Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday April 09, 2012

Vol. 8 No. 12 Monday, April 9, 2012 Jimadal Ula 18, 1433 AH N150

WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

PAGE 19

Tax revenue peaked at N4.6tr in 2011,says immediate past FIRS boss

I N S I D E

Lady injured, carsdamaged in Josmotor park bomb

Katsina, Bauchiwin Qur’aniccompetition

‘Police pensionfraud: Test foranti-corruption’

SSS kills 2 motorcyclethieves in Bauchitraining school

>>PAGE 5 >>PAGE 5 >>PAGE 5>>PAGE 2

From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

It was a bloody Easter Sundayin Kaduna yesterday aseyewitnesses said more than

40 persons were killed when abomb-laden Honda Accord car(Academy) with Kaduna platenumber, BB111DKA, exploded atJunction Road, in the city centre,at about 9.30 am.

Victims of the incident werecommercial motorcycleoperators, food vendors, fuelhawkers and commuters who allhappened to be at different pointsat the Sarduana Crescent busstop, opposite Fina White HouseHotel extension.

Passers-by and motorists on theroad were also not spared as theexplosion ripped through anumber of vehicles, according toeyewitness accounts, with humanparts littering the road anddamaging well over 50 buildings,including offices and shops, alongboth sides of the dual carriage road.

The Kaduna State EmergencyManagement Agency (SEMA)gave a casualty figure of 36 withscores of others injured andcurrently receiving treatment atvarious hospitals in the city, whilemore critical cases were referredto the Ahmadu Bello TeachingHospital, Shika, Zaria.

According to SEMA Public

Victim recountsnarrow escapefrom ritual killers

>>PAGE 7

BLOODY EASTER

40 perish inKaduna blast

23 killed in Benue church building collapse — PAGE 5

Charred remains of motorcycles destroyed by the impact of the explosive that rocked Sarduana Crescent bus stop, opposite FinaWhite House Hotel extension, yesterday in Kaduna. Photo: Agaju Madugba

Contd on Page 2

8 died at Ilorin church retreat — PAGE 7

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSNews 2-11

Editorial 12

Op.Ed 13

Letters 14

Opinion 15

Metro 16-17

Business 19-22

S/Exchange 23

S/Report 24

Newsxtra 26

Education 27-28

Health 29-30

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David Mark: Stillmaking his marks @ 64,

Page 37

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International 31-34

Strange World 35

Digest 36

Politics 37-40

Sports 41-47

Columnist 48

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Contd from Page 1

40 perish in Kaduna blastRelations Officer, AbubakarZakari Adamu, “we took sevenpersons to Rakiya MemorialHospital, out of which five diedwhile the remaining two weretransferred to 44 Army ReferenceHospital.

“At the Army ReferenceHospital, 20 people were seriouslyinjured and at the St. GeraldHospital, 10 people were takenthere, five have died while theremaining five were seriouslyinjured.

“At the Barau Dikko Hospital,we have six dead, six injured while20 people died on the spot of theincident.”

Kaduna state Commissioner ofPolice, Abubakar MohammedJingiri, who described the blast as“massive” also noted thatintelligence report indicated thatthe bomber was heading to Kakuriand Sabon-Tasha areas, all in thesouthern part of the city when thebomb went off at Junction Road/Sardauna Crescent.

But eyewitness accounts saidsecurity men had earlierprevented the lone suicide bomberfrom gaining access to Gwari road,location of two churches, the FirstECWA Goodnews Church and theAll Nations Christian Assembly.

According to Francis Maku of

the First ECWA GoodnewsChurch, “the man who came tothe street here said he wanted topass and I told him that he cannotpass because it was during churchservice and we do not allow peopleto gain entrance here because ofthe security problem we have.

“Then he said he was going tohis house and I asked him whichof the houses he was talking about.

He pointed to this upstairs,where I know so many peopleliving in the house and I did notrecognise him as any of those Iknow there.

“He was in the car, a HondaAcademy, ash colour. I told himto stay at the entrance to the streethere and he told me that I wasviolating his rights for notallowing him to go to his house.

“He then insisted that he mustpass through and go to his house,then started his car and reversed,the next thing he drove towardsme, yet I stood my ground andheld the iron very well.

“He hit the iron against meand one of the church memberscame around. When I was tryingto explain the incident to him, Inoticed an army uniform at theback of the seat and the cap behindthe screen.

“As we were dragging, armedpolice men who were posted to the

church came to the spot and theysaid he must stay back until thechurch service was over.

“Then he decided to drive backto the main road. Just about threeminutes later we heard a big blastbehind. He is a young man. Hewas wearing a vest and combatknickers.”

Other eyewitnesses said that,on leaving Gwari road, throughArochukwu road, the bomberdrove into Junction Road wherehe attempted to climb thepavement in the process of whichthe explosion occurred and the carwas shattered with front part ofthe car flying as far as the StadiumRoundabout, some 500 metresaway.

The blast was devastating asit equally blew up both movingand stationary vehicles andpersons within the vicinity,shattering parts of Fina WhiteHouse Hotel, First Bank, FadeccoHotel, Mussafir Hotel, All NationsChristian Assembly Church aswell as offices and shops, amongothers.

One of the survivors of theincident who pleaded anonymitysaid he was inside his car with hismechanic when they heard adeafening sound.

As he put it, “we were threeinside the car when we heard a

loud explosion in our front andbillows of smoke and fire under myvehicle.

“I opened my door and when Ilook I did not see my mechanicagain. I am still shocked how Isurvived.”

Two other survivors,Augustine Vincent and his cousin,Aaron Idiawaje, who said theywere on the motorcycle directlybehind the bomber said that theywere saved by the blood of Jesus.

“We were on our way toChurch, Christ Embassy, byStation on Kachia road and Godsaw our heart and saved us.”

Director-General of theNational EmergencyManagement Agency (NEMA),Alhaji Sani Sidi, who visited theinjured at the various hospitalstold reporters that governmentwould assist in settling bills ofthose receiving treatment.

A member of the House ofRepresentatives from KadunaNorth, Alhaji Shehu Usman(ABG), urged the FederalGovernment to order thedisbandment of road blocks in thecountry.

According to him, “if this hadhappened at a check point whereyou have thousands of people andpetrol tankers, you can imaginewhat would have happened.”

PAGE 2

Benue police arrest 46 cultistsFrom Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Benue State PoliceCommand has arrestedover 46 persons suspected

to be members of cult groups inMakurdi.

Spokesman of the commandASP Ejike Alaribe, who disclosed

this in a telephone interviewwith journalists yesterday, saidpolice officers raided severalareas particularly Wadata thatis a den of cultists andapprehended the cultists, addingthat guns and substancesuspected to be Indian hempwere recovered from them.

He said the suspects have sincebeen remanded at the CriminalInvestigation Department, CID ofthe command, maintaining thatas soon as investigations areconcluded, they would bearraigned in court.

ASP Alaribe advised parentsto restrain their children and

wards from indulging in cultand other criminal activities,warning that anyone caughtno matter how highly placedwill face the full wrath of thelaw.

It is alleged that a police officerwas recently murdered by a cultgroup in Makurdi.

From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

A motorcyclist suspected tobe a suicide bombersuccessfully beat security

checks and made his way toTudun Wada Motor Park andabandoned his machine, whichwas attached with an explosivedevice that soon detonated andinjured a lady.

The lady, who had been aninnocent passenger of the wouldbe bomber, was injured just asseveral commercial and privatecars around the park were badlydamaged. Itwould be recalled that as ameasure to curtail the activitiesof the suicide bombers, the use ofmotorcycles has been banned inmany areas of the metropolis.

One of the residents of thearea told our correspondent thathe heard the sound but could notgo out to see the level of damage

due to fear of the unknown.Confirming the incident, Mediaand Information Officer of theSpecial Task Force (STF) CaptainMarkus Mdahyelya, said theexplosive device detonated at8:25pm

Also confirming the incident,the Police Public Relations Officerin Jos, Mr. Samuel Dabai, said theexplosion happened in Mado Villagenear Tudun Wada park and thatthe injured casualty had beentaken to an undisclosed hospital fortreatment. He however, added thatpolice have begun investigation onthe incident.

Meanwhile, a statement fromthe National EmergencyManagement Agency (NEMA’s)spokesperson, Yushau Shuaibusaid security operatives andrescue workers wereimmediately mobilised to thescene of the incident for rescueoperations.

Lady injured, cars damagedas motorcycle bomb ripsthrough motor park in Jos placed.

He expressed optimism thatthe nation would overcome itspresent challenges in no distantfuture.

“It is also my earnest prayerthat the power of the resurrectionof this Easter washes away thesorrows of all those who have losttheir beloved ones,” he said

Meanwhile, an Abuja-basedMuslim Rights Concern group,yesterday decried the act,especially on a day the Christianswere marking the Easter Sunday.

The group in a statementissued by its Director, Prof. Is-haqAkintola, stated: “we are alarmedthat criminal elements aretargeting worshippers duringfestivities.

“This is an ugly andunacceptable practice whichshould stop forthwith.

“We, therefore, call on thosebehind the bombings to cease firefor a peaceful co-existence of thepeople of Nigerians”, he said. (NAN)

The Deputy SenatePresident, Sen. IkeEkweremadu, yesterday

in Abuja, condemned Sunday’sbomb explosion which led to thedeath and injury of many peoplein Kaduna state.

In a statement issued in by hisSpecial Adviser on Media, Mr.Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadusaid the act of terrorism wasmean, distasteful and out of stylewith the nation’s cultural andreligious values.

“Nigerians must unite to fightthose behind these incessant bombattacks because it is not in ourcharacter, cultural or religiousvalues to waste lives,” he said

He urged the religious,traditional and political leaders toprevail on their subjects toembrace peace, reconciliation andunity for the sake of the country.

Ekweremadu further called onNigerians to be vigilant andexpose all suspicious activities ofanybody whether highly or lowly

Ekweremadu, Muslim groupcondemn Kaduna bomb attack

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012 PAGE 3

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru,Maiduguri

The Joint Military TaskForce, (JTF) in Borno stateyesterday afternoon killed

three gunmen suspected to bemembers of the Boko Haram sect,while two others were arrestedduring a gun duel.

Spokesman of the JTF, Lt-Col.Sagir Musa told newsmen inMaiduguri, the Borno statecapital, that the incidentoccurred when a team of soldiers

stormed Bulabullin ward andburst into a house believed to bethe hideout of Boko Harammembers.

According to Lt-Col. Musa, JTFhad received an intelligence reportthat some men suspected to bemembers of the sect were seen at acompound holding a meeting inpreparation of a plan to causemayhem.

He explained that members ofthe task force, acting on a tip-off,stormed the residence andengaged the gunmen in a shoot-

out, which left three persons deadwhile two others wereapprehended.

“Following a tip-off, the JTFoperatives raided the terrorists’meeting point at the Bulabulinarea, in Maiduguri metropoliswhere they were said to begathering with a view to causemayhem in the city. On sightingJTF troops, they attempted toescape after firing sporadically atthe direction of our troops”, thespokesman claimed.

He further added

“information received fromsome Good Samaritans revealedthat the same group of BokoHaram members wereresponsible for last Wednesday’sattack at the Maiduguri MondayMarket, which killed elevencivilians”.

He disclosed that during theraid, an FN rifle, two locally madepistols and 185 rounds of assortedammunition were recovered fromthe suspects.

Meanwhile, the JTF image-maker also said securityoperatives, yesterday afternoon,discovered and later detonated animprovised explosive device (IED)at Kwanar Yobe area.

JTF kills 3 Boko Haram members,arrests 2 in Maiduguri

The Nigeria Security andCivil Defence Corps,(NSCDC) in Abia says it

arrested 48 persons over allegedbunkering and vandalising of oilfacilities between January 2010to March 2012.

Abia Commandant NSCDCNathaniel Ubong disclosed this inan interview with the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN) onSunday in Umuahia.

Ubong said that the commandalso impounded 17 trucks and otherequipment from the suspectsduring the same period.

The commandant, who wasreviewing the activities of hiscommand within the last twoyears, described the rate at which

criminals vandalise oil facilities inAbia as disturbing.

He said the suspects werearrested in Abia-South zone,especially in Ukwa-East, Ukwa-West and part of Aba North localgovernment areas.

“From all indications, youthsof the affected areas have vowednot to down tools in these acts of

bunkering and vandalism.“Recently, we arraigned eight

suspects on alleged involvement inthe construction of illegal refineries,and they were all remanded inprison custody”, he said.

Ubong gave the assurance thatthe command would stop at nothingto flush-out criminals in the state.

He called for closer

NSCDC arrests 48 oil vandals, impounds 17 trucks in Abiacollaboration with other securityagencies in the task of stampingout vandals in the area.

He also appealed to Abiagovernment to ensure that onlycredible contractors were givencontracts near oil locations, notingthat some of the vandals hadperpetrated the act under the guiseof contractors. (NAN)

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Senate President David Markhas advised politicians not todrag the church into politics.

Senator Mark, who gave thisadvice at St. Augustine’s CatholicChurch, Otukpo, Benue stateduring a service to mark his 64thbirthday yesterday, posited thatreligion and politics were entirelydifferent and as such put apart toavoid any conflict of interest.

He maintained that service tohumanity should be withoutpolitical undertone, reassuringthat he would remain faithful tothe service of God and humanity.

While taking a brief stock of hislife journey, the Senate Presidentpromised to continue to work forthe political stability andeconomic prosperity of Nigeria.

He frowned at utterances madeby some politicians in recent times,warning that they were capable ofheightening the already tensedpolitical atmosphere of the nation.

In his sermon, the Parish Priestof St. Augustine’s Catholic Church,Rev. Fr. (Capt.) Kenneth Odeh

urged the congregation to remainsteadfast in truth and service toGod noting that good will alwaystriumph over evil.

Rev. Fr. Odeh also prayed forpolitical stability and economicprosperity of Nigeria.

Governor Gabriel Suswam ofBenue state, who was representedby his Deputy, Steven Lawani saidthe synergy between the stategovernment and the SenatePresident had facilitated themodest achievements the state hasrecorded so far.

Suswam also lauded Mark forthe deft manner he has handledaffairs of the National Assemblyand expressed confidence that thesuccessive review of theConstitution will lead to thecreation of Apa state.

Mark reassures onservice to humanity

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

A group, under the auspicesof Leather and AlliedProduct Manufacturers

Association of Nigeria (LAPAN),has petitioned the NationalAssembly to appeal to the FederalGovernment to stop granting theExport Expansion Grant (EEG) tosave the leather sector fromimminent collapse.

In a petition addressed to theHouse Committee on Commerce,a copy of which was made

available to newsmen at theweekend, the association notedthat the policy originally designedto assist the sector had beenhijacked by few powerful group tothe detriment of the sector.

The petition, signed by theChairman Board of Trustees of theassociation, Bashir IbrahimDanyaro, stated that the EEGpolicy had led to job losses in localleather industries, pointing outthat promotion of local content hasbeen relegated.

The group alleged that 90

percent of all raw skins waspurchased by Mahaza and MarioJoe, Fata, Unique, Multi Tan, andKano Tan who are the beneficiariesof the Export Expansion Grant.

“These beneficiaries of EEG inthe leather sector have driven theprice to an all-time high, makingit impossible for any local user ofleather to remain profitable in thebusiness. For them, head or tail,they are winners; because after allthe incurable cost, they collect agift of 30 percent EEG courtesy ofthe Federal Government.”

They further lamented that theabuse of the policy had led to theclosure of several shoe companiesthat were once a household name inNigeria, stressing that lack oftransparency in the administrationof the EEG is wholly responsible.

It therefore called for urgentscrutiny of the grant to ascertain thelevel of abuse by the operators,adding that figures fromInternational Trade Commission putthe value of leather exported fromthe country in 2008 at $500mjumped to N43 billion in 2010.

Leather manufacturers petition NASS over grant

Arik Air, Nigeria’s flagshipairline, yesterday describedas malicious a publication

in a national newspaper that theairline has been taken over by theAsset Management Corporation ofNigeria (AMCON).

According to the airline’sspokesperson, Ola Olabanji, “Thereis no iota of truth in this story andit was just another maliciouspublication against Arik by the(undisclosed) newspaper. Thestory is at best the figment of thewriters’ imagination and a showof irresponsible journalism by thenewspaper.”

Olabanji said the ManagingDirector of AMCON, Mr. MustafaChike Obi, who was allegedlyquoted by the publication has alsostrongly condemned the said storyand quoted Mr. Obi as saying thepiece is “completely false andbaseless story about Arik andAMCON.”

In a statement made availableto reporters in Lagos, Olabanji saida text by the AMCON MDpurportedly sent to the writersread: “You sent a text to me latelast night for a confirmation whichyou did not receive as I was alreadyasleep and yet you went aheadwith this ridiculous story on yourfront page.”

The airline’s spokespersonsaid the Arik Air would thereforelike to assure its esteemed gueststhat its daily flight operationsare going on without anyhindrance.

Arik Air debunkstake over byAMCON, saysstory maliciousFrom Suleiman Idris, Lagos

L-R: Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, with former President Olusegun Olusegun,during the latter’s visit to the governor at Government House, yesterday in Benin

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012PAGE 4

World Bank: Okonjo-Iweala to feature at CGD/Washington Post debate

Live in harmony with Muslims,Kwankwaso urges Christians

begin on April 30.“If by April ending,

government did not implementCONMESS and otheragreements reached during ourmeeting in March 2011, then wewill start an indefinite strike”,he said.

Dr. Odusote explained thatthe government provoked thedoctors into its present actiondue to its refusal to implementall the agreement reached overone year ago.

“In March 2011, what itwould cost the Lagos stategovernment to pay CONMESSwas calculated and the governor,Mr. Raji Fashola approved it.Thirteen months after, it is yetto be implemented after severalappeals, meeting withgovernment and some agencies”.

During the warning strike,Dr. Odusote said all services bymembers of the guild would bewithdrawn. The doctors alsoraised alarm over the excessive

tax being deducted from theirsalaries insisting that it must bereviewed downwards.

Dr. Odusote said the guildrefused to go on strike to presshome their demands in the pastbecause of the people. “We havealways considered the people,otherwise we should have goneon strike before now”, he said.

Secretary of the NationalAssociation of Resident Doctors,NARD, Dr. Oluwajimi Shodipoappealed to residents in the stateto prevail on the stategovernment to implementCONMESS to avert the strikewhich would cripple the healthsector.

It would be recalled that inAugust and September of 2010and February 2011, the doctorshad withdrawn their servicesover the non-implementation ofthe CONMESS agreement andwhat the association described asexcessive taxation by the stategovernment.

Lagos residents rush to Hospitals as doctors threaten strike

Lagos state governmentowned hospitals havewitnessed large turnout of

patients who queue for medicalattention following theannouncement by doctors thatthey will embark on a 3-daywarning strike.

At a media briefing, thechairman of the medical guild,Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote said thestrike was to press home thedoctors’ demand for theimplementation of theConsolidated Medical SalaryStructure (CONMESS) reachedwith the government, monthsago.

Dr. Odusote told journaliststhat the association decided toadopt the strike option during itsordinary general congress onApril 3. The warning strikeaccording to the chairmanwould be a prelude to anindefinite strike which would

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

Ajimobi restates commitmentto traditional rulers’ welfare

Governor Isiaka AbiolaAjimobi of Oyo state atthe weekend, presented

the instrument of office to theOkere of Saki, Oba OlatoyeseKelani Olarinre II, with apromise that his administrationwould continue to accord priorityto the welfare of traditionalrulers in the state.

The governor, whoperformed the ceremony at thecapacity-filled OYSADEP SportsComplex in Saki township, notedthat since the inception of hisadministration, provision ofsocial welfare and promptpayment of salaries totraditional rulers had been ofutmost concern.

He however charged royal

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

L-R: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Prime Minister ofNiger Republic, Brigi Raffini, and Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko,during a function, at the weekend in Niamey.

Finance Minister NgoziOkonjo-Iweala will featurein a series of sessions for

World Bank presidentialcandidates in Washingtontomorrow.

The organiser of the sessions,CGD, a Washington DC-basedthink-tank, said the threecandidates - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, José Antonio Ocampoand Jim Yong Kim have all beeninvited.

However only Okonjo-Iwealaand Ocampo have so far acceptedto attend, the group said.

The organisers, CGD, incollaboration with theWashington Post, said that ateach sessions, candidates wereexpected to deliver openingremarks, followed by a discussionand questions from an audience,including members of the media.

“The events will be streamedglobally on the Internet via theCGD Website and WashingtonPost Live and will includequestions for the candidates fromaround the world sent via emailand Twitter”, the CGD said.

Interviews to select a new

president of the World Bank arescheduled to hold from April 9 toApril 11 in Washington D.C.

Global civil groups havecalled on the bank’s ExecutiveDirectors to ensure that thethree candidates debate publiclywith each other as part of theselection process.

Meanwhile, some observersexpressed concern that so far,there had not been any publicforum where the candidatescould explain their vision for thebank’s future and be questionedby the media. (NAN)


Kano state governor, RabiuMusa Kwankwaso hasenjoined the Christian

faithful in the state to use theEaster period to renew andstrengthen their relationshipwith Muslims.

“We must not forget theessence of Easter, which connotessacrifice, love for mankind andsubmission to the will ofAlmighty God,” he said.

He urged them to live in

harmony with their Muslimbrothers in the interest ofsustainable peace and prosperityin Kano state and Nigeria as awhole.

“The unfortunate securitychallenges confronting ourcountry require collective effortto overcome them. We musttherefore, irrespective of faith,political or social affiliation, worktogether to make our countrythe hallmark of a refined socialorder,” Governor Kwankwasoimplored.

fathers to reciprocate the goodgesture of his administrationby ensuring a conduciveatmosphere in their respectivedomains.

The governor expressed hisadministration’s sinceritytowards improving the welfareof the citizenry of the state,citing the employment of20,000 youths under theYouth Empowerment Scheme ofOyo State (YES-O) as a furtherconfirmation of the sincerity.

“I promise our good people ofOyo state that all the cardinalprogrammes of the ActionCongress of Nigeria (ACN), asreflected in our manifesto, willbe fully implemented torevamp the downward socio-economic situation of thestate,” he stated.

The National EmergencyManagement Agency(NEMA) and experts in

flood disaster management havedescribed the media as criticalto reducing the impact andvulnerability of flood disasterespecially in the area of riskreduction, mitigation andpreparedness in the society.

Speaking at a one dayNational Conference on“Tackling Flood Disaster inNigeria,” the speakers notedthat a well-coordinated effortamong the various agenciesresponsible for disastermanagement has becomeimperative in order toeffectively mitigate the effect offlood disaster in Nigeria.

The Director-General ofNEMA, Alhaji MuhammedSani-Sidi, said the “the press,both print and electronic areimportant in the sensitisation,enlightenment and advocacy. Soimportant is the press in disastermanagement that modern daydisaster management literaturerefers to the media,humanitarian organisations,and government (policymakers) as the crisis triangle.”

The conference, organised byTell Communication Limited, inconjunction with the NEMA and

the Lagos state Ministry of theEnvironment, focused onaverting killer floods in Nigeriaand the challenges of coastaldisasters.

Giving a recent statistics offlood disaster in the country, hesaid: “In 2010, at least 30,000people were displaced by flood inthe country. That is why we arestressing the importance ofcoordination in the managementof flood in the country.”

“The leading cause of deathin Nigeria after epidemics isflood, while the leading cause ofdisplacement and economicdamage is flood.

He disclosed that every localgovernment in the country hasbeen mandated to train 200volunteers in environmentalemergency management.

He said: “Nigeria had yet toarrive at a stage where helpwould get to a disaster zoneminutes after its occurrence.”

“Ideally, the medics, fireservice and police should be onsite minutes after a disaster. Thesolution is to have an efficientambulance service in thecountry, which Nigeria still doesnot have”, Sidi said.

Also speaking Lagos stateCommissioner for theEnvironment, Mr. Tunji Bello,described urbanisation as a majorcause of flooding in the country.

Media critical to flood disastermanagement - NEMAFrom Suleiman Idris, Lagos


Katsina, Bauchi winQur’anic competition

Senator callsfor speedycompletion ofAbuja-Lokoja-Okene road

Police pensionprobe: A testfor anti-corruptionwar, saysHouse LeaderFrom Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

SSS kills 2motorcyclethieves inBauchi

The State Security Services(SSS) shot dead twomotorcycle thieves at the

premises of the SSS training schoolin Bauchi yesterday.

The Bauchi StateCommissioner of Police,Mohammed Ladan, whoconfirmed the incident on atelephone interview to newsmenin Bauchi, said “initially wesuspected that the hoodlums weremembers of the Boko Haram butone of the suspects was capturedalive and he said that they wentinto the training school to stealmotorcycle, and after preliminaryinvestigation we identified the twosuspects shot were popularmotorcycle thieves and later theydied in the hospital.”

A source from SSS office saidthat “the suspects were five innumber, they came to the schoolearly this morning (Sunday), theywere not armed because after weshot two and captured one theywere not armed, they entered intothe school premises through thebackyard, they used iron cutterand cut the burglary proofs andiron rods, when they entered theysaw our men on patrol, they calledthem but they refused to come andrun away, our men pursued themand shot two, they left them incritical condition and one wascaptured, the remaining two areat large.”

According to him, the twoinjured people were taken to theAccident and emergency sectionof the Abubakar Tafawa BalewaUniversity Bauchi Teaching(ATBUTH) and the later died.

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

Winner of the first female category of the 26th National Qur'anic Recitation Competition, MalamaBadi'atu Abubakar Usman from Bauchi state (middle), after she was adjudged the Gwarzuwar Shekaraof the competition, at the weekend in Katsina. Photo: Lawal Sa'idu Funtua

Bauchi state, it was the fifthtime it won the biggest prize infemale category.

The winner of the firstcategory male, MalamMujitapha Ibrahim Mahmudwas turbaned as the GwarzonShekara by the Sultan ofSokoto, Alhaji MuhammadSa’ad Abubakar while the wifeof Katsina state governor,Hajiya Fatima Shematurbaned the GwarzuwarShekara, Malama Badi’atuAbubakar.

Speaking after theturbanning of the GwarzonShekara, the Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Muhammad Sa’adAbubakar tasked Muslimparents to always encouragethe reading, learning andteaching of the Holy Qur’anamong Muslim youths.

The sultan however assuredthat traditional rulers in the

country would continue tosupport government policiesand programmes aimed atimproving the lives of thecitizenry, calling on people toembrace the path of dialogueand peaceful co-existence.

In their separate remarks atthe ceremony, former Nigeria’sPermanent Representative tothe United Nations,Ambassador Yusuf MaitamaSule and a university don fromAhmadu Bello University,Zaria, Dr. Muhammad ArsalanMuhammad, observed that themajor obstacles to peace andprogress was injustice.

They similarly taskedMuslim Ummah to reflect backand embrace the true teachingof Islam. According to them,the deviation from such trueteachings has pushed Muslimsociety into the abyss of moraldecadence and insecurity.


Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, representing KogiCentral Senatorial District

has called for quick completion ofthe dualisation of Abuja/Lokoja/Okene road to ease vehicularmovement during festive periodsand prevention of accidents.

He lamented the painsNigerians are made to go throughon the road, saying that theFederal Government shouldensure that the contractorshandling the project areadequately mobilised to completethe dualisation of the road.

He however, cautionedmotorists to always exercisepatience, pointing out thatimpatience on the part of driversequally contributed to the hold-up situation.

Katsina and Bauchi statesemerged the big winnersof the 26th National

Qur’anic RecitationCompetition, where they cartedaway the first prizes in both themale and female categories of thecompetition respectively.

In the male category, whichinvolves the memorisation of thewhole Qur’an, MalamMujitapha Ibrahim Mahmudfrom Katsina state emerged asthe winner, while in the samecategory female, MalamaBadi’atu Abubakar from Bauchistate emerged the winner.

According to the records ofthe 26-year-old competition,this was the first time Katsinastate won the biggest prize ofthe competition even as thiswas the second time it hostedthe event, while in the case of

The Majority Leader in theHouse of Representatives,Hon. Mulikat Akande-

Adeola, has described the on-going prosecution of theN3.4billion Police Pension Fundat an Abuja High Court by theEconomic and Financial CrimesCommission (EFCC), as a testcase on the seriousness ofNigerians to fight the anti-corruption war in the country.

Hon. Akande-Adeola,representing Ogbomoso North,South and Oriire FederalConstituency in the NationalAssembly, stated this in Ibadanover the weekend, when she wasfeatured in the ‘Hot seat’personality interviewprogramme of the Nigeria Unionof Journalists (NUJ), Oyo statecouncil.

She maintained that thefight against corruption in thecountry was a task that allNigerians must jointly execute,irrespective of politicalleanings.

On the outcome of the probeby the lower house, Akande-Adeola posited that “the Housecan only make investigationsand write its report”, calling onthe media to insist that justice isdone always in matters of publicinterest.

She however objected the callfor death sentence on corruptpublic officers saying “I will notsupport death penalty forcorrupt convicts. Death will notadd any value.

She rather advised that thestolen property accumulated bythe convicts from proceeds of theacts of corruption should beconfiscated by government.

Speaking further, shecondemned the calls for aSovereign National Conference(SNC) saying “it is not what weneed in the country at this time.Ours is a developing democracy.We all need to work together,including the opposition, for theadvancement of the country.The opposition could bring inconstructive suggestions wherenecessary.”

Akande-Adeola assuredNigerians that the Legislatureand the Executive wouldcontinue to work in harmony tomake life better for the citizenryby ensuring that the 2012budget, which has since beenpassed by the NationalAssembly, is optimallyimplemented to 90 per centlevel.

She assured that PresidentGoodluck Ebele Jonathan wouldsign the budget into law in thenext two weeks, stressing thatthe House would step up itsoversight functions in terms ofproject supervision in the overallinterest of Nigerians.

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

period.He condoled with families of

the deceased and Catholicfaithful, maintaining that theincident calls on them to reflecton their spiritual life and beprepared at all times to answerthe Creator's call.

An eye witness told ourcorrespondent that themagnificent building collapsed asresult of heavy rainstorm thatwas accompanied by strongwinds.

"The church had prepared to

commence the Easter vigil masswhen a heavy sound was heard.Most persons thought it was abomb explosion only to discoverthat the church foundation hadcollapsed killing over 20 personsleaving several others seriouslyinjured. Two died but thenumber may increase as resultof the magnitude of injuriessustained by some persons", hesaid.

Police Public Relations Officer,Mr. Ejike Alaribe also confirmedthe incident.

A total of 22 worshippersdied on Saturday duringan Easter vigil mass when

their Church collapsed on them.Reacting to the incident,

Bishop of Makurdi diocese, Rt. RevAthansius Usuh, said yesterdaythat the 23 parishioners of St.Robert's Catholic Church,Adamgbe in Vandeikya localgovernment area who perishedduring an Easter vigil servicewere destined to die during Easter

Church collapse: 22 parishonersdie in Easter vigil massFrom Uche Nnorom, Makurdi


We’ll overcome presentchallenges, says Jonathan

Peoples DailyBauchicorrespondentweds in Yola

President GoodluckJonathan has reiteratedthe determination of his

administration to transform thecountry in all ramifications andensure that she takes her rightfulplace in the comity of developednations.

The President in an Eastermessage to Nigerians expresseddeep conviction that the countrywas on the way to greatness,adding that present challengeswould become a thing of the past if

Nigerians continue to keep thefaith and join hands with thegovernment.

“My message to the nationtherefore, as we celebrate one ofChristianity’s most holy days, isthat we should continue to havefaith in our collective ability toovercome all present challengesand take our rightful place in thecomity of nations as a strong,united and prosperous country.

“As people of faith, we mustnever succumb to haopelessness anddespair,” President Jonathan saidHe continued: "We must rekindle

and retain deep faith in our sharedvision of greatness, and continuouslyrenew our determination to achieveour immense potentials throughtotal commitment and dedication tothe fulfillment of our nationalaspirations.

“I fervently believe that as theresurrection of Jesus Christ signifiesthe triumph of light over darkness,Nigeria will overcome itsdevelopmental challenges in theshortest possible time if we all resolveto set aside our differences, worktogether as one people, and fosterpeace, harmony and security in our

country as requisite conditions forsteady socio-economic growth anddevelopment.”

The President also pledgedthat: “My administration willcontinue to give dynamic,purposeful and effective leadershiptowards the attainment of our goalof faster national progress anddevelopment. We shall continue toput the greatest effort intoachieving a positive transforma-tion in the lives of our people withthe effective implementation ofour agenda for nationaltransformation.”

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

Against the backdrop of callsfor the outright sale of thecountry's four refineries as

a way of increasing local refiningin Nigeria, the Petroleum andNatural Gas Senior StaffAssociation of Nigeria(PENGASSAN) has called on theFederal Government to adopt theNigerian Liquefied Natural Gas(NLNG) model in managing therefineries.

PENGASSAN said that it isonly the NLNG model that canprotect the national interest andmake the refineries operate at full

capacity.In the NLNG model, the Federal

Government through theNigerian National PetroleumCorporation (NNPC), owns 49 per-cent of the equity share, while theremaining 51 percent is owned byShell Gas BV, Total LNG Limitedand Eni International in differentproportions thus freeing thecompany from the overbearingcontrol of government.

According to the oil workers’union, the model will free theoperations of the refineries from allencumbrances caused bybureaucracy and officialbottlenecks that hinder them from

performing at their optimalcapacities.

Speaking on the proposedprivatisation of the refineries,PENGASSAN President, ComradeBabatunde Ogun, explained thatthe major problem bedeviling thefour refineries is lack of adequateautonomy for their boards.

He described the presentsituation where the ManagingDirector/Chief Executive of therefineries have an approval limitthat cannot even replace a nut inthe plant let alone carry out aTurn Around Maintenance (TAM)as detrimental to the efficientoperations of the refineries.

Comrade Ogun stated that theNLNG model allows for autonomyand gives the management thelatitude to decide on the day-to-dayrunning operations of therefineries, adding that this willallow the refineries to produce atoptimal capacity and competewith their peers all over the world.

“There are many limitingfactors that cannot allow ourrefineries to function at optimalcapacities and as a majorstakeholder we are also worriedabout this. We canvass that for thedownstream sector to be active andfor the anomalies in thefunctioning of the refineries to be


PENGASSAN suggests NLNG model for refineries

From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

Gov. Suntai harpson religiousharmony

corrected, what we need isliberalisation but notprivatization. This is what thegovernment did with thetelecommunications sector. If themarket is liberalised, privateinvestors will be able to come inwith their investments andestablish their refineries, while theexisting refineries can operate sideby side. In Nigeria, we are all livingwitnesses to the fate that befellcompanies that have beenprivatized. Where are they today?Where is NITEL, Ajaokuta SteelCompany Limited, Nigeria IronOre Mining Company (NIOMCO)and a host of others?”

Peoples Daily correspondentin Bauchi state, Mr. AhmedKaigama Mijinyawa over

the weekend bid farewell tobachelorhood when he marriedformer Miss Zulayyat JibrinUsman in Yola, the Adamawa statecapital.

The sum of N20,000 waspaid as bride price before themarriage rites were performedat residence of the bride inJambutu area in the statecapital before hundreds of wellwishers.

Speaker of the state House ofAssembly, Ahmad Umaru Fintri,and other members of the Housewere some of the dignitaries thatattended the ceremony insolidarity with father of the bride,Hon. Jibrin Usman who currentlyrepresents Ganye constituency inthe state House of Assembly.

Governor Danbaba Suntaiof Taraba state has spokenof the need for both

Christians and Muslims in Nigeriato co-exist peacefully for thegreatness of the country.

The governor, who spoke at theopening ceremony of theseventeenth annual convention ofthe National Islamic Centre whichopened in Jalingo yesterday,thanked the organisers for theirwisdom and vision in initiating theprogramme.

In his speech, the chairman ofthe centre, Ahmad Bello, said theconvention would afford theadherents the opportunity to sharethoughts as well as brainstorm onthe way forward for Islam.

He emphasised that Islampreaches peace and abhors allforms of violence and encouragedadherents to strive atmaintaining the peace and devotemore time t0 the service of Allah(SWT).

From Yusha'u Alhassan, Jalingo

The Katsina state Chapter ofthe National Union of LocalGovernment Employees

(NULGE), has expressed dismayover the failure of the stategovernment to pay the N18,000

minimum wage to localgovernment workers in the state.

This was contained in astatement signed by the presidentof the union, Comrade AliyuHaruna.

The president thereforeappealed to the state governmentto expedite action on the issues

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua,Katsina

related to the implementation ofminimum wage to localgovernment workers in the state,stressing that the paymentshould commence by the end ofApril.

He similarly urged localgovernment workers in the stateto be steadfast, exercise patience

and remain calm.On the list of redundant

workers compiled by the state localgovernment service commission,Haruna noted that there was noneed for panic by the workers sincehe said the commission had giventhem assurance that no workerwould be victimised.

Katsina NULGE frowns at non-implementation of minimum wage

L-R: High Chief of Upenekang village in Akwa Ibom state, Chief Williams Mkpas, Paramount Ruler, Ibeno Local Government Area,Effiong Archianga, and Village Head, Iwuo-Achang Ibeno local government area, Obong Udomfuk, during an oil spill case betweenIbeno community and NNPC/Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited, at the Federal High Court, recently in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

PAGE 7PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Jonathan mourns lateMalawian President

President GoodluckJonathan has expressedsadness over the death of

President Bingu Wa Mutharikaof Malawi.

"On behalf of himself, thegovernment and people ofNigeria, President Jonathanextends sincere condolences tolate President Bingu Wa

Easter:Oshiomholeflags off maidenmotor bikeracing

About eight persons amongthem two childrenwere feared killed during

an Easter Retreat organised bythe Deeper Life Bible ChurchIlorin, Kwara state as a resultof the rainstorm which pulleddown one of the high tensionelectricity posts at the campgrounds. Our correspondentgathered that the incidentoccurred at the church's campsite located at Eyenkorin,Ilorin-Lagos road, outskirts of

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

Victim recounts narrow escape from ritual killers

A middle-aged man,Abdulkadir, whonarrowly escaped from

ritual killers in Jalingo hasappealed to security agenciesparticularly those in plainclothes, to intensifysurveillance on the activitiesof ritualists in Taraba state.He was speaking with ourreporter on his sick bed at theFederal Medical Centre,

L-R: Director of Women Affairs, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Esther Adeyemi,Senior Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jibril, Minister of WomenAffairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, and wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya AminaNamadi Sambo, during the 2012 International Women's Day celebration, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Adamawa CANwants killers ofmembersprosecuted

Adamawa state chapter ofthe Christian Associationof Nigeria (CAN), has

called for the immediateprosecution of those arrested inconnection with the killing ofabout 27 of its members in twoseparate attacks in the state.

CAN's call is against thebackground of 12 Igbo traderswho were killed earlier in theyear just before thegubernatorial election in Mubicouncil area of the state andanother 15 worshippers shot atthe Christ Apostolic Church(C.A.C) in the state capital allon the same day.

State chairman of theassociation, Rev. Fr. MosesTaparki who spoke tojournalists in Yola at theweekend, said CAN's call hasbecome necessary as"conflicting information fromsome quarters and even thestate government areascribing the unfortunatekillings in Mubi and those inthe C.A.C church Jimeta toChristians themselves."

Taparki expresseddispleasure with what hedescribed as the image dentingpublications connectingChristians with criminalityand purporting that arms wereseized from them adding thatthere is no information of anyarrest of Christians inconnection with the saidseizure.

"There has never been anyinternal disagreements ofwhatever magnitude amongmembers of Christian churchesin Adamawa that has led to theloss of lives, not even those thatled to the breakup of churchesand our investigations haveshown that there has neverbeen any crises in any churchthat could be said to have led tosome aggrieved sectionattacking their brethren andkilling them", Taparki argued.

Taparki therefore insistedthat "If Christians have beenaccused of killing themselves,we appeal to the governmentand the security operatives tomake public the arrest and trialof the Christian criminals toforestall any furtherrecurrence of this uglyincident."

the state capital in the earlyhours of Friday when theworshipers were praying beforethe post crashed on them.

Our correspondent learntthat one of the victims was apastor of the church who hadgone to donate blood at thehospital in the wake of thetragedy which also left severalworshipers injured.

The pastor, who was ridingon a motorcycle was said tohave run into an oncomingvehicle. He died on the way tothe hospital.

The storm, whichaccompanied the first rain inIlorin, lasted for about twohours and began at about12.30 am.

A source at the Universityof Ilorin Teaching Hospitalconfirmed that three of thevictims were brought in deadalong with one woman and twochildren.

Efforts to get reaction fromother pastors of the churchproved abortive as they werenot available to make anycomment as at the time of filingthis report.

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem Mutharika's family as well asthe government and people ofMalawi.

"The President assures thepeople of Malawi of thesympathy and solidarity of thepeople of Nigeria and Africa asthey mourn late PresidentBingu Wa Mutharika who wasalso chairperson of the AfricanUnion from January, 2010 toJanuary, 2011," a statement

signed Presidential spokesman,Dr. Reuben Abati, said.

Jonathan urged thepolitical leadership of Malawiand its security agencies toensure an orderly transfer ofpresidential powers in keepingwith Malawi's existingconstitutional order ahead ofthe country's next presidentialelections scheduled to hold in2 0 1 4 .

Tragedy as 2 children, six othersdie at Deeper Life retreat


Edo state governor,Comrade AdamsOshiomhole yesterday

flagged-off the first edition of motorbike racing sport at EvbuobanosaCommunity in Orhiomwon localgovernment area of the state as partof activities to mark the Easterholiday.

The president of Motocross Naija,organisers of the event, Mr. OduagbonOkao in a chat with journalists at theweekend, said 18 motor-bike ridersfrom all walks of life jostled for a cashprize of N450, 000.00.

Okao said 18 riders competed inthe 10 'lap race'. A breakdown of theprize money showed that thechampion took home a N200,000.00 cash prize; the second positionN150, 000.00; and N100, 000.00for the third position respectively.

To get to the final according toOkao, various riders attended a two-week qualifier race which ended onThursday April 5, producing 18finalists at the circuit inEvbuobanosa, adding that to ensuregood performance for the grand prize,the finalists were giving up tillSaturday to end their practice on thecircuit.

No update on the conduct of therace was available as at the time offiling this report.

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

From Yusha'u Alhassann, Jalingo Jalingo, where he wasreceiving treatment forinjuries he sustained whilestruggling escape whensuspected ritual killerskidnapped him.

Narrating his ordeal,Abdulkadir said on arrivalfrom Yelwan Abbare Village inJalingo local government, hetook a taxi to the market whenone of the assailants broughtout a handkerchief with somepowdery substance suspected

to be charm which induced thepassengers in the car to sleep.He also said that thekidnappers took his N500, 000while on their way to a housewhere one of the passengerswas slaughtered.

The victim, who wasrecovering from the attemptto strangulate him, said hecould not explain how heescaped being killed but onlyfound himself under the Nukaibridge in Jalingo. He also said

that the ritualists spoke inHausa and that he couldhardly identify the house theywere taken to.

When contacted forcomment, the Police PublicRelations Officer, IbianObaseki said the matter wasnot reported to police. Hehowever advised the public tocooperate with the policeespecially in the area of stopand search of vehicles in orderto arrest criminals.

Bauchi CANchairmanbemoans failureof leadership

Chairman of the BauchiState wing of the ChristianAssociation of Nigeria, Rev.

Lawi Pokti, said yesterday that thosewho could not make sacrifices for theirpeople were not fit for leadership.

He made the declaration in Bauchiwhen he spoke with the newsmen incommemoration of Eastercelebrations.

Pokti who is also the chairman,Regional Church Council, Bauchi state,listed the qualities of leadership asexemplified by Jesus Christ.

"If our leaders cannot die for theirown people, they are not fit to be leadersbecause Jesus teaches that he thatwants to be a leader must be the smallestamong them.

"He denied himself his own home;beautiful home; joyful home, and hebecame a slave. He died for our sins.

"But very unfortunately, ourpoliticians have not denied themselvesanything for the sake of the masses;what they are doing today is toaccumulate wealth for themselves.Look at the masses that are sufferingtoday.

"Until you have a brother who is inthe National Assembly before they willgive you simple employment. Look attoday, we have many people thathardly get one-square meal per day.

"Jesus was not biased, God was notbiased; so if politicians can follow thefootsteps of Jesus, they should not bebiased; they should not accumulatewealth for themselves.''


2

2

1A Catholic church building in Adamgbevillage of Mbayongo Vandeikya LocalGovernment Area of Benue collapsedon Saturday night killing some 30villagers who were worshipping duringthe Easter vigil night at the church.

3This car veered off the road and plungedinto a ditch, on Friday, at Mayere road,Narayi High Cost, in Kaduna, The driverand one other occupant escaped withminor injuries. Photo: Agaju Madugba

4

Edo State Governor, Comrade AdamsOshiomhole (2nd right), with Bishop,Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Most RevGabriel Dunia, and others watch thedramatisation of the crucifixion ofJesus Christ, during the annual 14Stations of the Cross procession fromImiegba to Okpekpe in Etsako EastLocal Government Area of Edo Stateon Friday. Photo: Osaigbovo Iguobaro

Lagos state Deputy Governor, Hon.Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire,( 3rd right)front row in a group photograph withthe finalists of the year 2012 LagosCarnival Beauty Pageant, during a visitto the deputy governor, at the weekendin Lagos.1

3

4


The Sultan of Sokoto, AlhajiMuhammadu Sa’adAbubakar III, has called on

Muslims and Christians to use theEaster season to reflect on thesituation in the country.

He made the call on Saturday inAbuja in a letter addressed to PastorAyo Oritsejafor, President, ChristianAssociation of Nigeria (CAN) tomark the Easter celebration.

The letter was signed by Dr.Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, Secretary-General, the Nigerian Supreme

Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA)on behalf of the Sultan, who is thePresident of the Council.

He said that adherents of bothreligions must resolve to effectchanges that would ensure realdevelopment and meaningfulprogress in the land.

The Sultan said Muslims andChristians should join forces withthe authorities to tackle the twinevils of corruption and insecuritythat were threatening to consumethe nation.

Sultan urges Christians,Muslims to reflect on Easter

“We should mobilise ourfollowers to cultivate those valuesand virtues extolled by our greatreligions: Christianity and Islam.

“In particular, we should stressthe virtue of personal integritywhich teaches us not to cheat, notto steal and not to take or givebribes.

“In this way, public fundswould be safe in the hands of thoseto whom they are entrusted andcorruption would disappear fromthe realm”, he added.

Abubakar warned thatnational development could not beachieved in a state of insecurity,and urged Nigerians to cooperatewith the authorities to secure thenation.

“We should mobilise all faithfulto be security-conscious by reportingevery suspicious movement to thenearest security outfit.

“A secure and corruption-freeNigeria will earn the countrygreatness to the pride of all”, theSultan said. (NAN)

The Muslim Rights Concern(MURIC), has urged theNational Assembly to pass a

bill banning public office holdersfrom going abroad for medicaltreatment.

This was contained in astatement issued by Prof. Is-haqAkintola, Director of MURIC andmade available to the News Agencyof Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

According to the statement,

the group also demanded that allpublic office holders withdrawtheir children and wards studyingin foreign institutions and enrolthem in Nigerian schools.

“We charge the NationalAssembly to initiate and pass a billprohibiting people whose children andwards attend overseas institutionsfrom holding public office.

“This is the only way to compelgovernment to pay attention to our

decaying education sector”.The group said this was the

only way Nigerian schools andhospitals could become effective asthe public office holders wouldstrive to bring them tointernational standards.

On the Easter celebration, thegroup urged Nigerian leaders toemulate the selfless life of JesusChrist.

It stated that Nigeria needed

public officers who were ready tomake sacrifices, instil discipline inthemselves and their familiesbefore asking the citizens to bemorally upright.

“The Muslim Rights Concernfelicitates with the body of Christthroughout the world. Inparticular, we identify ourselveswith Nigerian Christendom asthey enter the sober mood of thisseason.

“We urge Nigerian citizens tolearn the crucial lessons of theEaster period, namely, self-sacrifice, altruism, moderation,love and forgiveness.

“We must bury Christian-Muslim acrimony and shunreligious bigotry and the attendantviolence so that peace which is anessential ingredient of progress,can reign in the land. We appeal toall”. (NAN)

Muslim group suggests ban on foreign medical trip for public office holders

The National Association ofRoad Transport Owners(NARTO) has attributed 70

percent of accidents involvingtanker drivers in Nigeria to badroads.

Mr. Emmanuel Gowon, theExecutive Secretary of NARTO,told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos, that not allaccidents involving tankers werecaused by inexperienced drivingor the age of the driver.

“I am not trying to exoneratetanker drivers from mistakes leadingto accident. But if majority of accidentsthat occur on Nigerian roads areinvestigated, you will discover thatthe spots of the accidents are bad.

“The state of the roads is verybad in addition to insecurity.

“Failed portions on the roadshave contributed to about 70 percent of accidents involving tankersin parts of the country”, Gowonsaid.

He said that a tanker costsabout N30 million, adding that noemployer would spend such anamount and hire inexperienceddriver to operate it.

“If an accident occurs and thetanker is burnt, the owner of thetruck has lost millions and if thedriver dies, as a result of theaccident, it is double trouble”.

In another interview, Mr.Abdulahi Darga, the Secretary ofPetroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD),told NAN that the association hadno power to control theemployment of tanker drivers.

“We only register them asmembers of our association oncewe are satisfied with theiremployment status”, he said.

Darga noted that no employerwould employ an inexperienceddriver because of the risk involved.

He assured that the associationwould collaborate with the FederalRoad Safety Commission (FRSC) toensure that tanker drivers wereproperly trained and educated onroad safety.

NARTO blamesaccidents onbad roads

To alleviate poverty among widows inKwara state, Mrs. Yemisi Adeyemi,wife of Senator Smart Adeyemi at the

weekend distributed 40 brand new freezersto 30 widows across the local governmentareas in the sate under the ‘Manner DewCharity Foundation’ she set up few years ago.

Mrs. Adeyemi, who distributed the itemsalong with foodstuff to the beneficiaries inIlorin, noted that her gesture was tocomplement the efforts of Kwara stategovernment to reduce hardship being facedby women especially those that have lost

their bread winners.“Today, we are empowering over 30

widows to start a meaningful business so asto provide them with good source of livelihoodto take care of their families and otherdependants.

“As you can see, we have in place 40brand new chillers or freezers to start a smallbusiness for each of the widows. This has hugemultiplying effect in reducing poverty andhigh unemployment rate in our society.

“Our vision is in line with FederalGovernment and state government’s planto reduce poverty, unemployment and toenhance the socio-economic development ofthe sate through Private and PublicPartnership Initiative (PPPI)”.

Senator’s wife donates 40 freezersto Kwara widowsFrom Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

Travellers passing through Lokoja toother parts of the country were onFriday trapped in a traffic gridlock for

over 7 hours as the Federal Road SafetyCommission, FRSC, could not find a solutionand left road users to their fate.

This brought about brisk business formotorcycle riders and hawkers of essentialitems like water and fast foods.

A sachet of pure which ordinarily sellsfor N5 went up to N50 even as thecommodity not enough for the demand,while fast food like gala, dough nut and

plantain chips sold for N100 instead of N50which was the usual cost.

Some children travelling with theirparents who could not withstand thepressure of the intense heat from theconfusion on the road were heard crying.

Speaking with journalists over thegridlock, the Sector Commander of FederalRoad Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. MichaelOlapade said it was the impatience of mostdrivers that was responsible for the situation.

He called on motorists to show some levelof decency and decorum while on thehighway as obtained in other countries ofAfrica to key into the world system.

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

Brisk business on Abuja-Lokoja highway assellers exploit stranded commuters

Lagos stateGovernor, Mr.BabatundeFashola (2nd left),inspectingvarious on-goingprojects aimedat thetransformationof Obalende, inLagos. Withhim areCommissionerfor Environment,Mr. Tunji Bello(2nd right), andPermanentSecretary (Officeof Drainage),Ministry ofEnvironment,EngineerMuyideenAkinsanya (left).

PAGE 10 PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Why northerners are not accessingNEXIM Bank loans – MDThe Managing Director of the

Nigeria Import and exportBank (NEXIM), Mr. Roberts

U Orya has challenged northernbusiness men to brace up to theeconomic challenges facing theregion by cultivating the habit ofaccessing facilities andsubventions in banks andinvestment houses.

Orya, who was speaking

yesterday at the maiden summiton entrepreneurshipdevelopment organised by theKano state Ministry of Commerceand Industry, noted that lack ofsufficient knowledge and non-challant attitude amongnorthern businessmencontributed to the failure of themaccessing credit facilities from thebanks.

He noted that southernbusiness entrepreneurs’

deployed every mechanism,including hiring professionalbodies, to help them accessfacilities from banks, “whereasthe northern business peopledon’t even know how toconfront the bank and talkabout getting any money.”

He explained that in most caseswhen a business man from thenorth was asked about his papersand other vital documents thatwill serve as collateral for him to

be able to access the bank facilitieshe will refuse on the premise thathe operates business without suchsensitive procedures anddocuments.

Also speaking during thesummit, Kano state governor, Dr.Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso noted thatNigeria was currently yearningfor better economic developmentthrough job creation and theprovision of better infrastructuresthat will help people to achieve


their economic goals.Kwankwaso explained that his

government had gone far in termsof enhancing the lives of thecommon people through economicempowerment pursued on thebasis of human development andself-reliance.

He said since the inception ofhis administration in may lastyear, over 5,000 youths hadgraduated from severalinstitutions where they learntdifferent arts and trades, addingthat soonest, over 1000 youths arebilled to undergo trainings inpoultry, farming, and fishery.

The Acting Inspector Generalof Police, Mr. MohammedAbubakar at the weekend

sought the advice of Beninmonarch, Oba Erediauwa on whatshould be done to re-enact the curseplaced on kidnapping by makingit potent.

This is coming barely two yearsafter traditional rulers, districtheads and divers on the order ofthe royal father publicly placedcurses on kidnappers and evil doersin Edo state at Urhokpota palaceground, King Square, in BeninCity.

Abubakar was at the palace ofthe royal father to seek prayers toweather the storm of Boko Haraminsurgency and national securityafter he took delivery of 50 brandnew Toyota Hilux vans donated tothe force by the state government.

The police boss, who recalledthe cordial relationship with themonarch when he was AssistantInspector General of Police, incharge of Zone 5, said the forceneeded prayer to succeed.

Former Vice-President AtikuAbubakar has urgedNigerians to imbibe the

spirit of love and sacrifice as theycommemorate Easter.

In a goodwill message issued byhis Media Office in Abuja, Atikuenjoined Christians and indeed allNigerians to internalise thespiritual gains and benefits of theseason for an improved society.

He admonished Christians toemulate Jesus Christ by hisexemplary unconditional love andsacrifice to humanity.

According to him, this is theonly path to enthroning a Nigeriaof equal rights, peace and justice.

“We need to promote love forone another, be our brothers’ andsisters’ keepers and above all, makesacrifice an integral part of ourexistence. That is the only way thesacrifice of Jesus Christ on the crosswill make meaning in our owndaily lives and the life of ournation,” Atiku said.

IGP woos Beninmonarch overkidnappingFrom Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Atiku at Easterpreachessacrifice and loveBy Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The governor of Edo state,Comrade AdamsOshiomhole, at the

weekend, joined over 3, 000Catholic faithful in the 14 Stationsof the Cross procession fromImiegba to Okpekpe in Etsako Eastlocal government area, with apromise to complete all projects thestate government has embarkedupon.

Speaking to the congregationafter procession covering over sixkilometres led by Most Rev GabrielDunia, Bishop of the CatholicDiocese of Auchi, the Governor saidwith the help of the Creator, thestate government would have theability to complete all the projectsacross the state.

According to him, the twobridges connecting Igodo toOkpekpe and Igodo to Imiegba willbe completed, while the Okpekpe

to Imiegba road still needs to beworked upon.

“When we started work on theOkpekpe road, some people said Iwas wasting money constructingroads to hamlets where there areno people with vehicles. But today,everybody is happy with theOkpekpe road. I told our critics thatif the people have no vehicles, theirchildren will one day ply the roadwith their own vehicles,” he added.

Comrade Oshiomhole noted

that those in government shouldknow that the resources of the stateshould be used for the developmentof the state, advising the people tobeware of those who peddleunfounded rumours.

Bishop of the Catholic Dioceseof Auchi, Most Rev. Gabriel Duniawho commended the governor forthe developmental strides in thestate, urged him not to relent inhis determination to develop thestate.

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Easter celebration: Oshiomhole joins Catholic procession

The Sokoto state Ministry ofLands and Housing hasrevoked 156 plots of land on

site acquired to resettle peopleaffected by the ongoing constructionof the state university but wereillegally sold to some individuals.

The Commissioner for Lands,Barrister Nasiru Aliyu Dantsoho,who announced the revocationwhile inspecting site at newMadorawa village in Bodinga localgovernment, stated that most ofthe plots were not allocated togenuine allotters.

He said “the land was acquiredby state government to settle thoseaffected by construction of the stateuniversity but some officialsconnived and sold the plots

illegally”. Barrister Dantsohoexplained that a committee hadbeen set up to investigate thematter and that whoever is foundwanting will be dealt with.

In a related development, theSokoto Urban and RegionalPlanning Board has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to those whoerected illegal structures fromArkilla area in Wamakko localgovernment to the new site ofIndependent Power Project toremove them.

The Special Adviser toGovernor Wamakko on theregional Planning Board, AlhajiSanusi Tukur Faru, who issued theultimatum when he visited the site,said the structures were erected onthe government reserve areas andunder high tension cables.

From Sadeeq Aliyu, Sokoto

Sokoto govt revokes 156 plots allocation

The Minister of Health, Prof.Onyebuchi Chukwu hassaid the ministry would no

longer tolerate doctors whocontinue to transfer patientsabroad without properinvestigation to know if Nigerianhospitals have the facilities theyare looking for.

The minister made this knownin the retreat and meeting of theAssociation of Chief Executives ofFederal Tertiary Hospitals inNigeria (ACEFTH) with thetheme: ‘The Challenges in TertiaryHealth Care Delivery’, held at ReizHotel, Abuja.

According to the minister the

purpose of the meeting was toreview some of the issuesconcerning quality health caredelivery and by reflecting on thoseissues as according to him, ‘thelargest room in the world alwaysremain the room for improvement’.

He said the standards in themedical sector would not becompromised and pledged toensure that the standards aremaintained. He said in the last fewyears, many hospitals in Nigeriahave made Nigeria proud, callingon qualified medical practitionersin the country to prove wrongthose critics who think thatnothing good could be achieved inthis country especially in thehealth sector.

By Etuka Sunday

Minister frowns at doctors whorefer patients abroad

Some internally displaced persons queuing for bread, recently at the National High School Camp, Tudun Kauri, in Lafia, Nasarawastate. Photo: Ali Abubakar



Happy Easter celebrationThe Christian community in

Nigeria is celebrating,doubtless, one of the

bleakest Easters in recent times.This is because of the criminalactivity of the insurgent BokoHaram Islamic sect that hastargeted Christian places ofworship and worshippers sinceChristmas Day in 2011. Churcheshave been bombed out andhundreds of Christians — andnon-Christians — killed in Borno,Yobe, Bauchi, Plateau and Nigerstates.

However, the dark days andmonths building up to thiscelebration of the anniversary ofthe birth of Jesus Christ, thefounder of the Christian faith,must not be allowed to rob theoccasion of its essence. Which isGod’s unmerited love for a sinfulmankind. Jesus Christ was themanifestation of that love. TheBible says that “Greater love hasno one than this, that he laydown his life for his friends”.[John 15.13] This is love that“passes all (human)understanding”.

This is what Easter means andChristians, wherever they are,should remain upbeat and let thejoy of the Easter season overflowas never before. Jesus, before hedied, said whoever would followhim must carry his “own cross”.He explained that with thewarning that the Christian life

“Christians must resist theDevil’s temptation to blameall Muslims for their present

travails. There are millions ofgood, empathetic Muslimswho detest Boko Haram asmuch as Christians do, if not

more. These should beembraced. Standing togetherthey can defeat Boko Haram

physically and spiritually

EDITEDITEDITEDITEDITORIALORIALORIALORIALORIAL

would never be a bed of roses butone of hardships, persecution,deprivation and even physicaldeath. “The world will hate youjust as it hated me”, he said. Therespected apostle Paul, oncehimself a persecutor of Christ’searly disciples, warned that “in thelast days” Christians would besorely tested for their faith.However, he said those that

preserve in the faith would gainthe “crown of righteousness”.

In a sense, Boko Haramrepresents to Christians the anti-Christ that the Messiah (Christ)warned would arise in the lastdays to torment his faithfulfollowers. However, he said theyshould be of “good cheer” because

“I have overcome the world”. Heachieved this by succumbing todeath on the Cross of Calvary on aGood Friday and coming back tolife on an Easter Sunday(yesterday), thereby scoring aglorious victory over Satan. BokoHaram, in spite of the seeminglyunstoppable destruction it iswreaking, is already defeated inthe spiritual sense. Indeed, asChrist himself said, “do not beafraid of those who kill the bodyand after that can do more”.

However, Jesus’ words of anassurance of victory over evil arenot a call to a life of carelessabandon. No. Without a doubt,these are harrowing times for allNigerians. For NigerianChristians, in particular, they callfor a recommitment to the faith,for closeness to God and prayersfor the country. They require thatwe show even greater love forfellow country men and women,other compatriots who do notbelong in the Christian faith.Indeed, Christians must resist theDevil’s temptation to blame allMuslims for their presenttravails. There are millions ofgood, empathetic Muslims whodetest Boko Haram as much asChristians do, if not more. Theseshould be embraced. Standingtogether they can defeat BokoHaram physically and spiritually.

Therefore, we say happyEaster.

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Hope in the time of trialWe boast of our troubles

because we know thattrouble produces

endurance, endurance bringsacceptance and this acceptancebrings hope. This hope does notdisappoint us because God haspoured out His love into ourhearts by means of the HolySpirit who is God’s gift to us (Rom5: 4)

Although it is true that theseare trying times for Nigeria,nay, the world at large, it is nottrue that the causes of these trialsare the same for all nations.Whereas our leaders love to seekrefuge from their inefficiency byassuring us that we are not alonebecause neither corruption norinsecurity are peculiar to us, theyforget that the disease might bethe same, but the causes andcures are different. Whereascorrupt government officials inatheistic China could lose theirlives if found guilty of aninfraction against the state intheir line of duty, in Nigeria, themost religious nation in theworld, these same persons couldactually prolong their lives bythe size of their corruption.National honours, recognition byreligious and traditional leadersall go to add to the givelegitimacy to corruption by theelite. But the cumulative impactof corruption has come back tohaunt us as it has become clearespecially in the last ten years.

How will Nigeria survivethese trials? In the end, how willthis endurance bring us hope andis there any chance that this hopewill not disappoint us? We prayedfor an end to colonial rule and itcame and went. No sooner did webecome independent than our

hopes were dashed. Then themilitary came. We endured,prayed and hope that the countrywould return to civil rule. Thattoo has come to pass and today,we are more sorrowful and angrythan at any time in our history.

In response to the Madallabombing, I published an appealto Nigerians titled, Do Not BeAfraid.In it, I enjoined Nigeriansto remain steadfast and firmbecause we will survive themurderous trials andpersecutions by the agents of evilwho desecrate religion bywearing a devilish mask. Now, itis time for us to look up to themeaning of the cross of Christ assymbol of the triumph of goodover evil. The challenge iswhether indeed we as Christianscan embark on genuine personaland communal repentance andcommitment to turn to the trueteachings of our Lord and SaviourJesus Christ. He came that wemight havelife and have it to thefull(Jn. 10: 10). The humiliationand scandal of His death is theguarantee that all who die inHim will have eternal life (Jn. 11:25, I Cor. 15: 22). In His cross isour hope that we Christians willunderstand that suffering has ameaning in God’s plans. At a timewhen Christians are made tobelieve that suffering is anaberration, we need to pray thatGod helps us to understand andappreciate its purifying effects inour lives as individuals and as anation. We have seen the end ofslavery and in our own times, theend of apartheid. In each case, thepeople become stronger.

To be sure, these are toughtimes for Christians in Nigeria.There is no doubt that thenegligence of successiveGovernment has created a

climate of impunity in whichChristians have continued to feeltrapped in many parts their owncountry especially in the somenorthern states. Over the years,the federal and stategovernments have looked theother way as our Churchesgradually became objects ofdesecration and target practiceby a band of miscreants andcriminal youths who claim to beMuslims. Our priests have beenslaughtered from Kaduna toMaiduguri, thousands ofinnocent Christians have beentrapped and murdered in theirchurches and homes. Theirplaces of worship and theirproperties have been destroyedwhile the governments ofNigeria continued to fiddle andfritter away the opportunity fornational cohesion. Theincompetence of governmentshas opened up a vacuum wherecriminals wear a religiousmask.

Rather than feel under siege

By Raheem Oluwafunminiyi When PresidentJonathan got it all wrong

For many foreign policyobservers like this writer,there is no gainsaying that

Nigeria is fast losing touch withrealities in internationaldiplomatic circles. This assertionis factual if one looks at the use ofour diplomatic intrigues duringthe Libyan uprising whenNigeria swiftly supported theLibyan TransitionalGovernment despiteapprehension from their South-African neighbour. Nigeria’ssupport for the opposition onlycame when it seemed NATO andthe US were hell bent on cuttingoff the headache calledMuammar Gadaffi. Otherexamples abound like those ofthe Egyptian uprising and thatof Ivory Coast, where LaurentGbagbo went berserk all in a bidto hold on to power. DespiteNigeria’s foreign policy insistingon pursuing a true course incontinental and regionalsecurity, the triumph of freedomand democracy in thesecountries owe so much to theWest as against whateverNigeria preached or preaches.

The problem, however, isthat in as much as we try to show

the international communitythat we are a nation with the bigbrother status, we remain alaughing stock among thembecause our leaders cannot stopmaking incautious statementsabroad which does not reflect thetrue state of things to within ourterritory.

The reason for this forthrightstatement could be seen in thejust concluded World NuclearSecurity Summit in Seoul, SouthKorea, where PresidentJonathan was at the opening ofthe Nigeria-Korea InvestmentForum on Infastructure andEnergy Development at theKorea Chamber of Commerceand Industry in Seoul, SouthKorea. He, alongside 52 worldleaders and internationalorganisation attended thesummit.

The President, after thesummit spoke to the Nigeriancommunity where he promised

that his administration wouldreplicate the Asian Tigereconomy before his tenureelapsed. He also promised thathis administration would doeverything possible to wooinvestors into the country whileinvestors would be encouraged

to do business in Nigeria.For those who are not in the

know, the term Asian Tigers(South Korea, Taiwan, HongKong and Singapore) accordingto economic historians refers tothe first group of developingcountries to successfully

transform themselves betweenthe early 1960s and 1990s fromeconomic crawlers to cutting-edge global financial andeconomic powerhouses. Today,the original Asian Tigers (as newTigers have emerged in the lastone decade) have becomesubstantial global economies ontheir own with South Koreaboasting a GDP of $929 billion;Taiwan $699 billion; HongKong$215 billion; and Singapore$182 billion. Combined together,the Asian Tigers boast of aneconomy worth more than $2trillion, making the the eightlargest economy in the world.

Any curious mind wouldhave asked how these four Asiancountries brought about aneconomic miracle, growing at asteady rate annualy, even aseconomic crunch bites Europe?Theirs was no rocket science asfor about four decades, salient

By Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah or threatened, we Christiansmust arise to the fact that theseare the trials that bring forthendurance. It is sad to hearChristians sound as if Jesus madea mistake by offering a highergoal than the murderers andarsonists can understand. Facedwith protracted injustice andviolence, I hear some Christianswonder what Jesus meant whenHe said: You have heard it said,an eye for an eye and a tooth for atooth. But I tell you, do not takerevenge on someone who wrongsyou. If anyone slaps you on theright cheek, let him slap you onthe left as well (Mk 5: 38-9).Some Christians have sought tomoderate their thoughts byclaiming that after offering theirtwo cheeks which have beenstruck by the enemy, it is timethat we must feel justified to seekrevenge. Others claim that thesecriminals must be taught a lessonso that they do not think thatthey have a monopoly ofviolence.

The anger and thefrustrations of our people areunderstandable especiallyagainst the backdrop of anincompetent state which has lostits ability to apprehend andpunish criminals. But, as the lateRev Martin Luther King said, Itis only the love of Jesus that iscapable of transforming anenemy into a friend. It was wellafter His executioners hadcompleted their work that theyacknowledged that, Truly, thiswas indeed the Son of God (Mt.27: 54). Mahatma Gandhi whopreached non-violence was not aChristian. Rev. Martin LutherKing or a Nelson Mandela, hisdisciples embraced non-violenceand in the end, they all havetriumphed and left the world amemorable legacy that years ofviolence and vengeance could notproduce.

Forgiveness and goodneighbourliness have alwaysbeen part of our lives as Africansbefore evil crept into our lives,dividing us into Christians andMuslimsrather than brothersand sisters. Easter gives usChristians a chance to preach thismessage because we areChristians not because of whatanyone else believes or thinks.

Jesus said to us: I tell you whohear me. Love your enemies, dogood to those who hate you, blessthose who curse you and pray forthose who ill-treat you (Lk 6: 27,Mt 5: 44). We are most gratifiedby the fact that over time, ourChristian youths have continuedto conduct themselves in the mostpeaceful manner in keeping withthe laws of the land even againstprovocation. Till date, there is norecord of any Christian youthwho has ever set out to burn or

Continued on page 14

Continued on page 14

“Sadly, our nation is still in the woodsdespite claims of superfluous religiosity. Aclimate of moral relativism and uncertainty,a blurred vision, hangs gloomily in the air. Asense of what or who is right or wrong iscontested. Can any senior public officer

ever go to jail in Nigeria for stealing? Theanswer is, it depends. Can Nigerians everagree that the stealing of state resources

is a sin? The answer is, it depends

“From the look of his speech, it is not hard toconclude that the President was not in the

know of the Nigerian realities when he told theinternational community how, within two yearsleft for his administration to end, he intends toreplicate the success of the Asian Tigers in

Nigeria when as a leader, he could notconfront the so called oil cabal that had milkeddry the vast majority of the people for decades


When President Jonathan got it all wrong

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issues that would bringprosperity and a basicunderstanding of how the worldeconomy worked coupled with adetermined and strong leadershipwith the political will to step onthe toes of faceless cabals inwhatever shades and lights ledthese nations to economictriumph. Aside these, the pursuitof intelligent neo-liberal policies,standard education for thepeople, a committed andhardworking work force andstrong reliance on export weresome of the policies embarkedupon by these Asian Tigers,making them to be at pareconomically with countries likethe U.S, Canada and France.

From the look of his speech, itis not hard to conclude that thePresident was not in the know ofthe Nigerian realities when hetold the internationalcommunity how, within twoyears left for his administrationto end, he intends to replicate thesuccess of the Asian Tigers inNigeria when as a leader, hecould not confront the so calledoil cabal that had milked dry thevast majority of the people fordecades. It is simply a misplacedspeech and this writer wonderedwhere the President’s diplomaticdetails, speech writers andforeign policy advisers werewhen the President was makingthat speech.

It took the Asian Tigercountries decades to achievetheir economic and socio-political feats, yet our president

went ahead to tell a stunnedinternational community hewished to do same within twoyears. It is quite unfortunatethat all our leaders do is to talkand talk carelessly abroadwithout weighing theimplication on the nation. In acountry where life expectancyis 47 years, how does thepresident intend to raise themortality bar within two yearsto 72 years whichthe Asian Tigersenjoy ina b u n d a n c e ?Nigeria is solelydependent on oiland for more thanfour decades, shehas not been ableto transform thenation into adeveloped giant,yet the presidentwishes to replicatewhat happened inthe Asian Tigercountries. Did heforget that thesecountries hardlyenjoy abundant naturalresources like ours, yet wentahead to use the little they hadto transform their countries?

A country where one canhardly find state of the art roadsand efficient transportationsystem, a growing and supereducation system where everychild is mandated to get cheapeducation, a strong and efficientwork force dedicated to thedevelopment of the nation, aleader who is willing to listen to

the yearnings and aspirations ofthe people, a patriotic citizen ora nation with efficient powersupply is not a nation whosepresident can transform withintwo years, replicating othernations success upon.

In a country wherecorruption is a norm andcelebrated even in the house ofthe Lord is not a country thatcan go the way of the Asian

Tigers within two years. If theAsian Tigers had rode on the‘goodluck’ train by voting inleaders who claimed had noshoes while growing up and thenappeared volteface when powerhad been given, nobody wouldbe talking about replicatingsome Asian Tiger economies. Acountry whose ruling party doesnothing but share money at thecentre and middle, without anyclue on how to make the countryone of envy and pride cannot

replicate another nation’seconomic success story.

President Jonathan with hisspeech has made mockery of hisadministration and should in amatter of days begin a processof making things clearer. We donot need the success stories ofsome Asian Tigers or AsianZebras to transform ourcountry. We know what to doand should do it. Nigeria should

begin aprocess of re-orientationw h e r ee v e r ycitizen putshis loyaltyfirst to then a t i o nb e f o r ef a m i l y ,friends andp o l i t i c a lfeudal lords.If we all seeNigeria asone withoutbias orsentiments,

then Nigeria would be ourpriority for greatness. If it isonly oil our leaders have totransform Nigeria, let thembegin using it to bring aboutdevelopment and social justice,while the big brother status weclaim to be would always be theenvy of others.

Havin said this, it is a wellknown fact that no organizationwould invest in a country whereviolence, crisis, religiousintolerance, power failure and

corruption are in high demand.Investors are not fatherchristmas and would not throwmoney where such investmentswould be hit by nationaldisgrace. This writer wondershow the president wishes toencourage and woo investorsinto the country when virtuallynothing works in the country?The example of the telecomssector the president used as ayardstick is quite faulty becauseNigerians pay one of the highestbills to keep pace with thetelecoms world. Aside these,these telecoms companies find itquite hard to operate in a harshenvironment like ours, majorlybecause of epileptic power andinsecurity. Even if we mustdeceive ourselves, we should nottry to place the wool in the eyesof foreigners because they knowto a large extent the challengeswe are facing as a nation.

Nigeria has the wherewithalto be more than the Asian Tigersand it is all about doing the rightthings. Our greatness can onlybe achieved when we as a nationis economically sound. The AsianTigers had achieved this feat andfor that reason, let presidentJonathan and his ilk seek yeathat economic powerhouse andkingdom (through thinkingleaders) and all other thingsshall follow.Raheem Oluwafunminiyi isa social commentator andpolitical analyst who residein Ibadan. He could bereached [email protected]

destroy a mosque. Whereveranything has happened to thecontrary, it has been an act of self-defense to repel these miscreants.I hope that their Muslimcounterparts can learn a lessonfrom this and hopefully, together,our youths can become agents ofpeace. But we religious leadersmust work hard to createenvironment for collaborationand avoid stoking the emblemsof division and hatred throughwhat we teach our youth. Thefederal government must beawake to its duty because it is itsnegligence that has left the publicspace open to scoundrels.

Sadly, our nation is still in thewoods despite claims ofsuperfluous religiosity. A climateof moral relativism anduncertainty, a blurred vision,hangs gloomily in the air. A senseof what or who is right or wrongis contested. Can any seniorpublic officer ever go to jail inNigeria for stealing? The answeris, it depends. Can Nigerians everagree that the stealing of stateresources is a sin? The answer is,it depends.

Do we know how anyone canget a job that they qualify for inNigeria? The answer is, itdepends. Do we know how a goodman or woman can win anelection in Nigeria withoutmoney or the power to corruptthe system? The answer is, itdepends. How do you gainadmission into a University inNigeria? The answer is, itdepends. What qualifications do

you need to get a job of a contractin Nigeria? The answer is, itdepends. Having secured a job,how do you retain it or getpromoted? The answer is, itdepends. Is there any hope thatone day the Judiciary will reallyand truly become blind to socialstatus and power in Nigeria? Theanswer is, it depends. Will Nigeriacome out of this mess or everdevelop a sense of shame? Theanswer is, it depends.

The challenge of Easter is forus to rethink the reality of ourfaith. Although it easy for us tosay that he world is in crisis, thefact is that indeed, it is religionand the loss of its moral compassthat account for this crisis. InNigeria, we have watched overthe years as those in power haveseduced religion and religiousleaders and have nowdomesticated religion. We havewatched as religion has lost itsmoral authority, independenceand capacity to speak truth topower. We have surrendered ouraltars to politicians and men andwomen of influence and power.The thunderous prophetic powerof the Church is graduallybecoming a whisper, with religionbecoming a balm to cover theugliness of corruption. TheChurch has been caught up withpower and now, the hunter hasbecome the hunted. Prayerswarriors, sorcerers and prophets,

Hope in the time of trial

Continued from page 13

Continued from page 13

for a little share of the filthy lucreare promising to arm-twist Godto do the will of their clients evenwhen they steal elections or lootthe state treasury. Is it anywonder that truth has been sorelativised that a culture of itdepends has now emerged?

In this climate of moralrelativism, can the word of Godregain its power? The answer isyes, because,St Paul assured usthat: The word of God is living andpowerful! It is sharper than anytwo-edged sword, piercing to thedividing of soul and spirit, and ofthe joints and marrow, and is adiscerner of the thoughts andintentions of the heart. (Hebrews4:12). We must recover thispower so we can cut through theclouds of doubts that have dulledour consciences. Our Christianpoliticians must be encouraged tomake a difference in our politicallife. We have models and theCatholic Church has continued topoint the way for Christians tomake a difference in their publiclife.

To this end, the CatholicChurch has recognized thenobility of politics as a vocationand a call to public service. In2000, the late Holy Father, PopeJohn Paul 11 made St ThomasMore (A Man for All Seasons) thepatron saint and model ofChristian politicians. Closerhome, our own late Mwalimu

Julius Nyerere is on his way tobeing beatified and presented bythe Catholic Church as a modelfor African politicians. Againstthis backdrop, I want to appeal toour Christians to continue touphold the principles of theChristian Gospel especially as itpertains to honesty, distributivejustice, accountability, integrityand the pursuit of the commongood. May the Lord raise upsaintly politicians for us.

Finally, the simplicity of lifeof Jesus should be the model forus Christians especially in anenvironment where modesty isgradually giving way to unruly,unscrupulous and greedy questand display of often ill-gottenwealth. We learn from Jesus hownot to use power wronglybecause; the one who was God didnot take advantage of hisequality with God but becameobedient unto death (Phil 2: 8).There is a lot for us to learn fromthe selflessness of the earlyChurch as we learn from theirlife of love and sharing. There isneed to listen to the words of StJames who has told us that: Trueand genuine religion is this,taking care of orphans andwidows in their suffering andkeeping oneself from beingcorrupted by the world (James1: 27).

It is this insatiable greed thathas destroyed our nation,

created a climate of violence andchaos. In celebrating Easter, wemust think of Jesus, the one whohad everything but came to theworld in a borrowed womb (Lk.1:38), was born in a borrowedstable (Lk. 2:7), had no where tolay His head (Mt. 8:20, Lk. 9:58), had His last supper on aborrowed room and table (Mk 14:14-15), rode to Jerusalem on aborrowed donkey (Mk 11: 2-3)and even in death, was buriedin a borrowed tomb (Lk. 23: 53).The Lord Himself has assured us,Do not let your hearts betroubled. Trust in God and trustin me (Jn. 14: 1).

The late American President,Benjamin Franklin said:Doing aninjury puts you below yourenemy. Avenging injury maymake you even with him. ( Butforgiving sets you above yourenemy. May the one who forgavehis killers who did not know whatthey were doing (Lk 23:34),grant us the grace to forgivethose who have caused us untoldgrief and brought our nationalmost to its knees. May He grantpeace to those who have died inthese trials and consolation totheir families. Nigerians willlaugh again for our Redeemerliveth. A happy and blessedEaster to you.

Bishop Matthew HassanKukah is the Catholic Bishopof Sokoto Diocese.


Why should the Pope wholeads 1.196 billion Catholicfollowers the world over pay

a visit to Cuba, a small communistcountry with a population fewer than12 million people? Questions like thiswere asked repeatedly by those whooppose the policies of the revolutionarygovernment that came to power inHavana 53 years ago. They havealways advocated the isolation ofCuba, something they believe willcripple the tiny island economically,diplomatically and bring down therevolutionary governmentpolitically.

As the visit became imminent,some dissident groups within Cubabecame more desperate and daringin their attempts to create an incidentthat would lead to a cancellation ofthe visit or, if it went on, manipulateit for their own limited goals. Forinstance, a group of 13 dissidents wentahead to take possession of and occupythe minor basilica of the Church ofOur Lady of Our Charity in Havanaa week before Cardinal Jaime Ortegacalled in the police to have themremoved. Their intention wasobviously to use the visit as a politicaltool.

It is to the credit Pope Benedict XVIthat he ignored these antics and callsby going ahead with a three-day(March 26 -28) visit to the island inwhat has been universally applaudedas a successful outing. The CatholicChurch has had a long and turbulentrelationship with Cuba. The countrywas ‘discovered’ by Columbus duringhis first voyage, on October 28, 1492.He took possession in the name of theCatholic monarchs of Spain, andnamed it Juana in honour of theinfante Don Juan. The country was

given several other names by itscolonial impostors but the one thathas remained is the one given to it bythe original inhabitants – Cuba. It isfrom this background of being apossession of the Catholic monarchsof Spain that a complex history ofrelationship hasdeveloped betweenCuba and theCatholic Church.

At the end of the19th century,many Cubansviewed the CatholicChurch as one of theprimary enemies ofthe fledgling nation.There were twomain reasons forthis. The first had todo with the bondbetween Church and Crown. Inexchange for the services that itprovided the monarchy, the colonialChurch received numerousprivileges and exceptions. Priests wereimmune from prosecution in civilcourts, church buildings were erectedand clergy members were paidpartly out of state coffers. TheChurch’s authority was backed bythe might of the state and the force oflaw, and the profession of otherreligions in the colonies was illegal.Furthermore, until the 1880s, therewas no marriage other than thecanonical.

Many Cubans believed thedominant position of the Church inthe colonial era to be evidence of thebackwardness of the Spanishmonarchy. Similarly, others viewed

any lingering privileges that mightbe accorded the Church afterindependence as a vestige of theinjustices of the colonial period. Amore immediate reason for anti-clericalism being a component ofCuban nationalism was the fact that

the Catholichierarchy hadactively sidedwith the Spanishm o n a r c h yagainst theC u b a nrevolutionariesduring the armedconflict of 1868-1898.

A n o t h e rmajor bone ofcontention wasthe fact that the

Catholic Church of Cuba had failed todevelop and sustain a significantnative-born clergy. Many of thelower-ranking priests and all of theCatholic prelates were born in Spain.This led many Cubans to concludethat the primary allegiance of thesemen was to Spain, even before Rome.

The conflicts between Churchand State during the first decades ofthe republic—e.g. over marriage,divorce, baptism, burial, educationand the citizenship of priests—were,in large part, direct attempts byCuban nationalists to strike a blowagainst the Church, and to divest itof power and influence that theybelieved it held illegitimately. TheCatholic Church in Cuba was alwayson the side of oppressors.

This popular hostility to the

The Pope in CubaChurch explains why after the 1959revolution, Cuba officially embracedatheism. Henceforth, the marriagebetween religion and state wasdissolved. State funds were no longerused to finance religious activities.Fidel Castro in the early days of therevolution sent 150 Spanish priestsparking. These acts served as awarning to those who had over manycenturies benefited from theprivileged position of the Church.There was a subsequent flight of300,000 major beneficiaries of theinjustices of the Church from theisland. This also helped to diminishthe influence of the Church in Cuba.

In 1992, Cuba declared itself asecular state and for the first timepermitted Catholics and others to jointhe Communist Party. However,religious schools, a major source ofconflict between the Catholics and thegovernment, have remained closedsince the early 1960s.

But over the years, relationsbetween the Catholic Church andCuba have improved somehow. PopeBenedict XVI’s few days in Cuba werethe second papal visit ever to theisland; the first, 14 years ago, by hispredecessor, Pope John Paul II, whofamously called for “the world to openup to Cuba, and Cuba to open up tothe world.”

Back then, it was a meeting ofthe titans: the famously anti-communist pope who had nudgedalong the fall of Eastern Europe’sSoviet satellites and Fidel Castro, thelongest serving Marxist head of statein the world and alumnus ofprestigious Catholic schools. John

Paul got various concessions fromCastro in exchange for his visit. Hisfaithful were denied membership inthe Communist Party before thevisit. Party membership wasextended to them henceforth. JohnPaul also got Castro to recognizeChristmas as a national holiday.Since that 1998 encounter, theCatholic Church in Cuba has playedan important role in conflictresolution. The Havana CardinalJaime Ortega has, for instance,chosen to play mediator between theCuban government and theopposition. He has done thissuccessfully on several occasions.

Pope Benedict cannot lay claimto his predecessor’s charisma. Eventhen he was able to make his impactfelt in Cuba. The visitor waswelcomed by a friendly crowd andhis speeches broadcast on statemedia. At his behest too, the Cubangovernment accepted for the firsttime since 1959 to recognize GoodFriday as a national holiday. Mostimportantly for world peace was thedecision by the Pope to criticize, inclear terms, the 50-year embargomounted against the country by theUnited States.

Speaking at a departureceremony, Pope Benedict said Cubacould build “a society of broad vision,renewed and reconciled,” but it wouldbe more difficult “when restrictiveeconomic measures, imposed fromoutside the country, unfairly burdenits people...The present hoururgently demands that in personal,national and international co-existence we reject immovablepositions and unilateral viewpoints.”

I hope President Barack Obamalistened to the 84-year old pontiff.

So they want PresidentGoodluck Jonathanimpeached for allowing a

company to renovate the churchwhere he worships in his Otuokevillage in Bayelsa state!

Well, it would seem there is noend to President Jonathan gettinginto controversies. Of course, thehigh visibility of his office bringshim into public scrutiny more thanany Nigerian. Which must accountfor why the ‘donation’ or ‘gift’ to achurch in his village, Otuoke inBayelsa state, has attracted loudcondemnations by the regularband of critics. I say regular becausethere is a sort of predictability inthe medium that has been moststrident in this latest issue, that isThe NATION and the people ittrotted out as opinion leaders. Theyconstitute a stable.

The animated focus on thechurch renovation undertaken bya construction company, GittoConstruzioni Generalli Nigeria Ltd(GCG), that has been havingbusiness dealings with the Bayelsastate government is apparently afallout of the domestic governorshipin-fighting within the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) whichpitted ex-governor Timipre Sylvaagainst the federal might in theperson of President Jonathan, ahomeboy of Otuoke. It is the Bayelsaversion of ‘If you Tarka me, I willDabo you’. It reminds us that thosewho live in stone houses should bewary of throwing stones. I want tobelieve that even if Sylva is notremotely orchestrating thecontroversy, he would benefitimmensely from it. Again, with hiscamp’s insinuations of morerevelations to come, the Abuja bigman may be forced into a negotiated

settlement before getting furtherdrenched in muddy waters. Dr.Reuben Abati, presidentialspokesman who has been literallyreduced to a whining dog,defensively barking at intrudersinto his master’s domain, must bepondering new attackphraseologies to tackle the sharksswirling in the political waters,sizing up their prey and biddingtheir time for a fatal bite, if not amauling.

The critics allege the renovationof thep r e s i d e n t ’ sh o m e t o w nc h u r c hc o n s t i t u t e sgross abuse ofoffice onJonathan’s partand thus animpeachableoffence. One ofthe critics, FredAgbaje, who pitched tent with theAction Congress of Nigeria’sdemand for investigation of the ‘gift’was emphatic in his demand: “Ishare the ACN’s anxiety and callfor the impeachment of thePresident based on the violations ofoath of office, Constitution as wellas the provisions of the Code ofConduct for Public Officers”.

But away from legalism, giventhe multiplicity of serious problemsafflicting this country andcorruption revelations running intobillions of naira, does the renovationof a small village church warrantall this saber-rattling? Of course,that the church belongs to the

president’s Christian denomination-The Anglican Communion – and itis where he worships - might beconstrued as influence peddling.But even if so, does this particularinfluence peddling benefit thepresident materially? And is it notin line with conventional ethos thatcommunities expect their highlyplaced sons and daughters tofacilitate things – developmentprojects, infrastructure,scholarships, jobs – for theirhometowns? This is the reality. In

the typical Nigerian setting if youare considered a big man and youcannot point to any facility youbrought to your hometown, you aredismissed as Big-for-Nothing. It is aburden for many highly placedpeople whether in the public orprivate sector. For instance, manypeople in Ogun state dismissObasanjo’s eight-year presidency aslocust years because they cannot seeany tangible benefits he brought tohis home state, even if fewindividuals benefitted materiallyand positions wise.

Another issue arising from thePresident’s pillory by critics is thepressure religious organizations,

most particularly the Christianreligion, bring to bear on their wellplaced parishioners. The churchesare forever soliciting assistance forevery conceivable project fromsuch people and they are lookedupon as being ungodly and miserlyif they don’t respond ‘generously’.Among Christians there seems tobe much more emphasis onstructures than winning souls forChrist. The harvest celebration isanother annual ritual of ‘extorting’church members. When you are

appointed harvestchairman, you not onlymake a hefty financialcontribution, you areexpected to bring your‘loaded’ friends to makedonations. It is thereforeno surprise that theAnglican Churchleadership came on hardon the critics, with thehyperbole of describing

them as ‘satanic’. I won’t go to thatextreme. It is democracy at work.

Apart from the church, thecommunity is another demandingentity. There is an emerging trendof cities, towns and villagescelebrating Days. The so-called Bigpeople of such towns are generallycorralled into the planningcommittee which in turns drawsup a long list of who-is-who amongthe indigenes. Levies are imposedaccording to the estimation of yourfinancial worth or the position youoccupy either in government or thecorporate world which may be atvariance with your actualfinancial standing. You face the

pressure not to disappoint ‘yourpeople’ and often try by all meansto meet the demand.

It is a sacrifice. I hold the viewthat if many strategically placedpeople facilitate projects in theirhome communities rather thanembezzle public and corporatefunds, this country will be a muchbetter place to live in. It will alsostem rural- urban drift.

Those versed in law may throwthe book at President Jonathan butin this instance, I believe the Otuokechurch renovation controversy ismore of an idle hype by urban basedcritics most of whom have lost touchwith their roots and are of norelevance to their indigenouscommunities. If they are homeboys, they will understand thepressure. And there is an elementof hypocrisy which is a past time inthis country. For instance, what isthe moral basis of the severalmillions of naira spent on advertplacements in newspapers by somestate and local governmentscelebrating the birthday of a partyleader? Are they not engaged ininfluence peddling or gratification?Is it not an attempt to ingratiatethemselves with the leader withpublic funds?

The Otuoke church controversyis an instance when legalism ‘jams’communalism. Stretched to itslogical conclusion, there will be anendless list of victims.

Well, this storm will pass. But itis hoped that every criticism willbe taken as part of building ademocratic culture of openness andnot cause for vindictive retaliation.

Otuoke row over house of God

Emmanuel Yawe08024565402

[email protected]

TTTTThe Bisibeehe Bisibeehe Bisibeehe Bisibeehe Bisibeewith

Bisi [email protected] 364 7571 (SMS only)


The Federal CapitalT e r r i t o r yAdministration has said

that unless the Shop ownersassociation of the Area 2 shoppingcomplex commit to the provisionof extant laws guiding re-openingof markets shut down, the marketwill remain closed until after theEaster holiday.

Director AbujaEnvironmental Protection Board,AEPB, Isa Shuaibu said thisFriday while addressing the pressover the attack of the BoardsSquad by hawkers around theArea 2 shopping complexTuesday for which the Boardsealed the market and insisted onserving the penalty.

It was alleged that while theteam of enforcement squadassigned to Garki beat wereenforcing the law againsthawking in the Federal CapitalTerritory around the shoppingcomplex in Area 2, the hawkers

who outnumbered the squadengaged them in a fracas whichthe director described as anaffront on the constitutedauthority.

He said the action whichcontravened the AEPB Actagainst street hawking needed tobe appropriately applied to deterother plazas in future on suchaction.

Isa said that he gathered fromreliable sources that most shopowners supply the street hawkersas a measure to out-smart theircompetitors in the area and thatinformed the support they gaveto the action of the boys.

“When they were attacked bysome unruly youth in that

FCTA tasks traders inArea 2 on shut market

particular place most of themwere traced to the shops in thatarea. Of course it is an offence toattack somebody carrying outhis lawful duties. We are leftwith no option but to re-enforcethe law and get the place shutdown.

“One of the significant reasonfor taking this decision is to senda signal across to other operatorsof shopping complex where theycondone hawkers within theirpremises who not only attackour officers, we shall extend thispunitive measures against

them. A lot of them do not careabout their environment andthe immediate vicinity of theirshopping plazas, he lamented.

The director said that beforethe Board took the decision toraid the plaza he had led a teamto that spot about five times tocaution them on their actionwhich contravenes the AEPB Actwondering what would havebeen done if anyone had lost hislife in the incident.

Reacting to the incident,Fortune Onugo, Chairman Area2 shopping Centre, apologized on

behalf of the traders and pledgedthe total commitment of theassociation to improving on theArea 2 shopping plaza.

His words: “I have to appeal tothe director for the actions he hastaken and what necessitated hisaction was duly called for. Theincident that led to the fightingyesterday was highly regretted,and we sincerely apologize to theHon. Minister and members of thepublic. We are aware that Area 2has been in a mess and not justquite recently the AEPB came onboard and cleared the mess.

Easter celebration: Children having fun at Millennium Park, yesterday, in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Former Nigerian HighCommissioner to theGambia, Ambasador

Ayuba Ngbako has callengedindigenes/residents of theFederal Capital Territory (FCT)to shun uncivilised critism andsupport the minister of the FCT,senator Bala Mohammed.

Amb. Ngbako who gave thischarge at the weekend duringthe wedding ceremony of hisdaughter Mary, noted that the

current administration in theFCT had done well so far, interms of uniting the foundingfathers of the FCT PDP and alsoin infrastructuraldevelopment.

He noted that the FCTadministration had alsoachieved great success in thearea of security of lives andproperties in the nation’scapital.

‘’For us in FCT, senator Balahas achieved some success andwe are appealing to him to

involve the stakeholders inpolicy making as it directlyaffects the lives of the peoplein FCT” he said.

Meanwhile, the formerchairman of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)chairman, Dr. Amadu Alidescribed the former envoy asa man of integrity and a trueNigerian to the core who couldnot blink eyes in giving outhis first daughter out tosomebody from the southsouth part of the country.

“If inter marriage isencouraged in every part ofcountry unmindful of tribe orreligion, then the country willbe a better place for allNigerians to live in”, he said.

Those present at theoccasion include the formerFCT senator, Alh. Jibril Wowo,Chairman of Abuja MunicipalArea Council(AMAC) Hon.Micah Jiba, therepresentative of the ministerof state, FCT and otherdignitaries.

Support FCT Minister – Gambia envoyBy Adeola Tukuru

The children section of theApostolic Church,Nyanya, a suburb in the

FCT, was among the buildingsdestroyed on Friday byrainstorm that heralded thefirst rainfall in the area.

The incident, which tookplace in the early hours of GoodFriday, also affected otherbuildings including the NTAEstate and the Police OfficersWives Plaza.

Pastor Ime Sam Udoinyang,who is the AreaSuperintendent of the church,told the News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) that the churchtook care of close to 1,000children and “thanked Godthat no life was lost.”

According to him, ineverything we should givethanks to God but it isunfortunate that this type ofthing happened.

“We spent a lot of moneyputting the place together forchildren’s worship.

‘As you can see, the roofingsheets cost the church a lot ofmoney and it is going to be verydifferent for the church to copesince it will cost morethan N10 million to replacethe roofs alone. ’’

Udoinyang called on theFCT, the Federal Government,corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to come tothe aid of the church to assistthe children.

Other residents, who spoketo NAN, said they weresurprised at the nature of therainstorm, which, theynoted, was sign of things tocome.

“We thank God for the firstrain but we are afraid of thelevel of destruction. If thiscontinues, we need to pray forGod’s mercies, ’’ a resident said.

Also speaking, Mrs GraceOkon, said she was afraid whenthe rain started and beganpraying to God.

“We need rain to cool theweather but not storm todestroy our property”

Meanwhile, the mishap didnot stop members of thechurch including childrenfrom joining other Christiansto mark Good Friday, a daywhich symbolises the death ofJesus Christ.

NAN also reports that therainstorm also destroyedbillboards and otherstructures. (NAN)

Rainstormdestroys churchin Nyanya

FCT Minister BalaMohammed has urgedresidents of the

territory to spread the gospelof love and peaceful co-existence as they joinChristians to observe Eastercelebration.

In a statement issued bythe chief press secretary to

the minister, MalamMuhammad Sule, in Abujaon Friday,Mohammed advised theresidents to rededicatethemselves to the service ofGod and humanity to makethe world a better place.

The minister expressedgratitude to God for the

privilege and mercy grantedto non- Christians to joinChristians to celebrate theseason in an atmosphere ofpeace.

He appealed to theresidents to continue to betheir brother’s keeperirrespective of their religiousbelief, adding that “the best

in the sight of God is the mostpious. ’’

The minister advised theresidents to makesupplications to God for thewell- being of Nigerians andtheir leaders, considering thecurrent security challengesin the country.

He appealed to residents to

FCT minister urges residents to spread the gospel of love during Easterbe committed to givingselfless service to the nation toensure its growth anddevelopment.

M o h a m m e d a d v i s e dresidents to be security-conscious and report anysuspicious movement to law-enforcement agents as securityis everybody’s business. (NAN)


Parents with their children at the Millennium Park, yesterday, in Abuja.Children having fun, at Wonder Land during the Easter celebration yesterday, in Abuja.

Photos: Mahmud Isa

Women with their children at Maitama Amusement park, during the Easter celebration, yesterday, in Abuja.

Children enjoying themselves at Millennium Park yesterday, in Abuja.Soft drink vendors waiting for customers, at Millennium Park, yesterday, in Abuja.


Easter: AMAC boss calls for peace

Some transporters andtraders in Abuja havetaken advantage of the

Easter holiday to increase pricesof goods and fares to some partsof the country, the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN)gathered.

A visit to some of the parksin the Federal Capital showedthat the transport fares to someparts of the country hadincreased while othersremained stable.

The fares to places like Aba,Owerri, Enugu and PortHarcourt had increased whilethe fares for Ibadan, Kano andZaria remained the same.

For Lagos, while the faresincreased in some parks, othersdid not change.

Mr Jude Ngwu, Manager atPeace Park, one of the transportcompanies told NAN that thereason for stability in the Lagosfare at his park was because thenumber of people coming intoAbuja from Lagos wascommensurate with thenumber leaving Abuja forLagos.

Ngwu, however, said therewere no passengers coming intoAbuja from Aba, Owerri, PortHarcout and Enugu hence theneed to increase the fares toprevent operating at a loss.

At the Park, transport fareto Lagos remained at N4, 000.

For Aba, the fare is nowN5,300 as against N3,300;Owerri is now N5,000 asagainst N3,000 while PortHarcourt which used to beN4,000 is now N6,000.

NAN, however, observedthat the number of passengersin the park was scanty andNgwu explained that majorityof the passengers travelled onFriday.

He also said that transportersusually faced difficulties ofinsufficient vehicles fortravelers during Easter.

According to him, unlike theChristmas period where peopletravelled over a period of aboutone month, the Easter break wasshorter and so more peopletended to travel at the sametime.

He assured that the fareswould stabilise after the Eastercelebration.

At the Utako Park, MrMoshood Abuga told NAN thatthere were very few passengerstravelling out of Abuja today asthe majority of passengers hadtravelled on Friday.

Mrs Imade Imoisele, apassenger on one of the few busestravelling to Lagos, told NANthat she was paying N5, 200 asagainst the usual N3, 200.

Meanwhile, at the Utako andWuse Markets, prices of somefood stuff remained the samewhile others had been increased.

A medium size life chickenwhich usually sold betweenN1,200 and N1,500 is now beingsold at between N2,000 andN2,800.

While a kilogram of frozenchicken which previously soldfor between N700 and N750 isnow sold at N800.

A small basket of onionswhich was previously sold atbetween N300 and N400 nowwent for between N600 andN800.

Mrs Rebecca Achini,however, assured NAN that theprices would come down after theEaster celebration.

In addition, travellers onAbuja-Lokoja highwaywere held up in a traffic jam forhours.

Some of the travellers told theNews Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in a telephone interviewthat the situation was due

to ”impatient driving” as wellas security check points on theroad.

Miss Nkwodimma Ngozi inrecounting her experiencesaid the hold-upwas ”terrible” haven stayed at aspot for three hours.

“It is not easy, in fact we havebeen at a spot for three hours andthe movement was stagnant,’’she said.

Ngozi, an Owerri-boundpassenger, said she left Abuja atabout 7 a.m but arrived Lokojaat 10:05 p.m.

She said men of the FederalRoad Safety Corps (FRSC)and other security operativestried to control the situation,but that commuters failed to

Easter: Transporters hikefare as prices of goods soar

cooperate.However, a traveller to

Owerri, Mr Ifeanyi Uzodinmasaid his movement was smoothas there was no traffic jamon the way.

Uzodinma said he left Abujaat 5 a.m. and arrived Enuguby noon.

NAN reports that there wasbeehive of activities in thefederal capital territory tousher in Easter.

People were thrilled withmusic and other stageperformances.

Good Friday is observed onthe Friday before Easter tocommemorate the sufferingand death of Jesus Christ on thecross. (NAN)

Children enjoying them selves, during the Easter celebration at Maitama Amusemnent park,yesterday, in Abuja. Photo Mahmud Isa

Hair stylists in Abuja onSaturday complained oflow patronage as Nigerians

celebrate Easter.The News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) found that in some parts ofAbuja many salons had unusually lowpatronage, compared to the situationin the past when people prepared formajor festivals, such as Easter andChristmas.

At Karu, a satellite community,people in the salons visited told NANthat the low patronage was as a resultof the harsh economic condition in thecountry.

Mr Smart Gonlega, a stylist, whoidentified himself as a Ghanaian, saidthere had been low patronage at thesalon since the partial removal of fuelsubsidy by the government.

“Our customers are not reallycoming, you can see for yourself thatthe shop is scanty and we are less busyunlike in previous years.

“Last year I can remember that bythis time, we opened for business as earlyas 6a.m. and closed as late as midnight,but this is not the case this year,”Gonlega said.

He said during festive periods, heusually employed more hands to helpso that all customers would be attendedto swiftly to decongest the salon.

Mrs Roseline Anyacha, a customerin Gonlega’s salon said she would havemade her hair long ago but had topostpone it because she had no moneyfor a hairdo.

Anyacha, a housewife, added thatshe could not bring her threedaughters to the salon because of the“economic situation in the country,instead I take them to a local stylistoperating in our area”.

Another stylist, Mrs Kate Kiga, whoowns a salon in Kubwa, expresseddisappointment over the lowpatronage.

“I have been in this business for thepast 10 years but I think this year is theworst in terms of business boom.

“We are supposed to be very busyby now. If it were other times, like lastyear, for instance, I could not have hadtime to speak with you but things haveturned out differently today,’’ she said .

Kiga attributed the low patronage to the harsh economic situation in thecountry as well as the sudden increasein the prices of salon consumableswhich led to increases in services.

On her part, Mrs Victoria Ugah,another stylist, who operates in Wuse,said she had no cause to complainbecause she enjoyed the same level ofpatronage as in the past.

“My customers are coming asusual, I have no reason to complain aslack of money or not is not affecting mybusiness. We are doing our work welland happy,’’ she said.

Ugah attributed low patronage insome salons to greed by salon owners“because they give preferentialtreatment to some customers andcharge extra during festive periodsbecause of the rush.

“I treat my customers well; I amconsistent in my prices during and afterfestivities,’’ the stylist said.

“Mrs Mercy Udoh, the Chairpersonof Hairstylists Association, NyanyaBranch, blamed the low patronage onsome stylists, who increased the cost oftheir services during festivities. (NAN)

Easter: Hairstylists decrylow patronagein Abuja

Chairman of the AbujaMunicipal Area Council(AMAC), Hon Micah

Jiba has called on bothChristians and Muslims to livein harmony with one another,as they serve the same God andboth religions preach peace andlove.

The Chairman noted this ina press release made available

to Peoples Daily, adding thatthere was need for residents inthe municipality to be securityconscious and report anysuspicious movement in theirenvironments.

Jiba further expressedoptimism on the success of thisyear’s celebration of Easter asit has always been in the past,stressing that the victorywhich the death andresurrection of Jesus Christ on

By Adeola Tukuru the cross brought his followersis the basis for the celebration.

He called on Christians tocontinually pray for the peaceand unity of the nation andalso to emulate the teachingsand character of our lord JesusChrist, according to the holybible.

“ Residents of AMAC shouldhave the fear of the almightyGod in their daily conducts” hesaid.

Cleric tasks Christians on good conducts

As Christians celebratethe resurrection of thelord Jesus Christ, the

provisional pastor of theRedeeem Christian Church ofGod (RCCG),Wisdom of Godparish, Kubwa, Abuja, PastorOlawale Oluyombo has

enjoined Christians to emulatethe ways and preaching ofChrist in their day to dayactivities.

According to him, theessence of this year’s celebrationof Easter is the resurrection ofour lord,so that he can save hischildren.

He added that there is theneed for Christians to reflect and

By Adeola Tukuru act on these in their dailyconducts.

He further stressed thatsecurity belonged to God, whocan take care of us all and so “weshould wake up and embracethe lord Jesus Christ”.

“We should seek Jesus Christin all that we do. He has died forus and risen, so there is powerin the resurrection”, he said.


Management Tip of the DayPosition yourself for that promotion

Gather information. Find outwhich factors the decisionmakers consider when judgingan employee for promotion andsee how you measure up.

Use your job to demonstrateskills. Make sure you can displaythe necessary capabilities inyour current position. If not,

work with your boss to develop aneeded skill and make suresenior leaders notice.

Get feedback on yourpresence. Ability to projectconfidence is a key factor inpromotion decisions. Seek candidfeedback to understand howothers perceive you.

INSIDE

Flight schedule

LOS-ABJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00,16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30.

ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30,11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35

ABJ-KANO: 18.40

KANO-ABJ: 08.35

ABJ-SOK (MON): 09.35

SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35

LOS-ABJ: 06.50, 13.30, 19.45

ABU-LOS: 07.30, 13.00, 14.00, 19.00

LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06,15.30, 17.10

ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40

LOS-ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

IRS AIRLINES

AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY)

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN)

AEROCONTRACTORS (MON - SUN)

ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10

ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20

SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00

SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

LOS-ABJ (SUN): 12.30

LOS-ABJ (SAT): 16.45

ABU-LOS (SUN): 10.30, 14.30, 19.30

ABU-LOS (SAT): 18.30

ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00

LOS-KANO: 08.10

KANO-LOS: 11.25KANO-ABUJA: 11.25

ABUJA-KANO: 10.08

ABJ-LOS: 11.30, 3.45, 4.45

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

KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

Becoming a top candidatefor promotion doesn'thappen overnight. You

have to build a track record ofproven performance anddemonstrate the skills requiredfor the job. Consider thefollowing strategies to propelyourself to the top of the list:

BUYING SELLING

CFA 0.2896 0.3096• 202.3688 203.6739£ 243.1496 244.7177RIYAL 41.346 41.6127$ 155.06 156.06

CBN 28th Mar, 2012

EXCHANGE RATES

PARALLEL RATES

BUYING SELLING

£ 243 257RIYAL 43 45$ 154 159

FMBN floats N6bn mortgagebond private placement

The Federal Mortgage Bankof Nigeria (FMBN) hascompleted the private

placement of N6 billion mortgage-backed bonds at a coupon rate of 17.25per cent, a statement issued by FMBNspokesperson, Simeon Agada said.

The Series 2 Fixed Rate Notes dueon April 3, 2017, is the secondtranche of the FMBN SPV IssuerLimited's N100 billion ResidentialMortgage-Backed Securities whichthe mortgage institution wants to usein re-financing of FederalGovernment's residential housesbought by civil servants.

The N6 billion bonds haveunconditional and irrevocable

NDIC pays 71,000depositors of

closed micro fi-nance banks

- Pg 20

R-L: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo in a handshake with Minster of Communications,Mrs Omobola Johnson, during a special meeting on NITEL, at the Vice-President’s office, recently inAbuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

FG urges Nigerians toinvest in automobile sector

Email: [email protected] Mob: 08033644990

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

BBBBBUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSUSINESS

The Federal Government onThursday called oninterested investors to take up

the challenge as well as opportunitiesavailable in the automotive sector andinvest in the manufacturing of autoparts and components.

The Minister of State for Tradeand Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom,who stated this at the launch ofinvestment profiles on automotivecomponents in Abuja, disclosed thatgovernment had put in placenecessary measures to encourageinvestments in the manufacturing ofautomotive components.

The Minister, while noting thatthe Nigerian automotive industrywas about five decades old, lamentedthat the local automotive assembly

plants, except in a few cases, were notsupported by parts and componentsfrom local manufacturers.

He stressed that the importance ofautomotive industry to the nationaleconomy could not be overemphasised, adding that it is vital in adeveloping economy like Nigeria.

Ortom noted that, "one of themajor benefits accruing from theautomotive industry is largeemployment generation particularlywhen automotive components andpart manufacturing are fullydeveloped, it should be viewed as oneof the corner stones for establishing aself sustaining economy, job creationand upgrading the standard of livingof Nigerians. The automotiveindustry gives an opportunity todiversify into sophisticated,technically demanding activitiesthat support higher rates of economicgrowth."

The Minister stressed that thefifty-eight (58) sets of profilepublications to woo investors intomanufacturing of automotivecomponents was in line with Mr.President's agenda for investment toboost job creation in Nigeria.

Director-General NationalAutomotive Council (NAC), AminuJalal, in his remarks disclosed that70% of the 2,000 parts andcomponents that make up a typicalcar were sourced from Small andMedium Enterprises (SMEs), addingthat the industry createsopportunities for jobs through theSMEs.

Jalal said, "Financing investmentin automotive manufacturing couldbe obtained from the Bank of Industryand the National EconomicReconstruction Fund (NERFUND) .

Besides supplying the assemblyplants, many automotive parts andcomponents are also needed for vehiclesservice, repair and maintenance. Helamented that currently, most of theseparts are imported, constituting adrain on the foreign exchange reservesand creating jobs overseas instead oflocally.

S/N BENEFICIARIES SUB-TOTAL (N)

1 FG (52.68%)States (26.72%)L/govt Councils (20.72%)Derivation (13% of Mineralrevenue-oil/gas)Value Added Tax (VAT)& Transfers 620.7 billion

FAAC allocation for the month of March 2012

By Abdulwahab Isa guarantee of the FederalGovernment of Nigeria, makinginvestments in the securitiesvirtually risk-free.

Investments in the securitiesissued by FMBN SPV Issuer Limitedare due in 5 years time.

According to Mr. NewmanOrdia, executive director (Policy andStrategy/Loans Set-up & Pay-off),FMBN, this transaction brings thetotal money raised under the FMBNN100 billion Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities to N32 billion, asthe FMBN had in 2007, raised N26billion in the first tranche of the bondissue.

Ordia explaained that raising thebonds became necessary in order tohelp civil servants purchase Federal

Government residential houses soldunder the monetisation policy of thegovernment.

Among the professional parties inthe transaction are Dunn LorenMerrifield and ChapelHill DenhamAdvisory Partners which acted as thelead arranger/book-runner and joint-book-runner respectively.

Others are G. Elias & Co.(transaction counsel), SegunOdumuyiwa & Co. (independentauditor to the issuer), J.K. RandleProfessional Services (collateralauditor), Access Bank Plc (mortgageloan originators/servicers), ZenithRegistrars Limited (registrars),

Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc (cashmanager) and Global Credit RatingsCo. (rating agency).

Tax revenue peaks at N4.6 tr in 2011, says ex-FIRS boss

Between 2004 and 2011,tax collection by theFederal Inland Revenue

Service (FIRS) has grown fromslightly below N1.2 trillion (about$7.9billion) to over N4.6 trillion(about $30 billion).

Outgoing ExecutiveChairman of FIRS, Mrs. IfuekoOmoigui-Okauru confirmed thefigures at the weekend during herfinal official session with mediarepresentatives to mark her eightyears tenure at the helms of affairsas FIRS Chairman. The figures

By Abdulwahab Isa represent growth in both oil andnon-oil revenue.

Under her watch as FIRS boss,she said she was able to create oneintegrated tax office as againstindependent structurespreviously operated as VAT office,Withholding tax office andpersonal tax office. Besides,Okauru said FIRS recorded over20 convictions through

judiciary processes.According to her, the upsurge

recorded in tax revenue was dueto cooperation she was able to fosterbetween the states as Chairmanof Joint Tax Board in the area of

personal income tax and othertaxes on individuals.

She noted that as a way ofinstitutionalising tax culture inNigeria, the Service set up taxmuseum in Abuja and Lagos, setup students tax advocacyinitiative; instituting award ofprofessional chairs to thirteenuniversities and the inclusion oftaxation in educationalcurriculum.

She added that reforms andperformance recorded by theService to date has earned theorganisation excellent recognitionlocally and internationally.


COMPANYNEWS

Tomato farmersregister in farmerdata base exercise

No fewer than 3,000tomato farmers in Yolahave registered in the

on-going Federal Governmentfarmer data base exercise,according to the tomatofarmers' leader.

Interbank ratesfall on maturedTreasury bill

Interbank lending rates fellthis week to an average of14.41 percent, down from

15.33 percent last week, asmatured treasury bill fundsboosted liquidity and helpedease pressure on the cost ofborrowing, traders said.

Farmers lamentunavailability offertiliser asplanting seasonbegins

Farmers in Akwa Ibomhave lamented the non-availability of fertiliser as

the farming season begins,saying it would have anegative effect on theirproductivity at the end of theyear.

N3bn World Bankgrant awaitscommercial farmers

About N3.074 billionWorld Bank grant stillremains for poultry,

chicken and rice farmers inLagos State to access. As aresult, the state CommercialAgric Development Project(CADP) has intensified calls tofarmers to leverage on thisopportunity.

Naira heads for 2-week high againstdollar

The Naira strengthenedagainst the dollar andheaded for the highest

close in more than two weekson a tight supply of thecurrency and dollar inflows.

BlackBerry maker,RIM, sued by NXPover patents

A Dutch semiconductorcompany said onTuesday that it had filed

a patent infringement suitagainst Research In MotionLtd, adding to the BlackBerrymaker's troubles and sendingits shares tumbling.

Dangote Cementplans 46.3 m tonsoutput by 2015

Dangote Cement Plc ,Africa's biggest producerof the building material,

said it will raise output to 46.3million metric tons by 2015.

Interbank rates fall on matured T-billsrepayment of about 98 billion Nairain matured open market operation(OMO) bills boosted liquidity.

Rates on short-term borrowingon the interbank had risen toaround 15.5 percent for overnightat the close of market on Wednesdaybecause of large fund withdrawalsby state-owned energy companyNNPC.

"The injection of about 98 billionNaira into the system from maturedOMO bills brought down cost of

borrowing among banks today," onedealer said.

NNPC usually sells dollars tobanks on a monthly basis and recallsa portion of the Naira proceeds to itsaccount with the central bank.(Reuters)

The secured Open Buy Back fellto 14.25 percent from 14.75 percentlast week, 225 basis points above thecentral bank's 12 percent benchmarkrate, and 4.25 percentage pointsabove the Standing Deposit Facility

Nigeria's interbank lendingrates fell this week to anaverage of 14.41 percent,

down from 15.33 percent last week,as matured treasury bill funds boostedliquidity and helped ease pressure onthe cost of borrowing, traders said.

Traders said though the marketopened with a negative balance of42.60 billion Naira ($270.37million) on Thursday but the

Banks Earnings Report

Source:Pro-share Nigeria

Inflation rates from Mar, 2011 to Feb, 2012Max = 12.8%, Min = 9.3% for period in display.Current Inflation rate = 11.9% Source:CBN

Diamond Bank to boost network, considers purchases

Diamond Bank Plc, the10th-largest Nigerianlender by market value,

wants to expand its branch networkin Africa's biggest oil producer bymore than 50 percent over twoyears, and may make acquisitionsto spur growth.

"We like to keep our optionsopen," Yinusa said. With shareholderapproval for a potential purchase,"we are ready if something comesup."

So far, five of the banks rescuedin 2009 have been bought by otherlenders. A state agency created tobuy bad debt said last month it'sseeking advisers to help sellMainstreet Bank Ltd., Keystone BankLtd. and Enterprise Bank Ltd.

Those banks "appear to be theeasiest options right now," Oni saidby phone. Diamond "doesn't have themuscle" to buy larger banks such asUnited Bank for Africa Plc (UBA),he said.

Diamond Bank said in July itwas in talks to buy Oceanic BankInternational Plc, which wasultimately acquired by EcobankTransnational Inc. (ETI) inSeptember.

Nationalised banks' loan books"will most definitely be very cleanor tiny," and the state may be willingto unload them for nothing, saidBunmi Asaolu, head of equityresearch at FBN Capital Ltd.

The company's stock wasunchanged at 2.54 naira at the 2:30p.m. close in Lagos. Diamond Bank'sshares have risen 32 percent thisyear, compared with the 6.8percent gain of the Bloomberg NSEBanking Index, which tracks theperformance of Nigeria's 10 largestlenders.

rate.Overnight placement and call

money eased to 14.50 percent eachfrom 15.50 percent 15.75 percentrespectively last week.

"The market will still open at thislevel next week until we start fundingforeign exchange purchases,treasury bills auction and othertransaction, which would drainliquidity in the system and push uprate later in the week," another dealersaid.

L-R: Mr. Segun Odumuyiwa & Co. (Independent Auditor to the Issuer),Segun Odumuyiwa, ExecutiveDirector, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr. Newman Ordia, and Executive Chairman, J.K.Randle Professional Services (Collateral Auditor) , Bashorun J. K. Randle, during the board meeting/closing of the FMBN N6 billion 17.25 per cent Series 2 Fixed Rate Notes, recently in Lagos.

The bank wants 130 morebranches, taking its total to 350,either through a purchase or"organic" growth, Chief FinancialOfficer, Abdulrahman Yinusa saidon Friday. The lender also plans toexpand its loan book by 20 percentthis year to about 80 billion naira($508 million), he said.

Diamond Bank doesn't have a"specific" acquisition target, Yinusasaid. According to Muyiwa Oni, aLagos-based analyst at Stanbic IBTCBank Plc, Diamond Bank may buyone of the three state-owned banksthat were bailed out in 2009 as alending crisis threatened the nation'sfinancial system.

Diamond Bank also said two daysago that on April 30, it will askshareholders' permission to enter intoacquisition talks. The bank alsoposted a more-than-fourfold increasein first- quarter profit as depositsgrew and bad loans declined.

The United Bank for AfricaGhana Limited, asubsidiary of UBA Plc, has

announced a profit after tax of$12.72 million (aboutN2.035bn or GH¢22.4 million)for 2011, from $5.20 million(GH¢9.2 million) in 2010.

A statement released by theBank last Wednesday said itsprofit for the year ended 2011showed an increase of 143%, onthe back of improved riskanalysis and prudentoperational costs.

"Specifically, UBA Ghanawith 26 fully-networkedbranches and 40 Visa-enabledATMs spread across Accra,Tema, Kumasi, Takoradi andAflao, recorded a profit before taxof GH¢30.2 million ($17.653million) in 2011 againstGH¢13.9 million ($7.86million) in 2010, representingan increase of 143% over theprevious year," the publicationquoted the text of the statement.

The Bank's deposit volume forthe period increased toGH¢404.6 million ($228.8million) from GH¢311.2 million($176 million) in 2010.

It added that the bank'simproved risk analysis andprudent measures contributedin reducing its non-performingloans from 19% in 2010 to 7.91%in 2011.

UBA Ghanarecords N2.04bn profit aftertax in 2011

The Nigerian DepositInsurance Corporation(NDIC) has said that it has

launched investigation into the N7billion owed the 103 distressed Micro-Finance Banks (MFBs) by theirvarious directors and other managerswill bring the full weight of the law tobear on anybody found to be owing

Distressed MFBs: NDIC to prosecute directors over N7bn loansthem.

The Managing Director, AlhajiUmaru Ibrahim, who made thedisclosure in a media parley on Friday,in Lagos, said it was part of the agency'sefforts of riding the financial system offraudulent practices, arguing that thecountry's dream of having awholesome banking industry would

elude her if perpetrators of financialcrimes are allowed to walk away free.

"As you are aware, in October2010, the CBN in collaboration, ofcourse, with the NDIC withdrew thelicences of 103 Micro-Finance Bankswho has ended up cheating anddefrauding depositors as part of exerciseto sanitise and get rid of distressed ones.

From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos


Source:Pro-share Nigeria

Equity market closes green inthe week; inches up by +1.40%The Nigerian stock market

retraced to close positiveafter a week of negative

position as investors graduallybegin to engage in valueinvesting while companiescontinue to hit the market withtheir audited financials just asDangote Cement Plc, marketleader by capitalisation rewardsits shareholders with both cashand bonus dividends

In the same light, the keybenchmark indices closed downby -0.01% to open the first

trading day of the week with amarginal loss as investors'unrelenting sell pressure whichpermeated market activitiesthroughout last week continueswhile the second closed green by+0.96% to halt the seventrading days losing streak as thebulls re-appeared in style amidimproved volume turnover.

The third session closed witha positive outlook by +0.41%, tomaintain the gaining streak forthe second successive session asinvestor continue to engage in

value investing.Conversely, trading

activities on Thursday closed inthe positive territory to furtherextend market gains assentiments remained green.Consequently, the keybenchmark indices inches upmarginally by +0.04% whilemarket closed the week withaggregate gain of +1.40%.

Further analysis onacquiring banks sincetransaction date showed thatthe share price of Access Bank

Plc has recorded 27.07% gain,followed by FCMB with 11.54%gain while Union Bank Plc leadsthe chart with 17.22% gain.However, Sterling Bankrecorded -11.81% loss while ETIclosed positive with +1.80%gain recorded.

However, the All-ShareIndex in the week under reviewmoved up by +1.40% to close at20,941.93 as against a declineby -2.54% recorded last week toclose at 21,191.22.

In the same vein, the

NSE introduces primary market makers

Ten stockbroking firms inthe country have beenselected by the management

of the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE) to uphold the responsibilityof primary market making in theEquity market.

The CEO of the Exchange, OscarOnyema says at the bell ringingceremony on Wednesday, that theselection process of the ten out of thetwenty applications, entailedmeeting the criteria of minimumof N570million net capital base;compliance history; operational

capabilities and considerations ontechnological facilities.

Onyema stated that havinggone through series of trainings anddebates about the appropriatemarket structure to adopt, theSecurities and ExchangeCommission, SEC has granted itsapproval on the initiative.

He reiterated that whilesupplementary market makerswould be welcome at a future point,for the moment, the primarymarket makers are moresignificant.

The ten qualified marketmakers include, Stanbic IBTC,Greenwich Securities, RenaissanceCapital, CSL Stockbrokers, FBNSecurities, WSTC, ESS/DunnLoren, Future View, Vetiva, andCapital Bancorp.

Each of the selected stockbrokingfirm was required to select theirbasket of securities in a blinddrawing ballot system. The newprimary market makers wereallotted twenty securities fortrading.

Reacting to the action of the

NSE, and commenting on theconferment of market makingresponsibility in the nations equitymarket, Dunn Loren Merrifield'sVice President, Tola Odukoya saysas a stakeholder in the initiative,the market should anticipatecutting-edge services from DunnLoren Merrifield.

CSCS undergoesrestructuring

The Central SecuritiesClearing System(CSCS) has sacked

some of its staff as part of areorganising and repositioning process.

Nigerian T-Bills todrop in auction

Yields on NigerianTreasury bills areexpected to drop

further at an auction nextweek due to resilientdemand from local andoffshore investors.

Ekiti stateissues secondBond

Following thesuccessful outing ofEkiti State from the

capital market, theNigerian Stock Exchangeapproved the listing of thestates N20 billion FixedRate InfrastructuralDevelopment Bond underthe state's N25 billion DebtIssuance Programme onMarch 13, 2012.

UBAStockbrokers:Notification ofRelocation

UBA StockbrokersLimited hasrelocated from its old

Lagos address of: 15th Floor,UBA House 57 Marina, to12th Floor, UBA House 57Marina, Lagos, effective29th March, 2012.i n S h a r e 1

Nigerianagriculture tobenefit fromequity deal

In a landmarktransaction announcedlast week, Zeder

Investments Limited, aSouth African listedagricultural investmentcompany managed and 40%owned by SA investmentfirm, PSG, is committing$46.7-million to acquireand expand an agriculturalbusiness that will be knownas Chayton Africa.

Private equitydeal-makingthrives despiteslower M&Aenvironment

Private Equity (PE)-backed Mergers andAcquisit ion (M&A)

exits reached $20.4 bil l ionin the first two months of2 0 1 2 , u p n e a r l y 1 5percent from lastSeptember and October'smarket lows.

INVESTORSNEWS BEAT

L-R: Director-General, Budget Office, Mr Bright Okogwu, and Director-General, Securities and changeCommission, (SEC), Ms. Arunma Oteh, during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on thestate of the economy, at the State House, recently in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

The Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE)has said its new listingrequirements will take the

forms of offer for Subscription;Offer for Sale, Placing; RightsOffer/Issue; Capitalisation issue;Introduction(s); Conversion andany other method as may beprescribed by the council of theNigerian Stock Exchange.

Speaking recently withCapital Market correspondents,the General Manager and Head,Listing, Sales and Retention,Taba Peterside disclosed thatthere are two boards in the newlisting requirements namely,the Main Board and the ASeMBoard.

For a company to be listed inthe Main Board, such a companymust be registered as a publicliability company withminimum of three (3) yearsoperating track record, as againstthe previous required five (5)years requirement. The companymust have also met the statedprofit test for capitalisation rule.However, shareholders equityrule is stated as a minimum ofN3billion, but this can be more.

NSE targets ICTsector, followinglistingsmodifications


The National Bureau ofStatistics (NBS), has puttotal food and non-food items

consumed by Nigerians for the 12months period ended October 2010at about N24.3 trillion.

The amount represents about83 per cent of the nominal GrossDomestic Product (GDP) for theyear which stood at N29.11 trillion.

The NBS report on the nation'sconsumption pattern for 2009/10just published indicates that foodexpenditure accounted for about64.7 per cent of the total household

expenditure during the periodunder review while non-food itemsrepresented the balance of about35.3 per cent.

The NBS reported further thattubers and plantain wereresponsible for the largest proportionof household expenditurerepresenting 14.6 percent of totalhousehold expenditure and wasfollowed by rent, vegetables, othercereals and beans & peas each takingup 12.1, 9.9, 6.7, and 6.2%respectively of the total householdconsumption.

Further analysis on theexpenditure pattern as it relates tofood showed that total cereals(adding maize, rice and othercereals categories) and tubers andplantain accounted to a combined46.7 per cent of total householdexpenditure on food and 30.2 percent of total

household expenditure.The NBS stated that household

Nigerians spent N24.25tr onfood, other items in 2010 - NBS

Access Bank and StanbicIBTC lead the pack inCorporate Governance and

Risk Management disclosures in theFinancial Transparency Index (FTI)based on combined riskmanagement and corporategovernance disclosures in theirfinancial reports for the year endedDecember 2010.

The financial transparencystudy was conducted on the 2010financial reports of banks quoted onthe Nigerian Stock Exchange bySource Capital Research, incollaboration with BusinessDayMedia.

The report, which shows howmuch information the banksprovide to the public in both riskmanagement and corporate

governance practices, has beenreleased and it showed that StanbicIBTC Bank came second behindAccess Bank.

Fourteen listed banks wereanalysed by the research team atSource Capital. According to thereport, when a combination of theoverall level of corporate governanceand risk management disclosure bythe banks were analysed andranked, Access Bank, Stanbic IBTCBank, First City Monument BankPlc, Ecobank Bank Plc, and GuarantyTrust Bank (GTBank) were the topfive.

Specifically, in the areas of riskmanagement disclosures, AccessBank was the most transparent. Itwas followed by Stanbic IBTC,Ecobank, FCMB, and GTBank in thatorder, while Sterling bank, SkyeBank, Unity Bank, FBN and UBA,

Access Bank tops Nigerian banks financial transparency ranking

expenditure on non-food items weredirected as aforementioned mostlyat rent, clothing and footwear and'other services' (which includesinformation technology and

By Abdulwahab Isa

provided the least risk managementdisclosures in their 2010 financialreports.

In terms of corporate governancedisclosure alone, Stanbic IBTC cameout tops and was followed byDiamond Bank, Access Bank, FBN,and GTB, in that order. Wema Bank,Fidelity, Sterling, Ecobank andUnity Bank were in the bottom ofthe pack in terms of informationdisclosed that are related to corporategovernance.

Risk management and corporategovernance disclosure is becomingmore relevant to investors andregulators of Nigerian banks after aperiod characterized by weakcorporate governance, lax attitudein risk management, excessivecredit growth and a universalbanking model, which led toregulatory arbitrage.

L-R: CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, discussing during the NationalEconomic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, at the State House, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

With the banking sector cleanupand M&As that have taken place since2009, coupled with the adoption ofthe International Financial ReportingStandards (IFRS) by Nigerian quotedcompanies, it remains to be seenwhether the disclosure standards ofthe surviving banks will meet theexpectations of regulators, analystsand investors going forward.

Meanwhile, as the 2011 full yearresults of banks begin trickling in, it isexpected that their annual reports,which would be released soon after,would show more banks having acleaner more transparent report, asthey are likely to adhere more strictlyto the International FinancialReporting Standards (IFRS) andglobal best practice standards ofcorporate governance, knowingthat it would put them in good lightwith investors.

Prices of food items inCalabar markets haveincreased in the past one

week, recording more than 50 percent rise.

A survey by the News Agencyof Nigeria (NAN) showed that itemsaffected included rice, onions andtomatoes.

At the Etim Edet and the Marianmarkets, the price of the big basketof fresh tomatoes rose from theN12,000 sold in March to N15,000.

The medium-size basket of thecommodity now sells at N2,000, upfrom between N1,000 and N1,500during the period under review.

The price of a bag of dry pepperthat was sold at N20,000 betweenJanuary and March has increasedto N25,000, while a cup of it isselling at N150 against N100.

The survey also revealed thatthe price of a small tuber of yamincreased to between N400 andN500, from about N250 it was soldin March.

A trader at the market, Mrs.Imaculata Bassey, attributed thenew prices to the recent increasein the price of petrol in the country.

She said that the cost oftransporting the commoditiesfrom communities where theywere produced or from othermarkets to Calabar, had risen.

Bassey said petrol was presentlybeing sold at between N120 andN140 per litre in Cross River,adding that `ìt is even difficult tofind petrol to buy, except at theblack market.''

A dealer in onions, Malam SuleIbrahim, said the cost of conveyingthe item from Sokoto to Calabarhad increased, consequentlyaffecting the price of thecommodity.

He said that ``before now, wepaid N2,000 per bag of onions fromSokoto to Calabar but now it hasincreased to N3,000.''

The result of the hightransportation cost, he said, forcedthe traders to increase their prices.

At the Marian Market in themetropolis, Mr Uche Okafor, a ricedealer, told NAN that `ònly Indianrice is currently avaialable and itsprice too has increased fromN8,300 per bag to N9,500. (NAN)

Prices of fooditems rise inCalabar

By Aminu Imam with agency report

Omoigui Okauru offer tips on maximum taxpotentials as she bows out of FIRS

The quest by Nigeria to realiseher maximum tax potentialshas been anchored on

achieving two majorbreakthroughs, key of which is theenthronement of integrated taxadministrative system.

Erstwhile ExecutiveChairman, Federal InlandRevenue Service (FIRS), Mrs.Ifueko Omoigui Okauru statedthis at the weekend at a farewellparley with journalists in Abuja

By Abdulwahab Isa to mark her eight years tenureas Chairman of the agency.

Of emphasis, she said apartfrom its collection, tax processesare still manuallyimplemented and advised thattotal integration of taxadministration system is a keyproject that must beaccomplished.

She also advised on the needto implement taxpayeridentification number, addingthat "with implementation ofthese two and with support and

collaboration, we will be takingtax to a new revenue base in thenext four years".

Okauru, who used theoccasion to dispel insinuationthat her appointment wasterminated said her exit was aplanned one having exhaustedher two term tenure of eightyears beginning May 3rd 2004when she was appointed andApril 10 2008 when her secondtenure was ratified by the NationalAssembly which coincided thepassage of tax reforms Act.

communication equipment as wellas things like insurance, domestichelp, and so on), and fuel and light,each representing 34.3 per cent,

13.5 per cent, 12.7 per cent and

12.5 per cent respectively of totalnon-food expenditure and 12.1 percent, 4.79 per cent, 4.5 per cent and4.43 per cent of total householdexpenditure respectively.

PAGE 24 PAGE 25PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

Wanted: Paternity leave for men!!Of all the roles of

women on earth,none is considered as

risky as childbearing.That explains why in

some cultures, safechildbirths by women areoften celebrated with pompand prayer sessions to thankGod for His mercies.

Due to the demandingpre-natal and post-natalchallenges, female civilservants are statutorilyentitled to a three-monthmaternity leave to enablethem to recuperate from therigours of childbearing andlook after the newborns.

However, some observersfeel that at such crucialmoments, husbands alsohave some keycomplementary roles toplay, adding that theirpresence by the side of theirwives is very muchdesirable.

This school of thought,therefore, proposes theintroduction of “paternityleave” for male civil servantswhose wives have just givenbirth to babies.

Malam Ahmed Hamzah,the Regional Director ofPlanned ParenthoodFederation of Nigeria (PPFN)in the North-East geopoliticalzone, belongs to this school ofthought.

He underscores thewisdom in giving male civilservants an opportunity tobe with their wives afterchild deliveries, saying thathusbands ought to be aroundto help, support and comforttheir spouses.

“The InternationalPlanned ParenthoodFederation has alwayssupported the idea of havingat least a two-week paternityleave for husbands, whosewives have just given birth,”he says.

Mrs Fatima Haliru, ahousewife, says that anytime she gives birth to ababy, her husband’spresence is somewhatessential.

“His presence is not onlynecessary but it is alsodesirable, particularly in thefirst two weeks after my childdelivery. My spirits arealways lifted up by hispresence,” she says.

Mrs Nancy Choji, thewife of a policeman, describesthe notion of introducingpaternity leave as “pleasingand great”, particularly fora family that is headed by asoldier or a member of a para-military outfit.

“I move with my husbandwhenever he is transferredto another place. Sometimes,

my relations are not aroundwhen I give birth.

“It then means I can havehim by my side to help out ifhe is entitled to some kind ofvacation as a result of mychildbirth,” she says.

Another housewife,Hajiya Sadiya Babuga,concedes that even thoughthe idea of a paternity leaveis a good, there is noguarantee that if theproposed leave is approved, itwill not be abused by thebeneficiaries.

“While some husbands arecaring, others are not.Where is the guarantee thatthose husbands who are notconsiderate will not spendthe paternity leavesomewhere doing somethingelse?” she asks.

Babuga insists that unlessreliable mechanisms are putin place to safeguard theleave from being abused, theproposal may turn out to bea sheer waste of man hours

at the end of the day.She, nonetheless, concedes

that for caring husbands, theproposed leave is a laudableone, as it is capable ofnurturing strong bondsbetween husbands andwives.

“When a woman givesbirth, she needs to bepampered and shown allkinds of love; some husbands

are willing to offer this kindof affection.

“Such husbands re-enacttheir early wedding days andmake their wives to feel likeSweet-sixteen,” she adds.

However, Mrs SakinaHassan, a civil servant, saysthat the proposal is worthimplementing for there willbe less cases of abuse, whilemost husbands will make the

best use of the vacation.“Men should be given the

privilege of enjoyingpaternity leave because it isa period of happiness andcelebration for the entirefamily.

“Husbands, who are eagerto see that their spouses enjoygood health, especially afterchildbirths, will go the extramile in ensuring the comfortof both the mother and thebaby.

“Most mothers enduredifferent kinds of problemsduring their pregnanciesand the troubles includeinsufficient rest andinsomnia, particularlyduring the late stages ofpregnancy.

“They, therefore, deservea helping hand from theirhusbands, at least forpsychological reasons, evenif there are otheralternatives,” she says.

Hassan, nonetheless,acknowledges that the

proposed paternity leave formen may contradict certaincultural norms andtraditions, wherein only closerelations of the wife orhusband are allowed to comeand stay with the woman whohas just given birth.

“Some men may find itdifficult to rally round themother and the newbornbecause members of bothfamilies will be willing to helpout in every way.

“We have a tradition thatif a woman delivers a baby;for the first two weeks or so,members of either thehusband’s family or herfamily will come and staywith her,” she says.

Some husbands are alsofavourably disposed towardthe introduction of paternityleave, stressing that itsmoral, social andpsychological benefits aremyriad.

Mr Friday Usman, a civilservant, however, suggests

By Becklang Butack

...what a woman can do?

A mother breastfeeding her child

that the proposed paternityleave should even beextended to husbands whosewives had miscarriages.

“The line of demarcationbetween a woman who gavebirth to a baby and the onewho had a miscarriage isquite slim; the former had achild and the latter lost achild.

“I think the husband ofthe latter should also beentitled to some days off tocomfort and console hiswife,” Usman says.

Malam Nasir Umar, acivil servant, particularlybelieves that the proposedpaternal leave will becomequite useful to thosehusbands working andliving in places far awayfrom their families.

“Many civil servantsworking in expensive citiessuch as Lagos, Port-Harcourt and Abuja werebeen forced to leave their

“Malam Nasir Umar, a civil servant,particularly believes that theproposed paternal leave willbecome quite useful to those

husbands working and living inplaces far away from their families

“Another housewife, HajiyaSadiya Babuga, concedes that

even though the idea of apaternity leave is a good, there isno guarantee that if the proposed

leave is approved, it will not beabused by the beneficiaries

families somewhere elsebecause they cannot affordexorbitant school fees orhouse rents in the cities.

“With the paternityleave in place, such peoplewill have some weeks off toattend to the socio-economic, financial andpsychological needs of theirwives after childbirths,” hesays.

Mr Ibrahim Mohammed,a social psychologist,believes that the proposedarrangement will enableboth parents to jointlyparticipate in the earlystages of child upbringing.

“Apart from otheradvantages of thisarrangement, there will bea feeling of togetherness andgender equality. This willpromote family unity andthus, reduce the rate ofdivorce in the society,” hesays.

Some clerics, however,have divergent views on thematter.

Rev. Irmiya Bajama ofthe ECWA Church inTafawa Balewa HousingEstate, Bauchi, says that

since the husband is the headof the household, he should beever ready to do anything tosupport his spouse.

“If the husband is given anopportunity to stay with hiswife who has just given birth,he should be willing tosupport her and God will behappy with him.

“In my view, theintroduction of paternityleave will be a welcomedevelopment,” says Bajama.

However, Malam AhmedBaban-inna, the Chief Imamof Bauchi Central Mosque,insists that God has alreadyapportioned specificresponsibilities to thehusband and wife, sayingthat the divine rolessupersede any man-madeinnovation.

“The husband is supposedto be the head of the familyand that is why he has theunique responsibility ofproviding for his family.

“Why should a man needpaternity leave? It meansthat he is being equated withhis wife and that amounts tochallenging God’sarrangements,” Baban-innasays.

Whichever way the

argument goes, observersbelieve that the introductionof paternity leave for men,particularly at a time whenmany families are breakingdown, will be quite useful, thedegree of its usefulnessnotwithstanding.

The major challenge, theobservers add, is the need toensure that the proposedvacation, if granted, will beused for the intended purposeand not for any extraneousventure.

Source: NAN

Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu


Answer to rising fuel prices? Indian family fitssix on a motorbike even space for two dogsHere’s one way to beat a fuel

crisis. Nobody was leftbehind when this family in

India loaded their belongings ontoa motorbike and piled on beforespeeding down the motorway.

Even the family dogs got a liftas they headed through the Indiancountryside on a fun family holiday.

The four children had to be on

Happy family: Nobody was left behind when this family in India loaded their belongings onto amotorbike and piled on before speeding down the motorway

their best behaviour as there was noroom for bickering on the back seat.

Astonished passers by watchedopen mouthed as they weaved inand out of traffic on the dicey driveto visit relatives.

The money saved on petrolcould now be used on helmets forthe whole family.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Petrol saver: Even the family dogs got a lift as they headed throughthe Indian countryside on a fun family holiday

Milly the chihuahua: Micro weighs less than abanana is set to be crowned the World’s smallest dog

She may be tiny, but Milly thePuerto Rican chihuahua is onthe verge of something big -

being officially recognised as themost petite pooch on the planet.

The current record holder isBoo Boo, another chihuahua fromthe U.S state of Kentucky, butMilly, who lives with her Argentineowners in the north east PuertoRican town of Vega Alta, hopes topunch above her 170g weight toearn her place in the GuinnessBook of Records.

After she was born threemonths ago the family believed

that Milly would grow, but havingmaintained the same height of just6.53cm for three weeks they beganto think that the pedigree pupmight be able to knock Boo Boofrom the top dog spot that she hasheld since February 2008.

Measuring in at 10.16cm BooBoo towers over the new pretenderto the throne and miniscule Milly’scarer Rivera Eizzal believes herpedigree puppy has got it in the(doggy) bag.

Ms Eizzal, said: ‘Milly was sosmall she could not breastfeed dueto the tiny size of her mouth.

‘To get an idea of just howpetite she is, when she was firstborn she received milk from aneyedropper.’

The animal is constantlyaccompanied by Ms Eizzil or by herowner, Argentinian VanessaSemler, who is dedicated to rearingchihuahuas in Puerto Rico.

Ms Semler says caring for Millytakes effort, but explains that sheand her husband, Edwin Davila,have no children so they have thetime to focus their energies on theirpet project.

A judge from the Guinness

Dog-eared: The owners of Milly the chihuahua are going to presentthe dog to the Guinness Book of Records because they believeshe is the smallest in the world.

Pocket pedigree: Weighing just 170gms and measuring a miniscule 6.53cm inheight the chihuahua from Puerto Rico requires special care

Dog fight: Boo Boo, a long-haired, female chihuahua is the currentholder of the title of World's Smallest Dog. She measures 10.16cmtall and is owned by Lana Elswick of Raceland, Kentucky

Book of Records isdue to travel toPuerto Rico in thecoming months toclarify Milly’s sizea n dm e a s u r e m e n t swhich will then besent from theisland to beo f f i c i a l l yconfirmed.

C h i h u a h u a soriginated fromthe state of Mexicothat carries samename and theyusually reach aheight of between15cm and 25cm.

Boo Boo is along-haired, femalechihuahua who isowned by LanaElswick ofR a c e l a n d ,Kentucky.Source:Dailymail.co.uk


FG awards N5bn contract for theconstruction of Almajiri schools – Sambo

Sambo said there were over9.5 million almajiris in thecountry who were notparticipating in the basic schooleducation system.

He said that such children hadthe right to education likeother Nigerians.

“A country must have welleducated population to realise itsdevelopment potentials.

“Islam is against theexploitation of the weak and doesnot allow for begging as a means

Delta relocatesstudents, pupilsof closed schools

The final year students ofLumen Christi, a privateschool in Asaba, closed by

the state government overregistration irregularities, havebeen relocated to a public school.

The Commissioner for Basicand Secondary Education, Prof.Patrick Muoboghare, told theNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN)in Asaba yesterday that thestudents were relocated to St.Patrick’s College, Asaba.

Muoboghare said that therelocation was to enable them toparticipate in the ongoing SeniorSecondary School CertificateExamination.

He added that affectedprimary six pupils had beenrelocated to Asagba PrimarySchool, Asaba, for the First SchoolLeaving CertificateExamination.

The commissioner saidthat the measures were to ensurethat the children and theirparents did not suffer unduly“following the unwholesomeaction of the school proprietors.

“The relocation was also inresponse to pleas by parentswhose children attended the shutschool.’’

The administration closed theLumen Christi in February, overalleged fraudulent registration.

According to the Ministry ofBasic and Secondary Education,the school management“tricked” it into approving theschool ``with fake details.’’

Muoboghareexplained thatthe relocation of the SSS111 andprimary six pupils was done forthe sake of the children and theirparents.

“We cannot allow the finalyear children to suffer because ofthe actions of the owners of theirschool.

“It is for their sake that wedecided to take them to our ownschool so that they can sit fortheir final examinations.’’ (NAN)

L: R:Chairman ofthe Zamfarastate PrimarySchoolsVerificationandAssessmentExerciseCommittee,ProfessorTukur Adamu,Head of TsafeTeam Group,Dr YusufAdamu, andmember of theTalata MafaraZone, Yusuf ADingyadi,during thecommittee'smeeting onthe progressof theirexercise,recently inGusau.

of livelihood.’’In his remarks, the Sultan of

Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III,promised that traditional leaderswould support government’spolicies aimed at ensuring peaceand unity.

He urged traditional andreligious leaders to always preachthe lesson and importance ofpeaceful coexistence and unity ofthe nation.

Governor Ibrahim Shema ofKatsina State, urged Muslims to

live in peace with one another andrespect other people’s faith forpeace to reign in the country.

Fourteen cars, 34 KekeNAPEP, 14 motorcycles,computers, digital Qurans andfreezers, were among the itemsdistributed to winners of variouscategories who participated in thecompetition.

Goni Mujitapha Muhammadfrom Katsina State was the overallwinner, while Badiatu Abubakarfrom Bauchi, emerged overall

President GoodluckJonathan has approvedthe appointment of

Professor Abdulmumini Saad asthe new Provost of the FederalCollege of Education (FCE) Yola.

Saad who until hisappointment was a lecturer atthe University of Maidugurireplaces Dr. Aminu Chiroma

FCE Yola gets new Provost

winner from the female category.Some dignitaries who

attended the occasion includedthe Emirs of Kano, Katsina,Daura and Zamfara.

The deputy governor ofZamfara, representatives of thegovernors of Kano, Kaduna,Gombe and Bauchi were also inattendance.

The 27th National QuranicRecitation Competition will behosted by Zamfara Stategovernment in 2013. (NAN)

who has just completed a two-term tenure of eight years.

Our correspondent learntthat Saad emergence followedseveral stages of screeningduring which seven personswere shortlisted after whichthree were later recommendedto the President through theoffice of the education ministerand Saad was picked.

A statement signed by the

Minister of Education ProfessorRuqayyatu Ahmed Rufaiindicates that the appointmentwhich is for a term of four yearsin the first instance takes effectfrom 21st March 2012.

The college which comprisessix academic schools and threedirectorates recentlymatriculated 1900 studentsinto the NCE programme for the2011/2012 session.

newsmen that he was there tocommiserate with the Ajanahfamily.

Idris used the occasion to thankthe people of the CentralSenatorial District for the supportthey gave to him during his eightyears and eight months stint asgovernor.

The Ohinoyi of Ebira, AlhajiAdo Ibrahim, who also paid acondolence visit on the Ajanahfamily, extolled the virtuous lifeof the late Hajiya Sa’adatu and

urged the family to uphold herreligious and upright disposition.

The state governor, Capt. IdrisWada, represented by his deputy,Mr Yomi Awoniyi, had earlierpaid a condolence visit to the ChiefJudge.

In his speech during the visit,Wada urged parents to bring uptheir children in the fear of God.

He cautioned parents not torelinquish the responsibility oftraining their children toteachers and house-helps as

Education: greatest legacy parentscan bequeath their children - Kogi CJJustice Nasiru Ajanah, the

Chief Judge of Kogi, hascalled on parents to give

quality education to theirchildren.

He said that education was thebest legacy parents couldbequeath to their children.

Ajanah made the call onSaturday in Okene at the 8th dayFidau prayer for the repose of thesoul of his mother, HajiyaSa’adatu Ajanah, who died onMarch 31, after a brief illness.

He urged parents to ensurethat their children were properlyeducated in order for them to beuseful to themselves, their familyand the nation.

Ajanah said his mother, whodied at the age of 74, lived afulfilled life, adding that she gaveher children sound moral andspiritual upbringing and the fearof God.

The Chief Imam of Ebiraland,Sheikh Musa Galadima, led thecongregational Fidau prayers.

Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, theimmediate past governor of Kogi,who also graced the occasion, told

The Federal Government hasawarded N5 billion contractfor the construction of

almajiri schools across thecountry under the second phaseof the Almajiri programme.

Vice-President MohammedNamadi Sambo disclosed this onSaturday in Katsina at theclosing ceremony of the 26th

National Qur’anic RecitationCompetition.

Sambo said the first phaseof the programme hadbeen completed and would becommissioned on Tuesday inSokoto by President GoodluckJonathan.

He said the FederalGovernment and the IslamicDevelopment Bank (IDB) hadsigned 98 million dollars loanagreement to promote theeducation of almajiris and thegirl-child in Nigeria.

children spent more time at homethan in school.

The governor extolled thelegacies of Mama Sa’adatu, sayingthat she lived a ‘worthy andinspiring’ life.

Other dignitaries whoattended the Fidau prayerincluded the Attorney-General ofthe Federation and Minister ofJustice, Mohammed Adoke(SAN), top governmentfunctionaries and some membersof the Bar and Bench. (NAN)



Education, panacea to Nigeria’ssecurity challenges – Senate Leader

in Cross River Central SenatorialDistrict in their quest toachieve their life ambition.

He, nonetheless, stressedthe need for the beneficiaries tomake maximum use of thescholarship awards by studyinghard, pledging to assist them tosecure employment after theireducation.

Ndoma-Egba, however, saidthat the selection ofthe beneficiaries was not hingedon any political considerations,adding: “The beneficiaries werechosen purely on merit.’’

In his speech, Prof. OffiongOffiong, the Commissioner forEducation, said that Ndoma-Egba’s scholarship scheme wascomplementary to the stategovernment’s human capacitydevelopment programme.

The commissioner, who was

represented by Ebri Eteng, theExecutive Secretary, Cross RiverState ScholarshipBoard, said that suchpartnership was desirable inefforts to fast-track the state’sdevelopment.

“This Public-PrivatePartnership will reducefinancial burden on parents andstudents. It will also help instimulating the spirit of healthycompetition among our youthsin the quest for academicexcellence,’’ he said.

Offiong called onother personalities to emulate thegesture of Ndoma-Egba byassisting the less-privilegedmembers of the society.

Earlier, Dr Margaret Ndoma-Egba, the Chairperson of Ndoma-Egba Scholarship Foundation,said that 30 undergraduates and

Gov. Ibrahim Shema ofKatsina state hasapproved the immediate

release of N131 million for thepayment of students scholarshipfor the 2010/2011 academicsession.

The approval is contained in astatement signed by AlhajiAbdulhamid Danjuma, SpecialAssistant to the Governor on PressAffairs, in Katsina on Thursday.

Danjuma said that 9,612indigenous students, studying invarious institutions of higherlearning across the country,would benefit from thescholarship.

He said that the gestureunderscored the importanceShema’s administration attachedto the educational development ofthe state.

He reiterated thedetermination of theadministration to give financialassistance to students of the state

Shema approves release of N131m for payment of students’ scholarship

David Sabo KenteFoundation has donatedN10 million for the

revival of Ajikwen EducationTrust Fund to enable it to renderfinancial assistance to studentsof Jukun descent.

The Chairman of thefoundation, Chief David Kente,announced the donation inWukari, Taraba, on Saturdayduring the Jukun Youth CulturalDay celebration.

Kente, who was the chairmanof the occasion, said educationwas the “live wire” of everymodern society and needed to besupported by all well-meaningcitizens.

He advised other Jukunpeople to “give up fighting wars”in order to attract foreigninvestments to enhanceeconomic development in thearea.

“The Kwararafa kingdomcannot continue militarycampaigns and capturing ofkingdoms to pay tribute to it asour forefathers did.

“We have to change ourpriorities in order to cope with thechallenges of the current worldwhich is a global village,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Wunuken Ali, thePresident of Jukun YouthCultural and DevelopmentAssociation, said it was time tointensify contact with Jukundescendants “spread across 26states’’ of the country to ensureunity of purpose.

In his remarks, Alhaji TankoYankassai, commended Jukunpeople for preserving theirculture.

Yankassai said thatKwararafa Kingdom was amongothers in Nigeria with very goodvalues that spread all over thecountry.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the peoplewere dressed in Jukun traditionalattires on the occasion. (NAN)

Foundationdonates N10mto aid Jukunstudents

The Senate Leader, SenatorVictor Ndoma-Egba,says education is the only

solution to the persistent securitychallenges facing the country.

Ndoma-Egba, who said this inCalabar on Fridayduring his Scholarship Awards’ceremony, said that with goodeducation, the Nigerian societywould be safe for everyone to livein.

“Today, we have the BokoHaram and other forms ofsecurity challenges facing thecountry. We can only address theproblem of insecurity when weeducate the people.

“The only time we can feel safein our society is when everyoneis educated,’’ he said.

Ndoma-Egba said thathe instituted the scholarshipscheme so as to assist the youth

12 post-graduate studentsbenefited from the scholarshipscheme annually since 2008when the Foundation wasestablished.

She said that five studentswere selected from each of the sixlocal governments areas of thesenatorial district for theundergraduate category, whiletwo were selected from each of thecouncil areas for the post-graduate group.

“So since 2008, Sen. Ndoma-Egba has sponsored the educationof 270 undergraduates and 48post graduatestudents from Cross RiverCentral Senatorial District intertiary institutions across thecountry.

“A total of 318 students haveso far benefited from thescheme,’’ she said. (NAN)

origin to alleviate their financialdifficulties.

Danjuma also said that the

administration would not changeits promise to pay school fees forpupils and students in all public

owned schools in the state.He urged parents and

guardians to reciprocate the

gesture by giving moral supportto their children and wards to excelin their academic pursuits. (NAN)

L-R: ProfessorBenedict IfyNnodunasubmitting thereport of herteam’s findingsto Delta StateUniversity andFederalUniversity ofPetroleumResources, toProfessorAwuzieUkachukwuAsuu presidentwho stood infor ChairmanNeedsAssessmentcommittee ofNigerian PublicUniversitiesWhile thecommitteeSecretary, Mr.Femi Melefalooks on,recently, inAbuja.Photo:Mahmud Isa

Ebonyi govt to merge own varsity campusesSurvey and Housing has beenmandated to liaise with theuniversity authority to ascertainthe actual boundaries of the landat the campus.

“This measure is to enable thegovernment to commence theprocess of developing the campus,after which the merger would beeffected.

“The process will, however, begradual in order not to causedistortions which will hamper thesmooth operation of theinstitution.”

The Commissioner said thecouncil also expresseddissatisfaction at the poorrepresentation of Ebonyi indigenes

in federal establishments.“Council noted that most of

the state’s chances at the federallevel were traded by those whohave the opportunity of gettingthem.

“Council also frowned at theissuance of identification letters tonon-indigenes by some traditionalrulers and local governmentchairmen.

“Henceforth, such practicewould not be condoned asappropriate punitive measureswould be meted to culprits to serveas deterrent to others.”

According to him,government has directed that adata bank of all unemployed

The Ebonyi government saidit would merge the threecampuses of the state-owned

university into one.The university currently

operates a three-campus systemwith two situated in Abakaliki andthe other at Ezzamgbo.

Mr. Chike Onwe,Commissioner for Informationand Orientation, disclosed this onThursday in Abakaliki, whilebriefing newsmen on the outcomeof this week’s State ExecutiveCouncil meeting.

Onwe said the Ezzamgbocampus would now serve as thepermanent site of the university.

“The state Ministry of Lands,

youths in the state should bedeveloped.“The Ministry of Women

Affairs and Social Developmenthas been mandated to open 26registers, two for each of the 13Local Government Areas of thestate.

“One of the registers wouldtake care of those with OrdinaryLevel certificates while the otherwould be for all graduates in theareas.

“The registers would bereviewed on weekly basis by theGovernor to enable him to respondspeedily in cases of opportunitiesfor the state indigenes at thefederal level.’’ (NAN)


Eliminate bad breath this Easter

The embarrassing bit abouthaving bad breath is thatmany times, you don’t

know you have it. You onlybegin to realize when peopletake cover whenever you openyour mouth, and that is if youare sensitive. People have lostbusiness and careeradvancement opportunities,not to mention relationships.However, the most importantreason to maintain a cleanbreath is for good health.

Bad breath is mostly causedby a build-up of bacteria in themouth and throat, as well asdryness of the throat. Thisdryness is the reason for badbreath in people who arefasting. Also, there is a smallpart of bad breath that islargely inevitable, themorning one, because whenyou sleep, there is a slowingdown of the saliva flow thatwashes away food particlesfrom the mouth and lubricatesthe throat. There is now a wayto decrease even this small partto the barest minimum. Butthat is discussion for anothertime.

However, there are somemedical conditions that causebad breath. Those related todental conditions includecavities or gum disease,tonsillitis and cracked fillings.Others include worminfestation, diabetes, liverdisease, respiratory tractinfections, chronic bronchitis,acid reflux, postnasal drip andchronic dry mouth. So if youfind that good oral hygiene isn’tclearing your breath, youmight want to see your doctor.

The following ways willhelp you avoid a bad breath ingeneral:

Brush your teeth andscrape your tongue eachtime you awake from sleep.The surface of your tongueaccumulates an incredibleamount of foul-smellingbacteria throughout each day,and especially when you sleep.Brush your teeth, taking careto scrape your tongue, everytime you awake from sleep.Tongue scrapers are nowavailable in some pharmaciesand supermarkets

Additionally, brushing withbaking soda or rinsing with asolution of baking soda andwater will help to level out thepH balance in your mouthmaking it harder for bacteriato accumulate. Doing thisbefore going to bed will help youcontrol morning breath.

Be sure to rinse your mouththoroughly baking soda use.Baking soda also helps toremove stains on your teethBUT it is corrosive on yourteeth so AVOID overuse as it can

cause the teeth to chip. Acouple of times a week issufficient

Drink lots of water, andavoid eating for at least 30minutes after you awake.This further cleanses yourmouth, throat, esophagus, andstomach, which is extremelyimportant for fresh breath.

Drink plenty of fresh waterevery day, but try to avoiddrinking water too close to mealtimes, as it can reduce yourcapacity to digest your meal.A well-hydrated systemincreases the efficiency of thebody’s cleansing processes andkeeps bad breath at bay.

Watch your diet. Foodslike garlic, onions, sugaryfoods, meats, fish, poultry, andeggs affect our breathnegatively. Garlic is notoriousfor causing bad breath andbody odor. Fresh fruits andvegetables, on the other hand,help to cleanse your entiresystem, and the result isimproved breath. Leafy greenvegetables are especially goodin assisting the body maintainfresh breath. If you can, snackon raw carrots, apples andcabbage. These wateryvegetables help to clear themouth of debris.

Thoroughly rinse yourmouth and gargle withwater after every meal. Thispractice will rid the mouth ofbacteria buildup, and in turnprevent bad breath. Keeprunning your tongue alongyour teeth surfaces throughoutthe day. If your tongue feelsany plaque buildup, then it’stime to brush again.

Chewing gum andmouthwash areinadequate in dealing withbad breath. This is becausethey do not get to the root ofthe matter. They canaugment good oral hygiene butshould not be used to remedyan already bad breath. Also,leafy green vegetables,lemons, and limes, whenavailable, are much better forfreshening the breath duringthe day. Always remember torinse thoroughly with watereach time something otherthan water is eaten or used toclean the mouth.

Eat rough food to cleanthe back of your throat.Bread, guava, ‘eba’, garden eggand other rough food helps toclean the back of the throat.Then, again, drink waterafterwards.

See a dentist, at leastone to two times a year. Aswith other diseases, dentalproblems can be managed ifdetected early. Many oral anddental conditions are linked tobad breath.

A resource person Prof. VictorAkpan, has advised on the need to improve on quality

health as key to efficient output ofany nation.

Prof. Akpan said this whilegiving a lecture on ‘Quality ofHealth and the Environment’ aspart of events organised byInternational Federation onAgeing Nigerians (IFAN), whichheld in Abuja to celebrate WorldHealth Day.

He said good healthencompassed sound mind, qualityfood, which he called householdsecurity and avoidance ofcontaminated food items likegetting live-stock contaminatedat the point of slaughter.

According to him, there areexisting laws that provide forhygienic condition of both food

and meat in the market for safeconsumption.

Akpan said tobacco was onemajor habit that endangers thelives of youths. He said there isincrease in the consumption oftobacco since the industries areactively involved in sponsorshipof programmes therebymarketing death.

In his opening remarks, thechairman of the occasion, SenatorBen Obi, said the importance ofgood health could not be overemphasised hence the holisticapproach on how to achieve goodhealth for aged and the youths.“Good health adds to years of life,”he said.

In an attempt to drive theirpoint home, the organization alsotook part in Life Walk on Saturdayat the old parade ground with thepresence of houseparliamentarians and other

‘Good health, majorindex for productivity’By A’isha Biola Raji

A Nigerian pharmacisthas re-emphasised thatuntil relevant organs and

agencies in the country recogniseand give credit to breakthroughsrecorded by Nigerians especiallyin the area of herbal medicine,Nigerians would continue to diefrom consumption of sub-standard drugs from countrieslike China and India.

He spoke against the backdropof his recognition by the worldHealth organization (WHO), forhis discovery of the poly-herbalanti malaria vaccine, SAABMAL, but yet to be given hisrightful place by the agenciescharged with registering drugsin the country.

Amodu spoke to journalists inAbuja over the week when theexecutive council of the National

Association of Nigerian Students(NANS) honoured him for hisoutstanding feat in the area ofPhyla medicine.

According to Amodu who isalso a trained lawyer and ispresently, the director ofprocurement at the ministry ofdefence, “Our policy on herbalmedicine just got developed abouttwo or three years ago. Theminister has made a statementthat it would be incorporated intothe normal health system but uptill now it was a mere statement.No circular to that effect has comeout to government departments.Imagine since I came back fromthe United Nations (UN) inEthiopia, for the discovery on antimalaria where WHO invited me,nobody has even called me for anytalks”

The pharmacist, whose houseand office in Abuja have become

Give herbal medicine its rightfulplace in society-Pharmacist AmoduBy A’isha Biola Raji

WWWWWellnessellnessellnessellnessellnesswith

Charity Omenka

[email protected] stakeholders.The chairman, House

Committee on Donor AgenciesHonourable Eseme Eyibohenumerated the advantages ofdoing exercise both by the youngand the old in the society.

He said the need to remainhealthy could not beoveremphasized as health iswealth. “I play ball with my sonevery Weekend and I swim fourdays in a week to remain strongand healthy. “The outcome is alife of fulfillment,” he confirmed.

In her remarks, Dr PhillipaMomah Rtd Director FederalMinistry of Health advisedNigerians to imbibe the culturespelt out in ABCDE which are A-at peace with God B- behavior thatimprove health C- capacity forcare which involve taking chargeD- good diet and E- exercise forgood life.

a Mecca of sorts for people withvarying ailments such astuberculosis, diabetes and others,believes that if wholly harnessed,his fertility drug can solve theproblem of infertility anddysfunctional erection in men.He is also reputed to havedeveloped a cream for the killerprostrate disease that has sentmany to their early graves.

Presently, he has in hisresearch, the following drugs;SAAB supplement (300mg)which boost the immune systemand fights various diseases, DAABSsupplement (300mg), used for thecontrol of diabetes, corrects libido,eye sight and palpitation, the otheris HAAPS supplement (500mg)which is required for the control ofhigh blood pressure, cholesterol andalso palpitation. When these threeare used together, he said, givesgood health.

Pharmacist Benjamin Amodu, middle, receiving certificate for his breakthrough in herbal medicinefrom President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Comrade Adakole Ochai, asother members of NANS exco watch them.


Polio eradication, the battle continues

In its resolve to eradicate thescourge, (Wild Polio Virus) inNigeria, federal government

has no doubt redeemed the pledgeit made to back National PrimaryHealth Care DevelopmentAgency (NPHCDA) in the justconcluded Immunization PlusDays (IPDs).

It was with no doubt acombined effort of not just thestakeholders but all the peoplethat matter in decision makingin all strata of the society.

Bauchi being one of the highlypolio prevalent states enjoyed thispartnership as traditional rulers,politicians and other stakeholdersall joined hands in an effort to seeto the much anticipated successof eradicating polio.

The success of this month IPDsin Bauchi however owe to the ‘taskforce’ put in place by PresidentGoodluck Jonathan with itsreplica in all states of thefederation.

It will be recalled that PresidentGoodluck Jonathan recentlyinaugurated a PresidentialTaskforce on Polio eradication inNigeria, under the Chairmanshipof Minister of State for health, Dr.Muhammad Ali Pate.

In Bauchi however, the taskforce interestingly comprises of allthe people that matter in decisionmaking among the variousgroups of people living in the state;Traditional leaders (Emirs andDistrict Heads), religion leaders,(Imams and Pastors) and top andupcoming politicians.

This could be seen in the recenteffort made by the famous Muslimscholar recognized throughoutWest Africa Region Sheikh DahiruUsman Bauchi. The Sheik whilespeaking at the Polio Torch-FreeCampaign held at the state houseBauchi organized by the NationalPrimary Health CareDevelopment Agency called on allMuslims to ensure that theirchildren are vaccinated againstpoliomyelitis.

This in no doubt influenced thecompliance of parents as theywillingly provided their wards forimmunization based on the healthbenefit mentioned by the Sheiksaying “polio is a curable disease.”

According to him, it is for thesereasons that “I am urging all andsundry to please allow thevaccinators access to their housesso as to vaccinate their childrenagainst poliomyelitis”.

He recalled with great delight,past efforts by the World HealthOrganization (WHO) ineradicating similar diseases,hitherto believed to be incurable.

Sheikh Dahiru Bauchidisclosed that Nigeria being oneof the countries still battling withpolio required the support of allpatriotic citizens to make thecountry polio free.

Speaking earlier at the PolioTorch-Free campaign, theMinister of State for Health, Dr.Muhammad Ali Pate emphasizedthe commitment of FederalGovernment to do all humanlypossible to ensure massvaccination of all under -fivechildren throughout the country.

Dr. Pate expressed optimismthat with the high levelcommitment of political leaders atFederal and State levels, membersof the Northern TraditionalLeaders’ Forum, religious leadersand other stakeholders, Nigeriawould soon exit from polio endemiccountries.

Another point of interestduring the month’s IPDs in Bauchiis the commitment of the state’sPrimary Health Care (PHC) toconvince parents in making theirwards available for vaccination;there was the actual ‘plus’, asachet of detergent was given toevery child after immunization.The detergent initiative taggedthe ‘Immunization Plus wasgeared towards ‘hand washingcampaign’ the state had.

From what was gathered byour reporter, the incentive wenta long way in convincing peoplethat government actually meanswell and it is only concerned withthe well being of their children.

This commitment was alsoreflected in the attitude of thehealth workers especially thevaccinators. At Dan Iya ward inBauchi local government,vaccinators were ready as earlyas required with their micro planwhich was intended for easyaccess to various nook andcrannies of the ward.

Most of the vaccinators werewomen who from the look on theirfaces, there was backgroundknowledge, zeal and readiness toexit polio.

Mallama Maryam Musa, avaccinator covering Zango areaof Bauchi local area recalled howDay-1 of the program wentsmoothly with no hitcheswhatsoever. “We were welcomedat each house especially when

immunization process which wason Sunday, churches weretargeted with success recorded atLiving Faith, COCIN and ECWAwhich had initially recorded lowlevel of compliance. This successwas with no doubt in associationwith the involvement of Bauchistate President, ChristianAssociation of Nigeria (CAN)Reverend Yahaya Madawaki whois the secretary ImmunisationTask Force Bauchi LocalGovernment Area.

Despite all the successrecorded, there are still rooms forimprovement which are in thearea of cold chain storage whichdelayed daily implementation insome wards as vaccinators couldnot work with melted ice pack andthe issue of non compliance in fewhouseholds which is expected to beat zero level for Nigeria to exit polioscourge.

Concerning the most topicalissue of non compliance, AlhajiNuru Adamu Jumba the Ciromaof Bauchi, District Head of Bauchialso the Chairman Taskforce onImmunisation Bauchi LocalGovernment Area of Bauchi statein an interview with our reportersaid the effective approachoutlined for solving the issue of noncompliance is dialogue.

The dialogue according to himwill be at grassroots level whereHeads of all the householdsconcerned will be involved in achat that will enlighten them onthe danger of non compliance andthe advantage of beingimmunized, as an unimmunizedchild poses danger to theimmunized ones.

He said, “at the moment, thereis no law in Bauchi state whichempowers anybody to takepunitive measure against those

that refuse to present theirchildren for immunization.”

According to him, anotherchallenge the state is facing is inthe area of recruitment ofvaccinator, “when the campaignis over, we will review all thesystems we have used, we wantto make sure in the next IPD, allvaccinator come within thelocalities with attachment of wardHead to each of the team. “If localpeople are employed to administerthe vaccine, there will beunderstanding between thehouseholds and vaccinators,” hesaid.

Funding he said is no more theproblem as local governments andother partners such as WHO andUNICEF contributed handsomelyfor the IPD.

Also in interview with the caretaker Chairman Bauchi localgovernment, Lawal Baba MajiAbubakar, who said with theeffort of ministry of localgovernment affairs and all otherstakeholders, they had been ableto contribute in the area oflogistics.

On the issue of noncompliance and on what penaltyshould be given, he said theflexibility of Nigerianconstitution does not provide forany enforcement move. Theconstitution he said gives rightof option to any personal issuetherefore denying governmentenforcement on non compliance.“Government will ratherimprove on the area of publicenlightenment,” he said.

In conclusion, Bauchi state isresolved to kicking polio out bytaking stock of what went well andwhat did not during the justconcluded IPDs and improving onthem.

parents realized we had gift ofdetergent for their children afterthey had been immunized,”Maryam told our reporter.

Mallama Saudatu coveringAnsat area also in Bauchi areahowever recalled how they ranout of vaccine at early hours ofthe first day due to the rate ofacceptance. She said, “before now,a lot of people were rejecting thevaccine but now we have only afew rejecting.”

When asked on what could bethe reason for the change inacceptance level Saudatu replied,“it is due to the detergentincentive and involvement of topreligion leaders. “ People arehappy to collect this sachet ofdetergent especially coming fromthe government.”

Our reporter went further toclear the rumour that‘vaccinators pour the vaccinesaway when they get tired or whena lot of them are rejected’. Thevaccinators unanimouslyanswered, “pouring vaccinesaway might cause havoc to peopleso we dare not think about it.”

They further supported theirstand on the fact that they weretrained and are paid promptlyhence no reason to indulge incruel act of disposing vaccinesmeant to take care of innocentchildren.

Though they will do withincrement in their allowance,this is due to increase in prices ofcommodities. “We wantincrement in the amount we arebeing given, we are only beinghelpful. Especially with thechanges in prices but if there is noincrement, we will still do it forthe sake of our children,” theysaid.

On the day2 of the

By A’isha Biola Raji

Special team for the 2012 Immunization Plus Day, administering Oral Polio vaccine (OPV) to a child, at Tudun Wada South, recently,in Niger state. Photo: Mahmud Isa


Obama turns super-hawkBack in the last Century,

when Bill Clinton wasrunning for re-election in the

"permanent campaign" he, with theadvice of the smarmy Dick Morris,chose to co-opt Republican positionsto pre-empt their using themagainst him. It was called"triangulation" but also disguised aclear strategic shift to the right thathas now surfaced in the Obamacampaign. It appears that TeamObama does not take the concernsor values of its liberal support baseseriously. They think they can bemesmerised by selective symbolicstands and they have nowhere elseto go.

The Black Community haspledged itself to his re-electiondespite criticisms by black leaderswho privately feel abandoned byhim.

Robert Scheer, who editsTruthdig, says liberals will have toembrace Obama by "default". "TheRepublicans are a sick joke and theirnarrow ideological stupidity has leftrational voters no choice in thecoming presidential election butBarack Obama," he writes.

He also recognises that Obamahas now "backed Republicaninitiatives", calling the presidentthe "moderate" choice in the comingelection, "defending centristprogrammes that Republicans inthe past helped originate".

Van Jones, who Obamaappointed to a job advocating greenenergy solutions until attacks bythe right led to his dumping him,calls his former boss a "post-hope"candidate. He said in an interviewon MSNBC:

We went from 'hopey' tomopey… I saw the misfires: how theWhite House didn't reallyunderstand the grassrootsmovement; the grassrootsmovement certainly didn'tunderstand the grassrootsmovement…and there was this'hope' bubble that collapsed, (With)both sides not understanding eachother.

For years now, the president,in what some analysts say is adeeply engrained fear/reaction toa total assault by Fox News, hassought to keep the messengers ofpatriotically correct banalities offguard with a slew of hawkish/hardline foreign policy initiatives.

He escalated the two big warshe inherited with "surges" in Iraqand Afghanistan as well as droneoffensive associated withcontinuing collateral damage, i.e,civilian deaths. He turned GeneralPetraus from his counter-insurgency specialist into a herospymaster and gave him more andmore power, perhaps to prevent hisrunning against him. He turnedthe covert-action Seals units into aP r e s i d e n t i a l - s a n c t i o n e dassassination squad and, then,practically went steady with thePentagon. The flag pin he avoidedas a candidate is now a staple of his"uniform".

You can understand why: hecan't really run on domesticissues.His economic policies havefailed to create jobs or a recoverybecause he banked on the banks.Despite all the Republican banterabout his alleged socialism, he'sgiven the capitalists just abouteverything they want, including

the new JOBS bill that will erodefinancial reform rules and open thedoor to more fraud. His JusticeDepartment has not waged a jihadto put financial criminals in jail.They've settled complaints withmajor mortgage fraudsters payingfines instead being locked up.

His "so-called" Obamacare is alaw embraced by the healthcareindustry which will profit from it.Advocates of Medicare for All werestabbed in the back early on in theprocess.

So, now the president, whoaroused so many hopes for a morejust America, has abandoned most

act. Many of the harsh sanctions heimposed on that country can beconsidered acts of war, (like manysanctions, they hurt the people, notjust their government!)

All of a sudden, war talk issurfacing to take our minds off theeconomic collapse, and Obama willsoon show us the electorate howtough he is by going after Iraneven as the right and the Israelisportray him as a softee on theAyatollahs.

He claims to supportnegotiations, but his conditionsdemanding Iran shut down itsnuclear enrichment facility first

military leadership to give up theFordo enrichment plant outsidethe holy city of Qum, and with ita huge investment in the onefacility that is most hardenedagainst air-strikes."

He's also stepped up the use ofglobal drone warfare with onereport suggesting drones may soongo nuclear. More telling now thatwhat's been covert is becomingmore overt, as the New York Timesreports with the headline,"Obama Embraces NationalSecurity as Campaign Issue":

With a Republican opponentall but chosen and the generalelection campaign about to start,President Obama is preparing toemphasise an issue that fewDemocratic candidates haveembraced in the past: nationalsecurity, long the domain of theRepublican Party.

At the same time, the Obamacampaign is seeking to portray MittRomney, the likely Republicannominee, as a national securityneophyte whose best ideas aresimply retreads of what thepresident is already doing, andwhose worst instincts would takethe country back to the days ofPresident George W Bush: cowboydiplomacy, the Iraq war andAmerica's lowest standing on theinternational stage.

In the coming weeks, Obamaadvisers plan to release a list ofnational security "surrogates" - high-profile Democrats like formerSecretary of State Madeleine KAlbright and Wesley K Clark, aretired general - who will writenewspaper op-ed articles, givespeeches and take Mr Romney totask every time he opens his mouthabout foreign policy, Obamaadvisers said.

The plan is to draw a contrastbetween Mr Obama - who, hisadvisers say, kept his word onending the Iraq war, going

aggressively after al-Qaeda andrestoring alliances around theworld - and Mr Romney, who willbe portrayed as playing both sidesof numerous issues.

"He was for and against theremoval of Gaddafi, for and againstsetting a timetable to withdraw ourtroops from Afghanistan, for andagainst enforcing trade lawsagainst China, and while he oncesaid he would not move heaven andearth to get Osama bin Laden, helater claimed that any presidentwould have authorised the missionto do so," said Ben LaBolt, presssecretary for the Obamacampaign.

He's planning to do to Romneywhat McCain's marauders tried todo to him by playing the war card.And the media keeps carryingstories urging him to be eventougher.

Two examples: AP - The brother of a US soldier

who was among three centralOhioans killed in an Afghan suicidebombing says Americans shouldn'tforget "we are a nation at war".

Fox News is running the latestsermon on the mount by convictedIran contra conspirator ColonelNorth who writes, "According toMatthew's Gospel, Judas Iscariotsold out Jesus of Nazareth for 30pieces of silver. What is BarackObama's fee for selling outChristians and Israelis?"

All of this sniping is unlikely tolead the president to pick a fight withthe right even if a recent poll showed69 per cent of all Americans wantthe US out of Afghanistan. Thecriticisms are just likely toencourage him to move furtherright to show his mettle and aposture that says he's ready to fightas a commander and chief whowon't back down. Haven't we heardall this before?

Culled from Aljazeera.

Stealing George W Bush's playbook, Obama has decided to repackage himself as a tough guy in the war against terror.

“ All of a sudden, war talk is surfacingto take our minds off the economic

collapse, and Obama will soon showus the electorate how tough he is bygoing after Iran even as the right andthe Israelis portray him as a softee

on the Ayatollahs.

of his promises from shutting downGuantanamo to prosecutingBradley Manning.

He has decided to be born againas a hawk in sheep's clothing.

Stealing George W Bush'splaybook, he has decided torepackage himself as a tough guyin the war against terror aftersigning the new NDAA law in themiddle of the night. His criticismsof Israel's rhetoric about bombingIran is to caution them against beingtoo hasty, promising that he hastheir "back" and that the US would

is an inflexible demand that theyknow the Iranians will consider anultimatum, and have to reject,setting up a scenario for a war ofaggression. "That negotiatingposition will be the opening move(emphasis mine) in whatPresident Obama has called Iran's"last chance" to resolve its nuclearconfrontation with the UnitedNations and the Westdiplomatically," reports the NewYork Times.

"The hard-line approachwould require the country's

ANALYSIS


Egypt’s former spy chiefjoins presidential race

Algerianhostages innorthernMalireleased:report

Seven Algerian diplomatstaken hostage in rebel-held northern Mali have

been released, Algeria's ElWatan newspaper reported onit website on Sunday, citing itscorrespondent in Mali.

There was no immediatecomment on the report from theAlgerian authorities.

The diplomats wereabducted late last week from thetown of Gao, part of a swathe ofterritory in northern Mali nowunder the control of Tuareg-ledseparatists.

A spokesman for theseparatists said an Islamistgroup with ties to the separatistswas behind the abduction.

The hostages includeAlgeria's consul in Gao and sixconsular staff, according to theAlgerian foreign ministry.

The intelligence chief of Egypt'sdeposed leader HosniMubarak formally joined the

race for the presidency on Sunday,a last-minute entrance that raisesthe heat in a contest pitting formerregime figures against newly-assertive Islamists.

Omar Suleiman announced heplanned to run on Friday, sayingoverwhelming public pressure hadstirred his sense of soldierly duty.He had needed to collect thesignatures of 30,000 eligible votersby Sunday's deadline in order totake part.

Ecstatic supporters cheeredbehind lines of military police asSuleiman arrived at the office of thestate election committee in Cairo.He then handed in his candidacydocuments, state news agencyMENA reported, citing a committeeofficial.

Committee General SecretaryHatem Bagato "acknowledged thatthe papers included certifiedbacking from citizens above theminimum required, which is atleast 30,000," the agency said.

Suleiman, who Mubarak madevice president in the dying days ofhis three-decade rule, symbolisesthat era's tough security regime,making him a figure of hate to theyoung liberals who spearheadedMubarak's overthrow last year buta possible draw for some Egyptianshoping for an end to politicalinstability.

Supporters of the urbane,secretive 74-year-old jostled with

the security forces protecting thebuilding, causing some injuriesand the main entrance was brieflyclosed.

Late additions to the candidateline-up and efforts to exclude somefrontrunners from the job haveshaken up Egypt's first freepresidential vote due to be held inMay and June.

Suleiman's arrival on the scenecomes shortly after the MuslimBrotherhood, the Islamistmovement long suppressed by hisformer boss, scrapped a pledge notto field a candidate and nominatedits deputy leader Khairat al-Shaterfor head of state.

The move has fuelled concernamong liberals and many inEgypt's large Coptic Christianminority that the Brotherhoodwants to monopolise the maininstitutions of state to push througha conservative Islamic agenda.

Another candidate,ultraconservative Hazem SalahAbu Ismail, is fighting attempts tobar him from the vote because ofdocuments suggesting his motherheld foreign nationality.

More than 21 candidates hadsubmitted their registrationpapers by Sunday including AbuIsmail, former foreign ministerand Arab League chief AmrMoussa and Mohamed Morsi,named this weekend as thealternative Brotherhoodcandidate in case Shater is forcedto withdraw, the vote commissionwebsite said.

Media reports on April 6, 2012 reported that Suleiman, who wasformer president Hosni Mubarak"s intelligence chief and vicepresident, announced he will run for presidency.

Sahara states at odds over Mali rebelsSahara Desert states differed

yesterday over whether tocrush or talk to the rebels who

have seized northern Mali - a mix ofTuareg separatists and Islamistswith links to al Qaeda.

At a meeting of regionalcountries in Mauritania, Niger saidthe rebels' gains should be reversedbefore any talks, but Algeriawarned that military interventionrisked further complicating thesituation.

The rebels, bolstered by gunsand fighters from Libya's war lastyear, routed Malian troops, indisarray after a March 22 coup, tocarve out a zone the size of Franceand declare an independent state of"Azawad".

Mali's government had long hada weak hold over its northern zone,but its neighbours now fear a voidthat will exacerbate regionalinstability, terrorism andsmuggling.

Mauritania, Algeria, Niger andMali had set up a joint militarycommand headquarters before thelightning rebel push, although ithad struggled to coordinate effortsagainst what they see as an Islamistthreat in the Sahara.

Niger, which has suffered itsown sporadic Tuareg rebellions,said there could be discussion of someof the demands of the separatistNational Movement for the

Liberation of Azwad (MNLA).But Foreign Minister

Mohamed Bazoum echoedinternational rejection of thegroup's claim for independence as"absurd and unacceptable".

"We need to work to redress thebalance of forces on the groundbefore we can talk about

negotiations," Bazoum said at theopening of the meeting inMauritania's capital, Nouakchott.

"We need to organise aconfrontation with the terroristgroups ... Mali's north must becleared of terrorism and it seems tome we have the ideal opportunity,"he said.

West Africa's ECOWAS grouphad been mulling an interventionto prevent any further rebel pushuntil the coup meant restoringcivilian rule became the regionalbloc's priority.

The junta pledged on Saturdayto leave power within days, pavingthe way for the possibility for an

intervention but it remainsunclear when boots could be put onthe ground.

Bazoum said Niger, Mauritaniaand Algeria, as Mali's closestpartners in the north, shouldengage in diplomacy but be readyto intervene militarily, if needed.

Algeria, the region's biggestpower, took a different tack, sayingtalks were the only way out.France, colonial ruler over all thestates at the table, has also pushedfor dialogue with the separatist rebelmovement.

"The solution can only be apolitical one. It cannot be the resultof a military effort which couldinstead worsen an already complexand precarious situation,"Mohamed Messahel, Algeria'sdelegate minister for African affairs,said.

Algeria's position in Mali hasbeen further complicated by thekidnapping last week of its consuland six other staff from its missionin Gao, one of the northern townsseized by rebels.

Algeria's El Watan newspaperreported on its website on Sundaythat the diplomats had been freed,but Algerian officials in Nouakchottwere unable to confirm that.

Nearly a week after Maliangovernment forces were completelyrouted across the north, it remainsunclear which groups really controlmain towns or swathes of territory.

…Junta says power transfer ‘within days’The leaders of Mali's coup and

neighbouring countrieshave reached a deal under

which the two-week-old militaryjunta will hand over power inreturn for the end of trade anddiplomatic sanctions.

Mali's military junta and theEconomic Community of WestAfrican States (ECOWAS) blocannounced the deal on Malianstate television late on Friday.

Under the plan, signed bymediators and junta leaderCaptain Amadou Sanogo, themilitary government will handover power to parliament speakerDiouncounda Traore who will besworn in as interim president witha mission to organise elections.

Sanogo said the new primeminister and a national unitygovernment will be put in place"in the next few days".

Traore arrived fromneighbouring Burkina Faso, wherehe had been when the coup had

taken place, late on Saturdaynight.

"I am leaving for Mali with myheart full of hope. My country hasknown enormous difficulties, butI am leaving with the hope thepeople of Mali will come togetherto face this adversity head on,"Traore told reporters before heboarded the plane for Bamako, theMalian capital.

The deal, hailed by theAfrican Union, also includes thelifting of sanctions clamped byECOWAS on Mali and an amnestyfor those involved in the coup.

The embargo included theclosing of all borders of ECOWASstates with Mali except forhumanitarian reasons, closing toMali access to ECOWAS ports, andthe freezing of Malian bankaccounts.

Alassane Ouattara, thepresident of the Ivory Coast whocurrently holds the rotatingECOWAS presidency, said the

sanctions should be lifted"immediately", Burkina FasoForeign Minister Djibrill Bassoletold public television station ORTM.

Bassole has been acting as amediator during the crisis.

He also said President AmadouToumani Toure, who wasoverthrown on March 22 and hassince not been seen in public, shouldbe able to live where he wants underarmy protection.

The five-page agreementprovides a framework for a returnto constitutional rule under theinterim leader who will also handlethe crisis in the north, whereIslamists and Tuareg rebels haveseized control.

The deal did not give atimetable for Sanogo to step down,but said the 15-state ECOWASregional grouping wouldimmediately prepare the end oftough sanctions including theclosure of trade borders to the land-locked country.


Opening talks about Iran's nuclear programme have been tentatively set for Friday

Rescue workers say that the trapped miners are in good health and are getting water and airthrough hoses

The body of William Allen, 31, was found outside this funeral home in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Fridaymorning

Peruvian authorities havesaid that nine trappedminers are being supplied

with sports drinks, soup and foodwhile police, firefighters and otherworkers work to free them.

Jose Saavedra, the police chief,in southern Peru's Ica region saidthe men have been trapped in ahorizontal mining shaft, not verydeep under the surface, thatcollapsed on Thursday.

Rescue workers continued theirefforts on Saturday morning torescue the miners, already trappedunderground for three days.

Saavedra said that the bottleditems are being pushed to theminers through a hose.

He said the miners are behinddebris about 20ft wide that collapsedwhen they set off an explosion todislodge copper ore.

National Police and CivilDefence experts from Yauca delRosario in the northern province of

German Chancellor AngelaMerkel's centre-rightcoalition has inched ahead

of the main opposition parties forthe first time in two years, a pollshowed on Sunday - thanks to asurge in support for the maverickPirate Party at the expense of theSocial Democrats.

An Emnid poll for Bild amSonntag newspaper put Merkel'sconservatives on 36 percent andtheir pro-business coalition partner,the Free Democrats (FDP),unchanged at 4 percent.

That puts the alliance short of amajority but just above thecombined support for the oppositionSocial Democrats (SPD), whoslipped one point to 26 percent, andtheir preferred partners, theGreens, unchanged at 13 percent.

If the poll heralds a trend, itcould improve Merkel's chances ofreturning to power with the FDP to

Western powers ‘to set Iran nuclear demands’

continue running Europe's biggesteconomy after federal elections inSeptember 2013.

"The reason was the strongperformance of the Pirate Party,"said Emnid in its analysis.

The Pirates, who campaign forInternet freedom, were up one pointat 10 percent, their highest levelsince October in the Emnid poll,having drawn support away fromthe SPD.

The party, whose popularityhas surged since it won seats in tworecent regional assemblies, has abearing on national politics as italters the coalition arithmetic.

Other recent polls have shownthe two traditional centre-rightand centre-left camps as being neckand neck. Although Merkel'sconservatives have a lead of up to10 points over the SPD, the FDP'sweakness has cut her coalitionoptions.

Peruvian minerstrapped for three days

Ica, 565km north of capital Lima,were able to speak to the trappedminers to find out their physical andhealth conditions.

Edgar Peralta, in charge of therescue operation, said thatconsiderable progress had beenmade by fire-fighters and minercolleagues throughout the morningin the rescue, although a newcollapse complicated the mission.

The miners were working ontheir own at a mine thatreportedly shut down commercialoperations in the early 1980s in ahamlet about 282km south ofLima.

Artisan mining, which isoften done without the securitymeasures regulated by thegovernment, have periodicaccidents of this type in Peru.

Last March three miners diedtrapped in a tunnel when workingunder unsupervised conditions atJicamarca, east of Lima.

Merkel coalition ahead,first time in 2 years - poll

The US and other Westernnations are planning todemand that Iran

immediately close andultimately dismantle a recentlycompleted nuclear facility deepunder a mountain as part of newtalks with Iran over its nuclearprogramme, the New YorkTimes has reported.

The Obama administrationand its European allies will alsocall for a halt in the productionof higher-level enrichment ofuranium fuel, and the shipmentof existing stockpiles of that fuelout of Iran, the US-basednewspaper said on Sunday,citing US and Europeandiplomats.

The diplomats said theycould not imagine anyagreement that left Iran with astockpile of fuel, enriched to 20per cent purity, that could beconverted to the grade needed tomake an atomic bomb in amatter of months.

"We have no idea how the

Iranians will react," a seniorObama administration officialtold the newspaper. "Weprobably won't know after thefirst meeting."

The opening talks have beententatively set for Friday.

In January, major powerssignalled willingness to reopenthe talks about curbing Iran'ssuspected pursuit of nuclearweapons but said Tehran mustshow it was serious aboutnegotiations.

Iran says its nuclearprogramme is aimed solely atgenerating power.

The US, Britain, France,Russia, China and Germany arethe six powers involved indiplomacy aimed at resolvingthe long-running dispute overIran's atomic plans.

Russia and China recentlyjoined the four Western powersin expressing "regret" over Iran'sexpansion of higher-gradeenrichment, most of which isnow taking place deep inside a

mountain near the holy city ofQom.

The focus on diplomacyfollowed rising tensions betweenthe West, which is seeking to cut

Iran's oil sales, and the Islamicrepublic, which threatened toclose the Strait of Hormuzthrough which almost one-fifthof oil traded worldwide flows.

The US has graduallytightened sanctions on Tehrandue to its failure to answerquestions about its nuclearprogramme.


Indian and Pakistanleaders discuss peaceThe leaders of India and

Pakistan have held talks inNew Delhi at the highest-

level meeting on each other's soilin seven years.

Without giving details,Manmohan Singh, the Indianprime minister, and Asif AliZardari, the Pakistan president,said after a 40-minute meetingon Sunday that they discussed awide range of issues during a"fruitful" meeting before sharinglunch.

"Relations between India andPakistan should become normal.That's our common desire," Singhsaid as the two men emerged fromhis residence in the Indian capital.

Trade is one area of discussionthat the two leaders may findfruitful as Pakistan moves tonormalise trade ties by phasingout major restrictions on Indianimports by the end of the year.

For his part, Zardari said: "Wewould like to have better relationswith India. We have spoken on alltopics that we could have spokenabout and we are hoping to meeton Pakistani soil very soon."

During their meeting, Singhalso told Zardari that it was"imperative to bring theperpetrators of the Mumbai attacksto justice and prevent activitiesaimed against India from Pakistanisoil'', according to Ranjan Mathai,the Indian foreign secretary.

The two countries came to thebrink of conflict most recently in2001, and tensions again peakedafter the 2008 Mumbai attacksduring which 164 people died incarnage blamed on the Pakistaniarmed group Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT).

A US bounty of $10m on thePakistan-based Hafiz Saeed, accusedof masterminding the attacks, hasrenewed calls for his arrest..

Zardari later left for to animportant Sufi Muslim shrine inAjmer, in Rajasthan state, to offerprayers, from where he was due toreturn to Islamabad, the Pakistancapital, in the evening.

On his first visit to India as partof the 40-member delegation,Zardari's son, Bilawal BhuttoZardari, stood behind the leaders atthe media briefing.

Pakistan's military hopedfor a miracle yesterday asrescue teams searched for

124 soldiers and 11 civiliansburied by a Himalayanavalanche near the Indianborder, with no sign of survivors

more 24 hours later. The avalanche engulfed a

Pakistani army battalionheadquarters near a glacier earlyon Saturday, leaving snow up to80 feet (25 metres) deep over anarea a kilometre wide.

The victims are trapped in oneof the most unforgivingenvironments on Earth, at analtitude of 15,000 feet (4,500metres) near the Siachen Glacierin the Karakoram mountain range.

"Let's hope for a miracle," amilitary official, who asked toremain anonymous, told Reuters.

Helicopter rescue teams andtroops on the ground with snifferdogs were racing against time.

"On Wednesday and Thursdaywe expect cloudy conditions andsome snow fall as well which willmake it difficult for any rescueoperations to continue," saidmeteorologist Mohammed Hanif onstate television.

The area is also one of the world'smost militarily tense frontiers,where the Indian and Pakistaniarmies have confronted each otherover disputed territory for decades.

Eleven civilian employees ofthe military were buried under thesnow along with the soldiers of the 6Northern Light Infantry Battalion,the military said in a statement.

Pakistan army hopes miracle will save avalanche victims

North Korea readiesrocket for launchNorth Korea's long-range

rocket, scheduled to putwhat it says is a satellite

into orbit next week, has beeninstalled on its launch platform,the country's space officialshave said.

Engineers said on Sundaythat the satellite will orbit theearth and send back data forweather forecasts and cropsurveys.

Officials said they havemoved all three stages of therocket into position, vowing topush ahead with their plan indefiance of internationalwarnings.

The communist nationorganised an unprecedentedvisit to Tongchang-ri spacecentre to show that the Unha-3rocket is not a disguised ballisticmissile, as claimed by the USand its allies, notably SouthKorea and Japan.

"To say this is a missile testis really nonsense," JangMyong-Jin, head of the spacecentre, said.

"This launch was plannedlong ago, on the occasion of the100th birthday of (late)president Kim Il-Sung. We arenot doing it for provocativepurposes."

For the first time, NorthKorea allowed some 50 foreignjournalists to go to the new spacecentre built on the Cholsanpeninsula, 50km from theChinese border.

The journalists were able toobserve the rocket, painted inwhite with sky blue lettering,installed on a platform ahead ofits scheduled launch sometimebetween April 12-16.

The US, Japan, Britain andother nations have urged theisolated nation to cancel thelaunch, warning that firing the

long-range rocket would violateUN resolutions and North Korea'spromise to refrain from engagingin nuclear and missile activity.

North Korea maintains thatthe launch is meant to showcaseits scientific achievement.

Last month, Japan's DefenceMinister Naoki Tanaka said Tokyocould shoot down a North Koreanrocket if it entered Japaneseairspace.

It even deployed a land-basedsystem of interceptor missiles inpreparation for the planned rocketlaunch.

China, North Korea's mainforeign ally, has also expressed itsconcerns.

US, Japan's closest ally,suspended food aid to the Northsaying Pyongyang had broken itspromise to refrain from missilelaunches and cannot be trusted todeliver the aid to those who needit.

The US and its ally have urged North Korea to cancel the launch saying it violated internationalagreements

Syria wants ‘guarantees’for troop pulloutSyria's government appears to

be pulling back from a UnitedNations peace plan, saying it

wants "written guarantees" thatopposition fighters will lay downarms before it implements a trooppullback agreed by President Basharal-Assad, a demand refused by themain rebel group.

Hours after the government'sdemand on Sunday, Colonel Riad al-Asaad, the leader of the rebel FreeSyria Army told the Associated Pressnews agency that his group did notrecognise Assad's government andfor that reason they would not giveguarantees.

Colonel Riad al-Asaad said thatif the regime abided by UN-ArabLeague special envoy Kofi Annan'ssix-point plan to end the violence,his group would cease fire. He saidthat the government shouldwithdraw its forces to bases andremove checkpoints from thestreets.

Last week, Assad accepted theceasefire agreement calling forgovernment forces to withdrawfrom towns and villages by Tuesday,and for the government andopposition fighters to lay down their

arms by 6am local time on Thursday. But in a statement released on

Sunday, foreign ministryspokesperson Jihad Makdissi said thatearlier reports that Damascus wouldpull its troops from cities and theirsuburbs by Tuesday were "wrong",according to AP.

Makdessi said that Annan hadfailed so far to submit to the Syriangovernment "written guaranteesregarding the acceptance of armedterrorist groups to halt violence withall its forms and their readiness to laydown weapons".

At the same time, Annan urgedSyria's government to fullyimplement its commitment to theceasefire, and he condemned "a surgein violence and atrocities" that isoccurring there.

Annan said in a statement onSunday that the fighting is causing"alarming levels of casualties, refugeesand displaced persons" and that it muststop.

On Thursday, a UN presidentialstatement raised the possibility of"further steps'' if Syria did notimplement the peace plan outlined byAnnan, which Assad agreed to onMarch 25.

A boy flashes a victory sign during a demonstration against Syria"sPresident Bashar Al-Assad in Kafranbel, near Idlib April 6, 2012.

Afghanistan and US sign ‘night raid’ deal

The Afghan government hasreached a crucial deal withthe US to take control of

controversial night raids fromAmerican forces.

During a meeting of hisnational security councilyesterday, President Hamid Karzaiapproved a memorandum ofunderstanding on "Afghanisationof special operations on Afghan soil,"the president's office said in astatement.

The document was signed onSunday by General Abdul RahimWardak, Afghan defence minister,and the US commander of NATOforces, General John Allen.

"Today we are one step closer tothe establishment of the US-Afghan

strategic partnership. Mostimportantly, today we are one stepcloser to our shared goal and visionof a secure and sovereignAfghanistan," Allen said at the deal'ssigning.

Details were not immediatelyreleased, but the name of thememorandum suggests that it willapply to a range of quick-strike raidsin villages, not just night-timeoperations.

Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith,reporting from Kabul, said theagreement will give the lead ofnight raids to the Afghan forces.

"NATO will tell you many ofthe raids are already led by Afghanforces, while maybe co-ordinatedwith foreign help," he said.


Easy does it: Tea picker scalesworld’s ricketiest ladder for£5-a-cup brewThere’s a fine line

between bravery andstupidity - as this

astonishing picture of a tea leafpicker climbing the world’swobbliest ladder shows.

Tea-lover Liu Lin clearly hasa head for heights after beingpictured scaling the ricketyladder in a bid to pluck the verybest ingredients for his renownedhome-made brew.

Mr Lin regularly scales the60ft plum blossom tree inShandong province, easternChina, using his custom builtladder.

The patched-up wooden step-up might struggle to pass UKhealth and safety laws but hasproved to be a reliable tool for thebrave tea producer.

Despite fast approachingpension age, the 60-year-old hasno fear of the dizzying heights heclimbs without any safetyequipment.

The tea blender believes theTy-View tree blossom gives off apowerful, sweet aroma which Liureserves for his best customers at£5 a pop.

Don't look down: Tea-lover Liu Lin has got a head for heights(Picture: Europics)

Commode rage: Baffled drivers found it anything but a publicconvenience (EuroPics)

Petrified postmen ordered to stayaway from Snowball the catFrightened postal workers

have been banned fromdelivering letters to one

notoriously hazardous addressafter being repeatedly ‘attacked’by a three-year-old cat calledSnowball.

Following a thoroughinvestigation the Royal Mail hasstopped its workers fromdelivering mail to the addressafter labelling the black andwhite moggy a ‘health andsafety risk’.

Despite being described as‘absolutely harmless’ by ownerIan Wilkinson, the UK’s postalservice said Snowball posed an‘unacceptably high level of risk’.

Royal Mail said threeemployees suffered ‘quite deepcuts’ after all being attacked bythe 10inch tall feline.

Mr Wilkinson, 46, said he was

shocked when he received aletter from Royal Mail saying itsworkers would no longer bedelivering mail to his home inPeterborough, Cambridgeshire.

The letter said the postal banwill continue until he has founda way of stopping Snowball fromattacking its workers.

The computer analyst said:‘It’s utterly ridiculous.

‘I have never seen her attacka person. Sometimes she sniffspeople’s feet when they comeover for dinner - that’s as viciousas she gets.’

He also said he could not seehow it was possible for his pet tohave attacked the three posties:‘Although I acknowledge thatmy cat is a very intelligentanimal, she is not able to lift upa spring loaded flap, keep it open,push her paw through a double

brush guard and maul anunsuspecting delivery person inthe time it take to delivery of theletter.’

‘I respect postmen come outin all sorts of weather conditions,but they are in serious danger ofmaking the Post Office alaughing stock.’

A neighbour added:‘Snowball is a lovely cat andfriendly. I can’t imagine herever attacking anybody.’

However Royal Mail hasinsisted Mr Wilkinson will notreceive any mail until an‘alternative safe delivery point’has been put in place.

A spokesman added: ‘Thereare around 4,000 animalattacks a year on Royal Mailpeople. ‘These attacks causegreat distress and in too manycases serious injuries.’

Crocodile gets a prime spot in thesun after mistaking hippo for a rock

This is the amazing momenta baby crocodile confused agiant hippo with a rock – and

clambered on top of it for a snoozein the sun.

Even when the hippo began tomove, the cheeky croc didn’t getthe hint and stayed in position forabout 15 minutes beforeswimming off.

The moment was caught oncamera in South Africa’s KrugerNational Park by field guideRichard Millar.

The 21-year-old had beentaking a photograph of the hippowhen the young crocodile suddenlyemerged.

Mr Millar said: ‘I came across

You’re my rock: This giant hippo doesn’t seem to mind a babycrocodile hitching a ride on his back (Picture: BNPS)

this hippo in the water which atfirst had a heron on its back thenall of a sudden, this small crocodilecrawled up one side of it and justsat on its back.

‘It must have thought it was arock in the water so chilled out onit for a while. They are cold-bloodedcreatures so need to rest in the sun.

‘Hippos and crocodiles aren’trivals in the wild – a hippo maytry and bite a crocodile but onlywhen it feels its young isthreatened.

‘It was a complete once-in-a-lifetime situation. I am pretty sureI will never get anotherphotograph like that for the rest ofmy life.’

Snowball has scared off three petrified postal workers (Picture: Ben Davis / Newsteam).

Romanian policebaffled after mysterytoilet appears as iffrom nowhere

Romanian police officershave been left perplexedafter a mystery portable

toilet appeared overnight inthe middle of a busy highstreet.

Police investigators cannotexplain the sudden appearanceof the loo and currently haveno leads to go on.

Baffled motorists wereforced to swerve around thegrey and orange publicinconvenience after itappeared overnight in themiddle of a road in theRomanian city of Cluj-Napoca.

Police were called to theincident and checked to see ifanyone was trapped inside theportable toilet, but left withoutmoving the troublesome plasticcontainer.

A frustrated driver wasforced to get out of his vehicleand move it himself afterbecoming fed up of having toavoid the lavatory.

A police spokesman said:‘No-one knows how it got there.

‘Whether it was put therefor a joke or fell off the back of atruck. No-one has come forwardto claim it.’


Study findscaffeine andexercise ‘worktogether toward off skincancer’

Caffeine and exercise maywork together to ward offskin cancer, research

suggests.An early study found the

combination reduced thenumber of skin tumours incancer-prone mice by 62 percent. Tumours also shrank by 85per cent in treated animals.

Study leader Dr Yao-Ping Lu,from Rutgers Ernest Mario Schoolof Pharmacy in New Jersey, US,said: ‘We found that thiscombination treatment candecrease sunlight-caused skincancer formation in a mousemodel.

‘I believe we may extrapolatethese findings to humans andanticipate that we would benefitfrom these combinationtreatments as well.’

Mice exercised on a runningwheel after being given a dose ofcaffeine.

Both caffeine and exercisealone produced positive effects,but the benefit was greater whenthe two were combined.

Mice treated with caffeinealone had 27% fewer tumoursthan untreated mice and theircancers were 61% smaller.

In exercise-only mice,tumour activity decreased by35% and tumour volume by70%.

Caffeine and exercise also ledto a weight reduction of 63% inmice fed a high fat diet.

Dr Lu believes the commonlink is inflammation, whichdropped as much as 92% in micegiven the combinationtreatment.

The findings were presentedat the American Association forCancer Research annual meetingin Chicago.


Make it soy: Drinking two glasses of soya milk a day for more than six weeks reduced hot flushsymptoms up to 26 per cent

Drinking soya milk twice aday does reduce hot flushes

A study has found that thecombination of caffeine andexercise lower the risk of skincancer

Soy has long been mooted asan ingredient for easing thesymptoms of the

menopause.Now in the most

comprehensive study to date,researchers have found that twodaily servings of soy can reducethe frequency and severity of hotflashes by up to 26 percentcompared to a placebo.

A team from the Universityof Delaware reviewed 19previous studies that examinedthe effect of the protein source onmore than 1,200 women.

The effectiveness of soy inalleviating hot flushes has up tonow been inconclusive, withsome studies suggesting soy to bebeneficial and others suggestingotherwise.

The authors of the latest studyargue much of the discrepancy isdue to small sample sizes andinconsistent methodology,according to the authors.

‘When you combine them all,we’ve found the overall effect isstill positive,’ said study authorMelissa Melby.

Soy protein comes fromsoybeans - a legume native toEast Asia. Two glasses of soya milkor seven ounces of tofu provideapproximately 50mg ofisoflavones, which appear toprovide the beneficial effect.

The team found ingesting atleast 54mg of soy isoflavonesdaily for six weeks to a yearreduces menopause hot flushfrequency by 20.6 per cent andseverity by 26 per cent,compared to a placebo.

The authors added thatwomen who took soy for morethan 12 weeks saw a threefoldgreater drop in hot flushescompared to those in shortertrials.

The studies also revealed thatisoflavone supplements withhigher levels (at least 19mg) ofthe genistein type, were morethan twice as effective.

Prof Melby said this was

particularly notable because thecompound is the primaryisoflavone in soybeans and soyfoods.

‘Eating soy foods, or usingsupplements derived from wholesoybeans, may work better forwomen,’ she said.

Soy first became of interest asa treatment for the menopauseafter scientists observedJapanese women - who ate soy

all their lives - experienced fewerhot flushes.

‘Soy is probably more effectivein these women. But if you’re 50and you’ve never touched soy,it’s not too late. We’ve found thatit still helps,’ said Prof Melby.

The findings were publishedin Menopause: The Journal of theNorth American MenopauseAssociation.


How Tai Chi in later life is good for the heartPractising the ancient martial

art of tai chi can boost elderlypeople’s hearts, a study has

found.Older subjects who regularly

performed the traditional Chinesemind-body exercise now enjoyedworldwide were less likely to sufferhigh blood pressure and werephysically stronger.

Researchers said a work-outwhich can achieve both good heartfunction and muscle power ‘wouldbe a preferred mode of training’ forthis group of society.

Heart pulse measurementsshowed it improved expansion andcontraction of the arteries - knownas arterial compliance - andincreased knee muscle strength.

A number of studies haveshown strength training toimprove muscle function andoffset the effects of ageing have alsobeen accompanied by a decline inarterial compliance.

Tai Chi could be a suitableexercise for older people to avoidthis problem, according to thefindings published online in theEuropean Journal of PreventiveCardiology.

Arterial stiffness - when anartery fails to distend or reboundin response to pressure changes - isclosely associated withcardiovascular diseases.

So arterial compliance has beenidentified as an important predictorof heart health in the elderly and atherapeutic target for physicalexercise in the prevention ofcardiovascular disease.

The study involved 65 elderlysubjects from Hong Kong, 29recruited from local Tai Chi clubswho had each practised it for atleast 90 minutes hours a week forthree years and 36 controls with

no such experience.Initial results showed the Tai

Chi subjects were better in almostall medical observations includingblood pressure, vascular resistanceand pulse pressure.

Measurements also showedthat both large and small arterycompliance was significantlyhigher in the Tai Chi group (by40-44per cent).

Additional analysis showed

that the Tai Chi subjects hadgreater average muscle strength.

Tai Chi is well known for itsaerobic affects. The effect of Tai Chitraining in lowering blood pressurehas also been extensivelyreviewed.

Principal investigator DrWilliam Tsang from the The HongKong Polytechnic University inHong Kong said: ‘However this isthe first study to investigate thepossible effects of Tai Chi on arterialcompliance by comparing olderTai Chi practitioners with non-practitioners similar in age andactivity level.

‘The improvement in arterialcompliance could have resultedfrom a combination of aerobictraining, stretching, mentalconcentration and calmmeditation during Tai Chimovement.’

The study findings showedolder Tai Chi practitioners havebetter arterial compliance andknee muscle strength than theirhealthy counterparts.

And because it can be practisedany time and anywhere withoutthe constraints of equipment or agymnasium Dr Tsang said it couldbe a good exercise strategy for olderadults, both for heart health andmuscle strengthening.

Source: Dailymail.co.ukBenefits: Older subjects who regularly performed Chinese tai chi wereless likely to suffer high blood pressure and were physically stronger


Not very many can bethat lucky to be 64years of age and

statesmen of no mean repute.April 8, 2012, President of theSenate, Distinguished Senator(Dr.) David AlechenuBonaventure Mark reachedthat milestone. Many arguethat age is just a number, butwe must acknowledge that notmany have been blessed withthe grace of the almighty Godto attain a milestone such as 64years of age. For Mark though,age is more than just anumeric figure; it representsthe totality of the value he hasbeen able to add to life, hisfamily, his community andthe nation. It is in living life tothe fullest, not for the solebenefit of the self but to thelarger advantage of the many.

Born (without a silverspoon) in the nondescript andsleepy village of Akpegede inOtukpo local government areaof Benue state in the 1948,Mark seem to have beendestined for the top. Aftercompleting his primary schoolat St. Francis CatholicPracticing School, Otukpo,Mark proceeded to theprestigious Nigerian MilitarySchool, Zaria where he laid thefoundation for what turned outto become a remarkable careerin the military. Aftergraduation from the NigerianDefence Academy (NDA),Zaria, Mark's professional skillsin the military were furthersharpened in some of the mostelite military traininginstitutes in Europe, Asia andAmerica. What began as achildhood fancy to appear incrisp military camouflagesturned out to become afulfilling career where Mark'sleadership credentials stood asan invaluable asset to allformations that he had theprivilege to serve, not the leastof which was as Militarygovernor of Niger state andlater, CommunicationsMinister.

But whatever exploits Markachieved during his sojourn inthe military pales toinsignificance compared to hisremarkable stewardship on thepolitical turf. Agreed, battlesfought in military combatcould be ferocious and deadly.Yet they appeared simplerwhen compared to politicalbattles. In the former, thebattle lines are fairly clear andthe enemy is more often thannot, known. For the latter, theenemy is more often than not,the seemingly innocentneighbour next door, theapparent political ally or the

David Mark: Still making his marks @ 64.

Sen. David Mark

By Paul Mumeh

ubiquitous godfather. Herethere are no battle lines, noclear enemies and the theatresof war are so fluid as to beindistinguishable. It goeswithout saying therefore thatpolitical battles are moredifficult to prosecute, and farless easy to win. It is againstthis backdrop that we cansafely say that winningpolitical wars demands muchmore than brawns and thequality and quantity of thearsenal in the armory. Itdemands a lot of politicalsavvy, prime amongst whichis the ability to commandfollowership. And this is whereDavid Mark's leadershipcredentials have buffeted thegrand posturing of his politicalopponents and traducers.

When Mark, on the returnof democracy in 1999 decidedto try his hand in partisanpolitics, many looked at him asjust another ex-military manseeking to satisfy yet anothercraving for power andrelevance. But as we wouldsuddenly realize, here was aman whose heart was out therewith the people, the commonmen and women in the streets.Mark had no illusions about thetoughness of the task he wasabout to undertake, but hiseyes were trained on theobjective-to first win thepeople's hearts, then votes;which comes with a hugeopportunity and privilege torepresent his Benue SouthSenatorial District in thesenate. This, again for Markwas just a means to an end-the

opportunity to serve and addvalue to the lives of hisconstituents.

The rest, as the old sayinggoes, is now history. Markcontested the election and wona seat to the Senate in 1999,2003, 2007 and 2011.Expectedly and characteristicsof politics in our clime,virtually all the elections wereacrimonious, bitterly foughtand won, to state it mildly. Tobe sure, they were those whofelt that going into the senate,or any political office for thatmatter was "a turn-by-turn"arrangement, where people"will come and chop", as we sayin local parlance in this part ofthe world, and give way forothers. That is why even whenhis opponents were trouncedresoundingly at the polls, theythought victory and thepeoples' mandate could besecured through the back door-the law courts.

But Mark had a dream, avision and mission in the

National Assembly- to redefinethe parameters of leadershipwhere service to the people isthe cornerstone. It is this newvision of leadership that Markespoused in his first two termsin the senate, 'marking' him outas one of the most outstandinglawmakers of the 4th and 5thsenate. It therefore left little tothe imagination, when in2007; Mark contested andreceived the overwhelmingmandate of his colleagues tolead the Senate as its Presidentin an open, transparent anddemocratic process. Thatelection was significant inseveral respects, not least ofwhich was the rebirth of truedemocracy in the senate.

That was the first time in along while that the leadershipof either House of the nationallegislature emerged through ademocratic process. There is thetendency to miss the hugesignificance of that epochalevent, but it bears mentioningthat the sanity, stability andthe now entrenched democraticculture prevailing in theSenate today is a direct resultof that seemingly innocuousdemocratic exercise. And wemust never miss the point,again that David Mark was, andremains the symbol of thattransformation. If our memorydoes not fail us, we would recallthe chicanery that was thehallmark of legislativepractices and procedures pre-David Mark's ascendancy to theleadership of the Red Chamberof the National Assembly. Ittherefore speaks loudly to theastute leadership qualities of theSenate President that theseveral hurricanes andtsunamis that used to sweepwith profound regularity in theupper chamber, and hadbrought to a premature end tothe vaunting proclivities ofmany a Senate Presidents havebecome a welcome bygone sinceMark assumed office in 2007.

David Mark has alwayspursued the pan-Nigeriaagenda. The senate under hisleadership has earned areputation for itself for standing

up for the ordinary citizen onthe street through the passageof laws and motions that aimto improve the materialcondition of their existence andstabilize the polity. In thiswise, two criticalinterventions of the Senate ata time of grave national perilbear some mentioning- theinvocation of the Doctrine ofNecessity in the wee hours ofthe Late Yar'Adua Presidencyto rescue Nigeria from theabyss and the mediatory roleit played during theconflagration spurned by thefuel subsidy removal earlier inthe year. In a country so usedto holding the nationallegislature to blame for allmanner of ills plaguing thenation, the role of the Senatein the situations underreference was not only awelcome and most desirablebreathe of fresh air, but morepoignantly gave strongindication that we are notdoomed after all. No one canquite reasonably argue thatthe resolution of those epochalcrises were a merehappenstance. To thecontrary, the strongleadership provided by theSenate President during thosetrying periods played morethan significant role in thefinal outcome of those events.Gradually but surely, we arebeginning to once again reposesome measure of hope in ourpublic institutions, in thisinstance the NationalAssembly under theleadership of David Mark notonly to stand up to the defenseof the public and nationalinterest, but also to drive thesort of change that the nationso badly craves.

As Mark turns 64 today,our only hope and prayer isthat the Almighty Godcontinues to endow him withthe needed strength andwisdom to carry to logicalconclusion at the end of histerm, the radicaltransformation and evolutionthat the 6th and 7th senate hascome to witness under him.Needless to add that all theaccolades and recognitionsthat are daily being bestowedon the President of the Senateare well deserved. But morepoignantly, there are a call tospur him for further dedicationand selfless service to ourfatherland in the days, weeks,months and years to come.

Many Happy Returns, Mr.Senate President, the man thegavel fits.

Paul Mumeh, the ChiefPress Secretary to thePresident of the Senatewrote from Abuja.

“Mark had no illusions about the toughnessof the task he was about to undertake, buthis eyes were trained on the objective-tofirst win the people's hearts, then votes;which comes with a huge opportunity andprivilege to represent his Benue South

Senatorial District in the senate


The Peoples DemocraticParty, (PDP) and theHouse of Representatives

have enjoined Christians nationwideto imbibe the virtues of love andpeace as they celebrate the deathand resurrection of Jesus Christ thisEaster.

The PDP in a release signed byits National Publicity Secretary,Chief Olisa Metuh, and madeavailable to newsmen at theweekend stated “The NationalChairman of our great Party, Dr.Bamanga Turkur on behalf of theNational Executive Committee,(NEC) rejoices with Christians inNigeria and the world over on theoccasion of Easter. At thischallenging period in the life of ournation, I wish to enjoin all of us tocontinue to work together for theunity, peace and progress of Nigeriajust like Christ the Prince of Peacewhose supreme sacrifice over 2000years ago brought freedom tomankind.

“This year’s Easter offers us agood opportunity to soberly reflecton our relationship with God andour dear nation. The lessons ofEasther which are summarised insacrifice, love and forgiveness shouldguide

every Nigerian so that inwhatever circumstances ofchallenge, we should look inwards,show love and put our nation first.”

According to the statement, thePDP is using the occasion of Eastherto also call on Nigerians of all faith totolerate and live in peace with oneanother since neither Christianitynor Islam, the two major religionsin the country advocates violence.“Let us all embrace peace and shunthe vicious sermons of those whourge us to violence as a way to settlinggrievances.”

Similarly, Speaker of the Houseof Representatives, Rt Hon AminuWaziri Tambuwal CFR, has calledfor mutual respect among adherentsof various faiths in the country,saying such would guaranteepeaceful coexistence amongdifferent religions in Nigeria.

In his Easter message issued inAbuja yesterday and signed by hisSpecial Adviser on Media and PublicAffairs, Malam Imam Imam,Tambuwal urged all Nigerians tounite and confront the security andother development challenges facingthe nation.

He also urged all Nigerians torededicate themselves to the serviceof God, their nation and humanity.

“I implore Nigerians to use theEaster period to renew their faith inGod and strengthen the bond offriendship and brotherhood whichhave held the country united sincethe amalgamation in 1914.

“Among the essence of Easter issacrifice,love for humanity and totalsubmission to the will of God. Thesevirtues should not be lost on usNigerians. We should continue topray for a peaceful Nigeria that willbe a pride to us and the futuregeneration,” the Speaker added.

Tambuwal reiterated thecommitment of the House ofRepresentatives to efforts in buildinga peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

PDP, Repspreach peace,love at EasterThe Taraba chapter of the

Congress for ProgressiveChange (CPC) was reopened

at the weekend after thedetermination of a protracted legaltussle between two factions.

Re-opening the office at weekendat Mayo goi-Jalingo, the CPCgubernatorial candidate in lastyear’s general election, MuhammedBello Mustapha, said the office wasclosed because of court injunctionwhich ordered the two factions of theparty in the state to do so pendingthe determination of a case betweenthem.

Mustapha popularly known asM.B Mustapha said his factionwhich was the true faction of theCPC in the state was law abiding andadhered to the court order by closingthe office.

The CPC gubernatorial flag-bearer said the reopening of the officefollowed the determination of thecase in his favor between him andAhmed Yusuf by a Federal AppealCourt which confirmed hiscandidature.

According to him, the verdict ofthe Federal Appeal Court in his favorhad been circulated to relevantagencies which already recognizedhis faction as the only CPC in Tarabastate.

He said that leadership comesfrom God and that he depended onGod for solution to his problems.

Mustapha announced thecommencement of the sale of intentand nomination forms toChairmanship and Councillorshipaspirants of the party, saying thatprimary election towards theforthcoming local government

CPC reopens Taraba’s chapter after legal tussleelection in the state would beconducted on Sunday, 8th May2012.

He promised that the partywould provide a level playingground for aspirants as there was nosacred cow in the party. Mustaphaexpressed optimism that Nigeriawould change for the better withgood leaders and condemned thenotion in some quarters thatNigeria would not progress.

Earlier, the state ActingChairman of the party, ThomasSimon Gajiga, thanked themembers of the party in the state

for their patience and perseverancewhile the court case lasted.

He announced that intent formsfor Chairmanship aspirants costN10,000 while the NominationForm costs N100,000.

He added that Intent Form forCouncillorship aspirants costN5,000 while the nomination formwould cost N10,000.

The Acting state CPC Chairmansaid the forms were to be submittedto the State secretariat of the partyon or before Monday 9th of April2012.

Gajiga warned that any aspirant

2015 : Presidency is forthe North, says Lawmaker

machinery has to commencetowards ensuring that the desiredobjective is achieved.

He said that there could bealignment and re-alignment ofpolitical forces that couldculminate to the unity of theNorthern political elementsworking towards common goal.

“We have to agree to cometogether, we will have to agree tosuccumb ourselves to be united,we have to agree to be able toproduce a President who will beliked by everybody, that’s my

opinion”, Sade said.The Lawmaker noted that the

2015 Presidency was for theNorth going by the power rotationagreed upon by the political class,hence it was left to the Northernersto sit together, digest andexamine whom they think couldbe the best President amongaspirants come 2015 polls.

On the speculations thatPresident Goodluck Jonathanwould contest the Presidency in2015, the lawmaker said everyNigerian was entitled to his/her

own opinion as guaranteed in theConstitution.

Sade also asserted thatJonathan could not work inisolation to alter or amend aprovision of the Constitution toachieve his political agenda.

“The President cannot do italone, he has other people to workwith, but he has not yet informedthe people to work with, so allow itwhen he convinces the people towork with for whatever he plansto do, that could be better”, Sadeconcluded.

By Lawrence Olaoye

From Yusha’U Alhassan, Jalingo

L-R: Ondo state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, discussing with Ogun state Govenor, Senator IbikunleAmosun, during the Nigeria Governors Forum meeting, recently in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

who sought for nomination in afaction of the CPC that was notrecognized by law had done so in hisperil. He advised members of theparty to be in their various wardson Sunday (yesterday) to nominatecandidates of their choice.

Chairman Elders’ Forum of theparty in the state, Ibrahim MangaJalo, and Chairman ALGON CPC inthe state, Babarabe Ismaila, as wellas other speakers at the occasionthanked God for the conclusion of theappeal case in favour of Mustaphaand prayed that the CPC in the statewould move to greater height.

A member of the House ofR e p r e s e n t a t i v e srepresenting Ganjuwa/

Darazo federal constituency, RepUmar Abubakar Sade, hasexpressed optimism that theNorth would get the Presidencycome 2015.

Sade made the assertion inBauchi at the weekend, sayingthat though it was too early tostart talking about the 2015elections, the necessary political

Ahead of July 14th 2012governorship election in EdoState, former President, Chief

Olusegun Obanjo and his wife havepaid unscheduled visit to the Edo stategovernor, Adams Oshiomhole.

His discussion with the governorwas not clear.

But suspicion has it that theformer President may have come toendorse the ruling Action Congress ofNigeria, ACN governor for the secondterm.

Obasanjo convoy touched theparking lodge at the privateresidence of the governor at about 2pm on yesterday amidst tightSecurity.

On interrogation, the formerBoard of trustee, BoT Chairman ofPeoples Democratic Party, PDP, whohad announced his retirement frompartisan politics, said:' I cannot bepassing through Benin City and I donot say hello to my friend; this thingmust not be heard on the Media. I 'llpay another visit to the governor andthen we 'll talk to you, the governor

will talk, I 'll talk and then we 'll playtogether'.

Asked why he resigned frompartisan politics, he said, 'Today is notfor talk'.

In the meantime, Edo stategovernor, Adams Oshiomhole hasagain reinstated his commitment tochallenge the PDP governorshipcandidate in the state, Major Gen.Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd.), to a publicdebate.

Oshiomhole told the PDPcandidate that he owed the electoratesand Nigerians an explanation over

Edo Guber Poll: Obasanjo visits Oshiomholewhy he was allegedly incarceratedbefore his retirement.

He recalled how he was detainedseveral times for breach of public peacewhen he led the Nigeria LabourCongress (NLC) protests, noting thatrecords of his deeds are traceable, evenat magistrates Courts.

When you were restrained, whatwas it for? I have been detained formany times including breach of publicpeace at magistrate Courts, what wereyou detained for? We'll know whenthe time comes for debate and electionday.

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin


Proposed bill for Community CouncilGovernment raises dust in ImoThe inclusion of traditional

rulers as members of theCommunity Council

Government dominated theweekend public hearing on the billseeking to provide for grass rootsadministration in Imo.

The bill before the ImoAssembly provides for lifemembership of the traditionalruler of each autonomouscommunity in the localadministration, which Gov.Rochas Okorocha earlier termed“fourth tier government”.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the bill furtherprovides for five-membercommunity council government,four of whom will be elected except

the traditional ruler. The Nigerian Labour Congress

(NLC), Imo chapter, said it rejectedthe bill because it violated theconstitution and called on the statelegislature to jettison it.

In his presentation, the NLCChairman, Comrade R.A.Anyadike, said that “the saidfourth tier government” wouldencroach into local governmentadministration and politicisetraditional stool in the state.

“The proposed fourth tiergovernment will create problemsat the various autonomouscommunities who have astructure and zoning policies ofhow their leaders will emerge,’’ headded.

In his presentation, theChairman of Imo State Council ofTraditional Rulers, Eze SamuelOhiri, argued that the inclusion oftraditional rulers in the proposedcouncil was in order.

Ohiri said that governmentand the people had realised theneed for the involvement oftraditional rulers in local, state andnational governments.

The chairman said thatinvolving royal fathers ingovernance was not alien to thepeople because traditional rulershad been playing key roles incommunity development.

Ada Chidume-Okoro in apresentation on behalf of wivesof the traditional rulers, called

for their active involvement inthe government, saying thatthey were marginalised.

“We request that thecommunity’s Ùgoeze’ beaccorded the respect,importance and recognitionwhich she deserves in thecommunity government as theoverall head of women affairs.’’

Ugoeze is the general title forwives of traditional rulers inIgboland.

“We request that a palaceallowance be paid her monthlyfrom the communitygovernment purse to enable heradminister the palace,entertain guests and look afterthe less privileged,” she said.

In his presentation, thePresident, Association of PublicPolicy Analysis, Mr PrincewillOkorie, said the bill was desirablebecause it would ensure rapiddevelopment in the state and bringgovernance closer to the people.

Also, the Chairman, OkigweZonal Council of Town Union ChiefKenneth Iwundu and his Owerricounterpart, Chief Emekwa Ikechi,said the local administration wouldensure development in the ruralareas.

Both chairmen called for theremoval of traditional rulers fromthe council since they werecustodians of the people’s cultureand should be left out of partisanpolitics, adding that they couldplay advisory role in the newarrangement.

NAN reports that variousorganisations and individualsincluding the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) and Imo RescueMission Agenda madepresentations.

The Speaker of the House,Benjamin Ejimogu had earlier saidthat the bill was government’sanswer to lack of accelerated socio-economic development in thecommunities. (NAN)

Some delegates waiting to cast their votes, during the state congress of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), recently in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

Enugu legislator calls for financial autonomyA member of Enugu State

House of Assembly, Mr.Erochukwu Ugwueze, has

restated the called for financialautonomy in the legislature tomake it function effectively.

Ugwueze, representing Igbo-EzeSouth Constituency, made the callat a retreat organised for membersof the State Executive Council, thelegislators and local governmentchairmen in Enugu on Thursday.

He said insufficiency fundingwas one of major challenges of the

legislature, and urged theappropriate authorities to start aprocess that could result in fullautonomy of the legislature.

“We need financial autonomyso that we do not depend on anyother level of government indischarging our duties; sometimes,over-dependence on other levels ofgovernment influences our jobs,’’he said.

Speaking at the retreat, Prof.Chinedu Nebo, the Vice Chancellorof the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti,

urged government officials at alllevels to ensure efficient andeffective service delivery to thepeople.

He said that a constantconsultation with the people wasnecessary for the government tosucceed.

The Chairman of PentecostalFellowship of Nigeria, Bishop ObiOnubuogu, appealed to theparticipants at the retreat to reflectChristianity in their duties.

Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu

urged the participants to reflect thelessons from the retreat in theirduties.

Represented by the Secretary tothe State Government, Mr AmechiOkolo, the governor called for moreretreats for government officials inthe state to re-examine andevaluate public officers.

Some government officials whospoke at the retreat cited inadequatefund, over-dependence, corruptionand lack of information as deterrentsto effective service delivery.

As the rainy season sets in,the Bayelsa Governmentsays it is set to tackle the

perennial poor drainage in thestate.

Gov. Seriake Dickson statedthis while inaugurating theBayelsa state InfrastructuralAdvisory Committee atthe Government House, Yenagoa,on Thursday.

He said the need to checkmatethe drains became necessarybecause the problem had become“a source of great concern to thepeople of Yenagoa”.

Dickson urged the committeeto set as its main task, thedevelopment of a blue print oncritical infrastructure for the state.

The governor asked thecommittee to come up with apreliminary report thatwould clearly highlight theproblems militating against anefficient drainage before its mainreport would be ready.

He said the report shouldinclude solutions to the problems.

“Your duty is to develop a blueprint on critical infrastructure,compile a comprehensive list of allon-going projects in Yenagoa.

“You are also expected to take areview of the Yenagoa Master Planwith a view to correcting anyshortcomings.

“In addition, I will want thecommittee to take a holistic look atthe drainage with a view tosuggesting ways to make thedrainage more efficient.”

Dickson said that other terms ofreference included thedevelopment of a framework forpartnership with otherdevelopment partners in theprovision of critical infrastructure.

The governor said that hewithdrew the budget submitted bythe previous regime because it didnot meet the developmentaspirations of the presentadministration.

He advised the members tosubmit an interim report on thedrainage situation ofYenagoa within one week.

Dickson said this was necessaryso that the recommendations regarding finances could becaptured in the budget to be re-presented to the State House ofAssembly.

Responding, the Chairman ofthe committee, Sir Charles Dorgu,promised that the committee “willget down to businessimmediately”.

He requested for a secretariatto facilitate the assignment of thecommittee.

Dorgu assured the governor ofthe willingness of the committee towork assiduously, sayingthat members would not betraythe confidence reposed in them.

He thanked the governor forgiving the members theopportunity to serve the people inthat capacity.

DicksoninauguratesBayelsaInfrastructuralcommittee

Akwa Ibom Chairman,Conference of NigerianPolitical Parties (CNPP), Mr.

Linus Udofia, said on Friday that theparty was ready for the local councilpolls slated for June this year.

Udofia told the News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) in Uyo that electionof councillors and chairmeninto the councils would hold on June9.

“The leadership of all politicalparties in the state met with officialsof the Akwa Ibom state IndependentElectoral Commission (AKISIEC)and agreed for the election to holdas scheduled.

“We were asked to go andprepare for the election; the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) conductedprimaries for councillors onThursday and will conduct for

chairmen this Saturday.“In fact, all political parties are

in full preparation to file incandidates for the election,’’ Udofiasaid.

He expressed optimism that thecommission would act as anunbiased umpire and conduct a free,fair and acceptable election.

On the chances of other politicalparties winning, the chairman said

CNPP ready for LG election in Akwa Ibom — Udofiathat everybody had a fair chance towin in the election if the commissionwould do its job well.

The chairman expressed hisdispleasure to a publication in one ofthe local dailies that he had called forthe suspension of the election.

“CNPP frown at such publicationbeing carried without our consentwhich is capable of distabilising thepolitical peace of this state,” he added.


Former Vice-President AtikuAbubakar has urgedNigerians to imbibe the spirit

of love and sacrifice as they celebrateEaster.

In an Easter goodwill messageissued by his Media Office in Abuja,Atiku enjoined Christians andindeed all Nigerians to internalizethe spiritual gains and benefits ofthe season for an improved society.

He admonished Christians toemulate Jesus Christ by hisexemplary unconditional love andsacrifice to the people.

According to him, this is theonly path to enthroning a Nigeriaof equal rights, peace and justice.

“We need to promote love foranother, be our brothers and sisterskeepers and above all make sacrificean integral part of our existence.That is the only way the sacrifice ofJesus Christ on the cross will makemeaning in our own daily lives andthe life of our nation,” Atiku said.

The former Vice Presidentreiterated that nation buildingcalled for huge sacrifice and fellow-feeling both from the leaders andthe led.

“Nigeria will never realize itsmanifest destiny as a great nationcapable of playing leading role inworld until we begin to care for oneanother and this will translate toimmense love for our country,” hesaid.

Atiku preachessacrifice andlove at Easter

The National headquartersoffice of African LiberationParty (ALP) at the weekend

was gutted by fire with propertiesand office equipment worth millionsof naira destroyed.

The office located in Garki Area11 of Abuja, we learnt, was guttedrecently through an allegedelectrical fault.

Sources said the fire started inone of the law offices in the buildingcomplex before it spread to otheroffices including the party office.

Eye witness who spoke oncondition of anonymity said the firemay have been as a result of a faultyelectrical appliance in the law firm.

Efforts to speak to occupants ofthe complex including the allegedlaw chamber proved abortive.

However, when reached ontelephone, the National Chairmanof ALP, Chief Emmanuel OsitaOkereke, said he was in Owerriwhen he got the news of the fireincident.

According to the Partychieftain, “I was called and informedof what happened but I thank Godthat there are no casualties in theinferno.”

Reacting to the incident by theFederal Capital Territory PoliceSpokesman, Jimoh Moshood said hewas not aware but that he willconfirm and get back. But as at thetime of filing this report, he has yetto react.

Fire guts ALPheadquartersin AbujaBy Lambert Tyem

L-R: Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, with Country Manager, British Airways, Mr. KolaOlayinka, during an investigative hearing of high fare charges by international airline, at the National Assembly recently in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kebbi CPC appointscaretaker committeeFollowing the defection of

some of its key membersto the Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP), the Congress forProgressive Change (CPC), has

set up a caretaker committeeof six members, headed by IsahShehu Idris, to take charge ofthe affairs of the party.

Other members include;Alh. Auwal M. Argungu, Hon.Garba A. Bagudu, Alh.

Hassan Jega, Alh. Umaru B.Wasagu and Abubakar L.Usama.

This was contained in acommuniqué issued by theparty's National Secretary,Engr. Buba Galadima, after

the party's NationalExecutive Meeting (NEC)meeting, adding that thecommittee would submit itsinterim report within thirtydays of i ts assumption ofoffice.

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Kebbi: No agreement with decampee, says PDP boss

The Kebbi state PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)’sChairman, Alhaji

Mansiru Sheahu, has debunkedthe insinuations makingrounds in the state that there

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi was an agreed position sharingformula with newly defectedmembers of the opposition beforethey decamped into the party.

Speaking to Peoples Dailyrecently, the Chairman urgedthose that decamped into theruling party to study the

party’s constitution andguidelines insisting that “whenthey are qualified and meet theguidelines to contest; they arefree to do so as they are equalwith any member.”

He said ‘’We are all one andwe’re ready to carry everybody

along, those are qualified willbe given position’’ he said.

Sheahu also called on thepoliticians in the state tosupport the presentadministrations both at thestate and federal level for themto succeed.

Let the fear of God guide you on July 14,HDP counsels Edo votersFrom Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

Governorship candidateof Hope DemocraticParty (HDP) in the

forthcoming July 14thgubernatorial election in thestate Mr. Idumonze, has urgedthe people of the state to allowthe fear of God guide theirconscience when casting theirvotes during the at the elction.

He stated this as part of hisEaster message to Nigerian ingeneral and Edo people inparticular which was madeavailable to newsmen inIbadan.

He maintained that unlessthis was done, the pastmistakes of electing wrongleaders into governorshipoffice in the state would be

repeated, adding that thisperiod, which symbolises thedeath and resurrection of JesusChrist, was the most auspiciousto take a position and alignwith HDP in view of thesuccessive failures ofgovernance in the state sincethe rebirth of democracy in1 9 9 9 .

He advised the good peopleof the state to resist and rejectthe attempt by the presentadministration to remain inoffice after four years in viewof its inability to deploytransformational ideas into thecritical sectors for economicrejuvenation.

Idumonza particularlylamented the recent death ofpromising students of EkpomaUniversity who got drown in

search of water.“The death of those students

was as a result of failedgovernance. We were told thatwater has been provided andcommissioned in Ekpoma withmuch fanfare, yet students gotdrown in a well in search ofwater. This is part of the deceitwe have always talked about.What is happening in thatinstitution at the momentcontrasts with the vision of Alli.The deceit has run full circle andit must stop on July 14,” he said.

He maintained that HDPremained committed toindustrializing the state whenvoted into office saying “we haveperfected all arrangements tocommence the industrializationof the State as soon as we take overoffice.”

“There is no other way toliberate Edo from the presentbackwardness other thanpromoting commercialactivities to productive level.

At the moment, nobody goesto Edo to look for job. Is it animpossibility? No, it is verypossible only when the rightidea is deployed with sincerity.

“In the past, job seekerswould besiege Benin and othertowns in the state for jobs. Butnot any longer; becausepresent and past PDPgovernment failed to do theneedful. No security and norobust implementable plans forfood sufficiency.

The sole objective of thedualisation of airport roadwhich has been stuck is to getit named after him”

By Lawrence Olaoye


The technical crew of theSuper Eagles will by the closeof work today unveil the 20-

man list of players that willconfront seventh times AfricanCup of Nations winners-thePharaohs of Egypt in Dubai onThursday.

This means that only five of the25 players currently sweating itout for places in the team will notbe listed for selection when theteam crashed against theEgyptians. This realised hasrather gingered the players tointensify efforts to secure one ofthe 20 slots.

Already, the Dan Amokachi ledcrew have assured that no playeris indispensable and that whethersome excelled against Rwanda ornot, every other player is on theblock and stressed that whoeverbraces the tape first in terms ofphysical and mental conditionstands the chance of being selected.

“When all the 25 players arehere and we assess their fitness andform the list will then be madepublic, at the moment we justhave an idea of those that willmake the trip, the final trainingwill help us with final decision”one of the coaches cravinganonymity declared.

According to him, after today’sfinal training session, the list ofthe 20 players will be madepublic, However, an official of theteam said there could be somechanges should the technical crewfind the need to do so.

It was equally confirmed thatthe Nigeria Football Federationmay have decided to take all theplayers in camp to Dubai to giveeveryone a sense of belongingmore so since is being decampedas yet.

Stephen Keshi

David Mark

The entire Super Eaglesteam has sent warmfelicitations to the

country’s number three citizenand Senate President, DavidMark on the occasion of his 64th

birthday.Team Coordinator,

Emmanuel Atta, said HeadCoach Stephen Keshi, sentwords from his base in theUnited States to wish the one-time Communication Minister,many more fruitful years in theservice of the nation andhumanity.

Keshi, he said, was speakingon behalf of all is assistants DanAmokachi, Sylvanus Okpala,Ike Shorunmi, HyundunouValere as well as players andofficials.

“We see the Senate Presidentas a true sportsman, as he hasall the time encouraged thenational team and has evenbeen sponsoring competitions inhis native Benue. We trust thathe will continue to not onlysupport the national team butthat the goodluck that has

trailed him over the years willrub off on the team, aspreparations reach fever pitchfor the Nations Cup and WorldCup qualifiers”, Keshi wasquoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagleswill depart Nigeria today for thefriendly against Egypt in DubaiUnited Arab Emirates.Travelling arrangements wereconcluded at the weekend byofficials of the NFF and Big BossStephen Keshi will join the teamin Dubai for the friendly today.

Louis Oosthuizen made analbatross and took the leadat the Masters. The South

African’s shot could join GeneSarazen’s as one of the mostfamous in the sport.

Oosthuizen holed out on thepar-5 second yesterday to post adouble-eagle 2, the rarest shot ingolf and the first time it’s beendone on that hole in the 76-yearhistory of the Masters.

In the blink of an eye, thealbatross moved Oosthuizen, the2010 British Open champion,from 7 to 10 under and into firstplace. He gave one of those shotsback on No. 4 but still had a one-shot lead over Phil Mickelson asthe leaders played the front

nine. Third-round leader PeterHanson was another shot backand Matt Kuchar and BubbaWatson were tied at 6 under.

Oosthuizen was in the fairway,about 260 yards out when heblasted an iron shot onto thefront, then watched it roll fromthe front of the green to the backand into the hole. He raised bothhands in the air, high-fived hiscaddie then jaunted down to thehole. He plucked the ball out andtossed it into the crowd. Somesouvenir.

Until this one, the most famousalbatross at Augusta was the oneSarazen knocked in on No. 15 enroute to a playoff victory in 1935known as the shot that put the

Masters on the map.Only a few minutes before

Oosthuizen took to the course, inthird place and two shots out ofthe lead, defending championCharl Schwartzel, predicted goodthings for his fellow SouthAfrican.

Oosthuizen wasn’t the only oneattacking Augusta Nationalfrom long range. Bo Van Pelt andAdam Scott aced the 16th hole.Van Pelt’s 1 was part of a roundof 8-under 64, tying the recordfor the best closing round intournament history.

The Van Pelt round made itclear there were good scores tobe had; bad ones were available,too.

Tiger Woods struggled for thefourth straight day, at 3 overwith one hole to play and 6 overfor the tournament. He was in atie for 44th, in jeopardy of hisworst Masters finish ever, pro oramateur.

Over four rounds, Woodsplayed the par-5s in acumulative 1 under. Oosthuizen,on the other hand, played thefirst one Sunday in 3-under par.

Oosthuizen makes an historic shotto take Augusta Masters lead

Godfrey Aboabana Izu Azuka

It was a mixed grill forNigerian teams vying forcontinental glory during

the weekend. First WarriWolves stopped FC Kallon 2-0in Warri, and then SunshineStars did the impossible bystunning Recreativo de Libolo3-0 to upturn a 4-1 deficit andoust the Angolans from the CAFChampions League yesterday.

The performance baffled thevisitors who claimed theynever thought their hugeadvantage would so easily betaken apart. But it was.

For their troubles, Sunshinewere rewarded with a specialcash reward of N900,000.Each goal was valued asN300,000. Sunshine thusadvanced to next stage of thecompetition on the away goals

rule after scores were deadlockedat 4-4 on aggregate. It would berecalled that in the first leg thegame had been on even keel until14 minutes to the final whistlewhen the Angolans went haywirerecording a three goal spree.

Yesterday in Ijebu-Ode,Sunshine Stars ensured therewas no such loss ofconcentration as they crafteddeftly to deny the Angolansany respite.

Super Eagles call up, IzuAzuka, opened scoring forSunshine in the 25th minute,before captain GodfreyOboabona made it 2-0 from thepenalty spot on the half hourafter Atanda Sakibu’s goal-bound shot was blocked withthe hands by an Angolanplayer. It was Oboabana’sseventh goals in recent week.

The defender had earlierearned the praises of Eagles

Head Coach Stephen Keshi forscoring six goals in the domesticleague.

Dele Olorundare thensecured the much desired thirdgoal to book Sunshine the ticketto the third round of the CAFChampions League with adiving header off an AjaniIbrahim cross in the 77thminute.

They will now clash with thewinners of the match betweenUganda Revenue Authority SCand Djoliba of Mali for the

chance to reach the money-spinning group stage of theannual competition.

In Garoau, Dolphins paiddearly for letting in one goal afortnight ago when they hostedCotonsport of Cameroon.

The Stanley Eguma tutoredside fought gamely to no availas the Camerronians secured avital 1-0 win to level up on 2-2aggregate scoreline and thuseject Dolphins out of theprestigious continentalcampaign.

SuperEaglesshortlistversusPharaohsout today

Eagles celebrate Mark at 64, asKeshi joins team today in Dubai

Lo

uis

Oo

sth

uiz

en

CAF Champions League: Sunshinesail through, Dolphins splutterStories by Patrick Andrew


It was all over forManchester City yesterdayfollowing their loss to

rampaging Arsenal whoseinspirational form lately hasstunned many of its foes.

In yesterday’s match at theEmirates, Mikel Arteta put adagger in the heart of City’stitle hopes with a 87th minutestrike that handed Arsenal a

deserved 1-0 win. It wastragedy for City whose rivalsManchester United had earlierin the day extended their leadat the top of the table to eightpoints. United defeated QPR 2-0.

City needed to win to keep upthe chase for the title alive.However, its gut went asunderas they did not only lose to thesuperior fire power of theGunners but regular ‘bad boy’Mario Balotelli sent off forrough play.

Manager Roberto Mancinihad to admit after the gamethat City would accept anyoffer for Mario at the end of theseason.

City though were fortunatenot to have conceded morethan the lone goal, as theGunners had struck thewoodwork three times beforethey finally found the back ofthe net through a great longrange goal from Arteta.

From kick off, the Gunnersdid have the better of theopening exchanges and Citysuffered an early set back whenYaya Toure had to leave thefield injured in the 15thminute.

A minute after departing thefield, the Citizens felt theabsence of Toure’s presencewhen trying to defend a corner-kick.

The ball was flicked on at the

front post and Robin Van Persie was quickest to react, but hesaw his six-yard header cleared off the goalline by his ownplayer as his effort struck Thomas Vermaelen and bouncedonto the crossbar and away from danger.

In the 20th minute Balotelli was lucky to still beon the field after the referee missed h i mmaking a dangerous studs-up tackleon Alex Song the Italian should havebeen shown a straight red butescaped.

Five minutes later and Balotelli wasunlucky not to find the back of the net afterhe saw a 12-yard effort cleared off the goalline but thearsenal defence.

The sides continued to exchange blows, but neither couldcreate any clear cut chances for the remainder of the half.

City had the first chance of the second 45 when SamirNasri supplied a teasing cross into the box in the 53rdminute which Sergio Aguero latched onto, but he saw histen-yard header superbly tipped over the crossbar byWojciech Szczesny.

Ten minutes later and Van Persie struck the woodworkfor the second time after getting onto the end of a deepright wing cross from Song. The Dutchmen, though,saw his header hit the right-hand post form ten-yardsout.

In the 76th minute Theo Walcott should have openedthe scoring for Arsenal when he found himself one-on-one with Joe Hart, but he saw his effort tipped onto theleft-hand post. The ball then ricocheted to Vermaelen four-yards out, but he miscued his shot with an empty net at hismercy. Still, the miscued effort fell to Rosicky two-yards out,but he also missed the target from close range.

Finally, three minutes from time and great 30-yard strikefrom Arteta found the bottom right-hand corner of the net togive Arsenal a well-deserved lead, 1-0.

A minute later and the referee added insult to injury whenhe showed Balotelli his second yellow card and gave himhis marching orders.

The game finished 1-0 as Arsenal moved up to thirdon the league table and City saw their title hopes fade away.

Golden oldie Raul conjured one of the goals of theseason as he struck twice to give Schalke 04 a 3-0win over Hanover 96 in the Bundesliga yesterday

to keep them on course for a place in the ChampionsLeague.

Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar completed the win,breaking a 71-year club record for the number of goals ina season, in a match between two sides knocked out of theEuropa League on Thursday.

Huntelaar has scored 43 goals in 42 games, 24 in theBundesliga, 10 in the Europa League, five in the GermanCup and four in Europa League qualifiers. Hamburg SVremained stuck in a relegation battle after being held 1-1 at home by Bayer Leverkusen.

Huub Stevens’s Schalke have 57 points from 29 games,six behind second-placed Bayern Munich and a furtherthree adrift of leaders Borussia Dortmund. Hanover areeighth on 41 points.

Zaria Polo Tournament came alive over the weekendfollowing a lifeline injected into the sprawling ZariaPolo facility by the duo of MTN and Unity Bank.

The breath of life, which came by way of corporatesponsorship, ensured that the venue once more becamea beehive of activities several years after it wentdormant. Unity Bank in conjunction with several othersopted to renovate the club as well as renovate the pologround for a tournament.

Speaking at a pre-tournament press briefing at theweekend in Zaria, the District Head of Zaria who is alsoChairman Zaria Polo Club, Mohammed Sambo Idris,recounted the glorious era of Zaria Polo Club noting itwas the centre of key tournaments of yore.

“Zaria Polo Club has been dormant for many decadesbut with the support and efforts of all our members inmaking sure that the club is back, the club is now wellrevived,” he said stressing that activities went dormantbecause the majority of its members were governmentofficials who had to move on once they were transferred.

“After years for not hosting any tournament in Zaria,the club is now bouncing back with the sponsorship ofthis year’s tournament.

“Our special thanks go to the Vice President of theFederal Republic of Nigeria, Architect Namadi Sambo.He has done a lot in reviving Zaria Polo Club.

“Actually, Zaria Polo Club is the fourth after the onesin Ibadan, Lagos and Kaduna. The club dates back to1910, and it was in this club, the first Georgian cup waswon and that is the highest competing cup in the wholehistory of the Nigeria polo.

“The reason why the polo club was dormant was thefact that people who were playing the polo in those daysat Zaria Polo Club were prominent people and keygovernment officials but as they got transferred out ofZaria, the club became dormant for awhile.

“The likes of late General Hassan Usman Katsina,former Kaduna State Governor, Abba Kyari, playedtheir first game here. And other prominent Nigerianswho were adding colour to the club were suddenly movedout of Zaria which affected the activities of the club.

“But as of today the upcoming players are residents inZaria who are actually working hard to lift the polo clubto the next level now. We have done a lot to revive theclub; we have one of the best, if not the best polo field inNorthern Nigeria, and everybody acknowledge it. “Wehave a befitting club house, though the structures arelooking ancient, we don’t want to tamper with thestructures of the club house, but we are giving themtouches such that everybody will come and be happywith what they will see here. The main stage is nowlooking very colourful, courtesy of MTN Nigeria whichis one of the main sponsors of this tournament.

“Security is key to us and we have a solid relationshipon ground now with key security agencies. “We have avery good relationship with the police, the areacommander here is very cooperative, we are enjoying avery relationship with him. Zaria is a very peacefulcity and we enjoy the cooperation of the Emirate Council.

“We have the cooperation of the Nigerian CivilDefence, all the security agencies. So, we can guaranteeyou that enough of security measures have been put inplace towards having a hitch-free tournament 2012,by the special grace of God.

“I will like to use this opportunity to mention most ofour sponsors. We have to also thank the Kaduna State

government for giving us all the necessary support. Weare extending our gratitude and thanks to Bauchi stategovernment, and our special thanks also to Unity BankNigeria Plc.

“The forthcoming tournament will last for seven days,from April 14 -21. We are expecting to host more than28 teams and that means that more than 100 playerswill be participating in the tournament.

“The major trophies to be won in this tournamentinclude the Royal Signal, Emir of Zazzau’s Cup,Governor’s Cup, University Cup, Commandant’s Cup,Sarki Zazzau , Mallam Jafa’aru’s Cup.“A minitournament was held last here in 2009 and almost everySallah celebration we do have colourful minitournaments.”

District Head gives reasons why Zaria Polo tourney went dormantBy Patrick Andrew and Agaju Maduga

Raul keeps Schalke on coursefor Champions League

Mikel Artate’s scoringagainst City

Arsenal put Man City’s titleaspiration up in flame

Mikel Artate celebrating his score

CHANGE OF NAMEI, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED ASABUBAKAR ADAMU, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWNAND ADDRESSED AS SAGIR A. LAWAN. ALLFORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. DARAZOLOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL PUBLICSHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.


The British OlympicAssociation (BOA)chairman Colin

Moynihan says securitymeasures at London 2012 arebeing reviewed constantly tohelp prevent a repeat of theBoat Race disruption.

But he warned it “just takesone idiot” to ruin an event.“Both the police and securityoperations around all venuesand athletes are beingreviewed day by day. That isso we can have the best chanceof an incident-free games,”Lord Moynihan said.

“It just takes one idiot,similar to the idiot (at the BoatRace), who causes majordisruption. That’s why all thesecurity measures need to beput in place to minimise thechances of that happening. Youcan never completely removeit but you can do everythingpossible to minimise it.”

A man has been charged overan incident which led to theBoat Race being halted half-way through. TrentonOldfield, 35, of Whitechapel,east London, will appear atFeltham Magistrates’ Court on23 April charged under thePublic Order Act.

Lord Moynihan toldSportsweek: “He obviouslyknew what he was doing. Thetwo crews only take up a verysmall width of the river. Tohave got in there was a veryunexpected result. I wouldnever imagine anyone couldget themselves into thatposition.”

The BOA chairman, whocompeted in the Boat Race withOxford, sympathised with therowers affected by theintruder.

Race umpire John Garretthalted the race after hisassistant, the four-timeOlympic champion SirMatthew Pinsent, spotted theprotester in the water just afterthe crews had passed ChiswickSteps.

Olympic sports such assailing, cycling, open waterswimming and the marathonappear vulnerable to similarissues.

Looking ahead to London2012, Lord Moynihan said: “It’sso important to work closelywith the police and securityagencies and put in place everypossible measure to protect theinterests for all the athletescoming from the 204 countriesof the world. In many respects,that’s the biggest ask of theGames this summer.

The Stanford Invitationalfixture saw two world leadsestablished and another

world lead equalledconsecutively at the Angell Fieldfacility on the campus ofStanford University.

With the Olympic Gamesapproaching, many Americanworld-class runners decided touse this extra opportunity tocheck their form in advance ofthe elite Payton Jordan

Invitational on the same trackin three weeks’ time.

One of such world leadingresult was in the women’s5000m which closed with ablistering finish by Jackie Aresonas she lowered her outdoor PB bymore than 30 seconds with aworld-leading 15:18.31.

Lisa Uhl had forged a lead ofup to 35 metres with four lapsremaining in the event, but the24-year-old could not deal with

Areson’s kick over the final 200metres as she took the runner-up spot in 15:21.56.

The erstwhile world leader,Fionnuala Britton of Ireland, ledthe pack during the first half ofthe race, but she faded to fifth atthe end in 15:28.22. Ahead ofBritton were Brie Felnagle(15:22.39) and Alisha Williams(15:24.82).

Areson’s time secured anOlympic ‘A’ standard, while thenext four met the ‘B’ norm forLondon. Earlier in the evening,Britain’s Lennie Waite breezed toa 9:48.35 win in the 3000mSteeplechase to top that event’s2012 list. It was ever so slightlyoutside the 9:48.00 needed forthe Olympic ‘B’ standard.

Earlier in the women’s highjump, Brigetta Barrett cleared1.95m to match Amy Acuff’s topperformance in the world thisseason. The 21-year-oldUniversiade champion from lastyear who competes for theUniversity of Arizona then calledfor the benchmark 2.00mheight, which just barely eludedher on her first attempt. Afterthat, fatigue appeared to set infor her remaining two tries.

The men’s 5000 metres,Brent Vaughn went to the leadat the start of the gun lap, onlyto be overhauled in the finalmetres by Kenya’s StephenSambu. The University ofArizona student clocked a PB13:31.51 to pip Vaughn’s13:31.85 as six other runnerscrossed the line within threeseconds in the mad scramble atthe end.

Dathan Ritzenhein returnedto the track after an absence ofalmost three years’ time during

which he has been concentratingexclusively on road racing. Theninth-place finisher in theBeijing Olympic marathon heldoff university student TylerPenell to win the 10,000m,28:21.48 to 28:23.54, as DavidJankowski finished third with28:26.90.

The women’s 10,000m sawTara Erdmann nip KateDiCamillo at the finish,32:31.15 to 32:31.97, as IowaState University studentMeaghan Nelson finished thirdwith 32:33.40 after leading therace most of the way.

Olympic seasons alwaysreveal new young talent, and themen’s steeplechase provided acase in point. David Adams, a23-year-old electricalengineering student fromNebraska, showed the poise of aseasoned runner with a smooth,crisp finish, easily outkickingthree-time US national teammember Josh McAdams to easilywin in 8:29.51, shaving almost11 seconds from his previous bestand dipping under the Olympic‘B’ standard. McAdams heldsecond with 8:36.94 ahead ofMexico’s Luis Ibarra (8:37.32).

Reigning World junior discusbronze medallist Julian Wruckhad no challenger as his 63.79mbest was almost seven metresahead of the field.

Decathlete Japheth Cato of theUniversity of Wisconsin, theNCAA indoor runner-up in theHeptathlon last month, cameaway with two PBs, as he wonthe long jump with 7.47m andwas fourth in the Pole Vault at5.25m. The vault winner wasLevi Keller, who pushed his PBup from 5.35m to 5.45m.

Lennie Waite

The Kickboxing Federation ofNigeria (KFN) has advisedschools to liaise with the

federation before recruitingcoaches, to avoid employingunqualified personnel.

The KFN Technical Director,Victor Bassey, said the advice hasbecome necessary following theactivities of some charlatansparading themselves around ascertified coaches.

Bassey said that the rules of thesport were always reviewed andcoaches were expected to be up-to-date so that they could impart thecorrect techniques in theirathletes.

“As upcoming athletes, theyneed to be nurtured in the rightdirection, and this has to do withthe coaches who must be familiarwith the modern guidelines,” hesaid.

The technical director alsoadvised authorities of schools thathave kickboxing as one of theirsports to ensure that their coachesundertake refresher courses.

Bassey identified lack ofsponsorship and promotion asmajor challenges hindering thesport’s development and,therefore, appealed tomultinationals andtelecommunication companies to

support kickboxing.He said the federation was

proposing to hold zonalchampionships as a way ofdeveloping the sport at thegrassroots to identify new talents.

According to him, the projecthas prompted the federation to goon aggressive marketing drive soas to generate funds to organisethe programme in the six zones.

He said: “We need to organisecompetitions at the zonal levelwhich requires financial backing,so have commenced steps to getsponsors by writing letters tocooperate organisations andphilanthropists.

“Kickboxing is a medal winningsport and the talents are there, sowe have to develop the sport bycreating a forum for raw talentsto showcase their skills and getdiscovered.

Bassey also appealed to statesgovernors to sponsor opencompetitions in their variousstates, as a way of promoting thesport and supporting itsdevelopment.

“The promotion of kickboxing isa collective responsibility andmust not be left to the sportsministry alone, little support fromindividuals and the public sectorwill go a long way,” he said.

Karate federationcautions schools againstrecruiting fake coaches

BOA’s LordMoynihansays ‘oneidiot’ canruin aLondon2012 event

Stephen SambuJackie Areson

World lead forAreson, othersat StanfordInvitationalmeet


FCT boxing coach, BenjaminDaniel, has revealed thatthe Territory’s boxers were

in high spirit ahead of the 18thNational Sports Festival billed inLagos this November.

The coach said the boxers havebeen training vigorously for thefiesta and assured that theTerritory would definitely setrecords at the festival.

Benjamin, who is also anational volleyball referee, saidin Abuja yesterday that with thebacking of the FCT Sports

Council, his charges were sureto justify the huge investmentthe council has made on them.

He said the boxers werecurrently undergoing high levelof training meant to put them inshape for the Games and addedthat they have been well equippedto outshine their opponentstechnically and tactically.

“I want to assure Team FCTBoxing contingent to theforthcoming National SportsFestival in Lagos will set newnational records in boxingbecause the high standardtraining that they have been

David Ferrer secureddefending championSpain a place in the

Davis Cup semifinals bybeating Austria’s JurgenMelzer 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 inyesterday’s reverse singles foran insurmountable 3-1 lead.

Also, Juan Martin del Potroput Argentina into its thirdstraight Davis Cup semifinalwith a three-set victory overCroatia’s Marin Cilic. DelPotro won 6-1, 6-2, 6-1, togive Argentina aninsurmountable 3-1 lead in

the best-of-five quarterfinals.In the first game, despite his

unsteady serve and gustingwinds, the fifth-ranked Ferrerhad little trouble remainingperfect in 14 matches on homeclay en route to recordingSpain’s first win over Austriain 33 years.

Ferrer broke Melzer in thelast game of an even first setand didn’t let up to claimSpain’s 23rd straight homewin, moving it into secondplace all-time for consecutivewins behind Italy’s record of

28. Nicolas Almagro beatAlexander Peya to complete a4-1 victory for the Spanish.The five-time champions willface the United States in thesemifinals.

But Argentina will face theCzech Republic in Buenos Airesin the semifinal on Sept. 14-16.Argentina lost last year’s finalagainst Spain in Seville and hasbeen in the Davis Cup final fourtimes without winning.

Del Potro put the matchaway with his seventh ace,then reached skyward with

FCT targets national record in boxing, says coachBy Albert Akota

Bala Mohammed, FCT Minister

Imo Athletes to the 18th

National Sports Festival inLagos will adopt the use of

technology to train, the stateActing Director of Sports, MrsChizotam Arietola, has said.

Arietola told the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) onThursday in Owerri that thiswould be made possible withthe recently purchasedstandard gym equipment at

the Dan Anyiam Stadium.She said in furtherance of the

state’s aspiration to excel at thefestival scheduled to hold fromNov. 27 to Dec. 9, the athleteswould train on the machinesevery weekend.

The acting Director said that

sports associations wereencouraged to commencetalent hunt across the 27 LocalGovernment Areas of the state.

Arietola said with the levelof their preparations for theforthcoming competition, theathletes were sure to make the

state proud.According to her, scrabble,

cricket, boxing and wrestlingare among the sports the stateis expecting to win gold medals.

The acting Director also saidthat athletics competition hadbeen organised to further boost

the athletes’ skills and keepthem fit. Arietola appealed tothe state government torelease money early for thepreparation and participationof its athletes at the festival toenable them to embark on asuccessful campaign.

Imo intensifies preparations for National Sports Festival

Mr David Lawal, theMost ValuablePlayer (MVP) in

the men’s volleyball eventof the 13th West AfricaUniversity Games(WAUG), said that he wasastonished by the qualityof the volleyballcompetition.

He said in Ilorin onFriday, shortly after hewas announced as theevent’s MVP, that the highstandard of thecompetition reallysurprised him.

“I was not expecting whatI saw here. Honestly, I wassurprised by the highstandard displayed hereby all competitors, in spiteof my being chosen as theMVP. We really workedhard for the gold medal, yetwe were stretched to ourlimits as the competitionwas stiff,” he said.

Lawal, who is a memberof the volleyball squad ofthe University of Lagosthat won the gold medal,said that he neverexpected such a high levelof play in the volleyballevent.

He said that he initiallyfelt that since thetournament was “just auniversities games”, itwould not reallyoverstretch his team.

Lawal, nonetheless,conceded that he was quitehappy that his team wonthe competition, addingthat he and his teammatesreally worked for thevictory.

“It is a thing of joy to winbut we really worked hardfor it. Above all, God was onour side.

“In addition to that, Ihad prepared myself forthe MVP award. Myteammates were aware ofmy intentions and theyrallied round me to ensureI won the award,” he said.

Eight teams, drawn intotwo four-team pools, tookpart in the volleyballcompetition at theUniversity of Ilorin, venueof the Games.

WAUG:Award-winnerstunned byquality ofvolleyballcompetition

David Ferrer Juan Martin del Potro

both arms to celebrate as the14,000 sellout responded withcheers of “ole, ole, ole.”

Del Potro set the tone onclay from the start. He brokeCilic in the first game, and twomore times to win the set in48 minutes. The former U.S.Open champion closed the setwhen Cilic returned aforehand into the net.

Del Potro was a fan favoritefor more than just his tennis.

Late in the first set he leanedover and kissed a butterfly,which hovered and thenlanded on the frame of hisracket, prompting loudapplause from the crowd atParque Roca on the outskirtsof the Argentine capital.

Cilic was clearly weary. Heplayed a five-hour marathonon Friday in beating DavidNalbandian, and thenanother five-hour match onSaturday in losing toNalbandian and EduardoSchwank in doubles.

The second set was much ofthe same. Del Potro broke Cilicin the fourth game and, anddid it again to close out the set.

The third set was merely aformality. With acommanding leading, DelPotro played to the crowd,with the crowd responding,“Vamos, vamos Argentina.”

Del Potro’s performancebordered on the heroic: Hevomited before Friday’ssingles, battling a touch of theflu, and captain Martin Jaitecalled him “less than 100percent” before yesterday’smatch. Jaite said Del Potro atewith the team on Saturdayand went to bed early.

Spain, Argentina sail intoDavis Cup semifinals

subjected to. “We are goingthere to prove surprises becauseof the support we have enjoyedfrom the FCT administration.My boxers have told meseverally of their readiness tosurpass previous records.

“We are going to the event toprove those who think the FCTwould no longer be relevant. Wewant to prove that we still havegood boxers in the Territory.Recall that we have never failedto win a medal since inception ofthe fiesta. In this edition ourintention is to set new nationalrecords,” he said.



Brendan Ogbu’s late goal Sunday propelledHeartland to the next round of CAFConfederation Cup 2-1 aggregate ahead of

US Haut of Cameroon.The first match in Douala a fortnight ago ended

in a goalless draw. In the second round, the Nigeriancup winners will clash with AC Leopard from theCongo Republic with the first leg in Owerri on April2 9 .

Striker Kabiru Umar opened the scoring in the50th minute for the host team at the refurbishedDan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri with GovernorRochas Okorocha in attendance.

However, the Cameroonians drew level in the79th minute through Fossou Fardice even afterone of their players, Henri Ngane, had been sentoff for a second booking earlier in the game.

But just when it seemed that Heartland hadcrashed out of the competition after several misses,substitute Ogbu, in for Julius Ubido, popped upwith a stoppage time winner for ‘The NazeMillionaires’.

Goal scorer Umar admitted it was a tough butthat they deserved the victory. “We really playedour hearts out. It was a tough game but in the endwe won,” a relieved Umar said.

“They really stretched us but we were equal tothe task. I am happy that I was part of the victoryparty.”

Serena Williams

A former Bendel Insurance FC ofBenin player, George Omokaro,has advised the Lawrence

Akpokona-led coaching crew to sharpenthe team’s attack, to brighten their hopefor promotion to the premier league.

Reacting to Insurance 3-1 trouncingof Cross of David (COD) FC of Lagos onSaturday at the Samuel OgbemudiaStadium, Benin, Omokaro said that theteam needed to be more purposeful inits play.

“I think Insurance game today(Saturday) is a great improvement overtheir previous matches. But I want toadvise the coaching crew and theplayers to be more purposeful with theirplay and be more decisive in theirattack.

“If they improve on their strikingforce, they are likely to achieve theirdream of a promotion to the premierleague,” he said shortly after theNational Division one league match.

Insurance utility player, BernardOvoke, scored the opening goal threeminutes into the match, firing a shotfrom outside the 18-yard box, to givethe home team the first goal in the week10 game.

Ohonbamu Daniel increased the tallyin the 20th minute from a goal mouthscramble while Prince Maurice scoredthe third goal in the 60th minute.

COD’s consolatory goal came in the59th minute following a defensiveblunder in Insurance danger area.Insurance will play their week 11 gameaway on April 14 against Abia Warriorsof Aba.

Lucie Safarova 6-0, 6-1 and captureher first clay-court tournament infour years at the Family Circle Cup

yesterday.Williams didn’t drop a set in five

matches this week and lost only threegames over the weekend, dispatchingSamantha Stosur, 6-1, 6-1 in thesemifinals before ousting Safarova. Shehadn’t won a tournament on clay or evengotten to a final on the surface since takingthe 2008 championship here.

Williams has said throughout the weekhow comfortable she felt in her short timeon clay this year. That showed againstthe 25-year-old Safarova, ranked 26th inthe world. Williams served a 107-mphace on match point, shrieking in joy andwaving to the crowd.

Williams came into the week off a tripto the quarterfinals at the Sony EricssonOpen and had just a day or so to get inany work on the slower clay at the FamilyCircle Tennis Center. She looked rusty inher opening match, a 6-3, 6-4 victoryover Elena Vesnina on Tuesday.

But Williams came back in her nextmatch with a strong attitude and a muchsharper game. She took out MarinaErakovic 6-2, 6-2 and was in control earlyin her quarterfinals win over SabineLisicki, who retired after twisting her leftankle. Williams was at her best, though,on the weekend.

She didn’t give Stosur, the reigningU.S. Open champion, room to breathe inthe semifinals. Williams concluded theclay court run with her win over

Jigawa Stars yesterday dashed thehopes of Rangers to end the firstround of the Nigeria Premier

League as leaders with a 1-0 home.Rangers are thus second on the table

with 32 points, while Kano Pillarsmaintained top spot as they also have32 points but enjoy a better goalsdifference.

Jigawa played out of their skin andgot the match winner four minutesfrom the interval through Ekene Odo.

Jigawa coach Evans Ogenyi said that

it was a good victory for his relegation-haunted team and that they hope tobuild on this going into the second roundof the competition.

“I commend our boys for the greatgame. They really did well againstRangers,” Ogenyi said.

“We will now build on this. We willwork on the team for betterperformances in the second round so asto actualise our dream of remaining inthe Premier League.”

In yesterday’s other game, Lobi Stars

Safarova, breaking her serves 24 times.And Williams may be prepared to win

even more this clay court season.She’s not scheduled to play again until

next month in Madrid, then at the ItalianOpen before moving on the Paris for theyear’s second Grand Slam, the FrenchOpen.

Williams has talked frequently thisweek of her desire to add another title atRoland Garros she won her only Frenchcrown in 2002 to her Hall-of-Fameresume of 13 major championships. Shealso talked about moving to Paris.

The Family Circle Cup victory was agreat start to her clay court season.

Williams also was happy to honor the40th anniversary of the Family Circletournament and the legacy of women’stennis. The tournament named itsstadium court for tennis great and pioneerBillie Jean King, who was on court duringWilliams’ trophy ceremony.

King and members of the Original 9players, who defied the tennisestablishment to form the first women’stour and fight for better prize money, weresaluted during the weekend

Williams earned $115,000 for thevictory, a far cry from the first FamilyCircle in 1973 that offered a then-unheard of $100,000 in total prizemoney.

Serena Williams wins Family Circle Cup title

Manchester United faceBarclays Premier Leaguestrugglers Wigan Athletic

and Aston Villa this week as they lookto close in on the title.

Having seen their lead at the top of thetable extended to eight points this pastweekend, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men are oncourse for the league crown yet again.

On Wednesday evening the RedDevils travel to take on second-from-bottom Wigan Athletic at the DWStadium, looking to rack up a ninthstraight league win.

Then on Sunday United head back toOld Trafford to host 15th-placed AstonVilla, who have won just one of theirlast nine league matches.

Man United face two strugglers

Jigawa deny Rangers top spot came from a goal down to beat visitingKwara United 2-1. Moses Bunde andDavid Tyakase scored for Lobi in firsthalf to cancel ‘The Afonja Warriors’lead.

The league is expected to break for aweek and resume with reverse fixturesfrom Week 19.

Week 19 ResultsSunday

Jigawa 1 Rangers 0Lobi 2 Kwara United 1

OmokarourgesInsurance FCto strengthenattack

Ogbu saves Heartland inConfed Cup

Heartland’s Kofarmata (right) onSunday against US Haut


SPORTS LALALALALATESTTESTTESTTESTTEST

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

MONIDAY, APRIL 9, 2012

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Isner wins totake US intoDavis Cupsemifinals

It is not what you are called,but what you answer to —Kikuyu Proverb

A few months ago, a spatbetween two formerNigerian Heads of State,

Obasanjo and Babangida held abemused nation's interest for abrief moment. Two formerleaders who between them hadbeen Heads of State for 18 yearshad fallen out in a media warover their records in office. Theytraded insults, and the mediastoked up the fire. FormerPresident Babangida reportedlyblinked first, and dismissed thequarrel as the handiwork of themedia. He said he couldn't havetaken up Obasanjo, a respectedsenior, in a public quarrel.

Babangida had stepped asidefrom many conflicts andconfrontations in the past, themost famous being after abortingthe elections of the late M.K.OAbiola, and finding that hiscareer as a scheming tacticianat the head of a military whichhad become complacent overdemands of leading a restivenation, was coming to adangerous end for him. Since hewould not write his own history,those who wrote his history todate have defined him by thoseterminal events, and his profilehas remained limited by thequicksand that almostswallowed him, the militaryinstitution and the nation.

Last week, former PresidentObasanjo also stepped aside. If hehad the time to look up thehistory behind Babangida'sstepping aside, he may see howuncannily similar theircircumstances are. LikeBabangida, Obasanjo had lost hisgrip on the instruments ofsurvival; and to push on wouldhave been foolhardy anddangerous. Both former leadershad attempted to createconditions for virtual, perpetualcontrol, and both hadmiscalculated the volatility anddynamics of changes on theirfortunes. Both had reached endsthey had not foreseen, and havebeen victims of the schemingwhich made them the onlysources of power when theyruled.

Few people will believe thatObasanjo resigned from thechairmanship of the Board ofTrustees of the PDP which hepractically wrote himself into forlife, out of choice. Most keenfollowers would say the writing

has been on the wall for him forquite some time. It is possible thatObasanjo may have less friendsthan any Nigerian alive today,and he himself will acknowledgethat he has not cultivated life-long relationships. He has fallenout with the surviving officerswhose coup d'etat in 1976 gavehim a number two position, andlater still, the number oneposition, albeit with somereluctance. There are still elderlyYoruba people who will notforgive him for not handing overthe Presidency to Awo in 1979,and although Yoruba peoplemade a tactical decision to workwith him and tap into theimmense patronage available to

him as president until 2007,they have retreated back intotheir tribal cocoon. He has fallenout with virtually everypolitician who worked to makehim President in 1999, andnorthern politicians inparticular are bitter that he paidthem back by systematicallydismantling the northernpolitical establishment, andimpoverishing the region.

Obasanjo learnt, the hardway, that power must bejealously guarded, or it could slipaway irretrievably. Wilypoliticians showed him the valueof a substantial war chest to oil astrong political structure inwhich loyalty is absolutely owedonly to him. He supported thedemocratic process, to the extentthat it was amenable to hiscontrol. He systematicallylowered the quality and clout ofthe people around him, until hebecame absolutely the only sourceof power. He recognized theimmense powers of the legislatureto challenge his dominance of thepolitical terrain, and worked tolimit its potential damage to hisinterest by engineering andinfluencing the emergence andloyalty of its leadership.

He recognized the damage ofpervasive corruption, but used

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

institutions meant to fight it toachieve his political objectives.He took no prisoners, and hemade legions of enemies andtolerated people who exploitedhis position to make untoldwealth which reinforced hispowers.

When it became obvious hehad to go in 2007, Obasanjo re-invented himself in thePresidency that succeeded him.He installed a sickly Presidentand a deputy whose politicalcareer appears to have beendesigned by pure providence.With his people in the Villa, here-wrote his party's rules to makehimself its Board of Trusteeschairman for life, if he wantedto. But not even Obasanjo couldcontrol all events. Tinubu rolledback his party and influence outof the southwest, and the newpresident acquired new mentorsand handlers who kept him at asafe distance from Obasanjo.Without a political base and withthe shifting locus of power to thesouth-south and south east,Obasanjo was fast losing his grip.

The last PDP conventionmust have shown Obasanjo thatquite a number of people in hisparty have learnt lessons on howto keep power, but they are notwith him. The tradition hestarted of keeping a firm hold onparty leadership was sustained,with even more decisivenessthan he did. Consensus in hisparty has been elevated to thestatus of the holy grail, andevery element of decision -making in the PDP is now theexclusive preserve of a fewpeople. There are new actors inthe block who are willing tochallenge the old order, andwithout bridges to fall back on,the old General read the writingon the wall.

It may be too early yet to singhallelujah for Obasanjo'sretirement. The old man will bechased by old enemies andadversaries all the way to hisend, so he is unlikely to even giveup all his defences. Obasanjo maywrite his own history, but therewill also be many other versions.One of these may say that he wasa man who had a historicopportunity to lay thefoundations of good governancein Nigeria, but failed to do so. Theparty whose BOT chair he hasgiven up is not exactly a shininglegacy to leave behind, in anation desperate for evidencethat it can build a workingdemocratic system.

Obasanjo: Going, going...

John Isner’s big serve andsolid forehand proved toostrong for Jo-Wilfried

Tsonga, defeating theFrenchman 6-3, 7-6 (4) 5-7, 6-3 yesterday to put the UnitedStates into the Davis Cupsemifinals for the first time since2008.

Tsonga had chances, butcould only break his serve onceas the Americans took anunassailable 3-1 lead in theseries, setting up a matchagainst Spain. Defendingchampion Spain led Austria 3-1 behind a win by David Ferrer.

Leading the Americans inthe absence of ninth-rankedMardy Fish, the 11th-rankedIsner played well.

In other quarterfinals, hostCzech Republic topped Serbia 4-1 and Argentina beat Croatia4-1. The semifinals are inSeptember. Tsonga struggled tostay with Isner until his laterally.

Isner built on the U.S.team’s momentum after astraight-set doubles win onSaturday. He didn’t face a breakpoint, while the pressure wasclearly on the sixth-rankedTsonga to even the score at theMonte Carlo Country club.

Later, Gilles Simon wasscheduled to play the 19-year-old Ryan Harrison in themeaningless final match. It willbe Forget’s last match asFrance’s Davis Cup captain.

The French fans got behindTsonga early. But when he gotto deuce on Isner’s serve in theseventh game, the American’sresponse was simple—two acesthat Tsonga couldn’t get near.

Tsonga trailed 15-40 in thenext game, and Isner broke fora 5-3 lead when theFrenchman’s big second servewas slightly too long.

Isner made a statementwith his next service game byholding at love and clinchingthe set in 34 minutes withanother ace that whistled pastTsonga before he could move.

He offered Isner a gift of abreak point at the start of thesecond set, sending a routinesmash into the net. He savedthat break point with a strongforehand that Isner could onlypaddle back into the net.

“It may be too early yet to singhallelujah for Obasanjo's retirement.

The old man will be chased by oldenemies and adversaries all the wayto his end, so he is unlikely to evengive up all his defences. Obasanjomay write his own history, but there

will also be many other versions

FIFTEENFIFTEENFIFTEENFIFTEENFIFTEENMINUTESMINUTESMINUTESMINUTESMINUTES

[email protected]

withDr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

Documents

Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday April 09, 2012