Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday, January 30, 2012 by Peoples Media Limited

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Vol. 7 No. 62

Monday, January 30, 2012

Rabiul Awwal 7, 1433 AH

N150

AU chair:

Jonathan humiliated By Lawrence Olaoye

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday got what could easily pass for the greatest shock of his life when he lost his bid to lead the continent's apex body, the

African Union (AU). During the closed session of the 18th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday, Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),

chose President Thomas Boni Yayi of the Republic of Benin as Chairperson of the AU. The West African leaders, by that decision, rejected President Jonathan's last minute bid to become leader of the continental body.

The Nigerian President, who indicated interest in contesting for the position after most of the leaders had resolved to back the Benin Republic leader, was jolted when heads of other African countries, especially Ghana's Atta Mills insisted on supporting

President Boni for the position. The President of Ghana was specifically opposed to Jonathan's candidature on the grounds that the leadership ECOWAS, among who is Jonathan, had prior to the 18th AU summit, agreed to Contd on Page 2

Fear grips Sokoto over Boko Haram threat From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto & Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

R-L: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ambassador Aisha Abdullahi, who has just been chosen as African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs to represent Nigeria, and Director of African Affairs, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Ambassador Yahaya Lawal, during the opening session of the 18th Summit of African Heads of State and Government, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday. Photo: NAN

ear has gripped residents of Sokoto and environs over the threat of bloody attacks in the state issued to the state government by Boko Haram. The group, whose real name is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna lid-Da'awati wal Jihad, on Saturday issued a stiff warning, saying its members would launch massive bomb attacks on the state should the government refuse to release all its members that are alleged to be held in police custody in Sokoto. Investigations by our correspondent yesterday in Sokoto revealed that citizens of the state, especially residents of Sokoto town, the seat of the Calipahte, are expressing concern as they were seen clustering in groups to discuss the development. Some residents even embarked on prayers, seeking God's intervention on the matter. Malam Isa Achida, a local businessman, appealed to the Boko Haram sect to have a rethink and

tow the path of peace. He urged the leadership of the sect to rescind its decision and embrace dialogue with the government. According to him, no meaningful development could be achieved without peace. Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP El- Mustapha Sani, proved abortive, as his phone was switched off. Similarly, efforts to get reaction of some top politicians in the state were unsuccessful, as many declined to speak on the issue. Boko Haram on Saturday warned the Sokoto state government to facilitate the immediate release of its members who were alleged to be arrested or it would attack the city with multiple bomb explosions as done in Kano. Speaking to newsmen on phone in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, spokesman of the sect, Abul Qaqa, said the warning was imperative so as to avoid imminent ‘bloodshed’ in the state, alleging that security operatives Contd on Page 2

I N S I D E Al-Mustapha knows fate today Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court would today deliver judgement in the conspiracy to murder and murder charge, preferred against Major Hamza Almustapha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan – Page 4

We’ll not leave Kano, say Lebanese Adamawa Ag. gov sacks Nyako’s Leaders of the Lebanese community in Kano cabinet, SSG, others have vowed that despite the recent attack by the dreaded Boko Haram sect, their members were not contemplating leaving the city. – Page 4 WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

Acting Governor of Adamawa state, Umaru Ahmad Fintri, has sacked former Governor Nyako’s SSG, Mr. Kobis Ari Thimnu and the Chief Press Secretary, Maijama’a Adamu – Page 40

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

Op.Ed

Letters

Opinion

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

S/Report

Issues

Education

27-28

Health

29-30

Akwe Doma was architect of his own failure –Wadada, Page 37

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-45

Columnist

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American kidnapped in Nigeria returns to US

U.S. citizen kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria's oilrich southern delta returned to Georgia yesterday after being held captive for a week, his family said. William Gregory Ock arrived in Atlanta yesterday morning to a warm greeting from family and friends, said his sister-in-law Tamara Lane. She said Ock, 50, is feeling well but not yet ready to talk about his experience. "We're all very excited. We had a big turnout for him, and

he looks great," Lane said. "We just hope he gets some good rest." U.S. Embassy officials said Ock was released after being captured in Warri in Delta state on Jan. 20 but declined to offer further details, citing privacy rules. It wasn't immediately clear whether a ransom had been paid to secure his release, although many companies in the region carry kidnap insurance. Authorities say kidnappers had previously demanded a

$330,000 ransom for Ock's safe return. The attack took place outside a bank branch in Warri, one of the main cities in the Niger Delta, an oil-rich region where foreign firms pump 2.4 million barrels of crude oil a day. The gunmen ambushed Ock as he came outside, fatally shot his police escort and then abducted him, said Charles Muka, a Delta state police spokesman. He said investigators suspect the gunmen trailed him for some

time before the attack, one of several recent assaults targeting foreign workers. A recent U.S. State Department travel advisory said there were five reported kidnappings of U.S. citizens in Nigeria in 2011. Lane said Ock and his family are grateful for all the help they received during this ordeal. "The family just wishes to thank everybody for their well wishes, prayers and thoughts," Lane said. "We have had such amazing support."

AU chair: Jonathan humiliated Contd from Page 1 support the candidature of Benin Republic's leader for the AU top job. Diplomatic sources however hinted that following his last minute bid to assume the position, Jonathan had landed in Addis Ababa, exuding confidence that the ambition of the Benin President would be jettisoned in his favour by virtue of Nigeria's, and his perceived influence in the continent's affairs. The sources further said that Jonathan went into the ECOWAS caucus meeting yesterday with a prepared acceptance speech in anticipation of his endorsement by other leaders of the countries within the region. But his confidence was punctured when his counterparts in ECOWAS, allegedly egged on by South Africa's Jacob Zuma, unanimously endorsed Yayi to take over from President Teodoro Obiang Nguuema of Equatorial Guinea. Our sources revealed that the other ECOWAS heads of state and government had to excuse President Jonathan to hold a small meeting outside the venue of the regional body's mini summit before finally returning to make known to the Nigerian leader their position on the matter. That action of President Jonathan's colleagues, a source said, was in view of their dilemma over his last minute schemes to head the AU after an

earlier decision of ECOWAS that the group should unanimously line up behind Yayi. Sources said President Jonathan actually encouraged Yayi to vie for the coveted seat, and also mobilised support for him at the ECOWAS level, ahead of the 18th AU Summit. Unconfirmed sources disclosed that the Jonathan was so embarrassed by the development that he left the ECOWAS mini-summit mid-way when it became apparent that he had lost in his bid to become the new AU chairperson. President Jonathan threw-in the hat for the AU Chair when it was rumoured that the Gambian President, Yahaya Jammeh, who was hotly in the race, had withdrawn even as it was learnt that some members of ECOWAS were mounting pressure on him to contest for the position. As a compensation for the ego humiliating loss by Nigeria, it was gathered that South Africa conceded the post of the AU Commission's Commissioner for Political Affairs, making the nation's ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, Mrs. Aisha Abdullahi to emerge unopposed. Apart from Jonathan's late entrance into the race, it was gathered that his colleagues wondered why he would even indicate interest in such position in spite of the local challenge of insecurity his administration is facing back home. The newly elected

President Goodluck Jonathan

Chairperson of the continental organisation will manage the affairs of the Union and represent the AU for a one year mandate. According to the rotation principle, the chairmanship of the Union for the year 2012 was to be given to a West African country. Therefore the Heads of State and Government of the AU endorsed the ECOWAS decision for Benin to take the turn at the helm of the Union. The newly elected Bureau of the Assembly includes the following:-Uganda, 1st VicePresident (Eastern Region); Tunisia, 2nd Vice-President (Northern Region); South Africa, 3rd Vice-President (Southern Region); Equatorial Guinea, Rapporteur (Central Region).

In his acceptance speech, President Yayi underlined priorities of his mandate which include peace, stability and security so that 2012 will be for Africa a year of blessings, peace and prosperity. He commended the resilience of the continent more specifically the overall proceedings of the auto determination referendum which led to the creation of Southern Sudan, the 54th AU Member State; and the ongoing peace and reconciliation process in Côte d'Ivoire. Regarding the theme of the 18th Summit, "Boosting IntraAfrican Trade", the newly elected AU chairperson said the solution to the challenges Africa is facing depend upon the Africans themselves. He urged his peers to strive for more stability and security, reinforce continental integration, and promote infrastructure development in order to fight efficiently against poverty. President Yayi concluded his speech by thanking his colleagues for the confidence bestowed on him. He called for a united Africa to help overcome the challenges of the time. Meanwhile, the election of the chairperson, deputy chairperson and commissioners of the African Union Commission (AUC), will take place today at the newly commissioned $200 million Chinese built magnificent headquarters of the continental body.

Fear grips Sokoto over Boko Haram threat Contd from Page 1 arrested many of the sect's members in Sokoto. "We will soon give Sokoto the same treatment we are giving Kano", Qaqa said. The warning, according to Qaqa, was served as an open letter to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111, the Speaker of the House of

Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and the acting Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Lawali Zayyanu, on the need for them to take urgent action to avert ‘bloody’ attacks. “Before we attacked Kano, we wrote same letter to senior citizens there on the imperative of releasing our members but nobody

cared to talk. Indeed, we sent three warnings to Kano before we struck,” Qaqa said. He added: “What happened in Kano will be inevitable in Sokoto unless you (Sultan and others) intervene and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of our members who were arrested there.”

Sources in Sokoto revealed that security agents, about three weeks ago, busted a Boko Haram cell in the town, killing at least 68 members of the sect. Reports also indicated that over 100 members of the sect were arrested while many others fled to nighbouring states and Niger Republic.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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Collapsed building: NEMA recommends strict punishment for defaulters By Mohammed Kandi

L-R: Member of the Christ Methodist Church, Nyanya, Barrister Samuel O. Osahon, Bishop of the church, Rt. Rev. Samuel Ransford Nortey, and former Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sir. Onyema Ugochukwu, during the 1st anniversary thanksgiving service and award ceremony of the Christ Methodist Church, Nyanya, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

orried over the increasing rate of building collapse in Nigeria, the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi has summoned a stakeholders’ summit, just as he recommended severe punishment for offenders involved in such dastardly. Addressing the Search and Rescue Officers (SROs) of the agency in Abuja at the scene of a collapsed building in Gwarinpa, in Abuja at the weekend, the NEMA boss pointed out that “stakeholders in building industry must find urgent solutions to the raging cases of building collapse in the country.” The NEMA boss, according to a statement issued by the agency’s

Family of alleged gun runner accuses army of illegal detention From Agaju Madugba & Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

he family of detained Alhaji Nuhu Mohammed Marafa who is being held over allegations of gun- running has decried the failure of the authorities concerned to allow them access to their breadwinner who has four wives and 20 children. According to Alhaji Muktar Hassan, one of the children who led the others at a press conference in Kaduna yesterday said their father may die in detention as he requires daily medication for diabetes and high blood pressure. Recalled that a former

Chairman of Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, Marafa, was arrested at about midnight on January 14 by soldiers from the 1 Mechanized Brigade Headquarters in Kaduna. The younger Marafa said their father was innocent of the allegations and noted that the suspect possessed a licensed pomp action gun with registration number 00859 and that the Army uniform and belt recovered at the residence belong to one of the children, Yusuf, an ex-student of Command Secondary school while an Army cardigan, also recovered was bought at a second hand clothes shop in Kaduna.

Describing his father as a “social mobilizer, philanthropist and peace maker”, Muktar warned that tension was building up in the area as a large majority of residents say the suspect is being detained illegally instead of being taken to court after 24 hours as required by the Constitution. Shortly after his arrest, authorities at the 1 Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army had paraded Marafa at a press briefing where the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Lt-Col. Abubakar Edun, said that his men had recovered a number of items at the residence of the suspect. He had listed the items to

include, a unit of pump Action gun and 43 ammunition, comprising 17 double barrel gun cartridges, 12 NATO 7.62mm, five units of 6mm and nine 9mm, two double edged special axes, three machetes, two metal bows and three long club woods with a bottle containing an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Edun said the suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution on completion of investigation on February 20, this year. But when contacted, spokesman of the state Police Command, DSP Aminu Lawal, said the suspect was yet to be handed over to them.

…As Adamawa police quiz 30 over terrorism From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

damawa state Police Command says it has arrested no fewer than thirty persons for onward arraignment in court in relation with various offences that recently unleashed terror on people in the state. Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aderenle Shinaba told journalists in a conference that the offences

range from arson, abuse of persons, causing disturbances among others adding that the CID department would soon have them arraigned in court. Mr. Shinaba said the complete lifting of curfew in the state is an indication that relative peace has been restored in the state and urged people in the state to go on with their normal activities without fear or rancour. “We have had meetings with

other security agencies in fact we meet regularly to ensure peace in the state so we want to reassure members of the entire state that nobody needs to run away from the state for fear of reprisal or anything whatsoever”, Shinaba stated. He however pleaded with members of the public to always approach the police with useful information as according to him “no information at this time is too small and we cannot ensure to

treat any information at this time with levity.” On the recent preliminary reports of Igbos in Mubi council area of the state provided by the state government that the deceased were killed by their business partners, the CP said “the Mubi incident needs thorough investigation; we need to know cause of the killing and why it is targeted at a particular group, police is still investigating to unearth the actual cause”.

head of press and public relations, Yushau Shuibu, yesterday in Abuja, attributed the cause of the accident to “non-compliance with specifications and standards; employment of incompetent contractors and use of substandard materials and equipments,” even as he commend the response agencies for well-coordinated efforts, especially their timely arrival at the scene of the disaster. The statement however disclosed that two lives were lost and five victims rescued from the rubbles, adding that, “so far only one victim is critically injured and is on admission in the hospital.” Sani-Sidi, the statement said, extolled members of the public and the media for informing the response agencies early enough on the incident, while appealing them “to be willing to alert government on buildings that are suspected to be risk to the lives of people living within a community so that appropriate measures could be taken to avert disasters.”

Land tussle: Gen Lekwot stakes claim From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

ormer military governor of Rivers state, General Zamani Lekwot (rtd), last Friday, opened his defense before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Kaduna over a case of land dispute filed against him by 225 residents of Rijana Village in Kachia local government area of Kaduna state. Gen. Lekwot tendered some documents claiming the ownership of the said farm land before the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Mohammed Adamu Hamza. Gen. Lekwot, argued that he bought the land from the late District Head of the village Dakolo and that he is in possession of all the documents, since 1980. However, the documents were objected by the counsel to the complainants, Garba Shehu, argued that the documents are photocopies, thereby rendered as court should reject them for lacking in substance. Gen. Zamani Lekwot earlier argued that he bought the land from the district head of the late district head Dakolo and possesses all documents to back his defense.

Nothing has changed in Sokoto, says acting governor By Lawrence Olaoye

okoto state acting Governor, Hon. Lawali Zayyana, at the weekend stated that his administration would be a continuation of that of his predecessor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, as he asserted that ‘nothing has changed’. Zayyana spoke when he

received the members of the Standing Committee of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), led by its president, Gbenga Adefaye, who paid him a courtesy visit in Sokoto at the weekend. The acting governor who brought greetings from Wamakko to the visitors noted that the Supreme Court’s judgment which eclipsed his predecessor’s administration prevented him

from personally receiving the editors. He said “At this juncture it is important for me to deliver a very important message from our leader, mentor and elder brother, His Excellency Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who would have been here to welcome you personally but for the circumstances of the last 36 hours to which I have already made

reference. According to him, the people of Sokoto state are already in election mood and they are ready to vote en-masse for Wamakko who had already emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer for the oncoming governorship elections. Zayyana, who regretted not being able to conduct the Editors round the state to have a firsthand

experience of the people oriented projects executed by Wamakko for lack of time, assured that the former governor still enjoys the support and loyalty of the people. He urged the Editors to use their advantaged position to preach peaceful co-existence in the country just as he reminded them that, as senior journalists, they have great roles to play in fostering unity in the country.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Al-Mustapha knows fate today From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

ustice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere, would today, deliver judgement in the conspiracy to murder and murder charge, preferred against troubled chief security officer (CSO), to late General Sani Abacha: Major Hamza Al-mustapha and a protocol officer in the MKO Abiola campaign organisation, Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan by the Lagos state government over the murder of late Kudirat Abiola in

Lagos on June 4, 1996. The court arrived at the decision shortly after counsels in the matter argued and adopted their written addresses. In its submission, the defence, led by Mr. Olalekan Ojo, maintained that the court should commit the credibility of all the prosecution witness to scrutiny having been dented by numerous contradictions. While praying the court to ensure true dispensation of justice in the case, Ojo argued that, "Any diligent prosecution

would go the extra mile to confirm whether the 2nd defendant in this matter actually worked as a protocol officer in the campaign organisation of late MKO Abiola". Ojo, who cited numerous Supreme Court decisions on criminal matters to back up his argument posited that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants as to the murder of Kudirat Abiola, arguing that, "The issue of contradiction on the part of the prosecution witnesses makes it

terribly bad. “In spite of the inconsistencies manifest in the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, the prosecution did not make any attempt to declare any of them as hostile witnesses.” Ojo urged the court to hold that it cannot be said that the count of conspiracy has been established against the defendants. According to the defence, "Murder is a very serious offence and the prosecution was not able to establish that Shofolahan was a protocol officer in the MKO Abiola

campaign organisation office." Ojo also held that the prosecution was not able to establish that the defendants carried out the killing of Kudirat. Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and Alhaji Latef Shofolahan have been standing trial since 1999 over the assassination of the wife of late Chief MKO Abiola. The outcome of the anticipated ruling will have far reaching social and political implications given the underlying factors and intrigues trailing the case.

Shekarau’s govt did not sponsor Boko Haram, says spokesman By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

L-R: Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, and Minister of State for Finance, Dr Lawal Ngama, during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, at the State House, in Abuja, recently. Photo: Joe Oroye

Gunmen attack police station in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano, with agency reports

unmen suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect attacked Naibawa police divisional headquarters in Kano yesterday. The police station situated along the Yan Katako area of Naibawa, was attacked and bombed by gunmen numbering up to 20. The attack caused

pandemonium in the area with people scampering for safety while the assailants reportedly engaged the police in a gun duel for over one hour. "We were able to push them out of the area but they burnt part of the police station", Kano police commissioner Ibrahim Idris said. "It was a blast that caused damage to the station". Witnesses said gunmen and armed police were in a shoot out

for around an hour after the explosion at the police station at Naibawa district outside Kano. "We are scared. The police and Boko Haram members are battling each other and there is gunfire everywhere," Usman Ibrahim Bello, a local resident told Reuters. An audio tape posted on the Internet last Thursday, by Imam Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the sect had threatened to kill more security personnel and kidnap

SON to stop hazardous tokunbo vehicles From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

he Standard Organisation of Nigerian (SON), is set to intensify its fight against the influx of hazardous imported secondhand vehicles into the country. SON Director General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu stated this during a chat with newsmen in Lagos. “We have different kinds and grades of used vehicles with

killer emission levels, and this SON is set to reduce to acceptable levels of safety. Although, to some people, these emissions may seem innocuous, but conducting a laboratory test on the fumes and analysing their chemical contents, you find that several Nigerians are inhaling fumes of very dangerous dimensions with dire health consequences”. He said SON had targeted a

further 30 percent reduction in the penetration of substandard products like Tokunbo vehicles into the country, both in terms of influx and circulation, and called on other relevant agencies involved in the duty of checkmating the importation of Tokunbo vehicles into the country to partner with SON as this would help in saving lives and reducing environmental hazards.

their families, while accusing US President Barack Obama of waging war on Islam.

ollowing the revelation by the Boko Haram sect in which one of its high ranking officials alleged that the Ibrahim Shekarau administration in Kano made a monthly N10 million donation to it, ostensibly to avoid attack, the spokesperson of the then administration, Mal. Sule Ya’u Sule, denied any knowledge of the transaction. Reacting to a publication in some newspapers, Sule who is also the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Public Relations to the former governor, said “at no time did the Shekarau administration in Kano state make any monthly donation to the Boko Haram group or any organisation, for that matter. “The publication was founded on malice and falsehood aimed at denting the good image and personal integrity of Shekarau. It is also a vain effort aimed at undermining one of the Shekarau’s major achievements as Governor of Kano state, was achieving sustainable peace and security of lives and property.

We’re not leaving Kano, say Lebanese From Lawal Sa’idu, Funtua

eaders of the Lebanese community in Kano have vowed that despite the recent attack by the dreaded Boko Haram, sect their members were not contemplating leaving the city. A leader of the community, Abdulnasser Hajaig who disclosed this while on a sympathy visit on the state governor over the bomb blasts, noted that the Lebanese community have been living in the state since 1707 and were therefore not contemplating going anywhere. He added that t they know Kano more than their country of origin, adding that they were born there and all their sources

of livelihood are located in the state. Hajaig said “we pray that God will see us through these challenges. We will like to commiserate with the government and people of Kano over the sad incident. We also pray we would never witness the recurrence of this sad event”. Our correspondent recalls that a German, working with Dantata and Sawoe, Mr. Raufach Edgar was on Thursday last week abducted by yet-to-be identified gunmen, also in Kano. Similarly some foreign nationals believed to be Indians were killed during the Boko Haram attack on some security stations in the ancient city.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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NAHCON to announce Hajj seat allocation From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

he National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), would henceforth conclude all arrangements for the yearly hajj pilgrimage operations between January and March, just as it is set to announce this year’s Hajj seats allocation to states for the 2012 operation this week. Alhaji Abdullahi Mukhtar, NAHCON National Commissioner in charge of operation, disclosed this yesterday in Kaduna, during a reception organised in his honor by the Hajj Crescent Initiative. Mukhtar, stated that the commission will ensure that it tackle all issues such as provision of Basic Travelling Allowance, Aircraft and other logistics within the period as a measure to tackle past problems and to enhance efficient services. He however promised to perform his duty diligently to ensure that the commission performs better than previous years.

Earlier, the Kaduna State deputy governor Alhaji Muktar Yero, challenged the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to as a matter of urgency address difficulties experienced by pilgrims during the annual religious ritual in Saudi Arabia. Yero also charged the

commissioner to smoothen the existing strained relationship between NAHCON and the various states Welfare Boards to ensure the success of the exercise. He called on the Commission to provide decent accommodation for pilgrims close to respective worship sites and not at Muzdallifah.

Responding, Muktar said the event had humbled and gingered him to double his efforts in providing diligent and selfless public and private service for mankind. While soliciting for constructive advice and prayers, Muktar pledged to justify the confidence reposed on him to ensure

hitch-free yearly Hajj operations. He disclosed that NAHCON would release Hajj seat allocated to states, mode of payment, airlift schedule, BTA and other logistic arrangements between Febuary and March to enable intending pilgrims make adequate preparations for subsequent exercises.

Ilorin Emir sues for peace From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

he Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim SuluGambari, has appealed to Nigerians and foreigners living in the country to preach and act in a manner that would promote unity among the people. Gambari who stated this in Ilorin during the turbaning ceremony of newly appointed Chiefs for the Emirate Council at his palace; said peace could only be achieved when the issue of religious sentiments and tribal hatred were put behind among other things. Urging the new Chiefs to rule in their respective domain with the fear of God, Gambari said “the fear of God is necessarily for the newly appointed chiefs if the Emirate needs to move forward among its contemporaries. The welfare of the good people of the communities of your postings must also be paramount to you so as to deliver diligently.” He called on the new chiefs to impact positively on the lives of the people of their various communities. Responding on behalf of others, Alahji Isah Mohammed, the new Balogun Ajikobi, pledged to abide by the laws guiding the conduct of the administration of the Emirate adding that the confidence reposed in them by the communities would not be regretted. The newly appointed Chiefs includes, Alhaji Isah Mohammed as the new Balogun Ajikobi, Alhaji Salman Olarongbe AbdulKadir, District Head of Ballah in the Asa local government, Alhaji Sa’adu Gambari, District Head of Bode Saadu while Alhaji Isiaka Yusuf is now the District Head of Ipaye in Moro local government area of the state.

L-R: Atoyebi Damilare, Glory Oladejo, Sarah Ejeh and Pelumi Adebayo, all members of Sun Beam of the Faith Baptist Church, Airport Road Lugbe, in Abuja, showcasing their talent, during the Focus Week of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, at the church's premises, yesterday. Photo: Joe Oroye

Nigeria ready to partner Korea on science, technology, says Minister By Adeola Tukuru

he Minister of Science and Technology Okon Bassey Ewa, has disclosed the readiness of the present administration to partner with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea in the field of science and technology. The Minister who made the disclosure in Abuja on Friday, when the Ambassador of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Jong Hak Se, visited him in his office, called on Korean investors to take the advantage of investment opportunities in Nigeria. Ewa, while noting the achievement of Korea in Space Technology, Medicine and Agriculture, stated the resolve of the present administration to improve the lot of Nigerians at the grass root, especially in the area of agriculture, healthcare and solar technology. The Minister identified postharvest storage as the bane of Nigeria’s agriculture and requested for the support of the Korean government. Ewa explained that the Ministry and its parastatals, through research, has various products on the shelves that needs to be commercialized and therefore solicited for the support of the Ambassador in getting the partnership of Entrepreneurs from Korea . “What is upper most is to see how to use science and technology to develop the economy and improve the lives of Nigerians; we

are preparing to go into partnership with people that are moving science and technology in your country. We have developed a lot of technology but still on the shelves and we need to move them from the shelve to commercialization. He added that “the partnership

will be relevant in this regard and we will welcome investors from your country in this area”. Ambassador Jong, in his remarks, reminded the Minister of the diplomatic relations and mutual co-operation existing between two countries Nigeria for more than two decades.

Jong stated that his government has launched advance satellite technology in the area of agriculture and food processing stressing that it has become very imperative for the two countries to pursue science and technology, with a view to building economic powers.

Yobe to sustain provision of good roads From Hussaini Jirgi, Damaturu

overnor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state, has said his administration will continue to provide reliable and effective road networks across the state. Gaidam, who disclosed this in Damaturu, the state capital, said that the decision to undertake the execution of road projects with vigour is in recognition of the strategic importance for the overall socio-economic transformation and development of the state According to him, his administration will intensify the drive to ensure that all on-going road projects initiated and awarded in 2011 are completed in the 2012 fiscal year and new ones will be awarded soon. He said that, the state government will ensure the completion of Kaliyari-BayamariGaidam, Bularafa-Bara-Tetteba, Kafiya-Kannama, GashuaYusufari and PotiskumDanchuwa roads before the year

runs out. “The contract for the construction of new road network will be awarded to link up our towns and villages across the state; this includes Gujba-Ngalda, DamaturuSasawa, Gashua-Dumburi-

Dadigaar and Daya-Fadawa roads”. He said that, the machinery will be set in motion to ensure strict compliance with contract agreement and qualitative work on all the on-going projects and those to be awarded.

Sokoto govt admonishes Editors to promote peace From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

okoto State Acting Governor, Alhaji Lawali Muhammad Zayyana, has appealed to the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to help in promoting peace in Nigeria. The acting governor made the plea Saturday night, while receiving members of the standing committee of the Guild of Editors at the Government House, who were in the state when the Supreme Court passed its verdict on 5 governors. According to him, members of the Guild have a role to play in the promotion of peace and stability in

the polity. Earlier, the National President of the Guild, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, told the acting governor that, the members were in Sokoto for the 2012 standing committee meeting adding that the members have visited the state university and the Almajiri integrated model school. Adefaye noted that, the school has helped in giving hope to the hopeless and charged other states to emulate the efforts of the Sokoto state government and commended the state government for the achievements recorded in the state in the last four years.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Kaduna Refinery viable, says NNPC By Abdulwahab Isa

he management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has affirmed the viability of Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical. NNPC’s Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, stated this in a press statement to debunk reports alleging that Federal Government was losing over N700 billion annually in projected revenue through the Kaduna Refinery as well as N12 billion on remuneration of staff whom the

reports alleged were largely idle as the refinery was not functioning. Dr. Ajunouma while debunking the insinuation said Kaduna refinery is “a functional and viable Strategic Business Unit of the Corporation which is contributing immensely towards NNPC’s operations in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria”. He however noted that the most pressing issue confronting the plant was incessant pipeline vandal which is threatening the desired production level. He informed that though Kaduna Refinery had undergone a “quasi turn around maintenance

two years ago by Nigerian engineers which was generally believed to be inadequate for the refinery, credit must be given to the local engineers for running the refinery at 60 percent installed production capacity amid artificially induced challenge of incessant pipeline vandalism”. The NNPC spokesman affirmed that if not for activities of pipeline vandalsa, Kaduna Refinery could run at 60 to 70 percent capacity utilisation on a sustained basis, adding that due to incessant pipeline vandalism the desired production level has remained unsustainable.

“Yes KRPC has a lot of challenges owing primarily to the neglect of the past. However in the last several years the fuel plant has operated steadily at 60% throughput translating to a daily production of 1.5 million liters of PMS, 1.4 million liters of AGO and 0.65 million liters of kerosene, in addition to other products. The biggest problem however is crude oil supply which has become unreliable due to rampant pipeline breaks which on many occasions necessitated the shutdown of the refinery,” Dr. Ajuonuma stated. He also debunked insinuation

that a huge part of the plant has been converted to a containermaking factory. ”This is totally misleading. The fact is that Kaduna Refinery is the only plant among the nation’s refineries fitted with a tin and drum manufacturing section designed to package petroleum products for distribution to the rural areas. In addition, the plant produces drums for packaging lubricating oil for marketing companies like Oando, AP and Total Nigeria Plc. The point needs to be made, however, that this tin and drum plant has been there right from inception of KRPC in 1980.”

Niger Delta students warn against violence From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

ssociation of Niger Delta Students (NANDS) has appealed to Niger-Delta Militants, youths and stakeholders from the region to desist from all forms of violence and resort to dialogue in resolving any misunderstanding as nothing meaningful can be achieved in an atmosphere of violence. The group in a statement issued in Jos at the end of an extraordinary exco meeting, urged the Niger-Delta people, particularly the youths to rally round President Goodluck Jonathan and his team in their quest to transform the socio-economic status of the country and the region for the betterment of all and sundry. National President of the group Mr. Annie Anthony observed that for the NDDC to achieve its objectives, there is an urgent need for improved funding of the board by the federal government. “We therefore wish to call on the federal government to improve funding of the commission to enable it meet set goals”. He however, commended President Jonathan for constituting the Board by appointing Comrade George Turner, as the managing director of the NDDC and other people of proven character as members of the board. According to the statement “NANDS wish to remind the new management team of the challenges before them as well as the expectations of Nigerians and the federal government to deliver the goods as a way of justifying the confidence reposed in them”.

L-R: Senator Zainab Kure, wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, and other Muslim faithful offering special prayer for those who lost their lives in Kano bomb blasts, at National Mosque in Abuja, on Friday. Photo: Joe Oroye

Yobe govt expresses worry over NOA to commence nationwide provocative text messages campaign on values From Hussaini Jirgi, Damaturu

he Senior Special Adviser on Media and Information to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, has expressed worry over the increasing spate of provocative text messages sent by some faceless individuals across the state. He appealed to the people of the state to disregard such messages and urged them to remain united, peaceful and law abiding.

Speaking to our state correspondent on telephone, Alhaji Bego said the people of the state should disregard the provocative text messages that are being circulated by faceless individuals, which are meant to cause fear, anxiety and disaffection. He pledged the governor’s readiness to carry every one along in his effort to develop the state, stressing that his regime remain committed to delivering on its campaign promises in the midst of daunting challenges.

By Adeola Tukuru

orried over the slide and erosion of the Nigerian core values especially among the youths in the country, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is to commence a nationwide campaign to restore the national core values Nigeria. According to a press statement signed by the Assistant Director (Press) Fidel Agu, explained that the nationwide campaign with theme: “KNOW YOUR VALUES” through the traditional and

religious leaders. It said the agency would engage schools and the media to change their reportage and help to propagate Nigeria’s core values. The statement said the negative influence of western media on the Nigerian youth opined that the “psyche of an average Nigerian youth is already too fragile to be left without proper guidance and orientation towards patriotism nationalism, respect for constituted authority, honesty and good neighborliness”.

Dakingari appoints lawyer to head budget monitoring office From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

overnor Usman Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi state has approved the appointment of Alhaji Aminu Usman, a lawyer, as the Chairman of Bureau for Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence. Alhaji Usman, a law graduate of the Usman Danfodio University

sokoto obtained his LLB certificate in 1986 and BL certificate from the Nigeria Law School Lagos the following year. A press release issued and signed by the chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Abubakari Mu’azu Dakingari, stated that the chairman has “18 years working experience as a legal practitioner with good analytical and

organizational skills, having worked with various government and private sectors and participated in coordination of public policy formulation and implementation”. Before new his appointment, Alhaji Usman served as Special Adviser to the Governor on Due Process from September 2007 to May 2011. He was also the special

Assistant to the chairman House Committee on foreign Affair s, June 2003-2007 and special Assistant to the Special Adviser to the Vice- president [Political] April 2001-June 2003. Ahaji Usman was also the secretary to the Law Review Commssion of Zanzibar, Tanzani., He was involved in the review of the Law of that country as well as related

public policy research to update the laws in line with new development initiatives of Tanzanias from April 1999-jan 2001. He has also served as principal manager in the legal department of the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) and junior counsel in the office of the Attorney General of Sokoto state among others.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Editors task govt on security, bemoans extensive killings By Mohammed Kandi

he Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), has expressed its concern over the permeable nature of the country’s security system, just as it condemned the unnecessary destruction of lives to various acts of violence and terrorism across Nigeria. A communiqué issued at a two-day end of the 2012 first quarter Standing Committee meeting of the NGE in Sokoto state, said the Guild also extends its sympathy to the families of victims of various attacks during which many professionals, including journalists lost their lives. It therefore called on the government to improve on its intelligence gathering to preempt the continued killing of

innocent Nigerians, while urging Nigerians to provide security agencies with information to unmask the masterminds of terrorism and violence. While urging the government to address fundamental issues of corruption, injustice, and unemployment in the country, it however, declared its support for the ongoing probe in the oil sector, and asked the National Assembly to ensure that the exercise is pursued to a logical conclusion. The seven-point communiqué also decried persistent strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the attendant implication on the development of the education sector.

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Associates mourn Enahoro’s widow From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

olitical associates of Chief Anthony Enahoro have commiserated with the family of the late sage and the entire Benin Kingdom on the passing of the matriarch of the Enahoro dynasty and an eminent Princess in Edo land, Princess Helen Enahoro, who died at 79 years old in Lagos in on Saturday 28th January after a brief illness. According to a statement signed by Veteran Olawale Okunniyi, on behalf of the Pro National Conference Organisation, PRONACO, and

the Enahoro Political Caucus, Helen was more than a wife to the late political icon. Enahoro Caucus described Princess Helen as a rock of Gibraltar, standing astutely behind her husband’s political movement as well as various travails from Action Group of the 1950’s to PRONACO. Okunniyi recalled that Mama Enahoro was always at her best giving encouragement and support to associates and followers of Chief Enahoro at trying times, especially in the face of serious political persecutions by the Nigerian state.

“We are shocked to learn of the demise of Princess Helen Enahoro, a great Amazon of the democratic movement in Nigeria, who passed on precisely a year after Papa Enahoro, our leader and her husband, was committed to mother earth. The vacuum created by the sudden loss of mama will be difficult to fill in the struggle of our movement to restructure Nigeria for political stability and economic prosperity”, PRONACO said. Okunniyi said details of Princess Helen Enahoro’s burial will be announced later by the Enahoro family.

Baraje faults warrant of arrest on him, NWC members By Lawrence Olaoye

he Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has faulted the warrant of arrest issued on him and two other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) by a Lagos Court insisting that such was initiated in his absence. The chairman said it was wrong for any such process to be initiated when he was not on ground to defend himself in person or through his legal counsel. Baraje who spoke through his media aide, Emeka Nwapa, said “The national chairman believes that it is not right or proper for any such process of warrant of arrest to be initiated in his absence when he has not been invited or heard by the

court in accordance with due process.” Nwapa stated “The attention of the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has been drawn to a warrant of arrest purportedly issued by a Lagos court on him and two principal officers of the party over the crisis in the Ogun state chapter of the party. “At no time was the National Chairman issued any court summons asking him to appear before the court on the matter or any other related matter whatsoever. For the avoidance of doubt, the National Chairman as a law abiding citizen has respect and regard for the judiciary, believes in due court process and the rule of law; therefore he has no reason whatsoever to treat the court with contempt...”

L-R: Anambra state governor, Mr Peter Obi, discussing with Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, during the 88th birthday of Dame Ezinne Bessie Uba, mother of Senator Andy Uba, in Uga, Anambra state, yesterday.

Winner of 2012 Qur’anic recitation contest emerges From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

he organisers of the 2012 edition of the National Qur’anic Recitation competition have presented a brand new Golf 3, Volkswagen car to one Ustaz Najeeb Alhassan Saeed, from Plateau state who emerged the overall winner of the competition. Majilisu Ahlil Qur’an Initiative (MAQI), the organisers, made the presentation to Saeed and his closest challengers from Kaduna, Jigawa and Kano states who emerged 2nd , 3rd and 4th respectively, at the closing ceremony of the 3rd National Qur’anic Competition edition held in Jos Central Mosque. Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of MAQI, Gwani

Muhammad Adam Al Qadi, challenged the Plateau state government to establish a Qur’anic Recitation Commission in the state for the exercise as it would go a long way in restoring peace in the state. He noted that the state government has never participated in the affairs of Qur’anic competition adding that it gives him joy whenever the contingent from the state emerged victorious at the state and international levels of the competition. Also speaking, an elder statesman, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, harped on the imperative of seeking knowledge by Muslims in Nigeria saying “the time is ripe for the pursuit of Western and Islamic knowledge”.

Shekarau, 6 others to appear before Conduct Tribunal in Feb By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

he Code of Conduct Tribunal has fixed February 8 and 9, 2012 for the trial of former Governor of Kano state and the presidential candidate of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2011 elections, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, and other public officers accused of false declaration of assets contrary to Section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal Act Cap 56 of 1990 as amended. The hearing of the case was initially fixed for January 11, 2012 but was shifted due to the nationwide protests over fuel subsidy removal.

Other public officers to be arraigned along with Shekarau include twin brothers Hussaini and Hassan Suleiman Kangiwa, who were Comptrollers of Immigration and Customs respectively; and Olusola Sunday Aina of the Border Communities Development Agency, Abuja. Others are the former Managing Director of Akwa Ibom Water Company Limited, Engr. Bassey Ating, former AccountantGeneral of Kogi state, Chief Ubolo Itodo Okpanachi; and former chairman, Fakai local government area of Kebbi state, Muhammad S. Fawa Mahuta. Should the Tribunal find any of the accused persons guilty of contravening any of the

provisions of the Code of Conduct Act, it may impose upon such officer any punishment which may include vacation of office, disqualification from holding public office, and seizure and forfeiture to the state of any property acquired in abuse or corruption of office. The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and its twin sister, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), are extra-ministerial departments set up by the Federal Government under the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap 56, LFN 1990 to ensure that the actions and behaviour of public officers conform to the highest standard of public morality and accountability, amongst others.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Bauchi to acquire 25-kilometre internet facility From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

auchi state government is to install a mega internet facility that will provide service within a radius of 25 kilometres to enable citizens access information and communication services in the state. The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ishola Adeyemi disclosed this at the opening ceremony of a three-day Information Communication Technology (ICT) workshop organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi state chapter, disclosing that the internet masthead is now under the process of installation. Mr. Adeyemi described information as power, and urged journalists in the state to always cross check their facts before

publication, assuring that government is always ready to partner with the media for the socio-economic development of the state. According to him, the internet facility when fully operational would be linked to the café at Bauchi state council of the NUJ to

provide a source of revenue. He said: “If a traditional ruler of the caliber of the Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Usman could always be seen with a lap top browsing at the palace, what more of journalists who are saddled with the job”, Adeyemi told the workshop participants.

Adeyemi also reiterated the determination of the state government to continue training journalists particularly those in the state-owned media organisations. In his remark, the state chairman of NUJ, Comrade Dahiru Mohammed commended the state government

complementing the efforts of journalists in the state through several projects. He stated that 32 participants have been drawn from various media outfits in the state for the ICT training, recalling that the union had last year trained 40 journalists in the state.

Kaduna revenue board sets N24bn target From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

he Kaduna state government has set an internal revenue target of N24 billion for the 2012 fiscal year. Governor Patrick Yakowa disclosed this while inaugurating the new Chairman of the state’s Board of Internal Revenue, Dr. Muhammad Tanko. Represented by the Commissioner of Finance Mr. John Ayuba, the governor expressed optimism that the new chairman will be able to meet the stipulated target of revenue generation the state has set for itself. On his part, Dr. Muhammad Tanko, has said as part of his reform measures to increase revenue generation in the state, promotions will be based on the performance of the staff who meet their targets in revenue collection. The chairman, who spoke during his inauguration at the board’s head office in Kaduna yesterday, explained that the higher the revenue generation of a staff, the more closely the staff will be to the ‘corridors of power’. He also emphasised that the new management intends to carry out a total overhaul of the board to block leakages in achieving the targeted revenue generation by government. He said: “The new management will not condone a situation where someone will generate funds and someone else will take out of it because you have a higher qualification and you are in position of power. “So, our priority is to make sure that efforts are intensified to ensure that we can generate more than 50 percent of the expected revenue that is comparable with the economic situation”. In his remarks, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa said the state government’s expectation of the board has risen because of the caliber of person appointed as its head.

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD, Ambassdor Tunji Olagunju, and Rwanda President Pual Kagame, during the opening of 28th summit of the heads of State And Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) of African Union, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday.

LASG to demolish structures encroaching on LASU land

agos state government has vowed to demolish all structures erected by land encroachers at the Ojo campus of the Lagos State University (LASU). The government said it had

set machineries in motion to investigate all allegations of land encroachment in the campus, with a view to reclaiming the land. Chief Fatai Olukoga, Special Adviser to Gov. Babatunde

Fashola on Education, said this while fielding questions from journalists in Lagos last week. Olukoga spoke to journalists after he visited LASU over reports of land encroachment in the

Avoid litigation, lawmakers counsel Yakowa over VC’s appointment From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

embers of the Kaduna state House of Assembly have counseled Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa to review the appointment of a substantive vice chancellor for the stateowned university to avoid litigation. Dr. Shehu Usman Danfulani, the Minority Leader of the House, gave the advice while addressing newsmen in Kaduna on the appointment of Prof. Barnabas Quirix as the new VC of the institution. Besides, Danfulani explained that if the appointment did not follow due process and the statutes establishing the university, it

would injure the integrity of the institution. “Such hasty appointment could invalidate the university certificates. We do not have anything against the appointee because he is qualified and competent, but we demand for the respect of rule of law and due process”, he said. According to him, the governing council of KASU was statutorily mandated to advertise for the vacant position after which three names of interviewed and shortlisted candidates would be presented to the governor for the appointment. Similarly, Danfulani (CPCMaigana), advised the governor to ensure fair representation of Miyetti Allah Association in the

peace and reconciliation committee because they were the most affected victims of the 2011 election violence in the state. He said the exclusion of the Fulani from such an important committee could jeopardise the desired peace process in the state. Reacting to the challenges, Mr. Reuben Buhari, the Special Assistant to the governor on Media, said the governor consulted widely before appointing VC after he was satisfied that legal instruments were not breached. Buhari also said the membership of the inaugurated peace committee comprised extractions of various ethnic groups and religious associations in the state.

university. “We got a report from the vice-chancellor of some encroachment on LASU land at the Iba axis. We have seen that the villagers or community actually encroached on government’s property. We are going to look at the survey plan, compare it with the survey plan at the surveyor-general’s office. If it is confirmed that some of these buildings are within the land of LASU, then, appropriate actions will be taken by government”, Olukoga said. Also responding to questions from journalists, the vice-chancellor of LASU, Prof. Dapo Obafunwa, said that the alleged encroachment couldn’t have been without conspiracy with some members of staff of LASU. “We have to identify that we have a problem, find a way to get around the problem and then, to establish the fact that one or two people or more from the institution are responsible for all these. He said that he requested for the survey plan of LASU when he assumed office and discovered that the master plan had been violated. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Kogi acting governor promises good governance From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

he acting governor of Kogi state, Hon, Abdullahi Bello, has promised good governance to the people of the state. Addressing the people of the state yesterday, the acting

governor sympathized with the people on the recent fuel hike, promising to work out a palliative measures, in line with the directives of the federal government. For us to achieve this we need support of the people because it is through collective efforts of all that

we can get the set objective of taking Kogi state to the next level of development', Bello hinted. He further assured the people that he would complete the ongoing projects initiated by the immediate past administration, since governance was a continuous process.

Bello also commended the judiciary for being alive to its responsibilities, by putting democracy on sound footing, stressing the need for the people to work together for the benefit of the state. He posited that the landmark judgment by the Supreme Court

will boost the confidence Nigerians have on the judiciary. The acting governor solicited for the support and co-operation of all Kogites at home and in diaspora, stressing that he would utilized the resources of the state towards improving infrastructures and the well-being of the people.

NRC to begin Lagos-Kano train service

xpress train service from Lagos to Kano will start in the first quarter of 2012, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, has said. Sijuwade gave the assurance while addressing journalists on Wednesday in Lagos. The managing director said that the NRC would take delivery of 20 pressurized tank wagons in January to boost operations. He added that the corporation would increase the frequency of passenger transit services in Lagos from 8 to 16 next year. The managing director said that the rehabilitation of the Jebba-Minna rail route was 70 per cent completed and that ballast trains were already plying the route. He said that the flooding of rail tracks at Akere in Niger had been controlled and that the rehabilitation of the rail lines had reached an advanced stage. "This has contributed to the significant pace at which the restoration effort of the Civil Engineering Department of the corporation on the rail-bearer bridge is going,'' he said. Sijuwade said that the LagosIlorin train service had been restored with the official handing over of the track line by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company, adding that a train would run on the route every Friday. "The train returns to Lagos on Sunday. Other passenger train services now running are Kano to Kaduna, Kafanchan to Kaduna, Minna-Kaduna Kaduna intra-city and Lagos -Iddo/Apapa-AgbadoIjoko. "Passenger train service available in Maiduguri has been put on hold for security reasons," he said. Sijuwade said that the corporation had begun weekly freighting of 450 tonnes of cement from Ewekoro to Agege/Ijoko and transportation of 600 tonnes to Ibadan /Oshogbo on behalf of the Lafarge Cement Company.(NAN)

L-R: Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Proessor. Bartho Okolo, representative of the Pro-Chancellor, Alhaji Musa Nasa, Honorary Degree Award Recepient, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba and representative of the President and Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa'i, during the 41st Convocation Ceremony of UNN, in Enugu, on Saturday. Photo: NAN

EFCC to arraign Lagos Speaker today over misappropriation of funds From Francis Iwuachukwu, Lagoshe Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission (EFCC), would today arraign Speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his personal aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, before Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court

sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. The duo are to be arraigned over alleged offences of misappropriation of funds. However, the absence of the trial judge had truncated the scheduled arraignment at the last adjourned date while both the accused persons were also absent in court. EFCC had filed criminal charge

against Adeyemi and Atoyebi on the allegations that they engaged in illegal money transactions of over N501 million. The court however adjourned the arraignment till January 30, 2012. It would be recalled that Justice Tsoho had on December 9, 2011 issued a bench warrant for the

RMRDC to hit international market with processed cashew products

he Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) said it was aiming at hitting international market with Nigerian processed cashew products using the combination of local and foreign technologies. Prof. Peter Onwualu, Director-General of RMRDC, stated this at a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum on Wednesday in Abuja. Onwualu said Kogi State University's Cashew processing plant in Anyigba, which was established in collaboration with the council, had started producing and packaging well protected and satisfied cashew nuts. He said the processed cashew nuts were now available in super markets in cans with NAFDAC numbers unlike before when the products were only produced and packaged by food vendor that could

not ensure it proper processing. "Now you can see them in super markets, in cans. In fact, I was pleasantry surprised recently, when I was in one of the airlines and what was served to me was one of similar product, not by this factory but another factory that we are collaborating with. "You know cashew nuts well packaged, well protected so that the shelve life can be longer, and that is our dream, where Nigerians can be empowered to produce things that we can be proud of. "We believe that in the near future they can hit the international markets. Remember that currently we are exporting a lot of cashew but in raw form, we still want to export but we also want to hit the market with processed one, that can fetch people money.'' He said that the council was

moving toward generating other products from cashew such as cashew cake and cashew bread. "We have cashew cake, bread, and these products we are all familiar with but with cashew flavour, and they are all in the market in Anyigba. If you go to the university you will see that they are producing these but they haven't reached to the stage of having them commercialized like the cashew nut. "Down the value chain you also have cashew nut liquid which is very expensive raw material for industries. We are still working on that one but we haven't reached the point of production, eventually we see a range of products. He said that the council was also collaborating with other state governments and interested investors to establish similar plants in ifferent parts of the country to generate more wealth and employments for youths. (NAN)

Yuguda charges top civil servants to shun corrupt tendencies From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

he Bauchi state Governor Malam Isa Yuguda, has charged top government officials in the state to shun corrupt tendencies The Governor who was represented by the Head of Service Bauchi state,

Mr Abdon Dalla Gin, stated this during the opening ceremony of a workshop for Executive council members and permanent secretaries on leadership development held at Yankari Game Reserve Bauchi, at the weekend. He said the aim of the workshop is to enhance quality

in management of resources and people, bring out quality leadership and synergy towards laudable strides in the state. According to him, his administration has placed training and re-training of categories of civil servants among its top priorities towards repositioning of the entire

management system, adding that government has introduced professional allowances to civil servants to stimulate development. The governor urged the state's top government officials to ensure accountability and prudence in management of the state resources.

arrest of Ikuforiji and Atoyebi for the purpose of bringing them to answer the case against them. The order was however discharged by the court on December 15, 2011 when the accused persons voluntarily came to the court and their lawyer, Mr Tayo Oyetibo SAN, explained the reasons for his clients' absence in court at the previous court sitting when the bench warrant was issued. Oyetibo had explained that both the speaker and his aide were not served with the process by the EFCC that they should appear in court, stressing that the development accounted for their failure to appear in court which prompted the issuance of the bench warrant by the judge. He said his clients are responsible men and that they would voluntarily appear before the court on January 17, 2012. In the 20-count charge filed against the accused persons dated December 7, 2011 and signed by one Mary Onyia, the EFCC alleged that Adeyemi and Atoyebi conspired to receive and did receive a total sum of N501, 181,424 in several tranches between April 2010 and July 2011 from the Lagos State House of Assembly without going through a financial institution. In some of the counts, both Adeyemi and Atoyebi were alleged to have received several millions of naira in separate tranches while in other counts Adeyemi was alleged to have received different sums through the agency of Atoyebi, all without going through a financial institution. The offences are said to contravene sections 1 (a) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under sections 15 (2) (b) and 16 (2) (b) of the same statute.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 11

Oyo to embark on mass rehabilitation of schools From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has said mass rehabilitation of all the public schools in the state would commence in the first quarter of the year.

The governor also disclosed that a sum of N70 million had been earmarked for the procurement of science equipment for secondary schools in the state. He disclosed this on Friday while speaking at the 54th

Foundation Day celebration of Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, his alma mater. Gov. Ajimobi said that the mass rehabilitation programme would involve rehabilitation of buildings, provision of furniture and

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, laying a wreath during the 10th commemoration of Ikeja bomb blasts, at the Oke Afa Memorial Cemetery, in Lagos, on Friday,

other amenities that would make teaching and learning conducive to teachers and students respectively. While expressing serious concern over the performance of students in the last West African School Certificate Examinations, Ajimobi said that his administration was committed to raising the standard of education in the state. The governor also added that scholarships and bursaries would be awarded to students who excelled in their academic performance to further encourage them to be committed to their studies. He assured the people of the state that there would be a paradigm shift in the state's education policy, stressing that his administration was committed to addressing the rot in the education sector and providing qualitative education to students. He enjoined students to be more committed to their studies so as to afford them the opportunity to contribute their quota towards the development of the state and Nigeria in general. He said that the state government had organised extra mural classes for

Benue govt threatens marketers for selling petrol above N97 From Uche Nnorom, aMakurdi

he Benue state government has threatened to revoke the land of independent marketers who flout the order to sell fuel at the government approved pump price of N97 per liter. The state's deputy governor, Chief Steven Lawani who issued the threat at the weekend while swearing-in members of the Task Force on Petrol Product Price Monitoring, frowned at the refusal of the marketers to

adjust to the new pump price. He also lamented the sharp practices carried out by the marketers in hoarding petroleum products from members of the public. Chief Lawani tasked the committee which consists of the Special Adviser as well Special Assistant to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Public Utilities, Chief Ekpe Ogbu and Mr.Gaddafi Asemanya; state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Simon Anchaver; Commissioner of Police, John Haruna; chairman NUPENG Alh. Musa Plato;

chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Mr. James Tor; and others to ensure that independent marketers sell petrol at the government approved pump price. The deputy governor further charged them to ensure the availability of petrol at all times in the state and to prevent the marketers from arbitrarily adjusting their meters. While warning the committee members to avoid temptation of receiving gratification from the marketers, Lawani advised them

to show total commitment and dedication to the assignment by ensuring that all unwholesome practices by marketers are stopped. Responding on behalf of the committee, the team leader, Chief Ekpe Ogbu, said they are conscious of the Herculean task before them and promise that the committee would not deviate from the mandate given to them. "We are aware of the sensitive task because petrol is the blood that runs through the vein of the nation. We promise to live up to expectation", Ogbu pledged.

students to improve their performance in public examinations, adding that more teachers had been engaged for the programme. The governor emphasized the need for students to always demonstrate steadfastness, commitment, perseverance and spirit of excellence in whatever they do.

Sokoto remains calm despite S/C verdict From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

okoto state has remained calm without any violence, despite the ruling of the Supreme Court, which sacked the governors of Sokoto, Kogi, Cross River, Bayelsa and Adamawa states. Our correspondent observed that residents of the Sokoto have been going about their normal duties since the apex court's ruling. However, security agencies were patrolling the metropolis to avert any violence. Commenting in the verdict, Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto state, Alhaji Aminu Bello said the party will not be deterred in its quest to return Governor Aliyu Wamakko for second term. He expressed optimism that Wamakko will emerge victorious in the forthcoming election, despite hurdles against his second term bid. "We have accepted the ruling of the Supreme Court in good faith and will prepare for the forthcoming governorship election," "So, we are not going to sleep over the ruling and will work hard to ensure the victory of PDP in the election, "Bello stated.

Fashola compensates 2002 Ikeja bomb blast victims From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state yesterday gave out cheques worth N17.5 million to 70 families of victims of the January 27, 2002 bomb blasts at the Ikeja Cantonment, where about 1000 people died. Fashola, who performed the ceremony at the Oke Afa Memorial Cenotaph amidst ovations, presented N250,000 each to the families and urged them to "let go of their grief and march on". The governor also unveiled the ceremonial wall of remembrance and later laid a wreath at the foot of the January 27 cenotaph. His words: "We must take solace

in the fact that there will always be a special place in history for people whose deaths brings about change, and we must take solace in the fact that our loved ones will never be forgotten." In his address, Fashola noted that that the pains of the bomb blast have brought change to disaster management in the state saying that parts of the gains of the tragedy include; a more proactive training of emergency responders, the establishment of relief camps at Agbowa with another ongoing at Alimosho, and the commencement of the construction of the new AjaoEjigbo link bridge and road and ferry terminals that would be constructed at the Oke Afa and

Ejigbo ends of the canal which will open up water transportation from Ejigbo to the central business districts of Lagos Island and Festac. The governor said eight school blocks containing 82 operational classrooms have been fully built at the Ikeja Military Cantonment since 2010, while government has equally rebuilt and fully equipped the damaged hospital in the cantonment. The governor also said 10 blocks of housing units would soon commence under the Lagos HOMS scheme on a piece of land adjacent to the cantonment. In recognition of their worthy contribution toward mitigating the effect of the disaster, Fashola commended the efforts of those he

described as 'the heroes of Oke Afa,' among them the divers, (eight of whom have been employed into LASAMBUS), the medical and paramedical personnel, headed by the then Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan, members of the Lagos state Ambulance Services headed by Dr. Femi OkeOsanyintolu, the Nigerian Union of Teachers led by its then chairman Mr. Michael Alogba Olukoya, who ensured that they sacrificed extra hours to teach the overflow of pupils of primary and secondary schools that had to be moved from the affected areas to neighbouring schools, and the Red Cross, led by its National President Dr. Emmanuel Ijewere, BrigadierGeneral George Sanyaolu Emdim,

the then Commandant of the Ikeja Cantonment, who, the governor said, was worthy of the award of a national honour despite the glowing citations amongst others whose 'labours of love' led to the reduction of casualties in the days after the tragedy.. Among prominent personalities at the event were the former state executive council members led by the Action Congress of Nigeria, national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the chairman of the party, Prof Yemi Osibajo, Chief Henry Ajomale, and Dr. Leke Pitan, while the deputy governor, Princess Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire led the new cabinet members.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

How far can IGP Abubakar go?

arly last week, President Goodluck Jonathan sent Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, and his six deputies, packing out of the Louis Edet House, and appointed Assistant Inspector General of Police, M. D. Abubakar, to act as the IGP. If there was any surprise in this, it was that Ringim had only until March this year to retire voluntarily after 35 years of service. That the President did not give the former IG this grace must be an indication that he was under intense pressure to act - what with the carnage in Kano only the week before and the growing public complaint about and dissatisfaction with the role of the police in meeting the country's serious security challenges. Abubakar's appointment has, not unexpectedly, elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians, though, on balance, it can be said that it was well received. The general public perception of the man is that of a tough cop who does his work with commitment and integrity - which can be said of only very few, if any, officers in the top hierarchy of the Force. Along with the clean sweep at the top, President Jonathan also set up a committee to re-organize the Police Force, and put at the head of it a veteran of such assignments, Chief Parry B. Osayande. Understandably, this has sent Nigerians asking questions. Are the President's actions an indication that, as things now stand, the police is the main headache, or drag in the effort to make Nigeria secure? Or are they part of, or the beginning of a general overhaul of the security and intelligence forces that Nigerians have been calling for? If so, how far reaching will the overhaul go?

And, why, in any case, do we need another re-organisation committee when there are perhaps up to five committee reports lying and gathering dust on the shelf, unimplemented, the latest being that of the committee set up by the now deceased President Umaru Yar'adua and chaired by former IGP, M.D. Yusuf, which has in it not just far reaching and very sensible recommendations for a thorough re-organisation of the Force but also concrete suggestions as to how to raise the necessary funds for the exercise? Why not just pick up this report, dust it up and faithfully implement its recommendations

“

Abubakar will be heading a 400,000- man strong force that is, demoralized, corrupt to the bone, ill-equipped, inefficient, ineffective and uncommitted to the call of their profession - making, of course, necessary allowances and adjustments in view of the new challenges facing the country? That the President has elected not to do so, and to waste time and money on another committee instead, seems to us to suggest that, in this important matter of security, the administration is continuing, as usual, to proceed on the basis of unclear thinking and a faulty understanding of the problem -which

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spells danger for the country. But even more disturbing is the suggestion in the President's moves that the administration intends to continue throwing guns at the problem, even when it is all too obvious that force alone will not do and that more creative solutions, including especially engaging the militants and significantly improving the very poor socio-economic conditions of the regions where they are most active, are required. In any case, just how far can Abubakar go, and how much can he do? There is, no doubt, a lot that a leader can do in an organisation or a country. If, as we hope and pray he does, Abubakar brings to his job the clear vision, courage and integrity that he is reputed to have, he will certainly go some way in injecting some sanity into the Force. And public expectations that he will do so are quite high. But we must keep in mind the fact that Abubakar will be heading a 400,000man strong force that is, demoralized, corrupt to the bone, ill-equipped, inefficient, ineffective and uncommitted to the call of their profession. By what magic, then, can the man, sitting at the very top of such a rotten organisation, turn it around and make it efficient, effective and responsive enough to the urgent needs of a country where the challenges are enormous and the sense of insecurity among the population has become heightened to such an unprecedented degree? Perhaps, then, we should be fair to the man and not expect too much from him — unless, of course, the President goes beyond what he has already done to effect a complete transformation of the Force. The new police supremo faces a very rough ride ahead. We wish him well.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 13

Jonathan, a saviour or destroyer? By Femi-Fani-Kayode

am sad and troubled for our nation. I just cannot sleep when I consider the amount of innocent blood that has been spilt in the 24 hours before I wrote this piece. Kano, Bayelsa, Bauchi....it goes on and on. So much blood, so much hate, so much division and so much destruction. And at the end of it all, just in the space of one afternoon, Nigeria’s second largest city of Kano was brutally raped and violated and no less than 260 innocent and defenceless Nigerians have been butchered mercilessly in broad daylight and are now lying dead in the mortuary or the cemetery. Many bodies are still lying under the rubble undiscovered and unrecognised even in death. I am convinced that there is only one thing left for President Goodluck Jonathan to do if he wants to turn the tide of public opinion that is mounting against him and if he wants to save himself, save his government and save Nigeria. He must find the courage to convene a Sovereign National Conference of the various nationalities that make up the By Moses Ochonu Continued from last Friday

he public outrage was thus justified. Already, transport fares, rent and the price of food and other essential products have tripled as traders and service providers have both adjusted their prices appropriately. Prices are unlikely to go back down, even with the reduction of the size of the price increase. It is clear that the government had hoped to ride out the public anger, calculating that it would fizzle out as citizens tired or bought into its deceptive position on the “subsidy.” Instead, the size and intensity of the demonstrations increased in proportion to the growing pain of the inflationary trend triggered by the new petrol price. The “Occupy Nigeria” movement has, as a result, morphed irreversibly from spontaneous anger over a fuel price increase to a fullfledged movement for political accountability. This is now nonnegotiable. Affordable petrol is the fulcrum of the Nigerian economy. It powers instruments of mass mobility. It also powers generators, used by households and small businesses to generate electricity to augment unreliable supply from PHCN. As infrastructures have decayed amidst a growing population, citizen self-help has increased, giving rise to a massive sector of small enterprises and informal businesses that are driven by affordable petrol. Nigerians have made the point that this is sensitive territory, and that it

geographical expression called Nigeria in which the terms and conditions of our continued union will be fully renegotiated. If he can do this quickly and if he can pull it off successfully his image will be redeemed and his name will be carved in gold in Nigerian history forever despite all that has happened in the last two years. If he does not do this the Islamist slaughter, the sectarian bloodshed and the inter-ethnic mayhem will just continue, his government will eventually fall and Nigeria may well break up in the process. Mark my words. Depending on the choice that he makes he will either be known as the saviour of Nigeria or her destroyer. May God guide our President and cause him to make the right choice. When I first made this suggestion about the convening of a Sovereign National Conference on my facebook page many asked why it was that the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, which I served, did not convene a Sovereign National Conference at that time and why I didn’t support such a course of action then. My answer to them was as follows.

A few of us most certainly did push for a Sovereign National Conference when we were in power. Some of us in that government, including Chief Akin Osuntokun, Professor Julius Ihonbere and a few others pushed for it very hard but you know very well that essentially President Olusegun Obasanjo is a conservative and he resisted it. As a matter of fact that is what qualified him and that is why he could be trusted with power and the job of President in 1999 by the northern power-brokers that

brought him out of jail and put him there. They knew that they could trust him not to let them down and not to do what they did not want. And what they did not want was a Sovereign National Conference because they saw it, wrongly in my view, as a precursor to a break-up of the country. The Yoruba nation, on the other hand, has been pushing for an SNC since 1993 and the June 12th annulment and many of our people were killed over the years in the pursuit of that noble cause. Again when

“

Depending on the choice that he makes he will either be known as the saviour of Nigeria or her destroyer. May God guide our President and cause him to make the right choice. ...We would not have still had what is in real terms essentially a unitary government with a Federal facade and we would not have still been busy killing ourselves over the little crumbs that we get from the federal table

OBJ’s government was in power every single one of the 6 zones in the country endorsed the call for an SNC except for the north-west and the northeast. That was 4 for it and 2 against it. Yet OBJ would still not do it. Instead he listened to the objections of the two corenorthern zones and came up with that celebrated and famous quote that ‘’we cannot have two sovereigns at once’’ and that “the Nigerian people have given their sovereignty to me through my mandate and I will not relinquish it to any conference’’. Of course some of us, including me, took him up on that publically and we disagreed with him openly. My leader and my boss and the man that I still consider to be the father of our nation, President Olusegun Obasanjo, with the greatest respect, just didn’t get it then and perhaps he never will. We discussed this matter with him privately on many occasions and he resisted the idea but with the recent developments in our country I am sure that he wished that he had listened to us at that time. When we joined his Continued on page 14

Rearview reflection on “subsidy” face-off should be protected from the maneuvers of a profligate government in search of new funds to raid to feed its excesses. The government and a few contrarian commentators now want to retrospectively frame the “Occupy Nigeria Movement” as a misguided agitation to preserve a corrupt subsidy regime. This is a disingenuous and mischievous characterization. Nigerians are not enamored with subsidies that strain government revenue and enrich a cartel of fuel importers that they now call the 1 percent, adopting the vocabulary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. They argue, however, that by withdrawing the subsidy without a plan to fix a broken system, without a plan to improve domestic refining, the government was sticking citizens with the bill for corruption in the oil sector and for its unwillingness to clean it up. It’s hard to fault this logic. And Nigerians are on to something potentially explosive. Industry analysts and even the central bank governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a key supporter of “subsidy removal,” argue that as much as 70 percent of the $8 billion the government spent on subsidies last year was paid for inflated or bogus shipments of petrol. They also

fault the claim made by the NNPC and the fuel importers that Nigeria consumes 35 million liters of petrol a day. Nigerians are also asking how the $2 billion spent on subsidies in 2006 during the regime of Olusegun Obasanjo ballooned to $8 billion in 2011. The new price of N97 a liter is based on the landing cost of imported petrol supplied by the import contractors. Experts, including Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources, Tam David-West, dispute the landing cost and argue that the new price amounts to a legalization of fraud. They are right. Future debates on the rest of the “subsidy” should not take figures supplied by corrupt “subsidy” beneficiaries as a disinterested statistical reference. Many Nigerians agree that government revenue is strained, but they blame the problem on scandalous government overheads, corruption, and waste. Instead of raising the price of petrol and saddling the poor and the middle class with a new financial burden, Nigerians want the government to find savings elsewhere. It is possible to do so. Nigeria’s public officers are the highest paid in the world, with each of Nigeria’s 129

senators earning about $2 million a year. More than 400 House of Rep members earn about $1.7 million. In addition, legislators are paid a huge “constituency allowance” that most Nigerians believe is wasteful patronage. Perhaps the most embarrassing signifier of state corruption is the transfer of $2 million monthly to each of Nigeria’s 36 state governors to keep the peace in their state. It is constitutionally called “security vote” but governors do as they please with it and usually stash it as personal loot. Nigerians recently learnt that the 2012 budget proposals include provisions of about $7 million for feeding and entertaining the guests of the president and vice president. They also learnt that the president, with a fleet of 7 aircraft and multiple custombuilt bullet-proof vehicles, intends to buy one more aircraft and several more bullet-proof cars for his and the vice president’s use. The bill comes close to $120 Million! The president alone has more than a hundred aides, most of them redundant beneficiaries of political patronage. Government at all levels is loaded with meaningless and duplicitous political positions. And half of

government agencies duplicate the work of other agencies. Jonathan can begin redeeming his despised government by cutting all this fat, significantly shrinking the cost of governance and freeing up funds to build and refurbish refineries. With improved local refining, we will end importation and with it the fraudulent subsidy payments. In the interim, the government needs to frontally confront corruption in the oil industry and in the system of paying fuel importers. Corruption inheres in all branches of government, not just in the oil sector. So, how about getting serious, for once, in the fight against corruption? The Nigerian government is a cesspool of corruption and waste; which is why Nigerians are justified in asking Jonathan to fight corruption instead of increasing fuel prices to raise revenue. President Jonathan will do well to listen to the youths in the streets and not take comfort and refuge in the approval of the IMF and other international entities that have misguidedly praised the subsidy withdrawal as bold economic reform. Moses Ochonu can be reached at meochonu@gmail.com Concluded

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Nigeria’s insistent insurrection By John Campbell

oko Haram’s bloody weekend attacks in Nigeria’s most important Islamic city, Kano, following unrelated countrywide protests over the end of a decades-old fuel subsidy underscore the fact that business as usual is no longer good enough. Only genuine reform of Nigeria’s political economy can pull it back from the brink. By partly reinstating the fuel subsidy, coupled with alleged payoffs to labour leaders and a certain amount of oppression, the government of President Goodluck Jonathan was able to subdue protests that brought the country to a halt for a week. But with Boko Haram, the radical Islamic movement that has been gripping the north-eastern part of the country, a similar response is unlikely to work. During previous insurrections, the government responded with handouts and military intervention. In the Niger Delta, the country’s oilproducing region, former President Umaru Yar’Adua was only able to end the revolt by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta with payoffs to warlords (and, it is whispered, certain politicians) under the auspices of an “amnesty” for militants. But the government did not address the fundamental grievances — a perceived unfair allocation of oil revenue to the Delta region — that fuelled the uprising.

There are some similarities money. It wants a larger exclude the North from any between MEND and Boko percentage of the oil-and-gas possibility of future control of the Haram. Both have a geographic profits to stay in the Delta region. state. Further, there is a radical base far from the capital, Abuja: The criminal dimension of its the former in the oil patch, the activities is also important. Islamic dimension to Boko latter in the northeast. Both are Accordingly, the government Haram’s fight, focused on “justice” for highly diffuse, the common without a people vis-àrecognized vis the charismatic r e s o u r c eleadership or Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text rich, corrupt formal politburo messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written state. Some or even an contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 of the a c c e p t e d words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and g r o u p ’ s manifesto. Both a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed operatives reflect their to: h a v e r e g i o n ’ s adopted a alienation from The Editor, v i o l e n t the federal s t a n c e government and Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, against the r e l a t i v e 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. “ e v i l ” underdevelopment Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com f e d e r a l compared with SMS: 07037756364 government. other parts of the Its attacks country. Both appear to have links with local was able to buy the group’s against police stations are far various warlords when the price bloodier than those MEND ever political leaders. committed in the Delta. Both resort to violence and was right. But the “amnesty” did not Initially, Boko Haram was an terror for political purposes. The operatives of both seem to be address the popular grievances indigenous movement, with no small in number, but are able to of a very underdeveloped region, significant links to other draw on the support or and the co-opted warlords are international terrorist groups. acquiescence of a larger slowly being replaced by And so far it has not targeted proportion of the local successors not shy about Western facilities, scarce in any population. Both also have threatening to resume violent case in its area of operations. But that focus may change in the criminal elements, with MEND activities. Boko Haram is more focused future, particularly if Western profiting from kidnapping and extortion and Boko Haram from on political power. This reflects governments come to be seen as concerns by the Northern elite supporters of the Jonathan bank robberies. But key differences will likely that Jonathan’s decision to end administration. Boko Haram mean that the Jonathan an informal agreement to may even try to reach out to government cannot subdue Boko alternate presidential power other terrorist groups for tactical Haram as the Yar’adua between the Muslim North and assistance. Christian South before the 2011 If the Jonathan government government did MEND. MEND has always been about presidential elections will persists in dealing with Boko

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Haram as a security issue without acknowledging and addressing the political dimension to the insurrection, it is likely that the conflict will intensify. The impotence of the police, military and security services so far indicates that the Abuja government does not have the ability or resources to destroy Boko Haram. Although the Jonathan government is looking for help from the international community, there is little evidence that additional security resources can turn the tide. Money will not solve the Boko Haram problem, and a political settlement would require a restructuring of Nigerian politics that would be difficult for any presidential administration to achieve. Some political and civil society leaders are calling for a “sovereign national conference” that would review the fundamental political and economic issues at stake and draw up a new constitution. While this type of radical course has been unacceptable to those who run the central government, in the end they may have no choice. John Campbell is a senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria. He is the author of “Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink.”

Jonathan, a saviour or destroyer? Continued from page 13

government in 2003 there were many of us that had been NADECO men who urged him to find the courage to call the SNC but the man regarded us as dangerous radicals and he felt that we just wanted to break up Nigeria. Well he was wrong, we were right and history has proved this to be so. If we had had this ‘’sovereign’’ national conference long ago we would have had a better, stronger, restructured and more united Nigeria by now which would have been a true reflection of the will of the people. We would also have had either a true federation or a confederation. We would not have still had what is in real terms essentially a unitary government with a Federal facade and we would not have still been busy killing ourselves over the little crumbs that we get from the federal table. The reason that it was not so urgent when OBJ was in power, despite the fact that even then most Nigerians wanted it, was because religious and sectarian violence and ethnic and fratricidal butchery hat we see today did not exist at that time. Our government was able to contain the violence and threats of the Niger-Delta

militias, the OPC, MASSOB, the Egbesu Boys, the Bakassi Boys, the Arewa Youth Congress and others through a firm and strong ‘’no-nonsense’’-style of leadership and we did not have to deal with a vicious and extremely violent, well-funded and well organised Islamic sect with an Al Qaeda-style agenda like Boko Haram at the time. Sadly now we do and we are on the verge of a monumental disaster and violent breakup of the country simply because our President is weak, indecisive, inexperienced and he does not have the guts to crush the internal enemy or the ability to protect the people. Worse still Boko Haram and those that secretly support, arm and fund them have made it clear that they are at war with the government, with the security agencies, with CAN, with Christians and with Muslims that do not share their extremist views and or espouse their vicious brand of Islam. They have also said that they want a northern Nigeria which is free of Christians, which is free of Western education, which has an Islamic fundamentalist/Taliban-style government and which practices full Sharia law. They are not just demanding for this

but they are also waging an open and terrible war and what is essentially a form of ethnic cleansing and genocide against a section of the people of northern Nigeria in order to achieve it. If we had a conference such demands could be put there peacefully assuming that is what the people of the core north really want. Other regions and zones also have their legitimate demands which should and would also be considered. The Niger-Deltans want resource control and derivation as a principle for revenue allocation, the Yorubas want regional police and armies, the Igbos want to live in a country where they are not considered as second class citizens anymore and where their people are not killed like chicken, the Middle Belt want to be emancipated from the core north and we all want guarantees that Nigeria remains a secular state where no religion lauds it over the other and where we can all practice our respective faiths without being marginalised, killed, bombed or persecuted for it. The list of aspirations and demands of the various nationalities go on and on and these old soars and wounds are

now festering and making us all bow in pain. The fact that they have not been treated is slowly killing our nation because no government has seen fit to address these issues once and for all and actually muster the guts to answer the all-important ‘’nationality question’’, or as some prefer to call it the ‘’national question’’. Most importantly when President Obasanjo’s government was in power Nigeria was still regarded by most Nigerians as a place where they all wanted to remain as one. Today that feeling is not as pronounced, national unity and cohesion has been badly eroded and we are more divided as a people than we have ever been before. The need for a Sovereign National Conference is more relevant and obvious today than it has been at any other time in our history. We will either answer it or convene one expeditiously or eventually two or three of the ethnic nationalities that are badly aggrieved in this country will not wait any longer and they will attempt to secede. This will be resisted by the rest of the nation and that will lead to a civil war that will last for no less than 50 years. We must avoid that at all costs and we must acknowledge and

appreciate the right of the various nationalities and peoples that make up presentday Nigeria the right to secede and to self-determine if that is what they really want. If we want Nigeria to remain together it must be in everyone’s interest that this is so, no-one must be made to feel like a slave to anyone else, everyone must enjoy the right and privilege to rule the country without being threatened simply because they are not of the right faith or ethnic stock and the terms and conditions of our union must be properly negotiated and agreed upon. The truth is that Lord Lugard’s Nigeria, which was a forced amalgamation of incompatibles in 1914, is long dead and things can never be the same again in our country. We either settle these fundamental issues by talking about it around a table at a Sovereign National Conference whose findings and resolutions would be binding on ALL our people or we will eventually settle it with bullets and bombs. Sadly this is the reality that we must face and accept. Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Aviation Minister, wrote in from Lagos.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 15

Governors’ sack – Law not an ass T

he verdict of the Supreme Court on Friday, January 27, which held that the extension of the tenure of five governors who won re-run elections in 2008 was unconstitutional, has laid to rest what had amounted to legal and political absurdity. It is the triumph of commonsense and the spirit of the Constitution. It also shows that there may be a silver lining, after all, on Nigeria’s darkened landscape. Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Liyel Imoke (Cross River) , Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) got sacked from their respective Government Houses, with Speakers of their State Houses of Assembly taking over as acting governors pending elections within three months. It was good riddance to bad political rubbish and electoral cum judicial sleight of the hand. The sacked governors are all members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and for having remained in office beyond their constitutional tenure under judicially-enhanced false pretences, they should not feature in any new elections in their respective states, that is, of course, if they have personal integrity or their party, the PDP, has any modicum of decency. Already, there have been ‘noises’ about the party standing by some of these characters who have wangled victories in primaries. It will only go to confirm the PDP as a party of electoral renegades and its leadership as lacking in morality. To feature them in new elections in the states would be their third, tainted coming. It cannot be the case

that the self proclaimed largest Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. party in Africa lacks marketable However, while Buhari members to run for governorship unsuccessfully challenged the in those states. flawed elections which got There are heroes in this saga. Olusegun Obasanjo re-elected in Stand up for recognition: Prof. 2003, had Malam Umaru Musa Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Yar’adua installed in 2007 and Independent National Electoral facilitated the coronation of Commission (INEC), Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher and with Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, the soldierpolitician cum diplomat. Prof. Jega olawunmibisi@yahoo.com saw through the 0803 364 7571 (SMS only) fraud of the claim of the sacked governors for elongated tenure and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2011, was not dampened by the spurious Marwa succeeded in co-engineering verdicts of the two lower courts a legal landmark with INEC. If which gave legal backing to political retired Admiral Nyako is retained heists. At the time, many were as PDP’s governorship candidate in critical of Jega’s principled position the Adamawa governorship polls, on seeking legal clarification of what it will be a battle of the soldier versus was electoral voodoo. The refrain the sailor. But considering the in some quarters, to put it in local Saharan nature of Adamawa, a parlance, was: What is his own in Marwa Desert Storm brigade this? should be able to overwhelm Justice Musdapher served notice Nyako’s Naval Seals. of integrity when in his first For Bayelsa’s boy Timipre, in statements as CJN, he decried the whom his Ijaw kinsman, Jonathan, legal aberration of plea bargaining is not pleased, it doesn’t rain, it pours. under which big time public looters He has been trying, futilely, to seek get a slap on the wrist and are shelter under the big umbrella allowed to enjoy a substantial punched full of holes leaving him chunk of the money they stole. drenched. If he seeks escape from his As for Buba Marwa, the soldier- travails, it will be in the tradition of politician and Adamawa state a predecessor, D.S.P. Alameiseigha, governorship candidate of the a.k.a. Alams, the disgraced exCongress for Progressive Change governor of the state, who is a master (CPC), he embraced due process in of camouflage. Alams can lend challenging Nyako’s elongated Timipre the wrapper he allegedly tenure, following in the tradition of tied to disguise as a woman in his the party’s presidential candidate, clandestine escape and return saga!

The Bisibee Bisi Olawunmi

Now, what were the arguments and pronouncements which eventually sealed the fate of the pretender governors? INEC had contended that “the learned justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law and occasioned gross miscarriage of justice when they held that the oaths subscribed to by the governors pursuant to their victory in the re-run elections were the oaths of office and allegiance taken by them as persons first elected as governors under the Constitution”. It held that decisions taken by the respondents before the 2008 re-run elections were deemed legal and valid in the eyes of the law and wondered why their tenure should not be so regarded. Thus the verdict, which discountenanced the time earlier served as governor as non existent, stood commonsense/reality on its head. As appropriately argued by Prof. Itse Sagay, the respondents were “de facto governors” who took some actions, including appointments to the judiciary, which are subsisting and as such the period cannot be a nullity for the purpose of determining their tenure. The PDP put up what amounts to a timid defence, presumably dawning on its legal team it had a bad case. However, the legal magician, Chief Richard Akinjide, had argued that “the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office taken by the 1st respondents on May 29, 2007 , based on the nullified election, cannot be a valid reference point for the calculation of the four

year term of office”. Apparently, Chief Akinjide is caught in time warp and thought this was 1979 when his twelve two-thirds legal abracadabra won legal victory for Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) when his election to the presidency was challenged by Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the Unity Party of Nigeria.(UPN) on the grounds that Shagari’s declared victory in 12 of the then 19 states in the country did not meet the legal requirement of winning in two thirds of the states presumed to be 13 states. That was when Akinjide came up with the legal mathematics of two thirds of a state as being the spirit of the constitution. Maybe age has dulled the sharpness and wit of the legal luminary, this time around. Well, the Supreme Court has spoken, indicating that politicians cannot make an ass of the law. Justice Walter Onnonghen, who read the unanimous decision of the seven-member panel had declared: “The oath they took in 2007 is valid. To accede to the request of Respondents (governors) is to bring uncertainty to the Constitution. It is to continue the cycle of impunity”. The Supreme Court Justices added the clincher : “To reject the period earlier spent is contrary to common sense and the intention of the Constitution”. Given this latest development, what is expected of INEC is a postponement of currently slated elections in the five states and fresh primaries conducted so that pretender incumbents who had purloined their illegally occupied offices to wangle nominations are not allowed to benefit from electoral profiteering.

Democracy and the PDP chairmanship race By Conrad Manchok

eoples Democratic Party, originally, was a rally for all Nigerian politicians. It began in 1997 as a civil society organization with the sole aim of enlightening the Nigerian citizenry about their rights and obligations in a militarized political environment. Starting off as a group of 34 prominent politicians from both the north and the south, it later expanded to include business moguls, retired military men and other members of the dominant class. By 1999, the military voluntarily left the political scene and the PDP took over. On the face of it, that was a very tidy transition. But the ovation did not last long before the PDP got itself entangled in a web of political intrigues, whose roots could be traced from the path it followed on its ascension to power. The most powerful groups in the PDP were the PDM - where the Yar Adua group belonged; the NPN where the Alex Ekwueme group came from and the military where the Gen Babangida people were camped. At the 1999 Jos convention where the Presidential candidate of the party was chosen, the military wing of the party had an upper hand. Their chosen candidate General Olusegun Obasanjo emerged winner over the former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme.

The problems of the party had just begun. First, was that their presidential candidate was not even qualified to stand for elections on the platform of the party going by its own constitution. This provided that such a party member must be in the party for a minimum of one year before his candidature is valid. Obasanjo who had just left prison was definitely not qualified under this provision. Two principal officers of the party who organized the convention, Chief Sunday Awoniyi (now late) and Onyia Nwodo have said that much. If we accept democracy as the rule of law, then the party failed this cardinal test in Jos. In retrospect, the Jos convention was a bundle of contradictions; it was hailed as open and democratic and yet it marked the foundation of the undemocratic tendencies that have bedevilled the party for all these years that it has been in power. To Obasanjo, who was making his debut on Nigeria’s turbulent political scene, those were early lessons on how to cut corners. He started learning; and he learnt fast. Chief Lar, the interim National Chairman at the time, was to learn his bitter lesson early in the Obasanjo presidency. Frustrated by the way the President was running the party, he wrote a strongly worded letter to him complaining that the party was marginalized in running the affairs of state. Obasanjo ignored

him at first. When his complaints did not stop but became more vehement, he was eased of his exalted office as interim National chairman of the party. Obasanjo humored him with the politically irrelevant office of Chairman, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. With his eyes set on a second term, Obasanjo supervised the election of a new party executive led by Barnabas Gemade. This was against the wishes of the founders of the party and the ordinary party men who favoured Chief Sunday Awoniyi. But even Gemade his chosen Chairman did not go far with him. He was hounded out of office and Chief Audu Ogbe took over. It did not take long before Audu Ogbe also run into turbulent waters with the President. Already in his second term - with his eyes set on a third term in office – Obasanjo did not find good company in the independent minded Audu Ogbe. He also lost the chair of the party in a manner that was non democratic and even less dignifying. That paved way for Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd) who had earlier made a name while serving as a Federal Commissioner (Minister) for Education when General Obasanjo was a military Head of State. Under Ali, the PDP pursued the third term agenda with all its might until it was cut down by the National Assembly.

We need to remind the national leaders of the PDP about the undemocratic ordeals the party has suffered and by extension the whole country since it came into existence and took over power. As the party that controls two thirds of the states of the Federation, the Federal Executive and Legislature (with two third majority in both houses) since 1999, it has the legal and even moral responsibility to lead this country right. Unfortunately, the anti democratic tendencies in the PDP are so strong that they even have a contagious effect on the smaller parties in the country. Our experience since the return of democracy in 1999 has been full of disasters; violent and rigged elections, failed promises, corruption etc. These are clearly avoidable manmade disasters. We are again walking the path that led the collapse of our democracy in the past. This is rather sad because those who refuse to learn from history are bound to repeat the mistakes of the past. Democracy in a multi party system can only function when there is internal democracy in the parties themselves. That in essence means people from the ward to the national level must be given the opportunity to elect leaders of their choice. Democracy should not be subject to regimental commands. The PDP still has a good chance to redeem its image soiled by poor

performance in the last 12 years. The forthcoming National Convention of the party offers it a good opportunity to restore its lost soul. The party must therefore allow free and fair elections to take place at all levels – from the ward to the National. Most fundamentally, it needs a National Chairman that will be an embodiment of that democratic soul. The office of National Chairman has been zoned to the North East. A large number of aspirants are already jostling for the position. But the name that keeps cropping up in all discussions, particularly in informed political circles in that zone is that of Ibrahim Bunu. His supporters in the party are of the opinion that he is a capable hand and can heal the party. Ibrahim Bunu is an architect, in fact, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA). His political career began in the second Republic when he rose fast to become a Minister at the age of 32. Since then he has combined politics with his professional practice and is said to be the founding father of the party in his home state of Borno. He was a Minister for the Federal Capital Territory in the first cabinet of Obasanjo in 1999 and has been a member of the party’s Board of Trustees since 1998. Conrad Manchok resides at Kubwa in the FCT, Abuja.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Building collapse: Navy defied FHA, says spokesman By Josephine Ella

he Federal Housing Authority (FHA) said yesterday that the Nigerian Navy disregarded its authority, hence the unfortunate collapse of a 3storey building at the naval officers quarters in Gwarimpa, which killed two persons and injured five others. Spokesman of the FHA, Mr. Tunde Ipiminsho told our reporter in a telephone conversation that although the Nigerian Navy Holdings had last year, written an application to the FHA for 'controlled demolition and reconstruction', but the Navy did not wait for approval before embarking on the exercise which resulted to the building caving in. He disclosed how that some development control staff of the FHA were on a routine patrol and discovered that the navy had boycotted the FHA approval, proceeding with work on the affected building, located on Road 45, First Avenue, Gwarinpa Estate. The FHA, immediately swung into action the following day, issuing a stop work order, which was boldly written on the wall on the building, Ipiminsho said. He said that surprisingly, this warning was ignored as the workers continued work on the property, the following day, being Friday, when the building collapsed. "There was no approval. They wrote an application for control demolition and renovation and we were processing the application when our development control staff saw the work going on, on Thursday. The following day, we issued a stop work order on the building but the navy ignored it and went ahead with what they wanted to do," he explained. The Nigerian Navy Holdings had employed some workers to carry out manual partial demolition on a segment of the building. Workers were carrying out the demolition on the top floor of the building, when in caved in. The Director of Information Nigerian Navy, Commodore Kabir Aliyu was reported to have said that, "navy have

notified Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and the Federal Housing Authority of the structural defects in the building located on 45 road off 1st Avenue Gwarimpa and asked for permission to demolish and make renovations". He said the ministry's

officials had supervised the house and confirmed the defects before they embarked on the demolition exercise. "The ministry was in charge of the demolition. There were seven labourers employed to carry out the exercise and they were all trapped in the debris after the building collapsed, six

were removed out of which one is dead," he said. However, when contacted the spokesman, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Marshal Gundu, was said to have denied the involvement of the ministry in the demolition exercise. "How could we be involved in any demolition? It is not in our responsibility," he was quoted to have said.

Dear reader, Metro welcomes human interest stories in your neighbourhood. Please call or send SMS to 08065327178 or e-mail jomarch4@yahoo.com to inform us about happenings in your area. Share your experiences or those of your friends and neighbours with fellow readers.

Court reserves judgment on Abaji election ByAdeola Tukuru

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) election appeal tribunal sitting at Gudu High court on Friday reserved judgment between the incumbent chairman of Abaji, Alhaji Musa Yahaya Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the chairmanship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Abdulrahman Agiya. The case was presided by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, following the recent April, 10, 2010 Abaji Area Council election after both counsels to the appellant and respondent adopted their brief of argument. Counsel to the appellant, Chief Karina Tunya (SAN) in his final

written address urged the appeal tribunal to set aside the judgment of the lower tribunal of the 20th July, 2010 which declared Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya, of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as winner of the April, 10 2010election. He further urged the appeal tribunal by way of substituting to also strike out the interlocutory appeal filed by the respondent as being incompetent. Also, counsel representing the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Kyari Joe Gadzama (SAN) in his final written address contended that there are relevant provision in paragraph (4) 3b of the electoral 2006, where the petitioner even if it is more than 30 suppose to sign clearly.

He argued that neither the respondent counsel nor the respondent himself or any solicitor signed the petition which he said was not in compliance with the electoral Act, 2006 and urged the appeal tribunal to dismiss the interlocutory appeal. He further prayed for the appeal tribunal, as an alternative conduct a bye-election in the 9 polling units that were nullified by the lower tribunal in order not to disenfranchise the electorate at the affected pilling units. Counsel to the ACN, Barrister Omar Musa, in his final written address, argued that the same issue of signature which were canvassed at the lower tribunal where it was overruled, contending that even electoral

The driver of this car lost control and rammed into the road divider along City Gate in Abuja on Saturday. Photo: Joe Oroye

Act, 2006 has made it clear that either the petitioner or lawyers to the petitioner can sign on a petition on behalf of the petitioner. The appeal tribunal chairperson, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, after hearing arguments from parties' involved reserved judgment, saying both parties would be communicated for judgment.

SSA to minister on Budget/Project Monitoring & Evaluation resigns By Josephine Ella

he Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Budget/Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Ahmed Aliyu Wadada last week resigned his appointment with the minister, Peoples Daily learnt from a reliable source. Wadada was appointed as SSA to the minister, Senator Bala Mohammed on Budget/ Project Monitoring and Evaluation on July 12, 2011. He had served as member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007, where he represented Karu/Keffi/ Kokona federal constituency before his lost his re-election bid in the last general election. In his resignation letter dated January 24, 2012, Wadada said he opted to resign his appointment in order to give more attention to his businesses, which have been requiring his immediate and urgent attention. The former lawmaker thanked the minister for the opportunity given to him to serve the FCT and the nation.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 17

Two persons were on Saturday confirmed dead and five others sustained varying degree of injuries, when a building at the Navy officersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; quarters at 1st Avenue Gwarinpa, which was being renovated caved in. Below are pictures from the scene of the disaster.

Survivors of the disaster

The Nigerian Navy Holdings defied the stop work order of the FHA, only for the building to collapse a day after the order was issued.

The 3-storey building was partially being demolished from the first floor before collapsing

PHOTOS: JOE OROYE AND JAMES BATURE

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 19

INSIDE amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk 08033644990

- Pg 20

Interbank rates up on budget cash delay

MPC meets, may leave MPR at 12 per cent Stories by Abdulwahab Isa

here are strong indications that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) which meets tomorroaw (Tuesday) may leave unchanged the Monetary Policy Rate at 12%. The meeting, the first in the year is coming after turbulent mass protest against fuel subsidy consequently raising inflation from 10.3 to 10.5 per cent. The weeklong protest against fuel increment resulted in shutting down commercial activities nationwide forcing government to shift ground from N141 fuel pump price to N97/ litre. However, the adjustment in pump price has led to increment in transport prices including prices of other sundry items. According to Razia Khan, Regional Head of Research, Afriac Global Resaerch, “If Nigeria’s past experience is anything to go by, prices are unlikely to fall much, even after the negotiated compromise fuel price”.

Flight schedule AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY) LOS-ABJ : 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30. ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35 ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35 ABJ-SOK (MON ): 09.35 ABJ-SOK (F RI): 10.10 ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK -ABJ (F RI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

AEROCONTRACTORS (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 06.50, 13.30, 19.45 LOS-ABJ (SUN): 12.30 LOS-ABJ (SAT): 16.45 ABU-L OS: 07.30, 13.00, 14.00, 19.00 ABU-LOS (SUN): 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 ABU-LOS (SAT): 18.30

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN) LOS-A BJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06, 15.30, 17.10 ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40 ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00 LOS-KANO : 08.10 KANO-LOS: 11.25 KANO -ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO: 10.08

IRS AIRLINES

He noted that, CBN’s aggressive tightening between September 2010 and October 2011 (when the MPR was effectively doubled to 12%), was premised on the eventual

members will want to gauge the impact of the fuel price adjustment over time, watching in particular for any secondary price pressures” Khan argued.

Some women buying clothes at district head park in Kafin Madaki in Ganjuwa lga of Bauchi state, recently. Photo: NAN

The overall macroeconomic context also matters. Plans for an upward revision of the oil price assumption in the 2012 budget (to USD 75/bbl from USD 70/bbl, against an already ambitious output assumption of 2.45mn bpd) will have to be closely watched. Despite projections for a reduced budget deficit, the overall level of spending is still expansionary. In the event of upwardly revised spending plans, a greater safeguard against potential second round effects in response to the fuel price adjustment might be needed. Demand for forex – expected to decline meaningfully with the part removal of the subsidy – usually provides a reliable gauge of both ‘excessive’ liquidity as well as price pressures. Should demand for FX rise again, the CBN may well be prompted into further tightening – although it is not a given that this will be through conventional, policy interest rate means. As of now, we still await the release of January CPI (due in mid-Feb). The CBN is expected to tighten eventually, in line with their stated commitment to keep real interest rates positive.

Dangote set to commission Ibese cement plant

he Dangote six-million tons per annum cement plant at Ibese in Ogun state is set for a formal commissioning February 9. 20102. President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote had said that the coming on stream of Ibese plant will end the era of cement importation in the country. A statement by the Group Head, Corporate Communication of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina said: ”We are marking the closing ceremony of cement import in Nigeria with the coming on stream of our Ibese cement plant which will be producing a combined six-million tons per annum from its initial two lines while addition two line will be added immediately to increase its

production to 12 million tons per annum”, the management of Dangote Cement said at the weekend. President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote had told the nation that his organization was taking up the challenge to lead the way in the effort as making the nation self-reliant in the cement production as the nation was losing a huge sum in foreign exchange on import. According to him, the desire of the Dangote Cement is to ensure the country not only move away completely from export of certain commodities, of which cement is one, but to strengthen the local production capacity to make her exporting nation and increase her foreign reserves. Said he; “Our long term

CBN CFA • £ RIYAL $

27th Jan, 2012 BUYING 0.2933 204.7869 244.8404 41.5556 155.85

SELLING 0.3133 206.1009 246.4114 41.8222 156.85

PARALLEL RATES

ABJ-LOS: 11.30, 3.45, 4.45

£ RIYAL $

BUYING 243 43 154

SELLING 257 45 159

ambition is to develop 46 million metric tons of production and terminal capacity in Africa by 2015. We want to become a truly pan-African champion in the sector, capable of competing globally with the largest cement companies in the world.” Dangote’s current project in cement manufacturing is to further extend his consortium across Africa. Its cement business which has generated revenues of US$3 billion in 2010, already reaches 14 African countries, including Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, the DRC, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. On the expansion of cement production to meet Africa’s demand after successfully meeting

Nigerian local consumption needs, Alhaji Dangote said that According to Dangote, “Our long term ambition is to develop 46 million metric tons of production and terminal capacity in Africa by 2015. We want to become a truly pan-African champion in the sector, capable of competing globally with the largest cement companies in the world.” Addressing distributors in Lagos on the plan for the new ibese Plant, Managing Director of Dangote Cement, Lagos Terminal, Mr. Akin Adesokan said the coming of Ibese is bring a new lease of life in cement business saying the distributors would now have an effective, smooth and timely transaction as the opening of Ibese would ensure timely delivery of cement in all parts of the country.

Management Tip of the Day

EXCHANGE RATES

LOS -ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

LOS-KANO: 6.15 LOS-KANO (SAT/SUN): 16.30 KANO -LOS: 07.30 KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

removal of fuel subsidies. “With the last rate hike – of 275bps – only in October, this tightening will still be feeding through into the real economy with some lag. Moreover, MPC

Prepare for this critical interview question

hether you are a new manager or a recently-appointed CEO, you have three months to make an impact. Begin preparing for the first 90 days as early as your first interview. Be ready to answer the question: "What do you hope to achieve in

your first three months?" Don't cop out by saying that you will learn and observe before jumping in. Instead, prepare a thoughtful response. Start by stating what you understand about the role and the organization. Avoid being critical.

Then make connections between this challenge and your experience. Wrap up your answer by delivering clear recommendations, with some caution, because you will need more detail before imple m e n t i n g t h e m . Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Delta airlines ends 2011 on high, moves to sharpen strategies

elta Air Lines, a company headquartered in Atlanta, America, reputed to serve an estimated 160 million customers each year, has reported its 4th quarter financial results for December 2011 showing that it made $379 million net income or $0.45 per diluted share, excluding special items1. This indicates a $221 million improvement year over year.

Freight forwarders seek stiffer laws to tackle influx of substandard goods

ompanies under the auspices of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) have called for stiffer laws to check the influx of substandard goods into the country as they claimed the laws currently guiding imports were too weak to deter unscrupulous importers from importing substandard goods.

Ammasco commences production of CO2

mmasco International Limited, one of the major manufacturers of high quality lubricants and distributors of petroleum products in Nigeria, recorded yet another milestone, recently, when it completed the installation of an ultra modern plant for the commercial production of industrial carbon dioxide gas (CO2 ).

igeria’s interbank lending rates were up on Friday to an average of 15.50 percent, compared with 14.25 percent last week, as a delay in releasing the December budgetary allocation to government agencies starved the system of funds, traders said. Traders said the market opened on Friday with a cash balance of one billion naira, an indication that the system was illiquid. Africa’s top crude exporter distributes oil funds from centrally held accounts every month to its three tiers of government — federal, states and local — which provides a much needed cash

Interbank rates up on budget cash delay inflow to the banking system. No official was willing to comment on reason for the delay in releasing funds from the December allocation. The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) climbed to 15 percent from 14 percent last week, 300 basis points above the central bank’s 12 percent benchmark rate, and 5.0 percentage points above the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate. Overnight placement jumped to 15.50 percent, from 14.25 percent, while call money rose to 16 percent, against 14.50 percent previously. “We are still

tanbic IBTC Bank Plc (IBTCCB), a unit of Standard Bank Group Ltd. (SBK), led other Nigerian banks higher as investors bet a decline in stocks of the West African country’s lenders has been overdone, Renaissance Capital said. The shares gained 5 percent, the most since Dec.

16, to 6.98 naira by the 2:30 p.m. close in Lagos. “It has fallen to a level where investors see it as being attractive,” Adesoji Solanke, Lagos-based Africa bank analyst with RenCap, said by phone today. Access Bank Plc, which bought Intercontinental Bank Plc, one of the lenders

bailed out by the central bank in 2009, gained 4.9 percent to 5.15 naira, its highest value since Jan. 4, while Fidelity Bank Plc climbed 5 percent, its biggest daily rise since Dec. 21, to 1.47 naira. There was “a surge” in demand for bank stocks as investors are taking positions ahead of release of the lenders’ full-year results from the end of February, Solanke said. Earnings are rising at Nigerian lenders after the country implemented a

banking reform following a debt crisis in 2008 and 2009 triggered by loans given to stock market speculators. The central bank fired eight chief executives of the country’s 24 banks and set up the Asset Management Corp. of Nigeria to buy the debts and stabilize the banking sector. Amcon has acquired 3.14 trillion naira worth of debts, Chief Executive Officer Mustafa Chike-Obi said at the weekend.(Bloomberg)

Interest rates may rise in 2012 if govt pursues budget expansion Inflation rates from Dec, 2011 to Jan, 2011 Max = 12.8%, Min = 9.3% for period in display. Current Inflation rate = 10.3% Source:CBN

igerian interest rates may need to rise this year if the government pushes ahead with an expansionary budget, Nigeria’s central bank

Earnings Report for Banks

Africa: Global investors to increase investments in 5yrs —Study

lobal institutional investors plan to boost their asset allocation in African markets over the next five years, and are shifting to longterm investment strategies for the continent, instead of more speculative, short-term bets, a survey showed.

SCC pipe mill to produce 10 % of nation’s demand

he SCC Nigeria limited pipe-mill based in Abuja will meet ten percent of the nation’s oil and gas pipe demands annually, the firm’s managing director, Levy Yuval has said.

compounded the liquidity problem in the market, forcing some banks to rediscount some of their treasury bills and bonds to raise funds. The CBN sold about $500 million to banks at its biweekly auction this week, while the debt management office auctioned 89.76 billion naira worth of 10-year bonds and 138 billion naira in 91day and 182-day treasury bills. “Cost of borrowing will continue to climb until the release of budget allocation to government agencies,” another dealer said.

Stanbic leads Nigerian banks, higher on valuation bets

Nigerian Idol unveils second set of finalists nother week at the ongoing Nigerian Idol reality show sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria has seen the emergence of the second set of finalists to the top 10. The announcement made last weekend in Lagos, after a compilation of votes from viewers over the last week, brings the total number of finalists for the next stage to six.

expecting the payment of budget allocations to government agencies, so the system is short of funds. That is why rates are going up,” one dealer said. Traders said large cash outflows to foreign exchange, treasury bills and bonds purchases also drained liquidity from the system this week, helping to weaken further the borrowing rates among banks. The stateowned energy company NNPC also recalled a portion of its deposit with some lenders to its account with the central bank and this further

Source:Pro-share Nigeria

governor said on Thursday, despite the finance minister’s stated wish for a rate reduction. “If we do have an expansionary budget plus the fuel subsidy removal, I think the likelihood is more for an increase than a cut,” Lamido Sanusi told Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Earlier, Sanusi told CNBC Africa television that the bank would not raise interest rates at its first rate setting meeting of the year next week in direct response to removal of the fuel subsidy, as it was a first round effect. Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said last month she wanted interest rates to be lowered in 2012, after budget plans were read to the national assembly. Since then, however, pressure has grown for a more expansionary budget with the Senate calling last week for a higher oil price benchmark that would have the effect of giving the government more money to spend and leave less for savings. (Reuters)

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Three-day rally lifts market, NSE index firms up by +0.35%

rading activities in the week closed optimistic as the rally witnessed in the last three trading days of week pulled back NSE All Share Index (ASI) to close in the green zone due to intense bargain hunting while CBN Governor said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will not raise benchmark interest ahead of its first interest rate setting meeting for the year scheduled to hold next week. Furthermore, equity market continued southwards movement on Monday to open the first trading day of the week negative as investors return from the weekend while market sentiments remained unchanged on Tuesday as it closed negative amid increased volume turnover

and Naira Votes. The bulls re-surfaced in style on Wednesday as market closed uptick to halt the continuous losing streak due to impressive bargain activities while Nigerian Stock Market witnessed intense bargain hunting as Medium and Small Cap stocks dominated and contributed to positive posture recorded. Subsequently, market closed northwards on Friday as continuous buying activities further impacted market outlook positively while trading closed with aggregate gain for the week. In the same light, the key benchmark indices sustained downtrend by -0.66% to open the first session pessimistic due to unrelenting sell pressure. The

second session witnessed unabated selling activities as NSE Index dipped further by 0.41%. Trading activities on the Nigerian bourse retraced as ASI showed little resilience with the index inching up by +0.13% to end the third session in the green zone. NSE ASI firms up by +0.84% to end the fourth session optimistic while market breadth also closed impressive. Consequently, continuous bargain hunting witnessed on Friday lifted market further to close the session with +0.46% gain while All Share Index closed with +0.35% aggregate gain for the week. Further analysis on acquiring banks showed that the share price

of Access Bank Plc closed positive with +9.57% gain recorded in the week, ETI Plc moved northwards by +2.40% as FCMB Plc closed flat, Sterling Bank Plc closed positive with +1.11% gain while Union Bank Plc also moved in the opposite direction with -9.61% loss recorded. In the same vein, the market capitalization in the week appreciated by N23.56 bn in (US$157.07m) to close at N6.58 trillion (US$43.88 bn) as against depreciation by N6.50 bn (US$43.37m) recorded last week to close at N6.56 trillion (US$ 43.72 bn). The total volume traded in the week closed at 1.32 bn units valued at N10.07 bn (US$67.17 m) compared with 733.54 million units valued at N5.20 bn (US$34.70 m) exchanged in 12,782 deals last week. The volume transaction in the week when compared with the previous week data moved up by +80.36% as against upwards movement by +137.55% recorded last week. Weekly value also went up by +93.54% as against positive position of +43.12% recorded last week.

Investors see Africa as most attractive destination - EIU poll

ore than one in two institutional investors see Africa as the most attractive region to invest in the next decade, with one in three expecting to put at least 5 percent of their portfolios into the continent by 2016, a survey showed on Tuesday. Some 158 institutions including pension funds, hedge funds and private banks polled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said Nigeria and Kenya are likely to bring the best investment returns within Africa over the next three years, followed by Zimbabwe, Egypt and Ghana. Currently, almost half of respondents have either no exposure or less than a one percent allocation to Africa, where an emerging middle class and growing consumerism are seen offering the most attractive investment opportunities. “Africa was exclusively seen as a commodity play but now there are real economic growth drivers,” said Mohammed Al Hashemi, chief executive officer of Abu Dhabi government-owned Invest AD Asset Management, which commissioned the report. “Africa was a destination for grants and aid but going forward it will be the destination for trade and investment.” Private equity and

infrastructure are expected to outpace commodities as the best asset classes for investment in Africa in the next three years. Forty-six percent of the investors said energy and natural resources offer the best investment return over the next three years, followed by agriculture and agribusiness, construction and real estate and financial services. The most favoured investment vehicle is multi-asset class funds, but respondents thought equity funds will give the most opportunity in the next three years. Investors consider bribery and corruption as the main challenges of investing in Africa, as well as weak legal and governmental institutions. A third of respondents also cited political risk. Al Hashemi said while instability in countries such as Nigeria, where the Islamist sect Boko Haram has killed hundreds of people in the past year, was an important factor in making investment decisions, he also looked at the fundamentals. “We will keep an eye on politics and the changes there because they will have implications for economic policy,” he said. “(But) the foundations that make us put our money there are still consistent.” Invest AD, which targets Middle East and Africa investment,

already has funds focusing on Iraq and Libya. Its Iraq Opportunity Fund returned around 20 percent in 2011, before the withdrawal of U.S. troops in December raised fears of renewed sectarian violence and weighed on local stocks. “For much of 2011, Iraq was one of the best performing stock markets in the world. We’ve seen the market take a breather. We think there will be a resumption of the good performance in the Iraqi

market. It was inevitable when U.S. troops left that people would sit on the sidelines,” Al Hashemi said. “Iraq has been put on a very firm path of progression and development...When we talk to our contacts and investors they’re keen to add to their exposure to Iraq.” Invest AD also hopes to reinitiate its Libya Opportunity Fund, which was suspended in February after a launch in December 2010 due to the stock market closure. (Reuters)

INVESTORS NEWS BEAT Monetary policies to exert on bond market in 2012

he direction of Central Bank of Nigeria monetary policies would exert a great influence on the Fixed Income market this yesr. This is in spite of analysts’ perception that the year may witness less restrictive monetary policies than last year.

Crusader Groups N2.3 bn right issue nears close

rusader Nigeria plc, a member of the financial services sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with businesses across insurance, pensions, properties and hospitality industry has in the last one month been in the market shopping N2.3 billion through rights issue.

CBN sells N138 bn in 91, 182-day T.bills

he central bank on Friday said it sold 138.43 billion naira ($861.96 million) in 91-day and 182-day debt this week, the second such auction this year, with yields falling compared to the previous sale.

Sub-Sahara African stocks: First Bank of Nigeria, Japaul Oil surge Shareholders of

irst Bank of Nigeria Plc, the country’s third largest bank by market value, advanced for a third day, surging 4.9 percent to 9.61 naira, the highest since Nov. 22, on speculation the lender will pay a dividend for the year through December. “Investors anticipate that First Bank will be able to pay a dividend of at least one naira per share for the full year through December, given that its earnings per share for the nine months were already above one naira,” David Adonri, chief executive officer of Lagos-based

Lambeth Trust and Investment Co., a brokerage, said by phone today. “That means that at the current price, the dividend yield will be more than 10 percent, and that means a lot globally.” Japaul Oil & Maritime Services Plc, a Nigerian oilservices company, rose for a second day, gaining 4 percent to 79 kobo. Oil rose after the Federal Reserve announced it plans to keep U.S. interest rates near a record low through 2014 and as a report showed durable goods orders in the world’s biggest crude-consuming country increased. (Bloomberg)

UBN to get 40% return on rights issue

nion Bank’s existing and prospective shareholders who buy into the on-going rights issue of the bank now stand to get approximately 40 per cent return on their investment (year-on-year) as a result of the generous discount made by the bank on the offer. This was made known by the executive director Corporate, International and Investment Banking, Philip Ikeazor, during a chat with newsmen in Lagos.

Greek debt setback sends global shares lower

orries about the implications of the latest setback in efforts to restructure Greek debt hurt the global share markets on Tuesday, overriding fresh data showing Europe’s economy may be headed for a weaker slowdown than many had feared.

Source:Pro-share Nigeria

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 22

We will sustain war against substandard goods - DG The Standards Organisation of Nigerian (SON) DirectorGeneral, Dr. Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu, in this interview with our business correspondent, Ayodele Samuel, speaks on the agency’s plans to intensify the Zero Tolerance Campaign against substandard products in country.

ould you give us an overview of SON’s activities in 2011? 2011 was indeed a busy year for us. It could not have been any less given both the mandate of the Federal Government to the SON and the realty of the issue of substandardisation in the country. It was so endemic that there was hardly any product line that was not being sub-standardised, the details of these we have spoken about, at various interactions before now. On completion of the baseline study that revealed that over 85 percent of consumer products were substandard, we set out a 6 point agenda to drive the changes we sought in a hurry to stop the carnage and the callous de-industrialisation of Nigeria. In which way is your agency partnering with consumers and other stakeholders? As part of the initiatives to drive home SON’s “Zero Tolerance to

“

We continue to intensify the Zero Tolerance Campaign against substandard products. This year, we are going to take it to the Eastern and Northern parts of the country, as well as the Middle Belt area.

Substandard Products” initiative, the agency, in collaboration with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), has met with leaders of the Electrical Dealers Association of Nigeria (EDAN) and General Electrical Dealers Association (GEDA). The aftermath of the meeting was the setting up of the first ever Consumer Help Desk which should help in Enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the two regulatory agencies in discharging their statutory responsibilities of ridding our markets of substandard products and protecting the consumers. We also carried out a sensitisation of operators in the steel and iron bars sector, At the meeting, we warned of the prevalence of substandard steel products in the country, declaring our resolve to check it. Some of the directives issued out to steel manufacturers and producers present at the meeting were: all steel made in or imported into the country must bear approved identification marks by SON, all manufacturers and importers were directed to ensure that their products conform to the requirements of NIS 117:2004, manufacturers were directed to ensure they acquire modern testing equipment for chemical and mechanical properties of iron rods and a task force was set up to ensure compliance by stakeholders we had a meeting with primary aluminum producers which led to the review of the Nigerian Industrial Standard for the product. At that meeting, we recalled that efforts made to sanitise the sector had been marred by fraudulent activities ranging from poor identification of products and false declarations of aluminum sizes. We also made it clear that the minimum thickness approved for the product is 0.40 millimeters. Operators were mandated to ensure compliance with the NIS specifications or risk seizure and prosecution by SON. Aluminum producers were also mandated to ensure that every sheet produced or imported by them bear appropriate identification marks from factory to the roofs maintaining that all cladding and flashing materials shall have a minimum thickness of 0.40 millimeters. Last year December, we also meet with representatives of major dealing companies in attendance, including Techno, Panasonic, Sharp and Sony, were we declared our intention to collaborate with manufacturers, and the dealers were advised to educate consumers

as well as SON operatives on the unique features of brands they deal on. The need for training of dealers was underscored while the stakeholders were advised to adopt the relevant standards with available ISO or national standard marks. Operators are to collaborate with SON on capacity building for staff and laboratory enhancement. Several other meetings were also held with other groups like Textiles Manufacturers Association (NTMA), Onitsha and Nnewi markets. What are your targets and programmes for 2012? We shall build on the gains of 2011 this year. Our primary target remains to achieve a further drastic reduction in the level of substandard products in the country. In 2011, our study revealed that SON achieved a total reduction of substandard products by about 25 percent. However, this reduction was reflected in the quality of products that were imported into the country between April and November 2011. In terms of awareness, we achieved only 15 percent level among consumers surveyed. Not much was however achieved in the level of substandard products on sale in various markets in Nigeria . This year, our target is a further 30 percent reduction in the penetration of substandard products in the country, both in terms of influx and circulation. Our strategy will be to build on the current collaborative efforts with other government agencies like Nigeria Customs, Consumer Protection Council, Nigeria Police and other relevant bodies to achieve the ideals of the President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda. We have worked out the logistics and for us, this would mean among others, the opening of more states offices and strengthening of the existing ones. It would also mean a reappraisal of our internal capacities, manpower, processes etc for greater effectiveness so that the agency would be able to meet her targets. We hear of complains in some quarters about used vehicles; what is your agency doing about this? The federal government policy for used vehicles prescribed only age restrictions. We shall not attempt to change that. However, as a result of several complaints from a cross section of Nigerians, we have elaborated standards for used vehicles where we have specified safer levels for a number of

SON Director-General, Dr. Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu hazardous chemicals that are injurious to health and or the environment. When this new policy commences, we shall work with NESREA, NAC and Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure full compliance. All over the country, we have different kinds and grades of used vehicles with killer emission levels, and this we have to reduce at acceptable levels of safety. To some people, these emissions may seem innocuous, but when you do the chemical analysis, you find that several Nigerians are inhaling fumes of very dangerous dimensions with dire health consequences. We observe that there are critical issues of substandardisation in the manufacturing sector; could you please give us an update on meeting standards with regards to manufacturing? We shall review the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) to meet with the present day reality for manufacturing for Nigeria markets. At the end of the day, it would further help in sanitising the sector and giving every genuine player opportunity of a fair playing ground. One major element of this review is to focus on the processes, input material, people skills and internal systems rather than on finished products quality. We shall facilitate collaboration to improve industrial capacity and products’ quality standards in MANCAP. We believe our initiative will assist build the capacity of the indigenous entrepreneur and help the course of the Federal Government’s economic reform programme. We just concluded the review of the SON Conformity Assessment Programme in December 2011 as part of the measure to check the incidence of substandard products. The new measures will lead to a more robust IT gateway with risk management profiling for

importers and their consumer products. We shall implement the changes within the first quarter of 2012. Aside big businesses, do you have intention of helping to support small businesses in anyway? One of our major projects in 2012 is to build capacity with Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. There are well over 10 million MSMEs in Nigeria and they are essentially critical to job creation in this economy. We have discovered that most MSMEs have the genuine intention to manufacture quality products but lack the capacity to do so. SON shall identify 250 MSME’s and work very closely with them to certify them towards ISO 9001 (quality management systems) and ISO 22000 (food safety management system) at no cost. The outcome of this collaboration will be better, sustainable quality products in a system that cuts off non-value adding activities. We would be collaborating with the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) and the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) in this regard. What is the next step in the battle against substandard products? We continue to intensify the Zero Tolerance Campaign against substandard products. This year, we are going to take it to the Eastern and Northern parts of the country, as well as the Middle Belt area. Is it not comforting to some degree that the average Nigerian, at least in the Lagos-West area now talks or is more conscious about the issue of substandard products in the country? In fact, at the level of consumers, some are beginning to realise that they have a responsibility to ensuring that they buy quality and can deliver on the things they promise to deliver.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 23

Report as at Friday, January 28, 2012 Company

Price

7 UP Bottling Co PLC 46.000 AG Leventis & Co PLC 1.470 Academy Press 2.200 Access Bank PLC 5.150 Afribank Nigeria PLC Forte Oil PLC Afromedia Nigeria Ltd 0.500 Aiico Insurance PLC 0.530 Airline Services and Logistics PLC 2.170 Alumaco PLC Aluminum Extrusion Industries PLC 11.150 Ashaka Cement PLC 10.990 ASO Savings and Loans PLC 0.500 Associated Bus Co PLC 0.500 BOC Gases Nigeria PLC 6.510 Bank PHB PLC Beco Petroleum Product PLC 0.500 Berger Paints Nigeria PLC 8.450 Beta Glass Co PLC 12.710 C&I Leasing PLC 0.500 Cadbury Nigeria PLC 10.520 Capital Hotel PLC 6.780 Capital Oil PLC 0.500 Cement Co Northern Nigeria PLC 5.240 Chemical and Allied Products PLC 15.220 Conoil PLC 31.000 Continental Reinsurance PLC 0.750 0.500 Cornerstone Insurance PLC Costain West Africa PLC Crusader Nigeria PLC 0.500 Custodian and Allied Insurance PLC 2.200 DAAR Communication PLC 0.500 Dangote Cement PLC 120.000 Dangote Flour Mills PLC 5.080 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 4.960 Dunlop Nigeria PLC 0.500 Ecobank Nigeria PLC Ecobank Transnational Inc 10.240 Equity Assurance PLC 0.500 Eterna Oil & Gas PLC 2.670 Evans Medical PLC 0.670 Fidelity Bank PLC 1.470 Fidson Healthcare PLC 0.790 FinBank PLC First Aluminium Nigeria PLC 0.500 First Bank of Nigeria PLC 9.860 First City Monument Bank PLC 4.000 FLOUR MILLS OF NIGERIA PLC 60.100 FTN Cocoa Processors PLC 0.500 GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nig. PLC 22.700 Goldlink Insurance PLC 0.590 Great Nigerian Insurance PLC 0.500 Guaranty Trust Bank PLC 13.750 Guaranty Trust Assurance PLC 1.230 Guinea Insurance PLC 0.500 Guinness Nigeria PLC 230.000 Honeywell Flour Mill PLC 3.220 IHS Nigeria PLC 2.590 Ikeja Hotel PLC 1.560 Intercontinental Bank PLC Intercontinental Wapic Insur. PLC 0.500 International Breweries PLC 5.880 International Energy Insurance PLC 0.500 Japaul Oil & Maritime Services PLC 0.820 JOS International Breweries PLC 2.050 Juli PLC 2.760

% Change

Last Updated

Company

0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 4.888% % % 0.000% 3.922% 0.000% % 0.000% 0.733% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% % 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% -1.961% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 4.591% 0.000% 0.000% 2.740% 0.000% % 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 4.863% 0.000% % -0.098% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 5.000% -4.819% % 0.000% 2.601% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 3.509% 0.000% 2.612% 4.237% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% % 0.000% 5.000% 0.000% 3.797% 0.000% 0.000%

Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 25 Jan 27

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 31.500 Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nig. PLC 44.350 Lasaco Assurance PLC 0.500 Law Union & Rock Insur. of Nig. PLC 0.570 Linkage Assurance PLC 0.500 Livestock Feeds PLC 0.800 Longman Nigeria PLC 2.950 MAY & Baker Nigeria PLC 2.870 Mobil Nigeria PLC 133.000 Chevron Oil Nigeria PLC 56.050 Mutual Benefits Assurance PLC 0.500 NEM Insurance Co Nigeria PLC 0.500 NAMPAK NIGERIA PLC % National Salt Co Nigeria PLC 4.250 Neimeth International Pharm. PLC 1.030 Niger Insurance Co PLC 0.500 Nigerian Aviation Handling Co PLC 6.640 Nigerian Bag Manufacturing Co PLC 1.560 Nigerian Bottling Co PLC Nigerian Breweries PLC 92.080 Nigerian Ropes PLC 8.260 Nigerian Wire and Cable PLC 0.500 Northern Nigeria Flour Mills PLC 21.480 Oando PLC 19.900 Oceanic Bank International PLC Omatek Ventures PLC 0.500 Presco PLC 8.240 Prestige Assurance Co PLC 0.960 PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC 29.000 RT Briscoe Nigeria PLC 1.200 Red Star Express PLC 2.390 Regency Alliance Insurance PLC 0.500 Resort Savings & Loans PLC 0.500 Royal Exchange Assurance PLC 0.500 Skye Bank PLC 3.500 Sovereign Trust Insurance PLC 0.500 Spring Bank PLC Staco Insurance PLC 0.500 Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC 6.980 Standard Alliance Insurance PLC 0.500 Starcomms PLC 0.500 Sterling Bank 0.910 Tantalizers PLC 0.500 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 24.250 Total Nigeria PLC 190.000 Transnational Corp of Nigeria PLC 0.580 UAC of Nigeria PLC 29.010 UACN Property Development Co PLC 12.600 Unic Insurance PLC 0.500 Unilever Nigeria PLC 29.900 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC 8.650 Union Diagnostic & Clinical Ser. PLC 0.500 Union Homes Real Estate Investment Trust PLC 50.000 Union Homes Savings & Loans PLC United Bank for Africa PLC 2.180 Unity Bank PLC 0.520 Universal Insurance Co PLC 0.500 University Press PLC 3.250 UTC Nigeria PLC 0.500 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 4.040 Vono Products PLC 2.880 Zenith Bank PLC 12.100

Jan 23 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 25 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 25 Jan 27 Jan 25 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 18 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 23 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 25 Jan 27 Jan 27 Dec 28 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 24 Jan 27 Jan 27 Dec 29 Jan 27 Jan 27 Dec 29 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 5 Jan 27 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Dec 20 Jan 25

Price

% Change 1.613% 0.158% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 3.896% 0.000% 0.000% -0.680% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000%

Last Updated Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 26 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 18 Jan 27

1.432% 0.000% -1.961% 0.000% -3.704% % -0.989% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% -0.201% % 0.000% 0.000% -4.950% -2.159% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% % 0.000% 4.962% 0.000% 0.000% -4.211% 0.000% 0.000% -0.005% 1.754% 0.034%

Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27

0.000% 0.000% -3.797% 0.000%

Jan 27 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 27

0.000%

Jan 23

0.000%

Jan 24

% 0.457% 4.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% -4.941% 0.000% 0.666%

Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 25 Jan 27 Jan 23 Jan 27

Jan 27 Dec 8 Dec 30 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 18 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 26 Jan 25 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 25 Jan 27 Jan 26 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27 Jan 27

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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PAGE 25

Girl child education: Northern Nigeria can turn Boko Haram into Boko Halal By Hauwa Ibrahim

n October 2 and 3, 2011, Harvard Divinity School hosted the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, who is also the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s more than 70–80 million Muslims. The culmination of a year’s preparation resulted in this most momentous and historic visit. Hungry to hear how Islam promotes peace in Nigeria, West Africa, Africa, and the world at large, his audiences were not disappointed as they listened to three panel discussions over the two-day event. In an era where great opportunities and challenges exist for good governance, religious understanding, and women’s literacy, it is little wonder that the crowds at each of the sessions in which the Sultan participated were unprecedented. Those who attended the panels could readily see the role religious and traditional institutions play in education as well as in peacekeeping and peace building. Additionally, guests came to understand the essential role these two sets of institutions play in the promotion and development of women’s education in Northern Nigeria. In envisioning women’s education, inclusive of religious literacy, secular knowledge, and traditional efficiencies, who but Nana Asma’u could be a better role model? Nana Asma’u (1808– 1867) was an Amazon known for her scholarship, poetry, and lifelong commitment to education. At the first panel discussion, on Sunday, October 2, “Muslim Women’s Religious Literacy: The Legacy of Nana Asma’u in the Twenty-first Century and Beyond,” guests were introduced to this woman whose phantasm lives on. The Sultan, who is a direct descendant of Nana Asma’u, made his biggest impression of the two-day event following the panellists’ presentations when he spontaneously interjected his support concerning the value of women’s literacy. In supporting education of the girl, there are three primary aspects to be considered: integration of religious and traditional knowledge into the current public educational curriculum; impediments to girl education and solutions proposed to overcome these impediments; and effective utilization of globalization

opportunities to further development of women’s rights. Currently in Northern Nigeria, integration of religious education in the educational system is an ongoing effort. Nigerians need more than reading and writing skills in their schools, many of which now have both Christian and Muslim instructors on their staff. For this reason, it may be in the best interest of the government to relinquish its monopoly of the public educational system, particularly with regard to school curriculum and staff. Welcoming the input of traditional rulers and religious leaders will improve the transferability of traditional skills from one generation to another and the inculcation of core moral values from elementary through high school. Such successful integration can be seen in the educational curriculums of Mali and Senegal. Practitioners have learned that if they teach only reading and writing, students are left lacking the necessary skills to contribute toward their own society, which is largely agricultural. Students are impassionate for technology, but must also be taught traditional vocational skills and core values in order to be productive citizens in their own society. Balancing this global outlook toward progress is key to providing students with employable skills that will foster productivity and divert them from the pulls of drugs, alcohol, and abuse. If traditional forms of education—that is community specific—are incorporated into both secular and religious educational systems from within communities, the community can both be utilized and enhanced. One benefit of community and government partnerships in educational institutions, especially at the elementary level, could be its ability to reduce costs and funding by the government. Partnerships also allow the communities, traditional and religious leaders, as well as government to benefit from having financial efficiency, and even more notably, a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. In developing a healthy and effective society, it is important to have the augmentation and resources of the partners in the curriculum of schools. After all, where one’s treasure is, there the heart will be also. Efforts to include parents and adults to assist in the development of useful

syllabi and curriculum, even in populations where they are largely illiterate, will go a long way toward producing citizens who learn that all people have value, even as they gain skills useful to their future. The challenge with secular/western education in isolation of other community factors is that it does not always yield positive results for individuals and community. Indications are that with education comes employment; thus, helping and supporting self, families (especially parents), society, and beyond. However, this is not always the case with the current curriculum. Where parents have agreed to let their children forsake cultural traditional skills, to leave their tools of trade—the hoes, the cutlass, rearing of cows and other domestic animals, etc.— to receive a Western education, in many cases these children have returned home void of any practical skill that could yield work. As a result, parents in some societies are now becoming hesitant to accept the utility of a Western education. After all, what is the point if it leaves one skill-less? Allowing community input of traditional skills and values while also addressing other

impediments to the current education system could result in students gaining quality education on Nigerian soil. Additionally, while education is the key to knowledge and understanding, it is also the stovepipe used for inhibiting social change and sustainable development. Education holds the capacity to preach tolerance, honesty, and respect, but also to advocate exclusivity, hate, and immorality. Failure to prepare and invest in inclusive education could invite extremists to impose their brand of education, one that is absent of the core values of morals and ethics of Islam as well as modesty, honesty, and respect for fundamental human rights. Investing in education requires funding, yes, but also entails the challenge of getting communities to recognize the need to invest in the youth, the future. One way the government could help facilitate this need is to establish policies of rewarding excellence and courage through positive competition in schools and societies. At present the educational system is tied to politics, whereby candidates solicit

Pupils playing during break time in an Islamic school in one of the northern states

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III

young men to campaign for them in return for the promise of work once the politician is elected. Upon election, the politicians often hire the young men, many of whom are illiterate, to work for the government schools as teachers to compensate them. This is taking a severe negative toll on the pupils and societies. Meanwhile, qualified teachers are sidelined, earn little money, receive minimal training, are offered no continuing education, and garner not a pittance of respect. This recipe runs counter to the future of a great nation. Other environment conditions in schools, such as suffocating heat, lack of electricity, the need for students to remain at home to help during the farming seasons, are issues that could be addressed by integration and inclusiveness of the community in the education of its children. The lack of enough chairs, desks, and books within the schools are significant challenges that need to be overcome before suitable functional education can become a reality. Seeking cooperation and dialogue with other communities, states, and nations across cultures and customs, could be a way

forward. With religious sects and scholarship, with the past and modernity, with freedom and respect for religion and tradition, all these will add value to capturing great opportunities for the education of all, especially the girl. This can lead to change from within the systems and cultures. At present, in some cultures girls, and boys are encouraged to attend all available educational classes, while in others, girls are often married off at a young age and thus removed from the classroom. As statistics indicate, girls are naturally adept and highly motivated students in our societies; it then behoves us to address the lack of education for the girls and its hindrance of her ability to grow mentally and physically. Upon his visit to Harvard, the Sultan, too, stressed the need for equality in education for girls and boys. The absence of education continues to affect the girl’s ability to maintain a home, to bear and rear children (in terms of prenatal care and birth control as well as in assisting her children with schoolwork at home). Illiteracy hinders broad knowledge and the cultivation of refinement and curiosity, resulting in patterns of inadequacy and frustration,

beginning from the lowest economic levels and continuing in to other life pursuits. Children possess both breadth of vision and intellectual curiosity, something they can then impart to others. When they gain access to the propagators of knowledge, and understand the teachers of truth, their curiosity is gratified. So the pen, the learning, must at length comply with the tongue, what is lived out in a person’s lifestyle, and literacy should also be a way of living that frees us from ignorance. If we cultivate a life that is a barrier to ignorance, we will live a life of freedom thereby allowing children to grow into full adulthood. The Sultan stated it aptly during his speech at Harvard. This need to eliminate barriers to girls’ education was further addressed by the governor of Niger state, Dr. Mua’azu Babangida Aliyu. In his recent visit, to Harvard University, he spoke on the “New Dynamics of Democratization and Development in Nigeria: Imperatives for Servant Leadership”. He acknowledged the practical and cultural impediments to

girls’ education when he said, “Girls are often needed as an additional hand in the farm and other economic activities thus, and her education is tainted.” He stated further that his government has begun to offer financial farming assistance to parents who allow their girls to take full advantage of the government’s free education policies. Additionally, the state has begun to closely monitor the marrying of girls in an effort to prevent its increase. Another traditional hurdle to cross is the societal perception that the girl is “useless.” The cultural belief that since women are just women, educating a woman is a waste of resources because they are just going to be someone’s wife, bear someone else’s name, and be part of someone else’s family. In some communities’ girls at the tender age of twelve years, girls are married off in the belief that early marriage ensures her chastity and the family honor (so as to avoid pregnancy before marriage). The demands of marriage and home then eliminate any hope of continued schooling. Life for girls in Northern Nigeria does not have to be like this. In any other context, we would rise up to end this abuse of human rights. Addressing problems

and opportunities in a rapidly changing world requires a new paradigm of social policy that transcends identity-politics, race, color, creed, and cultural biases. My hope is that this new paradigm could move us toward a new vision of community. Islamic education for the girl child is a diverse topic, incorporating national identity in its conversation with a long tradition of women’s literacy during the time of the Prophet (may the prayers and peace be upon him); so also the example exhibited by Nana Asma’u, whereby older women with education visit and mentor younger women (Yan Taru)— now a global phenomenon— should be reconsidered and reintroduced in some of our rural societies as first steps toward engaging the current illiterate mother. Such mentoring groups as Yan Taru could serve as supplemental sources of knowledge, in addition to partnerships with communities, religious and traditional institutions. In this global humanitarian effort, for example, Harvard University students could spend a semester or more in communities where their skills and expertise, such as teaching

English and the sciences, are greatly in demand. Such collaboration, could change everyday life and make the greatest difference toward helping, the girl child, women and men, to flourish as individuals, wives, mothers, and contributors to their societies. Despite the ongoing effort to enhance girls’ education, the training, recruitment, and retaining of more female teachers is paramount and should not be compromised, especially within particularly impecunious sectors and rural communities. Of utmost importance is the need for more qualified teachers of either gender. A close second is the need for more female teachers so that parents of young girls will feel secure in sending their daughters to school. Education is the foundation for the improving the lives of women in our communities. Done well, education will give voice to women economically, as well as provide a path to address such issues as family, encourage equal treatment, and eliminate violence against them, from wife beating to the practice of female genital cutting among many other challenges. Rather than looking upon globalization as the destruction of cultures, such as a group in the Northern states advocating Boko Haram(Western education/ globalization is undesirable), why not exploit it for the opportunities that it provides? Boko Halal (Western education/globalization is desirable)! Northern Nigeria could benefit as globalization offers to communicate and disseminate scientific and technological knowledge needed to reduce poverty, inequality, and illiteracy. Globalization also opens the door to enlightenment on the potential and unique contributions that women make in this world. Can we be creative in linking trade and economic progress with a human rights perspective toward women’s rights? Coordinated well with world trade regulations and laws, this effort will reduce poverty, illiteracy, and vulnerability, and also remove many of the threats to instability and peace. Globalization provides an opportunity to establish an international ethos of shared values and principles of social justice. It also provides the economic engine to implement this new ethos. If developing countries increase their world exports by just 5% this will

generate $350 billion—seven times as much as they receive in aid. For Africa, a 1% increase in its share of world exports would generate $70 billion, approximately five times more than all the aid and debt relief granted to the continent. The potential to use this “extreme prosperity” to eradicate Africa’s “extreme poverty” is obvious. There are 1.1 billion people in the world who struggle to live on less than $1 a day. This rising tide of wealth generated by trade has the potential to float or swamp many boats. If it swamps more boats than it lifts, who knows whether those without hope will surrender to despair and become the next terrorists or suicide bombers? Used wisely, this new wealth will help lift the country out of economic frustration and poverty rather than filling the pockets of the corrupt and widening the gap between economic classes. In situating education in the nexus of religion, we must acknowledge the inclusivity of knowledge that is not without tradition, culture, and science. The construction and deconstruction of discourse serves to construct norms and biases that are worthy of inclusion when thinking of new forms of education as it allows communities and spaces to speak volumes; and in their own creative ways. The act of balancing the interests of all will imbibe hospitable hope for new knowledge. Hearing and including the “minorities that resist totalization,” will allow us to work within our communities and hopefully build bridges with those outside. The purpose here is not to change tradition but rather the creation of an educational environment where communities of religion and culture can coexist. The Sultan as the President General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, the President General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam and Co-Chairman of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, and the Chairman of Northern Nigerian House of Emirs and Chiefs is at the height of this threshold, who since becoming the Sultan has steered the ship into more fruitful waters in this regard and all hands are on deck to push for greater educational improvements as we take this long voyage with Him, the state, local governments, organizations and individuals for the benefit of generations yet unborn. Hauwa Ibrahim is at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusets, United States of America.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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ISSUES “Kano is burning” and the making of a new Inspector General of Police MD Abubakar By Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande

ince the appointment of MD Abubakar as the Acting Inspector General of police, two issues regarding his suitability for the job have cropped up. One is the issue of competence, and the second is whether given his so called indictment by a commission of inquiry set up by the Plateau State government in 2001, the new Acting IGP will be fair to all in the discharge of his duties. Gladly, most of those that bother to touch on the issue of professional competence expressed no fear about his capability but have even gone ahead give testimony about Abubakar’s acumen in dealing with crime and his expertise in “operations” which basically is at the heart of the police force. An officer per excellence, MD Abubakar has given a good account of himself whenever or wherever he was called upon to serve. It is on record that in all the places he served including Plateau state, he brought the crime rate to zero as his mantra was that all criminals would have no hiding place with him as Commissioner. It is on record that he gave a good account of himself while at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport where he was known as a no nonsense officer who is not given to gratifications and became the scourge of drug traffickers who had before his coming, turned Nigeria to the hub of trade in hard drugs. The only area where the Plateau State Government and his hatchet backers have expressed fear, remains the so called indictment by the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Plateau State Government which recommended that he should retire on account of what it perceived as the role Abubakar played while serving as Commissioner of Police during the 2001 Jos crisis. But it wouldn’t surprise anyone that some persons would latch onto the Report as their only basis for indicting the officer because in actual fact, that was indeed part of the reasons the Commission of Inquiry was set up, to indict certain persons whose presence in the state, it is perceived by the state government as not serving its parochial interest. The continuous reference to that clause only buttress this fact, that there exists no other platform to pin any charge on the officer other than the one set up to formalize a predetermined course of action as MD Abubakar has served in

several other places with different religious background from his and has never been accused of anything similar or akin to that. For a Commission of Inquiry that was inaugurated on the 18 th of October 2001 shortly after the 2001 Jos crisis and which concluded sitting in May 2002, no White Paper was issued on its recommendations even by the same government which set it up. It was not until 2009, following allegations both locally and internationally of sponsoring the 2008 Jos crisis, in which about 800 Muslims were killed that the present Governor of Plateau state, Jonah Jang, quickly issued a White Paper on the Report as way of exonerating himself from the allegations, by showing that his predecessors have also accused the same persons, he was then accusing of being the sponsors of the crisis. That was before he set up the Prince Bola Ajibola Commission of Inquiry to absolve him of any complicity in the crisis and which in its final report submitted to the state government also did a wonderful job of exonerating the Governor. To the discerning, two things may have been responsible for the reluctance on the part of the preceding government not to issue a white paper on the recommendation. The first is that the initial anger, which justified roping up all the people on the other side, which the then governor, Chief Joshua Dariye openly called “settlers” and asked them to leave, must have died down, as every anger inspired by emotion normally does and the urge to punish people based on mere sentiment must have plummeted. Secondly, it could be because the government itself does not believe in the recommendation of the commission, which must have overreached itself in the process of trying to please it, hence kept the document in the drawer.

MD Abubakar, acting Inspector General of Police

Thirdly, the Niki Tobi Report owing to its long stay has lost contemporary relevance and is in fact subjudice before the law courts. Otherwise how could one explain why a matter like that would be left hanging for seven years, outliving two administrations and had to take a crisis that evoked similar sentiments for a third successive administration, which hatred for a particular ethnic group in the state has remained open to issue a White Paper on it. But looking at the so called indictment itself what does one make of it? It says MD Abubakar as Commissioner of Police during the crisis, did not prevent the

burning of places of worship during the 2001 crisis. It also said that some officers of the force were transferred before Jos erupted in crisis. But Abubakar had given sufficient answers to all these issues when he told the Commission that security men were posted to all worship centers, meaning like we all know that their failure to prevent a breakdown of law and order cannot be linked to him. On the posting of Police Officers, he explained that they were routine practices in the force. Since Abubakar left, other Police Commissioners like Samson Wuda and Greg Ayatin, both Christians serving at various times of

“

Abubakar has been called to do is purely a professional one and has never been found wanting in that regard. The bid by some people to mar his professional image is merely a reflection of their antagonism and bigotry for certain kinds of people in this country, no matter their abilities, and this should not be condoned.

crises in the state, have experienced the burning of Mosques and churches under them, and the Plateau Sate Government did not accuse them and this is inspite of the nefarious roles each of them played. For example, Mr. Greg Ayatin in a press conference stated that “Muslim youths attacked a Catholic church” which turned out to be false while Samson Wudah implemented a shoot at sight order from the Governor killing 800 Hausa persons over the Jos North Local Government election in 2008. Since Abubakar left Plateau state, no commissioner has been able to match his record in terms of operations and administrative skills as he was the one that gave the Plateau state police command a befitting office, and equipped it with modern facilities and gadgets that are today being used by successive police commissioners in the state. He it was who introduced the weekly briefing by the force to keep the populace abreast with what the force is doing or must have done to ensure it bring down the rate of crime in the state - a tradition that has been copied by successive administrations in the state, but has never matched his own in terms of efficiency. At a time when we should all rally to support President Goodluck Jonathan given the tense security challenges the country is facing, it is an anathema for the Plateau State Government to start this campaign of calumny capable of distracting and derailing the good intentions of Mr. President in this regard. Otherwise how do you justify the likes of Hon. Bitrus Kaze and other officials of Plateau State Government including unfortunately the Christian Association of Nigeria in the FCT and Kaduna states disparaging the decision of the President in matters of state policy and National Security. In conclusion, it is obvious that the job that Abubakar has been called to do is purely a professional one and has never been found wanting in that regard. The bid by some people to mar his professional image is merely a reflection of their antagonism and bigotry for certain kinds of people in this country, no matter their abilities, and this should not be condoned. Ibrahim Dasuki Nakande is a former Minister of Information & Communications writes from Jos, Plateau state.

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Niger Assembly c’ttee commends Niger NUT over strike plans

he Niger House of Assembly’s Committee on Labour and Productivity has commended the maturity and peaceful steps taken by officials of the state’s Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT). The chairman of the committee, Mr Isa Kawu, commended officials of the union for informing the committee on its plans to embark on strike. The strike had been called over the state government’s failure to honour an earlier agreement on infrastructure in public schools and the minimum wage for teaching staff. Mr Kawu told the union officials that the state could not afford another round of strike after the recent nationwide strike “with its attendant effect on the socio-economic life of the state”. He appealed to the officials to suspend the strike to allow the House to prevail on the appropriate authorities to take the necessary steps resolve the issue. Earlier, the state chairman of the NUT, Malam Adamu Tanko, said the state government had failed to implement the agreement reach between it and the union earlier. “This agreement is especially the one on the deteriorating infrastructure in public schools and the implementation of the new minimum wage,” he said. The chairman then expressed his union’s appreciation of the timely intervention of the committee. He added that the teachers had decided to extend the strike’s commencement date by a week so as to give the committee ample time to consult with other stakeholders.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

From Lawal Olanrewaju, Ilorin

n his administration’s effort to ease the burden of school fees payment on parents, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has approved the abolition of all fees and levies at senior secondary schools across the state. Governor Ahmed said the policy is part of effort to cushion the effect of the recent increase in the pump price of petrol. Aside that, he said senior secondary school students were to receive 10 notebooks per session from the state

government for free. This development which is contained in a statement issued yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muideen Akorede, Ahmed said the measure was to assist the people of the state in view of the recent increase in the fuel price

starting with the education sector. He said the government had also finalised arrangement to release the details of welfare packages in other sectors. “With this development, primary and post-primary education is now free in Kwara State with immediate effect”.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) chapter, during the last fuel subsidy protests in Lagos.

The Kwara governor added that, “In addition, senior secondary school students are to receive ten free notebooks per session courtesy of the state government.” At the tertiary education level, Governor Ahmed approved a N50,000 reduction in fees for indigenes at the stateowned Kwara State University (KWASU) with effect from next session. He said qualifying students would now pay N99, 500 while students of the state university were also to benefit from a new mass transit system under which government would allocate two new buses each on routes to the university as well to University of Ilorin and the Kwara State Polytechnic. Ahmed said the first set of palliatives was targeted at youths due to the fact that they constitute the largest segment of the state population and based on his administration’s emphasis on youth empowerment. He said additional measures targeted at the larger population would be rolled out once the modalities were concluded. He also reiterated the desire of his administration to map out programmes and policies aimed at making life comfortable for all residents of the state irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation.

Why we established school for the gifted, Gov Lamido

igawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido has said the state government established the “Gifted and Talented school” in Bamaina to extend quality education to all categories of learners. The governor who spoke in Bamaina town in Birnin Kudu

Ex-ASUP chairman in Auchi Poly blames crisis on Governing Council he former Chairman of Auchi Polytechnic chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Mr Friday Idugie, has blamed the institution’s Governing Council for the crisis in the institution. Mr Idugie, a Fine Art lecturer, alleged that the former council lied to the Ministry of Education about the facts of the pending cases in the polytechnic. He, therefore, said that the action of the council led to the termination of his appointment and that of another chief lecturer at the Polytechnic, Mr Thomas Osazuwa, a former Dean, and School of Business Studies. The former ASUP chairman accused the authorities of the institution of intimidation of staff members. He explained that their offences were that they reported

Kwara governor abolishes school fees

threat to their lives to the office of the Assistant-Inspector General of Police, Zone 5 in Benin, without getting clearance from the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Phillpa Idogho. Idugie also alleged that the rector falsified her records of appointment to evade retirement so as to seek a second term in office. Reacting to the allegations, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Mustapha Oshiobugie, denied all the allegations. Mr Oshiobugie said that investigating agencies had visited the institution severally and had found no truth in the allegations. He said that the Rector did not manipulate her records to evade retirement as her appointment into the service of the polytechnic was confirmed in 1984.

Local Govrnment Area while inaugurating the school, said that in 2007, his administration improved the facilities of the special education school for the deaf in Hadejia and the school of the mentally retarded in Kazaure. He said the two schools would soon be converted to boarding institutions. “Experts had said that five to 10 per cent of any given population is gifted, and the learning needs of this category of learners are not adequately provided. “As a result, some of the gifted

or those who have the potentials for giftedness often go unrecognised. “ It is also for this reason that we established the gifted and talented school in the state to cater for the needs of this category.” Lamido explained that a white paper on the National Policy on Education in 1977 had endorsed for the establishment of five pilot schools for the gifted and talented across the country. He said that culminated to the establishment of the Suleja Academy in 1990 and thereafter a similar one was established in

Gwagwalada in the FCT. Alhaji Lamido said the establishment of the school in Jigawa could be justified in view of the limited vacancies in the only existing gifted and talented institutions in the country. The governor stated that some of the objectives of the gifted school would include to facilitate the development of morality, sound and educated citizens. According to him, it is also to nurture pupils and students to be fully-conscious of their history and the full zeal to contribute to the development of their community.

Yakowa inaugurates KASU Governing Council

overnor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State has inaugurated the Governing Council of the state university. The council members are: the Pro-Chancellor, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Qurix. It had as members Dr Lydia Umar, Prof. Abubakar Abdulrashid, Dr Chris Abashiya and Alhaji. Shuaibu Mikati. Governor Yakowa charged them to strive hard toward sustaining the status of being one of the best state universities in the country.

He urged them to work toward ensuring that academic session in the Kafanchan campus of the university commences this year. The governor said the inauguration preceded the expiration of the tenure of the former Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ezzeldin Abdurahman, who had been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Bauchi State University. Speaking, the new ProChancellor of the institution, Prof Ladan, assured the State Government of the council’s commitment toward discharging

their duties effectively to improve education in the country. “Our task is to consolidate the gains of the university and the implementation of policies of the university,” Ladan said. Prof Ladan pledged that the council would ensure that the institution continues to attain greater height as a tertiary institution. The new vice chancellor, Qurix, a professor of architecture from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, was the immediate past Commissioner for Works and Transport in the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

For the better part of last week, representatives of the Federal government and those of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) held marathon meetings to enable them jaw-jaw on ways of resolving their differences. Regrettably, the meetings, like previous ones, failed to yield meaningful results as public university campuses remain closed. Our education correspondent, Abdullahi Yunusa who has been keeping tabs on the protracted feud, writes on factors frustrating the peace talks.

PAGE 27

ASUU/FG: Too many negotiations without results

radually, due to the frequency of its occurrence, many are beginning to see strike actions by workers union in the nation’s Ivory Towers as what forms part of academic activities. This trend which gained prominence in the late 1980s has dealt severe blows on tertiary education in Nigeria. Some analysts in the education sector have at different times blamed the declining state of tertiary education in Nigeria on the frequency of strike actions arising from unresolved industrial disputes. In the last two decades, there is hardly a year that goes without undergraduates in public universities having their academic activities disrupted over differences arising from industrial disharmony between their lecturers and government. Undoubtedly, such developments accounts for why most academic calendars of universities differ thereby making it difficult for admission seekers to really decide on the University of their choice when completing the Unified Tertiary Admissions Examination (UTME). The adverse effect of strike actions on university education in the country has been very alarming. This protracted industrial dispute between the Federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to many, has done more harm than good to the nation’s university system. The genesis of the current impasse dates back to 2009 when the union, under its former President, Dr Sule Kano leading the ASUU team to jawjaw with the FG team led by Mr Gamaliel Onosode on ways of tackling myriad of challenges facing in the nation’s university system. Each time university lecturers down tools a question often neglected by many, especially stakeholders in the education sector and other concerned Nigerians is who suffers? Disagreements between university lecturers and either the Federal or state governments have in recent times become a recurring decimal. This

Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i unhealthy trend has in no small measure further compounded the myriad of problems facing the nation’s education system. The recent passage of a bill extending the retirement age of professors to 70 years by the Senate is one out of the demands presented by ASUU. Already, the body has hailed the action. Also, stakeholders in the education sector have advised President Goodluck Jonathan to as matter of urgency build on the positive step by giving his assent to the new retirement age bill and immediately implementing other aspects of the pact. They also argued that genuine autonomy will also give each of the universities independence required. But to the lecturers, that is just one out of their many demands. Briefing newsmen at the end of one of the meetings held last week, ASUU president, Prof Ukachwuku Awuzie said much progress has been made in the talks, but maintained that strike continues. He said “we have looked at the issue. We have indeed achieved much progress in our discussion, we’ll continue negotiation tomorrow (last week). So, for now the strike is still on”. “There is nothing personal about this issue. We are all patriotic Nigerians who are bothered about the rot in the nation’s tertiary education system. Education is very vital in our quest to become one of the 20 best developed economics”. On her part, Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufai admitted that negotiation has reached advanced stage and expressed hope that the issue would be resolved amicably.

ASUU President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie

“As you can see, negotiation has reached advanced stage. We are hopeful that at the end of tomorrow’s meeting we shall all smile”. Reacting to a report credited to her that the strike action was due to be called off yesterday, said she was quoted wrongly. “I never promised that the strike would be called off this week. Am I a member of ASUU leadership? So, I couldn’t have said that in the first place. I only said its our hope will be called off soon”. The Senate Committee on Education its part has also been making inputs on ways of resolving the impasse. Recently, the committee, under the leadership of Uche Chukwumerije, expressed worries on why government is foot-dragging on the implementation of the agreement reached with ASUU in 2009. He said, “I wonder why it is taking the Federal Government almost three years to implement the agreement reached with the academic staff and even settles all the contentious issues. “This is December, 2011 and in few weeks time, we will be in 2012. It took a judgment by the Supreme Court before the matter on the illegal sack of University of Ilorin teachers could be implemented; do you also want us to wait for another four years on this?” Senator Chukwumerije who was not happy with the excuses offered by the Minister of Education said, “You keep saying processes and processes. These processes are they made in the moon or Jupiter or where else. Are you not the people that created

these processes? Or is it that you are waiting for another court action before you implement an agreement both parties willingly singed almost three years ago? Why can’t these processes be speed up to safe us another agony of going on strike?”. Specifically, the union is demanding progressive increase in annual budgetary allocation to education to 26 per cent between 2009 and 2020, transfer of the Federal Government’s landed property to universities, setting up Research and Development units by companies operating in Nigeria, teaching and research equipment, payment of earned allowances and amendment of the pension/retirement age of academics on the professorial cadre from 65 to 70 years. Notwithstanding the justification for their demands, the frequent resort to strikes by ASUU, regardless of the limited use of this weapon in other climes, depicts the academics as having no qualms about bringing the system to its knees, despite the far-reaching effect of this on their hapless students and on the quality of education. Stakeholders in the education sector are of the views that agreements are meant to be faithfully implemented, not only for the sake of saving the system from avoidable collapse, but also in restoring mutual trust between parties. It is improper to sign a document that cannot be implemented. The key to a stable university system is flexibility. Both the union and the government should find a common ground and work towards saving the sector. Government, in this knowledge-

driven world, needs to be totally committed to revamping the university system and putting in place a permanent mechanism for fruitful interaction with the academics. In one of the meetings held last week, both parties left the venue of the meeting saying that much progress has been made in the negotiation, stressing that ASUU needed to report back to members of its National Executive Council (NEC) before the strike would be called off. In a chat with newsmen at the end of the meeting in Abuja, ASUU President, Prof Ukachwuku Awuzie, said though negotiations have reached advanced stage, noted that body still needs to report back to its National Executive Committee (NEC) to weigh offers made by the federal government, but insisted that the strike still continues. Prof Awuzie said “I and other members of the team representing ASUU have listened to them, we will report back to our principal. They have done their best within what they think they can offer. We are assuring all that we are going to meet with our principal soonest after which our position will be made public”. In a separate interview, Minister of Education, Prof Ruquayyatu Rufai expressed hope that the strike would be called off soon, adding that government has made good offers to ASUU. “As you heard from the ASUU President, we have discussed extensively in the last one week. Government presented good offers to the union, hopefull, after their NEC meeting the strike will be called off”. Asked on when the strike would be called off she said, “Let’s wait for the ASUU team to have its NEC meeting first after which we will know the next line of action. We are hopeful that the strike will be called off very soon”. On the fate of undergraduates in public universities who have stayed away from their various schools and what government wants them to do? she said “they should pray for us. We are trying our best, it’s our hope that the entire problem will end pretty soon”. Many are worried about the continued closure of public universities in the country. The feud between both parties has tarried for too long. From every point of view, it appears the ASUU leadership is not ready to shift its grounds this time around owing to previous experiences. Arising from its last meeting, the ASUU leadership said it should be given time to report back to its NEC after which the union’s position will be made public. The question on the lips of many is for how long will university undergraduates continue to wait for the issue to be resolved? Only time, as they say will tell.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

here is no gainsaying the fact that food and drugs are relevant to the growth and sustenance of human life. The observation notwithstanding, the importance of having genuine, wholesome products fit for human consumption can never be overemphasized. Dr Paul Orhii, the DirectorGeneral of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), says that NAFDAC’s mission is hinged on the premise and adds that the agency has done a lot to protect Nigerians from consuming unwholesome products. Orhii says due to the fact that diseases can disrupt the ability of body organs to function properly, genuine and unadulterated drugs are required to adjust and restore the functions of the body organs. He particularly notes that counterfeit drugs can destroy the immune system of human beings and expose the victims to diverse preventable diseases. Concerned citizens say that drug counterfeiting has become a serious source of worry in Nigeria because it has negatively affected the country’s health care delivery, adding that the collective efforts of all Nigerians are required to tackle the menace frontally. Some observers believe that most of the preventable deaths in the country can be attributed to the ingestion of fake drugs. Dr Omede Idris, the President of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), describes counterfeit drugs as a menace to the medical practice. “The integrity of doctors is now being questioned due to persistent illnesses, which prescribed drugs have failed to address,’’ he says, adding: “The fight against fake and sub-standard drugs is one that all medical professionals should be actively involved in.’’ However, the crusade against drug counterfeiting is led by NAFDAC, which was established via Decree No. 15 of 1993 to eradicate the production, sales and consumption of counterfeit medicines and unwholesome food. Orhii stresses the determination of NAFDAC to stamp out the circulation of fake drugs, unwholesome foods and other substandard products in Nigeria. He, nonetheless, says that one of the landmark achievements of NAFDAC in recent times was its interception of some counterfeit drugs and substandard products, traceable to some Indian importers in the country. “We made an official report to our counterpart agency in India and the culprits were arrested,’’ he says. Besides, Orhii recalls that in March 2011, NAFDAC tracked down some smugglers of fake and harmful regulated products worth N192.5 million through its surveillance of the country’s land borders,. “The agency intercepted a trailer-load of fake pharmaceutical products made with potassium bromated, valued at N192.5 million, at Seme border. “Besides, we intercepted another truck loaded with 466

PAGE 29

NAFDAC and its campaign against drug counterfeiting

From Right: Senators Babayo Gamawa, Gyang Dalyop Dantong, Chris Ngige, Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa and NAFDAC's Director of Establishment Inspection, Mrs. Hauwa Keri, during the visit of the Senate Committee on Health to the agency, recently. cartons of counterfeit pharmaceutical products worth over N300 million. “Along the Badagry-Seme border, five trucks, loaded with assorted regulated products valued at about N500 million, were also impounded during our surveillance activities,’’ he says. Commenting on the machinations of drug counterfeiters, Mr Ben Kine, Director of the NAFDAC Zonal Office in Onitsha, says that the agency in August 2011 confiscated 450 cartons of relabeled expired drugs worth over N30 million in Onitsha. Kine says that the re-labeled expired drugs include Cypron, CeneXcream and Beytucem; adding that the consignments were discovered through the intelligence gathering efforts of NAFDAC officials. He says that the prime suspect later confessed that he bought 900 cartons of the three products and that he had sold several cartons before his arrest. In a nutshell, Orhii says that the ingestion of fake and adulterated drugs has claimed many lives in Nigeria, regardless of the victims’ social, ethnic and religious background. He asserts that the fake drugs often mutate and compound the people’s health problems across the country. Drug counterfeiting has been a major challenge across the country but some areas are particularly notorious for drug faking. Aba, a major city in Abia State, is one of the areas where the sales and circulation of fake drugs is found to be endemic. Consequently, NAFDAC has been very active in the Aba neighborhood. The agency confiscated and destroyed fake drugs and other items such as food products, cosmetics, medical devices and chemicals in Aba between 2009 and 2011.

Mr Festus Anumba, the Head of the Aba Special Zone of NAFDAC, says that various unregistered products were seized during the period, adding that the products had to be subjected to scientific scrutiny to ascertain their quality and safety. He recalls that some of the items were seized in November 2011 during routine surveillance, investigation, raids and inspections of shops, warehouses and factories in Aba markets. NAFDAC says that it has been able to reduce drug counterfeiting appreciably, attributing its achievements to routine surveillance and investigation activities. The NAFDAC D-G says that the agency has acquired the TruScan equipment to carry out on-thespot-testing of drugs in drug markets, pharmacies and patent medicine shops. Orhii says that the device has the capability of instantly detecting the genuineness of a drug. “When I assumed office, I pledged to enhance NAFDAC’s regulatory activities to international standards. In pursuit of the goal, we sought cutting-edge technologies that could be used as veritable tools in our fight against drug counterfeiting. “This led to the acquisition of the TruScan equipment,” he adds. Orhii stresses that the equipment was used in a national survey that was conducted to carry out on-the-spot assessment of drug qualities in major cities across the country. “There is no longer a hiding place for counterfeiters of regulated drugs and food substances in our country, as NAFDAC has introduced series of cutting-edge technology to verify the quality of drugs and food substances,’’ he says.

Orhii says that NAFDAC’s is now using a three-pronged approach in its campaign against fake drugs. NAFDAC has adopted the use of GSM text messages to verify the authenticity of drugs, while launching the radio frequency identification scheme and acquiring the hand-held TruScan device to carry out on-the-spot assessment of drugs. Orhii says that as part of the innovation, NAFDAC has acquired mini laboratories and an infrared device to complement existing drug-assessment gadgets. He particularly notes that NAFDAC has empowered the citizens to track the origin of the drugs or food substances they are buying with the aid of their mobile phones. He stresses that NAFDAC has directed manufacturers of antimalaria drugs to start the mobile authentication of their products. “We also require that by 2012, all essential medicines must be verifiable via SMS so as to safeguard the health of Nigerians,’’ he says, adding that the mobile authentication system was introduced in collaboration with an indigenous pharmaceutical company. He expatiates that the system involves the use of a scratch-card attached to a drug’s package to enable consumers to text short messages on MTN, Glo and Zain networks, adding that the inquiring consumer will receive an instant response on the genuineness of product or otherwise. On the TruScan device, Orhii says that it is a portable gadget that could distinguish between genuine and counterfeit medicines within a few seconds or minutes, depending on the nature of the substance under investigation. The NAFDAC boss recalls that the device was first used by

NAFDAC officials in January 2011 during the interception of a consignment of goods suspected to be fake drugs at the NAHCO shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. Re-echoing Orhii’s viewpoint, Mrs Comfort Makanjuola, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director (Ports Inspection Directorate), says that the application of TruScan device has been very helpful in identifying fake or expired drugs, which are capable of endangering the lives of unsuspecting consumers. She says that the TruScan device has a facility that can instantly recognise about 70 per cent of 18 counterfeit drugs. Makanjuola recalls that the device was also used in Kebbi State in November 2011 to identify counterfeit and banned drugs worth N2 million. To tackle the faking of drugs and other regulated products, NAFDAC has evolved a multidimensional approach, some of which include the strengthening of international and local collaborations. Orhii stresses the need for NAFDAC to collaborate with other stakeholders in the war against drug counterfeiting; adding that the agency has been cooperating with other government agencies in the campaign. “In furtherance of the interagency co-operation, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) handed over us a suspect who was intercepted at Seme border post with a large consignment of Lonart DS tablets. “Besides, the Nigerian Customs Service has been partnering with NAFDAC by sending the manifests of regulated products for our scrutiny before the release of consignments,” he adds. Orhii also says NAFDAC is now involving the youth in the campaign against fake drugs and products. The NAFDAC boss says that the agency has involved youths in the fight against fake drugs and products, stressing that the youths’ input entails information gathering and disclosure of information about sources and producers of counterfeit drugs. On the challenges facing NAFDAC, Orhii laments that Nigeria has been very lenient with perpetrators of drug counterfeiting, arguing that some countries such as China have zerotolerance for drug faking as the offence attracts stiffer penalties, including death sentences. He says that NAFDAC is pushing for a legislation that will prescribe life sentences and assets’ confiscation for convicted drug counterfeiters, expressing hope that the National Assembly will soon pass the bill. “The Indian parliament has made a law, making drug counterfeiting a criminal offence Contd. on page 30

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Fried breakfasts aren’t bad for the heart as long as you use sunflower or olive oil

B oil.

reakfast may be healthier than you think providing it’s fried in olive or sunflower

Scientists claim a fry-up doesn’t increase the risk of heart disease or early death, depending on the type of oil used. They found olive oil and sunflower oil are healthy options whether the food is fried at home or eaten out. A new study appears to expose as a myth the long-held notion that frying food is bad for the heart, with cooking methods such as grilling being a much healthier option. Researchers from the Autonomous University of Madrid investigated whether there was a link between heart disease and the oils mainly used for frying in the Mediterranean. A team drawn from research centers, universities and hospitals in Spain analyzed data from almost 41,000 adults aged 29 to 69 who did not have heart disease at the start of the study in the 1990s. They were divided into four groups according to how much they ate foods fried in olive oil or sunflower oil, from the lowest to highest amounts. People were asked about food consumed in a typical week during the previous 12 months, with foods consumed at least twice

a month recorded. Fried foods included those that were deep fried or pan fried and could be battered, crumbed or sautéed. During an 11-year follow-up, there were just over 600 ‘coronary heart disease events’ such as heart attacks and just over 1,100 people died from any cause. Analysis showed no differences between the four groups of people in the risk of heart disease or dying. The results did not vary between those who used olive oil for frying and those who used sunflower oil. The experts, writing online in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), said frying is one of the most commonly used methods of cooking. They said ‘In a Mediterranean country where olive and sunflower oils are the most commonly used fats for frying, and where large amounts of fried foods are consumed both at and away from home, no association was observed between fried food consumption and the risk of coronary heart disease or death.’ When food is fried, its nutritional content changes, food loses water and takes up fat, increasing its calorie count. They said that while eating lots of fried food can increase some

heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity, a link between fried food and heart disease had not previously been fully investigated. But they warned that ‘frying with other types of fat may still be harmful’. They also said that olive oil is less prone to oxidation producing damaging chemicals when

heated or exposed to air than other oils, and that ‘overly reused fats’ may be harmful. In an accompanying editorial, Professor Michael Leitzmann, from the University of Regensburg in Germany, said ‘Taken together, the myth that frying food is generally bad for the heart is not supported by available evidence. “However, this does not mean

that frequent meals of fish and chips will have no health consequences. The study suggests that specific aspects of frying food are relevant, such as the oil used, together with other aspects of the diet.’ Victoria Taylor, Senior Heart Health Dietitian at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said ‘Before we all reach for the frying pan it’s important to remember that this was a study of a Mediterranean diet, rather than British fish and chips. ‘Our diet in the UK will differ from Spain, so we cannot say that this result would be the same for us too. ‘Participants in this study used unsaturated fats such as olive and sunflower oil to fry their food. We currently recommend swapping saturated fats like butter, lard or palm oil for unsaturated fats as a way of keeping your cholesterol down and this study gives further cause to make that switch. ‘Regardless of the cooking methods used, consuming foods with high fat content means a high calorie intake. This can lead to weight gain and obesity, which is a risk factor for heart disease. A well-balanced diet, with plenty of fruit and vegetable and only a small amount of high fat foods, is best for a healthy heart.” Source: WebMD

Pacemaker under your tongue that stops you snoring

pacemaker-style device implanted underneath the tongue may be a way to tackle snoring. New research shows that the implant, which stimulates the nerve that controls the muscles of the tongue, can reduce the severity of sleep apnoea, a major cause of snoring. The device is programmed to work only when the patient is asleep; or it can be turned on and off as needed through a remote control. An estimated 60 per cent of all

snorers are ‘tongue-snorers’, which means that the tongue and soft tissue around the throat falls into the back of the airway, causing the tissue to vibrate as air flows past it. In severe cases, this can result in obstructive sleep apnoea a condition that affects up to four in 100 adult men and two in 100 women. Here the tongue and other soft tissue in the throat actually block the throat and cut off oxygen. The brain then triggers the snorer to breathe again.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a risk factor for a number of conditions, including heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, daytime fatigue and weight gain. One of the most successful treatments for the condition is a continuous positive airway pressure mask or CPAP, where mildly increased air pressure keeps the airways open during sleep. However, many people dislike wearing the mask, with some estimates suggesting that only

half of sufferers with a CPAP device regularly use it. The new implant, called the Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation System, works on the muscles of the tongue, causing them to contract at once. This not only pulls the tongue forward, but these muscles also control the soft tissue in the walls of the airway, so it pulls open the airway, too. The treatment involves implanting a small electrode next to the hypoglossal nerve, which sits underneath the tongue.

NAFDAC and its campaign against drug counterfeiting Contd. from page 29 that is punishable by life imprisonment and confiscation of assets. “They also instituted a reward system for anybody who gives information that leads to the seizure of fake made-in-India products. “So, we felt embarrassed that Nigerians, who are at the receiving end, are the most lenient when it comes to punishing offenders. “When offenders are arrested, prosecuted and convicted; the maximum jail term is 15 years, while a laughable fine of N500, 000 is imposed,” he says. Orhii bemoans a situation where convicted drug

counterfeiters are left off the hook with minimal penalties, adding that it does not aid the fulfillment of NAFDACA’s crusade against drug counterfeiting, which has killed many Nigerians. He calls for a complete overhaul of NAFDAC laws to enable them to serve as a deterrent to offenders, adding that light jail terms tacitly encourage the activities of fake drugs’ merchants. “I have also discovered that it is easier for people to transact fake drugs business unlike narcotics, which is a very difficult terrain. That is why NAFDAC will not rest on its oars until the war against fake drugs is won in the country,” Orhii says. All the same, observers note that the current participatory

nature of the crusade against fake drugs has somewhat heightened the chances of winning the war. Mt Charles Obi, a pharmacist, says that every Nigeria has now realized that he or she has some roles to play in the war against drug trafficking, adding that the emerging awareness is a plus for the campaign. “However, what is essential now is for NAFDAC to step up its public awareness campaigns, particularly though the media,’’ he says, adding: “Tangible efforts should be made to engender and sustain the citizens’ participation in the campaign via mass mobilization schemes.’’ This is because observers such as Mr. Emmanuel Luka, a businessman, insist the impact of NAFDAC’s activities is

somewhat insignificant in the rural areas. “For instance, the SMS verification method of detecting fake drugs will be of little benefit to the rural dwellers because majority of them cannot even afford a mobile phone, while others cannot read,’’ he says Luka, therefore, urges NAFDAC to adopt alternative media strategies to reach out to the vast segment of the country’s population living in the rural areas. “Through such efforts, NAFDAC’s anti-drug counterfeiting campaign will be more all-encompassing, while many areas our country will be freed from the menace of fake drugs,’’ he says. NAN Features

A pacemaker-size generator is also implanted in a surgically created pocket in the chest and connected to the electrode in the tongue via wires tunnelled under the skin. Tiny sensor wires are tunnelled from the generator into the windpipe, where they monitor breathing by detecting changes in air pressure in the throat. If a prolonged drop in pressure is detected, this signals that the airway may be blocked, and the electrode shocks the tongue muscles, pulling it clear of the airway and allowing the patient to breathe properly again. Research at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Australia, shows that the therapy can be highly effective. The trial involved 21 patients aged 43 to 63 with moderate to severe sleep apnoea, who were assessed for six months after having the device implanted. To assess its effectiveness, doctors adopted the widely used apnoea-hypopnea index, which assesses severity of symptoms. Results show that severity levels dropped from a score of 43 to 19.5. Daytime sleepiness rates also dropped by one-third and quality of life increased by 50 percent. Another trial of 30 patients published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine this month shows the device helped maintain constant air flow during the night. Source: WebMD

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Are Europe’s Muslims America’s problem? ANALYSIS

s the presidential campaign begins in earnest, Republican contenders are stirring up racial animosities: Newt Gingrich calls President Obama a "foodstamp president", and demands a federal law to preempt sharia; Santorum makes derogatory remarks about "blah" people and welfare, and warns of "Eurabia"; Mitt Romney declares that he will not have Muslims in his cabinet and that Obama is trying to turn the US into a "European-style entitlement society"; Gingrich agrees, but then attacks Romney for speaking French. Scapegoating and race-baiting during a US electoral season are not new; as the campaign heats up, so will the rhetoric. The irony is that the negative rhetoric surrounding race, Islam and Europe is rising - just as the State Department is trying to counter the "nativist surge" in Europe by showcasing the US model of racial integration, and dispatching AfricanAmerican and Muslim-American goodwill ambassadors to Europe to extol the civil rights movement. For several years now, the State Department has been quietly trying to introduce its ideas around race, multiculturalism and affirmative action into European policy and activist circles, aiming to alter the discourse on Islam in Europe - and in some cases, actively trying to help "integrate" European Muslims. The WikiLeaks cables that probably stirred the most anger in European capitals were those where US diplomats castigated allies - France, Britain, Holland - for mistreating their Muslim minorities, and not doing enough to battle domestic extremism. n August 2006, a year after the bombings in London, the US embassy there sent a cable to Washington stating that "little progress" had been made in combating extremism, warning of rising tensions between the Muslim community and Her Majesty's government ("HMG"). The US embassy in London then established a project of "Reverse Radicalism" focusing on "at risk" youth. The London cables also describe the US embassy's efforts to reach "moderate" Muslim communities that "lack the institutional infrastructure to actively mobilise against radicalising influences". Many among the British press were unhappy with the US embassy's "secret campaign" to deradicalise British Muslims, and especially with the embassy's outreach to mosques considered "radical", such as the Finsbury Park mosque in North London. US embassy officials and British public opinion don't appear to agree on what constitutes a "moderate" Muslim. But it is, perhaps not surprisingly, in France that the State Department's assessments and outreach to Muslim communities have triggered the most outrage. The dispatches from the US embassy in Paris are blunt in their appraisal - "the French have a well-known problem with discrimination against minorities". Some cables read like descriptions of a pre-civil rights United States: "The French media remains overwhelmingly white... Among

French elite educational institutions, we are only aware that Science Po has taken serious steps to integrate." The thrust of the correspondence from the Paris embassy argues that the French approach to assimilation has not worked, because, of an "official blindness to all racial and ethnic differences". And the fear is not only that young French Muslims will gravitate towards extremism - "the USG [United States government] takes seriously the potentially global threat of disenfranchised and disadvantaged minorities in France" - but that ethnic and racial conflict would weaken France. "We believe that if France, over the long term, does not succeed in improving prospects for its minorities and give them true political representation, it could become weaker, more divided and perhaps inclined toward crises... and a less effective ally as a result." The US embassy staff acknowledge France's reluctance to accept the US model of integration or to "partner" with the embassy, but the cables describe numerous outreach projects (exchange programmes, conferences, media appearance) to raise awareness among state and societal actors about the US civil rights movement. he response from youth in the banlieues to these programmes has been largely positive. Young French Muslims note that the US embassy's outreach is different from the French government's security-centred approach and shrill rhetoric about Islam and immigration (Sarkozy a few years ago threatened to clean up a cité with a Kärcher, a high-pressure hose). Widad Ketfi, a young blogger, who participated in an embassysponsored programme says she knows she was targeted by the US embassy because of her AlgerianMuslim background, but adds: "What bothers me is being the target of the French state." These youths claim that French politicians will visit their enclaves only during election time, surrounded by security guards. "We're waiting for the president of the republic, for his ministers," observes Gilbert Roger, the mayor of Bondy, a gritty suburb in northeastern Paris. "And we see the ambassador of the United States." The residents of Bondy, he says, "have the sense that the United States looks upon our areas with much more deference and respect". US diplomats expected resistance to these public diplomacy initiatives from the French establishment. "While direct development assistance from USG is not likely to be available for France," notes one cable, requesting the availability of funds "to address the consequences of discrimination and minority exclusion in France" - stressing that, given France's official discourse and self-image, "such an effort will continue to require considerable discretion, sensitivity and tact on our part". And there has been a backlash from French officials and commentators. France has long viewed itself as being immune to USstyle race politics, priding itself on providing refuge, since the late 19th century, to African-Americans fleeing discrimination, so depictions of the French republic as a prejudiced country in need of US aid and tutelage

Security agents standing in front of London's Finsbury Park mosque recently. were not well received. The cable that drew the most indignant responses from French state officials was written by then US Ambassador Craig Stephenson, at the height of the civil unrest in November 2005: "The real problem is the failure of white Christian France to view its darkskinned and Muslim compatriots as citizens in their own rights." Speaking on a television show, former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin scoffed [FR], "This [cable] shows the limits of American diplomacy," adding that US diplomats were wrongly reading the banlieues crisis through their own history, and viewing France's urban crisis through a religious prism. he French didn't like it either when US goodwill ambassadors drew parallels between the banlieues and the US South. When the US ambassador, Charles Rivkin, a former Hollywood executive, brought actor Samuel L Jackson, to visit a community centre in Bondy, and Jackson, addressing a group of youth, compared their struggle with the hardships of his childhood in segregated Tennessee, French media resented the comparison. Another awkward moment came at the unveiling of a painted mural for the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr at the Collège Martin Luther King in Villiers-le-Bel, another restive Parisian suburb, when a group of African and Arab children stood around Ambassador Rivkin and sang "We Shall Overcome". As in Britain, segments of French society were displeased by revelations that the US had, since 2003, been deeply involved in the integration process - trying to shift the media discourse, to get French leaders to rethink their "terminology" and "intellectual frameworks" regarding minority inclusion; trying to generate public debates about "affirmative action", "multiculturalism", and hyphenated identity; pushing to reform history curricula taught in French schools, and working with French museums to exhibit the contributions of minorities. Leftleaning analysts opposed to US policies in the Islamic world saw this

"Marshall Plan" for the banlieues as a diversionary tactic [FR]. One cable notes that, by improving the lot of French Muslims, the US embassy can alter French-Muslim perceptions of the US, to show that the US respects Islam and "is engaged for good in the Arab-Muslim worlds". Other critics just don't think US conceptions of race and integration can travel across the Atlantic. More surprising was the negative reaction of some (neo)conservative voices in France, who tend to agree with the US right's apocalyptic tone regarding "Eurabia" and Muslim immigration to Europe. Right-wing US bloggers and authors of books such as While Europe Slept and Surrender - that speak of Europe's "smouldering Muslim ghettoes" and the imminent Muslim takeover of Europe - have long resonated with a segment of the European public. Yet many conservative-leaning French journalists and commentators expressed anger at this exercise in US "soft power", saying that the "headhunting" efforts, the grooming of future Muslim leaders constituted a "direct interference", that was undermining the authority of French institutions and French sovereignty. As in Britain, the Paris embassy's efforts to empower "moderate" Muslim voices caused considerable anger. When it emerged that one of the Muslim organisations the embassy was supporting was the magazine Oumma.com - described by the US ambassador as a "remarkable website", polemicist Caroline Fourest, author of a manifesto warning of the coming "Islamic totalitarianism", charged that the US right and French Muslims were allying to undermine French laïcité. Western states have a long history of intervening in the Muslim world to protect and empower religious minorities. This practice continues, in different forms to this day, but it is unprecedented for Western states allies - to court or protect each other's minorities. And yet the US is spending millions of dollars to win the hearts and minds of Europe's disaffected Muslim communities,

often vying with European states' own local efforts. These outreach efforts show that US diplomacy increasingly views the moral and symbolic capital of the civil rights movement as a form of soft power that can help improve the country's image in Europe's urban periphery, while imparting some US racial commonsense. But ironies abound: the efforts to exhibit US racial harmony and forestall ethnic conflict in Europe are taking place as political hopefuls whip up resentment of Muslims and AfricanAmericans in the US. Imagine the reaction - in the current Eurobashing climate - if it were revealed that the French government was pumping millions of dollars to help "integrate" African-Americans, and elevate the discourse on race in the US. erhaps the greatest irony of the State Department's efforts to showcase the model i n t e g r a t i o n o f U S Muslims, and to deploy the images and ideas of the civil rights movement in Europe, is that these efforts have been occurring against a backdrop of unfavourable media images of Quran burnings, anti-mosque rallies and accusatory Congressional hearings. The anti-mosque movement has now morphed into a broader "anti-Sharia" movement. Thirteen states from South Carolina to Arizona to Alaska have introduced bills banning Islamic law. The Texas Board of Education passed a resolution rejecting high-school textbooks that are "pro-Islam [and] antiC h r i s t i a n " , a nd a similar campaign is underway in Florida. American Muslims are facing a rising tide of discrimination that will no doubt worsen as the 2012 presidential campaign progresses. As for the Democrats, maybe it is politically easier to be photographed with Muslims in Paris singing "We Shall Overcome" than to challenge the organised bigotry brewing at home.

Source: Aljazeera.com

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 32

Egypt Islamists seek more gains in upper house polls Libyan PM calls for security meeting over weapons

ibyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib called yesterday for a regional security conference to tackle a proliferation of weapons by exiled supporters of former leader Muammar Gaddafi. The Libyan civil war may have given militant groups in Africa's Sahel region like Boko Haram and al Qaeda access to large weapons caches, said a U.N. report released on Thursday. "(There is) still a real threat from some of the armed remnants of the former regime who escaped outside the country and still roam freely. This is a threat for us, for neighbouring countries and our shared relations," Keib told African Union leaders in Addis Ababa. "My country calls for a regional security conference i n L i b y a o f interior and defence ministers of neighbouring countries," he told the summit, the first since Gaddafi's death last year. A U.N. report said the Libyan civil war may have created a proliferation of small arms, giving militant groups like Boko Haram and al Qaeda access to large weapons caches in Africa's Sahel region that straddle the Sahara, including Nigeria, Niger and Chad. The report said some countries believe weapons have been smuggled into the Sahel by former fighters in Libya - Libyan army regulars and mercenaries who fought on behalf of Gaddafi, who was ousted and killed by rebels. Links between al Qaeda and Boko Haram have become a growing source of concern for the countries of the region, the U.N. report said. The Islamist sect Boko Haram has killed at least 935 people since it launched an uprising in Nigeria in 2009, including 250 in the first weeks of this year, Human Rights Watch said last week.

Demonstrators gather during a protest demanding the army to hand power to civilians at Tahrir square in Cairo, on Friday. Polls opened yesterday in an election for Egypt's upper house of parliament, with Islamists seeking to repeat the success they enjoyed in elections for the lower house. The parliamentary votes, which began in late November, are the first since a popular uprising toppled President Hosni Mubarak last

February. The Muslim Brotherhood, which was banned during his rule, won 47 percent of lower house seats, far more than any other party, and a low turnout on Sunday was blamed by some voters on the feeling that the upper house vote now mattered little.

After the lower house election that saw an unprecedented turnout and was hailed as Egypt's most democratic since military officers overthrew the king in 1952, some Egyptians knew nothing of the upper house vote. "I came to vote today because it is my right and I will be held accountable to God," said Nour Essam, a 28-year-old

university teacher. "But I am sad to see that no one was there at my polling station." "It is wrong - your vote will matter," said a young woman. "I will go now and urge all my family members to come and vote." The powers of the upper house are limited and it cannot block legislation in the lower house. However, its members must be consulted before lower house MPs pass any bill. Under an interim constitution, both houses are responsible for picking a 100-strong assembly that will write a new constitution to replace the one that helped keep Mubarak in power for three decades. "The Shura council (upper house) elections are as important as the People's Assembly (lower house) elections," said Hussein Ibrahim, a member of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and head of its parliamentary bloc. Voting for the upper house will be held over two stages ending in the middle of February. Ninety of the 270 seats will be decided in the first round of voting on Sunday and Monday, with run-offs on February 7. Another 90 will be determined by voting on February 14 and 15, with run-offs on February 22. The remaining 90 will be appointed by Egypt's next president, expected

Radio journalist gunned down in Mogadishu

unmen in Somalia have shot dead the director of a major radio station in front of his home in Mogadishu, colleagues and witnesses said. Hassan Osman Abdi, who headed Radio Shabelle, was stopped by two men as he was entering his gate on Saturday. He was shot several times, according to Mohamed Moalim, a relative who stayed in the area. "We don't know who they are, but they shot him mercilessly in the head and shoulders," he said. Mu'awiye Ahmed Mudey, a producer at Shabelle radio confirmed the attack. Radio Shabelle interrupted its programmes to broadcast several verses from the Koran as an expression of mourning for Abdi, the 29-year-old father of three. Somalia, which has been

devastated by 20 years of civil war, is considered one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. Media rights campaigners, Reporters Without Borders (Reporteurs Sans Frontieres, RSF), reported in December that 25 journalists had been killed there since 2007. "(Hassan Osman) Abdi is the first journalist to be killed in 2012 in Somalia, Africa's deadliest country for media personnel," RSF said in a statement. "Our thoughts go out to his family and fellow journalists, who are yet again mourning a colleague's death," it added. He was the third director of the network to be killed, the group said, recalling the killing of Bashir Nur Gedi in 2007 and Mukhtar

Mohamed Hirabe in 2009. "Violence against journalists in Somalia is sustained by impunity for those responsible," RSF said. The African Union Mission in

accusing its northern neighbour of stealing $815m worth of its oil. Sudan detained the oil tankers loading oil from the south in Port Sudan in response. But Sudanese President Omar alBashir decided on Saturday to "release the vessels detained in Port Sudan as soon as possible", said Sayed al-Khatib, a spokesperson for Sudan's negotiation team. Al-Khatib also said Bashir is ready to sign an agreement with South Sudan's president Salva Kiir "by the end of today''. He said all parties were ready to sign a deal alongside a meeting of East African leaders in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. "This would have meant

that we could leave the crisis behind us,'' he said. The two leaders had met on Friday in Addis Ababa but the talks were unproductive. Sudan admits to taking oil from the South, but says it was to compensate for export fees and use of its refineries. Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Somali leader Sharif Sheik Ahmed, and Djibouti's Ismael Omar Guelleh also attended the talks in Addis Ababa. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Sunday that a crisis between former enemies Sudan and South Sudan has become a major threat to regional peace and security. "The situation in Sudan and South

Somalia (AMISOM) has some 10,000 troops in the Somali capital Mogadishu to protect the fragile Western-backed Somali government.

Abdi, the 29-year-old father of three, was shot by two men in the head and shoulder [Al Jazeera]

South Sudan firm on stopping oil production

outh Sudan will not restart oil production unless Sudan accepts a list of demands, the country's minister of petroleum and mining has said. Stephen Dhieu Dau said on Sunday that South Sudan was "committed to negotiations'' but that Khartoum would have to accept their demand of a $2.4bn financial assistance package before South Sudan turns on production again. Additionally, Sudan must withdraw troops from the disputed border region of Abyei and stop funding rebel groups in South Sudan under an internationallyguaranteed agreement, he said. Landlocked South Sudan began halting oil production last week after

Sudan has reached a critical point, it has become a major threat to peace and security across the region," Ban said at an African Union summit meeting in the Ethiopian capital. "The international community needs to act, and it needs to act now," Ban added. "As long as these issues remain unresolved, tensions will only grow." Asked by reporters if he feared war could break out again, Ban replied: "That is also a great concern for me as Secretary General. That is why I'm meeting as many African leaders as possible." South Sudan split from Sudan in July, taking with it three-quarters of the country's oil, which makes up more than 90 per cent of the South's revenue.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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Myanmarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Suu Kyi calls for changes to constitution

yanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called yesterday for changes to the military-drafted constitution in her first political trip since ending a boycott of the country's political system last year and announcing plans to run for parliament. Thousands of people lined the roads shouting "Long live mother Suu" as her motorcade moved through the rural coastal region of Dawei about 615 km (380 miles) south of her home city, Yangon, the main business centre. The trip, only her fourth outside Yangon since her release from years of house arrest in November 2010, demonstrates the increasingly central role of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate as the Southeast Asian state emerges from half a century of isolation. "There are certain laws which are obstacles to the freedom of the people and we will strive to abolish these laws within the framework of the parliament," Suu Kyi said to cheers from supporters after meeting officials of her National League for Democracy

(NLD) party in Dawei. The NLD, though well known in the country, has had limited real political experience. It won by a landslide a 1990 election, a year after Suu Kyi began a lengthy period of incarceration, but the then regime ignored the result and detained many party members and supporters. The NLD boycotted the next election, held in 2010 and won by a military-backed party after opposition complaints of rigging. Her address on Sunday offered the most extensive detail yet of the policies she would bring to parliament. In particular, she said she wanted to revise a 2008 army-drafted constitution that gives the military wide-ranging powers, including the ability to appoint key cabinet members, take control of the country in a state of emergency and occupy a quarter of the seats in parliament. "We need to amend certain parts of the constitution," she said, adding the international community was poised to help Myanmar "once we are on an irreversible road to democracy."

Oakland police clash with Occupy protesters

olice have fired tear gas and flash grenades while arresting more than 300 people as anti-Wall Street protesters tried but failed to take over downtown buildings, including the city hall, in Oakland, California. Protesters from Occupy Oakland the local offshoot of Occupy Wall Street first targeted the empty Henry J Kaiser convention centre on Saturday, before trying to take over the city hall, but were forcibly removed from each area by police. Police spokesperson Johnna Watson told the AFP news agency that throughout the day's events three police officers had been injured, police vehicles vandalised and shop windows shattered. "We will be dealing with this into the evening, for as long as it takes," she said. The bulk of arrests occurred in one incident when protesters were kettled by police into a city block. Activists told Al Jazeera that they entered the YMCA building on that street

in order to find an escape from arrest. Some managed to escape through back doors before police entered and detained those who were left. The Oakland Police Department already faces numerous lawsuits for excessive force during protests, including for a mass arrest incident in late 2010 in which 148 people were arrested "unconstitutionally", according to the lawsuit. Occupy Oakland had earlier announced a weekend "rise up festival" to be held in an unspecified empty building. It threatened the city, saying that activists would indefinitely shut down the airport, stop business at the port and take over city hall, if the city would not allow them to move into a building as planned. The protest group had been ousted for the first time from its camp in a park outside the city hall building on October 25 after clashes with police, but has maintained regular protests ever since.

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi talks to supporters at Yae Phyu village in Dawei township, yesterday.

Demonstrators shielded themselves as police fired projectiles and chemicals during a confrontation [Reuters]

Yemenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President Saleh arrives in US

emeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has arrived in the United States for short-term visit to receive medical treatment. Saleh arrived at an unspecified location in the United States on Saturday after a journey that took him from Oman, through London. The one-line Yemeni statement said Saleh was in the US for a "shortterm private medical visit." Saleh's travel plans in the United States have not been disclosed for security reasons. It wasn't clear how long he intends to remain in the US, where he intended to stay while in the country, or where he would be receiving medical care. Saleh has transferred some powers to his deputy and enjoys immunity from prosecution under a deal meant to end increasing instability in Yemen. The deal also established a transitional government including the

opposition and envisions restructuring Yemen's armed forces, key units of which are led by Saleh's relatives. The US, which endorsed the plan to coax Saleh out of office by granting him immunity from prosecution over the deaths of protesters, had defended its decision to issue him a visa, despite criticism that it would be seen as sheltering him. Saleh had originally been expected to stop only briefly in Oman after leaving the Yemeni capital Sanaa last Sunday. He had said in a parting speech he would return to Yemen. A foreign diplomat in Oman said, however, that Saleh had sought permission to reside there. An Omani government source declined to confirm or deny receiving such a request, but said Oman would be reluctant to agree to it in case this harmed future ties with Yemen.

Yemen's parliament adopted a law giving President Saleh "complete" immunity on January 21, 2012 [AFP]

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Netanyahu pessimistic on Iran “very optimistic” Mideast peace prospects on nuclear experts’ visit P

ran said yesterday it was very optimistic over a visit by U.N. nuclear inspectors aimed at shedding light on suspected military aspects of Tehran's atomic work but suggested Tehran would curb cooperation if the experts became a "tool" for outside powers. An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team began a three-day visit yesterday to try to advance efforts to resolve a row about nuclear work which Iran says is for making electricity but the West suspects is aimed at seeking a nuclear weapon. Tensions with the West rose this month when Washington and the European Union imposed the toughest

sanctions yet in a drive to force Tehran to provide more information on its nuclear program. The measures take direct aim at the ability of OPEC's second biggest oil exporter to sell its crude. The Mehr news agency quoted Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi as saying during a trip to Ethiopia: "We are very optimistic about the outcome of the IAEA delegation's visit to Iran ... Their questions will be answered during this visit," "We have nothing to hide and Iran has no clandestine (nuclear) activities." Iran's parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, warned the IAEA team to carry out a "logical, professional and technical" job or suffer the consequences.

"This visit is a test for the IAEA. The route for further cooperation will be open if the team carries out its duties professionally," said , state media reported. "Otherwise, if the IAEA turns into a tool (for major powers to pressure Iran), then Iran will have no choice but to consider a new framework in its ties with the agency." Iran's parliament in the past has approved bills to oblige the government to review its level of cooperation with the IAEA. However, Iran's top officials have always underlined the importance of preserving ties with the watchdog body.

eace prospects with the Palestinians are looking poor, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday after exploratory talks aimed at relaunching negotiations ended in deadlock. "As things stand now, according to what happened over the past few days - when the Palestinians refused even to discuss Israel's security needs with us - the signs are not particularly good," he told his cabinet in public remarks. Palestinian officials said last week an Israeli negotiator's verbal presentation on Wednesday of

ideas for borders and security arrangements of a future Palestinian state was a non-starter, envisaging a fenced-off territory of cantons that would preserve most Jewish settlements. Netanyahu said he still hoped the Palestinians would "come to their senses and continue the talks so that we can move on to real negotiations." Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held five rounds of exploratory talks in Jordan, part of a push by international mediators to revive negotiations suspended in 2010 in a dispute over Jewish settlement building in the occupied West Bank.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he speaks during a special session marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, recently.

Herman Nackerts (left) head of a delegation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), talks to journalists on his way to Iran at the international airport in Vienna, on Saturday. .

Russia rebukes Arab League over Syria

e would like to know why they are treating such a useful instrument in this way," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a visit to Brunei yesterday. "I would support an increased number of observers," Lavrov said."We are surprised that after a decision was taken on prolonging the observers' mission for another month, some countries, particularly Persian Gulf countries, recalled their observers from the mission." The Arab League suspended its observer mission on Saturday as the bloodshed in a crackdown on antigovernment protests spiked. Several hundred died in the past four days alone. Lavrov said that he did not back those Western countries that said the mission was pointless and that it was impossible to hold dialogue with Syrian President Bashar alAssad's government. "I think these are very irresponsible statements because trying to sabotage a chance to calm the situation is absolutely unforgivable," he said. Russia had earlier refused to support an Arab League plan that called on Assad to step down. Syria also voiced its dismay and surprise over the Arab League decision to halt its observer mission. "Syria regrets and is surprised at the Arab decision to stop the work of its monitoring mission after it asked for a onemonth extension of its work," Syria Television reported in an urgent news flash on Saturday. "This will have a negative impact and

put pressure on [Security Council] deliberations with the aim of calling for foreign intervention and encouraging armed groups to increase violence," it said. Nabil Elaraby, the secretary-general of the Arab League, announced the suspension of the mission in a statement on Saturday, citing worsening violence as the prime reason. "It has been decided to immediately stop the work of the Arab League's mission to Syria pending presentation of the issue to the league's

council," he said. The bloc said around 100 observers would remain in the country but would not undertake new missions. The mission was set up in December to monitor Damascus' compliance with the Arab League plan to end a bloody crackdown by Assad's government. The bloc extended the 165-member mission after its first month, but Gulf Arab states later withdrew their monitors.

Pakistan’s PM reassures political observers said. crisis has eased The latest sign of a thaw was in snowy

political crisis in the past three months that has seen the worst tension between Pakistan's government and military since a coup in 1999 appears to have eased -- for now -- with a delicate balance of power re-established,

Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani attends a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, recently.

Davos, Switzerland, where Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani again backed away from critical remarks earlier this month that the military had acted "unconstitutionally" by supporting a top court-led investigation into a mysterious memo. "There is no intention of the military to have a coup in the country because they also want stability in the country," Gilani told reporters in Davos on Saturday. "They want democracy in the country and they want to strengthen the country." Since October, Pakistan has been roiled by a scandal that has, at times, taken bizarre turns. It involves an American businessman of Pakistani descent delivering an unsigned memo to the Pentagon asking for U.S. help in reining in a military humiliated and angry over the May 2, 2011 commando raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Syrian forces battle to retake Damascus suburbs

housands of Syrian soldiers moved into the suburbs of Damascus that have fallen under rebel control yesterday, killing five civilians, activists said, a day after the Arab League suspended its monitoring mission in Syria because of mounting violence. Around 2,000 soldiers in buses and armoured personnel carriers, along with at least 50 tanks and armoured vehicles, moved at dawn into the eastern Ghouta area on the edge of Damascus to reinforce troops surrounding the suburbs of Saqba, Hammouriya and Kfar Batna, activists said. The army pushed into the heart of Kfar Batna and four tanks were in its central square, they said. "Mosques that have turned into field hospitals are requesting blood. They cut off the electricity. Petrol

stations are empty and the army is preventing people from leaving to get fuel for generators or heating," said Raid, an activist in Saqba who spoke briefly by satellite phone. The deaths brought to 17 the number of people killed in the suburbs since Saturday when the army launched an offensive against rebels who seized them last week, activists and residents said. The Arab League suspended the work of its monitors on Saturday after calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down and make way for a government of national unity. Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby left for New York on Sunday where he will brief representatives of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to seek support for an Arab peace plan that calls on Assad to step aside after 10 months of protests.

A Syrian soldier, who has defected to join the Free Syrian Army, holds up his rifle and waves a Syrian independence flag in the Damascus suburb of Saqba, on Friday.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 35

Tragic: Girl, 17, dies in highway horror after jumping out of car while her mum was driving

hat's my daughter - is she alive?' asked mother after Catrina Fox inexplicably jumped into the freewaysurround the death of a 17-year-old Colorado girl who jumped out of a moving car and was struck dead by oncoming traffic on a major highway. Catrina Fox was sitting in the passenger seat as her mother drove on a Colorado highway when she suddenly opened the door and jumped out in the very early hours of Saturday morning. Catrina was hit by a fellow teen who was driving his 2001 PT Cruiser and died at the scene. Witnesses saw something on the highway immediately after the crash and swerved to avoid hitting it. After stopping to see what it was, they found the girl's mother, whose

name has not been released, distraught trying to understand what happened. 'That's my daughter. Is she alive?' the woman asked Dean Krakel who stopped his car to see what was going on. He said that it was immediately clear that the girl was dead. 'I've never seen anything like that. She just got hit at full speed,' Mr Krakel told The Denver Post. 'It was horrific.' No reasons have been given for why Catrina jumped out of the car, though police have said that they do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor. Her mother told investigators that the girl kicked out the door and jumped out of the moving car. Catrina worked at a Denver catering company at the time of

her death, but according to her Facebook wall she was gearing up for a move to California. The days before her death seemed happy and filled with good news as she announced that she passed the first half of her high school equivalency exam and was taken off probation for an unknown prior offence. 'It feels good to be smilin again. i knew i just needed to focus on me for awhile [sic],' she wrote on January 18. Family friend Cali Shields, who owns a gardening shop in town where Catrina's mother works, was left devastated when she heard the news. She told 9news.com: 'The first thing that came to mind was her mom because she works here and

I'm really close with her. 'I know she was a little bit troubled and upset about a lot of things. She was in and out of court. '[But] she started just accepting life how it was and being happy about it. I know she started to talk about plans to move to California and she was so excited.'

The boy who was driving the Cruiser that hit and killed Catrina has been cooperating with police and immediately stopped the vehicle after the crash. There have been no charges filed against the boy, whose name has also not been released because he is a minor.

Scene: Catrina died on Highway 285 near Kipling, Colorado

Tragic: Catrina Fox, 17, was being driven by her mother when she jumped out of the passenger seat of the car into oncoming traffic and died

Mystery: Friends and family have no clear answers about why Catrina decided to jump out of the car Saturday

Catrina was hit by a teenage boy who was driving a 2001 PT Cruiser similar to this one

Russian cities introduce baby â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;drop boxesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; to stop unwanted children being left in bins

nonymous baby drop boxes have been introduced for the first time in Russia. The Krasnodar Territory in south Russia bought five of the so-called baby drop boxes in the beginning of November so mothers could drop off unwanted children anonymously. The first three were installed in Sochi, Novorossiysk and Armavir,

and by the end of the month one child had already been left. The move was aimed at providing sanitary conditions for unwanted children, instead of 'having them left in garbage containers', health officials told Ria Novosti. Elena Redko, the head of the Krasnodar Health Department, told the news service the first child to be

Unwanted: A nurse at the Sochi perinatal centre demonstrates their baby drop box

left, a baby girl, was healthy and would be passed to childcare officials. 'The girl will be put into a children's home but I think she will be adopted soon because we have fewer children in the region than families who want to have them,' she said. The move mirrors steps taken in South Africa, where anonymous 'baby safes' were introduced by a children's charity in Spring last year. Installed at a community centre in Cape Town, the Out of Africa Children's Fund's boxes allow mothers to leave their baby in a locked place without identifying themselves. Fund chief executive Kim Highfield said at the time she hoped the system would allow struggling mothers to give their children up for adoption safely. 'Sometimes they leave their babies in dangerous areas where they have been attacked by dogs or come to other harm,' she said. 'Our scheme is about providing an alternative, so that new mothers at least have somewhere safe to leave their child.' The Russian project was slated to involve the Siberian cities of Perm, Tomsk, Omsk, Novosibirsk and the European Russian town of Kirov.

Sanitary: The drop boxes have been introduced to stop mothers leaving unwanted children in bins

From the outside the Sochi baby box is advertised with a massive banner

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Why a mother’s love really is priceless: It prevents illness even into middle age Y

ou comfort them over a skinned knee in the playground, and coax them to sleep with a soothing lullaby. And being a nurturing mother could well pay dividends in later life by protecting your child from serious illnesses, scientists say. Tender loving care in childhood was found to reduce a person’s risk of conditions including diabetes and heart disease in adulthood, according to researchers at Brandeis University in Boston. They examined 1,000 people from low-income backgrounds, which has been shown by a wealth of previous research to be related to poorer health in later life and lower life expectancy. However, they found some people from disadvantaged families managed to buck this

trend – and they tended to have had a loving mother. Participants were recruited at an average age of 46 and had a full health check in hospital. They were asked about their mothers with questions such as ‘how much did she understand your problems and worries?’ and ‘How much time and attention did she give you when you needed it? A decade later half of the people had metabolic syndrome – a major risk factors for heart disease, strokes and diabetes. It is a combination of symptoms including excess fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance, which affects around one in four people in the UK. They found people in the lowest socio-economic category, with neither parent having

Happiness = health: Mothers who nurture their children help them develop self-respect and coping strategies to ensure they are healthy in later life.

Anxiety: Children who grow up in stressful environments are more likely to suffer illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure as adults, scientists say

finished school, had the highest rate of this condition – half of them were affected and regardless of their social mobility in later life. But although this high risk seemed to be ‘embedded’ from childhood, the researchers said, those who said their mothers were very nurturing were far less likely to have it. Psychology professor Margie Lachman said events in childhood seem to leave a ‘biological residue’ on health during adult life. She said: ‘The fact that we can see these long-term effects

from childhood into midlife is pretty dramatic. ‘We want to understand what it is about having a nurturing mother that allows you to escape the vulnerabilities of being in a low socioeconomic status background and wind up healthier than your counterparts.’ The authors suggest it could be a combination of empathy, teaching children ‘coping strategies’ to deal with stress so it does not affect their health and encouraging them to eat well and live a healthy lifestyle. They did not look at how

nurturing their fathers were but the authors believe they probably have a big influence too particularly for the next generation as parental roles are less rigid than they were when the people they studied were young. Prof Lachman said the information could help devise training for parents about coping with their child’s stress, living a healthy lifestyle and having ‘control over their destiny’. The study was published in the journal Psychological Science. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Long work day a shortcut to depression W

orkers who spend long hours at the office are more than twice as likely to develop depression as those who do a standard day, according to a study. British researchers found those who spend more than 11 hours a day – or 55 hours a week – at their desk faced a higher risk. The most susceptible were women, younger people and those on a low pay grade with moderate alcohol consumption. More than 2,000 Whitehall civil servants with various jobs, salaries and working hours were recruited in the early 1990s for the study of employees aged 35 to 55. When they were followed up six years later, scientists at two London universities and colleagues in Finland found a ‘robust association’ between overtime and depression – even allowing for other factors such as unhealthy lifestyles, marital status and a degree of job stress. Of those questioned for the Whitehall II study, which is one of the most detailed on working hours and health in this

country, 66 had experienced a ‘major depressive episode’ during the follow-up period, a

rate of 3.1 per cent. Those who worked 11 or more hours a day were two-and-

a-half times as likely to have one than those who worked seven or eight hours.

Getting the blues: Women, young people, and those on low pay grades are most susceptible to depression

Although many of those who work long hours are men on high pay grades with challenging jobs, their levels of depression were relatively low. The researchers said it seemed some who earned more could be ‘buffered’ from depression by having a job they enjoyed, or higher levels of ‘social support’ such as staff who could do things for them. But women in high-earning jobs were more likely to suffer depression, as they may have been more likely to have multiple responsibilities outside work, the researchers said. Younger people – perhaps coping with trying to excel in their career, while facing family and financial demands – also experienced higher levels of depression. Co-author Professor Stephen Stansfeld, of Queen Mary, University of London, said: ‘People working very long hours may be working less efficiently, and need to be thinking about their health and stress it may be causing in their home life as well.’ Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 37

Akwe Doma was architect of his own failure –Wadada INTERVIEW By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

ow would you assess the fortunes of the PDP in Nasarawa State after the 2011 general elections? Talking about the fortune of Nasarawa PDP now may not make meaning without recalling some past events. PDP has been a household name in Nasarawa State where it has been the ruling party since 1999. And as far as I am concerned, it (PDP) is not in government but it is still the ruling party. This may be difficult to comprehend because it has lost some offices, especially the office of the governor. This is so because many things went wrong; so many things were not conducted and managed the way they should have been. However, what gave birth to what we have today in the government of CPC is still PDP. Every member of CPC today was a member of PDP but were compelled to shift camp to where they felt they would get justice, fairness and equity. It is unfortunate that at the highest level at the state, the party was messed up. You said those who left the PDP for CPC left for equity and justice among others; were these qualities missing in the PDP? At a point they were missing. How could a party endorse a candidate and say there is completely no room for others? The party said it endorsed the then sitting governor and there was no room for any other interested person. That is anot democracy; there was no justice in that; there was equity in that; there was no fairness in that. So a number of our members who felt these fundamental qualifications of democracy were not there decided to shift camp to where they felt there would be fairness, justice and equity. After losing the governorship election, PDP became divided into two factions, led by former governor Senator Abdullahi Adamu and his successor Aliyu Akwe Doma; what led to this factionalisation? The genesis of this division is predicated on what I had earlier said. As a leader, you embrace all and after embracing all, you try to be fair to all. Fairness in leadership is centred on performance. The government of PDP in Nasarawa that was led by Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma lost focus completely. As a stakeholder representing my people, I went and met the governor and drew his

Nasarawa state was one of the few states the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost in the last governorship elections which has led to a deep chasm which is threatening the existence of the party in the state. In this interview with journalists in Abuja, former House of Representatives member, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, gives an insight into the crisis rocking the party and explains what should be done for it to regain its past glory. Excerpts: attention to some important issues. I told him that look if you take assessment of government structures from Mararaba to Lafia, there is one structure or the other that was built with tax payers’ money so we cannot afford to leave this structures to lie fallow. I told him that as an advocate of private sector driven economy, I would not advise government to have anything that will add to its financial burden. I sighted the Karu International Market, Meat Processing plant in Masaka, Nasarawa Packaging Company on Akwanga, Farin Ruwa hydro electric project in Wamba, Fertiliser blending plant in Lafia as examples. I said you either privatise them fully or you put them on long term leases. Of course, privatising or putting them on long leases was not going to change the locations of these industries or structures, and they would generate revenue and employment opportunities for the state as well as open up the state to investors. I sat with him many times and he promised to do something but he never did. I then decided to put them in writing because I am aware that anything not written is as good as not existing. Are you saying that lack of adherence to these economic policies was what led to the factionalisation of PDP? It is not about Wadada, Abdullahi Adamu or Akwe Doma, no. The elite, having realised that Aliyu Doma, was not forthcoming and began to be disenchanted. They began to complain and withdraw not from the party but from the government. That continued till election time, and the party machinery in the state worsened the situation by blocking every contestant and made Aliyu Doma a sort of demi-god. That was what led to the withdrawal of the present governor, Tanko AlMakura, from the PDP, because he was not treated fairly. Aliyu Doma

Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Wadada virtually became a dictator in democracy. The mass movement of people from the PDP was not because they were disenchanted with the party but with style of governance at that time. But there are insinuations that in the first place it was the high handedness of Senator Abdullahi Adamu that led to latter developments in the PDP in the state... What happened before the coming of Aliyu Doma was that major stakeholders within PDP in the state compromised for no just reason. We had a group in Abuja consisting of Hon. Musa Elayo, Jibrin Sabo, Solomon Ewuga, Senator Sodangi and others. At a point I told them we must come together and create a very cohesive and united front; that if we do that Abdullahi Adamu will have no choice than to come to us because he, by nature, is a team player and if he sees all of us, he will find his way to us, then we will determine who takes over from him. We came together but those of us having ambition compromised because

“

He has never lost the party; Abdullahi Adamu brought PDP to Nasarawa State and was governor for eight years. Yunana was the party secretary before he was elevated to chairman of the party under Abdullahi Adamu

everybody wanted cheap and free ticket to be governor. So the political class lost focus. And you will agree with me that you can’t be a governor for eight years without having interest in who succeeds you. So our traditional rulers capitalised on that and sold Doma to Abdullahi Adamu, and as someone who respects elders, he agreed with them. Doma as at then was someone people respected and regarded for his antecedents. He was permanent secretary and deputy governor; he was this, he was that. But thank God I have been vindicated. I and Doma met twice, the first meeting was in my house when he came to seek my support. The second meeting was at Transcorp Hilton where I told him sir, I will be most sad if somebody of your age will be my governor, but if that is what destiny has for me, my joy and happiness will be that your antecedent will not disappoint us. The Yunana Iliya led exco of PDP is accusing Senator Abdullahi Adamu of wanting to hijack the party in order to plant his loyalists during the coming party congresses in the state, what is your take on this? I don’t understand why he would want to hijack the party. Has he ever lost the party? He has never lost the party; Abdullahi Adamu brought PDP to Nasarawa State and was governor for eight years. Yunana was the party secretary before he was elevated to chairman of the party under Abdullahi Adamu. Abdullahi Adamu

brought Aliyu Doma and funded his campaign. And his (Senator Adamu’s) victory in the last election showed he is still on ground. This group of PDP concerned persons, which Abdullahi Adamu is a member and leader is coming together not to fight anybody but to reposition the party so that the lost glory of PDP will be brought back. If Abdullahi Adamu has the party, why does he want to change the incumbent leadership? As far as Nasarawa State is concerned today, Abdullahi Adamu is the leader, the father and the rallying point of PDP in Nasarawa State. All the present excos of the party still go to him. He may not be the best politician in the state, but he is still the rallying point. He is the nucleus, the engine room of those agitating for change within the PDP structure of Nasarawa. Party supporters in your camp have insinuated that meetings of PDP excos are being held in Doma’s house in Abuja; are you worried about that? I have heard about it but I am not worried because I know as Bob Marley said you can fool some people some time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Whatever they do will come to nothing; Aliyu Doma is a father and if you say all elders of Nasarawa should assemble, I will pay him my respect. But if you call him political leader, count me out because he has lost that respect as a political leader. We all rallied round him as a leader and father, unfortunately he has failed. So politically I will not be where he is because I am convinced he has nothing to offer me. What is your reaction to allegations from the Doma camp that Abdullahi Adamu worked against the party in the April 2011 election? Why are people making baseless allegation? If he (Adamu) worked against PDP, he would not have been won in his zone. I and Senator Adamu come from the same senatorial zone and we won our senate seat. But PDP lost the zone of the sitting governor then. And who was the sitting governor? Aliyu Doma. So how would you now say Adamu worked against PDP? It is like saying Abdulahi Adamu left his zone and went to Aliyu Doma’s Contd. on page 40

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PAGE 39

Yakowa not a magician, says Mikati Alhaji Idris Shuaibu Mikati was a People's Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirant in Kaduna state during the April 2011 general elections. In this interview with Agaju Madugba, Mikati, among other issues, says Kaduna state Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, is not a magician, against the backdrop of developmental challenges and dwindling finance accruing to the state.

INTERVIEW

ne of the greatest issues in Nigeria today is the question of Boko Haram. What is your view on the matter? From my little experience in human resources management and governance, I would say poverty is one of the causes of the challenges we face today in Nigeria. According to Karl Max, when the proletariat rise, they are always ready to destroy because they do not have little or nothing to lose. There is endemic poverty in the land and when you look at the statistics and the economic indicators in Nigeria, the northwestern part of Nigeria, particularly Yobe, is probably the poorest state and the unemployment rate in this area is in the region of 30 t0 40 per cent. When you compare that to the unemployment rate in the western part of the country, it is about 19 per cent. Lagos is about 17 per cent. So, we have a challenge there. Then, generally, we as parents have abdicated our responsibilities. Poverty is not a today’s issue, it has always been there with us but our parents, our grand parents trained our parents so well that even where you were poor, you did not have to cause trouble. I grew up in a village in Birnin- Gwari local government area and there were instances where families would spend nights without food but they did not go out to beg and nobody knew that they did not have dinner or breakfast, as the case may be. Today, it is no longer that. Then injustice is also part of the causes of what we have today in Nigeria. The moment you begin to have different laws for different people, there will be a challenge. We must endeavour to have equity and justice and fairness. Justice should not only be seen to have been done, it must be done to the letter. But it would appear as if government and the security agencies are not doing enough to arrest the situation of Boko Haram? It is not fair for you and me as bloody civilians to say that government is not doing much about the problem. The little we know is that it has happened in so many places but we do not know those things they might have done or prevented without telling us. Government is indeed doing the much it can do. You probably heard what the Army authorities in Port Harcourt said recently, that they foiled a Boko Haram attack and arrested some people. that tells you that they are doing the much they can do. If they are not working hard in curtailing Boko Haram, by now it would have been all over northern Nigeria. For now, you

notice the concentration of the attacks between Maiduguri and Damaturu. Only recently that you see some flashes in Kano and Bauchi and may be, once or twice in Kaduna. Apart from what happened in Abuja, the rest are flashes. I think the security people have been trying the only thing is that perhaps their best is not good enough. As the saying goes, even the best system has room for improvement. There is no doubt that the security people need to improve to give us more security for our lives and property. How would you rate the Police given that a prime suspect of Boko Haram escaped from them? To say the least, I find that most despicable. Every Nigerian will find it absolutely difficult if not impossible to fathom how anybody could allow such a thing to happen, for such a high profile suspect to escape. It is unfortunate, unfair and disheartening. I think the Nigeria Police should tender an unreserved apology to the President and the government and people of Nigeria. The apology should not just be verbal; it should be on the pages of newspapers. Something decisive has to be done and until Nigerians see that something has been done, people will continue to doubt the ability and capacity of the police to give us security. There countries that have taken very serious decisions concerning their police. Recently, the Mexican

Alhaji Idris Shuaibu Mikati People should wake up. As a Muslim, do you have certain provisions in the Holy Qur’an or other texts which support activities of the Boko Haram people since they are Muslims? I am a practising Muslim but I am not a scholar versed enough to declare that one person is a Muslim and that the other one is not. But from my little understanding of the religion, it says that human life is sacred. Not just the life of a Muslim but human life, a human being, irrespective of religion tribe or nationality. It means that you have no right to kill or take the life of anybody, whether a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew or even an

“

I think there is need for the Minister of Police Affairs to have a structural overhaul of the police so that we do not have a repeat of this kind of thing government disbanded its police force. From what we have on the ground today, I think the President may even consider disbanding the Nigerian police, if they are not careful because he is being pushed to the wall as a result of the embarrassment. In the case of Mexico, the Army was brought in to provide temporary internal security until the police was reconstituted. The embarrassment is getting rather too much. They have not been able to trace where these Boko Haram people have been carrying out their training, the police have not been able to trail some of these attacks before they happen and then when you catch a suspect, you let him go. That is certainly an act of irresponsibility.

unbeliever. This a golden rule as contained in the Qur’an. No one has the right to kill another person. Then places of worship are sacred. The moment you run into a church, a mosque or a synagogue even in times of war, you are safe because nobody is expected to attack you in any of these places except of course there is an attack coming from within these religious enclaves. If you attack me and you manage to run into a church, or a mosque or a synagogue, I am expected to wait until you come out, anybody who kills without following the appropriate procedures or the due process. The Qur’an has made it absolutely clear on how a human life can be taken. If you kill somebody intentionally,

a law court of competent authority or jurisdiction is there to impose the necessary sentence. If the judge pronounces that you murdered somebody, not manslaughter, and that you are guilty, then the religion provides that you should be killed. Even if I saw you killing my brother, I do not have the power to pick up a weapon and begin to attack you because that would amount to taking the laws into my hands. I should go to the court and the law will take its course. There has not been any controversy among Muslim scholars and the ummah (community) not only in Nigeria but the world over concerning these provisions. That is why you see that all the Muslim leaders from all parts of this country have continued to condemn the killings. The same thing from our traditional rulers, everybody has come out to denounce this vehemently. The fact is that Islam is being portrayed in bad light because of the action of these people. They are just a few disgruntled elements and the most disturbing thing is that some other parts of the country have begun to label the north as terrorists. Majority of the 9/11 attackers in the United States of America are Saudi citizens but the US continues to do business with Saudi Arabia. The 9/11 attack did not result in the painting of the whole of Saudi Arabian people as criminals or as terrorists and I think we should borrow a leaf from that. Let us say that about 100 million Nigerians living in northern Nigeria, may be 500,000 are members of this sect and I bet you, they are less than that number. Do you now label 100 million people terrorists because of about 500,000 miscreants? It is most unfair. from the protests instead of sitting down to dialogue properly. We wasted those days of the strike. What the NLC and civil society groups should have done was to go

with a shopping list and reach a meeting point instead of insisting on N65 and that is why the President took a unilateral decision and fixed the price at N97. But Nigerians demand good governance, transparency, Nigerians demand a reduction in the cost of governance and dividends of democracy. These things should have constituted a shopping list for the President and I do not even think the NLC went with the civil society groups during some of the negotiations. What is your assessment of developments in Kaduna and performance of Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa? When you reach a certain level in life, there are things you do and there are other things you probably do not need to do. I have direct and unimpeded access to the Governor and if I have suggestions or I see where things should not be the way they are, I am able to reach him and express my views. If there are things I think he should do, I go to him and he listens to me. When you have that kind of rapport, why would I come out on the pages of a newspaper and say certain things. A lot of people have little or no understanding of how governance works. Let me give you an example. The average monthly wage bill of Kaduna state is in the region of about N1.8 billion. That was when the minimum wage was N7,500. If we increase it to N18,000 per month, how much does Kaduna get from the Federation Account every month? It is N2.3 billion and if you remove N1.8 billion from N2.3 billion, how much is left? And how much is the internally generated revenue? May be N1 billion monthly. What can the governor do? He is not a magician and he still has to attend to the House of Assembly and do so many other things. But the psyche of Nigerians has been fixated on seeing things done so fast and also believe that government should put food on the table for the people but the only way I think government can do that is to provide the enabling environment which I believe the government is doing. However, the security situation has not been all that favourable. Since the post presidential election violence, we have been having series of curfews in Kaduna. Even if you have the resources, when there is no peace, how can you develop? You cannot achieve any meaningful development without peace. We are in January, the state House of Assembly has just passed the budget and critics should give Yakowa time and let us see what he will do for us. Even at that, so far, we have seen where developments have taken place within this short period of Yakowa as governor. In my local government, Birnin Gwari, I have seen a number of locations where contracts have been issued for roads to be tarred.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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Senator, group hail Supreme Court judgment From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

L-R: Chairman of ABG Group, Alhaji Bawa Garba, Adamawa state Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) gubernatorial candidate, General Buba Marwa, and CPC stalwart from the state, Alhaji Iliyasu Hameed, during the judgment on tenure elongation for five governors, at the Supreme Court, in Abuja, on Friday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

INEC declares Oyo re-run election inconclusive as PDP leads From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

ndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday declared that the re-run election into the Irepo/ Orelope/Olorunsogo Federal constiuency of Oyo State was inconclusive. This was announced by the Supervising Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Hussain Pai, in Ibadan, who equally explained that the difference between the highest score by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that of the Action

Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was too close when compared to the results cancelled by the commission. He said that the result collated by the Returning Officer, Professor Jelili Akinlade, revealed that the PDP scored 16,344 while the ACN scored 14,573. The INEC REC further hinted that the result shows 1,821 votes difference between the two political parties, while about 3,000 votes were expected from the cancelled units. The Returning Officer gave other results as follows:

Accord 330, ANPP 101, CPC 152, DPP 141, LP 25, MPPP 20 and NTP 57, disclosing that 32,688 votes were cast, while 895 votes rejected and 31,793 valid. Pai also stayed that report on the re-run election would be compiled and forwarded to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja for necessary action, saying the headquarters would decide on the next line of action to be taken . He disclosed that results of seven units were cancelled from the three local government areas as result of

thuggery and violence. “Five units were cancelled in Irepo, one each from Orelope and Olorunsogo as a result of violence.” He said. Meanwhile, no fewer than 100 suspected political thugs were on Saturday arrested during the re-run election into the federal constituency. The state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Lawan, confirmed the arrest, saying that items recovered from them included sophisticated rifles, locally made pistols, dangerous weapons and criminal charms.

Arrest Nyako’s spokesperson, lawmaker urges police From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

mbattled Deputy Speaker of the Adamawa state House of Assembly, Barr. Kwamoti Laori, has urged Security operatives in the state to arrest Governor Murtala Nyako’s Commissioner of Information, Abdulrahman Abba, over incisive comments. This call came against the background of Abba’s outburst on a local radio over the change of leadership, where he insisted that unless the Speaker is picked from Adamawa Central Zone, the assembly complex would continue to be cordoned by thugs. The two-term legislator emerged Deputy Speaker, following vote of no confidence

by 22 out of the 25 members of the House passed on the former speaker, Barrister Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin and his deputy, Mrs. Wale Fwah and immediately replaced by Ahmed Umar Fintri and Barr. Kwamoti Laori. The development had led to protests by youths of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who besieged the complex chanting pro-Nyako slogans and threatened to burn down the complex, unless the change is reversed. “I know that usually, if people are going out for a protest they obtain permit, but I don’t know whether this people have been given permit by the CP to come and chase the Police and Civil Defence Corps guarding the complex and bring their own locks.

“At this time, with this security situation being faced in the state, it baffles me that the Commissioner of Police has not taken action to arrest them.” Laori stated. On the commissioner’s utterances, he said “The House of Assembly has a spread because no position remains in one place, some of the local governments have two Members because they have two constituencies but most of them have only a Member and when the leadership of the House is being shared, all these variables are been taken into consideration. “So, if the leadership is been changed, it is the Members that decide where it goes and not somebody outside the House of Assembly.” Speaking further, he

said, “The issue of picking the Speaker from the Central is neither here nor there. It doesn’t follow when the House of Assembly is changing leadership. If you look at the history of the House of Assembly anytime there is change of leadership, it doesn’t matter where the person comes from, because the members believe that whoever they elect can lead the house better for it to function properly.” He explained. He therefore alleged the complicity of the Commissioner in the saga, saying you cannot, by virtue of your position, make unguarded statement without the security personnel inviting you and questioning you.

ice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, and The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), has applauded the judgment of the Supreme Court, which sacked the governors of Cross-River, Kogi, Bayelsa, Kano and Adamawa States. Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, the Coalition Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran, described the judgment of the Supreme Court that upturned the tenure elongation earlier granted the five governors by the Abuja Federal High Court, describing it as sanity being restored in the Judiciary, to promote rule of law in this country. Adeniran, who stressed that the judgment has rekindled the hope of the masses in the Judiciary, however, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avail itself of the opportunity to conduct credible elections in the affected satates. Also reacting to the same issue, Abatemi-Usman, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), commended the judiciary for living up to its responsibilities as the evenhanded umpire in the administration of justice. He maintained that the judgment is evidently another landmark in the annals of the judiciary. According to him, “the judgment of the Supreme Court on the tenure elongation case would further reinforce the confidence that Nigerians repose in the judiciary as an unbiased empire.” He further said, “as we await further interpretation of the judgment, especially its implication on other lingering legal tussles, the subsequent compliance of the respective States with the judgment, as well as the Federal Government’s directive thereto, as evident in the inauguration of the Speakers of the Houses of Assembly of the affected States, would go a long way in strengthening the rule of law, which would ultimately nurture our nascent democracy to greater height.” The Apex Court had last Friday quashed the ruling of the lower courts, which has kept the five governors in office beyond the constitutionally allowed period.

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Nyako confident on Ag. governor From Blessing Tunoh, Yola ormer Governor of Adamawa state, Admiral Murtala Nyako, has said he is not rattled by the Supreme Court judgment which sacked him and four others on Friday, saying that he is confident of the acting governor Umar Ahmad Fintri. Nyako stated this during a solidarity parley convened on the insistence of leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state at the government house banquet hall, where his supporters rallied behind him. It was gathered by our correspondent that, Nyako, who was not in the state when the judgement was given, sneaked into the state capital Friday night as against Sunday afternoon earlier announced by leadership of the party, and urged his supporters to come out and receive him back to the state. According to him, “His Excellency, the Acting governor Umaru Ahmad Fintri, I can assure you, will not disgrace his party PDP more less his father, Murtala Nyako.” Responding, Fintri declared his total support and allegiance to his party and reassured the people of the state that he would justify the confidence reposed in him.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

PDP, ACN trade words over mutilation of exhibits From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition party in Benue State, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) are at each other’s jugular over claims of tampering with exhibits, even as the Governorship election tribunal sits tomorrow to look at the issue. It will be noted that at the last sitting of the tribunal, counsel to Prof. Steven Ugbah, Olarotimi Akeredolu, informed the court that the exhibits were in their custody, insisting that the party duly applied for them and was obliged by the secretary of the tribunal. This revelation has been

heating up the state as the State PDP Legal Adviser, Clement Mue, at the weekend called on the President of the Court of Appeal to institute an investigation into the sudden disappearance of exhibits and impose appropriate sanctions on the perpetrators in order to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary. Mue’s call is coming on the heels of discovery that some exhibits for Mbazun ward of Ukum LGA had been tampered with. “On Friday January 27th, 2012 when PDP and ACN lawyers commenced inspection of the exhibits, it was discovered that in Mbazun Ward of Ukum Local Government Area, one more item was added on the official list of exhibits tendered in court”.

“The court’s records clearly showed that exhibits tendered and admitted started from exhibit C1 and ends at C28 but it was discovered to our chagrin that C29 was unofficially included. Following this discovery, the PDP lawyers in reaction, declined further inspection of the exhibits”, he stated. The PDP Legal Adviser expressed regret at what he described as ‘desperation’ of the ACN to grab power in Benue State, adding that the party had since last March 2011, written several petitions against the Justices of the various tribunals in the state, including the Makurdi Court of Appeal, accusing them of bribery and corruption. In his reaction to the allegation,

an ACN chieftain and former governorship aspirant of the party, Mr. Shimataver Atedze, dismissed the allegation, saying it was “another plot and machination of the PDP to preempt the outcome of victory of the ACN at the tribunal”. He said the ACN did not unlawfully remove the said documents; neither did it make any additions to the exhibits as claimed by the PDP. “We applied for the said documents, which we actually gave the court as exhibits in the first place. We did not make any additions to the exhibit as they claimed, it is a mere plot by the PDP to hoodwink the people, there is no truth in what they are saying”, Atedze said.

Akwe Doma was architect of his own failure –Wadada Contd. from page 37 zone to work against him (Doma). Therefore if Adamu won in his zone and PDP lost in Doma’s senatorial zone, it means that Doma was the one that worked against the party. What is the basis of allegations of fraud against the Yunana Iliya led excos? They took the party’s money and lent it out without due process. Documents are there to show that they lent the party’s money to Doma local government. And that alone is enough reason for any conscious, right thinking leader to say since this had gone to public, I have voluntarily, honourably resigned my position in the party. But knowing well what our antecedents are, every leader tries to take people for granted. They are still there sitting tight; these documents are clearly indicting, the signatures of the state chairman, secretary are there. We don’t hold grudge against them but for this singular act which is a clear case of corruption, they should give way for the national secretariat to give a protem leadership that will oversee the affairs of the party from now to the end of the congresses. And if any of them clears himself of these allegations and feels he has enough followership, he can contest in the congress.

L-R: Adamawa state acting governor, Alhaji Ahmadu Umaru, congratulating the new Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Abdullahi Liman, shortly after the latter was swore-in, at Government House, Yola on Saturday. Photo: NAN

Adamawa Ag. gov. sacks SSG, CPS, lifts curfew From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

he acting Governor of Adamawa state, Umaru Ahmad Fintri, over the weekend, replaced former Governor Murtala Nyako’s Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Kobis Ari Thimnu and the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Maijama’a Adamu. He has sworn in Dr Aliyu Tukur Liman, former ACN gubernatorial aspirant, while Solomon Kumanga of the state owned television replaces Adamu. Fintri has also lifted completely the dusk to dawn curfew hitherto placed in Numan and Lamurde council areas of the state by the immediate past governor. These changes came shortly after the Acting Governor took over from Murtala Nyako, who was sacked alongside four other

governors by the Supreme Court on Friday. Meanwhile, before thier replacement, the State chapter of the PDP and the former governor’s Chief Press Secretary had gone on a local radio to insist that the governor would not step down, but the state’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Bathimawus Lawi, later administered the oath of office on Fintri, seven hours after the court’s ruling amidst heavy security presence. This administration of oath of office on Fintri came after the arrival of the electronic transcript of the Supreme Court Verdict, in which the Attorney General informed the Chief Judge of the Nyak’s deposition. Similarly, the hitherto cordoned state House of Assembly complex was re-opened for the first time in two months and Fintri’s Deputy, Barr. Kwamoti B. Laori,

was sworn in as the Acting Speaker. In a strongly worded state-wide broadcast, the Acting governor had urged people of the state to see the Supreme Court ruling as “a reenforcement of democratic tenets and the total will of the almighty who have declared that this will happen in our lifetime.” He vowed to adhere to the oath he has sworn, adding that “a leader cannot claim to be greater than the people he is serving unless he is a dictator, this government would operate within the wishes of the people.” He also pledged to ensure security of lives and property of the people, saying “ peace is not the absence of crisis, but the presence of justice and good governance”, urging the political class to play the game by the rule and avoid bitterness, just as he assured Civil Servants in the state of his

commitment to work in close liaison with relevant government machinery, with a view to paying off their three-months unpaid salaries. It would be recalled that Ahmad Umaru Fintri, who represents Madagali constituency and Barr. Kwamoti Laori (Numan) both of the PDP, took over the mantle of leadership following vote of no confidence by 22 out of the 25 members of the House passed on the former speaker Barr. Sadiq Ibrahim Dasin (Fufore/ Dasin) and his deputy, Mrs Wale Fwah. The development had led to protests by youths of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who chanted pro-Nyako slogans and had chased security personnel manning the Assembly complex and sealed off the complex for two months until they were dispersed after announcement of the ruling.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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Liverpool to host Brighton in FA Cup Djokovic wins L Australian Open in longest final

iverpool’s sights are set firmly on a second route to Wembley after being drawn at home to Championship (first division) Brighton in the fifth round of the FA Cup yesterday. Kenny Dalglish’s side, who are already through to the League Cup final in which they face Cardiff City, beat Manchester United 2-1 on Saturday in the fourth round and will be fancied to get past Gus Poyet’s Brighton side. Brighton, who reached the final in 1983 before falling on hard times, knocked out Premier League Newcastle

United in the biggest upset of the fourth round. Chelsea will host Birmingham City while Arsenal travel to either Middlesbrough or Sunderland. Crawley Town, who are enjoying their first season in the Football League, fly the flag for League Two (fourth division) with a plum tie against last year’s runners-up Stoke City. Another David versus Goliath clash on the weekend of February 18-19 is Stevenage’s home tie with Premier League title contenders Tottenham Hotspur.

FIFTH ROUND DRAW (numerals denote division, Premier League unless stated). Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion (II) Everton v Blackpool (II)/Sheffield Wednesday (III) Chelsea v Birmingham City (II) Crawley Town (IV) v Stoke City Stevenage (III) v Tottenham Hotspur Norwich City v Leicester City (II) Sunderland/Middlesbrough (II) v Arsenal Millwall (II)/Southampton (II) v Bolton Wanderers.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates his victory over Rafael Nadal of Spain in the men’s final match on day 14 of the 2012 Australian Open tennis tournament early on January 30, 2012. Djokovic won the championship 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5.

Aku, Ekeji destroyed Super Eagles, says Babangida By Patrick Andrew

he Super Eagles’ poor run of form in the Last 10 years has been blamed on the duo of late former Sports Minister, Ishaya Mark Aku and the then Director-General Chief Patrick Ekeji who directed that the team be disbanded following a less than impressive performance at the 2002 Nations Cup in Mali. Former Eagles right wind striker, Tijjani Babangida claimed that the disbandment of the team that had Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George, Taribo West, Victor Ikpeba, Ike Shorunmu among others, for alleged insubordination to them, caused disarray and had impacted negatively on football and the Eagles in particular. According to Babangida, the disbandment, which was followed by an unplanned restructuring of the Eagles, destroyed not just the national team but its character, spirit and quality and ultimately has continued to haunt the team more than 10 years after.

“The problem started with the disbandment of the team in 2002 after the Nations Cup in Mali. Then, the authorities decided to do away with the crop of players that constituted the Eagles and began what they termed ‘restructuring’ which eventually destroyed the foundation of Nigerian football and had adversely affected the national team uptil now. “The restructuring dislodged the existing structure from its foundation: Youngsters, who were yet to imbibe and adapt to the existing pattern nor did not have the quality of national team players, were entrusted with responsibility that was far beyond them. Of course, they messed up things, but no fault of theirs,” he said. The former Ajax wing striker said before the unfortunate restructuring every position in the team had players with similar skill and zest and could easily blend in whenever one was given the opportunity to come on. “No, that restructuring ended a tradition that gave Nigeria and, indeed, the Eagles an identity: each position had players of almost equal quality, skill and deftness such that whenever anyone

comes on as a substitute whatever formation we were playing would remain unchanged. “Again, we had an identifiable playing pattern; we were the product of the domestic league and we were subjected to a pattern developed by (Clemens) Westerhof. Every player was made to adapt to it to fit into the national team. I recalled the Dutch shouting that the restructuring was negative and would lead to no good. Today, who can fault his prophecy?” The Technical Adviser of Taraba FC further said that those who had effected the change had lacked the vision for proper re-engineering of the team stressing that such dastard restructuring could and would never achieve any good. “It was pure misadventure and effect is what we are as a nation is reaping today. The intention whatever it was meant to be never achieved expected result because nowhere is such holistic restructuring done to good effect,” he said adding the poor run of form and epileptic performances of the team ever since are clear testimonies to his assertion.

ovak Djokovic wore down Rafael Nadal in the longest Grand Slam singles final ever, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 after 5 hours, 53 minutes to claim his third Australian Open title. Djokovic wrapped it up at 1:37 a.m. local time on Monday, becoming the fifth man since the Open Era began in 1968 to win three straight Grand Slam finals. Minutes earlier, at 4-4 in an electrifying fifth set, an exhausted Djokovic collapsed with his arms and legs spread wide after losing a 31-shot rally the longest of the match. He seemed barely able to pick himself and his racket up, but he somehow lifted himself for one last effort, beating Nadal for the seventh time in a final since March. The 24-year-old Djokovic tore off his shirt in celebration. He went to his support camp and repeatedly thumped the side of the arena in front of them in delight and relief. As the players waited for the trophy presentation, Nadal leaned on the net, while Djokovic sat on his haunches. Eventually, a nearby official brought them chairs and water. “We made history tonight and unfortunately there couldn’t be two winners,” said Djokovic, the winner of five Grand Slam titles and four of the last five majors. Djokovic, Nadal, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Rod Laver are the only players to win three consecutive Grand Slam finals since 1968. Nadal became the first man in the Open Era to lose three straight major finals. He was beaten in four sets by Djokovic at last year’s Wimbledon and U.S. Open. The previous longest major singles final was Mats Wilander’s win over Ivan Lendl at the U.S. Open in 1988, which lasted 4 hours, 54 minutes. The longest Australian Open final also involved Wilander in 1988, when the Swede beat Pat Cash. Sunday’s match was also the longest in the tournament’s history. A tense, error-strewn opening set offered no indication of the high drama to follow. In hot, humid conditions, Nadal, trying to step up to the baseline to take the initiative, took it after 80 minutes two minutes short of the entire women’s final the previous day. Nadal had only lost one match of his previous 134 in Grand Slams after winning the first set, but he found his serve coming under increasing pressure as the match wore on.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Wladimir’s defence reset for March

he heavyweight title bout between Wladimir Klitschko and Jean-Marc Mormeck has been reset for March 3. The fight, originally scheduled for last month, was postponed after Klitschko underwent surgery to have a kidney stone removed. The two are due to fight for the WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF titles held by Klitschko. Mormeck’s camp said on Friday the bout would be held at the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, where it was due to take place on December 10 last year. Both camps agreed on the date last December but the meeting was pending the IBF’s approval, which has been given by the WBA, the WBO, the IBO and the IBF, according to Mormeck’s camp. The 35-year-old Klitschko is looking to score his 50th knockout in 60 professional bouts when he takes on the former cruiserweight champion. Klitschko’s older brother, Vitali, holds the only other major heavyweight belt after retaining his WBC title last September by beating Poland’s Tomasz Adamek. Mormeck has had only three heavyweight fights since he lost his WBC and WBA cruiserweight titles to Briton David Haye in 2007.

Allen livid at loss to Tornadoes

SC coach, Festus Allen has expressed anger following his side’s 0-1 loss to Niger Tornadoes in match day five of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL). Sibi Gwar’s second half header off a Benedict Atule cross proved to be the difference between the two sides as Tornadoes took the spoils at the Bako Kontagora Stadium. Allen, formerly in charge of Bukola Babes (now ABS FC) is however adamant his side did not deserve to lose to Tornadoes on Saturday. “The pitch was bad; worse than our home ground, the Liberty Stadium (Ibadan). My boys played better and if that game was live on television, there is no way we would have lost,” an angry Allen told SuperSport.com. The gaffer was also quick to praise his players despite the loss to the Tornadoes. “All my boys did well but I was particularly impressed with my centre-half, Ahmed Adesope who fought so hard despite losing his sister to the cold hands of death three hours before the match. “He showed he was a man and real warrior and other players should learn from him,” he said. 3SC defeated Sharks 2-1 in their opening game of the season before recording draws against Rising Stars and Gombe United in their second and third games respectively. The Oluyole Warriors welcome the champions, Dolphins to the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday in their next NPL fixture.

Flamingoes to host Kenya in Abeokuta

igeria’s Flamingoes will host their Kenyan counterparts for the second leg of Fifa Under17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta. The team led by head coach, Peter Dedevbo arrived in the Rock City on Friday for a week training. Patience Okaeme scored one goal in each half in the first leg at the Nyayo Stadium, Kenya amidst cry of overaged players by the East Africans to give the Flamingoes a head start to the Saturday’s decider. Dedevbo told SuperSport.com that they are looking ahead to a good game on Saturday. “We are happy to have won the first leg by 2-0, but we have pushed that to the back of our minds as we prepare for the return leg match. “We have settled down well in Abeokuta and have everything to fully concentrate on our training programme. “We will go all out against the Kenyans on Saturday to record another resounding victory,” said Dedevbo, who led the class of 2010 to the quarterfinals in Trinidad and Tobago. Victory on aggregate will reward the Nigerian women with a final round clash with either Botswana or Zambia in March.

Ike revels in Sharks’ strike

arri Wolves’ strongman, Ike ThankGod has reflected on his super strike that gave his side a point in their 1-1 draw against Sharks in a feisty Nigeria Premier League (NPL) game decided at the Sharks Stadium on Saturday. Ike’s 12th minute strike threatened to give Wolves maximum points against the home side until Thankgod Amaefule equalized from the spot for the Blue Angels on 56 minutes. “To be honest, I did not know that I will score because my job is to defend. But I also like scoring goals which explains why I like moving upfront. It was a great goal and I am very happy,” Ike said. The subject of heated transfer speculation before the commencement of the 2011/2012 NPL season, Ike was desperately wanted by champions, Dolphins and a host of other top clubs but the defender says he is now setting his sights on achieving success with his current club. “People said a lot of things (about me leaving the club) and most of the things they said were not true. The most important thing is that I am still here (at Wolves) and happy. I will always give my best for Wolves,” the powerful defender concluded. Wolves will campaign for honours on three fronts this season - the NPL, the Federation Cup and the Caf Confederation Cup.

Cory Spinks

Ruslan Chagaev

Brahmer, Chagaev show veterans’ qualities

eterans Jürgen Brähmer, Cory Spinks and Ruslan Chagaev proved a few points with good victories at the weekend. The former champions may have lost their titles, but they showed they still have the skills and class to beat creditable opponents. Their notable victories improved their still impressive records and helped them retain their marketability. Brähmer stopped José Maria Guerrero in the fourth round of his come-back fight in Germany on Saturday night. The former WBO light-heavyweight champion, who had been out of action for 21 months, showed no ring rust as he knocked Guerrero down in the second round of their fight in Hamburg. The referee stopped the bout 2 minutes 27 seconds into the fourth round when Guerrero was bleeding from a bad cut. Brähmer improved his professional record to 37-2, including 30 knockouts. Guerrero’s record dropped to 29-3-1; 11. On the undercard of the high-class tournament at the Grand Elysée, former WBA heavyweight champion Chagaev improved to 28-2-1; 17 when he beat Kertson Manswell (22-4; 17) on points over eight rounds. Another former WBA champion, cruiserweight Firat Arslan, stopped Orlando Antonio Farias after 2 minutes 38 seconds of the second round to take his record to 32-5-1; 21. Farias dropped to 23-11; 12. Heavyweight Denis Boytsov (30-0; 25) knocked out Darnell Wilson (24-14-3; 20) in the fourth round. Olympic Games gold medallist Rakhim Chakhkiev beat Alexander Kotlobay on points over ten rounds in a fight for the WBC Baltic cruiserweight title. The scores were 100-89 on two cards and 99-89 on the third. Chakhkiev improved to 12-0; 9 and Kotlobay dropped to 21-3-1; 15. Vitali Tajbert, a former WBC super-featherweight champion, has improved to 23-2; 6 when he outpointed Jose Luis Graterol (14-11-4; 5) over eight rounds. Cruiserweight BJ Flores improved his record to 27-1-1; 16 when he stopped 40year-old former welterweight title challenger Hugo Pineda (39-6-1; 28) in the sixth round of a tournament in Springfield, Missouri. Cory Spinks, a former WBC and IBF welterweight and IBF light-middleweight champion, also made a statement when he defeated Sechew Powell over 12 rounds in an IBF light-middleweight title eliminator. Spinks, winning by two scores of 115-113 and one of 116-112, improved his record to 38-6; 11. Powell dropped to 26-4; 15. Verona, New York: Tony Grano knocked out Brian Minto in the third round of an NABF heavyweight title eliminator. Grano’s record now stands at 19-2-1; 15 and Minto’s at 35-4; 22. Minto was down twice in the third round before the fight was stopped 64 seconds into the round. In another heavyweight bout, Eric Fields (20-1; 15) outpointed Derrick Brown (13-7-3; 11) over eight rounds. Washington: Junior welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov improved to 21-1; 14 when he knocked out David Torres (21-3-2; 13) in the sixth round. Lightweight Ji-Hoon Kim (23-7; 18) beat Yakubu Amidu (17-3-1; 15) on points over ten rounds. The scores were 96-94, 98-92 and 97-93. Hamilton, New Jersey: Cruiserweight Omar Sheika improved to 31-11; 21 when he won on points over ten rounds against Charles Hayward (7-4; 3). The scores were 95-95, 96-94 and 97-93. Cebu, Philippines: Flyweight Milan Melindo, ranked No 1 by the WBO, retained the organisation’s intercontinental title when he stopped Mexican Juan Esquer in the seventh round. Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan: Zhanat Zhakiyanov knocked out Noppadol Khongchana of Thailand in the first round to win the WBC Asian bantamweight title. Puerto Colombia: Junior welterweight Breidis Presscott improved to 25-4; 20 when he stopped his Colombian countryman Joel Cassiani in the third round. Tokyo: Takuya Kogawa (18-2; 10) won the vacant Japanese flyweight title when he beat Shigetaka Ikehara (22-3-2; 18) on points over 12 rounds. The scores were 96-94 and 96-95 on the other two cards. Giza, Egypt: Light-heavyweight Hany Atiyo (120; 8) beat his Egyptian countryman Mazur Ali on points over 12 rounds. Jürgen Brähmer

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Ask anyone to make a list of the finest defenders on the planet and the chances are that Gerard Pique’s name will feature. Boasting an exquisite blend of skill, strength and intelligence, the classy 24-year-old has proved himself one of the most complete performers around for club and country in recent years. A serial medal collector with his beloved Barcelona and a 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa winner with Spain, Pique’s fellow professionals have also voted him into the FIFA/ FIFPro World XI for the past two years. In conversation with FIFA.com, the former Manchester United man took the time to tell us about his extraordinary recent success and the challenges that lay ahead in 2012.

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Defeat of Man United, Real Madrid was Barcelona’s best performance, says Pique S taying on Guardiola, can you give us a little more insight into what makes him such a special coach? On one hand, he sees football in ways nobody else does, and then he explains it better than anyone. Lots of coaches just tell you to move right or move left, but he gives you the reasons why, which means you clearly understand why you’re doing something. And so, without even realising it, you learn more and more every day and start to make your own decisions out on the pitch. On top of that, you have the way he motivates us. Loads of teams have won a lot of titles but then started losing their hunger, whereas we’re getting hungrier all the time. We want to have that feeling of pleasure, when you feel like you’re the best, again and again. Pep doesn’t let us take our foot off the pedal. He’s always on our case and trying to get the very best out of each one of us.

When we spoke to Guardiola himself, he told us how important it was to treat players like adults and make them responsible for their own actions… He makes you feel like a professional. It seems like he gives us more freedom, but in fact what he does is give us decision-making power. It’s as if he were saying, ‘Do you really want to make a living doing this? Do you want to be the greatest Pep Guardiola and win lots of trophies? It all depends on you. I’ll let you spend the night before a game at home, doing whatever you like, but you should know that if you don’t play well, you won’t start the next match.’ This makes you much more mature as well as making you feel you owe him something, so you feel like you have to perform out on the pitch. He sees football in ways nobody else does, and then he explains it better than anyone. Lots of coaches just tell you to move right or move left, but he gives you the reasons why, which means you clearly understand why you’re doing something Something else that also catches the eye is that this Barça team proved they can find their best form on the biggest occasions, such as the 2011 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United and in clásicos against Real Madrid… I thought we played a brilliant game against United. Not only was it one of the best performances I’ve been involved in, it was one of the best I’ve ever seen. Not just the result, but the way we won too – by playing well, dominating the game and creating chances. Normally in finals you see a lot of nervousness, with teams just trying to grab a goal and then cling on to a 1-0 win. The same thing happened against Madrid [as against United], because we’re now so used to playing games that are like finals. This team knows how to perform on the big occasions and it’s slight edges like that which make the difference between winning titles and falling short. Barcelona have often deployed a back three this season. Where did the idea come from and how have the team gone about working on it? We started doing it in pre-season more or less, and the gaffer got the idea because he felt we were getting too predictable: everyone knew all about us and played with every man behind

the ball. The idea behind the 34-3 is to make us more attacking, give us more possession, and help us create more goalscoring chances. H a v i n g s t a r t e d working on it in pre-season, we’ve had to grow more comfortable with it during the season, because it’s not an easy system. Particularly as a defender… You have to do much m o r e running. A f t e r m a t c h e s y o u ’ r e noticeably more tired because you have to deal with more attacks, you get pulled out into wide areas. It’s

“

This team (Barcelona) knows how to perform on the big occasions and it’s slight edges like that which make the difference between winning titles and falling short.

Gerard Pique

m o r e punishing for the centre-backs. That said, it’s been a very good thing for me personally, as it’s made me more versatile. You’ve been privileged enough to work under two greats in the shape of Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson. How different are they? Very. Ferguson is a manager and he often doesn’t come down to the training pitch. He stays in his office and does a lot of different tasks at the club. I think that he’s more of a father figure, at least that’s how he was with me when I joined them at 17. He was a great motivator: the way he spoke in the moments before games was fantastic. Guardiola, meanwhile, spends all day with the players and then sits through ten hours of video so he can show us footage of our opponents and how to attack them. Maybe it’s simply a question of how long they’ve been coaching: Pep’s just starting out while Sir Alex is much more experienced. In general terms though, there are major differences between the role of a coach in Spain and a manager in England, right? Yes, even the dugouts in the Premier League are higher up and aren’t covered - you’re almost sat right next to the fans! The countries have different cultures and their football is different too. It’s very passionate in England, it’s a fiesta: you turn up and there’s a brilliant atmosphere, the stadium’s full and the fans never stop cheering you on, even if you’re losing. In Spain it’s a bit trickier, culturally speaking, because the fans tend to stay at home more and the stadiums are only full for the bigger games. Perhaps we’re a bit more reserved in that sense, we don’t get behind the players as much, but we do demand more from them. Finally, though 2011 was undoubtedly a wonderful year, there are greater challenges ahead in 2012. In La Liga, for instance, Real Madrid are already clear at the top and Barça have found the going tougher. What are your thoughts on that? I suppose that when you’ve won as much as we have, it makes things tougher, because every opponent gives 110 per cent. In their eyes, being able to beat us is a real feat. Besides which, our games are seen across the globe and everyone puts us under the microscope. However much we want to try new things and make small adjustments, people know how we play, sit very deep and line up with six or seven defenders, especially away from home. At Camp Nou the pitch is bigger, so there’s more space, and the fans apply pressure and it makes things easier. We’ve also been a little short of luck recently. Anyway, the only thing we can do is keep working hard and the wins will come - as will the silverware. I’ve no doubt about that.

Rafael Nadal Maria Sharapova

Martina Navratilova

f o r London’s T i m e s newspaper. “I think it’s largely to do with the discrepancy in what they get, the levels of prize money,” he said. “They look at the profits the grand slams make and they say ‘don’t you think we perhaps deserve a little bit more of the profits?” Players have long complained about the packed tennis calendar, often blaming it for injuries, and are unhappy over Davis Cup scheduling and prize money at grand slams, among other issues. The players are represented by a council, headed by Roger Federer, in the body that runs the men’s tour, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Separately, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the sport’s governing body, while the Grand Slam Committee oversees the four major tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. It’s an arrangement in which the players feel their voices are not always heard. “I don’t necessarily like the system that’s in place as far as, you know, the board and votes and all that,” said former world number one Andy Roddick. “The definition of insanity defined by the dictionary is trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. “That’s the process that’s been in place since the late ’80s or early ’90s. We’re still having some of the same discussions they had then.” Some players and observers feel their best chance of making headway is to form a union to give them greater strength in negotiations. “I think it’s inevitable,” said US player Alex Bogomolov Jr. “As far as other sports, every sport has a players’ union. I think eventually it will be a step in the right direction for the sport.” However, the problems are diverse and so are the players, who range from the big-name superstars to the journeymen whose prize money barely covers their travel and coaching costs. “The problem with tennis, of course is that you have so many different players with so many different desires and demands and wants and needs,” said Harman. “And of course the problem they have is that the constitution of the ATP is that it’s 50 percent tournaments and 50 percent players so while you’ve got that situation it’s very hard to make any headway.” For example, elite players want to cut down on the number of compulsory tournaments, while lesser lights need all the ranking points they can get. Veteran tennis writer Richard Evans, who works for FOXSports.com, said scheduling of matches at the US Open is one area where progress could be made, but other problems are trickier to solve. “The prize money issue is much more difficult,” Evans said. “The grand slams don’t like to be told what to do and they will always defend themselves with ‘we give money to junior tennis, we support the game’.” He points out that tennis compares unfavourably with team sports such as basketball, where players receive about 50 percent of revenue, and golf, where players can pick up a paycheck of US$1 million for a regular win on tour. “I think the grand slams are making a lot more than they’re sharing with the players. I think that’s a fact,” women’s legend Martina Navratilova said this week. But Evans does not believe the disagreement will come to a strike because those at the top, including Federer and new ATP chief Brad Drewett, are voices of reason. Drewett, only a few weeks into his new role, is certainly making the right noises, saying he heard the players “loud and clear”. He refused to be drawn on any initiatives he was planning but highlighted a shorter season in 2012, by two weeks, and a 20 percent increase in prize money for ATP World Tour events over the next three years. So what next for the players, who are clearly agitating for change?

Novak Djokovic

rowing player discontent over pay and conditions could herald a shake-up in professional tennis but there is little danger of an all-out strike, according to experts. Fears of a major showdown grew at the Australian Open after”passionate” men’s players’ meeting was followed by a string of top stars calling for change. And while the threat of a basketball-style shut-down possibly at the French Open, or even the Olympics appears slight, there is no doubting the groundswell of opinion among players. “I don’t think I’ve seen as many angry players for a while and that, I think, tennis is going to have to face fairly soon,” said Neil Harman, tennis correspondent

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

Andy Roddick

PAGE 44

“Nothing’s going to happen in the next couple of months,” said Evans. “They will probably come to some decision before the French (Open) as to what they’re going to do but for the time being they’ve got a new leader on board and he’s going to sit with the councils and the board. It’s a process. “They’ve got a beef but how they go about getting somewhere I don’t know.” Harman says if players want real change they must agree on exactly what they want, a “defining A, B, C”. “If the current mood prevails, there’s a meeting in Indian Wells… if they say this is what we want, we’re prepared to do this to get it, I think the French Open would get a bit twitchy because they’re the next grand slam. “To my mind the only thing that players could do, what would really impact would be to boycott a grand slam or say we won’t play the Olympics, and I wonder if they’re quite ready to do that.”

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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Pictorial Pix 1: Asafa Powell predicts a Jamaican clean sweep of the 100m medals at London 2012 after winning the US Open 50m. Pix 2: World number one Novak Djokovic beats second seed Rafael Nadal in a fiveset epic to retain his Australian Open title. Pix 3: Carl Frampton successfully defends his Commonwealth super-bantamweight title with an impressive seventh-round stoppage against Kris Hughes in London. Pix 4: England coach Andy Flower is considering dropping a batsman for the third Test after their latest abject showing against spin. Pix 5: England's second string build on an impressive scrummaging display with tries from Ben Spencer and Thomas Waldrom. Pix 6: England's Robert Rock repels Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to win his second European Tour event at the Abu Dhabi Championship. Pix 7: London plans to host a one-day professional road race to rival classic events such as the Paris-Roubaix.

3 6

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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Kiplagat spoils Lagat return party B

ernard Lagat hope of celebrating his return to the track at the US Open Indoor at the Madison Square Race was denied, no thanks to Silas Kiplagat of Kenya, who edged him in the race. The American has a large following at the Square and was regarded the favourite to clinch the men’s mile race, having won a record eight Wanamaker Mile titles before losing last year. This time, the 37-year-old Kenyan-born American, who is the reigning World indoor 3000m champion and won an unprecedented 1500m/5000m double at the 2007 World Outdoor Championships, was upstaged by 22-year-old Kiplagat of Kenya who, like Lagat, was a silver medallist at last year’s outdoor Worlds in Daegu, Korea. Kiplagat, who ran the 1500m in Daegu while Lagat ran the 5000m, led with less than 400m remaining in a tactical race here. Lagat attacked first, with a lap and a half left in the 11-lap race; Kiplagat pounced half a lap later, regained the lead, and held on to edge Lagat, 4:00.65 to 4:00.92. “I’m really ready now,” the unperturbed Lagat said afterward about beginning his campaign to make a fourth Olympic team and contend for the 5000m gold in London.

RESULTS MEN 50 Dash 1, Asafa Powell, Jamaica, 5.64 seconds. 2, Nesta Carter, Jamaica, 5.67. 3, Trell Kimmons, United States, 5.68. 50 Hurdles 1, Terrence Trammell, United States, 6.45. 2, David Oliver, United States, 6.50. 3, Omo Osaghae, United States, 6.52. 600 Yard Dash 1, Renny Quow, Trinidad & Tobago, 1:11.20. 2, Bershawn Jackson, United States, 1:11.31. 3, Tabarie Henry, U.S. Virgin Islands, 1:11.75. Mile 1, Silas Kiplagat, Kenya, 4:00.65. 2, Bernard Lagat, United States, 4:00.92. 3, Daniel K. Komen, Kenya, 4:03.82. High Jump 1, Jesse Williams, United States, 2.39 meters. 2, Dusty Jonas, United States, 2.25 meters. 3, Jaime Nieto, United States, 2.20 meters. Shot Put 1, Ryan Whiting, United States, 21.17 meters. 2, Christian Cantwell, United States, 20.73 meters. 3, Adam Nelson, United States, 20.67 meters. WOMEN 50 Dash 1, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Jamaica, 6.08. 2, Jessica Young, United States, 6.20. 3, Gloria Asumnu, Nigeria, 6.22. 50 Hurdles 1, Lolo Jones, United States, 6.78. 2, Tiffany Porter, Britain, 6.83. 3, Kellie Wells, United States, 6.84. 500 Yard Dash 1, Keshia Baker, United States, 1:03.74. 2, Fawn Dorr, United States, 1:04.35. 3, Jasmine Chaney, United States, 1:05.90. 800 1, Fantu Magiso, Ethiopia, 2:07.54. 2, Ajee Wilson, United States, 2:09.09. 3, Stephanie Charnigo, United States, 2:09.39. Mile 1, Brenda Martinez, United States, 4:34.62. 2, Sara Vaughn, United States, 4:37.12. 3, Anna Pierce, United States, 4:39.97.

The women’s mile, which was contested by an all-U.S. field, ended in an upset win for Brenda Martinez in 4:34.62; Anna Pierce, who was fourth in the 2010 World Indoor Championships at 800m and was starting a comeback here after a down year

Silas Kiplagat

in 2011, was well back in third at 4:39.97. In the men’s 400m and long-hurdles specialists battled in an exciting race over the rare 600-yard distance. Tabarie Henry of the U.S. Virgin Islands took the pace out hard; he was passed at about 300m by

Fantu Magiso

Farah clinches team title, as Shigeto wins Osaka marathon

orld 5 000-metre champion Mo Farah won a thrilling 1 500 from Kenya’s Augustine Choge to clinch the Aviva International Match for Britain and Northern Ireland, while Japan’s Risa Shigetomo boosted her chances of going to the London Olympics by winning the Osaka women’s marathon 24 hours later.. Farah and Choge, a 1 500 specialist, bumped a few times before Farah held off Choge’s sprint finish. Britain’s two other world championships medalists didn’t fare as well. Hannah England was edged on the line in the women’s 1 500 by Denise Krebs of Germany, and Andy Turner was last in the 60 hurdles won by Konstantin Shabanov of

Russia. Turner was still recovering from an Achilles injury. Russia was second overall, followed by Germany, a Commonwealth Select team and the United States. In Osaka, Shigetomo pulled away at the 26-kilometre mark and crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 23 seconds for her first marathon victory. Ukrainian Tetiana Gamera-Shmyrko was second, a minute and 23 seconds behind, while Japan’s Azusa Nojiri was third in 2:24:57. The Osaka race is the second of three domestic qualifiers for three spots on Japan’s team for London. The final Olympic qualifier will be in Nagoya on March 11.

Bershawn “Batman” Jackson of the U.S., the 2005 World champion at the 400m Hurdles, who seemed headed for victory until Rennie Quow of Trinidad, the 2009 World bronze medallist at 400m, made a huge move with half a lap left. Quow caught Jackson four steps from the tape and out-leaned him, 1:11.20 to 1:11.31; Henry was a close third in 1:11.75. Fantu Magiso of Ethiopia easily won a lackluster women’s 800m in 2:07.54 ahead of high schooler Ajee Wilson, last year’s World Youth champion, who clocked 2:09:09. Keshia Baker and Dawn Dorr, both of the U.S., fought hard in a much tighter 500-yard race, with Baker prevailing, 1:03.74 to 1:04.35. Similarly, Americans won two of the evening’s three field events. Reigning World champion Jesse Williams took the high jump at 2.29m and called it a good start to his season; a video screen showed him performing trick slam-dunks with a basketball. Ryan Whiting’s 21.16m Shot Put victory over three-time World indoor champion Christian Cantwell and 2005 World outdoor champion Adam Nelson can no longer be called an upset; it was his second straight victory over them in the Garden. The event was augmented by a bit of gimmickry, which went unexploited: none of the competitors managed to land a throw in a small triangular area at the center of the shot sector, near the 20m mark; any shot that had hit the triangle would have earned its putter a US$2,000 bonus. Jillian Schwartz of Israel won the pole vault at 4.52m after Jenn Suhr of the U.S., the 2008 Olympic silver medallist, noheighted while opening at what was Schwartz’s eventual winning mark. On each attempt, Suhr had easily enough height for a clearance but came down too close to the bar to avoid it.

Powell, Campbell-Brown send Olympics warning, as Jamaica claim sprint double

safa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown completed a Jamaican sprint double at the US Open indoor meet at Madison Square Garden over the weekend. There were no Olympic gold medals on offer but it was an ominous reminder ahead of this year’s London Games of the unrivalled strength of Jamaica’s crack sprinters. Powell, almost the forgotten man of Jamaican sprinting because of the achievements of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, lunged at the line to win the 50 metre dash in 5.67 seconds, the fastest time in a decade for the rarely-run event. “It was weird but it was a pretty good time for my first race of the season,” said

Asafa Powell

Powell. “There’re bigger races ahead but that’s a good way to begin.” Powell’s training partner Nesta Carter was second in 5.67. Like Powell, he has his sights set on London, if not in the individual events then the Jamaican relay. American Trell Kimmons was third in 5.68, followed by compatriot Justin Gatlin in 5.71. “Surely it (a Jamaican Olympic sweep) can be done,” said Powell, a former world record-holder whose career has been overshadowed by countryman Usain Bolt, with yet another Jamaican, Yohan Blake, rising to prominence last year and gaining the No. 1 world ranking over 100m. “We have some amazing runners,” added Powell, who was making his first indoor appearance since 2004. Nothing’s ever certain. Not even for Usain Bolt. To run this well this early in the season is very promising. I’m very fit right now. But I’m still not fast.” Despite his modesty, Powell’s time was not far off the world mark of 5.56sec, achieved by both Canada’s Donovan Bailey and American Maurice Greene in the rarely contested event. “Just making the Jamaican team is going to be hard enough,” Powell said. Campbell-Brown, who won the 200m gold medal at each of the last two Olympics and was part of the Jamaican relay that won in Beijing four years ago, burst out of the blocks and held on to win the women’s

50m dash in 6.08. “It’s a step in the right direction,” she said. “Each race is just a preparation for what’s to come this season.” The US won the men’s and women’s hurdles: Terrence Trammell, a former world indoor champion, won the men’s race in 6.45 while Lolo Jones, also an indoor world champion better known for a mishap at the BeijingOlympics, won the women’s event in 6.78. Jones was leading the Olympic final in Beijing when she clipped the penultimate hurdle and crashed to the ground, finishing seventh. Last year, she underwent spinal surgery to repair a defect she had suffered from birth but is hoping for better luck this season.

Veronica Campbell-Brown

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

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PARLIAMENTARY AND CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

SIGNED SECRETARY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED SOCIETY HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. NWANDIKOM ELEAZAR CHIJIOKE 2. HON. ONOH HILARY ABULUCHUKWU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROMOTE INCREASED COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE LEGISLATIVE. 2. TO ADVANCE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE COLLABORATION OFT HE LEGISLATIVE AND THE SOCIETY. 3. TO EDUCATE, ENLIGHTEN AND PROPAGATE THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, GOOD LEADERSHIP, SOCIAL, JUSTICE, TRANSPARENCY, EQUITY AND FAIRNESS IN OUR NASCENT DEMOCRACY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED BARR. CHRISTOPHER ONOH 07065423130

PUBLIC NOTICE

MARTIN OHAERI IJERE FOUNDATION FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

NIAGRA FOUNDATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND PORVERTY ERADICATION

This is to inform the General Public of the Fire incident that occured in the resident of one Mohammed Kabiru Musa ‘m’ of Karofin Madaki, Opposite Old Transfer Bauchi, as a result of that he lost most of his house hold properties and valuable documents which include document located at Sindada Hotel No. 339 DP/5 GRA Bauchi and Right of occupancy No. BA/4397

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the General Public that the origional copy of Certificate of Occupancy in respect of Plot No. 559c at Area 11, Garki, Abuja with file No. MISC7090 and MISC 59864 belonging to National Council of Women Societies Nigeria got missing. All effort made to trace the said documents proved abortive. if fund please contact the nearest police station or AGIS. CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JAMILA BISI ADUKE YAHAYA AHMED, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JAMILA BISI ADUKE SULEIMAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. MODIBO ADMA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, YOLA AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS ANAKE, REGINA UKPANA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OTUKPA, REGINA UKPANA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR LYDIA OGBORU -CHAIRMAN 2.ELDER PETER EWUBARE -SECRETARY 3.MR. JOSEPH NWAKODO 4.MRS. SYVELSTER ETERIGHO 5.MRS. KESIENA NWOKO 6.MRS. PEACE AKIREMI 7.MR. ABRAHAM EFEROBOR 8.MR. SAMUEL EFEROBOR 9.PASTOR FESTUS AFI 10.MISS PHIENU PHILOMENA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO IDENTIFY AND ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY BY PROVIDING BASIC WELFARE NEEDS. 3. TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES AIMED AT PROMOTING THE WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE 4. TO ASSIST ORPHANS AND WIDOWS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE AND ENHANCE THEIR WELLBEING. 2. TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS AND PROMOTE UNITY AND UNDERSTANDING AMONGST MEMBERS.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. BALA MOHAMMED 2. NDAGI MOHAMMED ABUBAKAR 3. ALFA YAHAYA MASAGA 4. ISAH MUSA 5. MOHAMMED YAHAYA 6. CHRISTIANA DAMISA 7. USMAN ALFA 8. PHARM. PETER EMMANUEL 9. ADAMA MUSA HUSSAINI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART 'C'OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. IJERE UZOMA LINCOLN WOLFGANG -CHAIRMAN 2. IJERE IJEOMA ESTHER - SECRETARY 3. IJERE UCHENNA MICHAEL 4. IJERE ONYEKACHI MARTIN JNR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO CREATE AWARENESS AND PROMOTE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN THE SOCIETY. 2. TO MENTOR THE YOUTHS IN BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL CAREER 3. TO INSPIRE CREATIVITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE YOUTHS. 4. TO CREATE A PLATFORM UPON WHICH THE YOUTH SHALL BECOME THE CHANGE AGENT IN THE SOCIETY. 5. TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUTHS. 6. TO CREATE A PLATFORM UPONG WHICH THE YOUTHS ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS AND VISION. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED BARRISTER MOJUME IKEMEFUNA NO. 12 NEGRO CRESCENT MAITAMA ABUJA 08033729801

CHANGE OF NAME

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. NWANDIKOM ELEAZAR CHIJIOKE 2. HON. ONOH HILARY ABULUCHUKWU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ENSURE THAT ECONOMIC LITERACY BECOMES A PRIORITY ON THE NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL AGENDA. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED BARR. CHRISTOPHER ONOH 07065423130

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AMBASSADOR BUBA AHMAD 2. KABIRU SULEIMAN 3. MUSA DAN-AZUMI 4. AHMAD JIBRIL BUBA 5. AHMAD SULEIMAN AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION FOR LESS PRIVILEGED 2. TO ERADICATE ILLITERACY IN THE SOCIETY. 3. GIRL CHILD EDUCATION. 4. DEVELOPING OF SKILL AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED ISA HASSAN 08037314654

PUBLIC NOTICE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MUSBAHU MUKHTAR BELLO, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MUSBAHU SUNUSI BELLO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. NIGERIA SECURITY AND CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CONGREGATION OF THE HOLY GHOST NIGERIA NORTH-WEST FOUNDATION

SPACE FOR SALE SPACE FOR SALE

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. VERY REV. FR. DANIEL OJOCHIDE ABBA CSSP 2. REV. FR. OMALE BENJAMIN ADEDE CSSP 3. REV. FR. ABAH BENJAMIN CSSP 4. REV. FR. TITUS ALIYU CSSP 5. REV. FR. EJIKE OLIVER UGWU CSSP 6. REV. FR. PETER OCHOLI OKOLO CSSP AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST TO ALL NATIONS. 2. TO RAISE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ON TRUE AND PHYSICAL SPIRITAN LIVES. 3. TO ORGANIZE REVIVAL PROGRAMME, RETREAT AND ALL MANNER OF EVANGELISM AMONG THE POOR. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED EMMANUEL E. MAJI ESQ 08033138357

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE “If you live long enough, the venerability factor creeps in; first, you get accused of things you ne ver did, and la ter edited nev later ter,, cr credited ou ne ver had” for vir tues y virtues you nev — I. F F.. Stone

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

92 clubs sent homophobia awareness poster as PFA tackle taboo

he players Football Association, (PFA) in England will send a poster out to all 92 Premier League and Football League clubs to raise awareness of homophobia in the game. The union has been working with leading figures in the game for the past few months to tackle the issue and will send out the poster to try to create a 'so what?' culture around homosexuality in football and reassure a gay footballer that he will have support from his club, teammates and the wider public if he does choose to come out. The poster shows two shirts in a locker room – one with No 7 Gay and the other with No 11 Straight – written on it, with the words ‘When you are part of a team you are never on your own – we are all winners. Football is committed to tackling homophobia’. The poster has the official backing of the FA, Premier League, Football League, League Managers’ Association and the Kick It Out campaign. 'We want the authorities, clubs and fans to create a 'so what?' culture around being gay in football. As the players' union, we consider it a vital matter. There has been a step forward recently and football is taking homophobia seriously.' No player or official in Britain has come out since Justin Fashanu in 1990 although Hysen in Sweden and David Testo in America did last year. English cricketer Steve Davies and Welsh rugby player Thomas are also openly gay. Chris Basiurski, chair of the Gay Footballers Support Network, is glad to see the initiative after what, he believes, was a lack of urgency by the Premier League and Football League to address homophobia in football. Results: Nations Cup Eq./Guinea 0 Zambia 1 Libya 2 Senegal 1 Zambia and Eq.Guinea qualified for Q/F

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Jonathan's shoes Next time a man asks you to vote for him because he grew up without shoes, just buy him a pair of shoes and move on — A recent Nigeria joke about President Jonathan

ecause he had failed to take ordinary Nigerians along in the run-up to his decision to remove subsidy on petroleum, millions of Nigerians saw President Goodluck Jonathan's action as cruel and insensitive. Many remembered his inaugural speech which touched a sympathetic nerve, when he reminded the nation that he started as a schoolboy who went to school barefooted in his village. Many Nigerians who saw themselves or their children in the life and experiences of the President thought the lessons and benefits of his remarkable journey will not end in the Presidential Villa in Abuja. They were told to expect fundamental changes from the past, and transformation from a man whose humble beginnings and fairytale journey to the top could only mean that they will have a government that will address poverty, hopelessness and fear. President Jonathan's comments since the beginning of the subsidy removal fiasco indicate that he knows many simple and poor Nigerians are angry and disappointed with him. A well read friend of mine said if the poor knew philosophy, they will describe their betrayal by Jonathan as that of politicians like him who, according to Oscar Levant, double-cross bridges before they even come to them. Poor Nigerians said President Jonathan took away their tattered shoes now that he has many of his own. His assurances that things will get better were cold comfort to many who think they will also lose their feet by the time things improve. President Jonathan must feel like the former US President Harry Truman who, in his many battles with Congress and the opposition over the economy, said, "I never give the pubic hell. I just tell the truth, and they think its hell." President Jonathan's best friends will hope that he can fill the big shoes required to deal with the consequences of his decision to remove subsidy on petrol, because he has won one battle, but has a long way to go to win the war. In many ways the challenges he will face will be even more demanding than those he and the nation have just come through. The poor manner the subsidy policy (which predated Jonathan) was handled, and the even poorer approach of President Jonathan to its removal

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FIFTEEN MINUTES with Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed drbabaahmed@yahoo.com

President Goodluck Jonathan have thrown up fundamental questions about governance. Nigerians now know just how murky the waters are around the petroleum sector. They want a radical reduction in the size and cost of governance. They want more transparency and accountability in leadership at all levels. They want to know how budgets are made; who decides how much is spent on who; why so much should be spent on selected areas and not others; and what their elected leaders earn and why. Nigerians want to know what comes to their governments and from what sources; who is giving up to the public purse and who is withholding; who is underpaying and who is exempted from paying. They want to know how much our leaders set aside to eat and entertain themselves; to travel or buy planes and bullet-proof cars; to buy diesels for their giant generators and drugs for their clinics. They want to know what the additional income to government from the removed subsidy will be used for. They want answers to their poverty, insecurity and massive unemployment. Young Nigeria want to see a glimmer of hope that they have a future as productive adults in a nation which should secure and guarantee it for them. The involvement of many civil society organizations and other groups as well as the political opposition in demanding for answers to these questions will

keep President Jonathan on his toes, and on his feet. This, in a way, is why his shoes must be tough enough for the assignment. Just dealing with endemic corruption around petroleum sector community which ties up NNPC, PPPRC, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Customs Service will require the deployment of the strongest political will. Beyond investigating past violations of the law and due process, a matter over which Nigerians have a registered cynicism, raising the levels of transparency and accountability in and around the petroleum sector will be a major undertaking. Many legitimate questions have been raised regarding the capacity of Jonathan's administration to tackle both corruption and deep reforms around the petroleum sector, with many of the key players sitting smugly on their seats. Then there are basic issues about the budgeting process, and the hard questions which Nigerians will demand answers for. Why, for instance, should we spend N1 trillion on security when the police cannot prevent the escape of a high profile suspect in a Boko Haram bombing? How much comfort should we derive from a N1 trillion spending on security when Middle Belt leaders are shown on television discussion how they can improve their own security, complete with a briefing from an Israeli? Nigerians will ask why we have to pay elected leaders so much, when workers had to go through very difficult struggles to get a minimum wage of N18,000, which the increase in petroleum price has now rendered virtually useless? Then there are many valid questions around the size and redundancy of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies; hundreds of political appointees who do virtually nothing to add value to the quality of governance, and an entire federal structure which merely serves to absorb and spend public funds around leaders. The post-subsidy saga has put President Jonathan in a real spot.

He will have to reclaim lost ground in political terms, which has been caused by two developments. One was the unfortunate outing by Ijaw leaders and youth which exposed his base in its narrowest form. The second is the resort to strong arm tactics to bring to an end the subsidy strikes, which included the invocation of security concerns and the virtual occupation of Lagos . He has further alienated the leadership of the Yoruba, and has offended many northern christians who voted for him at some cost, and who being among the most impoverished segment of society, will feel that he has rewarded their loyalty with hardship. He has made enemies with the vocal elements of civil society organizations, and the dormant political opposition is stirring. In economic terms, President Jonathan will be expected to perform near-miracles. He will be expected to deliver on the palliatives he has promised, at a time when there really isn't spare cash to put aside for them. All because subsidy has been removed (President Jonathan will say partially removed) Nigerians will expect a higher performance rate in rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, particularly power, roads and rail transport. They will expect a radical improvement the overall performance of government in terms of delivering service, as compensation for the radical rise in the cost of living. They will expect a reduction in terms of the threats to their lives and property; and they will expect to see their leaders make sacrifices the same way they do. The shoes that President Jonathan wears now should enable him go the distance to deliver on his promise to transform Nigeria. It will be fatal for his administration and the nation if he fails to do this, particularly at a time when Nigerians' faith and trust in politicians is at its lowest ebb. Former Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev once described politicians as people who promise to build a bridge even where there is no river. President Jonathan has no luxury of a honeymoon, and he certainly cannot afford further decline in popular perception regarding his competence to run the country. His job as President has been made more difficult by his recent decisions, and by the impression he has created that it will be well for Nigerians in the long run. Since he now has shoes, Nigerians expect him to cover the distance, and win the race against cynicism, opposition and a weak political capacity.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com ISSN: 2141– 6141