Friday, july 11, 2014new by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Active telephone lines hit 130 million NCC insists on quality services KUNLE A ZEEZ

Johnson

Vol. 4 N0. 893

he number of active telephone lines currently being used by Nigeria’s telecoms sub-

scribers is now over 130 million, according to the telecoms industry regulator. Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC,

Chidoka, Abubakar named as ministers

Dr. Eugene Juwah, who disclosed this at the launch of the corporate governance code for the telecommunications industry in Lagos, yesterday, pointed out that CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

P.4

Chidoka

Friday, July 11, 2014

$49.8bn oil funds not T missing, says Senate

N150

GEORGE OJI ABUJA

he Senate yesterday delcared that the alleged $498.bn missiing oil proceeed are intact just as it opposed a fresh proposal to remove fuel subsidy. The proposal to remove subsidy was made as senators considered the report of the joint Committees on Finance and Banking and Currency, which investigated the alleged missing of $49.8bn from the FederaCONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

...rejects proposal to remove fuel subsidy Condemns Emir of Kano, Sanusi

L-R: Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Ade Bello; Registrar, Dr. Taiwo Ipaye; Managing Director, National Mirror Newspapers, Mrs. Kafilat Ogbara and Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Bankole Makinde, during the courtesy visit of National Mirror to the institution in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

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Deadlock in Confab over resource control ...Kutigi, 90 others in crucial meeting

‘APC’ll accept if defeated in 2015’

P.2 P.6

29 DAYS TO GO

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Friday, July 11, 2014

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Deadlock in Confab over resource control OMEIZA AJAYI AND WOLE OLADIMEJI

he National Conference yesterday hurriedly adjourned plenary following a bitter disagreement among delegates over the contentious issue of resource control. The conference was forced into a stalemate on Wednesday after delegates could not reach a compromise on what should accrue to the oil-rich South-South as derivation. Sensing the futility in going on with the proceedings, Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, announced that he would today meet with the 50-member Elders/Consensus Building Committee, as well as chairmen and vice chairmen of all the conference’s standing committees bringing the number to nearly 90. Yesterday, the crux of the matter was the recommendation that five per cent be paid to the North East in the first instance or to the North alone in the first instance. The committee had proposed an increase in the derivation formula that would

see oil producing states get 18 per cent of revenue from oil gotten from each state, up from 13 per cent, 5 per cent of the revenue to develop mineral producing communities and 5 per cent of for northern states ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency. Chief Olu Falae, who is a member of the committee, said he had expected Prof. Ibrahim Gambari to present the resolutions of the consensus group to the conference. Falae said in his presentation that they agreed that the “Principle of derivation shall be constantly reflected in any approved formula as being not less than eighteen percent (18 per cent) of the revenue accruing to the federation account directly from any natural resources. “That not less than 50 per cent of total derivation fund accruable to a mineral bearing state shall be due and payable to the host communities within the state where the resources are derived in accordance with the production quota contributed by such communities.” Other agreements according to Chief Falae was that

there shall be established a Solid Mineral Development Fund which, he said is currently 3 per cent of Federal Government account, but it will be increased to 5 per cent and will be applied to solid minerals development in the states. They also agreed on the creation of a National Intervention Fund, which will be 5 per cent of the annual revenue accruing to the account of the Federal Government for the stabi-

lisation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by terrorism and insurgency, in the first instance in the North-East of Nigeria and any other part of the country.” The Elders Committee comprises leaders of the six zones and representatives of several interest groups. Representatives of the zones were Ike Nwachukwu, Anya O. Anya and Chukwuemeka Ezeife (South East); Olu Falae, Al-

ani Akinrinade and Kunle Olajide (South West); Edwin Clark, Idongesit Nkanga and Raymond Dopkesi (South-South); Iyorchia Ayu, Ibrahim Gambari and Jerry Gana (North Central); Mohamed Kumalia, Kashim Ibrahim and Adamu Waziri (North East) and Bashir Dalhatu, Fatima Adamu and Ibrahim Coomassie (North West). The delegates were sharply divided along the north and south region,

with the former vehemently kicking against the position of the latter, which had proposed an upward review of the derivation percentage. Prof. Gambari and a member of the committee had presented the position of the committee on Wednesday. He had explained that his group adopted a position and to recommend to the plenary not less than 18 per cent as the derivation CONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

L-R: President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic; President Goodluck Jonathan; President Alasane Outarra of Cote d’Ivoire, and President Ibrahim Keita of Mali at the 45th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Accra, Ghana yesterday. PHOTO:STATE HOUSE

$49.8bn oil funds not missing, says Senate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tion Account and opposed the recommendation of the committee that fuel subsidy should be removed. This was also as the lawmakers advised President Goodluck Jonathan to prepare and present to the National Assembly a supplementary budget “to cover the expenditure in the sum of N90.6bn for PMS (premium motor spirit) subsidy 2012 and N685.9bn for kerosene subsidy expended without appropriation by the National Assembly.” While rejecting the idea of fuel subsidy removal now, the Senate advised the government to instead, ensure adequate punishment for those defrauding the nation under the guise of fuel subsidy claims. The lawmakers lamented that a number of cases against subsidy fraud seem to have been abandoned in the court. The former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had alleged that the Nigerian National Petro-

leum Corporation, NNPC, had failed to remit $49.8bn to the Federation Account over a 19-month period. Sanusi’s allegation was contained in a letter he wrote to President Jonathan in September last year, claiming that that $49.8bn oil sales proceeds were missing. The figure was later revised to $10.9bn and again to $20bn But the Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, while presenting the report of the probe committee, which was debated yesterday, explained that neither $49.8bn nor $20bn was missing. Makarfi said his committee found that the CBN, NNPC, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Petroleum Resources had reconciled $47bn of the unaccounted revenue from the outset, and that the said sum had already been remitted into the Federation Account. Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano, had on December 18, 2013, during an appearance before the com-

mittee, withdrawn his earlier allegation of the missing $49.8bn, and substituted same with a fresh claim that NNPC only failed to remit $12bn. Sanusi later alleged that the figure was no longer $10.8bn, but $20bn. The committee in the report noted that: “The CBN governor at the first hearing had put forward the figure of $12bn as monies to be reconciled and changed his position to $20bn at subsequent hearing. At the conclusion of his written submission, he posited that it could be $20 billion, $10.8 billion or anything in between.” The committee in its recommendation, which was approved by the Senate asked NNPC to remit the sum of $218m considered as the Federation Account share of third party financing as well as another $447.8m, which it described as the Federation Account’s share from the $6.815bn lifting by NNPC on behalf of its subsidiary, the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC. The lawmakers also

asked the corporation to refund $262m, which the committee described as expenses incurred by the NNPC in respect of holding strategic reserves and pipeline maintenance and management cost/capital expenditure, saying it could not satisfactorily defend it. The report also said the total kerosene subsidy paid by NNPC but not appropriated for by the National Assembly between 2012 and 2013 was $4.43bn adding, however, that the amount might exceed this figure because the certification by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, for the period was on an interim basis. During debate on the report yesterday, Senators condemned Sanusi’s decision to make allegations before verifying the facts. They also expressed disappointment over NNPC’s decision to spend money on subsidy without appropriation, describing it as a breach of the constitution, which they said was unacceptable.

They also condemned what they described as disharmony, distrust and lack of co-ordination among the ministries of finance and petroleum resources as well as NNPC and CBN. While some of the senators supported the recommendation for the removal of fuel subsidy, others opposed it, saying fuel subsidy is the only benefit accruable to ordinary citizens. The Senate also blamed themselves for the controversies surrounding the alleged unremitted funds, saying it was regrettable that the legislature was unaware of various financial crises among the finance institutions until Sanusi raised the allegation. “This report has exposed not only the executive but also the legislature. All those times, the legislature went to sleep and public servants became laws to themselves spending money without appropriation. “That speaks a lot about us. Because of what has happened, Mr. President must take necessary action;

all of us here are privileged, but most Nigerians are not. It is high time we didn’t play politics with this report. We need to stand on authority that we can’t take this any longer,” Senator Ahmed Lawan said. Also speaking, Senator Ayogu Eze, who accused various financial institutions of working at cross purposes, accused the former CBN boss of exalting the institution above the government which appointed him and blamed the trend on breakdown of communication among the relevant agencies. He supported the removal of subsidy along with Senator Heinekken Lokpobiri. But Senators Adegbenga Kaka, Smart Adeyemi and Abdul Ningi, dismissed calls for fuel subsidy removal and tasked Jonathan to find out those among his appointees and workers who engaged in unconstitutional spending with a view to ensuring that they were adequately punished. Kaka in his subCONTINUED ON PAGE 6>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 11, 2014

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Friday, July 11, 2014

L-R: Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Chairperson of the state chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs. Rita Ilevbare; a Judge of the Ado-Ekiti High Court, Justice Monisola Abodunde, and a FIDA member, Mrs. Oyin Olatubosun, during the Federation’s 50th Anniversary Public Lecture, delivered by the governor’s wife, in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.

L-R: Deputy President, Nigerian Institute of Management, Prof. Munzali Jibril; former president, Dr. Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko; President, Dr. Nelson Uwaga, and former president, Dr. Michael Olawale Cole, during the 2014 Centenary Distinguished Management Lecture in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Head, Relationship Management, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mrs. Anita Dele-Dickson; Principal Partner, StarBright Consulting Ltd, Mr. Emmanuel Olu-Ayeni; Medical Director, Tabita Medical Centre, Abuja, Dr Chito Nwana, and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Dr. Demola Sogunle, at a pre-retirement seminar organised by Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

L-R: General Manager, Lighting, Philips West Africa, Mr. Felix Darko; Chief Executive Officer, Philips Africa, Juan Van Dongen and Managing Director, Philips West Africa, Abdallah Khamis, during the Annual Customer Alliance Conference in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

National News

Jonathan names Chidoka, Abubakar as ministers GEORGE OJI, MARCUS FATUNMOLE AND GOODNESS ADAOYICHE

resident Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded the names of the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Osita Benjamin Chidoka, to the Senate for screening and confirmation as a minister. The President also asked the Senate to confirm Dr Sulaiman Olanrewaju Abubakar as minister. Abubakar, a political science lecturer at the University of Abuja, is to represent Kwara State in the Federal Executive Council, while Chidoka is to represent Anambra State in the council. Jonathan, in a letter to the Senate President, David Mark, which was read on the floor of the Senate yesterday stated that, “In accordance with section 147(2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Repub-

lic of Nigeria as amended, I hereby submit the names of Mr. Osita Benjamin Chidoka and Dr. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman representing Anambra and Kwara States respectively for confirmation as ministers by the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Their curriculum vitae are attached herewith,” the letter reads. While the Corps Marshal, Chidoka is expected to be assigned to the Aviation Ministry, which was last held by Princess Stella Oduah from Anambra State, Dr. Abubakar may likely be assigned to the National Planning Ministry because another minister, Dr. Danagogo from Rivers State has already taken over the Sports Ministry, which was last held by Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, from Kwara State. Screening and confirmation of the two new ministerial nominees may be carried out by the Sen-

ate on Wednesday next week before embarking on its annual long recess next week Thursday. Also in another letter to the Senate President, Jonathan asked the lawmakers to confirm the Acting Director General of the Nigeria Pension Commission, PENCOM, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu as the substantive Director General of the commission. This was also as the President requested the Senate to confirm Mr Ebenezer Foby as a Federal Commissioner. Foby is to represent the South-South geo-political zone in the commission. In the letter to Mark, the President wrote, “Section 16(1) of the Pension Reform Act, provides that the commission shall comprise a part-time Chairman, a Director General (DG), four commissioners and seven part-time members. Section 16(3) of the Act also provides that appointments of the chairman, the DG and the other

members of the commission other than ex-officio members shall be made by the President, subject to the confirmation by the Senate. Meanwhile, there is hope for the re-opening of Nigerian public polytechnics, as new Minister of Education and former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, met with leadership of striking lecturers of the institutions in Abuja, yesterday. The teachers, under the auspices of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, ASUP, have been on strike since October last year over unresolved demands from government. Welcoming the minister, ASUP President, Dr Chibuzor Asomugha, expressed regret over the state of the nation’s public polytechnics and expressed hope that the Shekarau, a former Chief Lecturer, was expected to proffer solutions to the impasse. According to him, all

but one of the union’s demands were expected to strengthen the polytechnics, while only demand for payment of the lecturers’ backlog of arrears was the only benefit directly benefitting the teachers financially. He assured the minister that ASUP was ready to return to classrooms if government showed concern to challenges facing the polytechnics. Responding, the minister said he would offer his best to see the crisis resolved; but requested for more time to study the issues on ground. Speaking further, Shekarau added: “I am happy you noted that I am just coming in; and I will need a little more time to study the issues on ground and see how much we can get out of all the issues you raised. The issues you have raised as far as I am concerned are not totally insurmountable. They are issues that will lead to dialogue, understanding with

the spirit of give and take.” He however, urged the lecturers to return to class by giving him “benefit of the doubt while dialogue continues.” He promised not to let them down. In an interview with journalists, Asomugha said: “Our demands are not really complicated as it looks. All we ask government to do is to make a commitment to dialogue, a commitment to assurance; that is what we are asking government to do. There are issues on ground, we are not negotiating anymore; we have reached understanding on these issues. Let government give us concrete timetable about how these issues will be resolved.” On the position of ASUP, given the plea of the new minister that the union calls off the strike, Asomugha stated: “We have a background of being asked on the trust of some other government officials of which we have done.

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Friday, July 11, 2014

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Friday, July 11, 2014

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Active telephone lines hit 130 million CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the strategic nature of the industry made good corporate governance imperative. “The combined factor of the strategic importance of telecoms and the unprecedented growth of the sector with over 130 million active subscribers with extensive reach across all social and demographic groups in the Nigerians economy makes it imperative that operators

in this critical sector align to and uphold a code of corporate governance which is specific to their industry,” Juwah said. Tracing the genesis of efforts that culminated in the launch of the code, the NCC boss said: “In June, 2013, the NCC organised the second stakeholders’ consultation on corporate governance. The first was in April of 2012. The forum highlighted

the absence of a common code to which all telecoms operators in Nigeria should abide by.” To address this gap, Juwah said NCC inaugurated the Corporate Governance Working Group in October, 2012 with members drawn from the operating companies, the regulator and corporate governors. “The telecoms sector is of strategic and high impact

significance to the economy at macro level and has considerable reach at the micro level. “It is made up of a wide range of operators with diversity in size, scope of operations, asymmetry qualifications, legal and regulatory requirements, capital market activities as well as local and cross-border relationships and as such, we need to ensure we put in

place code of corporate governance for telecoms sector,” he said. According to him, the recognised corporate governance principles of accountability, responsibility, transparency, integrity and ethical conduct and independence are important for all types of companies operating in the telecoms industry whether public or private, large or small. Meanwhile, the NCC has insisted on the need for telecoms operators to rid their networks of unsolicited text massages, telemarketing and other anti-consumer activities, while concentrating on ensuring improved service delivery. Speaking at the 75th Telecoms Consumer Parliament, which was also held in Lagos yesterday, Director, Consumer Affairs Bu-

reau, NCC, Mrs. Maryam Bayi, said in spite of the rapid growth in the sector, consumers still lodge deluge of complaints every day regarding the unsatisfactory experience they were having on telecoms networks. “Today, we have cases of unsolicited SMS, telemarketing, drop calls, interferences, deduction of airtime credit, inaccessibility of customer care help lines and advertisement of unapproved promotions,” she said. Though telecoms operators’ representatives at the forum gave various reasons to explain their efforts to checkmate all the ‘ills’ on their network, Bayi insisted on the need to maintain the minimum standard on quality of service set for them by the regulator.

Deadlock in Confab over resource control CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

L-R: Suspected kidnappers of Chief Nitabai Inengite, uncle to President Goodluck Jonathan: Eldred Jonah, Raphael Inengesi, Ibeabuchi Inya, Oreva Abridi, Tammy Tamarapreye and a native doctor, Felix Onuoha, being paraded at the SSS Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO ROTIMI OSASONA

$49.8bn oil funds not missing, says Senate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

mission said since some amounts of money were recommended to be refunded, it might not be totally right to say that no amount of money was missing. The senators also said it was regrettable that Nigeria had failed to put in place effective refineries resulting in the importation of petrol after exporting crude oil as they resolved that henceforth, no unappropriated funds should be

spent on subsidy. They also warned PPPRA to stop certifying subsidy payments if they are not appropriated. The Senate also mandated the finance committee to follow up and receive ongoing forensic audit reports from the auditor-general of the federation and report back to the Senate. Earlier, Senator Sadiq Yar’Adua called for postponement of debate on

the report, saying the issues there-in were weighty and required more time to study, alleging further that the report showed that the president had committed impeachable offences. But Senate President, David Mark ruled him out of order, saying the insinuation was unnecessary. In his remark, Mark commended the committee for what it described as its courage to delve deeply into the

issues and yet remained objective in its report. He also echoed Lawan’s comment that the legislature could not exonerate itself from the entire controversy, noting that the episode was a failure of the legislature in its oversight functions. He further said if at all subsidy would be removed, it must not be sudden but should rather be product enlightenment for a long period of time.

‘APC’ll accept if defeated in 2015’ OBIORA IFOH AND WOLE ADEDEJI

he National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that his party will not protest the outcome of the 2015 election if it loses. However, he said that would only be so if the exercise is free and fair pointing out that APC will still go to court even after Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State had conceded victory to Mr.

Ayo Fayose, as the winner of last month’s governorship election in the state. Mohammed, who was speaking yesterday in Oro, Kwara State with newsmen insisted that the election in Ekiti State was not free and fair. According to him, it is not enough that the election was not rigged through ballot boxes, noting that it is equally pertinent that armed soldiers and policemen were not unleashed on the citizens to intimidate people at the polling centres. He described the develop-

ment in Ekiti as a national loss for democracy and not that of the APC. He lamented that Governor Fayemi did not lose the election because of nonperformance but because the people “rejected he that promised to prefer he that did not promise anything and whom from whom nothing could be expected. “You can see that Fayemi was not rejected because of non-performance, but just because they preferred someone who will be buying things for them by the roadside and not facing the

serious business of governance.” He accused President Goodluck Jonathan of abusing his power to subvert democracy by alleged intimidating deployment of armed security personnel to Ekiti State on the day of election. “Jonathan is Nigeria’s number one enemy. He has placed his re-election bid above the governance of the country. Any politician who is not prepared to lose election cannot be prepared for the joy of victory,” Mohammed added.

formula, but that the group did not end there. “As a package, we propose two recommendations: one, for 5 per cent revenue allocation to be made the solid minerals development, we know we have been over relying on oil and the time has come to pay attention to other resources throughout the country. “The second and perhaps much more urgent is that we have recommended a new fund to be established which we will call ‘Fund for Stabilisation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction’, five percent of revenue allocation, principally for the North East, North West and the North Central,” he had said. However, Chief Dokpesi a co-leader of the group, said there were two drafts of the proposal, which were to be read at plenary. He said the first draft called for the five percent to be used for stabilising and reconstructing the North East alone in the first instance and then any other part of Nigeria. Dokpesi said the alternative draft recommended that the five percent be used in stabilising the North East, North West and North Central in the first instance and then any other part of Nigeria. “We said both drafts

should be made available to the conference but there are people that are determined to scuttle this conference. “I want to irrevocably assure you that the committee worked tirelessly and made a lot of concessions but there are fifth columnists and they were the ones that were shouting today at plenary. “Almost all of us in the group signed, except Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu and Alhaji Muhammed Kumalia. Prof. Ayu was not around today to have appended his signature,” he stated. Coomasie had vehemently opposed the proposed amendments while another delegate, Dr. Isaac Osuoka faulted the legality of the committee which he said were self-appointed and lacked any legal basis. The southwest delegation at the conference had on Wednesday also rejected the report of the Consensus Group. Rising from the caucus meeting of the zone, its Secretary, Dr Kunle Olajide, had stated that the report gave a wrong impression of what the intervention fund was set to achieve. He said the fund is aimed to serve the collective interest of the country and not a sectional interest as presented by Mr. Gambari.

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Friday, July 11, 2014

DSS nabs kidnappers of Jonathan’s uncle, others OMEIZA AJAYI

he Department of State Service, DSS, yesterday paraded two sets of suspects who were said to have masterminded several kidnappings in some parts of the country. Six of the suspects, who were paraded separately,

were said to have kidnapped Chief Nitabai Inengite, an uncle of President Goodluck Jonathan, on February 24. The president’s uncle was kidnapped in his Otuoke community in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State. He was reportedly whisked away in an ash coloured Honda jeep to

FG approves new boards for agencies OMEIZA AJAYI ABUJA

resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved the composition and appointment of the chairmen and members of the governing boards of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, as well as those of other agencies. This was contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Anyim Pius Anyim, and made available to National Mirror in Abuja yesterday. The FAAN board has Dr. Daniel Kure as Chairman. Members are Onuora Chinwe Leticia, Alh. Ibrahim Bamalli, Ngozi Lavender E., Capt. Shafii Salisu Baba , Alhaji Habu Muazu and Mr. Phillip Aivoji. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Re-

lated Matters, NAPTIP, has Taiwo Adeife as Chairman, with Alhaji Abubakar Tsav and five other Nigerians as members. While Dr. Godwin Ajakpo chairs the board of the Federal College of Chemical and Leather Technology, Zaria, Hon. Edward Akangbou will oversee that of the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria. Also, the National Library of Nigeria has Alhaji Abdullahi Haruna Ningi as chairman, while Chief Innocent C. Maduagwu is Chairman, Board of the National Geological Survey Agency. Others are Mr. Adebisi Omoyeni, Chairman, Citizen and Leadership Training Centre; Dr. Mahmud Abdulrahman Enagi, Chairman, Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu; Josephine O. Ugochukwu, Chairman, Federal School of Dental Technology and Therapy.

Police dismiss two constables over corruption ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

he Ekiti State Police Command has dismissed two constables for corrupt practices and disreputable conduct. A statement by the command’s spokesperson, Mr. Victor Babayemi, in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, said it was in line with the pursuit of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar’s mission of engendering an efficient and disciplined workforce, as well as to rid the Force of its bad eggs. Babayemi stated that “the Commissioner of

Police Ekiti State Command, Mr. Felix Uyanna, on Wednesday approved with immediate effect, the dismissal of F/No. 446106 PC Famiwole Tolulope and F/No. 448477 PC Olotu Tope for the offence of corrupt practice, contrary to Paragraph ‘C’ and discreditable conduct, Contrary ‘E’ (I) & (II) CAP 359 of the First Schedule of Police Act and Regulations 370, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990. “The dismissal of the two constables, who had earlier been tried and found guilty in an orderly room trial, is in accordance with Regulation 371 of the aforementioned Act,” he stated.

Onuegbu waterside, from where he was transferred into a waiting speedboat and taken to the creeks. Spokeswoman of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, told journalists that the suspects had held their victim captive at the Okigbene Creek and the Creek of Brass, “very close to the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean”. Ogar said no ransom was paid for the release of the president’s uncle, also said the six suspects whose ages ranged between 29 and 48. She listed the suspects as Eldred Magnus Jonah, Raphael Inengesi, Ibeabuchi Inya, Oreva Abridi, Tammy Tamarapreye Agbai and Felix Onuoha. Jonah, who said he was a 400-level undergraduate of the University of Jos, was said to have masterminded

the kidnap, having provided a N40,000 initial ‘take off grant’ for arms procurement and logistics. While he carried out ‘surveillance’ on the victim, the gang broke into two teams, with the land team made up of five persons and the waterside or ‘speedboat team’ comprising of three. The DSS also arrested another ten-man gang who were said to have been terrorising young women in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Ogar said the last escapade which led to their arrest occurred on June 8 at New Life Camp in Abuja, having kidnapped two sisters aged 15 and 17 years. Although the DSS declined to give the names of the victims, it said the gang had also robbed the family

of many valuables. National Mirror recalls that suspected robbers had at about the same time last month stormed the residence of an engineer, Mr. Samson Opaluwa, in Abuja, kidnapping two ladies in the family after robbing them. The ladies were Ejura Opaluwa and her younger sister. The suspects were picked up along Kaduna road in Tafa, Niger State, Masaka in Karu, Nasarawa State, Itakpe by-pass in Okene, Kogi State, Jos, Plateau State, Mpape and Kubwa, both in Abuja. Ogar listed the 10 suspects as Oyemire Asagba, Sunday Otse Attah, Zacchaeus Salami, Victor Kingsley Bassey and Sani Mohammed. Others are Argba Omuya

Itopa Ademoh, Ojo Idris Gambo, Haruna Kanti Asma, Dikko Iko and Muhammed Adamu. Iko, a 22-year-old from Niger State, was a guard in the house of the victims. He said he had told his group how his boss used to keep money at home, after which the robbery and kidnap plan was hatched. Ogar said from the confessions of the suspects, the gang was paid N10m as ransom before the sisters were released. She added that Asagba lied to other members of the gang that only N6m was paid to him. The DSS spokesperson said that investigation was ongoing, with a view to capturing other collaborators of the gang and riding the nation of criminals.

L-R: President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Dr Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, Dr. Ademola Azeez, Dr. Omolade Adunbi and Abiodun Famor, during a condolence visit to the residence of late Bamidele Aturu in Lagos, yesterday.

UN adopts new strategy to tackle Boko Haram ROTIMI FADEYI Abuja

he United Nations, UN, has resolved to renew its support in tackling the activities of the Boko Haram sect by adopting a new strategy that would complement Nigeria’s efforts in fighting the insurgents. The UN is adopting the integrated support package with the belief that only a multi-dimensional approach can bring lasting solution to the activities of the terrorist group. UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Said Djinnit, spoke at the opening of the

45th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, in Accra, Ghana. He commended the support of ECOWAS to the counter-terrorism efforts of Nigeria to curb the activities of the Boko Haram sect and other forms of terror. Djinnit noted that the current support from ECOWAS was a reflection of the solidarity of the countries of the region, and their legitimate concern about the spread of violent extremism. The UN special representative said the world body was concerned about the plight of children that

are being held in captivity by the Boko Haram, as well as the fate of the civilian population in the NorthEast. Ghanaian President and current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government John Dramani Mahama, in his own remarks, commended the establishment of peace operations in Cameroun and Chad to defeat the Boko Haram in the North-East of Nigeria. According to him, there were great opportunities in the region for creating prosperous life for citizens. He said this would be achieved when leaders ensure peace and security on

the continent. On the threat of Ebola virus in the sub-region, Mahama called for concerted efforts to tackle the deadly disease, saying there was need for medical and research centres in the ECOWAS region to assist in the development of vaccines and cure for the disease. Other issues discussed at the opening session of the meeting were the proposed biometric identity cards for ECOWAS citizens, to facilitate easy identification and movement for trade purposes, illegal checkpoints, as well as unnecessary documentation requirement.

South West

Friday, July 11, 2014

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Aregbesola tackles FG over refusal to grant shortcode BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

L-R: Former Ogun State deputy governor, Alhaja Salimot Badru; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP National Auditor, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju; Ekiti State governor-elect, Dr. Ayodele Fayose; Chief Ola Kukoyi and PDP South-West Coordinator, Mobilisation and Contact Committee, Prince Buruji Kasamu, during the Victory/Solidarity Rally for Fayose by Ogun State PDP in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Amosun, Bamidele, others mourn Aturu ABIODUN NEJO, FEMI OYEWESO AND MATTHEW IRINOYE

gun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, his Ekiti State counterpart, Kayode Fayemi, and defeated Labour Party candidate in the Ekiti governorship election, Bamidele Opeyemi, yesterday expressed shock over the death of human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu. Aturu died in Lagos on Wednesday, after he allegedly collapsed and was rushed to hospital. Amosun, in a statement issued yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Funmi Wakama, extolled Aturu for his strong commit-

ment to the enthronement of democratic principles, while he was alive. Aturu had served Ogun State as a member of the Truth Commission headed by Retired Justice Pius Aderemi set up by Amosun at the inception of his administration in 2011. Recalling the immense contribution of the late lawyer to the peace brought to the state through the commission where Aturu had served as a member, Amosun lamented that he died when his wealth of experience was most needed in reshaping the destiny of the nation. Fayemi in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, said the death of the prominent lawyer is an unprecedented loss to the pro-democra-

cy and human rights community in Nigeria. The governor said he received the news with shock as no one expected the death of Aturu who he described as “a young man bubbling with life” at a time the nation most needed his contribution in the quest for a just society. Fayemi said Aturu had committed himself to selfless service to mankind since his student days when he was a terror to tyranny, dictatorship and subjugation of the rights of the powerless. Bamidele, who is the chairman, Committee on Legislative Budget and Research of the House of Representatives, sympathised with the family of the late Aturu and the human rights world on his

death. Meanwhile, many Senior Advocates of Nigeria and lawyer friends alongside several other sympathisers yesterday paid condolence visit to the family of the late human rights lawyer, describing him as advocate of social justice. Among many that visited his home at Agege were Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), former Ogun State AttorneyGeneral, Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), Ayo Obe, Law lecturer at the University of Lagos, Director General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization, Prof. Tunde Babawale, former President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lande Arogundade, Richard Akinola, Debo Adeniran among others.

Trouble looms between SURE-P/FERMA, LASTMA OLUSEGUN KOIKI

here are indications that the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, and Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, on the one hand, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, may bicker again over the control of federal roads in the state. The National Coordinator, SURE-P/FERMA, Abdulrazak Rafiu Otto, told journalists in Lagos yester-

day that the organisation would in the next couple of weeks deploy its men to federal roads in the state to maintain law and order. Otto warned that any attempt by the state government or its officials to take over the traffic control on the federal roads would be resisted by the organisation, insisting that the Act setting up SURE-P/FERMA empowers it to carry out such civil responsibility on federal roads. It would be recalled that about a month ago, SUREP/FERMA and Lagos State

taskforce had accused each other of fomenting trouble in the state. The SURE-P/FERMA had accused the Lagos taskforce of invading its office along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and carting away several items. On the other hand, the Lagos State taskforce had alleged that the organisation was carrying out illegal activities in the state and had invaded Lagos roads with unknown officials, in an attempt to cause chaos in the state. Otto told journalists that the organisation had

carried out parades, scrutinised and orientated the recruits on the mission of the Federal Government’s support programme, insisting that the body was not about to cause crisis in the state. Rather, he said, it was out to maintain law and order on federal roads in the state, adding that the organisation had over the years been working with the Federal Government to ensure facilities, logistics and adequate human capacity for the successful execution of the job on ground.

sun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has urged the Federal Government to desist from playing politics with crucial security matters. Presenting additional 20 sophisticated Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC, the cost of which was put at N1.3 billion, to Osun State Police Command in Osogbo, Aregbeola warned criminals and agents of violence to steer clear of the state or face the full wrath of the law as the governorship election approaches. Aregbesola, who appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to separate politics from security issues, urged relevant federal agencies to grant Osun a short-code for its emergency centre. He added that security, safety and the welfare of the people are the primary responsibilities of any government as enshrined in the nation’s constitution, affirming that shortly after

assuming office, he warned members of his party that there would be no room for infraction of law. “Security is the most essential responsibility of a responsible government. When a government fails to provide security, it has no business in power. Politics should not be mingled with security, because security does not know, religion, party affiliation or ethnicity. “The Federal Government just refused to give us short-code to make our emergency centre work. It has been ready for the past 13 to 18 months ago. If that centre had been activated, our helicopter would get to the farthest place of this state in 15 minutes to attend to emergency issues. “It won’t cost the Federal Government a kobo, but just to direct the NCC to allow us to use their 122 line. I wrote to the President, he did not even acknowledge the letter let alone give us approval,” Aregbesola lamented.

Ajimobi lays foundation for 1004 housing units

yo State government yesterday formally commenced the construction of two housing estates, with a total of 1,004 housing units to be constructed within a year. The estates, with a total of 754 units of detached and semi-detached houses, with all necessary facilities and services, on a land area of approximately 20 hectares at Idi-Ishin, tagged: `Lakeside Residential Estate’, 250 units are to be constructed at Elenusonso. The two projects are to be executed under a public-private partnership arrangement with HCP Architecture and Engineering Nigeria Limited. At the turning of sod for the two housing estates, Governor Abiola Ajimobi said the projects were another milestone in the life of his administration. In order to actualise the development of the housing units, he said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been

signed by government with the developer, adding that a Certificate of Statutory Right of Occupancy had also been granted in favour of the developer. “We had earlier commenced similar project on a PPP basis with UPDC, a property developing arm of UAC. I am glad to inform you that works have reached a commendable level on the construction of those housing units which will bring smiles to the faces of our people,” he said. According to him, the concept is in line with the mission and vision of his administration which is to restore, transform and reposition the landscape that it met about three years ago. “This attempt to provide affordable housing units for the entire citizenry of Oyo State, both at home and in diaspora, is in conformity with the agenda of responsible governments all over the world to do good to the greatest number of their people.

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We’ve not called off strike -LASU lecturers TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

ontrary to the claim by the management of the Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, last week that the lecturers of the institution had called off their strike, the lecturers, yesterday, debunked the claim. The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, of the institution’s chapter, Dr. Adekunle Idris, who refuted the claim in a release,

said they would continue with what he called ‘total and indefinite strike’ until their congress decides otherwise. He said it was true that the leaders of the union had a meeting with the Appointments and Promotions (Academic) Committee and the university administration on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, which resulted in some resolutions. “But the resolutions have been forwarded to the Governing Council (our employers) as demanded

by our congress for ratification and consent, while we the lecturers will meet to review the industrial action for a way forward. “Until then, we remain on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike,” he said. Adekunle, who commended the students and the public for their ‘understanding’ on the strike, stressed that the union was only waiting for the decision of the governing council on the resolutions sent to it for them to know their next line of action.

Lawmaker pays N5m ransom to son’s abductors KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

member of the Oyo State House of Assembly (names withheld) whose son was kidnapped by gangsters who stormed his residence in Ogbomoso four months ago, has paid N5m as ransom to effect his son’s release. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammed Indabawa, has revealed at a press conference during which about 30 hoodlums involved in different crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping and criminal receiving, among others, were paraded in Ibadan, the state capital. The commissioner said that on March 22, at about 9.30 p.m., a four-man armed gang besieged PayOn Hotel, Ikoyi Road, Og-

bomoso, and dispossessed customers of their belongings. The director of the hotel, one Tayo Oyedapo, a son of a lawmaker, was kidnapped with his car with registration number KSF149BO, to Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti State. According to police boss, the lawmaker was compelled by the kidnappers to part with N5m as ransom before his son was eventually released to him on March 26. Indabawa said the case was transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, on June 27, stating that the operatives embarked on diligent investigation which led to the arrest of five suspects. The suspect, according to him, are: Olayiwola Taiwo, Ahmed Saliu, Adebayo Kilani, Akinkunmi

Akindele and Uzom Oluchi Chukwuemeka, alias ‘Miracle’. The commissioner said on their interrogation, the arrested suspects confessed to the crime, while efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining three suspects still at large. Also paraded by the command were members of a syndicate that specialised in car-snatching. Some of their criminal receivers, the police said, were nabbed in Kano with six posh vehicles snatched from various parts of Oyo State. The vehicles include a Toyota Matrix with registration uumber LND 86 BD (blue), an unregistered Toyota Camry (black), a Toyota Highlander jeep with registration No. APP 781 AZ (wine); a Honda Odyssey with registration. No. APP284 CO (grey).

Ekiti Assembly orders SIEC to conduct referendum on LG creation ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

he Ekiti State House of Assembly has directed the State Independent Electoral Commission, SIEC, to conduct a referendum on the creation of 18 additional local councils in the state. The House also committed the bill on the creation of the local councils to its ad-hoc committee for

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Friday, July 11, 2014

further legislative action. Majority Leader, Hon. Churchill Adedipe, said that the move was aimed at ensuring proper creation of the proposed councils in the state. Hon. Ajibola Samuel (Ekiti East Constituency II) raised a point of order, saying the House should stop further action on the bill, citing Order 54 Section 5 of the standing order which barred it from

discussing issues already before a law court. But the Deputy Speaker, Hon Orisalade Adetunji and Hon Ayodeji Odu objected, saying that the House was unaware of any case on the issue. The Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin, agreed with the submissions of the two lawmakers, and the motion was unanimously approved by members of the House.

Navy warns against impersonation of personnel SEGUN ADIO

he Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade, has read the riot act to individuals and security outfits whose uniforms have a semblance with that of the Nigerian Navy. The Naval boss said, in a release issued by the command’s Information Officer, Lt.-Cdr W.A.Y. Olabisi, which was made available to National Mirror, that some unscrupulous members of the public are now using the uniform of its personnel to perpetuate illegality, especially in Lagos State. It warned that it was ready to unleash the full wrath of the law on such organisations and individuals. The release read in part: “The Western Naval Command has observed with serious concern the incessant cases of imper-

sonation of naval personnel in Lagos area. “These persons with questionable characters use naval uniforms to commit all manners of crimes. Consequently, the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, is hereby warning these unscrupulous criminals to desist from the act of impersonating naval personnel or be prepared to face the full wrath of the law. The release claimed that a group of impersonators were recently arrested in full naval uniforms and forged naval identity cards around Okokomaiko and Tin Can Island areas. It added that the criminals were caught extorting money from unsuspecting innocent people. While insisting that the Navy would not stand idly by and watch its name dragged in the mud, the released continued: “Rear Admiral Alade reiterated that Western Naval Com-

mand will not watch the good name of the Nigerian Navy being dragged into the mud. “He, therefore, warned that the command would henceforth deal decisively with unauthorised persons in naval uniforms. He noted that efforts were underway to bust syndicates that specialise in the production of forged naval identity cards in various parts of Lagos. “The Flag Officer called on the members of the public to be wary of people who claim to be naval personnel that indulge in anti-social conducts and report such characters promptly to the nearest military unit or police station as they could be impersonators. “He further appealed to the members of the public who have credible information on these impersonators to contact the navy as such information would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

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Friday, July 11, 2014

Police still holding suspected bombers in Abia ...Soldiers re-invite released Imam

GEORGE OPARA ABIA

wo persons, said to be teachers at the New Horizon Academy, a school attached to the Aba Central Mosque in Abia State, and who were among the 15 persons arrested on Monday when soldiers raided some mosques in Aba allegedly in search of bombs, are still under detention. This is even as the Chief Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Idris Bashir, who was arrested alongside 15 others on Monday but later released, was re-invited to the Ngwa High School mili-

tary base at 4.00pm yesterday by soldiers. The two teachers still being detained by the army as at the time of filing the report are Abdulraham Sani, the director of the school and Chemistry teacher, and Abdulmajid Abubakar, the Principal/ English teacher. It would be recalled that two Imams and 13 other members of the Muslim community in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, were on Monday arrested by soldiers over alleged suspected bombs. While the 13 of the arrested 15 muslim leaders have been released, the

two teachers are still being detained at a military facility based on what the chief imam, Alhaji Bashir said was the discovery of chemicals used by students of the school for their practicals. Bashir said after they were arrested on Monday, that they were first taken to the Ngwa Road Forward Operation Base, FOB, before transfer to the headquarters of 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, where after interrogation, 13 of them were released. The chief imam, who spoke to our correspondent shortly before going to honour the invitation by sol-

diers, on Tuesday evening, appealed for the release of those still being detained, as according to him, they do not possess any bomb.” The former Abia State Amir-Ulhajji and deputy chairman of the Muslim community in Aba, Alhaji Musa Iheakaram, while speaking to newsmen on Tuesday evening, frowned at the re-invitation of the chief imam by soldiers. Iheakaram alleged that 12 soldiers on Tuesday came to the central mosque in two Hilux vans, and after some discussions with the chief imam, re-invited him to their base.

L-R: Enugu State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Christopher Okolo; State Director, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Mr. Isaac Onukwube and Deputy Director, Mrs. Rita Amechi, during the NOA’s ‘Value Re-Orientation Programme for Secondary Schools’ in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

2015: Guber aspirant vows to revamp Imo economy CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

frontline governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Imo State, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, has said that he would aggressively implement well-refined economic policies aimed at revamping the ailing economy of the state, if elected the next governor in 2015. Iheanacho, a former

minister of interior, stated this while interacting with newsmen in Owerri, promising to achieve the task by introducing certain economic and management practices into governance. He also promised to revive the key sectors of the economy such as industrialisation and agriculture, as well as restore accountability in the system. He said: “The major problem we have in Imo and many other states in the country is that people are not encouraged to run a

balanced economy. “What they presently do is to superintend over the distribution of resources that always come from the centre. They really don’t care to make their states economically viable by producing goods and services that can earn their states good income for further development,” he observed. Iheanacho stated that he believed that if some of those practices were carefully adopted in the governance of Imo State, “our ailing economy will be ulti-

mately revived”. According to him, Imo State that is presently confronted with a myriad of problems could only be moved forward through the implementation of sound policies and programmes. He promised to tackle these problems with an integrated policy approach to ultimately actualize the speedy growth of the economy, as well as job creation for the teeming unemployed youths. Iheanacho, however, promised to restore people’s

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Gunmen attack Abia commissioner GEORGE OPARA UMUAHIA

bia State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Kenneth Nwosu was, on Wednesday night, shot by unknown gunmen at Olokoro, Umuahia South local government area. Nwosu, a native of Olokoro, was shot while returning to his house in the community. He was, however, lucky to survive the attack, and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Umuahia.

Nwosu was said to have been attacked at a spot after the bridge leading to the Olokoro community, which is said to be close to his house. It was impossible to ascertain if the attack was an assassination attempt, or a case of armed robbery. State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adamu Ibrahim, confirmed the attack, but said that no arrest had been made. “It was last (Wednesday) night while he was returning to his house in Olokoro. He was shot almost close to his house, just before the bridge.

Stakeholders to brainstorm on security, others in Ebonyi ALIUNA GODWIN ABAKALIKI

head of the 2015 general election, political actors and eminent scholars in Ebonyi State are to brainstorm on critical socio-political issues and security elements affecting the growth and development of the nation. National Mirror gathered that the political actors were called to converge at Widows Care Foundation Centre, a pet project of the former governor of Ebonyi State and Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, located at the Enugu-Abakaliki expressway. Speaking to our cor-

respondent in Abakaliki, the organisers of the programme scheduled to hold on Saturday, said it would feature a public lecture organised by friends of Egwu, as part of activities to mark his 60th birthday. The topic of the lecture is: “Nigeria in the 21st Century: The Imperative of Social Stability”, in effort to proffer solutions to the challenges currently facing the nation. The planning committee headed by former Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, SSG, Prof. Ozo Ozo, announced in Abakaliki that the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, Prof. Egwu

MASSOB berates Umeh over comments on Uwazuruike Anambra North zonal FRANCIS EKPONE ONITSHA

he Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, yesterday berated comments credited to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, that the gropup’s leader, Ralph Uwazurike, was incompetent in the handling the affairs of MASSOB in the country. Umeh had said, in an interview with a national daily, that Uwazuruike had lost his commanders to rival groups like Igbogadioma Association and Biafra Zionist Movement, a statement that incurred the wrath of the ‘Biafran’ leader’s followers.

leader of MASSOB, Chris Mocha, described Umeh as a “northern errand boy and a politician without identity”, even as he expressed confidence that MASSOB had come out more stronger, united, consistent and focused in the struggle for the emancipation of Ndigbo. He also faulted the APGA chairman over some community road projects sited in his area, including Ora-eri–Agulu Uzoigbo road project awarded by the Anambra State Government that are yet to be executed. He said MASSOB would map out adequate sanctions for the Igbo elite who sabotage progressive efforts in the zone, to serve as deterrent to others.

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Cargo Airport: Bayelsa assures host communities on compensation OSAHON JULIUS YENAGOA

ayelsa State government has assured the host communities of the state-owned International Cargo Airport project under construction at Wilberforce Island, near Amassoma, that the government was prepared to pay full compensations to the land owners but pleaded with them to exercise patience. The Deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (retd), stated this during a meeting in the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Yenagoa, between the government officials and representatives of the five communities - Amassoma, Ikibiri, Ikoli, Sabagria and Igbedi. The deputy governor, therefore, pleaded with the women of Ikibiri town, who, in the last six days, had laid siege at the project site over non-payCHANGE OF NAME

KOLAWOLE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Kolawole Yetunde Ayobami, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ashiyanbi Yetunde Ayobami. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan, Ibadan and genera public should take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to notify the general public of Loss of Original Letter of Allocation with File No- LU/2008/Ayobo/BLK/ PLT dated 10th Dec. 2008 in LUACLands Bureau,Alausa. belonging to Mr. Rasheed Olalekan Aliu of 10, Aliu Close,Aguda,Surulere, Lagos State.

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FALAYE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Falaye Taiwo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akanbi Taiwo. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Judiciary and general public please take note.

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SOWUNMI: Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwafunke Adebimpe Sowunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwafunke Adebimpe Sekoni. All former documents remain valid and general public take note.

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Friday, July 11, 2014

ment of compensation, to vacate the dredger. According to him, government was losing so much money on account of the stoppage of work due to the sit-in action by the women as the eventual cost of hiring the dredger would be borne by the state government. He also pleaded with the host communities, particularly Ikibiri town to grant unfettered access to officials of the Ministry of Lands and Survey to enable them conduct enumeration of economic crops on the project site, with a view to ascertaining the actual amount of compensation payable. While sympathising with the communities over the destruction of their farmlands, occasioned by flooding, resulting from the dredging work, Jonah again assured that the water would be re-channeled in order to reduce the effects of the flooding. CHANGE OF NAME

OSIEGBU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Awele Maria Osiegbu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Awele Maria Ekpemede. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

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MOUBA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Mouba Elizabeth Chinwe, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nnaji Elizabeth Chinwe. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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OLALEETAN: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Olaleetan Bukola Christianah, and now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajayi Christianah Bukola. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB and general public should please take note.

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JIMOH: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Jimoh Oluwafunke Nofisat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Taiwo Oluwafunke Nofisat. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE ASSOCIATION OF IKA GRADUATES

This is to notify the general public that the above named association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 Obiazi Uche 2 Oseh Chidinma Okiroro 3 Ekaeze Martin .

JTF destroys 110 illegal refineries in Rivers DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

he Joint Task Force, code-named ‘Operation Pulo Shield’ in the Niger Delta, said it has destroyed no fewer than 110 illegal refineries in the last seven months in Rivers State. The Commanding Officer, 29 Battalion, 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Lt-Col. Olusegun Oladuntoye, disclosed this yesterday during the destruction of illegal refineries in Soku, AkukuToru local government area of Rivers State. Oladuntoye explained that the renewed strategy of the JTF has paved way for the clampdown on illegal refineries, adding that the success was recorded with the use of “Swamp Buggy”

machines, which completely crushed metal storage tanks, reducing the capability for oil thieves to revive the refineries. He further said that the operation would continue until all the illegal refineries in the area were completely destroyed. According to him, “We have destroyed over 40 illegal refineries in Alakiri, Dutch island and Victoria Island (in Rivers), and in Soku oil field areas; we have also destroyed over 70 illegal refineries. “In early 2014; there was a review of (JTF) strategy which has to do with the use of swamp buggy (machine) for the destruction of illegal refineries. “So far, the use of swamp buggy is very effective, in the sense that CHANGE OF NAME

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ANIMASHAUN: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Animashaun Adijat Abiola, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Alimi Adijat Abiola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AYENI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ayeni Mosunmola Oluwaseyi Grace, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Koyejo Mosunmola Oluwaseyi Grace. All former documents remain valid. Hospital Management Board (HMB), State Specialist Hospital, Ado-Ekiti and general public take note.

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ANOSIKE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Anosike Benedicta Oby, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ajana Benedicta Oby. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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AJAYI: Formerly know and addressed as Miss Ajayi Bola Grace, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Adegoke Bola Grace. All former documents remain valid. Apoti Grammar School, State of Osun and general public should please take note

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SAMUEL: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Samuel Olusola Oluyemi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Olajide Olusola Oluyemi. All former documents remain valid. Olabisi Onabanjo University and general public take note.

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EZERIOHA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ezerioha Anthonia Chidinma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Uzoeshi Anthonia Chidinma. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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AMBALI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ambali Rukayat Opeyemi, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Rukayat Opeyemi Temitope-Folorunsho. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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HASSAN: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Hassan Monsurat Bunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ogunyemi Monsurat Bunmi. All former document remain valid and general public take note

PUBLIC NOTICE IBA-MALARIA ERADICATION FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied for Registration To Corporate Affairs Commission under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Gbenga Salu 2. Funke Dacosta 3. Mayowa Salu

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

Economic and social advancement of graduates from Ika land e.t.c Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within thirty days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To reduce the number of deaths in infants and mothers to the minimum 2. To promote information on the disease necessary for behavioural change and eradication of the disease. 3. To contribute to the discussion and innovation of effective solutions in the battle against malaria.

previously when we destroy and set ablaze illegal refineries, the metal cooking pots (storage tanks) still remained because the metal could not be burnt. “The challenge we had was that within three days (of destroying the refineries), the criminals (repair) one or two places that had been burnt and start their illegal operation all over again. “The strategy had been very effective because most of the illegal refineries that had been destroyed had not been able to be re-activated back,” Oladuntoye said. The commander, however, said that no arrest

was made at the refineries because the culprits and their civilian informants fled on speed boats on sighting the soldiers. He said the JTF leadership endorsement of the strategy was in line with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah’s mission to optimise the army’s capacity to reduce national and global security threat. Oladuntoye noted that despite the success of the new approach, the JTF would carry out constant air and ground surveillance of the creeks to ensure illegal refineries did not spring up.

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OKAFOR: Formerly known and addressed as Ogochukwu Jideofor Okafor, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Austin Ogochukwu Jideofor. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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ADEWUMI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adewumi Omobola Victoria, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Asaolu Omobola Victoria. All former documents remain valid. Federal Medical Centre (FMC), IdoEkiti and general public take note.

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Formerly known and addressed as Miss Godspower Ayibakuro Jephthah, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ayibakuro Kopu Jerome Igbuasi. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

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ENESI: Formerly known and addressed as Habiba Enesi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Habiba Muhammed Ismaila. All former documents remain valid. FedPoly Nasarawa, NYSC and general public take note.

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OSUAGWU: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Osuagwu Felicia Njideka, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ejiofor Felicia Njideka. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the general public take note.

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AHMED: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ahmed Rukayat Jumoke, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. AbdulrasheedOlowo Rukayat Jumoke. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

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ADEWUYI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Adewuyi Rukayat Funmilade, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Obaloyin Rukayat Funmilade. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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AMEH: Formerly known and addressed as Ameh Wisdom Sunday, now wish to be known and addressed as Ameh Wisdom John. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

EJEMBI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Anna Ejembi, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Anna Abba. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

NDUKWE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ndukwe Linda Ogechukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Nkemjika Linda Ogechukwu. All former documents remain valid. (NYSC) and the general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE GLAUCOMA PATIENTS’ CARE INITIATIVE IN NIGERIA This is to notify the general public that the above named Initiative has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

1. Dr. Martina Oghenevovwero Agberien 2. Prof. Adebukola Adefule-Ositelu 3. Chief Adesiyakan Adeduro Robinson

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To promote care for Glaucoma patients. 2. To create awareness and promote care for glaucoma sufferes.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street. PMB 198, Matiama, abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within thirty days of this publication.

SIGNED: ABDULWASI MUSAH, ESQ SOLICITOR. 08033880535

SIGNED: K.C. OKOLOCHA, ESQ. SOLICITOR

North

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Firm to invest N1.6bn in shea butter factory PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

he Niger State Government has announced that a private firm has indicated interest in setting up a shea butter factory

in Mokwa, at the cost of N1.6bn. It says this would assist in further boosting the state’s economy. It stated that when fully functional, the company would offer at least 10,000 jobs to youths, as well as generate over N10m

monthly. The Director-General, DG, on Investment, Alhaji Ahmed Kontagora, disclosed this in Minna, stating that while the investor would invest with its funds, the state was expected to give 20 hectares

of land as its contribution to the deal. He added that the state government and the company would sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU next week, to seal the deal, after which the actual work on the

project would start. The DG also explained that the ground breaking ceremony for the project had been slated for November this year, while the inauguration would be done in February, 2015. Kontagora explained previously, the shea butter from the state had been declared as below quality, but that with the help of the state government, the quality had improved tremendously. In another development, the state’s Director-General, One Stop Investment Centre, Alhaji

Hamza Bello, has stated that the government had plans in motion to upgrade some markets in order to boost revenue accruing to it. According to him, due to lack of proper management of markets, the state was losing over N160m monthly. He added that the State Development Company was set up to invest over N1.8bn on the Madalla market in Suleja, while efforts were on to source for private partners to develop other markets in the other areas of the state.

Nigeria emerges regional centre for marine pollution OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

T Internally displaced persons from the Wukari crisis waiting to receive relief materials in Jalingo, yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

‘FG committed to rescuing Chibok girls’ ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

resident Goodluck Jonathan is fully committed to ensuring that the over 200 schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, abducted by the Boko Haram sect since April 14, are rescued alive. His Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, disclosed in reaction to an article in the Washington Post, titled: ‘What Nigerian President Should Have Written’. While reacting to the article, Abati described it as ‘morbid satire’, saying many of the criticisms against the government was unfair, and remained an attempt to ignore issues by claiming that Jonathan was the problem. Abati said that the attempt to turn the matter of the abducted girls into a ‘referendum’ on Jonathan’s administration had resulted in a complete misreading of the situation and much “deliberate mischief fueled by ignorance and

sponsored propaganda.” He explained that the Boko Haram threat dated back to 2002, adding that it had become a much bigger menace, and a full-scale terrorist movement by the time Jonathan assumed office in 2010. According to him, during the period, “Boko Haram elements and their international allies had carved out enclaves in the northeast of the country, hoisted their flags and threatened to destabilise the government and impose an Islamic state.” According to him, in the past four years, Jonathan had taken proactive steps to combat terrorism through military, political and social actions. Abati said that since 2011, Nigerian security chiefs have met regularly with their counterparts from the four neighbouring countries on matters of peace and security, stressing that the efforts yielded positive results with the decimation of the ranks of the Boko Haram and their restriction to the Sambisa Forest.

He further said a Presidential Dialogue Committee was set up by Jonathan to pursue the option of a peaceful resolution of the Boko Haram insurgency, “while he also launched a Presidential Initiative for the North-East, an economic-recovery programme as well as deradicalsation

programmes and the Safe Schools Initiative. Abati stated that the April 14 abduction of the Chibok girls and subsequent developments marked a turning point in the Boko Haram saga, stressing that it was a terrible resurgence of an ongoing challenge and not the beginning.

he United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, has located the headquarters of its regional coordination centre to combat marine pollution in West, Central and Southern Africa, in Nigeria. UNEP’s Regional Coordinator on Abidjan Convention, Mr. Abou Bamba, stated that the decision to grant Nigeria the centre’s hosting right was reached at the 11th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Abidjan Convention. Bamba, who spoke during a meeting with the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam

in Abuja yesterday, stated that Nigeria won the right based on its long years of experience in marine pollution management. According to him, with this special hosting right, Nigeria would be in charge of the coordination of combating trans-boundary marine pollution across the 22 countries of the Abidjan Convention. Apart from being the 6th largest oil producer in the world with a coastline of 853 km, 9,000 km of navigable inland waterways, Bamba noted that Nigeria’s expertise in marine management, its political stability and presence of an established similar national centre, won it the the right to host the centre.

DG disowns director over N17m contingency fund WOLE OLADIMEJI ABUJA

he Director-General, DG, of the National Office of Technology Acquisition and Documents Promotion, NOTAP, Alhaji Umar Bindir, yesterday denied having knowledge of the N17m reportedly collected by the agency from the Service Wide Vote, SWV. He said that his Director of Finance and Administration, DFA, Mr. Jubril Useni, did not inform him about collecting the money. The DG maintained his position when he appeared before the House

of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Hon. Solomon Olamilekan. Umar disociated himself from the collection of the money being managed by the Budget Office on behalf of the Federal Government for contingency expenditures. The DG had been summoned over the sum of N39.34m reportedly collected from the SWV between 2004 and 2012. According to him, “the application for the N17,825,960.000 was written to the Director of Budge Office by the DFA without my consent. “And so I did not sign

for the money when it was released, and it was returned to the Federation Accounts, while a query was issued to the officials who wrote the application without approval,” he stated. The DFA was said to have claimed that the application for the funds was meant for the augmentation of the salary arrears of staff, but without the consent of the DG who is the chief accounting officer of the agency. However, the committee members wondered how such a huge sum could be released without proper documentation. They directed the DG

to reappear before it with relevant documents, saying that all the documents so far produced were fake and “cooked up to confuse the committee and to made it appear as if the transactions were genuine.” Olamilekan, who advised the DG to personally supervise the collation of all the relevant documents requested by the committee at the next appearance, warned that if there was any further shortcoming discovered, the committee would have no option than to embark on a full investigation in to the financial transactions of the agency.

Friday, July 11, 2014

APC and imminent defeat in Osun

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

14 ROTIMI FADEYI examines the implication, or otherwise, of the withdrawal by the new Emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, of his suit against President Goodluck Jonathan, challenging his removal from office.

Now that Sanusi has withdrawn charges against Jonathan

ew Emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, last week withdrew his case against President Goodluck Jonathan, challenging his suspension from office as governor of the apex bank. When Sanusi was suspended from office on the orders of Jonathan on February 20 this year, there was no indication that he would become the Emir of Kano four months after. The suspension notice issued to Sanusi stated that he was suspended to allow for proper investigations into alleged financial recklessness and misconduct contained in the reports of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN. Announcing Sanusi’s suspension last February in a press statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Jonathan administration said it took special notice of reports of the FRCN and other investigating bodies, which indicated that Sanusi’s tenure has been characterised by various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct, which were inconsistent with the administration’s vision of a Central Bank propelled by the core values of focused economic management, prudence, transparency and financial discipline; The government also said it was deeply concerned about far-reaching irregularities under Sanusi’s watch, which have distracted the Central Bank from the pursuit and achievement of its statutory mandate. The suspension order, according to government therefore, was to urgently re-position the CBN for greater efficiency, respect for due process and accountability Pending conclusion of investigations into breaches of enabling laws, due process and mandate of the CBN, Sanusi was ordered to hand over to the most senior Deputy Governor of the CBN, Dr Sarah Alade who later served as acting governor. Sanusi was in Niger Republic on official assignment when his suspension was announced, but prior to that, he had been critical of government and had alleged that that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allsion-Madueke, could not account for over $20 billion of crude oil revenue. But, with the death of the 13th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Bayero, on June 6, the opportunity to ascend to the throne became open to Sanusi as well as another contender for the royal seat and son of the deceased Emir, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero. Thus on Sunday, June 8, the Kano State government formally announced Sanusi as the 14th Emir of Kano through the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Rabiu Bichi. However, shortly after he was proclaimed Emir, hundreds of irate youths took over major streets of the ancient city protesting Sanusi’s choice. Peace was later restored to the ancient city and Sanusi was able to move to the palace where he now performs royal duties as the reverend Emir of Kano Shortly after his suspension from office as CBN governor, Sanusi had instituted legal action against Jonathan at the Federal high Court, challenging his suspension. Other defendants in the suit were the Attorney General of the

Jonathan

Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido

THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE CASE HAS BEEN INTERPRETED TO BE A STEP TOWARDS PEACEFUL RECONCILIATION BETWEEN

JONATHAN AND SANUSI AS THE 2015 ELECTIONS DRAW NEAR

Federation and the Inspector General of Police. Ruling in the case, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, said that he lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter and therefore referred the case to the National Industrial Court, NIC; holding that in line with sections 251 and 254 of the 1999 Constitution, the CBN was a creation of the National Assembly, and Sanusi was a public officer. Justice Kolawole averred that since Sanusi was an employee of the CBN by virtue of the CBN Act No 7 of 2007, he was a public servant whose appointment was a labourrelated matter that could be properly decided by the NIC. Sanusi had filed an appeal against the ruling of the Federal High Court, arguing that the court was wrong to have held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter and subsequently transferred same to the NIC. The Federal Government, also dissatisfied with Justice Kolawole’s decision, also lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal on the grounds that the court lacked the power to transfer the matter, arguing that the appropriate step the court ought to have taken in such circumstance was to either dismiss or strike out the case. Both Sanusi and the Federal Government therefore filed separate applications for stay of execution of the judgment.

But last week, at the NIC, the new Emir of Kano withdrew his case against the Federal Government through his lawyer, Kola Awodehin, SAN. The Federal Government through its counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said it was not sure what step Sanusi will take next, considering that he is yet to withdraw his appeal against Justice Kolawole’s ruling, as well as his motion for stay of execution of the judgment. Following Sanusi’s withdrawal of the case, NIC presiding judge, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, struck out the substantive suit but fixed November 7 for hearing of the pending motion by the former governor of the CBN, asking for stay of execution of the judgement of the Federal High Court. Sanusi never returned to office as CBN governor before his emergence as the new Emir of Kano as his tenure lapsed on June 3, paving the way for a new governor for the apex bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to take over the seat. However, the withdrawal of the case has been interpreted to be a step towards peaceful reconciliation between Jonathan and Sanusi as the 2015 elections draw near. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, was said to have waded into the matter to ensure reconciliation between Jonathan and Sanusi. It is evident that should Jonathan eventually decides to seek a second term in office in 2015, he would no doubt need the support of the people of the ancient city of Kano regarded as one of the key states in the North. Since Sanusi has now assumed the exalted position of Emir, there is no doubt that he would wield a lot of influence in the political calculations of Kano which could be used for or against Jonathan in the elections. The former governor of the CBN, having vacated the boardroom for the palace, also has a responsibility to ensure peace in his domain and also build bridges of friendship across the country. With barely seven months to the 2015 elections and Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, now a member of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, reconciliation would certainly be the best option to explore.

Politics

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

APC and imminent defeat in Osun ADEWOLE JOHNSON

he Ekiti State gubernatorial election of June 21 has come and gone, yet the All Progressives Congress, APC, which was comprehensively defeated at the polls by the People Democratic Party, PDP, has been behaving like the ostrich, citing some imaginary evidence of ‘photocromic’ rigging or intimidation of voters by the presence of armed security agents as the cause of its woeful defeat at the poll. The haughty and loquacious governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has been the loudest proponent of the thesis that APC did not lose the elections in Ekiti, boasting that the outcome of the forthcoming Osun election would prove him right. Every objective and rational observer of the Ekiti political scene prior to the election knew that Kayode Fayemi was spending his last days as the state governor and that Ayo Fayose would emerge victorious in the election. The APC in its folly was supremely confident that its propaganda and barefaced lies would hoodwink the people and make them vote en-masse for Fayemi, whose achievements are found more on the pages of newspapers and television than in any identifiable part of Ekiti. Now that the chickens have come home to roost, even the rabid pro-APC columnists of The Nation newspapers have started to enumerate and analyse Fayemi’s original sins – bothering on lack of sincerity, accountability or transparency and his preoccupation with the fanning of his own ego and that of the clique that surrounded him. Aregbesola’s sins are more grievous and more unpardonable when juxtaposed with those committed by Fayemi in Ekiti. A critical analysis of these transgressions point in the direction of another comprehensive defeat for Aregbesola and the APC on August 9. Osun people are no fools and are witnesses to the demolition of houses, shops and property (without due compensation) by the Aregbesola government. They are also witnesses to the total destruction of the educational system through whacky and wrong-headed policies by a man whose claim to education is at best tenuous. The consequence has been declining performance by Osun students in public examinations, yet Aregbesola insists that his policies are the best for the sector. The reckless acquisition of loans to finance phantom and inflated projects have left Osun in a state of financial asphyxia and when it dawned on the APC apparatchik that non-payments of months of arrears of salaries will jeopardise its electoral chances in Osun, it hurriedly secured another round of loans at very exorbitant interest rate to pay months of arrears owed teachers, civil servants and the OYES cadets whose arrears run into about nine months. The government is presently looking for more loans to pay pensioners. An already heavily-indebted Osun State will be further impoverished by an additional burden of hurriedly-contracted loan

Aregbesola

agreements. The Omisore Campaign Organisation is happy that workers are being paid money owed them, but we are absolutely sure that Osun people are not deceived by the sudden “feel-good” and “wooing” tactics of the Aregbesola administration. They are aware that the APC government in Osun has shown itself to be antipeople in the four years it occupied the seat of power and unless they want a return to the days of government by deceit and propaganda, they will not vote for Aregbesola’s continued occupation of Abere. Till date, no one except Aregbesola knows the true state of indebtedness of Osun State as Aregbesola and his aides have not been able to give, in any written document or interview, an account of how much Osun owes creditors. When asked, they’ve always dismissed Omisore’s figure as false but has failed to provide the true figure of the state’s indebtedness. Who is fooling whom? It is a tragedy of monumental proportions that Osun, which occupies the 28th position in land mass as well as the 17th position in terms of population among the 36 states of the federation, now has the unenviable reputation of being the 4th most indebted state in Nigeria. The depth of the financial quagmire which the Aregbesola administration has thrown Osun into is better imagined than described when one realises that Osun has received nearly N400 billion from the federation account between December 2010 and May 2014,.

THE DEPTH OF THE FINANCIAL QUAGMIRE WHICH THE

AREGBESOLA

ADMINISTRATION HAS THROWN

OSUN

INTO IS BETTER IMAGINED THAN DESCRIBED

Today in Osun, there is poverty written on the faces of the generality of the people who now look back with nostalgia on the days when the PDP was in the saddle. Under the PDP administration, money went round because government invested Osun’s money in Osun, but under Aregbesola, local contractors have been sent out of business, money circulates only within his Lagos clique and Lagos-based contractors got all of Osun’s major contracts. The implication of this is that capital flight takes place daily and Osun people have become more immersed in poverty and squalor. The response of Aregbesola and his APC goons is that they are not interested in building “stomach infrastructure” when we all know that they build “stomach infrastructure” only for the governor and his coterie of friends from Lagos. Infrastructural development that is not matched by raising the people’s standard of living and providing food, clothing and shelter is untenable and anti-human. The APC-led government in Osun State is like a dog that eats its vomit because what it condemns during the day, it practises at night. In several interviews between 2010 and 2013, Aregbesola called former Governor Oyinlola and his administration unprintable names. At different times, Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration was described as “visionless,” “technically insolvent”, “shallow and without mission” by Aregbesola, yet he and his bosses ran to Okuku to seek political succour and wisdom from the same “visionless” Oyinlola after their woeful loss at the June 21 election in Ekiti. Such hypocritical and opportunistic janusfaced behaviour has become characteristic of the APC and its leaders. When all political parties in Osun protested against the continued supervision of Osun election by the former Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Amb Akeju because his impartiality was questionable on account of his personal relationship and friendship with the leaders of the APC, INEC correctly excused him and had him replaced. Curiously, Osun APC has since been crying louder than the bereaved, issuing statements decrying Akeju’s ouster probably because of its sinister intention to use Akeju to perpetrate fraud at

the August 9 election. The APC hack writers rained abuses on Ekiti State governor-elect, Fayose, saying that he bought Ekiti peoples’ votes with rice. Recent revelations from their own camp showed clearly that Fayemi and his wife equally gave rice, recharge cards, cash and bought vehicles, sewing machines, etc to people in Ekiti even up until the eve of the elections. In Osun today, Ogbeni and his cronies have also stared distributing rice and money to people as if that will stop their ultimate rejection by an overwhelming majority of voters for whom life has been made more difficult by four years of imposed selfish, misguided and misdirected anti-people policies. One of the most intriguing paradoxes of the administration in Osun is its penchant for embarking on mega projects that may not likely be completed several years to come, even though it claims to be populist. It is curious that Aregbe’s government cannot see the wisdom in embarking on cost-effective pro-people projects that can be accomplished within the four year tenure of the administration. Even more baffling is the usual noticeable discrepancy between the gargantuan amount spent and the questionable end-product of such investment. For example, it recently announced that it invested N2.3billion in the construction of the Aiyegbaju market in Osogbo. Earlier, it announced that it pumped N3.6 billion annually into its school feeding programme; N8 billion into the ill-fated “Opon – imo” project; N27billion into hospitals renovation project (which is yet to be accomplished); acquired a helicopter (in a relatively crime-free state) for area surveillance and “quick emergency response” at a cost yet to be disclosed; spent N10 billion on rehabilitation of intra-city roads many of which are either 0.16 kilometre (Fagbewesa – Odi Olowo junction, Ebenezer Hotel road) or 0.85 kilometre Balogun Biro/Oke Baale road in Osogbo). In addition, it spent a whooping N4.5billion on the Eastern bye-pass road in Osogbo named after Oba Adesoji Aderemi, while a humongous N20 billion has been sunk into the 45 kilometre Osogbo/Ila Odo road. Clearly, Osun people can see the wide discrepancy between close to N100 billion already spent on road construction and the reality of inter and intra-city impassable roads that they have to contend with on a daily basis. Can we not also link the appetite of Aregbesola for billion naira contracts with his unequalled but suspicious decision to remain the Commissioner for Works in Osun for four years while his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori also presided over the contracts for construction of mega schools having remained Commissioner for Education for four years? Final word for Aregbesola is that the clouds of his defeat in Osun are gathered and neither his propaganda machine nor his “state boys” or his recent pretentious populist gestures can stop the rain at the polls on August 9. Johnson writes in from Osogbo.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Friday, July 11, 2014

UPN condemns APC’s alleged impunity AYO ESAN

nity Party of Nigeria, UPN, has condemned what it called “reign of terror and impunity being perpetrated by state governments under the All Progressives Congress, APC,” against citizens within their jurisdictions. Speaking through its National Chairman, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, in Lagos yesterday, the party said it particularly condemned the APC’s stance on the current crisis in

the Edo State House of Assembly, the imposition of N27,000 levy on commercial buses in Lagos, and increase in fees paid by students of the Lagos State University, LASU. Fasehun said: “Our party also joins Nigerian citizens to roundly condemn the failure of the APC governments in Osun and Ekiti states to conduct elections into local councils and the unilateral declaration of an emergency public holiday by the governor of Adamawa State.” Saying that it was clear in all the stated cases

that the APC was on rampage and war of attrition against democracy and the common man, UPN said that the party was behaving like a bull in a china shop, “trampling on citizens’ rights and Nigerians must control this party’s reign of impunity.” Fasehun described as highhanded and illegal the imposition of a N27,000 adding that the 34 to 60 per cent reduction in LASU fees by Babatunde Fashola was unacceptable, declaring its support for the students’ demand

of 67 per cent reduction. Accusing Governor Adams Oshiomhole of taking sides in the crisis rocking the Edo State Assembly, Fasehun said the governor’s interference in the ongoing leadership tussle in the Assembly was an abuse of the separation of powers doctrine that hallmarks democracy universally. UPN also endorsed the resolution of the National Conference scrapping state electoral commissions, adding that the confab should also outlaw the appointment of administrators to run local councils.

Aturu’s death, unfortunate –Fayemi OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU

kiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has described the death of Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Bamidele Aturu as “very tragic and unfortunate.” Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said the death of the prominent lawyer was an unprecedented loss to the pro-democracy and human rights community in Nigeria. Saying that Aturu’s demise has robbed the oppressed of an irrepressible defender, a tireless advocate and a committed fighter of injustice, oppression and repression

in the Nigerian society, Fayemi added that he received the news with shock, as no one expected the death of Aturu, whom he described as “a young man bubbling with life,” at a time when the nation needs his contribution to the quest for a just society. He said that Aturu had committed himself to selfless service to mankind since his student days when he was a terror to tyranny, dictatorship and subjugation of the rights of the powerless. Praying God to grant the deceased eternal rest, Fayemi urged his family, friends, colleagues and associates to be consoled by the good life he lived and the positive ways he has affected the society.

How Ekiti election was manipulated will be revealed soon –Fayemi’s wife ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

W L-R: National Treasurer, Unity Party of Nigeria, Mr. Okey Nwaneri; National Chairman, Dr. Fredrick Fasehun and National Deputy Secretary, Mr. Samson Ndubuisi, during a news conference on the state of the nation in Lagos, yesterday.

Fayose tasks Ogun PDP on winning governorship seat FEMI OYEWESO ABEOKUTA

kiti State governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday charged Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to work hard towards winning the 2015 governorship election to guarantee them of “something to share.” Emphasising that it is only in victory that members would have “something to share”, Fayose also read riot acts to party supporters against defecting to other political parties while still enjoying some benefits from the party. He gave the warning yesterday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital while addressing party supporters at a rally organised to publicly announce the defection the lawmaker representing Yewa South/Ipokia fed-

eral constituency at the House of Representatives, Abiodun Akinlade to the PDP. Saying that PDP would deal with whoever defects to other parties and still enjoys benefits or appointment gotten on the platform of the party, Fayose said such privilege would be withdrawn within a month of defection. Akinlade had two weeks ago, submitted a letter to the Speaker of the House Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal informing the House of his defection to PDP on the premise that party on which platform he got into the National Assembly, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, had ceased to exist. Fayose, who dedicated his victory at June 21 Ekiti governorship election to the people of Ekiti and the South-West in general,

also boast that PDP would achieve total victory in all the Yoruba states come 2015, adding that total victory at the forthcoming governorship election in all South West states, would guide against financial and other form of pressures which could be mounted on him as the

only PDP governor in the region. Earlier in his address, Akinlade explained that he was returning to PDP where he “cut his political teeth” after he had sojourn in other political parties for survival but felt like reuniting with his former party.

ife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has said that events unfolding after the June 21 governorship election in the state suggest that the election was manipulated from source, adding that the full story of how the elections were allegedly manipulated against the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, would be revealed in due course. Speaking yesterday while delivering a keynote address entitled “Women Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: The Ekiti Experience,” at the 50th anniversary public lecture and award ceremony of the state chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Mrs Fayemi said: “Many armchair analysts and

...Visits Lagos today on ‘Thank you’ tour EBERE NDUKWU

overnor-elect of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, in continuation of his South-West tour, tagged ‘Thank You,’ will today arrive Lagos to express appreciation to members of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who supported and prayed for his victory from a far. During the visit, Fayose

will hold a meeting with PDP leaders in the state and thereafter honour a rally put in place to welcome him to Lagos State. PDP state chairman, Tunji Shelle, confirmed that other South-West leaders are expected to join the governor-elect on the tour, expressing delight in Fayose’s victory, describing his visit to Lagos State as an added effort in the quest to displace the All Progressievs

Congress, APC, from seat of government in 2015. Shelle said: “We are hosting the governor-elect of Ekiti State, Fayose to a dinner and rally to support his “Thank You” tour of South-West states. Today will be the turn of Lagos State and we are expecting that the new wind of change which he has started in Ekiti State will also blow across Lagos State. We welcome his entourage to Lagos State.”

commentators had opined that the electorate embraced patronage, popularly known as ‘stomach infrastructure’ as opposed to sustainable development during the last elections.” She added that in an attempt to twist facts and hastily rewrite the history and legacy of Fayemi, some writers labelled him as one disconnected from the people of the state. She said: “I would like to state that we have not heard the last about the election. Two weeks after the immediate confusion and hysteria of the June 21 elections, a picture has begun to emerge. “In due course, the full and real story of how the Ekiti elections of June 21 were manipulated from source will be revealed. There are many implications of Ekiti people having voted the way they supposedly did.” Erelu Fayemi said that one of the implications of the election, as it concerns women, was that all policies, laws and structures put in place over the past three years to protect them counted for nothing. At the occasion, Governor Fayemi; a legal practitioner, Mrs Funmi Falana and immediate past state president of the National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, Mrs Nike Obatayo, were given awards for their exemplary contributions to women rights and empowerment.

Editorial

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR PUBLISHER

KAFILAT OGBARA

MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

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DEPUTY MD/CEO

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DAILY EDITOR

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REGIONAL DIRECTOR, S/SOUTH

KING ODODORU

HEAD, GRAPHICS

Fayemi’s controversial councils creation drive

he decision by the out-going Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to create 18 new local council development areas (LCDAs) is belated, we dare say. It is our well considered view that the creation of such councils, if indeed necessary, should be left to his in-coming successor, Ayodele Fayose, to handle. If the creation of the councils was of so much importance to the administration of Governor Fayemi and Ekiti people why was the matter not given priority attention throughout the four years he has been in office? Why is the outgoing governor bent on creating new councils when he has less than four months to the end of his constitutional term? It is believed that the creation of the councils could bring government closer to the people; it may also be argued that the governor interacted with the people and got their nod before taking the decision. Indeed, it is public knowledge that Fayemi constituted a Council Creation Committee headed by Justice Akin Ajakaiye. The committee went round the state and received the people’s input. A White Paper Committee also reviewed the recommendations of the Council Creation Committee, which submitted its report to the government on June 24, 2014. According to the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo,

the new council areas would be created from the existing councils after the conduct of a referendum by the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission and consideration of the outcome of the referendum by the state House of Assembly. These are all due processes needed to give legitimacy to a populist programme. However, no matter how expedient the programme might be, the timing of its implementation is problematic. It is very obvious Governor Fayemi might be hurriedly seeing through a programme whose implementation he might have planned for his second term. Since his projection is wrong having failed to get a second term endorsement from the people, the best thing to do is drop the project. If he ignores good counsel and goes ahead with its implementation, many would accuse him of creating the councils to appease his cronies, who would most probably head them. The concomitant result would be an avoidable clash with his successor, who has already scorned the very idea and might have no qualms scrapping them on assumption of office. Such an exercise in futility would be nothing but a waste of public resources. Besides, cognisance must be taken of the grouses of some communities against the recommendations of the Justice

IT WILL BE YET ANOTHER PLUS FOR HIM IF, IN GOOD

FAITH, HE STEERS CLEAR OF THE NEW

LOCAL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT

AREAS CONTROVERSY Ajakaiye Committee. The communities, which are not opposed to the creation of the councils, had said they wanted certain amendments to be made to the proposed structures of the new councils. They alleged lopsidedness in the proposed headquarters of the new councils and expressed dissatisfaction with the towns that were merged in the new political architecture. The affected communities include Ikoro Ekiti, Are Ekiti, Osi Eki and Erinmope Ekiti. Traditional rulers of the communities are championing the cause. There is, therefore, the need to fine-tune the councils’ creation plan to avoid unnecessary acrimony that could lead to grave crisis in the future. This may require time, which the outgoing governor does not have. This will help buttress our argument that it is too late for Fayemi to dabble into the intricacies of the creation of new council areas

ON THIS DAY July 11, 1978 A truck carrying liquid gas crashed and exploded at a coastal campsite in Tarragona, Spain, killing 217 tourists. The disaster was a road accident and tanker explosion which occurred in Alcanar, near Tarragona in Spain. The tanker truck was loaded with 23 tons of highly flammable liquefied propylene. The 217 casualties, (including the driver) died instantly while about 200 others were severely burned.

Letters tothe theEditor Editor Letters to

A truck carrying liquid Mumbai train bombings: About 209 people were killed in a series of bomb attacks in Mumbai, India. Seven bomb blasts exploded over a period of 11 minutes on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai, the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the nation’s financial capital. The bombs were set off in pressure cookers on trains plying the Western line of the Suburban Railway network.

at this zero hour. If the majority of Ekiti people have truly indicated their desire to have the new councils created, it does not matter which administration creates them. We do not see anything wrong if Fayemi initiated the process and Fayose eventually completes it. In fact, stakeholders and observers of the country’s nascent democracy have been advocating continuity in governance. We do not support a situation where one political party’s administration embarks on a noble project and such work is recklessly terminated by a successive administration of a different political party. It is retrogressive. If Ekiti people are bent on having new councils, Fayose cannot deny them their dream. It is an issue Fayemi and Fayose should resolve amicably before the handover date. Fayose was lately credited as saying he should be given the privilege of handling the matter, having received the popular mandate of Ekiti people during the June 21 governorship election in the state. Governor Fayemi, as we had indicated in an earlier editorial, had done well by accepting the people’s verdict in the June 21 governorship election. He received similar commendations from countless well-meaning Nigerians, too. It will be yet another plus for him if, in good faith, he steers clear of the new LCDAs controversy.

x July 11, 2012 Astronomers announced the discovery of ‘Styx’, the fifth moon of Pluto. Styx (formerly known as S/2012 (134340) 1 and informally as P5), is a small natural satellite of Pluto. It is the fifth confirmed satellite of Pluto and was found approximately one year after Kerberos, Pluto’s fourth discovered satellite. Styx is estimated to have a diameter of between 10 and 25 kilometers (6 and 16 mi), and orbital period of 20.2 days.

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Friday, July 11, 2014

How super are our Super Eagles? NEW HORIZON Wale Ajao With

waleajao2002@yahoo.com, 08023112006 (sms only)

n the 1980s, by luck and the favour of God, this columnist was among the five African journalists sponsored by the Cuban Embassy in Lagos to cover the non-aligned summit in Havana. Our sponsors decided to take us through some major cities in South America just to enrich our knowledge of the continent. We passed through Rio-De Janeiro, Brazil, one of the cities hosting the current World Cup. What we noted about Rio was the vibrancy of life among the youths. In that city and indeed the whole of Brazil, soccer was like religion. We were told that Brazilians see soccer as an avenue to boost their national pride. Brazil is today the world soccer super power. The ongoing Mundial is another evidence of the deep popularity of football in that country. She has a lot to show for it. The most spectacular footballer in human history is Arante De Nascimento, popularly called Pele. He has been his country’s sport minister. In his days as a footballer, he played in three World Cup for his country. Of course,

Brazil remains the only country to have won the world cup five times. And Pele keeps inspiring the young Brazilians to achieve greater glory in the game. The passion with which Nigerians love soccer is comparable to that of the Brazilians. And Brazil 2014 would have been an opportunity for Nigeria to register itself in the minds of Brazilians as the Africa’s master of the game. Nigeria won the 2013 edition of African Cup of Nations. We went to Brazil as African champions. It would have been exciting for the current African champions to face the Brazilians. That, however, could not happen. The Eagles crashed out at the second rounds in a disappointing 0–2 defeat by France. And that loss in the second half, after a goalless first half dominated by the Super Eagles, is really a sort of embarrassment. It is making critical observers to ask, whether the Super Eagles are really ‘super’? Quite a number of factors needed to be examined if we want to avoid a repetition of the defeat in Brazil. Our national coach, Stephen Keshi, should have listened to candid advice on team selection. Respected soccer stars like Chairman Christian Chukwu and others made a case for the inclusion of Ike Uche in the team. Unfortunately, Keshi refused to include the agile and aggressive striker, who has a strong will

OUR NATIONAL TEAM COACH NEEDS TO FIND SOLUTION TO RECURRING DEFENSIVE ERROR.

THIS HAS BEEN

A PROBLEM IN OUR TEAMS power while on the ball. Young and talented Kelechi Iheanacho was also recommended for inclusion in the team, but the coach did not agree. We should learn to use young, strong and focused youngsters in the national team as has been witnessed in Brazil. Pele always recommends young, physically and mentally strong players for inclusion in the Brazilian team. While not denigrating the achievements of our star players the fact that some of them are often of a higher age has affected their performances at crucial times. However, it is also true that some players can still be agile even in their early thirties. In such cases, the coach should not deny a deserving player a shirt just on account of age. One example of that type of footballer is Osaze Odemwingie. The coach did not initially include him in the team until prevailed upon. Yet, he was the one who gave us the goal that took us to the

second round. Team selection is something the coach must also work on. Virtually all coaches of the Super Eagles have had problems in the selection of their teams. The administration of soccer must improve. The players did not train on Thursday 26th June as a protest over the non-payment of match bonuses and game allowances. It was as late as Sunday 29th June that they got $3 million from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). The money was shared till as late as 3am Monday morning, just a few hours before the match against France. Nothing can be more distracting. We should learn to do things properly. The players ought to have been taken care of before such a crucial encounter with France. What happened to the supporters club? Their impact was not felt in Brazil. Our national team coach needs to find solution to recurring defensive error. This has been a problem in our teams. It manifested in 1994 when we were close to the quarter final stage. Roberto Baggio of Italy hit the net by converting a diagonal cross that arose from a defensive error. In 1998, and 2002 the same defensive error happened. It is painful that Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama who had served the nation extremely well became victims of defensive error in our loss to France.

INEC’S weird volte face on Osun REC JIDE ELUYEMI

he common refrain from Professor Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is that it is doing all within the confines of its powers to conduct a credible governorship election in Osun State on August 9. Certainly, a majority of the electorate expect nothing below the bar of excellent performance from INEC. But a recent decision it took in respect of its Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, to wit, that he should go on ‘leave of absence for his own safety’, gives the impression that the Commission is rattled by the baseless opposition some politicians in the state mounted against him. It does appear this is not the same INEC that vowed some months ago not to prevent Akeju from conducting the governorship election if those alleging he was partisan did not present unassailable evidence. This strange turnabout from the electoral body’s top hierarchs does suggest, in spite of its claim to the contrary, that those who bayed for the blood of Akeju have inundated it with ‘irreproachable evidence’. It should be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) began the illogical call for the redeployment of Akeju. Its governorship candidate in the forthcoming governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, had in 2011 asked a court for an injunction to stop Akeju from conduct-

JEGA AND HIS MEN SHOULD NOTE THAT THE

OSUN ELECTORATE

WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY STRANGE BEHAVIOUR FROM IT DURING AND AFTER THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION ing the election of that year in Osun. The prayer was granted. INEC did not contest the injunction and was even making arrangement for the court’s order implementation. Quite strangely, the same PDP immediately went back to the court to ask for a stay of execution of that injunction it had sweetly won earlier. Justice Babs Keuwumi who presided over the case was so pole-axed that he described the request as ‘bizarre’, wondering why the plaintiff was doing what the appellant (INEC) in the Appeal Court should expectedly undertake. Last February, when Jega came to Osogbo for a stakeholders’ parley, an opposition drama against Akeju was staged by the PDP and Labour Party. They asked that he be redeployed. But in his response, Jega strongly posited that the Commission would do their bidding only when credibly substantiated evidence was produced against the REC, adding that the Commission was not one to change its

officials based on mere allegations. The INEC chair was clear in his submission that nothing would be done to Akeju without believable proof of the allegation levelled against him. This explains why the sudden change of decision on Akeju is absurd and confusing. As rationalised last week by Jega’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kayode Idowu, Akeju is just on ‘leave of absence’ for his personal safety. Is it that there are threats to Akeju’s life because he will conduct free and fair election? Is the new REC, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, going to conduct a less credible election? Who are the people threatening Akeju’s life? Is Mr Agbaje’s safety assured? If Agbaje is going to conduct a free and fair election, will the same threat not be transferred unto him? Let it be said that INEC fools no one with its strange behaviour and its even stranger justification. Discerning Nigerians know too well that INEC has just done the wish of the PDP, which has noisily repeatedly asked that Akeju be prevented from conducting the August 9 governorship election in Osun. Regardless of its advertised faith in Akeju and claim of his still being the substantive Osun REC, the Commission has just in a different way revealed that it does not trust the man. In the same outlandish manner that it has granted the wish of the PDP and its inverted poltroons, the Commission has equally condemned Akeju. Similarly, INEC should know that nobody except the troubled PDP believes the

humbug that the Commission’s request for Akeju to proceed on leave of absence was ‘his contribution towards ensuring the credibility of the state governorship election’. So Mr Akeju is so daffy that he deliberately stains his integrity and honour in order for the election to be credible? Indeed, it is strange that a body which trumpets its decision to do right in the conduct of its duties care less about keeping its words with regard to not lifting a finger against its officials without irrefutable evidence of partisanship or wrongdoing. If political parties are involved in ‘intense partisan acrimony over his person’, should he be so unfeelingly made to suffer for their nervousness? The question remains, can INEC still be trusted to conduct a truly credible election in Osun? If it commends itself for its outing in Ekiti, will it not strangely turn round to perform below acceptable standards in Osun in a few weeks to come? Will INEC not give in to pressure from the PDP to overlook riggings when they are perpetrated? Jega and his men should note that the Osun electorate will not accept any strange behaviour from it during and after the governorship election. Eluyemi wrote from Ile-Ife, Osun State. Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

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Tobacco smuggling and taxation

A APC, action not propaganda

ccording to a report published by the International Tax and Investment Centre , ‘Cigarettes, being highly taxed, easy to transport and possessing a lucrative risk to reward ratio, are among the most illegally trafficked goods in the world.’ Easily exchangeable for cash, cigarettes are widely acknowledged by

international law enforcers as a source of funding for other criminal activities, another reason for our governments to sit up and take notice of the insidious crime that is illicit trade. The intention behind increased tobacco taxation is understandable: to increase the retail price of tobacco products in order to decrease consump-

tion. This no doubt will support public health objectives as well as efforts to increase government revenues. However, the design of national tax structures should be carefully considered alongside social and political realities in order to avoid unintended consequences. In West African countries, which are known to have porous borders

he All Progressives Congress (APC) should stop the lamentation over the loss of Ekiti to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In Nigeria, you use what you have to get what you want. When Jonathan used Commissioner of Police Joseph Mbu to torment Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi and make the state ungovernable, APC ordered its members in the National Assembly to block all bills, including the budget. Jonathan was humbled by the development and stopped his unconstitutional acts in Rivers. President Goodluck Jonathan used the armed forces and police to intimidate APC supporters in Ekiti and scared them from voting, thus securing victory for his party by force of arms. While ministers Obanikoro and Adesiyan are running away from Borno State because of Boko Haram, they have no shame in invading a peaceful Ekiti State with thousands of soldiers and policemen to cow the APC. The news spread all over and many APC supporters did not come out to vote. Jonathan also used the military to prevent governors, who enjoy the same immunity with him, from visiting Ekiti to support their APC brother governor, who had earlier been assaulted by the FGcontrolled MOPOL. Patrick James, Ibrahim Jimoh Road, Kaduna

NMA, Boko Haram of the health sector

ith the recent unfortunate happenings in the health sector, it is now very crystal clear to Nigerians that the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is the Boko Haram of the nation’s health sector as the group is now desirous of destroying the lives of innocent Nigerians, causing anarchy in the nation and exploiting the indecisiveness of President Goodluck Jonathan. This is more worrisome at this period of our national challenges. Joshua A., Executive Director, Neighbourhood Health Initiatives, Lagos.

Letters to the Editor

A mother and her children seeking alms along the newly constructed rail at Alaba on Badagry expressway in Lagos. PHOTO: YINKA ADEPARUSI

Aregbesola not wooing workers with salaries

overnor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State recently paid the outstanding salaries of workers in the state. This was received with joy and much commendation by the workers who appreciated this as a product of great financial engineering, knowing that the monthly allocation to the state from the Federation Account had dropped by 40 per cent since last year. However, a section of the media, especially reported this as the governor wooing workers. The slant of the story is disturbing and betrays a poor professional judgement, not just in being speculative and tendentious, but in portraying opinion as news. Workers in the state were owed May salary, but this was in

late June. However, as soon as the cheque from the Federation Account allocation cleared on June 24, salaries were paid and workers started receiving alerts from their banks that very moment. Pray, how then does that translate into wooing? Is payment of salaries not a statutory responsibility? When an employer pays its workers, does that amount to wooing them? Governor Rauf Aregbesola has been ‘wooing’ the workers since December 2010 when it gave them 25 per cent of their salary as 13th month bonus, which has never happened in the state. He progressively increased the percentage every year until December 2013 when he gave them 100 per cent as bonus. He has given workers in

the state housing loans and, earlier this year, car loans. He has restored foreign training trips to the senior cadre which had been suspended more than 15 years ago. These are what wooed the workers, not paying salaries. The tendentious report of wooing workers with salaries is innocuous except that it was done with the intention of portraying the governor as using salaries as campaign instrument; that he has only paid salaries because of the impending election, or else, he would not have paid them at all. Let our newspapers stick to the facts and not pass opinion as news. Sola Fasure, Osogbo, Osun State.

Jonathan’s duplicity in Ekiti guber election

herein lies the focus of President Goodluck Jonathan administration on the issue of security of lives and properties of Nigerians, which is a constitutional responsibility of any government, if he can mobilize only 20,000 security personnel to confront the rampaging in-

surgents in the North East, but deployed over 35,000 troops to Ekiti State during the June 21, 2014 gubernatorial poll? One also recollects that it was explicitly analysed by experts that the 2014 budget allocation for the reformation of Niger Delta militants far exceeds the allocations of the

security agencies all put together. Does this not prove that Mr. President has more than a genuine interest in an election in a state while a whole region burns? Is this not an abdication of constitutional responsibility? Nelson Ekujumi, Akure, Ondo State.

and relatively ineffectual law enforcement, great care must be taken to ensure that our governments do not inadvertently establish policies that encourage increased cross-border illicit trade. Adverse increases in taxation often lead to attempts to evade tax, attempts which could include the smuggling of excisable goods such as cigarettes. So what do we want, as a society? We want reduced tobacco consumption, growth in funding for public health initiatives, and increased government revenues. What we don’t want, however, are rash decisions and policies causing long-term consequences that may turn out to be harder to eradicate than the initial problem. When a legal product in high demand is priced out of the reach of its consumers, a void is created that is filled by the law of demand and supply, regardless of the authenticity or legality of the substitute product. This has been the case with computer software and DVDs, particularly in low income nations. Illegally trafficked cigarettes are just one lucrative business in the portfolio of organised criminal networks, which West African nations are sadly unable to effectively monitor and control due to a lack of trained man power, technology and funding that is available to international law enforcement units. Our economists and finance ministers would thus do well to liaise with our law enforcers and Customs to establish a well-rounded view of the pros and cons of tax and pricing policies in West Africa, particularly when it comes to a fast moving commodity such as cigarettes. Even fervent anti-tobacco activists recognise the impact of the trade in illegal cigarettes, as a report on tobacco taxation funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation states that ‘If the global illicit trade were eliminated, governments would gain at least $31 billion, and from 2030 onwards would save over 160,000 lives a year’. Our governments should clearly be focusing greater effort on increasing collaborative enforcement measures to tighten border control and significantly reduce illicit trade across West Africa, rather than blindly accepting tax policies devised by international bodies far removed from our realities. Kola Akinmurewa, Lagos.

Send your letters The Editor reserves thethe right letters or or mails mailsto toPMB PMB10001, 10001,Ikoyi, Ikoyi,or orour our Email: Email:mirrorlagos@yahoo.com mirrorlagos@yahoo.comand andinfo@nationalmirroronline.net info@nationalmirroronline.netoror08056180209, 08054103275,07033375481 07033375481(SMS (SMSonly). only). The Editor reserves right to to edit and reject letters photographs. Psuedonyms may used, must clearly marked such. edit and reject letters or or photographs. Psuedonyms may bebe used, butbut must bebe clearly marked asas such.

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FRIDAY

Arty News

Ngozi Emedolibe

Kolawale Oyeyemi

A literary campaign that will feature thousands of young people in a walk to re-awaken and promote the reading culture in our society amongst the younger generation; Leaders are not born, they are developed. Reading to acquire purposeful knowledge is one of the most effective ways to create good leaders. A nation fails when the leaders are ignorant; therefore it is important that reading is promoted, because knowledge is the first law of leadership. The event holds on Saturday, July 12, 2014 from 8:30am to 11am at Rowe Park, Yaba Lagos.

A Dance of the Forest holds at Terra

Adefila

‘Crown Troupe of Africa’ presents one of the most recognised of Wole Soyinka’s plays to be directed by Segun Adefila. The play is filled with observations about religion, tradition, history, honour, freedom, forgiveness, courage, love; it mixes dialogue with poetry, acting with dancing. The play holds on July13, 2014 by 3pm and 6pm. There will also be a special birthday celebration performance for Wole Soyinka’s by the group.

Esther Beauty pageant holds at Asher Fleet

Esther

Esther Beauty pageant-The Christian Queen, is a non-nudity beauty pageant. This event will support good morals and virtue. The winner of this pageant will have one million naira, two weeks all-expenses-paid trip to Isreal, one year wardrobe, a leading role in a movie. The 1st runner-up shall have five hundred thousand naira and thirty thousand naira one year wardrobe allowance, the 2nd runner up, three hundred thousand. The event holds on Saturday, July 12, 2014 from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.

Inside FCT P. 24-33

obel laureate, Wole Akinwade Soyinka will turn 80 in the next two days. Expectedly, life has not been the same for the literary icon and his teeming league of admirers in the creative world, as every space has been turned to an avenue of honour. ‘Friday Flavour’ notes that in the past couple of weeks, several activities have been commissioned in honour of the man, whose literary skills, albeit hatred for injustice has made him one of the most prominent sons of Africa. In his native Ogun State, the government has set in motion activities to extol his virtues, ranging from art exhibitions to visitations and performances, since April. However the highpoint of these activities lined up for him would come this weekend when the ‘Project WS80’ in conjunction with the International Cultural Exchange now in its fifth annual edition would assemble a cross section of local and international artistes for a series of performances that would last until Monday in Abeokuta. Today, ostensibly, the Soyinka Conference will kick off with the topic, ‘The Soyinka Impulse’, irrespective of the exhibitions which have held in Osogbo, from June 13th to June 14th, Port Harcourt, Rivers State from June 27th to June 29th, Lagos’ Freedom Park from July 1st to July 7th and Terra Kulture also in Lagos on July 9th. Ibadan hosts the exhibition from July 15th to August 15th, and Jos on July 19th, while the exhibition will go interactional by berthing at Igbale Aiye in Republic of Benin from August 17th to September 17th. For the drama segment, eight presentations have been lined up: ‘Childe Internationale’, ‘Alapata of Apata’ directed by Tunde Awosanmi, ‘Death and the King’s Horseman’, ‘Lanke Omu’ and ‘Oba Koso’ at the Abeokuta Cultural Centre on July 12th. Sunday July 13, at the June 12 Cultural Centre,Kuto, Abeokuta, will unveil the winner of the essay competition tagged: ‘Education: Path to Freedom and the Future’ from amongst the 80 students jostling for the ultimate prize.. THIs will be followed closely by performances by Osun and Ondo State troupes as well as the grand finale of the ‘Spoken Word’ performances with the theme: ‘Freedom of Creative Expression’. Monday will see the essayists visiting the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun as well as the home of the literary icon in Abeokuta. But this would be finalised with the grand performance of ‘Dance of the Forest’, directed by Tunde Awosanmi at the Ijegba Forest before a select audience. Elsewhere in Lagos, a lecture would be holding on Sunday, July 13. The topic is: ‘Wole Soyinka and the Moral Burden of Literature’ and would be delivered by Prof. Abiola Irele, provost of the College of Humanities at

P. 34

Garlands as Soyinka turns 80

Soyinka

the Kwara State University to a fully packed house of intellectuals at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos. Meanwhile another event that has added colour to Soyinka’s eightieth is the announcement of Akin Bello as the recipient of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature 2014 for his drama ‘The Egbon of Lagos’, as well as the ‘Live Theatre on Sunday’ with a theatrical performance of the ‘Trials of Brother Jero’ at the Unity Centre, Ikeja. At the international literary scene so much has been happening as well. A reputable publishing house in London, Ayebia, has collected essays from some of the world’s brightest minds under a collection of essays, ‘Essays in Honour of Wole Soyinka at 80’. One of the

contributors, renowned African novelist, Ngugi wa Thiong’o in his tribute, ‘Wole Soyinka: The Conscience of Africca’ extolled him thus: ‘To celebrate Wole Soyinka’s 80th birthday is to cerebrate an extra-ordinary journey of a remarkable man of letters, action and conscience. He is the Byronic hero, or better, a renaissance figure, dashing, defiant and daring. His writings - plays, poems, memoirs, and novels - carry the one common banner: the man dies in him who keeps silent in the face of tyranny. As a writer and public intellectual who has voiced his concerns over major happenings in the different parts of the continent over the last fifty years and more, he has become the moral and democratic conscience of Africa.’

He is the Byronic hero, or better, a renaissance figure, dashing, defiant and daring. His writings - plays, poems, memoirs and novels - carry the one common banner: the man dies in him who keeps silent in the face of tyranny.

P. 22-23

Readers ‘r’ Leaders Destiny Walk’holds at Rowe Park

Critics

WEEKEND STARTERS

16 PAGES OF ARTS, REVIEWS, LIFESTYLE AND BUZZ TO START YOUR WEEKEND

P. 20,21

Friday , July 11, 2014

Flavour

Artman

VOL. 4 No. 842

Artman In The House

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Musicians ignoring critical issues –Victor Essiet (Mandators)

He was the pillar of Mandators, one of the finest reggae music bands to have emanated from Africa. His contribution to the band led to so many hits, which not only influenced the musical landscape at the time, but also made him one of the most recognisable celebrities in the sub region. But suddenly, he like other, promising musicians took flight for greener pastures. Victor Essiet, speaks about his life and career in this interview with VICTOR UMOH and OLAWALE OLUWADAHUNSI. Excerpts What was the greatest time you had when you were in Nigeria? The greatest time was in the eighties when I actually, after a lot of struggle, made an album; when I spoke greatly to Nigerians and they responded overwhelmingly and I was able to see that music play a big role in building the nation and redirecting people. It was such a great time because Nigerians were buying my records and coming to our concerts. Looking back at what was going on then and now, what would you say has changed? Well, it depends on what kind of change you are talking about. Change in the music industry? What has changed now is that the music that are played now mostly are without content, there is so much ‘feel good’ music in a country where there is a lot of problems, musicians have turned their backs to the issues in the country and you have radio DJs and print media who are excluding the genre of music that are supposed to be the watchdog…society conscious music that are supposed to change our people. At the same time, this change in music have helped the younger people to at least, put food on their tables and they have been able to put less burden on the government that instead of becoming robbers, they have been responsible to themselves by using their talents…using what they have to get what they need. But, the press and media have shut down other genres of music just to support what is going on. That you could call ‘mind control’ music because it doesn’t allow the younger people growing up to think properly. The young ones are misled and are desirous of becoming like them without realising that all that glitters is not gold. They praise themselves. It’s not like before when the military government used to shut down papers but they still find a way and still publish things that majority of the masses would not have known. The youths are actually trying to survive by using their talents. We need a positive change from old settings. It’s the truth You are a guru in the reggae music industry. What does it take to produce reggae music? Now check this out. I heard a lot about

hip hop, I heard some people say we were playing hip hop. But the hip hop they are talking about is a culture. Hip hop is an offspring of reggae music. Rock music is also an offspring of reggae music because rock is protest music. They are genres that are played by different kinds of people and from different society and community just to use as a voice against the system that’s probably not functioning well. So, if you look at hip hop, it started as something the black people in America were using to challenge the government and authorities. I even remember that there was a song they use to call ‘Fight the power’, ‘Fight the power that be’, ‘Fight the power’. That was hip hop. The musicians use it to talk about something that has kept them down for too long. It’s not because they wanted to sing like that but they usually use it to protest to the system that ‘we cannot suffer forever, we are capable of getting real, so we go back to our and lift everybody up, so you cannot shut us down’. That was what hip hop was from the beginning until the ‘mind controls’, the illuminatis, who comes up to try to bring some people in and try to use the ‘vulgarness’ in their lyrics and make the people not to think about anything. And funny enough, the people don’t know. They are just enjoying it and they feel they are playing hip hop. Now when you listen to the hip hop of today…when you listen to Jay Z, 50 Cents, Chris Brown, Drake, you see that every year, they are doing what is called improvisation. They improvise, they come with different kind of things, addressing different issues and the youths here tend to follow their steps because a nation that does not have strong youths, educated youths, employment, good road network, energy system is a nation that has no future. These ‘kids’ are supposed to be concerned and be able to think that ‘what am I leaving behind? What is going to happen in the next ten, twenty years and what has been my contribution? Because you are given something….talent is not a privilege, it’s a gift. Gift is given for a purpose and that purpose is to benefit other people.

needed me the most, people don’t know what I needed the most. They know that they needed the most because we saw what was coming, because again, we were supporting transition of government which we thought will become some kind of government that will help Nigeria to move to the next level. Take MKO Abiola for instance, he tried to maybe redirect the country. But we were all behind all that. As we were behind those and these things crumbled, we were highly disappointed. We as a people are very serious about our country. We love this country. I love this country. I have been to other places and I have seen how other people love their country. But this is a country that excludes all citizens from anything that is beneficial. It’s a country that the sufferer suffers and those who are stealing steal and nobody wants to address that issue. Now for us, we had to think about ourselves and our families. My father use to tell me that you select your fight and then you’ll ignore other fights that you can’t win. We didn’t know what was about to happen even though we perceived

that we’ll be targets and things like that because we were the ones supporting, and going around to see the possibility of giving support to MKO Abiola, so it was in the eve of all that that I left and came back and realised that there was going to be a lot of problems. I was confused and disappointed and then you want to cool off and maybe go somewhere Where you faced with a military threat? Don’t you remember what happened that MKO Abiola won election and they took the mandate from him, and he got detained? And Babangida left and handed over the staff to Abacha to go and come back and then, Abacha decided to hold onto power and MKO was permanently in there, in prison. We went around doing campaign with MKO and when all these things happened, you know, you are disappointed because we were people who loved this country and just want the best for our people but when we don’t get it and also sense some kind of danger, all you got to do is to go away and come

You left the country when the people of Nigeria and reggae music needed you most. Why did you leave? Remember like we just talked about reggae now. We, the singers of reggae music are sufferers; we are people that have suffered and we know what suffering is. And we do not forget at any given time, we are always watching for our people, and our environment. When you say I left when people

You cannot ask me how spiritual

I am. Spiritualism is not something you can explain.

It is the state of a person that can understand what ordinary people

don’t understand

Being honoured of International Reggae and World Music award

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Artman In The House

Friday, July 11, 2014

affecting Nigeria

Fashek, Essiet and Kimono

With Jibola Dabo, Nollywood actor

to fight another day. With the death of people like Bob Marley, Lucky Dube and Peter Tosh, reggae music has gone under the drain, how do you think reggae can bounce back? You cannot say that reggae music went under the drain. Reggae music is big, all over the places. Except in this country that you have this kind of trend that when one thing happens, everybody wants to support that. Like I talked about mind control right now, which is an attempt to derail young people not to be able to seriously think about the problems that we have and also feel the spirit and the sense of patriotism and become patriotic. What people see on the television and what people hear is what affects the people. If you wake up every day and you see somebody beating your mother, or your father, you could think that this the way that is right, you could do the same thing to someone, so whatever we watch on television or hear on radio is very important. So, reggae has not died! If reggae died, why would I have won an award as best entertainer of the year 1999 in America? I have the award here. I won the best new entertainer at international reggae world music. In Nigeria here, I have never won an award because it’s the same issue we are talking about. All these people are ‘tribalistic and wicked’. If it is not what they want or where you come from, it’s going to be another reason. They are going to try to give you a problem and want to make you feel like you are not anything. Because they don’t give you that award, that sends a message to people like ‘Oh maybe he is not really great‘. And they have forgotten that it’s the people who bought the records. But leaving this country to go to foreign land and won an award is the greatest thing that can happen to me. So reggae music is still very much alive. It is the press in Nigeria, the radio, print media, is the reason why the music is not equally distributed and therefore not allowing listeners the alternative and to have variety. By playing all kinds of music, that’s how it works. We had King Sunny Ade, Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Okosun, Fela, and other people like Chris Okotie, Felix Liberty, and everybody co-existed, radio played everything and everybody could find their choice of music. But now the radio is depriving the elderly and those who

want anything to listen to what they want. Because these people take too much of bribes from musicians and the people that don’t have money, how are they going to do that? I am just a tree. I can’t make a forest. But now we are coming back with different festivals like the Africa meets Reggae World Music International festival. Is that the project you are currently working on? Yes. The festival exists in Los Angeles in America and many other places. And if reggae dies…..but how will that be? You have ‘Reggae on the River’, it’s a huge festival. You have Ragamuffin Festival in Australia and New Zealand and so many other huge festivals like Rodaturn in Italy and Spain. There are huge major festivals around the world all the way to Turkey, so many festivals. It’s only in this country that they try to shoot down this music. We used to have Fuji music, by Barrister, Salawa Abeni, Kollington and others and all types of music coexisted, so what happened? What’s your next plan to resuscitate reggae in Nigeria? That’s why we are coming for some time for visits. This is my country. They say you should put your mouth where your money is and I’ll put my mouth where my money is. My money is in America and this country doesn’t like anything good, especially what the media is doing. We paid our dues, me, Majek Fashek, Ras kimono, Blackky, Daniel Wilson. We just had a press conference and we are sending the message to the press to support us. Reggae music is for the downtrodden. At age 30, Bob Marley was able to infuse wisdom in his songs. The trend has changed now. What’s your take on this? A prophet is not manufactured in the factory, a prophet is a gift. If you are not on the spiritual real, you cannot see the things of the spirit. So, when you are prophetic, and able to transcend above the normal, usual thinking, that is spiritualism. You don’t have to be a pastor, or some kind of church man, but it has to be given to you by God. And we are the prophet of the last times. What we do, we don’t look for it, and it is given to us. That’s why we want to come back to continue with what we were doing. And we need to

This is a country that excludes all

citizens from anything that is beneficial.

It’s a country that the sufferer suffers and those who are stealing steal

Performing at NMVA 2013

develop other youths right now to be able to take up the manual.

FACT FILE

How spiritual are you? You cannot ask me how spiritual I am. Spiritualism is not something you can explain. It is the state of a person that can understand what ordinary people don’t understand. And that’s why we are not being affected by any material thing. That’s why I don’t cheat from the time I was a poor boy walking on the street, being homeless as an orphan. I believe in the most-high God and he guides me all the way. Spiritualism is not what you can explain to some people.

•

Led ‘Mandators’ one of the greatest reggae bands whose concerts sold hundreds of thousands of tickets in the late 80s.

•

The album ‘Crisis’ went platinum for sales of half a million copies.

•

Early influences included Ken Lazarus, Jimmy Cliff and inevitably, Bob Marley.

•

His dedication and perseverance paid off in 1979 when someone he never expected financially backed him to record the Mandator’s first ’Sunrise’

•

Three years later, the Mandators released ‘Imagination’, an album for which he toured with a then unknown guitarist, Majek Fashek in his band.

If you want to do collaboration now, which musician will it be? It depends on who God tells me to do it with.

•

He is the International Reggae and World Music Awards winner (Best New Entertainer of the Year category) in 1999.

An artiste like Snoop Dogg changed his name to Snoop Lion and now he wants to be the next Bob Marley. What’s your take on that? That’s to tell you the importance of reggae music if a hip hop musician known for years now turns reggae musician. You are not even talking about Eddie Murphy who has a big reggae hit right now. He is one of the highest-paid Hollywood actors. That makes you understand the extent and significance of what Bob Marley did to destroy the evil empire in the world. So today, from Europe, to Asia, to America, to UK, to Africa, People are listening to reggae music and that was what me and Majek Fashek, Ras Kimono were pushing right here. Majek Fashek was able to tell Babangida in one of his songs to leave the office.

So how was your childhood? I grew up in a village called Ikot Eyong, my parents were Christians who brought all of us up to fear God , love every human being and not stop doing good because it’s better for us to die doing things than to die in misery doing evil. My father had many wives and during the war, the soldiers came and shot everybody in my family. I barely survived that night too and I was robbed of my childhood. Everything went down. I went from that compound to struggle by myself and at the age of eleven, I was in Calabar and from that point, they took me to Lagos as a house boy to one Lieutenant Mohammed and from there, I worked with Nigerian Ports Authority as a cleaner. And I was able to save money to buy a guitar and go to school.

But can you still do the same today to this present government? I fear nobody. They are not God. What are they going to do? I am not afraid of death. Death is just a transformation. They are the ones that are afraid. Abacha killed Ken Saro Wiwa because he stood for his people. You can only kill the revolutionist and not the revolution. I am afraid of anybody.

Your song ‘Rat Race’ is a hit any day and it’s still being enjoyed. What inspired that song? We live in a world where people kill people to get to a position, my uncle was shot in the head in my presence, it’s a world where its either you kill or be killed and the winner takes it all and no one cares about the other person’s well being, that’s rat race. Boko Haram abducted the Chibok girls and it’s how many months now? That’s rat race.

Critics

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 11, 2014

Book

Tonic for accounting excellence

Good accounting education can create a sane financial atmosphere. A new book, Teach Yourself IFRS by Prince Casmir Idekwulim, appeared to be the required tonic for promoting accounting excellence Olayiwola Awakan

sensitive aspect of the society that easily attracts corruption is the financial sector where money flows in and out. On the news, it is hardly on daily basis that a case of mismanagement of funds is not reported either in the government or private sector. This basically can be connected to the professionals, accountants because for every financial corruption, an accountant is likely to be involved. Problems of this nature are either rooted in the educational foundation of the culprit thereby tarnishing the integrity of the person and the profession. This is prevalent in our society. To basically stem the tide of financial misappropriation, and strengthen the standard and education of the financial accounting and reporting profession among students and professionals, Prince Casmir Idekwulim, christened the Prince of Financial Accounting has just released three books, one of which is Teach Yourself IFRS. Teach Yourself IFRS featuring simplified definitions; detailed explanations; practical problems and solutions, and examination questions and solutions relating to International Financial Accounting Standards (IFRS), is among the very few text materials that holistically deals with the area of concentration in the accounting realm. Published by Piccas

Global Concept, the book is a home study material for anyone who intends to earn excellence in the practice of Financial Accounting and Reporting. It has 375 pages, published in 2014 and the content is rich in financial illustrations and meanings of basic terminologies and concept that transcends the discipline internationally. The writer, Prince Casmir is an Accounting graduate from the University of Lagos where he obtained a B.Sc. degree in Accounting. He is an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He is also an associate member of the Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). He holds Diploma qualification of International Financial Reporting Standards (UK-Diploma in IFRS) and advanced diploma in Management Accounting (CIMA global-UK). He is presently at the final stage of CIMA –UK and ACCA professional examinations. He lectures at Students Pass Your Exams (PYE) Nig. Limited, Lagos. In the first few pages, the writer provides an introduction to the administrative structure of International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the conceptual framework and internal processes adopted by the IASB to stimulate fairness and objectivity to the interests of the various stakeholders in Financial Reporting. Other pages divided into IAS 1 to 41 and IFRS 1 to 15, while questions on regulatory framework and accounting standards (ACCA PE 2) with solutions occupy the last few pages. To attest to the standard of the book, the Forward is written by Prof. S. B Adeyemi of the Department of Accounting, University of Lagos (Unilag), Lagos, Nigeria. According to him, ‘the book is a prim-

er for anyone interested in understanding financial reporting as enshrined in the various provisions of Securities and Exchange Commission, International Organisation of Securities Commissions’, Banking sector, Insurance industry, and Oil and Gas’. Teach Yourself IFRS has a broad coverage of the financial accounting and corporate financial reporting syllabuses of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Institute of Chartered Certified Accountants UK (ACCA Global), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK (CIMA Global), Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Advanced Financial Accounting And Corporate Reporting in Universities, and Advanced Financial

In the first few pages, the writer provides an introduction to the administrative

structure of International

Accounting Standards Board (IASB)

Music

Accounting And Corporate Reporting in Polytechnics and other Tertiary Institutions. Casmir has in no small measure created a ‘University of IFRS’ in his book with current standards that makes it students friendly. Accountants are meant to have integrity. When they follow the principles and ideologies in the books it is sure that they will be better practicing accountants who will always report financial matters unbiased and their information will be reliable to users. Also, the book tends to increase the confidence of users as far as accounting is concerned because it is very difficult for corruption to take place without the involvement of accountants. No doubt, Teach Yourself IFRS by Prince Casmir Idekwulim will acquaint students of financial accounting and reporting with the fundamentals of international financial reporting standards, and also make students become teachers and make existing lecturers become better lecturers.

Changing musical indices with Aye Davido’s emergence as the 2014 ‘Bert African Act’ at the last BET Awards confirms the waves about Aye is not a fluke. Charles Novia

am so surprised at myself. The first time I heard Davido’s Aye was at the last Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards when he performed live on stage and the hall erupted into a dance when he sang Aye. I wondered to myself then why I had not heard the song before then. At a few more events and private parties later in the next few weeks, the song would stir up a storm. It is gradually becoming one of the most enduring songs in the new age era of Nigerian music and could very well be the song of the year so far. All

these period, I just assumed there was no musical video shot for the song yet. Then, I stumbled on the video on Youtube and I was completely bowled over. If ever there was a video which interpretes a song, it is the ‘Aye’ video. Beautiful concept! So African, so refreshing. Full of life, vervy and exciting. This is the best video so far I have seen from Nigeria this year. I think Clarence Peters re-invents himself when it comes to shooting concepts with African hues and themes. You can see his touch with great videos such as ‘Kedike’ by Chidinma, Ada by Flavour and now a superb Aye by Davido. I can bet that the ‘Aye’ video has done much to make the song popular and it’s certainly my favourite song at the moment. One of the things I love about the song is the lyrical composition. The song is written with a modernistic touch while borrowing rhythms from strong African roots. Davido says She no want Ferrari… they say love is blind but na you I dey see

Davido on set of Aye Video

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Critics

Friday, July 11, 2014

Film

LFTA: Still impressing festival juries Since it came to the cinemas over a year ago, Obi Emelonye’s film, Last Flight to Abuja’ has continued its winning streak at global film events.

Ngozi Emedolibe

hat is the news: Last Flight to Abuja has received a staggering 9 nominations in the just released 4th African NAFCA 2014 nominations. The prestigious awards which will take place in September 2014 in Beverly Hills, California, sees the film getting nominations in all the juicy categories: Best Director, Best Film, Best Drama, Best Sound, Best Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Actress in a Leading Role (for the delectable Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde) and Most Promising Actor (for Jennifer Oguzie). What makes the film a top choice for global juries? It is almost two years after the ill-fated plane crash that took hundreds of lives at Iju, outskirts of Lagos and Nigerians are still awaiting the results from the analyses of the black box. While aviation codes are changing, the latest being the new policy on the use of private jets, the statistics still portray frightening ratios. Perhaps, this is where the greatest dialogue in this movie, ‘Our determination to survive can often be outweighed by our willingness to accept our fate’ shifts the onus of the issue to Nigerians. Last Flight to Abuja, is playing the role of the mirror to the administering agencies on one hand while assuring Nigerians albeit the audience that there is still hope, if the necessary steps are taken. Set in Nigeria, the story captured a group of everyday Nigerian travelers who boarded the last Flamingo Airways flight

One of the things I love about the song is the lyrical composition. The song is written with a modernistic touch while borrowing rhythms from strong African roots

o’ etc which is a pleasant ode to the great songwriting styles of the 80s and 90s when music made a lot of sense lyrically. And it is not a bland composition. It has its intro, chorus, verses and bridge with captivating mid-riffs at a point. The beat of the song is not really new but Davido just enhanced it. The beat is popularly called ‘five and six’ among musicians here in Nigeria and it was popular-

scheduled to fly from Lagos, the commercial city to Abuja, the capital, on a fateful Friday night in 2006. Everything seemed alright. The plane was cruising at 30,000 feet, tranquil and on schedule. But like a snap of the finger, through a mixture of human error, technical failure and sheer bad luck, the plane rapidly develops major difficulties that send it battling on the brink of disaster. A common story, with intent to elicit uncommon imagination will sure go far. With the kind of international critical acclaim Last Flight to Abuja has recorded one, would begin to watch this movie without an eye for some simple flaws because the director is Obi Emelonye, the emerging Mr. Thriller of Nollywood, but that is not the case. The storyline portrayed some plots and subplots that dwelled on crime, romance and corporate politics, but the number of casualties of this crash- just

ised into Nigerian pop music first by Alex O in 1988 with his ‘Come on and Dance’ hit ( Remember Na na na na na na ..come on and dance chorus then from his debut album Gettin’ loose) and Onyeka Onwenu went further with the beat in Iyogogo; a classic. Sammie Okposo regenerated the five and six beat in the millenium with ‘Wellu Wellu’ a monster hit and thereon the beat seemed to go off the radar until M.I and Flavour smashed the charts with Africa Rapper Number One which utilised the beat. Thereafter, other music Producers started using variations of the beat with Flavour’s Ada being the forerunner. Until Davido’s Aye changed the indices. I really am impressed with Davido. I’m told he has songwriters on his payroll which is one of the reasons why his songs sound very different from each other. I think the next big industry within Nigeria’s music industry is the songwriting department. Sound Sultan, Harrysong and Blackface are showing that it can thrive and other young turks are following too. If Davido wrote Aye, kudos to him. It is a great song and a great video too. Charles Novia is a film director, producer and writer.

two, leaves one wondering how it happened. Perhaps, the filmmaker is already sad about the bloody situation that he decided to show us a ‘peaceful’ plane disaster. This fact however did not take the fun away from the movie, as the audience would definitely be blown away with the effects that characterised the crash. It may not match the typical Hollywood effort like ‘Cast Away’ featuring Tom Hanks, but for Nollywood with its impediments, it was an above-average effort. Of course, the director is known to have a knack for charting new courses, this he has also done in this movie, which has played a pioneering role about highlighting a recurring societal problem, which is what the art of developmental filmmaking should be. According to the director, the decision to embark on this journey stemmed from the experiences of friends, colleagues and acquaintances especially during the crash in 2006, a period that could be referred to as the worst in Nigeria’s aviation records. The timeliness of the story as well as the outpour of emotions that follow incidents like this may have contributed in no small measure to the commercial success recorded by the film during the cinema screenings last year. In the first week alone, it grossed N8m, setting itself in stiff competition with Hollywood imports. According to a comparative Nollywood 2012 cinema release report ‘Last Flight to Abuja’ grossed N8.35m in its first week with an attendance of 9,638 as against other films produced and screened that year. The same feat heralded Obi Emelonye’s previous movie, The Mirror Boy, which grossed N6.98m and recorded an attendance of 7,501 in its first week on release in Nigeria. The only movie that surpassed this record was ‘Return of Jenifa’ which made N10m in its first week. The pioneering spirit is threading an entirely new path as the filmmaker champions the video-on-demand channel of distribution in Nollywood so that the audiences, especially those in the Diaspora will not be left out of the suspense the movie is characterised with. Last Flight to Abuja, must have been made with a lot of expectations by the producers, which is possibly why they did not hold back resources in parading a stellar cast, some of the biggest earners in the in-

Producer of LFTA, Emelonye

dustry, who have not only made their mark locally but internationally. Omotola Jolade Ekeinde, one of the members of cast was once profiled by Time magazine as one of the ‘100 Most Influential Persons in the world’. There are others like Jim Iyke, Hakim Kae Kazeem, Jide Kosoko, Olumide Bakare, and Uru Eke are also no little fries. As Nollywood embarks on a soul-searching pathway to rediscover itself, Obi Emelonye must be commended for championing the cause of air safety, and the expectation is that after putting this message across to Nigerians at home and abroad, he should pick on another issue of thematic relevance and explore. In spite of some hazy graphic interruptions therein, this movie has been able to make Nollywod take a bold flight from mediocrity.

According to the director, the decision to embark on this journey stemmed from the experiences of

friends, colleagues and acquaintances especially during the crash in

2006

Inside FCT

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World Cup: Residents lambast DISCOs over power outages Rotimi Fadeyi, Joel Ajayi And Regina Otokpa

hen Federal Government of Nigeria signaled its intention to provide uninterrupted power supply through privatisation of the power sector eight months ago, many Nigerian were thrilled that their suffering will reduce but the reverse is the case as the incessant power outage has continued to cause untold hardship to the residents. It will be recalled that November 1, 2013, the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, handed over the stations to the private investors and said that participation of the private sector would bring about higher generation capacity. According to Sambo, the handing over of power sector would bring about cost effective power stations and improvement in electricity. Without missing word, the promised made by Federal Government neither hold water nor come to fulfillment, as investigation by ‘Inside FCT’ revealed that, great depression over service conditions across major residential and business hubs in FCT, as critical economic activities have suffered amidst power cuts. In fact, residents, business owners, sports enthusiasts are now contending with the high cost of diesel to power generating sets and resorted to generator even in the face of health risks associated with the emission of toxic gases to the environment. Complaints have continued to pour in from FCT residents, especially sports lover over poor electricity supply. A visit by ‘Inside FCT’ to some of suburbs like Kubwa, Lugbe, Wuse, Gosa, Mpape, Dutse, Galadimawa Soka, Gishiri and some areas in the city amongst other revealed that most residential areas hardly enjoy 30 minutes of power supply daily. Frankly speaking, the ongoing FIFA

World Cup in Brazil indeed exposed the new power owner (DISCOs) as every house has no option than to arrange a melodious choruses to the mouth of their generators popularly called ‘I pass my neigbhour’ before they could watch the matches. The expectation is high among the citizens that during the world Cup the companies will give light for people to watch and cheer Eagles even without hear their voice in Brazil. Before the the commencement of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, thousands of residents all over the country appealed to the power sector to ensure constant power supply to enable Nigerians watch the world cup matches mostly viewed at night in Nigeria, in the comfort of their homes but to no avail The angry residents, who have been forced to resort to other means to watch the football matches without a hitch, lambasted the new power owners. Decrying the epileptic situation, Collins Williams, resident in Kubwa who had concluded to fuel his generating set to enable him watch the remaining matches said: “if they refused to give us light when Nigeria has a crucial match to play, is it when other countries are playing they will do what is needed? Well for me, I have already made up my mind that I will fuel my generator all through the period of the world cup. I don’t want to miss any match so I have to make the financial sacrifice” As for Philip Atinya, an applicant’s, who lives in Lugbe, finding it difficult to watch most of the matches featured in the on-going world cup simply because he does not have generator set groaned “I don’t have a generator and light is zero these have deprived me of watching any match playing at night because I don’t have any viewing centre close to my house where I can decide to watch the match. “For the matches played at reasonable hours, I make sure I transport myself to a viewing centre where we are made to pay

Penthouse Estate

extra outside the normal amount we pay during Premier and champion leagues. “I am paying so much for light I don’t even see the light, do you know that there is charges on each card you buy now whether you use light or not every month 700 hundred naira will be deducted from any card you ought to purchase. Sometimes I wonder if we are better off now in the hands of these private companies than when Government was in charge. ”The annoying part was that I have subscribed a full bouquet to enable me watch all the live tele-cast of matches via the satellite without stress but all that is a waste because there’s no light” he added. Latifat Adekunle, who lives in Mpape, a banker by profession, has not been very comfortable due to noise pollution owing to use of multiple generators at night in her area of abode. She said, “I find it difficult to sleep on time because of the multiple sounds coming from different generators in my area. The light has not been constant, it has become worse. Because of the football, some-

...As viewing centres boom

he World Cup football matches which started on Thursday, June 12 has resulted in the upsurge of soccer loving Nigerians who troop to various football viewing centers in the Federal Capital Territory. Unlike before the World Cup when they watch football matches played between various international club sides in the world, the excitement has increased now that countries of the world are on the field of play while also fielding a number of soccer stars already known to football lovers. Most of the viewing centres now open for business anytime of the day when there is any World Cup match to be featured on television via satellite. While new viewing centres are springing up, the existing centres are doing everything to ensure that they record more patronage and make more money. With the World Cup currently in progress, operators of the viewing centres have increased sitting capacity and provided bigger viewing screens to attract more football fans. Apart from increasing sitting capacity and putting up giant screens, the operators also ensure that there is constant electricity supply while viewing World Cup matches, therefore they also make provision for electricity generating sets in order not to disappoint football fans and lose patron-

age. So many of the football fans prefer to go to the viewing centres and pay to watch the World Cup matches since they are sure of constant electricity supply than staying at home to watch the matches not sure of electricity supply or power outage during the transmission of matches. According to one of the operators of the viewing centres located in Kubwa, a satellite town in the FCT who simply gave his name as Felix, World Cup football match between Nigeria and Iran on Monday attracted the highest number of “spectators” at his viewing centre since the commencement of the competition on June 12. This large turnout of football fans were also recorded at other viewing centres in the area during the Nigeria- Iran match. It, however, ended in a goalless draw. Unlike the “gate fee” charged for matches between international club sides before the commencement of the World Cup matches, operators of the viewing centres now charge football fans higher fees to watch live World Cup matches. While some of the operators of the football viewing centres charge fees ranging from N50 to N100 to watch football matches before the World Cup completion, they now charge about N100 to N150 to watch World Cup matches. Another operator of one of the viewing centres, Adamu Mohammed, confirmed

times the generators are on till very late in the night disturbing one’s peace at least if PHCN gives us light, all these noise will reduce and people like me who don’t watch football can sleep in peace. According to Sunday Badejo, who reside in Wuse zone 3, expressed his displeasured believes viewing centre operators are in union with the officials to sabotage power supply to increase viewing patronage at various viewing centers. “As far as I am concerned, the viewing centres are bribing the power officals to make us patronise their business. Most of them upgraded by providing better seating arrangements, some added more screens and the fees were also increased.” One of beneficiaries of the poor power supply, Uchenna Izu, a generator mechanic, whose workshop is in Gishiri is always counting his blessing. “I recorded an increase in patronage from generator owners since the competition kicked off and I want the World Cup to be a yearly event”, he laughed.

The World Cup is what is taking the attention of everybody now,

particularly lovers of football and more people would Viewing centre

to Inside FCT that there is an increase in the fee charged for watching World Cup matches. One of the football fans and a resident of Kubwa in the FCT, Mr. Muyiwa Sogo told Inside FCT that many football lovers now go to viewing centres to watch World Cup matches because they meet friends and other football lovers instead of watching the matches alone at home. According to him, this gives an opportunity to share ideas on the match and have more fun watching their soccer stars while on the field of play and even go into a friendly or financial bet on which country would likely win the match they watch together. He said they are not bothered whether the operators of the viewing centres charge higher fees or not in as much has they get to watch the matches without any

continue to come to the viewing centres hindrance. Another football fan, Tunde Balogun, said that the viewing centres would continue to witness large turn out throughout the duration of the World Cup competition “The World Cup is what is taking the attention of everybody now, particularly lovers of football and more people would continue to come to the viewing centres to watch football till the end of the competition” The viewing centres would continue to make money and football lovers are ready to pay, so there is no problem about that, when it comes to football, people are ready to pay anything because it makes them happy”, Balogun said.

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Inside FCT

Friday, July 11, 2014

Something has to be done by the

FCT Minister to make the Board

more proactive in its service delivery strategies

Worries over water distribution heighten Water Board staffers at work

Wole Oladimeji

esidents of Federal Capital Territory have called for the total over hauling of the water board in order for it to be effective and serve the people well. In recent times, there have been series of complaints against the board by residents who alleged that it is performing below expectation, following poor billing system characterised by indiscriminate charging of residents without reading their meters and also arbitrary manner in which they disconnect residents without prior notice. In the process, thousands of residents claimed that they suffer untold hardship over the Board’s water management approach as some alleged that even if when they pay their bills, supply of water is never certain thereby subjecting them to unwarranted sufferings. By its enabling bye law, the Board was

set up to regulate and ensure that water is distributed to the residents of the FCT and to ensure that revenue is collected monthly in order to maintain the equipment of the board. But from the way and manner in which Abuja residents are suffering, analysts believe that something has to be done by the FCT Minister to make the Board more proactive in its service delivery strategies. According to some of the aggrieved residents , the indiscriminate disconnection of users which always go with a lot of payment of bills by consumers has not in real terms improved the Board’s service delivery but raising questions about the utilisation of such funds or whether or not the Board ever gets budgetary provisions to maintain its facilities. Investigations by Inside FCT showed that the Board was not following the billing system of reading the meter and if that if there were complaints, a consumer

would be asked to go to the Board’s Office in Area 3 Garki, Abuja, where thousands of residents queue daily to lodge their petition with assurances of improved service. One of the residents in area 1 who suffer untold hardship in the hands of water boarder, Mallam Isa Yusuf stated that they were being charged N4,000 monthly in a two bed room flat and that he had complained severally but nothing was done. The water board official admitted that the meter reading was not followed that in such a case he was been charged based on estimation and the amount has gone up to N200,000. One of the water board official in area 1 who does not want his name in print explained that it was not their fault, it was the fault of the head office that handle the billing and that they too have complained severally and nothing was done to it. Another resident, Mrs Comfort Ibe who almost cried recounted her ordeal in the hands of officials of the water board stated that something has to be done to the water board. She stated that the water board official have to go for training and retraining like what it obtainable in the PHCN whereby you pay for what you use and not this indiscriminate billing. In view of this development, the residents of Abuja are calling on the FCT minister to see to this situation and do some-

Miss FCT Tourism partners UCAWIN Seyi Anjorin

n her vision to be able to guide, inspire, respect and love the girl child, the newly crowned Miss FCT Tourism in partnership with the United Care for Women Initiative (UCAWIN), recently took the campaign to Jijipe in Nassarawa state. In line with her Nurture Our Girl Child charity project, Miss Cynthia Adegbe an indigene of Kogi state has promised to focus her one year reign on helping the girl child fulfil her dreams and reach her full potentials by using her image to inspire actions that would get the girls the education and attention they need. At the recent partnership with the UCAWIN, the joint initiative donated food, clothing as well as writing materials to the pupils of Jijipe primary school amidst fanfare.

On its part, the UCAWIN helped in renovating the already dilapidating school facility in other to enhance and make education appealing to the little children. Speaking during the presentation, Adegbe noted that; “this is a dream come true, I have always wanted to have a way in impacting in the lives of the younger generation, and this is just the beginning, we hope to reach out to as many as possible and even do more to help themachieve their dreams and goals”. One of the pupils, Fatima who showed her appreciation to the gesture also called for more philanthropists to help in alleviating the plights of the girl child. Miss Cynthia Adegbe was recently crowned Miss FCT tourism after emerging the winner amongst other 20 contestants on the 31st of May 2014 and immediately swung into action with a bid to help the girl child achieve their aspirations.

Adegbe

thing to correct and bring sanity to the system. The residents were calling on who is responsible for this to call their staff to order by doing the right thing so that the residents could enjoy uninterrupted supply of water. The residents decried a situation whereby a committee would be raised by the water board in the name of revenue drive to extort money from the resident. The residents however threatened to carry placard if such action is repeated because water is so important that people have to be informed if there was going to be any development. Residents demand accurate billing that would reflect what they use instead of the estimated billing system which they said to be fraudulent. When contacted on this development, the head of the office in area 1 refused to comment of this, saying that he is a civil servant, therefore he was not permitted under law to talk. But one of the junior staff who spoke to me on the condition of anonymity, explained that it was not their fault, he even showed the reporter records showing the meter reading but unfortunately, the area 3 office always cause this problems by giving out outrageous bills to residents. “Well, what is happening is a good development because in the past we normally told the affected residents to petition but now that they are not treating the petition may be the media would help out, they are frustrating us”, he said. In an attempt to speak with the director in charge of the board, Mr Adebayo proved abortive as so staff in the office claimed that he would not like to talk to the press on that matter. The staff explained that issue of billing is the problem the board is facing, stating that the issue would soon be resolved.

Mirror Mongers

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Report on Immigration Service recruitment

S Super Eagles

Orphan called Super Eagles?

he fact that Nigerians love football is not in contention, but what happens when their team broaches their belief is yet another thing. Perhaps Nigerians were firmly convinced that their darling (are they not again?) Super Eagles would win the World Cup with the likes of Brazil and Holland still in the competition, which was why they felt hurt that the country was ousted by France. But if you want to know how Nigerians look at people who injure their emotions, you need to look at what happened to the Super Eagles when they were coming back through Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja. Only about ten people came to the airport to receive the coach and three or so of his boys, after the other members of the team left them in Brazil to travel back to the various bases. MM learnt that what happened in Brazil was more embarrassing than the Abuja incident. Although Nigerians in Brazil came out massively to welcome them, when they were arriving, nobody came to the airport to see them off when they were leaving. Even Ahmed Musa who scored two goals against the Argentine goalkeeper was spotted in Brazil struggling with his bag at the airport. No one offered to help.

Traffic management on social media

ome people will say that bad debts do not decay; they only grow mouldy, until someone remembers them. The promise by the Federal Government to look into the plight of some unemployed Nigerians who applied for jobs through the Immigration Service job test aptly refers to the debt growing moulds in this case. After the ill-fated test, which caused the death of some the candidates at some centres, nothing seems to be happening in spite of the promises that their plight would be addressed. The Federal Government had gone ahead at the wake of the ugly incident to set up a committee that would look into the matter. But after that nothting has been heard and the victims who are hopeful that this would end the misery of unemployment in their lives are getting weary indeed. So like some of them are asking ‘what happens after the Committee’s report?’

Immigration service officers

RMD on social media

es, it is called the social media, and as much as possible things that are private to one, should not get on there. Some celebrities have realised this and they are treading softly about how to manage their lives online. The latest is Nollywood sweetheart, who is now Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State, Richard Mofe Damijo. RMD (as he is fondly called) who celebrated his birthday a few days ago was fast to point out to people who took to Facebook to wish him great tidings on his memorable day that he has never been on Facebook. Yes, the meaning is that the over five accounts which pop up on Facebook do not belong to

him at all. Actor Segun Arinze is in the same dilemma, according to what he divulged Mo Abudu, a TV personality. Although Segun has not been on Facebook in the past two years, someone has been online making updates and postings on his behalf. Incidentally some of the updates which often show pictures of Arinze’s family also solicit monetary favours from fans. Bukky Wright’s incident surfaced sometime when someone on Facebook, who claimed to be Bukky Wright made postings to the effect that Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme were involved in an accident at Minna, Niger State.

ONE-SECOND Q & A

Prince Henry Odukomaiya The issue of media censorship has subtly been on the front burner with lots of people making comparisons with the industry in the past. PRINCE Henry Odukomaiya, a former Editor of Daily Times and pioneer Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of Concord and Champion Newspapers, reacts to the issue.

Lagos traffic

ocial media is redefining the way we do many things. Now governors and ministers and even President Goodluck Jonathan have a habit of relating with their subjects on the social media. Then presidential advisers have also been seen announcing many important government decisions on Twitter and Facebook. Do you still remember the news (a hoax in fact) of the BRT bus which plunged into the river? For many people what made the news unique was not only the fact that the Federal Road Safety Commission ignited a false alarm but also the portion of their tweet which said that ‘rescue operations were going on at the site of the accident to recover victims’ by their men. Could this be what happens when certain law enforcement agencies in the country tell Nigerians that they are ‘on top of the situation’?

RMD

Did Abiola at any time try to influence Concord’s editorial contents as being claimed by those who argued that the paper was anti-anything Abiola did not believe in?

Yes, to an extent. Early in the life of Concord, Abiola told us that the governor of Ogun State, Olabisi Onabanjo, was going to London with a battalion of his lieutenants, including his wife. He said that they were about 30 people. He said we should do a story on that by sensationalising it. I told him that it was too early for us to start that kind of journalism. I told him to allow us to investigate. He said we should have our way. When we investigated, we found that he was going but that his wife was not going with him. We also found out that only two commissioners were going with him. But Abiola was not interested in that, he wanted something more sensational. He said we should include that his wife was part of the entourage, saying that he was ready to pay in the event that we were sued for libel. Onabanjo sued us for libel eventually after we published it and Abiola paid damages. Odukomaiya

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ramadan 14 1435 A.H

Call to Worship On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the Messenger of All, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

IN HIS LIGHT

with

USTAZ

A. ZAFARAN e-mail: zafabumuneeb@yahoo.com

here are these bombings coming from? In a country where we have security men as police in the stations and on all roads, army in the barracks and in strategic locations, air force in the air and Navy on the waterways, customs officers at the borders and SSS everywhere? Yet, we are talking of insecurity! Perhaps, they are all on strike, thus the Boko Harams, Kidnappers, abductors, armed robbers, assassins and their cohorts are holding sway. It is indeed saddening to note that our present is a bomb blast of peace. Millions of naira is wasted on elephant projects while committed personnel and drugs for the common man are not available

Roadmap to security in our hospitals! Billions of naira has been spent on electricity project while we still remain in protracted darkness. Billions of naira are also spent on road constructions while we still record loss of lives due to avoidable accidents due to death trap roads. How do you expect tranquility in a society where the salaries of those who do ghost jobs are more than those who do the real jobs? How do you account for innocent souls that were wasted to plane crashes, accidents and collapse buildings? How do you explain the high infant and maternal mortalities in the midst of abundant resources and squandering of same on elephant projects? Governments of the worlds are busy killing and shooting flies with guns, sending out health officers to drive out worms only to spray snakes as collaterals. Human rights have become other’s

L-R: Malam Luqman Ayo Salami; Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Suleman Raji, and the Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Imam Ridwanullahi Jamiu, at the quarterly Dawah Workshop, organized by the Lekki Muslim Ummah, LEMU, recently.

THE ONLY PANACEA IS TO RETURN TO

ALLAH (SWT), BE JUST TO ALL IN ALL RAMIFICATIONS

rice. Political violence has become a register for decent politics. Terrorism of the armed robbers is defying all security networks and their officers. Militants in the Niger Delta, Kidnappers mostly in the East, Boko Haram in the North, charlatans as religious divines, ignoramus and sycophants as followers in politics and religion, canny hypocrites as leaders and many more are the root causes of our insecurity. It is unacceptable to single out just one as the cause. All corruptions be it physical or in whatever form affect the lives of the ordinary men. If all those are not nipped in the bud, we cannot but experience more abductions, kidnaps, war, AIDS, diseases, malnutrition, unemployment, strikes, unpaid and delayed salaries, motherless and homeless children, widows languishing in untold agonies, child trafficking, child labour, oppression and victimization. Unfortunately, since the emergence and grafting of Boko Haram on Islam, Muslims have been on the defensive, explaining, defending and clarifying what

i not their issue at all. It is a concocted is orchestrated propaganda aimed at, on o one hand, step down the spread of Islam, o and on the other hand, demoralize and a discourage the feeble-minded Muslims. d IIt is the current weapon against Islam, but shall soon be forgotten why another b will be invented. It is really unfortunate w tthat the media had been in the forefront of promoting Muslims as Boko Harams. o Time shall tell the whole truth and all T masterminds shall become objects of m humiliation. How can somebody who is educated attribute BH to Islam? Why would somebody who is conversant with history called destroyers of the nation Muslims? How can a right thinking person attach charlatans who even destroy mosques and churches as Muslims? How could those who did not respect the right of little girls be called Muslims? How could those who violate the sanctity of humanity be regarded as Muslims? Whereas the Niger militants/terrorists who kidnap and commit other atrocities are never reported as being Christians! This is a clear hypocrisy of the media. The security situation in the country is a clear picture of debauchery in our polity. Majority today lack sense of logical and genuine analysis and focus. They grope in an intense darkness of misguidance. There is no sin, which the men of the world do not commit today. Men whose quest for material attainment is supreme are already insecure as this will open the door to all evils. Hence, the only panacea is to return to Allah (SWT), be just to all in all ramifications and apply true principles of Knowledge.

Hadith

Dr. Sola Labinjo and other dignitaries at the quarterly Dawah Workshop organized by the Lekki Muslim Ummah, LEMU, recently.

I’tikaaf and its benefits 28

ZSF provides Iftar for 30,000 needy Nigerians

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, “Take Suhur as there is a blessing in it.” MSSN holds Qur’an competition 29

Call to Worship

Ramadan 14 1435 A.H Friday, July 11, 2014

Food for thought

here are news all over the world about many people’s headache about Muslim women using Hijab and I begin to wonder if we are glad seeing our women almost naked. However, it gladdens my heart that an Italian Minister Roberto Maroni could be bold enough to say the truth that; How can he be asked to sign an Hijab ban law when he saw the holy Mary always covered? These are signs of the end time if we are still going against the rules of the almighty Creator. May He save us from His wrath, Aamin.

e-mail: ustazadangbe@yahoo.com

How wealth enhances our progress catalyst to eradicating poverty in our economy and society. But the atavistic nature of human being which individualism in all ramifications is against natural law of existence and social contract. Nature itself, does not concentrate all the apparatus of living in a particular region of the globe. It is scattered all over. A country can only enjoy comparative advantage over others not absolute. The natural endowment in your vicinity could be of no value to you until an expert from Mediterranean Sea region unfold the economic importance of those resources. This in essence is saying that talents or wisdom needed for advancement of mankind do not solely emanate from a soul but Only from Allah Who is all in all. If one is opportuned to have or develop a skill that makes him/her stand out in a society, it is from Allah’s treasury you have in your custody for people far and near to enjoy from. The most outstanding people in the world share their wealth for other people to enjoy, and thus have a sense of belonging. This in turn brings about a harmonious society worth living.

Sekinah

Lawal t: 08055102994 e: sakinah207@yahoo.com not take full advantage of the blessed month of Ramadan Those people who do not say, “Sallallaahu-alaihiwasallam’ when my name

is mentioned.” Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said “An intelligent person is one who is constantly thinking about and preparing for death.”

Pupils of Al-Bayan Montessori School, Iloro-Agege, Lagos, during the special Children’s Day Fiesta organized by League of Muslim Schools, recently.

SHEIKH ADANGBA

“Say: who hath forbidden t he beautiful (gifts) of Allah, which he hath produced for His servants, and the things, clean and pure (which He hath provided) for sustenance? Say: they are in the life of this world for those who believe, (and) purely for them on the Day of Judgment thus do we explain the signs in detail for those who understand.” Suratul Ara:30. Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. To Him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. It is he who gives life and death, and He is able to do all things. He is the First (there is nothing before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most near (nothing is closer than Him). And He is All-Knower of everything. May the peace and Blessing be upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), the mercy upon mankind, the guide to the universe, leader of all Muslims and the seal of all Prophets. Paradoxically, wealth accumulation should be a

with

thought to all discerning minds! Back to the holy month we are, I feel it will put us on track if we always imagine this is our last Ramadan on the surface of the earth, hence, we

AL-FATIH-ULQUAREEB MESSAGE

The Quran says:

THE PLATFORM should make the best of it and even thereafter. We do not have any control over our souls, let’s take heed. Let us rember that the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said: “I only curse 3 types of people: Those people who do not look after their parents when they are in old age Those people who do

You keep hearing or reading things like; today in UK, there is a voting to issue new law to ban Muslim Women Hijab with voting links. When are we going to have voting to ban nude dressing? Food for

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When Prophet Muhammad and his followers entered the city of Medina, every Ansar (helper) was wholeheartedly eager and anxious to receive the Messenger of Allah (S A W) in his house because of their generosity. The Medina people willingly shared their belongings with the entourage of Prophet. In the western world, the rich among them are exceptional philanthropists. They used their wealth in eradicating diseases in the continent of Africa and other under developing countries of the world. Other areas of human needs are also touched to ensure that we all live. This in accordance to the sayings of the Holy Prophet (SAW); none is a Muslim except he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself. The public treasury is to cater for the entire society within her territory without fear or favour. It is a trust placed on public office holder to distribute and redistribute the wealth of the nation to the citizenry. It is therefore a sin to enrich yourself with public fund. TO BE CONTINUED

I’tikaaf and its benefits

’tikaaf means staying in the central mosque for the purpose of worshipping Allah. This normally takes place when Ramadan fasting remains ten days. It is the sunnah of the holy Prophet Muhammed (SAW) and he never abandoned this practice until his death. It is the best practice for Muslim faithful to engaged in, as it is meant for those of sound minds. The essence of I’tikaaf is the uncertainty that surrounds the exact day of Lelatul-Quadir which has abundant blessings than several months. It was revealed that the day usually falls on any of the odd days in the last ten days of Ramadan. Generally, the aims of I’tikaaf are seeking Lelatul-Quadir, being alone with Allah, keeping away from people as much as possible so that one may be entirely focused on Allah, remembering Him for the purification of one’s heart, praying, remembering Allah & reading of the holy Qur’an, protecting one’s fast from everything of one’s selfish desires that could affect it and reducing one’s involvement in permissible worldly matters. Meanwhile, certain things are forbidden

while observing this sunnah. Going out of the mosque becomes invalid except for purification from minor impurities. Also, touching women with desire is not allowed. Equally, if a woman who is in I’tikaaf starts to menstruate or experiences post-natal bleeding, she has to leave the mosque, so as to preserve the purity of the mosque. Generally, all those activities that void fasting equally make It’ikaaf invalid. However, there are many hidden benefits in this act of worship and much wisdom behind them. The basis of all deeds is the heart. What corrupts the heart most is distractions and preoccupations like food, drink, sex, excessive talking, sleeping too much, socializing too much and other distractions which divert people from turning to Al-

lah and cause the heart to be unfocused and unable to concentrate on worshipping Allah. Just as fasting is a shield which protects the heart from the influences of physical distractions so I’tikaaf offers an immense hidden benefit which is protection from the effects of worldly things. It also offers protection from the evil consequences of talking too much because a person usually does I’tikaaf on his own, turning to Allah by praying and reading Qur’an. No doubt when a person has all the means of purifying his heart by keeping away from all the things that can distract him from worship, this will be more effective in helping him to turn towards Allah with devotion and humility. I’tikaaf is an essential part of Islamic religion and Muslim adherents should exploit the unprecedented blessings which it possesses.

Sheikh Abdul Ganiyy Umar Arikunkewu is the Founder/National Chief Missioner of Jubulatu Rohfatu Llahi Islamic Society of Nigeria (JUBFAT)

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Call to Worship

Friday, July 11, 2014 Ramadan 14 1435 A.H

L:R: A beneficiary, Mr. Abdullahi Ibrahim receiving a deep freezer, generator and stabilizer from Executive Chairman, Mushin local govt., Hon. Adepitan Babatunde and National Amir, The Companion, Alhaji Musbau Oyefeso at Zakat distribution, organised by Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation.

MSSN holds Qur’an competition AISHA TITILAYO

L-R: Alhaja Aramide Labinjo; Alhaja Serifah Andu; Alhaja Muinat Shopeyin Akande and Alhaja Zulifah Odunsi, at the quarterly Dawah Workshop organized by the Lekki Muslim Ummah, LEMU, recently.

ZSF provides Iftar for 30,000 needy Nigerians SEKINAH L AWAL

he Executive Director/CEO, Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation, ZSF, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, has disclosed that arrangements have been concluded by ZSF to provide Iftar Saim (meals for breaking fast) throughout the holy month of Ramadhan for a minimum number of 30,000 Muslims. Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, he said that special arrangement has been made to take care of widows as well as to extend the largess to orphanage homes, children with disability and refugee

camps among others. “Aside Ramadhan period, ZSF has repackaged its Infaqul Afuwun (collection, re-branding and distribution of old/or fairly used items) to the poor and needy people especially in the villages. In addition, we are stepping up the number of our capacity building workshops for unemployed Nigerian youth (Muslims and nonMuslims) and the ulama among others.” He described Zakat as a tool of poverty reduction urging those who are zakatable to pay it for complete Iman. “As Muslims, we must be seen to be

above board in fulfilling our religious and socioeconomic responsibility first to Allah and next to our fellow brethren. This is absolutely necessary in view of the instruction from Allah to Muslims in chapter 98:5 that “And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship God, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith); to establish regular prayer; and to pay Zakat (charity); and that is the Right Faith” Against this background, Zakat payment is a religious obligation to Allah and also a fulfillment of one’s duties to the needy and poor

people. This is because in the wealth of the rich, the poor and needy people have a fair share Q51:19.” Furthermore, to underscore the importance of the payment of Zakat, Zakat which is the third pillar of Islam is mentioned not less than 28 times simultaneously with Salat (prayer) the second pillar of Islam in Qur’an 2:277; 73:20; and 98:5 among others. Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) also stressed the importance of paying Zakat when he said “Whoever offers prayers but does not pay Zakat, his prayers are in vain.”

he stage is set for the Grand-Finale of the Annual Qur’an Memorization Competition of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN. As stated in a release signed by the Amir of the association, Lagos State Area Unit, Kaamil Kalejaiye, the event will take place on the 16th of Ramadan, 1435AH (Sunday 13th July, 2014) at the Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos, Akoka at 10.00am. The competition, which is themed; ‘Reviving the Study of the Qur’an in

Southern Nigeria’, has been put in place to orientate and motivate members and Muslims in general to study and memorize the Qur’an. Activities lined up for the event include; Lecture, Qur’an Competitions for various levels including Tafsir, Qur’an Galore, Reflections, and so on. An erudite scholar from the Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sheikh AbdurRahman Animashaun has been invited to discuss the topic. Baba Adini of Lagos, Sheikh AbdulHafeez Abou; Mudir, Darul-Falah, Amukoko, Sheikh Musa Yahya Agboola, amongst others are the invited guests.

TMC organizes essay competition for youths AISHA TITILAYO

he Muslim Congress, TMC, has come up with the second edition of her national essay competition for Muslim youths. The essay, with the topic, ‘Sustainable National Security- The problem with Nigeria’ is open to Muslim youths between the ages of 16 and 35 years. The essay should not exceed 2000 words and must clearly indicate the name, sex, age, address, religion, state of origin, profession

and contact phones of the entrant (writer). The soft copy in PDF format should be sent to essay2@tmcng.net Date of submission is from 15th Ramadan - 14th Shawwal 1435 (13th July 11th August 2014) Fantastic prizes await the best submission and they include; an iPad for 1st position, 40-Inch Plasma Television for the 2nd position, a washing machine for the 3rd position, generator for the 4th position and other beautiful prizes for the next best ten entries.

Call to Worship

Ramadan 14 1435 A.H Friday, July 11, 2014

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Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya

The faithful were persecuted

od began to talk to Muhammad (PBUH) in “another tongue”. The youth of the country began to wonder. Those in search of truth became excited. Out of scorn and derision began to grow approval and admiration. Slaves, young men, and hapless women began to be around the Prophet. In his Message and in his teaching, there was hope for the degraded, the depressed and the young. Women thought the time for the restoration of their rights was near. Slaves thought the day of their liberation had come and young men thought the avenues of progress were going to be thrown open to them. When derision began to change into approval and indifference into attachment, the chiefs of Mecca and the officials began to take fright. They assembled and took counsel. They decided that derision was no method to deal with this menace. A more serious remedy had to be applied. The new influence had to be put down by force. It was decided that persecution and some form of boycott must be instituted. Practical steps were soon taken, and Mecca was pitched against Islam in a serious conflict. The Prophet and his small following were no longer considered mad, but a growing influence which, if allowed to grow unimpeded, would prove a danger to the faith, prestige, customs and traditions of Mecca. Islam threatened to pull down and rebuild the old structure of Meccan society, to create a new heaven and a new earth, the coming of which must mean the disappearance of the old heaven of Arabia and its old heart. Meccans could no longer laugh at Islam. It was a question now of life and death for them. Islam was a challenge and Mecca accepted the challenge, as enemies of Prophets had always accepted the challenge of their Prophets.

They decided not to meet argument by argument but to draw the sword and put down the dangerous teaching by force; not to match the good example of the Prophet and his followers by their own, nor to reply to kind words in kind, but to maltreat the innocent and to abuse those who spoke kindly. Once again in the world, a conflict started between belief and disbelief; the forces of Satan declared war on the angels. The faithful, still a handful, had no power to resist the onslaughts and violence of the disbelievers. A most cruel campaign began. Women were butchered shamelessly. Men were slaughtered. The slaves who had declared their faith in the Prophet were dragged over burning sands and stones. Their skins became hardened like those of animals. A long time after, when Islam had become established far and near, one of these early converts named Khabbab bin Al-Aratra had his body exposed. His friends saw his skin hardened like an animal’s and asked him why it was so. Khabbabra laughed and said it was nothing; only a memory of those early days when slaves converted to Islam were dragged through the streets of Mecca over hard and hot sands and stones (Musnad, Vol. 5, p. 110). The slaves who believed came from all communities. Bilalra was a negro, Suhaibra a Greek. They belonged to different faiths. Jabrra and Suhaibra were Christians, Bilal and ‘Ammarra, idolworshippers. Bilal was made to lie on hot sand, loaded with stones, and boys were made to dance on his chest, and his master, Umayya bin Khalf, tortured him thus and then asked him to renounce Allah and the Prophet and sing the praises of the Meccan gods, Lat and ‘Uzza. Bilal only said, Ahad, Ahad … (God is One).

Alhaji Tunde Popoola, Prof. Lai Olorode, and other dignataries at the Ramadan lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni at the Main Auditorium of Unilag, recently

L-R: Naib Deputy Amir, Special Duties, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmed Al – Hassan; former Amir (Head) of the Jamaat, Alhaji Hussein Sunmonu, and Amir, Dr. Mashuud Fashola at the Ramadan Tafsir in Ojokoro-Lagos.

L-R: Ismaheel Balogun, Alfa Wahab Bolanta; Dr. Saheed Timehin (centre), Alfa Munawar Ahmad, Alfa AbdRafeeq Alaka at the Amjn Ramadan Tafsir held at the National Headquarters, Ojokoro.

Cross section of members listening to the Ramadan Tafsir.

Pupils of Al-Bayan Montessori School, Iloro-Agege, Lagos, during the special Children’s Day Fiesta organized by League of Muslim Schools, recently.

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Araba Awo of Osun, Priest Yemi Elebuibon (left) and Senior Brand Manager, Premium Brands, Grand Oak Ltd, Mr. Nnamdi Ezeani, at the Osun Osogbo Stakeholders conference in Lagos.

Brand Manager, Mr. Mfon Bassey (left) and Special Assistance to the Osun State Government on Tourism and Culture, Mr. Oladipo Soyode, at the event. PHOTO: ADEMOLA AKINLABI

People In The Mirror

L-R: Olori Adeola Jimoh Oyetunji; Proprietor, Nike Art Gallery, Nike Okundaye, and Princess Gbonjubola Matanmi, at the Osun Osogbo Stakeholders conference, in Lagos.

L-R: Former Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme; his wife, Beatrice; former secretary general of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, at the Church Service to mark the 80th birthday of Mrs Beatrice Ekwueme, in Enugu.

L-R: Education Portfolio Manager, MTN Nigeria Foundation, Mr. Abasi-Ekong Udobang; Executive Secretary, MTN Nigeria Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, and Director, MTNF, Mr. Dennis Okoro, during the 7th Graduation Ceremony of MTNF-Muson Music Scholar programme in Lagos. PHOTO: SAMUEL ADETIMEHIN

L-R: US Consul General to Nigeria, Mr. Jeffery Hawkins; former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; Author Chimamanda Adichie, and US Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. James Entwistle, at the US Independence Day celebration at the Consulate, in Lagos.

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Mr Onochie Anyaoku; Acting Executive Director, Services, Port Harcourt Refining Company, Mr Selo Lawson-Jack, and Chairman, Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, Rivers and Bayelsa chapter, Mr Awajiogak Ujile, at a lecture in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

L-R: Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam; his wife Yemisi and the representative of the First Lady, Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Akinjide Olajumoke, during the presentation of relief materials to victims of insurgency in Benue.

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AFRIFF 2014 extends date for film submissions

Chioma Ude during a press conference

head of this year’s edition of the prestigious Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) taking place in Calabar, the tourism hub in Nigeria, organisers are calling for film entries from African filmmakers, with a closing date now extended to July 24, 2014. The event which enters its fourth edition this year, will resonate with film workshops, training programmes and thrills, from November 9th to 16th, at the popular Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar, capital of Cross River state. AFRIFF, according to its artistic director, Keith Shiri, “is a platform that seeks to give expression to African cinema, by recognising and rewarding excellence in the industry.” The event, will feature daily film screenings, workshops, master classes, exhibitions, film premieres,

glamorous opening and closing ceremonies, and will round off with an award night that will celebrate winning film entries, as well as their cast and crew. Shiri, an advisor for the British Film Institute’s London Film Festival (LFF), noted that eligible films must have been produced after January 1, 2013, while preference will be given to films which are yet to be screened globally or in Africa. According to him, categories for entry will include Feature, Short, Documentary and Animation, with monetary award prizes ranging from $3000 to $6000. Urging interested filmmakers to ensure that they read the rules and regulations thoroughly before submitting their films for the award segment of the festival, the artistic director disclosed that Short films must be of 40 minutes or less, while Feature length films must exceed 40 minutes. “For your film to be considered for the 4th Africa International Film Festival, please include a DVD copy of the film, plus a synopsis and/or press kit as soon as possible. You can also send an online screener via dropbox to info@afriff.com. We also require you to complete our entry submission form,” he stated, adding that “guidelines and entry forms can be found on the festival website.” Although the festival started four years ago, it made its debut in Calabar, last year, with American actress Lynn Withfield and Nollywood star Rita Dominic as ambassadors of the festival.

F.A.M.E: New platform for talents in music, fashion Ngozi Emedolibe

udding talents in music and fashion now have the platform to realise their ambititon as Fashion And Music Entertainment, FAME, a creative competition gets set to take off in Nigeria. This was announced at the media unveil of the project in Lagos earlier in the week. According to 18 year old Bukiie Smart, the originator of the concept, “The project F.A.M.E is a creative initiative aimed to engen-der continuous growth and development in the flourishing Nigerian entertainment industry. This project is intended to have an artistic blend of fashion and music showcase. The crux of the project is discovering, nurturing and harnessing new talents in these two spheres of entertain-ment thereby showcasing the abundant talents and human resources in the country and more importantly to keep the industry growing.” Bukiie Smart, who has always been passionate about giving back to the society, believes there is no better way than using her love for fashion and music to make her young dream come through. Through the help and support of her family and best friends, FAME came to life and preparations for it began in April 2014. “The main objective for the event is to promote fashion and encourage upcoming artistes but giving it a competitive edge whereby participants not only have to show their talent, but convince the judges and audience that they were the best out of the selected few. Fashion and music are always a great blend as we have seen in many different concerts, but the differ-ence FAME brings is its exclusivity, style and class to the elite of the fashion and music in-dustry through an entertaining show. It gives the participants not only chances to show what they do best, but gives them the opportunity to be scouted or recruited to kick off a bright career. Therefore, FAME serves as a platform of career opportu¬nities and brings about the reality of dreams. FAME is only a beginning to something greater.” Born Bukola Smart, but popularly known as “Bukiie” , she comes from the Smart family which compro-

DG, NCC, Afam Ezekude

NCC impounds illegal N30m broadcast equipment Gloria Anaeze

F.A.M.E crew

mises her manager and mother, Dr Mrs. Tonia Smart, her father, Mr. Tope Smart and her two supportive elder and younger brothers, Yemi and Dami Smart. Currently, she is studying Accounting and Fi-nance at the University of Reading, UK. FAME, whose grand comes up in December 2014 is currently being supported by Sovereign Trust Insurance. Entries for the project will open next week, however.

he Nigeria Copyright Commission, (NCC), has seized illegal broadcast equipment worth of N30m within Onitsha and Awka metropolis in Anambra State in one week. The items seized included hundreds of decoders, boosters, rolls of installation cable wire, cable joiners and other equipment aimed at facilitating illegal broadcasting of DSTV and other copyright owners’ signals in the pay-per-view television. Addressing journalists on the development in Onitsha, the Zonal Manager of NCC, Emeka Ogbonna, revealed that the huge success of the massive clampdown was an indication of the Commission’s renewed commitment to its regulatory and enforcement agenda. According to him, illegal broadcast pirates would never have Onitsha or any part of Anambra State as a safe home; pointing out that ``with the recent raid, NCC has succeeded in bringing down 90 per cent transmission of illegal broadcast in the state’’. Ogbonna stated that recently, the NCC has carried out a massive and raid unprecedented seizure of illegal broadcasting equipments as directed by the DirectorGeneral of NCC, Afam Ezekude. ``The invasion was done house-to-house within Onitsha areas of Awada, Okpoko, 33, Upper Iweka as well as Awka areas of Works Roads, Zik Avenue.” The NCC manager also stated that ``their surveillance officers and monitoring agents are still combing all nooks and crannies of the state to mob-up the remaining 10 per cent.’’ Ogbonna further called on all stakeholders in the creative industry to give their unalloyed support to the ongoing national Copyright Protection and Anti-Piracy campaign. “We would continue the enforcement, which has become a big source of sensitisation and awareness creation in most communities within Onitsha metropolis”, he added.

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33 33

LTS honours Soyinka with stage play Olayiwola Awakan

n Nigeria and all over the world, this season is being deployed to celebrate Wole Soyinka as he clocks 80 by staging his numerous plays, organising theatre conferences, seminars and symposia. Majority in the arts use this avenue to associate with the Nobel Laureate and seek development in the arts and the society at large. As part of the celebrations, Live Theatre on Sunday (LTS) participated in the commemoration with the presentation of Wole Soyinka’s timeless classic – ‘The Trials of Brother Jero’, staged on Sunday June 29, 2014 at the Unity Centre, 28, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. The Trials of Brother Jero is one part of the Jero plays collection, which also includes the Jero Metamorphosis. The Trials of Brother Jero first came out in 1964, while Jero’s Metamorphosis was published two years later in 1966. Both plays satirize Christianity and religious hypocrisy, particularly, the unquestioning devotion that many converts display towards their spiritual leaders, often exposing themselves to manipulation in the process. As the title suggests, The Trials of Brother Jero is about a charlatan preacher, Brother Jero. Brother Jero is a cunning beach diviner who woos customers (penitents) to his church by using Christian superstition for his own salvation. For him, the church is a business rendezvous. The satirical drama is set on the Lagos Bar Beach now the site of the future premium Lagos city, Eko Atlantic. The play is the tale of an unscrupulous shepherd-incharge, who plays clever antics on his followers for his own convenience. The play was directed by Adebola Ogunshina and produced by Adenugba Oluwanishola. It featured Opeyemi Dada as Brother Jeroboam, alongside Adewale Kolawole

Cast of the play

(K-Blaq), Mary Anne Ezekwe, Morolayo Fakeye, Jumoke Adeniyi while Tunde Lawal was the Technical Director. The play was technically directed as a prologue was created to introduce the audience to the antics and mannerism of the contemporary church antics. The LTS team believes in the dexterity of budding theatre potentials. Live Theatre on Sunday (LTS) is one of the few theatre companies in Nigeria that believe that quality theatre productions can be enjoyed for free thereby creating more awareness for people to consider stage productions as a major means of relaxation away from other technologically sophisticated platforms. Lovers of theatre converge every last Sunday of the month to enjoy their productions and in return do a voluntary donation to support the production team for sustainability sake. The Live Theatre on Sunday is supported by First Bank PLC, Mansard Insurance PLC, MTN Nigeria, 95.1 Wazobia FM,96.9 Cool FM and 99.3 Nigerian Info, 360Nobs, Bella Naija, YNaija, eGistOnline and MaestroMedia.

Lady of Songs reality TV show berths ‘

ady of Songs’, LOS, an annual reality show primarily focusing on promoting gender equality and women empowerment will soon hit the nation’s airwaves. Disclosing this in a press statement in Lagos, the chief executive officer, Platinum Entertainment Nigeria Limited (producers of LOS), Olayinka Edu, said the aim is basically to give the Nigerian woman a voice and opportunity to unleash her natural talent. “Sometimes, it goes beyond searching for real talent, beyond crowning a winner, beyond making a new star… Sometimes, it’s about championing a cause! All over the country there are women… ladies… girls… wishing, longing, yearning for that shot, that opportunity, that voice, that one chance to pursue what they believe in, with no hindrances, no excuses, no reasons, no holds-barred. But unfortunately, many never get this ‘shot’, ‘opportunity’, ‘voice’ or ‘chance’, just because they are females. “We are creating the chance for the female gender from Nigeria and beyond, as we groom, make and mould future stars through the incredible talent show, Lady of Songs.” She also explained that LOS is all about gender equality, which she acknowledged as “one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDG) issues which governments world over are making ef-

Olayinka Edu, LOS boss

forts to attain by 2015. On the modalities of the reality talent/music show,the organisers said it wouldn’t be a ‘winner- takesall affair’ since all contestants (no matter who gets evicted at any stage) will leave as winners. “The show isn’t poised at having a winner who goes home with the grand prize at the end of the day alone, but also on building on other potentials discovered in each contestant to serve as an empowerment avenue for her.” Meanwhile, the ultimate winner of LOS will go home with a brand new car, a one year record deal and a sum N3 million, while the runners up as well as other contestants will have reasonable deals and benefits to take home as well. “A call for entries will be announced soon for the ladies aged 18 to 35 with voices that thrill”, said Edu, a Lagos- based events management consultant, who graduated in Creative Arts at the University of Lagos.

Akin Bello receiving his cheque

Meet Akin Bello, 2014 Soyinka prize winner Olawale Oluwadahunsi

kin Bello has emerged winner of the 2014 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. He was ahead of other Nigerian finalists Othuka Ominibus and Toyin Abiodun to claim the $20000 prize on Saturday, 5th July 2014 with his play, ‘The Egbon of Lagos’. The winner, Akin Bello, was born in Lagos in 1950, and educated at Oyo, Ghana and the University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Ile-Ife, where he obtained a B.Sc. (Hons) (Pol. Science) in the 2nd Class (Upper) Division in 1975. A widely traveled man with a richly diversified work experience, Bello is currently an Executive Director of a Non-Governmental Organisation in Ibadan. He was the Chairman of the Oyo State Chapter of ANA for four years between 2008 and 2012. Before now, Bello had published three novels and a poetry collection. His first play, ‘Egbon of Lagos’ has now won him recognition and fame at the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. In his remarks, Professor Soyinka thanked the Lumina Foundation and its partners, including Globacom for organising the grand event and making it a success. In a goodwill message read on his behalf, Globacom’s Chairman, Mike Adenuga, said that “Globacom is delighted to be part of the successful execution of the project, which honours one of the world’s biggest literary giants, Professor Wole Soyinka and seeks to promote excellence in the literary arts on the continent of Africa.” The grand finale of the prize was graced by other literary icons, including renowned playwright and poet, John Pepper Clark, a former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), and loyal protégé of Professor Soyinka, Odia Ofeimun, renowned Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode, who delivered the keynote address, and many other distinguished scholars. Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa is a biennial event staged to recognise the best literary work produced by an African. It was established by the Lumina Foundation in 2005 to promote literary excellence in Africa and has since become the African equivalent of the Nobel Prize. This year’s Prize was dedicated to the drama genre.

Globacom bankrolls Puuskaat Festival

igeria’s national telecommunications company, Globacom, has restated its commitment to cultural development in Nigeria by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the people of Mwangu, Plateau State, for the sponsorship of the Puuskaat Festival, an annual event which is celebrated in April. The sponsorship of the annual festival is aimed at promoting and preserving the rich culture of the people of Mwangu and Plateau state as a whole. Globacom has been in the fore-front of promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Nigerian people, having sponsored similar cultural festivals including the Ojude Oba in

Ijebu Ode, Lisabi in Abeokuta and Ofala in Onitsha. In his address during the signing, Globacom’s Zonal Business Coordinator, North East, Samuel Ibrahim, said “ as a brand with an authentic African heritage, we have resolved to support any credible endeavor that will promote and celebrate our cultural icons….as we believe that culture has a very profound role to play in the peace and unity of our dear country.” Also speaking at the event, Amos Iliya Putman, who represented the National President of Mwangu Development Association, said they were excited by the collaboration with Globacom.

Puuskaat festival

Macedoni 34

Escape

Olawale Oluwadahunsi, (With Agency Reports)

acedonia officially the Republic of Macedonia is a country located in the central Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991. It became a member of the United Nations in 1993 but, as a result of a dispute with Greece over its name, it was admitted under the provisional reference of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia A landlocked country, the Republic of Macedonia is bordered by Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west. It constitutes approximately the north-western third of the larger geographical region of Macedonia, which also comprises the neighbouring parts of northern Greece and a smaller portion in Bulgaria. The country’s capital is Skopje, with 506,926 inhabitants according to the 2002 census. Other cities include Bitola, Kumanovo, Prilep, Tetovo, Ohrid, Veles, Štip, Kočani, Gostivar, Kavadarci and Strumica. It has more than 50 lakes and sixteen mountains higher than 2,000 m (6,562 ft). Macedonia is a member of the UN and the Council of Europe. Since December 2005 it has also been a candidate for joining the European Union and has applied for NATO membership.

History

The Republic of Macedonia occupies the western half of the ancient Kingdom of Macedonia. Historic Macedonia was defeated by Rome and became a Roman province in 148 B.C. After the Roman Empire was divided in A.D. 395, Macedonia was intermittently ruled by the Byzantine Empire until Turkey took possession of the land in 1371. The Ottoman Turks dominated Macedonia for the next five centuries, until 1913. During the 19th and 20th centuries, there was a constant struggle by the Balkan powers to possess Macedonia for its economic wealth and its strategic military corridors. The Treaty of San Stefano in 1878, ending the Russo-Turkish War, gave the largest part of Macedonia to Bulgaria. Bulgaria lost much of

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its Macedonian territory when it was defeated by the Greeks and Serbs in the Second Balkan War of 1913. Most of Macedonia went to Serbia and the remainder was divided among Greece and Bulgaria.

Geography

Macedonia is a landlocked country that is geographically clearly defined by a central valley formed by the Vardar River and framed along its borders by mountain ranges. The terrain is mostly rugged, located between the Šar Mountains and Osogovo, which frame the valley of the Vardar River. Three large lakes — Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Dojran Lake — lie on the southern borders, bisected by the frontiers with Albania and Greece. Ohrid is considered to be one of the oldest lakes and biotopes in the world. The region is seismically active and has been the site of destructive earthquakes in the past, most recently in 1963 when Skopje was heavily damaged by a major earthquake, killing over 1,000. Macedonia also has scenic mountains. They belong to two different mountain ranges: the first is the Šar Mountains that continues to the West Vardar/ Pelagonia group of mountains (Baba Mountain, Nidže, Kozuf and Jakupica), also known as the Dinaric range. The second range is the Osogovo–Belasica mountain chain, also known as the Rhodope range. The mountains belonging to the Šar Mountains and the West Vardar/Pelagonia range are younger and higher than the older mountains that are part of the Osogovo-Belasica mountain group. Mount Korab of the Šar Mountains on the Albanian border, at 2,764 m (9,068 ft), is the tallest mountain in Macedonia.

Government

Executive power in Macedonia is exercised by the Government, whose prime minister is the most politically powerful person in the country. The members of the government are chosen by the Prime Minister and there are ministers for each branch of the society. There are ministers for economy, finance, information technology, society, internal affairs, foreign affairs and other areas. The members of the Government are elected for a mandate of four years. The current Prime Minister is Nikola

Pride of the

Balkans Prilepski ploštad

Gruevski who is serving his third consecutive term in office and the President is Gjorge Ivanov.

Economy

GDP/PPP (2012 est.): $21.94 billion; per capita $10,700. Real growth rate: 0%. Inflation: 3.3%. Unemployment: 31.3%. Arable land: 22.01%. Agriculture: grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables; milk, eggs. Labor force: 940,600 (2012 est.); agriculture 16.7%, industry 26%., services 57.3%. Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals. Natural resources: low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land. Exports: $4.002 billion (2012 est.): food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel; automotive parts. Imports: $6.511 billion (2012 est.): machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food products. Major trading partners: Germany, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, Turkey, U.K. (2011).

Food

Typical Macedonian food resembles the food of the southern Balkans, meaning loads of grilled meat (known as skara). Side dishes usually have to be ordered separately. The Republic of Macedonia is also famous for its

Macedonian meal

Mount Pelister

shopska salata a mixed salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and grated sirenje. Sirenje is a white cheese similar to feta cheese. Usually Macedonians will translate the English cheese to sirenje. Another local speciality is ajvar, a red paste made from roasted peppers and tomatoes, which is either used as an appetizer or side dish.

Another typical local dish is tarator which is comparable to the Greek tzatziki. It is made of yogurt, cucumbers, and garlic and it is served as a cold soup.

Traditional Food

Tavce gravce in Macedonian is the national dish and unique to Macedonia. It basically consists

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Friday, July 11, 2014

Flora

The flora of Republic of Macedonia is represented with around 210 families, 920 genera, and around 3,700 plant species. The most abundant group are the flowering plants with around 3,200 species, which is followed by mosses (350 species) and ferns (42).

Fauna

Stunning Lake Ohrid, Macedonia

Cattle for milk in Macedonia

The fauna of Macedonian forests is abundant and includes bears, wild boars, wolves, foxes, squirrels, chamois and deer. The lynx is found, although very rarely, in the mountains of western Macedonia, while deer can be found in the region of Demir Kapija. Forest birds include the blackcap, the grouse, the black grouse, the imperial eagle and the forest owl. The shepherd dog of Šar Mountain is known worldwide as Šarplaninec (Yugoslav shepherd). It stands some 60 centimeters tall and is a brave and fierce fighter that may be called upon to fight bears or wolf packs in guarding and defending flocks. The Šarplaninec originates from the shepherd’s dog of the ancient Epirotes, the molossus, but the Šarplaninec was recognised as its own breed in 1939 under the name of “Illyrian shepherd” and since 1956 has been known as Šarplaninec.

Cities

Wild beach Selo Ljubanista Ohrid

of beans, paprika and other vegetables so can be eaten by vegetarians. Traditionally, it is served with cut sausage mixed and eaten with bread. It is a delicious meal that will definitely leave you feeling full!

Fish

Sky view of Kratovo

The Republic of Macedonia, being landlocked, does not offer a great variety of fresh fish. A notable exception is Ohrid, where fresh fish from the local lake can be enjoyed. If you have no objections to eating endangered species, the Ohrid trout is a local delicacy.

Drinks

Rakija is a strong grape brandy that has the best claim to be Republic’s national beverage. There are also many breweries which brew surprisingly good-tasting beer. Macedonians boast the largest winery in the Balkan area— the Tikveš (Tikvesh) winery in Kavadarci. Red wines are usually better than white ones. Try “T’ga za Jug”—Macedonian favorite affordable red wine made from a local grape variety called Vranec. Local white wines include Traminec and Temjanika. The local beer market appears, in Skopje at least, to be dominated by Skopsko, a drinkable, if not entirely distinctive, lager.

Statue of Alexander the Great

Matka Canyon rich in biodiversity

Skopje, the capital and largest city, is situated in the northern part of the country on the Vardar River. Skopje has a long history that is evidenced by its many archaeological sites, such as Scupi and the Skopje Aqueduct, and the large number of Ottoman buildings and monuments, particularly in the Old Bazaar, such as Mustapha Pasha Mosque. Today, Skopje, with over 500,000 inhabitants, is becoming a modern city with museums and many cultural and sporting events. Ohrid, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the southwestern part of the country on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid. The town is perhaps the most popular tourist destination in the country, which is largely due to the beaches and atmosphere. However, Ohrid also has many historical monuments, such as Samuil’s Fortress and the Antique Theatre. Bitola, the second largest city, is situated in the southern part of the country. Like many cities in the country, Bitola has also had a rich history. Heraclea Lyncestis, one of the Republic of Macedonia’s largest archaeological sites, is located in Bitola. The long history of Bitola is also exemplified by the town’s many neo-classical buildings, Ottoman buildings and monuments, and old churches. The town is also a shopping destination; Širok Sokak, a pedestrian street, is filled with an endless amount of stores and restaurants. Štip, the largest city east of the Vardar River, is located in the eastern part of the country. Štip has existed for at least 2,000 years which is showcased by its

many archaeological sites, such as Astibo, Bargala, and Estipeon. The city is also home to the healing waters of the Kežovica Mineral Spa. Today, Štip is the main cultural and economical centre of eastern Macedonia. Other cities and towns in the country, such as Kratovo, Kruševo, Prilep, Strumica, and Struga, have many attractions of their own. The Republic of Macedonia has three national parks and 33 natural reserves: Mavrovo, located in the northwestern part of the country, is the largest of the three national parks. It is home to several river valleys, gorges, waterfalls, caves, and other morphological formations. Pelister National Park is a national park in the Municipality of Bitola, Republic of Macedonia. The park is located in the Baba Mountain massif and covers an area of 171.5 square kilometres (66.2 sq mi). The altitude of the park varies between 927 and 2,601 m (3,041 and 8,533 ft) above sea level and is filled with exquisite flora and fauna. Among flora elements, the presence is especially significant of the five-needle pine molica, Pinus peuce - a unique species of Cenozoic age being present on only a few mountains in the Balkan Peninsula. The beauty of the landscape is enhanced by the diversified wildlife: bears, roe deer, wolves, chamois, deer, wild boars, rabbits, several species of eagles, partridges, redbilled jackdaws, and the endemic Macedonian Pelagonia trout. Galičica, located between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, is the second largest national park in the country. The park is home to an abundance of diverse flora and fauna, and offers terrific views of Ohrid and Lake Ohrid. The floral life in the Galičica National Park represents over 1000 species, of which a large number of relicts and endems have the final frontier of its range exactly on the mountain Galičica. There is characteristically presence of up to now 11 discovered local endems to be found exclusively on the slopes of Galičica and nowhere else, this illustrates the specifically floristic composition of this mountain. At the moment, it is intensively worked on the flora of the National Park and there are indications that the number of endems will be even bigger. Ezereni Bird Sanctuary, located on the northern shore of Lake Prespa, is a strict natural reserve. It is home to over 120 different bird species.[9] Tikveš Strict Natural Reserve, located 30 km southeast of Kavadarci, is a natural reserve that covers an area of approximately 100 square kilometres. 23 species of predatory birds are present in the reserve and 17 of these nest in the area. Tikveš is said to be one of the most important ornithological sites in Europe. Lokvi-Golemo Konjari Strict Natural Reserve, located near Kruševo, is a natural reserve that is the last remnant of a once enormous swamp.

Friday, July 11, 2014

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Mirror Drive

2015 Porsche

OLUSEGUN UN KOIKI

iven the great suc success ucce cess ss Porsche has had with its midsize Cayenne Cayenn nne crossover cros osso ove verr SUV SU , it was justt a matter mat atter of time before the the comcom ompany expanded expan nde ded the family with h a compact crossover offering. offfe f ring. i But But just because it’s smaller and less expensive doesn’t mean the 2015 Porsche Macan is any less worthy of that iconic crest-shaped hood emblem. The new Macan comes packed with the speed, handling and engaging driving character one would rightfully expect from the maker of the 911 and Cayenne. Although it shares some components with the 2014 Audi Q5, the 2015 Porsche Macan has its own engines, suspension design and, of course, styling. Furthermore, Porsche has engineered it to drive more like a rear-wheel-drive performance car than most premium-brand crossovers. The Macan’s standard all-wheeldrive system normally directs most of the engine’s power to the rear wheels, and that power is only redirected to the front wheels when needed to maintain traction. For the Macan S, there’s a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 rated at 340 horsepower. On the Macan Turbo, a turbocharged 3.6-litre V6 uncorks 400hp, which is far and away the most power you will find in a small luxury crossover SUV. Either way, you get a quick-shifting automated manual transmis-

Mean, compact crossover SUV sion as standard (Porsche’s PDK), just like on the automaker’s sports cars. Porsche has also readied the Macan with a sport-tuned suspension and optional features not often found in this class, such as grippy summer-rated performance tyres, an adaptive suspension and a torque-vectoring rear differential all of which benefit its handling abilities around turns. There is also an optional air suspension that can be used to raise the Macan’s ride height to 9.1 inches, thereby bolstering this crossover’s capability on dirt trails. The 2015 Macan costs more than other compact luxury crossover SUVs. The Porsche’s closest competitor is the Audi SQ5, which has a 354hp supercharged V6 and a similar starting price to the Macan S. Meanwhile, the less costly 2014 BMW X3 is still pretty sporty and arguably a better value, plus it offers more cargo space with the rear seats in use. The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is another alternative, though its tighter rear quarters and smaller cargo capacity are notable drawbacks, but if you desire the

utmost performance from your small crossover luxury SUV, the 2015 Porsche Macan is your best bet in this crowd.

Body styles The 2015 Porsche Macan is a fivepassenger compact crossover SUV available in base S and higher-performance Turbo trim levels. Standard equipment on the S includes 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, power/heated side-view mirrors, auto engine stop-start, active bi-xenon headlights, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, full power accessories, leather/simulated suede upholstery, eight-way power front seats with memory settings, 40/20/40-split-folding rear seats, Bluetooth connectivity, a 7-inch touch-screen and an 11-speaker audio system with CD player and an iPod/USB audio interface. The Macan Turbo adds a more powerful engine, adaptive suspension dampers, unique 19-inch wheels, unique front/rear fascias, LED foglights, full leather upholstery, Alcantara headliner, aluminum accents,18-way power front sport seats with memory settings, heated front seats, a 14-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system (also adds satellite radio and HD radio) and a navigation system. Some of the features of the Turbo are available on the S as options. Other options include 20- or 21-inch wheels, summer performance tyres, variable torque vectoring for the

rear wheels, an adaptive air suspension, body side skirts, skid plates, a panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, auto-dimming mirrors, adaptive headlights with automatic high beams, and keyless ignition and entry. Inside, Porsche offers triple-zone climate control, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, full leather upholstery, 14-way or 18-way power front seats, ventilated front seats, smartphone app integration (Aha Radio), a 16-speaker Burmester audio system, voice-command functionality and adaptive cruise control. There’s also a Sport Chrono package, a launch-control feature and selectable sport calibrations for the engine and an “electronic logbook”

that automatically records various driving data for subsequent analysis on your computer.

Performance The Macan S is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine that produces 340 hp and 339 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automated manual transmission (PDK) sends the power to all four wheels. According to Porsche, the Macan S can sprint to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds (5.0 seconds if equipped with launch control, part of the Sport Chrono package). Automatic engine stop-start is standard. The Macan Turbo is ably pro-

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Mirror Drive

Friday, July 11, 2014

Mirror Drive Hyundai receives best IQS awards in history J .D. Power has presented three Hyundai vehicles; Genesis, Elantra and Accent their highest award for initial quality in their respective segments. Hyundai ranked fourth overall in initial quality, climbing six spots from last year. In total, Hyundai had six vehicles in the top three positions in their segments, including two second

place finishes for Santa Fe and Sonata and a third-place finish for Equus. This year’s results mark the third time Hyundai has been the highest-ranked brand in the past 10 years, and the third time it finished among the top four brands overall. TheawardcomesfromtheJ.D.Power 2014 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS). Now in its 28th consecutive year, IQS is the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality, measured at 90 days of ownership. “Re-

ceiving IQS awards in multiple vehicle segments acknowledges Hyundai’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction across our entire product lineup, not just our luxury vehicles,” said Dave Zuchowski, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hyundai Motor America. “Today’s awards are a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of all the Hyundai team members here, in Korea and Montgomery, Alabama,” he added. The IQS serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality and has proven to be an excellent predictor of long-term reliability, which may significantly

impact new-vehicle purchase decisions. The focus of the study is model-level performance and comparison of individual models

to similar models in respective segments, which helps manufacturers worldwide to design and produce higher-quality vehicles.

MAINTENANCE TIPS

How to repair dents on your car Continues from last week

Repair

pelled by a bigger turbocharged 3.6-litre V6 engine with 400 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Turbo also has the seven-speed transmission and all-wheel drive. Porsche claims a rapid 0-60 time of 4.6 seconds (4.4 seconds with launch control).

Safety The 2015 Macan comes standard with antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and a knee airbag for each front passenger. Optional safety features include front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, frontal collision warning and mitigation system, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning and keeping assist.

Interior design The Macan’s cabin reflects modern Porsche design themes with triple dials for the instruments, a flat dash top and a center console that looks as if it belongs in a Learjet. Although there are many buttons in here, it doesn’t take long to acclimate to them thanks to a logical layout. This is also an exceptionally well-crafted cabin, and the interior materials have an upscale look and feel. The cockpit-style layout provides a seating position well suited to spirited driving, and the steering wheel takes inspiration from the

company’s exotic 918 Spyder sports car. There’s a price to pay, however, for this overtly sporty ambience, as the Macan gives away some cargo and rear passenger space to its rivals. With the rear seats in use, the Macan’s cargo capacity is 17.7 cubic feet, about 10 cubes shy of the SQ5 and X3.

To begin repairs, find all dents on the car and drill multiple holes in them. Use the slide hammer by screwing the top tip into one hole at a time. Once the tip is screwed in, slide the weighted handle back and forth to pull the metal out and back into shape. Rotate using different holes every few times you pull the handle so that the metal is shaped evenly. It won’t become completely smooth, but get it as close as possible. Use the body hammer to gently tap down any high spots if you pull too hard. Repeat this for every dent. Once the dents are mostly back to normal, use the grinder to grind all of the existing paint and prim-

er away from the dent and surrounding area. The body filler you are about to apply won’t adhere to a painted surface.

Paint The best place to paint a car is inside a professional paint booth. Call local body shops and ask to rent their paint booth and heat lamps for a few hours. If none is available, use

a clean garage. If possible, rinse the garage walls and floor with water to remove as much dust and dirt as possible. If nothing else, sweep and mop it and then cover any items in the garage with large sheets of plastic or tarp. Purchase pre-mixed paint from an automotive paint supply store or use automotive spray can paint. Begin at the top of the car and work your way down. Apply three to five thin coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry for 30 minutes. Wait two hours after spraying the final coat to apply three to five clear coats of paint, waiting 30 minutes between each coat. Wait a full day for all of the paint to dry completely.

Volkswagen to build two new plants in China

erman carmaker, Volkswagen says it will build two new vehicle plants in China as it invests $2.7bn along with its partner. The agreement between the company and Chinese auto manufacturer FAW for the new factories in the world's biggest car market was signed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Volkswagen said in a statement. The two firms will together spend around two billion euros to expand production capacity, VW said. It was not clear what the cost of the new factories in the northern port city of Tianjin and Qingdao in the east would be, or how the investment would be apportioned.

The statement also did not specify what the plants' annual capacity would be or when they were expected to start production. “With these investments, Volkswagen is clearly expressing its commitment to the Chinese market,” Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Group China, Jochem Heizmann stated. The sites were selected due to their "high qualification levels and the infrastructure available", the statement added. Merkel

is on a three-day visit to China, her seventh since 2005 with economic ties topping the agenda and a high powered business delegation in tow. She toured a Volkswagen factory in the southwestern city of Chengdu r e cently.

She is being accompanied by executives from Siemens, Airbus, Luf-

thansa and Deutsche Bank among other companies, according to German media. For the EU's biggest economy, China is a crucial mass market. Chinese companies want its technology and millions of newly prosperous citizens crave German goods ranging from Audi sedans to luxury home appliances. Germany last year sold goods worth 67bn euros to China, its number-two export market outside Europe after the United States. Imports from the Asian powerhouse, meanwhile, topped 73bn euros. China has become Volkswagen's largest and most important market, according to the company. The group sold more than 1.5 million vehicles in the country in the first five months of this year, including sales by its two joint ventures FAW Volkswagen and Shanghai-Volkswagen, the statement said, up 17.7 per cent from the same period in 2013.

Cocktail

Friday, July 11, 2014

Website begs users to stop uploading humiliating Brazil’s 7-1 defeat photos

he website joked about the game but then asked users to stop uploading clips of Brazil’s epic defeat. After getting waxed in the World Cup semi-finals on Tuesday by Germany 7-1, the Brazilian soccer team was getting ripped on from all angles by Twitter users. However, one of their humiliations may be worse than the rest. After Internet pornography website Pornhub began joking about the

game while it was still being played, the site issued a public plea to users to stop uploading game footage. They also began retweeting other jokes at Brazil’s expense. “Holy [expletive], Germany. At least have the decency to lube up before ass reaming Brazil. #BrazilvsGermany #ButtHurt #BRZvsGER,” wrote one person. “[Expletive] me like I’m Brazil and you’re Germany,” wrote another.

Teacher suspended for allegedly twerking with students

Florida middle school teacher who is accused of twerking and receiving a lap dance from a student at a soccer team party has been suspended. Courtney Spruill, who teaches physical education and health at Kernan Middle School, was suspended by the Duval County School Board. Spruill also coaches soccer at the school. During the alleged incident, Spruill was seen drink-

ing alcohol and twerking on players. Cellphone video of Spruill getting a lap dance from a student at the party was also turned over to the district, Action News reported. The homeowner of the house where the party was being held said that although Spruill did bring vodka to the house as a present, she didn’t drink any of it and had soda instead. The parent also said she wouldn’t allow the children to have alcohol.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Oddities

No more naked Apollos on Russian banknotes, lawmaker says N aked images of the Greek God Apollo have graced buildings and paintings for centuries, but his disrobed body has so shocked one Russian lawmaker that he wants to change the country’s 100-ruble banknote. The note, worth less than $3, depicts an image of a statue of Apollo riding a fourhorse chariot atop the Bolshoi Theatre, one of Russia’s main cultural symbols. “You can see clearly that Apollo is naked, you can see his genitalia,” Roman Khudyakov, a member of parliament for the nationalist LDPR party, told Reuters Television. “I submitted a parliamentary request and forwarded it directly to the head of the central bank asking for the banknote to be brought into line with the law protecting children and to remove this Apollo.” He said he had been stirred into action when he saw two children looking at the banknote: “The girl screamed

at the boy: ‘Can you see that? I told you, there is a penis here!’. I was shocked, you know.” The call coincides with growing conservatism in President Vladimir Putin’s third term, during which he has courted the Russian Orthodox Church. What is widely described as anti-gay legislation has also been passed banning the promotion of “non-traditional” relations to minors. The Bolshoi itself made headlines by covering the geni-

talia of the huge Apollo statue with a figleaf when it reopened in 2011 after a scandal-marred restoration that took more than six years and $700 million. Khudyakov’s proposal triggered a wave of satire on the Internet, with some users joking it must have been the first time a lawmaker had seen a 100-rouble banknote as they are reported to deal with much larger sums. Anger mounts as Germany unearths second U.S. spy suspect - German politicians re-

An image of Apollo in a Russian currency note.

acted angrily on Wednesday to news of a suspected U.S. spy in the defence ministry, which came days after the arrest of a German foreign intelligence agency worker as a double agent. After the federal prosecutors said authorities had conducted searches in connection with a second spying case, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition partners said Washington should remove any U.S. embassy staff involved and cease spying on its ally.

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business Maritime

Cabotage waiver divides industry stakeholders Nearly 10 years after the coming on stream of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Cabotage, Act, 2003, stakeholders are still divided over the desirability of the waiver clause contained in the act. Some stakeholders have argued that the inability of the indigenous operators to have a piece of the pie is to the inclusion of the waiver, which has allegedly been subjected to abuse. FRANCIS EZEM reports.

he administration of the waiver clause under the Coastal and Inland Shipping Cabotage Act, 2003 has remained contentious in the last 10 years when the legislation came into force. This is more so given that most stakeholders believe that that the core objectives of the legislation of building capacity and enhancing indigenous participation in the coastal trade are yet to be realised. The Act provides that vessels to be deployed in the coastal and inland trade must be built in Nigeria, owned and manned by Nigerians. But ironically, more than 90 per cent of the vessels operating in the trade are foreign owned, even tugboats operating in the country are also manned by foreigners. It was probably in realisation of certain loopholes in the act that the Federal Ministry of Transport embarked on a review of the clause, which is expected to lead to the review of the entire legislation. Minister of Transport, Mallam Idris Umar, while also admitting that the implementation of the Cabotage regime in Nigeria has been characterised by scores of challenges, he noted that this prompted the painstaking efforts by the Ministry to prepare a fresh policy document that would enhance the enforcement of the Act. Under the new guidelines foreign vessels wishing to participate in the coastal trade are expected to collect a Cabotage Waiver Form CW 1, from the Cabotage Services Depart of NIMASA and on completion, return same to the department at least 60 days prior to the arrival of the vessel in respect of which the waiver administration is being made. “One of the new and salient changes in the draft policy document is the review on the deduction of the two percent levy under the CVFF, which now makes it mandatory for the vessels operating in the coastal trade to take Nigerian cadets on board their vessels in addition to the payment of the mandatory two percent levy. The new guidelines also require the

Jolapamo

Akpobolokemi

Cabotage Services department of NIMASA to within 48 hours of receipt of the application cause a note of Cabotage waiver to be published in the Website of the agency so as to enable stakeholders raise any objection within seven days after which the Minister may consider the application. This draft document after the stakeholders input is expected to be forwarded to the National Assembly to pave way for the amendment. But despite these assurances by the minister, who has been given the statutory powers to grant the waivers, most stakeholders believe strongly that Nigeria should not be talking about waiver at this stage of the enforcement of the waiver clause. For instance, Director General of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Mr. Ify-Anazonwu Akerele, who spoke at stakeholders workshop organised by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency last week, insisted that Nigeria does not have any reason to be granting waivers 10 years after the legislation took effect during which adequate indigenous capacity would have been built. According to her, the low success recorded in terms of achieving the very core objectives of the legislation was because the waiver clause war there and so the foreign players with the connivance of their Nigerian collaborators will continue to hide under the clause to sideline Nigerian operators. “Honestly at this point of enforcement of the Cabotage regime, Nigeria does not need any waiver that would allow foreigners to perform certain functions allegedly believed to be too technical for the indigenous operators to handle because as soon as we continue with that, we will never get it right”, she said.

The NCS-boss also said: If you ask my opinion, Nigerians should be allowed to wobble and fumble until they get it right by learning on the job because experience is the best teacher”. But many other stakeholders however believe that the business of shipping whether within the coastal and inland region or the deep sea proper is guided by international standards and protocols, which must be strictly adhered to at all times. Proponents of this school of thought are of the strong belief that Nigeria is a member of the International Maritime organisation IMO, which churns out these rules, standards and protocols to suit specific requirements and developments in the global shipping industry and so such standards must not be lowered to accommodate the low capacity of the Nigerian operators. Executive Director of NIMASA in charge of maritime labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Obi Callistus, while speaking in Lagos recently, noted that given the current level of development of Nigeria’s maritime industry, waiver application cannot be eliminated for now, more so given the low capacity of the indigenous operators for now. According to him, calls for total elimination of the waiver might be untimely for now as the nation does not have what it takes to completely run her coastal and inland trade for now, which make waiver a critical requirement. “Granting of waivers is critical because it is an acknowledgement of deficiencies and these deficiencies cannot be addressed over night but rather by consistency in building the required capacity”, he insisted. He also said: “If we should expunge the waiver clause as being canvassed in some

Granting of waivers is critical because it is an acknowledgement of deficiencies and these deficiencies cannot be addressed over night but rather by consistency in building the required capacity

quarters, what of in critical situations? So the waiver is the last resort in times of such critical situations. “We are aware and conscious of the capacity gap and that is why the agency is building a shipyard, maritime university and institutes in existing Nigerian universities in addition to training over 1, 700 cadets in various maritime institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Egypt, Malaysia, India and Singapore so that adequate human capacity will be built”, he said. He also hinted that in addition to these capacity building initiatives, the agency will continue to insist that no foreigner is allowed to render services Nigerian operators have the requisite capacities to render, insisting that there cannot not be any better law in the country designed to build indigenous capacity in the maritime industry. The ED who also admitted that the body language of some International Oil Companies IOCs operating in the country indicates that they may want to continue to subvert the new waiver guidelines, warned that the government would not hesitate in clamping down on such IOCs and their collaborators. According to him, NIMASA, which is charged with total responsibility of enforcing the law will shut the operations of any IOC caught subverting the clause. “We will be drastic on both the IOCs, their contractors and even the manning agents, which are regulated by the agency because as a responsible regulatory agency, we will not sit here and allow them abuse the law that has been placed on laps to implement”, he further warned. It was gathered that the agency through the Cabotage Department has started monitoring pre-qualification adverts placed by these IOCs both on local and international media to ensure that for every pre-qualification advert, Nigerian shipping firms or crew have been given the right of first refusal. Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board NCDMB, Mr. Ernest Nwapa, who also admitted that Nigerians still lack the capacity and that foreign operators still dominate the business, however disclosed that the board has introduced the vessel categorisation scheme to check abuses. “From the statistics at our disposal, more foreign vessels are engaged in the coastal and inland shipping arena, which ordinarily should be the exclusive preserve of the Nigerian ship owners and so this vessel categorisation policy is expected to address that by adding value to the indigenous operators”, Nwapa had said. “We have told all the IOCs to do all what they can to comply with the vessel categorisation because any vessel that is not captured on the list will be blacklisted”, he further warned. It is therefore expected that these measures would address the inherent loopholes in the waiver administration.

Business Maritime

Friday, July 11, 2014

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New ICT facility will eliminate server breakdown, says Edike Stories: Francis Ezem

he Apapa Area 1 command of the Nigeria Customs Service says the newly installed Information Communications Technology, ICT, Centre, which also incorporates a new communications tower will completely eliminate the rampant cases of Automated System for Customs Data, ASYCUDA, server breakdown, which negatively affected prompt cargo release. The service had in the first three months of the year experienced regular server breakdown at the Customs Processing Centre CPC, with the attendant delay in cargo delivery, a development that was worsened by the destruction of its communication mast put in place by Webb Fontaine, the infrastructure service provider under the new Destination Inspection scheme. Area Controller in charge

Edike

Sarunmi

of the command, Mr. Charles Edike, who spoke at the official inauguration of the new centre, disclosed that apart from providing connectivity with the Dealer Trader Input DTI, cafes and the National Agency for Food Administration and Control, NAFDAC, the facility also provides connectivity for the Nigerian Maritime

Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. According to him, the project which was graciously approved by the Comptroller General of the service, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi was also designed to provide specialised IT training for officers and men of the command as well as those of other commands with-

VESSELS EXPECTED AT LAGOS PILOTAGE DISTRICT

in the Lagos Zone A. Edike noted that the decision of the command to embark on the project was informed by the desire to improve efficiency occasioned by the connectivity of the relevant stakeholders, which will in turn enhance speedy clearance of cargo at the port. “The overall objective of this computerisation programme is to enhance efficiency and reduce the cost of doing business at the ports due to accumulated demurrage, rent on cargo and other allied fees and levies that push up cost of doing business at the ports”, he insisted. Meanwhile zonal coordinator in charge of Lagos Zone A, Assistant Comptroller General Victor Gbemudu, who performed the official inauguration of the facility, noted that the service was committed to its ongoing ICT revolution as part of efforts to facilitate trade by simplifying all the processes. According to him, with the aid of ICT, he could monitor revenue collection of about five commands that make up the zone from the comfort of his office, which brings about efficiency and drastic reduction in the cost of doing business

at the ports. He however noted that though the ICT training facility is domiciled at Apapa, which is the premier and flagship command of the service, the facility is for the benefit of all officers and men under the zone, adding that efforts would be made to replicate the project in all other commands in the near future. While commenting on the twoday training session organised by the command for news men on modern Customs clearing procedures, which were the first to be trained at the facility, the zonal coordinator noted that it was because of the importance the service attaches to the media. He noted that it was necessary to train the media so that they will in turn properly educate the entire public on the operations and dynamics of Customs procedures. He tasked the media men on proper and accurate reportage of the activities of the service, adding that more often than not, the service has been portrayed by the media in a manner that does not reflect its true image, adding that the service only enforces government fiscal policy and not the maker of such policies.

Apapa gridlock worries NPA

he Nigerian Ports Authority has expressed serious concern over the worsening cases of road traffic congestion on most seaport access roads in Lagos, especially around the Lagos Ports Complex and Tin Can Island Port, which are the nation’s biggest seaports. Managing Director of the authority, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, who spoke in Lagos, said the gridlock which is affecting the smooth delivery of cargoes at the ports could be attributed to the bad access roads into Apapa, a development that was made worse by the rainy season as well as on-going reconstruction work on the Apapa – Oshodi Expressway. According to him, this perennial traffic gridlock on the access roads if left unchecked could have adverse effects on the activities of both the two biggest seaports in Lagos, the LPC and TCIP, which are also the gateway to the Nigerian economy. He therefore called for urgent collaborative effort by all the major stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector to ad-

dress the challenge and further disclosed that the authority had initiated plans to host a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the way forward. Reiterating the vital roles of the access roads into Apapa on port operations in the area, Abdullahi expressed the commitment of the NPA to cooperate and work with relevant government agencies to find a lasting solution to the perennial traffic gridlock into Apapa. He commended the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Works for the award of the contract for re-construction of the Apapa-Oshodi Express Way and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State in trying to find lasting solutions to the problem. He however appealed to the construction companies to expedite action on the reconstruction, adding that the NPA has also embarked on remedial work of fixing the common user roads around the ports with the aim of alleviating the problem. Stakeholders have been counting their losses over the perennial road congestion, which assumed a horrifying dimension in the last two weeks.

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Business News

Friday, July 11, 2014

FG to fast-track Kashimbilla multi-purpose dam, Mambilla hydro power projects CHIDI UGWU ABUJA

he Federal Government has reiterated its commitment towards fast tracking completion of key power projects in the northern part of country. The government said the move was necessary to avert the anticipated food crisis in the North-East, occasioned by prolonged insurgency in the zone. To this end, the Federal Government has ordered co-ordinated intervention programmes that would be implemented by a special committee already put in place by President

Special Assistant, Media, to Minister of State for Power, Mr. Olawale Rasheed in a statement noted that the group’s membership was drawn from serving ministers and high ranking political office holders from the zone. According to the statement, Minister of State, Power, Mohammed Wakil, made the disclosure while receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, said the the Mambilla Hydro project has been on the drawing board for decades without any meaningful sign of take-off, until President Goodluck Jonathan brought it back to life with a whopping sum of $7 billion Dollars. The dam has

capacity to deliver 3,050MW to the grid. Wakil also said that the Kashimbilla multi-purpose dam in Taraba State will not only provide water for domestic purposes and irrigation, but also, the electricity component would be activated to add 40MW to the national grid. “This is to further demonstrate the administration’s commitment to holistic development of the North-East. The presidential effort is also tied to the ongoing fast tracking of identified key power projects as catalyst for socio economic emancipation, food security and poverty alleviation’ he was quoted to have said.

Wakil added that other transmission line projects are on course to evacuate power and enhance the quality of electricity supply in both Borno and Yobe States. The minister told the delegation led by the former DirectorGeneral of PENCOM, Mr. Mohammed Kabiru Ahmed that no stone should be left unturned in the realisation of the objectives as contained in the Group’s mandate. He said, “The Group should in line with its mandate, draw-up a comprehensive recovery agenda like the Marshal Plan, that will provide workable solutions to issues that have been thrown up especially those that will help avert

impending food crisis”. Speaking on behalf of the group, Ahmed assured the minister that the NERG is appreciative of the enormous responsibility entrusted on them at this point in time; he said they would assist Government in the harmonisation of development programmes for the benefit of the common people living in the region. In response to the group leader’s comment, the Minister of State said that the administration is working proactively in ensuring insurgency does not totally affect farming population to the extent that there would be famine in the zone.

Industrialisation: Ministry commences training of staff EMMANUEL OGBONNAYA

L-R: Consultant Techshop, GE Garages, Mr. Gabriel Leoni; Strategic Account Executive, Mr. Gbola Sobande; Manager Projects and Operations, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, (NCDMB) Mr. Egbuta Okey, and Manager Corporate Building, Mr. Usman Abubakar, during the NCDMB’s visit to GE Garages in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO:ADEMOLA AKINLABI

ITF to cut down employment rate of expatriates EMMANUEL OGBONNAYA

he Industrial Training Fund ITF has disclosed that most of the jobs being offered to expatriates in the country ought to be the exclusive reserve of Nigerians and has commenced plans to equip citizens with the relevant skills to fill such positions that were hitherto reserved for foreigners. The agency’s objective was disclosed to the media by its Director General, Dr. Juliet Chukkas Onaeko in Lagos, noting that new strategies have been adopted to help deliver the agency’s mandate of generating an adequate pool of indigenous trained manpower to drive the nation’s economy under various strategic and collaborative local and international platforms.

Onaeko pointed out that a situation where expatriates were invited to take up indigenous job positions because Nigerians lacked the requisite skills for those available jobs has become unacceptable and ITF was determined to bring an end to the negative trend. “We will first ascertain the specific gaps in the various sectors of industry to help us achieve 100 per cent job security for trainees. A lot of companies complain that our citizens lack requisite skills to be employed in their establishments we want to train and produce people who can fill these positions and at home and even outside the country,” she said. According to her Nigeria with a population of over 160 million basically made up of youths can afford to export professional labour in the soft skills sector after filling the available positions in existing

industries in the country, however for that to happen they must be trained, certified and equipped with relevant industrial and vocational skills. “With our universities graduating over one million youths every year some of whom find it difficult to fit into the soft skills areas where most job opportunities are available, we have decided to provide the platform to further equip them with industry specific skills in collaboration with indigenous firms and international training partners to reduce the rate of unemployment to 3.5 per cent from where it is currently,” she said. She also disclosed that with the recently launched National Industrial Revolution Plan NIRP, it has become pertinent to develop new training programmes that would be relevant to the scheme with emphasis on skills acquisition.

he Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, has commenced training and capacity development for 345 members of staff, the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa said. The permanent secretary pointed out that with the expanded mandate of the ministry, the staff needed to upgrade their capacity in order to cope effectively with rising expectations, particularly with regard to the flagship policies on industrialisation and enterprise development. He disclosed that the holistic training and capacity building exercise, which kicked off at the beginning of July 2014, would be in two batches. He made this known during the introduction of the newly elected Head of the Joint Nego-

tiating Council on Staff Welfare for the Ministry, in Abuja yesterday. Musa stressed that the era of indiscipline and lack of respect to rules and regulations, in addition to inadequate capacity development had gone for good. He said, “Members of staff must comply with rules and regulations and must be dedicated to work. If you abide by these rules, you’ll be motivated. But if you refuse to come to work, you will not be paid. I operate an open-door policy and the management welcomes suggestions. But we will not tolerate unnecessary dissent from anybody because you can cause disaffection in the system.” He advised public servants to proffer solutions to problems rather than creating more problems in line with the industrialisation policy of the Ministry and the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Edo disburses N200m to SMEs SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

ver N200million has been disbursed to small and medium scale business operators by the Edo State Government since 2009 under the Edo State Government and Bank of Industry loan Scheme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Macdonald Obasuke, disclosed this on Wednesday while issuing out over N45million cheques to beneficiaries. He explained that the scheme which was jointly financed by

the state government which contributed N250million and the Bank of Industry, N250million, was part of the efforts of the state government to assist small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the state due to the high interest rates in the banks. “The scheme is for serious and responsible minded business owners across the state whether you are an indigene or not. And we have over two hundred people who have benefited and the good news is that while few other states who operate the same scheme ask beneficiaries to pay interest, the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole said our own will be interest free.’’

Business News

FRANCIS EZEM

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, has foreclosed the possibility of expunging the waiver clause under the Coastal and Inland Shipping Cabotage, Act, 2003. This is against the background of renewed calls by stakeholders for the removal of the Cabotage waiver over alleged gross abuse by some foreign companies, which many believed was responsible for the continued domination of foreign players 10 years after the enactment of the legislation. Executive Director of the agency in charge of maritime labour and Cabotage services, Mr. Obi Callistus, who spoke in Lagos, noted that at the current development of Nigeria’s maritime industry, waiver application cannot

ABUJA

ura Energy Limited, owners of Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC, has disclosed that it had invested about N210 million on IT infrastructures, comprising meters and billing platforms. This is even as its customer audit to ascertain the number of electricity consumers within its coverage area had been conducted. The Executive Director, Operations Support, of the company, Mr. Umar Bello, disclosed theses investment and consumer audit initiatives when a team from the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, visited the company in continuation of the agency’s post-privatisation monitoring activities of recently privatised PHCN successor companies. A statement by the BPE spokesperson, Chigbo Anichebe, quoted Bello as saying that the audit was carried out on its behalf by AF-Mercados EMI, a specialist consultancy firm that supports clients in liberalizing energy sectors and promoting efficient sus-

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Cabotage: Nigeria can’t do without waiver clause, says NIMASA be eliminated for now given the low capacity of the indigenous operators for now. According to him, calls for total elimination of the waiver might be untimely for now as the nation does not have what it takes to completely run her coastal and inland trade for now, which make waiver a critical requirement. “Granting of waivers is critical because it is an acknowledgement of deficiencies and these deficiencies cannot be addressed over night but rather by consistency in building the required capacity”, he insisted. He also said: “If we should expunge the waiver clause as being canvassed in some quarters, what

Aura Energy invests N210m on infrastructure, completes consumer audit TOLA AKINMUTIMI

Friday, July 11, 2014

tainable energy markets. He explained further that the exercise was conducted to reduce the inefficiencies within the system, adding that from the consumer enumeration carried out during the exercise, it was discovered that Jos distribution company had about 400, 000 customers as against the 274, 000 initially indicated during the privatisation process. Bello disclosed that as a result of the findings from the audit, the company had realised that there is the need to invest more in IT infrastructure meters and billing platforms. Putting the company’s investment on the critical infrastructure at about N210 million so far, the company’s Director disclosed that transformer energy analyzers would be procured in order to determine and curb energy losses, while also improving efficiency in distribution of electricity. For instance, he explained that the investors would install about 70, 000 meters by the end of the year in addition to the several call and service centers that had been established as steps to improve service delivery.

of in critical situations? So the waiver is the last resort in times of such critical situations”. The executive director however insisted that it was in realisation of this fundamental truth that the agency combines both the task of enforcing the waiver clause to forestall any abuse as well as embarking on a mission to build capacity so that the country does not apply waiver for too long. “We are aware and conscious of the capacity gap and that is why the agency is building a shipyard, maritime university and institutes in existing Nigerian universities in addition to training over 1, 700 cadets in various maritime institutions in the Unit-

TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he National Planning Commission, NPC, and African Infrastructure Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU that will facilitate effective implementation of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan, NIIMP. The Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Ntufam Fidel Ugbo, signed on behalf of his agency while Dr. Onuoha Nnachi, Principal Consult Partner, African Infrastructure Group Limited, signed for his group. A statement by the Head of Information Unit of the Commission, Mallam Salisu Haiba, yesterday quoted Ugbo as underscoring

ed States, United Kingdom, India, Egypt, Malaysia, India and Singapore so that adequate human capacity will be built”, he said. He also hinted that in addition to these capacity building initiatives, the agency will continue to insist that no foreigner is allowed to render services Nigerian operators have the requisite capacities to render, insisting that there cannot not be any better law in the country designed to build indigenous capacity in the maritime industry. The Federal Ministry of Transport had in February this year, released fresh guidelines on the waiver application as part of measures to checkmate the increasing

abuse of the clause by some IOCs with the connivance of their Nigerian partners. Meanwhile, the Director General of the agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, had while speaking at a one-day stakeholders interactive workshop on the Cabotage operations in Nigeria, warned IOCs that NIMASA will shut the operations of any firm caught subverting the clause. According to him, following the release of the new guidelines, the management of the agency had gone around sensitising the IOCs on the need to comply with the provisions of the Act both in terms of use of foreign vessels and manning of such vessels.

NPC, African Group sign MoU on NIIMP Implementation the relevance of the partnership with the private sector for the government to achieve the desired result in the implementation of the Infrastructure plan for the nation during the signing ceremony. He described the private sector as key to the implementation of the NIIMP and the development of the country, arguing that government alone cannot fill the huge infrastructural gap identified and needed in the country. To that effect, the Commission’s scribe said that the MoU entered into will attract investors to the nation’s infrastructural de-

velopment drive and will also give them the opportunity to identify areas of interest which will ultimately profits their investment. “Partnering with the private sector will bring investors to infrastructure in the country and also sell the document. It will also make the private sector know what they can get when they invest’’, Ugbo said. While urging the group to move in to action by selling the document to the world, he also assured them of the commitment of NPC to stick to the rules of engagement.

FCT Minister of State, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide (left) and Team Leader, African Development Bank Group, Mr. Tom Mugoya, during a discussion on financing projects for Satellite towns, in Abuja yesterday.

Young entrepreneurs benefit from business masterclass DAVID AUDU

wo of Nigeria’s brightest young entrepreneurs have had a business master class from Sir Richard Branson, after winning a competition by British Council and Virgin Atlantic in

Partnership with Zenith Bank. Eseoghene Ise Odiete and Nasir Abdulqadir Yammama won the Enterprise Challenge online competition for Nigerians entrepreneurs aged 18-35 and living in Nigeria or studying in the UK. The Apprentice-style competition took place over three rounds,

during which candidates wrote an essay on their entrepreneurial journeys, created a video pitch for their businesses or business plans, and had their ideas scrutinised by a panel of experts in Nigeria and the UK. The mentoring session between the two winners of the competi-

tion and Sir Richard Branson took place on the 1st of July in London, and session was designed so that the winners could ask about and learn from the magnate’s life and business experiences. According to the organisers, at the end of the meeting it turned out to be more than a mentor-

ing session, it was a master class which everyone benefitted from. Sir Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman Virgin Group, said Virgin Atlantic is delighted to have supported the Enterprise Challenge program dedicated to supporting young Nigerian entrepreneurs and fostering new ideas.

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Business News

Friday, July 11, 2014

Nigeria emerges UNEP’s regional centre for marine pollution OLUFEMI ADEOSUN ABUJA

he United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, has sited the headquarters of the regional coordination centre to combat marine pollution in West, Central and Sourthern Africa, in Nigeria. UNEP Regional Coordinator on Abidjan Convention, Mr. Abou Bamba, stated that the decision to grant Nigeria the centre hosting right was reached at the 11th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Abidjan Convention. Bamba, who spoke during a meeting with the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam in Abuja yesterday, stated that Nigeria won the right based on its long years of experience in marine pollution management. According to him, with this spe-

cial hosting right, Nigeria would be in charge of the coordination of combating trans-boundary marine pollution across the 22 countries of the Abidjan Convention. Apart from being the 6th largest oil producer in the world with a coastline of 853 km, 9,000 km of navigable inland waterways, Bamba noted that Nigeria’s expertise in marine management, its political stability and presence of an established similar national centre, won it the the right to host the centre. As the host for the centre, Nigeria would be among other functions, be required to collect and disseminate relevant information, initiate, design and assist in the running of national and regional training courses and exercises and assist the countries in ensuring the sustainability and revision of their national plans

and of the sub-regional contingency plan. Others include, facilitation and coordinating international assistance in case of emergency, fostering scientific and technical cooperation with UN specialised agencies, intergovernmental, over mental and non- governmental organisation, and facilitation of the provision of technical and scientific assistance and training to governments and institutions within the region. In her acceptance speech, Mallam, thanked UNEP for siting the centre in Nigeria, stressing that the country would fulfill all its obligations under the arrangement. She stated that siting the centre in Nigeria would further enhance its capacity to deal with the menace of oil spills and other issues associated with marine pollution.

3,100 towers outsourced to Helios Towers KUNLE AZEEZ

arthi Airtel, a global telecommunications services provider is outsourcing approximately 3,100 telecoms towers from its total telecoms assets to Helios Towers Africa, HTA, as part of the telecoms company’s divestment strategy. Airtel has operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa and Helios Towers Africa is the leading independent telecoms towers company in Africa. According to the highlights of the deal, Airtel will divest approximately 3,100 towers to HTA in four countries across its African operations, which will expand HTA’s tower coverage in Africa to over 7,800 owned towers. The deal, which will also help

EBONYI

LagosHOMS: Ethnicity, religion not conditions for participation –Fashola FRANCIS SUBERU

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday said ethnicity and religion are not conditions for participation in the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (LagosHOMS). Fashola made the disclosure at the fifth raffle of LagosHOMS, held at the Blueroof, Agidingbi area of the state where 102 new home owners emerged; explaining that the scheme, “does not in any way discriminate on any grounds. “It encompasses the diversity of our country. From the draw, we can see applicants from Igbo, Hausa and Delta among others

duly participated in the scheme and won in the process.” He emphasised that the scheme “does not ask religious questions. It does not ask ethnic questions. So, tell those who want to divide us by religion that they will fail. This housing scheme has further bound us together.” The governor said the scheme had not been infected with bribery, saying it “is free from bribery and man-know-man syndromes. Applicants do not have to know any government official at any level to benefit from the scheme. “I do not know any state in the federation in the country where two hundred homes are put in the market every month. I do not even know any country in West Africa where two hundred homes are

put in the market every month. This is happening in Lagos State and by an All Progressives Congress (APC) government.” The governor said many housing units are currently under different stages of construction across the state, pointing out that the government has expanded to Ilubirin, Iponri and Akerele Extension among others. According to him, “is currently working on 23 additional construction sites. We have equally engaged 193 contractors. Also, about 2,483 persons of diverse qualification have been employed as a result apart from consultants, architect and other building professionals that have benefitted from the housing scheme directly and indirectly.”

Airtel deleverage through debt reduction and reduced ongoing capital expenditure, follows Airtel’s and HTA’s strategies to drive cost efficiencies throughout the industry, the promotion of passive infrastructure and to mitigate against the proliferation of towers. Under the agreement, Airtel will have full access to the towers from HTA under a long term lease contract while the deal also envisages that tower operationsrelated personnel will be transferred from Airtel to HTA. The agreements while allowing Airtel to focus on its core business and customers, would also enable it to deleverage through debt reduction, and will significantly reduce its ongoing capital expenditure on passive infrastructure.

Ebonyi government avowed to boost rice production ALIUNA GODWIN

L-R: Executive Secretary, Ibadan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Joseph Adebajo; President, Prince Bimbo Makanjuola; Osile Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso; Deputy President, Chief (Mrs.) M. B. Amusan-Ogunnaike, and other Executive members of the Chamber during a visit to the royal father at his palace recently.

bonyi State Government has reiterated its readiness to boost rice production with the collaboration of West African Agricultural Production Programme, WAAPP, to bring to an end lack of food in the state. Speaking with our correspondent in Abakaliki, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Steve Orogwu, said that the anchor point of the collaboration is the System of Rice Intensification ,SIR. According to him, “This aims at ensuring adequate production of rice in the state to meet

both internal and external needs. Orogwu said the state has taken consignment of about 200 metric tonnes of improved rice seedlings from the project which are being distributed to rice farmers free of charge. “The seedlings are disease resistant, high yielding and can adapt to adverse weather conditions, as these measures are aimed at ensuring improved production of rice to agitate for the banning of rice importation by the Federal Government. He noted that when rice importation is hopefully banned in 2015, Ebonyi is expected as a leading rice producer in the country to effectively take up the challenge of meeting the rice needs of the country.’’

Caverton repositions, appoints Choms managing director JOHNSON OKANLAWON

s part of its repositioning plans, Caverton Helicopters, a subsidiary of Caverton Offshore Support Group has named Captain Josiah Choms as its new managing director. Captain Choms will take over August 1 from Mr. Sola Falola, the pioneer managing director/ accountable manager of the leading provider of aviation support services to the oil and gas sector. A statement from the company yesterday said having successfully served out two terms of four years apiece, he is stepping down in line with the company’s corpo-

rate governance practice. Captain Choms, the incoming managing director, has had over 15 years of continuous aviation experience and is the erstwhile Shell Contract Manager for Caverton Helicopters. He holds the Airplane Transport Pilot Licenses (Aeroplanes and Helicopters) and is a certified flight instructor and an authorized examiner for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. He is also an ISO 9001:2008 lead auditor. Captain Choms joined Caverton in August 2010, serving first as the Chief Pilot for Shell Port Harcourt before his promotion to Managing Pilot for the entire Shell Operations covering Port Harcourt, Warri and Lagos.

Agribusiness

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

AGRIBUSINESS

FG, IFDC, Consult Hyperion record 90% agro-inputs redemption Tola Akinmutimi ABUJA

s the eight weeks set for the redemption of agroinputs by farmers under the GES TAP Pilot Scheme in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, formally end today (Friday), the Federal Government and its strategic partners in the distribution of fertiliser and seed inputs, the International Fertilizer Development Center, IFDC, and Consult Hyperion, have rated the exercise as a huge success. Field monitoring exercises conducted by National Mirror in some of the 29 Redemption Centres rolled out by the IFDC within the FCT indicated that about 90 per cent of the enumerated 110,000 farmers issued with GES TAP cards had redeemed their inputs as at the end of the 7th week of the exercise. Confirming the success

achieved so far under the Pilot Scheme, during a media chat at Tugamanji Redemption Centre of Gwagwalada Local Government Area, the IFDC’s Zonal Coordinator for the local government area, Amarachi Ukeka, said redemption of inputs had achieved huge success even as efforts were still being made by government and the GES TAP partners to ensure that all enumerated farmers get their inputs. She said: “This is the redemption centre in Tugamanji and it is taking care of farmers in Tugamanji ward, Ikwa and Zuba wards. That is, three wards are merged to this redemption centre. The total cumulative number of farmers enumerated for the three wards is about 6,200. At the moment, we have redeemed over 5,000 farmers. “We are still trying to communicate with those that are yet to redeem their inputs to do

so because we will like to see all those enumerated redeem their inputs. There should be a meeting next week to decide on when we will start closing down redemption centres especially where we have redeemed over 80, 85 and 90 per cent of farmers”, Ukeka added. Another Zonal Coordinator of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Patience Adamade, reported similar experiences in her zone, saying that she is optimistic that almost all the farmers in her zone would have redeemed their inputs by the end of the exercise this week. Speaking about the exercise, one of the agro dealers interviewed, Mallam Idris Bello, confirmed that the exercise had been a major improvement over previous ones, especially with the guarantee provided under the NIRSAL which enables agro dealers to have access to funds to finance their business.

L-R: Managing Director, Grand Cereals Limited, Mr. Layi Oyatoki; Executive National President, CAFAN, Chief Tayo Akingbolagun and Director Corporate Services, UACN Plc, Mr. J. I. D. Dada, at the Vital Fish Feed CAFAN Endorsement ceremony held in Lagos recently.

Lagos State imports 113,000 tonnes of fish annually Abolaji Adebayo

espite its rich fish resources base, Lagos state still depends on importation of about 113,00 tones of fish annually to supplement its local production in order to make up its demand of the aquarium produce. The state has 22 per cent of total land area covered water and also a coastline of 180km along the Atlantic Ocean, which makes fishing the major occupation of the people of the state especially

in the rural areas. In spite of this, the state is short of 113,000 tonnes on yearly basis, which are sourced from other countries at the expense of the nation’s scarce foreign exchange in order to boost its 160,000 tonnes capacity to equal the 273,000 tonnes demand of the state annually. The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, who made this known, said the state would be saved of huge amount of money lost annually to the importation of fish if

more people have taken up the job. Lawal noted that the need to reduce dependence on fish importation and conserve the foreign exchange expended on it necessitated the promotion of fish farming projects embarked upon by the state government across the state. According to the Commissioner, the state has put in place various initiatives aimed at supporting its fish production. one of them is the Fish Farm Estate Initiatives, which was started with the 34 hectares Ikorodu Fish Farm Estate in Ikorodu and later

“In the matter of GES scheme, government is trying. In fact the process we are in now, farmers are no longer suffering before they get their inputs. Once a farmer gets to the Redemption Centre and if he checks and he is a registered farmer, he must get his inputs”, Bello said. Alhaji Salihu Na’anabi, the leader of farmers (Sarkin Numa) in Tugamanji community, said “the GES programme is

very good and we want to thank government and the partners, the IFDC and Hyperion Consult for making it easier and cheaper for farmers to get fertilisers. “We want to appeal to government to increase the quantity of inputs, such as fertiliser to five bags from two that small holder farmers are getting now because our farms are big. We are also happy that the quality of what our farmers are getting now is better”, Na’anabi enthused.

NIOMR intensifies research on Tilapia Abolaji Adebayo

he Executive Director/ CEO, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, NIOMR, Dr. A. O. Ayinla, has again tasked scientists on the need to reinvigorate research on mass production of hybrid Tilapia fish species, which hitherto was known for its high prolific nature and stunted growth. He said this was necessary in order to meet up with the demand of the Nigerian populace for scaly fish. According to him, Tilapia Quineensis is a euryhaline species commonly found along the West Coast of Africa. He said there was an increasing interest in this fish for aquaculture processes, adding that the African Regional Center for Aquaculture, ARAC, an outstation of NIOMR, has carried out considerable work on breeding of Tilapia fish with high growth up to 300gms in three months. “The general practice is mixsex culture, which is usually stocked at low rates to reduce

the Ketu-Ereyun Fish Farm Estate in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area. “The Estates currently have production capacity of 10,000 tonnes and 13,000 tonnes of fish per annum respectively,” Lawal said. The other initiative, according to the Commissioner, was the Fish Cage and Pen Culture Project, which is cultivation of fish through the use of cage. Lawal said, “This project utilises the abundant open waters

competition for food and promote rapid growth. However, with the new technology being promoted by NIOMR, Tilapia growth will be improved considerably,” he said He further stated, “Technology on all Male monosex culture of Tilapia is currently going on in NIOMR.” He explained that males are used for monosex culture because male Tilapia grows faster than females. Females use considerable energy in egg production and do not eat when they re incubating eggs. “Males monosex culture permits the use of longer culture period, higher stocking rates of fingerlings of any age. High stocking densities reduce individual growth rates, but yields per unit area are greater. Expected survival for all-male culture is 90 per cent or greater. “NIOMR sees great potential in Tilapia mass production and sent scientists to Egypt for technology perfection.” As Tilapia research is being intensified, the institute has sent five scientists to Egypt for new technologies in the breeding of all-male Tilapia culture. for the culture of fish using cages. This form of fish culture has been found useful in the culture of fish species that are not easily cultured in concrete tanks.” However, the Commissioner explained that the major challenge in the aquaculture production is the cost expended on fish feed, which accounts for 70 per cent of total production cost in fish farming due to the fact that the bulk of fish feed is imported. He therefore encouraged the local production of the feed.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, July 11, 2014

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Capital Market

Friday, July 11, 2014

Index drops 0.08% on profit taking •Oando converts N36bn loan to equity

JOHNSON OKANLAWON

rading in equities closed on a bearish note on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday, as some investors sold off their holdings to take profit. Specifically, the All Share Index dropped 0.08 per cent to close at 43,004.38 points, as against the increase of 0.41 per cent recorded the preceding day to close at 43,039.42 points. Market capitalization shed 12bn to close at N14.19trn, in contrast to the rise of N59bn recorded the preceding day to close at N14.21trn. Transcorp Plc led the

planned merger of the Dubai Financial Market and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange has been shelved for the foreseeable future as terms for the politically sensitive move could not be agreed, sources told Reuters yesterday. Having been mooted for a number of years, a merger of the DFM and the ADX seemed to take an important step closer last year as investment banks were hired to advise on a tie-up - a move revealed by Reuters last October. The state-backed deal, seen as one of the biggest changes in the country’s financial industry in recent years, was expected to energize financial markets in the United Arab Emirates, making it easier for investors to operate across the markets, stimulating trade

gainers table with 30 kobo or 5.31 per cent to close at N5.95 per share, followed by DN Meyer Plc with six kobo or five per cent to close at N1.26 per share. Forte Oil Plc added N10.50 or five per cent to close at N220.50 per share, while Ashaka Cement Plc gained N1.40 or 4.73 per cent to close at N31.00 per share. Conversely, Cutix Plc lost eight kobo or 4.21 per cent to close at N1.82 per share, while Japaul Oil Plc shed two kobo or 3.51 per cent to close at 55 kobo per share. Red Star Express Plc fell 15 kobo or 3.09 per cent to close at N4.70 per share, while Unilever Plc declined

N1.51 or 2.85 per cent to close t N51.50 per share. Meanwhile, Oando Plc has converted a N35.9bn ($218.9m) loan to its Toronto-listed unit Oando Energy Resources to equity, to increase its stake in the subsidiary by 1.6 per cent to 93.6 per cent. Oando said the debt is part of a $1.2bn facility it approved for its subsidiary in February to help finance the acquisition of ConocoPhillips Nigerian assets. The oil firm secured Federal Government’s approvals last month to complete the deal which it had agreed last year with ConocoPhillips but was delayed several times due to problems rais-

ing funds, oil industry and banking sources said. The subsidiary said it converted the debt to equity at C$1.57 per share and has issued 150 million shares to its parent firm. It said the deal was approved by the Toronto Stock Exchange before the conversion. Parent company Oando, which is also listed in Johannesburg, has said it intends to close the Conoco deal this July. It hopes the acquisition will help it make the transition from a marketer of refined petroleum products into an upstream business focused on oil and gas exploration and production.

UAE bourses merger shelved as terms not agreed –Sources and attracting more foreign investment However, despite a number of key impediments being overcome since then, talks have stalled and a deal is now unlikely to happen any time soon. “It’s been shelved,” said one Abu Dhabi-based banking source aware of the matter, adding that reaching an agreement was always going to be tricky given multiple points of contention, such as valuations, the location of the merged entity’s headquarters, and the board’s composition. A spokesman for the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the top policymaking body in the emirate which mandated Abu Dhabi’s advisers,

did not respond to calls and an email seeking comment. Spokesmen for the ADX and DFM declined to comment. The sources, who all spoke on condition of anonymity as the information isn’t public, said it was unclear whether the merger plans were permanently on hold or whether they would be revived later. The valuation of the DFM, the Gulf’s only listed bourse, has increased significantly since the advisers were first appointed, as trading increased during a bull run which saw the value of Dubai’s benchmark index jump 59.5 percent between Jan. 1 and May 6. Based on a valuation of around 20 times earnings

before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation used under the merger plan, DFM’s value rose from around two billion dirhams ($545m) at the end of last September to 4.64 billion dirhams at the end of March. The merger plan valuation, conducted by Goldman Sachs, according to two of the sources, put ADX at about 10-12 times EBITDA. “They are engaged, the marriage would be good but the dowry is the problem – Dubai is expensive,” said Mohammed Ali Yasin, head of National Bank of Abu Dhabi’s brokerage subsidiary.

Source: NSE

Market indicators All-Share Index 43,004.38 points Market capitalisation 14.20trn

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

TRANSCORP

5.65

5.95

0.30

5.31

DNMEYER

1.20

1.26

0.06

5.00

210.00

220.50

10.50

5.00

ASHAKACEM

29.60

31.00

1.40

4.73

RTBRISCOE

1.11

1.16

0.05

4.50

NPFMCRFBK

0.92

0.96

0.04

4.35

ETERNA

4.33

4.50

0.17

3.93

IKEJAHOTEL

0.77

0.80

0.03

3.90

VITAFOAM

4.25

4.38

0.13

3.06

UPL

4.35

4.45

0.10

2.30

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CUTIX

1.90

CLOSING 1.82

-0.08

-4.21

JAPAULOIL

0.57

0.55

-0.02

-3.51

REDSTAREX

4.85

4.70

-0.15

-3.09

UNILEVER

53.01

51.50

-1.51

-2.85

FIDELITYBK

2.03

1.99

-0.04

-1.97

INTENEGINS

0.51

0.50

-0.01

-1.96

MANSARD

2.64

2.59

-0.05

-1.89

NAHCO

4.99

4.90

-0.09

-1.80

CAVERTON

6.89

6.80

-0.09

-1.31

WAPIC

0.86

0.85

-0.01

-1.16

FGN Bonds Offer

Bid Price

Yield

Price

Yield

13.05 16-AUG-2016

2.10

102.90

11.44

103.05

11.36

15.10 27-APR-2017

2.80

108.50

11.44

108.65

11.38

China agrees to reduce FX intervention ‘as conditions permit’

16.00 29-JUN-2019

4.97

116.60

11.52

116.90

11.44

16.39 27-JAN-2022

7.55

121.35

12.01

121.65

11.95

nited States and Chinese leaders have agreed that China will reduce its intervention in the currency market when conditions are ripe, reaching an understanding on a prickly issue that has hurt ties between the world’s two biggest economies for years. China’s Central Bank Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said on the sidelines of annual high-level talks between the two nations that China will significantly reduce its yuan intervention when some prerequisites are met. He did not give further details. Analysts said Zhou’s un-

14.20 14-MAR-2024

9.68

111.10

12.21

111.40

12.16

10.00 23-JUL-2030

16.04 84.40

12.24

84.70

12.19

usual candour about China’s currency intervention, which was echoed earlier on Wednesday by the Chinese finance minister, suggested that China may be ready to let the yuan rise again once its economy stabilises. Indeed, US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew told reporters at the end of talks on Thursday that China was committed to reducing its interference with the yuan, as conditions permit. China will also increase the transparency of its currency policy, he said, describing the agreements as major changes. “The direction of our reforms is clear: we hope that

the exchange rate can be kept basically stable, at a reasonable and balanced level through reforms,” Zhou said at a briefing on the sidelines of the two-day Strategic and Economic Dialogue. “At the same time, we will allow market supply-and-demand to play a bigger role in determining the exchange rate, expand the floating range of the exchange rate, and increase the exchange rate’s flexibility.” “This means that as the goals are being achieved and when conditions are ready, the central bank will significantly reduce its intervention in the foreign-exchange market.”

The value of the yuan has long strained bilateral relations between China and the United States. In June, the International Monetary Fund judged the currency to be “moderately undervalued”. US officials say China deliberately holds down its currency to boost its exports, an accusation China denies. Instead, Chinese authorities weld their currency policy to the idea of stability, a stance that analysts say stems from China’s fear of reliving Japan’s experience in the 1980s, when a sharp rise in the yen hobbled the Japanese economy.

Description

Closing Market Prices of July 10, 2014

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Bid

Offer

9-Oct-14

10.25

10.00

8-Jan-15

10.35

10.10

7-May-15

9.95

9.70

NIBOR Tenor

Rate (%)

O/N

10.6417

12.5163

13.3590

14.3749 The Fixings - NIBOR, NITTY and NIFEX of July 10, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday July 11, 2014

Community Mirror Those who are being interrogated are prominent politicians belonging to a frontline political party. Troops even recovered the identity cards of some of the politicians DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY, MR. MIKE OMERI

Residents desert homes over offensive odour in Delta THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

esidents of OtuJeremi and neighboring communities in Ughelli South local government area of Delta State are now deserting their homes following offensive odour from suspected damaged pipelines

belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC. Community Mirror gathered that the incident, which started three weeks ago, was caused by chemical discharge as a result of on-going NPDC integrity test on the Abura line from Utorogun Flow Station. Meanwhile, some angry

residents have threatened to shut down the NPDC facilities in the area if the company fails to address the problem. The communities affected are Otu-Jeremi, Iwhrekan, Iyara, Okpare and Agbowhiame. Investigation revealed that the palace of the Okobaro of Ughievwen King-

dom including stores and residential buildings has been deserted. A resident, who spoke, said the incidents pose serious people’s health. The source added that the issue has been reported to the authorities but nothing has been done to ameliorate the situation. Secretary ofUghien-

vwen Council of Chiefs, Chief Benson Itietie said the offensive odour was affecting the people, adding his daughter and wife have been hospitalised. While are complaining of chest pain and catarrh,even as he urged

Group urges communities to access health facilities ABIODUN NEJO ADO EKITI

L-R: Apapa Area Commander, Kick Against Indiscipline, Mrs Funmilayo Adebayo; Head of Admin, Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute, Mr Deji Adenusi; Traffic Officer, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr Modupeore Macaulay; Store Controller; SOS Children’s Village, Lagos, Mr Chuks Agbaebu, and Matron, Mrs Bola Olowoyeye, at the presentation of gift items to the home, as part of the Community Outreach Programme of the Training Institute, on Wednesday.

Police set up crisis resolution committee in Rivers DENNIS NAKU

PORT HARCOURT

he Rivers State Police Command has inaugurated a fiveman committee to end the communal crisis between Eleme and Ogu/Bolo local government areas. The Bori Area Commander, Abutu Yaro disclosed this shortly after a peace meeting with representatives of the

two local governments in Bori, Khana Local Government Area. Yaro said the inauguration was the outcome of meeting in which all participants agreed to make peace. He further said that two persons from each local government, which include council chairmen, traditional rulers, as well as Abutu Yaro, are members of the com-

mittee. Yaro expressed optimism that peace was return in the affected areas, describing the meeting as successful. Speaking, chairman of the care-taker committee of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Maureen Tamuno through her Chief of Staff, Mr. Stephen Abolo said the committee was set up to look into the

problem with a view to bringing lasting peace in the areas.. Tamuno said that at the moment, there was no crisis between the people of Ekporu in Eleme and their neighbours from Ogu/Bolo. She urged people in both areas who fled their homes to return, as the police have assured protection of lives and property.

Physically challenged man jailed for drug FRANCIS EKPONE ONITSHA

23-year-old physically challenged man, Emmanuel Ozua, from Ezi Awkuzu Village in Oyi local gov-

ernment area of Anambra State has been sentenced to four years in prison by the Federal High Court, Awka, for selling marijuana, also known as Indian hemp. Emma Ozua was on February 19, 2013 arrested by

the National Drug Law Enforcement agency, NDLEA for being in possession of 300 grammes of marijuana, but was subsequently released. He was again arrested September 21, 2013 with 100

grammes of the substance and charged to court. The NDLEA boss in the state, Mr. Sule Mamudu said the command will not hesitate to prosecute anyone dealing in illegal drugs.

the company to immediately repair the damaged pipelines. He said: “Recently my little grand daughter was taken to hospital resulting from the offensive odour, even as my wife was having catarrh.

regnant women, family and community members in Ekiti State have been urged to access the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, facility targeted at boosting maternal and child care services. The Executive Director, Centre for Social Reconditioning and Development, CEFSORD, Mr. Eyitayo Fabunmi, said everyone has important roles to play to ensure reduction in maternal and childhood deaths in the country. Fabunmi said at a SUPEP/MNCH Health Policy Dialogue with stakeholders that selected primary

healthcare centres, PHCs, had been upgraded and provided with drugs, for efficient service delivery. While calling on all pregnant women to access the Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT of the SURE-P, he lamented that those who registered did not complete the process in most cases. In her speech, the Permanent Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Agency, PHCDA, Ekiti State, Mrs Folakemi Falore, noted that SURE-P should be revamped to suit the local communities. She said Ekiti State was working in collaboration with SURE-P and all federal government health programmes for the people to access good health.

Traders accuse FCDA bosses of disobeying court order GLORIA USMAN ABUJA

raders under the auspices of Karu Market Traders’ Association, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have alleged plot by the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba, and the Director, Development Control Unit of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Yahaya Yusuf, to frustrate court proceedings. The market was demolished last November against court orders. Secretary of the association, Evangelist Peter Obianika, said it was disheartening that counsel to the AMAC chairman was

neither in court nor sent any representative. Obianika said, “AMAC is trying to shy away from their action which they know is inhuman. The judgment was entered on May 23, 2011 and we were told that the market will be rebuilt in phases while the traders will be relocated before the demolition but that was not done. “They want to frustrate the case in court. Counsel to the FCDA, Agashieze, pleaded with the court that he was only served the motion the previous day, as he was not in the office. He pleaded for time to file a reply but did not do so and never sent a letter to the court saying why he was absent,” he said.

Transition

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday July 11, 2014

Prof. Chikwem Ihezue

Bamidele Aturu

Lawrence Adedeji

rof. Chikwem Henry Ihezue was born on June 13, 1947 in Mbieri-Mbaitoli in present day Imo State. He attended the Federal Emergency Science School, Lagos, 1962-1964, State Medical School, Kharkav University, 1965-1971. Royal College of Surgeons (Post Graduate Class), London, 1977 and St. Thomas Hospital Postgraduate, Medical School, London, 1978. He was the House Physician/Surgeon Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, U.K. and New Castle General Hospital, Newcastle, upon Tyne, England 1971 – 1972, Senior House Officer Dryburn Hospital Durham, England/Vitoria Hospital U.K.(Casualty & Traumatology) 1979 – 1980. Upon his return to Nigeria, he was appointed Senior Register Post (General and Paediatric Surgery) University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu Nigeria between 1981 – 1985, Lecturer 1 & Consultant University of Jos, Faculty of Medical Surgeon Science and Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos Nigeria, October 1985

igeria’s human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, died on Wednesday, July 9, at a Lagos hospital where he was being treated for an undisclosed ailment, he was 49. Bamidele Aturu came to prominence as a fighter against power abuses when, as a member of the National Youth Service Corps, he refused to shake the hand of the then military administrator of Niger State, Col. Lawan Gwadabe, in 1988 during his NYSC passing out parade declaring that the military had caused great harm to the democratic aspirations of Nigerians. He studied law at the

– Sept. 1988, Senior Lecturer/ University of Jos, Faculty of Medical (Senior Consultant Surgeon) Science and Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos Nigeria, October 1988 – Sept. 1992. He was Associate Professor of Surgery University of Jos, Faculty of Medical (Senior Consultant Surgeon) Sciences and Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos Nigeria October, 1992 to 1997 and Professor of Surgery University of Jos, Faculty of Medical Science Senior (Consultant Surgeon) and Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos Nigeria October, 1997 till his death. He held membership of numerous academic and professional bodies among whom are; Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburg and Glasgow, United Kingdom, International College of Surgeons Chicago USA, West African College of Surgeons, PAN African association of Surgeons among many others. He was survived by a wife and five children.

University of Ife, and devoted much of his legal practice to representing the oppressed and marginalized people in the society. He was quite for his criticism of government’s policies. The late lawyer was one of the founding members Democratic Alternative, a political group committed to pursuing deep-rooted democratic principles and holding those in power accountable to the governed. The late activist was nominated as a member of the ongoing national confab, but he renounced his membership, arguing that the conference was designed to achieve nothing.

he death has occurred in Ibadan of a Veteran Journalist and former Editor of the defunct Sunday Sketch newspaper, he was 59 years old. Evangelist Lawrence Adedeji passed on, on Sunday, June 28, after a brief illness. A Mass Communication graduate of the University of Lagos, he wa at various times Editor of Evening Sketch, Entertainer and Weekend Sketch, all in the stable of the sketch. His last position in the defunct Sketch Newspapers was Administrative/Personal Manager before retiring voluntarily in 1999. He went into full time pastoral work after his retirement and was the Shepherd in charge of Celestial Church of Christ, C.C.C, Rainbow Parish, Oju Ekun road, Odo-ona Elewe Ibadan. Evangelist Lawrence is survived by his wife, Elizabeth many biological and spiritual children including Femi, Ayo, Yemi and Tosin. His funeral rites as announced by his family will begin on Wednesday, July 16 and end on Friday, July 18, 2014.

News

Siblings arraigned for rape, stealing DARE AKOGUN

wo brothers have been arraigned before a Magistrates’ court sitting in Ejigbo for allegedly raping a 23-year-old housewife in Egbe-Ikotun area of Lagos State. The suspects, Ifeanyi

Amos, 30 and Joseph Amos, 24 allegedly raped and stole recharge card seller worth N400, 000 from the victim. They reportedly accosted the victim while going to purchase cards, even as they lured and raped her into Ifeanyi’s house at 6, Ariwa Street, Council Bus stop, Egbe-Ikotun.

It was learnt that the suspects threatened to kill her if she told the husband and the police of the act, even as she later told her husband. According to her, “since the incident happened, I have been traumatised and besides, I cannot allow my husband touch me until certain traditional

rituals are performed. Otherwise untimely deaths will happen in the family.” The matter was reported at Ikotun Police Division and the suspects were subsequently arrested and charged to court. The arraignment followed an advice by the Director of Public Pros-

ecution, DPP, which recommended they be tried for rape and stealing. But the siblings pleaded not guilty to the charges, the court granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. They were remanded in prison custody pending when they would perfect their bail condition.

IGP Abubakar

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Friday, July 11, 2014

“We shall leave no stone unturned in creating a vibrant and strong India.” Indian Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley

Israeli Embassy defends bombings in Palestine

• Likens Hamas to Boko Haram, calls on Nigeria to condemn its operations Paul Arhewe

he Israeli embassy in Nigeria has defended bombings in Palestinian enclave, saying its country has endured three weeks of continued rocket fire from Gaza. Meanwhile, Gaza militants fired four rockets at Jerusalem yesterday, with two shot down over the city and another two hitting open spaces, the Israeli army said. Witnesses and Palestinian security officials said one rocket struck near the West Bank Jewish settlement of Maaleh Adumim, while a second hit close to an Israeli military prison near Ramallah. “Four rockets were fired at Jerusalem, of which two landed in open areas and two were intercepted,” an army spokesman told a news agency, without giving further details. Police confirmed the two rockets not intercepted had hit open areas near Maaleh Adumim and in the Ramallah area. “At this stage there are no injuries,” a statement read. Both the Islamic Jihad and Hamas issued statements taking responsibility for the rockets fired at Jerusalem. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appealed for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. Ban urged both sides to exercise restraint, saying the Middle East could not afford “another full-blown war”. More than 80 Gazans have been killed since Israel’s operation began on Tuesday, Palestinian officials said in a report. The Embassy said, “Hamas is similar in its characteristics, its ideology and its operational methods to other extremist Islamist organizations such as Boko

Israeli soldiers gather in an army deployment area near Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip, yesterday.

Haram, al-Qaeda, Hizbullah and organizations in the Horn of Africa. Just as the Nigerian Government remains committed to thwarting attacks by Boko Haram insurgents aimed at civilians, the government of Israel is obligated to act decisively when its citizens are under attack. “Nigeria and the rest of the International community should unequivocally condemn Hamas for these acts of terrorism”, it disclosed in a press release. The latest round of rockets fired from Gaza Strip on Israel began on June 12, 2014, the day that three Israeli teenagers were abducted and later murdered. The shooting escalated significantly starting on June 30 and reached a peak two days ago, on Monday, July 7, when no fewer than 80 rockets and mortar bombs were launched by Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip at Israeli cities, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Between the day of the kidnapping (June, 12) and July 8, 284 rocket and mortar bombs were launched at Israel from the Gaza Strip. Many of them were fired directly by the military arm of Hamas. Hamas bears responsibility for the escalation.

“Israel’s measured response was intended to restore the calm without a major military action. However, in response to the incessant attacks by Hamas on the civilian population of Israel, the Government of Israel decided on 7th July to initiate Operation ‘Protective Edge’. Israel cannot tolerate a situation in which millions of its citizens are forced to live under a barrage of missiles. “Israel’s actions, in accordance with their inherent right of self-defence, are measured and directed at the missile launchers and the terror infrastructure of Hamas and the other terrorist organizations, which have turned the Gaza Strip into the centre for attacks against Israel. “In contrast, Hamas and the other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip fire on communities inside Israel with the intention of killing civilians. They currently have the military capabilities to terrorize 3.5 million Israeli citizens (about 40% of the country’s population). To illustrate the matter, a child playing soccer outdoors in southern Israel has a timeframe of 15 seconds to run for cover, from the moment the alarm is sounded and until the rocket hits the soccer field”, it said.

U.N. evacuates dozens of foreign staff from Libya

Libyan rebels drive a vehicle mounted with an anti-aircraft gun as they head from Ras Lanuf to the Bin Jawad frontline, in 2011.

he United Nations has evacuated dozens of foreign staff from its mission in Libya due to a deteriorating security situation in the North African country, a U.N. spokesman said yesterday. “They will return if the security situation improves,” said Samir Ghattas, spokesman for the U.N. Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), without saying how many had left the country. Libya has been in a state of near constant turmoil for three years, with successive governments struggling for legitimacy and unable to tame various armed groups that helped overthrow veteran ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 but are now defying state authority. Ghattas gave no specific security

reason for the evacuation. Last month the U.N. mission, which is tasked with helping Libya to make the transition to democracy, drew sharp criticism over an initiative to bring together Libya’s political factions. The government complained that the world body had failed to consult with Libyan partners before announcing it. The U.N. initiative also drew anger and even threats on social media, prompting Tripoli to urge citizens not to resort to violence against UNSMIL or the U.N. special envoy to Libya, Tarek Mitri. Two years ago, there was an unsuccessful assassination attempt against the then-U.N. special envoy, Ian Martin.

WORLD BULLETIN

Germany expels CIA official in US spy row

he German government has ordered the expulsion of a CIA official in Berlin in response to two cases of alleged spying by the US. The official is said to have acted as a CIA contact at the US embassy, reports say, in a scandal that has infuriated German politicians. A 31-year-old German intelligence official was arrested last week on suspicion of spying. Reports on Wednesday said an inquiry had also begun into a German soldier. “The representative of the US intelligence services at the embassy of the United States of America has been told to leave Germany,” government spokesman Steffen Seibert said. The chairman of the Bundestag (parliament) committee overseeing the German secret service said the action was taken because of American spying on German politicians and its failure to co-operate and provide adequate responses. The US has not denied allegations that a German intelligence agency employee arrested last week was passing secret documents to the US National Security Agency (NSA). However, the latest reports that a soldier within the defence ministry was also spying for the US were considered more serious. Although no arrest was made, searches were carried out yesterday at the ministry and elsewhere. The US and Germany have been close allies for decades but relations were hit last year when it emerged that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s mobile phone had been monitored by the NSA. A White House official approached by the BBC declined to comment on the matter but said that the security and intelligence relationship with Germany was important to both countries.

US Embassy holds workshop for INEC press officers officer

he United States Embassy in Nigeria is holding a four-day workshop on ‘The Roles of INEC Press Officers: Enhancing Good Governance through Media and Grassroots Outreach’. The workshops to be conducted separately in Lagos and Abuja will each have in attendance 30 INEC Press and Public Affairs Officers. American trainer Derwin Johnson will lead the workshop in Lagos, from July 14 to 17, while a similar workshop in Abuja will take place July 21 to 24.

EU imposes sanctions on South Sudanese military leaders

he European Union announced travel bans and asset freezes on Thursday on two South Sudanese military leaders it said were violating ceasefire agreements put in place to stop fighting that has killed thousands. The Council of the European Union said it would name the two individuals on Friday when the sanctions come into effect. The United States has already imposed similar measures against leaders on both sides.

North

Friday, July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Insecurity: Plateau begins crackdown on street traders JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

lateau State government yesterday said it was set to clamp down on street traders in the state. It was learnt that government has already constituted a task force made up of all security agents in the

state. At a press conference in Jos yesterday, the Commissioner for Information, Olivia Dazyam, said the measure was not meant to witch-hunt anyone but to ensure lives in the state are safe. The commissioner said: “The state government is concerned about the safety of its citizens. Secu-

rity chiefs have been closely monitoring the security situation in the state as there have been threats of security breach; thereby making necessary and urgent, the need to strengthen the Task Force. “I wish to stress here that all these measures are in no way punitive but aimed at ensuring public safety, sani-

ty, economic prosperity and the general wellbeing of all the people. “In order for all stakeholders to appreciate the gravity of our security challenge, the government and security chiefs met with leaders of traders’ associations and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, recently.

At the meeting, it was resolved that streets within the Jos city centre should be cleared of illegal traders, hawkers, motor parks and indiscriminate parking of vehicles be stopped to avoid a repeat of the collateral damage to lives and property that accompanied the May 20 twin bomb blasts. “Shop owners along Ahmadu Bello way, Terminus roundabout down to Plateau Riders, Tafawa Balewa way, ECWA Goodnews, Old Bukuru park, Rwang Pam street and Gangare road, are advised to find alternative areas. “I wish to inform occu-

pants of the JMDB shopping complex that experts from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development have declared the facility as unsafe. This is due to the impact of the May 20 devastating bomb blasts. “Those renting shops in the complex are advised to contact JMDB and the Ministry of Commerce for further directives as alternative shops are available at the Kwarafa new market and the new Kabong Market. “We are calling on the cooperation and understanding of all to make Jos remain the hub of business in the state,” she appealed.

Katsina battles poor sanitation …gets 40 VIP toilets JAMES DANJUMA KATSINA

T L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh; representative of Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Baba Gidado, and Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, during the inauguration of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity Skills Acquisition Centre in Bauchi, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

Youths endorse Nyako’s impeachment LIVINUS MENEDI YOLA

coalition of different youth groups, under the aegis of Concerned Adamawa State Youths, have publicly declared support for the removal of Governor Murtala Nyako and his deputy, Bala James Ngilari, over allegation of gross misconduct levelled against the duo by the state legislature. This is even as the sevenman probe panel is due to commence its public hearing today, with the mandate to dispassionately perform its duties as if to God. The youths also stated that they have no doubt in the pedigree and integrity of the panel to deliver on this all important assignment. “Your courage in the face of all kinds of possible intimidation and inducement will be remembered

through generations. This is your moment, seize it,” they said. The youth group which represents various youth organisations in the state including the Neighbours & Friends Development Initiative, Adamawa Youth Initiatives and Kungiyan Matasan Kwarai, in Yola, declared its solidarity for the House of Assembly’s actions to halt the financial haemorrhage of the state. The youths, through a communiqué jointly signed by Dunuba H. Daniel, Leader Leneke and Yusuf U. Ngenle, heads of the various youth groups, said it had carefully followed the developments in the state to know that the lawmakers were out to salvage the state. They said they see hope arising in the horizon for change to come to the state because the lawmakers’ action was borne out of con-

cern for the development of the state. According to the youths, the removal of the governor and his deputy would not only bring an end to

the looting of the state treasury, but bring about a breath of fresh air into a “state synonymous with backwardness, underdevelopment and impunity.”

he challenge posed by open defecation has led the Katsina State government to construct and commission 40 VIP toilets at the cost of N22 million. The toilets, located at major markets and motor parks in the state’s 34 council areas, are to be managed by health personnel to ensure proper utilisation. Speaking yesterday at the commissioning ceremony of the VIP toilets, the Executive Director, State Environmental Protection Agency, SEPA, Yunusa Charanchi, said the measure was aimed at reducing the spate of open defecation in the state. Charanchi said open defecation posed risk of

outbreak of diseases as well as fouling the environment but that with the VIP toilets, the issue of public defecation would be greatly minimised. He said the choice of situating the VIP toilets at motor parks and major markets was deliberate as such public places always have many people present that might want to answer to nature’s call. He also said that the state government in promoting cleaner environment had recently recruited 2,000 casual workers to help collect and dispose refuse in the state’s 34 council areas. Charanchi said of the number, 283 casual workers were stationed within the state capital while the rest were scattered across the remaining council areas.

Reps query area council over N300m loan WOLE OLADIMEJI ABUJA

he House of Representatives Committee on Area Councils yesterday queried the Gwagwalada area council of the Federal Capital territory, Abuja, over the collection of N300 million loans to carry out projects in the council. The query was raised during the budget defence of the area councils of the territory before the House committee. The councils that appeared before the committee included Gwagwalada, Abaji, Kuje, Abuja Munic-

ipal, Kwali and Bwari. Chairman of the House committee, Ibrahim Ebbo, in his address, expressed concern over the way area councils were spending their budgetary provisions, without recourse to the appropriation guidelines. He particularly demanded explanation from the chairman of Gwawalada Area Council who while presenting his budget defence for 2013 budget stated that he was planning to secure N300 million. The chairman wondered how a council with internally generated

revenue of N33 million wanted to collect a loan of N300 million. The committee chairman however asked the council chairman how he would pay back the loan and what he wanted to do with such huge loan when the council was not viable enough to pay back. The chairman equally wanted to know from all the area councils’ chairmen what they meant by statutory deductions noticeable in their expenditure profile and also demanded to know if there was legal backing for it. In his response, the chairman of the

Gwawalada Area Council, Alhaji Abu Giri, told the committee that he was trying to secure the loan to enable the council execute some projects “for our people to enjoy dividends of democracy.” Giri told the committee that the statutory deductions were policy of the Federal Capital Territory. However, none of the chairmen was able to convince the committee on the issue of statutory deductions. The committee at the end pronounced illegal such statutory deductions, and warned against arbitrary deductions.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

Friday, July 11, 2014

Desire to serve led me into politics –Aregbesola STORIES: BOLADALE BAMIGBOLA OSOGBO

sun State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the August 9 governorship poll, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed that the desire to serve the people motivated him to go into politics. Aregbesola said, while others have no ideas of what to do with power, he thinks about policies and programmes that will positively turn the fortunes of the people around positively.

Speaking at the palace of Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, during a political campaign to Ede federal constituency, Aregbesola said that a holistic analysis of his administration’s programme will reveal that his government has treated the people and various political districts in the state equally. Revealing that Ede constituency supported his ambition in 2007 by voting en mass for him, the governor said the Cocoa Industries in Ede will soon be rejuvenated as a government delegation has gone to China to purchas

new machines for the industry. He said: “Ede has been supportive of our ambition and government. Without the votes of Ede North and Ede South local government areas, I would not be governor. “Without these two local governments, we would not have the two members of House of Representatives and one member of House of Assembly. “Don’t let the opposition tell you lies, because that is their stock in trade. Ask them to tell you the programmes they have for the people. But we know

they have none.” Saying that what he had done in Osun in less than 40 months surpassed what the opposition did in seven years, both in quantity and quality, Aregebesola assured that this is just the beginning of good things in Osun. He listed some of the achievements of his government in the constituency to include rehabilitation of 21.3 kilometre Ede township roads, construction of 7.3 kilometre local government roads in Ejigbo council, construction of 7.7 kilometre local government roads in Ede South, construction of 10

kilometre local government roads in Ede North, among others. Former governor of old Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, described Aregbesola as true politician with love for his people, adding that the works of late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo; former governor of old Ondo State, Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Chief Awokoya, which had been stagnated has received a boost from Aregbesola. He said Aregbesola understands the game of politics more than all the governors in the South-West. Timi of Ede, Oba Lawal, while giving his royal blessings, commended Aregbesola for the mas-

sive work going on in the state, saying that the governor, having given a good account of his administration in the first term, deserves to be re-elected to continue the good work.

29 DAYS TO GO

No crisis between Oyinlola, Omisore –Fadahunsi

Cross section of the newly commissioned Amoured Personnel Carrier distributed to the State security officers by the Administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Insert: L-R: Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam; Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 11, Mr David Omolaja; Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye_Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr.Maishanu Ibrahim and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Barrister Amos Adekunle, during the commissioning in Osogbo, yesterday.

Panel okays Adeleke’s bid to paste summons on Omisore, Adesiyan’s residences

ollowing refusal to take summons, the Commission of Inquiry on Disturbance of Public peace in Osun State, yesterday ordered the petitioner, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, to paste a summon, notice at the entrance of the residence of Peoples Democratic Party ,PDP, governorship candidate in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore. Chairman of the panel, Justice Moshood Adeigbe, also permitted Adeleke to paste the summon of the panel at the entrance of the residence of the Minister for Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan. Counsel to the petitioner, Mr. Lekan Olayiwola, sought for the panel’s order to allow his client paste a summon notice at the entrance of Omisore, Adesiyan and one Sogo

Agboola, saying this had become the only option available since they have refused to take the summons. He said previous efforts of the bailiff to serve the respondents had proved futile, adding that the respondents did not honour the plaintiff ’s attempt to serve them. The pane therefore granted the respondent the order to paste a summon notice at the entrance of the residences of the three PDP leaders. Set up by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the panel was to investigate alleged assault on Adeleke at a stakeholders meeting of the PDP held at Ideal Next Hotel, Osogbo before the party’s governorship primaries. Meanwhile, Justice Akin Oladimeji of an Osun State High Court

sitting in Osogbo struck out a suit filed by Omisore to challenge the constitutionality of the Commission of Inquiry on Disturbance of Public Peace, when the case came up for hearing yesterday. Ruling that “under the 1999 constitution as

amended, as well as the laws of Osun State, specifically the Commission of Inquiry Law 2002, Justice Oladimeji, held the governor has an unfettered statutory power to institute a commission of inquiry into any matter in the state, as he may deem necessary.”

chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State, Chief Francis Fadahunsi, yesterday declared that the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore, and its suspended National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, have resolved whatever differences was between them. The two PDP leaders, sources claimed had been having issues since the court removed Oyinlola as the national scribe of the party, but Fadahunsi, while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo yesterday said, both men have resolved to work for the success of PDP in the forthcoming poll. The retired Customs boss said the issues surrounding the office of PDP national secretary would be decided by the

apex court, adding that leaders of the party in South-West only endorsed Prof. Wale Oladipo as PDP national scribe pending the final verdict on the matter. Fadahunsi said Omisore was actively involved in the process that installed Oyinlola as governor in 2003, adding that Oyinlola must repay Omisore in same coin in the interest of the party and the people of Osun State. He said: “Oyinlola belongs to PDP; therefore he should fully come back to the fold and work for the success of Omisore at the coming election which is less than a month now. “Without doubt, Omisore will win Osun for PDP and the last minutes efforts by Aregbesola to stop our candidate emergence will not work.”

PENGASSAN threatens shutdown of Chevron over sacked workers THEOPHILUS ONOJEGHEN WARRI

etroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, yesterday issued a strong warning to Chevron Nigeria Limited to, within 14 days, recall all its members recently sacked or risk its facilities in Delta, Edo, Ondo, Kogi and Ekiti states being shutdown.

A letter to Chevron dated July 7 and signed by Comrade Wale Ajayi, Senior Assistant Secretary General, on behalf of PENGASSAN, Warri zone, a copy of which was made available to National Mirror in Warri yesterday, said should the Chevron failed to honour its demand, all export locations, oil rigs, refinery and gas transmission lines will be grounded by

the union. It stated that all chairmen/secretaries of branches/chapters and units of PENGASSAN in the affected states has been directed to commence total mobilisation against the injustice, as injury to one is an injury to all. It said: “Following our letter dated June 30, calling for dialogue on our sacked members and your

subsequent unacceptable reply dated Friday July 4, we issue you (Chevron) and others 14 days’ ultimatum to reinstate all our members to their various job locations,” threatning that failure will result to all “export locations, oil rigs, refineries, gas transmission lines, loading deports, oil location and PTI will be shut down by 12:00 midnight on Monday July 21.

Friday, July 11, 2014 CHANGE OF NAME

KEHINDE: Formerly known and addressed as Kehinde Oyinlola Oluwayemisi, now wish to be known and addressed as Oyelakin Oyinlola Oluwayemisi. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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CHUKWU: Formerly known and addressed as Ogonna Thelma Chukwu, now wish to be known and addressed as Ogonna Thelma Okafor. All former documents remain valid. The General public should please take note.

We hereby notify the general public of the loss of the original copies of the title documents in respect of our property located at Plot No. CP60B Kuje Area Council, FCT Abuja namely: 1. Letter of allocation KAC/FCDA/LP&S/20/1 dated 17/10/2001 from the Kuje Area Council 2. Title Data Plan (TDP) of the property 3. Power of Attorney between Hammersmith Group of Company and Fort Phoenix Ltd Signed: Management

PUBLIC NOTICE

IKALE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UNION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named union has applied for registration under past C of the companies and allied matters Act. 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: Ademola Samuel Edamisan Olaniyi A. Dodolewa Ikujuani Adebiyi Rapheal Oladokun Faduyile Adegoke Akingbehin

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote unity among IKALE people worldwide. 2. To preserve, promote IKALE cultural heritage, festivals and tourism. 3. To promote humanitarian welfare programmes benefiting IKALE communities worldwide and establish maternity, health care and recreational centers. Any objection to this resistration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Coporate Affairs Commission Abuja, within 28 working days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: CHRIS ABUGO ESQ, SOLICITOR, 27, KAKAWA STREET, LAGOS. 08033065950

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MAJIYAGBE: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Majiyagbe Tawakalit Omotayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Omotayo Tawakalit Olaohun. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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TAOREED: Formerly known and addressed as Taoreed Afolabi Oladimeji, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Samuel Afolabi Oladimeji. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

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ALO: Formerly known and called as Miss Alo Omolayo Olubunmi, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ayeni Omolayo Olubunmi. All fomer documents remain valid, State of Osun Universal Basic Educational Board (SUBEB) Osogbo and general public should please take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME MUILI: Formerly known and addressed as Mr. Muili Alli, now wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Muri Alli. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME OMOTOSO: Formerly known and addressed as Omotoso Omolola Ibidun, now wish to be known and addressed as Akinogun Omolola Ibidun. All former document remain valid. General public take note

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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ASOGWA: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Asogwa Virginia Obioma, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Amuluoha Virginia Obioma. All former documents remain valid. The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu, The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Hon. Jonbull Nwagu Mr. Oliver Chime Ozo Paul Chibuzor Barr. Ezenwukwa Ikechukwu Winston Mrs. Loretta. Ngozi Ndu

- Chairman

- Secretary

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To empower, build and enhance youth and women to become self reliance so as to reduce poverty. 2. To establish technical vocational training and center’s empowerment initiative for skill acquisition. 3. To engage in research and exchange programme with similar organizations, agencies and groups with similar objectives.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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OKAFOR: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okafor Cecilia, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ibekaku Cecilia. All former documents remain valid. Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board, Ezeagu L.G.A. Education Authority and general public take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

COMMUNITY SKILL ACQUISITION CENTRE ENUGU

This is to inform the general public that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matters Act. No 1 of 1990.

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OLADIPO: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Oladipo Mary Abimbola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oloke Abimbola Mary. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

This is to confirm that the names Obiyor Ogadinma Jessica and Obiyor Ogadinma Esther refers to one and same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as Obiyor Ogadinma Esther. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

CHANGE OF NAME

OKUNUSI: Formerly known and addressed as Miss Okunusi Janet Motunrayo, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Akinsanya Motunrayo Janet. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

COAL CAMP CONCERNED NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION ENUGU (CCNA)

The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act. No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Mr. Okoro Udeagha Mr. Omaliko Ifeanyichukwu Mr. Nebo Vincent Chief Osiri Onwuka Chief Okonkwo Emmanuel Mrs. Chukwude Franca Mr. Akujuobi Patrick

- Chairman - Secretary - Treasurer - Member - Member - Member - Member

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Welfare of members. 2. To work towards the unity, peace and progress of her members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: HON. JONBULL NWAGU (CHAIRMAN)

SIGNED: OMALIKO IFEANYICHUKWU. (SECRETARY)

PUBLIC NOTICE SPIRIT OF DOIMNION CHAPEL

This is to notify the general public that the above named Chapel has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Prince Afoakwa 2. Yvonne Adesuwa Obomeghie 3. Patricia Dimoriaku

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To spread the word of God. 2. To ordain Ministers of God. Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within thirty days of this publication.

SIGNED: MRS. ISABELLA U. EKOH SOLICITOR

PUBLIC NOTICE

GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR PEACE AND PROGRESS

This is to inform the general public that the above named incorporated trustees has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Simon Chukwudi Ugwuodo Onwumere Anthony Onwumere Mrs. Grace Nnaji Prof Benjamin Chuka Osisioma Bishop Mama Jane Engr Mebrim Onyeka Mr. Aniakor Sergius Peter Ikechukwu Ezeh

- Chairman - Secretary - Treasurer

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. We are devoted to finding practical means to promote peace and development in every segment of the society. 2. We believe in and advocate the principle of individual freedom of conscience which offers the best platform for maximum achievement. 3. We are committed to a grassroot educational and financial enlightment programme to help empower the youth from across all religious, political and cultural background. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Trigis Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitana, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SIMON CHUKWUDI UGWUODO, CHAIRMAN

Friday July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

The Glasgow Games will prove a window to the Rio 2016 Olympics. I can’t wait!

Onigbinde accuses FIFA of double standards 55

–Jamaica athlete, Usain Boltt

world cup JUNE 12 – JULY 13

Dutch striker, Arjen Robben (m) trying to waltz through Argentine defenders, Pablo Zabaleta (l) and Lucas Biglia during their match on Wednesday in Sao Paulo

‘Van Persie, Robben, others may quit’

s The Netherlands take stock of how their ambition to win a first World Cup trophy fizzled out on Wednesday night in Sao Paulo, a member of their technical crew has hinted that Brazil 2014 may be the last Mundial for Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben. Assistant coach of the Oranje, Patrick Kluivert, says several of the veterans who won silver medal at the South Africa 2010 and are in Brazil may call time on their international career. For the likes of Robben, van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt and Nigel de Jong, the very fact that they worked themselves into a situation to play in another Final, even though unrealised, is cause enough for satisfaction. Those five veterans form part

of a select group of players who have finished among the top four on the planet at two consecutive World Cup finals, an achievement that not even the Spanish players who beat the Dutch to lift the trophy in South Africa can lay claim to, having been knocked out in the first round with the considerable assistance of the men in orange. “It’s a very good generation. A defining one, even,” Patrick Kluivert, an assistant of Louis van Gaal’s and a member of another distinguished Oranje side in the late 1990s and early 2000s, told FIFA.com. “I just hope that the Netherlands can nurture more like them in the future. That’s the most important thing: to continue developing talented youngsters so that we can carry

on competing at the highest level.” That is where the Dutch can take heart, with Van Gaal’s squad featuring nine players born in the 1990s and boasting an average age of 26.5, the eighth-youngest at Brazil 2014. It is a crop that has gained a taste of elite competition in South America, while bedding down with some fabled players, an experience that will only stand it in good stead. Among those household names is Van Persie, who last year overtook Kluivert as the Netherlands’ leading goalscorer of all time, cementing his place in Dutch footballing history as one of the country’s greats. Contemplating the fact that the Manchester United striker and his fellow veterans may well

have played their last World Cup, Kluivert said, “Obviously it’s a massive disappointment for them. It’s very hard to imagine them playing in the world finals again. With this probably being their last, you can understand their dejection at getting so close

to another Final. “Losing on penalties makes it even tougher, as I know from experience,” added the former striker, who was a member of the Netherlands side that lost consecutive semi-final shoot-outs at France 1998 and UEFA Euro2000.

FIFA rejects Suarez appeal

he FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to reject the appeals lodged by both the Uruguayan player, Luis Suárez, and the Uruguayan FA, and to confirm the decision rendered by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee on June 25, 2014 in its entirety. The terms of the decision taken by the FIFA Appeal Com-

mittee were communicated to the player and the Uruguayan FA yesterday. The relevant decision is not yet final and binding, i.e. an appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) is still possible (cf. art. 67 par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes) by the player and/or the Uruguayan FA, subject to certain conditions.

Sports

Friday July 11, 2014

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

world cup JUNE 12 – JULY 13

Aguero hails self-belief

rgentina striker, Sergio Aguero, believes his country proved people wrong by reaching Sunday’s World Cup final against Germany after a hard-won victory over Holland on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Manchester City forward was a second-half substitute as the Argies won the final ticket.

Lionel Messi, Ezequiel Garay and Aguero were all on target for the South Americans from the spot before former Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodriguez slotted home the winning penalty. “A lot of people didn’t think Argentina would get to the final but we knew that we had very good players individually

and were confident,” nfident,” Aguero said. “We know the pain we have been through, and we deserved some kind ind of happiness. “Now we have ave to play the final and make the most of it and then hope that the last 90 0 minutes are on our side. e.

I owe my heroics to Dutch coach –Romero Aguero

Mascherano

Germany beatable

–Mascherano

truth,” Romwero, who was the encounter’s Man of the Match, said, adding, “I pray for luck in the final on Sunday because anything can happen.”

rgentina utility player, Javier Mascherano, yesterday expressed hope that his country can defeat Germany in Sunday’s World Cup final. “We played a brilliant game, without any fear of anything,” Mascherano said hours after the cagey tie in Sao Paulo. “We came into the game of our lives. And now we will enjoy it because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. “Hopefully we will be crowned champions on Sunday but, regardless of the outcome, I have no words to express how proud I am at the moment, especially as I have now reached the goal of playing in the World Cup.”

“I asked two players to take the first ball before ending up with Vlaar,” Van Gaal revealed. “I thought he was the best player on the pitch so should have confidence.” Van Gaal, however, regretted the intervention of goalkeeper Romero, who he signed for AZ from Buenos Aires-based Racing Club in 2007.

Van Gaal

Sergio Romero

rgentina goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, yesterday revealed his gratitude to Holland Coach Louis van Gaal following he former’s heroics in his side’s penalty shoot-out victory over Holland on Wednesday. Romero was the hero for the South American giants, denying the Dutch on two occasions in the shoot-out to secure his side’s progress to the Final of this year’s global showpiece. The Sampdoria keeper had worked under Van Gaal at Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar in 2007. “I went to the dressing room

to congratulate him,” Romero said. “He helped me a lot when I arrived in Netherlands in a completely different country. He spoke Spanish and helped me a lot. “So just as I’m grateful to my coach Alejandro Sabella, I’m also grateful to Van Gaal and everything he did for me. “He is a person that teaches a lot to the players, especially how to grow. He helped me grow. I arrived when I was 20 years old and I will be forever grateful to him.” The 27-year-old, however, revealed he had no particular

strategy in his side’s penalty shoot-out victory in Sao Paolo, saying that it was due to luck. “Penalty kicks are a question of luck, and that is the

Van Gaal rues players’ ‘revolt’

olland Coach, Louis van Gaal, says two of his players refused to take the first penalty in their World Cup semi-final shootout defeat by Argentina on Wednesday. Defender Ron Vlaar stepped up but Sergio Romero-a player who was “taught how to stop penalties” by Van Gaal at AZ Alkmaar-saved his kick.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sports

Friday July 11, 2014

Ban:

NSC reiterates neutrality

igeria’s sports ministry has rejected FIFA’s assessment that the government has interfered with the running of the country’s football federation. On Wednesday FIFA suspended Nigeria from all international football, after having earlier given Nigeria’s government until Tuesday to reinstate sacked Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board chaired by Aminu Maigari. But Nigeria’s National

Sports Commission (NSC) said yesterday that the issue is a result of a court action and “nothing to do with government”. It stated, “The National Sports Commission has received the news of the suspension of the NFF by FIFA on the grounds of an alleged court order which the world football body has interpreted as government interference in the affairs of the football house. “The National Sports Commission wishes to state that

Danagogo

the said court action brought against the NFF followed an internal crisis within the football family and has nothing to do with government. “While FIFA has stated that unless the court action is withdrawn, the suspension of the NFF will not be lifted, it is pertinent to state that neither the NSC nor government is involved in the court process.”

Onigbinde

Nasri

accuses FIFA of double standards

Onigbinde

PAUL EREWUBA

ormer FIFA and CAF Committee member, Chief Adegboye Onigbide, has urged Nigeria’s Federal Government not to be intimidated by the suspension

slammed on the country’s football by FIFA over supposed interference in the sacking of the NFF Executive Committee led by Aminu Maigari, saying the world soccer governing body is playing double standards. In a chat with National Mirror, Onigbinde wondered why FIFA does not consider the sponsorship of Nigeria football by the government as interference. “Government should stop funding sports if we wish to make football a business that it is. I think it is only in Nigeria that government sponsors football and other sports 100 per cent. What are the marketing departments of these sports federations doing to source for funds?” Onigbinde, who led the Super Eagles to 2002 Korea/

Japan World Cup, however advised the Nigerian government to heed to the request of FIFA by reinstating the Maigari-led board. “If FIFA said we should reinstate the board, let’s bring them back, but they must be allowed to source for money to run football affairs themselves because giving NFF money will also amount to interference. “What stakeholders should do now is to sit down and map out ways of restructuring our football administratively and technically. “Government should not be offended by the stance of FIFA rather government should take it to be that FIFA has taken away a load from them. So for now government should listen to FIFA and reinstate the board,” Onigbinde stated.

WORLD CUP PAST WINNERS 1930:

Uruguay

1958: Brazil

1978: Argentina

1998: France

1934:

Italy

1962: Brazil

1982: Italy

2002: Brazil

1938: Italy

1966: England

1986: Argentina

2006: Italy

1950: Uruguay

1970: Brazil

1990: Germany FR

2010: Spain

1954: Germany FR

1974: Germany FR

1994: Brazil

2014: ????

Nasri signs new 5-year City deal

anchester City midfielder, Samir Nasri, has signed a new fiveyear contract with the club. The 27-year-old had a year left on his existing deal, which he signed when joining City from Arsenal in 2011. A verbal agreement was reached before Nasri, who was not selected for France’s World Cup squad departed for the summer break. “I’m really happy to have signed this contract and commit my future to City,” he told the club’s website. “I’m 27 now and if you listen to some of the best managers in the game, they say that a midfield player’s best years are between 27 and 30 so I hope that I will give my best years to City.” Nasri suffered a loss of form during Roberto Mancini’s fi-

nal season in charge of the club but has been rejuvenated under Manuel Pellegrini and scored seven goals in 34 appearances last term as City regained their Premier League crown. “It took me time to adjust to living in Manchester because when you move here from London, it is a big change, but last year everything was perfect,” Nasri added. “I enjoyed my football and I love living in Manchester, feel very settled and I think that showed on the pitch. “That’s why I’ve agreed this new contract - because I feel very much at home. Our supporters have been right behind me and it gives me the confidence to play my best game. “Now I’m looking forward to the new season and to defending our title again.”

WORLD RECORD

Strongest spider web

Vol. 04 No. 893

Friday, July 11, 2014

N150

Madagascan spider known as Darwin’s bark spider (Caerostris darwini) weaves the strongest known spider silk with a tensile strength of up to 520 MJ/ m3 (megajoules per cubic metre).

Ugly narrative: Woman, adopted child, buried alive! T here are different brands of bestial fellows, extremely cruel characters that justify the common saying that the hearts of men and women, a lot of them, are evil-driven. It is not just about the heartless, blood-chilling campaign of terrorists or insurgents. The non-existence of any grain of conscience in a supposedly sane man, like 64-year-old Alhaji Olatunji Azeez, a so-called herbalist, who buried a childless retired Customs officer, Mrs. Angela Kerry, and her 10 years-old adopted daughter, whose name was not given, buttresses the beastly extent some merchants of evil are ready to go with their trade. The widely reported incident happened in the Ajuwon area of Lagos, a suburb very close to Lagos metropolis, and where mostly Lagosians reside. According to the report, Mrs. Kerry and her daughter, until their tragic end, lived in the New Oko-oba area of Lagos.

rgentina Coach, Alejandro Sabella, thinks a wellrested Germany will have the advantage against the weary South Americans in Sunday’s World Cup final. Argentina advanced to the Maracana match fol-

FRIDAY WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) The childless woman was introduced to the killer herbalist by a friend of hers five years ago when she had spiritual problems. Azeez said he prepared concoctions which Mrs. Kerry took and became alright. Three years later, the unfortunate childless woman returned to Azeez, complaining that she had never been pregnant in her adult life. She had approached the age of menopause; and the herbalist told her so. But the retired Customs woman pressed on with desperation, insisting that men of God had prophesied to her that she would bear children. Along the line, she sold her priced property in Omole Estate in Lagos valued millions of naira. Still in search of her own biological child, she paid out N15 million out of the money she realised from the property to her prophesying pastors who were telling her that she would bear children after attaining menopause. Having settled with her pastors, she went back again to the devil, which Azeez personified, and related how she sold her Omole Estate property, as well as how she paid out N15 million from the proceeds to her pastors. The herbalist’s eyes must have popped out in disbelief. He there and then plotted how to get his cut from the money Mrs. Kerry realised from the sold property. The same Azeez who told the childless mum that she had gotten to

IT MAY BE HOPED, HOWEVER, THAT THE POLICE WILL NOT

BUNGLE THIS HEARTRENDING CASE OF

MRS. KERRY AND HER DAUGHTER’S CRUEL MURDER the age of menopause and could no longer bear kids the natural way demanded N9 million from the woman to enable him prepare concoctions that would miraculously make her become pregnant. The woman paid the money to the herbalist and had been taking concoctions prepared by him for the past three years without any sign of pregnancy. After nine months of the fluke concoction medication, Mrs. Kerry went back to Azeez and asked for the refund of her N9 million since the concoction did not help her cause. According to Azeez’s confession to the police in Lagos, the woman allegedly threatened fire and brimstone should he fail to refund the money. Behold, he claimed he paid Mrs. Kerry N3.5 million out of the N9 million. But the ex-Customs woman reportedly insisted on the refund

of the entire N9 million. Consequently, the herbalist resolved to eliminate her. Azeez invited the woman to come and collect the balance of her money. According to the confession credited to the herbalist by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, Umar Manko, he (Azeez) said: “I went to a building at the back of my shrine and dug a hole (pit indeed). I spread a mat on the hole and laid a white cloth on it, exactly the way it looks in my shrine. When she came the next day, I told her to go inside the building; that we need to pray before we talk about the money… I warned her not to take her daughter along (like she had always done in the past) but she refused… On getting inside the building, I asked her to stand on the white cloth. And immediately she did, she fell inside the hole and landed on her buttocks. All I heard when she fell was yeh!” Having fallen into his booby trap, Azeez said he buried the woman alive with 40 buckets of sand. He then locked up the woman’s daughter in the same room. But shortly after, he returned and also buried the girl there with 30 buckets of sand. Not done yet, he took the woman’s Toyota Camry vehicle to a motor dealer’s shop to sell; apparently not aware that the police had been alerted about the missing mother and daughter by relatives. It was through the car that the police traced to the vehicle dealer that Azeez was arrested and taken to the Lagos State Police Command. That is the extent some of the characters men and women seek succour from can go in destroying lives and taking the law into their hands. Azeez had the opportunity of reporting Mrs. Kerry’s purported threat to recover her money to the police. But he never did. That is also how far some women desperately in need of the fruits of the womb go to fulfill dreams that are illusory. It may be hoped, however, that the police will not bungle this heart-rending case of Mrs. Kerry and her daughter’s cruel murder.

Sport Extra World Cup: Germans are cup favourites favourites–Sabella –Sabella lowing a gruelling extratime and penalty shoot-out battle with the Netherlands on Wednesday. “Some of our players are sore, beaten, tiredthe results of a war, so to speak,” Sabella said yes-

terday. “We have a final to play, with one day less to prepare and against a team like Germany, but with work, humility and seriousness, we’ll do all we can to make it all the way

to the top. Sabella, however, hailed the German style which he said had what he called “South American touch”. “Germany throughout their entire history have always shown physical

might, tactical and mental prowess,” the Argentina gaffer added. Argentina is chasing its third World Cup title after first winning at home in 1978 and clinching it eight years after in Mexico. Sabella

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