Jonathan's hasty 2nd term endorsement: Obi, Eze under fire

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Vol. 1 No. 6, Monday, September 17 – Sunday, September 23, 2012

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2015 Presidency:

Jonathan's hasty 2nd term endorsement: Obi, Eze under fire

By Ted Peters, Larry Onwuta, Edem Archibong, Calabar, Vincent Anikwushe, Asaba and Donald Kumun, Makurdi

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Following pubic outcry by people of South East over deplorable condition of federal roads in the zone, President Goodluck Jonathan directed Minister of States for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation last week.

Pix shows the Minister (2nd right) inspecting the collapsing Ekulu Bridge on Enugu-Abakaliki highway. Photo: ADVOCATE

minent Nigerians and groups especially within the Southern parts of the country have continued to descend heavily on Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi and renowned Igbo businessman, Chief Arthur Eze over their recent blanked endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office after the expiration of his current tenure in 2015. There has been widespread condemnation of the two Anambra indigenes for their position regarding Jonathan and the 2015 presidency, which many described as hasty and an attempt to distract the president from tackling the numerous challenges confronting his government.

Angry reactions trailing the comments by Obi and Eze conveyed what could be regarded as a general consensus among the people of the South East, South South geopolitical zones and Middle-Belt region that President Jonathan has not done anything meaningful for the people of the two zones to merit tenure elongation.

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Boko Haram killings will last for 12 years 

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Pastor’s wife, daughter, 2 others die in Enugu Page 4 auto crash

– Apostle Andrew Ehis

I did not purchase ship, Orji tells detractors  Page 4

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I did not purchase ship, Orji tells detractors

By Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia

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OVERNOR Theodore Orji of Abia State has denied speculations that he was duped by a syndicate while trying to buy a vessel during his recent overseas trip.

Orji, who returned from United States with his wife, Chief Mrs. Mercy Orji after the business trip, described the rumour as figment of lies and imagination hatched by his detractors and the opposition, which is laughable.

The governor was received by his supporters from Abia who besieged the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Owerri to accord him a warm reception. He said that he heard about the rumour while in Europe and he only busted with laughter because, according

to him, he has never been in business before and as a retired civil servant, if he was offered a ship free of charge he would reject it outright.

Orji said that the opposition who lost out at the pools were always at work to discredit his administration and advised the people to shun such detractors and continue to support his government which, he said, has done a lot to improve infrastructural, peace and security of the State.

Throwing more light on his trip, the governor said that he visited many countries in Europe to scout for investors, assuring that soon his trip would yield expected dividends as a new Hospital Project would soon be built in Obuaku boundary town at Ukwa West Local Government Area of the State.

Pastor’s wife, daughter, 2 others die in Enugu auto crash

By Susan Manny

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Inemesit Uko

Pet Name: Cool Serene Birthday: September 30 Phone: 07038050306 Qualification: OND Estate Mgt (IMT) Hobbies: Volley Ball, Reading, Singing Dislike: Pride

o fewer than four persons lost their lives Friday night in a fatal road accident involving three vehicles along the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway, which has remained a deathtrap for travelers since the past two years.

The police also confirmed at the weekend the drugging of a tricycle operator by an unknown person in Enugu who also dispossessed the victim of the Keke.

Wife of the founder of Old Path Revival Commission, Enugu Rev. Mrs. Maria Itiowe and her daughter, Glory Itiowe were among the victims of the auto crash. Other victims were identified as Ebere Iroham also of the same church and one Dennis Ogwu, a driver of a Toyota Jeep with registration number LV 544 AAA, one of the vehicles involved in the accident.

Other vehicles were a 911 Mercedes Benz lorry with registration number XL 977 GDD and a Lexus Jeep with registration number TF 176 AAA. The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the incident yesterday, said that the accident which occurred at about 6.30pm on Friday claimed four lives. He said that the crash occurred before Nkwo Ezeagu market on the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway within Ezeagu local government area of Enugu State.

The police spokesman said that the two jeeps collided with the 911 Mercedes Benz, both of which lost control and somersaulted several times leading to the death of the occupants.

According to him, Mrs. Otiowe and Ebere Iroham died on the spot while another occupant later identified as

Glory Itiowe of the same church was found to be critically injured and was rushed to Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu where she was confirmed dead.

Dennis Ogwu, the driver of the Toyota Jeep who was also rushed to Our Saviour Hospital 9th Mile Corner Ngwo for treatment was later confirmed dead bringing the death toll to four.

Amaraizu said the command has already commenced investigations into the incident even as the road had been cleared of the wreckage which disrupted traffic for several hours.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, the PPRO, however, advised motorists plying the road to always drive with caution and obey traffic rules and regulations.

The police also confirmed yesterday an incident in which one Nweke Samuel of No. 39 Ibusa Street, Independence Layout, Enugu was dispossessed of his tricycle popularly called Keke NAPEP after he was allegedly drugged by unknown persons.

Nweke, according the PPRO, was on September 6 at about 11.30pm invited by a man identified as Kelechi to a hotel along Akutu crescent Independence Layout Enugu where he was said to have been offered a bottle of soft drink .

But unknown to him the drink had been drugged and after taking it, he f ell into deep sleep and before he could wake up, the said Kelechi disappeared with his tricycle with registration number AW 652 QD. The police advised members of the public to be security conscious and also be weary about the kind of people they collect gifts or drinks from, to avoid falling victims to undesirable elements who may want to wreck havoc on the lives of innocent citizens and dispossess them of their properties through such tricks

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

Jonathan Reconstitutes Power Sector Action Committee and Task Force

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N a move to give renewed i m p e t u s t o h i s administration's drive to significantly improve power supply across the nation, President Goodluck Ebele J o n a t h a n We d n e s d a y recomposed the Presidential Action Committee on Power and the Presidential Task Force on Power, the two bodies charged with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of Federal Government's agenda for power sector reforms.

President Jonathan retains the chairmanship of the recomposed Presidential Action Committee on Power (PACP) which was established in June 2010 to provide leadership and guidance for the rapid development of Nigeria's power sector and determine the general policy direction and strategic focus of reforms in the sector.

Vice President Mohammed

Namadi Sambo is the deputy Chairman of the Committee while its other members include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of Service, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the Minister of Power, the Minister of State for Power and the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Other members are the Minister of National Planning, the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, the Special Adviser to the President (Performance Monitoring & Evaluation), the DirectorGeneral Bureau of Public Enterprises, the DirectorGeneral Bureau of Public Procurement, the Group Managing Director of the

FG blamed for collapse of Nigercem Cement Factory

By Uchenna Itumo, Abakaliki

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he Federal Government has been blamed for the collapse of the pioneer cement factory in the country Nigercem Nkalagu in Ishielu Local Government Area, in Ebonyi State.

This disclosure was made by the acting governor of the state, Engr. Dave Umahi in the occasion of the Stakeholders workshop on the topic Harnessing the Economic Potentials of Limestone as an Industrial Mineral termed, “Production of Hydrated Lime” in the state capital Abakaliki.

The acting Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State

Government SSG, Chief Fidelis Mbam, Stated that Ebonyi State was blessed with abundant mineral deposits, which include lime stone, salt, lead and Zinc, among others urged interested investors to come into the state to explore the benefits inherent in those deposits, maintaining that the state Government has put everything in place to accommodate investors, as the state was conducive for people to come and invest.

The Commissioner for Cement Production and Mineral Development in the State, Prince Sunday Ugwuocha said in his speech that Nigeria spends over a billion naira annually on the importation of Hydrated Lime, which he said

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President Jonathan NNPC, the Chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power will serve as Secretary of the PACP. Engineer Reynold DagogoJack of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) is to assume the chairmanship of the Presidential Task Force on Power which has the duty of developing and driving the Federal Government's action plan for the power sector as well as articulating a proper plan of action for was so sad.

He commended the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) for their efforts in solving industrial problems in the country.

In his remark, the DirectorGeneral of Raw Material Research and Development Council, Profesor Peter Onwualu, represented by Dr..

Angela Ugbo, maintained that Ebonyi state was richly endowed, and if the mineral deposits are explored, the state would be one of the richest states in the federation.

T h e D i r e c t o r- G e n e r a l advised other states in the country to look deep into areas where they are richly endowed, rather than creating mono economy by concentrating on the oil only.

Notable scholars delivered lectures during the workshop, including the Head of Department Geology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Dr. Paulinus Nnabo, who presented paper on the theme, Hydrated Lime Production in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects for its Investment.

implementation in the areas of power generation, transmission and distribution.

Other members of the recomposed task force are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, the Chief Executive Officer Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Gas Company, the Chief Executive Officer, Geregu Generation Company, the Chief Executive Officer, Ughelli Generation Company, the Chief Executive Officer,

Eko Distribution Company, the Chief Executive Offcier, Abuja Distribution Company, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Bulk Electricity Company, the Chief Executive Officer of the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria and Mr. Evaristus Mogbo.

The Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Fund will serve as Consultants to the Task Force while an officer of Directorate rank in the Federal Ministry of Power designated by the Permanent Secretary will serve as Secretary to the recomposed task force.

Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Osisioma disaster victims get relief

By Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia he Abia State Government has promised to sustain her policy thrust in providing enabling environment for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to give succour to victims of natural disasters in the state.

Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nkpa Agu Nkpa disclosed this during the flag off of distribution of another batch of relief materials worth millions of naira by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to victims of windstorm, flood and fire disasters in Umugo Amano Iheiyi of Ugwunagbo, Nlagu in Obingwa and Odeukwu in Osisioma Local Government Areas of the state a t t h e S t a t e E m e rg e n c y Management Agency's office in Umuahia. Represented by the Executive secretary of SEMA, Mrs. Ada Achi, the SSG thanked NEMA for its concerted effort in sympathizing with the victims

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and called on the public to cooperate with the government in reducing the spate of disaster by avoiding the building of structures or farming along the water passages as well as exercising more carefulness in handling property that are prone to fire disaster. Flagging off the distribution of the relief materials made up of bags of food items, clothing, building materials amongst others, the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, said that the relief materials were released after an assessment of the damages done to the people of the area and commended Governor T.A. Orji and Mrs. Ada Achi for their regular and prompt response to disaster matters in the State.

Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries from the communities, Comrade Blessing Nwankpa thanked the Governor, NEMA and SEMA for the assistance and assured them that the relief materials would get to the actual victims of the disasters.

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Obi, Eze under fire Continues from cover page They believe that even if the president decides to seek reelection in 2015, which will be against his earlier stance that he would serve for only one term, Ndigbo should not be the first to urge him on as they did through the apex Igbo-socio cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in 2011 without reaching any concrete agreement with Jonathan and his backers.

The controversial endorsement During President Jonathan's a one-day visit to Anambra State on Thursday, August 30, his host, Governor Obi and a renowned philanthropist, Engr.

Arthur Eze, an indigene of Anambra State, urged him (Jonathan) to seek another four year tenure in 2015 with an assurance that Ndigbo of the South-East zone would give him their support.

The president was strongly assured by Obi that if he decides to go for another tenure to complete his work, he will get the backing of the people of the state, stressing that the president is very much loved by the people of the state and that they had no regret for giving him their mandate in 2011.

On his part, Engr. Arthur Eze said that since it is constitutional for presidents to take two tenures of four years each, Jonathan should not shortchange himself or disappoint his supporters by refusing to go for another tenure: “Obasanjo took eight years; we are calling on you to take another four years as one term is too short for you to finish the job you have at hand.

You can consider giving power to the north after your eight years, so that they will return it to the South-East after their own eight years,” Eze told the president.

Jonathan responding to the unsolicited offer, described the South East as where he has the most popularity even though his

posters were torn and some of his campaign offices burnt during the 2011 presidential campaigns. “The only time a youth was caught tearing my poster, it turned out that he was removing it to paste in his house. I feel like I am in my home any time I am in the south-east, particularly in Onitsha. I can walk around without security,” said the president.

Jonathan, whose native name “Ebelemi” was adopted as “Eberechukwu” by his Igbo supporters during the 2011 election to garner support for him, pointedly referred to the people of the South-East as “my people”, saying that he even instructed his security men “not to push anybody today because they are all my people”.

He was, however, silent on whether he would seek reelection in 2015 or reciprocate the support he got from the South East in 2011 by backing the agitation by Ndigbo to produce his successor.

Igbos, groups, others launch verbal attacks on Obi, Eze Even before Jonathan departed Anambra for Abuja after his visit, Obi and Eze came under severe criticisms of Igbo leaders and groups who lashed at them for attempting to trade off the Igbo presidency project 2015 against the desire of their people. Many Igbo leaders quickly distanced themselves from the call on the president to contest the 2015 election, warning those using the name of the Igbos for such pronouncements without permission to desist or prepare to be ostracized.

“Whereas Ndigbo overwhelmingly supported the election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 elections, we are of the view that the President should not be distracted by relevance-seeking political jobbers with such calls, even when he is yet to deliver on his major promises to

PUBLIC NOTICE SAXUM WOMEN AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION Notice is hereby given to general public that the above named organization has formally applied for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Decree, 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Barrister Mrs Nwanneka Cecilia Okolo – Chairman; 2. Professor Bartholomew Okolo; 3. Reverend Monsignor Professor Obiora Ike; 4. Barrister Ugochinyelu Anidi; 5. Miss Omanwa Ekwueme – Secretary; 6. Professor Mrs Nkadi Onyegegbu.

The Aims and Objectives of the Organization are: 1 Empowerment of women and youths through vocational skills training; 2. Establishment of vocational training centres; 3. Leadership and citizenship trainings and workshops; 4. Poverty reduction through self employment programs.

Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar Corporate Affairs Commission, Area 11 P.M.B. 198 Garki Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Miss Omanwa Ekwueme Secretary

Ndigbo,” Oganiru Ndigbo Foundation/Igboville, said in its reaction to the annoying endorsement.

The statement which was signed by Emeka Maduewesi (Leader); Uche Onuh Lucas (President General); Maxi Okwu; Okey Igbokwe; Onyema Uche and Obichi Ikechi, drew attention to Jonathan's failures so far to honour promises made to the Igbos, including construction of the second Niger Bridge within his first tenure; to convert Enugu Airport to an international hub; and to give roads in the South East urgently needed attention within his current tenure.

“As at today, none of these promises have been fulfilled,” the statement said. “Second Niger Bridge is still in the "drawing board" and no international flight has yet landed or taken off from Enugu Airport. South East roads remain the worst in the country, including the Enugu-Onitsha Federal highway that Chief Arthur Eze travelled to Onitsha from Ukpo. Enugu-PH highway is at best a death trap while Aba-Ikot Ekpene highway is virtually nonexistent as a road.”, they stated.

The group also contended that in the sharing of national resources, Ndigbo are yet to get any favours from the Jonathan regime. “No single refinery out of the six promised by President Jonathan is located in the South East even though three South East states, Abia, Imo and now Anambra are oil producing states,” they said.

“Revenue allocation is heavily skewed against Igbo states with one state receiving more monthly allocation than all 5 South East states. Even desert states that contribute next to nothing to the national revenue pool are getting more than two times the monthly allocation of oil producing Igbo states. Nobody is even discussing the promised 6th state for Ndigbo, to put the South East at par with other regions that have 6 states.”

They also criticized President Jonathan's “failure” to protect Professor Barth Nnaji, the former Minister of Power who resigned recently, describing him as a “reformist” who naturally attracted opposition from vested interests in the perennially corrupt power sector in Nigeria.

Other ministers of Igbo origin, they said, are not faring better within this government.

With that background, the group said it was important to unequivocally state that while Ndigbo are not at war with President Jonathan, there is absolutely no reason, at this time, to endorse him or any other politician for 2015 election, especially as Ndigbo

have already expressed interest in producing the best President of Nigeria in 2015.

APGA disagrees with Obi over Jonathan National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who spoke on the issue at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu shortly on his return from England, disagreed with Governor Obi and some Igbo personalities who pledged their support for President Jonathan's second term, saying he can not see any reason why Igbos should not produce the president of the country in 2015.

“I know that the yearning of our people is to produce a President for this country at the highest level. If there is any reason why the Igbos should not produce President for this country in 2015, it is not by jumping the gun and making noise. If we have the opportunity in 2015, we shall take it,” he said while reacting to the controversial comment by the Igbo leaders.

Umeh, however, cautioned political leaders in the South East to be careful on how they make pronouncements relating to endorsing any aspirant for 2015 general elections, saying that the quest for Igbo Presidency is a long time agitation dear to the hearts of Ndigbo who are tired of being spectators on the Nigeria political scene.

Speaking in the same vein, the coordinator , Coalition of Human Right and Prodemocracy Activists in South East, Chief Chris Echukwu, faulted what he described as the “hasty” endorsement of Jonathan for a second term, saying Ndigbo should be the last to speak on such an important issue to avoid a repeat of the mistake they made in 2011.

“The endorsement is very hasty and these two personalities should be the last people to speak for Ndigbo on such a sensitive issue,” he told The Advocate in Enugu. He said that Igbos should wait for others to form opinion based on things on ground before reaching a decision, stressing that “such premeditated action tantamounts to jumping the gun and muzzling the popular voice of the people.”

Echukwu, who is also leader of the late Anthony Enahorofounded National Reformation Movement, MNR, said, “people's opinion should be based on what we have on ground and for now there is nothing to show in Igboland, especially the state of the roads, to warrant such a blanket endorsement for Jonathan.

“Take for instance, the Nkpor axis of Onitsha-Enugu expressway it is so bad and that goes to show that Jonathan is not interested in the well-being of Ndigbo. The Umunya area of the same road is also a nightmare and it is the same situation with Enugu Aba road.

Rehabilitation of Oji Power station which Jonathan promised before 2011 election has been neglected. The second River Niger Bridge in Onitsha is being toyed with. Until these problems are addressed, nobody should talk about another term for Jonathan,” Echukwu said.

Don't distract Jonathan with 2nd term bid - Eteng A Calabar based legal luminary, Barrister Utum Eteng also raised his voice against those he descried as political jobbers and sycophants milling around President Jonathan to desist forthwith to avoid open distraction in rendering the best and quality service to Nigerians.

In a chat with The Advocate in Calabar, Barrister Eteng who is also a social critic frowned at the disturbing reports that some people are soliciting for signatory to launch a campaign for President Johnathan's second term in office.

He reasoned that “the President is still less than two years old in his first tenure working under tight pressure to wrestle with some unseen and unimaginable forces within the socio-political system that had beclouded the country for the past decade.”

Eteng, who is counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River State further explained that “a branded article needs no future advertisement”, calling on Nigerians to be patient and allow the works of President Jonathan to speak for him.

He argued that the glamour for second term now was absolutely not necessary unless such action was taken with an intent to cover up some defects which Mr. President has dabbled into somewhere as a cover-up plan to avoid being chastised by the electorate.

On the assessment of President Jonathan's administration, Eteng declared that two years was certainly not sufficient enough for proper assessment and evaluation of his ability and disability, adding that it could be rightly evaluated after the third year and beyond.

Mixed reactions in Delta However, in Asaba, the second term endorsement of Jonathan by Governor Obi and others were received with

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

Obi, Eze under fire Continues from page 6 mixed feelings. A political leader in Ward 7, Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta State, Obi Odiaka Okunna, posited that Governor Peter Obi and Arthur Eze have the right to air their views on any issue and endorse whoever they wish to endorse for 2015.

He however, wondered why they decided to endorse President Jonathan for 2015 when the Igbos said that it is their turn to produce Nigeria's president in 2015.

Okunna described Jonathan's alleged bid for 2015 as a deceit, saying that it was contrary to his promise to call the shots in Aso Rock for only one term.

However, he maintained that constitutionally, President Jonathan has the right to contest for the highest political office in the country come 2015.

Also speaking on the issue, Barrister Peter Okolie said that Obi and Eze were entitled to their opinions but stated that it was too early for the duo to give their nod to the president for 2015. He said that their endorsement of President Jonathan was a negation of the clamour and quest of the Igbos to produce Nigeria's president come 2015. Okolie was also of the view that majority of Nigerians were yet to see, feel or enjoy the so called dividends of d e m o c r a c y, a d d i n g t h a t president Jonathan should strive to fulfill his campaign promises in order to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

On his part, the former Special Adviser to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State on Inter Party Relations a n d S p e c i a l D u t i e s , D r.

Emmanuel Mafiana, said there was nothing wrong with the endorsement of President Jonathan for another term in 2015. He pointed out that early preparation for any event produces good result, saying that President Jonathan should be supported for a second term so as to enable him consolidate on his achievements.

Also reacting to the endorsement, the Commissioner representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani nation at the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Barrister (Mrs.) Benedicta Osakunih-Izuegbu, contended that the endorsement was a welcome development.

She averred that president Jonathan should be supported for a second term come 2015 to enable him take Nigeria to greater heights via his transformation agenda.

More groups fault Obi But the Chairman of the South East Forum, Dr. Ezekiel

Izuogu, slammed Obi and his co-travellers over their comments on Jonathan and asked the people of the South East zone to ignore the attempt to donate their support to Jonathan. Dr. Izuogu rather urged Ndigbo to begin to get ready for the presentation of a South-Eastern candidate for the actualisation of the collective desire of the zone for the emergence of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in the next general elections.

Izuogu stated that what the select people of Anambra told Jonathan in Onitsha during his official visit was a mere expression of personal opinion, probably for some cheap political interest, insisting that the Igbo would aspire to the presidency in 2015. He said that though Nigerians were at liberty to say whatever was in their minds, the Anambra people that met with Jonathan did not obtain the mandate of Ndigbo or the South East region before making the statement.

He told the Igbo to get ready for November 8 and 9 declaration when the South-East Forum would meet in Enugu to make an official pronouncement to the effect that the Igbo will contest for Presidency in 2015.

In the same vein, some opinion leaders in Owerri, the Imo State capital, described the endorsement as laughable, saying the President had not achieved anything to justify the call for his second term bid.

The President, National Mandate Union (NMU), Chief Dede Uzor Uzor, said the endorsement was unnecessary, stressing that the President had done nothing to earn such a call back. He said that a lot of projects are non-functional, citing Lokoja and Onne Ports, and Oguta Lake project as dents on the President. He lamented that roads in the South-East zone had become death traps, saying “a journey from Onitsha to Enugu that ordinarily should not take more than an hour now takes six hours.”

“No right-thinking Igboman will endorse President Jonathan for a second term. Such endorsement is a political suicide the Igbo must avoid. No right-thinking man can support Jonathan for a second term.

What has he achieved,” Uzor queried, insisting that President Jonathan's administration had failed the zone in terms of Federal Government infrastructural development and poverty alleviation.

The NMU leader described those making such endorsement as “bootlickers and people looking for contracts or people who want to make money.”

“Ndigbo are completely disappointed with the

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NEWS performance of Jonathan so far and they want a change. We have credible and capable people who can salvage the situation in 2015,” said Uzor, who is also the president of Campaign for Democracy (CD), South-East region.

T h e A d v o c a t e Correspondent in Benue State reports that a lecturer at the B e n u e s t a t e U n i v e r s i t y, Makurdi, Dr Chris Orngu of the History Department condemned Jonathan's second term endorsement which has continued induce reactions from concerned Nigerians.

The university teacher described it as a “move for political confusion.”

Dr. Orngu said: "What you must know is that we have political gladiators in this country and some Governors fall squarely in that circuit. The intention is to cause political confusion. If you are conversant with the history of this country, you will discover that during the time of Abacha, there were organised groups that championed the campaign for his continuity in office under his dictatorial regime.

“So, it is not surprising that such Nigerians are promoting such political confusion in this country because if you want President Goodluck Jonathan to run for his second term, you should be able to tell us what and what he has achieved, and it is on the merit of his achievements that we will begin to talk about his second term. It is not just by waking up and anointing someone who has not actually given us a political roadmap in terms of what he intends to achieve for this country.

“The president is somebody who has gotten into that office by virtue of share providence and as I speak with you today, I want to tell you very critically that President Jonathan has not convinced any prospective observer that he has an agenda to take Nigeria out of the developmental crisis that the country has found itself, and president Jonathan has not been able to give us a political roadmap in terms of articulating a vision and an agenda for this country.

“So I don't think that anybody who is reasoning well would begin to think that the president should run for a second term. I don't want to talk about constitutional matters but I want to say that the greatest reward for doing well is the opportunity to do more. If he has not done well and sycophants and political gladiators are suggesting to even endorsing that he should proceed, I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the system, and therefore that action of that Governor simply reflects a fundamental question that any

perspective observer should ask.

“The Governor has spoken for himself and that is his personal opinion and I don't think that opinion represents the generality of the masses of Nigerians. So, as far as am concerned, it is not easy for us to start saying that President Jonathan should run for a second term because he has not convinced the majority of critical minded Nigerians that he has anything to offer in terms of taking away from the current political crisis and that is my take on that.”

On his part, the Principal of Maryland Model College in Taraku, Gwer East local government area of the state,

Mr. Orchir Iorpuu said: "What Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state has said is just his own version of his story. It all depends on how he looks at it but to me as a person, I am totally against it because Goodluck Jonathan as a serving President of this country, as far as I 'm concerned, he has not satisfied Nigerians.

“I am not against the SouthSouth going into the office in 2015 but provided they can be able to captain the ship of governance of this country very well. Goodluck is not able to show us that he can do better. I don't see what he has done to be endorsed in 2015".

Mobile phone to withdraw services Continues from page 8 economic sabotage for anyone to vandalise telecom infrastructure in the country.

He explained that the commission had not received formal report on the number of base stations affected in the attack and their locations, adding that as a regulator, the commission expects service providers to get in touch with the commission whenever there are issues affecting quality of service in the country.

In their usual style, the Islamist sect, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the fires at telecom masts across the north just as it threatened to deal with the staff of the Voice of America (VoA) radio network for allegedly misrepresenting the sect.

“We decided to launch attacks on masts of mobile telecom operators as a result of the assistance they offer security agents,” said an email from the group's spokesman, Abul Qaqa.

This information helps Nigerian security forces “in arresting our brethren,” the statement added.

The Islamist group, blamed for more than 1,400 deaths in northern and central Nigeria since 2010, warned the staff of US government-funded broadcaster Voice of America, saying the network had last month quoted a supposed Boko Haram source claiming the group had entered negotiations with the government.

“As a result of the harm we understand Voice of America is inflicting on Islam, we hereby inform all reporters and staff of this radio station that whoever wants to live in peace among them should quit working with this media organisation,” the statement said.

Police establish masts patrol unit To ensure adequate protection for telecommunication installations including masts, the Inspector General of Police,

Mohammed Abubakar on Friday ordered the establishment of a special squadron to survey the installations.

A statement signed by the police spokesman, Frank Mba said the IG has “ordered a 24-hour surveillance of all telecommunication equipment and installations across the country. This order is sequel to recent security development in some parts of the country where these equipment and installations have become vulnerable and targets of reckless attacks and willful destruction.

“Consequently, the IG has directed all State Commissioners of Police to constitute a Special Unit in their respective Commands, whose primary assignment will be to ensure the safety of telecommunication equipment and installations within their areas of jurisdiction. CPs are to further ensure that Area Commanders and DPOs in their Commands replicate the constitution of such Special Units in their respective areas, to protect installations located within their territories.

State Commissioners of Police are further directed to ensure that personnel of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Counter-Terrorism Squads in their Commands are constructively involved in this crucial assignment.

“Zonal Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police (AIGs) have been directed to supervise the activities of all such Units constituted by Commissioners of Police, to ensure strict compliance with the directives of the IGP. They are to constitute similar Units that will assist State Commands within their Zones. AIGs and CPs are to provide dedicated lines in their respective Commands, to enable public spirited Nigerians who may have useful information, to volunteer same to the Police.”

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

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NEWS

Why Nigeria failed to produce nationally-accepted leadership

By Oarhe Dickson, Benin City

A

s Nigeria prepares to celebrate her 52 n d Independence anniversary, October 1, the continuous failure for her to produce a nationally accepted leadership has been linked to issues of unpatriotic emphasis on ethnicity.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Adewole stated this in Benin City, Friday, at a lecture delivered to commemorate the 78thbirthday of Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada.

Adewole in his lecture entitled: “Nigeria, an Entity in Search of Nationhood” laid emphasis on the fact that the country will continue to loose ingredient of nationhood following ties to ethnicity in the choice of those-to-be leaders of the country. He said with this problem of ethnicity entrenched among our behaviour, getting a credible leader poses a serious concern.

According to Adewole, if the question of strong ethnic affiliation is not reconsidered, the socio-political relationships among members

of the nation-state at the national level can be affected.

He said: “The problem of building the kind of nation that is envisaged in Nigeria by virtue of her heterogeneous character lies in our cultural and linguistic diversities.

“Issues such as cultural dominance, ethno-cultural conflicts and tensions, strong ethnic affiliation, and competing languages and elements of the various cultures that will form part of the national culture also makes nation building a complex one.

“The practice of strong 'ethnic' affiliation could result in 'favouritism'or 'preferential treatment', whereby members are not given equal consideration and opportunities. Rather than merit and on issues of national interest to take the central role, ethno-cultural backgrounds and ancestral ties are considered the determining factors for job opportunity, occupation of public and political offices, and educational awards, among others.” The Vice Chancellor explained that in a country where the socio-economic and political behaviour of the

governing body tends to be selective and based on group solidarity, disappointment and frustration may start to well up among members who are a ff e c t e d n e g a t i v e l y, “consequently, this can result in the disintegration of social relationships and loss of trust in policies of the government.”

Prof. Adewole noted with dismay the current ranking of the country as a result of poor leadership emanating from ethnicity conflict, pointing out that Nigeria's human development indicators are among the world's lowest, and a majority of the population suffer from extreme poverty, home to the world's and Africa second largest HIV/AIDSInfected population and has the continent's highest tuberculosis burden are all problems as a result of ethnic prejudice.

The perceived differences, said Prof. Adewole have been politicized by the country's political elite.

“It is against this backdrop that one painfully concludes here, that the Nigerian elite appear to be worsening Nigeria's capacity to live up to the expectations of Nigerians from nationhood if it is

eventually, truly attained.”

The professor of Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, further stated that, this could have been resolved if political leaders, civilians and military elites who took from leaders that fought for nations independence had not put their self-seeking socio-economic aspirations before national interest, power would not have been so absurdly overcentralized in ways that injure justice and stimulate Nigerians to put primordial ethnic and religious interest before national loyalty. “This is the bane of today's Nigeria”, he said. Following the loose of mutual trust and tolerance from the citizen on the leaders in developing the capacity to build unity in Nigeria, the guest lecturer said that the problem of Nigeria being a nation must be resolved not by law, force, or force of law, but by the people who are motivated and concerned by the fact that the occupants of the nation space called Nigeria need to meet, in full freedom, to decide how to pursue the nation building project.

Prof. Adewole pointed out

that on the quest to attained nationhood; national identity must replace or, at least, supersede previous ethnocultural loyalties before sustainable nationhood can be entrenched.

The professor who suggested ways by which nationhood can be attained and sustained, said all violent national conflicts must be confronted with resolve to critically examine and depoliticize them so as to capture their substance; adding that the state must be depersonalized to enable public policy to establish strong institutions that will make compliance with the echoes of nationhood appeal to all Nigerians.

Gabriel Igbinedion

Terrorism: Mobile phone operators threaten to withdraw services in Northern states

By Our Reporter

T

he umbrella body of telecommunication operators, the Association of Licensed Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, yesterday said its member MTN, GLO, Airtel and Etisalat will cut off their services in the Northern states following deadly terrorist attacks on telecommunications facilities and public building which dealt severe blow on their facilities.

Telecom equipment lost in last week's attacks by the terrorists was estimated at over one billion naira.

A base station belonging to an indigenous telecoms infrastructure company, IHS Nigeria, in Kano was bombed in less than 24 hours after similar attacks on several base stations in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states.

Communications in the state with cell phones have been disrupted. ALTON officials put the number of base stations vandalized in the north at 26.

The ALTON president said an

emergency meeting of the association's executives had been called for today (Friday) to decide on what next to do.

“If it becomes impossible to continue to do business in the face of rising attacks on telecoms sites, operators will naturally suspend operations in the area. This is because beyond base stations, these elements may begin to target telecoms operators'offices and data centers among other key infrastructure. That is why it is important that the situation is curtailed before it gets to that point,“ ALTON President Gbenga Adebayo reportedly said at the weekend.

Eye-witness accounts said one of the company's base stations was bombed in Borno on Wednesday while another one was bombed in Kano on Thursday morning. Just like they did in Borno State, the terrorists set ablaze the servicebase masts of Airtel, Glo and Etisalat in Potiskum and Damaturu on Thursday and reportedly killed 16 people, i n c l u d i n g t h e Yo b e

Government House Protocol Officer, Mallam Adamu, who was returning from work.

The Joint Task Force, JTF in Borno State said terrorists' attacks on telecom masts were designed to “disrupt” communication services and prevent residents from providing information on the activities of gunmen to the military and the police so that they can protect lives and property.

JTF spokesman Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, in a press statement issued in Maiduguri, said that the terrorists had turned to the destruction of Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) masts and other communication facilities in some areas of Maiduguri to frustrate residents from giving the military vital information.

“Members of public are therefore, reminded to continue to give credible information to the JTF, the police and other security agencies to contain the ugly trend through the following telephone numbers 08064174066, 08154429346,

and 07065464012,” Sagir said.

Te l e c o m s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e analysts in the country have put the average cost of a base station at $250,000, which amounts to N39.47m at an exchange rate of N157.91 to a dollar as at last weekend. With 26 base stations already destroyed, an investment of N1.03bn might have gone down the drain.

Contrary to the belief that only MTN, Airtel and Glo were a ff e c t e d , t h e E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r y, A LTO N , M r.

Gbolahan Awonuga, said the attack affected all telecoms operators, including Multilinks and Helios Tower.

A formal report sent by M u l t i l i n k s t o A LT O N , confirmed that its base stations located at Mainok Village, Borno and another one at Abari Village in Damaturu, were damaged. The report said, “Reports obtained from our personnel indicate that extremists numbering about 40 stormed the area at about 22:20 Hrs on 05/09/2012 and immediately launched an

attack on the MTN cell site.

After the attack on MTN cell site, the extremists proceeded to our site which is close to the MTN site to launch a similar attack.”

Stakeholders urged the Federal Government to wade into the issue to ensure that the safety of lives of operators' personnel and agents was assured. Key stakeholders had called on the Federal Government to bestow on ICT infrastructure a Critical National Security Infrastructure pending the time appropriate laws would be enacted to strengthen it.

Disturbed by the attacks, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for quick passage of the Telecom Infrastructure Bill, which seeks to make telecommunication infrastructure a critical national infrastructure. Director, Public Affairs of the NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobor, who made the appeal in Abuja, said that the bill, if passed into law, would make it a c r i m i n a l o ff e n c e a n d

Continues on page 7

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

9

EDITORIAL

A

As Anambra demolish houses of suspected kidnappers

S a measure to effectively check the disturbing menace of ransom kidnapping in Anambra State, the Government of Governor Peter Obi recently adopted an unconventional sanction against the perpetrators Demolish any house found to have been used as hostage camp by kidnappers.

On Wednesday, September 5, 2012 Governor Obi personally supervised the demolition of two buildings belonging to a suspected kidnap kingpin, Mr. Olisagbo Ifedike at Ifite-Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State. Obi, had earlier announced that any building used by kidnappers or belonging to a kidnapper would be demolished and the land confiscated by government.

The governor had under the new approach to fight against kidnapping, sealed off one hotel

located at Nkpor near Onitsha and two houses at Nri in Anaocha local government area with a directive that the houses be brought down.

The houses and the hotel were suspected to be a hide out for suspected kidnappers in the state are to be demolished on the orders of the governor while the land would be converted to government use if investigations proved that kidnappers were actually using them. Obi had said that he decided to personally lead security agencies to seal the hotel and the houses to drive the message home to all those engaged in, or aiding and abetting kidnapping, that Anambra state was no longer a safe place for them. He also

gave an indication that the exercise would continue until the state was rid of kidnappers.

Other states within the South East states where kidnapping had persisted had at one time or the other caused their state Houses of Assembly to enact laws prescribing death sentence for kidnappers.

This measure did not yield the expected result as the kidnappers continued with their nefarious activities. Reason those arrested and charged for the heinous crime go through long process of trial and not much is heard about the court proceeding of such cases. But those who engaged the police anti-kidnap squad in arms struggle in some cases ended up being sent to their early graves.

South-East zonal leadership of the Campaign for Democracy has already thrown its weight behind Anambra government's demolition of property used by kidnappers in the state.

Addressing journalists in Onitsha on Thursday, the Chairman of CD in the South-East, Mr. Uzor A. U z o r, a l s o c o m m e n d e d Governor Peter Obi and the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State command, Mr. Ballah Nasarawa, for the seriousness they brought to bear on the war against kidnapping in the state.

Uzor believes the demolitions would go a long way in reducing violent crimes, especially kidnapping and armed robbery in the state, as

according to him, it was the recommendation of CD that any house established to be housing kidnappers and the recovery of armed robbers should be pulled down. The Advocate views the anti-kidnap measure adopted by Anambra as being in line with the proverbial saying that “when an animal runs dangerously, it should be shot with dangerous weapon�.

If demolition of property of the culprits, who had made lives difficult for innocent inhabitants of South Eastern states since 2009 when the illicit business assumed a dangerous dimension, will eradicate the cankerworm, so be it. Other state governments in the zone and beyond where the battle against kidnapping has been lost to the well-organised kidnap syndicates, should emulate the Anambra style, which we regard as a Fight to Finish

Dear Editor, I have been following your news content since The Advocate Newspapers hit the streets some time in August, in fact I must sincerely confess that my interest in the paper came as result of it's objectivity, fearless and balanced reporting.

I hereby urge you to continue the good work that will help to change the psyche of the average leaders and other individuals for the development of our society.

Thanks and God bless.

Dosu Abdullahi, Abuja

Letters Letters to the editor and opinion materials should be sent to editor@theadvocatengr.com, editoradvocate@ymail.com. They should be brief and straight to the point.

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

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ADVOCATE

NEWS

FG launches PCB Management Project on environmen​t

By Yochuku Ofoka Yobolisa, Biphenyl (PCB) Management project to improve public health Abuja and environmental quality. o r r i e d o v e r t h e Launching the project, in Abuja, release of toxic Minister of Environment, Mrs. s u b s t a n c e s i n t o Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia said Nigeria's environmental space, that the PCB management Federal Government has project is designed to ensure launched the polychlorinated s o u n d m a n a g e m e n t o f

W

Kidnapped Lebanese in Lagos yet to regain freedom Kayode Jones, Lagos

T

HE 23 year-old Lebanese, Ahmed Mohammed, who was allegedly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Lagos last Monday is yet to regain freedom from his abductors, just as relatives complain of lack of contact with the kidnappers.

Reports said that the family members of the kidnap victim raised fresh alarm at the weekend that the abductors were yet to make any contact with them since Mohammed's sudden disappearance on Monday, September 3, 2012, when he was reportedly kidnapped.

A family source recalled that Mohammed had on the fateful day gone to visit his older relative, Mohammed Wahab, who owns the Tawaouq King Restaurant, located at 35 Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, but did not meet his host.

“As he was standing outside the restaurant at about 10 pm, six heavily armed men stormed the restaurant and took him away in an ash-colour Toyota car to an unknown destination.”

The victim's older relative, M o h a m m e d Wa h a b , complained that they had

expected the kidnappers to reach out to them for their demands but that they were yet to hear anything from them.

“As we are talking now, there is no contact with the victim or the kidnappers and we are now scared that something may have happened. We don't even know what offence our brother committed that warranted this pain.

“As I speak with you, I have not heard a word from the Kidnappers, not even a phone call for us to have an idea of what exactly is wrong. I don't look for trouble and I don't know who we have offended to have this calamity befall us.”

The Advocate gathered that the family members decided to contact the police following the suspense and confusion resulting from the kidnap as well as the silence of the kidnappers.

Although the police authority preferred to maintain silence on the issue, a police source said that security operatives have been assigned to investigate the case and find a solution while some staff of the restaurant who witnessed to the incident are said to be under interrogation.

Ahmed Mohammed

potentially organic pollutants and the safe disposal of poisonous contaminant from active and decomposed electrical equipment emitting from electrical installations, oil refineries and airports product factories in the country.

Describing PCBs as a class of organic compounds found to be fire resistant, stable, nonconductive to electricity, the minister said that PCBs have been used by federal electric companies since 1948, adding that the equipment have low volatility under normal conditions thus, making them ideal for industrial application.

She said, "Although PCBs are mostly used to generate dielectric fluid in electrical equipment from large transformers to small capacitors in lighting fixtures. They are also extensively used as heat transfer fluids and as coolants for high temperature processes.

But despite their high industrial benefits, PCBs are harmful to the environment because of their high toxicity".

Mailafia who was represented at the occasion by her ministry's permanent secretary, Mr Taye Haruna pointed out that although the country has never

produced PCBs but government has imported a good deal of PCB-filled equipment as transformers, capacitors and ballasts, additives and hydraulic fluid from 1948 to the mid1980s.

Mailafia lamented that a survey carried out in ten states of the federation by the World Bank and the Canadian Trust Fund in 2008 showed that the amount of PCB-contaminated wastes tatalled 3400 tons of toxic substances.

She said, "With the financial support from the World Bank, the Canadian Trust Fund carried out PCB inventory in the electric power generating, transmitting and distributing facilities spread across 10 states of the federation and isolated some potentially organic pollutants coming from electrical installations.

"The project captured 10% of potentially contaminated electrical equipment in the power sector; the total amount of PCB- contaminated waste was estimated to be 3,400 tons.

And as a follow up, the Canadian Trust fund on POP financed another study in 2009 called the 'Location and Assessment of the status of

PCB-contaminated equipment in all Power Holding Companies of Nigeria, PHCN, facilities. It reveals that an estimated conservation amount of 421tons of PCB oil and 1,061 tons of PCB contaminated equipment are emitted into the country's environment.

"Because of the large amount of toxic wastes the electrical companies my ministry working in close collaboration with the World Bank to established a project management unit.

Already, we appointed qualified personnel to the various positions in September 2011, The inter-ministerial steering committee recently inaugurated by the ministry would provide overall guidance and direction for the project implementation".

The Minister stated that the outcome of the project will include increased awareness among key stakeholders and general public, increased regulations and enhanced physical facilities for the management of PCB containing equipment; and improved national capacity to manage PCBs in an efficient and environmentally sound manner.

Osun Assembly condemns poor conditions of Ede water works

T

he Chairman of Osun House of A s s e m b l y C o m m i t t e e o n Environment and Sanitation, Mr Folarin Fafowora, has condemned the poor condition of Ede Water Works.

Fafowora made the condemnation during a visit by the committee to the facility and urged contractors mandated to supply critical equipment to the facility to do so urgently, stating that the step was important for the people to benefit from the dividends of democracy.

The manager of the corporation, Mr Adepoju Adegbaju, had earlier told the committee that instead of 18 distribution points pumping water to the people of the state, less than nine were functioning.

He said that most of the pumping machines had broken down, while some had yet to arrive from South- Africa and Pakistan.

The manager further explained that the New Ede Networks Water Works, which should serve 17 communities in 12 local government areas, had been rationing water because of insufficient equipment.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers have commended Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on the new amusement park sited in Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun.

The project was still under construction when the committee members visited.

He said when the project was completed, the

amusement park would be the first of its kind in the South-West of Nigeria.

A committee member, Mr Taiwo Akinyemi, said that travellers would have opportunity of passing the night at the park and save themselves the dangers associated with night journeys.

Akinyemi added that the amusement park would also serve as relaxation and reception centre, among other uses.

He further explained that it would also boost the socio-economic activities and enhance the internally generated revenue of the state government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 90 per cent of the workers at the park, named Hazzan Odejokun Memorial Park, are indigenes of the community. (NAN)

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

11

Foreign NEWS

At Least 5 Killed in Damascus Mosque Attack

A

n explosion outside a mosque in Syria's capital killed five security personnel and wounded several others , as fighting raged in other areas of Damascus and dozens of bodies were reportedly found in two neighborhoods.

Syrian state television said the blast was caused by an explosives-rigged motorcycle at the Rukniyeh mosque in central Damascus. The Syrian capital has been hit by a string of explosions since the uprising against President Bashar alAssad began in March last year.

Anti-government protests broke out in the capital and elsewhere, and the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fresh clashes between government troops and rebels in the Kazaz neighborhood of Damascus.

The tightly controlled area is home to offices of several Syrian security agencies.

The British-based group also said Syrian residents have recovered 45 unidentified bodies in two areas near the capital, the latest such finds of suspected mass executions in the 18-month-long conflict.

At least 23 bodies were discovered Thursday in the eastern suburb of Zamalka, while another 22 were found in Qatana, southeast of the capital.

International Aid In Geneva, the new head of the International Committee of the Red Cross said he had received "positive" commitments from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad this week to gain access to detainees and free up deliveries of badly needed aid.

Peter Maurer said his talks with Assad were "sober" and "clearly focused on

humanitarian needs.”

The ICRC chief told reporters he also visited rural areas around Damascus where residents told him "horrific accounts of armed attacks" and left him shocked. He said the accounts left him no doubt that Syria is engulfed in civil war since "all features of armed conflict are unfolding in front of us.”

Maurer said he also received a positive response from Assad on his request to visit detainees.

The ICRC conducted a first series of visits to detainees in Damascus central prison last September. But future visits were stalled because the Syrian authorities did not allow Red Cross workers to interview prisoners in private or allow them to make follow-up visits.

Those disagreements were later resolved. In May, the ICRC was allowed to visit inmates at Aleppo Central prison.

However, no visits have since taken place.

Maurer says the ICRC is in regular contact with opposition groups in Syria and abroad. He says the agency is pressing these groups for permission to visit the prisoners they are holding.

Refugees The European Union said Friday it will provide an additional $76 million in

humanitarian aid to Syria as the number of people needing assistance topped 2.5 million.

Kristalina Georgieva, EU commissioner for humanitarian aid, said the new funds would go to providing shelter, medical aid and for other humanitarian purposes.

Also, the United Nations refugee agency said the number of Syrians fleeing their homes continues to soar and that it would more than double aid to people displaced inside the country.

T h e U N H i g h Commissioner for Refugees said the need for assistance within Syria is huge and requires a separate plan from the aid for refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.

So far, more than 246,000 Syrian refugees have been registered or are awaiting registration in surrounding nations, it added.

"The numbers are enormous," an agency spokesman said.

Of those refugees, more than 81,000 have entered Jordan, nearly 65,000 are in Lebanon, more than 78,000 are in Turkey and nearly 22,000 are in Iraq, according to UNHCR statistics.

Romney pounces on Obama over disappointing job news

P

RESIDENT BARACK OBAMA charged back onto the campaign trail on Friday and faced a withering attack from Republican rival Mitt Romney over disappointing new U.S. jobs numbers that dimmed the afterg low from O bama' s Democratic convention.

Just hours after basking in his supporters' adulation in Charlotte, North Carolina, Obama was hit by a stark reminder of the challenge he faces convincing voters to give him a second term despite stubbornly high unemployment on his watch.

As the candidates launched the final two-month drive to Election Day, the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Obama getting at least a small bounce from his convention, taking a narrow lead of 46 percent to Romney's 44 percent among likely voters. Romney had led 45 percent to Obama's 44 percent.

But the polling was conducted before the Labor Department reported on Friday that U.S. employers added a lower-than-expected 96,000 jobs in August - which could

ensure that any "bump" in popular support for Obama is limited and brief.

The grim economic news followed Obama's impassioned speech on Thursday night in which he accepted his party's nomination and appealed to Americans for more time and patience to finish his economic agenda. Pouncing on the jobs data to slam Obama's handling of the economy - the top concern of voters - Romney called the figures "disheartening" and "simply unimaginable" as he campaigned in Iowa.

"There's almost nothing the president's done in the last three and a half, four years, that gives the American people confidence he knows what he's doing when it comes to jobs and the economy," Romney said.

While noting that the private sector has now generated jobs for 30 straight months, Obama returning to the campaign trail in New Hampshire acknowledged that: "It's not good enough. We need to create more jobs faster.”

At the same time, he pointed out that Republicans in Congress had blocked much of

his jobs plan and accused Romney of making promises to revitalize the economy but not telling voters how he would do it. "If the Republicans are serious about being concerned about joblessness we could create one million new jobs right now, if Congress would pass the jobs plan I sent them a year ago," Obama told a rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Obama's nationally televised acceptance speech capped two weeks of back-toback nominating conventions for Obama and Romney.

The address opened the last phase of a White House battle that polls show is essentially deadlocked amid deep voter anxiety about the economy, which Obama argued he had put on the road to recovery even though growth remained lackluster.

Obama offered a steady-asyou-go message that outlined priorities like creating 1 million new manufacturing jobs but provided few details on how to achieve them. He thrilled the crowd when he ended with a preacher-like crescendo.

Pundits' reviews were not as glowing as they were for an

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa

address to the convention by former President Bill Clinton on Wednesday.

BACK TO CAMPAIGN TRAIL The latest jobs data could give a boost to Romney, the former head of a private equity firm who has made his business experience the centerpiece of his campaign.

He argues he is uniquely qualified to create job growth and says Obama is not up to the job. But the Obama campaign has sought to undermine Romney's argument by pointing out some firms he invested in

ended up cutting jobs or shipping them overseas.

Obama, who entered office during the darkest days of the 2007-2009 recession, has brought unemployment down from a peak of 10 percent in his first year but has been unable to crack the 8 percent barrier - a fact that Romney's camp has stressed.

“This is not even close to what a recovery looks like," Paul Ryan, Romney's vice presidential running mate, told CNBC.

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FOREIGN NEWS

Nigerians at Risk:

Japanese Radioactive Cars in the Market

By Chika Ezeanya

O

ver one year has passed since the Japanese tsunami caused about seven nuclear meltdowns at three reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

The immediate result was that about 50 km radius of the plant's range, dangerous radiation rays affected lives and properties.

Initially, there were tight restrictions on the export of products from the nuclear meltdown affected areas by the Japanese government. As time has passed, the restrictions are becoming more relaxed, and now, more and more products with dangerously high levels of radiation are being shipped to several ill-regulated markets.

This is most especially the case with used vehicles, which are hardly subjected to the same level of safety testing as brand new vehicles, prior to shipment.

Immediately after the nuclear incident, governments of countries around the world installed radiation testing equipments at the ports of entry.

Australian government was among the first to test 700 vehicles in the June of 2011; this testing has continued till date and thousands of cars are tested monthly.

In Chile, port workers and custom agents staged a protest against their government for not immediately destroying 21 vehicles found with traces of radiation. In the view of the Chilean Nuclear Commission, the radiation levels found was not high enough to cause damage to humans. The workers thought otherwise and forced the government to revisit its decision.

In a July 2012 report, Russian government stated that

Some Japanese scanned for Radioaction it has so far denied entry to about 300 cars proven to come from the nuclear explosion district and found with very high levels of radiation. The Daily Telegraph of UK not too long ago, reported that fraudulent Japanese used-car dealers were selling vehicles “exposed to dangerously high levels of radiation to unsuspecting buyers.”

Cars having up to twenty times the permissible level of radiation have found their way to African countries where several governments are clueless or unconcerned about such health risks. Governments of Kenya and Tanzania however, are among the few African countries, who, unable to afford the high cost of testing all incoming vehicles have

expressly banned the importation of cars from Japan into their markets. Kenyan government went as far as destroying some cars after it hired independent firms to test for radiation levels.

Uganda imports between between 4,000 5,000 cars monthly, several of them used.

The government of Uganda, concerned about the threat to its citizens sent a delegation to Japan headed by the House committee leader on trade and which included officials of Uganda National Bureau of Standards. The delegations reported upon return that “it was established, through random scientific tests as well as motor vehicle inspection records, that many used motor vehicles destined for export

markets from Japan are contaminated with significantly high level of ionizing radiation, way above recommended levels.”

Nigerians buy more used cars than brand new cars, and Japanese cars are the favorite of most first-time and budget car buyers. For the sake of peace of mind, one must desist from thinking of how many radiation drenched cars have already found their way to the Nigerian market. Most radioactive materials settle on the body of the car, windows and seats, and no amount of scrubbing or repainting or even change of chaircover can remove them.

Radioactive agents are highly carcinogenic. Radiation forms cancerous cells and makes them grow aggressively.

Other side effects of radiation include infertility, birth defects and irreversible DNA alterations that exposes future generations to yet-to-be ascertained risks.

Although a little belated, the Nigerian government should immediately release a public statement on the stand of the government towards used Japanese cars, or else the health of Nigerian citizens and residents would no longer be assured. It is suggested that Nigerian government should, as a matter of urgency, join its K e n y a n a n d Ta n z a n i a n counterparts in placing a temporary ban on importation of used cars from Japan, until it has acquired equipments to test cars for radiation at the various ports of entry.

UK, France and Germany call for tighter Iran sanctions have long suspected that Tehran called P5+1 group of powers -

B

ritain, France and Germany have urged the rest of the European Union to impose new sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.

Germany Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Iran had showed no "constructive will" in talks and that urgent action was needed. His comments were echoed by his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius, and the UK's Foreign Secretary William Hague, following informal meetings in Cyprus.

Iran is subject to a raft of sanctions.

The United States and the EU

is trying to develop a nuclear weapon, in contravention of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) But Iran has always denied any military motivation for the programme, insisting it is for civilian purposes only and within the terms of the NPT. 'Sanctions working' Speaking after three-way talks on the sidelines of an informal EU foreign ministers meeting in Paphos, Mr Westerwelle said new sanctions were necessary "and soon". “I can't see there is really a constructive will on the Iranian side for substantial talks," he said, referring to the last round of talks with the so-

which includes France, Germany, Britain, Russia, the United States and China. “If they will not come back to the table, then probably the next round is necessary. This is not something for next year, we are talking about next weeks," Mr Westerwelle told Reuters.

Mr Hague said that the latest sanctions, which were imposed in July and bar Iranian oil exports to the EU and isolate it from international markets, have had a "serious impact" on the Islamic Republic.

"It is necessary to increase the pressure on Iran, to intensify sanctions, to add further to the EU sanctions," he said.

John Baird (seen here at an earlier event) said Iran was one of the worst violators of human rights Mr Fabius said diplomacy was at a standstill, and that ministers would discuss details of possible tighter sanctions over the next few days.

Negotiations in Moscow in June

stalled after Iran refused to scale back its uranium enrichment unless sanctions on its economy were eased, a proposal rejected by the P5+1.

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

13

INTERVIEW

I have solution to over scratched GSM recharge cards – claims 'Scientists' Imafidon Mr. Obayagbona Emmanuel Imafidon, is popularly called Scientist Emma. He hails from Edo state but was born and brought in Warri, Delta State. Emma currently studies Electrical and ElectronicsEngineering at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. He spoke to The Advocate in Enugu regarding his scientific discoveries especially the device which he claims could effectively solve the problem associated with scratch cards.

Excerpts: Can you introduce yourself and give us your background?

I am Obayagbona Emmanuel Imafidon, also known as scientist Emma. I'm from a Christian family and I'm from Edo state, Benin City but born and brought up in Warri, Delta state.

I'm born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Obayagbona.

I'm from a family of eight children, six girls and two boys; I am the fifth child and the first son of my parents. I started my invention since primary school down to my secondary school called Challenge Academy Secondary School, Delta Steel Company Ovwian, Aladja where I was awarded scholarship by my proprietor Mr. Ese Aghoghovia because of my invention prowess.

Presently I am a student of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu State studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering through the help of my mentors, Pastor Raye Kekeke the General Overseer of Dynamic Faith Church DSC, Orhuwhorun, Delta State, Engineer Mrs. Ujam, who is my Head of Department (IMT Enugu), Pastor Innocent of Winners Enugu, Pastor Chuks David Ogbueli, General Overseer, of Dominion City and Pastor Ken (Dominion City New Layout).

Currently I am based in Enugu State because of my schooling.

I'm going for my HND this year,

by Gods grace.

I can be reached through this em a i l a d d r e s s scientistemma@yahoo.com or through these phone numbers: 07032399435,08182927529, or 08154801152.

Scientist Emma You claim you can develop Electrical Electronics gadgets and equipment, how?

Due to my research, I discover I can develop almost 98% of all the electrical and electronics garget which I will not talk about for now.

This technology of mine has been done in two of my electronics like my L.G DVD and my Radio and my Neighbors love the idea.

Have you tested this technology before?

Yes I have tested it before and it worked very well. It is something that you can't refuse the idea. A lot of people think that the white men (foreigners) who work in Electrical and

Electronics industries know it all which I disagree. No company or industry is an island of its own.

Why do you think that this idea can be implemented 98% OF Electrical and Electronics gadgets and equipment?

This is because all Electrical and Electronics gargets and Equipment need the idea because it is something 95% people cannot do without. These are things that 95% people must do every day, that is why they need it.

How did you get the idea of developing about 98 percent Electrical and Electronics gadgets and equipment?

Well, like I said in my earlier

press interviews, all my inspiration came from Jehovah God Almighty. He started inspiring me since 1994 till date.

I don't get my inspiration from anybody or from the internet but from the Omniscience God. How can you bring the idea into practical manifestation in view of developing Electrical and Electronics gadgets?

Well if given the opportunity to do so in our electrical and electronics companies and industries like INNOSON and so on, I know I can do it perfectly well and I know this will bring lasting solution to the problems of many people in the world.

What makes you believe that

Delta to ban Okada in 3 cities

By Vincent Anikwushe, Asaba, Warri and Effurun for transportation for the people.

FRSC and a private consultant. now, adding that the embargo Earlier in her remarks, the State Asaba

D

elta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan says commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada would be banned in major cities in the state with effect from the end of this month.

(September).

The governor announced this when he played host to the new state sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mrs. Susan Ada at Government House, Asaba.

He said the ban will be limited to

would later be extended to other major towns in the state.

The governor disclosed that a committee has been set up to meet with okada riders on the modalities to distribute the 1,000 tricycles purchased by the State Government to cushion the effect.

He stressed the importance of r o a d s a f e t y, s a y i n g t h a t government was investing heavily in the road transportation as part of measures to boost and enhance easy and affordable

Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mrs. Susan Ada commended the state government for its support and the donation of Hilux Vans to the command to enhance its operations.

She reiterated the FRSC's commitment to enhancing road safety and continued partnership with the state government to reduce accidents on our roads.

The FRSC boss later decorated the governor with the reflective jacket initiative which she said was jointly packaged by the

Gov Uduagha

this idea would work?

(Laughter) I laugh because this is something that I have done before I gained admission in IMT and it worked. I inculcated the idea in my DVD and it worked very well.

What other inventions do you have I have so many inventions which I can list but few of them. There is what I call Automatic change over switch for fuel generator. It is something that automatically switches off my generator when there is public power supply and it will automatically change over to power mains without going to change over manually. I and my clients have been using it since 5th of January 2011. And even when there is no public power supply, it will not start the generator because I did not design it to start the generator automatically but I can do it to start automatically but in order for people to afford it, I make it not to start generators. I also made a provision for one to turn off his generator from 500watts (.5) to 5.5KVA fuel generator manually without turning off the generator. It does wonders, mostly on fuel generators.

Another one is the idea on how to reduce accident on vehicle internationally. This accident reduction formula is something the car industry will inculcate in their vehicle during production stage. I also have an idea on how to solve problem of overscratched cards world wide like MTN, AIRTEL, ETISALAT, G L O , M U LT I - L I N K , STARCOMS, etc. I also have an idea for a power generating device that can trap a strike of thunder lightening from the cloud and transform it to electrical energy for 5 years and 20 days which can power Nigeria and Africa and the rest of the world among others.

What is your reason for going into these?

This is because it is something that 95% Electrical and Electronics gargets and Equipment cannot do without and most people cannot also do without electrical and electronics gargets and equipment. Even car stereo also needs this idea.

What benefit will people derive from using this idea?

All I have to say is that most people will derive satisfaction from it. A trial will convince you.

THE

Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

14

ADVOCATE

FLASHBACK

Port Harcourt City Centre

P

ORT HARCOURT is the capital of Rivers State, Nigeria. It lies along the Bonny River and is located in the Niger Delta. Major languages in Port Harcourt are Igbo (Diobu, Iguocha or Ugwuocha; and Pidgin: "Po-takot"). According to the 2006 Nigerian census Port Harcourt has a population of 1,382,592.

The Mayor of Port Harcourt City is Azubuike Nmerukini.

From Iguocha Port Harcourt was renamed by Frederick Lugard after Lewis Vernon Harcourt in 1913 who was the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The area that became Port Harcourt in 1913 was originally the farmlands of the Diobu village group of the Ikwerre, a subgroup of the Igbo people.

The colonial administration of Nigeria created the port to export coal from the collieries of Enugu located 151 miles (243 km) north of Port Harcourt, which it was linked to by a railway called the Eastern Line, also built by the British.

Port Harcourt was a site for World War I military operations against German Kamerun. It was once part of the Republic of Biafra which seceded from Nigeria in 1967. On May 19, 1968 Port Harcourt fell to Nigerian forces at the Capture of Port Harcourt. Commercial quantities of crude oil was discovered in Oloibiri in 1956 and Port Harcourt's economy turned to petroleum when the first shipment of Nigerian crude oil was exported through the city in 1958. Through the benefits of the Nigerian petroleum industry

Port Harcourt was further developed with aspects of modernisation such as overpasses and city blocks. Oil firms that currently have offices in the city include Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron.

Port Harcourt's primary airport is the Port Harcourt International Airport located in the periphery of the city; Nigerian Air Force (NAF) base is the location of the only other airport in the city; used by commercial airlines Aero Contractors and Virgin Nigeria (now Air Nigeria) for domestic flights. The main educational establishment in the city is the University of Port Harcourt.

History Port Harcourt was founded in 1913 by the British colonial administration of Nigeria The purpose of Port Harcourt was to export the coal which geologist Albert Ernest Kitson had discovered in Enugu in 1909.

The colonial government caused the people of Diobu to cede their land and by 1913 the building of a port-town was started. Other villages that were later absorbed into the city included Oroworukwo, Mkpogua and Rumuomasi; In the creeks to the south of the original port were the fishing camps and grounds of the Okrika-Ijaw group.

During World War I Port Harcourt was used as a point for military operations against the Central Powers in German Kamerun. After the discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri in 1956, Port Harcourt exported the first shipload from Nigeria in 1958.

Port Harcourt became the centre

of the Nigerian oil economy and it subsequently reaped benefits of its associations with the petroleum industry by undergoing modernisation and urbanisation Port Harcourt's growth is further due to its position as the commercial centre and foremost industrial city of the former Eastern Region; its position in the Niger Delta; and its importance as the centre of social and economic life in Rivers State. After the Republic of Biafra seceded from Nigeria in 1967 Port Harcourt fell to Nigerian forces on May 19, 1968. A 1973 social survey found that migrants made up 72 percent of Port Harcourt's population. From an area of 15.54 km2 in 1914, Port Harcourt grew uncontrolled to an area of 360 km2 in the 1980s.

Geography and climate The main city of Port Harcourt is the Port Harcourt city in the Port Harcourt Local Government Area, consisting of the former European quarters now called old Government reservation area (GRA) and New layout areas. The Port Harcourt Urban Area (Port Harcourt metropolis) is made up of the city itself and parts of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Port Harcourt City, which the capital of Rivers State, is highly congested as it is the only major city of the state. A law has recently passed by the state house and governor Amaechi's administration to spread development to the surrounding communities as part of the effort to decongest the Port Harcourt

metropolis. The Greater Port Harcourt urban area, spans eight local government areas that include Port-Harcourt local government, Okrika, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Ogu/Bolo, Tai and Eleme local governments respectively has a total population estimate for 2012 at 1,947,000 making it the fifth largest urban area in Nigeria (only the urban areas of Lagos, Kano, Ibadan and Abuja that are bigger than it.

Port Harcourt features a tropical monsoon climate with lengthy and heavy rainy seasons and very short dry seasons. Only the months of December and January truly qualifies as dry season months in the city. The harmattan, which climatically influences many cities in West Africa, is less pronounced in Port Harcourt. Port Harcourt's heaviest precipitation occurs during September with an average of 370 mm of rain.

December on average is the driest month of the year, with an average rainfall of 20 mm.

Temperatures throughout the year in the city are relatively constant, showing little variation throughout the course o f t h e y e a r. Av e r a g e temperatures are typically between 25°C-28°C in the city.

Economy and infrastructure The city is a major industrial centre as it has a large number of multinational firms as well as other industrial concerns, particularly business related to the petroleum industry. It is the chief oil-refining city in Nigeria.

Rivers State is one of the wealthiest states in Nigeria in terms of gross domestic product and foreign exchange revenue from the oil industry, crude oil being its main export earner.

Some of Port Harcourt's more popular and well-known residential areas are Port Harcourt Township (or just 'Town'), GRA (Government Reserved Area) phases 15, Rumuomasi, Ogbunabali, Rumuola, Diobu, Amadi Flats, and Borokiri. The main industrial area is located in Trans Amadi. Face-me-I-faceyou architecture is quite common to Port Harcourt. The Podium Block of Rivers State Secretariat is an icon of the city.

An eighteen storey building, it has the tallest building in the South/South and South/East Geopolitical zones combined.

The city has an international airport, Port Harcourt International Airport, two seaports (FOT Onne, Port Harcourt Wharf), two stadiums (Sharks Stadium which is the civic center) and Liberation Stadium located in Elekahia and

two refineries. The city plays host to the Rivers State University of Science and Technology; there is also a University of Port Harcourt, which is Located in Obio/Akpor which was carved out of Port Harcourt Local Government Area for ease of administration.

The city is sprawling in nature as building codes and zoning regulations are poorly enforced.

Land is cleared and 'lean to' buildings constructed sometimes overnight. This adds to flooding and sanitation problems since with no proper drainage or sewer system, parts of the city flood during the very heavy monsoon-type rains that fall for half the year.

Greater Port-Harcourt City Development (GPHCDA) In early 2009 the State Government under the leadership of Governor Chibuike Amaechi announced plans for the creation of a new city to be called the Greater PortHarcourt City. The new city is to be located close to the PortHarcourt International Airport.

The total coverage area for the Greater Port Harcourt city Development is 1900 km2 spanning 8 local governments in Rivers State including all of PH Local Govt, Ogu Bolo, Eleme, Ikwere, Etche, Obio Akpor,Okrika, Eleme local government areas. The Authority (GPHCDA) was established by law in April 2009 with a mandate to facilitate the implementation of the Greater Port Harcourt master plan and build the new city.

The Authority is led by an administrator, Dame Aleruchi Cookey Gam, supported by a management team comprising the Secretary to the authority and Board, Dr Silva Opusunju, Director Finance Aaron Obelly, Director Administration (Permanent Secretary) MI Tella, Director Public Affairs Kenneth Anga, Director Legal Dr. Justice Nwobike, Director Projects Edmund Altraide, Director Development Control Sir Ngozi Worgu.

The Greater Port Harcourt city hosted several of the events at the 17th national sports festival tagged 'Garden City games'. The games in 2011 have been confirmed to be the best festival so far hosted by any city.

The Greater Port Harcourt City has several features and advantages making it attractive to investors seeking investment opportunities in Nigeria.

THE

ADVOCATE

Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

15

Odd world

Pastor sentenced to jail for stealing sheep

A

N Ilorin Magistrate's Court, Kwara State, on Monday sentenced a pastor, Oloruntoba Ibitoye, to nine months imprisonment for stealing a sheep.

According to the prosecution, the complainant, Mrs. Florence Adebiyi, reported at the police station in Ganmo, near Ilorin, that the convict stole her sheep valued at N3,000 in front of her residence at Amoyo area of Ilorin.

The prosecution said the sheep was recovered from the convict by the police.

The New Agency of Nigeria reports that the convict pleaded guilty to the offence and begged for leniency. Police prosecutor, Insp. Mojisola Olamokun, applied for summary trial, which was granted by the court.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Mariam Qudus-Salahu, sentenced him to nine months imprisonment without an option of fine.

University of Calabar employee killed by in- Laws for biting off wife's nose

A

Purchasing Officer with the University of Calabar, Cross River State, Mr. John Odu, has allegedly been killed by the relatives of his wife, Nancy, after a marital squabble.

Residents of the area said the alleged killing was due to a fight between the couple, who were blessed with two children aged 21 and 19 years. The fight led to the biting off of the wife's nose.

Reports said the couple, who resided at 23 Uduakobong Street, off Edim Otop Street, were childhood lovers during their secondary school days and eventually got married in the late 80s.

However, prior to the incident, the relationship between the spouses, who hail from Ntamante in Boki Local Government Area of the state, had plummeted due to frequent fighting and quarrelling.

It was said John bit off his wife's nose in August 17 to free himself from the intense pains he was going through when the latter grabbed his penis during a fight.

A source in the adjoining building, who craved anonymity said, “We heard the man screaming and begging for his wife to let go his genitals but she would not, so the man started crying and at a point, we heard the lady crying too. It was later that we discovered that the man bit off the wife's nose.

“After that fight, John took his wife to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital where the nostril was stitched

and the woman was admitted.

“It was when he was returning from the hospital the following day that some members of the wife's family accosted him close to his house and beat him until he became unconscious and they left him lying there in a pool of blood.”

John died on the way to the hospital, while his remains had been deposited at UCTH's morgue.

When contacted, the Director in charge of stores in the university, Mr. Effiong Enang, said, “When I heard that the man was dead I contacted the Bursar of the university, who is the head of our unit and he asked me to confirm if it was true. I went to the house and found out that it was true. We took the body to the anatomy section.”

A source at the Airport Police Station in Calabar, where the case was first reported said the matter had been transferred to the D4 Department of the State Criminal Investigation Department.

A Deputy Superintendent of Police simply identified as Mr. Joe, in charge of the Homicide Unit said, “The family had taken some policemen to Abuja where we tried to locate the chief suspect but he escaped. He can only run for now we will certainly get him.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. John Umoh, said the name of the chief suspect was being kept secret in order not to alert him that he was on the wanted list. He added that efforts were on to track him.

Pastor in Jail

A

man who was identified by the police as Sunday Eze (Jnr) has reportedly matcheted his wife to death at the University town of Nsukka in Enugu State.

Eze, alleged to be a native of Agbani Nguru in Nsukka Local Government was said to have killed his wife following a slight misunderstanding he had with her.

The Advocate sources said at Nsukka that the suspect allegedly killed his wife lon Tuesday night in the presence of their only child Onyebuchi Eze, 11. The suspect was alleged to have rebuffed pleas by the child not to kill his mother.

The kid who received a deep cut in his hand in attempt to prevent his father from killing his mother is a form five pupil of a primary school in the area.

The suspect was however said to have had a mental problem before the incident. It was alleged that the suspect had threatened to kill his wife each time they had any disagreement.

Police sources quoted the 11 year old boy as stating that his parents had quarrels that night before his father used his matchet and killed his ''mummy,'' adding, ''I rushed him and pleaded but he did not listen to me. He stabbed my mother severally both on the head and legs and on seeing that mummy is dead, he asked me to go to his elder brother's residence, and tell them what has happened while he also moved to the nearby neighbours to inform them.''

According to the police sources, Onyebuchi complied as directed by his father only for the assailant to escape into the bush for three days before he was caught by a search party in the community.

The search party headed by one

Man machetes wife to death in Enugu Christopher Ejike Onah alias Papa Nsukka, was said to have apprehended the suspect after ransacking all the nearby bushes and villages.

He was said to have attempted to kill himself with a screw driver which gave him a very deep cut in the throat.before he was arrested on the third night, looking frail and haggard.

The suspect told The Advocate

that his late wife was responsible for his mental problem even as he further claimed that she died during a scuffle with him on the fateful night.

“I was told by my diviner that my wife has a hand in my mental problem which causes me internal heat at intervals,'' the suspect further told The Advocate.

Husband pours boiling water on wife

A

17-years-old girl, Titilayo Ojo of Kado village of the FCT was arraigned at an Abuja Senior Magistrates' Court for committing adultery with her neighbour's husband.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Sim Emmanuel, told the court that on Aug. 30 one Mrs Idongesit Sunday of Kado village, Abuja, reported the accused at the Life Camp Police station.

Emmanuel said Mrs Sunday reported that she caught the accused having sexual intercourse with her husband on her matrimonial bed on Aug.29.

He added that when Sunday picked up a quarrel with her husband over the incident, he poured a pot of boiling water, which contained pepper, on her.

Emmanuel told the court that Sunday had since been admitted

at the Asokoro General hospital following injuries she sustained in the attack.

He said that the accused was charged with adultery, adding that the offence was punishable under Section 388 of the Penal Code.

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

The Senior Magistrate Abdullahi Illelah, therefore, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum.

Illelah ordered that the surety must be a reasonable and reliable Nigerian who must a known and of definite address within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned to Sept. 12, 2012 for further hearing. (NAN)

THE

16

By Shantha Bloemen, UNICEF

K

AT S I N A S TAT E , Nigeria: It's 9 a.m., and already the soil is being scorched by the unforgiving sun. The landscape is bleached out with no shade. The only splash of color is provided by 10 yellow watering cans lined up neatly by the side of a muddy well. Next to them, Al Haji Yahaya and his young son are methodically filling them up with brown-coloured water from what is little more than a sandy hole.

It's a ritual that this family and countless others across the Sahel region practise daily. The two-hour round trip on a donkey cart is the only way Mr. Yahaya can be assured access to water for his cattle and for his household. “I know it's not clean. The children sometimes get sick, but what can I do?” he says.

Mr. Yahaya and his family live in the northern part of Nigeria, one of the eight states that make up the Sahel region.

UNICEF estimates that 1.1 million children are threatened with severe acute malnutrition in the region, which is fuelled by poverty, insecurity and lack of access to clean water. Yet, the crisis in Africa's most populous nation is largely a “silent one”, argues Bamidele Davis Omotola, Senior Nutrition Specialist at UNICEF's Nigeria country office. “Most people do not see it, but 41 per cent of Nigeria's children are stunted, and that is a basic indication that something is very wrong,” he says.

The global picture in Nigeria masks the reality on the ground. One of Africa's richest oil states on the surface, Nigeria may seem a world apart from other Sahelian states such as Mali and the Niger. Only now is Nigeria's place in the Sahel crisis becoming clearer to the international community.

S i n c e U N I C E F, i n

Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

Health

Nigeria battles a worsening malnutrition crisis collaboration with the Government of Nigeria, set up hospital- and community-based facilities, more mothers are coming forward. According to the 2012 Nigeria Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of R e l i e f a n d Tr a n s i t i o n s (SMART) survey, global acute

malnutrition problems. That number is likely to swell with the onset of rains, because severely malnourished children are more prone to such diseases as cholera and malaria. “These infections can affect the brain, affect the health and can affect the respiratory system, but the

in the world. One in seven children dies before her or his fifth birthday. In response, UNICEF is trying to step up efforts to bring specialist help to the most vulnerable children.

At busy Katsina General Hospital, children admitted with severe acute malnutrition

N

outpatient therapeutic care programme (OTP). OTPs are one-stop shops located in the co mmu n ity th at p r o v id e children with access to both nutritional help and other medical services, including childhood immunizations.

Compared to neighbouring

PIX1. Clean water is hard to come by in northern Nigeria. For countless Nigerians, two-hour round trips are part of the daily routine to retrieve water from muddy wells.

INSET: One in seven children in Nigeria will die before she or he reaches school age.

Malnutrition is one of the biggest causes.

malnutrition has a prevalence of between 6.4 and 13.1 per cent, and severe acute malnutrition between 0.7 and 2.2 per cent.

At Katsina General Hospital, half a dozen infants are being treated for severe

most common are gastrointestinal diseases,” e x p l a i n s D r . Ya h a y a Mohammed, who treats the children.

Nigeria has one of the highest rates of infant mortality

are given specialized feeding and therapeutic care to help rehabilitate them. Once they are stabilized and able to be discharged, they'll be monitored as part of an eightweek programme at an

NAFDAC shuts Chinese table water firm, arrests boss

ational Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has shut down Chung Full Nigeria Limited, makers of Osaki range of table water for gross abuse and non-observance of manufacturing practice in production and sale of its products.

Meanwhile, the Agency has also arrested the Managing Director of the company, a Chinese national, Mr. Ksui Kim and four staff of the company.

ADVOCATE

The officers of the Enforcement Directorate of the Agency in company of the security operatives and journalists had stormed the company's premises on Adesoye Street in Mende Area of Lagos State following a tip off by a concerned consumer.

Unfortunately, the officials were refused entry to carry out their lawful duties by the staff of the company on the orders of the Managing Director.

But the NAFDAC officers forcibly gained entry into the

compound but not without resistance and a near mob attack save for the presence of the security men.

Addressing journalists after the exercise, later, the Director of Enforcement of NAFDAC, Mr. Garba Macdonald said the company had become notorious in using intimidation and harassment to obstruct the Agency each time they had visited them to carry out their duties.

Macdonald said apart from arresting the officials of the

company and sealing the factory, its operations would henceforth be put on hold.

He cited reasons for the closure to include; producing in a residential apartment, unhygienic environment and invalid registration certificate, adding that these are clear violations of NAFDAC regulations.

Macdonald accused the staff of the company of being unruly, violent and almost obstructed them from performing the regulatory assignment in the premises.

Mali, which has recently faced political shocks, Nigeria has some stability. Farming is the main source of livelihood in the North, and the population is highly mobile, enjoying crossborder trade with such states as the Niger. Yet, an upsurge in sectarian violence and attacks on churches and schools in the North have threatened the livelihoods of tens of thousands who live here, contributing to what is already a vulnerable situation.

Although agencies such as UNICEF continue to operate in the region, there is a perceptible nervousness among the population. People are avoiding big cities, and the mobility of farmers and traders is potentially threatened because of security fears. Nigeria is as vulnerable as it is vast. Disease, poverty and malnutrition are already inflicting a heavy toll, and, despite optimism that this year's harvest in October will give high yields, the country's needs are as pressing as those of its neighbours across the parched Sahel

THE

ADVOCATE

Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

17

POLITICS

2015 Presidency:

South-East at crossroad

The campaign for Nigeria's President of Igbo extraction has taken a dangerous dimension as interest groups have engaged in political skirmishes. The gladiators are busy scheming to ensure that the dream did not come through; this follows the bargaining or rather an agreement which some stakeholders claimed to have entered into before the 2011 general election. The Advocate Editor Larry Onwuta writes on the real issue in contention, state creation as a strategy and why the agitation will not be realizable.

T

he agitation for Nigeria President of Igbo extraction which started in 1983 during the second republic was said to have hit the rock due to the long occupation and control of the political power by the military juntas.

The quest was renewed in 1999 when the former Vice president Dr Alex Ekwueme, contested for the position of president and according to sources was allegedly rigged out during the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that gave the ticket to Gen Olusegun Obasanjo who ruled the country for eight years.

People from the South East region of the country expected that an Igbo man should have taken over as the president after Obasanjo but the PDP political arrangement took the slot to the northern Nigeria where Alhaji Shehu Musa Yar'a dua emerged as the president in 2007 and as matter of fact, the hope was dashed for the second time.

Thus, one will not be skeptical of the fact that the circumstance that brought in President Goodluck Jonathan into power necessitated the overwhelmed support he enjoyed during the April 2011, general election in the country.

Some stakeholders in the South East had claimed to reach an agreement with President Jonathan but the content of the said agreement had not been made public and nobody knows whether it is a gentleman or written agreement. This is because the South-East political class expects to see Igbo men occupying the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 29th of May, 2015. This, they believe, will be the reward of the zone for its overwhelmed support for the President's re-election bid.

While the zone's leaders are very optimistic, yes one ought to be cautiously so, if at all he is.

The Igbo man has always been his own worst enemy, and nowhere has this been more evident than in politics, rather than speak with one voice, they have perfected the art of singing in discordant tunes.

This is because some people from the zone are asking for the office of the president while others are busy strategizing for their selfish gains. The Advocate

President Jonathan investigation revealed that there is strong indication that some PDP leaders are making moves to return the former Vice president, Alex Ekwueme as the chairman Board of Trustee, BOT, of the party.

The sources from the presidency who pleaded anonymity said that President Jonathan has indicated interest in creation of additional state to the South East. It was also brought to the notice that the region is the only zone with five states while other geo-political zones in the country have six each and one has seven. The breakdown of the zones and states are as follows: North Central six states, South West six states, North East six states, South -South six states, North West seven states while South East has only five states.

On a very serious note, gambling the office of the president with the PDP Board of Trustee, BOT, and state creation, is it a way of rewarding Igbo people for supporting Jonathan for his re-election? Is creation of additional states in the South East a crime when other zones have six each and North West has seven? Where is equity and justice in Nigeria?

However, it is highly significant for us to trace where the rain started beating the people of the South East, right from the onset of the fourth republic, the South-East geopolitical zone set itself up to be the laughing stock of

Chukwuemeka Ezife

Nigeria's political class by living the substance to pursue shadows.

To be precise, one never hope to be a champion for ethnic politics but we do believe that in a federating units such as ours, each zone must come to the table with a comparative advantage of some sort, in other to negotiate effectively and go home with a desirable prize. In other to pull this off, however, it is expected that the representatives of the zone ought to have spoken with one voice but no positive reaction yet.

The state creation has been the front burner, this is an agitation that has taken number of years and the marginalization is now clear otherwise there is no rational thinker that would use such to bargain for Ndigbo to forfeit the position of president because a state is given to them.

In 1995, there was a constitutional conference made up of eminent Nigerians who u n an imo u s ly ag r eed th at additional one state be given to the South East as to balance it with those that have six. But the government in power then could not implement such noble decision taken by representatives from the regions in question. According to Kanti Bello, “in 2015, it will be free for all. Anybody from anywhere can go for it because we have said bye, bye to zoning in 2011. I don't know what is wrong with Nigerians; you can't blow hot and blow cold at the same time.

If zoning is bad in 2011, it cannot be good in 2015.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu had earlier advised those agitating for Igbo presidency to tread cautiously, affirming that getting it would not wholly resolve the challenges confronting the region.

Ikpeazu said although he does not see anything wrong in the agitation, because achieving it may enhance the development of the area that produced the President, it should be borne in mind that alone would not improve the life of the people.

While illustrated his point with the situation in the United States,he said the election of Barack Obama as President has not impacted positively on the wellbeing of an average black American.

In his words: “Obama presidency, no doubt, is an emotional boost for the American black, but that euphoria quickly evaporated when the basic life of the black man received no boost, the unemployment among blacks did not decrease, while inflation did not relent, internationally.

The American policy towards Africa has not really changed.”

Ikpeazu said that for the Igbo, “governance should not be a mechanism to massage the feelings of some egocentric native foreigners who stray to their native homes of origin periodically just to secure a

ticket to elope to the national level for self-aggrandizement, only to return after four years to another bout of self-deceit and utmost dishonest expression of presumed attainment.”

He called for caution in the agitation for the Igbo presidency, while presenting a lecture entitled: “Nigeria federalism: development of strong local government administration as panacea for the sustenance of Igbo nation.

Some prominent leaders of the Southeast zone, including a former governor of Anambra state, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife who remains an influence in Igbo and national politics, insisted that the time for the zone, which is currently the most socio-political and economically marginalized was after Jonathan and nothing else.

But the issue to be addressed remains when Jonathan vacate office? Is it 2015 or did he still have the constitutional right to contest for the second time?

Even if Jonathan is not going to contest, there is substance to it. How serious or prepared is the Igbo bloc in this game? For example, under what platform will an Igbo candidate contest?

The stakeholders, who made an open declaration recently in support of the project, are all of the People Democratic Party (PDP). Given that for obvious reasons, the Igbo presidential project will receive stiff opposition from the PDP hierarchy, what machinery is there in place to provide an alternative platform?

Theoretically, the PDP is there for the incumbent president to manipulate.

More so, taking, into account of the interest of the president whom according to sources is strategizing under ground making serious consultations before declaring his intention to contest for the exulted number one position come 2015. The earlier the people from the south east forget their selfish pursuit and face the reality of life in the present political set-up in Nigeria the better for the region.

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INTERVIEW

FG's conspiracy has killed – MAN boss alleges

Chief Chike Obidigbo, the sub-regional Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) comprising of Ananmbra, Enugu and Ebonyi States speaks on the horrendous challenges facing manufacturing industry in Nigeria. He alleges that there's a kind of massive conspiracy by the Federal Government against businesses in the South East geopolitical zone which has almost killed the economic interest of Ndigbo. In this Interview, our correspondent constitutes less than 5% of the attractive. like I said lack of facilities UBA ANI captured him. factor of production. So even if he Factors that could attract hinders people's intention to Excerpts Manufacturing in Nigeria?

Manufacturing in Nigerian is like swimming against a violent tide.

Therefore, there are many challenges, and most of the challenges that are confronting manufacturers in Nigeria are man made, that is to say that some of them are challenges that could be removed if the government at the Federal level is sincere with manufacturing in Nigeria. So in a nutshell, I'll say it is a very difficult area and it is the most difficult sector of business as far as this country is concern. I agree that manufacturing is a very difficult area world over but in Nigeria, it is totally a different Kettle of fish. It is the worst kind of business anybody can get involved in.

Factors militating against manufacturing in Nigeria?

There is what we call the critical factors of production. These are the things that make production easier. Manufacturing under any setting is suppose to be a 24 hours operation, because by doing a 24 hours operation, you are able to reduce the cost of production and when you reduce your cost of production, your products become competitive both locally and internationally. You cannot do a 24 hours operation in Nigeria without adequate and constant supply of electricity. In Nigeria it is a tall order. You find out that some these multinational corporations in Nigeria, PZ, Lever brothers, etc, they do 24 hours operation but they don't depend on Nigerian public power supply to do it. This is because they are big companies, they are capable, and they are able to install their own electricity. Even the Nigeria Breweries in Eke you cannot see any Power Holding cable entering into their premises. They have about eight turbines that are working 24 hours every day. That is what manufacturing should be. So without electricity you cannot produce 24 hours and if you are not producing 24 hours, you are not taking the advantage of continuous production which helps to reduce cost of

production.

Apart from energy there are several other challenges too numerous to mention. Security situation in Nigeria, we all know how it is and we know that without security of lives and property people will be afraid and find it difficult to invest their hard earned money. And in the absence of this kind of continuous investments, then a

gave the lands for free, that people will not rush to acquire them for industrial purposes.

Ehm, we need C of Os as you pointed out because we need a lot of support from banks and here banks always insists on getting property that would be mortgage to them as collateral. At Anambra State the issue of C of O is a very difficulty thing for us. When we got our second land to build our

investors to a given place especially the South East of Nigeria.

Well, South East has a significant market. Onitsha used to be described as the biggest market in West Africa, and then Aba is also a major commercial area in the Southeast. So whenever you are looking for a place to site an industry you are considering the source of raw material, you are

Chief Chike Obidigbo different kind of problem is created, unemployment, once there's unemployment, it affects the society, social crisis, criminal activities, kidnapping, armed robbery, prostitution and all kinds of evil will start to confront the nation.

Land as a factor of production in Anambra State?

Land is a very significant issue. It is one of the core factors of production. When the former Governor of Enugu State invited me for discussion on industrialization of the State, he said that he has mapped a large expanse of land for our MAN members to buy and invest in industries. I told him that land

factory in Anambra State, it took us two years to get the C of O, to get the consent of the Governor to mortgage. But since Peter Obi came he has invited us. We have held several meetings. In one of the meetings he was able to convince us that if anybody want document for his land, he should go through his office and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to help facilitate the issuance of C of O and the consent to mortgage. So in Anambra State it has easedout a bit. When I addressed the media last year I did not mention Enugu State because C of O don't pose problem to the members of MAN and it has remain significantly

considering the availability of technical expertise within that belt, you are also considering a sizable market for the sales of your products. Southeast has offered a good market, though, as far as I am concerned there's a kind of massive conspiracy against businesses in the Southeast which is tending to reduce the ability of the Igboman to branch his trade, which is buying and selling, for which he is the best.

The existence of the market in the Southeast should be a massive encouragement and inducement for investors to come from other places to site their industries within the belt. But unfortunately

come and invest in the Southeast.

Look at our roads for instance, if you are into manufacturing, you have to move your goods east, west, north, and south continuously and you need good roads. We don't have good roads in the southeast. Infact the southeast roads are the worst in this country. A travel from Onitsha to Enugu used to take forty minutes but now it will take you about three hours, the roads are very bad. It discourages even those that come from the north to the southeast to buy. Somehow trading attention has now been diverted to the west. Much of trading activities have been diverted to the west which is substantially in Lagos and Ogun states. That is why I said it is conspiracy against businesses in Igboland. Because these are Federal Government functions.

These infrastructural developments are 100% Federal Government responsibilities but they are not doing them. They allowed the security situation to deteriorate so much that businessmen ran away from the southeast to southwest and this has been depleting the capacity of the Igbo nation.

Why Nigerians don't patronize home made goods?

Like I said earlier, the cost of producing here is very high.

Sometimes, you find out that what it cost to produce a particular product could be higher than the selling price of imported ones. The fact is that after being colonized, the consciousness drummed into us is that everything made outside are superior and ones made here are inferior. Even within us we share that belief but let me tell you, lots of goods that are made in Nigeria are of very high quality.

In our own case for example, we know we are fighting against odds. Our cost of production is high; therefore our selling prices should also be high. But we make sure that we give out to the public something that has very good value; value for their money. That is what we've been teaching our members in MAN to ensure that

Continues on page 19

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

19

INTERVIEW

businesses in South East

Continues from page 18

the goods they are giving to the public is commensurate with the amount of money they are asking them to pay.

The fact that people who live in Enugu want to patronize Hardis and Dromedas that is within their area, does not make the company give them inferior goods, it must be of good quality, it must be comparable to what they are paying so that they will not feel bad about it when they pay the extra. Secondly our governments are not doing enough to promote goods that are produced locally.

Sometimes it is said that action speaks louder than voice. You go to the radio and other public media and tell people to buy made in Nigeria goods, but when you get to where they are living you'll not see made in Nigeria goods. Nothing around them depicts made in Nigeria and then they say buy Nigeria products, that is to say, that those who buy made in Nigeria goods are

are producing, you must be sure of the packaging, you must be sure of the market price, you must be sure of the method of distribution and if you get this mathematics right then you won't have so many problems selling your products.

The Nigerian Graduate, employment and qualification?

Well I agree Nigeria is very rich in mineral resources but when it comes to labour‌ because people think that labour is very cheep. One of the cheapest in the world but I disagree totally.

Nigeria labour is one of the most expensive because labour in Nigeria is very inefficient.

All over the world, first of all in the area of education, whenever somebody is studying engineering, for example in a civilized world the person will learn it in both theory and practice so by the time the person graduates he is already knowledgeable and employable having learnt it in the most ideal

Chief Chike Obidigbo identifying with inferior products and they are inferior people, inferior to the people using the foreign made ones.

Nigeria set up a factory in Kaduna to produce cars, in Enugu to produce trucks, though they are mere assembly plants, but what kind of cars do our leaders ride? What kind of truck do they patronize? I appreciate Governor Sullivan Chime here because of the number of buses and waste management trucks he bought from Innoson, I just heard that Gov Peter Obi also ordered for 600 buses from Innoson as well. This is what we have been asking our government to do so that the people will see them doing it and that they'll follow.

Again, we are advising some of our members who'll want to cut corners, inorder to make profit fast, to be mindful because the best thing for them is to remain in business. That is our advice to them. It is a very high risk area and you must be sure of what you

way.

Look at the medical sector, those who study medicine abroad, they are trained with the medical equipment, but by the time they come back here, the machines or equipment are no longer there even when you bring those equipment, it becomes difficult to find those who have the capability to maintain or even operate some of those machines.

The Government is not taking any steps to create an environment where those young employees can go and acquire the practical training so that by the time they come out, they can easily fit into industries. When you employ a young graduate today in my factory, he is a trainee and sometimes it take about two or three years to train them to understand the function of very simple machines. This is because they didn't have that orientation right from school. It takes a lot of effort to get it done.

Unfortunately the southeast has

the highest number of unemployed graduates in Nigeria today. We just keep on churning out graduates from the universities and when they come out, we are not ready for them, there's nothing for them to do.

Everyday you receive hundreds of application from young people who want to be employed. How many of them can you employ?

Even when you take them, you start training them from the beginning and by the time you finish training, they get another job, maybe in Kano, Lagos or Port-harcourt and they will leave and you start all over. So it has not been easy at all. During the older regime there used to be technical training schools, like the Enugu GTC, even IMT was intended for a kind of up-grade training of young people in area of technology particularly. What has happened to all these things?

Even the universities always had their engineering department well fortified, well-equiped so that people can come there and even conduct researches, then the economy was blossoming, but since this new regime took over, nothing has been coming good. We only churn out graduates of engineering who comes out only knowing how to communicate in English and that is all. So we still have a very long way to go. We want to train our young ones in such a way that when they come out they become automatically useful to the system at once, but we are not doing that and we still have a very long way to go.

My view on Government policies on industrialization in Nigeria?

You see, lots of people have talked about policies and policies. We have very fine policies in this country but policy changes affect manufacturing a lot due to lack of stability in the system. Government will say something today, tomorrow they'll change. They will ban a product now, the next time they unban it without notice.

I will give you a clear practical example, when we wanted to start making toilet soap, we arranged with a company in Singapore because we knew we didn't have the knowledge, we gave every specification including the packaging. They produced and sent to us. We put the product into the market to test the market and we found out that people liked the product. We ordered for more and as they were coming in, mid way, government placed a ban on the importation of soap. When they place the ban, we invited the company and asked them to come and set up a small soap

making plant for us. When they started the problem was that the major raw material known as a soap nodule was not in the country but we were importing from Malaysia. But no sooner than we started, Government struck again with a ban on soap nodule importation. We now resorted to using local raw materials like soda, palm kernel oil etc. And by the time we got this new idea in place, government unbanned soap. So where do we start from? The cost of producing that soap in Nigeria is higher than what it cost for the importation. When we put pressure on government they banned it only to make the borders porous and they are being smuggled in o the country.

As I am talking to you today soap is a banned product in Nigeria but move into any shop and tell me if there is any foreign made one missing in their shelves. I said the policies are good but the implementation; that's where the problem is. It is not only on the soap thing there are many other products, just move to our borders, 24 hours they are open, just negotiate with custom officials and they will help you move in your goods in and it is even a lot cheaper.

The vision 20-20-20?

Thank you very much. You see when we talk about 20-20-20, sometimes we think it is something for the next life. 2020-20 is around the corner. What I am saying is that I am privileged to have travelled to many parts of the world, even countries that started later than we did have overtaken us. I don't believe in any statistics that comes out of this country, because people sit down in their offices and formulate them and push it about. I don't believe in it. Look at the industrial sectors, for instance, how many new industries have come into Enugu within the past ten years? How many foreign companies have come here to set up industries within the past ten years? Yet when they do the statistics, they w i l l s a y i n t h e G D P, manufacturing sector contributes 17%, 20% to economy. Where did they get that figures from?

People sit and compile these statistics and issue them out. I don't believe we are going anywhere because the fundamental things have not been done in this country. I said before, when I had the privilege of discussing with the former Governor of Enugu States, I said to him, first of all a lot of people were moving from the north to the southwest for their business of buying goods upon the fact that both Onitsha and Aba became insecure for the traders.

This is as a result of escalating

armed robbery, kidnapping and other disturbances. I suggested to the Governor to bridge the market through a creation of an international market of ninth mile so that these traders coming from Ebonyi, Cross-river, and the north will settle for their purchases in the place. And then I also asked him to set up an industrial area within that vicinity. I told him to borrow money, build and woo investors through these industrial estates. I equally told him to forget allocating lands to industrialist as that will not make much impact, even if the land were given free to them. I further told him that after building the industrial estate, he should make contact and invite foreigners who will come with their raw materials for sales to the industries. These ideas were meant to create a virile economy such that makes jobs available for our teeming populace. I know that if it was done things would have been better and over time we'll come over all these problems.

The Onitsha market hub situation?

Most of the problems encountered at Onitsha were created by the federal government. That's why I called it conspiracy because most traders in Onitsha are importers.

They import their goods from outside Nigeria. They were using Portharcourt and Onne ports but suddenly these ports were made no go areas. Ships were no longer bathing at these ports except vessels with oil companies' goods. The Federal government dredged and expanded Tincan and Apapa to take more ships. So traders from the southeast, particularly Onitsha, found it difficult, painstaking and expensive to get their goods cleared and transported to there destinations. This is against the background that from Lagos to Onitsha, for instance, there are over one hundred check points by various security agencies; P o l i c e , C u s t o m , A r m y, NAFDAC, Immigration, Road safety, Civil defense, etc on the road coupled with the fact that the roads are very bad. So instead of incurring large losses during such movements, the importers decide and sell their goods there.

After the inconveniences of travelling to Lagos each time their goods come, they move into Lagos with their families and businesses. Some of them now moved to the west coast; Ghana, Lome, they import through there and move them to Lagos through land boarders.

Again there's massive security problem at Onitsha. Water is a federal government responsibility to provide.

Continues on page 22

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

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Events and Personalities

FROM LEFT: GOVS. LIYEL IMOKE OF CROSS RIVER; ADAMS OSHIOMHOLE OF EDO; CHIBUIKE AMAECHI OF RIVERS, AND EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN OF DELTA, AT THE MEETING OF NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (NDDC) ADVISORY COUNCIL IN ASABA (NAN)

TEAM NIGERIA PARALYMPIANS, AT THE RECEPTION ORGANISED BY NIGERIA HIGH COMMISSIONER TO THE UK, DR DALHATU TAFIDA, AT ABUJA HOUSE, IN LONDON, ON FRIDAY

NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE NORDIC COUNTRIES, (SWEDEN, DENMARK, NORWAY AND FINLAND), AMB. BENEDICT AMOBI (3RD R) FLANKED BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, EMPOWERMENT OF AFRICAN WOMEN (EOAW), DEBORAH MUPAPA (2ND R), AND DELEGATES FROM NIGERIA, AT THE VENUE OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN CONFERENCE IN TAMPERE, FINLAND,

DIRECTOR -GENERAL, NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY (NOA), MR MIKE OMERI (R), PRESENTING A LOGO TAGGED "DO THE RIGHT THING" TO THE TRADITIONAL RULER OF NNEWI, IGWE KENNETH ORIZU, IN HIS PALACE, DURING A COURTESY VISIT IN NNEWI (NAN)

Nutricima officials with the Senior Brand Manager (centre) at the YO! Walk Super Eagles former midfielder Mutiu Adepoju and Lagos FA chairman Seyi Akinwunmi flanked by Nutricima and PZ officials at launch of Community Games for digestive Health in Lagos

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

Fashion “It would be mortifying to the feelings of many ladies, could they be made to understand how little the heart of a man is affected by what is costly or new in their attire... Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter.” ― Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey If this quote is right, one should dress to satisfy himself or herself and not to please others.

Keep a date with THE ADVOCATE Fashion for Interesting Tips on decent dressing.

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

22

ADVOCATE

INTERVIEW

Conspiracy in South East

Continues from page 19 Sanitation in Onitsha is a federal government issue, they are supposed to provide then but they are not doing all these things. Even at a time, they were imposing leadership on the entire state, Anambra State but as may know, when you impose leadership on a state the leadership will speak the language of the person that imposed it. So these problems as I said emanated from the inability of the Federal government to perform its role and couple with the fact that some of the leaders we have in the southeast are no so keen in running government of the people, by the people and for the people.

T h e q u e s t i o n o f unemployment?

First I don't have a conglomerate (laughs) you see one of the pains that you have as an industrialist in this part of the world is the number of people who come to seek jobs for themselves, children, cousins, wives etc.

Everyday people are coming, some say, please, my daughter graduated since five years ago but not doing anything. Please just put her and let her be leaving the house everyday, no money is expected, but that is not possible.

So you'll be so much at pain because you know it is man's inhumanity to man.

Employment is the primary responsibility of the government. But because government knows that they lack the capacity, they now involve the organized private sector. Take a look at what is happening to agriculture in US. They produce more food than anybody else. Sometimes they produce excess.

And when there's excess, government buy them off to make sure that there'll be no glut i n t h e s e c t o r. I t i s t h e government's job. Recently in a state of nation interview, Obama said that any American in the Diaspora who wants to bring job back into America should just come and tell government what it will take and his government will go extra mile to see it through.

There are so many problems here which our government should seriously look into.

Finding, for example, business in manufacturing sector, where do they get the money, who funds them? Nobody. The banks are not keen, they are not interested, they will just classify you as a high risk sector of the economy therefore you are on your own. Where do you get the money to grow? If a bank gave you money after all, at what interest rate? Before a bank will give you a hundred million naira to put into your investment, what it means is that a rope is hung on

your neck just to make sure that you don't escape.

Let me correct this impression, the government has 100% responsibility to generate and sustain employment opportunities. In absence of employment there's violence, social disorder. Is not their responsibility to make sure that the society is at peace? One of the ways to achieving that is to make sure that the people are at peace and like I said they don't have capacity, that's why they must support the private sector to do it. Government employs very few people but industries employ a lot more. But the industries cannot thrive except the government is backing them up. In China, industries are charged 2.5% interest rate on loans. In Nigeria there's no such thing. In UK industries pay half of the energy tariff when compared to the domestic users.

In Nigeria industries pay twice that of the domestic users. In Nigeria there are no incentives, it want to borrow money from the banks you pay more as an industrialist. With all these things, it becomes very difficult for you to continue to grow and continue to provide employment opportunities. It you have problem in manufacturing, you are on your own. Sometimes there was serious gully erosion that almost submerged one of our factories, we reported to government but they did nothing. So we had to use our already scarce resources to salvage the situation. We used money that should have been used to produce more and expand to do the project. And if we don't produce and expand, how do we create the jobs?

Government tends to believe that what you are doing is solely your business but it is not true. It is not suppose to be like that.

Bank of industries facilities and manufacturing in Nigeria?

Thank you, Bank of industries, they are my friends. If I knew a question like this will come, I would have asked you not to ask it. The truth is that bank of industries operates like a ministry in government.

They don't have those massive lines which the commercial banks have.

Sometimes if you apply for loan it will take you up to two years to access it and that is not healthy for the manufacturing business.

Secondly, there interest rate which stands at 10% is still very much at the side. Thirdly not many people can access the Bank of industry fund. As at last count by NACCIMA, they said just about pat top 6% of manufacturers' access reasonable loan from all the banks, not just Bank of industry.

Since this woman took over

Bank of industry, Chigbue, she has been trying, there's no doubt about it, because there's so many course to it. For example, it depends on what amount of money they are operating with.

They don't have much. Another problem is the time it takes to access the fund, and then you find out that the money is hundred percent tied to machineries. If they want to give you loan, they will say the money must be for machineries.

So you are going build the place you are going to use, you are also going to provide the working capital. This is not healthy because majority of our members are not interested in machineries. There are many of them who employ intensive and massive manual operations.

Whatever people are doing in terms of these manual operations are not covered by the Bank of industry at all. This where the bulk of our MAN members are, it is not the machines that are their problem.

Their problem is that they need working capital. And the bank insists that they cannot give working capital because it cannot be secured. They will tell you to go to the commercial banks and by the time you finish with Bank of industries, you come back to the commercial bank and be ready for your throat to be cut.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States?

MAN is a professional Association, on advocacy group.

Nobody pays you for being the chairman, so when you are doing things that touch on their needs in one way or the other, they understand that it is not a political association and in the selection of the officers of MAN there is not much politics. When they feel that you can serve as the chairman like in my own case, it was a unanimous decision that I should be the chairman of MAN. It is not a political thing, it is a professional arrangement. Like I said, do things that touch on the interest of members. We started accusing the government openly and boldly why they will not support or patronize industrialists in the country, at least show patronage for our goods. They have started showing concern, Sullivan started it, and Peter Obi has joined. I know that soon an overall patronage will be achieved.

The former governor in Enugu refused to deal with us. He said that he is not giving function as marketing manager as we should go and employ marketer for our products, that asking government to buy from us is like marketing our goods.

Boko Haram sets governor's mother-in-law's house ablaze

T

he Boko Haram rampage continued last weekend in Damaturu,Yobe State, with members of the sect setting the residence of the mother-inlaw of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam ablaze.

That was less than 24 hours after giving a similar treatment to the masts of some telecommunication companies in the state capital and in Bauchi, Maiduguri, Kano and Potiskum.

The house was first attacked six months ago during which the occupants were robbed of their jewellery.

Police Commissioner Patrick Egbuniwe confirmed the incident.

He told reporters that the gun-wielding men stormed the house on Gashua Road and ordered all the occupants out before setting it ablaze.

He said: ”We got a report that the house of the mother- in-law

of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was burnt down by unknown gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect. “When they got to the house, everybody was asked to come of the house before they finally set it on fire. No life was lost.”

Meanwhile, four persons have been arrested in connection with the attacks on telecoms masts in Damaturu, the Joint Ta s k F o r c e ( J T F ) h a s announced.

The suspects were arrested along Gujba Road allegedly on their way to burning down more masts.

The JTF said the suspects were traced to Buni Yadi where they targeted to the mast there.

The JTF appealed for public understanding by giving information on the activities of the sect.

Armed Gang Disrupts LP Exco Meeting T

HE crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) in Anambra State yesterday assumed a new and dangerous dimension when some gunmen allegedly stormed the venue of a scheduled state executive meeting in Awka.

According to the party chairman, Jude Ezenwa, about eight heavily armed men arrived the party office in a Vigilante vehicle and drove his executive away from the meeting under at point.

Expressing his disgust over the development, the chairman appealed to security operatives in the state to rise up to the occasion and arrest those he named in his earlier petition as he would not like to take laws into his hands. He said he had already briefed lawyers to take

the matter up with the Police.

After regrouping at a new location, the party at its crucial meeting denied the identity and sincerity of a group led by one factional chief (Names withheld).

Rising from the two-hour brainstorming, the party alleged that the chief were political merchants and agents of destabilization. And that they were never registered members of the party in any of the 326 electoral wards in the state.

The chapter drew the attention of the chief and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Articles 3, 4 and 15(2) of the party's constitution which clearly stipulates the tenure, process and eligibility to contest, vote and be voted for in any congress of the party.

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

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Entertainment

Genevieve Nnaji:

Africa’s Screen Idol!

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ew years ago, ten out of twelve African graduates settled for “white collar” jobs but that has changed. With time, Africa's young and creative heads are shifting away from what used to be the c o n v e n t i o n a l o r d e r, a n d challenging themselves with initiatives that had little or no appreciation a decade ago.

In a quick yet steady growth to the top, Nigeria's entertainment industry has grown into a modern day screamer. The successes chalked over the years are as assuring as the quantum of revenue raked in by its subjects yearly.

Filmmaking, one of the country's strategic units of economic growth continue to take an upward fine-tuning

in her acting career defined what would later go on to be accepted as polished drama, took the industry by storm about two decades ago, when nobody really paid attention.

Gradually taking up roles in low and virtually non-existent budget movies, it was just a matter of time that she would explode into the big material that she is made of today. Role after the other, she proved her worth and managed to catch the eye of some notable producers who gave her subsequent roles in Unbreakable, Dangerous Sister, Not Man Enough, and Church Business among other titles. Still a local idol after few scripts, it was the 2002 movie “Sharon Stone”, which got her a wider appeal making her an

putting food on the table of millions of households.

Not only has Nigeria's entertainment industry fed its own people; across Africa, their homemade movies, is a major source of employment to hundreds of entrepreneurs.

Thanks to an early positioning, it has grown to become a force that cannot be done away with. Today, the Nigerian film industry, widely known as “Nollywood”, is the second largest in the world by volume. Genevieve Nnaji, one of the early day saints who got this whole craze off to a start, is about the industry's most respected and appreciated female act. Across Africa and even in more rooted and hardto-break-through territories like the United States of America and Europe, the level of appreciation that greets her, is refreshingly awesome.

Nnaji, who at an early stage

instant hit in countries like Ghana, Cameroon, Liberia, and Kenya among other African countries.

And the widespread recognition came at a time when Nollywood had made a successful crossover into unfamiliar territories and was getting a lot of positive reviews.

Soon, she blew up. She's been splendid thus far.

Nnaji, 33, (May 3, 1979), who was brought up in a middleclass environment in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, earned her first screen appearance in the television series “Ripples” as a teen actress. Few television commercials also followed. She made her debut mainstream screen appearance at the age of 19 in the movie “Most Wanted”.

Her subsequent movies included “Last Party”, “Mark of the Beast”, and “Ijele”, which till date, remains one of her all-

time classics.

A multiple award winner at home and abroad, Nnaji is one of Nigeria's most decorated celebrities in terms of brand endorsements, defending and

projecting everything from cars, and toiletries. In June this year, she became a Range Rover Evoque Ambassador.

In 2009, she became the first Nigerian actress to be profiled on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

This, together with other achievements, has translated into exciting deals for her, as she continues to act in very challenging and well-packaged movies that has shot her stock up. Tango with Me, (believed to have been shot on a 326,000pound budget), is the latest of high quality movies she's recently starred in.

Directed by Mahmood AliBalogun , industry stakeholders expect that the melodrama would achieve commercial success and would go beyond just the usual and conventional VCD and DVD-driven distribution channel, and opt for an aggressive roll out plan that would encourage appearance at

film festivals, cinema releases and viewing openings that has the potential of bringing in watchers who aren't necessarily Nigerians or Africans.

Nnaji, a mother of one, also acted and excelled in The Mirror Boy; a film that tells the “uplifting story of a young teenage African British boy who is taken back to the land of his mother's birth, but then gets mysteriously lost in a foreboding forest; and embarks on a magical journey that teaches him about himself and the mystery of the father he has never seen”.

Shot in The Gambia and England, the well-packaged fantasy adventure drama, written and directed by Obi Emelonye, received three nominations at last year's African Movie Academy Awards.

It is fair to credit Nnaji for taking Nollywood to greater heights but part of that praise should also go to the industry for creating the platform for young and talented people, to nurture

their talents.

But does the Nigerian film industry hold a lot of promise such that the likes of Nnaji can continue to have a cushion they can always lean on for growth and skills enhancement?

Phil Hoad of the Guardian thinks there is hope for the future. In an August 21, 2012, blog he suggested that: “There's certainly plenty of other evidence to suggest that it is moving on to a more established, professional footing: more film-makers shooting on film, not video; an increasing degree of international crossovers, like Jeta Amata's Hollywood starladen Niger-delta thriller Black November, Holly-Nolly coproduction Doctor Bello, and the forthcoming Nigerian-UK adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel Half of a Yellow Sun; the slick looking streaming-video library iROKOtv supported by US money giving ready access to Nollywood's bottomless bargain-bin of titles”.

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

25

INTERVIEW

Boko Haram killings will last for 12 years – Apostle Andrew Ehis Apostle Andrew Ehis is a minister of God, a motivational preacher, and an end-time prophet of fire, also known as, Apostle of Change. He is the Prophetic Founder and General Overseer of a fast growing church, (Cityfire Liberation Ministry) in Benin City. He spoke recently in Benin City with THE ADVOCATE Edo State Correspondent, Oarhe Dickson, saying by divine revelation, killings by the Islamic militia sect, Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, meaning “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teaching and Jihad”, aka Boko Haram will continue and last for 12 years since.

Excerpt: Problem of insecurity has been on the rise emanating from continued killing of innocent Nigerians by the Islamic militia sect, Boko-Haram. What is your stand on this problem?

I really do not have anything to say because in 2007, 1st October, God showed me that there is a sect that is being trained outside this country to specialize on bombing the country. I did my publication in some National Dailies.

The publication was published as expectation to upgrade security in all the borders and airports in Nigeria in other to ensure proper checkmating of immigrants and destructive weapons that will be imported into Nigeria. I did all I can and I wrote to Governors and the Presidency. But they never took it serious, it is now that everybody is calling me to talk but I look at it as medicine after death. I believe we should just pass through the consequence because when you disobey to follow the voice of God, you will pay the consequence of your disobedience.

How about the recent gathering at Ibadan by notable men of God praying for divine intervention on the matter?

What is your optimism?

I pity our Ministers and Christians who do not understand that you pay for every cause of disobedience. Prayers that are being done under excuse can not be answered by God. Boko Haram killing will last for twelve years, if you want to pray and fast, you can go and fast because they are waiting to see it happen first.

Do you see the federal government capable in this regard?

I will only by this extend my advice to President Goodluck Jonathan that it is time to listen to the voice of prophet. We have great prophets in this nation who foresee what is to happen. He was still a Deputy Governor when I did a publication that I saw him becoming a President and I realized that when he came to power as Vice President. I also saw the death of the late President Yar'adua but they did not reply. I know they read a paper because my last publication on same issue was published October 1st and I told them to tighten up security nationally because there was going to be problem in this period. So my advice is that he, President Goodluck Jonathan should ask God for mercy because he has disobeyed God by not listening to his voice.

However, we see more of the involvement of the youths as agent of insecurity in this country. Where then does good parenting come in assisting the government?

You should know that we have two types of parenting; the spiritual and biological parenting. You cannot blame parents too much because there is no enabling environment for them. The society has not given them an environment to bring out the best in their children. Most parents don't have the educational awareness on how to train children. They are doing the little they know. The government on their own should be able to open up centre where they can have training on parenting, because once parents fail, the whole nation will fail.

And that is part of the causes of Nigeria problems. You cannot give out what you don't have. Some of them their forefathers were farmers. Parents should be educated just as we are sending our children to school; they too should go and learn so that they should know how to bring up children in the appropriate way. The problem we have in Nigeria is that we know how to identify a problem but we don't know how to solve it. You hear of this program zip up, the same persons sponsoring it are the same persons building hotels and clubs and they are asking people to zip up, so who is to blame? Once you want parents to work you should give them an enabling environment.

What then is the role of the church and other places of worship?

I should be talking on this issue from the angle of Christianity. You should be aware that the church has an enemy who is the devil. I am fully sure that the church is playing their role. About broken homes, am aware about some churches that are into family teachings. The major causes of broken homes which are tentative to poor parenting are still lack of education. You know government doesn't give assistance that will bring grassroots awareness if that is in place, the people will learn fast. There should be a legal way on how to train or help those children that are from such homes.

They should be a legal way to control marriages in this country so that men and women will not jump into one marriage to another, it will be good to register marriages so that any body who broke up from previous marriage and want to go into another, the government should be

Apostle Andrew Ehis able to find out why the previous didn't work so that the person can be legally and spiritually advised.

Could this be attributed to why you are m o re c o n c e r n e d a b o u t y o u t h mentoring and motivational ministry?

Suffice to say that, I have had this desire because in my past I didn't really have a mentor who was supposed to direct and guide me. So when I grew up I have this passion that nobody around me will go through what I went. So because of that I see myself mentoring the youths and showing them the professional approach to life because things are always hard to manage at ones end of life. Today I have a serious desire in my heart to see youths becoming achievers with a voice that will lead the next generation. You can see what is happening with our elders. I believe we need a new youth to show us the way forward.

Going by your expansion, it seems more persons are here for miracle rather than true worship, can you differentiate this?

God Almighty himself desire for our growth because he designed us to grow.

When God is concerned, there must be daily growth just like the New Testament church. Only one year in Benin City, we have grown spiritually, materially and physically. It has grown to the extent that is beyond our expectation. Numerically we are catching up to 5,000 membership, so we are going to our bigger permanent site very soon. This does not mean the outgrowing members are here only for miracles. Miracle is part of it, but the main essence of being in the vineyard of God is to make Heaven and that is our message.

How old are you in the ministry?

I started twelve years ago. That was when I surrender my secular job as an X-Ray Welder for the call of God. As at then, we were just holding fellowship. Six years later we opened two branches in Warri before going to Lagos.

With your building of a magnificent headquarter, why do you choose to locate your base in Benin City as against other bigger cities where you are known?

Well, I think I was not really happy when God ask me to relocate to Benin because I have already opened a branch church at Apapa in Lagos state. And as I was asking God for the next step I heard God say go to the place where people understand your language. Though I wanted to live in Lagos then later on travel out of Nigeria, but when I heard God say until I do that he is not going to respond to me again, then I have to close down the church and left Lagos for Benin City. I thought I was here for my studies at Benson Idahosa University but at the end of the day, I have to obey God because he is not a man. It was a vision from God and the picture was very clear that I should come down to station my miracle stadium in Edo state.

In the ministry, who do you have as a role model?

By the grace of God, God took me to eleven days fasting and during this period he showed me my mentor. By his grace he is Apostle Johnson Suleiman and when you look at his ministry and prophetic ministry ours is just the same thing. I think that is the person I respect most in my life. Whatever is happening with me today I just believe that his grace is working through me.

Finally, where do you see your ministry in five years?

Many Edo men of God were not allowed to bless Edo land. Like Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and others. They went to other cities to establish headquarter of their ministry. For me in the next five years I will position fire station not just a branch all over the local government in Edo state but beyond because God has sent me to scrape away witches, wizards, idols and herbalists in this state. They are attracted by the fire of God that brings miracle. God told me that the Americans are coming to Edo State to see such that has never happened before.

There has been evangelical shift where men of God run abroad to preach but for me I am going to do the unusual. It is going to be the first time to see man of God that is not ready to go Abroad, but countries will travel to Benin for healing and solution to their problems.

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RELIGION

The Advocate Gospel This Week

WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS? John 7:45-53 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him in?" "Noone ever spoke the way this man does," the guards declared.

"You mean he has deceived you also?" the Pharisees retorted.

"Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law -- there is a curse on them." Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, "Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?" They replied, "Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee." Then each went to his own home. (NIV) The security guards in the temple had been ordered to arrest Jesus (John 7:32), but they refused. They had no appetite for starting a riot in the temple because the people were starting to trust what Jesus said, and would have supported Him. But, also, the guards were listening to His teaching; they were so impressed with what He said that their consciences would not allow them to seize Him. But the religious leaders, envious of the popular attention Jesus received, believed that the crowd were deluded, cursed by Satan and held in his evil grip. In fact, it was they who were being used as the devil's toys. One of the ruling council stood out from the rest, Nicodemus. He had personal experience of Jesus (John 3:1-15) and his conscience was also troubled by the warlike attitude of the other leaders. At least, he said, Jesus should have a proper fair trial. But they would not listen to Nicodemus either, accusing him of being ignorant of the Scriptures; no prophet ever came from Galilee, they said. But they ignored the fact that Jonah came from the same northern province.

People who fight against the truth will also hate those who want to know the truth. Those with seared consciences despise people who struggle to keep their conscience clear. It is particularly true when the 'truth' is all about Jesus. He told His disciples, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." (John 15:18-19).

So, if you love Him, do not think that you are in the wrong when other people speak badly of Him or are hostile to you. Just rejoice that you know the truth about Jesus and are confident that He understands.

Prayer: Dear Lord God. Thank You that Jesus fully understands the way some people think about me and treat me. I am sorry when I feel sad for myself or angry with them, and do not realise that they treat me badly, because they are resisting Your love and grace. Please help me to forgive those who ill-treat me and love those who despise me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Christian, Muslim clerics parley for peace in the North  Ask Christians that fled the North to return

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HRISTIAN and Muslim clerics from across the country have held talks in Kaduna on how to restore normalcy in the North following the gradual return of peace to the region.

They have therefore urged fleeing nonindigenes from the crisisprone states at the wake of Boko Haram insurgency to return. The meeting by the clerics, who came from all parts of the country, according to the organisers, was designed to re-assure citizens from other parts of the country that the North was safe for all Nigerians to live and pursue their legitimate businesses unmolested.

The event was hosted by two non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the National Peace Makers' Initiative Forum (NPMIF), in collaboration with

Habitat for Humanity Foundation, while participants were drawn from the three geo-political zones of the country.

They resolved that “Nigerians, irrespective of differences in religious, cultural or ethnic backgrounds, ought to be united and work together for the progress of the nation”.

Convener of the meeting and Chairman of NPMIF, Alhaji Mohammadu Bello Sa'eed, said: “Certain elements in the society were bent on creating division among Muslims and Christians”.

He also decried the use of religion by some unpatriotic Nigerians to foment crisis in the country. He argued that “the only way to resist the move is for adherents of the two religions to shun the manipulative tendencies of such individuals”,

stressing that “once Muslims and Christians are united and speak with one voice, the question of insecurity will no longer be an issue”.

Also in his address, the President, Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution (CPCR), Bishop Goodluck Akpede, who led other Christian clerics from Ibadan, said: “We are going to prove to the world that things are not as bad as they were made to believe.”

Akpede admitted the possibility that some people may have been wronged in one way or the other but suggested that “such aggrieved persons ought to channel their grievances through normal way of dialogue while government should endeavour to have a listening ear to the aspirations of the people”.

Nigeria: UNICEF Partners Religious Schools to Fight Polio

engaged during immunization campaigns as part of the social mobilization teams within their respective settlements for the purpose of convincing those households which may refuse immunization.

This project will also engage Preachers and Imams, especially during Friday Mosque sessions to ensure the community is fully aware of the i m p o r t a n c e o f immunization during every campaign and the risks to children who are not immunized. Rallies with school children and other awareness activities will be further organized at the community level in each of the participating local governments.

The project will be implemented in Jigawa and Zamfara which are among the highest risk states in Nigeria where there is ongoing circulation of wild poliovirus. This year Nigeria is experiencing an upsurge in the number of polio cases, with a total of 69 cases of wild poliovirus in 11 states, compared to 31 in 6 states in 2011.

Community resistance continues to be a key challenge in these states, where the proportion of refusals accounted for 23% of missed children in the July 2012 Immunisation Plus Days.

T

O address the current upsurge of polio cases in Nigeria, UNICEF, with the support of the Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), and partners, is set to join hands with Koranic school teachers in September.

According to the UNICEF Chief of Polio Communication, Paryss K o u t a , t h e Ts a n g a y a School Strategy will be piloted in 10 high-risk local government areas of Jigawa and Zamfara States, to reduce the number of missed children during polio campaigns and help build community o w n e r s h i p o f immunization.

He said, "We continue to miss too many children during polio campaigns in Nigeria and that is why we continue to have cases."

According to the Chief of Polio Communication, "Koranic school teachers, or Tsangaya teachers, have an important role to play in ensuring each and every child is reached during polio campaigns given the

fact that many children can be found in their schools.

Engaging religious schools, institutions and leaders will help build community ownership for immunization and help reduce on-going misconceptions and r e s i s t a n c e t o immunization."

The Tsangaya School Strategy involves the full engagement of religious school teachers who are critical community leaders and opinion-makers in their communities. For polio eradication to succeed, it is important to engage and ensure the full participation of all sectors of society and in particular the communities themselves.

He said that advocacy meetings and sensitization workshops will be organized with high-level policy makers, traditional and religious leaders, including the Association of Proprietors of Koranic Schools in each of the participating local governments. Tsangaya teachers will also be

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CRIME WATCH

Police nabs kidnappers of two Anambra monarchs

By Evans Ekwem, Awka

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he Anambra state police command has recorded success in discovering the hide out of a robbery gang and arrested one Olisah Ifejika and one other member of the gang at Orafite in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra state.

Inspector General of Police, IGP's special task force on

heinous crime and the state Special anti robbery Squad, SARS, acting on a tip off arrested the leader of the armed robbery and kidnapping gang that was responsible for a high profile crime activities in the state. The police stated that the arrested robbers are allegedly involved in the kidnap of Igwe of Ihembosi in 2010 and the recent kidnap of his Royal Highness igwe Robert Eze of Ukpo town in Dunukofia local

government area of Anambra state. The Advocate further gathered that the gang was responsible for the killing of five policemen at Okija on June 22, 2012 and murder of three policemen at Ozubulu on April 2, 2012, stating that the attack on Amichi and Ukpo police division on April 4 2012 was carried out by the gang.

Meanwhile many arms and ammunition were recovered from the underground armory in

his house including 27 AK 47 riffles, general purpose machine guns (GPMG), grenades, rock launchers and berretta pistols and other forms of Ammunitions.

Also recovered were 12,800 rounds of Ak47 live Ammunition, 530 lar ammunition, 95 GPMG live ammunition, 1000 rounds of K2 live ammunition and 143 magazines. All totally 14,425 rounds of live ammunition.

The Anambra state commissioner of police Mr. Bala Magaji Nasarawa while

addressing journalists in his office at Awka said the suspected gang leader and one of the members were only ones arrested so far while the police continued their investigations.

Nasarawa who expressed surprise on the volume of the Ammunition recovered said it was even enough to dislodge a little equipped army but he however assured the commands in ridding the state of all forms of crime and criminalities and implored the members of the public to always give useful information to the police to enable them perform efficiently and effectively in curbing crime in the society.

AIG seeks partnership with Journalists

T

IGP, Abubakar

Woman nabbed for killing child

By Uchenna Itumo, Abakliki

T

he Ebonyi State Police command has nabbed one Miss Nkiru Agwu of Amike Enuagu village in Onicha Local Government Area of the State for allegedly killing her baby, by throwing the child into a well.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Sylvester Igbo while briefing newsmen in the Police Headquarters Abakaliki, stated that the Police on a tip off went to the scene of the incident, where the suspect was arrested, and has since been in the custody where she is helping the Police on investigation to unravel the cause of the heinous crime.

According to the PPRO, the suspect has confessed to the crime, stating that she threw her child into a well on the 28th of August, 2012, but added that the reason for her action was not given by the suspect, but

maintained that investigation was on-going on the matter.

The police spokesman added that the decomposing body of the baby was taken out from the well, through the effort of the men of the State Police command.

Nkiru Agwu, a single mother who was alleged to have thrown her baby of a year and nine months into a well will soon be

arraigned in the court for prosecution, stated the Police spokesman.

However, the question on the lips of the people of the area is what must have necessitated a mother who passed through the pains of child delivery to take the life of her own child. Only time can tell the mystery behind Nkiru's action.

Meanwhile at the time of filing this report, the suspect could not be reached as she was in the Police custody.

he Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 5, Benin-City Salihu Argungu Hashiru has solicited the partnership and cooperation of journalists in the fight against crime in the country. He said the roles of the media in any given society cannot be overemphasized, pointing out that policing and journalism have certain things in common.

AIG Hashiru made the submission when he paid a courtesy visit on the Delta State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Asaba.

Hashiru, who said that he holds journalists in high esteem, maintained that security is the responsibility of everybody and as such, should not be left for the police and other security agencies alone.

Describing journalists as jack of all trade and master of all, the police boss called on members of the public to give the police and other security agencies useful information that will assist them in checkmating crime in the society. In his remarks, the Chairman, Nigeria

Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, Comrade Nobert Chiazor commended the AIG and his team which included the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, Executive members of State Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) and top police officers, for the visit, which he described as first of its kind.

The NUJ Chairman, who was represented by the secretary of the Union, Comrade Gomo Oyiborhoro, assured AIG Hashiru of the support of the media in the fight against crime.

He averred that Delta State NUJ has a robust and cordial relationship with the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aduba and the entire Police Command, stressing that Police needed the support of all to enable them carry out their statutory responsibilities.

Highlight of the occasion was donation of N100,000 by AIG Hashiru and N30,000 by the PCRC towards the library project of the NUJ.

Gunmen bomb more telecom masts, kill 16 in Yobe

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AMATURU- Barely 24 hours after torching 15 masts of four Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) firms in Borno state violence however, spread to neighbouring Yobe state, setting ablaze the servicebase masts of Airtel, Glo and Etisalat in Potiskum and Damaturu, with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs in the affected states.

Besides the torching of GSM masts, the gunmen, suspected to be members of the

Boko Haram sect, killed 16 people, including the Yobe state government protocol officer, Mallam Adamu, while returning from his duty post at the Government House, Damaturu.

In a relative development, the Nigeria's Islamist militia known as Boko Haram has claimed responsibility on a set of fires at telecom masts across the north, while threatening the staff of the Voice of America (VoA) radio network. Roughly two dozen blazes were set at mobile phone towers in cities across the restive region, marking a new type of attack

from a group that has become notorious for deadly gun and bomb assaults.

“We decided to launch attacks on masts of mobile telecom operators as a result of the assistance they offer security agents,” said an email from the group's spokesman, Abul Qaqa.

This information helps Nigerian security forces “in arresting our brethren,” the statement added.

The Islamist group blamed for more than 1,400 deaths in northern and central Nigeria since 2010 also issued a

warning to the staff of US government-funded broadcaster Voice of America.

Last month, the network quoted a supposed Boko Haram source claiming the group had entered negotiations with the government. “As a result of the harm we understand Voice of America is inflicting on Islam, we hereby inform all reporters and staff of this radio station that whoever wants to live in peace among them should quit working with this media organisation,” the statement said.

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

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ARTS

Nigerian writers-setting the stage in the socio-political agenda

By Okey Anyichie

W

HEN the Anambra State born pharmacist, writer and broadcaster, Mr. Cyprian Ekwensi wrote the first novel acknowledged as the first major work by a Nigerian writer in 1954, it took credit as a window on creative writings in Nigeria.

This first major work by Mr. Ekwensi in 1954 titled “People of the City” was well reviewed and acknowledged by literary critics abroad. Later this Nigerian prolific writer, Mr. Ekwensi, produced mind blowing novels like “JaguarNana,” “Beautiful feathers,” “Burning Grass,” “Iska,” “Survive the peace,” “Jagua-Nana's Daughter” among others including some children's novels like “The Drummer Boy”, Passport of Malam Illia,” “Trouble in form six,”. This master story teller who has transited left a legacy on the literary scene of Nigeria . most of his works are now text-books in secondary schools. I read the “Passport of Mallam Illia” in 1966, while in secondary school in 1966. Most school boys and girls enjoy most of his children's books like “The Drummer Boy” and “Love whispers”.

Infact one would be correct to state that Mr. Ekwensi set the pace for creative writing in Nigeria.

Then in 1958 another Literary “Dinasour,” Professor Chinua Achebe, dived into the literary waves of the country and the continent in general.

Like the thunder with lightening, this soft spoken and quiet “Surgeon” of cultural and social affairs of human beings came out with a classic novel called “Things Fall Apart,” which is reputed to have been translated into fifty languages of the world. In 2008, the novel was celebrated

by writers and literary critics as having existed for fifty years and impacted on the psyche of readers all over the world.

He after the major work, “Things Fall Apart” wrote a sequel to this his novel, called “No Longer at Ease” in 1960. He wrote the third novel called “Arrow of god,” which was introduced into the book-shelves all over the world in 1964 and it won a Jock-Campel award. Apart from these three works in the 60s, he came out in 1970 after the civil-war in peotic form, with a poetry book called “Soul Brother and other poems” which won a Commonwealth Literary award.

He then followed up with another major work in 1988 titled “Ant-hill of Savannah” There are other children's works to his credit like “Chike and the River,” “Girls at war and other stories” among others. He is now unparting literary skills on young students in one of the universities in New-York, United State of America since 1990.

Another literary “Musketeer” is the great playwright, poet and social activist, the indomitable creative writer and the fist African writer to win the Nobel Literature prize, Professor Wole Soyinka. This icon of Drama, was commissioned to write and produce a play in 1960 for independence celebrations in Nigeria, he produced a play titled “Dance of he forests,” with his theatre group. He has other titles like the “Trial of Brother Jero,” “the Lion and Jewel,” “Kongi Harvest”, “Opera Woyosi” some of these plays have been performed in some European cities like London, France, Bonn and other European cities.

In 1986, he made history by being nominated and awarded the Nobel

Chinua Achebe, Author literature prize. He went to Sweden and was decorated for his literary effort especially in the field of drama and poetry, his two strong literary areas. He thus became the first Nigerian and African Writer to bag this global literary prize among writers all over the world.

After x-raying these three “Musketeers” of Nigerian Literature, one would imagine that no other writer arose since the decade of 60s, far from that. It was even in that decade of 60s, that a female novelist, Flora Nwapa, later Flora Nwakuche who showed the literary light to her fellow female writers with two novels titled “Idu” and “Efuru” in the 60s. After the war in 1970, she came out with numerous works inspite of her involvement in the post-war public service as a member of the former EastCentral state government cabinet. She

has transited now but her works have set the standard for other female writers in the country who had followed her footstep. As another great writer and playwright, Professor Zulu Sofola, who wrote a number of drama works like the wedlock of the gods, king Emene and other major drama works that had been produced in many places.

For most great novelists that later emerged include T.M. Aluko, Onuora Nzekwu, Kole Omotosho, Ola Rotimi, Obi Egbuna, Elechi Amadi, Ben Okri, Aniebo, Naiwu Osahon, Isdore Okpewho, among others have inspired the present young writers both in Nigeria and abroad setting the socio-cultural agenda of the country. Thus making all to know that in Nigeria, there are crop of writers in abundance.

Replicating FESTAC '77 possible in two years Minister C

Edem Duke

HIEF Edem Duke, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, says the Festival of African Culture (FESTAC) can be revived in two years.

Duke said this on Friday in Abuja at a presentation of an allfemale dance troupe from Cuba.

The event featured the presentation of dances from the Cuban troupe, Obini Bata and the Jukun dancers from Taraba, Nigeria. The Minister said replicating FESTAC '77 was a challenge the country faced and urged stakeholders and the different Heads of Missions in Nigeria to work towards realising the vision.

“Nigeria has been handed with a challenge and that challenge is to replicate FESTAC '77.

“I see it as a possibility, and the only limitation to this is the will and desire of the stakeholders who will make this happen.

“We are talking about this

two years ahead. We will engage with the various governments, stakeholders in the private sector and the culture community to ensure that this can happen.

“I want to plead with the Heads of Missions. Let us put in our plans the possibility of replicating FESTAC '77.

“If not to honour the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914, but to help in the African renaissance agenda,'' he said.

Edem said replicating FESTAC '77 would encourage cultural fusion among Africans in the Diaspora.

“It will be such a wonderful opportunity to gather and celebrate humanity and our love for one another,'' he said.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Hugo Milanes, said the event was a reminder of the bilateral and cultural bonds shared by both countries.

He also appreciated the

efforts of the ministry in promoting Nigerian culture.

“It is a trip to our roots. This is Cuban music, but music that is linked to Nigerian cultural tradition. That is part of our culture.

“It is just a way of saying `thank you to Nigeria', and `thanks' to Africa for this contribution to our cultural heritage.

FESTAC '77 was the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture and was held in Lagos in 1977.

It came as a result of the experiences which Africa had gone through.

It was for Africans, Africans in Diaspora and Peoples of African origin to come together and rediscover their roots and establish ties with Motherland Africa.

Its aim was to ensure the revival, resurgence, promotion of the Black and African cultural values and civilisation.(NAN)

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Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

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NEWS Kano sends 25 students for overseas training in Marine Engineering

K

ano State Government has sponsored 25 indigenes of the state to study Marine Engineering in

India and the United States.

A statement issued in Kano on Saturday by Alhaji Baba Dantiye, the Director of Press to

Gov Rabiu kwankwaso

Rivers Dep Speaker canvasses speedy talks with Boko Haram

T

HE Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Leyii Kwanee, wants expeditious dialogue between the Boko Haram sect and the Federal Government.

Kwanee who seeks a peaceful resolution of the crisis stated this when a delegation of Titled Women Prayer Association of Nigeria (TWPAN) paid him a courtesy call in his office in Port Harcourt.

The Deputy Speaker said that the intervention of God was required for the amicable settlement of the conflict. He noted that throughout the history of man it has been learnt that violence does not contain violence, hence the need for dialogue.

He cited the case of the Niger Delta where military force could not suppress the restiveness.

Kwanee, who represents Khana 11 constituency, noted that only in a peaceful atmosphere can the potential of Nigeria be realized.

According to him, “without peace there cannot be any meaningful development.”

He appealed to the Boko Haram sect to accept the olive branch of the Federal Government for peace to reign once again.

The Deputy Speaker lauded the women for identifying with the power of prayers and assured them of his support.

He accepted the offer of a patron from the group, promising that he would do his best to support

the programmes of the group.

The President of the Titled Women Prayer Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Blessing Ekpemiro, said the group decided to identify with the Deputy Speaker because of his Christian virtues and encouragement of prayers in his Ogoni ethnic nationality in order to restore peace.

She informed the Deputy Speaker that the group is a national organization that believes in the efficacy of prayers to resolve conflicts.

The president congratulated the Deputy Speaker for his return to the State House of Assembly as a two-term legislator and commended him for his development initiative in his Ogoni ethnic nationality in the areas of employment, empowerment and support for the less privileged.

“I will not hesitate to commend the efforts of Honourable Deputy Speaker 'a God fearing man' who has restored peace and tranquility in Ogoni land through his pet project (Ogoni for Christ)”, she said.

Mrs. Ekpemiro further told the Deputy Speaker that the group was on its way to visit northern leaders like the former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and other prominent Nigerians to canvass peaceful resolution of the Boko Haram crisis

Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso, said the four year course would cost the government $80 million annually.

According to the statement, Gov. Rabi'u Kwankwaso said this during the graduation of over 1,000 youths under the government's youth empowerment programme, tagged “Lafiya Jari.”

It said that the governor emphasised on the resolve of the administration to give priority to human capital development.

“We are doing all this because we need to see our youth everywhere in the world and reduce unemployment facing the state”, the statement quoted the governor as saying.

It added that Kwankwaso further revealed that the government had concluded plans to sponsor 100 students to study avionics and another 100 to study medicine abroad.

The statement said that the state government, through the Col. Yakubu Bako (Rtd.) Youth Employment Committee had secured over 200 jobs for indigenes of the state in various Federal Government establishments.

The “Lafiya Jari”, is a healthcare based empowerment scheme under the state Entrepreneurship Institute.

The scheme provides drugs and financial support to students who graduated from the Schools of Health Technology to set up their own businesses. (NAN)

Sokoto releases N1bn as allowances for foreign students

S

okoto state government has approved the release of one billion five million one hundred and seventy-eight thousand eight hundred and eleven naira only (N1,005,178,811.00) for the payment of allowances to foreign students of Sokoto origin. This was contained in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Abdullahi Bala Sokoto in Sokoto Saturday.

According to the statement, “Governor Aliyu Wamakko has approved the immediate release of N1,005,178,811.00 for payments of all outstanding financial commitment of all foreign students, who are under the sponsorship of Sokoto state government in different parts of the world.”

It further stated that “other students studying at different institutions within the country as well those on higher scheme outside the country would be paid accordingly,” adding that the gesture by was aimed at ensuring that the students underwent academic pursuits without hitches.

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Focus

How Senator Abana Foundation is touching lives... Positively True happiness must arise from well-regulated affection, and an affection includes a duty Mary Wollstonecraft 1759-97, English Writer

A

PPARENTLY it is this duty to care for mankind, to show concern for the less privileged and improve the lot of his community that has been the main drive and passion of Senator Sir Ikechukwu Godson Abana to establish the Senator I.G. Abana Foundation.

Established barely two and a half years ago, the Foundation has made significant impact in Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State and environs.

Members of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation include the Senator himself who represented Anambra Central Senatorial District in the Senate between 2003 and 2005. He serves as Chairman of the Board, Sir N. I.k. Abana, former Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Rev. Gloria Uchefuna, a U.S based evangelist and Mr. Sam Ekpe.

Since the take off of the Foundation in April 2010 it has vigorously embarked on programmes that have helped to alleviate the suffering of the less privileged. Its most popular programme is the free medical service that is held in the last week of December every year.

The maiden programme, held on 28th and 29th December 2011 involved the treatment of 1,854 persons. 421 persons received eye-glasses while over 250 people were examined in the laboratory. The services of 18 medical doctors, 4 medical laboratory scientists, 13 nurses, 1 pharmacist, 4 pharmacy technicians, 5 community health extension workers and 28 volunteers were engaged for the 2day programme which cost the foundation a sum of N2,500,000 (Two Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

A similar programme was held on 27th December 2011.

This time there was health education in churches in Enugwu Ukwu, HIV C o u n s e l i n g a n d Testing/Awareness Campaign, mass de-worming exercise and distribution of insecticidetreated nets in addition to the usual on the spot clinical diagnosis, treatment and drug d i s p e n s a t i o n . T h e 2 0 11 programme cost about the same amount as that of the previous

year. The Foundation is arranging to conduct the 2012 programme in December this year. A new programme Old Peoples Home has reached advanced stage of planning and execution. This programme is expected to add more years to senior citizens who have attained the age of 70years and above.

Another key programme of the Foundation that is having serious impact in the community is the scholarship awards to indigent students.

So far a total of 48 university undergraduates and 81 secondary school students have benefited from the scholarship scheme of the Foundation. More will join in the new academic session. The value of the awards is N75,000 per session for each university student and N15,000 per session for each secondary school student. It is significant to observe that some of the beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme had already withdrawn from their institution due to their inability to cope with the financial demands before the Abana Foundation came to their rescue. The scholarship scheme has so far cost the Foundation N4,815,000 (Four Million, Eight Hundred and Fifteen Thousand Naira).

Other poverty alleviation measures of the Foundation include Specialist health intervention and foodstuff assistance schemes. These involve paying medical bills of critically ill patients who cannot afford to pay their bills and distribution of foodstuff to widows and other very indigent people.

There is also the Financial Assistance Programme in which petty traders and small scale businessmen are giving bridging loan to improve their businesses.

These interest-free loans are refunded to the Foundation after 12 months and redistributed to other people who need them. So far some beneficiaries have improved the scale of their business and made refunds. It is expected that this scheme will provide a ready pool of funds for genuine traders to make a success of their life ventures instead of staying idle at home and constituting social menace and security risk in the various communities

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31

MOTORING Aston Martin Vanquish unveiled in Cape Town

Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Performance Package Plus (2012 onwards)

What is it?

"V8 BiTurbo" - it just sounds sexy, doesn't it? And although they are quickly becoming the powerhouse of choice in the executive super-saloon sector, AMG was the first of the contemporary crop to go down this route, when it dropped its latest 5.5-litre twin turbo unit beneath the bonnet of the Mercedes-Benz E63.

We covered the efficiency advantages over the previous 6.2-litre non-turbo AMG V8 in our first drive of the E63 - where we got to spend just a few short hours hacking about in the big Benz on and around the Paul Ricard racing circuit in France.

Now though we've spent a week behind the wheel of the new model right here in the UK. So

how does it stack up in a high performance four-door world so thoroughly invigorated by the new BMW M5?

Where does it fit?

The E63 moniker doesn't quite command the instant popular recognition of the M5 tag, and the basic on-paper statistics look a little lacking, too - a standard E63 produces 'just' 525hp to the BMW's 560hp, yet at £74,695 costs slight more.

Fortunately then, the car we've got our hands on is the AMG Performance Package Plus variant, with an extra 32hp and 74lb ft of torque, taking it to 557hp and 590lb ft total.

Does rather ramp up the E63's the asking price, however - an additional £6,500 meaning you're looking at well over £81k

before any other options. Still, 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds is the ultimate conclusion, and that's 0.2 seconds faster than the M5 can manage.

Clearly it's the top E-Class, even it's far from the most performance orientated - or expensive - Mercedes you can buy. Look beyond the M5, if you can, and other rivals include the sensationally well-rounded Jaguar XFR (supercharged V8, that one), and the Audi RS6. The Audi is about to get a twin-turbo V8 revamp, too.

And we shouldn't forget the Porsche Panamera - but you'll be spending significantly more to get your mitts on a turbo V8powered one of those.

Is it for you?

You probably already have a feeling for which camp you fall into - each of the rivals listed above projects a distinct image and character, though BMW and Mercedes continue to exhibit the most obvious rivalry.

The E63 is a more straightforward machine Tr a d i t i o n a l l y B M W h a s presented itself as the enthusiasts' choice, while Mercedes AMG loafs in a cloud of its own tyre smoke as a kind of executive hot rod - all big engine, rear-wheel drive and limited sophistication. But the times they are a-changin'.

The latest M5 is an unprecedented all-rounder, with a vast array of gearbox, suspension, steering and throttle settings - not to mention slightly stranger innovations such as the Active Sound Design that plays engine noises through the stereo

to enhance the emotional experience - giving it a huge breadth of ability.

But perhaps at the cost of some flamboyance. The E63 is a far more straightforward machine you can select firm, firmer or HARD suspension modes (er, Comfort, Sport and Sport+) and a choice of gearshift speeds, but that's about it.

And believe us, it requires absolutely no help whatsoever from the audio equipment when it comes to the soundtrack. The phrase 'rolling thunder' is not one that will swiftly leave you in the aftermath.

What does it do well?

All of the above rather suggests that the E63 is a more focused machine. That's not necessarily the same as better, of course, but certainly there's a degree of respect to be paid to AMG for saying we want the car like this, and so what if you don't like it.

Supporting its convictions, AMG has given the E63 a substantially overhauled chassis to go with that super-duper engine, including a 56mm increase in track-width, bigger brakes, and bespoke tuning for the front steel springs and selflevelling rear air suspension setup. A car that's actually remarkably composed The result is a car that's actually remarkably composed for a 1.8tonne behemoth packing a serious amount of heat. No, you can't let all 557 ponies lose at all times, but it is surprising just how often you can exploit this car's performance to a highly satisfying degree. Although the engine's sheer flexibility and the increasingly amenable nature of AMG's Speedshift seven-speed paddleshift gearbox play an important role here, the real revelation is ride comfort, and its ability to deal with lumpy tarmac.

We quite happily left it in Sport most of the time, and even Sport+ is far from unbearable on UK road surfaces; Sport gives you just that extra bit of cornering control, and is nicely dialled in to the accompanying weight of steering, which adjusts (seemingly minutely) to your preferred suspension setting.

What doesn't it do well?

There's not a massive amount of feel through the helm, as it happens, but then this is another of these new-fangled electromechanical system and that, we're sorry to say, is inevitable.

Responses are crisp, though, and there are no nasty surprises.

The gearbox doesn't always produce the most instant reactions when asked to deliver a shift manually, but since AMG's automatic algorithms get ever better, there's no shame in leaving it to its own devices. It gets by just fine without you interfering.

What is it like to live with?

Assuming you can stomach the fuel bills - on which more in a moment - the E63 is a great partner in crime. Metaphorically speaking, obviously. You can fill it full of options to make it comfortable, the dynamic multicontour seats being a particular favourite, and it's packed with safety gubbins to keep you in one piece.

Vi s u a l l y i t ' s j u s t s u b t l y menacing enough to support the V8 rumble. Even with the adornments of the Performance Package Plus adds this is far from a shouty, look-at-me kind of machine. Although if you are into that sort of thing you just need to be a little more liberal with the throttle, and you'll quickly have necks snapping.

There's plenty of space inside for adults

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Telecommunication

Group tasks govt on content policy in telecoms sector

W

ORRIED by the increasing job loss in the nation's telecommunications sector, especially those with local content touch, an advocacy group, Youth Arise For Nigeria (YAFN), has called on the Federal Government to implement a sustainable local content policy to remedy the situation and stem capital flight.

The group noted that 11 years into the telecommunications revolution in Nigeria, one may be quick to say that the country must have benefited so much from operators in the area of job creation and economic development, considering the huge profit declared yearly by the telecoms operators.

Already, though faulted, the Foreign Direct Investments attracted to the sector within the last 11 years have increased to $25 billion, according to the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Eugene Juwah.

A research conducted on the players in the sector revealed that in 2010, they earned in revenue about $8.6 billion and it is projected to hit $11 billion by 2013.

But, it appears the local players are yet to benefit meaningfully in the success of the sector.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of Youth Arise for Nigeria, Mr. Liborous Oshoma, government must act fast to ensure the survival of local contractors and increase job creation from the sector.

Oshoma lamented that in

spite of the impressive growth of the telecoms industry, the benefits accruing to indigenous players were just too insignificant.

According to him, at the inception of the GSM revolution in 2001 local companies, were involved in fabrication of equipment like towers, equipment shelters, among other anciliarry services.

He however decried that aside from Nigerians in the employ of mobile network operators in the country, indigenous telecoms companies' income from the industry had been on a steep fall yearly. This, he said was due to massive entrance of foreigners and foreign companies in areas where indigenous operators are known to have the capabilities to carry out such task.

According to him, if this trend continues and not nip in the bud early enough, the impact will be increase in the joblessness of Nigerian youths.

Oshoma, who is a legal practitioner and telecoms c o n s u l t a n t , s a i d YA F N investigation had revealed that over 900 cell sites recently deployed by mobile network operators in Nigeria were done by foreign equipment vendors and technology companies such as ZTE, Huawei, Ericsson, Alcatel -Lucent and NokiaSiemens.

He claimed that local contractors were only asked to engage in site acquisition despite the fact that some of them had the requisite capacity in cell site construction among other things.

“Even the installation and

Mrs Mobolaji Johnson, Minister of Communication Technology maintenance jobs that were hitherto the preserve of our local contractors are massively and aggressively also being taken over and awarded to foreign companies, at the expense of our economic growth, while the local contractors are asked to work as sub-contractors to the foreign companies even in areas where the local contractors are technically better.

“Even though, by virtue of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) Act of 1990, these jobs, also known as in-country services, are supposed to be the exclusive preserve of our local contractors since their profit is domiciled in Nigeria which in turn stimulate economic growth and create employment for our jobless graduates and youths who are the engine room of the nation, none of these jobs currently being awarded is given to any Nigerian contractor to handle, despite

Airtel, Buyright Africa Dotcom partner to halt exam failures

T

E L E C O M M U N I C ATI O N S firm Airtel Nigeria and a technology company Buyright Africa Dotcom, have sealed a new partnership aimed curbing the increasing examination failure among secondary school students in Nigeria.

The two firms last weekend in Lagos unveiled a winning formula for students' success tagged: “Airtel Zinox Whizkid2 bundle offer''.

Buyright explained that Zinox Whizkid2 has been proven to be very efficient, stressing that it has consistently produced 91 per cent success average in the past two years, comes standard with Windows 7 Starter and is embedded with an Airtel SIM card bundled with free 500MB of three

months data plan, over 100,000 simulated exam questions and answers for JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and Post UME examinations.

The Whizkid2 also has a Zinox Card - a web based e-knowledge tool that empowers users with the world's largest e-library service complete with over two million e-books downloadable in any PC. In addition, the Whizkid2 is stuffed with knowledge icons like Encarta Premium 2009 including Encarta Kid and Encarta Dictionaries; Skool Nigeria interactive learning and teaching resources collaboration between Intel and Zinox and Explore Nigeria - highly interactive learning resources with cutting edge technology endorsed by the Federal Government.

their technical expertise and capacity”, he stated.

In his own submission, telecoms analyst, Jiti Ogunye said the laws governing telecommunications in the country are so weak and liberal, given foreigners investors to seized the opportunity and neglects Nigerian graduates and contractors, by giving telecoms jobs and contracts to expatriates, to the detriment of the Nigerians and the Nigerian economy because lots of money are being repatriated in the process.

Ogunye, a legal practitioner noted foreign telecoms operators that are licensed to provide telecoms services in the country, are bent on giving jobs and contracts to foreign companies and expatriates, thereby denying Nigerians of jobs they are competent to do, stressing that there is serious imbalance of trade.

“From the inception of GSM

Speaking on the partnership, the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Airtel Nigeria, Deepak Srivastava said the joint intervention is in sync with Airtel's drive for knowledge empowerment for the youth through the provision of affordable and quality education, as can be attested to by the success of its Adopt-A-School programme.

Abia partners GLO for youth empowerment

By Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia Abia State Government in partnership with the Nigeria Communication Giants GLO are empowering youths of the State through distribution of cell phones and accessories free of charge to enhance their economic well being.

To this end the two partners have put in motion the distribution of over 3,400 cell phones, 850 plastic chairs, tables and giant umbrellas to facilitate outdoor commercialization and improvement to the lot of the unemployed youths in the State.

Flagging off the ceremony at Umuahia North Local Government premises,

in 2001, the picture was clear that government was only concerned about allowing the foreign operators to provide services for Nigerians, without making attempt to protect Nigerians and the Nigerian economy. Government failed to put in place the right regulatory policy that will checkmate the activities of foreign investors, but rather gave them endless windows of opportunities to operate in the Nigerian market.

They were not given specific timeframe of operation that will enable Nigerians become part of the business and become coinvestors. Government rather gave them endless windows of opportunities, and that is why no GSM operator has indicated interest to be listed in the Nigerian stock exchange market, after 11 good years of operation in the country, Ogunye said.

Chief Cosmos Ndukwe, Chief of Staff to the State Governor, explained that each of the 17 Local government areas of the State would received 200 cell phones and accessories, stressing that the State government and the GLO partners evolved the project to reduce the menace of youth restiveness and unemployment.

He advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity offered to them by improving their well being economically and to support the government of Chief T.A. Orji through maintaining peace, security and shunning all forms of criminality.

In his own speech, Mr. Sunday Ikaedem, who is the Area manager of GLO Office in the State, thanked the Abia Chief executive for partnering with them and assured that the company was ever ready to improve the lots of Nigerian youths through gainful employment and empowerment at all times.

He charged the beneficiaries to adhere strictly to the tenets guiding the business and avoid any malpractice, explaining that the company was poised to improve the economic stability of the State and the Nation at large.

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BUSINESS

No gratuity, no privatization, PHCN workers insist

By Susan Manny

T

HE National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has called on the Federal Government to pay their gratuity in order to realize the planned privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc (PHCN), saying the exercise would not succeed until the contentious issue of workers' entitlements was laid to rest.

President of the Senior Staff Association of the National Union of the Electricity Employees, Mr. Bede Opara, made this known while addressing the workers at the

 Demand probe of BPE South-East Zonal Headquarters scheme, the workers' gratuity of the PHCN, Enugu on the must be paid since gratuity was ongoing agitation by the union. their right and not a privilege.

They also demanded the "No matter what you do with immediate and proper probing pension, you must give us our of the Bureau for Public gratuity because gratuity is our Enterprise (BPE), the institution right. The bottomline is give us for the privatisiation of the whatever belongs to us," said government-owned enterprises Okpara, who quickly added, in the country, alleging that the "Government people insisted bureau, over the years, has been they must privatise but we say infected with the virus of okay; privatise but whatever corruption, thereby making the belongs to us, you must give us . privatization process not No retreat, no surrender." transparent enough.

Also speaking, the Vice In his speech, Mr. Opara said President of the Senior Staff no matter what the federal Association, Mr. Musa Moshud government did with pension called on President Goodluck

Jonathan to quickly probe the government and NUEE is "they BPE, alleging that it has been should probe BPE; they must infected badly by the virus of resolve all labour issues before corruption. He regretted that they can make a significant although both the workers and m o v e f o r w a r d i n t h e the government have, for long, privatisation of the PHCN." been talking about privatisation, Imploring the workers to but the government has "refused remain even more united, the to give us what belongs to us.''

V.P. said, "We must be more "We are calling on Jonathan united in this struggle; We must to probe BPE which has been remain united to be able to infected by the virus of rot and conquer them formidably. We corruption. We want him to use must remain united and when we an anti-virus to flush BPE so that do that we we are sure of victory it will function better in a forever." transparent manner," Moshood In his contribution, the said.

General Secretary of the NUEE, He said the solution to the Mr. Joe Ajaero said, "The dispute between the federal contract agreement is this: People that work for five years have their own benefits; those who work for 10 years have their own benefits. In the year 2000, we had a condition of service which we are still operating. You can't take my job and take my to say that we got our license money." from the Central Bank of Nigeria Ajaero said since there was on a very special day, special in an observed undervaluation of the sense that we got it on the PHCN, there was urgent 11/11/11 which is eleventh n e e d t o r e - e v a l u a t e t h e month of November 2011. organisation so as to arrive at the “The business started correct evaluation. "There slowly, but I can assure you should be complete reversal and now it is picking up and is re-evaluation of all these areas.

You have to re-evaluate all of growing gradually, but them for you to be seen as surely and steadily in terms transparent or clean." of number of customers; in On the new power committee s e t up by the federal terms of number of government, he said, "Let them accounts that we have increase the membership of the opened, in terms of number committee and the number of the of real sector financing that committees. The committee is we have done which will dead on arrival. You don't expect ultimately contribute to the much from a boardroom s o c i o - e c o n o m i c committee without PHCN being fully represented in such d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e committee." country and its citizenry.”

Ajaero accused the BPE of under pricing PHCN, claiming that the organisation worth over N1 Trillion but the BPE or through these numbers: 09- undervalued it to a mere N200 4604620, 070-26350721,070- billion. "Because they are the 26350722,070-26350723,070- ones going to buy it and also the 6350724, 070-26350725; or by ones doing the evaluation, so e - m a i l t o : they had to under value it since info@efccnigeria.orgor the they have vested interest,'' nearest Police Station,” the Ajaero alleged. statement added.

Jaiz Bank to extend operations to Lagos, Onitsha, Enugu

J

aiz Bank Plc, Nigeria's first non-interest banking, plans to extend operations to Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Calabar , Lagos and other major cities in Nigeria, the Managing Director of Jaiz Bank Plc, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Bintube, has said.

Bintube said that the bank had attained significant level of capital it needs to carry out its commercial mandate.

The licensing of Jaiz Bank, which is an Islamiccompliant bank, was initially opposed by various Christian groups. And it was huge task for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to justify the licensing of the bank in a country that prides itself as a secular state.

According to the bank's Managing Director, “We have gone very far, I think right now

we have about 80% of what we require, so what is remaining is only 20%, but even the 20%, there are people that have indicated interest to take that. So if you have investors you better tell them to come now, because in a while the whole thing will be taken up and you know that the Bank has immense potential.

“Perhaps to also add, the overall objective of this exercise is for us raise the required capital that will enable us achieve our plan of going national by next year, God's Willing. Our migration plan is to grow from a Regional bank to a National bank and to Sub- Sahara Africa.

“By then, we will have branches in major commercial cities of all the States of the Federation.

Specifically, we would have branches in Lagos, Ibadan, Ilorin, Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi,

Enugu, Port Harcourt, Calabar etc.”

The Jaiz chief said the bank's capital had hit N10 billion in liquid cash, which is about 80 per cent of its capital base target.

He said that the bank currently has three branches in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, but assured that by December, 2013 it would have established 10 branches up and running.

“The second phase like I said earlier is to after raising the required capital, progress to become a national bank and our goal is to have a branch in every state capital of Nigeria, North, South, East and West,” he said.

The Managing Director admitted that the beginning was as expected a bit slow, but said the bank had tidied over the start up challenges.

He said, “Well, first am pleased

EFCC declares 3 oil marketers wanted for fraud

By Dan Sule, Abuja THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the weekend declared wanted three oil marketers implicated in the multi-billion naira fuel subsidy scam.

Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wi l s o n U w u j a r e n , w h o disclosed this in a statement gave the names of the wanted persons as Abdul Afeez Olarenwaju Olabisi of Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, Abubakar Peters Ali Jeldi, Managing Director of Nadabo Energy Limited and Ikechukwu Onuabuchi Nworgu of Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited.

He said that the trio is wanted by the Commission for offences bordering on “Criminal Conspiracy, Forgery, Obtaining Money by False Pretences and Money Laundering running into

several billions of naira.”

The statement said: “Olabisi, 31, hails from Kwara State and speaks Yoruba, Hausa and English languages fluently. His last known address is Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited.

“Jeldi, 34, is of the Igala stock from Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. He speaks his native Igala, Hausa and English languages fluently. His last known address are 4B Louis Solomon Close, Victoria Island, Lagos and 15 Ogbunike Street, Lekki, Lagos.

“Nworgu, 46, hails from Abia State. He speaks Igbo and English fluently. His last known address is Star Inspection Services Nigeria Limited, 4A, Lander Close, Off Liverpool Road, Apapa -Lagos.”

The commission said the trio allegedly obtained billions of naira as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund under false pretence, and

disappeared in the wake of the Commission's investigation of the subsidy regime.

“The Commission enjoins anyone having information as to their whereabouts to contact its Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices

President Jonathan

Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC Boss

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NEWS FROM STATES

Ochei dissolves Delta Assembly Obingwa, Standing Committees Ugwunagbo,

By Vincent Anikwushe, Asaba

S

peaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei, has dissolved all standing committees of the House.

Ochei announced the dissolution of the committees at the resumption of plenary but gave no reason for the action.

In his welcome address, the speaker commended the lawmakers for their support, saying that the fifth Assembly was determined to reposition the

legislature in order to maximize its status as a principal arm of the government of Delta State.

He reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to legislating for greater Delta, disclosing that in the first year, the House passed nine bills, four of which were assented to by the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The speaker assured Deltans of their preparedness to surpass the feat of the first legislative year through the consideration and passage of many bills to

enhance the development of the state.

Ochei called on Deltans to partner with them by presenting private bills which have the potential of expanding the frontiers of socio-economic and political development of the state.

He congratulated Deltans on “the 21st Anniversary of the state for their contributions to the development of the state and governor Emmanuel Uduaghan whose political sagacity in his handling of state affairs has

boosted peace and tranquility across the state.

Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has reconstituted the board of Delta State Sports Commission.

A letter sent to the state Assembly by the governor requesting the screening and confirmation of the nominees had been received by the speaker. The nominees include Mr. Amaju Finmick, Chairman, Mr. Gabriel Okpumo, Mr. Ejiro Etorona and Mr. Edditon Kuejubola as members.

The members are to submit 35 copies each of their C.V. and to appear before the house on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 for screening.

Ebonyi SSG bags Kwame Nkrumah leadership award

T

he Ebonyi State, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Chief Fidelis Mbam, has bagged the popular Kwame Nkrumah's leadership award, in honour of his numerous contributions in the administration and development of the state and Nigeria in general.

Chief Mbam while receiving the award of excellence from members of West African Student Union Parliament, thanked the initiators for the honour, but promised to redouble his effort in service to humanity.

The state chief Scribe in his acceptance speech stated that not only that the award was a moral booster to him, he described it as a challenge to work harder for the interest of the state and h u m a n i t y. H e u s e d t h e opportunity to encourage private and public servants to embrace hard work in all their endeavours for the benefit of the Nigerian State. In his remarks, the leader of the delegation and Director of Programmes of the Parliament in Nigeria, Comrade Humphrey Onyima, while presenting the Kwame Nkrumah Servant Leadership Hall of Fame on Chief Mbam, maintained that the award was intended to encourage the SSG, to work harder in discharge of his duties, having performed excellently well in his present portfolio in service to the state and the nation. Onyima encouraged the SSG, to be steadfast in his service to humanity adding that his contributions in area of education, social and community developments were notable.

Also speaking, the speaker of the parliament from the Republic of Ghana RT. Hon. Solomon Samuel, and his counterpart

from Ivory Coast, and the Majority Leader of the Parliament, Comrade Lolitta Chakibe added that the award was meant to reward African leaders who distinguished

themselves in discharge of their duties. The duo charged leaders at different levels to give selfless service to the people so as to earn t h e i r l e g i t i m a c y. T h e y commended Chief Mbam for his

interest in the West African Students' Union, especially for his contributions to the wellbeing of Ebonyi State students.

Permanent Secretary, Petroleum Resources Ministry, Mr Goni Sheikh; NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr Andrew Yakubu, and Vice President Namadi Sambo, at a meeting on Lake Chad Basin Hydrocarbon Exploration in Abuja

Delta to ban Okada in 3 cities

D

elta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan says commercial motorcycles popularly called Okada would be banned in major cities in the state with effect from the end of this month.

(September).

The governor announced this when he played host to the new state sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mrs. Susan Ada at Government House, Asaba.

He said the ban will be limited to Asaba, Warri and Effurun for now, adding that the

e m b a rg o w o u l d l a t e r b e extended to other major towns in the state.

The governor disclosed that a committee has been set up to meet with okada riders on the modalities to distribute the 1,000 tricycles purchased by the State Government to cushion the effect.

He stressed the importance of road safety, saying that government was investing heavily in the road transportation as part of measures to boost and enhance easy and affordable transportation for the people.

Earlier in her remarks, the State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mrs. Susan Ada commended the state government for its support and the donation of Hilux Vans to the command to enhance its operations.

She reiterated the FRSC's commitment to enhancing road safety and continued partnership with the state government to reduce accidents on our roads.

The FRSC boss later decorated the governor with the reflective jacket initiative which she said was jointly packaged by the

Osisioma disaster victims get relief

By Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia

T

HE Abia State Government has promised to sustain her policy thrust in providing enabling environment for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to give succor to victims of natural disasters in the state.

Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nkpa Agu Nkpa disclosed this during the flag off of distribution of another batch of relief materials worth millions of naira by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to victims of windstorm, flood and fire disasters in Umugo Amano Iheiyi of Ugwunagbo, Nlagu in Obingwa and Ode-ukwu in Osisioma Local Government Areas of the state at the State Emergency Management Agency's office in Umuahia.

Represented by the Executive secretary of SEMA, Mrs. Ada Achi, the SSG thanked NEMA for its concerted effort in sympathizing with the victims and called on the public to cooperate with the government in reducing the spate of disaster by avoiding the building of structures or farming along the water passages as well as exercising more carefulness in handling property that are prone to fire disaster.

Flagging off the distribution of the relief materials made up of bags of food items, clothing, building materials amongst others, the Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, said that the relief materials were released after an assessment of the damages done to the people of the area and commended Governor T.A. Orji and Mrs. Ada Achi for their regular and prompt response to disaster matters in the State.

Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries from the communities, Comrade Blessing Nwankpa thanked the Governor, NEMA and SEMA for the assistance and assured them that the relief materials would get to the actual victims of the disasters.

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NEWS FROM STATES

Abdurhaman Karimou, flood victim

Husband pours boiling water on wife

Floods strike the Niger A amidst nutrition crisis and cholera outbreak

17-years-old girl, Titilayo Ojo of Kado village of the FCT was on Thursday arraigned at an Abuja Senior Magistrates' Court for committing adultery with her neighbour's husband.

I

n Sarando Ganda, a village along the Niger River on the outskirts of Niamey, many of the mud-brick houses have collapsed or are severely damaged, leaving 70 per cent of the population homeless.

A school hosts hundreds of people displaced by the waters.

In one dark classroom, children and women sit on mats, sharing the small space. The schoolrooms are filled with mattresses, chairs, tables and other meagre possessions of displaced households.

Heavy rains over the past few weeks in the Niger have inundated both homes and food crops. The waters have claimed 52 lives and affected nearly 400,000 persons nationwide.

Families affected by the floods have temporarily taken shelter in nearby schools, such as the one in Sarando Ganda, in churches, mosques, relatives' houses.

Areas along the Niger River have been the most affected. In villages such as Sarando Ganda, surrounded by floodwaters, access is now only possible by boat.

The floods have muted optimism for the upcoming harvest season.

In Sarando Ganda, entire vegetable and fruit fields, which normally provide year-round supplies to markets in Niamey, are submerged in water, leaving granaries empty. “ We h a v e n e v e r s e e n a catastrophic flooding like this,” says Abdurhaman Karimou, 62, a lifetime resident of Sarando Ganda who has lost his home, five granaries and other properties.

“We lost all our crops. There is nothing to eat here. It is very difficult for children,” says Sarando Ganda village chief Seyni Hamadou Sani. “Children are particularly exposed to

diarrhoea and malaria. In one week, we had 53 cases of malaria. We evacuated them to the clinics in [nearby villages] Boubon and Koumba by boat for treatment.”

Mr. Sani cautions that, if immediate food assistance is not provided, children already vulnerable to diarrhoea and malaria will become malnourished.

“These are brave and hardworking people, but when I see them in a dire situation, I feel bad,” says UNICEF Niger Supply Assistant Hamadou Tinni. “Being near the water was the advantage of the village, as it helps to grow different types of vegetables and crops throughout the year. But now they have nothing, no harvest, no source of income.”

Adamou Zibo is a young father who supports his family with the income he generates from selling vegetables. When the floods hit, he lost his home and crops. “We don't have any security here. We all want to go back to our homes and farms, but we don't know when,” he explains.

Multiple crises Before the floods hit, the Niger had been faced with the challenges of ongoing food crisis and managing a stream of refugees and internally displaced persons.

UNICEF and partners estimate that 394,000 children under 5 will need treatment for severe acute malnutrition this year.

Refugees continue to arrive in the Niger, fleeing conflict in Mali. So far, more than 57,000 refugees and internally displaced persons have settled in various parts of the country, including in the areas worst affected by the food crisis.

As the rainy season has unfolded, a cholera epidemic has

affected many parts of the country, particularly villages along the Niger River in Tillaberi region, one of the hardest hit by the food crisis.

And the epidemic continues to spread. A total of 3,671 cases and 80 deaths have been reported in the past few months. Concerns are growing that the current floods may worsen the spread.

As the Niger battles the severest floods it has seen in years, UNICEF, in coordination with its partners, is providing immediate relief assistance to meet the urgent needs of flood victims. In Dosso region, the hardest hit by the floods, with more than 60,000 people affected and more than 10,000 houses destroyed, UNICEF has distributed blankets, plastic sheets, cooking items, mosquito nets, such hygiene-related supplies as soaps and buckets and other lifesaving supplies. In Sarando Ganda, water purification tablets have been distributed to protect families and children from water-borne diseases.

But more needs to be done in the coming weeks and months to continue providing families with supplies and shelter, and to restore destroyed and damaged schools.

UNICEF is working with the Government of the Niger and partners to identify and prioritize needs, and to order life-saving supplies to continue assisting communities affected by the floods. UNICEF and its partners are calling on the international community to mobilize more resources to help people recover and to restore their selfsufficiency.

In the Niger, the rainy season is not over yet nor is the fear of more flooding.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Sim Emmanuel, told the court that on Aug. 30 one Mrs Idongesit Sunday of Kado village, Abuja, reported the accused at the Life Camp Police station.

Emmanuel told the court that Sunday had since been admitted at the Asokoro General hospital following injuries she sustained in the attack.

He said that the accused was charged with adultery, adding that the offence was punishable under Section 388 of the Penal Code. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Senior Magistrate Abdullahi Illelah, therefore, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum.

Emmanuel said Mrs Sunday reported that she caught the a c c u s e d h a v i n g s e x u a l Illelah ordered that the surety intercourse with her husband on must be a reasonable and reliable her matrimonial bed on Aug.29. Nigerian who must a known and He added that when Sunday of definite address within the picked up a quarrel with her jurisdiction of the court. husband over the incident, he The case was adjourned to Sept. poured a pot of boiling water, 12, 2012 for further hearing. which contained pepper, on her. (NAN)

PSC promotes 105 officers to ACP

T

he Police Service Commission, PSC, at end of its 29th plenary meeting last Friday considered and ratified the Inspector General of Police's recommendations for the promotion of One Hundred and F i v e ( 1 0 5 ) C h i e f Superintendents of Police (CSP) to Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP).

In a statement signed by Chief Information Officer of the Commission, Ferdinand U. Ekpe in Abuja, The Chairman of PSC, Mr. Parry Osayande said those elevated “had undergone Staff College training and passed the relevant examinations”.

Osayande who disclosed that the promotions are with immediate effect, challenged the newly promoted officers to redouble their efforts in the provision of security to the Nation, adding “that deserving officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force would always be rewarded with promotion as at and when due”.

The statement reads, “the

Commission took far-reaching decisions in its resolve at transforming, refocusing and repositioning the Force for better service delivery to the Nigerian Nation.

“The Police Service Commission considered and approved the Inspector General of Police's recommendations for the promotion of One Hundred and Five (105) Chief Superintendents of Police (CSP) to Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACP) who had undergone Staff College training and passed the relevant examinations.

“Some of the Chief Superintendents of Police elevated to the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police are: Christopher Adetokunbo Owolabi, Aliyu Adamu Alhaji, Magu Ibrahim, Arungwa Nwazue, Adeleke Adeyinka Bode.

“The promotions are with effect from the 7th of September, 2012”.

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Kano shuts 30 schools over tax evasion

K

ANO Kano State Task Force on Private Schools, established by the Government of Rabiu Kwankwaso to check the proliferation of illegal private schools in the state, has sealed up the premises of Nigerian/Turkish International Schools and 29 others educational institutions over alleged failure to pay appropriate taxes to government and sundry offences.

Some other alleged crimes by the schools included arbitrary increase in schools fees, failure to adhere to government-approved school calendar for 2012/2013 and the absence of administrative block with Principal/Head Teachers' offices.

Other reasons adduced by the task force were nons t a n d a r d s c h o o l laboratory/library in the case of secondary schools, nonfunctional administration and academic records such as log book, admission register, visitor's books, syllabus and schemes.

At a briefing in Kano, Chairman of the task force M u h a m m a d U m a r, s a i d government would reverse its

EDUCATION action “if the affected schools show remorse and state in writing to comply with existing rules.

P

rof Ayo Fajana, Vice Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), says the decision by the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) to suspend the licenses of some private universities in the country is justifiable.

Fajana, who stated this at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, said the commission had to take such action to arrest the alarming slide in the standard of education in the country.

It will be recalled that the NUC in July suspended the operating licenses of seven private universities including JABU for allegedly failing to meet its guidelines on physical facilities and academic programmes.

NUC's clampdown on private varsities justified - Ayo Babalola varsity VC The affected universities also included Achievers University, Caritas University, Lead City University, Madonna University, Obong University and Tansian University.

He said the commission's move to stop the sharp practices in the private universities was in line with its mandate to monitor the operations of universities in the country and ensure the maintainance of quality and standards in Nigeria's education sector.

He said that the level of decay and falling standards in some universities in the country justified the actions of the commission. `The National Universities Commission has a mandate;

Professor Ruqqayatu Rufai, Minister of Education

Don Challenges FG on Drug Research Equipment

By Emmanuel Eze

A

foremost researcher and professor of pharmaceutics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Emmanuel Chinedum Ibezim has called on the federal government to provide adequate equipment that would aid drug research in Nigeria.

He said the call became imperative following challenges faced by drug researchers who must travel out of the country in order to carry out extensive research.

Ibezim made the call while delivering the 68th inaugural lecture of the University entitled: "Exploring the Exciting World of the Wonder Agents Called Drugs".

He observed that although Nigeria was blessed with best of brains, their efficiency was limited by inadequate facilities.

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"Drugs are everywhere but you need research to get them out. On the course of my drug researches, I traveled out a lot of times because the equipment is not here in the country.

"We have also tried to use computer simulations and molecular modeling but they have limitations. So I will still have to travel back to conclude some of these researches on drugs", he noted.

In the face of these challenges, the pharmacist said he expects government to build a Nigeria "where up-coming drug researchers would not have to wait endlessly for the results of their analysis to be returned from USA, Canada, Germany or even Ghana.

"Rather, they would just quietly walk into the comfort of their own well-equipped faculty laboratories and have

their work done militarily with dispatch".

Continuing he said "all research findings lying dusty and rusty in Nigerian university libraries shall be translated into viable, high quality, cheap and affordable drug products of industrial, economic and commercial relevance".

He stressed that to achieve this loftly dream, government should cease from paying ignoble, rhetorical lip service but begin to radically mobilize drug research institutes to be more responsive to pharmaceutical resource needs".

Ibezim also called for a functional herbal medicinal policy that would help to conserve the abundant natural resources of biodiversity that exists in the country through its sustainable utilization.

government directs that it will be able to ensure quality in the processes of Nigerian university system: often there has to be some kind of monitoring, corrections, standards.

“I believe that the Commission is on top of the business, they have all the rights to do what they have done: they have all the legal backing and of course even the dictates of the times.

“If you look at the rot in the system, the fall in the standards and some kind of sharp practices that are happening in a lot of institutions in Nigeria you would say that the National University Commission is on course, justified and is doing what it is supposed to do,” Prof Fajana said.

The VC, however, faulted the manner in, which the commission arrived at its conclusion, saying it was for that reason that most private universities had issues with the commission.

Fajana called for more meetings between the NUC and private universities, explaining that the once-in-a-year meeting currently being held was not enough. The issue of the objective is one thing; the issue of the methodology is another thing: I guess that is where a lot of universities would have issues to grind with the National Universities Commission.

The intentions may be right but the ways of going about it may not be all that right; so there is need I believe for the National Universities Commission and the universities to come together to iron out differences.

If we can have more regular reporting, it would help: the current system is such that you are only asked to come to the National Universities Commission once in a year to do an annual report of your institution.

“I believe that this is grossly inadequate because if errors have been committed it becomes very expensive because timely correction should have been driven rather than waiting for a whole year before you can do the corrections.”

He explained that JABU was affected by the NUC clampdown because of its failure to commence a part-time programme for a number of courses.

He said that the population of students that registered for the programme surpassed the approved number that should undertake the programme.

Fajana said that the university was already in the process of converting some of the part-time students to fulltime scholars when the NUC suspension came.

Igbinedion University mourns dead lecturers

T

he unusual silence that pervaded the campus of the Igbinedion University, Edo State speaks volume of the gravity of tragedy that had struck the institution.

The staff and students of the institution gathered in small groups discussing in low tones, as the reality dawn on them that the four lecturers, who died in Wednesday auto crash, from the same department would never be part of them again.

The lecturers, all from the Department of Business Administration, were on their way to Benin when they were cut down in their prime by the auto crash.

Though the institution's Public Relations Officer, Emeka Okika who confirmed the incident described it as unfortunate, there has not been any official statement from the institution.

The calamity occurred last Wednesday night, at the

notorious Ovia River, on BeninShagamu expressway, when the four lecturers of the University lost their lives as their car plunged into the river on their way to Benin City, Edo State.

The lecturers who lost their lives are Mr. Morgan Uwogiren, Lucky Ehiorobo, Mrs. Shirley Iwede of the University's Department of Business Administration and Ms Shola Ajayi of Department of Banking and Finance.

Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, officials said that the corpses of the two women were still missing while those of the two men were deposited at the University of the Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, mortuary.

The FRSC disclosed that the accident occurred when the car, a Volkswagen Audi station wagon 80, crashed into the river near Ekiadolor, while trying to avoid an on-coming trailer.

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SPORTS

Schools' Sports competition-the nursery of sports development in Nigeria

By Okey Anyichie

I

n less than three weeks from now, the schools' calendar of the first-term of 2012/2013 begins, with both primary and post-primary schools resuming for both academic and other extra-curricular activities.

This new school year everywhere in the country, especially in the South-East and even South-South States is expected, a new sporting activities sprouting out and invigorating on the path to sports development. Hence it is at this level of sports development that sportsmen and women emerge with both vigour and force, it is also at this level, that the slogan “Catch them young” becomes very practical and operational in all its ramifications.

Last June in the third term of the Enugu State's School Calender, the government of the state set off a new revolution in the area of schools' sports development.

It was very interesting for the state's government to put a total and a result oriented policy of all public schools holding and organizing inter-house sports competitions. It was a very pragmatic step in the right direction of sports development in the state. These levels of sports development on the three segments of inter-house sports competition, Zonal sports competition and finally, state's sports should definitely produce materials that will do the state proud in the national competitions.

The final competition that took place at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu was very successful, unlike the former schools' sports competitions held previously in the state. Hence one is gratified that competitors wore sports uniforms and appeared neat and looked like sportsmen and women ready for healthy competitions among themselves.

And on top of that there was nothing like sports hooliganism among the athletes

Young boys playing football and the students during the competition at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

And again there was a high standard of discipline reminiscent of schools' sports competitions before the war in 1967, when secondary schools converged in Enugu old sports stadium for athletics competition in the junior Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) and the winners will represent the then Eastern Region to the national competition in Lagos, where the Eastern Junior Athletes showed high class standard among the three other regions.

But the climax of secondary schools sports in the then Eastern Region that finally end up amidst healthy and very stiff competitions among the school boys was a competition called Wilson Parnaby secondary schools athletics competition. In Lagos and former Western Region which included the then Mid-west region, there was an athletics competition among the school boys in

One of the Nigerian female athletes

this area of the country. It was called Grier-Powell competition.

The Wilson Parnaby athletics competition among secondary schools in the then Eastern region started in 1948, and the shield contested by schools in the competition was donated by an expatriate Inspector of Education, Mr. Wilson Parnaby. It lasted for 19 years, from 1948 to 1967 until the dark cloud of Nigerian civil-war enveloped the competition and dumped it into trash-can of history of sports development East of the Nigeria, in 1970, after the civil-war.

Wi t h w h a t t h e E n u g u S t a t e government under Barrister Sullivan Chime revived in the last schools' calender year in Enugu will develop sports and make it take four paces forward. This motivation by the state government will also encourage students to take interest in this area of psychophysical development, hence the saying goes that a healthy mind functions very

highly in a sound body. It would also set the state on course for winning Laurels for the state, especially at the All-Nigeria sports festival which is coming up in November this year in Lagos. It would regrettably be recalled that the SouthEastern states have not been putting up flamboyant and colourful performance at the sports festival of recent. For almost sports festivals since 1988, when Imo State hosted the competition, South Eastern states are lagging behind states like Edo, Delta, Lagos, Oyo. This lofty step taken by Enugu State government should be the yard-stick towards the development of sports.

Hence South Eastern states should be the numero uno in the sports competition in Nigeria like the picture was before the war. A stitch in time saves nine

Boxing in Nigeria at developmental stage Continues from page 38

A Nigerian boxer and his opponent

Rican boxer, Jose Torres, and became the first African boxer to hold two world boxing titles, within a space of five years. He later in 1967, defended the title successfully against the American boxer, Roger Rous, but in May 1968, lost it to Bob Foster of America. After this encounter with the American boxer in 1968, Dick Tiger finally quit the ringcraft and involved himself in boxing coaching to bring up the younger ones. He was doing this, when he transited in December 1971 and left a legacy for both Nigerian and African boxers who have now stepped forward to be recognized. Apart from these exploits by the two Nigerian professional boxers Nigeria since 1950s had a rich abundance of

amateur boxers, who took part in different games like the AllAfrica Commonwealth and Olympic games. Mention which must be made of Isaac Ikhuoria, the 1972 Olympic Bronze medalist, Peter Kaonyegwachie of 1984 Olympic games fame with silver medal to show for it.

All these past boxers set the standard for Nigeria in the game.

But now things are going in anticlock-wise direction and something urgently needed to be done to salvage the ugly situation. It is not a sweet tale to tell that the three Nigerian boxers failed to deliver “heavy” punches during the 2012 games in London.

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SPORTS

Nigeria out of the race for under-20 World Female Soccer Championship  As Falconets crash

out in Japan Stories by Okey Anyichie

T

he Nigerian Soccer “Amazons” in the ongoing world female soccer champion-ship in Japan have met their waterloo in the competition in the semi-final encounter between Nigeria and USA, the amazing soccer “Falconets” failed to fly swiftly to the final of the competition.

This is the second time that these soccer young maestroes in the global champion-ship have failed to rise beyond this level of the competition.

However, most soccer pundits, commentators and writers may credit their efforts for reaching to this level of the global competition. Afterall their fellow counterparts from Ghana did not qualify from their group and make it to the quarter-final level of the competition.

However, the girls from Nigeria did their best but their best was not good enough to carry them to the final, where hopes would have been raised that for once, the girls would lift the trophy in this cadet world female soccer champion-ship. Although Nigeria has been doing well since the world female soccer champion-ship started in China in 1991 by qualifying from Africa, but the problem now is that in one of the outings in the senior female competition,

Torres set to join Spain's 100 club

F

ernando Torres looks set to become the latest Spain player to make 100 international appearances

under-18 and under-20 female teams, from Nigeria, should for once surprise the world by coming out “smoking” at these global levels of the competition.

Now the Nigerian Falconets have fallen victims to the female team from USA, which beat them in the last competition at the semi-final stage. The USA female team walloped the Nigerian girls by 2-0. Scoring a goal in the first half and putting the game beyond the reach of Nigerian girls by scoring another goal in the second-half.

Now Nigerian girls will endeavour to win the third place match against the host, Japan.

Japan lost 0-3 to the defending champion, Germany in the second semi-final encounter p l a y e d o n Tu e s d a y 4 t h September 2012. The final will now be between USA and G e r m a n y, t h e d e f e n d i n g champion of the competition.

With the out-come of the competition in Japan, hopes are now focused on the next female global soccer tournament at Azerbaijan in under-18 age grade, where Nigerian girls will trade tackles with their counterparts from different nooks and crannies of the world. It is expected that Nigerian girls in this cadet soccer champion-ship will be an improvement on their under-20 counterparts. when the European champions warm up for World Cup qualifying with a friendly against Saudi Arabia on Friday.

The Chelsea striker has scored 31 goals in 99 appearances for Spain, and Del Bosque says "for Torres it's a proud moment to reach 100.

Many players from this generation could reach the number.” Carles Puyol is on 99 appearances, while the 26year-old Sergio Ramos is only

Nigeria vs USA 2 - 0

Boxing in Nigeria: Marching forward or backward

T

he recent summer Olympic Games that have just ended in London last month has exposed the inadequacies of Nigerian sports administration and organization for contrary to all expectations, Nigerian team at the 2012 Olympic Games failed woefully at the end of the games. The Nigerian contingent at the games in London had athletes in five events for the competitions. One of the events was boxing, where Nigeria thawed the ice on the Olympic Games medals “drought” since the first outing to the games in 1952 in Helsinki-Finland.

Nigeria stood to be counted in the Olympic Games in 1964 at Tokyo-Japan, when a boxer, Nojim Maiyegun won the first Olympic Games Medal for the country. Thus making boxing as the sports event that will ginger and encourage other up and coming materials in this combat sports. After sometimes the sport held promise but with the epileptic standard of this pugilistic game presently is giving much cause for concern.

For it will be recalled that apart

from this sporting event of boxing giving Nigeria a place to stand in the Olympic games family since 1964, it has placed Nigeria on the global sporting map, after two Nigerian boxers, Hogan Bassey and Dick Tiger did the country proud.

In 1957, Nigeria produced the first world boxing champion in the feather-weight class after beating an Algerian boxer, Cherif Hermia in Palais-desport, Paris-France to wrest the world title crown in June 1957.

Hogan Bassey instantly became a folk-hero in the then colony of Nigeria and the second African boxer, after Battling Siki, who won a world boxing crown in the light-heavy-weight division in New York, USA in 1923. So Hogan Bassey in 1957 followed the worthy step of this boxer from Senegal in noble art of self-defense, which was then monopolized by the American and British boxers.

Again in 1962, Nigeria had a repeat performance of holding out another world boxing champion, this time in the middle-weight class. Dick Tiger otherwise Richard Ihetu from

the present Imo State in 1962 stepped into the shoes worn by Hogan Bassey in 1957. Dick Tiger in October 1962 in the city of San-Francisco, state of California, USA, repeated the history of Nigerian boxers in this combat sports. The Nigerian middle-weight boxer before the American fans by the side of the ring in SanFrancisco, California, USA, decisioned the American boxer, Gene Fullmer over fifreen rounds. He later on defended the title against the American boxer and later in December 1963 lost out to Joe Giaderlo, the ItalianAmerican Boxer. He later on took back the title from his “Conqueror”, and finally called it a day in this middle weight class after he lost the crown to a boxer, Emile Griffiths, of Virgin Islands, USA in April 1966, who was in the lower weightclass of welter-weight.

Dick Tiger made history in December 1966, when he ascended a higher weight class of light-Heavy weight and won the world title. He achieved this feat after beating a Puerto-

Continues on page 39

seven games from becoming the youngest Spanish player to reach the century mark.

Ramos says "I just want to keep making history with my country.” Xabi Alonso reached the 100 club during Spain's Euro 2012 triumph, joining teammates Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez.

Spain plays Georgia in qualifying on Tuesday.

Fernando Torres

THE

ADVOCATE

Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

39

SPORTS

Rooney regrets transfer request M

Wayne Rooney

'Sad' Ronaldo rattles Real Madrid I

t is a common maxim that money cannot buy you happiness and Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world's best paid players, appears to have become the latest to acknowledge this after saying he was "sad" at Real Madrid.

The Portugal forward, who cost Real a record €94 million in 2009 and who earns around €11 million a year, refused to elaborate after La Liga win but added that it was for professional not personal reasons.

"The people who work here know why," he said after their routine 3-0 home win over Granada in which he scored a brace, and his comments dominated the sports headlines in Spain on Monday.

"Enough in enough" ran the front page of sports daily Marca over a photo of a serious looking Ronaldo.

"CR7 unsettles Madrid and activates the alarm bells after failing to celebrate his goals against Granada.”

An El Mundo comment piece was headlined "Rich, goodlooking and sad.”

Amid rife speculation, Ronaldo's agent and close friend Jorge Mendes said on Monday it was up to the player to decide if he wanted to go public or not with the reasons behind his sadness.

"I am aware of the reasons behind Ronaldo's words and it is up to him to disclose them or not," Mendes wrote in a statement on his company's website, Gestifute.

(Www.gestifute.com) "I am not surprise by them and they cause me no discomfort. Those who know my relationship with Ronaldo know he will always count on my total

anchester United striker Wa y n e R o o n e y h a s admitted that handing in his transfer request two years ago was the biggest mistake of his career.

Rooney is currently promoting his latest autobiography, My Decade in the Premier League, which is also being serialised by the Daily Mirror.

In the latest extract, Rooney admits he regreted asking for a transfer.

Rooney issued a statement in September 2010 in which he questioned United's ability to attract top players and indicated he wanted to leave. Two days later, though, he performed a dramatic U-turn and signed a new five-year contract.

He wrote: "In September 2010 my ankle puts me on the sidelines.

"I get frustrated with myself, my game, my injury, and everything around me. "I'm stuck in a cycle of bad form but I can't get out of it.

"And that's when I make the biggest mistake of my football career. "In October, I release a statement which publicly questions my happiness at Old Trafford. Am I better off elsewhere?

"Everyone makes a fuss. There are discussions inside United to sort out the issue, people outside United chuck their opinions around, but the thing is, nobody really knows what's going on in my life. "None of them understand where I am in my career.

They don't know where my head's at.

"The only person who really solidarity," he added.

Radio station Cadena Ser and other media reported that Ronaldo had held a meeting with Real president Florentino Perez on Saturday where he said he did not feel he had the support of the dressing room, he was unhappy and wanted to leave.

Ronaldo himself dismissed the idea that his feelings had anything to do with losing out to Andres Iniesta for the Best Player in Europe award on Thursday.

There was media speculation that he was unhappy not to be offered an improved contract after his goal-scoring feats over the last three seasons.

"Cristiano has the right to be annoyed about whatever he seems fit," wrote a columnist in sports daily AS. "But it shows a lack of respect to his colleagues and the fans to be angry for reasons that one is not brave enough to make clear. If he wants more money, come out and say so.”

Ronaldo, who netted 46 league goals last season, has had a relatively quiet start to the campaign and looked below par in Real's league opening draw against Valencia and in their shock 2-1 defeat at Getafe.

The 27-year-old scored the winner against Barcelona in their Spanish Super Cup second leg win on Wednesday, but was

knows what's going on in there is me, but even I'm not sure what I want." He continued: "Then the manager has his say. 'Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you have in your own field. And it never really works that way'.

"He's saying the grass isn't always greener, and he's right.

"I like what's in my field. I'm wrong. United want the same as me: trophies, success, to be the best.”

Meanwhile Rooney told the Manchester Evening News that his recovery is on track after suffering a gash to his leg in a tackle against Fulham a fortnight ago.

"The injury is going well. It could have been a lot worse than what it was. It is up to the doctor.

When he declares me fit I will be ready.

"What I don't want to happen is to come back too early when it is not quite healed and it opens up again first game. That would just set me back again another four weeks.”

"Overall, I think at the most I will miss four games.”

He added that he was keen to get back onto the pitch to start building a partnership with summer signing Robin va Persie.

“I am looking forward to getting back into the team and trying to forge an understanding with him (Van Persie)," Rooney added.

pointedly serious and downbeat after scoring his goals against Granada on Sunday.

Ronaldo, who asked to be substituted with a knock to his

left thigh in the second half, joins up with the Portugal squad on Monday for their World Cup 2014 qualifiers against Luxembourg and Azerbaijan

Cristiano Ronaldo

THE

Vol. 1 No. 5, Monday, September 10 – Sunday, September 16, 2012

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SPORTS STAR Vincent Enyeama

...for Equity and Justice

Back page comment

Abolish fuel subsidy now:

To improve Nigerians' living standard

By Uche Offiah bout a forth night ago, the Honourable Minister of Finance and the coordinating Minister of the economy Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala released the parameters for 2013 budget to be presented to the National Assembly come September 2013. The timing is quite reassuring of better days ahead, contrary to the age long late presentation (usually in December) that often took its toll in poor budget implementation.

Our curiosity here is not really on early presentation but on Recurrent and Capital component ratio of 68.66 : 31.4 an improvement though from 2012 ratio of 72 : 28. In this arithmetic, we want to know where fuel subsidy budget belongs to. Is it the recurrent or capital? Nigerians deserve to know or has the Federal Government decided to amputate the cancerous fuel subsidy and thus hands off the economic suicide instrument called Fuel Subsidy payment?

In 2011 fiscal year, nobody till date could say exactly how much was spent on fuel subsidy as the estimate varied from 1.7 Trillion to 2 Trillion Naira.

Perhaps up to half of these colossal funds were paid out in a fraudulent exercise as a greater percentage of the fuel purported to have been supplied actually never reached Nigerian shores while many shiploads were mainly recycled and money paid as if a new cargo arrived.

We thought the bottomless pit (fuel subsidy) which took responsibility for all the unaccountable missing funds in the economy could have been sealed up with concrete cement slabs, and consigned to history of corruption and underdevelopment. Surprisingly, in 2012 budget, 88 Billion Naira was also budgeted for same fuel subsidy as we failed woefully to be guided by earlier experience. In this hallowed Pilot column on February 21st 2012 edition, we screamed in utter disappointment and described 2012 Subsidy budget as “One step forward, two step backwards”.

The Abuja motorists and commuters' experiences since a week before 2012 Ed el Fitr Muslim festival and after are better in a position to confirm our earlier fears on the continuation of fuel subsidy payment. Our fears have come true and the worst days are ahead unless a successful surgical amputation of subsidy is carried out in 2013 budget.

Any budget parameter for 2013 without a statement on fuel subsidy appears incomplete in reality. In January when deregulation of the downstream oil sector was announced, hell was let loose

A

as pump price was put at 144 Naira per litre. In Abuja last week, under another protest provoked by oil markers, the pump price was 300 Naira per litre.

Who is fooling who in Nigeria?

No nation on earth has ever been so successfully fooled as Nigeria was by the oil cabals in the nation-wide strike in January. The very gullible protesters were even alleged to have been fed during the one week long protest in January. Various musicians were paid to supply music and in fact Rio de Janeiro

Diezani Madueke, Petroleum Minister

carnival in Brazil was a child play compared to overnight freedom squares in Lagos and Abuja created only for the protests.

Thanks to the House of Representatives' investigation into the fuel subsidy scandals for exposing the hypocrisy of the oil cabals, Nigerians are now wiser.

They now know who their enemies have been and definitely not Mr. President as they were made to believe by dubious fuel importers.

Just after Muslim fasting which ended with the sighting of the new moon, the cabals were at it again. They wanted to fight back by inducing oil workers (NUPENG) to go on strike in order to force the payment of dubious claims.

Federal Government rightly called this strike by NUPENG a blackmail. It insists that the 25 oil marketers indicted could only be paid after the court has exonerated each marketer involved.

Unfortunately, only the Trade Union Congress condemned the recent NUPENG strike at Abuja. The civil societies, Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and most opposition parties maintained sealed lips against the obvious blackmail by the cabals. What a self serving citizenry?

In fact if we scrap fuel subsidy and transfer it to capital budget, the ratio of recurrent to capital would be very close to 50:50. This will be the expected good news. With this, our roads will be fixed, power will be more sooner than later

taken for granted. Besides, industries will spring up here and there, and unemployment greatly reduced, as well as crime and insecurity. Meanwhile, deregulation translates to no payment of fuel subsidy, Marketers going into building of refineries, more investment into the sector from local and foreign investors alike.

The market forces of demand and supply, will apply just as it is in Telecommunication industry now in Nigeria. The pains will be short-lived but the gains would be increasingly lasting. In fact, by the way the cabals are going, if not stopped, they would either remotely take over the government or install one of their own as the next President. They can easily strangle the economy of the nation or that of any state in Nigeria as they experimented with Abuja. The subsidy must stop now or never for it is inimical to the economic growth and development of the Nation.

At this point in time, removal of the subsidy is the beginning of Nigeria's economic wisdom towards the realization of vision 20:2020. Timing is a key factor in the fortunes of mankind.

No wonder the great British writer, William Shakespeare once wrote “There is a tide in the affairs of men.

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life, is bound in shallows and in miseries” Nigeria is now in that tide which Shakespeare wrote about several centuries ago, with the crude oil production of 2.7 mbpd together with the propensity to hit 3 mbpd, at over 100 US$ per barrel.

Our economic growth rate is put at above 6% and this is acclaimed as second to those of China and Mongolia, the highest in the world. The phenomenal growth is highly applauded by most western economists including the British former Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown. The adage that one man's meat is another man's poison is very evident in the world economy today, for while Europe is shrinking, and growing between 1.5 and 3% GDP, Nigeria is growing at over 6% courtesy of economic meltdown in Europe. Thus the meltdown is Nigeria's meat while it is poisonous to Europe.

When President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan launched vision 20:2020, four years ago, most Nigerian economists dismissed it as laughable. They could not imagine the magic of how Nigeria could jump from its present 46thin world economic ranking to 20th by the year 2020 even with Olympic field event of 'hop, step and jump'. Nigeria in the tide of the economic meltdown in Europe

Vincent Enyeama (born 29 August 1982) is a Nigerianfootball goalkeeper. Since 2002, he has played for the national team of Nigeria. He currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv, on loan fromLille OSC who he signed for in June 2011.

Club career During his spell with Enyimba he won the CAF Champions League twice, with one noteworthy mention: He was always substituted before penalty shootouts.

"I don't know why I was substituted before penalties, but it worked," he said in an interview back in 2006. "In Israel I stopped many penalties and now everyone knows that I can handle penalties." After three seasons with Enyimba and one with FC Heartland, Enyeama moved to a minor club in Israel, Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv. He had a fantastic first season, showing amazing physical and athletic skills. In his first season with Bnei Yehuda, the team qualified for the final of the Israel State Cup and achieved fourth place in the Israeli Premier League, which qualified the team for the 2006 UEFA Cup. Enyeama has played for Hapoel Tel Aviv since 2007. Hapoel Tel Aviv endured a poor season in 2007/2008, but Enyeama just kept on improving. He proved to be a real leader helping the team to avoid relegation and reach the state cup final. This included an emotional letter he wrote to his fellow players, encouraging them to fight together for the club.

Slowly he started to feel that he belonged to the club and said that he will never play for Maccabi Tel Aviv the city rival of Hapoel even for million dollar alltough he join Maccabi in loan from LOSC lille. , Enyeama has been performing extremely well in recent seasons, showing steady improvement from year to year. On 18 August 2010 he scored his first goal of the 2010-11 season with a penalty against Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League qualifiers. In June 2011 he moved to French side Lille for an undisclosed fee on a three year contract.[3]He made his debut on the 18 October 2011 against Inter Milan in the 2012 UEFA Champions League group stage, where Inter managed a 1-0 victory.

can realize vision 20:2020. It is acceptable.

However, we must shape up and be more focused. We must abolish fuel subsidy from 2013 budget. The subsidy fund should be moved to capital projects like roads and Power infrastructure. Industrial production through import substitution should be the password to invest in the economy. Private refineries should be encouraged and all government owned refineries should be privatized transparently. Above all, the National Assembly should outlaw trade unionism for all those engaged in essential social services like Energy, Transport, Information sectors (etc).

SIR. UCHE OFFIAH , writes from Abuja.

Tel. 08036373783

Published by THE ADVOCATE Newspapers Ltd, Corporate Office: No. 30 Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu Phone: 08087631127. Editor: Larry Onwuta 08080803085.

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