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News

Horror: When assassins beheaded man, 37, in Yelwa >>Page 3

News

Father of 14-yearold student killed in police custody demands >>Page 27 justice

PDP vs APC: As the wild cat fight rages ...

Cover

>>Pages 7,8,9

weekend.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . Putti ng the p e o p l e fi rs t Vol. 3 No. 76

SATURDAY — SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1-2, 2014

RABI’UTH THANI 2-3, 1435 AH

Associates urge Atiku to dump PDP

N150

>>Page 6

No sign Nigeria’ll break up soon, says US Ambassador >>Page 5

L-R: President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark, Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Muhammad, during Mark’s visit/commissioning of Ministry of Lands, Housing, Urban Development and Regional Planning on Thursday in Jigawa.

News

Special Report

News

Mu’azu, PDP chair, in Gunmen wipe out How FG’s cyber law will imprison closed door meeting family of eight in Nigerians >>Page 6 with IBB, Aliyu >>Page 6 >>Pages 4,5 >>Page 11 >>Page 6 Kaura, Kaduna

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 2

Interview

PDP crisis instigated by outsiders —Senator Sodangi

Three times senator from Nasarawa State, Abubakar Sodangi , is making efforts to return to the upper chamber of National Assembly come 2015. An excerpt of the interview he granted recently to Associate Editor (News) Gabriel Agbonika, on the crisis in PDP and other national issues is presented here to our readers.

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our recent public outings within your constituency are being interpreted by many people as a preparation to contest the 2015 election.

Do you share this opinion?

I have been around and I am back. In politics, yes, I stepped aside but I am back to continue the journey we started since 1999 when I joined the Senate as a representative of Nasarawa North East. I was privileged to have been elected and served three consecutive period, you can therefore call me a ranking Senator because I was there between 1999 and 2011 on the platform of PDP. In 2011 I attempted to come back to the Senate, however by the divine will of God I was shortchanged or call it robbed off my primary victory but I have left everything in the hand of God and wished I wished good luck to the person who was seen to have won.

This is because once you are in it, you don’t see yourself as having surrender surrendered even when you seems to have lost the game. I have been involved for a long time right from secondary school to university where I was involved in active student unionism and other associations such as NBA. Once you are able to represent your people you automatically become a leader and at the age of sixty I am no longer a small person in this game of politics since I am only forty years younger than the 1914 amalgamation of this country. I am very active and loyal to my people and party (PDP) right from the ward to the national level which I am a foundation member.

I left a very good legacy for my people through the provision of various projects, amenities and welfare and development.

As a strong member of PDP are you not worried about the dwindling fortunes of the party which many people believe has been brought about by the crisis in PDP and the ambition of Dr Goodluck Jonathan to recontest in 2015?

Yes I understand the feelings of many people over the crisis in the party. Crisis within politics is a combination of so many factors, including protection of personal interest and collective interest such as community and society.

What makes one different person from others is the interest for preserving those political values.

Going by the crisis in the party which you zeroed to PDP, the

crisis is bound to happen.

Some problems are manmade while some are naturally brought but there have to be solved. I agreed that the crisis in PDP comes from within and has its root from personal interest of individuals within the party. For example some people come into politics to acquire leadership in the party either at the local, state or federal level, and they try as much as possible to protect and preserve those interest for themselves or the party or even for some few individuals. Some go for elective offices for their personal interest, society or those that elected them.

But I must emphasize that in most time, the go into politics for their personal interest.

When we started in 1998 it was like a bush fire in which almost everybody embraced the party right from the local governments in the 36 states and federal capital Abuja. That accounted for the over whelming support and elected members we have in most states of the country including Abuja.

But as time went on people started developing and protecting their personal interest instead of party interest. A lot of gimmicks started coming into PDP as a party because of personal interest. State governors and legislators were more preoccupied with how to continue in office than the norms of the party. A lot of people started deviating from the manifestoes of the party and pursuing their personal agenda different form that of the communities they represent. I want to submit here that many of the elected members did their best in the various positions they found themselves.

That is why the party grew larger in the country between 1999 and 2007. It will be unfair therefore to say that PDP has not done things for this country. The party has done much and it is still doing in areas of infrastructural facilities, job creation, health and educational sectors as well as many others.

Let me say here too that the crisis in APC is also being instigated from outside the party.

Those who are afraid of the party retaining power in 2015 started throwing stones at us and instigating our members to openly revolt against our leadership.

I do not want to call it a conspiracy because in politics conspiracy is allowed in order to get what you want. But what I always advocate is that people must follow the rules of politics.

Some of our leaders conspired

Sen. Abubakar Sodangi among themselves to challenge president Jonathan and bring one of them from the North and paired him with one from the South for the 2015 election. If they have limited their struggle to that

“

demand it would have been ok.

But they went to the extreme when they decided to wash their dirty linen in the open by revolting openly at the convention venue in the presence of our invited

Let me say here too that the crisis in APC is also being instigated from outside the party. Those who are afraid of the party retaining power in 2015 started throwing stones at us and instigating our members to openly revolt against our leadership.

diplomats guests. And they did not apply sensibility to what they were doing by the way and manner of approach to the whole issues. To me it would have been better for them to finish the convention then go to the National Chairman or the President to table their grievances against the party. Evidently we have organs of the party that would always address some of these issues, such as NWC, BOT, NEC and even the caucus of the party.

All said and done the whole thing is about political permutation of who gets what, or what do we get if we remain where

Contd on Page 47

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 3

Hum an An gl e

When assassins beheaded 37 year-old man in Yelwa From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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he family of Inusa Abdullahi of Yelwa town in Shendam local government area of Plateau state will of course continue to remember the sudden departure of Inusa Abdullahi.

He was not only as the bread winner of the family but the way and manner in which he was killed by suspected assailants from Rawaya village of the Shendam LGA. Abdullahi, 37, who was prior his death a small scale farmer, met with his painful death on Monday last week in his effort to carry out his primary responsibility as a father.

Peoples Daily weekend learnt that the deceased left home (Yelwa town) for Rawaya at about 12km from Yelwa in search of firewood for his domestic use but unfortunately for him, he met with attackers who mercilessly hacked him down while fetching wood in his farm. Before he left home, he didn’t know that that morning was his last encounter with his family.

Checks revealed that the body of the deceased after hours of searching was found in his farm beheaded, butchered and both eyes removed.

Parts of his body sustained wore machete cuts. Sympathizers in Yelwa were astounded as what kind of offence Inusa could have committed to warrant such inhuman treatment.

When contacted on the incident, the Special Task Force (STF) spokesman, Captain Salisu Mustafa, said he had not received any report on the killing of the deceased. But the Plateau State Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Police, ASP Dominic Esin, confirmed the incident. Also, the Chairman of Yelwa Peace Vigilante Group, Yusuf Suleiman confirmed the killing of Abdullahi. When asked what was the cause of the incident, Suleiman narrated that, “on Saturday morning, a group of people from Rawaya came to Yelwa allegedly looking for their stolen motorcycle. We told them the thief was not from Yelwa. Two days later, one person was reported missing.

“Following the report, we went round searching for the missing person together with

soldiers and Yelwa vigilantes and suddenly found him beheaded, butchered and two eyes removed, he added.

Aisha Inusa is the wife of the deceased. When asked how the news of the death came to her, said, “The very day he left home, that was on Monday last week and did not return up to evening time. My mind started telling me that something was wrong. I began to think what had happened to him.

“All of a sudden, the following day, in the afternoon, news of the death came to me. I started shivering, thinking whether the news was true or false until the remain of my husband arrived house. I then gave up that husband is no longer with us.

Continue she said, “I pray Allah to show mercy on him.

But his eight children and myself would never forgive the perpetrators of my husband’s killing. If there is anything government can do to ensure justice in the case, I would be very happy so that the punishment would serve as a warning to others”. n another narration, Isyaku Abdullahi who is a younger brother to the deceased said, “normally my brother did go to farm at 9:00am and retuned at 3:00pm at most.

That very Monday he stayed more than his usual time at the farm. The following morning too, we did not see him. We then decide to go to the farm to search for him and luckily enough on getting to the farm together with three soldiers and vigilantes, we saw him beheaded, covered with his cloth and dry grasses. But his motorcycle was taken way by the assailants.

“Afterward, we took the corpse to the Police divisional Headquarter of Shendam local government area of the state and showed it to the DPO of the station. Thereafter, we returned the corpse back to Yelwa and buried him same day”, Isyaku added.

When contacted on the telephone, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Shendam whom have been taken the corpse to see, said, “I am not in the best position to tell you anything about the incident. Contact the state PPRO on that”.

Investigation by our correspondent reveal that, the merciless killing of Abdullahi had generated tension in Yelwa in

I

The late Inusa Abdullahi

“

Following the report, we went round searching for the missing person together with soldiers and Yelwa vigilantes and suddenly found him beheaded, butchered and two eyes removed, he added.

that if not for God’s sake, the healing wounds of the 2014 crisis would have been scratched.

The Chairman of the PYVG therefore called on the government to do everything possible to prevent further occurrence of such secret killing that could lead to bloodbath in the area, adding that such killing was the genesis of the 2004 genocide in Yelwa.

“This was how the 2004 crisis started. Many people were killed secretly in different places and subsequently the Yelwa crisis in 2004”, the chairman said.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 4

Special Report

How FG cyber law will imprison Nigerians

President Goodluck Jonathan

By Evelyn Okakwu

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ne of the fundamental rights of every Nigerian is the right to freedom of expression which the democracy of any society including Nigeria thrives on. The right of the people to disseminate information freely and without fear or intimidation of any sort is directly proportional to the growth of democracy in any country.

A couple of days back, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, proposed a bill that is aimed at ensuring death Penalties for people involved in cyber-crimes. The bill has constituted a source of concern to most Nigerians who worry about the effect this Bill could have on their freedom of information.

The aim of the bill, according to reports, is to check terrorism and bring about the apprehension of people found culpable by the law.

The bill which seeks a death sentence on persons found guilty of hacking into the Criti-

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku cal National Information Infrastructure or computer networks resulting in the loss of lives is intended to help reduce the rate of terrorist interaction in the country.

While many consider this faulty step by the administration of President GoodLuck Jonathan to combat terrorism, others see it as a move which might have some negative effect on the rights of the people to disseminate information.

The mere thought of the fact that the bill seeks to identify hackers of critical information leaves some questions unanswered: how will these people be found and apprehended, what are the measures, to ensure that the process of apprehending these people does not result in the infringement of the peoples fundamental rights to information dissemination and access to same? How will this bill protect the innocent or what are the steps to ensure that the bill does not have any negative effect on the fundamental right of the people to express themselves

freely? arrister Sunday Godwin Ogabaji, in a telephone conversation with Peoples Daily Weekend attempts to provide credible answers to the questions. “Well although no constitution in Nigeria says that the people’s calls or telephone conversation, or any similar conversation should be monitored; section 33-46 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, clearly states the fundamental rights of the people of Nigeria. One of these

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Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson

rights is the right to freedom of expression.

A notable information about this section of the constitution is that it is the only section that cannot be amended except with a 4/5th majority of the members of the house accepting that it should be amended.

That is as against the other sections that can be amended with a 2/3 majority. The bill in itself is intended for something good and as such the effort of the president should be commended, but the bill must not

in any way infringe on the rights of the people. Any law that infringes on rights of the people to express themselves will in effect be termed null and void so the bill should be properly analysed.

The stakeholders should be very careful to ensure that the law does not in any way affect the rights of the people to express themselves. eople who are poor and vulnerable should be protected from anything that can be harmful to their fundamental rights.

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Well although no constitution in Nigeria says that the people’s calls or telephone conversation, or any similar conversation should be monitored; section 33-46 of the 1999 constitution, as amended, clearly states the fundamental rights of the people of Nigeria. One of these rights is the right to freedom of expression.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

News

Why Nigeria Won’t Break up in 2015, by US

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he United States of America has dispelled speculations that Nigeria may break up soon, saying that such worries are unnecessary.

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, said at an interactive session with some newsmen in Lagos that contrary to such misconceptions, the US has no interest in the break up of Nigeria.

He said: “I don’t see any sign of a breakup. There is no sign that Nigeria will breakup. If this country is going to breakup in 2015, to me, I don’t see any sign of it. You have challenges in this country, but you are moving forward towards a bright future. There is no issue that the country might break up.

“Yes, your country had a devastating civil war just like my own country. It almost tore us into two.

Entwistle, who assumed duty in Nigeria last November, said Nigeria parades array of talents and extraordinary creativity that will continue to make the country an important place in Africa.

“In three months that I have been here, my overwhelming impression is how smart and intelligent that Nigerians are. After three months, I am very impressed by the creative spirit of Nigerians as they face challenges.

It is clear there are huge challenges ahead, but we are committed to help Nigeria.

“Every conversation I have on any subject, (I am just coming from a roundtable discussion on the power sector here), I have really been impressed by the energy and the drive and I get this sense that Nigerian people are saying: ‘yes, we have challenges; things we have to deal with but we can do this. This is our country. We will get this done.’ He also called on the federal government to strengthen its coordination efforts with international organisations and neighbouring countries to stop Boko Haram insurgency.

“Whether it is fighting terror or the war on drugs or any of these international problems that cut across borders, no one nation can do it by itself. To really get at Boko Haram, your government needs to continue working with Cameroun and Chad because these guys cross the borders.

These are guys for whom international borders are largely meaningless. The only way to deal with these guys is to collaborate with your neigbours and relevant international organisations.

He reiterated his country’s commitment to a review of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for inclusion of Nigeria’s value-added products for export into American market against the current Generalised System of Preference (GSP) provisions that allow just oil as export commodity from Nigeria into America.

“We will continue to review AGOA. We will like to see other sectors of your economy to begin to take advantage of AGOA,” he said.

On the recent law which bans same-sex unions in the country, Entwistle said gay issue was a controversial one all over the world and that it was up to Nigeria to define marriage is.

He, however, expressed worry about certain clause in the law that places restrictions on freedom of assembly.

“As a friend of Nigeria, we are worried that the new law puts restrictions on freedom of assembly or association. When you start limiting freedom, it is worrisome,” he said.

PAGE 5

GE to invest $350m in Nigeria power sector – Minister

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eneral Electric has signed a deal with a Nigerian bank to invest $350 million in Nigeria's ailing power sector, the country's trade and investment minister said on Friday.

Olusegun Aganga said the deal between the US conglomerate and Stanbic Bank would finance small-scale projects to generate much-needed electricity.

"They are making available the sum of $350 million for the generation of mini-power projects because that is going to be

quicker to do and will help the economic activities in the country," he added.

The scaled-down facilities will produce between one and 20 megawatts of electricity.

Aganga said GE would also bring 10 of its suppliers to partner Nigerian companies to help develop power capacity and transfer of technology.

"The whole idea is for them to become part of their supply chain in (the) assemblage of turbines," he told reporters.

GE signed a memorandum of understanding in 2012 to invest $1 billion mainly in Nigeria's turbine sector.

Multiple power blackouts are a daily occurrence in Africa's most populous nation, despite its status as the continent's top oil producer.

Last November, the government formally scrapped its inefficient and graft-ridden power firm, handing its assets to private investors to try to improve supplies.

Polio vaccination: Kano state orders arrest of Indian, Lebanese nationals

Grandaunts of basic counter terrorism course for soldiers of the 70th regular intake, demonstrating during the ceremony on Friday in Jaji, Kaduna state.

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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Photo: Mahmud Isa

Confab: NBA rejects allocation of only one delegate

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resident of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), has written to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, in protest of the allocation of only one delegate to the body in the forthcoming National Conference.

Wali said on Friday that the NBA “will not be able to accept” the one slot offered to it, and urged the SGF to reconsider the development.

The letter, dated January 31, 2014, was captioned, “Re: Nomination of Nigerian Bar Association to the National Conference: A Letter of Protest.”

“We do not believe that the single slot given to the Nigerian Bar Association will be impactive enough, and so, we request that you, please, reconsider the one slot offer to the Nigerian Bar Association, as we regrettably will be unable to accept that offer,” the NBA president said in the letter.

Wali explained that the NBA was disappointed with the allocation of delegates.

“The Nigerian Bar Association received with utmost disappointment the statement credited to you on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, requesting the Nigerian Bar Association to nominate

Nigeria has retained ownership of the national grid, but has privatised its management.

It is hoped that taking distribution, generation and transmission into the private sector will lead to steady supplies and reduce the reliance of homes and businesses on polluting diesel or petrol generators.

Nigeria has been courting foreign investors in recent years to keep the lights on. Deals have been signed with French, Chinese and South Korean firms.

one delegate to the upcoming National Conference.

“We write to place on record our dissatisfaction with the list of conference delegates, particularly, when put against representations from some other organizations and bodies,” the NBA president told the SGF. The NBA was especially miffed that only one slot was allocated to it while other bodies received more allocations, such as elder statesmen – 37 delegates; retired military and security personnel – 18 delegates; traditional rulers – 13 delegates; retired civil servants – six delegates; and Nigeria Labour Congress – 12 delegates.

Arguing that the NBA deserved more delegates, Wali explained that the body was made up all lawyers in the country with 104 branches across the 36 states and Abuja, and speaks for the legal profession, comprising the Bar and Bench.

Wali stressed that the NBA was at the vanguard of calls for a national conference in the country.

“Over the years, a National Conference of this nature has been one of the imperatives that define the priorities of the Nigerian Bar Association.

“In fact, it was a past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the

Late Alao-Aka Bashorun, that first called for a National Conference and since then, the Nigerian Bar Association has been in the forefront of the National Conference discourse,” he said.

He added that, in line with its commitment to the national conference, the NBA had on January 7, 2014, set up a committee to outline its contributions to the national conference.

Wali urged the SGF to review the development by allocating more delegates to the NBA. Wali said, “In view of the fact that so many legal issues will be addressed at the National Conference, it is only fitting and proper for the umbrella association of all lawyers in Nigeria, the Nigerian Bar Association, to have more than one delegate at the National conference.

“This is an area we are supposed to possess enormous expertise and will definitely add a lot of value to the process.

“We do not want to think that our expertise is neither appreciated nor welcome.

“We hold it in your favour, that this may very well be an oversight, and that the Federal government will have no difficulty in revisiting the issue.”

ano State government in its effort to addressed the re-occurrence of polio cases in the state, has ordered the arrest of Indian and Lebanese nationals who refuse to allow the polio vaccine to be administered on their children.

The directives of the arrest order by the state government came 24 hours after a new polio case was uncovered in Kura Local Government Area of the state.

According to a statement signed by Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu, the Director of Press to the state Deputy Governor, Dr. Umar Ganduje a copy made available on Friday to reporters, said the state is determined to ensure nothing hinder the state on ensuring that children were immunized.

It added that the deputy governor is worried over the attitude of the expatriates and warned that no one will be allowed to hinder government’s efforts in eradicating the disease from the state.

According to the directive, Dr. Ganduje said the security agents have already moved to arrest any foreign national that was found to be resisting the polio vaccine.

The statement disclosed that Ganduje, who is the chairman of Kano State Task Force on Polio Eradication, accompanied polio vaccinators to many households in the area, where most of the foreigners refused to allow their children to be immunized.

In another development, the Director of Public Health, Kano state Ministry of Health, Dr. Muhd Nasir Mahmud confirmed of the new polio case in Kura Local Government Area of the state this to a delegation of Journalist Against Polio at the key stakeholders meeting held in Kano to wrap up this round of the routine immunization exercise.

Dr. Mahmud said the new case was discovered during the December round immunization exercise, attributing the discovery to non compliance on the part of the parent of the victim.

He therefore urged the parents and guardians to always accept polio vaccine for their under five children for properly immunization to compliment the stakeholders effort in eradicating polio in their domain and the nation at large before the end of this year.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 6

News Gunmen wipe out family of eight in Kaura, Kaduna

From Muhammad Ibrahim, Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he communal clashes in the Southern Kaduna area took another dimension yesterday when gunmen attacked a family of eight in Kaura killing but all.

Sources said that armed men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen stormed Machok town and killed the said family of eight before disappearing.

It was gathered that the attack provoked the youth of Machok town, who mobilized and attacked a Fulani settlement close to the town.

Armed security personnel stationed close by tried to bring the situation under control as all indications point to an ugly incidence that could snowball into full scale communal fight.

The gravity of the incidence forced the State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero to abandon other state duties and head straight to the scene in order to bring the situation under control.

However, an eye witness, Mrs. Bulus Baicainta who spoke to Peoples Daily Weekend said when the Governor was busy addressing the youths and elders of the communities, another attack was said to have been launched on a nearby village where several people were said to have lost their lives and it took the intervention of the military personnel and security attachĂŠd to the governor to bring the situation under control.

However, the governor who visited the scene, condemned the attack and prayed that God should expose the perpetrators, saying, "We pray that God should expose the people that are causing this problem. We pray that God should touch their hearts to stop such dastardly acts or destroy their evil machinations."

Governor Yero called on people in the community to remain calm as Government will step up strategies to improve security, especially in border communities adding that "We are going to look at ways of dealing with this situation, because this community is porous and we must find way to improve security."

The Governor observed that boundary communities especially with states that have security challenges have become vulnerable to atacks.

Yero ordered full investigation into the attack and promised to empower community surveillance by vigilante groups in areas that have become prone to attacks to compliment formal security arrangements towards forestalling reoccurrence.

The Governor pleaded with the people of Ungwan Kajit to remain calm saying "as a leader, I am not happy with such ugly situation and it is my responsibility to ensure Security and peace for the entire people of the State."

Effort to reach the police command Public Relations officer, DSP Aminu Lawan for confirmation on casualties roved abortive as his mobile phone was switched off.

Associates urge Atiku to dump PDP

By Hammeed Bello

L

oyalists and associates of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, have called on him to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and embrace the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The call came yesterday after Atiku had concluded his nationwide consultative meeting with his supporters in the North-east geo-political zone. The meeting held in Bauchi.

Atiku had resolved to consult his associates following an earlier visit on him by the leaders of the APC who urged him to join their party.

There were reports during the week that some of his loyalists in the Southern part of the country

were divided as to which party they would prefer the former Vice President to join. While some preferred he joined the APC, others opted for Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and a few preferred he remained in the PDP. But according to a statement yesterday by Atiku media office, the conclusion of the meetings in Bauchi came on a day that associates and stakeholders of the former Vice President from his own zone of North-east overwhelmingly rejected the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and rooted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a preferred political platform.

Majority of the speakers at the Zaranda Hotel, venue of the meeting, having appraised the political situation in the country supported

the former Vice President's defection to APC, the statement said.

And when the matter was put to a vote, as was done in previous meetings, the APC enjoyed 88% support as against 10% for the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and the PDP trailing in third place with only 2% of the votes, the statement said.

Atiku had in his opening remarks informed his associates and stakeholders that the consultations was prompted by the visit of the leadership of the APC and the invitation extended to him.

He expressed appreciation to his associates and stakeholders for standing by him in "victory and in defeat" over the decades according to the statement.

"You are the foot soldiers who will get the votes. You are central

in our political process and that is why I have to come and consult with you in helping me to take perhaps the most difficult decision of my political life," Atiku said.

Atiku had following the visit and invitation of the APC December last year commenced consultations at home and abroad on a possible defection to the opposition party.

But earlier in the year, he stepped up the tempo of the nationwide consultations meeting with his associates and stakeholders beginning with the North-west in Kaduna and followed by Northcentral in Abuja, South-east in Enugu, South-south in Benin, South-west in Ibadan and ending with the North-east in Bauchi yesterday.

Group condemns attack on Sambo

By Lawrence Olaoye

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L-R: National Secretary-General, Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria (RTEAN), Comrade Yusuf Adeniyi; Rtean National President, Chief Musa Shehu and Rtean Lagos State Chairman, Chief Adefowope Olorode at the presentation of vehicles to RTEAN Zonal Executive Managers on Friday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Muazu, PDP Chairman in closed door meeting with IBB, Aliyu From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna.

T

he National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu yesterday held a closed door meeting with former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida in continuation of his nationwide consultation with elders of the party.

The PDP leader also met with the Niger State governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu.

Alhaji Mu'azu who led a 15man team arrived the Minna Uphill residence of the former military leader at about 12:05pm and entered a closed door meeting which lasted till 1:05pm.

Members on the entourage of Mu'azu which included the PDP National Youth Leader, Alhaji Abdullahi Maibasera, former Speaker Gali Na'aba and the state PDP acting chairman, Barrister Tanko Beji were excused from the meeting to enable the two leaders have a confidential and private session.

After the meeting the host, General Babangida refused to talk to newsmen. The former leader bluntly told reporters that he was not prepared to talk. "I am not going to say a word. I am not talking," he told Journalists.

The PDP national chairman however said that he was in Minna as part of his reconciliatory move and in con-

tinuation of his meeting with some elders of the party since he emerged as the chairman of the ruling party.

"I am here in continuation of my visit to our elders and I had a fruitful meeting with the former President.

It was a fruitful meeting," Mu'azu offered.

He however declined to give details of the meeting. "What we discussed is not meant for public consumption. All I can say is that we had a fruitful discussion".

The convoy later left for the private residence of Niger State governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu where another round of meeting which lasted for twenty minutes took place.

he Democratic Advancement Option (DAO) has condemned the attack on the Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo by the Northern Emancipation Network (NEN).

DAO in a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Garba, said it viewed with suspicion the position of the NEN as it believed that the Network is being sponsored by those who were determined to tarnish the political profile of the Vice President and ensure that they truncate his political progress.

DAO noted with concern how a solidarity visit could be interpreted to mean an interactive session. According to the group the North West Zone meeting was a solidarity visit and was not intended to discuss with Mr. President the political situation in the North.

The Vice President did not hijack any meeting as all parties to the meeting except those who were after the VP’s job were satisfied with the outcome, DAO spokesman explained.

It stated further "NEN should have studied the political development in the North before going to press. Currently, we have Attahiru Bafarawa and Ibrahim Shekarau defecting to the PDP which is a sign of dexterity and hard work of the Vice President.

"Similarly notable political big wigs like Hussaini Dembo and five thousand others moved from the APC to the PDP and 23 out of the 28 political parties in Kaduna State all decamped to the PDP, which is a sign of the strength of the Vice President.

We therefore call on Nigerians to disregard the position of these so called pressure group that are sponsored to put a spanner in the works of hard working, loyal, patriotic Nigerians like Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, the Vice-President."

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 7

Cover

PDP Vs APC: As the wild cat fight rages

At birth, the newly registered APC had its own dose of internal crisis after adopting the disgruntled kids of its arch-rival, the PDP. This week, News Editor, Abubakar Ibrahim looks at its benefit to the PDP just when its fortune nosedived and other elements promising to shape the fight for 2015.

President Goodluck Jonathan

H

uman managers have often recognised that though laws are necessary to streamline human activities, behaviours to a large extent, affect the span of some or all regulations. Time or motive is always critical to the evolution of every man-made law. In a nutshell, action begets reaction.

This epithet surfaced in the Nigerian contemporary politics not too long ago when the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saw a very good reason to inject discipline into the party coming after its governors had enjoyed much honey of control dished out by former President Olusegun Obasanjo after the 2003 general elections.

Threatened by the political clout and influence of his vice, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar over state governors, the former president committed a “sacrilege” by gazumping party powers and naming himself Leader. He also left state party leadership to the governors to justify his own action and perhaps in anticipation of

Alh. Ahmad Mu’azu his vaunting third term scheme.

It served his purpose at the time without forecasting the troubles to come. Obasanjo did not care to know that ordinances are doubleedged swords.

Though discipline is an important sine qua non to cohesion in any body, its reapplication in the PDP ala National Party of Nigeria (NPN) of the 80s backfired principally due to timing. It came at a time when every Nigerian irrespective of political leaning, is sure of

“

President Goodluck Jonathan’s undeclared intention to run for a second term not for want of constitutional right but out of what Obasanjo described as moral flaw. Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu also alerted the nation to an agreement signed by the president to stick to a term of office. estapo-style hounding of opponents in the North and South, analysts concluded, was spearheaded by the deposed national chairman

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The PDP is equally drawing blood in an interesting political development that only the archmasters of the game can predict.

Though many seem to be writing off the Nigerian political behemoth too soon, there are indications of a comeback bid akin to a wildcat duel.

Chief Bisi Akande of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur on the supposed instruction of the Leader. The aftermath was a standoff that pushed five governors, 37 House of Representatives and 11 senators into the waiting hands of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the PDP is equally drawing blood in an interesting political development that only the arch-masters of the game can predict. Though many seem to be writing off the Nigerian political behemoth too soon, there are indications of a comeback bid akin to a wildcat duel.

On the day 11 PDP senators served a notice of their plan to leave the party, its new national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, held an urgent closed door meeting with their remaining colleagues at the official residence of the Senate President, David Mark in Abuja with governors Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Theodore Orji (Abia) and Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Idris Wada (Kogi),

Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Shehu Shema (Katsina), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna) and acting Governor Garba Umar (Taraba) as well as members of the National Working Committee, NWC in attendance.

The Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Mukhtar Shagari, and his Jigawa State counterpart were also there.

Although the agenda of the meeting was not known, it may not unconnected with the defection of the 11 senators and how to resolve the raging crisis in the party. enators Bukola Saraki, Danjuma Goje, Abdullahi Adamu, Shaba Lafiagi, Mohammed Ndume, Magnus Abe, Wilson Ake, Bindo Jubrilla, Abdullahi Gobir and Alhassan Aisha Jummai had on Wednesday during the plenary session submitted a letter signed by all of them to the Senate President, David Mark, informing him about their intention to defect to

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PDP Vs APC: As the wild cat fight rages Contd from Page 7

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PC. Five othersSaidu Alkali, Basheer Mohammed, Ahmed Zanna, Ahmed Barata and Mohammed Maccido, listed in the letter did not append their signatures.

There, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba pledged the loyalty of other senators to the new leadership of the PDP. “I pledge that in us, the PDP senate caucus, you will find very loyal party men and women. We will work with you, we will stay by you, we will partner with you to reinvent PDP,” he said.

A similar parley was held with the PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night where the House Leader, Mulikat Akande used the desperate climate to canvass automatic tickets for the party’s lawmakers in the 2015 general elections. The PDP has lost 37 of its members to the APC last December.

Mu’azu also met with 14 PDP governors on Wednesday at the party’s secretariat in Abuja where he asked them to plead with five of their colleagues, Governors Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Rabi’u Kwankwaso (Kano) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) to return from the APC. While this is happening, another interesting drama giving PDP a strong renaissance hope is the crack among contending forces in the APC especially in some swing states, creating an addition to PDP’s fortune.

The rivalry between Governor Wammakko of Sokoto and his former boss, Attahiru Bafarawa on one hand and Kano Governor Kwankwaso and his predecessor, Shekarau on the other, over control of party structures, has swelled PDP camps in those electorally critical areas.

Bafarawa and Shekarau have both defected from the APC, to the PDP calling the former an unserious organisation.

Bafarawa who led a delegation of his supporters to the National Chairman of the PDP, Ahmed

Mu’azu, said he will do everything possible to help Mu’azu succeed.

“We are going to help you, even if I am going to be a messenger, to succeed. I am ready to do everything because your success is our success..I did not join PDP because it is a ruling party, I didn’t join because I want an appointment. But I joined to build a formidable support for our country”, Bafarawa said at the National Secretariat of the PDP in Abuja on Wednesday .

However, the former governor left a caveat for Mu’azuthe easiest way to rebuild the PDP is to stick to the manifesto and constitution of the party.

“If we abide by the manifesto and the Constitution of the party we will solve all the problems of the party,” he said.

In apparent confirmation of the President’s ambition, Bafarawa asked Jonathan to visit Sokoto because “the people there want him to come and see the PDP. We don’t want any representative. He must come personally”.

Bafarawa accused the leadership of the APC of operating outside its constitution saying since its registration over six months , for not registering even a single person as a member of the party.

“As far as I’m concerned, there is no member of the APC in this country. This is because you cannot be a member of any political party without membership card. For the last six months that the party was formed up till now, nobody has a membership card”, he said.

“

Mal. Nasir el-Rufa’i APC said it will start membership registration by February 5.

In Kano, Shekarau promised to support the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

In an event that attracted hundreds of supporters who renamed Jonathan “Junaidu Garba”, Shekarau said, “today as we decamp out of the APC which we helped nurture and brought to the limelight, we understand that it is not the name of a party that matters but whom you are going to work with.”

APC, he said, was created just six months ago with a mandate to its caretaker committee to ensure elections in all structures of the party, “but to our utmost dismay today, exactly six months, there is nothing on ground to suggest that the party is serious and ready to even elect a new leadership of the party”.

On the five decampee PDP governors, he said, “because we knew they have no party platform, they now resorted to all forms of unconstitutionalities in active connivance with some of the party leadership, and we did all we could to remind them of the constitutional provisions of the party, but to no avail”.

Shekarau added: “We

Alh. Mujahid Asari Dokubo challenge these acts and we even presented a petition exactly six weeks today but no acknowledgement, no contact, not even an emissary was sent to us.

“This is the same thing with Sokoto, Adamawa, Kwara, and even Rivers states -- everywhere the PDP governors have decided to come in and join the APC, it is trouble and failure to address the petition. It is a clear indication to us that the leadership of the party has taken sides and are not prepared to address genuine grievances raised by us and the principles of democracy.”

Not yet Uhuru The visit clog so far to the Bafarawa move remains the lack of elite support as 27 members of the Sokoto State House of Assembly defected to APC about two weeks ago.

Only three members of the Assembly- Bala Musa, representing Yabo, Mustapha Hurumi representing Bodinga South and Gatau Mustapha of Isa constituency- had remained in the PDP. Despite federal might, Bafarawa will have to work hard with current Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari who

Within the week, there was a dramatic appearance of former FCT Minister, Nasiru Ahmed el-Rufai at the Directorate of State Security (DSS) offices over allegation of incitement to violence. Prior to that, his Abuja homes were stormed by operatives. A second republic legislator, Junaidu Muhammad was also arrested a few weeks ago over similar matter. The morality of the action is also leaving choice to the electorate in the battle of wits and brawns between the two major gladiators.

remains in the PDP. In 2003, cracks between Bafarawa and Wamakko began towards the end of their second term in office climaxing in the resignation of Wamakko on March 15, 2006.

The former deputy governor went on to contest the 2007 governorship election on the platform of PDP defeating the candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Alhaji Maigari Dingyari where his former boss pitched his tent following his exit from the ANPP. Dingyadi was the Secretary to the Sokoto State government during Bafarawa’s tenure.

Since Wammakko succeeded Bafarawa as governor on May 29, 2007, there has been no let up in the war of attrition between them.

Several reasons led to the feud between the duo, but most paramount was the ambition of Wamakko to succeed his boss.

For that, Wamakko is said to have suffered several humiliations in the hands of his boss ranging from the withdrawal of his office subvention, entitlements and vehicles. There was also an alleged sponsored move to impeach him from office. It did not take long for Bafarawa to start sidelining him in the running of government. For instance, whenever the former governor travelled out then, he handed over affairs to Secretary to the State government, Dingyadi instead of his deputy.

In Kano, despite Shekarau’s defection to the PDP, 11 members of the Kano APC caucus in the House of Representatives (who were members of the defunct ANPP and CPC) have ceased loyalty to the former governor, staying put in the APC. The nine former ANPP and Contd on Page 9

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

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Cover PDP Vs APC: As the wild cat fight rages Contd from Page 8 two former CPC lawmakers have withdrawn their support for Shekarau who was their leader in the ANPP. Hon. Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu (APC, Kano), deputy leader of the opposition in the House, who spoke on behalf of the other 10 lawmakers Wednesday, said: “We wish to make it categorically clear today that we are not leaving the APC for any political party.

We have sacrificed a lot and have come a long way in the struggle to emancipate our people from the bondage of PDP misrule.

The captains in Kano’s political boat, Kwankwaso and Shekarau have always preferred separate ships with different crews. The rivalry had its root during the build up to the 2003 elections and the reintroduction of the Shari’a legal system in the state. Shekarau was then a Permanent Secretary and was said to be attending meetings. While Shekarau said at the time that the meetings were mostly on the reintroduction of the Shari’a, Kwankwaso insisted that they were political and moved to stop it. But Shekarau insisted in attending the meetings on the premise that he has the right as a Muslim to do so. This led to his removal from the position of Permanent Secretary and redeployment to one of the state’s schools as a teacher.

That action by Kwankwaso, according to findings, brought Shekarau to limelight as Kano residents expressed sympathy with him over what they saw as victimization for attending Shari’a meetings majority of Kano residents were in dire need of at the time.

Subsequently, Shekarau retired from civil service and immediately decided to contest the 2003 gubernatorial election under the platform of the ANPP. In another development, activities of security men are also adding up to political perceptions as the clock ticks.

Within the week, there was a dramatic appearance of former FCT Minister, Nasiru Ahmed el-Rufai at the Directorate of State Security (DSS) offices over allegation of incitement to violence. Prior to that, his Abuja homes were stormed by operatives. A second republic legislator, Junaidu Muhammad was also arrested a few weeks ago over similar matter. The morality of the action is also leaving choice to the electorate in the battle of wits and brawns between the two major gladiators.

Whatever professional assessment of the threat posed by

comments of the two politicians, the non-arrest of former Anambra State governor, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Niger Delta warlord, Mujaheed AsariDokubo for more abrasive threats to the existence of the country over Jonathan adds up to the heated polity.

In the late hours of Monday in Adamawa State, soldiers were also reported to have removed APC posters and replaced them with those of the ruling PDP. The Interim National Vice Chairman of the APC for the North East Zone, Umar Duhu, accused soldiers of the 23rd Armoured brigade of carrying out the action ahead of the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state on Tuesday.

Duhu said prior to the event, the party had put up posters, billboards and fliers across all strategic locations in Yola, the Adamawa capital.

“However, later in the night; immediately after the curfew period has set in, we visibly saw military men with their guns hanging on their necks, busy removing our posters and replacing them with that of the PDP and President Jonathan 2015,” Duhu said.

For now, realignments have begun to redefine the political landscape by geo-political zones.

In the Northwest zone, the PDP is challenging APC’s bullish inroad to the zone that may translate to local wars for gubernatorial seats

Soldiers at a checkpoint

considering the irreconcilability of the political titans in Sokoto and Kano States. The PDP will struggle to keep the states it holds there. Barring any change, APC remains a party to beat in the Northeast and Southwest.

Going by previous electoral experiences, the Southeast remains a PDP stronghold but could get a run for its money if votes are allowed to count in a zone where turnout have always been lower than results. Ditto to the South-south homestead of the President owing to the crisis in Rivers and Bayelsa states, depending on the clouts of Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Bayelsa Governor Diepreye Sylva.

Generally, more surprises may come as APC shares offices and produces candidates for election.

A lot also depend on the direction of President Jonathan whose ambition may likely plummet the acceptability of PDP in critical zones. The biggest test for both parties lies in the application of internal democracy clamoured by their large followers.

Similarly, it promises to be more contentious if by the last quarter of this year, funding of the Independent National Electoral Commission and election methods still remain contentious and unacceptable.

The role of security men may also lead to confidence or otherwise in the process.

Duhu crowned it all by

Ita Ekpeyong, SSS Director-General advising the military to stay out of politics as they are paid with tax payers’ money to protect the integrity of Nigeria.

He accused the PDP of intimidating the opposition with the military but assured of APC’s readiness to face the challenges.

“All this draconian method of ensuring that the president is returned by hook or crook ; we will make sure we resist it, even if it means we will lose our lives, we are ready to lose it to make sure that democracy in Nigeria survives. So we will not allow that,” he said.

He also restated allegations that PDP has merged with security agencies and INEC. “All we are telling Nigerians is that we are determined to challenge them head on. If you look at all revolutions around the world, the military will continue to shoot the people until they get tired and also drop their guns and join the crowd.

“So we are ready to upturn the system we have today to ensure that probity and rule of law hold supreme in Nigeria and we are ready to do that even if it means we lose our lives in the process”.

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News

Army trains 937 officers on counter insurgency

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he Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna, yesterday said it had trained 937 soldiers on counter terrorism as part of efforts to strengthen the fight against terrorism.

A breakdown of those, who attended the six-week training in the school, showed 489 were from Headquarters Infantry Corp Centre; 200, 7 Division; and 248, Nigeria Army Ordnance Corps (NAOC).

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Kenneth Minimah, said the training was organised to prepare the soldiers to efficiently handle the current security challenges in the country.

He said as part of its efforts to fight terrorism, the army established new Division in Borno in the North-East to add brigades and strengthen army operations. ``The current security challenges facing the country, most especially in the North-East zone of the country, has made the Nigerian Army concerted efforts in fighting against terrorism,'’ he said.

Represented by Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Nigeria Army, Kaduna, Minimah commended the soldiers for their level of discipline and proficiency.

He directed them to deploy their new knowledge ``to counter terrorists acts in real battle and other emergency situations''.

Minimah also directed them ``to react swiftly and efficiently'' during counter terrorism operations. ``It is the desire of the Nigeria Army to make you better professionals in your respective fields.

This can only be achieved through continuous training.''

In his speech, the Commandant of the school, Maj.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said that the participants had distinguished themselves during the training, and expressed confidence in their ability to rise to any security challenge.

He said: ``Nigeria Army School of Infantry (NASI) has been a major facilitator and force multiplier in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria’’.

He appreciated the support of the Army high command, saying that the school would continue to discharge its role more effectively.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Nigerians urged to embrace peace

By Patrick Andrew

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n the midst of current security challenges, the Light of Peace for Africa Foundation (LIPAF) has urged Nigerians to embrace

peace, describing it as a panacea for speedy development.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja yesterday, president of LIPAF, Evangelist, Samuel Umanah Sampson, also urged the government to

work hard to reduce the number of unemployed youth in the country.

He said it is evident that the legion of unemployed youth constitutes an army for those seeking to destabilize the peace in the country.

Dr. G. O. Igbinedion, Esama of Benin Kingdom and Evang. Samuel Umanah Sampson presenting activities of LIPA to the Esama recently, in Benin City.

He said the foundation has concluded plans to hold its national unity and peace concert where it hopes to raise funds to build skill acquisition centers across the country.

He said LIPAF in collaboration with internationally acclaimed skills and entrepreneurial experts from all over the world are determined to embark on massive sustainable skills and entrepreneur acquisition movement nationwide.

He said, “After several years of research and investigation, it is the informed conclusion of the LIPAF that one of the major challenge of the federal government and its many agencies has been the reservoir of idle, no-trained and unemployable youth scattered all over the country.

“In our extensive research, it is very evident that across the country, there abound stream of Nigerian and non-Nigerian youths dangerously idle, no-trained, and unemployable hungry and desperate for survival. They are always a ready tool for trouble makers who readily employed them for pittance, sometimes as low as just food for a time to foment all sorts of violence.”

Mixed reactions trail National Confab modalities

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he release of the modalities for the National Conference by the Federal Government has elicited mixed reactions from lawmakers and party chieftains.

While some applauded the modalities for the confab for timeliness others said that it was ill-timed as it would affect politicking ahead of 2015.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had in a statement on Thursday released the modalities for the national conference to be held in the FCT. The Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum ACF, Mr Anthony Sani, said “It is late in the day to be against or for the modalities of the National Conference. Though the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has never believed the solution to our national malaise lies in the conference, as long as the promoters

believe it can further the cause of a united whole Nigeria there should be no qualms.

“We hope the deliberations will calm the nerves of in the polity. The only thing we can say now is that three months may not be enough for the desired result to come to pass. Yet we dare suggest that the nominees should be Nigeria’s first eleven who are endowed with public intelligence and patriotic courage.

In swift reaction, Rep. Saviour Udoh (PDP-Akwa Ibom) said the modalities for the conference were in order, adding that the unity of Nigeria was not negotiable.

He said that whatever decisions taken at the conference should be forwarded to the National Assembly for ratification and also included in the constitution.

Rep. Ife-Oluwa Arowosoge (APC-Ekiti) said that the timing of

the national confab was not right and stressed that national confab was a big conference that required years of planning and not something to be rushed.

The lawmaker expressed concern that 2014 was a year of elections in some states and the 2015 was general elections, adding that these years might not be conducive for a conference.

"I don't think that my reaction would be different from that of the APC, I don't think that the timing is right, it is very wrong, it is ill-timed,’’ he said.

In his reaction, Rep. Sunday Adepoju (APC-Oyo), faulted the duration and composition of the National conference.

"How can you discuss an important issue like the national conference within three months, more so, when the political space is already

taken shape," he said.

According to him, government is only trying to divert the attention of the public adding that the conference should have been conducted before now and wondered how the delegates would be selected or elected.

Also reacting, Mr Osita Okechukwu, National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), faulted the noninclusion of some political parties in the conference.

It is very unfair that only five out of the 25 registered political parties are allocated 10 delegates. ``We feel that we are denied representation, we are short changed, and we feel we are not given fair representation. We are appealing to the Federal Government that this anomaly be corrected before the national conference commences,’’ he said.

(NAN)

Medical council prosecutes 23 quacks in 1 year

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he Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr Abdulmumini Ibrahim, said yesterday that the council had successfully prosecuted 23 quacks in the medical profession in Nigeria.

Ibrahim said the exercise was in furtherance of the council's quest to sanitise the profession of quacks and to restore ethical standards in the practise of medicine. He said the council is working assiduously to end the activities of quacks.

"Part of our achievements last year was to prosecute quacks; I made mention of membership of

the council that is cut across the states of the federation. ``What we have in the states are state monitoring committees; these state monitoring committees are under the auspices of the director of medical services in the state ministry of health. ``They do the monitoring of functions of the council in their states, when they identify the quacks and the suspected doctors or quacks, they report them. ``We have a department called the inspectorate and monitoring, this department will investigate and report that quack to the law enforce-

ment agencies. Last year alone, we had about 23 cases before the courts and we are following these cases in various parts of the country,`` he said.

He said investigation of complaints of some medical doctors from the public was on going, adding that efforts were on to end the negative trend.

Ibrahim said the act establishing the council mandated it to discipline erring professionals, who fall short of standards.

He said there were laid down rules and standards in accreditation and registration of medical train-

ing institutions, stressing the need for all practising members to renew their license annually.

He said, ``any training institution that falls short of standards, we caution that institutions and if need be, we suspend its accreditation. ``Practising members are expected to renew their license annually, while new members who have just graduated from our training institutions are provisionally registered. ``We also have guidelines; we also have our members who are expatriates that come into this country.

``We also have a standard that we have put for them to register in this country; they must attain those guidelines; if they are short of those guidelines, we don’t register them.`` The registrar warned that any medical or dental practitioner found engaged in or encouraging touting would be subject to proceedings before the Panel and Disciplinary Tribunal.

Ibrahim called on parents and prospective candidates to always find out about the accreditation status of the institutions they or their wards were applying to. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 11

News Council chairman denies homosexual cases in Jega From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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he chairman of Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi state, Alhaji Haruna Haruna Jega has denied the allegation that Jega has the highest cases of homosexual in the state.

He stated this yesterday while fielding questions from newsmen, saying that he was not aware of the arrested homosexuals who were in prison custody. He said that a committee would be setup to investigate the matter.

‘I am not aware of the case but inshalahu, I will find out and look for alternative to curb it if it so’’ he said.

It could be recalled that last year, the Chief Justice of the state took an official visit to the prisons across the three senatorial districts to decongest the prison by addressing cases of prisoners who were awaiting trial. In the course of the visit, he met cases of homosexuals all of whom were from Jega aged between 15 to 20 years old.

Some of those found were Abduliaz Abubakri, Alhaji Sufeyanu Suleman, Mundasiru Ibrahim and Yunusa Mohammed. Others were Abubakari Manu and Mohammed ruwa. All were from Jega local government.

He also explained that his administration was able to fight the cases of polio in the area, adding that for the past two years, there were no polio diseases: ‘’Jega which was rated high in terms of polio has now recorded zero case. We are polio free now’’ he said.

R-L: Speaker, Chad parliament, Dr. Haroun Kabodi, Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu waziri Tambuwal, Speaker, Niger Republic’s National Assembly, Hamman Amadou and Speaker, Cameroun parliament, Baoro Theophile, during their visit to speaker Tambuwal on 1st meeting of speaker / president of National Assemblies of LCBC Member states, at the National Assembly on Friday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kwara: 16 Chairmen, 194 councilors, 80 supervisors defect to APC

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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ll sixteen local government area chairmen, 194 elected councilors and supervisory councilors elected under Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Kwara state have defected to All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defectors, under the Association Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) on Friday in a joint press conference declared their membership for the APC.

Speaking on behalf of other defectors, the Protem Chairman of Kwara State ALGON, Barrister Abdulateef Amodu Okandeji said their defection was due to the failure of PDP national leaders to address many complaints tabled before them.

“I recall that following the refusal and failure of the national leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to address the observations and complaints of its founding members especially about the lawlessness, impunity and

injustice which had become the norm and led to the factionalisation of the PDP. Our leaders decided to team up in what is known as the nPDP under the national Chairmanship of our own Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Bareje.

“After exhaustive consultations and deliberations by our leaders spearheaded by Senator (Dr) Bukola Saraki ,it was unanimously decided that the best option for us would be to merge with the newly formed All Progressives Congress(APC) and work together in

the overall interest of the good people of this country towards the advancement of democracy”.

All the chairmen, councilors appended their signature to the defecting document which was circulated among them.

It could be recalled that all the 16 local government areas of the state were won by PDP in last year local government elections conducted by Kwara State Independent Local Government Electoral Commission (KWSIEC).

‘I have nothing against you’, Al-makura tell Eggons From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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overnor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state has said he has nothing against people of Eggon ethnic extraction in the state, urging communities to forget about the communal crisis that had engulfed the state in the recent time and instead forge ahead by embracing one another for peace to strive among them.

The Governor this yesterday at the Lafia Government House, when playing host to the Eggon community of the state, stressing that the prevailing wave of violence is not only a peculiar scenario to the state, but as according to him “the entire world is not at peace.

“I am excited and delighted to see the Eggon people paying me a solidarity visit. This reminds me of their dexterous support to me during the 2011

election that eventually brought us to the seat of governance. I want to state here clear that the Eggons are not a lazy set of people and nobody would ever have any reason to despise them “, Al-makura said.

He assured the Eggons and indeed the entire Nasarawa populace that his administration will ever remain committed in carrying every segment of the Nasarawa community along as being attested in the political appointments

of persons into his administration where no single Nasarawa community was neglected.

On the forth-coming local government election scheduled for March this year, the Governor assured that government has no special candidate, as according to him, “only those selected by the people of the various local governments and council wards during the election would assume duty at the various third tier of government in

the state.”

Earlier, leader of the Eggon delegation, Adamu Mua’azu Adogi, appealed to Governor Al-makura to see to the release of some innocent Eggon persons that are still in detention in connection with the recent alleged Ombatse unslaught even as he affirmed that the Eggons have thrown their weight in support of the policies and programmes of the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration.

NUDB demolishes over 200 outdoor ads posts over tax evasion From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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he Nasarawa State Urban Development Board (NUDB), has commenced the demolition of signposts and billboards erected by various banks and oil marketing companies for defaulting in the payment of tax while also failing to clear backlogs of outstanding permits.

Men from the board yesterday, commenced the pulling down of defaulting sign posts, using earth moving vehicles, starting

from the Lafia City Gate along Jos road, cutting down billboards, with so far over 200 of such dismantled along Jos road and Makurdi road.

“We halted the exercise for today, after pulling down over 200 Public Information Boards (PIB) belonging to various firms and banks. They have evaded taxation, and we are enforcing relevant laws to bring them to compliance,” Ibrahim Safiyanu, Managing Director of Oryx and Lynx Gifts LTD, consultants appointed by NUDB, on outdoor advertising,

said, after the exercise.

He said the state is being owed about N1 billion between 2011 and 2013 alone, in tax evasion by banks and oil marketing companies as well as various other firms. He said Lafia town alone has over 500 PIBs, and about 76 bill boards, not paid for.

Safiyanu also disclosed that the exercise, between morning and afternoon when the bulldozers worked, has achieved much because many firms rushed into to clear their backlogs in taxes for permits.

He said since the marking of the boards for demolition, First City Monument Bank, Diamond Bank, Access Bank, First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Conoil as well as Yumaco oil marketing companies have obliged by paying for permits.

He said monitoring will be constant to check against what he called “sharp practices by firms”, explaining that “most of them come from Lagos at weekends, and erect billboards and PIBs, in order to evade tax on permit.”

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 12

Two years on-Meeting the yearnings of Kogi From Omale Adama Lokoja

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he issue of how erudite scholars, would compute the landmark achievements of the Kogi state administration under the leadership of Captain Idris Ichalla Wada, is a hard nut to crack, not because of lack of materials but because of the abundance of it.

Viewed from all ramifications, it is not going to be an easy task. Yet, they are remarkable achievements, worthy of mention especially as the achiever was a green horn, who has now carved out his own niche in the Confluence state, since he took up the reigns two years ago.

Though the administration was presided over by a green horn given the political equation tinkering with the running of the state with clay feet, no sooner than the administration was ushered in than it was written off by the corruptible judgment of the mortals. But much to the chagrin and consternation of pundits, the situation was reversed with the great feat achieved in the relatively short period of time by the Odu born genus from the vast Dekina local government area of the state, Wada, which is comparatively unrivalled with other previous administrations in the state given the same duration.

The achievements, both visible and invisible cannot be summarised in this synopsis, meant to highlight the laudable achievements which have placed Kogi state on an enviable pedestal.

For instance, a major aspect of his achievement is how he has put the necessary measures in place to douse the tension in the state through the abolition of the dreaded thugs, code named ‘’party supporters’’ in Kogi political parlance, a phenomenon which pervaded the state and dealt blows to good governance of the state despite the fact that they fed fat from the coffers of government.

Some examples would suffice, in explaining how a state known for its serenity and peace, became a laughing stock when thugs, out of anger slapped a commissioner right in government House, the Lugard House, while another enraged group stripped a Special Assistant to her inner pants when they were provoked by an attempt to short change them.

As a matter of fact, it took the intervention of God to save the benefactor from facing the sledge hammer of the executive’s foot soldiers that had assumed the position of defector governors and replaced the serenity of the state with latent state of anarchy.

But political administration was demistified by the simplicity of the softspeaking governor Wada, whose words are his bonds and whose gentility is a recommended model for future leaders of the state to emulate. The absolute quietness in the rebranded Government House commonly called ‘Lugard House’ as witnessed today is courtesy of the exemplary Governor, which epitomises

Captain Idris Ichalla Wada Executive Governor, Kogi State the decency in governance in a civilised society of the twenty-first century.

Of all the economic sectors in the state, the administration recorded unprecedented feat in agriculture. In fact, the Correspondent chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, had to give honour to whom honour is due, by recognising Governor idris Wada and giving him an award as the ‘best revolutionary in agriculture’ , for acknowledgement of his outstanding performance in the sector even though the governor is not very particular about awards rather, he prefers only in walking his talk. The state, through the unflinching efforts of the governor, has taken centre stage in both accelerated cassava and rice production while other cash crops like cashew, sesame and oil palm are equally gaining ground in anticipation of such recognition. These agricultural projects were undertaken effortlessly through the massive irrigation of rice clusters farms in strategic Local government areas like Lokoja, Kogi, Ibaji, Idah, Koto, Bassa, Omala and Ajaokuta. The strategy is simply, the opening up of farmlands within the flood plains with rich alluvial soil of the rivers Niger and Benue for cultivation of rice that will encourage the youth and the private sector investment in rice production and processing.

Like the governor said in, acknowledging the success in this sector while addressing the law makers in the state, ‘’ I am happy to inform members that today, Kogi state is now processing and bagging rice for sale to our citizens’’. It is on record that 5,000 metric tons of

paddy rice has already been harvested using 1,500 hectres of land cleared for the purpose of rice production. For this programme alone, about 3,347 farmers were registered across the state with Kogi and Lokoja alone sharing about 1,400 of them.

The scheme gulped about N756, 037, 964 for last year alone. However, to consolidate the gains already made in the sector, the administration has sent a team to Vietnam to understudy rice production in the leading rice production of the Asian country. This is the hallmark of Wada’s agricultural transformation agenda.

Closely connected to agriculture in order of importance, is education which is the bedrock of human development.

As a frugal manager of scarce resources, Governor Wada took the bull by the horn when he committed over one billion Naira to education alone, in pursuance of quality education in the state. He believes that a developed society benefits immensely from quality education, which in turn enhances its development.

Some of the projects and programmes executed in the two years under review include the construction of two Hostels and accreditation of courses at the state Polytechnic ,as well as accreditation of the sister courses at the College of Education, Ankpa, the establishment of College of Medicine/construction of student Hostels and accreditation of courses at Kogi state University, Anyigba while the administration released N65, 000, 000 for disbursement to students in various institutions to sustain government’s scholarship scheme.

The sectoral analysis of the giant strides of the governor will lack merit if the transport sub sector is not adequately evaluated for the people of Kogi and indeed, Nigerians to know. Transport and communication as lumped entity was given its pride of place in the two years of a four year mandate given to the wise man from the east. Before his arrival, township roads across the state were in a state of neglect, pot holes as deliberate designs of death trap with their concomitant effects on the prime population of the state were the dominant features of the roads, while some that were commenced by the previous administration were not completed.

This unacceptable situation drew the attention of the governor, who swung into action and constructed /rehabilitated Lokoja township roads, construction/dualization/rehabilitaion of Idah

township roads, construction and dualization of Ankpa township road phases 1and11, Shintaku-Odugbo-Mozum road including 3 and 4 span bridges and construction of Mopa township road. Others include rehabilitation of Kabba township road, construction of Ebiya-Patesi-Adoga-Unosi road, Ageva-Ogori road and Okene township road and Ajaokuta lion’s club road.

Away from transport, the health sub sector recorded appreciable improvement in the social services sector of the administration. The government has expended over N9, 000, 000 to provide health care services to the people. They include Free Rural Medical Outreach for the people, construction of Modern Medical Diagnostic and Imaging Centre at the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja while N40 million was paid as government cash counterpart contribution to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Polio eradication. Other health projects and programmes that received government attention are as follow: Routine Immunization, safe mother programme, HIV/AIDS advocacy programmes, purchase of medical equipment and Specialist Hospital Projects, construction of General Hospital, Icheke, construction and upgrading of facilities at College of Nursing, Obange among others.

Furthermore, the Rural Water Supply Scheme of the government received a boost in the last two years. Motorized and hand pump boreholes were sunk accross the state just as surface water scheme for selected rural areas and small towns costing about N46 million Naira were completed. The Greater Lokoja water supply phase 11/maintenance gulped about one billion Naira for uninterrupted supply to the citizens.

The information sector took a wholistic approach on enhancing the media outfits of the state.

They include the Graphic newspaper and the Radio, while the pending issue of state Television station was recently put to rest with the confirmation by the state Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Yabaji Bologi that the National Broadcasting Corporation had issued license to the state to establish its own television station. The state tabloid had been repositioned to generate enough revenue to finance its printing operations. The contract for a befitting printing press was awarded at the cost of N280, 885, 500 out of which the government has paid about half of the amount. Government committed huge amount of money on Radio Kogi Booster equipment and transmitters at Ochaja, Otite and Egbe as well as the supply of solid state transmitters.

These and many more unaccounted progress, made in the two- year journey of administration of the governor in this succinct and concise write up, is intended to keep the public abreast of the turnaround of an administration that jump started governance, unprepared in a state that was yearning for development.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 13

Some of the giant strides of Capt. Idris Wada

Captain Idris Wada on an inspection of Kogi rice in bags

Kogi State University College of Medicine, Anyigba recently commissioned

Gen. Hassan Katsina Assembly Road, Lokoja

Bassa National Electrification project commissioned by Captain Idris Wada

Post Flood Housing Project

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 14

Crime Cycle

Stanley Onyekwere pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 08138559513

in How man abducted in Woman court for Aba regained freedom threatening family after 4 days A

A

42-year-old man, Mr. Ugochukwu Aniawonwa, has regained freedom from his abductors four days after he was kidnapped.

Aniawonwa was reportedly abducted on January 25 around 9 p.m. while he was buying suya (roasted meat) opposite a church in World Bank Housing Estate, Abayi, Aba in Abia.

The victim was abducted by three unidentified men said to have trailed him from Ngwa Road where he visited his sick father in a hospital.

A family member said the abductors left Aniawonwa in chains at about 8 a.m. on Wednesday in

Ekeakpara village in Osisioma Local Government Area.

The victim was later taken to Osisioma Police Station where the chain was removed from his legs.

The police spokesman in Abia, Mr Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the release of the victim, saying that no ransom was paid for his release.

Ogbonna said the kidnappers abandoned their victim because of the pressure mounted on them by the police.

He said that Aniawonwa had since been reunited with members of his family while the police had intensified efforts to track the abductors.

Shopkeeper faces N.5M theft charge

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shopkeeper, Arinze Ezeonuegbe, 23, has appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, charged with stealing N570, 500, property of his employer.

The prosecutor, Insp. Ignatus Okeke, alleged that the accused, who lives at No. 7, Modupe St., Somolu, Lagos, and is standing trial on a charge of thef, committed the offence sometime between February 2011 and January 2014 at No. 58, Idoluwo St., Lagos Island.

He said Ezeonuegbu was brought to Lagos by his boss, one Emmanuel Ezike, and was put in charge of lodging money in the bank.

Okeke, however, said that the accused breached the trust by converting the money to his personal use.

According to him, anytime Ezeonuegbu was sent to the bank to pay in money he usually presents unstamped tellers to his boss.

“An audit’s investigation discovered the unstamped tellers and the discrepancies in the amount paid into the account.’’

Okeke said on interrogation, the accused claimed that he committed the crime because of the meagre salary he was paid by his employer.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The shopkeeper pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Y.R. Pinheiro, granted him bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to March 3 for mention.

IGP M.D. Abubakar

…As court sentences 6 drivers for various traffic offences

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Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ court through a Mobile court, sentenced six drivers to one month in prison each for various traffic offences.

The offences were operating in prohibited routes, driving without hire permit, over-loading a private registered vehicle and operating an unlicensed vehicle.

Delivering judgment, Mr. Aliyu Shafa, a senior magistrate, ruled that for over- loading, which is contrary to Section 66 of the Road Traffic Act, the offenders would go to jail for one month or pay fine of N5,000.

Operating in a prohibited route contrary to section 41(2) and driving without hire permit, contrary to Section 54(1) of the Road Traffic Act, attracts a month in prison or fine of N3,000.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr. Peter Ajah, informed the court

that all the drivers involved were arrested during patrol by officers of the Directorate of Road Transport Service.

Fifty-five-year-old Samson Fasheyi of FCT Development Control was arrested for overloading his Volkswagen saloon car with registration number EKY 190 CA. Attah Pius of Zuba Abuja, who drives a Volkswagen Golf car with registration number AY 922 BAS, was also charged with overloading.

Danjuma Suday, 35, and Emmanuel Okpikhumu, 47, both of New Nyanya, were arrested for operating on a prohibited route.

Mohammed Umar of Suleja and 40-year-old Yerima Wazamu of Mararaba, Nasarawa State, were both arrested for operating unlicensed mini buses on illegal routes.

trader, Helen Ngene, 32, of Plot 561, Durumi District, Area 1, Abuja has appeared before a Gudu Upper Area Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), charged with criminal intimidation.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Ambi Ayuba, told the court that one Godwin Aiwoku of Plot 561, Durumi, Abuja, reported the matter at the Durumi Police Station on January 24.

He also said that the accused intimidated Aiwoku, saying she was going to eliminate him and his family. Ayuba explained that the offence contravened Section 396 of the Penal code.

However, after the charges were read to the accused, she pleaded not guilty. The Presiding Judge, Adamu Wakili, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50, 000 with a surety in like sum who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

Wakili adjourned the case to March 12 for continuation of hearing.

Mohammed Bello Adoke, Minister of Justice and Attorney General

Fiancée bolts with suitor's N300, 000 in Lagos

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suitor, Ifeanyi Aneke, recounted how his fiancée, Tobechukwu Uzo, 27, stole his N300,000, when he testified in a case of stealing against his estranged lover, at a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ court, in Lagos State.

Aneke, a businessman, alleged that Uzo, a student of Ecole Supreme Management University in Benin Republic,

perpetrated the crime during a visit to his Orile-Iganmu residence.

"I had N300, 000 in the room which was meant for a business transaction which I counted in her presence. I subsequently put it in the pocket of a suit in the wardrobe and we went to bed. ``The following morning, she got up early, took a bucket and her bag and went out to take

a bath, but she did not return to the room,’’ Aneke, who doubled as the prosecution witness, told the court.

He said all efforts to trace the lady, who he met at the Balogun market in Lagos, were unsuccessful.

Aneke said he went to a tomato company where Uzo was used as an advert model to make some inquiries about her. "It

was through the company that the accused was traced and subsequently arrested."

Uzo, who resides at Linus House, Abalti Army Barracks, Surulere, was arraigned on November 2, 2013, for stealing.

At her arraignment, the prosecutor, Insp. Gabriel Ekundayo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on October 17, 2013 at No. 16, Aba-

ta Street, Orile-Iganmu, Lagos.

He said the offence contravened Section 285 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Uzo, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs. M.O. Olajuwon, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with a surety in like sum and adjourned the case to Feburay 25 for continuation of trial.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 15

Politics

An Agenda for Free and Fair 2015 Elections

By Femi Falana

T

he 2007 General Election was declared “a do or die affair” by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Violence, ballot snatching and ballot snuffing by political thugs marred it.

The armed forces and the police who were deployed to various parts of the country to maintain law and order unleashed unprovoked mayhem on the electorate. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) engaged in false declaration of results of elections.

The official impunity which characterized the election was confirmed in many election petitions. In Buhari v. Yar Adua (2005) 50 WRN 1 the Supreme Court established that the ballot papers distributed and used for the presidential election were not marked and serialized as required by law.

By a narrow margin of 4-3 Justices the apex court upheld the result of the controversial election on the ground that there was “substantial compliance” with the Electoral Act, 2006 by the INEC. However, the results of several legislative and governorship elections were annulled by the election petition tribunals. In order to douse political tension in the country President Umaru Yaradua admitted that the election was highly flawed and set up an Electoral Reform Committee headed by a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais.

At the end of investigation conducted into the fraudulent election the Committee recommended inter alia that all election petitions be concluded before the inauguration of an elected government and the setting up of an electoral offences tribunal for the prosecution of electoral offenders.

Both recommendations were rejected by the Federal Government and the National Assembly. Although Professor Maurice Iwu was replaced with Professor Attahiru Jega as the INEC Chairman the machinery of rigging in INEC has remained intact.

Convinced that the 2015 General Election will not be fair and free the organizers of this programme anticipate that there will be a deluge of election petitions filed by aggrieved candidates. Hence, participants are enjoined to cross fertilize ideas on the management of election petitions.

In leading the discussion on fashioning tools for timely dispensation of electoral justice it is my submission that the current legal system promotes unending election litigation aided by judges and lawyers.

INEC and Preparations for 2015 Elections From 2012-2014 the INEC conducted three gubernatorial elections in Edo, Ondo and Delta States. The woeful performance of INEC in the staggered elections in the three states has questioned the preparedness of INEC to conduct

Femi Falana credible election in 2015.

The Edo State governorship election of July 14, 2012 was almost marred by lack of adequate voting materials. In particular, voting materials were deliberately not supplied to many polling units.

In fact, one of the contestants was compelled to collect the telephone numbers of the top officials of the INEC who were in the State for the election, called them and threatened to set the people after them if any voter was disenfranchised. Shortly after the telephone encounter the election materials surfaced in all the voting centres.

With respect to the Ondo State governorship election of October 20, 2012 the INEC was accused by both the Action Congress of Nigeria and Peoples’ Democratic Party of manipulating the voters register in favour of the Labour Party.

In dismissing the appeals filed by both parties against the verdict of the Court of Appeal which had upheld the election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko the Supreme Court held that the Appellants failed to prove how the alleged injection of the voters register with 100,000 voters used for the election affected the credibility of the election. The apex court further held that most of the complaints were criminal in nature which ought to have been referred to the security agents for action. (see Thisday newspaper of August 30, 2013).

In the case of Anambra State the INEC deliberately refused to make available election materials in many voting centres in the area where an opposition candidate was believed to be popular.

The manipulation was so glaring that INEC had to conduct a supplementary election in certain polling units within 24 hours.

Embarrassed by the shameful development the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega publicly admitted that an official of the INEC had colluded with some dubious characters to compromise the credibility of the election.

Attahiru Jega According to him:“The Electoral Officer in charge of Idemili North for some inexplicable reasons messed up the distribution of electoral materials. We strongly believe that there was connivance between the EO and unknown agents to subvert the electoral process”. (Daily Trust, November 19, 2013).

From the foregoing, it is indisputable that the INEC is not in a position to conduct credible general election between now and 2015. Notwithstanding the assurance of Professor Jega that the costly mistakes of the recent past would not be repeated in 2015 the INEC has not been purged of the officials who have been indicted by several election petition tribunals and the courts for involving themselves in electoral malpractice since 2013.

Apart from allowing such criminal elements to subvert the democratic process the INEC has refused to comply with section 10 of the Electoral Act which requires it to compile and update the national voters’ register on a continuous basis.

But in defiance of the law the INEC prefers to engage in periodic registration and review of voters register on the eve of elections.

Even though the INEC has admitted that the current voters register is defective in many respects Professor Jega has said that it “has the required integrity to be used for any election in the country”. (Nigeria Tribune, December 9, 2013).

Since the voters register has become a template for rigging elections Nigerians should compel the INEC to put in place a mechanism for continuous registration of voters in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Prosecution of Election Petitions In order to stop the imposition of candidates by political god fathers and money bags, section 87 of the Electoral Act requires political parties to conduct primaries or elect candidates by consensus. But due to lack of internal democracy party leaders impose candidates and

substitute them at will.

Since candidates who have been so short changed have the right to challenge the decisions of their political parties in the High Court not less than 300 pre-election cases were filed before the 2011 general election.

Some of the cases are still pending in the appellate courts.

Since 2003 Nigeria has continued to record the highest number of election petitions in the world. The number of petitions rose to about 1,500 in 2007.

However, based on the change of the leadership of the INEC in 2010 coupled with the compulsory deposit of N400,000 by petitioners the number of petitioners was reduced to about 500 in 2011. Unlike other countries where election petitions are tried within days or weeks they are allowed to drag on for years in Nigeria.

There are indications that some of the petitions filed in 2011 are not going to be concluded before the 2015 general election. The reasons for the anomaly are not farfetched.

Contrary to section 159 of the Electoral Act, 2006 which requires the INEC to grant access to election materials to litigants the INEC is in the habit of frustrating the inspection of voting materials by petitioners.

In the process, petitioners are forced to apply to election petition tribunals to compel INEC to comply with the law. Even where orders are granted for inspection they are treated with disdain by the INEC in a bid to cover up electoral malpractice.

It is our submission that applications filed in courts for inspection of election materials are no longer necessary as it has become a criminal offence under the Electoral Act and Freedom of Information Act to deny access to official records.

In 2011, not less than 360 judges drawn from the various high courts in the country were appointed chairmen and members of election petition tribunals.

The thousand of cases being handled by them were adjourned

sine die as they were said to be on a national assignment. At the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court appeals, which are not related to election, petitions are equally adjourned indefinitely.

I have argued that since there is equality before the law the undue preference given to election petitions and appeals arising therefrom are discriminatory and illegal.

It is also a violation of the fundamental right of litigants not involved in election petitions to fair hearing. To obviate the incalculable injustice done to innocent litigants sitting judges should not be appointed members of election petition tribunals.

Since we have a pool of retired judges who sit in judicial commissions of inquiry and arbitration panels they should be appointed as members of election petition tribunals and appellate judges.

On their own part judges manning election tribunals and appellate courts allow litigants and counsel to engage in dilatory tactics while the judicial system permits all kinds of interlocutory appeals, most of which are designed to frustrate the hearing of election petitions. Thus, in the skewed interpretation of section 285 of the Constitution the Supreme Court has decided that any petition not heard within 180 days on account of interlocutory appeals has lapsed.

In other words, petition alleging serious electoral malfeasance is not likely to be heard and determined if the INEC and the other respondents (who may have rigged the election) decide to exercise their right of filing preliminary objections and interlocutory appeals.

The tribunals and the courts also apply undue technicalities in the resolution of election disputes. In the process the judiciary has continued to contribute to the subversion of the electoral process. In some instances, petitions alleging grave electoral malpractices riggers on the ground that the petitions were not proved beyond reasonable doubt. In other cases, election petitions were decided on the balance of probability or substantial compliance with the Electoral Act. The electoral process has been so discredited to the extent that decisions of courts are now substituted for the mandate of the electorate.

Another delay was corruptly introduced to the judicial system in 2011 when a handful of senior judges and lawyers decided to have another bite at the cherry. Before then appeals arising from governorship election petitions, like legislative elections, terminated at the Court of Appeal.

But under the pretext that the Court of Appeal had delivered some conflicting judgments on election related matters the Constitution was amended to allow appeals from governorship elections to terminate at the Supreme Court.

Since then the Supreme Court has

Cont’d on Page 39

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Politics

Crises in Rivers could lead to anarchy in the country

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n the latest ranking of the world leading universities did not feature any Nigerian university in the first 100 that seems to be a confirmation of the fallen standard of education in Nigeria?

Well, it is true. In the recent ASUU strike people from the universities cried out that all is not well with university education in Nigeria: poor funding, lacking infrastructures etc. That’s why they embarked on strike. So my own thinking is that sooner than later especially when all agreements have been implemented the way government and ASUU have stricken a balance now our universities will become a force to reckon with.

And with government’s willingness to implement agreement l want to believe that very soon our universities will come to life again.

Yet in terms of the fallen standard of education, yes generally there are a lot of fall of standard in the country.

But on the other hand, it is as result of improvement in ICT facilities. People have become more knowledgeable in the use of the ICT which is the global in-thing now than it used to be.

However, this improvement in ICT use has resulted in the diminishing of our values because it has made many not to be able to read, understand and write correctly in the standard values.

Many prefer short text messages.

As a former minister of education what’s your position on the disparity between Bsc holders and their HND counterparts more so against the backdrop that ASUP strike had been on two months before ASUU’s yet ASUU’s demands have been addressed while that of ASUP are yet to be considered by the government?

As far as I am concerned, ASUU, ASUP, COASU-which is the association of colleges of education, etc, they are all not good omen for our system.

The tertiary education in the countryeducation as it concerns university, polytechnics, colleges of education and the Monotechnics- vocational institutes, there are connectivity. Tertiary education in Nigeria as elsewhere stands on a tripod in the sense that if you talk about universities you are talking about NUCNigerian Universities Commission, polytechnics –NBTE National Board of Technical Education, then NCCENational Commission for Colleges of education, so it is these three pillars that support tertiary education in Nigeria.

So if ASUU strike has been resolved that’s just one arm of the tripod, the other two are still there and as long as issues are yet to be addressed so that polytechnics will be on, the colleges of education will function, you discover that that tripod is tilted negatively. My own conviction is that the three stands of the tripod must be given equally attention for balance so that they can support the tertiary education in Nigeria.

In terms of the disparity, one of the problems we have in the country is inconsistency in education policy.

An administration will come and focus seriously on a particular aspect but as soon as a new administration comes in whatever policy was worked on is discarded and it starts afresh with a new policy. I believe that disparity is

The crisis in Rivers state has the capacity to explode and degenerate into a national crisis unless government acts fast to tame it. This though is no reason the leadership of the APC should canvassed for anti-people policy.

These and others were the views of former Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Professor Jerry Agada. He spoke with Peoples Daily Weekend Editor, Hameed Bello and Assistant Editor, Patrick Andrew. .. Excerpts…

Professor Jerry Agada not good enough for our education policy and steps should be taken to reverse that order so that what can be done to make things come on equally basis should be done. I say this because this the only country where people desperately seek to be graduates- a degree holder.

It should be clear that one is much more professional than the other.

The HND holder is likely to be more proficient in the practical works than the theoretician from the university who knows the theory.

It is like Nigeria is tilting to two party systems: the PDP and the APC. Do you think this is a good omen for Nigeria? et me tell you that apart from the PDP and the APC there are still other political parties. I like the development because a situation where nobody is on your neck telling you that what you are doing is not it, where there is no criticism, the feeling will be that you are doing very well, you will go to sleep, even though you are not doing well.

So if the emerging parties forged a formidable opposition and things gravitate into two parties it is good.

People will now have choice. So, if a sitting government does not meet your expectations, you can make choice. It is a good omen for the country that we should have a formidable opposition in order to work to derive dividends of democracy for the people.

Many of your PDP representatives from Benue state have jumped ship to the APC, is that in any way a protest to the kind of governance going on in the state?

No, I will not look at it that way.

Politicians in Nigeria generally, most of them be engaged in their own politicking by way of what they can

L

get for themselves not in the general interest of the people.

Defecting from one party to the other is as a result of inconsistency in principle and policy. If I belong to a party that is not providing needed dividends of democracy for people who elected them into power I will tell my party to start doing well. l will protest within the party.

The APC that they are defecting to has it operated as a ruling party in Nigeria before? So, how they know that by the time it becomes a ruling party that it would provide a better alternative?

Go to my state for instance, George Akume was my governor for eight years under PDP, now he is the leader of APC in Benue state. It is a case of somebody saying after all l have served my tenure and there is no way l will be given third term and he thinks he can reap better under a new platform he opted for it in the guise of defecting.

Only yesterday I read in the papers that there is a nAPC now. It means that the opposition we are looking at now may not be as formidable as one may

“

think it would.

It appears the PDP has abandoned its rotational presidency system. Putting 2015 and the existing arrangement into consideration, should the PDP retain its original structure? he answer to this question would better be provided by the people at the national level who are in charge at the secretariat. However, zoning or not, what you should know is that it is the constitution of the party not the constitution of the country. The party knows what is in its constitution and it is equally at liberty to amend it.

But the North felt dealt in by the sad thing that happened in 2010 and if there is equity and justice, shouldn’t that structure be maintained?

As l said, the party is made up of a collectivity of egg-heads, politicians who know what they are talking about.

So when they sit and take decisions based on their resolutions and convictions, putting several variables into consideration, such decisions are binding. So looking into the time

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Steps should be taken to reverse the growing violence in Rivers. That is because if anarchy prevails in Rivers it will not augur well with the country in general. Like joke the violence is spreading to other parts of the country and so it will continue.

The situation must be reversed but not at the expense of completely halting smooth administration of the country.

of the incident (sudden demise of late President Umar Yar’ Adua) and now the party has continued to exist, governance continues to exist, Nigeria remains intact, it means the party knows what it wants and is doing and therefore things are held together.

Of course, party supremacy is top most in whatever consideration you want to have; whether individual, or regional because that becomes sentiment.Partyworksnotonsentiment but its machinery, constitution, and visions. That’s why we have congresses, conventions and several meetings, committees at different levels.

Recently the PDP Elders Forum in Benue state met and endorsed the candidature of an individual for the governorship race in the state, what is your reaction to that?

There was nothing like that. I am the secretary of PDP Elders Forum in Benue state, such a meeting can’t take place in my absence. What l know is that about three weeks ago one of the persons that want to contest for governorship from zone C – the Idoma zone, which has never produced a governor since the state was created in 1976 came to us. There is agitation every election year. Even in 2007 l also participated in the exercise because l had the feeling it was supposed to be for people from that side. s for 2015, many of them have the intention to contest and everybody is working towards that. But one of them summoned the elders and stakeholders from that zone to tell them of his intention to come out for that election. We thank him and told him we want more of our people to declare interest so that at the end of the day the lot will fall on one of you from that zone. That was what happened it was not a question of the forum endorsing anyone. We never held any meeting to endorse anybody.

I am telling you authoritatively that no stakeholders from that zone met and endorsed anybody.

APC call on its lawmakers to block executive bills until the resolutions of the crisis in Rivers, is that a reflection of political maturity?

We should be mindful the way we practice politics in our country.

Politics is the for the purpose of allowing governance work for the people.

Governance is not about an individual fighting the government, rather it for the interest of the people, smooth administration. So, if you form an opposition or encourage your legislators to block smooth administration of the country until a matter is resolved, are you not obstructing smooth governance?

Opposition is not about coming to block smooth functioning of the state. Will that translate into the welfare of Nigerians? If the passage of the budget is blocked will that solved the problem?

But the crisis in Rivers has to be stopped?

Yes, it must and steps should be taken to reverse the growing violence in Rivers. That is because if anarchy prevails in Rivers it will not augur well with the country in general. Like joke the violence is spreading to other parts of the country and so it will continue.

The situation must be reversed but not at the expense of completely halting smooth administration of the country.

A

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE17

Politics

From the Gallery

Though the upper legislative chamber began debate on the 2014 Appropriation Bill with enthusiasm, there were some apprehension from the general public following the directive of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that its members in the National Assembly should block all executive bills, including the 2014 budget until the crisis in Rivers state is resolved. As at last Wednesday when debate on the 2014 Appropriation Bill began, the crisis in the state was far from ebbing.

By Patrick Andrew

economical with the truth and playing politics or are out rightly wrongly advising him.

S

oon after the Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba moved the motion for the commencement of debate on the Appropriation Bill and was seconded by the Minority Leader, George Akume, the lawmakers rose to the task with a good number responding statesmen-like to the appeal of the President of the Senate, David Mark, that their contributions should be made from a nationalistic stand point, and not from party leanings.

“Let us look at this budget from a national perspective, rather than political party perspective”, Mark appealed.

Opening the debate, Senate Deputy Leader, Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) set the tone of the debate by

Danjuma Goje cautioning against dependence on the policies of the IMF, the World Bank and other advanced economies of the world, suggesting that Nigeria should evolve indigenous economic policies that would impact positively on the economy and the citizenry.

He hinged his argument on the premise that western economies were collapsing, unlike the ‘home-grown economies of India and China, which according to him are waxing stronger by the day.

Danjuma Goje.

Gombe Central- APC? This budget is not meant to help protect the lives and properties of Nigerians living in North East of Nigeria, not with the paltry N2b budgeted for the zone unlike the over N160bn for Niger Delta amnesty programme. “There is no deliberate effort to contain insurgency in the North East, the recurrent kidnappings and armed robberies across the country. It is not designed to meet the real needs of the people.

“Growth on paper is not enough, what matters is the impact on the lives of the citizens which the budget is lacking.” Goje went on to assert that in three years not “a single road has been constructed by the federal government in the North East, except the KanoMaiduguri Road which has been under construction for years and is not likely to be completed in 10 years going by the attitude of the government at the

Sen. Kabiru Gaya centre.”

“None at in Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, he claimed and demanded that budget should be tailored and must be tailored to meet the needs of the rural dwellers and not the praises of Western surrogates.”

Hope Uzodima, Imo WestPDP In his contribution, praised the government for reducing the budget

by N59 bn and added that sectoral provisions were adequate. Specifically, he said unbundling of the power sector last year and the completion and handling over of NIPP were decisive steps which would have positive impact on the economy and the nation’s power needs. He regretted though that the second Niger Bridge is not being taken seriously. The senator wants East West road completed and appealed to his colleagues to pass the budget without delay.

Kabiru Gaya- Kano South APC In his view, the presentation and passage of the budget had never been the problem, instead implementation has. He wondered why the government barely implements 50 percent of the budget even as it hardly rolled over unspent funds nor are they accounted for often. He lambasted the government for allocating 76 % of the budget to salaries to the detriment of capital projects.

Bello Tukur – Adamawa Central- PDP “We need more money for real capital projects…. We should not politicize appropriation and must intensive efforts to eliminate corruption which is everywhere. It is the duty of the senate to create sources for generating revenue for capital projects rather than haggle over sources already exploited.”

The lawmaker then turned attention to the inconsistency and lack clarity in policies by key agencies of government like the CBN and NNPC and claimed that their undoing is the sad reflection in the poor economy and want of foresight in management of same. He asserted that those advising the president are either being

Ganiyu Solomon- APC Emphatically stated that budget should be made to fulfill the aspirations of the people, and where desirable the government should change policies that will propel and galvanise development. He regretted years of poor implementation of the budget has been responsible for the stagnation in development and declared that the 2014 budget is no different as it lacks the ingredient to meet the aspirations of Nigerians and will hardly be implemented.

Senator Ganiyu asserted that increase in salaries is not necessarily the solution to the ravaging poverty in the land, instead he advocated for change in policy and cited the USA that had to refocus its policies to meet the real needs of its citizens. “Massive recruitment is even not the solution to unemployment rather stimulating the economy by gingering and creating the environment for entrepreneurial spirit to thrive will do the magic”.

“I was against Word Bank debt settlement here on the floor but we went on to pay $12 billion while other countries simply ignored them and the heavens did not fall and has not fallen. Today, we are borrowing more and pilling more debts for our children and deliberately stalling development.

Budgeting $700 billion for debt settlement is just an example of how poorly the present government is managing our economy.

Odion Ugbesia- Edo CentralPDP “Appropriation determines the shape and direction of government responsiveness,” he said while urging his colleagues to pass the budget but lamented that the envelope policy adopted by the government is unconstitutional and a huge impediment to development because certain ministries are handed envelopes which are often far below their need for capital projects. He called on his colleagues to use the budget to define the roles of executive and the legislature.

Bukola SarakiKwara Central- APC? “We are given figures without benchmark. What is the amount of oil production? What is the level of implementation even if we pass the budget early enough? If 2014 budget is based on 2013 perimeter then we are done for because we are surprised that implementation was said to be about 40 percent.

“We must ask fundamental questions: is 76 percent appropriation for recurrent expenditure as against 23 % for capital expenditure appropriate?”

He went further to raised posers on allocation of N200bn subsidy for kerosine last year even while the commodity remained beyond the reach of the ordinary man on the street.

Additionally, he lamented that the 2013 Appropriation Act was abysmally implemented. Therefore, he insisted that the Executive should be made to account for last year’s budget before the Senate could go into the 2014 estimates.

Senator Gbenga AshafaLagos East, APC He pointed out that capital expenditure in the last three years had witnessed downward swing. In his statistical analysis, he said, “the capital

Sen. Bukola Saraki, allocation for 2012 was 31%; in 2013, it came down to 23.7% while 2014 is 23.4%.

Observing that the 2014 budget estimates negated the requirements of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, Ashafa described the document as an illegality, calling for its return to the ‘sender, (Executive).

Prof. Olusola Adeyeye , Osun Central-APC The Professor held his ground and accused the Finance Minister of confusing Nigerians with foreign economic Jargons, which he sarcastically called ‘Okonjonomics’, saying that such has no positive impact on our domestic economy and lives of Nigerians.

Sen. Smart Adeyemi

Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West, PDP) The former NUJ president minced no words in attacking an economic policy that he believes has done little or no credit to the lives of Nigerians. He

Ita Enang insisted that Okonjo-Iweala should be told in clear terms that the economic policies of the IMF and the World Bank could not work in Nigeria.

“The policy must be reviewed. The IMF and World Bank policies cannot work 100% in Nigeria. We don’t need IMF commendations. What we need is what will impact on the lives of Nigerians. We need to concentrate on key areas such as power and other sectors as well as work on budget management”, he stated.

Ita Enang -Akwa-Ibom North East- PDP He was by the far most prepared as he came with document to buttress his assertions, which were significant in facts and logic. For instance, rather than join the chorus in blaming paltry capital allocation in the appropriation he blamed the NASS for failing to create sources for more revenue and thereafter blamed budget failures in Nigeria on the laxity of the lawmakers.

“The 2914 Appropriation shows a reduced budget sum of N4.6 trillion as against the N4.9 trillion if 2913. This is based on reduction in oil revenue, to wit, reduction in the oil benchmark from $79 per barrel to $77.5; reduction in the production estimate from 2.52 million barrels per day to 2.38 million barrels per day, and again due to loss of oil through ‘kidnapping’ of oil through foreign vessels loading without payment and other losses due to small scale modular refinery operators who are not allocated crude formally to pay and refine” “This loss of revenue is due to the failure of the National Assembly to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act which mandates us to consider and pass the budgets if the respective parastatals which would authorize what they are to spend on and leave operating surplus to be paid to the consolidated revenue account of the Federal Government, as non-oil revenue to fund the federal budget”.

Well, less than half of the 48 senators slated to speak did actually spoke before the day’s deliberation stood down with Victor NdomaEgba and George Akume again moving and seconding the motion for adjournment.

PAGE 18

Landmark

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Astounding landmarks across Africa

Mount Kenya Mount Kenya is an extinct volcano in central Kenya. At 5,199 m (17,057 ft) tall, it is the second tallest mountain in Africa.

Namib Desert The Namib Desert, stretching over 1900 km (1200 mi) along the coast of Namibia in southwest Africa, receives less than two inches of rain a year, as a result of the effects of the cold Benguela Current. This region has sparse vegetation and few people.

Anthony Bannister/Oxford Scientific Films

Inselberg in Northern Cameroon A large, dome-shaped rock formation known as an inselberg juts into the sky near a small village in northern Cameroon. Inselbergs are composed of hard rock that remains in place after surrounding material has eroded away. Chemical weathering processes peel away layers of rock, giving these formations their characteristic domed top.

M. & E. Bernheim/Woodfin Camp and Associates, Inc.

Drakensberg Mountains The Drakensberg Mountains in eastern South Africa form part of the Great Escarpment, a ridge that divides the central plateau regions of southern Africa from the lowland regions on the coast.

Extending from Limpopo Province south to the province of Eastern Cape, the Drakensberg range contains the highest elevations in South Africa.

Steve Vidler/eStock Photo

Réunion Lava Flow Red-hot lava flows from a volcano on Réunion, an island off the coast of Africa in the Lake Victoria Indian Ocean. The lava wrinkles because the exterior and interior of the flow cool at difLake Victoria in Africa is the world’s second-largest freshwater lake. These ferent rates. The surface of the flow cools relatively quickly, forming a skin that becomes large rock formations lie on the lake’s southern shore in Tanzania. deformed as the hotter lava moves underneath.

Kal Muller/Woodfin Camp and Associates, Inc. Krafft-Explorer/Photo Researchers, Inc.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

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Tourism

P

lateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part. Its capital is Jos. Plateau State is celebrated as “The Home of Peace and Tourism”, an image that has been fractured in recent years by Muslim-Christian clashes in the state. Plateau State gets its name from the Jos Plateau. It has a population of around 3.5 million people.

Kurra falls: Nature’s magnificent beauty on display

Boundaries Plateau State is located in Nigeria’s middle belt. With an area of 26,899 square kilometres, the State has an estimated population of about three million people. It is located between latitude 80°24’N and longitude 80°32’ and 100°38’ east. The state is named after the picturesque Jos Plateau, a mountainous area in the north of the state with captivating rock formations. Bare rocks are scattered across the grasslands, which cover the plateau. The altitude ranges from around 1,200 meters (about 4000 feet) to a peak of 1,829 metres above sea level in the Shere Hills range near Jos. Years of tin mining have also left the area strewn with deep gorges and lakes.

Climate Though situated in the tropical zone, a higher altitude means that Plateau State has a near temperate climate with an average temperature of between 18 and 22°C. Harmattan winds cause the coldest weather between December and February. The warmest temperatures usually occur in the dry season months of March and April. The mean annual rainfall varies from 131.75 cm (52 in) in the southern part to 146 cm (57 in) on the Plateau. The highest rainfall is recorded during the wet season months of July and August. The average lower temperatures Plateau State has led to a reduced incidence of some tropical diseases such as malaria. The Jos Plateau makes it the source of many rivers in northern Nigeria including the Kaduna, Gongola, Hadejia and Yobe rivers.

The Jos Plateau is thought to be an area of younger granite which was intruded through an area of older granite rock, making up the surrounding states. These “younger” granites are thought to be about 160 million years old. This creates the unusual scenery of the Jos Plateau. There are numerous hillocks with gentle slopes emerging from the ground like mushrooms scattered with huge boulders. Also volcanic activity 50 million years ago created numerous volcanoes and vast basaltic plateaus created from lava flows. This also produces regions of mainly narrow and deep valleys and pediments (surfaces made smooth by erosion) from the middle of rounded hills with sheer rock faces. The phases of volcanic activities involved in the formation of Plateau State have made it one of the mineral rich states in the country. Tin is still mined and processed on the plateau.

Plateau State is known as The Home of Peace and Tourism and there is plenty to see.

The Wildlife Safari Park sits in the middle of 8 km2 (3.09 sq. miles) of unspoiled savanna bush, about 4 km (2 mi) from Jos. It offers a wide variety of wild animals within easy viewing. These include buffalos, lions, leopards, baboons, monkeys, derby elands, pythons, crocodiles, chimpanzees, jackals and the rare pygmy hippopotamus, which is being successfully bred in the ‘hippo pool’. The park also boasts great, panoramic views of Jos city.

National Museum in Jos was founded in 1952, and is recognised

The falls cascading down a rocky area as one of the best in the country. It is renowned for its archeology and The Pottery Hall has an exceptional collection of finely crafted pottery from all over Nigeria. The museum boasts some fine specimens of Nok terracotta heads and artifacts dating from between 500 BC to 200 AD. The Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture is adjacent, with life-size replicas of a variety of buildings, from the walls of Kano and the Mosque at Zaria to a Tiv village. In addition, articles of interest from colonial times relating to the railway and tin mining can be found on display.

Jos Zoo is located in Jos city, beside the museum. It has a good stock of animals, birds and reptiles and was established in 1957.

Assop Falls is perhaps, the most notable of Nigeria’s many waterfalls.

Located at the edge of the Jos Plateau, about 40 miles (64 km) from Jos city, on the road to Abuja, this is a popular tourist stop for picnicking, swimming and enjoying the scenery. Assop Falls has also proved popular with people shooting local soap operas and advertisements.

Kurra Falls is an area of magnificent scenery some 77 kilometers southeast of Jos. It is the location of the State’s first hydroelectric power station. It is a beautiful area of rocks hills, and lakes, ideal for boating, camping, and rock climbing. There is tourist accommodation available.

Travelingluck.com

The area is suitable for boating and picnics

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 20

Homes

Creative storage spaces in little places

W

hen space is tight, every bit of storage helps.

And even if spaces are not tight, it is a well known fact that you may possibly never have too many places to organize or simply hide things. Other than the typical closets, cabinets, and drawers, there are many creative, advantageous places to hide and organize unsightly items. Let’s start by looking at the typical kitchen.

Appliance Garage Everyone has small appliances, many of which only perform one function and are not in use at majority of the time. No matter how much or how little space one has, storing the appliances when not in use can eat up a lot of valuable counter or cabinet space. A great solution to this problem is an under-cabinet appliance garage.

Normally, the space between the counter and cabinet above is empty and unlike the colorful stand mixer, not every appliance is worthy of being left out on display. By simply adding a cabinet that goes all the way to the counter, a great hide-away is created. And as a bonus, if there is an electrical plug on the wall inside the appliance garage, the appliance only has to be moved minimally to function.

Under Bar One location that often gets overlooked is the “other” side of a bar or island. This is an opportune place to hide shallow cabinets, extra drawers, or even a mini-fridge. By recessing these under the counter, there is still plenty of leg room for the bar top.

Spice Drawer Another great storage idea is the vertical spice drawer beside the kitchen stove. This is a great way to take advantage of a narrow space that may be left-over between cabinets. Conveniently locating the drawer beside the stove allows for easy access while in the middle of

preparing a dish.

The Peg Board Another great way to take advantage of a small, narrow space is by using peg board on one side of the drawer. This allows for items to hang in easy reach of the stove, while also allowing those items to remain hidden when not needed.

Another space saving idea shown in the photo above is the use of drawers beneath the range, rather than one large cabinet. This allows better utilization of the space below and would be a great place to store pots and pans.

Under Sink It is not ideal to forget the space where items are often forever lost – under the sink. By using the drawer idea again in this location, items are kept organized and easily accessible without having to dig in the back of a deep cabinet.

Small drawer If you prefer the cabinet below the sink, there are still other options to allow for extra storage, such as this small tilt-out drawer.

This would also be a great place to store toothbrush and toothpaste at the bathroom vanity, not to mention that the drawers would also work well in small bathrooms.

Great for Bathrooms too Beside Toilet Another handy place to take advantage of extra storage in a bathroom is inside a partial wall. Many current bathroom designs feature a short wall separating the toilet from the rest of the room to create privacy, as shown here between the toilet and the bathtub. This design creates a great space for a vertical drawer, much like in the kitchen, making the wall not only functional for privacy, but for storage.

Under and Behind Bed A last place that many people use for storage, though it may not be as well organized, is under the bed. This is usually a last resort, a place to put things that have no-

where else to be hidden. The bed takes up the majority of the room, and when space is tight, it makes sense to use the space underneath for storage. A great way to take advantage of this space rather than just stuff things into the abyss is a bed frame with drawers, such as the one shown here which includes another great storage idea – the bookcase headboard.

There are many great storage spaces that take advantage of small and forgotten spaces; it just takes a little bit of ingenuity to find them.

Homedit.com

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

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Fashion

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DAMILOLA, UKEJE, ALEX nominated for Screen Nations Awards PG >>37

Mercy Johnson’s marriage faces another trouble PG >>37

Why celebrity marriages do not last – Actress Adewale PG >>35

Ali Nuhu set to marry second wife this week PG >>35

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

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Your Body Image & U Is your skin older than you?

With Jacqui Iwu bwreforms@gmail.com 08184825606 (sms only)

I

n a country where so much is happening concerning endless Economic reforms and ziggyzaggy leadership issues/tussles, most Nigerians are caught up in a web of struggle to survive. Too much hustling! . Hustling? Oh yea, there is so much hustling in this country that most people can not even remember what good living is all about anymore. After the day’s hustling , they go home without the neccessary basic facilities to help them relax not to talk of good food.

Good food to most Nigerians is a great luxury if you ask me. How do you explain a situation where you get home late at night from a day’s job, tired, hungry,and same time being confronted with total blackout, no water? Visualize this ugly situation and think of how someone can really maintain a healthy body Image.

Somehow, Nigerians have developed very thick skin to the lack of neccessary /basic things of life that can make the lives of the average Nigerians a little bit comfortable and enjoyable. Such fraustrating lifestyle practically turns most Nigerians into shadows of themselves and the last thing on their mind is achieving a good, decent as well as happy life. The question now for such Nigerians is –how do such people who find themselves in this economic rut step out with their heads up and not being embarrased by their ugly skin?

For those who always get home and no water to take a good refreshing bath, electricity to relax, most of them slip into very bad habit of not keeping a good body hygiene.

A good night bath refreshes one’s body and skin and makes people sleep well and by the time you wake

up the following day, you will be energetic to face your duties at your work place. No need to mention of such persons having the pleasure of eating some good nourishing foods because most people who find themselves in this ugly situation, end up feeding badly too. To this group of people, anything that can fill their stomach goes as food .

Such people can not be free from skin problems like eczema, pimples, sunburn, blemishes, acne, skin darkening and dull skins. Men and women who find it difficult to take two regular baths daily always end up with bad skin which can lead to the skin looking older.. Night baths in particular is very vital because all through the day, people sweat and their body attracts all

kinds of dirt/dust sticking to their body. Now each time i talk about Night baths, those who are opportuned to have some element of good facility like riding in an airconditon cars, working in an air condition office, think that their body need no bath at night especially the male folks. You are damned wrong here guys..absolutely wrong!! Even if you did not sweat all through the day, your entire body has open pores and they releases oils etc regularly. For those of you that complains of having very oily face, even when you did not apply any cream/ lotion, ever wondered how the oils came out on your face? Your skin has tiny openings which you can not see with your naked eyes and any thing the skin brings out from the

inside must be cleaned up or else it develops into skin problems. So if you are in the corporate industry and you feel there is no need for you to take your night bath, think again.

Try this...when next you wear your white cripsy shirt to work, at the end of the day when you get home, check your collar and see if it is clean or not.

Again, what most people do not understand about having a smooth and radiant skin is that, what you feed your body in the inside contributes so much to how your skin will look on the outside. Last time, i talked about junk foods and healthy foods. I made it clear in that publication, that no matter your economic standard, you can always eat healthy but sadly enough, most

people can not even differenciate between healthy foods and junks.

For these Nigerians who are hustling without having the basic things of life, their entire body system are always rioting and it looks as if they have no control over their body. Some keep wondering what is happening to them but cannot really figure out what exactly. You see folks, it has got to a stage in this country when most people does not give a hoot about what their body and skin looks like and all the concenterate on is ‘’chasing cash’’. The most worried part is, even when they have this cash, they still move around like they do not have a ‘’body’’....just floating!! I keep counseling such person to have a focus and pamper their body because in the midst of all the chase and craze for so much money, that body you have been negelcting , feeding it all kinds of junks, applying on it all kinds of cheap/fake soaps, creams, lotion you buy from the open –sun market, will break down or even stop funtioning. When this happens, what do you do? I have seen young ladies being refused their dream job due to their overweight body and acne infested face. I have also seen some male applicants being rejected for job placement because they have unkept skin with shaving bumps, body ordor etc. No kidding here...this is real! If you are aiming for corporate jobs and your entire body image is unkept and nauseating, it will be a big battle for you, no matter your high educational qualifications. This is not the issue of drowning your body with perfume. To be honest, if your body has bad ordor, no amount of perfume can stop it till you take time to pamper your skin with good quality skin products suitable for your skin and body. I get lots of request from men and women with this ugly body issue ‘’body ordor’’ and one thing they have in common is their confession of using expensive perfumes but the ordor still ‘’zooms’’ out!

There are people who keep switching soaps, lotions week after week without getting good results but rather worsening their skin problems. Every skin has its own peculiar pampering stuff and till you discover what skin products suits your skin, your outside skin will be a mirage. When you finally get what suits your body on the outside, combine it with healthy diet and your entire body will ‘’sparkle’’!!!

Jacqui IWU is a BodyImage Coach. A Stress Management Expert & Conference Speaker BLOG: http://bluntjacqui. blogspot.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

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Womanhood

Asabe Asmau Ahmed —An amazon set for Jonathan’s cabinet

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arring any last minute change of mind, the Senate will next week begin the screening of ministerial nominees submitted to it by President Goodluck Jonathan.

As read out by the President of the Senate, David Mark, the 12 names on the list include Hajiya Asabe Asma’u Ahmed the Ministerial nominee from Niger state.

Unarguably, one of the prominent names on the list is Hajiya Asabe. She has had a distinguished career in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and a rewarding experience in the private sector. Little wonder, therefore, that the state has been thrown into celebration mood since her nomination was announced two weeks ago.

Hajiya Asabe, a public spirited individual merits all the good things that have been said about her in the last two weeks.

Explaining the choice of Mrs Ahmed, Governor of Niger state Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu said that apart from satisfying the zoning arrangement for sharing of political offices in the state as established by the PDP as far back as 1998, he also consulted widely among the leadership of the Party in the state, the political class and the Bida local government area, where the nominee comes from, before arriving at the decision.

The people of Bida and the entire Zone A have hailed Governor Aliyu’s decision, describing the choice of Hajiya Asabe as the best for Niger state.

Leaders of the PDP in the state and even those in the business community believe rightly too that she will bring her experience to bear in the federal executive council and the economy of Niger state as a whole.

A community leader in Bida and one time gubernatorial candidate of the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP) Alhaji Yusuf Yabagi Sani described the nomination of Hajiya Asabe Asma’u Ahmed as ‘a good choice’.

‘I believe the PDP made a good choice. The nominee is familiar with issues of development in Niger state having served as Special Adviser on Investments and Housing to the Governor,’ Yabagi stated while commenting her nomination.

Yabagi Sani said he has no doubt that the nominee will be a good ambassador of Niger state and Nigeria if she is confirmed by the Senate.

‘We thank him (President Jonathan) very much it is one choice that will satisfy all shades of opinion gender and the state’s zoning arrangement ,’ he added The Secretary to Government of Niger state, Alhaji Saidu Idris Ndako Kpaki speaking on the nomination of Hajiya Asmau said ‘she has been a major player in the project Niger state since she became a member of the government of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu’. escribing her as a ‘gentle, easy going but a sure go- getter,’ Ndako Kpaki is of the opinion that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will reap from the wide experience of the nominee.

‘This is one person that is not tired of working. She will continue to commit energy until she gets the required result. This is the type of person we need in the day to day administration of Nigeria, not those that believe in feathering their own nest’.

‘What I am saying is that she is honest and trustworthy’ The umbrella body for Nupe sons and daughters at home and in the Diaspora, the Ndaduma Development Association has also hailed the nomination of Hajiya Asabe Asmau Ahmed, thanking all those that made it possible for not neglecting the area in the choice..

‘We are solidly behind her we know she will not let us down, the association said in reaction to her nomination’.

The issue of portfolio is what is of interest to us as we believe that the National Assembly will not hesitate to grant her clearance after screening.

Alhaji Yabagi Sani, who is

ministry.

Born some 55 years ago Hajiya Asmau attended Ahmadu Bello University Staff School Zaria for her primary education before gaining admission to the Government Girls Secondary School, Kawo, Kaduna where she obtained her West AfrIcan School Certificate from 1970 -1975 and the College of Education Zaria for her National Certificate of Education from 1976- 1979.

Hajiya Asabe Asma’u Ahmed also holds a Bachelors of Education degree, specializing in Language Arts from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and is presently pursuing her Master Degree in Public Administration at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. he has also attended several courses and seminars among them the Dale Carnegie High Impact Presentations in New York in December 2013, Harvard Kennedy School of Global Agents –Leading with Commitment Creativity course in May 2013.

The ministerial nominee worked as an Administrative Officer with the Kaduna Refining and Petro Chemical Company a subsidiary of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation between 1986 and 1987 and was the Strategic Planning Officer of the Organization from 1987-1989.

Hajiya Asabe Asma’u Ahmed was appointed Special Adviser Investment and Housing by Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu in August 2011 a position she holds till date.

S

D

Hajiya Asabe Asmau Ahmed

the President of the association, wants President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan ‘to put her in a position where she can widen her horizon and attract investment to Nige-

“

ria and Niger state’, while the Secretary to the Niger state Government Alhaji Idris Ndako Kpaki said Niger state being a major player in the PDP deserves to head a

This is one person that is not tired of working. She will continue to commit energy until she gets the required result. This is the type of person we need in the day to day administration of Nigeria, not those that believe in feathering their own nest’.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 24

Kiddies World SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Gamji Gate Park

G

amji gate is one of the places really worth visiting in Kaduna; the crocodile city in northern Nigeria. Gamji gate park is serene with attractions and an amusement park; an ideal place for families with kids and lovers. Gamji also features a mini zoo that features few animals.

Gamji Gate houses a crocodile pit with five crocodiles. On seeing them for the first time, you would think they are statues until you see their eyes blink or jaws snap shut really viciously! They often keep their mouths open to catch flying prey and snap it shut suddenly, much to the amusement of everyone. They often look like they have a grin sitting in the sun with their mouth open.

There are beautiful painted trees at Gamji Gates with relaxation points where visitors can relax with a cup

“

of ice cream sold in various canteens within the park.

There is also the ostrich cage with two ostriches; male and female. The male ostrich is usually particular jealous.

It runs into frenzy and tries kicking you from inside of the cage when you get too close to the female from outside.

Gamji Gates features an amusement park with roller coaster rides; horse drawn carts and a small branch of river Kaduna that flows through the park. There is also an old bridge that is said to have been built by Lord Luggard. It is housed in Gamji as a historical attraction, but is realistically just an old bridge.

If you ever visit Kaduna, then it is advised that you visit Gamji gates. The best time to visit would be in the cool of the evening. Then, you will find many love birds catching fun.

The entrance fee to Gamji is just 50 naira.

Gamji Gates features an amusement park with roller coaster rides; horse drawn carts and a small branch of river Kaduna that flows through the park.

With Nami Hassan Kadir namy.kadir@yahoo.com 08130693795.

ABCDE

HIS AND HERS CORNER

Disney Angle

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 25

Kiddies World

With Nami Hassan Kadir namy.kadir@yahoo.com 08130693795.

ABCDE

MODEL OF THE WEEK

AFRICAN TALES

Anansi and the Chameleon’s farm

O

nce upon a time, Anansi grew so conceited and arrogant about his boast that he had “tricked” God in the episode of the sun and the moon. God became so annoyed by Anansi’s arrogance that He was seriously considering removing his patronage from Anansi.

Anansi lived in the same African village, as the Chameleon.

Anansi was rich and owned the finest fields in the area, while the Chameleon was poor and worked hard in his meagre fields to make ends meet. However, one year rain fell on Chameleon’s fields, which were now abundant with beautiful crops. To teach Anansi a lesson, God let no rain fall on Anansi’s land and the crops dried up, and dust blew everywhere.

Anansi then resolved to take Chameleon’s fields for himself. Anansi first tried to buy the farm, but Chameleon refused to sell. Anansi offered more in exchange, but Chameleon still held on to the land. Early one morning, Anansi walked boldly down the road to Chameleon’s fields and began harvesting the crops.

When Chameleon saw this, he became very angry and chased Anansi away. When a Chameleon walks, it leaves no tracks; it is virtually impossible to tell where a chameleon has been. Knowing this, Anansi took Chameleon to the tribal court to sue for possession of the fields.

The chief asked Chameleon to prove that the fields were his; Chameleon had no proof to offer. Anansi, on the other hand, took the chief to Chameleon’s fields, showing the many footprints on the road. These were Anansi’s footprints, and the chief awarded the fields to Anansi right then and there.

Although the court decision gave the land to Anansi, God has a higher justice than that which the courts mete out. Chameleon dug a deep hole and put a roof on it. From the outside, the hole looked tiny.

But, in fact, Chameleon had dug a vast cavern underground. Then the Chameleon took some vines and some flies and made a cloak. When the sun hits flies, they shine a variety of colours, but they are still flies.

Chameleon went down the road wearing this cloak of flies and vines when he encountered Anansi.

Anansi’s first words to Chameleon were, “Hello, my friend. I hope that there are no hard feelings between us.” Anansi saw what appeared to be a beautiful cloak and offered to buy it.

Chameleon told Anansi that the cloak would be his if only Anansi filled Chameleon’s “little hole” with food.

Anansi readily agreed, bragging that he would fill it twice over. Anansi then took the cloak to the chief who had acted as judge in the lawsuit, and gave the cloak to the chief as a gift. The chief thanked him profusely.

Anansi worked day and night to fill Chameleon’s hole with food and still the hole was not full. He worked weeks and still the hole was not full. After a while Anansi realized that Chameleon had tricked him.

In the meantime, the chief was walking down the road wearing the cloak of flies. One day the vines broke and the flies buzzed off in every direction, leaving the chief naked and livid with anger at Anansi.

The chief grew angrier with each step he took, for he began to see the conceit and arrogance of Anansi.

When the chief found Anansi, he ordered him not only to return Chameleon’s property but to give Chameleon the best of his own fields as well.

As soon as Chameleon took possession of Anansi’s best field, it rained on that field for the first time in months, and now Chameleon was the richest in village.

Make a toy TV set from a cereal box

Y

CREATIVITY

ou will need a cereal box, three bottle caps, some glue, some coloured paper and 15 minutes to make this toy my television you spend some time playing with.

Here’s what to do: Unfold the box.

Fold it back inside out and glue. Use a stapler if needed.

Outline a screen.

Cut three sides of the screen: left, top and right.

Fold the flap inside so it makes a “stage”.

Glue its back side to the back of the box.

Attach the bottle caps for the knobs.

Cut in a DVD slit.

Decorate.

Bilkisu Shekarau

ACTIVITIES Using the right colours, shade the image below. Describe the action and show your work to your teacher for correction.

Cheers!

PAGE 26

Learning

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Punctuation marks with independent clauses I

ndependent clauses can be separated (or connected) in a variety of ways.

Full stop When both clauses are of equal importance and can stand on their own, we usually use a full stop to separate them.

My toddler refuses to take a nap in the afternoon. He thinks he will miss out on some of the action.

Here the two clauses are separated with a full stop because they express complete thoughts and can stand on their own.

Comma + coordinating conjunction Sometimes we use a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

My toddler refuses to take a nap in the afternoon, and I’m afraid that he will soon drive me crazy.

Here the two independent clauses are connected with a conjunction and separated with a comma.

By using a semicolon In situations where you use a semicolon, you can use a full stop as well. The semicolon is preferred when the independent clauses are too closely related.

In spite of staying up all day, my toddler refuses to go to bed early; he thinks he will miss something.

We can also use a transitional adverb to establish the connection between two independent clauses.

Note that a transitional adverb (e.g. therefore, in addition, moreover, as a result etc.) does not connect the two clauses. It merely shows the flow of ideas.

M

y toddler kept me awake all night; as a result, I don’t feel

very well.

Instead of the semicolon, we can use a full stop here.

My toddler kept me up all night. As a result, I don’t feel very well.

Don’t forget to put a comma after the transitional verb. Also note that a transitional adverb that follows a semicolon begins with a small letter.

Cross section of English students interacting

Determiners, articles and possessives

T

he direct object is the receiver of the action mentioned in the sentence.

John hit the ball. (Direct object: the ball) Be careful to distinguish between a direct object and an object complement.

They named the boy Christopher.

In this sentence ‘boy’ is the direct object and ‘Christopher’ is the object complement.

The object complement is a word that describes the object.

They elected him their mayor.

Object – him; object complement – mayor The indirect object identifies the

person/thing for whom/what the action of the verb is performed.

The indirect object is usually a person or thing.

Study the examples given below.

My mother bought me a necklace.

(Indirect object – me; direct object – necklace) John told Peter a story. (Indirect object – Peter; direct object – story) Note that the object pronouns me, him, us, them etc., are not always indirect objects. Sometimes, they also serve as direct objects.

Help me! (Here the object pronoun ‘me’ is the direct object.)

Kill him! (Here again the object

pronoun ‘him’ is the direct object.)

In English, nouns and the articles and adjectives that accompany them do not change form when they are used as objects, subjects or indirect objects.

He hit the ball. (Object – ball) The ball is in the goal. (Subject – ball) As you can see the same word is used as the subject and the object.

However, pronouns change their form. Pronouns have different forms for different functions.

He loves his mother. (Subject – he) His mother loves him. (Object – him)

ompare the two sentences given below.

I went to his office to meet him.

I went to his office in order to meet him.

Although the second sentence is technically correct, it sounds too formal and is usually avoided.

Both to + infinitive and in order to + infinitive express the same meaning when expressing purpose.

She worked hard to pass.

She worked hard in order to pass.

To reach him, I had to wait for five minutes on the line.

In order to reach him, I had to wait for five minutes on the line.

Before a negative infinitive, we usually prefer in order to.

In order not to miss the train, I started early. (More natural than ‘Not to miss the train, I started early.’)

Note the position of ‘not’ in the structure. It goes before to.

In order not to wake up the baby, I tiptoed into the room.

The expression so as to can also be used to express purpose. It carries the same degree of formality as in order to.

I am planning to move house so as to be closer to my place of work.

OR I am planning to move house in order to be closer to my place of work.

Before stative verbs (e.g. seem, appear, know, understand, have), we normally use so as to or in order to.

I talked to him so as to have a better understanding of the situation.

I asked her out in order to know whether she had any interest in me.

To, in order to, so as to C Source: EnglishGrammar.org

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 27

Human Angle Father of 14 year old student killed in police custody demands justice

Hassan Ibrahim when he was alive

From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

F

riday January 24, 2014 will remain a sad day for the family of Malam Ibrahim Mai Painti for the rest of their lives because it was the day their 14 year old boy, Hassan Ibrahim lost his life while in police custody at a police station named Gidan Gayu located along Ibrahim Taiwo Road Tudun wada, Kaduna state.

The sad incident really raised tension at the boy’s family compound located at Queen Amina Street, Bakin Ruwa a suburb of Kaduna metropolis when the news of the teenager’s death spread like wild fire in the area.

Peoples Daily Weekend gathered that the tragic incident occurred when police raided a shop where the deceased went to pass the night along Kagoro close in Tudun Wada, just a stone throw from his family compound.

According to sources in the area, the teenager was arrested alongside his friends on that day but was the only one who died while in the police custody.

It was gathered that late Hassan was a student of Armstrong

School Askolaye and was said to have been arrested by the police when he ran away from home because his father threatened to cut down his long hair.

Some of the people who knew him when he was alive described him as somebody who always wanted to look good and attractive. His family sees him as a fashionable boy because he always wanted to look good which was why he left home that fateful day because he doesn’t want his father to tamper with his hair.

It was gathered that his father doesn’t like him keeping long (afro hair) so always complained about the deceased’s style of keeping hair.

It was learn that the police during the raid shot sporadically on the air to scare people around before the deceased and his friends were arrested.

He was said to be arrested together with a friend named Daddy but Daddy was said to have been released a day after their arrest.

But Hassan died while in custody during investigation.

Although unconfirmed reports said he might have died probably because the officers that went to arrest him hit him with a gun

Corpse of Hassan Ibrahim

boot on the head.

A source in the area who does not want his name in print said that the deceased might have been tortured allegedly by the police before he died.

“He was arrested alongside a friend of his called Daddy but Daddy was later released by the police and he was the person that told us that Hassan died in custody. This is why we believe the police might have killed or tortured him to death” he said.

The deceased father, Malam Ibrahim and father of 19 children explained how he received the news of his son’s death. “ I was at home on friday night when I received the sad

“

news that my son who was the second to my 19 children died in police custody after he was arrested with his other friends.

How can they be so cruel to kill a 14 year old boy just like that?

“Therefore, I am demanding for justice from all those that matter. I want the incident to be fully investigated because this is pure extra- judicial murder,” he said emotionally.

According to the father, a police officer also came to tell him that his son died and that his body has been deposited at Gwamna Awan Hospital and that the family are free to go and retrieve it for burial.

The family said the police authority are yet to inform them of

the boy’s offense or what led to his arrest and death.

There was also report that another friend of the deceased was still in police custody.

When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Adenaike, said he was out of town but will provide details on the allegation when he returns.

But the Public Relations Officer of the command in a telephone interview earlier denied the allegation saying no such incident occurred at the police station. “ We don’t have such a case because I contacted Gidan Gayu police station and they said there was nobody called Hassan ibrahim that died in their custody,” he said.

But Hassan died while in custody during investigation. Although unconfirmed reports said he might have died probably because the officers that went to arrest him hit him with a gun boot on the head.

Beauty PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 28

TIPS

Compiled by Andrew Patrick

Using coconut oil to maximise your beauty

A

mong the Efiks, renowned for their culinary expertise, cocoanut rice is one delicacy that sure ranks alongside edikang ikong soup, afia efere, ekpangnkwo etc. It is actually the whitish oil that is made from fresh (raw) coconut meat, is coldpressed, that used in the rice. Now, that’s tasty delicious meal.

However, coconut has several other usefulnesses both as an edible product and beauty enhancer.

When it is filtered it retains its natural coconut scent.

It is therefore used in our vegetable green curry or as an ingredient relegated to the shelves of the local health food store.

Additionally, it is rich in natural micronutrients, but is more expensive than refined coconut oil. However, coconut oil is best consumed in moderation, in its unprocessed form. Consuming it in a totally unrefined state is very necessary because when refined it could include processes such as bleaching or deodorizing, it may affect the liver.

Though long used by Asian women for beauty and health, it was rarely considered for these purposes by the Western world: They never thought coconut oil could be put on the face as a beauty product.

Not anymore.

Now, all across Europe, coconut oil is the in-thing beauty product, a must for models and pageants.

How else would have achieved such glowing, shinyhair without the natural assistance that comes from coconut oil? Hardly. Today and in most beauty parlours coconut oil dots the shelves.

They are used as a nourishing face cream, repairing leave-in conditioner or beachy-scented body moisturizer. That's just the tip of the iceberg: It's actually beneficial in raising metabolism and boosting immunity, too.

To apply on your face, just use as you would your normal moisturizer. True, at first it tends to have a greasier consistency, eventually though it's fantastic at absorbing quickly into skin. A spoonful is enough to hydrate your entire body; swap it in for your current lotion.

It is used to smooth the skin especially after having eczema, just rub coconut oil on your skin to soothe it.

Coconut oil makes a great hair conditioner that can tame that awkward dry/ falling out stage your hair goes through after pregnancy.

C o conut oil contains lauric acid, a powerful anti-microbial fatty acid that protects the immune system of the foetus and newborn. Expectant mothers can ingest a couple spoonfuls a day to boost their immune function.

Add several tablespoons of coconut oil to your bathwater for added moisture to your skin. A few drops of lavender essential oil will also make the bathwater soothing and relaxing. Rub the oil into your skin to prevent stretch marks and itchy skin associated with a growing baby belly.

Take a spoonful to help with heartburn, acid reflux or indigestion. Take coconut oil to reduce or eliminate headaches and migraines. Mix with a drop of lavender oil to soothe pregnancy-induced haemorrhoids.

Coconut oil hair conditioner

Coconut oil used for massaging the face

Coconut oil assisted hair

Compiled by MIRIAM HUMBE

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Get engulfed in the global Ankara revolution!

I

t is simply amazing how the African fashion trends have emerged from what appears to be the blues to capture the global fashion scene with sophisticated designs and highly glamorous and well finished accessories.

The Ankara evolution as it is suitably called, has swept across the fashion world today not leaving out even the classiest celebrities. Ankara has become the favourite fabric on the redcarpet, many thanks to the highly dependable designers both home and abroad.

Most fashion houses and boutiques stock varieties of the finished designs from Ankara even as Fashion lovers’ new preference now becomes the collection of special, African print shoes and bags. The shoes are made of African fabrics with brightly coloured prints and designs, and come in a variety of styles, ranging from high heel pumps to kitten heels, and are comfortably worn on other wears such as jeans and corporate wears.

Ankara is versatile as it is an everyday wear. It is a generally accepted form of

dress at occasions, office, parties and beach and as a casual wear, anytime, any day. It is also nicely worn with matching shoe and bags and accessories. Little wonder, more and more fashion loves are getting engulfed in the Ankara evolution just like ebony black Kannywood beauty, Nafisa.

Page 29

Pots & Pans

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Corn flour food [Tuwo Masara]

T

uwo Masara is a bolus meal indigenous to the northerners particularly the Fulani’s and Hausas.

Ingredients: 1 cup corn flour (coarse type, not the one for making Pap) 2 cups water

Gbegiri (beans) soup

G

begiri is a tasty soup eaten with yam flower pudding (Amala) and Ewedu. It is made from beans, tastes really nice and is the favourite dish of the Nupe people from Niger state.

Ingredients: • Beans (black eyed peas)- 1 cup (milk tin) • Palm oil- as desired • Dadawa (locust beans)- 1 table spoon • Kaun (potash)- 1 pinch • Dried shawa (or any dried fish of your choice) - 1 big sized • Goat meat- 1/2 kilo • Dried pepper- 2 table spoons (or as desired) • Salt and seasoning to taste

P

reparation: Wash and peel off the back of the beans, sieve the shaft off with water until all the beans are without back peels.

Put in a pot to cook, add sufficient water, potash, and locust beans, [dadawa]. Cook till it is pulpy. Do not cover the pot when cooking the beans because the boiling water would over pour and cause a big mess.

Season and cook your goat meat till it is tender, Peel and wash your dried fish then add it to the cooking beans. This is to enable it get tender.

When the beans gets soft, pass it through a sieve to give you a pulpy

Preparation: Put some water in a small pot and set the boil on medium heat.

Add the corn and stir continuously until you get a thick and stretchy mix. You can add more corn flour if you want it thicker. The mixture is thick and stretchy. Now add a little water, cover the pot, reduce the heat to low and leave for 2 minutes.

Mix thoroughly until the tuwo is smooth, then serve hot and enjoy.

Tuwo can be eaten with any such as Ogbono soup, Egusi soup or Okra soup. It is better enjoyed with gbegiri soup, [Miyan Wake].

texture.

Clean your pot and put the pulpy bean paste back on fire Add your dried pepper, goat meat, stock and palm oil, salt and season to taste.

Ensure that the beans paste is a bit watery but not too watery (the meat stock should help make it watery). Making it watery is because it thickens as it gets cold but you also dont want it too watery when it’s hot either Your gbegiri is ready after about 5 minutes of cooking all the other ingredients together.

Feel free to serve with amala, semovita, rice, tuwo and ewedu.

Fresh mango juice N

ow that the mangos are in season, it is time to savour natural sweet mango juice from a variety of its best species around. Nicely, mango pulp blends well to yield a smooth creamy juice.

So do yourself a favor by blending a glass of fresh mango juice to relish the real taste of mango with all its nutrients.

Preparation: Peel and chop ripe mango into pieces, place in blender with crushed ice, water and sugar or honey or dates [dabino] syrup as required. Blend to a smooth consistency and run through a sieve. Discard the left over pulp in the sieve.

Pour into tall glasses and serve.

Homemade fresh ripe mango juice

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 31

Relationship

Ways to keep your marriage ever green

R

Dinners after dark emember the dates you enjoyed before you said, “I do?” They were adventurous and spontaneous and exciting. Well, you must make those dates common practice, and if your creative juices are not flowing, then simply re-create a few of your best ones. I’m often called on to create intimate dinner parties, and while I can be known to sometimes go a little overboard, so can you. Remove the furniture from the living room and store it in another part of the house. Set-up an intimate table for two—designed any way you like it.

Create an iPod playlist of your favourite slow jams and dress to impress the man who put a ring on it.

Put it in a love song We girls love to read notes from the men that love us, and writing love notes is a safe place for men to be vulnerable and express the sentiments in their hearts to the women who will protect them.

Many couples get caught up in the need to orchestrate a big production to express their love, and this tends to only be on holidays or special occasions. I know that a simple note left on the toilet paper roll in the bathroom or a Post-It note left on the front door will make your lover’s heart race.

My husband writes me the best love letters, and when we got married I re-created some of my favourites on mirrors throughout the penthouse suite where we tied the knot to honor his efforts and to remind him to keep them coming. Any heartfelt scribble is far better than any assistance you can get from Hallmark.

Keep it fun Many couples kick off their marriage with the greatest party of their lives. Unfortunately that newlywed bliss quickly fizzles (out) for many couples. Make it a practice and appointment on your calendar to engage in fun.

Brush up on the wobble in your socks sliding across the kitchen floor. Engage in your favorite board games and raise the stakes with bets of rewards. Role Play …and you can define that one any way you choose Catch her tears As the years of marriage proceed, tears are certain to fall. Some will be tears of joy while others may be from frustrations after a long day, a terrible disappointment or lifechanging catastrophe. Men must remember to be there to catch them when they fall.

His heart should bleed when yours aches and vice versa. Connected partners can sense the emotional state of one another and anticipating the remedies to ease these emo-

No one loves sad tales. Unfortunately, they exist often because lovers or couples failed to do the needful. This week, celebrity wedding planner, Diann Valentine, shares her dos and don’ts for lasting romance based on her experiences with happy couples.

tional moments will keep your bond stronger than ever!

Be your sister’s keeper Having a support system outside of your marriage can be vital to your well-being and the lifespan of your marriage. Choosing this person wisely is equally critical as their ability to exercise wisdom, discernment and unbiased advice can help you confront the challenges that may arise. Watching the bond between Tichina Arnold and her sister Zenay on her wedding day brought tears to my eyes because with just one look I knew that Tichina already had hers!

Watch out for nice-nasty behaviour I’ve witnessed many couples engage in nice-nasty behaviour prior to their weddings and this was always an obvious sign that divorce was eminent. Verbally assaulting your partner under any circumstances should be unacceptable for men and women alike.

Harsh words, even if masked behind a subtle laugh, or a “Girl, you know I’m just playing” is downright disrespectful and, with time, the partner on the receiving end of these lashings will pack their bags and run for the hills or into the arms of

“

When two people understand that their own happiness can be found in making their partner happy—the stars align, joy fills your home and each new day feels like an extended honeymoon.

someone else!

Shut the world out Being alone with one another is the best way to remain friends in a marriage. I’ve observed how being together allows many couples to grow together as they journey through life even if on slightly different paths.

Career responsibilities and our quest to reach our goals can disconnect us from the one relationship that is most important so spend time together and find a quiet place, even if it’s under an oversized chandelier in a crowded room!

Who’s on first?

When you and your partner are committed to putting each other’s needs first, you will ultimately satisfy both of your own needs simultaneously. There is no need to keep score in a marriage with a checklist of who did it first or better.

When two people understand that their own happiness can be found in making their partner happy—the stars align, joy fills your home and each new day feels like an extended honeymoon.

Your word is bond When your partner can count on the words that come out of your

mouth, he will respect your commitment and cause him to carefully keep his commitments to you. Be home at the time you commit to be.

If Tuesday night is date night, then be ready to go when your love walks through the door regardless of the kind of day you experienced.

Your partner is likely listening to what you say less and watching what you do more to see if he is in fact at the top of your priority list.

You see—it is not hard at all for us to keep our commitments, because we all keep them for the things that matter most.

No relationship will be successful without a strong spiritual foundation. The trials of life can send your relationship into a tailspin and many happily married couples have discovered that their spiritual base has kept them lovingly committed to one another when their relationship no longer feels like a throwback romance novel.

This is not about religion but more so about knowing that you had better believe in something that is bigger than this world for that faith is the only thing that will get you through the really tough times!

Culled from Essence.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 32

Fiction

A Senator’s interview with an assassin

S

enator George Whyte’s mansion was arguably the most exquisite structure one would see in the entire city of Abuja. It was lucidly evident from the plush finish of his home that he spent a good deal of his two hundred and forty million naira per annum salary on building decoration. The view of his house from the exterior was an incredible sight that left passers-by contemplating if they were still in Nigeria or by chance have drifted off to an (over) developed country.

Garki is a very beautiful town in the city of Abuja and of course, has an elegant landscape that comprises of lofty skyscrapers, neat and taintless roads, and a meticulously designed city planning system. But of all these buildings, Senator George’s house quite stood out.

He had requested that virtually every part of his house be painted white to reflect his name, Whyte. Glitter paint was used on its outside walls which resulted to a gleaming effect under rays of the sun. The vast land, well tended garden, a private jet, swimming pool and a convoy of exotic cars showed his massive wealth. The building was a hundred metres tall. The large sitting room was lushly furnished with four ornate upholstery sofas, two white cushions and an arm chair. A colossal round glass table stood at the centre with a flower vase atop. The flowers served, not only as ornaments but also released a sweet fragrance that permeated the room. The white oak panelled floor, tilled wall and enamel panelled ceiling with the chandelier suspended from it gave such a pure look, almost as if the occupants were as innocent as Holy Mary. Well, that could do for Senator George’s wife and three children; two boys and a girl, but if only anyone knew Senator George Whyte too well, he wouldn’t fall for the white facade which was only but a smokescreen that seemed to paint him as a saint.

The whole building consisted of twenty three rooms of which nineteen were bedrooms.

The Senator now grabbed his briefcase which was rested on the foot of the armchair.

It was a Monday morning, the first day of the working week. Unlike average citizens, he didn’t detest or loathe work; after all, the pay was worth it. The corner of his eye caught an enlarged picture of him, locked in a handshake with the President. He beamed, just as he always does whenever he saw the picture which hung on the left wall.

‘Who could have thought I will be where I am today, let alone shake the President’s hand’ he thought with elation as a lopsided grin spread across his face.

Senator George was dark, burly built and had a shape we could call round. Not as a ball, but ughm-maybe, a balloon. Surprisingly, the white suit he wore over a white long sleeve shirt fitted perfectly into his frame. As for his age, well, he was fifty four.

He ambled towards the door. His body guards, official car and driver were waiting patiently for him outside, downstairs. What choice did they have? His wife had left to attend a meeting with other affluent women in the country. His three children had already been driven to school before he awoke from sleep. He twisted the door handle and jauntily trudged down the stairs.

When he got to the ground floor, a man stood, apparently waiting for him. He had a tanned skin, wore dark sunglasses and was smartly dressed; clad in a slim-fit black suit and wore a pair of shining black Italian shoes on his feet. He was slim and a bit tall. He couldn’t be more than twenty years old.

‘Good morning, sir’ the man greeted formally. His countenance was expressionless.

‘Who the hell was this guy’ the Senator thought. ‘Was he one of those thugs who did petty clean-up jobs for him some years back?’.

‘Morning’ he replied without much warmth. ‘I don’t remember fixing an appointment with anyone for this morning and let me assume that I did but it escaped my mind, it

would certainly be in my office, not my home!’.

‘I’m sorry sir, but this is urgent-’ ‘And how could the security grant you access to my house without notifying me’ he blustered, now getting iritated. ‘I’m sure to sack them first thing-’ ‘Sir’ the man called.

There was a certain coldness in his voice that unnerved Senator George.

‘Who are you’ the Senator asked, now feeling a bit apprehensive. He had realized that he was standing alone with a complete stranger in his sitting room. And according to the precepts of his personal axiom,’ every stranger is a foe until he proves otherwise’. That was the principle anyone living in paranoia lived by.

And Senator George had a first degree in that group. His past had haunted him ever since he came into power.

In a split second, the man reached into his suit and briskly unstrapped a pistol gun from its holster on his belt loop. He pointed it straight at the senator.

‘Now sit let’s talk’ he ordered, with granite firmness.

Senator George gasped. It was natural for adrenaline to rush into his stomach. He stared into the muzzle of the gun, from where the slug could come off at any moment the wielder willed and send him to his early grave (if at all dying at fifty four could be called early).

But one thing was sure. Senator George didn’t want to die, young or old. This was just his first tenure and he had another promising chance to be Senator for a second period of four years. He had always paid deaf ears to whatever vitriol’s and complaints the people frequently made against him. They termed him ‘an incompetent leader’. He had read several newspaper articles accusing him of embezzlement of public funds and remiss or neglect of his responsibilities but the Senator didn’t care. He was confident he would win the election which was coming up in the next two years. He didn’t need anybody’s ‘trivial’ vote.

He rigged the last election and it had gone successfully as planned. A few heads were of course detached from their shoulders in the course of the operation. And he plotted to rerun the unscrupulous events of the previous election again. ife begins at forty, they say. Senator George was among the few Nigerians who could attest to this. Life had just begun for him and he didn’t wish it to end so abruptly.

‘I say sit, let’s talk’ the man repeated, his voice raised and more daunting now.

Let’s talk? The Senator tried to place a meaning to that statement as he sauntered towards the nearest chair. Those words ‘let’s talk’ sounded more like negotiation. The Senator immediately surmised that the man was a kidnapper who abducted victims and used them as leverage to coerce the family members to pay huge sums of money before the victim could be released.

Now the Senator was placid, stoic and calm. If this man wanted money, he had more than enough to spare.

‘Drop your phones, on the table’ the man commanded, his gun still levelled at the Senator.

Senator George dug into the pockets of his trouser, produced a Blackberry Q10 and Tecno

L

“

Android. His iPAD was in the car. Lethargically, he obeyed the ‘master’s’ wish and sat on the arm chair.

‘You had better not try anything funny’ the man warned. ‘Your guards don’t even know I’m here. A single insane act by you and I pull the trigger. Got that?’.

‘Yes...yes’ the Senator shuttered, nodding his head. He stole a glance outside and true enough, there his guards were, standing still like medieval stone statues, at their duty posts.

If only they knew what was going on in...

But his glass door was tinted. One could see outside from inside but looking at the door from outside, all you saw was a dark or beige colored glass.

‘How did you get in?’ the bemused Senator summoned courage to ask. He was slightly beginning to admire this guy’s dexterity and tenacity.

‘That’s for me to know and for you to find out’ he quipped, still looking pensively at the Senator, and as an after-thought he added, ‘well, if you ever get the chance’.

The senator very much wished that the man, whoever he was would speed up the game. Ask for the money, escape and be captured within five minutes, thanks to the Nigerian military and of course, his security guards.

But this man was in no hurry.

‘You want to know why I’m here?’ the man asked, more like a statement than a question.

He produced a recorder from his breast pocket

Let’s talk? The Senator tried to place a meaning to that statement as he sauntered towards the nearest chair. Those words ‘let’s talk’ sounded more like negotiation. The Senator immediately surmised that the man was a kidnapper who abducted victims and used them as leverage to coerce the family members to pay huge sums of money before the victim could be released.

and placed it on the table beside the phones.

He pushed a button down and the little machine made a soft buzzing sound.

‘Now you will tell me the true story of your life if you really cherish it’.

Senator George hesitated for a moment as he tried to gather the man’s request in one piece. Had he really heard well? The story of his life, his past was one he would give anything to be erased, forever. It was filled with deeds too ghoulish even to be told as a story.

And he wasn’t just going to recount it to someone but here, standing on the table and listening was the talkative and ever blabbing recorder who would never relent in relaying anything it hears, no matter how confidential it is, just for a meagre bribe of a push on its button. It never minds if the listener is a friend or foe of his subject.

The Senator made to protest but the man shushed him with a single statement.

‘If a sound comes out from your mouth, a sentence that isn’t akin to your true life story, I’ll shoot. Mark my words’.

This was no mainstream kidnapper, and he meant business. Senator George had realized this by now.

‘And mind you’ he continued. ‘I know the story too. You tell one lie and you are history’. hoever this guy was, he wasn’t bluffing. The Senator knew this. At any rate, he would chose life over death, even if it meant a more tarnished image. Immediately, he remembered his family; his wife and children. How would they feel when they got wind of this revelation about their ever loving and caring husband and father. Would he ever recover after this? His first child, Denis was fifteen. He was trailed by Mercy who was twelve and seven years old Chris. He wished he could bail himself out of this mess but obviously, this was non-negotiable.

‘You don’t have all day’ the man announced sternly, taping the gun’s hammer slightly to remind the Senator of its presence.

So, gradually but steadily, Senator George began telling the story of his life. nigerianfiction.com

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 33

Romance The love I had to leave behind

I

retired to the bedroom, tired of waiting up for Derin. The room was lavish and very spacious, but it was the bed that did things to my mind and body.

Especially as all the sheets were silk and the pillows were filled with what felt like feathers. No wonder the minute I got into it I always fell asleep; except Derin was there with me of course.

"Hey Hun," I felt his breath on my neck as his lips brushed lightly against my skin. My back stayed turned to him and I stiffened, he should have gotten home sooner.

"Sweetie, I know you're awake, talk to me," he said and by now he was kissing the nape of my neck.

I could feel my resolve slowly slip away. Derin knew just how to get me. Yet I tried to pretend that the feel of his tongue on my bare back wasn't nearly driving me insane. Derin then went in for the kill as he trailed my spine down to my lower back slowly, with the tip of his tongue. At this point I was already moaning. He didn't say a word as he turned me over and pulled off my flimsy negligee.

I had absolutely no objections.

Even a day later, as I drove home from work I could still feel the sensations, I closed my eyes for a second, shivering, as my body relived the moment his tongue made contact with me. It was one second too long.

I opened my eyes just in time to see the big red trailer speed towards me and my last thought as my car spun out of control and smashed glasses flew around me was that my blood was too red, then, darkness.

The man was undeniably handsome but having sat in the hospital for two whole days with no food or sleep, he looked unkempt and dishevelled. His stubbles looked like they were a week old and the bags that weighed down his bloodshot eyes were heavy and swollen.

"Doctor, please talk to me, tell me something please" he cried out as he nearly knocked down the doctor who just emerged from the emergency room. Derin had been waiting for some news for two days. Not knowing what was going on was killing him.

"She was very lucky" the doctor said and the relief that flooded over Derin was palpable.

"She has some fractures but nothing that won't heal with time, some bruises and cuts which we've stitched up. She's suffering from a serious concussion right now so I would rather you don't go in to see her just yet but if you insist then you can, but be gentle, she can't handle much excitement right now"

young man's eyes. Pure love. She shifted her gaze to her patient; no doubt she would be in tears too.

But looking at her patient's face Nurse Eze gasped.

Rita looked at the young man in front of her, glassy eyed, confused yet expressionless. He was a stranger she had never seen before. She looked at Nurse Eze questioningly, "who is this man, what is he doing in my room?� her eyes asked. In panic she painfully snatched her hand away from his, looking at him with perplexed eyes. The man was even more puzzled. His mouth hung open, confused and hurt.

"Rita, darling, I know you're upset but please... Please babe, please...I love you" he stuttered, not sure of what to say, not sure what was going on.

Rita stared at him for a moment, her expression painfully blank. Then she looked at the nurse pleadingly. It was then nurse Eze understood, Rita was suffering from something some people suffered from after a trauma. She had amnesia.

"Thank You doctor, thank you" Derin said excitedly and followed closely behind him.

As he walked his hand impulsively slipped into his pocket and he fingered the small box that had been in it for a couple of days. He had ordered some Chinese food and Rita's favorite red wine and was going to propose to her after dinner. But she never made it home.

He walked into the room and saw his Rita looking like an Egyptian mummy. Her whole body was covered in bandages. Her both legs were up in slings and her right arm was encased in a cast.

Standing at the door with a knot the size of his fist in his throat, he listened as she struggled to speak to the nurse.

"You'll be fine my dear, don't worry, once your bones are stronger you'll be back to normal but you need to rest now" the nurse said "Water please" Rita whispered "I'll get you some. You have

“

a guest, your, your friend is here to see you" the nurse said with a wide smile. Anyone who had seen how worried and on edge the young man had been would easily tell that he loved this woman beyond comprehension.

Derin approached her bed, taking in the sight of her. She was badly injured, her face had small cuts and bruises, her lips were blue and swollen as were her eyes, her left arm was covered in purple wounds and bruises, but still, she had never been more

Six Weeks Later...

"Doctor, I don't know what else to do, I've brought pictures, journals, her clothes, everything doctor, everything! I don't know how else I can juggle her memory" Derin said.

He was both exhausted and exasperated. He could feel Rita slipping away from him. To make matters worse, the doctor had insisted he bring Rita's passport, she had been talking about returning to the US. He didn't want to, having held on to it for so long, but reluctantly he had to. He was losing her. Even her friends could not convince her that he was the love of her life.

"She keeps bringing up New York. Apparently, as with some cases, she remembers everything up until a point in time. Like I've told you already, it could be per-

The man was undeniably handsome but having sat in the hospital for two whole days with no food or sleep, he looked unkempt and dishevelled. beautiful.

"My love" he said falling beside her and taking hold of her left hand.

Nurse Eze stood at the door to watch the encounter, she just loved seeing young people in love, she watched as bitter sweet tears flowed freely from the

manent, but then, her memory could return at any time. You never know. But it's best to let her go, that way things may come back to her easily.", the doctor said.

Derin left the doctor's office downtrodden. Rita was to be discharged that day and she insisted

on going back to New York where she had grown up. He went back to her room. He could not afford to lose her. He felt as though he might run mad if she left. He got to her door and on seeing him, like she had done in the past six weeks, she looked annoyed.

Derin went to her and got on his knees in one last desperate attempt.

"Rita, ife mi, I don't know what to say that I haven't already said. You may have forgotten everything but we can create new memories. The night of your accident I was going to do this, and I think I still should...... Please Rita, marry me," he said, going on his knees. There was so much love in this man's eyes and she could see it.

"I'm so sorry, but I just can't, even if I wanted to. I simply do not know who you are" she said apologetically. She looked at the beautiful diamond ring but continued, "In any case my tickets are already booked and I'm going back home to NY tonight, maybe I'll remember one day, but till then, please, leave me alone, please. I need to heal," she said softly, but firmly, holding Derin's gaze.

My flight was a little bit delayed but eventually it was announced. I would have run to the plane had my legs allowed me.

I hadn't been back to New York since I left two years ago, both my parents were dead now but I had a life there, friends I had allowed Derin to alienate. Staring out of the windows into the dark, I reflected on how difficult the past few weeks had been. I could have lost my life in that accident.

It was as my car rolled in the air that it hit me, life was just too short and too sweet to lose. Not in an accident, and not in a love that could kill you.

Taking out my phone, I scrolled through the pictures till I got to the one I wanted. I ran my finger over the screen, I had snapped the picture myself while in hospital on the night of our first anniversary. That was the night Derin first hit me because I complained he was late, and then repeatedly kicked me in the belly till I lost the child I just told him I was carrying for him. His reason, he wasn't ready, and I was too stubborn to refuse an abortion.

That was just one of several similar incidents. He always cried and apologized, saying he would die whenever I tried to leave. Sinking back into my seat I smiled to myself. That was all behind me now. Feigning amnesia and moving back across the oceans may be a coward's way out but I'm just glad to be alive... nigerianromancenovels.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 34

Entertainment Xtra Arnold Schwarzenegger releases message supporting Ukrainian protestors

Helen Mirren to get top BAFTA honour

H

elen Mirren will next month be presented with a fellowship from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, the organization's highest honour.

The Oscar and BAFTA winning actress will receive the British Academy fellowship in recognition of her "exceptional contribution" to film, BAFTA said.

She will get the honour during this year's British Academy film awards on February 16th.

The presentation will see Mirren join the starstudded roster of BAFTA fellows that already includes the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, StevenSpielberg, SeanConnery, ElizabethTaylor, JudiDench, VanessaRedgrave and MartinScorsese.

Mirren said: "This is the greatest professional honour I can imagine, certainly one I never dreamt of as a schoolgirl in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. To join that list of legendary names is overwhelming."

Mirren, whose movie career began in the 1970s, has a long history with BAFTA, receiving four BAFTA awards, including one for her turn in The Queen, a role for which she also won a best actress Oscar.

E! Entertainment to launch in Russia

N

A

ctor and former California governor,Arnold Schwarzenegger has become the second Hollywood star to record a video message in support of Ukrainians locked into an increasingly violent struggle against the Eastern European country's government, Hollywood Reporter has said.

"I want to send a message of support to the people of Ukraine to let them know that I wish them all the best of luck in their peaceful struggle for democracy," he said in the 11-second video before raising a hand in a two-fingered V symbol, adding: "Peace."

Schwarzenegger, dressed in a green top and brown leather jacket, looking tanned filmed the video against a backdrop of rolling pastures.

Last month, George Clooney recorded a similar brief message of support for

Ukrainian protesters.

Both videos were uploaded onto the site of Vitali and WladimirKlitschko.

Vitali, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, is one of the leaders of Ukraine's opposition. Wladimir, also a boxer, is engaged to actress Hayden Panettiere, star of U.S. TV show Nashville.

He and other members of the opposition are seeking the resignation of President ViktorYanukovych and fresh elections to resolve a two month stand-off between protestors who have occupied the center of the capital, Kiev, in a dispute over the failure of the government to keep a promise for closer political and economic ties with the European Union.

Instead, Yanukovych has bowed to Russian pressure to stay within the Kremlin's sphere of influence.

Local animated film nudges 'Despicable me 2' out of top spot

H

ollywood Reporter has said that local animation,Boonie Bears: ‘To the Rescue’has knocked the minions of Universal and Illumination Entertainment's ‘Despicable Me2’, out of the top spot at the Chinese box office, adding $13.27 million for the sum of $29.75 million after 10 days on screens.

In a tight race between

Hollywood muscle and China's finest animated product, the local movie has gained the edge.

In the week to Sunday (Jan. 26), Boonie Bears: To the Rescue, a feature version of a hit show on the state broadcaster CCTV, clocked up 139,092 screenings with 2.36 million admissions, at average ticket prices of $5.60, according to data from Entertainment group.

BC Universal Networks International will launch E! Entertainment Television in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States in the second quarter.

Key programming to roll out on the Russia/CIS channel includes the latest seasons of Keeping up with the Kardashians and Fashion Police, as well as E! Specials and new series such as #Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, among others. E! is currently seen in 150 countries and delivered in 26 languages.

NBCUniversal International Television's channels division made the announcement recently.

SatpalBrainch, UNI executive vice president

and managing director, described E! Entertainment Television as a "core channel brand for Universal Networks International," calling the launch in Russia and the CIS as "an exciting development for both the channel and our business in these markets."

Brainch added, "We look forward to the channel resonating with viewers and advertisers across the region."

Among pay TV distributors that will make E! available are MTS, RostelecomAkado, Beeline and NTV-Plus. The CIS includes various former Soviet republics.

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Bollywood/Hollywood

Why celebrity marriages do not last-Actress Toyin Adewale

Beyonce's new album embarrasses Michelle Williams

M

ichelle Williams made a cameo in the video for Beyonce's "Superpower," but she found some of the other songs on the album a bit more revealing than expected.

"I was telling someone on my way here how I was laughing," she told US Weekly at the 5th Annual Essence Black Women in Music Event.

"I don’t know if it’s laughter of shyness or embarrassment because the makeup artist and everyone was listening to her say these things, and I’m like, 'That’s private girl,'" she went on.

"We aren’t supposed to know all that. But she is married and has produced a baby, and we know what you have to do to produce a baby so, okay!"

N

ollywoodactress, has said lack of submission and disobedience were usually the cause of failed mariages by most celebrities.

ToyinAdewale Who is a veteran of the Yoruba genre of Nollywood with a career that spans over 29 years believes that the industry does not support the break ups in marriage.

The actress who has been married for 20 years, believed that the entertainment industry shouldn't be blamed for broken marriages rather it is the actresses' inability to tolerate, forgive and be submissive to their husband that had led to frequent marriage break ups.

'Let me correct one notion. The industry does not support broken marriages. I think our ladies in the movie industry should just learn to be tolerant because marriage is all about tolerance. If you don't have that heart to overlook things, if you cannot tolerate things, if you cannot just let bygone be bygone, you cannot keep a home. I think that is the problem of our young women nowadays' ToyinAdewale who came into limelight when she starred in the movie 'Tosibe', further said that to make marriages work the actresses have to be able to forgive ,'To keep your home, you have to be prayerful, submissive and tolerant. You have to learn to forgive one another to make the marriage work', she concluded.

Ali Nuhu set to marry second wife this week

A

ward winning actor, Ali Nuhu, will this early next week wed his second heartthrob in Kano.

O u r further checks revealed t h a t Nuhu is taking his second wife f r o m a rich family in one of the biggest emirates in Kadunna.

His first wife, Maimunna, who has given him two lovely kids' is also said to have accepted her husband's decision to take second wife.

Nuhu, who hit the lime light with his movies, Abin Serrine, Din,Gala Yana yi and Tasir, is known as one of the most scandal free actors in the Nollywood

industry. The Northernborn actor, who is also active in the English movie genre, is presently at a location of a new movie titled Rabo Ajali.

G e nevieve N n a j i c e l ebrates 1 0 0 million n a i r a Etisalat deal. Few days after Nollywood screen diva, Genevieve Nnaji, signed N100 million deal with Etisalat, she has not stopped celebrating the plum job that just entered her lap.

The mother of one, was said to have spotted at a cozy lounge on Lagos Island, Lagos state, given herself a special treat with a cool champagne with some coterie of friends in attendance.

Nigerian female singer, Gina plans collabo with US star, Pharrell

N

igeria's music diva, Regina Abiola also known as Gina, is set to do a duet with American music star, Pharrell Williams.

Nigeriafilms.com has said.

The dazzling singer attended the just-concluded Grammy Awards held in the United States of America, which she graced as a VIP guest.

The 56th Grammy Awards, which held recently at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, U.S.A afforded Gina the opportunity to conclude plans with the management of Pharrell on a collabo. Pharrell is known to be a genius in 'techno sounds'.

Hollywood mourns former academy President

H

ollywood has united in mourning the loss of Tom Sherak, the popular studio head who died at the age of 68.

Sherak, who had a long career at 20th Century Fox and then Revolution Studios before serving three consecutive one-year terms as president of the Academy through August 2012, succumbed to a long battle with prostate cancer while surrounded by his family at their home in Calabasas, Calif.

The charismatic and charitable studio marketing and distribution executive, who recently took the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences through some tumultuous times, was remembered fondly by his peers, who reached out to express their sympathy and share fond memories.

Violence Forced Me Out Of Marriage – Moji Olaiya

S

ome Nollywood actresses, whose marriages have crashed, have always come out to claim that their union crumbled because they were abused by their spouses.

The likes of Monalisa Chinda, Chika Ike, Ayo Adesanya and others claimed that their respective husbands battered them while their marriages lasted.

One of the actresses that have now joined the league of ‘I was battered by my hubby,’ is a daughter of legendary highlife musician, Victor Olaiya, Moji.

The marriage of the talented actress to one Nelson Okesola crashed like a badly arranged set of cards and there is no sign that they would resolve their differences soon, Moji is even planning to re-marry.

In 2013, Moji granted an interview claiming she was

the one financing her estranged husband, who she described as a lazy man.

In an exclusive chat with Nigeriafilms.com last Thursday, the versatile actress said that she left her marriage because she was domestically abused by her man.

“One of the reasons I broke up with my husband was because of domestic violence, but I don’t want to go into details of the whole mess,” Moji revealed.

When asked if she was accusing her hubby of violence now because some of her colleagues have been coming out to make such claim against their ex-husbands, Moji said, “I am not going to hold brief for anybody. If you call two or three people, who knew about our relationship, they will confirm what I am saying. Some men believe they can show their ego by beating their wives,” she stated.

PAGE 36

Photo Splash

L-R: Commissioner African Union for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Mrs. Rhoda Tumusiime, Executive Secretary African Ministers’ Council on Water, Mr. Bai-Mass Taal and Minister of Water Resources Minister, Mrs. Serah RengOchekpe, during the press briefing on Accelerating the Achievement of Water and Sanitation Goals in Africa, during the 22nd Ordinary Summit of the African Union, at the AU Secretariat, Addis Ababa

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

R-L: Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga and Chairman Chief Executive Officer General Electric, Mr. Jeffrey Imelt, during the visit by members of General Electric Officials to the State House Abuja yesterday.

Photo: Joe Oroye.

Men displaying traditional warriors’ costume during a requiem mass for the former Governor of Plateau, Mr. Micheal Bot-Mang on Thursday in Jos

Carrots at Muda Lawal carrots market in Bauchi on Thursday

Stockbroker with APT Funds and Securities Limited, Hajiya Lateefat Oba (left), briefing the Student of Completeman International School (CMIS) on the stock brokering, during the CMIS Student execution to Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), recently in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014 Patrick Andrew Phone No: 08136531513

Page 37

Entertainment Flakes

Eith FUNSHO AKINWALE PHONE NO: 08051101191

Marriage not for me now, says Halima Abubakar

K

ogi State-born make-believe star, Halima Abubakar, has doused rumours that she desperating in need of a man in her life. The actress said recently that her interest for now is focused on her career and not in search of a husband.

That's strange because in Africa, especially in Nigeria, marriage is one institution that is regarded as something one must go into and it is a sign of responsibility. It is common for parents to start getting worried when their children of marriageable age are still single.

Though parents put little pressure on men until they reach the age of 40, however that is not the case with women, who are put under intense pressure if they are still single at 30.

At that stage, their mothers would go about seeking spiritual help for their daughters so that she could settle down in time. This is even more so for top stars whose parents are usually worried stiff that they may missed the joy of seening their grandchildren from them.

Despite this, it is surprising that most Nigerian female celebrities don’t get married in time. In some instances, they cross age 30 before settling down with men they could call their own. The reason is not far-fetched; most men are scared of approaching these women because of their celebrity status.

While some men get intimidated by their status, others cannot just stand the numerous negative stories, especially sex scandals, written about them.

The likes of Tiwa Savage, Funke Akindele, just to mention, were above 30 years of age before they got married, while the likes of Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji and others, who are also above 30 years of age, are still single.

Sultry Nollywood actress, Halima, is another person that has reached marriageable age and has not settled down with a man. Some of her fans have wondered why she has not yet picked a man she would live with for the rest of her life.

Speaking in a recent interview, the Kogi State-born makebelieve star disclosed that her parents are not putting any pressure on her to get married, and that no one could put her under any pressure to go into marriage.

According to the lady, who is also a farmer, “I don’t know why people always seem to be putting pressure on others to get married. When the marriage doesn’t work out, they will be the first to criticize you.

"My parents are not pressurising me to get married; my family is not pressurising me to get married either. So, I don’t see why I should let anyone pressurise me into marriage.”

Halima Abubakar

I

t is no more news that popular actress Mercy Johnson is married to an Edo Prince, Odianosen Okojie…

And it is also no m o r e n e w s that Odianosen w a s married before he got married to Mercy.

Well, we heard the controversy that almost stopped Odianosen’s wedding with Mercy might not be fully settled yet. We heard that Odianosen’s former wife who is still insisting that she has not fully divorced from the Edo prince is at the moment asking Mercy and her husband to take custody of one of her kids.

Our hovering bird heard that the Canadian based woman, Lovelyn, was recently in Odianosen’s family home in Edo state with her daughter demanding that the father take custody

of her.

We heard Mercy and her husband were both summon for an immediate meeting by family members.

Lovelyn who was said to be present at the meeting we are told had already prepared her daughter for relocation.

Sources say Mercy and her husband stormed out of the meeting and left for Lagos almost immediately when the matter was brought forward with Odianosen insisting that she takes her daughter back to where they are both coming from. It was obvious that the idea did not go down well with the couple.

Lovelyn we heard has since return to Canada with her daughter. And at the moment, we heard Mercy and her husband are also discussing with Lovelyn’s family on her sudden decision…

-Aprokocity

Elliot finally relocates family abroad

P

Damilola, Ukeje, Alex nominated for Screen Nations Awards

O

rganisers of the Screen Nation Film and Television Awards have nominated some Nigerian movie stars for the awards.

Damilola Adegbite, Linda Ejiofor and Adepero Oduye were selected for the Favourite Female African International Rising Talent category of the awards, while the likes of O C Ukeje, Alex Ekubo, Anthony Monjaro and Femi Jacobs made the Favorite Male African International Rising Screen Talent category.

The event holds On Sunday, February 23, 2014 On the Plaza Riverbank, Albert Embankment, London.

Mercy Johnson marriage faces another trouble

opular Nollywood actress, Dayo Amusa is still basking in the success of her film, “Unforgivable,” staring Mike Ezeronye and directed by Desmond Elliot.

Speaking with the Sun news online, the voluptuous actress allegedly admitted to unfaithfulness in her past relationship.

Here are excerpts from the Sun news online interview.

"Yes I have cheated on a boyfriend. I cheated when I realized he wasn’t real and not what he said he was. In my mind, I moved on even without telling him. I move on in my mind before telling the person I’m dat-

Omotola releases single soon

ing. If I make up my mind, that’s it.

Has your boyfriend ever cheated on you?

Which guy does not cheat?

Guys are born to cheat.

Did you feel bad?

Yes, most definitely. I won’t leave my man because he cheated. I won’t. That’s the way men are. They can tell you, you are the only sugar in their tea. Don’t mind them.

"There’s honey they are mixing with it. I don’t want to see it.

You know some guys are so irresponsible that they splash it in your face.

-E247mag

N

ollywood super star, Omotola Jalade Ekehinde, who just acquired a property in Ikeja, for her non governmental organization, has given her music career another boost by releasing a new single titled Barren Land.

The new single, it was learnt is from her yet to be released second album-Me, Myself and Eyes.

The song is being used by Amnesty International for their campaigns.

e

Iyabo Ojo to drop hubby's nam

Alex

B

eautiful Yoruba actress, Iyabo Ojo, midweek, disclosed to her fans that she would not be using Iyabo Ojo Films Production as her movie production name any more for reasons best known to her.

Ojo said the new name will now be Fespris Production. She

added: "I will be dropping the name Ojo soon".

One recalls the recent legal tussle between the erstwhile celebrated couple, Saheed Balogun and Fathia Balogun that led to the latter dropping Balogun and using her maiden name, Williams.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 38

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L etters

Still on inec time table

By Adewale Kupoluyi

I

n what could be described as the formal commencement of electoral activities for the forthcoming general elections and in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission has released the time table, which is now generating one controversy or the other because of the scheduling.

Series of events have been lined-up such that February 14, 2015 has been fixed as the date for presidential and National Assembly elections, while February 28, 2015 has been set aside for governorship and state houses of assembly elections.

The contending issues border on some points that deserve to be examined. In the first instance, with the scheduling of the presidential election ahead of governorship and state houses of assembly, many observers believe that this is nothing but a deliberate plot by INEC to hoodwink Nigerians into voting for a President that is not their choice. It has been argued that the governorship election is very important and should rather come before the presidential election so that people would not be encumbered to vote for whoever they wished as president.

Secondly, the dates for the presidential and governorship elections are not too far from the date of inauguration, which is supposed to be on May 29, 2015. By this date, all election petitions and litigations are expected to have been concluded. If there are rerun elections, those elections can only be conducted in March, given the litigation period. If these lapses are not tackled, it could mean that those elected wrongly would have fed fat on our collective wealth before being kicked-out of office. Unless INEC is so certain that its logistics will be so efficient as to assure that the president and all governors would emerge after the first ballot, it may be necessary to review this timeframe to avoid any possible mix-up that may erupt in the event that whoever become president and governors are not determined in the first ballot.

Thirdly, the inability of INEC to

WRITE TO US

Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com adverts@peoplesdailyng.com pictures@peoplesdailyng.com contact@peoplesdailyng.com announce specific dates for campaigns as well as the dates for primaries and submission of party candidates is not helpful because the release of the timetable by INEC would ordinarily spur politicians into starting vigorous campaign activities. Adversely, this will take its toll on governance in the sense that many public officials would jettison serious governance and look for every means to amass wealth, to get re-elected. With the released timetable, there should ordinarily be no reasons to fret about scheduling of elections in the country but our experience in the past, prevailing high incidence of corruption, tribalism and the unbridled desperation by politicians to get into power should give us the basis to do a flashback.

In 1979, the governorship election was held first on July 28 followed by the presidential polls on August 11 but in 1983, the controversial ‘bandwagon effect’ was introduced into the nation’s political history when the presidential election was conducted first on August 6 while governorship polls came up a week after on August 13. The elections were the most bloodiest because it was characterized by widespread rigging; an excuse the military cited as the justification to wrestle power from the civilians. On the return of the country to civil rule in 1999, local council elections were held on December 5, 1998, which was followed

by the governorship on January 9, 1999 and the presidential election on February 27, 1999 while in 2003, there was a marked departure from the two patterns that already existed. In this case, the gubernatorial and presidential elections were held on the same day and time, which was on April 19. In 2007, governorship and state assembly elections were held first on April 14, while the presidential and National Assembly elections were held on April 21. In 2011, the presidential polls were held on April 16 while the governorship election took place on April 26.

Which option is therefore suggested under the current dispensation? Going by our past experiences, holding of the presidential election ahead of the governorship is likely to sway other elections in favour of the political party that controls the central government at the expense of other parties. The second option of holding all the elections on the same day is capable of causing chaos for INEC, in terms of logistics. The third alternative of holding both the governorship and state houses of assembly before the presidential and National Assembly elections seems more acceptable to many Nigerians. INEC should toe this line by revisiting the time table.

This fear is borne out of past experience whereby whosoever is elected as president influences other levels of elections in the

country. This was the point raised by many people, including the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, when he accused the Presidency of influencing the electoral umpire to fix the presidential election first, so as to create a ‘bandwagon effect’ in subsequent elections in favour of the ruling party. If and when this is done, it will address the problem of ‘bandwagon effect’ and voting for the wrong presidential candidate. The Bandwagon Effect in this case occurs where some people vote for those candidates or parties that are likely to succeed.

I think we should be sincere with ourselves by realizing that with the kind of presidential system that we practice in Nigeria, it will be absolutely difficult to draw a clear line between what the Presidency wants and the shape of things to come at all levels of our polity. It is the outcome of the presidential election that will invariably determine the fate of other elections. That is why the opposition parties believe – rightly or wrongly – that staggered elections in the past had only succeeded in causing further electoral crises because of its ‘bandwagon effect’ and manipulation by any government in power.

The Attahiru Jega-led electoral umpire should go the extra length to convince Nigerians that it is capable of conducting credible elections. This is necessary going by the several knocks received for the conduct of the last Anambra governorship poll. INEC should strive to faithfully implement the timetable when it is eventually reviewed, taking into cognizance the critical issue of spacing the polls such that adequate logistics are made for any possible runoff that may arise either in governorship or presidential elections. This will not only ensure that free and fair elections are transparently conducted, it will equally allow for the emergence of right candidates that would give purposeful leadership that the nation seriously desires.

Kupoluyi writes from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, vide, adewalekupoluyi@ yahoo.co.uk, Twitter, @ AdewaleKupoluyi

PAGE 39

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Opinion

Politics of deportations: Where are the northern governors?

By Gimba Kakanda Religion and nationalism are the most powerful forms of indoctrination and, in the name of these two, many injustices can be done so that our idea of a shared humanity [in terms of religion and nationality] is thus contradicted and ridiculed. Nationalism is theoretically the healer of a colourfully diverse country possessed by the ghosts of hatred along the lines of the things that highlight differences, from the shapes of our places of worship to the colour of our skin. And where nationalism fails, where the love for country and appreciation of its diversity are dominated by our allegiances to personal and private interests, conflicts set in, sometimes irredeemable ones, other times those repairable through diplomacy. But where the latter fails and the former is unanimously understood, cartographers are invited to demarcate the geography of our conflicts.

Like the split of India and Pakistan. Like the split of North Korea and South Korea. Like the Split of Malaysia and Singapore. And, yes, like the attempted split of Nigeria into two unequal halves.

If our history of the last 50 years is not a memo on how not to run a country, I wonder how this growing sectionalism can be

Cont’d from page 15 been congested with appeals arising from gubernatorial elections. Thus, disputes arising from presidential and legislative elections are heard by two sets of judges they are determined by three sets of judges with respect to governorship election.

Timely Dispensation of Election Petitions Since it is crystal clear that the INEC cannot conduct fair and free elections in the foreseeable future election petitions has become an integral part of our dysfunctional electoral system.

In the circumstance, all relevant stakeholders ought to consider the following suggestions: 1.

The INEC has just released the timetable for the 2015 general election. According to the timetable the presidential, governorship and legislative elections are scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28, 2015. Since the INEC is required by section 25 of the Electoral Act to appoint a date not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days to the expiration of the tenure of office holders the national assembly should amend the Electoral Act to enable the INEC to conduct the elections in December 2014.

2. If the amendment is effected there will be a period of 180 days to deal with election petitions.

However, if the law is not amended the timetable should be reviewed to allow all the elections to hold in one day during the first week of January 2015. If that is done there will be not less than 4 months to prosecute petitions arising from the elections.

3. As election petitions are said to be sui generis there is no basis

tamed. What’s happening in Nigeria today is a repeat, though reversed, of those dark years where a set of people became the scapegoats for an atrocity carried out by a few aggrieved or deluded citizens who are members of a persecuted ethnicity or region.

This is what made the deportation, over the week, of 84 “northerners” by Imo State government very devastating news. On suspicion of terrorism, they said. The deportees, who were in Owerri to study at Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies, ICAPS, had reportedly camped on the premises of a newspaper house while awaiting their registration procedures before their identity became pronounced as the enemies, northerners, “terrorists”, and thus they had too be deported “for fears that they might be members of the dreaded Boko Haram.” A few days before that, it was the case of Igbo youths attacking Hausa traders in Onitsha.

Their crime? “(A)lleged killing of a staff of the Anambra State Transport Agency, ASTA, by a trailer driver of Northern extraction (sic)” – Vanguard Newspaper (15/01/2015). Isn’t this, this careless scapegoating, the root of our deepened sectionalism?

The earth almost folded when Lagos State’s Governor Babatunde Fashola, in one of his anti-

people policies, deported some Igbos to their home state. The streak of condemnations and especially the screams of marginalisation among Igbo political and intellectual elite and the compliant masses, was deafening, and I must add, frightening. The Igbo deportees have dragged the Lagos State Government to court, and this week they declared their demand for a billion naira in damages. None of us supported Fashola. Interestingly, none of these “human rights activists”, who had shown us the shade of their ethnic activism, bothered about the ill treatments of perceived northerners in the hands of the same Igbos. Only the empathy of a bigot functions is such a manner.

And when some of us stepped out to highlight these issues, there are murmurings about attacks on the Igbos too in the north by Boko Haram insurgents. Is Boko Haram a legitimate advocate of the north, Hausa-Fulani or the Muslims? Isn’t it an enemy of state, against any people, organisation or interest averse to its heavily flawed and misrepresented ideals of Islam? In the lash of its many crimes against humanity, has Boko Haram not killed uncountable innocent Nigerians, as it targets churches, mosques of noncooperating Muslims, schools of both Muslims and Christians,

boys and girls and also public institutions where religious affiliations are not tattooed on workers’ foreheads? Permit me to ask: is the emir of Kano, a frail old man who escaped death in gun attack and now living in fear of the terrorists, a Christian – and an Igbo? Are the young men here in the north called “Civilian JTF” who have risen to fight the terrorists also Igbos – and Christians?

Were the murdered retired military officer and elder statesman, General Mohammad Shuwa, and all the northern elite and technocrats lost in this madness Christians and Igbos? And was the father of Kano State’s Governor Kwankwaso who was attacked just last week a Christian and an Igbo? If Boko Haram has enjoyed the backing of the north as is being touted by hate-mongering commentators who do not even know that the north is a region of 19 expansive states, why are indigenous northerners and Muslims also targeted alongside the Christians?

Now where are the northern governors? And where are the so-called representatives of the northern interests, especially the Arewa Consultative Forum? So there is no screaming and calling for Governor Rochas Okorocha’s explanations and apologies, and, threatening to retaliate? Our Governors, especially Katsina

State’s Governor Ibrahim Shema from whose State the “terrorist” suspects hailed, must carry out a needful measure, in the fashion of Anambra State’s Governor Peter Obi’s confrontations of his Lagos counterpart. They must prove to these boys that they are indeed elected to represent them.

If those prospective students have been suspected to be of the Boko Haram militants and potentially considered threats by the clairvoyance of the security personnel in Owerri, why weren’t they handed over to the “appropriate authorities” as our bail-abusing policemen are called in friendliest references?

Well, the next election is just a calendar away, you may chant “Sai mai sallah” again in abusing your franchise having been hoodwinked into sectional alignments. What have these political “masu sallah”, those representative of your own religious values and ethnic identities, done for you now that you’re being hauled as worthless third-class citizens with no political representatives?

Thank you, Governor Okorocha for exposing that the Boko Haram insurgents from the republic of northern Nigeria now carry identity cards around. We thank you, sir. May God save us from us!

By Gimba Kakanda @gimbakakanda (On Twitter)

tribunal or the qualification of the judges.

6. Election Petitions and appeals arising therefrom should be heard day by day until they are concluded. On no account should adjournments be allowed as a result of absence of counsel. Leading lawyers handling election petitions should be compelled to work with other colleagues who can hold their brief in their absence.

7. In addition to the Practice Directions issued by the President of the Court of Appeal for the management of election petitions the Nigerian Bar Association should produce guidelines for the activities of lawyers who handle election cases.

The proposed rules of behavior should cover professional fees as some senior lawyers have recently been accused of serving as agents for some corrupt judges and promoters of money laundering for politicians.

8. Although INEC undertaken to commence continuous voter registration in 2014 the commission should stop comply with the law without any further delay. This will stop the crisis of supplying political parties and candidates with defective voters’ registers on the eve of elections.

9. I am not unaware that candidates returned by the INEC shall remain in office pending the

determination of election petitions they should be made to refund al salaries and allowances collected by them if they are ordered to vacate office on account of electoral fraud.

On no account should criminals be rewarded for subverting the democratic process.

Electoral Offences Tribunal It is indisputable that electoral malfeasance is on the increase because of the culture of impunity in the land. The recommendation of the Justice Mohammed Uwaisled Electoral Reform Committee for the establishment of an electoral offences tribunal to prosecute electoral offenders was rejected by the Federal Government. However, the INEC has been vested with the prosecution of electoral offenders by virtue of section 157 of the Electoral Act. As the legal department of the INEC is not equipped to carry out the prosecution of electoral offenders the Federal Government should be prevailed upon to set up an electoral offences tribunal without any further delay.

This suggestion is in line with the White Paper issued by the Federal Government on the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu Presidential Panel Political Violence in some Northern States in April 2011 wherein the Attorney-General of the Federation

and Minister of Justice has been directed “to take necessary action to establish this Tribunal”.

Apart from investigating and prosecuting persons involved in political thuggery, electoral fraud, political terrorism and other electoral offences the Tribunal should be empowered to try political party leaders who impose or substitute candidates through undemocratic methods.

Conclusion From the foregoing, it is undoubtedly clear that if credible elections are conducted by the INEC there will be no basis for setting up election petition tribunals.

Recent experience in Nigeria has shown that candidates who are defeated in credible elections do not hesitate to congratulate the winners.

Such candidates and their political parties do not dissipate energies and resources in filing election petitions.

Instead of designing tools for the speedy determination of election petitions, what is needed is a mechanism that ensures INEC is repositioned to conduct fair and free elections.

Mr. Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria is a regular public affairs commentator, a frontline public interest litigant contributed this piece on Premium Times

An agenda for free and fair 2015 elections for equating them with criminal cases where the prosecution is required to prove the case against a defendant beyond reasonable doubt. Since electoral justice is aimed at confirming the candidates elected by the people the proof of election petitions should be based on the balance of probability.

4.

The onus of proving that valid and lawful election has been conducted should be discharged by the INEC. In other words, once a petitioner shows that elections were marred by irregularities, violence, inadequacies of election materials.

In Buhari v. Obasanjo (2005) 19 WRN 1 at 166 Tabai JCA (as he then was) held “In this situation someone has to do more to show the veracity of his position. In my view, the party to do more to show the veracity of his position, should be the one who tried to show that election was held in accordance with the laws”.

5. Appeals arising from governorship election petitions should terminate at the Court of Appeal as was the practice before 2011. Furthermore, interlocutory appeals should be abolished in election related cases. Preliminary objections should be taken together with the substantive petitions.

No petition should be struck out on technical grounds unless they challenge the jurisdiction of the

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Comments

Security: Ending inter-agency rivalry

By Fatima Goni

F

inally, President Goodluck Jonathan has confirmed the reason for the replacement of service which he blamed on the inter-service rivalry. Speaking while commissioning the Air Force Comprehensive School in Yola, Adamawa State, Jonathan urged a synergy among the nation’s security agencies, adding that Nigeria is already exposed to “cancer” of insurgency.

Few days before the visit, suspected Boko Haram members were reported to have attacked churches and mosques killing innocent citizens in Borno and Adamawa States. The recent attacks might have been triggered to dissuade the President from visiting the home-state of his new Chief of Defence, Air Marshal Alex Badeh who is from Adamawa.

It should also be recalled that immediately after the announcement of the new Chief of Defence Staff, the Nigerian air-force were reported to have attacked and killed a number of suspected insurgents at Cameroonian border with Nigeria. Badeh who was former Chief of Air Staffs, had promised to crush terrorists by April 2014.

Meanwhile during his recent visit to Yola, President Jonathan described Air Marshal Alex Badeh as a good manager of resources who he had observed over the years, adding that other service chiefs were carefully selected because they are close friends and thoroughbred professionals who believe strongly on national unity and cohesion even in the military.

The new service chiefs are Major

General Kenneth Tobaih Minnimah (Army), Rear Admiral Usman Jibril (Navy) and Air Vice Marshall Adeshola Nunayon Amosu (Airforce) Apart from the obvious interagency rivalry amid stiff and daring military operation, ethnic warlords and tribal champions have accused the system of plotting to retain some of the military chiefs to prosecute the 2015 general elections.

We should not loss the fact that the military has so far succeeded in restricting and cornering Boko haram insurgency to few states in the North-East. Few years ago, terrorists were having field days in other parts of the country including, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto and few incursions in other states including the Federal Capital Abuja.

Politics aside, the Nigerian military has recorded tremendous success in its war against insurgency.

The relative peace so far recorded in the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe before the recent

“

unfortunate development even in worship centres, is attributed to the gallantry, determination, sacrifice and relentless struggles of the Nigerian security agencies. Even though it has continued to lose its finest personnel in several coordinated attacks against terrorists, it has remained undaunted and more committed to ending acts of terrorism across the country.

It is undeniable the fact that there are security hiccups that are not peculiar to Nigeria alone. Big, independent and advanced nations like the United States of America, France, United Kingdom, China, Canada among others have their own fair share of security challenges. The aforementioned governments have continued to reel out plans, strategies and programmes aimed at overcoming their individual security challenges which appeared to have hampered their progress. Change in strategies, plans and complete overhaul of the security apparatchik just to ensure success are at some point very nec-

essary in such countries. Citizens of such countries believe that changes within the security sector are tailored towards guaranteeing their safety, so they hardly question them when implemented.

Without doubts, we still have a long way to go in banishing terrorism from our dear land. More re-organization, strategy reviews, policy alteration, shake-up, alignments and re-alignments are part and parcel of what to expect in positioning the Nigerian military for optimum performance.

It is the wish and prayer of all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religious, ethnic or political aspiration for Nigeria to overcome its security challenges as soon as possible. The human and material loses so far recorded are too massive to be quiet about. We cannot continue to act as though those precious lives we keep losing in separate attacks are not precious to us. We have every reason to be worried about this sad occurrence. Every soul lost in any of these attacks should be a source

Politics aside, the Nigerian military has recorded tremendous success in its war against insurgency.

The relative peace so far recorded in the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe before the recent unfortunate development even in worship centres, is attributed to the gallantry, determination, sacrifice and relentless struggles of the Nigerian security agencies.

of concern to any Nigerian. All the government requires of us is full time cooperation and understanding as it goes about making necessary changes in the nation’s security make-up to overcome challenges posed by insurgent groups.

We all desire to see that peace and normalcy returns to all trouble spots across the country.

The successes so far recorded in the war against insurgency must be sustained. We need not allow unnecessary primordial and clannish issues distract us from consolidating on the gains so far recorded. Even members of the international community are happy with Nigeria’s modest achievements in its efforts to end terrorism in the country. As Nigerian too, we should cooperate with the security agencies in providing necessary supports and information for the protection of lives and property.

The new heads of these security establishments should seek to breakdown the wall of mutual suspicions and inter-agency rivalry among their chiefs and their personnel. They should make effort to share intelligence report.

They should all realize that they have common goal of ensuring that Nigeria is safe for both Nigerians and her visitors. The government should not tolerate any unnecessary competition that will bring retrogression to this country. They should work collectively in harmony to ensure that the nation overcomes her security challenges.

Fatima Goni Kofar Dukawuya Kano

Rivers crisis and First Lady’s intervention

By Ada Stella Apiafi

W

hen in 2010 there was a ‘change of guards’ in the highest office of the land, it was established that a ‘new order’ had also evolved in the position of First Lady. Naturally so! With the formal change of guards taking place as the outcome of the 2011 elections, it was established that Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his wife, had now become the new Father and Mother of the nation.

So much has happened since they assumed tenancy at the villa.

There have been times of up and down, good and not so good; historic events have also taken place under the Goodluck dispensation.

Let’s face it, a lot has happened, and commendations should be sent the way of the President as he continues to grapple with the exigencies of office. Well, as the saying goes, “uneasy lies the head that wears the crown!” As with every President, the scorecard of the current President has been a subject of debate on the lips, minds, and even writings of Nigerians as a whole. Perhaps because we are drawing close to an election year, more “evaluators” are springing up by the day – for or against!

Well, history will decide which way

the verdict will swing!

Whilst the final analysis is left for history to tell, and posterity hangs in the shadows, perhaps it’s a good time to also look at certain burning issues stirring the First Lady of the nation in the face. I mentioned earlier that as the President’s wife, the position of First Lady of the nation is automatically assumed. The position of First Lady also confers the status – and huge responsibility, I daresay – of being the “Mother of the Nation,” a position which requires a clear understanding, articulation, objectivity, and even temperament, in order to perform excellently in that role.

Dame Patience Jonathan is not new to the position of “First Lady,” having been so when her husband assumed office as Governor of Bayelsa State a while back. Even as far back as then, she had shown a deep appreciation of her role, having initiated, and been involved in many developmental projects, in her capacity as First Lady of Bayelsa State. Philanthropy has also been an integral part of her life, as she has embarked on quite a number of successful Women Empowerment projects, with many of the beneficiaries still singing her praises to date.

Peace-keeping is also a passion

of hers, going by the many Peaceoriented projects she has embarked on, leading up to her most recent confident declaration in December 2013, that she should now be known and addressed as “Mama Peace!”

Her words: “My name is no more Patience but now Mama Peace, because I believe that without peace, there will be no more women, no more children and no more health sector. Without peace, our international community will be afraid to come and invest in our country. Peace is from the heart and not from the tongue or lips; not what you say but what is in you. We pray for genuine peace because peace is the key to our arriving at our desired destination as a nation.”

As mentioned earlier, so much has been going on since we entered the new year. It would be difficult to ignore the fact that violence has been rearing its head amongst us, threatening our national security, costing us many lives and properties, and denting the image of our country more and more each day.

Rivers State, Borno, Maiduguri, Ilorin, have witnessed spates of violence that have kept our security apparatus working round the clock.

All these practically negate the good intentions of our Mama Peace. In

fact they are a challenge to the Peace that she has devoted her energies to advocating. Sadly, all these have taken place within a period of one month!

But by far the real and greatest litmus test that has been thrown in the path of “Mama Peace,” is the crisis in Rivers State! Whilst not attempting to overlook, demean, or brush aside other parts of the country where skirmishes and violence have erupted - indeed, as the “Mother of the nation,” Her Excellency must call all her “fighting children” (the citizens), to order - it is very clear that the Dame has to take charge of things in Rivers State in particular, and use her success there as a template to sue for peace in the other volatile sections of the country. Without meaning to sound sectional, Rivers State is her state of origin, and “charity,” they say, “begins at home!”

Her Excellency can use her position to bring about peace in that State. It is no longer a matter of who is wrong, or who is right, nor even whether these eruptions are politically motivated, or nor – it is now a matter of moving to save the State from absolute collapse and destruction, where the people will suffer greatly. Her Excellency has to come

out boldly, as the “Joan of Arc” of Nigeria, to call all warring parties to order, and foster peace and unity in Rivers State, in the true spirit of her name and calling, “Mama Peace!”

With the various global awards, recognitions, and respect that she has received as a Peace and Development advocate, there is no better time to use her position than now.

The success that will accrue from taking such a stand is unquantifiable – Nigerians as a whole will rise up and applaud her for doing the needful, and for taking a stand against social injustice, and I’m almost certain will accord her all the support to transpose this same move to other States, and sections of the country where there is conflict. (just imagining the avalanche of awards that will follow such a move actually brings a smile to my face)!

Nigeria needs peace, Nigerians need peace! To our First Lady, the Mother of The Nation, our own Mama Peace, we say, THIS is our plea, so that PEACE may reign across the land; so that Nigerians can live in PEACE; and so that the global community can perceive us as a country of PEACE! Ada Stella Apiafi National Coordinator, I-Nigerian Initiative, Abuja

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 41

Online comments be proactive on real national APC crisis: matters and stopped pandering to base bias.

Shekarau offers to meet APC senators Kwankwaso slam 2014 …as Marwa, Budget Bafarawa,

Belgore disown nAPC

Bestman736 says: It is obvious PDP is at work again. The big monster does not want any serious opposition hence will do anything to break the ranks of the APC. Of course, they are old at it. The trick has worked repeatedly and it baffles that the opposition are yet to decipher and then build a defence mechanism against it.

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Reps to probe arrest of 320 Northerners in Rivers Linus says: Those people are BH that ran away from the military operation in the North. SO please stop protecting them. Instead of playing politics with this issue the members of the APC in the House Representatives should

Josh says: Why is it that some senators under APC are running around like an helpless chicken? Where were they when there was call for the implementation of the Oransanya report? If the report had been passed into law and the number of people on FG’s payroll reduced, the recurrent expenditure will be around 20%.

No, it is simple selfish ambition. Must the APC criticize everything just because they want to seen and heard in the media?

Is it not instructive that several months after it came on board the APC is yet to unveil its manifestoes, yet to commence registration of members?

The Ebira girl in me (II) Aminat Musa says: Nice post by an intelligent individual. Since my youthful age, I have always prayed to find love from a woman from my tribe. I prayed fervently to get married to charming and lovely girl from my respected Ebira tribe and I have never stopped searching and hoping.

My resolve to marry an Ebira woman is borne out of my conviction that they are the best for me. I don’t have any negative thought about them. In fact, my parents never told me anything bad about the Ebiras and I have observed nothing grievously bad about them.

As is usual with every tribe, I have come across some good as well as bad ones, but it has not changed anything because no tribe is perfect and none should expect perfection from anybody or tribe.

Most times our parents are the cause of all these negative thoughts about the Ebiras because they usually prefer to relate those happenings to their children as if there aren’t some good tidings I am proud to be anebira and sure will always be Sharon Sonia says: Wow! I am proud of my

Alh. Atiku Abubakar land, though those that are very talented hardly find favour. Our people seem to perform poorly at home. Mercy Johnson, the Nollywood actress, made in it in her chosen career most likely because she wasn’t brought up here.

But l believe in myself, I believe the best will come at the time and our people will adjust their thinking and attitude. I love my home.

Ohinoyi says: Nice one.

I seriously need a nice and beautiful Ebira girl in my life…

Would prefer she is based within the Northern states. Kindly reach me on 08083350279 or bbm 764167E4. Thanks

Rivers crisis: APC orders NASS to stop 2014 Budget, ministerial nominees Uche says: This is a worthy call. It shows that the leadership of the APC have the concern of the citizens in mind. Unfortunately, some members of the PDP would rather think otherwise. They have described the clarion call from APC for its members to block all executive bills to the NASS as a call to entrench anarchy in the country, this is base-

Alh. Ahmed Mu’azu less and very unfortunate.

We are all living witness of how police are being used to disturb the peace in Rivers State.

What can you call the action from the police in Rivers? It seems most PDP members celebrate thuggery and outlawry.

Such will in no way help the country derive dividends of democracy.

Nigerianmade Nissan debuts in April Usman Kashim says: This is indeed is cheering news. I think this is one good way of looking inward. Of course Rome was not built in a day and so we should not expect perfect made-in – Nigeria cars. However, without initiating action Nigeria will remain in the woods and be perpetual consumers of foreign-made cars. It is a good development that should be encouraged.

One hopes the usual inconsistency in policy will not erode this good intention and rob the nation of taking a progressive stride into car manufacturing.

Vegetable export: Farmers earn about N500,000

weekly Ekpenyong Bassey says: l am a farmer from Cross River State, I have been cultivating pumpkin, waterleaf, green amaranthus using organic manure.

Recently you did an exciting article which subject was of profound interest to me. Besides your article dwell on exportation of farm produced and the likely possibility of doing so. l’m very interested in export business and will therefore accept any help that you can offer in that respect. Specifically, l just want to ask, How can l access market? And could you assist me to access whatever rules guiding exportation of farm produce?

Amakiri Dikoru says: I would like to contact the writer Mohammed Kandi. You can contact me with this emaila. dikoru@gmail.com.

Mu’azu won’t make any difference in PDP – Atiku Alhaji Haruna Sule says: Atiku you are the right candidate who will aspire for presidency in this country. You always say the truth on a serious issue and give advice therein. May the almighty Allah strengthen your effort.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 42

Health Xtra

Scientific proof that siestas are beneficial

• Sleeping for short periods in the day helps memory and cognitive function • But napping for 30mins or an hour can leave you with a sleep hangover • This is because you wake yourself during periods of deep sleep • Instead nap for 10-20mins for a quick refresh • Or sleep 90mins for a full sleep cycle, with no grogginess when you wake

W

e have long known that naps have an important function in refreshing and reviving a tired mind.

Some of the greatest thinkers of recent times have been avid nappers – Winston Churchill reportedly relied on regular short naps to help him lead the country through the war.

And yet there remains a cruel stigma against those of us who wish to pop back into bed during daylight hours for a quick shut eye.

But now, in a round-up of

“

scientific research, there is evidence not only proving the real benefits of a kip, but detailed findings that show how varying lengths of snooze have different beneficial effects on the brain.

If you want to wake up from your nap feeling immediately rested then either brief a snooze of 10-20 minutes or a longer 90 minute sleep are your best options.

In a 10-20 minute sleep you will only enter the first, lightest stage of sleep known as nonrapid eye movement, or nonREM sleep. This length of sleep will give you a boost in energy

In a 10-20 minute sleep you will only enter the first, lightest stage of sleep known as nonrapid eye movement, or nonREM sleep. This length of sleep will give you a boost in energy levels and alertness

levels and alertness but since your sleep won’t be deep, you will be able to wake up easily with little grogginess.

While a 90 minute nap will allow you to fall into a deep sleep, a full hour 30 minutes allows you to complete a complete sleep cycle, giving you plenty of benefits, but also allowing you to rise without that confused sleepy feeling.

Research shows that a snooze of this length will improve procedural memory and creativity.

However don’t be fooled into thinking that longer sleeps are automatically better.

Though a nap of an hour or 30 minutes will allow your brain to rest, and so provide benefits, interrupting your sleep cycle at these intervals will likely leave you feeling like you have a ‘sleep hangover’, known as sleep inertia, and potentially, more tired than before you shut your eyes.

After being asleep for half an hour, your brain enters a deep level of sleep and waking up will

Napping for the wrong length of time could actually leave you feeling temporarily worse result in sleep inertia of up to 30 minutes before you feel any benefits of having rested.

A 60 minute nap, while allowing for some excellent cognitive rest and benefits, such as improved memory for faces and facts, it is long enough for you to slip into the deepest type of sleep, called slow wave.

Attempting to wake yourself from the middle of slow wave sleep will make you feel pretty fuzzy headed for a while, which may defeat the point if you were trying to feel immediately refreshed in the middle of a hectic schedule.

Sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus explains: ‘If you take it longer than 30 minutes, you end up in deep sleep. Have you ever taken a nap and felt worse when you woke up? That’s what’s happening — you’re sleeping too long and you’re going into a stage of sleep that’s very difficult to get out of.’

A snooze of either 20 or 90 minutes will reap the most benefits and leave you feeling refreshed when you wake up

Source: Daily Mail

PAGE 43

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Human Angle Muslim woman ordered to remove her veil to speak in her defence

• Judge Peter Murphy made the landmark ruling that 22-year-old Rebekah Dawson must remove her niqab when giving evidence • Her barrister told the jury she would not give evidence in her own defence • Dawson, of east London, is on trial alongside her brother, Matthias Dawson • Both defendants deny a single charge of witness intimidation

S

ome of the greatest thinkers of recent times have been avid nappers – Winston Churchill reportedly relied on regular short naps to help him lead the country through the war.

And yet there remains a cruel stigma against those of us who wish to pop back into bed during daylight hours for a quick shut eye.

But now, in a round-up of scientific research, there is evidence not only proving the real benefits of a kip, but detailed findings that show how varying lengths of snooze have different beneficial effects on the brain.

If you want to wake up from your nap feeling immediately rested

then either brief a snooze of 10-20 minutes or a longer 90 minute sleep are your best options.

In a 10-20 minute sleep you will only enter the first, lightest stage of sleep known as non-rapid eye movement, or non-REM sleep. This length of sleep will give you a boost in energy levels and alertness but since your sleep won’t be deep, you will be able to wake up easily with little grogginess.

While a 90 minute nap will allow you to fall into a deep sleep, a full hour 30 minutes allows you to complete a complete sleep cycle, giving you plenty of benefits, but also allowing you to rise without

Covered up: Rebekah Dawson has not removed her niqab for any of her court hearings

that confused sleepy feeling.

Research shows that a snooze of this length will improve procedural memory and creativity.

However don’t be fooled into thinking that longer sleeps are automatically better.

Though a nap of an hour or 30 minutes will allow your brain to rest, and so provide benefits, interrupting your sleep cycle at these intervals will likely leave you feeling like you have a ‘sleep hangover’, known as sleep inertia, and potentially, more tired than before you shut your eyes. fter being asleep for half an hour, your brain enters a deep level of sleep and waking up will result in sleep inertia of up to 30 minutes before you feel any benefits of having rested.

A 60 minute nap, while allowing for some excellent cognitive rest and benefits, such as improved memory for faces and facts, it is long enough for you to slip into the deepest type of sleep, called slow wave.

Attempting to wake yourself from the middle of slow wave sleep will make you feel pretty fuzzy headed for a while, which may defeat the point if you were trying to feel immediately refreshed in the middle of a hectic schedule.

Sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus explains: ‘If you take it longer than 30 minutes, you end up in deep sleep. Have you ever taken a nap and felt worse when you woke up?

That’s what’s happening — you’re sleeping too long and you’re going into a stage of sleep that’s very difficult to get out of.’

A

Source: Daily Mail

Rebekah Dawson arriving at Blackfriars Crown Court in Central London for her trial last week

Rebekah Dawson arrives at Blackfriars Crown Court wearing a niqab. She and her brother Matthias are accused of intimidating a potential witness

Dawson is on trial alongside her brother accused of intimidating a security guard at the Finsbury Park mosque

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 44

Archive The Flora and Fauna across Africa’s landscape

Pride of Lions This group of lions lives on the savanna region in Masai Mara, Kenya, in Africa. The grasslands are ideally suited to the needs of these carnivores. Some African countries now protect many large cats in game reserves.

Richard Packwood/Oxford Scientific Films

Vegetation in the Okavango Delta In the Okavango Delta in Botswana, water from the Okavango River flows through many channels filled with papyrus and other aquatic plants.

Frans Lanting/Minden Pictures

Zebras in Serengeti National Park Zebras drink and graze near a river in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. Millions of animals spend the rainy season in this grassland reserve. When the rivers dry at the end of the rainy season, the animals migrate to Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Park, where more abundant water conditions enable them to survive the dry season. Established in 1941, the Serengeti is one of Africa’s largest nature reserves.

Bildarchiv Okapia/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Great Enclosure, Great Zimbabwe The ruins of Great Zimbabwe, near Masvingo in modern Zimbabwe, were built by Shonaspeaking people between the 11th and 14th centuries. The Great Enclosure, shown here, contains a series of walled areas and, seen on the left among the trees, a solid conical structure, the function of which is not known. The main walls of the enclosure are as high as 10 m (32 ft) and as thick as 5 m (17 ft).

Robert Holmes/Corbis

African Elephants African elephants live in grassy regions south of the Sahara Desert. Bull (male) elephants stand about 3.4 m (11 ft) tall and weigh about 5.4 metric tons, while cow (female) elephants stand 2.8 m (9 ft) tall and weigh about 3.6 metric tons. They have no sweat glands, so they like to cool off by rolling in ponds and streams.

The mud that dries on their skin protects it from the sun.

P.E. Parker/Hutchison Library

Sahel Drought Devastation The West African Sahel drought, which began in the late 1960s and lasted until the early 1980s, was the worst drought of the 20th century. The agriculture and livestock of much of Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad were devastated, and the countries’ economies suffered.

P. Ward/Bruce Coleman, Inc

Fouta Djallon Savanna While most of the Fouta Djallon region in Guinea is a rugged mountain plateau cut by deep valleys, the eastern portion is gently sloping land covered in part by savanna. The largest ethnic group of the region is the Fulani, many of whom raise cattle on the grasslands. The Fulani arrived in the region in about the 10th century, and later established a series of kingdoms throughout the area which stood until defeated by colonial powers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

David Reed/Panos Pictures

Biographies

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 45

Mobutu Sese Seko

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I INTRODUCTION obutu Sese Seko (19301997), president of Zaire, who seized power by force in 1965 and held it for more than three decades. Mobutu kept a chokehold on political power, amassing vast amounts of wealth while his country collapsed. After Mobutu was overthrown in 1997, Zaire was renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

II EARLY LIFE AND CAREER Born Joseph Désiré Mobutu in Lisala in the north of the former Belgian colony of Belgian Congo, Mobutu was educated in missionary schools. Joining the Belgian colonial army at age 19, he rose to the rank of sergeant-major, the highest rank open to Africans. In the late 1950s, as the colony moved toward independence, he worked as a journalist and joined the Congolese National Movement of militant nationalist Patrice Lumumba. The country achieved independence in June 1960 as the Republic of the Congo (it would be renamed the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1964) with Lumumba as prime minister.

Lumumba chose Mobutu as his private secretary and soon afterward named him army chief of staff.

The immediate postindependence era was marked by turmoil. In less than a week the army mutinied against its officer corps, which was still composed entirely of Belgians. The southern province of Katanga seceded less than a month later, and a power struggle quickly developed between Lumumba and President Joseph Kasavubu. Lumumba fell into disfavor with Western nations after making entreaties for help to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). In September 1960 29-year-old Mobutu, backed by the army, suspended the unstable government and placed Lumumba under house arrest. Lumumba was murdered shortly afterward, in January 1961. Evidence later implicated Mobutu and the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in setting up the murder.

Mobutu nominally turned power over to Kasavubu and fought the secession of Katanga, which was put down in 1963.

In November 1965, backed by the army, Mobutu staged a second coup. Declaring himself president, he abolished the office of prime minister and canceled elections scheduled for 1966. In 1970 Mobutu established the Popular Movement of the Revolution (MPR) as the sole political party, which all citizens were obliged to join. In 1970 Mobutu, running unopposed, was elected president.

III THE RULE OF THE “ALLPOWERFUL WARRIOR” As president, Mobutu sought to foster a cult of personality revolving around his stature as a hero and a leader. Stressing a “return to African authenticity,” Mobutu renamed the country Zaire in 1971, after an old, supposedly more authentic local name for the Congo River.

He changed his name to Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa za Banga (officially translated as ‘the all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, will go from conquest to conquest leaving fire in his wake.’) Banning European names and dress, he began to wear his signature leopard-skin hat. Credited with developing a sense of unity among the diverse ethnic groups, he promoted the use of four African languages (Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo, and Tshiluba) to complement the official language, French. Under a 1973 ‘Zairianization’ policy, his government seized about 2000 foreign-owned businesses. Most were distributed within Mobutu’s inner circle. Many of these businesses failed because of the new owners’ inexperience. Nevertheless, Western nations backed Mobutu’s regime as a bulwark against the spread of communism in Central Africa. In return for military support in quashing rebellions in Zaire, Mobutu allowed Western nations to use Zaire as a base for covert operations against communist forces in neighboring countries. The most notable example of this was the CIA’s support for

Angolan rebels operating out of southern Zaire.

One of Africa’s most tenacious dictators, Mobutu crushed political dissent, executing rivals he saw as threats. He suppressed rebellions in 1977 and 1978 with the help of Moroccan and Belgian troops and American and French military assistance. His political opponents formed the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) in 1982, but the party’s leaders were continually harassed and imprisoned throughout the 1980s. Mobutu consolidated his power by sharing the country’s wealth with political allies, a system often described as a kleptocracy. Reportedly absconding with billions of dollars in Western aid and export earnings generated by the country’s mineral wealth, Mobutu amassed a vast personal fortune, believed to have peaked at $4 billion in the mid1980s. Meanwhile a potentially wealthy country, plagued with corruption and mismanagement, suffered economic ruin.

In the late 1980s, as the ideological and geopolitical struggle between Western nations and communist nations known as the Cold War diminished, Mobutu became less significant to his Western allies. In October 1990 the Congress of the United States cut direct aid to Mobutu’s regime because of corruption and human rights abuses. Under domestic and international pressure for reform, Mobutu announced the creation of a multiparty system in 1991. However, he shrewdly sidestepped any real progress towards free multiparty elections. In 1991 and 1992 Mobutu wrangled with a conference organized to draft a new constitution and organize elections. Throughout the early and mid-1990s Mobutu, then suffering from prostate cancer, continued to cling to power, despite rising opposition and economic disaster. He began spending most of his time away from the capital, Kinshasa, at a palace he had built near his northern ancestral village of Gbadolite.

IV MOBUTU’S FALL In late 1996 a small ethnic rebellion in eastern Zaire suddenly expanded, routing Zaire’s underfunded and poorly disciplined army. Led by veteran guerrilla fighter Laurent-Désiré Kabila and supported by several neighboring countries, including Angola and Rwanda, the rebellion soon developed into an anti-Mobutu revolution. Meanwhile Mobutu left the country to undergo medical treatment in France, Switzerland, and Monaco. Despite the government’s hiring of foreign mercenaries, by the time Mobutu returned to Zaire in March 1997 the rebels had captured most of eastern Zaire and were rapidly pushing west toward Kinshasa. ays before Kabila’s capture of Kinshasa in May 1997 Mobutu relinquished power and fled the country. Increased expenses were believed to have reduced his wealth; however, he still owned luxury residences and real estate in Morocco, in South Africa, and throughout Europe. Having ruled with an iron grip for nearly 32 years, he died in exile in Rabat, Morocco, in September 1997. Impoverished and unstable, the Congo remains in the grip of his legacy.

Zaire Renamed as Mobutu Era Ends Completing a seven-month campaign that spanned the breadth of Africa’s third-largest nation, troops from the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL) entered the Zairian capital of Kinshasa on May 17, 1997, one day after former Zairian president Mobutu Sese Seko fled into exile.

Immediately declaring himself president, AFDL leader Laurent Désiré Kabila renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Contrary to fears that cornered government troops would resist the rebel takeover and force a battle for the capital, the AFDL’s arrival in Kinshasa was relatively peaceful. Looting and random killings occurred in some areas, but the outbreak of widespread fighting and pillaging that many had predicted failed to materialize. Many government soldiers surrendered without a fight, and, as was

D

Joseph Désiré Mobutu (later Mobutu Sese Seko) seized control of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in a 1965 coup. Mobutu ruled the country (renamed Zaire in 1971) for more than three decades, stifling political opposition and amassing huge sums of money while the country’s economy crumbled. In 1997 a widespread rebellion forced Mobutu to relinquish power and flee the country, which officially reverted to its former name. the case in other cities, the AFDL troops were reportedly orderly and disciplined for the most part. The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) estimated that there were about 200 deaths during the initial takeover.

In addition to changing the name of the country, Kabila promised to convene a “constituent assembly” within 60 days. This assembly would work to draft a new constitution to replace the one Kabila suspended on May 17. Many countries, including the United States, quickly recognized Kabila as the new president.

Kabila also pledged to announce his new government within 72 hours, but no announcements were made until May 23. The appointments, which placed most power in the hands of the AFDL and failed to include major opposition figures such as former Zairian prime minister Étienne Tshisekedi, drew immediate criticism from both inside and outside the Congo and led to demonstrations by Tshisekedi’s Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS). Tshisekedi had sought the office of prime minister, but Kabila abolished the office. Tensions increased when the government arrested demonstrators, placed restrictions on further protests, and banned political party activity in Kinshasa. Observers feared that Tshisekedi’s supporters would eventually force a violent showdown with the new government.

Kabila was sworn into office in Kinshasa on May 29. In a speech delivered at the swearing-in ceremony, Kabila promised a constitutional referendum

by December 1998 and legislative and presidential elections by April 1999.

Many African leaders attended the ceremony, including the presidents of Uganda, Rwanda, Angola, Zambia, and Burundi.

The month of May began with internationally arranged talks between Mobutu and Kabila aimed at preventing a battle for Kinshasa. Organized

by South Africa and the United States and held aboard a South African warship in international waters, the talks

fell through after the two sides failed to agree on an acceptable handover scenario. Mobutu reportedly asked that he be allowed to hand power to an elected transitional government while Kabila insisted that Mobutu either surrender power to him or be driven into exile. The talks ended on May 4 with an agreement to reconvene later. The second round, scheduled for May 14, was cancelled when Kabila refused to attend.

One of the “Big Men” of Africa—so called for their unquestioned grip on power—Mobutu rose to power as a Cold War ally of the West. Backed by his foreign sponsors, who stepped in more than once to put down rebellions against him, Mobutu set out to control every aspect of Zairian society after permanently seizing power in 1965. Drawing freely on the national treasury both to pay off his adversaries and to build his own fortune, Mobutu suppressed his political opponents, resorting at times to arbitrary arrest, imprisonment, and executions.

In 1971 he changed the name of the country, then the Republic of the Congo, to the Republic of Zaire, and in 1972 decreed that all Zairians had to replace their Western names with African ones.

Mobutu led the way, changing his name from Joseph Désiré Mobutu to Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu waza Banga. obutu’s new name translated as “The all-powerful warrior who because of his endurance and inflexible will to win will go from conquest to conquest leaving fire in his wake.” Indeed, some observers believed that Mobutu figuratively scorched Zaire.

He reportedly ruined the economy and allowed the infrastructure to rot away.

Educational and health care facilities also suffered. While most Zairians struggled to survive, Mobutu lived lavishly, allegedly amassing a multibillion dollar fortune. After fleeing the country on May 16, Mobutu traveled to Togo, and then to Morocco. He was expected to settle either there or at an estate he maintains in France.

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Source: Encarta Yearbook, May 1997.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

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International

Geneva II: A post-mortem

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ow that the Geneva II negotiations are over, it is not too premature to issue a post-mortem. The negotiations were set up to fail from the beginning as the regime and opposition negotiators came kicking and screaming at the behest of their foreign patrons, with no substantive grounds or political appetite for serious discussion.

In the first days of the negotiations both parties seemed more interested in political theatrics than in having negotiations around core political issues. Indeed, the only real points of agreement have come around humanitarian issues, but even these measures merely serve to deflect attention and energy away from political issues.

While it is fair to have pragmatic and tempered expectations for such peace negotiations - and thus to look forward to Geneva III, IV, V and so on when more substantive political transition issues may be discussed the failure of this round of negotiations to produce any tangible political change highlights not only the weakness of the process as presently constituted, but a failure in how Geneva has framed and articulated the core political issues that need to be resolved.

The singular focus on political transition - no doubt a necessary and desired objective - has deflected focus from more deeper and long-term problems facing Syrians. Grounding the negotiations in a set of goals established by Geneva Iis productive, but ultimately ignores the evolution and trajectory of the conflict since June 2012 when these goals were first established.

What is needed is a peace process that not only attempts to bring about a political transition, but one that simultaneously addresses the more intractable issues that will face Syrians in the future. At this point in the conflict, it is unclear whether a negotiated political transition on its own will suffice in putting a halt to the violence and displacement wrought by the conflict.

Reframing the Syrian revolution When the Geneva I principles were conceived, Syria was in the throes of a non-violent uprising that was increasingly becoming militarised. Foreign intervention into the Syrian conflict assumed different forms as it does now and the expectations of the opposition were that a transitional body would begin to realise the main demands of the uprising.

Syria opposition leader Ahmad Jarba (L) listens to U.S secretary of state John Kerry during the opening session of the Geneva 2 peace talks Since then the conflict has evolved considerably and its militarised dimensions have altered its trajectory. This has not only led to disturbing increases in violence but a greater penetration of the country by proregime and pro-rebel groups and supporters. Meanwhile, the state’s institutions have all but collapsed and the work of providing food, electricity, and other services has fallen into the hands of local authorities that are operating independently of one another.

The problem that the Geneva process is trying to solve was clearly framed around the question of who should govern the country. For the opposition and the wider international community, they rightly argued that the regime had lost legitimacy and authority to govern. Even today the opposition calls a transition body “the core issue” of the negotiations. The main assumption is that a transition body could serve to address the political grievances at the heart of the uprising and bring about an end to violence.

Yet, the Syrian uprising looked very different when Geneva I occurred and the core of the opposition demands were formulated and legitimised by the international community.

Since then, the Syrian uprising morphed into, and became layered against, a brutally violent

civil conflict. The realities on the ground have changed radically.

As such, it is unlikely that the process envisioned and designed by the Geneva negotiations can actually bring about a political solution that would contribute to moving the conflict towards resolution. While the early stages of the uprising may have been conducive to the imposition of a solution from above through an international peace process, the current state of the situation clearly does not. The framework for the peace negotiations has quite simply not adjusted to the realities of the conflict.

There is also the very serious question of implementing any agreement reached through the Geneva process. Can anyone take seriously the possibility that the

“

Syrian opposition has the ability to reign in rebel groups on the ground? One need only consider the rejection of the Geneva process by the more powerful groups to know the answer. The same question could be asked of the regime and its international patrons and whether they have the ability to halt violence committed by the regular army and the irregular militias operating in defence of the regime. This does not bode well for the process and points to the possibility that, in the future, should there be a formal political agreement of any sort by the regime and opposition, that it will have little material effect on the ground. It seems that the possibility for negotiations to have such an effect has passed.

Recognition of the complexity of the Syrian conflict and the need for a more comprehensive approach to its resolution does not require totally abandoning the Geneva process.

Moving forward Recognition of the complexity of the Syrian conflict and the need for a more comprehensive approach to its resolution does not require totally abandoning the Geneva process. Nor does it require jettisoning demands for a transition body. Syria absolutely needs a political transition. This should certainly remain a central focus of any negotiations. But it needs much more than that at this point and in the future.

A transition body should not be the end goal, and the assumptions of the process moving forward should not be that transition would miraculously lead to solving all of Syria’s problems generated by the conflict. One only needs to look to Syria’s neighbours, Iraq and Lebanon, for evidence of how efforts to impose a post-conflict governance structure can go awry and contribute to the continuation of conflict, albeit by other means.

The Geneva process is destined to remain stagnant unless its patrons adapt to the realities on the ground and reframe what constitutes core political issues and points of negotiation. The current realities suggest that the solution of the battlefield is preferred to that of the negotiating table. Until this changes, the Geneva negotiations will remain political theatre.

Source: Al Jazeera

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PDP crisis instigated by outsiders —Senator Sodangi Contd from Page 2 we are. Our problem is personal interest. People are getting unnecessarily jittery around as if President Jonathan has been given the ticket for 2015 election. This is not correct.

As a democrat and a national delegate from my constituency, I believe that when the time comes delegates are going to decide who becomes our candidate.

The main problem today in this country is corruption which has grown larger and bigger under the PDP Federal government. It has reached unprecedented level under the Jonathan Presidency to the extent that many people now believe corruption is being given official cover Are you not worried as a Nigerian and a member of this party? es I agreed with you totally that corruption is our main problem in this country not only under PDP Federal Government but almost all the states governments that are not PDP controlled. My opinion is that if we are good right from the civil servants to the private person in the market including women and corporate organizations corruption practices would not have been like this. In this country everybody is now more playing a fast game in order to gain unduly from the society.

Our oil industry is not left being in this corruption business, our electricity organization is not left behind even when reforms have been introduced to sanitize the system. Budget appropriation are not well utilized for the benefit of Nigerians. Go to communication sector the situation is the same even when we decided to partner with private Enterprise. Money realized from privatization of government shares did not go into government coffers. There have been sharp practices going on everywhere to the extent that no one is left behind in all the sectors of the country’s services.

What is your opinion about the growing strength of APC? The crisis in the PDP is being engineered by APC, which is the leading opposing party in the country as at now. The leaders of this party is very much concerned about taking over from PDP. But they have not told us what they are going to do to improve the lives of Nigerian more than what PDP is offering Nigerians now. I respect some of their leaders who are true Muslims and Christians.

However the kind of enthusiasm or eagerness and restlessness withwhich they have put into the agenda of taking over this country from PDP is worrisome to some of us. It is as if they prefer to take the ticket to govern this country more than the ticket to go the heaven.

Y

But we should not forget that power comes from God. We believe that whether you are a Christian or Muslim God determines our position in life. First, they went around romancing with some aggrieved PDP governors in order to leave PDP and join them.

What I expect them to do is to go and start membership registration and build a formidable party structures across the country and conduct, ward, local, state, zonal and national congresses so as to elect their leaders. Instead they went on romancing with one PDP stalwarts or the other. Now they know that they have lost two of those governors they started with. They had approached even prominent leaders of PDP including Obasanjo, Babangida, Dr Ekweme and others probably for their support and encouragement to dismantle PDP. APC leaders think that if they could win our leaders to their party they will get the ticket to rule this community. To me that is a wrong idea, a bad misconception and a misplaced priority. My advice to them is they should go after forming a political party structures at the grassroots in order to have a firm grip of the electorate and not to waste their time on PDP leaders. As at now they don’t have membership registration in the whole local governments of Nigeria. They don’t have officers running the party offices right from ward to National secretariat. All what they have is interim officials who have no power or authority to act on behalf of the party.

Now what do we get? PorthHarcout that has been a hitherto peaceful town has turned into a violent city. In Sokoto where they thought they would have things on the platter of gold, crisis has taken over the state. The policy of APC in which a sitting governor becomes, an automatic leader of the party is now creating crisis for them. As it is now we are going to get back Sokoto because Bafarawa is now in PDPD. So also is Kano.

I hold governor kwankwaso in high esteem but Shakarau for he did to ensure the meager of ANPP with ACN and CPC to become APC is considered not relevant in the party. His will not accept the situation. Supporters yes I

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am aware that a sitting governor has especially comeone like Kwankwanso has influence a man Alhaji Shakarau who has served for eight years as governor of Kano also has great followership and influence. You cannot therefore sacrifice such an influential person as Shakarau or Bafarawa simple because you want to have a sitting governor as a leader of the party.

The situation is that APC is riddled with crisis because the leaders cannot lay a good foundation for an effective party stability.

Do you think Adamu Muazu who has been appointed as N/Chairman is the answer to the crisis in PDP? e have replaced Bamanga Tukur with another vibrant and well focused personality, Alhaji Adamu Muazu who has tested power for eight years and has excelled in his right. By his personal utterances and policy he is going to embrace everybody. He is going to lure and plead with the governors who have left to come back to PDP. We believe he will solve the problems in PDP just as we hope that the governors who left will come back because we have already seen the signal in Kano, Sokoto and other states.

Those who are stoning us from left and right, bringing hammers, knives, and punching our big umbrella will definitely not break us. We will remain solid and strong.

I know the crisis has threatened and strained our relationship as friends and colleagues. These are the challenges people go through at certain period of life. We are now wiser and more enlightened.

I am aware that we have highly eloquent and focused people in APC, but that is not enough to destroy PDP and take over the governance of this country. They have not put their house in order so as to convince majority of Nigerians to vote for their party in 2015.

Some PDP sycophants around the President have started telling Nigerians that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock. Does is it not foreclosed any competition against Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in 2015?

The presidency of Nigeria is not determined by the amount of money or influence you wield.

We know that there are problems and shortcomings in PDP but we are going to sit down and solve the problems togather. Devotion of time and sacrifices of service for the interest of the nation will resolve the problems. Nigeria of tomorrow will be better than what it is today.

We have learnt a serious lesson

Interview

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I am aware that we have highly eloquent and focused people in APC, but that is not enough to destroy PDP and take over the governance of this country. They have not put their house in order so as to convince majority of Nigerians to vote for their party in 2015.

Sen. Abubakar Sodangi from the problem of imposition and can tell you that I am a victim of imposition arising from lack of internal democracy. Governors have great power, and with due respect to them they play dirty game. If they want something they surely know how to get it. Even when someone is not suitable or credible to be in a position and the governor wants to have him there, it must be given.

That is how we have counted our lost because many people have rejected our imposition. The basic truth is that if someone is imposed on people he hardly deliver services to the people because he knows he is not answerable to them but to the god father who is there, and so nobody can touch him. We have learnt our lesson and as it is said, once beaten twice shy. That is what we experienced during the past leadership. We have seen how those things counted against us. Now that we have Adamu Muazu we should be prepared to right certain things that are wrong. One thing I know about him is that you cannot make him to go against the rules. He is a strict adherence to the rules of laws and democracy. He will stand against President Jonathan on what he believes the party and people want if the situation is different from what President Jonathan wants him to do. ow to your question, I agreed that there are other senior members of our party who at times, make some outburst, that are not helpful to our party. They go to the extreme to say that there is no vacancy in Aso Villa. May be there is no vacancy for other political party but to say any PDP aspirant who wants to come and proof his worth at the convention, cannot contest against the incumbent will not work. The same thing for state governors and legislators at all levels. It will not be good for democracy. It will take us nowhere. I am an advocate of free and fair election within the party right from the ward to the national level. Here the acceptable, credible

N

and better candidate should emerge.

At the national level the most popular candidate should be allowed to emerge through proper and transparent primaries. No rigging and manipulation because it will not work nor augur well for our party especially as we are passing through crisis engineered by imposition of candidates. If there has been anything dragging our party back it is imposition and the outburst of some overzealous members who are insisting that it must be this person or that without going through due process of true democracy. Nigerians are tired of imposition and planting of unpopular candidates on the electorate. In the 2015 election people will revolt against it and may not be allowed to go and take office because he was not properly elected therefore, he cannot take over his office. Let us not push Nigerians who have been patient enough because we are no longer in the learning process. We should forget about this learning process attitude as we have passed through a long process enough.

Any hope for a free and fear conduct of election especially given the experience in Anambra State recently?

I have confidence in INEC to conduct a free, fair and transparent election in 2015. I want to emphasize that INEC has been given all what it takes to be free and independent in order to conduct a credible election. I know Atahiru Jega is really gearing towards doing that. Nigerians and even international community are watching him and his officials to perform well in 2015. Every eyes would be focused on Nigeria, so INEC cannot afford to fail or make serious errors that could be seen as having deliberately taken action to manipulate the outcome of the votes cast by Nigerians.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 48

Business

Conserving Nigeria’s wetlands for improved food production

By Martins Abochol, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

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igeria is one of the countries in the world richly endowed with both coastal and inland wetlands, while the country’s food supply shortages are met through wetland production.

Internationally, 11 wetlands are recognised in Nigeria, while altogether wetland covers about three per cent of the country’s land surface.

Experts say that wetland contributes about 56 per cent of the country’s food supply, while upland and other domestic production contribute 33. 4 and 10.3 per cent respectively.

The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, defined wetland as: `` `Areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres.”

Currently, there are 162 contracting parties to the convention, with 2,040 wetland sites, totaling 193 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

Nigeria’s Niger Delta, is one of the most important wetlands in Nigeria, the largest in Africa and third largest in the world.

Ironically, it was not listed among the eleven Ramsar sites in Nigeria.

The listed sites are - Apoi Creek Forest Reserve in Bayelsa, Upper Urasi forest in rivers, Pandam/ Wase in Nasarawa and Baturiya Games Reserve in Kano.

Others are Dagona Sanctuary Lake in Yobe, Foge Island in Niger state, Lake Chad wetland in Borno, Lower Kaduna-Middle Niger flood plain in Niger, Maladumba Lake

Tomatoes at Muda Lawal tomatoes market in Bauchi on Thursday in Bauchi, Nguru Lake in Yobe and Oguta Lake in Imo. Prof. Ojekunle Zaccheaus of the College of Environmental Resources Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said that Nigeria’s food supply shortages are met basically through wetland production.

The freshwater swamp portion of the wetland is estimated to be over one million hectares while the mangrove swamp is put at about 858,000 hectares.

The fresh wetlands are Niger Delta, River Niger , River Benue, Cross River, Imo River, Ogun-Osun River, and Lake Chad.

It is in recognition of the importance of wetlands to food production that the UN set aside Feb.2 of every year as World Wetland Day. The theme for 2014 is `` Wetlands and Agriculture as Partners for Growth.’’

Mr Shehu Ndaman, Wetlands Focal Officer in the Federal Ministry of Environment, said the 11 designated wetlands would attract both national and international support for a sustainable exploration of resources within the sites.

According to him, the 11sites met the standards as set by the Ramsar Convention on wetlands conservation.

Mr Patrick Ukura, a consultant on environment issues, said that agriculture and water are inseparable.

According to him, wetlands are sources of water for even dry season farming.

He bemoaned the depletion of wetlands through human and industrial activities. `Wetlands are sites of scientific importance which are natural gifts to a nation.

``Their importance to the sustainability of our coastal environment especially in the area of ecological preservation cannot be over-emphasised. ``We have been advocating to the Ministry of Environment to develop a data on them so that we will be able to have information on the kinds of resources available in each of them. ``It can be difficult to develop a conservation plan when information about the status of the wetland sites is not available.

Mr Joseph Ademola, an agroclimatologist said that water source is key to farming, and wetlands are fundamental resources for farming and can serve other agricultural purposes.

He noted that the sensitisation on wetlands and agriculture will go a

long way in conservation of wetlands and its protection against further distortion and depletion by human activities.

Dr Yakubu Tor-Agbidye, Head, Department of Agriculture, Federal University of Wukari, Taraba wants the government to maximise the potential of wetlands in Nigeria.

According to him, wetlands could serve the full purpose of family farming and even for the mechanised agriculture.

Experts have identified the potential of wetlands as well as listed wetlands in Nigeria, besides the 11 internationally recognised ones.

Stakeholders should ensure that more sites are listed, especially the Niger Delta in order to get the desired attention.

(NANFeatures)

EFCC, banks seek collaboration 11 vessels arrive in Lagos ports with toward financial crimes petroleum products T he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged to deepen its collaboration with the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers (CCO) of commercial banks to eliminate financial scam.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the collaboration was the fallout of a recent meeting between the two bodies in Lagos at which they stressed the need for mutual trust and respect in sanitising the nation’s financial sector.

The EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, said that banks were not targets of investigations, but the criminals who use bank platforms to commit crime or launder proceeds of crime. ``Unfortunately, some banks, perhaps as a result of nascent pres-

sure to post profits, shelter criminal elements to the detriment of the law,” he said.

According to Lamorde, AntiMoney Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) remain a partnership between law enforcement and regulators on one side and reporting entities on the other side.

The EFCC chairman also urged banks to support law enforcement agents, adding that there was need to further expose law enforcement officers to the dynamics of AML/ CFT. ``It is not expected that the bank should play the role of a law enforcement officer, but at the same time, the bank must discharge all the AML/CFT reporting obligations required by law.

``Once a bank does that, it has done everything required of it by law. ``Build capacity within your staff and appreciate that the collateral damage of non- compliance will make nonsense of any profit,” Lamorde said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Pattison Boleigha, who is also the CCO of Access Bank, said that the committee was established in June 2007 with to ensure that banks operated on the same platform.

Boleigha also commended the proactive character of Lamorde and expressed determination to cooperate with the AML/CFT compliance, and promised to support the war against financial crimes in the county. (NAN)

T

he Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Friday said that 11 vessels carrying petroleum products had arrived in Lagos ports.

NPA said that the vessels laden, with petrol, kerosene and base oil, were waiting to berth at various terminals at the ports.

The ships position was contained in NPA’s daily publication, ‘Shipping Position’, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to the publication, two other vessels carrying containers are also waiting to berth.

The NPA also said that it was expecting the arrival of 106 vessels from Jan. 31 to Feb. 28.

It said that 44 of the 106 vessels would arrive at the ports with containers, while 21 other vessels would sail in with food items including buckwheat and rice.

It also said that 18 vessels would arrive with petroleum products including base oil, aviation fuel, diesel and kerosene.

The vehicles are expected to arrive at the ports in 16 vessels, while seven vessels will bring in general cargoes including steel products.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Side Talk

PAGE 49

By Jacinta David

Time Table; Template for rigging

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he next story was rather interesting for side talk because of the significance it has in the nation's democracy, as well as because of the picture it paints in the recent political setting of the Nation, recent because in recent times, many polices by one arm of the political party has faced huge criticism by its opponent.

While Nigerian reason along the lines that the criticism may be politically motivated, others conceive that the man who has spoken may not be out of place. According to the State leader: "I have never seen such an arrangement which tends to build from the top; it should be bottom up; that is the right thing for them to do in this circumstance" Yes this man may not be the one at the helm of the affairs but what if he is speaking the minds of some Nigerians; what if the process, should actually be bottom to top? Nonetheless, side talk warns these class of politicians to make credible criticisms as has been the fear of some Nigerians. What the Nation needs is a step forward, not a flash back for selfish forward movement.

Side talk this week is more political in its content. Most of the stories emanating from our political settings caught our interest this week.

While Nigerians marvel at the dramatic scene which preceded the latest confession in the Federation, others wonder whether this rather critical issue will not raise once again the letter writing session in vogue in recent times.

Also, the political quagmire resulting from opposition politics did not fail to catch our attention. While others ask if this is all about politics, side talk looks deeper to see the possible truths behind the allegations

The final confession

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he first on the list was the obviously interesting confession by the State laeder of one of the Northern States that he is unfit to continue in his office. According to the story the governor made confession during an interview this week in the following interraction:

Question: I am happy to see you; we thought the situation was worse than this.

I am happy about the development. Good to see you.

Answer: I am feeling fine to receive you to this state Question: The process of your recuperation, I hope it is going on well and what is your message to Nigerians?

Answer: It is going on well.

It is an act of God that we have involved ourselves in... God does not like it or permit us to do it. It is unfortunate that I am involved in the drinking of these hot drinks. It is unfortunate that we decided to listen to the devil.

Question: Are you well

enough to return to office as executive governor of your State?

Answer: I can tell you it is well with me to return to my office (clapping) simply because I want you to support me. You know the truth; I am not well at all to return to office as I am now". While side talk congratulates the man for making this bold step, the question it has sought answers to include the whereabouts of those Political machines who tried to use the governor's health as a benchmark for their personal political gimmick; what happened to the initial brains behind the desolation of the State cabinet, How is it possible that the same governor who dissolved his cabinet and accused his deputy of betrayal, simply because the man did not join others to singing the expected music titled; "let the governor stay" now comes up with an open confession that he is unfit for the same office, that brought about the entire controversy? To add to that side talk wonders if this country is not tired of having episodes like this repeat them-

The Fugitive politician A

nd coming to our last story, the Former number 2 citizen of this country had in the past been involved in some defection actions which brings to mind some of the issues raised about the possible return of some of these governors in the previous story.

The governor who opened up on the reason why he did not contest against his principal in a recent publication said he had taken the decision from moral inclination. His confession however is not the focus of side talk but the politically fugitive nature of the leader's political history. This man has severally left the ruling party to take leadership positions in other parties, only to return as the member of party. On one occasion, his principal had even published in one of Nigeria's broadcast networks describing the nature of his fugitive movement in a bid to rate him down, during a clash with his boss. The publication tried to ask the northern leader what he wanted in the party but the man kept mute, and worst still, left again to return later. The question some Nigerian have been asking is whether or not this man has a real political focus. Others wonder what will become of a state which chooses, for example to have such a leader.

Danbaba Suntai selves and therefore seeks to know when these set of letter writing leaders of Nigeria will find the need to write a letter to the president reminding him of the necessity of making a law that will ensure that things like this do not repeat themselves.

Or better still when will the

leadership of this country understand the necessity to write the governor terminating his appointment. Of course whatever be the case, the necessary letter should make its way to that office, since this is indeed the season of letter writing for communication.

Defection and the aftermath

Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu

A

nd this story was rather funny. The origin was as, reported; a suit by the leading party seeking an order from the legal machine to remove the five defecting State leaders from office. The issue has since been analysed by Nigerians as a ploy by the party to exhibit its leadership prowess. But the legal Machine has taken a bold step to seek a hearing notice first before knowing what step to take.

Or could it in fact be that this machine is playing its prank to set a trap for the governors. Proponents of the last idea wonder whether the party seeking to dethrone these state rulers where the ones elected or the persons in question. Whatever the case, side talk hopes that these leaders do not ever have a reason to return to this party, because if they do, Nigerians are already making written documents of the repeated episode that may emerge on the screens of the Nigerian media.

PAGE 50

Sports

CHAN:

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Nigeria, Zimbabwe seek redemption in Losers' Final

By Patrick Andrew

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narguably, the Nigerian Super Eagles versus Warriors of Zimbabwe clash today should have been the final of the 3rd edition of the CHAN. In terms of flair, depth and zest, both teams are the best on parade at the championship. Their players are highly rated and showed no little class and composure and have been delightful, and indeed promising.

The misfortunes of penalty shootouts dealt them in as they were undeservingly beaten by their luckier opponents Libya and Ghana and so will trade tackles in the Losers' final ahead of what ordinarily should be the losers' game: Ghana vs Zimbabwe The free-scoring Eagles dimmed in their offensive rhythm as they were unable to cow their more physical if less technical opponents - the Black Stars, while delectable Warriors battled in vain to crack the mean defence line of their Libyan counterparts to no avail.

In today's clash, both Coaches, Stephen Keshi and Coach Ian Gorowa, will be poised for redemption through a less graceful podium honour. Keshi wants his fledglings to finish

the championship in style as is Gorowa, whose squad is the sole hope of Southern Africa bragging rights in the fiesta.

Nigeria surely aims at a medal the first time of asking and will leave no stone unturned just to clinch that. Zimbabwe will be seeking to crown its best show after failing to get out of the Group stages in the last two Editions.

Besides chasing third place and the cash prize at stage, Nigerian players Rabiu Ali and Christantus Ali (3 goals) and Ifeanyi Ede (2 goals) will be out to try and take the top scorers prize. South Africa’s Bernard Parker still leads the scoring chart with four goals.

But the Warriors of Zimbabwe with their tight defense will not be a team to underestimate either as they have showed lots of composure and good team play in all the five ties they have played in the championship.

Here is where the dexterity of Ejike Uzoenyi, the ruggedness of Kinglsey Azubuike and Odunlami and the resurgency of Shehu Abubakar and Ali are inevitable for the Eagles, who are to look up to Barnabas Imenger or Ede to find target. The Eagles, who are motivated despite failing to seal the final spot, should return the support by giving Nigerians something to celebrate early on in 2014.

Although there have been reports of demotivation in the Zimbabwe camp because the government failed to facilitate the team with allowances, the players have continued to play their hearts out and could have a surprise for the Super Eagles.

Kudakwashe Mahahi who is much sort after by PSL teams will lead Zimbabwe together with Simba Sithole who have all netted one

Libya out to atone for 1982

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T

FACTS

oday's final at the Cape Town Stadium will be their third overall meeting in the competition.

Both met twice in as many CHAN tournaments since 2009. They remain even.

At the 2009 edition in Cote d'Ivoire, the two sides drew 1-1 in a preliminary round Group B game in Bouake in a match Ghana came from behind to snatch a point.

It was the same this year in Group C when they finished 1-1 in their penultimate pool match on January 17 at Free State Stadium in Mangaung, although this time it was Libya who rallied to snatch a point.

Both teams, who coincidentally qualified for CHAN without kicking the ball after walkover results in the qualifiers, are still unbeaten heading to the Mother City after enjoying favour at Free State Stadium.

Fixtures Zimbabwe v Nigeria Saturday (20h00 Local time) Libya v Ghana

he last time Libya national side played in a continental tournament final was at home in 1982 Africa Cup of Nations. Their opponents on that 19th of March in the 11 June Stadium in Tripoli were none other than the Black Stars of Ghana.

This is just the beginning of the ironic clash of the two teams who contest the 3rd African Nations Championship final on Saturday 1st February 2014 at Cape Town Stadium.

In 1982 AFCON finals both sides were in the same group and played the opening match which ended in a 2-2 draw. At this year’s CHAN the two sides have been in the same group (C) based in Bloemfontein and played out a 1-1 draw in their group match. George Alhassan put the Blacks stars in front after 35 minutes but Libya

Elmutasem Abushnaf (1982)

hit back with Ali Al-Beshari and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

Ghana would triumph 7-6 on penalties to claim their fourth championship leaving hosts Libya disconsolate at home and thirty-two (32) years later the Mediterranean Knights and the Black Stars play each other in another continental final.

With this trail of similarities what are the odds of history repeating itself one might ask?

Libyan team administrative manager, Wail Bazina who was four (4) in 1982 says Libya is ready to banish the memories of 1982 into history and write a new chapter with victory today.

Coach Javier Clemente will be forced to make changes to fill in for defender Osama Ghit and striker Abdelrahman Fetori who both sit out the final dues to suspension after yellow card accumulation.

Clemente admitted the Mediterranean Knights had ridden their luck in the semifinal against Zimbabwe and will be hoping that good fortune carries on.

Libya will host the 2017 AFCON finals and the Spaniard is assembling a team with that tournament in mind. Reaching CHAN final will certainly have gone someway in justifying the work and time he and his squad have invested in the project for 2017.

Their focus for now will be to derail Ghana who contested and lost the first CHAN final in 2009. Ghana will probably start out as favorites but according to Bazina the Libyans enjoys that role of being underdogs and will be aiming to upset Ghana, “This is football anything can happen, we will prepare well and battle hard and see what the outcome will be.

We are prepared for and will accept the outcome whatever it is. It is simple a great joy and achievement that we have reached the final, of course we want to win it but even if we don’t it has been a great tournament for us” said Bazina

Samuel Ainooson

PAGE 51

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Sports

Gebrselassie’s successes lured me into marathon races, says Bekele

K

enenisa Bekele says he took up distance running because of the prodigious achievements of the great Haile Gebrselassie. He now wants to prove he's better than his idol.

Bekele, the world record-holder and former Olympic champion over 5 000 and 10 000 metres, believes he's overtaken Ethiopian compatriot Gebrselassie when it comes to track, but there's still one more test: The marathon.

The 31-year-old Bekele is following Gebrselassie's path by stepping up to the marathon and announced he will make his competitive debut over 26 miles (42 kilometres) at the Paris Marathon on April 6.

And while Bekele said his track record was "better than any other athlete," Gebrselassie set world records in the 5 000, 10 000, half marathon and marathon to build a reputation as one of the most complete distance runners ever.

Bekele believes he's on the way to surpassing his countryman.

"If you want to compare, just take a look at the races I won and the medals I received," Bekele said. "Haile has run for a long time with a great achievement and I have got a huge respect for him. But ... no one has broken my (5 000 and 10 000 metres) records so far. I think it is clear that my achievement in those track races is better than any other athlete."

That may be so, but Gebrselassie's impressive legacy was his ability to succeed at distances ranging from 1 500 metres right up to the marathon. Now 40, Gebrselassie is still competitive.

It's clear that Bekele is eager to move out of the shadow of a man still regarded as Ethiopia's best, and one of the best ever.

To do that, Bekele probably has to succeed in the marathon. He said he hadn't needed any advice from Gebrselassie over the move up.

"You don't need to be influenced by others to do what you wanted to do for a long time. And Haile is and was not telling me

“

Haile has run for a long time with a great achievement and I have got a huge respect for him. But ... no one has broken my (5 000 and 10 000 metres) records so far. I think it is clear that my achievement in those track races is better than any other athlete.

Mo Farah, Bekele and Haile to run this or that. So, I made this decision myself," Bekele said.

Like Gebrselassie, Bekele has also shown signs of his ability to win off the track and at longer distances with a history of success and world titles in cross-country. He also won his first competitive half marathon last year, beating both Gebrselassie and current 5 000 and 10 000-metre Olympic and world champion Mo Farah of Britain.

Buoyed by that debut at the Great

North Run, and a victory over two major rivals, Bekele said he'll immediately target the marathon world record of Kenya's Wilson Kipsang in the French capital, even if the course is notoriously tough for recordsetting.

"I understand that the Paris Marathon has a difficult course to break a world record," he said. "But I at least will try to achieve a good time if an attempt on the world record is not met."

He's fit again after a "very challenging"

struggle with a calf injury that spoiled his 2012 Olympics.

Bekele has also targeted a meeting with Farah as another test of his status. They are the only two men to have held the Olympic and world 5 000 and 10 000 titles at the same time.

Bekele isn't ready yet, however, to say whether he'll run the 5 000, 10 000 or the marathon at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. That will likely depend on how successful is his step up to the marathon.

Golovkin stakes middleweight title against Adama today

U

Gennady Golovkin with his titles

nbeaten Middleweight champion, Gennady Golovkin, is not the type of champion to sit on his

belt.

That's why the Kazakhstanian is fighting for the fifth time in 13 months when he meets Osumanu Adama in Monte Carlo this weekend. Golovkin simply can't sit still for long, certainly not when he's on a 15-fight stoppage streak.

After beating Curtis Stevens in early November, Golovkin got back into training in Big Bear, California, before Christmas, leaving his young family behind in Stuttgart, Germany.

"I want to fight every month," Golovkin said. "Doesn't matter to me where it is. I'm happy when I have my next fight."

That next fight is in the Salle des Etoiles in front of a small audience of Monte Carlo elites.

Yet Golovkin is not worried about his exposure from this bout, and promoter Tom Loeffler is sticking with his plan to

keep Golovkin quite busy while his reputation grows.

Loeffler wants his 72.5kg star to fight four times again this year, ideally getting back in the ring in the US in April.

Loeffler and Golovkin's trainer, Abel Sanchez, do not see any relaxation in their fighter's focus despite his heavy schedule.

Golovkin trained in Big Bear alongside heavyweight Mike Perez and UFC star Ronda Rousey, who is picking up pointers on striking in Sanchez's camp.

"He's the type of guy that's up for challenges, and as long as it makes sense for his career, we're going to keep pushing," Loeffler said.

Golovkin's strategy of volume fighting has paid off in some ways, but he's still waiting for a full return on this extraordinary investment of time and risk.

He has significant fame and a reputation as a favourite among serious boxing fans, but he'll need matchups with the rest of the world's best at 72.5 and 76 kg to cement a worldwide reputation. And

so far those fighters don't want much to do with Golovkin.

Adama is a respectable contender, fighting out of Chicago, but he's not Sergio Martinez, Julio Cesar Chavez, Andre Ward or another big name.

Golovkin has volunteered to fight Martinez or Miguel Cotto if either star can't make their expected June bout.

The likes of Martin Murray, Daniel Geale and Felix Sturm all seem uninterested in risking their career against Golovkin.

Although Golovkin is a star in his own right, he is still a high-risk proposition. Loeffler realises the only way to get fighters to accept that challenge is with money from the television network HBO. "We have to overpay guys to get in the ring with him," Loeffler said. "His opponents are the best-paid opponents in the middleweight division. It's becoming a financially rewarding fight for the opponents, and we're hoping that keeps moving up."

PAGE 52

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Barcelona, Real, Atletico resume tough battles for supremacy

B

arcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid all face difficult games this weekend as they return to La Liga action after qualifying for the Copa del Rey semifinals in midweek.

Just one point separates the top three with Barca and Atletico leading the way on 54 points, but a five-game winning run in the league has brought Madrid right back into the hunt with 17 games still to go.

It is Real who appear to have the stiffest test of all this weekend, though, as they travel to the in-form Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Athletic suffered their first defeat in 13 games since moving to the new San Mames as they bowed out to Atletico in the Cup on Wednesday night.

However, in the league Ernesto Valverde's men have been unstoppable of late, scoring 15 times in their last three matches to move five points clear in the battle for the fourth and final Champions League place.

That efficiency in front of goal will be put to the test against a Real side that set a club record in their 1-0 win over Espanyol on Tuesday by not conceding for the eighth consecutive game.

Carlo Ancelotti's men have won 10 games in a row in all competitions and haven't been beaten in 20 stretching back to mid-October. However, with Athletic already having inflicted Barcelona's only league defeat of the season, the Italian is well aware what to expect in the Basque country.

"It is a very important and difficult game. Bilbao are playing very well and to play at San Mames isn't easy for anyone, Barcelona have lost there.

"For us it is a very good time to play there because we are playing with a lot of confidence and are desperate to win."

Welsh winger Gareth Bale missed the

Lionel Messi

win over Espanyol due to a calf problem that forced him off against Granada last weekend.

Bale remains a doubt after he was unable to take part in a training session with his teammates on Thursday. However, despite Jese Rodriguez's fine form of late, Ancelotti insisted Bale would start on Sunday if he is fit.

"If Bale is fine then he will play. If he is not then Jese is an option because he is very dangerous at the moment."

Real could start the game four points off the top, though, as Barcelona are the first of

ManUnited face Stoke test

M

anchester United Manchester United will look to close in on the top four spots in the Premier League when they travel to Stoke City today.

The Red Devils got back to winning ways in the domestic championship with a 2-0 triumph over Cardiff City on Tuesday evening.

The match was significant not only in terms of the result but for the playing personnel: club-record signing Juan Mata made an impressive debut, while Robin van Persie returned to the starting XI with a goal and Wayne Rooney also appeared off the bench.

Manager David Moyes is confident that all three have more to offer and is looking forward to the day when he can unleash an exciting trio of attacking talent on Premier League opponents.

"It's massive to get them back, it's so important to us. They are still missing a bit of match practice, but we'll keep building them up - Robin and Wayne, and Juan as well. I'm looking

forward to getting them all on the pitch together."

On £37million man Mata, Moyes added: "I thought he did very well. He helped make the goal, he did some really good moments for us and I think he should be pleased tonight how he played, we were.

"He looked as though he wasn't too far away. He still needs some match practice, he's not played as much as he might have liked recently. We tried to keep him on as long as we could, hopefully that will benefit him."

United enter the match in seventh place on 40 points, three positions and six points off the Champions League spots, as well as nine places and 18 points above stoke, who went down 1-0 against Sunderland on Wednesday.

The Britannia is often a difficult venue for visiting sides, though manager Mark Hughes is under growing pressure for his side to find consistency and push for a place in the top half of the table.

the title contenders in action this weekend when they host Valencia on Saturday.

The Catalans have responded to the institutional uncertainty surrounding the club after the resignation of president Sandro Rosell last week with two convincing wins over Malaga and Levante.

Coach Gerardo Martino was also able to rest the majority of his stars against Levante in midweek, so the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Gerard Pique will return to the starting line-up for the visit of Los Che. There has also been upheaval at Valencia in recent days, more directly linked to the playing squad, as Dorlan Pabon, Helder Postiga and Andres Guardado all left on loan.

Former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita has arrived on a shortterm deal until the end of the season but will not be involved against his old club after not being included in coach Juan Antonio Pizzi's squad.

Meanwhile, Atletico will be looking to extend their unbeaten home record to 20 games when they host sixth-placed Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Diego Simeone's men will be without left-back Filipe Luis after he was stretchered off in the win over Athletic on Wednesday.

However, Arda Turan, Tiago and David Villa should be fit to retake their places in the starting lineup.

Arsenal look to regain top spot

A

rsenal will not be worrying about title rivals Chelsea and Manchester City but hoping to return to the top of the Barclays Premier League when they take on Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon The Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw by Southampton on Tuesday night and that gave City the chance of going top of the table after they beat Tottenham Hotspur 24 hours later.

Arsene Wenger thus have ample opprotunity to return to the top and depending on the result of the Chelsea and Man City clash on Monday, could remain there for least a week.

Though not likely to test their new acquisition Kim Kallstrom and will miss the service of Aaron Ramsey for six weeks.

Arsene's opponents- Palace’s revival under Tony Pulis has been so dramatic even captain Mile Jedinak can scarcely believe it.

The Eagles were written off as relegation certainties after losing seven of their first eight matches and lying five points adrift of safety when previous manager Ian Holloway quit the club at the end of October.

But fast forward three months and Palace sit 14th, five points clear of the drop zone and just a point behind Swansea in 10th.

“We have made it difficult for teams and if we can continue doing that until the end of the season it will be massive. We have done well at big places before this season and I am sure we will have a game plan at Arsenal on Sunday.”

English Barclays Premier League Pos Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

Pts

1

Man City

23

17

2

4

68

26

42

53

2

Arsenal

23

16

4

3

45

21

24

52

3

Chelsea

23

15

5

3

43

20

23

50

4

Liverpool

23

14

4

5

57

28

29

46

5

T/Hotspur

23

13

4

6

30

31

-1

43

6

Everton

23

11

9

3

35

24

11

42

7

Man United 23

12

4

7

38

27

11

40

8

Newcastle

23

11

4

8

32

28

4

37

9

Soton

23

8

8

7

31

27

4

32

10

Aston Villa

23

7

6

10

26

32

-6

27

11

Swansea

23

6

6

11

29

33

-4

24

12

Norwich

23

6

6

11

18

35

-17

24

13

Hull City

23

6

5

12

22

29

-7

23

14 Crystal Palace 23

7

2

14

15

31

-16

23

15 West Brom

23

4

10

9

27

33

-6

22

16 Stoke City

23

5

7

11

22

37

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

PAGE 53

Page 54

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Healthy Living

Dental sealants

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he sealants are used in the prevention of tooth decay in children; they are rubber/plastic like materials applied to the teeth that are most susceptible to dental decay (dental caries).

The back teeth, that are the posterior teeth in the mouth are susceptible to dental decay because of their morphology and structure, they are having cracks, pits and fissures which are like weak points in the tooth structure. These are what make the teeth more susceptible to dental decay. This makes decay in the front teeth not as common as tooth decay in the posterior teeth that is the molars both in children teeth (deciduous dentition) and adult teeth (permanent dentition). These pits, fissures, cracks are areas on the teeth that are difficult to clean, even after rigorous cleaning effort; therefore they are more susceptible to the acid attack which leads to cavitations and dental caries. The plaque food debris that accumulates makes the bacteria in the mouth able to use the substrate to produce lactic acid. It is the lactic acid which leaches the inorganic parts of the tooth structure the enamel which makes the tooth resistant ordinarily to dental caries.

The role of the dental sealant is to eliminate this pits fissures crevices on the teeth, this it does by blocking out these ‘defects’ and smoothening out the surfaces of the teeth, keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves.

The permanent molars and the deciduous molars benefit most from fissure sealants. Fissure sealants are best applied

just after the teeth erupt into the mouth before decay has a chance to set in, a sort of preemptive approach to treatment.

The first permanent molars erupt at about the age of six and the second permanent molars erupt at about the age of twelve so applying fissure sealants within these age range will ensure a great reduction in the level of caries experience in an individual. The third permanent molars often referred as the wisdom teeth erupt about the age of seventeen years to as much as twenty –one years.

These last molars are sometimes not having sufficient space to erupt into the mouth and therefore become impacted, causing a source of intense pain, they need to be surgically removed, and the impacted third molar will be addressed as a different topic in the near future.

The fissure sealants have an advantage over conventional restorative filling materials in that there are no complex equipment needs drilling, anaesthesia that is necessary. Tooth structure is also not removed to effect the restoration, there is no cavity preparation and it is often a painless procedure, it is a nice way to introduce children to the dentist, coupled with topical fluoride application.

The ease of application has led to some countries including same in the school awareness program; we in Nigeria can do well to replicate this idea. The procedure can indeed be performed not necessarily by a dentist as in New Zealand where the school health nurses perform same. Dental therapists and hygienist and speci-

fied ancillary staff can carry out the procedure which can take roughly less than two minutes.

The obstacle in a country like ours will be control mechanics to ensure quality and not abuse as often ancillary staff have been known to set up places where they carry out procedures far out of their scope and job description. This could be a real let down to the ideal of treatment for prevention being replaced by sharp practices and quackery, I will leave that to the policy makers.

The procedure to apply tooth sealant is simple a special gel called etching gel is used to prepare the teeth surface this

With

Dr. Samuel Omodele Awosolu 08108155239 (SMS only) samawosolu@yahoo.co.uk (Text only) gel is washed off and the soft plastic material is applied , this hardens in time to fill the fissures , it is easily done in a couple of minutes. The sealants come in various shades and colours and are to the untrained eye not visible. It can be tinted to mimic the surrounding teeth structure.

Sealants have a long life span; can be in place for up-

wards ten to fifteen years, they need to be periodically checked by the dentists.

In summary the use of fissure sealants is a better option than waiting for a cavity to form that is dental decay when a filling becomes unavoidable. The maxim is decay destroys teeth, sealants protect teeth.

See you next week.

Sitting for too long deadly —Study

A

nyone with an office job can attest to that achy, crampy, stircrazy feeling of being stuck sitting at your desk all day. What you may not know is that sitting all day can also be deadly, even if you work out regularly, according to the results of a forthcoming study conducted by Cornell University.

The study of 93,000 women found that those who are sedentary the longest during waking hours die earlier than those who are more active. In fact, women who logged 11 hours of sitting time had a 12 percent increase in premature mortality from causes such as cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and cancer by 13, 27, and 21 percent, respectively.

Sitting wreaks havoc on your health because, when your body stops moving, that causes a decline in metabolic activity and chips away muscle mass, increases

insulin resistance (which can lead to diabetes), and, over time, can lead to obesity.

Not to mention, it wrecks your posture.

“Even if you don’t sit for 11 straight hours, brief periods of inactivity can add up,” lead study author Rebecca Seguin, assistant professor of nutritional sciences at Cornell University, tells Yahoo Shine.

“Let’s say you sit at a desk for eight hours — bathroom and lunch breaks included — then sit on the subway for 20 minutes, sit to eat dinner, and lie on the couch for a few hours. That can easily amount to 11 hours of sedentary time.”

The study also found that the effects of constant sitting weren’t that different for super-active people. Even those who hit the gym for an hour (even two!) a day faced almost the same odds of premature death as those who didn’t work out.

And while the research was conduct-

ed on post-menopausal women, Seguin says the results are applicable to women of all ages, especially since muscle mass begins to decrease at age 35.

Of course, there’s not much you can do about a job that requires you to talk on the phone, type away at your keyboard, or stay hunched over spreadsheets all day, but making small adjustments in your day can add up to big changes. or starters, request a stand-up desk at work, specifically one that comes with a higher chair, so you can sit periodically and be at eye level with your computer. If your office doesn’t allow it, you could always make your own — stack books on your desk and rest your computer on top.

Or, indulge in more breaks, a notion people tend to resist in our 24/7 connected world. But simply taking five can actu-

F

ally boost productivity. One recent study published in the journal Cognition found that people who took two brief breaks within a 50-minute period were more focused and stimulated by their tasks at hand. “One way to stop feeling guilty about taking breaks is to stop thinking of them as ‘breaks’ think of them as being and as crucial as any other task,” suggests Seguin.

Another idea: If you have a private office or a semi-private cube (or even if you don’t!), try pacing, marching in place, or — if you use a wireless headset — lifting dumbbells during phone calls. And use a bathroom on a different floor of the office and take the stairs to get there. “It sounds like a pain, but how much longer will it take you — two extra minutes?” says Seguin.

It’s worth it!

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 1,- sunday 2 february, 2014

Page 55

Possessing your possession (II)

P

raise the Lord! I’m glad to welcome you once more to your favourite column. Last week I promised to begin to show you today what you must do to possess your possession which represents all that God has ordained for your life. B blessed as you read in Jesus’ name.

How to possess your possession • Don’t rebel against God – Learn from the Israelites. “Likewise, when the LORD sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and you did not believe Him nor obey His voice.” (Deut 9:23 NKJV). Did you see what rebellion against God cost them? Rebellion didn’t allow God to give them what He had promised them. Rebellion is a serious sin; it cost Saul his throne.

“Rebellion is as bad as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you from being king.” (1 Sam 15:23 NLT) Rebellion is rejecting the Word of the Lord both the Word of God written in the Bible and what the Holy Spirit has said or is saying to you. Nobody who rejects God’s Word will possess his possession.

Such a fellow will remain a vagrant, a drifter, a wanderer.

• Trust God and obey Him – If you must possess your possession, you must trust God and obey Him. Is 57:13 says, “Let’s see if your idols can do anything for you when you cry to them for help. They are so helpless that a breath of wind can knock them down! But whoever trusts in me will possess the land and inherit

my holy mountain.” (NLT) Did you see the difference in trusting in idols and trusting in God? Only those who trust in God will possess their possession? “For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.” (Ps 37:9 NLT) Where is your trust? In God or in something or someone else? “This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives. But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.”

(Jer 17:5-8 NLT)

Caleb was able to enter the land of Canaan to possess his possession because he trusted God and obeyed Him. That was the “different spirit” God said Caleb had – he had unquenchable and unquestionable trust in God that God would give him the land as he had promised and he obeyed Him. “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.” (Num 14:24 NKJV) Believe that God will help you to possess your possession that He has given you according to His promise.

• Engage in spiritual warfare – There is a devil who doesn’t want you to possess your possession so

you have to engage in spiritual warfare against all forces of darkness.

The Bible says the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.

(2 Cor 10:4)

You must be on the offensive against the devil and his cohorts that want to keep away from you what is rightly yours from the Lord, that wants to deny you your inheritance.

You can’t afford to be sleeping or careless when the devil is seriously opposing your life. You have to pray, confess the Word of God and let the high praises of God be in your mouth.

“Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment — This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD! ” (Ps 149:6-9 NKJV) You must overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and by the word of your testimony. (Rev 12:11) Satan is a defeated being but you have to enforce over him the victory that Jesus got for you on the cross.

“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Col 2:15 NKJV) You have the assurance of victory already concerning this battle. Rom 16:20 says, “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.” (NKJV) If you resist the devil, he will flee. (James 4:7) • Don’t delay; don’t procrastinate – Procrastination, they say, is the thief of time. But beyond that, procrastination is the thief of destiny. God told the Israelites to begin

From the Pulpit green pastures

By Pastor T. O. Banso

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 to possess. (Josh 18:3) That meant no more delay for them; it was time for action. You must know the time to pray and the time to act out your faith. There is spiritual work, and there is physical work. One can never be a substitute for the other. Pray but be sure you also take physical steps that are appropriate as you’re led by God. When the children of Israel went to war against their enemies without disobeying God, God gave them victory.

When Moses was crying to God before the Red Sea, God didn’t say he should pray more. In fact, he rebuked him for crying to him. It wasn’t time for more prayer or more crying to God, it was time for the right action! “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!

Use your shepherd’s staff — hold it out over the water, and a path will open up before you through the sea.

Then all the people of Israel will walk through on dry ground.” (Ex 14:15-16 NLT) Do not keep postponing what you must do to possess your possession otherwise you may be on the drawing board forever. If you wait for a perfect time you may wait till eternity. Once the Spirit moves you to act, do so even if the time and events do not appear right. “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.” (Eccl 11:4 NLT) Permit me to stop here today. I’ll continue this series next week, and talk more on what you need to do to possess your possession. I believe God has spoken to you already. Be a

doer of the Word, and it shall be well with you in Jesus’ name.

TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus.

I urge you to take the following steps:*Admit you’re a sinner and you can’t save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start to attend a Bible-believing, Bible -teaching church. There you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God. Kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God” I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations!

You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon.

May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be.

Divine intervention after disciples’ intercession Acts 12:1-25

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he enemy’s opposition against the spread of God’s saving truth was resumed by Herod. He stretched forth his hands to vex the Church. He intended to pursue the violent, intense, severe persecution of the Church to “please the Jews”. What would please the Jews and please the Herods at the same time? “That it (the message of salvation through Christ) spread no further among the people” (Acts 4:17).

That they “speak not at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18). That the Apostles “should not teach in this name” nor fill “Jerusalem with (His) doctrine” (Acts 5:28). “That this Jesus of Nazareth” should not “change the customs which Moses delivered” them (Acts 6:14).

That Jesus be not proclaimed as Saviour and Lord of all (Acts 9:29).

Herod, in pleasing the Jews and pleasing himself, displeased God. “He killed James and proceeded further to take Peter also.” His plan was to eliminate

the Apostles so he could destroy the Church. He began by destroying “the pillars” so he could demolish “the temple”.

He imprisoned Peter, intending to execute him later. The Church prayed fervently and without ceasing. God delivered Peter miraculously by angelic visitation and ministration. Herod, because of his sin and pride was smitten dead by the angel of the Lord and the Word of God has continued to grow and multiply until this day.

1. SEVERE PERSECUTION AND PLOT AGAINST THE PIONEERS Acts 12:1-4; John 15:18-20; 16:14; Mark 10:35-40; Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 21:12,1619,34-36; Proverbs 19:21; 21:30; Isaiah 14:24,27; 46:9,10.

“Now about that time”, the time of the predicted famine, when Barnabas and Saul took “relief to Jerusalem” (Acts 11:29). “Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex”, that is, to

By Pastor W.F Kumuyi oppress and persecute the leaders in the Church. James, Peter and John were pillars in the Church. The Apostles were the foundation on which the visible Church was built (Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 2:20). To discourage, disorganize and destroy the Church, Herod focused his attention on the pillars and pioneers – to afflict, injure and even kill them.

He began by suddenly killing James, the brother of John. The incident was not surprising or shocking to the

early Church that James, one of the two sons of Zebedee, became the first martyred Apostle. It was the fulfilment of Christ’s prediction and the Apostle’s commitment. “Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” “We can.” “Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized.” Neither Herod nor any other persecutor could go beyond whatsoever Christ’s “counsel determined before to

be done” (Acts 4:28).

“And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.” His actions were not based on the principle of righteousness or justice. As a king or ruler, he was not committed to ‘upholding the constitution’, protecting the innocent, preventing evil and punishing evil-doers.

The promotion of his own popularity was the motive of his actions.

Herod sacrificed his soul and his eternal happiness to keep a temporary position of no lasting value. Oh, how foolish!

How many monarchs and political figures there are, how many people there are, who throw their souls to hell, who sell themselves to Satan, living only and always to please men in order to earn and secure popularity. Peter was Herod’s next object of attack. He took him, apprehended and imprisoned him, intending to kill him after the Passover of the Jews. That was the end of Herod’s evil ambition. Soon after this, he perished without seeing his desires fulfilled.

BIG PUNCH “If the Cybercrime Bill is enacted into law, authorities can intercept and record personal emails, text messages, instant messages, voice mails and multimedia messages, in order to facilitate a criminal investigation.”

-FG’s draft law on cybercrime

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1-2, 2014

Thoughts on Muhammad (I)

I

t is perfectly appropriate to seize the opportunity of Rabiul Awwal, the month in which Prophet Muhammad was born, to reflect on the significance of his career to the Muslims in particular and the world at large, at a time of grave anxiety and uncertainty. Our reflection is coming through the pen of one of the foremost thinkers of modern times, the great mind who almost singlehandedly awoke Muslims in the East, and himself became not only a philosopher of Islam but also a philosopher of the world. Muhammad Iqbal [1877-1938] explains in his The Reconstruction of Religious Faith in Islam, what Muhammad means to Mankind in terms of human civilization and human destiny.

As a Prophet, says Iqbal, the role of Muhammad was entirely creative, not passive or neutral. The Revelation from God obliges him not to stand by as a mere spectator but rather to ‘insert himself into the sweep of time with a view to control the forces of history, and thereby to create a fresh world of ideals.’ For Muhammad, being the Messenger of God, means in Iqbal’s words, ‘the awakening, within him, of world-shaking psychological forces, calculated to completely transform the human world.’ His supreme goal is to transform his religious experience into a living world-force, bring the prevailing world to an end and in its place bring about a new world. That new world is the one humanity is enjoying today.

According to Iqbal, Prophethood, by its very nature, tends to seek the opportunities to redirect or refashion the forces of collective life. There had been Prophets before Muhammad.

The role of the Prophets through all the long period of time, thousands of years to be precise, during the minority of mankind, had been to provide guidance and direction in the modes and channels suitable to the environments, the recipients and the stages of human evolution.

The best approach then was to economize individual thought and choice by providing ready-made judgements, choices, and ways of action. Now Muhammad came to bring prophethood to perfection and finality, and move mankind to a new platform most suitable to the creation and sustenance of a the new world, one in which revelation, reason and critical faculty will work together and reinforce each other. Iqbal explains his thesis in these words: ‘With the birth of reason and critical faculty, however, life, in its own interest, inhibits the formation and growth of non-rational modes of consciousness through which psychic Advert: Business:

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energy flowed at an earlier stage of human evolution. Man is primarily governed by passion and instinct.

Inductive reason, which alone makes man master of his environment, is an achievement; and when once born it must be reinforced by inhibiting the growth of other modes of knowledge.

There is no doubt that the ancient world produced some great systems of philosophy at a time when man was comparatively primitive and governed more or less by suggestion. But we must not forget that this systembuilding in the ancient world was the work of abstract thought which cannot go beyond the systematization ofvague religious beliefs and traditions, and gives us no hold on the concrete situations of life. .

‘Looking at the matter from this point of view, then, the Prophet of Islam seems to stand between the ancient and the modern world. In so far as the source of his revelation is concerned he belongs to the ancient world; in so far as the spirit of his revelation is concerned he belongs to the modern world. In him life discovers other sources of knowledge suitable to its new direction. The birth of Islamis the birth of inductive intellect. In Islam prophecy reaches its perfection in discovering the need of its own abolition.This involves the keen perception that life cannot for ever be kept in leading strings; that, in order to achieve full selfconsciousness, man must finally be thrown back on his own resources.’

That precisely explains the fact that Islam is the father of modern science. o buttress his point regarding the new world as the product of Muhammad’s singular career Iqbal refers to the observation of the author of Emotion As The Basis Of Civilization, J HDenison, to the effect Muhammad emerged at a time fraught with tragedy for the whole world. This was the time when it seemed that the great civilization that it had taken four thousand years to construct was on the verge of disintegration, and that mankind was likely to return to that condition of barbarism where every tribe and sect was against the next, and law and order were unknown.

Civilization, Denison went on to observe, like a gigantic tree whose foliage had overarched the world and whose branches had borne the golden fruits of art and science and literature, stood tottering, its trunk no longer alive with the flowing sap of devotion and reverence, but rotted to the core, riven by the storms of war, and held together only by the cords of ancient customs and laws, that might snap at any moment. Was

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the surroundings of every sort, the capacity of receptivity of the human mind, have, more than an individual effort, brought about the great steps in the world’s history, cannot well deny, that even if this step were to come, without Muhammad, it would have been indefinitely delayed.’ How was all this possible?

Iqbal refers to Denison’s observation that at the time of

The Ka’aba there any emotional culture, he asked, that could be brought in, to gather mankind once more into unity and to save civilization? This culture, he emphasized, must be something of a new type, for the old sanctions and ceremonials were dead, and to build up others of the same kind would be the work of centuries. It was among the Arabs that the man was born, that is Muhammad, who was to pull back humanity from the brink, save human civilization and unite the whole known world of East and South. e may also add the views of Pringle Kennedy, as expressed in his Arabian Society at the Time of Muhammad.

‘Muhammad was,’ he wrote, ‘touse a striking expression, the man of the hour.’ The condition of his time were such that everything being tried by the human race, religious or secular, had failed. ‘The old religions of Greece and Rome, and of the hundred and one states along the Mediterranean, had lost their vitality.

In their place, Caesarism had come as a living cult. The worship of the state as personified by the reigning Caesar, such was the religion of the Roman Empire. Other religions

W

might exist, it was true; but they had to permit this new cult by the side of them and predominant over them.

But Caesarism failed to satisfy. The Eastern religions and superstitions (Egyptian, Syrian, Persian) appealed to many in the Roman world and found numerous votaries. The fatal fault of many of these creeds was that in many respects they were so ignoble,’ Kennedy maintained. The higher religions, on their part, fared no better, they had ceased to be the pure creeds they once were and had largely become materialized, despiritualized, and ritualized. ‘How, in a few years,’ Kennedy wrote, ‘all this was changed, how, by 650 AD a great part of this world became a different world from what it had been before, is one of the most remarkable chapters in human history.’ Furthermore: ‘Whatever the opinion one may have of this extraordinary man...there can be no difference as to the immensity of the effect which his life has had on the history of the world...To those of us, to whom the man is everything, the milieu but little, [Muhammad] is the supreme instance of what can be done by one man. Even others, who hold that the conditions of time and place,

Muhammad the world stood in need of a new culture to take the place of the culture of the throne, and the systems of unification which were based on bloodrelationship. It is amazing, according to Denison, that such a culture should have arisen from Arabia just at the time when it was most needed. There is, however, nothing amazing in the phenomenon, Iqbal responds, saying further: ‘The world-lifeintuitively sees its own needs, and at critical moments defines its own direction. This is what, in the language of religion, we call prophetic revelation. It is only natural that Islam should have flashed across the consciousness of a simple people untouched by any of the ancient cultures, and occupying a geographical position where three continents meet together.’ In addition:’The new culture finds the foundation of worldunity in the principle of Tauheed, the Unity of God. Islam, as a polity, is only a practical means of making this principle a living factor in the intellectual and emotional life of mankind. It demands loyalty to God, not to thrones. And since God is the ultimate spiritual basis of all life, loyalty to God virtually amounts to man’s loyalty to his own ideal nature.’

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