2002 and to the victims of the Kano disturbance in 2012.

Consequently, we made contact with the government of Niger state and following the details obtained, the pledge was redeemed immediately. This was done on the 6th of March, 2012, through a direct electronic payment, to the Niger state government in the sum of N25.0 million for onward disbursement to the beneficiaries.

“The CBN considers it quite disturbing that in view of the sensitive nature of the matter, no effort was made on the part of the media house to verify the story from the CBN, more so when in fact; there was no compelling reason to rush to print without crosschecking and balancing all sides of the story…”

Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo (left), with Kwami Local Government PDP Chairman, Alhaji Kawu Abare (2nd left), receiving ANPP decampees to PDP, recently in Kwami Local Government.

Boko Haram threat harms Nigeria-Cameroon border trade F ear of the Boko Haram sect is leading to higher commodity prices in border towns in Cameroon.

Increased security measures are slowing the import of goods from Nigeria.

In Camerooon, the end of the year is usually marked with eating, dancing and the exchange of gifts. But this time things are different for Cameroonians living near the Nigerian border.

The supply of basic commodities has slowed down as a result of strict border surveillance by Cameroonian authorities following reports that Nigerian sect Boko Haram was recruiting new members from northern Cameroon.

As a result prices have shot up, some by as much as 70 percent.

“A liter of palm oil used to sell for 1,100 francs ($12.2, 1.7 euros) but now it is 1,400 francs,” one man told DW. For a country where more than half of the population live in poverty (on less than $1.25 a day), the increase in the price of palm oil is staggering.

The price of palm oil has shot up as a result of the heightened border security More than eighty percent of basic commodities are usually imported through Nigeria. Now, as a result of the increased border monitoring, traders no longer have easy access to both countries. Some on the Camerooon side of the border say

they are no longer ready to buy from Nigeria.

“Going there means being in danger. You know Boko Haram don’t know how to distinguish between the persons they want to kill. You can go there and be a victim,” a trader in the border town Limani told DW. To counter the problem, the authorities say they have imported large amounts of food items to meet the needs of the population in areas where shortages are being felt most strongly. According to Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, the government’s efforts are showing success.

The prices are fair and goods are available on the market, he said.

But the people on the street do not agree. They say that they have to line up for basic commodities because the supply is not enough to satisfy demand.

Also, rations are being put in place.

Things don’t look like they will improve soon. Security officials have indicated that they are taking further measures to stop Boko Haram from entering Cameroonian territory.

The Cameroon armed forces are on standby to tackle any external threat with many plain clothes security officials ready to intervene at any moment, said Elokobi Daniel, who heads security at the Ministry of Defense. DW

Osun declares free oxygen for emergency patients in LAUTECH From Inumidun Ojelade, Osogbo

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sun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has ordered the management of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital to as from now, provide oxygen free of charge to all patients on emergency in the institution.

The Governor also directed that oxygen must be made available 24 hours a day, in case of emergency in the hospital.

He issued the directives at the commissioning of the oxygen gas production building and equipment; endoscopy/ pharmacy/amenity building; and drug production facility at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital.

Aregbesola, who was honoured with his Oyo state counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, as ambassador-democrat and excellence Award by the NASU of LAUTECH, also reiterated his administration’s commitment to

making quality healthcare delivery available.

He said the projects were provided to enhance the operations of the hospital in its mission of medical manpower training and improvement of the quality of life and saving lives.

The governor averred that the hospital is being gradually upgraded so as to forestall avoidable deaths from sickness and diseases, which hospitals could have handled if the

requisite infrastructure had been in place.

He stated that the provision of these facilities to the hospital was therefore a demonstration of his government’s commitment and resolve.

“Our goal is to greatly enhance the capacity of the hospital to train high quality medical manpower to the level that can be obtained anywhere and save lives, even from conditions that seem impossible.

“I am sure that you must have known now that the Western world and their scientists are more concerned with diseases that are prevalent in their own societies.

“We only benefit where there is confluence of interest. The onus is therefore on us to make breakthroughs in diseases that are common to our people. It goes without saying that it is you that we are counting on to do this,” the governor said.

Housekeeper, 23, bolts with N30m gold

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23-year old housekeeper, Hope Udoh, was charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday for alleged theft of gold worth N30 million.

The accused is facing a twocount charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Marcus Okon, said the accused allegedly

stole N30 million gold belonging her employer, Mrs Edevbie David, on December 5 at 2.00 p.m.

According to him, the accused conspired with others still at large to steal the property of her boss at 29, Ologun Kutere St., Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.

Okon said the offences contravened Sections 285 and

409 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Udoh, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.

Magistrate W.B. Balogun granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

He adjourned further hearing to January 24. (NAN)

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

Delegation of Bauchi state women wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOCAN) in a group photograph with Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (middle), during their visit to the emir, yesterday in Bauchi.

People travelling for New Year, yesterday at Jabi motor park in Abuja.

Unit command of FRSC Ihiala command, Mr Daniel Asanya, with motherless babies and Red Cross officials at the Red Cross motherless babies home, yesterday in Ihiala.

L-R: Chief of the Fulani community in Riyom lga, Alhaji Mohammadu Adamu, commander of special task force, major-General Henry Ayoola; and Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe; during their visit yesterday to Bagad village, Riyom local government area of plateau which was attacked on December 24th.

Fun seekers at the Lagos Bar Beach, Victoria Island, in Lagos, yesterday.

Photos: Mahmud Isa & NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

CAN urges Christians to seek forgiveness From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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hairman, Bauchi state Christian Association of Nigeria[CAN] ,Rev. Pokti Lawai has charged Christians in the state and across the country to come back to God, confess their sins to Him and ask for forgiveness.

In his sermon at Church of Christ In Nigeria, Lawai said, “If we confess our sins and place our problems before Him, He will certainly deliver us from the insecurity and other challenges we are currently being confronted with. God is ever merciful and ready to receive a repentant heart’’.

The CAN chair who also enjoined Christians to live in harmony, brotherhood, true love and respect for others irrespective of faith, politics, wealth, ethnic or regional belonging reasoned that “our God who brought us to live together is not a fool, for God Almighty is NEVER a fool, so we should return to God with our faith’’.

He praised the Bauchi state governor and heads of security organizations for providing enough security at various churches. As CAN chairman, I have a duty to monitor all Christian activities in the state and as I talk to you I have not received any report of a bad incident in Bauchi metropolis and from my local government branches’’, he said.

Our Correspondent who monitored the Christmas cerebrations in Bauchi state reports that most churches in Azare, Katagum local government area of Bauchi state had a an unusually poor attendance this year when compared to the 2011 Christmas.

Four different pastors of the leading churches in Azare, the second biggest town in Bauchi and which has recently been in news as a target of the dreaded Islamic sect the Boko Haram and armed robbers, attributed the low turn-out of Christian faithfuls to the present insecurity in the area.

Speaking separately but in confidence for security reasons, the pastors agreed unanimously that Christians must have faith in God and “so we thank God for this day which allowed some of us to see and rejoice in it”.

At Yelwa, a densely populated Christian area on the outskirts of the state capital, there was an impressive turnout of worshippers, despite a suicide bomb attack which failed to hit its target [Living Faith church] but killed at least 20 of its members on June 3, 2012.

Harvest Field Church whose building is located next to Living Faith (Winners Chapel) was hit by that attack.

PAGE 9

Controversy over new Galadiman Katagum ends From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he long controversy over the turbanning of Galadiman Katagum, Alhaji Usman Mahmood Abdullahi has come to an end with the Bauchi state Government declaring that it follow due process in the selection him.

It would be recalled that the Bauchi state government had for long approved the appointment of Alhaji Usman Galadima after the death of Alhaji Bello Katagum in 2009 but it was trailed with disagreement within the community members.

A statement signed by Mr.

Ishola Michael Adeyemi, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Isa Yuguda and made available to newsmen in Bauchi yesterday, said: “Upon the death of Alhaji Bello Katagum, the then Galadiman Katagum, Katagum Emirate council on 16th December 2009 recommended to the government the name of candidates out of whom the governor would appoint any one of them as District head of Katagum kingmakers.

The statement said the names forwarded to the state government were Mubarak Bello, Alhaji Usman Mahmood Abdullahi and Dr. Abdulwahab Muhammed Katagum adding

that based on the Bauchi State chiefs appointments and deposition law, the local government empowered the governor to appoint any of the three which culminated in the choice of Mahmood.

According to the statement, that the emirate council however recommended Dr. Bello Katagum to the government contrary to the existing practice and no reason was given by the emirate council for the separation of the position of district head of Katagum from that of Galadima Kingmaker, which were hitherto held by the late Galadima and his predecessors.

The governor therefore

decided to maintain the statusquo and approved the appointment of Usman Mahmood on December 18, 2010 and the news conveyed to the emirate same day.

“The emirate delayed the turbanning till Saturday 5th February 2011 on the eve of the turbaning ceremony the council postponed it, due to the death of district head of Gamawa. On 7th February 2011 state government requested for the turbanning of the Galadima preferably within two weeks because the Governor wanted to grace the occasion, after waiting for eight months without receiving any response probably because of the sickness of the emir”.

R-L: Osun state Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, presenting a gift to General Evangelist, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) World Wide, Prophet Samuel Kayode Abiara, during the latter Christmas homage visit to the governor, yesterday at the Government House, in Osogbo.

Police on top of crime situation in Zamfara – CP

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ommissioner of Police in Zamfara state, Mr. Usman Gwary, has assured the people that the police command is on top of the crime situation in the state, regardless of the recent killings in some areas.

He gave the assurance in Gusau at a news conference held on Tuesday over the spate of killings by gunmen in some parts of the state.

Gwary stressed that the command had been working to ensure that normalcy returned to the affected areas, where gunmen killed 10 vigilantes.

“We have been strategising and putting our intelligence gathering together but you know we cannot make some of our plans public so as not to jeopardise our operations,” he said.

“Just two days ago, I deployed

three pick-up vans with heavilyarmed mobile and regular policemen to the troubled area on Zurmi-Katsina Road; they will continue to mount surveillance there until we are certain that there is no more problem,’’ he, however, added.

“We are hopeful that the gunmen, who attacked and killed 10 members of the vigilance group, will soon be arrested and this is based on our intelligence gathering.’’

The police chief appealed to the people to assist the police with useful information about suspected movements of criminals even before they perpetrated their crime “so that the police can quickly move in and tackle the situation.’’

Gwary, however, lamented that some criminal hideouts in

the state were difficult to penetrate by the police because of the dearth of access roads and communications network in such areas.

“It will be suicidal to insist that the police should go and make arrests in such hideouts when they do not know the areas the way the criminals do”, he added.

Besides, Malam Muhammadu, the Ward Head of the Tudun Wada area of Gusau, said that he would soon begin a house-to-house search of single expectant mothers, as part of efforts to tackle the growing menace of abandoned babies in the neighbourhood.

Muhammadu, who disclosed his intention while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau on Tuesday, said

that a newborn was abandoned near a toilet soak-away on Tuesday.

“The incidence of abandoned babies, many of whom were found dead, has now become common in this area and it is very worrisome to us.

“The latest one was discovered early today by a Qur’anic school pupil, while the mother could have given birth to the baby at the location, as there were blood stains and parts of the placenta in the area”, he said.

Umar said residents of the area assisted the police in fishing out the remains of the baby after which the body had been taken to the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Gusau, for certification and burial. (NAN)

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

Kebbi expends N1.5bn on Zauro Polder project From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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A man allegdly caught with a stabiliser stolen from one of the shops razed by fire at Jankara market, on wednesday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

overnor Saidu Usman Dakingari of Kebbi State has so far invested more than N1.5 billion on Zauro Polder project.

According to a statement signed by the chief press secretary to the governor, Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, the governor disclosed this while addressing members of the elders forum, an advisory body made up of retired seasoned administrators, former governors, ministers, police commissioners, federal permanent secretaries, ambassadors, politicians, and other senior citizens across the state.

The governor advised the Forum to establish sub committees that would enlighten the people of Argungu Emirate who earlier opposed the execution of the project inspite of its economic significance to the state and the nation.

Dakingari reiterated the readiness of his administration, to revitalize the transformer industry, fertilizer blending plant and cement factory through the use of the abundant raw materials in the state , especially neem trees.

He requested the members to set up two committees to facilitate the establishment of industries and mobilize the people of Argungu

SACA weds 24 PLWHA in Katsina K

atsina State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) facilitated 24 marriages of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWA) in six local government areas of the state this year, an official has said.

Zonal coordinator of the committee, Alhaji Rabe Yusuf, Daura, told newsmen yesterday

in Daura, that the 24 couples are happily living in their matrimonial homes in Daura, Mai’adua, Sandamu, Zango, Baure and Dutsi LGAs. He commended the effort of the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar for donating N20,000 monthly to the association of PLWA in the emirate.

The coordinator noted that HIV prevalence in the zone had drastically reduced due to continuous enlightenment campaigns.

According to him, five HIV and AIDS testing centres have been established in the zone, which transferred infected persons to the hospital in Daura

for treatment.

Yusuf appealed to the state government to direct local governments to reactivate Local Government Action Committee on AIDS, for grassroots management of HIV. He urged the people in the zone to avoid stimatising the infected.

(NAN)

NULGE dares governors over Joint Account From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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ational President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee [NULGE] Comrade Ibrahim Ahaleel has admonished on all the 36 governors in the Federation not to waste their resources and time in the National Assembly over the

abolition of Joint Account and local government autonomy.

He gave this advice yesterday while addressing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi shortly after the North-west union meeting adding that it was too late for the governors to commence the lobby on the on going amendment of the 1999 constitution.

“All lobby by the governors is too late because all the citizens of this country want the local government to be on their own and we are ready to fight this course’’, he said.

Com. Ahaleel who expressed dismay over the “bad attitudes” of some governors in refusing to pay their local government staff, said “we are in Kebbi because of

the local governments ghost workers the governor claimed to discover, Zamfara and Plateau (states) are also having similar problems most especially Plateau state where for more than eight months, the governor refused to pay them salary.

“We have the capacity to face any governor most especially on our financial position,” he said.

Emirate to understand the importance of the Zauro Polder project.

Speaking earlier , the acting Chairman of the Elders Forum who is a former minister of Commerce, Alh. Idris Koko, (Madawakin Gwandu ) implored the state government to put all its machinery in motion in ensuring the smooth take off of industries in the state especially the fertilizer blending plant , transformer and other agro – allied Industries.

The Forum also called on the state government to revisit the issue of Zauro Polder Project, considering its importance on wealth and job creation as well as utilisation of the large Fadama land in the State.

Aliyu blames slow dev’t in North on insecurity

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overnor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state on Wednesday said the security threat by the Boko Haram group in the northern part of the country had stalled development in the region.

Aliyu made the remark during an interactive session with journalists at his residence in Minna.

He said that insecurity caused by the sect in the North had made it difficult for investors to invest in the region for fear of losing their investments.

“I am not satisfied with the slow pace of development in the northern region, but under my leadership as chairman of Northern Governors' Forum, we have given the region good leadership.

“Because of the kind of unity, solid decision and encouragement that we have done, if not for security situation that intervened, we will have been what we call a paradise.

“In terms of progress, I am not satisfied with the situation the North is now, because of insecurity slowing down economic activities to the extent that when you invite investors, they are afraid to invest their money for fear of losing their investments,” he said.

He said that the development of any state in the North depended on how the governor implemented the decisions of the Northern Governors Forum. (NAN)

Terrorism: Gummi alleges victimization of Muslims

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Kaduna-based Muslim scholar,Dr. Ahmad Gumi, has alleged that there was a sinister move by some unidentified Christian elements to wipe away the Muslims in the North.

Gumi said these Christians who hide under the guise of fighting terrorism in the North are secretly carrying out their hidden agenda.

Describing this set of Christians as deadlier than Boko Haram,the Muslim scholar raised the alarm that Muslims are now being retired from the nation' armed forces as

part of the agenda.

In a message he posted on his Facebook wall, Gumi linked the incessant violence in the country to what he described as the ‘sinister’ activities of some of these Christians.

According to him, these people have been scheming over the years to take over the leadership of the nation in order to fulfill their personal ambition..

“The more deadly evil, is that evil that camouflage behind the ‘government’s security agencies’ to kill innocent people either to

perpetuate power or score some political goals.

“For instance in Nigeria we have seen how some Christian elements in the Nigerian security apparatus have been killing innocent Muslims leaders for political reasons. Such elements are deadlier evil than Boko Haram.

“They aimed to destroy the Muslims as a whole by decapitating their leadership thus exposing the Ummah to perpetual subservience. That is why, Ababakar Tafawa Balewa, Sardauna, Akintola, and Gen

Murtala all became victims of these terrorist.

“These similar terrorists are still the ones now that are supposedly ‘leading’ the war against terror or war against Boko Haram. It is a double edge sword for them to kill Muslim leaders and kill the youth at the same time all under camouflage," he said.

According to Gumi, “they are entrenched in the security apparatus. They are retiring good Muslims in the armed forces to enable them perfect their evil plans they started since 1966. They

think they are in control because they are blinded by hate, rancour and evil, they cannot see that their evil is exposed and evident. They cannot see that Allah Has taken up the fight against them since their intentions are evil."

Gumi accused the Christian elements further, saying “Kaduna was meant to be devoured like Maiduguri when Allah The Almighty struck,” adding that the antagonist of Muslims “cannot see that you don’t guaranty your life by killing others; you do that by giving life to others.”

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

If the deal is not working out, walk away M

any people today are in between the 'devil and the red-blue sea.' They have become so confused in the deal they entered with somebody, and so are finding it difficult to quit since going forward has become difficult.

Their concern is that they don't want to be embarrassed, but the answer to the problem is having the moral courage to drop the deal, and if possible renegotiate because money is involved. Quit This has become so important because money is involved, either that you are incurring new debt

or you are servicing a facility at your own detriment. Experts say consider walking away from a deal that can consume you to save your money.

There are several transactions you may embark on and which you may want to abscond before the die is cast. Such deals include buying car, house, clothes, and household items or any kind of business deal among others.

For instance, Jerry Okpeke a businessman based in Aba had a friend, Kenneth who was billed to travel abroad but had not enough

money. He entered agreement with him that if Jerry sponsored him, he will send him some goods to sell and recover his money. Although Jerry was skeptical about the deal but because Kenneth was his good friend he sponsored his journey.

Unfortunately, Kenneth has not fulfilled his own side of the coin till date because his expectation did not come through. Now rather than open up to his friend and let him understand his plight, he decided to shut him out and the impression here home is that Kenneth has defrauded Jerry and

absconded.

Another instance is the case of Juliet, teacher, who took her two kids for shopping in Lagos. The kids made her to spend more than she budgeted by picking certain things she didn't. Their mother would not say no because she tried to avoid them crying or creating a scene in the store that could cause her an embarrassment.

Experts advise that it is better to accept embarrassment and walk away from that deal that may cost you more money than you wanted to spend..

To them, a deal isn't done until everything is signed and paid for.

At any point before that time, you have the legal right to walk away.

Truly, it may be uncomfortable and awkward to walk away, but think how much more uncomfortable you may be if you lose your hard earned money trying to avoid embarrassment.

However, this does not mean that you need to abuse your friend or the party involved in the deal but being polite will always get you further than being rude.

Don't let procrastination derail your plans

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hile procrastination doesn't always literally make you sick, it can seriously affect our ability to reach our financial goals. We have all seen the charts that demonstrate the startling difference between starting retirement savings in our early 20s as opposed to our early 40s. Similarly, putting off paying bills can cost us in late fees, service interruptions and other serious consequences. When it comes to our money, it generally doesn't pay to put off until tomorrow what we could be doing today.

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good Often, when we procrastinate it's because we are waiting for circumstances to be ideal before we take the plunge. For example, it's common for people to put off savings because they can't save very much right now and there's always the hope that next year will bring a big raise or a reduction in expenses that will allow for a more significant savings.

What important financial steps are you putting off? What would

you risk by getting started today?

What are you risking by putting it off until tomorrow? Here are some questions to get you started: *Have I made sure that I have the right insurance for my situation (health, home, auto, life) and that I'm paying the best price for the coverage I need? *Am I taking full advantage of retirement savings vehicles that I am eligible to participate in? *Do I have an emergency savings fund? *What are my goals for the near future (down payment for a house, college, dream vacation, etc) and am I taking steps to actively save for them or just vaguely hoping it will all fall into place? *If I would like to make more money, am I taking steps to make that possible?

Our lives will always be complicated and we'll always have more demands on our income than we prefer. Waiting until things are perfect is a good way to guarantee we'll never get started at all.

Make it easy on yourself to act Being organized is a good start to mitigating the effects of procrastination on our financial lives. It's easier to focus on what needs to be done if we simply and eliminate much of the clutter in our lives. If you have your financial documents in order, it's much less intimidating to rework a budget or automate our savings.

It can be helpful to set a weekly, biweekly or monthly financial meeting with yourself to form action plans and give yourself a firm date on when you'll have it done.

Open-ended words like "someday", "soon" or "later" make it far too easy for us to weasel out of our goals.

Most of us are visual creatures, so consider making yourself the grown up equivalent of a sticker chart to keep track of your progress and keep yourself motivated to keep working. It's important not to let your inner critic talk yourself out of feeling proud of these little victories. You are making progress and there's nothing silly about feeling pride in that.

Your investment risk is minimal in bonds, earnings guaranteed ‌ Never invest in products you don't understand - expert

T

he earlier you start thinking of investments that are guaranteed with lower risk, the better for you. This is why there is now increasing desire for investments that guarantee returns with minimal risk level.

Such kinds of investment are in bonds.

A bond is a debt instrument issued for a period of more than one year with the purpose of raising

Quote For all of its faults, it gives most hardworking people a chance to improve themselves economically, even as the deck is stacked in favour of the privileged few. Here are the choices most of us face in such a system: Get bitter or get busy. — Bill O’ Reilly, about capitalism

capital by borrowing. The Federal government, states, cities, corporations, and many other types of institutions sell bonds. A bond is generally a promise to repay the principal along with interest on a specified date.

Regulators and investment advisers in Nigeria have seen the need for individuals to grow their portfolios by diversifying their investments in the capital market in order to reduce investment risk.

Olumide Oyekan, CEO Stanbic

Asset Management Limited, said: "The get-rich-quick syndrome must change for people to invest wisely in the capital market.

There is the need for diversification of investment because concentrated investment places an investor at high risk.

"The higher the risk an investor is prepared to take, the higher the returns associated. Do not invest in products you do not understand or cannot explain. Be skeptical of guarantees or spectacular profit."

How to achieve 30% cost reduction, speed building

I

n an economy where income is low and home ownership is 100 percent through personal savings, any method or technology that will lead to cost reduction in building one's own house is not only advisable but also desirable.

In recent time, the property market has seen some innovations and new building technologies that have helped to reduce cost, and increased speed of construction without lowering the quality of the final product (house).

The Modular System, a cast in situ monolithic construction system, is one of such new building technologies aimed towards mass housing delivery. The system, which is now in the Nigerian property market, is a product of a firm known as Structuracasa International LLC, a US-based housing development consulting practice.

According to officials of the firm, the system has three main advantages of quality, cost effectiveness and speed over the conventional building system, explaining that the system reduces cost of housing production by as much as 30 percent while the speed of production is in excess of 50 percent.

"It takes just 15 days to produce the concrete shell of a five-storey building of four units per floor with the new technology, says Babajide Alade, the managing director of the company.

When all variables are in check, he added, the concrete shell of 3050 units of bungalows could be produced in a month using the new

system which, for now, focuses on bungalows and low-rise buildings of not more than five floors.

"A high-quality concrete finish is produced to accurate tolerance and verticality; the superior (machined) tolerance of the finish means that no further plastering (external or internal) is required", he assured, adding that, with the new system, extremely fast construction sequences can be achieved; light weight panels are small enough for one man to carry while skills required to erect formwork system can be quickly learned with training and supervision.

He disclosed that Structura Casa has a housing scheme Emerald Court in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. Located in New Bodija (GRA), Emerald Court is a mini-estate comprising eight units of semi-detached houses in a highbrow residential area in Ibadan.

"We will be building two and three bedroom flats in three and four-storey configurations similar to what we have in the Dolphin Flats; however, we plan on a better urban design layout that would have more amenities for the residents; there will be a primary school and some commercial and recreational amenities for the residents", he said.

On completion, he said, each flat unit would be sold for N26- 30 million "because this is Bodiga in Ibadan which is the equivalent of Ikoyi in Lagos; it is a place where you have good road network, water, constant power supply among other amenities".

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

2013 Budget: How realistic is $79 benchmark?

W

ith its passage by both chambers of the National Assembly, the Federal Government will soon start to implement the 2013 budget.

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Thursday last week passed the 2013 Appropriation Bill of N4.99 trillion into law, as against the N4.924 trillion proposal presented by President Goodluck Jonathan in October.

Of the N4.987 trillion budgeted, N2.3 trillion represents recurrent non-debt expenditure and N1.6 trillion for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure for the year ending December 31, 2013.

The 2013 budget proposal is anchored on the key goal of the 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework - fiscal consolidation; growth and job creation.

Specifically, recurrent expenditure is expected to decline from 71.47% in 2012 to 68.66% in 2013 and continue to decline in the medium-term. Within the same period, capital expenditure is expected to rise from 28.53% in 2012 to 31.34% in 2013 and will continue in like manner in the medium-term.

In all, the budget appears well packaged and poised to positively impact on the quality of education

and policing in the country, even as fiscal measures are put in place to promote local sugar and rice production. The move would make it easier for investment in the sector.

However, what is worrisome about the 2013 budget spending plan is the Legislature’s $79 a barrel

“

It is also our view that agriculture ought to have been given more attention than it has received in the budget. Against the backdrop of the looming food insecurity staring the country in the face and government’s pronounced commitment to agricultural transformation, a paltry vote of N81.4 billion to the sector is ridiculously insufficient benchmark on oil price as against the $75 submitted by the President.

We at Peoples Daily believe that a benchmark of $75 per barrel is more plausible given the volatility of the oil market, and the economic uncertainties in Europe, which may still spill over to other regions of the world and dampen demand for oil during the period. Also, a possible

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”

rapprochement between Iran and the West may lead to the lifting of the ban on the purchase of Iranian oil may in turn depreciate the price of crude oil in the international market.

It is also our view that agriculture ought to have been given more attention than it has received in the budget. Against the backdrop of the looming food insecurity staring the country in the face and government’s pronounced commitment to agricultural transformation, a paltry vote of N81.4 billion to the sector is ridiculously insufficient.

And with less than a week to the end of 2012, the prospect of any improvement in the implementation level of the current budget appears zero, given that the implementation level as at June 20 was only 41.3%.

Finally, in addition to unfaithful implementation, corruption has over the years been another bane of good budgets and policies in the country. Bearing in mind that a budget is as good as its level of implementation, government must ensure that 2013 budget is not only faithfully implemented, transparently so.

As we doff our hat to the Legislature for the timely passage of the 2013 budget, we hope that the President will sign it into law without delay.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

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

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND JAMILA NUHU MUSA

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

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

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

PAGE 13

Ensuring speedy justice for the detained A

By Olayemi Okeniyi

rguably one of the impediments to obtaining speedy justice in Nigeria is the mode of detention of the accused persons in prison without trial.

Even for the inmates awaiting trial, human rights' activists and civil society groups have observed that the prison conditions in the country are not conducive to rehabilitating them to be reintegrated into the society thereafter.

Past inmates also alluded to this observation as they claim that contrary to achieving rehabilitation and reintegration, accused are sent to prisons to suffer while most of them die physical or psychological deaths.

They state that it is shocking that aside overcrowding and rampant diseases among inmates, majority of the prisoners have not actually been convicted of any crime.

Corroborating their assertions, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Prof.

Bem Angwe, estimates that more than 70 per cent of prisoners are awaiting trial in prisons.

According to him, most prisoners are kept in jail because their case files are either missing

By M.B.O Owolowo

A

depressing state of affairs in the leadership dearth is further compounded by a supposedly accidental president whom has been consistently criticized as lacking tact or initiative. He has unfeignedly appeared flummoxed ab initio without the critical portrayal characteristic of his antagonist’s.

His retinue of image launderers have been so preoccupied with defending absurdities that some have even resorted to fallacious ululation; or how does one explain the misinformation by the Minister of Information on his near death experience following the tragic loss of lives in the Bayelsa State air mishap . Other presidential aides have vainly attempted to justify the unjustifiable regarding the latest contretemps generated by the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident, as we were informed the president has ordered a probe into the accident; how comforting. What has been the outcome of the fuel subsidy probe that was initiated after some of us came out en masse remonstrating the proposed subsidy removal earlier in the year, as we optimistically (rather despondently) await the implementation of the report by the Nuhu Ribadu led Petroleum Task Force.

Even when the president’s critics have been implored to cut him some slack, he comes up with another absurdity. Still reeling from the N2 billion ($12.5 million) banquet hall and N16 billion ($100 million) vicepresidential abode, please note; the figure was N7 billion initially then it was appropriated with N9 billion being the recurring figure.

or the Investigation Police Officer handling their cases have been transferred.

He also raised concern about overcrowding, saying “143 prisons originally built to house 33,348 inmates currently holds more than 55,000 inmates.

“Out of this, more than 35,000 are awaiting trial and many of them have spent more than five years in custody while 9,900 have died while awaiting trial''.

He described the detention of non-convicted persons and bad prison living conditions as direct violations of human rights.

“Prison congestion shows a reckless disregard of Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution which states that a person shall be tried within two months from the date of his detention,'' he noted.

In an apparent response to various complaints arising from such issues, the Legal Aid Council was established pursuant to the promulgation of the Legal Aid Decree No. 56 of 1976 to render legal aid and access to justice to Nigerians.

Since its inauguration, one of the cardinal goals of the council is to decongest the prisons, according to the council Director-General, Mrs Joy Bob-Manuel who explained that providing free legal aid to the indigent to enhance

equality before the law is among the priorities of the council.

For effectiveness, Bob-Manuel said the council established offices in every part of the country including the state capitals and local government areas.

“We have opened law centres in 11 local governments; just as the Judiciary is opening Magistrates Courts, High Courts all over the place, we are trying to be closer to the people,'' she said.

The council's other functions include securing bail for accused persons in police custody and assisting widows in claiming their late husband's inheritance.

According to her, securing the services of lawyers in the council is made easy though application.

She said that the council was in the process of applying for the Apprenticeship Scheme Fund through which young lawyers would be recruited to render free services.

To ensure speedy justice and prison decongestion, she said that the council was not overlooking the benefits of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) which, according to her, can reform Nigeria's criminal justice system.

“ADR is one of the mechanisms being put in place to reduce the number of people being remanded in prison custody to await trial.

“It gives complainants and the accused the opportunity to resolve cases with the help of legal aid without the drawn-out court process.

“ADR is an alternative way of resolving disagreements out of court; it is a new phenomenon in the world and we have to get up to speed with the rest of the world.

“We know that there are cases that are not criminal, which should be settled with the complainant.

“We have discussed how slow our court system is, ADR is an easier way and quicker way to resolve such problems,'' she explained.

She said that often times, the window of opportunity to settle disputes was at the point of entry at the police station before charges were made.

She added that the council was targeting the window of opportunity by working with the police to reduce unnecessary workload and the number of prisoners through ADR. “The Legal Aid Council has a memorandum of understanding with the police on the use of our lawyers and ADR; the council is trying to turn it into a force order,'' she said.

Bob-Manuel also advised that the state attorneys-general should persuade governors to install software that could promote the

quick transfer of information.

She explained that such technology would reduce the incidence of paperwork getting lost, which is often a cause for delay in an accused person's trial.

She said the council was partnering with the police, law firms and other stakeholders to ensure the speedy dispensation of justice in Nigeria.

However, a legal consultant, Mr Anthony Agbonlahor, disagreed with Bob-Manuel on the effectiveness of the council.

Agbonlahor said the council should have established offices in all the prisons, saying `` you cannot wait for somebody that is in prison to come and tell you about their problems''.

He added that the process of determining if a person is a valid candidate for representation by the council, sometimes, worked to the detriment of the individual.

He cited the example of a person ejected by a landlord, saying if such a person applied to the council, the man's property should have been thrown out before approval.

Agbonlahor, however, said the council needs to be more proactive, and not just wait for people to come and seek help before it makes inquiries on prison conditions.

Olayemi is with NAN

But wait a minute, it wasn’t appropriated to N9 billion, rather it was appropriated by an additional N9 billion, bringing the total to N16 billion pending approval. Some of us were already imagining what other financial fatuity he was going to concoct; an additional N250 billion security budget to contend with the growing national insecurity that’s ironically meant to be under the purview of the Commander-in-Chief of the FRN or another grandiose increase in fuel prices, none of which would surprise me the slightest.

The latest faux pas is the appointment of Anthony Anenih as Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority, this especial appointment has deservedly created some furore in many quarters but the apparent expostulation isn’t primarily because of Pa Anenih’s ‘prime’ age of 79, but for his antecedents.

Some have raised issues concerning his notoriety, highlighting his public spat with Oshiomole for the Edo Gubernatorial elections including the claim by Orji Kalu and the “Bola Ige treatment” debacle.

However the most revealing censure was his involvement along with other ministers in a probe of financial impropriety within the transport sector. The damning report not only revealed how about N300 billion ($2b or £1.2b) was misappropriated during his tenure as Minister of Works and Housing but also the non-execution of the awarded contracts. As I often lament, its sombrous enough contracts are inflated in Nigeria but the non-

implementation is just taking the piss! Talk about being ‘raped’ by a boisterous ‘rapist’.

Some of the president’s supporters have even tried to draw a parallel between with the ages of Buhari and Anenih to justify the appointment. The argument is Buhari would be 73 if he decides to contest in 2015.

The Buhari chronicles has conveniently become the manual of recrudescence for the presidents sycophants. They often raise otiose innuendos trying to justify the constant abashment caused by their befuddled politico.

Personally, I have nothing against the older generation and I believe democracy should be all embracing. We wouldn’t be upholding the ideals of democracy if we marginalized a certain aspect of society.

There are some leadership examples in support of the older generation: President Jose Mujica of Uruguay is 77 now and he assumed office in 2010 when he was 75.

Nelson Mandela was also 75 when he became president in 1994, even if ceremoniously compensatory.

Another example is Alpha Conde of Guinea, who was 72 when he assumed his position as president in 2010. Despite being part of the opposition for decades of successive governments he wasn’t deterred, he contested and won. Conde is 74 now and very active in the administration of his presidential duties, he would be 76 at the end of his first term in 2014.

The youth are

understandably frustrated by the state of affairs, some youth are beginning to wonder if a certain clique from the older generation would willing quit the sociopolitical stage. Some of us have come to the realization the younger generation need to be actively involved pronto. The youth must appreciate they wouldn’t be given the opportunity or mantle of leadership on a silver platter; they must vehemently strive to prove their potential and mettle.

Though I am an advocate for the younger generation but also a realist, I would love to see a Rochas, Fashola or Ribadu at the helm of affairs but the reality is we still have some socio-political complexities we must contend with. For instance, can a Ribadu, Fashola or Rochas arrest some of our past presidents to give particular account of the $16 billion wasted on electricity or $12 billion Gulf War oil windfall?

Evidently there are some political dinosaurs in our milieu that should be jettisoned; they are preventing the involvement of new blood in our polity with their ill-gotten resources. Ideally they should be interrogated for squandering the nation’s commonwealth, but instead gallivant freely and are even celebrated in certain quarters.

In contrast, have the younger generation faired any better in positions of authority? James Ibori was 41 when he became Governor of Delta State in 1999 and was in office till 2007. We all know where he is spending his Christmas at the moment and I

don’t believe he has ulterior plans for the New Year.

Coincidentally this is not the first time he is spending the yuletide behind bars; this commendable feat was orchestrated by Ribadu in 2007.

Ribadu belongs to the next crop of aspiring leaders and is a plus to the younger generation unlike our president.

Ostensibly, the president can’t excogitate anything meaningful or productive because his thought processes aren’t in tandem with economic realities and the hardships faced by those he is meant to be serving. A good leader is meant to be the servant of his/ her followers, making necessary sacrifices to achieve greater objectives for the common good.

So it’s not a ‘my turn to chop’ tenure Sir! The president shied away from the presidential debates during elections and preferred to dialogue with a local artist. He is reaping the consequences of his poor public relations, notably the indecorous response to publicly declaring his assets: “I don’t give a damn”. The depletion of the Excess Crude Account, supplementary budget for fuel subsidy and the apparent exculpation of subsidy thieves aren’t helping his case.

In view of these contrastive points, age isn’t an equitable criterion in determining performance in office. Everyone whether young or old should be free to contest for any political office; the electorate will decide who they want. If the electorate would have a fair say in determining who rules them is another intricacy entirely.

The Presidents probity perplexity

PAGE 14

By Paul Uwadima

I

n "Niger State: Where Billboards Supplant Dividends of Democracy" written by Abdulkadir Isa and published in Peoples Daily of Tuesday, December 25, 2012, the author wrote a feature article that was dripping with bias and misinformation from the beginning to the end.

There was no doubt that the author was out to do a hatchet job for his pay masters who are too blind to see the immense contributions of the administration of Chief Servant Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, to the development of the state since May 29, 2007.

In a modern world where politics are driven by the media and the most successful politicians are those who are media savvy, like President Barack Obama of the United States and Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, the author tries to ridicule the governor for his ever media presence. In the United States, Barack Obama spent $745million to be elected president in 2008 and for his reelection campaign in 2012 he got close to a $1billion and most of that spent on the media. The Republican Party on the other hand spent $800million to stop Obama's re-election bid. Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu is so intellectually endowed, that he cannot be media shy. Actually it is those who are empty and has nothing to say that are media shy. Aliyu's intellectual mien makes him, a reporter's delight especially for those reporters that know their onions. So for Abdulkadir Isa and "senior

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Re: Niger state: Where billboards supplant dividends of democracy colleague Hannatu Musawa" Talba Minna, as a leader who has Treasure" was apt because of the to describe Aliyu " as a man neglected the agricultural sector, renewed determination by his 'suffering from diarrhea of the Isa wrote, "The state also has the administration to strengthen mouth'", apparently because of his largest concentration of Shea the economic base of the state media visibility and often butter trees, Moringa plant and through the abundant shea nuts boisterous comments on regional thousands of acres of swampy in the state.

According and national issues, to him "the is an insult to theme is j o u r n a l i s m v e r y profession that itself appropriate survives by Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text a n d providing platform messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written significant for the cross contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 considering fertilization of ideas. our desire Besides, as the words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and to achieve chairman of the a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed s o c i o Northern States to: economic G o v e r n o r s development Forum(NSGF),since The Editor, using agro 2007, Aliyu is the Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, a l l i e d face of the North with 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. industries all of its Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com a s developmental and SMS: 07037756364 premium security challenges, vehicle for which confers on him higher media visibility and areas suitable for rice and sugar the industrial development of access than any other Northern cane cultivation as well as fish our state". So much for a Governor since 2007. At home farming". If the author's mission governor that ignores the and abroad anytime the issue was not to misinform and perhaps economic potential of shea dwells on Northern development, malign the Chief Servant, a little butter in his state.

Isa also wants the world to Aliyu's views are sort, as one of journalistic inquiry would have the preeminent leaders of the revealed to him that under the believe that Governor Aliyu has leadership of Aliyu, Niger State been neglecting the tourism region.

And Aliyu does not only talk has consistently emerged the sector in the state, but nothing the talk, he also walk the talk and country's largest producer of rice. could be more further from the Recently, Aliyu organized a truth, as he has done a lot to it is therefore uncharitable to claim that in over five years of National Shea Butter Conference promote the sector including the development the Chief Servant's and Exhibition in Minna where administration of Niger State, all he maintained that agro of Gurara Waterfalls which Isa he had to show for it are billboards, products remain the nucleus of mentioned among the potential yet this was a man that was the vision of the state to be one of tourism havens in the state. overwhelmingly reelected in the three top economies in the Aliyu has not only built a road to link the Gurara Waterfalls country.

2011 by Nigerlites.

He said the theme of the Resort, his administration has While trying to portray the Chief Servant, who is also the conference, "Shea The Hidden entered into a Private Public

WRITE TO US

Partnership (PPP) arrangement to turn it into a viable revenue earner for the state. The strategic development of the Tourism and Culture sector is one of the key ways the governor is using to boost the revenue base of the state. Through the PPP model, the state government is pursuing the execution of the following projects: the Zuma Rock Tourist Resort Village; Suleja Twin City Development; Zungeru Colonial Ruins Development Project; and the Gurara Water Falls Resort.

"It is amazing that the Chief Servant, who regularly uses the Minna-Suleja road to and fro Abuja to mop the monthly federal allocation, never seem embarrassed by the grave-sized potholes that 'decorate' the length of the road. The Suleja road is just one of the many infrastructures crying for the Chief Servant to redefine his idea of development", writes Isa. While noting that Aliyu goes to Abuja through Suleja road, Isa conveniently failed to reveal that Niger State receives one of the least federal allocations for a state of its size and population: Niger State is the largest state in the country.

With its meager allocation, it is preposterous to expect it to use its resources to rebuild the SulejaMinna road that is a federal road.

Paul Uwadima Writes from No. 36 Marte Close, Garki 2, Abuja. He is also on facebook, Email: pauluwadima@yahoo.com

Working towards equitable port charges in Nigeria

By Oluyinka Fadare

S

hippers are complaining about what they describe as the arbitrary port charges emanating from bureaucracy, terminal operators and the multinational shipping companies.

They say as a result of the charges, Nigerian ports are tagged the most expensive in the world, and this is causing sleepless nights for the shippers.

Available records also show that Nigerian shippers are losing N65.4 billion annually to the port charges, thereby causing Nigeria to lose the bulk of its shipping businesses to neighbouring countries.

For this reason, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) took up the challenge by publishing a list of 40 unapproved port charges.

These include terminal handling charges, container deposit, container clearing, shipping company charges, demurrage charges, and cost-onturnover.

Others are transfer documentation charges, transfer charges, rent charges, equipment charges, manifest amendment charges and tally clerk charges.

With the list, the former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, issued an order for the cancellation of 12 of the unofficial charges.

Efforts at reducing the alleged arbitrary charges so far made notwithstanding, the Senate Committee on Marine Transport recently visited Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Lagos and sought a way forward.

Mrs Zainab Kure, the Chairman of the committee, said the group had been inundated with complaints of arbitrary charges in Nigerian ports.

She stated that the reports the committee received on such charges were disturbing, saying "there is no doubt that a commercial regulator is needed in the maritime industry''.

However, Mr Zebulon Ikokide, the President, Institute of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (IFFN), said the private terminal operators had not imposed arbitrary charges, adding that allegations of arbitrary charges being made by some port operators were untrue.

"There is nothing like arbitrary port charges as the terminal operators are not charging beyond what has been approved by government,'' he

said.

Ikokide said that the NPA had reduced all port charges by more than 30 per cent at the start of the concession.

He said that concessionaires were, however, allowed to increase the charges after two years with the permission of the Federal Government.

"The concessionaires wrote to the Federal Government which approved 20 per cent increase in port charges.

"This is not arbitrary or exorbitant, but within the provisions of the concession agreement with the government,'' the IFFN president said.

Ikokide said that there was the need for a commercial regulator in the industry to handle complaints in respect of the port charges.

Mr. John Ofobike, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Apapa Chapter, however, insisted that the concessionaires were imposing arbitrary charges.

Ofobike claimed that the operators were not offering quality services, but wanted to recoup their investments in two to three years without waiting for the 15 to 20 years as stipulated

by government.

"The concession agreement says that on no account should you unilaterally jerk up your rates without due process and notifying all stakeholders.

"I have been the chairman of ANLCA since 2003, long before the private operators came and I am talking authoritatively that we need a commercial regulator.

"Before the concessionaires came, the NPA was charging N750 daily for a 20 ft. container to stay at the ports and N1,500 for a 40 ft. container.

"The concessionaires started by charging the same rate as the NPA initially, but later started charging N2,500 per 20 ft. container in a day and N6,000 for a 40 ft. container.

"They came again and charged N6,000 for a 20 ft. container and N10,000 for a 40 ft. container per day, now they have jerked it up again.

"Now, a 20 ft. container attracts a charge of N8, 000 and a 40 ft. container attracts N12, 000 per day as demurrage with other port charges inclusive, is that not exorbitant,'' Ofobike asked..

Consequently, the maritime stakeholders have raised concern about the charges levied by port

concessionaires and shipping companies.

At a forum in Lagos, the stakeholders explained that port concession had not reduced the cost of doing business in Nigerian ports.

A maritime lawyer, Emeka Akabogu, argued at the forum that due to the high charges incurred by importers and exporters, most of them preferred taking their cargoes through the ports in neighbouring countries to reduce cost.

However, Mr Olayiwola Shittu, the president of ANLCA, suggested that the e-payment mode should be adopted as another way of eradicating illegal and duplicated charges.

Irrespective of all the arguments, industry experts observe that the situation is aggravated by the absence of a commercial regulator; the failure to pass the Port and Harbour Bill; and the inability to pass the National Transport Commission Bill.

They suggest that there should be a legal backing for the port reform programme and the appointment of a commercial regulator to regulate port charges.

Oluyinka Fadare is with NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

PAGE 15

Dr. Bukar Usman: A book patron at 70

By Khalid Imam “Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

F

amed for his distinguished accomplishments in the public service, Dr. Bukar Usman, OON, a retired Federal Permanent Secretary who enjoyed a successful career spanning over three decades, is an elder statesman, who, in spite of his high place in the society, opts to live a simple and quiet life as if he will die the next second; and more interestingly, the elderly senior citizen continues to veraciously seek for knowledge as if he will live forever.

Humble, simple, taciturn and generous would be the best descriptions of this seasoned technocrat whose selfless resilience in the service of his mother land and humanity saw him soared to the apex pyramid of his career before his peaceful retirement in April, 1999.

Chief Obafemi Awalowo was right for philosophically asserting that, “The battle of life does not go to the faster or stronger man, but soon or later, the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can.”

Everyone who knows Dr. Usman, an astute administrator, during his active service years, would not hesitate to concur that he had faultlessly served with unrelenting zeal and zest simply because he strongly believes success is his counting on God’s guidance and assistance.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, one cannot help

By Anthony Chuka Konwea, P.E.

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s we celebrate Christmas, what lesson should we draw from Zechariah’s sentence concerning God’s impending judgment on us when we die?”

It is Christmas. It is that season of the year when we Christians celebrate and commemorate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I don’t know about you, but the period between Xmas and the New Year is also the time when I step back a bit and take stock of my activities during the year. I recall my successes and failures during the out-going year and map out plausible activity road maps for the coming year.

Now I have a confession to make. I am a music addict. Let me correct this. I am a very selective bipolar music addict. I am addicted to classical white and classical black music. On the white side, my addiction tends to select symphonies, concertos and operatic works of the great masters Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, and Puccini etc. On the black side, my addiction tends to select classical roots reggae. I even consider myself as an amateur subauthority on roots reggae.

For me, music with profound artistic merit is both a stimulant and an inspiration. The type of music I listen to at any given

“

summing up the years of this eminent son of Arewa’s decades in the public service as productive years of incorruptibility, commitment, diligence, competence, selflessness, efficiency and fear of God. In appreciation of his many positive contributions to the development of Nigeria and humanity, in 2000, the Federal Government deservedly honored him with one of the highest medals in the land, Officer of the Oder of the Niger, OON. Both in active service and now in retirement, Dr. Usman, has distinguished himself as a rare gem and a patriotic Nigerian whose unquenchable thirst to serve Nigeria and humanity is unmatched and unsurpassed. Dr. Usman, an erudite intellectual, well-armed with Phd, has been a great reservoir of knowledge, whose regular interventions and informed commentaries on public policy issues further wet the farmland of public policy debates.

Dr. Bukar Usman, born on December10, 1942, at the ancient Biu town, in the far north- eastern state of Borno is a complete Nigeria who, as a young man and adult, studied, interacted and lived in both the north and the south. Little wonder, he has an unbreakable chains of friends, colleagues and associates across the divides.

Dr. Usman, is by all estimation, a public administrator per excellence, a committed community leader, a renowned public commentator and a prolific author of dozens of books. Among some of his critical works and public policy related books were: The Interface of the Muse &

Government Protocol (Literature/ Criticism), Klamidas, 1998; Press, Policy & Responsibility (Media), Klamidas, 1999; Democracy, Human Rights and National Stability (Politics/ Development) Klamidas, 1999; Voices in a Choir: Issues in Democratization and National Stability in Nigeria (Compilation of the author’s articles on the subject), Klamidas, 1999; Dreams and Realities, Issues in Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary, Klamidas, 2010; Globalization and the World After Mubarak and Gaddafi, Klamidas, 2012, among many others.

As a writer-cum-folklorist, the consummate Dr. Usman, has great passion for Hausa language, culture and folktales, a drive which motivated him to churn out over sixteen series of thrilling books of Hausa tales, well-crafted and published in Hausa and English languages. Not yet done, he recently produced an inarguably largest compendium of Hausa folktales collection entitled: Taskar Tatsuniyoyi Littafi Na Daya Zuwa Na Goma Sha Hudu).

Today, without sounding hyperbolic, Dr. Usman, a blue blooded Biu man, has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is the single most generous river channel watering the seemingly drought-stricken farm of Hausa folkloric genre. Amazingly, the folklorist Dr. Usman’s volumes of Hausa tale books have been well received by scholars, critics and students both within Nigeria and beyond its shores as critical treatises on his tales were produced by many critics and scholars. Below are a few examples

of works written to by scholars and reseachers: Taskar Al’ada Da Tarihi Da Nishadi: Kammalallen Sharhin Littattafan Tatsuniyoyin Na Dakta Bukar Usman, Girl-Child Rights in Bukar Usman’s Hausa Folktales, etc.

Dr. Bukar Usman, a silent achiever and generous philanthropist, is the President of Dr. Bukar Usman Foundation, an Abuja based NGO, which he initiated to still give back to the society especially in the areas of education, health, community development, etc. Through this foundation, Dr. Bukar Usman, has been touching many lives especially the less privileged members of the society.

Today, as a book patron, no single individual alive, in my reckoning, has willingly offer himself as a strong pillar of financial support for many academic scholars, researchers, undergraduate students, critics and younger writers writing or conducting research in the indigenous languages especially in the field of Hausa studies like Dr. Usman. Moreover, young Hausa creative writers have been in the forefront among those benefiting from Dr. Usman’s tireless financial support. His exemplary patronage of purchasing large number of copies young authors’ works, which he freely distributed to public schools across the north, is legendary and unrivalled.

To further promote academic excellence in the studies of indigenous languages in our universities, for many years, Dr. Bukar Usman, has quietly

instituted a prize for the best Hausa graduating student in Usman Dan Fodio University, and many others. Delightfully, recently he has added Kaduna State University on the list of his philanthropic support. A renowned Lagos based poet, Odia Ofeimun, was right by stressing that, “Any person who cannot speak his mother tongue is half a person.”

Interestingly, at the time many of our western educated elites take extreme pride in the supporting English language and other foreign languages to swallow our indigenous languages, the proactive Dr. Bukar Usman, is single-handedly provide Hausa language, the only lingua franca unifying all the inhabitants of northern Nigeria, a lifejacket.

Since the intellectual mind always feeds on books, Okechuku Uwaezuoke of Thisday newspaper was apt by describing the brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous and quiet elder statesman, who recently locked seventy, as a writer whose “enthusiasm for the literary arts is yet to wane.”

Finally, as I join numerous well-wishers to celebrate and wish Dr. Usman more selfless and healthy years of unrelenting service to Nigeria and humanity, I conclude by echoing Uwaezuoke’s words by praying that “may the muse continue to abide with Dr. Usman,” to churn more books and informed articles for us, the youth who always feel enriched drinking from his pot of wisdom.

Khalid Imam teaches at Girls Science College, Garko- Kano

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall name him John”……………….Then Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news.

But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”’

Next let us consider the announcement of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ from the latter part of the same Chapter 1 of Luke’s Gospel. ‘In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her.

“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end.

But Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be since I have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God…………Mary said “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.’

Now what is going on here?

At first glance, both Zechariah and Mary expressed fear, astonishment and surprise at the angel Gabriel’s extraordinary news.

Both demanded to know how what was humanly impossible could be achieved through them given their respective prevailing circumstances.

But while Zechariah’s doubt was severely punished, Mary’s questioning was met with complete reassurance. Who am I to question God, but was God showing double standards here, favoring Mary while sentencing Zechariah?

Zechariah’s Sentence

time is often a fair reflection of my mood and circumstances.

And so, I have observed quite paradoxically that I tend to listen to classical music when I am sated, relaxed, contented with myself, at peace with my environment and want to ‘step it up’. On the other hand I generally listen to roots reggae when I am agitated, stressed up and want to ‘simmer it down’.

During the outgoing year, I mentally note that I have mostly listened to roots reggae music.

Yes this year was that sort of year!!!

Even as I write this I am listening to a very rare and excellent 1978(?) piece by a relatively obscure reggae group going by the name Cultural Roots. The track is titled ‘Jah No Partial’ immediately followed by its excellent dub version both of which I am playing together with a few other very rare tracks – namely ‘Babylon’ by Johnny Clarke + its Dub Version, ‘Rastaman’ by Earl Sixteen + its Dub Version, ‘Jah Jah Send Dem Come’ by Linval Thompson + its Dub Version, ‘Red Eyes’ by Vivian Jones + its Dub Version, ‘Fly Me Away’ by Junior Brown + its Dub Version – in an endless loop.

Now during the course of the last three weeks or so, the

Catholic Church, that venerable two millenniums old institution, in her traditional manner has been preparing her faithful, for Xmas by presenting to them at Daily Mass, Gospel readings which anticipate the birth of Christ. Two of such readings struck me profoundly. Both are taken from the first Chapter of the Gospel According to Luke.

First let us consider the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist. The following excerpts are taken from the New American Bible (St Joseph Edition). ‘In the days of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah…..his wife was from the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth. Both were righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.

But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren and both were advanced in years. Once when he was serving as priest in his division’s turn before God……..he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to burn incense. Then, when the whole assembly was praying outside at the hour of the incense offering, the angel of the Lord appeared to him……….Zechariah was troubled by what he saw and fear came upon him.

The Presidents probity perplexity The president must realise he has mounted the saddle of leadership at a very crucial juncture in our subsistence as a great nation; his executive position requires responsibility and accountability to the whole country and not just a segment.

Our size and diversity if properly harnessed and managed can have positive impacts on not just the country but the entire continent. My friends and colleagues from other parts of the continent often wonder if Nigeria understands the special position it is in and the pivotal role it can play in continental advancement: the world is watching.

Following a nexus of executive

gaffes some of those who voted for him have been honest enough to admit their folly, whilst those blinded by bigotry and hate continue in their recalcitrance. I laugh when I read comments like “we voted for Jonathan not PDP” Seriously! Er! Let’s try explaining that to a 12 year old succinctly.

However, I am dismayed when I read comments like “We don’t care who is president, as long as it’s not a Northerner or Muslim” Seriously!!! Have some of us truly lost our sense of reasoning to the extent of not brooding beyond these platitudinous polarities?

Can’t we be reasonably fair and objective by calling what is good, good and what is bad, bad?

Crucially, the sooner we rise above religious and ethnic bigotry the

better; else we would be back in the same retrogressive quagmire come 2015. We would have no one to blame but ourselves as the corrupt continue to ravage our resources.

Pathetically, it appears the only thing our thieving democrats care concerned about are their bank account balances, the masses can go to blazes for all they care.

The reality is only the conscientious intellectuals amongst us can initiate change, but we seriously need to reorientate the masses for they are the primary impetus driving the noble cause for change. Nigeria will be great I have no doubt but not with this current crop of pillagers; it may be the coming generations that would reap the rewards of the valiant era that fought to redefine the status quo with ‘enough is enough’ GOD Bless you all and Nigeria!

“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention an unhealthy state of things.” – Winston Churchill

Re: Niger state: Where billboards supplant dividends of democracy Of course one is not unaware of the fact that some states, especially in the South-South; for obvious reasons, have gone out of their way to rebuild or rehabilitate federal roads hoping for a refund later by the federal government, but Niger State cannot afford such luxury. In any case the road in question is already being expanded by the federal government and if the author had visited the state, he would have noticed that work is ongoing from the Maje end of the road at Suleja.

If Isa is so concerned about the road, he should put his energy to work by pressurizing the federal government to make the contractors to expedite action on the road. But no one can deny the fact that nationwide most federal roads are in deplorable conditions due to many years of neglect.

The chief Servant has done a lot given the resources of the state to facilitate the infrastructural development of the state and there are not enough billboards to announce them to the doubting Thomases.

In the effort to reduce the housing deficit in the state, the state government embarked on construction of 500 units

General Wushishi housing estate Minna, 500 unit Talba housing estate, 250 unit Aliyu Makama estates in Bida; 250 unit Sani Bello housing estate kontagora and 500 unit housing estate in Suleja.

Already the government has constructed and commissioned the 500 unit General Wushishi housing estate at Minna.

In the education sector, it is the policy of the administration to settle NECO and WAEC exam fees for all students in public schools irrespective of state of origin. He capped this with the introduction of free primary and secondary education for all residents of Niger State, also irrespective of state of origin.

Other measures taken to reposition education in the state include construction of students' hostels at the state college of Education (CDE), Minna; provision of over 15,000 set of school furniture for pupils/ students and over 1500 teachers recruited to boost education, while the morale of nonindigenous teachers was boosted by the removal of contract appointments for them, as they were given permanent and pensionable appointment. There is not enough space to itemize the achievements of the Chief Servant but any unbiased

assessor will acknowledge the fact that Aliyu has done well. Thanks to the tenacity of the Chief Servant, Niger State will soon join the league of oil producing states in the country, as the government's sponsored effort has led to the discovery of oil at commercial quantity. This will no doubt led to a quantum leap in internally generated revenue that will boost the state's economy and improve the standard of living of the people.

As for Isa's insinuation that, "Talba's alleged dream for a future national assignment isn't going to be merry-go-round as usual". Sorry to disappoint you, as there is substance and genuine need of the Chief Servant at the national stage.

Those of us who have been observing him from afar and have noted his leadership qualities want him in Abuja, after he finished with his mandate in Minna. In 2015, the country does not need an ethnic or religious bigot as President.

What this country needs is a leader who will be fair to all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic and religious differences. And when you are looking for a leader who will lead in 2015 with the fear of God and who will be fair to all Nigerians in his decisions, look no further than, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu.

Paul Uwadima Writes from No. 36 Marte Close, Garki 2, Abuja. He is also on facebook, E m a i l :

Zechariah’s Sentence Engr. A. C. Konwea, P.E. ackonwea@gmail.com

I am not a theologian, far from it. I do not claim to speak in whatever form or manner with the authority of or for the Catholic Church, however some Catholic priests and theologians have pointed to the fact of the circumstantial backgrounds of Zechariah and Mary to explain their differing fates. Zechariah was a priest. As such by his calling and training he should have been well versed with God’s Laws, God’s power and God’s majesty.

As a priest Zechariah would no doubt have preached to the people in the past about the necessity of having faith in God. Here he was, a leading priest expressing doubt. Mary on the other hand was a rustic virgin, who most likely would have been ill exposed to formal training and erudition. Immediately the angel explained the extraordinary divine mechanism by which she a virgin was to give birth without knowing a man, she questioned no more but said “let it be done unto me according to your word.”

The next point to be noted of course is the venue of visitation.

Zechariah was visited in the holy of holies, the most sacred spot in the temple. That fact alone should have mitigated his doubt.

Mary was visited presumably at her home. Finally we should note that Zechariah in his unbelief actually demanded a proof. In other words he actually put God to the test. What he got from God was a harsh sentence.

As we celebrate Christmas, what lesson should we draw from Zechariah’s sentence concerning God’s impending judgment on us when we die?

Well it is clear to me that God judges each one according to his peculiar circumstance. In other words, to whom much is given, much is expected. We can necessarily draw the conclusion that for the same sin committed, parents or guardians, leaders in all walks of life, the talented and the wealthy should expect to receive a much harsher judgment from God than children, followers, the simple and the poor.

Now, although this writer is very fond of classical roots reggae music, I make haste to publicly declare here, lest God accuses me on judgment day of leading many astray, that I consider the entire ideology upon which the Rastafarian culture is built particularly the divinity of Emperor Haile Selassie and the celebration of marijuana or weeds or roots or sensimelea or lambsbread or “Igbo,” call it what you may, as utter balderdash. I have never smoked weed and will never encourage anyone to smoke weeds no matter the circumstance.

Indeed on this point it should be noted that reggae masters have perhaps the lowest longevity compared to artists in other musical genres. Indeed these masters of roots reggae have one thing in common. Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Prince Far I, I-Roy, Jacob Miller, King Tubby, Sugar Minott, Culture, Mikey Dread, Hugh Mundell, Augustus Pablo, Lacksley Castell, Vivian Jackson (Yabby You), Peter Tosh, Bim Sherman etc. These men are all dead. They died mostly in their prime from illnesses, violence and accidents.

But as the Igbos of Nigeria as aptly quoted by Chinua Achebe would say, if an udala (cherry) fruit falls near a mound of excrement, you close your eyes, pick up the fruit, and wash it thoroughly before eating it.

So as I continue to savor my endless loop of roots reggae music – my stress step down

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27 2012

N50m properties lost in Zuba fruit market

By Usman Shuaibu

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roperty worth over N50 million have been destroyed by a fire that engulfed the Zuba fruit market in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Disclosing this in an

interview with Peoples Daily in Zuba, the treasurer of the market, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu, pointed out that the incident occurred at 1:00am in the morning.

He said that over 100 shops were damaged while about 150 people were displaced to due to the fire disaster.

He revealed that the actual cause of fire disaster cannot be ascertained, as an investigation was in top gear by the management of the market.

The treasurer, therefore, appealed to the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Zakari Angulu Dobi to

Gbagyi women in a cultural display recently in Abuja.

provide the relief materials, as well as fund for the victims of the fire incident to better their lives.

Reacting to the situation during a visits tot her market, the Chairman of the Area Council, Hon. Zakari Angulu Dobi to do everything possible to assist the victims.

Photo: Josephine Ella Ejeh

Clergymen advise Christians to tolerant one another

By Usman Shuaibu

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he Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Gwagwalada Area Council, Rev. J.A. Ayotunde and the Associate Pastor of the Redeemed Christian church in Kwali Area Council, Pastor Samson Mangut have advised the Christians across the country to tolerant one another irrespective of their different

denominations.

The two Pastors, who gave the advice while speaking to People Daily in separate interviews during the Christmas celebration, also urged the Christians to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ throughout their life time.

Ayotunde appealed to the Christian faithful to desist from drinking alcohols warned youths against immoral acts.

He also called on the religious leaders across the nation to avoid exploiting their church members to accumulate wealth for themselves, advising them to endeavour to preach the gospel of salvation as contained in the Bible.

While speaking on the corruption, the cleric urged Nigerian government to continue to fight corruption in the country, noted that Nigeria

would not make any meaningful progress if those holding public offices were corrupt.

Mangut, who is also the General Co-ordinator of Teenagers of All Nations Ministries (TANAM) in charge of North Central Zone, used the festivities to remind Christians all over the country to gear towards the teaching of Jesus Christ at all times.

Hotel operators decry low patronage; reduce prices to attract more customers

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arely four days to Christmas, hotel operators in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) have reduced their charges to attract more customers, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A survey carried out by NAN in Abuja revealed that the operators took the measure due to low patronage being experienced by most hotels as a result of the yuletide.

Mr Emmanuel Nwaubani, the Manager, Immaculate Suites and Apartments, said that the hotel had reduced all its charges by 30 per cent with effect from December 21, 2012.

“We have been experiencing low patronage in the past few days, so we decided to reduce all charges by 30 per cent to attract more customers. We are also trying to encourage people to use the Christmas season to relax out of their homes with their family,’’ he said.

Our correspondent, who visited Valencia and Rockview Hotels, reports they have effected a 20 per cent reduction in their rates.

The Public Relations Officer of Valencia hotel, Mr Imoh Akpan, said that the reduction “is our little way of helping our customers to celebrate Christmas, while doing business’’.

Akpan said that one of the products introduced by the hotel known as “Bonanza Room Tariff’’ would run from December 20 to January 6, 2012.

He said the hotel had reduced its standard room rates from N38,000 to N23,000 while superior rooms now go for N25,000 instead of N39,000.

Similarly, the rate for the Grande, Bus-suite and Exec-suite has been reduced from N44,000, N60,000 and N65,000 to N30.000, N40.000 and N45.000 respectively.

Akpan noted that the hotels usually experience low patronage during Christmas because “Abuja is a civil servant town’’.

“Most people travel out of Abuja for Christmas, so all we have to do to stay in business is to reduce prices to attract more customers. We promise our customers a delightful and enjoyable Christmas and prosperous New Year celebrations from enjoying our services’’. (NAN)

Abuja residents celebrate Xmas amid fuel scarcity

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he perennial fuel scarcity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) persisted on Tuesday as the Christians celebrate Christmas.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most filling stations in the territory had no fuel to sell, while the few ones that were selling had to contend with long queues of motorists.

Such queues were noticed at

the Forte filling station, NNPC mega-station and Total Filling station, all in the Central Business District of Abuja.

The situation at the AP filling station in Maitama District was slightly better, as the queue there was not too long.

However, some motorists told NAN that they seized the opportunity of the Christmas holiday to fill their tanks.

Mr Samuel Ogah, a civil servant, said that it had become somewhat difficult to get fuel on a normal working day, as there was often a higher demand for the product.

“You know work will resume on Thursday; so, I want to seize this opportunity to fill my tank,’’ he added.

However, Mr Andrew Omoh, a lawyer, expressed

disappointment at the fuel situation.

He wondered why the authorities could not make fuel readily available, particularly at a time when people were celebrating Christmas.

Nevertheless, the fuel situation did not prevent fun seekers from visiting recreation centres across the territory.

The Wonderland

Amusement Park along the Airport Road witnessed an appreciable turnout of people.

An official of the park, Mr Godwin Amodu, told NAN that the Yuletide period was always a busy season at the park.

“We always look forward to this season because of high patronage but the Boxing Day is usually more lucrative for us,’’ Amodu said. (NAN)

PAGE 18

INSIDE FCT COURTS Man, 28, accused of defrauding contractor

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28-year-old man, Harrison Ezekwem, of Sarah Housing Estate, Gwarimpa, Abuja, is standing trial before an Abuja Magistrates Court for allegedly cheating a contractor of N77,000.

Police Prosecutor, Salisu Mohammed told the court that Emenike Okereke of Lungu Village, Gwarimpa, reported the case at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on December 3, 2012.

Mohammed said the complainant alleged that the accused awarded him N350,000 contract to drill a bore hole for him.

He alleged that the accused paid him N273,000 after he had dug the bore hole to water level, with a promise to pay the balance of N77,000 after the completion of work.

Mohammed said the accused, defaulted in paying the balance.

The prosecutor said the offence contravenes the provisions Section 322 of the Penal Code, but the accused pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Magistrate Asamau Akabi granted Ezekwem bail in the sum of N50,000 with one reasonable surety in like sum.

Akabi ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned further hearing in the case to January 24, 2013. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27 2012

52-year-old man in prison for duping Army Colonel of N.42m A

n Upper Area Court sitting in Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) has remanded a 52-year-old man

in prison custody for allegedly duping an army officer, Colonel N.A Abdulrahim, of the sum of N425,000.

The man, Bartholomew Eiben, of Angwan Doka, New Nyanya in Nasarawa state was arraigned on a three count-charge of criminal

conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The Police Prosecutor, Corporal Iliya Maji, told the court that in May 2011, the accused person criminally conspired with one Frank, now at large and collected the N425,000 from the colonel.

Maji said that both Eiben, and Frank collected the money on the pretext that they were going to drill a bore hole for the complainant.

However, the court was told that the accused persons refused to do the job for which they had collected the money.

He said they rather converted the money into their own personal use.

The case was reported at the Police Command Office in Gwagwalada by Abdulrahim of first Division Medical Store, Nigerian Army Kano and Kaduna.

However, Eiben pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor then asked for an adjournment to enable him bring his witness to testify.

The Judge, Malam Babaginda Hassan, said the offence of cheating was not ordinarily bailable and, therefore, ordered that the accused should be remanded in prison custody.

He advised the counsel to the accused to put his application for bail in writing and adjourned the case to January 23, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo Teenager held A young boy hawking sachet water, yesterday in Bwari, Abuja. for allegedly Phone repairer arraigned for breach of trust, cheating stealing he Police have arraigned December 19, 2012.

Adamu said.

Senior Magistrate Celestine cellphone one Michael Ndukwe of The prosecutor said that Odo granted bail to Ndukwe in Adamu said that on March

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painter, Kenneth Gabriel, 19, has appeared before an Abuja Magistrates Court , charged with snatching a Nokia cellphone valued at N16,000.

Gabriel pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecutor, Corporal Samuel Emmanuel, told the court that one Esther Ndukwe reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on December 14, 2012.

“The complainant boarded a tricycle with the accused from Karmo Village. The accused alighted at Airport Junction, and snatched the phone. The accused ran into the bush afterward but was apprehended by good Samaritans who witnessed the incident.’’

Magistrate, Asma’u Akanbi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N40,000 and one surety in like sum.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused was, however, remanded in prison as he was not able to meet up with the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned to January 24, 2012 for hearing.

(NAN)

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Kado Village, Abuja before an Abuja Senior Magistrates Court for alleged breach of trust and cheating.

Police Prosecutor, Mr Abdullahi Adamu, told the court that the case was reported by one Victor Duke of the Federal Housing Authority, Lugbe, Abuja on

8, Duke entrusted two Nokia phones to Ndukwe who works as a phone engineer to help him repair the phones.

“Duke paid the sum of N3,500 to Ndukwe as workmanship for the repair of the phones but Ndukwe converted both the phones and money to his personal use,’’

during investigations, Ndukwe admitted to collecting the phones and money from Duke.

He said that the offence contravened sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

Ndukwe pleaded not guilty to the allegations levelled against him.

the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

Odo said that the surety must attach his passport photograph alongside that of the accused on the bail bond and adjourned the case till February 4, 2013. (NAN)

Woman in court for allegedly defrauding man of N6 million

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woman, Ruth Samuel, of Mararaba in Nasarawa state has appeared before a Karu Upper Area Court in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) for alleged forgery and cheating.

The Prosecutor, Mr Stephen Eimoga, told the court that one Emeka Amoji of C64, Phase 2 Kurudu Post Housing Scheme, Abuja, reported the case at the Karu Police Station on December 19, 2012 Eimoga said that Samuel collected six million naira to

purchase four containers for Amoji through one Oko Ofeka and one Sylvester.

He added that the accused forged documents for the containers which she gave to Amoji and told him that the containers were kept at Tincan Island Port, Lagos.

“On reaching Lagos to trace the containers, Amoji did not see any of the four containers. All efforts to get the containers or his money from the accused, proved abortive. The two-count charge contravene sections 364 and 322 of the Penal

Code,’’ Eimoga said.

Counsel to the accused, Charles Acholo told the court that his client was nursing a five-month-old baby and therefore appealed to the court to release her on bail.

He also assured the court that reasonable sureties would be provided if his bail application was approved by the court.

Eimoga, however, opposed the bail application, stressing that the matter was still under investigation and that granting bail to the accused

might tamper with police investigation.

The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted the accused bail in the sum of N6.5 million, with two reasonable sureties who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

Kagarko also ordered that the sureties must present passport photographs and produce evidence of being resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

The case was adjourned to February 4, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

PAGE 17

It was so much fun for children yesterday at popular relaxation spots in the Federal Capital Territory as they joined their loved ones to celebrate Boxing Day. Our photo journalist, Mahmud Isa captured the trills and frills

Millennium Park

Maitama Amusement Park Maitama Amusement Park

Wonderland

Millennium Park

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 21

SON introduces mobile petroleum laboratory

Mob: 08033644990

Nigeria can generate 10,000 MW from coal – PTFP From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) has expressed optimism that Nigeria can generate between 7,000 and 10,000 mega watts (MW) power from coal-fired plants in addition to the existing capacities from thermal and hydro power plants.

Alternative energy sources, especially from coal, are part of the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the nation’s electricity resources to ensure sustainable power supply in the country.

The Chairman of PTFP, Mr. Simeon Atakulu speaking recently at a power summit in

Lagos, argued that decisions on coal-fired plants should be taken quickly to ensure power stability in the country as projected for the future.

He insisted that various power generating methodologies like solar, bio-mass and wind should kick-off in Nigeria without further delays.

It would be recalled that Federal Government under the

power sector roadmap, planned to generate up to 30 per cent of electricity from coal-fired plants by 2015.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Musa Sada noted that the plan to diversify the nation’s sources of electricity is imperative because of the disappointment that could come from relying on particular sources.

The minister noted that apart from the generation of electricity, the new coal mine signaled a new dawn for the nation’s solid minerals sector in terms of poverty alleviation and creation of employment opportunities.

Earlier, Mr Atakulu admitted that there has been some improvements in capacity delivery in the last few months,

which credited to the delivery of some NIPP projects, and improved water harvest and gas supply.

He however regretted that power delivery in the country still faced unpredictable system collapses due to evacuation issues, adding that this called for concerted efforts in order to achieve delivery targets that the nation craved for.

Borno plans to establish six irrigation schemes

T

he Government of Borno plans to establish six irrigation schemes to boost food production next year, a top official said on Wednesday in Maiduguri.

The state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Babakaka Garbai told newsmen that 35 hectares of farmlands would be cultivated under each of the schemes.

He said the schemes would be located in the Mobbar, Askira-Uba, Shani, Muguno, Konduga and Jere Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

According to the commissioner, 400 households are to be engaged in the schemes, which are also aimed at creating job opportunities.

He said the state government would also establish two other schemes in Jere and Maiduguri to cultivate about 60 hectares of irrigation land.

“We are hoping that at least 550 households will benefit under the 60-hectare scheme, either directly or indirectly,’’ Garbai said.

He said the schemes would take off before February, 2013.

The commissioner also said the state government had also awarded the contract for the provision of electricity in some towns and villages to prevent rural-urban migration.

“Contract has been awarded for the provision of electricity in Gashigar town in Mobbar LGA. We have also awarded another contract for the extension of the 33 KVA line from Damasak to Gudumbali in the same LGA,’’ he said.

Garbai said the contract involved the extension of the 33 KVA line from Bama in Bama LGA to other towns like Mararaba Banki, Darajamal and Kajeri, among others.

“Arrangements have been completed for the extension of the 33 KVA line from Maiduguri to Mafa in Mafa LGA and Dikwa in Dikwa LGA. The project will also extend to Marte in Marte LGA from Dikwa,’’ he said. (NAN)

L-R: Secretary to the Edo state government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and his Deputy, Dr Pius Odubu, during a town hall meeting which the Governor held with taxpayers in the state, recently in Benin city, the state capital.

Warri refinery up and running – NNPC

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has confirmed that the Warri Refinery which is operated by its subsidiary, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) is up and running and has no maintenance issues to warrant its shut-down.

The Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Corporation, Mr. Fidel Pepple, who disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists said the clarification became necessary to ease the anxiety generated by a report carried by Thisday Newspaper on 25th December, 2012, indicating that the Warri Refinery has been shut down for a routine

maintenance that would last for 21 days.

“There is no iota of truth in that report. The Warri Refinery is up and running; the day-to-day operations report from the refinery shows that it is producing at 63% of its installed capacity, even on Christmas Day when Thisday ran the report the plant

was running. The plant has no immediate maintenance issues that would require it to be shut down for 21 days as reported,” Pepple stated.

He urged members of the public to discountenance the report and that NNPC was doing everything within its powers to ensure all-round products

Lagos generates 10,000 tonnes of waste daily —LAWMA

T

he Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) evacuates 10,000 tonnes of refuse daily, the Managing Director, said yesterday.

The Managing Director of the Authority, Mr. Ola Oresanya made the fact known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Oresanya said LAWMA planned to roll out 30,000 new roller bins to further enhance evacuation of wastes in the state.

He said the roller bins would be given to residents, who had paid for land use charges.

“Residents who already have the bins will not be considered because this is a

Management Tip of the Day Spark innovation with these 3 words

S

ay it with me: How might we? This is the phrase that today’s most successful companies use when they want to tackle challenges creatively.

How might we improve X ... or completely re-imagine Y... or find a new way to accomplish Z? This approach to innovation ensures that you’re asking the

availability during the festive season.

Mr. Pepple also called on journalists to verify information with relevant authorities before going to press as misinformation, especially of this nature, could cause panic buying of fuel and aggravate the situation in the fuel supply and distribution chain.

right questions, and steering clear of more limiting inquiries like “How can we?” or “How should we?” which imply judgment.

Instead, “How might we” helps people think of options more freely and opens up possibilities.

The “how” assumes there are

solutions out there — it provides creative confidence. “Might” implies that it’s OK to put any idea out there — it might work and it might not. And the “we” signals that you are all going to work together and build on one another’s ideas.

Source: Harvard Business Review

revolving system.

“As people pay the land use charge, they get one waste bin free and the charge is ploughed back to buy more bins for distribution to other areas,’’ he said.

He said that the ban on cart pushers collecting waste from residents for a fee was still in force but that their activities could not be eradicated totally in some areas.

Oresanya said that the agency was making efforts to see that more Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators were licensed to service more locations.

He said that the PSPs were agitating for the review of charges but that the authority was looking into the request.

NAN reports that currently PSP operators charged N500 per flat and N200 per shop monthly for waste collection. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY,THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Echo Microfinance Bank

E

cho Microfinance Bank Ltd has recorded capital base to the tune of N66 million in; making the institution one of the strongest Unit Microfinance Banks (MFBs) in the country. This was disclosed by the Managing Director, Mr. Idowu Oshokoya during the bank’s customers’ forum in Lagos.

According to him, the bank is working towards achieving a capital base of over N100 million by the first quarter of next year in order to seek for a license to convert into a state micro-finance bank from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He noted that the forum was to appreciate their esteemed customers who have been faithful to the bank for the past years, adding that it was also an opportunity to showcase some of the exciting products which are being introduced by the bank for the benefit of their customers.

Olam

A

bout three months after flood devastated Nasarawa state, destroying houses, farm lands and ponds, Olam Nigeria limited says it has successfully replanted her integrated rice farm which was also affected by the floods. The feat places the company in a comfortable position to continue to play its strategic part in Nigeria’s food security programme.

No less than 40 houses were affected by the floods when the Tunga river overflowed its banks in Tunga village in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa state.

The river, a route from Lake Chad to River Benue, flowing through Kogi and Cameroun, overflowed its bank and wrecked serious havoc in the village.

Though, no life was reported lost, other properties such as grinding and sowing machines, boats, canoes as well as farm produce like rice, maize and guinea corn were washed away.

SURE-P

T

he Akwa Ibom Implementation Committee for Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) has engaged youths and women from Local Government Councils in community development service.

At a meeting in Uyo on Monday, the committee’s ViceChairman, Mrs Patience Osunkwo, said the programme was designed to alleviate poverty among youths and women.

Assessing integrated transport infrastructure and Public-Private-Partnership policy

By Emmanuella Anokam

T

he conference of the National Council of Transport (NCT) held recently in Abuja restated Federal Government’s commitment to the development of quality infrastructure through PublicPrivate-Partnership (PPP).

Among other critical issues, it placed emphasis on increased private sector engagement in infrastructure provision.

As the highest advisory body on all transport-related matters in the country, the NCT offers platform for collective dialogue on issues affecting the transport sector.

It also sets appropriate targets including the time-frame within which to address emerging challenges and assign specific roles to stakeholders.

It holds that this role is necessitated by the need to bring the efficiencies of the private and commercial enterprise as well as to supplement the limited public sector resources.

The theme of the meeting: ``Partnership for the Integrated Transport Infrastructure for National Transportation’’, indeed, captured the importance of infrastructure in the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to Alhaji Idris Umar, the Minister of Transport, the Transport Sector Reform Bill will soon be fine-tuned and sent to the National Assembly to provide legal framework for an increased private sector partnership.

At the meeting, Umar told the participants that the bill would encourage the removal of public sector monopoly and enhance productivity of the performance of the nation’s transport sector.

He said that fine-tuning was being done by the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Public Enterprises and other stakeholders.

He explained that the objective of the Federal Government’s PPP policy was to meet the funding gap and make economically-essential projects commercially-viable.

That, he said, would obviate government funding of such projects and allow private sector participation in projects.

Umar re-echoed government's commitment to providing the enabling environment for private sector, states, local governments and foreign investors to invest in the nation’s railways, inland waterways, sea ports and roads independently or through PPP. According to him, the broadbased partnership of federal and state governments and public private sectors is considered a realistic option for the development of the nation’s transport and other critical infrastructure.

Umar said the partnership approach had good prospects as could be seen from the development of the Lekki Deep Sea

Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar Port by Eurochem Corporation in partnership with the federal and Lagos state governments.

With this impressive approach, he said other deep sea ports had been proposed under similar arrangement on Ibaka Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom, Badagry Deep Sea Port in Lagos and Olokola Deep Sea Port in Ogun and Ondo states.

He said project implementation in the railway sub-sector had been earmarked for a similar arrangement.

He urged stakeholders in the transport sector, particularly the states and organised private sector to key into the sector reform programme and take advantage of the investment opportunities.

The minister’s assuring statement notwithstanding, Gov. Gabriel Suswan of Benue expressed disappointment over the deficit in transport infrastructure.

He decried the huge gap between the demand for transport facilities and government’s ability to meet that demand on time.

“We have reached a stage in the nation’s history when lack of diligent planning, insignificant investment and inconsistent execution of policies in the transport sub-sector has caught up with us as a nation.

“Indeed while most of our urban areas suffer from the poor state of transport facilities or the shortage of same, rural areas of the country have yet to be effectively served and linked up. ``That little infrastructure that was put in place in the past has not only decayed but is also hopelessly inadequate. ``Not only is there a clamour across the nation for more efficient delivery of goods and services, there is also anger and impatience in the land over the seeming slow response or perceived lack of response by governments in providing the needed infrastructure,’’ he noted.

Suswan said the president’s Transformation Agenda was needed immediately to enable the nation to move forward.

He also urged the council to explore and find funding options outside the existing budget system to add to what is available in the budget. He called for the establishment of a special fund to be dedicated to the renewal of transport infrastructure as well as the provision of new ones.

Also commenting on the minister’s presenta, Mr Benjamin Ashaver, the Commissioner for Works and Transport in Benue, emphasised on the need for diversified transport modes in the

“

According to the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Umar, the Transport Sector Reform Bill will soon be finetuned and sent to the National Assembly to provide legal framework for an increased private sector partnership.

country.

Asherver recalled that during the colonial era in Benue, rail, river as well as road transportation contributed immensely to the socio-economic and political development of the people.

“Unfortunately river and rail transportation suffered setbacks resulting in diminished economic and social life of the people in the state.''

According to the commissioner, River Benue requires dredging along with construction of Makurdi river port to evacuate the huge agricultural produce of the state to the national and international market. ``Right now, some of the warehouses built in the colonial days are lying waste by the waterside with neither ships bringing goods nor available to evacuate produce,’’ he said.

He called for integration of the various transport modes to facilitate easy movement of goods and services.

With all the stakeholders’ observations at the meeting, the council resolved to set up a consultative committee to be charged with the responsibility of securing low interest loans for the development of transport infrastructure.

It said the committee would also explore suitable sources of loans for the sector, such as the Infrastructure Bank and the Export-IMPORT Bank long-term facilities.

It also urged the state government to buy into the Federal Government’s PPP policy for the development and operation of transport infrastructure in the country.

The stakeholders, at the end of the meeting, hold the view that only a concerted act can achieve modern, functional, multi-modal integrated transport system.

(NANFeatures)

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

SON introduces mobile petroleum laboratory to tackle adulteration of petroleum products From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has introduced a mobile petroleum laboratory to tackle the menace of adulterated petroleum products in the country.

The Director General, SON, in a petroleum stakeholders meeting with petroleum products dealers and marketers in Lagos, explained that cases of explosions are rife, resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property, cars, equipment and the likes, pointing out that

outside outright destruction there is a constant breakdown of engines and equipment using compromised petroleum products.

The Director General explained that the introduction of this laboratory would help address the issue of adulterated petroleum products which impacts negatively on the socioeconomic life of the nation. ”This constitutes additional drain on personal, corporate and national resources. This should not be so. Our concern today is to put in place a quality assurance system that will put a stop to

these embarrassing and unnecessary incidents,” he said.

He noted that all petroleum depots, lubricating and blending plants, liquefied petroleum gas plants, liquefied petroleum gas sales outlets, petrol service stations and surface kerosene sales outlets will be constantly monitored to ensure that products emanating there from conform to safe and acceptable industry standards.

He maintained that it is its intention to sustain a database of all such outlets in the country so that all tests results shall be compiled to constitute a referable

database and for traceability of all receipts and sales of products for the benefit of government and concerned stakeholders.

He said as a result of this, all petroleum product outlets mentioned shall within two weeks be required to provide information for the listing and certification of their premises, specifically to ascertain their exact location and confirm compliance with approved specifications and regulations.

Also speaking ay the event, the Director, DPR, Mr. Austin Olorunshola said this move by SON and Department of

Petroleum Resources (DPR) is a war to tackle fake and adulterated petroleum products in the country saying that this partnership is a dawn of a new era.

He therefore called for the institutionalising of this partnership and called on other stakeholders to join in the fight to tackle the menace of these adulterated petroleum products in the country.

He commended the efforts of SON in the fight to rid the country of substandard products and said DPR will stop at nothing to ensure that SON achieve its mandate.

ACAP acquires Law Union & Rock insurance From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

T

he Alternative Capital Partners (ACAP) and Swede Control Intertek has acquired Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc following the divestment of Skye Bank Plc from the company recently.

In a press release signed by the company’s Head, corporate communications, Ngozi Ochei the company stated that the company’s acquisition is effecting a number of strategic initiatives which will enable it provide first class insurance services to the insuring public.

In the same vein, Law Union & Rock Insurance Plc has paid

over N1.2b in claims to its policy holders within the first three quarters of 2012.

The claims payment cuts across all the portfolios in the underwriter’s product offerings in General Business. A breakdown of the payment shows that Fire accounted for 41.95 percent with N535.9m, Motor claims was N355.2m (27.8 percent), Marine & Aviation N160.9m (12.60 percent), General Accident N105.8m (8.28 percent), Engineering N82.8m (6.48 percent), Oil & Gas N35.5m (2.78 percent), while the total claims paid on Bond amounted to N1.2m representing 0.10 percent.

Budget implementation will determine business direction in 2013 - CIIN President

T

he Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has predicted that early implementation of budget would be the driving force of businesses in 2013.

Dr Wole Adetimehin, President of the institute, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday that timely implementation, as opposed to the past pattern, would aid business direction in 2013.

According to him, it is commendable that the budget was passed before the close of 2012, but “implementation is what matters”.

“All operators in the various

sectors of the economy can also leverage on the early passage to structure and restructure their business plans for 2013,” he said.

Adetimehin expressed optimism there would not be any delay in signing the budget because of the increase in its size

by N60 billion by the National Assembly.

He said that any controversy on the size could make nonsense of the early passage of the budget.

NAN reports that the National Assembly, on Dec.20, passed the federal budget of N4.98 trillion, up from the N4.92 trillion proposed to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan. (NAN)

Tourism: Effective education key to manpower development - Don

A

Principal Lecturer in the Department of Hospitality Management, Yaba College of Technology, Mrs. Sophia Anyafulu has said that effective education is the key to manpower development in the tourism industry.

Anyafulu said this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

She said that there was need to spend a lot of money to educate those involved in the tourism

industry if the country was to meet up with international standards.

“It is only through sound education that we can develop the right manpower that can bring the country’s tourism industry in line with international standards,’’ Anyafulu said.

Anyafulu suggested that government at all levels should assist in funding schools offering courses in tourism to enable them produce the required manpower for the industry. (NAN)

People buying tomatoes, on Monday at Abubakar Gumi Central Market, in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN

World Bank-assisted project tasks FG, donor partners on rural roads’ development

By Abdulwahab Isa with agency report

T

he Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) has urged the Federal and state governments as well as donor partners to commit more money to the development of rural roads.

Mr Ifeanyi Okereke, the Development Communication Officer of RAMP, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that funding constituted a challenge to the execution the project. ‘’The more money we get, the more roads we will be able to cover. Essentially, we need stakeholders of the various states to participate. ‘’We want the stakeholders to see that what we are doing is for their benefit. We want to make life better for the people in the rural areas because statistics have revealed that 60 per cent of Nigerians live in the rural area.’’

Okereke earlier told NAN that

the project was co-funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD) in partnership with the Federal Government.

He said that the World Bank provided $2.6 million, while the AFD contributed one million dollars. ‘’The Federal Government provided the counterpart funds in the form of project Preparatory Funds to prepare the states for participation in RAMP. The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance signed for the loan on behalf of the states and stands as a guarantor for the states”, he said.

He told NAN that four new states - Enugu, Osun, Adamawa and Niger - were selected to participate in RAMP II. He noted that they were selected through a contested process involving the 34 states and the FCT that were not in RAMP I. Okereke added that the RAMP II states were selected pursuant to the Country Partnership

Strategy, saying, ‘’The RAMP II includes the rehabilitation and maintenance of 500km of rural roads in each participating state, so that at least 25 per cent of the road network will be in good condition at the end of the project.

According to Okereke, Cross River had contributed two-thirds of the cost of the project because the state wanted its roads to be constructed with asphalt because of the terrain.

He added that a pilot rural road maintenance scheme had commenced in Osun state. ‘’The pilot rural maintenance scheme is being carried out on a 12-km road along Iwo-Pataar; it involves the engagement of a 12-man maintenance group, who will be paid N20,000 each per month.

He added that with the scheme in place, direct employment would be made available to about 2,000 people in the participating states of RAMP II. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

PAGE 22

The Ribadu Report

Revenue losses in the Nigerian petroleum industry (II) 5.2.2. Volumes of Lost Refined Products and Associated Revenue Losses

T

he Task Force did not receive comprehensive figures documenting volumes of refined products stolen or spilled, but NNPC reports that thieves stole 3.2 million metric tons of products from its pipeline network between 2001 and 2010. Stolen amounts appear to be growing; in NNPC’s submissions the Task Force was informed that about 40 percent of products currently channelled through pipelines are lost to theft and sabotage.

Wilful damage of downstream infrastructure has also spiked as of late. PPMC recorded 4,468 product pipeline breaks in 2011, 98 percent of them from sabotage.

This is a sharp increase over 1,746, the average number of sabotage cases logged between 2001 and 2010.

Theft of products at import points also appears endemic. For example, submissions to the Task Force claimed that as much as 5,000 MT of a typical cargo of petrol can be stolen at ports and jetties, offloaded into light vehicles.

In a worrying trend, organized theft of products has also spread far beyond the Niger Delta. PPMC recorded sizable losses on its Mosinmi- Ibadan-Lokoja line in 2011. The Jos-Gombe-Maiduguri line also saw theft, and pipeline sabotage around Atlas Cove in Lagos is chronic.

Organized theft of refined products also denies Nigeria significant revenues, though the Task Force did not receive comprehensive figures. PPMC values the products stolen from its pipeline network between 2001 and 2010 at N178 billion. It is alleged that when products are stolen at ports and jetties, inspectors sign discharge sheets for the full landing amount, which allows importers to collect fuel subsidy on stolen products.

5.2.3. NNPC Withholdings for Costs Associated With Theft and Sabotage

N

NPC withholds oil revenues from the Federation Account to cover costs associated with theft and pipeline sabotage.

Data from the Corporation shows huge increases in recent periods: Beyond the obvious damaging impact of these revenue losses to the Nigerian economy, crude oil theft also impacts the nation in other major ways, some of which include the following.

5.3.

Pioneer Status granted to Indigenous Companies The Task Force has been informed that at least five companies: Allied Energy, Midwestern Oil & Gas, Brittania Oil Nigeria Limited, Suntrust Oil

NNPC claims against FGN for failure to provide security, 2006-date

GMD NNPC, Andrew Yakubu Company Nigeria Limited; and Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Limited10 have been granted pioneer status by the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (with others pending or undetected) for their exploration and production activities.

Pioneer status is a form of fiveyear tax holiday to qualifying industries anywhere in Nigeria.

The grant of pioneer status, gives a company a preferred position in getting established, usually through exemption from income tax. Pioneer companies are companies engaged in manufacturing, processing, mining, servicing and Agricultural industries whose products have been declared pioneer products on satisfying certain conditions.

In granting a company pioneer status the industry or product is regarded as one that is not already carried on in the country or the existing industry is not producing enough to meet the current or expected requirements.

The concept is further broadened to include any industry or product for which there is a favourable prospect of development.

The policy relating to pioneer industry is based on the desire of the Government to encourage the development of new or relevant industries that will reduce the country’s dependence on imports. The pioneer industries and products are identified by a list published in the official gazette.

The law governing the

operations of the pioneer companies was first laid out under the Aid to pioneer Industries ordinance No.10 of 1952. This was repealed by the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) ordinance No.8 of 1958.

This ordinance was subsequently repealed by the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act 1971, otherwise known as CAP 179 LFN, 1990 which is the current legislation governing the operations of the pioneer industries. The Act empowers the Federal Executive Council to publish from time to time a list of Industries or products as pioneer Industries or products.

The revenue implications though well-known bear some repetition: • No tax shall be payable during the pioneer period on the profit and consequently no capital allowance could be claimed on all the qualifying capital expenditure incurred starting from the production date.

• Dividend can be declared out of the pioneer account profit but not more than the balance standing in that account.

• Dividend paid out of the pioneer profit shall not be subject to tax in the hand of the first recipient • The net qualifying expenditure for capital items during the pioneer period are accumulated and are qualified for both initial and annual allowances in the new business.

• Losses incurred by the pioneer company during the pioneer period and certified, may be relieved after the pioneer period since such loss is deemed to have been incurred on the first day of the new business.

It cannot be a correct exercise of incentive for oil operators to be given pioneer status for an activity that is well established for over 40 years and which to any commercial consideration is a profitable venture. The loss of

revenue from the grant of pioneer status to oil operators is an avoidable loss.

The Task Forces recommends that any further consideration of the industry for pioneer status be stopped forthwith. Indeed to the extent that the application of the Act has been extended to oil exploration it is ultra vires and ought to be set aside and or revoked. To the effect that all tax and exemption be reinstated; from the date of the initial grant and payments be made to FIRS accordingly.

5.4.

Collateral Costs of Theft

Social

The following social costs, while outside the Task Force’s immediate remit, deserve mention. They also arguably result in decreased Government revenue by increasing the perceived risks of investing in Nigeria’s oil sector.

5.4.1.

Environmental Pollution and Associated Socio-Economic Impacts

C

rude oil theft is surely a major cause of Niger Delta oil pollution, though again there are no reliable nationwide figures. SPDC claims that illegal bunkering caused 118 spills around its facilities in 2011, at a loss of 11,806 barrels. Figures are scarce for the resulting water and soil pollution, or secondary impacts on human health, livelihoods or food and fuel stocks.

Mixing highly unstable stolen condensate with kerosene, diesel and petrol damages automobiles and generators, and causes frequent explosions. These may have killed several hundred Nigerians over the past decade.

PPMC recorded 376 fires around its product pipelines between 2000 and 2010, and press reports record several thousand deaths from pipeline fires since 1998.

Illegal refineries explode frequently, incinerating works and bystanders.

PEOSPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Report as at Monday, December 24, 2012

PAGE 23

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

PAGE 24

By Kayode Olaitan

B

y most accounts, public opinions have shown that New Year’s resolutions are easier said than fulfilled.

There are divergent views on whether or not such resolutions made by individuals are adhered to religiously by them at the end.

Now, as another year approaches, several people in various gatherings will resolve to drop, add or change some values in their life styles.

Opinions indicate that only few of these resolutions are firm while the rest are said just to satisfy righteousness.

For instance, on Dec. 31, 2011, at a Christian vigil, Mr D.I, made a resolution to quit smoking he had been addicted to for almost 20 years, but barely four months into the New Year, he found smoking more interesting than when he quit.

At the same service, a lady, Miss L.O, resolved that she would stop making trips to a West African country to do a certain business because of the risk involved.

She said she has been sustaining the resolution since then.

Why do people see the need to make resolutions they may or may not be able to adhere to?

The Islamic Forum online stipulates that the New Year is a good time for Muslims to renew the resolutions they made during Ramadan.

According to it, a list of resolutions which should include spiritual, physical and mental practices should be written down so that one can refer to them throughout the year.

“Everyone seems to have a bad habit that harms his or her health, such as drinking, smoking and overeating.

“Keep in mind that any activity that is forbidden in

PAGE 25

New Year’s resolutions: The myth, essence and realities

Islam is unhealthy and that any activity that starts to become an addiction is also unhealthy, make a pledge to yourself to identify your addictions and stop them.

“In many cases in the Qur’an and Hadith, it is mentioned that you do not actually have to perform a bad act to be affected by it.

Muslims are encouraged to

hang out with people they would like to emulate and not with those that are bad influence on them,’’ it stated.

The essence of making resolutions is underscored by the desire of mankind to reassess and re-align some patterns of life for better, according to Pastor John Abiodun of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Abuja.

He believes that some people, at a point, perceive they have moved away from what they should be known for or what they ought not to have been doing and when they realise this, they resort to making resolutions.

“Of course, occasions such as the eve of a new year presents a unique opportunity for making resolutions because of the belief that the old way of life is cast aside.

“It ought to be a spontaneous confession to the realities of individual’s life-style and a strong determination to maintain whatever is said to be done,’’ he noted.

He, however, observes that more than 90 per cent of the resolutions made by

various people are shortlived.

“I believe the reason for this is lack of adequate preparation and strong determination to tame some of the activities that hinder the resolutions to be firm.

“For instance, if somebody says he wants to stop stealing but still finds himself in the midst of criminals, within a short time, such a person will denounce his resolution.

“Another factor is the prevailing socio-economic situation; somebody may determine to quit prostitution but later finds out that she has no good job or even jobless to fight hunger, definitely she will forget about the resolution.

“However, in every resolution we make, it requires the Grace of God and prayer for its sustainability because when we make such godly decision and commit it to God, He will provide the strength and means of sustaining it,’’ he said.

Dr John Grohol, the founder of Psych Central in the U.S, published in a research that people who believe that self-control is something dynamic, changing and unlimited, tend to set more resolutions.

He cited the instances of those who believe that: “I can stop smoking, all I have to do is put my mind to it. I can also change my eating habit and be a better person, it just takes willpower’’.

According to him, people who believe that we all are born with a limited, set amount of self-control that one cannot change, naturally do worse on obtaining their New Year’s resolution goals.

“What this means is that you will do better on your

New Year’s goals if you believe that self-control is indeed an unlimited resource that we all have access to and can leverage with our resolutions.

“The more you believe in your own capabilities, the more likely you will succeed as well; it also seems to help to set more goals, because you will be more likely to succeed at them if you do,’’ he said.

All arguments notwithstanding,

“

Of course, occasions such as the eve of a new year presents a unique opportunity for making resolutions because of the belief that the old way of life is cast aside.

It ought to be a spontaneous confession to the realities of individual’s life-style and a strong determination to maintain whatever is said to be done

psychologists have identified some tips to help keep resolutions.

The first is to make only one resolution; picking just one aspect of life to improve and increase chances of success.

They also suggest planning resolution in advance, instead of waiting until New Year’s Eve to allow for reflection on what to really want to achieve.

Another tip is to avoid repeating a previous resolution, or at least try a different technique to keep it.

However, Dr Richard Wiseman, a professor of psychology at Hertfordshire University, UK believes that: “If people think they can do it, they probably can, but if they have already tried and failed, their self-belief will be low.

“By a long way, stopping smoking is the hardest, because there are physiological responses involved; it is an addiction.

Source: NAN

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

Some women you must not marry (I) A

llah says: “And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell In tranquillity with them, and He has put love and Mercy between your (hearts): Verily In that are Signs for those who reflect.” [ar-Rum: 21] In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah! We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our evils and bad deeds. Anyone who is guided

by Allah, is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and final messenger to mankind.

May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His last and final Apostle, his Household, his companions and all his followers until the end of time.

This article is an attempt to put forward for the sake of discerning some of those attributes between us and creations lower than us. It is not a law nor theory; it is only a rational hypothesis gathered by our predecessors who have shown some interest either because they were bitten once or twice, or simply for the sake of passing information of any nature.

The Qur'an has summarized in an unambiguous and unequivocal precepts the very objectives of matrimony or relationship between man and woman in a fashion demands by the Shari'ah. The Qur'an says: “And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell In tranquillity with

them, and He has put love and or marital relationships, upMercy between your (hearts): bringing, environmental or Verily In that are Signs for those peer group influences, or some who reflect.” [ar-Rum: 21] foreign cultural orientations, That is to say, any union which made some them nonbetween a man and a woman or women, which does not b e a r tranquillity, love and compassion,

By Husain Zakariyya cannot be Yawale called a marriage in its strictest sense. +234-8052952900 (sms only) It could, yet, be islamexplained35@yahoo.com termed a spousal or nuptial union, but, nubile. And where they are, it is which is devoid of mutual impossible to maintain the cordiality and affection. The relationship chiefly because of man and the woman, thus, must their behaviours, deportments give each other equal and manners; natural and equanimity, affection and acquired. Thus, it is these types sympathy. Or where the man is of women that I intend to outline married to more than one wife, and discuss for the yet to marry must share equal concern, and eager lots. understanding and kindness, at In essence, Islam, because of least in the open, as much as is the importance of marriage demanded by the Shari'ah. institution to the prolongation of The Qur'an has devoted so both procreation and modest much time to discuss in clear social integration, has put many details almost all the common rational and logical rules not characteristic of women; the only in the choice of lawful life nubile and unmarriageable. In partner, but also concerning fact, a great number of verses temporary or permanent were dedicated for women restrictions.

While some because of their importance and exceptions are based on long nature. In several places in established experiences or thirteen chapters, the Qur'an relationships regarding the intimated us with knowledge of avoidable categories of women, the womanhood. In fact, A'Ishah others are direct revelations (RD), ordered that no woman from high above. Some of the should be given out in marriage restrictions can be surmounted, without the full knowledge and while other will remain understanding of 'Surat-un-Nur' permanently restricted. or Chapter 24 of the Qur'an. She For the clarification of any made this call because of the ambiguity which might arise, I many injunctions concerning will start with the category of the rights of the women folk the women whom Allah or His chapter elucidates.

Apostle has put enduring and But, notwithstanding, there permanent restriction, no are women, whom, because of matter the situation. Of course their nature of blood, weaning Islam considers marriage as one

ISLAM EXPLAINED

of the most righteous and approved originations amongst human race.

The Qur'an in unequivocal terms inspired to us, thus: “And Allah has made for you mates (and companions) of your nature, and made for you, out of them, sons and daughters and grandchildren, and for you sustenance of the best: will They then believe In vain things, and be for Allah's favours?” [an-Nahl: 72] Thus, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) declared, “There is no monasticism in Islam.” It was based on this premise that he once talked to the youth in a gathering in Madinah and ordained, thus: “O you young men! Whoever is able to (cater the needs of his marry) should marry, for that will help him to lower his gaze and guard his chastity.” [Al-Bukhari] In another instance, he declared publically in these golden words: “Marriage is my Sunnah. Whosoever keeps away from it is not from me,” and furthermore added that there is celibacy in Islam.

In the same vein, he classified the general reasons why men marry certain classes of women generally, but quickly with a divine guidance, prefer to a willing spouse to chose themselves based on moral traits. He said, in a hadith reported by Muslim: “A woman is normally sought as a wife for her wealth, beauty, nobility, or religiousness (adherence to Islam), but choose a religious woman and you will prosper.”

And in another reported by

Bukhari: “A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religious concern. You should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a loser.”

In summery to the best qualities we hope in prospective spouses are enshrined in this hadith of our beloved Apostle, “Once someone with whose religion and character you are satisfied asks to marry your daughter, comply with his request. If you do not do so, there will be corruption and great evil on earth.” (Tirmidhi) The Qur'an is very emphatic concerning those category of women never to be wedded eternally on various grounds.

Allah says: “Prohibited to you (for marriage) are:- your mothers, daughters, sisters; father's sisters, Mother's sisters; brother's daughters, sister's daughters; foster-mothers (Who gave you suck), foster-sisters; your wives' mothers; your step-daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives to whom ye have gone in,- no prohibition if ye have not gone in;- (Those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins; and two sisters In wedlock at one and the same time, except for what is past; for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.” [an-Nisa'i: 23] It goes further to give another ban of unmarriageable women, but this time on conditional reasons. Allah says in the following verses: “Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until They believe: a slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, Even though she allures you. nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until They believe: a man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, Even though He allures you. unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. but Allah beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs Clear to mankind: that They may celebrate His praise.” [alBaqarah: 221] “This Day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. the food of the people of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you In marriage) are (Not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the people of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects Faith, fruitless is His work, and In the Hereafter He will be In the ranks of those who have lost (All spiritual good).” [al-Ma'idah: 5] However, when next Friday comes, and we are blessed by Allah for another breather, I will further elucidate, in the next series the various categories for our future considerations and guidelines in line with the Sunnah, most especially for the eager bachelors, and even the hardihood men, to append to his knowledge before venturing into family life.

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

As we visage Environmental Challenges in 2013 L

et's give glory to our Almighty Father for surviving the doomsday.

Remember the prediction that the world would come to an end on December 21, 2012. Of course, other stories and theories make some people much more nervous.

Some of these claim to be scientific.

One foretells that the earth's entire crust will experience a massive shift that will result in immense tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Another holds that the planets will come into a straight alignment and that this will cause the sun's solar winds to intensify and wreak havoc on earth. Still another asserts that earth's magnetic poles will suddenly reverse and cause radiation from the sun to kill us all.

Persuaded by similar predictions of disasters, some people in the United States and Europe had built shelters in their backyard or at considerable expense, had reserved quarters in underground community bunkers. Others have moved to the mountains and have become self-sufficient living "off the grid," independent of public utilities, such as water, heat, or electricity.

Here we are no such thing has happened.

I must say that I was one of those scared, considering the flood that hit most parts of our country this year, a reminiscence of the flood that engulfed the ancients of Noah's time in biblical literature and other natural disasters across

the globe. To say the deluge is one of monumental proportions and a national disaster is to remark mildly.

Challenges of the dry season As we approach 2013, the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) has again advised Nigerians to be adequately prepared for the challenges of the dry season and its associated emergencies, telling us it is not yet Uhuru when it comes to natural disasters.

NEMA urged Nigerians to be wary of the environment prone to epidemics as measles, cholera, lassa fever and cerebral spinal meningitis are among the 10 most critical health disasters associated with dry season, hence the need for the public to guard against them.

The International Emergency Data (IED) had confirmed that women and children are the most vulnerable people and emphasized the need for them to be more cautious in their health habits by avoiding polluted water and dirty or overcrowded environment.

In order to ensure disaster risk reduction, people should endeavour to stay in well ventilated environment apart from always keeping the environment clean, as heat wave could lead to cerebral spinal meningitis.

2012 Climate talks in Doha It's good to mention the recent Climate talks in Doha where UN

ENVIR ONMENT ENVIRONMENT WATCH

By Ambrose Inusa Sule, mnes globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only) forum agreed to extend Kyoto Protocol to 2020.

The Kyoto protocol on climate change had been due to expire this year, but delegates at UN climate talks in Qatar have agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol until 2020, avoiding a major new setback.

The deal, agreed by nearly 200 nations, keeps the protocol alive as the only legally binding plan for combating global warming.

However, it only covers developed nations whose share of world greenhouse gas emissions is less than 15percent. The US - a major polluter - has never ratified the original 1997 protocol.

The deal was agreed after the 27-member European Union, Australia and several other industrialised nations signed up for binding CO2 cuts by 2020 at the 12-day meeting in Qatar's capital Doha because of differences over whether rich nations should have to compensate poorer states for losses due to climate change.

The protocol, however excludes some major polluters, including the US, China and India.

The gathering in Doha had also focused on a plan to adopt a wider treaty in 2015 that would apply to all countries and eventually replace the Kyoto Protocol.

It was also agreed that developing countries that show strong leadership in tackling climate change could benefit from a pot of 70 million Euros of funding.

Coming under the Nationally Appropriate Mitigating Actions (NAMA), designed to support developing countries that show strong leadership in tackling climate change and want to implement the facility, Germany and the United Kingdom announced the launch of the NAMA facility at COP18/ CMP8.

The two countries will jointly provide about 70 million Euros of funding for the facility, which

aims to support partner countries to implement ambitious action against climate change.

Nigeria may not be eligible for the fund as country's document on NAMA is yet to be finalized.

Though a stakeholders' validation forum was held some months ago in Abuja, the NAMA refers to a set of policies and actions countries undertake as part of a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission.

The government must also ensure that the final policy documents are evidence-based.

Regrettably, Nigeria is yet to complete important analysis that allows policies that are fit for purpose to emerge.

For instance, the base year for the most recent greenhouse gas emission inventory is the year 2000. Without a valid emission inventory and analysis of least cost abatement options, the basis for developing NAMAs will be weak.

Escaping Oteh-nized budgetary allocation by Fmev We must sing Hallelujah that the Federal Ministry of Environment was not Oteh-nized on budgetary allocation by the National Assembly.

Remember that The Senate Committee on Environment earlier threatened to give zero budgetary allocation to the federal ministry of environment, for what it considered as an unsatisfactory budget implementation of its 2012 capital projects.

I must praise the wisdom of members of The Senate Committee on Environment on the issue of the presentation by the environment ministry to justify its 2012 budget performance before it, which could affect its allocation in the 2013 budget.

The threat by Senator Sarakiled committee that it "will not hesitate to give zero budgetary allocation to the ministry or any of its agencies on any on-going or new project if they were not convinced of their capacity to utilize the funds allocated to them in previous years," should be commended.

Since the return of democracy in 1999, it is on record that no government has ever implemented the yearly budget more than 75 per cent only to come the following budget year asking for fund for the same projects.

It has been explained that what has been responsible for the seeming slow implementation of budgets was the fact that some projects had no planning and design prior to their approval release of resources.

Hoping for a better and a more sustainable environment come 2013.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE Images from the just concluded two-day annual media retreat on Emergency Management organised by NEMA recently in Abuja

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE

FG plans to purchase additional helicopters for NEMA

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that the Federal Government has concluded arrangements to purchase more helicopters for the agency.

NEMA’s Director-General, Alhaji Mohammed Sidi, made this known during an interactive session with journalists in Minna in Niger state recently.

Sidi was represented by the agency’s Assistant Zonal Director, North-Central, Malam Salihu Bijimi.

He also declared open a oneday workshop on the “Role of NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), Community-based Organisations (CBOs) and Private Sector in Disaster Management”.

The director-general said the purchase become necessary to ensure that relief materials, including medical needs gets to victims of disasters in any part of the country.

“Plans are underway by the Federal Government to procure more Helicopters to add to the ones already in our fleet to enhance disaster management which is assuming a more complicated dimension.

“With more aircrafts added to our fleet, emergency teams on rescue operations could easily get to remotest areas that were hitherto unable to assess by road in good time to reduce the impact of disasters,” he said.

Sidi said that more personnel were presently undergoing intensive training with the view to deploying them to disaster prone areas after the completion of their training.

“I see an improvement in subsequent response to disasters in the country.

“When disasters occur it affects all members of a family who are

members of a community and of which the community is within a local government area.

“If disaster management is seen from this angle all would be fully involved because it is in one way or the other felt by all.”

Sidi urged Nigerians to be conscious to check avoidable disasters.

“It is in view of key three issues such as; magnitude, inadequate funds and as well, distance that calls for the need to have the NGOs, CBOs and the private sectors playing key roles in preserving lives and properties ...”

He said in time of disasters, it would not be enough just for NEMA to get all the equipment to

contend to the area.

He said other Federal Government agencies should work hand in hand with the stake holders.

He said that if those stakeholders were well equipped, knowledgeably, then the job of disaster management would be made easier in the overall interests of the society.

Sidi said that the agency would be better positioned in future as it had learnt a lot of lessons from the recent flood disasters and other disasters across the country.

“We will now go to the drawing board with other stake holders, to see how we can improve on what happened in 2012.” (NAN)

NEMA D-G, Muhammad Sani-Sidi

NEMA activates search and rescue teams nationwide

T

he National Emergency Management Agency has activated its emergency Search and Rescue Teams to be on full alert in the event of any emergency situation during the yuletide season.

The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi made the disclosure in his office on Friday while receiving the communique of the 2012 Annual Media Retreat of Journalists and Information Officers on Disaster and Emergency Management in Nigeria, a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Yushau shuaibu, said on Sunday.

He sai:, “All Search and Rescue Officers of the NEMA and that of other response agencies as well as trained emergency volunteers throughout the federation have been put on alert in case of any untoward development between the Christmas period and the New Year. The activation of Search and Rescue officers to be on full alert has been the tradition of the agency in its collaborative efforts with other agencies and volunteers in responding to

distress situation.”

The NEMA boss also lamented the inability of the Nigerian Communication Commission to provide the country with a threedigit National Emergency call line as obtained in other jurisdictions. He said “We are waiting for NCC to work out the emergency toll free number as soon as possible to help us on disaster management.”

Sani-Sidi also noted that most states have lukewarm attitude to the subject of emergency management and combating disasters by not complying with legal mandates to establish their state emergency management agencies.

He added that in the case of those that have established, most of them are yet to become functional because they are not adequately funded.

He tasked journalists to take governors and local government chairmen to task on the need to establish functional emergency management bodies. He stated that, “Every Nigerian now look forward to NEMA to respond to

emergencies and combat disasters whereas, only situations beyond the coping capabilities of State and Local Emergency outfits that supports and assistance could be referred to NEMA as the national body.”

He also stated that disaster management will soon be included in both primary and secondary school curricula in the country as a result of efforts of his agency.

He explained further that students had graduated from the six postgraduate departments that NEMA funded in the six geopolitical zones across the country.

On the 15-point communique, the NEMA boss promised to implement most of the recommendations especially those pertaining to creation of information centres at emergency scenes to create synergy in dissemination of information and reportage during emergencies.

He also promised to improve partnership with the media on dedicated programmes and columns in electronic, print and even online media

YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Media, other stakeholders collaborate against disaster

L

ast week, the need for constant collaborations and rational brainstorming on the recurrent issues of natural and human induced disaster in Nigeria was once again brought to fore, when the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) organized an annual retreat for the media, as well as other actors in the advocacy of disaster response, mitigation and management.

Apparently, the occasion was meant to create a platform for better understanding and scrutiny of issues relating to emergency response strategies particularly by officials of the agency in collaboration with the Journalists Against Disaster Initiative (JADI), Youths Against Disaster Initiative (YADI) and Media Information Committee on Emergency Management (MICEM).

While enumerating a number of challenges militating against the operations of the agency in meeting its mandates of reaching out to victims of various emergency situations in the country with accurate information at times of adversity, as well as on provision of relief items, DirectorGeneral of NEMA, Muhammad SaniSidi, challenged the media to take seriously how best such occurrences could be scrupulously reported without provoking reprisals in cases of communal clash or create panic among the people.

He believes relating with the media in disaster situations would bring about public participation and involvement in disaster management in the country. SaniSidi therefore expressed optimism that the roles of journalists cannot be neglected in the fight against disasters, urging them to take cognisance of their role in the society, especially with regards to awareness of the fundamental issues on disaster management and understanding of the general public about the NEMA’s mandates.

In the face heightened tragedies resulting from bomb explosion and other related emergency situations in the country, the NEMA boss lamented the laidback put up by some state and local governments who are failing in their constitutional responsibilities on disaster management despite the contingency funds placed at their disposal by the federal government.

He said such funds were underutilized by these levels of government that transfer mere hazards to NEMA to manage.

Sani -Sidi bemoaned over-reliance of state and local governments on NEMA to help perform their constitutional duties saying this have intensified the risk of manageable hazards to disasters in some grassroots.

He therefore described non-existence of state local emergency management agency (SEMAs & LEMAs) in some states and local councils as one of the major challenges facing disaster management in the country.

His words: “It is regrettable that apart from Lagos state and few others, in many states SEMAs and LEMAs are not in existence. I discovered during my advocacy visits to them that they are identified only by name not by functional vehicles, offices and personnel. They are not funded. In fact, you would find out they have only have Special Advisers on Disasters with neither funds nor personnel for

effective operation and preparedness against disasters. How can it work?”

Through a coordinated effort by stakeholders, NEMA’s press secretary, Yushau A. Shuaib said, the mandate of the country’s only proactive emergency management agency could be properly enhanced.

“The programme was primarily initiated by NEMA to bring about impunity and understanding between the agency and journalists, and see how the mandates of the emergency management can be effectively extended to various parts and groups in the country,” he said.

In his remarks, National Coordinator of JADI, Mr. Sanya Adejokun, reiterates that that JADI was primarily established to improve the qualitative and quantitative of information present to the general public on disaster alerts, reliefs and response.

According to him, as disasters increase in various parts of the country, it has called for instant collaborative effort between the JADI and NEMA. ‘It is noteworthy that the contributory roles of the Youths Against Disaster Initiative (YADI) to the nation’s disaster sensitization campaign was graciously appreciated at the event, especially by the Public Relations staff, Information and Communication Technology divisions of NEMA, among others,” he stated.

Besides, the occasion was blessed by media and public relations dignitaries from both public and private organizations on disaster management such as Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence (NSCD), Nigeria Red Cross Society.

On his own part, Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Jonas Agwu, urged the media to always strive at giving accurate and consistent facts and figures on disaster situations in the country. He cited the recent figure complied from flood disasters in various parts of the country, stressing those inaccurate and inconsistent facts and figures were reported by journalists across the country.

Similarly, several challenges facing the nation’s disaster management were identified by the participants. These include nonexistence of SEMAs and LEMAs in some states, weakness in part of emergency services, weakness of fire service response, absence of ambulance service, poorly equipped police, poorly equipped hospitals, low technical/manpower capacity, poor funding of Disaster management activities, inadequate data management, poor funding of SEMAs and LEMCs. The participants referred an improvement in coordination, collaboration and cooperation among various stakeholders on disaster management stakeholders; establishment of SEMAs and LEMCs across the six geo-political zones in the country; effective predictable funding arrangement for SEMAs and LEMCs; robust ambulance service; improved equipment and personnel for first responders; improved hospitals; streamlining disaster management into developmental strategies; and streamlining disaster risk reduction into project planning.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Girl, 10 serves dinner for 50 homeless to keep her dead father's promise on Christmas

By Chris Brooke

A

fter ten-year-old Gracie McNulty's father died in an accident, she wasn't sure how to cope with her first Christmas without him.

So she decided to abandon the usual family festivities - and make her father's last Christmas wish come true instead.

With the help of her mother and three siblings, Gracie served turkey with all the trimmings to 50 homeless people yesterday.

Her father Craig, 38, was a regular charity volunteer who had served breakfast to the homeless on Boxing Day in the past, and he had promised to open the family's cafe on Christmas Day this year.

But Mr McNulty, a roofer, suffered serious head injuries when he fell while working. He was taken to hospital by air ambulance but died soon after the accident in August.

Generosity: Gracie McNulty, pictured, served Christmas dinner to 50 homeless people, helped by her mother and three siblings Gracie's mother Sharon McNulty, 46, who runs the Grilled and Filtered cafe in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, said: 'After he died Gracie said to me "I don't want to have Christmas at home this year, I want to do what

daddy wanted and open the cafe on Christmas Day. 'It wouldn't feel right to celebrate so we're serving Christmas dinner to people who don't have a home to go to.' She added: 'We're all thinking of

All smiles: The McNulty family with some of the homeless who were fed turkey dinners at the Grilled and Filtered cafe in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire A WOMAN who was claimed to be the oldest human being alive has died at the reported age of 124. ariam Ammash, who passed away on Saturday, held an Israeli passport that had her date of birth in 1888.

Mariam came from the Arab populated city of Jisr al-Zarqa, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 miles from Tel Aviv.

She left behind 10 children and "around 300 grandchildren," according to reports in the local media.

If the passport is correct she would have been the oldest human being to ever live. However, officials have struggled to verify the date of birth and when she was interviewed a few months before her death Mariam could not remember her early years.

The Guinness Book of World Records states the oldest official human being as Japanese man Jirouemon Kimure who is 115 years old.

M

Source: TheSun.co.uk

Craig. It's all in his honour and he would be so happy with what we are doing.

'It's been absolutely fantastic, just to see their faces when they walked in. We've bought everybody thermal gloves, thermal scarves, and thermal socks and have also made sandwiches for them to take away.'

The family gave tickets for the Christmas dinner to local charities who help the homeless, and their community donated money to fund the event.

Gracie was joined by her mother and three siblings Kirstie, 19, Thomas, 21, and James, 26 - to serve up turkey dinners for three hours between 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Gracie said: 'It's been the best Christmas ever. I was just at school feeling sad about my dad so decided I wanted to do something to make him proud and this felt like the perfect

thing. People have been coming in calling me "super Grace." I haven't asked my mum yet but I want to do this every year.'

Miss McNulty and her partner were together for 15 years before his death. They never married, but he changed his surname so that the family shared a name.

Miss McNulty, whose family have also raised ÂŁ1,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: 'Craig was the most generous, giving person you could ever meet.

'He was always doing something for somebody and worked for the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, helping troubled youngsters achieve a trade.

'He spent all his time making other people happy and hopefully we'll be able to carry that on.'

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Cafe: Grilled and Filtered in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire is run by Gracie's mother Sharon McNulty

'Oldest human being' dies at 124

Passport ... Mariam holds her passport showing birth date in 1888

Official ... the world's oldest living human being Jirouemon Kimure

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

PAGE 31

ANALYSIS

By Belen Fernandez

I

n a recent interview with Al Jazeera in which she expounds on the alleged threat France faces from radical Islam, Marine Le Pen - president of the far-right National Front party and member of the European Parliament - seeks international validation for her anti-immigrant views: No country in the world... would accept to go through the fast and sizeable immigration of people who, without a doubt, have a different religion and culture.

It would seem, of course, that many places in the world have already gone through this very process - including, for example, certain former French colonial possessions, which were also treated to military invasions, widespread killing, torture and expropriation of resources.

Now the tables have turned, however, prompting right-wing hallucinations of an Islamic empire under construction in Europe.

According to prominent neoconservative propaganda, the imperialist strategy rests on a number of subtle subversive manoeuvers such as "the demonisation of courageous opponents of Islamic imperialism".

Though Le Pen refrains from referencing the empire, she does hint in her interview at possible additional tactics such as the surreptitious force-feeding of halal meat to non-Muslims: [M]illions of French people eat halal food every day without realising it... [I]t's a problem because it breaks our law on secularism. This is because making people who are not religious consume halal food is contributing, due to this consumption which lacks transparency, to financing a cult... If in a Muslim country[,] Muslims were made to eat consecrated bread, they would scream.

That the majority of the French population has not been screaming about the threat of unwitting ingestion of halalmeat was suggested in a March 2012 article in the British Guardian, which reported "surveys showing that [French] voters were less concerned about halal meat than they were about the weather and football".

Undeterred, Le Pen reiterates France's unique torment: "[T]here is no reason to ask the French to accept things that no other people in the world would accept."

As if the halal plot weren't bad enough, Muslims have also engaged in more visible assertions of control over French territory, prompting Le Pen's December 2010 comparison of Muslim street prayers to the Nazi occupation of France.

In the event that we wanted to defend Le Pen's sensational analogy, we could always argue that she didn't mean it in an overly negative way; after all, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, penultimate president of the National Front party, described

Marine Le Pen counters hate-related allegations with the claim: "I feel hatred towards nobody, but I have immense love for my people and for my country that I will defend in all circumstances"

France's Le Pen battles Islamonazi occupation said occupation as "not especially inhumane".

A more relevant Nazi analogy might however recall the handy practice of scapegoating certain religious and ethnic groups in times of national decline and economic hardship.

Le Pen lays the blame for France's retreat from its position as "one of the richest countries in the world" on contemporary administrations and "anarchical immigration in our country which creates the conditions for conflict, for the disintegration of society, which disturbs our indivisibility, our laws, including our law on secularism".

In Le Pen's ideal indivisible nation, "religious personnel can have religious clothing but all the others should not be able to distinguish themselves, as it were, by presenting their religion before presenting themselves as individuals". Following this logic, it would seem that her definition of France as a country where

"Christian civilisation" is decisive in "determin[ing] our whole way of life [and] our calendar" might also constitute an example of religious-over-individual presentation. In other words, calendars may need to be banned along with headscarves.

In the latest foretelling of impending Islamic hegemony in France, meanwhile, it was revealed earlier this month that French authorities had requested the lifting of Le Pen's parliamentary immunity in order to enable prosecution on a charge of incitement of racial hatred.

Le Pen has countered haterelated allegations with the claim: I feel hatred towards nobody, but I have immense love for my people and for my country that I will defend in all circumstances.

Without delving into the issue of the obvious right of noncitizen immigrants in France to live free of persecution, it is

“

worth noting that Le Pen's "immense love" facilitates persecution of Muslims who happen to be national citizens and who therefore ostensibly also qualify as "my people".

In the first round of France's presidential election this past April, the pro-love politician garnered 18 percent of the vote, a record for the National Front.

Impressive levels of fanatical attachment to one "people" have also been registered in other European locales such as the Netherlands, where politician Geert Wilders has warned of the "Islamisation of our societies", declared Islam "fascist" and compared the Quran to Mein Kampf.

Italy's recurring malady Silvio Berlusconi meanwhile rivals Le Pen for ignorance of historical realities such as the role imperialism can have in future migration patterns. In 2009, Corriere della Sera quoted the then-Prime Minister's latest

In response to Al Jazeera's question of whether radical Islam does indeed boast a substantial presence in French suburbs, Le Pen provides the following damning evidence:

philosophy [IT] on immigrants: It is unacceptable that sometimes in certain parts of Milan there is such a presence of non-Italians that instead of thinking you are in an Italian or European city you think you are in an African city. We do not accept this.

In typical incoherent fashion, Le Pen prefers to highlight other European trends such as "multiculturalism in Great Britain", which has resulted in "conflict" and "hate speech".

Decrees Le Pen: "I don't want that for France."

Apparently, then, divisive discourse will save France from divisiveness.

In response to Al Jazeera's question of whether radical Islam does indeed boast a substantial presence in French suburbs, Le Pen provides the following damning evidence: It's a good question. It's up to them to ask it. What's for certain is that attitudes are being radicalised, Madame. There you have it.

As for Len Pen's theory that the job of radical Islamic recruiters is facilitated by "social uneasiness" and a lack of immigrant assimilation, the National Front leader could perhaps sabotage recruitment efforts by abstaining from analogies between Muslims and Nazis.

Source: Al Jazeera

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Morsi signs constitution into law M Africa image harming aid effort, says charity Oxfam

ohamed Morsi, the Egyptian president, has signed into law a new Islamist-drafted constitution he said will help end political turmoil and allow him to focus on fixing the fragile economy even as opposition parties continued to protest.

The presidency said Morsi signed a decree enforcing the charter late

on Tuesday after the official announcement of the result of a referendum approving the basic law, Egypt's first constitution since toppling of former President Hosni Mubarak's overthrow.

Meanwhile, country's Shura Council, or upper house of parliament, is holding its first session since the country approved the new

constitution.

The text of the constitution has sharpened painful divisions in the Arab world's most populous nation and prompted often violent protests on the streets of Cairo.

Opposition groups condemn the new basic law as too Islamist and undemocratic, saying it could allow clerics to intervene in the lawmaking

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negative image of Africa in the UK is harming efforts to raise food aid in the continent, charity Oxfam has said.

It found that three out of four people had become desensitised to images showing hunger, drought and disease.

Three-quarters thought it was possible to end hunger in Africa, but just one in five believed they could play an active role in achieving it.

Of the more than 2,000 people surveyed, almost half suggested hunger as the biggest problem facing Africa.

Respondents to the survey said over-exposure to negative media and advertising portrayals of Africa and developing countries in other parts of the world was "depressing, manipulative and hopeless".

Oxfam chief executive Dame Barbara Stocking said: "Oxfam has led the way in drawing attention to the plight of Africa's most vulnerable people and we aren't trying to gloss over the problems that still beset so many of them, particularly levels of malnutrition that remain stubbornly high.

"But we've come a long way since the 1980s and Band Aid's Do They Know it's Christmas? We need to shrug off the old stereotypes and celebrate the continent's diversity and complexity, which is what we are attempting with this campaign.

"The relentless focus on ongoing problems at the expense of a more nuanced portrait of the continent, is obscuring the progress that is being made towards a more secure and prosperous future.

"If we want people to help fight hunger we have to give them grounds for hope by showing the potential of countries across Africa - it's a natural instinct to turn away from suffering when you feel you can do nothing to alleviate it."

And when speaking to the BBC, Dame Stocking said a negative image of Africa was "not the truth" about that continent.

Oxfam chief executive Dame Barbara

President Mohamed Morsi

process and leave minority groups without proper legal protection.

Results announced on Tuesday, which followed two rounds of votes, showed Egyptians had approved the text with an overwhelming 63.8 percent, paving the way for a parliamentary election in about two months.

The National Salvation Front (NSF), Egypt's main opposition coalition, has alleged that there had been incidents of fraud during the vote.

But Judge Samir Abou el-Maati, the head of the electoral commission, denied allegations that judicial supervision was lacking in the vote.

The win gives Islamists their third straight electoral victory since former President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a 2011 revolution, after their earlier wins in parliamentary and presidential elections.

Muslim Brotherhood leader, Mohamed Badie, tweeted: "Congratulations to the Egyptian people on approving the constitution of revolutionary Egypt. Let's start building our country's rebirth... men and women, Muslims and Christians."

Morsi, who was catapulted into power by his Islamist allies, believes adopting the text is key to ending a protracted period of turmoil and uncertainty that has wrecked the economy.

CAR rebels seize central town, defying foreign troops

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ebels in Central African Republic seized the central town of Kaga Bandoro on Tuesday despite the presence of foreign troops meant to support the government, a government official said.

The fall of the town, 333 km (207 miles) north of the capital Bangui, came hours after the Seleka rebel alliance said they would suspend their push and means they now have a firm grip on the north and east of the fragile nation.

"They took the town after a

short battle despite the surprising lack of action from the Chadian (soldiers)," Rigobert Enza, who works in Kaga Bandoro's mayor's office, told Reuters after he fled to Sibut, the next town to the south.

Foreign soldiers in Kaga Bandoro include Chadians dispatched in the last few weeks to help Bangui tackle the latest rebellion as well as members of a regional stabilization force made up of soldiers from across Central Africa.

Neither rebel nor

government officials were available for comment. But the daughter of a second local government official in the town said she had received a call from her father confirming the town had been occupied by rebels.

CAR, a mineral-rich but land-locked former French colony, has been plagued by insecurity since independence in 1960.

President Francois Bozize came to power in 2003 after a brief war and has won two elections since then.

But facing several internal rebellions and t h e s p i l l - o v e r from conflicts in neighboring Chad and Sudan, he has struggled to stabilize the nation.

"The situation has become very serious," a senior official in the president's camp told Reuters, asking not to be named.

The rebels are made up of fighters from several previous rebel groups and complain that Bozize has failed to stick to the terms of a 2007 peace deal.

Al Qaeda blames France for Sahel hostage deadlock

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leader of al Qaeda's North African arm, AQIM, has accused France of failing to engage in negotiations to release French hostages the group is holding in the Sahel.

In a four-minute video message carried by regional news website Sahara Media, Abdel Hamid Abu Zeid said four hostages seized in Niger two years ago were alive and said Paris had not taken up AQIM's invitation to negotiate their release.

"About a year ago we alerted France to our willingness to negotiate and since then we have been waiting for a response," Abu Zeid said in a French transcript provided by Sahara Media, viewed as a reliable news portal with strong Islamist contacts.

The statement appeared to be in response to a December 8 message from the brother of one of the hostages who said he did

not understand why the situation appeared to be deadlocked.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has said that Paris is working "discreetly" to try to secure the hostages' release.

AQIM, which operates across the vast Sahara desert and with its Islamist allies controls the northern twothirds of Mali, is holding four Frenchmen seized in a Niger mining town in 2010 and two others kidnapped in northeast Mali in late 2011.

A seventh Frenchman was kidnapped by a separate Islamist rebel group, MUJWA, in southwest Mali in November.

AQIM threatened in September to start killing hostages if Paris mounted a military intervention in northern Mali.

Despite that risk, Paris has been a vocal supporter of plans for an international operation to

try to wrest back the territory from the Islamists' control.

Western leaders are concerned the area could become a platform for militant attacks.

The U.N. Security Council this month authorized a Frenchdrafted resolution for the deployment of an African-led

Abdel Hamid Abu Zeid

force to retrain Mali's defeated army and ultimately support such an operation.

The four AQIM hostages were working for French nuclear group Areva and Sogea-Satom, a subsidiary of construction group Vinci, in the uranium mining town of Arlit in Niger.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Asia and Middle East

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he commander of Syria's military police has defected from President Bashar-al Assad's government and reportedly fled to Turkey.

Lt Gen Abulaziz al-Shalal is one of the highest-ranking officials to join the uprising against the Syrian regime.

The army had failed to protect Syrians and turned into "gangs of

PAGE 33

Syria crisis: Military police chief al-Shalal defects murder", the general said in a video statement.

The announcement comes as rebels claim to have made further gains in parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the UN peace envoy for Syria has met opposition

figures in Damascus in a new bid to end the conflict.

After reportedly crossing the border into Turkey, the commander released a statement saying he had defected because the military had perpetrated

massacres in towns and villages instead of protecting Syrians.

"I declare my defection from the army because of its deviation from its fundamental mission to protect the nation and transformation into gangs of murder and

destruction," he said in a video message posted online.

Opposition sources said the commander had been secretly cooperating with the rebels from the outset, the BBC's Middle East correspondent Jim Muir reports.

Deadly blast targets US base in Afghanistan

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Lt Gen Abulaziz al-Shalal announced his defection in a video message.

t least four people have been killed and seven wounded after a car bomber attacked a US base in Khost city in eastern Afghanistan, officials say.

Sediq Sediqqi, the Afghan interior ministry spokesman, said on yesterday the attack was a suicide car bombing and happened near the entrance of Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost, a Taliban flashpoint that borders Pakistan.

Afghanistan's NATO-led force said the bomber did not get into the base nor breach its perimeter.

"Three Afghan nationals are killed and seven Afghan nationals are wounded. We have no report of coalition casualties right now," Major Martin O'Donnell, a spokesman for NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), said.

The blast was so powerful that it rattled the windows of buildings in the city, some four kilometres away, an AFP journalist said.

The attack comes two days after an Afghan policewoman killed a US police adviser at the Kabul police headquarters.

The Taliban, who have waged a bloody guerilla war against foreign and Afghan government forces for the past 11 years since being ousted from power in an invasion led by the US, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Some of the dead nationals brought to the morgue.

ndia's government has ordered an investigation into the gang rape of a 23-year-old student while on a bus in the capital, Delhi, earlier this month.

A retired judge will "identify the lapses" on the part of authorities and "fix responsibility" a minister said.

The student's condition has "improved marginally", doctors say, although she remains on life support.

It sparked angry protests in India. Six people, including the bus driver, have been held in connection with the rape.

Violence in clashes between protesters and the police in Delhi left one policeman dead and injured more than 100 people.

India orders inquiry into Delhi gang rape

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Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced on Wednesday that retired judge Usha Mehra would head a commission of inquiry into the incident on 16 December.

The probe would "identify the lapses, if any, on the part of the police, or another authority or person that contributed to the occurrence, and fix responsibility for the lapses or negligence", Mr Chidambaram said.

Two policemen have already been been suspended.

Doctors at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital say the woman remains on life support and in a critical condition despite a "marginal improvement" in her vital signs.

Japan's Shinzo Abe unveils cabinet

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Police block major routes in the city.

apan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has unveiled his cabinet as he begins the task of economic revitalisation.

The cabinet was named shortly after parliament voted for Mr Abe as PM, following his party's emphatic poll victory earlier this month.

The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner have a twothirds majority in the lower house.

Mr Abe, who was also PM in 2006-07, chose another former premier, Taro Aso, for the key role of finance minister.

Analysts say the cabinet includes a number of Mr Abe's close allies as he eyes the task of pulling Japan out of a prolonged economic slump.

The former Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari was named as minister for economic revival and veteran Toshimitsu Motegi was chosen for the post of trade minister.

Some reports say he will be tasked with energy policy in the aftermath of last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Mr Abe is seen as a hawkish, right-of-centre leader. His previous term in office ended ignominiously amid falling popularity and a resignation on grounds of ill health.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas Russia's upper house approves ban on US adoptions

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ussia's upper house of parliament has unanimously backed a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian children.

The bill also proposes to ban US-funded nongovernmental organisations that do any political work in Russia.

It will become law if President Vladimir Putin signs the bill. He has previously voiced support for it.

It is a response to the US Magnitsky Act, which blacklists Russian alleged human rights violators.

Sergei Magnitsky was an anti-corruption lawyer who died in a Russian jail in 2009.

Mr Putin has labelled that measure an "unfriendly act", saying Washington should instead address human rights violations in US prisons.

Under the act, the US will withhold visas and freeze financial assets of Russian officials thought to have been involved with human rights violations.

The Duma voted overwhelmingly in favour of the bill earlier this month.

All 143 senators present at the upper house on Wednesday voted in favour of it.

US state department spokesman Patrick Ventrell has previously said that Russian children would be harmed by the measure.

The rate of adoption in Russia is low. Some 3,400 Russian children were adopted by foreign families in 2011, nearly a third of them by Americans. The number of children adopted by Russian citizens was 7,416.

There have been high-profile reports in Russia about some adopted children who were mistreated by their new American parents.

A pro-adoption protester in Moscow.

Obama to cut holiday short over fiscal cliff U

S President Barack Obama is set to cut short his Christmas holiday in Hawaii in order to hold talks on the so-called fiscal cliff, a set of tax hikes and spending cuts set to take effect next year.

Obama is expected to arrive in the capital early on Thursday, according to authorities, raising the possibility of renewed negotiations on a budget deal that could avert austerity measures.

Congress was also expected to return to Washington on Thursday.

Despite weeks of negotiations, Obama's administration has been unable to strike a deal with congressional Republicans that would slash the budget deficit and prevent the fiscal cliff.

The fiscal cliff is the result of a poison pill agreement reached earlier this year that would require major spending reductions as tax cuts passed under former president George Bush expire at the end of the year - should Democrats and Republicans fail to reach a deal to cut the deficit.

The White House has offered a deal with $1.2 trillion in revenues by fulfilling an Obama campaign promise to allow the Bush tax cuts to expire for the wealthy -- and nearly $1t in spending cuts.

Republicans are opposed to raising taxes in principle and have questioned whether the spending cuts proposed by the White House are real.

They have instead offered a deal

Obama (left) with wife Michele(right) in Hawaii. that would raise $1t in tax revenue - mainly by closing loopholes and ending deductions - and another $1 trillion in spending cuts, including cuts to Medicare and other social programs.

Venting frustration with Republicans, Obama on Friday urged lawmakers to pass scaleddown legislation that would at least prevent taxes from going up on the vast majority of

Americans, those making $250,000 or less per year.

The move would satisfy Obama's demand to raise taxes on the richest US citizens, as all Bushera taxes will go up on January 1, and Obama only envisions extending the lower rates for middle class earners.

House Republicans led by Speaker John Boehner have meanwhile punted to the

Spanish police bust hashish-smuggling ring

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panish police have smashed a major drug-smuggling network, confiscating more than 11 tonnes of hashish and arresting 35 people.

Most of the hashish was stored in warehouses located in the central Spanish province of

Toledo.

The drugs came from Morocco and were destined for distribution throughout Europe, authorities said.

Officers also seized more than 100,000 euros (ÂŁ81,800) in cash, 14 cars and dozens of mobile

Police inspecting the seized drug.

phones.

"The dismantled organisation controlled the entire chain of trafficking, from production to packing, as well as transport to Spain, storage, and distribution throughout Europe, especially in France, Belgium and England.

Democratically-led Senate, asking Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to write up legislation that can pass both houses.

Obama's suggestion would extend tax breaks to 98 percent of Americans - those earning below $250,000 a year.

In talks on a larger compromise, the president had offered to raise that threshold to $400,000.

Ukraine helicopter crash in Kirovograd kills five

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Ukrainian helicopter belonging to the interior ministry has crashed in the centre of the country, killing all five people on board, officials say.

They say the Mi-8 helicopter hit the ground shortly after taking off from an airport in the city of Olexandriya in the Kirovograd region.

Three crew members and two engineers on board died.

Correspondents say that helicopter accidents are common in former Soviet countries.

They usually happen because of poor maintenance, costcutting and scant regard for safety regulations.

The interior ministry says the cause of the crash is being investigated.

Mi-8 helicopters are usually deployed by the ministry to transport internal troops, correspondents say.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

PAGE 35

Want a new road? Are you transgender?

The 7.5 mile stretch of the A537 linking Macclesfield and Buxton was identified as the most dangerous road of all

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ouncils consulting on the building of a relief road have asked residents whether their birth gender is different to their current gender in their latest bid to promote equality.

Taxpayers in Stockport, Cheshire East and Manchester City have been asked to fill in a "social inclusion" questionnaire detailing their gender, race, religion and sexual preferences.

One question asks: "Is your gender identity the same as the gender you were assigned with at birth?"

The survey, sent out as part of a consultation into the A6 to Manchester Airport relief road, is also understood to have been provided to people seeking blue badges for disabled parking.

Resident Richard Howarth, a 77-year-old retired

Belgian chocolatiers build vintage steam train made out of chocolate

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he 110-foot detailed sculpture of steampowered locomotive created by chocolatier Andrew Farrugia is made up of 2,755 pounds of chocolate and took 784 hours to complete.

The train, which is on show near the Eurostar train platform at Brussels' Gare du Midi, was created to promote the country's chocolate industry in the face of shrinking European market.

Belgium's three hundred chocolate companies produce some ÂŁ2 billion worth of chocolate every year.

Global trends suggest that demand for luxury chocolate is growing in emerging economies, but slowly

Chocolate train in test run.

shrinking in richer countries, with production slowly shifting to new markets where labour costs are low and the beans do not have to be shipped to Europe to be processed.

Since the recession, Belgian chocolatiers have been shielded from a dip in local demand by growing demand in eastern Europe and emerging markets Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The Belgian tourist minister Christos Doulkeridis said the industry was well able to withstand the growing international competition.

"We have the science and artisans to do it. We promote the chocolate of quality," he said.

international banker, said he was frustrated at his taxes being used to fund such initiatives.

"I can't quite see what difference being a sky-blue lesbian Hindu makes to where the bypass goes," he said.

"The questions came with this very fancy, glossy brochure about the proposed new road, asking me about my colour, my religion, my sex and

whether I was heterosexual, a gay man or a lesbian.

"When I asked the council about it, a typical officer told me Whitehall insisted on it."

Only three of the ten questions on the consultation paper relate to the road, asking for residents' "overall opinion", preferences on location and "other comments".

The other seven questions relate to personal details, including home postcodes, gender, age and disability.

One asks about "religion and beliefs", another requests a description of ethnicity and a final question details respondents' sexual orientation.

Mr Howarth added: "I sent it back with a message saying 'what a load of rubbish'."

Jim McMahon, project director for the road, said the Equality Act required local authorities to monitor the impact of policies on equality groups.

"The three Councils, Stockport, Cheshire East and Manchester City, involved with the A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road, have a duty towards equalities and social inclusion," he said.

"Therefore the questions were agreed to allow future analysis of all responses and demonstrate that the consultation reaches all areas of the community.

"The wording of these questions reflect similar questions used in the Census and also from national equalities guidance.

"These questions are purely optional and do not have to be answered to register a comment, question or view on the scheme."

Earlier this month, communities secretary Eric Pickles called for councils to end the collection of "intrusive" questionnaires about sexuality and religion in a bid to save money.

In a booklet entitled 50 Ways to Save, officials advised councils to stop asking residents "about their sexuality, religion and other personal details".

These were described as "simply not necessary" while local authorities were also told they did not need to spend time and money on "equality impact assessments".

Last year, residents wanting to join libraries in Islington, north London, were asked whether they had a "hidden impairment", such as cancer, HIV, or diabetes.

Brent council asked new readers whether they had mental health conditions "such as depression or schizophrenia", while those in Leicestershire were asked for information about their sexuality, religion and race.

Traffic wardens given tape measures to fine motorists 19 inches from the kerb

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raffic wardens have been issued with tape measures to fine motorists who park more than 19 inches from the kerb.

Drivers face a ÂŁ70 fine if they breach the diktat - which is enforced on all roads even where no other parking restrictions apply.

Officials claim the new rule targets 'thoughtless and reckless' drivers.

But motorists reacted with fury, accusing Gwynedd Council in North Wales of introducing 'another tax on drivers'.

Officer manager Francis Kileen, 52, from Pwllheli, said: 'It's bad enough motorists getting booked for most trivial of reasons.

'But the thought of wardens now going round with tape measures and rulers kneeling down in the street and measuring how far drivers are parked from the kerb simply beggars belief.

'Why can't the authority fund betters ways of raising money without annoying the taxpayer?'

Sales representative Caroline Anderson, 48, from Porthmadog, said: 'The new rule is a disgrace.

'Motorists get a terrible time these days with rising petrol prices, insurance costs and upkeep and now they are being targeted again.

'All this means is we have to get our own tape measures and make sure we parked close enough to the kerb.

'It's all very time consuming and very petty.

'Why can't drivers be given a break for a change?'

The AA said that while parking too far from the kerb could in some cases be obstructive and dangerous, common sense must be applied when it came to issuing fines.

A spokesman said: 'This is one of those rules that can anger motorists but seem perfectly reasonable to local authorities.

'What people will be worried about is that it is just another tick box for traffic wardens to hand out tickets.'

The motoring group urged the council to initially issue drivers with a warning before 'slapping them with a ticket'. The council

said the fine would also be applied to those parking in front of 'dropped kerbs'.

Wardens will be able to issue on-the-spot fines to all offending drivers, including disabled motorists who hold blue badges.

Fines will be cut to ÂŁ35 if paid within 14 days.

A Gwynedd Council spokesman said the new rules were introduced after officials received complaints about people parking too far from the kerb. He added: 'Parking in this way can restrict visibility for pedestrians wanting to cross the road and so making our roads dangerous for those on foot.

Careful parking: Traffic wardens will target 'reckless' drivers measuring how far from the kerb they have parked their cars

PAGE 36

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sing Facebook makes you fat - but not for the reason you might think.

Researchers found those who socialised regularly with their friends on the networking website had higher levels of self-esteem but lower levels of self-control.

This meant they were more likely to snack on unhealthy food once they had logged off particularly if they had been chatting with close friends.

The team from Columbia University and the University of Pittsburgh suggested it was this factor that could be driving weight gain rather than by encouraging users to be sedentary.

Writing in the Journal of Consumer Research, they explained: ‘Using online social networks can have a positive effect on self-esteem and wellbeing. However, these increased

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

Using Facebook makes us more likely to eat unhealthy snacks feelings of self-worth can have a detrimental effect on behaviour.

‘Because consumers care about the image they present to close friends, social network use enhances self-esteem in users who are focused on close friends while browsing their social network. This momentary increase in self-esteem leads them to display less self-control after browsing a social network.’

The scientists used five experiments on the behaviour of Facebook users to see how it affected them when they were offline.

Most at risk: Teenagers and young adults are the heaviest users of social networks and have grown up using them.

The studies suggested there was a link between the use of the website and poor self-control over what they ate and how much money they spent.

They found people who used Facebook to contact their friends were more likely to binge eat and be overweight. They also had higher levels of credit card debt.

The same was not true of people who focused on ‘weak ties’ - people they were less familiar

with.

The findings have farreaching implications as Facebook now has over one billion active users, which is one in seven of the world’s population.

‘These results are concerning given the increased time people spend using social networks, as well as the worldwide proliferation of access to social networks anywhere anytime via smartphones and other gadgets,’

the authors said.

‘Given that self-control is important for maintaining social order and personal well-being, this subtle effect could have widespread impact.

‘This is particularly true for adolescents and young adults who are the heaviest users of social networks and have grown up using social networks as a normal part of their daily lives.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Contacting your friends on Facebook can cause a dip in self-control

Obesity could be caused by gut bacteria rather than over-eating

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besity may be caused by a certain kind of bacteria rather than eating too much or exercising too little, researchers claim.

The breakthrough study suggests diets that alter the presence of microbes in the stomach could combat the

condition.

Researchers in Shanghai studied mice who had been bred to be resistant to obesity. These mice remained slim despite being fed a rich diet and being kept from exercising. However, when some of these mice were injected with the human b a c t e r i u m enterobacter, they quickly became obese.

Enterobacter was first linked with obesity after being found in high quantities in the gut of a morbidly obese human volunteer, said the report from Shanghai’s Jiaotong University.

The mice were injected with the bacterium for up to 10 weeks as part of the experiment.

The experiments show that the bacterium ‘may c a u s a t i v e l y contribute to the development of obesity’ in humans, according to the paper published in the International Society Worried about your weight? Chinese for Microbial Ecology. researchers claim a diet that reduces The researchers enterobacter bacterium could help

added that a patient lost 4stone 7lbs in nine weeks after being placed on a diet of ‘whole grains, traditional Chinese medicinal foods and prebiotics’, and said this was because it had reduced the bacterium’s presence in the patient’s gut to ‘undetectable’ levels.

One of the report’s authors, Zhao Liping, lost 3 stone 1lb two years after adopting a diet of

fermented probiotic foods such as bitter melon to adjust the balance of bacteria in his gut, the American magazine Science reported earlier this year.

Zhao’s work on the role of bacteria in obesity is inspired by traditional Chinese beliefs that the gut is the ‘foundation for human health’, Science reported.

The scientists wrote in their latest paper that they ‘hope to

identify more such obesityinducing bacteria from various human populations’ in future research.

Obesity worldwide has more than doubled since 1980, according to the World Health Organisation, with more than 500 million adults worldwide suffering from the condition according to 2008 statistics.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

American researchers found people who reported feeling stressed were 27 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

PAGE 37

INEC has power to register or deregister political parties- Rep. INTERVIEW

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igerian parliament is seen by many Nigerians as weak, why is this so?

I think you are right to say the parliament is weak; but right now, it is waking up. It has been weak in the past, but it is now waking up to its responsibilities. I will take you back to the military era, you could draw the weakness of the parliament through the military era that we had. Whenever you have a coup, the first arm of government to go completely is the parliament and when the parliament goes, there is never any plan to bring it back within that period that the military rule was going to last. But then you will have the executive and the judiciary, the two arm of government always remains. The executive will always be there to implement laws by decrees and the judiciary will remain there to take some of the cases but the legislature will never be there. From there you could see that while we have juntas calling the shots in our nations, we find it difficult to get a place for our parliament and as such, the parliament became completely bastardized. You can as well say that our democracy in Nigeria is as good as being 12-13years old. These laws that are being made take a process to learn and we have been at it for 13years.

But would you say that the judiciary and executive as just 13years old? This is why we need to give more time to the parliament; but how long? I can't tell you, all I can say is that, I have seen things move more quickly than what we had in the 6th Assembly. In the 8th Assembly, I might not be there, but they could get better than the 7th Assembly and that is process.

Because of the military mentality of the executive, there is still a left over, even though we have civilians in the executive, there is this military mentality, I call it a transfer of militocracy to democracy even though they are civilians.

Why is the parliament afraid to use the enormous powers the constitution has vested on it on the executive?

Yes, the parliament has enormous powers, but it is to be used with caution. Sometimes you have the powers, but the way and manner you apply those is another issue. There are many ways that the parliament can weld its powers, but whom are we using these powers against? Does this person actually know that you have such powers and that is where the engagement comes in? We must not use the powers just because we have it. We must find a way to first put these

Hon Daniel Reyeneju, a member of Representatives, representing Warri north/warri south/warri west federal constituency of Delta state, is the chairman House committee on inter-parliamentary committee.

In this interview with Umar Muhammad Puma, the lawmaker submits that the INEC has the constitutional power to deresgister political parties in the country even as he attempts to explain the onshore/offshore dichotomy and the desirability of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Excerpts: issue of discussion is the most important thing and this should be done by mere interaction. So, I do not know who should move to whom like it is being said in the Bible, the people should move to the mountains.

Hon Daniel Reyeneju issues on the table and it may take time for the executive to understand.

That is why I said we don't need cordiality; cordiality beyond the shoulder level is no longer cordiality in parliamentary/executive relationship. There has to be a clear line of demarcation. It is not an issue of outright confrontation or ways of wanting to do battle. It is a way of drawing the line that has been drawn by the constitution. It is still going to take some time for ordinary Nigerians to understand that we are using these powers.

What will it take to make the executive start respecting parliament in Nigeria?

Do we actually need respect? The law didn't say we should be respected, the law says respect the constitution, don't respect me. That is why we have issue of weaker institution and stronger personality. Look at Obama, when he was first sworn in, the first Africa country he visited was Ghana, and it shows that every country that wants respect must first develop its institutions over and above individuals. So it is not a question of getting stronger individuals, but respecting the laws of the land. I don't want to know who the minister of transport is, all I want to know is that the transport system

is working. I do not want to know the minister of agriculture, all I want to know is that there is abundant food for everybody. It is not about me, my being here is transient, I will leave here one day, but will Nigerians leave Nigerians?

Could this be the reason why the House backed down some time ago after they invited the President to come and explain some things?

Whether the word used is summon, invite, cajoling or whatever, the bottom line is parliament wants him to come and make some explanations. But I think that the important issues we should be looking at is what is affecting Nigerians as a people. Issues like Boko Haram that is becoming unbearable and it has come to the stage of ridiculous, we need to sit down and talk about. What is wrong in doing that? Is that why somebody should see it as insulting to the office of the President. We invited him for a national issue of importance to the country that he superintends over.

So if he cannot discuss it with parliament, who can he discuss it with? Does it matter where it is to be discussed? To me it is for the parliament to move to the Presidency, it doesn't matter, the

What impact do you think deregistration of some parties by INEC will have on Nigerian democracy?

Honestly, deregistration might not have any impact on parliament because none of those parties that were deregistered has any member in the parliament and I doubt if they even have a councilor. So it will not have any effect. But it is just a play out of our laws and what I will call political 'awareness' in Nigeria. The Act as amended in 2010 empowers INEC to do w hat it did. But if it goes in conflict with some aspect of the constitutions which gives power of association and things like this, that is a different issue entirely. Don't forget that INEC has the power to register and the same power to deregister parties. I want to believe that the INEC must have done the right thing. You will not understand what politicians go through during elections. Somebody that doesn't want to contest elections will just go and get a form in any party and when you invite them to come and get a form, bring their party logos to be included in the ballot paper, they never show up and when their logo is not included in the ballot paper after the elections, they go to court and the electoral act states that 'once a party is omitted, you the elected stands to lose'. There are a lot of gimmicks to it. INEC should build its capacity to cope with the lots of challenges and I think to deregister them, it is excising its powers.

Now that the Electoral Act do not allow for independent candidacy, what option is left for the parties?

They can join other parties.

What lessons should Nigerians learn from n Ghana general elections?

We learn some lessons from the last one and also more lessons from this one. The question is 'have we been able to put those lessons into practice.

There were good lessons we learned from their last elections and after then we conducted elections in this country, have we been able to put into use those lessons we lean in the past into the practice. So I think the

country has learned a lot of lessons, but the problem with this country is that, we lean and forget almost immediately. The question should be: how are we going to put those lessons leant from Ghana into proper use? Must we wait until 2015 to put this lesson into practice, some seats might be vacant before then; are we ready to implement this lesson now?

There have been renewed clamor for INEC to become completely autonomous, and that the leadership selection be done by other bodies apart from the executive, what is your take on this?

To some extent, they are autonomous; on the leadership issue, I totally agree, and that is why I talked about building institution that will be stronger than personality. We have to overcome this issue of going to see individuals above the institutions they head.

People who hold sway in most institution are always stronger than the institution. I completely do not see anything wrong in the president appointing INEC chairman. Yes he appointed Jega, but can we say that Jega is playing to the gallery? The president has said it severally that he doesn't interfere and he doesn't want to interfere.

Recently, PIB bill just passed second reading on the floor of the House, and the issue of host community getting a certain percentage has been raising lots of mixed reactions. What is your take on this?

Unfortunately I am from the south/south, but I am a Nigerian and a lawmaker who makes law for the entire country not just south/south. As a member of the committee, I wouldn't want to preempt what the outcome will be, but I will say that we should not look at the law on sectional basis but on national basis because the law will affect for the whole country.

We are a blessed country and solid mineral abounds everywhere.

Unfortunately they are not being tapped. There are some mineral here that could generate more money than oil; but nobody is talking about it. And then when people talk about resources control the other time, the issue of resources would have made it possible for Contd on Page 38

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

INEC may allow independent candidacy in 2015, says Rep A

By Lawrence Olaoye

member of the House of Representatives, Fort Ifeanyi Dike, has disclosed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may allow for independent candidature in the 2015 general elections.

The lawmaker who is also the Chairman House committee on Inter and Intra party relationship said in spite of the challenges that may be associated with the proposal,

parties more often than not complicate matters for politicians by their unwillingness to adhere strictly to the principle of internal democracy in picking their candidates for elections.

He said "The major challenge we can point out is lack internal democracy in political parties; the constitution has shut the door on individual's ambition on the platform of independent candidate, so the political party remains the only gate way for any Nigerian to realize his or her

political ambition. There are problems associated with the independent candidates system too, because, you may have an unlimited number of candidates wanting to contest and you'll begin to manage them, but with the problem we now see in the operation of political parties against independent candidates in a country like Nigeria, it is not advisable not to give independent candidacy a chance," he said.

When asked if the Constitution and the Electoral

Act would be amended to accommodate independent candidacy, he said, "Now that we are identifying the problems, my committee has made recommendations trying to solve these problems, one of which is allowing independent candidate. Lack of internal democracy is serious, these parties in general elections, they expect INEC as the electoral body to be free and fair in election, when they don't practice same to their members, this is rather unfortunate."

Senate wants PDP to hasten reforms before 2015 elections

T

he PDP needs to be repositioned for the party to retain its mass appeal in the 2015 general elections and beyond, the Senate leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, said on Monday.

He gave the suggestion while addressing the party's chieftains in Calabar.

According to him, keeping abreast with the times as well as identifying with the yearnings of the people will endear the party to the electorate. ``PDP must keep reinventing and reforming its structure and plan of action in line with the yearnings of the electorate. ``We must therefore get ourselves properly attuned to the times to remain constantly the preferred party in the country. ``If we do not reinvent ourselves in this country, other people are getting set and studying our possible shortcomings. ``We must guard against this as we strategise for 2015. We must be careful, too, so that we do not get fatigued. ``But I must advise that the days of 'carry go' and days of imposition of unpopular candidates are gone. We can only persuade the electorate," he added.

The senate leader also advised the party's executive to continue to work for unity and discipline among the party faithful. (NAN)

Ambassador Williams Yaji (middle), after receiving Award of Excellent from Arewa Journalist Forum, recently in Keffi , Nassarawa State. With him are, Ubandoma Godogodo/member of Arewa Journalist Forum, Chief Sani Ibrahim (left), and Ambassador's wife, Mrs. Franka Yaji (right). Photo: Mahmud Isa

Northern Govs Forum condemns Christmas day attack

T

he Northern States Governors' Forum has condemned the spate of attacks rocking the nation just as it urged security agencies to restore normalcy in the region.

Gov. Babangida Aliyu, Chairman of the forum on Wednesday made the remark, while reacting to the latest attack on the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Piri, Potiskum Local

Government of Yobe on Christmas day. ``The forum is deeply pained by the fact that the perpetrators chose a holy day (Christmas) to carry out such a dastardly act which left scores of worshippers dead and many others injured," he said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo.

He urged the security agencies not to be discouraged by the

activities of terrorists.

He said that the nation would forever remain grateful to the security agencies for the successes recorded so far in the war against terror.

Aliyu, who is Niger State Governor, reiterated the forum's commitment to continue to work closely with the Federal Government in finding a lasting solution to the security challenges confronting the nation. (NAN)

Boko Haram: Rep backs deployment of US troops

By Lawrence Olaoye

A

midst insecurity that pervades nooks and crannies of the nation, a member of House of Representatives has thrown his weight behind moves by federal government to receive assistance of the United States by bringing in her troops.

The lawmaker who lamented how his constituency has become one of the worst hit by terrorists in the recent times said the move is long overdue in view of the spate of bombings and other terror acts which have claimed several lives.

Hon Bitrus Kaze representing Jos South/ East federal constituency of Plateau State also allayed widespread fears that such an invitation of the American Soldiers may turn Nigeria into a battle ground of sort like Afghanistan if not well handled.

He also welcomed the initiative on the ground that experiences of US, UK and Isreal in combating terror in the homelands are worthy of being shared by all Nigerian security forces.

According to him "We may not like the US but we cannot march their experiences in combating terrorism" "While they have many scars of terrorism, at least they equally have tangible results to show for it" "I have always advocated that the Isreal, US and UK among others have experienced and tackled more terrorists attacks far much more than we have, surely they have an experience from which we can draw useful lessons. To me, it i s a welcomed

INEC has power to register or deregister political parties- Rep. Contd on Page 37 somebody in Benue to go into his cocoon to find out those things that they can generate funds for them.

The South/south doesn't grow crops; the fishes are no longer there anymore, but what about the yam, plantain, tomatoes, onions, fruits and others, where do they come from? It could be central because they have the food or some other parts that have gold.

These are all sellable items. So the law we try to make should be seen as a pro-Nigerian law; it is not a pro south law. It is a

law that is to better Nigerians.

In my constituency, I have northern, southerners living there. So one way or the other, they will benefit from the law.

Just recently oil was found in Anambra and Kogi boundary and right now, they are at war, who owns the oil and when the president visited, he made a declarative remark, Anambra is now an oil producing state and it benefits from the 13% derivation automatically irrespective of the disagreement between the two states. It could have been in

Sokoto, Niger or other states. So the bill tends to cover any community that has the resources. It is not just about the sSouth/south, it could also be the North/east or South/west. I grew up in the village and I know what I use to enjoy then, and this things are no longer there. That is barely 40years ago and then what is going to happen in the next 50years? Nobody knows; and I pray it does not degenerate further than this. I built a house which I roof not more than a year ago and today, the roof has become all black. The hydro carbon falls on us, the question should be: have we really

got the benefit of the resources? So, it has not dropped for one day and we have been selling progressively.

We have been having excess that is why we have the excess crude funds.

Would you support a revisit of the onshore/of shore dichotomy law as it is being agitated by northern leaders?

I want to believe that the north has a right to agitate for the laws to be revisited. Don't forget that the South/south also agitated for 50% derivation funds. But the point I will want to appeal to our leaders is

that, we should not take it to extreme where it generates into acrimony. Let's bring the argument into the table, we can discuss it and superior argument will carry the day. These are all that will form part of the PIB bill.

For example, I sit here and at my back is the balcony and you say that, I can't access the balcony and don't forget that you cannot access the balcony except through the house and who owns the house?

The issue should be: should we readjust our revenue formula? Let us forget the issue of onshore/of shore dichotomy.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

PAGE 39

PDP chieftain tasks aspirants on support to party From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi State, Aliyu Shehu Tilde, has called on those aspiring to fly the flag of the PDP in 2015 elections, not to overheat the polity until they extend support to the ideals of genuine democracy and service delivery before they can in

turn be supported by the party to realize their individual ambitions.

Speaking to our correspondent in Bauchi, Tilde said, "Some of those aspiring to be governors on PDP platform are not even members of the party while some are part of the problem the party is trying to overcome before the next general elections.

PDP as the ruling party in the

state cannot boast of a single vehicle in its secretariat or even a motorcycle today and yet over ambitious and greedy politicians are beating the drums of support from a party they fail to support over the years. Some of the aspirants are mere jokers in need of recognition for other appointments with some trying to use the respect and influence of

governor Yuguda to realize their ambition against the interest of the majority", he said Tilde said in 2015, PDP shall hold a proper screening exercise of its aspirants before supporting their ambition because majority of them have never for once extended any support to the existence of the party but only after what the party can do for

them, "After elections, majority of those that scaled the hurdle disappear only to return to the scene for re-election and deceive people with peanuts while some of them believe that poverty alleviation is distribution of motorcycles, sewing and water pumping machines rather than creating job opportunities for the jobless youth".

CPC pledges support to Yero

T

he Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Kaduna State, on Thursday pledged to support Gov. Mukhtar Yero in the restoration of peace and unity in the state.

A delegation of the party, comprising the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Sen. Sani Saleh, its state Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Yaro and other members gave the pledge while on condolence visit to the governor in Kaduna.

Saleh said the visit was to commiserate with the family and people in the state over the ``sudden and shocking'' demise of the late governor. ``As you assume office as the executive governor, we want to assure you that the CPC in Kaduna will give you the full cooperation to govern the state to the glory of God and benefit of the ordinary citizens in Kaduna.''

Saleh said the quest for peaceful coexistence was not just the responsibility of the government alone but that of every person in the state. ``We assure you that we will join you to work for peaceful coexistence in Kaduna, because it is the only way we can guarantee development and prosperity for the state and the people."

Responding, Yero welcomed the party's support, assuring that the government would continue to partner with all stakeholders to ensure development and unity among the people. " Very soon we will extend our hands to you and we hope that you will answer our call so that we can sit down to discuss areas where we can tap your experiences, ideas and fashion ways to move the state

forward.''

Meanwhile, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Sam Kujiyat has advised the governor to disregard criticisms intended to cause discord in the state.

"Disregard what ever is been said as some people would not want to see us live peacefully. We will shun the seed of discord any time we see one being planted."

Kujiyat, who paid a courtesy call on the governor, disclosed that the Catholic Bishop of Zaria, Bishop George Dodo would succeed him when his tenure ends.

On his part, Yero urged religious leaders to continue to pray for peace and unity in the state.

The governor assured CAN of the administration's readiness to work with it to foster unity among various groups in the state.

He pledged to be just, fair and equitable to all, adding that he would welcome constructive criticisms.

L-R: Niger state Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Imo state Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, Plateau state Governor, Mr Jonah David Jang, and Adamawa state Governor, Admiral Muritala Nyako, during the Nigeria Governors' Forum meeting, recently at Rivers Lodge, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Constitution: Mark insists on creation of new states

By Richard Ihediwa

S

enate President David Mark has vilified those campaigning against the creation of more states in the country saying their arguments does not hold water.

Mark who spoke yesterday when leaders from Ebonyi Central Senatorial District led by Senator Paulinus Igwe paid him a Christmas visit in Otukpo, Benue state reiterated his support for the creation of new states and dismissed arguments that new states should not

be created because existing ones are not viable.

According to him: "The argument of those oppose to state creation is based on whether existing states are viable or not. But they forget that a state might be unviable just because the administrator is ingenious with internal revenue generation or the people are not united and the administrator has to spend the available resources on achieving peace.

I am for the creation of Apa state and any other state that may fit the conditions.

"I have never shied from my agitation for creation of additional states just as I have always called for the creation of roles for traditional rulers in the constitution. The traditional rulers are the custodians of peaceful coexistence in our various local communities. We must therefore confer on them constitutional powers that would enable them to perform the roles of ensuring peace in the communities", Mark stated.

The Senate President called on the people of Ebonyi Central to use the occasion of the celebration of

Christmas to forgive one another and live in harmony according to the message inherent in the birth of Jesus Christ.

He lamented that the people of Ebonyi Central have not had the best of peace in recent time and urged them use the central message to genuinely forgive one another.

"In this new year, we must make a resolution for peace to reign in Ebonyi Central. I am willing to work to achieve this peace. If all leaders would make themselves available to work for peace in the little community, we will soon

Election nullification: Pwajok heads for Appeal Court

S

en. Gyang Pwajok (PDPPlateau North), has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, against the Dec. 20, nullification of his election by an Abuja Federal High Court.

The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, while delivering judgment in a matter filed by the Congress for Progress Change (CPC) against INEC and PDP, had nullified the Oct. 6 by-elections and asked Pwajok to ``stop parading'' himself as senator.

The CPC had approached the court to determine whether the first respondent, INEC, had the power to reject the names of its candidate for the by-election.

The CPC further asked the court to determine whether INEC had the power, under section 87 of the Electoral Act, to refuse to include

the names of its candidates in the ballot papers of the elections.

Ademola in his judgment, said that only the court was constitutionally empowered to disqualify persons from contesting elective positions and therefore, annulled the election.

The court directed INEC to, within 90 days, resolve the problems and include the names of the CPC candidate before conducting a fresh by-election.

But Pwajok, in a notice of appeal filed by his counsel, Gabriel Odey, declared that the judge erred in law when he refused to consider some fundamental issues raised by INEC and the PDP in their preliminary objection to the matter.

The senator averred that after applying to be joined in the matter since he was directly affected by the issues, the court gave him the nod,

but judgment was delivered soon after, without allowing his counsel to present his case. ``While delivering the judgment, the learned trial judge did not consider all the issues therein before dismissing same. ``A court of law is bound to consider all issues validly raised in the appellants' notice of preliminary objection; any breach of that will deny fair hearing and miscarriage of justice,'' Pwajok stated.

Pwajok further declared that the judge erred in setting aside the by-election where he was returned as winner since the plaintiff, the CPC, had no valid proof of any valid primary election where it arrived at any candidate.

The senator also expressed surprise that the judge went ahead to nullify the election after

declaring that he had no power to do so and also admitting that only the elections tribunal had such powers. ``Having held that it had no power to nullify the said election, the learned trial judge could not have made the consequential orders asking Sen. Pwajok to `vacate office with immediate effect' and ordering INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days. ``It is settled that the court cannot hide under its inherent powers to make consequential orders which it ordinarily lacks jurisdiction to make. ``The power to nullify an election and order a fresh one resides solely in election tribunals by virtue of section 285 of the 1999 Constitution,'' Pwajok stated.

He accused the judge of being a ``Father Christmas'' in nullifying

the election since the CPC did not seek such relief.

The senator urged the court to set aside the judgment and also dismiss the plaintiff's original suit and all reliefs sought as they all lacked merit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

NAN recalls that the byelection into the vacant seat of the Plateau North Senatorial District followed the death on July 8, of the former occupant, Sen. Gyang Dantong.

Dantong died along with the Plateau State House of Assembly Majority Leader, Mr Gyang Fulani, in a stampede when gunmen attacked mourners at a burial in Maseh, in the Bachit District of Riyom Local Government Area in Plateau. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

PAGE 41

NFF inaugurates NPL management committee

T

he President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Aminu Maigari on yesterday in Abuja inaugurated the 2012/2013 nigeria Premier League (NPL) management committee.

He charging the committee to strive to quickly and conclusively resolve all lingering issues in the premier

league before the commencement of the 2012/ 2013 League season.

Maigari said: “For avoidance of doubt, this is a national assignment of no mean significance.

“The management of the top tier of the domestic league of any country has serious consequences for that nation’s football. None of

the National Teams can be said to have been composed without players from the domestic League, and even those who play overseas start from the home front,” commending the members for accepting to serve the nation.

“Certainly, each member of the 2012/2013 p r e m i e r

league management committee has been carefully chosen, based on quality of experience, broadmindedness, capacity, proven ability,

painstaking virtues, love of the game and diligence and dedication.

“Importantly, let me add that whatever issues have to sorted out must be done in line with rules and regulations, equity and good conscience. The nation is bigger than any single individual or corporate body, and it is the interest of the y Oke e nation that we aretalking about , r v age egati n here. a e n m th In his response, Chairman of e r s ’ e f e a r s aign in to g n p ue Ra id h m d the Committee, Hon. Nduka a c u e n u g r d i s a s side’s Leagu he Super Eagles lift the shores of the country Irabor said it was an honour to r i o s e h i n m o o m E yesterday for Faro, Portugal for the final phase of be called to serve the nation, and mpi Pre d act t imp an Cha d. i a chedule e preparations for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in r e pledged that the members would g c l i e i s b y r i N f a n s South Africa.

3 A ue del 0 1 3 bee no fea are do their utmost best to redress 1 s 0 a 2 ith ide The contingent lift the country through the Nnamdi leag 1 2 / 2 on h the e 2 0 L) seas nuary w l City s in the all issues hindering the Azikiwe International airport, Abuja by 5pm yesterday for h a n a T of development of the premier J NP ig Co ue ( ence in ile the campa eekend st league.

Accra, Ghana from where they would proceed to the Iberian g a e n w L wh heir agai the omm nation. Nine players from the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) to c in view start t gue on home cipe. n t o e and Fegor Ogude who plays for the Norwegian club Valeranga dat cted t ns Lea d 17 a e & Pri e m e n t THE o c e are the only footballers in the contingent that lift with the team. exp Champi , 16 an ao Tom m m e n s wards 5 o i S 1 d c f “We had our last training session yesterday morning before of d h ahea COMMITTEES Ca uary non ipe rive r s we leave for the airport. We ask Nigerians for their prayers,” Feb o Princ a i d t h e has dep matche Nduka Irabor s spokesman of the Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya said.

SC D o r d i s season quality . e ha r Chairman, t Sabo a m e d e E g of e gu The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through executive ou vice e lea rtunity challen e leagu es for n g Babayaro h t f committee member, Chris Green also revealed that ”logistics have o po r i c a n f th gramm i s g i v i t Chairman, p Mallam o o y f c fe been put in place to ensure that all goes smoothly in Portugal. the eir A rtaint r pro n d i t Salisu Abubakar, Mrs e h ll af u of t he unc s fix o m e n t a r it wi aign.

“We have ensured that logistics have been put in place to ensure Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, u a T t p n e “ u d f g i m e p that all goes smoothly in Portugal. There will be no excuse not to give help t a l a s s rn. We ague ca e s t t o ’re Mr. Mike Enahoro, t o e n e n b e the boys the best of preparations. The first assignment upon arrival will .W ur onc sL tine c o n ts of c mpion r y i n g o enough e t i t i v e Mr. Kunle Elebute, be the friendly game against the Catalonia selected side and we will see o a p t t l Shehu h o us Caf C w e ’ r e it’s n om r e s s Mr. how that goes,” Green said. g c as d t r D i k k o , A mb. h n u i u g b y o r ou la erve Eagles open their 2013 AFCON account against Burkina Faso at the “ T h togethe b e p uty. f t h e Nwankwo Kanu, s d l o a o t Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, on January 21 against Burkina Faso. t to gs thin o s e d e e k l y ontinen t s t a g e i s t h e Barrister Ifeanyi p s w c e p s e Dike, Barriter e e h u g s s h u lo che toug llen or t e y i m a t arsal f e , t h e e c h a o s e , y o where S l s u rehe f c o u r L e a g e y o u r stage t o t h e Akinwunmi, “O i o n s w h e r e late Abubakar rop th mp y o d f Nuhu C h a i m i n a r unlike a n c e t Dan rs o e g l a an p r e pletely t h e c h . ogo coach Didier Six has country’s football association. ame Buran, Mr. m s e h com s t a n d on Cup ether t gs fromstart of Mike Idoko named 22 players to face Also excluded from the squad are Agassa in h ti u h a w o t r he nge y e g w Oman in a friendly on 29 Kossi and Lorient’s Jacques Romao Alaixys. fed ’t kno seein icken t challe e r M e m b e r s n o C rm re December without Emmanuel Notable inclusions are Dossevi Thomas, us qu on while Mr. “I d tball a as to o help t h e f o o Adebayor. who played against Morocco on November o t o d s f i r a r e e a T u n j i our p e c t i v n o r d l e , ” s Adebayor resigned from the 14, Serge Gakpé, Amewou Komlan, e Ye e’s Babalola t i h s i t r t e e f u d p national team last month after Segbafia Prince Nibombe Dare and others. i c a n id. serve as ch o leag is si the t h e A f r ach sa an Coa nt of h expressing concerns about the Togo have been handed a tough Group at a c o , Secretary. i r c s r o f u or a n f for er A ly ig organisation and the Nations Cup against Ivory Coast, Tunisia imb Eny e form mplete o r r y the Sao w f unprofessionalism of his and Algeria. h o o c t T u s abo ause he i e e r c ything said foes. h t hom o n n u r ssible o ACL hat’s a nows a de.

“T ody k ipe si v i n g i n ls as po e r e ob nc oa a m lie s a n e & Pri u s t b e many g i x t u r e f j s m The committee implored NPL To rse re a ’re “ W e h to sco h e r e v e club to register their players as well t t g . n stre o m a k e he said ormer Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Christian as undergoes comprehensive pret ,” s a Chukwu has expressed deep shock at the sudden season medical assessment. ality m r o f death of former Green Eagles’ captain, Victor He also revealed that the committee will organize medical Oduah.

Oduah who was at one time captain of Insurance of seminar with the aim of educating medical personnel of various clubs Benin died on Tuesday evening in Benin City.

Chukwu said he never heard the late Oduah was sick not to talk of on basic sports medicine including being dead. managing football emergencies.

“It’s a terrible shock to me because I never knew he was at any The committee commended the medical crew for doing a time sick. I got the shocking news early this morning (yesterday) professional job with respect to from a colleague in Port Harcourt. I’m really short of words, its a big fitness assessment, injury blow to the football family,”said the former Eagle defence said.

Chukwu described the former Nigerian defender as a perfect prevention and management. gentleman off and on the pitch.

“I played with him briefly in 1973 at the point he was leaving the national team after the team won gold at that year’s All Africa Games in Lagos.

“He’s an evangelist, gentleman, peaceful, unassuming and an amiable captain. May his soul rest in peace,” he submitted.

Chukwu would want the nation to honour one of their best past hero. “Nigeria should and honour him, he captained and won laurel for the nation as well as Insurance of Benin.

“The federation should sit down and see how to honour their past Aminu Maigari hero,” he said.

Victor Oduah

s r a e f i d sh r a o l k Em bac Faro ready for Super Eagles ACL Stories by Albert Akota

Stephen Keshi

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E

Togo drops Adebayor for Oman friendly

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Emmanuel Adebayor

NFF medical committee advocates field assessment for national coaches

T

he Chairman of the Medical Committee of the Nigetria Football Federation (NFF) Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu has adcvocated field physiological fitness assessment on national coaches.

The chairman made this subjestion yesterday in Abuja during reviewed of the committee by the NFF for the outgoing year and plan for the year 2013.

The committee however reviewed the medical preparation for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the submission of the national team’s medical crew.

According to Muazu, the committee has resolved to strengthen the existing medical guidelines for the Nigeria Premier League (MPL) to ensure that players have access to comprehensive medical care including emergency medical care.

Chukwu, Nigeria mourn Oduah

F

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

Eko 2012 has boosted Judo awareness, says director

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he Technical Director of the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF), Olakintan DeSouza has said that the just concluded 18 th National Sports Festival has brought the sport to limelight.

He said in Lagos that spectators at the judo event of the festal were thrilled like never before by the quality of performance.

“We are only used to fighting with one style format, but the ``EKO 2012’’ sports fiesta saw the introduction of another format which kept the

No NFF plan to sanction Odemwingie

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has made it clear that there is no plan yet to sanction West Bromwich Albion forward, Peter Osaze Odemwingie.

Odemwingie, 31, this week attacked the Nigerian head coach, Stephen Keshi, the football federation, the Super Eagles’ captain and ex-internationals after he was left out of the Africa Cup of Nations provisional squad.

Reports this week in the local media revealed that the 31-year-old forward could be slammed with a life ban by the Nigerian FA for his rant on social media networking site, Twitter.

But an executive committee member of the football federation, Chris Green said yesterday that there are no such plans.

“Why would we ban a player in the twilight of his career? Yes he has insulted virtually everyone - the federation, the national team head coach and even exinternationals but we have no plans to ban or suspend just yet.

“Remember there are the Nations Cup and the World Cup to play for.

Also, like the popular parlance says ‘you don’t throw away the baby with the bath water,’ the federation will only look into the matter carefully before making any statement. Right now, the Nations Cup is uppermost in our agenda and we don’t want any distraction.

Peter Osaze Odemwingie “But I want to state it categorically that Nigeria is bigger than any player or anybody to hold to ransom. “ Osaze is not the only player dropped from the team. Obafemi Martins, Kalu Uche, Obinna Nsofor and other players were left out and they didn’t say anything untoward but accepted it. He is supposed to be a role model. Imagine if this man is part of the team’s camp he would have disrupted the peace there. Yet the same man wanted the captain’s armband when there’s already an existing captain and even a deputy,” said Green.

The NFF chief also made it clear that the Albion man still needs Nigeria.

“It was on the back of Nigeria that he rode to success and I will say it that he still needs Nigeria. But let’s allow him the benefit to continue with his rant for now,” he said.

spectators spellbound.

“We were amazed with the large turnout of spectators that came to the venue to watch judo; it only shows that judo is quite different from all other types of martial arts,’’ he said.

DeSouza said that the fighting format adopted would certainly increase the scope of the sport, adding, however, that the sport still needed to be improved upon.

“The sport still needs lots of improvement, and will most likely expand in the future.

“We had seen a lot of good performances before EKO 2012 and at the festival. I am happy that judo is developing rapidly into a spectators’ delight.

“I see a bright future for the sport, most especially the players who featured in the festival. I believe we can do more.

“The performances that were put up were not only

by Lagos state judokas, but by those from other states and this shows that the sport is gradually becoming popular,’’ he said.

Odemwingie slams Ikpeba W est Bromwich Albon striker, Peter Odemwingie has again taken to the social networking site, Twitter to vent his frustrations following his omission from Eagles provisional 32-man list for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Odemwingie launched an astonishing tirade on the networking site where he attacked head coach, Stephen Keshi, officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), former African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba amongst others.

Ikpeba subsequently stated on supersport shown that he would only reply Odemwingie’s tweets when the forward achieves what he (Ikpeba) has achieved in the game.

Odemwingie has replied Ikpeba via Twitter saying that.

“My reply to you (Victor) Ikpeba, Prince of Monaco? You’re not a prince, but rather a princess. You do not pull. So, let’s goodbye,” he tweeted.

Odemwingie also criticized Ikpeba for the part he allegedly played in Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

“Ok Victor e don reach ur turn - talking about professionalism huh - did u have any business in the dressing room during game against Guinee?

“You said I can talk face 2 face with u only when I achieve what you achieved? No be so senior. Treat ur little bros like family not oga.

“Your handshake could have been back luck to me cos you have prejudged opinion about me. Coach and his team only in dressing room please.

“If u had coaching talent u would at least be one by now.

That means you don’t know much about the game. Means don’t be a adviser to FF. “That he was playing for himself 2 much. Jay jay future only in the semi final of that nations cup.

Was Big Boss the coach? Which boss self.

“People read between the lines as well. U ll understand the big picture. Oliseh said Siasia was the one they send to rattle officials hahaa.

“I’ve gone of track.

Back to u bros. I wanted to play this cup for our fans and not you guys.

Cos u guys change like chameleons when suits you,” he tweeted.

Victor Ikpeba

Okorodudu wants early preparations for Rio 2016 Olympic Games

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he 1984 Los Angeles Games Olympian J e r e m i a h Okorodudu has urged the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) to begin early preparations for the forthcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The former National Middleweight boxer said that early preparation for the quadrennial global sports fiesta would enhance the country’s profile in boxing.

He urged the NBF to expose boxers to the right kind of competitions to condition and broaden their scope in the pugilistic trade.

Okorodudu lamented the country’s dismal performance at the London

Games, and attributed it to poor preparation.

“How do you think a country that began preparations just six months to a major competition can compete favourably with countries that started preparing four years before the event?

“The only way Nigerian boxers can win laurels in the 2016 Olympics is to start preparations now in order to get exposed through quality competitions, “Okorodudu said.

He also called for regular refreshers courses for boxing coaches, adding that they needed to be abreast with the current trends in the sport.

The Olympian further

said that if his advice was heeded, the country could make a meaningful impact at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

“If our coaches are

updated regularly with the current rules of the sport, I think the boxers will help bring back the country’s lost glory in the sport,’’ Okorodudu said.

Bolaji Abdulahi

Handball referees urge NHF to look into tertiary institutions for talent

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Handball players in action

he President of the Handball Referees Association Moses Balogun, has urged the Nigeria Handball Federation (NHF) to beam its searchlight on the country’s tertiary institutions for budding talents.

Balogun said in Lagos that the country’s numerous institutions were full of sports talents that could be useful to handball.

He said the budding talents could be attracted to the game with goal-oriented programmes.

“In the current move by the federation to reposition the sport, I will like the Technical Committee to take a

look at talents that are hidden in our higher institutions.

“Many of our tertiary institutions have talents who are not in clubs, because of their academic programmes, but we can bring them out if we develop a programme for them in 2013,’’ Balogun said.

He urged the federation to come up with tailor-made programmes which the tertiary institutions could be attracted to.

“There is a preference for sports in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

So, particular programmes have to be structured for the authorities of each school.

“We can fix a programme for them, camp and train them towards the realisation of the federation’s desired transformation,’’ the referee’s president said.

He urged the NHF to embrace all the categories of the sport as part of its talenthunt programme in 2013.

“The federation should go back to the drawing board and re-introduce all categories of youth competitions.

“These are the under-12, under-15, under-18, under-21, the Division One and Division Two, as well as the Open Championships for all higher institutions,’’ Balogun said.

PAGE 43

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

Australia v Sri Lanka: Clarke sets new Australia run record

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ustralia captain Michael Clarke became his country’s highest-ever run scorer in a calendar year after making 106 on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Melbourne.

Clarke’s tally of 1,595 from 11 Tests beats Ricky Ponting’s 1,544 from 15 Tests in 2005.

Clarke, who had been a

Michael Clarke

doubt for the match with a hamstring problem, reached his batting milestone when he got to 56 shortly before lunch and he admitted he was honoured to beat his recently-retired compatriot’s mark.

The home side, who won the opening test earlier this month, survived a middle-order collapse to be 440-8 at close of play - a lead of 284 runs.

Johnson made 73 with six boundaries after Sri Lanka claimed three wickets for just four runs before tea.

Clarke and Watson shared a 194-run partnership until Clarke edged a Shaminda Eranga delivery with the new ball to Mahela Jayawardene at third slip.

Watson fell for 83 in the next over when he hooked a lofted shot off Dhammika Prasad to Thilan Samaraweera at deep square leg while Matthew Wade added just one run before becoming Prasad’s third victim.

Long wins King George VI Chase for second time

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he 15-8 favourite Long Run claimed victory in a thrilling finish to the King George VI Chase at Kempton to win the race for a second time.

Amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen’s mount made a bad mistake five out and also struggled over the final fence under pressure from Captain Chris.

The 16-1 shot, who was third last year, had come out of the pack to challenge and jumped the last strongly.

Long Run, who had finished second to Kauto Star in last year’s race after winning in 2010, had battled hard in the testing heavy conditions and three fences from home looked the most

Long Run

likely winner before Captain Chris and Richard Johnson challenged with Grands Crus (7-1) finishing third.

The win saw Long Run become only the seventh horse after the likes of Kauto Star and Desert Orchid to reclaim the King George title.

The seven-year-old, who is owned by the jockey’s father Robert, will now be hoping to complete another King George/Gold Cup double in Cheltenham in March, but his stablemate Bobs Worth remains at the head of the betting market at around 4-1 with Long Run at around 7-1.

Long Run trainer Nicky Henderson was similarly thrilled to see his charge return to winning form.

Tsgabu set to win Tour de France for Africa

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Tsgabu Grmay

sgabu Grmay dreams of becoming the first African winner of the Tour de France and the 21-year-old Ethiopian’s impressive showing at the African Cycling Championships suggests it is far from an impossible dream.

Grmay won gold in the under-23 individual time trial in Burkina Faso and also finished second overall in the senior standings.

He is a product of the World Cycling Centre, a body which receives the majority of its funding from the sport’s world governing body, the UCI, and the Olympic movement.

Cycling is all about

teamwork, and there is now an African team with enough financial backing and ambition to seriously mount a challenge for cycling’s biggest prize.

South Africa-based MTNQhubeka also has strong links with the World Cycling Centre, creating a route to success for a rider as promising as Grmay.

MTN is the commercial sponsor, while Qhubeka is a non-government organisation which provides bicycles for African children in rural communities.

African athletes, born and trained at altitude, have dominated middle and long distance running for

decades. But why have those conditions not already helped the continent produce cyclists capable of winning the Tour de France?

There were those at the African Championships, like UCI president Pat McQuaid, who made the point that Chris Froome, who came second in the 2012 Tour de France, is Kenyan-born and “very proud of his African heritage”.

Grmay’s potential has certainly been recognised.

Of 500 cyclists who have passed through the World Cycling Centre’s African satellite, nobody has impressed Van Zyl as much.

Consider Farah the greatest of all time, says Salazar

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o Farah should be regarded as the best 5,000m and 10,000m athlete of all time following his double gold medal-winning runs at the London 2012 Olympics, says his American coach Alberto Salazar.

Farah, 29, became the first British runner to do the Olympic distance double.

Farah beat his American training partner Galen Rupp to win the 10,000m Olympic gold on 4 August. Seven days later, he held off Ethiopia’s Dejen Gebremeskel and Kenya’s Thomas

Longosiwa to take the 5,000m Olympic title.

For the Londoner it was reward for the work he had put in with Cubaborn Salazar, who started working with the British athlete in February 2011.

Farah became the seventh man to win the 5,000m and 10,000m titles at the same Olympics, joining a list of distance greats that includes Emile Zatopek, Lasse Viren and Kenenisa Bekele.

Finnish runner Viren is the only man to have done it twice, achieving the feat at the 1972 Games in Munich, and then again four years later in Montreal.

As far as Salazar is concerned, Farah’s

Mo Farah achievement will encourage more British

youngsters to take up distance running.

Ospreys beats Scarlets 32-3 in local derby

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spreys earned the west Wales bragging rights as they brushed aside Scarlets in their Boxing Day derby.

The power of the home scrum earned a penalty try, before lock James King popped up on the wing for a second try.

Kahn Fotuali’i also crossed to add five points to an earlier drop-goal, while Dan Biggar kicked 14 points.

Scarlets were limited to an Aled Thomas penalty, and had Rob McCusker and Gareth Owen sent off plus three other men sin-binned.

Ospreys took an early stranglehold on the game courtesy of their dominant scrum and some fiercely committed defence.

Biggar, with a penalty, and Fotuali’i, with a scruffy drop-goal, made sure that the home side’s efforts translated into some reward on the scoreboard.

The Scarlets line-out weathered that storm a handful of times until Ospreys lock King managed to climb high enough to disrupt a throw.

The resulting Scarlets knock-on handed Ospreys the chance to attack at the scrum from close to the line and a huge surge splintered the red-shirted eight.

Ospreys’ first-half dominance was underlined with two more Biggar penalties for a healthy 19-3 lead at the break.

The Scarlets bench was called on to shore up the

front row, with Emyr Phillips, Shaun Hopkins and Jacobie Adriaanse tasked with stopping the force of Bevington, Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones - making his first start in two months following a knee injury.

Kahn Fotuali

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

2013 Nations Cup finals

Angola, Zambia first teams to arrive

A

Reuben gears up for AFCON

S

uper Eagles’ midfielder, Gabriel Reuben has revealed that he is determined to make his way to the 2013 AFCON which is scheduled to kick off next year January 19 in South Africa.

Reuben is among the eight midfielders named by the Super Eagles’ gaffer, Stephen Keshi last Friday in the 32-man provisional list that traveled to Faro, Portugal yesterday.

The other midfielders called up are John Obi Mikel, Nosa Igiebor, Ogenyi Onazi, Raheem Lawal, Obiora Nwankwo, Fegor Ogude and Rabiu Ibrahim.

Reuben confirmed that he is ready to grab one of the 23 shirts available next year in Portugal where the Super Eagles will flag up their second and final phase of their AFCON preparations.

“My spirit is high now and I am ready to fight for the final list in Portugal. It would not be easy considering the number of players on ground, but I must make it to the Nations Cup,” Reuben said.

The Kano Pillars’ strongman also cleared the issue surrounding his future in the Nigeria’s apex league.

“I have never told any media about signing any deal in Europe, and I don’t know where they got the news from because my manager did not (tell anyone) also.

“I have not signed for any foreign club and I was sad when I read on newspapers that I would soon join a club in England. As far as I’m concerned, I remain a Kano Pillars’ player and I don’t want any distraction from any media about my future,” he explained.

The 22-year-old former Enyimba star has made seven appearances for the Super Eagles scoring once against Malawi.

Gabriel Reuben

ngola and the defending champions Zambia are the first of the African Nations Cup competitors to arrive in South Africa for the tournament, almost a full three weeks before the kick off of the tournament.

Both countries are based in Johannesburg and will remain there throughout the preparatory phase before the start of the event on January 19.

The bulk of the Zambia squad flew in from Ndola on Boxing Day while an initial party of 20 Angolan players plus support staff has moved into the Milpark

Holiday Inn to continue their preparations.

They are all players based in Angola’s GiraBola save for the Brazilian second division striker Geraldo.

They will be re-enforced over the next week by seven players from clubs in Europe. All will be in camp by January 5, the Angolan Football Federation said but a few might join earlier, including veteran Gilberto, who is in Luanda negotiating a contract at Petro Atletico after years of playing in Egypt, Belgium and Cyprus.

Angola’s home based players

have already had two weeks of training at Lubango and played three friendly matches against the Gambia, Rwanda and Cameroon’s under-23 team.

Angola’s football federation said three more friendlies were planned against Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, likely all in the Johannesburg area, before the tournament kick off but none of the matches have yet been fixed.

It is expected Algeria and Morocco will be the next two sides to arrive in South Africa for the tournament, both scheduled to arrive in the country just days after New Year.

Christopher Katogo

Afonso surprise Angola inclusion

U Guilherme Afonso

ncapped striker Guilherme Afonso is a surprised for his inclusion in a 27-man preliminary 2013 AFCON squad named by Angola.

But the Angolan football federation will first have to seek FIFA clearance to play the 27year-old, who won two caps for Switzerland at under-21 level.

Angola had to chase against time before the last finals to get similar permission for winger Nando Rafael, a former German junior international, to compete.

He is a surprise omission from the squad, which is the first to arrive in South Africa for the tournament, which starts on Jan. 19.

A contingent of 20 players plus staff were due in Johannesburg

yesterday to begin preparations for group matches against the Cape Verde Islands, Morocco and hosts South Africa in Group A. They will join by seven European-based players on Jan. 3 before the squad is cut to 23 on Jan. 9. Angola has three friendly matches planned before their opening game of the tournament on Jan. 19.

Massive boost for Ghana squad as Boye, Mensah return

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hana hopes of winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations have been boosted by the swift injury recovery of two key defenders John Boye and Jonathan Mensah.

The France-based centre-backs were named by coach Kwesi Appiah in preliminary 26-man squad for next month’s tournament even though they were nursing injuries.

With ten days before the Black Stars start their training camping in the UAE for the competition in South Africa, the two players have made varied progress.

There were serious doubts over the fitness of the duo for Africa’s flagship tournament which looks to have been the reason for coach Appiah naming six central defenders in his provisional squad.

Austria-based Isaac Vorsah, Jerry Akaminko of Turkish club

Akpoborie wants solid Eagles defence

Eskisehirspor, Kotoko’s Rashid Sumaila and Awal Mohammed of Maritzburg United in South Africa were named for the position.

Mensah, who plays for Ligue 1 side Evian, has made a full recovery and he was on the bench for his club over the weekend in the league match.

Boye, who plays for Rennes, has also started training after making full progress from his thigh injury.

The impressive centre-back is confident he will make a full recovery before the training camp begins in Abu Dhabi on 5th January.

With this development, Ghana are likely to drop some of their central defenders for the Africa Cup of Nations as there will be too many players in that area of the squad.

F

ormer Super Eagles striker, Jonathan Akpoborie is hoping that Eagles’ defence will be ready before the 2013 AFCON kicks off on January 19.

Akpoborie expressed concern with the back line of the team as they continue to prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The 44-year-old is also keen to see a balanced Super Eagles’ squad paraded during the Afcon.

“I know the manager (of the Super Eagles) will work on his defence. It has been one area where the team has shown frailty in recent games. If they want to make any headway at the Nations Cup then that should be sorted out quickly.

“But seriously the defence will not be the only part of the team that should be focused on. Right now the defence is the main concern. The coach also needs to balance the team ahead of the Nations Cup,” advised the former VfL Wolfsburg forward.

Akpoborie, however, said Keshi as the Chief Coach has picked his provisional squad that will fit into the plans.

“I’m not part of his coaching crew but I believe he has picked players that will suit into his plans,” said the ex-VfB Stuttgart man.

Jonathan Akpoborie

Niger captain keeps team waiting

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kipper Moussa Maazou is one of four overseas-based players yet to join Niger AFCON training camp in Niamey.

Officials they hope star striker Maazou, who plays for Etoile du Sahel in Tunisia, Gabon-based stars Alhassane Ismael and Idrissa Laouali as well as Alhassane Issoufou, who is based in Morocco, arrive in time to join the squad for a warm-up

against Ethiopia in Addis Ababa.

The Mena are scheduled to fly out to Ethiopia tonight for the game, which will be played tomorrow.

Niger, who is drawn in Group D along with Ghana, Mali and DR Congo in Port Elizabeth, will also host fellow Nations Cup finalists Togo in another preparatory game on January 5.

PAGE 45

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

P I C T O R I A L

1

5

2

3

4

1/ Armies of club writers deliver their mid-term reports and rate well in many cases, their teams have lived up to pre-season expectations.

2/ Brazilian outfit Corinthians are set to launch a bid for AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato in the first week of January, club president Duilio Monteiro Alves has confirmed.

3/ Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has claimed Gareth Bale is priceless, after the Welshman claimed his first Premier League hat-trick in the 4-0 thumping of Aston Villa on Boxing Day. 4/ Long Run digs deep on the run-in to beat Captain Chris and win a second King George VI Chase at Kempton Park.

5/ FIFA looks back on another massive year for the women's game as USA collected gold at London 2012, two youth world titles were successfully staged, while Lyon swept all before them at club level.

6/ Scarlets have two men sent off as Ospreys dominate a fiery Pro12 west Wales derby, winning 32-3 at the Liberty Stadium.

6

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

PAGE 47

Quick CrossWord (99)

Say what?

ACROSS 3 Set (3) 7 Middle-Eastern market (6) 8 Harmonious (2,4) 9 Below the ocean (8) 10 Little __, The Old Curiosity Shop character (4) 11 Meaty, plump (6) 12 Product made by adding bacteria to milk (6) 15 Contradicted (6) 18 (Of metal) turned a reddishbrown colour (6) 20 Wear away (4) 22 Narrow flags (8) 23 Two bob? (6) 24 Devon cathedral city (6) 25 Neither solid nor liquid (3)

SUDOKU Getting Started Each sudoku puzzle is a 9 by 9 grid of horizontal and vertical rows, evenly separated into 9 squares with 9 spaces each.

Instead of word clues, each puzzle’s solution is determined by the pattern of the numbers already filled in you. You solve the puzzle by filling in the missing digits so that, when completed, each row and each square will have all the number from 1 to 9; each number will appear in exactly nine spaces within each puzzle.

DOWN 1 Sensual, fleshly (6) 2 Ride behind a motorboat (5-3) 3 Gruesome (6) 4 Type of prayer (6) 5 First name of Oliver Hardy’s partner (4) 6 Stag’s horn (6) 11 Watch pocket (3) 13 Spiders’ fine thread and webs (8) 14 To a small extent (3) 16 Signs on (6) 17 Tricking (6) 18 Wanders (6) 19 Any of two (6) 21 Walled city of northern England (4)

Yesterday’s answer

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Yesterday’s solution

EVER been too busy to give the car a proper clean and ended up with a back seat full of rubbish?

Source: TheSun.co.uk

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Manchester United manager escapes FA action for referee rant

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anchester United manager Alex Ferguson will not be punished for his confrontation with the officials during his side's 4-3 win over Newcastle United, the Football Association said yesterday.

Ferguson berated referee Mike Dean and two of his assistants at halftime of Wednesday's game, after being angered that Newcastle's second goal –a Jonny Evans own goal – was given despite Papiss Cisse being in an offside position.

Ferguson felt Dean should not have over-ruled his assistant, Jake Collin, who initially raised his flag for offside, and berated both men, as well as fourth official Neil Swarbrick, as the teams reemerged for the second half at Old Trafford.

“The referee changed the linesman's mind," Ferguson said afterwards. “He said it was an own goal. But if you see it again, and the referee can't, the guy (Cisse) is in an offside position, then he pulls Evans' arm.

"If that is not interfering, what is? I think it was a bad decision.

The Premier League also issued a clarification, backing Dean's decision, and explaining that “as Cisse did not play the ball, then he was not interfering with play.

The league added: "It is also the case that Cisse didn't interfere with the opponent."

The FA said no action would be taken against the United manager because Dean made no reference to the confrontation in his report on the match.

United's victory, secured by a 90th-minute goal from Javier Hernandez, left Ferguson's side seven points clear of secondplace Manchester City in the Premier League.

Alex Ferguson ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE We must all strive to understand our religion. Islam and Christianity preach peace. As such, every Nigerian, whether you are a Christian or Muslim, we must work together to preach peace, our strength is in peaceful co-existence. A Muslim is not my enemy — Pastor Yohanna Buru on peaceful co-existence

The Nigeria dilemma: What is to be done?

A

s the year trudges to an end, I looked at Nigeria closely, my mind racing back to 52 years ago. A surge of impatience rose up within me.

I tried to shake off a rush of anxiety. The progress so far jarred my confidence. My stomach was knotted with fear.

The memories of Nigeria’s immediate political history of a leaderless country cut like a knife at my soul.

As I contemplate Nigeria’s future, fatigue swept over me.

Over the years, the confidence I had for Nigeria is quickly fading back into skepticism.

Economic prophets with gloom forecasts and political seers with doom predictions are working overtime warning us where Nigeria is headed.

The unanimity of their prophecies is summed up in one ominous and frightened sentence: “A failed state.”

The image of a comatose nation in a stupor of its former greatness in the intensive care unit of rogue nations is having a kind of negative psychological contagion among Nigerians.

The profound dilemma of Nigeria has been a permanent leadership vacuum.

I thought of a man who might have had a chance to bring relief to our people.

I thought of a man with position, training, natural ability, and the desire to help.

I thought of those who had the unique opportunity to rescue Nigeria but in one foolish act after another, they forfeited all the advantages they might have used.

Ninety-nine percent of those who run the affairs of Nigeria needed complete reconstruction.

In all the three tiers of government – local, state, and federal – there is leadership deficit. They seek to bring about the right thing in the wrong way.

The abhorrent mediocrity of the elected representatives at all levels of our government disqualifies them from the service of the people.

Nigeria has been turned into a football game in which millions of spectators in need of exercise are watching a handful of players in need of rest.

311 689 606 327 454

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GUEST COLUMNIST Bayo Oluwasanmi byolu@aol.com

President Goodluck Jonathan The unending recycling of ill equipped, witless, and myopic technocrats, bureaucrats, and other political appointees guarantees imitation of the barbaric past of their predecessors.

They have become silent enablers and co-conspirators in defrauding the very people they’re supposed to serve and save. They find so much pleasure in watching the slow agonies of poor Nigerians.

The socially and economically induced misery caused by the corrupt representatives results in deforming and depleting our humanity and love for one another.

The meaning of events taking place in Nigeria defies worn-out vocabulary. It leaves us intellectually debilitated, morally disempowered, and personally depressed.

There is pervasive intellectual impoverishment.

There is collapse of meaning in life – the eclipse of hope and absence of love for others.

No one, nowhere is safe in Nigeria today: suicide bombers, armed robbers, abductors, rapists, hired assassins, exhorters, swindlers, defrauders,

ghost workers, robber-barons, jet pastors, corrupters, child molesters, looters, and leeches.

What we’re witnessing today in Nigeria are the consequences of a lethal linkage of economic decay, cultural decay, and political lethargy in Nigerian life.

What is to be done?

What shall we do to foster or generate a new spirit and vision to meet the challenges of postdemocracy, post-industrial, and post-party politics?

First, we must accept that the critical power, help, and hope lie within us and our commonalities. We must search for a new paradigm to bring into the fore our understanding of multifaceted crises and overcome our despair.

Second, we must shift our attention to the common good that focus on how much we care about the quality of lives together.

The neglect and, nonexistence in most cases, of our infrastructure – roads, highways, water and sewage systems, streets, bridges, hospitals, schools, airways, airports, electricity, safety and security must be terminated forthwith.

The lack of these basic infrastructures reflects (a) our myopic economic and social policies, (b) impediment to productivity, and (c) the low and primitive priority we place on our common life.

Third, the tragic abandonment of our children and the elderly clearly reveals the type of people and nation we are. It also shows our deep disregard and lack of compassion for the weak and the most vulnerable.

Majority of our children are born and raised in poverty.

Parents who are overburdened

and overpowered by poverty are ill-equipped to provide lives of spiritual and cultural quality to their children.

A way forward is for the government and patriotic Nigerians with private initiatives to assemble a large scale public intervention that will ensure provision and access to basic social goods: housing, food, health care, education, transportation, child care, jobs, and social safety net.

Last, the most important and major challenge is the need to generate and nurture new leadership. There is paucity of courageous leaders.

The mangling, bungling, and manhandling of policies and programs by the crop of present leaders demand that we look beyond the circle and recycle of old, backward, worn-out, burntout, tired horses, close minded ancient thinkers, and blind as bat elites.

We need leaders who can plunge themselves into the oppressive and unresponsive socio-politico-economic narrative of our country and craft a rewrite that will correct the malaise.

We need leaders who possess the acumen, integrity, intelligence, foresight, and fortitude that will grasp the complex dynamics of our ethnicity, differences, and with creative imagination chart the future of a new Nigeria.

We need leaders, who will strap themselves with ideals of freedom, democracy, fairness, and equality that will shield and shelter the shoeless, homeless, landless, luckless, propertyless, and the marginalized that perch on the fringes of poverty and penury.

We need visionary leadership that can and motivate “the better angels of our nature.”

We need a new leadership grounded in grass root organizing that emphasizes democratic accountability and service. We need leaders who will serve and not just be served.

We need leaders who are givers and not takers.

There appears no alternative route to the above. Either we swim or sink, or the turbulence this time will consume us all!

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