Peoples Daily Newspaper, Wednesday 31, July, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 53

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Ramadan Timings for Abuja MAGRIB

ALFIJR

6.54 p.m.

5.07 a.m.

. . . putting the people first

Ole, ole, ole, ministry staff boo Aganga, seek his removal >> 6

Ramadan 22, 1434 AH

N150

Confusion over death toll in Kano blasts as hospital conϐirms 24 >> 5

Ramadan: 60 bikes stolen in Katsina mosques >>Pg 2

Tukur, Nyako trade words You’re disrespectful, says PDP chair You’re incompetent, gov ires back As Lamido, others meet Shagari >>Pg 2

LEFT: Staff of the Ministry of Trade and Investment carrying placards calling for the resignation of the minister, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, during a peaceful protest.

RIGHT: Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga (middle) shouting ole, ole (thief, thief) in retaliation to the ministry’s staff, who were also calling him ole, ole, during a peaceful protest against the minister, yesterday in Abuja. With him are Minister State for Trade and Investment, Mr. Samuel Ortom (left), and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kigbu (2nd right). See more photos of the protest in PAGE 9 Photos:

Ramadan Message “But give glad tidings to the Patient, who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’ They are those on whom (descend) blessings (and forgiveness) from their Lord, and (they are those who) received His Mercy, and it is they who are guided ones”. (Qur’an (2:155-157) Sponsored by Kano state government

Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Governor, Kano State

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

News CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch

23

S/Report

24-25

Property

27

Motoring

28

Arts

29-30

The 33 ‘dormant’ senators and public outrage, Page 4

Int’l

31-34

Strange World

35

Digest

36

Politics

37-38

Newsxtra

39

Leisure

40

Sports Columnist

41-44 48

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Tukur, Nyako trade words

By Lawrence Olaoye, Abuja and Mohammed Mahmud, Sokoto

T

he five ‘concerned’ northern governors continue their consultations with critical stakeholders in the country over the State of the Nation, with a meeting which four of them held yesterday with the Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari in Sokoto.

At about the same time they were meeting with Shagari yesterday, however, the National Chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, chided them for allegedly calling for his removal.

The four governors who met with former President Shagari yesterday were Adamawa’s Admiral Murtala Nyako (Rtd), Jigawa’s Alhaji Sule Lamido, Kano’s Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and their Sokoto state counterpart, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

Only the Niger state governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Dr. Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, was absent at the Sokoto parley, which held behind closed doors to discuss the State of the Nation with the former leader.

Briefing newsmen at the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, shortly before the four governors departed for their respective states, Nyako said that the visit was to seek fatherly advice from the elder statesman.

“We had met amongst ourselves and observed that there are lots of

problems currently bedevilling the nation,’’ he said.

Nyako identified the problems to include insecurity, overheating of polity, poverty and unemployment, among others.

“That is why we are going round the region meeting with prominent northern leaders with a view to fostering unity, understanding and national cohesion.

“This is also with a view to finding plausible solutions to the problems for the country to forge ahead,’’ Nyako added.

Reacting to the reported call for his removal as PDP chairman by the five governors, Tukur, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, stated that while the governors have their inalienable rights to hold opinions, they ought to exercise such with restraint, decorum and humility.

The PDP boss said: “As leaders, whom the general public look upon as role models, they are expected to show respect to constituted authority and the elders which include Alhaji Dr. Bamanga Tukur who has contributed immensely to the peace, progress, development and advancement of this country.”

The statement added: “Much as the Constitution guarantees certain fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech and assembly, there are constitutional limitations to this freedom and the leaders should show wisdom, caution, prudence and good counsel in their comments on national issues as their unguarded utterances and calls can cause unnecessary political tension.”

Tukur wondered why the aggrieved governors refused to take advantage of the internal mechanisms of resolving disputes within the party instead of publicly demanding for his ouster.

He pointed out that the party had empanelled a Reconciliation Committee, chaired by the Bayelsa state governor, Henry SeriakeDickson, which ought to look into the grievances of the governors against the leadership.

“The governors by their action and utterances have shown contempt to this committee by not deeming it necessary or worthy to take their grievances to the Reconciliation Committee. One would have expected the governors to express their grievances privately to the party leadership or the Reconciliation Committee instead of going public with their grievances before seeking audience with other Nigerian leaders.

“There is no doubt that the governors peripatetic vision have contributed in no small measure in overheating the polity,” the statement alleged.

While reiterating that the PDP chairman operates an open door policy to accommodate all shades of opinions, the statement stressed that: “It is unfortunate that these governors are demanding Tukur’s removal when Tukur has made immense sacrifices for the peace and progress of the PDP and had extended his peculiar kind of brotherly love to all party men and women. The governors are hereby advised to embrace peace and desist from

dramatizing the few problems within our democracy as these can send a wrong signal to Nigerians and the international community.”

Reacting to Tukur’s tirade through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmad Sajoh, Governor Nyako stated yesterday that Tukur was incompetent to run the PDP. Nyako’s aide said in a telephone chat with one of our reporters that: “As far as we are concerned, Bamanga is trying to divert attention from the main issue. We’re not talking about age or respect.

“The point is Bamanga is incompetent to run the PDP as a free association of people where everybody’s interest is accommodated; where there is justice , equity and fair play.

“He is running the PDP with a mindset; trying to enthrone injustice as a means of achieving his personal aims.

“He should not talk about age, respect, status and standing in the society. In any case, Murtala Nyako is advanced in age as well, and at least, he has held higher positions and attained much higher status in Nigeria than Bamanga.

“But for emphasis, let me reiterate that we’re talking about his competence to run the PDP as a party.

Bamanga is always determined to have his way in all matters, whether he’s fair or not.

“He cannot disenfranchise the people and talk about age and respect,” the governor’s aide affirmed.

Ramadan: 60 bikes stolen in Katsina mosques From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

N

o fewer than 60 motorcycles were stolen from various mosques while the owners were attending Ramadan Tafsir across Katsina, leader of Kofar

Kaura, Kandahar Mosque, Sheikh Yakubu Musa Hassan has said.

Hassan who made the disclosure while conducting Tafsir in the mosque, lamented that no fewer than five motorcycles were stolen in a single day in Kandahar Mosque alone.

The preacher, who is also the

leader of Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a Wa’iqamatus Sunna, Katsina state chapter, lamented that at a time when people are seeking Allah’s blessings, some bad eggs decided to steal people’s property.

“Look at this, when people are fasting seeking Allah’s reward some

with no fear of Allah go after their property.

“This is ungodly and immoral.

People should always fear Allah.”

He also noted that various mosques across the state experience high rate of theft of shoes of worshippers.

FG grants dialogue c’ttee Boko Haram: Borno against restoration of GSM services two months extension

T

he Federal Government has extended by two months the timeframe of the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation of Conflicts in Northern states led by the Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.

But leader of the group, Imam Abubakar Shekau refuted the claim vowing that the violent campaigns would continue.

Before last Monday’s Kano attacks, Boko Haram had waged bloody attacks on some villages in Borno state thus questioning further questioning the genuineness of the so-called decision to halt the attacks.

However, Turaki insisted yesterday that his committee was in touch with the genuine faction of the sect.

As he put it, “the people we have been speaking with who are genuine members of the Boko Haram sect

have themselves taken up the issue with some of their colleagues and I do not want to reduce it to a diatribe between the committee with any other person or any group of persons.

“We have informed Nigerians of what we are doing. What we said is true and accurate and very soon Nigerians will also be availed of sufficient facts that will confirm the information that we have given which is very correct.”

He described the Kano incident as sad, noting that, “we are undeterred and we will proceed with the discussions and by the special grace of God and by the prayers of all peace loving Nigerians we will able to conquer incidents like these.

“We will call on Nigerians to continue to be patient because in this kind of situation, there are a lot of segments to it and there are people who are engaged in it on the basis of ideology or dogma.”

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

B

o r n o state government yesterday said it was against restoration of GSM phone services.

The state Deputy Governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha, who said this while receiving members of the Senate Joint Committee on Defence, Police, Army and National Security declared, who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Maiduguri.

Peoples Daily recalls that since the declaration of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, states over two months ago, the military authorities have facilitated the cut off of mobile telecommunication networks in the affected states.

The networks were however recently restored in Adamawa and Yobe states.

The deputy governor noted that

it was not the unilateral decision of the military not to restore the networks to the state but with the support of the government and people of the state.

Mustapha said, although recently there were some pockets of killings by suspected Boko Haram sect in Mainok village, Biu and Kukawa towns, government he argued, is optimistic that total peace will be restored across the state in no distant time, and therefore called on all and sundry to use the period of Ramadan Kareem to pray for peace and unity in the state.

“What is paramount to the government and people of the state now is the restoration of full peace to the state and not the GSM networks”, the deputy governor said.

He added: ”It is not the unilateral decision of the military not to restore the networks but with the support of the state government.’’

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 3

News Ramadan Timing Day 21

L-R: Kano state Governor, Engineer Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Jigawa state Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and Adamawa state Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd), during the governors’ visit to former president, yesterday in Sokoto.

Nigeria unaware of UK visa bond take off, says minister

By Hassan H. Ginsau

T

he Nigerian government is yet to be officially notified of the United Kingdom’s decision to commence implementation of the controversial visa bond scheme that would require some Nigerians to pay 3,000 pounds before entering the UK. A statement from the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs, quoted the senior minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru as saying: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is yet to receive official notification on the final decision of the UK government on the Visa Bond.

“The Federal Government has already conveyed its objection to the bond payment to the UK government.

When the communication is

received, government will take appropriate action based on its national interest”, the statement added.

This position is coming at the heels of reports that the British government plans to commence implementation of the controversial visa bond scheme in November this year.

Besides Nigeria, the other five Commonwealth countries affected by the visa bond are India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Rivers crisis, recipe for coup, say protesting CSOs S ome Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under the umbrella of Coalition of Civil Society, CCS, yesterday marched to the Lagos state Government House at Alausa to register their displeasure over the political crisis in Rivers state through the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola.

Speaking during the protest, the coordinator of Coalition of CCS, Comrade Raji Rasheed said, “we are not happy with the show of shame in Rivers state. In 1966, people said such issue was a party one and at the end of the day military took over.

“So we do not want such thing to repeat itself. So all of us must come

together and call them to order. We cannot just fold our hands and look”, he said.

He said they were out to protect the nation’s democracy, stressing that “we want to warn those in power to be careful and to sensitize Nigerians on the need for active participation in the polity”.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of Concerned Human Rights Nigeria, Comrade Declan Ihekaire said the protest was against anti-democratic elements in the country and the need to protect democracy.

“We are saying no to those who want to truncate the democracy that we fought for. We are saying

that whoever that are causing the trouble should be called to order.

President Goodluck Jonathan should also call his wife to order, women make issues bigger than it should be. We are saying that the President’s wife should be quiet in this matter”, he said.

Other speakers also warned that the crisis in Rivers state was capable of truncating the nation’s democracy.

Governor Fashola, who was represented by his Chief of Staff , Mr Lanre Babalola, assured the protesters of prompt delivery of their message to the appropriate authorities.

Alakyo killings: Police detain 2 for hijacking monies meant for widow

T

he Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa state, Umaru Shehu, yesterday confirmed the detention of two men for hijacking the N2 million given to the widow and children of an officer killed in the Alakio attack.

The money was given by the Nasarawa state government and the I-G to widows and children

of officers killed during the May 7 attack on security agents in Alakio.

Shehu told newsmen in Lafia that the two brothers of one of the deceased officers from Plateau collected the money from the widow who had two daughters and gave her only N20, 000.

According to Mr. Shehu, the widow reported to the police that she was subjected to all manners

of humiliation and was ejected from the family house with her children.

He said that the alleged illtreatment prompted the police to invite the brothers, detain, and query them over the allegations.

He said they confessed to have collected the money and allegedly spent N700, 00 for the funeral rites of the deceased. (NAN)

TOWNS Aba Abakaliki Abeokuta Abuja Akure Argungu Ankpa Auchi Azare Bama Bauchi Benin Bichi Bida Birnin Gwari Birnin Kebbi Biu Calabar Damaturu Daura Dutse Enugu Funtua Gombe Gwoza Gumi Gusau Gwadabawa Hadejia ` Ibadan Ife Ilorin Jalingo Jere Jos Kabba Kafanchan Keffi/Nasarawa Kaduna Kano Katsina Kontagora Lafia Lagos Lokoja Maiduguri Makurdi Malumfashi Minna Port Harcourt Ringim Shagamu Sokoto Warri Yola Zaria Cotonnou-Benin Ndjamena-Chad Niamey-Niger Younde-Cameroun

MAGRIB 6.49 6.47 7.06 6.53 6.58 7.07 6.46 6.54 6.45 6.30 6.44 6.57 6.53 6.58 6.56 7.10 6.33 6.43 6.38 6.54 6.49 6.48 6.57 6.38 6.31 7.05 6.58 7.07 6.47 7.03 7.02 7.03 6.36 6.52 6.47 6.56 6.50 6.53 6.54 6.52 6.58 7.01 6.46 7.04 6.53 6.31 6.46 6.58 6.57 6.48 6.49 7.04 7.07 6.56 6.32 6.53 7.07 7.22 7.20 6.28

ALFIJR 5.08 5.10 5.27 5.08 5.19 5.07 5.09 5.15 4.50 4.37 4.56 5.20 4.57 5.13 5.08 5.13 4.38 5.11 4.43 4.54 4.55 5.11 5.03 4.50 4.39 5.10 5.03 5.07 4.49 5.22 5.21 5.22 4.51 5.04 4.59 5.15 5.03 4.58 5.04 4.57 4.58 5.13 5.03 5.27 5.27 4.38 5.05 4.57 5.10 5.16 4.55 5.25 5.07 5.20 4.47 5.02 5.32 4.31 5.20 5.00

Source: Society for Propagation of Islam Kaduna

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Page 4 Report

The 33 ‘dormant’ senators and public outrage

By Evelyn Okakwu

T

he Economist’s review of lawmakers’ salaries in 29 nations unsurprisingly made Nigerian Senator the world’s richest, with the Senators receiving more than N13 billion in salaries, allowances and benefits, which clearly position them as the world’s best paid lawmakers.

However, what is even more appalling is that, at least more than 33 serving senators have not listed a single Bill in their name since taking office in 2011, investigation has shown.

Between 2011 and June 2013, each Senator drew about N400 million in salaries, allowances, and self-allocated bonuses, according to details of lawmakers’ allowances, as well as listed earnings for federal lawmakers stipulated by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

For those members, the sum for two years totals N13.2 billion, and N41 billion for all 109 members. But while a majority of the lawmakers have made fair efforts at delivering in their primary lawmaking duties, by at least sponsoring at least one Bill between June 2011 and June 2013, 33 of them have posted not even a single one.

The 33 Senators who did not post even a single Bills in the two years, as analysed, based on figures from the Senate committee on Business and Rules are: there are so many that would want to go and 1. Bindo Jibrilla (PDP), Adamawa; 2. Chris Ngige (ACN), Anambra; 3. Abdul Ahmed Ningi (PDP), Bauchi; 4. Babayo Garba Gamawa (PDP); 5. George Akume (ACN) Benue; 6. Ahmed Zanna (PDP), Borno; 7. Maina Ma’aji Lawan (ANPP); 8. Mohammed Ali Ndume (PDP); 9. Christopher Nwankwo (PDP), Ebonyi; 10. Sonni Ogbuoji (PDP) ; 11. Mohammed Danjuma Goje (PDP), Gombe; 12. Abdulazeez Usman (PDP), Jigawa; 13.

Ahmed Makarfi (PDP), Kaduna; 14. Mohammed Saleh (CPC) ; 15. Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (ANPP), Kano; 16.

Abubakar Sadiq Yar’Adua (CPC), Katsina; 17. Mohammed Magoro (PDP), Kebbi; 18.

Suleiman Asonya Adokwe (PDP) 19. Olugbenga Onaolapo Obadara (ACN), Ogun; 20. Robert Ajayi Boroffice (LP), Ondo; 21. Boluwaji Kunlere (LP) ; 22. Olusola Adeyeye (ACN), Osun; 23. Hosea Ayoola Agboola (PDP), Oyo; 24. Magnus Ngei Abe (PDP), Rivers; 25. Ahmed Muhammad Maccido (PDP), Sokoto; 26. Aisha Jummai (PDP), Taraba; 27. Abubakar Umar Tutare (PDP) 28. Bukar Ibrahim (ANPP), Yobe; 29.

Alkali Abdulkadir Jajere (ANPP) 30. Ahmad Sani Yerima (ANPP) Zamfara; 31. Kabir Garba Marafa (ANPP); 32. Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u (PDP) ;

33. Ifanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu In that duration, 74 senators, an impressive figure relative to past years, sponsored and followed through with a minimum of at least one legislation apiece; A few presented more than a dozen Bills, with the Senate Majority Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (PDP, Cross River), sponsoring the highest number, put at 25.

Other Senators, each with a minimum of 10 Bills are Ben Ayade (PDP Cross Rivers state) – 18 Bills; Ita Enang, (PDP Akwa Ibom) – 13 Bills; Dominic Obende, (ACN Edo) – 12 Bills; Smart Adeyemi, (PDP Kogi) – 11 Bills; and Ifeanyi Okowa, (PDP Delta) – 11 Bills.

Each Senator, according to the RMAFC, is entitled to N8.2 million annually, or N683,000 monthly as salaries. These salaries are exclusive of allowances such as esta-codes, cars and furniture.

But despite the huge pay, quite little has been delivered on legislation since 2011, according to the Business and Rules committee.

In all, during the two years, 342 Bills have been presented to the Senate within the period; many of them, however, are non-member Bills sent either by the executive, for example, budget bills; or forwarded by the House of Representatives for concurrence. Of that number, only 28 bills have been fully passed by the Senate. Again, out of that of number, 20 are executive-

sponsored.

Across-section of the Nigerian populace who spoke to Peoples Daily expressed their shock and anger about the twin anomalies, that Nigerian Senators are world’s richest and yet 35 of them remained dormant in two whole years.

Mr. Uchenna Ezemma, a businessman, expressed great shock over the fact that these senators have not sponsored any bill for two years despite the amount of money they are receiving.

In his words: “Such a thing is embarrassing to Nigeria and the people they are representing should ensure that they don’t return for the next tenure”.

He however noted that the senators may not be compared on the same basis with civil servants since, according to him, they are actually public servants hence it will not be so easy to penalize them through queries or outright dismissal. However, he reiterated the fact that a true Senator with the interest of his people at heart would have had something to bring up during this period, especially if such a Senator emanated from a crises-ridden area like Maiduguri, in Borno state.

Responding to the issue of Nigerian Senators being the highest paid in the world, Uchenna said that, “Such a development is very wrong, especially in a country like Nigeria, where we have people

“

living in abject poverty at a very high rate.

“The masses in Nigeria are mostly poor, so why should we now have Senators who earn even more than those in countries like the United States where the economy is so much better than ours?” he queried.

He therefore suggested that the salaries of these public officers should be slashed down such that it will not be more than that of a Permanent Secretary in the civil service.

As for Ben Ugwu, also a businessman, he said he believed that those Senators who have remained dormant for two years are illiterates, who, according to him, do not even know why they are there, saying “they only care about ‘eating’ the masses’ money. He also added that further analyses may even prove that those that sponsor Bills mostly do so for their own selfish interest.

Asked how he felt about the attitude of these negligent Senators, Mr. Ugwu says he would prefer that the sitting allowances of those senators should be taken away from them. On the issue of the fact that Nigerian Senators are the highest paid, Ugwu says the development is a very negative one.

As for Mr. Ezenna Emeka, a trader, he expressed the hope that the Nigerian people and indeed

But while a majority of the lawmakers have made fair efforts at delivering in their primary lawmaking duties, by at least sponsoring at least one Bill between June 2011 and June 2013, 33 of them have posted not even a single one.

the lawmakers, will make use of the constitutional provision for Nigerians to ensure the recall of poorly inactive public servants, as a form of disciplinary measure for those dormant Senators, adding that it is impossible to conclude that there are no areas in their constituency begging for improvement, but out of sheer negligence they have failed to live up to their responsibilities, proving that they have no regard for the masses whom they represent.

Mr. Ezenna who noted that the Senators have shown that they lack the interest of the Nigerian masses in totality, by making sure that they earn more than other senators across the world, despite Nigeria’s economic status.

Lastly, Mr. Onyeca Ejiofor, who spoke to our reporter on the vexed issue, seemed to be more bitter than his fellow businessmen. He said that the man representing his constituency has been there for three consecutive terms despite the fact that he has not even sponsored a single Bill.

He mentioned that the Senator representing his constituency is Honorable Ifanyi Ugwuanyi, from Igbueze-North in Enugu state.

He noted with dismay that the Nigerian political terrain is such that “you cannot even recall this Senators or penalize them in any way since in the initial stage, our votes did not count in bringing them into office. According to him, “Our votes do not even count, so how can we even change them?”

Ejiofor said he believes that the only way out is a massive revolution such that Nigerians will come out like Egypt and block everywhere and demand that they should go.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 5

News

Kano explosions

Confusion over death toll in blasts From Edwin Olofu,Kano

T

here are conflicting figures over the death toll of the twin bomb blasts targeted at some drinking joints in Sabon Gari area of the Kano metropolis on lMonday evening.

A Kano pan Igbo sociocultural group in a statement through its President, Chief Tobias Idika, claimed that in all 45 people were killed in the twin blasts.

Idika stated “At 41 New Road, the Christ Salvation Pentecostal Church was also bombed at the peak of evening worship.

Ohanaeze’s account can confirm 39 deaths in New Road and six in Igbo/Enugu Road; and also unspecified numbers of people who got injured. The team of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Kano state chapter, arrived the scenes at about 9:30 pm and witnessed the moving of dead bodies and the wounded by security agencies, mostly the Army.”

Contrary to the claims by the Ohaneze Indigbo Kano, the military authorities in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, said the death toll stands at 12, but agreed that scores were injured.

“At about 2105 hours 29 July 13(five minutes after nine pm), sounds of simultaneous explosion were triggered by persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorist group between numbers 38 - 41new road and Igbo Road by Enugu Road, all in Sabon Gari area of Fagge Local Government Council of Kano state.

“Twelve persons were confirmed to have died from both incidences while a couple of others who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to hospital for medical attention.

“This latest incidence could have been avoided if citizens maintain vigilance to observe when packages are dropped as it was in this case contrary to reports circulating in some section of the media of the attack being one by suicide bombers. You may recollect that the JTF had urged residents of Kano metropolis to keep an eye on their environment as members of the terrorist sect had planned to drop packages in bags or cartons in areas with high human traffic.”

However, the spokesperson of the Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Alhaji Aminu Inuwa, told newsmen that 24 dead bodies which include 4 women and 20 men were deposited at the hospital morgue.

Inuwa further added that 10 injured victims were referred to AKTH from Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, and are currently receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, normalcy has returned to Sabon Gari area as many people were seen going about their normal businesses as if nothing happened, with only a few people seen discussing the incident in hush tones.

*45 killed says Ohaneze *No, they’re only 12 – Military *Hospital confirms 24

Kwankwaso condemns bombings

G

One of the victims of Monday’s Kano bomb blasts receiving treatment yesterday at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, in Kano.

overnor Rabi’u Musa of Kano state has strongly condemned the Monday night multiple bomb blasts in the city.

The governor, who visited the scene of the attack yesterday described the incident as devastating, stating that it was an attack on the whole of the country.

“This attack on Sabon Gari is an attack on Nigeria because Muslims and Christians are involved.

Several people of different ethnic extraction have either lost their lives or are critically injured. Whoever did this thing targeted Nigeria”, Kwankwaso stressed.

The governor promised that the state government will continue to work with security agencies to maintain peace and protect lives and properties. He appealed to the people to continue to support security agencies to make the state safer and go about their normal activities calmly.

Kwankwaso, who visited Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano city to commiserated with the hospitalized victims, promised that the state government will shoulder the cost of their treatment.

He therefore directed the state Commissioner for Health to ensure that the victims get the best of treatment in public or private hospital in the state.

The governor extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident, praying Allah to stand by them in this moment of sorrow.

Stop killing innocent people, ACF, JNI plead From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

A

rewa Consultative Forum ACF has expressed shocked over the reports of four bomb explosions which killed and injured many people on Monday in Kano city with a call on the attackers to stop the mindless killings of innocent people.

According to ACF, the killing of innocent people have no place in all religions in decent societies as its amounts to desecration of the month of Ramadan.

A statement signed by ACF National Publicity Secretary,Anthony Sani and made available to newsmen in Kaduna condemned the actions of the insurgents.

“They should,therefore,be condemned by all those who cherish core values of humanity like freedom, justice and common

decency. It is still the considered opinion of ACF that violence can never resolve any perceived grievances, besides inflicting pains and self-immolation and destruction of innocent people.

“Only constructive engagement can address concerns positively; examples abound across the world that support this contention. That is why ACF would not be tired of asking perpetrators of violence to avail themselves to the offer of dialogue by the government for the good of all.

“This is because there is no alternative to peaceful coexistence needed for the socioeconomic development of this large country that holds a lot of promises to generations to come.

Let us give peace a chance. Our heart goes to the government and people of Kano state; it’s with those who lost their loved ones; it’s with those who have been

wounded and is with those who lost properties.

“May God provide them with the fortitude to endure the irreparable losses and the means for replacement of the properties many folds.

May the souls of those who died rest in peace,” he said.

Similarly, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), yesterday condemned the Kano multiple blasts just as it regretted that the terror on the people persists despite multiple security checks scattered across the city.

The group in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the attack became more worrisome because it came barely 24 hours after similar attach on fishermen and traders in Kaka and Kukawa local government areas of Borno state.

It stated “These repeated acts call for concerted introspection,

as they again point to the fact that there is the urgent need for proactive and effective ways of addressing these precarious security upheavals presently being witnessed in the country. JNI is also worried and cannot understand what is really happening? The perpetrators should be fished out and punished in accordance with the laws of the land.

It continued “While we send our condolences to the families of the bereaved, the Government of Borno and Kano States, their Royal Highnesses, Shehu of Borno and the Emir of Kano, we once again call on all concerned as a matter of urgency to nip in the bud future re-occurrences, which we don’t pray for. As it is becoming more and more glaring to the right thinking person, there is a grand design to push the entire North into deeper crises and by extension the Nigerian federation.”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 6

News

FG moves to exit from FATF list

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L-R: Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, and Chairman, Investments and Security Tribunal, Dr. Ngozi Chianakwalam walking into the State House, during their condolence visit to First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan over the death of her adopted mother, Mrs. Charity Oba, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

he Federal Government has constituted a cabinet committee to accelerate the removal of Nigeria from the list of countries still having issues with the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF), regarding Anti-Money laundering/Counter Financing Terrorism regimes.

The committee which is under the chairmanship of the Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo during its maiden meeting pledged to ensure that Nigerian’s name was completely removed from the list Namadi noted that the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration strongly believes that with the measures already put in place regarding laws and regulations, Nigeria, should not continue to remain on the public statement of the FATF. The Vice President said, “I urge you all to work hard towards ensuring that we maintain the integrity of our financial system through effective implementation of laws and regulations against financial improprieties.”

Boko Haram: Afenifere wants Turaki committee disbanded, probed

FG, ASUU face-off continues

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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fenifere has called on the Federal Government to disband the Turaki Committee with immediate effect as it has outlived its usefulness.

The group also called for a probe of the chairman of the panel, Alhaji Taminu Turaki to ascertain where his deceptive ceasefire came from. The group in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, said that government as

being lured into some false sense of security so the sect could re strategize for more devastating attacks. Odumakin said the brutal killings of innocent citizens in gun and bomb attacks by the dreaded group just as the Army paraded 42 suspected members of the sect, nabbed in Lagos with warning from the Directorates of State Security (DSS) that deadlier attacks are on the way, is a signal to government that, it cannot afford to take a pacifist approach as sympathizers of the sect who have

“infiltrated” the administration may be counseling.

Lawyers call for prosecution of Abia Chief Judge over age falsification Some prominent lawyers on Tuesday differed on the prosecution of Acting Chief Judge of Abia, Shadrack Nwanosike, who was found guilty of falsifying his age.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had at its 63rd Meeting, held on July 17 and 18, 2013, recommended Mr. Nwanosike for compulsory retirement.

Thelawyers,inseparateinterviews in Lagos, unanimously commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, for her efforts in sanitising the nation’s judiciary.

Onyekachi Ubani, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, said the issue of a judge falsifying his age is disgraceful. “What the NJC is doing now is praise worthy.

“It shows that there is hope in this country. “The beauty about it is that somebody is being punished for it, which was not the case in the past.

Akpabio in a closed door meeting with SSG

By Mike Etim, Uyo

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dramatic twist was added to yesterday’s purported sack of Secretary to the State Government of Akwa Ibom State (SSG) Mr. Umana Okon Umana, as Governor Godswill Akpabio paid him a surprise visit in his home.

The Governor who arrival at the Uyo International Airport from a trip drove straight away in convoy to the SSG’s house in Ewet Housing Estate in Uyo. He was accompanied by party stalwarts which include the state (PDP) party chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo former Military Governor of the state Wing Commander Idongesit Nkenga, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Sam Ikon, the Deputy Speaker of the House Udo Kyrean, Chairman ALGON in the State Nse Ntuen and senator Anietie Okon and the State Party Executive.

Uneasy calm in the state had greeted yesterday’s fracas which saw the SSG’s office barricaded by armed security operatives causing panic among party chieftains.

No statement was however release at the end of the meeting

which lasted for about three hours.

At the end of the meeting, the Governor drove away to meet with the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Bukar Tijiami who was in the state for the flaging off ceremony for

Dissemination of Pro-Vitamin A Cassava Varieties in Nigeria.

Indication however emerged that the Governor may have gone to apologize to the SSG whose sack report say could have rocked the party as he wields a lot of influence among party stalwart.

Ole! Ministry staff boo Aganga

By A’isha Biola Raji

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taff of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment yesterday in Abuja staged a protest demanding for the sack of the minister, Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga.

In what appeared like a show of shame, the ministry staff were chanting Ole (thief) with the Minister also echoing.

The workers were gathered at the entrance of the minister’s office immediately on his return from the ministerial press briefing which held in press conference of ministry

of information (Radio House).

The workers whose anger must have been fueled by the live coverage of the presentation, barricaded the minister’s office at the old secretariat displaying placards with different agitations inscribed on them, “Flying Minister, Enough is Enough, Charity begins at home, Aganga must go!” Our reporter while speaking with one of the aggrieved workers, said that at least one death is recorded among the staff every week.

“They die due to lack of healthcare and no welfare package, we are working but we cannot even

pay our own medical bills and other bills,” she lamented.

“The Minister feels too big to operate from this environment but he has done nothing to improve it, he would rather welcome the so called foreign investors at an office in Bank of the North or keep flying from one country to another claiming to be working on how to improve the trade sector but it is not true.

“It has been long since we saw him last, we might not see him again as he travels all around the world discussing trade,” said the aggrieved worker.

he meeting convened on Monday between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) ended in yet another standoff as both sides are yet to arrive at a mutual conclusion that would be agreeable to the both parties. This was as a direct result of the response the federal government team communicated to the ASUU committee after briefing the president on the meeting that had been held.

The offer from the federal government team was a revisit and renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU/ FGN pact or an offer on one of the top ASUU’s list of demands.

With emphasis being on “one” of the demands, the options presented to the ASUU team were rejected as their mandate was ‘no negotiation until FG starts implementing the 2009 pact”.

The2009ASUU/FGNpactwhich includes, the progressive increase of yearly budgetary appropriation of 26 per cent between 2009 and 2020 to education, Transfer of Federal Government’s landed property to universities, Setting up of Research Development unit by companies operating in Nigeria and Provision of Research Equipment to laboratories and classrooms in our universities, Payment of earned allowances and the Amendment of the pension/ retirement age of academics in the professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years.

All of which are yet to be implemented as the Federal government has so far betrayed the trust of the union by not keeping to its promises in implementing in entirety the pact agreed on since 2009.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 7

News

How 3 died in Sokoto stampede over Ramadan gift

Emeka Offor: Lawyer cautions on use of social media

From: Mahmoud Muhamad, Sokoto

By Abdulwahab Isa

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gainst the backdrop of negative comments lately in social media impugning reputation of business icon, Sir Emeka Offor, a legal practitioner, Godson Ugochukwu, has cautioned against reckless use of social media platforms to defame characters may earn perpetuators various punishments.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the legal luminary decried the crossing from permissible domains of fair comments and free speech by users of social media platforms into the forbidden territory of efamation as recently exhibited

by Mr. Boniface Okonkwo.

Ugochukwu observed that though the businessman had in the past ignored many of those comments, the individual went beyond the usual vulgar abuse characterising their comments on Sir Emeka Offor to level criminal allegations and also made fraudulent imputations against the man.

He argued further that, “let me state here an incontrovertible truth, it is within the rights of every man, wealthy or not, to protect and preserve his reputation.

“This is because a man is no better than his name, perception being cognitive reality.

“To this end and in the protection of every man’s interest in his good reputation, the human society developed the law of defamation of character” According to Ugochukwu, to underscore the importance of that which seeks to protect, defamation was made punishable both as a civil tort and as a crime.

He referred to Sections 391, 392, 393, and 394 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria which made ample provisions creating the crime of defamation in its various forms and punishing the same.

Ugochukwu added that much as it may appeal to people’s insatiable appetite for the salacious and the sensational, Sir Emeka Offor is neither a policeman nor the IGP. “But the unfortunate situation which he faces is that whereas an ordinary man could have written the petition and had the same approved, a prima facie case of crime having been disclosed, when the police acts at the instance of the wealthy, it is often tarred with the blanket brush of mala fides and abuse of power.

Mr. Boniface Okonkwo allegedly impugned the character of Sir Emeka Offor using the social media platform and was arrested by the police when he visited the country from his aboard base recently.

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here was stampede in Sokoto on Sunday evening near the residence of Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wammakko, during which three persons reportedly died.

Our correspondent reported that several hundreds of people had gathered near the Governor’s residence at Gawon-Nama Quarters, waiting for the gifts as part of the Ramadan fast.

According to the report, a spark from an electric pole close to the governor’s house caused the stampede as the crowd ran helterskelter.

Hospital sources confirmed that the corpses of the deceased were deposited at the Sokoto Specialist Hospital.

It was also gathered that the few persons who sustained various degrees of injuries were rushed to

Trauma Center of the Specialist Hospital.

But the governor’s spokesman, Sani Umar, denied the report, insisting that there was no stampede at the governor’s residence.

According to him, “what I know is that there was no stampede and nobody died.

“The governor used to give some assistance to the needy particularly at the end of Ramadan and during Sallah. The issue of stampede in his house is not true” he said.

Some of the teenage survivors who spoke on condition of anonymity described the incident as unfortunate.

According to one of the survivors, “it is because of the economic situation in the country.

“Our parents cannot afford to provide Sallah garment and other materials for us and that is why we went to the Governor’s house”, said the survivor.

Court vacation stalls judgment on deposed Ilorin Balogun From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T Hajiya Aisha Mohammed Lawal (right), presenting a grinding machine and a cash of N10,000.00 to Salamatu Iliya (left), during the disbursement of Zakat organised by Al-habibiyya Zakat Foundation, yesterday in Abuja. With them is the Chief of Al-habibiyya Islamic Society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi (middle).

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Muslim group kicks against pension proposal for legislators From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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non-government organization, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the proposal by the National Assembly to provide for payment of pension to ex-principal lawmakers.

According to MURIC, those who are proposed to benefit from this pension are ex-presidents of the senate and their deputies, ex-speakers of the House of Representatives and their deputies.

In a statement signed by the National Director of the group, IshaqAkintola, MURIC described the lawmakers decision as clear demonstration of man’s inhumanity to man.

“We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) reject this proposal. It is horrendous, preposterous and gluttonous,

especially coming at a time when there are many unemployed Nigerians who do not benefit from any allowance from government”, the group said.

It added, “with more than 80 per cent of the Nigerian population living below poverty level, with the average Nigerian living on less than $1 per day and Nigeria’s per capita income less than $300, how on earth can anyone justify the allocation of such stupendous luxury to some few?

“The scenario in this country is getting inextricably deeper into the abyss of capitalist, bourgeoisie mentality.

“This development in the National Assembly further cements the hypothesis that one per cent of the Nigerian population is consuming 85% of the wealth of this nation leaving just 15% for the vast majority of 99% of the population.

“It is a clear demonstration

he seven-year legal tussle between Balogun Gambari of Ilorin, AbdulkareemLaaroBuhari and Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim SuluGambari, was stall yesterday, as the presiding judge, Justice M.O. Adewara, postponed judgementdue to Court vacation.

The Claimants, Laaro Buhari and Baba Buhari, had sued Muhammed Aliyu Adebayo, Emir of Ilorin, Sulu-Gambari, Ilorin Emirate Council over deposition of the first claimant in 2005.

In the suit no KWS\165\2005, the Claimant approached the High Court to declare that his removal by second defendant was irregular, unlawful, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

The Claimants in the affidavit before the Court, urged the Court to declare the appointment of first defendant as a parallel Balogun Gambari of Ilorin by second defendant as illegal, unlawful, null and void and of no effect.

While condemning the delivery of Judgment without addressing

of man’s inhumanity to man.

The rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. How can the National Assembly do this when it refuses to approve a token of N20,000.00 as monthly relief package for unemployed graduates?

“How can the NASS do this when N18,000.00 minimum wage has not been approved or paid to most workers in the country?

“The yearly budgetary

a motion filed by the Defendants, Mallam Ola-Olu Ali (SAN) argued that he was going to lesser hajj and if the Court could entertain the motion, it should postpone the judgment after the Court resumes in September.

Ali noted that the Court would still be operating within the law if the motion was heard before delivering the Judgment, stressing that it would be out of law if it entertained the two after the Court resumption.

Counsel to the plaintiff, M.O Muhammed (SAN), who argued against the reservation of the judgment, prayed the Court to hear the motion on Thursday, while judgment will be heard on Friday to clear all the misinformation in the Community.

While ruling on the matter, Justice Adewara said the motion and Judgment could be heard when the Court resumes in September to give room for those that are travelling outside the State to do so.

He adjourned the case till September 13th when the case would be mentioned again, stressing that there was no cause for alarm. allocation to education has always been between 3% and 8%, falling criminally short of the 26% recommended by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Consequently, the quality of education continues on a downward slide.

“That is why lecturers are on strike, yet the Federal Government is dillydallying on an agreement it freely entered into with ASUU four years back,” he said.

PAGE 8

Photo Splash

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

There was drama at the Ministry of Trade and Investment yesterday when staff of the ministry staged a protest against the minister, Mr. Segun Aganga, in front of their office complex. The minister, who had earlier presented his mid-term screcard at the National Press Centre, Area II Garki, Abuja, was barred from accessing his office by his ministry’s staff who boroed him upon return, shouting Ole,Ole, and accused him of lying about his performance. Mahmud Isa was there and reports through his camera lenses.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga (2nd right), Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Dauda Kigbu (3rd right) and Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mr. Samuel Ortom (1st right), during the peaceful protest by the ministry’s staff, yesterday in Abuja.

Protestants listening to the minister after they initially denied him access to his office.

Some of the decrepit toilets in the ministry, which were part of the staff’s grievances.

The ministry’s staff rushing to stop the minister from entering his office, during the protest.

Protestants block the main entrance with their staff bus and placards.

Photos: Mahmud Isa

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 9

News

ASUU strike: Students appeal to FG, lecturers

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tudents in Osun state have called on the Federal Government and university lecturers, ASUU, to resolve the issues which led to the current strike by university lecturers.

Many of the students, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria, yesterday, enjoined both parties to bury the hatchet for peace to reign.

Adewale Adejuyigbe, a final year student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said the incessant strike by ASUU had elongated his stay in the university.

He said: “I am fed up with this strike action of ASUU. “Each time they have one or two issues to settle with the Federal

Government, strike action should not be the only option.

“In a democratic setting, there are many available means of expressing your grievances other than total paralysis of the system at the expense of the students.

“I believe our lecturers know that their job goes beyond normal service

for payment, it is indeed a service to humanity because education remains the light of the society.’’

Another student of the same university, Toriola Ibidun, lamented the level of decadence in the educational system, saying the strike action would further aggravate the situation.

He said the Federal Government must be sensitive to the importance of the education sector, adding that all stakeholders must work for peace in the universities.

Moradeyo Edun, a first year student of the University of Ibadan, condemned ASUU’s strike option, describing it as “callous and mean.’’

She said: “Can’t these people change their strategy; it is high time they realised that strike action is adversely affecting the students; it is the students that suffer most, not the government.

“I am pleading with both ASUU and the Federal Government to quickly find a lasting solution to this strike and allow us to face the future squarely.’’

Nigerian University lecturers have been on strike for the past four weeks. (NAN)

Heavy rain wreaks havoc in Bauchi

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R-L: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, and Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, during the inauguration of the Board of National Agency for Science Engineering by the vice-president, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo:JoeOroye

Northern leaders cause of insecurity, says national youth leader From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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he National Youth council Chairman, North-West, Comrade Abdul Jala Gombe has blamed insecurity in some parts of the North on insincerity, selfishness and greed of Northern leaders.

He stated this yesterday when

he paid a courtesy visit to the Kebbi State Deputy Governor, adding that the Northern leaders prefer to use the youth as thugs during the election. ''Our politicians are the cause of the unrest and crisis in the North. They use the youth as thug during the elections and dump

Kebbi vigilante arrests 8 barons, 10 bags of marijuana From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi ith the efforts of the Ambursa vigilante group, about eight barons and over 10 bags of Indian hemp and other illegal substances have been intercepted.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Birnin kebbi, the Sole Administrator of Ambursa / Kardi Development Area , Alh. Mohammadu Dahiru Abubakar Nayaya said that the operation which rid the community of notorious drug peddlers, was carried out by the elders of the Ambursa community with the efforts of the vigilante group in the area.

Confirming the incident to Peoples Daily shortly after their raid on the drug peddlers, head of the Ambursa Community vigilante group, Boyi Maidabo said that the illegal activities of the peddlers have been a source of great concern to the people in the community

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as the rampant use of Marijuana and other narcotic substances by youths have influenced their behaviours negatively. ‘’ The activities of drug peddlers in our community is worrisome, they sell Indian hemp openly in the market or motor park, you see this has affected the character of our children and the youths and we made several appeal to the law enforcement agents but to no avail, so we took destiny in our hands and launched the operation by ourselves to flush them out’’, Maidabo said.

He also added that the drug dealers confronted them with machetes and knives when they went to arrest them, but his men successfully arrested over six of them, including their gang leader Madugu na Lagos and another one simply called Nalamba. He added that over 12 bags of Indian hemp was confiscated, some hidden on top of a Mosque and a dry well.

them without jobs'', he said.

He also urged the Northern governors to assist the youth in carrying out some of their responsibilities, saying ''you cannot compare the youths of South and West with the Northern youth, they assist their people even outside the period of democracy or election''.

Speaking earlier while fielding questions from newsmen , the Kebbi state Youth council chairman, Alhaji Chiso Nayaya Ambursa expressed satisfaction over the support he gets from members, adding that ''the

leadership crises within the Kebbi State Youth Council have further helped to unite the members and cement their relationship instead of splitting them'', he said.

The Chairman explained that the internal crises facing the council came from a petition written against his predecessor Abubakar Dalu alleging bad leadership and corruption which the State Ministry of youth development used as reasons to terminate Dalu’s tenure but still saw him emerge as the next Chairman of the council following an orderly election.

Dankwambo pledges to equip schools with modern facilities From David Hassan, Gombe

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ombe state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has pledged to equip primary schools with modern facilities.

The governor made the pledge at the weekend while inspecting some projects in some primary schools in Gombe metropolis.

Governor Dankwambo said the donation of modern facilities to primary schools was part of his commitment to educational development.

He explained that his administration would assist the schools with facilities and equipment to enhance academic standard.

He expressed delight with the conducive learning environment in the schools.

He expressed delight that the schools which have been abandoned for years, are now having a new look.

Governor Dankwambo added that the 100 taxi cabs and 50 buses newly purchased by the state government, was meant to create jobs for the teeming youths in the state, adding that government has withdrawn 19 buses from long distant routes to town services for people’s benefit.

According to him, Gombe state which was rated one of the poorest states in 2010 and 2011 in the country has regained its loss glory as the tenth richest.

heavy rainfall in Bauchi on Monday evening caused flooding in some areas of the town and submerged some houses and roads.

A Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rain fell from 4p.m to 7p.m.

Places worst affected by the flood are Fadaman Mada, Yelwa, Gwallaga, GRA and Palace Road.

At Fadaman Mada area, residents were seen trying to remove water from their apartments, while some motorcyclists who tried to ply the flooded highways, fell into the fast-moving flood.

Some on-lookers had to intervene to rescue some of the cyclists who struggled to get out of the water to avoid drowning.

Malam Ibrahim Hambali, a resident of Fadaman Mada, said he was in the office when his wife telephoned to inform him that their apartment had been overtaken by flood.

“I quickly rushed home after the rain had ceased, only to discover that my entire property had been soaked and my family, helpless,” he said.

Another resident, Usman Osculator, whose residence was flooded for the second time, appealed to the appropriate authorities to construct additional drains in the area.

He also called for the expansion of the existing ones to cope with the volume of water that usually accompany heavy rains.

When contacted on the development, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Mohammad Damina, and the Chairman, State Emergency Operation Team, Alhaji Inuwa Bello, said they had yet to receive reports of any mishap.

“The rainfall was massive as such I will not be surprised if casualties were recorded. But for now, we are yet to receive any report of mishap. The picture will be clear by tomorrow,” said Bello.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 11

Money Sense

Why you should save all that money spent on cigarettes

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t’s a fact that as well as being extremely damaging to your health, smoking is also extremely damaging to your wealth!

You could easily save N500, 000 not just on the cigarettes but on common financial products too yearly. This is the no-buts guide to giving up on the cheap.

Here’s the simple rule of thumb to work out roughly how much you spend on cigarettes at current prices: Average number of cigarettes smoked per day x N20 = Annual Cost 1 cigarette a day is N20 10 cigarettes a day is N200 A packet a day is N400 30 packets in a month is N12000 In one year, it is 144000 Think what you could be spending this on!

Use the Demotivator to see how much your habit is costing you!

The hidden costs The MoneySaving gain from smoking isn’t just about the reduced outlay in newsagents.

There’s a further, hefty cost to smoking; many financial products add a huge whack on smokers and there’s a very simple reason.

So what’s the additional cost?

Smoking impacts any product where the process depends on the likelihood of illness or death.

Common medical opinion is that the benefits of exercising, eating well and losing weight pale into insignificant compared to the benefits of quitting smoking, as the risk from most smoking related illnesses decreases rapidly after quitting.

Let me put it another way...

Smokers are more likely

Money Tip: Ways to save money Clothing Making clothes alterations or sewing clothes is always a quick way to bring in some extra income; needless to say, a little knowhow of sewing is a great help. In addition, is there anyone that can knit, crotchet or make pot holders?

That will do for starters. Let friends at work or at church know about your skills and be sure to take samples along.

Quote Letting your customers set your standards is a dangerous game, because the race to the bottom is pretty easy to win.

Setting your own standards, and living up to them, is a better way to profit.

Not to mention a better way to make your day worth all the effort you put into it.

-Seth Godin

to die or have serious illness.

So products which pay out on death or illness are a lot more expensive!

So, quit smoking and you’ll save money and a mass of products.

The hidden cost could be over as N2, 880,000 over 20 years!

We’ve calculated the real cost of smoking, by looking at the increased amount smokers have to pay on standard financial products. If you had term assurance, critical illness, private medical insurance, permanent health insurance then typically you’d pay over N500, 000 more on them as a smoker over 20 years than a non-smoker.

How to stay away from impulse buying

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his is part of the series of posting to inspire you to be rich one cent at a time.

The term ‘rich‘has many poly morphs, monetarily rich, emotionally rich, socially rich and spiritually rich.

Today we will cover the aspect of being monetarily rich; my blog has maximum content on monetary richness compared to other forms of richness. You can be rich by earning more money; you can be monetarily rich by saving more money.

You can save more money by spending less. One of the biggest contributors of spending money is impulse buying or emotional buying.

How many times you got excited at an offer and bought it instantly only to find it useless later? Controlling emotion is not

tough, you can easily do it. Always remember, if you feel the need for buying something only after seeing an advert or hearing someone talking about, it is not the thing you absolutely want.

A mere N3000 save every year for 30 years (assuming you have 30 years more to retire); will give you N93000 with interest rate.

If you are in love of that shoe on display, just mentally think you have bought it and deposit N3000 in a saving account instead.

Techniques to controlling emotion while buying Step 1: Consult with your partner, parent, and significant other; ask them if you really need it. Value their opinion. If they favor you buying, go to step 2.

Step 2: Don’t buy today, buy after two days, or a week after. If the item is on sale today and today

is no special day, most likely it will be on sale again, sooner. If you still want to buy after two days or 1 week, go to step 3 Do you know that limited time sale offers are there only to take advantage of a basic human weakness of impulse buying?

Step 3: Review the product or service, if you want to buy an item called ‘XYZ’, Google it with “XYZ rip off”, “Why XYZ is bad”, “useless XYZ”, and “complaints about XYZ” etc. read and understand the results, after completing this step, if you still want to buy it, go to Step 4.

Step 4: Search online for similar priced item, check if you need those more than the items you wanted to buy. Give yourself a bit more time to think. If you still want to buy go to step 5.

Step 5: If possible to buy from store and not online, go for store that has good return policy. Try for few days; do you want to keep it with you? If not, go to step 6.

Do make a self-rule to buy all impulse buying using cash. If buying online, always pay with debit card.

Step 6: Return and take your money back, wonderful you did a good job!

But, the question is, why should we let these emotions develop?

There are many techniques that can have you stay away from those impulses. Here are few of them 1.

Stay Away from retails shops and visiting malls just to pass time. Malls and shops are there to attract you in to buying things from them, stay away, and stay rich.

2.

Do not go shopping with friends or any relatively more affluent people. It’s even not good to go shopping with someone whose financial health is not as good as yours, because a tendency of showing off comes in to play.

3.

Do not watch adverts; go do something else at home when adverts are running. Talk to your family muting TV. 4.

Be strict with your kids, kids are biggest contributor toward impulse buying. Unless addressed, a big chunk of your money is going

or will go towards buying toys. Have them earn their toys (not by crying) by learning and practicing things.

5.

Prepare a budget and stick to it, many feel that budgets are for people with less financial success, no, budgets are for warren Buffet too! He also lives and spends as per his budget. Biggest of companies have budget, don’t your country have budget? A set spending target will deter you from impulse buying almost always.

6.

Out of every 2 shopping trips, make one “Window Shopping Only”. This will save half of your impulse spend.

If you want to buy just because your friend has it, look for things that you have and he/she doesn’t, think that you’re superior in comparison and eventually will earn more money to buy better things later.

Always buy costly items from stores that take returns, do not tear off labels just after bringing it home, give this task a little break, for a few days, always keep papers and receipt in order. Reevaluate usefulness of your recent prized possession and decide accordingly.

Never buy a home or a car on impulse; this will be the biggest mistake you can ever make in your life.

You can save 5% – 15% of your total monthly spending if you stop spending on impulses. And that can grow to a huge proportion if you invest. Not only can you invest, but also you can spend more money in things you really need. You can get your kid to college, you can buy a better home, you can take another vacation or even you can help some cause which you wouldn’t have done otherwise.

Last but not the least; one very important trick to control your emotional spending is to allocate a fixed but limited budget every month towards impulse buying, because shopping is a stress reliever. Spending money gives power and enhances self-ego, but, it’s only up to a limit, beyond which it becomes weakness and sends you towards doom and debt.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

EDITORIAL

Maximise benefits of Jonathan’s state visit to China F have far-reaching consequences on Nigeria’s economic recovery effort.

The agreements covered areas of finance, trade, economy, technical and cultural relations. Specifically, the agreements included the framework agreement on comprehensive financial cooperation in support of Nigeria’s economic development and a

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rom the 9th to 12th of July, President Goodluck Jonathan paid a highly publicised visit to the Peoples Republic of China.

The visit came five years after the then Nigerian president, late Umaru Musa Yar’adua paid a similar visit to the world’s most populous nation.

During the state visit of early this month, there were insinuations that President Jonathan was in Beijing to spite the United States whose president paid a week-long visit to Africa but did not step on Nigerian soil. The Presidency was however quick in dispelling such insinuations, arguing the visit to Beijing has long been arranged before Barack Obama’s visit to Africa.

On our part too, we see no link between the visits of Jonathan to China and Obama’s to Africa. China is an important country and almost a hub of global diplomacy as every country seeks the great economic and commercial opportunities that the country presents.

More so, Jonathan’s visit was overdue as it would definitely consolidate the strategic partnership between the two countries and also improve the already expanding trade and economic ties between the two which currently stand at over $10 billion from a paltry $800 million 10 years ago. Jonathan, while in China, signed five agreements with his counterpart, Xi Xinping in key areas, whose implementation would

In our view, the agreements cover sufficient grounds and if properly implemented would boost on sustainable basis the crucial bilateral relation between the two sides Preferential Buyer Credit Agreement for Nigeria’s four airport expansion projects. Others were new agreements on economic and technical cooperation, mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports from both countries and an agreement for the prevention of the theft, illicit import and export of cultural property.

In our view, the agreements cover sufficient grounds and if properly implemented would boost on sustainable basis the crucial bilateral relation between the two sides. But, before jumping on the crucial and obviously mutually

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

beneficial grounds covered by the agreements, we want to recall the 2010 agreement on the construction of green refineries between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). Three years after the landmark agreement to construct the refineries, nothing tangible has been put on the project sites. On the other hand, a Chinese company completed the construction of a similar refinery for the neighbouring Niger Republic.

We are at a loss as to what went wrong with the MOU between NNPC and CNPC on the construction of the green refineries. While we welcome the five agreements signed between Nigeria and China during the visit of President Jonathan last month, we call for implementation with relevant time lines. We are not in doubt about the commitment of the Chinese side to follow up for implementation of agreements and would urge the federal government to ensure the agreements are followed up, especially in areas of infrastructure development.

Both China and Nigeria are biggest nations in their respective regions and quite influential too. Following up on mutually agreed undertakings would not only have implications for steady expansion of bilateral relations between the two sides, but also spur excellent regional cooperation.

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PAGE 13

Opinion Kwankwaso and the Zik Award

By Aliyu Sale Takai

G

ood governance, according to James Callaghan, is an ability to perform and deliver in line with the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

Where selfless and good leaders are lacking, Callaghan posits, no meaningful achievement would be achieved. It is his contention that one of the major indices of good governance is the one’s ability to uphold pubic trust to the point that one is not bounded by the trappings of power to steal from the public purse. Callaghan however concluded that with kleptomaniacs in power, the quest for public confidence is eroded, as nothing can be adduced to buttress the fact that a responsive and responsible government is entrenched.

If Callaghan’s view on good governance is to be taken seriously, Nigeria can be said to be on the brink as far as the quest for good governance is concerned in the face of a systemic failure at the helm of affairs with those calling the shots being widely accused of sharp corrupt practices. With the advent of the present democratic dispensation, it has become glaring that every Nigerian knows who a

good leader is and what it takes to make a good leader most especially in a democratic setting. It is now a common place that once a leader is unjustly castigated and vilified it is his hard stance of upholding public trust that made him to be hated by those who consider fleecing the public till as legitimate, forgetting that their wheeling and dealing is closely being monitored.

Pardon my marathon preamble, but there are leaders who have striven to live above board, proving their mettle on every front upholding public trust with the absolute fear of God and striving hard to leave an indelible mark on the sands of time. It will not be fool hardy for one to say that, under the present democratic dispensation Kano is endowed with a leader whose commitment on upholding public trust is not in doubt as no empirical evidence can be produced to buttress the fact that he had any skeleton in his cupboard. He came on board to serve the people with vigour and diligence, doing away with all the vestiges of corruption who had given him a bad name for not according them the leverage to steal with levity. He is no other person than Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, whose ascendancy to

power leaves much to be desired as one who brooks no nonsense and minces no words in telling anyone who cares to listen that his government is no spring board for amassing ill-gotten wealth at the expense of the people of the state.

Kwankwaso has won the accolades and the admiration of the apologists of speedy transformation of the state from a bastion of rot and total backwardness to the pinnacle of excellence in transformation and good governance. Knowing the importance of physical infrastructure, he saw the compelling need to effect radical change aimed at raising Kano’s prime status as the commercial nerve centre of the North. To his credit, many reputable agencies ranging from the media, the academia and even the most cynical transparency/budget rating agencies have praised to the high heavens for living up to his billing on good governance and adequately awarded with laurels of honour.

One of such awards was the one given to him is the prestigious Zik Award of good governance in an epoch making ceremony held in the commercial city of Lagos. It

was a night of colour and glamour as Nigerians from different walks of life gathered at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria island to celebrate the memory of the first president of Nigeria, whose memory the Leadership award is named. Even his implacable enemies and those who see nothing good in the way he governs the state could attest to the fact that he is not employing executive fiat to milk the treasury of the state dry as he only uses his swagger stick to scupper corruption. The prestigious Zik award on good governance given to him came at a time he is widely praised and eulogized by those who knew what is progress and the right time a speedy transformation should be effected.

Courtesy of his vision and master stroke, governor Kwankwaso mooted the idea of according due priority to all sectors of human endeavour on a case by case basis to avoid duplication.

On education, he established a brand new world-class university (this is in addition to the Kano University of Science and Technology, which he established during his first term in office from 1999 to 2003). He has undoubtedly

Demonizing sycophancy

By Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick

T

he most daunting task a person of influence, leader or boss, has to contend with is to balance its act between a sycophant and a critic. In a community where honesty, as a value, is at the bottom rung of the ladder, or put in another way - at lower hierarchical value - the task becomes even herculean. There is no gain saying that each of these opposing characters (sycophant and critic) has a role to play in the leader’s court at the pinnacle of power. Only those who have occupied the positions of leadership (presidents et al) will appreciate the importance of these two court jesters.

The rest of us may abhor the role of the sycophant, the boss, however, appreciates the efforts of the court flatterer in the constant struggles between “us and them.”

The peoples’ hero, the critic, has its drawback also - he, or she is the last person a boss want to see or confer.

It appears the two court characters hold out their magic mirrors in front of the leader to look at itself; the image projected in each of these manipulative mirrors has a profound effect on the leader. We all know the joy of looking into the mirror and seeing a beautiful image of ourselves. That, deservedly, is what the sycophant projects into its magic mirror On the other hand, nobody or leader wants to look into a mirror that projects demonic, weak, slothful, uncaring, unpopular, ineffective, unintelligent, and etc of one’s image. This kind of personality is what the critic’s unwarranted, unkind, magic mirror

often projects. The revulsion at looking at such image, however, precludes frankness or slander - it does not matter to a vain leader.

It takes a lot of courage to want to look into such mirror time and again. Subsequently, the critic is kept at a distance, or if serious, he or she is marked for elimination.

Who would blame the leader? For the sanity of the leader, the critic is thrown out of sight and sound usually jailed or killed or exiled.

One other fact is that loneliness is a regular occurrence at the pinnacle of power or leadership.

The indifference of the larger society to the agony at the helm of authority also fuels the engine of sycophancy. However, a leader should avoid calamity that usually hovers over the cliff of power; he, or she should look into the two mirrors of both the sycophant and the critic in order to a have a balanced image of self. The boss should not allow the sycophant’s advice to have sway and dominate

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his or her senses. On the other hand, the leader should realize that the image the critic projects in its mirror of the leader, no matter how ugly, often in the long run, prevents the master from falling from favour.

Often times the sycophant conjures up an image of absolute power for his or her prey (the boss). There is no limit to a desperate sycophant’s antics or manipulations. Recently, an openly-declared sycophant flashed his magic mirror at the Nigeria’s First lady to affect her senses. The image was that of a female Jesus Christ. We all rushed to admonished the professional sycophant; the media, particularly the Internet, was virile. The First Lady, in her solo moments, would have naturally contemplated which is human. One only hopes she balanced her time in front of the mirror of the critics, as well.

In our attempt to try to demonize sycophancy, we often

ignore what the sycophants go through also in their solo moments.

It should be very agonizing; it could even be worse for those that alternate holding the two different mirrors for different bosses. These are professional sycophant today and critic tomorrow. They must be having a tough time in their solo moments, which is when they are alone in their own world. It is often said that the most painful infliction on oneself is to act below one’s personal standard. That in itself is enough pain.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its spokesperson, my good friend, Lai Mohammed, have constituted the major critic of President Jonathan of Nigeria.

Their role, by default, lessens the gravity of the pains many Nigerians are experiencing. Jonathan must be thanking his stars; their opposition somewhat delays, or prevents spontaneous reactions of the people. Let’s face it, most of what the ACN makes “noise” about, to

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its spokesperson, my good friend, Lai Mohammed, have constituted the major critic of President Jonathan of Nigeria. Their role, by default, lessens the gravity of the pains many Nigerians are experiencing. Jonathan must be thanking his stars; their opposition somewhat delays, or prevents spontaneous reactions of the people. Let’s face it, most of what the ACN makes “noise” about, to paraphrase the president’s party, are known and felt by the majority of the people.

Highlighting the deficiencies in government by the oppositions helps avert spontaneity of the peoples’ reaction; people feel content that other people pick up the fight on their behalf.

achieved an unprecedented feat as the result of his effort to sponsor 500 Kano indigenes to study abroad for their acumen to be trapped irrespective of their parental background or political pedigree. It is no doubt a giant stride not achieved by successive administrations in the state. Within a period of two years, the governor built over 1600 classrooms in the state.

On health, the amiable governor had gingered the confidence of the down trodden masses that primary healthcare is not beyond their reach as clinics and hospitals in the state are renovated and fully equipped with drugs being sold at an affordable price. Free antenatal and postnatal care are now offered in Kano. Modern intensive care units are being built, new hospitals built, mobile ambulance service introduced and malaria and polio action plans have been mapped.

Additionally, youngsters are being sponsored to study medicine, pharmacy and microbiology abroad. On empowerment, the governor had also proven his mettle on assisting a legion of unemployed youth men and women to acquire vocational training on various discipline, for self reliance drive to be consolidated. They are also given start-up capital to boot.

Aliyu Takai wrote in from Yankaba Quarters, Kano paraphrase the president’s party, are known and felt by the majority of the people. Highlighting the deficiencies in government by the oppositions helps avert spontaneity of the peoples’ reaction; people feel content that other people pick up the fight on their behalf.

A frightening supposition is if the opposition, for one reason or another, stops to criticize the presidency and his government.

People in the streets, the way feel, could boil into an inferno within weeks. The danger of the spontaneity of the rage of the people only could be best imagined.

A foreign friend says it is the seeding of a revolution. A protest outside the aegis of organized platform is always difficult to put down, and if care is not taken, it could assume a life of its own.

It is in the interest of everybody, therefore, for the oppositions in Nigeria to keep making noise.

That way, everybody goes home “suffering and smiling.”

Back to reality! It will be nice if the president and the first lady find time, often, to look into the critic’s magic mirror; then summon the courage to repair the image they see. President Jonathan still has time - I think - to confront the image of him the magic mirror of the critics projects. To feed one’s ego from the sycophant’s menu may taste delicious, but in the end it easily runs the stomach dysentery of the senses. The critic’s menu, on the other hand, is usually populated with bile products. Our leaders should be big enough to accept the fact that as undesirable as the bile may seem, we will all be jaundiced without its usefulness; our eyes will turn yellow when the body lacks the services of the green-blue stuff. I was only thinking!

Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick wrote in from Lagos.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Opinion

Why NSE picked Chukwu as its ‘Man of the moment’

By Rogers Edor Ochela

R

ecently, Engineer John Obinna Chukwu, the incumbent Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory, was celebrated by his immediate constituency, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) with the award of Fellow, Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), the highest honour ever given by the society, at a wellattended event in Abuja.

When he was born on June 26, 1957 to Okenze Ezinna I. N. Chukwu and Ezinne Lolo Josephine, from Amuzi, Ahiazu Mbaise LGA in Imo state, little did his parents know that the little tot known as John Obinna would later in life conquer the world through exceptional brilliance, hard work and courage. While some are passive in the performance of duties assigned to them, others like John Obinna Chukwu are hyperactive. Give him any assignment and you can be sure he will deliver promptly. He is an asset to the FCT. During his primary education that took him from his home town of Amuzi to Enugu where his father was a staff of the Nigerian Coal Corporation (NCC), excellence was John Chuwku’s watchword.

Rather than occupy himself with the exuberance that was a common feature among his peers, he developed passion for hard work. His academic profile took a quantum leap at the Community Secondary School, Amuzi Ahiazu Mbaise in 1970 and the famous Dennis Memorial Grammar School Onitsha, DMGS of old East Central State now, Anambra State where he obtained Higher School Certificate in 1976.

His thirst for more academic

Presidency and laurels found as the pioneer expression at Director the University of (Public Nigeria Nsukka Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, Procurement) where obtained text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written Federal a degree in Civil contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters Ministry of Engineering, Agriculture graduating in - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your and Water a Second Class name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be Resources Honours, Upper addressed to: where his Division in 1982. task included He was later to The Editor, setting up the earn a Master of Procurement Science, M.SC, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, Department. in Construction 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

His work Engineering and Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com at the Public Management SMS: 08134607052 Procurement in 1986 as Department at a European Environment, Lagos. Through dint the Federal Ministry of Works prior Economic Community (EEC) study to his present appointment, speaks of hard work, between 1983 and fellow from the University of Leeds volumes about his determination 2003, he rose through the ranks in the United Kingdom. As a wellto contribute his quota to the to the position of an Assistant grounded technocrat, the journey development of the nation. For Director in various challenging that recently earned Engr. Chukwu those who have been following appointments such as the Lagos the plaudits of his professional Engr. John Obinna Chukwu’s bold Shoreline Protection Project at colleagues was not laced with gold.

Lagos Island, Ikoyi; Victoria Island, and giant steps in testing the trip of Difficult as it turned out to be, he life, his consistency and successes Lagos and the Lagos Bar Beach never wavered while striving to are a tribute to his uncommon Erosion Project among others. tackle his assignments assiduously. courage and true commitment.

Also, as a procurement specialist, He began his working career Arguably, Chukwu is a having served as Deputy Director after his National Youth Service Procurement (between 2007-2010) detribalized Nigerian. In a country Scheme in Bauchi (1982-1983) bedevilled by ethnic jingoism, his at Budget Monitoring & Price when he joined the Civil Service as largeness of heart devoid of ethnic Intelligence Unit (BMPIU), later Civil Engineer, Grade II, with the prejudice stands as an example Bureau of Public Procurement, Federal Ministry of Housing and

WRITE TO US

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Arguably, Chukwu is a detribalized Nigerian. In a country bedevilled by ethnic jingoism, his largeness of heart devoid of ethnic prejudice stands as an example and rebuke. Of importance is his unyielding rejection of vulgar sectionalism, which ought to chasten other Nigerians enslaved to the narrow strictures of ethnicity.

and rebuke. Of importance is his unyielding rejection of vulgar sectionalism, which ought to chasten other Nigerians enslaved to the narrow strictures of ethnicity.

In 2009 at a workshop on Budget Implementation organized by the Budget Office, it was to the credit of his team spirit and dedication to duty that the 92% budget implementation achieved by the then Agriculture and Water Resources Ministry in FY-2008 made the Ministry stood out as a reference point throughout the programme.

Engineer Chukwu who is married to Chief Mrs. Tina Ulunma Chukwu and is blessed with four loving children is a recipient of several letters of commendations among which is a letter of Commendation for excellent work done and good conduct on the Technical Sub-Committee on Permanent Solution to the Bar Beach Shoreline Erosion problem by the then Minister of works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe. He was also a member on the Board of Directors, Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) as a representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. In July 2012, he was a member of a Panel of Inquiry on Pension Matters in the Power Sector.

As an active member of Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos, and IBB International Golf and Country club, Abuja, his other hobbies include Golf, Lawn Tennis, Swimming and Music. So on this occasion of investiture as the Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers, I join millions of other Nigerians to say congratulations!!!

Rogers Ochela, a media consultant sent in this piece from Wuse Abuja and is

Why INEC must register APC now

By Joe Igbokwe

N

igerians, please, in the Name of GOD, tell INEC to register APC now without any further delay to avoid unnecessary heating up of the polity. We have gone through all kinds of man-made problems to get to where we are today. We have gone through man planted mines and crossed a thousand bridges to get this far. We have crossed a thousand mines and rockets to meet INEC stringent conditions for registration. We have crossed a thousand lands and seas to meet INEC deadlines. We have had weeks and months of sleepless nights to meet INEC conditions.

Personal commitments have beenalso to get this far. APC leaders have made gamut of sacrifices to cross the rubicon.

Now, we want Nigerians to take notice of the signals from INEC Commissioners in connection with APC registration. They cite fictitious litigations from two unknown APCs seeking to be

registered as political parties.

They play all kinds of dirty games to cause problems for the real APC. They get logistic support and encouragement from the above to continue to frustrate the registration of the bonafide APC. We have witnessed all kinds of road blocks from the powers that be and we have been calm and resolute believing that the shenanigans will say enough is enough. But it looks as if these fraudsters cannot learn from history.

Please, let the world know that

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INEC has no option now than to register APC. If INEC is independent as it claims this is the time to prove itself. If INEC does not want trouble let it do its job dispassionately. If INEC has respect for social justice and rule of law this is the time to act.

If INEC is dead serious this is the time to demonstrate it to the letter. If INEC loves Nigeria and Democracy this is time to do their job. If INEC does not want to scuttle our headearned democracy this is the time to show commitment to Nigeria’s Democracy. To be forewarned is to

be forearmed!

Promoters of the new APC have shown that Nigerians can work together when pushed to the wall. They have shown that change is possible when a people decide to change the status quo ante.

The stakeholders have worked themselves to bones to prove that they are capable of holding their own in the face of crisis. Through actions and deeds the progenitors have proved beyond reasonable doubts that real men can make things happen when the need is

Promoters of the new APC have shown that Nigerians can work together when pushed to the wall. They have shown that change is possible when a people decide to change the status quo ante. The stakeholders have worked themselves to bones to prove that they are capable of holding their own in the face of crisis. Through actions and deeds the progenitors have proved beyond reasonable doubts that real men can make things happen when the need is greatest.

greatest. These shakers and movers of APC have done their duties for Nigeria to checkmate the arrogance of PDP. They are Patriots even though the enemies of Nigeria may think otherwise.

We plead with INEC to give us our party now. Time is of the essence for INEC to conclude the excruciating process. The thinking of the APC leaders is that INEC is playing PDP’s game to frustrate APC. By tomorrow it will be 30 days since APC applied to be registered with INEC. We have been waiting like a patient Bird for INEC to rise above partisanship to redeem its plundered and stolen image to do what is right but it looks as if INEC hands are tied. Now if INEC hands and feet are so tied that it cannot fulfill its obligations as an Electoral Umpire in Nigeria we may have to cut their hands and feet to free Nigerians from inept and primitive leadership. This is our stand. This is our chance.

Joe Igbokwe wrote in from Lagos.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 15

Comment Before the police go arbitrary

By Don Norman Obinna

T

he police in any country embody the most visible symbol of governmental authority and also constitute the point of attack or criticism of the government. In other words, the attitude of police officers could discredit not only the Force image but also the government it represents and possibly subject it to opprobrium. This truism is the essential reason the members of the Force in every society are expected to comport themselves in a civilized and socially acceptable manner; albeit in Nigeria where we oftentimes observe some aberrations in policing. The ban placed on road blocks and the not too long certificate verification instituted by the police hierarchy led by the Inspector General of police, Mr. M.D Abubakar to sanitize the police force are commendable efforts and initiatives, but sadly they have failed to yield the desired result.

However, it must be noted that the majority of police officers, especially the rank and file, do not live the ethos of their profession; thereby bringing the police force and government to ridicule and public odium. It is abhorrent to say the least, that a police officer whose statutory obligation among other things is primarily to arrest and prosecute lawbreakers and criminals will be seen publicly fraternizing with them. Little wonder the crime rate has risen astronomically and criminals more often than not walk the streets with impunity.

Those who are conversant with

Ikeja environs will agree with me that around the road bus stop, Ikeja under bridge near General Hospital, Ipodo market, Oritse Street, up to the street opposite Airport Hotels, off Obafemi Awolowo Way have become the haunt of Cannabis or Indian hemp hawkers/ smokers. Most worrisome is the fact that this outlawed substance is displayed and smoked in broad daylight with impunity by street urchins in company of mobile police officers in uniform. I was shocked to the marrows to see police officers in uniforms condescend so low to the embarrassing extent of smoking weed in the company of such class of people under the scorching sun unabashed.

No wonder stories abound of police officers sometimes pulling the trigger on hapless civilians on little provocations. Nigeria police officers need to be called to order. It seems most of them are

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yet to come to terms with their enormous responsibilities.

They should be made to realize that the police are charged with very many difficult duties which relates mainly to the maintenance of law and order and the security of the state. These duties are imposed on them by law and any abdication constitutes an offence and punishable under the Nigeria law. The Nigeria Police Force is beleaguered simply because of their inaction and/or dilatory in combating crime; flaws which could be attributed to the compromise of principle and/or integrity by the rank and files on the road.

The police authorities cannot claim ignorant of the actions of some of their men on the road. The road blocks are gradually returning.

They are common scenes at Egbeda precisely Ogunlana/ Aderele junction, Cele roundabout and Dopemu roundabout. The

unprofessional and uncivilized way they harassed motorists at night will make a first time visitor mistake them for armed robbers or touts.

Those that ply Falomo Bridge, Ahmmadu Bello way, Bonny camp and Oniru, Victoria Island at night can also attest to the clumsy attitude of these men in black. Most of them usually wore muftis on bathroom slippers.

And in most cases you’ll see some brandishing bottles of dry gin. I don’t know when it has become legal for police officers to drink themselves to stupor while on duty. Once a motorist is flagged down, the upsetting question they commonly asked is, “Oga wetin you get for us,” without exhibition of professionalism.

If it were an exotic, Porsche or other expensive cars; the embarrassing manner with which the police officers will kowtow to the occupant(s) will make you feel

Those who are conversant with Ikeja environs will agree with me that around the road bus stop, Ikeja under bridge near General Hospital, Ipodo market, Oritse Street, up to the street opposite Airport Hotels, off Obafemi Awolowo Way have become the haunt of Cannabis or Indian hemp hawkers/ smokers. Most worrisome is the fact that this outlawed substance is displayed and smoked in broad daylight with impunity by street urchins in company of mobile police officers in uniform.

Let’s fix what is broken

By Young Fiabema

T

here should be no disagreement about protecting democratic principles in Nigeria. It is an issue that affects all of us and future generation. Indeed democracy is an economic imperative as it is believed to be a foundation stone of how we install the doctrines of responsible government. I will therefore like us to understand basic democratic principles because it’s important that we get this right in other to fix what is broken.

We have been hearing ugly rhetoric statements from politicians in Nigeria on how democracy is being constrained

by Abuja based politicians. The Rivers State crisis is a complex issue that raises strong feelings in the nation. In the Rivers State case, it is very easy to overlook the underlying issues, because on the surface, everything seems to be about presidential politics.The question begging for answer is: Who is barricading or exploiting democratic principles or should I say dodging the main issues of the people? In Nigeria it seems the answer depends on the fitting political agenda of who you ask.

We cannot be self-absorbed when we are discussing democratic principles. It is therefore crucial to

answer this question objectively.

First, let us fully understand what democracy means. Democracy comes from the Greek word, “demos,” meaning people.

Therefore, the driving force of this system of government is “the people”. Understandably, in a true democratic system, people hold superior power over parliament and the government. It is a system where rule of law is zealously protected. In this notion, even the chief executive is under the law and is expected to utilize every legal means to govern.

It equally forces governments to the rule of law and respect for the decision of other arms of Government (e.g. court ruling).

This serves as a foundation to epitomize the fact that all citizens receive equal protection under the law. Accepting the power of the judiciary and respecting the rights of those with differing points of view are paramount under a democratic system that is designed for the people. While I have not observed the Federal Government’s involvement in the suspension of any duly elected official, it is sad to see the numerous instances where local government chairmen and councillors were suspended in Rivers State under the current administration due to ideological differences.

Undeniably, democratic principles were observed in the nation when judicial rulings were upheld and respected without any crisis in the case of Celestine Omehia (former governor of Rivers state) vs. Chibuike Amaechi (incumbent governor ) and the recent case of Mrs. Turai Yar’adua (former First Lady of Nigeria) vs.

Mrs. Dame Patience Jonathan (present First Lady ) in an Abuja land dispute case is another reminder. These exemplify the importance of accepting the power of the judiciary by the politically influential in a democracy.

However, it is not comforting to observe that judicial weight of a competent Nigerian high court, which dissolved the Rivers state PDP executive, was utterly rejected by the state government in an unlawful manner. In retaliation, the governor collaborated with the House of Assembly to suspend the entire Obio/Akpor Local Government Council on April 22, 2013. This is an impediment to a dependable democratic system.

Another major goal of democracy is to make the best possible decision for all citizens with available scarce resources.

This can only be actualized when elected officials enforce transparency, accountability and effectively exchange ideas with citizens and stakeholders. It’s not

reassuring in a democratic system when governors create policies and programs that are not well debated by the people and shove such policies down the throats of the House of Assembly as well as their citizens. ronically, there is still this general view that if a member of the House of Assembly or a citizen has ideological differences with their State governor, he or she is an “Abuja Rebel” without a cause.

Your intentions are questioned and most times branded corrupt.

Generally speaking, society is composed of people with divergent viewpoints and enriched diversity.

Therefore this autocratic approach to governance which tends to silence the views of citizens is purely against the tenets of democracy, so it must be rejected.

Limiting abuse of power is another core principle of any democracy. In a democracy, government is structured to limit the powers of the three branches of government. This includes creation of independent courts, parliament and executive that can provide checks and balances to the abuse of power. While the Federal government does not seem to have control over the two other branches of government, the Rivers State government seems to be very much dominant in all branches of government. This is

sorry for the entire Force. Standing attention, they will shamelessly shout, “money sir! Your boys’ dey road dey roasts oooO! Baba Agba!

We dey loyal no be small ooO! Undermining who the occupants of the car were or what might be in their possession; once some cash exchanged hands, they are free to go.

The consequences of this shameful act are that lawbreakers, kidnappers, criminals, gun runners, smugglers and ritual killers have oftentimes circumvented arrest by parting with some substantial amount of money to these police officers whose interest are on money instead of the collective security of the society, which they are mandated by law to protect. It is repulsive to say the least that the efforts of the Inspector General of Police to rid the police force of bad eggs are daily being sabotaged by some disgruntled elements in the Force.

Like T.A Critchley rightly said, “Total freedom is anarchy and total order is tyranny”. My submission is that the rank and files in the police force have enjoyed total freedom and are gradually slipping towards anarchy. They must be subjected to checks and balances. I therefore maintain that one of the tasks facing the government is to continue to improve the quality of our country’s policemen and since we cannot dispense with them; all hands must be on deck to make them as humanitarian, effective and responsive to the society’s needs as possible as we can. So help us God! Don Norman Obinna is on twitter.com evident during the recent crisis in Rivers State House of Assembly where the Governor, notarized the gruesome violence we observed on “YouTube”. Such actions promote abuse of power in any democracy.

Free and fair election is another indispensable road sign to democratic principles. This entails impartial and balanced system of conducting elections where election results are verified to the satisfaction of the body of voters.

In this regard, the last election under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan undoubtedly fulfilled the best democratic ideology Nigeria ever enjoyed. We witnessed trained election officials that were politically independent.

It is public knowledge that election supervisors freely permitted representative of the various political parties in the vote counting process.

Therefore, it is imperative to imbibe this democratic principle that empowers the electorate to freely vote for whom they want to lead them. The culture and practice of “godfatherism” and imposition of leaders on the people at various levels of government is not only dictatorial, it disenfranchises the people. End result is apathy, endless acrimony and litigation amongst party members which often results in what we are all witnessing in Rivers.

Dr. Young Fiabema wrote in from Raleigh, North Caroline, USA (yfiabema@ yahoo.com)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Church commends House of Reps’ support for LG autonomy

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he Anglican Diocese of Kubwa in the FCT has commended the House of Representatives’ support for local government autonomy in the 1999 Constitution amendment.

The commendation is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the second session of the synod of the diocese, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

The communique, signed

by Bishop Duke Akamisoko of Kubwa Diocese, urged state houses of assembly to ensure the passage of the constitutional amendments to strengthen the local government system.

NAN reports that the constitutional requirement is that 23 state assemblies out of the 36 state assemblies must endorse any amendment to the 1999 Constitution before it becomes a law.

The synod, however, expressed regret that the Senate failed to expunge Section 29 (4b) of the 1999 Constitution ``which stipulates that a married girl-child is considered to be of full age.’’

It noted that the Senate’s decision was in contradiction to Section 29 (4a) of the 1999 Constitution ``which adequately defined the meaning of `full age’ of marriage.’’

On education, the synod commended the establishment of 13 new universities but expressed concern over the recurring strikes by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

It said that the lingering ASUU strike had kept millions of Nigerian students at home in the last month and urged stakeholders to resolve all differences amicably.

The Church also advised government to address the perennial electricity problem in the country, noting that it was disheartening that more than 120 million Nigerians do not have access to power. ``The synod observes with dismay that Nigerians have been shortchanged by saboteurs both in and out of the system. ``Stable electricity supply is attainable with political will and purposeful leadership,’’ the statement added. (NAN)

PAGE 17

Metro

Demolition: 50 soldiers invade Galadimawa

By Adeola Tukuru ver fifty soldiers on Tuesday invaded Galadimawa, a Gbagyi community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and demolish over fifty houses The soldiers who arrived the village at about 11.00am with three bulldozers started their demolition in the primary school, demolishing an uncompleted block of class rooms.

The leader of the fierce looking soldiers refused to disclose his identity as all the soldiers removed their name tags and their insignias (ranks).

He said the developer who

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owned the land had genuine paper, therefore legally possess the land.

At the entrance to the village, some youth threw stones on the soldiers during their protest along side with women.

The soldiers were able to arrest some of the youths and beat them, asking them to roll themselves in the mud.

Some of the youth were been hospitalized after the brutality from the soldiers.

It also took the intervention of the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jibah who pleaded

with the soldiers to stop the exercise.

He said the community would not resist any government policy on demolition but it should carry a human face.

He also reminded them that the government had already planned to resettle the indigene, pointing out that the FCTA was yet to fulfil its promise.

Similarly, the district head of Galadimawa community, Alhaji Musa Barde said he was not given any notice for the demolition.

He also said his people were waiting for resettlement and compensation before they could

A man young is pushing his loaded cart and phoning at the same time, recently in Nyanya, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

accept demolition.

The soldiers with some few officials of the Development and control left after thorough argument with the people of the community and the AMAC chairman.

Some pastors living within the community also joined the community leaders in pleading with the soldiers.

One of the pastors, Bulus Baba of the ECWA Goodnews in Galadimawa said the exercise was an illegal one.

He insisted that ``no any responsible government will release soldiers to unleash terror on citizens.

He accused the private developer Mrss Mesotho company ltd of sponsoring the exercise.

He said the community would not resist any demolition if they were properly resettled.

He however cautioned against use of soldiers in a democratic regime to unleash terror on the citizens.

“Although the soldiers did not shoot anybody but they beat our youth to an extent that some were hospitalized.

“I don’t think this is proper.

This rubbish has been lingering for too long and my fear is that if the government continues to push these people to the wall, one day it will turn to another thing.’’

The protesting youth thereafter, pull down the palace of the village head of Galadimawa, Mr Tanko Zimiko,aledging that he had betrayed the community.

One of the youth who spoke on condition of anonymity accused the chief of selling the village to the private developer.

He said the community will no longer trust him as he will no longer rule over them.

Efforts to speak to the chief proved abortive as he was not picking his phone.

FCTA to regulate eateries, food vendors soon

By Adeola Tukuru he FCT Administration has said it would soon workout modalities to ensure that food vendors and operators of eateries are regulated to safeguard the health of the teeming populace of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who dropped the hint yesterday when a delegate from the Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria(EHORECON) paid her a courtesy call, said those providing food for the public

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would be subjected to medical screening to certify them fit to offer the service.

Akinjide, who was responding to observations by the Registrar of EHORECON on the absence of regulation and licensing of eateries and beer parlour said: “This is something we will try to pilot. We will screen them to ensure they are fit”.

According to the minister, they will be subjected to medical test such as HIV test, Hepatitis, etc and if found wanting, would not be allowed to operate.

While assuring the

delegate of the readiness of the administration to partner with them, she said: “We need to form a working group to look at the markets, general sanitation, then we can work on consistent basis because these are issues that need to be institutionalize for us to implement the frame work”.

She noted that the collapse of health is not the concentration of people but “because we have abandoned the things we use to do in the past so we need to bring back that culture and I think we in the FCT are ready to give you the support”.

Earlier, the Registrar of EHORECON, Mr. Augustine Ebisike noted that the emphasis today is on curative health, rather than preventive health.

He also lamented the relegation of Sanitary Health Officers, pointing out that presently, there is no single sanitary inspector in the Department of Development Control.

This was as he pointed out the unregulated and unlicensed nature of eatries and beer parlour operating in the FCT, stressing “it is time that we structure our environmental health issues”.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 16

FCTA unveils e-health policy and strategic documents

By Adeola Tukuru n the aim to create enabling environment for accessible health care delivery among Nigerians and also in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Health and Human Services in collaboration with Management Sciences for Health has organized an E-Health policy and strategies documents.

The Secretary FCT Health & Human Services Secretariat Dr.

I

Demola Onakomaiya who stated this recently in a workshop explained that the need for an e-Health policy and strategy to create the enabling environment and provide the needed direction for the entrenchment of e-Health in the territory.

Dr. Demola said the rise of social media has given a new impetus for the use of ICTs and e-government to foster citizens participation and engagement as

well as increase transparency and restore trust in government that lead to an increased efficiency of government services in line with citizens.

He stated that e-Health will provide a useful platform that will entrench a more effective and sufficient healthcare delivery system through increased access to qualitative healthcare, reduced cost, improved timeliness, enhanced health promotion and

disease surveillance, enhanced planing and prompt decision making by health administrators.

He reaffirmed the commitment of FCT Administration in using information and communication technology to produce a rapid transformational change that will positively impact the health sector in line with global best practice and the National Health Strategic Development Plan.

In his remarks, the president Society for Telemedicine and e-Health in Nigeria Dr. Olajide Joseph Adebola said that FCT Administration has built a draft documents on the existing FCT eHealth pilot and have exploited the benefits of inter- departmental and inter- agency cooperation and collaboration needed to create the enabling environment that will revolutionize the system.

Minister urged to address crisis affecting disables in FCT

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hairman, Joint National Association of People with Disabilities, Abuja Chapter, Alhaji Abubakar Bobbo, has urged Minister of Women and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, to address the crisis bedevilling the association.

Bobbo made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, the crisis started when the executive members, who had spent eight years called for a convention to elect new executives.

NAN reports that the May 23 National Convention of the association in Abuja ended in a stalemate.

The out-going president and a member of the electoral committee were beaten up by some aggrieved members.

The aggrieved members were said to be unsatisfied with the formation of the electoral committee and arrangement of the elections.

He said that the national executive, at the end of two terms and additional three months extension, went ahead to form an electoral committee without consultation.

He noted that the members, who accused the executive of prolonging their stay by delaying election, became disenchanted which resulted in a confusion. ``The members became furious, accusing the executive of trying to elongate their tenure unnecessarily,” he said.

According to him, the executive, in defending its actions, said the election was delayed due to paucity of funds.

Bobbo, who is also the Legal Adviser to the chairmen of the state chapters, said the effort of executives to solicit funds from international organisations for the conduct of the election failed. ``Officials settled for the national stadium as venue for the convention but the UNDP, which was the sponsoring body, could not provide the money for feeding.

FCT cultural troupe dressed in Fulani attire entertaining guests at a public function, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Principal calls for expansion of hostel in Gwagwalada

By Adeola Tukuru rincipal, Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Mrs Halima Suleiman, Dukpa has called for support to expand students’ hostel in the school to cushion the effects of increased students enrolment.

Suleiman stated this in Dukpa, near Gwagwalada on the occasion of second graduation, Speech and Prize giving day of the school.

She said the call for hostel expansion, additional classrooms blocks were to avoid overstretching of the existing ones following increased students enrolment in the school. ``The school urgently needs Dining Hall, Kitchen, additional staff quarters to ensure proper monitoring of students as well as a befitting football pitch and other sporting activities. ``At inception in 2009 the school had 250 students with 13 staff and as I speak to you today, we can boast of 640 students with 46 teaching and 18 nonteaching

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staff,” she said.

The principal pledged the commitment of the school management to ensure that students from the school were rated high in terms of performance in external examinations.

She commended the immediate past administration of Gwagwalada Area Council and the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of the school for their

support in the provision of boreholes and toilet facilities respectively in the school.

Suleiman who called on the graduating students to remain focused and dedicated to their future endeavors had cautioned them against any act that would undermine their integrity in the society.

In his remark, Mr Tafida Adamu, Assistant Director, Appointment, Promotion and

Discipline with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) commended the graduating students for their steadfastness in the course of the studies.

Adamu who was the chairman of the occasion had cautioned the students against harmful practices that could endanger their future particularly drug abuse, prostitution and bad companies.

Nutritionist urges residents to eat unripe plaintain

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buja residents have been urged to eat unripe plantain so as to prevent bladder and kidney.

A Nutritionist with Wuse General Hospital, Hajiya Jummai Abdul explained that unripe plantain contains potassium an important component of cell and body fluids that helps to control blood pressure.

She also added that unripe plantain contains a high amount of dietary fibre which is helpful for healthy bowels and reduces

constipation She said eating unripe plantain could also ease the discomfort of menstrual period.

According her, plantain is a reliable source of minerals like iron, phosphorous and magnesium essential for bone strengthening as well as a cardiac-protective agent.

She also said plantain is rich in vitamin C and A which help the body to develop resistance against infections agent and hunt harmful oxygen.

``Unripe plantain has more vitamin A, In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin A plays a vital role in the visual cycle, maintaining healthy mucus membranes and enhancing skin complexion.

“Plantain also contains foliates which are essential for healthy pregnancy,” Abdul said.

Foliate is a water-soluble B vitamin that is naturally present in some foods and available as a dietary supplement. (NAN)

PAGE 18

Metro INSIDE FCT COURTS

Police arraign 2 men for alleged breach of trust, negligence

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he police on Tuesday arraigned two employment agents Meshack Ihediuba and Raphael Umoru in an Abuja Magistrates’ Court for alleged criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and negligent conduct.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Monday Akor, told the court that Perpetua Chukwuemeka, of No 18 Bobo St., Maitama, reported the matter to the Maitama Division police station on April 4.

Akor told the court that Ihediuba was an agent who recruited domestic workers.

He alleged that Ihediuba conspired with Umoru(second accused) and employed one Micheal Adebayo as a driver in the complainant’s hotel.

The prosecutor alleged that the accused persons, negligently failed to verify Adebayo’s address and that of his guarantors before sending him to the hotel to work.

He said Adebayo absconded with the complainants Toyota Camry 2008 model, three hours after he resumed duties.

He told the court that efforts made by the accused persons to trace Adebayo was not successful as the address he gave, was discovered to be fake.

Akor said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 312, 196 and 97 of the Penal Code.

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

Counsel to the first accused, Mr. Felix Onuoha, prayed the court to grant his client bail saying that Section 36 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, guarantees his client’s innocence until otherwise proven.

Counsel to the second accused, Mr Stanley Onukwufor, also prayed to admit his client to bail.

He assured that the accused would not jump bail or interfere with police investigation.

In his ruling, the Magistrate, Mr Anthony Ogboyi, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500,000 each and a surety each in like sum.

He ordered that the sureties must be of a fixed and reliable address and reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He also ordered that the sureties must drop their passport photographs with the court’s clerk, with their names and signatures on the back of the passports.

He adjourned the matter to Aug 14, 2013 for hearing.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Bus conductor in court for allegedly stealing recharge cards

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he police on Monday arraigned a bus conductor, Solomon Ndualu, 19, in a Grade 1 Area Court in Mararaba for allegedly stealing recharge cards, valued at N20,000.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Inuwa Maigida, told the court that the matter was reported to the ‘A’ Division police station, Mararaba by one Ebele Anasieze,

of Kabayi village, Mararaba, on July 16.

Maigida told the court that sometime in early July, Nduala broke into Anasieze’s shop, located at Kabayi village in Nasarawa State and stole recharge cards, valued at N20,000.

He alleged that, after stealing the recharge cards, the accused absconded to an unknown

destination, until on July 16, at about 8 p.m. when he was arrested in Mararaba.

Maigida told the court that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, Ndualu is liable to six years in prison.

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

The Presiding Judge, Mr Albert Maga, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 and a surety in like sum.

Maga ordered that the surety must be responsible, possess landed property and reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case to Aug. 15, for hearing. (NAN)

Court sentences labourer to 6 months imprisonment for theft

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Young men hanging behind a truck loaded with water pipes, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Man, 32, docked for allegedly receiving stolen property

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he police on Monday arraigned a 32- year– old man, Abdu-Raheem Lukman, in an Abuja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly receiving stolen property.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Francis Tanko, told the court that Cpl. Ochokwunu Ifu, attached to Wuse police station, arrested the accused, of shop No 4, Wooden Complex, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Ifu said that the accused

allegedly bought two stolen Lister engines, valued at N32,000, from one Abdullahi Lukman, of Giri village, Abuja, but were later recovered from him.

Tanko said the offence contravened the Provisions of Section 319 of Penal Code Law. The offence carries maximum imprisonment of a five-year jail term or with fine or with both.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty and denied the allegation

against him. ``My Lord I didn’t know it was a stolen engine.’’

Senior Magistrate Abdul-Aziz Anka granted the accused person bail in the sum of N100,000 with a surety in a like sum.

Anka ordered that the surety must be 35 year- old and must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction.

The case was, however, adjourned till Aug. 14, 2013. (NAN)

Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates Court on Monday sentenced a labourer, Sunday Dakati, 36, of Iddo Gada, Abuja, to three months imprisonment for stealing 36 cartons of floor tiles.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Celestine Odoh, also ordered him to pay N420,000 to the complainant on or before Sept.

30. `` The convict will serve additional six months imprisonment if he failed to pay the compensation’’, Odoh said.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Sgt. Mohammed Ahmed, said Moses Femi of Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, reported the matter at the Maitama Police Station, Abuja on July 25, He told the court that the convict worked as a labourer for the complainant, Femi, at his building site at Kumasi Crescent,Wuse 2, Abuja. ``While working for Femi at the site, he stole 36 cartons of floor tiles valued N420,000. ``During police investigation, he confessed to committing the crime’’, Ahmed told the court.

He added that the convict was arraigned for theft, an offence which contravened Section 287 of the Penal Code.

Dankati pleaded guilty to the charge but begged the court for leniency, with a promise not to steal again.

(NAN)

Driver jailed for driving without vehicle particulars

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Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates Court, Abuja, on Tuesday sentenced a 38-year-old driver, Aniwanje Ferdinand, of Mpape village, Abuja, to two months imprisonment for violating driving rules.

Ferdinand is stood trial on a two-count charge of driving without vehicle particulars and operating a commercial taxi cab

without a registration number.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Aliyu Shafa, however, gave him an option of N10,000 fine.

Shafa also ordered the convict to undergo a compulsory one-day lecture at the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) command, Garki, Abuja, before the Police would release his vehicle to him.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor,

Sgt. Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that on July 25, at about 11.50 p.m., a team of policemen from the Maitama division, Abuja, arrested the convict.

According to Ahmed, the convict drove a Nissan Almera vehicle without particulars and also an expired driver’s licence.

He also told the court that the convict was operating the vehicle for commercial purposes without

registering it.

Ahmed said that the offence of driving without vehicle particulars was in contravention to Section 18 CAP 458 of the Road Traffic Act (RTA).

He also said that the offence of operating a vehicle for a purpose not registered, contravened section 40 CAP 548 of the RTA. Ferdinand pleaded guilty to the offence. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 19

INSIDE

Isa_abdulwahab@yahoo.com, Isaabdulwahab@gmail.com 08033045613

IPPIS enrolls 237 MDAs, directs others to enrol before Dec. 31 A Consultant on the Federal Government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), Mr Kola Oladeji says 237 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been enrolled into the initiative.

Oladeji said this recently in Osogbo in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The IPPIS initiative was introduced by the Federal Government to computerize the

data of workers as well as their emoluments.

Oladeji said with the introduction of IPPIS, the Federal Government had been able to match emoluments with actual number of workers.

He said it was wrong to think that government was out to rationalise its workforce with the scheme, adding, ``it is the world’s best practice to plan on actual figures and not estimates.’’

“With the IPPIS in place, it is

easy for government to plan for the welfare of its workers; know when to recruit; make recruitment transparent and to track service records,’’ Oladeji said.

The consultant said that with IPPIS, desk officers involved in payments, human resources and auditing would still be relevant, adding that ``only their jobs will be automated.’’

“President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that other MDAs yet to enroll in the system should do

so by the end of December.

“As soon as we are through with the enrolment stage, every MDA will have IPPIS desk,’’ he said.

He said with the IPPIS, issues of availability and reliability of management information as well as other systemic deficiencies would be addressed.

The Federal Government had between 2007 and 2010 reduced personnel costs in MDAs by N12 billion. (NAN)

No Premium No Cover’ has increased insurance industry earnings - operator

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he Executive Director, Business Development, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr Gbenga Ogunko said

that the ‘No Premium No Cover’ policy has increased the fortune of the insurance industry.

Ogunko said at a press

briefing in Lagos that since the implementation of the policy on Jan. 1, 2012, the number of policyholders had increased.

L-R: Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, during the Midterm Ministerial Platform of Ministry Trade and Investment, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

NIPOST and CBN collaboration on cash less policy, undergoing evaluation –PG

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he Postmaster- General, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Alhaji Ibrahim Baba, said the collaboration between NIPOST and CBN on cash less policy was undergoing evaluation.

Baba told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that, the essence of the collaboration was to support the CBN in the execution of the cash less policy.

Baba said that for the collaboration to take-off effectively there was the need to ensure that certain modalities needed to

be put in place, adding that the collaboration was at the process of evaluation. ``The Ministry of Science and Technology and CBN have decided to ensure that competent consultant looks into the capability and capacity of post offices of NIPOST to deliver services to CBN.’’ NAN recalls that under the partnership, NIPOST will roll out new services such as cash transfer as well as Warehouse Point of Sale Terminals, especially in rural communities.

NAN also recalls that, Baba

had sometime said the era of information technology had brought enormous competition to bear on NIPOST’s mandate and operations. ``We therefore need to redouble our efforts to create an efficient and profit-oriented postal service that will guarantee customer satisfaction and improved revenue generation.’’

He also said that NIPOST would sensitise its staff on the use of e-transact to enhance the CBN policy on cash-based transactions.

(NAN)

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the policy was introduced by the National Insurance Commission to check non-payment of premium/bad debt in the industry.

According to Ogunko, the implementation has created much insurance awareness among Nigerians.

“No Premium No Cover’ is beneficial to the industry. Before Jan. 1, operators were not sure whether the policy would work, but now, many companies are smiling to the banks.

“It shows that insurance has come of age. Now, people pay premium and are doing it joyously,” he said.

Ogunko said that more people were realising that insurance could serve as a useful tool to check losses.

The executive director said that the industry had also created more awareness on how to obtain a third party policy.

According to him, some policyholders have also benefited from huge claims from insurance companies.

Ogunko said that insurance premium was scientifically fixed, and that insurance business revolved around a pool of funds.

(NAN)

Dana Air launches one million seats mega sale - Pg 20

PAL Pensions nets N452m profit in - Pg 21 2012

Exchange Rates CBN

as at 30th July, 2013 Selling Buying

$

154.76

155.76

€

237.09

238.64

£

205.72

207.05

41.26

41.53

Riyal

Parallel Rates Buying

Selling

$

157.50

158.40

€

250

253.00

£

206.00

210.00

Riyal

43.00

45.00

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY review detailed operating plans Focus on and performance data. Look through recent reviews for all of yearning your your direct reports. Meet with each of them one-on-one and ask first 30 days on about their view of the team and the job where it needs to go.

When starting a new job, you want to focus your first month on finding out as much as you can about the organization, the people, and your role. This can start before you assume the new job by browsing the company website and talking with people who know the organization well, such as former employees.

Soon after you begin the job,

While you’re taking in all of this information, be sure to develop hypotheses about what you need to get done and the best way to go about it. And of course, all of this learning will generate additional questions, so never stop asking them even when you’ve started to take action.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 20

Aviation Company News

Enterprise bank launches new product for varsity staff

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nterprise Bank Limited has launched another product that is called “The University Staff Cluster Loan.”

The latest product, according to the bank, was designed to avail staff of Nigerian universities (both academic and non academic staff members) personal loans, which would enable them to bridge financial gaps at discounted interest rates.

Interestingly too, the bank said in a statement that subscribers to the loan would also stand a chance of accessing funds of between a minimum of N250, 000 and a maximum of N5, 000,000.00, with a repayment period of up to three years.

Aside that, the product would also allow lecturers, especially professors to access the loan even at the age 65 years.

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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elect aviation stakeholders have reacted to the decision by the House of Representative committee on Anti-Corruption, National Ethics and Values to institute probes into alleged multi-billion naira contracts scam in the aviation ministry, saying the act is counterproductive.

Speaking at a forum in Lagos which comprised, the airline operators, pilots and engineers, they picked hole on the statement attributed to House Committee Chairman on Anti-Corruption, National Ethics and Values, Hon.

Divergent views trail multi-billion naira ministry of aviation scam Abiodun Adeleke (ACN/Lagos) that there was a breach of contract award processes by the Minister in the remodeling of the airports.

Former Director of aviation security and safety, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN Captain Usman Balarabe said it was shocking for a sane Nigerian that had utilised the airport in the past failing not to notice the rot in infrastructure

compare to the magnitude of the rehabilitation that has so far been undertaken within the span of over two years.

Captain Usman said the remodeling programme has changed the old culture of neglect of airports, noting that, rather than heaping criticisms on the Minister, she should be commended for improving airport facilities to international

Dana Air launches one million seats mega sale

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FG to set new service standards for MDAs

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he Federal Government has unveiled plans to set new service standards for Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

The move, which is part of series of reforms currently being carried out in the public service, will help the different levels of authority in the public sector to deliver on contractual agreements.

PIB hearing: PENGASSAN, NUPENG fault Senate over exclusion

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il workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers have condemned their exclusion from the public hearing organised by the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill.

NIMET set to commercialise services From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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Jonathan asks African leaders to improve economic relations resident Goodluck Jonathan on Monday called on African leaders to take steps towards fulfilling their often declared commitment to improving trade and economic relations among countries on the continent. A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, quoted Jonathan as saying this while receiving the outgoing Namibian

standards, a feat he said has boosted air transport .

The Association of Young Aviators joined in condemning the attack on the remodeling project by the Rep members.

“All that Nigerians want is functional airports with modern facilities and not to bicker over due process as it has not yet proven that funds budgeted for the remodeling projects were diverted,” the group said in a statement.

Dana aircraft amid air

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ana Air has launched a new campaign which will afford airline’s clients the opportunity to fly to any of its destinations for as low as N7, 200.

Booking, paying for their tickets are expected to be carried out in advance on the airline’s website, airline’s Head of Commercial, Obi Mbanuzuo, said in a statement.

“From now till December 2013

our guests will get the best fares starting from as low as N7200 only if the book and pay for their tickets in advance.”

“As many as one million seats on all our routes have been opened for sale at these low fares.

So, if you are travelling to Abuja, Lagos or Port Harcourt anytime soon, the best time to book your tickets is now; in order to be able

to access our lowest fares. Very soon too, we will open seats to Uyo and Calabar for sale.”

Mbanuzuo further stated, “The campaign will encourage our guests to plan their trips in advance and will also offer more Nigerians the opportunity to experience our renowned worldclass services at the convenient fares”.

Aviation expert endorses transformation of sector

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he Chief Executive Officer of Westlink airlines, Capt Ibrahim Mshelia says the radical transformation in the aviation is a good omen for the air transport industry.

Speaking on the development of the aviation industry in Nigeria, Capt Mshelia noted that the current on-going transformation across the nation’s airport was a testimony of the development in the sector.

He urged Nigerians to appreciate contributions of some individuals in positions who are trying to reposition various sectors in their capacities adding that in the face of the current transformation by the aviation minister that some people were bent in distabilising her with negative publicity.

He said credit must be given to anybody that deserved it and has done well.

On airports in the country, Capt Mshelia said the country can boast of good airports that can conveniently accommodate aircrafts but advised that airline operators should be able to know the type of aircraft type suitable to some airports.

He said aviation industry will grow if all hands team up with government and airline operators to take to the next level.

Whereas the sector is riddled with challenges he said the introduction of new policies have aided in ameliorating some challenges especially the introduction of zero tariffs on aircraft spare parts.

According to him, once the zero tariff policy comes through, the airlines will stop paying for importing spare parts and that could translate into some profit for airlines.

On how to reduce air fares for domestic flights, Mshelia advocated the refining of jet A1, aviation fuel stating that the commodity is a reason why air fares in the country are high.

“We send crude out; it is refined and sold back to us at exorbitant cost. I believe that if we refine our own aviation fuel, it would cause the price to come down and air fare reduced” Mshelia also called for sincerity of purpose by operators stating that with the right attitude, discipline and will power the industry can be turned around extensively.

The West Link boss also commended government for doing a lot on safety through strengthening the regulatory authority stating that, “...Safety can be improved through robust oversight”

he management of Nigerian Meteorological Agency NIMET, is set to re-direct the outlook of the agency to be commercially viable and selfsustaining.

This it explains, is in line with the Federal Government directive that agencies of government that had attained the International Standard Organisation ISO 9001 be self-sustaining.

Director General of the weather agency, Dr Anthony Anuforom said the decision is the first since meteorological service began in Nigeria 1892 explaining that the certification has prepared the agency towards commercialization of its services.

He said earning the ISO 9001 certification by the agency is a testimony that its quality was of standard in the world.

“Getting ISO 9001 certified is paving way towards that so that you cannot commercialise something that does not have quality. In other words, the quality of our services is now very well assured. The benefits of the ISO 9001 are enormous for this country.

Nigeria is the destination because the air traffic will increase and the airspace will be busy and for us, we must be prepared and live up to the challenges of providing sufficient safety services” The certification is an international quality management requirement for aeronautical services providers to acquire the certification by the International Civil Aviation Organisation ICAO and the World Meteorological Organisation WMO. Dr. Anuforom explained that without acquiring the ISO 9001, international airlines were not under obligations to obtain or use the agency’s forecast adding that it will be tragic.

The ISO 9001 certificate is also an indication that NIMET has met all known quality service standards for aeronautical meteorological which the DG said was a long process of preparing for in terms of provision of infrastructure and stressed that the entire process was audited by an ICAO recognised quality management Audit firm from Canada.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 21

Pension&Insurance New products, panacea to PFAs, underwriters feuds – NIA boss

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L-R: New permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs Anastasia Nwaobia receiving hand over documents from the ministry’s former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, recently in Abuja.

PAL Pensions nets N452m profit in 2012 Stories by Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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ension Alliance Limited (PAL), a subsidiary of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, said it has recorded Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N452 million for the financial year ended 3ist December, 2012 against N338 million recorded in 2011.

The company also posted Profit After Tax (PAT) of N327.3 million against the N242 million it did in 2011 representing about 30 percent increase.

Addressing the shareholders at the Company’s Annual General meeting in Lagos, the Chairman, its Rilwan Belo-Osagie stated that the result represents positive growth as the company remains

positive with high hope the figure will improve in subsequent years.

“We are quite happy with the progress. A return on equity of about 30 percent by any standard is excellent if you consider the current inflation figure of about 9 percent” he said.

He said that as the pension industry continue to grow , pensions fund administrators especially PAL Pensions will be the better for it.

“In the next five years, the industry will continue to grow because pension will always be paid every month. Yes we have people retiring as well but it will grow. As a top ten 10 PFA we will continue to grow. PFAs will continue to be a major source of long term funding” Mr. Belo-Osagie noted.

He also made a case to government to evolve secure ways that pension funds largely lying dormant can be used to develop critical infrastructure in Nigeria.

“The challenge we are having is, if some of the pension funds could be directed to some needs of the country. What I mean is that, the country has a lot of infrastructure needs so if some of the money is invested in infrastructure, it will be good for the country” he said.

He however noted that the infrastructure must be de-risked before PFAs can invest in them.

The Managing Director, PAL Pensions DaveE. Uduanu said the company’s workforce is the greatest asset the company enjoys.

“We have a young workforce and we work as a team. This en-

courages every staff to work. We also reward good performance by our staff and we go for all new business opportunities in Nigeria” he noted.

“Our strategy is slightly different. We started from being aggressive to being slightly stable. In 2010, we were the second highest in terms of investment returns but we experienced a shock in 2011 when the market dipped and yield was low. We changed our strategy to outperform inflation which was 200 basis point. Our RSAs are happy because their returns are fairly predictable and stable. We also go the extra mile to provide superior service to our customers. We have a customer service services” he explained further.

NAICOM tasks govts on legislation to end building collapse

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tate governments have been urged to enact a legislation to ensure buildings used by third parties within their states are adequately insured.

Commissioner for insurance and Chief Executive, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) Mr Fola Daniel stated this while sympathizing with victims and family members that lost their lives in collapsed buildings.

He reminded the public that non-compliance with this provision of the law attracts a penalty of N100, 000 or one year imprisonment or both.

According to him, this has become necessary to give relief to victims of collapsed buildings whenever they occur.

He noted that in Lagos alone, it was reported that well over 20 lives had been lost to building collapse in the last six months.

Daniel said, “NAICOM deeply sympathises with victims and family members of those that lost their lives in the recent collapsed buildings in Lagos and Kaduna States. In Lagos alone, it is reported that well over 20 lives have been lost to building collapse in the last six months.

“Most painful is the fact that majority of those injured have to bear the treatment costs themselves while the families of those that lost their bread winners have no form of compensation, except maybe, the little that the state government could provide from the scarce resources of the state. The Commission is sad with this avoidable burden on government and victims if only these buildings are adequately insured.

“The Federal Government, through the Insurance Act 2003, made it compulsory for all

buildings used by third parties to be insured against the risks of collapse, fire, earthquakes, storm or flood such that in the event of any of these risks crystalising, adequate compensation would be paid to both victims and families of those who may lose their lives.

“Members of the public are hereby reminded that noncompliance with this provision of the law attracts a penalty of N100, 000 or one year imprisonment or both.”

He said the Commission equally seized the opportunity to urge all state governments to push for enactment of a law to ensure that buildings used by third parties in their states are insured to give relief to victims of collapsed buildings.

“Let us all give hope to victims and family members of those who lose their bread winners in collapsed building incidences

across the country,” he added.

Insurance of public buildings is one of the major components of compulsory insurance in Nigeria in 2007. They were introduced by NAICOM through its Market Development Initiative programme and made compulsory by the Insurance Act 2003 and other sister legislations.

Several collapsed buildings in the country have left scores of people injured or dead without any compensation because they were not covered by an insurance policy.

Recently, tragedy struck in Lagos as a three-storey building collapsed in Ebute Meta, killing seven people and injuring many others.

Also, in Kaduna State, another three-storey building collapsed in the Kaduna metropolis with many people reported trapped.

he Director General, Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), Mr. Thomas Sunday has challenged life underwriters to come up with suitable and sufficient products attractive to retirees as panacea to the constant feud between them and Pension Fund Administration (PFAs).

PFAs often accused Life insurers of duplicating annuity products while life insurers in turn accused the PFAs of marketing annuity products which it believed does not fall within PFAs domain.

Worried about the development, Sunday at an interactive session with the journalists in Lagos regretted that such issue came up in the sector as a result of lack of basic knowledge and understanding of the system. ‘’ I think it is a source of worry for the association, if you asked me. And I have written to the National Pension Commission (PenCom) on this which I copied NAICOM. It is simply lack of adequate knowledge of the subject.

I happened to be part of those who was instrumental to giving the provisions of the law when I was with the commission and it was not designed to be a source of conflict among institutions a but probably this is happening due to lack of proper understanding’’, he submitted The DG said the two set of practitioners were actually meant to complement each other, advocated that companies need to be called to order and be educated.

“The two was actually meant to complement each other and because of that I had to write to relevant bodies including using the newspapers that companies need to be called to order and properly educated. The role of programme withdrawal is different from that of annuity and I will tell you that the former Director General of PenCom was encouraging insurance companies to come up with products that will attract retirees and he gave a figure out of the total number of retirees, it was very small number that went by way of life annuity. I, for one, I retired from NAICOM, and I choose life annuity because I have a full understanding of how these things work’’, he stated.

Consequently, he admonished that such issues should not a source of quarrel rather, he urged both parties to come up with products that will sufficiently satisfy the retirees should be brainstormed. ‘’So if I am to be an operator, it will not border me too much, although taking the level of education into consideration, what they need to do is to come with suitable products that will sufficiently satisfy the retirees.

PAGE 22

Biz Analysis

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

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hether he leaves next month as being speculated, or gets tenure renewal which is also a possibility, none of the options could obfuscate genuine reforms and overhaul he initiated at the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS. Malam Abdullahi Dikko Inde, on assumption of leadership of the NCS as its Comptroller General of Customs in 2009 leaves no one in doubt of his intention and purposes . Having witnessed several phases of Customs’ trials and travails as insider, he came on board with clearly spelt goals.

Working with dedicated officers as his lieutenants, Inde assumed office armed with a six – point agenda targeted at elevating multifaceted standards of the NCS. Within the span of 100 days in office, positive changes were evident in many areas of the service.

The positive changes were made possible by articulated programme capacity building (local and international trainings) for all cadres of officers.

Modern equipment that would enable workforce to perform maximally were procured, followed by a 100 per cent increase in salary of the entire staff.

On the area infrastructural development, Inde procured aircraft for Customs, built estates, purchased staff buses; renovation and equipping of clinics with modern health facilities, empowerment of officers’ wives).

These are visible achievements that earned him applause from various quarters including the Ministry of Finance that superintends over Customs.

But beyond the landslide achievements Inde is bequeathing to Customs as legacy, the cordial relationship he once enjoyed with her supervising Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala has taken a dip towards the tail end of his first tenure.

The disquiet among these notable achievers in their respective fields is now a subject of hushed discourse in many quarters.

However, close associates of these officials are quick to state that, nothing unusual had occurred between the duo; but rather each in an attempt to justify what is ideal found themselves in an irreconcilable path.

Central to the raging cold war between the minister and the CG was the renewal of Destination Inspection Contract (DIS) for four firms.

The renewal of the N40 billion Destination Inspection contract for four firms- Cotecna Destination Inspection Nigeria Limited, SGS, Global Scan, and Webb Fontaine was contrary to agreement and understanding that clearly spelt out the intervention of these firms in ports operations.

The initial understanding was that, the firm would leave and hand over to Customs officers whom have been trained and equipped to handle the inspection operations at the ports.

Inde did not see a sense in doling government’s scarce resources that annually on a service that men and officers of the

Coordinating minister for the Economy/Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Customs CG, Abdullahi Dikko Inde

Okonjo-Iweala in ‘hide and seek’ game with Customs boss

By Abdulwahab Isa Customs Service had been thoroughly trained and equipped to handle.

The minster who was apparently not disposed to Customs taking over DIS operations was said to have expressed her misgivings on the competence of Nigeria Customs handling the inspection.

The Customs was expected to be in charge of Destination Inspection (DI) from January this year. At the end of the contract however, the Ministry of Finance, in a letter through its former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, claimed that President Goodluck Jonathan had extended the tenor of the deal by six months.

The letter, with reference number F10361/S.56/ VA/491 and addressed to the service

providers, said: “I wish to inform you that the President has approved the extension of the agreement dated 1st January, 2006, between your company and the Federal Government of Nigeria for the provision, installation, operation and management of X-ray scanning equipment and software for inspection of goods. “The agreement which is to expire on 31st December, 2012, has been extended for a period of six (6) months with effect from 1st January, 2013.” At the end of June, the CG was alleged to have insisted on the takeover but the contract of the four firms was again renewed for the umpteenth time.

Various stakeholders including the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Clearing Agents, the National Assembly opposed the extension of the contract for the

“

Inde did not see a sense in doling N40 billion of government’s scarce resources annually on a service that men and officers of the Customs Service had been thoroughly trained and equipped to handle. The minster who was apparently not disposed to Customs taking over DIS operations was said to have expressed her misgivings on the competence of Nigeria Customs handling the inspection.

four firms by government.

This clearly kicked off the cat and mouse relationship between Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Customs boss.

Beyond the DIS disagreement, it was learnt that, some interested groups capitalizing on the cracked relationship between the duos are hell bent to effect leadership change at the top hierarchy, a development said to have added to the cold war.

A national daily (not Peoples Daily) in a recent report alluded that “some forces are already pushing for non-renewal of Dikko’s tenure for second term in office. “To seal his fate, they have plotted his removal from office before August 18 as it was the case with the former Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, who was removed a few days to the end of tenure. “The CG of Customs’ case has however assumed ethnic dimension following rumours that an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs from the Southeast has been penciled down to replace Dikko”.

Expectedly therefore, Monday’s board of Customs meeting looked pregnant with much expectations.

Firstly, the Coordinating Minster of the Economy/finance who doubles as Chairman of Board of Customs betrayed no emotion dismissing insinuations of love lost between her and the host, Dikko.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala not only expressed satisfaction with the on-going reform programme of the Customs Service (NCS), she commended the Service assuring that “in a few months the Service would take full charge of

all its responsibilities”.

“I think from what I hear that it’s going relatively ok, it’s not easy. I don’t think there’s any organisation that goes through a transition period without some pains. I think the Customs is handling itself fairly well and I count on the CG to ensure a smooth transition. And it’s only a couple more months, two three more months and customs is in charge.

So I am sure that everybody is gearing up,” Okonjo-Iweala was quoted as saying Monday shortly after the board meeting.

Another fresh perspective has been added to the tenure eligibility of occupier of position of CG of Customs.

Giving an insight to succession rage that now characterized top echelon of the Customs few weeks to expiration of first tenure of incumbent CG, the chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Sabo Mohammed Nakudu, told an Abuja based newspaper that the office of the Comptroller-General of Customs is not subject to a fixed tenure.

Nakudu said neither the 1958 Customs nor Excise Management Act (CEMA) currently governing the Service, nor the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Bill 2011, fixed a limit on the CG’s tenure.

“The appointment, tenure and removal of the CG is purely the decision of the president,” he said.

Instructively, whether Inde leaves on the 18th of August on completion of his tenure or gets tenure renewal is immaterial.

What is indeed paramount, is the legacies he is bequeathing to the Customs.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 23

Stock Watch

Report as at Tuesday, July 30, 2013

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

Alcohol, tobacco, drug addiction among youth: Any genetic inclination?

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usa Idris, 22, has been to the rehabilitation centre three times because of his addiction to cannabis (Indian hemp), cough syrups containing codeine and other substances with intoxicating or hallucinatory effects.

Unfortunately, Musa is still hooked to these substances and when his mother confronted him one day, he simply replied: ``After all, daddy also drinks and smokes.’’

The young man’s blunt response somewhat throws up a question: Does Musa’s genetic make-up has any linkage with his current lifestyle and addiction?

Investigations reveal most of the heavy smokers and alcoholics have parents who neither smoke nor drink, while several non-smokers have chain-smokers as parents.

Placid Mbah, whose father is a heavy smoker, says that once he remembers his father’s addiction to cigarette smoking; he becomes more determined never to smoke or be friends to smokers. ``My father smokes so much even when he had bronchitis and the doctor advised him to abstain from smoking, he could not; he nearly died until the doctors had to sedate him for the medicine to work,” he recalls.

Dr. Muhammad Mahmud, a consultant neurosurgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja, says there is no genetic inclination in the addiction process.He says that addiction does not just start immediately, adding: ``It is a gradual process; to understand this process, you must understand the workings

of the brain itself.’’

The consultant says that the brain is administered by signals transmitted through neurons, which act like a conduit, linking one to another. ``Before a signal passes through one neuron to another, there must be something like a messenger, and this is called a neurotransmitter,’’ he says.

Mahmud explains that there is a system of excitation and inhibition in the body, adding that both are usually on equilibrium.``Once that balance is distorted, there is going to be a problem,’’ he adds.

He stresses that hard drugs are usually excitative and they send positive impulses to the brain, adding, however, that instead of the usual amount of message, the drugs push a high percentage of the message to the brain and the person consequently becomes highly excited. ``That gets him of her high but that condition would not last forever; so by the time one continues to take the drugs, the body finds a way of curbing the effect because it senses that it is abnormal. ``So, the body reduces the effect by way of shutting down about 50 per cent of the receptors; now, the person has to increase his intake to have the same excitement. ``This keeps going until the doses become quite large; by the time one keeps taking these substances, the pathways expand to affect other surrounding areas that affect thinking, emotions, behaviour, movement, memory and so on. ``At this point, the person is going into addiction, that

“

The neurosurgeon notes that at that point, the person has no control over the drugs’ intake anymore, as the body now demands for the substances, adding that any attempt to stop abruptly could result in severe agitation by the brain

Some Indian hemp smokers is when the person’s attitude and demeanour changes if he or she does not have those medications,” he says.

The neurosurgeon notes that at that point, the person has no control over the drugs’ intake anymore, as the body now demands for the substances, adding that any attempt to stop abruptly could result in severe agitation by the brain. ``At that point, it is very difficult for the person to withdraw because the moment one withdraws, the whole of the brain that is involved now really gets agitated, the person can convulse, go into coma or even have a heart problem,’’ he adds.

However, the Federal Ministry of Health is certainly aware of the harmful effects of some drugs and has banned the sales of certain drugs across the counter.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, says

Some drugs are caught and destroyed but some shipments still get through

that cough syrups with codeine would henceforth be treated as a narcotic drug and would no longer be sold across the counter.

He also said that the ministry was taking drastic steps to regulate the availability of such medicines. ``We are in the process of inaugurating a National Drug Advisory Team, while launching the National Drug Distribution Guidelines,’’ he says.

All the same, Malam Ibrahim Abdul, the Commandant of the NDLEA in Jigawa, appeals to state governments to ban sale of local gin (ogogoro) and other substances in their respective domains. ``There are no laws against the sale or consumption of these substances, even if we arrest anybody for abusing these drugs, there is little we can do,’’ he says.

Kaduna State is one of the

few states which have taken steps to enact laws to check drug abuse.

Gov. Mukhtar Yero says that a bill to check drug abuse will soon be sent to the House of

Assembly for passage. ``We understand that nowadays, the youth use different means to get intoxicated. This has been a source of serious concern to the security committee in the state. ``As such, we have proposed a bill that will be sent to the House of Assembly to address some of these problems. ``This is because, sometimes, even if people are arrested for drug abuse, there is no extant law to prosecute them; hence the need for the proposed law,” he said.

The governor, however, calls on parents and the general public to redouble their efforts to ensure the proper upbringing of the children.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, blames the moral decadence among the youth on the breakdown of family values and bad leadership.

He notes that the complete breakdown of family and leadership values have left the youth without role models, either at home or at the societal level. ``Things are extremely bad and in shambles; parents have failed, while the leaders, whether political, religious or those in the academia, are not showing good examples,’’ he says.

Observers insist that since there is no genetic explanation for tobacco, drug or alcohol addiction, parents should make extra efforts to ensure the proper upbringing of their children.

They also underscore the need to put in place adequate legislation to curb the sale of harmful substances across the counter.

Source: NAN

“

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, blames the moral decadence among the youth on the breakdown of family values and bad leadership

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 27

Property

Nigeria scores low on Millennium Development Goals on Housing

By Udenna Orji

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nless concerted efforts are made to reverse the current state of affairs, Nigerians, nationwide, will have to wait much longer than other nations before they can enjoy the benefits of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on Housing. The Millennium Development Goals on Housing are a global pact to ensure that citizens of nations have access to affordable and decent housing by the year 2020.

The Millennium Declaration was adopted by member states of the United Nations in September 2000. It contains eight MDG’s ranging from eradicating extreme poverty to combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. The MDGs detail out 18 specific development targets, each with a time-frame and indicators designed to monitor the extent to which the target has been achieved.

Specifically, Millennium Development Goal 7, Target 11 assigned the United Nation (UN)-HABITAT the responsibility of assisting member states to monitor and gradually attain the “Cities Without Slums” target, also known as Target 11, which is one of the three targets of Goal 7: To Ensure Environmental Sustainability”. Target 11 aims to achieve a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by the year 2020.

By UN-HABITAT’s definition, a slum household is a household that lacks any one of the following five elements: Access to improved water; (Access to sufficient amount of water for family use, at an affordable price, available to household members without being subject to extreme effort).

Access to Improved Sanitation: (Access to an excreta disposal system, either in the form of a private toilet or a public toilet shared with a reasonable number of people).

Security of Tenure: (Evi-

President Goodluck Jonathan dence of documentation to prove secure tenure status or de facto or perceived protection from evictions).

Durability of Housing: (Permanent and adequate structure in non-hazardous location).

Sufficient Living Area: (Not more than two people sharing the same room).

But the increasing growth of slums in Nigeria, borne out of the nation’s estimated deficit of 16 million housing units, is causing unease in government circles and among industry operators. While commending the Federal Government for the newly approved housing and urban development policies, experts say Bills on Land Tenure (the proposed amendments/ repeal of the Land Use Decree), Foreclosures, Tax Incentives for Housing and Mortgage-related transactions still pending at the National Assembly constitute major impediments to the re-

“

Nigeria today has an estimated shortage of 16 million houses based on Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria figures. Assuming a decent home in the country will cost a minimum of N10 million, to meet 10 million housing units, it will sum up to N100 trillion.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amal Pepple alisation of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals on Housing in Nigeria.

According to mortgage banker, Muhammed Jibrin, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Trust Savings and Loans Ltd, “If you look at the Nigerian economy generally, it is clear that minimum attention has been paid to the

housing sector… Everybody in this country knows that the land tenure system confers the right of title to the governor of the state, making ownership and transfer of title cumbersome.

The banks cannot easily foreclose on properties that mortgages have been created on. The foreclosure law has to be passed.

The law concerning tax incentives for housing and mortgagerelated transactions should also be passed. Unless the National Assembly passes these legislations, the expected Millennium Development Goals, in terms of providing decent affordable housing will not be achieved.

Government needs to move forward and make sure those bills are passed into law.”

Explaining further, he said “the second thing is that you bring in private sector participation. Nigeria today has an estimated shortage of 16 million houses based on Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria figures.

Assuming a decent home in the country will cost a minimum of N10 million, to meet 10 million housing units, it will sum up to N100 trillion. So, government must provide a holistic policy framework and the necessary environment to tackle this shortage. Only then can the needed long-term private sector funds to develop the sector be attracted.”

A recent World Bank report says Nigeria has the potential to become Africa’s foremost economic power, with an average GDP of six per cent per annum, buoyed by a young and growing population of 160 million.

Morgan Stanley, an investment banking institution, also predicted that Nigeria’s economy would outperform South Africa’s by 2025, to become the biggest in Africa. The macroeconomic outlook is favourable.

With an expected stable inflation rate, five percent rural-tourban immigration, and three percent population growth, experts say Nigeria is a huge real estate market by all standards.

Concurring with the statistics, Jibrin noted that “in the highly developed economies, the average contribution of the real estate and housing sectors to the GDP is 40 percent.

In every economy, there is an engine room for that economy.

The Nigerian housing sector can serve as that engine room as we seek to diversify our economic base. The sector has the potential to generate and create huge economic activities.

The housing sector needs to consume other building materials and products such as electrical equipment, furniture, paints, roofing, cement, etc. The sector can help in developing small and large-scale production of these key inputs, thereby generating employment and increasing the level of national income.

“Addressing the housing sector problem is the same as addressing the unemployment problem and one avenue to diversify the economy away from dependence on the oil sector”, he declared.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 28

Chevrolet Equinox combines good looks, comfort and practicality

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Motoring

ince its introduction back in 2010, the Chevrolet Equinox has been one of our favorite small crossover SUVs thanks to its combination of good looks, comfort and practicality. Compared to some more recently introduced or redesigned models, the 2014 Chevy Equinox isn't quite as desirable as it once was, but it's still a model you'll likely want to take a look at if you're shopping for a compact crossover.

High on the Equinox's positive attribute list is the availability of a strong V6 engine.

More a n d more a u tomakers are dropping the optional V6s from their small crossover lineups due to fuel economy concerns or a claimed lack of consumer demand. This leaves the Equinox (plus its GMC twin, the Terrain) as one of only a few models in 2014 that offers six-cylinder grunt for towing or hauling or merely to satisfy your desire for speed.

The Equinox also gets a thumbs-up for its overall ride comfort and the quietness of its cabin. This small Chevy doesn't offer quite as much cargo capacity as some rivals, but there's still enough to deal with the typical items that most people will be looking to haul. Plus, we like that the Equinox's rear seat both

reclines and slides back to give second-row occupants first-class legroom.

Less impressive is the Equinox's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that's standard on all trim levels. It has solid EPA fuel economy ratings, but out in the real world, we've been underwhelmed by both its performance and its fuel economy.

Handling isn't a strong suit for the Equinox either, and its steering isn't very precise even by

budget crossover SUV standards.

If practicality is your top priority, you'd be wise to check out the roomier and multitalented Honda CR-V or perhaps the Kia Sorento, which also has a V6 option plus an available thirdrow seat. Shoppers looking for a more entertaining driving experience will also want to look at sportier models like the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5 or Volkswagen Tiguan. But all things considered, the 2014 Chevrolet Equinox is definitely worth a look, particularly if you're interested in a small crossover with a truly upscale interior and a V6 engine option.

The 2014 Chevrolet Equinox is a compact crossover SUV that's offered in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ.

Standard equipment on the entry-level LS includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, keyless entry, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, a driver seat with power height adjustment, a 60/40-split second-row seat that slides and reclines, cruise control, a trip computr, a tilt-andtelescoping steering wheel with audio controls, Bluetooth phone connectivity, OnStar communications and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio input jack and a

rearview mirror and a Pioneer sound system with eight speakers.

Springing for the top-of-theline LTZ gets you some nice extras, including 18-inch chromed alloy wheels, a power liftgate, rear parking sensors, leather upholstery, an eight-way power passenger seat, driver memory settings and a lane departure warning system with forward collision alert. LTZ models equipped with the V6 engine also get firmer suspension tuning.

Some of the standard features on upper trim levels are bundled into option packages that can be added to the less expensive models. Other options include 19-inch chrome-clad alloy wheels

USB/iPod interface.

The LT trim level is actually split into two subsets: 1LT and 2LT. The 1LT adds heated mirrors, rear privacy glass, roof rack side rails, premium cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rearview camera and an upgraded audio system that has a 7-inch touchscreen (Chevy's MyLink interface), Bluetooth audio connectivity, voice controls and smartphone integration for Internet radio apps such as Pandora.

Moving up to the 2LT gets you foglights, remote start, automatic climate control, heated front seats, an eight-way power driver seat, an auto-dimming

( L T Z V6 only), a sunroof, a navigation system (2LT and LTZ) and a dual-screen rearseat entertainment system (LTZ only).

The 2014 Chevrolet Equinox is offered with one of two powertrains. A 2.4-liter fourcylinder engine that puts out 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque is standard across the model lineup, as are a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. An all-wheeldrive system is optional.

In Edmunds testing, a frontwheel-drive Equinox with the four-cylinder engine accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds, an average number for this segment. EPA fuel economy estimates are 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 20/29/23 with all-wheel drive.

While these numbers are impressive, in our tests the Equinox had a hard time matching them, especially on the highway.

LT and LTZ models are also available with a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 301 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque. In testing of the essentially identical GMC Terrain V6, we recorded a 0-60 mph time of 7.0 seconds, an impressive time among small and midsize crossovers with a six-cylinder or upgraded turbocharged engine. Not surprisingly, EPA fuel economy estimates for this engine are significantly lower at 17/24/20 with front-wheel drive and 16/23/19 with all-wheel drive.

Properly equipped, four-cylinder models will tow up to 1,500 pounds. With the V6, towing capacity climbs to 3,500 pounds.

Source: Edmunds.com

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 29

Arts & Culture

National Arts theatre, in Igamu, Lagos

Experts commend FG on branding of domestic tourism

M

r Wale Odeyemi, the Zonal Coordinator, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, South-West campus, commended the Federal Government on its recent strategy for developing domestic tourism.

Odeyemi gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that the recently launched brand identity ``Fascinating Nigeria’’ for domestic tourism in the country showed government’s commitment to strategise on better way to market the vast tourism potential. ``It is a step in the right direction by the Federal Government to have taken a step to develop domestic tourism. ``It is to show that we appreciate the vast tourism potential in Nigeria and ready to project it to the international community. ``It will also encourage foreigners to invest in our domestic tourism,’’

Odeyemi said.

He said that other African countries like Gambia, Kenya and South Africa that had so far developed their tourism sectors went through the same process.

Odeyemi said: ``The brand name Fascinating Nigeria is also unique on its own because it acknowledges the numerous cultures, festivals and other tourists attractions in the country.”

Also, Mrs Sophia Anyafulu, Principal Lecturer, Department of Hospitality Management, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, told NAN that the brand identity given to Nigeria tourism would bring more development to the sector. ``The brand identity is a welcome development and will project the country’s image globally. ``Government should ensure that there is proper marketing of the vast tourism potential,’’ Anyafulu said.

Another expert, Prof. Oladele Falade, a lecturer, Department of Tourism and Events Management, Afe

A letter to my countrymen’ Book Review Brief Author: Celestina Nwankwoala Title: “A Letter to My Countrymen” Review by Ozodi Osuji Publisher: AuthorHouse Page: 100 pages

I

n her new book “A Letter to My Countrymen” (published

by AuthorHouse) author Celestina Nwankwoala explores the challenges that plague Nigerian society, but she is quick to point out that it reaches outside Nigeria. “Anybody interested to have a second look at what makes a society go wrong will be interested.”

“A Letter to My Countrymen”

is about what Nwankwoala calls the Nigerian Factor, a concept in Nigeria which makes an average Nigerian accept negativity as the way of life. Nwankwoala believes this is evidenced by the high rate of corruption and lack of attention to social issues, making her book a book of weakness in a country greatly blessed.

Nwankwoala explores a diversity of subjects, including corruption, militancy, unemployment, religion, maternal mortality, child abuse, child slavery and superstitions.

This book “captures the life of ordinary people and their way of life and sheds light on certain tradition and belief system that should be changed.”

Babalola University, Ado-Eikiti, told NAN that launching of a brand name for tourism in Nigeria would attract more tourists into the country.

He advised the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) to embark on an aggressive marketing and promotion of the nation’s tourism potential. ``There is need to ensure that the insecurity problem is tackled so that whatever strategy put in place to develop tourism will have effect,’’ Falade said.

In his comment, Mr Kehinde Oluwafunso, a member of Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival Foundation, Nigeria, told NAN that the branding of domestic tourism indicated that the Federal Government was passionate and consistent about tourism development in Nigeria. ``Government should ensure that only experts well grounded in tourism, takes charge of tourism affairs in the country, so that their efforts will not be in vain,’’ Oluwafunso said. (NAN)

Aribidara Festival to boost cultural revival, says AISAC

M

r Gbola Laosebikan, the Chairman of Aribidara Indigenous Society for Arts and Culture (AISAC), says the 2013 edition of the Aribidara Festival was held to promote cultural revival.

He spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ogbomoso on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the fifth edition of the festival.

The festival, which took place between Thursday and Saturday, was tagged: `` Spiritualism and Egungun Tradition.’’

“The Aribidara Cultural Festival is all about reviving our cultural heritage as against the prevailing trend of our youths who are now taking to western civilization.

“Unfortunately for us today, we have abandoned our own culture for

other people’s culture.

“No sustainable development can take place if not based on culture,” he said.

Drawing lessons from Japan and Korea where culture has intrinsic link with advancement, Laosebikan said no society could develop without promotion of cultural values.

He also said the festival had been in existence in the last 80 years, adding that it was being revived after being rested for 60 years.

Laosebikan promised to make the festival an international event like the Notting Hill Carnival and Brazilian Festival.

NAN reports that the festival featured displays by masquerades, Ayo competition, charity visit and a symposium on `` The Origin of Masquerades.’’ (NAN)

Copyright Commission arrests 6, impounds N6m equipment

T

he Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in Benin arrested six persons involved in illegal transmission or rebroadcast of Multichoice Nigeria Limited (DSTV) and channels of other broadcasting organisations.

The NCC Benin Zonal Manager, Mr Michael Madueke, told newsmen in Benin on Monday that the arrests were made on Friday during an anti-piracy raid carried out by the surveillance unit of the commission within Benin City.

He said that the commission secured 10 convictions within a year, adding that some cases were still in court. ``Six persons were recently arrested in six different outfits in Benin for illegally transmitting or rebroadcasting the channels of DSTV and channels of other broadcasting entities.

``Items impounded included cables, decoders, spliters and smart cards worth about N6 million. ``The suspects have been charged to court and are awaiting trials,” he said.

He said the raid was an effort of the Director-General of NCC, Mr Afam Ezekude, to reduce piracy to zero level.

He said that such raids would also be of immense benefit to the public as it would enable right owners to benefit from the fruits of their labour.

Madueke advised the public to desist from patronising illegal broadcasting outfits commonly called ``Cable Network Boys’’ and warned that that anyone caught would be treated as a conspirator.

He also urged the public to report anyone involved in such illegal act to the commission.

(NAN)

PAGE 30

Arts & Culture

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

POEM OF THE WEEK

Proof of Heaven (1) Book Review Author: Eben Alexander Title: Proof of Heaven Review by Ozodi Osuji Publisher: Proof of Heaven.

(New York: Simon & Schuster, 2012) Page: 196 Pages

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his book is a first person account of the phenomenon called near death experience, NDE. In 2008, Eben Alexander, a Harvard University Neurosurgeon apparently contracted bacterial meningitis (from E. coli) and his brain was severely attacked and he went into coma. He was in coma for seven days and was treated at Lynchburg, Virginia General Hospital.

The book is an account of what he claimed transpired during those seven days when his mind, as he said, checked out of his body and journeyed to heaven. He provided descriptions of the heavenly realms he journeyed to and those descriptions are in sync with similar descriptions offered by those who also claim to have had near death experience (going through a dark environment or tunnel, emerging in a place of light, a very beautiful place where people and things take on radiant quality; interacting with those people and eventually moving on to other realms that we might call the formless kingdom of God).

It is not so much the description of the spiritual realms provided by Dr. Alexander as it is who did the describing. Eben Alexander, MD is a highly trained neuroscientist who understands the intricacies of the human brain and has operated on numerous brains. He is trained in the scientific method and understands that according to science only phenomenon that all of us can observe and verify is considered scientific.

In fact, he showed a level of understanding of science not usually seen in medical doctors (strictly speaking, medical doctors are technicians of the body, not pure scientists, such as physicists, chemists, biologists, astronomers and geologists). He reviewed aspects of quantum physics and seem to know what he is talking about. He talked about Einstein’s Special and General Relativity, Neils Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, Emil Schrodinger, Pauli, Paul Dirac, Jean, Born, Broglie and other giants of quantum physics. He grasped the developments in science since 1543 when Copernicus posited that the Sun is the center of our world, and in 1610 when Galileo proved Copernicus’ thesis with his telescopes. In 1687 Isaac Newton posited his three laws of motion and the law of gravity and gave birth to physics (Greeks such as Democritus had some sort of physics but not as we now understand the subject).

In the eighteenth century we had Lavoisier, Laplace and Boyle (those gave birth to Chemistry); in the nineteenth century we had Dalton, Thomas Young, Michael Faraday, James Clerk Maxwell,

Charles Darwin, Ludwig Boltzmann, and J.J. Thompson. In the twentieth century we had (apart from the already mentioned quantum physicists) Max Planck, Pierre and Maria Curie, Ernest Rutherford, James Chadwick, Lise Meitner, Enrico Fermi, Strassman, Otto Hahn, Pauline, James Watson and Francis Crick, Wheeler, Murray Gell-Mann, Alan Aspect, Alan Goth.

Dr. Alexander understood how science succeeded in marginalizing people, presenting them as insignificant part of the universe, whereas our ancestors used to fancy that they were the center of the universe and, indeed, believed in a God who had nothing better to do with his time but to protect them. Because science has belittled man he is striving to rehabilitate his diminished self-esteem and often grasps on vacuous spirituality to make him seem to have existential value.

Alas, he has no apparent worth for he lives on an insignificant planet, in an ordinary solar system that is placed at the tail end of a spiral galaxy, a galaxy that is one of billions of galaxies. We live on a planet, along with its star that came into being four and half billion years ago, and would in five billion years die with that star. Indeed, the entire universe is scheduled to die a cold death in a few trillion years when its expansion leads to heat loss.

We seem nothing and are apparently looking for something to make us seem to have worth; belief in God seems to serve that purpose for some persons hence folks blindly latch unto talks about spirit and its alleged worth and immortality.

Talk about the spiritual realms generally are subjective; other persons , for example, seem unable to observe what NDE folks claim to have experienced hence many of us see them as sort of like dreams that are associated with death and dying.

Perhaps, as we are about to die certain biophysical and biochemical reactions in our brains provide us with spectacular dreams to bid us Farwell from the material universe?

Simply stated, those trained in scientific reductionism tend to disregard what NDE folks talk about.

Perhaps, we are amused by talk of visiting the spiritual world and leave it at that but do not take it seriously.

In the past, mankind deluded itself with loads of spiritual talk that turned out as mere superstition.

As far as we know, only the scientific method has enabled us to understand the world we live in and enabled us to devise technologies to control the physical environment

Like people of the moon

By Abigail George

hence make our lives pleasant. Just imagine the world of yesteryears when our ancestors prayed to what they called gods but were killed by assorted bacteria and virus, lived pained and suffering existence and their so-called gods did not help them one bit.

Science has offered us the only help we have so far obtained in this seeming meaningless existence of ours. We are born, live, age, feel pain and then die. What a bummer!

But such is the fate of all those living in flesh and there is no need crying over spilled milk. Hold your head high; chin out, march forward and take whatever life throws at you without complaint.

Try to understand physical phenomena, develop technology and make the most of our seeming pointless existence in space, time and matter and hopefully live to age 100 and then die. When you die the body you had enslaved yourself laboring to provide for decays, rots and smells worse than feces (our bodies are made of the various elements, especially

Talk about the spiritual realms generally are subjective; other persons , for example, seem unable to observe what NDE folks claim to have experienced hence many of us see them as sort of like dreams that are associated with death and dying.

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, CHON, and traces of other elements such as iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, etc.). Upon death the elements that hitherto composed ones body decay to particles (such as electrons, protons and neutrons) that they are made of. Particles are made of quarks and quarks are made of photons (radiation) and those are made of (nothingness, the nothingness from which energy and matter emanated during the Big bang 13.7 billion years ago)?

Simply stated, most scientifically educated persons embrace materialism, the philosophy that we came from matter and return to matter. In so far that we have thinking, aka mind and consciousness most scientists seem to believe that it is epiphenomenal; that is, a throw up of the processes of the neurons in our brains. Certain biochemical and biophysical processes in our brains seem to produce consciousness.

Consciousness is of the body and when we die dies with our bodies, and that is all there is to us.

All talk of consciousness being outside the human body seems to beg the question since none of us has seen consciousness outside our bodies. If spirits exist let them come and at the same time show themselves to many people. As long as they seem to express their existence only through certain individuals, such as NDE folk, we are prone to suspect that it is such individuals that produce the phenomenon (Kant’s numenon?) that they call spirit?

If people lived on the moon how Would they ever begin to fathom justice If the tides didn’t turn?

Truths for me If the sun didn’t burn so bright In my eyes would I see angels falling From the sky wearing white robes?

Signs Could we stop the sounds of falling rain If we weren’t exposed to the song in it, if we Paid more attention to it like a dream?

Helen Lunch – a plate of cheese On a dusty New Bethesda table While mice ransack the place.

While I eat French toast As hard as air, poised yet fragile, you, Black beauty mapped with fragile lines – Make me weep rivulets like gems.

Land of lava and volcanoes It’s nice out, sunny even While dark clouds gather – If it weren’t dangerous I’d Walk around the church With my father.

For too long now I have used Being and nothing as a crutch.

Waking, feeling prehistoric I can feel the lightness in you – It’s a soft love light.

I sit and write about mummy And daddy, tears that came and Went like a cold waterfall Staring right through me as it Floods my mind’s eye.

A child’s fists painted with Mud pies, adults with their bleak Smiles swimming out of reach – Moon people do not have to speak Of the volume of their loneliness.

If only loss were pintsized.

If only a brother was not locked In the mists of rehab – childhood Has no walls only infinite space.

Watch me detach myself From that thing, that skin Of a telescope, its core’s pulse – Why are you sullen, something Flawed on the other end of the Line leaving me an uninvited Guest like dark to fathom You out, the sun of your rare Soul-pieces – a deluge is Wrung out, washed out pale Like mysticism’s shroud.

QUOTE

“She was widely read enough to appreciate my literary wit but not so widely read that she knew my sources. I like that in a woman.” ― David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

DIPLOMATIC

PAGE 31

CIRCUIT

MFA hosts public lecture on nation building, sectionalism

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

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he Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday hosted a lecture by Professor Ehiedu Iweriebor. The lecture focused on Nation building, sectionalism, security,and integration.

The Professor, who is on a sabbatical with the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the

Ministryof Foreign Affairsgave his opinions on issues such as security and Nation building.

He expressed surprise at the rise of the Boko Haram insurgency from Borno, which is known for its rich scholarly culture.

Iweriebor called the group an “equal opportunist terrorist oppressor”, who wanted to simly raise tensions and fears and seek an impossible theocracy.

He linked their suicide attacks to an external intrusion of Arab culture, and admitted that the situation was indeed complex.

He however expressed optimism that the threat would be contained over time.

On the issue of Nation building, Professor Iweriebor tasked Nigerians to have a better outlook of themselves.

Al-Habibiyah Foundation hosts US Embassy at Ramadan event

M

embers of the U.S. Embassy community in Abuja joined Muslim observers to participate in this year’s annual Ramadan Iftar, organized by the Al-Habibiyah Islamic Society of Nigeria.

Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas Climan led Embassy community members to the event hosted by Imam FuadAdeyemi,

community leader and head of the Al-Habibiyah Foundation. In 2005 Imam Adeyemi participated in a U.S. government sponsored exchange program where he became interested in the U.S. food banks and feeding programs. The Foundation offers food throughout the year to the needy, in addition to dinners during Ramadan, in

“Our perceptions of Nigeria are so negative that we ignore the factual Nigeria” He said.

The Professor pointed out that Nigeria had made great progress since the start of Democracy in 1999, reminding Nigerians that challenges were normal in any country, especially one that was hitherto unfamiliar to the democratic process.

“Looking at Nigeria as an

empty glass is misleading and self-diminishing, I look at Nigeria as three quarters full”,said Iweriebor.

Professor Iweriebor is the Professor and chair at the Department of Africana and Latino studies at Hunter College, City University. New York.

The lecture was organized in partnership with the Free Africa Research and Associates (FARA).

AU High-level panel for Egypt undertakes a week-long mission to Cairo

replication of what Imam Adeyemi learned while participating in the International Visitor’s Program in the United States.

Quoting from President Barack Obama’s speech, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, Douglas Climan, said the dinner was an opportunity to come together as people from diverse faiths to celebrate the principles that bind people of

U.S. Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Douglas Climan serving dinner during Iftar at the Al-Habibyah Foundation feeding program in Abuja. Embassy photo by Idika Onyukwu

different faiths together, a commitment to peace, justice, r e l i g i o u s tolerance, equality and compassion towards fellow human beings.

‘These are strong bonds indeed,” Douglas said.

M o r e than 600 less privileged Muslims and the needy were feed during the Iftar, with volunteers from the U.S. Mission participating in serving the food at the breaking of the Fast.

(From L-R) Dileita Dileita Mohamed, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Djibouti, Gontebanye Festus Mogae, former President of the Republic of Botswana, and President of the Republic of Mali and former Chairperson of the AU Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, Chair of the Panel

A

s a follow up to the communiqué of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) and subsequent consultations between the AU Commission and the Egyptian authorities, the AU High-Level Panel for Egypt is undertaking a visit to Cairo from 27 July to 5 August 2013.

The purpose of this first visit is to gather information and consult with the Egyptian authorities and other stakeholders on the prevailing situation in Egypt.

The Panel will also interact with the Secretary-General and other senior officials of the League Arab States.

It is to be recalled that the Panel, which is chaired by former President Alpha OumarKonare of Mali and comprises former President Festus Mogae of Botswana and former Djibouti Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita, was established by the Chairperson of the Commission on 8 July 2013.

The Panel held its inaugural meeting in Addis Ababa, on 16 July 2013.

ECOWAS adopts measures to fast-track Abidjan-Lagos road project

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he ECOWAS Steering Committee on the 1,028km Abidjan-Lagos corridor road project has adopted various instruments for facilitating the implementation of the project.

Among the documents adopted at the end of the fivenation committee’s inaugural meeting in Abuja, were the legal and institutional frameworks, the terms of reference for the studies for the project, the project implementation as well as the finance and resource mobilisation mechanisms.

The committee, comprising Ministers of Road Infrastructure, Transport, Public Works, Finance and Justice of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire,

Ghana, Nigeria and Togo, also validated the proposals submitted by sectoral experts in an earlier meeting.

The road, which accounts for 75 per cent of regional trade and impacts on some 30 million of the Community citizens, links major cities such as Lagos, Cotonou, Accra, Lomé and Abidjan as well as the region’s dynamic sea ports while servicing landlocked countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

On the project legal instruments, the ministers recommended that in addition to the proposed signing of a treaty by the beneficiary countries, an Implementation Committee

and an Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Development Authority should also be established.

With regard to the implementation planning, the committee recommended that the Abidjan-Lagos Highway construction works should commence in 2014 and urged the stakeholders to do their utmost to attain this objective.

The committee also recommended that a feasibility study be conducted prior to securing sustainable financing sources and contracting the services of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank and the African Finance Corporation (AFC) as financial and project set-up

consultants.

The ministers further recommended that the BRICS countries (Brazil, India, China and South Africa), particularly China and India, should be approached with a view to securing the required financing.

They also recommended that the next Steering Committee meeting be held on 11 October 2013 in Accra, Ghana and urged the Heads of State of the affected countries to adopt these recommendations on the margins of the next Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held in July 2013 in Abuja.

At the closing session, the Nigerian Minister of Public

Works and Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mr. Mike OziegbeOnolememen, and the Commissioner for Infrastructure of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. EbrimaNjie, welcomed the meeting’s conclusions and thanked the participants for their contributions.

Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Ghana’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mrs. Marietta Brew AppiahOpong, commended the timely holding of the meeting and expressed gratitude to the ECOWAS Commission and the Nigerian Government for their contributions to ensuring a successful meeting.

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

International

Mohammed Mursi ‘well’-EU’s Ashton

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U Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton says Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Mursi is “well”, but that she does not know where he is being held.

Baroness Ashton had two hours of “in-depth” discussions with MrMursion, but declined to give details of what he had told her, insisting: “I’m not going to put words in his mouth.”

She said MrMursihad access to TV and newspapers and followed developments.

MrMursi has been detained since he was overthrown by the military on 3 July.

Baroness Ashton’s second visit to Egypt in 12 days comes after more than 70 Mursi supporters were killed in clashes with security forces on Saturday.

The ousted leader’s allies continued with protests in Cairo on Tuesday, and the interim

Ashton

government has warned that any violation of the law will be dealt with “firmly”.

Security officials have also threatened to dismantle the main protest sit-in at a square near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the capital’s north-

east, where Saturday’s deadly clashes erupted.

Lady Ashton said that after a night journey involving a helicopter ride and other forms of transport, she met MrMursi at a military facility.

She said the deposed

President was in “good health” and “good humour”.

“He had been told about half an hour before I arrived that I was coming. He was, I think, pleased to see me,” she said.

“He is there with two advisers.

They are there together. It is a military place. The people around him do care for him. I looked at the facilities.”

She said there was a strong desire among leaders from all sides to find a way out of the crisis.

EU officials will keep up discussions to pursue elements that came up during Lady Ashton’s visit, and she said she was ready to come back at any time if that would help.

The interim presidency has said there will be no deviation from the transition plan, which does not involve MrMursi’s reinstatement.

Tunisia PM defies call to dissolve government

Larayedh

T

unisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh has called a general election for December 17 after an emergency meeting aimed at easing political tensions and as

protests demanded the Islamist government’s ouster.

Larayedh defied calls led by Tunisia’s Ettakatol party, part of the ruling coalition led by the Islamist Ennahdaparty, that the

government should dissolve.

“This government will stay in office: we are not clinging to power, but we have a duty and a responsibility that we will exercise to the end,” he

told state television, proposing December 17 as the date for a general election.

“We think that the National Constituent Assembly will complete the electoral code

by October 23 at the latest so elections can be held on December 17,” he said.

Larayedh estimated that 80 percent of the work in adopting a new constitution had already been completed.

The call for dissolution is further evidence of increasing pressure on Tunisia’s Islamistled government to resign after thousands of people demonstrated against it and dozens of legislators have stopped doing their jobs.

“We have called for the dissolution of the government in favour of a new unity government that would represent the broadest form of consensus,” LobniJribi, a party leader, told the Reuters news agency.

“If Ennahda refuses this suggestion, we will withdraw from government.”

Nelson Mandela improvement ‘continues’

S

outh Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela, who has been in hospital since 8 June with a recurring lung infection, “continues to show improvement”, a government statement says.

But the 95-year-old remains in a critical if stable condition, it said.

President Jacob Zuma urged people to continue to pray for him and thanked those who did good works in his name.

The country’s first democratically elected leader, Mr Mandela is considered the father of the nation.

He spent 27 years in prison after taking up arms to fight against the apartheid regime.

Known by his clan name

Madidba, he became South Africa’s president in 1994 after white minority rule ended and stepped down five years later.

In his statement, MrZuma called on those in the business community to support a project by one of Mr Mandela’s funds to build a children’s hospital.

“Madiba loves children and wants the best for them. He wants us to ensure that they have a better future,” he said.

According to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, it would like to build a 238-bed academic and paediatric referral facility to serve children across southern Africa.

“The hospital will be one of the most inspiring legacies of this remarkable statesman

and leader of our people, and we humbly invite all sectors to actively support this project,” MrZuma said.

Since his admission into

Mandela

the private Medi Clinic Heart Hospital in the capital, Pretoria, thousands of tributes and getwell messages have left outside for Mr Mandela.

Zimbabwe deploys riot police ahead poll

H

eavily armed riot police deployed in potential election flashpoints in Zimbabwe on Tuesday on the eve of a poll showdown between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that remains too close to call.

State radio said thousands of officers had been sent to the central Midlands province, while trucks of police carrying automatic rifles and grenade launchers patrolled in the restive Harare townships of Highfield and Mbare.

The run-down districts of the capital are hotbeds of support for Tsvangirai and were at the center of several weeks of post-election violence in 2008, in which 200 people linked to his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) were killed.

This year’s presidential and parliamentary race brings the curtain down on four years of fractious unity government. It has been marked by allegations of threats and intimidation by security forces but there have been no reports of violence.

With no reliable opinion polls, it is hard to tell whether 61-year-old Tsvangirai will succeed in his third attempt to unseat his 89-yearold rival, who has run the southern African nation since independence from Britain in 1980.

Both the MDC and Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party predict landslide victories.

However, it is possible neither leading candidate will emerge an outright winner, triggering a September 11 run-off. That is a nightmare scenario for many of Zimbabwe’s 13 million people who remember the 2008 violence.

Western election observers have been barred, leaving the task of independent oversight to 500 regional and 7,000 domestic monitors. The final results must be released within five days but may come sooner.

In an editorial in the domestic News Day newspaper and the Washington Post, Tsvangirai urged African monitors not to give the vote a seal of approval merely because they do not witness any bloodshed.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 33

International

Taliban storm prison in Pakistan jail break

I

n an operation carried out with military-like precision, Taliban fighters disguised as police and armed with bombs broke 250 prisoners out of a Pakistan jail on Tuesday with the help of what appeared to be insider informants.

The attack in the city of Dera Ismail Khan showed the ability of the al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban to strike at the heart of Pakistan’s heavily guarded prison system and walk away with dozens of senior Taliban fighters and commanders.

The overnight assault on the Central Prison took place despite reports that regional officials had received intelligence days, if not weeks, ago suggesting such an attack was imminent.

Officials blamed a combination of negligence and

lack of communication among Pakistan’s many security agencies, but some suggested there may have been a degree of insider help.

Just hours before the attack, army and police units had met at the jail to discuss security, one source said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Another senior official in the provincial capital of Peshawar said only about 70 of the 200 prison guards who were meant to be on duty were present that night.

A senior Taliban official told Reuters separately the latest attack was masterminded by Adnan Rashid, a Taliban commander who was himself freed in last year’s prison break.

This time, Pakistani Taliban

said they had sent a squad of 100 fighters and seven suicide bombers on a mission to free some of their top leaders, and they said they released 250 prisoners - a number roughly matched by Pakistani authorities.

Fighting continued into the early hours of Tuesday, with explosions and machine gunfire rattling the city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on the edge of Pakistan’s lawless ethnic Pashtun tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.

As the attack unfolded, gunmen blew up electricity lines to the prison and detonated bombs to breach the outer walls.

They fought their way inside using rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns, and called the names of Taliban prisoners they

wanted to release through loud speakers.

Once inside, attackers shot open most of the locks and used bombs to blast their way deep into the prison, shouting “All the locks are broken! Those who want to escape, now is your chance,” prison officials who were there at the time told Reuters.

Gunmen also took over a nearby house and hospital, holding the residents hostage as they fired on police from the rooftops and laid ambushes for reinforcements.

At least 12 people were killed, officials said, including five policemen and four prisoners from the minority Shi’ite branch of Islam. Their throats were slashed by gunmen, officials said. The Taliban are mostly majority Sunni Muslims.

Israeli- Palestinian talks continue in Washington

John Kerry (L) with negotiators from Israel and Palestine during an Iftar dinner in Washington.

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second day of Middle East peace talks is due to take place following their resumption in Washington DC after months of diplomacy by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

The talks began again after three years as Israel approved

the release of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators attended a dinner hosted by Mr Kerry in the US capital.

US President Barack Obama has warned that “hard choices” lie ahead.

In the last five months, Mr Kerry has made six official visits to the Middle East in an effort to restart the negotiations.

The 90-minute dinner in Washington was attended by Israel’s chief negotiator, Justice Minister TzipiLivni, and her Palestinian counterpart SaebErekat.

A former US ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, appointed US special envoy to the talks, also attended the “iftar”, the traditional meal at the end of each day of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

MsLivni told Israeli public radio that the atmosphere at the talks was “positive”, and insisted that the talks were resuming “not just in response to US pressure but because it’s in the interest of both parties”.

But she acknowledged that disagreements within Israel’s governing coalition could pose an obstacle to any deal.

A US state department official said: “It was a constructive and productive meeting between the parties. They engaged in good faith and with seriousness of purpose.

“We are looking forward to continuing the talks.”

At a news conference in Washington on Monday, Mr Kerry urged both sides to make “reasonable compromises” for peace.

“I know the negotiations are going to be tough, but I also know the consequences of not trying will be worse,” he said.

Cambodia rejects call for poll fraud inquiry

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ambodia’s government has rejected calls by the opposition for an international inquiry into allegations it used massive fraud to win re-election.

The US and EU have expressed concern about irregularities in Sunday’s election, but both said an investigation should be conducted

by Cambodian electoral authorities, failing to endorse the opposition’s call for an inquiry involving the UN. “We call for a transparent and full investigation of all credible reports of irregularities,” Jen Psaki, US State Department

spokeswoman, said.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Monday called for the creation of a special committee including representatives from both parties, as well as local and international experts to investigate the allegations.

“The committee has just to confirm that irregularities are so widespread that they have distorted the will of the Cambodian people,” Rainsy told Al Jazeera.

The government announced on Sunday that the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) of long-serving

Prime Minister Hun Sen had won 68 seats in the 123-seat parliament, a sharp fall from its previous tally of 90.

The government said it wanted parliament to approve a new cabinet quickly.

But the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which nearly doubled its seat total to 55, could delay it as a quorum of 120 out of 123 legislators is needed in parliament to approve a new cabinet.

Rainsy said up to 1.3 million names had been missing from the

electoral rolls and complained about lack of access to the media as well as intimidation on the campaign trail.

Prolonged wrangling over the result and a weakened Hun Sen could raise uncertainty over policy in the small but fast-growing Southeast Asian country that has built up a thriving garment sector and forged economic ties with China and Vietnam.

“We urge all parties and their supporters to continue to act in an orderly and peaceful manner in the post-election period,” the State Department’s Psaki said.

Asia & Middle East

Mamnoon Hussain elected as Pakistan President

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akistan has elected Mamnoon Hussain, backed by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N party (PML-N), as its 12th president, state TV has said.

Legislators from both houses of the national parliament and four provincial assemblies voted on Tuesday in the two-man race for the largely ceremonial post as president.

Hussain, a 73-yearold businessman-turned politician, will replace Asif Ali Zardari of the opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), whose five-year term expires in September.

Within minutes of the polls closing at 3pm local time, state media handed the vote to Hussain, based on unofficial results. The final tally is expected to be announced by the evening.

Hussain, a close ally of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan’s financial capital Karachi, had been considered certain to replace Zardari.

The PPP, which lost heavily in general elections in May, boycotted Tuesday’s ballot over complaints that the vote was brought forward from August 6.

The only other candidate was retired Supreme Court judge Wajihuddin Ahmed, nominated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the third largest party in parliament and led by cricket-turned politician Imran Khan.

Hussain’s loyalty to Sharif and low profile is expected to bolster the prime minister’s authority and provide a stark contrast to Zardari, considered a sharp political operator behind the scenes.

A long-serving member of the ruling PML-N party, he briefly served as governor of the southern province Sindh under Sharif’s last stint as prime minister in 1999.

Hussain is a former president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

Hussain

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 34

International

Switzerland train crash leaves driver dead

Rescue workers, including medics and firefighters, rushed to the scene from neighbouring cities [Reuters]

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wo trains have collided head-on in western Switzerland, killing one

of the drivers and injuring 26 passengers, police said.

The driver’s body was found

overnight in the wreckage of the crash at Granges-pres-Marnand in the canton of Vaud, police

spokesman Jean-Christophe Sauterel said.

A total of 46 passengers had been on board, police said.

Police also said it was too early to try to ascertain the cause of the crash.

Rescue workers, including medics and firefighters, had rushed to the scene from across the Broye region which includes Granges-presMarnand, as well as from neighbouring cities.

One train had been bound for Lausanne, about 38km to the south, while the other was travelling north from the same city, officials said.

The collision on what is one of the most popular and safest rail networks in Europe was the latest in a series of rail accidents on the continent.

I t c a m e i n t h e w ake of Wednesday’s crash in the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela which killed 79, and a crash near Paris two weeks ago that claimed seven lives.

Italy’s top court begins Berlusconi case hearing

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Berlusconi

renewed uncertainty to the euro zone third’s largest economy, with potential fallout right across the bloc.

The judges called a one-hour lunch adjournment on Tuesday after one of them delivered a summing up of the legal arguments and the judgments from two lower courts. After the break public prosecutor Antonello Mura will present his case.

Berlusconi’s chief lawyer, Franco Coppi, told journalists it was very unlikely the court would reach a decision on Tuesday because of other cases facing the judges. Experts say it could take as long as Thursday.

Coppi also said the defense would not request that the case be postponed untilSeptember-onepossibleoutcome - although the judges might decide to do that on their own account.

Moderate politicians have urged the court to delay the ruling for the sake of political stability, due to the uncertain consequences if Berlusconi is convicted.

The judges of the Court of Cassation are hearing a final appeal by the76-year-oldmediamagnateagainst a four-year jail sentence, commuted to one year under an amnesty, and a five-year ban from office handed down

funeral has been held near the southern Italian town of Pozzuoli for the 38 victims of Sunday’s bus crash.

Prime Minister Enrico Letta was among about 4,000 people at the service, which was held in a sports hall.

Bishop of Pozzuoli, GennaroPascarella, urged the authorities to clarify the causes of the

accident, saying: “We must ensure this never happens again.”

The coach lost control on a viaduct near MonteforteIrpino, hitting several other cars and plunging into a ravine.

In his homily, Bishop Pascarella appealed for support for the bereaved families.

Families and friends of those killed in the accident crowded around

taly’s Supreme Court heard on Tuesday Silvio Berlusconi’s last appeal against a jail sentence and ban from public office for tax fraud in a case which could threaten the survival of the shaky coalition government.

If five top judges hand down the first definitive conviction to the fourtimes Prime minister in dozens of court cases against him, it will mark the end of two decades in which he has dominated politics through his media power and political skill.

Itcouldalsoplungethegovernment - an uneasy coalition of Enrico Letta’s center-left Democratic Party (PD) and Berlusconi’s center-right People of Freedom (PDL) - into crisis and bring

by lower courts for the fraudulent purchase of broadcasting rights by his Mediaset media empire. Three other people were also convicted in the case.

Ifdefinitivelyconvicted,Berlusconi would not normally go to prison because of his age but would have to do community service or serve his sentence at home.

Berlusconi accuses leftwing magistrates of abusing their powers to trytobringhimdowninmorethantwo dozen court cases since he stormed to power for the first time in 1994.

The case was fast-tracked to be heard by a special summer session of the supreme court to avoid part of any sentence being annulled by the statute of limitations.

Although they are waiting for a signal from Berlusconi, PDL hawks have called for everything from a mass resignationofitsgovernmentministers to blocking Italy’s motorways if the court rules against him.

FabrizioCicchitto, a senior PDL parliamentarian, said the media magnate had faced 30 trials. “If this is not a political use of justice what is?”

The departure of Berlusconi from parliament if he is convicted would also raise major questions about the

future of his party, which depends on his charisma and wealth.

A greater risk to the government couldcomefromLetta’sfaction-ridden PD, with many members already deeply unhappy about being in a coalition with their old enemy. Some may refuse to continue if he is found guilty.

Berlusconi’s lawyers have filed 50 objections to the supreme court, which will rule only on legal procedure and whether the lower appeals court properly justified its sentence.

The court has three choices: convict Berlusconi, acquit him or send the case back to the appeals court due to legal errors.

Even if Berlusconi is found guilty, the ban from holding public office depends on a vote by his peers in the Senate which could take weeks or months.

The scandal-plagued mogul is also appealing in a lower court against a seven-year jail sentence in June for abuse of office and paying for sex with Moroccan-born nightclub dancer Karima El Mahroug, alias “Ruby the Heartstealer”, when she was underage.

Europe and Americas Pope says gay people must not be judged

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ope Francis has said gay people should not be judged or marginalised but integrated into society.

Speaking to journalists on a flight back from a week-long visit to Brazil, he reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church’s position that homosexual acts were sinful, but homosexual orientation was not.

“If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?” the pope said on Monday in a broad-ranging 80-minute conversation with reporters on the plane.

“The problem is not having this orientation. We must be brothers. The problemislobbyingbythisorientation” he said.

Addressing the issue of women priests, the pope said the Roman Catholic Church’s ban on women priests was definitive, although he would like them to have more leadership roles in administration and pastoral activities.

It was the first time he had spoken in public on the subject.

Unlike his predecessor Benedict, whoknewinadvancethefewquestions journalists would be allowed to ask, 76-year-oldpope,whoasanArgentine, was the first non-European pope in 1,300 years, imposed no restrictions as he fielded 21 questions.

He spoke of reforms he had begun in the Vatican, which has been tarnished by a series of corruption scandals,includingattheVaticanbank, which is the target of several Italian money laundering investigations.

Expressing his pain over scandals at the Vatican bank, he said there were saints in the Holy See but also “those who are not very saintly”.

The pope arrived back in Rome after a successful week-long tour of Brazil which climaxed with a huge gathering on Rio de Janeiro’s famed Copacabana beach for a world Catholic youth festival, which organisers estimated to have attracted more than three million people.

Pope Francis

Mass funeral held for Italy bus crash victims A the flower-draped coffins, lined up in front of the altar.

Before the ceremony, relatives of the dead wept and clutched the coffins, placing flowers, photographs and other memorabilia for their loved ones.

One coffin was adorned with a photo of the deceased’s wedding day, and a scarf in the colours of the football team, Napoli.

On Monday, hundreds of relatives had to identify the bodies of their loved ones at a school near the crash site which had been turned into a temporary morgue.

Ten of the coach’s passengers were hurt in the accident on Sunday.

Nine people were also injured in cars hit by the bus before it careered off the road.

Prosecutors have launched

an investigation into possible manslaughter.

One survivor said from her hospital bed that she believed a tyre had burst. Police have ordered a postmortem examination on the body of the driver, who is among the dead.

Investigators will examine the driver’s role as well as the condition of the coach and the crash barriers on the road.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 35

Strange World

Dress made entirely from old dictionary C anadian actress Jodi Phillips spent months tearing pages out of an old thesaurus and gluing them together to create an awe-inspiring strapless paper dress. After uploading photos of her wearing the unique garment to Reddit, she garnered more attention than she had ever hoped for.

Two years ago, Jodi Phillips was asked by a committee member for the Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival if she could design a bookworm costume to greet visitors during the four-day event.

A bookworm herself, Jodi decided the best way to do it was to make a dress almost entirely from book pages. So she started scouring thrift stores for the perfect book for the job, and finally found an old thesaurus.

Although she doesn’t remember exactly how many hours she put into making her stunning dress, the aspiring actress says she through two full seasons her favorite television show, How I Met Your Mother, tearing, folding and gluing pages.

Lined with fabric and featuring a bodice for body support, Jody’s recycled dress is completely covered with hundreds of yellowed pages from thesaurus sections A through O. “It feels quite comfy actually,if not a little hot, although its hard to move without ripping it,” Jodi says.

“The parts that are scaled are actually the parts that don’t move.

It has pages bunched up on the parts that stretch so they sorta inchworm out when it moves.”

Jodi wore her amazing dress at this year’s Denman Island Readers and Writers Festival, where she

made quite an impression on attendants.

After uploading a series of photos of her dressed in paper and wearing a “Miss Spelled” sash on Reddit, she got almost 100,000 page views and started getting calls from established media outlets like Mashable, the Daily Mail and Good Morning America, who wanted to speak with her about the novel costume.

“It’s kind of crazy,” Phillips says.

“Hopefully this can show that not everybody out there is like me.”

For now, the thesaurus page dress is stored in a box, but not for very long, as Phillips says she has received calls from members of Vancouver’s arts community who want to use it in plays and art shows. The young actress is also thinking about making more fashionable outfits out of paper.

Man builds functional boeing 737 Cockpit in bedroom

Laurent Aigon’s home-made Boeing 737 cockpit

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t’s not going to make his house airborne, but Laurent Aigon’s home-made Boeing 737 cockpit is so realistic that the Institute of Aircraft Maintenance at Bordeaux-Merignac Airport asked him to give a lecture on his achievement, and an aircraft maintenance company contacted him about using his creation for simulations.

40-year-old Laurent Aigon, from Lacanau, France, has always had a thing for airplanes. He grew up in Beutre, just 200 meters from the Merignac Airport, where he used to spend most of his time watching planes land and takeoff, daydreaming that one day he would be the one behind the yoke.

At 12-years old he had his first plane-flying experience, in front of his computer screen, playing Flight Simulator, but he was just too lazy for school and never went on to become a real pilot.

Still his childhood dream stuck with him, and one day he decided that if he couldn’t fly a real plane, he was going to fly a fake one, right in the comfort of his own home.

Five years ago, he met JeanPaul Dupuy, a like-minded aircraft enthusiast, and together they set out to build the most realistic simulation cockpit possible. They met with the people of Aquitaine Simulation, and got s glimpse of their Airbus flight simulator.

Confident they could build their own functional cockpit, Laurent and Jean-Paul scoured the internet for parts, and piece by piece, module by module, they managed to put together one of the world’s most realistic Boeing 737 cockpits. The fact that it’s crammed between a closet and a bunk-bed in a children’s bedroom is of little importance.

During the last five years, Laurent Aigon spent thousands of hours trying to connect all the necessary parts into the accurate airplane dashboard of his dreams.

It also cost him a few thousands of euros, as the components had to be shipped all around the world, but Laurent doesn’t have any regrets. His creation allows him to experience what it’s like to lift a Boeing 737 to beyond the clouds and bring it back on the ground safely, without him having to leave the house.

He taught himself not only how to operate all the cockpit controls, but also the flying procedures, so he’s literally able to maneuver the virtual plane like a real pilot. But now that he’s project is complete, he has a new life goal, to become a professional aircraft simulator builder, and create training equipment for future pilots.

He has already done it for himself, so why not to it for others as well? But for that he needs a special certification, which he hopes to obtain in the next five years.

Some children going through the military drills.

81-year old man crashes plane into a house

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small, home-built plane piloted by an 81-year-old man crashed into a house in central Indiana, injuring the pilot and his passenger while a woman inside the home escaped unscathed before the aircraft’s wreckage burst into flames, authorities said.

The plane, piloted by Gerald H. Clayton of Columbus, crashed shortly after takeoff and plowed into the back of a house in a subdivision just south of Columbus Municipal Airport, said Columbus police Lt. Matt Myers.

Clayton and passenger Dennis King, 60, of Columbus, had already

Scenes at the home after impact

exited the aircraft when he arrived and spoke to one of the men, Myers said. They had burns, cuts and abrasions.

“He knew he was fortunate to be alive. He was concerned about his buddy,” Myers said.

Neighbors said both men were able to walk to ambulances unaided after the crash in Columbus, a city about 40 miles south of Indianapolis.

Wishard Memorial Hospital spokesman Todd Harper said Clayton was listed in serious condition and King was in fair condition Thursday afternoon in the hospital’s burn unit.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Digest Teenagers who smoke cannabis damage their brains for life

By Ellie Zolfagharifard

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eenagers who regularly smoke cannabis suffer long lasting brain damage and are in much greater danger of developing schizophrenia.

American researchers say the drug is particularly dangerous for a group of people who have a genetic susceptibility to the mental health disorder - and it could be the trigger for it.

Asaf Keller, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said the results highlight the dangers of teenagers smoking cannabis during their formative years.

The study, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, exposed young mice to the active ingredient in marijuana for 20 days.

It found that their brain activity was impaired, with the damage continuing into adulthood.

The past 20 years has seen major controversy about the long-term effects of marijuana, with experts divided over its long-term effects on teenagers.

Previous research has shown that children who started using marijuana before the age of 16 are at greater risk of permanent brain damage, and have a significantly higher incidence of psychiatric disorders.

‘Adolescence is the critical period

during which marijuana use can be damaging,’ said the study’s lead author, Sylvina Mullins Raver, a PhD candidate at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

‘We wanted to identify the biological underpinnings and determine whether there is a real, permanent health risk to marijuana use.’

The scientists began by examining cortical oscillations in mice. Cortical oscillations are patterns of the activity of neurons in the brain and are believed to underlie the brain’s various functions.

These oscillations are very abnormal in schizophrenia and in other psychiatric disorders.

The study found that even short-term exposure to cannabis impaired brain activity, with the damage continuing into adulthood

According to the research team, there is a group of people who have a genetic susceptibility to developing schizophrenia. Adding weed to the mix during adolescence could be the trigger that causes it to develop, permanently impairing brain function and cognition The scientists exposed young mice to very low doses of the active ingredient in marijuana for 20 days, and then allowed them to return to their siblings and develop normally.

‘In the adult mice exposed to marijuana ingredients in adolescence, we found that cortical oscillations were grossly altered, and they exhibited impaired cognitive abilities,’ said Raver.

‘We also found impaired cognitive behavioural performance in those mice. The striking finding is that, even though the mice were exposed to very low drug doses, and only for a brief period during adolescence, their brain abnormalities persisted into adulthood.’

The scientists repeated the experiment, this time giving marijuana to adult mice that had never been exposed to the drug before.

Their cortical oscillations and

ability to perform cognitive tasks remained normal, indicating that it was only drug exposure during the critical teenage years that impaired brain activity.

‘We found that the frontal cortex is much more affected by the drugs during adolescence,’ said Keller.

‘This is the area of the brain controls executive functions such as planning and impulse control. It is also the area most affected in schizophrenia.’

Keller now wants to know whether the effects can be reversed. ‘We are hoping we will learn more about schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders, which are complicated conditions,’ he said.

‘These cognitive symptoms are not affected by medication, but they might be affected by controlling these cortical oscillations.’

times.

It revealed that while 60 per cent of smokers refused to pay more than £8 for apacketofcigarettes,onepercent-which equated to 31 people - were willing to pay an astonishing £40.

The most alarming statistics related to smoking parents however. It found that many were often more willing to reduce their child’s quality of life than go without cigarettes.

A shocking 20 per cent admitted to having bought their children fewer or cheaper clothes and shoes to save money instead of quitting smoking.

A worrying 17 per cent admitted to cutting back on food and drink for their children, 35 per cent reduced the amount of treats they gave them and 20 per cent said they even cut back on Christmas and birthday presents to continue smoking.

Nearly nine per cent - which equated to 350 of those polled - had stolenmoney from their child’s money box.

Just under 13 per cent said they had stopped taking their children to after school groups, 17 per cent admitted to having cut back on toy purchases and just under seven per cent had even refused to

send their children on school trips to save money rather than quit their habit.

Almost 65 per cent of those polled admitted to feeling under financial pressure and 50 per cent said they were concerned about falling into debt but all still continued to feed their tobacco habit.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Does smoking make you a bad parent?

By Rachel Reilly

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he dangers of smoking during pregnancy or near a child have been well-documented, but new research has found that that smoker parents are also less caring towards their children.

Asurveyhasdiscoveredthatnicotine addict mothers and fathers cut back on Christmas presents for their children,

buy them less clothing and even feed them less to fund their daily cigarette habit.

Thepoll,whichexaminedthelifestyle behaviour of smokers, also discovered that some people stole from friends, applied for credit cards and even asked strangers on the street for money when desperate for their fix.

The research was carried out by

Victims: A poll found that children with parents who smoke were more likely to have smaller Christmas presents.

It also revealed that nicotine addict mothers and father often raided their children’s money box to fund their habit The dangers of smoking during pregnancy or near a child has been well-documented but new research has shown that smoker parents are less caring towards their children. Some even admitted to feeding their children less to ensure they always had cigarettes

pharmaceutical company Pfizer as part of their Don’t Go Cold Turkey Campaign and asked 6,271 smokers about how they funded smoking in tougher economic

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Around 70 per cent of people who still smoke say they want to quit

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 37

Group hails Obi, Umeh for ending APGA crisis

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human rights group, the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law yesterday hailed the resolution of the lingering crisis in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, the Chairman of the group in Awka.

It commended Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra and Chief Victor Umeh, the National Chairman of the party for resolving their differences.

It said that with the reconciliation, ``hope has dimmed for the criminal political class from staging a comeback to Anambra politics.’’

It, however, called on party members, including the factional Chairman, Chief Maxi Okwu and others elected with him during the April 8 National Convention in Awka ``to be fully integrated and carried along’’. ``We thank the duo of Mr Peter Obi and Chief Victor Umeh for coming together again. ``We also thank their Lordships and other concerned Igbo sons and daughters, including Mr Raphael Uwazuruike of MASSOB and Mrs Bianca Onoh-Ojukwu for their roles in resolving the crisis. ``It is our call that all the groupmembers of the party, including Chief Maxi Okwu and his NWC members should be fully integrated and carried along,’’ it stressed. (NAN)

INEC to take decision on APC application for registration tomorrow

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he policy making organs of INEC will meet on Thursday to take final decision on the application filed by the political merger groups to be registered as ``All Progressives Congress’’ (APC), an official has said.

Mr Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to Chairman of INEC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that the commission’s chairman and the commissioners would meet as empowered by the law to take the decision.

NAN recalls that on June 12 Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) submitted an interim application to INEC for the registration of APC. Idowu said that the process of registration of the merger groups as APC was on going as there was no infringement of any provision of the law on the issue.

He said, ``The stipulated 30 days after the application for registration has not lapsed so the commission has not broken the law. As at today we are speaking the process is on, no law has been broken.’’ (NAN)

Chairman, House Committee on Services, Hon. Yakubu Dogara (right), addressing journalists, during the ‘hot seat’ series organised

by House of Representatives Press Corps, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja. With him are his aides, Malam Sani Mohammed (middle), and Mr. Dauda S. Dadah (left).

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Bauchi female Assembly member provides succour to constituents From Ahmed Kaigama Bauchi

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on. Rifkatu Samson Danna representing Bogoro constituency in Bauchi State House of Assembly has distributed food items and fertilizer to her constituents in Bogoro Local Government Area of

the state.

While distributing the items, the lawmaker explained that she provided the items because of the Ramadan season. She added that she decided to give out fertilizers to her constituents because of the farming season.

Items distributed include

rice , sorghum ,sugar and maize.

According to her, she got the funds to finance the food items from assistance from her supporters.

She revealed that she was yet to be paid for the fifteen months period which she was under suspension from the leadership of the state Assembly. The lawmakers urged

her people to continue to be on the part of truth for the sustainable development of the area.

Various Community leaders who spoke at the occasion thanked Danna for the gesture and prayed for her success in the current legal tussle between her and the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

Edo Assembly passes amended kidnapping Prohibition Bill

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he Edo State House of Assembly yesterday in Benin passed a bill for a law to amend the law prohibiting the act of kidnapping in Edo. The passage of the bill followed a clause by clause consideration of the report of the house Committee on Judiciary on a bill to prohibit the act of kidnapping in the state.

During the clause by clause

consideration of the bill, the house resolved that any person who contravened section 2(1) and 2 of the principal law shall on conviction be sentenced to death.

The house also resolved that any person or persons who aids or abets another to commit the act of kidnapping or abduction under the law commits an offence and shall be liable to live in

imprisonment without an option of fine.

The law further provides that any person who puts forward him/ herself whether overtly or covertly to another to be kidnapped for the purpose of extracting money commits an offence and shall be liable to live imprisonment upon conviction.

The property, landed or personal

property, money, and other things realised in the process by any person convicted for the offence of kidnapping shall be forfeited to the state.

The Speaker, Mr Uyigue Igbe, said the amendment was necessary to reduce the high rate of kidnapping in the state and, therefore, directed that clean copies of the bill be sent to the governor for his ascent. (NAN)

NNPP faults removal of immunity clause

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he New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has said that the House of Representatives resolution to remove immunity for the president and state governors on criminal matters can lead to breakdown of law and order.

The National Secretary of the party, Mr Gilbert Agbo, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that House of Representative should rather state where the immunity clause would not be applicable before removal. ``The removal of this immunity clause would make anyone to challenge the governors or the president at point or the order. ``It could pull a government down; otherwise if you look at the level of corruption in the society,

there is no reason why one would not want the immunity clause removed. ``What the House of Representative should have done is to down tone the process, there will be specific issues where a sitting president or governors can be drag to court,’’ Agbo said.

He said that criminal acts like the flagrant abuse of democratic processes or the rule of law and

killing should not be allowed as some public office holders hide under the cover of immunity.

He said that the House of Representative should not just remove the immunity clause completely, but rather mention specific areas where it should apply.

Agbo said that the immunity clause was experienced in the developed society to certain degrees. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Politics ANALYSIS

By Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos

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olitical stakeholders across party lines are putting finishing touches to their preparedness to contest the Osun State governorship election come 2014; a contest that is definitely going to be a defining moment in the political history of the state going by the calibre of aspirants who are bent to occupy the Bola Ige House, Abere.

However, apart from the aspirants that include the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola , former Chairman of Senate Appropriation committee, Senator Iyiola Omisore, former Secretary to Osun State Government, Hon. Fatai Akinbade among others, there are other factors people believe will come into play when the battle proper comes up.

2014 in Osun State, as far as the race to Bola Ige House, Abere is concerned, will be intriguing, hotlycontested but peacefully sorted out between the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The governorship race for 2014 will help to solve the lingering contention of political and judiciary contest between the two leading parties in the state.

Smarting from the bitter lessons of the crisis that rocked its fold in 2010, the PDP has since put its house in order. Chieftains and members have since 2010 learnt a bitter lesson from in-fighting, leadership tussle and political errors, committed with reckless abandon and are eagerly looking up to the election where they hope to right the wrongs.

While the PDP has managed to heal the wound inflicted on it by the ACN at the last election and looked battle ready for the 2014 election, one thing that may work against whatever strategy the party is bringing to bear on the election is the wider acceptance of the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, by the people of the state.

His acceptability, no doubt, has put many members of thePDP on their toes as they have continually explore the best option to break the rank of support the people of the state of the ‘Living Spring’ are massing to enable the governor have an encore in ruling the state for the next four years.

PDP chieftains agreed that the people actually wanted a change that came their way unexpectedly, not minding which form it took or whose ox was gored.

As a proof of their undying support for Aregbesola, the people overwhelming support and love for the governor was further strengthened as demonstrated by the massive vote the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) got at the 2011 general elections that ushered in the candidates to all elective offices at the state and national levels.

It would be recalled that it was only in Osun State that the presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the 2011 won in the Southern part of the country.

Despite the soaring popularity of the incumbent, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who has declared intention to run for a second term in office, the PDP, judging from the unfolding scenario in the polity of the state seems to be battle ready to slug it out with Aregbesola, having often picked holes in the policies of his administration and believing that Osun State electorates

2015: Can PDP upstage ACN in Osun state?

Sen Iyiola Omisore

Osun state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola

are unpredictable.

While Aregbesola enjoys support from the masses as a result of his people-friendly programmes under the acronym ‘O’, that includes, ‘O’ MEAL, ‘O’YES, ‘O’YESTECH, ‘O’SCHOOL, ‘O’REAP, ‘O’WMA, ‘O’CLEAN, ‘O’MEDIATION and the ‘OPON IMO’among others, the PDP relies largely on its army of political heavyweight spread across the three senatorial zones of the state.

Therefore, a careful balancing of the two factors, that is the masses support for the incumbent and reliance on the political heavyweights as espoused by the ACN and PDP will go a long way to give a clear view of where the pendulum swings come 2014.

The PDP still maintain and enjoys the structure bequeathed to it by the the late S.M Afolabi, who against all odds championed the emergence of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as Osun State Governor in 2007. It is expected that they will expand and improve the structure if at all the party is serious to wrestle power from the incumbent.

Signs that the party is serious to regain its lost glories can be seen from the calibre of politicians that populate its folds. From the leading governorship aspirant,

Senator Iyiola Omisore, the PDP has in its folds politicians who can make things happen and are spread across the three senatorial zones of the state.

The Osun Central Senatorial Zone parades an array of heavyweight politicians that includes former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former deputy national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, former military administrator, Simeon Oduoye and Senator Felix Kolawole Ogunwale.

One interesting thing about this formidable team of the PDP from Osun central is that they hail from different local government areas that make up the zone. The local government includes, Olorunda, irepodun, Odo-Otin, Orolu and few others, they are therefore expected to pull their weight in such a way that they will be able to deliver their individual L.G.A, thereby making the party to win at the zone.

The battle for the number one seat in Osun state is expected to be fierce in Osun East Senatorial district where the incumbent governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the highly favored PDP aspirant, Iyiola Omisore hail from. Apart from Aregbesola and Omisore, such powerful politicians

“

While the PDP has managed to heal the wound inflicted on it by the ACN at the last election and looked battle ready for the 2014 election, one thing that may work against whatever strategy the party is bringing to bear on the election is the wider acceptance of the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, by the people of the state.

from the zone include the Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olusola Obada, Senator Jide Omoworare, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Hon Wole Oke, Yinka’s Omilani. These are politicians that are expected to make things happen for their parties come the 2014 governorship election.

The battle in Osun-East look promising as that of Osun central.

The calculation is that should Aregbesola and Omisore get the ticket from their parties, it may then be a strict battle between the Ijeshas and Ifes, the two major ethnic groups that made up the zone. The Ifes have dominated the politics of the zone before the coming of the Aregbesola’s administration and the subsequent general election where the ACN mercilessly routed the PDP away from all the posts contested.

The battle in Osun West senatorial zone is also expected to be as interesting as the other two zone. This zone equally parades prominent politicians who are capable of swinging victories to their political parties. The first civilian governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, is an important factor from the zone.

Also, the zone has the former Speaker, Hon Patricia Etteh, former Secretary to Osun State Government, Fatai Akinbade, Chief Abiola Ogundokun and former Minister for Youth, Olasunkanmi Akinlabi in its fold. Elder Peter Babalola, the former Chief of Staff to Oyinlola who has since jumped ship to the ACN is attracting attention from the stakeholders who are waiting to see how he can make the difference for his new party.

Keen observers of the political game unfolding in the state are not too bothered about the array of political personalties the PDP is flaunting, rather they believe, the incumbent governor, Aregbesola has done enough for the people of the state in such a way that the rival PDP cannot just come out

overnight to intimidate him.

The man, Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, from Osun East Senatorial District, was born on May 25, 1957 at Ilesa, Osun State. A student union activitst, an Engineer by profession, a politician who ran for governor of Osun State in the 2007 elections.

Although the PDP candidate, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, was declared the winner, Aregbesola appealed the decision and on 26 th of November, 2010, was declared the winner.

Before he became the governor of Osun State, as an Engineer, the dogged fighter, Aregbesola, a devout muslim had his own construction firm. He also served as the Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure during the administration of his esteem leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahamed Tinubu.

His counterpart from the PDP, Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore, a controversial figure, was born 56 years ago to the popular Omisore family in Ile-Ife, the Source. A Chartered Engineer, Omisore had served as the Deputy Governor of Osun State during the Chief Bisi Akande administration where he was unceremoniously thrown out of office through impeachment. But he remains undaunted.

Omisore, a two-term Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District from year 2003 to 2011, is no stranger to the intrigues associated with party politics and was practically holding in his palm, the PDP gubernatorial ticket in 2010, despite having to contend with about eleven other aspirants, until the judgment by the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, completely altered the political calculations in the state. Omisore is said to be banking on supports of prominent indigenes both within and outside the state to actualize his ambition to the state of the living spring come 2014.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Nigeria won’t admit gay married diplomats

By Hassan H. Ginsau, with agency report

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he Nigerian government has resisted the rising pressure from global rights movements, affirming that it will not accredit gay married diplomats to serve in the country.

This is coming on the heels of reports that the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru had indicated the country will admit such gay married couples for diplomatic service.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a denial on Monday, of reports purporting that Ashiru said he would allow gay married diplomats to be accredited to serve in Nigeria.

A statement issued by the ministry said the minister had at every opportunity reiterated that foreign countries should not impose their values on Nigerians.

The statement stressed that the vast majority of Nigerians “are against gay marriages and gay rights, as they are not part of our customs, religions or laws.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) last week quoted Ashiru as saying that if diplomats with same-sex spouses were posted to Nigeria there would be no choice but to accredit them because they come from countries that have laws allowing same-sex marriage.

It said he spoke to the agency in an interview in London.

Nigerian legislators have passed a bill criminalizing same-sex marriages.

PAGE 39

News Extra

Kaduna Ramadan largesse: African Democratic Congress commends Yero From Mohammed Ibrahim, Kaduna

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aduna state chapter of African Democratic Congress (ADC) has commended Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero over his Ramadan gifts to the 23 local government areas.

The ADC in a statement by its Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Suleiman, described the

Governor’s gesture as a step in the right direction.

According to him, the best thing mankind can do in the society is to provide necessities to humanity.

The statement however urged those saddled with the responsibility of sharing the foodstuff to ensure that the items reach the intended beneficiaries.

Suleiman who is also the

state chairman, Coalition of Political Parties (KCPP) equally applauded Yero for keeping his inauguration promises, especially in the areas of peace and security.

According to the statement, “Governor Yero’s magnanimous and responsive gesture to the less privileged in the state throughout the 23 local government areas in this period of the holy month of Ramadan

is commendable.

“This gesture will bring succour to the less privileged and an indication of concern in the eyes of the society at large and giving the less privileged a feeling of being carried along in government policy.”

He also urged the Muslim umma to use this period of the holy month of Ramadan to pray for peaceful co-existence, unity and progress.

My concern for the people’s welfare unprecedented, says Ajimobi From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has faulted those accusing his administration of lacking human face in its urban renewal programme.

According to him, no

government in the state has demonstrated concern for the welfare of the people as the present administration.

The Governor stated this through his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr. Toye Arulogun, while featuring on an Ibadan radio programme ``Bull’s Eye’’

on Monday.

The Governor also dismissed insinuations that his government has been displacing traders through the destruction of markets, particularly in Ibadan, the state capital.

“I think it is unfair for anybody to accuse Governor

Ajimobi of lacking human face in the execution of his urban renewal programme.

“Indeed, I make bold to say that no government has demonstrated concern for the welfare of its citizens as the present administration,’’ he said.

Sokoto demolishes illegal structures From Mahmoud Sokoto

S

Muhammad,

cores of illegal structures have been demolished in Sokoto by the Task Force on the removal of illegal structures and beautification of Sokoto metropolis and its environs.

Briefing reporters on the development, Chairman of the Task Force, Aminu Bala Sokoto, said the areas affected by the exercise were Kano and Abuja roads, Rijiyar Dorawa and Yar Marina market areas.

He explained that the demolition was carried out after prior notices were served by the Task Force on the owners of the structure.

“Some institutions in the city have complained about the illegal structures,’’ Bala explained.

Meanwhile, the task force has given directive that all goods displayed for sale must be kept 25 metres away from the roads.

Bala warned that the task force would not allow any person or group of persons to tamper with the original master plan of the city and its environs.

“We will make sure that we demolish any structure illegally erected, whether they are commercial or residential and no matter how highly placed the owner may be,’’ he said. payments are prompt.

Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), immunising a child, during the launching of pentavalent vaccine, recently at NYSC Orientation Camp, in Ede Osun state.

NOUN set to take education to prisons From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is set to establish study centres in major prisons across the country in order to enable inmates further their education and become useful to the society.

The NOUN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe, disclosed this during an interactive forum with the media in Kaduna Tuesday.

According to Tenebe, prisoners like other Nigerians under the Constitution are entitled to further their knowledge base.

He said that, “it is a pity that conventional universities and other institutions have been shying away from this

responsibility and that is why the National Open University of Nigeria has taken it upon itself to ensure that study centres are established in major prison yards in Nigeria.

“We are not only stopping at giving distance learning to people outside the prison but we are moving into the prisons to ensure that prisoners also enjoy the privilege of studying any field they chose and become professionals.

“This is a feat that will change the perception of prisoners as they become not only useful to the society but to themselves and families.

He lamented that the university which came into existence through an Act of Parliament during the administration of President Shehu Shagari suffered a

setback because of the military intervention and the suspension of the constitution.

As Tenebe put it, “the NOUN was resuscitated during the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration and I am proud to say, this is the only nonconventional university in the whole of West African region.

“Although this is not a pleasing story because in North Africa, we have up to three nonconventional universities but we are still proud that Nigeria is the first in the West Africa sub-region to operate a nonconventional university with the data base of students up to 150,000 and with Lagos state topping with 39,000 students and Taraba state having the least with 1,200 students.”

Tenebe expressed dismay over what he described as the

lukewarm attitude of the north to education advised northerners to take advantage of the Open University to get knowledge.

“In order to encourage northern women to get education, we have introduced a programme for the women in purda and I am pleased to announce that the response we are getting from women is very encouraging.

“Our University allows you to work and study at the same time and we do not have part time students as every student is fulltime.

“We are the only university in Nigeria that admits students every semester and they finish their course in the recommended time without fear of strike,” he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 40

Leisure

Some Interesting Facts

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inderella’s slippers were originally made out of fur.

The story was changed in the 1600s by a translator.

•City with the highest per capita viewership of TV evangelists: Wash., DC. •City with the most Rolls Royces per capita: Hong Kong •Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them, used to burn their houses down - hence the expression “to get fired.”

•Coca-cola was originally green.

•Columbia University is the second largest landowner in New York City, after the Catholic Church.

•David Prowse was the guy in the Darth Vader suit in Star Wars. He spoke all of Vader’s lines, and didn’t know that he was going to be dubbed over by James Earl Jones until he saw the screening of the movie.

•Despite the many rat-infested slums in New York City, rats bite only 311 people in an average year. But 1,519 residents are bitten annually by other New Yorkers.

•Did you know that there are coffee flavored PEZ? •Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn’t wear pants.

•Donald Duck’s middle name is Fauntleroy.

•Dr. Seuss pronounced “Seuss” such that it rhymed with “rejoice.”

•Dreamt is the only English word that ends with “mt”.

•Drivers tend to drive faster when other cars are around. It doesn’t matter whether they are in front, behind or beside them.

•Duelling is legal in Paraguay as long as both

parties are registered blood donors.

•Dumbest: Afghan •During his entire lifetime, Herman Melville’s timeless classic of the sea, ‘Moby Dick’, only sold 50 copies.

•Each unit on the Richter Scale is equivalent to a power factor of about 32. So a 6 is

32 times more powerful than a 5! Though it goes to 10, 9 is estimated to be the point of total tectonic destruction (2 is the smallest that can be felt unaided.)

•Einstein couldn’t speak fluently when he was nine.

His parents thought he mightt be retarded.

Say what?

SUDODKU PHOTO OF THE DAY

Eight-year-old Pan Xianhang is nicknamed ‘fish boy’ by neighbours because he’s covered from head to toe in thick, itchy scales.

Source: TheSun.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 41

Minister lambasts ex-players

Stories by Albert Akota he Minister of Sports and Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC) Mallam Abdullahi Bolaji has blamed ex – internationals for their inability to plan ahead outside the field of play.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the unveiling of masterpiece book written by ex International Segun Odegbami tagged “Me, Football and More” said that their inability to plan ahead of their future result to excruciating pain most of them are passing through.

The minister also said that ex -players should stop looking for help from Federal Government or individuals, saying after retire from football career, they should not sit and watch the world, instead they should begin to emulate explayers like Segun Odegbami by

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transforming themselves.

“This is very important to those who are playing football, running around as if their life end in the field of play is not good, some of them fall sick and they can even foot their medical bill, “He said.

“Some of them are homeless, some are roaming around with nothing to do and each time people keeping on saying government have abandoned the ex- footballers.

“My argument is always that these players abandoned themselves long ago, in fact some of these footballers make a lot of money.

“The full message is that, if segun Odegbami can survive after football for many years, I think every sportsman or athlete has responsibility upon him or her selves to think of life outside and

beyond sports, “he said. “when you see people like segun and Victor Ikpeba who was present at the occasion who think ahead and re -invest themselves again, keep themselves alive, I think they are great to be commended, “he concluded Earlier in his remarked the Chairman of Daar Communication, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi who was represented by his media consultant Mr. Tony Akiotu, commended the qualities of the intellectualism of ex –player, adding that the book would inspired the generation unborn and would encourage Nigerian youth on hard work.

In his response the 1980 African Cup of Nation winner Segun Odegbami thanked everybody that make the publication of the book “me, football and more” a success.

Bolaji Abdulahi

2014 CHAN: National Assembly hails Eagles qualification at expense of Elephants

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he Chairman House Committee on Sports Hon. Godfrey Ali Gaiya has hailed the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2014 Africa Cup of Nations Championship (CHAN).

Although the Eagles lost 0-2 to the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire in Abidjan, the National team booked a place in the tournament, to be hosted by South Africa.

The chairman of the committee who was in Abidjan with the team however apologised to Nigerians who could not watch the match live, he noted that the eventual outcome was the qualification of the team mattered most.

“We are happy we have qualified, personally, I want to praise the Coach Stephen Keshi

Hon Godfrey Gaiya

for ensuring the team would be in South Africa for the competition for the first time, since it debuted in 2009.

The most important thing is qualifying and I am happy we have made it, I watch the match live, I known what the team and the technical went through in the first half of the game.

It was a good one for Nigeria.

I am pleased with the result. I will do anything to support my country, “he said.

The Kaduna state born lawmaker who could not hide his feels said, I appreciate what God has done for us. I say a big ‘congrats’ to him the al might and the crew as well as Nigeria football federation (NFF) for a

good job’’.

“It was a good result and I appreciate the home-based players. They did well to ensure a qualification,’’ he said.

Let me tell, it is a plus for Nigerian that we qualified. We need to build a more formidable team from among the homebased players before the competition proper’.

He urged that the handlers would need to step up the hunt for more talented players.

“We need more players because by the time the competition starts, some of them (home-based Eagles) might no longer be home-based and a vacuum might be created, he said.

The Eagles had gone into the second leg with a comprehensive 4-1 win in Kaduna, leaving the Ivorians desperately in search of three un-replied goals to turn the table.

But in Abidjan the Elephants were only able to score two goals, leaving Nigeria the winners with 4-3 on aggregate.

Gaiya however called on NFF and the technical crew to start intensive preparation for the CHAN competition in South Africa 2014, especially player’s inclusion to the team.

“I want them to inject new blood from our league, if possible from the national league in order to have good outing in South Africa, “the lawmaker advised.

Yobo always in Eagles plan, says Keshi

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he Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has debunked claims making the rounds that he has foreclosed the issue of team skipper, Joseph Yobo.

The former Togo and Mali gaffer said that the captain will return to

the team, sooner than later.

The Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes the coach as saying he never spoke to any media organization regarding the return to the national team or otherwise of Yobo in Abidjan during the Eagles CHAN qualifier against the

Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire.

“He is like a younger brother to me and I want the best for him but there seems to be a desperate bid to create a war between me and my captain and I will always reject that because he remains one of Nigeria’s big football players and we cannot

rush him out just like that”, Keshi said The Eagles boss declared that there are issues he is always misquoted out of context about.

“When I speak about the NFF, it’s convenient for people to misquote me, to create crisis

Mandela Challenge: Mikel, Moses, others assure Keshi

T Mikel

he Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has said that all the foreign based players he invited for the August 14 international friendly match against South Africa dubbed ‘Mandela Challenge’ have assured that they would be available for the match In a chat with news in Abuja, Keshi said that all the players have indicated their

willingness to return to South Africa where they won the Africa Cup of Nations early this year and engage the Bafana Bafana.

“I am glad that all the players I invited have given me their words that they would be available and willing to play, It is going to be a good game and we hope to maintain our supremacy over Bafana Bafana in that game” He continued “it is a

friendly match but we have prestige at stake and that is why we are going there with our best to give it our best. It will also help us to prepare for the September World cup qualifier against Malawi” Keshi disclosed that the home based players he invited are expected to open camp next week in Abuja while the foreign based players are expected to fly direct to South Africa from their respective base.

keshi between me and my employers but I had never had any problem with them and they have said so.

“The Aminu Maigari led NFF board has been more than supportive of the team we have on ground and nobody should say otherwise just to create sensation.

There are channels of communications in the NFF and the Super Eagles and if information does not come through those channels they should be disregarded”, Alaiya said.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

PAGE 42

Sports Amputee footballers protest neglect over preparation ahead of Nations Cup

Confederation Cup: Enyimba set for Nasarawa demolition today

duel at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.

The 2011 Federation Cup runners-up defeated Glo Premier League side, 3SC, 3-1 in the round of 16 in Abuja while Nasarawa

United piped Sunshine Stars 1-0 in Lokoja to pave the way for the tussle for a semifinal spot in the yearly football competition.

Amanfor said for his side to have survived the onslaught of the Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Remo Stars in the round of 32 in Lokoja means that no other side can stop his side from achieving the podium dance in this year’s Federation Cup. “We prefer to talk with our legs on the field of play not outside the pitch. Today history will be made by the better side of the two.

“I believe we’ve played our toughest game in the ongoing Federation Cup against Remo Stars in the round of 32 in Lokoja.

“People are most likely to dismiss Remo Stars as a lower division side but we see them as the toughest hurdle to winning the Federation Cup title.

“We don’t see any other side including Nasarawa United capable to stop us from playing in the semifinals en route to the final and winning the title.

“Nasarawa United maybe

that they will try and approach the game to win, even though they will not have the quartet in action.

“The four players did not travel with us because they are injured.

They are nursing various degrees of injury and there is no need to aggravate the injuries by risking them in the game,” said Ganaru.

“We have played in about eight games without this set of players, so we are used to not having them in action.

“But that will not disrupt the flow of our game because we are in

Ilorin to win and qualify for the semi finals of the Federation Cup. “Warri Wolves are a strong side.

I respect them because of what they have done this season. But I am confident that my players will give me what I want from the game.

“It will be tough but I am optimistic that we will get the job done,” Ganaru said.

Kano Pillars placed fourth last year after losing to Prime on penalties in the third place match as they failed in their bid to complete a double.

A

mputee footballers in Lagos yesterday protested their alleged neglect by the board of the Nigeria Amputee Football Federation (NAFF).

“We are not happy with our board as none of them has deemed it fit to have a meeting with the players since coming on board,’’ Austin Ugwu, spokesman of the team told newsmen.

“We have not yet commenced preparations for an upcoming Cup of African Nations for Amputee footballers (CANAF)’’.

The competition is scheduled to hold in Nairobi, Kenya from Nov. 22 to Nov. 30.

According to him, the players are not happy that the board and the president have not seen the need for early camping, in preparation for the competition.

Ugwu said there was the need to urgently invite players to begin camping or some form of training.

“We are only aware that we have a board and a president, but we have not seen them. This is not right,’’ Ugwu said.

Another player, Felix Ndubuisi, said they have been facing challenges in transporting themselves from their homes to the National Stadium, their training venue.

He added that some of them had problems with acquiring equipment to aid easy movement, like wheelchairs and crutches.

“Our physical conditions do not permit us to be jumping from one bus to another, so we need to be in camp and train with quality equipment,’’ he said.

Ojo Yemi, another physicallychallenged player said that the team needed the board to facilitate friendly games as part of their build up for the competition.

He noted that the boys were enthusiastic about representing the country at the competition and that other participating countries might have started their preparation for the event.

A member of the board, and its technical director, Feyisetan Are, who spoke on the issue, said the board had only met once and that efforts would be made to meet with the players.

Nasarawa Coach, Alphonsus Dike

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nyimba striker, Chimezie Amanfor has said his side will teach football basic to Nasarawa United in today’s Federation Cup quarterfinals

Kano Pillars to miss four players against Warri Wolves

Pillars full squad

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Obieze in action

ano Pillars will be without four of their regular players when they take on Warri Wolves in one of the quarter final matches of the Federation Cup today.

The four players who will miss the match include Gambo Mohammed, Nazifi Armani, Shehu Shagari and Umar Zango.

The game which takes place on Wednesday in Ilorin will see the two Premier League club sides entertain football fans in Ilorin.

Pillars coach, Baba Ganaru said

banking on the experience of their coach, Alphonsus Dike, we, too have ours in Salisu Yusuf.

They forced us to 1-1 draw in the league; I think they’re ordinary even on their home ground in Lafia.

“I’ll use my chance at goal but our focus is not on who scores rather to win and progress to the semifinals,” said the former Akwa United hitman said.

The winners of the knockout game will book a place in the last four of the competition.

Nigeria to host 10th Regional Africa Conference of Girl Guides

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igeria will host the 10th Regional Africa Conference of World Association of Girl Guides and Scouts (WAGGGS) from August 11 - 17, a statement has said.

The statement was issued by the Chief Commissioner of the Nigerian Girl Guides, Dame Christie Tobi in Lagos yesterday.

Tobi said the conference was usually held every three years in one of the member countries in Africa and Nigeria would be hosting it for the first time.

“We expect to discuss issues bordering on development of the girl-child and young women the world over, of primary concern are ways of instilling leadership values in the girls and the young women as well as means of empowering them through qualitative education and discovering in-built skills.

“We are worried about some of the harsh conditions that the girl-child and the young women are subjected to all in the name of tradition or beliefs.

“If we do not rise against such injustice now, it might be detrimental to the quest for advancement and development of our nations, no matter which way we want to look at it”, she said.

Activitiesplannedfortheweeklong conference include workshops, consultations, exchange of ideas on best practices as well as contributions on strategic directions for the region.

WAGGGS is the largest voluntary movement dedicated to the development of girls and young women in the world.

The mission of the association is to enable girls and young women to develop their potential to the fullest as responsible citizens of the world.

Federation Cup Fixtures Heartland Vs Akwa United - Kaduna Warri Wolves Vs Kano Pillars - Ilorin Nasarawa United Vs Enyimba - Abeokuta Akwa Starlets Vs Lobi Stars - Enugu

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2013

Sports

Farah faces Ethiopian duo in 2013 Great North Run

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o Farah will take on two of the biggest names in distance running when he faces Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele in the Great North Run. The double Olympic champion will race against the Ethiopian duo in the halfmarathon from Newcastle to South Shields on 15 September.

“It has the makings of the greatest head to head in halfmarathon history,” said event founder Brendan Foster.

Farah, 30, plans to run a full marathon for the first time in 2014.

The Briton, who won gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2012 Olympic Games, ran half

of the London marathon in April and will run the full version next year.

He set a new British record for the half-marathon in New Orleans in February and aims to become the first Briton to win the Great North Run since Steve Kenyon in 1985.

“I competed in the mile and two-mile events on Great North Run weekend in past years and am delighted to finally make my debut in the main event,” Farah said.

“It is always one of the world’s top half-marathon races and this year promises to be a great race with me against Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele.”

Farah in front of others

Rutherford set for World England face Australia in ICC World Cup Athletic Championships

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lympic champion Greg Rutherford has passed a fitness test and been selected for the World Championships in Moscow, which start on 10 August.

British Athletics announced its full squad two weeks ago but delayed naming its sole long jumper as Rutherford battled a hamstring injury.

Black believes Rutherford, meanwhile, has shown enough in fitness tests to justify inclusion in the squad.

Rutherford and Tomlinson jointly hold the British record of 8.35m. But, because neither has achieved the ‘A’ standard of 8.25m this season, only one of the pair could be selected.

Rutherford, 26, has not been in action since pulling his right hamstring at the Diamond League meet in Paris on 6 July.

Tomlinson, 31, competed at the Olympic Stadium in London on Sunday but managed only 7.99m.

Rutherford Olympic gold medalist Rutherford will be hoping to compete alongside Olympic gold-medal winning team-mates Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis-Hill in Moscow.

Queen granddaughter set to compete at 2016 Olympics

Zara Phillips ara Phillips says she wants to compete at the 2016 Olympics and hopes to have “a good few years” left as a top-level event rider.

The Queen’s granddaughter, 32, announced on 8 July that her first child was due in early 2014.

But the 2006 world individual three-day evening champion and London 2012 team silver medallist is determined to compete after the birth.

After European and world title wins earlier in her career on Toytown, the chestnut gelding who was retired two years ago, Phillips has built a successful partnership with High Kingdom.

Phillips initially continued in competitions during the early stages of her pregnancy but has decided to take a break until after the baby is born, and will miss the European Eventing Championships, which start in Sweden next month.

Phillips finished eighth overall in the individual three-day competition as she helped the British team to a silver medal.

Phillips believes Fox-Pitt and the New Zealand pair of Andrew Nicholson and Jock Paget will be among the ones to watch.

ngland will play co-hosts Australia on the opening day of the 2015 World Cup. Pool A is completed by the other co-hosts New Zealand, 1996 winners Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and two associate nations from qualifying tournaments.

Holders India, South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland and a qualifier are in Pool B. The tournament starts on 14 February with the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground - where Pakistan beat England in the 1992 final - on 29 March.

Alastair Cook’s men stay in New Zealand for two more matches, against a qualifier in Christchurch still rebuilding from an earthquake two years ago - and against Sri Lanka back in Wellington on 1 March.

They then head back to Australia for games against Bangladesh, on 9 March in Adelaide, and the other qualifier in their group, on 13 March in Sydney.

The tournament will follow the same format as the 2011 event with the top four teams from each pool progressing to the quarter-finals.

James Anderson

Meilutyte set for new world record

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Ruta Meilutyte ithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte broke the 100m breaststroke world record in the World Championship semi-finals.

The Plymouth-based

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16-year-old clocked one minute 04.30 seconds in Barcelona, 0.15 secs faster than the previous best time set by Jessica Hardy in 2009.

Earlier, Meilutyte had

recorded 1:04.52 in qualifying, the second-fastest time in history and a new European record.

In the 200m individual medley final, Sophie Allen was seventh and fellow Briton Siobhan-Marie O’Connor eighth.

London 2012 Olympic champion Meilutyte will seek to win Lithuania’s first ever World Championships gold medal in Tuesday’s final.

Briton O’Connor only reached the 200m individual medley final after Australian Emily Seebohm pulled out in order to concentrate on her preferred 100m backstroke event, but the 17-year-old found herself in second place at the halfway stage.

However, she faded in the second half to finish eighth in a race which was won by Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu.

Olympic champion Ye Shiwen surprisingly only managed to come fourth.

www.peoplesdailyng.com

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TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2013

SPORTS LATEST

Maradona in trouble for kicking photographer

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photographer has filed a police complaint accusing Argentina legend Diego Maradona of kicking him in the groin.

Medina clams the 52-year-old came out of the house charged towards him “like he was taking a free-kick” and kicked him so hard that he “doubled over in pain”.

Former Barcelona, Napoli and Boca Juniors star Maradona, who lifted the World Cup as his country’s captain in 1986, has had a long-running feud with the press.

In 1994, he was given a twoyear suspended sentence after firing an air gun in the direction of reporters gathered outside his house.

The controversial figure’s last job in football was as head coach for Al Wasl in Dubai, and he now works as a sporting ambassador for the Gulf city.

Ecuador plans to repatriate Benitez

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he president of the Ecuador football federation says it has hired a private plane to bring home the body of Christian Benitez, an Ecuador striker who died Monday after playing his first game for his new Qatari club.

Qatari club El Jaish has still not provided details about the 27-year-old Benitez’s death, but said the player didn’t complain about his health Sunday. The team is awaiting a medical report expected by today and has promised to pay all expenses to transport him home.

Ecuador Football Federation President Luis Chiriboga said “everything has already been sorted to bring home the remains of Chucho Benítez.”

Benitez arrived in Qatar on a transfer from Mexican club America in early July. He helped the team win the Mexican championship last season by scoring 30 goals.

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QUOTABLE QUOTE The concept of deregistration of political parties is strange to the 1999 Constitution.

— Justice Gabriel Kolawale of Abuja Federal Court ruling Monday that INEC lacks power to deregister a legal political party

Stop playing politics with Kano Airport

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y recent experience, using the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA for international travel has left me wondering how the government’s much touted transformational agenda in the airport works.

The airport has a “re-modeled” international terminal building majestically spread across the apron in bright red colours. It has been lying in disuse. There is equally a domestic terminal, named after one of aviation’s towering giants, Muhammdu Adamu Dankabo. After its completion, it lied fallow until the Central Bank of Nigeria, through its Corporate Social Responsibility Schemes came in to furnish its lounges. As an aside, a CBN director once narrated the story of how they fought severe pressure from the barons (and baronesses) of the aviation ministry to keep the furniture items in Kano.

The lords in the ministry wanted them for Abuja or Lagos.

Then there is a third terminal, the Hajj terminal, which is currently being used for international arrivals. It parades a few metallic seats and toilets that are sometimes flooded and they don’t flush. The stench of urine welcomes you into the arrival hall. Passenger luggage is spread out on a lamp-lit surrounding. Because the lights are poor for night arrivals, torch- lights come in handy for the identification of luggage tags. Thank God, those cheap Chinese telephones function as torch-lights as well. You push and shove to pick yours and have to squeeze yourself through sweaty touts and security men to leave using narrow outlets in a tightlyheld gate opening.

Of recent, there have been several outcries by stakeholders including the Kano Chamber of Commerce that the white elephant standing as international terminal building be opened to the public for their use. After all, the government that built it said it has finished work on this airport and its attention is now on Lagos, Port Harcourt, and other airports. Amidst flamboyant ceremonies, the Governor of the Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi commissioned the project at an event in which he praised the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for doing something governments in the past had failed to do.

In its comment on the issue, the Kano Chamber of Commerce raised a simple question: How can all those airlines desirous of landing in

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MUSINGS By

Garba Shehu garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah Kano come when the infrastructure and basic facilities for their use are unavailable?

Our public officials who are never known to accept responsibility or be accountable to the citizens they are to serve have since been reacting very angrily to the people who ask for no more than to be treated as human beings.

Mr. Yakubu Dati, a very effective media coordinator of all Aviation agencies and a former commissioner in Governor Joshua Dariye’s government, has not been kind at all to Kano people over this issue. This is a man I would describe as a gentleman with whom I shared

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moments when our bosses left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the opposition Action Congress.

He along with some directors in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have taken turns to accuse the Kano stakeholders and the newspapers that cover their views as engaging in politics of blackmail. They have put a spin of conspiracy on a simple request for human dignity and the restoration of the glory of the once-successful airport.

Dati looked at the Kano people in the eye and told them that their attacks on the project were political: “Attacks against the project (MAKIA) in some sections of the media are to score cheap political points” as the criticisms stemmed from “ignorance and mischief of some anti-progressive elements”.

He then offered that “airport viability and utilization is dependent on passenger movement” and added, in a rather outspoken manner, that it would be “difficult for economic activities to go on under threats to lives and property”.

To rub it in - in a manner callous and irresponsible - he said: “if the terminal or the airport is alleged to be dormant, it means there is low passenger movement and it is not the responsibility of FAAN or the Ministry of Aviation to attract passengers to the airport”. Really?

The airport has a “re-modeled” international terminal building majestically spread across the apron in bright red colours. It has been lying in disuse. There is equally a domestic terminal, named after one of aviation’s towering giants, Muhammdu Adamu Dankabo. After its completion, it lied fallow

Dati wrote off the Kano airport as insecure and in his words, “the problem of Kano airport, is the issue of security,” and then went on to lecture newspapers reporting the under-utilization of the airport to write daily editorials on security which he had identified as the problem.

While it will be dishonest of anyone to deny that Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria had caused much damage to Kano, it is not right for an official to blame the fortunes of the airport as regards to its non-usage to insecurity. Moreso when for Kano and much of the North, the worst is now over.

In addition, the Boko Haram was just one type of insecurity out of the myriads that confront the nation. Have kidnapping and sabotage stopped anyone from accessing the terminal buildings of Lagos, Jos or Enugu airports?

Besides, FAAN and the Ministry cannot wash their hands off what has happened to MAKIA. When the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos was notorious for surging touts that overcrowded the entrance to the terminal building as observed by two Guardian writers, Wole Shadare and Goodluck-Ogazi, the Aminu Kano Airport’s entrance was noticeably well–managed with a systematic boarding pattern. Kano was the choice of many travelers to and from Nigeria before the mid 90s. It is only when the Aviation Ministry does its own part that it can blame others for not doing their own.

To blame “unseen hands” for influencing newspaper reports calling for the completion and utilization of the Kano airport is nothing short of blackmail.

Imagined conspiracies cannot be a substitute for the political will to do things right at first. It is unpardonable not being able to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate a worthwhile government project.

All things said, this government should take the full benefit of the suffering being visited upon international passengers using the Malam Aminu International Airport.

While these men may be associated with some shortcomings as are all other human-beings, what Kano people do not lack is entrepreneurial and business skills but without the needed infrastructure, these alone cannot bring about the transformation the government wishes to achieve.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141