Peoples Daily Newspaper, Saturday 02, November, 2013 by Peoples Media Limited

Boko Haram invented to destroy the North —Gen Buhari >> Pages 6

Disregard confab and return rn to parliamentary system —Prof Ango Abdullahi >> Pages 2,15

>>Page 6 weekend.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . Pu ttin g th e people first Vol. 3 No. 63

SATURDAY 2 — SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER, 2013

THUL HAJJ 28 - 29, 1434 AH

N150

ASUU strike

Businesses crumble in varsity campuses As reptiles, weeds take over

A deserted business centre in one of the universities

The gate of Nasarawa State University Keffi overgrown by weeds

News Focus

Top 10 food items that keep you ever young >> Pg 26

15 yr old girl, molested by father tells her moving story >> Pg 3

FIFA U-17 Golden Eaglets dare Uruguay for semi-final ticket today >> Pg 50

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Interview

Disregard confab and return to parliamentary system- Prof Ango Abdullahi Professor Ango Abdullahi, one-time Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum. In this interview with journalists in Bauchi, he speaks on the proposed National Conference, N255m Ministry of Aviation bullet proof cars, and his preference for parliamentary system of government among others. Our correspondent, Ahmed Kaigama was there.

ational Conference.

I was asked recently in an interview whether my assertions has to do officially with the Northern Elders Forum and I said no, for the moment they were mine and I only hope that they will coincide with the opinion that will be held by Northern Elders Forum if it were to meet formally to consider them. I want to ask numerous questions why was it necessary, for Mr President to dream it fit at this particular point in time to agree to the need for a conference or a dialogue when he had said before that there will be no need for such a conference, particularly the sovereign type when already there is sovereign or sovereign institutions governing the country. So, he thought that it was necessary to continue to look at the constitution of the country and see what ways the constitution could be reviewed, amended and so on, and perhaps this is what must have informed the executive branch to have set up a constitution review body at the various chambers, the two chambers of the National Assembly also set up committees or bodies that will go round the country to sum the option of Nigerians in terms of what aspects of the constitution should be amended for their consideration. We have had many conferences in this country. So, with all that we thought that the issue of organizing a conference, a conversation, a dialogue of the type that the President eventually succumbed to is certainly uncalled for. But I also look at this particular effort against the background history of Nigeria which was formally organized as a state or as a country by the British in 1914 , and up to the point of Independence, we had quite a number of opinions, bringing the colonies of the south or protectorates of the North into a country to be called Nigeria and it has always been a persistent question as to whether it was a wise thing to do. The British colonized the two sections of the country separately and some people have argued that they should have been left as two separate states, North and South, but the wisdom of the imperial powers, they decided to merge them together into a country they call Nigeria. Now, this has continued even after Independence and because of this continued agitations and arguments and so on, this country had experienced about five constitutional conferences before independence and it was the last one that eventually settled for a federal constitution for Nigeria in 1960 and at that point Nigeria had three Regions. Unfortunately the current instability about the Nigerian state has not been properly balanced and of course, this eventually led us to our first military intervention in

Professor Ango Abdullahi 1966 in which it was very clear that a coup was perpetrated by a section of the country where certain political leaders from two sections of the country were eliminated along with senior military officers from those areas and this was unfortunately the beginning of a lot of instability which is till persisting in this country. Eventually we had the civil war and eventually the Nigerian state remain after the civil war under the leadership of Gen. Gowon. A lot of credit was given to his efforts to really keep the country together, but even after that, I think we really have continued to hear on a daily basis that the Nigerian state is not balanced, stable because there are so many unanswered issues or questions, and so this is eventually why we continued to have too many constitutional conferences even after independence, we had one in 1976 under the Murtala/ Obasanjo administration and in fact that is the one that gave birth to the Presidential system of government. So after the Presidential system came in, (President Shehu) Shagari stayed in office for about four years,

“

he was toppled by the military and Gen. Buhari took over, he took over in 1983 and he was toppled in 1985, Gen. Babangida took over, he also had conference during his Presidency and I was fortunate to be in that conference. Abacha started a new transition programme and set aside the constitutional conference that was done in 1987/88 and another one was kick-started in 1994/95. Again I was fortunate to be member of that conference, he died in the course of his struggle to perhaps be a civilian President and then later on he was succeeded, by Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar who quickly put together transition programme and he also used the 1979 constitution which eventually came to bring about the 1999 constitution which is still operating. The agitation for Nigeria has not been settled despite all these things that have been taking place. President Obasanjo in 2005 decided to call another conference, this time perhaps they were tired of using the word constitutional conference, they said political reform conference

which are virtually the same thing, I also participated in that one. So, given the fact that right from 1914 we have been talking about conferences and how to set up the Nigerian structure that will endure up to 2005, we had total of almost eleven to twelve constitutional conferences within this country and outside. But in spite of all these the cry persisted, Nigeria is a mistake and that mistake of 1914 should be revisited so that Nigerians should decide whether this structure should endure or it should be replaced by something else. The question is, what will replace it? The question is what will replace the efforts that we have made so far? This is why when Jonathan decided that we should have another conference, I was surprised about his u-turn, having said that we have had enough; all we needed to do is perhaps to continue to amend the constitution and see what ways perhaps improvements could be brought about. Rather than stick to that, I think he eventually succumbed to a pressure. We know where the pressures are coming from, that he

the executive branch to have set up a constitution review body at the various chambers, the two chambers of the National Assembly also set up committees or bodies that will go round the country to sum the option of Nigerians in terms of what aspects of the constitution should be amended for their consideration.We have had many conferences in this country. So, with all that we thought that the issue of organizing a conference, a conversation, a dialogue of the type that the President eventually succumbed to is certainly uncalled for

should convene a conference. The question is, what kind of conference is he going to convene? He set up a committee to examine how this conference should be put together, in fact in some points he said that even the name of the conference should be decided by the committee after consulting. So it lives you in no doubt that the government was not quite prepared, they didn’t think through the whole issue before they made the announcement. So, we take it that it is a political pressure that is mounting on the President. As we know, there is a lot of pressure in the country, there is pressure on security, corruption, and virtually everything you can think of the polity today. So, I thought that perhaps this idea was to give some relief to the President in terms of some of these political pressures that is facing him from all directions. But let us now really come to the issue of the committee since one has been set up even though it doesn’t know exactly what conference it will organize and how they will organize it but having visited two or three states where they had interactions with Nigerians, we are beginning to hear some of the things that are coming from the committee. The first assignment of the National conference committee I will start with the chairman, when he got to Ondo state, and I think in his response address, he said they are going to have a meeting of Nigerian ethnic groups where all groups will be represented in the conference. So, what we are getting now is that this is a conference of tribes, I think there are over 350 ethnic groups in Nigeria today, some from a small size as hundred thousand in number and some in scores of million. So all these tribes will be equally represented, according to the chairman. Well, nobody or constitution created tribes in Nigeria, they found them here in their various locations, in their various sizes, small and big, in their various customs and traditions, big and small. When the British came they didn’t conquer tribes, they did not conquer the country with various groups of tribes, they only conquered Nigeria from the point of view, they took away administration from the established Sokoto caliphate and I think they did the same in the case of western Nigeria where their situation are almost similar to ours here in the North and to some extent even in the East where they have kingdoms and chiefdoms and so on. They didn’t know who was an Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo and the rest of it, they only identified the traditional kingdoms that were in existence and took them over as the basis of trying to take over the country and govern it.

Contd on Page 15

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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News Focus

15 year old girl, molested by her father tells her story By Our Reporter

any Nigerians who listened to the heart wrenching story of a 15 year old, Harvila Koko Dickson, aired recently on a radio programme in Abuja, would agree that the girl certainly deserves a reward for letting the cat out of the bag, when she finally resisted an abusive relationship her father, Mr. Koko Etteh Dickson forced her into when she was barely 10 years old. The case has reportedly attracted the attention of Akwa Ibom state Governor, Godswill Akpabio, who, sources at the radio station said, may adopt the girl. However, five years into the unholy affair, the 15 year old jilted her father, who had deliberately defied religious precepts and tricked her into believing that sleeping with her was normal and that it was stated in the scripture that, “Lot did it with his daughters.”. Harvila said she knew something was fundamentally wrong with what they were doing, and that she was convinced that the story of Lot, in the Bible which her father told her, was not applicable to her. After all she was not Lot’s daughter. So, two weeks ago she took to her heels never to return to her father’s dungeon of shame. She found solace in staying in an uncompleted building in Dutse, where a man simply called Mr. William, who spoke the same language as her saw her crying and took her home to his wife. In giving her reason for leaving home, she stated simply, “What my father does to me is too much for me to bear”, unknown to them those few words had serious implications for her life. Her father on the other hand never thought the relationship between him and his daughter would end abruptly and in so shocking a manner. Havila’s Good Samaritan had taken her by the hand and headed for Kapital FM radio station where, led by Tony Amole the teenager aired her story to Nigerians, live.“My father’s name is Mr. Koko Dickson; he has been sleeping with me for the past five years. I was told my mother left my father when I was just one year nine months. He baths me, rubs cream on my body and touches me, and then he started sleeping with me. The first day it started, he had given me ogogoro and Monkey tail to drink, and then I became dizzy. Any time I protested he would

Authorities must necessarily take punitive measures against molestation of minors

beat me severely. Though he never married my mother, he kept numerous girlfriends who visited the house occasionally. Sometimes he takes me to hotels to have fun with me”. Mr. William, a taxi driver, broke down in tears as the girl spoke. He said he had to take her to the hospital and paid the bills as the girl developed some infection on her breasts. He disclosed that the infection is suspected to have been prompted by the relationship with her father due to her young age. owever, the girl’s mother resurfaced unexpectedly after someone called her attention to the unfolding drama, giving the situation an unimaginable twist. Known as Ms. Emem, she said she and Koko attended the same Church, and started a relationship which led to having a child out of wedlock. “I told him I was pregnant and hoped we would marry each other. That was when he told me he was married. This made the Church to sanction me and I was asked to apologise to his wife for breaking their home”. When she delivered the baby her mother agreed to take care of the child while she went to her sister who lived outside the country, to continue her education. Koko then paid a visit to her mother in her absence and took the child away on the pretence that he was going to get

“

My father’s name is Mr. Koko Dickson; he has been sleeping with me for the past five years.

her some medication. “My child’s name is Princess. She was ill at the time, so Koko took her away claiming he was going to get her some drugs. Then he changed her name to Harvila. Thereafter, no member of my family saw the girl again until yesterday, October, 28.” Emem said, crying profusely. She said she made several attempts to gain custody of her child but she was rebuffed by the man who impregnated her and thereafter, abducted the child. She revealed that one such attempt led to her being severely battered by Koko. “At that time, 2008, I learnt that he was working with a company in the East. He was not staying in a rented house but lived in a hotel. I traced him to the hotel, where he had lodged with a lady who looked after my child, Princess, who was then about two years old. I appealed to him to give me back my child and that earned me severe beating. The woman broke up with him on account of his violence towards me.”

On another occasion, Emem visited her child in school secretly after Koko relocated from the East and wrote down her phone number for the girl, urging her to call her if there was any problem. When she got home her father collected the paper and destroyed it. hereafter Emem was advised to stay away from Koko. She eventually lost track of the whereabouts of her child but she heard stories of what the man was doing to the girl. At a point she engaged services of a female Lawyer, who abandoned the cause because she was afraid of Koko. Also, her client could not foot the bill. Emem emphasized that contrary to speculation that she abandoned her child, it was a painful decision to make as she was constantly traumatised by thoughts of the child’s predicament. The man at the centre of the drama, who was invited to the studio; got there but the normalcy and casualness of his words were

a negation. It was like mockery. Koko testified that the girl had been with him since she was a toddler but denied ever molesting her. Then he soft pedaled and apologised to his daughter and pleaded to have her back as he intended to go with her to the village to attend his own mother’s burial. A request the abused girl turned down as she screamed at the top of her voice, “Am not going with you, I will never live with you again in my life. “Am going with my mother, I miss her so much”. Majority of those who lent their voices to the progrmme called for caution in allowing the mother take the child away after their reunion without having Koko write an undertaking not to constitute a threat to their lives. They also wondered why Koko is still breathing the air of freedom despite his despicable act. They queried the role of security agents, and organisations like NAPTIP, FIDA, NAWOJ and Human Rights groups in taking drastic measures in stamping out the likes of Koko from the society like jailing him for life, castigating him or gracing the hangman’s noose. So why do fathers sleep with their daughters? A psychologist, Kemi Olujobi said incest could be a result of psychological derailment on the part of the man who indulges in it. “The person needs to be helped because he has degenerated to the status of an animal”, the psychologist said.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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Special Report Desertification eats up Kebbi State

ne of the major problems associated with the physical environment in Kebbi State is that of desertification, a serious constraint to development in the state. This scourge has made so many people homeless while the areas mostly affected are Gwandu, Argungu, Birnin-Kebbi, Jega, Maiyama, Arewa and Dandi local government areas of the state. In these areas, desertification manifests itself through incidence of wind erosion, dune accumulation and exposure of lateritic ironstone on the landscape. However, significant achievements have been made by the state towards finding solution to the problem. These efforts consist of establishment of shelter belts, woodlots, roadside plantations and forest reserves. Desertification is the product of a number of factors, both natural and manmade. Speaking to our reporter, the state Executive Director of state emergency agency, Engineer Yahyah Chindo Jega said that the indigenous methods of cultivation, excessive sourcing for fuel wood and indigenous grazing techniques have combined to deprive the environment of its natural vegetation, thus accelerating the incidence of soil erosion. He said that other ecological problems afflicting the state include flooding, pest infestation and gullies. The problem of flooding is restricted more to the Rima valley, and caused by uncontrolled release of wa-

...Collapsed infrastructure in the North

ter from the Goronyo and Bakolori reservoirs into stream in Sokoto and Zamfara States respectively. He added that flooding has become an annual event since 1988 when excess water is released from the Bakolori and Goronyo dams upstream causing devastation of croplands within the flood plains, of settlements bordering them and loss of lives. People’s Daily Weekend gathered that since the creation of the state and the need to develop the state capital, the search for laterite for building and road construction had resulted in a number of deep trenches and gullies. These have consequently increased the rate of erosion. On the case of collapsed building in kebbi state, Jega said it has reduced drastically compared to the las year. He said that Kebbi state last year recorded about 40 percent of building collapse in ten local government areas including the Birnin Kebbi, the state capital while many people lost their lives and properties. Some of these factors that lead to the affected collapse building, according to him, include heavy rainfall, lack of maintenance of the drainage and indiscriminate building without regulation. According to him, cases of collapse building was not recorded in the state capital 2013 except in nine local government areas of the state namely

We continue our series on collapsed infrastructure in Northern states outlining abandoned, underutilised or unimplemented projects. Ahmed Idris Idris in Birnin Kebbi reports.

Man standing on scorched land

Jega, Maiyama, Zuru Bunza Augie and Ngaski while five people were confirmed dead with over 400 displaced in Augie local government. He commended the state government for assisting the refugees who are still leaving in the camps, for giving them food items and other necessities like healthcare.

When People’s Daily Weekend visited the refugee camp in Augie local government area and spoke with a refugee, Malam Usman Augie, he expressed dismay over their condition adding that they have been there for four months with no assistance from the government to re-construct their buildings. Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Government has recently awarded contracts worth N357 million for erosion control in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital. Speaking to Peoples Daily in his office, the State Commissioner for Environment, Ishiaku Daudu, said that desert encroachment is the major ecological problem confronting the state because the desert encroaches into the farmlands annually and has caused people to migrate to other states for

“ Flood coused by dam spill

“greener pastures”. “We also have some other erosion problems that need Federal Government intervention,” Daudu said. “We have started some that our fund can reach and we have tendered our case at the last National Council on Environment in Kaduna State. In 2010, we experienced flooding; we are hoping on the Federal Government to come to our aid.” To prevent wind erosion, the State Government increased the State’s shelterbelt to 20km. The State also raises seedlings annually and uses its corps members to plant same, in a bid to reduce desert encroachment. Daudu called on the Ecological Fund Office to provide the state with intervention fund as it is one of the 11 frontline states faced with desertification.

He said that other ecological problems afflicting the state include flooding, pest infestation and gullies. The problem of flooding is restricted more to the Rima valley, and caused by uncontrolled release of water from the Goronyo and Bakolori reservoirs into stream in Sokoto and Zamfara States respectively.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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Special Report Boko Haram: Damaturu residents resilient, living normal Lives From Uche Uche, Damaturu

oko Haram attacks in Damaturu, Yobe state capital city has become almost part of the lives of the residents that it no longer matters much in their day to day style of living. A visit to Damaturu the state capital shows that people are going about their normal business undaunted by the trauma of the devastating attack that cost numerous lost of lives and especially, government properties on the 24th of October, 2013. Casualty of the attack include soldiers, police, civilians and the insurgents when gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram launched multiple attacks in various locations in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital. Consequently the military imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew which was however later reviewed to commence from 4pm to 7am daily across the state

commencing from yesterday. The attacks which started around 5.30pm on Thursday evening lasted over eight hours as security forces engaged the insurgents in fierce battle. It was a coordinated attack by the insurgents who divided themselves into so many groups and launched attacks in several security establishments in the state. No one can tell you how many people were killed, but the truth is that casualty must be very high indeed. Some of the areas attacked include the headquarters of the 233 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Kukareta located on the Damaturu-Maiduguri road. It was formerly a newly constructed boarding primary school but later turned to an army barracks; the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office, 4 buildings were burnt down at the police Area Command office, the Mobile Base and ‘C’ Division police station all along

Gujba road, Damaturu. Many checkpoints, public buildings and private residential quarters were also attacked. Thirty of the terrorists were confirmed killed by the military spokesman of 3 Division Special Operation Battalion, Captain Eli Lazarus during the encounter while three of the insurgents’ vehicles were recovered. Other items recovered include; 4 AK 47 Rifles, 1 FN Rifle, 1 rocket Propelled grenade, 1 Rocket Propelled Grenade bomb (RPG), 1 extra barrel of GPMG, several improvised explosive devices [IEDs] and 709 rounds of assorted ammunition. A 24-hour curfew was imposed across the state to enable troops conduct pursuit on the fleeing terrorists. Residents are advised to obey the curfew. Two days later, how is life and social activities in Damaturu the state capital? Peoples Daily Weekend visited some of the major business areas

Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state

in Damaturu and reports that people are going about their normal business activities as if nothing has happened, haven removed fears in their minds after witnessing several of these attacks in the city. Some of the residents of Damaturu who spoke to Peoples Daily Weekend said they have become used to it and have surrendered their lives to the Almighty God who alone can give the maximum protection. “As for me my life is in the hand of God and I know that everybody will die one day so why should I leave my business which is my only means of survival. We will go to paradise but these people (the insurgents-Peoples Daily own words) will not see paradise at all because Allah did not ask them to kill anybody,” said one Mohammed, a trader at the

Abacha market, behind the main motor park in Damaturu. Vehicular movement and activities at the motor parks remained the same, shops and business owners were everyday in their business premises transacting businesses as normal, while all the banks remained open attending to their customers. Children continue to attend schools in different parts of the city as both public and private schools remained open for them. The military has continued to search for the insurgents in several locations (and making arrests of suspects.) However, there remained traffic jams at the check points as security men intensify stop and search operations along the roads in the city.

The JTF have been hard on the heels of Boko Haram insurgents

FG finally hands over PHCN By Etuka Sunday & Omale Adama, Lokoja

he Federal Government yesterday handed over six generation, one transmission and eleven distribution companies created from the unbundling of the Power Holing Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as part of its privatisation efforts of the power sector. It however declared that both the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and Bureau of Public Enterprises would continually monitor the operations of the successor companies and would not hesitate to sanction any core investor that does not deliver on performance agreement that was executed with the Government. The physical handover ceremony

...Otedola takes over Ajaokuta plant which was performed by the Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo who is also the Chairman, National Council on Privatisation at the Abuja Distribution Company marked the end of PHCN in Nigeria. The Vice President said “the realisation that Nigeria will not attain the desired economic growth without adequate power that informed the power sector reform.” Sambo said “the electric power reform program became imperative in order to improve efficiency, reduce losses and cost. No doubt, this reform will lead to increased access to electricity, engender private sector investment, improve infrastructure, and create employment for the growing population of our citizenry.”

Meanwhile, the Federal government has officially presented the handover certificate of Geregu power station in Ajaokuta local government area of Kogi state to its core investor, AMPERION Power Distribution Company owned by Mr. Femi Otedola yesterday. Speaking during the handover ceremony held at the boardroom of the power station, the Vice-President, Arc. Namadi Sambo represented by Ustaz Yunus Usman [SAN] chairman of the legal committee of the National Council of Privatization,also pointed out that the activities of the core investors would be continuously monitored by the Electricity Regulatory commission and the Bureau of Public Enterprises to ensure that they carried out their duties.

The activities of civilian JTF contributed immensely to the return of normalcy in Yobe

Civilian-JTF, displaying their weapons.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

News

APC National Leaders during the invitation visit to Gov Murtala Nyako in Yola

Boko Haram invented PDP very, very sick, says Nyako to destroy the North …As Buhari, Akande, Tinubu storm —Gen Buhari A From Umar Dankano, Yola

ormer Nigeria military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) has described the Boko Haram phenomena as a political invention by those who do not wish the Northern region well, to kill it politically. Buhari, who is a leading figure in the All Progressive Congress (APC) emphasized that the Boko Haram sect is invented to stigmatize the North, dispelling the impression that the issue of Boko haram is about religion. He insisted that it was a political trick employed to push the region to

the lower rung of the ladder. The General, who has also been a leading opposition in the Nigerian political contest, spoke in Kano Government House yesterday where he said: “we are people orientated and our concerns are our people throughout the country and we are after securing and managing this country. “What we are fundamentally going to do is to secure and effectively manage this country. Let us face this issue squarely because its politics not religion imposed on people.”

damawa State governor, Murtala Nyako has described the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) he presently belongs as “very, very sick”. Therefore, he said, “If APC means making Nigeria a key player in Africa, or saving Nigeria, securing Nigeria, I don’t mind being in any political party.” However, Governor Nyako said he was still in the PDP but would always identify with like minds for the progress of the country. “What we are doing today is not politics but showing concern for our future,” he said. “The fact that Buhari is here physically with other bigwigs portends hope. That leaders from various divides are meeting

here gives Nigeria the hope that we are uniting for the good of the country.” This appears to be a major setback for the PDP as leaders of the new PDP and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) appeared to have convinced Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State to cross to the opposition party. The opposition politicians held a closed-door meeting with Mr. Nyako in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, yesterday as part of efforts to strengthen their ranks ahead of the 2015 general election. The APC chieftains, including former Governor of Lagos , Bola Tinubu, and ex-Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, and APC National Chairman, Bisi Akande , said they were in the state to hold talks with Nyako and his teeming

‘INEC lacks power to withdraw CoR of Katsina lawmakers’ By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

he Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal yesterday affirmed the judgement of a Federal High Court, Abuja which voided the withdrawal of Certificate of Returns of 10 Katsina lawmakers by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The court also said the leadership of the National Assembly acted in error by accepting to swear-in the new lawmakers after INEC issued to them Certificate of Returns. The affected former lawmakers

are Senators Abdu Umar ‘Yandoma and Ahmad Sani Stores, Reps Murtala Isa, Muntari Dandutse, Musa Salisu, Aminu Ashiru and Umar Adamu Katsayal, Muhammad Tukur, Tasi’u Doguro, and Abdu Dankama. Those occupying the seats presently are Reps Ahmed Babba Kaita, Salisu Salisco, Umar Abubakar, Salisu Daura, Isa Doro, Sani Mashi, Abbas Machika and Dr Mansur Funtua and Senators Abubakar Yar’adua and Hadi Sirika. Justice Jimmy Bada, who led other four justices of the appellate court to hear the appeal said the trial

court was right to have dismissed the objection raised by the appellants (the lawmakers issued with the certificates of return). Justice Bada said, “There is no court of competent jurisdiction that declared the appellant as winner in the election. “The respondents (those whose certificate of returns were withdrawn) were duly sworn-in and I am of the view that the court below has the powers to entertain the case of the respondent. “The certificate of returns issued to the appellants is a nullity. The court

below was right in dismissing the objection of the appellants. INEC issued the certificate of returns without order from any court or tribunal”, the court held. After the high court’s judgement, Senators Sadiq Yar’Adua (Katsina Central) and Senator Hadi A. Sirika (Katsina Central North), and eight members of the House of Representatives approached the court of appeal to set aside the judge of the high court that voided the certificate of returns issued to them by the INEC in December 2011.

supporters. During the meeting, held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Yola, Mr. Akande said their recruitment mission to the state was part of their drive to salvage the country from its present dilapidated state. Mr. Akande said. “I can assure you that in APC, internal democracy will be enshrined. Please let’s not make mistake this time around. The time is ripe for change. Our discussions with other governors are very fruitful ahead of the proposed merger.’’ In the same vein, General Buhari reiterated Mr. Akande’s statement on their mission to Yola, which is to persuade Nyako to join the APC. “All what we are trying to do is to get this country out of the current mess,” he said.

Eclipse of the sun tomorrow

or the second time within three years, an eclipse will occur across the world. This Sunday, there will be total eclipse of the sun for about three hours. When the phenomenon occurred three years ago, it was an eclipse of the moon. Tomorrow’s will be a total eclipse and would come into view from 1. 03 pm for residents of Abuja. It would last for about three hours. And for Lagos, it would be visible from 2. 03pm.

National Confab: SouthWest divided over representation From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

takeholders and self determination groups in the South West Zone yesterday expressed different views on how the nation should be represented at the proposed National Conference. Addressing members of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue at the SouthWest zone interactive session in Lagos, spokesman of socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Ogbeni Yinka Odumakin, said that the dialogue is a good opportunity to sit and decide the options before Nigerians, noting that the discussion can

move the country to the direction of progress. “At this stage, we are for the national conference with sovereign power, the sovereign powers for that conference is that all decisions reached at the conference after it has been put to the constitution and the referendum, the president of Nigeria will take it to the National Assembly for them to promulgate the new constitution and repeal the existing one. “As for the timeframe for the conference, we suggest 6 months, between January and June, we should be able to finish the process and promulgate the next constitution.

“Our position is that we should have equal representation by all the 6 geo-political zones of the country and suggest 100 delegates maximum from each zone,” Afenifere stated. Afenifere Renewal Group Chieftain Wale Oshun told the committee that “the time to talk to one another is now. We should talk of the decline in our country in terms of infrastructure, education, health etc. We should look at the legislative structure, whether it should be full or part time, internal security and other issues that have become a problem”. ThePresidentofOoduaPeoplesCongress(OPC),

Dr. Frederick Fasehun, said “National Assembly must pass a bill supporting the convocation of the national conference. Government should not have representation at the conference. Political parties should not send any representation because the conference is not partisan. All ethnic nationalities should have equal representation,” he said. Speaking for Yoruba General Assembly General Alani Akinrinade’s said the Country can still remain the Federal Republic of Nigeria if ethnic nationalities are courageous and sensible enough to sit among themselves and decide among themselves in the national interest.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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Cover

ASUU Strike:

Businesses crumble in varsity campuses

... As reptiles, weeds take over The nationwide strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) seem to have no end in sight with both the federal government and members of the Union adamant despite several calls from groups and individuals for a truce. Our correspondents across states report the effect of the long strike on university communities that depend on busy and functional academic environment for businesses to thrive. News Editor Abubakar Ibrahim anchors the reports.

ince the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began its industrial action on July 1, several options have been explored to ensure the lecturers return to the classrooms. But ASUU is still sticking to its guns that only the implementation of the 2009 agreement reached with the Federal Government can propel it to call off the strike. As the ASUU strike continues, it generated economic and social fallouts in the complete paralysis of business activities especially of the small scale entrepreneurs in the university environments. Also, various campuses visited by our correspondents were overgrown with grasses, with palpable threats from reptiles and other dangerous animals. Checks by our correspondents also reveal that lecture halls have begun to wear cracks due to lack of activities while streets were unkempt. Our correspondents report on current situation in campuses across the country Implications on University of Abuja communities Maryam Garba Hassan takes a look at the economic implications of the industrial action on the communities within the University of Abuja. The lingering dispute between the federal government and the members of ASUU is not only threatening to fully ground the entire sector as some other unions are threatening to join the action, but is already having its toll on the Nigerian students, communities and the almost collapsing educator sector. Also, the faculties of Arts, Veterinary Medicine and the students hostels were all covered by overgrown grasses. The strike is already paralysing

or greatly affecting the economy of the communities around the Universities as a great number of the members of such communities engage in petty trading within and around the campuses to sustain their families. With the establishment of university of Abuja, the only university in the nation’s capital, began a boom in property business within and around Gwagwalada as a lot of the university’s students prefer to stay in rented apartment off campus. This saw to the massive building of room and parlour homes popularly known as “self -contain” and students hostels built by indigenes and civil servants. Alhaji Usman Zaphania, owner of a 20-flats of one room apartments occupied by students, said an apartment in his property goes for N180,000 to N250,000. He said business is at its peak when students return for new sessions adding that with the recent strike, life has not been easy as about 13 of his tenants’ rent had expired in October and he cannot rent the apartments out as the tenants’ properties are still in the rooms. “Through the students we generate a lot of income that can transform Gwagwalad Area Council into a model one if the businesses were own by government. Some of our children who are coming from poor homes and want to be educated, are engaged by the University students to render them services ranging from car wash, laundry, housekeeping etc. It is from such menial works they do that some of them sponsor their education. If the strike continues, it can affect the future of our children who now sit at home or gather at joints to discuss issues that may not add value to their lives because they are idle”. The worst hits are food vendors whose customers are mostly stu-

The gate of Nasarawa State University Keffi is almost overtaken by weeds dents. An elderly woman, who simply identified herself as Madam Calabar and runs a restaurant within the temporary site, said she and her family chose to live in Gwagwalada because of the business she runs within the University. She said before the strike, she makes N18,000 to N20,000 in a day from the sale of different Calabar delicacies adding since the industrial action began, she hardly make up to N3,000 a day. “With the N3,000 I now make everyday, I don’t think I can pay my shop’s rent which is expiring next month and I’m forced to start considering reducing the number of staff

each of which earns N500 every day. When students were in school, every day I cook close to two bags of Semolina, 20 tubers of yam for pounded yam, almost a bag of rice and beef worth N30,000 but now I hardly sell half bag of Semolina and rice much less talking about pounded yam”, she added. Madam Calabar further lamented that when the university is open, business is 24hours, 6 days a week and that at any time of the day, some shops are open while others close for the day around midnight but that now everywhere goes quiet as early as 10pm. Hairdressers at a stall close to the temporary site, said for the number

of years the hair makers have been doing business in the area, market has been good as female students patronise them regularly, particularly on weekends. “You can see that in the whole of the stalls that accommodate the eight of us, there are only three customers who some of our members fought over. Honestly, the strike is having its toll on our petty business. David Wyep, a local laundry man popularly known as “washing machine” also expressed worry over the low patronage his business has recorded in the last four months.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Cover Businesses crumble in varsity campuses Contd from Page 7

Wuyep said his laundry business, which used to be the envy of many of his colleagues, is going down since the industrial action commenced, leaving him with no option but to start sachet water business. “The epileptic power supply we get is also making the sachet water business not successful. I have to buy ice block at the cost of N100 which I seldom get, in fact, I can tell you that students are the heartbeat of the traders around”, he said. He said there is need for all stakeholders in the country to participate in any way to reach ideal, rational and realistic consensus with the union on how to end the strike as it affects every aspect of Nigerians lives. Our economy is prostrate – Residents of MAUTECH neighbourhood Umar Dankano in Yola reports that many business concerns that provide basic services to the teeming students and officials (academic and non academic) of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola (MAUTECH) are operating skeletally following lack of patronage that became the fate of those businesses since the commencement of the industrial action over four months ago. Although the strike action has impacted the economy of the university and its neighbouring suburb popularly called Sangere negatively, the sector worst hit by the strike is the transportation sector as various transporters interviewed by this reporter said that they are only operating skeletal services. Peoples Daily Weekend checks revealed that there are two major means of transportation mainly used by the off-campus students who come to the school from parts of the state metropolis including Yola South, Yola North and Girei Local Governments of the state. The students coming from distant places usually enter commercial cars which shuttle between Girei Local Government and Yola North Local Governments while those who reside within the Sangere Community always patronise the services of Okada riders to commute to various parts of the university. Both the car and Okada operators are now lamenting the prolonged strike which impinges on their incomes negatively as some of them who spoke to this reporter said they find it very difficult to feed their immediate family, let alone bear other responsibilities. One transporter, Mallam Bobbo Umaru who was met idling by the major gate of the university said his economy has been negatively affected since the strike commenced as he hardly make enough money to feed his family and cater for their immediate needs. He said before the advent of the strike, he used to make between N6,000 to N7,000 on daily basis but he now makes between N1,000 to N2,000 everyday.Umaru said that with the development, life has become very difficult for him and his family as it is very difficult to feed let alone settle rent and school fees of his children. Similarly, Madam Sarah Kings-

ley, a business center operator in the university environment corroborated the position of Umaru. Kingsley said she has been demoralized by the strike as her only source of income has suffered a serious setback. “I am completely at the receiving end of this strike that has depleted my only source of income. Before the advent of this strike, you can’t see anyone of us pointing towards people resting in a shade of a tree as we are always busy but the strike has rendered us idle most of the time”. She said before the strike commenced, she made between N3,500 to N5,000 naira on daily basis but now make between N300 to N500. She called on the Federal Government and ASUU to reconcile their differences for the good of all Nigerians. “This strike does not only affect the students of this university. It affects almost everybody residing within this vicinity including food vendors, business centers, transporters and even water vendors as many businesses depend on the presence of the students”. Apart from the transportation sector, other businesses have been similarly affected by the strike action. A visit to one of the food canteens in the university by our correspondent was enough to reveal the low patronage associated with the strike as the main hall of the canteen was empty as at the time of the visit. The operator of the food canteen who simply identify herself as Mama Ama Kucheli said she is compelled to open the restaurant because she detest sitting at home as idleness may expose her to psychological tension. “My son, I prefer opening this outfit even if doing that does not translate into making business as you can see now that nobody has patronized this shop since I opened it”, she said. She said before the strike commenced, she use to sell one bag of rice in three days apart from other varieties of food including Yam, Garri, Akpu she sells at the canteen. She called on the Federal Government to expedite settlement of the lecturers’ demand saying it will save many souls from poverty and even help in curtailing crime in the area. “I plead with the Federal Government to expedite settling the demands of these lectures for peace to prevail and for us to be back into business so that the economy of the Sangere neighborhood can be reinvigorated. “Many families are relying on the income they make from doing business in the neighborhood to cater for their needs therefore resolving the strike is also resolving the people’s predicament”, she says. Nasarawa:‘President Jonathan should save our businesses’ Ali Abare Abubakar in Lafia

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UniAbuja main entrance

Unilag main entrance reports that for residents of Agwan Lambu, the host community of the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the members of ASUU, now running into its fourth month, has become a terrible reminder of the “Locust Years” of Biblical times. The owners of small businesses around Agwan Lambu, who depend on students of the university as major clients,have found life gradually grounded to a halt, with more than three-quarters of restaurants, barbing saloons, business centres, digital photography studios, commercial motorcycle riders and a host of such other businesses, virtually shut down, with the owners thrown into temporary unemployment. When Peoples Daily Weekend visited Angwan Lambu area Tues-

We are crying out to President Jonathan to settle the matter by fulfilling his part of the bargain. I’m in support of the action taken by ASUU

day afternoon, the otherwise busy enclave was a ghost town, with the few people still operating their businesses seen in clusters, ostensibly contemplating their fate. Several shops were seen shut with the owners forced to relocate to other areas to either seek other means of livelihood or languish in sheer boredom occasioned by the temporary seizure in business activities as a result of the strike by university lecturers, with the ever present crowd inhabiting the area totally absent. At the entrance gate of the Nasarawa State University, also covered by weeds, our reporter interacted with members of the commercial motorcycle riders, popularly called “NSUK Riders”, who mostly operate within only the university environment, seeking to know how the four month old strike has affected their business. Inusa Suleiman, chairman of NSUK Riders, who spoke on behalf of the group, agreed that members are seriously crippled by the strike because students, who form the bulk of their customers, are not in school. “We never suspected that it will reach this stage. Already, it has spoilt everything pertaining our business.

Some of us who took loan to start the business are now defaulting because we can no longer meet our obligations. Even those that remit daily dues to owners of motorcycles, cannot get enough to pay”, the chairman of the commercial motorcycle riders lamented. Inusa maintained that because of the lull in business activities , members of his group are now finding it hard to fulfill basic obligations, as according to him, “we feed and clothe our families, pay house rents and school fees, take our children to the hospital, and many other obligations, all from this business. We hardly get customers here and it is even worst because we are stationed permanently here.” On the way out of the logjam, Inusa said, “We are crying out to President Jonathan to settle the matter by fulfilling his part of the bargain. I’m in support of the action taken by ASUU, if the federal government honours the ASUU/FG 2009 agreement . We are hopeful that we will not experience another strike in a long time, so Jonathan should fulfill his part of the bargain.”

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Cover

Businesses crumble in varsity campuses Contd from Page 8 For Godwin Wada, owner of Nex Laundry located along the Agwan Lambu area, the strike has come as a bad omen, with his business greatly affected, leading to a poor return on investment. According to the young Godwin, seen trying to keep busy in his shop, where our reporter saw finished clothes gathering dust on shelves because the owners, mostly students, have forcefully vacated and are nowhere in sight to collect their laundries, business is no longer interesting. “Students are our major customers and even though other customers walk in from time to time, the business is no longer interesting”, Godwin said. On his part, he pleaded with ASUU to sheathe its sword and accept whatever the federal government placed on the negotiating table, so that life can go back to normal. Esther Mbata, a seamstress and owner of Mike Designs, a tailoring outfit in Angwan Lambu, on the other hand, gave God the glory for sustaining her business. She agreed also that the strike has greatly impacted on her business which has been slowed down. “Business has not been as usual but we are coping. Students form the bulk of our customers”, she said. Esther wants ASUU and the federal government to resolve the matter quickly so that students can return to shore up their businesses. “Government should stop paying ASUU salaries if they fail to resume and call off the strike. Jonathan has tried his best, it remains for ASUU to call off the strike”, Esther advised. Even for members of the Angwan Lambu community, the ongoing

strike has brought its own peculiar hardships. According to Isa Abdullahi Lambu, youth of the area, who otherwise find employment in menial jobs, mostly for students, now wallow in idleness, as most of these youth have nothing to do to earn a living. “The strike has affected us too. We no longer collect rents for either accommodation or shops as the entire area has been abandoned. President Jonathan has not tried at all, we did not expect this from him”, Isa stated. Kaduna:KASU, KadPoly turned ghost towns Muhammad Ibrahim in Kaduna reports that the two tertiary institutions visited within Kaduna metropolis; Kaduna State University (KASU) and Kaduna Polytechnic are like ghost towns because almost all the shops in the premises have closed down due to ongoing national strike embarked upon by ASUU and ASUP. The shops house Internet cafes, business centers, food vendors, photographers and coblers who provide services to students of these institutions. At KASU along Tafawa Balewa road Unguwar Rimi GRA, the university gate that always look busy with students going in and out of the school, looked empty with few cars sighted by the gate. Okada or commercial motorcycle riders that operate at the gate used to have a field day during academic sessions but with the strike, the school entrance looked deserted with nobody to patronize them. A business center operator inside the state University, who identified himself as Mr. Benga,g said the strike has made almost 85 percent of shop owners in the school jobless.

Empty business centre opposite Unijos

Unijos main entrance

A deserted business centre in one of the universities He said they are now having difficulties feeding and meeting their family needs on daily basis. “ Even the students only come in to roam about doing nothing because they are equally tired of sitting at home,” he said. According to him, those that still open their shops do so because they have no other choice. “ Some of us are tired of staying at home while those that closed their shops did so because most times they hardly make sales and so they decided to stay at home pending when ASUU calls off the strike,” he said. On who to blame between ASUU or FG, he said “ I think FG should be blamed for failing to fulfill its obligation” just as he appealed to FG to kindly negotiate with ASUU so as to end the standoff between them. Nura Minister, a photographer in Kaduna Polytechnic said he is disturbed by the strike because it greatly affects his business. According to him, before the strike his business was booming because he snapped about 15 people a day “ but now if I am lucky I get 2- 3 people a day” . Nura, who is a Diploma holder in Business management, said when business was good, he had trained and employed two youth but they have been laid off because he cannot afford to pay them. “ I asked them to stop coming because I don’t think with the little

money we are making I can afford to pay them. This is how bad the strike is affecting us,” he said. The young man therefore, appealed to lecturers to call off the strike because, according to him, the government is not bothered how long the strike lasts. “ The government doesn’t care about the masses’ children, so I think the lecturers need to be more concerned about their fellow masses. We have other more important issues bothering us in this country so they should have the ordinary people at heart,” he said. A photocopier operator at the Kaduna Polytechnic, who refused to disclose her name, said business in the school has been dull because of the ongoing strike. “ We used to make 15, 000 naira daily before the strike but now if we are lucky, we make 4,000 naira. So we want ASUU to call off the strike for the betterment of the students and businesses because live has not been easy since the strike began,” she said. A customer at the Photocopier shop in Kaduna Polytechnic, Alfa (not real name) said the strike is not interesting as its destroy the country’s education sector. “ It is basically undesirable and I blame the government because they should have known what to do before the strike began. If the government do what is right I don’t think

the ASUU or any worker will want to embark on strike in this country. “We all understand that there was an agreement between them and the government. So let the government do what is right so as to settle this prolong problem,” he said. No problem in Kwara Olanrewaju Lawal reports from Ilorin that the ongoing ASUU strike has no negative impact in Kwara State as both federal and state Universities and private ones did not close the gates of the institutions. The commercial vehicles , okada riders and even roadside traders are also doing the normal businesses as expected. Beside, various stakeholders in the state have being calling on federal government and ASUU to resolve their differences in the interest of the students. Speaking with Peoples Daily Weekend, the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Barrister Abdulrazak Atunwa said the federal government should yield to the demands of ASUU stressing that some politicians in the country are receiving more than what the Union is demanding. He added that if the Aviation Minister,Princess Stella Oduah could buy N255 million bulletproof cars, then, the Union demands must be

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

News Analysis

Patience Jonathan’s quest for National Women Centre By Miriam Humbe

n June 15, 1995, An Act to establish the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) for the general purpose of designing developmental programmes and activities for the advancement of women in Nigeria came into effect. The centre which at its inception was named Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development is statutorily under the purview of the President and Commander-in Chief of the Armed

Forces and serves as a training, research and mobilisation centre for Nigerian Women and is located in the Central Area of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. Government, in recognition of the critical role women play as agents of national development and in line with section H of the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA), established the NCWD, with the mandate to undertake, co-ordinate and organise research, training, documentation and information dissemination geared towards the social, economic and political empower-

First Lady, Patience Jonathan

ment of women within the overall framework of national development... to mainstream gender into all spheres of national development. It also purposed to collate information on the totality of women’s work and efforts and serve as a databank/documentation centre for women development issues. The training component of the centre is primarily aimed at developing effective methodologies, training materials and skills acquisition to equip women fully for development processes. Other facilities include restaurant, travel agency, shops, local handicraft from all parts of the country, auditorium with capacity of 3,000 and committee rooms for hosting both national and international workshops. Section [1] subsection [1] of the schedule establishing the centre states thus: “There is hereby established a body to be known as the National Centre for Women Development (in this Act referred to as “the Centre”). Subsection (2) of the schedule says “The Centre shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession; and may sue and be sued in its corporate name. Subsection (3) says “The Centre shall be located in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and shall not be subject to the direction, control or supervision of any other authority or person in the performance of its functions under this Act other than the President or such other person as he may designate from time to time. The chairman, Executive Director and other members of the council of the centre are also appointees of the President. Section 5 (1) of the Act charged the Centre with the primary responsibility to stimulate consciousness towards the attainment of higher

levels of development and activity for Nigerian women and promote international co-operation for the attainment of the stated objective. The main thrust of the centre as specified by the Act is to promote research into the activities and achievements of women; serve as a data bank on women and development in Nigeria; and facilitate the formulation of policies affecting women primarily in areas such as education, employment, health and finance. It is also to provide training in skill development, income generation activities and serve as a training ground for managers and leaders; provide a forum for guidance, counselling and mobilisation of women in both urban and rural areas; and liaise with national, regional and international agencies involved in women development programmes. Because service in the Centre is public service for the purposes of the Pensions Act, officers and other persons employed in the centre shall, in respect of their service, be entitled to pension, gratuities and other retirement benefits upon retirement. By the provisions of this Act, the centre is also entitled to an annual subvention received from the Federal Government; as well as budgetary provisions and tax exemptions on accrued revenue. These provisions have covertly or overtly made the centre a public service organisation. Recently, for her role in the 2011 presidential campaign, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed musical icon, Onyeka Onwenu as the Executive Director of the NCWD, Abuja. The appointment was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. However, recent reports suggest that government is making efforts to sell the edifice. Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan is reported

Respect agreements, Governor Aliyu warns Jonathan again From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

iger state governor Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has warned Nigerian politicians to remain committed to the terms of agreement and promises in order to deserve respect from the people they governed. This is not unconnected to the one-term agreement allegedly reached with northern governors but said to have been denied by President Goodluck Jonathan. Aliyu stated this while commissioning the Bida local government council’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat yesterday. He said, “I have learnt to keep promises, I have learnt to keep to agreements, we must teach our children how to respect agreements and promises. Although we have a ceasefire in order to make our party a better party but we need discipline in our party, we need unity and above all we need democracy to be entrenched in our party, therefore the G7 governors are still on course.” He said that those political

to have indicated interest in purchasing the Women Centre. Onyeka Onwenu, incumbent Executive Director is said to have been appointed to head the committee purportedly set up to facilitate the sale of the public place. The impending sale of the centre raises many pertinent questions; some based on national interest and common good, and others hinging on morality. One begins to wonder what exactly is behind the urgent need to dispose of a public structure of that magnitude which is aimed at advancing the frontiers of women. Credibility questions are also raised here. To what extent has the centre gone comatose deserving of outright sale? Only recently, the same Mrs. Jonathan was inducted into the National Women Hall of Fame in an event which was hosted at that centre. The occasion witnessed the induction of the First Lady into the most coveted national women hall of fame, as well as the graduation of over 1,900 trainees, who are beneficiaries of various Vocational Skills Acquisition programmes of the National Centre for Women Development. Patience Jonathan is neither a business mogul, nor is she an estate developer. With which funds does she intend to buy the centre if she wins the auction? What then becomes of the laudable programmes of the centre and their beneficiaries? These and many more questions are begging for answers. Because the centre is established based on the provisions of law, the outright sale may be a violation of existing laws. The National Assembly may have to wade into the issue to ensure that the reason for establishing the centre is not abruptly set aside as a result of the sale. L-R. Assistant Church Pastor Laja Abereoran, Pastor in charge Dr.Akindeji Falaki, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Chapel Secretary Dr. Sade Yemi Esan and Music Director Mr. Tosin Oladimeji during the Press briefing on the forthcoming 10th anniversary of his Grace Assembly UMCA Abuja held at the Church’s premises in Abuja yesterday. Photo Joe Oroye

parties who are hoping to harvest from PDP crisis should wait and keep their party well and proper, assuring that their crisis would be resolve amicably soon. Earlier, the state chairman of PDP, Alhaji Abdulrahman Mahmud Enagi reiterated that the zoning of governorship to zone C for 2015 was sacrosanct saying that zone A had had it period during Eng Abdulkadir Kure while the present administration of Dr Babangida Aliyu is for zone B. Enagi warned those causing disaffection to desist while calling for support from other zones to actualize the dream of zone C.

Again, curfew reviewed in Yobe From Uche Uche, Damaturu.

estriction of movement from 5 pm to 7 am in Yobe state has been reviewed to start from 6 pm to 6 am daily by the military. This has brought a sigh of relief for the residents who have been groaning under the burden of the curfew which has had serious effect on their daily social and economic

activities especially for those whose businesses are morning-based. A woman with four children who fries bean cakes, commonly called akara in Damaturu, the state capital to support the family expenses said the curfew has become like a curse. “Before I used to be at the spot where I sell my Akara and fried Potatoes by as early as 6 am and

people patronize me. They buy for their families before going to work and other places. But now as the curfew ends by 7 am before people will start coming out, people are already in hurry to go to work and have made their own food preparations that they do not have time left for things like akara,” she laments. Similarly, all business transaction must wind up by 4 pm daily, a

type of 16 hour business daily. Therefore some people close up their businesses as early as between 2 to 3 pm in order to beat the traffic hold ups on the road and those living long distances away from their places of businesses. However, on hearing the review of the restriction from 6 pm to 6 am daily, many have heaved a sigh of relief.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 11

News GermanNigeria training programme targets 200 youth in 3 years – Coordinator

L-R: Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo handing over to the Chairman, KANN Consortium Utility Company Ltd, Ambassador Shehu Malami the owner of Abuja Distribution Company, during the Handover of PHCN facilities to private investors , yesterday in Abuja.

By Stanley Onyekwere

chairman stated that formation of separate offices headed each by a director, is the reason why education institutions are underfunded. “ Formation of multiple offices and each headed by a director with at least 30 personnel working under the director, is the reason why the problem of education emanated. For instance, in the ministry of education, you find that there is director for Tertiary institutions, director for secondary schools, director primary schools,

director education research and statistics etc, and each of these offices has at least 30 personnel and salary and allowances of each personnel has to be budgeted by the FG. So, this stall the funding of the institutions and results to underfunding the institutions.” The chairman also stated that his committee had conducted an inspection tour to Federal Universities nationwide in order to assess their level of infrastructure and education quality.

“My committee had conducted a nationwide inspection to Federal universities in order to asses the level of their infrastructure and quality of education. We have so far visited 29 states and hope to complete the rest by December this year.” Goro also said that “ the committee will file the report and submit it to the House in order grant their demand and reform the universities for development of education in the state.”

he proposed German-Nigeria Dual Vocational Training Partnership (DVTP) programme takes off in the country in three weeks, in Abuja, the project coordinator, Mr. Kehinde Awoyele, has said. He said that Lagos, Ogun and Abuja, had been selected for the pilot phase of the project targeted at 200 youths within a three-year period. Awoyele disclosed this at a recent stakeholders meeting hosted by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA). According to him, DVTP is a private partnership project between the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and four selected business membership organisations in the country. He listed the Nigerian partners as the Lagos, Abuja and Ogun Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture; the Nigerian German Business Association (NGBA), and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). He said that the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development is financing the project aimed at improving the vocational education quality within Nigerian enterprises through a better combination of theory and practice. The coordinator explained that under the pilot phase, the targets would be trained in industrial electronics, industrial mechanics, maintenance and technical facility management and office assistance/project management. The partnering organisations, he said, are expected to identify the skills they lack in any of the four areas and then nominate their potential employees to be trained in such areas. In his remark, the President of ABUCCIMA, Mr. Solomon Nyagba, who commended GCCI for the project , also pledged the commitment of the chamber and its member organisations to its successful implementation in Abuja. Over 30 representatives of private business enterprises in Abuja attended the stakeholders meeting.

tody illegally after paying the fines imposed on her by the State environment court. He stressed that the petition was being made on the following grounds: 1. That his client was arraigned before the O. S. Aka Bashorun, (Snr. Magistrate), presiding at the Lagos State Environmental & Special Offenses Court, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State. 2. That the allegation against his client was a two (2) count charge of Breach of Peace and “Unlawful

dues”. 3. That his Client was not legally represented by any Counsel throughout the proceedings in court. 4. That his Client was convicted on the 20th day of September, 2013 and sentenced to three(3) months imprisonment with an option of fine of N30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira). 5. That on the 24th September, 2013, fine was duly paid by our Client based on the payment directive and Orders of the Court.

A visibly angry Amu noted that in spite of payment of the fine, his Client is still being held in Prison Custody due to the refusal, neglect and incompetence of the Court to issue a reproduction Warrant in spite of repeated request, and demand for same. To further give support to the motion, he averred that if within 48hours of receipt of his letter, his client is not promptly released from Prison Custody and the Certified Bank Draft in the sum of N10,

000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) as damages for unlawful imprisonment from the 24th of September, 2013 (being the date of payment of fine) till the receipt of his letter, is not forwarded to his office, he shall cause legal action to commence against the Lagos State Judiciary. He further averred that his Client’s claim shall attract another N50, 000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) if after receipt of his letter, no attention is given to his Client’s claims contained herein.

Photo: Justin ImoOwo

Help your host communities, Ogun urges investors From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

gun state government has charged private sector companies and organizations operating in the state to assist their host communities by engaging in enhanced Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in theirvarious domains. Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Chief Samuel Aiyedogbon, who gave the charge at a one day sanitization workshop for corporate organizations in Ogun state, said, private sector companies should not leave the development

of their host communities to the state government alone. Aiyedogbon, noted that government as an architect of industrial process, has a duty to ensure that harmonious relationship and peaceful coexistence exist between host communities and industrial organization. He pointed out that for any company to enjoy industrial sustainability and growth, it should take CSR initiatives seriously, adding that it was imperative for companies in the state to liaise with his ministry as a middleman between the Community Development Association (CDAs) and the companies before

embarking on its CSR initiatives. “Development in some parts of the world have shown that government as an architect of industrialization process has a duty to harmonize relationship and peaceful co-existence between host Communities and the industrial organization. They should strategies and devise means of giving back to the Communities as a form of Corporate Social Responsibility to them” “It is important that these organizations involve the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives before embarking on the CSR initiatives in order to guide against

individuals or group of persons extorting them. The Ministry would assist to organize a meeting where there would be executives of host CDAs, government representatives and the company’s representatives in order to ensure that what the host community actually desired is provided” Aiyeogbon said In his presentation, titled “ Industrialization and investment efforts in Ogun state- the journey so far”, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, urged Companies to contribute to the economic and social well being of people in the countries and communities where they operate.

Bureaucracy is the major problem of education- Rep.

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano.

hairman, House of Representatives committee on education, representing Fagge constituency in Kano State, Comrade Aminu Suleiman Goro, said that bureaucracy is the major problem bedevilling the education sector in Nigeria. Speaking at a live programme on Rahama radio 97.3fm in Kano, the

Lawyer threatens to sue Lagos judiciary for unlawful detention From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

agos Lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Chief Gabriel Giwa -Amu has threatened to sue the Lagos State Government if within forty –eight hours it refuses to release his client Miss Seun Anifowose. In a letter addressed to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Mrs Ayotunde Phillips. which he made available to the press, the Lawyer averred that his client is being held in prison cus-

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Photo Splash

Children at African Youth Leadersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference in commemoration of African Youth Day, yesterday in Abuja

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

ABU Lecturers hold rally in support of ASUU strike, recently in Zaria

Cross section of members, Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) wives of Nigeria, at the 21st GMD national annual general meeting, yesterday in Abuja

Students writing National Business and Technical Examination Board Examination (NABTEB) yesterday in Bauchi

Private security guards helping the government traffic managers, in controllng traffic, at ma jor roads, yesterday in Suleja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 13

News Dangote Group hits Lagos Fair with rock bottom prices By Abdulwahab Isa

angote group of industries is offering a good discount on all its products at the on-going Lagos International Trade Fair, which started at Tafawa Balewa square, yesterday. The group is spicing up this year’s fair with a special introduction of new products and packs from the stable of its subsidiaries. Its customers and other visitors to the fair will enjoy them, according to a statement from the Group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Anthony Chiejina indicated that the company is offering a huge discount on its

Aliko Dnangote products during the fair to appreciate its teeming customers and visitors to the fair. He stated that the manage-

ment has decided to introduce new product packs from the stable of Dangote salt and Dangote sugar into the market and added that the Group would be using the occasion to appreciate customers for patronizing their products by slashing prices to rock bottom. The Group’s participation at the trade fair is part of strategies to expand market share and reach more customers. “Subsidiaries of the leading African Conglomerate are at the Trade Fair with intent to further consolidate on their leadership in their various sectors by adding more value to their customers through provision of wide ranging products tailored to meet the specific ever changing

needs of the consumers. “Visitors to the group pavilion at the fair would have the opportunity to buy products of these companies at reduced competitive prices. There will also be free samples of the products for the visitors,” the statement said. Companies from the group that are exhibiting at the fair include Dangote Sugar Refinery; Dangote Agrosacks, National Salt Company of Nigeria (NASCON), Dangote Cement and Dansa Foods Limited. NASCON will also be introducing its new seasoning even as there will be free samples for visitors at the fair to make an informed choice on which product to purchase.

L-R: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal receiving his chieftaincy certificate “Onosegele of Opoji” from His Royal Highness, Zaiki Ehidiamen the Onoji of Opoji Kingdom in Essan Central Local Government Area of Edo state on Thursday, in Abuja. Middle is the Chairman, House Committee on Power, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale.

Professionals urge greater autonomy for NCAA From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

otable elders, unions and professionals in the Nigeria aviation industry have collectively, charged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to vigorously exercise and defend the autonomy granted the agency by the Civil Aviation Act of 2006. The group also clarified that the primary responsibility for the safety of an airline rests with the airlines and private operators as the case may be. The clarification were contained in a communiqué signed by the Air Transport senior Staff

Services of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilot and Engineers (NAAPE ) after a one day forum at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja. The group which mandate to chart way forward for the industry, agreed it was time to speak out with one voice to correct some of the wrongs that have pervaded the media by non professionals. It said as professionals, the group are standing firmly behind the autonomy of the NCAA but insist on the accountability of the agency.

"While we recognize the need for autonomy, we stand firmly behind the autonomy f the NCAA; we insist that the responsibility for probity and accountability shall squarely rest with the head executives of the various parastatals.” Also speaking, Chairman of the forum, Captain Paul Thahal in his opening remark said the aviation industry has a lot to go for it but needed professionals to come out and reel out the right information to the media in order to stem the series of negative reporting in the sector as regards safety and technical matters.

“Quite frankly, I hold brief for no one. From all I have heard of the recent happenings in the sector, it is not clear to me that most have little bearing with reality nor are they of real import, safety wise. And I think this is because the majority of those speaking are those who have no knowledge about aviation." "I urge you, therefore, respected and capable professionals that you are, to take advantage of this platform to rescue the industry from the grip of mop stores who presently hold the aviation industry hostage” he told the gathering.

Foundation donates vehicles to Gombe govt From David Hassan, Gombe

s part of the effort to eradicate the menace of insecurity in the country, MTN Foundation in Nigeria has donated 5 Hilux vans to Gombe state government. While donating the vehicles

to the state government at Government House in Gombe , the Regional Government and Community Relation Officer MTN Foundation in Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar Goni, said the vehicles are meant for security patrol across the state. He explained that since the

creation of MTN Foundation in 2004 in Nigeria, it has fulfilled its promise to improve the quality of life in the communities with a view to contribute positively in security operation in Gombe state. According to him, MTN Foundation in Nigeria were able

provide 60 security patrol vehicles with communication gadgets to 11 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Among the beneficiaries according to him were Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Delta, Imo, Kano Katsina, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and FCT- Abuja.

Minister says NPC produces 3 strategic national plans in 4yrs

he Supervising Minister of National Planning Commission (NPC), Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, said the commission has produced three strategic national plans since 2010. Yuguda disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the 10th Joint Planning Board (JPB) and National Council on Development Planning meetings in Uyo. The minister, who was represented by the secretary of the commission, Mr Fidelis Ugbo, said the ministry worked in collaboration withrelevant stakeholders to produce the plans and added that the strategic plans are Nigeria Vision 20:2020, the Transformation Agenda, and National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP). “At the federal level, the ministry has effectively coordinated the production of three categories of strategic plans since the return to National Development Planning in 2010. These strategic plans include the Nigeria Vision 20:2020, which is Nigeria’s long-term strategic plan; the first National Implementation Plan (20102013) of the Vision 20:2020 is a medium-term strategic plan. “The Transformation Agenda is a medium-term plan containing key policies, programmes and projects to be implemented by the Federal Government during 2011-2015. And the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan is a 30-year plan (2014-2043),’’ he said. The minister, who said the purpose of developing the NIIMP was to fill the existing infrastructure gaps in the country, lauded the state governments and other stakeholders involved in the planning for playing significant roles in the development of the three plans. Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom said the bedrock of the uncommon transformation witnessed across the state was strategic planning and budgeting. Akpabio, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Udom Emmanuel, added that his administration maintained a steady budgeting formula of 20 per cent recurrent and 80 per cent capital. According to him, the administration instituted the provision of dividends of democracy by implementing proper budgeting in addition to strategic planning. The theme of the meetings was Imperative of Strategic Planning as a Framework for Effective Policy Formation and Implementation for Nigeria’s Transformation. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Crime Cycle

pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 08138559513 (SMS only)

How farmer died in violent clash in Katsina

he police in Katsina have confirmed that one Ibrahim Lawal, 27, of Tigirmis village in Batagarawa Local Government Area died in a clash between farmers and Fulani herdsmen. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP. Aminu Abubakar, who confirmed incident to newsmen on Wednesday, said the herdsmen were on transit to Kano State from Jibia Local Government when it happened. According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abubakar added that the nomads had obtained permission to pass through the village through the officials of Miyatti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state. The spokesman said that the deceased allegedly confronted the herdsmen and tried to prevent them from passing through his farm, resulting in the conflict. He said the deceased was shot with a dane gun by the nomads and he eventually died in the hospital. He said that investigation was ongoing, and urged the people in the area to remain calm and go about their normal businesses.

20-yr old Woman, 20, gets 3 remanded for months imprisonment raping 5-yr old for assault on co-wife A F or hitting her husband’s other wife with a firewood and causing her grievous injury, a Sharia Court in Malumfashi, Katsina State, sentenced a housewife, Aisha Abdullahi, 20, to three months imprisonment. The court, presided over by Malam Awwal Yankwani, however, granted the convict an option of N3, 000 as fine. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, the Magistrate also ordered Aisha, who was arraigned before the court on October 9, to pay compensation of N2, 500 to the complainant as cost for her medical expense. Yankwani said that the court convicted Aisha after her admission to commission of the offence as well as the testimonies of the complainant, Sa’adiya, and two other witnesses. The judge said that the offence committed contravened Section 164 of the Sharia Law of Katsina State and punishable by Section 165 of the same law. Yankwani, who was supported by Malam Muratala Sidi and Abdulwahad Muhammad as juries, said that the light sentence was in view of the woman’s plea for leniency and because she was a first offender. According to the charge, Aisha committed the offence on Oct. 7, at their residence along Bisije in Malumfashi town. It said that the Sa’adiya had demanded the N20 balance remaining from the money used to purchase firewood from Aisha.

NSCDC arrests man for alleged burglary in Jigawa

he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa said it arrested a 30-year old-man for allegedly attempting to break into a shop in Dutse. Mr Muhammad Gidado, the NSDC Commandant, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse that the suspect was arrested at Yalwawa quarters around 2.30 p.m. Gidado said that the suspect was arrested by men of the command patrolling the area while attempting to break into the

shop. “Luckily enough, we arrested him on the spot while breaking the shop,” Gidado said. He alleged that the suspect had been terrorising shop owners in Dutse and its environs for a long period. The commandant added that the suspect, who confessed to committing the offence, would soon be arraigned. According to him, the command will not relent in its effort to fish out criminals and evil doers in the state. (NAN)

But the convict took offence and struck her mate on the forehead with a piece of firewood, the charge sheet said.

… As Police arraign 4 in for CJN Mariam Aloma Muktar

How Police foiled robbery attack, kill `commander’ in Benue

he Benue Police Command has said it had foiled a robbery attack on traders travelling to a village market in Taraba State. The Police Commissioner, Mr. Adams Audu told newsmen in Makurdi that a police patrol team on routine surveillance engaged the robbers in a gun battle on Agena-Agbayi road in Ukum Local Government Area. He said the seven armed robbers had barricaded the road and were robbing traders travelling to Pevu market in Taraba, when the police engaged them

after receiving a distress call from residents. According to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN), the police commissioner said in the process, the leader of the gang known as Commander was killed in the shoot-out. Audu said the police were on the trail of the six other members of the gang that fled, assuring that they would be apprehended and prosecuted. He also assured the people of the state of the commitment of the police to the protection of lives and property.

Police arraign woman over cheating

he Police have arraigned Happy Danjuma, 27, in a Senior Magistrates’ Court in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, for criminal conspiracy, cheating and breach of trust The prosecutor, Sgt. Joseph Ahua, told the court that Mrs Lami Samija of Church Road, New Karu, reported the matter at the New Karu Police Station on Sept. 23. Ahua alleged that the accused who resides at New Karu conspired with the husband, Mr Kyanta Danjuma, and deceived the complain-

n Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court, in Ekiti State has ordered the remand of a 20-year old, Oluyi Oba, for allegedly raping a five-year old girl. The police prosecutor, Mr. Emmanuel David, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Oct. 22 at about 1. p.m., at Iyin-Ekiti. David alleged that the accused on the said date forcefully had carnal knowledge of the girl (name withheld) which led to her being hospitalised. He said the offence contravened section 218 of the Criminal Code Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012. The plea of the accused was, however, not taken. Chief Magistrate Simeon Ojo ordered the remand of the accused in prison custody pending the receipt of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. He adjourned the case till November 21 for further hearing.

ant into giving them N320,000 to help in settling a case in court. The prosecutor added that instead of settling the case, the accused bought a Honda vehicle with the money. He said the woman hid herself from the complainant till she was arrested, adding that the husband is now at large. Ahua said the offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating and breach of trust contravened sections 97, 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Senior Magistrate, Mr Jeremiah Danladi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety in like sum. Danladi said the surety must be a reasonable and responsible person residing within the jurisdiction of the court and must have a landed property. He adjourned the case to Nov.12 for further hearing.

kidnapping

he police have arraigned four men before an AdoEkiti Magistrates’ Court for alleged kidnapping. The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Ebenezer Ewuola, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Oct.10 at Isan-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area. He said that the accused on the said date kidnapped and unlawfully detained Issac Agbelusi. Ewuola alleged that the accused also assaulted the victim and inflicted some injuries on him. He said that the offence contravened Section 355 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C 16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012. The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge and their counsel, Mr Tiamiyu Lawal, filed an application for their bail. He assured the court that the accused would not jump bail. The Magistrate, Mr Bayode Owoeye, subsequently granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties in like sum. He, however, ruled that the sureties must have landed property. Owoeye later adjourned the case to Nov. 14 for further hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 15

Interview

...return to parliamentary system – Abdullahi Contd from Page 2

igerian citizenry I think since Independence, the issue of right of citizens of Nigeria had always taken a center stage. If ou go to the constitution of Nigeria, the basic elements in that constitution is the citizens right, every citizen is equal to every other citizen and there was no place in the constitution of Nigeria which says every tribe is equal to every other tribe, it only said that every citizen as the citizen of Nigeria has the same right under the law of Nigeria, because to say that every tribe is equal to every other tribe is to say that 25 million Yorubas are the same as perhaps one million Itsekiris who use to be in western Nigeria, or to say the Hausa/Fulani. Here we don’t even know the clear distinction between who is a Hausa man and who is a Fulani because every part is referred to Hausa Falani except few places, so how do you measure? So if the chairman of the committee is saying that there will be equality of representation or that the tribes would be equal in this conference, then he is starting with a huge insurmountable problem because he has to go to a new University of mathematics to find where one is equal to ten thousand or one is equal to ten million and of course we are beginning to see some of these systems where 16 is bigger than 19, so it is possible that this committee can create a new formula. So this really makes person begin to fear that this committee. If care is not taken will really lead us to some unknown areas that will really create far more problems than they have set out to solve unless the whole intention is to create the problems but the motives for creating problems now will be left for the government that have set up the committee to achieve on its behalf because we cannot escape from the feeling that the committee was set up perhaps to create more crisis so that for whatever reason the government that create it might benefit from this crisis, but I believe the at the end , it is the Nigerians irrespective of where they come from irrespective of the size of their tribe that will suffer. We recommended in our discussions recently in Kaduna that the only body out of the present structure that should be left in place for the sovereign national conference to utilize is the Judiciary, but all others must give way ,the sovereign National Conference will set up the necessary structures that will run the administration of the country, the legislative powers of the country and of course the judiciary is there to adjudicate and to help and solve areas of misunderstanding and so on and so forth. Correcting the past mistakes So, this clarification is absolutely necessary, you can’t eat your cake and have it. I have seen some people have been advocating for sovereign National Conference for years now and they came and tell you that no, we need a sovereign national Conference everything is on the table, particularly if we are looking forward to correcting the mistakes of the past. Let this mistake be corrected and it should be the duty of the national conference to say yes, a mistake has been made and this should be corrected now. People said Lugard forced us into a marriage and we know today even if you marry in the registry, there is a point when you can go there and dissolve it, for me as a Muslim is even easier. So I think we can not eat our cake and have it at the same time. I’m one of those who believe that the Nigerian State cannot be a perfect state because it is made up of diverse people with diverse historical background, and so on. We have had many conferences after independence, we started with 3 region and we came to 4 and now we are 36 states, all these had to do with pressures of people who think that they are been marginalized in the Nigeria state, but there are few people who insist that we are still making mistake in this direction

and they think that the answer is to call all the tribes in Nigeria and then we should begin to think of creating 314 state for each tribe irrespective of size and space and so on and so forth This is what they are trying to do and I think as somebody had said, they just want to push us into anarchy but assuming that Nigerians wants to stay together, I just want to make that assumption, but I am not saying that it is necessary that Nigerians should insist in living together but let’s assume they want to. I think am one of those that alluded to the fact that one of the biggest mistakes that Nigeria made was in 1976 when the military decreed presidential system of government. It didn’t give an opportunity for the Assembly of 1976 to consider the pros and cons of parliamentary system which we used up to independence and after any other form of government that can be practiced around the world including the presidential but they were just decreed to produce a presidential system of government, this is a major mistake. Let’s assume we are going to settle down on the amendment of the constitution, we are going to amend constitution that Nigeria will not be dismembered. This is an assumption, I’m not insisting that it should be, but it is an assumption that Nigeria want to stay as Nigeria. I think one of the things they need to do is to come back and ask Nigerians to decide and allow us to campaign for the pros and cons of presidential system of government vis-a-vis parliamentary system we abandoned and let’s see through a referendum whether we should not go back to the parliamentary system of government. I have always argued that the parliamentary system of government is cheaper than presidential system of government. You mean Parliamentary system of government should be practiced in Nigeria? The parliamentary system of government is more accountable to the electorates, whether a regional Minister or a regional Commissioner , whether a Federal Minister or Federal Commissioner, they must be elected. They must be a member of the parliament first before he could become a Commissioner or a Minister which means that a commissioner could report back and his constituency could come and challenge him in terms of his quality of representation in parliament and if he happens to be a minister he is accountable to the parliament. If something goes wrong with his performance, the prime minister either on his own or under pressure from parliament will remove him. But if you look at our system now, a commissioner from nowhere that nobody knows in his village but the facts that he is polishing the shoes of a godfather in politics, will become a commissioner in his state. So, to him, he is only accountable to the person who appointed him not to any constituency at all. The same thing with the ministers, from nowhere, because they are friends of either Mr. president or chairman of the ruling party and so on, they become minister. Just take any of the minister serving today and tell whether he will be able to win an election or able to contest and win an election where he comes from.

“

Professor Ango Abdullahi So, their concern is the boss who made their appointment possible while the Presidential system is more corruption prone than the parliamentary system because of this lack of accountability, whatever you do with the public treasury in your ministry and so on is between you and your boss. There is more corruption in presidential system of government that cannot be questioned and I think the parliamentary system to a large extent is more open and more democratic than the presidential system of government. In fact this is part of the crisis in Nigeria, politics at the grassroot is virtually nonexisting, politics and decision making and so on is all there in the government houses in the states or in the government houses at the national capitals and so on but it is non- existence at the grassroots. That is why grassroot political participation is virtually absent under the current presidential system where there is over centralization of power in an individual or even in a party. I will argue strongly that the first constitutional amendment that Nigerians should be talking is for Nigerians to be given opportunity to decide whether we should go back to parliamentary system and abandon presidential system of government because the presidential system of government is not suited for a developing countries like ours that is poor . N255m bulletproof vehicles purchased by Ministry of Aviation How can you go and buy two cars for N255 million? Can you believe this? This can no happen in a disciplined parliamentary system. I mean for a minister without the approval of the prime minister or for that matter without a debate in the parliamentary to buy this kinds of facility for an individual? It can only happen under this kind of system. If Nigeria has been left the way we were

The parliamentary system of government is more accountable to the electorates, whether a regional Minister or a regional Commissioner , whether a Federal Minister or Federal Commissioner, they must be elected. They must be a member of the parliament first before he could become a Commissioner or a Minister which means that a commissioner could report back and his constituency could come and challenge him in terms of his quality of representation in parliament and if he happens to be a minister he is accountable to the parliament.

in the first Republic, it would have made far more progress than where we are today, and I believe it would have been a healthy relationship at the centre, now the states as federating units are so weak, they don’t make a difference. The power is at the centre. So it is like having a unitary system of government as we have now, they control the resources, security, virtually everything, states are there with their bags. So, I think we should really have a regions and then collapse the states. If we go back to the parliamentary system,then our next step is to collapse the states and create regions and my recommendations is that there should be six Regions in Nigeria today given our present circumstances.We can use the current six geopolitical zones as the foundation of the six regions, there should be adjustments for people to decide which region they want to merge with. So, this broader referendum should take place for people to decide this is the place where I am more comfortable and so on. We had 4 regions in 1963. The American presidential system and corruption. Which way out? Well the difference here is the application of the rule of law. Today I can assure you, if it were President Obama who used public funds to purchase vehicles like the Minister of Aviation did outside the approved budget, congress believe me will impeach him. Go back to history of elections during the Clinton years, telephone calls he made from the White House to campaign was eventually traced not to be official calls and he ran into trouble with it, but here everything is yours, the whole treasury, you can even open and throw away the keys yourself. This is what is happening now. there is no distinction between what is private and what is public and this is why here the laws apply only where those who made them decide they should apply and this is the difference between the United states and Nigeria. In the United states, law and order applies to all people, from the President down to a cleaner in the railway station, the law applied equally, but you know for the fact that so many people that have stolen public funds are moving around freely, carrying their drummers and celebrating stolen money and they will not even be prosecuted, let alone be taken to jail. The only person of high profile that is in jail today was in jail not because of the Nigerian judicial system but is in jail because of the British legal system which prevent money laundering but we whose money has been stolen, had let him go free.

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Cover Contd from Page 9

met. Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali appealed to both the parties to consider the interest of the students and resolve the matter immediately. He noted that if students stay longer at home, they are exposed to social vices stressing that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. The National Association of Kwara State Students (NKSS) in a statement by its President, Ajdi Muhideen and Public Relations Officer,Sulyman Alimi asked President Goodluck Jonathan to take pivotal role by personally getting involved in the negotiation to resolve the on going strike. The Association hopes that the direct involvement of the President, would enhance the quicker resolution of the crisis. The pain on Jos university communities According to Ado Abubakar Musa in Jos, the prolonged strike by ASUU left great effect not only on the university students but also on the its surrounding communities which substantially benefit from the presence of the students. The negative effect of the strike is not confined to one particular human endeavor. The consequences have been hitting people from various works of life which in turn, encroached the economic development of the University communities. In Jos, the Plateau State capital for example, the strike has long affected many stationery stores located in the city center. Virtually all the stores situated at the Jos University area where writing materials are purchased by students, have been closed down by the owners due to the absence of students. Photocopiers and computer typists within and outside the University of Jos and wh completely rely on services provided for students, are seriously feeling the pain of the strike. In an interview with Shehu Sani, a book seller opposite Jos University main campus, he lamented that the strike has indeed affected their daily income. He said, “Our business solely relies on the students who patronize our goods and services daily. As you can see the environment is very dry and market is very low as well. “I’m a family man. I feed my family from what I earn here. If students are not in session, how will I get the money to take care of my family? It is not possible because this is the only means at the moment.” Sani further pleaded with the government as well as ASUU to settle their differences so as to allow life to continue smoothly as it was. “When two elephants are fighting, the grass always suffers. So, we are the one suffering from the on-going strike. I hope the two parties involved will reconcile amicably,” he said. The repercussion of the strike has also undesirably influenced the Jos transportation system. It was gathered that when the University is on, both students who are on and off campus are often conveyed from one place to another for different purposes. Their presence really has effects in the survival of vehicle owners who solely depend on their daily income from the services provided to the students. Peoples Daily Weekend observed that commercial means of transportation such taxis and tricycles (Keke

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Businesses crumble in varsity campuses

An empty Ramat Hall at the Bayero University, Kano

“

I’m a family man. I feed my family from what I earn here. If students are not in session, how will I get the money to take care of my family? It is not possible because this is the only means at the moment.

NAPEPS) commonly used, are not seen in their usual rounds on the road compared to when classes are in full session. John David, a taxi driver who also shared his bitter experience in relation to the ASUU strike said, “When the school is on, it is very difficult to drive from Paraggada to Terminus without full passengers. But now, one could drive far distance with only a person and sometimes empty”. “When you calculate the fuel used, you hardly gain anything at the end of the day by the time you balance(pay) the owner. So, it is very bad. I pray that the ongoing strike should come to an end.” Restaurants and provision stores near the University also have the same pain with all other small business. In the restaurants for instance, the absence of students has affected the quantity of food sold and this has regulated the number of staff working in various restaurants. However, it is also learnt that the strike has effect on the University lecturers who cry of not receiving salary for over four months. According to sources, the refusal of the Federal Government to pay lecturers their salary amid the strike, has led to the expulsion of their children from schools for not paying school fees. The sources further revealed that many lecturers are find-

ing it difficult to provide basic need for their family. Those who are off University quarters are not finding easy to settle their house rent. A lecturer who does not want his name mentioned said, “With ASUU strike, life has not been easy for us. We do budget our expenses within our income and as you know, ASUU has been on strike for some months and our salary has been seized by the Federal Government for all this period. Although with all this, I want to assure you that we are ever ready to resist and endure the pain for better future.” Our correspondent, Mustapha Adamu in Kano reports that apart from academic activities, university campus is an environment where extra-curricular activities and businesses take place in order to keep the environment lively for a conducive learning atmosphere. Businesses such as food vending, photocopy, transportation, sale of reading and writing materials and accessories, canteens among others are known to be essential in the university campus as it eases the hardship of going off campus to buy item on demand while people earn a living from them. It is not new thing to see shops, kiosk and tables situated at the campus, running variety of business for record huge profits during school session because of the large crowd of

students patronising them. Pathetically, the university campuses in Nigeria known to be pandemonious, have now become gaunt as all these activities have been forced to halt as a result of the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Our correspondent visited Bayero University Kano (BUK) and observed the impact of the strike with business activities at new campus crippled because of very low turnout of customers as the students are still at home. Emanuel Agada, a photocopy businessman who works with Ciroma business center at Coke Village of the new campus in BUK and described the situation as tragic. He said:” this strike is very tragic to us. Our business has been negatively affected with this strike for the period of four months. We hardly feed ourselves within this strike period.” Asked about his earning before the strike compared to the period of strike, Agada said “ you see there are no students who would patronise our business and our business is solely for them. Because it pays me nothing to stay at home without coming here, I would have closed this shop and remain at home. I have to come here and I sometimes run at loss. I sometimes find it hard to get money

to fend for my family.” He appealed to the Federal Government and ASUU to reach consensus and call off the strike for the development of education in the country and for their businesses to flourish. Computer businessman , Abdurrahim Muhammad Aliyu, running Al- Ansar Computers at the Coke village, BUK new site, said the strike has affected him and his workers. “This strike action has seriously affected my business. Students have also been forced to remain at home which is bad. I used to make from N3000 to N5000 profit everyday before the strike. But now I hardly make N1000 a day. I now make one tenth of what I used to make before the strike. I sometimes get nothing in a day. So, I appeal to the FG to consider our plight and grant ASUU their demands. Equally, I call on ASUU to accept and optimise what the FG gives them no matter a little, please.” However, food vendors also expressed their grievance over the strike. Our reporter observed that most of the food canteens were shutdown as a result of the ongoing strike action by ASUU. Hajiya Salamatu, a popular seller of variety of traditional food in the school for many years at the BUK new site described this strike action as tragic. “ I have faced a serious challenge with my business as a result of this strike action taken by ASUU. Majority of my customers are students and they are not coming to school. Only the non-academic staff that come in rarely to buy my food. I thank God that I make little money. I call on the FG, ASUU and other stakeholders to resolve this conflict and call off the strike for our business to continue flourishing so as to fend for our families as they, too are suffering from our sufferings.” Transportation business in BUK has also been seriously hit by the strike. It is known that taxis and buses do not wait for students at bus stops during school sessions. Students have to wait for cabs to come and enter abruptly to avoid being late for a lecture. But with this strike action, the bus stop has been deserted as the few drivers await passengers. Spokesman of the Taxi drivers Association of BUK, Bala Isyaku Rimin Gata, expressed sadness over the ongoing strike and how it affects business in the university. He said:” I am happy to have this opportunity to express my lamentation over the effect of this strike on the business society in this university and on the students as well. Our business has been crippled as our members are suffering from lack of passengers. Our members, who base their operation and registered with BUK, have to disperse to the town to get passengers in order to get something for family. It is a pathetic situation as both business people and students are suffering.” Meanwhile, at Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil ( KUST), the situation is similar as almost all the business places are shutdown. The school campus is also deserted as a result of the ongoing strike action by ASUU. Only the nonacademic staff and securitymen are seen around the campus. Also, shops and kiosks are all closed in the campus. Few students were seen at the campus and when our reporter asked one of them for comments, he said he came to collect his NYSC call-up letter.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE17

Politics

National Dialogue: The thorny path so far By Patrick Andrew

hough from inception the national dialogue generated mixed reactions, one thing is certain Nigerians, nay the usually rowdy political class, are definite on the necessity of discussing Nigeria. This seems inevitable because of the presence of harsh realities that threaten the corporate existence of the country. Whereas many believe the national dialogue is an historic step to further solidify and strengthen national cohesiveness, broaden the scope of the inclusiveness of the diverse ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria, not a few have heckled at the initiative announced by President Goodluck Jonathan on the day Nigeria turned 53: October 1, 2013. The antagonists have strongly objected on the grounds that Nigeria’s myriads of socio-economic cum political problems after 99 years of amalgamation and 53 years of independence are open secrets, and require no formal dialogue to decipher. According to those who hold the latter opinion, agitations for national dialogue are usually manifestations of discontent with bad governance. Further, the proponents of this view say the matter has been given vent to by frenetic elements that desired to divert attention from the chaotic performance of the government of the day to parochial tendencies, such as could begin to manifest when the conference or dialogue holds. These has not deferred Senator Femi Okurounmu, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, from re-echoing President Jonathan’s assertion that the proposed national dialogue offers Nigerians ample chance to decide exactly how they want to live together and be governed, and ultimately promote national unity. In the same vein, professor Ango Abdullahi, the Spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum says the Forum embraced the dialogue contrary to views held by some that northerners in particular are not opposed to any form of dialogue in whatever form or shape. “There is no problem with Nigerians sitting down to discuss their problems whether in the form of dialogue, whether in a form of conference, whether in the form of a meeting, even in the form of a Sovereign National Conference. The NEF’s position sharply differs from that of the Arewa Consultative Forum which has jettisoned any form of dialogue that is termed sovereign, because that would be mean subverting the legitimacy of the National Assembly. This position constitutes one of the many hurdles raised against the exercise. Again, the issue of who takes the final decision or whether its decisions would be subjected to the vetting of the National Assembly, is contentious. Another thorny issue that could have adverse effect on the dialogue is modality for participation. Questions have been asked and will continue to be because a good number have expressed reservations on the likely selection or elective processes. Advocates of the latter view have argued that previous elective exercises have left much to be desired and therefore should there be a repeat process the exercise will throw up as much quality as it did previously. Yet, the matter of expediency or rather timeliness of the dialogue has been adduced by many genuine critics of the dialogue as a major handicap. The point is the 2015 presidential election is scheduled for April that year and the arbiter of the exercise Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has muted a

Sen. Femi Okurounmu, Committee Chairman likely request for a shift forward to January to enable the commission dispense with all electoral matters that would arise as is likely to before May 29. This is crucial because soon parties and individuals will be deep in campaigns meaning very little time, if any, will be available for the people to make meaningful contributions to the dialogue. Again, implementation of likely decisions some of which may require the amendment of the constitution has prompted serious reservations for the dialogue. Nigeria held constitutional conferences in 1976, 1978, 1988, 1994/1995 and 2005. Yet in each of these conferences, the voluminous reports have not been implemented. All these notwithstanding, the advisory committee went on to establish its itinerary for meeting persons for submission of their proposed agenda for deliberations in respective block of states within each geopolitical zones. The committee has the presidential mandate to establish the modalities for a National Dialogue or Conference and also design a framework and come up with recommendations as to the form, structure and mechanism of the process. So far, the committee has visited some states. But what has been its experience? Well, when the committee kicked off the consultations in Akure, the Ondo state capital, South west zone, many Yoruba leaders boycotted the interactive session largely because of their lack of faith in the process. Some though complained about lack of information on the meeting time and venue. Others asserted that they were neither given sufficient time to prepare nor were they properly invited to make submissions. Afenifere chieftain Senator Ayo Fasanmi attributed the low turn and want of quality submission to the hasty nature the meeting was organised and argued that no serious minded association or group could have made any meaningful contribution or submission without having to make extensive preparation. He said: “I have my reservations. I am not comfortable with the timing.”

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Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Abasi Otu

Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba

Even the pro-National Conference groups in the Southwest were unable to present their contributions. A member of the Yoruba Assembly, Mr. Ayo Afolabi, was quoted to have said that they were still consulting and deliberating on the items to be included in their memoranda when the meeting took place. Mr Afolabi said, “The time of the meeting was too close for us to submit any serious memoranda. The Yoruba Assembly has to consult, update materials so that we do not talk against the wish of the people.” Then attention shifted to Jos, Plateau state where the North central took its turn to make contributions. Unlike the South west session, attendance here was reasonable. Sen. Okurounmu cleared the air on boundaries when he said, “Nigerians should be free to discuss any issue as there are no restrictions on what can be discussed. Our term of reference is that we want them to advice us on what should be included in the agenda” Okurounmu said, adding: “Also on what should be the duration of confab, on who would be the members of the confab and on any other issue they deem fit to tell us.” And the issues came in torrent. Firstly, Gbong Gwon Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba urged the committee and Nigerians not to use the forum for politicking. His words, “I appeal to Nigerians not to use this forum for politicking because this committee is not a political committee.” Then came presentations from Middle Belt Forum (MBF), who went on to suggest thus: “With reference to timing of the conference, Middle Belt has two proposals: If the ongoing preparations can be concluded by December or January, the conference can sit for six months from February to July 2014 and submit its report in August.” But they also made alternative suggestion. “However, in view of preparations for the national election early 2015, it may be wiser to convene the conference after the 2015 elections. As such, preparations for the conference could be perfected in 2014, but the actual convening for February/March 2015 and should be allowed to sit for the rest of the year 2015,”

said Prof. Jerry Gana, who spoke for the forum. The MBF also addressed a third point which has generated contentious arguments. “People should be allowed to elect the participants. (The) government should not select delegates for the people. It should be purely a people-oriented programme if it must achieve its desired result,” Gana said. But it was not all smooth sail for the committee, the Jasawa Elders Foundation, a social cultural organisation of HausaFulani described the proposed confab as diversionary and a waste of time and resources, while the Jos-Hausa community, in Jos North local Government Area, said the conference would resolve lingering issues of much significance. Miyyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) also supported it and advocated thus: “We observed the process of representation by ethnic nationality as the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ethnic nationality is not recognized as criteria for any political or democratic representation,” in a rejection of the selection process, according to its President, Eng Mansur Nakande. The committee then moved to Calabar, Cross River state where the Obong of Calabar, Ekpo Abasi Otu in his presentation said the dialogue should be at three levels: ethnic nationalities, geopolitical zones and at the national level and that 200 delegates from the geopolitical zones be selected to the conference. The royal father said the decisions reached should not be subjected to the ratification of the National Assembly but remain sovereign”. Other dominant views were: a new revenue sharing regime where the states would take a lion share of 45% of the revenue, the local government 35% while the Federal Government 25%, the adoption of true federalism, and call for the retention of 50% of the entire proceeds from the exploration and exploitation of any product by the state where it is derived from. But it was in Benin City, Edo state that the committee witnessed its first pandemonium. A member of the committee, retired Col. Tony Nyiam led a group of thugs to heckle at Governor Adams Oshiomhole whose personal views did not go down well with him. The Governor had said, “I just want to say that I have no faith in this process and I do not think it was necessary at all. “I am unable to find any basis to give me some illusion that this exercise will not be different from the others.” In all, but for the incident in Benin City and low turnout in Akure, the initial apathy against the dialogue seems to have gradually melted down, even though the enthusiasm that had pervaded the air when national dialogue was first introduced by the IBB regime has waned considerably.

But for the incident in Benin City and low turnout in Akure, the initial apathy against the dialogue seems to have gradually melted down, even though the enthusiasm that had pervaded the air when national dialogue was first introduced by the IBB regime, has waned considerably.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Interview Adamawa House of Assembly make anti-people laws, says SASM leader Why did you go to court over the proposal by Governor Murtala Nyako to secure $24m IDB loan We are concerned because it is not in the interest of the people of Adamawa state. I think the fact that he is a governor does not give him the right to do something that is against the people. It is a privilege for him to serve, and government is all about giving good governance. We felt at this point in time that he is no longer wishing the people of Adamawa anything good. Going to take the loan means he is impoverishing the state for the next years to come and the interest of the people is not taken into consideration. He is mortgaging the entire future generation of Adamawa, and therefore we cannot fold our hands because we are citizens of Adamawa state. We are concerned people and therefore we cannot watch a single person mortgage the entire lives of the people of Adamawa. For the next generation, our children and our unborn children will go through a lot of things. Left for him, he doesn’t care, that is why we are doing whatever we can to stop this loan. Another reason is that there are subsequent loans that have been collected in the past. Have they been judiciously used? Those are the questions we are asking because there is no single project in Adamawa state that has been commissioned. He is collecting money left right and centre, what has the money been used for? We have abandoned projects. We cannot sit down and watch a single person throw the entire state into problem. That is why we want the court to stop the loan. We are speaking on behalf of the people of Adamawa especially the people affected, the poor people. Why did you not contact members of the State House of Assembly to stop him from securing the loan? The law passed by the House of Assembly is anti-people. These people are no longer representing their people, but only representing themselves. They don’t understand what it means to represent the people. They are only interested in what they will get for themselves from the governor. So, there is no law they are passing that is in the interest of the people. I don’t have confidence in them. But Nyako won the PDP primary and subsequently elected a second term. Now if you recall, a re-run election was held in Mayo, the governor’s own local government. There was no PDP chairman that presented any candidate in respect of PDP other than Chief John Madaki. As far as we’re concerned Nyako was elected on the platform of PDP. The PDP that is being led by Chief John Madaki is the actual PDP that is there. Nyako as a PDP governor is still a member of PDP, until he comes out and say he is no longer a member of the PDP. We cannot say he is not because he was elected on the platform of the PDP, and up till this point in time. He has not come out to say he has left the party and now in another party even though he has been sponsoring co-party. He even sponsored a candidate for elec-

The Chairman of Save Adamawa State Movement (SASM) Engr. Albert Stephen says his group is determined to take on Governor Murtala Nyako headlong in his maladministration of the state. He spoke to journalists in Abuja on sundry issues.

Albert Stephen

tion, which the candidate lost. His boys are there attending meetings with the APC people. As far as we’re concerned all his boys are with the APC people. What would be your next move should the court rule in favour of Nyako for the loan? We will appeal the judgment. We’re willing to go to the Supreme Court as far as this case is concerned. We believe that they are fundamental issues that the court has no choice but to listen to us and if they listen to us, they will have no other choice but to grant our reliefs that we have sought. So that’s our conviction. We are very confident that we will get justice. If there is any reason, we will appeal and it will improve our legal jurisprudence. The bottom line is that

“

things have changed now. He was imposed on the people of Adamawa and we are all aware of what happened in this country during Obasanjo’s era. He was imposed because of a fight between him and somebody. For instance, we never voted him, but because of the imposition he has been there. There is nothing that Nyako has ever done that you will say has been successful. In the educational system for example, what was obtained before he came, his predecessor usually paid off the bill of NECO and WAEC for candidates in the entire state. Secondly, for some of the so called project he wants to embark on, there are functional secondary schools that are dilapidated, why can’t he renovate some of

We are very confident that we will get justice. If there is any reason, we will appeal and it will improve our legal jurisprudence

these schools to an acceptable standard so that whatever he feels like doing to education he can do it in that sector. Thirdly, about a year or two, he employed a sizeable number of teachers. As I’m talking to you right now, not less than 4,000 of them have been paid salary for the past one year. I have the statistics in every local government. So, would you call that a governor that has the progress of the state at heart? But the administration of Nyako is believed to have embarked on road construction in the state. What do you have to say on that? Well, he started some projects from Maiha to Paila, from Gombi to Ganda, these are the ones I know. There is one from Michika now to Garta, which he just started. These roads have been there for almost six years. These are seven to ten kilometers roads. For the past seven years, work has been going on these roads and they have not achieved or finished up to 30 percent of the work. Since 2007, he has not completed these roads. When you look at the cost, like Maiha to Paila, we heard from reliable source that they have spent more than N4billion so far and not up to 30 percent of the work has been done. On health, most of the doctors have resigned their services, because a newly employed doctor today is being paid between N120, 000 to N170, 000, while in Gombe the doctors there receive up to N200, 000. Those that left didn’t have accommodation. If you go to the clinics, the chairs the doctors sit to consult are very bad, even in the market you will not see that type of chair. So, the staffs are not well compensated, the entire state is just in a state of mess. To refer back to road constructions, I think the governor is only using the road construction as an excuse to drain the resources of the state. I’m saying this because I happen to come from Ganye where a road is being constructed from Gombi, Ganda to federal road. Gombi to Ganda is 36 kilometers, up till now as I am talking to you, work has been going on, on that road. The amount budgeted on that road is N5.6billion. That is enough to construct a road from Gombi to Shelleng and adjacent local governments far away from Gombi. Yet, here is a work that has remained stagnant for three or four years now. Does 36 kilometer road that is not in a difficult terrain really merit N5.6 billion amount? For instance the roads he is talking about, for a road like Shelleng, they’ll go to the media and propagate a forum saying that they have finished the road. I went to Shelleng and no single work has been done on that road; not even grading, but the money has gone. There’s a new re-definition of democracy in Adamawa state. The popular and acceptable definition in the entire globe is that, democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people. But, in Adamawa, particularly Nyako’s area it is government by one man, by the people and for family and friends. That is the truth.

Tourism

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 19

Bauchi’s amazing tourism landmarks B

auchi state has a vast array of tourist sites naturally endowed it. With a total of 55 tribal groups in which include Hausa, Fulani, Gerawa, Sayawa, Jarawa, Bolewa, Karekare, Kanuri, Fa’awa, Butawa, Warjawa, Zulawa, and Badawa as the main tribes, tourists can never have enough of exploring Bauchi’s beautiful scenic sites. There are cultural similarities in the people’s language, occupational practices, festivals, dress and there is a high degree of ethnic interaction especially in marriage and economic existence. The people of Bauchi State are known for their traditional wrestling and boxing dexterity, which attracts participants even from neighboring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon. The traditional wrestling is known as Kokowa while the traditional boxing is called Dambe. Aside these festivals, the state also holds the Bauchi State Festival of Arts and Culture (BAFEST). This annual event is held among Local governments. It includes a display of various traditions of the people of the state in the fields of traditional dances, music, arts, crafts, and fashion designs, as well as inventions and innovations. Bauchi state is known for its arts and crafts which include beautiful embroidered caps and gowns (known as babbanriga), fibre craft, and decorated calabashes. It is also very versatile in the production of metal works (such

as weaponry), agricultural tools, pottery, and leather works. The leather works include the production of sitting poufs, bags, footwaers, footballs. Mat weaving is also a common craft in several Local Government Areas like Zaki, Ningi, Misau, etc. The outstanding festivals include Durbar whose main feature is horse racing. The durbar features the parade of horses from the Eid-prayer ground to the palace of the traditional rulers where the horse-racing and other display of horsemanship takes place. Other festivals are the Kyaro war dance performed by the Warji ethnic groups, Afizere dance a traditional dance of the Jarawa people of Toro Local Government, Takai dance which is popular among the Hausa-Fulanis, Ngatal-Bajar dance popular among the people of Dass Local Government, Lawurba dance peculiar to Sayawa people of Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local Governments, and Amanya, a naming ceremony festival among the Badawa people in Zaki Local Government. Located in the Northeastern part of Nigeria, Bauchi State, a renowned tourist’s haven has a vast fertile soil as an advantage for cattle rearing and other agricultural products such as guinea corn, rice, millet, groundnut and maize. Cometonigeria.com

Bauchi museum

Building housing the tomb of Sir Abubakar Tfawa Balewa

Wildlife at Yankari National Park

Jakiri sacred rock in Das local government area

Traditional huts at Yankari National Park

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Homes Create safe home playground for children

here is simply no question that parents will try to give the best thing for their children. It can be about so many things for sure including by providing the children with a nice playground in the home environment. The children will definitely be very happy when they are able to play properly for all the time. Playing for children can be the way for them to grow and this can be the reason why parents try to build the playground at home. Nevertheless, they have to make sure that the playground is safe because there are many cases of children who have to go to the hospital because of the playground equipment. Protective Surface People can be very over protective when it comes to their children but the very first thing which they should apply for assuring that their kids can have fun in the safe way is by installing as well as maintaining the surface which can absorb shock around such as safety tested rubber or material like rubber the playground equipment. The protective surface in the Kids Home Playground should be installed to all direction from the playground equipment at least for six feet. Extra check It is necessary for parents to never allow their kids to the attached rope or anything with rope because the kids can strangle on those ropes. The hardware of kids home playground should be checked such as hooks which is opened because it can be dangerous. It is also important for checking the space which can make the kids trapped. For preventing falls, people can give the guardrail for the ramps and platforms. The playground should be checked regularly and of course parents have to supervise the children carefully when they are playing. hosowo.com

Fit it with toys

Floor with sand to avoid bruises from a fall

Place it close to a garden so they can savour nature

e n i z a g a M

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

d n e k e e W

ment Entertain

Fashion

Beauty Tip

od Kannywo

d Hollywoo

d Bollywoo

Top 10 food items that >>P26 keep you ever young Iyanya rakes in N130m from endorsement in 2013 alone >>P22

B Kiddies World AE D C The origin of fire >>P25

Kim to wed in Paris next Summer

Fashion

>>P36

>>P29

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Leisure Iyanya rakes in N130million from endorsement deals

op singer Iyanya Mbuk has amassed over N130 million in endorsements deals in 2013 alone. Since his highly successful 2012 monster hit single ‘Kukere’, it has been one hit after another, one award after another and one endorsement contract after another for the once impoverished singer. In the last one year and half, Iyanya has proven that he can be a hit maker disappointing the initial doubts that critics had raised about him when his 2009 debut album ‘My Story’ flopped. Certainly, Iyanya took the lesson of that album and transformed himself into one of the most sought after Nigerian artistes today placing him on the pedestal where corporate organisations would jostle to do business with him. Only three weeks ago, the pop singer closed a deal reportedly worth N35 million with mobile phone manufacturing company, SOLO Mobile. According to his publicist, Wildflower PR, the deal was iced with a brand new 2014 Prado SUV. Earlier in May, the 27 year old singer was lucky enough to have been included in MTN’s swoop of some of the major players in the music industry, becoming one of the company’s

iyanya

On this track he thanks God for the gift of life. With celebratory horns on the hook, Ice Prince tells the story of two people who lived fast and died young. The weedinspired ‘Gimme That’ featuring Burna Boy, Yung L and Olamide is another high on the album especially with Ice Prince’s newly added verse. Ice Prince also fancies himself a singer. And On ‘Pray’ featuring Sound Sultan he displays this. ‘On top say I pray/bad man people wan trouble my day (oh lord)/me I dey hustle my way/fear nobody with the things I say’ he sings on the track. For the second time Ice Prince and Wizkid hook up on the dance hall cut ‘Komotion’. While not absolutely stunning it is an improvement from ‘Olofofo’ off E.L.I On Fire of Zamani it’s more of heat than flames. That hunger isn’t exactly heard on this album. For large parts of the project, Ice Prince sounds flat and uninspired. ‘Life’ is another ‘Aboki’ (and ‘V.I.P’) but the trick doesn’t work this time. The Don Jazzy produced ‘N Word’ sounds like a ripoff of Maybach Music’s bombastic gangsta songs. On ‘Jambo’ he employs his ‘Aboki flow’, which at this point is boring. Ice Prince goes conscious on ‘No Die Tomorrow’. While it’s a welcomed change of subject the song lacks conviction that he had on ‘Somebody Lied’ off E.L.I. ‘Person Wey Sabi’ is just bland, a generic attempt at creating a highlife hit. Sourced from thenet.com

OJB Jezreel’s transplant successful, discharged from hospital

JB Jezreel has been discharged from the Columbia Asian Hospital, India where he had been admitted for a kidney transplant operation. Speaking through a release, the music producer expressed his appreciation for the support and prayers of fans. “I have been reading a lot of news about ME being published on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and different Blogs by my good friends. I thought I

must take out a quick moment and let you know that I am officially discharged today from the hospital, after a successful Kidney Transplantation Surgery, by God’s Grace,” he said and lauded his fans for their prayers. Confirming the news, OJB’s close friend Nomoreloss told NET, the doctors want him to be around a while longer so that they can monitor his progress so far before he can actually return to Nigeria’.

Sourced from Nigerfilms.com

Album Review

Ice Prince’s ‘Fire of Zamani’ isn’t hot enough

ce Prince is not the best of writers. In hip-hop circles he is regarded as a rapper and not a lyricist. His success has depended on dope beats, catchy hooks and simple lines. These three factors led to the success of his debut album Everybody Loves Ice Prince and are still the foundation of his success till date. On his second album Fire of Zamani, it’s the same style but with less aggression. Panshak Zamani is a millionaire now and finding himself in a new tax bracket may have dulled a bit of his bite. Conceptually Fire of Zamani is sketchy to say the least. It is a confusing mix of introspection, celebration and aspiration. The production is a shade or two behind Jesse Jagz’s production on E.L.I. ‘I’ve been through the rain/been through the pain/ been through a lot of sh*t/been through the same/I’ve seen a planet fall and the thunder causing the rain‘ spits Ice on the introductory track ‘Stars and Light’ featuring Ruby Gyang. The song iswww a loose chronicle of Ice’s rise to the top and how he is still striving for more. He gives the song a personal twist when he talks about his sister’s best friend asking him for money. His collaboration with UK grime artiste Chip titled ‘Mercy’ has the necessary bounce to get the party going even though Ice Prince raps ‘I dey feel her through pass even though I am not a Liga fan.’ Gladly slips up like these are not too many on the album. Ice Prince’s best comes on ‘Whiskey’ featuring Sunny Neji.

highest paid brand ambassadors in a N40 million deal. It sure didn’t end there. When Zinox Technologies Limited, manufacturer of Nigeria’s first internationally certified branded computers was looking for a face to represent its brand, guess who quickly came to mind? None other than the rave of the moment, Iyanya. The Leo Stan-Ekeh owned tech-company put pen to paper, inked a deal and made Iyanya N56milion richer, according to those familiar with the details of the deal. These endorsement deals have gone on to show the relevance Iyanya has in today’s music scene. Apart from the occasional engagements, the pop star will begin to appear on billboards and TV commercials preaching the gospel of these brands. From all indications, Iyanya, a Business Management graduate of the University of Calabar and winer of the inaugural MTN Project Fame West Africa, has had quite an awesome 2013. Deals Amount MTN N40million Zinox N56million Solo Mobile N35million

Ice Prince

Georgina Onuoha dumps acting, becomes health worker in US

eorgina Onuah, the controversial actress who got married to her medical doctor beau, Dr. Georgina Igwegbe in 2006, has dumped acting for medical. According to Nigerifilms.com Georgina Onuah is now a Health Information Specialist at the North American Healthcare Inc. She is actually a Medical Research Auditor. The mother of two cute daughters, who is said to have finally bid acting farewell, was a Nollywood star actress in the nineties until in 2006. She later relocated to US to join her hubby after birth of their first daughter in 2007. Nothing much has been heard about her until now.

Georgina Onuoha

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Womanhood

Hajiya Fatima Tukur: A blend of humility and service By Miriam Humbe

ajiya Fatima is the wife of the national chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. Some five months ago, particularly in June, she attained the golden age of 50. Hajiya Tukur took full advantage of the occasion to dedicate her life to charity when she launched her nongovernmental organization, Crying Child Foundation. The kindhearted PDP chairman’s wife who says humility is her watchword, is unhappy because of the suffering of orphans and vulnerable children. She is also not at ease with the degeneration of societal values. These prompted her setting up the foundation. Through her non-governmental organization, she tackles societal ills which have caused her a great deal of sadness. Born and bred in Lagos, the country’s commercial capital; she is also proud of her roots, the Gbaramatu kingdom in Delta State and speaks about it affectionately. Having turned 50, she said it was time to give back to society, such values that have made her unique. “It places a burden on my heart that I have to give back to society. And for me, there is no better way to give back than to ameliorate the suffering of orphans as well as widows. “I am particularly worried about the manner in which orphans are treated by the society. It is not enough that we have homes where they are looked after; we need more people to support the managers of orphanages, especially government, so that the children can get a better deal”, she said. Averring reasons for setting up her foundation, she said, “I have no doubt that many orphanages need more support and this is why the Crying Child Foundation was established to help rally support. We are working towards providing assistance to orphanages across the country by selecting the ones we can work with in different states”, she said. She set a target for herself saying, “in three years we hope to have made impact in the orphans’ lives. In three years we would have implemented our health and education programmes in such a way that would lessen the burden of the orphanages we work with”. Looking back at the past, she said life was much better then. People lived in peace and harmony. Neighbors loved each other. Because of her growing up days in Lagos, she speaks Yoruba fluently and also understands the Yoruba culture. Her favorite food is amala and ewedu. She also enjoys drinking gari with fried fish. She has this to say about her childhood, “I was a happy child. My parents showered my siblings and I with love and care. I started school like most children my age. I loved going to school. At home I was also taught the right way to live. I was close to my paternal grandmother. She instilled in

Hajiya Fatima Tukur

“

I have never been interested in politics. I am not interested in contesting elections at all. I just want to continue living my life like I have always been doing and that is being a loving partner to my husband”, she said.

me certain values I cherish till date. It was my grandmother, who through her giving showed me how good it is to be generous”. s the wife of one of Nigeria’s topmost and influential politicians, she said, “I love entertaining guests since I am married to a politician. I doubt if anyone has complained of not being taken care of in my home. The most shocking thing you can tell my husband is that you haven’t eaten or served drink in my home during any family event. He would find such complaints strange because he hardly hears such a thing when I am in-charge of a family event”. Hajiya Fatima speaks glaringly about her husband describing him as a citizen of the world, civilized and detribalized who does not look at an individual based on

which state he comes from. For him, all human beings are the same due to the fact that all have blood flowing through their veins. ccording to her, her maternal grandmother is her role model who taught her and her siblings about the culture of their people such as cooking traditional dishes. “Today, I am a great cook because she always asked me to assist her in the kitchen. Secondly, my time in Gbaramatu made me a great swimmer”. Armed with that experience, she worked as a swimming instructor for children. “When I finished schooling in England, I lived in Holland where I taught school children how to swim. When it was time to return to Nigeria, staffs of my school openly lamented my exit because I

was the kids’ favorite swimming instructor”, she said. Hajiya Fatima shared the secret of her success saying, “I put God first in all I do. Before I commence anything, I pray to Allah first. There is hardly anything I have asked God that He hasn’t given me. I also learnt to thank Allah each day because when you thank Him, he is bound to do more for you”. Although married to a politician, Hajiya Fatima is not politically inclined. “I have never been interested in politics. I am not interested in contesting elections at all. I just want to continue living my life like I have always been doing and that is being a loving partner to my husband”, she said. peaking on her fashionable disposition, she agreed that she loves good stuff but that since her life does not depend on them, she can always give them out. “I love bags, shoes and jewellery like any other woman, but I have never been greedy about material things. I go for unique things. Like when it comes to handbags, while people go for brands like Hermes, Gucci, you could find me with a bag from Alexander Mcqueen or Choppard. And when friends see me with these kinds of bags, they take a second look. Yet, I can give these bags out without regretting I ever did”, she said.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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World Kiddies SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Great Mosque of Djenné

jenné (also Djénné, Jenné and Jenne) is a town and an urban commune in the Inland Niger Delta region of central Mali. The town is the administrative centre of the Djenné Cercle, one of the eight subdivisions of the Mopti Region. The commune includes ten of the surrounding villages and in 2009 had a population of 32,944. The history of Djenné is closely linked with that of Timbuktu. Between the 15th and 17th centuries much of the trans-Saharan trade in goods such as salt, gold and slaves that moved in and out of Timbuktu passed through Djenné. Both towns became centres of Islamic scholarship. The town is famous for its distinctive adobe architecture, most notably the Great Mosque which was built in 1907 on the site of an earlier mosque. To the south of the town is Djenné-Jéno, the site of one of the oldest known towns in sub-Saharan Africa. Djenné together with DjennéJéno were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. In modern cities like Bamako, Mali’s capital, and Dakar in Senegal, this culture often assumes a pop voice, with religious phrases spraypainted across walls and devotional music pounding and keening over the airwaves.

In the ancient pilgrimage city of Djenné, set between two rivers in the country’s center and accessible only by ferry, the voice is quieter, tempered by tradition, but also shaped and, some would say, distorted, by modern intervention. Djenné, along with Timbuktu, was long a central point for the diffusion of Islam deep into the continent. Although Islam took firm hold in the city only in the 13th century, when a local ruler converted, it had been filtering in on trade routes from the Mediterranean coast and the Middle East for centuries. The mosque is one of Africa’s most revered religious monuments. Constructed almost entirely from sun-dried mud bricks coated with clay, it is the largest surviving example of a distinctive style of African architecture. In tribute to its status, it has been designated, together with its immediate neighborhood of low-rise adobe houses, as a Unesco World Heritage Site. o a visitor who knew the mosque only from pictures and for the better part of a lifetime had longed to see it, it looked, under the light of a full moon and at dawn, somewhat different from what was anticipated but differently magnificent, a kind of architectural hallucination shaped from common African earth.

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

ABCDE

HIS AND HERS CORNER

DISNEY ANGLE

Mickie and Minnie mouse

Beauty and the Beast

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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World Kiddies

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

ABCDE

MODEL OF THE WEEK

AFRICAN TALES

The origin of fire

ong, long ago, animals and trees talked with each other, but there was no fire at that time. Fox was most clever and he tried to think of a way to create fire for the world. One day, he decided to visit the Geese, te-tl, whose cry he wished to learn how to imitate. They promised to teach him if he would fly with them. So they contrived a way to attach wings to Fox, but cautioned him never to open his eyes while flying. Whenever the Geese arose in flight, Fox also flew along with them to practice their cry. On one such adventure, darkness descended suddenly as they flew over the village of the fireflies, ko-natcic-a. In mid-flight, the glare from the flickering fireflies caused Fox to forget and he opened his eyes--instantly his wings collapsed! His fall was uncontrollable. He landed within the walled area of the firefly village, where a fire constantly burned in the center. Two kind fireflies came to see fallen Fox, who gave each one a necklace of juniper berries, katlte-i-tse. Fox hoped to persuade the two fireflies to tell him where he could find a way over the wall to the outside. They led him to a cedar tree, which they explained would bend down upon command and catapult him over the wall if he so desired. That evening, Fox found the spring where fireflies obtained their water. There also, he discovered colored Earth, which when mixed with water made paint. He decided to give himself a coat of white. Upon returning to the

village, Fox suggested to the fireflies, “Let’s have a festival where we can dance and I will produce the music.” They all agreed that would be fun and helped to gather wood to build up a greater fire. Secretly, Fox tied a piece of cedar bark to his tail. Then he made a drum, probably the first one ever constructed, and beat it vigorously with a stick for the dancing fireflies. Gradually, he moved closer and closer to the fire. Fox pretended to tire from beating the drum. He gave it to some fireflies who wanted to help make the music. Fox quickly thrust his tail into the fire, lighting the bark, and exclaimed, “It is too warm here for me, I must find a cooler place.” Straight to the cedar tree Fox ran, calling, “Bend down to me, my cedar tree, bend down!” Down bent the cedar tree for Fox to catch hold, then up it carried him far over the wall. On and on he ran, with the fireflies in pursuit. As Fox ran along, brush and wood on either side of his path were ignited from the sparks dropping from the burning bark tied to his tail. Fox finally tired and gave the burning bark to Hawk, i-tsarl-tsu- i, who carried it to brown Crane, tsi-nes-tso-l. He flew far southward, scattering fire sparks everywhere. This is how fire first spread over the Earth. Fireflies continued chasing Fox all the way to his burrow and declared, “Forever after, Wily Fox, your punishment for stealing our fire will be that you can never make use of it for yourself.”

Former ‘Little Miss Helpline Foundation’

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

CREATIVITY

How to make plastic beads What you’ll need -Craft knife -Clean and dry 16.9- to 20-ounce plastic. bottles -Scissors -Permanent markers -Plain cotton string -Aluminum foil -Baking sheet -Store-bought beads -Clear elastic beading cord (available at craft stores) We used water and soda bottles, both clear and green. Look for small bottles made of thin, smooth plastic. Two-liter bottles and many used for vitamin waters and sports drinks are

diffi cult to cut and roll. How to make it; 1. With the craft knife, cut the top and bottom sections from the bottle, as shown. Use scissors to cut the resulting cylinder into a rectangle. (Trim and discard any glue-covered parts of the bottle.) 2. Cut the rectangle into 1/2- to 3/4-inch-wide strips, following the curve of the plastic. 3. Draw with permanent markers on the inside of the curved plastic strips. (If made on the outside, the marks may rub off.) 4. Roll each strip around a pen or pencil, then tie a piece of string around

the strip as shown. (You’ll need a helper to hold the beads for this.) Place the tied strips on a foil-lined baking sheet. 5. To set the beads, bake them at 300° until the edges begin to soften, 2 to 5 minutes. To see if they’re done, carefully take one bead out and slip off the string. If the bead stays rolled up, they’re ready. When the beads have cooled, slip off the string loops (you can reuse them for the next batch), then trim off any ruffl ed ends, as shown. 6. Make a bracelet or necklace by alternating homemade beads with store-bought beads on a length of clear elastic beading cord.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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LEARNING

Top 10 anti-aging foods –Secrets of staying young R

esearch has confirmed that there is an abundance of foods that consists of antiaging properties. These anti-aging foods have proven to be beneficial if consumed on a regular basis. They not only add to our life span, they keep age-associated diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis in check. Every so often, individuals feel the desire to “put the brakes” on the aging process; however, scientists have not discovered the “fountain of youth” as of yet, so we must resort to balancing our diets, which overall is not a bad thing in itself. As we age, the body begins to slow down causing various aches and nuisances; though minor, they make us more vulnerable to fatigue, fragility, and degenerative maladies. Nevertheless, there is hope. There are particular foods that can assist with counteracting the undesirable effects of aging. These foods are not “miracle cures” against aging; nonetheless, they will improve your general health and vivacity according to the National Institutes of Health, who have been allocating millions of dollars to discover ways of increasing the human lifespan. Whereas healthy diet and exercise can maintain a fit body into old age, there are foods exceptionally proficient at reducing the affects of age-related health problems and diseases. Here are ten foods that are full of anti-aging fighters. 1-Walnuts/Nuts – According to the Harvard School of Public Health, nuts are a perfect age fighting food and full of omega-3 essential fatty-acids. Walnuts and nuts in general, assist with managing cholesterol levels, improve digestive functioning, and strengthen immunity due to their rich mineral content. In addition, research has discovered that even though nuts are a high-calorie, high-fat food, they do not encourage weight-gain. This is because nuts are filling, and after consumption, people eat less afterwards. In fact, the body does not absorb up to 20% of nuts. 2-Berries – Researchers at Tufts University discovered that a number of compounds in blueberries and additional berries assist in decreasing inflammations. In addition, they avert oxidativedamage due to age associated disadvantages. 3-Healthy Greens – Healthy greens contain calcium, folate, and various nutrients that improve bone heath, shield against the decline of the reasoning faculties, and help avert eye problems due to age. Diets rich in vegetables like cabbage and broccoli decrease the risk of cancer and memory loss as well. 4-Dark Chocolate – According to the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, cocoa beans, from which dark chocolate is produced, along with the intense concentration of antioxidant-flavanols reduces inflammation of the skin derived from contact with UV light. In addition, consuming dark chocolate can invigorate circulation and improve the skin’s ability to hold

Wallnuts

Dark Chocolate moisture; besides decreasing the manifestation of wrinkles and helping the skin to appear younger looking. 5-Beans – Research has shown that beans are the perfect heart food, and the more you eat, the merrier. They provide a superb source of low-fat protein, especially for vegetarians. In addition, they are full of fiber, which assists with lowering cholesterol. Additionally, they are bursting with vitamins and minerals, rich in antioxidants, and abundant in potassium, iron, and vitamin B. 6-Whole Grains – Fiber, mineral, vitamin, and antioxidant rich, vitamin B, whole grains can reduce the onset of age associated illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Due to their slow digestion rate, they are perfect for preventing diabetes and high blood pressure. Brown rice and oatmeal are excellent sources of whole grain foods. 7-Fish – Seafood is rich in fatty acids, which quells the discomfort of chronic inflammation according to the author of “The Omega Diet,” Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D. In addition, it has been discovered that omega-3 fats derived from fish, influences a part of the brain responsible for attitude and moods in healthy individuals. These developments improve outlook and enhances the feeling of well being even into old age. Omega-3s in fattyfish like tuna and salmon consists of the most powerful anti-inflammatory

effects. 8-Red Wine/and Other Drinks – Studies the world over have proven that red wine contains many benefits. It contains Resveratrol, which is a pungent antioxidant, artery shield, and inflammation modifier. In addition, animal research shows that high quantities of resveratrol might offset cell-death in the brain and heart. A One to five ounce glass of red wine per day is recommended, more prove harmful. For non-wine drinkers coffee has been proven to decrease the risk of Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and lower the risk of heart disease. 9-Olive Oil – Recently, scientists have discovered that olive oil contains huge quantities of mono-unsaturated fats. These types of fats are great for your body and heart. Adding organic extra-virgin olive oil is particularly advantageous since it is refined and maintains its original benefits of anti-aging monounsaturated fats. 10-Avocado – It does not matter how you eat them whether pureed into a guacamole dip, or chopped into a salad, avocados are a fruit that is popular for its anti-aging properties. According to the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for AgedResearch and Training-Institute in Boston, avocado is naturally rich in folic acid or vitamin B. In addition, avocados are rich in potassium, vitamin E, including antioxidants

Avocado and mono-unsaturated fats. The minerals and vitamins in avocados have proven to decrease cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and improve skin suppleness. This folate rich fruit is also associated with heart attack prevention, and with lowering the risk of osteoporosis. Conclusion The New England Journal of Medicine states that taking a standard multivitamin once daily could decrease a person’s homocysteine, which is associated with atherosclerosis, below the risk level. Foods organically abundant in B vitamins, calcium, including carrots, broccoli, cantaloupe, almonds, apricots, and peanuts, also decrease the risk of broken-bones. Overall, one of the best defenses against aging is by eating better.

In turn, this reduces the risk of age related diseases. The above lists may vary according to numerous experts and professionals; however, the majority of the foods listed are always referenced. ther foods you might find on any “top 10 anti-aging foods” lists include garlic, which is known to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Red peppers, a fantastic source of vitamin C and a boost to collagen levels. Carrots help to boost the immune system and assist with protecting the skin from UV rays. Additionally, Soya is especially beneficial for women following the menopause due to its high amount of isoflavones. Isoflavones helps to reduce the loss of bone-mass that is unavoidable by women after the menopause.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

s p i T y t u a e B

Five quick Q ways to stay beautiful at home Solve your next cosmetic crisis without leaving your house

UICK TRICK Make some unflavored gelatin. It’s odorless, so your hair won’t smell like dessert, and once thickened it will act as a lightweight binder to lock in your style. Take a spoonful of prepared gelatin and hold it between the palms of your hands for a few minutes to warm and melt it slightly, then work it through damp hair from midshaft to end. If you have curls, scrunch upward to give your hair some body. My skin’s so dry, I go through a bottle of body lotion in no time at all. A can of coconut milk is soothing, affordable alternative—you can turn it into a delicious scented body moisturizer overnight. Just pour the milk into a covered container and store it in your refrigerator. Within the first 24 hours, the milk will thicken (it lasts up to three weeks). Use it as you would body butter. I have a pimple on my chin and a big meeting in the morning. Spot-treat a blemish with a dab of plain yogurt. It contains lactic acid and probiotics,

COMPILED BY PATRICK ANDREW

which help bring down inflammation and eliminate redness. Apply before bed, let it sit overnight and rinse off in the morning. I’m meeting friends in an hour for a night out, but my lipstick has gone missing. Mash up a few slices of beets in a bowl, then dip a cotton swab into the rich cherry color and pat onto your lips. Let the juice dry and follow up with a swipe of balm to keep lips hydrated. You can also apply the color to cheeks when you need blush. I can’t get to the salon to freshen my haircolor—and I have a special event this weekend. Brew a cup of tea. Once cool, use it as a rinse after shampooing. It will seal your hair’s cuticle, promote shine and deposit a hint of color. If your hair is blonde, use chamomile tea to brighten. Black tea revives brunettes’ locks and redheads get a boost from red tea (like rooibos). SOURCES: Philip B, celebrity stylist, creator of Philip B hair care.

COMPILED BY MIRIAM HUMBE

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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Stylish Ankara looks B

eautifully designed Ankara fashion wear has really taken the stage of fashion cloth in Nigeria; and has even extended to other parts of the world. There are lots of Nigerian Ankara fashion styles with stylish appearance ce out there that you can decide to go forr and simply make it your own design. With a blend of matching accessories, you will basically find them beautiful and stylish enough to wear to any ny occasion whether as formal or casual wear.

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Pots & Pans

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Whole wheat gurasa Pawpaw juice

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

here are 232 calories in one serving of whole wheat gorasa. Calorie breakdown: 20% fat, 69% carbohydrates, 11% protein. Wheat Gurasa is a soft doughy bread enjoyed in the Sahara and Sub-Saharan Africa. It tastes like a really thick tortilla. The texture is a bit more spongy, however, and when pulled into pieces, it is delightful to find the slight elasticity at once addicting and good for picking up food which is exactly how the Sudanese use gorasa. They place a round of Gorraasa under stewed meats or other entrees, then tear off bits of the bread to pick up the food instead of using utensils. It can also be enjoyed on its own. Ingredients: 3 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder water, as needed (2 1/2-3 cups) salt, to taste Unroasted sesame oil or vegetable oil, for cooking Preparation: First, whisk the flour, baking powder, water, and salt together into a large bowl. Be sure to use plenty of salt, to ensure a decent flavor. You’re looking for a thick pancake-like batter. If you make it too thin, the bubbles won’t form properly. Tip: To fix this, simply stir in a little extra flour. When you’re ready to cook, brush a nonstick skillet with oil, then lade on the batter, spreading it out into a wide circle with the back of the ladle. Let cook over medium heat until the top dries out completely, about 4-5 minutes. You may need to play with the heat to get this right. The key is to not overcook the bottom

while the top finishes cooking. To move things along more quickly, you could always cover the pan with a piece of foil or a loose lid. Keep warm under a towel and serve with a rich stew or sauce.

re you possibly looking for a healthy, delicious pawpaw juice to make your weekend? Then this is what you need. It’s simple and quick to make. Ingredients 1 Piece of pawpaw (medium sized) Piece of aloe Sugar Half a lemon Half a cup of milk Water Preparation: To make juice from a pawpaw, you need the following. A sieve papaya, measuring cup and the juice extractor. Peel the papaya, slice the papaya in half and remove the seeds from the center using a spoon. Press the papaya through a juicer; use a measuring cup to catch the juice. If you notice that the juice is thicker than you desire or contains mushy pulp from the fruit, run it through the sieve to achieve a smoother consistency. Ensure that all the ingredients are with you; ( well washed) Divide the piece of pawpaw into small pieces and put them in to the blender. Remove the outer skin of the aloe and get the aloe gel out and add it in to the blender Put some sugar according to your taste (2-3 table spoons) Add the milk, lemon and a glass of water in to it Now blend the mix together. Add some ice cubes and blend it again Put it in to a glass with 2-3 ice cubes and enjoy.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Relationship 10 post-breakup do’s and don’ts By Laura J. Schaefer

arriage is a wrapped package and often very fragile. Well, like all fragile items, once it slips off one’s hands breakage occurs. But it can be patched. It however, sometimes that’s hardly feasible. And that’s decision to sweep away the pieces and dump it in the rubbish can become strong. But this leads to impulses: strong and sometimes repugnant, the feeling lingers with some barely showing traces of a shared life. And yet, while certain impulses are healthy and productive to pursue, others should remain in the realm of “what if?” if you know what’s good for you. In case you’re not sure which group your own whims fall into, check this list below for things the lovelorn should — and shouldn’t — do. 1. Do purge memories of your ex Out of sight, out of mind isn’t just a cute saying, it’s a crucial part of getting over your past relationship. Throw out anything that could serve as an unpleasant reminder, including photos and gifts (if they’re expensive, give them away or store them in a closet until you can handle it). Delete that person’s emails and phone number from your cell to head off any embarrassing post-breakup messages. The fewer memory triggers that surround you, the faster you can move on emotionally. 2. Do get a new goal Newly single people often feel aimless and have too much time to fill… what better opportunity to take on a challenge? It can be physical (triathlon training), creative (art courses), or warm-and-fuzzy (volunteering at an animal shelter). Having a purpose outside of yourself can snap you out of your woe-is-me mindset and give you yet one more reason to jump out of bed in the morning. How’s that for a speedy recovery? 3. Do head out of town A brief change of scenery could be just the thing to lift your spirits. Consider a journey to a place you’ve always wanted to see, whether it’s a week of roughing it in the woods or a quick spa getaway on the beach. You’ll be so stimulated by your new surroundings that stray memories from your relationship past are less likely to intrude. 4. Do cultivate a new

Unhappy couples

crush Even if it’s a meaningless, mini-infatuation with your Starbucks barista that goes absolutely nowhere, it can be just the thing to distract you during a rough time. Not in the mood for butterflies just yet? Get in touch with someone you may have neglected lately, like your sister, parents, or an old high-school friend for some quality bonding. 5. Do celebrate your singledom t can be easy to see a breakup as a downer, but let’s be honest here: if it wasn’t meant to be, you’re much better off being free, don’t you think? To emphasize that this is a good thing to have happened in your life, throw a cathartic “I’m Single!” party to kick off your newlyavailable status and move forward with an attitude of relief rather than sorrow. 6. DON’T over-indulge in your personal vices Don’t get us wrong: a little ice cream and a few crying jags are definitely in order, but not every night of the week. Think about it: if you completely give in to your video game habit or start smoking like a fiend, you’ll just end up feeling worse. Focus on healthy

“

After a breakup, you need your friends and the other steady parts of your life for comfort. If you jump ship completely, you might be left feeling very adrift.

distractions like exercise, socializing, and community involvement. 7. DON’T drastically change your look Sure, it’s always tempting to follow to a major life change with a major style change. But do you really want to grieve for both your relationship and your old hairstyle? There’s nothing wrong with a little makeover, but give yourself some time before you go through with anything drastic. Calls to a plastic surgeon or the tattoo artist should not be happening now. 8. DON’T move to a new place — at least, not permanently (yet) While a brief change of

scenery can be a good thing after a bust-up, a permanent move to a new city is probably going too far. After a breakup, you need your friends and the other steady parts of your life for comfort. If you jump ship completely, you might be left feeling very adrift. 9. DON’T talk about your ex too much alking it out is one thing. Talking only about your ex for weeks on end is another. Obsessing about the past or indulging in spiteful thoughts will prevent you from moving on, and it will alienate your friends. To avoid going down this road, consider writing it down in a journal or meeting with a therapist.

By confining your thoughts to the page or to a talk session or two per week, you’ll be able to focus your other time on healthier plans. 10. DON’T try to stay friends after your split This is probably the biggest no-no of all. You’re used to having each other for emotional support and companionship, but if the breakup is for real, it is time to start moving on… sooner rather than later. Jerry Seinfeld famously joked that it takes more than one push to get a soda machine to tip over, but a clean break is a good goal to achieve. Turn to other people in your life after a relationship ends — not to the ex.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Fiction

Treacherous; more questions than answers Continued from last edition

fter having a very hectic day I woke up the next morning with a very heavy head. I wondered whether the dizziness came from all the shopping or from all the questions in my mind which haven’t been answered. I guess it’s probably the questions in my mind and that’s why I’ll have to get them answered today! After quickly taking a shower and getting dressed into a red short dress paired with a black coat, I was all set to go. I climbed down the stairs, my face calm and my heart set on fire. But wait! What is happening in the lobby? At this time everybody’s expected to be at breakfast table but the whole house is in a hustle. “What is happening mom?’’ I said as I stepped down the last step of the staircase. “Oh! Here you are.’’ Said Mrs. Rose and came towards me. “Look, I know it may surprise you but we’ll have to leave this city immediately.’’ My whole face turned red. What is going around? Mrs. Rose judged the fear on my face and said, ‘’You don’t need to worry dear. We’re just going to California for sometime and your orphanage officials have been informed about it. And it’s just for few months, we’ll be back here very soon.’’ Seems like after all the questions making me go mad this was the last straw. “But where are we going?’’ I asked. “We’re not going too far away. It’s California.’’ “California?’’ “Yes. It’s a beautiful place with all those beaches and all, and yes good news is that you don’t have to pack your clothes because the climate there is really humid so these winter clothes will not be of any use. So that means more shopping.’’ After this Mrs. Rose turned around and started instructing all the workers whereas I was frozen. I couldn’t move... more shopping didn’t interest me, I suddenly felt like I didn’t belong to this place or I shouldn’t be here.

“

What’s wrong with this place? Since the day I’ve come here, these people are just arousing questions in my mind and till now even the previous ones haven’t been answered and they have given rise to some new questions... what the anguish!

I stepped out of the airplane and believe me- after having the very first flight of my life, I was definitely not feeling well. Right at the exit of the airport a car was waiting for us to take us to our new home. s we sat in the car. I felt happy that Annabell was sitting next to me. We silently drove off the roads of Malibu, California. I looked at the roads, the buildings and all. California was definitely a very different place from New York, it was more lively and cheerful than New York. On our way I tried to steal a moment to talk to Annabell. “So have you been here before?’’ I asked. ‘’Yes.’’ She replied with her face completely expressionless. “Um... which place do you prefer more.’’ “Home.’’ I was shocked at her answer... home? “No... no I mean New York or California?” I asked her, thinking that she might not have understood the question. “Home.’’ She replied again. I couldn’t say anything more. I had no reply because what she said wasn’t something that I could understand. Maybe that’s just an answer of a naive child! “Here we are.’’ Exclaimed Mrs. Rose. I looked at our new house; though it wasn’t as big as our house in New York but somehow

I liked it more... it just seemed more like home! We got off the car, this time ourselves and went inside the house. It was a properly furnished house and had a big window facing towards the sea. Wow! Our house is located near the sea. ‘’Common let us show you your bedroom.’’ Said Mr. Woodson. I turned around to face him in surprise. It was the first time he talked to me after taking me in their family. I smiled and followed him upstairs to my new room. y new room was big and pink. It had a window facing the sea. Mr. Woodson took off the white covers from the bed, study table and the couch. The entire furniture was so proper for a girl that it occurred to me that it might have been occupied by a girl before. “Um... dad?’’ I said and believe me it took a lot from me to say dad. “Yes.’’ He quickly turned around with a shine in his eyes, telling me that he was longing to hear that word from me. “I just wanted to know if this house was occupied by someone else before.’’ “No... actually we came to live here a year ago. You know my business has always been like this but to be honest we’ve spent most of our years here in California. I never liked go-

ing back to New York. It always....’’ Then he suddenly stopped and I could see that his eyes were full of sadness. As if he has been reminded of some kind of a bad experience. ‘’Um... so will I be attending school here.’’ ‘’Well, yes of course. Ok you make yourself comfortable I’ll go and check the rest of the house.’’ nodded to him and then he left the room. It was the first time in so many days that my opinion about Mr. Woodson changed. Suddenly he no longer appeared to be rough and tough but more of a softy! I was just looking around the new house when suddenly I heard some noises coming from Mr. and Mrs. Woodson’s bedroom. Okay... I know it’s not good to listen to someone’s conversation like that but it seemed important so I did. ‘’What are you talking about? This is just impossible, remember what the doctor’s said?’’ Said Mr. Woodson. ‘’I know but I don’t want to take any risks.’’ Said Mrs. Rose in a very harsh manner. ‘What risks were they talking about?’ I wondered. “Even if that happens, what’s wrong about it?’’ Mr. Woodson continued arguing. ‘’Look, it can lead to a fatal end. Don’t you realize? Look! I don’t want to hear any further arguments, clear? She’s is not going to attend any school here.’’ Said Mrs. Rose, finally ending the conversation and a silence developed. But her last words made it very clear that they were talking about me. started walking back to my room with my mind again filled with questions. What was the risk of sending me to school? How will it lead to a fatal end? And Mr. Woodson mentioned about a doctor also... what is going on? I stepped inside my bedroom and sat on the bed. My mind full of questions. What’s wrong with this place? Since the day I’ve come here, these people are just arousing questions in my mind and till now even the previous ones haven’t been answered and they have given rise to some new questions... what the anguish! To be continued…… www.ibuzzle.com

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Romance

A movie night-out with the Reporter

usiness languished, and she hung out a ‘Room to Let’ card. Two large rooms on the third floor were prepared for desirable tenants. Roomers came, and went regretfully, for the house of Mrs. Barry was the abode of neatness, comfort and taste. One day came Ramonti, the violinist, and engaged the front room above. The discord and clatter uptown offended his nice ear; so a friend had sent him to this oasis in the desert of noise. Ramonti, with his still youthful face, his dark eyebrows, his short, pointed, foreign, brown beard, his distinguished head of gray hair, and his artist’s temperament - revealed in his light, gay and sympathetic manner - was a welcome tenant in the old house near Abingdon Square. Helen lived on the floor above the store. The architecture of it was singular and quaint. The hall was large and almost square. Up one side of it, and then across the end of it ascended an open stairway to the floor above. This hall space she had furnished as a sitting room and office combined. There she kept her desk and wrote her business letters; and there she sat at evenings by a warm fire and a bright red light and sewed or read. Ramonti found the atmosphere so agreeable that he spent much time there, describing to Mrs. Barry the wonders of Paris, where he had studied with a particularly notorious and noisy fiddler. Next comes lodger No. 2, a handsome, melancholy man in the early 40’s, with a brown, mysterious beard, and strangely pleading, haunting eyes. He, too, found the society of Helen a desirable thing. With the eyes of Romeo and Othello’s tongue, he charmed her with tales of distant climes and wooed her by respectful innuendo. From the first Helen felt a marvellous and compelling thrill in the presence of this man. His voice somehow took her swiftly back to the days of her youth’s romance. This feeling grew, and she gave way to it, and it led her to an instinctive belief that he had been a factor in that romance. And then with a woman’s reasoning (oh, yes, they do, sometimes) she leaped over common syllogism and theory, and logic, and was sure that her husband had come back to her. For she saw in his eyes love, which no woman can mistake, and a thousand tons of regret and remorse, which aroused pity, which is perilously near to love requited, which is the sine qua non in the house that Jack built. But she made no sign. A husband who steps around the corner for twenty years and then drops in again should not expect to find his slippers laid out too conveniently near nor a match ready lighted for his cigar. There must be expiation, explanation, and possibly execration. A little purgatory, and then, maybe, if he were properly humble, he might be trusted with a harp and crown. And so she made no sign that she knew or suspected. And my friend, the reporter, could see nothing funny in this! Sent out on an assignment to write up a roaring, hilarious, brilliant joshing story of - but I will not knock a

At the theatre brother - let us go on with the story. One evening Ramonti stopped in Helen’s hall-office-receptionroom and told his love with the tenderness and ardor of the enraptured artist. His words were a bright flame of the divine fire that glows in the heart of a man who is a dreamer and doer combined. “But before you give me an answer,” he went on, before she could accuse him of suddenness, “I must tell you that ‘Ramonti’ is the only name I have to offer you. My manager gave me that. I do not know who I am or where I came from. My first recollection is of opening my eyes in a hospital. I was a young man, and I had been there for weeks. My life before that is a blank to me. They told me that I was found lying in the street with a wound on my head and was brought there in an ambulance. They thought I must have fallen and struck my head upon the stones. There was nothing to show who I was. I have never been able to remember. After I was discharged from the hospital, I took up the violin. I have had success. Mrs. Barry - I do not know your name except that - I love you; the first time I saw you I realized that you were the one woman in the world for me - and” - oh, a lot of stuff like that. elen felt young again. First a wave of pride and a sweet little thrill of vanity went all over her; and then she looked Ramonti in the eyes, and a tremendous throb went through her heart. She hadn’t expected that throb. It took her by surprise. The musician had become a big factor in her life, and she hadn’t been aware of it. “Mr. Ramonti,” she said sorrow-

“

His words were a bright flame of the divine fire that glows in the heart of a man who is a dreamer and doer combined.

fully (this was not on the stage, remember; it was in the old home near Abingdon Square), “I’m awfully sorry, but I’m a married woman.” And then she told him the sad story of her life, as a heroine must do, sooner or later, either to a theatrical manager or to a reporter. Ramonti took her hand, bowed low and kissed it, and went up to his room. Helen sat down and looked mournfully at her hand. Well she might. Three suitors had kissed it, mounted their red roan steeds and ridden away. In an hour entered the mysterious stranger with the haunting eyes. Helen was in the willow rocker, knitting a useless thing in cotton-wool. He ricocheted from the stairs and stopped for a chat. Sitting across the table from her, he also poured out his narrative of love. And then he said: “Helen, do you not remember me? I think I have seen it in your eyes. Can you forgive the past and

remember the love that has lasted for twenty years? I wronged you deeply - I was afraid to come back to you - but my love overpowered my reason. Can you, will you, forgive me?” Helen stood up. The mysterious stranger held one of her hands in a strong and trembling clasp. There she stood, and I pity the stage that it has not acquired a scene like that and her emotions to portray. or she stood with a divided heart. The fresh, unforgettable, virginal love for her bridegroom was hers; the treasured, sacred, honored memory of her first choice filled half her soul. She leaned to that pure feeling. Honour and faith and sweet, abiding romance bound her to it. But the other half of her heart and soul was filled with something else - a later, fuller, nearer influence. And so the old fought against the new. And while she hesitated, from

the room above came the soft, racking, petitionary music of a violin. The hag, music, bewitches some of the noblest. The daws may peck upon one’s sleeve without injury, but whoever wears his heart upon his tympanum gets it not far from the neck. This music and the musician caller her, and at her side honour and the old love held her back. “Forgive me,” he pleaded. “Twenty years is a long time to remain away from the one you say you love,” she declared, with a purgatorial touch. “How could I tell?” he begged. “I will conceal nothing from you. That night when he left I followed him. I was mad with jealousy. On a dark street I struck him down. He did not rise. I examined him. His head had struck a stone. I did not intend to kill him. I was mad with love and jealousy. I hid nearby and saw an ambulance take him away. Although you married him, Helen -” “Who are you?” cried the woman, with wide-open eyes, snatching her hand away. “Don’t you remember me, Helen - the one who has always loved you best? I am John Delaney. If you can forgive -” But she was gone, leaping, stumbling, hurrying, flying up the stairs toward the music and him who had forgotten, but who had known her for his in each of his two existences, and as she climbed up she sobbed, cried and sang: “Frank! Frank! Frank!” Three mortals thus juggling with years as though they were billiard balls, and my friend, the reporter, couldn’t see anything funny in it!

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Entertainment Xtra Rukky Sanda claims she doesn’t know Saka nor watch Nollywood movies

Rukky Sanda

ollywood actress and producer, Rukky Sanda, has claimed that she does not know the most popular Yoruba comic actor, Afeez Ayetoro, (Saka), of the ‘I Don Port’ fame. The very blunt entertainer who does not take any prisoners, claimed during a recent visit to Pulse.ng office that she does not know Saka, neither has she heard, seen him or has ever come in contact with him. The producer of ‘Keeping my man’ and ‘In her shoes’ also said she does not watch Nollywood movies, and can’t remember the last movie she watched. She was asked by one of the panelists: “I have seen you acting alongside Saka in one of your old movies. How was it working beside him?” Rukky Sanda: “Saka who? Who is he? I have never heard of him. Is he an actor?” Panelist: “You mean you do not know Afeez Ayetoro, the same Saka who did the ‘I Don Port’ advert that even kids know and sing along with?” Rukky: “I say I do not know him, I have not seen him nor heard of him before. What he look like? Maybe because I do not watch Nollywood movies.” Panelist: “You are an actress and producer, yet you say you do not watch Nollywood movies?” Rukky: “Yes, I do not watch them. I can’t remember the last Nollywood movie I watched.”

Brad Pitt stops using soap, kids call him ‘Stinky Daddy’

ctor Brad Pitt is so concerned about the environment that he has reportedly stopped using soap because of the toxins used in it, India Today has said. The 49-year-old prefers to use a combination of lemon, water and apple cider vinegar instead. “Brad said he’s read up on the toxins of soap - especially the antibacterial ones - and feels that using them and antiperspirants is not only bad for the planet, but it also speeds up the ageing process in humans,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted a source as saying. However, Pitt’s children Maddox, 12, Pax, nine, Zahara, eight, Shiloh, seven and five-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne and fiancee Angelina Jolie are not in favour of his new habit. “Angelina was revolted - and their kids even started calling him ‘Stinky Daddy’. Angie agreed to humour him only as long as they weren’t on the same continent,” the source added.

Brad Pitt

Justin Bieber behind Miranda Kerr, Orlando Bloom’s split

Kerry Washington ‘pregnant with first child by husband Nnamdi Asomugha’

op star Justin Bieber’s growing friendship with Miranda Kerr is being cited as one of the reasons behind her separation from Orlando Bloom. The 30-year-old supermodel, who parted ways with Bloom, 36 recently, was pictured getting cosy with Bieber, 19, after a Victoria’s Secret fashion show last year, reported Daily telegraph. Bloom, who has a son Flynn with Kerr, was apparently unhappy when his son was taught to say ‘Bieber fever’. “Miranda had always claimed that she was a fan of Justin’s music. She has taught her son how to say Bieber fever but it is supposed to have caused an issue,” the source added. The couple, who recently ended their three-years-old of marriage, announced that they have ‘amicably separated’.

Orlando and Miranda

Beverly Osu, Angelo part ways

ormer Big Brother Africa, ‘The Chase’ housemate, Beverly Osu, may have finally woken up from her love-struck slumber as she has now disassociated herself from two-time lover boy, Angelo Collins. Pulse.com reported that the South African who came into Nigeria a few weeks back to attend Beverly’s birthday also meet her mother. It added that after leaving Nigeria, the South African posted on his Twitter handle that he has gone back to his girlfriend, Candice Arends. That move was said to have hurt Beverly so much that she decided to remove his photo which was prominent on her Twitter profile.

eautiful actress, Kerry Washington, is reportedly pregnant with her first child, and she’s of course expecting the bundle of joy with her husband of four months - NFL Nnamdi Asomugha. The36-year-old, who has become an ABC favourite for her portrayal of the pout-faced fixer, is ‘about four months along’ according to Us Magazine. She might be good at keeping secrets - rather like Pope - but unlike her covert wedding, the baby rumour has been bubbling under the surface of the celebrity scene for weeks. This is mainly due to the seemingly telltale move of hiding her incredible figure in baggier clothing for recent events and appearances. According to Us, Kerry hasn’t made the news known publicly on the Scandal set but is reported to be sipping on tea and protein shakes to keep morning sickness at bay. This will be the first child for the Emmy-nominated actress, who married her beau on June 24 in Hailey, Idaho. Washington, who was previously engaged to actor David Moscow, started dating the San Francisco 49ers cornerback in the summer of 2012. Their wedding came without any media fanfare. The Django Unchained actress told Glamour said she had ‘learned through experience’ that talking about her personal life just ‘doesn’t work’ for her. ‘I’ve had earlier times in my career when I did talk about it. But I couldn’t just turn around and say, “I only want to talk about the good stuff, but not the bad stuff.” So I just thought, “Okay, no more,” she explained. So far she has kept mum on the baby question although in 2010 when she was engaged to actor David Moscow she told Jet magazine that she was not ready for children. More recently in July, shortly after her wedding, she told People magazine: ‘I’m blessed in all areas of my life.’ The actress who plays Capitol Hill crisis management guru Olivia Pope in the ABC show is known to be fiercely protective of her private life.

Kerry Washington

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

B o lly Bol l ywood wo o d / H Ho ollywo lly wo o d

Chris Brown returns to rehab after being arrested over assault

ust two days after he was arrested for allegedly punching a man and breaking his nose, Chris Brown entered rehab on Tuesday evening. His representative confirmed the news to E! on Tuesday evening in a statement. ‘Chris Brown has elected to enter a rehab facility,’ the statement read. ‘His goal is to gain focus and insight into his past and recent behaviour, enabling him to continue the pursuit of his life and his career from a healthier vantage point.’ Rehab: Just two days after he was arrested for allegedly punching a man and breaking his nose, Chris Brown entered rehab on Tuesday evening This comes the very day after Chris had his assault charge reduced from a felony to a misdemeanour following his arrest on Sunday in Washington, D.C. According to TMZ, Brown pleaded not guilty and was released from custody without bail, and he was pictured smiling as he left court on Monday. Brown was expected to co-headline a concert with girl band Danity Kane at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City on Tuesday night, but he cancelled the gig ahead of checking into rehab. Earlier on Tuesday, the star posted a cryptic tweet which read: ‘In order to go where u have never gone u have to be willing to go where u never been!!!! #OHB! CBE!’ While no other official details of Chris’s rehab stay have been revealed, TMZ reports he has checked into a facility ‘in the vicinity of Los Angeles’. The website states Chris’ attorney Mark Geragos brought him to the treatment centre, along with his mother and girlfriend Karrueche Tran, where he will allegedly undergo treatment for ‘anger management issues’. Karrueche has not spoken out

about her boyfriend’s decision to enter the facility, but she did post a picture of pair kissing on her Instagram account with the caption, ‘Always & Forever’. According to TMZ, following Chris’s alleged assault on the man over the weekend, he was ordered to stay 100 yards away from the victim. While it is not yet clear why Brown’s charge was reduced on Monday, it may be because the injuries were minor. The victim apparently claims Brown broke his nose but according to TMZ, the police have stated that the man was treated for a fractured nasal bone. The original police report allegedly states that it was Brown’s bodyguard who threw the punch, but the bodyguard’s charge has also been reduced to a misdemeanour. It’s not over yet: Brown has been released without bail but has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from the alleged victim The R&B singer along with Christopher Hollosy allegedly punched a man outside the upscale W Hotel in Washington at 4:25 a.m. Sunday, law enforcement sources said. owever, there were conflicting witness accounts, and Brown apparently denied punching the alleged victim, claiming the man tried to board his tour bus and his bodyguard ‘handled it’. Brown, who is due to appear in court again on November 25, was also accused of making a homophobic slur during the altercation that led to his arrest. The alleged victim, Isaac Adams Parker, 20, of Beltsville, Maryland, told police Brown commented: ‘I’m not down with that gay s**t,’ when he attempted to get into a picture that the singer was taking with a female fan. Minor injuries?: It has been claimed that Brown and his bodyguard’s charges may have been

reduced because the victim was allegedly treated for a fractured nasal bone rather than a broken nose arker claims he replied: ‘What are you doing?’ and Brown answered: ‘I feel like boxing.’ Parker alleges he was punched by Brown and then his bodyguard, and that the singer then went and stood behind the bodyguard and told Parker to ‘walk away’. TMZ further reports that the Los Angeles County Probation Department are now launching an investigation to determine whether the charges violate the terms of his probation relating to his 2009 assault on then girlfriend Rihanna. The website claims the Probation Department was informed of the arrest by Brown’s lawyer Mark Geragos, and he allegedly could face up to four years in prison if it is decided that his probation should be revoked. Chris Brown leaves courtroom after pleading ‘not guilty’ His probation was briefly revoked in July after he was involved in a hit-and-run incident in Los Angeles, but it was later reinstated in August. The star was charged on May 21 with a misdemeanour hit-and-run and driving without a valid licence following the accident in the San Fernando Valley. Though he refuted claims by the other driver involved, insisting he ‘followed the proper procedures’ and exchanged information with the owner despite there being no damage to his car. After being arrested for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in February 2009, the Turn Up The Music singer pleaded guilty to a felony and accepted a plea deal. On August 25 he was sentenced to five years’ probation, one year of domestic violence counselling and six months’ community service, while his five-year restraining order remained.

Usher fights rise in U.S school dropouts in documentary

rammy award R&B singer, Usher Raymond will soon wrap up production for his new documentary to fight against the rising school dropout rates in U.S.A, Pulse.com has said. The educational documentary called Undroppable was handed to the singer by his good friend, Scooter Braun, Justin Bieber’s manager. Braun told the press men in L.A that, “I knew Usher was very passionate about the issue of education, so I felt this was a great project to bring him on board. His expertise will be invaluable as we continue this film and movement.” The new project is coming after Usher’s A-B-C education on Sesame Street few months back. Usher and Braun have always worked closely together for different projects including launching the career of Justin Bieber. Braun is a producer on the project, along with Adam McKay, Sharon Chang, Alex Soros and John Powers Middleton. Undroppable is written by Jason Pollack and will tackle the drop out issue from the point of view of students.

Chris Brown being escorted out of the courtroom with his lawyer behind.

Fake R. Kelly dupes fans in Louisiana

he King of R&B, R. Kelly was nowhere to be found at the R.Kelly Live in Concert in Louisiana as fans waited for three hours after buying tickets to the show. Instead, a fake R. Kelly showed up late and lip sung throughout the concert, according to 8 News. Reports indicated that fans haven’t stopped complaining bitterly after paying good money [$150] only to get a lip-synching impostor perform in the same concert at the Monroe Civic Center. Organizers apparently advertised the singer before the show but once a performer finally took the stage, it wasn’t the real R.Kelly. According to an eye witness, the same guy was spotted in a local restaurant earlier that day and when fans ran to him for pictures and autograph, he shunned them and took off almost immediately. It was the same guy who rocked the stage R. Kelly was suppose to perform, hours later. The promoter of the show, Cedric Johnson [for Ced’s Black Tie Affair] had earlier said [through a text message to KNOE media] he would honor refunds but later, he claims he didn’t send any text message and wouldn’t refund a dime to anyone. It is still unclear whether R. Kelly was actually ever scheduled to appear at the concert because according to reports, promoters are denying that he was supposed to perform, while attendees maintain the performance was advertised. The singer, whose new album “Black Panties” is scheduled for a December release, has not commented on the Monroe concert.

Fake R. Kelly

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Entertainment Xtra Kim considering wedding in Paris, reveals family shock at Kanye’s proposal * *

Next Summer likely to be it To take up West as her last name

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

im Kardashian is cloud nine. And why not? Her heartthrob Kanye West only last week made a celebrated proposal for her hand in marriage. And was it magical? More than one could imagine. Even Kim who was surprised and in high ecstasy, simply described the moment at the AT&T Baseball pitch as “the most magical night of my life.” Now, the couples are hoping to tie the nuptial knot next summer and the place to execute what would probably be one of the grandest celebrity weddings in modern times is likely to be ‘Paris’. The Reality Show star also made several revelations including her post-baby weight issues which she said gave no easy time. ‘It really hurt my soul,’ she said, revealing how ‘ridiculous’ the criticism poured on her over the weight, then. Kim made these disclosures midweek when she appeared in a popular NBC Talk Show. Dressed in sheer white lace, her underwear proudly - and deliberately - on display, it was clear Kim Kardashian was feeling her best. And as the new mother unveiled the stunning results of her post-baby diet and exercise regime, it soon became clear just how happy she was to have lost her baby weight. ‘Actually I got on the scale today and it said that I am 50lbs down. That made me so excited,’ she said, as she made her big reveal on Jay Leno midweek. The 33-year-old said gaining weight while pregnant with daughter North was not easy. “I can honestly say it was the greatest challenge of my life,’ she said. And she confirmed reports she lost the weight on the Atkins Diet, adding ‘it worked for me’. Kim also revealed she chose the diet after it was previously successful when both she and her late father Rob tried it when she was a college student. Kim said the ‘ridiculous’ criticism she received for putting on the weight while pregnant was incredibly painful. ‘It really hurt my soul,’ said the reality star. ‘It changed how I am in public. I’ve tried to live more of a private life.’ The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star attributed her apparently bloated appearance during pregnancy to preeclampsia, a lifethreatening condition that raises blood pressure, which she said led to her five-week premature delivery. ‘That was a cause for a lot of

the swelling and at the time I didn’t know what was going on,’ she said. Kim and new fiance Kanye West kept out of the public eye following the birth of their baby in June, but she denied they went into ‘hiding’. ‘I just wanted to have time with her and be with her. This was the one time in life that I could just take off and spend time as a family with me, and him and the baby. So we both took a maternity leave,’ she said. But Kim said her life is going well at the moment after Kanye surprised her with a lavish marriage proposal on her 33rd birthday last week. ‘I’m very happy right now,’ she said. ‘[The proposal] was the most magical night of my life.’ And she described the night in detail. ‘I thought we were just going to dinner for my birthday,’ explained Kim. ‘He just told me to close my eyes... he covered my eyes. ‘I thought I was going to fall and he was totally helping me [out of the car]. It’s so it his personality to do something wild for my birthday.’ Even though she found herself standing in a baseball field, Kim still didn’t guess what was about to happen. ‘My favourite Lana song started playing, Lana Del Rey Young And Beautiful. And I was like, Oh my God he got Lana to play for me on my birthday. ‘I thought that was my birthday surprise. And she doesn’t get out and he goes down on his knee. And I was shaking the entire time. The big scoreboard said please marry me. I said yes.’ fter Kanye proposed, Kim’s family rushed the field. ‘The whole family thought they were there for my surprise party, and I thought they were in Arizona. He told them a surprise party, I need you guys there. The look on their faces - I turn around and see them balling.’ But the couple haven’t yet had the chance to discuss their wedding, although Europe might be on the cards as a possibly venue. ‘I want [Kanye] to have whatever he wants,’ she said, adding that ‘someplace Parisian’ might be an option. The pair are ‘hoping for next summer,’ she said, but they ‘haven’t had time to sit down and talk about it.’ Kim also gushed about her daughter, nicknamed Nori, calling her ‘the sweetest little girl.’ ‘She never cries,’ Kim said of the four-month-old. ‘She’s a perfect little angel. I hope she grows up to be smart and opinionated like her dad.’

Kim also confirmed that she plans to take her husband-to-be’s last name. ‘It’ll definitely be West,’ she said. ‘My daughter’s name is West, and we’re a family.’ But it wasn’t all happy. Kim also opened up about her family’s recent troubles, confirming that her mother Kris Jenner has split from her husband Bruce. ‘They are [separated]. And it is for the better, and the best way. I think they are better living in two separate homes. They get along better. I’d rather them live together and be happy. They are better friends now.’ erhaps surprisingly, Kim said Bruce would still walk her down the aisle, saying simply ‘of course’, in answer to Leno’s question. ‘Our family I would say is the biggest most happiest dysfunctional family,’ she added. And of sister Khloe she said simply: ‘She’s doing good, she’s doing really good. And I think all you want

Hard times: ‘I can honestly say it was the greatest challenge of my life,’ Kim said of her weight gain

Upping the glamour: She wore her blonde hair sleek and wavy over her shoulder and kept her makeup Hot property: Kim looked incredible in the frock, fresh and natural which she paired with strappy black heels

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 37

Entertainment Flakes

Eith FUNSHO AKINWALE PHONE NO:08051101191

Bolu Akin-Olugbade marks 25th remembrance of his late mother

Adenuga to chair Okoye’s wedding

rince Bolu Akin -Olugbade, the Aare Onaakakanfo of Owu Kingdom, last Sunday, gathered family members and few close family friends, to mark the 25th year remembrance of his late mother, Chief (Mrs) Gladys Iyabode Akin-Olugbade, the Otun Iyalode of Owu Kingdom. The 25th remembrance service took place during the Sunday church service at The First Baptist Church on Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos. Activities to mark the 25th memoriam had kicked on Wednesday, October 21, with her tomb at Ikoyi Cemetery, which was given a face lift. Madam Gladys, who died on the 21 of October 1988, went to the great beyond within a year after she lost her husband, the patriach of the family, Prince Akin-Olugbade, the first Aare Onaakakanfo of Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, Ogun state. Speaking at the remembrance service, Prince Bolu Akin-Olugbade in his words said:"My mother was simple, kind, generous and virtuous woman. "She was an icon, and an inestimable jewel. Chief Gladys Akin-Olugbade brought us up in the way and fear of the Lord our God. "She gave us courage, showed us the realities of the world and taught us to fight for principles and to ignore rumors. "My mother will be always remembered as long as I live because she is a real gem during her life time".

Mike Adenuga Jnr

Peter Okoye

ntertainment Flakes can authoritatively reveals that Globacom CEO, Otunba Mike Adenuga, will be the chairman of the forthcoming wedding between Peter Okoye of PSquare fame and his baby mama, Lola Tania Omotayo. The development is coming as a surprise to many who believe that the multibillionaire Ijebu

Clem Ohaneze returns to location

opular Nollywood actor, Clem Ohaneze, has returned movie location again, few years after he was out of circulation. The veteran actor, according to close sources, has been contracted for a new film, which he's presently doing with some top actors in the industry.

Bolu Akin Olugbode

Onikoyi’s family rocks over FG’s CFO on property

ajor on-going construction at the Banana Island, the Parkview Estate extension in Ikoyi, Lagos state, is reportedly halted by the Federal Government, after imposing CFO levy on all the major landed property inside the expensive estate. The Onikoyi family, who are the property owners, are not finding things easy at the moment. A member of the family, who craved anonymity said it’s disheartening for that the Federal Government, has imposed the levy. The source

said it was unfair for the government to suddenly impose the levy without giving them prior notice. Further, a land owner, who only recently acquired a piece of land in the estate, also expressed his displeasure over the government’s new moves. In his words said:”We the property owners in the estate are the receiving end because we have to get the Federal Government CFO and after getting the Lagos state government own CFO if we don’t want to lose our properties”.

How actress Mina’s cousin snatched her boyfriend, got pregnant for him

x-beautiful queen, Mina Horsefall has revealed that her cousin snatched her boyfriend and got pregnant for him. The actress said she is still yet to get over the situation. "My first cousin and my ex betrayed me. The whole story is complicated. She dated my boyfriend and married him. I had no idea what was going on until they were about to get married because she was pregnant for him. I did not introduce him to her. She knew him. He was my Uncle's best man and we were in the bridal train. He met us together and went after me. "We had a relationship for some years, two years at a stretch, then it became off and on and all those times she knew. She was even engaged

to someone else at the time. Unknown to me she 'worked' her NYSC down to Lagos to have my boyfriend. She was living with him and it didn't make any sense to me. Until later on, I found out they were getting married. "What pained me most and the worst part of it was when I got to hear about it and confronted him, he said he can never do anything with my sister. And there you are getting her pregnant and marrying her. It got all messed up. This happened in September 2012. I haven't forgiven them. I don't think I ever will" I think Mina is not displaying a mark of a good spirit, nurturing grudges against them.

man, who despite his fame loves to shun the limelight. It would be recalled last year when he turned 60,staff of Globacom, who were reportedly put together a resounding party in his honor were shocked when he allegedly walked out on them because he felt the party was too lavish.

Jeta Amata’s marriage hit the rocks, months after Ruke Amata’s divorce

arriage of Nollywood film maker, Jeta Amata's 5 years old to actress, Mbong Amata, may have crumbled. According to reports, the marriage hit the rocks last year after attempts by the couple to save the marriage from crumbling. The marriage is reportedly said to have crashed following Mbong Amata's insistence on continuing her acting career. While Mbong wanted more of her career, her ex-hubby restricted her to working only in his production, a move that

saw her performed that role in a movie titled Black Gold and Inale. Further checks showed that the marriage hit the rocks few months after another Amata, Ruke's marriage packed up over his alleged infidelity in November 2012. While Mbong lives separately from Jeta in Los Angeles, USA, the erstwhile couples are reported to be civil about the separation. So far, they have kept it under carpet until it was blown opened, recently. Jeta, it was learnt, has confirmed the split.

Ace comedian, Sheddi Baba off the scene

ogi-born humour merchant, Sheddi Baba, seems to be out of circulation. We are still trying to unravel the real reason for this, but we hope it has nothing to do with the rofo rofo media fight between him and his estranged lover, Wunmi. Ever since the breast ex-

posing saga broke out few years back between Sheddi and Wunmi, our amiable comedian, seems to have withdrawn to his shell. A search for him at some of his hang-outs on the Island has also yielded no positive result. Hope all is well with the funky comedian.

...As Princess takes in

eports reaching us indicate that Damilola Adekoya, otherwise known as ‘Princess’ and her hubby, Adeshola Jeremiah, are expecting their first child. Further checks reveal that the pregnancy is so obvious because of her plus-sized figure. Princess few months back had one of the biggest weddings in Lagos.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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LETTERS National Dialogue and APC’s political criticism By Olu Hassan

efore now, there have been persistent demands for a national dialogue, to enable Nigerians discuss the various ethnic and religious misgivings, which have been threatening the continued oneness of the various sovereign nationalities in Nigeria. These calls therefore generated conflicting interests between the political class and the promoters of this cause, especially given the antecedent of selfish mode of representation in the country. While the political class, which mainly included the elected representatives of the peoples in both chambers of the National Assembly, expressed fear that the idea will lead to anarchy, those promoting the idea expressed total lack of confidence in the ability of the elected representatives to address the various demands of the ethnic nationalities. The urgent need for this national dialogue became apparent, given the numerous strange hostilities erupting across the country, including Boko Haram, kidnapping, re-emergence of oil bunkering in the South, among others. It would be recalled that in the recent past, some ethnic groups have taken arms against the country, which was resolved through an ad hoc policy, one of which resulted in the creation of a Ministry for the Niger Delta region. Similarly, at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, some political leaders from the north argued that a Ministry of Northern Affairs should be created, as a measure to pacify the insurrection which was ravaging the north. However, some well-meaning Nigerians, including those from the north, cautioned against creating ministries or agencies as an ad hoc response to agitations in any part of the country. They rather opted for an all-inclusive, other than ad hoc approach to the tribal demands across the country. In the face of these challenges

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 threatening both the economic and political progress of the country, in his apparent wisdom, President Goodluck Jonathan gave approval for a national conference, which was seconded by the National Assembly. This dialogue, according to the President, is aimed at creating a platform for various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to x-ray their grouses, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problems confronting Nigeria. However, just as many Nigerians were praising the boldness of Mr President in making a u turn and identifying with the idea, considering his earlier skepticisms, the leader of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, casted aspersion on proposed dialogue. I am very happy that the known leader of the northern ordinary masses, General Mohammadu Buhari, has not chosen the way of Tinubu, by seeking to abort the baby before the birth. It is unfortunate that Bola Tinubu concluded without trial that the idea of a national conference is a waste of time and resources. To indicate the resolve of the party to see nothing good in the PDP led government, the APC quickly issued a

statement withdrawing from the proposed dialogue. Expectedly, the governor of Edo state, Adams Oshomhole, during a stakeholders meeting in Benin with the Dialogue committee, encouraged the public to shun the dialogue. Of course, one does not need to be told whose script Oshomhole is acting out. It is therefore a time for the opposition party to strike a balance between politics and national interest, to avoid losing public sympathy and confidence. This sudden decision by the biggest opposition party in Nigeria has placed a strong question mark on the real intension of the opposition leaders in Nigeria. Given the myriad of challenges facing the country, one should not expect any rejection for a national dialogue such as proposed by President Jonathan. Obviously, there is time for politics and business. It is clear that the APC I know has turned the dialogue into a political adventure by advising their members not to participate in the dialogue. One major argument which the opposition party has proffered against the proposed conference is that it is not the first

time such conference is being organized, yet nothing good came out of it. Others are saying that the time of the conference is not appropriate, considering the general election scheduled for 2015. According to them, the President is merely seeking to buy confidence and support of Nigerians through the dialogue. However, these reasons appear very trivial for some reasons. One is that Nigerians are like sick people who cannot stop seeking medical solution only on the premise that previous attempts have failed. Even though such conferences in the past failed, that is not a reason for Nigeria not to make further efforts, even if there are indications that it will fail again. Another reason is that if there is any Nigerian who has not made up his or her mind on whether to vote for Jonathan or not, then such person may equally not know whom to vote for on the election date. The policies of the incumbent President within the past three years is enough for a discerning mind to have made a decision. So, if the President is proposing the dialogue to buy public confidence as being suggested by the APC, it will not have any impact on his credits at the poll. I equally think the timing of the conference is apt, considering the high emotion and passion that have surrounded the preparations for the 2015 general election, which will most likely translate into politics with bitterness unless something urgent is done. Whatever that is been said about this dialogue, I strongly believe that Nigerians cannot blow hot and cold the same time. If Nigerians have been clamouring for such conference in the past, it may not be proper to condemn it only on the basis that it is being proposed by PDP led government. It is time we give it a trial, if it fails let it fail. Trial and error leads to perfection. Hassan wrote from Utako, Abuja

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Op O p in i n io n Intergenerational Conversations: The best of both worlds

his past August, I received an email from Roy Freed. Roy wanted to meet me to discuss ideas I had shared on edge.org on the topic of technology and innovation as a national development strategy. He introduced himself by declaring, “I happen to be 96 years young with an innate engineering aptitude and a systems approach.” He further noted that he focused his career on computer law soon after he graduated from Yale Law School in 1940. On this day, however, he was interested in having a conversation about the human mind and the potential of creative and open-minded youth. In my regular activities, I almost never have a reason to interact with older people. So I enthusiastically responded to his request and he soon invited me to his retirement home for a conversational brunch. Roy was waiting for me at the door when I arrived and he led the way to the cafeteria, frequently stopping to say hi to his friends, some of whom are 100 years young. Roy and I had a healthy meal and an even healthier conversation, talking about topics ranging from World Wars I and II, the hippie culture By Tolu Ogunlesi

ust last week, we were caught up in the now famous Oduahgate; this week, there’s the Journey to Jerusalem. You’ve probably seen all the photos surfacing from the Presidency, of the pilgrimage – or jamboree, depending on whom you ask – to Jerusalem. From a satirist’s point of view, the photos are hilarious: Nigerian officials trying to act as if the pious faces they’ve got on are prerequisites for gaining admission into Paradise. One American friend actually sent me a message the other night: “Did you see the photo spread of GEJ – pardon me, GEJ, J.P. – and his entourage getting sacred all over the Holy Land?”; and then went on to describe the photos as “absurd.” And indeed they are. There’s an especially hilarious photo of a line of Nigerians (including Mr. President) looking all spiritual, and in the foreground a sculpted sage, head turned towards the camera, hands thrown up in a mix of puzzlement and resignation. One really puzzling thing is this: Why is the Presidency suddenly obsessed with pushing out photographs of what should ordinarily be a private spiritual affair? I don’t think we’ve ever seen these many images from any presidential trip in recent history. I recall hunting the Internet for information about the President’s activities, during a state visit to China a few months ago – and finding nothing. Now, there’s a trip to Israel and the media is flooded with images from the pilgrimage part of it; of pious-looking, prayerful officials. Clearly the Presidency understands some really key things about the psychology of the Nigerian people; and it seems to me this might be simply an experiment in how the Nigerian love for grand demonstrations of piety can be used to shape the public image of political leaders.

of the 1960’s, and the connection between open mindedness and creativity. Since then, Roy and I have exchanged thoughts especially related to the two book projects that keep him busy when he is not running his own TV show in Canton, MA or engaging with students at a nearby community college. Roy reminds me of my own grandparents, from whom I got any history lesson I wanted about my family, my community and Sierra Leone. However, while I brought to the table a new and fresh perspective, what was most important to them was that I listened and engaged with their intellectual sides; after all, they had once been professionals in various fields. These intergenerational interactions have broadened my perspective in various ways. First, older folks often share lessons that may seem unique to the historical contexts in which they occurred, but actually resonate with similar issues that we are facing today. The excitement in Roy’s eyes when he recounted to me his interest in computers in the early days parallels my own excitement today as I interact with new technology

from the Media Lab. He took a bet on the computer industry and soon left his regular legal job as a litigator. In his Authors@Google talk, Roy recounts his journey to being the first person to publish an article on computer law, before it became a recognized discipline. He was willing to dive into something he was passionate about, even if it did not have any precedent – a valuable lesson many young people would do well to heed. Second, the wisdom of our older generations is often left untapped – especially in communities where knowledge carries through oral, not written formats – because we assume that older people aren’t up to the task of

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a rigorous debate. While I am sure, given my relationship with Roy, that older folks love having conversations about the weather, they also want to be valued for the knowledge they have. About 13 percent of the US population is above the retirement age of 65 years and they have many lifetimes of experience to share. At the tender age of 72, Roy and his late wife Anne became Fulbright Scholars, pursuing their passion for social work in Bulgaria. In fact, his interest in how the human mind and the computer relate to each other was piqued during his retirement years. Third, when asked what his regrets are, Roy smiled and indicated that one thing he’s learnt

The wisdom of our older generations is often left untapped – especially in communities where knowledge carries through oral, not written formats – because we assume that older people aren’t up to the task of a rigorous debate.

to appreciate is that regrets were rarely helpful. However, he noted that having a larger extended family is something he wishes for. His relationship with his wife was invaluable to both of them and at the end of the day, what mattered least was what he did and more with whom he did it. At the end of each interaction with Roy it is clear that we are both very grateful for our interactions and it leaves me wondering: how can we regularly engage with our older generations in a way that is mutually beneficial for them and for the younger generations who have so much to learn? Interacting with the older generation can help young people understand the impact of their decisions and those of others within a broader context. While the youth must build their own experiences and perspectives, people from older generations, such as my grandparents and Roy, could be useful in that quest, much like a compass on a trail. Yes, the ultimate path we choose to take is completely up to us, but the compass will point us in the right direction. (From Linked in)

Jonathan goes to Jerusalem Nigeria is of, no doubt, a Paradise for parodists and satirists. It’s as if every morning our government officials wake up and say: “Look, how can we rile these people? What can we do to get all these yeye activists spraying saliva across the newspaper columns and on social media? How can we keep them busy?” Let’s pursue that line of thought for a moment, and imagine that every morning, a meeting is summoned in the Presidency. “That BMW matter is getting old. And the appointment of Oga “Ali-Must-Go” as the chairman of the board of the National Universities Commission doesn’t seem to have raised any eyebrows. We need to raise eyebrows, people! What do you suggest?” Ideas will pour out, until one genius says, “I have the idea. Let’s go to Jerusalem.” Slowly but steadily light bulbs will pop on in head after head, as the brilliance of the idea sinks in. “Let’s not go to Jerusalem in any ordinary way – let’s go in style. Let Israel know that the President of the Giant of Africa is in town.” And that was it. Signed and sealed. And then as soon as the news leaked, the enemies of the state – rumour-mongers and presidential-memo-stealers and assorted miscreants – wasted no time going to town to announce that the President was travelling with 19 state governors and 30,000 Nigerians, necessitating the statement from Presidential spokesperson Reuben Abati that “reports in the media that he is leading 19 state governors and about 30,000 Nigerians to Israel are a misrepresentation of facts.” That mischievous fabrication of 30,000 presidential party pilgrims (a tired tactic which the disgruntled elements of the opposition keep resorting to every time the President is travelling) recalls the famous pilgrimage, in 1324, of the Malian

Emperor Musa 1, to Mecca. It is recorded that Musa (named last year as the richest human that ever lived) travelled with an entourage of thousands of persons (slaves, aides, hangers-on). He stopped over in Egypt for three months, laden with and spending so much gold that the metal instantly lost value; its prices plunging for many years afterwards. If reports from the October 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting in Perth, Australia are to be believed, Nigeria found itself caught up in a bid to trump the swagger of Emperor Musa. As one Australia-based Nigerian blogger – who says he was an eyewitness – put it, “You could smell naira notes everywhere you turn (sic) in the shopping malls. Everyone and anyone you can think of, was in Perth for the CHOGM. From ministers to businessmen, state governors, Special Advisers, commissioners, Personal Assistants, security guards, houseboys, house girls, girlfriends, shopping buddies, political jobbers you name it! (…) Some of the Nigerian guys I came across on the streets of Perth were no different from urchins that you see regularly on the streets of Lagos. (…) The shop owners in the city must have been praying that the CHOGM shouldn’t come to an end. Everywhere you

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turned, there is (sic) a Nigerian either shopping and changing money at the Bureau De Change.” There you have it. Mansa Musa would be proud. Thankfully, as far as we know, the presidential entourage has not yet caused an upheaval in the currency markets of the Holy Land. Now, let’s take a step back, and place this Israel trip – a combination of pilgrimage and state visit, we’ve been told – as well as a number of other recent happenings side-by-side with something the President told the nation, last year. On Saturday, January 7, 2012, in the heat of the national rebellion that accompanied the removal of petrol subsidies, he announced, and I quote: “To save Nigeria, we must all be prepared to make sacrifices. On the part of government, we are taking several measures aimed at cutting the size and cost of governance, including on-going and continuous efforts to reduce the size of our recurrent expenditure and increase capital spending. In this regard, I have directed that overseas travels by all political office holders, including the President, should be reduced to the barest minimum. The size of delegations on foreign trips will also be drastically reduced; only trips that are absolutely necessary will be approved.” I’m not making that up; I

Look at everything happening – from this loud trip to Israel to the seemingly casual responses to the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the BMW scandal – and it’s deeply distressing to observe that the near-total absence of prudence or sobriety or commitment to valuedriven spending on the part of the Federal Government.

did not steal a secret presidential document, and I’m not guilty of leaking official secrets (like the “enemies” of the government did with the BMW documents). Those were the President’s exact words, in a television broadcast. Now, look at everything happening – from this loud trip to Israel to the seemingly casual responses to the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the BMW scandal – and it’s deeply distressing to observe that the near-total absence of prudence or sobriety or commitment to value-driven spending on the part of the Federal Government. How long are we going to spend as a country going round in circles, making ourselves the laughing stock of the world? As I write this, a scandal involving expense claims (worth far less than what it cost us to buy two BMWs, by the way) by four Canadian Senators is throwing up heated debate about the legitimacy of the entire Canadian Senate, and triggering intense soul-searching within the government. Actually, it’s not like we don’t sometimes have our own soulsearching moments in Nigeria. The problem is that everything feels painfully cosmetic. These were President Jonathan’s closing words in that sober January 7, 2012 speech, qualifying his vow to cut unnecessary spending and focus instead on the country’s most pressing issues: “As I ask for the full understanding of all Nigerians, I also promise that I will keep my word. Thank you. May God bless you; and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Almost two years later, you be the judge – has Mr. President kept his word? •Follow me on Twitter @ toluogunlesi

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Co m m e n ts

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Maximizing Radio Jingle for Peaceful Coexistence

By Labaran Saleh

n a deliberate effort to appeal to religious fanatics and tribal jingoists whose activities and that of their sympathizers create tension and deadly violence, especially in the trouble prone states, a voluntary radio jingle is being promoted by I-Nigerian Renaissance Initiative, a NonGovernmental Organization. It must be admitted that it is quite impossible to gather members of such violent groups or associations to a dialogue on peaceful co-existence so that they sheathe their swords, various approaches have been deployed by government and other private initiative without much successes. A number of Nigerians have actually been involved in various coordinated efforts aimed at not just laundering the country’s image positively, but reminding government, citizens and stakeholders of the roles they must play in our quest to put Nigeria on global map of successful and progressive countries. It was therefore heartwarming, when the National Coordinator, I-Nigeria Renaissance Initiative, disclosed at an interactive seminar in Abuja that her group has devised and sponsored some radio jingles in selected radio stations in the Northern part of the country. Though as a volunteer in disaster management who had

traveled to some states on advocacy in the North, I had listened to the couple of the jingles in Abuja, Kaduna and Yobe, not realizing that they were sponsored by an NGO. Ada Apiafi said that I Nigerian Renaissance Project is a perception transformation initiative intended to reinvigorate the process of building good image for Nigeria, home and abroad. And this mission has been etched bold in the programmes and activities of the body through its I-Nigerian campaign. The group has been involved in several advocacy campaigns all aimed at mobilizing support for strategic national programmes and policies. It is equally taking advantage of the social media to link up with the youth population with the campaign of catching them young for national service. Realising the importance of reaching the right public, especially those in environments where there have been communal and religious crises the organisation resolved to engage media and use radio in the dissemination of peace messages with a view to dousing the tension that has, lately, ravaged the northern part of the country through the activities of Boko Haram insurgents. The radio jingles which were primarily in Hausa language had been on for several weeks on such FM radio stations as Liberty Ra-

dio in Kaduna, ; FRCN Pyramid Radio in Kano; Companion Radio in Katsina; and Rima Radio in Sokoto, the Vision FM Radio in Abuja, Fombina Radio in Adamawa; and Peace FM Radio in Borno. The theme of the jingle, according to Ada Stella Apiafa, is to foster virtues of brotherliness, love and kindness by emphasizing “that violence, bloodshed and destruction do not pay. God, in His wisdom, created us as different people so that we can live peacefully. Promoting unity in diversity.” An English version of the jingle which was also aired daily on these radio stations goes thus: ‘Do not carry arms, kill, maim, or destroy!!! Nigerians, we must beware!!!’ The radio campaign should be pan-Nigeria in line with the overall objective of her group to promote positive things about the

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country. The reach and the role of the radio is unquantifiable, because practically, everyone has access to a radio. The target of most of these peace messages on the radio, are mostly rural people that do not have access to newspapers and online mobility. Well-conceived, strategic, precise, and eloquently developed radio messages such as jingle have have great appeal, and a huge capacity to excite their listeners, without losing their very important themes of tolerance and peaceful coexistence and security consciousness. Such jingles recur on the mind long after they have been aired, as children, sometimes find it easy reciting some of the jingles almost to the point of them becoming ‘personal anthems’ for quite a period of time. Most of the crises ridden areas of today are areas where the Radio is a major source of information for

Most of the crises ridden areas of today are areas where the Radio is a major source of information for them, so that medium alone is quite an effective tool in dousing tension on these areas.

them, so that medium alone is quite an effective tool in dousing tension on these areas. The self-sponsored worthy initiative by the NGO which we later learn is also packaging documentaries which are aired on national TVs, and opinionated articles on pressing national issues in the print media should be encouraged and supported. That the onerous, but rewarding task of making Nigeria one of the world’s 20 economies by the year 2020, reversing its misfortunes and putting it on the path of economic prosperity, political stability, technological advancement and socio—cultural rejuvenation remains the responsibility of all Nigerians cannot be disputed. The glorious, flourishing and paradise-like Nigeria that we so picture in our minds can only be made a reality if we all put aside personal, ethnic and group considerations in place of national interest. Building the Nigeria of our dreams will require meaningful harnessing of our talents, coordinated and aggressive exploration and exploitation of our abundant natural resources and faith in our dear country. Labaran Saleh Member of Journalists Against Disaster Initiative Abuja salelabaran@yahoo.com

Still on National Security Bill on Cybercrime By Ola Lookman

United States senator, Ted Cruz, has recently offered an apology to Nigerians over his widely publicised statement at a Texas town hall meeting, that the Obamacare website had been invaded by Nigerian internet scam artists. Cruz’s South-east Texas Regional Director, David Sawyer, said it was all a joke when his principal referred to Nigerian e-mail scam. According to Sawyer, “it is unfortunate that we’re living in a time just about every joke is misconstrued to cause an offence to someone. Senator Cruz has never nor would ever use a blanket term in a derogatory fashion against such a vibrant and integral part of our community. This usage was never directed to the Nigerian community as a whole” While the apology may be accepted the reality is the fact that some Nigerians are notorious online fraudsters which gave the reason for branding such illegal practice as Nigerian scam. A recent report indicates that cybercrime now costs the world over $100 billion yearly. Since cybercrime transcends geographical barriers, cooperation among all nations of the world

is required to fight the growing scourge. Nigeria is one of the world’s fastest growing economy, with its growing reliance on internet technology is experiencing an explosion in cybercrime, as more and more citizens connect to the internet and the web using smart phones, high capacity 3G and 4G cellular networks. As more businesses, financial interactions and administrative procedure use the internet, the global network of cyber criminals have also increased. In view of the enormous challenges induced by the incessant online and digital crimes in Nigeria, there is urgent need to effectively curtail and mitigate the current security challenges associated with the utilisation of the information technology. Nigeria is not the only culprit in the illicit online practice. At the presentation of Public Key Infrastructure [PKI], the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), said that emerging facts shows that Nigeria is reputed to be one of the leading cybercrimes perpetrators in the world. He said “cybercrime figures purportedly emanating from Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana, have had damaging impacts on the

image and economies of these countries. Nigeria is reputed to be one of the leading cybercrime perpetrators in the world.” This ugly development paints Nigeria in bad light as it has collective impact on the nation’s security and economic development, which calls for all stakeholders to work assiduously to contain the current security challenges associated with the use of the internet and other electronic devices. There is an increasing dependence on computer systems and networks in Nigeria by the government and citizens to provide critical services. A Measure must be put in place to protect all critical information infrastructures and secure computer systems and networks

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in Nigeria. Some of the measures should include “the establishment of fully functional national digital forensic laboratory in the office of the NSA to avail all law enforcement and security agencies a platform for detailed investigation of cybercrimes in the country. The recent establishment of a National Computer Emergency Response Team Centre for the monitoring, detection and analysis of all activities in the cyberspace is also a welcome development. To mitigate the high incidence of cybercrimes in Nigeria, the drafted National Security Bill 2013 which has been forwarded to National Assembly should be considered and passed as soon as possible to protect the nation

To mitigate the high incidence of cybercrimes in Nigeria, the drafted National Security Bill 2013 which has been forwarded to National Assembly should be considered and passed as soon as possible to protect the nation from cyber attacks from online hackers.

from cyber attacks from online hackers. At a recent World cybersecurity conference hosted by the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, participants pushed for the quick passage of long awaited Cyber security bill 2013. While calling on the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency pass into law the Cybersecurity Bill 2013, participants agreed that Nigeria needs to have a cybersecurity law which will be used by government agencies and private sector organizations to plan their information technology policies and guidelines as well as a deterrent against cyber criminals. Former Prime Minister of Israel, Mr. Ehud Barak also called on the Nigerian government to show more commitment to the fight against the scourge by instituting a sustainable legal framework that would help in stamping out the ugly trend. Cybercrime does not respect geographical boundary, fighting the menace can only be achieved through partnership with other cyber security organizations and institutions across the world. Ola Lookman can be reached on Olalookman1@yahoo.com

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

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Online Comments Abdulsalami to commission Sokoto state University today Bazooka says: I am very glad with this development. I am even happier that the Sokoto State University was commissioned by our great APC member Nura Bello Yabo says: I wish all students who are going to study in this school the best.

Senate probes NOSDRA over Ogoni oil spillage Rivers State-Man says: Nigerian senators are jokers. All this so-called NOSDRA fight is mere sanctimonious pretense. We really despise them and their hypocritical probes. All that Ogoni and Niger Delta oil money that they are sharing from Lagos to Abuja, will hunt them some day. They will be forced to vomit their loot some day. All the people that have continued to contribute to the destruction of the Niger Delta region will not escape God’s wrath. Of course, when it comes to God’s case there is no appeal or manipulation.

Troops illequipped to fight Boko Haram – Gaidam IKE says: In other words if another country attacks us we are done

for? If the Nigerian Army are illequipped to fight a faction within the country, what is the purpose of their existence? Indeed why does defence continue to top the budget yearly? Somebody must be joking. It is a clear comment on the many generals parading themselves as veterans.

ASUU, ASUP strike worries Bauchi Head of Service This ongoing strike has disrupted lots of things in this country. The future of this richly endowed country is being jeopardized. The pains inflicted on the psyche of then polity is indeed excruciating. One feels that the university union-ASUU- should yield to commonsense if the federal government refuses to meet their demands and return to work in the interest of the students. There is no way irresponsible grandstanding over outrageous demands would be met. The union must be mindful of posterity and in particular the interest of the nation. Yusuff says: This is a parody of opinion writing: So watery, vindictive, and baseless. Even the punctuation and grammatical constructions leave much to be desired. The author is obviously a clueless writer who is on a vengeful mission. Biodun says: Haba! They have come again o! Total trash! These people will not relent in their quest to throw undeserved mud at our dear Finance Minister, Ngozi OkonjoIweala. Well, let them continue. Like others before them, they will fail. Nigerians know that Dr Okonjo-Iweala is doing well in spite of detractors and distractions on her paths.

It is so easy to see that this writer is fake. First of all, the allegations are unfounded. They are just circumstantial events which the enemies of the CME have maliciously hijacked to pursue their evil intentions. Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a woman of dignity and integrity who has no time for the sort of things some disgruntled elements have falsely accused her of.

Tasks before Daura as Acting DirectorGeneral, NITDA Dr. Aliyu M. Sule says: I disagree to your proposal, Gentlemen. Dr. Daura isn’t qualified for this position as he has no knowledge of how the IT industry works and as such I don’t believe there’s anything he can do to move the country forward in this field. If Nigeria is truly sincere in its quest, then getting the right leader for NITDA would have been a priority. I’ll suggest they look for one Dr. Mohammed Alkali I believe he is from Borno State. He lived almost 30 years in Germany and held various top level management positions over there before retiring to Nigeria. He is an IT guru, who used to rescue the NITDA when ever things went bad. He has vast knowledge of the IT sector having been active in the field for almost 30 years. I don’t there is a more qualified person for the position of DG NITDA than Dr. Alkali. I don’t know him personally but have heard a lot about him. You Gentlemen are the journalists so go and make your findings and assist the government to square pegs into square holes, if indeed Nigeria must move forward in the right direction.

Anambra

Bello says:

Maj. Hamza Al-mustapha

guber: Sambo heads PDP campaign team Abdulganiyu Bala says: With this Joint Force Committee, I am sure if the PDP fails to win the Anambra gubernatorial elections, it will definitely lay the groundwork for Jonathan to equally fail there in 2015.

these money he has been spending since he left Prison? Is it part of Abacha’s loot or sponsorship from President Jonathan for 2015?

Probe Saraki’s deadly Sallah gifts Baj. Orduh says: This seems to be a yearly ritual. Similar incidents had happened in the past. Maybe the gathering was a deliberate jamboree just to assess his political clout otherwise there are far more simple ways to share the gifts. The gifts would have been distributed calmly and fairly to the people through the wards. We must at all times respect the sanctity of human lives.

Crises in Southern Kaduna unacceptable, says AlN225m Mustapha Armoured Yahaya Pate says: May Allah reward you for cars: Police that. We need peace in Southern Kaduna, and Niageria as a whole, arrest Dino even the world. Melaye over Olu says: protest against Where does Mustapha get all Aviation Minister

ARCHIBOYLER ATTE says: If it is true that the two Armoured BMW cars were bought by the aviation ministry for their boss’ use, then Nigerians should allow the woman to enjoy the fruit of her good work.

Gov. Ibrahim Geidam

Dino Melaye

Alih Samson says: He who fights for the nation shouldn’t be punished, for doing so. It was not the first time he has taken up issues of public concern by staging a protest. He is not selfcentred, but selfless. May God fight for those who are willing to sacrifice their comforts for the good of the larger society.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Interview Bead-making is a lucrative business, says Hayija Hauwa Shehu

Five years ago, Hayija Hauwa Suleiman Shehu’s passion for beads led her into the art of bead making and today her only regret is not developing her interest and love for the trade to much earlier because it is a lucrative venture. She spoke to Amina Suleiman about the intricacies of bead making and the reward therein.

ow did you start making beads? I started making beads about five years back. I picked up interest in bead making because my aunty was into it. It took me awhile to learn the art but because I always love anything that has to do with arts and crafts, I quickly adjusted. Eventually, I learnt how to make use of the necessary items to achieve whatever design I wanted. With my designs, I am inspired and in fact, content with the result of my work. What motivated you get into bead-making business? I studied fashion design in school. I love artwork and so interest and motivation in the arts are easy for me. Besides, If one takes a careful look at the story of beads in fashion one would naturally develop interest. For me, getting into the art of bead making is a long story. However, let me say that when I started making beads, I started with N100, and then, I started thinking of designs, patterns, making something different from what I had already done. Believe you me I had impressive results. For one I sold all that I had made at once. I made four different sets and then gradually, I expanded and started supplying supermarkets and stores at wholesale prices. The business grew and I became known and then my self confidence also grew. Today, I can proudly say that bead making has taken me to several places. This in addition to earning a living from the business and contributing my quota to the development of my society. What are the challenges? Well, I don’t really see serious challenges in the art. May be what I may consider to be a challenge can be in terms of selecting colours, arranging them in patterns that will be attractive, yet calming. So, the challenges come in terms of colour mixture, arranging the costumes to suit the patterning so as to retain

the beauty of the designs envisaged. Sometimes, my costumers see a particular colour in the market and want me to use the exact colour but it might not be easily available. How do you source your materials to meet your costumers’ needs? Do you sometimes have to travel to get? In most cases I buy my beads from the local markets here in Abuja. However, sometimes I do travel to Lagos, to get them. Though others travel abroad to source for their materials I am yet to do so. Nonetheless, I look forward to going overseas to buy bead materials to furnish my designs. Apart from bead making what other business do you do? Yes! I do several other businesses including marketing of lace materials, wrapper, shoes, bags and men’s wears. How do you get your customers? ost of my costumers are my neighbours and family friends as well. But then, there are the supermarkets that I also supply my goods. If I can recall there was a time that I took my beads to the United Kingdom and there were all sold out. I used to supply Sahad Stores and it had equal success. Others have taken interest in my work just by observing others wear the beads. How do you combine colours in designs to make them attractive? Actually, I use my imagination to create identity. At times, I just look at the colours and create a design, a mixture and pattern that turns out to be outstanding. Again, sometimes I look at mostly bulk colours because women in particular like colours, we normally wear colours like purple ,pink and other colours so I take advantage to create something attractive. How many beads can you make in a day?

Hayija Hauwa Suleiman Shehu It depends on the pattern you are making. The design and also your mood and the intricate nature of your patterning determine the number of beads one can make in a day. Sometimes I can make four to five pieces but when it comes to some complex patterns it take about

“

two (2) days, and may be how busy one is can also be a factor for consideration. How many hours does it take you to make a bead? Like I said earlier it depends on the desigin and the pattern but roughly an ordinary bead takes

Also, they need to have passion for it. Never should anyone start or get into something that he or she doesn’t have interest in and passion for. You need to be creative to be distinct because most designs are found in the market

about an hour. Where do you get encouragement? Perhaps you meant government encouragement? No, I don’t because I started the beads with my own capital. I praise Allah for His assistance and mercy. Do you make beads for children? Yes, we do even for a new born babies. How do you make your beads? Well, we, the bead makers, have our trade secrets and accessories, including the tools for cutting the beads to shape, the presser , tiger tail, stopper, which we use the hook or chain them together, another that is used for chin and earring. They are of different qualities; some are cheaper, others are expensive depending on what you want to wear. How much do make in a day? ell, it depends because we have so many categories of beads. We have the coral beads, crystal and several others with different values and worth. It depends; you can make a lot of profit from beads. What advice would you give to others that are interested in bead making? I will advice them to make up their minds and pray to Almighty Allah to lead them against any discouragement. I started with N100 they can also begin humbly. Also, they need to have passion for it. Never should anyone start or get into something that he or she doesn’t have interest in and passion for. You need to be creative to be distinct because most designs are found in the market, often the difference is in the colours. Just like Europe, there are many fashion designers so you need to do something new and appealing to win patronage. Personally, I don’t do bogus beads, instead, I go for something unique and attractive.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

News Xtra 740, 000 slaves are in Nigeria, says report By Patrick Andrew with agency report

lavery is over that seems to be the fact. But, far from it. Though abolished in the 19th century it’s alive and kicking. Surprisingly Nigeria is considered one of the 10 countries accounting for 76 percent of modern day slavery, according to the Global Slavery Index report. The index was hinged on three-prong factors: estimated prevalence of modern slavery by population, a measure of child marriage, and a measure of human trafficking in and out of a country. According to the report, 162 countries came under its searchlight and the measure adopted was heavily weighted to reflect the first factor, prevalence. A number one ranking is the worst, 160 is the best. Granted Nigeria is neither the worst nor the least on the index, but the most populous black nation ever infamous for ungodly acts makes the list anyway. However, viewed from population index, Nigeria is only fourth behind India, China and Pakistan. The country with the largest estimated number of people in modern slavery is, according to the report released on Thursday, India, which is estimated to have between 13,300,000 and 14,700,000 people enslaved. The India country study suggests that while this involves the exploitation of some foreign nationals, by far the largest proportion of this problem is the exploitation of Indians citizens within India itself, particularly through debt bondage and bonded labour. The country with the second highest absolute numbers of enslaved is China, with an estimated 2,800,000 to 3,100,000 in modern slavery. The China country study suggests that this includes the forced labour of men, women and children in many parts of the economy, including domestic servitude and forced begging, the sexual exploitation of women and children, and forced marriage. The country with the third highest absolute number in modern slavery is Pakistan, with an estimated 2,000,000 to 2,200,000 people in modern slavery. Albeit figures of modern Nigerian slaves are far below that of the top third in terms of population, but according to the index, Nigeria’s calculated number of enslaved persons are 701,

President Jonathan, pondering Nigeria’s myriad of problems

032, estimated enslaved (lower range) is 670, 000 and estimate enslaved (upper range) is put at 740,000 persons. Overview Mauritania, a West African nation with deeply entrenched hereditary slavery, is ranked number 1 in the Index. This reflects the high prevalence of slavery in Mauritania – it is estimated that there are between 140,000 – 160,000 people enslaved in Mauritania, a country with a population of just 3.8 million. This ranking also reflects high levels of child marriage, and to a lesser extent, human trafficking. Haiti, a Caribbean nation plagued by conflict, natural disaster and with deeply entrenched practices of child slavery (the restavek system), is second on the Index. This reflects high prevalence of modern slavery – an estimated 200,000 – 220,000 people are in modern slavery in Haiti, a country with a population of just 10.2 million. This ranking also reflects high levels of child marriage, and human trafficking from Haiti itself. Pakistan, with its porous borders to Afghanistan, large populations of displaced persons and weak rule of law, is third on

“

the Index. It is estimated that there are between 2,000,000 – 2,200,000 people in various forms of modern slavery in Pakistan, a country with a population of over 179 million. Iceland, Ireland and the United Kingdom are tied with a ranking of 160 in the Index. This does not mean these countries are slavery free. On the contrary, it is estimated that there are between 4,200 – 4,600 people in modern slavery in the United Kingdom alone. The estimated size of the problem in Ireland and Iceland is much smaller, with Ireland estimated to have 300 – 340 people in modern slavery, and Iceland less than 100. An analysis of the UK response on this issue confirms much more can be done, as the Government response is fragmented and disjointed, and that there have been alarming systemic failures, including the loss of trafficked children from care. Estimated number of population in modern slavery The Global Slavery Index also provides insight into the estimated absolute numbers of people in modern slavery, in 162 countries. And it showed that when the estimated numbers of enslaved

Albeit figures of modern Nigerian slaves are far below that of the top third in terms of population, but according to the index, Nigeria's calculated number of enslaved persons are 701, 032, estimated enslaved (lower range) is 670, 000 and estimate enslaved (upper range) is put at 740,000 persons.

Min. of Labour, Dr. Emeka Wogu

people is taken as a single factor for consideration, the country ranking shifts considerably. The countries with the highest numbers of enslaved people are India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, Thailand, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Taken together, these countries account for 76% of the total estimate of 29.8 million in modern slavery. The evil trade is prevalent especially in four African countries: Benin, Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Gabon. Twenty Country Studies, for the worst 10 and best 10 countries by prevalence, are contained in the report. These studies describe the problem, government responses, and action needed to address modern slavery in these countries. Supplementary Country Studies are in development and will continue to be made available here. Not all the countries in the world are represented in the Global Slavery Index, but the 162 countries that are included represents nearly all of the world’s 7.1 billion people. These countries collect a sufficient amount of standardised data to allow comparison across

countries and regions. While equally as important, for the most part, those countries that have not been included are those having fewer than 100,000 citizens. According to the index, the prevalence of modern slavery is highest in… Mauritania Haiti Pakistan India Nepal Moldova Benin Cote d’Ivoire The Gambia Gabon However, when considered in absolute terms, the countries with the highest numbers of enslaved people are… India China Pakistan Nigeria Ethiopia Russia Thailand DR Congo Myanmar Bangladesh Taken together, these ten countries account for 76 percent of the total estimate of 29.8 million enslaved people.

A bewildered, Ngozi Onokjo-Iweala, must have been rattled by the report

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Archive

What to know about Global Warming

lobal Warming or Climate Change, measurable increases in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses. Scientists believe Earth is currently facing a period of rapid warming brought on by rising levels of heat-trapping gases, known as greenhouse gases, in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases retain the radiant energy (heat) provided to Earth by the Sun in a process known as the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases occur naturally, and without them the planet would be too cold to sustain life as we know it. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the mid-1700s, however, human activities have added more and more of these gases into the atmosphere. For example, levels of carbon dioxide, a powerful greenhouse gas, have risen by 35 percent since 1750, largely from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. With more greenhouse gases in the mix, the atmosphere acts like a thickening blanket and traps more heat. GLOBAL WARMING IN THE PAST Earth has warmed and cooled many times since its formation about 4.6 billion years ago. Global climate changes were due to many factors, including massive volcanic eruptions, which increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; changes in the intensity of energy emitted by the Sun; and variations in Earth’s position relative to the Sun, both in its orbit and in the inclination of its spin axis. Variations in Earth’s position, known as Milankovitch cy-

cles, combine to produce cyclical changes in the global climate. These cycles are believed to be responsible for the repeated advance and retreat of glaciers and ice sheets during the Pleistocene Epoch (1.8 million to 11,500 years before present), when Earth went through fairly regular cycles of colder “glacial” periods (also known as ice ages) and warmer “interglacial” periods. Glacial periods occurred at roughly 100,000-year intervals. Greenhouse gases in Earth’s past atmosphere at the time each layer formed. Based on this data, scientists know that greenhouse gases have now risen to levels higher than at any time in the last 650,000 years. reenhouse gases are rising, and temperatures are following. Before the late 1800s, the average surface temperature of Earth was almost 15°C (59°F). Over the past 100 years, the average surface temperature has risen by about 0.7 Celsius degrees (1.3 Fahrenheit degrees), with most of the increase occurring since the 1970s. Scientists have linked even this amount of warming to numerous changes taking place around the world, including melting mountain glaciers and polar ice, rising sea level, more intense and longer droughts, more intense storms, more frequent heat waves, and changes in the life cycles of many plants and animals. Warming has been most dramatic in the Arctic, where temperatures have risen almost twice as much as the global average. GLOBAL WARMING IN THE FUTURE Scientists project global warming to continue at a rate that

is unprecedented in hundreds of thousands or even millions of years of Earth’s history. They predict considerably more warming in the 21st century, depending on the level of future greenhouse gas emissions. For a scenario (possible situation) assuming higher emissions—in which emissions continue to increase significantly during the century—scientists project further warming of 2.4 to 6.4 Celsius degrees (4.3 to 11.5 Fahrenheit degrees) by the year 2100. For a scenario assuming lower emissions—in which emissions grow slowly, peak around the year 2050, and then fall—scientists project further warming of 1.1 to 2.9 Celsius degrees (1.9 to 5.2 Fahrenheit degrees) by the year 2100. elting polar ice and glaciers, as well as warming of the oceans, expands ocean volume and raises sea level, which will eventually flood some coastal regions and even entire islands. Patterns of rainfall are expected to change, with higher latitudes (closer to the poles) projected to receive more rainfall, and subtropical areas (such as the Mediterranean and southern Africa) projected to receive considerably less. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns may damage food crops, disrupting food production in some parts of the world. Plant and animal species will shift their ranges toward the poles or to higher elevations seeking cooler temperatures, and species that cannot do so may become extinct. Increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also leads to increased ocean acidity, damaging ocean ecosystems.

Industrial Air Pollution Contaminants pouring from industrial smokestacks contribute to the world’s atmospheric pollution. Some of these contaminants, such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, are greenhouse gases. Once in the atmosphere, these gases act to retain the long-wave radiation (heat) emitted by Earth in a process known as the greenhouse effect. James L. Stanfield/National Geographic Society © Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Alaskan Tundra Global warming has been most dramatic in the Arctic, where temperatures have risen almost twice as much as the global average. The vast tundra (Arctic plains) of Alaska, Siberia, and other subpolar regions contains a layer of frozen subsoil called permafrost. The area of frozen ground has decreased due to rising temperatures, and scientists are concerned that as the permafrost melts it will release large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. This would accelerate global warming. Pat O’Hara Photography

Green Belt Movement in Kenya The Green Belt Movement in Kenya has planted some 30 million trees in a grassroots reforestation effort. Kenyan activist Wangari Maathai spearheaded the tree-planting effort in 1977, and it has since spread to other parts of Africa as part of the Pan African Green Belt Network. Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her environmental activism. Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty Images

Biographies

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 45

Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe (Nov. 16, 1904 – May 11, 1996) U

sually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as “Zik”, he was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism. He was head of state of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966. He served as the second and last GovernorGeneral from 1960 to 1963 and the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966, holding the presidency throughout the Nigerian First Republic. Early life Azikiwe was born on November 16, 1904, in Zungeru, Northern Nigeria. His parents were Igbo; his father Obed-Edom Chukwuemeka Azikiwe (1879–1958), a clerk in the British Administration of Nigeria and his mother was Rachel Ogbenyeanu Azikiwe. Nnamdi means “My father is alive” in the Igbo language. After studying at Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, and Methodist Boys’ High School Lagos, Azikiwe went to the United States. While there he attended Howard University, Washington DC, before enrolling and graduating from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, in 1930. He obtained a masters degree in Political Science from University of Pennsylvania in 1933 and another masters degree in Anthropology from Columbia University in 1934. He worked as an instructor at Lincoln before returning to Nigeria. Newspaper career After teaching at Lincoln, Azikiwe, in November 1934, took the position of editor for the African Morning Post, a daily newspaper in Accra, Ghana. In that position he promoted a pro-African nationalist agenda. Smertin has described his writing there: “In his passionately denunciatory articles and public statements he censured the existing colonial order: the restrictions on the Africans’ right to express their opinions, and racial discrimination. He also criticised those Africans who belonged to the “elite” of colonial society and favoured retaining the existing order, as they regarded it as the basis of their well being.” As a result of publishing an article on May 15, 1936, entitled “Has the African a God?” written by I. T. A. Wallace-Johnson he was brought to trial on charges of sedition. Although he was found guilty of the charges and sentenced to six months in prison, he was acquitted on appeal. He returned to Lagos, Nigeria, in 1937 and founded the West African Pilot, which he used as a vehicle to foster Nigerian nationalism. He founded the Zik Group of Newspapers, publishing multiple newspapers in cities across the country. Azikiwe became active in the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM), the first genuinely nationalist organization in Nigeria. However, in 1941 he backed Samuel Akinsanya to be NYM candidate for a vacant seat in the Legislative Council, but the executive selected Ernest Ikoli instead. Azikiwe resigned from the NYM amid accusations of discrimination against Ijebu members, taking all Ibo and most Ijebu members with him. Political career After a successful journalism enterprise, Azikiwe entered into politics, co-founding the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) alongside Herbert Macaulay in 1944. He became the secretarygeneral of the National Council in 1946, and was elected to Legislative Council of Nigeria the following year. In 1951, he became the leader of the Opposition to the government of Obafemi Awolowo in the Western Region’s House of Assembly. In 1952, he moved to the Eastern Region, and

was elected to the position of Chief Minister and in 1954 became Premier of Nigeria’s Eastern Region. On November 16, 1960, he became the Governor General, with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister. On the same day became the first Nigerian named to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. With the proclamation of a republic in 1963, he became the first President of Nigeria. In both posts, Azikiwe’s role was largely ceremonial. Azikiwe and his civilian colleagues were removed from power in the military coup of January 15, 1966. During the Biafran (1967–1970) war of secession, Azikiwe became a spokesman for the nascent republic and an adviser to its leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. After the war, he served as Chancellor of Lagos University from 1972 to 1976. He joined the Nigerian People’s Party in 1978, making unsuccessful bids for the presidency in 1979 and again in 1983. He left politics involuntarily after the military coup on December 31, 1983. He died on May 11, 1996, at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, in Enugu, Enugu State, after a protracted illness. His time in politics spanned most of his adult life and he was referred to by admirers as “The Great Zik of Africa”. His motto in politics was: “You talk I listen, you listen I talk.” he writings of Azikiwe spawned a philosophy of African liberation Zikism, which identifies five concepts for Africa’s movement towards freedom: spiritual balance, social regeneration, economic determination, mental emancipation, and political resurgence. Places named after Azikiwe include the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, Nnamdi Azikiwe Press Centre, Dodan Barracks, Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos. His portrait adorns Nigeria’s five hundred naira currency note. History reveals Zik as the only individual whose name appeared in a democratic constitution. The Nigeria’s 1963 Republican Constitution which was an amendment of the 1960 Independence Constitution has the following words: “Nnamdi Azikiwe shall be deemed to have been elected President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” as submitted by then Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who posited that, “Nigeria

can never adequately reward Dr. Azikiwe” for his nationalism. Politics uring his lifetime, he held several political posts, especially in Nigeria. They include Executive Committee Member of Mambili Party, Accra (1935–37); General Secretary of National Council of Nigerian and the Cameroons (1944–45); President of the NCNC (1946–60); Vice-President of the Nigerian National Democratic Party (1947–60); Member for Lagos in the Legislative Council of Nigeria (1947– 51); Member for Lagos and Leader of the Opposition in the Western House of Assembly (1952–53) Member for Onitsha in the Eastern House of Assembly (1954–60); Minister of Internal Affairs (Jan.–September 1954); Minister of Internal Affairs, Eastern Region (1954); Member of His Excellency Privy Council, Eastern Nigeria (1954–59); Primer of Eastern Nigeria (1954–59); President of the Senate of the Federation (January–November 1960); Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria (1960–63); President of the Republic of Nigeria (1963–1966); and Chairman and Presidential candidate of the Nigeria People’s Party (1978–83). Professional world He made a name for himself in the professional world. The many posts he held included: Third-class Clerk, Treasury Department, Lagos (1921– 24); Recruit, Gold Coast Police Force (July–September 1924); Solicitor Clerk to the late Mr. Justice Graham Paul at Calabar (January – August 1925); Instructor in Political Science, Lincoln University (1931–34); University Correspondent for the Baltimore Afro-American (1928–34); General and Sports Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune (1928–34); Editor-in Chief of the West African Pilot (1937–45); Correspondent for the Associated Negro Press (1944–47); Correspondent for Reuters (1944– 46); Managing Director of Zik’s Press Limited printers and publishers of the West African Pilot (Lagos), Eastern Guardian (Port Harcourt), Nigerian Spokesman (Onitsha), Southern Nigeria Defender (Ibadan), Daily Comet (Kano), and Eastern Sentinel (Enugu); Managing Director of Comet Press Limited (1945–53); Chairman of West African Pilot Limited and the Associated Newspapers of Nigeria Limited and six other limited liability companies (1952–53); Chairman, Nigerian Real Estate Corporation Limited (1952–53).

Quick Facts In office October 1, 1963 – January 16, 1966 Preceded by Himself as Governor-General Succeeded by Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi 3rd Governor-General of Nigeria In office November 16, 1960 – October 1, 1963 Preceded by James Robertson Succeeded by Himself as President 1st President of the Senate of Nigeria In office January 1, 1960 – October 1, 1960 Preceded by None (position created) Succeeded by Dennis Osadebey Personal details Born November 16, 1904 Zungeru, Nigeria Died May 11, 1996 (aged 91) Enugu, Nigeria Political party National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons; Nigerian People’s Party Spouse(s) Flora Azikiwe (? - August 1983) Religion Christianity

Here is a picture of Zik’s wedding to his sweetheart and one-time First Lady of Nigeria, then Miss Flora Ogoegbunam in 1936. The wedding was held in James Town, Accra, Ghana

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 46

Inte rn r n a tiona t i onall The rise of Europe’s respectable racists

NSA Headquarters

hen the leader of the English Defence League (EDL) announced he was quitting the far-right organisation a few weeks ago, even his closest supporters were completely taken by surprise. Over the last four years Tommy Robinson had become the face of Britain’s white-nationalist movement, organising rallies across the country against - he claims - the growing influence of Muslim extremism. EDL rallies fuelled violence, terrified local communities and needed extensive police to maintain order. The EDL wasn’t a political party but a street movement that thrived on demonstrations and confrontations. And it wasn’t just the UK that he kept to: Robinson frequently invited farright figures from across Europe and the United States to his rallies, and in turn spoke at their events. As abruptly as the EDL exploded into public consciousness in 2009, it is now likely to collapse after Robinson’s departure. The far-right needs charismatic, savvy and strong leaders to get public support and Robinson was rare among his tribe in playing the necessary role. He took several key figures with him and there is no obvious successor. But the self-destruction of the EDL may not be worth celebrating if it gives rise to a far more dangerous opponent. On the day of his big move Robinson

said he wanted to continue his fight against Sharia law and “Islamism”, while admitting that the activities of some EDL members had been racist. He added that he felt the street-based rallies were counter-productive to his goals. Notably, the former leader of the EDL was not the first to reach this conclusion. All across Europe, far-right parties have come to the realisation that their old tactics were not working and they need new ways to win over public opinion. In the 1990s, the leader of Britain’s main racist political party - the British National Party (BNP) - declared an end to demonstrations because he said they did not help. They put on smart suits, stopped using crude, racist language and set out to gain respectability. The plan worked - the BNP gradually built support and by 2009 it attracted nearly a million votes, even managing to get two key members elected to the European Parliament. The same leader, Nick Griffin, even had the audacity to claim in an interview that year that his party was no longer racist. One by one, far-right groups across Europe have followed suit and ditched their traditional tactics. Instead, they have latched on two enemies: immigrants and Muslims, using socially liberal language (defending women’s rights and gay rights) to attack both groups. In some cases they have

also become economically populist by attacking mainstream parties for selling out people to bankers. In 2011, The New York Times profiled Marine Le Pen, the new leader of France’s far-right National Front, as a “Kinder, Gentler Extremist”. The daughter of the virulently racist JeanMarie Le Pen now “pretends to defend gays, Jews, women,” the NYT reported, and has re-orientated the National Front to be more economically leftwing. This has not only caught her opponents off-guard but also brought her new support from people who previoulsy would not go near the National Front. similar story has unfolded in the Netherlands, as the far-right “movement” headed by Geert Wilders has championed gay rights, Judaism and feminism to make their

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politics more acceptable to Dutch voters. At the height of his popularity Wilders even issued a “10 point plan to save the West” that included calls on ethnic minorities in Western countries to sign a “legally binding contract of assimilation”, and to stop the building of all Mosques. He also said the right to religious freedom should not apply to Islam. In the US, hate-bloggers such as Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller have achieved notoriety and success by focusing entirely on demonising Muslims. They were instrumental in generating paranoia about the socalled “Ground Zero Mosque” and turned it into a national controversy. Significantly, they have done this entirely using social media and blogging rather than traditional rallies, and maintain they aren’t racist or

All across Europe, far-right parties have come to the realisation that their old tactics were not working and they need new ways to win over public opinion.

xenophobic. ust a few months ago the far-right Austrian Freedom Party attracted a fifth of all votes as mainstream parties slumped further in the polls. Once again, they did this by focusing on immigrants, and exploiting antiEU sentiments. But the language was soft and subtle, as the party went on a “Neighbourly Love Tour”. In Switzerland, Scandinavia and southern Europe too the story is the same. The far-right has become better at being populist and exploiting fears around immigration and al-Qaedainspired terrorism to win political support. In recent comments on Twitter, the EDL’s Robinson said, “Sharia legalises paedophilia” and that Islam was “fuelling” a “global war/Holocaust on Christians”. In a speech earlier this year he said: “There is a two-tier system, where Muslims are treated more favourably than non-Muslims.” So far he has not apologised for any of these comments. If Robinson follows in the footsteps of his allies across Europe, then he could become a far more formidable enemy than the EDL ever was. A resurgence of the same old farright, albeit dressed in new clothing, could have devastating consequences for Europe once again.

Source: Al Jazeera

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Weekend Recap The recap of major stories this week dwells on the continuing drama, by Political parties in the country and indeed the unfolding events in the popular story of the Aviation Minister Stella Oduah’s controversial BMW cars By Evelyn Okakwu

n Monday the 28th of October, the Daily Sun Newspaper ran stories from the crises rocking the people’s Democratic Party, as its lead with a Story, with the headline: “Ex-Gov Aliero Joins rebel Govs”. And the rider: “G7 meet in Abuja over court judgement” The Vanguard Newspaper for that day ran the story from the PDP Crises with the headline: “G7 govs, others chased out of PDP meeting”. The lead headline had four riders to go with: “AS Police invade Sokoto Govs Lodge venue of meeting”; “Lmido, Ameachi, Nyako, Aliero, Baraje, Oyinlola, Adamu Shettima others Present”; “We’ve become endangered Species-G7 Govs, Baraje” and: “say Security Agents are after their businesses”. The Aviation Minister’s Story was also taken on the front page of the Paper, with the headline: ARMOURED CAR: Jonathan Bars Oduah from BASA signing ceremony” This Day Newspaper for the same day made its lead Story from Oduah’s Scandal under the headline: “NCAA: We’ve no documents on Armoured Cars’ Purchase.” The banner headline was accompanied with two riders: “APC Cautions President against shielding Oduah” Bullet Proof Vehicles not on NSA’s security list” A story from Nigeria’s Economic setting was also published on the front page of the paper with the headline: “Abrupt changes in CRR induce Market Volatility, IMF warns CBN” it was followed with the rider: NBS: Nigerian economy added 45,108 jobs in Q1” The Punch newspaper also made its lead Story from Oduah’s Car scandal: “APC to Jonathan: You are shielding Oduah” The headline was introduced with a kicker: “N255M Car Scandal”. The paper strengthened the Story with separate quotes from the APC and PDP on the issue The leadership newspaper for that day made its lead Story from the Oduah Scandal while the recent events from the PDP crises also made the front page of the Paper. Daily Trust Newspaper for the same day ran its lead story from the PDP crises with the headline: “G7 Govs may move to APC”; a statement accredited to the Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. On Tuesday the 29th of October, the story continued with the Daily Trust running its lead from the PDP Crises under the headline: “Gov Aliyu Pulls out of New PDP” The headline had two riders to go with it: “PDP no force can derail us” and: “Set to receive 5 new govs”. The Paper enhanced the Story with Graphic Pictures of the Niger State Governor Muazu Babngida Aliyu and the PDP Board of Trusties Chairman Tony Anenih. The Daily Sun Newspaper was also not left out on the PDP crises which the paper ran under the headline: “Plot to Dump PDP splits Lamido group” and the rider as APC Govs condemn action against G7” The recent development about the outbreak of Cholera in some States across the Federation was published on the front page of the paper under the headline: “FG pegs Cholera Death at 75” Also the Oduahs Story made headlines on the front page of the Paper, which reads. “Odua writes reps; wants shift in appearance Date” The headline had a rider: “you must appear tomorrow-house”. The Punch Newspaper for that day carried a headline quite Similar in structure to its previous headline, on Monday on the Oduah’s Story, which reads: “Finally Jonathan Moves against Stella Oduah” The headline had a preceding kicker: “N255m Car Scandal”. And the rider: Stops her from signing BASA with Israel”; and another: “Minister NCAA officials risk 5 year Jail term-Reps” The Nation Newspaper for that day made its lead story from the terrorist activities in the country under the headline: “BOKO Haram: 35 bodies in army uniform at morgue”. The Paper also promoted the story about the PDP crises on the front page. Also the story about the death of former chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Akhibe was published on

the front page of the paper. Recent developments from the National Dialogue also made headlines on the front page of the paper with the caption: “Dialogue Panel Chiefs incites Thugs against Oshiomole”. The story was enhanced with the picture of the Edo State Governor. This Day Newspaper for that day made its lead from an obvious struggle for the seat of the CBN Governor, with the headline Six Under consideration to replace Sanusi as CBN Governor. The story was enhanced with the picture of the six aspirants for the post. A story from the National Dialogue was also run under the headline: “Edo Visit by Dialogue committee Disrupted, Nyam asked to resign”. With a rider: “I have no faith in the process says Oshiomole”. The Punch newspaper for Wednesday the 30th of October ran Oduah’s story with the headline: “Oduah in another car Scandal, faces Reps today”. The Story had 2 riders: FAAN says she approved four limousines jeeps” and; “President places Minister on ‘tactical Suspension’. The paper also promoted a story from the crises within the PDP on its front page. The ASUU story also made the front page of the Punch for that same day with the headline: “ASUU, Education Minister in secret meeting”. The vanguard Newspaper for that day made its lead story from the National Dialogue with the headline: “My grouse with Oshiomole by Nyiam. The headline was introduced with a kicker: “Confab Fallout”. It also had three riders to go with. Peoples Daily Newspaper also maintained the PDP crises Story as it’s for that day under the headline: “Buhari, Tinubu, G7 govs in secret meeting in sokoto The Guardian Newspaper for that day made its Story from the 2014 National Budget with the headline: “Jonathan set to present 2014 budget to National Assembly” a set of bullets that accompanied the story talked about the financial situation of the country. The weather reports of the nation also made headlines on the front page of the paper which reads: “Agency allays fear over partial eclipse on Sunday” This Day Newspaper for the same day day made its lead story from the National Dialogue under the headline: Nyam Absent as Dialogue c’ttee meets Stake holders in south –east”. The story was accompanied with three riders. The Daily Trust Newspaper for that day made its lead story also from the National Dialogue with the headline: “N/Assembly c’ttee removes years of experience’. And the kicker: Recommends fit proper person” On Thursday the 31st of October the Daily Trust Newspaper made its lead story from the Oduah saga with the headline: Customers say N255m Cars for Lagos govt”. it was introduced with the kicker: “Oduahgate’ gets Messier…” The leadership Newspaper for that day however made its lead story from the latest in the Bureau of Public Procurement, under the headline: BPP DG’s Tenure expired January” The paper also published the story about the bullet proof cars on its front page. The Vanguard Newspaper for that day made its lead story from the National dialogue, under the headline: “Nyiam exposed FG’s hidden plan with confab” the story had certain statements accredited to the Edo state governor. The Punch newspaper also made its lead story for that day from the Oduah’ car scandal” The papers maintained the stand on Friday with the Daily Sun newspaper running its lead Story from the PDP crises under the headline: “APC Formally woos Lamido, kwankwaso” The headline was accompanied with two riders: “officials visit Jigawa, Kano”; and “PDP Panics accuses party of poaching” Vanguard Newspaper ran the Oduah story as its lead, while the Daily Trust Newspaper made its lead from the PDP crises and the Punch focused on the Oduah story Peoples Daily Newspaper for that day made its major headline from the Oduah story with the headline: “NCAA did no wrong-Oduah”. The story was enhanced with the Minister’s picture at the National Assembly”

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Business

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Six Things that Will Get You Fired From Your Job

f you managed to get the job of your dreams, then you surely do your best to keep it over the years. However, it often happens that we overlook some of our bad work-related habits, habits that can get us fired when we least expect it. Having said that, here is an overview of some of the most common reasons why people get fired these days: 1. Lying On Your Job Application Lying on your job application is certainly the recipe for disaster – while this may help you get the job, your glory will be short-lived as employers constantly run background checks on their employees. We all add an extra skill to our resume, but if you overdo it and your job performance does not rise up to the expectations of your employer, the chances are that your employer or the human resources manager will review your CV again. If they

find any inconsistencies, you will be severely penalized or even fired. As a matter of fact, you can get fired on the spot if you lie about something very serious. 2. Showing Up Late For Work Traffic can be a hindrance most of the time but if you made a habit out of showing up late for work, this can be a serious problem, especially if you are a newbie and you still haven’t managed to make a good first impression at your new job. Some people are extremely punctual while others simply cannot get to work on time regardless of what they do – if this is your case as well, then the only way to avoid getting fired because you lack punctuality is by setting your alarm clock earlier than you normally would. 3. Spending Too Much Time Online Work can be very boring

sometimes, especially if you have to stick to the classic 9-to5 corporate schedule. If you have an Internet connection, then it may be very tempting for you to spend some time online. However, you would be amazed to find out how many people got fired because they played online or spent time on Facebook or Twitter during the work hours. If you are not careful enough, this can cost your job. Even if your boss may ignore your innocent online escapades provided that you are very good at your job and you always over-deliver in terms of job performance, don’t push your luck! Also, never complain about your job or about your boss on social media, you never know when one of your “friends” at work will inform your boss about it. 4. Being Disrespectful If you do not show respect to your boss or to your colleagues, this can have two natural consequences: your life will be a

living hell when you are at work, or you will eventually get fired. We all have our ego and our pride, but never talk back to your boss regardless of what he says to you – this, of course, if you still want to earn that paycheck next month! Sometimes, it is better to keep your mouth shut, even if you know you were right. It often happens that those who fill an entry-level job are given basic tasks that do not rise to their skills or abilities. Even so, accept the tasks, wear the uniforms your boss makes you wear and remember that climbing the success ladder does require some sacrifice, and sometimes you need to swallow your pride in order to keep your job. 5. Getting Involved In Sexual Affairs With Your Co-Workers Different companies have different policies when it comes to inappropriate relationships between co-workers. While

some companies may not restrict any form or romantic and/or sexual relationship, others have clear policies – not to mention that this can result in plenty of inside gossip and it can cause a very unprofessional/overly informal working environment as well. 6. You Fail To Respect The Chain Of Command This is another common reason why people can get fired within seconds. The chances are that chain of command has been in place for quite a while, and it is there for a reason: for employees to respect it. It often happens that employees who have an IQ above the average tend to come up with better ideas – while most superiors are open to new ideas and suggestions, it is extremely important to pay attention to how you phrase and display your ideas. Failing to respect the chain of command is usually professional suicide!

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 49

Side Talk The Territorial Entrance; a waste indeed By Jacinta David

his week’s Side Talk takes us back to the nation’s centre piece. The rate of wastage perpetrated by the leaders of this country simply dazes my soul. A few weeks back, the member of our dear country’s upper chamber who has the responsibility of paddling the affairs of our capitol was reported to have slated a whooping sum of N64 billion for the rebuilding of the territory’s city entrance. According to media reports, the Director, Public Building of the Territory, said that the entrance, which would serve as a symbol of cultural heritage for the nation’s Capital, is to be located at neck of the airport. Please, don’t be fooled, this entrance and exit, which will also, according to him, have a hotel, is nothing but gate. The gate is to replace the existing one close to the National Stadium Abuja. In a report published by the Peoples Daily Newspaper; the helms man of the Territory said part of the excuse for the relocation of the city entrance, is because it was wrongly sited in the first place.

City Gate

In further details, he said the construction of this new entrance was given that the new entrance is aimed at ensuring that the nation’s capitol retains its original structure: as it was designed by the original designers of the city. But wait awhile. Was the Ea-

gles Sqaure in the original plan? The present National Stadium Abuja was it in the original plan? Did the plan not say that the road from Finance Junction to the UTC be a 10-lane one? Why is it only a paltry 2-lane way now? Come to think of it, why is

Yet another Waste: the ANS

hile the debate over wastage rages, I stumbled on reports on the famous nation’s athletes’ centre popularly called the Stadium of the Nation. I could not help paying attention to information making the round about that arena. In fact, I couldn’t help saying to myself, “the many wonders of the Naija area”. The athlete spot is by all means is one of the breath-taking architectural landmarks that ushers first time visitors especially those coming in from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport into the fast growing capital city of Nigeria. At least the reports by the Weekly Trust said that. The spot, which was constructed 10 years ago, was an imposition on the country by the then retired, but not tired Military leader. 'Baba' as he is fondly called, built the city with a whooping sum of N6 Billion. It was part of what was used in hosting the 8th edition of the All Africa Games. As the report aptly puts it, “Perhaps, a mention of COJA will quickly bring back to the memory of the stupendous wastage that pervaded the air then and even still do now. The new spot had to be constructed for the Games proper. But today, the story of the territorial sports centre has taken a new dimension even before the dust raised by the competitors settle down. The spot, which is a beauty to behold now looks dilapidated owing to reported massive looting of

Bolaji Abdullahi its sophisticated installations like air conditioners, TV sets, communication gadgets and computers at the different cubicles and other centres. They simply, as is wont to in Nigeria, developed wings and vanished into the thin air. Today, the facilities at the athletes' centre still exist but are like orphans. The structure is now bereft of its ornaments of beauty, but is sketchy and bare. Even while these gadgets were there and functioning, they were hardly put to use. Of course rut had to set in and indeed it did. Apart from the main bowl, which hosted the opening and closing ceremony of the 8th All Africa Games, almost all other facilities have not enjoyed the required patronage from the relevant sports. After a training session with

the Super Eagles, their former coach, Samson Siasia had this to say; “Look at where we train… It is like where they breed cows” Indeed as our source rightly puts it “ Those, who said the athletes centre, which could very well pass for the acronym: “ANS” would suffer the same fate with its counterpart in Lagos, have been proved right as the once glittering edifice has become the laughing stock because of poor maintenance. I will not be surprised if our dear “M” man at the Territory comes up with yet another story to reconstruct the place, or worst still pull it down with a flimsy excuse it was wrongly located. Of course would be to create avenue for another round of wastage of yet another huge chunk of the nation’s money. If the people, and indeed the leaders of this country, do not realise that maintenance is necessary and that the people’s money need be properly expended to prevent undue wastage, I wonder what the future holds for Nigeria’s economy. Yet the fact that every Nigerian or at least almost all have this popular syndrome of wanting to grab a pinch of the nation’s cake is rapidly becoming a virus spreading deadlier than AIDs in the social and economic system of the country. Otherwise how can one explain that even before the end of the COJA Games the facilities at the Stadium already had wings?

there no bus park in the whole of Abuja? or is it that the original planners of the city did not make provisions for it just like they did not think any average citizen will domicile in the city? Well, to return to the gate matter, it will be completed next

year. Whaoaah! How quick? Of course, its the eve of an election year and money will be needed. Where else will it come from other than from fictitious projectes like this and buying 2 cars for N255m. According to the report; “This is coming at a time when the government is complaining of insufficient funds for the provision of critical infrastructure especially completion of on-going projects, in the territory, due to shortfall in revenue allocation. Also, this is against the backdrop of a recent survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which revealed that some FCT residents are saying that they had so far been unable to travel out of the territory for the EidEl-Kabir celebration which was marked few weeks ago, because of the country’s harsh economic situation”. What exactly do this people at the ministerial capacity of our nation’s treasured territory think? Do they think that Nigeria is so rich that it can afford to build and rebuild? Or that they are in the position to use flimsy excuses to cart away the people’s money into their various pockets?

Lady O and the disappearing act

alking about disappearance, the latest twist of the minister of Nigeria’s flying house and her controversial armoured cars is even funnier than all the stories so far. A car that was reportedly bought for a minister by her ministry is now all of sudden in thin air or better put the car no longer has traceable identification. I hope this car has not become yet another aeroplane or worse still become a fly. Yes, anything can happen in Naija. A whole building can develop wings and be flown away without the barest trace of its existence, even while the majority are widely staring at it. Seriously, ordinarily one would have expected the lady at centre of all the hullabaloo to simply take a bow. But who says that's the vogue in Nigeria? Instead, she exploded through her tribal youth who threatened fire and brimstone if their sister and daughter is further questioned. What's more they

besieged one of the old flying houses centres to make their minds known to the whole world. Well, whether the sister in question cared to put her house in order was no issue to them. She neither bordered nor would ever do. Instead, she took off to the land of the “hollies” to advertised her holiness. At least common sense would reveal that if she had done that she would have prevented herself from embarking on that famous pilgrimage of shame, knowing full well that the man at the overall head of the nation may as well succumb to public pressure despite the ties between them (whatever ties they might be: don’t quote me though). She would have thought that the man up there could pull the surprise he ended to buoy up the wading support for himself especially as another of lining the sun or rain for him approaches.

PAGE 50

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Sports Rampaging Golden Eaglets dare Uruguay for semifinals ticket

olden Eaglets coach Manu Garba has restated his belief his team will go past Uruguay to reach the semi-final of the U17 World Cup today. The South Americans earlier in the year defeated Super Eagles and Flying Eagles 2-1 at both meetings, but Manu is confident his team will beat Uruguay. “The Golden Eaglets are different from the Super Eagles and even if you bring a Uruguayan team with Diego Forlan, we would try our best to win the match,” Manu said confidently. Indeed, Manu admitted that it was a Herculean task for the Golden Eaglets to arrive at this stage of the competition having played in what could be regarded as the toughest group that housed defending champions Mexico and two strong debutantes, Sweden and Iraq, adding that his boys are now toughened to withstand the rough and tumble stage of the competition. “As I said earlier, the knockout stage is the most difficult stage of any competition but we are ready to beat Uruguay on Saturday because our only aim of being here is to win the trophy,” said Manu. Nigeria have never failed to progress beyond the quarterfinal of this competition since 1995 when Eaglets lost 2-1 to Oman at Ecuador 1995. Aliyu Abubakar was delighted to be part of the Eaglets team and promised victory. “It is a great honour for us to represent our country at this stage of our career,” said the solid-built Aliyu Abubakar. We are going to do our very best to win this match based on the instructions to be given to us by our coaches. “We remain focused with high level of discipline and we are going to do our best to win this match and progress to the next stage of this competition.” In another interview, assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade said matterof-factly:“Like any team that is in the competition, we are here to win and we would try our best to beat Uruguay.”

CAF: Pirate seek history against Al Ahli today

rlando Pirates go into today’s first leg of the African Champions League against Al Ahli with some confidence. The match at the Orlando Stadium will be the third time the teams have met in this year’s competitions, with Pirates winning 3-0 in Gouna and holding Ahli to a 0-0 draw at home in the group stages. A difficult semifinal against Esperance has also given Pirates the knowledge that they can tough it out if needs be, though Coach Roger de Sa is not counting too much on recent history. Pirates are seeking a first continental triumph in 18 years, since they defeated ASEC Abidjan 3-2 on aggregate in the final of this competition. Pirates are likely to have midfielder Sifiso Myeni fit and ready to play, but it seems as though skipper Lucky Lekgwathi will continue to be frozen out by club management and not available to play. Ahli coach Mohammed

Youssef says he is also not too worried about the previous results, insisting that the pressure of a final will make it a different ballgame. Ahli have identified Pirates’ Lennox Bacela as the dangerman in the team, but say they are worried about the all-round attacking abilities of the squad. The winner of this year’s Champions League takes home a prize of 1,5-million US dollars, which at the prevailing exchange rate comes in at around R14,8-million. It would be their biggest individual prize for any South African club, considerably more than Pirates’ biggest single prize money pay out to date when they won the league in 2012 and took home R10-million from sponsors Absa. But Champions League success also opens the door to participation in December’s FIFA Club World Cup, where the spoils are much more lucrative.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AS OBI IKENNA NOW WISH TO BE CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS OBI CHRISTOPHER. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,ECO BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE,

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS OGUNBUNMI ASATA NIKE NOW WISH TO BE CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. ALEMHO ASIATA NIKE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,AUTHORITY CONCERN AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SULEMAN UMAR NOW WISHES TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS RILWANU ABUBAKAR ISAH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID BAUCHI L.G AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME

FIFAU-17 World Cup Argentina Uruguay Results Honduras 1 Brazil 11 * 1-1 full time

v Côte d'Ivoire v Nigeria

v Sweden 2 v Mexico 12

CAF Champions League Orlando Pirates v Al Ahly

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS IBRAHIM ALIYU NOW WISHES TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MUSA ABDULLAHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD, BAUCHI AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AS RAKIYA. S SABO NOW WISHES TO KNOWN AS SUWAIBA ADAMU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,NINGI LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHOURITY AND GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME

Kelechi Iheneacho, Eaglets’ midfielder maestro

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SAMU JAMES NOW WISHES TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS DAUDA JAMES. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID BOGORO L.G BAUCHI AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Sports

Can Arsenal stop Suarez and Sturridge? F

ive games, 10 goals. Some feared that the return of Luis Suarez from his suspension might have inhibited Daniel Sturridge’s scintillating early-season form but a switch by Brendan Rodgers to a 3-5-2 system has turned the pair into the Premier League’s hottest strike partnership. Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, whose side are the only team so far to have stopped the pair from scoring in a 1-0 Capital One Cup win on the Uruguayan’s return, feels that it is too early for the duo to be showered with such praise. He may be right – inheriting Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton’s ‘SAS’ title may be premature with only a handful of games together in this form – but that does not make the task of stopping them any easier for Arsenal today. In the age of the lone striker, Rodgers’s reshuffle to allow both men to prey where they play best has paid dividends. Whereas last season Sturridge was used more on the flank during his bedding-in period, in their games together in 201314 the two have occupied a very similar average position just right of centre. Though both have freedom to indulge themselves and move away from there into wherever they can find space, each tends to skew away from that average position in a slightly different direction and performs slightly different roles. Sturridge’s heat maps see him dropping deeper to pick up the ball, often back in his own half, as he receives possession to his feet in front of the opposition back four. Against West Brom on Saturday, the England star received 46 of 49 passes in front of the penalty box. By comparison, Suarez only received 40 of 48 that far back, with more license to attack the channels, in particular the left, from where he scored two of his three goals. This is reflected in their attacking statistics. According to Whoscored.com, Suarez has been offside 1.8 times per game in the Premier League so far, compared to Sturridge’s 0.8, demonstrating the for-

mer’s likelihood to be the furthest man forward. The Uruguayan’s bloodthirsty attacking zeal is also demonstrated in his dribbling stats – 3.3 per game compared to his partner’s 2.2, and his 5.8 shots per game against Sturridge’s 3.5. Suarez also offers extra strength on the ball which makes him a slightly more ruthless, relentless machine. For all his extra dribbling, he is only dispossessed on average twice per game compared to 3.1 times for the Englishman. Though this divergence nominally makes Sturridge more likely to create for Suarez, there is, however, little difference in terms of one providing for the other. Paired together, Sturridge has laid on four chances for the Uruguayan, with two converted, while the other way around has yielded one goal from three opportunities created. Despite the deadliness of their partnership, it is not their interaction particularly which makes them dangerous. Passes between the two do not reach double figures either way in any given game. Largely, each is fed by other team-mates and their individual brilliance does the rest. What all this means for Arsenal is that there is no obvious supply line between the two that they can aim to cut in order to break the spell of their combination. The ‘SAS’ are not more than the sum of their parts, it is just that their parts are of the highest quality. Even Manchester United, who kept both of them off the scoresheet in their cup win, did not dominate especially or mark them out of the game. Had it not been Suarez’s first game back after suspension, the Uruguayan would probably have finished at least one of the chances that he spurned. With no obvious template to follow, then, the Gunners need to be sure that they get the basics right. They have momentum going for them, allied to inform goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and

Weekend Fixtures EPL Newcastle Utd Fulham Hull City Man City Stoke City West Brom West Ham Arsenal Sunday Everton Cardiff City French Ligue 1 Rennes Sochaux Reims Lyon Ajaccio Evian Sunday Nice Montpellier Lille

Midfielder Xabi Alonso featured for the first time for Madrid this season after recovering from injury and his return will be a major boost for the side as thy look to stabilize their midfield. Rayo on the other hand have continued with their inconsistent start, registering back-to-back wins before losing to 3-0 to Real Valladolid and 3-1 to Osasuna on Wednesday. Paco Jemez’ side is currently hovering just above the relegation zone in 17th place with nine points from 11 matches. While Real have a clean bill of health, the Franjirojos have a number of players on the sidelines with Sebastian Fernandez, Jose Carlos, Ze Castro, Leonel Galeano and Nery Castillo still nursing various injuries.

Chelsea Man Utd Sunderland Norwich Southampton Crystal Palace Aston Villa Liverpool

v v

Tottenham Swansea City

v v v v v v

Marseille St Etienne Bastia Guingamp Valenciennes Toulouse

v v v

Bordeaux Nantes Monaco

German Bundesliga Hamburger SV v Hoffenheim v Eintracht v FC Nrnberg v Frankfurt v Sunday Augsburg v Werder v

Suarez and Sturridge

a strong pair of defenders – particularly Per Mertesacker – who may fare better than most at outmuscling Suarez on his dribbles. The absence of Mathieu Flamini with injury is a severe blow as a dedicated defensive midfielder dropping deep to supplement a back line most used to dealing with lone frontmen would have been a sensible precaution to take – however, in what may simply but effectively be the best counter to the supremacy of Suarez and Sturridge, they also have a genuine ability to outscore Liverpool themselves. Culled from goal.com

Italian Serie A Parma Milan Napoli Sunday Livorno Sampdoria Lazio Udinese Verona Torino

Ronaldo and Gareth Bale

Borussia FC Bayern Leverkusen Sport-Club VfL Wolfsb/g Mainz Hannover 96

v v v

Juventus Fiorentina Catania

v v v v v v

Atalanta Sassuolo Genoa Inter Cagliari Roma

Spanish La Liga Real Sociedad v Almera v Rayo v Sevilla v Sunday Getafe v Atltico Madrid v Levante v Malaga v

Real visit Rayo in Madrid derby eal Madrid will look to register back-to-back La Liga wins when they visit neighbours Rayo Vallecano at the Teresa Rivero Stadium today. The Whites are currently in third place on the table with 25 points, six less than leaders Barcelona, and will not want to drop more points as they continue to pursue their rivals. Carlo Ancelotti’s side bounced back from a 2-1 loss to the Catalans in emphatic fashion as they demolished Sevilla 7-3 on Wednesdaynight. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hattrick, while Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema and Carlo Ancelotti was thrilled with how his forwards performed, although he also admitted that he wasn’t happy with the three goals they conceded.

v v v v v v v v

Osasuna R/Valladolid R/ Madrid Celta Valencia Athletic Granada CF Real Betis

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Sports

Time to cut Club Owners to size G ood things don’t last, that’s the common saying. Of course, good things or acts pleasant to the eyes and appreciated by many are always driven by a few well-meaning persons. But there are always elements opposed to the wishes and indeed the yearnings of the majority. This appears to the case in the current agitation and heckling of members of the League Management Company (LMC) Granted that the body is an interim arrangement set up to midwife the 2013 league largely due to the nuisance that the previous league management had constituted. That body elected or otherwise had to go. The members were forced to out of the hall of fame which their activities turned to the hall of shame. And so, the NFF at the prompting of Bolaji Abdullahi, minister of sports constituted the ad-hoc body.

That the members have done tremendously well is evident by the gradual return of order and discipline in the league. The league has ended and on time. Unlike what obtained in the previous season when it extended by nearly half a dozen months. It was an infamous record. No, not the NFF, but the socalled Club Owners Association who are always railing at the LMC. So they have expectedly sought to compel the NFF to dispense with the LMC on the grounds that its tenure has expired. One is happy that the agitators did not audaciously say the LMC has outlived its usefulness. No, not just that the members must not continue to run the league, but that they must vacate the scene, leave the rein and hands off the mantle. But who should? Of course, none of the members of the so-called Club Owners is qualified to going by antecedents.

Trust the minister, he simply directed the NFF to ignore the ranting of these civil servants few of whom actually has the capacity to run a local government league in a saner society. And the NFF reacted to the fiat, tactfully though. “I am shocked to hear about a meeting of club owners/managers where they reportedly told the LMC to hand over to the Secretariat of the League. That is not within their purview; it is the responsibility of the NFF to determine the fate of the LMC. “The LMC has done very well within the past 10 months to reposition the Premier League, and they deserve commendation. The club managers themselves admitted that the LMC has brought several innovations to the running of the League. Why would we want to throw all that away in a hurry?

owoidoho_ng35@yahoo.com 08093782812 “As far as the NFF, the supreme football-governing body in Nigeria, is concerned, the LMC remains firmly in place and will have the opportunity to continue its good works for a period to be determined shortly.” What next? I sincerely think it’s high time the grains are separated from the chaff when it comes to whose voice should dominate matters of administering the game. There should be standard gauge for dispensing authority. Appointees should stay within their boundaries as servants not show themselves as masters and therefore powerful elements. The country has allowed so

much of this that servants are unjustifiably calling down evil on their masters as if they are the bosses. No, rather than play dangerous politics like imposing irritant ban of persons the leadership of the football federation see as serious threat on their 2014 aspiration, they should focus on these elements who are held bent on derailing a progressive course. The NFF needs to take a second look at the activities of the members of the so-called Club Owners, who own no club but profit on the sobriquet to the detriment of the game itself. That would be the way to go. Stop the detractors from distracting a stead and desirable course.

BF minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama of Japan will defend his title against Virgilio Silvano in December. Takayama will make the first defence of his belt when he takes on the Filipino in Osaka on December 3, his handlers said on Wednesday. The 30-year-old Japanese fighter won the title when he beat Mario Rodriguez on points in the Mexican city of Guasave in March. The fight against Silvano will be on the same card as the superflyweight unification match between Japan’s IBF champion Daiki Kameda and WBA title-holder Liborio Solis of Venezuela. It will be Takayama’s first fight at

home in four years and five months. He gave up his Japanese professional boxing licence in late 2009 to concentrate on fighting abroad. But he renewed the licence in July after winning the IBF crown. “I have come home after building up my career abroad to toughen myself up,” said Takayama, who has 25 wins, 10 of them by knockout, and six losses to his name. “I fought amid a hail of booing each time. I am excited to fight at home in Osaka. It will be the first time in a long while that I may fight without hearing boos.” Silvano, 23, is sixth on the IBF’s rankings list. He has a record of 17 wins, 10 of them inside the distance, two losses and a draw.

Takayama in hometown defence Federer sets up I Djokovic clash in Paris

‘IAAF must bolster middle distances’

Roger Federer

ormer world No 1 Roger Federer showed some of his old class when beating Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro 6-3 4-6 6-3 at the Paris Masters on Friday to set up a semifinal clash with Novak Djokovic. The Swiss, who had lost his prior three encounters with the towering Del Potro including the Basle Open final on Sunday, will play a Masters Series semifinal for only the second time this year. He will face Djokovic, who hammered Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-1 6-4, for the first time since

last year’s ATP World Tour finals. Federer has a 16-13 record against the Serb, who won their last meeting in London a year ago. However, he lost a bit a sharpness in the second set and the Argentine made the most of it. Del Potro, who did not have a single break chance until the second set’s 10th game, converted his second to force Federer into a decisive set. Cheered on by the packed crowd, 2011 Paris Masters winner Federer played more aggressively and broke Del Potro’s serve in the

seventh game. Djokovic, the 2009 Paris Masters champion, had to battle through five sets to prevail in his last two matches against Wawrinka but started fast this time out to take a 3-0 lead. He never loosened his grip and left the seventh seeded Swiss with the feeling he had no chance of victory. World No 1 Rafa Nadal faces local favourite Richard Gasquet in the late session’s first match before title holder David Ferrer takes on sixth-seed Czech Tomas Berdych.

orld 1 500 metres record holder Hicham El Guerrouj has called on athletics’ world governing body to bolster public interest in middle-distance running which has been overshadowed by the feats of Jamaican sprint king Usain Bolt. Bolt, winner of six Olympic gold medals, will earn an estimated $10 million a year in a sponsorship deal with German sportswear company Puma that will take the 27-year-old to the end of his career. El Guerrouj told Reuters on Tuesday that endorsements and support for runners at longer distances were much less. He said youngsters were also being lured away from athletics to other sports which was a problem the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had to solve. “Usain Bolt is doing a great job for track and field, but he’s casting a shadow over other races, which is very hard for those athletes, so it’s the role of the IAAF to promote these to be more in the limelight,” El Guerrouj said.

“We have some good athletes in some different middle distance races, but in general the youth is more interested in doing different sports like soccer, tennis.” The Moroccan, who also holds the world mile record, said some local and foreign companies had sponsored him during his career, but these contracts were small change compared to the endorsements earned by soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Doping allegations have sullied athletics of late, with several athletes failing drugs tests. They include Bolt’s Jamaican teammates former world 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell and twice 200 metres Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown. “A zero tolerance rule must be in the sport, we are promoting Olympic sports and they must be clean,” double Olympic champion Guerrouj said. “It’s hard to talk about track and field today, there some issues we need to fix.”

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

Wellness

Healthy Living

Diabetes and portion size of food W

elcome dear readers to an exciting session and a special edition of Wellness Column this weekend with me. This edition is special in that it is coming all the way from the venue of the second East Africa Diabetes Study Group conference taking place in Nairobi, Kenya. Experts working in area of Diabetes have come together to brainstorm on the emerging epidemic and a time bomb called Diabetes. Keep a date with me on this column as I share the excepts of the deliberations in subsequent editions. Thank you for your comments and questions on the topic we discussed last edition on Monitoring blood glucose levels which is an aspect of Diabetes self management skills. This week, I shall expand further to take on another key in Diabetes self management skills: Portion size of food. It is important to note that the greatest discipline anyone with Diabetes can exercise is indeed the discipline over food. The blood glucose values obtained at anytime during the day is a function of what we eat and most importantly the quantity or portion size of what we choose to eat. Quantifying the food to eat by a person living with Diabetes is highly individualized and is mostly based on the type of work and the goal of management. The amount of food that you eat also impacts blood glucose levels. Eating more food, or bigger portions, will cause your blood glucose levels to rise more than eating smaller portions, since carbohydrates affect blood glucose levels the most, the amount of

With Isaac Yakubu Akogu

www.diabetesguidenigeria.blogspot.com, 08176179496, diabetesconcepts@gmail.com

• The Starch and Starchy Vegetables Group • The Fruit Group • The Milk and Yogurt Group One serving from each of these groups contains about 15 grams of carbohydrates. Therefore, eat-

Controlling your child’s diabetes is challenging than controlling an adult’s sugar level. Though challenging with kids, nutritionists say by implementing some basic concepts, you and your child can plan meals and avoid unsafe situations

the Nutrition Facts label on the back of a product. This is a picture of the Nutrition Facts label found on almost all foods sold in this country. Look at the portion on the label that tells how much “Total Carbohydrate” is in the food in order to decide how much it might raise your blood glucose. As you can see, this product has 13 grams of total carbohydrates per serving. For comparison, one slice of bread has about 15 grams of carbohydrate. Since our bodies change almost all of the carbohydrates we eat into blood glucose, be sure to look at “Total Carbohydrate” and not just at “Sugars” to see how much a food will raise your blood glucose. “Total Carbohydrate” will be greater than the sum of the listed “sugars” and “fiber” because starches are also counted in total carbohydrates. For some very high fiber foods that have 5 or more grams of fiber per serving, net carbohydrates may be used instead of total carbohydrates. Net carbohydrate is just total carbohydrate in a serving of food minus the grams of fiber. Net carbohydrates are used when considering very high fiber foods, because the body cannot digest carbohydrates from fiber and therefore they do not raise blood glucose levels.

“

carbohydrate that you eat each day is very important in controlling your blood glucose levels. Talk to your health care provider or dietitian about how many grams of carbohydrates you should eat each day.

To find out how many grams of carbohydrates you are eating each day, it is important to be familiar with the food groups, serving sizes, and Nutrition Facts labels. Three food groups contain carbohydrate:

ing one serving from any of these three groups will impact your blood glucose level in about the same way. Another way to find out how many grams of carbohydrates are in a particular amount of food is to read

The amount of food that you eat also impacts blood glucose levels. Eating more food, or bigger portions

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 2 - SUNDAY 3, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 55

FROM THE PULPIT Never Quit Because of the Giants (I) “So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ‘If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?’ So they said to one another, ‘Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.’ Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: ‘The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.’ And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Now the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.” (Num 14:1-10NKJV) The passage you have just read is a vivid account of the reaction of the children of Israel to the negative report brought back from the land of Canaan by 10 out of the 12 spies sent. The majority report caused no small stir in the camp of the Israelites. They contemplated choosing another lead-

er to lead them back to Egypt. The people were discouraged and indeed scared by the report that there were giants in the land, that they were not competent to confront and that the land devoured the inhabitants. (Num 13:26-33) Because of this report and despite the contrary positive report brought by Caleb and Joshua, the people were not willing to go to possess the land that God had promised them. They were petrified by the giants they had not even seen but only heard of. They quit because they were afraid of the giants. They couldn’t believe the Word of God enough to step out in faith like Caleb and Joshua did. God considered their attitude as rebellion against Him and pronounced that generation would all die in the wilderness; they would not enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief. Only their children and wives were spared in addition to Caleb and Joshua who brought back a positive result. (Num 14:26-35) What kept this generation of Israelites from the Promised Land was the fear of the giants. And you must realize that if God promised you any land flowing with milk and honey, the giants are already there. Giants are not stupid! If the land is not flowing with milk and honey, God won’t promise you the land. Every land – dream, vision, destiny – God has given His children is flowing with milk and honey. It’s a fruitful, pleasant land. And if a land is not flowing with milk and honey, giants are not interested in it; they won’t go there. Giants inhabit a land flowing with milk and honey. Giants are interested in the same land that you desire to possess. And if you are going to possess this

land that God has promised you, you must be ready to fight with the giants already there and dislodge them. If you don’t want to do battles with the giants, then forget about possessing your possession. In Lev 20:24, the Lord said to the children of Israel, “But I have said to you, ‘You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey.’” (NKJV) That was an expression of the mind of God; it was a promise waiting for fulfilment. You would think that they would get it on a platter of gold. No, they were to fight for it notwithstanding who was occupying it. God knew some people were there or would be there when He made the promised to Abraham to give the land to him. In Gen 22:17, God told Abraham his descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies; He knew the enemies would be there. But when God was ready to actualize the promise He had made to Abraham, He didn’t hand over the land to them. He told them to fight for it. “Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.” (Deut 1:21NKJV) But this was not a virgin land. To possess it, they would have to dislodge the inhabitants. And they would not just surrender unless they were overpowered. And there was no way to overpower them except they first engaged them in a battle. Unfortunately these Israelites were intimidated by the size of the giants. They rebelled against God and thus disqualified themselves from entering the Promised Land. The children of Israel failed to realize that the giants that were

GREEN PASTURES BY PASTOR T. O. BANSO cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 bigger than them were not bigger than God. The giants might be bigger than them but not bigger than the promise of God to them. They saw themselves as grasshoppers compared to giants. But they have forgotten that though the giants might be bigger than them, everybody, including the giants, is like grasshoppers before God as the Bible says in Isa 40:22: “It is God who sits above the circle of the earth. The people below must seem to him like grasshoppers! He is the one who spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.” (NLT) God is bigger than the giants; the giants too are like grasshoppers before God. God is in you, and greater is He that is in you than the giants that are against you. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NKJV) That should encourage your heart to confront your giants and possess your inheritance. “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16 NKJV) I’m going to stop here today and continue this message next week. Meditate on what you’ve read and obey the voice of God. Don’t quit because of the giants. TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Je-

sus. 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. I’ll be glad to hear from you.

The impossibility of getting antithetic answers in prayer Matthew 7:9,10; Luke 11:11,12; Proverbs 25:21,22; Job 4:17; Psalms 85:12,13; 145:9,19; John 16:23,24; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 103:1-5; James 1:16,17.

eligious people have developed many theories on prayer. These theories are to excuse their unbelief so they can give some comfort to those who fail to receive expected answers to prayer. Some of these “comforters” (Job 16:1-3) in an attempt to unravel the mysteries of life say that we may pray for something and God may give us the exact opposite - evil instead of good, sickness instead of health, poverty instead of wealth, defeat instead of victory, sorrow instead of joy, setback instead of progress, weakness instead of strength, oppression instead of deliverance, etc.

Some Christians believe such theories so much that they resign to fate and say, ‘Thy will be done’! They think they are resigning or submitting to the will of God when in reality they might be yielding, giving themselves up to the will of Satan. What would have happened if Jabez, Hannah, David (during the treachery and treason of Absalom), Esther, Hezekiah, Jochebed (the mother of Moses) or Jonah had believed such theory of prayer? Not only they themselves alone but their nation and the world would have suffered a great loss. Our Lord asks a series of questions with obvious answers. (1) “What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? ” (Matthew 7:9). Will you? No. Are you better than God? (2) “Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? ” (Matthew 7:10).

BY PASTOR W.F KUMUYI Will you? No. Are you more considerate than God? (3) “Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ” (Luke 11:12). Will you? No. Are you more loving and compassionate than God? When you ask for something good from God, especially when it is something He has promised in His Word, He will give what is good and beneficial, not what is evil and injurious.

3. INSIGHT INTO GOD’S AFFECTION FOR HIS PEOPLE Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13; Psalm 103:11-13; Isaiah 49:15,16; 1:2-4,15-18; 30:8-10,15,18; Romans 8:14-17; 1 John 2:12-17; 3:8-10,19-22; Luke 15:11-32. “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how MUCH MORE shall your Father which is in heaven give GOOD THINGS to them that ask Him? ” (Matthew

7:11). “HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenly Father give THE HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask him? ” (Luke 11:13). “How much more?” By how much is God more loving, more compassionate, more benevolent, more faithful, more righteous, more gracious, more merciful than man? Infinitely more! God loves His children infinitely more than any human parent could possibly love his own offspring. No earthly parent would want his children to lack good things (morally, materially, and spiritually) if he could prevent it. Earthly parents do their best to provide everything necessary to keep their children healthy, prosperous and happy. Will God do any less? Certainly not! God, in His infinite love, will do infinitely more for us than earthly parents could ever do.

BIG PUNCH “I do not expect anything less from this government. It is a carry-over of the win at all costs syndrome of the PDP. We are used to it. Unfortunately for them, what they are supposed to learn from democracy is lost on them because they are not democratic in nature.” —APC chieftain, Bisi Adegbuyi speaking on APC’s supposed merger to bring about change in polity

SATURDAY 2 — SUNDAY 3 NOVEMBER, 2013

North-South divide and Nwabueze’s intellectual sophistry A

fter reading Professor Ben Nwabueze’s treatise on the north – south divide, I began to wonder whether the old man should still have the intellectual morality to use the appellation ‘Professor’ as a prefix to his name. The partisanship and opportunism displayed in the presentation is not befitting a professorial mind – or so I believed. Turn out I was wrong. Every sentence, every paragraph of the discourse was dripping with ignorance and hate for the political and geographical entity known and called ‘northern Nigeria’. The nature of the presentation was windy and incoherent, full of contradictions rendering his effort incomprehensible. The only thing that was clear to me in all the verbose paper was Nwabueze’s hatred for northern Nigeria camouflaged in his interrogation of the Amalgamation of 1914. My take on the whole thing is that Nwabueze, as one of the people selected by Goodluck Jonathan to midwife his “National Dialogue”, simply presented a template for the advisory committee to work on. Though by selecting him, Tony Nyiam and Tony Uranta a MEND ideologue, Jonathan provided the template. These are known advocates of the break-up of Nigeria. Nwabueze’s hated north, before the balkanisation of the region in 1967, which was preceded by the formation of a Unitary government by his kinsman, JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi, who himself came to power in the aftermath of the decimation of northern political and military leadership also by his kinsmen – Nzegwu, Ifeajuna, Okafor and co. – has been a self sustaining political entity. The administrative set-up the British met in the region was at par with what obtains in their country and therefore they found no need to change the administrative set-up. Unlike the east where the British met unorganised communities at war with each other and no central administrative set-up to administer to the needs of the people. In other words, while preADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

1914 north was an organised political entity, Nwabueze’s south – particularly the south east – was grappling with communal clashes and teething problems of trying to live in peace with each other. It was the British for their expediency, who created ‘warrant chiefs’ to assist them in governing an already pacified people. The British had to wage wars all across the north in order to conquer the area and bring it under colonial rule. What comes out from Nwabueze’s sorry treatise is no different from what has been attempted in the past through innuendos, boos and even murder in order to destroy the cohesiveness among the disparate peoples of the region. Connotations like Hausa-Fulani, middle belt and core north were the old phrases used in the past. Now Nwabueze has introduced a new one – True North. Wherever there is ‘true’, It is automatically assumed there must be false. e would like the old man to show us the false north. To locate the historical hatred of the region by Nwabueze, one needs to go back to the January 15th, 1966 coup organised and executed by an all Igbo officer corps, when all senior military officers of northern extraction within the country were massacred; same goes for all senior politicians from the region. Not a single military officer or politician from the east was harmed that night. The triumphalist attitude displayed by the Igbos in northern towns and cities like Kano and Kaduna led to the killing of Igbos in Kano and the demand for the dissolution of the country by northerners. The federal government rejected this call. Ojukwu’s intransigence and other political developments led to a needless thirty-month civil war. Ever since, the north has been at the receiving end of the sharp tongues of the Nwabuezes. The difference between now and then was that what they tried and failed using the barrel of the gun, they believe they can achieve through sophistry dressed in intellectual garb. This can be seen in Achebe’s “There Was a Country” and the sustained

GUEST COLUMNIST

With

With By Babayola M. Toungo

that Nigeria remains one. Have we critically ever thought of what we have gotten out of the union? Apart from insults, what has the north gotten from its accommodating deportment? Must we continue on the same destructive path in order to remain in a Nigeria that we are not wanted? Jonathan has shown his hands by the calibre of people he populated his committee with. Are we still blind to the realities staring us in the face? The antecedents of its members already vitiate the impartiality of the committee’s work – particularly Tony Nyiam with Nwabueze withdrawing due to what he said are health issues confronting him. espite Lugards best intentions in forging a big and strong country by amalgamating the northern and southern protectorates and the efforts of northerners in ensuring the country remained united, including fighting a war, the Nwabuezes made sure the two divides never gelled into a cohesive country with diverse cultures and people. Gilding his acidic submission in pseudo-intellectual verbosity doesn’t detract from the fact that Nwabueze has proven to be not better than a glorified ethnic irredentist. The Nigerian media has always lent itself to the likes of Nwabueze and celebrated their caricaturing of a section of the country. Instead of the old man indulging himself in an unstable hodgepodge of ‘unprofessorial’ wishful thinking, he should be well advised to have the courage of his conviction by saying what is on his mind in one sentence – LET US DE-AMALGAMATE – rather than the twelve page banality he put up. Two of Jonathan’s Committee members have shown their hands. At its meeting with the people in Benin, Tony Nyiam shouted down a governor because the governor wasn’t playing the script and we have seen Nwabueze’s incoherent and inarticulate Nigeria. The rest will as sure as night follows day, will certainly show their hands.

Prof Ben Nwabueze

assault on the history of the country by trying to rewrite. Since Jonathan’s Advisory Committee is made up of many more Nwabuezes – recall Tony Nyiam of the failed 1990 coup against Babangida – I suggest we shouldn’t waste time convening a “conversation” just to realise what the panellists’ pedigree portends. Tony Nyiam and his fellow coupists excised what Nwabueze derogatorily refers to as ‘true north’ in 1990. Confluence of interests? Jonathan nominated the gun wielding coupist and the pen wielding one as those to deliver his model Nigeria. What more do you need to comprehend the direction of the Committee? Why is Nwabueze only now realising that the division between the north and south is real? After spending a lifetime trying to ensure that the divide is ‘real’ by his co-travellers, why is he only

now waking up to the reality of the failure of their venture? If his piece is meant to be a template to the Advisory Committee, I wish them good luck. And if it is meant to be a call to arms for those he claimed not to have any affinity with each other, then we wait and see. hough the likes of Nwabueze have been trying to rewrite history in many ways, this has been the most unscholarly. Nwabueze’s concept of one Nigeria is clearly linked to internal colonialism where the Igbos are given unfettered economic and commercial access to the whole north in the face of the absence of reciprocity in the east. This has been the state of things but I don’t blame the Nwabuezes of this world. The blame lies squarely with our kindred who have been bending backwards in order

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