THE NIGERIAN
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
The Nigerian
PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol. 38 • NO.307 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 20 13 • N 100. 0 0 VIEW POINT Page 18 Improving Nigeria’s transportation system via the dutch model
Edo House resumes, adopts business calendar By KEN ABU
BENIN CITY – Edo State House of Assembly resumed yesterday for the second quarter of the
third session of the fifth assembly and adopted a business calendar of 74 days as its first major assignment. The business calendar
was adopted following a presentation of the proposal by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Philip Shaibu during plenary session.
According to him, the calendar which started yesterday is expected to terminate on December 20, 2013. Continues on page 2
Vehicle Registration
INTERNATIONAL FEATURES
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Obama trying to sway war-weary public on Syria
Police begin biometric exercise
ABUJA - The Nigeria Police will from September 16, change the process of vehicle registration from the analogue Central Motor Registry (CMR) to a digital Biometric Central Motor Registration (BCMR) system. The BCMR is a would be used to verify particulars of technological means of the attaching automobile vehicles, rather than owner’s personal data to manual checking. Mba also said that the his or her vehicle for proper identification and BCMR would assist in addressing the protection. The force spokesman, incidences of car theft, Mr. Frank Mba, explained kidnapping and other at a news conference crimes, associated with yesterday in Abuja that the use of vehicles. “To effectively combat the new system was part of efforts in repositioning terrorism, prevent crimes, and the police to effectively apprehend prosecute offenders, the tackle crimes and terror. Under the system, force will from Sept. 16, hand-held machine change the registration
process of vehicles from the old analogue CMR to new digital BCMR system. “The decision
informing the introduction of the BCMR is against the backdrop of contemporary security challenges bordering on
terrorism, high incidence of car theft, kidnapping and other crimes.’’ Mba said that the system was designed for forensic analysis where fingerprints could be matched or verified against registered fingerprints collected during the registration.
He stressed that the database would be made available to other sister security agencies. “We are going to make the database open to our sister agencies. “If for example other security organisations Continues on page 2
Plans to shutdown private varsities
Legal practitioner cautions NANS By INNOCENT OMOAKA
BENIN CITY – The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has been cautioned on its plan to shut down private universities across the country over the lingering impasse between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The caution was made during a private radio station morning programme monitored in Benin City. Contributing to discussions on the NANS plan, Barr. Victor Okoh called on NANS to be careful on how it goes about protesting over the impasse between federal government and ASUU on non-implementation of agreement reached by both parties.
According to Barr. Okoh, NANS does not have any right to shut down private universities as a way of protesting over the dispute. He however, called on the students body to take their protest to the National Assembly and the Presidency, as Private universities are not part of the issue at stake. Also, he described the notion of the students’ body to shut down private varsities as illogical as most of the political class have their children in schools outside the shores of the country.
Similarly, the sub-Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Dr. Sunday Adebayo on his part, called on government to act fast in resolving the impasse. According to him, the planned action of NANS to shut down private varsities as a way to BACK TO SCHOOL: Pupils of Ogbe Primary School in Benin City, in their classroom as schools resumed Continues on page 2 from long vacation yesterday.
Corpse of police inspector still missing
By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
BENIN CITY – The Corpse of the retired
Police Inspector reportedly buried alive in an evil forest in Edo State, remains missing after four months of well-
coordinated search carried out by operatives
Suntai’s health: Court grants Falana leave
ABUJA - A Federal High Court on Monday granted leave for an application for order of mandamus to compel the Attorney General of
to obtain info from AGF
the Federation (AGF) to produce information on Gov. Danbaba Suntai’s state of health.
Justice Sylvester Chukwuma of the court in Abuja, who gave Mr Femi Falana (SAN) the leave in
a ruling on an exparte motion, held that the reliefs were in Continues on page 2
of zone ‘5’ Police Headquarters, Benin City. The Assistant Inspector – General (AIG) of Police in charge of the zone, Mr. Hashimu Salihi Argungu exclusively told The Nigerian OBSERVER that the remains of the
late retried Police Inspector is yet to be recovered. The AIG vowed that the police would not rest on their oars until the corpse is recovered and other fleeing suspects arrested and made to face the law. He said their collaborators have been remanded in Oko Federal Prison, Benin City, since Continues on page 2
THE NIGERIAN
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
News
Edo House resumes, adopts business Continued from page 1 calendar He disclosed that upon implementation, the calendar shall have 16, 22, 21 and 15 days for the months of September, October, November and December respectively. Added to the 50 days calendar for the first quarter, it would amount to a total of 124 days of legislative activities for the first two quarters of the third session of the fifth assembly.
Explanation to parliament the essence of the lengthy period of the quarter, the Majority Leader said it is to enable parliament effectively carry out their oversight functions, including ministerial briefings by commissioners briefing by local government council and Budget presentation by the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Parliament, during plenary session also announced the
receipt of a letter from the office of the Governor requesting the confirmation of for nominees for the membership of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). According to the letter signed by secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, 30 copies of the Curriculum Vitae of the
nominees have been forwarded to parliament for consideration. The nominees are Stephen Alao (Chairman), while Dr. Ann Aisosa Amadasun, Mallam Sule Ali and Mr. Dove Momodu are members. The House standing committee on Education has been mandated to screen the nominees and forward its report to parliament within one week for consideration ahead of confirmation.
Police begin biometric exercise
Continued from page 1 want to carry investigation and they need to get information from our database, we will make the information available to them.’’ He said that the new system was capable of capturing 20 million fingerprints per second, an equivalent of two million people at 10 prints per person. “As a store of information, it will provide a one-stop forensic base for all manners of investigations which will greatly enhance policing in tracking missing cars and preventing crimes,’’ he said. Mba said that registration under the BCMR could be done at designated banks, online and police commands across the nation. He said that motorists were expected to pay N3,500 to register their vehicles under the system, while owners of Rickshaw (Keke NAPEP) would pay N1,500 for the registration. Responding to questions, the spokesman said that the BCMR was not a duplication of the registration being done by the FRSC but complementing the
commission. According to him, substantial equipment has been procured for the system as personnel have been adequately trained to man it. On the deadline for the registration, Mba said that no
time frame would be given for now. He, however, said that the police had begun aggressive sensitisation on the need for motorists to migrate from the analogue CMR to the BCMR. “First of all, we want to
He recall that the victims, Elder Samuel Ekhoruyimwen Ajayi, 82, the Head (Odionwere) of Oghobaghase Community, formerly known as Orogun Camp was on his way to settle a dispute in his domain when he was allegedly waylaid and captured by some youths of Ewudu village, near his community. Both communities are located in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. It was gathered that the youths swiftly took Elder Samuel Ajayi to an evil forest near their community and buried him alive. His sudden disappearance on Friday, May 10, 2013
prompted his children in Benin City to report to the Police who declared him missing after 24 hours of futile efforts to ascertain his whereabouts. Following intelligent reports, undercover agents led by one sergeant (name withheld) of zone ‘5’ Police Headquarters, Benin City apprehended one Osamudiamen Uwaila and six others, including the Chief Priest of Ovia Deity in Ewudu Village, Pa. Stephen Oviawe, 78. Osamudiamen Uwaila during his parade before
Corpse of police inspector still newsmen last June stated that Continued from page 1 missing he and others, including those June.
Court grants Falana leave to obtain info from AGF
Continued from page 1
accordance with inherent procedure. “Having gone through the statement, address and, of course, the reliefs sought by the applicant, they ought to be granted. “In the circumstance, the court will only grant the leave for the applicant to seek order of mandamus for the purpose for which he has brought the motion exparte,’’ he said. The vacation judge held that the case be re-assigned to a regular court as proceedings at the vacation court will terminate by Sept. 13. The matter was therefore, adjourned to Sept. 23 for the hearing of the substantive suit. Falana, a human rights crusader, had brought the motion pursuant to Order 34 Rules 1 and 3 of the High Court Procedure Rules 2009, and Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011. Earlier, the applicant had argued that the above statutes gave him the ‘locu standi’ to demand information on the state of mental and physical health of the Taraba governor. He further argued that the refusal of the respondent to accede to his request dated Aug. 27 was illegal and
encourage new car owners to register their vehicles under the new BCMR, instead of the CMR. “We are also encouraging old car owners to migrate to BCMR not just for national security but for the safety of their vehicles.’’
unconstitutional, adding that it violated Section 3 of the FoIA 2011. According to Falana, Section 4 of FoIA compels such request to be granted within seven days, while Section 7 of the same law empowers the applicant to challenge the denial in court. “My Lord, I painstakingly and diligently applied for the procedure but my request was not responded to; I am urging the court to grant this application in the interest of justice,’’ he said. Falana explained that the respondent did not adduce any reasons why the information he requested for was not made available to him. “The time allowed by the Act within which such information is to be provided has since elapsed,’’ he said. NAN reports that Suntai was out of the state for medical treatment in Germany and the U.S. for about 10 months following injuries he sustained in a plane crash on Oct. 25, 2012. The applicant argued that Suntai, who has returned to Taraba, has been unable to report to his office to perform his constitutional duties.
still at large plotted and killed Elder Ajayi over his role in a dispute between his village Ewudu and Orogun. Pa. Stephen Oviawe admitted to have accompanied the gang, who, sensing danger went and relocated the corpse from the first grave to a yet-to-be identified grave in the evil forest. Efforts to locate the grave through Pa. Stephen Oviawe who led the Police search team to the evil forest, near Ewudu Community failed.
EDSG warns illegal LG haulage By THOMPSON tax collectors ERHOMONSELE
BENIN CITY - Edo State Government has warned all agents of some local government Areas that are still in the habit of blocking the highways and collecting revenue on haulage fees and road tax to desist from their activities, which is tarnishing the image of the state government and compromising the effort of the present administration to make life more meaningful and bearable for the good people of Edo state. Ministry of Special Duties, Oil and Gas while giving the warning yesterday noted that some elements purporting to act on behalf of some local government councils still engage in the illegal duties that contravenes section 2 subsection 2 of the law on Taxes and Levies by the Joint Tax Board. Edo State Commissioner for Special Duties, Oil and Gas, Ambassador Orobosa OmoOjo (JP) who endorsed the statement made available to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in Benin City yesterday informed the general public. “Public is also informed that the State Joint Tax Committee set up by the Executive Governor of the state, Comrade Adams Aliu
Oshiomhole to harmonise tax and levies collected in Edo state by the state government and local government councils has since directed that local government councils should desist from collecting levies on Haulage Fees and Road Tax and stay away from the highway. The Committee has also directed that council may collect levies as contained in Part III of the schedule on Taxes and levies (approved list for collection) Act from motor parks located at quarries and borrow pits (where they exist) designated for that purpose”, the statement said. “From the fore-going, it is pertinent to reiterate Government position that collection of levies by Ovia North East Local Government at Oluku Axis contravenes the existing Tax Laws and the directive of the Governor to rid our roads of activities of these image saboteurs,” the statement concludes.
Legal practitioner cautions NANS
Continued from page 1 press home their call for both parties to resolve their differences could lead to the break down of law and order.
Edo launches First Open Portal In Africa By OYENMWEN OMOROGBE BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will launch Nigerian first open Data Portal on Thursday 12th September, 2013. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor Peter Okhiria, says Edo will become the first State Government in Nigerian and the first sub-national Government in Africa to launch an open Data Portal, joining over 200 Governments world wide that are currently pursuing open Data.
The statement adds that the open Data is part of the activities marking the 2013, Edo State Technology Day with the Theme: “Fostering Governance with Technology.” The statement reads in parts: “The event in a platform for leaders and participants in the technology sector from states across Nigeria to show case products and innovation and to highlight IT initiatives of governments and companies.” It adds that the open Data would have the potential to generate innovation, new applications and services that would create new economic opportunities and jobs.
Uneme communities to launch N100m Educ Fund BENIN CITY – The people of Uneme Communities under the umbrella of Uneme National Development Association (UNDA) within and outside Nigeria is set to Launch N100 million Education Fund in Benin City. This was disclosed by the President (UNDA), Sir. Dayo Alabi shortly after a meeting with Royal Fathers and representatives of Uneme Land held weekend in the State Capital. He said the launch scheduled to hold on Saturday 12 th October 2013, in Benin City, is to facilitate social, economic and educational development of Uneme land. Edo State had suffered high level neglect from successive governments in the past.\ He however commended the present government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in his efforts at building educational infrastructure in Uneme Communities. He added that government cannot meet the ever increasing demands of the people stressing the urgent need to rescue the communities by complementing the state government’s efforts. Speaking with The Nigerian OBSERVER, the President Uneme National Development Association (UNDA), Sir. Dayo Alabi lauded the support received from Hon. Peter Akpatason of the Federal House of Representatives and Hon. Dele Iyase of the Edo
State House of Assembly. He said the Association has also published a historical book titled “Cultural History of Uneme adding that it has been adjudged the best compiled and produced historical books of any community in Nigeria. Earlier in an address of welcome, Sir Dayo Alabi unfolded the activities of the Association in an enlarged meeting with royal fathers and representatives of chapters. He commended the group for its effective dispute and crises resolution stressing that Imiava/Ogbonna, Imiava Chietaincy dispute, Anegbette/Ifeku, Erhumu/ Okpella and Uzanu chieftaincy disputes were some areas (UNDA) has brought in peace and reconciliation to Uneme Land. He stated the objectives of UNDA to include; scholarship award to indigents students from Uneme Communities at Secondary Schools and tertiary level. Also, the renovation of damaged school buildings/ infrastructure that cannot wait for government intervention, provision of science and computer equipment amongst others. The Education fund launch would have Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole as Chief Guest of Honour while the Grand Royal Father of the Day would be the Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin and Chief Abu Inu Umoro as chief Launcher.
WARRAKE (OWAN EAST) – Against strong agitations for local government autonomy in the country, Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Lucky James has asserted that it is needless, as necessary freedom for the tier of government already exists. Chief James who was spoke with newsmen at the seventh day Fidau prayers in honour of the mother of the Chairman, Hartland and Setraco conglomerate cautioned that full fledged autonomy without control would lead to disaster. The local government commissioner recalled the unpleasant experiences in the local government system in some parts of the country in the past where teachers salaries were taken to the doldrums, pointing out that education would be ruined if allowed to drift to that level. He explained that the current arrangement for the prompt
payment of teachers salaries was a positive development for the growth of education in the state as the local councils could access their funds and are free to determine their projects and programmes. Chief Lucky James observed that under Nigeria’s 1999 constitution which guaranteed the country as a federating units, essentially with the states and federal governments, local governments are subject to management control as a function of the House of Assembly regulations. The Commissioner described the current set of council chairman in the state as very lucky, pointing out that they had been able to have a smooth take off due to the stringent financial measures put up by Governor Adams Oshiomhole, which according to him, saved a lot of money as much as N500 million on the average.
By ADAMS OYIBOKE/ OYENMWEN OMOROGBE
Commissioner opposes LG By MORRISON HAYBLE autonomy
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Inside Edo LG To Inaugurate Projects Tomorrow AFUZE – Owan East Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. (Barr) Jimoh Ijegbai, would Wednesday, Setempber 11, 2013, commission a number of projects executed by his administration. A statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the chairman, Comrade Dele
Enaifoghe, indicated that the commissioning ceremony would commence at 9.am, with a block of six classrooms at Akugbe Primary School, Arokho and the inauguration of the perimeter fencing of Ugbevboje Primary School, Warranke at 11.am. Others are the renovated
Employment: OYA Gives Kudos To Okomu Oil BENIN CITY- A socio-cultural organization, Ovia Youth Alliance (OYA) has commended Okomu Oil Company over its proposed employment of over 100 indigenes of Udo Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area, Edo State, describing it as a right step in the right direction. This commendation came from the Founder and President of Ovia Youth Alliance, Mr. Drew Uyi Ogbomoide, in a chat with The Nigerian OBSERVER in Benin City. He said what corporate bodies should naturally do for their host communities at all times Mr. Ogbomoide, an Edo state indigene based in London, encouraged Okomu Oil Company to also consider sending some youths on educational training within and outside Nigeria as well as improving
the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, especially as the institution and company are within the same local government area. The Ovia Youth Alliance enjoined all stakeholders in the community to work concertedly in ensuring that all corporate bodies, including those in the oil and gas sector operating in the two Ovia Local Government areas emulate the gesture of Okomu Oil Company by engaging in meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for the development of their host communities without settling for anything less. Mr. Ogbomoide and another member of the Ovia Youth Alliance Board of Trustees, Kazeem Bello Osagie lauded the Iyasere of Udo, His Royal Highness Patrick Igbinidu for his role in ensuring that Okomu Oil Company employs indigenes of Okomu.
Evbiamen Grammar School, Evbiamen at 12:30pm and the Referral Medical Centre, Afuze at 1:30pm. Also to be inaugurated are 90,000 note books to be distributed to all public Primary School Pupils in the local Government Area and the distribution of 1,000 desks and chairs to the primary schools to be commissioned. The statement enjoined all lovers of the dividends of democracy to grace the commissioning ceremony.
Children enjoying themselves at the cultural funfair organised by St. Peter’s Military Church, Onitsha on Sunday.
Imiagbese Community Visits LG Boss
OKPELLA – The Chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Suleiman Afegbua has received a delegation of Imiagbese Chiefs and Community Leaders on a courtesy call. Leader of the delegation, High Chief Suberu Usman said their visit was to appreciate the council chairman, following the
ongoing construction of 4 classrooms a block of four classrooms with Headmasters office at Imiagbese Primary School. He stated that no government has ever considered any building in the school, stressing that Hon. Afegbua is the first to construct cement block building in the school. Responding, the council
chairman appreciated God for using him to touch the life of the people of Etsako East Local Government Area. He maintained that he has lobbied previous government to do this project but without success, adding that as chairman, he has to do what is expected of him. He noted that adequate funds have been released to ensure speedy completion of
Council Boss Inaugurates Construction Of School Building OKPELLA – The chairman Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Suleiman Afegbua has inaugurated the construction of four class rooms block with
Head Masters office at Iddo I Primary School Iddo I, Okpella. Represented by the councilor representing ward 8, Hon. Jamilu Shaka Momoh, the council boss
Eldest son of late Prince Friday Imaghodor Oturu Elema, Prince Pedro Elema (right) with other members of the family during the final burial ceremony of the late Elema in Benin City. PHOTO: SOLOMON ENAIGBE.
said the project is in fulfillment of his electioneering promises to the people. He maintained that the hall-mark of democracy and a responsible government is the ability to fulfill electoral promises, noting that education remains the major focus of his administration. While calling on the people to remain loyal to government programmes and policies, he assured them of early completion of the project. Speaking on behalf of the Iddo I community, Mallam Bashiru Braimoh expressed appreciation to the council chairman, stressing that they are living witnesses of the foundation laying ceremony of the new class room block. He described the chairman as a man of his words and promises total support for his administration.
the project, adding that chairs and desks will also be procured for the school to make hearing easy for pupils in Etsako East. Speaking after the visit were High Chief Dauda Braimoh and a youth leader, Irarefe Pius Adio who described the visit as heart warming and promised to mobilize the people to support the government at all times. Meanwhile, the Etsako East Local Government Chairman, Hon. Suleiman Afegbua has visited the owners of the building located in Imianokpe in Iddo II Okpella which was gutted by fire recently. Speaking on behalf of the people, Chief Mallam Suleiman Ibrahim, who conducted the chairman round the building, said the cause of the fire was unknown. He further stated that though no life was lost, several property were lost. He, however, called on the government and other relevant agencies to come to their aid. Owner of the building, old blind, Sufianu Braimoh also called for immediate assistance. Responding the council chairman promised to assist personally and through government intervention. He gave N50,000 (fifty thousand naira) to assist the victims and directed them to write officially to the council.
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Egor Residents Lament Epileptic Power Supply USEH – The residents of Useh, in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State have been overwhelmed by darkness after the construction of a new PHCN sub-station at Ova Road in Egor. Narrating their experience to our reporter, a concerned resident in the area, Comrade Imuagbonhen Johnson lamented that since they were removed from the Edo Textile Mill road substation sometime last year, they have never had more than three hours electricity supply in a week. Comrade Imuagbonhen said that as a result of lack of electricity in Useh, both social and economic activities are affected badly while their residents now sleep with one eye open as the security of lives and
properties are threatened. Comrade Imuagbonhen therefore called on the management of PHCN, Benin Zonal Office to come to their aid, since according to him, the sub-station at Ova Road has failed to supply electricity to Useh and it’s environs. He opined that the whole of Useh Community should be reconnected back to its former line at Edo Textile Mill Road junction.. Despite the epileptic services, he said the PHCN has continued to charge them exorbitantly for unconsumed power every month.
Inside Edo
L-R: President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA), Dr. Solomon Nyangba; Vice President, Agriculture, Funsho Oridedi and Director-General, Mr. Joe Wenegieme, during the 8th pre-trade news conference in Abuja yesterday.
Care For Vulnerable: Gov Oshiomhole To
Identify With Catholic Nurses BENIN CITY - Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams
Oshiomhole has assured Christian Nurses in Edo
President, Solid Women Initiative for Development, Chief Queen Ume-Ezeoke (left), receiving a merit award from the Chairman, Igbo World Union (IWU), Niger chapter, Mr. Moses Onyegbule, at IWU award ceremony in Suleja yesterday.
State that his administration will continue to identify with their goals and aspirations of providing care and support to the vulnerable groups in our society. In his goodwill message to the 25th Annual National Conference of Catholic Nurses Guild of Nigeria, held in Benin City, Comrade Oshiomhole said that his administration appreciates the pivotal role of Nurses in the healthcare delivery of the state. Represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Aihanuwa Eregie who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Peter Ugbodaga, said Oshiomhole will continue to support and sustain the training of
State Commandant Applauds Commandant-General the vigilante group
Growth Of VGN: By DANIEL EDOBOR
BENIN CITY - The rapid growth of the Vigilante Group of Nigerian(VGN) in Edo State and Nigeria has been attributed to the hard work and dedication of the Commandant General Alhaji Ali Sokoto and Deputy commandant Prince Sylvester Eweka. Edo State Commandant of the group commandant Olusegun
Adebusoye made this known in Benin City recently while Decorating Margaret Oserohworo to the post of Chief Superintendent of VGN in charge of medical and welfare. He said the group is made up of men and woman who are commandant ready to fight crime in the society, stressing that they are
trained by professionals towards reducing crime rate in the society. According to him, the primary aim of the group was to detect crime at grassroot level make arrest and later hand over them to the law enforcement agent. Commandant Adebusoyi how ever called on spirited individuals and cooperate bodies to assist
serving in their areas of residence or operation to enable them achieve their set objectives. He advise members of the group to live up to the standard set up by the commandant General and Deputy Commandant General adding that all Eyes are on them, saying that hard working members of the group will always be rewarded by way of promotions.
Student Nurses and Midwives through the provision of infrastructural facilities at the State School of Nursing and Midwifery. He promised to provide the necessary learning infrastructure for the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery as well as the renovation and furnishing of the completed student Nursing hostel. The Governor who expressed the belief that the objectives of the association was to provide opportunity for promoting the image of Nursing Profession and providing service to humanity enjoined them to be shining models, not only
to women in the profession but to others in the society in terms of good moral virtues. In his opening speech, the chairman of the occasion, Dr. Anthony Ihenyen, Managing Director, Ihenyen Medical Centre commended the nurses for providing services to humanity. Harmonization of Healthcare system in Nigeria, the way forward.” National President of Catholic Nurses Guild of Nigeria, Mrs. Rosalyn Okoobo commended Governor Oshiomole for sponsoring the hosting of the conference which is geared towards improving their services in the healing ministry of the church.
Friday Elema Buried BENIN CITY - The Venue for the final burial rite for late Prince (Dr.) Friday Imaghodor Otutu Elema was packed full with important personalities that came to celebrate the life and times of Elema. Speaking with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, the eldest son of the deceased Prince Pedro Elema said the crowd and turn out of people for the burial ceremony was a testimony that his father has lived a very good life, as well as touched and transformed the lives of a lot of people and gave hope to the hopeless. “Am happy today, my father will be happy as well for this gathering and with this
befitting burial ceremony accorded him, our intention is finally fulfilled, am sure my father will be happy where ever he is.” He told our reporter that the event has shown the level of unity in the family. “We all are in unity today because of the role of our father in our lives; he played a dual role as a father and a mother. He instilled discipline in us and today we all are one big united family. We are inseparable, I call on all my siblings to continue in this unity and keep daddy’s dreams alive and ensure the family name continues. Daddy is gone but his legacies must be kept alive”.
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Inside Edo Focus On Self Devt, MD Urges their potentials in By INNOCENT OMOAKA Youths actualize nation building.
Former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki; Governor Chibuike Amaechi; PDP factional National Chairman, Kawu Baraje and former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje, after a meeting with the PDP Board of Trustees in Abuja recently.
WARRI (Delta State) The Managing Director of Jemimah’s Initiative for Youth Development (JIYD), Miss Emurotu Jemimah Emurotu has stressed the need for Nigerian youths to focus more on self development in their quest to be successful in life. Miss Emurotu made the call at a seminar tagged, “Campus Talk Delta” organized by JIYD, a NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organization at the
N/Delta: Sure-P Empowers 1,080
Persons ASABA- Alhaji Isa Clark, Zonal Coordinator, Delta South Senatorial District of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) says the programme has empowered 1,080 poor people in the Niger Delta. Clark said this in an interview with newsmen in Asaba. He said that the 1,080 persons were empowered under the Community Services Women and Youths Employment (CSWYE) of SURE-P.
He said that the beneficiaries were drawn from eight local government areas of the zone. He added that there had not been any programme in the past that impacted the poor as much as the SURE-P. “In my zone a total of 1,080 persons have been engaged under the CSWYE in the short period in both the pilot and the first ramp-up of the programme. “The services being rendered by these people include cleaning of market places, hospitals and healthcare centres, traffic
control, vigilance, among others,’’ Clark said. The coordinator lauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration for the initiative and called for its sustenance. He, however, called for full removal of subsidy on petrol products, saying that it would lead to empowering the poor more, as demonstrated in the partial subsidy removal. “If the SURE-P project succeeds, it will encourage the full removal of the oil subsidy. “By every assessment of the partial removal of oil
subsidy, the programme is succeeding and if sustained, Nigerians will be pleased to have a full implementation of subsidy removal,’’ he said. The coordinator said that unless the poor were empowered, government’s vision 20:2020 might not be fully realised.
weekend in Warri, Delta state. She said the need for Nigerian youths to focus on self development is more crucial at a time when the incidence of youths engaging in crime is on the increase and in a period when education has fallen below standard. She however expressed the need for Nigerian youths to be educated in developing their full potentials and empowered with skills that would reduced the high incidence of social vices among them in the society. Speaking at the seminar with the theme, “Youth and the Need for Leadership Development in Nigeria”, Dr. Akpo Mudiaga Odje, a constitutional lawyer stressed the need for youths in Nigeria to be properly orientated and developed to
He said, “the reason for the rise in crime rate in recent time is as a result of the failures of leadership and followership in Nigeria, which also account for why youths can no longer defer immediate self-gratification for longterm intellectual pursuit.” Dr. Mudiaga however expressed the need for the youths to imbibe good orientation and development towards harnessing their full potentials for nation building. Guest Speaker, Mr. Lanre Ogunnimo challenged the Nigerian youths in to have a revolution of the mind and harnessed the power of their creativity in building a virile nation. The seminar had in attendance, students of tertiary institutions across Delta state.
Constitutional Lawyer Calls For Unconditional Release Of Ozekhome By INNOCENT OMOAKA WARRI (Delta State) - A constitutional lawyer, Dr. Akpo Mudiaga Odje has called on the kidnappers of human rights activist, Mike Ozekhome to unconditionally release him to his family and Nigerians. Speaking with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER at the weekend in Warri, Delta State, Dr. Akpo said Ozekhome who has identified with the struggles of the ordinary Nigerians should not be subjected to such inhuman condition for a ransom. He said that such ugly and unhealthy incident which human rights activist of Ozekhome caliber is been subjected to would not in any way deter the on-going struggles of activists like Ozekhome in the fight for the common man. Akpo said Ozekhome who
has been leading the struggle to empower youths in Nigeria should not be made to suffer from vices he has been fighting to eliminate among the youths. He called for the empowerment Nigerian youths with skills in personal and leadership development which would guarantee a secured future for all Nigerians. Dr. Akpo condemned the recent fictionalization of the country’s political system by the political class, which he said has reared it’s ugly head among the youths as seen in the fictionalization of the National Youth Council Nigeria (NYCN) which resulted to the sacking of the Minister of Youth Development. According to him, such incident where fictionalization is now the order of the day portray a
dangerous trend for Nigeria’s future, especially, among the youths. He called for the democratization of the entire electoral process in the country, where the wishes of the people would be respected and guaranteed in all spheres of life.
PDP factional Deputy National Chairman, Dr. Sam Sam Jaja (2nd left) and Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State (right), after their meeting with the PDP Board of Trustees in Abuja recently.
Minister Urges NPA To Meet Performance PORT HARCOURT- The only on input and output of concession had brought a lot of Target Minister of Transport, Senator each ministry but on the direct successes. Idris Umar, has charged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to work hard to meet its Performance Agreement target. The minister, represented by Mr. Nebolisa Emordi, a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said this in Port Harcourt at the Rivers Port centenary celebration. “The board and management of NPA is enjoined to work assiduously towards meeting the targets set in the performance agreement.’’ He said the challenge was not
impact of each project on the citizenry. The minister said that the key indicator of NPA include repositioning of the ports system in line with global best practices. He said the repositioning would involve volume of cargo input, average turnaround of vessels, dwell time, 48 hours cargo clearance and 24 hours port operation, among others. The Managing Director of the NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi, said that port
He said that cargo traffic had increased while the quality of services at the ports had also improved. Abdullahi noted that there was reduction in turnaround time for vessels, reduced cargo dwell time, while there was safety and security of persons, ships and the cargo in the ports. He, however, said that the non-passage of the proposed Nigerian Ports and Harbours Authority Bill had affected NPA’s ability to ensure technical and economic
regulation at the ports. The General Manager, Eastern Ports, Mr. Sonny Nwobi, said that ship traffic had increased after the port’s concession. “Pre-concession cargo stood at 34,758,256 metric tonnes as against 41,996768 metric tonnes in post concession period,” he stated. The Rivers Port Manager, Mrs. Carolyn Ufere, complained that the road to the port was in deplorable state.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
South-West APC: Stakeholders
Condemn Ajimobi
By RAHEEM IBRAHIM
Members on the Nigerian Community in Kenya during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan recently
LAGOS - The crisis in the newly formed All Progressive Party (APC) in Oyo State has taken a new dimension as some major stakeholders in the party condemned Governor Abiola Ajimobi for highhandedness and hijacking of the party for selfish interest. The group who made this condemnation after a crucial meeting at the Felele residence of late Alhaji Lam Adesina, former leader of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) also berated Ajimobi for implementing his policies and projects without human face. It said members would resist any attempt by the party to foist a governorship candidate for 2015 poll that does not emerge democratically. The group also accused Governor Ajimobi of running his
Capacity Building Needed In Health Sector -Aregbesola
LAGOS-The Governor of Osun, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, said in Lagos that capacity building was needed in the health sector. He said this while presenting a paper at a two-day capacity building workshop organised by the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN). Reports say that Aregbesola was represented by a Permanent Secretary, Dr Oladele Olalekan. “The nature of medicine calls for a doctor to be trained again
and again, whenever advances in his field arise. “There are certain advances that have become routine around the world, but are only just arriving in Nigeria. That is why our people are going abroad in search of treatment. “According to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), over N125 billion is spent every year on medical treatment abroad,” he said. Aregbesola said that medical practitioners who did not
improve their craft were the biggest danger to the county’s medical profession. He commended the AGPMPN for the workshop, which was meant to update healthcare delivery system. Speaking on the different strategies used to finance healthcare, Dr Jide Idris, Lagos State, Commissioner for Health, said that financing health was a complex task. He explained that in Lagos state alone, there were about 21
Demonstration: Govt
Accuses Opponents By ABIODUN AFOLABI IBADAN-Oyo State Government is pointing accusing fingers at its political opponents in the state saying they are the brains behind the demonstration by some traders in the New Gbagi International Market which paralised business transaction for about an hour in the business nerve centre recently, traders numbering some hundreds took to the roads with placards accusing the state government of planning to displace them and re-allocate their stores and stalls to its supporters . During the pandemonium , the traders visited the state-owned radio and television before leaving for the state government secretariat where they were informed that the state governor , Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the Commissioner for Trade and Investment ,Mr. Adebayo Olagbenro had both gone out for other state assignments . Speaking with the newsmen shortly after a parley with the representatives of the various associations in the market , Mr Olagbenro expressed dismay and accused their political opponents of being the ones that engineered the protest and that “ the ignoble
act by the protesting traders will not deter us from going on our transformation exercise .” He said “ It is rather unfortunate that the traders allowed themselves to be used by the opponents for their (politicians) own selfish end , saying at no meeting or gathering we in the coridor of power ever took such decision capable of bring hardship to our good people and we are seeing the rumour as not just callous but hopeless one that should be ignored by the right thinking people . He however deposed that “ May be the protesters are ignorant of what the government is doing and if it is so they should make themselves available for proper education as regards the working of the present administration in the state rather than jumping to the streets and end up wasting their business hours on mere rumour that will not do them any good at the end of the day.” Also decrying the action by those traders, the General Secretary of the New Gbagi Traders Council of Elders, Mr. Kunle Folorunso claimed that the protesters are not members of the textile dealers who are the bona fide operators of the market. Therefore a one-week sanction had been taken against them [protesters] and that every attempt
is being made to fish out the organisers. He assured the state government of their support and cooperation saying that “ it is rather unfortunate that this time around when we are feeling the impact of the state government such ignoble has to happen.”
million people, with more arriving everyday to seek for fortune. “We have a huge disease burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases; yet, we have to fight for financing. “Budgetary allocation is still not as it should be, but it has greatly improved in recent years,” he said. Idris added that after the money was allocated, there was the issue of distribution because the health industry had many needs. “There are issues of quality, facilities, human resources, and training. Without a working tax system, who can fund health insurance?” he asked. Idris said that data collection and use was another important issue, but unfortunately, a lot of data, particularly from the public sector, was not accurate. “There is no way we can make proper plans, once you plan from false data, everything you do will be wrong.
“Capacity building is another thing we lack, but very important to us. It takes time, but it is possible if we are committed and stick to it,” he said. He said that in the past the government had a policy of sending people abroad to get treatment for conditions that the Nigerian healthcare facilities could not manage. According to Idris, the government is now tired of sending people abroad, when Nigerians have the capacity.
government alone, accusing him of abandoning also ‘those that worked for his success in 2011 governorship election’. The group consists of late Lam loyalists known as Lamists, and chieftains of the defunct CPC and ANPP. Among the personalities in attendance were the governorship candidates of the defunct CPC and ANPP, Alhaji Shittu Adebayo and Wale Murphy, their chairmen, Alhaji Abideen Oladimeji and Alhaji Rasaq Folounso, former Oyo State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperative, Kazeem Adedeji, and Lamist coordinator, Dr. Kolawole Olayinka. The group pointed out that the recent inauguration of APC in the state by Governor Ajimobi was a sham as the governor singlehandedly organized it as a one man show without carrying other members from the other parties and factions along. In his speech, Dr. Olayinka stated that the Lamists and other progressives in the party would ensure that Ajimobi does not return for second term stressing that the state could no longer cope with an arrogant person who runs the state like a personal business. “People of Oyo State are clamouring for a better change not the bad change the incumbent administration has introduced. People of Oyo State want a leader who can identify with them. They want a leader they will have access to. They want a leader that will serve them genuinely”, he added. Olayinka said that APC was yet to be inaugurated in the state adding that very soon, the party would be properly inaugurated.
End Strike, Group Urges OGBOMOSO (OYO FG, ASUU STATE) -The National Progressive Movement of Nigeria (NPMN) has called on the Federal Government and ASUU to embrace dialogue and end the ongoing strike. The call was contained in a statement, signed by the
Bilateral meeting between Nigeria and Kenya in Kenya recently.
Chairman of the socio-cultural group, Alhaji Misbaudeen Adekojo in Ogbomoso. Adekojo said there was need for early resolution of issues, to end the strike for the students to go back to school, noting that there was need for government to provide more funds for the education sector. He said that problems of unemployment and crime were on the increase, due to the clossure of schools as a result of the strike. Adekojo urged government to find ways to resolve the problems of in the education sector. It would be recalled that the ongoing strike, which commenced on July 1, was as a result of government’s inability to implement an agreement it entered into with ASUU. The union adopted a resolution to go on strike after its national executive council meeting, held at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye in Ogun last June. Government has, however, assured through the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, that it was working hard to resolve the impasse.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Across The Nation FRSC To Launch Ember Months’ Campaign KAFANCHAN(KADUNA)The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, has said that this year’s ‘ember months’ campaign would soon commence in the area. the “ember month” campaign would cover the months of September, October, November and December. The Unit Commander of the commission, Mr. Jacob Iyima, told newsmen in Kafanchan that the national campaign programme would kick-off in Abuja and the 36 states of the federation simultaneously. “Although we are still waiting for signal from our headquarters, all arrangements have been concluded,” he said. Iyima said the launching of the event would reduce loss of lives on the country’s highways as it would educate motorists on how to avoid road hazards. “The commission is set to reduce the number of lives lost to road crashes during this period,’’ Iyima said The commander added that the campaign would be intensified this year, as the commission had
planned to visit major and road side parks. He noted that high vehicular activities were usually recorded
during the ‘ember months’ because of increasing ceremonies and events. Iyima identified over speeding,
over loading, bad vehicular condition and usage of worn out tyres as causes of most road crashes on Nigerian roads.
Former Minister of Youth Development, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir (left) and Gov. Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State at the State’s PDP stakeholders meeting in Sokoto recently.
National Amirah of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Hajiya Amina Omoti (left), presenting Holy Quran to Vice President Namadi Sambo during F O M W A N E x e c u t i v e s courtesy visit on the Vice President in Abuja
ABUJA- The Police have arraigned 25-year-old Elizabeth Chukwu in an Abuja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman, Joy Eyo. The accused, a resident of Daki-Biyu village in the FCT, was arraigned on one count of causing grievous hurt. The police prosecutor, Insp. Audu Bitrus, said Francis Eyo, husband of the nominal complainant, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on August 28. The prosecutor said the accused and complainant were neighbours in the same compound where they were washing clothes before having a misunderstanding over an undisclosed issue. Bitrus said that in the process, the accused physically assaulted the complainant which led to her bleeding through her private part.
Woman, 25, Arraigned Over Assault
GUMMI (ZAMFARA)The Zamfara Government has said it would spend over N120 million to relocate Gutsura village of Gummi Local Government Area, due to persistent flooding. The Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Atiku Maradun, said this in Gummi during the distribution of relief materials donated to the villagers. He said the community had always experienced flooding and consequent loss of houses
and farm lands during the rainy season. Maradun said the government had earmarked N105 million for the building of 570 houses in new settlement, adding that N18 million had been paid as compensation for the land acquired. According to him, more than 3000 people will be accommodated. Also, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Emergency Management, Alhaji Musa Kwatarkwashi told the victims that relocation exercise would commence as soon as rainy season ends and urged them to be patient. He commended the Zamfara and Federal Governments for their assistance to the victims. In a remark, North West Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Musa Ilallah said the relief materials included over 500 bags of food items, 500 set of mosquito nets, 1,000 blankets, medicine and toiletries. He said at the Gyalenge village primary School where the victims were camped, that the items were donated by the federal government.
Flood: Zamfara
To Relocate Village
Group Cautions Transporters Against Delay Hajj:
ABUJA- Independent Hajj Reporters, a civil society organisation, has cautioned the approved air carriers for this year’s Hajj against delaying pilgrims during their transportation to Saudi Arabia. The group also advised the carriers to adhere to the airlift agreement signed with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to ensure a hitch-free exercise. The National Coordinator of the organisation, Mr Ibrahim Muhammed, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. Muhammed said the caution
was expedient because of Saudi authorities’ resolve to blacklist any airline violating such agreements. “We urge the approved air carriers to comply with all relevant aviation rules and adhere to international best practice when the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims commences. “This warning becomes more imperative in view of the statement issued by Saudi Arabia General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) that it will ban any airline that fails to take pilgrims back on specified time and date in the course of pilgrims airlift for 2013 Hajj.”
He said: “GACA has adopted air safety specifications and standards implemented by European Civil Aviation Safety Agency and it will ban flight blacklisted by the agency from operating to and from the kingdom.” Muhammed said that “in view of the above, air carriers should endeavour to conform to set standard so as not to incur the wrath of Saudi General Authority for Civil Aviation”. The coordinator added that if such situation was allowed to happen, it would not only affect Nigerian pilgrims, but also tamish the image of the country. “We expect full compliance with airlift agreement signed with NAHCON on behalf of
pilgrims, especially in the areas of pilgrims’ rights like in-flight entertainment. “Response to request and enquiries from pilgrims, airline friendliness to pilgrims, announcement and translations, timely conveyance of pilgrims’ luggage and other pilgrims’ rights contained therein,” he said. He further tasked Max Air, which will transport more than 45 per cent of Nigerian pilgrims, to give attention to the conduct of its ground staff. “The conducts of air carrier’s staff who relate with the pilgrims directly on the grounds matter a lot to the psyche of pilgrims,” he said.
He said that as a result of the profuse bleeding, the complainant was rushed to Gwarimpa General Hospital where she had been receiving treatment. The prosecutor urged the court to convict the accused accordingly. The accused, however, denied the allegation. Mr Austine Odechukwu, counsel to the accused, prayed the court to admit his client to bail. Magistrate Abdullahi Illela admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum. He said the sureties must be reasonable and reliable, and must live within the jurisdiction of the court. Illela adjourned the case to September 18 for hearing.
Muhammed said statistics released by NAHCON showed that Max Air would convey 40,527 pilgrims; Kabo, 15,736; Medview, 5,200 and Meridian 3,500. The coordinator commended the Federal Government’s decision to rehabilitate Hajj reception centres nationwide. “We welcome the decision of the Federal Government to set up a committee with a view to overhauling facilities at Hajj reception centres in the country. “A committee under the leadership of NAHCON Chairman Muhammed Bello was last week constituted to assess the condition of the Hajj reception centres,” he said.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Across The Nation
Varsity Denies Fee Hike ANYIGBA (KOGI) The Vice-Chancellor of the Kogi State University (KSU), Prof. Hassan Isah, has said in Anyigba that the institution had not increased tuition fees. Isah, who spoke to reporters during a facility tour of the university, dispelled rumours of 150 per cent increase in tuition fees. He, however, explained that the State Government had inaugurated a visitation panel to evaluate fees being charged in the school and make recommendation on appropriate fees. Isah said that a government white paper was issued in March, which suggested that tuition fees should be increased in the institution. “The white paper is a proposal. As we speak, it has not been implemented. His excellency is in dialogue with relevant stakeholders on the matter,” he said. The news reports state that the white paper suggested tuition fees of N100,000 for students in the state’s university and N50,000 for students of the state’s colleges of education and polytechnic. On the recently established faculty of medicine, the vicechancellor said the programme had taken off with 32 students. He said that the establishment of the medical school was desirable as doctor-patients ratio in the state was not good enough. Isah commended Governor Idris Wada for his favourable disposition to the university and education in general, adding that the institution with six faculties had graduated 1,962 students since inception in 1999. He said that the current students’ population of the institution stood at 19,984, adding that the population was expected to rise to about 23,000 after the 2013/2014 admission exercise.
Govt To Try Defaulters Polio Vaccination:
Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan flanked by her Kenyan counterpart, Madam Margaret Kenyatta as she signs the visitors’ Register on arrival at the SOS children’s village, Nairobi.
WAWA (NIGER) - The Niger Government has pledged to set up mobile courts to try cases of persons who reject polio vaccines for their wards or preaching against acceptance of the vaccination. Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger made the pledge at the flag-off the seventh round of Immunisation Plus Days campaign in Wawa Community in the Borgu Local Government Area of the state. He said that government’s actions followed discovery of new wild polio virus in some parts of the North Central Zone of the country, where Niger belonged. According to the governor, the
State Government is committed to the success of polio immunisation and ridding the state of the scourge. “”The discovery of new wild polio virus calls for our resolve and immediate attention on the need to put measures in place to contain the situation in the areas of outbreak. “All council areas sharing borders with other states should as matter of urgency redouble their efforts in ensuring that all children under the age of five years are captured.” Aliyu said that the state recorded a case of wild polio virus in March 2012, saying that efforts to eradicate polio over the last one year had been rewarding with interruption of transmission in the affected areas. The governor said that the state was recently awarded the most improved state in the federation by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its efforts in immunisation services.
Polio: LG Engages Drummers
Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan holding shovel as she plants a tree during her visit to the SOS Children’s village, Nairobi. She is flanked by her Kenyan counterpart, Madam Margaret Kenyatta.
Army Repels Suspected Terrorists Attack
MAIDUGURI - The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army said it had successfully repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists in some villages in Damboa and Nganzai Local Government Areas of Borno. This is contained in a statement, signed by the Spokesman of the Division, Lt.Col. Sagir Musa, in Maidugiri. “Our troops have successfully
repelled an attack by Boko Haram terrorists in Bulabulin Ngabura village and Gajiram town in Damboa Local Government Area. “They had also repelled attacks in Nganzai Local Government Area by the terrorists last week.’’
He said that the army was alerted, following the invasion of the villages by the terrorists. “Our troops supported by a combat helicopter, trailed the terrorists to their camps and destroyed their hide-outs. “About 50 terrorists lost their lives in the ensuring gun battle.
“Suspected terrorists had stormed Gajiram and Ngabura communities in Nganzai Local Government Area and Bulabulin Ngabura in Damboa Local Government Area, killing about 15 persons last week before they were dislodged by the military.” Musa said.
APC Passes Vote Of No Confidence On KWASIEC OMU-ARAN (KWARA) The APC in Kwara has expressed doubt over the ability of the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) to conduct a free and fair Local Government elections. This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Omu-Aran in the Irepodun Local Government Area of the state. The statement signed by the Spokesman of the APC in Kwara South Senatorial District, Chief Shuaib Olanrewaju, said the commission’s alleged fraudulent act, regarding the Offa rerun
election was a good pointer. It described the announcement of the PDP candidate, Mr Abdulwaheed Olanipekun, as the winner of the rerun election by KWASIEC the chairman as an “electoral fraud”. “We members of APC in Kwara South, in line with all others reject the result of Offa Local Government rerun election, announced by the Chairman of KWSEIC, Mr Uthman Ajidagba. “We hereby call on all security agencies to order the returning officer for the election to
officially announce the authentic result as collated and signed by all the 12 wards polling agents and security officers. “We also expressed our strong lack of confidence in the KWASIEC, led by Ajidagba and that he cannot conduct any free and fair election in the state.” The statement also called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and the Nigeria Guild of Editors to investigate the role played by Radio Kwara in announcing the result of the election, held on Sept. 31. The statement commended the people of Offa Local
Government Area for their steadfastness. It will be recalled that Olanipekun was said to have polled 35, 937 as against 20,161 polled by Saheed Popoola of the APC to emerge winner as announced by KWASIEC. The announcement had attracted condemnation and protests in both Ilorin and Offa by members of APC. The executive of the council had since resumed work after being sworn-in by Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara at the Government House, Ilorin.
ILLELA( SOKOTO STATE) - The Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State has engaged the services of 16 local musical groups to encourage compliance with polio and other immunisations for children in the state. The council’s Director of Health, Hajiya Amina Jibril, made the announcement in Illela at the flag off of the September Sub-Polio Immunisation Days at the Bayan Gida-Ruwa area of the town. Jibril said the strategy contributed toward the large turnout of people at the exercise as over 60 children of less than five years were being immunised. “We are using the local musicians to attract the children and their parents and the system is working for us. “We are also giving out gifts like sweets and biscuits to serve as incentives to the children.” Jibril said the Local Government had earmarked N700,000 to ensure the success of the four-day exercise. The director said that about 87,960 children of five years and below were targeted in the council, adding that the Local Government was working round the clock to ensure that the target was achieved. The Social Mobilisation Officer in the area, Hajiya Binta Aliyu, said the council would do everything possible to sustain the sensitisation to enable parents allow their children to be immunised. Aliyu explained that this had become necessary, to protect children from polio and other child killer diseases. In a similar development, the Gada Local Government Council, said that it was targeting 58,839 children during the exercise. The Director of Health in the council, Alhaji Abdullahi Yabo, said that the council had received 114,600 doses of Oral Polio Vaccines from the State Government to meet the target.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
News Okao Throne: Court Declares
Obazee Heir Apparent
By VICTOR IMADE/ INNOCENT OMOAKA/DAVID ONIMISI LAWANI
BENIN CITY (Edo State) The Area Customary Court sitting at Idogbo in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State and presided over by Mrs. Esther I. Eweka has declared Amadin Solomon Obazee as the rightful heir to the throne as the Okao of Ikpe community. The case with suit No 10ACC/106/09 before the Court had Amadin Solomon Obazee as the plaintiff and Victor Egheneyahior Ekhosuehi as defendant in the dispute of the rightful heir to the throne of Okao of Ikpe community, Ikpoba-Okha Local
Government Area of Edo State. Counsel to the Plaintiff, Barr. Dayo L. Aimofumeh (Esq), leading A.O Asenoquam and S.O Ogene had earlier in a submission prayed the court not to grant the application of the defendant to be declared the rightful heir to the throne as the Okao of Ikpe, which he had earlier laid claimed to. President of the court, leading other members, A.E Airhenbuwa and P.I Eduwa declared that testimonies from witnesses and exhibits earlier admitted before the court had shown that succession to the throne of Okao of Ikpe is not by appointment but by primogeniture. Mrs. Eweka however ruled that Amadin Solomon Obazee has proven his case satisfactorily
and beyond all reasonable doubt that he is the rightful heir to the throne of Okao of Ikpe after showing credible evidence that the position was rightfully passed unto him by his lineage. Also, the president of the court called on the defendant, Victor Egheneyahior Ekhosuehi and others to henceforth stop parading themselves as the Okao of Ikpe community. The court awarded the plaintiff the sum of N100, 000.00 as reward for the damages he suffered during the tussle to the throne of Okao of Ikpe Community.
Newly elected Vice-Chairman, Offa Local Government Area of Kwara, Dr. Yinka Olayonu (right), being administered oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance by Magistrate Kudirat Ambali in Offa on Sunday.
Law Maker Urges Jonathan
Reconcile PDP Members: KADUNA - Alhaji Bashir Babale, a member of the House of Representatives, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to reconcile all aggrieved members of the PDP. Babale, who represents Ungoggo/Minjibir Federal Constituency in Kano State, said the current crises rocking the party needed the dynamic intervention of the president. The lawmaker said in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna that measures should be taken to reconcile the “big family”. “It is an opportunity for him to bring sanity within the party and I have a strong belief that he will do that.” He said reconciliation was part
of politics and would help to move the party and democracy forward. Babale expressed concern over the threat by the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur against dissenting members, saying it was not in the best interest of the party. “I think the constitution clearly spelt out how a member would lose his seat, it is not within the purview of the party chairman to decide who can lose his seat. “It is all about leadership; some people within the party are not comfortable with the pattern at which the party is being run and because we are running a democracy they have the right to protest and said this is how we want things to be.”
Galma multipurpose Dam Project under construction in Kaduna State.
Flood Wrecks Havoc In Jos JOS - A heavy rainfall that lasted several hours last weekend has rendered hundreds of residents homeless in Jos with property worth millions of naira destroyed. The news reports say that residents in Angwan Suya and Akpata areas of the city were worst hit. Mr Alhassan Barde, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) told newsmen that many houses and property worth millions of naira were destroyed by the flood. He said, however, that no life was lost in the incident, noting that officials of SEMA had been deployed to the affected areas for assessment. “We have gone to affected areas with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials and we saw the damages caused by the disaster. “Our officials are still in the areas collating the data of the houses and other properties that were destroyed. “We will know the extent of the damage for government at all levels to intervene.’’ The executive secretary said that most of the houses affected
were those built on water ways. “We have advised people living in flood-prone areas to vacate those places, based on NIMET’s predictions that there would be heavy rainfall this year but many people did not heed our advice. “The situation is an avoidable one, if the people had complied with the series of sensitisation campaigns we carried out. “We will continue with campaigns until people move to safer grounds,’’ he added. Mr Peter Omogie of No. T12 Angwan Suya Str., a victim of the flood, told newsmen that he lost
almost everything to the flood but thanked God that no life was lost. “We were at home when the rain started at about 3:30p.m and it lasted for several hours. “We started noticing water entering the room and the house was suddenly full of water. “We were looking for higher places within the house to climb as the water volume kept increasing. “Suddenly, the back wall of my children’s room collapsed and everything in the room was washed into the stream that was behind the building,’’ he said. Mrs Victoria Anamalechi, a widow and mother of three, told
newsmen that she was in the market when the rain started. “I left my children alone at home because I lost my husband in January this year and since then I have been struggling to fend for myself and the children. “When the rain grew too heavy they (children) became scared and started crying and my neighbour heard them and took them to her house otherwise it wouldn’t have been my property alone,’’ she said. Most of the victims appealed to government and wellmeaning individuals to come to their aid as they had lost everything to the flood.
Environmentlist Urges FG To Stregthen Laws On Waste Disposal ABUJA - An environmentalist, Mr Caleb Mufwang, has urged the Federal Government to strengthen the laws on waste disposal to ensure a clean environment in the country. Mufwang, an environmental legal expert consulting for the Federal Ministry of Environment, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. The environmentalist, who
Be Patient With Jonathan Administration, JOS - Information Minister assured Nigerians that Maku Urges Nigerians theMaku Labaran Maku has urged Federal Government was Nigerians to exercise patience with the present administration in its bid to transform the country. Maku made the call in a lecture entitled: “Sector’s perspective of the transformation agenda’’, delivered at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Jos. He said the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration was just two years old; hence, Nigerians should not be quick at drawing a balance sheet on the
performance of the government. The minister said the present administration met a lot of dilapidated structures, which were abandoned for a long period and would need much time to put them back on track. “I want to call on Nigerians to exercise more patience with this administration and its transformation agenda because we are doing our best to see that the country is transformed. “President Goodluck Jonathan
met a lot of abandoned projects on ground, and will need much time to put back those projects to proper use. “The rail lines have been abandoned for over 20-years, education sector in total decay, even, the agricultural sector that is supposed to create millions of jobs was malfunctioning. “So, with all these, how can you then use just two-years of this government to assess its performance,’’ he asked
doing a lot at ensuring that Nigerians were provided with better infrastructure and social developments that would enhance their standard of living. He said government was determined at providing employment opportunities through the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), an improved standard of education at all levels and constructs roads for the betterment of all.
advised the government to intensify its efforts on waste disposal and re-cycling, said that developed countries had been able to boost their economy through the re-cycling of their waste. He stressed the need for the country to develop its waste disposal methods to be able to key into global best practices in the environment sector. “One of the weaknesses in our laws that we have identified so far is the issue of disposal of waste which deals with the issue of disposal of containers; its one area that the law needs to be strengthened, needs to be well spelt out. “Even the issue of drinking a bottle of coke and throwing away the can; these are all injurious, so we need to have a law in place. “We need to amend our laws and make sure that the issue of disposal in every sector is clearly spelt out. “We need to also embark on massive education of the populace, particularly the rural populace that doesn’t know the dangers of these things.’’
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Business + Economy ISOPADEC To Distribute Interest-Free Loans
Head of Nursing, University College Hospital (UCH), Dr Pat Onianwa; Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (Laboratories) UCH, Dr Hannah Dada-Adegbola and Deputy Director, Nursing Service UCH, Mr Wale Olatunde at the Annual oncology nursing workshop in Ibadan recently.
OWERRI - The Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC) Youth Empowerment Committee for Oguta said it would soon disburse the N250 million interest-free loans to youths in the area. The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Linus Olisakwe, disclosed this Friday in Owerri while explaining the progress made in the distribution of the loans. He said the committee had so far distributed over 2,000 forms to youths in Oguta LGA. Olisakwe said the committee had visited communities in the area to explain to the youths how to fill and return the forms. According to him, the interestfree loans, which should be repaid after one year, would make the beneficiaries to be selfreliant. He promised that the committee would ensure even distribution of
Airtel Promotes 81 Employees By RAHEED IBRAHIM LAGOS-One of Nigeria’s leading Telecommunications Services Provider, Airtel Nigeria, has elevated 81 employees, across various business functions. The promotions followed the company’s 2012/2013 Reward and Performance Evaluation Exercise, which ended in June. Two employees were promoted Vice Presidents; three elevated from Senior Managers to General Managers, 32 promoted Senior Managers while 44 others were promoted to positions ranging from Senior Officer to Manager. Top on the list of those promoted were Nitin Anand and Tayo Oladimeji who was formerly General Manager: Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management, now promoted to the position of Vice President. Oladimeji joined Airtel in 2002 as Finance Manager and was later promoted to Head of Division, Retail Billing, in 2006. He was later transferred to head the Revenue Assurance Division in 2008, where he provided a comprehensive revenue assurance framework for all company’s revenue streams, minimizing leakages and
maximizing revenue. In February 2012, he was promoted General Manager: Revenue Assurance and Fraud Management. Prior to joining Airtel, Oladimeji worked as an Assistant Sales Accountant at the West African Portland Cement (Lafarge Group). A Chartered Accountant and Chartered Stockbroker, Oladimeji, is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Anand, who was formerly Head: New Products Development and 3G, was also elevated to the position of Vice President, Data & Digital Services. Anand has over 15 years in Marketing and the Telecoms Industries. Prior to his transfer to Nigeria in February 2012, Anand was Head, Strategic Projects, Airtel Mobile Services in Airtel India, where he led the launch of 3G Services, as well as managed Product design, development and management for 3G services in India. He also designed, developed and executed the Dongle and Wireless Broadband strategy in India, with the entire Go To Market plan, service management and delivery of 3G services under his supervision. Speaking on the Reward and
Performance Evaluation Exercise, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Olusegun Ogunsanya, said the company is committed to empowering Nigerian professionals and providing the right environment for employee development and career growth. “Airtel Nigeria is committed to building the most admired company in Nigeria. We are passionate about creating an environment where hardwork, excellence and exceptional performance are recognized and rewarded. It is our corporate
culture to celebrate and reward excellence and we will stop at nothing to ensure that exceptional Nigerians occupy leadership positions. Since Airtel acquired the operations of Zain in 2010, the company has promoted over 200 employees and more Nigerians have been empowered to take senior leadership roles. Indeed, we are glad that we have highly motivated and engaged employees and we are on track to actualizing our vision of becoming the employer of choice in Nigeria.”
LAGOS – Dr. Eugene Juwah, the Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has at the weekend said that more than 75 per cent of the Nigerian population had been covered by telecommunications services. Juwah, who was represented by Ms Funlola Akiode, Director, Corporate Planning and Strategy of NCC, made the remark in Lagos at the 5th Anniversary Lecture and Awards of Business Journal.
The theme of the lecture was, ‘’Is Nigeria Growing Forward or Developing Backward?’’. Juwah said that telecommunications services had spread across the country and drastically improved national access. According to him, affordability of different types of telecom services has also grown significantly and price of services has been forced down by competition enabled by
the fund. “The committee is working day and night to ensure that the fund is equitably distributed, we want to assure the beneficiaries that none of them will be left out during the disbursement’’, he said. Mr Raymond Uchenna, the Secretary of the Committee and Permanent Secretary, Judicial Services Commission, who read out the contents of the form, said that a good number of the forms had been filled and returned. He said that between N100, 000
and N350, 000 would be given to the beneficiaries based on the nature of their trades. Mr Jeff Onuoha, the Youth Leader in Oguta Community, said that a youth monitoring committee had been set up to ensure that only genuine youths in the town would benefit from the loans. He promised, on behalf of the community, that the loans would be recovered after the stipulated period to enable others to benefit and thanked the state governor for the gesture.
New Refinery To Reduce Importation LAGOS - The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on has said that the establishment of a refinery by Alhaji Aliko Dangote would reduce the importation of petroleum products. This is contained in a statement in Lagos, signed by NUPENG’s General Secretary, Mr Isaac Aberare. “The union is happy with this development coming from the private sector; it will stop the massive importation of products from abroad by 2016 when the refinery is established. “NUPENG is encouraged by the initiative as it will create jobs for many unemployed youths in the country,’’ Aberare said.
Telecom Service Covers 75 Percent Nigerians
-NCC
regulation. “It is not mere rhetoric that Nigeria’s telecom growth is a revolution. “Having outpaced a teledensity of 0.04 per cent in 2001, to attain a quantum leap of more than 85 per cent as at June, 2013. “Active lines in the national network, accentuated by the revolution, grew from 400,000 in 2001 to more than 120.3 million in June 2013.
He said that the refinery and petrochemical plant would add value to the oil and gas industry. The union scribe said that it would also create indirect employment to thousands of people in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. According to him, the establishment of the refinery is good because the oil and gas industry is experiencing a decline. “It will save the country the use of foreign exchange to procure imported fuel and materials. “The Dangote refinery will become a major foreign exchange earner in the export of refined petroleum,’’ he said. Aberare called on other investors and multinational oil companies to take a cue from Dangote, especially the 18 firms that were granted licences to establish refineries some three years ago. The union scribe advised the Federal Government to endeavour to rehabilitate the roads in different parts of the country to make haulage of petroleum products easy for distribution to end users. He also urged the government to improve electricity supply to ensure that refineries did not depend on generators to refine products.
Court Adjourns To October 10 N1.15bn Tax Dispute:
Employees of Bimason Integrated Service Limited, displaying a Hospital Bed Locally Fabricated by them at the National Productivity merit award in Gombe recently.
ABUJA - The Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Abuja has adjourned to October 10, a case of N1.15 billion tax dispute filed by 44 insurance companies against the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Mr Nnamdi Ibegbu, the acting chairman of the tribunal, adjourned the case to enable both parties to perfect their out-ofcourt settlement report. The companies took FIRS to the Tax Appeal Tribunal In October 2012 for refusing to amend its N1.15 billion tax assessment. At the last adjournment both parties agreed on out-of-court settlement and were supposed to
report back to the tribunal at the last adjourned date. At the resumed sitting, the counsel to the respondent, Mr. Bright Igbinosa, told the tribunal that the process of settlement was still on. He said FIRS management had perfected the process which would be communicated to the appellants before the end of September to enable both parties file the settlement report. He, therefore, asked for more time to enable the parties complete the process. Consequently, the acting chairman of the tribunal, Mr Nnamdi Ibegbu, adjourned the case to October 10.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Agriculture
Understanding Snail Farming (2)
SNAIL farming is the domestication or rearing of snail in an artificial environment. It entails provision of good housing and feeding for snails to achieve optimum growth and reproduction. In our first edition, the author emphasized on what snail farming is all about, the different breeds of snails such as African giant snails Archatina marginate, Archatina archatina, Limocolania species which is the smallest edible land snail of the moist forest belt of Nigeria as well as described the various types of housing used for rearing snails. This second edition is focused on: What are the economic benefits of rearing snails? What are the sources of purchasing foundation stock of snails? What are the feeds used for rearing snails.
What are some problems associated with snail farming. What are some economic benefits or rearing snails? Simply put, the economic benefits of snail farming are summarized as follows. Low capital intensive Good source of protein in human diets. Low fat and cholesterol level. Environmental friendly Secondary occupation Low mortality
By OLUMESE MARK Good foreign exchange earner. Source of feed for livestock The shell –is a rich source of calcium mineral used for traditional medicine practice What are the sources of purchasing foundation stocks of snails The various sources of purchasing snails of foundation stocks are namely. Research institution like institute of Agric. Research and Training moor plantation I.A.R Ibadan. The experts will also give in Edo ADP our framers necessary advised if contacted Markets. Snails could also be purchased from the open markets.
The buyer must be very careful when purchasing from the market because of the adaptability and future performance of the snail. The market women do not take care of the snails in the market What are the feeds used for rearing snails? The various feeds used for feeding snails include Pawpaw leaves Cocoyam leaves Feeds And Feeding Snails Are Vegetarian All Will Accept Many Types Of Food
“Compounded rations high in protein calcium, and phosphorus but low in energy. Such as rating containing wheat offal, maize, groundnut cake, soybean meal, fish meal spent, grain, rice bran, palm kernel cake, bone meal, powdered oyster/snails shell, ground limestone and vitamins/ mineral premix provide clean water at all times. Household waste cooked rice plantain peels, eba and fufu.”
Snails Feed Mainly On Green leaves. Pawapaw, cocoyam, Okra, water leaf eggplants kola loofia, cassava cabbage, lettuce cowpea, amaranths, centrosema and plantain. Frits pawpaw oil palm, eggplant, pear, tomato, cucumber, mango, banana, guava pineapple Coconut, fig, orange and melon. Tibers: yam cocoyam, cassava, sweet potato, carrot and flowers such as; morning glory, pawpaw. Compounded rations high in protein calcium, and phosphorus but low in energy. Such as rating containing wheat offal, maize, groundnut cake, soybean meal, fish meal spent, grain, rice bran, palm kernel cake, bone meal, powdered oyster/snails shell, ground limestone and vitamins/ mineral premix provide clean water at all times. Household waste cooked rice plantain peels, eba and
fufu Useful hints on feeding Green pawpaw fruit with cocoyam leaves tend to reduce mortality rate in snail nutrition Cut the fruits in to small pieces before offering to snails. Feed on combination of plants food rather than one or two feeds for enhanced growth. Avoid chilli paper, salt, lime, cashew plants e.t.c. in the feeding of snails. Mouldy, state or fermented food should not be given to snails For older snails serve water in flat container. for baby snails, a piece of sponge a cotton wool soaked in water will do You can feed the snails anytime of the day Daily Routine Practices Remove the leftover feed every day Check the housing units and remove any dead snail. Clean and replenish water trough with cool, fresh and clean water. Clean the pens and the surrounding Ensure that the pens is well mulched Check the wire netting or mosquito netting to see if it is torn. Ensure that the water disinfectant mixture is adequate to prevent ants invasion. Keep the door to the housing always shot.
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THERE are groundswell moves to impeach the Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar following the return of Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State from his 10-month medical trip overseas occasioned by his helicopter accident which sparked off avoidable crisis in the North Eastern state of Nigeria, fuelling the already tensed political atmosphere in the country. ON arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Nigerians saw a frail-looking Suntai who could barely wave his hands on the commands of those helping him out of the aircraft. His unsolicited smiles and incoherent speeches while being lifted from the aircraft left many wondering of his true state of health. The picture was a sad reminder of the Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua episode when some aides of late President played games with a sick man deceived the nation till the man gave up the ghost. It was obvious that some despicable politicians were on a desperate move to force an ailing man on Taraba people. WE are surprised at the quick succession of events happening in the state which give ominous signs. Mr. Danbaba Suntai, moved during the week to assert his authority on the state by dissolving the State Executive Council (SEC) and addressing the state in a controversial televised broadcast. Again, the said broadcast also presented a Suntai who from all appearance needs further medical attention as his voice was almost inaudible and incoherent. BESIDES the sack of the commissioners,
THE NIGERIAN
Crisis In Taraba State
Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff, the governor, transmitted a letter to the state House of Assembly that he had returned from medical treatment abroad and was fit to discharge the responsibilities of his office. Not convinced of the authour, signature, claims of the letter, the House of Assembly insists on seeing the Governor physically before accepting that he has resumed. Out of the 24 members of the House only seven have claimed that the letter was written by the governor. Other members are convinced that it is forgery in every material particular. THE proclamation by the House that the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar should continue in office as Acting Governor of the state has deepened the crisis as the state appears to now have two governors, which is an aberration in a democracy. All these, in our view are recipe for conflict, particularly with the numerous ambiguities in the nation’s constitutions. WE fear that unless the personae dramatis and other stakeholders allow peace and constitutionality to reign, the people of Taraba will just be thrown into a crisis that would spell doom for peace, security and development. We fear that Sunatai may have
been brought back to the country by a cabal of political class in Taraba State, with active support of his wife, a la Turai Yar’Adua without taking into cognisance, the implications of their actions and interest on the health of the man. GOING forward, we support the call by prominent legal practitioners that the Taraba State House of Assembly should set up a medical panel, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution to ascertain the state of health of the governor. The medical panel should, as part of their terms of reference determine the mental and physical fitness of Danbaba Suntai. ALTHOUGH, in the letter written by the governor to the state House of Assembly, Suntai claimed he has fully recovered from the injuries he sustained in the plane crash of 25th October, 2012 without attaching a copy of the report to the House. There is widespread doubt over such claims flowing from observations from the physical appearance of the man thus far in various media outreaches across the country. WE call on the Federal Government not to fold its hands as it had done in the Rivers crisis but should move swiftly to defend and protect the constitution in Taraba State in the interest of law and order in the country. Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is in control of government in the state has waded into the matter, much is still required from the party, but most importantly, it should ensure that no one takes undue advantage of Suntai’s health condition to fuel crisis in the state.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Cutting Edge
Between Religion, Politics And Social Justice
THE contents of this piece are bound to elicit plethora of harsh reactions, especially from some holier-than-though ones among us; the highly religious, but less spiritual, fanatical adherents of the several religious bodies in Nigeria, most especially some know-it-all arrowheads of the two major religions Christianity and Islam – and their largely ignorant disciples. Be that as it may, I would like to remind anybody reading this piece that it is better to please God than to massage the cathedral-like egos of mere mortals, by refraining from telling the truth as I see it. In the following lines, I examine the complicity of religion in the traditional order of politics in Nigeria, which has created and sustained an unjust system of social relations where a minute fraction of the population continually lord’s it over the larger body politic – a refined form of Apartheid that has overseen the citizens of one of the naturally richest countries in the world, living like Serfs in the land of their fathers; of how religion has abdicated from its role as an agent of social justice, and has unwittingly become an accomplice in the systemic decapitation of the people by the cruel drivers of the Nigerian state. I will not bore you with stories about the evolution of the largely adversarial relationship that has existed between the members of the Nigerian ruling class and the masses since the lowering of the Union Jack and the hoisting of the Green-White-Green in 1960 – lots of literature already exist on this subject – but will proceed to state my candid views, without fear of contradiction, on how the ongoing messy state of affairs in our worship centers has helped sustain the war of attrition being waged by the haves against the have-nots. When Karl Max, in his Magnum Opus, Das Kapital, referred to religion as the “opium of the masses that
serves the political end of suppressing mass revolution”, most of the extremists’ of his generation did not take kindly to this assertion. In his view - later known as Historical Materialism – “the history of society is a history of class struggle in which the ruling class uses religion and other traditions and institutions, as well as its economic power, to reinforce its domination over the working classes”. While some commentators at the time saw Max as a bland Satanist, others saw him as a confused idealist. But sharp as the salvos of his critics were, they were uttered from highly sentimental standpoints. They were parochial and unjust censorships of Karl’s objective view of human history that was both profoundly pessimistic and deeply optimistic; a view of the evolution of an evil political order that thrived on the exploitation of the labours and resources of the masses by a bunch of greedy political entrepreneurs. The contemporary Nigerian political system is a mirror image of the conflictridden society depicted by Marx in his masterpiece - a political order that is built on mass deceit, uncensored exploitation, and the cloaked use of force by the lords of the Manor against the larger body politic. Since 1960, when the country formally achieved independent status, a class war has been raging between the ruling political elites and the largely impoverished masses - an asymmetrical affair in which the wielders of political power have had the upper hand. Nigeria is a largely stratified society that is constituted by two separate and completely unequal classes of individuals – the Lords and the Vassals. The Lords possess absolute political and economic
powers - powers they usurped by subterfuge and force. The Vassals possess nothing in the material sense of the word – pitiable conditions that have been festooned on them by the obduracy of the ruling political elites. The conditions of the Vassals are very deplorable; more deplorable than those of the Serfs during Feudal times. They are born into their poor stations and are expected to subsist and die in these pitiable stations.
atavistic and asinine state of nature where dogs eat dogs; a state corresponding to William Shakespeare’s “rankest compound of villainous smell that ever offended the nostrils”; a stinking, disheveled, decapitated carcass of a state. To maintain this absolute state of inequality and check any possible challenge to this imperial establishment, several overt and covert means are deployed. From
In Nigeria, the Lords decide what is to be produced, who should produce, and to whom what is produced should be distributed: they formulate and execute all public policies, which are rammed down the throats of the Vassals. The Vassals have no say whatsoever in the scheme of things. They are expected to swallow all the hellish prescriptions of the lords with no questions asked. It is a highly segregated and classconscious system – a preposterous arrangement that is a throwback to preenlightenment times; an
closing off the political space so that only select members of the politburo can access it; making restrictive laws to keep economic opportunities in the hands of the few powerful; deliberately weakening the institutions of the state – executive, legislature, and judiciary from performing their input and output functions; deliberately instigating political crisis’ to create an air of insecurity, then step in to restore order, in order to justify its continued stay in power; dishing out deliberate falsehood, through its
“The contemporary Nigerian political system is a mirror image of the conflict-ridden society depicted by Marx in his masterpiece - a political order that is built on mass deceit, uncensored exploitation, and the cloaked use of force by the lords of the Manor against the larger body politic.”
With Obuseh Jude
powerful propaganda machine, to mobilize the masses behind its several murderous decrees, which they call policies; to several other measures that are meant to maintain the status quo ante, the illegitimate owners of Nigeria have had a field day bludgeoning the general will to coma. Of all these strategies, the role of religious institutions, which is the focus of this piece, is the most effective. In straight terms, the Nigerian ruling class capitalizes on the seductiveness of religion to pacify the masses and prevent them from revolting against the unjust socio-economic
Aso Rock and other citadels of power - their chief benefactors. They refrain from correcting the several vicious policies that have turned most Nigerians into scarecrows, rather than risk the ire of the tin gods of Nigeria, preferring to massage the egos of these prickly pickpockets instead. Nigeria is said to be a praying country; a very religious country. If one takes a casual walk along any of the streets in any part of this country, you are bound to come across several churches, temples, mosques’, shrines et al; coupled with the numerous sponsored religious programmes on our TVs,
order in which they have been forced to subsist since the birth of this comatose project. Religion has become an elixir that the obdurate ruling elites leverage on to weaken the people’s will to rise up and fight for their rights. What many Nigerians are ignorant of is the fact that the heads of most of the organized religious bodies - the clergy, Imams, traditional priests, priestesses’ et al - in Nigeria, together constitute a very important segment of the Nigerian establishment. They are willing accomplices in this system of falsehood; black tyrants hiding behind masks of righteousness to stoke the fire of injustice. These unholy men – and women - abdicate their functions as moral agents to adopt the driving philosophy of the ruling elite: exploitation through deceit. These unrepentant whores condone anathemas of the most extreme kinds in order to keep themselves in the good books of the Ogres of
radios, the internet and every other available medium. We are indeed a praying nation. In our places of worship, we are daily inundated with the need to respect the authorities and wait for God’s time; to tolerate all infringements on our rights by turning the other cheek; that God will “one day” overthrow all erring leaders and usher in that era of justice, equity and fair play we all crave for; that he who lives by the sword dies by the sword; that the prophets did not resist the authorities during their days on earth, but gave unto Caesar what belonged to Caesar, and to God what was His; and a variety of other feeble reasons given as to why we need not make trouble with the government, but must cooperate with it and live judgment to the almighty. To ensure adherence to these injunctions, the consequences of disobedience are stated. To be continued
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Nutritional Health And Dietetics
Health Secrets
NERVOUS or depressed people are frequently addicted to foods that do harm to the skin. They reach for fats and sweets, in an effort to calm themselves or for coffee and chocolate, to try and boost their energy level. Addictions signals the presence of an imbalance trying to maintain itself. We must break the cycle of nervousness, depression and addictions that lead to low energy, poor digestion and more addiction. Cut Your Additions in half If you crave sweets, cut your pastries in half. I mean literally eat half of the doughnut. If it is cigarettes, cut them in half. No matter whether it is carbohydrates, cream sauce or chocolate – cut them in half. Then fill in the rest with one of the skin cleansers. Bitter cleansing herbs to reduce addictions and clear the skin, bitter cleansing herbs reduce sweet cravings and reduce impurities because, they cleanse the liver and blood. When your body is cleaner, you crave cleaner food. That is how additions work. They maintain our balance or imbalance. The trick is to develop healthy habits. The best herbs for cleaning the skin are diuretics, antiinflammatory, blood and lymph-cleansing etc. these work well because impurities leave the body through the best route of exit. If diaphoretic herbs and foods are used for example, Echinacea or honey – a rash will get worse. These sweet – increasing foods make acidic impurities leave the body through the skin. You can prevent or treat rashes by eliminating irritating foods and by adding herbal cleansers. Dandelion is a wonderful cleanser for the skin, blood and lymph system. An especially good combination for cleansing the skin is honey suckle (an antibiotic herb) along with dandelion twice a day.
Make sure you take yoghurt anytime you take antibiotic herbs. Sarsaparilla is a diuretic usually recommended because it reduces the itch of herpes, it is antiseptic and cooling. Sugar, salt, coffee and alcohol: No Taboos. Recommendations; Sugar: Don’t avoid it obsessively – but do go easy on high sugar foods. Salt: If you have or are at risk for developing high blood pressure, cut down on salt to minimise your risk. Coffee; if your blood cholesterol level is high, drink only drip filtered coffee or decaffeinated coffee to be on the safe side. Alcohol; One or two drinks a day is fine, but more is not better and there is no reason to start if you are not a drinker. These American favorites have been implicated in ills ranging from heart disease to juvenile delinquency. But they don’t deserve such a study reputation. Sugar; it has long been accused of causing diabetes, depression, obesity, hyper activity and even criminal behaviour. In fact, for most people, the only real problem sugar contributes to is tooth decay (ken, 1999). While sugar is not a nutritional demon, however, there are good reasons to eat it in moderation. Each year Stephen said that the average American eats tens of thousands of calories worth of sugars in candy, sweetened snacks, soft drink etc. These sugars provide empty calories that contribute energy but nothing else, and many sweet foods such as ice-cream and cookies are also, high in fat, which is a major player in weight gain. For these reasons, government guidelines continue to urge people to rein in their taste for sweets and our experts tend to agree. Salt; An anti-salt sentiment has been part of public –
health guidelines for decades. The sodium in salt is clearly a problem of about half of the 60 million people in the US. With high blood pressure whose blood pressure changes in response to the amount of sodium in their diet. Since sodium can also interfere with the action of blood – pressure drugs, even patients who aren’t naturally salt – sensitive may benefit from cutting down on salt if they are taking medication. National research council advises all Americans to reduce salt to 6
linked America’s favourite morning beverage to high blood – cholesterol levels, while other reports have failed to find a link. Studies showing the most consistent link between coffee and cholesterol have come from Norway, where people prepare coffee by boiling it. When researchers compare the effects of boiled coffee to filtered coffee, as several studies now have, only boiled coffee raises blood cholesterol. Apparently, filtering removes some still –
gram a day. While there’s no apparent harm in restricting salt intake as our experts suggest, medical consultants believe that cutting down on sodium is beneficial only for people who have hypertension or are at risk of developing it – those who have a family history of the disease or are overweight or elderly. Coffee; Over the past three decades some studies have
unidentified component that has potent cholesterol – raising effects. Most studies now show that moderate amount of filtered coffee up to five cups a day are safe. Our experts, agree that there is little evidence that drinking coffee – caffeinated or not increases the risk of coronary heart disease. A slight majority believes it would be ideal to limit caffeinated coffee to two cups a day, but
“The best herbs for cleaning the skin are diuretics, antiinflammatory, blood and lymph-cleansing etc. these work well because impurities leave the body through the best route of exit. If diaphoretic herbs and foods are used for example, Echinacea or honey – a rash will get worse. These sweet – increasing foods make acidic impurities leave the body through the skin.”
With
O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608 that’s not an urgent goal for most people. You probably don’t need to skip coffee breaks unless caffeine gives you the jitters or you have medical problems such as stomach ulcers or an irregular heart beat. Alcohol; one of the most consistent research findings in the diet-health arena has the medical community in a quandary. It seems that having
recommended, people will think four or five are better say Peter Kwitero Vich chief of the lipid research and atherosclerosis unit at the John Hopkins school of medicine. He tells patients who already take one or two drinks a day that it probably won’t hurt and may indeed help. All our experts agree however, that pregnant women and people with
one or two alcoholic drinks a day reduces the risk of heart disease, alcohol appears to raise the levels of HDL cholesterol, the protective component of blood cholesterol that is difficult to improve by other dietary means. However, research has not been conducted to show that the raising HDL levels actually reduces heart disease risk. And alcohol abuse is a major public health problems. For this reasons, nobody is eager to advise the public to take up drinking for health. Although half of our experts believe there is strong evidence for the health benefits of moderate alcohol intake, virtually none recommend that people purposely start drinking even in moderation, to reduce heart disease risk. If a drink or two a day are
personal or family history of alcohol abuse should abstain. Vegetable and fruits; Eat all the various fruits and vegetables you can. There is nowhere you can get the injections of ant aging and antioxidant portions you get from eating fruits and vegetables. They are not trivial creations of nature, but mighty forces to be reckoned with. They posses countless known and unknown agents that transform your cells into fortresses against the free radical forces of aging. Remember, much of what we call aging is really a fruit and vegetable deficiency. Fruits and vegetables are parked with so many known and unknown anti-oxidants. Thanks for reading.
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Education “Go to universities across the country and see the rot that has eaten them up. Almost on regular basis, these students are left to bear burdens, they are not meant to bear. It is either they are paying for one practical work or seen standing while receiving lectures. How will such a persons learn? What would he/she do in situations like these?”
A Sign Of Fallen Standard Of Education ASUU Strike:
By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU
FOR the third month running, the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), have been on strike. This time, it was meant to compel the Federal Government (FG) to fully implement the 2009 agreement reached by both parties. As meetings upon meetings greeted the labour dispute, there is still no light at the end of the tunnel. The latest is that the negotiations have broken down over what ASUU called “insincerity” on the part of government with their president, Nasir Fagge, insisting that it was N500b and N100b as made available by the FG, was the needed amount of money. It is a clear indication of government’s insensitivity to the future of the country. Yes, some may argue that ASUU’s demands are “overboard” and that the body is only agitating of their selfish interests. But that cannot be the case. Yearly, the country groans and moans about the “employability” of
graduates from these Ivory towers. How can graduates that will propel the economic development of the country be trained in an atmosphere that allows no room for their innate talents to be harnessed? What will a student that is bombarded daily with theories do to change the tide when it comes to practical works? Go to universities across the country and see the rot that has eaten them up. Almost on regular basis, these students are left to bear burdens, they are not meant to bear. It is either they are paying for one practical work or seen standing while receiving lectures. How will such a persons learn? What would he/she do in situations like these? ASUU, is not fighting for themselves; they are fighting for the growth and safety of the country’s future? When tertiary institutions globally are making research that are driving their countries economic and social growth, what are universities in Nigeria doing?
“It is a clear indication of government’s insensitivity to the future of the country. Yes, some may argue that ASUU’s demands are “overboard” and that the body is only agitating of their selfish interests.”
For the doubters, they should bear in mind that no nation has grown, is growing and will grow above its educational level. As many graduates from Nigerian Universities will say in the 60’s , 70s and 80’s will note, the current dilapidated and outdated edifice doting the universities’ landscape, is a far cry from what it used to be before. As Professor Eddy Erhagbe of University of Benin, said during the World Youth Day Celebration in Benin City recently, what is on ground now is a shame to the Nigerian Government and cannot get us to the promise land. He asked one question that got the audience quiet: “How many foreigners do we have today in our university?” He recalled when he was still an undergraduate the number of Indians, Ghanaians and others that came in droves to the University of Benin. It is instructure to say that in over two years, of this writers sojourn in the great UNIBEN, the scene captured by this great scholar, is still a dream. At a time when the Federal Government has said that there is no money, they are busy lavishing the country’s money. Just recently, the Peoples Democratic Party organized their convention with hotels fully booked. And there is no money? What about news that each delegates to the convention were drenched with showers of money by lobbyists? At a time like this when the Ministry of Information has said a blatant “no” to ASUU’s demands, is the country not sitting on a key to gun powder. Similarly, students are at home doing what God knows best. As the famous saying that an idle man is the devil’s workshop, what will these young minds be doing at home? Is the academy calendar worldwide waiting for ASUU and Federal Government to agree on their disagreement? Some “almost graduates,” have been left in limbo as to what fate befalls them. With some of them having less than a month to “go” now at home, what will happen to their academic and intellectual ability which has been dormant for months? To the Federal Government, it is not a sector that forms the backlog of economic advancement that should be left to suffer. Every single facet of the nation is a direct cousin of the education sector. A well-directed, well-funded and equipped education system will and must surely reflect in the country’s output. A good education system, a good doctor, teacher, engineer, lawyer, accountant, pilot and others and of course, a bad one (education), a bad doctor, teacher and the likes. It is left for the Federal Government to choose which of the options they want: A good education with a corresponding good economic and social advancement or a bad education system with stunted social and economic development?
THE NIGERIAN
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Perspective
I came to know about prostate cancer in 2007, when my dad was diagnosed with the disease. I saw how he struggled with the pains and the side effects of the surgery. Trust me, it is a disease every man should strive not to have Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men in the world today, after lung cancer. One man in six is liable to have prostate cancer during his life time. This cancer develops as men get older. More than 80 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over age 65. “Prostate cancer is a disease of old men,” says Dr. William Foo, a consultant in clinical oncology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong-Kong. Also, Dr. Sikora, Chief of the World Health Organization (W.H.O) program on cancer control explain that “The majority of prostate cancers occur in men older than 70; therefore as more people live longer, they are more likely to get the disease.” Prostate cancer is a disease that pose a significant threat to health and life. This disease affects the prostate glands at male sex gland located at the base of the urinary bladder directly in front of the lower rectum. “Prostate cancer is an uncontrolled growth of the cells of the prostate,” says Anthony Abner, M.D. Radiation Oncologist at Mount Auburn Hospital. The primary purpose of the prostate gland is to produce the white fluid called semen which is mixed with sperm from the
testicles. The prostate gland also help to control the rate and flow of urination. This deadly disease is relatively slow-growing, which means that it typically takes a number of years to become large to be detectable. A small percentage of men experience more rapidly growing, aggressive forms. As Shawn Stevenson, the Resident Nutritionist from BeWellBuzz.com noted, “Prostate Cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it as it is very slow growing.” Some men may live symptoms free for a life time, despite having this disease because most prostate cancer do not leave any symptoms. But when it has grown, it may cause pain in the pelvic region, difficulty urinating, difficulty having an erection, and bone pain if the cancer has spread to the bone. Researchers clearly stated that men with BRCA2 gene prostate cancer should be treated early and aggressively before the tumors spreads. Professor Ros Eeles and his colleagues, at the Institute of Cancer Research in London and the Royal Marsden HNS Foundation Trust, found that prostate cancer spreads more quickly and were more often fatal in men who had inherited a faulty BRCA2 gene than in men without the faulty gene. As of the early 2000s, prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed disease among adult males in Western Countries. More than 2 million American men are currently living
The Deadly Touch O with prostate cancer, according to estimates. About 213,000 men in the United States are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and about 27,000 of them die from it. Prostate cancer accounts for about 37,000 new cases in the UK each year and more than 10,000 men die from it annually. In the latest study, experts at Kings College London examined records for 50,066 men with prostate cancer between 1997 and 2007. Just under half of this group (20, 181 men) die during the 10 – year period. A more alarming statistic shows that African – Americans are two and a half times more likely to get the disease than any other race or ethnic group in the world. Research shows that African – Americans develop the disease earlier than their white counterparts. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported in November 1996, that compared to a prostate cancer incidence rate of 186.8 cases per 100,000 white males, African – American men face an incidence of more than 305.4 cases annually per 100,000 population. CAUSES “The causes of prostate cancer are still unclear,” says Dr. Jason Letran. Although the causes may be unclear, there are several risk factors that can increase a man’s chances of having prostate cancer. These risk factors include: AGE: According to the American Cancer Society,
age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. Dr. Abner, the M.D. Radiation Oncologist at Mount Auburn Hospital stated that, “The incidence of Prostate Cancer increases with age,” He added that, “it’s very rare
in men under age 50 and very common in men over age 80.” RACE – Statistics shows that African – American
“As of the early 2000s, prostate cancer was the most commonly diagnosed disease among adult males in Western Countries. More than 2 million American men are currently living with prostate cancer, according to estimates.”
By UTI ANIE
men are more likely to have prostate cancer. “It was once thought that there was a higher incidence in African – Americans because of an increase testosterone level. However, recent studies shows that there is not a
Letran pointed out. Dr. Abner advised that, “if patients have a close relative who had or has prostate cancer, they should start their screening earlier.”
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correlation between hormones levels and prostate cancer,” says Dr. Abner. “We still don’t know what the biological reasons is for the increased incidence in African – American,” he added. FAMILY HISTORY – A person is likely to have prostate cancer if the father, brother, or relative has or had the disease. “Patients with first degree relatives with prostate cancer are more likely to develop it themselves,” Dr. Jason
A study done at the John Hopkins University in the United States showed that if a father or brother has prostate cancer, the risk of developing the disease is two times greater than the average person. DIET – Prostate Cancer has been correlated to men who eat a lot of red meat and high-fat diet and less fruits and vegetables. In countries like Japan and China where they eat lowfat diets of vegetables and fish, the incidence of
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THE NIGERIAN
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Perspective
Of Prostate Cancer
EKAN UDOH
rostate cancer has istorically been low. But n recent years due to the ntroduction of high – fat iets and junk foods, the ncidence of prostate ancer has become
mpant. Even Dr. Keizo ida, of the Japanese undation for Prostate esearch admitted that, apanese are eating more eat these days. So the ses of fat related disease ch as breast cancer, colon d prostate cancer have creased. Apart from this risk ctors, there were ientific studies to termine whether lack of ercise, smoking, diation exposure, or xually transmitted virus
might increase the risk of prostate cancer. There have also been a mounting evidence suggesting that prostate cancer is an infectious disease caused by a recently identified virus. Researchers at Columbia
University and the University of Utah found the virus in more than a quarter of some 3000 prostate cancer tissue sample, especially in malignant cells. Dr. Ila singh from the University of Utah pointed out that, “We have no idea if this virus (XMRV) is such a marker, but it clearly needs to be investigated further.” DIAGNOSIS – Prostate Cancer is curable when diagnosed early.
Approximately, 90% of all prostate cancers are detected in the local and regional stages, so the cure rate is very high. Nearly 100% of men diagnosed and treated at this stage will be disease free after five years.
Diagnosis of prostate cancer can be made using some or all of the following tests; DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATION (DRE)
– During this test, the doctor puts a gloved lubricated finger into the rectum which lies behind the prostate gland to feel for any lumps in the prostate. If the doctor detect an abnormality, the doctor may order more tests in order to confirm these findings. BLOOD TESTS – Blood tests are used to measure the amount of certain protein markers, such as prostate – Specific Antigen (PSA) found circulating in the blood. Prostate Cancer produces a lot of this protein, significantly raising the circulating levels. A finding for PSA level higher than normal for the patient’s age group suggests that cancer is present. TRANSRECTAL ULTRASOUND – A small probe is placed in the rectum and sound waves released from the probe. The sound waves bounce off the prostate tissue and an image is created. This test is an efficient and accurate way to detect rumors. PROSTATE BIOSPY – In this test, the doctor removes a small piece of prostate tissue with a hollow needle and the sample is checked under a microscope for the presence of cancerous cells. This is the most definitive diagnostic tool for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can also be diagnosed based on the examination of the tissue removed during a Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP). This
procedure is performed to help alleviate the symptoms of BPH, a benign enlargement of the prostate. X-RAYS AND I M A G I N G TECHNIQUES – This is done to determine whether the cancer has spread to the lungs. In imaging technique, a computer is used to generate a detailed picture of the prostate and areas nearby to get a clearer view of the internal organs. A bone scan may also be done to check if the cancer has spread to the bone. TREATMENT Prostate cancer can be treated with the following: A C T I V E SURVEILLANCE (Some times called watchful waiting) – The patient is monitored for symptoms or growth of the tumor, but no treatment is given until clear evidence of danger arises. SURGERY – Prostate removal or radical prostatectomy, is a major surgery. The downside of the surgery is urinary incontinence or leakage and impotency. R A D I A T I O N THERAPY – This treatment requires the use of x-ray beam which is focused on the cancer. The x-rays change the DNA of the cancer causing the cell to die; electrons in the DNA atoms of the cancer are changed with the beam treatment. All cancer must die for a successful treatment. HORMONE THERAPY – These are chemicals (medicine) used to control testosterone and other products of glands serving the prostate. Using hormones will cause some
shrinkage in the prostate. Hormones shut down various glands to lower their input in making testosterone, giving some control over this type of cancer. CROABLATION – This treatment is the freezing of the prostate gland by liquid nitrogen causing cancer cells to rupture and die as they thaw. CHEMOTHERAPY – Drugs that kills the cancer. Furthermore, some scientist think that vitamins D may help protect against prostate cancer. Their studies suggests that higher intakes of vitamins D could protect men from prostate cancer. But when researchers looked for a relationship between serum 25 – hydroxyvitamin D and the risk of prostate cancer, the result was uncertain. Also, there have been several recent discoveries which have been shown to treat prostate cancer through natural treatment methods. Ron Bazar, the author of a natural prostate remedy program, “Healthy Prostate: The Extensive Guide to Prevent and Head Prostate Problems,” in his podcast, provided real – world examples and expertise to what causes prostate problems, what men should and should not do with enlarged prostate issues, and how diet and exercise can significantly reduce the onset of BPH (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia). Being diagnosed with prostate cancer can be a life – altering experience. And until there is a cure for prostate cancer, the best weapons against this deadly disease are early detection and enlightenment campaigns.
“During this test, the doctor puts a gloved lubricated finger into the rectum which lies behind the prostate gland to feel for any lumps in the prostate. If the doctor detect an abnormality, the doctor may order more tests in order to confirm these findings.”
THE NIGERIAN
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
View Point
Improving Nigeria’s Transportation System Via The Dutch Model
BY most accounts, an effective transportation system is a fundamental component of any solid economy, as it enables the citizens to achieve their set goals at appointed schedules. The Netherlands or Holland, as it is unofficially referred to, has a very organised and unique transport system that makes it easy for its citizens to move around. The major means of transportation in the Netherlands are bicycles, cars, buses and trains. Bicycles are the preferred means of transportation for short distances in the country and many riders usually park their bicycles at designated spots at bus or train stations while going on long journeys. Similarly, most people often drive their cars to these stations and park there before going aboard buses or trains for longer trips. Some even haul their bicycles into trains, while setting out on long journeys, to enable them to use the bicycles to complete their journeys after disembarking from the trains. Riding a bicycle in the Netherlands is somewhat a thing of pride and it is not restricted to any particular status of class because every citizen of Holland, from 15 years and above, owns a bicycle. Besides, there is always a train in every 20 minutes at every train station, while a bus leaves a bus stop in every 30 minutes. Whenever there is going to be a delay in the arrival of a train at a railway station, the expected period of delay would be displayed on the electronic board at the station and this is usually about 5 minutes and never more than 20 minutes. And within five minutes or ten minutes later, depending
on the time indicated on the electronic board, the train arrives. Even train or bus commuters in the Netherlands can check arrival or departure times for trains and buses on the Internet, meaning that they do not have to linger at the stations waiting for the arrival of a train or bus. Mr. Edwin VanScherrenburg, the Public Relations Officer of Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the Dutch railway company, however, conceded that the country’s weather was largely unfavourable to the transport business. He noted that the snow in winter and the falling leaves from trees in autumn, for instance, usually made it somewhat difficult for trains to operate efficiently during the seasons. Va n - S c h e r r e n b u r g , however, said that in spite of these challenges, some measures were put in place to ensure that passengers were not delayed for too long. One notable feature of the transportation system of the Netherlands is the synergy between buses and trains. Information usually comes on the bus about the next train and the nearest train station and so, if you are interested in catching a train, the information becomes quite handy. Va n - S c h e r r e n b u r g expatiated that the symbiotic relationship between NS and bus companies was aimed at connecting the two modes of transportation in a way that would ensure the smooth movement of passengers, while reducing travel disruptions via unnecessary delays. He, nonetheless, acknowledged that there was still room for improvement,
By WANDOO SOMBO
saying: “We are continuously looking for ways to improve the relationship.’’ Funny enough, you hardly hear anyone in the Netherlands talking about boarding a plane to another part of the country. Planes are only used by those travelling
Mr. Kingley Ogbuneke, who has lived in the Netherlands for over four years, said that the country’s transportation system was so effective, noting that trains and buses usually kept to scheduled travel times. “These days, you can hook
“In Nigeria, we still rely heavily on private vehicles for our transportation because our public transportation system is not well organised,’’ he said. Ogbuneke stressed that if more resources were invested in the country’s transport sector, the ordinary Nigerian would not have to rely solely of private vehicles for his or
President Goodluck Jonathan outside the country. Some Nigerians, who have lived and worked in the Netherlands for some years, attested to the efficiency of the Dutch transport system. They agreed that if the system was adopted by Nigeria, living in the country would be well structured, orderly and more appealing.
on to the Internet and know the precise time you’ll be arriving at your destination; honestly, it will work exactly that way,’’ he added. Ogbuneke, however, noted with disappointment that Nigeria’s transportation system was still facing a huge challenge, even after five decades of political independence.
“In the Netherlands, rail transportation is very popular, as trains are readily available. There are also trams and bus networks in and around the major cities, while an extensive railway system connects all the cities.”
her transportation. “Here in the Netherlands, people hardly use their cars because the public transportation system is very effective,’’ he added. Ms Sylivia Oheme has been living in the Netherlands for the past 20 years. She said that the Dutch transport sector was well structured and organised, stressing that for instance, when a person wanted to travel from Amsterdam to The Hague, he or she would know exactly how long the journey would take, barring instances where there were a few minutes’ delays. Oheme emphasised that Holland’s transport sector was very efficient because of the constant electricity supply in
the country She particularly attributed the efficiency of the country’s railways to the stable electricity, as the trains are all electricity powered trains. “Here the Prime Minister rides bicycles, the Prince rides bicycles; even the Queen rides bicycles and I ride bicycle too; and we all enjoy it. “In the Netherlands, cycling is a way of life; the mere fact that you see a man riding a bicycle does not mean he is poor. “It also takes a lot of pressure off the roads as well,’’ she added. Oheme bemoaned the fact that road transportation was the in-thing in Nigeria, as the country’s railways was now in a derelict state. She recalled with nostalgia how she took a train ride from Lagos to Jos in the 1970s and lamented that government and other stakeholders allowed the railways to go into a comatose state. In the Netherlands, rail transportation is very popular, as trains are readily available. There are also trams and bus networks in and around the major cities, while an extensive railway system connects all the cities. Besides, there are concentric canals around the cities, especially Amsterdam, the country’s capital, where tourists could make boat trips. In spite of the unpredictable nature of the country’s weather, the citizens of the Netherlands still ensure that everything in their country works. The orderliness of the country will surely excite a first-time visitor and official statistics from the Dutch government reveal that not less than 10,000 Nigerians reside in the Netherlands. Analysts, however, maintain that Nigeria stands to gain a lot by adopting the Dutch patterns of development. They insist that Nigeria should make tangible efforts to take a cue from the Dutch development patterns if she is truly serious about its ambition to transform into one of the world’s 20 largest economies by the year 2020.
THE NIGERIAN
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Drumbeats
Ingredient For Living A Successful Life Continued from last week
MOST men and women have come to the realization that No matter how hard they try in life to achieve meaningful success to themselves they never achieve anything. This is because of’ lack of God’s favour in their lives, The favour of God in your life we help you and Ito have and enjoy ingredient for Living a successful life, your success is not realistic success if it does not attract envy from people” the only way your success can attract envy and draw people’s attention to you is if you have God’s favour in your life. The favour of God in our lives will help us to achieve the unachievable and gives us access to enjoy heavenly and earthly blessing. Majority of us are suffering and experiencing difficulties in our lives because we lack Gods favour. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” Luke 2v52 What distinguished Jesus from the rest of God’s prophets and majority of us vas because he lived, walked and had God’s favour in abundance in life. And the Angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shah come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that Holy things which shalt be born of thee shall be called the son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she ha/h also conceived a son in her old age, and/his is the sixth month with her who was called barren for with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:30 37 What distinguished Mary from other woman and what qualified her to give birth to Jesus Christ even though there were many other virgins that were perhaps better than her in her Society? It was simply God’s favour in her life. Whatever price you may pay that will enhance your having and enjoying God’s favour, please pay it. I know that the measure of God’s favour in our lives differs but the truth is God never brought us here and for us to suffer shame and And the Angel answered and said unto her, the Ho! Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that Holy things which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God. And behold, thy cousin
Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age, and/his is the sixth month, with her who was called barren For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke L303 What distinguished Mary from other woman and what qualified her to give birth to Jesus Christ even though there were many other virgins that were perhaps better than her in her Society? It was simply God’s favour in her life. Whatever price you may pay that will enhance your having and enjoying Gods favour, please pay it. I know that the measure of Gods favour in our lives differs but the truth is God never brought us here and for us to suffer shame and reproach. It is too early for you to be thinking of dying or given up your quest for success and desire to enjoying wealth and satisfaction on earth. Many members of your families, friends and the world are looking unto you for their food, shelter and good education. God is not a respecter of anybody. If he promised to bless you and enlarge your coast, he will certainly do it. Don’t underrate yourself because of the problem you are facing at the moment what are your problems if I may ask? Are they financial problems, material, emotional, physical, academic or spiritual problems? Hear me, the word if God declares, for with God nothing shall be impossible. Don’t quit that business, marriage, position in your office and your school because of problems. You have struggled enough by typing to achieve your dreams and goats by your own strength and power. Spend quality time to ask for Gods favour in your life. When you have God’s favour, man’s favour will not be difficult for you to attain. That promotion and contract you are looking for and is causing you sleepless night can come into your life within a month if you have God’s favour in your life. Folks, the battle for your victory and success has been fought and won by our Lord Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago on the cross of Calvary. Don’t ask God for a peanut of miracle. II is your right to ask anything from God and to receive it
from him. If God did not abandon Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Joseph, David, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, Peter and John, why do think that he will abandon you? Get connected to God and ask for his favour in your life daily and go in that your strength and might to possess your possessions. The more you study and ‘earn from the success of
in the world for the past eleven years. Take a case study of the life of Bishop David Oyedepo. What s his secret of success? He made us to understand that greater portion o his life is always spent in studying and obeying God’s word. Look at the life of W.F. Kumuyi His strategy for success is holiness in the sigh God and man always. Now take a case study of the
others great men and women in our society the better your chances of succeeding in your endeavors. Great men and women you are seeing and envying today were one time ordinary people, but with strength, courage and strong will they achieved remarkable success. What is it that you want to achieved in this world? Is it to be the President of Nigeria. America, Britain, Indian and South Africa? Or you have a desire to govern the world through your wealth and idea? Whatever goals, aims and objects you may have set for yourself to achieve in this world, note that some one else had achieved them in the past and as such you need to learn from their success. No one can live in an Island and claim safety and protection for his life. Look at the life of Bill Gate. Greater portion of his life is spent in qualitative reasoning and this great attribute helped him to become and maintain the position of the rich man
life of Pastor Enoch Adeboye. What is the reason for hi great success in life and ministries? His life preaching, teaching and speaking are all 2 reflection of humility. An example of the lives of those people and several one whose names are not here can help you to achieve success, ii you devote greater portion of your time to studying their biography and live after the pattern of Jesus and their good side of lives. I agree with you that no man to perfect. Note that perfection is not attainable here or earth. But your ability to constantly humble yourself and learn from the success of other will also help you to achieve your own success. “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potipher, tin officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the ishmaelite, which had brought him down thither And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a
With Apostle Dr. Raphael O. Ayemere 08035459593 Prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight and he served him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had, he put into his hand.
then you must be willing to do what they did. Look at the life of Joseph for example. He had the power to steal and covet his master property to himself and also had free assess to possess his master’s wife to himself, but he refused because he feared God and he did not want to betray the love and trust his master had for him
And it came to pass from the time/hat lie had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph ‘s sake, and the blessing of/he Lord was upon all that he had in the house and/n the field And he left all that lie hah in Joseph’s hand; another knew no taught he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and said unto his master’s wife, behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hat/ i to my hand. There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything front me but thee, because thou art his wife; how then can I do this great wickedness, and Sin against God?” Genesis 37:19 If you want what great people in the Bible received,
Flow many of us will be in Joseph shoe and not fall a victim to his master pressure of having an affair with her? I strongly believe that before God take us to the palace, he will and must take us first to the prison to try and see the level of our strength, e ndurance, courage and perseverance. This great attribute n Joseph’s life, made God to take Joseph from prison to the palace and later made him to be Prime Minister in Egypt. Look at the life of king David. He was anointed king to replace king Saul, but history has it that when he was in the house of Saul, he behaved himself wisely. This was a man that had the full support of God and his kindred. Even when he had the opportunity to kill king Saul and take over the kingdom he refused and choose to wait for God’s time. Whatever price you need to pay that will enable you learn the life styles of great men and women. Please pay it. To achieve success is worth dying for.
THE NIGERIAN
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
View Point SUSTAINABLE Consumption includes meeting the needs of the present and future generation for goods and services in ways that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable—--UN Guidelines for Consumer Protection Nigeria as a nation has seen various sides of corruption which over the years has the bane of our development. Every aspect and sector of the economy has had a fair share of the problem; some have managed to control the spread while others have been totally taken over by this scourge called CORRUPTION. Over the years, the Nigerian consumers have been exposed to various aspects of corrupt practices and have equally suffered from its grip. Their rights have severally been trampled upon by various manufacturers; wholesalers even retailers have fed fat on their (consumers) finances, cheated them and got away with this act unchecked. Consumers have rights and privileges and needs to be protected from corrupt manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers who take undue advantages of unsuspecting consumers to milk them dry of their hard earn finances without knowing the appropriate quarters to cry or take their complain to for a redress. Consumers should all take a stand, know their rights, apply it in areas needed, demand for it when the time arise, protect themselves from been cheated and spread same messages to others who are ignorant about it and successfully put an end to the cheating of consumer across the nation. All consumers should keep an eye on whatever they buy and protect themselves from exploitation. Before you can protect your rights as a consumer, your must know and be acquainted with those rights, it’s only them you can speak with authority as a consumer and insist that those rights and privileges are not flouted. RIGHTS OF A CONSUMER The Right To Satisfaction Of Basic Needs: - Access to basic goods or services necessary for survival, such as food, water, energy, clothing, shelter, health-care, education and sanitation. Goods and services must meet the standards of quality promised such that there is valued for money in purchase. The Right To Safety: - Protection from hazardous products, production processes and services by banning dangerous goods and establishing mandatory and information standard. The Right To Information: - Provision of information enabling informed consumer choice as well as protection from misleading or inaccurate advertising and labeling. The Right To Choose: - Access to a variety of quality products and services at competitive prices. The Right To Redress: - Compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods and unsatisfactory public and private services, including the right to adequate legal representation. The Right To Consumer Education;- Acquisition of the skills to be an informed consumer throughout life. The Right To Representation:- Advocate of consumers’ interest and ability to take part in the formulation of economic and other policies affecting consumers, i.e the right to be heard. The Right To a Healthy Environment:- Habitation in a place that is safe for present and future generations and which will enhance the quality of their lives. The above rights must be studied by a consumer who wants to get the best services when buying goods and services from manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers alike. These rights are compulsory for all consumers and must ensure and insist that these rights are met for effective service delivery. They should equally ensure that they adopt patterns of consumption and production that safeguard human rights and community well-being; consumer products or services with
Need To Protect Consumers Sustainable Consumption: By RICHARD OKORO EWEKA
tomorrow in view; do not damage the future generations by your present consumption of products and services; promote responsible and sustainable consumption: avoid, social, economic and environmental ills; beware of aggressive but fraudulent commercial messages before you buy any product or service; sustainable consumption will help curb social, economic and environmental ills and stimulate responsible consumption. To ensure consumers gets the right services from manufacturers and service providers, the federal government of Nigeria set up the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to tackle the shoddy and sharp practices engaged in to fraudulently cheat the unsuspecting consumers who ought to get the best services for their money. The Consumer Protection Council is the apex agency of the federal government of Nigeria responsible for consumer protection in Nigeria. The body has officially launched a Products and services listing and monitoring programme (ProServe) which introduces a registration regime to compel Manufacturers and distributors of products as well as service providers in all sectors of the Nigerian Economy to registered their product and service respectively with the CPC. WHO MUST REGISTER? Manufacturers and distributors of products as well as service providers in all Sectors of the Nigerian Economy such as Food and Agriculture, Construction/Real Estate, Consumer Goods, Banking/Insurance, Pharmaceuticals, I.C.T, Oil and
“The public will not patronize products and services that are not listed with the consumer protection council; the council is backed by law to shut down the premises of product manufacturers and service providers that fail to list their products and services; Non listing will exclude defaulters from national directory.”
Gas, Industrial Goods, Automobiles, Advertising, Courier, Leasing, Hotel and Tourism, Printing and Publishing, Transport and Aviation, Artisans, Education etc. BENEFITS There will be more customers for listing product manufacturer and service providers; listed product Manufacturers and service providers will be featured in CPC consumer guide: a magazine to be published Nationwide; the programme will facilitate training skills acquisition for service providers. PENALTY The public will not patronize products and services that are not listed with the consumer protection council; the council is backed by law to shut down the premises of product manufacturers and service providers that fail to list their products and services; Non listing will exclude defaulters from national directory. Total consumer protection is a collective effort. Its actualization demands collective input from not just manufacturers! Service providers and the Government but also the consumer. The consumers have responsibilities to: be alert to the quality and safety of goods and services before you purchase; gather all the information and facts available about a product or service as well as keep abreast of changes and innovations in the market; make decisions about well considered needs and wants; Inform manufacturers and Government of your needs and expectations; inform business and other consumers in a fair and honest manner about your dissatisfaction and satisfaction with a product or service; be fair and never engage in dishonest practices, which costs all consumers money. Respect the environment by avoiding waste, littering and contribution to pollution. It is hoped that as consumers become aware of their rights and responsibility, and report any un remedied infringement to the Council, the dynamics of a free market economy will be triggered off to generate a better, sustainable, thriving and growing economy in the nation. Such would remove wasteful expenditures; reduce poverty as value for money gets assured. Continues on page 21
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Issues View Point
Continued from page 21
In October 2012, Consumer Protection Council (CPC) was establish in Edo State given the mandate to make sure all manufacturers, distributor and service provider are enlisted with CPC for effective service delivery to consumers of all kind and levels. The federal body is on ground to work with their state counterpart to ensure consumers in the state get the best value for their money. They are in the state to enlighten the consumers on their rights which is in existence but consumers are ignorance about these rights. Also help them to know how to channel their complains and fight for their rights which was violated and demand for a redress which the body will help them get. CPC in Edo state is on ground to monitor to ensure that only those who are doing genuine business remain relevant in the state while the body will ensure the fake people fade away. The Federal government knew she cannot control the activities of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers from Abuja, so she deemed it fit to establish same body across various zones in the country taken charge of various states in the created zones, by implication covering the entire country. The Federal government is determined to eliminate from the system of the nation fake product, substandard goods and also to help consumer’s rights. The government has the consumer at heart as well as their interest. This has prompted the government to ensure they bring in balance in the society
... Need To Protect Consumers to make people know that when they buy anything and it is substandard, they should walk up to CPC office close to them for complains and redress. Consumers all over the nation should cash up on the opportunity provided by the CPC to get quality service, get redress if right is violated and this will push fraudulent businessmen out of service. All you need do is ensure you buy product, goods or services from stores and ensure you get a receipt for every product bought as this will help CPC to pursuit your case should there be any fraudulent act. The Federal government wants to make sure ProServe, the product listing and monitoring programme of the government enlist all manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. With this completed, it will be easy to separate between those producing fake and those who are truly in genuine business and ready to give consumer better service delivery. The state coordinator of CPC in Edo state Obazee Joel said CPC is not like every other body, this body is with a difference and the group is here in the state to ensure that consumers get the best for their money, never will they be cheated again, or molested. “CPC is not a cosmetic group, it is not a push over but are on ground her in the heart beat state to prove a point that it will no longer be business as usual, only the genuine
“We are not working alone but will team up with our state counterpart; this is important for optimal service delivery and check excessive on the consumer and fight this to ensure the consumer are better for it.”
We Are Elated By Your Sterling Performance - Igbo Leaders A speech presented by the Coordinator of Concerned Citizens of Igbo Leaders’ Forum during a courtesy visit to Governor T. A Orji at Government House Umuahia. TODAY is indeed a remarkable day for us the officials of the Concerned Citizens of Igbo Leaders’ Forum. Remarkable in the sense that we are most delighted to be here today to meet with Your Excellency and to see the new face of Abia as represented by Chief T. A Orji. We are really humbled that you created time out of your very tight schedule to receive us today. Thank you Sir. The Concerned Citizens of Igbo Leaders’ Forum is a group of Igbo sons both at home and in the diaspora that have come together to work for the interest of Ndigbo and also for the advancement of Igbo culture. These objectives bound this group together and we are glad to let you know that we have worked hard to ensure that the interest of Ndigbo is
protected where ever we are. We also call on other Igbo groups to work toward this common goal. Your Excellency, our visit here today is to honour you and to further consolidate on our existing good relationship which dates back to 2007, when you were unjustly persecuted politically by the powers that be. We would also like to explore ways of mutual cooperation especially in the areas that will help advance the Igbo cause and foster unity among the Igbos. This group promises to always speak out against injustice to any of our Igbo brothers or sisters and we demonstrated that when we mobilized prominent Igbo leaders, traditional rulers and opinion writers to speak against the ugly incident preceding your election and swearing-in in
2007. Let us make it known to you Sir that if we had any doubt on your ability to deliver, we would not have come to this extent trying to identify with your vision for
Excellency to sustain the tempo. Also of special interest to us is the fact that you have freed Abia from oppressive forces and returned the state to God. Let it be known to
Gov Theodore Orji
Abia State. We are particularly elated by your sterling performance. The tremendous development being witnessed in Abia today under your leadership is worthy of commendation and we enjoin Your
you now that the history of Ndigbo and indeed Nigeria will not be complete without the mention of your role in the advancement of democratic ideals. This forum has taken time to go round the state and we are
businessmen/women will remain relevant in the system to effect better service delivery to the people of the state”. Mr. Joel said the enlisting of all manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers will help in no little way to fight the corruption in this sector of the economy. “This will lead to having a data base where anyone can go to retrieve information on any manufacturer, his product and authenticity of his business outfit in the state. It will enable customers to find out if such product is enlisted with CPC, if such is enlisted and there is complain it become easier to address the situation but if not enlisted then it becomes a serious criminal offence. This is what the laws says. We are always on ground to receive your complain at CPC office here in Benin at Bob-Izua shopping complex at plymout road or the Oba Akenzua complex at Airport road”. “We are not working alone but will team up with our state counterpart; this is important for optimal service delivery and check excessive on the consumer and fight this to ensure the consumer are better for it. This fight is to better the lives of the consumers in the state”. Mr. Joel advised consumers not to buy goods or services from hawkers’ on the street but rather buy from stores with receipt so that when they come their complain will be easily addressed. The store they buy from must be enlisted with ProServe”. Mr. Lucky Okpor who is one of CPC co-ordinators in the state call on consumers in the state to take the advantage of the presence of CPC in the state to get the best while shopping. “We should all join our hands together to fight illegality in the state. We need to partner together and ensure we put these fraudulent people out of business or force them to do the right thing through our coporation”. “As a body we will help the consumer to know their rights and demand for such rights when it’s not available at the point of purchase of any goods or services and ready to entertain any complain coming from them” he added.
impressed with the projects that have been completed, which include the UltraModern Market at Ubani Ibeku, the Secretariat, the International Conference Centre, Ministry of Justice, the Dialysis Health Centre and numerous good roads. No wonder Your Excellency has been bestowed with numerous awards like the Zik Prize in leadership, the Icon of Democracy, Best Security Governor of the Year and the Prime Ambassador of Health etc. These are eloquent testimonies of your understanding performance. Ochendo Global, you have made Abia a national reference point and Ndigbo proud. We salute your courage; we appreciate your doggedness and strength of character in the Abia project. The Igbo Leaders’ Forum has seen in you a true leader, not only for Ndigbo but for Nigeria. Therefore, we urge you not to hesitate to take the centre stage in advancing the interest of Ndigbo in particular and Nigeria in general. On our part, what we promise you is that the forum will continue to support your
government and your vision. Don’t also refuse to move to Abuja to represent us when you are called upon by your people because the mark of a good leader is one who listens to the voice of the people. Your Excellency, we implore you Sir to ensure that only a credible candidate who will carry on with your vision succeeds you in 2015. For us, it doesn’t really matter where the candidate hails from in as much as you can vouch for the person. Before I end this speech, let me once again congratulate you for uniting Abians. Today, all the prominent sons and daughters of Abia origin speak with one voice. There are no more camps as it were previously. It takes only a courageous leader like you to restore peace in the state. We commend you for fighting kidnapping in Abia head on and for bringing sanity to Aba, the commercial city of Abia. Thank you, Sir, for granting us this wonderful opportunity. God bless Ochendo Chief Ogbonna Onyenweaku Coordinator
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Issues Aviation MR Joel Oniga, an Abuja-based business man, booked a Lagosbound flight a month ahead of time to meet a business appointment. He was at the airport on time to check in for his scheduled flight. Two hours after, Oniga was still held up in Abuja as his flight was delayed, and later cancelled due to what the airline operators said was due to operational reasons. Frustrated, Oniga got into another airline, paying almost twice his previous fare to Lagos. He arrived in Lagos two hours after his scheduled appointment and was told he had lost a very rare business opportunity. Oniga went home frustrated to leak his wounds in silence, believing his fate was an act of God. Mr Ikechukwu Chiaha, a Lagos-based lawyer, like many other air travelers, shared similar experience as Oniga. Chiaha recently filed a N125 million suit at the Lagos High Court claiming damages against an airline for cancelling his scheduled flight to Abuja. He is seeking damages for losing a N50 million legal brief due to the delay and cancellation of his flight by the airline. Many air travellers in Nigeria have complained about the poor quality service delivery by most airline operators in the country. The complaints include frequent delays and cancellations of scheduled flights, missing and or miscarriage of passenger luggage, non-
compensation for baggage losses, and poor customer relations by airline desk officers among other issues. These shortcomings, they claim, have led to enormous financial and material losses, including failure to meet with scheduled business appointments and engagements. Concerned by these unceasing complaints, and to ensure sanity and professionalism in the operations of the airlines, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently issued the Air Passengers’ Bill of Rights. The Bill states the duties and responsibilities of airlines towards their passengers, and what is expected of passengers. The NCAA has also published a 20-point document, “Your fly Right’’, summarising airlines’ obligations to passengers patronising their services. It states that a passenger must be compensated within five business days if a flight departs before the ticketed time, and if baggage is delayed or lost. It also guarantees that physically challenged passengers have a right to priority treatment, while all passengers are entitled to in-flight refreshments and when there is a delay of more than one hour. It states that passengers have the right to sanitary restrooms in-flight and a right to best price information; and flexible/ refundable tickets at cost. Nonetheless, the rule also protects the rights of airline operators, as it stipulates that passengers
Protecting The Rights Of Air Travellers
have a duty to arrive at the terminal before the scheduled time for their flight. “Even if you have already checked in for your flight, an airline can cancel your reservation if you are not at the departure gate on time. “If you do not check your baggage in sufficient time for it to be loaded on your flight, the airline will not be responsible for any delay in the delivery of your baggage to your destination. “You have a duty to be courteous to staff and agents of airline operators, while all adults are required to present photo identification upon checkin and at boarding,’’ it states.
By FOLASADE FOLARIN
Assessing the rule, Mr George Uriesi, Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), advised that Nigerians should get to know the contents of the rule so that they would apply it when necessary. Uriesi notes that penalties will be paid by erring airline operators if they did not comply with the stipulated regulations. He says that the essence of the penalties is to make airline operators to plan their schedules properly. “If the airline says it will fly you at 7.00 a.m., it has a number of hours against
“The complaints include frequent delays and cancellations of scheduled flights, missing and or miscarriage of passenger luggage, noncompensation for baggage losses, and poor customer relations by airline desk officers among other issues.”
which it can delay you before you are entitled to a meal first, and a number of hours which it can delay before you are taken to a hotel. “Then, a number of hours which it is expected to pay you a penalty and refund your money if you do not want to fly anymore,’’ he explained. The FAAN boss notes that apart from the rights, the sector has also embarked on other reforms to give air travellers value for their money by remodelling the airports. To ensure that the rule is enforced, the Ministry of Aviation has set up the Consumers’ Protection Directorate (CPD) for passengers to lodge their complaints. Mr Yakubu Dati, General Manager, C o r p o r a t e Communication at the ministry, says the step was necessary to ensure that
passengers’ rights were protected. “If passengers lay their complaints to the airlines but could not get solutions, they should approach officials of NCAA or the CPD to lodge their complaints. He also notes that although the bill was launched recently, some offended passengers have been compensated. “Eight passengers were compensated with 250 Euros each, because they were unable to board a domestic airline from Abuja to Lagos in July,’’ he says. But analysts have opined that delays and disruptions of flights are always hard to evaluate, as some missed schedules are difficult to cost in terms of monetary values. If the passengers’ flight rights are effective, stakeholders believe that passengers’ confidence will be restored for the development of the airline sector.
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Trend IN times past, skin haircut was associated with rashes on the head, especially among children; mourning as a gesture of respect for deceased relations, or among elderly men who do so to even out their baldness. But skin hair-cut seem to be in vogue today as many young adult male, especially the youth prefer to wear clean shaven heads. Barbers attest that many young men visit their barbing salons either to have their heads clean shaven or very lowly cut. Observers say that even as skin hair-cut seem to be in vogue today, the reasons for preferring-the style are as varied as the individuals who wear skin-cuts. Alhaji Idris Modube, a resident of the Federal capital Territory, Abuja, says it is habitual for him to shave his head completely. I decided to make it a habit after my first skin-cut that made me look smart.’’ Collins Chinonye, a student of the University of Abuja, says he decided to wear skin shaven head to emulate his US-based role model. But Mr. Tom Ernest, says his reason for preferring skin hair—cut is purely economic. I save a lot of money if I do not have to visit the salon regularly; each visit costs me much and doing so fortnightly is very expensive at the end of the month,’’ he said. Some observers argue that saving money by preferring skin hair-cut amounts to little or no savings considering that a visit to a barbing salon costs between N200 and N 500. For Mr. James Adoke, a barber, many men who prefer skin hair-cut do so because of dandruff, adding that rashes in the hair sometimes constitute a nuisance to some individuals. Some people say full hair causes dandruff and itching which may result in bleeding in some instance; so they have no option than to keep clean hair-cut, he said.
Is Skin Hair-Cut Becoming Fashionable And In Vogue? Experts say that the nature or texture of hair could be a reason for some men to prefer wearing skin hair-cuts. As much as they would like to have long hairs, other factors may compel them to be clean shaven always. Dr Lanre Falodun, a dermatologist at the National Hospital, Abuja, says growing full hair could cause a headache. Medically, there is nothing like headache when you do not have a hair—cut, or when you allow your hair to grow to a particular length. We advise that whoever has such problem should go for a check-up,’’ he said. Some people keep skin—cut for various reasons such as hair loss, the nature of their job, while others because of fashion, disease prevention or due to baldness. Nonetheless, Lanre says that some people may have thick or coarse hair which is capable of making combing difficult, thereby causing headaches. To avoid such a health problem, he recommends that such individuals should have their heads shaved regularly. Also, loss of hair or baldness is believed to be one good reason for many men to prefer skin hair-cut. Hair loss or -no loss, you lose more than 100 hair strands from your head everyday while an average scalp contains about 100,000 hair strands. However, both men and women tend to lose hair thickness and quantity as
By MAUREEN OKON
they grow old. So baldness is not usually caused by disease; it is related to ageing, hereditary and changes in hormones,’’ he explained. Lanre notes that some
prevent hair from growing as the condition is not fashionable life - threatening, while stress is thought to be the cause. -
concerned by the luxury of time wasting and, on many occasions, cost of keeping with weekly hair styles sonic ladies now suggest clean shaven heads as remedy to keeping up with such expensive
people suffer alopecia, an auto-immune condition that occurs on some people, and cause them to lose hair. According to him, there are also alopecia total is, alopecia areata and alopecia universal is Lanre says that alopecia totalis is the loss of all hair on the head whose causes are unclear, but believed to be auto-immune, while alopecia areata is a condition that causes hair to fall off gradually, but does not cause total loss. Nonetheless, this cannot
Alopecia universalis involves rapid loss of all hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes; it is the most severe, and sortie men fall in this category. Generally, with the occupational stress, most men find it difficult to manage their ‘hair, and they end up shaving off everything,’’ he said. Some hair stylists say skin hair—cut is not the exclusive preserve of men, as many young women now shave their hair.
lifestyle. The fact that a woman’s hair is an integral determinant of her looks notwithstanding they say skin hair-cut is beautiful and trendy. They argue that Britney Spears, an American musician, shaved her head in 2006 because she felt tired of everybody touching her head. They insist that many basketball players, footballers, artistes, do skin hair-cut because they feel
free by not bothering about hair-do. But for some mothers, the reason could be due to lack of time to attend to many issues needing their attention. Mrs. Grace Isah, a mother says: I need to shave off my hair once a baby comes; there is rarely the opportunity for bathing, let alone hours for hair styling. Another problem
associated with stylish hair is when your little child’s hands get unto the roots of your hair, and with a sharp pull it could be painful. one serious pull and missing hair strands can make many mothers to schedule an appointment at the salon for a skin hair— do, she said. It is generally accepted that skin hair-cut is taking a pride of place and is becoming fashionable these days, especially among the young and young-at-heart men and women.
“Mrs. Grace Isah, a mother says: I need to shave off my hair once a baby comes; there is rarely the opportunity for bathing, let alone hours for hair styling.”
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International Features REBELS including alQaida-linked fighters gained control of a Christian village northeast of the capital Damascus, Syrian activists said. Government media provided a dramatically different account of the battle suggesting regime forces were winning. It was impossible to independently verify the reports from Maaloula, a scenic mountain community known for being one of the few places in the world where residents still speak the ancient Middle Eastern language of Aramaic. The village is on a UNESCO list of tentative world heritage sites. The rebels advance into the area this week was spearheaded by the Jabhat al-Nusra, or Nusra Front, exacerbating fears among Syrians and religious minorities about the role played by Islamic extremists within the rebel ranks. It was not immediately clear why the army couldn’t sufficiently reinforce its troops to prevent the rebels advance in the area only 43 kilometers (26 miles) from Damascus. Some activists say that Assad’s forces are stretched thin, fighting in other areas in the north and south of the country. Rami Abdurrahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Nusra Front backed by another group, the Qalamon Liberation Front, moved into the village after heavy clashes with the army late Saturday. “The army pulled back to the outskirts of the
village and both (rebel groups) are in total control of Maaloula now,” he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. He said progovernment fighters remain inside the village, in hiding. Initially, troops loyal to President Bashar Assad moved into Maaloula early Saturday, he said, “but they left when rebels started pouring into the village.” Now, Abdurrahman said, the army is surrounding the village and controlling its entrances and exits. A Maaloula resident said the rebels, many of them sporting beards and shouting Allahu Akbar, or God is great, attacked Christian homes and
Bashar Assad, Syrian President
Syrian Rebels Take Christian Village churches shortly after moving into the village overnight. “They shot and killed people. I heard gunshots and then I saw three bodies lying in the middle of a street in the old quarters of the village,” said the resident, reached by telephone from neighboring Jordan. “So many people fled the village for safety.” Now, Maaloula “is a ghost town. Where is President Obama to see what has befallen on us?” asked the man, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of
reprisal by the rebels. Syria’s state SANA news agency said the army reported “progress” in its offensive against the rebels in Maaloula. “The army inflicted heavy losses in the ranks of the terrorists,” it said, using a government term to describe the rebels. “Military operations are continuing in the vicinity of Maaloula and its entrances,” SANA said. State-run TV reported that all churches in Maaloula were now safe and the army was chasing gunmen in the
western hills. The development came as President Barack Obama’s administration pressed ahead with efforts to win congressional backing and international support for military strikes against Syria over an alleged chemical attack in August outside Damascus. The U.S. says Assad’s forces fired rockets loaded with the nerve agent sarin on rebel-held areas near the capital before dawn on August 21, killing at least 1,429 people. Other estimates put the death toll from
the attack at more than 500. Back in Washington after a trip to Europe that included a two-day visit to Russia to attend a Group of 20 summit, Obama will intensify his efforts to sell a skeptical Congress and a warweary American public on a military strike against Syria. A passionate debate is already underway in Congress and the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’s lobbying campaign culminates Tuesday, as Obama gives an Oval Office speech the evening before a critical
vote on the possible Syria action is expected in the Senate. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius questioned in a television interview Sunday Assad’s willingness for a political solution to the Syrian crisis. “No one is for war,” Fabius told France 3 TV. “The question we ask is if we want to get to a political resolution, will Bashar Assad accept if nothing is done? My opinion is no. There has to be a firm response to push toward a political negotiation.” Fabius said that a military intervention didn’t require every country to be behind it. He said: “We must be vigilant against barbarity.”
“A Maaloula resident said the rebels, many of them sporting beards and shouting Allahu Akbar, or God is great, attacked Christian homes and churches shortly after moving into the village overnight.”
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International Features
Obama Trying To Sway War-Weary Public On Syria R E S I D E N T Barack Obama is hitting the airwaves to try to convince Americans limited strikes against Syria are needed for the United States’ longterm safety, while Secretary of State John Kerry is vehemently defending the case against President Bashar Assad’s, saying his denial of chemical weapons use is “contradicted by fact.” Obama on Monday planned to make his case for punishing Assad for what the United States says argues was his decision to use chemical weapons against his own people — a charge Assad denied in a new interview. Top administration officials are heading to Capitol Hill for more classified briefings. And White House national security adviser Susan Rice is scheduled for a speech at a Washington think tank timed to the public relations blitz aimed at ensuring people the administration isn’t contemplating another commitment like Iraq and Afghanistan. In an interview Sunday in Damascus, Assad told American journalist Charlie Rose there is no conclusive evidence about who is to blame for the chemical weapons attacks and again suggested the rebels were responsible. Rose said Assad also warned him previous U.S. military efforts in the region have proved disastrous. And Assad argued the evidence Kerry has disclosed amounts to a “big lie” that resembles the case for war in Iraq that Secretary of State Colin Powell made to the United Nations over a decade ago. Appearing Monday at a news conference in London with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, Kerry said of Assad: “What does he
P
offer? Words that are contradicted by fact.” “We know that his regime gave orders to prepare for a chemical
convene a gathering of all Syrian opposition figures who are interested in peaceful settlement. Lavrov said that a U.S.
With Congress set to have its first votes authorizing limited strikes into Syria as early as Wednesday, Obama and
this week, are seeking. “It’s an uphill slog,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence
“Public opinion surveys show intense American skepticism about military intervention in Syria, even among those who believe Syria’s government used chemical weapons on its people.” attack. We know they deployed forces,” the secretary said. He added that the United States knows “where the rockets came from and where they landed ... and it was no accident that they all came from regime -controlled territory and all landed” in opposition-held territory. “So the evidence is powerful and the question for all of us is, what are we going to do about it. Turn our backs? Have a moment of silence?” He said that if Assad wanted to defuse the crisis, “he could turn every single bit of his chemical weapons over to the international community” within a week. But he said that Assad “isn’t about to do it.” Pressed further on Assad’s denials, Kerry said, “I just answered that. I just gave you real evidence. Evidence that as a former prosecutor in the United States I could take into a courtroom and get admitted.” Meanwhile, Russian and Syrian foreign ministers said Monday they will push for the return of United Nations inspectors to Syria to continue their probe into the use of chemical weapons. Russia’s Sergey Lavrov said after Monday’s talks with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Moallem that Moscow will continue to promote a peaceful settlement and may try to
attack on Syria will deal a fatal blow to peace efforts. Obama will meet with Senate Democrats Tuesday to seek support for U.S. military action against the government of Syria, according to two Senate Democratic aides. The meeting at the Capitol would come just hours before Obama addresses the nation in a prime-time speech on Syria from the White House. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is scheduled to speak Monday at a White House event on wildlife trafficking, planned to reiterate her support of Obama’s efforts to pass the Syria resolution, according to a Clinton aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly.
Barack Obama
his allies were arguing that the United States needs to remind hostile nations such as Iran and North Korea of American military might while working to reassure the nation that the lessons of the last decade were fresh in their minds. “It is not Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya,” White House chief of staff Denis McDonough said Sunday during one of his five network television interviews. “This is a very concerned, concentrated, limited effort that we can carry out and that can underscore and secure our interests.” But McDonough conceded the administration lacks “irrefutable, beyond-areasonable-doubt evidence” that skeptical Americans, including lawmakers who will start voting on military action
Committee, who supports strikes on Assad. “I think it’s very clear he’s lost support in the last week,” Rogers added, speaking of the president. A survey by The Associated Press shows that House members who are staking out positions are either opposed to or leaning against Obama’s plan for a military strike by more than a 6-1 margin. “Lobbing a few Tomahawk missiles will not restore our credibility overseas,” said Rep. Mike McCaul, the Texas Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee. Added Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif.: “For the president to say that this is just a very quick thing and we’re out of there, that’s how long wars start.” Despite public backing
from leaders of both parties to strike, almost half of the 433 current members in the House and a third of the 100-member Senate remain undecided, the AP survey found. They will be the subject of intense lobbying from the administration — as well as outside groups that have formed coalitions that defy the traditional left-right divide. Public opinion surveys show intense American skepticism about military intervention in Syria, even among those who believe Syria’s government used chemical weapons on its people. The United States, citing intelligence reports, says the lethal nerve agent sarin was used in an August 21 attack outside Damascus, and that 1,429 people died, including 426 children. Excerpts of Rose’s interview are to be released Monday on the CBS morning program that he hosts. The full interview is set to air on Rose’s prime-time program on PBS. Even before the interview was released, the White House criticized it. “It doesn’t surprise us that someone who would kill thousands of his own people, including hundreds of children with poison gas, would also lie about it,” spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said. Top administration officials, including Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, planned to brief lawmakers ahead of the Wednesday vote on a resolution that would authorize the “limited and specified use” of U.S. armed forces against Syria for no more than 90 days. The measure bars American ground troops from combat. A final vote is expected at week’s end and the House is expected to take up the issue the following week.
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Political Platform
Only Gov Orji Will Vote For Jonathan In 2015 SOME persons resort to exhibiting certain traits in whatever thing they do and have the philosophy that there is freedom and safety in madness. You cannot understand such people, because they are not lonely, but busy doing nothing. They are far from being genius. You see them as oddballs. They like to rebel so much and are troublemakers. When others are putting round pegs in round hole, they are putting round pegs in the square holes. They do not do things the way of the people, but the way frivolous ideas crop-up in their heads. They do not follow rules and they have no respect for humanity. They push whatever agenda that comes to them backwards. They speak before they think. You cannot ignore them and wouldn’t want to associate with them. That was my generalisation of Theodore Ahamefule Orji of Abia State when I read an article that was titled “2015: Igbo‘ll Deliver SEastVotes To Jonathan – Orji” in which the governor was reported to have said that the people of the South East would remain unwavering in their support for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. Much as every party has an interest in winning in elections, Gov. Orji will not be a good sell for Jonathan in the regard
By ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE
that the governor was saying that our people were poised to deliver the region to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. I have been wondering which people that the governor meant. Is it the people that he sent packing from the Civil Service in his state in the floating language that they were not aboriginal citizens of Abia State? The people that the governor sent out of job were Igbo people who happened to come from other states but from the South-East political zone that the governor has said that was balanced to give Jonathan the full-swing support come 2015. I’m not against Jonathan as a person, but I’m not sure what Orji meant when he was also reported to have said that the “bread of the Igbos will be buttered” when they support President Jonathan and that a contrary view is simply telling lies. I cannot stop laughing at persons who do not know that they have shot themselves on their feet, but continue to make positions irrelevant as their ways of life and themselves are. However, we know that Governor. Orji is a drowned politician who is looking for every available means to be favoured by the president. Though, we know that the
president is a man who knows who is who in governance across the 36 states of the country and that Gov. Orji is not performing and is not regarded as a personality in the South-East, because of his stumpy mentality to render good governance
State, when the remains of our dearly beloved Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu were laying in state in Abia. But the governor later referred to that noble act of the masses calling him up to perform, as the handiwork of his political rivals. Does such a drowned governor have a
governor is doing from his body-language is to paint Jonathan as a messiah that Ndigbo would not afford to miss in 2015, whereas Orji himself has not done any meaningful project in our state. Governor Orji wants Jonathan to see and take him seriously as one of the leaders in the South-East zone. But being a governor is far from being a leader of the people. This is to say that if a man like President Jonathan should rely on Governor
President Goodluck Jonathan
to Abia State. Evidence of this is fad, because Governor Orji is the only governor who has been pelted, booed and heckled publicly and laughed-at secretly among Ndigbo. A typical example was at Aba, the commercial city of Abia
rival? Yet, he continues to develop our state, but only in the media. There is no amount of sugarcoated words from Governor Orji that will make him be loved by Jonathan, though Mr. President has not said that he hates Orji. But what the
“It is my belief that Governor Orji should stop bringing himself to the public ridicule for people to laugh. He should stop bringing us, the people of South-East, into his disastrous political posturing, in making sure that he is in the ‘good book’ of President Jonathan. If our people will support President Jonathan in 2015, Governor Orji is not in any way near the position to tell us.”
Orji to deliver the SouthEast to him in an election, it would be only the governor that would vote. It does not mean that we hate Jonathan, but the man Governor Orji is a hiss. Governor Orji now takes Abuja as his first home. This is coming after we harangued that his incessant traveling to overseas was becoming much. He seemed to have curtailed that as we are yet to hear his protégés and rented crowed deafening our ears from the Government House,
Umuahia that their “Ochendo Global” has ‘returned’. We could remember that in April this year, the same Governor Orji who was reported to have said that the people of South-East would support Jonathan in 2015, as if he was a leader of our people, asked our people to return home from the North in a treatise that was captioned “Boko Haram: North No Longer Safe, Return Home Orji Tells Ndi Igbo”. My worry was that the governor made the unguided statement without a recourse to the damage he had done to Ndigbo who were working in Abia State that were not of Abia origin. He sent them packing. So, his clamour that Ndigbo should return home was baseless. What was expected of Governor Orji was to say that Ndi-Abia who were residents of the North should return to our state. We can see that Abia State under Governor Orji is no longer safe for the people of South-East who are not from Abia State. So, which South-East is Governor Orji talking about to support President Jonathan in 2015? It is my belief that Governor Orji should stop bringing himself to the public ridicule for people to laugh. He should stop bringing us, the people of South-East, into his disastrous political posturing, in making sure that he is in the ‘good book’ of President Jonathan. If our people will support President Jonathan in 2015, Governor Orji is not in any way near the position to tell us. He has to first keep and govern his state well before dragging the entire South-East zone into his political oblivion, because Ndigbo are not insane, oddballs and troublemakers who put round pegs in the square holes.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Macdonald Slams Cabaye
NEWCASTLE United legend Malcolm Macdonald has slammed Magpies midfielder Yohan Cabaye. Cabaye, who refused to play for the Tyneside club in the opening two games of the season in an attempt to force a move to London club Arsenal, has been criticised by Macdonald. Macdonald, who spent five years at the club [19711976] before ironically joining the Gunners, feels that Cabaye made a dreadful decision not to feature for the Geordies in the first two matches of the season. Although Macdonald feels that Cabaye made the
wrong decision, he can understand where he comes from and feels that the Magpies faithful, who booed him in the game against Fulham, will forgive him if he helps them up the table. “I don’t blame Cabaye one bit for wanting to leave. He’s a foreign player in a foreign land and he wants to play at the best level possible. What I did object to was the way he went about it,” said Macdonald. “Luckily for Cabaye, United fans are very forgiving and if he puts in a regular good shift and helps to get them up the table, then he will be all right.”
Fellaini United’s Yaya MANCHESTER United Toure? legend Paddy Crerand believes Marouane Fellaini will be the club’s Yaya Toure. The Belgium international completed his move to the Premier League champions on transfer deadline day, adding some strength to the club’s midfield options. After five years at Everton, the 25-year-old has built the reputation of being a tough tackling midfielder, much like his fellow Manchester rival, Toure. And Crerand believes that he can be another star in the long line of fine midfielders at Old Trafford. “I’m delighted United have signed Marouane Fellaini and I think most fans should be too, because the one thing
Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand Stance Criticised By PFA Chief
THE chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association has criticised Rio and Anton Ferdinand for boycotting an anti-racism T-shirt demonstration. The Manchester United accused them of “throwing a defender and his brother chose to grenade” at the issue but refusing ignore the campaign launched by to commit their own time and Kick It Out last October as they efforts to help the cause. Carlisle wrote in his were unhappy that the punishments given to Chelsea’s forthcoming autobiography, ‘You John Terry, who was banned for Don’t Know Me, But... A four games, and Liverpool’s Luis Footballer’s Life’, which is being Suarez, who was suspended for serialised in the Daily Mail: “It eight matches, after they were p****s me off that, rather than found guilty of racially abusing speaking out and addressing the Anton Ferdinand and Patrice topic, a few decide to do Evra respectively were too something as trivial as not wear a t-shirt, then melt back into the lenient. But Clarke Carlisle said their crowd. “Rio and Anton Ferdinand actions damaged a group that is making attempts to end were among a group of highdiscrimination in football and profile abstainers, along with Joleon Lescott, who has not worn one since Newcastle’s Turkish midfielder Emre was cleared of racially abusing his Everton team-mate Joseph Yobo, and Reading striker Jason Roberts. “Jason apart, the Premier JOEY Barton has emerged as League ‘big’ players happily an unlikely model professional throw in a grenade, but do for promotion hopefuls QPR. The controversial midfielder was expected to leave Loftus Road during the transfer window EMMANUEL Adebayor with a move back to Marseille, insists he never considered the club where he spent last leaving Tottenham in the season on loan, his likely summer transfer window, despite destination. the addition of Erik Lamela and But the switch did not Roberto Soldado to Spurs’ materialise and Barton has attack. instead become an integral part of a Rangers side unbeaten so far this season. “I’ve been delighted with Joey, it’s the first time I’ve worked with him and he couldn’t have done more,” revealed manager Harry Redknapp “He’s been great on the training ground, great on the pitch on a Saturday and great off the pitch as well. He’s a big part of the team at the moment. “I’d never met him before and I thought he’d go to Marseille. My attitude was if he comes back, he comes back. “He has come back and I’ve been impressed with him as a player and as a lad. I can only take him as I find him and he’s not caused me a minute’s problem. “He talks about football, he loves the game, he trains well, he’s good on the pitch and in the dressing room and I haven’t seen a downside to him. I can’t fault Emmanuel Adebayor the way he’s been.”
Redknapp Hails Barton
nothing when it explodes, nothing other than appear to hide behind their advisers. That’s because they are s***houses. They have made their ‘statement’ for all to see, but how many are prepared to stand in front of the cameras and be counted?” Carlisle, who retired in the summer after playing for Blackpool, QPR, Leeds, Watford, Luton, Burnley, Preston, Northampton and York, was also annoyed that top black players refused to appear in a documentary he made, called ‘Is Football Racist?.’ And he said they were happier to criticise him for raising the issue rather than assist in the Kick It Out initiative, for which he is an ambassador. He added: “The impression conveyed is that I have failed to get people to unite and support
the cause. Not only that, I feel under attack from a group of players questioning my position and representation of them on the issue. “This has really hurt me. Where the hell have they been for the past eight years, when I have
Fellaini
Lampard Hoping To Bow Out On the two home games next A High Note for month and try to win them. A
FRANK Lampard has accepted 2014 will likely mark the end of his international career and he is hopeful the Three Lions take a crucial step towards World Cup qualification with a win over Ukraine on Tuesday to prolong his involvement with England. The Chelsea midfielder
Adebayor Never Considered Spurs three Premier League games. And with the Spaniard finding Exit the net twice already, Adebayor Adebayor appears to have been pushed to the periphery of Andre Villas-Boas’ squad, with Soldado used as the preferred option up front for Tottenham’s opening
seen the same faces at the antiracism initiatives? I could count on my fingers the guys who have been to the KIO and Show Racism the Red Card workshops and meetings. It seems like they can’t be arsed to join in, because it’s inconvenient to attend on a day off or to contribute something after training. They will readily gun me down for giving my opinion on the subject, though.”
we’ve lacked at Manchester United in the middle of the park is somebody powerful and strong,” Crerand told the club’s official website. “I wouldn’t want [Yaya] Toure playing against me; a big powerful guy, hard to compete with. We’ve got one of our own now.” “Down the years, we’ve had some magnificent players in midfield, like Roy Keane and Bryan Robson. And now, with Fellaini, we’ve got much more power and strength than we had last year, so I think he’s a big asset.” Fellaini made 177 appearances for Everton, scoring 33 goals during his time at Goodison Park.
could have a difficult time establishing himself once more at White Hart Lane. But the 29-year-old, who was linked with a number of clubs in recent months, had no plans to move abroad. “I decided with my manager, even before the start of the transfer window that I would not leave Tottenham and that’s what I did,” Adebayor told All Africa.com. “I have never thought of leaving Spurs. I am here, my family feels great here and I do not see myself in another city.” Despite Soldado, Lamela and Jermain Defoe limiting Adebayor’s chances of first team football this season, he is confident of proving himself as Spurs’ first-choice striker. “Today I will not tell you that I’m stronger than Soldado, Defoe or Lamela,” he said. “We now have four in the attack, I do not know who ranks first, second or third, but I know at the end I will be the first and it is the most important.”
will earn his 100th cap for England during the match in Kiev, but could announce his retirement if Roy Hodgson’s side fail to qualify for next year’s tournament. Lampard was coy about his chances of calling it quits after Brazil but he conceded this could be his final chance to make an impact for England on the global stage. “Realistically, I think this will be my last year,” he said. “I would love us to get to Brazil because it would prolong the year, and it would be great for me to go out there. “I don’t want to say ‘I’ll retire’ because the minute I say that it’s there waiting to happen, but younger players are coming through and, at 36, not too many play on at international level. “But I’d hate to go out in the autumn [if England fail to qualify]. I enjoy being with this group of players and working with the manager, and I have a lot of respect for him. England, as a whole, want to get to the World Cup so I wouldn’t want to go out like that. “We’ll go into the Ukraine game to win it. If we lose it we’d have to remain upbeat
lot of big teams qualify through the play-offs and then go on to do really well at tournaments. It’s not how you get there, it’s just the fact of getting there.” Meanwhile, striker Rickie Lambert admits he is still thrilled after earning his second England call-up as he prepares for a certain start against Ukraine given Daniel Sturridge’s injury. “I scratch my head and think ‘I’m playing for England’, it’s very surreal,” he said. “I do it all the time. I’m playing with the players I’ve looked up to all my career. “It’s beyond any imagination what’s happening at the minute, but I’m trying to stay cool, I’m trying to do what’s important, and that’s trying to do well when the kick-off starts. “I’ve tried to give the manager a different option and I’ve got another chance to impress again on Tuesday and that’s what I’ll be trying to do. “I feel like I have to impress, in training and in the game. Thankfully I managed to score against Moldova, so hopefully that’s given him a different option and I’m hoping there’s more to come.”
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Fiorentina To Snub Winter Window
Neymar Idolises Messi BARCELONA attacker Neymar has once again praised team-mate Lionel Messi, insisting the Argentinean is “above all”. Neymar has openly stated that the opportunity to play alongside Messi was a decisive factor in his decision to join Barca and he appears to have quashed concerns that the two would be unable to combine effectively. The 21-year-old scored a goal in Brazil’s 6-0 rout of Australia on Saturday and revealed he has settled into life at his new club well, while hailing the influence of his “idol” Messi. “Messi is above all,” Neymar said. “I admire him, he is my idol. I respect him a lot. He has been the best player in the world four times now, and he’s eager to do it again. “My life in Barcelona is quiet. But I love how everything is going. I love the city, the club and the people I work with. Everything is perfect.”
Roma Suffer Bradley Loss ROMA will reportedly be without Michael Bradley for the next month after he picked up an injury on international duty. The USA midfielder suffered an ankle problem in the game against Costa Rica which didn’t cause too much concern initially. However, tests have shown ligament damage which is likely to see the midfielder sidelined for around four weeks. The 2012 summer signing from Chievo Verona will subsequently miss the Rome derby against Lazio on September 22.
Marcelo
FIORENTINA are hoping to ignore the January transfer session. The Viola have been rather active this summer, but sporting director Daniele Prade maintains the plan is to keep the squad intact until the end of the season. “I hope there is no need to buy or sell in January,” the former Roma official told La Nazione. “My dream is to just sit and watch it unfold because we already know who we will be signing next summer. “And that is no lie. That is the way we work. Planning is at the base of everything at Fiorentina so that we have the time necessary to close certain
Neymar and Messi
Real Wouldn’t Give Up On Neymar
BARCELONA President Sandro Rosell has claimed that Real Madrid were trying to hijack his club’s signing of Neymar even as the player was putting pen to paper for the Catalans. Madrid had long been involved in a battle for Neymar ’s signature, but Blancos president Florentino Perez said the club abandoned their pursuit because “for us it would have cost more than +150 million”. However, Rosell insists Barca’s
rivals continued their pursuit until the bitter end and also claims that the Brazil star had even privately passed a medical for Madrid prior to signing on the dotted line at Camp Nou. “When we reached a preagreement with Neymar’s father,
Marcelo, Isco Under Injury Cloud
MARCELO is a doubt for Real Madrid’s trip to Villarreal on Saturday after suffering a thigh injury during Brazil’s 6-0 rout of Australia, while midfielder Isco is also struggling to recover from an injury problem. He has returned to Madrid, where club doctors are expected to assess the extent of his injury. Isco has also created a problem for Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, with the 21-year-old continuing to struggle with the ankle injury he picked up last week. The Spaniard was left out of his country’s win over Finland
on Friday and has also travelled back to Madrid for treatment after being ruled out of Spain’s friendly with Chile on Tuesday.
the player had already passed a medical with Real Madrid,” Rosell told TV3’s ‘Hat-trick’ programme. “We joked that we could save ourselves the money of doing the tests ourselves. When we were already signing the contract, Madrid was sending emails to Santos.” The complex deal which was agreed between Barcelona, Santos and Neymar’s father — who is also his agent — continues to be the subject of controversy in Brazil, where various other stakeholders have complained that they are not receiving their fair share of the +57 million total fee. Rosell said Barca were not involved in talks over which
parties were owed how much from the deal. “The investment fund which is claiming money from [Neymar’s] transfer is talking with Santos and the player’s father,” he said. “We are staying out of it.” The Camp Nou chief said that reports last week that Barca had not paid Eric Abidal when the French defender had been ill were mistaken. “Barcelona has paid Abidal everything he was supposed to earn,” Rosell said. “Although the doctors said he would not return to play, we extended his contract and he received everything. The contract was suspended due to an agreement with the medical insurers. He himself has recognised that his words were not interpreted well.”
Kaka Thankful For Captaincy In Debut “You cannot expect a player,
KAKA has thanked AC Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia for handing him the captain’s armband in his debut for the Rossoneri on Saturday. The Brazilian made his first appearance in his return to the Italian club during a 4-0 friendly win over Swiss side Chiasso and he was given the opportunity to lead his side out by Amelia. Kaka played 45 minutes in the outing and admitted his surprise at receiving the captaincy. “It has been a fantastic weekend for me,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “In the friendly it gave me shivers to wear the captain’s armband and it was a real surprise. “I didn’t expect it, so I thank Amelia for this honourable gesture. We though together that it would be a nice thing, both for me and for Milan.” Coach Massimiliano Allegri believes Kaka has already shown he will be crucial in Milan’s Serie A bid this season. “Kaka has great quality, is a champion and his presence raises the level of self-
confidence throughout the squad,” Allegri told Milan Channel. “I must do well to get the best out of him and help him reach peak fitness.
Kaka
even one of his level, to be ready straight away. Kaka is a lovely guy who is eager to work hard, which he proved already in training.”
deals.” To underline his point, Pradè revealed that talks to sign Mario Gomez from Bayern Munich this summer originated right at the start of 2013. “The Gomez deal, like all the rest, began in the winter, during January,” he added. “There were no late or improvised moves. “Remember this – a year ago we were thinking of getting Giuseppe Rossi who arrived in January. In that month, we began sorting out the July purchases…” One player who Fiorentina did not sign this summer was Brazil and available QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar. “We were not turned down by him because we never contacted him,” assured the Viola director.
Barca Host Winless Sevilla
BARCELONA will look to maintain their winning start in La Liga when they host Sevilla on Saturday night. The Catalans have won their opening three fixtures, beating Levante, Malaga and Valencia, although the last two victories have been hard-fought. Sevilla on the other hand are still in search of their first league win after following up their loss to Atletico Madrid with back-toback draws against Levante and Malaga. Last season the encounters between the two sides produced tight encounters, but Barcelona emerged victorious on both occasions, winning 3-2 at the Ramon-Sanchez Pizjuan and 2-1 at the Camp Nou.
Madrid To Visit On-Form Villarreal REAL Madrid’s perfect record in La Liga will be in danger when they visit Villarreal at the El Madrigal Stadium on Saturday night. While the Whites are yet to reach top gear, they have been able to collect maximum points in all three matches, grinding out tight wins against Real Betis and Granada, before securing a comfortable win over Athletic Bilbao. However, Villarreal also go into this game with a good run of form having won all three matches since regaining their status in the top division at the start of the season. The Yellow Submarine have signalled their intentions early in the season with impressive wins over Almeria, Real Valladolid and Osasuna and will back themselves to get a positive result at home. The last meeting between the two sides at this venue during the 2011/12 season saw Villarreal earning a point courtesy of a 1-1 draw as Marcos Senna scored late to cancel Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
Eto’O Quits Cameroon
CAMEROON captain Samuel Eto’o has announced his retirement from international football. French sports daily L’Equipe reports that the four-time African player of the year winner has quit the Indomitable Lions citing personal reasons. Eto’o reportedly quit after Cameroon’s 1-0 home win over Libya on Sunday in their deciding 2014 FIFA World Cup Group I qualifier in Yaoundé. The striker played in that match before he was substituted on the hour mark and replaced by Jacques Zoua. Meanwhile,Eto’o had trained very little the week preceding the game and his presence in the starting line-up was only confirmed a few hours before kick-off. While Cameroon’s officials said the striker had a cold, close
sources disclosed that Eto’o and coach Volker Finke clashed over the starting line-up, with the player allegedly demanding the inclusion of veteran keeper Carlos Kameni and forward Achille
Webo. Finke allegedly refused to please the player and a top official had to convince Eto’o to participate in the crucial match. It is not the first time that Eto’o is rumoured to try and dictate his
CHANGE OF NAME
ADDITION OF NAME
ADEYOSOYE – I, formerly Miss Folasade Adeyosoye now Mrs. Folasade Ehimika. All former documents remain valid. General public and all concerned authorities should please take note.
I, Destiny Izehi Ibhakewanlan wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Destiny Izehi. It should be known therefore that I am properly known and addressed as Destiny Izehi Ibhakewanlan. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
CHANGE OF NAME
NWAJEI – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Nwajei Lucy now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Atuma Lucy. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Edo State and the general public should please take note.
ORIWOH – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Augustina Oriwoh now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Augustina Endurance Akaninyene Akpan. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) Iyanomo, Benin City and the general public should please take note.
IDUKUYE – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Maureen Idukuye now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maureen Efetobore. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
choices to the coach and not the first time that he has also flirted with retiring from the national team. And with the latest revelation, Eto’o’s presence in next month’s World Cup playoff qualifiers is now highly doubtful.
RECONCILIATION/ CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Kadiri Rosemary wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person called Samson Ebun as appeared in my Primary School Leaving Certificate. However, I am now properly known and called Kadiri Rosemary. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
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OKPROMA – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss. Sarah Okeoghene Okproma now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Sarah Okeoghene Oronsaye. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note
The solemnisation of marriage between former Miss Anthonia Osagie and Mr. Efe Faluyi (both based in Russia) took place on Saturday September 7, 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Mr. Uyi Obasohan, Mr. Emma Asemota, Mr. Austin Faluyi, Mr. Jonathan Akpasubi, family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple at the registry. Congratulations! Photo: SONNIE E.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
IOC Restores Wrestling For 2020 And 2014 Games
THE International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said wrestling has finally found its way back as an additional sport for the Summer Olympic Games of 2020 and 2024. A statement from the Commission,’’ the statement IOC said its members said. voted for wrestling with a It quoted IOC President simple majority of votes Jacques Rogge as saying cast in the first round at its wrestling has shown great 125th Session in Buenos passion and resilience in the Aires, Argentina. last few months. The decision was made “I will like to offer my after IOC agreed on the 25 congratulations to the sports which will form the International Federation of core for the 2020 Games Associated Wrestling Styles. to be hosted by the city of “Wrestling has shown great Tokyo. passion and resilience in the “The Federation of last few months, and its Associated Wrestling officials have taken a number Styles (FILA) made a of steps to modernise and presentation to the improve their sport. Session, along with the “This includes addition of international federations more women and athletes in (IFs) of baseball/softball decision-making positions, (WBSC) and squash rule changes to make the (WSF). sport more exciting and easy “They were all to understand, and increase shortlisted by the IOC in the number of women’s Executive Board in May competitions. following an extensive “We are pleased with their evaluation by the Olympic reaction and happy to have P r o g r a m m e wrestling on the Olympic programme in 2020 and
2024,’’ Rogge said. The review of programmes in the Olympics was part of IOC efforts to ensure the Games remain relevant to sports fans of all generations. In order to control the size, cost and complexity of the Games, the Olympic Programme was capped in 2002 at 28 sports, approximately 300 events and a target of 10,500 athletes. Also, a systematic review
of the Olympic Programme would be conducted after every edition of the Games to provide regular rejuvenation of the Games while maintaining continuity and consistency. The concept of a core group of 25 sports with a maximum of three additional sports was adopted in 2007. Two years later, golf and rugby sevens were added to the programme of the Rio 2016 and the 2020 Olympic Games.
HOME team Enyimba left it late before they thrashed Lobi Stars 3-0 in a Nigeria league match in Aba on Sunday. Last month, Enyimba also eliminated Lobi in the semifinal of the Federation Cup. Wasteful Enyimba could not find the back of the net as Lobi goalkeeper Melai Terkaa made several big saves before Nigeria ‘B’ international Ifeanyi Edeh finally broke the deadlock in the 74th minute. Veteran striker Victor Ezeji made it 2-0 for ‘The People’s Elephant’ in the 86th minute, before Edeh completed his brace in the 90th minute. Enyimba coach Imama
East, Egypt and Algeria the North, while the South had zero teams progressing. 16 – The 16th of September will see the draw for the final phase conducted in Cairo. The teams will be seeded according the September release of FIFA’s rankings. 18 – Of the 10 teams through to the final phase, Cote d’Ivoire has the highest world ranking: 18th position. Eighteen is also the number of goals netted by top scorers Ghana. Egypt and Algeria have a slight chance of overtaking them in this regard in matches on Tuesday night. The Black Stars also share the best defensive record (just three goals shipped) with Nigeria and Cameroon. 72 – The number of days (including today, September 9) until the 19th of November, the date by which the second leg of the final phase playoffs will have been concluded. 100 – Egypt is the only team which can finish with a 100 percent record: they will do so if they defeat Guinea on Tuesday. 102 – Of the 10 teams through to the final phase, Ethiopia has the lowest world ranking: 102nd position
Amapakabo told MTNFootball.com Lobi were lucky to have lost by just three goals as he blamed poor finishing for the “low” score line. “It was a good game, we played very well and I think Lobi were lucky to have escaped the first half without conceding a goal,” Amapakabo told MTNFootball.com “We created numerous chances and could not score any, I knew what we needed was the opening goal and Ifeanyi(Edeh) got that in the 74th minute, and that was it. We would have score many goal if not for wasted chances.”
Pillars Crash At Nasarawa
colleagues for putting up a good fight against the Super Eagles, in spite of losing to their hosts. The loss ensured the Malawians ended second with seven points in the group, five below the Nigerian side which went ahead to advance to the qualifiers’ final round.
CHAMPIONS Kano Pillars suffered a 2-1 loss at struggling Nasarawa United in continuation of the Nigeria league on Sunday. The win has helped Nasarawa United limp out of relegation zone with 39 points, while Pillars still set the pace with 51 points from 30 matches. Former JUTH FC striker Malachy Ilo gave the home team the lead in the 26th minute, before hotshot Victor Namo made it 2-0 with a 55th minute penalty goal against his former team. Promise James then reduced the deficit for Pillars. Sharks drew 1-1 with Akwa United in Port Harcourt. Mfon Udoh gave the visiting team the lead with a superb free kick in the 20th minute, but Sharks equalised from the penalty spot through Thompson Stowe in the 65th minutes after youth international Christian Pyagbara was brought down inside the box.
MATCH commissioner of Sunshine Stars and 3SC game which was abandoned, Patrick Pascal, has said he will only report what he saw at the game. The ex-international told MTNFootball.com: “The game went well in first half, after the first half, I saw an incident, where a man was wrestling with the 3SC cameraman and that was settled. Gbolahan Salami had an issue with a ball boy and that was settled again. I then went into the team’s dressing room to call them out
for the second half, but 3SC said they won’t come out because Oyo State Sport commissioner said he was attacked by the fans, I was not there to witness if that happened or not because I had gone to the officials’ dressing room. They said they will protest and that’s good because it is in the rule. I tried to see that they come out but it didn’t work.” The league is now expected to decide on the Week 30 match.
The 10 Final Phase Qualifiers In Numbers MTNFootball takes a statistical look at the 10 teams who have progressed into the final phase of African qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 1 – South Africa is the only one of the six African teams who played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup who did not progress to the final phase of qualifying for the 2014 edition. 2 – There are still two matches set to be played in the second phase of qualifying, with Egypt and Algeria (already confirmed as winners of Group G and H respectively) set to face Guinea and Mali to night. 3 – Three of the 10 teams who have progressed to the final phase of qualification have never played at a World Cup tournament before: Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde. 4 – Four teams secured their place in the final 10 with unbeaten records in the group phase: Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Egypt and Senegal. 7 – Seven of the 10 teams hail from West Africa (or off the coast of West Africa): Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal and Cape Verde. Ethiopia represents the
Enyimba Still Superior To Lobi Stars
Chairman, Owan West LGC, Hon. (Barr.) Godwin Aigbodion receiving a Certificate of Honour from the Leader of the Legislative Arm, Hon. Emmanuel Okizi for successfully hosting the Labour Cup tournament in honour of late Pa Michael Imoudu recently.
Nigeria’s Confidence Gave Them JAMES Sangala, captain of Victory - Malawi the Flames of Malawi, said on Sunday that Super Eagles’ ability to play with full confidence gave them victory in their meeting on Saturday in Calabar. Sangala told newsmen in Calabar as his team headed back home that they still gave a good account of themselves even though they lost the game. Malawi lost 0-2 to Nigeria in the Africa Zone Second Round Group F Matchday Six fixture of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The match was played at the U.J. Esuene Stadium. The Malawi captain said their match plan was to win the game so as to top the group, and they were confident they were going to win. “The defeat has come as a surprise to us, because we were very confident that we were going to win the game. “According to the plans we made for this game particularly,
we believed that we were going to carry the day. “But I think we allowed everything to slip out of our hands, after we conceded that goal close to the end of first half. “That’s the only thing that let us down. Because Nigeria came out in the second half with full confidence because they were one goal ahead and we needed to score two goals to be ahead of them,’’ he said. Sangala however said it was not easy playing against Super Eagles strikers. “These are clever players with huge talents, and it was not easy containing them. But we managed and tried our best to contain them. “On some occasions, they broke through and were face-toface with our goalkeeper,’’ he said. The Flames captain nonetheless praised his
Match Commissioner Speaks On Abandoned Game
THE NIGERIAN
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HESE are interesting times. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is facing one of the toughest tests since its creation and there seems to be very little option of resolving the conflicts that have split the party in two. On the other hand, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dug deep in its trenches in a battle to force government implement agreements that have been reached. These developments were expected. The contentious issues that led to this split in the party did not evolve overnight; even before the emergence of President Jonathan as substantive president in 2011, disagreements were already stirred by his decision to upturn the g e o - p o l i t i c a l arrangement by which the party maintained its vast membership pool. From the very beginning, the president’s ambition appeared a contradiction to the party’s rules. Three years on, the reverberations of that conflict over zoning are still being felt. Today, Mr. president is on a collision course with a faction of the party whose determination to maintain their political relevance has not waned either. In three years, the vehemence of both sides to instill their contradicting whims has finally brought the party to its knees. These are obvious signs of growing disenchantment with the president’s decisions as much as they are proof of his inability to hold his house together. How he transformed himself from a popular candidate whose persistent reel of his “no shoe” narrative endeared him to most Nigerians with similar experiences, to a man who seems eager to keep shoes off the feet of many more Nigerians r e m a i n s incomprehensible. However, Mr. President’s excesses seem to have been curtailed by a new radical bloc within the party who intend to scuttle his 2015 reelection dream.
Anew campaign of threats by the president’s supporters against any attempt to deny him the 2015 ticket speaks of a determination to throw the democratic process out the window and a disregard popular demands if they are contrary to the president’s dreams. The indiscretions of a first lady who do not see the obvious
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
at the NGF elections would inevitably draw the ire of governors who would have felt that the president’s disregard for their opinions a blow to their relevance within the party. The move was dictatorial, and everyone who witnessed the contrivance that played out after the elections would have expected this sequence of events. I had
Between The PDP Split And ASUU Strike
Different Enemies, Same Context
line between constitutional functions and self-imposed duties and have not helped
written about this before when I said that the party’s decision to scuttle
Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman matters much either. The demands of “the new PDP” faction are: immediate resignation of PDP national chairman Bamanga Tukur, conduct of a fresh national convention, a commitment from President Jonathan that he would not run for a second term in 2015, recognition of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), lifting of the Rivers governor ’s suspension, reinstatement of the Rivers and Adamawa state chapters of the PDP, a directive by the president to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to stop investigating some of the governors in the new PDP, their officials and certain leaders in the fold. It was obvious that the president, and the party, would run into such obstacles. A decision to ignore the mandate governor Amaechi secured
Amaechi’s victory and to commence a process of victimization against Amaechi’s supporters would not go down well with other governors who would see this as early warning signs of an ominous plot against them. ASUU has also placed its demands on the table. It insists that it will not call off its strike until government implements the 2009 agreement, and, same as its response to its factional party members, the government seems to be dragging its feet on all issues. ASUU insists that: “the 2009 Agreement must be implemented, inclusive of the release of appropriate funds for the so much needed intervention in the upgrading of facilities in our universities”. According to ASUU, if the government can spend over N3 trillion to rescue ailing banks, then it is incomprehensible why the universities that require far
less financial commitment have been continually neglected. In the 2009
The lessons to be learnt from these events are obvious: opposition will
Kawu Baraje, PDP factional National Chairman Agreement, the government promised to provide funds for rehabilitating public universities; provide financial assistance to state universities; establish a Nigerian University Pension Commission, NUPEMCO, and progressively increase the annual budgetary allocation to education to 26 percent between 2009 and 2020. The government also promised to pay earned allowances, transfer federal government landed property to universities and to set up research equipment provision to laboratories and classrooms. All these laudable promises remain on paper and Nigeria’s universities remain deficient in infrastructure and research capabilities. It rankles to think that such a situation persists even as huge sums must be making the rounds to address the biggest political split the party has ever witnessed.
always emerge where leadership is run with impunity. To have ignored the relevance of these governors and their supporters for so long until it reached this stage was a mistake. Also, the neglect of ASUU demands for the implementation of the 2009 agreement has shown how a lack of urgency in addressing pressing issues can stir insidious reactions. The PDP has allowed an unrelenting executive seize its machinery and the consequences have been immense. As it stands, if the seven aggrieved governors, and their supporters in the national legislature, who describe themselves as “the new PDP” choose to leave the party, the PDP’s majority would have been drastically reduced and the political ace that has always stirred the arrogance and impunity of its members and public office holders would have
been drastically curtailed. The persistence of the union’s members to continue with their strike action is the consequence of a sense of apathy that describes government’s position on social issues. I do not see the government insisting that it would not succumb to union demands where the issue relates to the oil and gas sector. Education has never been considered a sector of prime importance to government’s political strategies, just as a major opposition to presidential whim within the party has never been considered possible. Today, both issues stand as potential spoilers for a president’s reelection campaign and, no matter how he and his supporters tackle it now; the deep scars from these battles with uncompromising adversaries will remain forever. A threat by members of “the new PDP” to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be causing panic within the PDP, even if they try to hide behind the stern words of reproach by the party’s chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, that the party will take decisive action against them. There is no doubt that Tukur sees the dangers that lay ahead for him and Mr. President if the party fails to reconcile both camps. He and Mr. President would be better advised to turn their attention towards reaching a compromise that would address the demands put forward and accept that in Nigeria’s changing political environment, not all battles are won by the imposition of personal whims.
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