Nigerian observer 29 10 2014

THE NIGERIAN

The Nigerian

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol. 39 NO.109 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 . N100.00 MIDWEEK MAGAIZNE Pages 16 - 17

Profligacy endangers democracy

APC chieftain tasks party members on PVC

BENIN CITY- An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain in Edo State, Elder Macaulay Ovienria has appealed to supporters of the party in the state to come out enmass in the forth coming voters

registration exercise, which holds November 13-17, 2014.

He also urged the party members to collect their permanent voter’s card in the distribution exercise which will last from November 7-9,

2014 The appeal is contained in a press release which was made available to The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in Benin

City.

Ovienria who is leader of Unit three Idumhogbor in ward 4 of Igueben Local Government Area stressed the importance of the exercise and noted that the only way one Continues on page 2

2015

Benin chief predicts doom for PDP

BENIN CITY - A Benin High Chief and secondin-command among the palace chiefs in Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has no future in Edo State and that the party would fail woefully in the coming 2015 General election and 2016 Governorship election in the state.

NATURAL MEDICINE

Page 19

Gem fighters

they have no new values to add According to the Esogban, who represented the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Oba Erediauwa but

chose to speak in his personal capacity as the Esogban and Odionwere of Benin Kingdom, at a Town Hall meeting organized by Edo State Governor, Comrade

Adams Oshiomhole to address pressing security issues in the state, the recent crisis was a reenactment of the saga in the Old Western Region.

He asked the PDP to

Chief Edebiri who is the Esogban and Odionwere of Benin Kingdom, a seasoned politician and ally of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, accused the Federal Government of having a hand in the political crisis and security challenge in the state.

On his part, Governor Adams Oshiomhole blamed the new wave of politically-motivated violence in the state on some people who decamped from the APC to the PDP, saying it was their way to get noticed and gain relevance in their new party, since

EDHA approves supplementary virement BENIN CITY - Edo State House of Assembly has approved virement to the year 2014 Appropriation Law to address the Shortfall in the Personnel Cost of Ministries and Some Parastals regarding the payment of Salaries of Staff.

Parliament approved Virement to the Edo State Year 2014 Appropriation Law of about N160 billion following the

consideration of the report of the House Standing Committee on Appropriation, Budget and Project Monitoring in the committee of the whole.

The four point findings and one point recommendation of the Committee’s report stated that the virement became inevitable owing to the decentralization of the salaries of staff under the Edo State Youth

Continues on page 2

TIT BIT “It is easier to find a needle in a haystack than for one woman to learn from her mate; how to make her husband love her more.”

- Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

DEFECTION: Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, acknowledging cheers after defecting to All Peoples Congress at the National Assembly in Abuja yesterday.

field some of its members who recently decamped from the APC in the coming elections and see how woefully the party would lose.

He said: “What we were about to witness in Edo State was a reenactment of the political scenario in the old Western Region in 1962-1964, whereby the Central Government caused a division in the old Action Group and supported the Minority, late Chief SLA Akintola who was our deputy leader then to fight against Chief Obafemi Awolowo because they wanted to take the Western Region by all means.

“That was the type of scenario they wanted to create here but for the wise counsel of the Governor and members of our Legislative Assembly. Now that they have failed, I’m sure they have failed in that endeavour. They still want to do whatever they can to cause problem in Edo State. Incidentally the three suspended people, members of the Continues on page 2

Tambuwal dumps PDP for APC

By JOSES SEDE

ABUJA - Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday, proved his mastering of the game, when he dribbled the green chambers into a four-week long break, apparently to douse possible crisis attendant of his cross carpeting.

Like a practiced script, the Speaker ensure that motion for adjournment of planetary till December 3, 2014, had been moved

by Majority Leader Mulikat Akande Adeola and seconded by Deputy Leader of the House, Rep. Leo Ogor (both PDP members), as well as, carried by majority of members before announcing his defection from Peoples Democratic

Party to All Progressive Congress (APC).

Speaker Tambuwal who represents Kebbe/ Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, told the lawmakers that his defection was hinged on his political

survival and political events in his home state, where the hitherto PDP Governor Aliyu Makadakawa Wamako, led mass defection of senior party members to the APC, a few months ago.

After announcing his

defection to the APC, the Speaker brought down his suspended gavel on the dais with a thud, signifying ruling for adjournment of House proceedings till December 3, 2014, as earlier moved.

Continues on page 2

Zone ‘5’, Mr. Musa Daura has warned officers and men of Edo State Police Command against extraJudicial killing as the full wrath of the would be

brought to bear on any erring officer.

Also, the AIG cautioned the officers against corruption which he stated is the bane of punitive

postings of some policemen in the command.

Mr. Daura gave the warning while on a Continues on page 2

Extra-Judicial Killings: AIG Reads Riot Act

By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON / PIUS ABAH/OMEIZA ROBINSON

BENIN CITY- The Assistant InspectorGeneral (AIG) of Police,

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

News

APC chieftain tasks party members on PVC Ovienria appealed to the

Continued from page 1 could partake in the development strides of the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is to exercise their voting rights.

Ovienria however charged the party faithful not to sell their voter’s card, saying that their votes are their right as

well as their power and license to enjoying the dividends of democracy that the Oshiomhole‘s led administration provides for the people of the state.

He stressed that it is not enough to obtain the voter’s cards for keeps, while encouraging party faithful not

to stay indoors on election days under the guise of fear and intimidation by opposition party.

In the same vein the release stated that the swearing –in ceremony of the APC Executives in the Unit has been held.

At the ceremony, Elder

sponsor them as candidates, if any of them win his election, don’t greet me anymore.

“I hear three of them are aspiring to go to the House of Representative. If it’s the time they do deposits in elections, they will lose their deposit. Up till yesterday, I was still speaking with these boys, but they refused to heed all reasonable advise.

“I will thank you for the way you have developed this state. We know how many insults you have got from people who have never won any election. What the TV now refer to as Chief Zebrudaya and his group. If they want to oppose anybody, say if I want to do it I would have done it better, it is not that Oshiomhole is not doing anything, if you say Oshiomhole is not doing anything come to my street.

Come to Akpakpava, come

to Ugbowo, come to 5Junction. If you tell such blatant lies to people, they know you are telling lies.

“Mr. Governor, I want to say with all the emphasis at my command and on behalf of the Benin people, that in 2015 we will vote for Oshiomhole.

In 2016, we will vote for Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole may not be there physically but we are going to vote for the things you are going to bequeath to the incoming government.”

The Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole had called the town Hall meeting to explain the political situation in the state, where he gave a blow-by-blow account of the recent security challenges, including the attack on the Legislative quarters and the suspicious explosion at a dental clinic owned by a PDP member in the state.

The Governor blamed the

recent wave of violence on some people who recently decamped to the PDP, saying it was their way to get noticed and gain relevance in their new party.

He said: “Edo State has always been peaceful. Working with all security agencies, we have, in a very significant way, contained kidnapping and robbery. It is therefore very sad that the orgy of violence in Edo reared its head when these elements decamped to the PDP. “The APC and PDP had coexisted peacefully in Edo State without such ugly incidents as witnessed in the past few weeks, and it is clear that these decampees are the ones who have now introduced these spirals of violence to the state since they have no new values to add. I am convinced that the leadership of the PDP at all levels are not deceived by these opportunistic, infantile and selfserving antics of the recent decampees.”

advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, that any of the two presiding officers of the National Assembly would belong to a party other than the ruling PDP. Tambuwal defection to APC ended months of speculation about his political future in the PDP. He is expected to contest for the governorship of his native Sokoto State.

The speaker, had repeatedly denied he was moving to the APC despite openly associating with the party. His months of denial is believed to have been informed by his concerns about losing his position as the speaker.

Clearest indication that he had joined the party came more than a week ago, when he attended a meeting of the opposition party in Sokoto State. He explained that the state governor, Aliyu Wammako, had invited him for the

meeting after he was snubbed by a visiting PDP delegation to the state, led by Chief Tony Anenih, the Board of Trustees chairman.

His spokesman, Mr Imam Imam in a statement stated: “Monday, 20/10/2014, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, led other members of the party to a reconciliation meeting in Sokoto but the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a member of the NEC of the PDP, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, was not invited to the meeting”.

Rt. Hon Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was later invited by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, to attend the meeting of their political family to discuss the political future of Sokoto State.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, duly obliged and attended the meeting. The meeting had in attendance prominent Sokoto citizens, many of who have no known political affiliation. The most notable being the Sardauna of Sokoto and former Minister of Finance, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji.”

He added that consultations on the Speaker ’s political future had continued and that the outcome would be made public at the appropriate time.

Online media had been agog with reports about Tambuwal’s defection to the APC, quoting him to have asked the party members present in the meeting to accept him “as one of you, starting from today”.

members to diligently discharged their duties and constantly maintain their good ambassadorship of the party.

He also urged them to go all out to harvest the remaining PDP members in the unit into APC so that they can equally enjoy the dividends of democracy which Governor Oshiomhole is providing

Benin chief predicts doom for PDP

Continued from page 1 House of Assembly are from my own area, from Edo South and we in Edo South have not been sleeping over this matter.

“Today, I am representing Omo n’Oba n’Edo, Uku Akplopkolo in this assembly, but what I’m saying now is my own personal view as Chief D.U Edebiri, the Esogban and Odionwere of Benin Kingdom.

I am concerned with what is happening in Edo State.

Under the aegis of the Benin Forum, which I have the fortune to lead as the Chairman. The moment, we’ve interacted with these young men, we’ve called them to several meetings, but it would appear that they are still relying on the promise they have from somewhere.

“What I want to make out of this is that, whatever the Commissioner of Police here or the AIG is doing is not their own making, we see the hands of the Federal Government in this matter, we see their finger in this problem.

If they were not involved, or if they had not made any promises to these young men, they would not have been so bold and defiant. So we are going to tell you and appeal to you to remain focused and not to be distracted by whatever they are doing.

“They cannot take over Edo State Government as they did in Adamawa. It’s impossible.

We are the owners of the government. We merely sent you people to go and work for us. As long as we are behind you, nobody can come from anywhere to come and take over the government of this state. Because we voted for you, you did not get there by magic, you did not get there by their methods of rigging election, we are going to stand by you, day and night.

“Having exhausted all the legal options, and they are still remaining stubborn, we have a way of dealing with such people. But one assurance I can give you, Mr Governor is that we will pray that in their new place they should

Tambuwal dumps PDP for APC

Continued from page 1 The adjournment of Plenaries is seen as a by

the hitherto ignorant PDP members of the House of Reps as ploy to make it impossible for any attempt to initiate moves to impeach the Speaker.

Signs that Tambuwal’s defection, would cause ruffling of feathers among members of the House in the days to come began to manifest when, the PDP caucus in the House went into closed-doors session perhaps to review the day’s events and strategies for the future.

Addressing newsmen after the sitting, Minority leader, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila expressed joy at the development, which he described as historic adding that APC members had long hoped for this development.

Yesterday event marks the first time, since the

EDHA approves supplementary virement

Continued from page 1 Empowerment Scheme (Edo YES), stressing that the virement reflects the needs of one people.

It further revealed that the year 2014 budget size of N160 billion was not affected by the virement, adding that the virement will take care of the shortfall of the personnel cost of the ministries and urged the House to approve the proposed virement to the year 2014 Appropriation Law which was unanimously approved by Parliament.

Earlier, while presenting the report of the House Committee on Appropriation, the Majority

Leader Hon. Philip Shaibu who made the presentation on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee Hon. Peter Aliu, revealed that the virement was done on Sub-Heads in the budget which affected the Government House, the Edo State Rapid Response Agency to enable them to rehabilitate more roads in the state.

He further stated that the virement will provide an atmosphere for job creation as it has provided for the employment of several youth under the prompt payment of the salaries of those under the youth Empowerment Scheme.

Others affected by the virement included Pensions

Board, Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), Bendel Newspaper Company Limited (BNCL) and Civil Service Commission.

It will be recalled that the State Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole had on Monday October 27, 2014 through a letter signed on his behalf by the State Commissioner for Budget, Planning and Economic Planning Submitted a proposed virement to the year 2014 Appropriation Law to the State House of Assembly for approval.

Parliament has adjourned sitting to Monday November 3, 2014.

Fight against Ebola not yet over - Respnse team LAGOS - Dr Philip Oshun, the Head, Ebola Response Team at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, on Tuesday said the fight against Ebola virus was not over yet.

Oshun told newsmen in Lagos that health workers should continue to observe standard precautions in handling infectious diseases, especially Ebola virus.

He said: “Now that we have been declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO), we have won the battle.

“But the war is still on.

As long as there are Ebola cases in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea we are also still at risk.

“And so, what we need to be doing now is one, in our hospitals, we need to upgrade our state of preparedness in terms of infection control.

“We need to take standard precautions like hand washing, provision

of personal protective equipment, cleaning and disinfection and waste management.”

Oshun, who is also a microbiologist, said that health workers should continue to maintain a high suspicion for cases by remaining vigilant and taking patients’ history.

“We also need to be vigilant, especially when we receive patients.

“Health workers should be familiar with the procedure called screen, isolate and notify.

“They should know how to ask about history of contact with exposure and notify the Ebola Emergency Centre in case of a suspected case of Ebola virus,” he said.

Oshun said that there was need for an enhanced and expanded surveillance system that would have weekly reports from every hospital, the community and the ports.

Perm Secretary stresses importance of social work BENIN CITY- The Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Information and Orientation, Mr. Femi Okuo has challenged social workers in the state to Vigorously pursue the welfare of the people in the society as social work is a service to humanity.

Mr. Okuo gave this charge while playing host to the Executive members of the Nigeria Association of Social Workers, Edo State Chapter who were in his office in Benin on a congratulatory visit.

The Permanent Secretary who advised

social workers to be dedicated to their job noted that the profession needs professionals to drive it to promote efficiency.

While commending the members for their good work so far, Mr. Okuo thanked the members for presenting him with a congratulatory card.

In his speech, president of the Association, comrade Christian Osaghae said Mr. Okuo’s appointment as a Permanent Secretary in the State’s Civil Service was well deserved as he has contributed in no small measure to social work in the state.

AIG Reads Riot Act Continued from page 1 famliarisation visit to the command headquarter, Benin City, yesterday.

The zone ‘5’ police Chief however commended the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Mr. Foluso Adebajo and his management team for reducing crime in the state.

He affirmed that if every police officer could follow the commitment of the state police Commissioner Nigeria would be better secured.

While making reference to the forthcoming elections, he added that policemen/women should never in any way support criminals, saying that when they are caught, no

amount of defence will stand the test of time.

According to him, “general election is coming and you know what to do. Never you compromise.

All over Nigeria, we want peace. We have to have synergy to ensure that the election is carried out successfully and should be devoid of unsnipulous act.

“Do not be a victim or do anything contrary to the law, if you commit any offence, you are on your own, respect yourself and be a good representative. Everything should be done”, he said according to laid down rules”.

He said.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

News Devt: Community Leaders Step-Up Plans

By ROLAND OSAKUE

R-L: President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State, Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris and Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Amb. Nuju Bajoga at the inauguration of new Governor’s Office Complex in Kaduna yesterday.

BENIN CITY-The Community leaders in Iyekogba Community, Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State operating under the aegis of the ”Iyekogba Youth Development Forum” have stepped up plans to comple.

The forum which comprises of Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the locality, and members of their executives, it was gathered

2 Africans Honoured At American Academy

ABUJA- Two African artists, El Anatsui, a sculptor, and Kenyan writer, Ngugi wa Thiong’o, were inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the weekend, a statement said.

The statement from the Chairs of the Academy’s Board and Council was made available to newsmen in Abuja.

It said: “This honour signifies the high regard in which you are held by leaders in your field and members throughout this nation.”

El Anatsui, a Ghanaian and former Professor of Sculpture at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was made a Foreign Honorary Member in Visual Arts Criticism and Practice.

Ngugi wa Thiong’o, who holds a dual professorship in

Comparative Literature and Performance Studies at the University of California, Irvine, was honoured in the category for Literary Criticism.

The induction ceremony featured 204 new members among the world’s most accomplished scholars, scientists, writers, artists and civic, corporate and philanthropic leaders.

Past inductees of the AAAS, which was founded in 1780, include Nelson Mandela, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka and Bill Clinton, among others.

The Academy’s Fellows also include no fewer than 250 Nobel Laureates and 60

Constituency Projects:

By KEHINDE OSAGIEDE

OKADA- Ovia North East Local Government Council Chairman, Barr (Mrs.) Lucy Omagbon has commended Hon. Bright Osayande, representative of Ovia North East Constituency 11 in the Edo State House of Assembly for delivering on his electioneering promises to the people of the locality.

The council boss made the commendation yesterday during the commissioning of an Ultra modern primary Healthcare Centre at Olumoye, Uhen ward.

Hon. Omagbon who remarked that the Health Centre meets international standard, thanked Hon. Osayande for complementing the efforts of the local government authority as well as that of the state government in meeting the primary health

Pulitzer Prize winners.

El Anatsui has lived and worked in Nigeria for four decades, and is globally acknowledged as Africa’s most recognised contemporary artist.

His works has featured in scores of private collections globally and continentally, as well as in the permanent collections of 45 major international museums.

Ngugi has produced a formidable body of work which includes novels, plays, short stories and essays, ranging from literary and social criticism to children’s literature.

His first novel, Weep Not, Child was published in 1964

to critical acclaim.

However, his crowning literary achievement is Wizard of the Crow, an English translation of his Gikuyu novel: Murogi wa Kagogo.

Ngugi no longer writes in English, but only in Gikuyu, his language.

desirous to eradicate the incessant land crisis in order to foster development within all the communities in the area.

The meeting of the forum held at the weekend was hosted by the Youth leader of Ebo Community, Mr Festus Omozusi.

Stakeholders who attended the meeting bared their minds on the need to foster unity among themselves and plan for the overall development of the youths and indigenes of the area.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the CDA, Ebo Community, Ambassador Austin Enehizena appealed to members of the forum to always bring decency into play while dealing with their prospective

developers.

He donated the sum of N1 million to the Forum as a kick off point towards actualising some of their goals.

In his remark, President of the Forum, Mr Peter Ironmwen Erinmwinose (aka Yellow man) appreciated the goodwill of Ambassador Enehizena and called on all other well meaning members of the various communities join hands with the community leaders to move the community forward.

Erinmwinose, also promised to continue his untiring services and support for the Forum, while he urging members to always put in their best for the interest of the communities in the locality.

Council Boss Applauds Lawmaker expect more if given the

care and infrastructural needs of the people of area.

Two other Health Centre at Isiuwa and Iyanomo Communities in Okada east ward also in Ovia North East 11 Constituency were also commissioned by the Council Vice Chairman, Hon Dumaz Ugiagbe who represented the council boss.

Some communities, leaders particularly in Isiuwa, while expressing their gratitude to Hon. Osayande, said they would remain grateful to him and the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole saying that they were having the taste of the dividends of democracy for the first time since inception.

Thanking the people for their support towards his political ambition so far Osayande promised them to

mandate in 2015 to continue to represent then.

He also appealed to the people to make themselves available from November 7 for collection of their permanent voters card.

R-L: Governor Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State declaring his presidential ambition under APC in Abuja yesterday. With him are former Yobe Governor, Sen. Bukar Ibrahim and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

SA Donates Water Borehole, N3m including the Odionwere EDO STATE - The To Communities of Okogbo Pa Isaac Special Adviser on Oil and Gas to Edo State Governor, Deacon Newman Ugiagbe has donated a borehole to Evbuehia Community, Ukpato ward in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

He also donated the sum of N370,000 to nearby Okogbo Community for the celebration of centenary of Christianity in the

community.

The commissioning ceremony was witnessed

by Evbuehia and Okogbo Communities indigenes who were grateful to the donor for the kind gesture.

Deacon Newman Ugiagbe said he was moved to make the donation in fulfillment of the promise he made to help alleviate the water

problem in the community.

While assuring the indigenes that he would continue to do his best to make life better for the people, he promised to use his position as Special Adviser to the governor to attract development to Evbuehia Okogbo and other communities in the locality some indigenes,

Enadeghe and Evbuehia youth chairman Enoma Osabuohien appreciated Deacon Newman Ugiagbe for donating the borehole to Evbuehia Community and recalled that when he acted as chairman of Orhionmwon Local Government Council he electrified Okogbo, Evbuehia and Igbekhue Communities in Ukpato ward.

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Hon Ikhariale Donates ABUJA - A member representing the Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Abuja Hon. Patrick Ihariale has donated a customized table tennis board to the Centre for Childcare and Youth Development (CCYD).

While donating the item in Abuja recently, Hon. lkhariale, a sports enthusiast and former Commissioner for Water and Energy in Edo State, said that he was motivated to donate the item to the Centre in view of what it stands for as an immense contributor to the wellbeing of the Nigerian child, youth and motherhood; for the general development of the society.

Hon. Ikhariale, a legal practitioner, who is aspiring to contest in the 2015 election for the Senate seat, urged government and other wellmeaning Nigerians to always assist the good work of CCYD and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) of its like, since the issue of childcare and youth management was very significant to be abandoned.

CCYD’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr John Abhuere, a former Director with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and a chartered trainer and consultant, thanked Hon. lkhariale for his kind gesture. He further said that CCYD would go very far about its main goal of effective childcare and youth management, if all and sundry take after the good example of a personality like Hon: Ikhariale, to assist CCYD in its current drive to get the desired support for its laudable activities.

The Centre for ChildCare and Youth Development (CCYD), is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), registered

in 2005 with the corporate Affairs Commission promote childcare and youth development, empowerment and participation in the development process of Nigeria. It is also a Resource Centre for leadership and management education. It was established to solve the mounting problems (largely socioeconomic in nature), which tend to affect children and young people more in the country.

CCYD’smain Centre for Resource and Leadership Management is located at SaboLugbe, Abuja-FCT with Education Centre at Uromi, Edo State.

News

PEACE ACCORD: R-L: Chairman, Edo State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Director, State Security Services (SSS) Edo Command, Mr. Tukor Bakori and his Police Counterpart, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, Commander, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier Fidelix Azita and Edo State Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih shortly after security meeting with security chiefs in Edo State, last month. Photo: MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

Chief Alimikhena Picks Nomination Form

By LAMAI CASSIUS

BENIN CITY- Chief Major Barr. Francis Alimikhena (rtd.) aspirant to the senate has urged the people to embrace All Progressives Congress (APC) and relate with it as the only party for Edo state.

Maj. (Barr.) Alimikhena (rtd) stated this at the party secretariat in Benin City while picking his nomination form to represent Edo north Senatorial district in the forth coming 2015 general elections.

Looking at the physical evidence of massive supporters that accompanied him to the secretariat, the APC senatorial hopeful noted that it was a reflection of the people’s willingness to vote for him during the forthcoming primary and

subsequent election.

Highlighting on his vision for the people if elected, Maj. (Barr.)

Alimikhena (rtd.) enumerated on how he intended to empower the society by setting up a micro scheme where disadvantage women and youths would borrow soft loans without paying interest to help define their dreams.

According to him, “my quest for political office as a senator is one that will make the people of the senatorial district to enjoy the dividend of democracy”, He conclude.

Also speaking, Hon. Hayart Asunogie said as far as the election was concerned, Chief Maj. Alimikhena (rtd.) is the man to beat, adding that even some of the Peoples Democratic Party members were

aggressively yearning for his representation at the National Assembly.

He described Major Alimikhena as epitome of

love, who possess the spirit of give and take and charity which is why people are yearning for his representation.

Hon. Asunogie however called on the people

irrespective of party or tribe to support Maj. Alimikhena as he has a name to maintain and will not disappoint them if given the opportunity to serve.

Agency To Establish Data Base For Nigerian Pensioners

By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

BENIN CITY- The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has perfected plan to organise verification and Biometric Capture exercise geared towards establishing a comprehensive, authentic and credible database of pensioners in Nigeria.

The exercise billed to hold simultenuosly nationwide is to among other issues ensure effective planning and management of pensions, correct and eliminate anomalies such as under and over payments, eliminate ghost pensioners, update records of next of kin and enroll new pensioners.

The Director-General of the PTAD, Mrs. Nellie Mayshak disclosed this during a sensitization workshop on

Edo North Senatorial aspirant, Major (Barr.)

Francis Alimikhena (rtd) displaying his nomination form at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat on Monday. With him are his supporters.

pension management under PTAD in Benin City, last Monday.

According to the DG, the PTAD is an agency of the Federal Government established in August 2013 in compliance with the provision of section 30 subsection (2) (a) of the Pension Reform Act of 2004 (now amended in 2014) as this is now related in section 42 (1) of the 2014 Act. Mrs. Nellie added that the purpose of PTAD is to manage pensions under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) for pensioners not transiting to the Defined Contributory Scheme

(DCS).

She however maintained t hat the PTAD is in charge of Civil Service Pension, Police Pension, Customs, Immigration, Prisons and Treasury Funded Parastatals Pension.

In their various remarks, the pensioners expressed confidence in PTAD as it is the first time in history that pensioners are allowed to interact with pension managers.

Among the different speakers who lectured at the workshop included the Director, Pension Support Services Department, PTAD Mrs. Roz Ben-Akagbue.

AUCHI - Certificates of exemplary conducts have been presented to 44 students in Auchi and Afuze, North Senatorial district.

Presenting the certificates Mr. Eddy Ikponmwen, of Nigerian Institute for Character Education (NICE) admonished Secondary School Students to be of exemplary conduct, stressing that the award was to encourage them to excel in their behavior in order to become good citizens of Nigeria.

Mr. Ikponmwen who congratulated parents, teachers and the students for being among those selected urged other students to take a cue from the awardees.

He enumerated some of the aims and objectives of Nigerian Institute for Character Education to include, creating a conducive atmosphere for positive character development in order to encourage the spirit of National consciousness.

While advising other agencies to work on the need to give premium to character education, Mr. Ikponmwen enjoined the students to shun falsehood, crime and negative traits.

44 Students honoured for exemplary conduct

Contributing, Hon. Justice Peter Isibor, Secretary of the Institute stressed that good “Character is Supreme” and that it enhances one’s opportunities in life.

In his remark the Vice Chairman of the Institute, Hon. Justice Oyenna admonished the students to be good ambassadors of the Nigerian Institute for Character Education.

Responding on behalf of the students and parents, Mr. Anthony Osi Omogbei Vice Principal of Ogbona Secondary School thanked the Institute for the award stressing that it was a laudable programme as it is the first of its kind in the locality.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

News Delta LG Election

PDP Wins 23 LGs, APC Protests Results ASABA - The Delta Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidates winners in 23 local government areas in the October 25 council elections in the state.

The DSIEC Chairman, Moses Ogbe, made the declaration in Asaba when he received the awaited chairmanship election result from Isoko South area where Mr Constantan Ikpokpo of the PDP also won.

Reports state that DSIEC has issued certificates of return to the 23 chairmen elect.

Meanwhile, Jones Erue, State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), at a news

conference in Asaba, called for the cancellation of the results, alleging that there was no election in the state.

According to Ogbe, the collation of the results from Isoko South brings the total chairmanship results received from the Returning Officers from the Saturday’s contest to 23

Mobile Court Convicts Sanitation Offenders

By MORRISON HAYBLE

AUCHI (Edo) - Seven persons were arraigned and convicted by a special mobile court for various sanitation offences in Auchi

Court To Deliver Judgment Over Church/Monarch Land Tussle UROMI (Edo) - An Edo State High Court sitting in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State has fixed December 1, 2014 for judgment in a case instituted by the Anglican Church against the Onogie of Uromi, HRH Anslem Eidenogie over alleged trespass on its land.

The trial judge, Justice A. Oyakhilome fixed the judgment date after parties to the suit adopted their written addresses.

The plaintiff had earlier secured a court order restraining the monarch, his servants, agents or privies from entering and/or in anyway trespassing and interfering with the claimant’s entire land in dispute, pending the determination of the suit.

The church is demanding the sum of N5 million as damages for the alleged trespass on the land, measuring 3735.678 square meters, situated along the junction of Uromi/Ubiaja Road and Ojomon Street, Uromi.

The church, in its Statement of Claim brought before the court by its counsel Gabriel GiwaAmu had averred that a

customary grant by HRH Ogbidi, the then Onogie of Uromi, (great grandfather of the defendant), and the entire Uromi Community in 1930 to the church, then known as Church Missionary Society (C.M.S), it became owner of the land.

It added that as at the time of the grant, the defendant’s predecessor, HRH Ogbidi was a regular member of the church, and contributed financially to the building of the church-Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, presently on the other part of the land.

The claimant alleged that the defendant without its permission, January 2, 2014, brought in traitors and commenced building of commercial stores on the said land, adding that defendant was aware of an earlier judgment of the suit between Gregory Okpere and the church, having mediated in the dispute.

The defence counsel, F. O. Ebada in his submission said the portion of the land originally belonged to the Onogie, while the church was a tenant, adding that action of the monarch was merely to protect the property of the fore-fathers.

AUCHI (Edo) - National Organising Committee of the forth coming National Quranic Recitation Competition is expected to pay an assessment visit to Edo State in the first week of December to ascertain the level of preparedness by the host state towards the event scheduled to hold between 7th and 17th of January, 2015.

Coordinator, Edo state Musaabaquah, Sheik Ibrahim Oyarekhua disclosed this at an extra ordinary meeting of the Local Organising Committee, LOC as art of final preparations toward successful hosting of the event.

Sheik Oyarekhua revealed that Edo state would for the first time in the history of the competition produce female representatives in all categories adding that about 300 participants from across the country were expected to vie for prizes in the event.

In a remark, Chairman of the LOC and the Otaru of Auchi kingdom, HRH Alhaji A.H. Momoh, Ikelebe III, while stressing the need to intensify efforts at ensuring availability of funds for the event charged the committee to reach out to individuals and organisations across the country on an aggressive fund drive to

By OSE EHEBHA

councils out of the 25 in the state.

“I had earlier mentioned that there will be a run-off in eight wards in Ethiope East LGAs and a fresh election in Ndokwa East where the Retuning Officer said that election did not hold,” Ogbe said.

The two councils that have issues at stake are Ethiope East (inconclusive elections and runoff in 8 wards) and Ndokwa East (to face a fresh election).

metropolis during the weekly market. sanitation exercise.

Head of Department, Environmental Sanitation, Etsako West local government, Alhaji Braimah Abudusalami who disclosed this to our correspondent said some violators were however cautioned and left off the hook.

Abudusalami reaffirmed the determination of his unit to ensuring that both the monthly and weekly market sanitation exercises were sustained pointing out that the effort was paying off in the regular sensitization meetings with traders on the need to be cleanliness conscious.

The HOD Environment however lamented the dearth of Environmental Health Officers in the area, a situation he observed, was hampering the effective monitoring of the locality adding that it required enough manpower to undertake. house to house inspection exercise on regular basis.

Abudusalami explained that with the increasing population, there was need for commesurate number of health officers for effective result.

He used the medium to appeal to the people to collaborate with government in the effort to imbibe the habit of cleanliness as outbreak of diseases would not be borne by government but by the citizens themselves.

Quranic Recitation Committee guarantee successful hosting.

By MORRISON HAYBLE the final selection To Visit Edo ofMeanwhile, the state representatives at the event is to hold on Sunday 2nd of November, 2014 at the palace of the Otaru of Auchi.

Scheduled to begin at 10 am prompt, the occasion which is under the chairmanship of Barr Hassan Kadiri, Executive Chairman, Etsako West local government will also have the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as special guest of honour.

A statement by Edo State Musaabaquah said the occasion to be hosted by the Otaru of Auchi, HRH A.H. Momoh will also have all Muslim Traditional Rulers in the state as royal guests.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

South-West Murder

Party Chieftain Tasks New Osun APC Executive OSOGBO - Senator Babajide Omoworare (APCOsun)has urged the new Chairman of All Progressives Congress in Osun, Mr. Gboyega Famodun, to consolidate on the legacies inherited from his predecessors.

Omoworare gave the advice in a statement in Osogbo.

“I wish to admonish the leaders to work as a formidable team to consolidate the legacies of the immediate past executives and improve on them for the good and political fortune of all.

“The newly assumed responsibilities must be seen as a call to service and a challenge to move our party to the next level, especially at this period.

Omoworare said the new chairman had a big challenge of ensuring that the party won the 2015 election in the state, just as it did in the 2011 election.

“The wealth of experience

and administrative acumen of Famodun is most potent ingredient needed to move the party to greater heights at the political juncture.

“I am bold to say that the new crop of APC executives in Osun are not products of political accident but of a breed that is thorough and schooled in the philosophy of progressive politics,” Omoworare said.

The new APC Chairman, Famodun, was until his election, the Secretary of the party in Osun.

Famodun had on Saturday said the state executive of the party resolved as true democrats, to ensure openness, fairness and levelplaying ground within the party.

According to him, “we are prepared to listen to others and consult other party leaders and members from time to time.

“We will not be sectional, but we will be sensitive to the different backgrounds and orientations of party members.’’

Man, Son To Die By Hanging

L-R: Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and Guest Lecturer, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the University of Ibadan Alumni Association of Nigeria 2014 Annual Lecture in Ibadan recently.

INEC To Distribute 1.4m Voter Cards

Ogun:

ABEOKUTA - The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun, Mr. Sam Olumekun, has said that about 1.4 million registered voters in the state would collect Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) from November 7 to November 9.

Olumekun made the statement while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta on the distribution of PVCs and Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would issue PVCs to all voters who were properly captured in the biometric register of voters compiled in 2011.

He said that the commission would embark on CVR from November 12 to November 17 in all the 236 wards in the state.

“It is pertinent to point out that people who have been properly registered and have their PVCs but have moved or transferred to another place need not worry.

“All they need to do is to take their PVCs to INEC office and apply through the electoral officer of their L.G.As for transfer,” he said.

The resident electoral commissioner said that INEC desired that all eligible voters should vote during the 2015

general elections.

He urged voters to ensure that their votes would count.

On loss, defacing or mutilation of temporary voter’s cards, he advised that an affected eligible voter should complete an attestation form at a polling station for reissuance.

“Whoever does not find his/ her name, due to incomplete data capture, is advised to come out physically during the CVR to get registered afresh in the 639 polling units in the state.

“Failure to come out to get re-captured during the CVR would amount to disenfranchising oneself,” Olumekun said.

He warned against multiple registration, saying that it would result in prosecution of perpetrators.

The official also said that people without the PVC would not be allowed to vote during the 2015 election.

He solicited the cooperation and support of all Nigerians toward the success of the exercise.

“I urge all political parties, civil society organisations, media organisations, labour unions, traditional rulers, religious leaders and all relevant organisations to enlighten and mobilise the citizenry,” he said.

L-R: Oyo Commissioner for Trade and investment, Mrs Oyefunke Oworu, her Information and Orientation Counterpart and Chairman, Ad-Hoc Committee on the recent Molete Fire Disaster, Prince Gbade Lana and Commissioner for Fiscal and Urban Planning, Mr. Deji Akande, at a news conference on the recent fire disaster in Ibadan recently.

ADO-EKITI - An AdoEkiti High Court has sentenced a 55-year-old man, Jimoh Ayeni, and his son, Haruna, to death by hanging for murder of a farmer.

The Judge, Justice Mosun Bodunde, found the man and his son guilty of murder of Chief Clement Ayeni while he was working in his farm.

Bodunde said that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubts that the duo committed the murder on June 27, 2012.

“The sentence of the court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you will be dead.

“May the Lord have mercy on your souls,” the judge held.

Ekiti State Counsel, Mr. Familoni Adeniyi, had submitted that the convicts murdered the deceased at Ose Egbeda Camp in Emure-Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area.

He noted that the offence contravened Section 316 of the Criminal Code Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

The prosecution and the defence called eight witnesses each in the case.

Lagos Organises Interview For Identification card.

Other requirements are Students LAGOS - The Lagos JAMB Result Slip; SSCE/ Bursary:

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM

State Government, through the State Scholarship Board, is to organise Bursary Awards interview for indigent students in all the five divisions of the State.

A statement from the Office of the Director/ Secretary, Lagos State Scholarship Board, Mrs. Omauton Yetunde Jegede, stated that indigent students in tertiary institutions across the country, who have obtained application forms, will be interviewed for the bursary award The interview which will be held in different parts of the state for easy access by applicants, include Ikeja zone interview that will take place at the Government College, Agege, beside NYSC Orientation Camp on today 29 to Thursday, October 30, 2014; The Badagry zone will hold at the International Business Hall, MBA Complex, Lagos State University, Ojo on Monday 27 to Wednesday

29, October 2014, while Ikorodu zone will hold at Oriwu College, Ikorodu on Wednesday 5 to Thursday 6, November.

The Lagos zone interview will hold St Georges’ Primary school, Falomo, between Monday 10 and Wednesday 12 of November 2014, while the venue for Epe zone is Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija, Epe, on

Monday 3 to Wednesday 5, November 2014.

The statement advised all applicants to bring along original and photocopies of all relevant documents, which should include letter of admission; birth certificate of father; applicant’s birth certificate and identification letter from their Local Government, identification Letter from their traditional rulers and School

Polytechnic (MAPOLY) has appeared before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court for allegedly beating their landlady and causing grievous harm to her.

The accused persons are Olamide Ayoola, 19, Olumide Ayoola, 21, Damilola Oluwole, 22, Ibrahim Idris, 22 and Sheriff Salami, 21.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Moshood Hammed, told the court that the accused persons committed the offences on October 25 at about 9:00a.m., at 6, Olabisi Olorode St.,

He said that the five accused persons assaulted their landlady, Mrs. Kudirat Mutairu, when she summoned them to participate in environmental sanitation.

“The accused beat up the 70year-old landlady, injuring her left eye, when she called them out for sanitation, which they had refused to do,” he said.

Hammed said that the offence contravened Sections 516, 355 and 249 of the Criminal Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused persons, who are

GCE result; receipt of purchase of application form; two passport photographs and downloaded application form which must had been filled.

The release also urged all applicants to go to their respective divisions, as no request for private interviews would be granted after the stated period.

Assault: 5 Students Face Trial Over ABEOKUTA - Five students facing a three-count charge of Assault of the Moshood Abiola conspiracy, assault and conduct Abeokuta. likely to breach public peace, pleaded not guilty.

Defence counsel, Mr. Michael Itiolu, applied for bail of his clients on liberal terms, assuring the court that they would not jump bail.

The Magistrate, Mr. Martins Akinyemi, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N50,000 each, with one surety in like sum.

He adjourned the case till January 19, 2015 for definite hearing.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Lagos L-R: President, Unity Schools Old S t u d e n t s Association (USOSA), Alhaji Muhammadu NuhuKoko; Chairman of the plenary of Unity schools’ Old S t u d e n t s Association in Lagos recently.

Man Sentenced For Stealing Pot Of Soup LAGOS - A Somolu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State has sentenced a 28- yearold man, Abiodun Ojedokun, to six days of community service for stealing a large pot of soup.

The Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, sentenced the convict to 48 hours of community service for each of the three-count charge, after he had pleaded guilty to them.

“Based on the facts of this case before this court, the confirmed report and your plea of leniency, I hereby sentence you to 48 hours community service on each of the counts of the charge,” Osunsanmi

Tricyclist, Trader Docked For N1.05m Theft

LAGOS - A trader and a tricyclist, who allegedly stole N1.05 million, were charged before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused — Steven Nwibo,32, and Chibezie Ezia,29 — are facing a twocount charge of conspiracy and stealing.

Nwibo resides at No.2, Orelope Close, Ilaje in Ebute Meta, while Ezia lives at No.10, Bamgboye St., also in Ilaje.

The prosecutor, Insp.

George Nwosu, told the court that the offences were committed on June 20, 2013 at 6.00 a.m. at Ilaje.

He said the accused had approached the United Brothers and Sisters Association for a loan.

The duo bolted with the money after collecting the loan, Nwosu said.

Nwosu said the men were later arrested by the police at their shops.

The offences, he noted, contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Olatunbosun Abolarinwa, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

He said the sureties must show evidence of three years’ tax

payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

In addition, Abolarinwa said the sureties should be resident in Lagos and show evidence of

gainful employment.

He adjourned the case till November 12 for mention.

said.

The convict, arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing, pleaded guilty to all the charges preferred against him.

The prosecutor, ASP Akinlabi Adegoke, told the court that the convict, who was a casual worker and whose address was unknown, committed the offences on September 20 at 2:00 a.m. at the Onipanu Model Market in Somolu, Lagos State.

“The accused connived with some others, now at large, to break into one Mrs Gbadamosi Sanni’s shop at 2:00 a.m.

“They broke the locks and stole her large pot of soup, valued at N8,000,” Adegoke said.

The prosecutor told the court that the offences contravened Sections 285, 308 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Ojedokun pleaded guilty to the charges and asked for leniency, claiming that he committed the offence because he was starving.

Man Remanded Over Wife’s Murder LAGOS - A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has remanded in prison a 45year-old man, Ismaila Salahu, over the murder of his wife.

Salifat.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Bola Folarin-Williams, ordered that the accused should be kept behind bars pending advice from the State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPPs).

She said the case file should be duplicated and forwarded to the DPP’s office.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp.

Chris Takim, had told the court that Salahu, a resident of 18, Igbale Village, Araromi Ale, Badagry, Lagos State, committed the offence on October 3 at his residence.

He said the accused had accused his wife, Salifat, of infidelity when she returned home at 9.00 p.m. on October 3.

“An argument had ensured

between the man and his deceased wife which resulted in a fight.

“Salahu picked up a pestle and slammed it on his wife’s head, causing her fatal injuries.

“He, then, proceeded to dump his deceased wife’s lifeless body at the riverside.

“Concerned neighbours reported to the traditional ruler (bale) of the village that the deceased was missing because her husband had failed to do so.

“A search was launched and the body of the deceased was found at the riverside with her private parts missing,” Takim said.

The prosecutor said the police apprehended the accused following a formal complaint lodged by the ruler.

Takim said the offence violated Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The magistrate adjourned the case to November 24.

L-R: Representative of lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Folasade Ogunnaike; Onigogo of Igogo-Ekiti, Oba Sunday Okinbaloye; Project Coordinator, UNESCO, Safiyu Muhammad, Iyaloja General of Osun State, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade and representative of the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Obi Okwuonu, at the Gender and Transformative leadership training in Lagos recently.

10 Ships Arrive Lagos Ports LAGOS - Ten ships containing petroleum products have arrived at the Lagos ports and are waiting to berth, according to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

This is contained in the daily publication -Shipping Position- made available by the NPA to newsmen in Lagos.

The NPA said five of the ships were laden with petrol, four others with kerosene and one was with bulk gas.

According to the NPA, four other ships containing rice, bulk wheat and containers are also waiting to berth at the ports.

The NPA said it was expecting 41 ships to sail into the ports from October 27 to

November 27.

It said that of the 41 ships being expected, 16 would arrive with containers, while 12 others would sail in with food items.

“The food items include frozen fish, bulk sugar, bulk salt, bulk wheat, rice and crude palm oil,” the NPA said.

It said that seven ships were expected to bring general

cargoes into the ports, while three other ships would bring in vehicles, including trucks and tractors.

The NPA said the remaining three ships were expected to sail in with petroleum products, including petrol and base oil.

It said the ships would sail into the New Oil Jetty, the Atlas Cove Jetty and the Fishery that Wharf.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

AIV/AIDS:

Across The Nation Association Advocates Passage Of Anti-Discrimination Bill

ABUJA - The Association of Women Living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN) has appealed to the National Assembly to urgently pass the Anti-discrimination and Stigmatisation Bill.

Mrs Esther James, the ASWHAN Advocacy Officer, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

James, who described the bill as anti-discrimination, denial and stigma against people living with HIV/AIDs, said the passage of the bill would protect the victims from been stigmatised in their neighbourhood and work places, among others.

She decried the way several women and children have been abandoned by their husbands, fathers and relatives, among others, because of their status.

She, however, attributed victims’ lack of free access to HIV/AIDS preventive antiretroviral drugs on shame,

stigma, discrimination and denial, adding that some victims preferred dying in their hideout.

James appealed to Nigerians to show love and live peacefully with HIV/ AIDS positive victims, saying that such care would further assist in reducing the prevalence rate of the disease in the country.

According to him, the bill will promote zero new infection, zero discrimination, zero denial and stigmatisation, among others.

“The Bill process started since 2004 and at a point nothing was heard of the bill, we have been going back and front on the bill.

“At a public hearing in 2013 in National Assembly we were told that before the end of the year the bill will be

passed, we are now in 2014 the bill has not been passed.

“What will happen to the bill when there is a change in leadership? Are we going to start all over with the due process that has kept us since 2004?

“We are appealing to whoever is in position of this bill to ensure that the bill is

signed and passed into law because our people in the communities are been stigmatised.

“Our people can no longer come out of their houses because of stigma; we have women whose husbands have been thrown out of their houses because of stigma, women who in their

compounds have been called different names because of their status.

“If this bill is not passed more people will still be in their hideout and the rate of infection will be high. With the passage we are looking at zero discrimination, zero death, zero new infections,’’ James said.

The officer also said that a portion of the bill stipulate certain fine for those discriminating against HIV/ AIDS patients, noting that this would assist in the fight against stigma, discrimination and denial to a standstill.

According to her, it would also avail victims to live a normal life by going on their routine duties freely like every other citizen of the country.

Chairman, Delta State Independent Electoral Commission Chairman, Mr Moses Ogbe (Left), presenting certificate of return to Aniocha South LGA Chairman-elect, Mr Isaac Anwuzia in Asaba recently.

Guber Aspirant Denies Desperation Claim BIRNIN KEBBI - Gen. Bello Sarkin-Yaki, a governorship aspirant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi State, said that his aspiration for the office was not a “do-or-dieaffair”.

Sarkin-Yaki, made the statement while addressing supporters who visited him from Kalgo and Suru local government areas in Birnin Kebbi.

He urged them to shun rumour mongering.

He said the decision to contest was sequel to the persistent calls by stakeholders, friends and family members, adding that “at the end of the day, the elected candidate would receive my full support.

“My quest for election as governor was not for personal and selfish reasons but the desire to impact my knowledge and exposure for the rapid growth of the state.

“I urge PDP followers to elect leaders on merit”.

He appealed to party supporters to avoid falsehood and base their campaigns on issues and ideas that would enhance development of the state.

The spokesman of the delegation, Alhaji Saidu Kalgo, said the visit was to express support and solidarity for his ambition.

His counterpart from Suru council, Chama Yusuf, also expressed determination to support the retired general.

Malam Malami Abubakar,

the Technical Director of the campaign team of the general, enjoined PDP followers to support the aspirant for the governorship ticket.

INEC Relocates Polling Units

KATSINA - INEC has concluded arrangements to remove polling units from private establishments and residential buildings in Katsina State.

Alhaji Abubakar Wara, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), said this at a special stakeholders meeting.

“The commission decided to take the decision in line with the best international practice

that private buildings or residents should not be used for the conduct of election,” he said.

He decried the current situation whereby elections were conducted in both public and private buildings, residence and open spaces.

The commissioner said that the commission had decided that elections be conducted openly in public buildings, to conform with the international best

practice and ensure neutrality, Wara said that the commission had begun gradual process of relocating the polling units from private residence to public buildings in the state.

He said the commission was compelled to take the decision, to provide atmosphere conducive for election, especially ahead of the 2015 general

Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Mr Ignatius Longjan (Left), displaying his nomination form for governorship election in Jos recently.

elections.

Wara said the commission, in collaboration with the office of the SurveyorGeneral of the Federation, had produced a map showing location of new communities not catered for by polling units.

He said that the commission had created 1,173 new polling units in

the state, to cater for such communities.

The commissioner said that the state now had 6,075 polling units from the previous figure of 4,902 polling centres.

He said that INEC would soon start distributing Permanent Voter Cards and urged youths that had attained 18 years to register for the 2015 general elections.

Brothers Jailed For Extortion MARARABA (Nasarwa State) - A Grade I Area Court in Nasarawa State has sentenced two brothers: David Samson, 30 and Ikechukwu Samson, 28, of Mararaba, to 24 months imprisonment for criminal conspiracy and extortion.

The presiding judge, Mr. Albert Maga convicted and sentenced them, following their plea of guilty.

Maga said that the sentencing was in line with the provisions of Section 97 and 292 of the Penal Code.

However, he granted the two brothers an option of N10,000 fine each—“This should serve as lesson to anybody in the act or anyone who wants to indulge

in such act,” the judge said.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji, had told the court that the convicts committed the offence on August 25, at Mararaba.

Adaji said that one Jude Joseph of St. Michael’s Church, Mararaba, reported the matter at the ‘A’ Divisional Police Station.

He added that while persuading the plantiff to partake in their gambling activity, the convicts stole the sum of N48,000 from him— money his father sent him to withdraw from the bank.

Adaji said the convicts took to their heels and the victim raised an alarm and people around helped to pursue and arrest the brothers.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Abuja Discrimination Against Nigerians Over Ebola Must Stop -Jonathan

Chairaman of the occasion, Prof. Sam Egwu (left), presenting the second most outstanding award to the Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, at the 2014 Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) service delivery award in Abuja recently.

ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan has restated Federal Government’s displeasure over the continued stigmatisation of Nigerians by some countries over the Ebola virus disease.

A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, quoted the president as making the remark when the Foreign Ministers of Germany and France visited him at the Presidential Villa.

Jonathan, according to the statement, said he expected that Nigerians would no longer suffer discriminatory checks and stigmatisation abroad now

Foundation Tasks Police On HIV/AIDS Control

ABUJA - The Country Director, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), an NGO, Mr Adetayo Towolawi, has called on the Nigeria Police to be more proactive in the prevention and control of HIV and AIDS. Towolawi made the appeal at an awareness campaign organised by the foundation in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the FCT Police command in Abuja.

The theme of the event was: “Strengthening HIV/AIDS awareness in the Police Force”.

He said the event was aimed at creating awareness for the police personnel to have more knowledge about their HIV status.

“The awareness is for them to have knowledge about their HIV status, we also brought a

package for them to do their HIV test.

“Because the gateway to entry into the services and treatment for HIV and AIDS is through testing.

“So we have set up different testing equipment within the Nigeria Police Force to make these happen,” he said.

Towolawi said that the police was part of Nigerian population, hence the need to create awareness within the force.

“Research shows that uniform services form one of the high risk populations as far as HIV transmission is concerned,” he said.

He, therefore, stressed the need to create awareness for HIV prevention in Police, adding that it would make them fit to perform their job effectively.

“Our job is to create awareness on the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS which starts by knowing your status first,” the country director said.

The FCT Police Commissioner, Mr Joseph Mbu, represented by ACP Usman Belel, commended the foundation for bringing the awareness campaign to the force.

“The campaign is timely because once you know your status means you are better informed and stand a better chance of being treated,” he said.

He emphasised the need for the police to partner with various communities to provide better

services to the country.

“One of such ways is to collaborate with your foundation (AHF) to educate our personnel.

“Because the healthier a policeman is, the better equipped he is in providing police services to his communities,” he said.

He, however, commended the Federal Government for curbing HIV and AIDS, and the successful eradication of Ebola virus.

Also speaking, Mr Daniel Adeyinka, representative of the Federal Ministry of Health, said HIV/AIDS has eaten deep into the fabrics of our country.

He said although significant progress has been made in

sensitisation and advocacy, more needs to be done in prevention strategies.

He noted that HIV prevalence is much lower in Nigeria than in other African countries such as South Africa and Zambia, among others.

He said that an estimated number of 4 million people are living with HIV in Nigeria.

Adeyinka said that the prevalence of HIV among police population is 2.6 per cent from the HIV Integrated Biological and Behavioral surveillance survey in 2010.

He said 36.2 per cent of the respondents reported have a comprehensive knowledge of HIV.

Jonathan’s Declaration C’ttee Forms Sub-C’ttee ABUJA President Jonathan’s Presidential Declaration Committee has set up subcommittees to facilitate smooth declaration arrangements, its Chairman, Dr Bello Haliru, has announced. ‘‘We have set up subcommittees to do the various activities of the arrangement. ‘‘We will get the copies of the subcommittees to the secretariat.

“The subcommittees will now make their programmes based on their terms of reference.

They will get the budget and then we will start rolling,’’ Haliru said.

The announcement followed a meeting of the committee at the State House, Abuja.

He said the committee had not decided on the venue for the presidential declaration, adding: ‘‘ we are considering a number of venues. ‘‘The nature of the organisation will determine the venue because there are events that are solemn that could be done in a room like a meeting, there are events that require razzmatazz that only could be done in an arena. ‘‘We haven’t decided the format yet. It is one of the jobs of the subcommittees to decide

the format and the procedure. ‘‘When that is done, we will decide the appropriate venue for that kind of arrangement.’’

According to him, each event will determine its own venue.

Meanwhile, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia has advised the president to heed the call of Nigerians to contest the 2015 Presidential Election and ignore any contrary advice.

Orji urged the president to ignore the advice of an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, that he and APC Chieftain Muhammadu Buhari, should not run.

Executive Secretary, TETFUND, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro (middle), Chairman of Board, Dr. Musa a Babayo (2nd right) and member of the Board, Mrs. Anna Kalawale (right), Displaying the grand prize which they won at the 2014 Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG) service Delivery award in Abuja recently. With them are, Executive Director, ISDMG, Dr. Chima Amadi (left) and Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Sam Egwu

that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had certified the country Ebolafree.

He emphasised that there was no justifiable basis for the stigmatisation of Nigerians since Ebola was rapidly contained in the country and never attained epidemic level.

The statement quoted him as telling the French Foreign Minister, Mr Laurent Fabius, and his German counterpart, Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, that Nigeria would remain fully vigilant to prevent the re-entry of the virus.

This, according to him, is because the Federal Government recognised that the country will remain at risk as long as Ebola is active in other West African countries or any other part of the world.

“Jonathan assured the visiting ministers that Nigeria would cooperate fully with other concerned nations to stop the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa as quickly as possible.

“The ministers told the president that they were in Nigeria to seek further cooperation with the federal government in the growing global effort to contain the outbreak and continued spread of the virus.

“They praised Nigeria’s successful containment of the virus and expressed the desire of France, Germany and the European Union to help other West African countries where the virus still remains active,” the statement said.

It would be recalled that Nigeria was certified Ebolafree by the WHO on October 20, three months after the virus entered the country through a Liberian-American traveler, late Mr Patrick Sawyer.

The country has won global acclaim for its successful control and containment of the virus, making it a global reference point in the management of the disease.

NEPAD, TETFUND Partners To Promote Distant Learning

ABUJA - The Interactive Learning Network (ILN) project, a partnership product between NEPAD and Tertiary Education Trust fund (TETfund), is aimed at promoting online and distance learning programmes across the country.

Amb. Fidelia Njeze, the Special Adviser to the President on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) was quoted as saying this in a statement made available to

newsmen in Abuja.

The statement, signed by Mrs Janet Mcdickcon, Chief Press Secretary, NEPAD Nigeria, also said that the project was aimed at improving the standard of education in the country.

According to the statement, Njeze made this known during her visit to one of the six ILN centres in Abuja to assess its performance.

Njeze expressed optimism that the centre, when upgraded,

with the appropriate modern technological infrastructure, would serve several stakeholders, including teachers and students effectively.

“It will be a platform through which users of various tiers of education can access information from electronic libraries worldwide.

“The Federal Ministry of Education can also access data from any educational institutions in the country.

“This is in line with the core

objectives of the NEPAD eAfrica programme,’’ Njeze said.

The statement stated that the ILN centres were established in five pilot universities which are; University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (Enugu Campus), Bayero University, Kano, and Kaduna State Polytechnic.

It further stated that the transmission centre at the Tudun Wada Secondary School, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, was now under

the control of the University of Abuja.

Meanwhile, Njeze has also urged the NEPAD staff to equip themselves with the necessary tools to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.

She stressed that they must work hard in order to meet up with the standard in other African countries, especially NEPAD Kenya and South Africa, which are cited as models to other NEPAD country offices.

THE NIGERIAN

10

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Business + Economy Namibia Woos Nigerian Investors

R-L: Patron, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Malam Abidu Yazid, President, KADCCIMA, Dr. Abdul Alimi-Bello and Branch Manager, Central Bank of Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Gusau, at the National Workshop and Exhibition on Post Harvest Management and Value Chain Financing in Kaduna recently.

Senate To Adopt $78 Oil Benchmark ABUJA - The Senate is set to adopt the proposed 78 dollars as the country’s oil price benchmark for 2015 fiscal year.

The discosure was made on Tuesday at the joint meeting on 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework organised by Senate Joint Committees in Abuja.

The Committees are Finance, National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, who presided said the process would be concluded before a final decision was taken.

According to him, the various committees do not have any major objections on the proposed figure.

Reports state that the Federal Government in the 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure

Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper proposed the figure for 2015.

The document had reminded the Committees members on the need to take cognisance of the global supply-demand balance that was edging out the recent spikes in oil price.

According to the paper, there is increasing supply arising from

we approached the estimation of our benchmark price with caution,’’ the document said.

On revenue collection, Makarfi said the committees were delighted with the effort being made by both the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) so far.

been issued.

“So, it’s to find a date to start but the mission has got no control over those issues, it’s to only facilitate if we are told where the issues are.“ The envoy also said that plans for the setting up of a Nigeria-Namibia oil refinery in that country were on.

Shipoh, who said that the project would be private-sector driven, called on investors in the country to take advantage of the opportunities made available by the governments of both countries.

The high commissioner said that “friendly investment opportunities“ existed in the mining, agriculture, energy, fishery, and tourism sectors.

He said that the signing of 11 agreements by presidents of both countries in March had created opportunities for investors in both countries to take advantage of.

He, however, said that the interest shown by investors since the signing of the agreements had been low pointing out that the value of trade between the two countries was not up to one million dollars.

The envoy said, “these agreements are there and we need to make sure that the players are correctly advised so that all stumbling blocks on both sides, if any, are removed.

“Certain factors could constitute problems which we would like to know.

Stock Market Transaction: Stakeholder Applauds

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM

LAGOS - The Nigerian Stock Exchange’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON has applauded the Federal Government for implementing the elimination of VAT on stock market transaction fees.

Lagos Empowers 747

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM Persons LAGOS - No fewer than 747 beneficiaries of various enterprises have been empowered by the Lagos State Government in Ikorodu under the Agric Value Chains, as part of efforts to make the people of the state self sufficient and also eradicate poverty.

Empowerment items were distributed for enterprises such as Artisanal Fishing, Piggery, sheep and goat, Egg Marketing, Feed Mill, Poultry feed, Fish feed, Cassava, Aquaculture, Rice, Pepper soup, Fish Marketing, Coconut, Vegetable, Horticulture and Butchery in Ikorodu as part of its effort to reduce poverty in the State.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, while speaking during the presentation of empowerment items at the Fish farm Estate, Odogunyan in Ikorodu, stated that the Babatunde Raji Fashola administration is committed to poverty reduction and has

exploitation of sale oil and gas and Iranian sanctions suspension leading to global surplus crude oil production capacity.

It said the import of the development was an indicator that the high oil price recorded in recent past would not be longlived.

“Against this backdrop and need to rebuild our fiscal buffers,

ABUJA - The Namibian government has issued a mining license and allocated a piece of land that will enable Nigerian investors to establish a salt refinery in that country.

Its High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Peingeondjabi Shipoh, told newsmen in Abuja that the Namibian government allocated the piece of land to the Nigerian investors in August.

The high commissioner, who said the land was located in the country’s Erongo region, near the Henties Bay, added that the Namibian government’s approval was a testimony to its readiness to address all challenges before the investors.

“The government of Namibia has granted license because it is mining and it is manufacturing.

“The land has to be in the proximity of the ocean and it looks like that land that has been offered, you have to cross someone else’s land before you get to it.

“And therefore there should be some negotiations in order to lay pipes to take water into the plant.

“The people involved would like to visit Namibia to go iron out these things.

“I was informed about the problem before I came here (to Nigeria) and I tried my best to resolve it and we are about to resolve that problem of land access so that the plant can go up.

“Investment resource is not an issue; that has been secured; license from the government has

therefore resolved to make the programme an annual event.

He said that the State has been zoned into four redemption centres for easy access of the beneficiaries. The four centres are, Mowo in Badagry division where 320 people had benefited from the empowerment programme, Odogunyan in Ikorodu with about 747, Araga in Epe, as well as Agege.

Lawal informed beneficiaries that Extension Officers are on ground to give professional advice when necessary, adding that government would also follow up on the progress of the inputs and produce distributed to assess the impact of the scheme.

Speaking on the mode of redeeming the inputs, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Olajide Basorun, stated that the Ministry has been working hard to ensure that all individual who applied and participated in the training programme, will get their benefits.

Elimination Of VAT

In a statement by the Exchange Media Relations Executive, Joseph Kadiri said, “Further to the measures announced by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Hon. Minister of Finance (CMF) Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, CFR on December 3, 2012, to resuscitate the Nigerian Capital

Market, The Exchange is pleased to learn that the VAT exemption is now effective on all commissions applicable to capital market transactions”.

“These are commissions: (a) earned on traded values of shares, and (b) payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), The Nigerian Stock

Exchange (NSE) and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS). The exemption is effective for a period of five years according to the Federal Government gazette on the issue”, the statement read.

The Exchange’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON, applauded the

Federal Government for implementing the elimination

of VAT on stock market transaction fees, stating that this is one of the measures announced by the Honourable CMF in December 2012 and it is a demonstration that the Capital Market is a key component of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda.

University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu Pavilion at the Nigerian Hospitals Exhibhition and fair in Abuja recently.

THE NIGERIAN

11

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY (28/10/2014) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

MULTIVERSE

0.5

0.5

0

0

200,000,010

100,000,005.00

4.86

4.9

0.04

0

318,945

1,561,490.06

7UP

188.52

188.52

0

0

143,157

27,413,042.76

NAHCO

ABCTRANS

0.66

0.66

0

0

14,980

9,804.00

NASCON

8.67

8.24

-0.43

0

487,084

4,033,804.62

ACADEMY

1.38

1.38

0

0

5,000

6,600.00

NB

167

162.09

-4.91

0

680,982

110,628,416.10

ACCESS

8.58

8.5

-0.08

0

4,853,991

41,308,038.24

NEIMETH

1.07

1.02

-0.05

0

122,230

124,674.60

0.76

0.79

0.03

0

9,627,009

7,185,482.15

AFRIPRUD

3.1

3.1

0

0

602,698

1,869,154.06

NEM

AGLEVENT

1.45

1.45

0

0

77,673

111,502.20

NESTLE

981

980

-1

0

195,042

191,272,459.70

AIICO

0.8

0.8

0

0

137,249

109,874.20

NEWGOLD

1961

1967

6

0

6

11,802.00

AIRSERVICE

1.83

1.83

0

0

8,000

14,597.37

NIG-GERMAN

7

7

0

0

327

2,174.55

ALEX

10.43

10.43

0

0

2,000

19,820.00

NIGERINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

50,660

25,330.00

ASHAKACEM

32.08

30.51

-1.57

0

1,684,723

54,100,137.10

NPFMCRFBK

0.98

0.94

-0.04

0

255,059

246,585.46

BECOPETRO

0.5

0.5

0

0

39,000

19,500.00

NSE30

1749.97

1721.57

-28.4

0

125,927,362

2,393,392,465.00

1901.46

1873.49

-27.97

0

153,958,337

2,588,824,374.00

BERGER

8

8

0

0

58,465

472,364.30

NSE50

BETAGLAS

20

20

0

0

500

9,615.00

NSEASI

38724.15

38286.56

-437.59

0

398,894,314

2,803,828,979.00

CADBURY

49.89

49.89

0

0

83,770

3,824,154.40

NSEBNK

397.47

388.59

-8.88

0

74,352,914

951,879,605.90

CAP

41

42.5

1.5

0

474,146

19,924,507.50

NSECNSMRGDS

956.69

942.39

-14.3

0

9,596,143

462,280,330.10

CCNN

14.8

14.06

-0.74

0

905,522

12,778,466.32

NSEINDUSTR

2601.07

2571.18

-29.89

0

4,357,084

218,361,806.60

CHAMPION

14.94

14.94

0

0

900

12,780.00

NSEINS

147.08

147.72

0.64

0

15,675,905

12,297,225.46

CONOIL

49.23

49.23

0

0

42,138

1,973,346.36

NSELOTUSISLM

2514.1

2502.55

-11.55

0

7,381,416

543,459,040.90

433.45

436.89

3.44

0

5,455,978

414,586,176.50

CONTINSURE

0.95

0.95

0

0

1,832,980

1,741,361.00

NSEOILGAS

CORNERST

0.5

0.5

0

0

258,555

129,277.50

OANDO

23.52

23.9

0.38

0

3,166,896

73,817,628.89

COSTAIN

0.95

0.91

-0.04

0

133,907

122,567.67

OKOMUOIL

31.35

31.35

0

0

61,552

1,838,551.53

COURTVILLE

0.55

0.55

0

0

49,000

26,120.00

PHARMDEKO

2.49

2.49

0

0

456

1,080.72

5.01

5.01

0

0

2,800

14,728.00

CUSTODYINS

4

3.8

-0.2

0

893,638

3,400,119.58

PORTPAINT

CUTIX

1.74

1.66

-0.08

0

300,531

515,413.70

PREMBREW

3.98

3.98

0

0

11,450

43,395.50

DAARCOMM

0.5

0.5

0

0

14,500

7,250.00

PRESTIGE

0.5

0.51

0.01

0

1,161,009

581,314.50

DANGCEM

215

214.93

-0.07

0

239,180

51,375,874.19

PZ

27.8

27.8

0

0

375,222

9,910,613.02

DANGFLOUR

6.55

6.55

0

0

2,821

17,574.83

REGALINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

5,000

2,500.00

DANGSUGAR

7.51

7.14

-0.37

0

1,944,832

13,925,503.88

ROYALEX

0.53

0.55

0.02

0

352,007

191,908.51

DIAMONDBNK

6.28

5.98

-0.3

0

2,779,798

16,663,834.36

RTBRISCOE

0.88

0.88

0

0

185,888

167,004.80

545.3

545

-0.3

0

118,116

62,103,960.12

DNMEYER

1

1

0

0

154,502

154,502.00

SEPLAT

DUNLOP

0.5

0.5

0

0

3,000

1,500.00

SKYEBANK

2.66

2.54

-0.12

0

5,222,466

13,280,019.08

ETERNA

3.78

3.71

-0.07

0

345,536

1,280,537.36

SOVRENINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

20,000

10,000.00

ETI

18.11

18.6

0.49

0

4,936,845

91,474,927.11

STANBIC

31.49

29.92

-1.57

0

371,494

11,127,392.61

2.42

2.33

-0.09

0

6,887,936

16,231,105.42

EVANSMED

2.04

2.14

0.1

0

275,010

557,087.60

STERLNBANK

FBNH

12.34

11.82

-0.52

0

23,074,922

277,782,275.30

TOTAL

166

166

0

0

1,160,636

194,845,792.30

FCMB

4.15

4

-0.15

0

1,433,461

5,686,964.19

TRANSCORP

4.98

4.74

-0.24

0

25,267,628

122,265,588.60

FIDELITYBK

1.95

1.95

0

0

2,251,837

4,386,795.27

TRANSEXPR

1.29

1.29

0

0

357

439.11

FIDSON

3.32

3.32

0

0

71,871

243,967.08

UAC-PROP

14

14

0

0

225,225

3,006,285.25

FLOURMILL

61.4

61.4

0

0

131,252

7,677,493.25

UACN

54

53

-1

0

2,138,513

113,518,722.90

FO

218.7

217

-1.7

0

346,988

74,963,604.28

UBA

5.54

5.34

-0.2

0

18,636,487

99,240,195.82

1.9

1.9

0

0

1,457,092

2,694,652.73

FTNCOCOA

0.5

0.5

0

0

155,744

77,872.00

UBCAP

GLAXOSMITH

54

54

0

0

9,220

472,986.00

UBN

8.64

8.25

-0.39

0

1,565,927

13,079,434.41

GOLDBREW

0.88

0.92

0.04

0

50,000

46,000.00

UHOMREIT

47.59

45.22

-2.37

0

200,000

9,044,000.00

GUARANTY

27.25

26.69

-0.56

0

11,583,532

308,836,287.80

UNILEVER

40

40

0

0

14,076

566,932.40

GUINNESS

180.9

171.86

-9.04

0

377,425

65,050,862.17

UNITYBNK

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,423,890

711,945.00

HMARKINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

20,000,000

10,000,000.00

UPDCREIT

9

9

0

0

500

4,500.00

HONYFLOUR

3.85

3.85

0

0

4,331,049

16,678,545.05

UPL

3.99

4.15

0.16

0

1,176,976

4,656,666.38

IKEJAHOTEL

3.11

2.96

-0.15

0

116,252

344,106.20

VETGRIF30

17.42

17.23

-0.19

0

5

86.15

INTBREW

30.03

30.5

0.47

0

296,505

8,984,596.11

VITAFOAM

4.4

4.37

-0.03

0

532,026

2,283,551.81

INTENEGINS

0.52

0.54

0.02

0

751,175

405,366.14

VONO

1.29

1.29

0

0

390,100

479,883.00

JAPAULOIL

0.5

0.5

0

0

2,052,910

1,026,455.00

WAPCO

115

112.6

-2.4

0

691,217

79,170,700.45

0.66

0.69

0.03

0

3,226,296

2,214,241.37

JBERGER

67.2

67.2

0

0

866

55,285.44

WAPIC

JOHNHOLT

1.08

1.08

0

0

2,000

2,060.00

WEMABANK

0.94

0.93

-0.01

0

1,207,198

1,133,569.01

JOSBREW

2.12

2.12

0

0

1,600

3,232.00

ZENITHBANK

22.75

22

-0.75

0

15,634,095

347,378,968.40

LASACO

0.5

0.5

0

0

20,000

10,000.00

LEARNAFRCA

1.5

1.51

0.01

0

999,963

1,473,703.64

LIVESTOCK

2.85

2.97

0.12

0

417,407

1,223,644.02

MANSARD

2.98

2.97

-0.01

0

248,810

734,312.40

MAYBAKER

1.96

1.96

0

0

1,545,920

3,020,197.39

MBENEFIT

0.54

0.54

0

0

254,346

137,346.84

MOBIL

168.1

170.98

2.88

0

393,413

67,685,530.04

MRS

56

56

0

0

371

19,737.20

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock NEWGOLD NSEOILGAS MOBIL CAP NSEINS ETI INTBREW OANDO UPL LIVESTOCK

Close 1967 436.89 170.98 42.5 147.72 18.6 30.5 23.9 4.15 2.97

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS

Gain

Stock

Close

Loss

6 3.44 2.88 1.5 0.64 0.49 0.47 0.38 0.16 0.12

NSEASI 437.59 NSEINDUSTR 29.89 NSE30 NSE50 27.97 NSECNSMRGDS NSELOTUSISLM 11.55 GUINNESS NSEBNK NB WAPCO

38286.56

-

2571.18

-

1721.57 1873.49

-28.4 -

942.39 2502.55

-14.3 -

171.86 388.59 162.09 112.6

-9.04 -8.88 -4.91 -2.4

THE NIGERIAN

12

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

THE United Nations Office in Nigeria recently put the figures of those directly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency at six million people in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in the north East of Nigeria.

ON the strength of this number, the House of Representatives last week in a motion raised by Hon. Abdulrahman Terab from Borno state asked the Federal Government to establish rehabilitation camps for the estimated six million internally displaced persons.

WE are worried that the federal government’s approach to dealing with the issue of insurgency since it broke out five years ago has been most uninspiring. It is shockingly sad to note that it took the United Nations for Nigerians to be informed that over six million citizens have been displaced by the insurgents. Sadly too, in terms of reality, there is little effort at rehabilitating those affected.

ALL Nigerians, particularly in the Northern part and the Federal Capital Territory where innocent and hapless citizens are being bombed in worship houses and other public places, several towns and villages had long been deserted, leaving the victims to roam about with no one to help them.

ASIDE being the location of a large-scale Boko Haram abduction in April, Chibok and its neighbouring villages have recently been the target of the deadliest attacks. Only recently, gunmen murdered at least 44 people in Kwada and Kautikari Villages, some 15km away from Chibok. The attacks have led to a mass exodus of villagers, who are citing constant threats to their lives. Leaders of the community revealed that the village is not only unsafe, it has been hit by famine.

MORE worrisome is the obvious fact that the internally-displaced persons include

THE NIGERIAN

Rehabilitation For Six Million Displaced Nigerians women, children and the vulnerable who are lacking in basic healthcare, sanitation, clothing, food and shelter.

IT is shameful that despite the vulnerability of people around these three states, there is no official camp to settle them, compelling them to squat in horrible and untold environments. This situation from various reports has made the victims vulnerable to various hazards such as snake bites, weather extremes and diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, among others, more especially among women and children.

FROM the foregoing, there is clear failure of relevant government agencies to perform their duties. The National Refugees Commission, National Emergency Management Agency and all such care giving institutions of government have abdicated their responsibilities to the victims even at a time when such services were most needed.

THIS is why we align with the push of the House of Representatives for the urgent rehabilitation of all victims of insurgency, not only in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe but also in Kaduna, Taraba, Benue and even the Federal Capital Territory.

WE call on the Federal Government to make adequate provision for the upkeep of the victims and placing them in transitional settlements.

WE call on the National Border Commission and the National Refugee Commission to swing into action immediately to build the camps for the displaced six million Nigerians.

HOWEVER, the Federal Government should redouble its efforts to stem tide of insurgency and senseless bloodletting in the country.

Nigeria has never witnessed the scale of near daily attacks, killing thousands of innocent citizens who know nothing about the reasons for the insurgents’ action. The heartless, cruel and inhuman slaughtering and butchery currently being unleashed in the north must be arrested.

THE Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah has continued to assure that government would put an end to terrorism in Nigeria and has been sounding like a broken record lately. However, we urge the COAS and his counterparts in other armed forces and police to take urgent steps to route the insurgents out of the country and its borders. Mere lip service is not required at this time, but concerted effort. The fifth columnists within the armed forces in the war against terror should be identified, fished out and dealt with as well. The security agencies owe Nigerians a duty to free all kidnapped citizens, particularly, students of Government Secondary School Chibok from the hands of the mindless terrorist to free their parents and loved ones from the agony of heartaches.

WE also, call on the country’s international friends helping to deal with terrorism to increase their assistance to the nation for quick results as Nigerians are daily looking out with high hopes for major breakthroughs in the war against terror.

THE judiciary on its part, should accelerate the trial of all terror suspects and ensure that all those found wanting are adequately punished for their actions. We believe that dealing with the insurgents head-on remains a permanent solution to the displacement of hapless citizens and time to do that is now.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Issues “One of my die hard friend of PDP during an argument told me if PDP decides to adopt a moron as their presidential candidate in the forth coming election, he will gladly vote the person as long as its PDP, I asked him why? He said PDP knows how to share money unlike other political parties, to this my friend good governance don’t bother him, just “share the money”.

Elections: The Vulnerability AS 2015 general election draw close, we have seen an influx of different campaign groups all over the country, top on the list is Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, an ally of the ruling party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with one mission, re elect Good Luck Jonathan as president of Nigeria come 2015.

We have seen other political parties and their allies display their jingles on television and radio stations and organize all sort of rallies all over the country appealing to Nigerians to vote their parties in the forth coming general election.

When I watch the way youths attend and participate in political rallies in Nigeria, I am bewildered at the level of our ignorance.

Why will Nigerian youths be so engrossed to this political rallies as if there lives are dependant on it?

When are we going to learn our lessons as Youths in this

Of Nigerian Youths

By JOE ONWUKEME

country?

I was still a student of History & International Relations at Imo State University Owerri in 2011 when Jonathan was campaigning to be elected as president of Nigeria, what moved me among his campaign promises was his agenda for the youths, eradication of all forms of youth restiveness through Youth empowerment Schemes, creation of millions of job for the millions of unemployed youths.

His campaign promises were youth oriented, I can’t forget his growing up no school sandals and going to school with empty stomach. He promised breadth of fresh Air to Nigerians if elected, I was convinced considering the circumstances surrendering

president Jonathan’s emergence at that time, he will deliver his campaign promises if elected for a full term of four years in office as president of Nigeria in 2011.

Nigerian youths came out en masse and voted for him, he won with a clear margin and on 29th May 2011 he was sworn in as Nigeria’s 4th democratically elected president of Nigeria, the Nigerian youths waited for the breadth of fresh air and a transformed Nigeria, let me not say another unfulfilled campaign promises, rather I will leave the question of president Jonathan’s performance on the lips of every Nigerian youth that voted for him in 2011.

Three years down the line, I have graduated, I have done my one year mandatory National Youth Service Corp.

(NYSC) yet no job, I am just one out of millions of Youths who are graduates without jobs.

Politicians use it as an advantage during election, they organize all categories of political rallies, with the help of their political thugs, they mobilise thousands of youths all over the 36 States and the FCT, with as little as #5000 per youth, (mostly graduates) All these campaign rallies and “must rule charlatan syndrome” didn’t start today, we saw it in Abacha’s time, Obasanjo’s time in his botched third term plot, even when late president Yar Adua was dying in far away Saudi Arabia, his aides told us he can rule from any where in the World and right now we are seeing same version.

I always ask myself what is the motivation behind the number of youths that storm

“When I watch the way youths attend and participate in political rallies in Nigeria, I am bewildered at the level of our ignorance. Why will Nigerian youths be so engrossed to this political rallies as if there lives are dependant on it? When are we going to learn our lessons as Youths in this country?”

venues of political rallies?

Good governance or money factor? Whatever the reason, my own concern are the youths. From my research, I discovered that 80% of those youths in such rallies are unemployed, that is why they can be able to go to such rallies as early as 6 am in support of desperate politicians that cares only about how to rule.

I keep asking myself what happened to our conscience?

Why will I support a politician that can’t give me a job or guarantee my security in my own country?

Why will I identify with politicians that glorifies corruption and celebrates with the convicted? Do I have a future with such politician(s) as my president?

One of my die hard friend of PDP during an argument told me if PDP decides to adopt a moron as their presidential candidate in the forth coming election, he will gladly vote the person as long as its PDP, I asked him why? He said PDP knows how to share money unlike other political parties, to this my friend good governance don’t bother him, just “share the money”.

Like my friend, most Nigerian youths are ignorant, when ever you speak against the government they tag you an opposition, they allow sentiments rule their conscience. Nigerian youths also see our politicians as Messiah that must be worshipped, they bow to these politicians and can kill to see that this desperate politicians succeeds. Politics is a very dirty game in Nigeria, only the dirty play and win it.

Politicians know the youths are vulnerable and continue to take advantage

of that to impose themselves on us. That’s why they can’t create policies or institutions that will provide sustainable jobs for the teaming unemployed youths, they rather reserve such jobs for their children while the rest of us can go and roost.

September 25th 2014 was declared public holiday in

Enugu State to declare their support for president Jonathan’s re election in 2015, 70% of the crowd that came were youths, many of my friends were in attendance, standing under the hot sun, some came all the way from neighbouring States as early as 5 am, I saw more than 20 Transport Luxurious buses that conveyed people from different villages to Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu, venue of the rally, after the rally money was shared as usual.

Until Nigerian youths start changing their mindset the way they see these politicians, the better for our Nation. The earlier we realize we can make a change in this country, the better for us, we make up the largest population in this Country and that’s the greatest advantage, stomach infrastructure like bag of rice, bag of garri #5000 to #20,000 will not last forever.

Good government can create policies and structures that will last for generations, think twice & vote wisely, the power to decide who leads us come 2015 is in our hands and February 2015 is the time.

Joe Onwukeme An Idealist wrote from Enugu Unjoeratedjoe@gmail.com

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

For The Record An Address By Governor Adams Oshiomhole At Edo State Town Hall Meeting My Dear Compatriots, IT has become necessary for me to address you on the current political developments in our dear state.

These unfortunate events, as everybody is aware, have led to needless tension.

As an elected and accountable government, we are duty-bound to explain to the people the issues involved, the forces at play and their ultimate objective.

THE ISSUES INVOLVED The current political situation has its roots in the unfortunate incident and grossly unhelpful recalcitrance of some lawmakers of the Edo State House of Assembly. On Monday, June 9, 2014, the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) suspended four members of the House, namely: Hon. Festus Ebea (Esan South-East), Hon. Friday Ogieriakhi (Orhiomwon-South), Hon. Patrick Osayimwen (Oredo-East), and Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba Okha) for misconduct, in accordance with the extant Rules of the House of Assembly.

This should have been strictly considered as an internal affair of the House of Assembly. However, it has been orchestrated by the PDP leadership to crisis level in order to cause maximum distraction.

I seek your indulgence, therefore, to recall the sequence of events so as to put the issues in clear perspective.

Three Honourable members, namely: Hon. Friday Ogieriakhi (Orhiomwon-South), Hon. Patrick Osayimwen (Oredo-East) and Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba Okha) had approached the Federal High Court, sitting in Benin City, and obtained an interim order to restrain the Speaker of the EDHA from declaring their seats vacant, in line with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, having decamped from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The three of them had also prayed that both the Speaker and the House should be restrained from suspending them, as members of the House, following alleged misconduct on disciplinary grounds.

On his own part, Hon. Razaq Momoh (EtsakoWest) had approached a State High Court, sitting in Auchi, and obtained a similar injunction, which restrained the Speaker and the House from declaring his seat vacant or suspending him on the basis of alleged misconduct.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Uyi Igbe complied in full with these Court orders. The Motion on Notice was afterward argued at the Federal High Court, sitting

in Benin City. The Court ordered that the Speaker, Hon Uyi Igbe should not declare vacant the seats of three of the lawmakers, pending the hearing and determination of the case filed by the three members.

The Court however vacated the Interim Exparte Order restraining the Speaker from suspending the three members on disciplinary ground and they were so suspended.

In the case of Abdurazaq Momoh, the Assembly has since declared his seat vacant following the vacation of his application by a High Court sitting in Auchi.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State

It is important to point out that Hon. Festus Ebea (Esan South-East), the former Deputy Speaker who was impeached by the House for misconduct and misdemeanour on July 2, 2014, was still a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as at the time he was suspended.

However, the four Honourable members have refused to abide by the suspension order and continue to hold illegal sittings in the House of Assembly complex which is undergoing renovation with the connivance of five other valid PDP lawmakers and the aid of the Nigeria Police.

In line with its commitment to follow the path of the rule of law, the Speaker, Hon Uyi Igbe and the House approached the State High Court to restrain

“Three Honourable members, namely: Hon. Friday Ogieriakhi (OrhiomwonSouth), Hon. Patrick Osayimwen (Oredo-East) and Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba Okha) had approached the Federal High Court, sitting in Benin City, and obtained an interim order to restrain the Speaker of the EDHA from declaring their seats vacant, in line with Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, having decamped from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The three of them had also prayed that both the Speaker and the House should be restrained from suspending them, as members of the House, following alleged misconduct on disciplinary grounds.”

the four suspended Honourable members from forcing themselves into the Chambers of the House pending the determination of the case the House had instituted against the four suspended members.

The State High Court subsequently, after hearing the arguments, granted an Interim Order: “restraining the defendants by themselves or agents, assigns, privies, or other persons acting for, through or by them from forcibly gaining entrance into the Premises and Legislative Quarters of the 3rd Claimant or howsoever interfering with the Sitting Activities and other functions of the 3rd Claimant pending the determination of the motion on notice.

“An Order directing the 1st and 2nd Defendants (Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, Benin City, Edo State and Commissioner of Police, Edo State) to provide adequate security for all sitting of the 3rd Claimant and for all its properties pending the motion on notice.”

For the avoidance of doubt, disciplinary issues as they pertain to the conduct of affairs in the House of Assembly is not new to Nigeria or to even the Edo State House of Assembly. There is virtually no House of Assembly in Nigeria that, at one time or the other, had not found cause to suspend one or more of its members for one reason or the other, based on their rules. In the case of Edo State, the suspended PDP members and their colleagues showed a total disregard to the court Order and forced their way into the Asembly with the protection of the Police. The blatantly disregarded the Order of the State High Court.

It is no wonder that when the four suspended lawmakers approached the Court of Appeal, they were ordered to first obey the order of the High Court before seeking further reliefs at the Appeal Court. This appears to be a very clear matter to any reasonable person. for record purposes, let me recall that in the case of Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, the Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly (Sixth Assembly), a member of the House Hon. Etinosa Ogbeiwi was suspended for three months for taking the House to Court. The current Majority Leader, Hon. Phillip Shaibu was also at one time suspended for several weeks by the House.

By refusing to obey court orders the PDP legislators wanted to precipitate “Legislative Stalemate”, confusion and erosion of quality governance. They also desired to provoke the APC legislators with the hope of drawing them and their teeming supporters into a conflict and thus create political tension and uncertainty. It is now clear to all that they have failed woefully in their dubious agenda.

The Case of Hon Razaq Momoh You will recall that during the Local Government Election held on April 20, 2012, Hon. Razak Momoh was arrested by the police for being in possession of two guns; a pistol and a double barrel, in clear contravention of the Electoral Act. As of that time during that Local Government election, Hon Razak was still a member of the then ruling, now defunct Continues on page 15

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

For The Record

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State

supposed “honourable” member had to scale the fence to gain access to the quarters, in company of some of his thugs, and he was consumed by the attack he started after gaining entrance to the quarters. In their attempt to cast aspersion on the government of Edo State, this same Momoh has become the poster boy of recent decampees to the PDP in their search for undeserved sympathy and recognition to serve personal interests.

Chronology of Attacks: When President Goodluck Jonathan visited Edo State on Friday October 10, 2014 to flag-off the Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant, thugs were hired by the opposition to boo and ostensibly attack officials of the Edo State Government and executives of the All Progressives Congress who had set politics aside to welcome the President for the flag-off of the $1 billion project.

Youths of the All Progressives Congress were restrained from retaliating even in the face of the offensive attacks and harassments.

On Saturday, October 11, 2014, the Legislative Quarters of the State House of Assembly was attacked by PDP hoodlums who invaded the Quarters and smashed 27 cars belonging to members of the All Progressives Congress in the Quarters.

to self-inflicted attacks to give the impression that he is a factor and force in the PDP and in Edo politics.

The resort to the use of Improvised Explosive Device is clearly a desperate attempt to attract attention to themselves having lost out in the political equation in the PDP in Edo State to where they are now seeking refuge and where they are being treated as refugees.

The first question is: why would anyone attack Mr Frank Erewele? Of what importance is Erewele to the Political equation in Edo State. Who knows Erewele outside his village in Edo Central? Erewele rushed to the media to accuse the government of the attack. Later he pointed his finger at a Commissioner. Who will be the next person to be accused?

Secondly. Why would anyone attack an obscure dental Clinic if the target were Pastor Ize-Iyamu? If Ize-Iyamu were truly a target, would he say the supposed assailants do not know his house? Why would any attacker focus on an unoccupied gate house in a clinic if Pastor was the target? It was so convenient that on the very day of the attack, the security man was not in his gatehouse!

Thirdly. Why would anyone want to attack Erewele or Ize-Iyamu when they are not relevant in the PDP?

An Address By Governor Adams Oshiomhole At ...

Continued from page 14

Action Congress of Nigeria.

When he was arrested and the facts were brought to my attention, I asked the police to ensure that he was prosecuted according to the law. In the course of the legal action by the Police, Hon Razaq Momoh was remanded by the court in prison for four months before he was granted bail. Till now, the case is still pending at the High Court.

It is on record that about six months before the Local Government Election of April 20, 2012, Hon Razak Momoh was shot by those suspected to be his friends and allies and he was taken to the hospital for treatment. Following the shooting, I encouraged Hon Abrulrazaq Momoh to disclose to the Police the identities of those that shot him so that they could be brought to book, but for reasons best known to him, Hon Momoh continues to shield his attackers, claiming he doesn’t know who shot him.

The police told me then that when Hon Momoh was arrested he asked if the Policemen knew who he was, that he was a member of the State House of Assembly. The Police had to remind him that he doesn’t have immunity from arrest and prosecution.

Hon Momoh’s grouse is that as Governor, I did not shield him from prosecution when he was arrested with two guns on election day. I’ve always insisted that anyone who commits a crime must be prosecuted according to the law of the land, and refused to bend the rules in favour of Razaq Momoh.

On the day he was attacked, Hon Razaq Momoh had stormed the Legislators’ Quarters at about 11:00pm in company of some thugs. It is a known fact that the House of Assembly, having declared his seat vacant, Hon Momoh had lost his right to reside in the Legislative Quarters in accordance with the rules guiding the Assembly.

What is however curious is that Razaq Momoh, a

The thugs also shot at doors and windows of seven chalets inhabited by APC lawmakers and by the time they ended their operation, property worth several millions of naira had been destroyed.

It is instructive to note that we made the intelligence of the attack available to the Commissioner of Police at bout 10:00pm on Friday night yet nothing was done to forestall it.

On Thursday, October 16, one Mr Frank Erewele who recently decamped to the PDP alleged that his life was in danger and a day after, he alleged that gunmen visited his home and fired gunshots at his cars and that the gunmen who were after his life ran away when he opened his door when he heard gunshots.

On the night of Saturday, October 18, 2014, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu who had also recently decamped to the PDP alleged that a bomb was detonated at his wife’s Dental Clinic.

Edo State has always been peaceful. Working with all security agencies, we have, in a very significant way, contained kidnapping and robbery. It is therefore very sad that the orgy of violence in Edo reared its head when these elements decamped to the PDP. The APC and PDP had co-existed peacefully in Edo State without such ugly incidents as witnessed in the past few weeks, and it is clear that these decampees are the ones who have now introduced these spires of violence to the state since they have no new values to add. I am convinced that the leadership of the PDP at all levels are not deceived by these opportunistic, infantile and selfserving antics of the recent decampees.

We have it on good authority that Pastor Ize-Iyamu had boasted to the Powers-that-be in Abuja that he would get more than half the members of the state House of Assembly to decamp to the PDP. However, since he has been unable to do that, he has resorted

Why would anyone attack Ize-Iyamu or Erewele when the bigger PDP men, including Chief Tony Anenih, Dan Orbih and Lucky Imasuen have never been attacked in any form or manner in the state.

Ize-Iyamu and Erewele are not even close to the center of power and decision making in the PDP! Clearly, any discerning observer would see that the same elements who left the APC, led by Osagie IzeIyamu are the brains behind the recent wave of crises in the state with a view to making themselves relevant having lost out in the APC and having been relegated to the background in the PDP to which they ran to as refugees.

By Ize-Iyamu’s ludicrous account and his haste to accuse Comrade Oshiomhole of culpability, we are persuaded to believe he is merely acting out a wornout script. It is laughable indeed that Ize-Iyamu would seek to accuse the Governor, who is the Chief Security Officer, of creating tension and chaos in his own state.

Mr Ize-Iyamu’s wild allegation fits into PDP’s jaded style of stage-managing assaults on its agents to be used as pretext by its thugs to attack officials of Edo State Government and agents of the APC. We reject in its totality, any attempt to suggest or drag the APC and its government in Edo State into any made-up problems by persons who are in no way threatening to the people of the State. We shall not be distracted from our goals of quality, accountable, responsible and democratic governance to improve the lives and communities of our people.

We urge the likes of Ize-Iyamu and Erewele to desist from trying to make the country ungovernable by precipitating flash-points of crisis and confusion and call on our security forces and national leaders to put them under special watch. The unity of Edo State and Nigeria must not be compromised or contaminated by self-seeking and selfish persons.

God bless the good people of Edo State.

God bless Edo State God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Midweek Magazine

DEMOCRACY is globally embraced as a form of popular governance because it embraces the participation of many citizens. Democracy is established through Party partisanship in which many iniquities abound. It involves political campaigns, voting and other electoral processes.

Democracy is for all citizens but many politicians often give the impression that it is exclusively theirs hence the ugly practice in Nigeria where winners take almost all the benefits.

Majority vote in a democracy determines a winner in a free, fair, peaceful and transparent election (contest) with accepted credible results but in Nigeria majority is not often right and does not always determine a winner.

Sadly, the recent choice of a leader, in not too distant past, even among Governors for themselves and by themselves, our supposed revered political leaders became controversial through the process of casting their votes. They incredibly accepted that 16 votes by figures are higher and superior to 19 votes Are these true leaders? They are seemingly bereft of truth, values, discipline and strength of character. Truly, this is a travesty.

Governor Fashola of Lagos State who participated in the election faulted the decision of his colleagues who accepted 16 votes as higher and superior to 19 votes and described the exercise as “ dishonest”. He threatened to go against the Governors who made such infamous decision by litigation.

When integrity is questioned as a result of dishonesty and loss of

confidence, anarchy and violence would ensue. The rest is history. The ills of political elite and Godfatherism are many.

Many of our problems come often from the political class and this is mainly where the Godfather phenomenon comes into play.

Nigeria has a culture of election failings. Nigeria’s democracy exists mainly for those in Government, their cohorts and the business class.

It methodically excludes the vast majority of citizens from direct benefits.

Nigeria’s democracy would have fared better had many diligent, competent, credible, skilful, righteous and knowledgeable electees occupied strategic positions in governance.

Politics has been hijacked by mainly wealthy people of unrefined minds and untamed passions.

Governments at all levels must imperatively do for citizens what they cannot do ordinarily on their own for themselves.

Our perverted System Marjorly and rapaciously drains resources. It feeds directly into a culture of corruption, ineptitude and impunity. Nigeria with a growing population of 170 million people has 360 Representatives and 109 Senators. She does not need a bi-camera Legislature.

Either the Senate or the House of Representatives only would just have been enough.

Indeed, Parliamentary System is simpler, better, less costly and more accountable than Presidential System.

Democracy that is based on part-time basis where Legislators are paid honorarium would greatly reduce the cost of governance. Similarly, the number of Ministers,

Profligacy Endang

By PRINCE EDORE AMEN OYAKHIRE PhD

Commissioners, Advisers and other Aides for Executives should be pegged to significantly reduce the cost of governance as it was done during the Military. The Federal Military Government then pegged for Military Governors top positions in governance.

They were not allowed, mutatis mutandis, (with necessary changes) to have beyond ten Commissioners and twenty Permanent Secretaries in each State.

They had no Special or other Advisers whatsoever.

Many of them performed excellently well. They were not paid and did not receive severance allowance when they vacated office.

Security vote was pegged for them at one hundred thousand naira (N100,000) per month and Local Government Council Chairmen at fifty thousand naira (N50, 000) per month..

Indeed, a good Governor effectively secures, cohesively unites and rationally develops his State. He makes factors of welfarism the centrepiece of his Administrative policy. Most Local Government Councils have not performed well since the inception of Democracy in 1999. Huge sums of money have been collected by them but no good results have been recorded and no impressive performance achieved. There is hardly evidence of good governance in most Council Areas in Nigeria. What is readily available is the abuse of financial autonomy. The operators unconventionally gather and share money

(allocation) on monthly basis to the detriment of development and the wellbeing of the masses. Local Council Administration deserves to be removed and attached to State Administration but approved allocations should not be stopped.

What is desperately needed is improved governance in the States through honest, effective, compassionate, competent, knowledgeable, accountable and patriotic leadership. Whatever is attested to as decent for Nigerians must be generally accepted and applied for public good.

The 109 Senators and 360 Representatives which constitute the National Assembly (NASS) represent the Sovereignty of Nigerian people.

Nigeria’s Democracy is not only recklessly expensive but has been seriously abused by politicians. It was expected to be Government of the people, by the people and for the people but sadly it has been seriously operated against the interests of the masses of our people by many politicians who are greedy, selfish, lustful, unaccountable, unpatriotic and not credible. They have refused to allow young people under them and others with potentials to grow politically into maturity, relevance and fame. The deliberate desire for progressive continuity in governance is absent from the hearts, reality and patriotism of our political leaders resulting in the obvious fact that only one out of thirty-six States, notably, Zamfara, has a Deputy Governor

“Our perverted System Marjorly and rapaciously drains resources. It feeds directly into a culture of corruption, ineptitude and impunity. Nigeria with a growing population of 170 million people has 360 Representatives and 109 Senators. She does not need a bi-camera Legislature. Either the Senate or the House of Representatives only would just have been enough.”

succeeded his Governor within the last fifteen years of our democratic practice.

Many Nigerian elite politicians have replicated replaceable tendencies Nationwide. They proceed progressively from Counsellorship to Chairmanship, from Chairmanship to State

economy and weak currency. Today, Nigeria probably has the highest earning set of legislators in the World, earning far beyond the dreams of legislators of more affluent and efficient economies. In Nigeria, where democracy is seriously financially abused, there is

House of Assembly, to Membership of the National Assembly either as a Member of House of Representatives or Senator and eventually from Senate to Governorship of a State.

The 469 Legislators in the NASS are reportedly known to have routinely consumed annually one quarter (1/4) of the National budget. Indeed, each Legislator earns more than fifty million naira (N50,000,000) quarterly or in 3 months or in each of ninety days of every year.

Nigeria has expensive political leaders. Nigerian Legislators and Executives earn fabulous salaries despite the inexplicably parlous state of the

indiscipline, hardship, hunger, lamentation, poverty, unemployment, underdevelopment, pain and despondency. Ours is the World’s most preposterously wasteful Democracy.

In nine years, Federal Government, States and Local Councils consumed eighty trillion naira. A sum of fifty six trillion naira out of the eighty trillion was paid as salaries and allowances to public office holders mainly politicians.

The exorbitant and inexcusable pay cuts across the three tiers of Government.

In reality, each of the 109 Senators takes home a whopping sum of N240 million ($1.7m) per annum

w 3 R N a t m a a b r f

a q a m R m a q a I L a 1 g N

p j N t S 2 P m M

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Midweek Magazine

gers Democracy

while every member of the 360 House of Representatives takes home N204 million ($1.45m) per annum. A Nigerian Senator, therefore, earns N20 million monthly as salary apart from Constituency allowance and other benefits which accrue regularly from oversight functions. Each Senator is

recently did a comparative study of the take home pay of Parliamentarians across the globe and found Nigerian lawmakers as the highest paid. America has had Democracy consistently for a period beyond 200 years. America has fifty States and a population of 316 million people with only 100 Senators and 435 Members

also paid N45 million quarterly as Constituency allowance. Similarly,. each member of the House of Representatives earns N17 million monthly as salary in addition to N33 million quarterly paid to him or her as Constituency allowance.

It is true that NASS Legislators surreptitiously amended Section 81 of the 1999 Constitution which gave them jumbo pay from November, 2010.

Candidly, their dismal performance does not justify such fabulous pay. A Nigerian Senator earns 10 times what an American Senator earns monthly and 26 times what a British Parliamentarian earns monthly. The Economist Magazine of London

in the congress (House of Reps). Texas and California alone are bigger than the whole of Nigeria. A Senator in America earns $14,500 (N2 million) monthly which translates into $174000 (N24 million) per annum Similarly but regrettably, Nigerian Ministers are also paid higher than Ministers in the UK, USA and South Africa.

Truly, how many American Senators have returned home from the Senate to become Governors after leaving the Senate?

Public perception confirms that Nigerian politicians particularly the legislators whose remunerations are shielded in secrecy are over-paid.

The waste of public

resources on politicians is preposterous, callous, imprudent, injudicious and to say the least reprehensible. They are rapacious financial conspirators against public good having grown richer while the people they allegedly represent have become more impoverished.

Many politicians have doubtful loyalty and are by actions often unpatriotic. This is a parody of known Administrative global practices. Politicians in Kenya and Zimbabwe in Africa earn next to Nigerian politicians in remuneration.

Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe are bad examples in political leadership in Africa. Lord Isham, one of the greatest lawyers, England ever produced, described Nigeria’s Democracy as “an elected dictatorship.”

Some Nigerian Executives pretentiously and passively but vicariously allow contractors to inflate contracts which are eventually approved for execution. They are simply corrupt, nepotic and unpatriotic. A sum which represents a percentage (%) is calculated and paid to a political Party which sponsored the Executive politician when the contract is finally executed. A few are financially reckless, symbolically incompetent, morally bankrupt, intellectually unproductive and politically uneventful.

In the tortuous game of politics, discredited, infamous and notoriously unreliable people must be methodically removed from participation by each of the political Parties.

Government must in this

regard act with ostensible authority in public interest by removing through policies people with dubious and criminal antecedents from participation. The political Class determines the direction of a Country. It is desirable for the Class to be intellectually, morally and spiritually healthy. In Africa, Botswana and Seychelles are the least corrupt Countries followed by South Africa and Ghana. Nigeria is 33rd in the global assessment.

Sadly, Administrative and Political Institutions in many Countries in The World are corrupt.

Significantly, development is truly a rise in the standard of living of the populace in such a way that most people can reasonably meet their economic and social needs adequately, fairly and enjoy life more comfortably.

Government in Nigeria must clearly show sincerity of purpose and visibly demonstrate strong political will in dealing decisively with ethical issues including indiscipline and corruption. When there is a Will there is always a way.

Nigeria must be saved from the claws of rapacious financial politicians both in the Legislative and the Executive Arms of Government.

Government has continuously left the generality of Nigerians in the last one and half decades in a constant state of denial that neglects the basic needs of many citizens. A parasitic political class majorly peculates Nigeria’s wealth.

Consequently, misrule by the elite has greatly consigned a vast majority of

Nigerians to a life of attendant misery, abject poverty and despondency.

The Federal Government is responsible by Policies and must be held accountable for the overall development of Nigeria. It should strongly recognise and greatly appreciate the obvious fact that beyond being an employer, it is also the Chief Custodian of the welfare and development of the Country.

Populist K5 oriented policies and consistency in policies are desirable for National growth, unity and sustainable development.

Indeed, development is the realisation of human personality through the progressive reduction of poverty, unemployment and inequality. It involves increase in the possession and utilisation of resources in a most satisfactory manner that meets people’s needs more fully.

Nigerians earnestly want from Government the basic needs for sustenance.

They include good health care services; clean treated water because most diseases are water borne; an all round, sound and qualitative education; power (electricity); security; agriculture; infrastructure and improved clean environment for sustainable, decent and dignified living. These are primarily the basic things a responsive Government in charge of the people’s huge resources in a Country should mandatorily and consistently provide. Any Government that is unable to provide these basic necessities should be changed or replaced no matter who heads it or its leadership. Candidly, a responsive Administration is flexibly dynamic, proactive, resourceful and responds quickly to changes and reasonable

demands by citizens. Such System, defacto dejure, appoints the best informed minds, the brightest brains, the most patriotic and resourceful into strategic positions in governance. It also fundamentally recognises the desirability of involving tried, tested and trustable citizens with attestable track records of patriotic Service in governance.

Currently, Government seemingly ignores the primacy of merit principle, abhors constructive ideas, jettisons knowledge and abandons experience.

Nigerians desperately need suitable men and women who are healthy in integrity, creative, competent, disciplined, patriotic, productive, resourceful and strong in intellect in positions of authority in whom the future of the Country will be entrusted. Nigeria must quickly endeavour to radically assemble by all reasonable means some of her best informed minds, brightest brains, most resourceful and patriotic citizens to tackle the numerous problems of the Country. This concept has become a compelling necessity to be urgently actualised by those in Government.

Our Democracy is being seriously and secretly endangered by politicians who are deeply involved in extreme profligacy, financial recklessness, indiscipline, lack of values, lack of patriotism and no strength of character. The success of our democracy depends largely on strong commitment, integrity, effective performance and patriotism.

Prince Oyakhire, PM, AIG emeritus, Ex-MILAD.

“Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe are bad examples in political leadership in Africa. Lord Isham, one of the greatest lawyers, England ever produced, described Nigeria’s Democracy as “an elected dictatorship.”

THE NIGERIAN

18

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Environment IT is an established fact that when it comes to the very lucrative extractive industry of oil and gas exploration and production in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, which the Royal Dutch Shell has spearheaded in Nigeria for over 50 years now, nothing has been more devastating and disturbingly-pronounced than the adverse environmental degradation often left behind by this economic venture.

Sadly, aside the obvious environmental degradation in the Niger Delta caused by oil and gas spills in the extractive industry, there are even more deadlier and harmful environmental impacts like possible earthquakes that are subtly being created by the extractive industry in region, which if not taken into consideration and measures put in place to ‘prevent’ or ‘accommodate’ it by both the oil and gas operators in the region and relevant government authorities, could spell doom for all and sundry.

The environmental impact of oil spills and gas exploration impact in the Niger Delta region has always been the focus of most stakeholders in the industry when it comes to addressing the environmental impacts of the extractive industry. But virtually nobody is raising alarm and talking about the gradual adverse impact of gas exploration being created underneath the earth’s crust. A lot of stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry are not aware that the constant exploration of gas for instance, unsettles the natural arrangement of what is underneath the earth’s crust, which could ultimately lead to serious earthquakes that will claim countless lives on many host communities locals.

This same problem created by the extractive industry, is currently being faced by locals of Groningen province in the Netherlands. It was reported that an earthquake measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale was felt in Groningen province recently and was considered a “significant quake in the Netherlands.” Social media channels were buzzing with news from people who felt the quake, some of whom were in Groningen city itself. “I have never felt such a strong one,” local councilor Paul de Rook said on Twitter. There have not yet been any reports of

damage, news agency ANP said. The quakes are caused by the ground settling following the extraction of natural gas from under the province. Gas extraction company NAM has not yet commented on the strength of the recent quake but the tremors are thought to have been strongest in the villages of Ten Boer and Bedum. NAM happens to be a 50:50 Joint Venture between Shell and ExxonMobil, and is currently assessing claims from hundreds of people who say their homes have been damaged by the quakes.

It was also reported that the government of Netherlands has sharply reduced gas extraction volumes in the worst affected areas. In fact, at the beginning of this year the government of Netherlands has agreed to scale back gas production because of the earthquake risk.

Total’s production, which reached almost 53 billion cubic metres last year, will be cut back around 20% to 42.5 billion cubic metres this year and in 2015, and reduced

Negative Impact Of Oil, Gas Exploration On Host Communities

again to 40 billion cubic metres in 2016. This will cost the treasury +2.3bn in lost income over the three-year period. In addition, Ministers have earmarked an extra +1.2bn for Groningen province to strengthen buildings and the infrastructure. NAM has received more than 250 reports of damage, over 130 of which were in the city itself, the NRC Handelsblad newspaper said.

Earlier this year, the Economic Affairs Minister, Henk Kamp, had set aside +1.2bn to compensate people whose homes have been hit by earthquakes. Members of Parliament (MPs) have called for a debate with economic affairs minister Henk Kamp about the earthquake threat.

NAM has had some 19,000 reports of quake damage so far, and carried out 3,000 street inspections. A further 5,000 homes still need to be inspected, the director told the NRC. The above described situation in Groningen province of The Netherlands,

By ZIK GBEMRE clearly tells us that the host communities of the Niger Delta region, particularly host communities like UtoroguIwhrekan community in Ughelli South LGA, Delta State (that is rich in gas deposits), are predisposed to face the same earthquake challenges in the near future because of the years of gas extraction in the said areas by first; The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), and currently, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). It is therefore expedient for these oil and gas operators and relevant authorities/stakeholders in the industry to put this issue of possible earthquakes in the Niger Delta region into consideration, while going about their oil and gas exploration activities. Let us reiterate here that the stated three communities above will be the most impacted, if there is any possible earthquake because of the proximity and

closeness of these direct host communities to each other.

While battling with and addressing the obvious environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration activities in the Niger Delta region like oil spills and gas flaring, there is need for operators and stakeholders in the industry to equally bring into the picture, the possibility of earthquakes caused by the ground settling following the extraction of natural gas from under earth crusts of the Niger Delta region areas.

Having this in mind, we believe, will help operators, regulators and relevant authorities in Nigeria’s extractive industry to know the level of natural gas exploration that could be considered harmful to the earth, and how this can be managed in the interest of all.

It will also help relevant government authorities, regulators and stakeholders to manage human and material loss in case of possible earthquakes and

“Now that Shell has divested its assets and has exited the land areas of Delta State, will they leave the responsibility of bearing the consequences of their years of natural gas exploration to NPDC that just took over these assets?”

also put in place “preventive measures” that will strengthen buildings and infrastructure in the direct host communities like Iwhrekan and Otu-Jeremi Communities in Ughelli South LGA, and Otor-Udu Community in Udu LGA, all in Delta State, and the region as a whole to withstand possible earthquakes. It will also help relevant government authorities to put in place ‘compensation mechanisms’ for host communities stakeholders that might likely suffer possible earthquakes in the future.

Knowledge is power, and prevention they say, is better than cure. In as much as such natural disasters cannot be prevented, now that we are aware that man-made activities like natural gas exploration can equally bring about such disasters like earthquakes, there is need for proactive steps to be taken in policy making and regulatory measures. That is why we believe International Oil Companies (IOCs) like Shell (SPDC), which has been operating in Nigeria for over fifty decades, should be made to face the music if there is any possible earthquake in the region in the near or far future. This should also include areas like Delta State, where Shell has Divested its oil and gas

interests in the Land areas, e.g.

Iwhrekan and Otu-Jeremi Communities in Ughelli South LGA, and Otor-Udu in Udu LGA, Delta State.

Now that Shell has divested its assets and has exited the land areas of Delta State, will they leave the responsibility of bearing the consequences of their years of natural gas exploration to NPDC that just took over these assets?

Considering the fact that NPDC is just a new comer that has taken over these divested Shell assets in the land areas of Delta State, Shell still has to take responsibility of the deplorable legacy they have left behind in these land areas. And having benefitted a lot from the oil and gas exploration in these land areas of Delta State, Shell has to contribute the lion share to the direct host communities for possible earthquakes.

For being the pioneer of oil and gas exploration in Nigeria, and having spear-headed natural gas exploration in particular in the Niger Delta region, Shell Nigeria should be ready to carry the burden of possible earthquakes that might happen in the region in the future.

The Nigerian Government and relevant authorities in the industry should also take note of this and ensure that the interest of the host communities locals who are usually the ones that bears the grunt and pains of the extractive industry, are not left to wallow in their misery.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Natural Medicine

GERMS are pathogens which cause diseases in living organisms. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and other micro-organisms fall into the category of germs. You cannot see them. However, the toxins they produce are what cause problems for man, making him fall ill.

In orthodox, conventional medicine, there are germ fighters available in pharmaceutical stores.

However, it has been discovered that such medicines are often in effective against germs over time drug – resistant strains of germs have developed due to several reasons.

Furthermore, pharmaceutical drugs engage in blind, chemical warfare against germs. For this reason they destroy the flora balance of unfriendly and friendly bacteria in our body. Thus, the drugs predispose us to more health complications than the disease condition that initially led us to use the drugs.

It is to overcome these shortcomings that natural germ fighters have come handy in various presentations. One benefit of these germ fighters is that they don’t only help us to manage infections but they stimulate the development of our immune system. Without a strong immunity, we become easily prone to infections attacks.

Therefore, we become more or less dependent on germ fighters on a daily basis. Such a situation isn’t healthy at all. Germ fighters are meant to be used occasionally or periodically, not regularly like a Sunday – Sunday medication.

At this juncture, let’s take a look at autogenous urine as a germ fighter. Natural medicine studies have proven that when you fast on your own urine for

Gem Fighters about a week or more you will eliminate germs from your body. Urine is an allgerm fighter. In fact no germ has been known to develop resistance against urine referred to as water of life. Moreover, while using urine to treat infection, you will discover that some of the illnesses long plaguing you would be cured.

Colloidal silver is another natural germ fighter. It is used against viruses, fungi, protozoa, parasites and harmful bacteria. The medicine only picks out unfriendly, disease-causing germs for destruction leaving out the friendly, beneficial ones. In addition, colloidal silver helps to boost a person’s immune system, his biochemical barrier against germs. Also, it aids in healing peptic ulcers while it also reduces one’s risk factor for cancers.

Garlic and onions, especially the white ones are also powerful germ fighters used singly or combined. No germ is known to be resistant to them, including staphylococcus aureus that people often find difficult to treat. For best results, use them in their raw forms.

A powerful germ fighter I won’t forget to mention is an extract of rosemary, sage chickweed and garlic in a base of ACV. Furthermore as I have often said in this column cranberry juice is indicated for clearing germs from

With Dr. MAO 08030717341

urino-genital tract. The juice makes the tract slippery for bacteria to attach themselves together so as to begin to multiply.

And so the bacteria are swept away. In other words

softening protections substances like meat. But not many of us know that it is also a germ fighter. The papain in the leaves is toxic to germs. What salt does to earthworm is what papain

which defy conventional therapy. I have personally employed aloe vera to heal the old wound of a 60 yearold woman that had proved difficult for a chemist to treat for months. Within two weeks of aloe vera administration the weeping wound healed completely without scars.

cranberry juice is biological in action. People with kidney and bladder infections will find it useful. Also, if you are prone to them and want to prevent them, the juice will offer you a lot of benefits.

Now, let us talk about pawpaw leaves. Most people know that it is one of the leaves used for preparing a herbal decoction for treating malaria fever. Also, the leaves contain papain, a milky liquid used either for epidemabrasion or the

does to germs. The problem in using pawpaw leaves as a germ fighter however has to do with dosage. It is often difficult to extract the appropriate papain active principle from the leaves that is effective for managing a germ infection.

Aloe Vera equally has germicidal effect.

Moreover, it has antiinflammatory and regenerative properties. It is for this reason you can use it for the management of wounds and leg ulcers

Safi blood tonic, which I wrote about last week, is also a germ fighter. Some of the herbs it contains are known to kill germs. The additional benefits the tonic gives is that while fighting germs in your body, it is, in addition building up your blood as well as its immunity.

Honey is in a class of its own in germ fighting. Its ability to kill surface germs is basically because it contains plant sugars.

When germs come in contact with these sugars,

“Aloe Vera equally has germicidal effect. Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. It is for this reason you can use it for the management of wounds and leg ulcers which defy conventional therapy.”

the water in them are drained off through Osmotic pressure exacted by the sugars.

Consequently, the germs die off since no living organism can survive without water. Of all honey, the manuka brand ranks as one of the best honey for killing germs as well as

managing wounds.

Knowledgeable orthodox doctors today use it to treat surgical wounds or leg injuries/ulcers with more comparative success.

Bitter kola is still another germ fighter in nature’s medicine chest. Apart from being beneficial for eliminating germs from the body, bitter kola is a utility herb because it has antioxidants, relieves arthritis, enhances libido, eliminates alcoholic hang over, detoxifies the liver, minimizes inflammation in the body, energizes the lungs, lowers blood sugar and can aid weight loss.

Briefly, these are some of the germ fighters available from nature’s pharmacy.

You need them to combat the menace of germs in our today’s increasingly dirty environment.

THE NIGERIAN

20

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

New Horizon

Teachings Of The Holy Quran (5)

OR (take) the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roots. He said, “Oh how shall Allah bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death?

But Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said: How long didst thou tarry (thus)? He said “(Perhaps) a day or part of a day.” He said: “Nay then hast tarried thus a hundred years but look at thy food and thy drink, they show no signs of age: and look at the donkey and that we may make of thee a Sign unto the people. Look further at the bones, how we bring them together and clothe them with flesh”. When this was shown clearly to him, he said, I know that Allah hath power over all things. Behold Abraham said, “My Lord: show me how thou giveth life to the dead”. He said; “Dost thou not then believe”? He said: Yea but to satisfy my own heart.” He said, Take four birds, tie them (cut them into pieces), then put a portion of them, on every hill and call to them, they will come to thee (flying) with speed. Then know, that Allah is exalted in Power, Wise”.

The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn, it growth seven oars, and each oar hath a hundred grains.

Allah giveth manifold increase to whom He pleased, and Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things. Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah, and follow not up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury – for them their reward is with their Lord, on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. Kind

word and covering of faults are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is free of all wants, and He is Most Forbearing. O ye who believe, cancel not your charity by reminders of your generosity or by injury – like those who spend their wealth to be seen of men, but believe neither in Allah nor in the last Day. They are in Parable like a hard barren rock, on which is a little soil: on it falls heavy rain, which leaves it (just) a bare stone. They will be able to do nothing with ought they have earned.

And Allah guided not those who reject faith. And the likeness of those who spend their wealth seeking to please Allah and to strengthen their souls, is as a garden, high and fertile: heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of heaviest, and if it receives not heavy rain, light moisture Sufficeth it.

Allah seeth well whatever ye do. Does any of you wish that he should have a garden with date palms and vines and streams flowing underneath, and all kinds of fruit, while he is stricken with old age, and his children are not strong (enough to look after themselves) – that it should be caught in a whirlwind, with fire therein, and be burnt up? Thus doth Allah make clear to you (His) Signs, that ye may consider.

O ye who believe, give of the good things which ye have (honourably) earned, and of the fruits of the earth which we have produced for you, and do not aim at anything which is bad, out of it ye may give away something, ye yourselves

would not receive it except with closed eyes. And know that Allah is free of all wants, and Worthy of all praise. Satan threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly.

Allah promiseth you His forgiveness and bounties. And Allah careth for all and He knoweth all things.

He granteth

It will remove from you some of your (stains of) evil. And Allah is well acquainted with what ye do. It is not for you to guide them to the right path. But Allah guides to the right path whom He pleaseth.

Whatever of good ye give benefits your own souls, and ye shall only do so seeking the “Face” of Allah. Whatever good ye give, shall be rendered back to you, and ye shall not be

wisdom to whom He pleaseth, and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing, but none will receive admonition but men of understanding. And whatever ye spend in charity or whatever vow you make, be sure Allah knows it all. But the wrong – doers have no helpers, if ye disclose (acts of) charity, even so it is well, but if ye conceal them, and make them reach those (really) in need, that is best for you.

dealth with unjustly.

(Charity is) for those in need, who, in Allah’s cause are restricted (from travel).

And cannot move about in the land, seeking (for trade or work), the ignorant man thinks, because of their modesty, that they are free from want. Thou shall know them by their (unfailing) mark, they beg not importunately from all and Sunday. And whatever of good ye give be assured Allah knoweth it well.

Those who (in charity)

“The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is that of a grain of corn, it growth seven oars, and each oar hath a hundred grains.”

With VICTOR ANIUKWU

spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be nor fear, no shall they grieve. Those who devour usury will not stand except as stands one whom the Satan by his touch hath driven to madness. That is because they say. “Trade is like usury”, but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving admonition from their Lard, desist, shall be pardoned for the past their

but if ye repent e shall have your capital sums, deal not unjustly and ye shall not, he dealt with unjustly. If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time till it is easy for him to pay. But if ye remit it by way of charity, that is best or you if ye only knew. And fear the Day when ye shall be brought back to Allah. Then shall every soul be paid what it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly. O ye who believe, when ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed

case is for Allah (to judge), but those who repeat (the offence) are Companions of the Fire, they will abide therein (forever). Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity, for He loveth not any ungrateful sinner.

Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness and establish regular prayers and give Zakat, will have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be not fear, nor shall they grieve.

O ye who believe, fear Allah and give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers. If ye do it not, take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger,

period of time, reduce them to writing. Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties, let not the scribe refuse to write, as Allah has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear Allah, his Lord and not diminish aught of what he owes. If the party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable himself to dictate, let his guardian dictate faithfully. And get two witnesses out of your own men. And if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her.

Continues on page 24

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

International Violence Mars Afghan President’s First Month

KABUL - Suicide bombers, roadside bombs and rocket attacks on the Afghan capital have intensified in the one month since President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai took office as the Taliban are sending a message that they disapprove of his tough stance on ending the insurgency and close security ties with Washington, officials, analysts and the Taliban said.

In recent days, central Kabul’s diplomatic neighborhood has been shaken by late night rocket attacks. On both Friday and Sunday nights, rockets were fired into the heavily fortified “green zone,” sending locals running for cover and international residents into basement safe rooms to await the all clear.

According to reports there have been at least 10 incidents in Kabul since Ghani Ahmadzai’s inauguration on September 29, killing 27 people.

These include six suicide bombings, two roadside bombs and two rocket attacks. Just hours after Ghani Ahmadzai took the oath of office, seven civilians were killed by a suicide bomber near Kabul airport. On October 1, seven Afghan soldiers and one civilian died in a suicide attack on an Afghan National Army bus.

In the same month last year, six people were killed in five incidents, which included an insider attack on an army base in which an Afghan soldier

opened fire on foreign troops and was shot dead. Rocket attacks have been relatively rare in recent years.

The Taliban said they were responsible for sending the rockets into the city and that they would continue doing so following an intense summer of fighting.

“The tactics of our attacks have changed because of the weather, the season. The recent rocket attacks were by us and our aim is to destroy this government,” said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

He said the attacks were in

retaliation for Ghani Ahmadzai’s decision to sign a bilateral security agreement with Washington, permitting a residual force of 9,800 U.S. troops to remain in the country after the end of the year. “These attacks will continue because this government has signed the (agreement). There will be more attacks, as we seek to strike at the head of the enemy,” Mujahid said.

The commander of Afghan National Army ground forces, Gen. Murad Ali Murad, said the recent addition of rocket attacks to the Taliban arsenal was an

Clashes In Burkina Faso Over Move To Extend Leader’s Rule

OUAGADOUGOU Youths clashed with security forces in Burkina Faso early Tuesday at the start of a week of protests over a move to let the country’s long-serving president extend his rule beyond 30 years.

Gendarmes in the capital Ouagadougou charged to disperse several dozen youths barricading the country’s main highway, firing tear gas at the crowd who hurled stones in response, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

The pre-dawn clashes kicked off a day of protests called by the opposition against what it calls a constitutional coup by supporters of President Blaise Compaore.

Schools and universities closed on Monday for a week across the impoverished west African nation as the opposition

vowed to fight a move to extend his 27-year-rule.

The National Assembly will tomorrow, Thursday study a proposed constitutional amendment that would extend the maximum term limit and allow Compaore to run for another five-year term next year.

Compaore’s bid to stay in power has angered the opposition and much of the public, including many young people in a country where 60 percent of the population of 17 million are under 25.

Protesters have erected barricades and burned tyres in the capital since the proposal was announced on October 21, with hundreds of women demonstrating with spatulas in their hands on Monday.

Secondary school children deserted classes on Friday to join the protests, creating major disruptions in Ouagadougou.

Civil society groups have also asked for the project to be dropped, saying the country risked being paralysed if the amendment went through.

The opposition has called upon the public to blockade parliament to prevent the review from taking place.

Compaore has been in power since he led a coup in 1987 and has been reelected president four times since 1991.

attempt “to show the international community that they are still a force to be reckoned with,” as they appeared aimed at the diplomatic district of Wazir Akhbar Khan.

Security in the capital — already fortress-like — had been stepped up, he said. Ghani Ahmadzai’s first month in office has coincided with Muharram, a month of mourning by Shiite Muslims for the death in 680 of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. It climaxes with the Ashoura festival, which this year falls in early November.

In 2011, at least 54 people were killed in a suicide attack on a Kabul shrine on Ashoura day.

Afghanistan’s Shiite minority is estimated to comprise between 10 percent and 30 percent of the population.

The true number is subject to speculation since no proper census has been conducted.

Wahid Mozhdah, a political analyst and former foreign ministry official in the Taliban’s 1998-2001 government, said he believed the insurgents were paying residents of villages outside the capital to enter the city to fire the rockets. “Slowly, slowly the tactics of the Taliban are changing, because now they are paying people to fire rockets for them — it’s easy, they just fire the rocket and run away,” he said. “The Taliban are not happy with this government because it has made it clear that it does not want to talk with the Taliban.”

Ghani Ahmadzai’s attitude toward the Taliban has been a departure from that of his predecessor, Hamid Karzai.

While Karzai habitually referred to the insurgents as his “brothers” and castigated the United States for its military presence in Afghanistan, Ghani Ahmadzai has not mentioned the Taliban by name in public statements, referring instead to “political opponents.”

In response, analysts say the Taliban have adopted a strategy that emphasizes the vulnerability of Kabul and gives the impression that Ghani

5,000 Ebola Health Workers Needed In W/Africa -World Bank

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai

ADDIS ABABA - The president of the World Bank says that Ebola-effected countries in West Africa need at least 5,000 more health workers to effectively fight the epidemic.

Jim Yong Kim said yesterday that he is worried about where those health care

Spain To Halt Catalonia Secession Vote MADRID - Spain’s government plans to ask the country’s Constitutional Court to block the wealthy northeastern region of Catalonia’s plan to hold an informal, non-binding referendum about its independence on November 9.

Catalonia canceled an official referendum on that

issue set for the same date after the government challenged its legality before the court, which tentatively suspended the vote. Catalonia then opted to hold the informal ballot in a show of determination.

It would be tentatively suspended, if the court agrees to study a new challenge.

Polls indicate most Catalans want a referendum

but are roughly equally divided over independence.

The issue has embittered the region’s relations with the government.

On Monday, the government asked the opinion of the state’s top consultative body with a view toward announcing the court challenge on Friday.

workers can be found given the widespread fear of Ebola.

The World Bank president spoke alongside U.N. Secretary-General Ban Kimoon and African Union Chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Ban said the transmission of the virus continues to outpace the international community’s response. He appealed to African Union’s 54 member states not to impose Ebola-related travel restrictions or close their borders.

Dlamini-Zuma said African Union states have pledged to send more than 2,000 health care workers to West Africa. She did not say when the workers would arrive.

Ahmadzai’s government can’t protect the capital.

“Rocket attacks create a sense of crisis among the capital’s residents and force a d eterioration of the security situation,” said Jawed Khoistani, a political analyst.

He suggested that the accuracy of the rockets that have landed in the green zone pointed to some degree of cooperation with the security forces that are supposed to be guarding the city perimeter.

“Rockets are more dangerous than terrorist attacks in Kabul because it is clear there is help from within the capital itself,” he said.

Kabul shop keeper Ghulam Farooq said that while suicide attacks generally happened during daylight hours, the rocket attacks meant that “now Kabul is not safe at night either ... I hope the Ghani government can put a stop to these night-time rocket attacks, so at least we can get some sleep.”

CORRECTION/ CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Uwabuchi Tobias Obiefula wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person called Uwabughichi Tobias Obiefula and Nnwabuchi Tobias Obi as stated in some of my valuable documents. I am now properly known and called Uwabuchi Tobias Obiefula as “Uwabuchi” “Nnwabuchi and Obi” were wrong representations.

All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, Stanbic IBTC, concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

ODIASE – I, formerly known as Odiase Loveth now wish to be known as Mrs. Loveth Anakashebi.

All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

IMAFIDON – I, formerly Miss Esther Isoken Imafidon now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Esther Isoken Aghahowa. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

AFOLABI – I, formerly called Mrs. Afolabi Oluwaseun Beth is now known and called Miss Ayanda Oluwaseun Opeyemi. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE PROGRESSIVE UNITED SOLIDSTARS CLUB The general public is hereby notified that the above named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Mr. Tony Ogbodo 2. Mr. Chima Ebodili 3. Mr. Emeka Achioko 4. Mr. Don Smart Ifeanyi Ekechukwu 5. Mr. Chinedu Onyibe AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To assist members of the club in need financially and materially.

2. To protect the interest of all members of the club 3. To pursue the progress of all the members of the club in their different endeavours.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

VACANCY An automobile company based in Benin City urgently requires the services of A. A MALE ASSISTANT MANAGER B. A FEMALE SECRETARY Age: 23-28 years Salary: Negotiable Advantages A. Proficient in English Language (written/oral) B. Resourcefulness C. Accountability D. Business oriented E. Computer Literate F. Good driving skills G. Valid Driver’s Licence H. Flexibility.

Note: All eligible candidates should forward their CVs to unyrecruitment@yahoo.co.uk (only applications) Application deadline: 12th November, 2014

THE NIGERIAN

23

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

International

Iraq: Suicide Bomber Kills 27 Shi’ite Militia

BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber killed at least 27 Shi’ite militiamen outside the Iraqi town of Jurf al-Sakhar on Monday after security forces pushed Islamic State militants out of the area over the weekend, army and police sources said.

The attacker, driving a Humvee vehicle packed with explosives and likely stolen from defeated government troops, also wounded 60 Shi’ite Muslim militiamen, who had helped government forces retake the town just south of the capital.

Iraqis are bracing for more sectarian attacks on Shi’ites, who are preparing for the religious festival of Ashura, an event that

defines Shi’ism and its rift with Sunni Islam.

At mosques and shrines across Iraq, millions of Shi’ites are expected to commemorate the slaying of Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hussein at the battle of Kerbala in AD 680.

Violence has in the past marred the run up to the event, which will take place next week, and the festival itself.

On Monday night, a car bomb killed at least 15 people in central Baghdad, police and medical sources said. The attack took place on a street with shops and

restaurants in Karrada district, home to both Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims as well as other sects and ethnic groups.

Islamic State sees Shi’ites as infidels who deserve to die and their attacks on them have brought violence back to levels seen in 2006 and 2007 at the height of a civil war.

Holding Jurf al-Sakhar is critical for Iraqi security forces, who finally managed to drive out the Sunni insurgents after months of fighting and need to capitalize on their victory to keep the militants away from Baghdad.

It could also allow Iraqi forces to sever Islamic State

connections to their strongholds in western Anbar province and stop them infiltrating the mainly Shi’ite Muslim south.

The group has threatened to march on Baghdad, home to special forces and thousands of Shi’ite militias expected to put up fierce resistance if the capital comes under threat.

Gains against Islamic State, an al Qaeda offshoot made up of Arab and foreign fighters, are often fragile even with the support of U.S. air strikes on militant targets in Iraq and

Chinese Vice President Li Yuganchao, right, meets with President of Japan’s National Governors’ Association, Keiji Yamada, in Beijing, capital of China, yesterday. China’s Vice President met yesterday with a delegation of governors from Japan amid strained bilateral ties, a rare high-level meeting that points to Japan’s hopes of a summit between the two countries leaders at a regional conference next month.

minimizing Japanese responsibility for its brutal World War II invasion and occupation of much of China.

Such meetings have grown extremely rare following a major deterioration in ties two years ago after Japan nationalized a group of uninhabited islands claimed by both countries.

The sides are also feuding over Japanese leaders’ visits to a Tokyo shrine to the spirits of the country’s war dead, including executed war criminals, as well as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s new interpretation of Japan’s pacifist constitution that allows the military to defend the

Sunni Islam.

In a statement yesterday, BND said IS was still able to operate successfully in the western Iraqi province of Anbar and outside Baghdad and was working to convince more Iraqi Sunnis to turn against the U.S.-led coalition fighting against it.

“The continuation of the political and security vacuum in Iraq for the foreseeable future will make fighting terrorist, radical groups considerably harder,” it said.

In Syria, the BND said fighting between IS and Kurdish forces in Kobani near the Turkish border showed that the militants were still in a position to

attack, even if their mobility has been impaired by U.S.-led air strikes.

Due to limited resources, the forces of President Bashar al-Assad are concentrated in urban centers of Damascus, Homs, Hama and Aleppo along Syria’s north to south axis and the coast, where they have seen some military successes, the BND said.

Assad’s forces have largely turned their backs on Syria’s sparsely populated east, allowing IS to expand there, it added.

In a parallel statement, BND’s sister agency BfV, which handles domestic intelligence, said the number of

Salafist Islamists was rising in Germany, and with it the number of potential recruits for IS. Some 450

defense.

The disagreements have cast a shadow over possibilities for a first-ever meeting between Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping during an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing next month.

While top Japanese officials have expressed a desire to see that meeting happen, China has so far been noncommittal.

Chinese public opinion remains strongly anti-Japanese and the country’s entirely statecontrolled media has been highly critical of Abe and his conservative Liberal Democratic Party.

Victim’s Body Found From Sunken S/Korean Ferry

SEOUL - The first body found in three months was being recovered yesterday from the sunken South Korean ferry, increasing the official death toll to 295, officials said.

The government task force said in a statement the body was found around a women’s toilet in the ship.

The badly decayed body was being pulled up to the surface and DNA tests were planned to identify the victim, according to task force officials.

The Sewol ferry sank in April.

The body is the first recovered since July 18.

Nine victims are still missing.

Searches of the ferry wreckage have been ongoing since the disaster, and family members of the missing people have urged that the underwater search effort continue.

A lawyer for the family members said on Monday that they rejected a proposal to hoist the ship.

They worry over a possibility the

people have traveled from Germany to join the radical Islamist fighters.

Salafists espouse a strict, puritanical form of Islam.

remaining bodies would be swept away or damaged.

Most of the ferry victims were teenage students who were on a school trip to a resort island.

The sinking, one of South Korea’s deadliest disasters in decades, caused nationwide grief and fury, with authorities blaming overloading of cargo, improper storage, untimely rescue efforts and other negligence for the incident.

On Monday, South Korean prosecutors demanded the death penalty for the ferry’s captain and life sentences for three other key crew members, blaming their negligence and abandonment of passengers for the massive loss of life.

Prosecutors asked for up to 30 years of prison terms for eleven other crew members. A local district court is to issue verdicts on the 15 crew members in November.

South Korea has a de facto moratorium on capital punishment and has not executed anyone since December 1997.

over a number of years. The first effects will be seen in 2017. There will be a whole series of initiatives connected to units in the east. There will also be investments in infrastructure.”

He declined to say how many additional troops or units would be involved. Poland has eastern borders with Ukraine, with Moscow-allied Belarus, and also with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, home to the Russian navy’s Baltic fleet.

“Obviously this has a link with what is happening in Ukraine,” said Siemoniak. “This is a part of the process of drawing conclusions from that crisis.”

After the crisis in Ukraine broke out, Poland’s government asked its NATO allies to establish a permanent military presence on Polish soil to act as a deterrent to Russia.

The alliance has stopped short of meeting that demand, because some members were wary of the cost and of the risk of antagonizing Russia.

NATO has though intensified training exercises in Poland and plans to create a new rapid reaction force with its headquarters in the western Polish city of Szczecin.

IS Remains A Potent Threat - Germany

BERLIN - Islamic State militants will be able to mount operations in Iraq “for the foreseeable future” despite U.S.-led air strikes and efforts by Iraqi security forces to regain territory, Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency said.

German intelligence also sounded the alarm about a rising number of Islamist militants inside Germany ready to join IS in Iraq and Syria and warned of an increased risk of violent clashes on German streets between rival radical groups.

Islamic State (IS) has seized swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria this year, declared an Islamic ‘caliphate’ and has executed or driven away Shi’ite Muslims, Christians and other groups that do not share their radical version of

Sakhar.

The rounds hit the militiamen, killing dozens and scattering body parts, according to a Reuters witness. The next significant fighting near Baghdad is expected to take place in the Sunni heartland Anbar province.

The town of Amriyat alFalluja has been surrounded by Islamic State militants on three sides for weeks. Security officials say government forces are gearing up for an operation designed to break the siege.

Chinese VP Meets Japanese BEIJING - China’s vice U.S. and other allies under what president met yesterday with a Delegation is known as collective selfdelegation of governors from Japan Japanese politicians seen as amid strained bilateral ties, a rare high-level meeting that points to Japan’s hopes of a summit between the two countries’ leaders at a regional conference next month.

Vice President Li Yuanchao told the group, which was led by the president of Japan’s National Governors’ Association, Keiji Yamada, that China hopes for an improvement in relations that have been soured over an islands dispute.

A brief account of the meeting from China’s official Xinhua News Agency also said Li referred to “the spirit of drawing lessons from history,” pointing to China’s displeasure with statements from

Blaise Campaore, Burkina Faso’s President

neighboring Syria.

The United States led nearly a dozen air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq on Sunday and Monday, including the besieged Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobani, according to the U.S. military.

As Iraqi government soldiers and militias savored their victory and were taking photographs of Islamic State corpses on Sunday, mortar rounds fired by Islamic State fighters who had fled to orchards to the west rained down on Jurf al-

Poland To Beef Up Military On Its Eastern Border WARSAW - Poland said yesterday that it is drawing up a longterm plan to shift some of its military strength towards its eastern border, closer to Ukraine and Russia, in response to Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.

NATO member Poland is anxious that it could be the next target for Kremlin expansion after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula earlier this year.

“We want to strengthen our units in the east of Poland,” Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said on public radio.

“It’s a plan that will be spread out

THE NIGERIAN

24

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

New Horizon Continued from Pg 20

The witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (for evidence).

Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period, whether it be small or big, it is juster in the sight of Allah, more suitable as evidence, and more convenient to prevent debts among yourselves, but if it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot among yourselves, there is not blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing.

But take witnesses whenever ye make a commercial contract, and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If ye do (such harm), it would be wickedness in you. So fear Allah, for it is Allah that teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things. If ye are on a journey, and cannot find a scribe, a pledge with possession (may serve the purpose). And if one of you deposits a thing on trust with another let the trustee (faithfully) discharge his trust, and let him fear Allah his Lord. Conceal not evidence for whoever conceals it- his heart is tainted with sin. And Allah knoweth all that ye do. To Allah belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth.

Whether ye show what is in your minds or conceal it, Allah calleth you to account for it. He forgiveth whom He pleaseth and punisheth whom he punisheth. for Allah hath power over all things. The messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith, each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His Messengers. “We make no distinction (they say)

With VICTOR ANIUKWU

... Of The Holy Quran (5)

between one and another of his messengers”. And they Say,” We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to thee is the end of all journeys.

On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray) Our Lord, condemn us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord

substaining, the Supporter of all. It is He who sent down to thee (step by step), in truth, the Book confirming what went before it, and He sent down the Torah (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus).

Before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the Criterion (of judgment between right and wrong).

fundamental clear (in meaning), they are the foundation of the Book, others are not entirely clear.

But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part therefore that is not entirely clear. Seeking discord, and searching for its interpretation, but no one knows its true meaning except Allah. And those

lay not on us a burden like that which thou did’st lay on those before us. Our lord, lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to hear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our protector, grant us victory over the unbelievers. In the name of Allah, most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Allah, there is not god but He, the living, the Self

Then those who reject Faith in the Signs of Allah will suffer the severest chastisement and Allah is Exalted in Might, lord of Retribution. From Allah, verily nothing is hidden on earth or in the heavens, He it is who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases.

There is no god but He, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. He it is who has sent down to thee the Book, in it are verses basic or

who are firmly grounded in knowledge say, “We believe in it, the whole of it is from our Lord”, and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding. “O Lord (they say), let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thee, for thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure. “Our Lord, thou art He that will gather mankind together

“On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns.”

against a day about which there is no doubt, for Allah never fails in His promise”.

Those who reject faith, neither their possessions nor their (numerous) progeny will avail them aught against Allah, they are themselves but fuel for the fire.

(Their plight will be) no

better than that of the people of Pharaoh, and their predecessors, they denied our Signs, and Allah called them to account for their sins. For Allah is strict in punishment. Say to those who reject faith, “Soon will ye be vanquished and gathered together to Hell, an evil bed indeed (to lie on).

There has already been for you a Sign in the two armies that met (in combat), one was fighting in the cause of Allah, the other resisting Allah, these saw with their own eyes twice their number. But Allah cloth support with His aid whom He pleaseth.

In this is a lesson for such as have eyes to see. Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet,

women and sons, heapedup hoards of gold and silver, horses branded (for blood and (wealth of) cattle and well — tilled land.

Such are the possessions of this world’s life, but with Allah is the best of the goals (to return to). Say, shall I give you glad tidings of things far better than those?

For the righteous are Gardens in nearness to their Lord with rivers flowing beneath, therein is their eternal home, with spouses purified and the good pleasure of Allah. For in Allah’s sight are (all) His servants. (Namely) those who say, “Our Lord we have indeed believed, forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the fire”. Those who show patience, (Firmness and self—control), who are true (in word and deed), who worship devoutly, who spend (in the way of Allah), and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning.

There is no god but He that is the witness of Allah, His angels, and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice.

There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise.

The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His Will), nor did the People of the Book dissent there from except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if they deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account. So if they dispute with thee, say, “I have submitted my whole self to Allah and so have those who follow me.” And say to the people of the Book and to those who are unlearned, Do ye (also) submit yourselves? If they do, they are in right guidance, but if they turn back, thy duty is to convey the message, and in Allah’s sight are (all) His servants.

Footnote — Allah is swift in calling anyone to account for his or her deeds — “Forewarned is Forearmed.”

THE NIGERIAN

25

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Spiritual Platform

Dealing With Local Idols Exodus 20:3-5:”Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, o that is in earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me”.

Revelation 2:13-14:”l know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth”.

We come to a serious situation which prevails in our communitiesthe prevalence of local community idols. Idolatry is an obnoxious system devised by Satan to control the land, the family and the individual. Idols are everywhere in our local environment. Go to our villages, hamlets and many areas of our cities, you see idols everywhere. Enter some homes, you see idols/shrines of all shapes and description. Many people have rooms filled with variegated idols.

These idols are worshipped by the communities, families and individuals.

In Exodus 20:3-5, God prohibit idolatry and there are consequences pronounced by God, upon people who worship them. Verse 5 is worth reproducing here again “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me”. Because of the importance of this theme, affecting millions of people, we shall see what God says in many passages in the scriptures about idolatry: · Leviticus 26:1 “Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shalt ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God”. · Deuteronomy 7:25 “The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire; thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God”. · Deuteronomy 11:1 “Therefore thou shall love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgements, and his commandments, always”. · Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images”. · I John 5:21”Little children, keep yourselves from idols”.

When you choose to worship idols, an automatic curse of God follows. Idolatry is an abomination to God. The baffling thing is that despite very many churches all over the place, the incidence of idolatry is not dying out. There are still very many so-called Christians who patronize idolatry especially in times of trouble .

Idolatrous characteristics found in our midst prove the currency of Idol worship: · Many houses (homes) have idol shrines, hidden or openly displayed; some individuals have rooms filled with assorted idols, and they boast about them! · Maybe as you are reading this piece, members of your families, your father or mother could be pouring liberation on family altars on behalf of the family. Whether you are physically present or not, you are involved or covered unless you have given your life to Christ. · Your father or mother may be taking your name to some family shrines seeking to protect you. If you send money and you claim that because you are not physically present, you are free. This is a lie. Your money represents you and you are involved. · Some farmers dedicate their farms to idols and charms and sacrifices may be utilized. · There are rivers where you are not allowed to fish. · There are some forests which you cannot enter at some hours of the day. There are evil forests inhabited by evil spirits. · There are some communities where women are not allowed to watch masquerade displays. · Some of us here live in houses or have our offices with evil foundations. For example, houses with charms, houses where regular demonic sacrifices are made, houses where human beings are buried; in some of our towns, almost every house is a burial tomb! The living and the dead are living together now. There is no communion between the living and the dead. · Local markets are built upon the foundations of charms and sacrifices. It is on record that local chiefs cause sacrifices to be performed in markets on regular basis. Many traders also resort to occultism. Markets are dangerous places because powerful and wicked spirits are attracted to them. These take up trading at night even though the ordinary eye cannot see what is going on. There is a local belief that a mad person who reaches a market cannot be cured. · There are very many local names which venerate local idols.

Example are found in all communities, establishing the prevalence of local idols. Examples are Okoebor (Ishan), Ogunkpolo (Bini), Fawole (Yoruba), and Nwosu (Ibo). What is the meaning of your name?

These idols or evil spirits have twelve local powers through which they carry out their operations in Nigeria. No matter what idols exist in the country, they have their roots in the twelve local Powers, mentioned below: · families spirits (aka ancestral spirits) · household wickedness · evil covenants · territorial spirits · curses

· · · · · · ·

water spirits forest spirits destructive incantations witchcraft divination physical and spiritual altars satanic prophets These are present in every community, and are controlling evil forces, doing a lot of damage to the people. Idolatry is based on these evil powers. From the list, you can imagine the hold they have on the people. Most communities are overwhelmed by community idols principally because of ignorance. Despite the church, idolatry is still very strong in our midst. Many families are divided between Christianity and idolatry and this is a big problem. The Christians in such families must pray that their lines be cut from the general family coven.

The main weapons used by these powers should be noted. · water · dust of the earth · witchcraft · fire · air · heavenlies (sun, moon, stars and evil angels)

These elements are so important for you to note. The enemy uses these elements to attack people. We have discussed witchcraft attacks in Chapter One of this book. In Chapters, Eight and Nine we shall discuss the weapon of the dust and the place where you reside, where you were born and the place where you marry, i.e. the place of sojourn.

Foundational problems in these places can affect your life negatively or positively. The next two chapters are crucial to your life.

Coming back to the examination of local idols in our communities you need the power of God to fight for you. When God fights from heaven on your behalf, who can stand before him? The story of Sisera and his 900 chariots is illustrative. Judges 4:1-3: “And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel”.

We seen how, because of sin, God sold the children of Israel into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, whose army under Sisera had 900 chariots. Deborah who was the judge of Israel at that time interceded for Israel and in the same Chapter 4:6 we see her question to Barak “ ……Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded; saying Go and deploy troops at Mount labor; take with you ten thousand men ....? And against you I will deploys Sisera, the Commander of Jabin army, with his chariots and his multitude…..?” 900 and the army of Jabin verses 10,000 army of Israel. Verses 15-16 say “And the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Baraic; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled on foot. But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as and the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; and not a man was left.” The scripture tells us that Sisera fled to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber where, while asleep, Jael drove a peg with a hammer into his head and he died. That is God for you. Where God fights for you from heaven many things happen to our enemies: · Fights them in all fronts — land, sea and air. · Law of substitution applies · God’s creation (weather, sun, moon, stars, earth)/work against them. · Angels go into battle against them. · The enemies begin to fight against themselves. · Deploys the sword against them. · Employs whirlwind. · Throw stones on their heads.

With Rt Rev (Dr.) C. I. Umane GSM: 0803579951 · Thunders against them. · Gives them terrifying dreams/noises. · They are blinded. · Sends fire from heaven. · Imposes spiritual worms. · Confuses their tongues. · Withers their outstretched hands. · Sends plagues, etc.

God will not need to send these forces against the enemy all at once. He choose an appropriate one and uses it. The same principle applies in spiritual warfare.

How do you deal with local idols (1) Confess your sins and the sins of your fore parents of idolatry.

(2) Pray and ask God to remove the curses imposed on the community, family or individual as a result of idolatry (3) Pray and command the demons attached to the curses to leave and never to return. consign them to the abyss until the

judgement day.

Warfare Prayers. End with in the name of Jesus Christ (4) 1.

Every power of community idol over my life — die 2.

You evil power of my community idol (name it) — loose your hold and die 3.

Every evil altar of the community idol — catch fire 4.

Every satanic minister ministering at evil altars —fall down and die 5.

Every curse hanging on the community (name it) —be revoked by the blood of Jesus 6.

Every evil covenant, spell or incantation hanging over the community — be cancelled 7.

Every yoke and the burden of generational curses in my community — break by fire 8.

Civil war amongst the powers of darkness in my community — break out now 9.

Every power of family idol — die 10.

Idol power of my father’s house, my mother’s house— die 11.

Wicked foundation prepared for me by family idolscollapse 12.

From the cage of family idol — I release myself 13.

Every connection between me and family idols break by fire 14.

From the cage of family idol- I release myself 15.

Every dedication that speaks against me- I declare myself free 16.

Every evil chain linking me to family idols – break by fire 17.

Strange fire prepared by family idols — quench by 18.

Every covenant with- (name) - be broken by the blood of Jesus. · water spirits · desert spirits · witchcraft spirits · spirits in trees, rocks, hills · family gods · evil family guardian spirits · village/family serpentine spirits · masquerade spirits · inherited spiritual spouse 19. My stubborn enemies — scatter by fire 20. I soak all these prayers in the blood of Jesus.

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

EVERY WEDNESDAY, WEEK 16, 2014 LUCKY 1.2. X FORECAST 5 INTERNATIONAL NOS. HOT PAIRS 7 5 8

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By SAM EHEBHA GSM:08056626091

SATURDAY RITUALS

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THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

EVERY WEDNESDAY, WEEK 16, 2014 WATSON WEST 1.2.X FORECAST

By SAM EHEBHA GSM:08056626091

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

School Sports Should Be Revived, THE Coach of the U-23 Says Siasia futile.

National Team, Samson Siasia, on Tuesday said that it was important to revive school sports, in order to sustain grassroots football development.

Siasia made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

The former Head Coach of the Super Eagles urged the administrators of the Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF), to strictly adhere to its key objective of discovering and grooming upcoming talents.

“That’s what they did with us; right from Primary School then, we went to the secondary school sports which was very very big, but is not that good anymore.

“So if we want to do that, we have to go and revive school sports, you know, and

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo Crowned La Liga’s Best RONALDO received the top gong in recognition of his stellar campaign last season that saw him score 31 goals in just 30 matches for Real Madrid.

The Portugal captain also Atletico Madrid to the La took out the Best Forward Liga title last term.

Atletico remarkably award and Best Goal for his incredible backheel against topped the standings ahead of fancied duo Barcelona Valencia in May. “I have to thank my team- and Real for their first mates, Real Madrid, my league crown since 1995family... it is a very good 96.

“I want to share this with moment in my career,” my players, without whom Ronaldo said.

“For me, the important none of this would be thing is to win collective possible,” Simeone said prizes, but I like the afterwards.

“Thanks to Koke, Gabi, individual ones, too. I work [Thibaut] every day, in training, to Miranda, continue adding more to Courtois... and everyone who made it possible to this.”

The 2013-14 Coach of win the title.”

Costa Rica international the Year went to Argentine Diego Simeone after Keylor Navas was named defying the odds to guide the Best Goalkeeper for his

consistent season with Levante before making the switch to Real.

Real star Sergio Ramos took out the Best Defender, while team-mate Luka Modric (Best Defensive Midfielder) and Barcelona veteran Andres Iniesta (Best Attacking Midfielder) took out the respective midfield awards.

Granada’s Yacine Brahimi received the Best African Player award, while Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca was named the best South American.

Revelation of the Year went to Barcelona

youngster Rafinha Alcantara, who spent last season on loan at Celta Vigo.

elsewhere including Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas, Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara, Porto’s Christian Tello and Stoke City pair Bojan Krkic and Marc Muniesa. The Catalan club’s youth development facilities and coaching is widely admired, however their failure to comply with recruitment regulations has led to FIFA imposing a 12-month transfer ban upon them which is currently in force.

Taking into account all 98 clubs surveyed, Real Madrid are second behind Barcelona in the number of players developed inhouse which are now playing elsewhere. Stars including Juventus’ Alvaro Morata, Atletico Madrid’s Juanfran Torres, Valencia’s Rodrigo, Fiorentina’s Borja Valero and

Napoli’s Jose Callejon are all products of the Bernabeu club’s La Fabrica youth set-up.

La Liga sides Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad top the list of the clubs who currently employ homegrown players — with 15 apiece due to their emphasis on nurturing and promoting Basque talent. Athletic have also produced top players now elsewhere including Manchester United’s Ander Herrera, Bayern’s Javi Martinez and Juventus’ Fernando Llorente.

Relatively smaller clubs who have produced many top players include Rennes [24 in total], Lens [22], Atalanta [22], Espanyol [21] and Montpellier [21]. The highest ranked non-European producer of talent for the big five leagues is Argentine outfit River Plate.

While Arsenal have managed

“They will then begin to struggle when they get to like age 20, struggling to learn those things that they should have been taught at an earlier stage in their careers,’’ he added.

Samson Siasia

NPFL: Heartland Say Taraba

Lucky To Get Draw

HEARTLAND captain Chinedu Efugh has said FC Taraba were lucky to take a point off them in Owerri in a Nigeria league Week 36 game at the weekend.

The former Rangers defender said Heartland were unlucky not to have score goals.

“We deserve to win the

game because we played better than Taraba, we created many scoring chances but we couldn’t convert any. They were so lucky not to lose the game,” Efugh said.

Heartland are ninth on the table with 52 points, while Taraba are 15th on 47 point.

Ghana Players Are Patriotic But Essien, who has been - Essien fingered by some of the irate

MIDFIELDER Michael Essien insists Ghanaian players remain patriotic to the Black Stars despite allegations to the contrary.

Several Ghanaian fans remain angry at the Black Stars players for allegedly not showing enough patriotism during the 2014 World Cup. A large chunk of the irate Ghanaian fans even believe some of the players took the nation to ransom in their unrelenting demand for the prompt payment of their

Barcelona Top Homegrown Talent Table

LA Liga giants Barcelona have produced more footballers currently playing in Europe’s top leagues than any other club, according to new research by the CIES Football Observatory.

There are 43 different players who have come through Barca’s La Masia academy currently plying their trades in the “big five” of Spain’s La Liga, the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.

Manchester United come second in the rankings with a total of 36 players developed, followed by Real Madrid [34], Olympique Lyon [33] and Paris Saint-Germain [27].

Barca’s total includes 13 players currently at the Camp Nou, as well as 30 playing

that’s where you can actually get to really discover these young ones.

“If they do that, then we could be able to find them, you know, at the early age, and then from there, you can even have the U-13, the U-16 and 17.

“They have a long process of how to go, they know the fundamentals of the game, they know the right applications.’’

Siasia, who won the silver medal in his previous stint as coach of the U-23 national team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, added that anything short of harnessing grassroots talents would be

22 — 15 of which are playing at another “big five” club — other English clubs Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham have produced just 12 players each in total, the same number as La Liga’s Rayo Vallecano and Ligue 1’s Guingamp.

The research also found that Ligue 1 club squads contained the highest proportion of homegrown players [24.6 percent], followed by La Liga [20.4 percent], Bundesliga [16.4 percent], Premier League [13.9 percent] and Serie A [9.6 percent].

The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) is an independent study centre created in 1995 as a joint venture between FIFA, the University of Neuchatel, the City and State of Neuchatel.

appearance fees for the tournament staged in Brazil.

The agitation in the Ghana camp proved costly as the Black Stars eventually failed to make it past the group phase despite coming into the tournament with a lot of promise.

The team is struggling to win back the overwhelming support and affection of the fans in the aftermath of their disappointing World Cup campaign.

Michael Essien

fans as one of the uncommitted players of the national team has debunked this assertion – using his several injuries sustained while on international duty as a perfect example.

“Players play for pride and it’s an honour to play for Ghana,” he is quoted as telling the Presidential Commission on Monday.

“He [Essien] sacrificed despite nine surgeries playing for Ghana.”

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Accumulation Of Positive Results Slowly Quashing Arsenal Doubts

CSKA Sanction Revised CSKA were initially fined

By UEFA +200,000 and ordered to play

THE Premier League is an interesting beast this season.

Despite it being blindingly obvious that they’re struggling for form, Arsenal sit fifth in the table, just three points behind Man City, and ahead of Liverpool and Manchester United.

Some of that, of course, is down to the problems other teams have. Only Chelsea can really say they’ve performed to their expected level in the opening nine games of this campaign, but even they fell foul of a late goal, dropping two points at Old Trafford on Sunday.

It topped off a good weekend for the Gunners. Not only did the gap on Chelsea close, all the teams around them — those likely to be rivals for the top four — dropped points. Liverpool could only draw with Hull (Arsenal know how that goes!); Man City were beaten by West Ham; and Spurs were beaten at home by a Newcastle side getting only their second league win of the season.

At this point Arsenal have to find the positives. Their confidence is so low that it’s going to take time for it to build up. Results will do that, but results are hard to come by when you’re playing a different back four every week and you’ve lost two key members of it to injury.

Indeed, it might get worse in the coming days when we learn more about the hip problem that forced Kieran Gibbs off at the Stadium of Light.

However, a week that at 9:25 p.m. last Wednesday evening looked as if it was going to be another horrific one in terms of results, was turned on its head by the two late goals against Anderlecht. All of a sudden the European campaign was back on track, and following that up with a win and a clean sheet on Saturday added a bit of sheen to a seven day period that began so disappointingly with those two dropped points to Hull.

Lukas Podolski’s late goal helped Arsenal earn all three points at Anderlecht. Lukas Podolski’s late goal helped Arsenal earn all three points at Anderlecht.

There’s only so much analysis you can do of why Arsenal aren’t performing before people want to bash you over the head with a brick and tell you stop. We’ve done tactics, we’ve done formation, we’ve done players being played out of position,

The 30-year-old striker, dubbed the ‘People’s Player’ by former coach Diego Maradona, last played for his country at the 2011 Copa America on home soil and missed this year’s World Cup in Brazil despite scintillating form for Juventus.

Tevez was among four forwards, the others being captain Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, named in the squad posted on the Argentine FA’s website.

Coach Gerardo Martino’s

side play Croatia at West Ham United’s Upton Park ground in London on November 12 and Portugal six days later at Manchester United’s Old Trafford where Tevez spent two years from 2007-09.

His last action in an Argentina shirt came when he missed the penalty that sealed their elimination by Uruguay in a Copa America quarter-final shootout after a 1-1 draw in July 2011.

Tevez’s recall could eventually mean the former Boca Juniors, Corinthians,

LABRUNE blamed changes in French tax law for the prospective loss of Gignac - who has scored 48 goals in 128 Ligue 1 appearances for Marseille - with Premier League clubs likely to be interested, according to the British media.

Arsenal and Newcastle United could be keen on the 28-year-old forward, who has hit the back of the net 10 times in 11 league matches this season as Marseille have stormed to the top of Ligue 1

under new coach Marcelo Bielsa.

Labrune believes that kind of form will see Gignac leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.

“It’s going to happen because employer contributions and taxes have gone through the roof in France,” the media mogul told Le Journal de Dimanche.

“We would like to keep him but it seems to me utopian to think that he will lower his salary to stay with us.”

Reports in the French media claimed last week that Gignac might be tempted to sign a new contract with Marseille due to their stunning start to the season - eight wins and a draw from 11 games - but Labrune remains unconvinced.

His agent is right to say that, with his current displays, he is more likely to get better offers,” Labrune said.

“But he loves the city and the club, so we’re going to talk.”

we’ve done World Cup hangover, we’ve done injuries. And more injuries. And just when you think there can’t be any more injuries there are some more injuries.

Eventually you just have to look at the results. Perhaps you’re looking at them with your fingers crossed, rabbit’s foot around your neck and wearing that lucky pair of socks your granny got you last Christmas, but ultimately it’s all that counts. Yes, performances can be improved but so often the two go hand in hand. Anyway, after having seen their team play well too many times before and not win, Arsenal fans should not be overly churlish about how the points are racked up.

This Saturday they face Burnley, a newly promoted side currently second from bottom of the table. Three points are expected. A better team display would help the Gunners build some momentum and add just a bit more belief to a side desperately looking for it in any way possible. After that it’s Anderlecht at home. The fixtures are kind right now and they have to take advantage.

It’s easy to understand why Arsenal are struggling right now, but each good result slightly quashes some of the doubts. And if worst comes to the worst, there’s always those lucky socks.

three UEFA Champions League fixtures behind closed doors following incidents during their opening 5-1 defeat at Roma, when play was halted due to crowd disturbances.

The European governing body’s original judgment said CSKA had fallen foul of Article 14 of its disciplinary regulations: “racist behaviour of supporters”; and two sections of Article 16: “crowd disturbance and setting/ off throwing of fireworks and missiles”.

However, an appeal by the Russian club has been partially

upheld, with the third match of the behind-closed-doors sanction - the first of which was served in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City earlier this month - to be suspended for five years.

The fine has also been reduced to +100,000, although CSKA remain banned from selling tickets for their away fixtures at City and Bayern Munich.

CSKA currently sit bottom of Group E after picking up just one point from their opening three fixtures.

REAL Madrid will appeal a three-month suspension slapped on assistant B team coach Zinedine Zidane for not having the correct licence, the club said on Monday.

The former Real and France midfielder was sanctioned by the Spanish football federation for allegedly acting as head coach of third tier Real Madrid Castilla even while Santiago Sanchez, who was also banned for three months, nominally held the post.

In a statement on their website, Real expressed their “absolute

disagreement with the decision” and said they would “pursue every available legal avenue so that this decision is overturned”.

“Not least because Zinedine Zidane has been authorised by the French football federation (FFF) to work as a head coach in the category Real Madrid Castilla currently play in, as the certificate issued by the federation from Oct. 2014 states,” they added.

A World Cup winner with France in 1998, when he scored two goals in the final against Brazil, Zidane played for Real from 2001 until his retirement in 2006.

The 42-year-old also netted a spectacular volley for Real to win the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen.

Castilla were relegated from the second division last season, before Zidane joined the coaching staff. They are currently 14th in Group 2 of the regional four-group “Segunda B”, or third tier.

Zinedine Zidane banned from management for 3 months “I have no regrets about having taken my qualifications in France,” Zidane told Le Figaro.

“It’s still amazing that there are also so few people to defend me and explain that I did not have special privilege.

“I did not circumvent the difficulty - but some took the opportunity to spit on me.”

Real Madrid To Appeal Zidane Suspension Over Coaching Licence

Carlos Tevez

Tevez Recalled By Argentina After Three Years In Cold

ARGENTINA’S forgotten man Carlos Tevez has been included in the squad for the first time in three years for next month’s friendlies in England against Croatia and Portugal.

Gignac To Leave Marseille

West Ham, Manchester United and Manchester City striker will get a chance to help Argentina win the Copa America title held by Uruguay in Chile next year.

The forward, capped 64 times, played at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup but was overlooked by coach Alejandro Sabella for the tournament in Brazil this year when Argentina reached the final before losing to Germany.

Sabella resisted widespread calls to select Tevez who took Serie A by storm when he helped Juventus lift the title last season with 19 goals. He has also notched six in eight league games this term.

Media reports in Argentina said there was resistance to Tevez among the team captained by Messi. Sabella said his selections were down to tactics and squad harmony.

Others argued against Tevez, regarded by many as an individualist, and pointed to a mediocre international goal tally of 13.

Martino also called up uncapped Manchester City

goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero, understudy to England number one Joe Hart at the Premier League champions, on Monday.

World Cup central defender Ezequiel Garay is also in the squad, having missed Martino’s first three matches in charge, a 4-2 win in Germany in September followed by a 2-0 defeat to Brazil and 7-0 rout of Hong Kong in two Asian tour matches this month.

Zinedine Zidane

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Giwa Takes Over NFF Secretariat

THE factional head of the NFF has said he is ready to talk peace with the football family on his terms while dismissing FIFA’s ban threats Chris Giwa, factional by 1st Vice President Obinna president of the Nigeria Football Ogba, board members Sani Fema Federation, has declared that he and Yahaya Adama and after a is ready to cooperate with short meeting with his board football stakeholders and bring members in one of the staff offices of the Glass House, peace to the country’s game.

Like he did on Friday, Giwa addressed journalists.

He clarified that he made stormed the NFF Secretariat in attempts to wave the olive branch Abuja on Monday, accompanied

Meyiwa To Be Buried On November 1 In Durban

THE Orlando Pirates and National Team goalkeeper and captain Senzo Meyiwa will be buried in his home town Umlazi in Durban on Saturday 1 November.

On Monday, the Chairman of Orlando Pirates, Dr Irvin Khoza, was received by Premier Senzo Mchunu, his Deputy Mr. Willies Mchunu and Cabinet including the Secretary General of the ANC in KZN Mr. Sihle Zikalala, who all joined in a visit to the Meyiwa family in Umlazi.

The provincial government of KZN is finalising the status of the funeral.

When asked about the visit to the Meyiwa family yesterday, Dr Khoza said, “Senzo was like a son to me.

He came to Orlando Pirates in

Pirates Give Players Compassionate Leave

his mid-teens. It was heartwarming to see the KwaZuluNatal leadership put aside their busy diaries to join in visiting the Meyiwa family.

“I left Gauteng with the strength I received from the football family. SAFA, the PSL, its clubs and its Sponsor ABSA, were strengthened by the Minister of Sport, Mr. Fikile Mbalula, in demonstrating through actions that it could not be ‘business as usual’.”

Whereas a consideration was made to hold the funeral on Sunday to accommodate Mbulaeni Mulaudzi’s funeral that is being held on the same day in Limpopo, it is in the granting of the Meyiwa family’s wish, that the Saturday date was confirmed.

. Says Keshi ’ll Return

to Amaju Pinnick, the Fifarecognized NFF president whose election has now been quashed by the court, and other stakeholders even before the September 30 election, but he complained that his effort met stiff resistance.

He also doused tensions that Fifa was ready to slam a

ban on Nigerian football and assured that it won’t happen at the end of the day.

“Wherever there is misunderstanding, there should be room for reconciliation. Whether you like it or not, in a process like this, there will be persons who will be aggrieved and they

Chris Giwa

will be people who are pleased with it. The only way Nigerian football can move forward is for us to get ourselves together as one family,” Giwa said.

“I believe that things will normalize very soon. I won’t be part of what will jeopardize the interest of Nigerians. In a family, there are always senior and junior brothers. And by the grace of God as long as this issue is concerned, Giwa remains the elder brother.

“I don’t have any problem with any member of the football family. So if there are issues to be settled, it is not between me and Pinnick. It is for all the football family to come together and sought things out. When we begin to take things personal, the problem will still remain there,” he said.

He also disclosed that he had earlier agreed to drop his ambition in the interest of Nigerian football but gave the condition that if the election of September 30was to take place it must not be in Warri, Delta State but in a neutral place which was not harkened to.

On the recent sack of coach Stephen Keshi and the Super

2015 Afro Basket Champs Qualifiers

NBBF Appeals For NSC’s Support

THE Nigeria Basketball

appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to support the federation ahead of qualifiers for the 2015 AfroBasket Championships for both Men and Women.

Tijani Umar, President of the federation, made the appeal on Monday during the opening ceremony of the National Men’s Division Two Basketball Championship holding at the Abuja National Stadium.

Umar said the federation needed financial support in order to call players to camp

ahead of the qualifiers for the continental championships.

“We are having the qualifiers for the AfroBasket Championships for both men and women, coming up in December at Burkina Faso.

The championships are also the qualifiers for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

“Therefore, we are requesting that the NSC should please assist the federation in order to get funds available to start the national camping as soon as

possible.

“We are supposed to have started camping but financial constraint is our greatest challenge now,’’ Umar said.

Responding to his request, NSC’s Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Development (FEAD), Bolaji Ojo-Oba, who was a guest at the ceremony, said the commission would support the federation.

“My presence here is a demonstration of our support to the federation

and, at our level, we will try as much as possible to support and encourage this (NBBF) leadership.

“I have taken note of what you have said and I will report to my principals.

But I can assure you, on behalf of the commission, that we are behind you.

“We will not leave you to fight alone and I also do not want you to entertain any fears,’’ Ojo-Oba said.

The 2015 AfroBasket Championships for Men and Women will hold in Tunisia and Cameroon respectively.

Division One on offer.

Reports state that the teams are facing off in a round robin contest over five days, with the championship expected to end on Oct. 31.

The rest teams at the championship being organised by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Pearls of Benue, Hard Rockers of FCT, Gilali of Kaduna State and the

Zamfara team.

They will have three matches daily, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., till Friday when the best team would be crowned the Division Two champions.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Tijani Umar, the NBBF President, congratulated the teams for making it to the event which is making

its debut.

“Today is a great day for us, in the sense that we are realising our dream of strengthening the structure of basketball.

“We cannot have a great basketball programme without having a structure that runs from the bottom to the top.

“So, congratulations

to all of you, the federation appreciates the efforts you have put in place to be here and we wish you all the best,’’ Umar said.

The championship is the latest baby of the federation, and was designed to help in feeding the chain from the Division One League to the DSTV Premier League.

ORLANDO Pirates have reportedly granted their players compassionate leave following the death of goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.

Kick-off is reporting that coach Vladimir Vermezovic has made training non-mandatory, giving the players the option to grieve at home.

However, the technical team will be available to train those who wish to spend their time on the pitch.

With Bucs’ Soweto derby against Kaizer Chiefs postponed, the team will only be in action again next midweek when they face Platinum Stars away in an Absa Premiership clash.

Fe deration (NBBF) has

SOLID Hits of Nasarawa state on Monday beat Coal City team of Enugu state 57-51 as the National Men’s Basketball Division Two Championship got underway in Abuja.

Six teams are participating in the championship holding at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, with only one ticket to the

... 6 Teams Jostle For Lone Division One Slot

Eagles technical crew, Giwa insisted: “In our board meeting last week Thursday, we all agreed that the technical crew headed by Keshi remains in charge. So any other release coming outside that for now should not be accepted by Nigerians.

“It is not an issue of Keshi or Shaibu Amodu but the issue is that Nigeria should qualify for the next Nations Cup. All that Keshi needs now is for him to have support from us. If you are telling someone who started a process to go, I don’t think whoever you are bringing here has any role to play.

“I have spoken to Keshi and we are hopeful that by tomorrow or next, we should have him on ground,” Giwa disclosed.

Nigeria need to put aside internal wranglings if they are to defend their title at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles are third in qualifying Group A behind South Africa and Congo but ahead of Sudan. They will play Congo in Pointe Noire on November 15 before welcoming South Africa to Uyo on November 19.

No Loan Move For Dempsey

REPORTS in the British media claimed Dempsey was being targeted by Aston Villa, QPR and Stoke City to keep the American fit between the end of the 2014 MLS play-offs in December and the start of the 2015 season in March.

But Lyle Yorks told MLSsoccer.com on Sunday that Dempsey’s only priority is the Sounders’ involvement in the play-offs with Seattle aiming for their first MLS Cup title after lifting the Supporters’ Shield last week.

“The rumour that broke about Clint going on loan is completely false and inaccurate,” Yorks said.

“There have been no discussions to that effect. Clint’s immediate focus is the play-offs with Seattle.”

Dempsey has scored 15 goals and notched 10 assists in 26 games for the Sounders this season with Seattle set to take on the winner of FC Dallas versus Vancouver Whitecaps in a twolegged Western Conference semifinal starting on November 2.

Leading into the 2014 MLS season, Dempsey spent two months on loan with former club Fulham in the Premier League.

Dempsey

THE NIGERIAN

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Man City ’ve Been Superior To Utd Says season, Kolarov is adamant they Kolarov cannot afford to get complacent, Aleksandar Kolarov believes Manchester City have been better than Manchester United for the last five or six years.

The Premier League champions host their local rivals on Sunday as they look to repeat last season’s derby successes, when they won 4-1 at the Etihad Stadium and 3-0 at Old Trafford.

“It is a great game to watch or play in,” Kolarov told TalkSPORT. “I think every player in the world would like to play [in] this game. United has a great history but in the last five or six years, I think we have been superior to them.”

City have emerged victorious in six of the nine derbies since April 2011 and have won the league in two of the past three seasons, finishing 22 points ahead of United in the 2013-14 campaign.

But those are the only two occasions in the Premier League when City have finished above United in the table while, since 2008, the red half of Manchester has been able to celebrate nine derby wins and the blue half just seven.

While City were Manchester’s dominant force last

especially after United’s expensive overhaul.

New manager Louis van Gaal spent 152 million pounds on six players, breaking the British transfer record to bring in Angel Di Maria, and Kolarov expects them to improve this year,.

He added: “United is always United, a great club with a great history and if you don’t respect them a lot they are going to beat you. They change a lot of players and are in progression now.

“They have changed the manager and bought a lot of great players and I think they can do a good season in the Premier League.

“Van Gaal has a lot of experience. They have bought some great players so it is up to them to do their best.”

Kolarov has only started seven of City’s 14 games in all competitions this season as manager Manuel Pellegrini continues to alternate between the Serbian and Gael Clichy at left-back.

And he said: “On a personal level, I don’t like the rotation [policy] but it is the manager’s choice and I give 100 percent when I am playing.”

Wenger Made Me What I Am Today -Anelka Nicolas Anelka has acknowledged the positive impact Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had on his career as he prepares to return to the pitch in India.

Anelka, 35, has not played a competitive game for 10 months following his five-game ban after celebrating a goal for West Bromwich Albion with the infamous “quenelle” gesture.

The former Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea forward is expected to feature for Mumbai City FC against Chennaiyin FC in Tuesday’s Indian Super League encounter.

Anelka told The Times of India that Wenger, 65, who brought the then-18-year-old to Arsenal from Paris SaintGermain for 500,000 pounds in 1997, had set him on the path to footballing superstardom.

“I think Arsene Wenger was good for me. He signed me and made me what I am today. He gave me a chance and I took it.

Jose Mourinho

Injury Crisis Means Chelsea Are In Trouble - Mourinho With Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Ramires all on the sidelines, the former Real Madrid coach will look to his squad players as they travel to League Two Shrewsbury Town Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes his side are “in trouble” as injuries continue to mount at Stamford Bridge.

Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Ramires are among those

currently missing due to fitness issues, though the Blues have been able to maintain an unbeaten start to the season without them as they sit top of the Premier League with a four-

point lead over Southampton.

Mourinho’s side travel to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday looking to avoid a Capital One Cup giant-killing, though suspensions picked up by Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta look set to stretch their resources even further.

And the former Real Madrid boss has admitted the likes of

Sakho Sidelined For Reds With Liverpool centre-back the campaign.

Mamadou Sakho will be out for Rodgers brought in nine Injury another two weeks with a thigh players over the summer — injury, according to assistant manager Colin Pascoe.

But the Reds defender will not suffer any long-term consequences over his angry reaction to being left out of the squad for the Merseyside derby a month ago.

Sakho left Anfield for the start of the 1-1 Premier League draw against Everton on Sept. 27, having learned that he was not in the squad for the game.

He later apologised on Twitter — as well as to manager Brendan Rodgers — and although he has not played since, that is because of injury rather than for disciplinary reasons.

The 24-year-old will not feature when Liverpool host Swansea in the Capital One Cup fourth round on Tuesday, because he is still not fit.

But Pascoe says there will be no problem bringing in back in when he is ready.

He said: “Mamadou’s progressing well. He was unfortunate, in that he came back in and then picked up a similar injury.

“It will be another couple of weeks for Mamadou, and then we hope he’ll be ready. As soon as he’s fit and raring to go, he’s available.”

Pascoe, meanwhile, insists that striker Mario Balotelli is proving his will to win on the training ground despite a difficult start to his Liverpool career.

The Italy international has scored once in 11 games since his 16 million-pound move from AC Milan in August, and was frustrated again as Liverpool were held 0-0 at home by Hull City in the Premier League on Saturday.

Pascoe said: “Mario is a great talent and he’s someone who always works hard on the training field. His hunger is there. He wants to win.

“After every training session, he wants to do shooting, passing and work on his game — and we hope that the coaches here can help him with that.”

Pascoe is confident that Liverpool’s influx of summer signings will jell together given time, despite an uncertain start to

although only eight are in his squad this season because Belgium forward Divock Origi was loaned back to French Ligue 1 club Lille for the season.

The new-look Reds have won four out of their first nine Premier League games — keeping two clean sheets — and sit seventh in the table.

“We have had a lot of new players coming in, and it takes time to jell together,” Pascoe said.

“But they’ll be fine.”

Andre Schurrle, Mohamed Salah and John Obi Mikel will be handed starts against the League Two side after missing out against Manchester United on

Sunday.

“We are in trouble because we have so many injured players,” he told reporters.

“The players who didn’t play at Manchester United - Schurrle, Salah, [Kurt] Zouma, [Nathan] Ake and Mikel - are obviously going to play.”

Villa’s Woes Deeper Than The Cutting Edge Aston Villa have gone nearly six matches without scoring.

They have failed to find the back of the net in 531 minutes, discounting injury time, to be precise. That’s nearly eight hours.

The last time they found the back of the net was nine minutes into their surprise 1-0 win at Liverpool in mid-September.

Since then they have lost 3-0 to Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton, and 2-0 to Manchester City and now QPR. It is the worst goalless streak in the club’s history, and leaves them in a precarious position just two points above the relegation zone.

The season had started so

well – having kept on to Christian Benteke in the summer, Paul Lambert’s side managed 10 points in their first four matches.

They were unbeaten, difficult to play against and able to claim the scalp of last term’s runners-up.

So where did it all go wrong?

Well the run of games didn’t help.

Beating Liverpool may have given them a false sense of confidence – Brendan Rodgers’ side are having a muchpublicised comedown following last season’s near miss. And following that victory, matches against Arsenal, Chelsea and City were always going to be a hiding to nothing.

After him, I think Kevin Keegan was good. He was a striker, so he understood me well enough.

Then I have to make a mention of Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.

He is clever, won everything as player and manager and brings the best out of players. When he speaks, he makes you feel good and, for me, he was special to work with.”

After missing his team’s first three league matches, Anelka will have only a limited time to shine for his new club, which is coached by former Sunderland boss Peter Reid.

The ISL season ends in December, leaving Anelka free to take his pick of the offers that are likely to come his way during the January transfer window. He suggested, however, he has no firm plans for 2015.

“I have no idea what I am doing next,” he said. “I left Chelsea after almost 15 years of professional football and I wanted to be more relaxed in my career. There is a lot of travelling, pressure and stress (in professional football) and that’s one reason I decided to go to China.

“Even coming to India was not planned. Something cropped up and I accepted it. May be, I will continue playing but I will see the opportunities and then choose.”

Some clubs may be put off

by Anelka’s reputation. He received an 18-game international ban following incidents at the 2010 World Cup, which effectively ended his France career, while the “quenelle” incident did little to improve his public image.

“I do not need to show who I am to the people who do not know me,” an unrepentant Anelka explained. “I am shy, quiet and like spending time with my family. I want to keep my personal life private.

“The press do not understand that and they want me to be someone else, which I can’t be. You cannot force me.

That’s why they write what they do and I understand it’s part of the job. My family and friends know the kind of person I am and that’s important to me.”

Redknapp Salutes Sandro After QPR Win Brazil international Sandro was picked out for special praise by manager Harry Redknapp after Queens Park Rangers leapfrogged Burnley at the foot of the Premier League table.

The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, who also worked with Redknapp at White Hart Lane for a spell, has struggled to gain full fitness since moving from north to west London on September 1.

“That’s the first 90 minutes

Sandro has played. That performance tonight is what I expect of him,” the Rangers boss said after Charlie Austin’s double secured a 2-0 home win over Aston Villa.

“That’s why I signed him.

You can see the difference he makes and Karl Henry alongside him was fantastic.”

The victory lifted QPR above Burnley to second from bottom and came at the right time for Redknapp who has come under

increasing pressure following his team’s poor start to the season.

“All I’ve asked of the lads is to work, work and work and tonight we did that,” said Redknapp.

“We worked so hard, with and without the ball. That’s what we’ve got to do in each and every game now because if we do that we’ll have a chance.”

Rival manager Paul Lambert described the goals Villa

conceded as “shocking”.

“QPR scored with their first shot on goal,” said Lambert after the visitors plunged to their fifth straight defeat. “It was poor defending from us ... the ball travelled 60 yards and I don’t think that should have happened.

“The second goal was really poor too. To lose those two goals, that’s the thing that’s probably given me the most disappointment.”

THE NIGERIAN

CMYK

32

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Need For Rotation, Equity, Fairness In Edo North AS the nation gradually marches towards the year 2015, the year that is likely to determine our continuous existence as one united political entity, all manner of persons have been indicating their interest to represent their people at different levels of government. As expected, a good number of these persons are mere jokers given their political, social cum economic background who only want to make noise either to be noticed or to be settled. Deep down their hearts, they know that they are going nowhere.

So, they are nothing but pretenders who have their posters displayed scantily to create a false impression of one seeking elected political office. Nothing concrete on paper or what one may call a political blueprint to implement on getting to office in the interest of the people. They are only waiting to be called for settlement.

When that happens, they are quick to put on the table a bogus bill of money claimed to have been spent “mobilising and campaigning”. Indeed, when a meeting of aspirant is called, they are the first to take seat, dominate discussions and end up confusing the electorate as to their real intention.

These political wash wash are usually loud mouthed with acerbic tongues. They are quick to run down their opponents, calling them names and alleging all sorts of things, real and imaginary. At the slightest provocation, they incite their followers, ready to unleash mayhem. Yes, this is simply because they have little or nothing at stake. This is the more reason why Nigerians must shine their eyes this time around to enable them separate the wheat from the chaff.

This brings me to the those who have lined up, begging to represent the good people of Edo North in the Senate, come 2015.

The senatorial district comprises six local governments, three in Etsako, two from Owan and ofcourse, Akoko Edo. This is how they stand in terms of voting population in descending order: Etsako West, Akoko-edo, Owan East, Etsako East, Owan West and Etsako Central. So far, two

prominent sons of the zone on the platform of the APC have thrown their hats in the ring, threatening the second term bid of the incumbent, Senator Domingo Obende from Akoko edo, the first senator from the local government in the current republic.

Although Obende is a candidate from one of the heavily populated council areas in the zone, he has been accused severally of playing monkey game with the people since 2011 when he got to the Red Chamber. He has distanced himself from them by consistently making himself unavailable at major political and socio-cultural events in Etsako and Owan.

Even the Akoko-Edo where he comes from, it’s complaints galore from the people.

The honourable member who represents Akoko-edo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Peter Apkatasin and a number of political leaders/ elders are said not to be too happy with him. Other “sins” held against him are that his constituency projects are tilted towards one side and where they are located, they are nothing but abandoned projects.

Unlike his colleagues in the Green Chamber, it is alleged that Obende cannot boast of any meaningful project completed and commissioned by him in his three and a half years in the National Assembly. For instance, he is said to have merely donated electricity transformers to some communities and asked them to do installation themselves even though it cost more to install transformers than to purchase. Of course, these abandoned transformers have been gathering dust in these communities. This is nothing but monkey business! A leader in one of these communities who says he is disappointed in the Senator aptly tagged it “Greek gift from Obende”. In view of all these, the second term bid of Obende may pose an uphill task despite his deep pocket because he is a hard sell for his marketers, particularly as he appears to have a Herculean opponents in two of the major aspirants, Professor Julius Ihonvbere and Chief Francis Alimikhena.

Prof Julius Ihonvbere from Owan West local government is a major threat to Obende’s return bid to the

senate. An academician of international repute who has served in various capacities at the national and international levels, Ihonvbere has twice tried to occupy the government house in Osadebey Avenue, in Benin on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. On both occasions, he

with the people on regular basis. He is not giving anything to chance.

His point men who are on ground in virtually all the wards across the local governments have also been doing the talking for him. If he eventually gets the nod, he will be the second person from Owan axis to represent

Barr. Anselm Ojezua, Edo State APC Chairman.

was played out by the party cabal. It was on this basis that he dumped the party and pitched camp with the All Progressive Congress, APC. An amiable gentleman, down to heart, Ihonvbere is loved by all in the government circle and by his people. Beyond being the Secretary to the Edo State Government with an office as the clearing house for all memo and files in the government house, Benin, Ihonvbere is loved by all who come in contact with him.

The pro-democracy cum students union activist is likely to use his good will to garner most of the votes that will come from the delegates who are political office holders, especially given the fact that the party is likely to make top government functionaries automatic delegates. Despite his busy schedule, Prof has been able to make out time to crisscross the entire six local governments that make the zone to meet with political leaders/elders and interact

the North in the senate in this political dispensation. The first was Senator Yisa Braimoh, 2007 to 2011, (one tenure) The man who may likely upturn all permutations and emerge the dark horse in the race to the senate in Edo North is Chief Francis Alimikhena. The retired army major who is also an Abujabased legal practitioner cum accountant is a high chief of

T

his Wednesday With

Ebomhiana Musa Weppa Wano, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state. He is one man who is untainted politically and loved by his people for his philanthropic disposition towards the needy. The Ohaso of Weppa Wano is said to have single handedly built a catholic church in his Igiode community, believed to be the biggest in Etsako. At a recent event in Fugar, Etsako Central local government headquarters, Alimihkena was said to have issued a cheque for 500, 000 naira towards the building of St Gabriel Catholic Church.

Aside this, the multi millionaire and Knight of St Gregory is said to have builtt a number of mosques for Muslims in Afemailand. His kind gesture is said to have been extended to indigent students from the Afemailand with his scholarship scheme which has been running for close to a decade.

Unlike the incubent senator, Alimikhene is said to have bought and installed the giant electricity transformer serving Igiode and the neighbouring communities in Agenebode. He had to dump the PDP for the then ACN for what he perceived as injustice meted out to him by leaders of the party. The man who retired voluntarily from the army as a major was a major player during the second term campaign of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. In fact, he was said to have promised a donation of 200, 000 Naira to any ward in his local government that delivered 100 percent votes to Oshiomhole during the election. Indeed, the soft spoken easy going accountant was said to have redeemed his promise in respect of two wards, Uzano and Ukpeko who delivered.

That is integrity on display.

Aside his philanthtopic disposition, his integritty, honour and gentle mien are said to have endeared him to the people. Alimikhena is said to have been moving quietly across the senatorial zone meeting with party leaders and elders. His numerous foot soldiers are also said to have penetrated the wards in the six local governments.

The odds are heavily in his favour, especially if the party leaders in the zone have the courage to stand by the unwritten zoning arrangement for the sake of equity and fairness. Most people strongly believe it is the turn of the Etsako to produce a senator for the zone. Victor Oyofo (Etsako) had it from 1999 to 2007.

Yisa Braimoh( Owan) from 2007 to 2011. Domingo Obende(Akoko-Edo) 2011 to date. So, effectively, the circle is complete and by the rotational arrangement, the slot should naturally come to Etsako this time around, except the leaders are up to some selfish and dangerous game which may not be in the interest of the APC. This is the more reason why the opposition PDP in the state is likely to give its slot to Hon Paschal Ugbome, a legal practioner, former local government chairman and former member of the state house of assembly. He is from Etsako Central council.

APC has to watch it because protest votes from aggrieved people is more dangerous and injurious to a political party than decampment. The Etsako sentiment may also come to play, because, they are likely to say they have been robbed of what is due to them if the ticket is denied their son.

TOMORROW ON THIS PAGE

are we going to live “withForthehowtypelongof theatricals currently playing out at the Glass House? Up to July 2014, Alhaji Maigari glued himself to the Glass House as NFF President, even long after his tenure had expired.

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