Friday, January 3, 2020 Edition

Friday, January 3, 2020/ Jumadal Ula 7, 1441 AH

Vol. 33 No. 028 N150

@pmlonline

2091 Days after

More than 26,000 babies born on New Year day in Nigeria -UNICEF >>page 3

peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Fire razes David Mark's house 15 motorcycles, 2 ambulances in Benue burnt to ashes page 5

Why APC chiefs are throwing stones at me -Oshiomhole As party leaders pay Buhari New Year visit

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President Muhammadu Buhari receives a new year card  The National Chairman of All Progressive Congress, (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole accompanied by the National Publicity Secretary All Progressive Congress, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onailu, the National Vice Chairman North Central, Alhaji Suliaman Ahmed Wambai (right), during a visit to the President for the New Year 2020 at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

NRC debunks attack Malabu scandal: Court Police rescue 6 on Abuja-Kaduna extends Adoke’ s detention kidnapped victims train for another 14 days in Katsina pAGE 4

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

News CONTENTS News 2-10,14 Editorial 11 Op.Ed 12-13 Politics 15-17 Business 19-20 Metro

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World News

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Africa News

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World News

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Malabu scandal: Court extends Adoke’s detention for another 14 days

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

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ustice A.O. Musa of Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, granted the application of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to keep the former attorney general and minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke in its custody for additional 14 days preparatory to his arraignment.

In granting the application, the judge stated that “the extension of the remand of the respondent for another 14 days for the purpose of his arraignment in court is necessary and granted as prayed.”

The commission took custody of Mr Adoke on December 19,

2019, upon his arrival from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Mr Adoke who fled the country in 2015, has pending criminal charge of alleged abuse of office and money laundering in respect of the granting of the Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 245 to Shell and ENI. It would be recalled that the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo revoked the OPL 245, which the late General Sani Abacha granted Malabu, partly owned by Dan Etete, his then petroleum minister, and reassigned it to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNEPCO. Mr Etete’s Malabu Oil and Gas, however, reclaimed the

oil block in 2006 through the court. While Shell challenged the decision, a ‘fraudulent settlement and resolution’ was consummated under President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, with Shell and ENI buying the oil block from Malabu in the sum of $1.1billion.

Investigations by the EFCC into the deal revealed crimes that border on conspiracy, forgery of bank documents, bribery, corruption and money laundering to the tune of over $1.2 billion against Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Shell Nigeria Ultra Deep (SNUD), Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE) and their officials, culminating in criminal charges against Adoke, Etete

and others, which are pending in both the FCT High Court and the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The absence of the defendants slowed the prosecution of the suspects, forcing the EFCC to obtain an arrest warrant against them on April 17, 2019.

Mr Adoke, however, arrived the country on Thursday, December 19, 2019 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates into the waiting arms of EFCC operatives at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

His return has now cleared the way for him to answer to the charges against him.

Justice Musa adjourned the case to enable its assignment by the chief judge.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

News

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) said it has given scholarship to over one thousand undergraduates students from the northern region of Nigeria.

The outgoing Managing Director of the Foundation, Dr Shettima Aji made this known during the inauguration of the new management team of the Foundation held in the Kaduna yesterday.

He explained that each of the beneficiaries received a sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira as support from the Foundation.

Dr. Aji added that three thousand women and youths from

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation gives scholarship to 1,000 undergraduates the region were also trained in various handcrafts. “ We want to sustain the legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello by making our people to have the required support in their education. “ Education is the best legacy that we can leave for the future generation because it is the bedrock of the Society.” He said the newly appointed Managing Director of SABMF, Engineer Abubakar Gambo Umar, promised to build on the legacies of his

predecessor.

Speaking earlier Chairman Board of Trustees of SABMF Dr. Babangida Aliyu, said the North is turning to the headquarters of poverty in the country and there is a need for an urgent step to remedy the situation.

According to him, the North is far behind other regions in terms of development.

The former Governor of Niger State added that many states see the north as a machine pulling

them backwards.

Dr Aliyu advised that for the region to regain its glory there is need to go back to Sir Ahmadu Bello legacy by making education a priority.

“Today, Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), is said to be the best in the country, and it was because one man understood the importance of education as bedrock of development.

“Unfortunately the northern leaders today seems to have lost

focus on this legacy. It is time to tell ourselves the truth that the north needs to be redeemed from poverty menace bedeviling the region.

“I will also blame the citizens for their contribution to the urgly situation we find ourselves because if someone gives you N1,000 and you vote him into office, it is obvious that he is going to climb on your head for the next four years without any positive results,” Aliyu said.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan with the Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, performing the lesser hajj, Umrah, in Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, yesterday.

Aliko Dangote enters 2020 $4.3bn richer -Bloomberg Page 4 Feature 25 Sports 29-31 Back Page

LASUCOM gets new provost

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By Usman Shuaibu

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T L-R: Outgoing Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Mr Yusuf Kazaure and his successor, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar, during the latter’s assumption of office, yesterday in Abuja

Police rescue 6 kidnapped victims in Katsina

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he Katsina State Police Command says it has rescued six kidnapped teenage girls in Batsari Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

A statement issued in Katsina on Thursday by the command’s

spokesman, Gambo Isah, stated that the victims were kidnapped while working in a farm at MataMulki Village in Batsari.

Mr Isah, a superintendent of police, said the police received a distress call at about 12:30 p.m. that “unrepentant bandits with

AK47 rifles kidnapped some girls working in a farm at MataMulki Village.”

He said the Operation Puff Adder team, led by Divisional Police Officer in charge of Batsari, swiftly moved to the area.

“The team gave the hoodlums a hot chase into the forest and engaged them in a gun duel.

“The bandits abandoned the victims and ran into the forest, the police successfully rescued the six girls,” Mr Isah said.

(NAN)

he Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN, has approved the appointment of Prof. Abiodun Adewuya as the Acting Provost, Lagos State University College of Medicine.

This was disclosed in a statement by Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations of LASU, Ademola Adekoya yesterday.

Adewuya, a Professor of Mental Health, resumed as Provost of the College on Friday December 27, 2019, taking over from Prof. Anthonia Ogbera.

The statement said the ViceChancellor as thanking Ogbera for her leadership and selfless service during her tenure as Acting Provost of the College.

It added, “The VC praised her for the laudable achievements and developmental strides recorded by the College during her tenure and charged the new Acting Provost to continue from where she stopped.

“He prayed that God would continue to strengthen the former Acting Provost as she carries on with other assignments in the College.”

Lawmaker mourns victims of Katako Market fire From Yusuf Mairiga Shekarau, Jos

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he member representing Jos North/ Bassa Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Haruna Maitala has expressed dismay over the recent fire incident in Katako Market, Laranto area of Jos North Local Government Area.

In a statement signed by his senior legislative aide, Abdulqadir

Muhammad, Maitala said, “I have received with disturbing mind, the recent fire incident which occurred Monday night at Katako Market in Laranto area of Jos North LGA, under my constituency. It is my hope that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), will come to the aide of the victims, by providing some material supports that will in turn help the victims

have a sense of coming back into their respective businesses.”

He decried that the incident which was reported to have occurred resulting from restoration of electricity, at which high tension cables got sparked and eventually collapsed and resulted into a destroyable disaster that ravaged many shops with valuables costing huge millions of naira, was indeed too sad.

He called on the Jos Electricity

Distributions Company (JEDC), to forthwith ensure that all electric cables under its jurisdiction are well installed and properly connected and maintain in other to mitigate the routine ugly occurrences of inferno resulting from such cables collapsed.

While commiserating with the victims of the fire incident, Maitala prayed that Allah, will console those that suffered lost and resurface in no measurable quantum what were lost.

More than 26,000 babies born on New Year day in Nigeria -UNICEF

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n estimated 26,039 babies will be born in Nigeria on New Year’s Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday.

UNICEF’s Nigeria Representative Peter Hawkins said in a statement reaching Xinhua in Lagos that Nigerian babies would account for almost 7

percent of the estimated 392,078 babies to be born on New Year’s Day globally. Hawkins said this figure is the third highest number of babies in the world, after India with 67,385; and China with 46,299. “As we start each new year, we are reminded of the potential of each and every Nigerian child embarking on her or his life’s

journey if only they are given that chance to survive and thrive,” he said. The representative said for millions of newborns around the world, including in Nigeria, the day of their birth was far less auspicious, and sadly was often their last.

According to him, 2.5 million newborns died in just their first

month of life around the world in 2018; about a third of them on the first day of life.”In Nigeria, this was 318,522 deaths; among those children, most died from preventable causes such as premature birth, complications during delivery, and infections like sepsis,” he said. (Xinhua)

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News

NANS urges S/West govs to declare state of emergency on education

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he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the governors in the South-west to declare a state of emergency on education in the region.

The South-west Coordinator of NANS, Kowe Abiodun, made the call in a statement in Abeokuta on Thursday.

Mr Abiodun noted that education remained the bedrock of any nation’s development, saying that a state of emergency in the sector would go a long way in saving the future of the youths in the zone.

He stated that it was important for the south-west governors to, as a matter of urgency and collective interest, convey a joint meeting to collectively x-ray the state of education in the region.

“NANS frowns at the state of education in the region and calls for immediate collective declaration of state of emergency by the governors of South-west states,’’ he said.

He commended governors in the region for their recent joint efforts in fighting crimes and putting an end to the alarming rate of kidnapping in the zone, through a well-structured joint security outfit, named “AMOTEKUN.’’ The south-west coordinator of NANS called on the governors to see the need to converge for a similar brainstorm to rescue the education sector in southwest from the current situation.

He commended the federal government’s effort so far in the education sector, saying that the state governors should follow suit.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

NRC debunks gunmen attack on Abuja-Kaduna train

By Albert Akota

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igerian Railway Corporation (NRC), on Thursday debunked the report by some national dailies, not Peoples Daily that Abuja-Kaduna train conveying passengers to Abuja was attacked by suspected gunmen.

The Managing Director of NRC, Mr. Fidet Okhiria said yesterday in Abuja that the news was false adding that the policemen on the train reported that only stones were thrown on the coach which broke the window glass.

“This news is not correct.

What happened according to the Police escorts on the train is that

a stone was thrown at the train by some boys, which affected only the window glass of coach SP4.

“Nigerians should not panic as the news of the suspected attack is false and NRC is doing everything possible to ensure safety of passengers,” Okhiria said.

Earlier, some national dailies had reported that armed men

suspected to be kidnappers on Thursday morning attacked an Abuja-bound train with guns and other weapons.

The report alleged that the train, which left the Rigasa train station in Kaduna, at around 10 a.m. was attacked a few kilometres to Katari, about 70 kilometres to Abuja.

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News

Why APC chiefs are throwing stones at me- Oshiomhole As party leaders visit Buhari

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led by its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday paid a New Year visit on President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

Asked to respond to call for his removal by some stakeholders in his party, the APC boss explained why chieftains of the party are throwing stones at him even as he said internal and external opposition are inevitable to a leadership that is producing results.

On mounting internal opposition to his leadership because of his feud with the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, he said “You also know this proverb, “It’s a tree that bears fruits that attracts stone.” You hardly see people throwing stone at a dry tree palm tree. But if you see a mango tree when it is its season, people throw stones at it when passing. I think that is my lot but my report card is also very clear. You my comrades (media) should also help in interrogating the process, how a performance of a

National Working Committee of a political part should be evaluates? But I think the evaluation should start mostly, how many elections did you lose, or lost. Last week we saw the British Labour Party Leader that he accepts responsibility for the crushing defeat that the Labour Party suffered under his leadership, he offered in principle having accept responsibility, will not lead the party in the next election, so he is going to resign because under his leadership the party was rejected by the British electorate.

“In my own case, and I challenge anyone to say that any of these things are not true.

We the executive members of the party were sworn in on the 3rd of June 2018, at about 6 pm. Two weeks later, we went to Ekiti to contest election against a PDP incumbent governor Fayose and we won. And Kayode Fayemi today is the governor of that state.

Few months later, we went to Osun State, we contested a by-election, we won and we had the Osun State governor elected for his first term. Then we went for the national elections, you know all the tensions in the country at the time. The gap between President Buhari and the former candidate of the PDP Abubakar Atiku was about four

million voters. The one between President Buhari and former President Jonathan in 2015 was about three million. “So under my leadership this President has more votes than the first runner-up, we would like to claim credit for that because if it went the other way so we would be crucified.”

The APC chairman explained further that in the National Assembly, “you know we had all kinds of contestation, because the opposition was determined to turn APC to a minority in the two chambers of the National Assembly and we had to do what we had to do to persuade the senators to stay, we are still the preferred party of choice and we marketed all those senators, we backed them up with logistics, we backed them up financially from the party’s coffer and at the end of the day I am proud that we won more senate seats and more House of Reps seats.”

On why he came to see the President, the APC helmsman said “We decided at the level of the National Working Committee to pay a new year visit to Mr President and to congratulate him on what we have been able to accomplish last year and also to commend Mr President for the renewed

hope as capture in the new year message that was delivered to Nigerians.

“I think it was particularly important that it was published in print media so it’s not like the usual New Year broadcast that if you missed it, you missed it. But this one you can take it, you can analyze it, evaluate it and see how it affects you or how it affects your community, your location or your business.

“We think that was quite significant but like you know, in Nigeria when good things happened they don’t command good headline news. “For example, consistently under this President, people are now used to going for Christmas without having to worry whether or not there is petroleum product in the market. Few years back, people were always afraid of what will happen during the Christmas season, all your money, all the little money you are saving to take back home to celebrate with your people, you end up patronizing ‘Black Market’ to buy a liter of PMS at two, three, or four times the value and sometimes it is adulterated. And we see pictures of people who are stranded across the country because they cannot access PMS.”

Fun seekers at Ikorodu Fun Park during the New Year celebration on Wednesday in Lagos.

Fun seekers at Olumo rock in ikija Abeokuta, yesterday in Ogun state.

NANS urges S/West govs to declare state of emergency on education he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the governors in the South-west to declare a state of emergency on education in the region.

The South-west Coordinator of NANS, Kowe Abiodun, made the call in a statement in Abeokuta on Thursday.

Mr Abiodun noted that education remained the bedrock of any nation’s development, saying that a state of emergency in the sector would go a long way in saving the future of the youths in the zone.

He stated that it was important for the south-west governors to, as a matter of urgency and collective interest, convey a joint meeting

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

to collectively x-ray the state of education in the region.

“NANS frowns at the state of education in the region and calls for immediate collective declaration of state of emergency by the governors

of South-west states,’’ he said.

He commended governors in the region for their recent joint efforts in fighting crimes and putting an end to the alarming rate of kidnapping in the zone, through a well-structured

joint security outfit, named “AMOTEKUN.’’ The south-west coordinator of NANS called on the governors to see the need to converge for a similar brainstorm to rescue the education

sector in southwest from the current situation.

He commended the federal government’s effort so far in the education sector, saying that the state governors should follow suit.(NAN)

Aliko Dangote enters 2020 $4.3bn richer -Bloomberg

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liko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, became $4.3bn richer in 2019 as his fortune continued to grow on the back of investments in cement, flour and sugar.

The 62-year-old Nigerian businessman and Africa’s most prominent industrialist ended the decade with a net worth of almost $15bn, making him the 96th wealthiest man in the world,

according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Born into a wealthy Muslim family of traders in the north, Dangote incorporated his own business selling cement at 21.

He shifted to manufacturing the building material in the 1990s, helped by government policies that encouraged ways to reduce the need for imports. His critics still accuse him of taking advantage of

his closeness to the government to gain an unfair market advantage, a claim he has repeatedly dismissed.

His conglomerate, Dangote Industries, includes the biggest cement company on the continent, the Lagos-listed Dangote Cement Plc. That’s one of four publicly traded companies under the Dangote umbrella that account for more than a fifth of the value of the Nigerian stock exchange.

The year 2020 could be a significant one for the billionaire, who is close to completing one of the world’s largest oil refineries in Nigeria. The plant has the capacity to meet more than Nigeria’s entire fuel consumption and could transform an economy that currently imports all its refined product needs. Dangote is also constructing a fertiliser factory on the same site.(Bloomberg)

Fire razes David Mark’s house in Benue …15 motorcycles, 2 ambulances burnt to ashes From Uche Makurdi

T

Nnorom,

he country home of the former Senate President, David Mark in Otukpo, Benue State was yesterday razed by fire.

The fire which burnt two ambulance vehicles and over 15 motorcycles to ashes was said to have been caused by fire from a

nearby bush bordering the fence of his Guest House.

According to a source in his house, the fire spread so fast when it caught some empty cartons in which some motor cycles were assembled.

Workers in his palatial residence were said to have ran helter skelter making frantic efforts to put out the fire but to no avail.

According to one of the workers who confided in our reporter, “it was after desperate efforts to put off the fire failed that men of the Benue State Fire Service in Otukpo were invited.

“We made every effort to quench the fire but the more we tried the more it continued to spread. It was when we noticed that we could not stop the fire, in the effort to save the guest house

from burning, that we called their position fire service,” the worker said.

The former Senate President was also said to be out of town at the time of the incident.

Confirming the incident on behalf of Senator Mark, erstwhile legislative Aide, Dr. Adakole Elijah in a press statement said, “Earlier this morning (Thursday 2nd January, 2020) fire incident

was reported at the residence of the former Senate President Sen. David Mark.

“The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained but some properties including 15 motorcycles and two(2) vehicles were burnt.

“The arrival of fire service personnel prevented the inferno from spreading to the entire building. No life was lost.”

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

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News

Nasarawa: Paramount rule calls for peaceful coexistence

Delta govt reaffirms determination to resolve oil coys, host communities feud From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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he Delta State Government on Thursday reaffirmed her stance with a view to resolving all crisis involving oil exploration, and its host communities for the benefit peaceful coexistence in the state Chief Edwin Uzor, Special Adviser to the state governor,Dr Ifeanyi Okowa on Conflicts Resolution who spoke to journalists in Asaba, however, called on the people, especially host oil communities including

the oil exploration to allow peaceful coexistence and holistic implementation of the Global Memorandum of Understanding ( GMoU) entered into with the oil bearing communities to reduce the tension and violence that feature intermittently in the areas.

Uzor said that most conflicts recorded in the recent times, particularly in oil bearing areas were being caused by oil firms trying to split the leadership of various communities into two through divide and rule method, saying that the state government

will in 2020 not allow such in the state.

According to him,” A good number of conflicts in oil bearing areas were being caused by oil firms trying to split the leadership of various communities into two through divide and rule method, we are however pleading with them, oil companies that in this year 2020, they should allow all Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, agreed with their host communities, “adding that once they obey all agreement reached with them, there will be no dispute

and disruption of oil operations.

Uzor stressed that the state government will be able to concentrate on its vision and channel resources to developmental projects rather than spending so much to prosecute avoidable crisis, adding” the idea of deviating from agreement which the majority of oil firms in the state are guilty of, it’s not healthy and it is not encouraging, but once they abide by pacts reached with the communities, the area will be peaceful for them to operate.”

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

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he paramount Ruler of Kodape Cheifdom (ETSU KODAPE) in Karu Local Council of Nasarawa State, Chief Sabo Fyeunu has urged the entire ethnic nationalities residing in Kodape Chiefdom to always embrace peace.

Chief Sabo who made the call yesterday at the installation ceremony of the Minister of State Science and Technology, Muhammad Abdullahi Hassan as Talba kodape, Commodore Mohammed Musa Kasim as Shantali Kodape amongst other Gbagi illustrious sons.

He also charged them to use their positions and contribute meaningfully to the development of the chiefdom and the state at large.

According to him,” I want to use this occasion to plead with all the entire ethnic groups in this chiefdom to see yourselves as one entity. Let us embrace peace by living together harmoniously.

Both Christians and Muslims communities should preach peace.”

He continued, “ Kodape Chiefdom and Karu entirely is known for long as a peaceful zone.

We need to sustain it. Without peace no meaningful development can strive in an area. I admonished you to fish not bad elements around your vicinity to the security agents if there are.”

The paramount ruler who further applauded the focus and vision of Governor Abudullahi Sule for maintaining peace in the state since he assumed the mantle of leadership as the number one citizen of the state.

His words.”

I sincerely appreciate the leadership quality of Engineer Abdullahi Sule for taking into Cognisance the security of lives and property of the people in the state. I call on all the citizens to give him the needed support in order to enable him drive the state developmentally to the next step. We the entire Kodape chiefdom really appreciate all the past Governors and the present for giving topmost attention to the development of Karu Local Council and the state.”

L-R: Gov. Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos State; Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources of the State, Mr Olalere Odusote, during the inspection of the Ikeja Power Project, yesterday in Lagos.

Insecurity: Niger LG chair engages vigilante to complement police From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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he Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area, Alhaji Suleman Dauda Chukuba has engaged the service of a vigilante group in the area to complement the efforts of the Mobile Police men deployed to the area due to the incessant attacks on some communities in the council by armed bandits, The chairman explained that the engagement of the vigilante group has become imperative as a result of the increasing proportion of the activities of the armed men that have been terrorising the villagers in recent times.

The chairman, who spoke to newsmen in an interview yesterday in Minna, stated that the vigilante group will assist the police to check

mate the activities of the bandits that have displaced the villagers from their residents.

He maintained that his administration is committed towards safeguarding the lives of his people which informed his decision to engaged the service of the vigilante group with the aim of curtailing the activities of the bandits.

According to the chairman, the engagement of the vigilante group by the council was only the option in view of the series of attacks by the armed bandits adding that the vigilante group will assist the police in patrolling the forest where the armed men use to follow to carry out their attacks.

He noted that the engagement of the vigilante group by his administration was as a result of

them been part of the community “and they are more familiar with the terrain than the mobile police men they will give them backup to carry out their operation within the villages”.

The council chairman explained that his administration will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure the protection of the lives and property of his people in his capacity as the chief security officer of the local government stating that the activities of the armed bandits and other security challenges are the critical challenge his administration inherited “and I will by the support of God will surmount them’.

He noted that as a result of the frequent attacks on the villagers who are mostly farmers, “they can’t go to their farms any

longer as a result of the activities of these kidnappers. They have abandoned their farms and can’t even go near their farms to harvest their farm products. I think with the combined efforts of the security men deployed to the local government by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, the villagers will now feel secured in their Communities,” he noted.

While appreciating the efforts of the Governor of Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello for requesting the deployment of the mobile police men to his local government area , Dauda Chukuba assured that he will complement his effort by supporting the security agencies with the needed logistics that will enable them carry out their duty in the area.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

Crime News Man arraigned for allegedly impersonating military personnel

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he police in Ilorin on Thursday arraigned one Yusuf Abdullahi who allegedly impersonated an army personnel in an Ilorin Senior Magistrates’ court.

Abdullahi, whose address was not provided, is charged with two counts of impersonation and stealing.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Insp. Isaac Yakub, told the Court that the case was transferred from the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, to the State Crime Investigation and Intelligence Department, Ilorin.

Yakub said that on Dec. 25, the accused person was arrested at 22 Brigade Medical Centre Junction, Sobi Cantonment Ilorin, during a stop and search.

He alleged that the defendant was caught with a military camouflage trouser and two military pullovers.

The prosecutor said that investigation conducted at the CIID Ilorin revealed that the accused person claimed to be squatting with one Mustapha Haruna in Kaduna State.

Yakub said that the accused person stole the aforementioned military accouterments and absconded to Ilorin, where he started using as military personnel.

He said that investigation was ongoing, with a view to ascertain the defendant’s mission to Ilorin.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provision of sections 179 and 287 of the Penal Code.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Muhammed Ndakene, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50, 000 and two sureties in like sum.

Ndakene said that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

He adjourned the case until Jan. 23 for mention.(NAN)

Boko Haram: Rights group accuses Borno elders, politicians of complicity

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

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he Centre for Africa Liberation and SocioEconomic Rights (CALSER) has accused the Borno Elders Forum(BEF), politicians and other stakeholders of complicity in the continuous existence of terrorism in the state.

According to the group, some elders, political leaders and stakeholders in the state were frustrating the efforts of the federal government to end terrorism in North East Nigeria.

The right group, had in a letter to BEF, signed by the convener, Princess Ajibola, posed several questions begging for answers from the elders and stakeholders.

Therefore, he gave Borno Elders a 7-day ultimatum to initiate necessary actions in consonance with the concerns expressed in its open letter: The letter reads in part; ‘’We are very conversant with the difficulties of combating terrorism anywhere in the world.

But the Buhari Presidency has demonstrated commitment, purposefulness and seriousness in ending the scourge of terrorism plaquing Nigeria, with deep roots in the Northeast. Of course, none of the members of BEF needs an extra binocular to spot the difference before and now under this government. ‘’CALSER also, most objectively believe in the strategies being put in place by President Buhari and the security. But must be unequivocal that military action alone with the current posture of the Borno State Stakeholders will yield no meaningful result or deliver the kind of results to restore peace and normalcy. ‘’President Buhari has repeatedly proved that he knows the sensitivity of this national assignment, the indispensability of security in the country and has determinedly confronted the hydra-headed monster to a standstill. Let’s be frank with you that the Nigerian military has considerably obliterated the

shadows of Boko Haram in the Northeast. ‘’But it is not edifying for us to think the United Nations (UN), government or any other authority is not doing enough to end Boko Haram. Our people say, charity begins at home. So, fighting insecurity of the identity and magnitude of Boko Haram insurgency anywhere in the world demands concerted efforts by all stakeholders to record and sustain the desired impact.’’

Further in the letter, the group posited that, ‘’It is unfortunate that BEF, politicians and other stakeholders in Borno state have wrongly perceived and interpreted the entire Boko Haram insurgency which has devastated and ruined, not only Borno state, but the rest of the Northeast region as the exclusive business of President Buhari. ‘’However, what other stakeholders in this collective battle against insurgency in Nigeria, including BEF have failed to do is to also contribute

their quota to this battle to save humanity and their own remaining kith and kin trapped by remnants of insurgents. ‘’What has remained confounding to the rest of us and the world is the unconcealed politicization, indifference and urbanian inclination of BEF to the total elimination of Boko Haram terrorism in Borno.

BEF has postured as more interested in condemning the Presidency, or lobbying Mr. President to change leaders of the Nigerian troops in the frontlines for not doing “enough.” ‘’BEF consistently leads bogus delegations of prominent elders from Borno, armed with a plethora of demands of what they think should be done to end Boko Haram terrorism. Which is good in itself. And overtime, President Buhari has responded by implementing some of these demands he deems sensible within the context of finally routing out Boko Haram in Borno, the Northeast and Nigeria..’’

Job seekers, during the 2019 recruitment exercise of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), recently in Gwarinpa area of Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Hafiz Inuwa replaces Adeyinka as CP Delta Command From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

A

new Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Mohammed Inuwa has taken over the leadership of Delta State Police Command from CP Adeyinka Adeleke who is proceeding on a course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategy Studies in Jos with immediate effect.

The new helmsman who took over the mantle of leadership at exactly 1:37pm on Thursday 2nd January, 2020, has declared that he has come to build a formidable security structure from where his

predecessor had stopped.

He therefore, posited that he would not condone any form of criminality in the State, thereby declaring that it would be fire for fire against criminals who might not want to repent and turn a new leaf.

According to him, “Though no society is insulated from crime, I will not tolerate heinous crime. I am using this medium to warn bandits who parade as herdsmen, armed robbers, kidnappers and others to steer clear from innocent citizens in the state, because as far as the Command under me is concerned,

we will not tolerate mindless crimes and criminality.

“Of course you know that police alone cannot solve criminality; and so we need the cooperation of all.

We need the public to cooperate with us and make sure they report all forms of criminality around them to us. I will make my number available for all; we need the partnership of everybody if we must respond adequately to the security needs of citizens of Delta State.

“Let me also warn my officers and men, to desist from any act capable of tarnishing the image of the police. I will again not

tolerate any act of indiscipline, connivance and indolence. We need to work professionally and with commitment to tackle security challenges bedeviling our society”, CP Afiz affirmed.

Meanwhile, CP Afiz Mohammed who was born on 21st March, 1964 at Ringim LGA of Jigawa State, was enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force on 3rd March, 1990 after attending the elite Police Academy in Kaduna.

The Police Chief was promoted as Commissioner of Police on 31st October, 2017. His last place of assignment was Cross-River State

from where he was nominated for a course at the National Institute of Policy and Strategy Studies (NIPSS) before being posted to Delta as CP Afiz Mohammed Inuwa mni.

However, the new CP had pledged to leverage on the existing security mechanism already in place towards enthroning the reign of peace and safety in Delta State.

In the same vein, the outgoing CP Adeyinka had thanked the Government of Delta State and Deltans for their cooperation, while urging them to extend the same cooperation to his successor as he superintends over the Command.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

PAGE 8

News

Justice sector impacted positively on Nigerians in 2019 - Malami

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

A

ttorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Mr Abubakar Malami said on Thursday that the country’s justice sector has recorded tremendous success in speedy implementation of justice in 2019.

He stated this on Thursday on Good Morning Nigeria, an NTA’s news magazine program.

Malami, the first Minister to have participated in this year’s Good Morning Nigeria NTA program, explained that his ministry’s policies in 2019 have succeeded in deepening the country’s democratic process by pushing for legislations and constitutional amendments.

In the area of institutional support also, the Attorney General said the judicial autonomy at states’ level has succeeded in ensuring efficient and speedy determination of election petitions.

He noted that judicial amendment that reviewed the nature of cases that could go to Supreme Court has reduced the number of outstanding cases pending adjudication at the apex court.

Malami also said his ministry has been able to fully support the present administration’s anti-corruption crusade by ensuring the recovery of billions of stolen funds to the country.

He added that the Ministry of Justice has supported the legislation that boosted the country’s revenue generation to a substantial level, thereby increasing its Internally Generated Revenue, more than ever before.

This, according to him, has played vital role in Nigeria’s economic advancement and prosperity.

The Justice Ministry according to Malami has provided the desired support to security security.

He said with his Ministry’s support, Nigeria has saved enough money that ordinarily would be spent on security.

He observed that with proscription of some organisations presumed to be threat to national security, the Ministry has made Nigeria to avoid spendings on avoidable security challenges.

The AGF then assured Nigerians of his ministry’s commitment to push for legislations that will better their lives, particularly in the area of safeguarding their rights, Justice Sector Reforms and enhancement of the rule of law, among others.

Making reference to the recent Federal Government’s decision of releasing the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, Malami assured Nigerians that government will continue to ensure compliance with court orders and upholding the rule of law in 2020 and beyond.

Why we demolished Saraki’s family property, by Kwara govt

By Ese Awhotu with agency report

T

he Kwara State Government yesterday gave reasons why Bukola Saraki’s family property popularly known as Ile Arugbo (old people’s home) was demolished.

The state Commissioner for Communications, Murtala Olanrewaju in a statement on Thursday, said the demolition is the physical reclamation of the plot of land which is originally designated for

the construction of the civil service clinic in Ilorin.

He also said that, the demolition was carried out early morning to avoid needless confrontation.

“The reclamation exercise began in the early hours of Thursday to avoid any needless confrontation. Attempts by some persons to provoke government’s agents on lawful duty were resisted by the security agents who exercised the highest level of restraint and professionalism.

“Contrary to the claim that the

State Government was served court papers on the matter, we state that no court paper has been served as at the time the government took steps to preserve what lawfully belongs to the people.

“Finally, we urge the people of the state to remain calm, peaceful, an be guided only by facts of the matter and not be drawn into an emotional outburst that is targeted at distracting the public from the issues at stake. While the administration is focused on restoring sanity to the state after years of barefaced impunity, we

will do so within the limit of the law,” the statement read in part.

The Saraki family house before the demolition was used as a venue for political meetings when the Saraki family held sway over Kwara Government.

However, policemen, numbering about 50 were said to have gone to enforce the action at about 3:00 am but were initially resisted by some the old women.

The security agents later returned at 4:00 am when the structure was eventually pulled down.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

PAGE 9

News

Zamfara earmarks N7b for new Government House

T

he Zamfara State Government has earmarked N7 billion in the 2020 budget for the construction of a new Government House, according to the Secretary to the State Government, Bala Bello.

Mr Bello disclosed this in Gusau on Thursday after defending the 2020 budget proposals of his office at the House of Assembly.

He said the state government resolved to construct a new government house “considering the need for it by the state.”

“You know our current Government House was the Gusau Local Government Secretariat during the old Sokoto State.

“It was used as a temporary Government House when the state was created in 1996.

“We need a modern Government House to fit into the league of modern states in the

country.

“We also considered getting a new government house to take care of the shortage of government offices.

“When the project is completed, the current government house will be converted to a Secretariat,” he said.

Meanwhile, the state government has also earmarked N700 million in the 2020 budget for procurement of relief materials

for Internally Displaced Persons and assistance to disaster victims in the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to the state Governor on State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Aliyu Maradun, disclosed this after defending the 2020 budget proposal of the agency.

Mr Maradun said part of the money would be used for execution of some capital projects by the agency.(NAN)

Members of Nigerian Labour Congress, Kaduna state Council, protesting over their alleged land dispute with a Company, yesterday in Kaduna.

Slump in oil price won’t affect 2020 budget, Gov Okowa assures From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

T L R: Mother of the ‘First Baby of the Year 2020’ in Oyo State, Mrs Oluwadara Awoyemi; Coordinator of National Population Commission in the state, Mrs Omolara Adeyinka; Wife of Oyo State Deputy Governor who represented the Governor’s wife, Prof. Bola Olaniyan; and Matron of Oyo State Government House Clinic, Ibadan, Mrs Lola Ajao, with the ‘Baby of the Year’, Adeyemi, born at Adeoyo State Hospital, Yemetu on Wednesday in Ibadan. Photo: NAN

Police arrest suspected car burglars, internet scammers in Niger

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suspected gang of car burglars known as ‘Open and Close’ were yesterday paraded by the Police in Niger State.

Police said the suspects who operate mostly around banking areas make use of a special fabricated key to burgle people’s cars.

Parading the suspects at the Police Headquarters in Minna, the Public Relations Officer DSP Abubakar Dan-Inna said the suspects, 33-year-old Chibuke Uzumba and 35-year-old

Ogochukwu Chimaka specialise in monitoring and waylaying persons who come to the bank to withdraw money.

Also paraded were four suspects who specialise in internet fraud, 29-year-old Ahmed Alabi, 28-yearold Chinedu Eche, 29-year-old Chibuzor Ogochukwu, and 30-yearold Okechukwu Ogochukwu.

DSP Dan-Inna said the suspects were arrested following a report by one Kabiru Babayo to the ‘B’ Division Suleja that he was attacked and robbed of his wallet containing

one Automated Teller Machine card, money and a cellphone by occupants of a tricycle he boarded.

He disclosed that the suspects also forced their victim to divulge his ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN) to them, which they later used in siphoning 0.6 Million Naira from his account.

According to the Police Spokesman, the suspects during investigation confessed to luring and doping unsuspecting persons as well as swapping bank customers’ ATM PINs at ATM withdrawal

points while posing as assistants.

Others paraded include suspected cattle rustlers, kidnappers, and robbers.

Giving a breakdown of items recovered from the suspects, DSP Dan-Inna said two AK47 rifles, 14 live ammunition and one Beretta Pistol with four live ammunition and motorcycles.

Meanwhile, the Command has disclosed that it arrested 213 suspects in 2019 which include 55 kidnappers, 48 armed robbers, 15 cattle rustlers, and rape suspects.

he Delta State Government on Thursday reiterated its commitment on strong implementation of the 2020 Appropriation Law despite of the recent slump of oil price in the international market.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, it would be recalled had on December12, 2019 assented to the 2020 budget of N395,47 billion with a promise to fast track infrastructural projects in the state.

But in reaction to the volatility of the oil sector, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu who spoke to journalists in Asaba, however expressed optimism that the state government had structured the budget in line with the prevailing realities, stressing that more emphasis was placed on capital expenditure of the budget ( N223.32billion) as it directly impacted the lives of the people as against placing premium on the recurrent side which he described as the bane of the national budget He said,” Being realistic,we have examined the revenue accruals and expenditure profile of the state and we came to the conclusion that what we have done is very realistic in terms of price of oil, we are mindful

of its volatility and we are not just depending on oil price, even though Nigeria remains a mono economy, we intend to deepen our drive in terms of developing our Internally Generated Revenue ( IGR), without having to suffer the pockets of Deltans”, and noted that human capital development remained the priority of the Okowa administration, even as he

revealed that the state government would also construct more roads and develop other infrastructure for rural urban linkage Aniagwu explained that the administration would in 2020 this year continues to lay adequate slant on the components of its SMART Agenda which include Job and wealth creation, peace building, accelerated industrialization of

the state, agricultural reforms , the rekit of the health and education sectors via the introduction of relevant policies and the transformation of the environment without prejudice to its other equally worthy development initiatives not directly captured under the SMART Agenda The Information Commissioner said that the

Okowa administration would not only continue to stroke the fires of the Implementation of the SMART Agenda as in the previous years, but would also up its ante in order to live up to its status as a superlative performer and live out the critical import of its Stronger Delta vision, adding that the state will continue to lead in all infrastructural developments.

Ebonyi int’l airport ready in 18 months -Gov. Umahi

G

overnor David Umahi of Ebonyi State says the state’s International Airport recently approved by the federal government will be completed within 18 months.

Mr Umahi revealed this on Tuesday at his hometown, Uburu, when a delegation of Ezza clan where the airport was sited, paid him a Christmas homage, noting

that constructing an international airport is not an easy task.

The governor said the standard of the international airport being constructed in Ebonyi takes between six and 10 years to be completed in other places but that of Ebonyi would take only 18 months.

“The tarmac of the airport will be one-foot concrete pavement which is the highest in the world.

“The highest I know is eight inches concrete-base but this one will be one foot concrete pavement that is guaranteed to last for more than 50 years,” he said.

He later inaugurated a committee that would ensure the smooth payment of compensation for crops and economic trees to the owners of the land used for the construction.

Leader of the delegation and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Kenneth Ugbala, commended the governor for appointing indigenes of the area into key positions.

Mr Ugbala also thanked the governor for choosing the clan for the airport’s construction among other infrastructural projects sited in the area.(NAN)

Gunmen abduct local chief in Taraba -Police

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Chief of Dan-anacha, a suburb of Gassol local government area of Taraba has

been abducted by gunmen.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, David Misal, the gunmen accosted the Chief and his younger brother on motorbikes at his

residence on New Year’s Day. He added that the chief was whisked away by his abductor, leaving his younger brother.

Misal added that efforts are being

made to rescue the chief from his abductors unhurt.

Meanwhile, members of the family said they are yet to be contacted by the abductors on what their demands are.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

PAGE 10

N ews

Gov Okowa extols virtues of Delta SSG, Chiedu Ebie at 49 From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

D

elta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr Chiedu Ebie, as he clocks 49 years on Thursday, Jan. 2.

He said that Ebie, a former Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, was an illustrious Deltan, who was ever committed to the good governance, growth and development of Delta.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, the governor thanked Ebie for his outstanding contributions to governance in Delta as Secretary to the State Government.

He urged the SSG to sustain his contributions to humanity by developing further ideas that would lead to the efficiency and effectiveness of governance and sustainable development of the state.

He noted that Ebie, an astute lawyer, oil and gas executive, entrepreneur and a public servant, has had a distinguished career in the private sector spanning over two decades.

The governor also lauded the technocrat-turned politician for his sound knowledge of governance and his outstanding accomplishments in private and public service.

“With his core competences in strong leadership and execution skills, Mr Ebie has brought his wealth of experience to bear by playing pivotal roles in the administration of the state.

“Mr Ebie has continued to blaze the trail by providing and offering leadership at various levels of governance in the state.

“Over the years, you have by dint of hardwork and discipline, established yourself with an unblemished leadership style as an industry player which has endeared you to many Deltans and Nigerians.

“As Secretary to State Government, you have exhibited absolute grasp of your core responsibilities by your sound coordination of government in the state.

“As a government we appreciate your role and astute contributions in the revamping of Zenith Bank Delta Principal’s and Headmaster’s Cup under your tenure as Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you, my dear brother and friend, Mr Chiedu Ebie, on the occasion of your 49th birth anniversary.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

PAGE 11

Letter to the Editor

EDITORIAL

PEPFAR reaffirms commitment to HIV response

T

he U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has reaffirmed its continued commitment to HIV prevention and response in 2020 and beyond.

The Deputy National Coordinator of PEPFAR, Murphy Akpu, gave the assurance in an interview with News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Akpu said the Plan would continue to partner with National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and other stakeholders in stemming the spread of the epidemic.

“We challenge all stakeholders to sustain efforts to push forward

and achieve epidemic control in the coming years,” he said.

The PEPFAR coordinator, who expressed optimism that the HIV epidemic in the country would end soon, therefore, felicitated with the government and Nigerians on the New Year and promised to consolidate on the achievements on HIV response.

He said, “on behalf of U.S. Government, PEPFAR country team, I wish to share felicitations of goodwill to our Nigerian government counterparts in the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, federal and state ministries of health, our UN partners, Civil Society stakeholders and all Nigerians.”(NAN)

Still on attack on Jonathan’s house

G

unmen reportedly, last week, Assistant to the President on Media and attacked the home of former Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in President Goodluck Jonathan in the statement that the President reassured Otuoke, Bayelsa state. They managed Dr. Jonathan that his administration was to kill a soldier on sentry at a nearby committed to his and Nigerians’ safety. military check point, but were stopped The statement read: “In the telephone from reaching the ex President’s house conversation, President Buhari expressed by the dead soldier’s colleagues. Sources sadness over the tragic and unfortunate said three of the gunmen were shot dead attack, during which a gallant soldier lost by the soldiers. They said the attack came his life. while Jonathan was out of the state. One of “While commending the soldiers on the sources said:, “Armed men who came guard for bravely repelling the attack, the in about five boats attacked the home of President condoled with family members former President Jonathan. A security as well as officers and men of the Nigerian personnel attached to the former president Army over the loss of one of the guards. was killed and about three of President Buhari assured the gunmen were shot dead.” that the protection of the President Jonathan, life of the former leader reacting to the attack, in and all citizens of the a statement by his media country will continue to be adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, said the major preoccupation the attackers came to steal a administration.”

Operation Delta of his gunboat stationed 100 meters As usual, Nigerians Safe” (ODS) away from his residence. “A have been quick to security post stationed near vowed to unmask attribute motives to the the Otuoke residence of former attack. Some say it was an the identities attempted assassination President Jonathan was attacked by unknown gunmen of the gunmen. and others suspect early Tuesday morning. an attempt to rob the “The hoodlums, who came Its spokesman, residence in President in about five engine boats, Jonathan’s absence. Both Major Jonah stormed the security post sides have their reasons, located about 100 metres Unuakhalu, said given the visible role away from former President Jonathan was suspected the incident Jonathan’s residence in his to have played in the hometown Otuoke by 1:30 am occurred at about defeat of the candidate on Tuesday. They attempted to 3 am on Tuesday. of the governing Peoples take away a gunboat belonging Democratic Party to the military, stationed at He regretted that (PDP) in the Nov. 16 the creek beside the residence. while repelling governorship election.

They were, however, resisted The former President is a the attack, a by gallant soldiers who engaged PDP stauncher. them in a firefight.

However, we find soldier died and “The gunmen who Jonathan’s explanation another was couldn’t stand the firepower of the motive for the of the military were forced to attack more credible. The injured. beat a retreat. One soldier, Niger Delta is notorious unfortunately, lost his life for illegal oil bunkering, in the fight while another was injured. carried out by armed groups using One soldier, who is currently receiving gunboats, often stolen from the military. treatment at a medical facility in Yenagoa, Persons who are imputing political is in a stable state. The former President, assassination as the reason for the attack who was not in Otuoke at the time of the conveniently are ignoring that elemental attack, however, returned to his village fact. This is why we advise that in serious early this (Tuesday) morning to assess the matters like this people allow security situation.” forces to do their work professionally, and The military joint task force (JTF) not interfere.

“Operation Delta Safe” (ODS) vowed to No doubt, the Federal Government unmask the identities of the gunmen. Its needs to do more to protect life and spokesman, Major Jonah Unuakhalu, said property in the land. The fact that this the incident occurred at about 3 am on attack occurred 100 metres from the Tuesday. He regretted that while repelling house of a former Number One Citizen, the attack, a soldier died and another was even if he was not the intended target, is injured.” very alarming. However, we are assured by That same Tuesday, President Buhari President Buhari’s renewed commitment called his predecessor to sympathise to the “protection of the life of the former with him over the attack. Senior Special President and those of all Nigerians.”

“

L-R: Kastina State Governor Aminu Masari; Kano State Deputy Governor Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna; Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Badaru Abubakar, during the 2019 National Economic Council Meeting held at the Presidential Villa, recently in Abuja.

Insurgency: Army to improve troops’ welfare package in 2020 -Buratai

T

he Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has assured Nigerian Army troops of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) of improved welfare package in 2020.

Mr Buratai, a lieutenant general, gave the assurance while addressing the troops during an operational visit to Pulka in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno on Tuesday.

He said the government had assured the army of its commitment to the welfare of officers and men of the armed forces as well as those of their families.

Mr Buratai said: “I know

the importance of this location and you have done your best in ensuring that the security here is maintained.

“So let me commend you for the wonderful performance and the way you have conducted yourselves in OPLD. “I am here to see you, I have been to other places and I cease this opportunity to come and see you before the end of the year and wish you well in the coming year.

“We appreciate you for being so gallant, for decimating the Boko Haram terrorists and I want to urge you to maintain it, you must remain focused, disciplined and professional.

“We will do everything possible to ensure your comfort, especially your families in the barracks as well.

“Your welfare will be improved in the year 2020 and so you have to put in your best and ensure that you uphold the trust by the federal government.

“We must ensure that we don’t allow these criminals to come back again,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Buratai had been on operational visit to troops in the North-East since December 27, starting from Adamawa state.

He visited a number of

formations and important locations that were hitherto been stronghold of terrorists like Madagali, Gwoza, Pulka, Banki junction and Bama, among others.

During the visit, Mr Buratai inspected the reconstructed bridge along Bama-Pulka road by the Nigerian army engineers which was destroyed by the terrorists during the peak of insurgency activities.

He also attended two important annual events known as OPLD Medal Parade and Nigerian Army West African Social Activities (WASA) held in Gwoza on Monday.(NAN)

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Chairman “To be the market Malam Wada Maida, place of ideas and Oon, Fnge the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the Chief Operating Officer Editor, Daily truth, maintaining the Hameed M. Bello, PhD highest professional and ethical standards while Manager, administration delivering value to Hassan Hammanyaji our stakeholders”

Edo State: Welcome to the Politics of 2020

By Osakue Aiyevbekpen

A

s we start the year 2020 today (January 1), I consider it auspicious to make few remarks on only one aspect of the politics of Edo State. I have watched all kinds of people building a rampart around the Governor (Godwin Obaseki). I believe some are very sincere in expressing their opinions, rightly or wrongly. But many others have prostituted their hearts and souls for pittance.

Interestingly, those who did not give Obaseki a chance, those who fought against us with their might, those who were thousands of kilometers away from the battlefield and those who did not even vote for Obaseki are the ones on the corridors of power or on the social media ventilating hot gas.

Suddenly, complex and highly risky political operations have become mere patriotic acts for which no commensurate reward should be expected. For the information of the vociferous novices, campaign and election are two related operations that are comparable to war operations. The strategies are similar except that one does not include the use of guns and killings of enemies.

In politics, we have opponents and not enemies. In both political and military operations, when a little slip occurs, like it did occur on the side of our then opponents, the consequences could be devastating and irreversible. We took full advantage of their slip to overtake them at the last lap! That’s how the result was delivered! Your entirety must be at alert, think on your feet and respond to situations in split seconds!

For the horde of ingratiating manumits and hallelujah choristers, who celebrate outright ingratitude and legendary insensitivity, we pray for them to come face to face with such acts that they now glorify in every facet of their lives! May they commit their intellect and talents and put their lives on line for a cause and at the point of success, may they be so neglected, abandoned, dumped and blackmailed!

What was really the contribution of the candidate in the process of becoming Governor? What public goodwill did he parade? What war-chest did he bring to the war room? What strategic capacity did he bring to the table? What public persuasive skills did he exhibit at campaigns? These are all known to those who were in the

OUR VISION

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products” Godwin Obaseki

arena struggling through the various huddles at each turn and bend of whole story! And someone tries to belittle the heroic accomplishments of others? Good conscience and fairness have long taken flight from these climes and people have become pitiable victims of mountebankery!

I plead with you all, friends and foes, to strive to be a bit kinder, a bit more charitable and considerate in our comments and remarks on matters to which all facts are not available to us. As citizens, our first responsibility is to hold government accountable for its actions. In this regard, how many of us have asked the right questions? How many of us have a copy of the Governor’s manifesto? On what basis can anyone realistically engage government if you don’t have the very basic tools for such engagement? And how can anyone expect real growth and development to occur out of a rigged system? We gloat, hype and celebrate tokenism.

I was invited to defend government policies and vision at the inchoate stages of this government and I did. I was also invited to do a round of media campaign for our party candidates before the elections and I did. I believed it was my government and was ready to do anything and everything possible to make the government succeed. If this government is troubled today, it is not because there were enemies fighting to bring it down. No. It is because the continuity agenda, a major plank of our campaign was repudiated. That action was highly suggestive and that is how people began to murmur. And majorly, it is because of lack of emotional intelligence and inclusiveness resulting from technocratic divertimento!

The present political tempest should have been long nipped in its bud without much cost, just by exhibiting social reflexes and interactions, if my memos and discussions with his close aides during which I articulated practical ways of avoiding the looming crisis had yielded fruits. Mind you, the strategies did not include the sharing of money. It is about closing up relationships and patronage extension to those qualified.

The humongous waste of time and resources of today would have been avoided by little gestures of goodwill yesterday! * Mr. Osakue Aiyevbekpen, the first DG of Godwin Obaseki Campaign Organisation 2015/16, writes from Benin.

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

Reworking the national policy on education to meet 2020 demands

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

E

very citizen of a modern nation is a subject of the state. And once a state is formed, the citizens formulate ethical principles or virtues to be pursued, vices to be avoided and values to be cherished-for the good conduct of the citizens. These values are in most cases not put in a codified form but transmitted from one generation to the next via a well formulated/ structured process called education.

Without a shadow of the doubt, this thought may have informed the decision of past administrations like their counterparts in other countries, to formulate the National Policy on Education anchored on five main objectives that include the building of: a free and democratic society; a just and egalitarian society; a united strong and self-reliant nation; a great and dynamic economy; and a land of bright and full opportunities for all citizens.

Indeed, education typifies the bedrock of development of any nation. ‘With sound educational institutions, a country is as good as made -as the institutions will turn out all rounded manpower to continue with the development of the society driven by well thought out ideas, policies, programmes, and projects’.

However, like every invention which comes with opportunities and challenges, education in Nigeria, despite the virtues and attributes, have suffered sets of challenges which include but not limited to; payment of lip service to, and in some cases, total abandonment of the National Policy on Education by successive governments through perennial underfunding of the sector.

And in more damaging cases, the money government voted for running the schools does not get to the schools and the little that gets there is normally wasted by those whose responsibility it is to manage the schools.

Essentially, this recurrent mismanagement manifests it self in acts opposed to demands of modern educational sector. And its work impedes lecturers from carrying out scholarly researches,

leads to fallen standard of education, brings about policy inconsistency and sommersaults, truncates academic calendar with strike actions, lace Nigerian schools (primary, colleges and universities) with dilapidated and overstretched learning facilities- with the universities producing graduates devoid of linkage with the manpower demand by the nation’s industrial sector.

Majorly, the consequences of this malady can be spotted in two major areas; the high unemployment rate in the country, which going by the National Bureau Statistics (NBS), 2019, was at 23.1 per cent, with under-employment rate 16.6 per cent and expected to reach an alltime high of 33.5 percent in this year, 2020.

The second is high rate of illiteracy level found everywhere in our country.

For one thing, I believed and still believe in the power of education. But this high rate of illiteracy which has its root in thoughtless demand for fees of varying amounts/ proposed by the school authorities to cater for the gap created by the perennial underfunding is but, financially squeezing life out of the innocent students and sent many out of school.

Regardless of what others may say, this failure/failing partly accounts for the low level of development in Nigeria because the growth and development of any nation depends largely on the quantity and quality of all segments of its population. And given the huge population of out-of-school children which currently stand at over 13million, it is understandable that the overall literacy level will be low in the country.

No wonder, Akinola Aguda in his book; Nigeria’s march towards perdition, among other comments noted that our economy is ill, very ill from a time dating back to only a few years after its birth; doses of poisonous matters continue to be introduced almost on continuous basis by successive administrations.

Although, President Muhammadu Buhari, recently, during the New Year broadcast on the January 1, 2020 told whoever that cares to listen

Lest we forget

By Issa Aremu

T

here was no dull moment in the political economy of Nigeria in 2019.

Recalling my reflections in 2019 actually passes for another word counts of reflection: no dull moment.

More for the better than the worse!

Of special importance was the remarkable innovative corporate governance of CBN. Whoever fails to plan, is planning to fail, goes the popular received wisdom. As it is for human beings, so for public institutions and indeed nation states.

In 2019, CBN emerged as the singular institution that commendably sets corporate agenda for the next five years of the second tenure of its Governor. Mr Godwin Emefiele is the 11th Governor of the apex bank. Appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, he was rightly reappointed by President Muhammadu Buhari for another 5 years term in 2018.

After eventful five years of what I perceive as activist autonomous central banking, Emefiele announced a renewed vision for the next tenure.

In his words: “Put succinctly, our priorities at the CBN over the next 5 years are the following; First, preserve domestic macroeconomic and financial stability; Second, foster the development of a robust payments system infrastructure that will increase access to finance for all Nigerians thereby raising the financial inclusion rate in the country; Third, continue to work with the Deposit Money Banks to improve access to credit for not only small holder farmers and MSMEs but also Consumer credit and mortgage facilities for bank customers.

Our intervention support shall also be extended to our youth population who possess entrepreneurship skills in the creative industry…. Fourth, grow our external reserves; and fifth, support efforts at diversifying the economy through our intervention programs in

the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

We are confident that when implemented, these measures will help to insulate our economy from potential shocks in the global economy. In my second term in office, part of my pledge, is to work to the best of my abilities in fulfilling these objectives”. Will other public institutions be audacious to set agenda in 2020 upon which we can hold them accountable?

Precisely because I was involved, I bear witness that with respect to intervention in manufacturing sector, CBN’s measures had renewed hope of the revival of cotton, Textile and garment sectors (CTG) policy.

Nigeria for once is moving from the old era of perennial cotton shortage to cotton surplus, thanks to CBN’s creative supports for cotton farmers in Katsina and other cotton growing centers through improved seedlings and credits.

Understandably,€Stakeholders in the renewed drive to re-industrialize Nigeria praised CBN for the restrictions of sale of forex to importers ( read: smugglers ) of textiles into the Country.

This is one singular praise for the CBN Governor not too much. The Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday March 5, 2019 at its meeting with stakeholders in the Cotton, Textile, Garment value chain in Abuja listed all forms of textile materials among items prohibited from foreign exchange in the official windows.

There is also an historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) facilitated by the bank between uniformed services: army, police, civil defense, customs service and textile manufacturers. The MOU envisages production of the service uniforms by local textile firms in line with presidential executive order 003.

The year 2019 was also the year of elections.

We can debate the quality of elections especially in Kogi and Bayelsa, but Nigeria democratically transited at Federal and many states. Kwara election was the most nationally adjudged free and fair under the OTOGE movement. It was indeed a revolution made possible through voters’ cards and vote counts

that this democratic government will guarantee peace and security to realise the full potential of our ingenious, entrepreneurial and hardworking people; that his policies are designed to promote genuine, balanced growth that delivers jobs and rewards industry. But in my opinion, looking at the deplorable state of the nation educational sector that will drive such vision/ policies, achieving the promised feat will be difficult if not impossible.

The reason(s) for these voiced opinion stems from other inherent challenges discussed in the following paragraphs.

And one of the most alarming is the challenge of responsibility and control. For instance, stakeholders are worried that the control of the primary sector is neither fully in the hands of the Federal Government nor in that of the state or the local government. This is a great barrier to effective educational development at the basic level. This challenge is closely followed by the faulty methods of recruiting teachers. Because most of the teachers were not qualified but hired via favouritism, they could not be trusted to impact the right knowledge and values in the pupils and students.

So what this all means to us is that in this 2020, we may forgive other government’s inactions. But we must not fail to ask government at all levels to rejig the education sector. we have a responsibility to return our education sector to the part where it can build a free and democratic society, promote a just and egalitarian society, encourage a united strong and self-reliant nation and a land of bright and full opportunities for all citizens.

To reverse this trend, we must first recognize that problem associated with the nation’s education stems from the fact that as a nation, we have not applied what we learned from the national education policy. We obviously and urgently need a new vision for education in the country-‘vision that will go beyond ideology to experiment and be equal with the latest reforms at the global level’. It is not only our patriotic

duties to provide this care, it’s our moral duty at the most fundamental level –and we must rise to that challenge.

To this end, apart from developing the political will to, and ‘culture’ of funding education in compliance with the United Nation Educational Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s [UNESCO] budgetary recommendation, government at all levels must start considering education as a human right that promote science and eradicate illiteracy, and should be implemented in such a way that promotes free, compulsory and universal primary, secondary, tertiary education, and free adult literacy programs.

Part of that effort to guarantee adequate fund for the sector is by ensuring that every kobo budgeted for education would be properly accounted for and would reach the beneficiaries, without siphoned off along the way. Special attention should be given to the areas where descretionary powers are presently being exploited for personal gain and sharpen the instruments that could prevent, detect or deter such practices.

Other efforts expected from the government that should by no means be considered less important includes- revival of the adult literacy programme to boost the quality of education in the country is worthwhile. As this going by reports would cater for the educational needs of over 50 million Nigerians who must have missed first opportunities to be educated. While the programme would use existing facilities across the country and as such there would be no need to waste money in building new schools.

Finally, like Barrack Obama once noted, I believe we have a mutual responsibility to make sure our schools are properly funded, our teachers are properly paid, and our students have access to an affordable college education.

And if we don’t do something about all that, then, nothing else matters.

Jerome-Mario Utomi (jeromeutomi@ yahoo.com) writes from Lagos, Nigeria.

not by some instant proclamation from the streets!

Also last year, on the 16th of May, at the plenary, the senate passed the amendment to an Act in concurrence with the House of Representatives which approved the new date of June 12th as new Democracy Day earlier in December 2018, following the adoption of a report by Senator Ahmad Lawan, the Majority Leader, for the Senate to concur with the House.

The bill was passed almost one year after President Muhammadu Buhari announced that the date would replace May 29 for Nigerians to commemorate the return to the civilian government.

That singular presidential action closed the chapter of June 12 saga. With as many as 85 million registered voters, in quantitative terms, Nigeria remains a democracy destination. But this democracy needs quality control that must start with issues based politics of development and productivity as opposed to politics of corruption and violence.

In November, President Muhammadu Buhari accented to the new Deep Offshore (and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract) Act. It was what I called a smart patriotic economic move from above. This singular amendment of the Deep Offshore Act for once commendably balanced the age long corporate greed in oil and gas sector with urgent national needs in terms of revenue. Nigeria henceforth would receive “it’s fair, rightful and equitable share of income” from its oil and gas, hitherto made impossible with the old law that kept oil taxes to the barest minimum, disregarding the upward swing in oil prices.

The Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act was last enacted on March 23, 1999, with its commencement backdated to January 1, 1993.

The provisions of the Act stipulate that the law shall be subject to review to ensure that if the price of crude oil at any time exceeds $20 per barrel, ( even when prices were in triple digits

decades after!) the share of the revenue to the Nigerian government shall be adjusted under the PSC. The new amendment promised to enhance national benefits from the non-renewable oil and gas resources. At international level, 2019 marked the centenary of International Labour Organization ( ILO). A century-long ILO remains “the principal centre of authority in the international system on labour and social policy”. ILO has come of age with 100 years of rich history in promotion of peace and social justice in the world of work.

As part of the ILO centenary activities, Nigeria for once played host to the Director General of the ILO, Guy Ryder at a global summit on youth employment creation in Abuja. Worthy of recalling is also the fact that, after addictive medical trips to Singapore, Robert Gabriel Mugabe (RGM) on September 6, 2019, heaved the last breath at 95 years . In 2019 foreign policy observers also hailed the proactive historic visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to South Africa between October 2 to 4, 2019.

Both leaders rightly damned xenophobic violence and the reprisals. The two Presidents also directed their Foreign Affairs Ministers to give practical expression to the Early Warning Mechanism for prevention and monitoring platform.” Nigeria and South Africa also agreed to exchange a list of frequent travelers, notable business people and academics to facilitate the issuance of long term multiple entry visas for 10 years.

Nigeria looks forward to an eventful 2020, the year late President Musa Yar Adua envisaged that Nigeria would be one of the leading 10 developed countries. Of course Nigeria missed out on all the 8 goals set for Millennium Development agenda that elapsed in 2015.

Will Nigeria meet the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2030 which is just a decade to go from today? Happy 2020!

Issa Aremu mni, is a renowned labour leader

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

My vision 2020 for Nigeria

By Jide Ojo “Vision 20:2020 is an articulation of the long-term intent to launch Nigeria onto a path of sustained social and economic progress and accelerate the emergence of a truly prosperous and united Nigeria. Recognising the enormous human and natural endowments of the nation, the blueprint is an expression of Nigeria’s intent to improve the living standards of her citizens and place the country among the Top 20 economies in the world with a minimum GDP of $900 billion and a per capital income of no less than $4000 per annum.”

–Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020 document

F

rom today, January 1, 2020, we have set on a journey of another year as well as another decade. As is customary with many of us, we set ourselves resolutions of what we intend to desist from and what to embrace in the New Year.

These resolutions are sometimes partly or fully kept. Oftentimes, they are not kept at all. Yet, we continue to make the resolutions year in, year out.

About a decade ago, Nigeria envisioned to be one of the top 20 economies in the world by this year 2020. This was based on assessment of its abundant human and material resources and on the assumption that the country’s resources would be properly managed and channelled to set economic goals. To achieve this, the Vision 2020 identified six interwoven pillars, including good governance and an efficient state, skilled human capital, vibrant private sector, world class physical infrastructure and modern agriculture and livestock, all geared towards prospering in national, regional and global markets.

According to the 134-page document, “The NV20:2020 economic transformation blueprint is a long-term plan for stimulating Nigeria’s economic growth and launching the country onto a path of sustained and rapid socio-economic development. The blueprint articulates Nigeria’s economic growth and development strategies, for the eleven-year period between 2009 and 2020, and will be implemented using a series of mediumterm national development plans.”

From the aforementioned, it is clear that the NV 20:2020 was a grandiose plan. Prior to this, we had had the Vision 2010 when we thought all social amenities such as housing, health, education would be available and affordable for all Nigerians.

Before that, we had several development plans and economic blueprints. I recall that former President Olusegun Obasanjo launched with glee the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy popularly known as NEEDS. There was also the State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy known as SEEDS as well as its local government version called LEEDS. While the Vision 20:2020 was supposedly being implemented, this regime in 2017 launched the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. “The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is a MediumTerm Plan for 2017-2020, developed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for the purpose of restoring economic growth while leveraging the ingenuity and resilience of the Nigerian people – the nation’s most priceless assets”.

In spite of these development strategies and economic blueprint, Nigeria’s Human Development Index value for 2018 remained

PAGE 13

Comment 0.534 – which put the country in the low human development category- positioning it at the 158th out of 189 countries and territories. In April 2019, the Misery Index ranked Nigeria and South Africa as Africa’s Most Miserable Countries. The country still ranks high on maternal and infant mortality while our life expectancy is one of the lowest in the world.

Why is it that in spite of all the development plans, strategies and goals as well as the visions of development, the country still lags behind in the comity of nations? The answer is not far-fetched.

We are long on rhetoric and short on delivery. We are very adept at sloganeering and propaganda rather than do the needful. The political will to do the right thing is lacking while our leaders prioritise their personal aggrandisement over national development.

Nigeria has for long been classified as one of the resource-curse countries. The potential is high.

The human and material resources are many. Our natural resources comprising oil and gas as well as solid minerals are enough to make us attain the Vision 20:2020. Unfortunately, we are perpetual underachievers. As aptly described by the Professor of Political Science and incumbent Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Eghosa Osagae, Nigeria is a crippled giant.

It shouldn’t be so but that is the stark reality. Among the key contributory factors to our underdevelopment is corruption. We have been unfortunate to be governed by a team of rapacious leaders whose welfare and well-being are prioritised over and above those of the citizens.

If the resources of the country had been used to develop it and not diverted to private pockets, our

decaying infrastructure would have been long fixed.

Our public schools would not be in deplorable conditions that they are; our hospitals would not be mere consulting clinics that many of them are now; our road networks which are pot-hole ridden and death-traps would not have been this awful.

What would Nigeria have had to do with poverty?

Ironically, due to corruption and mismanagement of the nation’s resources, we are now the world capital of countries with extreme poverty.

As we start this New Year and decade, can our leaders across board – the three arms of government and the three tiers of government – make a new commitment to work assiduously for the betterment of our suffering motherland? Can they make a New Year resolution not to pilfer the country’s resources again? Can they turn a new leaf and shun corrupt practices in all ramifications? Can they simply make our money and other resources work for us? That would be very heartwarming if they can do that.

On the part of the citizens, we also have roles to play. Our duty is to support government to succeed. To whom much is given, much is expected.

As citizens, we all must shun our petty corrupt practices. We must be our brother’s keeper. We must pay our taxes, stop vandalising public utilities and be patriotic. We must also engage our elected representatives and demand transparency and accountability in government. As the saying goes, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

Income Tax Act, 2004; Value Added Tax Act, 2007; Customs and Excise Tariff (Consolidation) Act, 2004; Personal Income Tax Act, 2007; Capital Gains Tax Act, 2007; Stamp Duties Act, 2007; and Petroleum Profit Tax Act, 2004).

Its object is to reform Nigeria’s tax system for enhanced implementation and effectiveness. It is in line with the reform of the tax system initiated by the Federal Government so as to create an enabling business environment and reduce the tax burden for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

The Senate also promptly passed the 2020 Appropriation Bill in line with the commitment of the senators to realigning the fiscal calendar to a predictable January-December budget cycle.

The passage is the earliest in recent memory and was done by the lawmakers to enable the government have a full year to implement its budgets. Lawan said the lawmakers believe this will “enhance planning, implementation and monitoring of the budget by the relevant organs and agencies and significantly improve our annual budget performance.”

The ninth Senate also passed three Public Procurement Act 2007 (Amendment) Bills, 2019; to sanitise the public procurement process and curtail corruption. The emergency of these objectives cannot be overemphasised in an economy where corruption in the procurement process has stymied service delivery by the public sector.

Aside from the six bills passed, 185 bills have also gone through first reading, while 32 other bills have passed second reading and are before the relevant Senate committees for the necessary legislative work.

The ninth Senate attaches great importance to the Petroleum Industry Bill, Electoral Reform Amendment Bill and Amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

“When we come back, we are going to face very serious legislation that is required in Nigeria”, Lawan told his colleagues shortly before the Senate adjourned for the Christmas and New Year break.

“First is the Petroleum Industry Bill. The PIB has defied solution since 2007 when the executive brought the bill and it couldn’t pass. In 2011, it brought it again, it couldn’t pass. In 2015, the legislature took it up in a broken version, it couldn’t pass.

“Now, we have to act differently. The executive and the legislature would work very closely on this and come up with legislation on the PIB that would be in the interest of Nigeria but also protect the investments that are here, and even encourage more investments to come in.

The Electoral Reform Amendment Bill

addresses an urgent need to improve the electoral process. The lawmakers want to pass the bill well ahead of the next electoral cycle in 2023 to avoid a repeat of the situation whereby the President declined assent after the eight National Assembly passed the same bill close to the 2019 general elections.

Some of the bills currently being considered by the Senate have stoked concerns from the public.

Two of the most controversial are the anti-hate speech bill and the bill seeking to regulate the use of social media in Nigeria. But as Lawan has pointed out, “lawmaking is a rigorous process that allows for all sides of an argument to be heard and the true will of the people established before a bill becomes law.”

The Senate President called on Nigerians with strong views on these bills, and indeed on any other one, to attend the public hearings on them so that they can represent their positions before the lawmakers, fellow Nigerians and the watching world. It is through involvement in processes like this that the legislature can produce robust laws that well consider various opinions.

The Senate within the past six months received 78 public petitions which it referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. Most of these petitions were presented by private citizens with grievances against agencies or agents of the government.

The committee has so far examined nine of the petitions, concluded its investigations and laid its reports on the table. The committee is also working on the other petitions with a view to satisfactorily addressing the grievances behind them.

The Senate also convened roundtable discussions on three critical sectors of our economy, starting with the power sector. The decision to begin with the power sector is easily understandable. The government in recent years has invested billions of dollars in this sector, but the problems of inadequate power supply have continued to plague Nigeria without let.

Even the subsequent privatisation of the sector made no visible impact as power supply has remained epileptic across the country and desperately needs fixing.

The Senate Committee on Power assembled stakeholders in the sector at the roundtable discussions and has promised to be guided by their suggestions in presenting a report that is hoped would be decisive in addressing Nigeria’s power challenges

Happy New Year everyone!

Follow me on Twitter @jideojong

A Senate that works for Nigeria

By Ola Awoniyi

T

he ninth Nigerian Senate was inaugurated on June 11, 2019. Six months after, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and his colleagues have a lot to celebrate even if also some things to ponder on the task ahead.

The Senate can be proud of its record of achievements in all areas of its responsibilities as a preeminent democratic institution.

The pace has been frenetic, as would be seen shortly. But the smoothness of the process and seeming placidness of the legislative environment have made its feats gone almost unnoticed or unacknowledged.

This is understandable. The media is used to the daily feasts of intrigues and high drama in the chambers of the National Assembly and a cat and mouse Legislature-Executive relationship. These kinetic elements make good headlines and had been the main features of the federal parliament in the Fourth Republic. So their absence this time round has left the media feeling something big is missing or has gone wrong.

Let us put this in perspective. The ninth Senate started on a peaceful note, with the election of the Senate President and other principal officers devoid of rancour and much drama. The votes cut across party lines and left no bad blood in their wake.

This good start is significant, given the upheaval that the same process had assumed four years before, at the beginning of the eighth Senate when a large group of senators did not even have the opportunity to cast their votes. The leadership election crisis of June 2015 shaped the mood of the senators and would eventually define that assembly, culminating in the defection of the then Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The smooth take-off set the stage for the harmony in the ninth Senate. The assembly has a sizeable opposition caucus, but its tone has been mostly bi-partisan, temperate and cooperative. The opposition has its voice on every issue but there has been less bombast, grandstanding or playing to the gallery.

This spirit and a unity of purpose nurtured by the leadership have enhanced the legislative process and output. The senators have risen above partisanship and other divisive inclinations, to focus as a group on the thrust of their legislative agenda, which is to be the Senate that works for Nigeria.

The result is the outstanding achievements that have been made in the first half-year of the

ninth Senate. The assembly has passed six bills into law, four of which were members’ bills. The first to be passed was the Deep Off-shore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act CAP D3 LFN 2004 (Amendment Bill, 2019.

While declaring open a public hearing on the bill in October 2019, the Senate President said passing the bill had become “absolutely necessary so that Nigeria can generate more revenue from its endowments.” He added that the National Assembly was determined to pass the bill as a precursor to its determination to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill in 2020.

The Deep Off-shore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Bill was promptly assented into law by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on November 4, 2019, within days of being passed by the National Assembly.

At a lunch with senior journalists in Abuja on December 16, the Senate President underscored the excitement of his colleagues on this piece of legislation.

“This law will significantly increase accruals to the government from crude oil contracts. It has also ended our years of inexplicable failure to call in returns due to us from our joint venture partners.

As a result of this law, we have expanded a critical revenue stream and ensured more funds will flow into the treasury that will enable the government to execute its budgets and critical developmental projects,” he said.

After the bill was signed into law by the President, the Senate President has disabused the minds that had misconceptions of its intention.

Some investors, particularly the International Oil Companies think the bill will hurt them but Lawan said that impression is far from the purpose of the bill.

The Senate President once explained to investors that the amendment was not intended “to reduce the margin of profit of the IOCs. We did so because it was necessary and imperative to carry out the amendment because it was long overdue.

“That amendment should have been done since 2003. And we were very conscious of the fact that we need to keep our friends, the businesses that are here, happy.

“So, we did the amendment to actually get a better deal for Nigeria, our country, from the endowment, the oil and gas that we have, but also in the process protect the business interest of the International Oil Companies that are here.”

The Senate passed the Finance Bill, 2019 on November 21, 2019. The bill amended seven existing tax and fiscal policy laws (Companies

Awoniyi is the Special Adviser on Media to the President of the Senate

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

PAGE 14

News NLC vows to resist encroachment on its Kaduna property From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress Kaduna State Council has vowed to resist any attempt to Encroach on its Kaduna landed property The state Chairman of the Congress, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman stated this when he led members of the Congress

on a peaceful protest over encroachment on the secretariat along Independence Way Kaduna.

Comrade Ayuba said the former senator who represented Kaduna North in the Upper Chamber Suleiman Hunkuyi brought the property through what he discribed as’Back Door’ and the union will do everything to reclaim the land. ‘’All we know is that this property

is the legitimate possession of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“We are not ready to give any portion of it to anybody. If you want to build, go elsewhere and do that but this very property is not for sale. It remains the possession of NLC,’’ he said.

According to him, the land was given to Kaduna Council of NLC

by Tanko Ayuba when he was the

military administrator of the state. ‘’We are not going to fold our hands and see trespassers and intruders on our property.

“We are saying ‘no’ to that. We would not allow the rich and big people to take our land.

“On behalf of Kaduna State workers, we are going to stay here and defend their rights and property,’’he stressed.

The parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church dancing during the crossover night that gets to new year 2020 today Wednesday by 1am.

Four dead in auto crash on Lagos-Ibadan expressway

T

he Ogun Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said four persons died while four others sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident involving a vehicle around Romana Oil and Gas on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Clement Oladele, the Ogun Sector Commander of FRSC,

told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ota, that the lone accident happened at about 5.32 am.

Mr Oladele explained that a Man Diesel Truck, with registration number TKP 653 XA transporting yams, lost control due to wrongful overtaking and rammed into the road divider.

He said 14 people, comprising 13 males and a female, were in the truck whose lone accident resulted in the death of four persons, while four others sustained various degrees of injuries.

“The corpses of the four male victims have been deposited at the FOS morgue, Isara, Ogun, while the survivors were taken

to Idera Hospital, Sagamu, for intensive treatment.

The FRSC boss implored motorists to refrain from speeding and wrongful overtaking that could lead to loss of lives and property.

He also said FRSC and other sister agencies had cleared the obstruction to ease free flow of traffic on the road.(NAN)

Kinsmen condemn demolition of Saraki’s house in Ilorin

T

he President of Agbaji Development Association in Ilorin, Yusuf Olanrewaju, has described as “unfair”, the demolition of late second republic Senate Leader Olusola Saraki’s political pot in llorin.

The late Saraki’s house, popularly called Ile Arugbo (House for old persons), was demolished in the early hours of Thursday after the state government revoked the title of the landed property.

Reacting to the incident, Mr Olanrewaju described the demolition as “cruel”, adding that the demolition of the structure was a contempt of court since the matter was still before the state High court.

Mr Olanrewaju, spokesman of Saraki’s kinsmen at home and in the Diaspora, said the demolition was improper and “a calculated action to chase away the Saraki family from the plot.”

“It is not fair to try to rubbish the late Saraki’s contributions to the socioeconomic development of the llorin emirate.

“The demolition of the structure is not right since the matter is before the court,” Mr Olanrewaju said.

The President of the association, however, appealed to Saraki’s kinsmen at home and in the Diaspora to remain calm and continue to be law abiding.

NAN reports that hundreds of Kwara residents are still trooping to the demolished structure along llofa road, GRA, llorin, to catch a glimpse of the site after the demolition.

It would be recalled that the Kwara State House of Assembly in August called for the revocation of the landed property, after adapting the report of a committee that investigated the ownership of the property.(NAN)

K

ebbi State Chief Medical Director and Permanent Secretary in charge of Sahyaya Memorial General Hospital, Dr. Aminu Haliru Bunza has called on the individuals, NGOs and other philanthropists to complement government efforts in

promoting health care services delivery in the state.

He made the call while delivering his New Year message to journalists in his office adding that health system is a capital institutions that needs individual support to ensure the safety of lives of the people.

He explained further that Kebbi State Governor has

upgraded the hospital to the next level adding that very soon the hospital will be accredited with the National and Dental Medical Services.

Bunza who is also a consultant of Dermatologist and Venerologist said that if upgrade to the teaching hospital it will occupy over five hundred sick beds and it will also be attached to the University of

Science and Technology Aliero in order to allow the State indigenous students to study medical sciences.

The CMD who pointed out that the hospital his receiving about 45 medical consultant professor, doctors who specialize in a different filed urge people to support the state government to ensure development.

Commissioner for Environment, Cross River State, Mr Mfon Bassey (L), issuing a 7-day ultimatum to road-side traders to relocate to Watts market to allow for free vehicular movements, yesterday in Calabar. Photo: NAN

Demolition of Saraki’s property wicked, recipe for crisis, says PDP

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned, in the strongest terms, what it called the unwarranted and vindictive demolition of a property belonging to former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, by the All Progressives Congress (APC)led Kwara state government.

The PDP described the invasion and demolition as wicked, cowardly and a direct recipe for huge crisis in the state.

The leading opposition party made the condemnation in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.

The party held that it is clear that the action of the state

government is borne out of hatred and political intolerance, in furtherance of the larger plot by the APC and its administration to intimidate, suppress, hound, crush and silence opposition and dissenting voices in the country, in the bid to foist a siege mentality on the citizenry.

The PDP dismissed the reasons being spewed by the APC administration for the New Year dastardly act as baseless, false and incongruous, as they fail to add up, to justify the ferocious invasion, harassment of citizens and demolition of the said property.

According to the party, “The demolition is a complete subversion of rule of law as the matter is already in court.

“The APC-led Kwara state government could not wait for

the outcome of the court process apparently because it knows that it is pursuing an illegal agenda.

“Nigerians know how the APC and its government have been hounding, harassing and dragging Senator Saraki around over trumped-up charges, for daring to be among compatriots at the forefront of the quest to rescue our nation from misrule and strangleholds of the APC and its cabal.

“The APC and Kwara state government should perish their idea of trying to use false claims and propaganda to justify their wicked act and take over the property, as such cannot hoodwink Nigerians from the truth.

“Moreover, the timing of the invasion and demolition, in the wee hours and under the cover

of darkness, is a direct indication that the state government was carrying out an unwholesome and condemnable operation during which defenceless women were fired with gunshots.

“The PDP invites Nigerians to note that demolition of property, genuinely belonging to opposition leaders and other Nigerians perceived to be opposed to APC’s oppressive administration, has become a policy of the APC and its government in their bid to subjugate Nigerians and exclusively appropriate our common patrimomy for their selfish purposes.

“Nigerians have not forgotten how APC leaders, including those at the Presidency, applauded whenever property belonging to perceived political opponents

was unjustly and viciously pulled down in APC-controlled states and even in Abuja.

“The PDP however cautions the APC, its administration, and in this particular case, the Kwara state government, against crossing the boundaries and stretching the forbearance of the people, which is already causing a tension that could trigger serious unrest in our country.

“It is also instructive to note that in the years the PDP governed Kwara state, there was no case of government demolishing the property of opposition members or supporters under any guise whatsoever.

“Our party therefore stands with Senator Saraki and cautions the Kwara state government to henceforth steer clear of the property”, it said.

2023: Iwu urges northerners to support southern presidency

CMD woos support for Kebbi health institutions From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

“We do spend about N3.5m on the consultants doctors and we still also needs to employ more medical personnel and non-medical personnel in the hospital for the betterment of the people,” he added.

He then urged the people to be patient with the staffs as health services are not an easy task but they are ready to rescue one millions lives.

By Abba Eku Onyeka

T

he National Coordinator of Southern Nigeria Unity Forum, SNUF, Chief Iwu Maurice Ogbu has urged northerners to as a matter of equity, justice and fair play support southern presidency come 2023 presidential election.

Iwu said this in a release made available to journalists recently in Abuja in response to the stand of the Acting Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, Alhaji Musa Liman Kwande on the matter.

In the Daily Trust publication of November 24, 2019, Kwande was reported to have urged any qualified northerner to vie for presidency come 2023 and this didn’t go down well with the coordinator of SNUF Calling for a stronger united Nigeria for its advantage, Iwu Maurice Ogbu said that it is the turn of the southerners to produce president in 2023, adding that any attempt by northerners to retain power in 2023 will be resisted.

He said the south can’t continue to

succumb to marginalisation as slaves to the north.

Calling Kwande to other with regard to his statement published in Daily Trust of November 24, 2019, the national coordinator said he has observed with concern that presentation of presidential candidate in each of the two leading political parties of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC by the north in 2023 will mean that Nigeria’s unity is in diversity.

He further observed that a southern

president in 2023 would among others, not only promote unity in the country, but also address the issues of marginalisation and deplorable conditions of the zones’ roads.

Still calling for unity and equity, he suggested for peaceful separation, if the northern and southern politicians can’t agree to handle the affairs of Nigeria peacefully.

He however, warned against continued hide and seek game, just as he said he has observed with concern that no nation progresses in isolation.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

PAGE 16

Politics

From Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has counseled the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole to stop pushing the APC third term discourse in the public space.

The party further cautioned Oshiomhole to desist from going to the Presidential villa to push the impossible as such will not save him from the axe of suspension dangling over his political head or his inescapable prosecution over allegations of corruption and mismanagement of Edo state resources while he was governor of that state.

The party said this in a statement yesterday by Its

Just go, PDP replies Oshiomhole, APC

National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.

The PDP noted that such mission to the Villa, like the one Oshiomhole made yesterday, will also not save the APC from fizzling before 2023, as even alluded to by President Muhammadu Buhari in his

apprehensions about the gloomy future of the the APC The leading opposition party, in the statement, said, “Mr. Oshiomhole should therefore stop sounding like a broken brass in his attempt to launder a failed merchandise.

“Of course, Nigerians need

not be reminded, of the exit date of an administration that has caused them so much pains, abused our law, trampled on their rights and undermined our electoral process.

“It would interest Oshiomhole to know that if anything, Nigerians are already

counting days for May 29, 2023, when the APC and the Buhari administration will be consigned to the dustbin of history”, it said.

The PDP told Oshiomhole to, therefore, accept the fact that Nigerians have moved ahead towards 2023 and that the APC is not in their equation.

Ondo 2020: Akeredolu bans civil servants from wearing his campaign vest

A

s the political campaigns for the governorship election in Ondo State are expected to increase in the coming weeks, the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has warned civil servants to stay out of the fray.

He said they should stay out of partisan politics during the electioneering activities.

The governor specifically said he was against civil servants wearing campaign T-shirts adorning the logo of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hitherto, civil servants often attend campaign rallies of incumbent governors, wearing branded t-shirts.

Mr Akeredolu spoke at special

prayer session to mark the first working day in the new year held at the governor’s office, Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital.

He asked the workers to allow politicians to play politics, while they should concentrate on their efforts to help government execute its policies for the people.

He expressed gratitude to God for preserving his life, saying he had more services to render to the good people of Ondo State.

“I don’t want any civil servant to wear endorsement T shirt for me.

Civil servants should not be involved in politics,” he said.

“I don’t want workers to do like

they did before I came on board. They should focus on their jobs and let politicians play politics.

“We are all political animals, but workers should stay away from politics. And if they want to do, it should be done moderately.”

Mr Akeredolu at the event disclosed his readiness to serve more if permitted by God. He declared that his administration was ready to pay the N30,000 minimum wage as soon as the ongoing negotiation between the labour unions and the state government was concluded.

He claimed that the state is among the very few states already

discussing the implementation of the new minimum wage. ”The organised labour and government have been having discussions and negotiations and we are fine-tuning our conclusions to ensure that we come up with the most acceptable and sustainable salary structure considering the financial strength of the State,” he said.

“I wish to assure you that payment of the new wage would commence as soon as on-going discussion and negotiation are concluded.“ The governor said within a space of about three years, his administration had embarked on massive infrastructural development

Gov. Udom Emmanuel (M) and other officials of the state dance during Akwa Ibom Solemn Assembly and Annual Thanksgiving Service at the Ibom Hall arena, yesterday in Uyo. Photo: NAN

across the three senatorial districts of the state.

He said his administration had also made “unprecedented’ improvement in revenue generation and laying a solid foundation for the sustainable economic turn-around of the state.

Premium Times reports that Mr Akeredolu noted that the state government under his leadership had increased empowerment schemes for women, men and young entrepreneurs by providing trade support loans.

“In doing all of these and more, we have kept faith with the demands of workers’ welfare,” he said.

“In spite of our dire financial challenges, we have been able to fulfil our promises of regular payment of workers’ salaries and other obligations to the people of the state.

“I always hold the firm belief that regular salary payment and promotion of deserving public servants are not achievement but purely obligatory.

“You can bear testimony that we have almost concluded the payment of inherited salary arrears.”

He also thanked civil servants and political office holders for their cooperation and understanding in moving the state forward.

Speaking earlier in his exaltation, the Catholic Bishop of Ondo, Jude Arogundade, called on the governor to rally the people of the state for wealth generation and creation in the state.

He said the state had no business relying on federal allocation alone for its survival.

PDP behind Third Term Agenda -Oshiomhole

T

he National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) planted the idea of third term agenda by President Muhammadu Buhari in the sub-conscious of most Nigerians to further confuse the political space.

Mr Oshiomhole stated this when he addressed State House correspondents after the end of a closed door meeting with Mr Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday.

Mr Buhari had on Wednesday in a letter to Nigerians to mark the beginning of 2020 reiterated his intention not to contest the 2023 presidential elections.

The Nigerian leader, however, expressed determination to help strengthen the electoral process both in Nigeria and across Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the PDP had on Wednesday criticised the president over his New Year message and frowned at his pronouncement not

to participate in future elections in the country.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the president and his party (APC), would have no other option than to exit office at the end of his tenure in 2023.

However, the APC chairman said: “I am surprised to see that there are people who begin to wonder why should the President reassure Nigerians that he is not going to do Third Term in office because Third Term was planted

by PDP.

“It is still in the subconsciousness of most Nigerians that the first (sic) Nigerian President tried to do Third Term, emptied the treasury to bribe members of the National Assembly and since that President left, thanks to the National Assembly, no other next President has done eight years in office.

“You can recall that President Yar’Adua unfortunately has since joined his ancestors, and President Jonathan did six years and so by the special grace of God, this President (Buhari) whom we pray

will do his eight years complete in line with the provision of the constitution.

“And because there is a level of idleness within a section of the political class people can sponsor all kinds of publications and to give doubt whether or not the President is planning to stay longer.

“And I think it is his decision that at every interval he needs to remind Nigerians that he is not about to do what a PDP President did. For me it is necessary and in any case it costs us nothing to reassure us that `I am leaving.’

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

POLITICS

2023: Why we’re shopping for South-South presidential candidate -Arewa youths From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he Coalition of northern youths under the umbrella of Arewa Youths Assembly have said that they will do all that is politically required to ensure an emergency of a SouthSouth candidate for the 2023 presidency.

The youths said their decision to shop for a SouthSouth candidate who should be in the age bracket of 40-50 years was borne out of the fact that those northerners eyeing the seat are well above the age bracket, adding that the region had enjoyed the number national seat for too long.

Addressing a press conference

yesterday in Kaduna, the leader of the coalition, Mohammed Salihu Danlami said it is grossly unfair and malicious for north to retain power beyond 2023.

Arewa Youths position on 2023 presidency was coming on the heels of northern elders forum led by Professor Ago Abdullahi that north can retain power for 100 years.

According to Danlami, “The North have occupied the leadership position of the country since independence, more than any other region it is time for South-South Youths to produce the next President in 2023 to complete their 8years of leadership.

“Whosoever want to emerge

must have a global interdisciplinary perspective, must engage in long term empirical planning, have a strong communication skills, must be able to prioritise social justice and well-being over financial growth.

“We seek to redefine the role and leadership development process of the country, we are charting a new path to national rebirth to put an end to the issues of recycling old politician for leadership. Nigerian is a nation standing half in the light of progress and promise and half in darkness of injustice. We lived in a period of grave uncertainty.

“As things now stand, we have no idea where the nation would

be heading to if the North retains power in 2023. The greatest challenge facing Nigeria today is that of leadership Nigeria needs a leader that the people can identify with and can inspire them to greater height.

“We are calling for power shift to the clam surface of the burning hydrocarbon the land of the South-South. We need leaders with vision and passion because sound and visionary political leadership is vital for Nigerian Peaceful Co-existence.

“Nigeria will be better positioned to achieve our collective ideal for peace and stability, development and progress when we have a youthful leader who is committed in

L-R: Ibadan based Lawyer, Mr Adebayo Salawu; newly elected Chairman, of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, Alhaji Demola Babalola; Secretary, Sola Oladapo; Vice Chairman, Mr Moshood Adebisi; Treasurer, Mr Akeem Abas; Financial Secretary, Abiodun Atilola; during the Oyo State NUJ elections, recently in Ibadan.

prioritising the interest of the people and doing everything in his power to achieve these said goals while they have the mandate of leadership.

“With this timely intervention ahead of 2023 we are championing the course of youths within the age bracket of 40 to 50 years to lead Nigeria to the promise land. A vibrant youth who is detribalized, a youth who have vision enough to foresee the needs of the people and must be compassionate enough to match these needs with actions.

“For Nigeria to progress no time for experimentation, sentiments, tribalism or mediocrity, so, such a man must be strong enough, articulate and incorruptible, he must have a good sense of judgment, unquestionable integrity, be full of honour and moral courage.

A leader who is mentally alert, knowledgeable, exposed, a brilliant bridge builder who is cosmopolitan, energetic, eloquent, competent and having a wealth of knowledge of the dimension of national politics as to place the nation and its people in a mainstream politics of leadership development and social advancement.

“The expectation of 2023 leadership is high, but we are constrained to speak up on the unnecessary distraction and our solidarity toward our fellow brother from SouthSouth towards enthroning a new leadership in 2023. Our country belongs to all of us, as youths we have a duty to make it better and we have a duty to retire and stop recycling old politicians permanently.”

Gbajabiamila, Wase, Koko express shock over Hon. Fagen Gawo’s death

By Christiana Ekpa

T

he Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed shock over the demise of a member of the House, Rep Muhammad Adamu Fagen Gawo.

Fagen Gawo, who represented Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa State on the platform of APC, passed away on Tuesday in Dubai.

Fagen Gawo, a two-term member of the House, was the chairman of the House Committee on Constituency Outreach.

The Speaker said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, that he was deeply

touched by the news of the lawmaker’s death, describing it as painful.

“Rep Fagen Gawo was a truly committed lawmaker who meant well for his constituents and the country as a whole.

“I still have fond memories of Rep Fagen Gawo, who happened to be a gentleman that was always willing to offer himself for the service to the nation as a member of the House.

“Here was a lawmaker who exhibited high sense of maturity and statesmanship. He was always deep in his thoughts and wise in his counsel.

“He meant so many things to us. We all in the House would miss Rep Fagen Gawo. I pray the Almighty God will grant him a peaceful resting place in

Jannah,” the Speaker said.

The Deputy Speaker House Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase also expressed shocked and sadnesses over the sudden death of the Lawmaker hon.

Fagen Gawo.

In a statement issued by the his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Muhammad Puma, Wase, described the death of Hon. Fagen Gawo, as a huge loss, saying the National Assembly will miss hisl contributions on critical national issues.

“We have loss a friend and a brother the deceased has been known to be a hardworking and committed lawmaker whose views on key national issues were respected by his colleagues in the House.

“The late Fagen Gawo has worked very hard in the time

he represented his constituency ,We mourn him but we are consoled by the undisputed fact that he left his giant footprints in the sands of time which should be emulated.”

Wase prayed to God to give his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, while extending his sincere condolences to the people and government of Jigawa state Equally, the Lawmaker representing Koko- Besse/ maiyama federal constituency of Kebbi state has commiserated with the family of late Hon. Adamu Fagen Gawo.

Hon. Shehu Koko, Chairman House Committee on Airforce who described the lawmaker as a Friendly lawmaker and a man of peace said he will surely be missed by all especially his

Constituents.

“Late Gawo is a friend and I have always known him to be a man of peace and loves to share the little he has.

His sudden demise took everyone by surprise especially his close friends” “This is a painful exit and a sad news in the New year” He left behind kids and wives as well as close friends that will miss his contributions on the floor of the House” Rep Koko said the deseased left behind 10 children and two wives and prayed Allah to grant him eternal life Shehu Koko also condoled with his constituents and the entire people of Jigawa State as his remains will be buried According to Islamic rites in his home town.

HEALTH Page 18

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

Emigration hazard: SORENID to target family, religious leaders in 2020 W

orried by the challenges faced by illegal migrants in the desert, the Society for the Reconciliation of Nigerians in Diaspora (SORENID) said it would focus on family and religious leaders to enlighten Nigerians at the grassroots.

Speaking during end of year dinner in Abuja, SORENID founder, Sir Uche B. Okafor said the target could help sensitize many youths across the country.

“We will focus on family to take the campaign to where we believe is the root cost of this illegal migration. We are also going to engage religious leaders and individuals to research and write on the 26 A-Z keys to a blissful family. These books when published, will be shared to many young Nigerians to understand the values of their families.

He said the NGO currently has three books to its credit; Europe by road, curbing the root causes of illegal migration and the latest one on Xenophobia.

He said the books were shared to Nigerians free to enable them know the legal means of traveling abroad.

“I wrote the book as a way of advising Nigerians and our advocacy to tell Nigerians how these things are done; who does them, the dangers and others so that they cannot fall victims. This is because I have seen a lot of people who have been deceived to go to Europe. We want students and youths to get these books so that they can know the dangers and also know how to travel the right way. We are giving the books free and we are looking for people who will help us print more copies to give out to people so that they will not be deceived by these trick stars.

We are not stopping people from traveling. We are educating them on what they must do to travel the right way. We are against them traveling by road to Europe.

It is always to have a skill so that you can be useful to yourself when you finally travel the right way to the country of your choice. I have staff who are training people on various skills to make them useful. It is important for people to know how to do something, instead of selling their organs for money.”

While speaking about the challenges faced by emigrants, SORENID boss said Nigerians faced various challenges while traveling through the deserts.

“There are stories we do hear of those who travelled through the desert. We learnt that many of them died as a result of the stress, lack of water and different unbearable things they encountered in the desert. The stories are not pleasant that is why we always adviced our young people to travel the right way. But for those Nigerians I met in the places I served, many of them had psychological illnesses, psycho somatic I called it. There are many parents who sent their children out when they still need parental care.

These children when they get there, the society rejects them because of cultural differences; and when that rejection gets whole of them, they ended up becoming deviants, checking in to hotels and later become problem to the society. But as

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

Page 19

TCN restores power supply in Kakuri

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday announced it has restored power supply to the areas affected by fault on one of its 60MVA power transformers in Kakuri Substation.

The power supply, according to the company was restored as promised by 10.41 pm, on wednesday, 1st January 2020.

Recall, the company announced a fault involving an underground cable connecting 60MVA 132/33kV T3 and its grounding transformer in Kakuri

transmission substation, caused slight fire incident that affected the grounding transformer, resulting in the temporal disconnection of power supply to three (3) feeders; namely Arewa, UNTL and Ungwan. Boro feeders.

The General Manager, Public

Affairs, TCN, Mrs Ndidi Mbah in a statement said, TCN engineers quickly restored supply to the affected feeders in the evening, by reconnecting supply through another 60MVA, 132/33kV transformer T1A in the same substation.

The statement said, TCN has not only replaced the affected grounding transformer to maintain N-1 redundancy at the substation, but has repaired the faulty grounding transformer.

“All inconveniences caused by the few hours outage is highly regretted,” the statement said.

Master Plan Initiatives made Capital Market attractive - SEC

By Etuka Sunday

T

SORENID’s staff and some beneficiaries of items in 2019 someone handling students, I was able to help some of them. There were some who would come requesting for identification card that showed they were above 18, so that they could attend clubs and other things which they thought were the necessary things of life. In this process, I would sit them and advice them on what to do, telling them that the time was not right for the life style they wanted to embark on. Some ended up graduating while some dropped out of school. They would deceive their parents that they were in school, but they were busy pursuing something else with their friends.

Speaking on why he set up the NGO, the diplomatic said “By nature, I was called to help people. When I was serving, I used to help those people with challenges and victims of crisis that I came across.

The NGO which I founded, Society for the Reconciliation of Nigerians in Diaspora (SORENID), was meant to assist some of these victims and help them to be better people in the society. When I came back, I started the NGO proper with skills acquisition Centre. I also have an institute where I teach them business ideas so that they can help themselves. I believe a lot in giving out to those in need. Whenever I see young ones wasting, I try to create something to help them. I have seen a lot in the countries where I served and I want to help our people at home to get the best that life can offer.

“We are working on an acronym known as ITEM: We identify these Nigerians and arrange various talent hunt programmes in various fields. We search to get the best

comedian, best musician best artist and best in other fields. We also train, empower and mentor them. We follow closely their activities and improve in areas they need to work on. We also have skills acquisition programme for youths. Recently we spent over 500 thousand Naira to empower youths after training them.

“The beneficiaries were people in dire need of help. We had over 20 beneficiaries who were trained by this NGO with different skills. We will continue to assist as many people as we can.The selected beneficiaries were in need of help. They have no one to cater for them. We took them in because of our desire to help the society and give people a sense of belonging, and make them feel important in the larger society. It has always been my passion to help other people and I am very happy doing it.

“We know that if we hand over the money to them, they might not use it effectively; that is why we gave them these machines to enable them start their own various businesses and expand as time goes on. It is always important to have a skill especially now that there is no job. We are also encouraging graduates to ensure that they have one or two skills that could assist them in life incase the job they are looking for is hard to come by. We believe in giving them a brighter future that is why we design these programmes for them.

Speaking on the challenges facing the NGO, he said “It has not been easy because I have been using my personal money to run the programmes. I just retired and it is not easy working with people who

“

The beneficiaries were people in dire need of help. We had over 20 beneficiaries who were trained by this NGO with different skills. We will continue to assist as many people as we can.

believe they can get money immediately they start. Most Nigerians are not patient enough; they want quick money and you can’t get the best under this atmosphere.

However, there are some who are helping me to make this a reality. I am happy with the few people on ground who believe in what we are doing. Also, once in a while when people come around and see what we are doing, they used to assist us.”

He called on government to allow NGOs to go in to the villages because these are where the recruitments are being done; school, NYSC camps and other places must be targeted by NGO’s.

Also speaking, the National Coordinator of SORENID, Oliver Nwodoh, who was also a victim of illegal migration, said, “We are not stopping people from traveling. We are educating them on what they must do to travel the right way. We are against them traveling by road to Europe. It is always to have a skill so that you can be useful to yourself when you finally travel the right way to the country of your choice.

“I have staff who are training people on various skills to make them useful. It is important for people to know how to do something, instead of selling their organs for money.”

He called on young Nigerians to be useful to themselves instead of traveling to be slaves in other countries.

On her part, V.P Academics Government Secondary School Airport, Mrs. Onwuka S. Ngozi, harps on the need for education.

She said education is important because young Nigerians are deceived on daily basis to travel abroad.

“It is unfortunate that some of our youths are interested in quick money. It is this quest for quick money that usually forces them to embark on the perilous journey.

Let’s be patient and pray to God for His Will to be done in our lives.

he Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has stated that the various initiatives being implemented in the 10- year capital market master plan have made the capital markets more attractive to investors.

Acting Director General, Ms. Mary Uduk who stated this in a New Year Message to Capital market operators and stakeholders, commended them for their relentless service towards the growth and development of the market.

She sincerely thanked all Capital Market Operators and Stakeholders, for their immense efforts and contribution towards developing the Nigerian Capital market and enjoined them to be committed to the Nigerian Capital Market Project adding that it is time to make all the difference to make the vision of a world-class market a reality.

According to her, “The year 2019 saw us record tremendous results in a number of initiatives largely derived from the 10-year Capital Market Master Plan.

These initiatives have helped make the market more attractive, efficient and properly positioned to harness its true potentials.

“Through the implementation of interventions such as the Electronic Dividend Mandate Management System (E-DMMS) and the Identity Management System, we have made reasonable success in reducing the huge quantum of unclaimed dividends.

Uduk said that as the capital market journies through the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it has developed a roadmap to guide the industry towards innovation, and embrace a technology-driven approach in the regulatory oversight of our market.

“These landmarks would not be possible without our collective resourcefulness and relentless efforts. The Commission values and appreciates the selfless service and dedication that the capital market community and its stakeholders have invested in

various Committees and Teams.

“The new year 2020, which also signifies the commencement of a new decade, will see us embark on a number of

programmes geared towards taking our market to lofty heights. “ I enjoin us all to see this as a call to renew our passion and commitment to building the

capital market of our dreams: a world-class capital market – founded on the values of partnership and cooperation that has helped us stand the test of

time. The capital market of our dreams can only be achieved through harmonious partnership and our continuous cooperation” she stated.

L-R: Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Cllem Agba , Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed , Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate) Senator Babajide Omoworare and Director General Budget office of the Federation, Mr Ben Akabueze, during the Public Presentation and Breakdown of the Highlights of the 2020 Appropriation Act, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

CBN directs Banks to implement pre-authorisation/sales completion payment option

By Etuka Sunday The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed the banks and other relevant stakeholders to implement pre-authorisation and sales completion so that merchants that require such payment option can use it to bill their customer appropriately.

CBN in a circular said,

the directive was part of its commitment to facilitate the development of the Nigerian payments system and deepen the adoption of various electronic payment options available to users.

Pre-authorisation is a payment service that allows merchants to bill their customers on estimation basis (pre-authorisation) and compute the final bills (sales-

completion) at the end of service, to their customers.

For instance, most hotels in Nigeria require pre-authorisation of payment at the point of check-in to hold customers fund as deposit and at check-out, the hotels computes final bills and request for a debit to the customer’s card based on the final bill (sale-completion).

This payment service

option encourages adoption of cards especially in Travels and Entertainment industries.

CBN said, “the objective of the circular is to direct the banks and other relevant stakeholders to implement pre-authorisation and sales completion so that merchants that require such payment option can use it to bill their customer appropriately.”

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

Page 20

I N D U S T R Y Adebayo tasks state govts to create investment promotion agencies

By Miriam Humbe

M

inister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adebayo has called on the thirty six state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to set up investment promotion agencies in their respective domains.

The Minister said setting up of the agencies at the state level in the likeness of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) at the federal level would help address investment and investorrelated issues.

A statement signed by Mr Julius Toba-Jegede, the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media said the Minister disclosed this during a meeting with members of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) led by Dr Doyin

Salami at the Presidential Villa during a ministerial briefing with the council.

He told the council that “States should set up investment promotion agencies to address investment and investmentrelated issues and develop their investment profiles.”

The Minister who urged for effective collaboration with stakeholders to combat security issues and challenges facing investment drive in the country also called on the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to pass a resolution to address specific anti-investment activities.

He also called “for the enforcement of all relevant agencies in the One Stop Investment Center which is housed in the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, (NIPC)”

He told the council that this was part of the deliberations held with state governments at the recently concluded 11th National Council of Industry, Trade and Investment held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State between 2nd and 5th of December.

He disclosed that he had also set up a delivery team in the ministry to fast track the attainment of its 2019-2023 roadmap under seven strategic work streams.

He listed the work streams to include, Implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), Support the Growth of MSMEs, Improve MSMEs Market Access and Accelerate Investment in the Nigerian Economy.

Others according to him are: Facilitate Trade and Establish 21st Century Trade/Free Trade

Agreements, Process Digitisation and E-Government Solutions and Anti-Smuggling Measures.

Adebayo who was accompanied to the meeting by his Minister of State, Ambassador Mariam Yalwaji Katagum and top management staff of the ministry was commended by members of the presidential council.

The Chairman described his presentation as one of the most concise and brilliant so far received by his Council.

Salami said the essence of the meeting was to interact with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs and ensure a synergy on government’s economic policies.He added that such meetings would further allow the council to provide necessary guide, identify prospects and address challenges in mandates of the MDAs.

L-R: Technical Assistant Enugu State Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Center, Ms Amaka Okonkwo; Facilitator, Mr Nwachukwu Odigbo; Communication Officer Enugu SME Centre, Mr Chimdike Offornabo and Administration Officer, Ms Ogochukwu Ozoagu, during a free digital marketing training by Enugu SME Centre, yesterday in Enugu. Photo: NAN

Nigeria adopts standards for renewable energy, hybrid systems for rural electrification

By Miriam Humbe

T

he Nigerian National Technical Committee on Electrical/Electronics (E/E) has recommended 12 PICO PV systems standards, guide for renewable energy and hybrid systems for rural electrification to the Nigerian Standards Council for adoption as Nigeria Industrial Standards.

Rising from a 2-day meeting in Lagos recently, the Technical Committee (TC) Chairman, Engr.

Ayodele Esan stated that the recommended Standards which were all referenced from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Standards were carefully considered and found relevant to the Nation’s needs.

In his welcome address at

the opening of the TC meeting, Director General Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Osita Aboloma Esq. stated that the increased demand for energy in urban and rural areas necessitates greater emphasis on standardisation and conformity assessment in the electrical/ electronic sectors.

Aboloma said SON mandate places premium on safety, quality of services products, value for money, sustainability of the environment, poverty reduction and value addition through standardisation.

Represented by Engr. Achema Alewu, Group Head, E/E, the SON Chief Executive commended the support of the International Financial Corporation (IFC), through its Lighting Africa/ Lighting Global initiatives for the

development and implementation of the considered standards throughout the African continent.

He emphasized that in addition to coordinating Standardisation of the E/E industry, SON also provides necessary infrastructure, test equipment and building of technical capacity in collaboration with the IFC/ African Clean Energy (ACE) and other development partners.

He enjoined producers, importers and exporters of E/E products to leave no stone unturned in helping to sanitize Nigerian markets of substandard products to boost the nation’s trade across borders in view of the imminent implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, (AfCFTA).

According to him, the

implementation and enforcement of the recommended standards, after approval by the SON Council must be such that products that do not meet the required standards will not be produced in, nor allowed into Nigeria.

Stakeholders who participated in the standards adoption process include from the Nigerian National Committee on IEC, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Solar Energy Nigeria, Lighting Africa (IFC), Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE).

Others were, Nigeria Society of Engineers, OOLU Solars, National Center for Energy Efficiency and Conservation, SunKing Green Light and SON Electrical/Electronics Department Staff.

FG approves six Free Trade Zones to aid massive infrastructural devt

By Miriam Humbe

M

anaging Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Engr.

Terhemba Nongo has said that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has set the ground for the massive infrastructural transformation of the country through the licensing of seven Free Trade Zones to go into operation across the six geopolitical regions of the nation.

Information monitored on www.nepza.gov.ng quoted the Managing Director as saying that: “President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized the setting up of seven new Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the Six Geopolitical Zones in the country.

“These are: the Lekki Garment & Textiles Park as well as the Special Economic Zones in Makurdi, Benue state; Benin, Edo state; Ilorin, Kwara state and Sokoto, Gombe, plus Abakiliki, the Ebonyi state capital.

“With the coming on stream of these new SEZs country-wide, what is bound to follow is largescale infrastructural development in terms of power, water, roads, hotel chains, real estate etc.

“Until lately, NEPZA had 34 Free Zones, but in the last two years, we have licenced a number of more Free Zones. We now have 40 Free Zones including: Nasco Town Free Zone, Lagos, with expected capital investment of $2.1million; Quits Aviation Services, Ikeja, value estimated at $215million; and there is: Tomaro Industrial Park valued at $450million. All are in Lagos, and all of them target employment in the thousands.

“Together, these are bringing $2.8billion into the economy in terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Nasco alone hopes to generate over 15,000 direct jobs. And you have the Dangote Free Zone, valued at about $12billion, and which promises to generate thousands of jobs. So, we are looking at 40 Free Trade Zones/Industrial Parks.

“But beyond this, the President has given us the authorisation to licence seven new, pilot industrial parks in each of the country’s geopolitical zones. These new Special Economic Zones or Industrial Parks in the works would unleash a wave of job opportunities for our teeming youths. And let me add here that the three models of investment in the FZs are: Private, Public or a Combination of private and public partnership.

“I will say 14 are at the moment operational, the rest are still under construction, but the picture is looking good”.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Director of Development Control Department, Murktar Galadima has disclosed how the department generated not less than N1.8 billion this year, 2019.

Galadima, however revealed that the Department, which is under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) was given a target of N2 billion by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for 2019.

He spoke in a chat with journalists during end of year party organised for staff of the Department at its headoffice in Wuse, Zone 6,

METRO

Page 21

How Dev’t Control generated N1.8b in 2019- Galadima explains recently.

According to him, his organization was able to record that achievement because the processes of obtaining building plan approvals were speedy and certain financial loopholes blocked.

He explained that with its planned decentralisation of processing of building plan approvals, which would be done at regional offices,

thereby fast-trackting the process and generating more revenue for the Administration.

Galadima also said that about 749 building plan approvals were granted by the department in the last four years.

He also listed some of the achievements of the department in 2019, including procurement of one pail loader, provision of a server for

the office.

Others include conduction of monthly in-house training and cleaning of posters on public structures among others.

The event brought in about five past directors of the department who took turns to advise new staff on proper and professional conduct in the office and the field.

Among them were Isa Shaibu

and Yahaya Yusuf who urged the new and old staff to be discipline and avoid taking gratification from anyone.

The event also witnessed about 15 staff, received awards of excellence for performance in various areas, including cash awards, while their colleagues hailed in admiration and commendation.

Parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church dancing during the crossover night service that usher’s in New Year 2020 on Tuesday in Gwagwalada, Abuja .

Christmas: Foundation distributes foodstuff to widows, others

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

n the spirit of the Christmas celebration, an Abuja based Non Governmental Organization, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, has distributed assorted food items to some widows and vulnerable persons in Abuja.

Some of the food items

distributed to the beneficiaries include: yams, noodles, rice, maize, vegetable oil and among others.

Our correspondent reports that the guesture was part of the Foundation’s 18th edition of its reach-out programme to the needy in the society.

Speaking during the occasion, the President and Founder of

Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, said the food donation was aimed at putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged especially during the Yuletide season.

According to her, “It has been our philosophy and our slogan that “nobody is too poor to give and nothing is too small to give.

“It has been our tradition

for over 18 years to seize every opportunity and occasion to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged especially women.

“Today, in addition to food donations, we are training women on the art of making hats in different forms in view of the season and the beneficiaries of today’s training are happy.”

She therefore tasked

government at all levels and relevant organisations to go beyond funfairs that characterized every festivities and used such occasions to empower the vulnerable in the society.

One of the beneficiaries who spoke to our correspondent, Mrs. Monica Bulus, expressed gratitude for the gesture.

Page 22

world news

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

D

Mr Castro ran as a proud and passionate liberal, advocating for the decriminalisation of border crossings by undocumented migrants into the United States.

In September, he was accused of making an ageist insult against Democratic front-runner Joe Biden during a televised debate in Texas when he accused the 77-year-old former US vicepresident of being forgetful.

Mr Castro’s exit comes on the day that leading Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders’ campaign announced it had raised $34.5m (£26.2m) since he suffered a heart attack in October.

The haul surpasses Mr Sanders’ previous quarterly totals and was the highest of any Democrat in this election cycle.

But the Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist’s war chest was eclipsed

by Mr Trump, whose campaign said it drew in $46m, smashing

its previous 2020 fundraising record.

In addition to the latest totals, the Sanders campaign also announced on Thursday that over five million individual people had donated.

His best month was December when 1.8m donations were made with an average amount of $18.53.

What’s different for Bernie Sanders this time?

Bernie Sanders had a heart attack, doctors say Mr Biden and another Democratic front-runner, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, have not yet reported their fundraising totals, which is usually not a promising sign.

But the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, pulled in $24.7m in the last quarter.

Another White House hopeful, Andrew Yang, raised $16.5m in the past three months.

Senate speaker accused of taking bribes

I

t has been alleged that Tomasz Grodzki, took bribes when he worked as a surgeon in a Szczecin hospital.

Several former patients or their relatives have come forward claiming that prof. Tomasz Grodzki took illicit payments to perform operations while working as a senior surgeon in a Szczecin hospital. Tomasz Grodzki was elected as Senate speaker following the opposition gaining a narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate in the 2019 Parliamentary election.

The Senate Speaker is a prestigious job in Poland. As the speaker of the second chamber of Parliament he decides the agenda of the Senate and has the right to make appeals to the public via public radio and TV. In the absence of the President and the Speaker of the Lower House he would perform the duties of head of state.

The allegations The series of allegations about prof. Grodzki’s past emerged after he became Senate Speaker in November last year. A Szczecin academic claimed that Tomasz Grodzki pressured her into making a 500 USD a donation to a foundation he headed and that he never accounted for how this money had been spent.

Since that first claim several people have come forward claiming that prof.Grodzki forced payments for operations that he performed as part of Poland’s public health service in Szczecin. The Polish health system

Prof. Tomasz Grodzki operates on an insurance principle and the charging of patients is prohibited.

Doctors are however allowed to practice privately and charge for their services. But they should not use their private practices to charge for publicly funded operations.

Prof. Grodzki refutes all the allegations and says that they are an attempt at character assasination.

He says there is no evidence for any of the claims and that donations to a charitable foundation nor charging for consultations in private practice are in any way illegal.

Political consequences The public prosecutors are now looking into the allegations. The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) has called for the Senate Speaker to resign from his post and to clear himself of the allegations.

The accusations are an unwelcome development for the party which

prof. Grodzki represents, the Civic Platform (PO). Not only because they potentially damage the reputation of one of its leading figures.

Should prof. Grodzki be put in a position of having to resign from being Senate Speaker the PO would have to go through the process of trying to elect his replacement. It is by no means automatic that its allies in the “Left” and the Polish People’s Party (PSL) would agree that the next Senate Speaker should come from the PO. They could easily argue that the PO had its chance and blew it, and now it is someone else’s turn.

This is why it is more than likely that the PO will decide to tough it out and argue that their man is being attacked with unsubstantiated allegations for things which may or may not have taken place many years ago. So many years ago that they would be covered by the statute of limitations. But it is not certain that the PSL and the Left will remain forever on board in defence of prof.

Grodzki.

Much will now depend on whether more convincing witnesses come forward and on the prosecutor’s investigation thereof. At the very least it is likely to be a source of some embarrassment to both prof. Grodzki and his party as well as a trigger for a debate on senior doctors behaviour when combining private with public practice.

Culled from newsnow.co.uk

Page 23

N international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

e w s F r o m Boy fights for life after swimming pool incident

A

US election 2020: Julian Castro ends White House campaign

emocratic presidential hopeful Julian Castro has announced he is ending his campaign for the White House.

The former Obama housing secretary, who was the only Latino in the race, said in a tweet: “I’ve determined that it simply isn’t our time.”

“I’m not done fighting,” the 45-year-old added. His exit leaves 14 Democrats campaigning for this year’s presidential election.

The White House race begins in earnest next month with the Iowa caucuses.

The key issues for 2020 Democrats The remaining Democrats will battle it out in a series of state-by-state votes nationwide before the eventual winner is crowned at the party convention in July. He or she is expected to face President Donald Trump, a Republican, in November’s presidential election.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

12-year-old boy is fighting for his life after he sunk in a swimming pool at Stegra Hotel in Lodwar, Turkana County.

The boy was in the company of his family who were having some fun time to usher in the new year as children enjoyed in the water.

The boy sneaked from the children’s swimming pool and wanted to try the deep waters in the adults pool.

He sunk to the bottom of the adult swimming pool before he was rescued and rushed to Lodwar County Referral Hospital.

The Star Journalist Hesborn Etyang present during the incident was harassed by the management of Stegra Hotel for taking pictures of the drowning boy on claims that it could taint the image of the hotel and lead to closure.

“Immediately I took the photos of people doing first aid to the drowning 12-year-old boy who

was about 20 metres away from me. One of the restaurant staffs noticed and raised alarm to her colleagues that a journalist was filming the incident,” journalist said.

He said just after taking the pictures, immediately two people identified as bouncers of the hotel, together with one of their senior staffs working in the human resource department pounced on him demanding for the Camera and threatening him to delete the pictures.

“I was not given time to express myself, was told I have been sent at the hotel to do a negative publicity so that the hotel can be closed down and was force told to delete the photos. When I tried to resist, one of the bouncers took the camera and threatened to beat me lest if I didn’t comply,” he said.

Etyang said after the scuffle he complied to delete the images and was immediately escorted out of the premises.

Belgium suspends extradition case for Catalan MEPs

A

Belgian judge today suspended consideration of a Spanish warrant seeking the return of two Catalan separatist leaders to face trial, their lawyer said.

Exiled former Catalan regional president Carles Puigdemont and his health minister Toni Comin were elected members of the European Parliament in May last year.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled last month that they enjoy immunity from prosecution unless Spain requests this be removed and their fellow MEPs agree.

Today, Puigdemont’s Belgian lawyer Simon Bekaert told AFP the European Arrest Warrant levelled against the men by the Spanish court should now be rejected.

Separately, Puigdemont’s camp issued a triumphant statement.

“Today, the Belgian justice system has once again stopped the attempt to extradite president Puigdemont and councillor Comin because they recognise their immunity,” it said.

On Twitter, Puigdemont declared: “Spain must act in the same way as Belgium has done and respect the law.”

Puigdemont served as president of the Catalan region of Spain between January 2016 and October 2017, during which time he helped organise an independence referendum.

He fled Spain after attempting to declare independence on the strength of the result of the banned vote.

His latest arrest warrant was

issued by Spanish Supreme Court judge Pablo Llarena shortly after his court convicted several other Catalan separatist leaders on similar charges.

Another Catalan proindependence leader, Oriol Junqueras, was arrested in Spain and has been sentenced to 13 years in jail for sedition over his role in the referendum.

But he was also elected to the European Parliament while still in pre-trial detention in last May’s EUwide vote and appealed to the ECJ, leading to last month’s immunity decision.

Puigdemont took the opportunity of the latest Belgian decision to demand Junqueras’ release.

Another Catalan politician, former regional culture minister Luis Puig, is also in Belgium and is not an MEP. He is still facing possible extradition in the case.

Pro-independence Catalonia’s deposed leader Carles Puigdemont lectures at the University of Helsinki, Finland March 23, 2018.

13 years old Boy rescued in swimming pool at Stegra Hotel ,Lodwar Turkana after drowning n adult swimming pool

A

f r i c a

Albinos are at risk in Malawi

Malawi’s albinos get personal security alarms as attacks intensify

M

alawi is distributing personal security alarms to people with albinism, a condition that causes whitening of the skin from lack of pigmentation.

Malawi authorities hope the alarms will protect albinos from attacks by people who believe their body parts have magical powers.

But the alarms have only a limited range, raising doubts about their effectiveness. Vendor Chipiliro Laston was nearly abducted in March by three men pretending to be police officers.

The men said they were searching houses of villagers suspected of keeping albino body parts, which are used across East Africa for so-called “black magic.”

Laston was saved when the men failed to produce identity cards and villagers handed them over to the real police. Speaking about the incident, Laston said “I realized that I can be killed any day because of the way those people came. I was extremely

terrified, and I realized that I am being stalked. So, since that time, I still live in fear.”

Police say at least 25 albinos have been killed in Malawi since 2014, and albino graves are often robbed – not for possible jewelry but for bodies. Socalled witch doctors use albino body parts in potions or rituals believed to bring good luck, love or wealth.

Malawi authorities this year reacted to public pressure by distributing mobile personal security alarms to the country’s estimated 10,000 albinos. Mary Navicha, Malawi’s minister for gender and disability, says it’s all about safety.

“As [the] government, we are trying to create [a] conducive environment for the persons with albinism, that’s why we are distributing security gadgets for them to be protected and for them to be safe in their communities.”

The alarm sound is activated when the wearer pulls a safety pin but can

only be heard within a range of about 100 meters. Sheriff Kaisi, political scientist at Blantyre International University, doubts the effectiveness of the sound.

“You can agree with me that even the sound is not so alarming that people can say ‘There is something happening.’ And it is not in our tradition as Malawians that in many cases that when we hear the sound of an alarm, people start rushing to see what is happening over there,” Kaisi said.

Malawi police and local leaders are trying to educate people to react to any alarms. Laston says he feels a little safer with the alarm on, but the limited range deters him from traveling to earn money, so he is struggling to put food on the table.

Malawi’s albinos initially refused the alarms when they were first offered in May because authorities labelled them as gifts from President Peter Mutharika.

Warning over dirty drinking water in Winburg, DA lays criminal charge

T

he DA in the Free State has laid criminal charges against the mayor and municipal manager of the Masilonyana Municipality over dirty drinking water in the area.

Councillor Brunhilde Rossouw laid charges in terms of National Water Act at the Winburg police station on Thursday.

Rossouw said the act criminalised the unlawful and intentional or negligent act or omission which polluted or was likely to pollute a water resource and detrimentally affected a water resource.

‘Drinking water provided to community of Winburg is green’ “Since December 28, 2019, the drinking water provided to the community of Winburg is green.

The DA has investigated and discovered that the

local dams, which feed the community’s water purification plant, is so contaminated with sewage from the town that no amount of chemicals can clean it.

“The municipality is still continuing to provide the community with this water although they issued a warning that such water should not be consumed,” said Rossouw.

She added the DA was concerned the water was being used for bathing as well as washing of dishes and clothes, which posed a severe health and safety risk for the community.

Demand for clean, drinkable and safe water “The municipality has a constitutional duty to provide clean, drinkable and safe water to the residents. Sicknesses or death that might result from

the consumption of such water will be the fault of the municipality.

“The mayor, Steven Koalane, and municipal manager Pule Tsekedi, as the administrative and political head of this ANCled council, need to take responsibility and ensure that our constitutional rights are upheld.

“Currently, they are putting lives in danger through their inability to govern and are breaking the law.”

Rossouw promised the DA would also be writing to the MEC for CoGTA, and the relevant ministers of the national government to seek urgent intervention.

Police spokesperson Colonel Thandi Mbambo confirmed an enquiry docket under the National Water Act 36(1)(i) had been registered for further investigation.

PAGE 24

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

A

s i a

Trump’s Top Iran Official: Attack on Baghdad Embassy ‘Orchestrated

by Iranian Regime’

P

resident Donald Trump’s special representative for Iran said that the Iranian regime was behind the attempt to gain access to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

The embassy was stormed on Dec. 31, 2019, by various Iranbacked militias and demonstrators. The groups set fire to outer walls and guard posts, hurled rocks at buildings, and threatened to kill Americans if they got inside the embassy.

The groups dispersed on Jan. 1 after gathering for a second day following reinforcements and rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades from U.S. troops and security forces.

Brian Hook, the special representative, said during an appearance on CNN’s “New Day” on Wednesday that Trump ordered measures that were necessary “to protect our troops,” including the deployment of a contingent of Marines from Kuwait.

“This is orchestrated by the Iranian regime,” Hook said.

“These are the kinds of tactics they used. 40 years ago they stormed our embassy. And here we are 40 years later and they’re directing the terrorist groups to then attack our embassy.”

Turkish parliament convenes in Ankara. (File photo: Reuters)

Turkish lawmakers authorize sending troops to fight in Libya

T

urkey’s parliament has authorized sending troops to Libya to help the UN-recognized government in Tripoli.

Turkish lawmakers voted 325-184 at an emergency session on Thursday in favor of allowing a one-year mandate to

deploy troops.

There are concerns that Turkish forces could aggravate the conflict in Libya. But Ankara says the deployment may be needed for Turkey to safeguard its interests in Libya and in the eastern Mediterranean.

The motion allows the government to decide on the scope, strength and timing of any mission by Turkish troops.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay told state-run Anadolu Agency that Turkey would send “the necessary number (of troops) whenever there is a need.”

Iraqi protester shot dead as anti-regime rallies continue

A

n Iraqi activist was shot dead overnight in Baghdad, a police source told AFP on Thursday, as anti-government rallies carried on despite a separate day-long siege of the US embassy.

The activist, Saadoun al-Luhaybi, was shot in the head in a southwestern neighborhood of the Iraqi capital, the police source said.

He had been taking part in youth-led demonstrations

Protesters and militia fighters burn tires outside the US Embassy in Baghdad on January 1, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)

rocking Iraq since early October that have demanded the ouster of a governing class seen as corrupt, inept and beholden to Iran.

The protesters have occupied Baghdad’s iconic Tahrir Square, just across the river Tigris from the Green Zone, home to government offices, the United Nations headquarters and foreign embassies.

On Tuesday, an angry mob marched into the Green Zone and to the US embassy, outraged over American air strikes that killed fighters from the Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU) militias.

They besieged the embassy for just over 24 hours, leaving on Wednesday afternoon after an order from

the PMU. The anti-government demonstrators who have been taking to the streets for months insist their movement is entirely unrelated to the crowds that besieged and vandalized the American mission.

“We’ve got nothing to do with that,” one demonstrator in the southern protest hotspot city of Diwaniyah told AFP. Protesters still occupied the streets in the city, where they have shut down most government offices and schools.

They briefly allowed local government offices to reopen to let employees receive their salaries at the end of the year, an AFP correspondent said.

Australia fires: Angry residents berate PM Morrison in blaze-ravaged town

A

ustralia’s PM Scott Morrison had to cut short a visit to a town ravaged by fire after angry locals heckled him over the government’s response.

Locals said he had done very little to help Cobargo in New

South Wales (NSW), where two people died earlier this week and many lost their homes.

The PM said he was “not surprised people are feeling very raw”.

NSW’s premier has declared

“You’re an idiot, mate”: Australian PM Scott Morrison heckled by bushfire victims

a week-long state of emergency in response to the escalating bushfire threat.

Since September, bushfires have killed 18 people and destroyed more than 1,200 homes across NSW and neighbouring Victoria. At least 17 people remain missing after fires this week alone.

Medal for dead firefighter given to toddler sonIn pictures: Latest from the fires Thousands of people are already fleeing a vast “tourist leave zone” in NSW, with supplies running low in some cut-off towns.

It’s been called “the largest relocation out of the region ever”.

Troops are also preparing to

evacuate some of the 4,000 people trapped by fires in Victoria.

What happened in Cobargo?

Mr Morrison was approached as he visited Cobargo, near the coast in southern NSW. “How come we only had four trucks to defend our town?

Because our town doesn’t have a lot of money but we have hearts of gold, prime minister,” one woman called out.

Others joined in as Mr Morrison turned away, calling him “an idiot” and saying he was not welcome.

“You won’t be getting any votes down here, buddy. No Liberal [party] votes - you’re out, son,” heckled one man.

Culled from newsnow.co.uk

Pro-Iranian militiamen and their supporters set a fire during a demonstration in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 1, 2020. (Khalid Mohammed/ AP Photo)

Japan to Launch Project to Boost Farm Productivity in Myanmar

J

apan will launch a 390 million yen ($3.6 million) project in May in Myanmar to boost irrigation and agricultural management as part of efforts to increase productivity and eradicate poverty in the Southeast Asian country.

Development of the agriculture promotion system, the improvement of the rice value chain, among other things, will be conducted in six townships in the Shwebo district of the Sagaing region, home to some of the largest irrigated farmland in Myanmar.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Myanmar government signed an agreement for the project in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw last week.

The two sides also aim to secure a stable water source by establishing a water management organization for farmers and improve profitably by obtaining a geographical indication tag for Shwebo Pawsan, a highend variety of local rice.

The project, designed to improve the income and management skills of farmers, runs from May 2020 to November 2024, according to JICA. About 60 percent of the Myanmar people engage in agriculture, with agriculture, forestry and fisheries accounting for about 30 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

However, the development and dissemination of agricultural technologies are not that advanced in Myanmar, with its rice yields standing at 3.50 tons per hectare, lower than the 5.54 tons per hectare in Vietnam, 5.15 tons per hectare in Indonesia and 4.34 tons per hectare in Bangladesh, JICA said.

Myanmar’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation’s Department of Agriculture will carry out activities related to agricultural promotion, while the ministry’s Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department will engage in participatory water management activities.

Japan has already started repairing irrigation facilities as well as bridges and roads in the Shwebo district as part of another assistance project, according to JICA. A farmer plows a field with two cattle in Sagaing Region. / LightRocket / Getty / Kyodo

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

PAGE 25

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, January 3, 2020, 2019

26

Feature

Khalifa Haftar: The Libyan general with big ambitions

Mr Haftar’s offensive to take Tripoli came in the midst of planned talks over the delayed election halifa Haftar has been and 300 of his men were captured part of the Libyan political by the Chadians in 1987. scene for more than four Having previously denied decades, shifting from the centre the presence of Libyan troops in to the periphery and back again the country, Gaddafi disowned as his fortunes changed. him. This led Mr Haftar to devote On 4 April he ordered his the next two decades towards Libyan National Army (LNA) to toppling the Libyan leader. advance to the capital, Tripoli, He did this from exile in the US where the internationally state of Virginia. His proximity to recognised government is based. the CIA’s headquarters in Langley The LNA says its aim is to restore hinted at a close relationship with security and fight armed gangs US intelligence services, who gave and “terrorism”. their backing to several attempts The push comes months to assassinate Gaddafi. after the LNA made advances Return to Libya elsewhere in Libya, a situation After the start of the uprising likely to have spurred Mr Haftar against Gaddafi in 2011, Mr on to seek military control of the Haftar returned to Libya, where whole country. he became a key commander of Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj the makeshift rebel force in the of the UN-backed Government east. of National Accord (GNA) has With Gaddafi’s downfall, Mr vowed to defend Tripoli, accusing Haftar faded into obscurity until Mr Haftar - who is popular in February 2014, when he outlined the city of Benghazi for his role on TV his plan to save the nation in driving out Islamists - of and called on Libyans to rise up launching a coup. against the elected parliament, The offensive by Mr Haftar, the General National Congress who has his powerbase in the east (GNC), whose mandate was still of the country where he is allied valid at the time. to a rival government, comes His dramatic announcement amidst UN-led plans for talks to was made at a time when Libya’s help facilitate the delayed general second city, Benghazi, and other elections which were to be held towns in the east had in effect last year. been taken over by the local alDownfall and exile Qaeda affiliate, Ansar al-Sharia, Born in 1943 in the eastern and other Islamist groups town of Ajdabiya, Mr Haftar was who mounted a campaign of one of the group of officers led assassinations and bombings

by Col Muammar Gaddafi which targeting the military, police seized power from King Idris in personnel and other public 1969. servants.

Gaddafi put Mr Haftar Although Mr Haftar did - recently promoted to field not have the financial capacity marshal - in charge of the Libyan to put his plan into action, his forces involved in the conflict in announcement reflected popular Chad in the 1980s. This proved sentiment, especially in Benghazi, to be his downfall, as Libya was which had become disenchanted defeated by the French-backed with the total failure of the GNC Chadian forces, and Mr Haftar and its government to confront

K

Mr Haftar is popular in the city of Benghazi for his role in fighting Islamist militants

the Islamists.

In May 2014 Mr Haftar launched Operation Dignity against Islamist militants in Benghazi and the east. In March 2015 Libya’s elected parliament, the House of Representatives (HoR) - which had replaced the GNC - appointed him commander of the LNA. After a year of little progress, in February 2016 the LNA pushed the Islamist militants out of much of Benghazi. By mid-April this had been followed up by further military action that dislodged the Islamists from their strongholds outside Benghazi and as far as Derna, 250km (155 miles) east of Benghazi.

The HoR appointed him from lieutenant general to field marshal after he helped secure key oil terminals known locally as the Oil Crescent.

Moving towards Tripoli Mr Haftar’s popularity is not necessarily shared elsewhere in the country where he is remembered more for his past association with Gaddafi and his subsequent US connections. He is also detested by Islamists who resent him for confronting them in Benghazi and elsewhere in the east.

The LNA, however, is likely to have gambled on local groups

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

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THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990

NAMES OF TRUSTESS: 1 PASTOR ADEMOLU SUNDAY STEPHEN 2 OHENE JAMES ABBAH SECRETARY 3 FELICIA OPEYEMI ODEWUNMI 4 AKINSEYE AGNES TREASURER

NAMES OF TRUSTESS: 1 ELOM MICHAEL EDE 2 ELOM GRACE AMARACHI ISREAL

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“

After the start of the uprising against Gaddafi in 2011, Mr Haftar returned to Libya, where he became a key commander of the makeshift rebel force in the east. With Gaddafi’s downfall, Mr Haftar faded into obscurity until February 2014, when he outlined on TV his plan to save the nation and called on Libyans to rise up against the elected parliament, the General National Congress (GNC), whose mandate was still valid at the time. His dramatic announcement was made at a time when Libya’s second city, Benghazi, and other towns in the east had in effect been taken over by the local al-Qaeda affiliate, Ansar al-Sharia, and other Islamist groups who mounted a campaign of assassinations and bombings targeting the military, police personnel and other public servants. Although Mr Haftar did not have the financial capacity to put his plan into action, his announcement reflected popular sentiment, especially in Benghazi, which had become disenchanted with the total failure of the GNC and its government to confront the Islamists.

GRALOM OUTREACH MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990

AIMS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST TO ALL NATIONS

Mr Haftar’s reappearance on the Libyan political scene took many by surprise in Tripoli to come out in support UN-backed government.

The two European countries of its latest operation to seize the capital. But an umbrella group of see Libya as a key partner in the city’s most powerful militias, stopping the wave of migration affiliated to the GNA, launched from sub-Saharan Africa.

France, for example, carried a counter-attack hours after the out unprecedented air strikes on LNA announcement.

Before the latest offensive Mr the LNA’s biggest opponents Haftar was in Saudi Arabia where Chadian opposition fighters - in he met King Salman, leading to the midst of battles in the south.

“Haftar has understood that speculation that he was backing migration for him is what the the Libyan general.

Egypt and the United Arab Islamic State is for the Kurds” - the Emirates have also been named key to international legitimacy,” Mattia Toaldo, senior policy as supporters of Mr Haftar.

France has also provided tacit fellow at London’s European backing for Mr Haftar, which has Council on Foreign Relations, resulted in a public falling out told Foreign Affairs magazine. with Italy, which supports the Russia, which has long stressed it deals equally with Libya’s rivals, has expressed concern over airstrikes against the LNA during its latest offensive. And US Secretary of State Pompeo said the US was “deeply concerned about fighting near Tripoli” and stressed the need for talks.

While Mr Haftar has been ambiguous about his own political ambition, it is likely that this is confined to a key role for himself in the new army under the national unity government and, more generally, for the LNA in the new armed forces.

Mr Haftar has persuaded army commanders and militia leaders to Source: BBC support his campaign

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THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 NAMES OF TRUSTESS: 1.

TUBO AHMED USMAN 2.

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ADAMS GODSWILL NGBEDE AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To focus on contributing to social development through ideal social education and funding of projects that shape the mindset for an ideal socio-economic future in a community.

2. To train, equip and facilitate young Nigerians on advancement in research innovation, educational development and knowledge transfer.

3. To engage and encourage the youth in promoting scientific research innovation and attainment of academic excellence.

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NAMES OF TRUSTESS: 1. Sulayman Dauda 2. Nasiru Idris Medugu 3. Dahiru Mohammad Bakano 4. Hauwa Abubakar Idris 5. Adati Ayuba Kadafa

-CHAIRMAN SECRETARY MEMBER

AIMS: To be an institution fostering human development using kindness and compassion to provide avenues for achievement and flourishing despite societal and cultural barriers.

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aliyu I, formerly known as Ali musa now wish to be known and addressed as aliyu Ismail musa .

All former document remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE Africa Green Effect Initiative

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 NAMES OF TRUSTESS: 1.IBITAYO STEPHEN OLUFEMI 2. IBITAYO COMFORT IYABO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To assist in curbing deforestation in Africa 2. To plant trees in Savannah Areas.

3.To create alternative energy instead of fire wood.

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Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

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Christiana

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 NAMES OF TRUSTESS: 1 BISHOP OKAFOR CHINEDU FRED- GENERAL OVERSEER 2 REV OKAFOR PATRICIA NWANYISO-- GENERAL SECRETARY 3 FRED IFEANYI EMMANUEL MEMBER 4 FRED DANIEL NDUBUISI MEMBER 5 OLI SAMUEL NNAEMEKA MEMBER 6 OLI VICTORIA NGOZI MRS MEMBER AIMS TO GO FOR EVAGELISM AND MISSIONS PERSONAL WITNESSING CRUSADE RURAL AND URBAN AD INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS THEREBY RECONCILING MEN TO GOD TO PRESENT MEN TO CHRIST FOR ETERNITY TO TRAIN GENUINE LEADERS OF THE GOSPEL TO ESTABLISH SOLID SCHOOLS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

loss of document

This is to inform the general public of the Loss of original sales agreement between Alhaji Umaru Dan fulani Of NDC Rigachikun kaduna, and Late Alhaji Sani Imam of Sullubawa Road Unguwan sarki kaduna.

All effects made to recovered the said document proved abortive, if found, kindly return to the nearest police.

The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known as Christiana Ikojo Sundaynow wish to be known and addressed as Christiana Ikojo Samson Ibrahim. All former document remain valid. Authorities concerned and the general public should please take note.

is

for sale

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY

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friday, January 3, 2020

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sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

Beach Volleyball wins first gold for Nigeria in 2020 at Camtel Int’l C’ship Stories by Albert Akota

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igeria women’s beach volleyball team has won the country’s first gold medal in 2020 by winning the Camtel International Beach Volleyball Championship for the second consecutive year.

The duo of Francisca Francisca Ikhiede and Amarachi Kelechuku defeated South America champions, Brazil 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) in the women’s final.

The team came back from a set down to beat highly rated Morocco in the semi finals 2-1(17-21, 21-14, 15-10).

Nigeria men’s beach volleyball team also settled for Bronze medal after beating host Cameroon 2-1 (21:15, 19:21,15:13) An elated John Iwerima

commended his players for their dogedness and strong will shown in the final against Brazil.

He dedicated the trophy to volleyball enthusiasts in Nigeria, coaches and the President NVBF for his support and encouragement.

Iwerima stated that the players are motivated to join the remaining team in the quest to qualify Nigeria in the beach volleyball event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

He said, “I am short of words and cannot express myself because we had already been written off by the spectators and pundits. The win is a morale booster for us and it will help push the team for victory at the qualifiers in Ghana.

“The title is dedicated to the volleyball family and the board led

by Engineer Musa Nimrod for his steadfastness and believe in Beach Volleyball. The next target for us is to qualify Nigeria for Tokyo Olympics” Reacting to the victory, the President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod applauded the players for the feat recorded in Cameroon.

Nimrod charged the players to go to Ghana for the Olympics Qualifiers and make Nigeria proud.

He said, “Today is a day of joy for me because beach volleyball won the first gold medal for Nigeria in 2020.

The girls have shown passion and zeal; the only way we can encourage them is to keep supporting them.

“The task before you now is to qualify Nigeria for the Tokyo Olympics whereby writing your names in Gold”.

Dare promises to deliver four FIFA standard stadia in three months

Minister of sports, Sunday Dare

M Official with the trophies

inister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, has said that there is an ongoing effort to build four football pitches of international standard, adding that they would be completed before middle of the year.

Dare made this revelation on his Twitter handle on the New Year

Day. The minister in August while on a facility tour of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium and the Murtala Square, Kaduna said four stadiums across the country will be upgraded to global standards, using public private partnership initiatives.

The stadiums to receive upgrading are the National

Stadium, Lagos; Ahamdu Bello Stadium, Kaduna; Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

He promised he would work assiduously on the upgrading, management and maintenance of the sporting facilities across the country, with particular attention on the four

stadiums.

However, Dare on Wednesday tweeted that the pitches are near completion and would be delivered between April and May. “Efforts are now ongoing to deliver four football pitches Of FIFA standard soon-probably April/May 2020 with things running smoothly,” he said.

Solskjaer targets new signings to counter Pogba, McTomiway injuries >>>PG30

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

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Solskjaer targets new signings to counter Pogba, McTomiway injuries

Joshua and Wilder

I will knockout Wilder before 7th round- Joshua boasts

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eavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua has boasted that he will knockout WBC champion, Deontay Wilder before the seventh round whenever they fight.

While Joshua recently defeated Andy Ruiz Jr to reclaim his WBA, IBF and WBO belts, Wilder has been undefeated and is the baddest man in the heavyweight division with 99.7 percent knockout rate.

The duo are expected to fight in a grudge match this year, but this will depend on the outcome of the Wilder-Tyson Fury’s fight in February 2020.

Speaking with Sky Sports on Wilder’s win over Ortiz, Joshua boated: “He wouldn’t be there to do that in the seventh round. I would go in to knock him out. It’s heavyweight against heavyweight, champion against champion.

“This is a serious fight, so I ain’t going to go in there to try and outbox him for 12 rounds, because of his punching power as well. I’ve got to go in there and

take him out. Don’t let him get too comfortable in the ring with me.”

Joshua said he had been able to claim four belts in the space of 20 fights while Wilder has only one belt despite over 40 fights.

“We’ve done it, we’ve unified it, in the space of 20 odd fights.

He’s had 40 odd fights. How come he hasn’t managed to unify the division yet? If he’s looking for it, we’re the ones to do it with, and we’re not hard to find. We’ve got a great team behind us, so reach out.

“Even though there are two at the minute, I’ll let the people decide who they think is the real heavyweight champion right now.

I always say, we’re in the same division, the same era, that fight has to happen.

“We just put on an amazing event. We’re going to do another amazing event god willing in the new year. He can come and be part of history. We’re trying to achieve big things in boxing and to add Wilder to my list would be an honour,” Joshua told Sky Sports.

Ibrahimovic in Milan for Medical

Zlatan Ibrahimovic weden great Zlatan Ibrahimovic has arrived at AC Milan for medical after agreeing a six month deal in what will be his second stint at the Serie A side, with an option of a one-year extension later.

Ibrahimovic is rejoining Milan as a free agent after seeing through his two-year deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) side, LA Galaxy.

The 38 year old who had his first stint at AC Milan from 2010 to 2012

S

arrived the Linate Airport Milan on Thursday to a warm welcome from.a handful of the Rossoneri fans.

“I remember arriving in this same spot many years ago. What matters now is that I’m back and I’m happy’” Ibrahimovic told Milan TV. “I’ve always said this is my home and I’m finally back. I’ve played for other teams in my years, but finally l’m back and that’s all that matters.”

Asked about how he felt after AC Milan fans turned out at the Linate Airport in their number to welcome him, responded with sheer excitement.

“I’ m back, finally. I’m eager to see the fans at San Siro, to make the stadium jump with joy again,” the striker who calls himself ‘The Lion’ said happily.

Paul Pogba

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anchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted at January signings for the club, saying the Red Devils are “looking at one or two” possible additions.

Solskjaer’s men lost 2-0 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday leaving them fifth in the Premier League table and sitting five points behind fourthplaced Chelsea.

United are short of options in central midfield, with Paul

Pogba and Scott McTomiway set to be sidelined for several weeks due to ankle and knee injuries respectively.

Solskjaer has said he would like to make signings, but added he will only dip into the market if United can find the right players.

“You can see the squad and sometimes you think, yeah, one or two additions would do nicely because we are building towards something,” he said.

“It just depends on if what we

think will be right for us will be available. Of course it’s playing on our decision-making when we’ve got two players out for a bit, Scott for two months and Paul for a month.

“That gives us less options and we have loads of games and important games.

“But it still has to be right and that’s the big point here, if someone is available and something is possible we’ll do it.

“We’re looking at one or two.”

CAFCC: Rangers off to Mauritania for Nouhadbibou clash

Enugu Rangers

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nugu Rangers leaved for Mauritania yesterday for Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup matchdaythree encounter against Nouhadbibou.

Ranger’s players and officials arrived Ijebu Ode,

Ogun State on Tuesday to intensify preparations for the game.

The Flying Antelopes lost their opening two games in Group A against Egyptian clubs; FC Pyramids and Al Masry.

Nouhadbibou are also yet to

record a a win in the group with defeats in their first two games.

Meanwhile, Nnamdi Egbujor who missed Rangers’ last three NPFL games against Wikki, Plateau and Kwara United is back in the team and will make the trip to Mauritania.

DIGEST

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, January 3, 2020

By LUCY LAING FOR THE DAILY MAIL

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EBBIE CHESTERS, 51, a mother of two, works in a café. She lives in Connah’s Quay, North Wales, with husband Gareth, 55, a machine operator.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 5st (from 17st 7lb to 12st 7lb; height, 5ft 4in).

DEBBIE SAYS: Two years ago I was asked to get off a ride at Alton Towers theme park because I was too large for the attendants to shut the safety bar over me. It was souldestroying.

My weight affected everything — in my late teens I developed asthma that got worse as I put more weight on.

I had to use an inhaler regularly and couldn’t do any exercise or walk very far because it would trigger an asthma attack.

Eight years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes too — which meant doing fingerprick tests twice a day to monitor my blood sugar levels and taking two types of medication.

Even then, trying to control my blood sugar was a nightmare and I developed complications such as numbness in my feet, caused by nerve damage, and this will never repair.

But since joining a slimming club, I’ve lost 5st — it’s reversed my type 2 diabetes, so I don’t have to take medication any more and I don’t suffer from asthma attacks either! I’ve got loads of energy — so much I walk 30,000 steps each day. My doctors are amazed by what I’ve done.

Lost: 6st 3lb Kate Mincher has lost 6st 3lb and said her blood pressure is now normal and her acid reflux is gone +14 Kate Mincher has lost 6st 3lb and said her blood pressure is now normal and her acid reflux is gone KATE MINCHER, 54, a mother of one, is a business development manager for an animal health company, and lives in Stockport, with partner Andy, 54, an engineer.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 6st 3lb (from 19st 1lb to 12st 12lb; height, 5ft 6in).

KATE SAYS: At the start of last year, I was so fat I would lie awake at night worried I was going to die and leave my son [aged 19] without a mum.

From the age of 49, I’d be puffing and panting even just walking a few steps. My knees were really painful, and I suffered from bad acid reflux and needed daily medication for it — the doctor said I might have to have pills in the future for my blood pressure, too.

This worried me as we have a history of heart disease and type 2 diabetes in the family — and my mum had a stroke in her 50s and my dad had a heart bypass.

I knew nothing was going to change if I didn’t change myself, so in January I went on a diet.

Within ten months I’d lost six stone and I feel fabulous. Now I play badminton regularly, and I think nothing of swimming 30 lengths at a time.

My blood pressure is now normal, my acid reflux is gone and I don’t pant when I walk.

I’ve turned my life around and have given myself the best possible chance to see my son grow up.

Lost: 9st 1lb Georgie Cox lost 9st 1lb. She said she struggled with her weight all her life +14 Georgie Cox lost 9st 1lb. She said she struggled with her weight all her life GEORGIE COX, 33, who collates cancer patients’ treatment plans, lives in Manchester with husband Trevor, 50, a computer analyst.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 9st 1lb (from 21st 4lb to 12st 3lb; height, 5ft 3in).

GEORGIE SAYS: We were about to take off on a flight last year when I had to ask for a seatbelt extension. I was mortified — I felt that everyone was staring at me.

Page 31

Diets gave us the gift of health: Meet the inspirational women who lost 70st between them in 2019

A year ago each woman here resolved to tackle her weight and has now reaped the benefits for their health, too. Pictured left to right: Debbie Chesters, 51, Kate Mincher, 54, and Georgie Cox, 33 It wasn’t just embarrassing — over the previous three years, my feet had become swollen and painful because of my weight. I limped and could only wear soft fitting shoes — and I was taking eight anti-inflammatory painkillers every other day. My doctor told me the best thing I could do would be to lose weight.

I’ve struggled with my weight all my life — I was a secret eater. I would sit in the supermarket car park and gorge on chocolate and florentines before driving home.

After the seatbelt incident I changed my diet: my plate was always a third fruit and vegetables, and I didn’t snack.

Since losing weight, my feet aren’t swollen any more and I don’t need painkillers. We went on a cruise in May and I did every activity going — rock climbing, bungee jumping, and ice skating. It was amazing.

Lost: 9st Cath Young lost 9st after cutting out cheese, butter, chocolate and crisps, pizza and ice-cream and eating more home cooked veg dishes and fresh fruit +14 Cath Young lost 9st after cutting out cheese, butter, chocolate and crisps, pizza and ice-cream and eating more home cooked veg dishes and fresh fruit CATH YOUNG, 56, a retired nurse and mother of two, lives in Cheadle Hulme, with husband Alan, 55, a computer design engineer.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 9st (from 19st 3lb to 10st 3lb; height, 5ft 6in) CATH SAYS: Two years ago my back hurt so much that I was taking codeine four times a day, and in October 2017 I had to stop working for three weeks.

I asked my GP if my weight was making my back problem worse, and she said that it was.

“

I’ve struggled with my weight all my life, but on holiday in Wales last year, when I could barely walk a few steps on the beach, was the moment I realised that things had to change.

Because I have a family history of type 2 diabetes I asked a doctor where I work to check my blood sugar levels, which showed that I was pre-diabetic, too — I really didn’t want to go on to develop diabetes; as a nurse I knew where it could lead.

After cutting out cheese, butter, chocolate and crisps, pizza and ice-cream and eating lots more home cooked veg dishes, with fresh fruit, the weight just dropped off.

And as soon as I lost even a few pounds my pain improved.

My blood sugar is now normal, I don’t have back pain, and don’t need the paracetamol and anti-inflammatories I had been taking daily. A year ago I could only shuffle down the beach: now I run 5km three or four times a week.

I can hardly believe it.

Left to right: Cath Young has lost 9st, Michelle O’Neill has lost nearly 7st and Michele Rogers has lost 8st +14 Left to right: Cath Young has lost 9st, Michelle O’Neill has lost nearly 7st and Michele Rogers has lost 8st Lost: 6st 4lb Michelle O’Neill joined the Cambridge Weight Plan and lost nearly two stone in the first month +14 Michelle O’Neill joined the Cambridge Weight Plan and lost nearly two stone in the first month MICHELLE O’NEILL, 45, lives in Manchester with her fiancé Dominic Risk, 43, a supervisor for a bus company. She has two children Kaya, 20, and Cenk, 24.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 6st 4lb

That really worried me, so I joined the Cambridge Weight Plan — and lost nearly two stone in the first month. By the time I’d lost five stone, the pain in my knees had reduced so much I didn’t need a wheelchair any more.

And my sleep apnoea had gone, too. I wake up feeling refreshed — life is normal again.

(from 20st to 13st 10lb; height, 5ft 7in) MICHELLE SAYS: Eight months ago I had my first proper night’s sleep since 2017. That’s when I developed sleep apnoea — when I lay down at night, the fat around my neck would crush my airway and briefly interrupt my breathing, meaning I woke around 30 times a night.

Dominic never slept properly either as he was terrified I was going to die, so he would keep checking on me.

The doctors said sleep apnoea put me at a greater risk of dying from heart disease because it was putting pressure on my heart. I was also always tired during the day, and would fall asleep anywhere. That wasn’t my only issue.

In 2017 I needed a right knee replacement after an accident at work — but because of my weight I needed a wheelchair for a year: both knees caused me horrific pain and my doctor warned me in the summer of 2018 I might need it permanently unless I lost weight.

That really worried me, so I joined the Cambridge Weight Plan — and lost nearly two stone in the first month. By the time I’d lost five stone, the pain in my knees had reduced so much I didn’t need a wheelchair any more.

And my sleep apnoea had gone, too. I wake up feeling refreshed — life is normal again.

MICHELE ROGERS, 46, a housewife, lives in Stockport with husband John, 48, a parts manager for a car company. They have two children Danielle, 22, and James, 19. 46, a housewife, lives in Stockport with husband John, 48, a parts manager for a car company.

They have two children Danielle, 22, and James, 19.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 8st 1lb (from 20st 1lb to 12st; height, 5ft 7in) MICHELE SAYS: Staring at photographs of myself at New Year last year I couldn’t believe how big I’d got. It shocked me into action. It wasn’t just about how I looked — I’d also had a long battle with breast cancer, and doctors told me that losing the weight would lessen the risk of it returning.

I’d been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive form, in December 2014. After chemotherapy and a double mastectomy I also had my ovaries removed because I was at raised risk of ovarian cancer, too. It was terrifying and I comfort ate a lot when I was first diagnosed.

But that picture made me confront my weight: I wanted to be around for my children. I threw out the white bread, and stopped buying biscuits, cakes and crisps — and I reached my target weight in August.

I feel fantastic. I’ve just celebrated five years in remission. Originally I was told I had an 80 per cent chance of the cancer coming back, but now doctors say losing weight has drastically reduced that figure.

Left to right: Georgia Lawton has lost 7st, Elanor Darman has lost 10st and Rebecca Mellor has lost 6st +14 Left to right: Georgia Lawton has lost 7st, Elanor Darman has lost 10st and Rebecca Mellor has lost 6st Lost: 7st Georgia Lawton said for years her mood spiralled down as her weight increased +14 Georgia Lawton said for years her mood spiralled down as her weight increased GEORGIA LAWTON, 22, lives in Stockport with her partner Louis Waldron, 24, an accountant. Georgia, a support worker, has dropped from a size 26 to a 10/12.

WEIGHT LOSS IN PAST YEAR: 7st (from 18st to 11st; height, 5ft 7in)

SPACE FOR SALE SPORTS A knockdown is not knockout A Kyrgios to GUEST Column . . . putting the people first

friday, January 3, 2020

latest

donate money to pay tribute to firefighters

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ick Kyrgios will donate 200 Australian dollars (£106) for each ace he hits in events held in Australia in January to help those affected by the bushfires.

The Australian, 24, earlier called on Tennis Australia to host a fund-raising exhibition, with chief executive Craig Tiley confirming plans are being made.

Fellow Australians Alex de Minaur and John Millman pledged their own support, donating money for every ace they hit.

Meanwhile Australia’s cricketers are planning tributes and fund-raising.

They and opponents New Zealand will wear black armbands in tribute to those affected by widespread bushfires in Australia when the teams meet in Friday’s third Test in Sydney.

Pogba sets for ankle injury operation

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anchester United’s Paul Pogba needs an operation on an ankle injury and is set to be out for “three or four weeks”, says manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Pogba was not in the United squad for the New Year’s Day defeat at Arsenal.

The France midfielder, 26, only made his comeback last month from an ankle problem that had kept him out since the end of September.

“We’ve had scans and it’s nothing major, but it’s something that has to be dealt with,” said Solskjaer.

“He’s been advised to do it [the operation] as soon as and we will probably do it as soon as, so he will be out for three or four weeks.

Advert: business: news: lagos:

s humans, we crave, pray and work for success in life. It is only normal and rational. Yet life is incomplete without failure, missed opportunities and adversities.

So, the secret to success in life is not to pretend or assume that there is a bump-free ride.

Rather, good counsel dictates that we prepare to take on adversities as they come. Indeed, to succeed in life, we must not only learn but be prepared to fail. Success at one stage in life does not necessarily guarantee excellence the next time or always. We must transform failure or defeat into an opportunity or catalyst to success.

There is no “permanent success,” just like no champion lasts forever.

In other words, a winner must be humble and prepared to swallow the bitter bill of defeat.

World champions such as the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali suffered several knockdowns in their illustrious careers. Given that there is a very thin line between victory and defeat, what counts is not how many times we fall, but our ability to rise and finish the race/fight with victory as the ultimate goal.

We have seen empires rise and fall. Few nations have survived the devastation of a civil war. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria are some of them. Rwanda has risen from the ashes of 1994 genocide to become one of the World’s fastest growing economies. So, it is possible to rise from a knockdown and turn defeat into victory.

In this special season of Christmas, with the year 2019 drawing to a close and as we look forward to the dawn and blessings of 2020, I wish to remind us of how some individuals, especially sportspeople, have bounced back from adversities, particularly after they had been written off.

One can never forget the story of Nigeria’s lanky lad, Kanu Nwankwo, one of Africa’s most decorated footballers to date.

After a stint with Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri, southeastern Nigeria, Kanu, who also played for Nigeria’s national teams at Under-17, Under-23 and senior level, moved to Europe for better career prospects.

He played and won laurels with Dutch club Ajax, Inter Milan of Italy and English clubs Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth. Kanu won most of the prestigious soccer titles available – the EUFA Champions League, EUFA Cup, FA Cups, National Leagues and was voted the African

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Paul Ejime Footballer of the Year twice (1996 and 1999) before he finally retired in 2012 after a career that spanned two decades.

But Kanu’s story would be incomplete without his life- and career-threatening event of 1996. After he had captained the Nigerian team to become the first African side to win the Olympic gold in Atlanta, U.S.A. that year, Kanu wanted to change clubs from Ajax to Inter Milan, only for Italian medical doctors to diagnose him with a lethal heart condition. With a “hole in the heart,” many thought it was all over for young Kanu. But he persevered and underwent a major surgery to replace an aortic valve in November 1996 and only returned to his club in April 1997.

From Inter Milan Kanu later moved to Arsenal in 1999 and revived his career winning the African Footballer of the Year for the second time that year.

Indeed, Kanu is a proud member of Arsenal’s “Invincible” team that finished the 2003-2004 English football League season undefeated and has since set up a Foundation for African children with heart defects, as a reminder and legacy after what he went through himself.

American and World golf icon Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods is another eloquent testimony to the rejection of a knockdown as a knockout. After an outstanding amateur golf career, Woods turned professional in 1996 at the age of 20 and became the top-ranked golfer in the world from August 1999 to September 2004, and again from June 2005 to October 2010, winning 13 major championships.

But Woods was forced into a self-imposed leave from the sport he loved and excelled in from December 2009 to April 2010, to resolve pressing marital issues, and consequently fell to number 58 in the world rankings in November 2011. He rose to the

“

No.1 ranking again between March 2013 and May 2014. However, ‘knockdowns’ from injuries and personal worries saw Woods, who once held numerous golf records, drop off the list of the world’s top 1,000 golfers. But with perseverance, he returned to regular competition, and went on to win his first tournament in five years in September 2018 and his first major tournament in 11 years at the 2019 Masters!

Another glaring demonstration of the saying that “quitters don’t win and winners don’t quit,” is Nigerian-born British Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua, OBE. At 30, Joshua is a two-time unified heavyweight champion, with the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles since December 2019 and previously between 2016 and June 2019.

June 2019 marked a watershed in the career of Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medallist, who only turned professional in 2013 and was named Prospect of the Year

by The Ring Magazine in 2014.

Joshua was knocked down and “temporarily” knocked out of boxing by lesser-known Andy Ruiz, Jr. of Mexico in an unforgettable titles’ defence fight held in the United States that month.

The boxing world was in shock and from the nature of that crushing defeat; many pundits thought it was all over for Anthony Joshua. But in a phenomenal rematch on 7th December 2019 in Saudi Arabia, Joshua, using the “stick and move” tactic to devastating effects, reclaimed his titles from Andy Ruiz. The great boxer learnt the hard lessons of defeat, and now boasts a boxing record of 24 fights with 23 wins, including 21 that ended inside the distance, and that sole loss to Ruiz.

In one of his several post-fight interviews, Joshua, exuding an

I’m a man that has made mistakes and when I was on a losing path in life, I matured and bounced back.

unmatchable sentiment of not allowing a knockdown to become a knockout declared: “I’m a man that has made mistakes and when I was on a losing path in life, I matured and bounced back.”

Dear family and friends, as 2019 comes to an end, let us count our blessings, learn from our mistakes and never give up. Let us imbibe the never-say-die attitude, which will enable us to rise from whatever fall or knockdown and forge ahead! In spite of adversities, we have every reason to thank God. Life is not all about success, victory, accomplishment or possession. It is about making a difference; it is about the impact we leave on others.

As we celebrate, whether as champions, spectators or supporters, we also have a duty to encourage and help the vanquished, the defeated to rise.

As Ernest Okonkwo, a renowned Nigerian sports commentator of blessed memory used to advise: “When you cheer your (football) team when it scores a goal, you are merely reacting to an event. But when you continuously cheer the team even when no goal is scored or when the team is losing, you are motivating (a positive) action.”

We are in a World where change is constant and no condition is permanent. This demands introspection on our part. We must remain thankful and supportive, humble and keep hope alive, bearing in mind that a knockdown is not necessarily a knockout and that the defeated today can become a champion tomorrow!

Happy & Prosperous New Year to All! *Paul Ejime is an International Media and Communications Specialist.

DAN GAYE DAN GAYE

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