Vol. 8 No. 19 Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Jimadal Ula 27, 1433 AH N150

WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

PAGE 3

Why Kaduna CAN boycotted Jonathan’sbreakfast prayer, by state chairman

2015: Gov Aliyu groupvows to stop JonathanA Northern Nigerian group

in which Governor Mu'azuBabangida Aliyu of Niger

state is a leading founder, hasvowed to stop President GoodluckJonathan's sly moves to secureanother term in office in 2015.

The group, which goes by thename Committee of ConcernedNorthern Professionals,Politicians, Academics andBusinessmen (CCNPPAB), also hasamong its leading founders,Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawastate, former member of theHouse of Representatives, Dr.Junaid Mohammed, formerAttorney General to theFederation and Minister ofJustice, Professor AwwaluYadudu, and former Group

Plot to scuttle Repssubsidy probe thickens

There are indications thatsome powerful stakeholdersin the oil and gas industry

have concluded plans to scuttlethe work of the House ofRepresentatives ad hoc committeecharged with the responsibility ofprobing the nation’s subsidyregime.

Peoples Daily learnt that theHouse has been infiltrated by fifthcolumnists who have beeninduced to ensure that

recommendations contained inthe reports be punctured andrendered ineffective during itsconsideration.

It was gathered that theCommittee chaired by Rep FaroukLawan has been undertremendous pressure to waterdown the recommendations of thepanel.

Our reporter learnt that theCommittee could not submit thepanel’s reports yesterday asplanned because the mood of the

By Lawrence Olaoye

I N S I D E

Ibori bags 13years jail, losesUK properties

Mild drama as Repsre-open CapitalMarket probe

10 killed inAjaokuta-Enuguroad auto crash

Police to probeEFCC over stolenpension funds

>>PAGE 3 >>PAGE 4 >>PAGE 6>>PAGE 3

Infrastructure: Abujaproperty developersto pay N350m fee

>>PAGE 18

Contd on Page 2

An intending Muslim pilgrim picking the ballot during the screening for 2012 pilgrimage, yesterdayin Kafur local government area of Katsina state. Photo: NAN

Managing Director of Unity BankPlc, Malam Falalu Bello.

Jonathan had at the peak ofhis campaign for election in 2011pledged not to run for Presidencyin 2015. Addressing someNigerians resident in Ethiopia inthat country's capital, AddisAbaba, ahead of the 2011 polls,President Jonathan made acategorical statement that he willserve only a single term and giveway to other contenders for thePresidency.

This position was re-echoed byhis adviser on media, Dr. ReubenAbati, who, while explaining thereasons for Jonathan's proposedConstitution amendment inrespect of tenure of office of thePresident and governors, in Julylast year, said: "I believe what itmeans in very clear terms is that

Contd on Page 2

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin,Lawrence Olaoye

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 26-27

Defence 28

Agric 29-30

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Borno PDP scheming toreverse ANPP’s Supreme

Court victory – Partychairman, Page 37

WE WANTTO HEAR

FROM YOU

International 31-34

Strange World 35

Digest 36

Politics 37-40

Sports 41-47

Columnist 48

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Contd from Page 1

2015: Gov Aliyu group vows to stop Jonathanthe President will not be abeneficiary. In other words, thePresident will not come in 2015 tobenefit even if the amendment saysso. Because if he tries to do that thosewho are saying it is an attempt attenure elongation would have beenvindicated. And he is fully aware ofthe concern of Nigerians and he isinsisting, he is resolute in upholdingthat statement that he will not be abeneficiary".

Asked to be specific if thePresident will contest the 2015presidential election, Dr. Abati said,"that has been made clear by MrPresident that this proposal is not topursue any personal interest andhe has also made it clear that if theproposed amendment scalethrough, he will not be abeneficiary.

"I don't see anything that can bemore categorical than that. That isquite clear. I think the statementhe made in Addis Ababa shortlybefore elections was that he will notseek a second term in office", hestressed.

However, the President's bodylanguage lately strongly indicatethat he will throw his hat in thering once the bell is rung fordeclaration of intent.

This indication has given rise toa legal challenge to Jonathan'swidely perceived plot to run in2015. And the northern group ofprofessionals and politicians led byGovernor Aliyu and others hasdeclared its resolve to join the suit.

Rising from its meeting whichdwelled on the Nigerianconstitutional system yesterday,the CCNPPAB insisted that the issueof whether President Jonathan isinto his first or second term in officewas a serious and weightyconstitutional issue that could onlybe determined by a court of law.

President Jonathan had, in acounter affidavit to a suit filed beforean Abuja High Court by a chieftainof the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Mr Cyriacus Njoku, fromZuba Ward in Gwagwalada Area

Council, declared that he iscurrently serving his first term offour years in office as President ofthe Federal Republic of Nigeria asprovided by the 1999 Constitution.

Jonathan told the court in a 15-paragraph counter affidavitdeposed to by a lawyer, OsahonOkeaya-Inneh in the law firm of hiscounsel, Mr Ade Okeaya-Inneh(SAN), that he has not indicated orannounced anywhere that hewould be contesting for thepresidential elections in 2015.

But the Committee ofConcerned Northerners advisedthe President to allow the dueprocess of the law to prevail and notto intimidate the courts withpreemptive and bombasticpronouncements on the issue.

In a communiqué issued at theend of its meeting yesterday, thenorthern group expressed worryabout the President canvassing hisposition on the issue through themedia, leaving out the properforum, which is the court of law.

The Committee noted withdismay that rather than payingattention to the job for which he waselected less than a year ago,President Jonathan preoccupiedhimself with schemes of tenureelongation.

Yesterday's meeting ofCCNPPAB, which was co-chairedby both the chief convener, Dr.Junaid Muhammed and theCommittee Chairman onConstitutional Amendment,Professor Awwal Yadudu, recalledthe fruitless, but persistent effortsby the Presidency to use the JusticeSalihu Modibbo Alfa BelgoreCommittee that the governmentset up to introduce a Seven-YearSingle Term tenure, allegedlydesigned to begin with Jonathan.

The communiqué said: "In anapparent failure of this effort, it hasbecome clear that the President,who along with his latepredecessor, President UmaruMusa Yar'adua served a full four-year term between 2007 - 2011and currently serving a second

PAGE 2

Plot to scuttle Reps subsidy probe thickensHouse was not receptive.

This is coming as there areserious speculations that some vocalmembers of the House may havebeen seriously induced financiallyto ensure that the probe suffers thesame fate as that of the Power probeunder Rep Ndudi Elumelu in theSixth Assembly.

A lawmaker who pleadedanonymity told our reporter thatas a prelude to the submission of thereport, several millions of dollarsexchanged hands among thelawmakers with a charge to ensurethat the recommendationscontained were rubbished.

According to him, the latestintervention by the powerful

stakeholders has forced the panel tohold back on the submission of thereports yesterday making somelawmakers to raise the eye-browthat they may have resolved todoctor the document toaccommodate certain interests.

The source equally pointed outthat part of the politicization plot ofthe powerful stakeholders camerecently when a group called South-South Youth Caucus led by oneDavid Osaro in a statement statedthat “the North wants to use theHouse of Representatives probe tobring down Jonathan’sgovernment.

“It has become very clear thatthe current House ofRepresentatives probe of the

Contd from Page 1

term seems now clearly bent onfinding a way to serving a thirdterm of office.

"This was not the first time thata Nigerian leader would seek a tenureelongation, the last time being thethird term aspiration of formerPresident Olusegun Obasanjo,which was resoundingly defeatedand thrown out by Nigerians,adding that, "this single-mindedsearch for Jonathan's tenureelongation will be fought anddefeated using all constitutionalmeans available," the group recalled.

To this end, the ConcernedNortherners said they have takenupon themselves, "the duty ofarousing civil society groups andthe general public to wake up to thisrelentless attempt to tenureelongation."

The Committee argued that thecurrent Constitution is very clearin the assertion that whicheverPresident serves two terms in officeis not eligible for another term ofoffice explaining that a firstimpression one gets from the readingof the constitution is that for thepurposes of tenure, qualification anddisqualification, the President andthe Vice-President are considered asone. "Based on this", said thecommuniqué, "President Jonathanwill be considered in law to haveserved his first term between 2007and 2011".

The Concerned Northernerssaid the fact that there are otherarguments on oath-taking, whichthe Constitution did not allow,Nigerians have to come to gripswith the fact that they areconfronted by serious and weightyconstitutional issues whichconsequences impinge on theoverall well-being of the Republic.

In the light of the public interestat stake in the matter in court, theCommittee said it has resolved toapply to join the suit to be a part ofthe process.

Njoku, a chieftain of the PDPhad, through his counsel, Mr.Osuagwu Ugochukwu, in his suitto stop President Jonathan from

contesting the 2015 presidentialelection raised two questions fordetermination by the court.

He wants the court todetermine, "Whether Section135(2) of the Constitution whichspecifies a period of four years inoffice for the President is onlyavailable or applicable to a personelected on the basis of an actualelection or includes one in which aperson assumes the position ofPresident by operation of law as inthe case of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

"Whether Section 137(1) (b) ofthe 1999 Constitution whichprovides that a person shall not bequalified for election to the office ofPresident if he has been elected tosuch office at any two previouselections applies to the 1st Defendantwho first took an Oath of Office assubstantive President on May 6,2010 and took a second Oath of Officeas President on May 29, last year".

The trial Judge, JusticeMudashiru Oniyangi fixed today tohear Jonathan's application for anextension of time within which hislawyer could file his memorandumof appearance and counter affidavitin response to the plaintiff's suitdated March 20, 2012.

This is the second time thatNjoku will take the President tocourt.

He had in August 2010attempted to stop PDP fromallowing Jonathan to participate inthe PDP presidential primaries ofJanuary 2011.

Njoku, a card carrying memberof the PDP with registration number1622735, had urged the court toask the PDP to respect its principleon zoning formula in line withArticle 7. 2(c) of the party'sConstitution.

He said the declaration ofJonathan (third defendant) tocontest the presidency on the PDPplatform was contrary toArticle7.2(c) of the PDP 2009Constitution (as amended). But theChief Judge of the FCT High Court,Justice Lawan Gummi dismissedthe zoning suit.

petroleum industry and thederegulation of the downstreamsector is nothing but a subtle plotby the North to discredit andultimately bring down theJonathan administration.

“It is very evident that in orderto achieve their aim, the Northquickly cashed in on the fuel subsidyremoval issue, and due to itssensitivity, everything was put inplace to actualise their plans oftruncating this administration.Otherwise, how else do you explainthe fact that a probe into theactivities of the oil industry shouldhave predated the currentadministration of Dr. GoodluckJonathan?

“Even more curious is the fact

that similar probes in the past havenot yielded anything that theordinary Nigerian can be proud of,both in terms of findings andimplementation of probe reports.Ordinarily, it would have beentaken for granted that the House ofRepresentatives panel may findnothing actually incriminatingagainst the current government ofMr. President but the manner inwhich the House is going about ittruly leaves much to be desired, interms of its sincerity,” it said.

Efforts to reach the Chairmanof the panel and his counterpart inthe Committee on Media and PublicAffairs proved abortive as severalcalls made to their cell-phone couldnot get through.

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru,Maiduguri

The Joint Military Task Force,(JTF) in Borno stateyesterday evening killed

four gunmen comprising threearmed robbery suspects and amember of the Boko Haram sect,while 13 other members of the sectwere arrested.

Spokesman of the JTF, Lt-Col.Sagir Musa told newsmen inMaiduguri, the Borno state capital,that the first incident occurredwhen a team of soldiers stormedPompomari ward and burst into ahouse believed to be the hide-out ofBoko Haram members.

According to Lt-Col. Musa, JTFhad received an intelligence reportof some men suspected to be

members of the sect were seen at acompound holding meeting inpreparation of a plan to causemayhem.

He explained that members ofthe task force, acting on a tip off,raided the residence and engagedthe gunmen in a shoot out, whichleft one person dead, while 13 otherswere apprehended.

“Following a tip off, JTF

JTF kills 4 gunmen, apprehend 13 in Maidugurioperatives raided terrorists’meeting point at the Pompomariarea, in the Maidugurimetropolis where they weresuspected to be gathering with aview to causing mayhem. Whenthey spotted JTF troops, theterrorists attempted to escapeafter firing sporadically at thedirection of our troops”, thespokesman explained.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 PAGE 3

Ibori bags 13 years jail, loses UK properties

Southwark Crown Court 9 inLondon yesterday sentencedformer governor of Delta

state, Chief James Ibori to 13 yearsimprisonment for corruption andmoney laundering charges.

The trial judge, JusticeAnthony Pitts handed down thesentence after listening to lastminute submissions by both theprosecution and defence. Hefurther held that the sentencingwill not be the end of the matter asIbori’s property will also beconfiscated.

Earlier on, Ibori’s lawyer,Nicholas Pernell had tried to make

a case for a lenient sentencing. Heblamed Badrash Gohil and formerAkwa Ibom state governor, VictorAttah, for the V-Mobile scamsaying they were the architects ofthe fraud.

He further credited his clientwith every development in Nigeria,and especially in Delta state, fromthe banking reforms, to peace inthe Niger Delta, education, andbuilding of low-cost housing.

Also in his defence, he statedthat his client, James Ibori, playeda part in supporting Britishindustry even before he becamegovernor. As evidence, he cited aletter from British Airways,thanking Ibori for restoring direct

flights between Nigeria andBritain.

Mr. Pernell, in his conclusion,asked the Judge to consider thepressure that his client has beenunder since investigations beganin 2005, and also the accused’schildren who now have both theirparents in custody before passinghis sentence.

Also in his defence, veteransportsman, John Fashanu, madean appearance and testified sayingthat the former governor achieveda lot in sports, and wasinstrumental to the end ofmilitancy in the state.

He told the court that Iboribuilt nine mini-sports stadia and

three Olympic-sized stadia in Deltastate and also built the first shootingrange in Nigeria.

The court went for a recess atabout 12.30pm and reconvened at2.25pm after which his sentencewas read.

James Ibori had earlier pleadedguilty to a number of corruptionand money laundering chargesagainst him put at about$250million before Judge Pitts.

This includes the V-Mobile andBombardaire scams whichamounted to $50million. Ibori andVictor Attah, former Akwa Ibomstate governor also formed aphantom company called ADF tosiphon US$37.5million from Delta

and Akwa Ibom states’ shares in V-Mobile.

He was accused of embezzlingthese funds during his tenure asgovernor and using most of themto live a lavish lifestyle and acquireproperty and assets around theworld.

Meanwhile, Human RightsWatch has described Ibori’sconviction as a landmark judgmentin the global fight against corruption.

The Africa Director at HumanRights Watch, said Daniel Bekelesaid in a statement that, “Theworld has just got smaller forgovernment officials who believethey can loot their country’sresources with impunity”.

By Lawrence Olaoye andUmar Mohammed Puma

A mild drama indicating adisconnect in leadershipensued in the House of

Representatives yesterday as twoprincipal officers from the Housewere simultaneously mandated todeclare open the new ad hoccommittee investigating the nearcollapse of the nation’s capitalmarket.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. AminuTambuwal, had earliercommissioned the Majority Leaderof the House, Rep Mulikat Akande

Adeola, to represent him at theevent because he was bogged downby other assignments.

But before the Leader could getto the event to deliver the Speaker’smessage, the House MinorityLeader, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila,had taken over the assignment torepresent Tambuwal.

Midway into Gbajabiamila’sspeech, Akande-Adeola appearedwith written speech to perform theofficial function but was taken abackwhen she realised that Gbajabiamilahad taken over. She had to turnback at the door as she hurried backto her office embarrassed.

Yesterday’s incidence onlyadded fillip to the perceived politicsof relevance being played by bothparties.

Meanwhile, the ad hoccommittee chaired by Rep IbrahimTukur El-Sudi yesterday resumedinvestigation into the near collapseof the Nigerian capital market.

The chairman in his openingremarks promised transparency,fairness and justice in the conduct ofthe exercise even as he vowed to digdeep into the root of the problems inorder to find a workable solution tothe lingering capital market crisis.

According to him, the capital

market’s value went down fromN13.5 trillion to N4.6 trillionwithin 10 months in 2008. “Wepromise to keep open mind and doour best to ensure that thisinvestigation marks the beginningof the turnaround of our CapitalMarket in Nigeria.''

Declaring the public hearingopen, the Speaker of the House ofRepresentative Rt. Hon. AminuWaziri Tambuwal represented byGbajabiamila directed thecommittee on capital market toprobe and avoid blame game intheir quest to find reasons for thenear collapse of the market

Mild drama as Reps resume capital market probe

Operatives of the StateSecurity Service (SSS), inKano, have reportedly shot

one Zaharadeen MusaMuhammad, a resident.

Eyewitness account said theincident occurred on Monday atabout 9.pm in Giginyu area ofKano state where the headquartersof the SSS is located.

The operatives of the SSS whowere on a routine stop and searchclose to their headquarters weresaid to have attempted to flag downMuhammad who was driving incompany of his younger brotherUsman in an ash coloured ToyotaCorolla car but he allegedlyrefused to stop.

He was said to be driving onhigh speed when the officers triedto stop him but he allegedly spedoff, a situation which raisedsuspicion among the operativeswho decided to fire warning shotsinto the air.

At this point, the operativeswere said to have opened fire onthe car killing the middle-agedMuhammad the driver on thespot while his brother didn’t dieand is currently receivingtreatment.

Effort to confirm the incidentfrom the State Director of SSS, Mr.Bassey Etang proved abortive ashe didn’t pick calls put to him.

However, the spokesperson of theJoint Military Task Force (JTF), inKano, Lt. Ikedichi Iweha confirmedthe incident but debunked rumoursthat is was military men who killedMuhammad.

SSS kills Kanoresident

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

President GoodluckJonathan yesterdaycommissioned the N5billion

Usan Deepwater oil facility as partof efforts to meet the targets of 40billion barrels crude oil reserve andproduction of 4 million barrels perday in the next 10 years.

President Jonathan said theproject will have a direct positiveimpact on the economy, besides othermultiplier effects of employmentcreation and critical skills transfer asit is in line with government reformaimed at expanding crude oil reserve

base and the country's productioncapacity.

"I also would like to assure theindustry that our administrationis making concerted efforts withthe legislature to ensure thespeedy passage into law of thePetroleum Industry Bill (PIB)."

The Usan is a major deepwaterdevelopment project with over 500million barrels of oil in place.

The facility, located in Riversstate took about three years tocomplete and it commencedoperation in February. At fullcapacity, it is expected to produce180, 000 crude oil per day.

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

Jonathan commissions N5bndeepwater oil project

R-L: Petroleum Minister, Mrs. Deziani Alinson-Madueke, President Goodluck Jonathan, Chairman, Total Group Worldwide, Mr. ChristopheDe Margerie and Mr. Yves-Louis-Darricarrere, during inauguration of USAN Field, "Total Offshore Facility" by the president, yesterdayin Port Hacourt, Rivers state.

The crisis in the ChristianAssociation of Nigeria(CAN), Kaduna chapter

deepened, as its parallel faction lastSaturday boycotted the annualpresidential prayer breakfastmeeting over the substitution ofthe secretary’s name.

According to investigations byour correspondent, the Kadunachapter had protested thereplacement of its secretary in thedelegation invited to the breakfast/prayer by national headquartersof the association.

Prior to the event, actinggeneral secretary, Elder Albert Uko,

had sent a text message “CANpresident has directed that I inviteall state CAN chairmen and theirstate secretaries to attend theannual Presidential PrayerBreakfast Meeting scheduled forSaturday at State House, Aso Villa”.

When contacted, Kaduna stateCAN chairman, Reverend SamuelKujiyat, confirmed the boycott.“We left Kaduna to Abuja on Fridaylast week for the Presidential PrayerBreakfast in Aso Villa. Arriving atour hotel, I saw my secretary’sname replaced with anothername. I prevailed on CANheadquarters officials over theissue but they did not listen to meand we left the place.

“As far as we are concerned,Kaduna state delegates did notattend the presidential breakfastbecause we left that very nightbefore the event. Why are youappointing somebody from Abujato be Kaduna state CAN secretary,we were embarrassed in Abuja. Wedon’t know why CAN president hasspecial interest in Kaduna CAN”he said.

However, director of Research,Planning and Strategy, CANheadquarters Abuja, Mr. SundayOibe in a telephone reaction said:“What we know is that, CANheadquarters only recognisedsomebody we know is Kaduna stateCAN secretary”.

From Lawal Sadiq Sanusi, Kaduna

Why Kaduna CAN boycotted Jonathan’s breakfast

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012PAGE 4

Boko Haram memberescapes arrest

Officials of the AdamawaState Security Service(SSS) yesterday raided the

residence of an alleged BokoHaram member in a suburb of thestate capital and recovered a hugecache of improvised explosivedevices (IEDs)but the suspectescaped arrest.

Displaying the recovered itemsbefore newsmen at the SSSheadquarters in Yola, StateDirector of the service Mr.Olugbenga Jayeoba said theexercise was a joint effort between

the Police anti-robbery squad,army and the SSS.

“Our men went out on anoperation at the residence of oneAbubakar Yola at Wuro Jabbesuburb of the state capitalfollowing a two-week longmonitoring and surveillance onhim on the grounds that hebelongs to Boko Haram.” Jayeobaexplained.

He however noted that thoughthe suspect was not at home at thetime of the raid, his wife andchildren were around while

assuring that security outfits inthe state are still on his(Abubakar’s) trail.

Officer in charge of the PoliceAnti bomb squad in the state, ASPPhillips Aziege listed 20 wraps ofphosphorus, 30 electricdetonators, 50kg of ammoniumnitrate, 19 IEDs and relayswitches.

Also recovered were three Q-link bike sirens, 10 Q-linkmotorcycle keys, four sets of sameQ-link motorcycle remote controlsystem among other items.

Attack on Iran possible, says Israeli Defence Minister

Israeli Defense Minister EhudBarak said yesterday hiscountry has never promised

the United States it would hold offfrom attacking Iran while nucleartalks were taking place.

The comments, in whichBarak said that a diplomatic pushto reach a compromise with Iranwas a waste of “precious time,”said, “we are not committing toanything”.

Barak told Israel’s Army Radio

that “The dialogue with theAmericans is both direct and open.”

Israel, arguing that a nuclearIran would pose an existentialthreat, has said it will not allowTehran to acquire a nuclearweapon. It cites Iranian calls forIsrael’s destruction, Iran’s supportfor Arab militant groups and itsdevelopment of missiles capable ofstriking the Jewish state.

Fearing that Iran is movingquickly toward nuclearcapability, Israel has repeatedlyhinted at an attack if Iran’suranium enrichmentprogramme continues toadvance. Enrichment is a keyprocess in developing weapons,and Israel says Iran is closelyapproaching a point where it canno longer be stopped.

The U.S. favors diplomacy andeconomic sanctions and has saidmilitary action on Iran’s nuclearfacilities should only be a last resortif all else fails.

Officials from the UnitedStates, Russia, China, Britain,France and Germany met withIran in Istanbul last weekend to

discuss the country’s nuclearprogramme. The talks weredescribed as positive, and theyagreed to meet again on May 23in Baghdad.

Barak told Israel’s Army Radiohe did not believe the talks wouldprevent Iran from developing anuclear weapon. “We regret thetime being lost. This is precioustime,” he said.

Barak said the talks needed toyield quick results.

“It requires a few directmeetings where all the demandsare put on the table. There youcan see if the other side is playingfor time, drawing it out throughthe year, or if indeed the other sideis genuinely striving to find asolution,” he said. “In this light,any ‘time-outs,’ especially whenthey are this long, do not serveour interests,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we maintainthe view that this will probablynot have an impact or bring theIranians to cease their nuclearprogramme. Of course, we will behappy to be proven wrong,” headded.

From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

The Lagos stategovernment, yesterday,asked the Court of Appeal

sitting in Lagos, to dismiss anappeal filed by Shell PetroleumDevelopment Company NigeriaLimited, against the judgementof Justice Raliatu Adebiyi of aLagos High Court which orderedthe oil company to payN138,798, 507.43 beingdeduction and remittance of taxesdue to Lagos state government.

In a Motion on Notice broughtpursuant to Order 4 Rules 10 andSection 15 of the Court of AppealAct, Cap C36, Law of theFederation 2004, Lagos statesigned by the Solicitor General ofLagos state, Lawal Pedro (SAN)urged the appellate court todismiss the appeal filed by ShellPetroleum on the ground that

N138m Shell judgement: Lagosgovt wants court to dismiss appeal

there was no pending appealbefore the court.

Besides, Lagos state is prayingthe court to set aside the requestmade by Shell seeking for aconditional stay of execution ofthe judgement of the trial courtmade on April 21, 2008 whichdirected the Chief Registrar of theHigh Court to pay the judgementsum to the respondent/applicant(Lagos State).

In a 28-paragraph affidavit insupport of the Motion on Noticedeposed to by one TolulopeAderiye, Lagos state stated thatthe lower court had on April 21,2008 granted a conditional stayof execution of its judgement anddirected Shell (appellant) to paythe judgement sum into anaccount with the Chief Registrarof the High Court of Lagos statepending the determination of theappeal.

Is this tattered Goodluck Jonathan campaign billboard at Area 11, Garki, Abuja reflecting theinconsistency surrounding his reign? Photo: Mahmud Isa

Police authorities in Abujahave disclosed that policepersonnel on international

peacekeeping missions abroadhave no reason to complain aspersonnel welfare is mostparamount in the force.

Police spokesman Olusola E.Amore while reacting tocomplaints by some officers whoparticipated in Peace KeepingMission last year debunkedallegations that they wereshortchanged by policeauthorities while paying theirallowances.

According to the police

spokesman,”the records need tobe put straight, that no PolicePeace Keeper who served in Haitior elsewhere was under-paid. Infact, members of the Haiticontingent were even paidallowances for extra 13 days thatthey overstayed in the Mission”.

It would be recalled thatsome members of the PolicePeace contingent in Haiti hadaccused police authorities ofshort changing them in thepayment of their allowancesafter their return to thecountry.

The allegations of the officerswas published in our edition ofApril l5, 2012.

We don’t tamper withpeacekeepers’ allowances - PoliceBy Lambert Tyem

…as SSS recovers IEDs in Yola

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

No fewer than 10passengers were crushedto death in an automobile

killed along Ajaokuta-Itobe-Enugu road, in Kogi stateyesterday.

The accident occurred,according to eyewitness accounts,when a Peace Mass Transit busfrom Enugu heading towardsAbuja swerved and rammed intoa bus from Lokoja heading towardsAnyigba.

The Majority Leader of Kogi

State House of Assembly, HonYakubu Yunusa who witnessedthe incident, stated that about 36people were involved.

Yakubu said rescue efforts didnot reach the victims, leading tothe death of 10 persons out of the36, stressing that most of thetowns and villages along the roadhad no clinic or cottage hospital.

Confirming the incident, thepolice spokesperson in Kogi state,Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi said that thedead were deposited at the FederalMedical Centre in Lokoja while therest are responding to treatment.

10 killed along Ajaokuta-Enugu road in KogiFrom Sam Egwu, Lokoja

Kaduna state governmentyesterday said it hadstopped giving food and

other materials as assistance tobeggars in the state.

Director of Social Welfare andChild Development, Ministry ofWomen Affairs, AishaMohammed, who announcedthis in Kaduna yesterday in an

interview with the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) saidthat the action was aimed atdiscouraging begging.

Aisha said the governmenthad discovered that mostbeggars in Kaduna wereimmigrants.

“We decided to stop food andmaterial assistance when we

discovered that we are spendingtoo much to cater for beggarsfrom other states.”

She said, “their presence issabotaging government effortsin curbing street begging” andappealed to the stategovernment to control theborders, to stem the influx ofbeggars to Kaduna. (NAN)

Kaduna govt stops food,material assistance to beggars

PAGE 5PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Immigration arrests 10victims of humantrafficking in Sokoto

R-L: Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, receiving some copies of Peoples Dailyfrom Chief Operating Officer of Peoples Media Ltd, Malam Ali M. Ali, during a visit by the managementof the media house to the minister, yesterday, in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Rape: 27-year-old gets 54 months jail term

A magistrate court sitting inBenin has jailed oneEnobong Solomon for four

years and six months for raping awoman.

The convict was charged withtwo count-charge; rape and assaultwhich he pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, Sergent ShaibuMohammed proved that the convictunlawfully had carnal knowledgeof the victim at a farm behind thesport complex, off Godwin Abbey

way, Benin on July 29, 2012. The court held that there was

visible cutlass wound inflicted onthe woman's finger before theconvict raped the woman andwarned her never to report to herhusband.

Chief Magistrate Mike Osayi

Pension scam: Group petitions IG

A Non -GovernmentalOrganisation, "Equityand Transparency

Initiative" [QTI], has dragged thePensions Reform Task Team[PRTT], including its ChairmanAlhaji Abdul Rasheed Maina,before the Inspector General ofpolice on allegations of grossmisconduct and abuse of office.

In a petition to the IGP datedApril 16, 2012, the group urgedthe police to launch a full scaleinvestigation into severalallegations against the TaskForce Team and its Chairmanbordering on fraud, abuse ofoffice, as well as the ongoing

By Lambert Tyem

A 46-year old man,Ahmadu Ya'u, aliasSonkaya of 'Yar'adua

quarters, Katsina wasyesterday arraigned beforechief magistrate court Katsinafor allegedly defraudingNigeria AgriculturalCooperative Bank, (NACB)Katsina branch the sum of N3million.

The prosecuting policeofficer, Sergeant Okolo Usmanhad told the court that theaccused collected the moneyunder false pretence.

According to him, theaccused plotted a fakecooperative society underwhich he obtained a loan of N3million which he refused to payback.

The prosecutor noted thatthe offence committed by theaccused was contrary to section7 (1) (a) and punishable undersection 7 (2) (a1 of the advancefee fraud and other relatedoffence act L.F. N 2006.

The presiding magistrate,Nuruddeen Abdulmumini toldthe accused that he was only

Man, 46, docked for defrauding bank

spent N450million to screen 20pensioners. He claimed to havespent the money in Atlanta,New York, Uk, etc.

"He is a signatory to accountswhere billions of Naira is kept.These accounts, he has beenfound to manage without dueauthorisation from either theAccountant General of theFederation, or the Minister ofFinance. Alhaji Maina alone,without any system for checksand balance, manages fourpension offices including theState Security Service, policepensions, and pensions in the

Diaspora offices. He should beinvestigated on his allegations ofgraft and bribery against theSenate joint committee, policeand the EFCC".

In the same vein, the groupasked the IGP, MohammedAbubakar, to probe the PRTT bosson an allegation that he expendsa sum of N5million in two weeksfor the upkeep of 25 policemenand 10 Customs personnelattached to him for security.

"You may wish to recall thatthis same man [Maina] who iscurrently employing very dirtyantics of distraction and

diversion to avert, forestall orwriggle himself out of theongoing pension funds probe bythe Senate of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria, has by hisactions, negated the values andvirtues of the currenttransformation agenda ofPresident Goodluck Jonathan. Inview of the forgoing, we herebycall on you to carry out fullinvestigation into the above, inthe best interest of the Nigeriannation", the group told the IGP.

The move by the Equity andTransparency Initiative forMaina's probe came just as theNational Association of NigerianStudents (NANS] called forimmediate dissolution of thePension Reform Task Team inorder to clear the mess in thesystem

From Sadeeq Aliyu, Sokoto

brought to court for mentionand directed he should beremanded in prison.

Similarly, a driver,Shu'aibu Muhammad of MandoVillage in Kaduna state wasbrought before the court overalleged theft of PHCN cable and23 insulators.

The prosecutor, OkoloUsman told the court that theaccused and two others at largewere arrested by a police teamon patrol with the stolen itemsat Maigora junction alongDandume- Birnin Gwari roadin Katsina state.

However, the presidingmagistrate, NuruddeenAbdulmumini ordered theaccused to be remanded inpolice custody for furtherinvestigation.

Immigration officers at Kwarelocal government checkpoint in Sokoto state have

arrested ten victims of humantrafficking on their way to Italyand France in search of job.

The public relation officer ofthe command, AssistantComptroller of ImmigrationMusa Ibrahim Mahuta whodisclosed this to newsmen saidthe victims who were all males

are within the age bracket of 25and 35 years.

He said they started theirjourney from Benin in Edo statewith the aim of linking withtheir anchor man based inNiger, and upon interrogationthey all confessed that they wereheading towards Italy andFrance through theMediterranean Sea to seek foremployment.

According to them, theirparents look on to them for

sustenance and they have notbeen able to secure employmentin the country, hence theyresorted to embark on thetortuous journey to look foralternative outside the country.

Mahuta said the victims hadbeen handed over to NationalAgency for Prohibition andTrafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)for necessary action while effortsare on to trace and arrest theanchor man and hiscollaborators for prosecution.

…Calls for Probe of Task Forceaccusations and counter-accusations of bribery, theft andfraud between some directors ofpolice pension board and somesenators on one hand andbetween the Senate jointcommittee on Establishmentand Public Service, States andLocal Governments, and thePRTT on the other hand, over aN2billion bribe.

The petition, signed by theNational Secretary of theorganisation, Alhaji Isa DansarkiMohammed, reads in part: "Wedo not have to forget that AlhajiRasheed Maina accepted to have

After waiting for weeksfor a Ghana-must-gobag full of documents,

as promised by AbdulrasheedMaina, embattled chairmanof the Pension Reform TaskTeam to buttress his defense,Senator Aloysius Etok ledSenate Committee probingpension scam, was mondayshocked to find out that thecomputer soft-ware presentedto it by Maina was "empty".

Addressing audience atthe Senate, chairman of thecommittee, Senator Etuk,noted that they would nolonger accept any form ofcomputer soft copy from anyindividual or corporateorganization as evidencebecause "the iPod given to usby Maina was blank."

Pension probe: Mainapresents empty computer soft-ware to Senate committee By Ali Alkali IPod is a l ine of tablet

computers designed andmarketed by Apple Inc. ,primarily as a platform foraudio-visual media includingbooks, periodicals, movies,music, games, apps and webcontent.

Also, in his submission, theformer Head of Service of theFederation (HSF), Prof.Oladapo Afolabi dismissedclaims by the PRTT boss thatthey have recovered sixmill ion pounds sterl ing inCrown Merchant Bank of UK.

Addressing thecommittee, the former HSFasserted that "it is a falseclaim that anything wasrecovered. Nothing was lost,nothing was recovered. All Iknow is that, throughout mystay in office, no money waslost."

From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua,Katsina

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro,Benin

observed that the convict's denialof his confessional statement to thepolice and afterthought,emphasizing that the convict didnot give his own version of the story.

The court however, gave theconvict an option of fine of sixtythousand naira.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012PAGE 6

Police to probe EFCCover stolen pension fundThe Senate has directed the

police to investigate theEconomic and Financial

Crimes Commission (EFCC),following the alleged involvementof some top officials of thecommission in the looting of pensionfunds in the country.

The Senate Joint Committeeinvestigating the administration ofpension in the country gave thedirective yesterday despitetestimonies by the current EFCCChairman, Ibrahim Lamorde andthe ex-chairman Farida Wazirithat they were not in any wayinvolved in the pension fraud.

The duo were said to havecollected part of the pension fundfor trips abroad for biometricexercise for pensioners but allegedlyfailed to make the trips.

Following the explanations byLamorde and Waziri that they werenever involved in the exercise, thecommittee concluded that someunscrupulous officials in thecommission would have used theirnames to draw the money and

directed the police to conduct a wide-ranging investigation into thematter so as to apprehend thosebehind the fraud.

Earlier at the hearing,Chairman of the SenateCommittee, Senator Aloysius Etokpresented documents in whichWaziri’s name was mentioned twiceas having collected money andnever traveled abroad for thebiometric project.

Senator Etok also providedanother document in whichLamorde was mentioned to havebenefited from over N240 millionfor the verification exercise.

The police was also mandatedto look into the alleged diversion ofN4.6 billion and N1.7 billion meantfor death benefit to some dead police

officers.The revelations at the probe

yesterday also included thediscovery of N5.887 billion said tohave been siphoned by one Mr.Christian Madubueke between2007 and 2012.

Madubueke was accosted by theco-Chairman of the Committee,Senator Kabiru Gaya upondiscovery that he was mentionedas having collected travel claims ofN5.8 million meant for the EFCCchairmen.

“In March, N979 million waspaid in six places into your account.On the 18th of March, 2011, allthese amounts were paid into youraccount, N900, 000; N800, 000;N850, 000; N700, 000; N700,000; N700, 000 and N2.7

million.”Responding, Madubueke

confirmed to the committee thathis account was used as conduitpipe by one Mr. John Yusuf who isan Assistant Director of Account inPolice Pension office.

Meanwhile, Waziri told thecommittee that she fled thecountry after her sack last yearfollowing alleged conspiracy bysome powerful persons to kill her.

She told the Senate that shedecided to run for her life when itwas very clear that she was nolonger safe in the country. She saidthat the way and manner theformer Inspector General of Police,Mr. Haviz Ringim ordered thewithdrawal of her security aides alsoput more fears in her.

Worried by the increasedsuspicion over allegedmismanagement of the

sum of N3.8 billion, out of anapproved N4.5 billion being totalfunds approved by PresidentJonathan for the establishment ofthe American Hospital and theAmerican University of MedicalSciences in order to render healthcare, the House of Representativesyesterday mandated itsCommittee on Health and that ofFederal Capital Territory toInvestigate the allegedmismanagement and report backwithin four weeks for furtherlegislative input.

It could be recalled that in 2005,the Federal Government inviteAFAM Comprehensive HealthcareGroup of New York into the countryto work out modalities that will helpto solve the problems of poorhealthcare in Nigeria, which led tomarshal plan for buildingsustainable capacity in the

Nigerian healthcare sector,namely the setting up of theAmerican Hospital and AmericanUniversity of Medical Sciencewhich are Public PrivatePartnership (PPP) project betweenthe Federal Republic of Nigerianthrough the Federal CapitalDevelopment Authority (FCDA)via the Abuja InvestmentCompany Limited (AICL); theNigerian Investors and theAmerican Investors via theAmerican Hospital Limited and the

American Medical andEnvironmental Companies.

The motion which was filed byHon O. K. Chinda says the marshalplan was later presented to PresidentGoodluck Jonathan who approve awaiver of 4.5 billion on interest andpenalties owed by the localgovernment areas on withholdingtaxes (WHT) and value added tax(VAT) for investment in the PPPproject of the American Hospitaland the American University ofMedical Sciences, and the Central

Reps to probe N4.5bn American hospital projectBy Umar Mohammed Puma

L-R: ExecutiveCommissioner,Finance andAdmin ofSecurities andExchangeCommission(SEC), Lawal SaniStore,Commissioner ofOperations, Mrs.Daisy Ekineh, andDirector Generalof SEC, MsArunma Oteh,during theinvestigation intocollapse of thecapital market bythe House ofRepresentativesAd-hocCommittee onCapital Market, atthe NationalAssembly,yesterday inAbuja.Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kogi AssemblysuspendsOlamaboroeducationsecretary

For gross official misconduct,m a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,mismanagement and

misappropriation of public fund inOlamaboro education sector, theEducation secretary of the localgovernment, Mr Sunday Agala,has been suspended.

The suspension which wasconsequent upon reports from thelocal government education sectionof the misdeed of the officer waspresented on the floor of the Houseat its plenary yesterday, bymember representing the area,Hon Damian Abdul Adejo.

It was alleged that Mr. SundayAgala had created ghost schools,fictitious names and other sundrymeans to defraud the localgovernment education authorityof amount yet to be determined.

According to the speaker, ifinvestigation to be headed by thechairman, House committee oneducation finds him guilty, hewould be recommended to theappropriate quarters for properpunishment.

From Sam Egwu, lokoja

Bank (CBN) on the order of theaccountant General of theFederation paid out from theFederation account (at source) thesum of 3.8 billion Naira out of the4.5 billion approve by the President.And that the account was openedin violation of the ALGONconstitutions which clearly statedthat the treasurer and the secretaryGeneral shall be co-signatories to theaccount, with the President assupervising signatory to all ALGONaccounts.

Crisis: Shuluwa lambasts critics of Tiv conference

Convener of Tiv Elders'/Stakeholders forum ChiefAbu King Shuluwa has

chided critics of the conference,which he said, seeks to addresspertinent issues of growth andstability of the Tiv nation.

Chief Shuluwa who said thisyesterday during a chat withnewsmen, regretted that a lot of

things have gone wrong with theTiv nation that must be addressedat a roundtable conference.

He particularly lamented theincessant attack on Tivcommunities by Fulani herdsmenas well as the Agboughoul crisisthat resulted in the wantondestruction of lives and properties,maintaining that permanentsolutions ought to be sought to endthese feuds.

Job seekersbesiege FederalCivil ServiceCommission

Applicants in Abuja visit theFederal Civil ServiceCommission daily in search of

jobs, the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports.

Some of the job seekers interviewedyesterday, said they wanted to jointhe Federal Civil Service.

Mr. Dan Ukpong from Akwa Ibomstate told NAN that a file had beenopened for him by the commission andhad been given a number.

` I am here to check if my name isout for interview but this CivilDefence lady at the gate refused toallow me to go in. She was askingfor my identity card which I don'thave. ''

Mrs. Dorcas Ugah from Kogistate said she was among the peopleto be interviewed this week for theMinistry of Foreign Affairs, ``but itwas postponed. ''

She commended thecommission`s commitment to therecruitment of applicants, addingthat the effort would reduceunemployment and poverty in thecountry.

Mrs Temitope Babalola fromEkiti State said she came to thecommission to submit herdocuments but ``the securitywoman refused to allow me to goin''.

Babalola said that processingapplications online should be the bestoption, adding that it would reducethe stress of queuing.

` If the Internet system will workout fine as the commission said lastmonth on paper, it will be the bestinstead of this queue that we areexperiencing at the gate. '' (NAN)

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi While dismissing the remarksmade by Chief J.K.I. Ugela, thePresident of Mzough U Tiv, anumbrella body for Tiv socio-cultural group, describing theconference as "not properly"constituted, Shuluwa lambastedhim as a man not interested inthe peace and unity of the Tivnation.

The conference holds on April,19 and 20, 2012 in Makurdi.

By Richard Ihediwa

...as Waziri explains why she fled

PAGE 7PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

L-R: Corps Marshal/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Road Safety Crops (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka,Chairman of the occasion and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim PiusAnyim, and Director-General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Otunba OlusegunRunsewe, during the National Summit on Nigeria Road Safety Strategy 2012-2016, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Following the introduction ofthe Growth EnhancementSupport Scheme (GES), as

part of the government’s effortsto enforce its AgriculturalTransformation AgendaProgrammes (ATAP) in Nigeria,Minister of State for Agricultureand Rural Development, AlhajiBukar Tijjani, yesterdayflagged-off the scheme forTaraba state and the entiresouthern states.

The minister, who expresseddelight that ATAP was alreadybecoming efficient in view of thesuccess achieved so far, furthernoted that the scheme wouldgrant farmers direct access tobenefits from the system.

Alhaji Tijjani also disclosedthat the event not only markedthe beginning of an agriculturaleconomy that is private sectordriven, but would enable all thestates take responsibility andensure that farmers getnecessary information throughthe e-wallet system.

According to the minister,the essence of the GES schemewas to guarantee access toavailable subsidy in the schemeto small scale farmers in thestates, so as to enable them getdirect fertiliser and seeds.

He assured that southernfarmers would receive fertiliserand seeds at least by April 30,2012, while stating that roll-outfor the northern statecommences after a stakeholder

Agric minister flags off growthscheme for Taraba, southern states

meeting scheduled to hold laterthis month.

On whether the seed andfertiliser companies wereprepared to implement thescheme, deputy president of theSeed Association of Nigeria(SEEDAN), Mr. R. O. Olafareexpressed optimism thatSEEDAN had over 15, 000metric tonnes of seed for rice,maize, and soya beans in stock.

In his remarks, the ChiefExecutive Officer (CEO) ofCellulant, Goke Akinboro, whois in charge of the e-wallet devicethrough which farmers are toreceive all the necessaryinformation on the GES schemevia their mobile telephones,assured that the system waseffective.

By Mohammed Kandi

Politicians in Nasarawastate have been calledupon to desist from

sending political thugs on hajjso as to avoid any form ofmisbehaviour which couldtarnish the image of the stateand the country at large.

The Sarkin Kwandere,Alhaji Ahmadu Al-makura,gave the advise while receivingthe newly appointed executivesecretary of the state MuslimPilgrims Welfare Board, AlhajiAbubakar Hassan Na-Laraba,who paid him homage in hispalace in Kwandere.

Ahmadu Al-makura expressed sadnessover an incident last year,where some youths instigateda protest in Saudi Arabia, afterthe completion of the hajjobligations, which, accordingto him, dented the image of thestate.

The traditional ruler

further advised well meaningindividuals who intend tosponsor people on hajj, to sendresponsible ones who canprotect the good image of theirreligion, state and nation as awhole.

Earlier in his speech, theexecutive secretary of thepilgrims board, Alhaji Na-Laraba, said they with thetraditional ruler to seek hiscooperation towards carryingout the responsibilities of theboard.

In a related development,the board, in a release signedby its public relations officer,Alhaji Ibrahim AdamuShigafarta, the executivesecretary, Hassan Na-Larabaalso admonished pilgrimson right conducts whilevisiting the Andoma of Doma,Alhaji Ahmadu Aliyu Ogah, inhis palace, Na-Laraba who alsovisited the palaces of the Osukoof Obi, Alhaji Aliyu Dangiwa

Monarch urges politicians to stopsponsoring thugs on pilgrimage

Ogiri and the Sarkin Adudu,Alhaji Abdullahi MohammedHassan, disclosed that theNational Hajj Commission hadalready taken disciplinarymeasures against states andindividuals who conductedthemselves badly in the holyland.

The scribe called ontraditional rulers to enlightentheir people on the resolve ofthe board to disallow pregnantwomen from pilgrimage.

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

Kebbi inagurates committee on revenue generation

For more internal revenue,Kebbi state governmenthas inaugurated a 21-man

task force committee tocoordinate revenue generationactivities for the state.

Inaugurating the committeeyesterday, the Kebbi state deputygovernor, Alhaji Ibrahim K.

Aliyu said the committee is toidentify all sources of revenuegeneration to the state, suggeststrategies for improving theexisting sources and indentifyways of plugging revenueleakages.

The committee, according tohim, would also monitorpayment of monthly salaries andwages in the state.

He urged them to do their bestto justify the confidence reposedin them by turning around thefortune of the state, by generatingenough fund to complementfederal allocation to the state.

Responding, the chairman ofthe committee, Alhaji Sani AliyuAugie thanked the Kebbi stategovernment for the mandate andpromised to discharge its duties.

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

Dangers still threaten worldeconomy, warns IMF

The International MonetaryFund (IMF) said risksassociated with the global

economy are still visible in spiteof the slight global growth in theworld economy.

The global finance bodyobserved a global growth whichit said has led to a slow recoveryin the U.S. gains traction anddangers from Europe recede.

It however noted that risksremain elevated and the gainsare very fragile, Reuters quotedIMF as observing yesterday.

Of note, IMF said another flare-up of the euro-zone sovereigndebt crisis or sharp escalation inoil prices on geopoliticaluncertainty could easilyundermine confidence anddisrupt the improving growthpath for world economy.

"With the passing of the crisisand some good news about theU.S. economy, some optimismhas returned. It should remaintempered," said OliverBlanchard, the IMF's chiefeconomist, in the latest WorldEconomic Outlook.

"Most advanced economiesstill face major brakes on growth.

"And the risk of another crisisis still very much present andcould well affect both advancedand emerging economies," hesaid.

The global economy is on trackto expand this year by 3.5 percent and by 4.1 per cent in 2013,up slightly from 3.3 per cent and3.9 per cent GDP outputrespectively that the IMF hadforecast in January.

The estimate arose when

market concern was rampantthat Greece could default andItaly and Spain were facingbudget crises.

Since then, Greece hasrestructured its debt, Italy andSpain are adopting tough fiscalmeasures and euro-zone leadershave agreed to enlarge theirbailout fund, causing financialmarket tensions to ease.

The U.S., meanwhile, isgradually gaining momentumwhile China and other emergingeconomies appear on track forgradual slowdowns withoutcrashing, it said.

But the gains are precarious.Should the euro zone crisis

erupt once more, it could triggera widespread dumping of riskyassets and rob two per cent fromglobal growth over two years and3.5 per cent from the euro zone,the IMF warned.

Additionally, a 50 per centincrease in the price of oil onwould lower global output by1.25 per cent, the IMF said.

To secure the global recovery,the IMF urged central banks inthe U.S., euro zone and Japan tostand ready to deliver furthermonetary easing.

The easing will show ingovernments' exercise of cautionover the pace of budget cutbackswherever feasible; and Europewill consider using public fundsto overcapitalise banks.

While European leaders havemade "major progress" in buildingfire walls against financialcontagion, the region faces atricky balance of cuttinggovernment debt and restoringcompetitiveness withoutexcessively stifling growth, itwarned. (Reuters/NAN)

For the umpteenth time, theP a r e n t s - T e a c h e rAssociation (PTA), in Kogi

state has warned the governor,Capt Idris Wada to shun all policieson education that have no positiveimpact on students of the state.

This was contained in astatement from the association,signed by its Chairman, PaulJibrin and the Secretary, AuduI.O., in a resolution in Lokojayesterday.

The association said that thedesire of the governor tohandover JSSCE to NECO washasty and would have consultedoutsiders first for the merits anddemerits before the decision.

The body insisted that instead

of paying N5, 200. 00 whichordinarily would have been N1,200.00 was a calculated ploy tostop many students of JSSC fromregistering as some parents maynot afford the cost.

What enhances performancesof students, according to theAssociation, were inputs such asteaching aides, qualified teachingpersonnel, adding that all thestates of the federation should usethe same curriculum to setexaminations.

The Association has thereforedirected parents and students notto pay N5, 200.00 for JSSCexamination registration meantfor JSS 111, instead of N,200.00even as the principals wereadvised not to use force on anystudent

Wada urged to shunobnoxious education policy From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

By Abdulwahab Isa, with agencyreport

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012PAGE 8

4

2 3

1

2

3GOC, 2 Div., Major-GeneralMohammed Abubakar (R), pointingat a fake Army logo on the shirt ofMr Johnson Adeleke, a fakeColonel arrested for illegalrecruitment of unsuspected youthsinto the Army, yesteday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

L-R: Former Inspector General ofPolice, Chief Mike Okiro, Borno stateGovernor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima,and Managing Director, SUNNewspapers, Mr. Tony Onyima,during an international securityawareness summit on terrorismand other related crimes, yesterdayin Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

1 R-L: Minister of State for FCT, ChiefJumoke Akinjide, with the SpecialAdviser to the President on SocialMatters, Hajiya Aisha Umar, jointlyreading a copy of Peoples Daily,before their meeting with PresidentGoodluck Jonathan on budget, atthe State House, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

4Some principals at the All NigeriaConfederation of Principals ofSecondary Schools (ANCOPSS)55th Annual General Meeting,yesterday in Enugu. Photo: NAN

PAGE 9PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Over 100 victims of aninferno that razed downa whole compound in

Ilorin, the Kwara state capitalon the 4th April 2012, weregiven relief materials worthN5.4million including foodstuff, mattresses and blanketon Sunday.

The Special Assistant toGovernor Abdulfatah Ahmedon Emergency and ReliefMatters, Alhaji MusaAbdullahi who distributed thematerials at the victims’residence, Ile-Alaaro, Gambariarea in Ilorin East localgovernment, also disclosedthat the state government hadreceived 250 reports of fire

outbreak across the 16 localgovernment areas of the statewhich are on the lists of victimsthat would be catered for.

The government, he saidwas worried about the victimsof the compound whose homes,household materials andlivelihood were lost to theinferno saying “governmenthad lost sleep over the issue,because we thought that youwill not find a place to live.

The Special Assistant whonoted that government couldnot fully compensate them onthe property lost, said theycould pick up their lives fromthe relief materials distributedto them stressing that theadministration believes inpeople’s comfort and would

Kwara govt doles out N5.4million to Ilorin fire victims

Plateau butchers express concernover rising cost of cowsButchers in Plateau state

have expressed deepconcern over the rising

cost of cows in Jos and environs,the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports.

Alhaji Mohammed Sani, thechairman, Plateau chapter ofthe National Association ofButchers, told NAN yesterdayin Jos that the price of well-bredcows had “suddenly gone up byalmost 40 percent”.

“The rise is just within thelast three months and isaffecting the business of mymembers”.

He expressed surprise overthe hike in cattle price, addingthat most butchers could notafford to slaughter big cows

L-R: Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera, Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, and Catholic Archbishopof Abuja, John Onaiyekan, during the National Vaccine Summit, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

any longer.According to the chairman,

the price of a giant bull hasrisen from N80, 000 to N380,000 while an average cow costN320, 000 as against N25,000 previously.

Sani said that a mediumsized bull that was sold at N200,000 in January now costN280, 000.

He said that a smaller bullthat was valued at N100, 000last year now attracts N180,000.

“My members are pushed tothe wall due to the priceincrease but we have beenstruggling to keep the price ofmeat in check so as to serve ourcustomers.

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

”The butchers have beencomplaining; but theassociation has only allowedthem to make a slight increaseon the price of beef.

“We have allowed thebutchers to increase the priceof one kilo of beef fromN700 toN800", he said.

Sani said that the price ofone kilo of intestines had alsobeen increased from N500 toN650.

When contacted, the statechairman, Cattle DealersAssociation, Alhaji Sabiu Musa,blamed the rising cost of cowson the high cost of feed andtransportation.

He noted that the price ofdiesel had also gone up, thereby affecting cost of moving cowsfrom one town to the other.(NAN)

The Emir of Ilorin andchairman, State Council ofChiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu

Gambari, has lamented thesecurity challenges facing thecountry, describing it asunparalleled in the history ofNigeria.

Alhaji Gambari stated thistoday while receiving membersof Study Group 1 of the ExecutiveCourse 34, National Institute forPolicy and Strategic Studies(NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, who paid himhomage in his palace.

The Emir said the insecurityin the country as at today is moredreadful than the civil war,because according to him, theenemies’ camps were knownduring the war unlike now where

Ilorin Emir lamentspoor security

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin the enemies are faceless.He added that the situation

had dented the image of thecountry and her people in theinternational community,stressing that it is theresponsibility of all to save thecountry from disintegration.

Earlier, the head of thedelegation, Professor ThomasImobighe, had said the group wasin the state on study touralongside five others in somestates of the federation with apresidential mandate to carry outa study on resource diversificationfor sustainable development.

He was optimistic that theirreport and recommendationswould be able to address thecurrent dependence on oil as thecountry’s major source of revenuegeneration.

Benue state government hasthreatened to hand overdubious contractors to law

enforcement agencies for refusalto execute contracts awarded tothem after collecting huge sumsas mobilisation fees.

Governor Gabriel Suswammade the threat yesterdaythrough his deputy, ChiefSteven Lawani, whileaddressing contractors handlingvarious projects with the StateUniversal Basic Education Board(SUBEB), under the secondquarter of 2008-2011intervention funds.

Suswam frowned thatcontractors were bent onfrustrating government’s effortsin providing basic amenities forthe people by their nefarious

Benue govt to clampdown on contractorsFrom Uche Nnorom, Makurdi attitude of collecting funds only

to abandon projects, warningthat government would nolonger condone such acts.

He however assured thatgovernment would continue toencourage and patroniseindigenous contractors andcharged the board to step up itsmonitoring activities to ensurethat projects were executed inconsonance with the terms ofcontract in the interest of the stateand the educational sector.

Chairman of SUBEB, Dr.David Tsevende warnedcontractors who have the notionthat contracts awarded to themare compensation for partyloyalty or political patronage tohave a rethink, maintaining thatthe board will not hesitate to goagainst any one of them thatviolates the terms of contract.

The Executive Secretary ofthe National HumanRights Commission

(NHRC), Prof. Bem Angwe hasstressed the need for Nigeriansto respect the rights of others toavoid friction and conflict in thecountry.

Receiving members of theAbuja branch of the HumanRights Committee of theNigerian Bar Association (NBA),Angwe said every Nigerianmust have respect for the rightsof others irrespective of cultural,social and political differences.

A statement by LambertOparah of the Public Affairsdepartment of the commission,

has it that the NHRC boss saidthat human rights promotionand protection is theresponsibility of all as it is thecornerstone of democracy.

“Once people respect therights of one another, there willbe less friction and conflict andconsequently, there will bepeace and development”, thestatement said.

The Executive Secretarynoted that the NBA playsimportant role in thepropagation of human rights,

adding that the first calling of alawyer is to rise and defend theoppressed and pledged thereadiness of the NHRC topartner with the NBA toimprove the human rights of allNigerians.

The chairman, HumanRights Committee, NBA, Mr.Elachi Agada called for aformation of a joint HumanRights Technical committeebetween NBA and NHRC toaddress peculiar human rightsissues in Nigeria.

NHRC boss stresses need torespect individual’s rights

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

continue to ensure their liveswere properly protected.

The leader of theCommunity, Malam Jimoh

Alaaro who received the reliefmaterials on behalf of thevictims, said no amount ofwords could describe

the worthiness of the gesturesthe state governmentextended to the people of thearea.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012PAGE 10

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

Governor Abiola Ajimobi ofOyo state, yesterday,reassured the entire

members of the National YouthService Corps (NYSC) in the stateof his administration's totalcommitment to their security.

The governor declared that“the security of corps members istopmost in the priority of the

present government in the state.”Governor Ajimobi made the

assertion at Premier Hotel, Ibadanin his keynote address on theoccasion of the 2012 Batch ‘B’ Pre-Mobilisation Workshop for theNYSC stakeholders across thecountry, including the Director-General, Brigadier-GeneralNnamdi Okore-Affia.

Represented by the Secretaryto the State Government, Alhaji

Akin Olajide, Ajimobi reiteratedthe commitment of hisadministration to continue todischarge its responsibilities to theNYSC.

In this regard, he said, workwould be accelerated on the NYSCPermanent Orientation Camp underconstruction at Iseyin with a view toresolving the accommodationproblem of corps members.

He used the forum to pray for

the sustenance of the NYSC whichhe described as the major unifyingorganisation in the country sayingthe scheme must not fail.

“The NYSC has always been anagent of unity in Nigeria hence myprayer that it should not fail,” thegovernor stated.

Speaking earlier, the NYSCDirector-General, Brigadier-GeneralOkore-Affia, reeled out the objectivesof the workshop explaining that it

Oyo govt reassures NYSC members of adequate securitywas “a forum which usuallypresents a veritable platform for theStudents Affairs Officers of corpsproducing institutions, the NYSCmanagement and the statesMobilisation Schedule Officers tointeract as well as to review theprevious mobilization exercise witha view to fashioning out moreeffective strategies for enhancedperformance in the mobilizationprocess.”

From Bala Nasir, Kano

Kantin Kwari traders inKano state have petitionedGovernor Rabiu Musa

Kwankwaso, alleging that Chinesecompanies operating in the stateare killing them by way ofeliminating wholesalers.

The traders under the platformof their union, Movement for theSurvival of Indigenous Traders ofKantin Kwari Market (MSITKKM),told Governor Kwankwaso thatapart from the unfair business

dealing against them by theChinese companies, they have alsorented up hundreds of stalls in themarket.

The petition which was signedby chairman of the union, AlhajiSaminu Saidu Koki, stated that theChinese do not discriminatebetween bulk buyer and retailbuyers in pricing their products asthey sell uniformly.

Also, they use their stooges towoo major customers who used tobuy from them before and sincethey buy directly from the Chinese

companies they stoppedpatronising them.

If they sell to us at the sameprices with our former customersand they rent stalls in the marketchances are that we will be out ofcirculation in the near future,members of MSITKKM told thegovernor.

They warned that if nothing isdone to stem the problem KantinKwari Market will in the nearfuture belong to the Chinese whohave all the resources to take overeverything in the market hence,

eliminating all the indigenesoperating there.

This is our country, they saidand it is the duty of ourgovernment to protect us from abusiness competition that is notfavourable to us in all itsramifications.

“The Chinese make hundredsof millions of naira daily and Kanostate government is losing millionsof naira of tax revenue to the taxevading Chinese companiesoperating in the market throughcronies”.

Kano traders lament unfaircompetition from Chinese

Residents of Zaria city inKaduna state haveexpressed joy over the

arrival of the first rain of the year,the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports.

The rain, which started atabout 8:00 p.m., lasted for morethan 40 minutes.

Reacting to the development,Alhaji Balarabe Danladi, aresident, described the rainfall asa blessing and prayed for a blissfulrainy season.

“The rains have become asource of joy not only to farmers

but to the entire people in view ofthe persistent heat in Zaria”.

He, however, appealed to thepeople to avoid dumping refuseinto drains to prevent flooding andthe attendant destruction ofproperty in the area.

Also speaking, a farmer,Malam Musa Dogara, described therainfall as a sign of Allah’s blessingto mankind.

“We want to use thisopportunity to appeal to theKaduna State Government tosupply fertilisers as soon aspossible”. (NAN)

Zaria residents celebrate first rainfallBy Miriam Humbe

As a means of complementingthe transformation agendaof the Federal Government,

the directors-general of theNigerian Tourism DevelopmentCorporation and the NigerianTelevision Authority have decidedto explore new ways ofcollaboration.

The idea of NTA and NTDCcollaboration was mooted by theNTDC DG, Otunba OlusegunRunsewe along with membersof his management team whenhe visited his counterpart,

Malam Usman Magawata atthe NTA headquarters in Abujarecently.

Introducing his mission to theNTA, Otunba Runsewe said hisvisit was to solicit a partnershipbetween both corporations andcommended the NTA for itsbrilliant collaboration withStartimes cable service; saying thechannels offered by Startimeswere impressive.

Runsewe revealed that heintended to procure thousands ofthe Startimes decoders from theNTA which will be given toevery Nigerian-based

hospitality outfit like hotels,eateries, parks, travel agencies,with 6 months subscriptionpackage, all for free. He appealedto Malam Magawata to subsidisethe decoders for other outfitsinterested in buying in order toachieve appreciable mileagewith the efforts.

He requested for one hour onNTA to be called “Tourism Hour”where vital issues affectingtourism development in Nigerialike vacancy placements, nationalsecurity and generally topics aswell as contemporary issues willbe treated.

NTDC, NTA synergise on transformation agenda

The violation of a High Courtruling directing bothparties involved in the

dispute over the ancestral home ofa Benin Chief, the late ChiefSamuel Obadiaru who was theObadiaru of Benin, to maintain thestatus quo has stirred morecontroversy.

Commercial activities weregrounded for hours along EwaiseStreet yesterday morning asresidents who are mainly motortyre dealers locked their shops toavoid being caught in crossfire.

The court presided over byJustice Emmanuel Edigin hadruled on 23rd March 2011 that allparties involved in the suit No: B/806/2011 against Mrs. RafatuGloria Obadiaru and one otherbrought before the court by herstepson, Chief NosakhareObadiaru, the Obadiaru of BeninKingdom maintain the state ofaffairs before the suit wasinstituted.

The disputed building is 106Ewaise (Forestry) Street which isthe home of the late Chief SamuelObadiaru, now occupied by hiseldest surviving son, ChiefNosakhare Obadiaru, who wasrecently conferred with thehereditary traditional title by theOba of Benin.

The Obadiaru of BeninKingdom had instituted the suitagainst Mrs. Obadiaru, his step-mother and one other seekingamong others that his late father’sancestral home or Igiogbe in Biniparlance cannot be shared oralienated in any manner by theholders or any other person for thatmatter.

Disputedproperty:Party violatescourt rulingFrom Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

The scene of a multiple accident on Anjorin Street, Lawanson, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 PAGE 11

EFCC urged to probeAdavi LG finance clerksAn appeal has gone to

the Economic andFinancial Crimes

Commission (EFCC) to arrest andinvestigate finance clerks in Adavilocal government council of Kogistate for allegedly embezzling thesum of N155 million in the lasteleven months.

This came up from thepreliminary report of the staffaudit exercise initiated by the localgovernment chapter of the NigeriaUnion of Local GovernmentEmployees (NULGE) which wasmade available to journalists inLokoja.

It was discovered that about

443 ghost workers were on thepayroll of the local government,while some people werediscovered to have presented fakeletters of appointment to thescreening committee during theexercise.

In a press statement issued bythe Dynamic Wheelers Club(DWC), and signed by thePresident, Mr. Isah Asimole calledon all relevant anti-graft agencies to show interest in the event goingon in the local government councilwith a view to rescuing the localgovernment of massive corruptionin the council

According to him, they haveno doubt in the ability of the bodyheaded by Mr. Emmanuel Icha to

come out with a result that will beclearly different from the variouspast mock screening exercises inthe council stressing, “we areworried greatly that the constantand unending presence of ‘Ghostworkers’ syndrome in Adavi localgovernment council hasnegatively affected its growth and development, to such extend thatthe council has merely become a“pay center” rather thandevelopment oriented body whicha local government council ismeant to be.”

Also speaking on the matter thechairman of the screeningcommittee, Mr. Emmanuel Ichaconfirmed to journalists that someof those who presented fake

employment letters, confessed tothe screening committee thatsome top officers at the localgovernment issued the fake lettersto them.

The committee discovered thatthe education department had thelargest ghost workers of 100 people,works department, 96 ghostworkers, Personnel, 74 ghostworkers, Health, 63 ghostworkers, Budgetary, 31 ghostworkers and Agric department,has 25 ghost workers.

All efforts to reach the DLG ofAdavi local government areaproved abortive as his cell phonewas switched off, even as his PROabsolved his boss of any culpabilityin the matter.

UNICEFprepareskids asproblemsolvers

United Nations ChildrenEmergency Fund(UNICEF) has said that

children need to learn life’semotional and practical lessons tostrengthen their ability to solveproblem and achieve their goals.

This was said during the five-day training for 40 ChildProtection Partners from Gombestate on Child Protection inEmergencies (CPiE) organized byUNICEF D-field office Bauchi incollaboration with Save TheChildren UK, in Karu localgovernment area of Nasarawastate.

Speaking while presenting apaper titled: “The CoreDevelopmental Needs of Children”Mr. Daniel Istifanus Bisu fromSave the Children UK said:“Unconditional care also plays apart in a child’s religiousupbringing such as in saying thatGod loves you but spiritual love byitself is not enough.”

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

NOA tocompile listof trafficoffenders

In view of the rampant cases oftraffic offences by motorists,the National Orientation

Agency (NOA) has said that it willpartner the Federal Road SafetyCorps (FRSC) to compile the list oftraffic offenders across the countryin order to guarantee safety on theroads.

The Director-General of theagency, Mike Omeri, who statedthis during a visit to the Chairmanof Daar Communications, Dr.Raymond Dokpesi in Abuja, addedthat the fight against social vicesrequired the active involvementof all Nigerians.

He called on Nigerians toforward the vehicle registrationnumbers of erring drivers to theagency for compilation andpublication, saying the list will alsobe forwarded to the relevant lawenforcement agencies to assistthem track offenders and bringthem to book.

A statement issued Monday bythe Assistant Director, Press in theagency, Fidel Agu stressed that theagency was determined tobring about moral re-orientationthat cuts across all the strata of thesociety, adding that the newapproach will involve acomprehensive sectoral approachand collaboration with relevantagencies.

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

We need agric university in North-West, says Emir of GwanduFrom Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

The Emir of Gwandu andchairman of Kebbi stateTraditional Rulers, Alhaji

Mohammed Iliyasu Bashar hasmade an appeal to the Federal

Government to establish aUniversity of Agriculture in theNorth-West.

He made the appeal whenmembers of the FederalGovernment Polytechnicsvisitation panel who visited the

Waziri Umar FederalPolytechnic in the state, paidhim a courtesy visit in his palaceyesterday. The Monarch addedthat the major occupation of thepeople from north west wasagriculture.

In his remark, the chairmanof the panel, Dr. Waheed Qadeersaid the members visited themonarch to get royal blessings intheir bid to foster good relationshipwith the staff and students of theinstitution.

Meteorologist urges adherence to building codeA meteorologist, Prof. Temi

Ologunorisa, Mondayurged government at all

levels to ensure adherenceto building code to enhance floodcontrol.

Ologunorisa told the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagosthat the presence of illegal structurescompounded the flood problem insome coastal communities.

“One major cause of flooding insome major towns and citiesin Nigeria today is the increasingnumber of illegal structuresblocking the free flow of water.

“We cannot continue to loselives and property worth millionsof naira to preventable flood-related disasters within and aroundour environment.

“We need to go back to thedrawing board and ensure thatstructures are erected not on floodplains, but built in line with thegovernment approved buildingcodes.’’

Ologunorisa, , who is also theDirector of the Centre for ClimateChange and EnvironmentalStudies, Osun State University,Osogbo, advocated for the

demolition of illegal structures andthe relocation of those living inflood-prone areas.

He urged governmentsto embark on the construction ofdrains and the channelisation ofrivers to enhance the free flow offlood water from communities.

The meteorologistalso urged residents to desist fromdumping refuse into drains.

“To avert flood-relatedemergencies in our communities,environmental law enforcementagencies must ensure that illegalstructures are pulled down and

such places declared disaster riskareas.

“We need to be proactive nowto ensure the safety of lives andproperty, especially now that weare still expecting more rains,’’ hesaid.

The meteorologist urgedinhabitants of flood-pronecommunities to take proactivemeasures to checkmate disasters.

He appealed to relevantgovernment agencies andenvironmental NGOs to sensitiseinhabitants on the dangers ofliving in such areas. (NAN)

L-R: Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr. Gimba Yau Kumo, with Minister Housing and Urban Development,Ms. Ama Pepple, during the commissioning of FMBN staff buses, Monday in Abuja.

PAGE 12 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Odinkalu’s needless invitationThe Nigeria Police Force has

remained one of the mostdespised institutions in the

country for the simple reason thatNigerians have lost faith and trust inthem. It is therefore no surprise thatmany Nigerians are united in the callfor a holistic overhaul of the Force sothat it will become in tune with bestpractices in policing as is the case indeveloped parts of the world. Inorder to achieve this, manyconcerned individuals andorganisations have proffered adviceon how to tackle the ills bedevillingthe Force. Indeed, the FederalGovernment itself, in realisation ofthis critical fact, has also madeefforts at sanitizing the police byinstituting a number of reformcommittees over the years.

Instructively, the policeauthorities themselves haveadmitted the short comings of theirmen and have supported theyearnings for immediate reformsthat will give birth to a Force that allNigerians will regard as a “friend”and accord it the desired respect. Itis against this backdrop that we aredismayed by the recent action of theActing Inspector General of Police,M.D. Abubakar, which seemed atodds with his avowed statement onassumption of duty to superintendover a new police force.

The Acting IGP, last week, invitedthe Chairman of the GoverningCouncil of the National HumanRights Commission [NHRC], Dr.Chidi Odinkalu for questioning overcomments he made, and which the

“Dr. Odinkalu’sinvitation is thereforeunnecessary and anaction that only skirtsthe issue in question

rather thanaddressing it

EDITEDITEDITEDITEDITORIALORIALORIALORIALORIAL

police authorities found unpalatable.Many observers who thought theActing IGP and his men wouldwelcome the hard truth coming froma concerned stakeholder as Dr.Odinkalu, were taken aback by thesurprise invitation, and are left towonder how any genuine rebirth canbe achieved if the police are averse tocriticism.

While delivering the keynoteaddress at the annual conference of

the Nigerian JudiciaryCorrespondents Association in Abujaon March 5, the NHRC chairmanremarked that: "The response of lawenforcement to the incapability of thelegal system to ensure convictions isan epidemic of third-degree policing,torture and extra-judicial executions.By some estimates, the Policeexecutes well over 2,500 detaineessummarily every year". In his letter toDr. Odinkalu, the Acting IGP said:

"The assertion is highly exaggeratedand therefore untrue"'.

That the police authorities andthe Acting IGP in particular will findthis statement offensive to warrantan explanation over it beats theimagination, more so that M.D.Abubakar himself admitted thatmuch in his inaugural speech aftertaking over from his predecessor. Tobe sure, Dr. Odinkalu is not the firstto draw attention to the worryingspate of extra judicial killings bypolicemen in the country. Theinternational Non GovernmentalOrganisation, Human Rights Watchhas consistently highlighted this sadtrend in its yearly reports. Other civilsociety groups in the country havealso done the same. Dr. Odinkalu’sinvitation is therefore unnecessaryand an action that only skirts theissue in question rather thanaddressing it. It is doubtful if Dr.Odinkalu’s statement can beequivocated considering his trackrecord of probity, and the fact that asa critical stakeholder whose purviewis the protection of the rights ofcitizens, he has access to relevantdata to reach his conclusion. Inaddition, it is on record that pastleadership of the police force haveadmitted to several cases of extrajudicial killings by their men.

We have in the past called on theActing IGP to be circumspect in hisactions before he goes down inhistory as one who talks much andacts less. We are afraid, this latestaction will only cast him further inthat mould.

OUR MISSIONOUR MISSIONOUR MISSIONOUR MISSIONOUR MISSION OUR PEOPLEOUR PEOPLEOUR PEOPLEOUR PEOPLEOUR PEOPLECHAIRMAN

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GM PUBLICATIONS

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industry by putting thepeople first, upholdingthe truth, maintaining

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 PAGE 13

Fluorosis: A make up distractionConsuming too much

fluoride while the teethare being formed can lead

to fluorosis. This condition causeswhite or brown-white or browndiscolouration or spots on theenamel or tooth surface. The effectscan range from minor colourchanges to surface irregularities ofthe teeth. Fluorosis does not developafter teeth have erupted into themouth.

Fluorosis is a clinicalcharacteristic by the occurrence ofchanges in the appearance of teethenamel ranging between opaquewhite lines to brownishdiscolouration with associatedpitting of the enamel. Fluorosis is acosmetic condition not a disease.Often, it is so mild that only a dentalprofessional can detect it. Most casesof fluoridise result from youngchildren taking fluoridesupplements or swallowing fluoridetooth paste when the water theydrink is already fluoridated.

Your permanent teeth fromyour under your gums in thejawbone during early childhood.They appear in your mouth afterthe primary or “baby” teeth arelost. The crowns of nearly all thepermanent teeth are fully formedby the time you are about 8 yearsold. The exception is the wisdomteeth, which form in youngadulthood. The crown is the part ofa tooth you can see in your mouth.

The benefits derived from

fluoridated water were discoveredwhile investigations were beingmade to determine the cause of adiscoloration of teeth known asmottled enamel. Around 1908, Dr.Frederick S. Mckay, a dentistworking in Colorado springs, colo;noticed that many of his patientshas discoloured teeth. Thisdiscolouration of mottling seemedto him to occur only among peoplefrom certain areas. After studyingthe problem in different parts of theworld, he concluded thatsomething in the drinking waterwas the cause.

Not until 1931 was fluoridefound to be the cause of mottling.At that time, studies also showedthat it severity was directly relatedto the amount of fluoride in thewater. During his investigation,Dr. Mckay found that decayed,missing, and filled tooth rates(DMF rates) were lower amongpeople afflicted with mottling. By1939, Dr. Trendley Dean and hisstaff at the U.S. Public HealthServices had demonstrated thatwater containing about 1.0 part ofwater produced no disfiguringfluorosis (mottling) and conferreda remarkable resistance to dentaldecay. These findings have sincebeen confirmed in many placesthroughout the world.

Dr. Dean found that toothdecay rates are reduced about 65per cent among children who,from birth, drink water containingapproximately 1.0 part per millionof fluoride, a concentration

equivalent to 1 ounce of fluoridein 30,000 quarts of water toadjust the fluoride content of awater supply to about 1part permillion. This was done in 1945 atGrand Rapids, Mich, Newburgh,N.Y, and Brantford, ontariocan.These and other studies showedthere was no difference in the effectof fluoride added in controlledamounts from those of fluoridenaturally present in the water.

To be fully effective fluoridatedwater must be consumed frombirth. Children born after fluoridehas been added to the water supplywill have as much as 65 per centless tooth decay than with childrendrinking fluoride-free water.Children who start drinkingfluoridated water at an older agewill also have less tooth decay, butthe reduction is not as much as inthe youngsters. Eventually, as anew generation dream fluoridatedwater from babdy hood, everyonewill benefit. Reduction in toothdecay last for life.

In one study with adult with afluoride free town, for example itwas found that in 40 to 44 yearsold in the fluoride free communityhas lost four times as many teethas the same age group in the townwith natural water. Teeth affectedby mouth fluorosis may show nochanges or changes visible only toa dental professional. Mouth tomoderate fluorosis produces whitelines, strikes or spots. In moresevere fluorosis, the teeth canbecome pitted and half-brown grey

or black spot. The enamel also mayhave an unusual shape.

Your dentist and dentalhygienist will ask about your childfluoride intake, this will helpdetermine if the discolourationseen is the result of fluorosis. Theyalso will ask about past and presentcondition or disabilities that mayaffect your child‘s teeth. Yourdentist will examine your child‘steeth, gums and take X-ray tomake sure the teeth have no otherdefects or cavities.

Other conditions may look likefluorosis development defect andproblem with the skull or bones ofthe face can disrupt the enamel ordentin of the teeth. In addition, highfevers or trauma such as a fall thatinjures a tooth in infant or youngchildren may discolour teeth.Young children can get cavities intheir primary teeth, so any toothdiscolouration should be checked atthe dental office. Spots and stainsleft by fluorosis are permanent, theymay darken with time.

If you have a child under six,put only a small pea-sized amountof tooth paste on his or her toothbrush. Encourage your child to spitrather than swallow afterbrushing. Avoid tooth paste withflavours that may encourageswallowing. Keep all fluoridecontaining products out of thereach children. These include toothpaste and mouth washes. Addingfluoride to drinking water is one ofthe preventive diseaseprogrammes of the 21st century.

The challenges of immunization in Nigeria

In order to achieve our Vision20:2020 for Nigeria thesituation where

approximately one child in 7 diesbefore the age of 5 years must bereversed. Enhancing child healthand survival will boost thequality of the human resourcesthat our country will need for itseconomic development in this 21st

century. Hence, thisadministration has prioritizedimmunization service delivery asa key strategy for enhancing childhealth and survival.

Immunization is one of themost cost-effective public healthinterventions for preventingdisease and death. Historically,mankind has interacted withinfectious agents almost since thebeginning of time. Religious bookshave documented instances ofplagues that are now understoodto be due to infectious causes.Along the way our societies mayhave experienced benefits ofinoculation but not understood itwell.

It was not until EdwardJenner in 1796 successfully usedinoculation of cow pox to preventsmall pox in humans thatinoculation started to beappreciated. Since then we ashuman beings have successfullyeradicated the deadly disease ofSmallpox from our world in 1978through global concerted effort ofvaccination.

The eradication of Smallpoxgave confidence to public health

By Muhammad Ali Pate leaders that we can also eradicateanother deadly viral disease,poliomyelitis. From almost388,000 cases of poliomyelitis inthe world in 1988, with the use ofvaccines, we are now so close to itseradication with far less than1,000 cases globally in the last oneyear. What more evidence do weneed to show that vaccines work?

The stories of success withvaccination are numerous. Evenin our country Nigeria, in recenttimes we have experiencedtremendous successes in ourvaccination program. Fromthousands of cases of childrenparalyzed by polio in the past wenow have cases in the doubledigits. Measles which used toravage our communitiesparticularly in the hot season isnow much reduced, thanks tointegrated measles campaignefforts. Cerebrospinal meningitiswhich affected more than 55,000Nigerians in early 2009 wasreduced to less than 1,000 inentire 2011 and very limited casesso far in 2012. Routineimmunization coverage asmeasured by DPT3 increasedfrom 42 percent in 2008 to 67percent in 2010 (WHO/NICS).Full immunization coverage rosefrom 23 percent (NDHS 2008) to56 percent in 2010 (NICS).

What we have seen is that asimmunization coverageincreases, vaccine-preventablediseases decline. The priority forus now is to strive to continuallyexpand immunization coverage sothat all our children can be

protected with these life-savingmeasures.

Despite the recent progressmentioned above, I will be thefirst to admit that we haveimportant challenges to theimmunization programme inNigeria. Let me enumerate atleast two of these challenges:

First, access to vaccines isinequitable, with large disparitiesbetween socio-economic andrural-urban segments of ourpopulation. There are manyrural areas where a child is notable to get properly vaccinatedeven when the parents areinterested. A place like Kolloromin Marte LGA, until recently, hadno functional primary healthclinic talk less of cold chaininfrastructure to allow for routineimmunization. Sustainablevaccine delivery requires a levelof health system functionalitythat is best attained wheninvestments are complementaryand delivery of services isintegrated. States and LocalGovernments should focus moreof their health investmentstowards the rural areas in orderto deal with this challenge.Private sector and civilorganizations should act asadvocates or involve themselvesin addressing this as well.

Second, even thoughchildhood vaccination in publicfacilities is free, many parents arenot fully aware of the benefits ofvaccination and as a result, missimportant opportunities toprotect their children against the

vaccine preventable diseases. Itis only severe lack ofunderstanding that will lead aparent to refuse for example, thefew drops of polio vaccines thatwill protect their child from adisease that can kill orpermanently paralyze. In orderto address this challenge, we mustembark on continued awarenesspromotion to all parents andcommunity leaders to recognizeand demand for vaccines toprotect their children. Allchildren are the same, so no childshould be left behind. Ourpolitical, religious and traditionalleaders should ensure that at allpublic gatherings orengagements, vaccination isexplained and encouraged.

The Federal Government iscommitted to doing its part toexpand access to life-savingvaccines by all Nigerian children.This commitment is manifest inactions that the FederalGovernment has taken to achievethat objective:

In 2009, the NationalImmunization Policy was revisedto accommodate new vaccines. Inaddition to the traditionalvaccines, our policy has maderoom for introducing thepentavalent vaccine, whichincludes Haemophilus Influenzatype b conjugate vaccine, and thepneumococcal conjugate vaccine.These vaccines protect childrenagainst pneumonia and otherinvasive bacterial diseases.Thereafter we can consider therotavirus vaccine which will

protect our children from illnessand death due to diarrhealdisease. Others like MenAfricconjugate vaccine and HPVvaccine are also quite relevant inthis policy context.

We strengthened the capacityof immunization managers in all36 States and FCT to manage theroutine immunization systemwhile improving supervisoryfunction in many areas. In 2010/2011, Federal Government anddevelopment partners invested incold chain infrastructure andcapacity.

The Federal Government hascontinued to provide budgetaryresources for procurement of allthe routine vaccines used inNigeria. In 2012, theGovernment led by PresidentGoodluck Ebele Jonathanallocated N6 billion forprocurement of routine vaccinesand new vaccines againstpneumonia. The millions of dosesof routine vaccines to be procureddirectly through UNICEF will bedistributed to all the States andFCT for administration toNigerian children free of charge.In May 2012, we expect the firstset of 12 States to introduce thepentavalent vaccine and the restwill follow. In this year we do notexpect funding to affect deliveryof vaccines. What we require iscounterpart actions from all StateGovernments to ensure their coldstores are up and running andthat their health workers are

By Hauwa Yusuf Adamu Children should take fluoridesupplement only if the water theydrink does not contain enoughfluoride. If your child is takingfluoride supplement now, check theamount of fluoride in the water; ifyou are on a public water supplysystem, call your supplier to askabout the fluoride level. You canalso have your dentist check asample of your water, and thendiscuss whether your child needsfluoride supplement.

Some food and drinks containfluoride e.g. many fruit juices andsoft drinks that are laced with highdegree of fluoride at levels similarto fluoridated water. Some bottledwaters now have added fluoride.All of these can add up, it isimportant to know how muchfluoride your child consumes.

Remember that fluorosis onlyaffect the appearance of teeth, itdoes not result in cavities. As aresult, most of the treatment forfluorosis consist of masking thestain, many cases of fluorosis areminor enough not to needtreatment. Sometimes fluorosisoccur only on the back teeth whereit cannot be seen. More seriouscases and cases involving the frontteeth can be treated by removingthe surface stained areas throughtooth whitening and otherprocedures. Severe cases of fluorosiscan be covered with bonding,crowns and veneers.*Hauwa Adamu is a MassCommunication student of theUniversity of Maiduguri

Contd. on page 14

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012PAGE 14

In defence of Okada ridersgovernment is threatening towipe the trade out of existence.Already the once thriving okadabusiness of Abuja is history, asituation that has left so manyNigerian youthsthat were relying onokada ridingwithout their dailybread.

The presentinsecurity andterrorist activitiesin the country arebeing used to justifythe various bans onokada riders acrossthe country,without looking atthe implications ofthe ban and thethousands of youthsthat will be left withno other alternativemeans of livelihood. Accidentsand traffic decongestion are alsopart of the excuses given for theban on okada riders.

In my opinion ban on okadariders will further compound theproblems being faced by Nigerianmasses. Apart from terminating

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Okada, kabukabu, going,express and so on are alldifferent names for

commercial motorcyclists inNigeria. Commercialmotorcyclists started operating inNigeria in the 80’s and have sincethen thrived and prospered tillnow. As a means of transportation,okada plays a very significant rolein Nigeria’s transport system dueto its abundance and the ability ofthe okada rider to access areaswhere Taxis and Buses cannot.Okada is also cheap, hence itspopularity among the low-incomeearners and students in Nigeria.

As a trade okada riding hasprovided a significant number ofNigerian youth with a means oflivelihood. One might assumethat okada riding as a trade thatrequires skill rather thaneducational qualification isstrictly for the un-educated, butalmost 50 per cent of the okadariders are graduates and diplomaholders, who could not gainemployment with theircertificates.

The crackdown on okadatrade by the federal and somestate governments, including therecent move by the Kano State

By Amiru Adamu

the means of livelihood ofthousands of Nigerian youths,which will make them go intocrime and other illegal activitiesin order to survive, the ban will

affect the Nigerian masses whodepend on okada as a means oftransportation due to its cheapfares compared to most taxis.

The argument that okada area threat to security is also not asound one because if one looks atthe recent terrorist attacks, one

will notice that the attackscarried out on motorbikes arenot comparable in numbers withattacks carried out using cars.Even if one looks at the argument

logically, heor she willnotice thatthe damageinflicted byan attackerin a carcannot bec o m p a r e dto that byan attackeron amotorbike.

There isno doubtthat someo k a d ar i d e r sd i s r e g a r d

traffic rules and regulations. Butso also are some taxi and privatedrivers. Nobody will protest anyform of regulation to check theexcesses of okada riders andcompel them to obey trafficregulations. As a matter of fact,they should be encouraged to

form and register associations foreasy control and possible helpfrom government.

I will like to use this mediumto call on the federal and stategovernments that have or areabout to impose okada ban to takeanother look at the situation anddo away or reverse the okada banpolicy in the interest of justice andfair play.

They should consider theincreased burden we theNigerian masses are alreadycarrying due to increase in fuelprice which resulted in anautomatic increase in the cost ofliving. They should also bear inmind that Nigerian youth arereally struggling to make endsmeet and any further move toclose down avenues of generatingincome to sustain themselves willnot be taken lightly.

Enforcing traffic regulationsand ensuring safety on Nigerianroads is a good policy provided itdoesn’t rob anyone of his or hermeans of livelihood.Amiru Adamu is an activistwriter and publisher ofNorthern Wind Magazine

adequately positioned to deliverthe vaccines in primary healthcenters and outreach sessions.

In order to deal decisively withthe lingering issue of polioeradication, Mr Presidentrecently inaugurated aPresidential Task Force on PolioEradication, comprising Federal,State and Civil societymembership. The Presidentdirected that the Task Forceensure that Nigeria is polio freeby the end of this administration.We as members of the task forcehave assured Nigerians that wewill not fail. Already we are seeingsignificant improvements in thepolio eradication effort in Nigeria.From having 27 States with poliowe now have only 8 Statesreporting more than one case inthe last 1 year. Recent campaignsin Kano, Borno, and Kebbi Stateshave shown better coverage thanin the past, largely due to strongleadership by governors of those

states and their TraditionalLeaders. If we continue in thisdirection, by the end of 2012 weshould be close to interruption ofthe virus if not more.

The MenAfriVac campaignthat started in late 2011 has inmy view, contributedsignificantly to the very lowincidence of cerebrospinalmeningitis we are seeing in 2012.Government is committed to thenext phase of the campaign in2012 to cover additional 12-14States. In the next three years, ifwe succeed, the seasonalCerebrospinal Meningitis epidemicwill become history in this part ofthe world.

Measles used to kill tens ofthousands of Nigerian children.Unfortunately the disease is stillwith us despite its being 99 percentpreventable. The FederalGovernment’s efforts along withthe States, through nationwideintegrated measles campaigns in2008 and 2011 have succeeded in

denting the measles outbreaks. In2012 there is really no excuse fora child to have measles. Anywhere we see measles; we shouldask the Local Government andState Governments if they havedone enough to ensure that alltheir children are immunized.Parents must also be made tounderstand the need forimmunizing their childrenagainst measles. One day we hopethat measles will also beeradicated.

It will be inappropriate for meto conclude without sharingbriefly highlighting additionalareas beyond vaccination, wherethis administration is focusing soas to improve survival of ourchildren. Saving mothers willenhance the survival of children,so we are expanding the alreadysuccessful midwifery servicescheme to cover 1,500 ruralprimary health centers withmidwives and community healthworkers. Federal government is

planning to recruit thousands ofvillage health workers in atemporary workfare scheme tosupport mothers during ANC anddelivery.

Recently we have embarkedupon an ambitious effort of savinga million lives throughdeployment of cost effectiveinterventions. The midwifery andcommunity health workerdeployment, scaling up routineimmunization and new vaccines,efforts to improve breast feedingand reduce childhoodmalnutrition, scaling upantibiotics for pneumonia, ORSand zinc for diarrhea and anti-malarial drugs for malaria will beexpected to save lives that can bequantified and add up to the onemillion lives.

In order to actualize the“saving 1 million lives”campaign, we have developed aframework that takes intoaccount disparate efforts asmentioned above and will be

Contd. from page 13

Police and mathematical doubts over killings (II)By Emmanuel Onwubiko

While not disputing thatpolice personnel areindeed involved in a

disturbing pattern of extra-judicialexecutions, the Acting Inspector-General in his letter said that “theassertion is highly exaggeratedand therefore untrue”. He equallyfailed to provide any figures tocontradict those provided by Dr.Odinkalu. Rather, the ActingInspector-General requested Dr.Odinkalu to “provide evidence orfacts to support your assertion, aswell as verifiable statistics fromwhich you made your“estimates.”

However, Bamidele Atururecalled vividly that in a widely

reported speech on 13th February2012, the Acting Inspector-General himself had publicly statedof the Nigeria Police Force (NPF):“Our anti-robbery squads havebecome killer teams.”

Conversely, in April 2004,then Inspector-General of Police,Tafa Balogun, informed HumanRights Watch researchers that theNPF killed 7,198 “armed robbers”from January 2000 to March2004. This represents an averageofficial killing rate of 141.1 or anaverage daily killing rate of about4.6 persons per day. For the sameperiod, however, Balogun’ssuccessor, Sunday Ehindero,reported much different statisticsin a July 2006 letter to the UNSpecial Rapporteur on Extra-

judicial, Summary or ArbitraryExecutions.

In this letter, Ehindero,claimed that in the five years from2000-2004, the Nigeria PoliceForce killed 2,402 and arrestedanother 20,314 “armed robbers”,representing an inexplicabledifference of 4,796 killingsbetween Balogun’s figures andEhindero’s figures, according toAturu.

Aturu recalled that in 2004alone, the Legal Defence and AidProject (LEDAP) documented2,987 cases of extrajudicialexecutions by law enforcementagencies. This is roughlyconsistent with the most recentofficial police claims. In November2007, Acting Inspector-General

Mike Okiro reported that the policehad killed 785 and arrested 1,628“armed robbers” in his first onehundred days as IGP. Thistranslates into a daily killing rateof 7.85 persons and a yearly rateof 2,865 police killings. Okiro’sfigures also represent a kill-to-arrest ratio of 1:2.07. Incomparison to the statisticsannounced by former Inspector-General Ehindero in 2000 (sic),Okiro’s data represent an increaseof over 400 percent in the officialstatistics for police killings.

The law scholar concludedrightly that the inconsistencies inthe official figures strongly suggestthat deaths in police custody orencounters are not addressed withsufficient gravity and that records

of such deaths are eithernonexistent or very poorly kept.

These facts aforementionedwere contained in a report titled:“Criminal Force: Torture, abuseand extra-judicial killings by theNigeria police Force” issued in2010 by the Network on policeReform in Nigeria (NOPRIN).

The nation’s police hierarchyshould do internal clean up andpunish all operatives indicted forthese vicious crimes and shouldstop making Nigeria a laughingstock.

* Emmanuel Onwubiko,Head, HUMAN RIGHTSWRITERS’ ASSOCIATION OFNIGERIA; writes fromwww.huriwa.blogspot.com.

Concluded

The challenges of immunization in Nigeriadriven with a coalition approach.I would like to use this opportunityto invite you all to join us in the“saving 1 million lives” campaigncoalition in Nigeria, as a public-private programmaticcollaborative effort. Thecampaign is expected to be flaggedoff very soon. We are workingwith the Clinton Health AccessInternational to roll out theinitiative alongside otherinterested partners. We will behumbled to be joined by manymore of you that are here today.

Whatever we do, whether it isdistributing bed nets,immunizing children, Vitamin Asupplementation, encouragingbreast feeding, dealing withmalnutrition, treating diarrhea,pneumonia and malaria, shouldadd up into a life saved. The lifesaved should become thecurrency of our dialogue as healthsector development practitioners.Dr Muhammad Ali Pate is theMinister of State for Health.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 PAGE 15

Father God, your humbleservant, a youth ofNigeria, Africa’s most

populous and arguably most giftedblack nation, come to you this dayon my knees and totally humbled.I come trembling, confused andfearful – yes father really fearful –as I think of my beloved countrywhich recently reached alandmark age, golden jubilee it iscalled. I come knowing that youcan do everything and no counselof yours can be withheld from you.

It is clear to me that the counselof your heart for Nigeria was aptlycaptured in the speeches andutterances of our founding fathers,heroes past and friends whenNigeria was born nearly 52 yearsago - as an independent nation.These were men and women whomyou put your Spirit into at the time,to prophesy concerning the childjust born into the world, I mean intothe comity of sovereign and freenations. Permit me to say Lord Godthat they were your prophets. Theywere your prophets because theyspoke (prophesied) of a great andprosperous child - Nigeria, a nationcapable of rising to the status of oreven above such great nations asAmerica. They spoke of a nationwhich, considering its enormouslatent and visible resources,(human, natural, rich diversity,etc), will in no time begin to runand then go on to set great recordsin the world stage. Such recordswere to include: a just andegalitarian nation; a nation whoselandscape is decorated with choiceand enviable infrastructure –educational, social, etc; a nation ofimposing industries, providingmore jobs than her well educatedand trained citizenry could fill; anation of men and women who willalways recognize that there isdignity in labour – honest,hardworking, incorruptible people.

Father, this popular saying hasit that “life begins at 40”. In thecase of my beloved country, child-Nigeria, she turned 40 years ago,

but is yet to begin life. I say sobecause at nearly 52 years, noneof the prophesies about her havecome to concrete fulfilment and asa youth of this country, this isreally disheartening, to say theleast. Father, You and I know thatthe non-fulfilment of theseprophesies are not because theywere false or that you havewithdrawn your authority onthem, far from this. The truth isthat the men and women who overthe years have received/handeddown the baton of leadership fromour founding fathers have failedus woefully.

Mighty God, I remember thestories and profiles of our foundingfathers. My late father (who diedbattered and disenchanted by theNigerian system in my earlyuniversity days), told me a lot ofthe stories and I corroborated mostof what he told me from what I readin print. They were selfless menand women, true statesmen,visionaries, leaders out to imprinttheir names in the sands of history.They were people whose words andlives inspired awe, patriotism andhard work. They offeredthemselves to serve. They got intothe struggle for a sovereign nation,inspired by the spirit of service andbecause they believed in theNigerian cause. They were notopportunists, looters, liars, greedyand corrupt men and women.They had their weaknesses, yes,but their spirit of service faroutweighed whatever weaknessesthey had. I do not lose sight of thefact that they were mortals.

Father God, I do not wish tobother you with the many thingsthat dishearten and make metremble about my countryNigeria. I will break down

enumerating the details. Duringour Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Ilistened to men and women atdifferent fora speak and enumeratethe various reasons for our woes.They also tried hard to proffer away forward for my belovedcountry. They believed (and spokeout), that we have not lost it alland that we have another 50 yearsto get restored. As I listened, I criedand the same time rejoiced. Yes, Irejoiced because I realized all hopeis not lost, not with the countrybrimming with such fine andarticulate minds, such as I listenedto. Yes father, there is hope becauseI sense the crystallization ofthoughts and deliberate choices ofgood people in Nigeria – hearts andchoices saying one thing, we canrise up from today and possess it.And I know that you are everwilling to order and prosper ourgood collective choices.

And so FATHER GOD, I prayyou today to please help Nigeria totruly begin life as we set our sightson the so much talked about year2020, when we would have addedanother decade to our existence –clocking 60 years.You waited forus to begin earlier, but we were notready. You encouraged us whenwe turned 40, but again we werenot ready. We have passed thelandmark age of 50 years, will are52 in few months from now and itis still doubtful - yes doubtful to me- if we are ready to start life. LORDGOD, the tunes have suddenlychanged and I fear for the worst.We are no longer just grapplingwith the heavy burden ofcorruption, failed leadership,decaying institutions and systems-including a near moribundeducational system and the like; itis now the heavier burden of

Prayer for troubled Nigeriaby a despondent youth

terrorism - brothers killingbrothers with reckless abandon asa way of making their points,expressing their grievances orenforcing what they want-whatever these means. What wasnever imagined by our foundingfathers - your prophets of old hassuddenly crept in upon us and isthreatening to blow us and ouroneness to shreds - so it appears tome LORD.

Questions are being raised allaround, most bordering on ouroneness as a sovereign, unitednation - with peoples of different/distinct cultures and cleavages.Should the different cleavages gotheir separate ways? Should theyremain one or may be enter intosome kind of arrangement thatstill portrays oneness? LORD GOD,the questions are as myriad as theyare fearful - yes, really fearful.

In all these LORD, I choose tobelieve that 2020 will come uponus and so I pray; help us to begin tolive. I can hear the resoundingresponse of the youth of Nigeria,my generation, saying Amen. Iknow they are also followingrecent developments. Fear, doubt,despondency, etc. are also wellingup in their minds. Nevertheless, Iknow they want their country tobegin living and so I pray. Help usto begin to walk right, obeying thelaws of our country and your Holylaws. During elections, may we beready to make our votes count, toprobe deeply before we cast ourvotes. Help us to reject the use ofmundane things and emptypromises to fool us, imposemediocrities upon us and furthermortgage our future and those ofour children. It is easy to decipherempty promises because thepedigree and antecedents of those

making it are well known by us.Yes, these are well known unlesswe pretend and chose to remainfools. But father, may you not allowus to. We are ready to holdaccountable those that we vote,(yes I mean vote because our votesmust count), or those appointedinto positions of authority, to helpus steward our country’s resources– your good gifts to us.

May we no longer take theposition of indifference and justallow people we put in positions todo what they want. No, neveragain. May we resolve never to befound wanting again in thedischarge of our civicresponsibilities first to Nigeria, butbeginning from our families andlocal communities. May we resolveto engage at all times, in honest joband living, knowing that ourlabours will never go unrewarded.May we resolve that come the year2020, when we celebrate our 60years of nationhood, we shall bebusy reflecting on how great wehave lived life. We shall also berigorously strategizing on how toconsolidate on our greatachievements as a united sovereignnation.

LORD, may it be that in 2020,we will be telling the stories ofpresent happenings - especiallyterrorism - and how we overcameas a people with your help andmercies. I have read stories ofcountries that passed through nearcrippling internal developments -may be close to or even worse thanours - and yet overcame.

And so LORD, my eyes are on2020 and I know it s possible withyou. Thank you Lord. Amen.Mr. Obasi, a Lagos-basedchemical engineer, blogs atREHOBOTH

By Emmanuel Obasi

The hardest work in the worldis being out of work. It wasno joke when the late

American comedian and actor,Slappy White, comically said,“The trouble with unemploymentis that the minute you wake up inthe morning you’re on the job.”

While it is true thatunemployment is one of thegreatest problems facing Nigeriatoday, it should however not bean excuse for one’s failure. Wemust realize as a nation, thatemployment by governmentagencies and multinationalsalone cannot solve the problemof unemployment in this countrybecause of our large population.Entrepreneurship is the mainsolution to tackling joblessness inNigeria particularly because thecurrent global economic andfinancial crisis has cause animmense decline in availablejobs.

According to Greg Watson, aprofessor and retired privateserial entrepreneur,entrepreneurship is more thanjust starting a business. It is aprocess through whichindividuals identifyopportunities, allocate resources,

and create value. Greg Watsonholds that this creation of value isoften through the identification ofunmet needs or through theidentification of opportunities forchange.

Entrepreneurs see problems asopportunities, they identify thesolutions to those problems andthen sell to customers who willpay to have those problems solved.Entrepreneurial success is simplya function of the ability of anentrepreneur to see theseopportunities in the marketplace,initiate change or take advantageof change and create valuethrough solutions. Using one’snatural and acquired abilities inproviding solutions to problemsand getting monetary values inreturn could also put an end tounemployment.

Whatever good or service yousee around today was created byan entrepreneur. Nigerians,particularly the youths must

embrace entrepreneurship inspite of the various challenges inour environment that poses aslimitation to success. So manychallenges we see today have beensurmounted by manyentrepreneurs. Challenges such asthe lack of adequate electricityand security, high cost ofcommunication andtransportation, multiple taxes,high interest rate, and culturalbarriers for female entrepreneurs,have once been conquered bysome.

The government’s inability toprovide a conducive businessenvironment is a dauntingchallenge but should not deterpeople from initiating businesses.There are people that havesucceeded despite the challengesthey encounter. More so, themajor source of job creation allover the world small scalebusinesses.

Since the job market is

shrinking and those seeking foremployment are on the increase,a lot of graduates will not get jobsafter graduation especially in thepresence of increasing number ofgraduates. Majority of thegraduates in Nigeria aresearching for ready-made jobs inindustries such as oil and gas,telecommunications, and bankswhile minimal people are willingto create jobs.

In a chart with some expertsrecently, I discovered thatenormous opportunities awaitentrepreneurs who would like toventure into export trading inNigeria. Many people look out ofthe way when export business issuggested to them as a businessventure. They believe export is abusiness for the rich, forgettingthat business is about generationof ideas which are well packaged,delivered and experimented overa period of time.

Export business expenses are

determined by the nature of thegoods. Perishable goods are costlyto export than non-perishablegoods. Export is a business thatcan be started small and expandedover a period of time. Some of thelocal foods in Nigeria have a highdemand in the internationalmarket. Goods such as fish,vegetable leaves, spices and otheritems found around us are in highdemand outside the shores of thecountry.

Just as there are opportunitiesin the export industry, there arealso several business opportunitiesin real estate, sports,transportation, education, etc. Tobe a successful entrepreneur itonly takes your passion coupledwith well researched informationon the business you want to do.*Daniel Osunkoya is theCoordinator of D-danProjects International, ahuman development trainingoutfit.

Tackling unemploymentthrough entrepreneurship

By Daniel Osunkoya

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012PAGE 16

The Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT) HealthSecretariat has presented

the 2012 FCT Strategic HealthDevelopment Plan to allimplementing partners of thesecretariat, with a call on themto step up their support towardsachieving the health goalscollectively.

Speaking while making thepresentation during a meetingat Bolton White Hotels in Garkiwith both local and internationaln o n - g o v e r n m e n t a lorganisations (NGOs), theSecretary, Dr. DemolaOnakomaiya, implored them tostudy the critical areas of the

FCTA presents 2012 StrategicHealth Devt Plan to partnersBy Josephine Ella

FCT budget for health.This, he said would

compliment other areas ofhealth care delivery with short-falls.

He noted “all aspects of carein communicable and noncommunicable diseases haveboard representation in theNGOs categories which thereforeshould translate tocomplimentary efforts in thepublic and private sectorparticipation.”

While commending thepartners, which include theUnited Nations InternationalChildren Education Fund

(UNICEF), World HealthOrganisation (WHO) for theirvarious contributions in 2011, he urged them to concentrateon other area councils in theFCT, saying the Abuja MunicipalArea Council(AMAC), presentlyreceives higher concentrationand focus from theorganisations.

“I assure you that I will workwith you in a focused ways andrequest that you study the FCTagenda in the strategic healthplan document which hashighlighted the main agenda/policies of the health secretariat,use this information in your

work-plan in order to achieve acommon goal, reduceduplication and eliminatewastages of resources.

“In this line, we all mustfollow the new rule ofcollaboration which is onecoordination, one planning andone monitoring and evaluation.I implore you all to increase youractivities in area councils outsideAMAC, as the city is receiving ahigher percentage of NGOsactivities. You must also ensurethat you have a clear mandateof signed MoU with the FCT, tojustify the funds entrusted inyour care,” he emphasized

Dear reader, Metrowelcomes humaninterest stories in yourneighbourhood. Pleasecall or send SMS to08065327178 or e-mailjomarch4@yahoo.com to inform us abouthappenings in yourarea. Share yourexperiences or those ofyour friends andneighbours with fellowreaders.

•••urges focus on area councils

by one Mr Bello Yahaya.Abiola said that Yahaya of

No 9 Bahazi Street, Wusa Zone4, wrote the petition against theaccused before he was taken tothe Commission of PoliceOperation Squad forinvestigation.

He said that on April 2, thecomplainant received a phonecall from his in lawyer that one

John Adu told him that theaccused reported thecomplainant to him,threatening to deal with him.

Abiola added that the accusedwarned the complainant not towash his vehicle at Utako MotorPark, if he did; “he will organisethings for him and forcefullymove him out of the park” andthat he also threatened to

eliminate him.He said the offence

contravened section 396 of thepenal code.

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

Judge Umar Kagarko orderedthat the accused be remanded inKeffi Prison, and adjourned thecase to May 23, for hearing.(NAN)

A 34-year-old man,Chinedu Ukachukwu,yesterday appeared

before an Abuja SeniorMagistrates’ Court chargedwith giving false informationand cheating.

Police prosecutor UmarMohammed told the court thatthe case was reported atJikwoyi Police Station by twocomplainants, ChinyereMaduagwu and Ngozi Okpala,both of Jikwoyi Phase 1, Abujaon Nov. 5, 2011.

Mohammed said that theaccused person, who resides atthe same address with thecomplainants, had on March2011 deceived them andcollected the sum of N40,000each to offer them a job at theFederal Road SafetyCommission.

He said that since then, theaccused had refused to offerthem the job or refund theirmoney.

The prosecutor added thatduring police investigations,the accused person confessedto the act and the sum ofN40,000 was recovered fromh i m .

According to theprosecutor, the offencecontravened Sections 178 and322 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however,pleaded not guilty to thecharge.

The Senior Magistrate, MrNkamdimi Buba, granted theaccused person bail in the sumof N50,000 with one surety

in like sum.Buba adjourned the case to

May 8 for further hearing.(NAN)

Businessman34, dockedfor givingfalseinformation

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POLICE HOTLINES IN FCTMaitama - 08038485123Central Police Station - 08033568389Lugbe - 08077657371;

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Court remands man, 28, for criminal intimidation

An Abuja Upper AreaCourt yesterdayordered that a 28-year-

old Suleiman Ismaila ofKuchikan Village Nasarawa beremanded in prison.

Police Prosecutor OyewusiAbiola told the court that onApril 11, a petition wasforwarded to the Commissionerof Police FCT Command, Abuja,

Overloading by a commercial motorcyclist at Bwari, recently in Abuja. Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 PAGE 17

Human overloading as a woman carrying two loaded sacks alongcentral area in Abuja. Photos: Joe Oroye

A sales lady marketing oil lubricants waiting for customers at Sabon Lugbe, yesterday in Abuja.

A grinding machine operator startinghis generator at Aco Estate Airportroad Abuja yesterday.A photo journalist on the move with his camera mounted on

tripod at the Eagle Square recently.

A babber on duty at Aco Estate Airport road, Abuja

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012PAGE 18

An Abuja Magistrates ’Court yesterd a yremanded one

Johnson Kalu, 36, in prison,charged with jo int act andc h e a t i n g .

The police prosecutor, ASP.Patrick Obeta, told the courtthat Kalu, who lives in Dapevillage in the Kado area ofAbuja, colluded with four

Court remands man foralleged cheating, joint act

Land for Infrastructure Swap Model:FCTA proposes N350m commitment fee

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

proposed the sum of N350million financialcommitments from investorswilling to sign a Memorandumof Understanding (MoU) withthe administration in thenewly introduced Land forInfrastructure Swap Model.

The FCT Minister, SenatorBala Mohammed, whodisclosed the figure yesterday,at the official presentation ofthe general frame work for thepolicy at Transcorp HiltonHotel said the sum is meant tofund physical plan,preliminary design, detailedengineering design, survey

plan, feasibility studies andpreparation of agreement.

Tagged ‘Phase IVTransformation Agenda’, theinitiative according to theminister, is for development ofdistricts in phase IV of theFederal Capital City, using theFCT land resource forinfrastructure development.

He further explained thatin the scheme: “The FCTadministration is to grantagreed percentage of land in aGreenfield district to adeveloper for real propertydevelopment under a specialcontract envisaged by theLand Use Act in exchange forthe grant and the developer isto provide the agreedinfrastructure in the districtwithout any financial ortechnical demand from the

others, now at large, to collectN500,000 from one MrEmmanuel Ihenacho.

Obeta said that theaccused, together with the fourothers, dragged Ihenacho ofDurumi New Site, Garki,Abuja

to the Angwa cement areaof Kado, Abuja, and made himto believe that if he gave them

N500,000, they would makehim richer.

The prosecutor added thatthe four others posed as clientswho had been made r ich byJohnson.

Consequently, Obeta saidIhenacho gave them theN500,000, believing that hewould be richer.

The offence contravenes

sections 79 and 322 of thePenal Code Law.

The accused, however,pleaded not guilty.

The magistrate, Mr BashirAlkali, ordered that theaccused be remanded in KujePrison without bail andadjourned the case till May 9for continuation of hearing.(NAN)

Selling local herb mixture at Nyanya bridge recently. Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Josephine Ella administration”.He emphasised that an

investor or developer would berequired to provide detaileddesign and provide the agreedinfrastructure with 48months, adding, that such adeveloper is not permitted toallocate land in the Greenfield allocated to him within thedistrict except he attains 35percent development of theinfrastructure.

He also notified that withinthe framework, the FCTA hasthe power to revoke such agrant in the event that thereis any breach of the specialcontract.

Among the infrastructuresinvestors are expected toprovide, are roads, water,telecommunication ducts,electricity, drainage,

culverts, street lights etc.Also speaking at the

stakeholders meeting, whichhad in attendance, investorsfrom various organisationsand companies, the Director-General of the InfrastructureConcession RegulationCommission, EngineerMansur Ahmed described thepolicy as a welcome idea.

He pointed out that itwould not only bring aboutexpansion of housing facilities,but reduce the cost of housingin the FCT and createenormous opportunity foremployment of engineer,artisans such as skilled andunskilled workers.

This was as he pledged thesupport of the commissiontowards ensuring that theinitiative works.

One Ibrahim Patrick, 16,was yesterdayarraigned before an Abuja

Magistrates’ court for stealing twogas cylinders belonging to oneCyril Ehunwmendoma of Lugbe,Abuja.

The Police prosecutor,Jeremiah Elijah, told the courtthat the case was reported atLugbe Police station on April 11.

He said that the accused andone other person, now at large,conspired to commit the offence.

Elijah said that duringinterrogation, the accused wasunable to give a satisfactoryaccount of his action.

The prosecutor said the offencecontravened Section 288 of thePenal Code.

In her ruling, the SeniorMagistrate, Hadiza Shagari,granted the accused bail in thesum of N500, 000 and a suretywho must reside within thejurisdiction of the court.

She said the accused should beremanded in prison custody if hefailed to meet the bail conditions.

Shagari adjourned the case toMay 3 for further hearing. (NAN)

Policearraign boyfor stealing 2gas cylinders

An Abuja Upper Area Courtyesterday ordered that a28-year-old Suleiman

Ismaila of Kuchikan VillageNasarawa be remanded in prison.

Police Prosecutor OyewusiAbiola told the court that on April11, a petition was forwarded to theCommissioner of Police FCTCommand, Abuja, by one Mr BelloYahaya.

Abiola said that Yahaya of No9 Bahazi Street, Wuse Zone 4,wrote the petition against theaccused before he was taken to theCommissioner of Police, OperationSquad, for investigation.

He said that on April 2, thecomplainant received a phone callfrom his in lawyer that one JohnAdu told him that the accusedreported the complainant to him,threatening to deal with him.

Abiola added that the accusedwarned the complainant not towash his vehicle at Utako MotorPark, if he did; “he will organisethings for him and forcefully movehim out of the park” and that healso threatened to eliminate him.

He said the offence contravenedsection 396 of the penal code.

The accused, however, pleadednot guilty to the charge.

Judge Umar Kagarko orderedthat the accused be remanded inKeffi Prison and adjourned the caseto May 23, for hearing. (NAN)

Courtremandsman, 28, forcriminalintimidation

PAGE 19PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Management Tip of the DayRun a Decisive Project Meeting

remind them and sharpen thegroup's focus.

Include everyone. If one ortwo people dominate theconversation and others are shyabout leaping in, draw out newpeople by saying, "Thanks forthose ideas, Carl. What are yourthoughts about this problem,

Megan?"End well. Close the meeting

with an action plan and a cleartime frame. State the decisionsthe group has made, who ownswhat, and when they need toreport back to the team.Source: Harvard BusinessReview

INSIDE

To keep momentum in aproject, you need to rungreat meetings. Make

your next project meetingproductive with these threeguidelines:

Restate the meeting'spurpose. Even if you thinkeveryone knows it, it helps to

BUYING SELLING

CFA 0.2913 0.3113• 203.1211 04.4341£ 246.762 248.3571RIYAL 41.25 41.5167$ 154.7 155.7

CBN 17th Apr, 2012

EXCHANGE RATES

PARALLEL RATES BUYING SELLING

• 210 212£ 254 256RIYAL 40 42$ 158 159

Senate wantsreturn of Nigeria

Airways

- Pg 20

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk Mob: 08033644990

BBBBBUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSUSINESS

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: 07.30KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

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

R-L: Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, and Customs PublicRelations Officer, Wale Adeniyi, answering questions from journalist after the comptroller official visitto President Goodluck Jonathan, at the State House, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Provision for losses wipes out First Bank’sN50bn profit as Fidelity’s drop to N7.6bn

was N32.9 billion (2010: N22.4billion), had to be made by FirstBank.

Nonetheless, it recorded severalgrowths both in operating incomeand gross income. It posted grossearnings of N296.3, and N259.2billion as operating income asagainst gross earnings of N232.1and operating income of N178.1billion recorded in 2010.

In this regard, the bankproposed an 80kobo dividend pershare for its shareholders from itsnet profit.

Other milestones announcedby First Bank yesterday include,

92.9% growth in profit before tax andexceptional items to N65.6 billion(2010: N34 billion); strongimprovement in cost to income ratioto 56.8% (2010: 67.0%), 55.1% ratiorecorded in the Bank (2010: 65.8%)

Group Managing Director of thebank, Mr. Bisi Onasanyacommended the operating result,noting that: “we have madesignificant progress in achieving ourstrategic goal of being the numberone financial services group inNigeria. Our results are reflective ofthe benefits being reaped from theimplementation of ourtransformation agenda which hasimproved customer focus,acquisition, satisfaction, businessgeneration and enhanced thesustainability of our earnings base.This has brought about considerableimprovements in our interest andnon-interest earnings generationcapabilities, margin expansion,operational efficiency as well asreduced funding costs”.

In another development, FidelityBank said its pre-tax profit for 2011fell 11.32 percent to N7.67 billion($48.74 million), from 8.65 billionnaira in the previous year, the banksaid in a statement to the NigerianStock Exchange (NSE).

Gross earnings rose to 70.04billion naira, from 56.04 billionnaira in 2010, the bank said. It alsodeclared a dividend of 0.14 naira pershare.

Nigeria's First Bank hasannounced a profit beforetax of N50.1 billion in its

2011 financial year operationsrepresenting 48.2 per cent as againstN33.76 billion recorded in 2010.However, a provisioning for losseson bad loans and other items isdepleting the bumper profit postedby the bank.

According to the bank’s 2011full year financials issuedyesterday, a provision for losses ofN44.8 billion (2010: N21.6billion), of which loan loss provision

By Abdulwahab Isa

In spite of challenging businessenvironment, DangoteSugar Refinery Plc (DSR) is

set to pay out N3.6billion asdivided to its shareholders for thebusiness year ended December31, 2011.

The management has also,assured of continuousimprovement in its performancein view of the new investmentsundertaken by the organization,a statement by the companysaid yesterday.

The firm posted a turnoverof N106.510, 507 billionturnover, for the year while itrecorded a Profit Before Taxation(PBT) of N10.6billion, and aProfit After Tax (PAT) of N7.1billion.

The company announcedyesterday that the dividendpayout amounts to the sum of

Dangote Sugar pays N3.6billion dividend

30Kobo per share for everyordinary share of 50 kobo each,held in the company bymembers as at May 2nd 2012.

The modest performance forthe year under review, themanagement noted, was in spiteof the economic crisis, lowinterest rates and increasingprice of raw sugar.

However, it stated that theselling price of Refined Sugar didnot fully reflect the increase inthe cost of Raw Sugar as doing sowould push the price of therefined product too high for theconsumers.

“The Board and Managementare mindful of these challenges;and are focused on value driveninnovation and efficient costoptimization. The sales andmarketing strategies have beenrealigned to position DSRstrategically to stay abovecompetition, with a view to driveperformance; improve efficiencyand output. These efforts areyielding positive results, andhave reflected in our first quarter2012 performance.”

To sustain this trend, anddeliver the desired financialperformance and value forshareholders and all otherstakeholders, in the current yearand beyond; DSR saidinvestments are being made onits plant to ensure improvedmaintenance routines andoptimal capacity utilization, aswell as and meet the ever-changing consumer needs.

The management furthersaid; “Our priority is to grow ourmarkets both locally andinternational. Arrangementsare currently underway toexpand our export horizon beyondGhana; today we are prospectingother countries across the WestAfrican coast. We are also in theprocess of restructuring ourdistributorship especially for theretail products.”

By Abdulwahab Isa

CPC seals Mobil filling station, arrestsmanager over fraudulent practiceBy Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

Operatives of the ConsumerProtection Council (CPC)yesterday sealed Mobil

Filling station along Kubwaexpressway, in Abuja for under-dispensing petroleum products toconsumers.

The operatives, who stormedthe area for an all-roundenforcement exercise, used a 20litre measuring cylinder todetermine the correctness ofwhat the filling station wasselling to consumers anddiscovered that one of the pump

of the station was cheatingconsumers of 0.2 litres or N17out of every 20 litres boughtwhile another pump was short-changing customers of 0.3 litresor 28 naira out of every 20 litrespurchased.

Staff of the station howeverused all sorts of cunning waysto stop CPC officials from testingother pumps, which weresuspected to be under-dispensing fuel to consumers ata worse rate. The officialstherefore sealed the entirestation and arrested its standbymanager, Mr Dayo Albert.

PAGE 20 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

NAICOM settlesN617.8m claims inQ1

The National InsuranceCommission (NAICOM)has said its Complaints

Bureau has settled claimsdispute amounting to N617.8million in first quarterA statement by the AssistantDirector, Corporate Affairs,NAICOM, Mr Lucky Fiakpa,said the bureau in the firstquarter of this year resolved atotal of 17 disputes involvingpolicy holders and insurancecompanies resulting in claimssettlement of N617.8 million.

Fidelity Bank pre-tax falls by 11.32 %

Fidelity Bank said its pre-tax profit for 2011 fell11.32 percent to 7.67

billion naira ($48.74 million),from 8.65 billion naira in theprevious year, the bank said ina statement to the NigerianStock Exchange.Gross earnings rose to 70.04billion naira, from 56.04billion naira in 2010, the banksaid.

NATCOMS advisestelecom operators toupgrade facilities

Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, thePresident of NationalAssociation of

TelecommunicationSubscribers (NATCOMS)has advised the operators toupgrade their networks to meetthe growing numbers ofsubscribers.Ogunbanjo gave the advice inan interview with the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) inLagos.He said that this was againstthe backdrop of complaintsby subscribers about the poorservices being rendered by theoperators.

US stocks jumpafter strongcorporateearnings

Stocks are rising at middayafter big U.S. companiesposted strong quarterly

profits and the Spanishgovernment reassuredinvestors with a successful debtauction.Coca-Cola leapt 2.6 percentTuesday after the companysaid its profit rose 8 percent inthe first three months of theyear, topping the forecasts ofWall Street analysts.European markets surged afterthe Spanish government soldmore than •3.2 billion ($4.2billion) in short-term debt,more than had been expected.The yield on Spain’s 10-yeargovernment bond fell to 5.86percent from 6.10 percentearly Monday, a sign ofimproving confidence in thecountry’s finances.

COMPANYNEWS

L-R: Managing Consultant, Nachchi Consulting, Mr. Sam Ikoku, Director-General, Nigerian Civil AviationAuthority, Dr Harold Olusegun Demuren, and Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency,Mr Nnamdi Udoh, during an interactive session with the aviation sector stakeholders, on Monday inAbuja. Photo: NAN

New master plan to overhaul aviationsector underway – Stella OduahBy Muhammad Sada

A master plan to tacklevarious challengesbasseting aviation sector

has been introduced, Minster ofaviation Mrs. Stella Oduah hasconfirmed.

Oduah at an interactiveforum with aviationstakeholders in Abuja expressedoptimism that the master planwould address numerouschallenges and restore the sector.

She harped on need totransform the sector for therealisation of maximumpotential to ensure full deliveryof services to the citizens of thecountry.

The minister said ” ourmaster plan is a well cut out andcarefully put plan in a mannerto ensure positive and total

upgrading of entire aviationsector”.

According to her the masterplan envisages to tackleinfrastructural transformation,development of airport cities ;leisure and cargo village

The Federal Governmenthas been tasked to revivethe liquidated Nigeria

Airways before the end of thepresent Goodluck Jonathanadministration if the presentindiscriminate hike in airfaresby foreign airlines must beaddressed.

Senate President, DavidMark made the call whiledeclaring open, a three-daypublic hearing on the violationof aviation laws and practice byforeign airlines in Nigeria andlapses in operation of theregulatory agencies by theSenate Committee on Aviation.

Mark said the return of thenation's national Carrier-NigeriaAirways- would createemployment opportunities forNigerians as well as restore thecountry's image in the globalaviation industry.

Represented by the DeputySenate President, IkeEkweremadu, he challengedNigeria to use the present

scenario in the aviation sector tomake its impact felt in Africa.

"It is important that we directthe Minister of Aviation beforethe end of this tenure thatNigeria Airways is brought backon stream. I do hope that they willaccept the challenge.

"We feel very embarrassedeach time we travel abroad andsee other airlines carry thenational flag of their countriesand the names of their respectivecountries and Nigeria is missing.It is not only for

the purpose of national pride,it's important for thedevelopment of our tourism. Itwill also generate income andcreate employment for ourpeople. This is the time for us todo something about it and restoreNigeria's past glory in respect ofaviation and air travels''.

It would be re-called thatwhen Nigeria Airways was inoperations, it was able to forceBritish Airways to reduce itsfares on the Lagos-London routeon several occasions.

The Uganda government last

month announced its resolve torevive its national airline whichwas liquidated 20 years ago.

The Senate also called for theurgent review of Bilateral AirServices Agreement, (BASA),between Nigeria and Britain.

The Senate also directed theMinistry of Aviation to restorethe agreement which allowsNigeria and Britain equal slotsand frequency of 21, which onlythe British airline enjoys the fullprivilege, while Nigeria's ArikAir was left with only seven.

In his remarks, Chairman,Senate Committee on Aviation,Senator Hope Uzodinma, whonoted that the public hearing wasdesigned to get to the root of whatreally happened, how and whythey happened, stressed thatsome pertinent questions had,however, come up, ranging fromwhether any airline trulymanipulated the passenger fuelsurcharge to the detriment of theNigerian people andgovernment.

He said: "Any revenue lost tothe Federal Government must be

recovered and returned to itscoffers. We are confident that atthe end of this exercise, ouraviation industry will be better,more efficient, more profitableand more competitive."

Also in her remarks, Ministerof Aviation, Stella Oduah, whoalso described the disparity asexploitative and bad, stressedthat she had issued stringentwarnings to BA and VirginAtlantic that the price imbalancewould not be tolerated and mustbe dismantled.

She said: "Nigeria supportsprofitable operations when theprofits are reasonable but rejectsexploitation and unreasonableexcessive profiteering byexploiting her people. We are stillon this issue and your voice fromthe Senate is welcome."

Director-General, NCAA,Harold Demuren, who alsocondemned the fare hike by theforeign airlines, told thecommittee that in 2006, BAmade a total gain of £451 millionworldwide, of which £112 millioncame from Nigeria.

Senate wants return of Nigeria Airways From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

destinations as well astransforming Nigerian airportnetwork into domestic andinternational hub.

On wide disparity of air faresby foreign airlines, she urged theairlines to respect the rights on

airfares granted to NigerianCivil Aviation Authority(NCAA), as according to her,“Act 2006 of the NCAA has themandate to ensure they do notallow high price and they haveto protect Nigerian passengers.

Emirates boosts Rome services with 3rd daily flight

World fastest growingairlines, Emirates saidit will boost its operations

in Italy this October as the airlineadds a third daily flight to Rometaking the total number of flightsoffered to Italy to 56 a week.

The new service will beoperated by a 237-seat AirbusA330-200 in a three-classconfiguration that offers 12luxurious First Class seats, 42 seatsin Business Class and generousspace for 183 passengers in

Economy Class adding a total of 15tonnes of cargo-carrying capacityto the route.

"The third daily service to Romerepresents another significantinitiative that is part of Emirates'partnership with Italy. Emiratesis committed to offering morecapacity to travellers in additionto giving customers more choicein seamlessly connecting to pointsacross the Far and Middle East,Indian sub-continent and Africa allwhile experiencing the most

comfortable and entertainingexperience in the sky," said SalemObaidalla.

The Airline's Senior VicePresident, Commercial Operations,Europe & Russian Federationaffirmed that "We will continue toinvest in Italy, empowering thelocal economy and helping itexpand its business and tourismpresence."

"Today, the publicannouncement of the 3rd dailyflight by Emirates is strongevidence and an authentic proof ofthe successful relationship existingbetween ADR - Aeroporti di Romaand the Dubai based airline," saidFabrizio Palenzona Chairman ofADR.

According to him "Without adoubt, Emirates represents astrategic partner in ensuringfurther traffic growth betweenRome and all the main long haulroutes in Asia, Australia and alarge part of Africa.

After being the first airport inItaly able to welcome the A380,thanks to the investment for a newdedicated loading bridge, we'renow looking forward in cutting theribbon next October 1st for thisnew additional flight," he added.

Rome is currently served twicedaily by Emirates. Coupled with atriple daily service to Milancommencing on 1st June and adouble daily flight to Venicebeginning 25th March, theincreased weekly frequencies willcontribute to a burgeoning traderelationship between Italy and theUAE worth $4.6 billion.

PAGE 21PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Tourism sector may assumeits rightful place as Nigeria'spotential source of foreign

exchange earning going by theroad map being pursued by itsstakeholders.

A country of huge populationof over 150 million people and avast market, analysts arebeginning to call for aconsiderable shift anddiversification from oil as a lonemeans of survival.

The call is not unconnected tothe global recession ravaging theglobal economy; and Nigeria, amono- product dependenteconomy experts have predictedstand the risk of severe economicdepression should oil price crashat the international market.

Evidently, the wisdom todiversify the economy and weanit off from oil informed a renewedattention being accord to tourismsector.

The culture and tourismsector hitherto relegated to thebackground is now receivingadequate attention as a tool torealise transformation agenda ofPresident Goodluck Jonathan.

Only recently, the Directors-General of the Nigerian TourismDevelopment Corporation, NTDC,and the Nigerian TelevisionAuthority, NTA jointly resolvedto collaborate using abundantpotential inherent in tourism andculture to bring about lost gains.

NTDC DG, Otunba OlusegunRunsewe visited his counterpartat the NTA, Mallam UsmanMagawata in Abuja and talks

Stakeholders spot tourism asNigeria’s alternative potential to oil

By Miriam Humbe between them centred on the needfor collaboration to totallytransform the tourism sector.

Runsewe announced hisintention to procure thousands ofthe Startimes decoders from NTAfor onward distribution toNigerian-based hospitality outfitslike Hotels, Eateries, Parks, TravelAgencies, with 6 monthssubscription package, all for free.

Runsewe's request for a onehour programme on NTA to becalled "Tourism Hour" where vitalissues affecting tourismdevelopment in Nigeria likevacancy placements, nationalsecurity and other topics as wellas contemporary issues waspromptly granted by MalamMagawata who promised it'sactualization in no distant time.

According to the NTDC chief,

the aim was to add value to thenation's tourism by persuadingvisitors to Nigeria to embrace andappreciate our local contentespecially in the area ofentertainment. It was hoped thatthe collaboration would bemutually beneficial to bothparties leading to enhancementin the transformation agendathrough employment generationand job creation via tourismdevelopment.

Runsewe's valuablecontributions to tourismdevelopment have not goneunnoticed as he has beenhonoured with various awardsboth at home and abroad. Themost recent honour was thespecial chieftaincy title of "Odejoof Aagboko" translated to meanPhilanthropist, giver orbenefactor by the O'chi Idoma,Chief Alias Agabaidu Obekpa onbehalf of the Idoma nation.

The contribution of thetourism sector to the GrosssDomestic Product, GDP of thenation's economy was reported tohave risen steadily in the last 4years according to a report by theWorld Travel and TourismCouncil. The World Travel andTourism Council (WTTC) in itsreport forecasted that travel andtourism industry will generate897,500 jobs in Nigeria in 2012,comprising 1.4% of total jobemployment.

The report is contained inWTTC's Travel and TourismEconomic Impact on Nigeria2012. It also noted that travel andtourism is expected to attractcapital investment of

N252.5billion, and it is expectedto rise in 2012 by 2.3%, and riseby 6.5% per annum over the nextten years to N483.4billion in2022. Stating further, WTTCforecast that domestic travelspending is expected to grow by1.5% in 2012 to N119.4billion andrise by 2.4% per annum toN151.5billion in 2022.

In Lagos state, tourists werehosted to a flamboyant carnivalby the Lagos State governmentduring the Easter celebrations.Themed: "Eko for Show,'' thecarnival which was held at theTafawa Balewa Square, featureddifferent cultural groups,costumed participants and merrymakers. It was characterized bylots of colour and music and hadpeople turn out in their thousandsto witness it. Tourists fromvarious countries happily tookpictures while traders sellingmasks, costumes and varioustypes of adornments; all madebrisk business.

Mr. Babatunde Fashola,Lagos state governor vowed tomake the state a touristdestination in the African sub-region and commended Lagosiansfor buying into the idea oftransforming the state. TheCarnival was the high point of theweek long activities of the LagosHeritage Week.

It is earnestly hoped that thisair of transformation blowingacross the tourism sector willspread to other sectors of theNigerian economy to bring aboutthe most needed developmentwhich has for some time, eludedus as a people.

Left - Right: Director General (NTDC), Otunba Segun Runsewe, receiving a unique plague from, Director-General (NTA) Mallam Usman Magawata while on partnership visit to the NTA headquarters in Abuja.

PAGE 22 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Legal hurdles, garnishee aviation fundposes danger to safety, says NCAA D-G

A situation where theNigeria Civil AviationAuthority (NCAA) is

frequently joined as a defendantin cases related to aviation be itbetween an airline

and passengers as well thegarnishee of the NCAA accountby a law court without recourseto the effect such action will bearon safety has been describe asdangerous to the safety of liveand properties. Director-

General of the NCAA, Dr. HaroldDemuren yesterday said due tothe growth of the industry, theauthority is face with growingvolume of litigation aspassengers are becoming moreaware of their right says theNCAA is thus usually invited tocourts even when it is needless.

Speaking at a two daysseminar organised for Judges ofthe Federal High Court ofNigeria in Lagos, Dr. Demurensaid the development is not in theinterest of Nigeria aviation

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos industry as it is a majordistraction from the

performance of NCAA statutoryresponsibilities affirming thatNCAA is a regulatory bodycharged with the statutoryresponsibility of regulating thesafety, security and economicefficiency of air navigation.

"NCAA is not an aircraftoperator or an airlines. It is notan airport operator, it is not anair traffic service providerneither is it engaged in theprovision of ground handling or

other allied services whatsoever''he told the Judges.

He said ''As such a situationwhere NCAA is held liable foracts arising from the provisionof services at the airports byaircraft operators and air trafficservices and other aviationallied services providers ishighly detrimental to safety ofair transportation as it amountsto a major drain of limitedresources which otherwise couldbe applied to safety criticalissues. ''

According to him, section 67(1) of the CAA 2006, designatesthe aviation industry and byimplication, NCAA as anessential service sector pursuantto the provision of section 11(1)of the Constitution

of the Federal Republic ofNigeria.

The DG said It is thereforevery worrisome that theoperational bank accounts of

NCAA and other aviationagencies should be garnished byorder of court without dueregards to the essential natureof NCAA's regulatory activitiesand the overall implication ofsuch an order on the ability ofNCAA to safely conduct suchactivities.

"This poses potent danger tosafety of lives and properties ofmillions of air travelers flying inthe Nigerian airspace. '' he said.

Dr. Demuren who wasrepresented at the event by theDirector of Airspace andAerodrome Standard, AlhajiLawal Haruna said withoutfunds, NCAA will no longer be ina position to ensure the safe

operation of aircraftoperating in Nigeria airspaceand to carry out dailymandatory surveillance andsafety inspection of flights andthe flight crew, and themonitoring of airport security.

L-R: Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke, during a meeting on the 2012 budget with PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, at the State House, recently in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye.

Workers at Qua IboeTerminal in AkwaIbom operated by

Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN)yesterday blocked the accessroad to the oil facility to protestpoor service conditions.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that hundreds ofworkers, who carried placardsand sang solidarity songs,blocked the Eket-Ibeno Road by5 a.m. to deny access to workers.

A combined team of thepolice, army and navy draftedto secure oil installations in thearea appealed to the protesting

workersThe team also pledged to

convene a meeting between theworkers and the management ofMPN.

NAN learnt that theprotesting workers soft pedalledand opened the blockade whenrepresentative of the Mobilmanagement at the Qua IboeTerminal agreed to dialoguewith them.

Sources at the Qua Iboe OilField confirmed that the oil firmearlier fixed a meeting forTuesday afternoon.

But it later shifted the

meeting to Thursday to enablethe labour contractors that hiredthe workers to participate in thetalks.

The junior workers in theirplacards said that theirmonthly wage package ofbetween N18,000 andN22,000 was unrealistic.

Mr. Joseph Okon,Coordinator of Janitorial Staffin Mobil locations in Eket andIbeno told NAN on Tuesday thatthey were compelled by severalyears of neglect to embark onthe peaceful protest.

Okon said: “We have endured

Mobil workers at Qua Iboe Terminal protest poor welfarethese conditions for severalyears and have worked indeplorable conditions within theoil industry where workers aresupposed to be comfortable.

"We earn a paltry sumranging from N18,000 toN22,000 depending on thelabour contractor.

“We are often owed formonths, there is no condition ofservice and we are hired andfired without recourse to thelabour guidelines.

“All attempts to get theattention of the Managementhave been rebuffed as several

letters on our plight have beenignored so we had no option butto take this option to drawattention to our plight.''

He said that the workerswere looking forward to areview of their wages and theformulation of a standardisedcondition of service to guide allparties.

Efforts by NAN to reach thePublic Affairs Manager at QuaIboe Terminal, Mr AkaninyeneEsiere, for comments on thedevelopment failed as he did notrespond to calls made to hismobile phone. (NAN)

The Apapa and Tin-CanIsland ports in Lagos are toreceive 3,643 vehicles on

board 10 ships in the next 13 days,the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports.

The "Shipping Position", adocument of the Nigerian PortsAuthority (NPA), issued in Lagoson Tuesday, reported that 3,143of the vehicles were new oneswhile 500 were fairly used

vehicles.The document said that a total

of 84 ships would berth at the portsbefore the end of April.

It said that 20 of the ships wouldsail in with various goods, whilenine would bring in diesel, sevenwith petrol, three with kerosene,while one with aviation fuel.

The remaining 45 ships willsail in with fertiliser, bulk wheat,steel products, general cargo,

ethanol, soda ash, bulk gypsum,bulk urea, bulk salt, rice and bulksugar.

Thirty-one other ships areawaiting customs clearance toberth and discharge their cargoesat the ports.

Seventeen of the ships areladen with petroleum products,while the remaining ones are withsteel, rice, fish and generalcargoes. (NAN)

Apapa, Tin-Can ports expect 3,643 vehicles in 13 days

The India's Central Bank hascut its key interest rate bya bigger-than-expected half

percentage point yesterday , thefirst cut in three years, andwarned that stalled reforms arediminishing the growth potentialof Asia's third-biggest economy

The Reserve Bank of India cutits short term lending rate - therepo rate - to 8.0 percent from8.5 percent. Many economistshad expected a quarter point cut.

The bank said it decided to cutthe rate because economicgrowth has slowed to below whatit believes is its long-term trendrate, which in turn iscontributing to a moderation incore inflation.

The last interest rate cut wasin April 2009. Between March2010 and October 2011, the bankwaged a lonely battle againstinflation, raising interest rates by3.75 points in 13 consecutive ratehikes.

The central bank cautionedthat the scope for further rate cutsis limited, because inflation risksremain and growth has notslowed dramatically below whatmay be a new and lower normalfor India, which once aspired todouble-digit economic growth.

The bank said India's "trend"rate of growth, or the amount theeconomy can expand withoutstoking inflation, had declinedfrom its pre-financial crisis peak.The bank blamed supplybottlenecks, especially ininfrastructure, energy, mineralsand labor, for the economy'sdiminished potential, and saidunblocking such constraints was"an imperative."

The RBI expects India'seconomic growth to pick up to 7.3percent in the current fiscal yearfrom 7.0 percent for the fiscalyear ended March 2012. Itpredicted that inflation, whichwas 6.9 percent in March, wouldmoderate to 6.5 percent by nextMarch.

The RBI's policy documentcan be read as a tissue ofcomplaint against New Delhi,shot through with remindersabout the limitations ofmonetary policy to bring abouteconomic change.

The bank alternated betweenadmonishing and pleading withNew Delhi, offering India'sgovernment a long wish list. Stopborrowing so much and crowdingout private players from debtmarkets. (AP)

India Central Bank cuts key interest rate

PAGE 24 PAGE 25PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Creating wealthfrom junk vehiclesWith the steady

achievements ine n v i r o n m e n t a l

sustainability andpreservation globally,environmentalists haveclamoured increasingly foreco-friendly cities and townsthrough their riddance ofjunks.

This is against thebackdrop that the cities areoften littered with variouswastes, including vehiclejunks, which experts say, canbe harnessed into wealththrough purposeful efforts.

So far, developingeconomies such as China,Brazil, India, Mexico andArgentina, have taken up thechallenge, while the benefitshave been immense.

Not a few Nigerians thinkthat the country should jointhe league of such nations,which had made wealth outof wastes, especially with thehuge volume of wastesdumped indiscriminately inmost towns and cities.

Such, they say, will createemployment, apart fromenabling the emergence ofsmall and medium-scaleenterprises in the country.

Of particular note is thehuge volume of vehicle junks,known as End-of-Life-Vehicles(ELVs), which are abandonedby major highways, policestations and elsewhere – allof which pose danger to roadusers and the environment.

By official statistics fromthe Vehicle Inspection Office(VIO) and the FRSC, over500,000 vehicles terminatetheir driving lives every yearin the country. This,invariably, offers a sufficientresource base for wasterecycling firms.

A Japan-based recyclingfirm — Kaiho Sangyo, iscurrently collaborating withthe National AutomotiveCouncil (NAC) and the UnitedNations IndustrialOrganisation (UNIDO), at theinstrumentality of theJapanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA), toset up a pilot ELVs plant inAbuja, the FCT.

Mr Noriho Kondo,President of Kaiho Sangyo,

which has been in metalsrecycling for over 40 years,is emphatic that Nigeria hadthe potential for ELVbusiness.

“From extensive researchundertaken by the companyin Nigeria, South Africa andIvory Coast, Nigeria has thegreatest potential for ELVbusiness because of the hugenumber of dumped vehicles,’’he said.

At a recent stakeholders’meeting in Abuja, Kondoemphasized that hiscompany’s decision to come toNigeria was not primarily outof profit taking but to imparttechnology to the nation.

The chief executive saidthat through the company’straining arm — InternationalRecycling EducationalCentre (IRC), it hoped to helpNigerians to acquirerecycling technology.

He, however, advised thatan act should be enacted toregulate the recyclingindustry in Nigeria asobtained in other countries, soas to curtail illegal dumpingof Automobile Shredded

Residue (ARS) that causedindustrial pollution.

Stakeholders in the sector,which interacted with theJapanese official expressedsimilar sentiments. Theycalled on government tourgently develop a viablestrategy for development ofthe sector.

The stakeholders includedthe African Iron and SteelAssociation, Lagos State WasteManagement Board, AbujaEnvironmental ProtectionBoard (AEPB), FederalMinistry of Trade andInvestment, Federal Ministryof Environment, NNPC andthe Standards Organisation ofNigeria (SON).

Others were the VehicleInspection Office (VIO), MotorMechanic TechniciansAssociation, WAO GlobalCompany Nigeria Ltd.;National EnvironmentalStandards and EnforcementRegulations Agency(NESREA), as well as the Bankof Industry.

FCT Minister, Sen. BalaMohammed, said that a legalframework for the recycling

business in the country hadbecome imperative.

Alhaji Shaibu Isa,Director, AEPD, who spoke onbehalf of the minister,described the recyclingproject as highly prospective,adding that necessarysafeguards would be requiredto avoid certain pitfallsexperienced elsewhere.

“Without properprocessing and harvesting ofother useful or toxic materialsfrom the hulk, its disposal canpose a serious health andenvironmental degradation,’’he said.

He, therefore, tasked thestakeholders to address allissues related to the scope,transportation, storage,treatment and disposal ofrejects from ELV in anenvironmentally friendlymanner.

Observers note that withthe over 10 million cars inNigeria today, coupled withthe deplorable state of thenation’s roads, more vehicleswere likely to arrive at theirELV earlier than normal.

No doubt, the initiative of

An accidental car. Ready for the junk yard?

JICA to help develop theprivate sector in developingcountries through its OfficialDevelopment Assistance(ODA) programme, is quitesalutary.

Its support for ELVsproject in Nigeria through itsE-Square arm, therefore, willimpact socially andeconomically on the poorestgroups such as scavengers,scrap traders and second-hand car users.

JICA’s Representative,Mr Masuda Yoshiro, said thatidentical ventures hadsucceeded in other countries,expressing optimism that it

would not be different inNigeria

According to him, the ELVproject is in the right directionto restructure the existingbusiness models of the ELVscurrently run by the informalsector.

He assured that the pilotrecycling factory to be built inAbuja would use the latestJapanese technology andemploy workers, who weremainly from the base.

By the reckoning of thestakeholders, the ELV would berecycled and transformed intospare parts and new products,which would in turn be sold tolocal markets as valuableproducts.

“It is my belief that theproject, if given the neededsupport by all stakeholders,will reduce extreme povertyand restore the serene beautyof Abuja.

“I hope that the success ofthis venture will encouragemore Japanese companies tocome back for business inNigeria,’’ he said.

A consultant to the project,Mr Masayoshi Matsushita,who had served as thecountry’s UNIDORepresentative between 2007and 2010, also identifiedother waste products in thecountry that could beharnessed into wealth.

These includedagricultural wastes as ricehusks, papers and plastics,which could be easily recycledfor other uses.

“I also noted manyabandoned vehicles on theroads, especially on the way tothe International Airport andaround many police stations inthe FCT,” Matsushita said.

He expressed concern thatmany resources were often

wasted in Nigeria; hence hethought it wise to send ateam to Japan in 2009, toseek opportunities for thetransfer of environmentally-friendly Japanese technologyto Nigeria.

“We had visited KaihoSangyo, located in KanazawaCity, and I was impressed tosee how efficiently andeffectively the ELVs wererecycled in the factory,’’ headded.

This, he explained, wasthe genesis of the cooperationbetween Kaiho Sangyo,UNIDO and NAC.

“Kaiho Sangyo missionteam then came to witnessthe ELV stockpile in the FCTand other fields in Nigeria;they then recognised that theELVs in the country were notbeing recycled,’’ he said.

Matsushita recalled thatin Japan during the 1980s,the high rate of pollutionbrought about the emergenceof recycling companies, fromwhich other preciousmaterials were gotten out ofELVs.’’

“Ninety per cent of ELVsare recycled at Kaiho’soperation factory. Nothing iswasted. Big companies asToyota and Honda give thepleasure of driving cars butthe recycling firms take careof ELVs, where they areburied and revived for othereconomic uses,’’ he said.

Many stakeholders tookadvantage of the interactivesession with the officials ofKaiho Sangyo to seek

explanations on certainaspects of the recyclingbusiness.

One of such stakeholders,Dr Sanusi Mohammed, amember of the African Ironand Steel Association,lamented that the nation’sAjaokuta Steel Plant,established 32 years ago hadnot made any meaningfulprogress since.

He described the business of

recycling as “fantastic”,adding that steel companieswould always require metalscraps to manufacture theirsteel products.

“If Ajaokuta wasproducing, it would requireover 50,000 tonnes of scrapsannually for production. Ihope the Nigeriangovernment will embraceKondo’s ELV project, toencourage recycling in the

country and revive SMEsbusinesses,’’ he said.

Another stakeholder, MrDeji Badejo, Lagos State WasteManagement Board, said thatLagos had a huge stock of“dead vehicles”, which wouldbe useful to the proposedindustries.

His viewpoint wasamplified by Mr AmoduAyotunde, an official of theLagos State Ministry of

Environment, who said that aparticular site in Lagos —Owode Olurin — onIkoroduRoad, had hundreds of such“dead vehicles”.

“This has created a lot ofnuisance and hazard tohuman health and theenvironment. This projectwill go a long way atsanitizing the environmentand become a source ofwealth,’’ he said.

By experts’ projection,Nigeria requires 200, 000tonnes of steel yearly for thedevelopment of theautomotive and constructionsectors but the satisfaction ofsuch need still remains a farcry, especially with thecomatose state of the AjaokutaSteel Company.

Health and environmentalsafety were also sources ofconcern for the stakeholders.They advised the Japanesefirm to collaborate withNESREA, Ministry ofEnvironment and otherrelevant agencies to ensurethat the required safety werein place in the recyclingbusiness.

For Alhaji Aminu Jalal,Director-General of NAC, thesuccess of the project willdepend on the enactment ofappropriate legislations.

He, nonetheless, wasoptimistic that the recyclingplants would not onlyameliorate environmentalproblems but would also boostemployment to reduce thepeople’s poverty level.

Jalal pledged the “fullsupport” of the council to theproject, urging allstakeholders to collaborate toensure its success in line withthe transformation agenda ofthe Federal Government.

(NAN Features)

Disused cars packed as junks ready to be recycled

“It is my belief that the project, ifgiven the needed support by all

stakeholders, will reduceextreme poverty and restore the

serene beauty of AbujaNow extinct, A 404 Peugeot pick-up van. Remnants now junks

By Grace Yussuf

However, it is not as essential onthe Soul as on bigger crossoversand SUVs, since tall glass areas anda high driving position give thedriver excellent outward visibility.

Fuel economyFor its first two years on sale,

the Kia Soul's fuel economy was notespecially good, compared to othercompact hatchbacks. That haschanged for the 2012 version withnew powertrains and with a newEco stop-start feature available asan option on either model.

The base 1.6-litre Soul nowmakes 135 horsepower, up

11 per cent, and comeswith a six-speed

m a n u a ltransmission,with anautomat icavai lable.The EPArates it at2 7 / 3 5mpg - animprovementif still abit shy ofcars like

the latestH y u n d a i

Elantra orFord Focus.

The Ecopackage adds on

stop-start technology, which shutsoff the engine at longer pauses intraffic, automatically restartingwith a step on the gas pedal.

The speedier Soul has a 2.0-litre four with 164 horsepower.With either the six-speed manualor a six-speed automatic, it earnsan EPA rating of 26/34 mpg. Thesame Eco package is offered andhere, it pushes gas mileage back upto 27/35 mpg.

The Eco package lurches a bitwhen it re-engages the throttle, notobjectionably, but noticeably. Itdoes not offer a dramatic fueleconomy improvement, but youmay believe - as Kia does -thatevery little bit helps.

Exterior/interiorIn a class of quirky, boxlike

cars, the Kia Soul stands outbecause the quirks work in itsfavor, and give it a funky flair thatis pretty absent in the Scion xB,Nissan Cube, and the like.

The urban-wagon concept winson styling, hands-down. The bull-nosed front end wears Kia's newcorporate theme between big, alertheadlamps (LED-lit on the topmodel). The angular roofline startshigh, and boomerangs down therear end in a way that reminds usequally of European hatchbacksand the In-N-Out logo. It is arakish, crisp shape that does notdepend on a lot of dazzling detailsto sell it, though it has a lot ofdetail across the front.

Over time, the rear end hasstarted to look thicker, especiallyin lighter colors such as green, butthe square tail-lamps frame anearly vertically alignedhatchback that draws the shape toa tight close.

The interior is not quite asgroundbreaking, but it is well-organised and not 'over-dressed'.The blend of round shapes andembossed plastics gives the Soulrefinement. Kia even lets ownerscustomise the cabin with color andtexture, from red plastic dash trimto hounds tooth-check upholsteryfor the seats.

PAGE 26 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

By Nuel Shepherd

Kia's well-designed and well-equipped Soul has made alot of friends. Now,

two years after theboxy hatch's launch,Kia is showing off amid-cycle refreshfor the 2012model. The KiaSoul is ane n d e a r i n gperformer,w i t hs p i r i t e daccelerationa n dsteering.

Maybeit is thefriendly,k i c k ys h e e tmetal ort h ehamster-d r i v e nmarketingcampaign,but theS o u lc o l o u r syour drivingimpressionsbefore youeven start it. Onceyou kick it to life, there is a littlemore to enjoy, with a pair of newdrivetrains that boost power andquiet down the Soul's old raucousinside voice.

The base Soul has a 1.6-litrefour-cylinder, good for 135horsepower and 121 pound-feet oftorque, coupled to either a six-speed manual or automatictransmission. Fuel economy perksup owing to the smooth-shiftingautomatic and a new Eco packagewith stop-start technology.However, the larger 2.0-litre fourwheel drive, which is not thatmuch less economical, and gruntsout 164 horse power is much morepreferable.

With the extra power, the Soulis a cruiser with good urban grunt,particularly helped out by the newautomatic transmission, whichhas two more gears than theoutgoing box. The manualtransmission is not so muchpreferable because though it shiftsfine, it has long throws and longpedal movement, and runscounter to the Soul's city-scootermission.

In most versions the Soul ridessmoothly, though it can get a bitbouncy on some freeway surfaces,where road noise gets to be anissue. You should think twiceabout the big 18-inch wheel andtire package, for those reasons.

Steering is electric and quickerthan the norm in the hatchbackclass (except for the Ford Focus),and with a 2800-pound curbweight, the Soul feels eager tocorner on its strut front andtorsion-beam rear suspension. Itis one of the few compacts thatfeels more adept than the sum ofits parts, something the HondaCivic has all but given up.

QualityWith its tall roof and its boxy

shape, the Kia Soul promises aroomy, versatile, almost minivan-like cabin. It delivers, too--theSoul has enough room for fivepassengers or, when the back

seats are folded down, a sizableamount of cargo.

Overall, the 2012 Soul is 161.6inches long, 70.3 inches wide,63.4 inches high, and it rides ona 100.4-inch wheelbase. Thecompact dimensions cloakexcellent interior space,especially head room. Front-seatpassengers get comfortablebucket seats with a half-foot ofhead room above, and just a littleknee room trimmed out for thewide center console and itsknobby, easy-to-use controls.Even the Scion xB can't seem tomatch the Soul's spacious, airyfeel.

The space for second-rowpassengers is just as good, and thesame high seating position isapplied to the back bench. It iswide enough for two adults andone child, or a couple of car seats,and in front and back, the Soul's

Kia’s Soul: Endearing performer

tall roof and doors make entry andexit considerably easier than incompetitive hatchbacks.

The Soul's rear seats flipforward to boost cargo area tomore than 53 cubic feet. The cargofloor also has a lift-up panel thathides a small amount of preciouscargo, and Kia also offers anoptional cargo organiser that'spretty handy for weekend errands.The Soul also has a double-deckerglove box than can stow a 15-inchlaptop, to go with armrest storagein the center console, and an iPod-sized bin atop its center stack, notto mention lots of cup-holders andmolded-in bottle holders.

The Soul has fit and finish farabove what you would expect.Even the hard plastics are nicelysurfaced, and trim and panels allfit tightly.

SafetyKia has not changed the

standard safety equipment on its2012 Soul, and it did not need to.The compact hatchback alreadyhad six airbags, anti-lock brakesand stability control, and in thepast those features earned it topscores from safety agencies.

The Insurance Institute forHighway Safety (IIHS) in theUnited States still rates the Soul asone of its Top Safety Picks, but theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration has not yetupdated its Soul ratings since itchanged its criteria for the 2011model year. It has assigned arollover-protection rating of fourstars, which it gets from numericformulas.

The Soul has improved safetyfor the new year, though it appliesonly to models with the navigationsystem. On the costlier versions,Kia fits a rearview camera, whichwe consider a great safety feature.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 PAGE 27

Baby born with eight limbs in Pakistan

The unnamed week-old lad,who has six legs, was bornwith a parasitic twin attached

to his abdomen.The case is similar to that of Indian

toddler Lakshmi Tatma, who was alsoborn with eight limbs and worshippedas a deity in her home state of Biharback in 2005.

Little Lakshmi made headlinesaround the world when she wassuccessfully operated upon in 2007 –and then started school walking likeany other happy youngster in 2010.

Parasitic twins, which form whentwin embryos fail to fully separate inthe womb, are incredibly rare andoccur in about one in 100,000 births.

The latest case in Sukkur, 240miles from the city of Karachi,attracted the attention of governmentofficials, who have promised to fund

an operation to help the youngster.The baby boy’s father Imran

Shaikh, an X-ray technician, said hewas grateful his son was being treated.

He said: “We are a poor family. Iam thankful to the government forhelping us treat my baby.”

Jamal Raza, director of theNational Institute of Child Health inKarachi, told reporters that the babyis one of a pair of parasitic twins.

He added: “It is not one babyactually. They are two, one of them ispremature.

“The doctors are examining theinfant to plan for necessary treatmentto save his life and ensure he lives anormal life.”

Parasitic twins are more commonin Africa and Asia, where pre-natalscreening is less common and birthdefects are harder to detect.

Treatment ... baby boy born with eight limbs is being cared for inhospital

Amazing recovery ... Lakshmi Tatma before and after surgeryLong road ahead ... the little lad will need several operations ifhe is to live a normal life.

DOCTORS in Pakistan aredesperately fighting to save ababy boy born with eight limbs.

The police added the girlknocked over a shelf that hurt theprincipal at Creekside Elementary -yet her relatives are outraged overthe reaction.

‘Call the police? Is that the firststep? Or is there any other kind ofintervention that can be taken to helpthat child?’ Candace Ruff, Salecia’saunt, asked.

‘She might have misbehaved,but I don’t think she misbehaved tothe point where she should havebeen handcuffed and takendowntown to the policedepartment,’ she added.

‘A six-year-old in kindergarten.They don’t have no business callingthe police and handcuffing my child,’said Earnest Johnson, Salecia’sfather.

The girl noted that the handcuffshurt her hands when they were puton.

Police said they tried to contactthe girl’s mother Constance Ruff butcould not reach her, WMAZreported.

Instead, the child was taken to apolice station. Due to her age, she willnot have to go to court and will notbe sentenced.

Constance Ruff added that herdaughter was suspended and cannotreturn to school until August.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Police handcuff girl, 6, after she ‘threw a tantrum at school’

My view by Dr Carol CooperTHIS little boy is in for a rocky road

and a huge series of operations if he isto live a normal life.

Multi-limbed babies areassociated with conjoined twins,which occur when the fertilised eggsplits into two or even three at least 15days after fertilisation.

Nobody really knows why thishappens but conjoined twins aren’t soincredibly rare any more - thanks toadvances in medicine, many aresurviving long enough in the womb tobe born.

If there is a genetic cause then youmight expect this to happen in culturesor countries where intermarriage infamilies is more likely to happen.

Source: TheSun.co.uk

Police handcuffed a six-year-oldgirl after she threw a tantrumat school and could not be

controlled by teachers or police.The drastic action came after

Salecia Johnson from Milledgeville,Georgia began throwing furniture inthe classroom and tearing items offthe walls.

The girl was crying in theprincipal’s office when police arrivedand she resisted when an officer triedto calm her, a police report said.

Unable to control the girl, and for

her own safety, the officerhandcuffed her, WMAZ-TVreported.

They then took her to a policestation where she was charged withassault and damage to property.

‘Our policy is that any detaineeunreported to our station in a patrolvehicle is to be handcuffed in theback.

‘There is no age discriminationon that rule,’ Milledgeville Chief ofPolice Dray Swicord told the newschannel.

Tantrum: Salecia Johnson, six, began throwing furniture atschool so teachers called police, who handcuffed her and tookher to a police station

Unimpressed: The youngster's parents Constance Ruff and EarnestJohnson, pictured, said teachers overreacted by calling the police

Last resort: Police and teachers argued they did it for her safety.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 PAGE 28

Horrific footage: How Israeli army officersmashed Danish peace protester with rifle

suspended following an initialinvestigation, the edited video ‘didnot reflect the whole story’.

He said: ‘These are harshpictures, but I still can’t divorce thefilmed episodes from the incidentthat lasted over an hour. It includedviolence by the anarchists andPalestinians, (though) this does notjustify what we see.’

The incident came as Channel 10broadcast a report on Sunday abouthow Israel would attack Iran’snuclear facilities if diplomacy andsanctions between the two countriescompletely break down.

Alon Ben-David said he spentseveral weeks with military pilots togain a unique insight into Israel’smilitary thinking. He predicted noorder would be given to strike beforeP5+1 talks resume in May.

But he added that, if negotiationsfailed and the order to attack wasgiven, then ‘dozens if not moreplanes’ would attack.

He said: ‘The Israel Air Forcedoes not have the capacity to destroythe entire Iranian programme. Theresult won’t be definitive.’

The attack, the channel said,would presumably trigger a war innorthern Israel, with missile attacks.He added: ‘There will be notranquility and peace anywhere inIsrael.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Smashed: Lieutenant-Colonel Shalom Eisner (left) is seen ramming his M-16, with both hands,into Danish national Andreas Ias's face (right) as activists took part in a bicycle rally in theoccupied West Bank

Treatment: Fellow bike riders rushed to the victim's aid after he was hit in the face by a senior Israeliarmy officer.

A senior Israeli army officerwho smashed a pro-Palestinian protester in the

face with his gun has beensuspended after footage of thehorrific incident was put online.

Lieutenant-Colonel ShalomEisner is seen ramming his M-16,with both hands, into Danishnational Andreas Ias’s face asactivists took part in a bicycle rallyin the occupied West Bank.

The video from Saturday’sincident shows him falling to theground and then being carried awayby activists.

Ias was treated in a Palestinianhospital for ‘light injuries’ and todaytold Israeli media he was ‘well’.

He told Israel’s Channel 10 TVstation: ‘We were just walking slowlytowards the soldiers, we werechanting Palestinian songs callingfor the liberation of Palestine. I don’tbelieve that’s a provocation.’

Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu has condemned theofficer’s actions.

He said: ‘This behaviour is notcharacteristic of IDF (Israel DefenceForces) soldiers and commandersand it has no place in the IDF or inthe state of Israel.’

But Israeli military spokesmanYoav Mordechai said that, althoughthe officer’s behaviour wasunacceptable and he had been

Protest: Activists trying to get hold of their bikes were told togo away by Israeli army officers.

Violence: Further scuffles broke out between army officers and the protestersTreatment: This protester was taken to an ambulance whereher wounds were taken care of, following the incident.

PAGE 29PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Book Title: Issues & PeopleAuthor: Ramatu Ali OhiomaPublisher: Ibadan, Kraft BookPublishers, 2011Pages: 324Reviewer: Jideofor Adibe

In this rich compilation ofarticles originally publishedin her column in the New

Nigerian newspapers, Ramatutakes the reader on a journey. Itis a journey of the issues thathave helped to shape discourseson various aspects of theNigerian state and society –economy, international affairs,policy formulation, health,education, women and childrenand even personalities as well astransition of certain individuals.The articles not only show theauthor’s perspectives on theissues at the time they werewritten, they also reveal, whenread today, how those issueshave mutated over time. One ofthe significant revelations isthat the issues that havedominated discourses appear tohave remained intractable, suchthat several years down the line,virtually same issues remaintopical, sometimes without anyform of mutation in thetrajectories of the arguments.

Take for instance the article:‘The Dangerous Lokoja-AbujaRoad’ which the author firstpublished in her New Nigeriancolumn on September 16, 2006.In that piece Ramatu wrote:

“Today I had wanted to commentabout the 100 days in office of ourelected representatives butchanged my mind at the lastminute because I felt there is apressing issue at hand. It has to dowith the alarming rate of roadmishaps presently. Thefrequency with which we arelosing large number of lives inthese accidents even before theend of the year when the situationis normally terrible is quitefrightening. The recent accidentthat claimed the lives of seventypeople last week on Abuja-Lokojaroad is a sad reminder of the longstanding problem. This particularroute has become a death trapover the years because of theheavy traffic that struggle for

The cover

Issues and peoplemade lucid: A reviewBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEW

Re: Let’s saveNigeria now

A rejoinder to Eddie Ugbomah’sarticle in Clapperboard of Friday,March 23, 2012 on page 34.

Continued from last Wednesday

I still fail to understand why youwill need to set upcommittees to raise a

musical. However, consideringthe fact that committees are thenew ways of doing business inNigeria, I can understand this.But Chief, you do not need anycommittee. And in terms oftimeframe you do not need sixmonths to raise the first majormeeting. This is a serious timewasting exercise. This project isactually dead on arrival. Are thepeople you mention jobless?And when you say that themoney is good – from whoseestimation? Please do not forgetthe fact that musicals costmoney and to retain the interestof all the heavyweights youmention, they will need to bepaid heavily or this production ifit eventually sees the light of theday will not last beyond twoperformances. The idea of thescripting that you mention isalso not exciting or evenexhilarating. It does not point toany great art in the making. Isthere any new thing in what youpropose that a legiongovernment agencies are notdoing yet? I agree with you that ifthis country is to be salvaged, alot depends on theentertainment industry but not inthe way you prescribe. The artsis actually more serious than allof these.

I also share your idea that wecan do better than some recentmusicals we have seen but weneed to start rethinking ourstrategies and our motives. Suppose you get N100m fromthe government to prosecute thisidea, my guess is that there willnot be a follow-up. Just a oneoff project that might probablyleave a sour taste in everyone’smouth. If you get this amountand declare free performanceswhich usually happens, how willyou create the next musical?Until the next governmentcomes in and puts up themoney?

Let me point you in thedirection of the United ArabEmirates and the new arts &culture revolution that is taking

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place there. If you had beenwitness to the recent openingof the Opera House of Oman atMuscat, you will understandwhat I am talking about. Also,take a look at the museums,arts theatres, opera housesspringing up in this once forlornarea of the world and you willsee the worthwhile nature ofthe 20 years investment theyare making in the arts. Everyone in major arts capitalsis excited. They are all headedto the UAE. Our governmentwith all our resources cannotmatch a quarter of the recentinvestments in the arts andculture of the people of thatregion. Not because we do notunderstand what it entails torouse and excite the peoplewith the arts but simply becausewe are always taking thepedestrian route to get thingsdone and at the end of the day,the results make us look like agroup of naked cave mendancing round a fire whileroasting meat.

We are busy in a primitiveacquisition of wealth and thearts are the least of our worries.The people to be pitied are notthe folks at the National Troupeaccording to you. Rather, thepeople in government deserveour pity and sometimes somecontempt too. Everyone’sthroats and eyes is in oil andquick money. Let thegovernment invest in the artsand see measurable returnsnot the phantom results theyassault us with on a daily basis.

It is high time wepractitioners take time out toredefine our art – we need toplan, need to stop our pitiabledependence on government,we need to understand thatgovernment has no businessin arts funding, need to createand take on more exciting andchallenging projects andsincerely put a stop to

these series of one offprojects that does not dignify oradd any extra value to theprofession. I wish you wellwith the project. For purposesof academic study, do let meknow how it goes. Creating anight of a thousand stars is nota joke and neither is it afrivolous affair. Let us getserious Chief.C

Concluded

make it more representative and“better placed to meet thechallenges of a new worldtroubled by violence and otherproblems” captures the presentday mood in our part of the worldwhere several African countriesare battling to be considered forpermanent membership.Nigeria is one of them.

Journalists, especially thosewho maintain regular columns,are often said to write ‘history ina hurry.’ For experienced writerswho take out time to do researchbefore writing, that does notmean that what they write isfactually wrong. Myunderstanding of that phrase inits positive sense is that suchjournalists/columnists are able toinfuse into their writings thepassions and emotions that gowith the issues they write aboutas they unfold. There are asufficient dose of such passionsand emotions in this compilation.In this sense, unlike the analystor the historian who writesseveral years after the incidentthey write about occurred andcan therefore afford to bedetached, the journalist/columnist, as someone oftenaffected by the issue he/shewrites about, is more of anactivist writer. Yes, they can beneutral and objective, butdetachment in the mould of thehistorian and the analyst is oftena luxury they cannot afford.

I commend this book, whichis printed in reader-friendly fontsand packaged well. I would havethough wished that the book isorganised differently. Forinstance there are sections onPolitics, Policy and Economy. Myfeeling however is that thearticles grouped under each ofthese categories could haveconveniently fitted into any ofthe three sections meaning thatthe line between the threesections is quite blurred.

The above observationhowever, cannot detract fromthe quality of the write-ups, theprinting and the packaging. Thearticles, written in simple, firstperson pronoun, are a delight toread.Ramatu Ali Ohioma, the author

space on that narrow road.”More than five years afterRamatu first wrote the piece,the Lokoja-Abuja roadremains a hot spot for not onlyaccidents but also armedrobbery. So what hasgovernment been doing sincethen, one may ask? How comethat virtually nothing haschanged on a road thatattracted such an attentionmore than five years ago?

Yet another issue still veryrelevant in moderninternational politics is theclamour for thedemocratisation of the UnitedNations’ security councilespecially by Third Worldcountries. Her opinion in 2004as expressed on page 198 aboutthe need to expand thesecurity council in order to

PAGE 30 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Reading Of Writers, Writing onConflicts and Wars in Africa

Forgetting is the final instrumentof genocide. To witness genocide isto feel not only the chill of your ownmortality, but the degradation of allhumanity… even the most brilliantphotography cannot capture thelandscape of genocide.

- Simon Norfolk

The writers Okey Ndibe andChenjerai Hove are two ofAfrica’s finest thinker-

writers. They are awesomewordsmiths, word cannon ballsboom fiercely out of their fecundminds pulverizing their targetswith uncanny accuracy. Theywrite with an uncommonsensitivity to the issues that Africafaces. This they do with respect andcompassion and one is taken by thehonesty and industry that theybring to their craft. They have justco-edited a slim volume of essays,Writers, Writing on Conflicts andWars in Africa, published by Adonis& Abbey Publishers Ltd. It is alargely academic but highlyaccessible treasure trove ofreflections on war by an army ofmostly African writers who havebeen affected by Africa’s myriadwars and genocides. In about 200pages and sixteen chapters(including the introduction), thereader comes face to face with theanxieties, nightmares and dreamsof sixteen diverse and eclecticartists. These are issues coveringpast and present wars all overAfrica; Biafra, Zimbabwe, the helldelta of Nigeria, Darfur, the Congo,South Africa, etc. Kudos to Ndibeand Hove for ensuring that thesewriters are a judicious mix of theknown and unknown. Theresulting essays are refreshing andfilled with uncommon candor. Thereferences alone are invaluable. Iwrote down passages in the bookthat spoke to me and then I walkedamong the words, talking to them.I was shaken to my soul’s roots.Even the cover is evocative in whatit does not say. It is an image ofbeautiful children born into warsthey did not ask for. There are allthese children mugging for thecamera with Africa and decay as asurreal backdrop.

As an aside, this compilationof essays came out of a workshopattended by the just-departedpoet-warrior Dennis Brutus. In thebook, Ndibe and Hove recall hisspirit with eerie nostalgia: “DennisBrutus, the South African poetwhose back bears the scar of anapartheid bullet, lent a measureof revolutionary gravitas andhard-earned moral capital to theworkshop. When Brutus spoke orread his poems, his voice, thoughslightly enfeebled by age, still rangout with stunning range andpower.” (p11)

This book is severalconversations burning at once.The writer Yvonne A. Owuorstarts the conversations rolling ina piece she admits is a rant. It is arant pregnant with profound

gems. She questions why the Westglorifies its own wars with storiesof valor and views Africa’s warsas savage and barbaric, pointingout that there have been equallygory examples to draw from in theWest. Again, Chinua Achebe, inhis seminal volume of essaysHome and Exile, reminds us of theproverb: “Until the lions producetheir own historian, the story ofthe hunt will glorify only thehunter.” I agree. Africans musttell their own stories or risk thetotal annihilation of theirhumanity by the other. Weshould write about our ownhumanity, for war is about thesorting of individuals into bins ofidentity and differences and thehunting down of those anxietiesthat lurk behind ancestral masks.

This book is a defiant ode to thepower of the word and Hovecaptures it neatly: “Those yearsof war… gave me scars and smiles.Scars because real bullets piercedand tore apart the bodies of realwomen, children and men.Smiles, for, in the midst of deathand pain, I saw children, womenand men who proudly showedhuman resilience even in the faceof death as they fought for therestoration of their dignity.” (p38)

The last chapter, Reflections onInyenzi is an evocative essaybearing a conversation betweenthe writers Karin Samuel andAndrew Brown. Brown wrote thebook Inyenzi: A Story of Love andGenocide based on the Rwandangenocide. That chapter alone isworth the price of the book. Itbrings to great closure severalissues engaged by the otherwriters in the book. In simple,

almost clinical prose that flogs thereader’s conscience wide awake,the writers weave fascinatingimages of war and one is remindedof the starkness of images ofapartheid’s war housed in SouthAfrica’s Hector Pietersonmuseum.

This is a slim book bearingweighty reflections onconventional wars in Africa. Warsstill rage on in Africa, most of themwreaking havoc below the radarof our uncritical eyes. Every dayalien religions wake Africa up andrape her with impunity and sendher to bed sobbing inconsolably.Capitalism marches throughAfrica unchallenged reducing hermillions of victims to needysupplicants to the God of more andmore. We should reflect on whyAfrica is in this condition. The bookdoes not. It is not a criticism; a bookcan only do so much. Africa isenduring many wars and whilethis book focuses on conventionalwars, I propose that today’s mostdevastating wars are theunconventional. If we don’t focuson those we may be writing ourway to irrelevance. Why is theworld indifferent to the travails ofAfrica?

In the book, Lauryn Arnott’sdrawings are harrowing in theirdetail and they nicelycomplement the writing. But it isnot enough. In the age of theInternet, the book is dying a longslow death and it is no longer arobust medium for expressing thehorrors of war or the joys oftriumph over adversity. I dreamof creating a virtual museumdedicated to Africa’s suffering – atotal convergence of all media and Contd on page 30

The book cover

PEOPLESPEOPLESPEOPLESPEOPLESPEOPLESPOEM OFPOEM OFPOEM OFPOEM OFPOEM OF

THE WEEKTHE WEEKTHE WEEKTHE WEEKTHE WEEK

The sight of our departedheroes' footprints

Glittering on the goldenplaque of the seasonsCompelled our freshsearch for selfless

shepherdsTo lead us right into yet abetter time and season.

They came like raw goldswimming in the furnaceAnd sang like songbirdsbouncing in the cloudsOh, the sun rejoiced at

their angelic appearanceThe moon and the stars

desired their feigned glory.

We tendered our hearts asa red carpet before them

And ushered them into ourgolden national flowerbed

To learn from the scrolls ofour creative past heroesThe excellent articles ofselfless leadership and

governance

The destructive termitesterminated ourexpectations

And violated the sacredscrolls of our great heroes

pastAnd cast upon our weariednational shoulder blades

The triple yoke of ethnicity,theocracy and corruption

They twist our mothertongues and ruin our

brotherhoodThey spill our innocent

blood for the gods of theirmaking

They sprinted away ourgold in exchange for pure

povertyTheir bright days getbrighter and our dark

nights get darker.

Title: Termites inthe flowerbedBy Adeola Ikuomola

“Were my reasoning,imagination or interestnot engaged, I would notand could not learn.”–– Winston Churchill.

QQQQQUOUOUOUOUOTETETETETE

all voices singing with one earth-shaking voice of the horrors thatwe have seen and heard. And thegriots Ndibe and Hove would bethe leaders of that mother of allprojects.

Let’s accept someresponsibility. Owuor makes thisprofound observation: “This war,this violence is ours. Ours is thehateful thing – a roaming stainthat prowls through the societyand sows seeds of chaos – thatthing that appalls our within-ness. And horrifies us with theblood it wastes.” (p21) Howeverthe book is virtually silent on thecrucial question: Why are thingsthe way they are in Africa? Thereare many questions folded intothat question. What is it withAfrica and conflict? Why are weconstantly forced to question andjustify our humanity? What is therole of the writer in shaping eventsin today’s Africa? Why do some ofour writers turn Goebbels on thepeople? What is the best mediumfor forcing the people to focusbrightly on the fires that burn sofiercely all around Africa? Is thisgeneration of African writers self-absorbed and narcissistic andwhy? Has the African writerdeserted the role of the writer asthe land’s conscience, priest andtown-crier? We must seek answersto the why even though it mightfrighten us.

The Internet, that new worldthat holds the promise of liberationfrom hell on earth, is right nowbusily retrieving Africa’sbrightest and best minds fromAfrica and dumping them inEurope and America. Virtuallyall of Africa’s best thinkers arewriting about Africa from theoutside looking in. Thanks totechnology, sadly, this exodusincludes those writers whophysically live in Africa.

Hope Eghagha in his essayevokes the spirit of the poet-seerChristopher Okigbo using linesfrom Okigbo’s Hurrah for Thunder:

The smell of blood already floatsin the lavender-mist of the afternoon

The death sentence lies inambush along the corridors ofpower;

And a great fearful thing alreadytugs at the cables of the open air,

A nebula immense andimmeasurable, a night of deepwaters –

An iron dream unnamed andunprintable, a path of stone

This poem was written fourdecades ago; one could argue thatit seems prophetic today onlybecause the situation in Nigeriais heading South fast and thefuture is certainly frightening.But then the question is why thisconstancy of turmoil. Okigbowould not know; he wasmurdered by Nigerian troops onBiafran soil in a war he did not askfor. This book is one morecompelling proof that thesacrifices of Okigbo and otherAfrican thinkers hunted downand slaughtered for owning wordshave not been in vain. I saluteOkey Ndibe and Chenjerai Hove.

African writer.com

By Ikhide R. Ikheloa (Nnamdi)

BOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEW

PAGE 31PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Sweetened realitiesthat fade away

I was surprised today when Ilistened to the speechdelivered by Jose Miguel

Insulza in Cartagena. I thoughtthat the person who wasspeaking on behalf of the OASwould at least claim somerespect for the sovereignty ofthe peoples of this hemispherewhich were for years colonizedand cruelly exploited bycolonial powers.

Why didn't he say a singleword about the MalvinasIslands, or demand respect forthe sovereign rights of thesister nation of Argentina?

The Cartagena Summitwent through episodes that willnot be easily forgotten. It istrue that its celebrationrequired a huge effort. Despitethe several hours that haveelapsed since its inauguralsession, we have no idea of whatever happened during thelunch sponsored by Santos,with which he attempted tomake it up for the colossalamount of energy used up bythe participants in thatSummit.

Those who may find thisentertaining, will very seldomin their lives have theopportunity to watch the facesof more than thirty politicalleaders in front of the TVcameras since they got off thecar until the moment when,after the heroic and final effortof walking down a long andcarpeted corridor, theyclimbed up the ten or twelvelittle steps to the stage wherethe host, smiling and happy,awaited to greet them. It didn'tmatter whether they wereyoung or of age, or whetherthey had flat feet, kneecapsurgeries or difficulties in oneor both legs. They were forcedto keep on to the top. Whetherrich or poor, they werecompelled to observe theprotocol.

Curiously enough, Obamawas the only one who tookadvantage of that trajectoryto do some workout. As he waswalking all by himself, it waseasier for him to do so: headopted a sport-like pose andjogged up through the steps.

The women attending theSummit either as companionsor as Heads of State were theones who did it best. Onceagain they proved that theworld would be a far betterplace if they took care ofpolitical affairs. Perhaps therewill be fewer wars, althoughno one could be sure of that.

Anyone would say that,out of obvious politicalreasons, Obama was thefigure that caused the worstimpression in me. However,this was not the case. I saw hewas pensive and at times quiteabsent. It was like as if he weresleeping with open eyes. Noone knows how much rest hehad before arriving inCartagena, which Generals hespoke with, what problemswere on his mind; whether hewas thinking about Syria,Afghanistan, Iraq, NorthKorea or Iran. Quite certainly,of course, he was thinkingabout the elections, the TeaParty moves and Mitt

Romney's sinister plans. Atthe very last minute, shortlybefore the Summit, he decidedthat the contributions of therichest should account for atleast 30 per cent of theirincomes, like it used to bebefore the Bush junioradministration. This, ofcourse, would allow him toportray a clearer image of hissense of justice before theRepublican right.

But the real problem isthis: the enormous debtaccumulated by the federalgovernment, which exceeds15 trillion dollars anddemands no less than 5 trilliondollars in resources. The tax

to be imposed on the richestwill contribute around 50billion dollars in a period of tenyears, while the need formoney will increase to 5trillions. Therefore, he will bereceiving one dollar per every100 that are needed. Theseestimates can be made evenby an eighth grader.

We should remember verywell what Dilma Rousseffdemanded: "relations 'on equalterms' with Brazil and the restof Latin America."

"The Euro-zone hasresponded to the economiccrisis with a monetaryexpansion, thus provoking a'tsunami' that has led to an

appreciation of the Braziliancurrency and has damaged thecompetitiveness of the nationalindustry", she stated.

Those realities do not escapeDilma Rousseff, a capable andintelligent woman who knowshow to address them withauthority and dignity.

Obama, who is used tosaying the last word, knowsthat the Brazilian economy isemerging with an impressivestrength and that, inassociation with others likethose of Venezuela, Argentina,China, Russia, South Africaand others from Latin Americaand the world, will trace thefuture of the world'sdevelopment.

The biggest problem of all isto preserve peace from theincreasing risks of a war that,given the destructive power ofmodern weapons, would pushhumanity to the edge of anabyss.

I realize that the meetings inCartagena are taking a longtime and the sweetened realitiesare fading away. Nothing wassaid about the guayabera shirtspresented to Obama as a gift.Somebody will have tocompensate the Cartagenadesigner Edgar Gómez.

Fidel Castro Ruz former Cuban President

REFLECTIONReflections by Comrade Fidel

“Obama, who is used to saying the last word, knows that theBrazilian economy is emerging with an impressive strengthand that, in association with others like those of Venezuela,Argentina, China, Russia, South Africa and others from Latin

America and the world, will trace the future of the world'sdevelopment.

PAGE 32 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

ICC trials main threat to Kenyanpolls: electoral commission

Ethiopia PMaccuses Eritreaof kidnappings

Ethiopian Prime MinisterMeles Zenawi accusedEritrea yesterday of abducting

dozens of Ethiopian miners from thecountry's northwest, in a potentialescalation of tension between the arch-enemies.

Ethiopian troops crossed into theRed Sea state last month and attackedwhat they said were military basesused by rebels to stage raids, includinga January attack that killed fiveWestern tourists in Ethiopia's remoteAfar region.

These attacks were the first onEritrean soil that Ethiopia hasadmitted to since the end of adevastating 1998-2000 border war,sparking concern that theirunresolved frontier spat could escalateinto a full-scale war.

"They (Eritrean government)recently kidnapped more than 100young miners who were mining goldin our country's northwest. And in thenortheast, they killed some touristsand kidnapped others," Meles said, thelatter referring to the January raid.

"We have taken proportionalmeasures in both locations," he toldlawmakers in response to a questionon relations with Eritrea.

Meles did not specify when andexactly where the abductions in thecountry's northwest Tigray regiontook place, nor the measures hiscountry had subsequently taken.

Eritrean officials were notimmediately available for comment,but they often dismiss their rivals'allegations as a ploy to harm Eritrea'sreputation.

Ethiopia routinely accusesAsmara of supporting Ethiopianseparatist groups. It blamed an Afarrebel movement for the kidnappingof Westerners in its northern Afarregion in 2007, and again for theattack in the same area earlier thisyear.

Gunmen killed two Germans, twoHungarians and an Austrian in adawn attack on a group of tourists inthe remote Afar region on January17, and seized two Germans and twoEthiopians.

A rebel group in the Afar regionsaid in February it had freed the twoGermans, although there has been noofficial confirmation of the release.

After the border war, the Hague-based Eritrea-Ethiopia BoundaryCommission ruled that the flashpointtown of Badme belonged to Eritrea butthe village remains in the hands of itsneighbour, which is calling fornegotiations to implement the ruling.

Asmara blames the internationalcommunity for the impasse, andPresident Isaias Afewerki last monthaccused the United States of plottingthe Ethiopian raids.

Ethiopia is Washington's biggestally in the Horn of Africa region andhas deployed troops in lawless Somaliato fight al Qaeda-linked insurgents inSomalia.

The possible trial of Kenyanpoliticians for electionviolence is the biggest threat

for a repeat of unrest at next year'svote, the country's electoral headsaid, hoping reforms and newtechnology will ease a "pressurecooker" of tensions.

Next March's election will be the

first since a disputed poll in 2007that triggered a politically-fuelledethnic slaughter in which morethan 1,220 people were killed.

Any trouble in Kenya could hitinvestment, trade and transportin the east African economicpowerhouse's land-lockedneighbours, especially Rwanda

Kikuyu tribe members during post-election violence in Kenya, January 28, 2008.

Libya, Algeria leaders discuss Gaddafi familyLibya's interim leader said

yesterday that he andAlgeria's president have

agreed that the wife andchildren of late Libyan dictatorMuammar Gaddafi who arenow living in Algeria should notdo anything that threatensLibya.

Libya's Mustafa Abdel-Jalilarrived in Algeria on Sunday fora two-day visit and met withAlgerian President AbdelazizBouteflika in an effort to mendties strained by Algeria's closeties with Gaddafi.

Libyan rebels backed byNATO airstrikes overthrew

Gaddafi's regime in more thanseven months of fighting lastyear. The longtime leader wasfinally caught and executed byrebels in October.

Gaddafi's wife, daughter andtwo of his sons fled in Septemberand took refuge in Algeria.

His outspoken daughterAisha has spoken several timesto Arab media and denouncedLibya's new government. InNovember, she called onLibyans in an interview with aSyrian TV to overthrow theirnew rulers.

Abdel-Jalil said heappreciates "the humanitarian

position of Algeria in welcomingthe family," but added, "I remainconvinced Algeria would neverhost those who would pose athreat to Libya."

"We agreed what constitutesa threat to Libya, whether byfinancing or subversion, wouldnot have a place on Algerianterritory," he said in thestatement, reported by theAlgerian state news agency.

Abdel-Jalil also said the aimof the visit was to reinforce tiesbetween the two countries, andthat they discussed improvingsecurity on the borders.

Algeria's foreign minister

Mourad Medelci said there was a"strong political will" and a "clearvision" by the two countries todevelop bilateral cooperationand that the visit by Abdel-Jalilallows for the "opening of newhorizons."

Algeria has been very vocalin the past year over the threatof Libyan arms going tosmugglers and militants thatroam the Sahara desert in thesouth of the two countries.During Libya's civil war,weapons became readilyavailable in the country andmany were taken intoneighboring nations.

and Uganda, which rely onMombasa port for imports of food,consumer goods and fuel.

"As we move towards theelection, it will become a pressurecooker," said Ahmed Isaack Hassan,head of the Independent Electoraland Boundaries Commission(IEBC) that will oversee the vote.

"The issue of the InternationalCriminal Court (ICC) process maybring some tensions. This is the onlything which stands out, we haveto wait and see how it will impactthe elections."

Leading presidentialcontenders Uhuru Kenyatta, theformer finance minister and son ofKenya's founder president, andWilliam Ruto a former highereducation minister, face chargesof directing ethnic mobs to murderafter the 2007 election, along withother crimes against humanity.

The charges against Kenyatta,Ruto and two others have shakena country where the political elitewas once seen as almost above thelaw, and there is concern that, ifthe presidential hopefuls standtrial and are blocked from runningfor office, it may trigger freshviolence.

In January, the ICC orderedKenyatta, Ruto, radio presenterJoshua Arap Sang and the head ofthe civil service, FrancisMuthaura, to stand trial forinstigating the violence. The fourdeny the charges and haveappealed the ICC's right to trythem.

Kenyatta and Ruto have forgedan alliance against Prime MinisterRaila Odinga, who leads in the raceaccording to pollsters, to replaceoutgoing President Mwai Kibaki.

Sudan's parliament brandedSouth Sudan an "enemy"yesterday and called for a swift

recapture of a disputed oil-producingregion, as rising border tensionspushed the old civil war foes closer toanother full-blown conflict.

South Sudan, which secededfrom Sudan last July, seized thecontested Heglig oilfield lastTuesday, prompting its northernneighbor to vow to recapture thearea by "all means."

The oilfield is vital to Sudan'seconomy, producing about half ofthe 115,000 barrel-per-day outputthat remained in its control afterSouth Sudan's secession.

Addressing the Khartoumparliament, speaker AhmedIbrahim Al-Tahir accused theSouth's ruling party - the SudanPeople's Liberation Movement(SPLM) - of posing a security threat

to the north."We declare that we will confront

the SPLM until we end its rule of theSouth, and will work to gather ourresources to realize this aim," he said."We are in a battle that does notfinish with the recovery of Heglig,but with an end to the danger thatcomes from South Sudan."

The assembly went on to adopta resolution describing the SPLMgovernment as "an enemy," but itdid not spell out the full implicationsof the decision.

South Sudanese InformationMinister Barnaba MarialBenjamin called the decision"ludicrous." "How can they call usan enemy?" he said.

South Sudan insists Heglig isrightfully part of the South and saysit will not withdraw its troops unlessthe United Nations deploys aneutral force to monitor a cease-fire.

Sudan parliament calls South an “enemy”It accused Khartoum on Sunday

of reducing the oil facility "to rubble"in an air strike, an accusationdenied by Sudan.

"If any damage has occurred inHeglig it may have been on the partof the army of South Sudan,"

Sudanese Information MinisterAbdallah Ali Masar said.

Both sides regularly makeconflicting claims. Limited access tothe remote region makes it difficultto independently verify theirstatements.

Armed soldiers stand guard at Talodi in South Kordofan, about 50 kmfrom Sudan's ill-defined border with South Sudan.

PAGE 33PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Australia to end Afghan mission in 2013Australia has announced that

its troops will be withdrawfrom Afghanistan nearly a

year ahead of a previouslyscheduled 2014 withdrawal date.

Julia Gillard, the Australianprime minster, said on Tuesdaythat most of 1,550 remainingAustralian troops in Afghanistanwere expected to return home bythe end of 2013.

That timetable would see thelargest force provided by anynation outside of the NATO allianceleave the country a year ahead ofthe proposed December 2014withdrawal date for allinternational forces.

Australian forces had mainlybeen stationed in the centralUruzgan province, where theytrained an Afghan national armybrigade to take responsibility forsecurity in the province.

"This is a war with a purpose.This is a war with an end," Gillardsaid in a speech to the AustralianStrategic Policy Institute inCanberra.

"We have a strategy, a missionand a timeframe for achieving it."

The deaths of Osama bin Ladenand many of al Qaeda's seniorofficials, along with generalimprovements in security werecited as reasons for the acceleratedwithdrawal.

Gillard has said that she willtake the proposed timetable to aNATO summit on Chicago on May20 where she is also expected to signa partnership agreement withAfghan President Hamid Karzai.

Citing mid-2013 as a milestoneperiod for the international presencein Afghanistan, Gillard also saidthat she expected the AfghanPresident Hamid Karzai to make anannouncement on transition inUruzgan and other provinces in thecoming months.

Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith,reporting live from Kabul, saysGillard is "just pre-empting HamidKarzai" in his statement aboutwhich regions of the nation will behanded over to Afghan securityforces.

The prime minister said sheexpected the handover of thecentral province to Afghan forcesto take 12 to 18 months, at whichpoint, the Australian presence inAfghanistan "wll look very differentto that which we have today".

"We will have completed ourtraining and mentoring mission. ...And the majority of our troops willhave returned home", Gillard said.

Our correspondent said thatthough "it's theoretically possiblethat those Australian troops couldhave been deployed elsewhere tohelp the NATO efforts", the 1,500-strong Australian forces will largelysee their job as complete oncecontrol of Uruzgan has been handedover to Afghan forces.

Australia would considerkeeping some special forces soldiersin Afghanistan beyond 2014 andhelp fund the ongoing costs ofAfghan security forces, Gillard said.

"Australia has an enduringnational interest in ensuring thatAfghanistan does not again becomea safe haven for terrorists,'' Gillardsaid.

Opinion polls in Australia haveshown falling levels of support forthe country's presence inAfghanistan where 32 Australian

soldiers have died since a US-ledinvasion to overthrow the Talibanin 2001.

Some within the politicalopposition suggested the early

withdrawal was an attempt byGillard to boost support for herunpopular Labor Party.

"It would be a shameful thing if,after nearly 12 years of deployment

in Afghanistan and the loss of morethan 30 Australian lives, thismission was foreshortened forreasons of domestic politicalconvenience for the Labor Party

rather than on the basis of the adviceof the military commanders in thefield,'' opposition Senator GeorgeBrandis told Sky News ahead ofTuesday's announcement.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces plans for troops' exit a year before 2014 deadline forinternational withdrawal.

Aida Masayuki chats with a worker in front of an ice-cream machine for Japan market inside afactory in the township of Zhangan near Dongguan in the southern Guangdong province.

Two Palestinian prisoners have been refusing food for 50 days

“Made in Japan”engineers findsecond life inChina

Their technical skills helpedJapan's corporate giants sweepall before them in the 1980s, and

now thousands of ageing Japaneseengineers are finding a new lease of lifein booming China.

"My profession is going out ofbusiness in Japan," said 59-year-oldMasayuki Aida, who made molds for aTokyo-based firm for 30 years but hasspent most of his 50s in Dongguan, agritty manufacturing hub in southernChina's Pearl River Delta.

With the incessant noise of car hornsand a pervasive smell of chemicals, thedusty streets of industrial Dongguanare a far cry from Tokyo or Osaka.Construction sites dot the city whilebeggars clutching tin cans approachcars at every intersection.

For Aida and many like himnearing the national retirement age of60 the choice was simple - face a fewyears without an income as Japanraises the age at which employees gettheir pension or work for mainlandChinese and Hong Kong companies.

"People aren't making products inJapan anymore," said Aida, who makesmolds for goods ranging from toys andearphones to coffee machines. "I wantedto pass on to younger generations allthe knowledge and technology aboutmolds I had obtained."

Palestinianprisoners inmass hungerstrike

At least 1,200 Palestinianinmates of Israeli jails began anopen-ended hunger strike

yesterday as rallies across the occupiedterritories marked "Prisoners' Day".

As thousands gathered in townsand cities in both the West Bank andthe Gaza Strip, three-quarters of the4,700 Palestinians held by Israelbegan refusing food, the Israel PrisonsService (IPS) said.

"In the framework of (Palestinian)Prisoners' Day, around 2,300 securityprisoners said they were refusing theirdaily meals, and around 1,200prisoners said they were starting ahunger strike," IPS spokeswomanSivan Weizman said on Tuesday.

Another eight women inmateshad also said they were refusing foodas a show of solidarity with thePalestinian security prisoners,Weizman said.

"We have coped with hungerstrikes in the past and we are preparedto do so again now," she added.

Speaking to crowds gathered inthe northern West Bank city ofNablus, Qadura Fares, head of thePalestinian Prisoners Club, gave ahigher figure for the hunger strike,saying "1,500 prisoners from all thefactions" had joined it already andmore were expected to later in themonth.

PAGE 34 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

US to investigatesecret service scandalThe US Secret Service has

revoked the securityclearances of 11 agents

accused of hiring prostitutes on theeve of President Barack Obama'sweekend trip to the Americassummit in Colombia.

The agency in charge ofproviding protection for thepresident confirmed yesterdaythat it was investigating theallegations that its membersbrought prostitutes to theirCartagena hotel on Wednesday,near where the president was tostay.

Colombian police said five USmilitary service members werealso involved in the incident.

But Army Colonel ScottMalcom, a spokesman for USSouthern Command, said an

General Martin Dempsey, right, said the service members had let President Obama down

interim investigating officer whobegan working to collect evidence inthe case found information indicatingmore than five service members mayhave been involved.

The top US military officer,General Martin Dempsey, chairmanof the joint chiefs of staff, said that theservice members had let Obamadown by distracting attention fromhis meeting with Latin Americanleaders in Cartagena.

The alleged incident occurredbefore Obama arrived in Cartagena,but the news broke while he wasthere.

"We let the boss down becausenobody's talking about what went onin Colombia other than this incident,"Dempsey said at a news conferencewith Leon Panetta, the US defencesecretary.

"I can speak for myself and myfellow chiefs, we're embarrassedby what occurred in Colombia."

Panetta said General DouglasFraser, the head of SouthernCommand, had begun aninvestigation to determine thefacts of the incident.

Obama said on Sunday thathe expected a "rigorous"investigation into the allegedmisconduct.

"If it turns out that some of theallegations that have been madein the press are confirmed, thenof course I'll be angry," Obamasaid.

"We are representing thepeople of the United States, andwhen we travel to anothercountry, I expect us to observe thehighest standards."

Under-pressure Sarkozy denies hawking nuclearreactor to Gaddafi

a political salvo coming as theconservative Sarkozy battles invain to narrow Hollande's double-digit lead for a May 6 presidentialrunoff that will follow a first-round vote on Sunday.

"Allow me to tell you that ifthere is one head of state in theworld who has not associatedwith Mr. Gaddafi and who isresponsible for his departure andhis fate then that is me," Sarkozytold France Inter.

Sarkozy led the West'sintervention in Libya thathelped rebels end Gaddafi's 42-year rule, but back in 2007 hewelcomed the late dictator toParis and a December 2008cooperation agreement betweenthe two nations made availableto the media at the time providesfor the supply of nuclear

reactors.Sarkozy's aides have said

Lauvergeon was trying to settlescores and said that if she hadbeen witness to any misconductin her former post, she shouldhave reported it at the time.

President Nicolas Sarkozydenied yesterday anallegation by the former head

of French nuclear group Areva thathe had sought to sell a nuclearreactor to Libyan leader MuammarGaddafi until mid-2010.

"There was never any questionof selling a reactor to Mr. Gaddafi,"Sarkozy told France Inter radio, aweek after Anne Lauvergeon,Areva's chief executive until 2011,made the claim in an interview onthe website of L'Express lastTuesday.

Lauvergeon, known as "AtomicAnne", was a top aide to late SocialistPresident Francois Mitterrand andhas been tipped as a possibleminister in a future Socialistgovernment under FrancoisHollande.

Her allegation has been read as

Nicolas Sarkozy, France"s President and UMP candidate for the2012 French presidential election, delivers a speech at an electionrally, April 16, 2012.

Norway terroristdefends mass killingsThe man who has admitted

the mass killings of 77people in Norway last year

has told a court he acted out of"goodness, not evil" in order to"defend his country", and woulddo the same again.

Anders Behring Breivikbegan testifying yesterday onthe second day of his trial bycalling the July 2011 attacks inOslo and at a youth camp on theisland of Utoeya as "the mostsophisticated and spectacularpolitical attack committed inEurope since the Second WorldWar".

Dressed in a dark suit, Breivikonce again appeared to make afar-right salute as his handcuffswere removed inside thecourtroom.

Breivik's testimony andcross-examination are not beingbroadcast live, as earlier courtproceedings had been, amidconcerns that the defendantcould use the trial as a platformfor far-right views expounded ina more-than 1,500-pagedocument published online priorto the attack.

In that self-styled manifesto,Breivik described a trial asoffering "a stage to the world".

"These acts are based ongoodness, not evil," he said onTuesday, arguing that he hadacted to defend his countryagainst multiculturalism. "They(Norwegians) risk being aminority in their own capital intheir own country in thefuture."

Asked if he would carry outthe attacks again, Breivik said:"Yes, I would have done it again,because offences against mypeople ... are many times asbad."

Breivik claimed it was"critically important" that he begiven a chance to explain hismotives for the killings, butJudge Wenche ElisabethArntzen repeatedly interruptedhis testimony and urged him tokeep his statement short.

"You could see from the faces

of the relatives of the victims realpain and anguish while theylistened to him," said Al Jazeera'sJonah Hull, reporting from thecourthouse.

Proceedings were brieflyadjourned earlier as one of thejudges in the Oslo trial wasdismissed from the case after itemerged he had posted a commentonline at the time of the attackssuggesting the perpetrator shouldface the death penalty.

Lay judge Thomas Indreboe,one of five appointed to rule in thetrial, had posted to his Facebookpage that the death penalty wouldbe the "only just outcome" in thecase. Norway does not have thedeath penalty.

Lawyers on all sides hadrequested that Indreboe be takenoff the trial.

Breivik is being tried by a panelof two professional judges and threelay judges, who are local politiciansappointed for four-year terms andparticipating on an equal basis indeciding guilt and sentencing.

The system is designed to letordinary people have a role in theNorwegian justice system, thoughthe lead judge still runs the trial.

Breivik is accused over thedeaths in July 2011 of eight peoplein a car bombing in Oslo and 69others on the island of Utoeya -mainly youths attending asummer camp organised by thegoverning Labour Party - who hesaid he targeted because he opposedmulticulturalism promoted by theparty.

The trial is expected to focus onwhether or not Breivik is criminallysane and therefore accountable forhis actions.

A first court-ordered psychiatricexam found him insane, while asecond opinion came to the oppositeconclusion.

If the court decides he iscriminally insane, he will becommitted to psychiatric care; if heis judged to be mentally stable, hecould be sentenced to 21 years inprison, which could subsequentlybe extended if he was stilldeemed to pose a threat.

Sarkozy has been poundingHollande for months over hisagreement with the Greens partyto reduce France's dependency onnuclear power if the left wins theelection and has visited nuclearsites to underline his support for the

Spain and Argentina in oil row clash

Spain has summonedArgentina's ambassador inMadrid for talks as tensions

rise in a dispute over control of aSpanish-owned oil company.

The move yesterday came aday after Argentine PresidentCristina Fernandez de Kirchnerunveiled plans to seize control ofthe country's biggest oil companyYPF, owned by Spain's Repsol.

Repsol shares fell sharplyduring trading on Tuesday,sinking by more than eight per centin Madrid.

Antonio Brufau, the Repsol YPFSA president, told reporters thatthe company would mount a legalfight against the plan to seizecontrol of YPF. He also accused theArgentine government oflaunching the move in a bid to toquell rising unrest at home.

Kirchner had "carried out anunlawful act and made unlawfulcharges after a campaign aimedat knocking down YPF shares andallowing expropriation at abargain price," Brufau said, adding"This battle is not over."

Kirchner's announcement alsodrew swift warnings from key tradepartners who said that relationswith Buenos Aires would bedamaged by the move.

"If this policy continues -

draining fields dry, no explorationand practically no investment - thecountry will end up having noviable future, not because of a lack ofresources but because of businesspolicies"

Jose Manuel Barroso, theEuropean Commission president,said on Tuesday he expectedArgentina to upholdinternational agreements onbusiness protection with Spain.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012 PAGE 35

Making up for lost time: 34-year-old virgin becomesfather of 82 after launching free ‘baby making’ service

Dutchman Ed Houben,42, sleeps with around15 childless women a

month Had 45 girls and 35 boysin nine years but doesn't knowsex of other two a man whostayed a virgin until the age 34has become a father of 82 in thespace of just nine years and hehas another ten children on theway.

Dutchman Ed Houben, 42,sleeps with around 15 childlesswomen a month in a bid to maketheir quests to become mothers areality.

He is understood to be themost prolific professionalbabymaker in the world - andwhat he does is all legal.

He has sown his seed aroundthe globe but usually waits forwomen to come to him these days

Personal services: Dutcham Ed Houben has fathered 82 childrensince becoming a professional baby maker

Strike rate: Mr Bouden gives 80per cent of the females he hassex with a child

Baby maker: But at the age of 34 Mr Houden was a shy virgin still living with his mother

Girlfriend reveals how she watched in horror asboyfriend slit his throat while speaking on Skype

A distraught girlfriend toldtoday how she watched inhorror as her partner killed

himself in front of her - 7,000 milesaway over the internet on Skype.

Speaking for the first time aboutthe horrific experience JulieZalinksi told how Adrian Rowland,her boyfriend of two-and-a-halfyears slashed his throat and wrists.

at his home in Maastricht,although he still makesexceptions if his partners areentering a particularly fertileperiod. Provided they pay histravelling expenses andaccommodation.

His 'family' lives in cities likeBerlin - three children - and inHolland, Italy, Spain, Belgium,France and even New Zealand.The eldest is now nine while theyoungest is two months old.

He began donating sperm tolocal clinics. Then he found therewas a market for procreation thenatural way and he has neverlooked back.

Spermaspender.de. inGermany is one of the websites

he uses to connect with childlesswomen desperate to conceive.

They know Ed has a goodpedigree; he gives 80 per cent ofthe females he has sex with achild.

All his partners must submitmedical records showing they aredisease and drug free while hereciprocates.

Included in his paperwork is asemen analysis known as a'spermiogram' that shows he is thereal deal a sperm count of lessthan 20 million shows thepotential donor is 'not a goodprospect.'

The prospects are increasedfor sperm counts of 80 to 100million.

Houben's count is 100 million.'I don't fire blanks!' he joked.

Sperm banks generallycharge around four to fivethousand pounds forinseminations. Ed does it for free.

He gets his partners to signdocuments waiving legal claimsto child support; but experts saythese would be invalid in thehands of a good lawyer.

'If all the mothers decided tosue him for maintenance hewould be paying them off for therest of this life, and the next,' saidone German family lawyer.

He has sired 45 girls and 35boys. Two of the the brood hedoesn't know the sex of becausethe mothers won't tell him.

'My girlfriend says that whatI do only makes me moreinteresting,' he told Germany'sDer Spiegel magazine. 'She'scoming to visit again soon.' Buthe hasn'rt managed to make herpregnant yet.

suffering what the coronerdescribed as a 'major mental crisis.'

'He said there were people in theroom that weren't there,' said histraumatised partner.

'I just kept reassuring him thatnobody was there and that I washere for him. I told him that I wasn'tgoing to leave him and would gethelp to him.'

A friend of Ms Zalinksi's arrivedat her home near Reading, Berks.,and with her help Mr Rowlandinitially appeared to calm down.

'He then just started to drift toanother place again and just got up,'said Ms Zalinksi.

'He started bashing everythingaround in his flat. He walked intothe kitchen, grabbed a glass andsmashed it on the table - then stuckit straight into his neck.

'At that point myself and myfriend just looked at one another andran from the bedroom where thecomputer was and didn't sayanything to one another. Wecouldn't believe what we had justseen.'

Adrian, who had previouslybeen employed as a manager at theFormula One racing firm, JordanGrand Prix, had gone to India somethree weeks earlier as a self-employed consultant in theautomotive industry.

Horror: Julie Zalinksi leavesOxford County Hall following theinquest into the death of herpartner. Adrian Rowland's bestfriend, Michael Pepper, right,said : 'He really loved Julie andshe really loved him. He was thehappiest he had ever been'

She told how he was emotionalwhen he left but that he was goingout there to enable him to build afuture for them back in the UK.

'He was very well thought of outthere and was well looked after,' saidMs Zalinksi.

'But he really missed his boysand didn't like being away from theUK and me.'

The day before his death, MsZalinksi told Oxford CoronerNicholas Gardiner, Mr Rowlandhad behaved 'strangely' telling herover Skype that he could not talk ashe had people over for dinner.

She was initially pleased thathe was socialising but this turnedto worry when he indicated thatshe was being rude because hisguests were already there.

Family man: Mr Rowland hadthree children with his ex-wife 'Hereally missed his boys and didn't likebeing away from the UK and me,'said Ms Zalinksi

Miss Zalinksi told how MrRowland indicated that his guestswere already seated at the emptydining table behind the computercamera.

However, she later receivedloving text messages from him andfelt reassured.

The next morning he was'hysterical' when she first saw himon Skype, screaming that she wouldnever see him again.

Police constable Victoria Blaszkoarrived Ms Zalinksi's home with acolleague and was confronted with

the grainy Skype image of Adrianwith a serious wound to his neck.

She told how her colleagueconvinced him to wrap a tea towelaround his neck, while she assistedthe force control room with thechallenging task of raising thealarm in India.

The coroner heard that MrRowland was talking over theinternet throughout, to the officersin Ms Zalinksi's flat, but he was notmaking much sense.

She could only watch helplesslyfor more than 10 hours as AdrianRowland died from his wounds inIndia where he was abroad onbusiness.

Panic-stricken she alerted theUK police who managed to contactthe local authorities in Delhi butthey were unable to help the 53-year-old after he refused to open hisfront door.

An inquest today heard thatlaws in India prevented the localpolice and paramedics fromsmashing their way into MrRowland's flat and saving his life.

Instead he slowly bled to deathin front of Ms Zalinksi's eyes as shebegged with her lover to get the helphelp.

Today Ms Zalinksi told how thetragedy unfolded on the fatefulmorning of Sunday November 27last year, after she managed tocontact him over the internet onSkype.

'He was just in a complete state,'said a tearful Ms Zalinksi from thewitness stand.

'He was sweating profusely andhis eyes were just staring.

'He kept saying 'they are goingto get me, they are going to get me'.'

She told the inquest in Oxfordhow she tried to calm him downbut he became more agitated after

PAGE 36 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Curry spice ‘lowers risk ofheart attack after surgery’

The curry spice turmericmay help ward off heartattacks in people who have

had recent bypass surgery,according to a study.

Curcimins - the yellowpigment in turmeric - is knownfor having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Bypass surgery is performedto improve the blood supply tothe heart muscle. However,during the operation the organcan be damaged by prolongedlack of blood flow, increasing thepatient’s risk of heart attack.

The new findings suggestthat curcumins may ease thoserisks when added to traditionaldrug treatment.

The results need to beconfirmed in further research,said Wanwarang Wongcharoenfrom Chiang Mai University inThailand.

Turmeric extracts have longbeen used in traditional Chineseand Indian medicine.

Research has suggestedinflammation plays animportant role in thedevelopment of a range ofdiseases, including heart disease,and curcumins could have aneffect on those pathways, saidBharat Aggarwal, who studiesthe use of curcumins in cancertherapy at the MD AndersonCancer Center in Houston, Texas.

‘It’s very, very encouraging,’said Aggarwal of the study.

The researchers studied 121patients who had non-emergency bypass surgery attheir hospital between 2009 and2011 .

Half of those patients weregiven one-gram curcumincapsules to take four times a day,

A father is able to stop his daughter Julia crying by using the '5 S's' technique

starting three days before theirsurgery and continuing for fivedays afterwards. The other halftook the same number of drug-free placebo capsules.

The researchers found thatduring their post-bypass hospitalstays, 13 per cent of patientswho’d been taking curcumins hada heart attack, compared to 30per cent in the placebo group.

After accounting for anyinitial pre-surgery differences,Wongcharoen and his colleaguescalculated that people oncurcumins had a 65 per centlower chance of heart attack.

Researchers said it’s likelythat the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties ofcurcumins may have helpedlimit heart damage in thepatients.

‘Curcumin has for manyyears now been shown to reduceinflammation and to reduceoxygen toxicity or damagecaused by free radicals in anumber of experimentalsettings,’ commented JawaharMehta, a cardiologist at theUniversity of Arkansas forMedical Sciences.

‘But that doesn’t mean thatthis is a substitute formedication,’ he said, noting thatdrugs like aspirin, statins andbeta blockers have been provento help heart patients and peoplein the current study were taking

Patients given an extract from turmeric (pictured) had a 65% lower risk of heart attack than thosegiven a placebo in a study

those as well.One limitation was that the

study was relatively small.Another is that while curcuminsare thought to be safe, there

could be side effects at very largedoses.

‘Taken in moderation or usedin cooking, (curcumins) arequite useful. But I wouldn’t go to

a health food store and starttaking four grams of curcumina day, as was done in this study,’Mehta said.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Swaddle, side, shush, swing and suck: How the‘5 S’s’ really DO stop your newborn from cryingIt’s a question that has

perplexed many a newparent - how to calm your

baby when they are having acrying fit?

Dr Harvey Karp and author ofthe book ‘The Happiest Baby onthe Block’, believes he has theanswer.

He calls it the ‘5 S’s’, whichinvolves swaddling the baby in a

blanket, putting them in a side-on position, making shushingsounds, swinging them andgiving them a pacifier to suck.

This works, he told Msnbc, byreplicating a womb environment.

What is more his theory hasbeen successfully tested in amedical trial and found to beextremely effective at soothingbabies after receiving essential

jabs. Dr John Harrington was

inspired after seeing a lecture onthe subject given by Dr Karp.He decided to test it at theChildren’s Hospital of the King’sDaughters in Virginia where heworked.

He split a group of 230infants who were due vaccinesinto four groups. One group was

given water while a second groupwas given sugar water beforethe getting the jab. The thirdgroup were only given the ‘5 S’s’after their shot while the fourthgroup received a sugar dosebeforehand and the ‘5 S’s’ after.

Dr Harrington and the teamfound the babies who received thesugar solution, which is standardpractice, were still crying morethan two minutes after getting the

Shushing must be a loudcontinuous noise, while swaddlingshould be tight to make the babyfeel secure, he said.

He noted that the calmingreflex wore off over time and wasless effective in four-month oldbabies than it was in two-month-olds.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Dr Harvey Karp designed his baby calmingtechnique by recreating the experience ofthe womb

injection. However,most of the babies whohad the physicalintervention stoppedby 45 seconds.

Dr Harringtonsaid: ‘By a minute,nobody was crying ofmaking any sort of fussat all.’

But keen parentswho want to use thetechniques at homemust be prepared topractice.

Dr Karp toldMsnbc: ‘Parents domany of these thingsintuitively, but theymay not be doingthem correctly.

‘You have to dothem (5 S’s) exactlyright, or they don’twork.’

PAGE 37PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

You were recentlyinaugurated as theChairman Transition

Management Committee (TMC)for Nasarawa LocalGovernment Area of Nasarawastate, how do you see the officeso far?

It’s very challenging but suchis to be expected. The challenges areof course surmountable, especially,after taking stock of what is onground. Though what I have seenis not encouraging but the will isthere. One of the first things that Iwill have to tackle immediatelyafter taking charge is to address theissue of staff morale. To help metowards that, I shall embark on thetotal renovation of the localgovernment secretariat, for as it isnow, the structure housing the localgovernment secretariat iscompletely dilapidated. Staff don’tcome to work because they don’thave functional offices. A section ofthe secretariat was indeed builtduring the native authority, backin the late 60s. The wing housingthe office of the Chairman was alsobuilt around 1990 and since thenit has not gotten adequate attentionin terms of renovation and propermaintenance, with the wholesecretariat being dilapidated. Eventhe Chairman’s office where I haveto carry out my work, is dilapidated.So one of the things that I have to doto put things back on track is to tidyup the secretariat so as to encouragethe workers to appropriately carryout their responsibilities.

The local government is thetier of government where it isexpected that the people at thegrass root experience whatbenefit that comes from policyinitiations from both the federaland state governments. Do youthink, with you now in charge ofNasarawa local governmentarea, the local government isproperly positioned to carry outthis constitutional mandate?

The fact is that previousadministrations both at the stateand local government levels,seemed to lack the political will tomake the local government workto the benefit of the people at thegrass root. One thing I have

The local government system is the hotbedof corruption, says Nasarawa TMC chairman

Ayuba Wandai

observed was that funds meant forprojects that could positively affectthe lives of the people, werediverted. Local governmentproperties are sold to senior staff ofthe council at will. Like inNasarawa, we have issues with theWomen Development Centre,which have been sold, like we havebeen told, in controversialcircumstances. We have the GRA,land for the low cost housingscheme for staff also sold, evenschool land have also being carvedand sold. We are poised to bringchange though. Even the revenueprofile of the council is near zero.We have been doing things to makethings work, like so far, we havedissolved the Revenue Board,; wehave dissolved the Foundation TaskForce, we are going to inauguratenew ones shortly and we are alsogoing to inaugurate committees toverify liabilities inherited becausewhen we keep quiet on suchliabilities, it could mean acceptance.So we are going to verify theseliabilities, ranging from staffclaims, which we will pay whenfunds are available. Some of theseclaims appear bogus though, so wehave to verify them. Especially thatonly senior staff of the council areaffected, with no single junior staffmaking a claim. There are so manythings requiring verification, likeclaims by contractors for non-existent projects. We are poised toensure that we do our best. Weintend to construct roads,undertake rural electrification,provide water supply to remotecommunities, build bridges andculverts in communities that haveneeds for such projects. We areseriously tackling security issues

and a lot more are on the way.You mentioned security,

Nasarawa LG, in the recent past,have experienced series of crisisinvolving youth restiveness.How do you intend to tackleyouth restiveness in yourdomain?

The fact is that, from myunderstanding, it is not good for theyouths to take the law into theirhands. But one thing is clear, whenthere is glaring injustice in thesystem, some people are bound torise up against such treatment. Nasarawa is an enlightenedcommunity, because we have theFederal Polytechnic and the elitesare well educated, they alwayswant to fight for their rights, butthe good thing is that, they are nowhappy with what the governor,Umaru Tanko Al-makura, is doingand the only thing we will do is tomake them understand with us isto key in to what he is trying to dofor the state.

Coming from privatepractice where the view is thatpolitical office holders arecorrupt and now that you are ingovernment, has thatperspective change?

It has not changed! The fact isthat, the local government systemstill remains the hotbed ofcorruption. You must know whatit takes to halt the drift. Like now, I

have settled down fast and haveunderstood the enormity of thechallenge ahead. I just have to be incharge, making sure thateverybody is doing the right thing.But the fact is that, majority of theworkforce at the council level, desireto see change, they want to have asense of pride in what they do. Thelocal government council is onesystem where you find a superiorofficer holding on to the workschedule of five of his subordinatesdown the ladder, which is mostunfortunate and also bad for thesystem. Because one climbs throughthe ladder in the service, you findout that when your superiors holdon to your schedule and don’t allowyou do your work, the service suffersfor your lack of experience. Your levelcontinue to appreciates from yearsof service but you lack theappropriate work skills because ofredundancy. The only thing workerslearn fast at the council level iscorruption. Once he has theopportunity, he says okay, now is mytime and everybody watches whilesuch a person accumulates wealthto the detriment of the people. I amnot going to allow that during mytime, I have categorically told allthose involved to allow every staffkeep his or her schedule. If we giveyou a schedule and you don’tperform, we take it away and give itto he who can do the work. Result iswhat matter but a situation wherebysome people take advantage of thesystem to make money will not beallowed. Then again, some superiorofficers have perfected the habit ofhiding files they obtained from theopen registry, which they keeppermanently only to make availablewhen they want to remove orsmuggle in something. This iswrong. You see those of us comingfrom the private sector, we do thingsmore tidier, may be because of profitmaximisation. What I want to bring

now at the council level, is tointroduce result oriented policies, tobring proactive strategies, to try tomake everybody supportgovernment in line with whatgovernment is trying to do for them.Of course a greater percentage ofthe populace wants to see changes. Iwant to decentralize myadministration, decentralize thespread of projects as I intend toevenly spread projects across myarea of jurisdiction. I will first cometo grasp with the pressing needs ofvarious communities and wherewe could not entirely eliminatesuch problems, we will of coursealleviate such.

As a lawyer, what is youradvice on how to make the localgovernment system moreefficient?

A lot of people will want to talkabout abolishing the joint account,all this and that. One thing I knowis that, joint account or no jointaccount, is not really the case, oncethe will to deliver is there. Oncefunds meant for project are notdiverted, I don’t think there issomething wrong with the LG law,to my thinking it is even fraudulentthis clamour for amending the law.The laws that are in place now areenough to make the councilsproductive, even though somesections of the law need to be updatedto catch up with present realities. Itis of course imperative to revisitlaws that are up to 50 years old oreven native authority laws thatare still part of the LG laws. But Istill believe that running thesystem and making it productiveis not really an issue of the law.

Governor Al-makuraappointed educated young menlike you in various positions tohelp him translate his vision forthe state, what is your take onthis?

Of course, it is a good thing hedid by appointing young men tohelp him as he build the state. Ifyou look back at history, theAwolowos, Ezikiwes, TafawaBalewas, etc, they all made theirmarks as young men. Young menare vibrant, energetic and theyknow what it takes. Putting someyoung men together and mixingthem with more experiencedpersons, will give the chance forthem to learn the ropes and fast. Ifeel challenged because as a youngman, I want to leave a legacy,young men have the capacity todeliver. It is glaring now that thefirst governor of Nasarawa statehas arrived, what we have beenmissing previously is capableleadership. With barely a year inoffice, what Al-makura has so farachieved has surpassed thecumulative administrations ofprevious governments. So in fouryears, Nasarawa state will be areference point in Nigeria. Of coursehe needs our support and prayersas he continues to take our state togreater heights.

INTERVIEW

Ayuba Wandai was recently appointed byGovernor Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawastate, as Transition Management Committee(TMC) Chairman of Nasarawa Local GovernmentArea. In this interview with our correspondent inNasarawa state, Ali Abare Abubakar, thegraduate of law who before his appointment wasa grass-root politician and an Abuja based legalpractitioner, bared his mind on what he saw onground on his assumption of office and more.Excerpts:

“The local government council is onesystem where you find a superior officerholding on to the work schedule of fiveof his subordinates down the ladder,

which is most unfortunate and also badfor the system

PAGE 38 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

National leader of theAction Congress ofNigeria (ACN) and

former governor of Lagos state,Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,yesterday insisted that until truefederalism is established inNigeria, the future of the countrywould not be assured.

Speaking at the openingceremony of the Annual LawWeek 2012 of the Ikeja Branch ofthe Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) with the theme,"Federalism and the Rule ofLaw:The Twin Compass to OurBest Future', Tinubu, who wasrepresented by the Osun StateGovernor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola,said unless true federalism isestablished the problem ofNigeria would mount withoutsolution.

Tinubu said, "The way inwhich we govern ourselves willremain our very worst enemyand highest obstacle.

Federalism is not just shiftingmoney from one pot to anotherin Abuja. It is about empoweringstate and local government towork for the people they know andwho know them. If we can developthis federalism, it will enrich ourlives in practical yet profoundways.

"Those dangerous roads willbe more quickly and betterpaved. Travel will become less ofan invitation to death.

"Cost of goods will shrink.Those ramshackle schools will bereduced and our students willreceive improved educations.

"Federalism is aboutprogrammes for local jobs growthand creation so more young

True federalisminevitable, Tinubu tells FGFrom Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

people will be more optimistic andless prone to despair, alienationand enacting eventfulcriminality by forcibly takingthose things an uncaring societyrefused to give."

The former governor whoargued that the cardinal aspect ofthe call for federalism is a moreequitable allocation of revenue

towards state and localgovernments, said the federalgovernment is the sole issuer inNigeria.

He frowned at the federalgovernment's attempt to cut therelationship between the stateand local governments in thecountry even as he added that thefederal government's plot would

The Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives, AlhajiAminu Tambuwal, on

Monday in Abuja pledged thesupport of the National Assembly(NASS) to the development of theAviation sector.

Tambuwal gave the pledge at aone-day meeting of stakeholders inthe aviation industry.

Represented by Mr Nkeiruka

NASS pledges support to aviation sectorOnyejeocha, the Chairman, HouseCommittee on Aviation,the Speaker said that the Housewould partner with stakeholders inthe sector to achieve thedevelopmental agenda of the sector.

“In partnership and increase offunds, NASS is ready to support thesector in all areas, in terms oflegislation, and in helping you tomeet people.

“We want you to know thatNASS is in support of this sector,but no matter our efforts, you can’tput aside safety and passengerssatisfaction.

“Therefore, we want theministry to stand on its feet inmaking sure that all airlinescomply with safety rules, becausepassengers are the bedrock of theindustry, while the stakeholdersshould promote good services.

“We must ensure thatNigerians are not been exploitedunnecessarily by any means, wemust stand firm that Nigerians arenot been shortchanged at all timesand I believe we will make goodsuccess in the long run’’, Tambuwasaid.

Earlier, Sen Hope Uzodinma,the Chairman, Senate Committeeon Aviation commended theMinistry for the renovation worksgoing on in some airports in thecountry.

He urged the stakeholders tosupport the initiative and shuncorruption, to ensure that thesector achieved its aims, saying“there is no minister who can

achieve success in the midst ofcorruption”.

Ms Ann Ene-Ita, the PermanentSecretary, Ministry of Aviation, saidthe meeting was aimedat articulating ways for the rapidtransformation of theaviation sector.

“As we strive to attract foreigninvestments to make Nigeria atourism destination of the world,particularly in the Africa region, theaviation industry will continue torequire the state of the art and worldclass facilities.

“This is with a view to providingdelightful and memorable airportexperience to air travellers.

“The development of the sectorin all its ramifications has beenabandoned for long, resulting ininfrastructure decay, poorinvestment flow, avalanche ofchallenges facing the industryregulators, airline operators andproviders of ancillary services.

“The task before us is to buildthe much needed synergy betweenthe private and public sector andforge a common vision for thesector,’’ Ene-Ita said.

make local government beholdento Abuja for survival.

"This is an illogical andcounterproductive system ofmanagement that must beavoided if we are to avoid the wasteof finite resources and time.

"Moreover, it is a politicalsleight-of-hand to weaken thosestate governments controlled bythe opposition parties.

"The plan is an attempt to pullthe rug from under oppositionstate governments by allowingthe ruling party in Abuja to gainfinancial remote control of thelocal structures that underlinestate institutions."

Tinubu recommendeddramatic improvement in thenation's security bydecentralizing the police force.

"We need to make policing andsecurity more effective bydecentralizing the police force.Control of the police needs to beplaced in the state.

"This way, the police will bemore responsive and moreknowledgeable about their area ofoperation."

Earlier in his welcomeaddress, Ikeja NBA Chairman,Adebamigbe Omole said, theformation of any system ofgovernment is influenced byfactors of political expediency,geopolitical and socio-culturalconsideration among others.

According to Omole, "Variousagitations by different ethnicnationalities and groups areevidence of the fact that there is asystemic failure of our structure,we cannot but do the needful toput the country on a sound footingfor us to have the country of ourdream where peace and economicprosperity will reign.

Lawyersdescribe asbelatedINEC’s planto prosecute2011 electionoffenders

Some Lagos lawyers havedescribed as belated, thedecision by the

Independent ElectoralCommission (INEC) to prosecuteoffenders in the 2011 election.

The lawyers, who spokewith the News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) in Lagos, saidthe pronouncement by thechairman of INEC Board ofElectoral Institute, Prof. LaiOlurode, was a big joke.

NAN reports that Olurodewas recently quoted as sayingthat one million Nigerians,majority of them from Bauchi,Zamfara, Gombe and Bayelsa,who committed variouselectoral offences in 2011,would be tried.

A lawyer, Mr SamNwachukwu, said it was a bigjoke as, according to him, INEChad disappointed manyNigerians in their performancebefore and during the elections.

“INEC disappointed manyNigerians who hoped for acredible election process. Thevoters‘ registration exercisewas characterised byshortcomings that INEC failedto address.

“Prosecuting people for thelaxity created by one’scarelessness is totallyunacceptable,’’ he said.

Another lawyer, MrsJennifer Akintola, said thatthe number of people INECplanned to prosecute was anevidence of unseriousness.

“The 2011 election was farbelow the expectation ofmany Nigerians.

“Many candidates whowere declared winners havehad their victories nullifiedby tribunals.

“An average Nigerianbelieves that his vote doesn’tcount. INEC cannot redeemits image by prosecuting onemillion Nigerians. We cannotbe fooled,’’ she said.

In his remark, Mr SegunAyelabola, also a lawyer,advised INEC to startpreparing for the 2015elections in order to makenecessary improvements onthe shortcomings notice inprevious elections.

“This is not what we shouldbe talking about. INEC shouldbegin preparations for theforthcoming elections.

“Nigerians are tired ofshoddy electoral processes.We don’t want a repeat ofprevious mistakes. Let ushave credible elections,’ ’ hesaid.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Sen. Hope Uzodinma

PAGE 39PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

The Independent NationalElectoral Commission(INEC) has requested the

National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) to post more lawyers toits offices to assist it in theprosecution of some categoriesof electoral offenders.

The Kogi State INECResident ElectoralCommissioner, Mr OlusegunAgbaje, made the request inLokoja on Tuesday while on acourtesy visit to thestate Coordinator of the NYSC,Mr Frank Ekpunobi.

He further requested thatsuch lawyers must begraduates of the country’s lawschool.

Agbaje said the schemeplanned to arraign 5, 896persons in the state foralleged multiple registrationand other offences during thelast nationwide registration .

He said that the only

INEC requests NYSC for more lawyers to prosecute electoral offenceslawyer posted by the NYSC tothe Lokoja office this year hadnot been to the law school.

The INEC boss, however,lauded the NYSC for supportingthe INEC during the April 2011elections and called on thoseagitating for the scrapping ofthe scheme to have a rethink.

He said that preparationsfor the 2015 general electionswould commence earlier thanscheduled, adding that INECwould rely on the partnershipwith the NYSC to better its2011 performance.

A g b a j e a l s ocommended corps membersthat participated in the pastelections in the state, stressingthat they had proved thatNigeria would continue toremain as an indivisible entity.

Responding, Ekpunobidescribed the partnershipbetween the NYSC and INEC asa sacred call to national duty,

saying that the collaborationhad come to stay.

On INEC’s request for moreNYSC lawyers, the coordinatorpromised that more lawyerswould be posted to the Lokojaoffice of \INEC “without muchdelay”.

The INEC Commissioneralso paid a similar visit to thestate Director of the NationalOrientation Agency, ChiefIbikule Medubi.

He told the NOA chief thatthe commission would soonstart its voter educationcampaign from amongsecondary school pupils andartisans in the state.

Agbaje said that the essenceof that was to minimiseviolence during election andreduce the number of voidedvotes as witnessed during the2011 elections.

He thanked the NOA for itssupport and cooperation to the

L-R: Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman of Oredo Local Government, PaMatthais Ogunsuyi, and PDP South- South Youth Leader, Mr. Ralph Usuomon, during the decamping of 26 PDP leaders and their supportersto Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), yesterday in Benin City.

INEC and urged theorganisation to enhance suchrelationship to ensuresuccessful voter education.

Receiving the visitor,Medubi pledged thecommitment of NOA to INEC toenhance the quality of electionsin the state and the country ingeneral .

At the NNS Lugard NavalBase Command in Lokoja, theINEC Commissionercommended officers and men ofthe command for providingeffective security during thelast elections.

The Commander,Commodore InnocentYinfaowei, said that his men didtheir best during the election,especially in Ibaji LocalGovernment Area noted for itsdifficult terrain.

He promised the command’scontinued maximumcooperation to INEC in futureelections.

PDP chieftainurges media,public to resolvesecurity challenges Adamawa state chapter

of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)

has condemned commentsemanating from somequarters suggesting thatthere was a friction betweenAdamawa-born NationalChairman of the party, AlhajiBamanga Tukur and theparty structure in the state.

State Chairman of theparty Umaru MijinyawaKugama stated this shortlyafter he was inaugurated toserve a second term alongside

Adamawa PDP fetes Bamangahis twenty-eight-memberExco by the National ViceChairman (Northeast) of theparty Senator MohammedLawan Girgir and 14 othernational officials.

Kugama who was breakingthe silence for the first timesince Tukur's emergence asthe National Chairman of theparty even after the zonevoted against him at theparty's zonal primary inBauchi state described thecomments as "condemnable,malicious, devilish anduncalled for."

"We are sure that the

national chairman who is arespectable elderly man willnot trouble us, and we do alsoon our part would not troublehim; I believe we'll both mindour business and I can assureyou everything will be fine."Kugama stated.

He also noted that the crisisexperienced in the party wasnormal because of the size ofthe PDP which he described asone big family. He thereforeurged all aggrieved membersto follow the proper channels

in lodging their complaintsand grievances.

Peoples Daily learnt the

Girgir led team had so farinaugurated the EXCOs ofBorno and Yobe states andwould be proceeding to Tarabaafter the Adamawa exercise.

Girgir dismissedspeculations making therounds that the Adamawastate PDP executive would bedissolved adding that nopetition has been receivedfrom any quarter and saidTuesday's inauguration was asign that the nationalheadquarters of the partyrecognises Kugama and hiscouncil as the party'srepresentatives in Adamawa.

Governor AbiolaAjimobi of Oyo statehas commiserated

with his Ekit i s tatecounterpart , Dr. KayodeFayemi, over the death ofhis mother, Mrs. DorcasAina Fayemi, at the age of8 3 .

Aj imobi , in a statementissued on yesterday inIbadan by his SpecialAdviser on Media,

Dr. Festus Adedayo,described the demise of thematriarch of the Fayemidynasty as a great loss to thef a m i l y .

“Mama was a devoutChrist ian, a shiningexample of humil i ty andphilanthropy, as she sharedvirtual ly everything shehad with the needy,irrespect ive of where theycame from,’’ he remarked.

Although the governorsaid that the deceased wouldbe sorely missed by herimmediate family , thepeople of Ekit i State andindeed, the whole of South-West , he, however,admonished Gov. Fayemiand his other siblings to takesolace in the fact that shelived a fulfilled life.

Sen. Ajimobi prayed Godto grant the Fayemi familythe fort i tude to bear theirreparable loss.

Ajimobicommiserateswith Fayemiover mum’sdeathFrom Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

The Deputy Treasurer ofPeoples DemocraticParty (PDP) Sokoto State,

A l h a j i M u k t a r iMapia, yesterday urged themass media to embarka g g r e s s i v e sensitisation campaign forNigerians to confront thecurrent security challenges inthe country.

Mapia told the News Agencyof Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto thatsuch campaignwould sensitise Nigerians onthe need to assist securitypersonnel with intelligenceinformation.

Mapia said the senselesskillings going in some parts ofthe country would end ifNigerians cultivated the habitof giving intelligence reportsto the appropriate authorities.

He said security mattersshould be treated with allseriousness they deserved,adding that stakeholders mustalso exercise their civicduties by exposing suspiciouscharacters.

From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

PAGE 40 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

L-R: Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee on Capital Market, Hon. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, members of the committees, Hon. Yakubu Dogara , and Hon. Jibril Umar Bubar, during the Ad - Hoc Committee’s investigation into thenear collapse of the Capital Market, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Lagos state IndependentElectoral Commission(LASIEC) is to hold a re-run

election in Ward H,Oduselu/Ola, inMushin Local Government Area, onMay 5.

In a statement on Tuesday, inLagos, the LASIEC Chairman, retiredJustice Abdul-Fatai Adeyinka, saidthat the re-run election would becarried out using the open-secretballot system.

He promised that the

LASIEC to hold councillorship re-run in Mushin May 5

Benue ACN debunksclaims of compromise

The leadership of theAction Congress ofNigeria (ACN) in Benue

State has said categorically that itnever intended to enter into anynegotiation whatsoever with eitherGovernor Gabriel Suswam or thePeoples Democratic Party, (PDP) toshelve the mandate of the people orsettle the judicial dispute of the April26, 2011 Governorship election outof court.

The party’s governorshipcandidate Prof. Steve Ugbah whosaid this while addressing ACNsupporters yesterday in Makurdi,expressed shock and disappointmentthat the mere attendance of athanksgiving service at the instanceof Senator Barnabas Gemade;Senator representing Benue North-East Senatorial District at the

National Assembly, could bemisconstrued by PDP supporters tomean that the party is planning tocompromise it stand.

Prof Ugbah explained that theACN leaders in the state attendedthe church service as a mark ofhonor to an elder brother and elderStatesman who is a colleague of theACN Senate Minority Leader,Senator Dr. George Akume at senate.

“That in the presence of God, itwas just natural that we sought forthe enthronement of Truth as a wayto atone for peace and developmentof Tiv land. By Tiv tradition, peacewill come when the true and actualwinner of the April 2011 poll takescharge. God knows the truewinner and will not allow themandate of the people of Benuestate to go in vain” Prof Ugbahdeclared.

He added that the Church

service was not a forum to solicitor negotiate with the PDP andnothing of that sort everhappened, pledging to remain aloyal and resolute member of theACN, insisting “under nocircumstance shall I negotiate orcompromise the mandate of thepeople”.

He also assured partysupporters that Senator Akumeand all leaders of the ACN remainsteadfast and committed to therecovery of the stolen mandatefrom Dr. Gabriel Suswam and thePDP, and shall not under any guiseor circumstance contemplatecompromise or settlement.

Ugbah confirmed that theACN case in the Court of Appeal,Makurdi Division challenging thestriking out of his petition on 28/2/2012 was argued today andjudgment reserved for a later.

The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the Southwest hasquestioned the rationale behind

the release of federal allocation to theGovernor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola-ledgovernment in Osun state, in spitefact that the governor has changedthe state to State of Osun, which isthat party claims is alien to theconstitution.

The PDP said the RevenueMobilisation, Allocation and FiscalCommission (RMAFC), Federal

PDP queries release of federal allocation to AregbesolaMinistry of Finance and theaccountant General of the Federationmust explain which state they havebeen releasing allocation meant forOsun state to since GovernorAregbesola replaced theconstitutionally recognised Osunstate with his own state of Osun.

PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary,Hon Kayode Babade said in a releaseissued today that; "Changing Osunstate to state of Osun goes beyond meresemantics. It is a fundamental issue,which touches the basics for theexistence of Osun State as a creation

of the Constitution of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria.

"The question RMAFC and otherFederal Government agencies mustanswer is; constitutionally, can stateof Osun continue to receive federalallocation meant for Osun state?"

On the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) claim that the PDP was out todestablise the Southwest with thesecurity report indicting Aregbesolaof breeding Islamic fundamentalist,Babade said; "No doubt, PDP willretrieve the Southwest states from thehands of the locusts that are presently

destroying it. But we are not going todo so by cutting corners like the ACNdid in Ekiti and Osun states.

"The question that Aregbesolashould answer is why he is usingmembers of TAWUN, an Islamicfundamentalist group as securityguard instead of men of the police andSSS?

He should explain why he sentfive SSS officials out of theGovernment House in Oshogbobecause they had disagreement withthe TAWUN men that had takenover the job of guarding the governor?

commission would do its best tomake the poll hitch-free.

Adeyinka urged eligible votersin the ward to participate fully inthe election and shun violence andfraud.

The state Local GovernmentElection Tribunal had ordered there-run in its judgment on apetition filed by one of thecandidates who contested for thecouncillorship seat on Oct. 22,2011.

The petitioner said that theelection in the ward wasinconclusive, a position whichLASIEC upheld.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that LASIECconducted elections in 20 localgovernment areas and 37 localcouncil development areas of thestate on Oct. 22, 2011.

A total of 28 political partiesparticipated in the chairmanshipand councillorship elections.

"How will a Comrade, as thename suggests, live the life that thelate Michael Imodu lived. A manwho led the labour union for severalyears and at the point he retiredfrom the movement, he did nothave a house anywhere in thiscountry. The house he later livedand died in was built for himthrough contributions frompatriotic Nigerians.

Besides, 'The moneyOshiomhole has received from thefederal government, nogovernment has ever receivedthat. Apart from that, theinternally generated Revenue ofthe state has risen to over N2billion.

According to him, "In spite ofthat Oshiomhole has continued toborrow money both internally andexternally. Just recently, he hasgone to the World bank to borrow.

'It's no longer news that moneymeant are being syphoned by thisgovernment.

He re-affirmed the PDPgovernment if elected commitmentto probe local governmentadministration under the Comradegovernor and described asundesirable the state governmentdecision to close the state ownedAmbrose Alli University, AAU,shortly after the well disaster thatclaimed two students.

'…They came back to schoolafter Easter, they have been senthome again…. I believe that wasnot the intention of late Prof. Alliwhen he was establishing thatschool'.

However in swift reactionyesterday, the Special Adviser tothe Governor on Media, Mr. TonyIyare punctured the allegations ofthe PDP, pointing out thatGovernor Oshiomhole built hiscountry home at Iyamho 20 yearsago as well as his houses in Kadunaand Abuja before becominggovernor of the State.

"The house in Iyamho iscurrently undergoing somerenovation which is aimed atproviding for some walkways andan out-door bar on the existingempty space", adding that the socalled #10 billion mansion was animagination of those who contrivedthe existence of such building.

On the allegation that thegovernor borrowed money fromthe World Bank, Mr. Iyare said thesterling show of prudence withpublic resources put was what ledmulti-national institutions topartner with the state governmentwith the World Bank granting thestate a credit support of $225 millionlast week which is envisaged to bespread over a three-year period.

"Apart from puttingdevelopment vigorously on thetable, the government has builtmore than 500 kilometres of roadscovering more than 400communities. The governmenthas also embarked on the rebuildingof many primary and secondaryschools across the three senatorialzones of the state", Iyare said.

This, he said were in addition tobuilding a five-star complex at theCentral Hospital, Benin City whilemany hospitals have beenrenovated across the state as wellas the building of women andchildren hospital in Ewohimi in EdoCentral and Otuo in Edo North tocomplement the one in Benin City.

Alleged N10.8 billion Mansion: Go tocourt, PDP challenges Oshiomhole

The Peoples DemocraticParty, PDP, Edo stateChapter has challenged the

Edo state governor, ComradeAdams Oshiomole to go to court toprove he does not own the mansionallegedly ascribed to him in thestate.

The alleged mansion is locatedat his hometown, Iyamoh in Auchi,the administrative localgovernment area of the State.

The state Chairman of PDP,Chief Dan Orbih, yesterday re-echoed sentiments, accusing himof using the tax payer's money tobuild a personal estate, alleged thatthe party Estate Valuer pegged thecost at N10.8 billion whencompleted.

Orbih, before leading thedisplay of an electronic aerial viewof the mansion claimed to have beentaken with aid of an helicopter, said,'When I saw the pictures of thebuilding, what came to my mindwas the image of the late Mobutu,the late Congolese Leader.

"Anytime the governor, forreasons best known to him, decidesto make allegations that he cannotprove, anytime he provokes us weshall continue to expose him so thatwe shall continue to know who thegovernor is.

"We have more than enoughmaterials. For now, we as a partywhat we feel for now will interestour people that will generatedebate.

"But any provocation from himwill be replied with similarexposure…We 'll not shy away fromtaking him on.

"The question here is that multibillion project going on in Iyamu ashis new private residence, is it taxpayers money that is at work?What is the salary of agovernor….Three years ingovernment, he's erectingsomething running into billions.

"For us as a party, we owe it aduty to expose some of the thingsthat are happening to the goodpeople of Edo State. More sothepeople have been deceived by dressthe governor at the time he cameinto office, let the people lead, you 'llagree with me too that this is a oneman show government, he said.

He alleged that the first waterproject awarded by hisadministration, 'The Dando drillingrig contract was given to his ownin-law', adding that the inflatedcontract was not advertised neitherdid it go through any biddingprocess as required by law.

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

PAGE 41PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Stephen Keshi

The secretariat of theNigeria NationwideLeague (NNWL),

yesterday in Abuja, suspendedall matches involving Jarma FCof Kano in its on-goingcompetition for 2011/2012season.

The league’s Secretary,Emmanuel Adesanya,confirmed yesterday that theleague body had to take thisaction to safeguard the leaguefrom incidences of violenceduring matches.

He also said the decision wasintended to deter the supporters

of the kano-based club fromfurther injuring the reputationof the game, an act would bedetrimental to the quest of theleague body to secure sponsors.

“The club’s supporters werereported to have beaten up theofficials of their match againstvisiting DSS FC of Kaduna onApril 2 in Kano.

“As a result of this act ofviolence that is against the rulesof the game, we felt there is theneed to take action to serve as adeterrent to others. Therefore,their (Jarma FC) matches are onhold for the time being,”

Adesanya said.Adesanya said the disciplinary

action was an interim measure,until the Organising andDisciplinary Committee of theNigeria Football Federation(NFF) meets to decide on thematter.

“This action by the secretariatis the normal step we usuallytake, until the Organising andDisciplinary Committee of theNFF, in whose hands lie thepower to discipline, meets,” hesaid.

It was learnt that Jarma FCfans had, after a Division One D

Week Five match, attacked thematch officials who were fromthe FCT. The Kano side had lostthe match 1-2.

Jarma FC were to meet hostsCourt of Appeal FC of Abuja onApril 22 in a week eight match.

They were also to host VON FCof Abuja on April 30 in a Week Ninematch, before the league goes on amid-season break same day.

With the suspension, the clubwill therefore not play anymatch until May as the NFF’sOrganising and DisciplinaryCommittee is not likely to meetuntil then.

associations to aid the dischargeof their duties and ensure thatfootballers were looked after inthe best possible way.

The statement said that themedical emergency kits wouldcontain key items consideredessential for life support andother threats faced byprofessional athletes.

“CAF is very committed to theprogrammes of our membersand we hope the equipment willbe vital in carrying out of theiradministrative and medicalresponsibilities,” CAF PresidentIssa Hayatou said.

the comfort of the players.”In February, the NFF also

chartered a flight that set themback by as much as $180,000(about N29 million) for the team’s2013 Africa Cup of Nationsqualifier in Rwanda.

The Eagles flew on special flightsfor 2012 Nations Cup qualifiersin Ethiopia and Madagascar. Alsothe NFF plans send an advancedparty to Malawi before the WorldCup qualifier.

In March 2003, Nigeria beatMalawi 1-0 in Blantyre in a 2004Africa Cup of Nations qualifyingmatch. The Eagles also won the

reverse fixture 4-1 in Abuja inJune 2003.

Namibia and Kenya are theother teams in Nigeria’s 2014World Cup qualifying group.

CAF to provide laptops, life savingkits to affiliate associations

The Confederation of AfricanFootball (CAF) says it willprovide all its 54 affiliate

associations with“administrative supportaccessories and medicalequipment”, under its “Contractwith Africa” programme.

A statement on Tuesday on itswebsite, cafonline.com, said thatno fewer than six laptop computersand medical emergency kitswould be distributed to each of thefootball associations.

CAF said the programme wasin line with its commitment toequip the secretariat of member

Eagles to charter flight forWorld Cup tie with Malawi

The Super Eagles will fly toMalawi on chartered flightfor a World Cup tie in June

to ensure nothing is taken forgranted, officials said.

The Flames of Malawi will hostNigeria in a 2014 World Cupqualifier on June 9.

A top Nigeria FootballFederation (NFF) official speciallytold MTNFootball.com: “We plananother chartered flight for theWorld Cup qualifier in Malawi.

“We want to ensure adequatepreparation for the match and assuch we are leaving nothing tochance especially as it concerns

Violence: NNWL suspends Jarma FC’s matches

Twenty six would-be SuperEagles were in campyesterday where they are

undergoing screening ahead ofthe May 27 African WomenChampionship title qualifiersagainst Zimbabwe in a two-legfixture.

Coach Kadiri Ikhanaconfirmed this yesterdayafter the team’s morningtraining session and alsodisclosed that the remaining27 players are expected latestby the Friday.

Peoples Daily Sports recallsthat Ikhana had called up 53players to the camp whichopened on Sunday in Abuja.Out of the lot the team wouldbe pruned to 45 and thenfinally to about 30 beforeserious preparations for thetwo-legged encounter thatwould guarantee a place atthis year’s finals, billed forEquatorial Guinea inNovember.

“We have 26 players in campnow and we are expecting 27more players to make 53altogether. I am very worriedbut at least I’m happy that weare able to kick start theprogramme today.

“So all we need to do is to justbrush over it since they areplayers that we know and theyare players that we’ve watchedduring the league so I think wewon’t have so much problemssorting them out.

“The only challenge is thatI’ve been seeing men playingnow, I have to face trainingwomen; there’s nothing morethan that because they areusing football boots, they areplaying the same ball andeverything is the same.

“ It’s just that the enduranceand the reaction of the womenis slow and that’s the only thingwe just want to sharpen,” hesaid adding that he would notapply deadline to force theremaining players to camp.

“I think the football housewill do that and not me. I’m justa coach on the field of play andI don’t make policies for theteam. I’ll report back to thefootball house and they taketheir decisions.”

He appealed to the NFF togive attention to the SuperFalcons in order to get the bestfrom the players. “If we wantto have a good female team inthis country, we must go theextra mile to satisfy them.”

26 SuperFalcons in camp

Bolaji Abdullahi, SupervisingMinister of Sports

The Secretary, NigeriaScrabble Federation(NSF), James Eakyns, on

Tuesday said that players for theAfrica Scrabble Championship(ASC) would be selected at theIbadan Opens.

Eakyns told the News Agencyof Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos thatthe Ibadan Opens would holdfrom April 20 to April 21, whilethe ASC would be in Zambia inNovember.

“No fewer than 150 playershave indicated interest toparticipate in the tournamentwhich will serve as a platform toselect players who will representNigeria at the ASC,” he said.

The secretary said thatscrabble equipment would bedonated to the Lagos StateScrabble Association by FemiAwowade, a board member ofNSF, on April 19 to assist indeveloping the sport.

“One of our own, FemiAwowade, who is based in Londonwill be donating some up-to-dategadgets that will go a long wayin developing the game to LagosState,” Eakyns said.

He said the event would takeplace at the Lagos Country Club,adding that it was Awowade’sway of giving back to the society.

AfricaChampionship:Scrabble playersto be selected atIbadan Opens

By Patrick Andrew

Precious Dede

PAGE 42 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

The secretariat of theWrestling Federation ofNigeria (NWF) has moved

to Abuja, an official of thefederation confirmed yesterday.

Olumide Bamiduro, thefederation’s Secretary-General,said that the secretariat “is nowin the Package B of the AbujaNational Stadium”.

“We are now in the Indoor Hallat the Package B, and this is toensure we operate better thanbefore as we get ready for the2012 Olympic Games in London,”he said.

It would be recalled that thewrestling federation’s secretariathad been in Lagos since the body’sformation and operations underthe National Associations’ office ofthe National Sports Commission(NSC).

Even when the NSC moved toAbuja in the early 90s, thefederation’s secretariat remainedin Lagos alongside a number ofother sports federations, whichhad maintained their Lagosoffices.

Bamiduro told NAN that he wasexcited by the secretariat’srelocation to Abuja as thedevelopment would enhanceadministrative activities in thefederation.

“We are also closer to oursupervising body, the NSC, andthis will help us in preparing ourwrestlers who have qualified forthe 2012 London Olympics,” hesaid.

“Our wrestlers for the Olympicswill be camping in Abuja, and willthereafter be moving abroad forthe pre-Games training tour. Thesecretariat will therefore becrucial to all arrangements in thisrespect,” he said.

Two male wrestlers, SinivieBoltic and Dick Adibo, and theirfemale counterparts, ObiajunwaAmarachi and BlessingOborodudu, are alreadypreparing for the London Games.

The wrestling federation isexpected to open camp for themand eight other wrestlers as partof the preparations for theOlympics.

Warri Wolves’ trainer,Maurice Cooreman hasidentified newly-

promoted Akwa United as thestrongest team in the NigeriaPremier League (NPL) thisseason.

Akwa United have shockedbookmakers with their steadyperformances this season whichhas seen them climb up to 5th inthe NPL with 29 points from 19matches.

Akwa United are the best-placed of all the newly-promotedsides this season but Cooremansaid he is not surprised by theside’s exploits this season.

“For me, the strongest team inthe NPL this season is AkwaUnited. They have very goodplayers and play the game in theright way. They have a verygood coach who has built a verysolid team and I think they havea great chance (in the league)this season,” Cooreman said.

The former Kaduna Unitedtrainer also moved to speak on theNPL claiming that the best teamsare never given the opportunityto win the domestic title.

“The best teams are neverallowed to win the league inNigeria because the officiating isso poor especially during theaway matches. The referees areusually not fair and when youcomplain, they send you off,” hesaid.

Cooreman was sent off insidethe first 10 minutes whenHeartland beat Wolves 3-1 at theDan Anyiam Stadium, Owerrion Sunday.

It was the second timeCooreman would be getting themarching orders since takingover from Paul Aigbogun atWolves earlier this season but theBelgian trainer said he wouldalways ‘stand for the truth.’

“I always stand for the truth.On that day (during theHeartland/Wolves game) I wasnot even talking to the referee. Iwas talking with my player(Jude) Aneke but the refereedidn’t like it,” Cooremanexplained.

The 69-year-old concluded byvoicing his sentiments on whomhe felt was the best playercurrently plying his trade in theNPL.

“I think I will select my player,Azubuike Egwuekwe who hasshown a lot of dedication thisseason. He is a very strong player

Sunday Audu, theimmediate past Secretaryof the Nigeria Referees

Association (NRF), has urged theNigeria Premier League (NPL) toimprove on refereesremuneration for betterperformance.

Audu said yesterday in Lagos

that such a step would reducethe incidence of match fixingallegations being made againstreferees in the league.

He admonished that, for theabsence of issues bordering onbribe and match fixingallegations, referees should bepaid their indemnities as andwhen due.

“If they pay the referees well,their eyes will not look at thebribe they are being offered.

“Their remuneration is stillvery poor, imagine a refereesbeing paid N15, 000 to officiatea match in Jigawa and he is basedin Kastina, its unheard of,” theformer secretary said.

Speaking on the quality offootball played so far in the firststanza of the 2011/2012 NPLseason, Audu applauded thestandard being exhibited byclubs, through away victories,which he said implied fairness.

“The norm is that if clubsperform well, good officiating

should complement their efforts,but if the club performed welland officiating was poor, it willnot speak well of the league.

“The two have to worktogether, if one is lacking, theother one won’t achieve its aim.As it is now, the security ofreferees is commendable, but itcan be improved upon,” theformer secretary of the NRFsaid.

Audu also commended theeffort of the NPL in the provisionof adequate security for refereesat match venues.

He, however, complainedabout the high handed mannerwith which the Dispute andDisciplinary ResolutionCommittee was going about itsassignment, noting that “thecommittee usually makespronouncement withoutfollowing due process.

“I don’t agree with thedecisions they take at times, Idon’t agree with them, they go

beyond their bounds, wheneverthey take their decisions.

“My anger again is that theymake pronouncements withoutconsulting others involved in theprocess of arriving at the decisionthey took to resolve the issue atstake.

“They should followprocedures, the way andmanner disciplinary issues arehandled is not healthy for theleague”.

On his assessment of the NPLin comparison to what obtainedin Europe, South America andSouth Africa, Audu said addingthat there was no basis forcomparison.

“Even though the league isfaring well, we cannot compareit to the European and SouthAmerican football leagues.

“We can’t compare our leaguewith developed countries, but inAfrica, Nigeria is number one,followed by maybe SouthAfrica,” he said.

The Federal Polytechnic,Ede, Osun, and NasarawaPolytechnic, Kaura-

Namoda, have qualified for thesemi-finals of the male footballcompetition at the ongoingNIPOGA Games at Ede.

Also, the Lagos StatePolytechnic, Ikorodu, andFederal Polytechnic, Offa, arethrough to the semi-finals.

Each of the four teams hasseven points, having won twomatches and drawn one out oftheir three preliminarymatches.

In one of the last group gamesdecided yesterday, the host

football team defeated NuhuBamali Polytechnic, Zaria, 2-0to be in the semi-finals. VictorOwobiko scored the first goal ofthe match in the 5th minute ofplay, while the second wasnetted in the 84th minute bySayo Ogundeji.

Lagos State Polytechnicfootball team defeated KadunaPolytechnic team 3-1 onMonday in their third match.

The coach of the host team,Olaleye Olawole, said his teamexpected nothing less thanwinning the final.

He urged the players not to becarried away by their

performance but “to keep thetempo until they claim the goldmedal of the event“.

The two semi-finals matchesof the male football event will beplayed on Friday.

In the women’s handball,Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi,defeated Kogi Polytechnic,Ayangba, by 33 points to 9points, while FederalPolytechnic, Auchi, defeated thehost team by 27 point to 17points.

Also in the women’s volleyballevent, Kaduna Polytechnicdefeated Kogi State Polytechnic3-0.

Azubuike Egwuekwe

Victor Baribote

Audu urges NPL to improve on referees’ remuneration

NIPOGA: Ede, 3 others qualify for semi-finals

Wrestlingfederation’ssecretariatmoves toAbuja, saysofficial

Akwa Utd NPL’s mostdangerous team, saysCooreman

that is always looking toimprove. Every time, he asks mequestions on how to be a better

player. I think he is the bestplayer in the league,” Cooremansaid.

PAGE 43PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

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LOSS OF DOCUMENTThis is to notify the general public that the originalletter of offer with Plot No. 185 Jahi (B08)District Abuja FCT belonging to ADEYOMBOLIYODE ANIMASHAUN C/O MRS. C. A.JOSEPH of 13 Tunji Osilaja street Opebi, IkejaLagos got lost in transit. All efforts made totrace the document proved abortive.If found,contact the nearest police station or MRS. C.A. JOSEPH at the above address FCTA, AGISand the general public to please take note.

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Rafael Nadal

Africa’s numberthree badmintonplayer, Nigeria-

born Ifraimu Jinkam andhis compatriot EnejoAbah, yesterday said thatthe dearth of competitionswas stalling the growth ofthe sport in the country.

The duo said thatplayers could hardly boastof a competition in thefirst quarter of this yearand went to express fearsthat the sport might beextinct soon, if nothingwas done to attract peopleto invest in its growth.

Jinkam, who is alsoNigeria’s number oneplayer, said the lack ofcompetitions would nothelp the sport andupcoming players todevelop as they hardlyparticipated in nationalchampionships.

“Players improve whenthey train regularly andcompete in tournamentsto assess what they havelearnt. It always put themin competition mood.

“Some of the playerspractise on their own, butwhen there is nocompetition, they getdiscouraged,” he said.

He also noted thatmultinational companiesshould come to the aid ofbadminton by sponsoringcompetitions wherebudding talents would bediscovered.

“If we can rely a littleon government’sallocation and look foralternatives by gettingthe help of corporateorganisations, they willhelp to organisecompetitions, at leastlocally,” Jinkam said.

EnejoAbah, Nigeria’snumber two player andAfrica’s number six, saidplayers would notimprove till there wereseries of competitions toallow them show theirskills.

“The dearth of localcompetitions is not goodfor the development ofbadminton. If we do notrealise this, the sportmight die a natural deathif we cannot bring up newtalents. “A competition isan avenue where youimprove because you willknow where you aremissing it and where youneed to improve upon todevelop yourself,” he said.

He also said crediblepeople should be made tomanage the sport toensure its development.

Topbadmintonplayersdecrydearth ofcompetitions

Nadal nervous as CarloMasters starts todayClay king Rafael

Nadal has admittedthat he is nervous

about today’s start at theMonte Carlo Masters, afortnight after quittingwith knee pain prior to hislast match.

Nadal, seeded secondbehind Novak Djokovic,will play Jarkko Nieminenin the second round afterthe Finn beat RadekStepanek 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

In first-round play onMonday, all three seeds on

court advanced.Spain’s number 13 seed

Fernando Verdasco, a2010 finalist againstNadal, beat BelgianOlivier Rochus 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, while 15th-rankedAustrian Jurgen Melzer

defeated Lukas Kubot 6-2,7-5.

Alexandr Dolgopolov,the number 16 seed, putout Argentine JuanIgnacio Chela 6-2, 6-2.

Frenchman Paul-HenriMathieu, ranked 352 inthe world after a longabsence with a kneeinjury, crushed DonaldYoung 6-0, 6-1 to leave theAmerican winless in hislast five events.

Australian BernardTomic reached the secondround by beating DenisIstomin of Uzbekistan 6-4,6-3 to claim his first ATP-level victory on clay.

Tomic won a qualifyingmatch in Moncao a yearago but lost out to JulienBenneteau for a spot in themain draw.

“I’m scared because thisis the start to an importantseason for me,” saidNadal,who is bidding for anunprecedented eighth

straight title on the clay ofthe principality.“Hopefully it will workwell.”

The king of clay, whose lasttrophy came at the 2011French Open, played downthe fact that his last successcame 10 months ago.

“I haven’t won a title,but how many finals haveI played?” asked Nadal,who has appeared in fourfinals since his RolandGarros triumph.

Chelsea’s stride to the UEFA ChampionsLeague final was halted incontroversial fashion by the eventual

winners Barcelona in 2009. That lossgenerated no little bad blood largely becauseof the number of assumed bad calls, whichprobably engendered the violent conductfrom Chelsea players.

Albeit the two-legged clash ended on evenkeel, Barcelona had the edge courtesy anaway goal following the 1-1 draw at theStamford Bridge. The first leg at the NouCamp had ended on barren note.

The Stamford Bridge glory came off theboot of Andre Iniesta whose brilliant drivedislodged Petr Cech and moments laterDidier Drogba and co were involved in uglyincidence that fetched them UEFAdisciplinary action.

Ever since, they have managed to missanother confrontation until today’s epic clashwhich ironically has come when both arenot in their best forms even though thematch retains all the frenzy peculiar to nail-biting clashes.

Roberto Di Matteo seems to have re-jiggedChelsea since he took over from Andre Villas-Boas. The team have been excellent at homethis season and have won all five gamesplayed so far, scoring 16 goals and concedingonly two.

Di Matteo’s men defeated Benfica with anaggregate score of 3-1 in the quarterfinalsand Drogba believes they can achieve similarsuccess if they focus on the upcoming tie.They seem to be in terrific form albeit farfrom what it used to be under Jose Mourinhowhose depth and savvy have remainedunbleached.

But Barcelona will be in search of a winwhen they visit Stamford Bridge for today’sfirst leg of their UEFA Champions Leaguesemifinal clash.

The last time Barcelona won a matchagainst Chelsea was back in 2006 and sincethen they have lost once and drawn fourtimes.

Pep Guardiola’s men have won four oftheir five away games in the ChampionsLeague this season, the exception being the0-0 in Milan at the quarterfinal stage whichthey ended up winning 3-1 on aggregate.

Barcelona will be boosted by the return ofmidfielders Seydou Keita and IbrahimAfellay from injury, while Gerard Pique isalso expected to start after sitting on thebench during the La Liga game againstLevante on Saturday.

David Luiz is unlikely to feature for Chelseaafter picking up a hamstring injury duringan FA Cup clash against Tottenham Hotspuron Sunday. Aside from him, Chelsea willhave a solid squad with Drogba, FrankLampard, skipper John Terry, FernandoTorres, Malouda, John Obi Mikel and severalothers to choose from.

Chelsea will need to be robust and

physically combative to against containBarcelona because anything less will beplaying into the hands of the samba mastersand there is practically no way the Englishteam can withstand the Spainish championsin the area of specialisation.

Chelsea must be cautious and maintaindiscipline because as all three of their defeatsin 10 matches against Barcelona since 2000have come when they have had a playersent off.

Of course, Barcelona have so many playersthat can hurt the Blues, which is where LionelMessi stands out. The Argentine is confident,mercurial and take the game to Chelsea withdeft runs.

The Argentina forward scored at theweekend for a record 10th straight leaguegame to take his remarkable goal total thisseason to 63, the best since German greatGerd Mueller scored 67 in 1972-73.

Messi’s haul of 14 goals in this season’sChampions League has broken thecompetition record for one campaign, set byRuud van Nistelrooy in 2002-03. And hemight just be the man to break Chelsea’sbackbone.

The two sides will meet again in Barcelonafor the return leg on April 24th.

UEFA ChampionsLeague: Chelsea ambushBarcelona for revengeBy Patrick Andrew

Drogba

Leo

nel

Mes

si

Official advises parents againstimposing choice of sports on wards

PAGE 44 PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

Coach Mark Balogun of the PoliceBaton Basketball Club of Lagos, hasattributed his team’s second victory

at the ongoing DStv men’s Basketballleague to hard work and the players’compliance with instructions.

Balogun said on Sunday, shortly afterhis team defeated city rival Chariots 77-68 at the Indoor Sports Hall of theNational Stadium, Lagos, that he washappy the team was gradually reapingfrom dedication to hard work and focus.

Sunday’s victory was the Police Baton’ssecond in the league, following an earlierdefeat of the Comets 87-82.

“I am happy my players are rising fromslumber. The league is highlycompetitive now; even the defendingchampion, Royal Hoopers of PortHarcourt, have lost more than one gamethis season, which simply means everyclub has to sit-up,” he said.

Also speaking, Coach Charles Ibeziako,of the Chariots, said he was disappointed

with his player’s performance, sayinghe did not know why their pace had slowed

down.“We started the season on a high note,

but for over six weeks now they have notbeen performing to expectation,” Ibeziakosaid.

He said that the coaching crew of theteam would try to work on the players’weaknesses to make-up for their losses.The match, the last in the week eightfixtures, witnessed the Chariots takingthe lead in the first quarter at 18-11.

However, the Police Baton bouncedback in the second quarter, beating theChariots 28-9, and also won the third andlast quarter 11-12 and 27-19,respectively.

In its eight matches so far, the Chariotswon only one against the Comets of Lagos,73-67, in the week two fixture of theleague.

This has put the club in a tight cornerbeing the only club that has won just amatch in the league. So far, 32 matcheshave been played in the league, while theChariots are the only club with a lonevictory.

The Nigeria Volleyball Federation(NVBF) says the decision of theFederation of International

Volleyball (FIVB) to allow less revealingattires in the 2012 London Olympicsfemale beach volleyball is commendable.

The decision was reached after a threeday meeting in Lausanne on March 29,where the FIVB Board of Administrationapproved a change in the beach volleyuniform rules.

The modified women’s uniform rule willapply for all beach volleyball tournaments,including the Olympic Games.

Reacting to the development onMonday, Dr Babatunde Morakinyo, theNVBF Vice President, said that FIVB bythe decision had taken the religious beliefsof some athletes into consideration.

Morakinyo told the News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) on telephone that thewearing of bikinis by women to play the

game had resulted in some Islamiccountries keeping aloof.

“In as much as we are going to playbeach volleyball the way it should beplayed, we should also look into thereligious sensibilities of countriesparticipating at the Olympics.

“I am happy that they considered theviews and belief of Islamic countriesbecause we have some countries thatcannot wear the bikinis. It is a good andwelcomed development. Countries thatare very religion conscious would nowhave option with the flexibility inuniform, ” he said

The women’s Olympic beach volleyballtournament will be played from July 28to Aug. 12 in a stadium at Horse GuardsParade near Buckingham Palace.

The modified rule permits “shorts of amaximum length of 3 centimetrss abovethe knee, and sleeved or sleeveless tops.”

An official of the Nigeria TaekwondoFederation (NTF), Tayo Popoola, hasadvised parents to encourage their

children to take to any sport of theirchoice.

Popoola said such imposition of choiceof sports on young athletes would hamperrather than bring out the best in them.

“When parents discover the interest ofa child in a particular sport liketaekwondo, they should give the child allthe necessary support to enable the childto develop the talent,” she said.

The official attributed the success ofChika Chukwumerije, who won a bronzemedal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, tothe immense support he got from hisparents and siblings.

“Chukwumerije has the full support ofhis family members, which is his strengthand secret of success, and he is a championthat is known in the taekwondo familyworld wide,” Popoola said.

She noted that taekwondo had rulesand regulations guiding its practice bothin training and competition proper,adding that they were consistentlyupgraded by the International Taekwon-do Federation.

Popoola said that such rules wouldencourage young athletes to take to thesport and enable them to develop their

talents faster.Meanwhile, a former national coach,

Osita Egwim, has appeal the NigeriaTeakwondo Federation to organise moretaekwondo competitions in the countryto identify talents that would replace theageing champions.

Egwim said it was time to scout forathletes, identify them and introducethem to a comprehensive trainingprogramme with the aid of moderntaekwon-do equipment.

“Good a thing, the taekwondofederation has the internationallyrequired equipment, so there is no reasonfor the country not to be able to raise firstclass athletes,” he said.

He said that current taekwondochampions, such as Chukwumerije andIsa Adam, who would represent Nigeriaat the London 2012 Olympics, were likelyto retire soon.

“By now, we should have youngerathletes in the various weight categoriesin place that will represent the countryin the next Olympic Games, which is justfour years away,” Egwim said.

Ferguson Oluigbo, President of theNigeria Taekwondo Referees Association(NTRA), also advised the NTF to exposeathletes to international championships, toenable them to further improve their skills.

Oluigbo said the exposure of athletes tointernational competitions would equipthem with the necessary experience and

technicalities to grow.“The problem is that we put too much

pressure on the athletes to win medals inall the events, instead of focusing on theirgaining the needed experience to excel,”he said.

He appealed to the NTF to strengthenits sponsorship drive in the second quarterto ensure that Nigerian athletesparticipated in the various categories ofinternational taekwondo events.

Police Baton B’ball Club coach saysteam reaping from hard work

NVBF vice presidentcommends FIVB on new rules

Innocent Egbunike, Chief Coach of AFN

The Chairman of the Lagos State FivesAssociation, Nasiru Mohammed, hasurged athletes to combine their athleticcareers with education.

Mohammed, who also urged sportspersons to venture into politics, gavewhile speaking on the need for athletes toprepare themselves for their after sportscareers days.

“It is imperative for athletes to combineeducation with their careers because ofthe role education plays in determiningexcellence in every endeavour. It is alsoimportant for our sports’ stakeholders togo into politics because it is only whensportsmen are in politics that sports couldgrow,” Mohammed said.

The chairman, a Grand Fellow of

Nigerian Youths, also noted that thequest for educational certificates shouldbe a must for athletes to guard againstthe unexpected incidences that may leadto early exit from their sports of choice ordeserved retirement.

“Athletes should go to school because itis very important; you may be injured asan athlete, but with a certificate you canlater venture into something else. Anathlete who does not want to go to schoolcan learn a trade or be an artisan toprevent such an athlete from roamingthe streets begging for alms,” he said.

On politics, Mohammed advisedstakeholders in sports to venture intopolitics to guarantee the growth of sportsin the country. “Sports people should bein politics to implement policies that willpromote sports,” the chairman said.

Mohammed regretted that muchattention is being accorded to football atthe expense of other sports in the country,and regretted that it may because of thegeneral lack of interest of sportsadministrators in other sports.

He said that if sports men were theadministrators, all the sports in thecountry would record an impressive turnaround.

The chairman advised government atall levels to also accord other sports moreimportance to ensure equal and effectivegrowth.

“Let the three tiers of governments faceother sports; there are lots of medals inother sports than football. Governmentshould adequately fund other sports,” hesaid.

According to him, if 10 per cent of fundsspent on football yearly is given to theother sports, they will also grow.

Athletes advised tocombine careerswith education

Chika Chukwumerije, ateakwondoist hassuccessfully combinedsports career and education

PAGE 45PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

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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: contact@peoplesdaily-online.comISSN: 2141– 6141

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2012

QQQQQUOUOUOUOUOTTTTTABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QUOUOUOUOUOTETETETETEBe faithful to that whichBe faithful to that whichBe faithful to that whichBe faithful to that whichBe faithful to that which

exists nowhere but in yourselfexists nowhere but in yourselfexists nowhere but in yourselfexists nowhere but in yourselfexists nowhere but in yourself- and thus mak- and thus mak- and thus mak- and thus mak- and thus make ye ye ye ye yourourourourourselfselfselfselfself

indispensableindispensableindispensableindispensableindispensable— Andre Gide— Andre Gide— Andre Gide— Andre Gide— Andre Gide

UEFA ChampionsLeague semi-final:It's advantageBayern Munich There was time that the

renowned Time Magazineput up the name of Adolph

Hitler as a candidate for its annual“Man of the Year Award.” Thewhole idea, the magazineexplained was in recognition of theprofundity of the impact – good orbad – a man or woman may havemade on the rest of humanity.This, understandably, caused anenormous outrage among manyof their readers who asked thequestion “Why Hitler?”

Opinions are bound to differon this enigmatic character. Thelate Godwin Adzuana Daboh wasenriched with unparalleledgoodness of the heart. He was alsoa profoundly mischievous man.To most Nigerians, Daboh wasdefined by his initial anti-corruption crusade. In 1974, hestood up against the icon ofMiddle-Belt politics, JosephSaruwan Tarka and pulled himdown from the heights that hehad attained. It is a matter forhistorians to determine whetherDaboh lived up to the ideal of ananti-corruption crusader.

The cherishable aspect of thisman’s life can be illustrated bythe fact he lived a useful life andwas kind and generous to a fault.As I write, there are destitutes,students and widows who will notbe eating dinner tonight becauseDaboh is dead. His controversiesappeared to have overshadowedhis generous streak.

Daboh had a goodunderstanding of the power of thepress in all the battles he fought.In his lifetime, he bought and readnearly all of the newspapers hecould lay his hand upon to keephimself abreast. He kept reportersclose to him and I think it is onaccount of this he lavishedaffection on this reporter. I havemissed a friend.

The number one rule ofsurvival for many public figureswas never to respond in kind toDaboh in the media. If Dabohattacked you, read it and keepquiet. Those who made themistake of engaging him in thepress, almost always paid dearlyfor it. He had an opinion oneverything and I think thisexplained his entry intopublishing. When he started TheBroom, they abused him and saidhe was not a professionaljournalist. Can you believe thatDaboh set aside his family andbusiness in Jos and Makurdi toembark on a two-year journalismtraining programme at theNigerian Institute of Journalism,NIJ, in Lagos? When he faced

another challenge concerning hisacademic grounding, heembarked upon a three monthtraining at a Bible School in theUnited States. When he returned,he added epithet of “Dr. ofDivinity,” to answer the newname of Dr. Daboh.

As a “journalist”, he used thepress’ power of exposure to fulleffect.

He once launched a blisteringcampaign of calumny against afellow Benue man, Chief AuduOgbeh who at that time was theChairman of the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP. He wentto Chief Audu Ogbeh to tell himthat “you are my youngerbrother. I am doing this thing toget something from you. You area stingy man and I know there isno way I can get something fromyou if I did not damage yourname.” They had a good laughover the matter and they partedas friends.

He knew journalists andtheir games and Daboh would letanyone take a cheap shot at him.I remember the day he stormedthe press centre in Abuja, callingout the name of a journalist whohas now transformed into a VIP,charging, “I gave you N20,000and there is nothing in thepaper. Where is my story?” Thereporter mumbled a few wordsand the explanation he was

trying to make was that theEditor in Lagos decided not to runit. Daboh said “No way, it’s mymoney or my story”.

As a politician, the late Dabohdid lot of things that were difficultto understand. From myknowledge of him, he merelyreflected the colours of presentday politicians, nothing more,nothing less.

It was very strange that hefought his known master andbenefactor, General IbrahimBabangida in the run-up to the2011 presidential primaries. Itwas shocking to many when hebegan to call IBB names. “We willdisgrace him if he enters therace,” he said of IBB’s presidentialaspiration.

As one of those who knew him,Daboh wasn’t ungrateful or rudeto IBB. He was only doing whatmost Nigerians do, the politics ofthe stomach. He knew where hisbread would be buttered. So hefollowed Goodluck Jonathan andhelped him become President.Before this time, Daboh had to myknowledge called meetings of hiskinsmen to canvass for a Presidentof Northern origin. He insistedthroughout that meeting that thepresident in 2011 must not comefrom the South.

Many readers will in factrecall that Daboh was that personwho went to court to stop theThird Term ambition of PresidentObasanjo in 2006. The FCT HighCourt presided by Justice (Mrs.)Goodluck gave an order that thestatus-quo be maintained.Daboh’s lawyer and the courtBailiff rushed to Port Harcourt toserve the Senator MantuCommittee on Constitutionalamendment which was about tovote on the controversial ThirdTerm. Both Bailiff and lawyerwere beaten by Mantu’s thugs atthe Airport Hotel, Omagwa, Port-Harcourt. That was why theycould not carry out the service.

Anyway, with Daboh’ssupport and that of others,Jonathan won and went on to besworn-in in 2011. But it was not

Late Godwin Daboh

long before Daboh’s moment ofintrospection came. The electionhad come and gone and thepromises made to him were yetto be fulfilled. Daboh took a deepbreath one day and said “ThisJonathan man!” He said hehadn’t seen anything from thePresident all this while, and “Ihave abused all my people, IBBand Atiku in the newspapers.How can I go back to them?” Ithink much later, somethingsmall came and he waited for thebig prize which did not comeuntil death came to snatch himaway.

This write-up should really bethe celebration of Daboh, a manof a rare kind heart. I remembertalking to his lawyer Chike Okaforwho illustrated to me more of thegoodness of Daboh. On many ofhis days in court, Daboh would bemoved by pity to bring out hischeckbook to bail out troubledtenants and debtors. “How muchis he owing?", he will ask as hesees a man being led to prison.Daboh usually felt no hesitationdoling out N10,000, N20,000sometimes up to N100,000 to bailsomeone out.

So yes, while Daboh “sawmoney” as we say in Nigerianparlance, he lavished it on peoplehe met whose causes touchedhim. That was why he was mostlybroke.

Daboh had a way of gettingout of trouble each time he fell intoone. There was a day he had afalling out with his friend, theformer Commissioner of Police,Lagos State, Abubakar Tsav.Using his police connections,Tsav got Area 10 Abuja PoliceStation to interrogate Daboh. Hesoon became their friend. Insteadof being kept in detention, Dabohwas seen buying jeans and T-Shirts for his police interrogators.That changed the tide. Theycalled Tsav to come andsubstantiate his charges and hebeing an ex-police commissioner,he possibly felt too big to come tothe station. That dissipated thecase.

I was privileged to knowDaboh as having had a covenantwith his Maker. “If I reach 70years, God may take me awayat any point afterwards.” Godgranted him his wish and Dabohdid not die until he passed the 70year mark. He will surely bemissed by widows to whom hegave a monthly upkeep; studentswho went to school because hepaid the fees and destitutes whoate because the kind-heartedDaboh supplied the food.

The untold side oflate Godwin Daboh

Mario Gomez missedplenty of chances lastnight but he finally

makes a telling contributionright at the death when hescored to break the deadlockthat was advantage RealMadrid.

Bayern are now in poleposition to return to Munich forthis year's Champions Leaguefinal on May 19, when they willface either holders Barcelona orChelsea, who meet in the firstleg of their semifinal today.

Philipp Lahm had cut indown the byline on the rightand crossed into the six-yardbox where Gomez was waitingto slide in among a bunch ofbodies to score his 40th (andpotentially his most important)goal of the season.

It was the needed responseto the threat of the Germanswho had been consistent sinceReal's Mesut Ozil drew them onlevel terms.

Cristiano Ronaldo's casualeffort was saved by ManuelNeuer but the ball bounced offhis grip allowing KarimBenzema to latch on it, but hismis-kick ball shot back to thePortuguese winger and he thentees up the Germaninternational Ozil to tap homeunchallenged.

Bayern had a penalty calldenied early on but put thatbehind them when FranckRibery seized on Sergio Ramos'inability to clear a corner andsmashed the ball into the net.

It was a massive goal forBayern, who had started thegame really well. The goal wasjust the first time that Madridhave been behind in theChampions League this season.

There was a melee in thedying stages after substituteThomas Mueller was heavilyfouled by Madrid replacementMarcelo, who was shown ayellow card, but Bayern nowhave everything to play for inthe return leg in Spain.

MUSINGSMUSINGSMUSINGSMUSINGSMUSINGSBy

Garba Shehu

garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Mario Gomez