Peoples Daily Newspaper, Saturday 29, September, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com www.peoplesdaily-online.com

VOL. 2 NO. 9

SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Politicians are responsible for our woes — Sheikh Ahmad Lemu >>Pages 7 & 8

ZHUL-QADAH 12 - 13, 1433 AH

N150

JTF arrests Security Operatives for terrorism in Borno >>Page 4

Beyond the flood Expect winds - NIMET >>Pages 9 & 10

Pages 9,10 & 11

THE ENTERPRENEUR

A couple’s vision for qualitative education

>>Page 34

PASSAGE

Lateef Adegbite dies at 79 >>Page 4 KANNYWOOD

My movies are recommended for people with hypertension - Ibro

>>Page 24 >>Page 24 WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Special Report Issues surrounding stalled compensation of Pfizer victims

By Bala Nasir, Kano

W

hen in 1996 pharmaceutical giants, Pfizer got wind of the outbreak of meningitis epidemic in Kano, Nigeria, the company wasted no time in coming to Kano ostensibly to offer a helping hand to the unfortunate children who constituted the larger number of the victims.

Unknown to many, especially parents of the victims who were rushing to the hospital for medical attention, Pfizer came to the scene with an ulterior motive, to test an unregistered painkiller ‘trovan’ which the company was developing then.

Pfizer arrived the ancient city with active connivance of two sons of the soil, one of them a senior medical officer while the other, a senior administrative officer in the Kano state Ministry of Health.

The gentlemen who are still very much alive and walking the streets of Kano freely are yet to explain themselves on this matter, whether they did it deliberately or otherwise.

Pfizer which was treating victims of meningitis side by side with ‘Doctors Without Borders’ (DWB) or Medicines San Frontiers personnel at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, which is a government owned hospital in Kano, during the epidemic was said to have been carrying out its own treatment in utmost secrecy as opposed to DWB. It was until when people begin to realise that most of the patients taken to Pfizer’s side during the exercise were coming out dead while not a single death was being recorded by Doctors With Borders that some of the hospital’s staff attached with Pfizer started to bar people from carrying their patients to Pfizer secretly.

The activity was blown open with increased deaths and it was then that it dawned on Pfizer officials that they had failed. They stopped the tests abruptly and hurriedly packed and left the hospital and soon they were out of the country.

But as they were packing, it was alleged that their cohorts here helped them by destroying some of the evidences of their destructive activity and piled them inside an old well in the hospital with a view to obliterating any trace of the horror committed.

It was learnt that while Medicines San Frontiers came to Kano to offer help to the

Chairman of the Trust Board, (Rtd) Justice Abubakar Wali victims of meningitis with full knowledge of government, Pfizer however, did not seek or get any permission to carry out the infamous test which later claimed several lives.

As if nothing happened at all, the matter was sealed and nobody was talking about it again until in 2001 when the US based newspaper, Washington Post reported the unfortunate result of Pfizer’s test on some innocent Nigerian children who were administered with an unregistered drug by no other company than Pfizer.

It was then that the matter was given a follow-up by the Weekly Trust newspaper which traced the matter and reported all that occurred throughout the period and what transpired thereafter.

Then the matter became a national issue and many people in the country came to know about it and there were calls for investigation into the matter from many quarters especially the association formed by parents of the victims.

Then two cases were filed

by Kano state government against Pfizer, one civil and the other criminal and the court processes continued to linger until Pfizer asked for an out of court settlement on the matter with a compensation package for the 200 victims.

The out of court settlement however brought about the

Chairman of the Trovan Victims Association, Alhaji Mustapha Garba Maisikeli

issue of agreement which was signed between Kano state government and Pfizer. The agreement reached between the two parties provided in part that Pfizer will pay the sum of $30 million as compensation. This amount was to take care of the victims.

According to the agreement, the 200 victims will receive the sum of $5 million, a state of the art hospital will be built in Kano

by Pfizer which will consume the of $20 million while the remaining $10 million will be used to settle litigation charges incurred by the Kano state government.

While work on the hospital building has already been completed and the $10 million litigation fees settled, only a small fraction of the victims has received their compensation to this date.

The Board which was established to identify and

evaluate how much each victim will receive has been able to pay only 14 out of the 200 victims.

There is however a controversial angle to the crisis which is saying that the victims may be more than 200 afterrall.

Out of the over 355 who returned their claim forms to the Board, only 14 of them have so far received their compensation and out of this number, only very few of them received the $75,000 compensation fully.

This could be due to the so many intricacies of the whole compensation issue in addition to the relegation of the Trovan Victims Association (TVO) to the rear by the Board from day one.

Knowing the role the association played before the agreement could be reached between Kano state government and Pfizer, TVA was therefore seemed to have maintained an indifferent attitude towards the matter.

All attempt to divide membership of the association failed.

Some people believed that the agreement reached between the two parties seem to have favoured Pfizer which is the reason why the US based company had a field day to decide on every issue at will to the extent that it looks like the company now dictates the content of the agreement.

This problem according to TVA chairman, Mustapha

A victim's saliva being taken by Pfizer officials for the DNA test last year.

Contd on Page 3

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 3

Special Report Compensation of Pfizer victims Maisikeli might have emanated from the activities of some officials in the previous administration of Kano state who believed to have connived with Pfizer to doctor the content of the agreement reached so as to give Pfizer an edge.

“Content of the agreement reached were never divulged to me” said Maisikeli, in spite of the fact that he saved the situation at the most critical period of reaching the agreement. He is of the belief that many articles could have been changed before the formal endorsement by the two parties.

Prior to the commencement of their work , the Board was said to have studied the agreement only to found it to have favoured Pfizer. The only thing about the agreement is that it was reached between Kano state government and the drug company, so it is not binding on the victims.

That could have been the reason why the victims halted the activities of the Board in the beginning by seeking an injunction in an Abuja high court which the court granted. It took another round of out of court settlement before they stopped their court action against the Board.

That could have been the reason why the victims halted the activities of the Board in the beginning by seeking an injunction in an Abuja high court which the court granted. It took another round of out of court settlement before they stopped their court action against the Board.

The length of time from that time to date gave the Board an opportunity to have find time to concentrate on what it was essentially established for, that is building the hospital with the amount provided in the agreement and also to identify and assess the amount each victim should receive as compensation.

While the hospital has been built, compensation to victims is yet to be completed. In fact, compensation payment is far from completion as only 14 out of the 355 victims have so far received their own. This, to some observers, could be attributed to the serious misgivings existing between the victims and the Board courtesy of the inherent problems in the agreement.

A lot of hitches are attributed to the inability of the Board of the Trust Fund to complete the payment or even make a significant progress towards settling the

A victim, Farida victims. Parents of the victims claim that people on the list are now more than 200 This, however, is in dispute with Pfizer’s position that the total number of the victims it used the trovan drug on were exactly 200 children. But there were so many arguments earlier on the exact number of victims as some of the hospital staff that worked during the exercise say the number is far greater than 200.

Even the Trovan Victims Association (TVA) which is a group of 192 victims out of the 200 is of the belief that the number is more than 200 but they stopped this number because they were only able to identify 192 during their victims identification exercise.

Even Pfizer itself had testified to this assumption according to a particular TVA write up that it was when it had unveiled its membership strength which put it at 192 during the preliminary negotiation talks between Kano state government and the US drug giant. “As soon as TVA membership figure was made public, Pfizer advanced the figure of its victims to 200 immediately. And since the 192 TVF membership is quite within that claimed by Pfizer, it was compelled to accept it.

However, prior to this time, the company put the number at 1,441 through a court submission in 2007

where one Ms Ada Okarafor a defense lawyer of Pfizer in the civil case brought to the company by the TVA at an Abuja high court the total number of the children tested

by Pfizer was 1,441.

It is not yet known when for certain will this issue of compensation be over due to the intricacies of the agreement that guided the compensation which was signed by the Kano state government and Pfizer.

When the incumbent Governor of Kano state, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso came to power last year, he was very optimistic that he will do all he can to resolve the matter so that Trovan victims could get their compensation once and for all.

But it appeared that the agreement signed is a major hindrance to anybody who wants to help the situation and it seems Pfizer is watching from afar and laughing at the naivety of those who represented the people in signing the agreement.

Kano State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Barrister Maliki Kuliya told Peoples Daily Weekend that, the state government has employed the services of a law firm with a view to broker a convenient settlement with Pfizer so as to have all the remaining victims paid.

He stated that right now they have written to Pfizer on this and are still waiting for

its response which will certainly form the basis of the next action the state government will take.

He however, explained that in the event of failure by Pfizer to respond to the letter sent to it, the state

government will therefore ask its lawyers to advise it on the next move to take.

According to the Attorney General, two options are left for the state government one of which will be slamming fresh court action both civil and criminal against Pfizer.

While all that is going on, the victims are however, fervently hoping for payment of their compensation soonest for them to get the matter over as it had taken them too many years fighting.

One good thing about membership of TVA is their resilience and hope for a true settlement of the matter. They resist all forms of divisions within them despite the humble background of almost all of them.

They found a way of helping themselves out of so many social problems that many marriages were consummated between its members just in order to help themselves out against the prevailing economic hardship that pervades the country.

The victims especially the most seriously deformed by the Trovan drug are also taken care of collectively though some of the victims have lost their lives during the struggle, yet they are determined to continue pressing for their rights against all odds.

One of the victims to have received compensation during the ceremonial presentation of his cheque last year.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

News

JTF arrests security operatives for terrorism in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

T

he Joint Military Task Force, (JTF) yesterday made shocking revelation as it announced the arrest of some security personnel, alleged to have participated in various terrorist attacks in Borno and Yobe states.

However, the task force did not disclose the identity of those involved or from which security sections they were attached.

It also added that several other security agents, who were involved in such attacks were at large, while effective surveillance has been put in place to trail them.

Spokesman of the JTF, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, in a statement issued to newsmen, said the arrest of the

suspects followed earlier arrest of an immigration officer, who doubled as a high profile member of the Boko Haram sect.

The statement explained that the immigration personnel, Ahmed Grema Mohammed, attached to Nengere ECOWAS office, Yobe state was apprehended at the JTF security check-point for impersonating a Lt. in the Nigerian army.

It added that preliminary investigation later indicated that Mohammed, who was on the wanted list of terrorists, was heading to Maiduguri on a mission to kill a special adviser to the past governor of Borno state.

"The suspect has been an active member of Boko Haram long before the 2009 clash between security agents and followers of the sect. Upon

interrogation, he revealed the names of some security personnel that participated in terrorist attacks in Borno and Yobe states", the statement further claimed.

Similarly, JTF noted that the man has confessed to actively participating in the killings of security agents, senior civil servants and politicians in the two states, including the former chairman of Damboa local government council of Borno state, late Lawan Kawu.

"He also took part in several attacks in Damaturu comprising that of the old police headquarters, Damaturu prison, CID office and police safety vehicles, among others", the statement declared.

The suspect also told the JTF that he and 15 other members of the sect had traveled to Niger Republic and received intensive training on G3 and AK 47 rifles, assassination and other special combat operations.

EFCC nabs 24-year old smuggling 1.1bn out of Nigeria

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a bulk currency smuggler, one Abubakar Tijani Sheriff for attempting to smuggle $7million (about N1.1 billion) out of the country.

The 24-year-old was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos en route Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He had escaped security scrutiny from other agencies at the airport but was apprehended at the point of boarding the plane by operatives of the Commission.

When he was arrested, he declared that he had a total sum of $4.5million on him but thorough screening and search showed that he was actually

Hajj impasse: Tambuwal summons Presidential intervention C’ttee meeting

By Lawrence Olaoye

S

Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

p e a k e r of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who chairs the Presidential Intervention Committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to interface with the government of Saudi Arabia on the seeming face-off resulting into deportation of the nation’s pilgrims in that country, convened a meeting of the members to deliberate over the impasse.

The meeting which began in the Speaker’s office yesterday evening was yet to be concluded as at the time of filling this report.

Briefing newsmen on the agenda of the meeting, Special Assistant to the Speaker on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, said the Intervention Committee was to deliberate on outcome of the interaction the officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry with the Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj.

He said “The Intervention Committee is deliberating on the information coming from the outcome of the meeting the officials Foreign Affairs Ministry are having with Saudi’s Ministry of Hajj with a view to forging ahead in the resolution of the impasse.”

He added “You will recall that

Protesters have no case against us —NIMC boss

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

h e Director General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Barr Chris Onyemenam has reacted to the series of protests embarked upon by former staff members of the commission in the last few days over the way and manner they were disengaged from service.

The protesters had stormed the National Assembly a few days and also the gate of NIMC headquarters yesterday calling for the sack of the

DG for allegedly disengaging them without paying their due entitlements.

The NIMC boss however told journalists yesterday that the disengagement exercise he carried out followed due process and involved the workers' union, insisting that the exercise was in the best of the country.

He also informed newsmen that all the entitlements of the disengaged workers which include reinstatement benefits, promotion allowance and severance benefits had been fully paid, contrary to what

the protesting workers were saying.

Barr Onyemenam revealed that the management under him carried out several staff audits since it took over the assets and liabilities of the defunct Department of Civic Registration (DNCR) and uncovered a lot of integrity deficit in most of staff members that were inherited. Cases of ghost workers, absenteeism and redundancy were discovered and most of the staff inherited were junior staff who did the Sagem Identity card system and who had been idle since the close of the exercise.

the Speaker met yesterday morning with the Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Nigeria Khalied Abrabuh, over the issue; this is the continuation of the engagement and we are hopeful that the resolution of the meeting would put an end to the impasse.”

Asked whether it would still be possible to resolve the matter within the 24 hours period stipulated by the Saudi Ambassador, Imam said it was still possible as the Tambuwal committee was, as at the time of its meeting, getting signals of possible resolution of the matter within the time frame.

Katsina deportees lament humiliation From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

T

h e Katsina State Amirul Hajj to this year’s pilgrimage and former president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi has admitted that the deported female pilgrims from the state returned with stories of how they were humiliated in Saudi Arabia.

Justice Abdullahi who stated this

Lateef Adegbite dies at 79

T

h e death of the Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Lateef Adegbite has been announced.

The governor of Ogun State, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Funmi Wakama on Friday, announced the death of Dr Adegbite, who was also the Sarkin Musulmi and Baba Adini of Egbaland.

According to the statement, Dr.

Adegbite “passed on Friday evening in Lagos, at the age of seventy nine.”

The statement described the late Sarki of Egbaland as one of the icons the state has produced for Nigeria.

“Dr. Adegbite shone like a star in the field of law and was well known across the world as the mouthpiece of Islam in Nigeria”, the governor stated, adding that “the late Sarki was a man who usually offered wise counsel to governments at Federal

and State levels.”

“The demise of Dr Adegbite is not just a loss to Ogun State but to Nigeria as a whole” the governor mourned.

Dr. Lateef Adegbite, CON, PhD (London) was an Attorney General of the Western State of Nigeria. He served as Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and belonged to several national, international, professional and business organisations. He was the

EFCC Boss, Malam Ibrahim Lamurde carrying $7,049,444 (Seven million, Forty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty Four United States Dollars).

He confessed that he was a courier for twenty individuals who hired him to courier the money for them to Dubai.

Investigations by the EFCC showed that Sheriff is a regular traveller and one of several couriers of illegal cash suspected to be proceeds of crime. His claims in respect of his accomplices are still being investigated by the Commission.

According to EFCC acting spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, travellers leaving the country are statutorily required to declare cash in excess of $10,000. “However, it is not sufficient to declare excess cash, under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act, the onus is on the person making the declaration to explain the source of the excess cash and the reason for the export,” he added.

He continued: “Experience have shown that bulk cash smuggling, the world over, are usually associated with proceeds of crime as legitimately earned funds are usually processed through the banking system.”

Principal Partner of Lateef Adegblte & Co., a leading Law Firm, which specialises in Commercial Law Practice. He had wealth of knowledge and experience and availed to the IGI board. Until his death, Dr. Adegbite also served as Director of Jaiz International Plc and Industrial And General Insurance Company Limited.

The Islamic cleric would be laid to rest on today, according to Islamic rites.

while briefing the state governor on the recent deportation of the state pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, noted that the first batch of the deportees were 87 while a total number of 76 were deported in the second batch.

He noted that although the deportation was worrying but the state Hajj committee according to him was working round the clock to explore all options available in making sure the pilgrims perform the Hajj rites.

Similarly, Abdullahi disclosed that so far a total number of 3668 pilgrims out of the 6065 from the state were already in Saudi Arabia, adding that those who were affected were those that were particularly in flights number six and seven.

Responding, the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema described the ordeal of the pilgrims as sad and unfortunate, assuring the pilgrims that the federal and state governments are working round the clock to ensure amicable resolution of the impasse.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

News

Our foreign policy now focused on foreign investments – Jonathan

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan declared late Wednesday in New York that attracting greater foreign direct investment to accelerate domestic growth and create more jobs for unemployed Nigerians is now the major focus of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Speaking at a dinner organised in his honour by the Corporate Council on Africa, President Jonathan said his administration was wholly committed to promoting the development of a knowledge-economy that will enhance the security of lives and property, thereby accelerating growth to

provide more employment and reduce youth restiveness.

The President told the gathering of leading American businessmen

President Goodluck Jonathan

and investors that attracting foreign investment to support the realisation of the Federal Government’s agenda for national transformation was now the topmost priority of Nigeria’s diplomacy.

“Let me restate here that Nigeria’s foreign policy is now anchored on the realisation of this Transformation Agenda through the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment. Under the new policy thrust, our diplomatic missions abroad have been directed to focus more on attracting investment to support the domestic programmes of government with a view to achieving not only our Vision 20: 2020, towards bequeathing an enduring a legacy

of economic prosperity,” he said.

President Jonathan assured guests at the dinner that adequate safety nets have been established to protect all foreign investors in Nigeria. Such measures, he said, included the establishment and strengthening of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission and the Bureau of Public Procurement.

The President further assured the gathering that the government was dealing decisively with Nigeria’s security challenges. “We have some security challenges now, but let me assure you that the Nigerian government is on top of it. We are dealing with the issue decisively; it will soon be a thing of the past,” he said.

Oil field: Kogi youth urge elders to speak out

By Augustine Aminu

Y

ouths in Kogi state under the umbrella of Ufedo Club of Nigeria, have called on the Federal Government to urgently wade into the disputed oil field between Kogi and Anambra states to avoid a violent uprising in the region.

The group also urged elites in the state to rise up and speak against what it described as injustice being meted to the people of Kogi state.

In a bid to stir up indigenes of

Kogi state to rise in support of efforts to reclaim the disputed oil fields which have been ceded to Anambra state, the Ufedo Club of Nigeria urged leaders and stakeholders in the state to put up a good fight to enable the state reclaim the oil fields which duly belong to it.

A statement signed by the coordinator of the club, Tairu Shuaibu, said the club in an effort to reverse what it referred to as “daylight robbery”, urged indigenes especially those in government to rise and say ‘No!’ to this

injustice being meted to the state.

The statement further said the executives of the club will also visit traditional rulers of the state over the issue to avert consequences of protest by youths of the state presently going on. It also called on the Federal Government to intervene so that the protest going on now will not result to restiveness in the area.

It said ‘now is the time for the elites in the state to stand in unison to fight for the future of the state’, stressing that posterity will judge those who refuse to speak out now.

Agency wants farmers affected by floods to come for assessment From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

B

a u c h i state Credit Fi nance Agency has coun seled farmers whose farmlands were washed away by the recent flood in the state or any other natural disaster to immediately contact the agency for assessment of the damage.

The General Manager of the Agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar Sadiq, said prompt report of such disasters by the farmers would enable the Nigerian Agricultural In-

surance Corporation to assess such losses or damage for possible insurance.

He however decried a situation whereby farmers affected by natural disaster delay such report until when there is no visible effect of the loss or damage in a desperate bid to claim cheap insurance.

The Manager added, “Any farmer that has any problem, be it flood, death of animal if he is a rearer or fish or bird, insurance will definitely redeem that, but there are conditions, he has to re-

port at appropriate time, not just sit down and relax until we go round for loan recovery for him to talk about flood or any other damage”.

Sadiq who was speaking while fielding reporters’ questions in Bauchi, explained that the agency was saddled with the responsibility of ware-housing the N1 billion farming loan accessed by the state for this year cropping season and already disbursed to selected farmers, hence the advice on loss in crop production.

Gov. Idris Wada

HURIWA to celebrate 5th year anniversary

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

H

u m a n Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) will on October 3, 2012 hold a solemn public lecture to mark its 5th anniversary and also hold a memorial in honor of late Mr. Delight Igali of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly who died in an auto crash in Bayelsa a year ago.

A statement made available to Peoples Daily in Abuja by the chairperson of the organising committee of the event, Nwamaka Asuzu, said late Delight was known as, “Mr. sincerity of Bayelsa politics because of his avowed commitment to the institutionalisation of transparency, accountability and good governance”.

The occasion, the statement said, would be chaired by the chairman of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, while the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke among other dignitaries are invitees.

Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria is a registered nongovernmental, non-profit and non religious association of Nigerian creative writers, philosophers, journalists and humane thinkers dedicated to deploying their talents to promoting and protecting human rights and good governance through constructive dialogue.

Gunmen shoot Edo legislator From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Y

et to be identified gunmen, on Thursday, shot Hon Razak Momoh, the member representing Etsako West 1 state constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly.

The lawmaker reportedly drove himself from the Legislative Quarters on Ihama to visit a friend along Akenzua Street in Benin City where the gunmen ambushed and attack him at about 9:30 pm.

It was learnt that Razak drove himself without his driver and police orderly; when the assilants asked him to lie on the floor, he resisted.

Soon afterwards, an argument ensued and he got shot on the left side

of his abdomen and was left in the pool of his own blood as his assailants drove away recklessly.

Passersby who heard the gun shot took the lawmaker who is the chairman, Committee on Finance to a nearby hospital where he was referred to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

A family source told newsmen that the legislator is responding to treatment having received needed attention from medical personnel on duty.

Reacting to the development, an ACN chieftain from the lawmaker’s constituency, Prince Suleiman Kadiri, expressed shock at the shooting and called on security agencies to wake up to their duty of safeguarding lives and property.

Lab scientists advocate legislation against abuse of antibiotics From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

M

e d i c a l and laboratory technologists yesterday charged government at all levels to ensure the regulation of antibiotic consumption lamenting that indiscriminate recommendations of such was responsible for resis-

tance to antimicrobial agents.

The association stated its position in a communiqué in Jos at the end of a five day workshop on Laboratory safety, Quality Assurance and Baseline studies held at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH. In the communiqué signed by Valentine Wuyep, chairman, draft-

ing committee, they stated that enhanced development if resistance usually affects quality of results obtained in labs, thereby complicating treatment to patients'.

They commended the "transformation agenda of government" in the health sector and observed that as vital as it is, laboratory was neglected and urged gov-

ernments at all levels to fast track infrastructure development of labs by procuring standard reagents and consumables for quality health services.

The participants used the forum to implore government to ensure that "innovative instruments and equipment to be imported for use in Nigeria, manufacturers of such products

must be compelled to have indigenous professionals trained as resident biomedical system application specialists and biomedical field service engineers for such equipment.

The workshop was organised by the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology in conjunction with Medicom Laboratories Nigeria Limited.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, AUGUST, 2012

Focus Politicians are responsible for our woes —Sheikh Ahmad Lemu Sheikh Ahmad Lemu is a former Grand Khadi and an Islamic scholar of great repute. He has been involved in the educational system of northern Nigeria for a long time, and was also Chairman of the Presidential Panel of Investigation into the 2011 post-election violence. In this encounter with Nasiru Mu’azu Isa, he bares his mind on the controversies surrounding the detention of Nigerian female pilgrims in Saudi and the state of security and education in the country as well as other national issues.

S

ir, what is your take on the state of unity and security in the north?

From the time Mr. President appointed me Chairman of the presidential panel of investigation following the crises and violence that followed his election, I began to see things differently. Northerners are not as divided or as balkanized along religious and ethnic lines as we are being made to believe. It is not like that. It is the politicians more than any group that are doing havoc to this country whether in the north or south. Not all of them are devils definitely, some of them are very good people and are doing things sensibly but a good number of them have started forming private armies to fight each other in the course of which suicide bombers have come to play a role and then claim that it is Boko Haram.

In the effort to win an election in a certain community, if the politician knows that it is religious crises that will give him followers, he converts political issues to religious issues. If it is tribalism that he will whip up among communities that will give him an edge, he does that.

That is what is going on, and certainly why we still have pure anti-religious crises is due to the terrible ignorance of the true teachings of each of the religions from among the general public.

Majority of Muslims are terribly ignorant of the true teachings of Islam, we are not talking of mechanical practice of Islam, “I know how to pray, the Sunnah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Assalamu Alaikum, bye bye I finish my prayers.” What is the principle of prayer, what is the spirit of prayer, what is the objective of prayer, how did the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) pray and preach and advise that we should pray in order to get the spirit of Allah mentioned in the Qur’an as the objective of prayer. “inna salat naha anil fahsha’I wal munkar wala zikrul lahi akbar”, that’s what Allah says about prayer. Prayer is there to prevent all acts of abomination and also encourage remembrance of God, and fahsha, things like adultery and fornication, crime or manslaughter, murder and so forth, prayer stands to prevent the occurrence of that from the heart of the individual.

How do I pray in order to get that spirit, how do I prepare myself even through ablution to

Sheikh Ahmad Lemu make myself pure and treat my fellow human and even treat animals and the environment, be conscious of God in all that I’m doing or saying and behavior generally, that is what the five pillars of Islam are to inculcate in us, but that is not how it is taught, people don’t know it, call a so called mallam now and face him with a question, “what is the spirit of ablution”, very few of them know.

Most will say it is cleanliness, purity, if so why don’t you do it with soap? Oh, I’m sorry, okay, what did the Rasullulah say about ablution, until you start to draw his attention to what the Rasullulah said as you are performing ablution your sins come off with the first drop of water or the last drop of water provided you perform the ablution in the right manner, same thing with prayer but we are not doing all that.

We have had 14 years of democracy and yet nothing to

show for it. Rather, we are still celebrating the past efforts of late Sardauna to uplift the north. This seems to show how bad our present northern leaders are?

You are too young to know the value of what he did, we know and that is how we won the civil war.

Gowon, Danjuma, Babangida, they were not thinking themselves I’m a Muslim with

gun in my hand, not at all. The spirit of Northernisation and the killing of Sardauna pained all of them. The thought of you are a Muslim, I’m a Christian were accentuated later, and when they themselves unfortunately started playing havoc against each other coup after coup, that is how the Northernisation spirit disappeared. So what we are after

“

In the effort to win an election in a certain community, if the politician knows that it is religious crises that will give him followers, he converts political issues to religious issues.

are leaders who are God fearing, who love their people, love the nation, love their community and unity, and love their nation, love transparency. What do you have now, one, those who are after personal selfish interest, two, after huge sums of money, not thousands or millions but billions, three, people who have a quest for power influence and followership by all means, so those three objectives have eaten deep into the hearts of nearly every politician. And they use their influence and the money they acquired in one means or another to promote those three objectives without God’s consciousness, without fear of God, without thinking of accountability before God and without shame. That is what is bothering us, I pity you the young ones, the youths, we as I have mentioned many times are like passengers that have already collected their boarding pass waiting for call to board the plane. That is why I pity you, because what sort of future will you have, but all hope is not lost, if you people are ready to face another movement that is now coming out little by little of ethical reform movement we can rescue the nation.

The Saudi authorities detained our female pilgrims because they don’t have Maharam, what is the religious injunction on a woman travelling for Hajj, can she go alone or must she go with a Maharam?

It is not a question of what is portrayed by the Saudi authority, is it today that women started going to Hajj from Nigeria with or without a Maharam? Why didn’t they raise this issue all along, the hajj commission people every year will discuss the stipulations, rules, and regulations with Saudi authorities, did they raise this issue or not? And under present circumstances, as far as the pilgrims commission is concerned, they have appointed people who will take care of these women, whether on behalf of their husbands, fathers, brothers, sons and so forth and ensure that they don’t misbehave and do not engage in wrong behavior or bad conduct. They have taken all these measures and they have been taken these measures for years, it is not a question of ten years and so forth that they have

Contd on Page 8

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Focus ‘Politicians are responsible for our woes’ Contd from Page 7 been going for Hajj under the care of pilgrim officials. And they ensure they appoint adequate numbers and it is so organized that every state has its own Amirul Hajj in addition to the federal Amirul Hajj, are all these people blind, they can’t hear what is going on, don’t they walk among the pilgrims to know their problems? If it is fear of misconduct, is it now the Saudi authority is knowing Sharia injunctions about the issue of Maharam, were they ignorant before? But the realities of the situation has brought about all along has allowed women to go under the protection of those who will take care of them to ensure that they behave well, no harm is done to them, in one way or another and to ensure that they perform their hajj peacefully, soundly and successfully. If they have taken all these measures, there is an ulterior motive than the one they have announced to the public. So it is up to our authorities, the pilgrim’s board, and the government to take up this matter at the diplomatic level between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, after all are we the only country, so why are we being singled out for this kind of humiliation? I don’t want to comment more than that.

Do you think it is necessary for the Nigerian government to take a strong stand like boycotting Hajj for a year?

That will be childish, what do the Saudis lose by that, nothing.

Already there is the issue of over population and if we decide stupidly to say we are not going to Hajj and not going to allow my people to go, who will face the crises? The whole Muslims in Nigeria will fight the government if they take such a stand, it is impossible. No government in Nigeria will fare well if they take such a stand, right now it is the Saudi’s fault that we can see but if the government should decide to boycott Hajj, who will regret?

It is a compulsory part of the pillars of Islam.

Is it necessary to start Ramadan at the same time, must we start and end Ramadan with Saudi Arabia?

No, we have nothing to do with Saudi Arabia or any other country. The question is, try to sight the moon to the best of your ability, if you decide to use instruments, as far as I’m concerned there is nothing wrong with that. If you use instruments like telescope because of bad weather and for one reason or the other to support your naked eyes and for those who kick against it, then I say don’t use glasses to read the Qur’an. Try to read the Qur’an with only your naked eyes, but if you read the Qur’an with different lenses, then what is

wrong with looking for the moon with binoculars or telescope?

The main thing is has the new moon been really born? The point to bear in mind, is with all the emphasis to try and see it with your naked eyes, you have so many crooks and mischief makers who even last year some people were brought to the sultan who informed us that after close interrogation apologized that they did not see the moon. If the Sultan had followed those people, he would have announced that the new moon had been sighted.

Nowadays there are various ways of sighting the moon, scientist and technology have developed that they can now send people to the moon and bring back rocks from the moon, they can forecast eclipse days and weeks ahead and when the time comes it will happen. So with all these developments, the issue of when will the new moon be born is no longer secret or a matter of ignorance. But another element is the so called mallams, the three factors I earlier, the quest for money, power and influence is there with many mallams. So if only to demonstrate that he is powerful and has got followers, Sultan has announced and I disagree. And since there is nothing in the constitution that allows the sultan to impose it, he gets away with his rebellion.

Is it right to ignore pronouncements from the recognized religious leader?

Of course it is just to cause mischief; “Hold fast to the rope of Allah and let nothing pull you asunder” is a direct injunction from the Qur’an. Another thing to bear in mind is that there are hundreds of satellites in the atmosphere that can be mistaken as the new moon. What do you do with that? These are the issues now. And then there are those who say if I don’t see it with my naked eyes I will not believe, yet that person is most likely reading the Qur’an with glasses, why don’t you throw away those glasses and read the Qur’an with your naked eyes? It is inconsistent. If we choose a leader like the Sultan and say we are putting the whole load on you, take all the necessary measures bearing in mind all the factors, and guide us and let us know when the full moon has appeared.

Every month I receive a text from the committee the Sultan set up for the sighting of the new lunar month appears. The sultan is not careless about this matter but the problem is those who lie to their Emir or deceived by satellites into thinking it’s a new moon and will swear they have seen it, or who will put heads together and say let us go and tell them we have sighted the new moon just to cause disunity among Muslims.

Is it right to protest the insulting film with violence?

Sheikh Ahmad Lemu Common sense will tell you that is not how the Prophet fought his enemies, no; peaceful protest yes but not violence. The onus is on the government of the people who did the film, I can’t claim that it is the government of America that prepared the man to do this film but now it is up to them to know what they are going to do with such people.

We are currently facing the Boko Haram issue in Northern Nigeria while people in the south believe Muslims are not doing enough to condemn their acts. Is it true?

Are you not aware and it was in the papers, where the so called Boko Haram suicide bombers turned out to be Christians? If that is the situation and a dog can appear and claim he is Boko Haram, apart from that like I said, some businessmen, politicians, individual stakeholders etc are now forming private armies. We told Mr. President in our report that people are forming private armies and they will go and do havoc in the name of Boko Haram, this is the state of affairs presently and these people are fighting each other and if they can buy a suicide bomber to go blow up a bomb in order to kill one particular person, they are not concerned if a hundred people are killed. People are so heartless now.

The north is seriously lagging behind in education, why do you think this is so and what is your suggestion on the way out?

Very fortunately for me I was a stakeholder in the field of education in the north western state, fortunately also we had a very good governor, Alhaji Usman Faruk. There was a time we in the north west particularly Sokoto were backward in

education, so I remember one of my colleagues, Alhaji Mamman Kaoje, the two of us went to Sokoto Teachers College and drew up a memorandum, a way forward for the north west. In fact our memorandum was page one in the file of Advanced Teachers College, Sokoto for solving the problem of backwardness in education. We passed it to the commissioner of the North West state, then it was passed to the government, debated in the executive council, adopted and within three years onwards, we started solving all our problems regarding shortages of teachers.

It is still possible and it can still work, but some people just carry on with the development, building more schools, it is not like that. It is better to get ten high quality schools than fifty that are useless. Critical success factors of education are five, well trained and dedicated teachers and well paid is one, number two is adequate teaching and learning materials, three is good management whereby the head teacher and his or her assistants are well trained and dedicated, number four is conducive learning environment, number five is effective supervision. That

is what we did in the former north western state to catch up like a miracle.

Sir, there is the issue of female participation in politics and some people believe it is religiously wrong.

What do you say?

What you must remember is we haven’t got an Islamic constitution, it is a secular constitution except for the preamble that indicates we are under God, but all the content took into consideration what we have been practicing during colonial rule and independence and continued to amend the constitution and basically it remains a secular constitution, so why should we single out one case and say according to Islam it is this and that, alright you want to tell me Muslims should not participate in Nigerian politics?

So we surrender ourselves to whomever wins, whether an atheist or non-Muslim whoever he is, a crook or thief and say it is unislamic, think over it and decide for yourself the way forward. As far as I’m concerned use the same thing, attain the key positions, and change what you can in the right method. Look at the question of Islamic banking there it is, even under a Christian president. We went about it the right way and now it is in Nigeria, Jaiz Bank. We use the same sensible way of going about things, if there is peaceful coexistence, mutual understanding and respect, ultimately we shall get there.

Talking about good relations and peaceful coexistence especially with non-Muslims, there are controversies like going into a church for a wedding, is it allowed for a Muslim to into a church?

If he is allowed why not, you are not going to worship with them why not? You are giving moral support and celebrating a wedding for one of their youths, so what? If you are not comfortable then you use your discretion to inform the person. If you are interested and they say they can allow you, you can go.

Personally I don’t see what is wrong with it, if the prophet (SAW) can allow Christians from Najran to enter his mosque in Madina, what next?

“

This bill also can enhance journalism especially those who are engaged in investigative journalism, it helps them in getting enough information.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 9

Cover

Beyond the floods Flood can be interpreted as a mystical allegory conveying a powerful message to a people, like in a spiritual sense as conveyed in the several variants of the story of the Great Flood, which was about a great destruction that once befell the earth, according to the scriptures. Like the Great Flood, massive flooding in Nigeria has assumed a worrisome dimension with thousands of communities being submerged across the country every day. Tales of victims of flood are awesome; climbing up the trees and cooking on rooftops are few examples.

Numbers of internally displaced persons are rising and loss of lives and properties are the lots of Nigerians, and now the Director General, Nigerian Metrological Agency, (NIMET), Dr Anthony Anuforum has warned Nigerians that after the floods there will be dry land, but powerful winds during the coming Harmattan, with devastating consequences.

Jamila Nuhu Musa and Sam Egwu, Lokoja

W

i t h the forecast, what should the country do to avoid the impending menace?

The answer would stem from how well the flooding across the country is being handled, and the disaster management agency NEMA and other agencies are almost drowning in the business of salvaging the nation.

Disaster management in Nigeria dates back to 1906 when the Police Fire Brigade (now Federal Fire Services) was established to function beyond fire fighting role to saving of lives, properties and provision of humanitarian services in emergencies.

Since then disaster management has experienced various challenges, while natural disasters were sweeping through other nations; man-made disasters were sweeping through Nigeria with the climate change taking serious toll on the country.

According to the Director General of the

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi, the present situation of flooding remains a serious environmental issue this year in Nigeria, from the North to the West and South to East where heavy rainfall is causing havoc everywhere.

The inevitability of changes occurring due to the climate change is now a wellestablished reality. Scientific evidence has shown that as a result of climate change, extreme weather events like floods, windstorms, droughts and epidemics have become more frequent and severe. They occur in areas where they were previously either unknown or extremely rare. For us in the developing world, climate change portends greater danger. Virtually all states in Nigeria are grappling with flood.

This is a clear reminder that we can no longer ignore disaster risks. Disasters constitute the greatest threat to development and socio-economic wellbeing

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Cover

Beyond the floods Contd from page 9 of Nigerians.

In the face of the flood disaster currently experienced, it is recommended that a disaster management Action Plan that may have been put in place by disaster management agencies and other be more operationalised by various departments and agencies of the Nigerian government and other N o n - G o v e r n m e n t a l Organisations which have been participating in disaster management in Nigeria.

Practices such as diversion of water into farmlands instead of reservoirs and deforestation coupled with nature's wrath have led to flooding in various states.

Though other problems suffice as regards flood disaster, it is believed that one of the biggest failures during flooding incidents is mismanagement and lack of communication between the media, government and other stakeholders. The people have also been blamed for contributing to flood situations with blocked drainages and dirty environment.

However, the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) which monitors the weather and climate conditions on a continuous basis and issues forecasts and early warning information to the public has lived up to expectation in the way it has been issuing warnings, some quite scary. For instance, it has warned about strong or violent winds in the period of Harmattan, after the rains.

Similarly, another warning has been issued that the Lake Nyos, a dam in Western Cameroon is at the point of potential collapse due to gradual erosion. It is predicted that over one million people may die with livestock according to reports. While the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has swung into action to avert the Nyos threat,

NIMET believes that despite its efforts in recent years to create the necessary awareness, the level of application of the early warning weather and climate information to these economic sectors in Nigeria is still low. Anuforum said there is; therefore, need to go for an enduring policy framework for the application of the weather and climate information provided by NIMET in the activities of such sectors so as to achieve the national goals in agriculture, road construction, housing, health and conservation of the environment.

It was discovered however, that some strategies are being put in place to curb the menace as investigations showed that Hunkuyi dam in Kaduna state for instance is to undergo remedial work to check flood disaster. And the Lagos state government has also taken proactive measures against flood with other states gearing up to battle flooding in their domains.

NEMA's technical team and critical stakeholders in disaster management have also visited areas devastated by the massive floods along the banks of Rivers Benue and Niger and their tributaries in Benue and Kogi States to assess the damages and identify suitable intervention required to address the problem, as well as providing victims with relief materials.

Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, said victims of flood who now sleep and cook on rooftops are being encouraged to relocate; this is aside the remedial strategies of appealing to the people living along the flood plains to move to the high ground. Dam operators are also regularly monitored to maintain the dams and only release the water where it is very necessary.

There's no doubt that the agency is overwhelmed and the cost of flooding to the nation is quite enormous, forcing the Federal Executive Council and the

National Assembly to unanimously agree that more funds are required to address the problems as many states, especially in the Northern parts of the country are adversely affected and the situation is moving towards the southern parts along the reverine areas as the water level also increase.

Giving his opinion on the challenges of the country's disaster management agencies, a Consultant Traumatologist and Head of Department Accident and Emergency Department, LUTH, Dr. Kunle Badmus regrets that most states do not even have required equipments, such as, ambulance, fire extinguisher and host of others, for disaster management.

He reportedly called for manpower capacity building at all levels of government. Dr. Kunle Badmus also identified the best ways to prevent disaster.

According to him, it could be

achieved only through education and proper legislation.

"Anybody can respond to disaster including the community in which it occurred and organisations within government agencies, private sectors, fire services and so on". He however urged communities to be contributing in managing disasters as it is multisectoral.

Ordeal of victims of Kogi flood The Kogi floods have been described as the worst even though flooding has occurred in other states, namely Edo, Lagos, Ibadan, Adamawa, Kaduna, Taraba, Jigawa among others.

Though water as it is said, is life and is supposed to be of great help to humanity, when it becomes destructive, like what happened in those states, one is tempted to ask several questions about water's essence to humanity in that respect.

Gory tales trail the Lokoja surge recently. A victim of the flood Aliyu Umaru who got caught up in the Lokoja incident witnessed how one of the twin children of a man in Ibaji area of Kogi fell into the water and was swept away in the twinkle of an eye. Some had to climb up trees while other climbed hilly areas or their rooftops to save their lives.

According to reports, water started surging from Rivers Benue and Niger on Monday September 17, 2012 with ferocious speed through villages and farmlands putting the ancient city of Lokoja, capital of Kogi state and its environs to test.

The water virtually turned the city into a mourning state with unspeakable destruction of properties. Elder Ichapi Musa of Gadumo Housing estate was wailing and that was justifiable, all he was able to save with his meager salary, over a couple of years, had been destroyed.

When water entered his house at midnight of Wednesday

September 19, it sent a whole family scampering for safety. He could not hold back his tears when he was showing reporters who came to the spot in a canoe, the only means to get to the area, formerly undertaken by cab, his former house which had sunk into the water.

The worsening period of the flood started Friday September 21, during the visit of Senate President, David Mark to the state to see for himself the situation on the ground, but after the assessment, from NATACO, Kpata, through Olusegun Obasanjo way, to Ganaja village and entering the camp were displaced people were housed, he agreed that the destruction caused by the flood was unimaginable and that billions had gone under the 'sea'. Before any help could get to the displaced persons at the camp at Saint Luke primary school, Adankolo, Mark had personally released N500.

000 to the victims.

The water did not only bring Lokoja to a standstill as a result of its devastating effect, within the Lokoja metropolis commercial activities were paralysed as intra city movement was also brought to a halt. Ganaja village residents could not move to the market for their house needs, because the road was flooded.

The International School of Merchant Seaman along Ganaja road opposite 500 Housing Unit and other buildings on that axis were flooded. The proprietor of International School of Merchant Seaman who brought such school to Kogi state, Engineer Sylva David estimated property lost in the flood belonging to the school at N160 million. Most residential houses in the area were under water. Alternative Impression Limited had all the houses opposite the school, estimated at N10 million destroyed, the managing director of the company, Hon Aduku Ojodale told Peoples Daily

Contd on page 11

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 11

Cover

Beyond the floods

Contd from page 10 Weekend at the site.

A three star hotel owned by an honourable member and Coniol filling station in front of the hotel were covered with water. Kogi state owned Confluence Beach was submerged. As the water continued to surge so were lives lost. Two youth corpers whose identity could not be determined were picked on Saturday September 22, while eight other bodies were recovered by marine police on Monday, September 24.

According to the water board manager of Lokoja Greater Works, which is still under the watchful eyes of a Chinese firm, Ccompany, the board had to close down the water treatment plant which he explained was under threat of releasing contaminated water for consumption.

Electricity supply was restricted to avoid electrocution, Auditor General of the Lokoja

business office of PHCN, Sunday Uloko stated this in Lokoja.

The community in Ibaji, Oguma in Bassa and Bagana in Omala local government areas have been trapped with little or no efforts to bring them out. Ibaji is in a marshy area, it could not be reached by canoe or flying boat.

Igbobe along the water Benue have been submerged and even Shintaku to Gboloko cannot be assessed. Adanu, a resident said this is the worst disaster in Nigeria in recent times At the count of this ugly incidence, interstate and intercity movement through Lokoja became a nightmare. A place called Banda, along Lokoja-Abuja expressway was completely submerged, where some boys made brisk business of helping to ferry vehicles across the water at the cost of N3, 000 and sometimes if the traffic becomes heavy, N5,000 to cross from either end. Travelers through this gateway to the nation's capital

Abuja, had things wasted as several days of no movement had hampered their goods along with their vehicles which were trapped in the water. Some travelers had to sell their personal effects to be able to eat and sleep in any available space.

To move even in the metropolis through the effort of a canoe or flying boat you must cough out some amount ranging from N200, N500 and N1,500. These amount gradually increased from Wednesday, when N12, 000 was charged to ferry a car from Kpata in Lokoja to Banda the exit way to Abuja but by Friday, it had gone up to N15. 000 for similar trip.

Within Lokoja, it costs N200 to move from Kpata to Abuja motor park for an individual and N500 from Kpata to Banda. Shehu Aminu who spoke with our correspondent in Lokoja said since there was nothing to explain what we are experiencing today, we cannot blame anybody for the floods.

Alhaji Sule who stated that since 1964, Lokoja had not experienced the magnitude of the disaster, maintained that the level the water had reached was not only disgusting but also an affront to nature of the city as when moving upwards from the water front, one would also be challenged by the hills. Sule stated that the danger people should be worried about could be reptiles, crocodiles, pythons and even hippopotamus. According to him, the authorities should keep appropriate security measures against sudden attack of these wild animals as it happened in the sixties.

Complimenting Alhaji Sule's assertion, an environmentalist, Jibril Sani said that the habitat of these animals have been invaded by the high rise of the water with high current inclusive, they would certainly look for a shallow place to live, which is crawling into the houses.

The danger in the whole affair, were that crocodiles and other dangerous reptiles are already daring people as people crossing from worst hit areas to get temporary reprieve elsewhere, had their canoe capsised killing 9 people. But the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sara Ochekpe is optimistic that the flooding would subsidise around November.

Although relief materials such as mosquito nets, blanket, medicare and some food items have started trickling in from the State Emergency Management Authority, SEMA and the National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA, a visit to a camp showed nauseating condition of the internally displaced persons as their present living condition was very poor, the roofs of some of the camps were leaking and the windows and doors were faulty, these poses health hazards, reports our correspondent in Lokoja.

'Government should register canoe operators' As the flood continues to ravage Kogi state, a canoe operator has asked government to view their role as transporters with seriousness, even after the floods with a view to registering them to enhance transportation in the riverine areas. Isah Abdullahi Ibrahim, who conveys victims of flood, spoke with Sam Egwu in Lokoja. Excerpts.

Y

o u have been in the business of canoe paddling for sometimes how do you see the business in this situation of flooding?

Well, all we need now is prayers because my father whom I inherited this profession from said in 1969, that flooding has been happening but it was not as devastating as it is now, that was why people dared to build their house near the river banks, especially in Kogi state.

Your canoes were out of business until now, what

were you doing before now?

We were not really out of business but the transportion on the water was grossly affected by the opening up of so many outlets for people to pass. In our own days, staying close to water was never allowed, except for people who could swim but today everybody is building near the water areas.

How have you been able to help in transporting flood victims?

People who are not doing the job with us cannot operate the way we do because many people who had no business in the canoe

work tried to influence us, but the Marine police brought the standard that you must have been in this job for some time before you are allowed to ferry people across the water. So I will urge the Marine police to introduce license for canoe men, we have been fighting for this for long and it will help sanitise the business even after the floods.

Are you talking about new canoes in the river?

No there are no new canoes in the river but because operators were not properly registered we are facing challenges. The canoe which capsized and killed 9 people recently was not registered, this is exactly what we are saying.

When this flooding is over what do you want government to do.

I want government to register canoe operators in Kogi state.

Isah Abdullahi Ibrahim, (standing) soliciting for passengers

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Cover Interview Community sleeps and cooks on rooftop but are reluctant to relocate —NEMA DG, Sani-Sidi

P

l e a s e give an update on the flood situation in Lokoja and how far you have gone in tackling it?

It should be recalled that before the incident we had sent warning alerts to most of the states that could be affected by impending flood disaster and on the need for them to take proactive measures.

In fact our annual early warning on flood commenced early in the year, as far back as February, after we got weather predictions from the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET).

Against the warning on prolonged flooding in Lokoja as issued by your agency, how do you plan to safeguard the communities in the river belts that are still battling with the menace?

In fact we had moved our search and rescue officers to the state to mobilize the stakeholders like the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency KOSEMA and other response agencies including the Civil Defence Corps, Fire Service, Nigerian Red Cross Society, the Police and volunteers.

In addition we engaged in sensitisation of the public through the mass media and jingles. One of the telecom operators in Nigeria, Airtel also freely sent bulk text messages to people living along the plains. Presently we are evacuating the willing victims living along the plains to high ground. Ibaji Local Government council of Kogi State is also affected by the flood as the entire community is submerged in water.

What are the measures that have been put in place in flood prone areas to control the menace?

Apart from taking the remedial strategies of appealing to the people living along the flood plains to move to the high ground, we also ensure that our dam operators regularly monitor and maintain the dams, and only release the water where it is very necessary.

With the overwhelming situation of flooding and other disasters in Nigeria, would you say NEMA 's mandates have been

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi, has been in the news lately leading his team to various scenes of flood-affected communities and providing victims with relief materials. In this interview with Jamila Nuhu Musa, he talks about the various concerns of NEMA as regards the overwhelming national disaster.

Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi

surpassed?

Though we are aware that the natural phenomena is not only restricted to Nigeria, many advanced countries are also facing the same challenges of flooding.

For instance in China, Japan, US and United Kingdom the news are there. As coordinating agency for disaster management in the country, our major mandates is to coordinate all disaster related

“

While NEMA too employs the services of the local canoe owners for rescue and evacuation of trapped victims, we paid exorbitantly to recruit that service but the job is necessary.

activities and mobilise the response agencies to manage such occurrences.

What could have been the causes of this devastating flood this year especially in the North?

Climate change remains a serious environmental issue this year in Nigeria from the North to the West and South to East where heavy rainfall is causing havoc everywhere. The inevitability of changes occurring due to the climate change is now a wellestablished reality. Scientific evidence has shown that as a result of climate change, extreme weather events like floods, windstorms, droughts and epidemics have become more frequent and severe. They occur in areas where they were previously either unknown or extremely rare. For us in the developing world, climate change portends greater danger.

Virtually all states in Nigeria are grappling with flood. This is a

clear reminder that we can no longer ignore disaster risks.

Disasters constitute the greatest threat to development and socioeconomic wellbeing of the people.

We must all be prepared for it.

Could you give the cost of flood control on the nation's economy so far?

The cost is quite enormous as the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly have unanimously conceded to the fact that more funds are required to address the problems as many states, especially in the Northern parts of the country are adversely affected and the situation is moving towards the southern parts along the reverine areas as the water level also increase.

Disaster management is all encompassing, how have you been able, together with governments to enforce standard regulation on urban planning and development?

We have been holding stakeholders meetings, seminars, simulations exercises and conference on way to address some of the challenging problems. We in NEMA strongly believe that various institutions in the public and private sectors have roles to play in enforcing the regulations especially on building in appropriate places rather on waterways and flood plains as regards mechanism against flooding How would you rate the role of governments at various levels in dealing with flooding given the warnings issued earlier?

We are impressed that some states actually took some commendable initiatives and preventive measures to mitigate the flooding and the collaborations of some of the government especially in heeding the warning from NEMA as well as engaging other stakeholders have been encouraging.

In rescue operations, would you say Nigeria has been able to meet global practice despite our own peculiarities?

I must admit that we are trying our best to meet the challenges though Nigerians will still expect us to do more. We are encouraged by those sentiments to do more. If you consider the fact that NEMA only has six zonal offices and one operation office in Abuja and yet we are reaching all the states that are adversely

affected promptly in rescue and relief distribution, we believe such efforts should also be acknowledge

by Nigerians. For instance while we don't have offices in Benue, Kogi, Niger, Anambra, Adamawa and Edo States, you may say it is only by miracle that we could be in those locations. But we are there deploying appropriate officers from our zones to assist the affected communities. Don't also forget we also mobilise and collaborate with stakeholders to discharge our responsibilities.

Many have complained about inadequate relief materials in camps of IDPs, is the NEMA facing challenges of funding in this respect, and others, like health hazards etc?

As a government institution we operate within the annual budget and the federal government is doing its best to ensure that we meet the challenges of our mandates. But like Oliver Twist, especially as regards to the alarming flood disasters we witness this year couple with other incidents that we tackled like bomb blast, tanker explosion etc, more funding could further enhance our operation.

We are thinking about the need for the creation of additional operational offices from the existing seven regional zonla offices. We are also working to acquire more equipment. One area we never ignore is in training and retraining of our workforce to improve their capacity and competent as skilled rescue officers.

Can you give a rough figure of internally displaced persons of flood in the country so far?

I could not give an estimate now as more figures are coming in from various sources working with NEMA. In NEMA our statistics must be verifiable mostly through physical head counts. Don't also forget the number of affected people throughout the federation is also increasing.

Is it true that canoe owners are making brisk business in rescue operations by localities in flooding situations?

While NEMA too employs the services of the local canoe owners for rescue and evacuation of trapped victims, we paid exorbitantly to recruit that service but the job is necessary.

We have to do it. But it may surprise you to also note that as we appeal to the affected people to move to higher grounds, some of their elders and leaders are adamant refusing us from evacuating and relocating them to safety. That of Ibaji were a whole community submerged is pathetic. They sleep and cook on rooftop but are reluctant to leave.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 13

Interview

'You can spend two hours looking for parking space in Central market' W

hen was the m a r k e t established?

The market was commissioned twice; the first time was on the 7/02/ 75 under the military administration of Brig. Gen. Abba Kyari.

It was commissioned again on May 2002 after a fire incident that razed most of the market in 1997. It was formerly called Central market, and then renamed Sheik Mahmud Gumi market in 1992 after his death.

Is this market known for sale of particular product?

We are a general purpose market, we have different sections for all the goods sold here, I don't think there is anything we don't sell. We also have subsidiaries, like where it's only provisions they sell. This is the biggest market in the state. All the markets in the surrounding area are under this market, like Chechnya, vetinary, Doka shopping complex, Rahma shopping complex, Royal market, Kantin Kwari, Mangal Plaza, Kura plaza and Amal Plaza. They are all under the management of this market.

Who manages the market?

Kaduna state government established a company called, Kaduna State Market Development and Management Company that manages the market.

What are the challenges of traders?

One of our major problems is lack of parking lot. The old market had parking spaces but this one doesn't, and it is a major problem for people who patronize us, because sometimes you can spend up to two hours looking for space to park, and this discourages a lot of people from coming to the market.

There are other challenges that require government attention though some traders themselves take care of it. We used to have solar light in the market but they no longer work anymore, even the nozzle for the hydro system in case of a fire outbreak no longer works, the overhead tanks that should always have water are not functional and there is not a single tap that woks in this market, we had to beg the then Gov. Namadi Sambo, who built some boreholes within the

Mallam Yusuf Ahmad Aliyu is the Public Relations Officer (PRO), of the Sheik Abubakar Mahmud Gumi market, formerly known as the Central market Kaduna. In this interview with Nasir Mu'azu Isa, he talks about the many problems of the biggest market in the state.

Mallam Yusuf Ahmad Aliyu

market. We also faced security problems in the past, there was a time we had only 10 security men instead of more than 50 security men that should man the market. But we no longer face such problems, because the new management has been very diligent in taking care of some of these problems.

How do you prevent or control fire outbreaks with the lack of facility?

We had the last fire in 2010, as the leaders of the market we are doing the best that we can to avoid any inferno. There was a time we invited the ex governor, who is the present vice president, Namadi Sambo for a meeting where we requested for the establishment of a police station, the digging of boreholes and also the repair of the solar light. We have the police station and the borehole but the solar light has not been fixed even though Namadi Sambo instructed that they be

fixed. We also complained about the lack of adequate parking space, and suggested government should buy the cinema situated in the market and convert it to parking lot, government tried its possible best but the then chairman did not follow up and that was how the matter died.

Most markets face criminal activities of pick pockets and robbery, does this market record such vices?

In the area of security and safety of the public we have no complaints, because it is very rare to hear of incidences of robbery or pick pockets. We have security men that patrol visibly everywhere in their uniforms, and they have the right to stop any suspicious person within the market and if they are not satisfied with your explanation they hand you over to the police.

Where do customers take their complaints to

in case of a dispute between a seller and a buyer?

We have a dispute and resolution committee office that handles conflict resolution between a buyer and a seller or between two marketers and if it can't be resolved then we take it to the police station.

Are you elected officials?

Yes! Any official in this market is elected and we have four year tenure, our tenure ends at the end of this month and those that are interested will step down and a caretaker committee will take over. But you are only allowed two tenures. The caretaker committee takes care of elections and other market issues in the interim.

This present leadership has had no problems with the marketers, new innovations have been introduced and we keep proper records of what we have done and achieved. An example is, there was a fire outbreak in the palm oil section of the market, and the organization was able to contribute over N30m to help those that were affected by the fire. The contribution was from members of the association and NEMA. NEMA contributed building materials and a committee was set up to sell the items about N14 m was realized and was shared amongst the victims of the fire incident.

The money was released to them in phases and we have documents and photos to show for it.

Is the market insured in case of hazards?

Initially, no, that was the reason why there was no compensation for traders during past fire outbreaks but now it is insured, the company managing the market has ensured that, and we as the exco of the market have brought insurance companies like NICON insurance and SIGMA pensions, who are working with individual marketers to insure their individual properties.

There have been a lot of crises in this state; did any of the violence affect the market at any time?

We have never had any problems relating to the crises. Anybody who has any type of problem be it religious, ethnic or political will have to drop it at the gates of the market because we do not allow those kinds of issues to affect the market.

A very good example is, during the last crisis in the state, once we noticed burning and other violent going on outside the market, we lock it up with all the costumers inside. We had people of different backgrounds in the market and everybody sat down peacefully until we were sure that things had calmed down before we let them out.

But we had instances where traders had their shops vandalised and burnt.

It happened in Sabon Tasha, a lot of our people were killed and their shops vandalized, and their only crime was that they were at their shops at that point in time. The last election violence in the state in 2011, the whole of Kafanchan market was razed to the ground and some of those people didn’t even vote, elections took place and some people won but it was the innocent market man and woman that bore the brunt of the violence.

“

We have the police station and borehole but the solar light has not been fixed even though Namadi Sambo instructed that they be fixed.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Interview

State police is synonymous with disintegration —Justice Akanbi (Rtd) Eminent jurist and former ICPC boss, Justice Mustapha Akanbi celebrated his 80th birthday in Ilorin recently. As part of the celebrations, he bared his mind on various burning national issues in an interaction with some reporters, saying the agitation for the creation of state police is an invitation to anarchy and disintegration. He also spoke on the Salami saga, state creation, corruption in the judiciary and in the larger society. Olanrewaju Lawal was there

C

o r r u p t i o n is still a thriving industry in Nigeria. As a former ICPC boss, what can you say on that sir?

During our time, we grew up in a society where there was no greed and this attitude of wanting to acquire everything. The rat race for grab, grab and grab was nonexistent. We were contented with what we had. So, Nigeria was not like this before. I came to Nigeria from Ghana in the colonial era and I discovered that people were contented with the little they had. But after the military took over, people began to think of what we called skyscrapers, then corruption crept in.

At that time, people who had a thousand naira in their accounts were held in high esteem, but today we are talking of billions, trillions and in essence we are making the younger generation believe money is everything.

I always wonder when Nigeria will produce the likes of Nelson Mandella in South Africa, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Julius Nyerere of Tanzania etc.

What is it that made Abraham Lincoln a name? What is it that made Winston Churchill a name? When will Nigeria produce this kind of leadership? A country that is corrupt is incapable of having good leaders or role models. I want to believe that along the line we derailed. We placed too much premium and value on money. We started celebrating corrupt people. When you are appointed to a position, people roll out the drums to celebrate you, for instance when I was appointed as the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), some people were saying it is my turn to make it. Our people need reorientation.

Sir, what is your position on state police?

I was a state counsel, I worked with the police. I was in private practice, I confronted the police. As a judge I dealt with matters relating to the police.

Honestly, even JP Dawodu while advocating state police said ‘when we set

it up we can now study the parameters and see how we can put it through.’ You don’t take a dangerous risk. We should study the parameters first and see whether the thing is workable or not. I lived in the era of the Yandokas (local government police). The operation then was phenomenal. If you saw the oppression the local government police meted out to people then, you will think twice about state police.

Most of the states cannot even pay workers’ salaries. When states cannot pay workers’ salaries then how would they fund police? How do you get a police that will look at the governor in the face and say ‘no’ I can do what you said I should do. By the time they put some naira notes in his pocket, he is finished.

State police is not the way out. What we need is an effective federal police, police reorientation. We need a federal police that will be committed to the general good of all and the oneness of Nigeria.

I don’t support state police. It is a gradual disintegration of society. Those people who are not thinking of a united Nigeria and those people who are not thinking of how we will develop this country are the ones advocating state police. When they divide the police, they divide the customs, divide the judiciary, divide the immigration etc, at the end of the day, there will be no Nigeria.

Do you agree that both EFCC and

Justice Mustapha Akanbi

ICPC are incapable of fighting corruption in Nigeria?

When I was in ICPC, we did our best to lay a solid foundation for the commission. But the person who took over from me believed more in enlightenment and public education which I believe National Orientation Agency (NOA) should be doing.

In my time, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice was late Bola Ige, and he gave me absolute support, he gave me the first team of lawyers to prosecute my cases. He never for one day interfered with my work. Then Olujimi came on board and did the same thing. Olujimi had appeared before me on several occasions on the Ibadan bench. He has tremendous respect for me.

Agabi never interfered. None of them interfered with my job. Section 13 of the law says that we will not be subjected to the control of any authority.

I learnt that the present AttorneyGeneral said they cannot do anything unless they get clearance from him. If it were my time, I would pack my bag and baggage and come back to Ilorin.

Whoever wants to head the ICPC or EFCC must not be a person looking for

“

Those people who are not thinking of a united Nigeria and those people who are not thinking of how we will develop this country are the ones advocating state police.

money. The person must not be the type that is afraid to leave the job. The person must not lobby to get the job. If you lobby, there must be an ulterior motive.

Whoever is going to be appointed as the head in the ICPC must be a man who is prepared to deny himself, must be a man whose character is above board, he must be able to sell integrity, preach integrity, drink integrity, whether in the EFCC or ICPC. I have said it several times and over that all the other crimes are the bye-products of corruption kidnapping, robbery, stealing, smuggling, what have you. It is corruption, if you want to smuggle goods through the border and you succeed in bribing the custom officers, you will smuggle, am I right? If you kill somebody, look at the number of people who are being killed and yet till today we don’t know the source, even the Boko Haram thing is all part of the problem.

So corruption should be first and foremost our concern to clean up Nigeria, if we are able clean up the corruption, we will do well. We can’t produce a nation of saints but we can produce the nation of honest individuals who can be a pride to our country. God loves Nigeria.

Government itself must have the political will and commitment to make the anti graft agencies work.

What Nigeria needs now is leaders that will eschew religious bigotry.

Leadership who will work for our unity, people who will not discriminate, but be their brother’s keepers, leaders who will ensure unity and oneness of our people.

The Salami saga remains unresolved, what is your advice to the President on it?

I don’t know whether the President needs my advice, he has an adviser called Mohammed Adoke, he has so many advisers around him, let them advise him. I have had the chance of

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 15

Interview

State police is synonymous with disintegration —Justice Akanbi (Rtd) sitting on that panel at the NJC to decide whether Salami was guilty of any wrong doing under the chairmanship of Justice Bola Babalakin. We also had Justice Wali, Justice Egwu, Justice Ayoola and we exonerated Salami that he had not done anything for which he can be chastised. Well, we left the scene, we were no more members of the NJC, a new body was set up and it was chaired by Customary Court Judge which is wrong.

Then the body said Salami was guilty, while the CJN we indicted was said to be innocent.

Then they set up a review panel, all these are contrary to what obtains in the NJC. They set up a review panel and appointed one Justice Auta, who came up with a different issue, saying because Salami gave interview to the press and therefore, he was guilty. Then NBA investigated the whole affair and concluded that Salami had not done any wrong.

When Justice Dahiru Musdapher came in as CJN, we thought he was going to resolve the matter finally. He set up a 29-man committee on law reform and I happened to be one of the members who came out with a report exonerating Salami and he said he was going to make sure that Salami was exonerated. Also during his tenure, the number two person, Justice Alooma Mukthar, headed another team set up by the NJC which also cleared Salami. You can now understand what I mean, yet government has not deem it fit to restore Salami to his position, what advice can I give contrary to what these categories of learned men had given and more so when I was part of most of the committees?

My take is it has reached a stage where I believe the Salami matter is in the court of Almighty Allah and the people of Nigeria. I don’t have any advice to give Mr. President, he has not appointed me as an adviser and the gratuitous advice which we gave on the platform of the NJC had been rejected, so it means it will be like just pouring water into a basket, it will not hold.

What is the implication of Mr. President’s refusal to yield to the advice of NJC? Justice Lewis, after a conference, was interviewed by the press and he said that after the report of Justice Alooma, there was no need for the NJC to write to the President about Salami’s reinstatement.

All they needed to do was to call Salami to go back to his position because there is no provision which empowers the president to suspend the judge. The NJC which recommended the suspension later corrected itself, what it means is that Salami is supposed to be recalled automatically.

If that is not done, like I said it is not for me to talk of any repercussion, it is now a matter for the nation to speak, it is now a matter for the NJC to do what is right.

What is your view on the recommendations of former CJN, Dahiru Musdapher that more judges should be appointed to the Supreme Court to speed up the trial processes?

Justice Mustapha Akanbi

Well I don’t know, if he said so, he knows where the shoe pinches more than I do, I have not been in the supreme court but what I know is that it is not so much the number of judges appointed but the quality of judges that are appointed, how hardworking they are; how committed they are to the administration of justice, if they are many and they are good, so be it, if they are few and they are good, Nigerians will know. I know that the Supreme Court Judges have been working hard but I think they should be able to assess the volume of work they have against the number of cases they do in a year. If on balance, they feel they need more Judges. Of course their President is at liberty to do so.

Do you think Special Courts should be set up to try corruption cases?

Well, I don’t think specials court are necessary and I also know that the current CJN had said so when she was interviewed for her appointment, she said there is no need for special courts.

The practice when I was there was that we designate Judges in various courts throughout the country and assign to them corruption cases, if that system is followed to the letter, corruption cases will go on very well because if you go and appoint lower court, they will argue that these courts are not superior courts of repute, then an action will be filed in the High Court and they will condemn that court, that it is not a court of record, it is an inferior court and it will be upheld, so you go back to square one, in fact, I used to have a diary where the designated Judges names are. In Benin, I asked the Chief Judge to give me two Judges, in Ilorin, two Judges and so on, and so I vet them to find out whether they themselves are above corruption, so any case we have in those states will

be held by those Judges.

Former EFCC boss, Farida Waziri once accused the judiciary of delaying corruption trials unnecessarily.

When it comes to judiciary, it is my constituency and I don’t want to run that institution down but there is the need for those in authority to look at the Judges they have now. There was a case when we arrested a gentleman and took the person to court, after we sought leave of the High Court to prosecute the gentleman, I don’t want to mention his name, we were granted leave and he was asked to be locked up so that later the matter will be taken up. When the matter came to court the following day, after being locked up, the gentleman applied for bail, the same Judge who granted leave for us to prosecute him, instead of deciding the application for bail, he just discharged and acquitted him when there was no application for discharge and acquittal. Is that Judge acting in ignorance? Or has he got ulterior motive? Or did he claim ignorance of the law on application for bail? Instead of deciding it, he discharged and acquitted the person. We appealed and the appeal was allowed, the gentleman was rearrested before I left office. I don’t know what happened after that anyway.

The judge who discharged and acquitted him should have been dealt with because even a first year lawyer knows that bail application is different, so you don’t discharge and acquit people when you have not heard evidences. We have countless cases of bad judges like that.

Do you agree with a Presidential Committee recommendation that the EFCC and ICPC should be merged?

When two people are operating and

you say they are not doing well, if you merge them, will they do better? If the police were doing well in the investigation of crime and corruption, would there be need for ICPC in the first place or EFCC? Let me use this opportunity to correct one thing, you know, Oronsanye in his report, the newspapers reported that he said they should scrap the ICPC and all that, so I challenged him in Abuja recently . He said: ‘My Lord’, I never said scrap, it is the pressmen who wrote it.’

I don’t think it is wise to merge them, what is important is strengthening the bodies, funding them adequately and getting the right type of people to man them.

Sir, what is your take on state creation?

I would have thought that by now all the various ethnic groups and tribes in Kwara (for example) will see themselves as brothers and sisters, work together, if you are helpful, you get things done, I have heard people, like someone was telling me, somebody was saying Ilorin people are difficult, they did this and that to other groups, the lady was complaining to that chap, then this chap said but you told me that Justice Akanbi helped you to get into the university, so you see we don’t discriminate in our family. You see the concept, even when Ogbemudia was in Bendel in those days, he didn’t handle Edo people alone, he helped everybody from that area, even for Judgeship, he will be fighting for them for anything.

Now, we are creating states, apart from the fact that we will not have the wherewithal and finances, people are complaining about salary and all those things, the more states you have, the more problems you have. But if we say through state creation we are developing, but if I may ask: are we really developing? I sit here now, I want to see any Kwara man as my brother, any Nigerian as my brother, I used to tell my children that I am a Nigerian father and I mean it and I can stand and count the number of people who God has used me to help.

“

When states cannot pay workers’ salaries then how would they fund police? How do you get a police that will look at the governor in the face and say ‘no’ I can do what you said I should do.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Tourism Zimbabwe: Tourist village which started as palmwine joint

By Augustine Aminu

T

he popular Zimbabwe Tourist Village in Uke, Nasarawa state began as a palm wine joint, according to some residents who spoke to Peoples Daily Weekend.

“It started on the outskirts of Uke at a detached location as a palm wine joint over twenty-five years ago before it was relocated to its current location because its former location could not contain the people who came for relaxation. Its current location was donated by the chief of Uke” said Dan Asabe.

Speaking with the Dan Masani of Uke, Lo-Africa Vani, it was gathered that the tourist village was named Zimbabwe by a former teacher who was fond of the place decades ago. According to him, the stranger, as he was fondly called, later became a senior officer in the Nigerian Army.

“The name came as a result of the settlement of people at Uke decades ago.

There were petty markets where palm wine and a local brew, burukutu were sold. There was this palm wine joint located at an isolated area. People who went there were few but seemed responsible. Farmers used to supply palm wine to dealers at the minimarket without it being adultrated. With time the place began to develop. Later it shifted to another place because of lack of space.

“It is named Zimbabwe because of the influence of a secondary school here called Government Secondary School, Uke. Teachers in the school then were also involved in drinking palm wine.

One of them used to drink both burukutu and palm wine. This teacher always told his colleagues that he was going to Zimbabwe. He would jokingly say he was going to another country.

That was how the name of the joint became Zimbabwe.”

Mr. Africa Vani said the market has been in existence for the past 20 years.

According to him, the relocation to its current place was as a result of its expansion. “Its current location is about 15 years ago. The land was donated by Danladi, one of the chiefs of Gwari in Uke.” Since then the tourist village has grown in leaps and bounds. Today, its landmass has grown into hectares. It houses over 300 shops.

The Zimbabwe Tourist Village is still booming with its original pride, palm wine. As early as 6am on a daily basis, palm wine tappers are already doing their business. The retailers buy from them and sell to consumers.

A litre of palm wine in the place is sold for between N150. 00 and N200.00. Other food items being sold at the centre are meat (both prepared and raw), pepper, tubers of yam, foodstuff, tomatoes, live chicken, roasted chicken to mention a few.

Pounded yam and other African dishes are also sold.

“We have good pounded yam, bush meat and other sea foods because this place is located in the riverine area.

Currently there are plenty ponds here and they are where we get fish. Many people have come to invest in fishery.

During festivities, a lot of tourists come around to catch some fun. White men also come here. This place is highly

In Zimbabwe, roasted chicken abound.

Swamphill Harare gate named after the capital of Zimbabwe. ventilated. Everything is natural,” says trader Mama Hasana.

It was gathered that land allocation at Zimbabwe is no more as easy as it used to be.

A source who did not want his name mentioned said: “Before now, it was free. But later more traders wanted stalls. That was when allocation started. People now part with some token to acquire a piece of land for business. This market now has an administrative office. It is the body that allocates plots to traders. They also pay some token for the upkeep of the market.”

The Zimbabwe Tourist Village, Uke, is always a beehive of activities especially at festive periods and weekends. At least, ten thousand holiday makers visit it at weekends alone. A handful of tourists also rest in the place on a daily basis.

The security situation at Uke is also very firm. It is taken care of by the market administration.

“There are traders’ unions at the market. Cars are parked at owners’ risk. It is the unions that administer

the security situation here. The market starts from afternoon to late evening. For now there are no ugly

reports. The police at Uke are also up and doing in the maintenance of security at Uke which houses Zimbabwe,” says the Mai angwa. He further said that the traders need government assistance.

“The government should provide security here. This is a tourist centre.

This place also requires a bigger gate.

By so doing people will pay to come in and go out. This place requires a fence.

Also rainy season is not homely to holiday markers. We need permanent structures here.”

He added that the donation of the land for tourism business was by the chief because of his love for tourism.

“Mai angwa loves tourism. He also wants people to be engaged to avoid social vices. His gesture has created job opportunities for the people.”

A holiday maker, Ando Yusuf, said he goes to Zimbabwe to relax.

“Any time we are on break, I come here to relax. The environment is conducive. Another aspect is the abundance of fresh air in Zimbabwe.

Fresh fish, palm wine and chicken abound,” he said.

Another tourist, IBB Adamawa said: “I was introduced to this place by a friend. There is an abundance of chicken, palm wine and fresh fish. The environment is also quiet. Here there is privacy. I am a product of a village and this place simply depicts my village setting. So it is a homecoming for me.”

The tourist centre now has a capital called Swamphill Harare. A worker at the place, Energy James Ina, said Harare is akin to a state capital.

“This is unique and qualifies to be the capital of Zimbabwe. It is the home of influential people that come to Zimbabwe. Our watchword is African hospitality. There is an element of absolute freedom at Zimbabwe. This unguarded freedom has brought some cases of violence to the centre. But it is different here. The selected few that come here are different. Things are not more expensive than what is sold in Zimbabwe. The difference is very minute. This place is mainly for the elite class. We sell drinks, fish and chicken.”

The now-bubbling tourist centre began as a palm wine joint.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Weekend

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 18

Relationship If you have any relationship story you want to share with our esteem readers, please send to the above address. Let's share your love story.

Emotional Infidelity: Why you're vulnerable

By Dr. Rich Nicastro

S

h e had stopped off at the local supermarket on the way home from work and saw her husband's car in the parking lot. She was excited to surprise him, but once she found him she witnessed her husband playfully engaging with another woman (the woman is an "attractive" wife of a colleague).

She stood watching for a few minutes and then left.

Why was this so upsetting to Janell, and what exactly did she see?

Here's the breakdown of her husband's behaviour while interacting with this other woman: -He touched the woman's arm several times; -He smiled and laughed; -His demeanor was playful, and at times he appeared exuberant (Janell described him as "giddy"); -He was very talkative; -He was focused and emotionally present.

You might be thinking, so what's the big deal, he was just being social. And since his wife couldn't hear what they were talking about, how does she know he said anything inappropriate or untoward?

Janell was upset because the behaviour she witnessed was different from her husband's "normal behaviour" -different from the way he interacts with Janell.

In fact, on several occasions, Janell and her husband had socialized with this woman and her husband at work parties, and he'd behaved quite differently from what Janell saw at the supermarket. It's

disconcerting to see our spouse/ partner act very differently with someone else-it's especially upsetting to have another person bring out a side of your partner that appears more enlivened and engaging, a side that you'd like to experience for yourself.

And that is part of the problem for Janell: she wants her husband to touch her more, she has wanted to have more fun together, and she's longing for her husband's attention and emotional presence. She wants everything her husband gave this other woman during their brief encounter. And because he gave this to another woman (and not Janell), she felt betrayed.

Relationship Help: We're all vulnerable to infatuation Whether you feel sympathetic to Janell's reaction or not, I want to highlight what I frequently see with the couples I work with; something we should all be mindful of. Despite the love and commitment you have for your spouse/partner, it's not that difficult to become infatuated with another person. There will always be someone (other than your partner) who you feel has the "right look" or the "right" amount of charm or caring or the "right" amount of anything to make you feel special.

And too often, rather than realizing we're all vulnerable to feelings of infatuation, we end up misinterpreting our elevated mood or increased excitement as evidence that we're with the wrong person.

Many affairs (and ruined marriages/relationships) have resulted from this common occurrence.

The short of it is that you need to protect your relationship from your own vulnerability; you need to take ownership of your

Janell was shocked and hurt by what she saw.

vulnerability, realize that it is relatively easy to feel emotionally drawn to someone other than your partner/spouse. The important thing to remember is that these feelings aren't necessarily an indication that your relationship is troubled or lacking; And ultimately, it's what you do with these feelings that matters most.

It's easy to feel feelings for another person, to make decisions that fuel the fires of infatuation by: -Spending greater amounts of time with this person -Finding ways to be alone with him/her -Flirting and acting charming (having the "best" you on constant display) -Confiding your secrets, struggling or dreams with him/ her (***a MAJOR red flag is if you discuss your relationship problems with this person***); -Offering him/her Gandhi/ Mother Teresa-like amounts of concern, empathy and support (which s/he should be getting elsewhere).

The above actions are a recipe for emotional infidelity (which often precedes a physical affair).

Steps to protecting your marriage/relationship One suggestion I often tell the couples I work with is that whenever you are interacting with someone you are (or might be) attracted to, or who you find engaging/charming, you should imagine your partner standing next to you. This will allow you to feel your partner's presence and to realize the appropriate boundaries you should be maintaining for the sake of your marriage/relationship.

Heart Matterz With A'isha Biola Raji E-mail: rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com Phone: 08082071393

Why do men do this?

I

am recently divorced and had a relationship with an athlete for 4 months. He was very keen in the beginning. I had to put on the brakes as I don't rush into matters. He was just three weeks out of a relationship himself and I could not understand why he was in such a hurry! He lives about 45 minutes away but would never visit me. I had to go to his place. Then he mistreated me, and said I had a bad attitude and was far too sensitive! Before this he called less frequently and the invitations were also less frequent. I discovered he was seeing someone else. Why do men do this? I really feel used and abused!

—Anonymous Re- Not all men do this. While you are willing to spend another minute with one who has already mistreated you, you will keep meeting such men.

The first red flags waved, when he expected you to do all the driving to his house! If it is not mutual, respectful, and equal it is not worth having.

Forget trying to understand him, it is no longer your business. Try to understand healthy men - study strength, not pathology and try to forgive yourself. You blew it so learn and move on.

—Mope

What is this girl thinking?

I hope someone can shed some light on my situation.

I was involved in a stormy 2 year relationship. I always had trust issues with this girl from the start.

I am 35 and she is 23. I am planning to get married to her in the near future and asked her to move in with me that was 3 months ago, so recently, I started having second thoughts. I expressed those thoughts to her. This was last Thursday, after sharing my concerns with her the status of our relationship was up in the air. However I did not think the relationship was over all together, I just needed time to collect my thoughts and decide what I really wanted. So I left that night for an out of town trip.

I came back on Monday to find out that, while I was gone, she had met her "soul mate" and she is getting married to him this weekend. Just 10 days ago, she was telling me she loved me and I was the only person she cared about.

My question is - is this girl really crazy after all? Or is she really in love with this guy just after one week?

Re-You were leaving, and you did not invite her along. Then you express doubts. You left town to come back and find out that she has met her soul mate and she is getting married.

Personally, I think it's a bluff. I think it is merely a test on her part to force you to confront how you feel about her.

Want to have some fun with her? Offer to be the best man to her and see how real this "soul mate" is.

Aside from that, it is possible that she simply can't relate to you in the same way. You may want to see her as crazy, but how often do we label the people we don't understand with derogatory titles?

If it is an attempt to make you come to grips with how you feel about her, then it is a sadly misplaced attempt. If anything, it might reflect a lack of maturity on her part, and that may be enough of a signal for you to get out.

Based on what little you've told us, my guess would simply be an attempt at controlling a situation that she isn't in control of.

—Charles

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 19

Beauty Tips

Fixing makeup mistakes We'd rather know (and fix!) our makeup mistakes than strut around looking like clowns. And when we know, we can share these mistakes with others, so don't ever walk out of the house with bad makeup. Plus, in the spirit of sisterhood and community, we have each 'fessed up to the makeup mistakes you might have committed. Join in and share which ones you're guilty of. No judgment, just adjust.

1: Wearing the wrong foundation shade

"Blue eye shadow works for some people," Patel says. "Little girls, and supermodels for instance may look good with other accessories. If you aren't one of the aforementioned people, don't wear it.

Enough said." Harsh, but truer words have never been spoken.

one shade, across your lid.

daytime "Here is a general rule: dark colors shrink and recede," Patel says. "Light colors advance and bring forward." That's why she recommends skipping black eyeliner (especially underneath eyes) during the day, so your eyes look more open and awake.

4: Trying to "plump" your lips 10: Wearing glitter

Foundation isn't supposed to give your skin a bit of a tan," Patel says. After all, that's what bronzers are for. Instead, "it's supposed to create a perfect, smooth complexion and cover-up any imperfections. This is why you should always use a foundation which blends in with your skin." Patel recommends testing on your jawline (not your hand!) before buying, and when possible, ask for a sample first. That way you can try it at home and look at your skin in various lighting situations to make sure the shade you choose looks natural.

2: Applying makeup on dry flaky skin Patel describes the results of slathering on foundation over chapped skin as "horrific," and we have to agree.

Foundation will only emphasize the flakes by sitting on top of them instead of blending in with your skin. Fix the dryness by exfoliating regularly (to get rid of flakes) and following that up with a rich moisturizer. Smoother skin means a much smoother application and finished look.

You've probably heard, or tried, the trick of lining just outside your natural lip line to make your lips look bigger. But it is a way easier said than done. One wrong move and you'll end up looking like Pamela Anderson circa 1993. If you are going to attempt it, Patel says to use a lip liner the same shade as your lipstick on the outer line of your lips, without passing over it.

Fill in your lips as well -- that way if your lipstick fades, you don't wind up with only a line around your mouth.

5: Over-tweezing (or ignoring) your eyebrows "When [brows are] well groomed they can enhance your eyes and your entire look," Patel says,so head to a professional to get an ideal shape. While you do want to tame overgrown brows, Patel stresses that you don't want to tweeze too much. "As we get older, our brows naturally become sparser, so if you tweeze your brows too thin they might never fully grow back," she says. So just stick with cleaning up the area around your brows and follow their natural arch for your best shape.

7: Trying to "sculpt" your face Yes, we would all love chiseled cheekbones and a dainty, ski-slope nose, but if nature didn't deliver, makeup isn't going to help. Patel says contouring is best left to professionals, and only for photography or film. "No matter how skilled you are with the makeup brush, it's nearly impossible to use dark colors that aren't glaringly obvious when viewed in person, especially in broad daylight," Patel says. "Focus instead on pretty, soft makeup that plays up your best features."

8: Using pen: Using pencil on your eyebrows

"The thing that bothers me the most about glitter in makeup, besides the fact that it shouldn't be worn by anyone over the age of 14 (fabulous club kids get an exception here), is that it travels on your face, leaving strange sparkly spots where they shouldn't be," Patel says. Instead of chunky glitter, she recommends shadows with finely milled shimmer used sparingly, of course.

11: Going nuts with "luminizing" products

6: Wearing an entire eye palette on your lids "A penciled eyebrow looks painted and weird," Patel says. Nevertheless, many women still go this route to fill in brows. A better option: "Choose an eye shadow color that matches your hair color and apply with a thin, stiff, angled brush using tiny strokes," Patel says.

9: Wearing black eyeliner in the

Mistake No. 3: Wearing blue eye shadow "Just because your compact came with four or more colors packaged together doesn't mean you have to paint them all onto your eyelids at once," Patel says.

Instead, she recommends wearing no more than three shades at a time: a medium one on your lids, a lighter one near your brow bone and a dark one as liner. But for every day, you really only need a sweep of

"Luminous particles have been added to everything in the past few years, most notably foundations, powders, and highlighting products," Patel says. "One or two such products can make a woman look fresh and glowing. Too many can make her look very, very strange." Think glowing head on a matte body, or like you spent your morning leaning over an oil vat -- not exactly sexy. Patel suggests limiting your illuminating products to these areas: cheekbones, inner eye corners, and (if used sparingly) under the eye.

PAGE 20

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Learning Short story

With Augustine Aminu 07038749120 julius2001_a@yahoo.com

Genetic study challenges theory that modern humans came from just one place in Africa

The Honourable T Minister (II)

T

he principal, in particular, was not finding it funny. Cold drops of sweat were trickling down behind her ears.

Mr. John was confused; he did not know whether to feel embarrassed or elated by the wonderful performance.

He glanced at the principal to see how she was taking it. But the fire in her eyes was eloquent enough to discourage him from taking a second glance.

The last scene in the drama was a press briefing by the Minister.

He began by reading the speech presented at the occasion by the Information Minister, which read in part: “Children are the leaders of tomorrow, they must therefore learn from the present leaders. They must respect elders and constituted authorities...

As for the achievements of this government, a lot has been done.

Today alone I have inaugurated over ten committees. And I’m scheduled to inaugurate more tomorrow. We have also provided boreholes, increased the capacity of our

electricity supply, increased workers’ salaries despite the risk of inflation, made it possible for everyone to have access to mobile phones...”

When it came to the question and answer session, almost all the questions were based on the contents of the speech. At the tail end of the session, three of the journalists posed what their colleagues agreed were the most relevant questions.

“Honourable, you mentioned the National Poverty Eradication Programme and the Global System for Mobile Communications as your achievements. How have these impacted on the life of the common man of this country?”

The Minister lowered his dark spectacles, scratched his forehead, glanced at the Permanent Secreatary, and spat: “I’m sure you were not among the journalists who participated in the media tour.” And to the Permanent Secretary, he added; “He would have seen things for himself; wouldn’t he?”

“Sure,” said the

Permanent Secretary, “he would have seen the unprecedented achievements in these areas... Next question, please... Yes, you over there...”

“Sir, this lingering industrial crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and...”

“The issue has been addressed!” snapped the Permanent Secretary.

“Next question please.

And this should be the last question. Yes, you..., no... You in faded jeans...”

“The National Electric Power Authority...”

“What about it?” asked the Minister. He was visibly running out of patience.

“The epileptic supply of electricity...”

“Mr. man, if you don’t know, you are now hearing it from me, the Minister of Information, that NEPA is no longer NEPA, but Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN! And it is now re-positioned to...”

The entire hall went blank—solid darkness!

By the time PHCN restored power about thirty minutes later, the gathering had dispersed.

-Everythingliterature

he theory that modern humans came from one place in Africa has been challenged by new research.

A study showed the Khoe and San peoples of the sub-Sahara are descendents of the earliest diversification event in the history of all humans, some 100,000 years ago.

The findings, involving 220 participants representing 11 populations across southern Africa , revealed around 2.3 million DNA variants per individual, according to the journal Science This was thought to be due to interbreeding and genetic stratification - nonrandom mating between groups. A group of international scientists from Sweden and South Africa conducted the largest genomic study ever among the clickspeaking Khoe and San

into Europe and Asia about 60,000 years ago.

Others theorise there were several ‘movements’ out of Africa.

‘It is possible that modern humans emerged from a non-homogeneous group,’ said Mattias Jakobsson from Sweden’s Uppsala University, one of the authors.

The genetic data also showed how generations of Khoe-San adapted to their environment which involved muscle function, immune response, and UV-light protection.

Farming skills developed and spread across southern Africa with genetic contributions between a southern San group and people in east Africa.

The Science journal reported how researchers focused on signals across the genome of ancient adaptations that happened before the historical separation of the

Stark landscape: A San bushwoman stands before the vast Sahara desert Khoe-San lineage from other humans. Co-author Pontus Skoglund, from Uppsala, said: ‘Although all humans today carry similar variants in these genes, the early divergence between Khoe-San and other human groups allowed us to zoom-in on genes that have been fastevolving in the ancestors of all of us living on the planet today.’ The study is to be made freely available for future disease-related studies. -MailOnline

Rich genetic data: Two San bushmen on the dunes of Africa’s Kalahari desert groups.

Researchers estimate that the San populations from northern Namibia and Angola separated from the Khoe and San populations living in South Africa as early as 25,000 — 40,000 years ago.

Dr Carina Schlebusch, of Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, told Science: ‘There is astonishing ethnic diversity among the KhoeSan group.

‘We were able to see many aspects of the colorful history that gave rise to this diversity in their DNA.’ Many scientists believe modern humans originated from one region in Africa before spreading

Tribe: A young girl and an old woman of the San people

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Healthy Living

10,000 Nigerians exposed to rabies yearly

By A'isha Biola Raji

O

ver ten thousand Nigerians, especially children are susceptible to rabies on yearly basis as they are likely to be bitten by rabid animals.

The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele made this known yesterday in Abuja where she represented the minister, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu at the ministerial press briefing on the World Rabies day.

She emphasized that, rabies

is a fatal viral zoonosis which spread to humans through bites, broken skin or scratches. The zoonosis according to her, are transmitted by infected wild and domestic animals commonly dogs. The infection begins to manifest between 2-6 weeks.

"Rabies is caused by Rabies virus, the average incubation period between infection and first symptom is 2-6," she said.

She said Nigerians are much exposed due to large population of dogs most of which are not vaccinated and there is need to vaccinate dogs and other

domestic animals like cats since there is no effective treatment for rabies. "The most cost effective strategy for prevention is by elimination of rabies in dogs and other animals through vaccination and potent vaccine last 2-3 years," she called.

She further stressed that, the global concern for rabies prompted the world rabies day which started in 2007 as it were before then, a neglected zoonotic disease. "Since then, the WRD has been marked as an annual global event to raise awareness on the disease," she said.

Okello helped recalled Nigeria to WHO board —Chukwu

By A'isha Biola Raji

T

h e minister of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has described the exemplary leadership of Dr. David Okello as what brought the country back to the list of World health Organisation (WHO) board.

The minister mentioned this

Minister of health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu

yesterday in Abuja during a lunch organized by ministry of health for the send forth of Dr. Okello to his new place of assignment in Zimbabwe.

According to the minister, the lunch was organized as a symbolic way of letting Nigerians know the contributions of Dr. Okello to Nigeria's health sector as a whole.

"Nigeria was recalled to WHO board and we now relate better with our partners," he said.

He said during the WHR's tenure, Nigerian government started spending more money in the area of donation of drugs to maternal and child health program and also the SURE-P program were actualized.

As regards MDG6, he said the Country Representative tenure has had a stabilized HIV prevalence which has reduced from what the country recorded some years back. "In the area of polio, we have nothing more to do but work on the structure we have. "The organization of task force with minister of state for

health, Dr. Ali Mohammed Pate as head will go a long way to exiting the virus," he assured.

In her welcome address, the permanent secretary, ministry of health, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele described Dr Okello's stay as a positive change in the health sector. "Though you had only spent eighteen months, those months have witnessed great numbers of achievement in all aspect of public health and polio eradication," she said.

Dr. Okello in his remarks called on government to remain in charge of partners. He said, "When partners start setting agenda by their selves, there is a problem."

On the issue of polio, he said the number of cases presently in record did not just emerge but had been there from the time of election and there is hope that, Nigeria will exit polio. "The initiative government had put in place will solve polio problem. I am not worried about polio but other health issues people are not talking about," he called.

She said recently in Nigeria, reports indicated 8 deaths suspected to be rabies from stray dogs in four local government areas of cross River state. "This has no doubt called for the need for the general public and government to give desired attention to rabies," she concluded.

In the words of Prof. AB Ogunkoya from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, the nation is helpless concerning the issue of rabies as there is no substantial data to describe the actual damage the disease is causing.

"It is not the numbers that die

but when one see the death caused by rabies, it is a terrible experience," he described.

He however commended the ministry for making its first achievement by joining the rest of the world in commemorating the WRD. "It can be avoided and controlled through vaccination of pets," he advised.

The WRD involves major stakeholders from state and local government levels, human health partners at the national and international levels as well as veterinary, medical and other specialized professionals.

Group blames NMA president for calling for private ownership of guns

By Augustine Aminu

T

h e Society of Nigerian Doctors for the Welfare of Mankind (SNDWM) has kicked against the recent call by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, for demanding for private gun ownership in Nigeria.

The NMA president recently expressed his desire to see a relaxation of gun ownership laws as a way to reduce crime, but in a swift reaction, the SNDWM said if such is allowed, it will only lead to anarchy in the country.

In a signed statement by Dr. Emmanuel Oga made available to Peoples Daily Weekend, the SNDWM said access to guns of private individuals will worsen the security problem in the country.

The statement reads in part: "The gun control debate is one that has been around for decades, and is unlikely to go away; it is one issue we must continue to dialogue on. It is our opinion that the NMA remarks were wide off the mark and portrays a one-sided view of

the problems in Nigeria."

As rife as gun violence is in Nigeria, there is reason to believe it could and would not be abated with easy accessibility of guns. It said further, "Another aspect of private gun ownership which he overlooked is that, guns can cause domestic harm even among intimate partners.

"An unsuspecting child, a careless adult relative or indeed the owner of such a gun might in a moment of curiosity inflict permanent injury on loved ones."

Oga said, "as doctors, we have the responsibility of not only caring for the sick, but making sure that whatever causes illness and harm is eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum."

It would be recalled that the NMA president's call for liberal gun ownership policy was among resolutions NMA reached after its executives, met early this month in Owerri amidst concerns that "several doctors have been kidnapped even while on emergency and call duty within hospital premises."

Signs of rabies in children after bites

By Luanne Kelchner, eHow Contributor

R

abies is a viral disease spread through the saliva of infected animals. Humans that are infected with the virus have a short time to receive treatment before the virus becomes fatal.

When the symptoms of rabies become evident, it is too late for treatment. Any child bitten by an animal must be treated or tested for rabies. If the animal is found, it should be quarantined and evaluated for the rabies virus. Children should be treated immediately if rabies is suspected or the animal is unknown.

Signs and symptoms Tingling of the bite -Some patients experience

tingling or itching at the site of the bite. The bite may be painful or numb after a rabies infection. Not every child will experience this symptom after a bite from a rabid animal. All animal bites should be taken seriously and evaluated for the possibility of rabies if the animal is not known.

Early stage symptoms -Symptoms in the first stage of the virus are vague and difficult to pin down as rabies.

Fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting and a decrease in appetite may indicate the early stages of rabies. Children should be tested for the virus as soon as possible.

Late stage symptoms -Children infected with rabies in the later stages have difficulty swallowing. This

symptom is often reported as foaming at the mouth, but it is the patient's inability to swallow his saliva that causes this disturbing symptom.

Children and animals become frightened at the sight of water during this stage of the virus.

Agitation and disorientation occur during this stage of rabies. Some children become paralyzed from the virus. At this stage of the virus, death can occur suddenly. Some children go into a coma before death occurs.

There is no cure for rabies when the virus has reached the central nervous system.

The chance of becoming infected with the rabies virus is very low, but precautions must be taken to ensure that family pets and children are

not exposed to rabid wild animals. Keep pets under supervision at all times to avoid contact with wild animals.

Children should never be left alone with a pet or where contact with strange animals is possible.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Hollywood/Bollywood Bond wouldn't be Bond without attractive women

B

o n d wouldn't be Bond without an attractive woman by his side and, during his fifty years on the big screen, 007 had more than his share of female companions. But who have been the best Bond girls?

When Honey Ryder emerged from the ocean in a soaking-wet white bikini, the first Bond girl

was born.

The only woman preDaniel Craig 007 has ever fallen in love with; Tracy eventually goes from Bond girl to Bond wife.

However, Bond's dangerous lifestyle catches up with them at the wedding ceremony, where she is shot dead.

In the last Bond film, Bolivian agent Camilla Montes joined Bond

(Daniel Craig) on his quest for revenge, while Strawberry Fields - a lowly MI6 agent - ends up accompanying 007 on his mission (and in bed), but pays the ultimate price.

Berenice Marlohe and Naomie Harris are the actresses accompanying Bond in his next adventure, but will they live up to the standards set

by Bond girls gone by?

Anne Hathaway May Join Chris Hemsworth in Robopocalypse

D

reamWorks and 20th Century Fox officially announced Tom Rothman will produce Robopocalypse with Steven Spielberg still attached to direct. And while that's interesting, what's even more interesting - and bigger news to moviegoers who don't really care about producers - is that Anne Hathaway is circling the project and could be joining Chris Hemsworth as one of the film's leads.

Robopocalypse is expected to begin filming in early 2013. The studios have set an April 25, 2014 day release date.

Commenting on the outgoing Fox studio head's involvement as producer, Spielberg stated: "When someone like Tom is a free agent, you snatch him up fast. He has proven himself to be a necessity of this industry. At Fox he had already been an enthusiastic partner on Robopocalypse, and it is to our advantage that he would come produce this film with me. Tom has been a wonderful friend and colleague over the years and DreamWorks is incredibly lucky to have him on board."

Added Rothman: "If you are in politics, you dream of a call from the White House, in baseball, from the

Yankees, in movies, from Steven Spielberg.

Robopocalypse is the kind of important epic entertainment, a big movie with big ideas, that Steven does better than any filmmaker on earth. I am honoured beyond measure that he asked for my help on it and fired up to do whatever I can for him, Stacey, the outstanding DreamWorks team, and all of my friends at Fox. I enjoyed the idea of being unemployed for a week, but this will be way more fun."

The synopsis for Daniel H. Wilson's bestselling novel: "They are in your house. They are in your car. They are in the skies...Now they're coming for you.

In the near future, at the moment no one will notice all the d a z z l i n g technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but m a s s i v e l y powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that r e g u l a t e everything from

transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans - a single mother disconcerted by her daughter's menacing 'smart' toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a 'pacification unit' go haywire - but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.

When the Robot War ignites -- at a moment known later as Zero Hour - humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united."

Some facts about Bollywood

T

h e song "Mehandi Lagane Rakhna" of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge was originally written for another movie and was a bit different starting with "Payal Chankate Aa Jana".

However the Chopra brothers liked the song and included it in the movie which became a hit track.

Raj Kapoor launched dream girl, Hema Malini in the lead role for 'Sapno Ka Saudagar' opposite himself in 1968.

The Big B (Amitabh Bachchan) was to be named 'Inquilab' when he was born, before his father, the famous poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan finally agreed to name him 'Amitabh', which means brilliance unlimited.

Not a single outside the cast and crew of 'Aks' was allowed on the sets of the film as per strict orders. Even director Rakesh Mehra's brother was also not allowed in.

Meena Kumari has six fingers on her right hand.

But she tries not to show it in any of the scenes of the films she has done.

Dharmendra in his youth was such a big fan of actress Suraiya that he

walked miles to watch her film 'Dillagi' over 40 times.

Of all the characters in his directorial debut 'Dil Chahta Hai', Farhaan Akhtar definitely wanted Saif Ali Khan as Sameer, Dimple as Tara and Preity as Shalini.

In the songs 'Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hain' from 'Dhadkan', title song of 'Deewane' and 'Neend Churayi Meri' from 'Ishq' we see the coming together of arch rivals Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali had written the script of 'Khamoshi 'with Amitabh Bachchan in mind.

The 'Khalnayak' song Choli Ke Peeche was protested by as many as 42 political parties.

Film Main Hoon Na was originally named 'The Outsider' and the actor did not initially approve of change in the movie's title by director Farah Khan.

Bobby Deol's first brush with film acting was very early, when he was only seven years old. He played Dharmendra junior in Manmohan Desai's 'Dharam Veer'.

The only time in the history of any Indian award,

when the best female playback singer award was shared was between Ila Arun and Alka Yagnik for 'Choli Ke Peeche' in 'Khalnayak'.

Shamita Shetty is deeply into Sports and Body training and holds a Diploma in Fashion Designing.

Akshay Kumar is superstitious. He will never write anything on a page unless he first heads it with an "Om".

Vibrant Talent Manoj Bajpai of the "Bhiku Mhatre" fame failed several screen tests before finally getting a break in filmdom.

Salman Khan likes to collect soaps. In his bathroom, there is a collection of all kinds of handmade and herbal soaps.

His favourite are soaps made from natural fruit and vegetable extracts.

Hrithik Roshan loves collecting photographs. He would never travel anywhere without his personal camera even as a child. He has a vast collection of photographs and special scrapbooks marking each occasion.

Aishwarya Rai's pet name at home is 'Gullu' and Salman's is 'Sallu'.

Aishwarya appointed UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador

I

ndian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been appointed as the new international Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS, the joint UN programme on AIDS and HIV. The announcement was made at the UN headquarters by UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe on the sidelines of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly.

In her new role, she will help raise awareness on issues related to stopping new HIV infections in children and advocate for increased access to anti-retroviral treatment.

"I am honoured to accept this appointment. Spreading awareness on health issues specially related to women and children has always been a priority for me and now as a new mother I can personally relate to this - the joys and concerns of every mother and the hopes that we have for our children," she said.

Her main focus will be to advocate for the global plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children and keeping their

focused on working towards universal access to HIV treatment, prevention, care and support, said 34.2 million people were living with HIV in 2011.

The new appointment will be one of Rai's first and most i m p o r t a n t associations with the United Nations.

Last week, she had mothers alive. This plan was launched at the UN in June 2011 and focuses on 22 countries including India, which account for more than 90% of all new HIV infections among children.

Rai said she strongly believes that every baby should be born free from HIV. "I promise that with UNAIDS I will do my utmost to make this happen," she said.

Sidibe said through Aishwarya's global outreach he is convinced that she will be able to help UNAIDS reach its goal of eliminating new HIV infections among children by 2015.

UNAIDS, which is

joined UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and renowned Hollywood actor Michael Douglas at a ceremony to commemorate the International Day of Peace.

She had also addressed a large group of students from varied backgrounds during a panel discussion on 'Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future'.

She would also meet India's Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri.

Her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan had served as the International Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 27

Homes Dealing with flooding W

i t h the worrisome trend world-wide concerning floods owing to heavy rainfalls with rivers over flowing their banks, and other related causes. When this happens, the extent of damage can only be imagined.

It has become imperative therefore, to take adequate steps to secure your building from flood disasters.

The natural role of a flood plain is to channel excess water during periods of heavy rainfall to rivers and other bigger channels. But where you have flood channels being blocked or walled off, then the artificially narrowed or blocked water must rise higher to compensate for the narrow channels, often times, it becomes an embarrassment to a community.

Causes of flooding Deforestation- As activities of man becomes more intense, the trees around are being fell and these lands are claimed for other purposes. These areas will be exposed to flood as time goes on.

Development, jobs and affluence- like in every part of the world people love to live close to the river because of economic and leisure gains, for farming (irrigation),water, transportation and even waste disposal.

Poverty- When you have too little to pay for a conducive accommodation in a befitting environment, then you are most likely to settle for anywhere you find yourself, also constructing a drain gutter may be too expensive for you.

However not only areas close to rivers are prone to flooding, Unnecessary blocking of public drain channels and overbuilt environment may cause flooding.

In some houses, bad foundation of buildings could lead to flood right inside your

A community in Kaduna submerged in the recent flooding house. Areas with loose soils when building houses on them are expected to have water protecting membrane laid down round the foundation to prevent water rising to the floors through the walls from foundation. Also over site concrete or German floor ought to be done for such areas and infact, for every building, but the cost of doing it

makes virtually anybody with low budget to ignore this important part of building.

For those with considerably strong soil, you can use the method I used to at least save some money, though it may not be the best alternative.

What to do: After raising all the blocks to foundation level, it makes some

Some of the submerged houses in the recent Benue floods in Makurdi

sense to look for a carpenter to nail planks around the top of blocks (both internal and external) with about 100mm space to accommodate concrete directly on top. You may ask why it is necessary to do just that. The essence is to save money and most of the water from ground will seep into the wall to the top and soon you may begin to see the effects.

Major steps to take to prevent flooding: You can raise the foundation level of your building. This will make your building to be higher but will probably save you from flood when the runoff is high.

Although it may tend to cost you more to raise the house from ground, it may perhaps be more economical at the long run; besides a well built house standing alone gives it an elegant look.

When paving the surrounding environment, make sure the pavement or whatever slopes along water runway is done so that water entering your environment will naturally follow the gradient or slope of the land.

If you found out that your house was usually flooded after rainfall because the pavement or screening of your environment was not done to slope towards the natural water flows, you can channel water from the roof of your house with

a pipe to water channels, underground tanks or drain gutters.

Replace damaged pipes around the house, the ones from public utilities and your own.

You can erect a retaining wall or fence made of concrete to block strong rushing water.

If erecting a retaining wall or fence made of concrete is expensive, you can use sandbags.

The most important of all, when carrying out your building project, consider drainage gutter if you envisage future flooding problems.

In large scale building constructions done by organisations and governments, Dams, large water channels, and levees are provided to further fight flooding. Levees are embankments composed of soil and earthen materials that are used to prevent annual flooding in many areas just like what is obtainable in Victoria Island and Bar Beach as presently being done by the Lagos state government. With a levee, it requires very high volume of rain water before flooding can occur. But the drawback is that if the water level is high enough to pass through the fence, (levees) then the flooding will be most likely to occur and will cause several times more damage.

If all fails, it is advisable to just move out. Leave the vicinity.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Cuisine

Savour your breakfast with toast bread and jam

Toasted bread with omelettes

Pineapple Jam

A

seasonal jam recipe without pectin or other thickeners, just fresh fruit and a hint of agave syrup cooked over an open flame.

Ingredients 1 - Pineapple (ripe), peeled and cored 3 tablespoons agave syrup (optional) 1 food processor Some water to loosen things up if need be Pinch salt Instructions Chop the pineapple into manageable chunks. Place all chunks into a hi-speed blender or food processor

and puree until smooth.

If the pineapple will not liquefy add a bit of water to loosen things up.

Place a heavy bottom sauce pot on your stove and heat over a medium heat.

Add the pureed pineapple and cook down until thick, about 40 minutes, stirring to avoid scorching.

(Optional) Add the agave syrup and continue to cook until your desired thickness has been achieved.

Remove from the heat and cool.

Spoon it on a piece of your favourite crepe or toast and savour your breakfast.

Pineapple jam

Pots & Pans

I

f you need help making toast, here are some steps and tips that should help you. Toast can be made with any type of bread, and is usually served with butter or jam.

Steps 1. Choose the kind of bread you wish to use. You can use just a regular white bread, or specialty bread like rye, whole wheat, and brown or French.

2. Slice your bread to fit the toaster unless it is pre-sliced.

Put your slices of bread into the bread slots of the toaster or rack of a toaster oven.

Choose the setting depending on how brown or crunchy you want it. If you are unsure, put on a low setting and if necessary after, repeat at a higher setting.

Push down the toaster plunger to turn it on. Carefully remove the hot toast from the toaster after it pops up. Place the toast on a plate, remove your oven mitt and spread

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

toast with butter, peanut butter, jam or whatever you prefer on one side.

Place the toast on a plate, remove your oven mitt and spread toast with butter, peanut butter, jam or whatever you prefer on one side. Slice in half, quarters, or leave whole.

Ingredients 2 slices multigrain bread 1tsp softened butter (optional) 1tsp Dijon mustard 2 oz cheddar, gruyere, or other cheese for melting, sliced 2-4 slices fresh tomatoes Salt Preparation: Put a small skillet (with lid) over medium heat.

If desired, butter one side of each slice of bread.

Smear mustard on the unbuttered side of the bread slices.

Arrange cheese slices over one mustard-covered slice of bread.

Cover cheese with tomato slices.

Sprinkle with salt, if desired.

Cover with the other slice of bread, mustard side down.

Place the assembled sandwich in the skillet, and cover to help the cheese melt.

When the bread is golden on one side, flip the sandwich.

Continue cooking uncovered until the other side is golden.

Cut diagonally into two triangles and serve hot.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Womanhood Prepare your child for arrival of baby -Teach your child a simple lullaby to sing to her new brother or sister.

-Plan the baby's room together and take him on a shopping trip to buy some items for the new baby.

Remember to buy something for him as well.

- If you plan to breastfeed, try to arrange for your child to see a woman breastfeeding her baby. Your child will adjust more easily if she knows what to expect.

-If the baby will be born in a nearby hospital, visit the hospital with your child.

-Tell your child who will be caring for him while mother is in the hospital or while mother and/or dad is receiving a baby to be adopted. Let him know the activities he will do with his caregiver while you are gone.

-If your child is staying with a relative or friend, involve him in packing the suitcase for the trip. Also, let your child help you pack your suitcase or the suitcase of your spouse or partner. Help him understand that you will come back and won't be away for long.

-Answer all questions about new babies and the birth process or adoption as simply as

possible, but truthfully. Read a book to your child about pregnancy, birth and/or adoption that is appropriate to your child's age and development.

-Be careful not to make any unrealistic promises, for example, "You're going to have someone to play with."

Here are some additional helpful hints: -Have a special present ready to give to your older child when you arrive home with the baby.

-Let someone else carry the new baby into the house so your arms will be free to hug the new "big" sister or brother.

Together, you can go to meet the new baby.

-Once in awhile, hold your child in the new baby's rocking chair.

Talk about how sometimes it's fun to be a big brother or sister, and sometimes its fun to pretend to be a baby.

-Be sure to spend special times with each of your children before the baby arrives. Continue to do this after the baby comes. Let your child know there will be times when he or she is unhappy or angry with the new baby.

Allow her feel baby's movement in your bulgy tummy

T

h e arrival of a baby brother or sister could pose a stressful experience in the life of a young child. It is common for children to feel anger and jealousy towards a new baby.

Research indicates that the gap in age between siblings can have an effect on the intensity of jealousy between children.

Sibling rivalry tends to be greatest when the age difference is 18 months to 2 years. It tends to be lowest when there are more than 2 years between children or less than 18 months.

Regardless of the age of an older brother or sister, a parent can play an important role in helping a child cope with the arrival of a new baby in the family. Use the time before the baby arrives to help your child gain an understanding of "babies" and begin to feel the importance of being a "big brother" or "big sister."

Here are some activities you can do to help prepare your child: -Share with your child memories of her infancy. Show her pictures of when she was a baby. Talk about how little she was, and how she couldn't sit

or walk or feed herself.

-Sort through baby clothes with your child. Together, choose the clothes that will fit the new baby soon after he or she arrives. This activity will help your child develop an idea of how little the baby will be.

-Talk to your child and show her all the items the baby will be using: a crib, a carriage, a baby bath, a car seat. Don't be surprised if your child crawls into the carriage or crib. She is trying to figure out this new event!

-Help your child take care of a doll. Slowly introduce the idea that babies need lots of time and care. Let him give the doll a bath in the new baby's tub. This will be a good time to talk about how gentle you have to be when caring for a baby.

-Read stories with your child about being a big sister or big brother. Choose books that help your child cope with the normal feelings of jealousy.

-Visit a friend with a new baby to see the size of the infant.

-Make something together for the new baby. Choose something simple and easy to complete, like a "Quiet!" sign for the door or a picture to go over the crib.

Take her for walks to learn partnership

Jealousy is a normal feeling.

Talking about feelings sometimes helps children accept and deal with their negative feelings.

Remember, older brothers and sisters must be told over and over that they must handle babies gently. It is normal for older children to revert to "infant" ways when a new baby arrives home. For example, they may begin to talk like a baby or want to drink from a bottle. They may revert to bedwetting, whining, and crying instead of talking. This behaviour will go away faster if you don't pay much attention to it.

Some young children will show feelings of jealousy when the baby begins to move around and compete with siblings. Watch for behaviours that show that older siblings are feeling angry or threatened.

Accept and recognize your older children's feelings. Spend time with each of them on an individual basis.

The arrival of a new baby is no doubt stressful. With your help, however, siblings will be able to adjust successfully to this important family event. extension.unh.edu

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Archives

Do you have old pictures for memories?

Send them to julius2001_a@yahoo.com

Head Of State, Lt. - General Olusegun Obasanjo, launches Universal Free Primary Education Programme in 1976

N

igeria entered a new era on Monday (6 September, 1976) with the launching of its universal primary education programme.

It was launched by Head-of-State, Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo in the capital, Lagos. Under the programme two and a half million Nigerian children from the age of six will be able to go to school free of charge. And as some of the new students arrived to enroll on Monday Lieutenant Obasanjo was there to sign them into the register.

At present primary school education is optional, but after 1980 it will become compulsory.

At the official launching of the

programme Lieutenant General Obasanjo outlined the aims of the plan.

It also demonstrates the determination of the Federal Military Government to provide equal educational opportunities for all children of school age, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth.

Every Nigerian child should regard basic education as his natural heritage, right and not a privilege.

It is the civic obligation of the children to attend classes regularly and punctually, to study diligently, to be obedient and law abiding, to become good and patriotic citizens who will serve their fatherland faithfully and loyally in whatever positions they find themselves in the years that lie ahead.”

Candidates in Nigerian presidential election petition to have election results declaiming Alhaji Shagari president, annulled

I

n Nigeria the hearing of the petition filed against Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the then civilian President, began on Tuesday (4 September, 1979). Chief Obafemi Awolowo is challenging the declaration by the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) that Shehu will become the country’s President on the first of October.

SYNOPSIS: Lagos and all of Nigerian has spent the last few months preparing for the formation of the first civilian government since 1966. But the result of the Presidential election has been disputed by several of the candidates, though the new government is due to be installed on the first of October.

Three candidates for the Presidency contend that Alhaji Shehu was not duly elected. Police at the Federal Court of Appeal were out in force as the instigator of the petition and leader of the Unity Party of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo arrived for the hearing.

Ladi Kwali at Howard University

He was joined by the leader of the Great Nigeria People’s Party, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim. In his petition Chief Awolowo contends that Alhaji Shehu Shagari scored less than the number of votes required by electoral decree to win office. Chief Awolowo also asked the tribunal to order the Secretary of FEDECO Alhaji Kurfi and the Federal Returning Officer Frederick Menkiti to arrange an electoral college election to determine who should be President. This he says, is in accordance with provision in the 1978 Electoral Decree. But Alhaji Shehu insists he was duly elected. And he says that if an Electoral College had been called it should have been arranged within seven days of the August sixteen results. Chief Awolowo took the stand on the first day of the hearing which was expected to last three days. He gave evidence on the election results but it was disputed under cross-examination.

President Shagari visits Ogunpa flood disaster area in Ibadan where two hundred and forty people died during a twelve hour rainstorm

N

igerian President Shehu Shagari visited the scene of flash-flooding at Ibadan, about one hundred miles (160 kilometers) north of the capital Lagos, on Sunday (7 September, 1980) where two hundred and forty were killed during a rainstorm the previous week.

SYNOPSIS: It was the heaviest downpour the topical city of Ibadan had

suffered in four years. In twelve hours, ten point seven nine inches fell on the Ogunpa region swelling in Ogunpa River until it burst its banks.

The floodwaters raced across the land crushing houses and catching many people unprepared. Among those drowned were children and pregnant women. Many thousands more were left homeless.

Ladi Kwali making pots on a wheel chair in 1959.

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Leisure WORD SEARCH

Find the words about appetizers, listed below, in the word search grid. Circle each letter one by one. Each letter of the food word search grid may be used in more than one word.

Appetizer Word Search Puzzle I

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Quotes

With Augustine Aminu

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APPETIZERS WORD LIST

BRUSCHETTA BUFFALO WINGS CALAMARI CAVIAR CHEESE STICKS CHEESES CRAB CAKES DEVILED EGGS DUMPLINGS ESCARGOT FRIED ZUCCHINI GARLIC BREAD MUSHROOMS NACHOS POTATO SKINS QUESADILLA SALAD SHRIMP SOUP SPINACH DIP

"Be a listener only, keep within yourself, and endeavor to establish with yourself the habit of silence, especially in politics."

-Thomas Jefferson "Politics are a labyrinth without a clue."

-John Adams "All great changes are irksome to the human mind, especially those which are attended with great dangers and uncertain effects.

"The ruling quality of leaders adaptive capacity, is what allows true leaders to make the nimble decisions that bring success. Adaptive capacity is also what allows some people to transcend the setbacks and losses that come with age and to reinvent themselves again and again."

-Warren G. "I will not regret leaving what has become a totally dysfunctional institution. I will not miss the thrill of making well-researched speeches in a virtually empty room. I will not miss working long hours on irrelevant ministerial guided committees.

"Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent."

- Napoleon Bonaparte

CARTOON OF THE WEEK

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Wise saying " A man who is trampled to death by an elephant is a man who is blind and deaf.

"A hunter who has only one arrow does not shoot with careless aim.

"A mouse that removes the palm-nut that turns out to be the bait of a trap, would already have known that the palm-nut does not ripen on the ground.

"When a palm-branch reaches its height, it gives way for a fresh one to grow.

"A bottle of oil warmed over the fire has no means of producing oil by itself.

"One cannot go back to the farmer from whom one borrowed seed-yams to plant to say that the beetles have eaten up the seed-yams.

"If one were to remove every smoking wood from a fire and condemn it as bad, one would be killing the fire itself.

"It is wisdom to prevent someone from whom one cannot accept repayment to have access to one's valuable possessions.

"It is the brutally outspoken man that earns enmity.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

PAGE 32

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

World’s most expensive dress worth £3.5m unveiled in Ukraine

By Bianca London

T

he saying, diamonds are a girl’s best friend has been taken to a whole new level as the world’s most expensive dress has been unveiled.

The dazzling dress, which received mixed reviews from onlookers at Ukraine Fashion Show, is encrusted with 50 two carat black diamonds and weighs a staggering 29lbs (13kg).

The gown is one of seven diamondcovered dresses created by British designer Debbie Wingham’s collection but with its hefty £3.5m price tag, it is her most extravagant to date.

The dress boasts 25 two carat black diamonds adorning the peplum and a further 25 two carat black diamonds on the shoulder shrug, while more diamonds frame the detachable shoulder line.

On the bustier part of the handmade dress - which is the result of six months’ work - is a centrepiece of five carats of black diamonds.

‘The rest of the embellishment is fine beading and delicate white diamonds set in white gold with a very fine chainmail detail to add more individuality, setting the embellishment on this gown apart from any other world’s most expensive gowns,’ Debbie says on her website.

The dress was launched officially at the Billionaires’ Club in Monte Carlo before going on a tour that ended at Ukraine Fashion Week.

Debbie Wingham, a self-taught designer whose mother was a seamstress, started her trading at Greenwich market at the age of 18 before opening her first boutique in Hoxton.

A year later she crossed the capital, opening a showroom on the Kings Road.

In 2005, one of her gowns was worn to the BAFTAs, prompting a renowned fashion columnist to write: ‘the best dress at this year’s BAFTAs was a dress designed by an unknown designer, but watch this space’.

Seven years on, her designs have been worn by a client list including Kate Winslet, Hilary Swank, Amy Smart, Catherine Jenkins, Rebecca Ferguson, and Dita Von Teese. Source: DailyMail.co.uk

Gowning Glory: Making of the black diamond dress

D

ress boasts 25 two carat black diamond’s adorning the peplum and a further 25 two carat black diamond’s adorning the shoulder shrug More diamonds frame the shoulder line Bustier part of the dress has a centerpiece of five carats of black diamonds Dress weighs a staggering 29lbs (13kgs) Hand-finished detail is the result of six months’ work More embellishment comes in form of fine beading and delicate white diamonds set in white gold Fine chainmail detail adds more individuality Dress joins diamond jeans and six other diamond gowns in Debbie’s design archive.

Source: Mailonline

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 33

Business

Abubakar Rimi Market, Kano

CITAD calls for streamlining of laws on fiscal responsibility From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

h e Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a nongovernmental organisation, has called for the streamlining of the composition of the councils established under the Public Procurement and Fiscal Responsibility laws of Bauchi state.

To this end, CITAD has summoned the Bauchi state government to immediately commence the processes of the review and amendment of the two laws by sending bills to the state Houses of Assembly for the amendments.

The executive director of CITAD, Malam Ya’u Zakari Ya’u at a press conference in Bauchi, also described as outrageous the 30-member composition on each of the councils established under the two laws.

Ya’u recalled that such councils established under similar laws enacted by the Federal Government were each composed of only 12 members who were mainly civil servants and technocrats unlike the inclusion of politicians as in the case of Bauchi state.

He noted that Bauchi was one of the first states in the federation to have domesticated both the Fiscal Responsibility and Public Procurement laws which would have made it to claim leadership position in that regard.

Ya’u also called on the state Houses of Assembly to initiate a speedy process for consideration of the amendment to the two laws, saying the press is paying more than casual interest in the implementation of the laws and to the general development profile of the state.

FG’s revenue to rise to N6.2 tr in 2013, says Ngama

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

h e Minister of state for Finance, Dr Yerima Lawan Ngama has disclosed Federal Government's plan to raise its revenue profile from N5.4 trillion to N6.2 trillion in the 2013 fiscal year.

Ngama gave the hint during an interactive session with joint House committee on Finance, Legislative Budget and Research, National Planning and Loans, Aids and Debt headed by Abdulmumin Jubrin on the 2012-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and 2013 Fiscal Strategic Plan.

He assured that Federal Government's plan to generate N32 trillion for provision of critical infrastructure as contained in the Vision 20:2020 in the next eight years outside the national budget, is sacrosanct.

The Minister who expressed displeasure at the high interest rate managed by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), insisted that reduction the interest rate will reduce the domestic borrowing of the Federal Government.

Ngama disclosed that the move to beef-up the Excess Crude Account to $10 billion is on course and realisable by end of 2012, adding that a board that will manage the Sovereign Wealth Fund will work with the National Assembly before disbursing the fund.

He added that the budget deficit is fixed at 2.12 percent for 2013 as against three percent in 2012 budget while domestic borrowing is to reduce from N744 billion in 2012 to N500 billion by 2015.

The Minister however emphasised the need for the country

to obtain multi-lateral loans including Islamic Bank, IDA that are zero interest rate, which are 40 years repayment period and seven years moratorium for development of infrastructure.

The lawmakers, who expressed concerns over the non-provision of verifiable indices for fixing the $75 barrel per day oil price benchmark, called for upward review of the benchmark to $85bpd in 2013 budget proposal and tie the $10bpd excess to provision of specific infrastructure.

They also called for details of money released to Christopher Kolade's Subsidy Re-investment Empowerment Programme (SUREP) committee, stressing that the release of N15 billion monthly without spelling out specific projects to be executed is unacceptable.

Some of the lawmakers had protested against lopsidedness in the specific capital projects across the country, noting that South-South got N113 billion, South-west got N66 billion, North Central got N65 billion, North West got N56 billion, South-East got N46 billion while North-East got N40 billion in this year’s capital projects.

The aggrieved lawmakers had expressed disgust over the country's over-dependence on oil revenue and non-provision of policy framework on how to embark on local refining of crude oil in the MTEF. They also frowned at the floating of Federal Government bond which has stifled the private sector from driving the economy as financial institutions solely invest in Federal Government bonds and fail to lend to the private sector.

He said government is committed to the industrial growth as part of its transformation agenda to create wealth and millions of jobs for the teeming populace.

Aganga called on the entrepreneurs to key into the sectoral reforms of President Jonathan’s Administration especially in telecommunications, power generation, infrastructure and customs to further boost the economy.

The minister said he was pleased with the theme of the fair “transforming and repositioning SMEs as growth drivers for economic development” He noted that theme was timely as it portrayed the mind of the government towards economic development.

He said the government has provided stimulant packages for economy development by

encouraging SMEs in Nigeria for increase productive capacity.

Aganga who said “government has approved the new industrial strategies such as setting up of industrial banks, micro finance etc, called on the OPS to take advantage of this to achieve economic transformation.

The National President of the Nigerian Chambers of Commerce Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Adeomla Ajayi challenged the government to enhance and develop OPS with appropriate enabling policy measures and programmes.

He urged governments at all levels to formulate policies that will effectively remove numerous constraints being faced by businesses such as the provision of infrastructural facilities and access to funds.

The President of Abuja

Chambers of Commerce Industries, Mines And Agriculture (ABBUCIMA), Solomon Nyagba said the fair holding in its permanent site for the first time offer unrivalled opportunities for business development.

Nyagba who described the fair as a hub for all participants to showcase their goods and services posited that the fair will ultimately woo more investors to Federal capital Territory (FCT) This he said will in turn create more job opportunities and further reduce the growing of unemployment and poverty in the country.

The fair according to him will also encourage business networking and exchange of ideas, and is expected to promote information sharing for manufactured products and services.

FG wants private sector to support SMEs growth

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Federal Government has called on the Organized Private Sector to support government’s efforts in the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga gave the charge yesterday while declaring open the 7th Abuja International Trade Fair.

The minister who represented by the Director of Trade in the ministry, David Adejuwon believed that SMEs was the engine room of the economy of a nation, adding that its development require joint efforts from both government and the private sector.

He said the administration is poised to pursue policies that will enhance productivity and transform Nigerian economy.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

The Entrepreneur

A couple's vision for qualitative education Hajiya Amina Salisu Ingawa is the proprietress of FAMA Islamic International School Abuja.

The school is barely one year old. Its establishment, her strong belief in the value of sound education and good moral foundation, she says, while speaking with Nasir Mu'azu Isa. What FAMA stands for FAMA is the abbreviation of her mother and mother in law's names, Fatima and Maryam.

These two women mean a lot to her, thus the initiative to symbolise their names through educational venture by Amina and her husband.

Multi-religious school The school is open to pupils of all religions. In the school, there are both Christians and Muslims.

The administrative officer, Ms. Helen is a Christian. There is equal number of Christian and Muslim staff. The school runs normal conventional school curricula in the morning, and after school, it runs Arabic classes for those pupils whose parents are interested.

It is purely conventional school, and uses both the UK and Nigerian curriculum side by side in the morning and after school respectively. So it is not strictly Islamic, as the name implies. The school has three levels; the reception, that is the sunshine class from one and a half years old, and the nursery or kindergarten level as well as the primary level.

Motive for establishing the school Her family in September last year, established the school but not for profit making. They have other businesses but this is their passion.

"We wanted to contribute and give back to the society, so my husband has been very supportive of me", she said.

It is not enough to establish a school but the standard matters.

One of the school's values is to ensure that its pupils have strong moral values, which both Christianity and Islam advocate, so as to make the children grow up as good citizens. "Why do we

have religious crises, because we have abandoned those values that our religions teach us, greet elders, love your neighbours, trust and believe in God. We also take these kids to visit orphanages and we make sure they have small gifts and toys to give other children, teaching them the value of sharing", Hajiya Amina said. The school also does mental arithmetic, which boost the brain's capacity and they love it, it requires these kids to do complex calculations with no aid and most times even when using a calculator, they give you the answer to the question before you do, and the children love it.

Pupil and staff strength The school has teachers in: English, Mathematics, Social science, computer and other subjects, regardless of the number of pupils in a class. When it opened for the first term, there were about 17 students, and before the term ended they were up to 27 students. The school boasts of high standards. With the good performance of the children, the parents tell their friends and that helps in advertising the school.

Challenges of starting a new school There are lots of challenges but with passion, nothing stops you from achieving your goal.

The biggest challenge facing the school is funding.

Most entrepreneurs face that problem.

There is need for funding support from individuals and corporate entities, without financial support from anywhere, the ideas just die away. Leaders and well to do Nigerians should support entrepreneurs. There is risk in doing business and financiers should learn to take risks. The banks are always

Pupils of FAMA at their playground

Hajiya Amina Salisu Ingawa with some of her pupils there, but most entrepreneurs are weary of the interests especially for school business which in most cases is driven by passion and not profit making.

"When setting up a school, you are required to have a budget for five years or more on ground; I did my research and visited a lot of schools to see how they were doing it. Imagine a school is spending 1.5 million every month, calculate the amount for five years and you will see that it's not small money and if you take a loan from the bank, how will you pay back with interest and also break even?" The financial aspect involved in opening a school is also a major factor that discourages entrepreneurship in this area.

Financial and child care challenges Without challenges you can't

move forward, challenges make us strong, example is the issue of feeding, parents complained about having to come back to drop lunch for their children, especially those that will stay back for Islamiyya. "We sat down and came up with a menu, but we made them understand that we can't satisfy all the needs of parents especially when it comes to feeding, everyone has a preference, eventually we came up with a menu that satisfies everyone", she added.

Assessing her contribution to education in the country "We are trying to fill in the gaps that parents, due to the exigencies of life can't fill, so we are here to ensure that our students get the full value of proper education. We want to give back and also help our nation in doing the little we can to help. There is nothing better you can give a child than proper education".

Gains of entrepreneurship The school has some support from its bank; which extends overdrafts for them to take care of immediate needs at the end of the month and before the end of the month, it generates more income which goes to the bank.

They also extend facilities for buses and other things, the generator marketers also have a discount for schools.

On government efforts in education The proprietress says government is trying its best but there is a lot of room for great improvement. "I heard that in Edo state, people are withdrawing their children from private schools and taking them back to public schools because the governor is paying attention to education and the fact that the

cost is much less, it helps", she said.

View on girl-child education in the north To this she said, "Education is the foundation for proper upbringing. We had to help and give back; my husband and I decided to help by sponsoring those that can't afford it, to pay school fees in our hometown, Ingawa. I think enough is not being done especially with the girl-child". She decried poverty as strong barrier. She expressed happiness with what is going on in Katsina state because "education is free, when I last visited, nobody was coming for school fees so I asked and I was told the state government has made everything free and now there is no excuse for not going to school", she added. The Almajiri schools have started working and are doing well as more than 70 schools are being converted for that programme. She said education funding should not be left to governments alone. Well to do Nigerians should get involved and give back to their communities.

Advice to women who want to start businesses "If you have a passion for something, harness it and make it work for you. Package your idea well and create innovations, and make it unique, do not be discouraged by the challenges you'll face because they make you only stronger. Think about it, look at what other people are doing learn from them and have focus, this is my advice to all those interested in starting a new business. You'll also be able to support your husband.

Husbands should support their wives in what they want to do too by giving them advice and encouraging them" she said.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

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Re: Sovereign wealth fund

Gov. Dankwambo and his patriotic approach to governance

W

hen Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, OON, Talban Gombe was sworn in on May 29 2012, expectations were so high, that many feared the degree of expectation would not hamper the success of his administration and stand in the way of what he stood to achieve. His calmness and approach to governance was reassuring and baffling, to say the least. It took months of careful scrutiny and vetting for him to come up with the names of his commissioners and a blueprint for Gombe State.

A year and some months down the line, Dankwambo has done excellently for a greenhorn in governance, displaying remarkable sense of judgement and proving what a shrewd mind he has. Proof of his above performance was underlined in May 2012, during the Thisday Special Report on Governance, where he was rated a 'performing governor '. True, his first go at governance has, so far, not been a perfect run but his touchdowns have been convincing and profitable to the people of his state.

Between May 2011 and April 2012, with a Federal allocation of N51.768bn, Talban Gombe has weathered the storm calmly, making conscious efforts to put the state on the path of infrastructural development, despite security challenges.

“It is in our best interest to…embark on a revolutionary change that will lead us away from oil dependency rather than drag our feet and suffer the cost of becoming growingly dependent on a diminishing resource. True words were never written.”

- Albert Marrin.

A

u g u s t 30, 2012 will remain indelible in the minds of Anambrarians as it marked the official admission of the state into the league of oil producing states. Oil production in Nigeria is what every state in Nigeria is seriously craving for hence, the search for oil all over the federating units even at the oddest places hoping for the stroke of luck. The states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia, Bayelsa, Ondo, Imo, Cross River, and Edo are all enjoying what they referred to as unsatisfactory 13% while berating the North for seeking evenness in federal allocation. The northern states who oppose the present

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Email: letters@peoplesdaily-online.com He swung into action, flagging off the construction of more than 50 roads (all stretching more than 158km), set up processes for agricultural revival in the state; set the ball rolling for improved performance from students in the state and got specialists in the education sector to aid their academic development; propelled the improvement of the economic and revenue generation within the state improving power generation within the state to complement that of the nation's grid; restructuring of the civil service and local government authorities; and the health sector, which has worn the governor lots of accolades both within and outside the state.

As part of his people-oriented service delivery, the governor compensated individuals whose shops were affected by the inferno from a truck which exploded in the

area in 2010, by paying the victims N150m. He alleviated their long overdue suffering; most of them had lost millions and other sources of livelihood. Besides distributing fertilisers to the farmers in the state, Dankwambo lightened the burden of the farmers in the state by acquiring 60 tractors and making them available for hire by the farmers. This will enhance farming operations in the local government councils and enhance their reach in state. At the last check, 200 more were settled to be imported from China. Moreso, thousand tonnes of bags of fertilisers were distributed to the farmers in the state.

To boost education and help produce more teachers, Talba okayed the establishment of the Gombe State Polytechnic. Presently, the College of Education, Biliri is under construction.

The affable governor also signed a memorandum of understanding, MoU, with the Bank of Industry to create jobs for SMEs, as well as the people of the state.

Besides that, he purchased 50 brand new transformers (200 more are on their way), and he paid the PHCN N125m to ensure that a dedicated line carries water to the people of the state daily.

The N4.5bn water reticulation project is at an advanced stage. When completed, it will connect a lot of villages and local governments.

Feasibility study regarding the construction of a hydro-electric power plant in Dadinkowa has reached advanced stages. This will help boost power generation in the state, control flooding and aid irrigation agriculture in the state.

For a man who rose through the ranks to become the Accountant General of the Federation and is experiencing his first foray into politics, for a first timer who beat all others at his party primaries to emerge the sole candidate, for a man who beat notso-green contenders at the polls to emerge governor of his state, Talba has not done badly as his critics expected. But one thing is clear - Dankwambo has the potential to thump his challengers again come 2015.

Junaidu Usman Abubakar is a special assistant on media matters, to the Gombe State governor.

Oil: Illusion to wealth creation allocation system are not relenting in their inextinguishable search for any drop of crude or natural gas in their various states.

Kwara state not long ago, came up with the news that crude has been found in their domain. News has also filtered sometime in the past that Borno state also has some oil deposits at Lake Chad basin, and Benue too claims they also have some unexplored oil deposit. The question for all Nigerians is what role does oil play in the prosperity, progress and development of a people and their environment? Does inflow of oil wealth guarantee a secured future? Villages, communities, local governments and States are searching and praying for oil discovery in their areas of authority. Nigerians and their government now eat oil, drink oil, sleep oil and wake oil, nothing makes sense to them except that which relates to oil and gas.

Early this year, I was discussing with

my friend from Rivers state and he was thanking God for endowing crude oil in their soil. “I can’t imagine the level of poverty we would have been in if not for oil” he said. He argued that their region and not north east would have been the poorest in the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria if not for oil. To know where his conviction is coming from I asked him. Why he believed poverty would have been their lot if not for oil. His response was tactlessly direct, “black men can’t create or handle wealth” he says. In him I saw that with brilliance, education and exposure, environment still holds over seventy percent of what influences our beliefs. Currently nine states are enjoying 13% proceeds from the oil exploration going on in their back yards yet poverty walks with two legs on the streets of these states.

Lagos state has no drop of oil yet, apart from infrastructure which many will argue that

federal government built, no area of life apart from agriculture can we point any state in Nigerian federating units that is faring better than them. Japan, Korea, Singapore and most other Asian Tigers are success stories without oil wealth.

Drums were rolled out and uniforms were sewn as President Jonathan librated the Anambra oil which Anambra people believed past governments had inhumanly padlocked in redundancy under the guise of “strategic reserve”.

There was unusual atmospheric gladness in the air even with the sacking of Prof.

Bath Nnaji. Oil dominated the discussions and many believed that Anambra can now reflect collective affluence as opposed to individual success which the state is known for. The mentality of people that

Contd on Page 37

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 37

Opinion Dakingari: A result-oriented leader

By Mahmud Bello

A

s the torch bearer, he has delivered on his campaign promises of purposeful, transparent and masses-oriented leadership.

Governor Saidu Dakingari has delivered on his promises ranging from education, health , transportation, infrastructural facilities to civil service reforms.

The government has been doing everything to overhaul the comatose state of schools and for the past few years and has revamped, resuscitated and rebuilt most of their dilapidated structures.

The government has takled some major hurdles in social infrastructures like pipe borne water , housing for civil servants, electricity in urban and rural areas including the provision of good motorable roads.

Courtesy of the present administration's efforts, Kebbi has the highest health dispensing units in the country coupled with a low mother/infant

By Christian Nwachukwu Jr.

O

n assumption of office, Governor T.A Orji's first priority was on tacking security challenges bedeviling the state. This, he did by putting in place necessary machinery in place to checkmate the ugly trend. Logistics and resources needed by the security agents were provided including various brands of operational vehicles.

Today, the cases of armed robbery and kidnapping are now very minimal.

Education sector was not left out. Free education was given to Abia indigenes to enable them acquire basic education to overall benefit of the state.

On the area of infrastructural development, His Excellency has done tremendously well. Over one hundred edifices, structures covering every arm of government are on going. Two world class new secretariats going on at the same time.

This is the fastest project in the history of Nigeria. The twin secretariat is nearly completed and he has initiated and gone far in the actualization of the Umuahia and Contd from Page 36 oil wealth can change the lot of people still baffles me even with what we have seen in our over fifty-four years of having oil. Before you misunderstand me, what I am trying to say is that having oil wealth is not enough ingredients for success rather good management is, and that is where we are lacking the most. Before Anambra oil discovery, there were states that had had oil wealth for decades, for example, the neighboring Delta state. Removing the pains of oil exploration activities, official and unofficial corruption from the gains of having oil, can any of them be said to be successful?

Some individuals from Anambra are already big players in the oil industry and have all beamed their commercial interests in their state’s new found wealth. Typical of Anambra, what and how this oil will translate into success story of the state is a puzzle only time will solve. The location of the oil wells and the Orient refinery used to be the battle ground for Umu-eri clans in the past and there is nothing to guarantee absolute calmness at the area except the right thing is done. Cutthroat politics has

mortality rate.

The civil service reforms is ongoing in terms of remuneration, payment of pensions, working environment, computerization, promotions, training and the uplifting of the morale of civil servants in the state.

Just recently, the government signed a contract with a German company on equity cement production at Katanga where Kebbi government has 25 percent of the total shares.

Transportation has been brought nearer to the door steps of the ordinary people as motor cycles, bicycles and other motorable incentives including buses for transportations are given to local governments, the youths and market women for easy access to and from the rural areas with good network of rural roads.

The present administration is making sure that every settlement with about 350 persons is connected to the main road or trunk road for movement of farm and agriculture produce from the local area to

the urban areas. Most of the roads have street lights while religious tolerance and harmony is the watchword of the people.

The security of lives and property is now a major concern of government as a lot of funds have been spent on the state’s security apparatchik on armoured cars, ambulances, bullet proof vests, including training and retraining of the security personnel in the state.

The political life of the state is on track while the government is daily winning members to its fold from the opposition to the PDP family due to the leadership style of carrying everybody along in its transparent and open door policy of administering the state.

The pundits are of the belief that there is a paradigm shift from the old order to a new Kebbi that is devoid of rancour, dipping of hands into the public till, favoritism to publication of financial accounts, due process regime and openness in every business of government.

Kebbi state is now in the mainsteam of politics and everybody is of the view that

Dakingari’s administration has earned the state enormous glory and name and that is why a lot of Kebbi indigenes are well represented today at the federal level.

Nevertheless,the government is aware of the numerous challenges including desert encroachment, floods and other natural disasters, it has set up a committee to look at how these challenges can be mitigated and is working with NGOs and other support groups to prevent the state from being caught unawares and as such has initiated free tree planting mechanisms , discourages de- forestation and is doing everything possible through irrigation to assist farmers by giving them improved seedlings, farming techniques and credit schemes. It takes a government with foresight and vision to overcome all these moribund infrastructures which has made Kebbi state a reference point as skill acquisition and capacity building is on going to corpers, teachers and the civil servants in the state.

Mahmud Bello is of Mungani A Kasa Initiative.

Abia and its new look Abia metropolis without borrowing a kobo to finance the project.

Ochendo has in the last few years completed the following road projects: the Obikabia road, Igwubuike Street, Ohanku road, Ukwu mango, Ole Express road by Samell, Port Harcourt road, Abia Owerri road, Tonimas Umuocham road, A-Line to F-line in Ariaria, Osisioma-Exkeakpara road, Danfodio by East, Our Lady of Lourdes

by East and Umuojima.

In Umuahia, the following roads have been completed and wearing a new look, Ikot Ekpene road, Bende road, Nkata AlikeUmuahia road, Iyienyi-Okwoyi road, the Agbama-World Bank road, OkwutaUmuafai road, Amuzukwu-Umuezagwu road amongst others. The dualization of Tower-Isieke Ubeku roads including the provision of Street Lighting are on.

Outside the metropolis, the NunyaEluama road in Isukwnato LGA, amackpuOkagwe road in Ohofia LGA, Abam-

Arochikwu road in Arochuwu LGA, the Ururuka road, the Umuahia- Ohiafiaarochukwu roads Osima/wrope roads are among the many road projects scattered all over the state The civil and public servants are among the highest and regularly paid in Nigeria.

Not minding the meager resources of the state, free education at both primary and secondary school level is on course.

Ochendo has built, equipped and staffed two hundred and ten primary health centers spread across the nooks and cranny of the state together with two diagonistic centres, one at Aba and the other at Umuahia.

In the area of housing, Ochendo has done well with Isieke Housing Estate, the Abia state Teaching Hospital Auditorum, the Amaokwe Housing Estate, the Amuba Housing Estate, the new Timber market structure located along Umuahia-

Umudike road and the Ultra Moderm building he is erecting at the Umuahia main Market which is being relocated from Isi-gate to Ubani-Ibeku in order to decongest the city Center.

State High Courts buildings are not left out, Customary Courts, Broadcasting Corporation of Abia state, Amachara General Hospital , a new Cenotaph Arcade and an Ultra Modern Auditorium and Offices at Ministry of local Government and Chieftancy Affairs as well as new structures at the commissioners quarters, Women Development Centre complex has been completed with skill acquisition workshops and several halls together with two state of the Art-Diagnostic centers Aba and Umuahia have been completed and would remain an Indelible legacy of chief T.A Orji’s administration.

Currently, an International Conference Centre and new Government House are equally ongoing.

Oil: Illusion to wealth creation been the hallmark of political activities in Anambra state since 1999 and the menace is already rearing its ugly head in the way the oil hawks are scamping for interest in Anambra oil sector. Many of whom are already accusing Gov. Peter Obi of using the leverage of office to secure his own interest without investing from his pocket. From the past, debate on whether crude oil is a blessing or a curse has remained unresolved and it still continues to the present day, leaving us to use Anambra as a case study. We know how Anambra is today and in the near future, we will see the impact of the oil wealth (whether negative or positive) in the state.

Anambra west local government where the oil is deposited is one of the most neglected local governments in Anambra state since the creation of the state in 1991. If Anambra West local government will be turned into the goose that lays the golden egg like other oil producing communities in Nigeria or be transformed by oil wealth like “Texasian” and Californian oil producing communities

is left to be seen. Former governor Ngige, in his recent interview reiterated the need to explore huge hydro carbon which Ugwuagba in particular and Anambra in general have been sitting on. All of them are looking at the gains of oil exploration and forgetting the pains that go with it and none of these oil hawks is canvassing ways to mitigate the pains that might come with it.

I doubt if most of them have been to oil producing communities in the Niger Delta and seen oil exploration havoc with their two eyes.

I personally consider any project planned without considering its possible counter effect as highly gratuitous. There maybe plans in that regard but to the best of my knowledge and I have followed Anambra oil discovery with keen interest but I have not come across any articulated plan towards that. Every focus is on the gains and not on how to reduce the environmental hazard it might cost Aguleri-Otu people in particular and Anambra people in general. If the right thing is not done, Anambra West local

government will be another poignant reminder of how Niger Delta communities started. Personal interests as usual in some capitalist environment appear to have relegated community and environmental well being concerns to dustbin.

“A man always has two reasons for doing anything, a good reason and the real reason – J. P. Morgan. Governor Peter Obi has shown enough good reasons for striving to build on the efforts of his predecessors with regard to exploring Anambra’s crude but with ultimate finality, the real reason will be known when the stakes in Orient will be made public. With the springing back to life of Harbour industrial layout and Onitsha river port, one can conveniently say that Anambra is waking up. It is good that finally Anambra is now preparing to take advantage of its environment and location but it is bad that personal interest of stakeholders is killing it when it has barely started.

Obi Ebuka Onochie mac_godson@yahoo.com

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Feature

How children rendered deaf after meningitis regained hearing in Katsina From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

T

o the families of Zainab Muktar and Muhammad Nura, they would forever remain grateful to all those who contributed in assisting their children regain their hearing after they suffered from meningitis which rendered them deaf for about one year.

The two children, of different parents, were born with their hearing faculty until they lost it after meningitis induced fever.

The parents of the children were all smiles when their children returned from India after undergoing ear surgery, implant and installation of hearing device. The parents of the two children, Malam Muktar and Malam Nura have a common story to tell on the plight of their children, who went through the harrowing experience of deafness.

In their accounts, related to Peoples Daily Weekend, they said their traumatic journey begun when the children had high fever as a result of cerebral spinal meningitis.

Narrating their separate but similar experiences to Our Correspondent in Katsina, the parents of the two children noted

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

F

o r Mrs. Abagail John, a widow and mother of two, of No. 3 Boniface Okoli Street, Makurdi, Benue State, last week Thursday, the 20th of September will remain a dark day for her and her children as their nightmarish experience deepens even after her husband was gruesomely killed by suspected cultists.

On this day, persons suspected to be cultists hacked down the jewel of the family, her husband and father of children late Simon John, an indigene of Vandeikya local government area, of Benue state.

Late Simon, 27 old, before his death was a commercial motorcyclist( popularly known as ‘Okadaman’) he was said to be a quiet man who could not even hurt a fly, hence his death has continued to remain a big mystery not only to the family he left behind but to neighbours who knew him.

Abagail and Late Simon’s marriage was blessed with two lovely girls, Rejoice and Faith whose future is now uncertain with the brutal sudden demise of their father at his prime.

Narrating the incident amidst uncontrollable tears, Abagail said the alleged cult members who numbered over 30 laid ambush on her late husband, where they murdered and dumped his corpse in a neighbour’s compound.

“He had just returned from his okada job at about 8pm and went out to buy something. Unknown to him that these guys were watching

that it was after the fever and the eventual treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina that they noticed that their children were not responding to sounds.

Malam Muktar, the father of Zainab disclosed that his daughter took ill when she was just seven years old and therefore, for the last one year he had been battling to save her hearing senses. He added that Federal Medical Centre, Katsina.

Muhammad's father also said he spent some amount out of his meagre income to save his first child from deafness.

However, help came their way when an Indian foundation with interest in hearing repairs visited the Katsina Federal Medical Centre to conduct surgery on affected victims. The foundation in collaboration with ENT department of the centre conducted operations free of charge for those with hearing lose. Zainab and Muhammad were lucky to be among those who benefited from the exercise.

Presenting the two children after their return from India, the medical director, Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Dr. Abdulmajid Umar Faruq noted that after

undergoing surgery in Nigeria, the next step was the implant and the installation of the hearing aid device which he said is not done in Nigeria. He noted that to be able to make the two children hear and speak they had to be taken to India for the rehabilitation process.

The medical director said seeking medication in India is not an easy task as it requires huge financial commitment.

According to him, the sum of N5 m was required for the implant and N2m for installation of hearing device excluding travelling expenses and feeding allowances. He added that these fortunate children received the support of Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, Katsina Emirate council, the Wazirin Katsina, Dr. Sani Abubakar Lugga and from friends of the hospital.

However, the medical director has a message of hope for those with hearing disability as according to him 'when the Indians came they discovered that we had 100 per cent of the facilities required for ear surgery.

Our only set back is that we need implant facilities and hearing aid device'. Dr. Faruq said with all the facilities on ground the operation can be conducted at

Muhammad nura and Zainab Muktar the cost of N2 million, adding that at the medical centre they conduct the operations at the cost of N50, 000.

Dr. Faruq disclosed that the medical centre is technically equipped and currently has two ENT surgeons while a nurse has been sent to London to acquire training and expertise on speech therapy and patient rehabilitation. He stated that apart from the Katsina Medical

Centre there were other ENT centres that specialize in the operations.

The high point of the presentation was when the two children who have been deaf and dumb for almost a year, were asked to speak and answer questions from the audience.

People were amazed when they greeted the gathering in Hausa and also entertained questions from newsmen.

Cultism: We sleep with our eyes open in Benue, says victim’s family out for him. I had also gone out to buy some food items and on return, I heard screams and cries coming from my compound. I got home to see the lifeless body of my husband on the ground”.

“My husband was a very quiet person who did not make trouble with anybody. Whenever he returned from work, he remained at home until it was time for him to go for vigilante work from where he closes at 2am. He did not keep bad companies so who could have done this to me”, Abagail expressed in-between sobs.

Corroborating the widow’s account, a neighbor and retired civil servant Martins Onah, who came around to sympathize with

late John’s family, who only three years ago lost his father, recalled how the alleged cult boys have for a long time been terrorizing the area.

“We live in fear here because these boys terrorize us on a daily basis.

I was almost a victim twice but for divine intervention I escaped. We sleep with our eyes open because they could strike any time. They even go to the extent of laying ambush on young girls and raping them. They use dangerous weapons like axe, cutlasses and guns”, he expressed.

The retired civil servant lamented the lackadaisical attitude of the Police in handling these alleged nefarious elements, accusing the police of colluding with them.

“You could imagine where they get sophisticated arms from. I think the police aid them in this act. And why do they always turn a blind eye to their activities? Proactive steps should be taken by government to nip the activities of cult groups in the bud. And these boys live amongst us”, Onah explained.

Blaming the high rate of criminality and other social vices in the society on poor parenting, he said most parents these days do not bother about the type of life their children lead.

Late Simon John

Mother of Simon John

Wife of the deceased with her two kids.

Cult activities in Benue State has assumed a frightening dimension as rival cult groups even engage in gun duel in broad day light.

Bodies of slain warring rival cult group members are usually seen dumped in areas like the rail crossing, drainage systems and in the bushes for days before they are identified.

It would be recalled that earlier this year, the Benue Police embarked on raid of areas like Wadata, Angwa Jukun, Akpehe which are suspected to be hideouts for the cult groups.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Insight When Nigerian Vice Chancellors met in Keffi over national security, education

T

h e theme of the 27th annual conference of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities(AVCNU),"National Security and Education in Nigeria", was indeed timely, considering the prevailing security challenges confronting the country.

The conference, which was attended by no less than 124 universities from across the country, held at the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), which will be attaining its tenth year of existence this year and was expected to serve as a forum where the egg heads would brainstorm on issues of national security as it relates to the academia, as well as proffer workable panacea to the plethora of security challenges bedevilling the country.

As was to be expected at a gathering of men of such uncommon intellect, jaw breaking vocabulary and high sounding words, which may inadvertently confuse the layman, flowed freely, with the keynote address delivered by no less a person than the pioneer director of the United Nations African Institute for the prevention of Crime (UNAFRI), Kampala, Uganda, Professor Femi Odekunle, engaged in a tireless, in depth academic foray, whose import may yet have been lost, to especially the politicians that graced the occasion.

Indeed the opening ceremony of the conference, which held at the convocation grounds of the NSUK, was attended by several notable dignitaries, with the senate president, Senator David Mark, in attendance, as well as the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i. Governor of Nasarawa state, Umaru Tanko Al-makura, founder of the university and former governor of the state, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, members of the national and state assemblies, traditional rulers and a host of others were also present.

In a welcome address, Vice Chancellor of NSUK, Professor Shamsudeen Amali, while expressing gratitude, on behalf of the students and the entire university community, to all that honoured the invitation to grace the conference, described the theme of the event as "very relevant to the nation", stressing that "justice would be done to the theme by vice chancellors, experts on security and other participant."

The Senate President, represented by Sen. Ahmed Lawan, chairman, senate committee on Public Accounts, observed that the organisers of the event had done so well by bringing up the issue of national development, which he said was an issue that needed to be addressed, urging the participants to proffer solutions to the mounting security challenges.

On her part, the Minister of Education, represented at the event by Dr. Elisha Kutura, director of higher education, in a goodwill message, said she was optimistic the participants will come up with well thought out recommendations that will aid the nation in resolutely addressing the scourge that "has so much militated against the progress of our transformation agenda."

Prof. Ruqayyatu then went ahead to challenge the vice chancellors, as leaders of the nation's academic institutions, where the character and intellect of future leaders are moulded, to lead the society in search for enduring peace and equitable sustainable coexistence.

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura,

The 27th annual conference of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), was held recently at the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), with 124 universities in attendance. Participants at the conference deliberated on issues bordering on national security and education. Ali Abare Abubakar, our Nasarawa state correspondent, attended the opening ceremony and reports for Peoples Daily Weekend.

Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i

Executive Sec. NUC, Professor Julius Okojie

in his address, observed that one of the cardinal responsibilities of the academia is to research into societal challenges and proffer possible solutions to them, noting that it is heart-warming that insecurity, which he said, constitutes a bane of the Nigerian society, has attracted the attention of the ivory tower.

While commending the initiative of the organisers of the conference, Al-makura reasoned that without peace and security, no meaningful development can take place, decrying the rising crime and criminality, which he said, have led to the proliferation of arms and ammunition "which are freely used by unpatriotic elements who are bent on destabilizing our nation."

Describing the cumulative consequences of these maladies, he stated that the unfortunate situation has so far visited economic hardship on innocent citizens and the mortgaging of the educational prospects of the younger generation.

Al-makura then challenged the Vice Chancellors, as managers of the university system, to ensure prudent management of the meagre resources at their disposal, stressing that there is the need to also ensure transparency and accountability in the administration of universities.

The high point of the opening ceremony was the keynote address presented as earlier mentioned by Prof.

Femi Odekunle, professor of criminology, presently at the faculty of social sciences, University of Abuja.

In an 18- page lecture presentation titled, "national security and education in Nigeria: an overview", Prof. Odekunle, while observing that in addition to largely unattended existence of what he termed "chronic crime problem" in the country, noted that there is now the acute situation of violence unleashed by Boko Haram on

many parts of the north, deadly ethnic/ communal clashes in the central region, and complements of armed robberies, kidnappings, assassinations, ritual killings, etc across most of the geo-political zones.

While conceptualising national security to mean "the actual or potential freedom and safely from physical/ military, political, economic, sociocultural; or psychological danger or attack", stressing that security is the protection or defense of people against all kinds of victimisation from external/ military attack, economic want, poverty, illiteracy, disease, political exclusion, social exploitation, criminality, etc, he however stated that it is a misconception to see security mainly in terms of state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In analysing the security situation in the country, the security expert opined that Nigeria's internal or domestic security situation has been critical and remains critical, with the greatest indication of the dire situation exemplified by the existence of what he said is referred in criminology as a "crime problem", when in" terms of incidence/prevalence, seriousness/quality, and recalcitrance to prevention and control, crime passes from the normal or tolerable level to the pathological and becomes a social problem."

He further posited that crime/ insecurity continues to be on the increase, both in terms of volume and seriousness, the amount and quality of protection the police offers the citizens as a whole and the degree of confidence and cooperation it enjoys from the average citizen continue to be far less than optimum; courts still delay and therefore, deny justice in the majority of cases as the police officers are usually "still investigating" and the poorly paid prosecuting state counsels or police

officers are usually asking for adjournments; and court sentences for convicts appear to have no corrective effect in most cases as the prisons regularly receive back a third of those they allegedly corrected.

In accounting for the state of insecurity across the country, Prof. Odekunle was of the view that most security challenges are actually developmental challenges, noting that even though there is no doubt that the country is abundantly resourced and has progressively witnessed phenomenal growth over the years, there is also no doubt that there has been a patent increase in the manifestation of the absence of rural development.

On the political level, according to him, the concept of democracy has become, in practice, "government of the greedy, by the greedy, for the greedy", and governance has become oligarchic and corruption ridden, with the election process becoming tainted with observable manipulations and in some cases, heartrending violence with able-bodied youths employed as thugs.

Prof. Odekunle further observed that it is not an error that Nigerians are now suffering the lack of meaningful development; that it is not an error that poverty and youth unemployment abound in a rich economy, that also, it is not an error the country suffers serious infrastructural deficits (e.g power, water, roads, etc); it is not an error that Nigeria is burdened with persistent corruption, explaining that all these are happening "because mere errors are random but beyond a persistent and systematic error, there must be a cause other than error."

On the role of the academia in achieving optimal national security, the university don, describe the academia as the "brain box" of the nation, which is expected to rise to the occasion in case of any national emergency, as is the case with the heightened level of insecurity in the country.

In that respect, he outlined several recommendations, which he had earlier presented before an appropriate technical committee of the Vision 20: 2020, for a viable and enduring security enhancing structure system.

Among these recommendations include; planning for security should be formulated in the context of socio-economic development planning and implementation; the leadership of the country should endeavour to ensure political stability and the economic and social security of the generality of the citizens in order to counter potential exploration of such divisive socio-economic and political cleavages for subversion of optimum security.

He also recommended for the adequate funding of intelligence agencies and for their collaboration in sharing information routinely and promptly.

So, as egg heads from across the country converged in Keffi to contemplate issues relating to national security and education, it is to be expected that at the end of their deliberations, they would proffer practical, workable solutions to the myriad of security challenges afflicting the nation.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 42

Radwanska face Petrova in Tokyo final D

efending champion Agnieszka Radwanska remains on course to retain her Pan Pacific Open title after a semi-final win over Angelique Kerber in Tokyo.

The Pole, seeded third, thrashed the German fifth seed 6-1 6-1 and will next meet surprise finalist Nadia Petrova.

Russia’s 17th seed had an impressive 6-4 6-2 win over eighth seed Sam Stosur.

“Even if it was 6-1 6-1, I had to run a lot to win that match” Nine of the world’s top 10 women began the week in Tokyo, but the tournament lost top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova on Thursday.

World number one Azarenka withdrew before her quarterfinal against Kerber citing fatigue, while Sharapova was beaten for only the second time in 12 meetings with Stosur.

The Australian could not capitalise on that win, however, committing a string of unforced errors as Petrova closed out their semi-final in one hour and 47 minutes.

Radwanska was in superb form against Kerber, racing past the German in just 59 minutes.

“The games were long so I started to try something different, mixing my game up.

It worked. I’m just happy I could play my best tennis.”

Petrova

P

aul McCloskey is being linked with a possible rematch with Amir Khan following contacts between the respective fighters’ managements.

Then WBA light-welterweight champion Khan beat McCloskey on a point’s stoppage win in April of last year.

A clash of heads in the sixth resulted in a cut above McCloskey’s eye and after consultation with the ringside doctor the referee stopped the fight.

All three judges scored the scrappy fight 60-54 in Khan’s favour although McCloskey’s management claimed that the bout should not have been stopped.

McCloskey edged out Breidis Prescott in a tight points verdict in his next bout four months later but then suffered a surprise stoppage by veteran American DeMarcuis Corley in May. However, McCloskey defeated the WBA’s eighth-ranked Manuel Perez in Belfast last weekend and is hoping that win will get him back into the world title picture.

J

avelin record-holder Goldie Sayers is set to resume full training in the New Year after a positive prognosis following elbow surgery.

The 30-year-old failed to qualify for the Olympics final in London after tearing a ligament in her elbow.

Sayers broke the British record with a throw of 66.17 metres at the London Grand Prix meeting in July.

However, she suffered the injury as she made her fourth throw and it effectively ended her chances of an Olympic medal.

She still attempted to qualify for the Games final but went out after three no throws and then had to watch a competition in which she would have won a silver medal had she been fit to compete and able to repeat her Grand Prix throw.

Sayers intends to compete at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, but having had various injury problems during her career, she describes it as a “tentative plan” and is taking nothing for granted.

The second thing is if I want to invest in the next four years, then taking the next couple of months very easy is incredibly important at this stage of my career.

Hatton set to fight Senchenko in Manchester

Agnieszka Radwanska

Khan set for McCloskey rematch

Goldie resumes training after positive surgery

World T20 cricket: Pakistan edge out South Africa

3

2 off 17 balls as Pakistan fought back to sneak a twowicket victory over South Africa in the Super Eights of the World Twenty20.

When he came to the wicket, Pakistan appeared doomed with 58 runs needed off 33 balls and three wickets in hand.

But Gul’s cameo catapulted them back into the game and although he was out with one over left, Saeed Ajmal hit the winning runs with two balls to spare.

Pakistan’s spinners had limited South Africa to 133-6 on a turning track.

It was a total which Pakistan would have expected to chase down with ease following dominant batting displays in their two group games.

The next over, delivered by Albie Morkel, cost 20 runs, as Umar Akmal smacked the first ball for four before Gul plundered 12 off the last three.

Dale Steyn gave South

Africa hope with a tight penultimate over, conceding only six runs and having Gul caught on the rope off the last ball to leave Pakistan needing nine to win from the last over.

Earlier, South Africa, comprehensive winners over Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in the group stage, faltered from the start against Pakistan’s rich and varied attack.

Umar Gul blasted 32 off 17 balls as Pakistan fought back to sneak a two-wicket victory over South Africa in the Super Eights of the World Twenty20.

R

icky Hatton will come out of retirement with a fight against former WBA champion Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester on 24 November.

The Mancunian, 33, has not fought since his brutal IBO lightwelterweight world title defeat

by Manny Pacquiao in 2009.

In 33 pro fights spread over a 10-year career, Ukraine’s Senchenko, 35, has only been beaten once - a ninth-round stoppage by Paulie Malignaggi in April.

Senchenko has only fought outside Ukraine or Russia once, when he beat Vincenzo Finzi in Monaco six years ago.

It will be Hatton’s first bout since his second-round stoppage against Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

That was only the second defeat of his 47-fight career; the first coming at welterweight against Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2007.

Hatton was IBF and WBA world champion at light welterweight and also held the latter governing body’s title at welterweight.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

PAGE 45

SQUASH

Developing mental agility

By Augustine Aminu with reports from Wikipedia

S

quash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players (or in doubles 4 players on court at a time) in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball. For its fast pace and requirement of mental agility, it has been described as “jetpropelled chess”.

The game was formerly called squash racquets, a reference to the “squashable” soft ball used in the game (compared with the fatter ball used in its parent game racquets or rackets.

HISTORY It is stated that “Squash, with its element of hitting balls against walls, was for entertainment. For example, boys slapped their balls in narrow alleys and streets”. Religious institutions in France, such as monasteries, developed a similar game. Monks used gloves that were webbed to hit balls against a fishing net strung across the middle of the courtyards of the monasteries. This developed the early “racquets” used in tennis and squash. Then in late fifteenth century, tennis was developed and spread to other

European nations. The next major development of squash took place in England where the game of rackets was developed in Fleet Prison, a debtor’s prison. Similar to tennis, it involved racquets and balls, but instead of hitting over a net as in tennis, players hit a nonsqueezable ball against walls. A variation of rackets that also led to the formation of squash was called fives, similar to handball. Fives was essentially the game of racquets,

without racquets. (The ball was hit with the hand.) It is played against a wall or walls.

Old and new style squash racquets Squash was developed at Harrow School in England. The first courts built at this school were rather dangerous because they were near water pipes, buttresses, chimneys, and ledges. The school soon built four outside courts.

Natural rubber was the material of

choice for the ball. Students modified their racquets to have a smaller reach to play in these cramped conditions. The racquets have changed in much the same way as those used in tennis. Squash rackets used to be made out of laminated timber. In the 1980s, construction shifted to lighter, carbon-based materials (such as graphite) with small additions of such components as Kevlar, boron and titanium. Natural “gut” strings were replaced with synthetic strings.

Basic rules The squash court is a playing surface surrounded by four walls.

The court surface contains a front line separating the front and back of the court and a half court line, separating the left and right hand sides of the back portion of the court, creating three ‘boxes’ - the front half, the back left quarter and the back right quarter. Both the back two boxes contain smaller service boxes. All of the floormarkings on a squash court are only relevant during serves.

There are four walls to a squash court. The front wall, on which three parallel lines are marked, has the

largest playing surface, whilst the back wall, which typically contains the entrance to the court, has the smallest. The out line runs along the top of the front wall, descending along the side walls to the back wall.

There are no other markings on the side or back walls. Shots struck above or on the out line, on any wall, are out. The bottom line of the front wall marks the top of the ‘tin’, a half metre-high metal area which if struck means that the ball is out. In this way the tin can be seen as analogous to the net in other racquet sports such as tennis. The middle line of the front wall is the service line and is only relevant during serves.

Service Just before the match, the players spin a racket (usually up or down of logo) to decide who serves first. This player starts the first rally by electing to serve from either the left or right service box. For a legal serve, one of the server’s feet must be touching the service box, not touching any part of the service box lines, as the player strikes the ball.

After being struck by the racket, the ball must strike the front wall above the service line and below the outline and land in the opposite back quarter court. The receiving player can choose to volley a serve after it has hit the front wall. If the server wins the point, the two players switch sides for the following point.

Play After the serve, the players take turns hitting the ball against the front wall, above the in and below the out line. The ball may strike the side or back walls at any time, as long as it hits below the out line. It must not hit the floor after hitting the racket and before hitting the front wall. A ball landing on either the out line or the line along the top of the tin is considered to be out. After the ball hits the front wall, it is allowed to bounce once on the floor (and any number of times against the side or back walls) before a player must return it. Players may move anywhere around the court but accidental or deliberate obstruction of the other player’s movements is forbidden. Players typically return to the center of the court after making a shot.

Scoring systems Squash scoring systems have evolved over time. The original scoring system is known as English scoring, also called hand-out scoring. Under this system, if the server wins a rally, they receive a point, while if the returner wins the rally, only the service changes (i.e., the ball goes “hand-out”) and no point is given. The first player to reach 9 points wins the game.

However, if the score reaches 8-8, the player who was first to reach 8 decides whether the game will be played to 9, as before (called “set one”), or to 10 (called “set two”). At one time this scoring system was preferred in Britain, and also among countries with traditional British ties, such as Australia, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa and India.

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

City Life

With Stanley Onyekwere 08138559513

Angwan Baba: Abandoned settlement of Nasarawa L i f e in Angwan Baba, a small settlement area near New Nyanya, in Karu local government area of Narasarawa state, can best be described as survival of the fittest. Heads sway ultimately as its common features paint the picture of a primordial society; no thanks to serious lack of basic facilities like electricity, water, access road, health care and security. Located just few meters away from Karu local government Secretariat, the look of the deplorable entry or access points in a few words, tells anyone who cares to dare the place, what to expect.

Historically, the place derived its name from one Agubi Baba, 80 years old famer who first settled in the place with his family in 2004, from Plateau State. It is one out of the many yields of Abuja population overlap and causality of demolition exercise carried out in the FCT. With an estimated population of about 200,000 residents, the place appears seemingly abandoned and rejected by the ruling glass, thereby depriving it of features of modernity.

Upon getting to the place, one is left to wonder at the glaring non -existence of development which most modern societies are accustomed to in this lonely settlement, giving its proximity to Abuja city. This has remained a mystery over time.

With no tarred roads and diverse unorganized structures, the area can be best described as battle fields and refuge places for both visitors and inhabitants, who come in contact with the place almost on a daily basis.

In this lonely city, for water supply, many rely on nature's assistance through rain water; it is therefore a common sight to see containers littering frontage of houses, used to

CITY BRIEF: Abuja taxi driver wins SEC’s N2.5 m integrity award

Mr. Imeh Usuah, a taxi driver, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International, Abuja, recently emerged the winner of the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) maiden Integrity Award.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Usuah was awarded a plaque and N2.5 million for his honesty.

Usua, accompanied by his wife Mercy was celebrated by the capital market community for returning N18 million forgotten in his taxi cab in 2007 by a customer.

Usuah a former workshop foreman with Julius Berger Plc had earlier been acknowledged and commended by four different groups in the country.

In his response, Usuah, a native of Ubokudom in Akwa Ibom, commended the commission for the gesture and devoted the award to the unsung honest and committed Nigerians across the country.”

Court jails 4 guards for stealing plastic chairs

collect rain falling from the sky.

But things can get worse in the dry season as only a significant number of boreholes powered by generators provide water to its teeming residents as other sources are no longer dependable at this period of the year.

There is also boom in the activities of water vendors popularly known as Mai Ruwa, in the area for those who can afford to pay for their services as there is high demand for it.

With acute scarcity of this essential commodity to mankind's survival, the quality of life in this area can only be imagined.

Also, the absence of police post or patrol team assigned to the area clearly depicts the feature of disorderliness

associated with primordial societies, thus, unscrupulous elements in the community and other neighboring settlements are having a free day. This feature tends to make life difficult for residents since from time to time they unleash terror on innocent inhabitants without fear of arrest.

The result is the noticeable rising prevalence of social vices like bag snatching, gangster formation etc. by the marginal 'strong ones' against the majority 'weak ones' in the area.

Although people are not oblivious of what the dangers of these extremely difficult and hardship ridden area pose for inhabitants, yet the place continues to record high influx of people settling there for one reason or the other.

At night, darkness envelops Angwan Baba, due to the absence of electricity, except for the rays of bulb lights from generators in few homes, to brighten some parts of the settlement. With the attendant unpleasant sounds from this energy source, giving the impression of awkward animal sound in a jungle or a typical primordial village setting.

Interestingly during the day, most people leave the 'jungle' for other orderly societies in search of their daily bread; only to return to the harsh realities of Angwan Baba.

As a way of relaxing, most residents rely heavily on generating sets to power their electronics and home appliances to make life a little bit meaningful in the 'jungle'.

Four security guards have been sentenced to one year imprisonment for stealing chairs valued at N500, 000 by an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, ASP Paul Etusi, had told the court during trial that Dauda Ganiyu (29), Owolabo Olanlokun, (42), Adewole Adekanmi (33) and Adamu Umoru (37), committed the offence on April 24, 2012.

According to him, one Adebayo Ayoade, who allegedly bought the stolen chairs, was discharged and acquitted on the ground that he was not aware that the chairs were stolen.

Etusi said the convicts conspired to steal the chairs at about 6 .00 a.m. at OK Events Centre, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.

The prosecutor, who said the convicts stole 299 plastic and 129 banquet chairs valued at N 500,000, added that the offence was punishable under sections 516, 390 (6) and 427 of the Criminal Code of Ogun, 2006.

The defence counsel, Mr Bamidele Yusuf, had urged the court to temper justice with mercy while sentencing the convicts who had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of conspiracy and theft.

Chief Magistrate Ayoadele Ayobolu, however, sentenced each of them to one year imprisonment with an option of N10, 000 fine. (NAN)

CITY QUOTE

Got interesting stories about life or happenings in your neighbourhood? Contact CityLife, and let others read about them. Send suggestions/comments with your names and phone numbers via mycitybeat2pml@gmail.com.

“The city as a center where, any day in any year, there may be a fresh encounter with a new talent, a keen The catalogue of orms mind or a gifted specialist-this is is endless: until everyTo essential to the life of a country. play this role in our lives a city must shape found have a soul-ahas university, a greatits art or music school, a cathedral a great city, new citiesorwill mosque or temple, a great laboratory to as bewell born. orcontinue scientific center, as the libraries and museums and When the forms galleries that bring past and present together.

Acity must be avariety place where exhaust their groups of women and men are and come apart, the seeking and developing the highest things they know.”

—Margaret Mead

From the Pulpit PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 29— SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

Why the word of God should be important to you

G

r e a t servant of God, Dwight L. Moody said, "The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives" That is absolutely true.

In this message, I want to share with you reasons the Word of God should be important to you. These are powerful truths you shouldn't joke with.

-It is your power for salvation.

(Rom 10:13-15, Ps119:41) No man can be saved without receiving the Word of God either by hearing or reading it.

The Word is able to save a sinner and make him a child of God. Why don't you invite Jesus into your heart now if you're not born again? Tell Jesus you are a sinner, confess him as your Saviour and Lord, hand over your life to him and invite him into your heart now. If you've done that sincerely, I congratulate you. The next step for you is to join a Bible-believing, Bibleteaching church in your area where you'll be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. Meet the pastor, tell him you've just given your life to Jesus, and he'll take you through the church's programme for new converts.

-It is your power for reconciliation.

(2 Cor 5:19) The only means by which the world can be reconciled back to God is by preaching the Word of God to sinners. If you are born again, it is your duty to see that others are saved just as you have been saved. What are you doing about that? He that wins souls is wise. (Pro 11:30) -It is your nourishment for growth.

(1Peter 2:2) The Word of God is milk for new born babies and meat as well Hebrews 11:3 aith is necessary, essential and indispensable to life – eternal life, abundant life, happy, healthy and holy life, fruitful and fulfilled life.

Faith – true, vibrant, dynamic, positively productive faith – must be in the true and living God. Faith in dead gods and deceptive, impotent men is disappointing and damning. Faith in self is deluding and destructive. Faith in man-made system and Satan’s falsehood is dangerous and deadly. God, the true God, the living God, the eternal God, the mighty and powerful God, the faithful God, the unchanging and infallible God, the loving and caring God must be the object, foundation and focus of our faith. This is the only true God, who “framed,” formed, made, created “the worlds” by His Word. The “things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Man has to use material things, which already exist to make or manufacture new products.

God created all things out of nothing.

He is God of all power, of infinite ability.

God is who He is, whether we know Him or not. God can do all things; will do what He can do, whether we know it or not. A father is who he is and can do whatever he can do, whether his child knows it or not. Knowing what the father can do, who he is and what he is willing to do gives the child trust, confidence and peace of mind. Knowing who God is, what His power and authority can accomplish, what He has done and promised to do, how faithful, loving and caring He is grants His child trust, confidence and faith. We have full assurance, firm confidence, unshakeable persuasion that our God will do all He said He will do. Faith permits its possessor to rejoice in firm assurance while waiting for the

F

as strong meat for mature believers. (1 Cor 3:2, Heb 5:12-14) Without physical food, a human being will not grow normally. Without the Word of God, a child of God cannot grow spiritually.

Because many Christians are not taking balanced diet of the Word of God they are suffering from spiritual kwashiorkor! Feed on the Word of God regularly - not on favourite scriptures but on the entire Word.

-It is your access to the life of God. (1John 1:1-2, Phil 2:16, John 10:10, Ps119:50) The Word of God will give you life; it will revive you and refresh you.

-It is your protection against sin.

The Word of God will keep you away from sin when you study it, meditate on it day and night, keep it in your heart and allow it to control both your thoughts and your actions. "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." (Ps 119:11 NLT) Exposing your mind to the Word of God regularly and continuously brings about a renewal of your mind which results in your transformation.

Then you won't be configured or conformed to the present age full of sin.

The Word of God is the antidote to sin.

(Heb 12:2) -It is your pathway to faith. (Rom 10:8,17) Faith comes by the continuous hearing of the Word of God not by any other means. The more of the Word of God you hear, the more the faith you access. And without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Heb 11:6) Without faith, there is very little you can accomplish in life as a child of God, so don't cheat yourself by despising the

Word of God. -It is your creative power. (Heb 11:1, Gen 1:1, John 1:1) When you put the Word of God in your mouth and you keep confessing it, the Word will create for you what you are speaking. God framed the worlds by the Word of His mouth. By the Word of God in your mouth, you can frame your own world to become what you desire according to God's plan for your life. Stop speaking negative words; stop engaging in evil speaking - words that God has not said - and you will see great changes in your life.

-It is your key to good success. (Josh 1:8) Regular meditation on the Word of God and consistent confession day and night plus obedience will give you good success in life. You cannot fail when you do this. You may get success through other means but good success comes ONLY through the Word of God. -It is your light for illumination and direction. (Ps 119:105, 133) The word of God will illuminate your path and give you direction in life. With the Word of God, you cannot miss your way. His Word brings light and direction.

-It is your medicine for healing and weapon of deliverance. (Ps 107:20)There is healing and deliverance in the Word of God. Do you need healing or deliverance? Get the scriptures that promise you these and begin to confess them regularly, and your healing and deliverance will manifest soon. But make sure you don't give up even if it looks as if nothing is happening. Walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).

-It is your weapon of victory. (Rev

PAGE 47

GREEN PASTURES

By Pastor T.O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 12:11) The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17). By the Word, you will overcome every enemy and opposition. Don't joke with the Word.

Why should you play with the weapon that will guarantee your victory?

-It is your infallible prophecy. (2 Peter 1:19) It is sure-fire. None of the Word of God shall go unfulfilled. It shall come to pass. Don't trivialize prophecy.

The Bible says not to despise prophesying (1 Thess 5:20). Value your infallible prophecy for it shall come to pass.

-It is your unfailing promise. There are exceeding great and precious promises in the Bible. You need to study the Bible and appropriate them into your life. (2 Peter 1:4) His word to Sarah was a word of promise and the Lord fulfilled it; she gave birth to Isaac, the child of promise as God had said (Rom 9:9). "God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent. Has he said, and shall he not do it? Or has he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Num 23:19) It is impossible for God to lie (Heb 6:18). God cannot lie; He will do as He has promised (Titus 1:4).

-It is your realizable hope. (Ps 119:81, 114, 140) The Word of God gives you hope that is realizable because the

Author (God) has no limitation. He has the power, the credibility, the integrity and the resources to do what He has promised you. Therefore your hope is not a misplaced hope. Let your hope not be in mere human philosophy which leads to frustration because it only gives false expectation; it cannot deliver.

-It is your water of cleansing. (Eph 5:25) The Word of God has the power to clean up your life no matter how dirty your life has been. As you are exposed to the truth of the Word of God regularly, you are being cleansed. The mirror of the Word of God allows you to see what is wrong in your life and gives you the divine enablement to make amends. (James 1:23-25) But your obedience is required.

-Having read this message, God expects you to cultivate and develop a positive attitude to His Word.

Reverence God's Word, listen to it, study it, meditate on it, confess it and above all obey it. Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer or reader alone deluding yourself. The blessing is to the doer and not the hearer or reader (James 1:23). If you're willing and obedient, you shall eat the good (best) of the land (Is 1:19). This shall be portion in Jesus' name.

Faith in God’s spoken word accomplishment of the promise given

by God. Knowing who God is, the believer is “fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He is able also to perform” (Romans 4:21).

1. THE POWER OF GOD’S SPOKEN WORD Hebrews 11:3; Genesis 1:1-31; Psalms 33:6-11; 148:5,6; Isaiah 42:5; 55:8-11; Jeremiah 32:17,26,27; Ezekiel 12:25,28; Matthew 22:29; Luke 1:34-37; Romans 4:17; Revelation 4:11.

How mighty and powerful is our God! “The worlds were framed by the word of God.” The whole universe was created by God out of nothing. The ability to create belongs to God alone.

The vastness of the created universe indicates that God’s power is infinite, without limits. Consider the vastness of our universe. If you could somehow put 1-2 million earths inside the sun, you would still have room left for 4.3 million moons. The sun is 865,000 miles in diameter and is 93 million miles from the earth. Our next nearest star, Alpha Centauri, is 5 times larger than our sun.

The moon is 211,463 miles away, and you could walk to it in 27 years. A ray of light travels at 186,000 miles per second; so a beam of light would reach the moon in only 1½ seconds. If we could travel at that speed, it would take 2 minutes, 18 seconds to reach Venus, 4½ minutes to reach Mercury, one hour and 11 seconds to reach Saturn, and so on. To reach Pluto, 2.7 billion miles from Earth, would take nearly 4 hours.

Having got that far, we would still be well inside our own solar system. The North Star is 400 trillion miles away,

FAITH DISCOURSE WITH

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi but is still nearby in relation even to known space. Who created all these? It cannot be an accident. Somebody had to make it. Christ affirmed that God is the Creator. And this great, almighty, omnipotent Creator-God is Father to all who believe in Christ. Such a mighty God can recreate, refashion, transform and renew your entire life.

2. THE POTENTIALS OF CHRIST’S SUPERNATURAL WORD Hebrews 11:3; 1:1-3; John 1:3; Colossians 1:15-19; 2:9,10; Luke 4:3236; Matthew 8:5-13; Mark 11:12-14,20-24; John 5:1-9; 11:39-45; Mark 4:39-41; 9:17-27.

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, was involved in the creation of “the worlds”. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made”. “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.”

Christ, our Saviour, our Sanctifier, our Healer, our Deliverer, our Baptizer, our Defender, our Provider, is powerful and mighty beyond any limit. In fact, the whole creation, the entire universe is being upheld and sustained by Christ.

“His Son, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:2,3).

Everything in the universe is sustained right now by Jesus Christ. By His powerful word or command, He upholds or sustains all things – rocks, mountains, seas, animals, men, earth, stars, planets, all distant worlds, the universe – by the word of His power.

Christ, with the prevailing word of His pre-eminent power upholds and sustains all things. Nothing can resist His Word. Surrendering your whole life to Him, all things will come under the irresistible power of His Word. Neither sin nor self, Satan nor evil spirit, sickness nor satanic affliction, disease nor plague,

infirmity nor infertility, curses nor bondage can resist His authority and power. We have faith in Him because He cannot fail.

3. THE POSSIBILITIES OF OUR SPOKEN WORD Hebrews 2:4; Mark 16:19,20; Acts 3:1-10; 9:32-43; 13:6-12; 14:7-10; Matthew 17:20; 21:18-22; Mark 11:2224; Luke 17:5,6; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Romans 4:17-21.

“Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” God’s creative words called all things into existence, calling “those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17).

God’s words are creative words; Christ’s words are miracle-working words. The Lord has bestowed divine authority and power on His servants and His believing children. The spoken word of Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, David, Isaiah, Samuel,Jeremiahandmanyothersinthe Old Testament had power (Exodus 14:13,28-31; Joshua 10:12-14; 1 Samuel 12:18; 17:45-47; 1 Kings 17:1,8-16; 2 Kings 7:1,2,16-20; Isaiah 37:33-38; Jeremiah 28:15-17). The Apostles and New Testamentbelieversalsodidgreatexploits with spoken words of faith, power and authority. To possess and manifest such authority, let us fully give ourselves to the Lord and receive the gift of faith. Then let us learn not to speak our own words.

Speak God’s word. Give voice to God’s supernatural Word. Say what Christ would have said to the mountain, to the sickness,tothesituation.Speakonlywhat theHolySpiritsaysineverysituation.The Almighty God will confirm His Word in the believer’s mouth.

BIG PUNCH "I think Labaran Maku is a careless talker. He talks very carelessly. He did not think properly. He is not an educator and we need to educate him. I hope the President cautions him and calls him to order. And I think the next time he does that, we will take resolution on any minister who talks carelessly to be removed." —Senate President, David Mark tearing Labaran Maku apart over his comments on Senate resolutions

SATURDAY 29 — SUNDAY 30, SEPTEMBER, 2012

The Spirit of The West

K

a r e n Armstrong states in Holy War that the Crusade introduced in Europe a particular form of disease. The disease is neurosis, the disease was endemic, the disease was genetic. 'The Muslim,' she says, 'became the hated shadow-self of the Western Christian, hated therefore with an irrational and neurotic intensity.'

Europe, being collectively neurotic, being chronically schizophrenic, found itself utterly unable to relate with Islam rationally and with a healthy and sane mind. Instead, it was relating to Islam on the basis of, as Armstrong asserts, 'a fantasy that had little to do with Islam,' and, as a result, 'the Muslim had acquired an identity in the West that was entirely a Western creation and did not spring from real contact with Muslims.' And yet it was this fantasy that eventually shaped the mind and attitude of Europe and the West towards Islam from the eleventh century to this day.

In short, in the words of Armstrong: 'The relationship with Islam and the Arab world was too complicated for people to cope with in a balanced way.

Crusading had made a blind hatred [of Islam] an essential part of the Western identify.'

Armstrong quotes the Italian scholar and novelist, Umberto Eco's summation of the enduring influence of the Crusade on Western Civilization, past and present: 'All our major preoccupation and passions were forged at that time.' That is perhaps to say, as it were, the Crusade, as a culture, as an enterprise, as a cause, is intertwined with the destiny of the West.

But we must turn to Muhammad Asad to understand better the meaning of the West, first and foremost to Muslims and, in the wider context, to the whole world. We have seen that in its infancy, the West had been shaped by a neurotic and schizophrenic attitude to Islam, which, overtime, solidified as the very foundation of European and Western preoccupation, passion, character, in short, identity. We also know, however, that in the course of the centuries, the West had gradually disengaged itself from Christianity and had since reverted, culturally, morally, in fact, in almost every facet of life,

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to it's primordial origin, the Roman Civilization. Western Civilization is intrinsically Roman, not Christian. Roman Empire was firmly and unequivocally rooted in polytheism and, as such, it was pagan in every respect, it was unahamedly racial, it maintained a zero, or perhaps, a sub zero morality in its conduct, it manifested a deep-seated aversion to the Supreme God. The empire's singular goal was power: power for its own sake, and hence, the collosal it was sustained by subjugation, enslavement, exploitation and colonization. The colonies, it is stated, were continually ransacked to provide pleasure and comfort for the Romans.

How close and intimate is the child, the West, to the father, Roman Empire, is explained by Asad.

Asad depicts the essential character of the father as follows: 'The idea underlying the Roman Empire was conquest of power and the exploitation of other nations for the benefit of the mother country alone. To promote better living for a privileged group, for the Romans no violence was too harsh, no injustice too base. The famous "Roman justice" was justice for the Romans alone. It is clear that such an attitude was possible only on the basis of an entirely materialistic conception of life and civilization - a materialism certainly refined by intellectual and aesthetic taste, but none the less foreign to all spiritual values.

The Romans never in reality knew religion. Their traditional gods were a pale imitation of Greek mythology, mere colourless ghosts silently accepted for the benefit of social convention. In no way were those gods allowed to interfere with "real" life. When consulted, they had to give oracles through the medium of their priests; but they were never supposed to confer moral laws upon men or to direct their actions.'

Asad then describes the essential character of the son as follows: 'But modern Western civilization does not recognize the necessity of man's submission to anything save economic or social or national requirements. Its real deity is not of a spiritual kind:

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it is Comfort. And its real, living philosophy is expressed in a Will to Power for power's sake. Both have been inherited from the old Roman civilization. The average Occidental - be he a Democrat or a Fascist, a Capitalist or a Communist, a manual worker or an intellectual - knows only one positive "religion", and that is the worship of material progress, the belief that there is no other goal in life than to make that very life continually easier or, as the current expression goes, "independent of Nature". The temples of this "religion" are the gigantic factories, cinemas, chemical laboratories, dancehalls, hydro-electric works: and its priests are bankers, engineers, film stars, captains of industry, record sportsmen.

The unavoidable result of this craving for power and pleasure is the creation of hostile groups armed to the teeth and determined to destroy each other whenever and wherever their respective interests clash. And on the cultural side, the result is the

creation of a human type whose morality is confined to the question of practical utility alone, and whose highest criterion of good and evil is material success.'

The great majority of nations have been at one time or another ransacked and desolated in order to satisfy the West's insatiable and never-ending quest for power and comfort. And as long as this quest continues with the same energy and intensity as has been the case so far, the whole world and the whole of Mankind will be perpetually imperiled: either the West controls the resources of all nations and all people to make its own nations and its own people enjoy power and comfort and pleasure or it goes up in flames; either the nations and the people of the world submit to hegemony or they perish.

The great philosopher, Bertrand Russel, [quoted by Noam Chomsky, in Hegemony or Survival,] projects a rather bleak outcome were the materialistic civilization to

prevail. 'After ages during which the earth produced harmless trilobites and butterflies,' he wrote, 'evolution progressed to the point at which it has generated Neros, Genghis Khans, and Hitlers. This, however, I believe is a passing nightmare; in time the earth will become again incapable of supporting life, and peace will return.' Peace, in the Roman logic, is attained when the earth is completely laid to waste, after every nation has been despoiled, every people have been devastated, and every valuable possession of others has been either plundered or destroyed.

Europe's journey back from Christianity to Rome was long and turbulent. It began in earnest with the Renaissance, an intellectual and social movement which was to blossom later into the Scientific Revolution, and subsequently French Revolution, and Industrial Revolution. 'With the approach of Islamic civilization a new intellectual light dawned on the skies of the West and infused it with fresh life and a thirst for progress,' Muhammad Asad observes. 'It is no more than in just appreciation of its value that European historians term that period of regeneration the Renaissance - that is, "re-birth".

It was, in fact, a re-birth of Europe as such.' The Rennaissace, in effect, brought about a cosmic transformation of the world. In Europe especially, it overthrew in one fell swoop the Church, the Monarchy and Aristocracy, and enthroned the scientific spirit, as well as universal access to education, power and basic freedoms. The tragedy for the new world, however, was that while the Rennaissace was triggered by Islam, Europe was denied access to Islam - thanks to relentless campaigns against Islam by the Church - in the spiritual domain and not just in the scientific and philosophical domains. Ironically Islam has become its main target for abuse, for aggression, for war. In consequence we are now saddled with the excesses and delinquency of a one-eyed civilization, perhap the strongest material and technological power ever to grace the earth, but perhaps also the most destructive to material and spiritual well being of humankind.

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