Peoples Daily Newspaper, Friday 29, March, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 65

Friday, March 29, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Jimadal Ula 18, 1434 AH

N150

Jonathan soft-pedals on fuel subsidy

 Says removal not imminent

By Agaju Madugba

B

arely a week after President Goodluck Jonathan told Nigerians that there was no going back on the removal of petrol subsidy, the presidency yesterday retraced its steps, saying it has no plans to do so.

Despite assurances that the decision would not be taken until government has concluded consultations with all stakeholders, the president's declaration had kicked up a huge uproar among Nigerians, who described the move as antipeople and a plot to hike the pump price of petroleum products.

However, in what appears like a u-turn,

L-R: Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko; Secretary-General, Muslim World League, Dr. Abdullah Bin Abulmuhsen Al Turki; and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar III, being conducted round the League's office, yesterday in Sokoto. Photo: NAN

18 killed in fresh Plateau attack Contd on Page 2

As JTF discovers armoury in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano with agency reports

A group of unknown gunmen reportedly killed at least 18 persons during a night attack on Wednesday at Mile-Bakwai Village in Bokkos, Plateau state.

The Special Task Force (STF) Media officer, Navy Captain Jude Akpa, who confirmed the incident, said that the attackers also shot and injured two mobile policemen attached to the STF. The casualty figure was "still being verified'' but Akpa

Britain wants Alamieyeseigha extradited >> 4

confirmed that men of the STF killed six of the attackers and made some arrests.

The two policemen are currently on admission at the Barkin Ladi General Hospital.

Chairman of Bokkos local government, Zakka Akos,

confirmed that 18 bodies were recovered at the scene of the attack.

One of the survivors, Majau Yohanna, said that the attackers invaded the village “at 7 p.m, not long after we returned from our farms and were resting in our

respective houses.”

“They (attackers) came in large numbers and had very sophisticated weapons,” Yohanna said from his hospital bed at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Jos. Contd on Page 2

Bok o Har am: ACF Boko Haram: condemns J ona than Jona onathan than’’s rejection of amnesty >> 7

Nigeria heads towards civil war - Soyinka >> 3

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch S/Report

23 24-25

Islam Int’l

26 27-30

NSCIA, IGP greet Christians at Easter From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has reiterated the commitment of the Muslim community in the country to “a strong, prosperous and united multi-religious Nigeria where justice, peace, progress and national cohesion shall prevail.”

This is contained in its message to the Nigerian Christian community on the occasion of the Easter celebration.

The message signed by the NSCIA President-General who is also the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, noted that Muslims will continue to ensure a united Nigeria.

“In this trying period of unnecessary strife, tension, mutual suspicion and wanton

destruction of innocent lives and precious properties, Muslims in Nigeria shall continue to strive to strengthen the co-operation and collaboration between our two bodies - NSCIA and CAN - for our mutual benefits and to the glory of God and Nigeria,” the Sultan said.

The NSCIA also prayed that the country enjoys stability, security, peace and unity stressing that, “this season will usher in happiness and prosperity to all.”

In his message on the occasion Easter, the Inspector-General of Police, M.D. Abubakar reminded Christians that the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter morning was preceded by a painful crucifixion, as price to atone for the redemption of mankind.

He urged Nigerians to emulate

and adopt the selfless lifestyle of Christ and further enjoined Christians to be open minded to issues of forgiveness, peace and harmonious co-existence, in consonance with the principles and teachings of Christ, especially, in this trying moment in the nation’s history.

Abubakar also called on Nigerians to place value and respect on the nation’s diversities, especially in the face of very high price being paid with the blood and lives of officers and men of the Force and those of other security agencies, who like Jesus Christ, are constantly subjected to all forms of dangers, risks and deprivations, including the hazards of death in the line of duty, as ultimate sacrifice for the peace, unity and progress of the country.

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Sultan of Sokoto

18 civilians, 2 cops killed in fresh Plateau attack

“My family never interferes with my career”, Page 40

Strange World 30 Revue

32-33

Feature

34-35

Digest

36

Politics

37-39

Sports

41-45

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Contd from Page 1 According to him, “they just descended on the villagers and started shooting everyone on sight.

“We had to run for our dear lives. In the process, some of us were shot dead while trying to escape.

“I was shot on my right rib and it was just God that saved me and it is a miracle that I am still alive.”

One Thomas Mafai, Yohanna's relation who rushed him to BUTH, claimed that he counted 20 bodies, including the two policemen killed during the attack.

“Some of the victims are being treated at the Dung Hospital, Bokkos. But like I told you, we are not sure of the casualty figure. We are still verifying. It was a night attack so people could have been killed anywhere,” he said.

Reacting to the attack, the Plateau state government said that it noted with grief the ugly incidence in some parts of Bokkos local government resulting in loss of lives and property.

A press statement by the Commissioner of Information and

Communication, Hon. Yiljap Abraham, said that “this is another unsettling event in the state with the accompanying implication of creating disaffection among communities that had long lived together.

“Let it be known that the Plateau state government is determined to use every legal and constitutional means to ensure the maintenance of law and order in every part of the state.”

And in Kano, operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), yesterday in its sustained operation of stop and search in the city of kano in the wee hours of Thursday has discovered and destroyed a house being used as an armory by terrorist.

A statement signed by the JTF spokesperson Captain Ikedichi Iweha distributed to newsmen in Kano, said that a combine team of the JTF personnel stormed a residence at Gaida Ajawa along Kano western bye pass and discovered the house.

The statement added that four terrorist were apprehended around Sharada General Area following the discovery of the

armory and the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) specialist was also apprehended along farm center in the afternoon.

“In the early hours of this morning, 28 March 2013, a combine team of the JTF personnel stormed a residence at Gaida Ajawa, Along Kano western bye pass being used as an armory by terrorists. Items recovered include six AK 47 Rifles, one FN Riffle, one General Purpose machine gun (GPMG), one SMG Riffle, one Pump action Riffle, and one PPK pistol.

“Two smoke guns, 189 rounds of AK 47 ammunitions, 43 rounds of 5.56MM SMG ammunitions, eight rounds of 9mm ammunitions for PPK pistol, 15 handle held IEDs, two (25 liters) containers of liquid chemical substance, 11 bags of nitrate fertilizer, 200 hundred empty containers of assorted beverage drinks (malt, bobo, cocacola) wires and other materials of making IEDs.)” It further warned property owners and residents to beware of the type of people they are harboring, noting that there are influx of the terrorist elements

from Maiduguri, Damaturu and Potiskum into the state.

Iweha also stated that apart from destroying any house that a terrorist is found, JTF will only arrest such property owner but will treat the person as an accomplice.

JTF assured residents that the security situation is under control, stressing that it has taken all necessary steps to ensure a violent free Easter celebrations in the state.

“The JTF warns all terrorist elements (sponsors, property agents and their terror groups) that it would unleash the full weight of its might on its network and interest anywhere it is traced within Kano and its environ. Be assured that the JTF in Kano will not rest on its oars in ensuring the safety of the good people of Kano state and their interest.”

In a related development the JTF spokesperson iweha told our correspondent on phone that late evening another suspected terrorist was arrested in Sharada and three AK47 Riffles loaded with ammunitions were discovered in his residence.

Jonathan soft-pedals on fuel subsidy Contd from Page 1 presidential spokesman, Doyin Okupe, said in Abuja that despite the president's recent remark, the administration, as a matter of policy, has no plans to remove fuel subsidy.

According to Mr. Okupe, Nigerians do not need to be alarmed on removal of petrol subsidy, as sufficient allocation for fuel subsidy has already been made in the 2013 budget.

He said the President's remark was"a frank, intellectual and wellarticulated contribution to the discussion on the Nigerian economy from a honest and sincere leadership perspective."

"The President and this administration are not insensitive

to the plights of the Nigerian masses and will continue to pursue and execute policies and programmes that are in the overall interest of majority of Nigerians and that will bring the greatest good to the greatest number of our teeming population," Mr. Okupe said.

He said "no responsible and patriotic leadership would not be worried when a nation spends more than N1trillion, or about 20 per cent of its annual national budget on subsidy paid out to a few companies, which is enjoyed mainly by very few elites while the common man benefits almost nothing."

"Contrary to the speculation in the media and assumption by

certain groups within the polity, we wish to state categorically that, the removal of oil subsidy is not on the table of the Transformation Agenda of the President," he said.

"The present administration is not considering the issue of removal of fuel subsidy in the nearest future and certainly will not embark on any such programme without extensive consultations and engagements across the various segments, interests and stakeholders in the Nigerian polity," Mr. Okupe said.

In 2011, the administration had given similar assurances that it would not consider the removal of subsidy on petrol until the

committee constituted to consult with all stakeholders completed its assignment.

However, after the preliminary meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and its affiliate organisations, a rescheduled meeting could not reconvene, as government went ahead to announce the removal of the subsidy regime in January 2012.

The decision had immediately raised the price of petrol from N65 per litre to about N141, a development that triggered a nation-wide protest that crippled the country for almost a week, before government intervened and reviewed the price downwards to the present N97.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 3

Travellers boarding a bus for Easter at Wazobia park, yesterday in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Nigeria heads towards civil war - Soyinka From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

N

obel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka yesterday lamented President Goodluck Jonathan’s failure to tackle the increasing activities of the Boko Haram sect, despite indicators that Nigeria is drifting towards civil war.

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi said Nigeria is the only country where corrupt public officeholders are celebrated publicly.

Soyinka and Sanusi spoke in Lagos at the 5th Bola Tinubu colloquium with themed: ‘Beyond Mergers: A National Movement for change’-A new generation speaks,’

…we are celebrating corruption - Sanusi According to Soyinka, “my problem with President Goodluck Jonathan is that he is yet to realise and has not taken the citizens of the country into cognisance.

“By now, I believe that the President Goodluck Jonathan should be addressing the nation and give, in details, the reason why this nation is at war.

“And certain things must be done to ensure that we move back from this second round of what is moving towards civil war.”

“This nation is on the brink and most people who do not understand it, I am very sorry they will very

Group defends Customs CG over alleged face-off with Reps

By Okechukwu Okofordi

A

group, Friends of Dikko, has refuted the reports in the media, which alleged that the Controller General of Nigerian Customs Services, Abdullahi Dikko, shunned the six invitations by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, to give responses to the 2007-2010 remittances to the federation accounts.

A statement issued yesterday by the President of the association, Mahdi Shehu, described Dikko as a well known respecter of constituted authorities adding that he holds the House of Representatives and other institutions of government in a very high esteem.

“Therefore, the report that he shunned six invitations of the House Committee on Public Accounts to answer questions relating to the 2007-2010 remittances to the federation Account could not have been correct,” the statement said.

Shehu added that by his unprecedented achievements at the helm of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dikko Inde has become the

proverbial gold fish who has no hiding place.

On this ground, he said that Dikko has no reason to hide or shy away from discharging his statutory responsibilities.

Moreover, he noted that it is on record that since his appointment in 2009, Dikko has in very decisive ways contributed to the overall growth of the Nigerian economy by maximising revenue collections which has consistently surpassed given targets, as well as facilitated trade and commerce through such innovative products as the Trade Hub Portal, Single Window.

“It is a well known fact that Abdullahi Dikko Inde’s strategic position as Vice-President of Confederation of West and Central African controllers-general of Customs", he said.

The group added that his unprecedented achievements at the helm of the Nigeria Customs Service have brought a lot of honour to Nigeria, saying it has earned higher respect and courtesy for Nigerian citizens by the customs services of various countries around the world.

soon wake up to understand that the nation is already on the brinks.

“By now we should all understand that the issue happening in the north should not be left for the northerners alone. It is obvious that the issue of Boko Haram isn’t a Northern affair anymore.”

On his part, Sanusi lamented the spate of corruption in the country, saying that “corruption is a big issue in the country today as it in other parts of the world but why are they eradicating poverty and Nigeria isn’t.

“It is not just corruption. It is

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), the Democratic Governance for Development Project (DGD II) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will next June in Abuja formally launched the Curriculum of the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre.

The Director of Research of NIPSS, Prof. Olu Obafemi, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja at the validation meeting of the draft curriculum of the centre which was attended by leaders of political parties, INEC officials and other critical stakeholders.

“The essence is to institutionalize the training of political parties at the leadership and bureaucratic level and to develop policy that will help us develop a democratic culture for the country.

“Our democracy continues to look fledging all the time, we rise and fall and rise and fall mainly because we have not got our political system right.

“There are no viral cultures of opposition in which parties can feel able even when in opposition to offer critical opinion that will help

the kind failed interventions that are procured with the proceeds of corruption. Everyone agree that corruption is bad. It has economic cost. If you take a bribe and pay subsidy to someone who hasn’t deliver the required goods.

“In Nigeria, people collect money for contract and they do not fulfill their own part of contract and nothing is done about it.

“This is compounding the state of corruption in the country. What is destroying this country is that people are corrupt and nothing is done about it.

“We need to be asking the civil

societies what they are doing to ensure that this act is checked for the development of the country.

“Some parts of Lagos are getting cleaner because of the sewage process. These are some of the question that we should begin to ask our public officeholders today.

“How can someone be governor for four years and he or she failed to provide the needed facilities for his people.

“And the reason why this happen in Nigeria was that we are a country that has absolutely no regards for merit and competent,” he said.

NIPSS to launch curriculum for political parties government grow. Most of the time, ruling parties feel it right to continue to rule and ignore views of opposition.

“We believe that the leadership of political parties in this country need to know those essential ingredients and elements of a nurtured democracy so that in their practice of partisan politics, they can develop those ingredients of democratic system and good governance that will encourage political participation, politics for development, growth of a tolerant political culture in their various political activities,” Obafemi said.

A member of the organizing committee, Dr. Sola Adeyanju, of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, said the initiative was part of measures to deepen democracy in the country and that it is being cited in NIPSS, Kuru near Jos being the apex think tank for strategy and policy making in the country.

Project Director of DGD II, Dr. Mourtada Deme, represented by Sadeeque Abba, said the initiative was developed in December 2012

after the commissioning of the political parties capacity assessment to identify areas where the DGD intervention can be effective in strengthening party democracy, adding, “one of these strategies that was identified is the establishment of the centre which will be entrusted with a task of providing a sustained capacity development platform for patties in Nigeria to address some of the identified shortcoming on the parties.”

Former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae, said the courses to be run by NIMPS based on the curriculum can help produce party managers who will bring professionalism into politics and help to institutionalize party politics among others.

“Most parties are more or less elections party time phenomena, after elections, many parties tend to fade away partly because of funds and because there are no people trained to run parties in between elections. The training in Jos will fill that gap. It will create commonality of view and values among politicians,” Falae said.

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Britain writes FG, wants Alamieyeseigha extradited to London T

he last may not have been heard about the recent Federal Government’s state pardon to former Bayelsa state Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha as the United Kingdom insists that it has not given up on its efforts to extradite Alamieyeseigha to Britain, to face trial.

The UK said it had already contacted the Federal Government requesting Alamieyeseigha’s extradition, and was awaiting a response to the request.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, in an interview said that the former governor, who recently got state pardon from his criminal conviction in Nigeria, still has an outstanding case of money laundering to answer to in the UK and that the UK government will not give up until Mr. Alamieyeseigha is brought to justice.

Mr. Alamieyeseigha, then a serving governor, made a dramatic escape from the custody of the

British authorities when he fled back to Nigeria from detention in September 2005. He would later be convicted on similar money laundering charges on July 26, 2007 in Nigeria after he was impeached as governor.

Although his recent state pardon by President Goodluck Jonathan hit the UK authorities as a rude shock, Mr. Pocock dismissed insinuations that London was planning to sanction Nigeria over the matter.

According to him, “that is not

the way we do things”. The High Commissioner also revealed that UK had earlier requested for Alamieyeseigha’s extradition, but did not get any response.

Mr. Pocock said the UK had asked the Attorney General and Minister for Justice for Alamieyeseigha’s extradition and was still awaiting his position on the issue when President Goodluck Jonathan all of a sudden announced he has been extricated of all wrong doing via the state clemency.

The move to pardon him even when the application for his extradition to Britain was still pending was like daring the applying nation that feels strongly that Alamieyeseigha has a case to answer in their country.

According to Mr. Pocock, “The former governor skipped bail in the UK on a charge of money laundering and returned to Nigeria. So, he has an outstanding charge in the UK, which is there for him to answer.

“We have already discussed it and the Nigerian government knows our views. But we would like to see him return and answer charge in the UK.” On UK’s past and present efforts to see that Alamieyeseigha is extradited to the UK, Mr. Pocock said: “Yes. I think we asked in the past. I am very sure we asked in the past. But I am not sure we got a formal response. So, we are still waiting for a formal response from the Nigerian government.

“We have asked the Attorney General. He will have to tell us what his position is on extradition.

I haven’t had a reply yet, but we still wait for it,” the British envoy added.

Alamieyeseigha pardon designed to woo support for Jonathan ahead of 2015, says Tompolo, MEND founder L-R: Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Gimba Ya'u Kumo, managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, and Chairman, FMBN Board, Chief Bisi Ogunjobi, during the visit of FMBN board members to NDIC, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Churches, Int’l bodies drag Jonathan to UN over Alamieyeseigha pardon From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos with agency reports

T

he World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have dragged the Federal Government to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) expressing “serious concerns about the state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha by President Goodluck Jonathan.”

WEA is a network of churches in 129 nations that have each formed an evangelical alliance and over 100 international organizations joining together to give a world-wide identity, voice, and platform to more than 600 million evangelical Christians in a statement signed by SERAP Executive Director Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, said the complaint was submitted to the UN as part of an update to the submission made by the groups to the UPR this month.

“Consider this to be entirely inconsistent with the country’s international human rights and anticorruption commitments and

the promises made by the government of Nigeria to the United Nations during its Universal Periodic Review in 2009.”

The 2009 UPR asked the government of Nigeria to pursue its “fight” against corruption so that “all its citizens” can enjoy peace, health and security. The government of Nigeria accepted all the recommendation.

WEA and SERAP said that, “however, despite these commitments to the international community, the government of Nigeria has not taken seriously its expressed commitment to combat corruption.”

The groups also said that, “by granting pardon for Alamieyeseigha the government has also seriously undermined the integrity and efficacy of the fight against corruption, eroded the credibility of public institutions (in particular anti-corruption institutions and agencies), undermined the deterrent effects of punishment for corruption, and engendered public cynicism.”

According to the groups, “the granting of pardon will also lead

to a vicious cycle of corruption and impunity of perpetrators, and this can only continue to rob the government of its capacity to deliver services to the poor, and ensure that corrupt public officials keep the proceeds of their misconduct. This is double jeopardy for the victims of corruption in the country.”

The groups said that “this shows the government’s lack of political will to genuinely combat high level official corruption in Nigeria, and sends a wrong message that certain individuals who are close to the government will enjoy impunity for their misconduct and will be above the law.”

“Because corruption has been an intrinsic part of the way successive governments have operated, it will be impossible for the country to achieve development, sustainability and end poverty and discrimination if corruption persists,” the groups also said.

“We are also concerned that the granting of pardon amounts to a fundamental breach of the constitution of Nigeria, which among others requires the

president to eradicate all corrupt practices and abuse of power. We hope to see the Universal Periodic Review of Nigeria reflect the concerns outlined in our submission (and this update), and include in its outcome document the following recommendations addressed to the government of Nigeria”: “Rescind without further delay the alleged state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; Ensure full repatriation and recovery of the stolen public funds by Alamieyeseigha; Ensure full transparency and accountability in government institutions; Improve financial oversight of government’s expenditure and build judicial capacity to enhance the prosecution of corrupt public officials.”

Alamieyeseigha was detained in London on charges of money laundering while he was governor in September 2005. He escaped from the UK in December 2005. He, however, pleaded guilty in court to a six-count charge in July 2007, and was sentenced to two years in prison on each count charge.

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

F

ounder of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), High Chief Government Ekpemopolo, has said that presidential pardon granted former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepriye Alamieyeseigha, was designed to secure the support of the Niger Delta people for President Goodluck Jonathan’s return bid in 2015.

“The pardon has guaranteed the support for President Jonathan,” Ekpemopolo told journalists yesterday at Oporoza, Warri North local government of Delta state.

According to him, “the pardon remains the best thing President Goodluck Jonathan has done for the Niger Delta people.

“President Jonathan is constitutionally qualified to run, having been given the go-ahead by a Federal High court sitting in Abuja.”

Tompolo noted that the Niger Delta people view the second term bid of the President as the right of the people of the region where the President is from.

The former MEND leader however declined further comments on the 24 years sentence handed MEND’s former leader, Henry Okah, describing it simply as a family matter that will be sorted out.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 5

Boko Haram: ACF condemns FG's rejection of amnesty proposal From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

T

he Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned Federal Government's refusal to grant amnesty to members of Jama'atul Nasril litda'awa wal

jihad popularly known as known as Boko Haram.

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa'ad Abubakar, had urged President Goodluck Jonathan to extend an unconditional amnesty to members of the sect as part

of measures to check rising insecurity in parts of the country.

But Jonathan during a recent visit to Yobe and Borno states ruled out the question of amnesty describing members of the

Jonathan summons police authorities over clash with NSCDC

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday summoned the authorities of the Nigerian Police over the clash between policemen and officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Lagos on Wednesday which reportedly left two officials of the NSCDC dead.

The President earlier on Wednesday evening met with the leadership of the NSCDC, on the matter.

The police delegation was led to the meeting by the DIG 'A,' Suleiman Fakai, as the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, was said to be currently out of the country.

Other members of the delegation were Lagos state

Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Anti-Vandalism, Friday Ibadin, and the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba. The President was said to have stressed the need for cooperation between sister security agencies.

The police spokesman confirmed to State House correspondents that the clash formed part of the issues discussed at the meeting with the President.

He said the police used the opportunity to give the President what he called "the police perspective of the report."

According to him, "the meeting is just one of those

KANNYWOOD

Our major challenge is the envious nature of artists, says Usee

routine visits where the police leadership come around to brief the President on cooperational related issues.

"Of course, that (the clash between policemen and officials of the NSCDC) is one of those issues we discussed and we also have to come in here to give the President a police perspective on that report and that is exactly what the leadership of the police has done."

Asked whether it is true that policemen killed officials of the NSCDC during the clash, Mba said that the President had been properly briefed and that the facts would become public later.

"For now, we have briefed the President and I think it will suffice for me to stop."

Muslim group as ghosts.

Rising from an emergency joint meeting of its Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee in Kaduna yesterday, the ACF said it was disappointed by Jonathan's position on the matter and decried government's inability to contain the seemingly intractable insecurity situation.

The ACF in a communiquﾃｩ at the end of the meeting said that it was worried that Jonathan did not give any "viable" reasons for refusal to accept the amnesty proposal and did not suggest alternative measures to handle the problem.

The communiquﾃｩ signed by the group's National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani, said the deliberations of the meeting centered mainly on the escalating security challenges across some parts of the north and the increasing toll in human lives and property of innocent people in the region.

It however urged northern leaders across the faiths and political divides to come together and live up their collective security challenges that have become serious threats to the socioeconomic and political development of the north and the nation at large.

2,000 policemen for Muslim conference in Sokoto

By Mahmoud Muhammad, Sokoto

T

he Police have deployed over 2,000 security personnel for the World Muslim Leagues Conference taking place today in Sokoto.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gambo Shua'bu, told reporters yesterday that the police will ensure peaceful conduct of the exercise.

He called on both natives and non- natives of the state to remain calm and conduct themselves in a peaceful manner as security

operatives work through collaborative efforts to fish out bad eggs that may likely disrupt the peaceful.

Peoples Daily gathered that people from all Muslim countries are expected to participate at the conference which is aimed at aimed at ensuring peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians across the world.

Vice President Namadi Sambo is expected to represent President Goodluck Jonathan at the opening ceremony.

BOOK LAUNCH PILGRIMS'

Companion, timely prospectus for Hajj and Umrah

INTERVIEW No assembly member is planning to join the CPC 窶年asarawa legislator When Emirs of Katsina, Daura, others witnessed Correspondent's Week Launch

FEATURE

Ganmo Ganmo communal communal a, c w Kw ara, clash lash in in K K war ar a, Kw ara, who who is is after after Igbomina Igbomina tribe? tribe?

M E D I A

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Easter: Arik increases capacity to cater for air travellers

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

A

rik Air has assured air travellers in the country that it has the capacity to cope with demands of passengers during the Easter season.

Acting Senior Vice President Operations/Deputy Managing Director of the airline, Captain Ado Sanusi, disclosed that the airline has added extra flights to key domestic destinations to enable Nigerians celebrate the festive season with their families and loved ones.

Captain Sanusi however dispelled rumours making the rounds that the airline has increased fares due to the Easter rush.

"We have at no time increased our fares to any of our destinations.

Instead, we have introduced low fares on all the routes and even lower fares when booking online, he disclosed.

He therefore advised passengers not to patronize touts or pay extra money to anyone for Arik tickets.

Sanusi then enjoined passengers to buy their tickets in advance from any airport or Arik Air city ticketing offices or on line at arikair.com.

Niger buys 8,000mt fertilizer to boost agriculture From Iliya Garba, Minna

T

he Niger state government has completed arrangements for the purchase of 8000 metric tonnes of assorted fertilizer for sale at subsidised rates to farmers during the 2013 cropping season, at the cost of about N900 million.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Matane, who disclosed this to newsmen yesterday explained that government decided to directly purchase fertilizer for distribution to farmers in order to take care of the shortfall anticipated from the consignment expected from the Federal Government.

According to him, "Last year's experience showed us that the quantity to be got by each farmer under the Federal Government's fertilizer distribution policy will be inadequate and if immediate steps are not taken to plug the loophole, it could lead to poor harvest in the year.

"The government has commenced a census of all farmers that will benefit from the sale of the fertilizer assuring that the commodity will get to the farmers at the right time and quantity before the rains stabilized."

Commenting on the progress of work at the Talba Housing Estate, he said that 320 of the over 500 housing units had been completed and ready for occupation.

He explained that allocations of the houses to outright purchasers has commenced while government is also negotiating with some mortgage outfits to raise facilities for civil servants and others who are not in position to outrightly pay for the houses.

L-R: Niger State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Fati Abubakar, taking her oath of office before Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday in Minna.

Photo: NAN

Reps warn Jonathan not to fund SEC

By Umar Muhammad Puma

I

n keeping with its earlier resolution not to provide funding for the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, in the 2013 Appropriation Act, the House of Representatives has warned President Goodluck Jonathan not to fund the Commission without approval from the National Assembly.

The warning was contained in a letter written to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, by the House Committee on Legislative Compliance.

If would be recalled that following the report and recommendations of the Hon. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi-led Adhoc Committee that investigated the near total collapse of the capital market, the House last year passed a resolution, mandating President Goodluck Jonathan to remove Oteh from the office.

According to the report, Oteh

does not possess the requisite professional qualification prescribed in the Securities and Exchange Commission Act for appointment to the office of Director-General.

But President Jonathan has ignored the resolution, which presidency spokespersons had severally described as advisory, and not incumbent upon the President to implement.

Angered by the purported disregard of the resolution, the House of Representatives, in retaliation, passed another resolution last year, declaring the SEC boss persona non-grata and also resolved never to have anything to do with the Commission as long as Oteh remained in office.

It further intensified its strategies to compel President Jonathan to respect its resolution by giving zero allocation to the Commission in the 2013Appropriation Act. However, while presenting a proposal for the amendment of the 2013 budget, President

Jonathan expressed his displeasure over the zero allocation to SEC, accusing the House of trying to frustrate the operations of the establishment.

In reaction to the president's comments, Hon. Garba Datti on March 21, 2013, presented a motion condemning what he described as persistent and blatant disregard of the resolutions of the House by the Executive arm.

He also accused the Executive of selective implementation of the House’s resolutions, stressing that resolutions bordering on the breach of extant legislations should not be treated with levity as it portrays the government in bad light.

In conclusion, the House urged President Jonathan to implement its resolution by removing Ms. Arunma Oteh from office on grounds of non-possession of the minimum professional qualification prescribed in the Securities and Exchange Commission Act for appointment to the office of Director- General.

Stranger kidnaps 12-year-old girl in Kaduna From David Hassan, Gombe

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he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has taken custody of a 12-years-old girl who was kidnapped in Kaduna last Tuesday.

The gunmen reportedly abducted Aisha Ismail at Rigasa, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis when she was sent to buy detergent from a nearby shop.

The girl found herself in an unidentified house in Gombe after she was given a chewing gum by

the assailant.

According to Aisha, "I was sent to buy Omo for washing when the man came and gave me the chewing gum, after taking the chewing gum, I found myself in an unidentified house where I saw people that I did not know. I started crying and they decided to throw me out of the house.�

The commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Gombe, Mr. Joel Onoritsebawo Khestossen told our correspondent in an interview, that at about 2pm,

men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps who were on patrol at Yamaltu, Deba local government area got information that a lady suspected to have been kidnapped somewhere was crying at Anguwar Matasa where she was dumped.

According to the commandant, his men took Aisha to the command for further investigation.

The command has already got in touch with the girl's family and arrangement has been concluded to return her to Kaduna.

It also directed its Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor the expected implementation of the removal of Oteh "and revert to the House within 21days.

In carrying out this task, the Committee on Legislative Compliance has written to the Minister of Finance, reiterating the position of the House on zero allocation to SEC until the President adhered to its resolution by removing Ms Oteh from office.

The Committee insisted in the letter that President Jonathan had no right to finance the operations of SEC from public coffers or even private sources in breach of the Appropriation Act. The Hon. Moruf AkinderuFatai-led Committee on Legislative Compliance wrote the letter on March 27, 2013 to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The letter further advised the SEC to refrain from making any expenditure until a budget has been approved by the National Assembly for that purpose.

"You may also not source and spend any monies whatsoever as this will be a clear infringement of the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria and shall be viewed as such".

The president had opposed Item 9, Part E, Clause 10 of the 2013 Appropriation Act, saying: " I believe that this clause ought not to have been inserted in the 2013 Appropriation Act in the first place.

Secondly, the import of the clause is tantamount to shutting down the business of the Commission with a potential negative impact on the capital market".

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 7

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

L-R: Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Chairman, Globacom, Chief Mike Adenuga, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, and Oyo state Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Adeyemo, inaugurating an ICT centre donated by Chief Adenuga to mark the centenary of Ibadan Grammar School, yesterday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, CSP Frank Mba, briefing journalists on two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) killed by the police in Lagos, after his visit to President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

L- R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Anambra state Governor, Mr Peter Obi, and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, during the governor's visit to the minister on Wednesday in Abuja.

Students of Quick Response Group Phase 4 batch 2 displaying during their graduation ceremony, yesterday in Jaji, Kaduna state. Photo: NAN

L-R: Edo state Governor Adams Oshiomhole, and Minister of Niger Delta, Elder Godsday Orubebe, during the minister's visit to the governor, yesterday in Benin City.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 9

World Bank approves N72bn to support Nigeria

By Etuka Sunday

"It aims at improving measurement of student learning in government primary and secondary schools in these states.

According to World Bank's Country Director for Nigeria, Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly, "investing in people is an essential part of Nigeria's strategy to reduce poverty and achieve steady economic growth.

"I am delighted that we are supporting better schooling and earning prospects for millions of children and young people while also cushioning some of the poorest families through a stronger social safety net system."

Also speaking on the project, the World Bank Task Team Leader for YESSO, Foluso Okunmadewa, said that, "the youth make up over half of Nigeria's population, yet 38 per cent of them are either R-L: Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Ita Okon Bassey Ewa; former Director General, underemployed or unemployed National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Professor Robert Boroffice; and and their education and skills member, NASRDA Advisory Committee, Professor Clifford Teme, during the National Space Dialogue levels are low. and Media Conference on Space Science and Technology, yesterday in Abuja.

"The YESSO project will help Photo: Justin Imo-Owo young people earn wages by planting trees or cleaning public spaces, get help with livelihood skills and job placement and live in less vulnerable households.

From Ahmed Kaigam, Bauchi to enforce a regime of "no "new arrangements and "The project will also help the changes" by the Governing work no pay." he Bauchi state government create systems that Council.

The COEASU Chairman, government has sacked can be used to protect poor According to him, "under Sunusi Chinade, said in about 194 striking households and individuals both the arrangement, the interview yesterday that the lecturers of the College of now and in future."

Governing Council decided institution's Governing Education, Azare. terminate the terminated the to Alleging misappropriation Council Kwara targets N50bn turnover from Harmony Holdings Ltd appointment of some of the of funds and appointment of the staff lecturers because by law, From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin leading to the closure of a maladministration, the arguing that their services employer and the employee were no longer required. number of business enterprises. school's chapter of the he Management of "It is in view of this that this Colleges He gave a breakdown of have the right to leave giving Harmony Holdings of Education decided to Academic the affected lecturers to three months notice but Limited, a group of administration Staff Union where notice was not given, companies owned by the Kwara establish Harmony Holdings Ltd (COEASU) had embarked on include, 53 masters degree one can leave after he pays state government says it will to manage all the business indefinite strike over the re- holders, three PHD holders one month salary in lieu of produce a turnover of about N50 entities of government," Ahmed 16, heads of departments, said and noted that the selection appointment of the Registrar, notice." billion in 2022. four deans and six senior Aliyu B. Shehu, for another The Group Managing of the members Board and He said that the college lecturers.

Director Mr. Tope Adesunloye Management was based on their five years. would complete all the The Provost, Dr. Garba qualification and profession.

Government had directed Daramola, who disclosed this arrangements confirmed the necessary Earlier, Chairman of the the protesting workers to call Ibrahim, yesterday during the before students would be commissioning of the company Board of Directors of the of the action and threatened report and attributed it to, asked to resume.

Prof.

Halidu noted that it will enhance the Company, states Internally Generated Abubakar, said the vision of the Revenue as well as enhance the company, "is the culmination of great and meticulous planning economy.

Commissioning the borne out of the noble objective company, Governor Abdulfatah to put Kwara State on the management of Aero started.

Ahmed identified leadership and pedestal of economic growth and By Ikechukwu Okaforadi He urged all parties to Contractors should recall all accountability as problems sustenance. sheath their swords so that the sacked staff and conduct a he Senate has intervened Boko Haram exposed some of our inadequacies - Army Chief Army airline can resume flight in the lingering face-off fresh appraisal within three operations.

By Lambert Tyem weeks after which affected According to him, "the spate of between Aero According to him, "we he Chief of Army Staff, bombings and other acts of Contractors and its workers staff who do not meet the started this meeting with the requirement as provided by terrorism by some misguided over the sack of 655 staff of Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, Aero Contractors will be laid aim of resolving this crisis and says contemporary elements in the society ( Boko the airline. by the Grace of God we have Haram) has created a sustained In a meeting with the off and paid their severance agreed on some issues. security challenges in the atmosphere of fear and insecurity Senate entitlements.

Committee on country have brought out some "The management of Aero in the country.

Also, pension Aviation yesterday, the grey areas in the doctrine of "These contemporary airline's management agreed contributions will be credited contractors has agreed to internal security and counter challenges have brought out some the affected staff's recall the staff that were to review sack of the workers. to insurgency operations leading dismissed. grey areas in the doctrine on retirement savings account Those who attended the to a review in the curriculum internal security and counter "We in the Senate with their nominated pension included the of the Army's training insurgency operations which meeting committee are not against the fund administrator as company's Managing institutions. restructuring by the have been appropriately Obaro Ibru, contained in a letter signed by management He spoke yesterday in a addressed in your training Director, of Aero Obaro Ibru.

National message he sent during the curriculum in order to enhance President, However, Chairman of the Contractors but we are saying graduation ceremony of Quick the Nigerian Army's operational Association of Aircraft Pilot Senate Committee, Hope the restructuring should have and Engineers, Balami Isaac Response Group Phase 4 Batch effiency."

Uzodimma, noted that a human face.

2 at the special Warfare Wing, In his remarks, Commandant, David, and acting Director Nigerians "The sacked staff should be are the end Nigerian Civil Infantry School, Jaji, the COAS Nigerian Army School of Infantry General, recalled and an appraisal sufferers of the crisis at Aero noted that the internal security (NASI), Major-Gen. Tukur Aviation Authority (NCAA), Contractors as many should be done within two to situation has created security Buratai, said that about 358 Joyce Nkemakolam. passengers have been left three weeks on the affected Participants resolved that challenges for Armed forces and participants took partin the staff. stranded since the crisis other security agencies. course.

T

he World has approved $450 million (N72 billion) to boost employment opportunities for young people in 20 states and to improve the quality of education for millions of school children in Nigeria.

According to a statement from the bank, the programme tagged, Nigeria Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), will focus on the poor youth and the poorest 10 per cent of households in participating states.

The statement explained further that the scheme will provide youth aged 18 to 35 with opportunities for work and skills training and improved access to social services for the vulnerable as well as support the government in strengthening Nigeria's social safety net system.

The qualifying households are expected to receive regular cash transfers to improve family health and schooling.

The statement also said that the, "$150 million dollars Nigeria State Education Program Investment Project (SEPIP) will serve millions of children in three states, Anambra, Bauchi and Ekiti, by improving the quality of their schooling."

"The project links financing to results achieved through better teacher deployment and school management.

Bauchi sacks poly lecturers over strike

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Senate moves to resolve Aero crisis

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PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Gombe to establish state polytechnic From David Hassan, Gombe

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Students of Government Secondary School, Dadin Kowa, Kano state, at the Production Department of Peoples Media Ltd, during their excursion to the corporate headquarters of the media house, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Photo: Miriam Humbe

Fasehun, Ahmed, NUJ mourn Wole Awolowo From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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hairman of promoting committee of the UPN, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun, has blamed the death of Nigeria Tribune Publisher, Mr. Wole Awolowo, to what he describes as bad governance in Nigeria.

This is just as Kwara state Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, and the national secretariat of the Nigeria Union ofJournalists (NUJ) said they were shocked over Wole's death.

Wole died in a London hospital on Wednesday at the age of 70 reportedly from complications of a road accident he had in 2006.

Fashehun in a statement yesterday, noted that, "Wole thus became a victim of bad governance in Nigeria with its bad roads and inadequate response to emergency situation.

"That Wole lived up to yesterday (Wednesday) before giving up the ghost was an act of God and his peculiar resilience which earned him the appellation of unbreakable from Papa Awo, his late father.

"Wole was an achiever and goal getter. As a UPN member of Lagos State House of Assembly, he was a leader among equals. "He was kind and generous.

"He had PhD degree in theology and a pastor with passion for taking care of the under privileged.

"As a publisher, he was an inspiration to his staff so much that he increased the quality of the Nigerian Tribune to make the paper acceptable and admired by the generality of the Nigerian people.

"Wole made his mark in Nigerian journalism by promoting the dignity of Nigerian journalist.

"It is disheartening to see the publisher leaving us at a time we are resuscitating the UPN, the party Wole held dear to his heart but we are consoled

however that he was aware of our mission and will be with us in spirit."

Ahmed in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, noted that the death of Chief Awolowo at the age of 70 years was painful as Nigeria could still tap from his fountain of wisdom.

"The postulations of late Chief Oluwole Awolowo in the last couple of years in his column, Oba Lectern, though a Christian Column, are didactic, inspiring and forthright in a manner that it instills in the

reader the quest for uprightness.

"Governor Ahmed, in commiserating with the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Mama HID Awolowo, the Awolowo family, management and staff of ANN Plc, prays that God will give them the fortitude to bear the passage of Chief Oluwole Awolowo and the strength and wisdom to keep the flag of the Tribune titles high."

The NUJ in a statement yesterday by its Senior Assistant National Secretary,

Gbemiga Bamidele, also said thatit commiserated with the entire Awolowo family on the irreparable loss.

According to the statement, "during his tenure as the Publisher/Vice Chairman of Tribune Newspapers, the organization witnessed corporate growth and development, and conducive working relationship between the staff and management which aided capacity enhancement and improvement our members working in that organisation."

that allegedly drove against traffic.

"He ordered them to drive back but while complying, a soldier shot at the driver and in the process the bullet hit and killed Dauda who was a back seat passenger.

"Dauda later died at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) that same day, "the statement said.

Bagudu noted that efforts to see the STF Commander over the incident had been futile as he was quoted as claiming that the STF had nothing to do with the death.

The organisation said the family was more devastated over the attitude of the STF Commander and had decided to ask for the handing over of the soldier to the police for prosecution.

While asking for a compensation of N100 million to the family for "the brutal and unprovoked killing of their bread winner," the league also demanded a retraction of the statement of the STF Media Officer, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, which claimed that the driver tried to escape and did not subject himself to search at the time. (NAN)

Group demands N100m compensation over killing of corps member

T

he League for Human Rights based in Jos on Wednesday demanded N100 million compensation from the Nigerian Army over the alleged extrajudicial killing of a 26-year-old NYSC member.

Making the demand in a statement issued in Jos, the group alleged that the corps member, Wagley Dauda, was shot dead by a soldier at NASCO area of Jos on Feb. 16.

The statement entitled, "Extra-Judicial Killing of Wagley Dauda," said that the killer-soldier was attached to the Special Task Force (STF) deployed to restore peace in Plateau state.

The Director of the organization, Mr. Nankin Bagudu, who signed the statement, said the brutal murder of Dauda at about 11a.m. on the fateful day was done by soldiers of the STF who mounted a checkpoint in the area.

He said that Dauda met his untimely death as a passenger in a taxi marked, EW 336 AA, after soldiers at the checkpoint accused the driver of driving against traffic.

Bagudu said that at around PIPC Quarters, a soldier whose identity is still shrouded in secrecy came over and stopped all vehicles

ECOWAS agrees to partner NOA on peace

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reiterated its resolve to partner with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to promote regional peace and security.

According to the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, instability in one country can easily affect the development process in other countries, adding that without peace in the region, there can be no development.

She spoke on Wednesday when she the Director General of the National Orientation Agency(NOA), Mike Omeri, in her office.

The Commissioner said that ECOWAS was ready to support peace initiatives by member states which is consistent with the regional peace and security framework.

Omeri was at the ECOWAS office as part of measures to strengthen relations with the organisation over its programmes, Essential Forum for Peace and sought partnership on the initiative.

ombe state government says it is set to establish a polytechnic at Bajoga, the headquarters of Funakaye local government area.

The proposed school is based on recommendations of a special committee established by government in September 2012 is expected to begin academic activities in June.

Receiving report of the committee on Wednesday, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo noted that establishment of the polytechnic is in line with the administration's priority on education and the need toenhance technical manpower needs of the state.

Chairman of the committee, Professor Eli Bala, who is also the acting Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria said the committee's terms of reference included seeing to the possibility of converting an existing educational institution into the polytechnic, suggest programmes, create a networking link between the institutionand other professional bodies and create academic brief for the polytechnic, among many others.

He said the committee had since worked on all terms of reference presented to it and recommended the establishment of the polytechnicat Bajoga town.

No economic growth without electric power, says Gov. Obi

By Etuka Sunday

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overnor Peter Obi of Anambra state has warned that the country may not be able to make any progress in manufacturing without efficient and stable electricity power supply.

According to him, "electric power is necessary to drive manufacturing which in turn will guarantee economic growth, "Obi said on Wednesday when he visited the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, in Abuja.

According to Obi, President Goodluck Joanthan's Transformation Agenda can only happen when industries manufacture at installed capacities which will in turn have multiplier effects effects in the provision of employment and in the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Obi noted however that the electric power situation has continued to improve in his state, saying that as an industrial base in Nigeria, "Onitsha and Nnewi are towns that have become critical components of the nation's industrial revolution."

The Minister assured the governor that due consideration would be given to all the issues raised, maintaining that the Road Map and Power Sector Reform Agenda will be implemented religiously.

He reiterated Federal Government's commitment to energizing the industrial hub of the south-east, especially the Nnewi, Onitsha and Aba axis to boost manufacturing potentials of these areas.

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Is saving money the business of everybody?

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hile everyone has heard the term a penny saved is a penny earned most of us never live by this phrase.

There are however many ways that one can help save money, which are not as difficult to live by as you may think.

Not all tips are for everyone.

Everyone places value on certain things more than others, but if you look over some of these tips you may realize that you could try some of these out and be surprised with how much you could end up saving. These too are also only some ways you could save. Many will frown at such ideas but some will take note, once again these are just tips.

Shop for clothes at 2nd hand

Money Tip: How to Keep Your Business Data Safe

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ata is the lifeblood of any business, so keeping it safe and accessible should be a top priority for even the smallest startup. Keeping your data safe can seem like a daunting process, but this checklist will help you get started.

Make sure your data is recoverable: Making backups of existing data has long been determined as a critical task for any business, and only foolish administrators would argue otherwise.

Determine how long is too long without your data: Identifying how quickly you need your data back will go a long way toward helping your business determine its recovery time objective (RTO).

Ensure that your backups are secure and compliant: Backup copies should be properly secured and kept at locations that are in accordance with any regulations you may face.

Protect mobile devices: Not typically considered part of the backup regime, the BYOD phenomenon and the increasing access and storage of important business data on smartphones and tablets may soon force the hand of information technology (IT) departments around the world.

Quote

I have known not a few men who, after reaching the summits of business success, found themselves miserable on attaining retirement age.

They were so exclusively engrossed in their day to day affairs that they had no time for friend making.

- B.C. Forbes

stores as it is popularly called (bend-down boutique). Many people have the wrong impression of used clothing stores. While some may be quit dirty, there are several that are pretty nice considering. While some items may make you

wonder how they got in, there are standards they have to keep the store decent. Most will never accept stained clothing or anything ripped or in need of repair. So many of the items have also barely even been put on and yet come at a fraction of

the price of new clothes. You can really find some great pieces at a fraction of the price and no one can tell they are not brand new.

Keep those grocery fliers to compare prices and only try to buy things that are on sale. I know this does not always work well as there could be some items on sale you need at one store yet you would have to go some minutes away in order to get others, but within reason.

When ordering telephone, cable and internet services make them work for your business.

While their prices may always seem set in stone, they not always are. While this is no secret, always be sure to pay every bill on time. Never pay anything late. Interest charges on everything from late bills to all bills just end up costing you much more money in the long run, not to mention can tarnish your credit rating.

Cut down on the energy used in your home, replace light bulbs with more efficient ones, use a

programmable thermostat, and take shorter showers and so on.

Instead of purchasing anything impulsively, write it down and look at your list a day later. Stores are great at marketing and often catch people unguarded. If you are like many, you may end up buying something you really didn't need and may hardly even use.

Waiting a day helps you to determine if it a just an impulse or if it would be a good buy.

Ask yourself, do I have enough money to actually buy this; if you answer not really than don't buy it, it is a simple as that. Anyone tip is uses cash or cash equivalent instead of credit to keep a better eye on your finances.

Finally, while this may sound counterproductive, don't end up being a miser either. Do your best to save money and live within your means, but don't pinch every kobo so hard that you end up folding it in half.

Defining what financial success means to you

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here is an old story about a young boy who is asked by an adult what he wants to be when he grows up. Not one to waste time as a fireman or an astronaut, the young boy gets right to the point and announces that when he grows up, he wants to be rich.

The boy's ambition is one you likely share. After all, how many people do you know who aspire to become poorer as they get older? But what does it mean to be "rich"? While some people might define financial success as achievement of a particular net worth, that may be the wrong way to think about it. As Adrian J. Cartwood, author of the soonto-be-available book "Share Your Number" and the financial blog 7 Million in 7 Years, explains, "People, even rich people, are often dissatisfied with their level of financial success because they have

failed to make the one true connection: that your life isn't about money, rather your money is there to support your life."

Instead of thinking about financial success as a mere number, Cartwood suggests that the best way to achieve monetary fulfillment is to first understand how you want to spend your money - only then can you figure out how much you will need to finance your dreams. "It's only when you find your life's true purpose and calculate how much money you need in order to support the life of your dreams - whether that be $100,000 or $100 million - will you really know what financial success means to you," he explains.

So how does one do this?

1. Take a Closer Look at Your Life Start by asking yourself questions about what you

enjoy doing. This will help you create a clearer picture of your goals for your future and give you a starting point for figuring out what that future will cost.

Ask: " What are your favorite activities, interests, and hobbies right now? " Do you think you will want to continue doing them in the future? " Is it feasible to continue some of the things you enjoy now as you get older, or do you anticipate stopping some of them?

2. Dream Big If money was not an object, what would you love to do? Sail around the world? Build a tropical vacation home? Start your own business? Simply be able to fish every day in the pond near your home? Do not be afraid to name your dreams out loud, no matter how farfetched they seem. The more

specific you can be about your goals for your life, the easier it will be to develop a plan to reach them.

3. Figure out the Costs Once you know what you would love to do with your life, you can start to determine how much money you need to pay for your dream future.

Depending on your plans, this might be as simple as looking up the cost of buying and maintaining a recreational vehicle or as complicated as estimating how much money it would take to open a restaurant in your neighborhood. Either way, you will need to have an idea of how much money you are going to need to finance your desires and still pay for your day-to-day living expenses.

4. Develop a Savings Plan Finally, you need to figure out how you are going to earn and/or save the money you need to reach true financial success. The amount may not be enormous; after all, if your dreams are inexpensive, then your personal definition of financial success will be modest. Of course, if you have grand plans for your future, you will need to figure out a way to put enough money away to be able to live the life you desire.

And more importantly, you will want to start living that life as soon as possible.

Consider your current earnings, how much you are likely to earn in the future, and how much money you can put away on a regular basis. Talk to an investment advisor to help develop a plan to make your savings grow.

It may take hard work and planning, but having the money available to give you the life you truly desire is a worthwhile and reachable goal - and it's the true measure of financial success.

Share your Money Tip: do you have a business/money idea, and you want to share it with our dear readers? Then, send it to: ikabirsule@gmail.com or (text it to 08091904890)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

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Easter is here

hristians the world over today are celebrating Good Friday, the first of the three days of the Easter, marking the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, founder of the Christian faith.

In Nigeria, it will be Easter stained by the blood of many Christian faithful killed by the murderous Boko Haram sect, now joined by Ansaru.

However, the dark days and months building up to this celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ must not be allowed to rob the occasion of its essence. Which is God's unmerited love for a sinful mankind. Jesus Christ was the manifestation of that love. The Bible says that "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends". [John 15.13] This is love that "passes all (human) understanding".

This is what Easter means and Christians, wherever they are, should remain upbeat and let the joy of Easter overflow as never before. Jesus, before he died, said whoever would follow him must carry his "own cross". He warned that

the Christian life would never be a bed of roses but one of hardships, persecution, deprivation and even physical death. "The world will hate you just as it hated me", he said.

However, he said they should be of "good cheer" because "I

wreaking, is already defeated in the spiritual sense. Indeed, as Christ himself said, "do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do more".

However, Jesus' words of assurance of victory over evil are not a call to a life of careless abandon. No. Without a doubt, these are harrowing times for all Nigerians. For Nigerian Christians, in However, Jesus' words of particular, they call for a assurance of victory over evil recommitment to the faith, for are not a call to a life of closeness to God and prayers careless abandon. No. for the country.

They require that we show Without a doubt, these are even greater love for fellow harrowing times for all country men and women, Nigerians. For Nigerian other compatriots who do not Christians, in particular, they belong in the Christian faith. call for a recommitment to the Indeed, Christians must resist faith, for closeness to God the Devil's temptation to and prayers for the country blame all Muslims for their present travails. There are millions of good, empathetic have overcome the world". He Muslims who detest Boko achieved this by succumbing to Haram as much as Christians death on the Cross of Calvary on do, if not more. These should Good Friday (today) and coming be embraced. Standing back to life on Easter Sunday, together they can defeat Boko thereby scoring a glorious Haram physically and victory over Satan. Boko Haram, spiritually. in spite of the seemingly Therefore, we say happy unstoppable destruction it is Easter

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 13

Democracy and bad leadership in Nigeria

By Simon Shanum

T

he expectations for good governance were quite high when Nigeria returned to the democratic system of government in 1999.

Nigerians were looking forward to reaping the dividends of democracy. The narrative was that the military was delinquent, corrupt and unaccountable; and democracy would offer answers to critical matters such as unemployment, poverty, insecurity, absence of basic infrastructure, corruption etc. Believing our politicians had picked a few lessons from the catastrophe of the first, second and third republics, we entered the fourth republic full of hope.

Fast forward fourteen years later and we are still searching for one key ingredient needed for development and nation build quality leadership. It is true that the progress of any nation rests on the stature or standard of its leadership and how they can bring this to bear on the welfare of people of the nation. No nation can enjoy lasting peace if her citizens live in abject poverty particularly if that nation is acknowledged as having the ability and substantial means to provide development and guarantee a good standard of living. Unfortunately, that is the tale of Nigeria. It is a tale of poor governance, insecurity and poverty in the midst of plenty.

A former Minister of

Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili while speaking at the 42nd convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) stated that $45 billion in foreign reserves and $22 billion in the Excess Crude Account were unaccounted for by the Yar'Adua-Jonathan administration. In defence of this assertion, she challenged the President Jonathan administration to a debate, which the presidency is yet to accept. Neither did the administration proffer credible and coherent evidence to refute her assertion.

Recently, the President granted pardon to the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and a few other persons. This puts a big question mark on this administration's anti-corruption stance and rhetoric. One can't help but wonder if democracy in Nigeria is supposed to mean the opposite of accountability. Do we now practice a democracy that thrives on impunity?

Nigeria has enjoyed several cycles of oil boom, but our rulers have in all ramifications failed to convert oil income into development of human capital and critical sectors such as the transport, infrastructure, health, education, agriculture or investment in foreign assets as other resource-rich countries have done with their oil income.

Rather, they have progressed in corruption and looting of public

funds. They introduced the politics of recycled succession where the first elected persons in this so called democracy have positioned themselves and recycled themselves around their political interests. That philosophy has made it grim for anybody, particularly young people, to rise from outside and become anything significant in our political space without acquiescing to the role of god fathers.

When the leadership of a nation persistently fails to achieve its primary obligation of providing safety and progress, and begins to struggle with preserving security and order within its territory and borders, such a leadership becomes a

threat to itself and the nation. A democratic society must separate its political power from its economic power. Some people must be seen to clearly control political power without also necessarily having control of economic power. This way, a synergetic correlation is fashioned. The political power containers know they have to deliver peace and stability and effective infrastructure if they must be buttressed by the economic power holders who guarantee the being of the political class through financing of campaigns and internal economic happenings that provide taxes to the government.

In Nigeria, the power of the political class is determined by

“

In Nigeria, the power of the political class is determined by how economically robust one is just as one's economic position is determined by one's political power. It is clear that the more economically strong one is, the more politically powerful one becomes, and vice versa. This clarifies why our democracy just would not work

how economically robust one is just as one's economic position is determined by one's political power. It is clear that the more economically strong one is, the more politically powerful one becomes, and vice versa. This clarifies why our democracy just would not work. The rich and powerful will do whatever it takes to have, control and continue in power because, to them, it is the unquestionable way to more economic breakthrough. Since a clearly distinct separation cannot be made between the Nigerian political class and the economic class, individuals at the rudder of affairs do not feel grateful or obligated to any other class. So, the absence of the middle economic class, who by strategy of true democracy forces the political class to convey good governance, permits the political class to eat their cake and have it.

We are progressively sick and worn-out of a democracy that has demonstrated to be worse than the military. If the political rulers linger in their ride of corruption, misrule, looting and failure to protect the citizen of its nation, the rising tendency to survive without the government will push the society further apart. In the end, it will serve neither the government nor the people.

Simon Sylvester Shanum is a 300 Level student of Political Science at the University of Abuja

Appointments and pardons: What is our benchmark?

By Osi Okponobi

I

changed the title of this article midway, from "Presidential Pardons and Appointments - What is our benchmark?", to its present title, which I consider more appropriate, as the President is not alone in this. He is not alone in appointing or pardoning his kith and kin. We simply do not have benchmarks for making appointments in Nigeria, and this cuts across parties, whether ACN or PDP, CPC, APC, ASPIRIN, CODEINE or PHENSIC. It is a general malaise plaguing the country that appointments are based, not usually on merit (I don't mean paper qualifications), but on who you know, or 'man know man', or based on family ties or patronage. Many examples abound all over the country. There is the case of a sole proprietor of a Political party, who single-handedly decides who becomes Governor or Commissioner or elected representative. This same sole proprietor has no qualms in also selecting his kith and kin, including his wife, children and in-laws into the Government or the National Assembly. These types of appointments are known as NEPOTISM! And NEPOTISM is a form of corruption, and a product of a corrupt mind!

There is also the case of a Governor in the Southwest who

has a penchant for appointing children of famous people into his Government as Commissioners and advisers. These appointments were never based on records of THEIR OWN PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, but on their parent's achievements. These are appointments based on patronage.

Another bizarre one was the appointment of the President's wife as a perm secretary, without QUALIFICATIONS. By this, I mean, a thoroughbred, on the job EXPERIENCE! I am not afraid to expose or say these things, and hope someone from the northern region would equally expose similar cases, as I have done about the few examples that I know of. The President is equally guilty of this, albeit, to a lesser extent or degree, by his appointment of Mrs Bianca Onoh Ojukwu as Ambassador of Spain.

I have written about this before, and explained my concerns about the appointment. I did not believe she had the requisite experience or had the basic minimum, which should include speaking Spanish. I doubt the British Government would appoint a person as Ambassador that is not even fluent in the Language of the host country, as a minimum requirement.

Imagine if the British High Commissioner to Nigeria needs an interpreter to communicate.

What is the point? It would involve unnecessary extra cost to hire interpreters. Of what use is it to appoint a person an ambassador of a country, who can't even read their newspapers or understand their news?

My concern is not personal. I don't know her at all. However, I am not sure that she has ever been in a position where she had to manage or supervise more than 10 people before, in a work environment, how much more, an Embassy, with numerous aides and staff, including career diplomats. I stand to be corrected if I am wrong. Maybe I wouldn't have minded much, if she was posted to head a mission, like Gambia, or another small country, before being posted to a major European country like Spain. I have no issue also with the President rewarding her (another form of patronage) for the support that her husband's party gave him during the 2011 elections. That is politics!

I'll give an example of a fine and right appointment. Until Sir Christopher Kolade, a super administrator, was posted to the Nigerian High Commission, did systems begin to improve there.

I had cause to visit the High Commission before and after his tenure, and the difference was as clear as daylight and darkness.

Before his time, the Commission was a complete contrast from the rest of the British society. An

experience in there, used to seem like one was back in Nigeria, and I always used to wonder whether the staff do not mix or go out into the British society, like go to the banks and the stores? I used to wonder whether they do not see how customer service is delivered so that they too could emulate these good standards and practices. But with Kolade, the High Commission changed and became a different place. On my last visit there, last year, I felt proud being a Nigerian, and openly commended the systems, which is now just a shade different from the rest of Britain.

This is the product of appointing the right persons or people into positions.

Appointing people without the requisite experience or skills, or appointing those that have a history of failures is not good for the country. This is the same as appointing people because of political patronage. This will only spell mediocrity and ineptitude and bring about more inefficiency. It is tantamount to putting square pegs in round holes. It would not work".

Moving to the issue of 'pardon', the recent Presidential pardon comes to mind. I was one of the strongest critics of the 'pardon' (and still am). But having listened to arguments from the other side, one can begin to see a much bigger picture. The other side argues thus, 'Why is it that

only Alams (pardon me for not being able to spell his mouthful name) was convicted out of all the corrupt governors (about 31 of them) indicted by Ribadu's EFCC?' Fair point! Some argue that 'if the Nigerian society has pardoned those other corrupt people, and others that have found their way into parliament, why shouldn't the President pardon Alams (his confessed mentor)?' Another fair point! Others have also pointed out and even asked me, 'If I was the President, and I see such injustice (or selective Justice) meted to my 'person' or my own, would I not right this INJUSTICE or SELECTIVE JUSTICE?' Fair question!

The last question actually threw me off guard, and made me think very hard! Yes, I thought very deep and hard. A bigger question arising from that is, 'IS SELECTIVE JUSTICE INJUSTICE'? Yes, I see the points and merits in the argument that these people seem to be making.

However, my benchmark would not permit me to use a wrong to correct another wrong. Two wrongs do not ever make a right in my books! My benchmark of 'NO SCAPEGOATS and NO SACRED-COWS' would not allow me to pardon Alams, even if he were my son or brother. I will leave the pardon to someone else, if at all!

Osi Okponobi is reachable on Jasol2kone@yahoo.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 14

Jonathan, please, save Victoria and Ihuoma

By Funmi Macaulay

I

am surprised that I have not read in any media, local or international, about efforts by the Nigerian government to help two Nigerian students who have been on a deportation list in Canada for a 'crime' that makes mockery of the very ideals that western societies pride themselves on - hard work.

Victoria Ordu and Ihuoma Amadi, 20 and 21 respectively, have been holed up in the basement of a church in Canada not for document forgery. No, not for 419, internet scam or fake marriage, but for attempting to work and earn decent stipends to augment what they get from home.

The news media in Canada has been awash with the reports since June 2012 when the two University of Regina students took refuge in a church hoping that the Canadian authorities will forgive them for working in Walmart for two weeks. The issue here is that the student visa they carry permits them to work on campus but not outside. The students have in their various interviews stated that they stopped the Walmart jobs immediately they became aware of the restriction. But the Canada authorities have simply refused to budge.

Maybe the situation has lingered because of the green colour of the passport they carry.

I doubt that the Canadian authorities would have held their grounds the way they've done for almost a year now if these two

By Beckie Orpin

I

t all started with a news story written by Tobi Soniyi and carried by the Thisday Newspaper of February 16 this year. According to the report, the former governor of Benue state and Senator representing Benue North-West Senatorial District of the state, George Akume has been dragged before a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged forgery of his West African Examination Council WAEC certificate.

The plaintiff, Phillip Agbese through his counsel, Amobi Nzelu is praying for a declaration that Akume did not possess the certificate number SCO 39633 allegedly issued to him by Government Secondary School Oturkpo, Benue State in 1971.

Joined in the suit are WAEC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Inspector General of Police and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as 2nd to 5th defendants.

The plaintiff also asked the court to declare that whatever documents that were presented to INEC by Akume consequent upon which he was cleared to contest the gubernatorial election in Benue state especially the West African Certificate No SCO 39633 and the University of Ibadan certificate and NYSC discharge certificate No. 043655 were false. He also wanted a declaration that the senatorial seat of Benue North-West senatorial district of Benue state

given the students were benefit of the Americans, doubt, while the Indians, students Chinese or even Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text weren't," said South Africans.

Michelle messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written As one born of Stewart, one of Nigerian contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 the Canadians parents in the words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and campaigning US, I have the a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed for the release of privilege of to: the two knowing how it Nigerians. "The feels traveling most common The Editor, with the response to this Nigerian Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, type of passport and 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. infraction is a that of the US. Email: opinion@peoplesdaily-online.com fine of $320," It is SMS: 08097530639 said Stewart. instructive that "This is Canada, while Walmart that employed but it feels like hell for us," knowing what day light looks the students have gone without Ihuoma said in an interview like. While immigration any rebuke from the with CBS Canada. "We feel authorities accepted that government, these two young forgotten here, nothing is Walmart had made an honest ladies have remained imprisoned mistake in their hiring practices, happening at all." in a church basement for more Friends and well-wishers of the same leniency wasn't granted than nine months now without these two students have in the to the students. "Walmart was

WRITE TO US

“

Being Canada's largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa should serve as an incentive in extracting the right government action in diplomatic matters like this. This is the time for Nigeria to flex some diplomatic and economic muscles. I remember when the reclusive North Korean government arrested two US journalists and sentenced them to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour for illegally entering the country. President Obama sent former president Clinton to the country and in 24 hours those two lady journalists were released to join their families

last nine months mounted pressure on the Canadian government, but not much has been achieved. I have been involved in the social media campaign to drum support for these innocent young Nigerians, but much as the protests on and off line continues to grow, the Canadian authorities have remained hard-heartened.

Canada has strong trade relations with Nigeria and is hoping to grow its economic presence in the country as a springboard to reach the rest of Africa. Being Canada's largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa should serve as an incentive in extracting the right government action in diplomatic matters like this. This is the time for Nigeria to flex some diplomatic and economic muscles. I remember when the reclusive North Korean government arrested two US journalists and sentenced them to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour for illegally entering the country. President Obama sent former president Clinton to the country and in 24 hours those two lady journalists were released to join their families.

Nigeria, by virtue of its economic and strategic might, can achieve similar result when efforts are made from the top.

I expect President Jonathan's government to act now. Please, save Victoria and Ihuoma from what their lawyer has described as 'honest mistake'.

Ms Funmi Macaulay wrote in from New York

Akume's trial by the media being occupied by Akume was vacant having not possessed the requisite qualification to contest for the said position.

Legally, the media is given unfettered access to court records and proceedings. In fact, the media is protected against prosecution when it reports court proceedings and reports them accurately. However, as will be shown herein, the Thisday reporter jumped the gun, thus making the newspaper actionable for libel.

Since the publication of that report, the Senator has been docked, not by the courts of law but by the Nigerian media. On 18th February the Pilot newspaper in a dubious report alleged that the leadership of the Senate was making moves to suspend Senator Akume as Minority leader until he is able to clear the allegations hanging on his head. It should be made clear that at no point did the Senate or the Minority Leadership contemplate removing Senator Akume from his position over these allegations, so the Pilot newspaper lied.

The Senator reacted to the barrage of press attacks by publishing in the Peoples Daily, Daily Trust, Nation and ThisDay copies of his credentials from secondary to the university level. The publications were

carried as one full-page advertisement in each of these papers. We thought this would put the public argument to rest and those who have proof that the man forged his certificate would stick to the law courts where they had gone in the first instance to prove their case. Alas, we were wrong.

On February 26, a group that called itself the Youth wing of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) took the case of the alleged certificate forgery to the entrance of the National Assembly. The group told journalists that they wrote a letter to Akume and copied the Senate President David Mark, National Leaders of ACP, General Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed and ACP Senators, calling on Akume to resign his position as the voice of the opposition in the National Assembly to clear his name in the allegation raised against him before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Amazingly, as I write, Senator Akume has not received the letter purportedly sent to him by this "APC youth wing."

My information is that no Senator, including Senate President David Mark, Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu has received any copy of this letter.

This group, which does not exist, did not have a letter for anybody.

The hungry young men were apparently paid to come and make some noise to capture media coverage, which they did.

The final assault of the trial by media came between 18 and 19 of March in the Peoples Daily, Blueprint and Daily Trust. Writing under different headlines with different bylines, the three newspapers recycled an article that was planted in them. It is amazing how otherwise respectable newspapers like the three mentioned could be swindled the way it happened.

The article is a word-by-word art of plagiarism! It indeed is a disgrace to journalism.

As earlier mentioned, Senator Akume had published in Peoples Daily and Daily Trust copies of his certificates. Unfortunately, these two newspapers, since they reproduced what was an already written script failed to mention that the Distinguished Senator had offered an explanation in their papers with a publication of copies of his certificates.

On the 21st of March when the case came up, the plaintiff and his lawyer were not even present in the court. The lawyer who filed the case, Amobi Nzelu was reported to be sick and he did not even properly brief the other lawyer who showed up in his

place. Whereas they had given the public the impression that the trial would begin, they had not made any efforts to serve the defendants in the case with the summons. The lawyer who stood in for the plaintiff applied for an adjournment to enable him serve the defendants.

The mischief did not end there. The shocker is that the same lawyer who is enmeshed in the attempted registration of the now infamous African People's Congress " APC" with INEC is the same man who was eventually handed the plaintiff's case on behalf of his "sick learned colleague". Barrister Samuel Chinedu Nwokorie has suddenly become hotcake indeed. This fact makes the handwriting on the wall very clear. Who is afraid of Senator George Akume and the All Progressive Congress!

The Akume certificate issue is a case study of how the media could be hoodwinked and misguided to mislead the public.

The facts of his case are clear and we are sure the courts will acquit him. On the other hand, if some media houses are not careful, they may soon become willing tools in the hands of peddlers of lies.

Beckie Orpin is Special Assistant on Media & Constituency to Senator George Akume

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 15

Achebe: Africa's voice, Nigeria's conscience

By Victor Ehikhamenor

I

grew up under my grandfather's ancient pear tree in the Nigerian village of Uwessan. The tree's roots were massive and its leaves shielded us from hot tropical sun while we played soccer. Elders also used it as shade while drinking palm wine and telling hunting tales in the evening. We sometimes climbed a low branch to set wiretraps and catch birds. When a dead branch broke off, it became firewood. Most important, the tree was a major cash crop for my grandfather, who sold its fruits to traders from far away.

Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian writer who died last week, was a similarly rich resource for an entire generation of Nigerians.

He meant different things to different people, but he was first and foremost a writer whom we all grew up to respect. We were raised on Mr. Achebe's stories. His fame spread through towns and villages across Nigeria and even beyond. I first encountered him at the age of 10 through the pages of "Chike and the River," a children's storybook. Mr. Achebe later became a regular staple at every step of my educational journey.

In secondary school, his masterpiece "Things Fall Apart" was a recommended text. My older siblings had read the novel and passed down the story and a worn-out copy to me. One of my older sisters had warned me that some parts of the book were so tragic I would cry. I never knew until then that written words could elicit such emotions. When you grew up in a village like mine, not many books had familiar characters, setting or diction like Mr. Achebe's.

His use of parables and proverbs brought his writing home for me, because they were sayings I heard every day as a villager. In my undergrad days

as an English and literature major, we were asked to write long essays on him and his works.

Throughout the four years in the department, most of us had read him so much we felt we knew him personally.

I finally met Mr. Achebe in person years later in New York.

When he entered the room, everybody froze in reverence. He was not a physical giant with a booming voice. He was a gentle needle that sewed tattered clothes, a minuscule scorpion's tail that packed venom. He answered every question with the precision of a sniper. He was a man who spoke gently, yet he was a writer "in whose company

the prison walls fell down," as Nelson Mandela said.

Mr. Achebe was a source of pride to many Nigerians, an elder we could point to when the world laughed at our shortcomings. We often invoked his name like that of a fierce god.

Beyond his literary prowess, Mr. Achebe was known to stand for what he believed in. When those who did not know the African story told it to glorify themselves, he rose like a lion and thwarted the hunter's tales with truth. Not only did he fight back against the mistelling of our story by white explorers; he equipped other writers to do the same. With fiction and nonfiction, he helped

“

I finally met Mr. Achebe in person years later in New York.

When he entered the room, everybody froze in reverence. He was not a physical giant with a booming voice. He was a gentle needle that sewed tattered clothes, a minuscule scorpion's tail that packed venom. He answered every question with the precision of a sniper

us deride colonialism. He went to the front lines of the Biafran war in the late 1960s and served as an ambassador for the shortlived breakaway republic when he felt the need to side with his fellow Ibos in their unsuccessful fight for independence.

He also addressed corruption head on, teaching younger Nigerians not to be hungry to the point of selling our birthrights.

His soul and conscience were nonnegotiable. He turned down Nigeria's national honors twice because he was one who believed an elder should not eat his meal atop a heap of malodorous rubbish. Mr. Achebe was a gentle rebel who refused to shake the necrotic outstretched hands of corrupt leaders. He was an old breed, a wise man from a different generation who could not stand the wanton looting of Nigeria's public coffers. He would have loved to spend his twilight years among his own people instead of in America. With the bastardization of a nation he was once proud of by kleptocratic military and civilian rulers, the old man had no country to return to alive.

Victor Ehikhamenor, a writer and visual artist, is the author of "Excuse Me"

Why the farmer's phone may perish like others before it

By Amene Ter'Hemen

T

here is a popular saying used by the Tiv people of Benue State, Nigeria that "Or timin nguhar veren a ver pe timin nguhar ga". Loosely translated it means "he who limps does not choose where to limp"; he limps in the valley as much as he limps on the hill, limps at home as well as abroad; wherever he goes, he limps. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) a couple of weeks back enjoyed prominent media attention over its plan to 'facilitate' ownership of mobile phones by ten million poor Nigerian farmers (since the Ministry said it is not buying and distributing phones, I guess the word 'facilitate' will do for now).

I listened first hand to the minister on TV as he passionately reeled out some of the benefits of the project to the poor farmers who (in his words) "are not on facebook or the internet". It was so captivating I almost drooled on myself as I listened to him; it sounded so good. At a point during the interview, I switched to fantasy mode visualizing the benefits such a project will bring the poor Nigerian farmer. It felt so good until one 'senseless' comment cropped up in my head; "the planning, visualising, conceptualising is usually very good, it is the implementing that is the problem!" Oh my God, not now! Why do these

thoughts keep crashing and spoiling parties? I decided to check up on the Minister and his Ministry to see if he can do all he says he will do; give farmers fertilizer, seeds etc through their phone; link them to tractor hiring agencies using their phones; give them tips on new farming technique, give them information on the market value of their farm produce etc.

Since the phone for farmers project or e-wallet project is information technology driven, I looked for one place I could check how the Ministry of Agriculture is doing IT-wise, and what better place to check than the Ministry's website www.fmard.org? Normally, most government agencies use gov.ng (www.fmard.gov.ng); when I tried it, I was redirected

to www.fmard.org. What I saw on the site didn't disappoint me! Not because it was ok, but because it was not, and I wasn't expecting it to be (no expectation, no disappointment).

The following are my findings on the website: The latest news item on the scrolling "Latest News" bar was updated 26 September, 2012 (First TEF Fellow Resumes at Ministry of Agriculture). The FMARD News (bottom left of front page) has "Oyemomi urges agric ministry staff to remain productive, peaceful" as its latest entry on 1 November 2012. I could stick with these two and close my case; what can be more "latest" on a webpage than news?

However, I took the pains to explore further, hoping against

“

How can we trust a ministry to regularly source for information and facts to update farmers' knowledge and skills on new farming techniques, prices of farm produce, accessing form input, etc when it cannot regularly update its website with even the activities it (the ministry) does?

hope that at least one post will show up later than November 2012. I found NONE! In the Media Room, the latest NEWS was the one of 1 November 2012 (listed above); The VIDEOS link didn't work (it couldn't open); the latest MEDIA RELEASE was on 04 September 2012 (Adesina - we won't lower tariff on crude palm oil); EVENTS link opened a blank calendar; PHOTOS had the latest entry on 24 September 2012 (the Minister addressing participants at the ICRISAT 40th Anniversary Symposium). I could give up now, but with the last strength and hope I opened the Knowledgebase page; the latest entry (semen of animals) was not dated, I couldn't tell its age.

I am done with the site, I left.

What this means is, since this year 2013 began in January and now we are almost closing shop for March, the Ministry's site has not been updated. Is this how 'regular' the Ministry will be updating the knowledge base of farmers or sending new farming tips to them?

I don't have any problem with giving phones to farmers (jeeps are given to those with enough cars already; Mr Biggs money given to those already constipated; we are known for misplaced priorities, pounding yams before grinding the egusi for the soup), but I am seriously concerned, worried and wondering whether this too will become one of the many abandoned initiatives; and seriously, going by the

way the Ministry treats its site I may not have a long time to wonder. Besides, the day another minister enters that office Nigerian farmers had better blow e-wallet a goodbye kiss. We know Nigerians leaders hardly continue with their predecessor's projects.

How can we trust a ministry to regularly source for information and facts to update farmers' knowledge and skills on new farming techniques, prices of farm produce, accessing form input, etc when it cannot regularly update its website with even the activities it (the ministry) does?

It has long been observed that the issue with Nigeria is not in project planning and initiation, but the successful implementation. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture cannot and should not choose to 'limp' on farmers' phones only. If the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina wants Nigerians to believe he can pull this through, he should start by showing Nigerians how serious he is by regularly updating the Ministry's website. The way to show us you can regularly feed farmers with tips and updates on their phones is when you can regularly update your site.

Until then, I would cross my fingers as I count this as yet another drain pipe of the nations "scarce" resources.

Amene Ter'Hemen is reachable on www.facebook.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 16

FCTA assures residents on provision of basic infrastructure

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Federal Capital T e r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA) under Senator Bala Mohammed has assured residents that they remain firmly committed to the delivery of good governance to the people through the provision of basic infrastructure and services such as water, amongst others The Minister further assured that above all security of lives and property in and around the entire Territory in accordance with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

He called on the general public, especially the residents of FCT to ignore the falsehoods being orchestrated and spread by these elements through their dubious fliers and unwarranted alarms.

The attention of the FCT Administration has been drawn to the diversionary activities of some disgruntled elements scheming to blackmail the FCT Administration and the person of the Honourable Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed through circulation of malicious fliers.

While the FCT Administration and particularly the Hon. Minister acknowledge the right of individuals to express their views freely, the Administration will not bow to blackmail.

For the avoidance of doubt, the FCT Administration under Senator Mohammed will not be deterred by the antics of those who are driven by selfish motives and blind ambition to malign innocent people.

A young woman hawking soft drinks yesterday at Asokoro, in Abuja.

Kwali Chairman has no right to suspend me, says monarch

By Usman Shuaibu

F

ollowing the suspension letter issued to Etsu of Kwali, Alhaji Shaban Audu Nizazo (III) on the February, 25th, 2013 by the Chairman of Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Joseph K. Shazin, the Etsu of Kwali has said that the chairman has no right to suspend him, stating that his presence at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairmanship flag-off in Kwali should not be a subject to my suspension because the other traditional rulers attended.

He explained that the chairman suspended him out of ignorance because he did not follow the laid down rules and regulations guiding the traditional institution of Kwali Area Council.

Abuja based artist advocates use of poetry to solve societal challenges

A

n Abuja based artist, Mr Ononiwu George has called on Nigerians to harness the potential in poetry in solving challenges in the society.

George, a painter, singer and poet told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that poets were world leaders because they produced ideas that brought development to the society.

“Poets compress ideals in words.

The society must look up to poets for solutions to problems of the nation because ideas rule the world.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

“Poetry is a compression of thoughts in words. If the society begins to harness the potential we have in poetry in Nigeria, all our problems will be solved.

“Not everybody thinks in our society. Most people express other people’s thoughts. Those who think, think up ideals and the rest follow up the ideas blindly.

“The society must look up to poets for solutions to problems of our nation because they think up ideas that build government policies of a country.’’ (NAN)

Audu Nizazo III, who stated this in an interview with Peoples Daily in his palace in Kwali, accused the chairman of disrespecting the traditions and customs of the people of Kwali.

According to the monarch, the chairman gave the three reasons for his suspension which includes; that I attended the PDP Flagg – off campaign which took place at Kwali on the February,21 st , 2013, that I refused to attend the security meeting of the council and that I made false allegation over insecurity during the INEC stakeholders’ meeting.

His words: my presence at the PDP Chairmanship flag-off in Kwali should not be a subject to my suspension because the other traditional rulers attended the PDP campaign flag-off in their respective area councils to receive the FCT minister, saying that his own

presence at the rally should not be exceptional.

He recalled that the chairman had one time removed Chief of Wako village and him from participating in the council security meeting for over six months.

The monarch applauded the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed for his prompt response over the suspension saying that the minister had instructed him to carry out his activities as the Etsu of Kwali.

He explained that when the minister read the suspension letter he wrote a letter to the council, saying that the chairman has no audacity to suspend the chief.

In his response, the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Joseph K. Shazin, said that the chief was suspended based on the utterances during the INEC stakeholders meeting.

Meanwhile, some of the residents who reacted to the suspension of Etsu Kwali, accused the council chairman of tempering with the traditional institution of Kwali, they said that the ancestors of Kwali would net forgive the chairman.

Alhaji Shabam Audu Nizazo III, Etsu of Kwali. Photo: Usman Shuaibu

Hot weather: Kubwa residents decry lack of electricity

By Adeola Tukru

R

esidents of Kubwa in the Federal Capital Territory have complained about the manner in which electricity is rationed in their area particularly during the heat period, calling on the power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the Minister of FCT to come to their aide .

Mr. Isaac Onah,a residents of Kubwa village are finding it difficult to cope with the rate of

power supplied and also complained of bad roads and water scarcity in some communities in the area.

Onah said most houses in the area are on two days on and one day off. He said during the period of two days on, electricity is not always constant, adding that most houses have no meter.

He said tenants are always shocked to see high electricity bills and wonder how such calculations are done without meters.

The residents, appealed to the

Power Holding Company of Nigeria to ensure constant electricity for security purposes.

Another residents in Pipeline Extention 2, George Oke, explained that few days ago due to power outage in his area, a group of hoodlums stormed his apartment and made away with his car battery.

Some residents of Kubwa village also complained of bad roads and improper water drainage systems, which they said, recently caused flooding at Gbazango part of Kubwa.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

INSIDE FCT COURTS Court sentences mechanic to 2 weeks imprisonment for reckless driving

A

n Abuja Magistrates Court has sentenced a mechanic, one Bummi Akinyemi, 34, of Gwagwa, to two weeks imprisonment for reckless driving and failure to obey the traffic warden.

Magistrate Abdulateef Abolaji, who convicted Akinyemi, after he pleaded guilty, however, gave him an option to pay a fine of N2, 000.

Ealier, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Simon Emmanuel, had told the court that on March 22, the accused drove in a reckless manner, disobeyed the traffic warden, which almost led to an auto crash.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 28 of the Road Traffic Act. The section states that“direction indicators intended to intimate a right-hand turn shall be fitted on the right or near side, and direction indicator intended to intimate left hand turn shall be fitted only on the left side or side of the vehicle’’. (NAN)

PAGE 17

Seven company workers in court over N7.4m theft

S

even workers of an Abujabased company, Demmo Aluminium Energy Resources Ltd, were docked be a Karu Chief Magistrates Court for allegedly stealing building materials valued at N7.4 million.

The materials include aluminium coils and Brazilian felt.

The accused are Ibrahim Abdulmumuni, 27 (Manager);

Obasonjo Akadara, 32 and Akachukwu Joseph, 28.

Others are Tolorunoba Sayepe, 38; Mohammed Bako, 30 (security guard); Mayowa Are, 23 and Mohammed Ishiaku, 22.

The police prosecutor, Sgt. Abiola Oyewusi, told the court that on Oct. 28, 2012, Abdulmumuni conspired with others and handed over the factory keys to the fifth accused

(Bako).

“Bako in turn gave the keys to one Vincent Nnajiefe who is now at large. They carted away eight rolls of aluminium coils and some Brazilian felt worth N7.4 million, “ he alleged.

The prosecutor also alleged that Bako confessed that he was given N500,000 as his share in the deal.

In addition, Oyewusi told the court that the offence contravened the provisions of the

19, 2013.

The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, told the court that one Attah Sunday of Sahara Dabo Estate, Abuja reported the case at the Life Camp Police Station on March 19, 2013.

Emmanuel said that on the same date, while the

complainant was asleep in his brother’s house at Sahara Estate, the accused broke into his room.

He said the accused woke him up and engaged him in a fight; in the process, the complainant sustained injury in his mouth, adding that the accused also sold the complainant’s phone, valued

Penal Code.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Hadiza Dodo, granted them bail in N500,000 each and one surety in like sum.

She ordered that each surety must have a reasonable means of livelihood, reside within the jurisdiction of the court and also swear to an affidavit of means.

Dodo adjourned the case to April 7, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

Labourer in court over assault

O

ne Anthony Ugashi, a 33-year -old laborer of Sahara Dabo Estate, Abuja was yesterday arraigned before an Abuja Magistrates Court for alleged criminal force, assault and theft.

The accused was said to have committed the offence on March

Man jailed for stealing 2 phones in a mosque

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court has sentenced a 28-year-old Dauda Kashim, to one year imprisonment for stealing two cell phones in a mosque.

Senior Magistrate Idaiyat Akanni, who sentenced the convict,

did not give him an option of fine.

Akanni said although the convict pleaded for leniency, he must be punished to serve as deterrent to others.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Simon Emmanuel, told the court that one Salisu Sani and Isah Zaria, all of Kado

village, Abuja, reported the case to the Life Camp police station on March 27.

Emmanuel said that the convict, of Kado village, stole the phones, each valued at N5, 000, from the complainants in the mosque while they were praying. (NAN)

at N30,000.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 265 and 288 of the Penal Code.

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

The Magistrate, Mr. Abolaji Abdulateef, granted the accused bail in the sum of N10, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Abdulateef ordered that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, with a traceable and verifiable work address.

He said the surety should also deposit his driver’s licence and adjourned the case to April 8, 2013 for further hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 18

Easter: Spread the gospel of peace and love, FCT minister urges residents

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has called on the residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to spread the gospel of love, sacrifice, tolerance and peaceful co-existence as the World celebrates this year's Easter.

The Minister made this call in his Easter Message as Christians all over the World commemorate the Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Senator Mohammed congratulated the residents,

particularly the Christians on this auspicious occasion and noted that the celebration calls for sober reflection as well as emulating the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.

The Minister charged residents of the Federal Capital Territory to rededicate themselves to the service of God and humanity to make the world a better place than we met it.

Senator Mohammed expressed gratitude to God for the privilege and mercy He has granted us in FCT to join other Christians around the globe to commemorate this

providential day in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

He used the occasion to appeal to all residents of the Federal Capital Territory to continue to be their brothers' keepers, irrespective of our religious belief.

The Minister enjoined residents to continue to supplicate to God for peace and prosperity to reign in our dear nation especially with the current security challenges the country is facing.

"As you pray for the nation, I enjoin you to also pray for its leadership, for God to continue

to guide, protect and give the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan [GCFR] the strength and the wisdom to steer the affairs of state, so that he will judiciously implement the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government," he emphasized.

Senator Mohammed assured that the FCT Administration in collaboration with the security agencies are more than ever committed in protecting the lives and property of all the residents of the Territory.

He advised residents to be security conscious and always

Easter: Akinjide tasks residents to pray for Nigeria

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, yesterday urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in offering prayers for the country and the leaders.

The minister, who stated this in Abuja in her Easter message to residents of the Federal Capital Territory, also advised Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the service of God, the nation and humanity.

She enjoined Nigerians to demonstrate love and genuine care for one another in the true spirit of Easter as well as imbibe the lessons of peace, selflessness and sacrifice for the common good of the nation.

"Easter is all about sacrifice, hope, love and peace. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave his life a ransom for us. Let this spirit of selflessness that was in Christ spur us to greater love for one another and renew our faith in our nation.

"Christians and Nigerians should use this period of Easter to pray for the sustenance of Nigeria's unity. We also need to rededicate ourselves to the service of God and mankind in line with the examples set by Jesus Christ," the minister counseled.

Akinjide, who oversees the Area Councils and Satellite Towns in the FCT, further advised residents of the nation's capital to live in harmony and eschew acrimony.

She assured that the FCT Administration would continue to execute programmes and projects that would impact positively on the lives of the people.

"Our resolve is to continue to implement policies and programmes that will benefit the residents of FCT," she added.

Security check-point along Kubwa- Zuba Expressway causing traffic hold up, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Judge orders man to be remanded in prison for alleged armed robbery accused were six English suits

By Stanley Onyekwere with agency reports

J

ustice Maryanne Anenih , of an Abuja High Court yesterday ordered one Ejiro Ogban, 26 to be remanded in prison on a two-count charge of armed robbery.

Prosecutor Babajide Olanipekun explained in court that Ogban, of Mashafa Road, Mpape Village, Abuja, conspired with Frank Akangee, now at large, with others to commit the crime.

He told the court that the offence was committed on Sept.

28, 2012 at about 2.30 a.m. at No 8, Matada streeet, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja within the Abuja

judicial division.

According to him, the offence is punishable under Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Special Provision Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecution said that the accused robbed Usman Abdulrahaman, Abdullahi Hassan and Usman Abdullahi of No: 8 Matada Street, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, while armed with locally made pistol.

Olanipekun said the accused stole two vehicles including a white Nissan Sunny car with registration No: NUS 973 AP valued at N1.3 million, a Golf 3 car with registration No: JJ 679 AT. Other items stolen by the

and other wears, a Nokia E63 cellphone, one Nokia torch light handset, three passport wallets with union membership identification cards, a Samsung handset and N123,000 cash.

The offence, the police said, was punishable under Section 1 (1) 2(a) of the Robbery and Fire Arms Special Provisions Act of the Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Olanipekun prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him produce his witnesses in court.

Justice Maryanne Anenih granted the application and adjourned to April 24, 2013 for further hearing.

report any suspicious movement to the law enforcement agents, as security is everybody's business.

Man, 28, in court over alleged theft of N1.3m

T

he police yesterday arraigned one Emmanuel Zarandas, 28, of Gwarimpa in Abuja, before a Wuse Zone Two Senior Magistrates' Court for an alleged theft of N1.3 million.

The prosecutor, Mr John Ijoga, said James Ugbeda of Iter Furniture Limited, Zone Six Industrial District, reported the case at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Abuja on March 22. ``On the same date, Ugbeda had gone to the First Bank branch at Central Business District in Abuja to deposit some money and he parked his Toyota Camry vehicle outside the bank. ``After he had paid N50 for parking his vehicle with registration number GX 458 ABC, he still pleaded with the accused to help him watch over the vehicle till he returned. ``However, Zarandas dishonestly broke the driver's side glass of Ugbeda's car and stole N1.3 million which he kept under the driver's seat,'' Ijoga said.

The prosecutor added that the offence contravened section 287 of the the Penal Code.

The section stipulates that whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with a fine, or both The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His counsel, Mr Boniface Udeh, prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

Udeh said that the accused would not jump bail, adding that the constitution declared an accused person innocent until found guilty.

The presiding magistrate, Mr Aliyu Shafa, however, granted bail for N200,000 with a surety in like sum who must reside within the court's jurisdiction.

Shafa adjourned the matter to April 22, 2013 for further hearing.(NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

Nigeria’s active phone lines hit 114.1m

Mob: 08033644990

NAICOM facilitates N1.2bn claims payment in 2012

By Abdulwahab Isa ntervention by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has led to claims settlement totalling N1,220,645,790.09 involving 52 cases last year.

The leadership of NAICOM says prompt payment of claims by underwriters is an obligation that must be upheld and has intervened in claims dispute resolution related to Motor, Marine and Life insurances as well as Bond Issues and Pension matters.

A statement issued yesterday by NAICOM spokesperson, Lucky Fiakpa confirmed the amount of claimed settled last year on intervention of NAICOM. The statement added that complaints bothering on matured claims were received from individual policyholders, beneficiaries, government agencies, SERVICOM, Legal Aid Council and Public Complaints Commission prompting NAICOM to swing in to action.

According to NAICOM, during the year, the Complaints Bureau handled a total of 349 cases, 86 of which were fresh complaints with the remaining 263 being on-going cases.

The increase in the number of complaints received was as a result of the various publicity campaigns embarked upon by the Commission which has made members of the public and, in particular, policyholders to be more informed of the Commission’s window of dispute resolution, which is not only effective but timely.

The Complaints Bureau discharges its responsibilities either through correspondences with the insurance companies’ involved or through adjudication. During the year under review, a total of nine adjudication meetings were held while majority of the disputes resolved were through correspondences.

It is noteworthy that the response and cooperation of insurance companies involved in any dispute with policyholders has been very encouraging. During the year, not less than 85 per cent of the insurance institutions responded to queries or directives issued by the Commission for claims settlement.

The Complaints Bureau is the Unit solely responsible for receiving and processing complaints against insurance companies for non settlement claims in the Commission.

I

L-R: Acting Director-General, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Engineer Eli Bala, representative of Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Bola Obisesan, and representative of the UNDP Country Director, Mr. Muyiwa Odele, during the presentation of the 2nd edition of the Renewable Energy Master Plan, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

By Aminu Imam with agency report

T

wo Nigerian government agencies told a parliamentary hearing yesterday that Royal Dutch Shell should pay a total of $11.5 billion (about N 1.84 trillion) in compensation for damage caused by an oil spill at its offshore Bonga field in December 2011.

Shell has said that there is no legal basis for the proposed fines and the Nigerian government has never publicly charged foreign oil companies large sums for oil spills.

The National Assembly can recommend fines the government should impose on oil companies but it has no power to enforce them.

The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) told the national assembly Shell should pay $5 billion (N800 bn) as a fine for environmental damage caused from a 40,000 barrel spill on December 20, 2011 at the Bonga offshore rig.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) sought $6.5 billion (N 1.4 tr)as compensation for 100 communities it says were affected onshore by the oil spill, which was one of the biggest in the history of Africa’s largest energy industry.

Shell has taken responsibility for the Bonga offshore oil spill but says onshore damage was the result of a different spill a few days later that wasn’t its fault. It said it has cleaned up areas affected by both spills. ”We are going to do postimpact assessment to determine the effect on the environment.

By May the contractor would get to the site and by the third quarter of the year the job would be concluded,” Chike

Nigerian agencies seek N1.84tr oil spill payout from Shell Onyejekwe, managing director of Shell’s offshore Nigeria unit told lawmakers. ”We cannot do or say anything now until we do the post-impact assessment study.

We have received over 300 letters of claims and we are replying to them.”

The National Assembly told Shell to submit its clean-up plans and assessments to lawmakers next week when a date for a

future hearing would be set.

NOSDRA and NIMASA are asking Shell for compensation which would equate to around $287,500 per barrel for the 40,000 barrel Bonga spill.

In comparison, BP has total provisions of $42.2 billion for compensation for the 4 million barrels spilled in the spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, which amounts to around $10,550 per barrel.

Hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil are spilled in the mangrove creeks onshore Nigeria every year, destroying the environment and livelihoods.

Many are caused by sabotage or oil theft, but a United Nations report in 2011 said oil firms don’t do enough to clean up spills and maintenance of infrastructure was inadequate.

FG offers to sell power plant to Chinese firm

T

he Federal Government has offered to sell a major power station to the Chinese engineering firm that has upgraded the plant, the privatisation agency said, as it aims to end power shortages that are the biggest brake on economic growth.

The nation is privatising the bulk of its power sector to help increase electricity output by 10 times by 2020, although President Goodluck Jonathan’s plan laid out three years ago is running behind schedule.

State-owned China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) completed the second phase of the Omotosho power plant in southwest Nigeria last month, taking total output from 375 megawatts (MW) to 500 MW. This represents more than 10 percent of the country’s total capacity.

Nigeria wants to sell the plant to CMEC for $217.5 million, although $104 million would be offset against debts the government owes CMEC and a

further $30 million would be kept for further work to be done by the Chinese firm, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) said in a statement on Wednesday.

China has made a number of loans in recent years to Nigeria to fund projects including a railway, aviation works, roads and power plants such as Omotosho, cementing its relationship with the energyrich African country and also subsidising its construction industry.

(Source: Reuters)

Management Tip of the Day

When you become the boss, build your credibility

M

anaging people who used to be your peers is tough. You need to establish your authority without acting like the promotion’s gone to your head.

Here are three ways to make the transition easier: · Tread lightly at first.

Don’t introduce any major overhauls right away. Identify

a few small decisions you can make fairly quickly, but defer bigger ones until you’ve been in the role longer. · Be actively present.

Spend time with each of your new direct reports. Ask, “What can I do to make you more successful?” This question shows that you’re in charge, but also conveys that you’re there to

support them. · Look beyond your team. During this type of transition, it’s easy to become focused on your former peers.

But don’t forget to build connections with new counterparts and your new boss.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

Diamond Bank Plc

D

iamond Bank Plc said on Wednesday it has been granted approval by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to operate a bank in the United Kingdom.

Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti, who disclosed this in a statement, expressed satisfaction over the feat.

According to Otti, the international subsidiary would offer the financial institution opportunity to offer wholesale financial services, including facilitating international trade to new and existing clients.

Nigeria’s active phone lines hit 114.1m ByChrisAlu

A

ctive telecoms subscriber base in Nigeria has further increased to hit 114.1 million as at the end of January, 2013, resulting in a teledensity of 81.78 during the same period.

This was contained in the latest telecoms industry’s subscriber base data released by the industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission.

According to the data, telecoms operators recorded additional 1.3 million active telephone lines in January 2013 alone, bringing the industry total to 114.4 million at the end of the month.

The 2012, the industry ended the year with combined industry subscriber base of 113.1 million up from 95.8 million active subscriptions in January, 2012.

However, the latest data did now contain information for the month of February, 2013.

According to the NCC data, only Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators such as MTN, Glo, Airtel and Etisalat contributed the additional 1.3 subscribers, as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators and fixedline operators further recorded decline in their everdwindling subscriber base.

The CDMA operators

comprising Visafone, Multi-Links, Starcomms and the dormant Zoom Mobile experienced reduction from 2.9 million in December, 2012 to 2.8 million at the end of January, 2013.

This means about 100, 000 telecoms subscribers hitherto on the CDMA networks dropped their lines in January alone. Also the fixed line networks, which had active 418, 166 subscriber base in December, 2012, a marginal reduction was also recorded on their networks as their subscriptions fell to 406, 222 lines in January, 2013.

Meanwhile, the NCC data has revealed an increase from

FAAN to introduce automated toll gates

NCC

T

he Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), in collaboration with security agencies, has arrested three agents of service providers in Awka for allegedly flouting SIM card registration guidelines.

NCC’s Head of Enforcement, Efosa Idehen, who gave the names of the suspects to newsmen in Awka on Sunday, explained that they were arrested while using the SIM registration machines fraudulently.

According to him, they were arrested for preregistering SIM cards with the same thump-prints and selling same to members of the public.

Idehen said their machines had been confiscated and that they would be prosecuted after police investigation.

NEXIM Bank

T

he Nigerian ExportImport (NEXIM) Bank said on Wednesday that it would execute a 60 million dollar Regional Sealink Project for West and Central Africa.

The project, in conjunction with the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI), is expected to commence within the next three years of complete operation.

The Managing Director, NEXIM Bank, Mr. Robert Orya, made this known at the sensitisation and preinvestors forum held for stakeholders in Lagos, adding that the project would enhance competitiveness by improving the level from its rate of six per cent to a higher rate.

teledensity from 80.85 in December 2012 to 81.78 as at the end of January, this year.

Teledensity is the percentage of connected lines in relation to the population at a given period of time and its growth is proportional to the growth in subscriber base.

Highlights of the latest industry data also revealed that telecoms firms continue to spend on network expansion to be able to accommodate more subscribers on their networks.

According to the data, telecoms industry installed capacity increased from 211.8 million at the December, 2012 to reach 226.6 million at the end of January, 2013.

Installed capacity is the total number of telephone lines which telecoms networks have build their network capacity to accommodate at a particular period of time.

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

L-R: Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed sitting with the Managing Director Leadway Assurance Plc, Mr. hassan Odukale Photo: NAN

Kwara to introduce contributory pension scheme

T

he Kwara state government said on Wednesday that it would soon introduce contributory pension scheme as part of the government’s drive to enable workers to enjoy stress-free post retirement life.

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed gave the indication in Ilorin when he received the management of Leadway Assurance Plc, led by its Managing Director, Mr. Hassan Odukale.

Ahmed noted in a

statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Abdulwahab Oba, that the scheme had been problematic for the country and its civil servants for a long time.

He said that the contributory scheme would not only ensure that workers contributed towards their retirement but also removed post retirement uncertainties.

Ahmed described the scheme as the future of effective pension administration in the country.

The governor noted that the scheme had huge potential of generating productivity.

H e s u g g e s t e d that government at all levels should critically look at prevailing assets management strategies by embracing insurance culture, which would guarantee proper management of assets.

Odukale had earlier expressed his company’s readiness to partner with the Kwara Government on insurance and other related matters. (NAN)

Trade integration, a key to macro-economic convergence - New AfDB report

A

new policy paper by the African Development Bank has highlighted the importance of trade integration to macroeconomic convergence.

Published in March 2013, the report titled: “Supporting Macroeconomic Convergence in African regional economic communities” recommends to link the roadmap in the implementation of macroeconomic convergence to progress made in trade integration.

In so doing, the AfDB report comes with some revisions to the application of macroeconomic convergence,

building on the lessons from the experience in implementing the concept in Europe and elsewhere, with a view to ensuring a balance between the financial sector and the real sector programs.

“Indeed, the macroeconomic convergence achieves its highest relevance when it is mainstreamed into regional efforts towards development and poverty reduction,” said Jian Zhang, principal macroeconomist at the Regional integration and trade division, AfDB. The paper also highlights the important role of fiscal policy and fiscal convergence

in facilitating macroeconomic convergence. “For the AfDB, given that upfront incentives as well as implementation capacities are low, surveillances should be more for promotional purposes – identifying specific country challenges and supporting them to improve performance — rather than for sanctioning purposes”, it noted.

The report recommends that the AfDB draws up specific support programs for each REC, based on a detailed assessment of the individual REC programs and consultations with relevant stakeholders. (Source: AfDB)

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) will soon introduce automated toll gates in the 22 airports in the country, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, the Head of Public Affairs, has said.

Yakubu, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, said the move was aimed at boosting revenue generation and collection.

She said the introduction of new toll fare would enable the authority to improve on the services it is rendering to the public.

On March 1, FAAN increased its toll fees in all airports, with cabs and mini buses now N200 instead of N100, while big buses and truck pay N300 and N500 as against N200 and N300 respectively.

Yakubu said the new toll fare would not stop the agency from introducing the automated toll gates, which are aimed at eliminating payment of cash at the gates.

“FAAN is re-modelling most of the airports and it is necessary that services are improved; we increased our toll fare to give better services to members of the public, especially airport users,” she said.

“Already, FAAN has contracted out the automation of new toll gates, which will be operated along with the toll fare but people will no longer pay cash at the gates.

It is meant to take care of ambiguities in the system, such as people who do not pay; the automation will also encourage proper accounting for monies received from people entering the airports.”

Yakubu said the introduction of the gates would also assist FAAN to check what she called “the gap” in the system.

“Once the barrier is there, nobody can come into the airport without paying; it is the machine that will now operate, people will no longer deal with cash at the gates,” she said.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Issues underlying transfer pricing (11)

By Frank Onero Obaro

A

s earlier stated our transfer pricing regulation is benchmarked against the OECD transfer pricing guidelines. The Transfer Pricing Regulations also provide a "Safe Harbour" which is an exemption from "documentation requirement" of regulation 6 limiting it to when price is in accordance with the requirement of Nigerian statutory provisions and/or when price approved by other government regulatory agencies/authorities established

by Nigerian law provided that FIRS is satisfied that the price is at arm's length.

Though this can be tagged as mere "approval in principle" since the FIRS reserves the right to still scrutinize the transactions and ensure compliance to the "arm length" principle. The Regulations also make provision for a dispute resolution panel to serves as an administrative dispute resolution mechanism from issues arising from the provisions of the Regulations.

In effect the Regulations provide an appropriate basis for taxing economic activities of associated enterprises as well as tools for fighting tax evasion.

Provisions of the regulations also reduce the risk of economic double taxation. Also included is a level playing field between MNE and independent enterprises.

The scope of the regulations covers sale and purchases of goods and services, sales, purchase or lease of tangible assets, transfer, purchase, license or use of intangible assets, provision of services, lending or borrowing of money, manufacturing arrangement and any transaction incidental, connected or pertaining to the above transactions.

The Regulations also adopt popular transfer pricing methods such as comparable Uncontrolled Price (CUP), cost plus, resale price, transaction net margin method (TNMM) and transactional Profit Split. In all these, method used must be appropriate to the particular transaction bearing in mind the relative strength and weakness of each method, the nature of the transaction, availability of reliable information and degree of comparability.

The arm's length principle which is the global benchmark for establishing transfer prices between related parties is recognized in regulation 4 of the Transfer Pricing Regulations. It empowers the Service to make adjustments where necessary to make a controlled transaction consistent with the arm's length principle. The application of the arm's length principle assists governments to ensure that the taxable profits of multinationals are not artificially or deliberately shifted out of their jurisdiction and that the tax base reported by multinationals

in their country reflects the economic activity undertaken therein. It also limits the risks of economic double taxation that may result from a dispute between two countries on the determination of the remuneration for cross-border transactions between associated enterprises.

Nearly all systems require that prices be tested using an "arm's length" standard. Using this method, a price is considered appropriate if it is within a range of prices that would be charged by independent parties dealing at arm's length. This is generally defined as a price that an independent buyer would pay an independent seller for an identical item under identical terms and conditions, where neither is under any obligation to act.

There are clear practical difficulties in implementing the arm's length standard. For items other than goods, there are rarely identical items. Terms of sale may vary from transaction to transaction. Market and other conditions may vary geographically or over time.

Some systems give a preference to certain transactional methods over other methods for testing prices.

The application of the arm's length principle is generally based on a comparison of the conditions in a controlled transaction with the conditions in comparable transactions between independent enterprises, referred to as a "comparability analysis". The OCED Transfer Pricing Guidelines ("TPG"), which has been adopted unchanged by some jurisdictions contain guidance on comparability analysis and a description of five transfer pricing methods which can be used to establish whether the conditions of a transaction between associated enterprises satisfy the arm's length principle. The OECD and the United Nations Tax Committee have both endorsed the "arm's length" principle, and it is widely used as the basis for double taxation treaties between governments.

The rules of nearly all countries permit related parties to set prices in any manner, but permit the tax authorities to adjust those prices where the prices charged are outside an arm's length range. Rules are generally provided for determining what constitutes such arm's length prices, and how any analysis should proceed. Prices actually charged are compared to prices or measures of profitability for unrelated transactions and parties.

The rules generally require that market level, functions, risks, and terms of sale of unrelated party transactions or activities be reasonably comparable to such items with respect to the related party transactions or profitability being tested.Most systems allow

Ag Executive Chairman FIRS, Alhaji Kabir Mashi use of multiple methods, where appropriate and supported by reliable data, to test related party prices.

Among the commonly used methods are comparable uncontrolled prices, cost-plus, resale price or mark-up, and the TNMM .Many systems differentiate methods of testing goods from those for services or use of property due to inherent differences in business aspects of such broad types of transactions.

Some systems provide mechanisms for sharing or allocation of costs of acquiring assets (including intangible assets) among related parties in a manner designed to reduce tax controversy.

Most tax treaties and many tax systems provide mechanisms for resolving disputes among taxpayers and governments in a manner designed to reduce the potential for double taxation. Many systems also permit advance agreement between taxpayers and one or more governments regarding mechanisms for setting related party prices.

Many systems impose penalties where the tax authority has adjusted related party prices. Some tax systems provide that taxpayers may avoid such penalties by preparing documentation in advance regarding prices charged between the taxpayer

and related parties. Some systems require that such documentation be prepared in advance in all cases.

Developing economies are keenly aware of the challenges posed by transfer pricing. Their goal is the same as for OECD countries: protecting their tax base while not hampering foreign direct investment and crossborder trade. The arm's length principle can help them achieve that goal. The key is to tailor the legislative measures and administrative effort to the strategic needs and resources of each country. Applying the arm's length principle can become complex and resourceintensive, though policy makers should bear in mind that most OECD countries started modestly and built their transfer pricing legislation and practices gradually over several years.

Indeed, they are still in the process of improving them.

The USA transfer pricing regulations of 1994 and the risk of severe penalties, even in case of non-deliberate deviations from the arm's length principle have resulted in both the USA and countries revising their transfer pricing methods. Countries with less sophisticated tax systems and administrations run the risk of absorbing the effect of stronger enforcement of transfer pricing in developed countries, and, in effect, paying at least some of the

MNEs tax costs in those countries.

In order to avoid this, many countries have introduced new transfer pricing rules since that time.

Tax authorities in developing countries who wish to implement transfer pricing legislation may focus on the most common types of transactions and sectors in their economy first, for instance the exploitation of natural resources, manufacturing, or service activities. Enforcement objectives should be realistic, given the available capacity, and compliance requirements made reasonable for taxpayers in light of the size of the cross border trade. So-called "safe harbours" are sometimes used to simplify compliance by small taxpayers, or to deal with small and less complex transactions carried out by multinational enterprises.

Given the global, and sometimes controversial nature of transfer pricing, it is important to develop internationally shared principles to help each country fight abusive transfers of profit abroad, while at the same time limiting the risk of double taxation of those profits. This is what the arm's length principle is for. As more developing countries apply it, new lessons will be learned. This is a key step on the road to building a stronger and fairer world economy.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 22

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he League of Ezza E z e k u n a Professionals (LEAP) of Ebonyi state has counselled stakeholders connected to the dispute at Nigerian Cement Company, Nkalagu in Ebonyi state to bury their different interest and revamp the ailing cement firm.

The group, which made known its stand on the dispute in a position paper said it was constrained to intervene in the lingering dispute between Ebonyi state on one hand the core investor, Ibeto group of companies to ensure an expeditious resolution of the dispute in the economic interest of the state.

LEAP, in a statement signed by Dr. Bennard I. Odo urged President Goodluck Jonathan to step in to the dispute by inviting aggrieved parties for discussion.

The body of professionals from Ebonyi state averred that actions and policies of all concerned should be to encourage investors whether local or international to come into the state and invest.

It added that, “ IBETO group should be encouraged to come in and revamp the moribund factory as a core investor and having purchased 65% equity in the company” and advised governor Martin Elechi administration to rescind

Group wants disputed parties in Nkalagu cement to end crisis its decision removing traditional rulers of the affected host communities.

LEAP position is sequel to ongoing dispute between the Governor Martin Elechi led Ebonyi State Government and the Ibeto Group of

Companies over the latter’s acquisition of the controlling equity interest in the Nigerian Cement Company, Nkalagu.

In year 2002, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), as part of the privatization

T

general public held the balance of 29.5%.

The then Governors of the five Eastern States: Dr. Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambra State, Chief

Achike Udenwa of Imo State and Chief Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, declined to give Federal Government the Power of Attorney to sell their shares and opted to set up a joint committee to carry out the privatization themselves;

IMF/World Bank team in Cote d’Ivoire says cocoa farming helps in poverty reduction

A

team of economic experts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, on Wednesday, said that cocoa farming contributed to the reduction of rural poverty in Cote d’Ivoire in 2012.

The Chief of IMF/ World Bank Joint Mission in Cote d’Ivoire, Mr Michel Lazare, said this in Abidjan while briefing newsmen at the end of the team’s two weeks mission in the country.

He said that the positive effect of cocoa farming on the rural population should be a ‘wake-up’ call for more investment in agriculture.

The IMF chief said

that Cote d’Ivoire witnessed 9.8 per cent economic growth in 2012 with 8 per cent growth expectation in 2013.

“The macro-economic performance in 2012 was better than expected, with a growth rate of 9.8 per cent in GDP while inflation stood at 1.3 per cent,’’ he said.

In his speech, the Ivorian Prime Minister, Mr Daniel Duncan, said that the country joined the circle of economies with high growth rate in Africa and the World in 2012.

He said that the performance of the country’s economy in 2012 was a source of joy to the government.

“This is because we

Kwara Harmony Holdings to produce turn over of N50bn From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin he Management of Harmony Holdins Limited, Kwara State has disclosedthat by year 2022, the company would produce turn over of about N50 billion in year 2022.

The Group Managing Director, Mr Tope Adesunloye Daramola, who disclosed this yesterday during the official opening of the company by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said the turnover would boost the stateeconomy as well as Internal Generated Revenue(IGR).

The company, which harbours 20 existing Kwara state governments companies and firm, according to him would focus on how to make thesefirms a profitable one for the bvbenefit of the people of the state.

Governor Ahmed in his speech, noted that the problem of the state and private own companies

programme of divesting its equity shares in Nigercem to the private sector listed it for privertisation.

Federal Government stake at the time was 10.5% shares of Nigercem, the 5 Eastern states had 60% while the

were financial, leadership problem, accountability which usualy lead to closure of many entiities.The Governor said it was in view of this that his administration decided to establish Harmony Holdings Ltd to manage all the businessentities to ensure profits and survive for the development of the state.

Governor Ahmed, who noted that the selection of the Board members and management were based on their qualification and profession said theyare expected to venture on banking, land and other businnes transaction that could fetch the state profit.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, Prof. Halidu Abubakar said the vision of the company “is the culmination of great and meticulous planning borne out of the nobleobjective to put Kwara State on the pedestal of economic growth and sustenance.

“I could not have been better convinced about the desire of Your Excellency in ensuring the realization of this vision, especiallylooking at the caliber and track record of all those on the Board of the company with me.

At the retreat, organised for the staff of the company earlier this year, which was graciously declared open by YourExcellency, I assured you of the commitment of myself and fellow Boardmembers to ensure that Harmony Holdings becomes a world-class institution, in line with your vision.

“I want to use this medium to reassure you that the promise has not changed. While we realized that the challenges ahead are daunting, we are encouraged by the support being enjoyed from Your E x c e l l e n c y ’ s administration; a support that we crave continuation of, as we proceedon the journey ahead.”

are a country just coming out of crisis that affected the economy,’’ he said In what seems a contradiction of forecast by experts, Duncan said the government was expecting a GDP growth of 9 per cent in 2013, a slight shortfall from 2012 figure.

He described the variation as a difference of opinion saying, “our figure is 9 per cent, this is not a variation on the policies pursued but difference of opinion.’’

(NAN)

IMF boss, Christine-Lagarde

PEOSPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Report as at Thursday, March 28, 2013

PAGE 23

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

For the Love of Nigeria, Canada Nigeria and Canada have enjoyed warm relations over the decades. And as a conference is being organised to promote trade and investment between the two nations, hopes are high that a mutually beneficial relationship would continue to take root, NAN reports

T

he forthcoming Nigeria-Canada I n v e s t m e n t Conference would enhance foreign investment opportunities in the country in line with the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, an official has said.

Mr Onyema Ugochukwu, Chairman,

Local Organising Committee (LOC) of N i g e r i a - C a n a d a Investment Conference, said this at a addressing a news conference on Monday in Abuja.

Ugochukwu said that the conference would also deepen the bilateral relations between Nigeria and Canada.

“A major plank of Mr President’s transformation agenda has been to increase the inflow of foreign investment to Nigeria.

“Canada is one of the strongest economies in the world today; it has enormous investment capacity. ‘’This conference will actualise some of the

potentials by bringing together Nigerian and Canadian businessmen and they are very high profile companies.

“Canada is heavy in miming and mining equipment where our own potential is totally undeveloped and so many other things.

“If we are able to win

investment arrangements and bring in companies to work here it will go down to the ordinary man which is the whole aim of the government; looking for foreign investments for people to come in here and help us develop our potential; create jobs and increase the wealth of the country. “ He said that about 100 private investors had expressed interests in the conference, adding that companies “with serious business interests” would be taken along.

“Applications are done online through the website and in terms of visa arrangements, people

Hon. Ed Fast, Canada's Minister of International Trade, with Olusegun Aganga, Nigeria’s Trade and Investment Minister

applying as participants in this conference would be treated preferentially provided their names are on a list recommended to the high commissioner by the LOC.” Responding to a question on the security situation in the country, Ugochukwu said there were increasing interests by foreign

“

This first trade mission of 2013, which is being organized by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, is one of several strategically focused, sectorspecific missions to fast-growing regions around the world that Minister Fast has led since becoming international trade minister President Goodluck Jonathan

Canadaian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

investors in Nigeria.

“It is something positive to say about Nigeria that in spite of what we see as serious security threat, the rest of the world still has confidence in this country and are still interested in investing.’’

He said that the LOC was working with the Ministry of Trade and Investment on the conference, adding that states governments were also being engaged to showcase their potentials.

The Nigeria-Canada Investment Conference, initiated by the Nigerian High Commission in Canada, is aimed at strengthening the relations between both countries through trade.

The conference, which has as its theme “Strengthening NigeriaCanada Relations through Trade”, is expected to take place on May 2 to May 4 in Toronto, Canada.

The conference is jointly organised by the Nigerian High Commission, Canadian Council of Africa and Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

It would be recalled that earlier this year, Hon. Ed Fast, Canada's Minister of International Trade and Minister for the AsiaPacific Gateway; and Olusegun Aganga, Nigeria's Minister of Trade and Investment, meet at the first gathering of CanadaNigeria Bi-National Commission (BNC) trade ministers. The BNC was formed in 2012 to help develop deeper commercial, political, development and security ties between Canada and Nigeria.

The ministers discussed ways to deepen the CanadaNigeria bilateral commercial relationship in order to meet a target that aims to double trade to $6 billion by the year 2015.

Among other topics, the ministers discussed a foreign investment promotion and protection agreement that will help companies invest with confidence in the rapidly growing sub-Saharan economy.

The two ministers signed a joint communiqué.

Minister Fast was on a six-day trade mission to Nigeria and Ghana to advance the interests of Canadian businesses in sub-Saharan Africa.

Increased trade will in turn create jobs and increased prosperity for all Canadians. Minister Fast is accompanied on the trade mission by representatives of nearly 30 Canadian organizations, most of them operating in the extractive industries and infrastructure sectors.

This first trade mission of 2013, which is being organized by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, is one of several

“

Responding to a question on the security situation in the country, Ugochukwu said there were increasing interests by foreign investors in Nigeria strategically focused, sectorspecific missions to fastgrowing regions around the world that Minister Fast has led since becoming international trade minister.

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, a part of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, is located in more than 150 cities worldwide and in

regional offices across Canada, and is Canada's most extensive network of international business professionals. The Trade Commissioner Service helps companies that are looking to export, invest abroad, attract investment or develop innovation and R & D partnerships.

(NAN)

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013

The people of truth... the Allah fearing (VII) A

llah says: “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe In Allah and the Last Day, and the angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your possession, out of love for it, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast In prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, In pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. such are the people of truth, the Allah fearing.” [alBaqarah: 177] 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 week, I have the feeling that it will be our concluding period on this long golden verse.

The final part sums up the divine inspirational motivation coming directly from Allah to His chosen servants in times of agony as a result of polluted fresh air, such as the one Nigerians inhale right now!

Allah says: “... and to be firm and patient, In pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic; such are the people of truth, the Allah fearing.” [alBaqarah: 177]

In this concluding part of the emotions in times of trial and Golden verse, Allah is given the grieve, cannot be classified as one assurance that whosoever believe of the righteous people. Before in both words and actions the anyone can attain the ranking of entire content of the ayah, thus, the righteous, he must exhibit a 1. "...to believe In Allah; 2. and the Last Day; 3. and the angels; 4. and the Book;

By Husain Zakariyya 6. and the Yawale Messengers; 7. to spend of your possession, +234-8052952900 (sms only) out of love for it, islamexplained35@yahoo.com for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the degree and quantum of patience wayfarer, for those who ask, and and perseverance at the first for the ransom of slaves; strike of anguish and affliction.

8. to be steadfast In prayer; Patience is an afterthought of an 9. and practice regular charity; aftermath! It is a direct end 10. to fulfil the contracts which product terminating the ye have made. calamity! It does not need time to Such believers will not be think of an option out of the agony, touched by any type of grief, and its absence, calls for patience mournfulness or sorrowfulness or fortitude! under any circumstances above Allah says: “Who say, when their containment, because they afflicted with calamity: ‘To Allah we have attained the status of belong, and to Him is Our return.’” righteousness! They have strong [al-Baqarah: 156] belief in Allah Who is in full control The messenger of Allah said: of the dominions of the heaven "The real patience is at the first stroke and earth. It is Him that gives and of a calamity." [narrated by Anas, takes. It is Him that causes Bukari: Book 2: Volume: Hadith everything to happen in the No. 389] manner and fashion He desires!

The Prophet passed by a In the philosophical words, He is woman who was weeping beside the Prime Mover, the Unmoved a grave. He told her to fear Allah Mover and the Uncaused Causer! and be patient. She said to him, His attention or intervention does "Go away, for you have not been not need attraction! He sees, afflicted with a calamity like hears and perceives everything mine." And she did not recognize in the finest minutiae and details! him. Then she was informed that Allah, Who knows best, did not he was the Prophet . so she went to put the aspect of patience and the house of the Prophet and there perseverance as the final item in she did not find any guard. Then this verse, as an acid test to she said to him, "I did not establish the strict adherence to recognize you." He said, "Verily, the the entire teachings contained in patience is at the first stroke of a it but, also to serve as a sign of His calamity." (Narrated Anas bin acceptability of the remaining Malik: Bukhari: Book 2: Volume items. That is to say, whoever does 23: Hadith 372) not have full control of his People of truth are ever alert

ISLAM EXPLAINED

to deal with any situation decisively with steadfastness and composure in times of affluence and adversity. In affluence, by having the patience of not transgressing the bounds of Allah, as a result of the b o u n d l e s s bounties and fortunes, and perseverance and persistence in period of anguish and torments.

Whatever are the situations, patience and constancy fit them all!

A man of truth is apt with fact that Allah can test him with anything, good or bad. And that is why he address the believers thus: “O ye who believe! be not like the Unbelievers, who say of their brethren, when They are travelling through the earth or engaged In fighting: "If They had stayed with us, They would not have died, or been slain." This that Allah may make it a cause of sighs and regrets In their hearts. it is Allah that gives life and death, and Allah sees well all that ye do.” [aal-Imran: 156] The unbelievers do not believe in the plans of Allah or predestinations, thus, they always feel betrayed by Allah when in times of affluence, a distress visits them. Allah, unknown to them, has unlimited liberty to do whatever He likes at any point of time, with any of His servants. He changes any condition or circumstances or situation of anybody. That is why, as a servant of Allah, you have to keep on praying for the sustenance of the affluence, and the removal of afflictions.

Allah says: “Assuredly ye will be tried in your property and in your persons, and ye will hear much wrong from those who were given the Scripture before you, and from

the idolaters. But if ye persevere and ward off (evil), then that is of the steadfast heart of things.” [aalImarana; 186] At the end of surah Aal-Imran, Allah concluded with an unprecedented motivation, thus: “O ye who believe! persevere In patience and constancy; vie In such perseverance; strengthen Each other; and fear Allah. that ye may prosper.” [aal-Imran: 200] To aspire to attain the rank of people of truth, a believer has a lot to abide by, in the strictest sense of the five pillars of Islam in addition to spending all for the sake of Allah at all moments and conditions!

Allah says: “By no means shall ye attain righteousness unless ye give (freely) of that which ye love; and whatever ye give, of a truth Allah knoweth it well.” [aal-Imran: 92] With Allah, all our deeds are judged and rewarded or discarded by the level of the righteousness we put therein. Even the finest show-off concealed in our hearts are well known to Allah. That is why when some people are adjudged in this world to be men of God, will on the day of Recompense be seen to be amongst the lots of Satan. Simply because their inner most intention, when performing some deeds or saying some prayers, was not purely and sincerely for the sake of Allah.

They combined the love for praise and crave for material rewards from men, while at the same time hoping for favourable recompense from Allah. That is impossible with Allah! You cannot cheat Him with bonbon words, nor we deceive Him with concealment!

It is in related issues such a slaughtering of animals for sacrificial purposes that Allah declared, thus: “It is not their meat nor their blood, that reaches Allah. it is your piety that reaches him: He has Thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His guidance to you and proclaim the good news to all who do right.” [al-hajj: 37] Thus, righteousness is by combining absolutely good deeds with supreme sincerity of intent, all to be for the sake of Allah only, in return for His love!

Finally, let me recap the discussion with our central theme; the Golden verse: “It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe In Allah and the Last Day, and the angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your possession, out of love for it, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast In prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, In pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. such are the people of truth, the Allah fearing.” [alBaqarah: 177] May Allah in His infinite mercy, grant us chance to be amongst those who will be rated among the ''...People of Truth...and .. the Allah Fearing"!

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 27

When corruption kills: The search for justice in Brazil and beyond ANALYSIS

By Cara Levey

T

his week's news that the Brazilian authorities are seeking criminal charges (both murder and manslaughter) against more than a dozen individuals [PT] in relation to the January's devastating nightclub fire that, at last count, had killed 241 people [PT] in the Southern Brazilian city of Santa Maria is a welcome step forward for relatives and survivors. Yet the labourious and painstaking process of finding out what happened and, in particular, who is responsible is only just beginning.

The list of those implicated [PT], ranging from the nightclub owners, manager and members of GurizadaFandangueira, the bandperforming in the club that night, for murder as well as a number of government officials and members of the fire service for manslaughter points to more than just a one-off accident, which has undoubtedly brought the country's safety regulations into the spotlight with the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. However, the complex case of negligence and corruption that allowed the fire to happen is, unfortunately, unexceptional and not unique to Brazil.

Since the horrific fire that gutted Santa Maria's Kiss nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, January 27, it has become clear that the case bears an alarming resemblance to the spate of recent nightclub fires that have killed scores of people elsewhere in the region - including Mexico City in 2008, Quito in 2008, Lima and Caracas, both in 2010. However, nowhere are similarities with Santa Maria more apparent than in the case of the 2004 fire in the RepúblicaCromañón nightclub in Buenos Aires, which left 194 - mainly young people - dead. It was not particularly surprising that the Argentine media headlines in the days after the fire were littered with references to a "Cromañón in the south of Brazil" [SP] and highlighted the similarities between the two catastrophes [SP].

Nearly a decade ago, on December 30, 2004, during a concert by the rock band Callejeros at the Argentine venue, a flare ignited by a spectator made contact with the flammable roof material, triggering an intense fire and the emission of highly toxic gases, responsible for the deaths of many of the victims. Furthermore, the evacuation that followed was fraught with problems. The venue was allegedly operating well beyond capacity and the main emergency exit was shut with padlocks to avoid concertgoers sneaking in without paying, hampering the evacuation of those fleeing the toxic fumes. As news of events in Santa Maria reached Argentina, the organisation los pibes de Cromañón (the Cromañón Kids), comprised of relatives and survivors of the 2004 fire, issued a statement [SP] punctuated with the refrain "man is the only animal who trips over the same stone twice", suggesting that

A fire at the 'Kiss' nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil resulted in the deaths of over two hundred people [EPA] important lessons have not been heeded.

Although the full extent of the events leading up to the Santa Maria fire is yet to be disclosed, what unfolds is a remarkably similar chain of events: a flare making contact with flammable roof material, inadequate and scarce emergency exits, blocked by security guards to prevent those inside leaving without paying, and, as the Brazilian daily the Folha de Sao Pauloreported [PT] shortly after, an expired safety certificate for a venue that was functioning beyond its capacity, suggesting that this is more than just a "tragic accident". Instead, it would appear that this is yet another avoidable and completely pointless atrocity. Eyewitness reports and the investigation that followed point to a rather complex web of corruption, negligence and institutional failings involving the club's owners, the band members and the mayor and other members of the local government.

The events at both Kiss and at Cromañón beg consideration of the way in which disasters of such magnitude at public venues are portrayed by the media and by many of those responsible as one-off or exceptional accidents. This way of thinking tends to obscure and inhibit the pursuit of both individual and institutional responsibility. Moreover, the complex sequence of events and the various degrees of responsibility of many different individuals and institutions tends to make it extremely difficult to bring the various parties

responsible to account.

With the arrest of band members and the nightclub owner in the aftermath of January's fire, it seemed that blame might be levelled at those directly responsible for the venue's safety (the owner/manager) and those alleged to have ignited the flare (thought to be the band members).

Indeed, the police commissioner in charge of the investigation, SandroMeinerz, was reported as having stated that blame should lie with whoever let off the flare [SP]. This appears to be an all too frequent case in which the arguably indirect and structural causes of the fire are eschewed; the suggestion is that the lack of safety certificate, emergency exits, venues operating well beyond capacity are a set of innocuous circumstances that only become deadly when ignited by specific catalyst, in this case pyrotechnic equipment.

What is interesting in the Cromañón case is how the tragedy was met with the slogan "not the flare, nor rock and roll; what killed our kids was corruption". Invoked by relatives and survivors, they pointed the finger at the authorities' responsibility for the events of December 2004, away from those who launched the flare and, most significantly, away from the victims themselves. In Argentina, what could have been viewed as a "tragic accident" became a paradigm, indicative of the corruption at private and institutional levels and the ordinary citizen's struggle in trying to call the authorities

“

to account.

Indeed, following Cromañón, in a campaign spearheaded by relatives of victims and survivors to expose the causes in their entirety and pursue those responsible, the institutional failings of government became clear. The mayor of Buenos Aires, Aníbal Ibarra, was subsequently removed from office [SP] after a political investigation for his failure to have enforced a functioning inspection system for venues; amid suggestions that the nightclub was overdue a visit by the Federal Fire Department, and that Fire Department personnel had accepted bribes from venue owners.

In the months and years that followed, several parties to the crime were detained and investigated, including Omar Chabán, manager of the nightclub, Callejeros' manager, band members and various civil servants, police officials and fire fighters.

However, actually bringing them to trial proved problematic and involved an arduous search for justice, with only a small number of those investigated actually ever facing trial, and legal proceedings only beginning in 2008.

The trial, which concluded in 2009, led to the conviction and sentencing of Chabán to twenty years in prison, eighteen to the band's manager and lesser sentences were meted out to number of members of the local government [SP]. The members of the band were acquitted, a verdict that was met with outrage by many of the victims' relatives [SP]. This was not the end of the matter, as a second

Although the full extent of the events leading up to the Santa Maria fire is yet to be disclosed, what unfolds is a remarkably similar chain of events:

round of legal proceedings began in 2011 and continued into 2012 in which additional sentences were given out [SP] to the owner of the nightclub, Rafael Levy and Callejeros' lead singer PatricioFontanet.

Reacting to the sentences, relatives and survivors deemed the judgement to be far too lenient and too focused on those directly implicated, rather than examining the wider, institutional causes, stating that "this is a political crime, committed by a corrupt State […] inefficient both in its action and negligence. The judges don't understand and want to convince us that this is an accident. This simply isn't the case: it was murder". In the face of impunity, a failure to address the wider causes and investigate all of the culpable, the responsibility has fallen on the relatives of the victims, survivors and their supporters to contest misinformation and cover-ups and continue to demand full accountability.

Those states' failure to punish corruption and negligence has proved to lead to the unlawful and untimely deaths of citizens and allows the authorities to remain safe in the knowledge that they will most likely not be prosecuted for their part in corruption scandals and negligence and that they are above the law.

If all of those responsible, including government officials, are not held to account, surely we will see more cases such as this? Indeed, in the years since the Cromañón tragedy, relatives of the victims have raised concerns that another tragedy of a similar type was possible [SP] in Argentina; little did they know that history would be repeated in neighbouring Brazil.

However, for critics who might argue that this problem is the exclusive domain of "corrupt" Latin American countries - indeed a recent Global Post article entitled "Latin America: where clubbing can be deadly"implied that the flouting of regulations was a Latin American problem - we are reminded that similar events have occurred beyond on the region in recent years: in the USA (Station Nightclub Fire, 2003) and in Sweden (Gothenburg, 1998).

With the conclusion of the initial police investigation, the Santa Maria fire appears to be yet another case in which private profit is prioritised over public safety resulting in an avoidable and huge loss of life which the authorities failed to prevent, and even promoted, through accepting bribes and allowing such practices to continue unregulated.

Meanwhile, as the initial police investigation was concluded, worrying information came to light: that themayor's office had withheld documentation from investigators [PT]. Thorough investigation and transparency, even if it exposes inconvenient truths about the levels of state involvement and demonstrating that no-one is above the law, are absolutely crucial if such tragedies are to be avoided, wherever they might occur.

Source: AlJazeera

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Nelson Mandela back in hospital with lung infection F

ormer South African President Nelson Mandela has been re-admitted to hospital with a recurrence of a lung infection.

A statement from the South African presidency said Mr Mandela, 94, had been admitted just before midnight.

Mr Mandela spent 18 days in

hospital in December undergoing treatment for a lung infection and gallstones.

He is widely regarded as the father of the nation for leading the struggle against apartheid.

Mr Mandela served as South Africa's first black president from 1994 to 1999. However, his health has caused concern for some time.

A presidential spokesman told the BBC that Mr Mandela was conscious and was receiving the best possible medical treatment.

"I think we need to be clear that the doctors are attending to Madiba [Mr Mandela] on a continuous basis," spokesman Mac Maharaj said.

"They prefer to act on the side of

Madiba

caution, and the moment they felt there was a recurrence of the lung infection, they felt that it warranted immediate hospitalisation given his age and given his history."

However, the BBC's Andrew Harding in South Africa says the abrupt nature of Mr Mandela's latenight admission is likely to raise concerns.

The government statement said President Jacob Zuma wished Mr Mandela a speedy recovery.

"We appeal to the people of South Africa and the world to pray for our beloved Madiba and his family and to keep them in their thoughts. We have full confidence in the medical team and know that they will do everything possible to ensure recovery," President Zuma said.

The former president is often fondly referred to by his clan name, Madiba.

It is the fourth time Mr Mandela has been admitted to hospital in just over two years.

He first contracted tuberculosis in the 1980s while detained on the windswept Robben Island where he served 18 of the 27 years he was imprisoned for sabotage.

His lungs are said to have been damaged when he worked in a prison quarry.

Eight people killed in attack on Kenyan casino

E

ight people were killed when dozens of machetewielding raiders struck a casino popular with tourists and local Italian residents in the coastal Kenyan town of Malindi early on Thursday morning, police said.

Armed officers shot dead six of the attackers suspected to be members of a banned coastal separatist group while two policeman were also killed, police official Ambrose Munyasia said.A series of attacks

blamed on the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) has damaged the prospects for growth and investment along Kenya's coast, a major tourist draw, and in Mombasa, an economically vital port city.

"A gang of 50 MRC suspects armed with machetes and other crude weapons raided a casino in Malindi and started attacking patrons before police were called," Munyasia told Reuters from the city of Mombasa, about 120 km south of Malindi.

He said it was not immediately clear if any of the casino's guests had been hurt.

Mounting insecurity on the resort-packed region will be a pressing issue for Kenya's next president after an election earlier this month whose result is still being challenged in the country's supreme court.

MRC could not be reached for comment on Thursday's attack.

The group's spokesman was arrested last week on suspicion of involvement in attacks hours

before the presidential and legislative elections on March 4 left 15 people dead.

The MRC feeds off local discontent largely based on longheld grievances over land and frustration at the perceived economic marginalization of the region by the central government.

Thursday's attack occurred around 3 a.m. It is thought the group targeted the Italian-owned casino in order to steal cash to fund their activities, Munyasia said.

Religious leader threatens to oust Tunisian Prime Minister

T

he fugitive leader of an Islamist group threatened to overthrow Tunisia's government, one day after the prime minister accused him of smuggling weapons into the North African country.

Saif-Allah Benahssine, leader of radical Islamists Ansar alSharia, said in a statement on its web page that he would topple Prime Minister Ali Larayedh and throw him into the "dustbin of history" if the government interfered with the group.

Larayedh told French daily Le Monde on Tuesday that Benahssine, whose Salafist organization wants to impose a puritanical form of Islam, was responsible for smuggling in weapons seized by security forces.

Security forces have clashed several times in recent months with militants trying to bring weapons from Algeria and Libya.

Police also seized two big

weapons caches in the capital Tunis last month.

Last December, Laryedh said police arrested 16 Islamist militants who had been hoarding arms with the aim of creating an Islamic state.

The statement was the first time that Benahssine has threatened to overthrow the government.

Also known as Abu Iyadh, Benahssine is wanted by police for allegedly inciting an attack on the U.S. embassy in September. Four people were killed in the disturbances, which began as a protest over a film that mocked the Prophet Mohammed.

The government is led by the moderate Islamic Ennahda Movement, which won the country's first free elections on October 2011 following Tunisia's revolution, the first of the "Arab Spring" revolts.

Tunisian police blamed a

BRICS nations fail to launch new bank

L

eaders from the so-called BRICS group of emerging nations have failed to launch a much-anticipated new development bank to rival Western-dominated institutions like the World Bank.

After holding talks in the South African port city of Durban on Wednesday, leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and host South Africa agreed in principle to create a joint infrastructure lender but said further talks were necessary to finalise the plan.

"We are satisfied that the establishment of a new development bank is feasible," said host President Jacob Zuma, in remarks that hint at little progress beyond an agreement reached in the Indian capital, New Delhi, a year ago.

"We have decided to enter formal negotiations to establish a BRICS-led new development bank," he added.

Officially leaders had been expected to consider the bank's establishment, but South Africa and others had hoped to formally launch a $50bn infrastructure fund at the two-day summit.

The mooted bank is seen as a way of gaining influence on the world stage, countering Europe's dragging economic crisis and addressing the $4.5tn in infrastructure spending the BRICS are estimated to need over the next five years.

Instead of a $50bn fund BRICS leaders agreed only that the initial capital contribution would be "substantial and sufficient for the bank to be effective".

Key sticking points included how projects would be distributed and where the bank would be based, diplomats said.

Al Jazeera's Tania Page, reporting from Durban.said all of the BRICS members say they want to establish the development bank, but they have disagreements over fundamental details.

Saif-Allah Benahssine Salafist for the assassination of secular opposition politician ChokriBelaid on February 6, which provoked the biggest street protests in Tunisia since the overthrow of strongman Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali two years ago.

Salafists want a broader role for religion, alarming secular

elites who fear they seek to impose their strict views at the expense of individual freedoms, women's rights and democracy.

President MoncefMarzouki also said last week that young Tunisians who return home after fighting in the war in Syria were a threat to security.

President Jacob Zuma

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Asia and Middle East

T

hailand is holding peace talks with Muslim insurgents aimed at curbing violence in the south.

Government officials are meeting representatives of the BarisanRevolusiNasional (BRN) rebel group in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

The talks follow a deal reached in February with the group, which is one of several operating in the area.

Sanctions noose makes it harder for Japan's Koreans to help their own

PAGE 29

Thailand begins peace talks with southern rebel group More than 5,000 people have been killed since a separatist insurgency reignited in the Muslim-majority region in 2004.

The Muslim militants, who are fighting for greater autonomy from Buddhist-majority Thailand, carry out almost daily gun and bomb attacks against

civilians and security forces across three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat.

Hours before the talks, police said suspected militants killed three soldiers in a road-side bomb attack in Narathiwat.

"Today's main focus is to reduce violence. Today we will focus on building mutual trust and good

news agency that negotiators would seek a halt to attacks on civilians as proof that rebel leaders had influence on the ground.

But it is not clear how much influence the BRN has or the extent to which it speaks for other groups involved in the insurgency.

US deploys bombers amid Korea tensions

W

hen the now elderly man left Japan on a Soviet ship in 1960 for North Korea, he thought he was headed to the promised land. In reality, he survived 47 years there thanks only to $1 million in support from his halfbrother in Japan.

The man's Korean-born parents decided to migrate to North Korea when he was a teenager, lured by the promise of free education and healthcare in a country that at the time was richer than South Korea in the wake of the 1950-53 Korean War. Much of the Korean community in Japan is descended from people who were shipped across as forced labor during Tokyo's 35-year colonial rule of the Korean peninsula, which ended with Japan's defeat in World War Two. In a twist of fate, the man fled back to Japan in 2008 and is now supporting his wife and children in the North. Like other Koreans sending money to the North from either Japan or South Korea, he may find transactions coming under greater scrutiny after new U.N. sanctions were imposed on Pyongyang for its third nuclear test in February.

Speaking to Reuters during an interview in Tokyo, the 66-yearold man declined to be identified for fear of reprisals against his family. He also declined to say exactly why he fled North Korea.

He escaped to China in 2007, and arrived in Japan the following year.

He remembered calling his half-brother some years ago when he was in North Korea, thanking him for the money.

"I told my brother that I was sorry (for taking the money), but he said we were grown from the same mother's belly ... I really cried, I was so thankful for his words," said the man. His halfbrother had died by the time he arrived in Tokyo.

Even before the February 12 nuclear test, Japan's Finance Ministry appeared to be paying more attention to transfers to North Korea, as the man found out when he tried to send 200,000 yen ($2,100) to Pyongyang through the postal system after North Korea's latest longrange rocket launch in December.

relations," Thai National Security Council head ParadornPattanatabut said in Kuala Lumpur.

"I am confident that they will communicate our message to their militants but because BRN is a large organisation we have to give them some time."

On Wednesday he told AFP

B-2 bomber, two of which with nuclear capabilities have been deployed over South Korea.

T

he United States has deployed two nuclearcapable stealth bombers over South Korea as part of a "deterrence" mission over the Korean peninsula.

The deployment of B-2

bombers on Thursday followed North Korea's decision to cut a military hotline with the South, breaking the last direct communication link between the two countries at a time of heightened military tensions.

The bombers made the 20,000km round trip from the US state of Missouri to South Korea in a single flight.

Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett, reporting from Seoul, said the US is sending "a very clear message to North Korea".

Fawcett also reported that US defense secretary Charles Hagel has called his South Korea counterpart "to reaffirm the commitment" of the US to defend its ally.

On Wednesday, the North said it would inform the UN Security Council that the threat of nuclear war in the region is growing.

"Under the situation where a war may break out any moment, there is no need to keep up North-South military communications," the official was quoted as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency. "From now, the NorthSouth military communications will be cut off".

In response to the latest provocation, the US said it is ready to respond to "any contingency".

"North Korea's bellicose rhetoric and the threats that they engage in follow a pattern designed to raise tensions and intimidate others," Jay Carney, White House spokesman, said.

Several weeks ago North Korea severed the Red Cross hotline that had been used for government-to-government communications in the absence of diplomatic relations.

Despite the cutting of the military hotline, the Seoulfunded Kaesong industrial complex in North Korea continued to operate as of Thursday.

The industrial estate, established in 2004 as a symbol of cross-border cooperation, has remained operational despite repeated crises in relations.

Syria opposition opens embassy in Qatar

T

he Syrian opposition has opened its first embassy in Qatar, a day after opponents of President Bashar al-Assad were given Damascus's seat at the Arab League.

Opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib and Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs Khaled al-Attiya inaugurated the Embassy of the Syrian National Coalition on Wednesday.

The original Syrian embassy itself remains closed.

Gulf states announced in March last year that they were closing their missions in Syria over Assad forces' crackdown on dissent that has transformed into a civil war that has killed more than 70,000 people.

The opening of the mission came a day after the Arab League welcomed the Coalition to take the seat of Syria an annual summit of the 22-member bloc in Doha.

In a speech addressing the leaders, al-Khatib said the opposition also wants to assume Syria's seat at the United Nations.

"This is the first embassy of the Syrian people," said Khatib in the ceremony that

Opposition chief al-Khatib (M) and Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs Khaled al-Attiya inaugurated the Embassy [Reuters] saw the rebel flag raised on a villa provided by the Qatari government.

Al-khatib also used the ribbon-cutting ceremony to v o i c e h i s f r u s t r a t i o n with world powers for failing to do more to help in the two-yearold struggle to topple Assad.

"There is an international

willingness for the revolution not to triumph," he told reporters at the embassy, which was festooned with balloons in the red, green, white and black of Syria's national flag.

NizarHaraki, named by the coalition in February as its "ambassador" to Qatar, told

AFP he would "soon" present his accreditation letter to the emir of Qatar.

The coalition has named envoys in several countries, including Britain, France, Libya, Turkey and the United States, but has yet to open diplomatic missions in those countries.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 30

Europe and Americas US justices criticise antigay law

A

US law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman only has been sharply criticised by Supreme Court justices at a landmark hearing.

A judge considered the court's swing vote joined four liberal colleagues in questioning the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (Doma).

Legal analysts speculated that the law, which denies various federal benefits to gay couples, may be struck down.

A ruling on the case is expected by the end of June.

At the same time, America's highest court is expected to issue a decision about California's gay marriage ban, which it debated a day earlier.

For nearly two hours on Wednesday, the nine justices in Washington DC grilled lawyers on the constitutionality of Doma, with five of them making sceptical remarks about the 1996 law.

Doma denies married gay and lesbian couples the same federal rights, such as tax breaks and welfare benefits, granted to heterosexual couples.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, seen as the swing vote between liberal and conservative justices, said he was "troubled" by how the law appeared to intrude on states' authority to define marriage as they saw fit.

"The question is whether or not the federal government under a federalism system has the authority to regulate marriage," he said.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal, suggested the law created a two-tiered system of wedlock.

"There are two kinds of marriage: full marriage and the skim-milk marriage," she said.

Her colleague, Elena Kagan, said Doma was "infected by animus, fear and dislike".

Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked: "What gives the federal government the right to be concerned at all about what the definition of marriage is?"

The Obama administration refused to defend Doma in court, having deemed it unconstitutional.

Instead, a group of House Republicans hired a lawyer to argue in favour of the law.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Britain opens inquest into Berezovsky's unexplained death

B

ritain opens a judicial inquiry into the death of Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky on Thursday to establish how he died in the locked bathroom of his vast mansion near London.

Berezovsky, who survived years of intrigue, power struggles and assassination attempts in Russia, was found dead on Saturday in his home in Ascot, a town close to Queen Elizabeth's Windsor Castle.

Police said there was no sign of a struggle and the 67-year-old's death was "consistent with hanging", suggesting he might have killed himself.

Berezovsky was the king-maker behind Vladimir Putin's ascent to power inRussia but later became his number-one enemy and fled to Britain in 2000.

Berezovsky's associates have hinted he was depressed after losing a $6 billion court case against another tycoon, Roman Abramovich, last year, when a judge humiliated him publicly by saying he was an unimpressive and unreliable witness.

Other people close to him have said they were not convinced by the official account.

Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky "If he really hanged himself why was that not known from the very beginning?" said Andrei Sidelnikov, an opposition figure who knew Berezovsky. "I don't believe it was a suicide."

In Russia, state media quoted

Deputy Prosecutor General Alexander Zvyagintsev as saying the government would continue efforts to "bring back assets that Berezovsky and his accomplices acquired criminally and legalized abroad".

Mass-circulation tabloid

Komsomolskaya Pravda, which supports the Kremlin, ran a front page headline on Wednesday that read: "Did Berezovsky hang himself or did he have help?"

The inquest will open in the town of Windsor on Thursday.

Huge cyber-attack causes worldwide disruption

A

record-breaking cyberattack targeting an antispam watchdog group has sent ripples of disruption coursing across the Web, experts have said.

Spamhaus, a site responsible for keeping ads for counterfeit Viagra and bogus weight-loss pills out of the world's inboxes, said it had been buffeted by the monster denial-of-service attack since midMarch, apparently from groups angry at being blacklisted by the Swiss-British group.

"It is a small miracle that we're still online," Spamhaus researcher Vincent Hanna said on

Wednesday.

Denial-of-service attacks overwhelm a server with traffic, like hundreds of letters being jammed through a mail slot at the same time.

Security experts measure those attacks in bits of data per second. Recent cyberattacks, like the ones that caused persistent outages at US banking sites late last year, have tended to peak at 100 billion bits per second.

But the furious assault on Spamhaus has shattered the charts, clocking in at 300 billion bits per second, according to San

Francisco-based CloudFlare Inc., which Spamhaus has enlisted to help it weather the attack.

"It was likely quite a bit more, but at some point measurement systems can't keep up," CloudFlare chief executive Matthew Prince wrote in an email.

Patrick Gilmore of Akamai Technologies said that was no understatement.

"This attack is the largest that has been publicly disclosed, ever, in the history of the Internet,'' he said.

It is unclear who exactly was

behind the attack, although a man who identified himself as Sven Olaf Kamphuis said he was in touch with the attackers and described them as mainly consisting of disgruntled Russian Internet service providers who had found themselves on Spamhaus' blacklists.

There was no immediate way to verify his claim.

He accused the watchdog of arbitrarily blocking content that it did not like.

Spamhaus has widely used and constantly updated blacklists of sites that send spam.

Turkish police clash with Syrian refugees

S

yrian refugees threw rocks at Turkish military police who fired teargas and water cannon, the latest unrest in camps struggling to cope with a flood of people fleeing a civil war.

Reuters TV filmed the scenes at the Suleiman Shah refugee camp on Wednesday, near the Turkish town of Akcakale on the Syrian border, as dozens of protesters threw stones and smashed the windows of a fire truck.

Camp residents said young men started the protest after faulty electrics set a tent on fire which injured three brothers aged seven, 18 and 19.

A Turkish official said a "commotion" had broken out after the fire, but that the situation was now under control and declined to give further details.

Another Turkish official said the fire was not the cause of the incident and that it had been started by residents outraged

Police fire water cannons at the refugees. when guards turned away around 200 Syrians trying to get into the site which is already full, home to 35,000 people and one of the largest in Turkey.

Protesters said many people were wounded in the clash, something Turkish officials

denied.

"Residents are angry," said Sahar, a refugee who spoke to Reuters by phone from Suleiman Shah. She declined to give her last name.

"The mother of four children living in that tent had been

complaining for a long time about electrical problems and nothing was done, and then we had this horrible accident."

Sahar said conditions at Suleiman Shah were poor, with several families sometimes crowded into one tent, and that relations between Turkish workers and the refugees had become increasingly tense.

Camps in Turkey for the most part have facilities such as electric heaters to protect against freezing temperatures and refugees receive three hot meals a day, better conditions than in camps in some of Syria's other neighbours.

But overcrowding remains a concern, with more refugees arriving as fighting across the border drags on.

With Syria's bloody civil war now in its third year, more than 1 million Syrians have fled their country. At least 4 million more are believed to be displaced inside Syria, aid agencies say.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 31

NYC Restaurant lures customers with Kangaroo

A

New York City restaurant that serves burgers, sliders and steaks made with kangaroo meat says the marsupial meat is a hit with customers, DNAinfo.com reports.

The Thirsty Koala co-owner and chef Katherine Fuchs tells the website the kangaroo meat sells better than regular beef.

"There's a lot of other meat out there. People are eating elk, they're eating emu, they're eating ostrich," Fuchs told DNAinfo. "So why not kangaroo?"

The kangaroo burgers weigh about 8 ounces and come with beet root slaw, caramelized onions, grilled pineapple, bacon, a fried egg and house-made goat cheese.

Co-owner Alex Styponisas describes the marsupial meat as "really yummy."

"I would say it tastes like a filet mignon. It's really sweet and tender, and it's not as gamey as one would think," he told DNAInfo.com.

The meat travels from a ranch in Queensland, Australia to Bronx Hunts Point Market, according to the

Kangaroo website.

Other dishes that feature the unique meat include

kangaroo sliders and kangaroo filet. According to Fuchs, the Australian meat also has

Bombproof wristwatch can withstand C4 explosive blast

By Spooky

I

f you're looking to buy the world's toughest watch, you might want to take a look at the Kaventsmann Triggerfish Bronze A2. This little timepiece has been pressure tested to 300 bar (that's 3000 meters of water pressure), blown up with 10 pounds of C4, and survived to tick another day.

KaventsmannUhren is a one-man business run by Michael Barahona Fernandez, who creates all of the watch case parts by hand, in his Berlin workshop.

It's a time consuming process, so only a few of these solid watches go on sale each month. For his Triggerfish Bronze A2 model, the watchmaker used shockresistant CuSn8 phosphorbronze, the same material bridge load bearing plates are made of, stainless steel for the detachable back cap, and a 10 mm domed polycarbonate crystal. The finished watch measures 45 mm wide and 20 mm tall, and is a bit heavier

nutritional value.

"It's a very good meat and it's very good for you," Fuchs said.

Chinese gaming addict has spent the last 6 years in an internet cafe

By Spooky

C

integrity of your watch should be the least of your worries.

According to the KaventsmannUhren Facebook page only 30 Triggerfish Bronze A2 bombproof watches were made, and as of 15 hours ago, only two were still available. They're priced at •1,600 ($2,000), in case you're interested.

hina's growing problem with internet and video game addiction is probably best described by the case of Li Meng, a young man who has virtually been living in an Internet cafe for the last six years, leaving only to buy food and take the occasional shower.

According to Chinese media, Li Meng graduated from university six years ago, but unlike most of his peers, who went on to look for jobs, make a name for themselves and start a family, he opted for a life in the fantasy world of online gaming. Ever since he finished school, Li has spent most of his time in one of the many internet cafes in China's Northeast city of Changchun. The owner of the place says he's been there for such a long time that he's basically part of the furniture, and doesn't even notice his presence anymore. He spends every day and night tucked away in a corner, with an open bag of food by his side, staring at the monitor and mashing the keyboard and mouse buttons, leaving for brief periods of

After bomb-tested

Photo: Blastr

Before bomb-tested than conventional wristwatches, but that's to be expected, considering its extreme durability.

After confirming the timepiece can resist water pressure of up to 300 bar, Fernandez enlisted the help of U.S. Special Forces for the ultimate test - his KAVENTSMANN Triggerfish Bronze A2 against the blast generated by 10 pounds of C4 plastic explosive.

A group of soldiers that had commissioned Kaventsmann for a military version of the Triggerfish made from an aluminum alloy, placed the wristwatch just 1 meter from the C4 charge and detonated the explosives on a bombing range. Except for a few scratches and a missing leather strap, the watch survived intact. The timing mechanism was also knocked out of place, but its maker says he has developed a new holder that will prevent this from happening in future tests.

That's great to hear, but if you ever find yourself just 1 meter away from a bomb, the

"It's much leaner than beef, and it's got omega-three fatty acids."

time to catch a bite to eat and take a bath. Reporters who visited the young Chinese gamer at his "workplace" described him as a pale "bespectacled youth that clearly hadn't been to a hairdresser for a long time".

This bizarre story first appeared in the Beijing Times, after a reporter from the publication got the tip from a professor of psychology at Jilin University. He informed them there was a young man who had been playing internet games for as long as six years without any communication with the outside world. Apparently, this Professor Ding, visited Li Meng himself, but caught him at a very bad time - just as he had finally reached the Boss on level 12 of his video game. Along with a social psychologist from Renmin University, he tried to tried talking to the young video game addict, but he just kept on playing, like they weren't even there. "No matter what was said, he refused to communicate with anyone else," Ding told the press.

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013 With Tobias Lengnan Dapam 07036990957

MTV Video Music Awards are headed to Brooklyn T

his year's 30th annual awards show will be broadcast live from the Barclays Center on Sunday, August 25, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

This will mark the first time the VMAs will take place in the New York borough.

To announce the location, MTV began releasing eight photos at 8 a.m. ET featuring the Moonman in front of various locations on the network's Instagram and official Twitter accounts, "documenting" the Moonman's journey from last year's location (Los Angeles' Staples Center) to the Barclays Center.

Since the VMAs first began in 1984, the awards show that honors music videos have been broadcast from various venues in Los Angeles and New York City, twice in Miami and once in Las Vegas.

For the past three years, the VMAs were held in Los Angeles.

The last time the music-centric show was in New York City was in 2009 at Radio City Music Hall.

"From a vibrant musical scene for up-and-coming artists to epic concerts by today's biggest stars and the triumphant return of pro sports to the borough after nearly 60 years, Brooklyn has re-

Stage performance during the last MTV Award emerged as a cultural capital where music, sports and entertainment history is made every day," MTV president Stephen Friedman said in a

statement.

"Brooklyn is home to icons like the Cyclone in Coney Island and the Brooklyn Bridge, and now it can lay claim to the MTV Video

Music Awards," said New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement. "Bringing the VMAs to Brooklyn will mean hundreds of jobs as crews work on the

production and provide a boost to our local economy as attendees stay in hotels, visit local eateries and experience all Brooklyn and our city have to offer."

am Mendes and his Skyfall, starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, were big winners at the 18th annual Jameson Empire Awards in UK. Mendes scooped up three awards, including the Empire Inspiration prize, as well as the honors for best director and best movie of 2012.

Billing itself as "an antidote to more formal, industryvoted awards," such as the BAFTA Awards, the Empire Awards, organized by the movie magazine and sponsored by the beverage company, take place at the end of the annual awards season and before the Cannes Film Festival. They are voted for entirely by the movie-going public.

Joss Whedon's Avengers Assemble and Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey followed Skyfall's six nominations with five each. In the best

director category, Mendes edged out Jackson and Whedon along with Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Rises) and Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained).

The same five films also competed in the best picture category.

Seth MacFarlane's Ted won the best comedy prize at the Sunday night awards ceremony.

Sam Mendes wins 'Breaking Bad' script stolen 'Skyfall,' Empire Awards in U.K. from Bryan Cranston's car S Bryan Cranston

T

he actor reported that someone broke into his vehicle and snatched a shoulder bag, which also contained an iPad. Breaking Bad's tightlyguarded secrets could come to light before the series returns this summer.

Star Bryan Cranston reported a theft March 1, alleging that someone broke his car window and snatched a shoulder bag containing an iPad and his Breaking Bad script, according to Albuquerque's ABC affiliate, KOAT-TV. Court documents obtained

by ABCNews.com reveal that one of Cranston's employees, Taryn Feingold, was contacted by a confidential informant, who reportedly overheard a man at a local bar boasting about how he broke into a vehicle in the Sandia Mountain Range. He then reportedly showed his company "some type of laptop or iPad," according to the complaint, while "describing how he also had a script from the Breaking Bad series."

Sam Mendes

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Lagbaja gets multi-million naira glo deal

M

asked singer, Bisade Ologunde, who is well known as Lagbaja, has signed a juicy multi-million naira deal with telecommunications giants, Globacom, Nigeroafilms.com has said.

It added that the deal makes the masked wearing singer one of the few Nigerian celebrities who are Glo brand ambassadors.

Though the deal has not yet been officially announced but Nigeriafilms.com learnt that the artiste and the company have finalised the deal.

This also necessitated the recent Glo theme song released last week. The song, which is titled 'Unlimited', was done between Lagbaja and P-Square music group who are already Glo ambassadors.

Lagbaja

Kim Kardisha under fire for calling Nigerian women ape

A

merica's music sensation, Kim Kardisha, was recently under fire by Nigerians on twitter for allegedly calling Nigerian women apes, Pulse.com has said.

It added that the artist also referred to the country as "as a disgusting place to be".

Meanwhile, a number of Nigerians have expressed their anger on twitter by attacking the music sensation for such comments.

Kardisha was in Lagos, Nigeria on the 14th February, 2013, to host Darey Art Alade's show, Love Like A Movie, where she allegedly made those comments.

PAGE 33

Nat Geo adapting Bill O ‘Reilly’s ‘Killing Jesus’ W

ith the author and Fox News personality's "Killing Lincoln" adaptation pulling a record 3.4 million viewers and "Killing Kennedy" already in the works, it will mark the third collaboration between O'Reilly, the cable net and Scott Free Productions.

Hollywood reporter revealed that the National Geographic Channel is set to adapt Bill O'Reilly's upcoming book Killing Jesus: A History, marking the third telepic partnering of the author, the cable network and Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions.

The news comes on the heels of the successful launch of O'Reilly's Killing Lincoln in February.

The scripted adaptation, starring Billy Campbell as the 16th president and Jesse Johnson as John Wilkes Booth, pulled a record 3.4 million viewers to the cable network. Nat Geo is also in preproduction on O'Reilly's Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot.

O'Reilly, who will serve as executive producer on Killing Jesus, is writing the

book with his researcher and partner Martin Dugard.

Production on the film is scheduled to begin in the fall.

Jim Iyke shoots reality show episode during 2face's Dubai wedding

B

ad boy' actor, Jim Iyke, used a stone to kill two birds over the weekend when he used the opportunity of being at the wedding of 2Face Idibia and Annie Macaulay to shoot some episodes of his reality TV show

in Dubai.

The shoot has seen him take shots from some locations in Nigeria, US, Ghana and recently in Dubai.

Nigeriafilms.com gathered that the actor flew some of his

crew to Dubai to shoot some scenes for his Jim Iyke Untammed reality TV show hitting the airwaves soon.

The show highlights some personal lifestyles of the actor.

He started shooting in 2012.

Jim Iyke and his Dubai crew member

"I think the popularity of Bill's franchise speaks about how O'Reilly and Dugard are turning the notch up at every possible opportunity with these new accounts of history," NGC president Howard Owens tells The Hollywood Reporter.

"Killing Lincoln proved our audience's response to factual drama. The audacity of these books is in the way Bill thinks and tells a story. We think it fits really well with the history of the bible, and we've had a lot of success in the religious genre."

Killing Jesus, as the title implies, follows the events leading up to the crucifixion.

And the green light follows the current success of History's religion-themed miniseries The Bible, which has been pulling north of 10 million viewers every Sunday since March 3. Nat Geo's previous religious forays include 2006 special The Gospel of Judas.

All three Killing adaptations follow the November debut of SEAL Team Six, Nat Geo's first feature film.

The Weinstein Co.'s retelling of the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound brought in 2.7 million viewers.

Lil Wayne reveals America's Most wanted tour dates

A

fter being hospitalized for seizures earlier this month, Lil Wayne is recovering and ready to embark on tour alongside Atlanta's own, T.I. and Future, Hollywood reporter has said.

It added that the two-month U.S. tour kicks off at Birmingham's Oak Mountain Amphitheater on 7th July, 2013, and concludes on 1st September at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California.

Tickets for the Mountain Dewsponsored tour will go on sale on Live Nation's website in April.

After America's Most Wanted, Weezy will be hitting up Europe with Mac Miller in their previously announced October tour.

Lil Wayne

Kim Kardisha

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 34

Examining benefits and safety of genetically modified crops

By Kayode Olaitan

A

farmer's son once narrated a story: ``My father has been growing maize for the past 13 years with unimpressive yields that are even diminishing in quantity over the years. We could not make ends meet and we are economically threatened; is farming profitable at all?''

In contrast, a farmer from Ghana told a success story of his farming activities: ``I started farming with lowscale cultivation of maize but now, I have high-quality maize and I even sell maize in large quantities. To me, farming is quite interesting and profitable'' The two contrasting stories somewhat reflect the difference between conventional and modern-day farming of the 21st Century.

The rationale behind the success story of the second farmer is that he planted selected varieties of maize which, in turn, enabled him to have improved yields.

However, the farmer did this via a natural selection process, in which particular seeds with high yields are selected after harvests and re-planted at the beginning of a new planting season.

According to agriculturists, such activities reflect a simple hybridisation process, which entails a simple selection of good seeds for seeds' or plant breeding.

The experts underscore the need for farmers to exploit the use of all crop modification processes to enhance their yields and, in essence, boost the food security of their communities.

They particularly stress the need for the introduction of modern farming technologies in Africa to boost food security, fight hunger and enhance the people's nutrition on the continent.

Some agricultural scientists, however, insist that structured plant breeding remains the most outstanding revolution in agriculture, as it is capable of eradicating hunger and poverty across the world, whose population is expected to peak at 9 billion by 2050.

Nevertheless, plant breeding which relates to the alteration of crops' genes is facing some challenges, particularly those relating to widespread misconceptions about the suitability of Genetically Modified (GM) foods and crops for human consumption.

The critics of GM foods and crops have raised doubts about their safety, stressing that GM crops could even ``contaminate'' organic and conventional crops being cultivated near them.

For instance, the Catholic

Medical Association of Nigeria is at the vanguard of the campaign against the adoption of GM foods in Nigeria.

The association insists that the GM foods could be injurious to the people's health, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan not to give assent to the BioSafety Bill.

Another obstacle in efforts to garner public acceptance for GM foods is the widespread speculation that GM crops have been widely rejected across Europe because of some uncertainties regarding their safety for human consumption.

In an apparent reaction to such challenges, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently observed that contentious issues regarding GM crops and the use of to boost food security could not be resolved through faith, emotions or fear but via structured debates.

Supporting a scientific approach to unravel the controversies, Singh called for greater investments in utilising science to help establish an inclusive society that aimed at solving major social problems through scientific applications.

His words: ``Complex issues, be they GM foods or nuclear energy or exploration of outer space, cannot be settled by faith, emotion and fear but by structured debate, analysis and enlightenment.''

Sharing similar sentiments, an American agronomist, Dr Michael Murray, noted that with modern genetic engineering techniques, changes could be made in all crop cultivation processes.

He, nonetheless, conceded that there were much greater manipulation options in GN technology, including moving genes within or between species.

Irrespective of the criticisms, advocates of bio-fortified foods insist that the adoption of GM technology remains the best option of boosting of food production, in line with current global practices.

The argument in support of genetic engineering of food is that while the world population continues to expand, the lands available for food production

remain finite.

The advocates argue that as the world's population continues to increase, food production ought to correspondingly increase; stressing that the adoption of GM crops will boost the food security of the everincreasing world population.

However, agriculturists believe that ``agriculture is all about is growing different crops and processing different crops without mixing them up''.

They, therefore, stress that in as much as hybridisation ensures improved cultivation patterns and yields, it is somewhat logical for people to strive to acquire an appreciable knowledge of the all plantbreeding processes.

They also stress that efforts should be made to enhance the public acceptance of GM crops and foods, particularly at the grassroots level.

At a recent media training fellowship organised by Biosciences for Farming in Africa (B4FA) in Abuja, experts observed that Nigeria had the potential of boosting its food security if it adopted GM crops.

For instance, Mr Adeolu Adebayo, a genetics lecturer at Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso, said that Nigerians could identify some maize genes that had resistance to fungi pathogens for breeding. ``Then, the inbred lines could be used as parents between six and seven generations and then, we select good ones among the seeds and later crossbreed them to produce the first generation of maize population. ``We continue the breeding and evaluation processes until we get the desired hybrid,'' he said.

In her discussion on cocoa breeding, Dr Anna Muyiwa of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, noted that improved breeding processes had engendered a more viable cultivation of cocoa, resulting in high yields for farmers.

She said that a new variety of cocoa, which could mature in nine months, was under observation, adding that if the project was success, the

“

Minister of Agric, Akinwumi Adesina

emerging variety could replace the present variety that required 18 to 24 months to mature.

However, most of the workshop's participants underscored the need for President Jonathan to sign the Bio-Safety Bill into law so as to promote the cultivation GM crops in the country.

However, Mr Rufus Ebegba, a Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Environment, gave an assurance that efforts were underway to ensure the signing of the bill into law very soon.

All that same, the participants noted that the ongoing plans to ensure the viability of GM crops in Nigeria notwithstanding, the government ought to

She said that a new variety of cocoa, which could mature in nine months, was under observation, adding that if the project was success, the emerging variety could replace the present variety that required 18 to 24 months to mature.

demonstrate a strong political will by encouraging the new method of farming.

They, however, stressed that need for the creation of a good quarantine service, while horticultural specifications were made via legislation to control the quality of GM crops that would be cultivated.

Besides, the participants said that the media and other stakeholders should make tangible efforts to publicise the economic and health benefits of GM foods.

They also resolved that the establishment of more cropbreeding institutes such as the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan should be encouraged, as part of efforts to promote GM crops' cultivation.

They particularly urged the media to explain the scientific terminologies used in news bulletins so as to enhance the people's understanding of the salient themes of the public awareness campaign on GM crops and foods.

The participants also emphasised the need to train farmers in GM crops' cultivation applications, as part of efforts to boost Nigeria's food security and promote the wellbeing of its citizens.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 35

Members of Nigeria Labour Congress in a procession during a rally against fuel hike, recently in Abuja.

Curbing the maltreatment of Nigerian workers

By Olayemi Okeniyi

I

n March last year, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) urged the Federal Government to investigate the alleged maltreatment of some Nigerians working in some foreign-owned companies in the country.

Mr Clifford Thomas, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom chapter of CLO, said that in light of the rising cases of the maltreatment of Nigerians working in such firms, such investigation was considered very imperative.

He cited the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC) as one of the firms that was known for the gross violation of the rights of Nigerian workers.

He claimed that the perceptible violations included verbal insults as well as singling out and overworking specific individuals.

Thomas alleged that one man, Mr Emaeyak Edem, was beaten up by soldiers hired to protect CCECC employees at the behest of one employee for making inquires about how to secure a supply contract with the firm.

The CLO chief stressed that due to the fact that these foreign companies provided the much needed employment, people were often willing to overlook their aberrations regarding violation of the workers'

rights and work ethics.

While there are several allegations about the illtreatment of Nigerians by foreign companies, the case against CCECC is not the norm.

There are other allegations regarding the misconduct of foreign companies, particularly with regard to how expatriate workers were being given preferential treatment in the workplace.

Besides, concerned observers note that there have been complaints about enhanced remuneration for the foreign workers, who are also given residential quarters and official cars, while they are often allowed to go on their annual leave at their convenience.

On the contrary, the Nigerian workers in these firms are not allowed to enjoy similar privileges, while they are often laid off impulsively and indiscriminately.

Analysts, however, contend that whenever specialists are brought into a country, their pay package should reflect their skills, while it should also take into cognizance the fact that they were now working in a completely different country.

Some of the analysts are, nonetheless, quick to point out that there are enough qualified citizens who can easily be trained to perform the jobs which most of these foreigners are brought in to do.

It is, however,

commonplace to see expatriate workers dominate the high-level positions in most foreign-owned companies, while the Nigerian workers are relegated to perform menial tasks.

Nevertheless, that is not to suggest that the situation is peculiar to foreign companies alone, as there are instances where foreigners also receive preferential treatment in Nigerian-owned companies and schools.

Miss Joke Abiodun, a public relations (PR) practitioner, recalled that during a management training workshop, the participants expressed their disappointment when they learnt that the ``highly skilled and experienced UK trainer'' who was brought in for the programme was in fact a Nigerian living abroad and not a ``white person''.

She argued that their attitude reflected a kind of racial complex, ``as they think that being black has no value".

Abiodun stressed that children are inadvertently exposed to such notions when they were praised for being fair and mocked if they were too dark, adding that such children often grew up believing that lighter skin was more advantageous. ``You see people struggling to pay the fees for schools that are managed by a white principal, while there

are other more affordable schools offering the same curriculum being run by black persons," she said.

Besides, Abiodun said that many Nigerians often misjudged white people as wealthier and more prestigious persons, adding that they usually strive to take undue advantage of such persons. ``For instance, traders habitually believe that foreigners are more likely to pay for items above the normal market prices, while they are less likely to cause trouble whenever they are not given their full change. ``Personally, I have come to realise that only Nigerians, who have lived abroad or have once experienced racism, who harbour some resentment towards foreigners. ``They wonder why white people, who get preferred treatment in their home countries, also receive excellent treatment in Nigeria, while Nigerians, who undergo racism in other countries, do not get any special treatment at home," she added.

Such comments tend to reinforce the need to curb the aberration of some foreign countries in Nigeria which maltreat their Nigerian workers.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is celebrated on March 21 every year.

Racial discrimination involves all the races - black and white - and it depends on who is making the allegation regarding the perceived discrimination.

For instance, in 2009, a group of four white South Africans and a mixed-race Namibian were refused passage to Bonny Island by a boat company in Rivers state in the Niger Delta area.

Claiming racism, the aggrieved persons took matters up with Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who apologised to them and persuaded the company to reverse their discriminatory policy.

The boat company explained that they took the action because of the compelling need to protect the lives of the boat passengers, as foreigners were often viewed as prime targets for miscreants who perpetrated kidnapping and extortion.

All the same, concerned observers insist that tangible efforts should be made to denounce all forms of racial discrimination in the country, be it in the workplace or in the larger society.

They also underscore the need to ensure that Nigerian and foreign workers are exposed to the same kind of treatment in foreign and local companies, devoid of any iota of discrimination.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 36

Can't quit smoking? Your genes might be to blame

By Anna Hodgekiss

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enes, rather than feeble willpower, may be the reason why some people just can't stop smoking.

Scientists have identified genetic variants that increase a person's likelihood of becoming a lifelong heavy smoker.

Those affected are more easily hooked as teenagers and quickly progress to smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day.

As adults, they find it harder to quit the habit than individuals with a different genetic make-up.

Researchers studied almost 1,000 New Zealanders from birth to the age of 38 to identify those at a greater genetic risk of

smoking.

Participants with a high-risk genetic profile were more likely to smoke every day as teenagers.

At 38, they had smoked heavily for more years, were more susceptible to nicotine addition, and were more likely to have failed in attempts to quit.

'Genetic risk accelerated the development of smoking behaviour,' said study leader Dr Daniel Belsky, from Duke University in Durham, U.S. 'Teens at a high genetic risk transitioned quickly from trying cigarettes to becoming regular, heavy smokers.'

Genetic make-up did not affect whether or not a person would try smoking for the first time. But for individuals who

did try cigarettes, having highrisk variants increased the chances of heavy smoking and tobacco dependence.

The results, reported in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, are based on genetic risk scores derived from previous studies that scoured the whole genetic code for associations with smoking.

Alterations in the DNA in and around genes that affect the brain and body's responses to nicotine were more common in the heaviest smokers.

How the specific variants affect gene function is not yet known.

DNA samples from the New Zealand group of 880 men and women of European descent were

Those affected are more easily hooked as teenagers and quickly progress to smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day. As adults, they find it harder to quit

checked to see if they matched the smoking risk profile.

In total, 70 per cent of the participants had tried smoking, but this was not related to genetic risk.

Those who smoked just one or two cigarettes a day, or only lit up at weekends, had an even lower genetic risk than nonsmokers. But a strong association was seen between having a high-risk genetic profile and problem smoking.

Among teens who had tried cigarettes, those with the genetic variants were 24 per cent more likely to become daily smokers by the age of 15, and 43 per cent more likely to be smoking a 20pack a day by 18.

As adults, people with highrisk genetic profiles were 27 per cent more likely to become nicotine dependent and 22 per cent more likely to fail at quitting.

By the age of 38, a heavy smoking study participant with a high-risk genetic makeup had smoked about 7,300 more cigarettes than the average smoker.

Those who did not become regular heavy smokers in their teens appeared to be protected against the perils of tobacco as adults.

'The effects of genetic risk seem to be limited to people who start smoking as teens,' said Dr Belsky.

'This suggests there may be something special about nicotine exposure in the adolescent brain, with respect to these genetic variants.'

Sociomedical expert Professor Denise Kandel, from Columbia University in New York, who was not involved in the study, said: 'Adolescence is indeed a period of high risk for nicotine addiction.

Scientists have found that some genes increase a person's likelihood of becoming a heavy smoker 'The results illustrate why adolescence is of crucial importance for the development and targeting of prevention and intervention efforts. How this genetic risk affects brain functions, which in turn affect reactions to nicotine, remains to be determined.'

The profiling technique is not thought to be sensitive enough to screen out individuals at risk of being enslaved by tobacco.

But the findings have public health implications, the scientists believe.

'Public health policies that make it harder for teens to become regular smokers should continue to be a focus in antismoking efforts,' said Dr Belsky.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Budget 2013: Motion without movement Contd. from Back Page not indicative of any sense of prioritization leading to improvements anytime soon.

Could it also be that successive governments are simply uninterested in fixing the power sector as majority of the people think? Or could it be that truly, the power situation is beyond human capacity and is being manipulated by ‘ghosts, witches’ and ‘wizards’? It is disheartening that a nation with a population of nearly 170 million hardly generates 4000 megawatts steadily while South Africa which has less than a third of our population (about 50 million) generates ten times more electricity (about 45,000 MW). It

is not difficult to understand why South Africa surpasses Nigeria on major development indicators in spite of the latter’s potentials.

Is the government relying wholly on the private sector to shoulder the short-term investments in the sector? For the power situation in Nigeria to be turned around, government would need to invest massively in the sector. The investments needed must include federal budgetary intervention to expand and modernize the nation’s transmission infrastructure, some investments in renewable generation capacity using wind and solar, and even some hydropower stations to be placed under private sector management or ownership as soon as they are

commissioned.

Unless the government pragmatically pursues a mix of public and private investment in the various segments of electricity supply industry using our ample gas, hydro, coal, wind and solar resources, our nation will remain in partial darkness for at least the next five years. South Africa on its own has recorded success in its power sector by harnessing their freely available natural resource (coal) and converting it to power.

It did not go about importing natural resources which it already has, or relying solely on a private sector solution. Instead, it invested in making available resources usable to the public and private sectors.

Until this government or any

other government for that matter is able to tackle the power supply problem in the country, it would not be taken seriously because this is one area where it is easiest to prove that a government is indeed working for the benefit of the people. Corruption and impunity which are the major culprits for the chaos in the sector must be dealt with. A good starting point – a massive national signal - would be for all federal government facilities (including the Presidential Villa, the National Assembly and Supreme Court) to stop forthwith the use of generators to supply electricity for their day to day activities both at work and home. Such a signal will not only compel the public electricity providers to sit up and get better,

but will encourage policy makers to experience some of the pain that the ordinary Nigerian feels every day. Hopefully, this will engender change in official attitudes – and perhaps raise the budget for the power sector from the pathetic amount provided for in 2013!

In the meantime, as the executive and the legislative arms of government continue to bicker over who has the power to do what, or who has the mandate to award what contract, the whole budgetary process is becoming more and more like the famous axiom: All motion, no movement.

Sadly, from economic development, poverty alleviation and job creation perspectives, that, exactly, is what the 2013 budget may be turning out to be.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 37

Nasarawa Assembly bans traditional rulers from residing outside their domains

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Elder brother to Imo state Deputy Governor, Chief Martin Agbaso (right), briefing newsmen on the bribery allegation against Imo Deputy Governor, yesterday in Lagos. With him is Eze Igbo Ikeja, Eze Uche Dimgba (left).

Photo: NAN

Imo Deputy Governor impeached

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he Imo State House of Assembly has impeached the state's Deputy Governor, Mr.Jude Agbaso.

Twenty five of the 26 lawmakers in the Assembly voted in favour of the impeachment. The Assembly had served Mr. Agbaso a notice of impeachment over the allegation that he demanded and collected N458 million bribe

from J-PROS Limited, a construction firm handling the rehabilitation of Sam Mbakwe Road in Owerri, the state capital.

Mr. Agbaso denied the allegation and prayed the Federal High Court in Owerri to suspend the impeachment process, saying he was not allowed fair hearing.

The court declined, even as an ad-hoc committee set up by

the Assembly to investigate the embattled deputy governor had already indicted him.

After majority of the lawmakers endorsed the deputy governor's impeachment, the House asked the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Benjamin Njemanze, to constitute a seven-man panel to re-investigate the N458 million contract scam as provided in

Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The House removed Mr. Agbaso based on the report of the panel.

There are suggestions in some quarters in Imo State that Governor Rochas Okorochas was behind the ordeals of his deputy, an allegation the governor has repeatedly denied.

Don’t register any group with our acronym - APC warns INEC

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he African Peoples Congress (APC) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), not to register any political association with the acronym and logo it submitted to the commission, pending when the controversy over its rightful owner would be resolved up to the Supreme Court.

Briefing journalists yesterday, the Acting Chairman of the party, Onyinye Ikeagwuonu, also disclosed that the party has officially communicated to INEC its intention to seek a judicial review of the registration process of INEC by which the Commission recently announced its decision to deny APC registration.

He also said that the party’s letter has been received and acknowledged by INEC’s

Department for Political Affairs, adding that in it, APC clearly pointed out to INEC that the reason that their form PA 1, has no clear address for the national officers of the party was a calculated attempt to deny the party registration as earlier alleged.

He insisted that the party has as required provided enough addresses and contact of their national officers for easy contact and identification, pointing out that there is no specific requirement in the constitution that makes the addresses and contacts provided by any party valid or invalid.

The Acting Chairman argued that the party’s national officers are not Abuja based politicians but grassroots leaders who reside with their people in their various council areas, saying this may be why INEC has not seen their streets as some fancy streets in

Abuja.

Ikeagwuonu regretted that INEC should have written to them to demand for more specific details about the contacts and addresses it provided since the commission is not satisfied with what is already provided rather than outrightly denying the party registration.

“As we have now decided to seek judicial review of the decision of INEC not to register our association, you have no right to register any other political association with our name, acronym, symbol or logo till the matter is finally disposed of by the court”, APC warned.

Speaking further, Ikeagwuonu alleged that the recent development has indicated that some top personnel of INEC are dutifully advising and reporting to the leadership of the merger group, calling that top Directors and Commissioners in

INEC should be subjected to a Code of Conduct Bureau’s probe to ascertain if their present financial status corresponds with their declared assets.

At this juncture, he disclosed that a team of twenty lawyers led by two Senior Advocates has been dispatched to Obudu in Cross Rivers to explore and consider the various legal options APC has deployed in forcing INEC to register APC. “Any body who takes the recent denial of APC registration as an open door for the merger community is a novice”, he said.

The National Legal Adviser of APC, Barr. Kingsley Nnadi, in his comments promised that he, in alliance with the group of lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Constitution of Nigeria, which is a Nongovernmental Organisation, will offer free legal services to ensure that justice is done by INEC.

he Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday banned all traditional rulers in the state from residing outside their domains in the interest of peace and progress of their people.

The ban followed the motion by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Godiya Akwashiki (PDP-Nasarawa Eggon West).

The bill to regulate the movement of the state traditional rulers passed the third reading after the adoption of the motion.

Akwashiki said that the law would ensure that all traditional rulers resided and presided over issues within their chiefdoms.

He said: “I am calling on my colleagues to allow this bill to pass third reading in order to prohibit all traditional rulers from residing outside their emirates and chiefdoms.

“It will be an offence for any traditional ruler to live outside his chiefdom for no just cause if this bill sees the light at the end of the day.

“The bill also said that no traditional rulers shall leave his chiefdom for more than one weeks without notifying the chairman/administrator of his local government or development area and his kins men,” he said.

According to him, the election of traditional rulers will be conducted at the palace or village where the palace is situated so that there will be peace across the state.

The Minority Leader, Malam Adamu Maikatako (CPC-Lafia) seconded the motion for the passage of the bill.

He said that the bill if passed would also prohibited the use of military personnel during the election of traditional rulers as well as spell out the roles and responsibilities of traditional rulers in the state He said, “I am seconding this bill to pass third reading because it is timely; it prohibits our royal fathers from residing outside their domain for peace to reign.

“It also spelt out procedure for their removal from office in case of any offence committed.”

The house unanimously adopted the bill banning traditional rulers from residing outside their domains.

The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Musa Ahmed, then directed the Clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the bill for the governor’s assent.

(NAN)

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PDP Youths Vanguard cautions Nigerians against violence

By Lawrence olaoye

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Chairman, 3rd Republic Members of the House of Representatives Forum, Hon. Obi Anoliefo (middle), former Senate President Adolphos Wabara (right), and executive member, Hon. Peter Biakpara (left), during the meeting of the Forum, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

FG has surrendered to corruption, says UPP

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he United Progressives Party (UPP) has said that the Federal Government has surrendered to the scourge of corruption, especially in the high places.

Reading the communique issued yesterday after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja, UPP’s chairman, Chekwas Okorie, regretted that public and political office holders have failed to lead by example in the fight against corruption.

The chairman blames the high level of corruption for the unemployment prevailing in the country, adding that the cases of youth restiveness and other social vices are direct consequence of corruption in the country.

He expressed concerns that there is almost absence of security for lives and property in Nigeria, saying that life in the country has become so short and brutish.

In addition, he bemoaned that the huge

budgetary allocation to the fight against terrorism and violent crimes has not reflected in the security situation of the country.

According to the communique, “The federal and state governments, as well as the security agencies have not lived up to expectation in this regards.”

On this basis, he the party advised federal government to invite friendly nations with proven records of acquisition of relevant technology to assist the government with the requisite technology and expertise to combat violence in the country.

Meanwhile, the party composed and inaugurated two committees of finance and contact, in addition to the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, headed by George Ozodinobi, whose functions will be in accordance to the stipulations of the constitution.

The party also urged INEC to commence electronic voting system in the subsequent elections, saying this is the only way to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral

system.

He recalled that of the thirteen political parties that participated in the recently held Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) election, the only 28,000 votes were cast, out of the 477,000 registered and eligible voters in AMAC. He said this represents less than six percent of the registered voters, saying the AMAC election does not meet with the minimum qualification for legitimacy.

“The government of Nigeria, the National Assembly, INEC, Political Parties and Nigerian people should be worried at the trend that suggests in clear terms that Nigerians have lost total confidence in the democratic process”, the communique read.

He commended the UPP’s chairmanship and vice chairmanship candidates, in addition to the twelve councilorships candidates that contested the AMAC area council elections for putting up a robust fight in the election, despite being the first outing of the party in an election.

PDP plots to take over Kwara APC, opposition alleges From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kwara State has raised the alarm that the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has set up a committee charged to take over Congress for Progressive Change(CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

The parties state Chairmen, Alhaji Suleiman Buhari, Alhaji Taiwo Eleja and Kayode Olawepo in a jointly signed statement yesterday said they have alerted State Security Service(SSS) and

other security agencies on the matter.

"Already, a committee headed by a former national officer of the PDP and a perennial gubernatorial contestant in the state, has been set up to fine-tune the modalities for the takeover bid. And true to instructions, the committee has devised a multi-prong approach to destabilise the fledging APC's structure.

"These methods include, but are by no means limited to, flying the dangerous kite of dissolution of the democratically elected State Executive Councils of the three major opposition parties in the state."

The parties Chairmen further alleged

that the PDP committee in the state was mandated to flag off an NGO, political fora to serve as counterforce and public messiah. APC chairmen maintained that the parties were not against politicians joining the mega party but stressed that such person must be ready to abide by the rules of the party.

"Any attempt to resurrect an idea that is dead and effectively buried in the brain of its progenitor will be tantamount to a declaration of war against democracy and the rule of law. They have to bear it in their minds that the APC is a party of rules and due process".

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s Youth Vanguard Yesterday called on the youths in the country to shun all forms of political violence thuggery and other anti social behavior for the nation to move forward.

Amb. Ibrahim Aboki, National Secretary to the group in a speech delivered in Abuja, said there are indications that the government was winning the war against insecurity in the country. He said "We also call on all Nigerians especially our teeming youth to shun all kind of political violence and thuggery to embrace peace and dialogue."

Aboki said everyone in the country must join hands with the government to fight the menace of insecurity in the country.

Commenting on the opposition merger, the group scribe pointed out that the parties in the merger have regional and tribal cleavages pointing out that only the PDP has the national appeal.

Kogi Assembly orders reinstatement of council workers

T

he Kogi State House of Assembly has ordered an immediate reinstatement of 600 workers of Okehi Local Government Council sacked by the former liaison officer of the council.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the resolution followed the adoption of the report of the Standing Committee on Local Government of the house that investigated and made recommendations on the issue.

The Speaker of the house, Alhaji Lawal Momoh-Jimoh, ruled that the workers were “legitimately and legally appointed”, adding that they should not be held accountable for the bloated workforce in the council.

Earlier, while presenting the report, the Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Lawal (PDP-Adavi), said that the committee discovered that the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) had carried out staff screening earlier.

“In our investigation, we discovered that the then chairman sought the approval of the Local Government Service Commission for the recruitment of about 120 staff for the council,” he said.

He said that in implementing the appointment, the then chairman over-shot the number, causing over-employment.

Lawal described the appointment of the 120 staff as “legal”, saying that the appointment letter of most of them were signed by the commission.

He said the committee faulted the procedures for disengaging the staff because neither the commission nor the management of the council issued them termination letters.

Mr Sunday Shigaba (ANPP-Bassa), said the council had the constitutional right to employ officers on grade levels 01 to 06 while the Local Government Service Commission could recruit officers on grade level 08 and above. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 39

Gov. Jang reiterates call for state police

By Ephraims Sheyin

M

arch 13, 2013 was the 69th birthday of Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau but he was reluctant to honour the activities lined up for the celebration at his country home in Du and in Jos, the state capital.

In his comment on the cultural shows, a public lecture, the prayer sessions and a cocktail party lined up in his honour, Jang bluntly said: ``I don't believe in these things; I see them as unnecessary and avenues for unnecessary expenditure. ``I believe people should contribute their quota to the development of their environment and the nation without making much noise about it.''

However, a major theme of the governor's birthday celebration related to the proposal for the creation of state police, an idea which Jang has been drumming support for on several occasions.

In his remark at the occasion, Jang reiterated his call for the establishment of the state police, as part efforts to resolve the protracted crises bedevilling Plateau State.

The recent call for a state police force was stimulated by the public lecture delivered during Jang's birthday celebration by Sen. Gyang Pwajok, the former Chief of Staff to the governor who replaced the late Sen. Gyang Dantong in the Senate.

Observers note that the lecture on ``Policing in a federal state: Whither Nigeria'' appears apt and well-chosen, as it once again brought to the fore the governor's contention on the desirability of the state police as the only panacea for the myriad security challenges facing the state.

Pwajok outlined the statutory role of the police in keeping domestic peace and countering any internal insurgency.

Assessing the equipment of the Nigeria Police Force and the financial allocations to it over the years, the senator concluded that Nigeria had failed to prepare the police force to effectively police the nation.

In his comment, Jang reiterated his call for the creation of state police, succinctly justifying the need for it in a large

country like Nigeria. ``We are not asking for state police because we do not believe in the current police force but we have observed that a federal police officer can be posted to anywhere. ``When you recruit someone from the riverine areas of Bayelsa, for instance, and post him to Shendam or the hilly areas of Riyom, where does he start? ``If you go to UK, you will never see UK police; it is either metropolitan police or county police. ``That makes it easy for the officers there to chase and trace criminals because they know practically all the nook and crannies of their areas. ``Here, gunmen attack communities and run into the hills, while most of our security personnel are not familiar with such terrain. ``You could then imagine what happens if you post a Plateau man to the waterlogged areas of Bayelsa or River states, where does he start?'' he quipped.

However, the governor rejected some misconceptions that he wanted a state police force for ulterior motives. ``I don't have any reason to hate anybody because God created human beings in His own likeness and I think some cynics merely use all kinds of arguments to stop Nigeria from growing into a developed nation. ``We must learn to work with the truth; we must teach our children what is right and we must develop genuine love for one another irrespective of factors such as ethnicity, religion and political difference,'' he said.

Jang rejected the notion in some quarters that his campaign for the creation of state police was provoked by his machination to fuel the crisis in the state. ``With all due respect, nothing could be more bizarre and ridiculous; will any leader for that matter support violence? ``Which leader, no matter how sadistic, will be happy to have his domain turned into a theatre of war where infants, women and the very elderly are being murdered in their sleep?'' he asked.

Jang emphasised that his calls for a state police were purely based on the peculiarities of Plateau State, stressing that states that were not ready for

Governor Jonah Jang state police should not be forced to toe the line and establish it.

Besides, the governor argued that it was wrong to address a state governor as the chief security officer of the state when he had no control over the commissioner of police in state whatsoever.

Supporting the governor's viewpoint, Prof. Isawa Elaigwu, the President of Institute of Good Governance and Social Research, said: ``Currently, the Plateau State Government funds all the security outfits in the state as it is in other states; so, it can conveniently fund a state police.''

Nevertheless, Mr Hamisu Alli-Jos, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, has a contrary view.

He argued that the best approach to address the situation was to allow state governors to supervise the commissioners of

police in their domains since the governors were statutorily referred to as the chief security officers of their states.

Apart from the debate on the desirability of the state police or otherwise, the governor, however, used the occasion to debunk some allegations regarding his style of leadership.

Reacting to an allegation that he never took to advice, Jang challenged the proponents of such allegations, saying: ``Let any of such people tell us the day he came to see me and was not allowed to see me to listen to his advice. ``Instead of putting heads together to help Plateau, such people prefer to vilify me and my government on the pages of newspapers. ``The truth is that while we try to be prudent with our resources, some people are not

comfortable with that,'' he added.

At the event, journalists sought some clarifications on varying issues, including an allegation that the governor was always too firm on decisions, irrespective of the public feelings about the issues involved.

Some critics have also cited the government's ``no work; no pay'' policy as a development that had consistently pitted the government against its workers, often resulting in industrial disputes.

Responding to such allegations, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Abraham Yiljap, said that the governor was often misunderstood. ``Gov. Jang is a very principled administrator; his love for Plateau knows no bounds; he prefers to be with his people in all situations and feel their pulse at all times. ``He has designed a mentoring programme for all his appointees so as to ensure a smooth succession, long after his exit from office,'' he said.

Nevertheless, Yiljap opined that the governor should open a more direct channel of relationship with more stakeholders.

“I think Gov. Jang will be better understood if he drives personally to see journalists, civil society organisations, associations, politicians and even the ordinary farmer and market woman. He should interact with them at a more informal level “That way, people shall see his other side and, perhaps, judge him more positively and correctly,'' he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Timothy Golu, the Chief Whip of the Plateau State House of Assembly, commended the governor for mentoring the youth, as part of efforts to prepare them for future leadership positions.

Golu stressed that the governor's approach was purposeful and good for the state's development, as new ideas would evolve to enhance the growth, stability and peace of the state.

The critics' dissents notwithstanding, public analysts insist that as the people celebrate Jang's birthday, they should strive to emulate his leadership virtues, while making concerted efforts to resolve the various crises affecting the state.

(NANFeatures)

Bayelsa Govt. denies link with terrorists arrested in its building in Lagos

T

he Bayelsa Government has dissociated itself from the nine suspected terrorists reportedly arrested in a building belonging to the state government in Ijora area of Lagos.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Markson Fefegha, said in Yenagoa that the state government had no links with the suspects who used the abandoned building for their nefarious activities Fefegha told the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that further investigation by security agencies was necessary He said: “Our findings show that the abandoned building belongs to Bayelsa State.

“The governor has directed that the building be demolished and a more befitting house built and put to use.

“The government had dispatched a team of engineers to assess the state of the building.

“So we have to await the report of the team sent to assess the situation; no responsible government can habour terrorists.”

The commissioner said that the government had been in the vanguard of fighting against terrorism and other violent crimes.

He explained that government had prescribed death penalty for convicted kidnappers in the state.

Fefegha expressed optimism

that the suspects would be investigated, prosecuted and made to feel the full wrath of the law.

Also reacting to arrest of 30 job seekers on Tuesday in Yenagoa, Fefegha dismissed the claim that government was insensitive to the plight of unemployed youths.

He said that the claims were self seeking as they demanded a stipend of N40,000 monthly.

The commissioner said:

“Just a few days ago, 500 youths left for agricultural training in Republic of Benin.

“We also offered amnesty to cultists and from our record so far, 3,000 of them have registered to participate in skills acquisition scheme.

“There are so many programmes targeted at empowering our youths and government believes that people should avail themselves of such opportunities rather than breach the peace.” (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 41

Flying Eagles did not do enough against Young Pharaohs, says Obuh

By Albert Akota

H

ead Coach of the Flying Eagle John Obuh has said that his team deserved to lose to the Young Pharaohs of Egypt in the semifinals African Youth Championship (AYC) in AinTemouchent, Algeria last Tuesday.

According to him, the junior Eagles underrated their opponents and paid dearly for it as they suffered a shock 0-2 loss to the Egyptians, Also, Obuh rues the many missed chances that they could have scored to ensure they seal a berth

at the final of the AYC and defend their title.

“We played Egypt in pretournament and defeated them.

We have never lost to a team like Egypt 2-nil. I am not happy the way my boys approached the game because we created many chances that could have given us upper hand, but they failed to utilize it.

“Our inability to score goals was the major problem. That gave them the power to fight back and punish us for missing our chances. Imagine, they had only three chances and converted two,” he said.

The former Sharks FC coach also

said that he was surprised at the tactical approach adopted by the Egyptians during the match.

“Before the tournament, we played against t Young Pharaohs in Tunis and we defeated them. But in the competitive game , my boys failed to understand that the game of football sometimes change and a team you think you are better than to spring surprise,” he said.

However, Obuh lauded the boys for qualifying to the FIFA U-20 World Cup billed in Turkey later in the year. The Flying Eagles will play in Losers’ Final against Mali today at 5.30 pm Nigeria time.

They lost the opening game to Mali despite dominating possession by as much as 75 percent.

Golden Eaglets battle Raul Gonzalez at ‘Old Trafford’

T Yohan Blake

Bolt, Blake, to light up Kingston May 4

U

sain Bolt, the two-time reigning Olympic champion at 100 and 200 metres, will run at the Jamaica International Invitational athletics meet on May 4, organisers announced on Wednesday.

Yohan Blake and US sprint star Allyson Felix will also compete in the meeting, but meet director Donald Quarrie, a former Olympic 200 champion, said there will be no showdown between Bolt and Blake in the same event at Kingston.

“Bolt has been confirmed, but his coach, Glen Mills, will decide on the event he will run at a later date,” Quarrie said.

Blake, second to Bolt in both sprints at the London Olympics, is also undecided about his event.

“Bolt and Blake will run, but not in the same event,” Quarrie said. “Hopefully next week we should know the event.”

Felix, the Olympic 200m champion, will compete in the meet for the first time and she will have a showdown with Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown in the women’s 100, Quarrie said.

Felix, a three-time world champion in the 200, first ran in Kingston at the 2002 world junior championships.

Two-time Olympic 100m women’s champion Shelly-Ann FraserPryce will run the 200, the event in which she finished second at the London Olympics.

Hansle Parchment, a London Olympic bronze medallist, will run the 110m hurdles.

Allyson Felix

he Golden Eaglets will today trade tackles with Al-Sadd Football Club with legendary Spanish star, Raul Gonzalez leading the charge against the Nigerian starlets at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha -popularly known as ‘Old Trafford’.

Raul, the former Real Madrid’s captain, is one of the most influential foreign players in the club, which incidentally once paraded Nigerian striker, John Utaka in the 1990s.

Already, some of the Eaglets are warming up to meet Raul and to have handshakes with the legend.

“You mean we would be playing against Raul us on Friday? Success Isaac, Golden Eaglets’ striker asked rhetorically.

“It would be a privilege to play against Raul and shake hands with him before the match.” Isaac, Eaglets’ top scorer in the qualifier for the CAN Under-

17 Championship in Morocco with five goals in six matches, He added: “I can’t wait to play against Raul because it is an opportunity to learn some new things about goal scoring from him and it is going to be an interesting game for us.”

Similarly, Musa Muhammed,the national Under17 team captain stated that the team would be focussed to preserve their unbeaten run and won’t be carried away with the prospect of playing against Raul.

“We are going to play against Al-Sadd like any other team with the objective to win,” he stated. “My teammates are ready and we want to show what we have been learning since we came to Aspire.”

Today’s match is in the series of friendly duels lined up for the team as they prepare for next month’s CAF U-17 fiesta in Morocco.

AYC Losers’Final: Win or lose Obuh to be sacked

By Patrick Andrew

G

oing by the contractual terms between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and John Sam Obuh, the head coach of the Flying Eagles, stands sacked by the football federation for failing to fulfill the terms of the contract.

According to a member of the NFF technical committee, Austel Elumelu, Obuh had signed a contract which indicated he must deliver the AYC trophy.

Elumelu, who was monitored in a Brilafm news programme yesterday, said that Obuh had accepted to the terms of the contract which included to that the Flying Eagles deliver the AYC trophy by retaining same.

They had won it two years ago in South Africa.

It implies that following Tuesday’s semifinal loss to the Young Pharoahs the clause in the contract would be enforced as was the case with Samson Siasia who was fired for failing to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup finals.

Meanwhile, the junior Eagles will decide which of either Group B or D the will belong at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey, next June.

According to the draw made last Friday, AYC losers’ winners or fourth-placed team are to end up in either group.

Group B has the likes of Cuba, Korea Republic, CAF second

runners up and Portugal while Group D are Mexico, Greece, Paraguay and CAF fourthplaced side.

The Eagles, who confront their Malian counterparts for the second time in this tournament having lost the first game, are therefore condemned to beat Mali to secure a berth to Group B or face a daunting task of playing against Paraguay, Mexico, Greece, who are hard nuts to crack.

Though the Eagles lost the first game to Mali, it was not because of their opponents’ superior tactics other than the junior Eagles’ claw footedness in front of the goal.

That has been the most undoing of the West Africa team as evident by their lost to Egypt after dominating for most of the 90 minutes, created several chances but failed to convert

Coach John Obuh them, while the Young Pharaohs had three chances and buried two of them.

Coach Obuh must therefore give fresh breathe to his attacking form perhaps by dropping Kayode Olarenwaju that has consistently misfired and allow Aminu Umar to lead the charge.

Dami Paul, Flying Eagles’ goalkeeper

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Chelsea hitman enjoying life in England

Manchester City out of EPL tittle race, says Mancini

C

helsea midfielder Eden Hazard has told L’Equipe he is enjoying his maiden Premier League season and feels English football has taught him to show his prodigious ability more often.

Only Fernando Torres has featured in more top-flight games for the Blues this season than Hazard, while Juan Mata is the sole Chelsea player who can claim to have had a hand in more of the side’s Premier League goals.

Hazard’s match-winning talent was already in evidence at former club Lille, but the Belgium international believes his switch across the Channel last summer has improved one aspect of his game.

With eight goals and as many assists in his first season in English football, Hazard has already started to justify Chelsea’s estimated outlay of •32 million on him.

His statistics suggest he has settled quickly into life at Stamford Bridge, but the two-time Ligue 1 Player of the Year acknowledged he has had to get used to the unique facets of England’s national game.

The same could be said of his compatriots in the stands, who rose as one on Tuesday to salute Hazard after he had scored the only goal of the game to give Belgium a 1-0victory over Macedonia and keep his nation top of World Cup Qualifying Group A.

M

anchester City manager Roberto Mancini threw in the towel for his club’s Premier League title challenge yesterday.

Defeat to Everton in their last Premier League outing left City trailing leaders Manchester United by 15 points with nine games remaining.

United have shown no signs of wilting under the pressure of wresting the English title back from their near neighbors and have won their last six league matches.

“It’s over but this doesn’t change anything because we should do our best from now to the end,” Mancini told reporters.

Mancini made the same assessment last season when City trailed United by eight points with six games to go before they rallied to snatch the title on the final day on goal difference.

A seemingly crucial part of City’s decline in recent weeks has been the absence of captain and defender Vincent Kompany who has been out with a calf injury since January 26.

In that period, City have dropped 10 points, losing twice and drawing twice, to further cement United’s lead at the top of the table.

Kompany made his return to action with Belgium in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, a decision that annoyed Mancini who had carefully nurtured the defender back to fitness over the last two months.

“He didn’t play for us for 60 days and then he went to play for the Belgium team,” Mancini said.

“I did not agree with this. I think sometimes some managers of national teams should understand the situation.

“This player plays for the club, and the club, every month, pay his salary. I don’t know if he is okay or not. One week before the international break he was not fit to play for us.

Eden Hazard

Wilshere to return in two weeks after injury

A

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Jack Wilshere will be given an extra week to recover from an ankle injury.

The 21-year-old has not played since suffering the problem in Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on 3 March.

Midfielder Wilshere is set to

miss the games against Reading and West Brom but should return for Norwich on 13 April.

Wilshere missed the whole of last season with an injury to his right ankle, but his latest issue affects the opposite joint.

Wenger initially estimated he would be out for three weeks, but his absence is now likely to

extend to four.

Wenger will also be without Theo Walcott for Saturday’s visit of Reading after the forward suffered a pelvic muscle tear while on international duty.

There are also doubts over leftback Kieran Gibbs (illness) and midfielder AbouDiaby, who has

an unspecified problem, but forward Lukas Podolski and right-back BacarySagna are fit.

Arsenal currently sits four points behind fourth-place Tottenham with a game in hand and come into the match off the back of successive 2-0 victories at Bayern Munich and Swansea.

Manchester United could be my last club, saysVan Persie

R

obin van Persie has admitted he may end his career at Manchester United.

The 29-year-old Netherlands striker says the fact United has a track record in valuing older players such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes may persuade him to see out his playing days at Old Trafford too.

Van Persie told Dutch magazine Voetbal International: “For the next few years I will be at Manchester United - and maybe longer.

United could be my last club.

The former Arsenal striker’s current United contract will end when he is 33 but with 39year-old Giggs and Scholes, 38, for inspiration, the striker may be tempted to extend his time at the club.

Van Persie scored twice for

Holland against Romania last night to overtake Johan Cruyff’s

international goal tally. Cruyff scored 33 goals in 48 appearances of a curtailed international career and van Persie is now on 34 goals from 74 caps.

Van Persie is

second in the Premier League scoring charts this season with 19 goals, three behind Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, and United will be hoping his international form will see him pick up domestically after a spell of just one goal in ten matches for the club.

PUBLIC NOTICE THE NOK CULTURAL REBIRTH INITIATIVE

Robin van Persie

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. SHEM ZAGBAYINUHU -CHAIRMAN 2.DR. SALAMATU MAMBULA MACHUNGA -VICE CHAIRMAN 3.MR. RIMA KWEWUM SHAWULU -SECRETARY 4.MR. CHOM BAGU 5.EMMANUEL ENDAZO ALAMU 6.REBECCA SAKO JOHN 7.PROF. TOR LORAPUU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.FOR EMMANCIPATION OF PEOPLE 2.FOR CULTURAL REBIRTH. 3.FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 4.FOR UNITY AND PROGRESS OF MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

CHANGE OF NAME

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I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS CHUKWUMA PEACE C. NOW WISH TO BE CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. AMADI PEACE C. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. N.Y.S.C AND AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

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THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENT IN RESPECT OF PLOT FL 165, GOMBE FARM LAND EXT. LAYOUT AT KUJE BELONGING TO HERITAGE CONSULTING AND SERVICES, ABUJA IS MISSING. THE MISSING DOCUMENTS INCLUDE [1] ORIGINAL COPY OF OFFER [2] ORIGINAL COPY OF PAYMENT RECEIPTS OF KUJE AREA COUNCIL [3] ORIGINAL COPY OF AGIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RECEIPTS. ALL EFFORTS MADE BY THE COMPANY TO RECOVER THE MISSING DOCUMENTS PROVED ABORTIVE, IF FOUND, PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, OR AGIS, ABUJA

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THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS IN RESPECT OF PLOTS NO. 139A, PHASE AA3 LAYOUT, KUJE AREA AND PLOT NO. MF13 AT KUCHIYAKU LAYOUT, KUJE BELONGING TO NOUR SANI HANGA. THE DOCUMENTS INCLUDE; [1] ORIGINAL COPY OF OFFER [2] ORIGINAL COPY OF PAYMENT RECEIPTS OF KUJE AREA COUNCIL [3] ORIGINAL COPY OF AGIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RECEIPTS. ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE MISSING DOCUMENTS PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND, PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, OR AGIS ABUJA.

ALL EFFORTS TO TRACE THE MISSING DOCUMENTS PROVED ABORTIVE, IF FOUND, PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR AGIS ABUJA.

SIGNED: BARR. ROSE MANDE

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

Miami semi-finals

Sharapova set up Jankovic clash Third seed Maria Sharapova has set up a mouthwatering semi-final clash with 22 seeded Jelena Jankovic.

Sharapova defeated Italian eighth seed Sara Errani at the WTA Miami Masters hardcourt tournament 7-5, 7-5.

She fired six aces but made 14 double faults before saving a break point in the 10th game of the second set to end the game after just under 2 1/2 hours.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova looks forward to the clash with Serbian Jankovic, who beat Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-7 (6/ 8), 6-3.

Sharapova, coming off a title at Indian Wells,

has never won the Miami crown in four trips to the final, losing to Kim Clijsters in 2005, Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2006, Victoria Azarenka in 2011 and Agnieszka Radwanska last year all in straight sets.

If she does reach the final again she would face either a rematch with Radwanska, the fourth seed from Poland, or world No 1 Serena Williams, who seeks her sixth Miami title.

The former world No 1, Jankovic, who needed two and a half hours to get past Vinci, will be searching for a second title this season, after a triumph in Bogota. But she’ll face a stiff semifinal test in Sharapova, who has won six of their seven encounters.

...Ferrer advances to meet Haas

T

hird-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer quieted his early nerves and battled back for a three-set victory over Austrian veteran Jurgen Melzer on Wednesday to reach the semifinals of the Miami ATP Masters.

Djokovic’s ouster left Ferrer as the highest seed remaining in the top half of the men’s

draw.

Ferrer, who had not made it to the final four at Miami since 2006 when he lost to Roger Federer in the semifinals, was toppled in the second round of the Indian Wells Masters.

Ferrer has won more matches this season 24 than any other player and is also due to jump back

over compatriot Rafael Nadal for the world No 4 ranking next week.

Meanwhile, giantkiller Tommy Haas followed up his triumph over world No 1 Novak Djokovic with a 6-3, 6-1 quarterfinal victory against France’s Gilles Simon at the Miami ATP Masters.

Haas, at 34 the

oldest player ranked in the top 50 in the world, had shocked Djokovic in straight sets in the fourth round on Tuesday.

The 15th seeded German showed no sign of a letdown against 11th-seeded Simon, and advanced to a semifinal clash with third-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer.

Chilemba dares Bellew for WBC silver lightweight title ‘morrow

I

saac Chilemba will tomorrow night exchange punches with Tony Bellew for the WBC silver light-heavyweight title at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on Saturday night. Chilemba, a Malawian fighter will face an uphill task against local favourite Bellew, who has a record of 191, including 12 wins inside the distance.

Chilemba though has built up an impressive record of 20-1-1; 9 since making his professional debut in October 2005.

His only defeat was against Wilbeforce Shihepo in July 2007 when he lost on points over six rounds. He won the African Boxing Union super-middleweight title in September 2008 when he beat Charles Adumu on points.

He also won the WBO Africa light-heavyweight title by beating David Basajjamivule and added the WBC international light-heavyweight title with a victory over Dodou Ngumbu.

After winning the vacant IBO international super-middleweight title against David Bolling he drew with the highly rated Tommy Oosthuizen to retain the IBO title. Many critics felt he won the bout.

Chilemba then decided to campaign in the United States and impressed by beating Maxim Vlasov, James Bostic, Edison Miranda and Rayco Saunders.

But Bellew will be hard to beat in front of his fans. He won the vacant Commonwealth title in March 2010 when he stopped Atoli Moore in the first round.

He retained the belt against Bob Ajisafe and Ovill McKenzie and also won the vacant British lightheavyweight title in a return match with McKenzie. His only defeat was by majority decision against WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly.

In April last year he retained the British title when he stopped Danny McIntosh in the fifth round and later won the WBC silver light-heavyweight title by stopping Edison Miranda in the ninth.

In December last year he outpointed Roberto Feliciano Bolonti to retain the WBC silver belt.

Bellew, ranked No 2 light-heavyweight by the WBC, has a good chin and is an aggressive fighter with good hand speed.

Chilemba is fourth on the rankings list. He is an accurate puncher with a good jab but tends to carry his hands too low. Both fighters have been knocked down by right hand punches.

Also this weekend, Mario Rodriguez defends his IBF minimumweight belt against Katsunari Takayama, a 29-year-old from Japan. They meet in Guasave, Mexico.

The now 24-year-old champion won the belt in September last year when he knocked out South African Nkosinathi Joyi in the seventh round in Guasave.

Rodriguez’s record stands at 15-6-4, with 11 shortcut wins and Takayama will come in at 24-6; 10. The challenger is a former WBC minimumweight champion who lost to Roman Gonzalez in a challenge for the WBA belt to Joyi in a fight for the IBF title.

Similarly, Ricky Burns will defend his WBO lightweight title against Puerto Rico’s Jose Gonzalez in Glasgow on May 11.

Burns, who has not fought since retaining his belt against Kevin Mitchell last September, has been ordered by the WBO to face the mandatory challenger. It will be his first fight since he split with promoter Frank Warren and signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport.

The Scot, who stands at 35-2, with 10 knockouts, was scheduled for a unification bout against IBF champion Miguel Vazquez but that fight Isaac Chilemba Tony Bellew was cancelled.

Robbin van Persie

Van Persie wants to end career at United

M

an United’s track record of valuing and sustaining the career of older players may have been the major reason Robbin Van Persie accepted to relocate from the Emirates to Old Trafford.

The Netherlands’ forward admitted yesterday that he could end his career at United. Van Persie signed a five-year contract last Summer that will terminate when he’s 33.

Van Persie told Dutch magazine Voetbal International: “For the next few years I will be at Manchester United and maybe longer. United could be my last club.

“You have a number of clubs in Europe where older players can find it good, where they are valued. You used to have that at Juventus and AC Milan, Manchester United today is a good example. So who knows how long I will stay at the club,” he added.

“There is a new challenge for me every day at United.

My development is an ongoing process.

That gets an extra boost when you are surrounded by new coaches and team-mates, all with their own ideas, in a totally new environment.”

The former Arsenal striker believes that with the presence of 39-year-old Giggs and Scholes, 38, for inspiration, he may be tempted to extend his time at the club.

Since joining United, his hitherto injury problem has abated and he has been in a fine vein of form.

At the moment, he is the second highest goal scorer in the English Premier League with 19 goals, three behind Liverpool’s Luis Suarez. However, he seems to be experiencing goal drought in the last 10 games with a just one goal to his credit.

Van Persie scored twice for Holland against Romania last night to overtake Johan Cruyff’s international goal tally. Cruyff scored 33 goals in 48 appearances of a curtailed international career and van Persie is now on 34 goals from 74 caps.

The bow-legged finisher has been instrumental to United’s sprighty form this season as evident by their 15 unassailable points lead to their closest rivals Man City and could be crowned champions this weekend if they win and City failed to do with six matches to the end of the season.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

PAGE 45

Jonathan may host WBO champion Emenogu

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BO International Light-middleweight title, Nigeria’s Davidson Emenogu, may be received in audience by President Goodluck Jonathan if the National Sports Commission’s effort to secure an appoint sail through.

This was disclosed yesterday when the Emenogu paid a courtesy visit on the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the commission, Bolaji Abdullahi in his office.

The minister, who was delighted with Emenogu for his sterling achievements, said the boxer has not only done pride to himself but has brought pride and prestige to the country, especially at a time when issues of Nigeria’s security challenges have been the dominant features in the international community.

“I am indeed delighted to hear your story as a product of the National Sports Festival. The National Sports Commission will support you in all ways that we can.

“I can assure you that we will bring your enormous achievement to the attention of Mr President, whom I believe, is always very excited to hear stories like yours.

Our plan is to have the President host you, so that we can all celebrate and honour you as a true Nigerian champion,” he said.

The minister said the commission would work harder to ensure that solid foundation is laid for sports development and added Tuesday’s inauguration of the National Youth Organising Committee is meant to achieve that.

“For us at the National Sports Commission, we keep making efforts to ensure that it is not just football we are promoting but all sports that can bring glory to

Nigeria. Your visit is indeed timely because, just today, we inaugurated the National Youth Organising Committee.

“The members of the committee have been charged to fish out and build a robust talent pool of young Nigerians such as you, for the country,” he said.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that Emenogu defeated Russia’s Russia’s Andrejs Iodinovs in the fifth round to retain his World Boxing Organisation (WBO) International light middleweight title in Southampton, England, on March 3.

Emenogu was initially pencilled down for a fight against Ghanaian-born Philip Kotey before boxing promoters and organisers chose the Russian instead, just 48 hours before the fight.

The fighter, whose father, Christopher Emenogu, was a one-time boxer, also holds the IBF, Pan Pacific Youth

Light-middleweight, Australian Light-middleweight, and Pan Asia Boxing Association titles.

Emenogu, who is fondly called “King David” and hails from Imo State but grew up in Bauchi State, represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games and the All African Games, where he won bronze and gold medals respectively.

Emenogu, who in 2006 went to Australia where he turned professional, plans to stage his next fight in Nigeria later in the year.

“I plan to stage my next fight in Nigeria. I have always been doing my fights outside the country since I turned professional. I have represented Nigeria at amateur level and as we all know, there is no place like home.

“So I am working towards having my next fight in Nigeria; it is likely to hold later in the year,” Emenogu said.

Manu assures Eaglets of equal chance

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olden Eaglets’ coach Manu Garba has assured the four players that joined the camp on Monday of equal chances of making the final list of 21 players.

The players, who had visa hitches, were unable to depart with their colleagues on March 13 when the team travelled to Doha, Qatar for their training tour.

But the quartet of Prince Bokat, Godwin Saviour, Godwin Odibo and Chinedu Onuademu, after the issues were sorted out, according to the team’s Spokesperson, Morakinyo Abodunrin, in Abuja, “The four of you stand a good chance of making the team because you made the original 30-man list on merit and will eventually be picked on merit.

“Our team selection is usually based on merit

and I always pray to God to give us the wisdom to pick the right players at any given time,’’ it stated as when they joined the rest to prepare for the CAF U-17 African Youth Championship (AYC) billed for Morocco from April 13 to April 27.

Meanwhile, Coach Siji Lagunju, the Technical Officer of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), who accompanied the players on the Doha training, said that the players’ presence would boost healthy competition in the team.

“Of course, the four players that came along with me from Abuja have been training even while we were sorting out their travel arrangements.

Their arrival will boost competition among the players, which is a healthy development to the team,’’ Lagunju said.

King Davidson

Wike tasks proprietors on sports development

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inister of State for Education, Mr Nyisom Wike, has charged schools’ operators in the country to encourage school sports, in order to inculcate sportsmanship in children to boost the nation’s sports scene.

Wike gave the charge during the 13th Annual InterHouse Sports Competition of Ogba Comprehensive Group of Schools, Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

He said that the importance of sports in schools and the country in general, could not be over-emphasised.

The Minister, who was represented by Mrs Ogunjafor Ayo, Principal, Government Secondary School, Ahoada, said that children, as future hopes of the nation, needed some adequate upbringing.

“The sports stars around the globe were groomed and nurtured right from their schools.

“So, if the children can grow and specialise in the various field and track events, they can be useful to the entire nation.

“And whenever we need them for competitions, we can proudly showcase them, rather than hunting for them.

“I believe it is more efficient and cost effective to train and discover sports talents in children, than to hunt for

sports-talented adults.

“Remember if talents are discovered and cultivated in today’s children, who are the f u t u r e champions, Nigeria will become a giant in sports,” Wike said.

T h e Minister, therefore, enjoined the s c h o o l operators to i n c l u d e traditional sports in their interhouse sports competitions.

Mr Nyisom Wike, Minister of Mr Felix State for Education

Obuah, Proprietor, Ogba Comprehensive Group of Schools, said that the inter-house sports were part of the school’s efforts to impart sports knowledge to the children.

According to him, the school has introduced a variety of sporting activities to achieve the goal.

“This year’s competition witnessed some sporting activities outside the routine track and field events usually featured in schools’ inter-house sports competitions. Sports like Taekwondo, Boxing and Wrestling, were showcased at this year’s competition,” he said.

Obuah urged the parents to encourage their children to get involved in sports, describing sports and education as necessary to produced a balanced pupil.

One of the students, Emmanuel Enne, said that the inter-house sports had been useful to him, urging other students to take advantage of the competition to hone their sporting skills.

Enne, who competed in taekwondo and won, said that he would wish to become a champion in the game, if properly exposed to competitions.

“Well, I like all games but I like taekwondo the most because I want to be like Jackie Chan (a notable martial artist from Hong Kong),” he added.

www.peoplesdailyng.com

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013

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Referees can stop matches for racist incidents — UEFA

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EFA has recommended that referees can stop matches when there are incidents of racism.

European football's governing body reminded officials they had been authorised four years ago to halt games in case of serious racism incidents.

Disciplinary bodies should apply such stricter sanctions in cases of proven racism and to seek ways of obliging those sanctioned to take future preventive action Competition organisers in Europe should apply the guidelines issued by UEFA for how to deal with racist incidents during matches Referees can stop matches in cases of racism and national associations and leagues should support such action National associations, leagues, clubs and player unions should review and improve their measures for education regarding racism State authorities should play their part by: providing the football bodies with the necessary legal means; acting and emphasising to arrest, prosecute and ban from stadia for significant periods those responsible for racist acts; allowing the exchange of information regarding racist activities between states and football bodies UEFA reiterated its position yesterday in a resolution issued in conjunction with the European Clubs Association (ECA) and the world players' union, FIFPro. The resolution was drawn up by the Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC) and ratified by UEFA's executive committee, meeting in Bulgaria yesterday.

AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng walked off in disgust having been racially abused by fans during a friendly with Italian lower-division side Pro Patria in January and the game was abandoned.

The resolution also called on UEFA, national associations and leagues to provide new regulations which allow for stricter sanctions in cases of racism.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Nigerians should be patient over who will be the PDP presidential flagbearer in 2015 because you have to get to the bridge before you attempt to cross the river.

— Bamanga Tukur, PDP Chairman

Budget 2013: Motion without movement T

he first quarter of the fiscal year has practically ended, yet Nigeria and Nigerians are yet to know how the approximately $140 million dollars the country earns daily from crude oil sales alone are being spent and how much more is going to be borrowed in our name to provide for services that we can neither see, nor feel. This hefty amount does not include daily collections for royalties, petroleum profits taxes, sales of liquefied natural gas and other condensates, income taxes, value added tax and other “internally-generated” revenues.

For an annual ritual that started about six months ago, the questions are: why is it that the Presidency and the National Assembly have been unable to reach a common ground on the federal budget? Is government blind to the urgent need for infrastructure development, social services, poverty alleviation and job creation? Is the budget really for the Nigerian people, or simply a convoluted mechanism to further defraud long suffering citizens?

To answer these posers, we will continue with deeper analysis of the 2013 budget which, from all indications is not different from preceding Jonathan-era budgets in terms of absence of positive improvements. We will look at some major sectors of the Nigerian economy and their indicative budgetary allocations, attempt to correlate how the appropriations have been designed and determine whether they are structured to bring about meaningful development to our country. It would also be important to assess if there have been any improvements over the years, drawing comparisons with model countries and possibly identify solutions where government has veered off, in the hope that policy makers would be willing to make necessary changes.

The importance of sensible and prudent budgetary allocations cannot be overemphasized because the budget in itself is an expression of public policy. It is the vehicle through which the various programs and agendas of a government come to life. It is the major economic policy instrument which indicates a government’s priorities, and is also a tool to correct anomalies and inequities within the society.

An efficient budgetary system

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NASIR EL-R UF AI EL-RUF UFAI ON FRID AY FRIDA elrufai@aol.com

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance is critical to economic growth and developing sustainable fiscal policies. On the flip side, a poorly designed budget where attention to details are neglected and figures just altered from existing templates can only exacerbate social and economic problems within the country. The effect of faulty budget choices will inevitably be felt mostly by the ordinary citizens who are at the mercy of dysfunctional government policies and facilities. Sadly, in the Nigerian context, budgeting is still based on guess work as alluded to by the Accountant General of the Federation a couple of weeks ago.

In light of the fifth Brazil, Russia, India, China and South (BRICS) summit on emerging national economies currently taking place in South Africa, one cannot help but understand why Nigeria with all our numerous resources and potentials still does not qualify as a member. These countries have succeeded in managing their resources by effective prioritization of their budgets. They have also channeled adequate financial resources to those sectors which yield the highest return on investment for their economies. These nations have pulled hundreds of millions of their citizens out of poverty into middle class status while our leaders have pushed more and

more citizens into poverty - from about 57% in 2007 to a disgraceful 72% of the population by the end of 2011!

Hitting closer to home is the fact that Nigeria and BRICS’ latest entrant, South Africa, are regarded as Africa’s economic power houses. In 2011, South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated at $368 billion while Nigeria’s was $232 billion. South Africa’s revenue sources are diversified rather than totally dependent on mining income which used to be the mainstay of its economy. South Africa has also adopted participatory budgeting on some levels which allows citizens contribute directly in deciding how their budget priorities and figures are arrived at.

Disappointingly, in comparing Nigeria with other emerging economies, the federal budget has simply been one where the same things are done over and over again while expecting different results. Let us assess the electric power sector budget to see if it is geared towards revamping what every Nigerian would agree is the most debilitated sector of the economy.

The first electricity generating plant was built in Lagos around 1898. It was not until 1950 that the Federal government passed the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria Ordinance No. 15 which resulted in the Electricity Cooperation of Nigeria (ECN); the statutory body responsible for generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity in Nigeria. After independence in 1962, the Niger Dams Authority (NDA) was established, its primary responsibility was to construct and maintain dams in river Niger and other areas. Ten years later (1972), the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was formed by a merger of ECN and NDA. NEPA was mandated to "maintain and co-ordinate an efficient and economic system of

electricity supply for all part of the federation”.

Forty-one years after formalizing the structure for power management and supply in the country, have there been significant improvements? With the continuous promises from the government about power outages becoming a thing of the past, how is it that the electricity supply situation has only gotten worse?

What is happening to the continuous budgetary allocations to the power sector and the numerous projects undertaken by the federal government? How is it that smaller and more impoverished nations have been able to provide steady and improved power supply while Nigerians constantly hear fables?

Most adults who have spent a great portion of their lives in Nigeria have probably never experienced constant 24hours of government-supplied electricity without breaks between. This scenario only even exists for the urban dwellers in large cities that enjoy a fair amount of electricity per day. For those who live in many of the state capitals within Nigeria, the power supply is less reasonable and it gets worse for the rural dwellers. No one is immune to the power outages so much so that the Presidential Villa and Governor’s lodges are all powered by stand-by generators.

The horrendous power supply in Nigeria has become a source of national embarrassment to say the least. During the FIFA U-17 football championship hosted by Nigeria some years back, there was an electricity outage in Kano during the game between Spain and USA. An extra 14 minutes had to be added to compensate for the embarrassing moment. Upsetting power outages have also been experienced at our international airports several times.

The importance of reliable power supply in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. For there to be a major boost in the economy and the diversification away from dependence on oil, the power sector must be given utmost priority in budgetary spending and implementation. The benefits of having steady power supply will impact tremendously on manufacturing, SMEs which create employment, attracting foreign investment and boosting business in general.

In the 2013 budget, total allocation to the power sector is N74.26bn, a measly 1.4% of the total budget. Capital expenditure for the power sector is pegged at N70bn (about 1% of the total budget, or 3% of the total capital budget) while recurrent expenditure is N4.26bn. For a sector in dire need of rehabilitation and resuscitation, these figures are Contd. on Page 36

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