Monday 3rd January, 2014

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Vol. 12 No. 90

Monday, February 3, 2014

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. . . putting the people first

Rabi’uth Thani 4, 1435 AH

N150

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Outrage trails killing of Albani, wife, son  Police spread dragnet for killers  JNI, Tambuwal, Makarfi, others mourn From Muhammad Ibrahim, Femi Oyelola, , Kaduna, Umar Muhammad Puma, Tobias Lengnan Dapam, Abuja, with agency report

O

utrage yesterday trailed the assassination, on Saturday, of renowned Zaria based Islamic scholar, Sheikh

Muhammad Auwal Adam Albani, who was murdered alongside his wife and son.

Albani was said to have been killed while returning to his house in Gaskiya area of Zaria, Kaduna state, after delivering a sermon at the Markazul Salafiyya Islamic Learning Centre in Tudun Wada area of the city.

Shortly after the news spread across the state, several religious faithful went out in their numbers to register their grievances with the way and manner the religious scholar and members of his family were brutally murdered.

It took the intervention of several clerics to douse the tense atmosphere in the city yesterday.

Speaking yesterday during the burial of the late scholar at Zaria cemetery, an Islamic cleric, Malam Musa Mai-Shawi, cautioned people against any attempted reprisals.

The cleric said the plea was necessary in view of the tension caused by the sudden death of the popular cleric.

Mai-Shawi, who is the Chief Imam of “Darul Hadith”, a school established by the deceased, said although Albani’s death was painful, everything should be left to God. “There are no two ways about it, everybody is aggrieved about this sad development. However, Contd. on Page 2

    Borno state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, assessing the pupils and the school furniture, during an unscheduled visit at the weekend to Government Girls Secondary School, Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar local government area in northern part of Borno state.

 Saraki, Lai Mohammed hail ex VP 

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

News CONTENTS

Finally, Atiku dumps PDP for APC

News

By Umar Muhammad Puma, Abuja and Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch S/Report

23 24,25

Education

28

Health

30

F

ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar, after the conclusion of his nationwide consultative meetings with his political associates across the country, yesterday officially announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement he personally signed yesterday, Atiku said he was leaving the PDP because of its culture of impunity and arbitrariness.

He said the party has continued to be beset with many crises, mostly leadership-induced ones.

“The PDP has since lost touch with Nigerians and efforts made by many well-meaning members and stakeholders to bring it back to the vision of the founders have been rebuffed,” he said.

“Following extensive consultative process, I have, therefore, decided to cast my lot with the APC,

a party of change committed to the improvement of the lives of our people and to the continued existence and development of Nigeria as one indivisible country. My resignation letter as a member of the PDP will be delivered to the party tomorrow (today)”.

He admitted that: “My decision may not satisfy some of my friends and associates. In the end, however, I have to put the interest of our country first. This country has done so much for me personally and it deserves all that we can do to help rebuild it and serve our people better.

“The process of building a nation, of securing and deepening democracy is indeed difficult.

And it is not a lineal process.

There would be alignment and realignment of political forces.

There would be ups and downs and zig-zags, triumphs and challenges. Amidst all that, patriots must remain focused and do what has to be done to save and build the country and serve our people better.

“As I speak, most of the issues that led to that walk-out are yet to be addressed. Many founding members of the PDP, I included, continue to be marginalized and excluded from the affairs of the party.

“As a former Vice President, I am by virtue of the PDP Constitution, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees and its National Executive Committee. However, I am not invited to the meetings of those organs nor consulted on their decisions, apparently because I dared to exercise my right to contest in the party’s primary election for a chance to be its flagbearer in the 2011 elections. We have, therefore, concluded that that party cannot be redeemed. In short the PDP has abandoned Nigerians, the very people who gave it life and many electoral victories”, the statement added.

It would be recalled that the leadership of the APC, late last year, visited Atiku in Abuja and asked him to join hands with them to save the country from its slide to

the precipice. He had then promised to consult with his supporters before responding to their invitation.

Meanwhile, immediate past governor of Kwara state, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Interim National Publicity Secretary the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, have hailed Atiku for defecting from the PDP. Saraki said the defection was not a surprise to him because the former Vice-President was also part of the struggle in PDP. He noted that Atiku’s coming to APC has further exposed PDP’s impunity even as he disclosed that more bigwigs in the ruling party would jump out to join the opposition party.

Mohammed, while reacting to the former Vice-President’s defection in Ilorin yesterday in an interview with newsmen, described the development as a “great blow to PDP”.

He said Atiku has millions of supporters across the country, and that his defection would be a great boost to APC.

2015 Presidency: Katsina PDP drums support for Shema From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

K Kaduna grants overseas scholarship to 42 students –Page 4

Int’l

31-34

S/World

35

Digest

36

Politics

37-38

Sports

41

Columnist

48

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atsina state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rabiu Gambo Bakori, has tasked women in the state to pray for Governor Ibrahim Shema to become the next President of the country, come 2015.

Bakori, who spoke while receiving wife of the state governor,

Mrs. Fatima Shema, in company of women at the Katsina PDP secretariat, at the weekend, described Shema as a visionary leader who deserves higher political position, after the expiration of his tenure. The brief meeting between officials of the PDP with the Katsina first lady and her entourage was overtaken with the shouts of ‘Nigeria sai Shema’ (roughly interpreted to mean, Shema is best suited to lead Ni-

geria).

Bakori commended women in the state for their support to the PDP-led administration, and urged them to vote for the PDP in the coming elections.

While commending wife of the state governor for her support to the women, Bakori said PDP was party for all Nigerians assuring that the party would continue to rule Nigeria.

Earlier, Mrs. Shema called on

defected members of the party to the APC, to return into the PDP fold, with assurance that their action would be forgiven and forgotten.

She said the visit was to reaffirm solidarity to the PDP and awaken women to work for the party, come 2015.

She also urged the PDP leadership in the state to create more political positions for women in the state.

Outrage trails killing of Albani, wife, son Contd. from Page 1 I urge you to take heart and leave everything to God. “God Almighty be my witness and you people around here be my witnesses, that I have conveyed the message. Nobody should by any means, attack anyone in the name of revenge.

“Malam is already dead and no action will bring him back. God knows who are behind his brutal killing and He knows how to deal with them,” the cleric said.

Following the killings, the Kaduna state police command said it has spread its dragnet to fish out the killers.

Police spokesperson in the state, Aminu Lawan, said the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, has directed all area commanders and divisional officers to work in collaboration with other security agencies and ensure that the killers were brought to justice.

In the meantime, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), yesterday joined millions of Muslims in Nigeria in expressing shock over the killing of the Zaria based Islamic scholar.

The JNI, in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said: “With submission to the will of Allah (SWT), who has decreed death to all be-

ings, JNI was indeed very shocked this morning, (yesterday) to have received the news of the most unfortunate assassinations of Sheikh Muhammad Awwal Adam, popularly known as Albanin Zariya and two of his family members (his wife and a child).

“Regrettably for the murderers, the values for which he lived for will still continue to flourish and let the assassins stop their death, when it comes and continue to live till eternity, if they can. Suffices to mention that the seed of piety, righteousness and Da’awah, i.e. calling to the way of Allah (SWT) was first planted by the Prophet (SAW) and Muslim scholars are not oblivious of the thorny hurdles therein the path.

Hence, must not be cowed”, the Islamic body said.

It said further that, “our worries are what most have been the rationale behind such gruesome and ungodly act? Be as it may, one may not be wrong to conclude that the act clearly divulges acts of serial killings of Muslim scholars in recent years, which was started with Sheikh Umar Dan Mai Shiya, of Sokoto, then came the murder of Sheikh Ja’far Mahmud Adam Kano (which is still fresh in the memories of the Muslims).

“More so, several Muslim scholars were either maimed and

or killed in Yobe and Borno states, in the name of Boko Haram. Today, Dr. Muhammad Nazeef Yunus is still in SSS custody for an unsubstantiated allegation of connection with Boko Haram.

“Should this continue at the expense of Muslim scholars? Why is it that the assassins always go scot free? To this end, as always JNI condemns these repeated acts in the strongest terms and calls on governments at all levels to bring to book, the evil perpetrators”, it stressed.

On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also condemned in strong terms the brutal assassination of the sheikh.

The speaker, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, said the news of the killing came to him as a shock, and described the killing as dastardly, despicable and barbaric.

He described the deceased as a fearless scholar who went about his activities without fear or favour.

While urging the security agencies to fish out those behind the dastardly act, Tambuwal prayed to Almighty God to grant the family the strength to bear the loss.

Also reacting to the incident,

the Kaduna state Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, assured that: “We shall leave no stone unturned in unraveling those behind the dastardly act; we shall work with the security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested.

“The killing of Sheikh Albani is an indication that despite the improvement in security situation of the state some people are still bent on creating tension in our communities.

“Albani stands for truth; he contributed in no small ways in impacting Islamic education on the people, particularly the younger generation,” a statement by his media aide, Ahmed Maiyaki, quoted the governor as saying.

Similarly, former Kaduna state governor, now Senator, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, described the assassination of the Sheikh as “shocking”.

Makarfi, who made the assertion after the funeral prayer of the late cleric said the demise of the Islamic scholar has created a very wide gap that would take a long time to be filled.

“This is a great loss to all of us; not only his family or students.

I call on wealthy individuals or groups to support especially the Muslim Ummah and his family”, he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

News National confab: We were not involved - Nyako

From Umar Dankano, Yola

G

overnor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state has said that the initial posture of the federal government for not involving state governors in selecting delegates from various states for the proposed National Conference is mistaken, considering the importance of such development.

He said: “Initially they did not involve us in the process.

Now since they are saying that they are going ahead, let them go ahead, I wish them the best.”

Nyako made his position known at the weekend at the Yola International Airport, while speaking to newsmen.

He said the people of Adamawa were not consulted during the preparation for the conference adding that they were not regarded as a stakeholder in the nation project.

According to him:”We were not consulted about the conference, when we made effort; we got wind of a plot to impose delegates on our people without the contribution of the state government. If so we wish them best of luck, one thing that is clear is that we have no delegates that are representing us in the conference to protect our interest”.

PAGE 3

Kaduna APC interim chairman quits

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Interim Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, has resigned his position over what he described as deliberate use of his person to cause damage to the party.

A letter of his resignation obtained yesterday reads: “My person and position has been made an embarrassing and distracting issue by a few former CPC legislators who wanted things done their own ways”.

He also regretted that in spite of all manner of provocations and subversions, the Kaduna Interim Management Committee (IMC)

of APC, which he led, remained focussed, yet the leadership of the party failed to resolve issue which was casting the party in bad light.

He lamented that just when the IMC thought it had successfully prepared APC members in the state to participate in membership registration exercise, their efforts were again subverted by the indifference of the party leaders and the activities of a few former CPC legislators.

According to him, “The Registration exercise in our State is being threatened by crass ambition, supported by weak, visionless and fractured leadership”, saying he cannot be part of this.

While expressing reluctance to resig his position as the state

chairman of APC, he urged the remaining interim state executives to find a way to continue to build a State party structure which is not treated as a personal property, but an asset for members, and a veritable means of bringing real change in Kaduna State and Nigeria.

At this point, he said he expected a decisive effort from the national leadership of the party to resolve the conflicts facing the Kaduna APC as well as other state, such to build a party that will be vastly superior to the opposition.

“I hasten to add that I am stepping down only because it is clear to me that my position is deliberately being used to destroy the party in this State,and those with

responsibility to stop it will not do so”, he said.

Dr. Baba Ahmed therefore said his leadership had resisted the attempts by few persons which to use the party as their personal property, pointing out that it has not been easy for him and his fellow executive members, even though the party’s leadership has failed to acknowledge their efforts.

Meanwhile, he has promised to remain a member of the party and ready to contribute in any other way towards realising the objectives of forming the party, expressing joy that under his leadership as the chairman of the IMC, members of the legacy party were given a sense of belonging.

S/East govs forum pledges to strengthen zone

T

he South-East Governors Forum yesterday in Enugu pledged to work together in order to strengthen the political relevance of the zone.

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra made this known when he briefed newsmen after a six hour meeting.

“We did discus and agreed on ways to work together to strengthen the zone both at the states and federal level”, he said.

Obi, who declined disclosing other issues discussed at the meeting, said that deliberations on other important issues were pending.

“The deliberations on these other issues would continue in our subsequent meetings until reasonable conclusion was reached”, he said.

Governors Theodore Orji of Abia, Martins Elechi of Ebonyi, Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Deputy Governor of Imo, Prince Eze Madumere, and Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, attended the meeting. (NAN)

Naval Special Forces and the rescued Indians onboard of a gun boat, after the rescue operation, yesterday in Niger Delta.

Niger state’s $20m debt: Court Commission promises equity to rule on FOI case Wednesday in national wealth distribution From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

A

Niger State High Court, presided over by Justice Fati Abubakar, will on Wednesday, February 5, 2014, rule on an application seeking an order of the court compelling the state government to disclose information on the status of $20.238 million recovered under the London Club debt refund programme between January 28 and February 22, 2011.

Mr. Stephen Ziri, through his counsel, Jacob Yisapati, filed the application in Minna following the failure of the government through the offices of the accountant general and attorney general of Niger state to furnish the plaintiff with the information requested.

The application was filed under Section 20 of the FOI Act, 2011, Order 40 Rule 1, 3(1), (2) of the High Court of Niger

Civil Procedures Rules, 2012.

The plaintiff's counsel argued that refusal to disclose the information requested amounts to breach of the fundamental principle of transparency and accountability and violates section 120 0f the 1999 constitution.

The plaintiff had filed a request for information under section 4A of the freedom of information act in a letter dated July.8, 2013 to the attorney general and accountant general of the state on the disbursement of funds recovered on behalf of the state under the London club debt refund programme.

He also sought to know whether the funds so recovered were paid into the consolidated revenue fund account of the state and appropriated as required by provisions of section 120 of the 1999 Constitution.

From Umar Dankano, Yola

T

he Federal Character Commission (FCC) on Friday promised to ensure that all sections of the country are treated fairly and equitably.

Prof. Shuaibu Oba, Executive Chairman of the commission, made the pledge while declaring open a two-day workshop in Yola.

The workshop was organised by the commission for facilitators and staff of the FCC on the implementation of its mandate.

He said that the commission was mandated to ensure equitable distribution of socio-economic, amenities and infrastructural facilities

among the 36 states, FCT and 774 local government areas.

The Prof. said, "The Federal Character Commission was established to play the role of providing the institutional framework for fair, equitable and just distribution of amenities among the 36 states, the FCT and the 774 local government areas in order to promote peace and national unity."

Represented by Deputy Director, Accounts in the commission, Mr Adamu Mshelia, Oba said with the recent development, no part of the country would be left out in terms of provision of socio-economic and infrastructural facilities.

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

News NGE urges police to trackdown killers of Newswatch editor

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos, with agency report

T

he Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) on Sunday urged the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State to track down the killers of Mr Toyin Obadina, Deputy Editor, Newswatch Newspapers.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Femi Adesina, the NGE President, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Obadina died yesterday as a result of injuries he sustained from the gunmen on Friday on his way to his Ikorodu residence in Lagos.

He was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital where doctors battled unsuccessfully to save his life.

The NGE described the incident as “sickening”.

“The death of Mr Toyin Obadina, Deputy Editor, Saturday Newswatch from the guns of suspected armed robbers is not only agonising and horrendous, it is quite sickening.

“All men of the fraternity of the pen, to which Obadina belonged, are revolted that a man returning home from his legitimate duty is waylaid, robbed, and then shot twice in the stomach, leading to his death.

“We urge the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Umar Manko, to ensure that killers of Obadina are brought to book in the shortest possible time”, the statement quoted Adesina as saying.

“The onus is on government at all levels to curb criminality.

Anything less would not do”, the statement stressed.

The statement sympathised with the family of the deceased, Newswatch Communications, and Nigerian journalists in general and prayed God to grant all the fortitude to bear the loss.

(NAN)

L-R, Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, Kwara state Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, during the visit of the traditional rulers to the governor, on Saturday at Government House, in Ilorin.

SAS’ loyalists shun inauguration of Borno APC interim exco From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

M

embers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno, loyal to the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff (aka SAS) have shunned the inauguration of the interim executives of the party, which was held at the weekend.

This is even as APC stakeholders have declared their total support to Governor Kashim Shettima as the leader of the party in the state.

Our correspondent reported that the crowded inauguration of the party’s interim leadership, was held at the conference hall of state’s hotel under tight security.

It was however observed that some personalities who are either

seemingly loyal or allies to Senator sheriff and were absent at the occasion.

They comprised of the state Deputy Governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha, commissioners, advisers and other aides of Governor Shettima, chairman of defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state, Alhaji Mala Othman, as well as its former executives.

Others who also boycotted the grand occasion included some members of state and national assemblies, who are seen as loyalists of Sheriff.

It was also learnt that Sheriff’s loyalists decided to boycott the event in order discredit it and make it unattractive.

Despite this the inauguration was conducted hitch-free, with stakeholders in attendance declaring Shettima as the ‘recognised’

Kaduna grants overseas scholarship to 42 students From Mohammed Ibrahim, Kaduna

I

n its bid to encourage students from the state to study science related courses, Kaduna state government at the weekend presented 42 students from the state with cheques to cover their scholarship to study aviation related courses within and outside the shore of the country.

Speaking during the presentation, the state governor, Alhaji Mukthar Ramalan Yero, said the scholarship is the state government's effort to encourage indigenes from the state to get more involved in science and technological based subjects.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Amb. Audu

Nuhu Bajoga, said that findings have revealed that students shy away from aviation related courses because of the huge financial cost, and most parents are handicapped in this regard even when their wards have the mental capacities to study these courses.

"After thorough screening of several applicants, 42 applicants were selected and they are to pursue aviation related courses like Commercial Pilot, Aviation Information and Communication Technology, Cabin Crew, Aeronautic Engineering Special Pilot and Aircraft Maintenance", Yero said.

In his own remark Kaduna State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Moses Chatjok said a total sum of N72

million was approved by the State government as scholarship for the 42 students who will be studying in Michigan, South Africa and Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria.

Meanwhile, the Motormechs and Technicians Association of Nigeria {MOMTAN} has described the decision to award the scholarship as timely, saying it was a great stride in the development of the aviation sector, not only in Kaduna state but the nation at Large.

State Chairman of the body, Comrade Yashim Isuwa, made the commendation after the presentation of the scholarship to the beneficiaries.

APC leader in Borno.

The inauguration was conducted by the National Secretary of the APC, Tijjani Tumsa, under the supervision of the state governor.

In his address, Shettima described the emergence of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as ruling party in Nigeria’s polity as the worst calamity to have befallen the country after slavery and colonialism.

“For the past 14 years Nigeria has earned billion of dollars which is unprecedented in the contemporary history of the country. This is a government that cannot boast of tarring 5000 kilometers of road and cannot boast of generating 5000 megawatts of electricity,” he added.

Earlier, Alhaji Tumsa said Shettima had worked tirelessly in

the APC’s formative stage as one of its very proactive, foresighted and dogged governors.

However, the APC camp loyal to the former governor, described as null and void the inauguration of the state interiam exco.

In a statement emailed to journalists, Malam Umar Duhu, an ally to Sheriff, who is the National Vice Chairman (North-east) of the party, said he was not informed about the event, pointing out that anything done without his approval will not be accepted.

“In my capacity as the Vice Chairman, I am the only one empowered by the APC to inaugurate all APC State Interim Committee (SIC) Members. I had inaugurated, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, and Adamawa States. I only have Borno and Yobe states to conclude my assignment in the zone”.

Terrorism: Jonathan deserves praise, says Oshiomhole From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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overnor, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, yesterday declared that the war against terrorism by President Goodluck Jonathan deserves commendation by Nigerians.

The governor said this during a church service in Benin in honour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2012 governorship aspirant in the state, Barrister Kenneth Imasuagbon, who got a close shave of death in a fatal road crash last November.

"Let no one claim that the federal government is not doing anything to end terrorism. The federal government is working hard to end terrorism. The truth is that you cannot find solution to the problem is not automatic.

"We stand by the president in the fight and terrorist will not win", he said even most developed nations of the world including the United States of America are not immune against insurgency", he stressed.

Oshiomhole's position contradicts that of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has consistently insisted that Jonathan and his appointees in the various security organisations in the country have failed woefully.

Commenting on the celebrant, the Edo governor said: "Most politicians chose to seek power in different ways. It was a choice for Imasuagbon to channel the rice programme initiative to empower thugs to kill. Imasuagbon in turn told the congregation that Oshiomhole has done well as governor of the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 5

News

Logistics, major challenge for INEC – Jega laments

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

W

ith a twelve-month countdown to the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cried out over logistics challenge which usually threatens the commission's effort at delivering a credible elections to Nigerians.

Fielding questions from audience after a presentation he made at a forum at Chatham House, London, at the weekend, the chairman of the commission, Attahiru Jega said "the issue of

logistics is a major challenge for INEC, and we are doing our best to address it".

Speaking further, he said that after the Edo governorship election, the commission started customising result sheets to specific poling units.

Jega who pointing out that if there is a mix up of result sheets among polling units in the 2015 general elections, the kind of crisis that resulted in Anambra governorship polls would be experienced, however expressed confidence that such mix up would not arise.

In addition, he dismissed the allegations that the commission was under pressure by external forces to hold the Presidential election first, saying the timetable for the 2015 general elections announced by INEC was informed by rational and logical considerations.

According to him, "the timetable for the 2015 general election recently announced by the Commission was informed by rational and logical considerations, not sentimental or ulterior motivations.

"Nobody has put us under any

pressure. We did these things logically and rationally, in terms of what we considered best for our country," he said.

He said INEC was mindful of its operational effectiveness and global best practice in grouping national elections together on one day, and state elections together on another.

Meanwhile, the timetable announced two weeks ago by INEC scheduled National Assembly and Presidential elections for February 14, 2015, and Governorship as well as State Assembly elections for February 28, 2015.

Angry youths mob suspected kidnapper in Ilorin From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

A

ngry youths at Geri-Alimi area of Ilorin, Kwara state yesterday morning caught a suspected kidnapper who allegedly disguised as a lunatic on the streets to ambush unsuspecting victims.

Our correspondent learnt that the unnamed suspect was sighted at the Geri-Alimi roundabout at about 10am dancing to the tunes of music coming out from a nearby studio.

A source who informed our correspondent, explained that when many people observed that his dancing steps matched the beats and sound of the music, the suspect was approached by a vigilante man.

According to the eye witness, “when the vigilante man moved closer, he just made a call saying ‘the suspect is here, all of you should come here and arrest him.

“It was this statement that he (the suspect) heard and started running. So, most of the youths ran after him and we discovered many dangerous weapons on him, including cutlass”, the source further disclosed.

When our correspondent visited the scene, a patrol team of policemen were seen rescuing the suspect with blood stains on his cloth He was later taken to GeriAlimi hospital for treatment by the team of police from D’ Division Area, Adewole, Ilorin.

L-R: APC Kano state Youth Leader, Alhaji Rabi'u Bako, state Treasurer, Alhaji Salisu Abba, state APC Interim Chairman, Engineer Abdullahi Tijjani Mohammed Gwarzo, Kano state Governor, Engineer Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso, his Deputy, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, state Organising Secretary, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, and state Secretary, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Sumaila, after the harmonisation Kano state APC Committee, at the weekend in Kano.

Mark not barred from reading senators’ defection letter - APC From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has said contrary to the misinformation being peddled in some quarters, there is no existing court order barring the 11 former PDP senators from defecting to the APC last week In a statement issued in Ilorin on Sunday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the existing court order is to the effect that the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives should maintain the status quo concerning defecting lawmakers. ''What this order means is that neither the President of the Senate nor the Speaker of the House can declare vacant the seats of the defecting lawmakers. It does not mean the letter of notification from defecting members cannot be read on the floor of the chambers,'' it said.

APC said that in view of this, the argument that the defecting letter cannot be read on the floor, so as not to contravene the Senate's Standing Rules that precludes the upper chamber from discussing any matter that is already in court, does not apply in this case. ''We are not asking that the issue of the defection should be discussed or debated on the floor of the Senate. All we are saying is that the Senate President should read the letter of notification.

The coast is very clear for this to be done, and the Senate President is duty bound to do so,'' the party said.

It reminded those who may somehow be engaging in wishful thinking -that the 11 Senators can be tactically prevented from defecting from the PDP to the APC - to know that it is too late in the day for anyone to stall the move on the basis of a non-existent court order or a Standing Rule that will only be operational if indeed there is a court order expressly concerning the Senators'

letter. ''The act of defection by the 11 Senators took place the moment they handed their letter to the Senate President at 10 am on the morning of Wednesday 29th of January 2014 whether or not the Senate President goes ahead to read the letter. Therefore, trying to stall the defection by stonewalling on the letter or attempting to secure a dubious injunction especially when our lawyers were not served the motion papers until about 4pm of the same Wednesday is like seeking to abort a pregnancy when the baby has already been born. ''The existing court order that the Senate President and the House Speaker should maintain the status quo actually strengthens the letter written by the Senators who defected, because it says that their seats cannot be declared vacant until the issue has been determined, hence their defection letter should be read without delay,'' APC said.

Striking COEASU threatens mass demonstration

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he Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) on Sunday threatened to embark on a mass demonstration very soon if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands.

The National President of the union, Dr Emmanuel Asagha, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that government’s immediate response would determine the end of its ongoing strike.

He said the date for the demonstration would be decided by the union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) this week if government failed to listen to the union’s demands.

“Our NEC has met and we have decided that if the government fails to meet our demands, we will organise our members nationwide for a mass demonstration.

“From there we will explore other peaceful options too, because we are a mature union that has waited patiently for government’s response.

“The strike still remains indefinite. That is our position for now’’, Asagha said.

He told NAN that members of the union were on strike over peculiar allowances for lecturers, decay in infrastructure and funding of out-sourced services, among others.

The COEASU national president said the union had observed that the Federal Government was constituting the Presidential NEEDS Assessment Committee for Colleges.

He pointed out that the constitution of the committee was however only one of the demands of the union.

Anti-gay law: Nigeria slams West’s double standards

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he Nigeria's Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, has accused Western countries of double standards over a law banning same-sex marriages.

President Goodluck Jonathan recently signed a law banning same-sex marriages and shows of same-sex public affection.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the just concluded AU summit, Onwuliri said Jonathan signed the law in the interest of Nigerians and democracy.

"What happened in Nigeria is democracy in action and it will really be unfortunate that people who are talking about democracy when they now see democracy work, they want us to go against democracy.

The EU, Canada and the U.S. had criticised the law, saying it negated the fundamental human rights of individuals enshrined in the Nigeria constitution. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

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News

Military trains NEMA officials on casualty management From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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t least, a dozen officers from the North-west Zonal Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), received training on mass casualty handling and use of the newly acquired Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Ambulance.

The course under the tutelage of the hospital has in participation eleven officers from the zone comprising of five Search and Rescue (SAROs) with the rest six drafted among other departments in the agency’s North-west zonal office, Kaduna.

The two-day training/hands-on demonstration programme under the auspices of the Nigeria Military was held in Kaduna at the 44 Nigeria

Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna (NAHRK) The Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Musa Ilallah said, “that the major objective of the training is to master the usage of the Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulance fully equipped with medical facilities on general emergencies and know its general components and their functions in order to provide life support to victims of disasters from accident

scene to the hospital”.

The Director, a Consultant and Intensive Care Physician, Major General Shina Ogunbiyi, mni personally took the sessions which covers topics like Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Airway and Breathing Adjuncts, Ethical Issues in Resuscitation, Introduction to ECG and Training/hands-on demonstration.

L-R: Ekiti state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Speaker, Ekiti state House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Omirin, Special Adviser to the state governor on Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Aderemi Ajayi, Regent of Ijurin-Ekiti, Mary Ayeoba-Adedoyin, Regent of Iluomoba, Olawunmi Adeola, and Onijan of Ijan Kingdom, Oba Oyewole Fadahunsi, during a special thanksgiving mass, yesterday at St. James’ Catholic Church, Ijan-Ekiti.

Ooni leads 10 Osun monarchs to Kwara

Yobe rehabilitates 318 km of federal highways - Commissioner

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

obe government says it is embarking on the construction and rehabilitation of six federal highways covering 318 Km across the state.

The State’s Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Lawan Shettima, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Sunday, that rehabilitating the roads would

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he Ooni of Ife, Osun state, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II, has led ten other traditional rulers from the state in a visit to Kwara state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed where they stressed the need for Nigeria to unite.

The monarch, accompanied by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim SuluGambari paid the courtesy visit during the weekend where they commended the governor for his “monumental achievements”, in various sectors of the state economy.

The Emir of Ilorin, while extolling the virtues of the Ooni, he commended him for promoting national unity.

Oba Sijuade however prayed to God to continue to uplift and guide the governor in piloting the affairs of the state.

In his reaction, governor Abdulfatah canvassed for constitutional roles for traditional rulers in nationbuilding. He argued that with their positions as repositories of the cultural values of their domains, they deserve constitutional roles in Nigeria.

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boost socio-economic activities of communities linked to other parts of the state by the roads.

He explained that rehabilitation of 152 km out of the 318 km of the roads had been completed, while work on the remaining 166km was at various stages of completion.

“The Gaidam administration has taken the challenge of road

construction to open up every part of the state for improved socioeconomic development,’’ he said.

He stated that apart from those projects, the state government had constructed 300 km TransSahara route, cutting across 200 communities in four local government areas of Nguru, Karasuwa, Machina and Yunusari in Yobe. (NAN)

Zamfara police warn against extra-judicial killings From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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he Zamfara state Police Command yesterday has condemned the killings of three Fulani youths by members of the Vigilante group in Birnin Magaji local government area, saying it is unlawful and criminal.

In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawal Abdullahi, the Command has set up an investigation team headed by the Assistant Commissioner of

Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to carry out discreet investigation into the alleged extra-judicial killings.

“To this end, the Command hereby implores members of the Public to avoid taking laws into their hands in the name of reprisal or otherwise.’ Two wrongs can never make a single right’ stressed PPRO. According to the statement, no stone will be left unturned by the Police in dealing decisively and according to the law with anybody

found in a breach of law. “Those behind such brutal and barbaric killings will be prosecuted before the court of law”.

The Command appealed to the general Public, to always report suspicious acts or persons with questionable characters to the nearest Police Station for prompt action rather than taking laws into their hands. People should continue to cooperate with the security agencies in the fight against criminality for the sake of peace in the state.

Centenary celebration: Nigeria heads for better daysMaku

By Evelyn Okakwu

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he minister of information, Mr Labaran Maku has called on Nigerians to imbibe the culture of forgiveness and unite, irrespective of cultural or religious differences adding that Nigeria is headed for better days where equality for all and social Justice thrives.

He made the remarks in Lokoja, Kogi state at a special Church service to mark the 100 years of the amalgamation of northern and southern parts of Nigeria.

The minister assured the congregation that Nigeria is being reinvented based on sound principles and virtues to bring about prosperity and development through the firm belief in God. He said, “We are beginning to lay the new foundations.”In the last three years, the president has founded thirteen Universities; ten of them are located in Northern Nigeria and only three in the South. That is what we call justice.”

He said the Federal Government is constructing a seaport in Lokoja to convey vessels to the newly constructed Baro seaport following dredging of River Niger.

Also speaking, Kogi state governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, thanked the congregation for seeking a new path for Nigeria through God.

Youth group to rehabilitate 5,000 drug addicts

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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orried by the high rate of drug and substances abuse among youths in the region, Northern Youth Assembly (NYA) is to flag-off campaign against drug abuse and rehabilitate 5,000 victims next month.

NYA in a statement signed by its National Chairman, Mallam Ibrahim Waiya lamented that drug substance abuse is silently but steadily developing into serious problems, especially among the youths in the region.

The assembly said, “Three consecutive annual reports of the NDLEA from 2010 to 2012 have rated states in Northern Nigeria as leading in, drug and substance abuse in the country, a situation that is not only embarrassing but unfortunate.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

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News

Mysterious fire razes FGGC Kazaure hostel From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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late night inferno has razed down a multi million Naira hostel at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Kazaure in Jigawa state.

The incident occurred at about 9pm on Friday, and before the students and staff on duty could rescue the situation, it had destroyed properties of about 51 students of Moromi House, but no life was lost.

The fire, which lasted for about two hours, was prevented from causing further damage by the prompt response of the fire service. This saved the second block from being affected.

Our correspondent who visited

the scene of the incident noticed that three rooms that housed 51 female students, including their mattresses, personal effects and their school uniforms, books, as well as other properties were completely destroyed.

According to the principal of the school, Hajiya Fatu Iyemorgan, all the relevant security agencies and the immediate community were on hand to offer assistance, thereby preventing the fire from spreading to other buildings.

She said no life was lost because all the students were in their classes for the evening prep when the fire broke out.

In her words: “The cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained as investigation is still ongoing,

but obviously it is not cooking because they don’t cook in the hostel. We give them hot water in the morning. It may be electrical fault”.

Iyemorgan said from her little resource she has ordered for mattresses and uniforms for the affected students, adding that she will send a report when investigation is completed.

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant in the state, Muhammad Gidado said the incident took his men, the police and the fire service more than an hour to overcome.

Chairman, Parents Teachers Association ( PTA) of the school, AlhajiDalhat Abubakar, who was

Gombe: Police arrest suspected car snatcher T From David Hassan, Gombe

he Gombe state police command has arrested a suspect alleged to specialize in car snatching and armed robberies.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP

Fwaje Atajiri, told newsmen at the weekend in Gombe, that investigation had begun to ensure a diligent prosecution of the suspect.

The police, who gave the name

of the suspect as Mohammed Baba, said he recently attacked a driver of a Golf 3 vehicle with registration number GME 248 AE along Gombe-Biu road, after blowing some hard drugs on the

also in the school for on-the-spot assessment, said the association has made some donations for emergency relief, adding that after an emergency meeting billed for today, will consider other assistance to be made.

Kwankwaso urges clerics to support anti-street begging campaign Imams and other religious leaders in Kano state have been urged to support the government’s crusade against street begging and child trafficking.

The state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, made the plea at a meeting with members of Kano state Council of Imams in Kano on Thursday.

Kwankwaso said that driver to make him unconscious.

According to the police spokesman, “we will do what we can to get to the root of the matter and to ensure that those who have hands in the alleged case are brought to justice”.

The suspect, who made confession before newsmen, said he was pushed by the devil through his elder brother in Kaduna that introduced him to the business.

Baba said he

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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A farmer, Malam Sani, whose hand was amputated by aherdsman in Madubu village of Zaki local government, Bauchi state, recuperating on hospital bed, at Hadeja General Hospital in jigawa state.

Herdsman amputates farmer’s hand in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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herdsman in Madubu village of Zaki local government area of Bauchi state has been accused of amputating one Malam Sani’s right hand during an argument.

Malam Sani, who is a farmer, is

Aftermath of robberies: Commercial banks may open today in Offa From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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Police kill 2 robbers, recover AK 47 in Kebbi wo armed robbers were killed by police officers within Zuru Local government area of Kebbi state, and one AK 47 as well as two cell phones were recovered by the security agents from the criminals.

Addressing newsmen yesterday at the police headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Muhammad Mustafa, said that the incident happened at the early hours of yesterday around 6.30am between Marafa and Koko in Fakai local government area.

“The three officers that killed the robbers were the divisional police officers from Sakaba, Ribah and Bena, who were on their way to attend the monthly conference with the commissioner of police at Birnin Kebbi.

“They (police officers) met the road blocked by the armed robbers who opened fire on the officers and the officers returned fire which lead to the death of the two robbers, and three ran away into the bush”, Mustafa said.

the importance of Imams in any society cannot be over emphasized, adding that people relied heavily on their counsel.

The governor stressed that no society would progress with a cross-section of them living as parasites, calling on the Imams to advice parents to always keep their eyes on their children to prevent them from being unruly.

A statement by his media aide, Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, said Kwankwaso also cautioned the religious leaders against engaging in politics, noting that they are supposed to offer constructive advice to politicians in order to serve the people better.

currently recuperating at Hadeja General Hospital in Jgawa state.

The victim explained from his hospital bed that on the fateful day, he found a flock of cattle grazing on his farm while the herdsman who is a son to one Alhaji Gainako did not make any move to drive his animals out,

leading to an argument between them.

Sani said that the herdsman had hit him twice with the flat side of his cutlass and then struck with an extra force that cut off his hand from the wrist, as he attempted to protect his face.

It was also gathered that the

herdsman had after the incident escaped in panic and is still at large, while his brother is in police custody to assist trace his whereabouts.

The incident, according to official sources, took place on January 14, in the evening at Madubu.

ollowing the approval of the Offa Branch of Kwara state Bankers’ Forum, all commercial banks operating in Offa will reopen for business today, Monday.

It could be recalled that the commercial banks in the town were shut on December 19, 2013, after armed robbers raided some banks in the town and killed seven policemen, among other victims.

The robbers had earlier raided commercial banks in Omu-Aran ,Irepodun local government area of the state several times, compelling the financial institutions to shut down.

Besides, the incessant attacks also forced banks operating in Ilorin, the state capital to always close their daily transactions by 2pm.

While confirming the planned reopening of the banks, Kwara state Branch Controller of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Monday Olotewo, said that the bankers forum also agreed to lift restriction on banking hours in Ilorin.

Olotewo said the banks in Offa would be reopened since the community had shown commitment to collaborating with security agents to checkmate the frequent bank attacks in the town.

He added that the state government has promised to build more police posts in the area.

The Kwara state government also donated three security patrol Toyota Hillux vans to the security agencies in Offa, besides the plan to build more police stations in the town.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the general public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following number – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754 and 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833 and 08191778888.

134th KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

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oining of the APC by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has changed the political landscape of the State in particular and the nation as a whole. This political metamorphosis is not an abrupt decision coming out from the blues but a calculated political move to safeguard democracy and the democratic process in Nigeria. With this happening, the nation is witnessing unprecedented changes, with the political arena heating up towards a complete rejuvenation. For too long, the nation is drifting into abyss as the leadership at the top could not muster the courage to stop the rot fermenting the system leading to economic and political decays. The PDP, as the dominant party, has failed to salvage the nation from the economic crisis and is unable to bring peace and security, which are necessary ingredients for any meaningful development. Tendencies are now clearly springing up within the political sphere with clear lines of demarcation with groups clamoring fordevelopment. The dominant group in the PDP has shown no sign of bringing any meaningful change and this led to the rise of a faction that is too ready to risk everything for the survival of the nation. This explains more than anything else the reason behind the decision of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s decamping from the PDP and for his joining the APC. This step was a political maneuver for the continuation of the political struggle for the usurpation of power through electoral means from a naive political leadership controlling the PDP. This decision is not personal but for national interests. The nation is above any individual’s interest to remain in power while unable to provide beneficial services to the society. After all, politics is solely service centered. Thus, the struggle for political power should have a meaningful development purpose. The Governor has passed the stage where his decisions will be based on political survival as some political Lilliputians in the State are now desperately doing.

His decision, which is decisive, is for the continued existence and progress of the nation.

Since joining the new party, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has not only established himself as one of the most vocal, fearless, progressive and dynamic member but is now a person of great political influence in the country. His leadership horizon is expanding beyond the State and becoming more national by the minutes. The ‘Kwankwasiyya fever’ is now nationally acknowledged due to prudent utilization of scarce resources and the ability to execute developmental projects in the State within a period of less than three years. His stands on development and national policies show a remarkable degree of consistency thereby portraying a man of great ideas, energy and sincerity of purpose. He is never afraid or shy away from controversy when he is sure that his stand is for the betterment of the nation. The size of challenges does not cow him into submission but gingered him to face it head-on as far as the cause is just. He is one of the leading propagators of a more just revenue allocation formula, democratization and the transformation of the nation’s economy. His statements on or off stage since his second inauguration as the Executive Governor offer radical propositions thereby laying bare the problems and solutions for a better nation. His views are apparent, identifiable, decisive, and focused and are now influencing the political landscape of the nation.

In fact, since inception, his administration has been translating a program of action that has made Kano State a shining example for other States to copy. Indeed, this administration has transformed all sectors for the better, from Education, Health, Youths empowerment, Agriculture and Revenue Generation. The support he is enjoying from the citizenry is based on his ability to lead and deliver dividends of democracy. His approach to governance is realistic and true to the core because he understands the nature, needs and aspirations of his people.

However, despite the political upheavals caused by his decamping to APC, the weekly sittings of the Executive Council continue. Nevertheless, as usual before tabling the memoranda for the 134th sitting, Council reviewed the deliberations and approvals of the 133rd sitting. At that sitting, sixteen (16) MDAs had submitted forty-seven (47) memoranda of which seventeen (17) were approved for execution with an expenditure of N2, 215,571,419.01 covering seventeen (17) projects.

After this review, today Wednesday 29th January, 2014 (28thRabi’ul Awwal 1435 AH) the Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and thirty-fourth (134th) sitting presided over by Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. During this meeting eighteen (18) MDAs submitted forty-eight (48) memoranda for deliberation by Council of which thirty-one (31) were approved for execution with an expenditure of N926, 708,131.35 covering 21 projects. The remaining approvals (10) were on policy issues. The approvals are stated below: 1. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT This Office submitted nine (9) memoranda for deliberation by Council on behalf of the Chairman (Governor. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE) including other MDAs. Out of the nine (9) submitted four (4) were approved for execution, which are as follows: a) Request for Funds for the Provision of Post Training Packages to the 120 Fishermen Undergoing Training at Magaga Fisheries Skills Acquisition Centre:The Magaga Fisheries Skills Acquisition Center was amongst the twenty-one (21) Skills Acquisition Institutes established by the present administration for the training of the State’s teeming youths in self-reliance skills for personal and State development.

Since the establishment of these institutes, hundreds of youths have undergone skills training in various professions making them useful members of the society. The content of this memorandum was on this line for it was a request from the Senior Special Assistant on Fisheries for the sum of N13, 320,000.00 for the provision of post training packages to the 120 Fishermen who are undergoing training on fisheries skills at Magaga Fisheries Skills Acquisition Centre along Kano - Gwarzo Road. The purpose of the request was to empower the participants upon the completion of the training program for optimum utilization of the State Fisheries resources.

As with other Post Training Packages given to the participants of such institutions, the students of this institute will be given 18 packets of different sizes of hooks, 8 bundles of Gill-nets of different sizes, 20 rolls of Nylon Twines, 2 Hanks of Kuralon rope, 50 pieces of cork, floats, 12 yards of cast-net material and 1 pair of life jacket for safety operations. Thus, each participant will receive Post- Training Package amounting to the sum of N110, 000.00.

Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso Council noted the significance of the training and that of the supply of the PostTraining Packages and approved the release of the sum of N13, 320,000.00 to facilitate the procurement and distribution of the items to the 120 trained fishermen. b) Memorandum on the Purchase of 2014 JAMB Forms and the training of the Candidates The present administration has made tremendous achievement towards the improvement of education in the State ranging from the construction of Classrooms/ Theatres, provision of infrastructures, general renovation of Schools premises to provide conducive environment for better learning, as well as sponsoring of State Indigenous Students to study abroad all with a view to improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the State citizenry.

This memorandum recalled that it has been the tradition over the years that annually the State Government purchases JAMB forms and distributes them to prospective Kano State indigenous students who wish to sit for JAMB examination so as to gain admission into tertiary institutions. In 2013 the State procured 2000 JAMB forms, out of which 1650 of the forms were for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination while 350 forms were for Direct Entry. In supporting the exercise the State expended N6 million for the screening, registration and re-training of the candidates to take the examination. The screening exercise ensured the elimination of unqualified and unserious candidates thereby improving the final results and increasing the chances of the State candidates gaining admission into the tertiary institutions.

This memorandum was submitted to seek the normal release of funds for the purchase of the forms and the retraining of the candidates for the upcoming 2014 JAMB examination. Against the background of the foregoing, the Deputy Governor forwarded a request for the release of the sum of N14,000,000.00 to enable the purchase of 2000 (2014 JAMB) forms for the State candidates with required credits and the retraining of the students. Council noted the significance of such expenditure in consonance with the State Free Education Policy and approved the request. c) Request for Funds for Women Entrepreneurship Support on the N2 billion Loan Agreement between the Kano State Government and Bank of Industry (BOI):It could be recalled that last year (2013), the State Government and Bank of Industry (BOI) entered into agreement pertaining to the N2 Billion Naira Loan agreement in order to cater for a loan facility on the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the State. The contents of this memorandum proposed the provision of additional sum of N250, 000,000.00 loan facilities to Women Entrepreneurs across the 44 Local Government Areas of the State.

The memorandum stated that the first N250,000,000.00 released by the State Government as Counterpart Funding paid to BOI making the sum of N527,685,107.00 for entrepreneurship loan is due for assessment and distribution to certified Companies and Corporate Societies owned by men only, thus, leaving the already 149 Women Entrepreneurs who met the criteria as stipulated by the BOI unattended. The presentation believed that women are vulnerable when it comes to accessing funds and they complained of losing out in many Federal Government Programs. Due to this, the Government has pronounced that 60% of such facilities should be set aside for Women Entrepreneurs in the State in order to uplift the socio-economic status of women folk.

This explained the Office of the Secretary to the State Government’s endorsement of the request from the Chairman State Standing Committee for Entrepreneur Support of the additional sum of N250, 000,000.00 for disbursement to 149 qualified Women

Entrepreneurs who met the criteria for accessing the Fund to benefit from the loan facility under the Kano State Government/Bank of Industry Small and Medium Entrepreneur Development program.

Council noted and directed for the distribution of the earlier released sum of N500million as first phase, which is ready for disbursement to qualified companies and cooperative societies in the State. d) Information Memorandum on Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board Hajj Report 1434AH/2013:This is an information memorandum from the Kano State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board informing Council the successful execution of the 1434AH/2013 Hajj Operation. The memorandum stated that the 2013 operation surpassed that of 2012 and was adjudged as the best in recent years. Although, the operation was executed on a modest budget in comparison with the huge sum expended by the previous administration, the preliminary report from NAHCON placed the State in the fore front of the leading States in terms of sanitation, pilgrims’ accommodation, feeding, luggage management and pilgrims’ enlightenment.

In fact, the State emerged first in the country in particular and Africa in general in Tradudiyya, (organization and transportation of pilgrims along scheduled routes from Arafat to Muzdalifa). The report informed members that 5664 pilgrims attended Hajj through the State Pilgrims’ Board. Out of this number only two pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia. The year 2013 witnessed no birth or abscondment as witnessed in the past operations. Since the ending of the operation, the State Pilgrims’ Board has been receiving delegations from other States of the Federation seeking to learn from its achievements during the 2013 Hajj operation.

Council acknowledged the report with appreciation, commended the stakeholders involved and endorsed that the Local Government Councils establish Adult Islamiyya Schools for the teaching of Islamic tenets to the elderly. Council endorsed the idea of including Hadaya fees by all State Pilgrims’ Boards to the Hajj fares to overcome Hadaya problems being faced by pilgrims, increasing of the number of Islamic preachers (‘Malaman Bita)’ accompanying pilgrims in line with gender proportion and the construction of a Court Office to serve the purpose of hajj Affairs Tribunal. Similarly, Council agreed on the wisdom for the provision of additional ambulances to complement the current serviceable one in use in Saudi Arabia. Finally, Council approved the commencement of the 1435AH/2014 Hajj Operations as soon as possible.

2. MINISTRY OF RURAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 1 (One) Memoranda was submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Rural and Community Development, which was approved for execution.

Thus: a) Request for Funds for the Relocation of Electricity Facilities at Sheikh Ja’afar Adam Road:Council recognized the present administration’s commitment to reconstruct the major roads within the metropolis by expanding them into dual carriage ways in order to reduce daily traffic congestions and improve commuting within the metropolis. This memorandum was submitted in tandem with this policy. The reconstruction of such major roads affects other public facilities, which have to be relocated, such as electricity poles and water pipes.

Council recalled its directives during its 126th sitting for the Kano State Rural Electricity Board (REB) to relocate electricity poles to ease the completion of the reconstruction projects on Gwarzo, Zaria, Hadejia and Sheik Ja’afar roads.

It is based on this that the State Rural Electricity Board prepared a BEME assessment for the relocation of the electricity facilities along Sheikh Ja’afar Road amounting to the sum of N7,248,504.00. Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N6.5 Million for the relocation of the electricity facilities along Sheikh Ja’afar Road.

3. MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION The two (2) memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Higher Education were noted/approved. Thus: a) Information Memorandum on the Selection of Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education Kumbotso as the Best Performing Tertiary Institution in the Northwest Zone by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND):As a matter of fact, it is from the spirit of transparency and accountability restored and inculcated in the minds of various staff across the public sectors of the State by the present administration, which is responsible for the recent commendation bestowed on Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education Kumbotso as the best performing Tertiary Institution in the whole North-West zone of the nation by the TETFUND. The Institution is found to have accessed and utilized its normal intervention funds/allocations from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) from inception in accordance with the best practices specified by the Fund at its organized workshop held on 26th November, 2013 in Abuja.

Council noted the information with appreciation, admired the efforts of the management of the institution and urged the Academic and Non-Academic Staff of Tertiary Institutions to support such efforts for the development of the State and Nation at large. a) Request for Funds for the Purchase of 2014 IJMB Forms and Training of the Candidates:The Kano State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies submitted this memorandum through the Ministry of Higher Education requesting the release of the sum of N26, 298,000.00 for the payment of 50% cost of 1,216 IJMB forms, expenses on the conduct of the IJMB examination, allowances for internal Coordinators, procurement of chemical and other consumables for Practical Examination, marking exercise, payment of affiliation fees, etc.

The memorandum explained that the sum of N4,560,000.00 is to cater for the payment of 50% cost of the IJMB forms for the eligible candidates. The increase in the enrolment of candidates could be linked to the change of the duration of the program being conducted by the institute to one year instead of two years. This is an annual request for the State Government to support the purchase of IJMB forms for prospective Kano Contd on Page 9

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014 State indigenous students ready to sit for the examinations so as to gain admission into tertiary institutions. The balance will be expended on the following expenditures: i) N2,620,000.00- for accommodation, feeding, honorarium and refreshment of External Supervisors; ii) N1,140,000.00- for allowances for Internal Coordinators who jointly with external Supervisors conduct the examination; iii) N1,089,000.00- for the procurement of Chemicals and other Consumables required for practical examinations in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics and Geography; iv) N100,000.00 - for the custody of Question Papers, and Answer Script/Fueling of Supervisor’s Vehicles; v) N6,000,000.00 for the night allowance of all lecturers participating in the 2014 marking of examination papers; vi) N1,850,000.00 -for the payment of affiliation fees in respect of all affiliated programs of the College, which included Diplomas in English, Islamic Studies, Hausa, Guidance and Counseling, Mathematics, Integrated Science, etc. Education programs; and vii) N9,039,000.00- for affiliation fees, renovation and equipping of the Microteaching resource room and to facilitate visit by the National Commission of College of Education.

Council noted that the procurement of the forms by the Government has increased the number of students sitting for the examination thereby raising the figure of those gaining admission into tertiary institutions. In fact, this request is in consonance with the State Government’s Free Education Program. Council noted the request and approved the release of the sum of N26,298,000.00 for the stated commitments.

4. MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING & TRANSPORT Five (5) memoranda were submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport and four (4) were approved for execution. Thus: a) Request for Funds for the Installation of Streetlights with the Recovered Poles within Audu Bako Secretariat (2.2KM):Provisions of infrastructures have consumed millions of Naira since the inception of this administration. In fact, no major road is left unattended in the current provision/ repairs of street and traffic lights. Few callings may serve the purpose: Murtala Muhammed Road, Zoo road, Gwarzo road, Race Course road, Emir Palace road, Kofar Mata-Plaza, etc. The installation of streetlights has now moved into the old city of Kano metropolis. Kano is being transformed into a modern center, secured and beautified at night. This explains the basis of this memorandum.

The memorandum was a request for the installation of streetlights within Audu Bako Secretariat. The presentation reminded Council of its directives for the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to submit Bills of Engineering Measurement for the project. The project is to be executed with recovered electric poles from Aminu Kano road to reduce cost and encourage utilization of available resources. The sum of N49,915,575.60 was submitted for the installation of the streetlights at Audu Bako Secretariat. The purpose of the project is to enhance the security of Government property/documents and provide a credible working condition within the Secretariat complex.

Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N49,915,575.60 to the Task Force on the Repairs and Reactivation of Street and Traffic Lights for the take-off of the project. b) Request for Funds for a Beautification Project at State Road By Kano State Government House Roundabout:The memorandum reminded Council of the expenditures incurred on general beautification of the metropolitan Kano through the provision of interlock tiling, streetlights, gardening, tree planting, etc. on all major roads. This has improved the environment, both in cleanness and serenity thereby attracting more visitors for economic and other activities. Kano State is now a State being imitated by other States in the Federation for its beautification projects.

The contents of this memorandum from the State Ministry of Works, Housing & Transport requested the release of the sum of N10,268,133.75 for the execution of a beautification project at the Government House roundabout. Council noted the significance of the request and approved the release of the sum of N10,268,133.75 to the Ministry for the general reconstruction and further beautification of the Government House Roundabout located along the State Road. Council also acknowledged the efforts of some financial institutions and other business concerns for expending their resources on beautification projects within the State. c) Presentation of Progress Report on the Construction of Dakatsalle Trailer Park Along Kano – Zaria Road:The content of this memorandum is from the State Ministry of Works, Housing & Transport on the progress made on the construction of Dakatsalle Trailer Park, which is located along Kano – Zaria Road. The project was awarded at the sum of N78,981,402.44 by this administration for the purpose of curtailing the parking of trailers along the major road for safety of motorists and passersby. As at now the contractor has completed all earth works and the perimeter wall fencing of the park. The next stage according to the report is the application of terrasil/zycosil admixtures. However, the contractor expressed doubt on the durability of using terrasil soil admixtures claiming that such a product has never been used in this part of the country. This doubt led the Ministry to dispatch a high-powered Committee to Lagos to verify the claim. The findings of the Committee confirmed that projects executed with this product are still intact and have been serving their purposes satisfactorily. Projects constructed using the admixtures includes, amongst others: i) Ogolonto Bus Stop, Lagos Road Ikorodu ii) Enugu Airport iii) Kuro Township Road iv) Ibadan Express Road, and v) Ilorin Emir’s Palace Road The Committee visited the 2.5 Kilometer Road Ebute-Afuye Road, which was constructed in 2010 using the product. This road is still intact and stable despite the heavy rains of the area. The advantage of using the product doesn’t stop there. The cost of using the terrasil for the trailer Park is N4 million while the estimated cost for asphaltic surfacing is in the sum of N41,047,312.50. On gauging the submission, Council accepted the proposition of using the terrasil admixtures thereby saving the State over N37 million. d) Memorandum on Request for the Provision of 100KVA Power Electricity Generating Set to Jawwalah GSM Market:It could be recalled that the present administration has taken series of infrastructural projects since inception in order to improve the socio-economic well-being of the State citizenry. The contents of this memorandum invited Members of the Council to recall the administration’s effort in supporting Small Scale Business Associations through the provision of facilities for the enhancement of their commercial activities. One of such facilities is the construction of JAWALAH GSM market. The market has availed thousands of youths’ means of livelihood. However, business activities, such as the one being done at JAWALAH GSM market require constant electricity supply.

It is in line with the above, that the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport forwarded a request in the sum of N3,620,975.00 for the provision and installation of 100KVA Capacity Electricity Generating Set at Jawwalah GSM Market. Council noted the significance of the request and approved the release of the sum of N3,620,975.00

PAGE 9 for the said commitment.

5. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, YOUTHS, SPORTS & CULTURE One (1) memorandum was submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture, which was approved for execution. Thus: Memorandum on request for Funds to Enable Kano Pillars Football Club Pursue CAF Champions League First Round.

The memorandum reminded Council of the emergence of Kano Pillars Football Club as the back-to-back winners of last year’s season of the Nigerian Premier League.

With the new season beginning the team is getting set to pursue both the defence of the local league title as well as CAF Champions league. The continental engagements are billed to begin on 7th February 2014. The team is scheduled to play against the AS Vita Club of DR Congo on 7th and 14 February 2014.

The memorandum drew the attention of Council on the financial requirements for the team’s participation in the continental engagements. For the team to participate it is expected to shoulder the responsibilities for its players, coaches, officials, officiating officials’ teams, etc. For this reason, the memorandum requested the release of the sum of N58,573,314.00 to cover the first round expenses of the team’s participation in both home and away matches in the DR Congo and Kano. Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N55,470,830.00 to Kano Pillars Football Club to participate in the CAF Champions Competition.

6. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES Six (6) memoranda were submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and five (5) were approved for execution. Thus: a) Memorandum on Request for the Balancing of the sum N1.5 million for the procurement of Post Training Packages for the 2013 Trainees of the Leventis Foundation/Kano State Agricultural Training School, Panda:The contents of this memorandum reminded Council of its last year’s approval for the procurement of post training packages to 150 Trainees of the Leventis Foundation/ Kano State Agricultural Training School, Panda in the sum of N3million. With this development, the Governor made a pledge during the graduation ceremony of N30,000.00 to each of the graduating students instead of the N20,000.00 earmarked in the approval. Thus, a balance of the sum of N1.5 million is required to cover the 150 students.

It is on the basis of the foregoing development that the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources forwarded a request in the sum of N1,500,000.00 to enable balancing the year 2013 Post Training Packages of Leventis Foundation/Kano State Agricultural School Graduates. Council noted the contents of this memorandum, considered and approved the release of the sum of N1,500,000.00 for the said commitment. b) Memorandum on Request for the Conduct of Training and Sensitization Workshop for Extension Officers, Youths and Head Farmers Across the 44 Local Government Council Areas:The contents of this memorandum reminded Council on its earlier approval for the conduct of a workshop for the enlightenment of stakeholders on Community Support Centers through Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (KNARDA).

The workshop is meant to acquaint farmers on how to use electronic farming system (e _ farming) with the basic rudiment on the current GSM Program as introduced by the Federal Government.

The memorandum was also in compliance with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development proposal to conduct training to the beneficiaries of 200 knapsacks sprayers and 5,412 pieces of Hermetic bags supplied by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources forwarded a request in the sum of N6,349,447.00 for the training of 1,600 Participants of Community Support/ Electronic Farming System as well as 785 Participants of Sprayer usage and Hermetic Bag Storage Techniques. Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N6,394,447.00 for the smooth conduct of the workshop. c) Memorandum on Request of Funds for the Monitoring and Evaluation of the 2014 Dry Season Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS):The contents of this memorandum reminded Council of the flag – off of the year 2014 Dry Season Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) in the State. It also highlighted some of the relative importance of setting up Monitoring and Evaluation Teams with sole aim of achieving successful implementation of the Scheme throughout the State.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources has proposed the setting up of four (4) Monitoring and Evaluation Teams to cover the existing four (4) KNARDA Zone with each Team expected to visit designated redemption centers.

This necessitated the request for the sum of N10,508,000.00 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to cater for the fueling of vehicles, feeding allowances as well as other logistics to the members of the Monitoring Teams. Council noted the importance of a Monitoring and Evaluation Team in every project/program, considered and approved the release of the sum of N2,000,000.00 for the said commitment. d) Request for Funds for the 6th Batch Training and Provision of Post Training Packages at Livestock Institute, Bagauda:The esteemed attention of the Council members was solicited to recall the establishment of the Livestock Institute Bagauda, which is among the 21 Institutes initiated by the present administration for women and youths empowerment programs across the State. The Livestock Institute had commenced training on the 22nd October, 2012 and had graduated fifth (5th) batch of its students to date.

The Institute has arranged in details the 6th batch training of one hundred and thirty-two (132) trainees selected across the 44 Local Government Areas, which is scheduled to commence on the 3rd of February, 2014 with the following Courses: Bull and Ram fattening as well as Rabbit production, processing and marketing. For the execution of the training program the Institution requested the release of the sum of N20,558,450.00 as cost for both the training and post training packages. Council noted and approved the release of the sum of N20,000,000.00 to the State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to facilitate the training and post training packages of the 6th batch of 132 trainees. e) Request for Funds to engage the Services of Some Notable Agricultural Research Bodies towards the Implementation of Kano Commercial Crop Development Initiative:The contents of this memorandum recalled Members of the Council on its policy approval on Agricultural development program tagged “Kano Commercial Crops Development Initiative” (KCCDI) aimed at expanding farmers’ incomes, employment generation, promoting value chains approach and eventual commercialization of Agricultural products across the State. Similarly, the State under the program is divided into Six (6) zones for commercial crops production, which include; Moringa, Jatropha, Sesame, Cassava, Groundnut, Garlic, Tomato, Cotton, Wheat and Rice, as well as one Agro-processing zone, located in the Six (6) metropolitan Local Governments of the State based on comparative advantage.

In the same vein, following Council’s directive on facilitation of a developmental action plan on the KCCDI the State Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Resources has identified some notable agricultural research bodies as Collaborators/Drivers of this gigantic project and requesting for Council’s approval of the sum of N1,000,000.00 to be used for running the secretariat and logistics to enable the production of the blue

print for the entire program.

Considering the importance of the new agricultural diversification project, which is to take-off during 2014 rainy season production, Council approved the release of the sum of N1,000,000.00 to the State Ministry to facilitate the compilation and production of the blue print that will guide the conduct of the entire program in the State.

MINISTRY OF FINANCE One (1) memorandum was submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Finance, which was approved for execution as follows: Memorandum on Request for a N2, 000,000,000.00 Treasury Loan for the Housing Projects:It could be recalled that the present administration has taken a giant stride towards the construction of three (3) new cities in the State i.e. Kwankwasiyya and Amana along Zaria Road and Bandirawo along Dambatta/Daura Road. These cities are aimed at providing working opportunities to the teeming youths, markets to businessmen and women and lastly decent and affordable shelter to the State citizenry.

In a desire to complete and dispose these houses, the Ministry of Finance forwarded a request in the sum of N2,000,000,000.00 in form of Treasury Loan to enable the completion of these houses, which will be paid back with interests after their disposal to interested buyers.

Council acknowledged the request, as well as considered and approved the release of the sum of N700,000,000.00 as Treasury Loan for the stated purpose.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 134TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING i) CONDUCT OF MONTHLY ENVIRONMENTAL EXERCISE Council noted the successful conduct of the monthly environmental exercise, which took place on 25th January, 2014. During the exercise, a total of 179 offenders of the exercise were fined N294, 000.00 ii) UNFORTUNATE INCIDENCE OVER THE DEATH OF FOUR (4) PERSONS WORKING AT A TANNERY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN KANO Council noted with sadness and displeasure and wishes to commiserate with the families and entire people of Kano State over the unfortunate death of four staff working in a Tannery industry as a result of inhaling chemical contamination. Council has since inaugurated a high-powered committee comprising the Hon. Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism and the Hon. Commissioner for Environment to visit the site and take necessary action. Furthermore, Council has pledged its resolve to continue to protect the lives and property of its citizens and will ensure the families of the deceased are compensated for the death of their relatives as stipulated by the laws of the land. iii) SIGNING OF MoU AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND BCS CENTRE IN LONDON Council noted the working visit by the Hon. Commissioner for Science and Technology to BCS Centers at London and Swindon Wiltshire. During the visit, a MoU agreement on master franchise for Kano Institute for Informative Technology was signed with the British Computer Society (BCS) UK. iv) OFFICIAL CEREMONY FOR THE OPENING OF SHEHU MINJIBIR BOARDING PRIMARY SCHOOL Council noted the official opening of Shehu Minjibir Boarding Primary School with 140 pioneer pupils. The School is located at Minjibir Local Government Area. v. ESTABLISHMENT OF E-LEARNING CENTERS IN THE 44 LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF THE STATE Council noted the arrival of the officials of ca-Nudernia, a Canadian NonGovernmental Organization to Kano State to begin the establishment of the 44 e-learning centers in the 44 Local Government Areas based on the MoU signed with the State Government. The program will flag off in Girls Science Secondary School and Technical College, Kano. vi. COMMENCEMENT/TAKE OFF OF E-LEARNING PROJECT AT GOVERNOR’S COLLEGE, KANO Council noted the commencement of the e-learning project at the Governor’s College with the presentation and display of the equipment by the contractors during a ceremony in the Government House. The First Lady College and Science Colleges will also benefit from the e-learning project.

Vii. LAUNCHING OF MASS TRAINING AND RE-TRAINING PROGRAM Council noted the launching of the mass and re-training program of teachers by the Governor. The program will ensure that teachers acquire teaching qualifications without necessarily leaving their place of work. The program has begun with the National Open University of Nigeria. The program will later on be conducted by the Colleges of Education i.e. Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, FCE Kano, and FCE (Tech) Bichi. viii) INAUGURATION OF NATIONAL TOMATO TECHNICAL WORKING COMMITTEE Council noted the inauguration of the National Tomato Technical Working Committee by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the 18th January, 2014, which took place in Kano. ix. PRESENTATION OF AWARD(S) Council witnessed the presentation of an Award to Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso by the Culture and Tourism Stakeholders Association of Nigeria as the ‘’Best Governor on Tourism development in Nigeria.

Kainuwa Women Child Foundation presented an Award to the Governor for his commitment to women empowerment and child care programs.

Similarly, Council witnessed another award presentation to the Governor by the Justice and Fairness Organization for his stride in the area of Infrastructural Development.

COURTESY VISITS TO THE GOVERNOR WITHIN THE WEEK 1. Courtesy call by the Management team of JAIZ Bank, where they expressed their appreciation on what the Governor is doing in transforming the State and all the support Bank has been receiving. The Bank pledged its continued support and cooperation with the State Government.

2. IZALA National leadership led by the National Chairman, Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau paid a courtesy call on the Governor and commended him for his giant stride especially in the education sector and for his efforts in ensuring unity among the Muslim Ummah.

3. The Outgoing Brigade Commander, Gen. Abba and the incoming Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Bright Mamah paid a courtesy call on the Governor.

The outgoing Brigade Commander thanked the Governor for the support he enjoyed while he was in Kano and wishes the Governor continued successful implementation of projects for the development of the State.

4. A group of none indigenes living in Kano paid a courtesy call on the Governor where they commended him for his development projects and people oriented policies.

They also thanked him for the peace and security being enjoyed in the State.

5. Commander General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) paid a courtesy call on the Governor. During the visit, he thanked the Governor for his support to the Corps and prayed to God to support him for any higher responsibilities in the future.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture, Kano State

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

News No going back on anti vandalism war – Ogun NSCDC

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

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ommandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun state command, Aboluwoye Akinwande, has vowed not to relent in the fight against vandalism.

Mr. Aboluwoye stated this at Awowo in Ewekoro local government area of the state during a tour of an office donated to the state command of the NSCDC by the community (Awowo). The office complex which is still under construction has up to three standard offices.

“The war against vandalism is a continuous one and should be sustained at all time. We must not rest on our oars; if vandals are not resting, there is no point why we should stop waging war against them. We must keep on fighting.

We cannot allow greedy few who are destroying the main source of our economy to continue to have their way”, he further assured.

Welcoming the commandant, the Olu of Awowo, Oba AbdulGafar Olasunkanmi, said, the town decided to build the office complex in appreciation of the security agency’s role in ensuring peace and tranquillity in the community.

No religious discrimination in Kebbi-LG boss From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi.

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hairman of Zuru local government area in Kebbi state, Ibrahim Andi Rumu, has said that both Muslim and Christian faithful in the area are coexisting peacefully in the same environment, in spite of their religious differences.

The council boss made the statement while receiving Kebbi state working journalists who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Zuru over the weekend.

He stated that the religious differences existing in Zuru was a source of strength to his people, and a good example of the harmonious relationship between people of different religions which other parts of the county should emulate. ‘’I make sure that what my council approves for the Muslims during Sallah celebration is the same thing given to the Christians and this has promoted our relationship with both groups. I am happy to say that Zuru is a model in Nigeria and a good example of religious tolerance’’, he said.

He however admitted that Zuru is facing security challenges but that the proactive security measures his council put in place with the assistance of the police and the vigilante group has tremendously improved the security of lives and properties in the area.

L-R: A Leader of Eggon Renaissance Group, Mr. Adamu Muazu, Nasarawa state Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, and Secretary to the State Government, Hajiya Zainab Abdulmunin, during a reconcilation meeting with leaders of Eggon community, at the weekend in Lafia.

Photo: NAN

Nasarawa LG elections: I’ve no anointed candidates-Al-makura From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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head of local government elections in Nasarawa state, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura has warned aspirants seeking to be elected either as council chairmen or councilors not to drop his name, saying he has no anointed candidates.

Al-makura stated Saturday in Lafia, in a speech at a one-day pre-primary election seminar

organized by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for aspirants in the council election, slated for March, this year.

Further warning aspirants against depending on godfathers for success at the polls, the governor assured that his administration would provide a level playing field for all.

“All the aspirants are equal, government has no preferred candidates as all the aspirants are considered equal”, Al-makura

reiterated.

He said the APC administration would only recognize those duly elected by the people, urging aspirants to dwell on issues seeking to better the living standards of the people, in line with the manifesto of the party.

Al-makura showed appreciation to the people of the state for supporting the APC administration, and commended the aspirants for their good conduct thus far.

Also speaking at the event, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources, Danladi Madaki, commended the APC for building a virile structure both within the state and nationwide.

On his part, state interim chairman of the party, Arc Stanley Buba, restated the earlier call by Governor Al-makura, warning aspirants against relying on godfathers.

Yuguda has lost relevance in Bauchi, says critic From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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overnor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi has lost his relevance in Bauchi state since 2007 as he could neither win election nor anoint a candidate to win election, a political activist and critic of the governor, Bashir Y. Ahmed has said.

Ahmed, who spoke with our correspondent at the weekend in Bauchi said: “If you are talking

of Yuguda of 2007, then, I might reason with you.

Honestly there is a great difference between Yuguda of 2007 and Yuguda of today.

Believe you me, Yuguda cannot even contest and win election now, talk more of supporting anybody to success”.

He stressed that, “the man has lost his political relevance due to this style of leadership; he is no longer respected in the state and even in the presidency,

because most people know him ‘black and white’. He is only being tolerated because he is the sitting governor.”

But in a swift response, an aide to the governor, Alhaji Danladi Inuwa said “I don’t think the youth knows what he is saying, because Governor Isa Yuguda, in his six years, perform better than any past government.

“I challenge him to go and visit the (Bauchi) airport, specialist hospital, and state university

and see the type of structures he (Yuguda) put in place. Let him also talk to the civil servants in the state and demand for their experience with the previous governments”, he challenged the critic.

Inuwa said further that: “Besides, the governor didn’t talk about anointing any candidate or rather contesting for any position again; so his (Ahmed’s) arguments are baseless and unfounded”.

Gov Aliyu preaches peace as Al-Habibiyyah graduates 127 From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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iger state governo,r Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has appealed to Muslims to always live in peace and harmony with their neigbours believing that such often promotes growth and development needed in society.

Aliyu gave the charge at the weekend in Minna, when Al-

Habibiyyah Academy, Minna, graduated 127 students at Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, including his wife of the governor, Hajiya Jumai.

He condemned the rampant frictions in the Islamic world, where both leaders and followers are always at daggers drawn, lamenting the bloodletting that characterized such frictions.

The Director of the organisation, Imam Adeyemi

Ademola Fuad, charged the graduating students to imbibe the fear of God in all their endeavours.

The director said AlHabibiyya is an Islamic ThinkTank, whose areas of activities cut across education (both Islamic and Western), Da’wah and mosque projects, as well as other Islamic activities.

In his contribution, the Deputy Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja,

Sheikh Ahmad Onilewura, who was the lecturer at the event, admonished the Muslim Ummah on good leadership qualities, based on service to humanity rather than self aggrandizement, prevalent in the polity today.

Onilewura, in his lecture titled, “Qur’an: Stabilizing the Polity”, described a good leader as a person that will lead humanity from the brink of destruction to the way of Allah Almighty.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 11

Money Sense

Putting employees before customers I

By Gwen Moran

m a g e c r e d i t : Shutterstock “The customer is always right,” is a familiar mantra to many customer service-focused businesses.

But is it true? Sometimes, customers are unreasonable or even abusive. What do you do when one of those unruly clients has faced off with an employee?

“You have to look at the value that your employee brings to the equation.

Sometimes, it’s better to sacrifice one customer than lose a valued employee,”

says Nancy S. Ahlrichs, strategic account manager at Indianapolis, Indiana-based human resources consulting firm FlashPoint. Ahlrichs outlines several steps to manage customer-employee conflicts and decide when to put employees first.

Give employees some slack to help unhappy customers.

Ahlrichs says employees can more quickly defuse tense customer situations if they can appropriately respond to a complaint without the delays of seeking manager approval. Talk through some potential conflict points – for example, customer

returns in a retail business or unavoidable delays in a service business – and give the employees some approved methods of recourse. Perhaps they can accept returns up to a certain dollar value without getting a manager’s approval or offer to reduce a fee or cost if service is not delivered as expected. This lets the employee engage with the customer as a peer.

Related: How OfficeMax Failed on the PR Front...

Twice Remove the employee from the situation. If the situation seems heated, remove the employee from the situation, and work on solving it yourself. This relieves the pressure on the employee, who can’t supersede your decision, anyway. In some cases, this is simply a matter of handling a transaction. In others, it may mean moving an employee off of an account or service role if the matter can’t be resolved easily.

Always listen to both sides.

Even when the situation seems clear, be sure to listen to both sides, even if it means meeting privately with the employee after the fact. Ahlrichs says it’s important that employees know that you have their

back and want to hear their perspectives. This also gives you an opportunity to discuss how the situation could have been handled differently and help the employee overcome any negative feelings about the situation or the customer.

“Too often, managers will reflexively respond negatively if the customer complains. Avoid that. This is an opportunity to improve your business,” Ahlrichs says.

Replace abusive customers.

Good employees are just as difficult to find as good customers, Ahlrichs says.

If a customer is abusive or unreasonable, you need to decide the point at which you risk losing valuable talent.

Abusive customers fuel turnover, which can hurt your business far more than losing one difficult client.

“We’ve all fired places that have high turnover. When you lose a good employee, you also risk losing the customers that employee has relationships with. So, when one employee goes, you could lose many customers along with that employee,” she says. In those cases, make your break with the customer and direct your energy to replacing that business, she says.

How to trick yourself into becoming a morning person

By Stephanie Vozza

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mage credit: Shutterstock The early bird apparently does get the worm. Christoph Randler, a biology professor at the University of Education in Heidelberg, Germany, found that morning people are often more successful than evening people because, as a group, they tend to be proactive. A recent survey conducted by The Guardian confirms this idea, reporting that many CEOs of successful companies are up by 5 a.m.

But what if you’re more of a night owl than a morning lark – is it possible to change your ways?

Yes, but it will take work, says Dr. W. Christopher Winter, Medical Director for the Martha Jefferson Hospital Sleep Medicine Center in Charlottesville, Va. and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

“Your genes determine what we call your ‘chronotype,’ which is if you are a morning or evening person,” says Winter. “It’s often similar within families, but it can be influenced to a certain degree.”

Changing your chronotype takes about two weeks, but

you have to stick with it. If you slack off, you’ll drift back to your natural tendencies, Winter cautions. He offers six simple tips for adjusting your internal clock: 1. Put yourself on a morning schedule, but don’t sweat bed time.

Wake up, exercise and eat at the same time every day, says Winter. The body likes to anticipate what’s happening, and will settle into a routine. But don’t worry about your bedtime: “People get hung up on setting a bedtime, but that’s a mistake because it can cause stress,” he says. “The bedtime will sort itself out because you’ll be tired. The most important piece is to not slack off on the wakeup time.”

Winter says the problem occurs when you drift back to older patterns during weekends and vacations. Sleeping in on weekends tells your body that your early morning routine is just an arbitrary schedule and that it should stick to its chronotype.

To become a morning person, it’s important to get up early on weekends, even if you are out late the night before.

Related: The Power of Mornings: Why Successful Entrepreneurs Get up Early 2. Use a smart alarm.

The snooze button was designed to allow people to go back to sleep for a few minutes without reentering a deep sleep cycle, but it can hinder your transformation into an early riser, says Winter.

“There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with it, but if you want to wake up at a certain time you’re not in a cognitive state of mind to make a decision about whether or not to add nine more minutes of sleep,” he says.

Instead, Winter likes to use a smartphone alarm app, such as Smart Alarm or Math Alarm, that requires him to solve a math problem to turn it off or set it

to snooze. “Solving a problem makes your brain awake enough to make an informed decision,” he says.

He also likes to use his music library to play a random song as an alarm. “You can become callous to the same song or sound on your alarm,” he says.

“Different songs will be a novel stimulus and that can be helpful.”

3. Let in the light.

Whether it’s natural or artificial, light is significant because it tells the brain that the day has begun and sends signals to the body to stop making melatonin, the hormone that helps regular sleep, says Winter.

7 apps every entrepreneur needs in 2014

By Katie Finnegan and Erica Bell

I

mage credit: Brian Wilkins/enhancements by Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are known to be the masters of efficiency, right? The secret? We don’t do it alone. Besides having an amazing team to support our endeavor, we also utilize cutting edge apps to keep us on our A-game.

(When you’re heads down building a business from scratch, your time is extremely valuable.) With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the top apps that will help any entrepreneur take 2014 by storm.

Faster is better.

In our app rundown, lets first focus on efficiency -- a necessity for the entrepreneur that is constantly juggling various tasks. The faster you can access information and execute, the faster you’ll build your company.

1. TrackMaven: This app streamlines your ability to monitor data on your competition, without going through the hassle of consulting multiple sources. Filter the marketing activity you want alerts for and erase all the extra white noise.

2. EchoSign: There’s no longer an excuse to delay the closing of a deal (You never know when Mark Zuckerberg will call with that $3 billion dollar bid.) This Adobe app allows you to electronically sign documents easily and securely. It also records and stores each document’s history, so you have automatic audit trails -- saving you the time and trouble of backtracking in case the need arises.

3. Free Wifi Finder: A definite game-changing app for the entrepreneur and tech guru who needs to be plugged in 24/7. In the early stages of a startup, every situation and opportunity is high stakes and you can’t afford to allow a poor Internet connection to get in the way of your company’s success.

Related: 4 Hot Tech Startups to Watch in 2014 4. Uber: This app never lets us down. For any on-the-go entrepreneur, this service is essential to ensure you always have a way to get to that last minute meeting -- even when every cab in the city is full.

5. MobileDay: For those frequent occasions when you’re too busy to be sitting in the office, use MobileDay to coordinate all of your in-person and conference call meetings. With this app, you can dial in automatically, email with participants and even get directions to your meeting place.

6. Skitch: Screenshots are second nature in the business world these days, but it’s a tedious task to make notes directly on them.

Enter Skitch. A product of the ever popular, Evernote, this desktop and mobile application allows you to get directly to the point through different annotations, shapes and sketches.

7. FedEx Office: This mobile app is one of the most helpful on-the-go apps for entrepreneurs.

Easily send files, documents or photos through the app to your nearest FedEx location to be printed or made into a beautiful presentation. You can even upload files directly from Box, Google Drive and DropBox. Related: Building a Productivity App? Learn These 5 Productivity Methods.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

EDITORIAL

SSS persecution of el-Rufai N

sordid experience back in 2011, the government would do well to ensure that elections are free and fair to avoid a repeat of the violence that trailed the last general elections.

If the SSS was looking for whom to arrest over provocative comments, perhaps, it was looking in the wrong direction.

We advise it to look towards the like of Asari Dokubo who has repeatedly threatened violence if President Jonathan is not returned to office. Chief Edwin Clark, another known Jonathan supporter, has also insisted that If the SSS was looking there will be consequences if Jonathan does not retain his for whom to arrest over seat in 2015. We are dismayed provocative comments, that the SSS has not deemed perhaps, it was looking in the such comments provocative or deemed it necessary to invite the wrong direction. two gentlemen to explain their comments. It is such blatant show home with an arrest warrant. of injustice that sows the seeds of We commend him for standing violence and a national organ such his ground and insisting that the as the SSS who should be working government officials obey the law of in the national interest should not the land. be seen as so brazenly partisan.

Beyond that, we are at a loss As voices against the as to why the SSS would make candidature of President such a fuss about the former Jonathan rise as we approach the minister’s comments which, at elections we fear that we may see best, were a note of caution for more of these acts of impunity the government to ensure that visited on citizens by the security the coming elections are not officials. This would be totally rigged. It is outright mischief for against the tenets of democracy anyone to misread that comment and we call on the President to as calling for violence in 2015. To call all security agencies to order be sure what el-Rufai said was and ensure that they protect that “there may be violence if the fundamental rights of all the 2015 elections were not free Nigerians regardless of their and fair”. Considering our recent political affiliations. are bent on taking us back to the dark days of military dictatorships when security officials raided the homes of perceived opponents of government and arrested them at will. After nearly 15 years of democratic rule, Nigerians would be excused to think those days are well behind us. Perhaps, the SSS officials are used to operating with impunity and without regard for due process, that was why they failed to travel to el-Rufai’s

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

“

igerians were treated to another round of impunity by the federal government penultimate Friday when officials of the State Security Service (SSS) attempted to arrest former FCT minister, Nasir el-Rufai at his Asokoro, Abuja home. The SSS had earlier demanded he visit their headquarters for interrogation over comments he allegedly made alluding to violence in the coming general elections in 2015. El-Rufai, however, made himself unavailable for arrest and went underground from where he tweeted that unless a warrant of arrest was produced by the security officials he would not honour their invitation.

The gun trotting officials left egg faced only to return later with a warrant. The former minister obliged their request and made himself available for an interrogation last Monday morning which lasted for about 15 hours. He was not released until early Tuesday morning.

El-Rufai who visited the SSS headquarters in the company of top All Progressives Congress (APC) members including Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Chris Ngige, had insisted that the comments he made were well within his constitutional rights and therefore, he was not under any obligation to honour any invitation from the security agency.

We are disgusted that the SSS

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CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM MANAGING EDITOR ABDUL-AZEEZ ABDULLAHI

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 13

Opinion 2015: Bafarawa and the PDP curse

By Aminu Mohammed

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igerian politicians do not learn from history and this has affected democracy in many ways. It is only in Nigeria that a politician will swear that “I will never dump my party” and in less than 24 hours, he would be romancing with the opposition. Former governors of Sokoto and Kano states - Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa and Alh. Ibrahim Shekarau - are among such politicians. For more than 15 years Bafarawa has consistently told those close to him and even political supporters that “da inshiga PDP gara namutu,” simply put, I would rather die than join the PDP. History is a study of the past which helps in moving the present and shaping the future. Bafarawa has helped in re-writing political history because he has finally fell prey to the PDP and just as he ran away from the ANPP, DPP and ACN, political historians are waiting to hear where next his destination would be.

The former governor who spent eight years in power and spent public money by sending people to Mecca to pray against any PDP victory in Sokoto state and Nigeria has finally been caught in the cobweb of the PDP and there is no mincing words that he would be frustrated out of the party because he has no place in the PDP which he has been fighting to destroy in the last 15years. Those in the PDP

are aware of how he frustrated party members in Sokoto State and how he dealt with the opposition during his tenure. In fact, the PDP has for long been waiting for this moment when Bafarawa will fall in its trap so that they can deal with him accordingly.

Bafarawa’s entry into the PDP was not by design but by necessity.

As a member of the opposition who along with General Buhari, Senator Ahmed Tinubu and other progressive minds formed the APC, one would have thought the former governor would remain with the APC, no matter what in order to prove that, he is not an adventurist in politics but a progressive who is fighting for the survival of democracy through party internal democracy and good governance but personal interest over rode his judgment. In 1999 Bafarawa got sympathy votes from the electorate in Sokoto simply because all the tested politicians and spent forces where in the PDP and the people needed a change. He had every opportunity to change the politics of the state but because he was so selfish pursuing a personal agenda he quickly lost out and it took the intervention of some powerful forces in the state to convince the Obasanjo-Atiku government to spare him.

Senator Abdallah Wali of the PDP was betrayed by his own party chieftains who gave Bafarawa the Socalled landslide victory but he knew

the intrigues that kept him in power.

However, in 2007 when the powerful forces believed that he was a selfish politician they ditched him and he lost woefully in his attempt to plant a puppet who would dance to his tune.

His political travail began shortly after the 2003 general elections and since then he has been changing parties the way electricity transformers are replaced in Nigeria on daily basis.

After the 2003 governorship election, he began grooming a successor against the wishes of the party which was routing for his then deputy, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. The ANPP however believed the only candidate who could enable it retain power in the state was Wamakko. In the end the ANPP entrusted Wamakko with the leadership of the party. Bafarawa was frustrated out and he formed the Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP) to fight Wamakko. He fought and lost woefully in the 2007 elections.

Gov. Wamakko however contested under the flag of the PDP which was desperate to end the Bafarawa era in the state. Since Wamakko drove Bafarawa from the ANPP, the former governor has been fighting Wamakko and in all the battles so far fought, Bafarawa has always lost.

Bafarawa’s DPP took Wamakko to the election Tribunal and up to the Supreme Court but in all these courts, Wamakko triumphed over his former boss.

Therefore, when the APC was formed, he saw an opportunity to test his political strength against Gov. Wamakko but like previous instances the political climates changed, Wamakko dumped the PDP and joined the APC and apparently aware that he could not fight Wamakko, the former governor had to run away from the APC to a party he once so disliked, the PDP. Now that Bafarawa has joined the PDP a party he had cursed many times while in the ANPP, DPP, ACN, and APC, what does he intend to achieve and will he be relevant at all? The man has eaten his cake and will no longer be relevant in Nigerian politics.

It is interesting to know that the former governor has parted ways with all those he began his political adventure with in 1999. He is today walking alone so his entry into the PDP is a great minus since all his associates and supporters have dumped him and aligned with Gov. Wamakko. For the record, the DPP gubernatorial candidate who took Wamakko to court after the 2007 elections, Alhaji Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi is now in the APC fully backing the governor. Again, Bafarawa’s political pillar, Alhaji Umarun Kwabo has dumped him and joined the Wamakko camp.

Furthermore, Bafarawa’s deputy in 2007, Alhaji Chiso Dattijo Abdullahi and all the ANPP/DPP chieftains during Bafarawa’s era have all

dumped him and paid homage to Gov. Wamakko so, who is Bafarawa taking to the PDP? Nobody.

The PDP in Sokoto should forget the 2015 governorship ticket because Bafarawa is a virus to the party and he will infect the remaining members just like Bamanga Tukur infected the PDP before he was booted out of office. The PDP in Sokoto is fully aware of how Bafarawa has been cursing it in the last 15 years and should be worried that the same person who has put a curse on it is now romancing with it.

Could it be a genuine romance? Will the marriage between those once sworn enemies work? Of what use would Bafarawa be to the PDP in Sokoto and Nigeria?

With the 2015 election timetable out, the battle for the soul of Sokoto politics between Bafarawa and Wamakko has begun and it is only a manner of time for Bafarawa to come to terms with reality, that he has outlived his political usefulness in the state and Nigeria as well. It is dramatic and fool hardy that while people are running away from the PDP en-masse, Bafarawa has been blind folded to fall into a trap that will become his final fall in politics.

That is just the way the cookies crumble.

Aminu Mohammed is reachable on aminumohammed38@gmail. com

El-Rufai, SSS and freedom of speech

By Ajayi Olatunji Olowo

N

asir Ahmad el-Rufai, a former Nigerian Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is a notable voice in the Nigerian political landscape.

Since he came into prominence during the Obasanjo regime he has maintained a consistent track as one individual who abhors and would speak up against anything he considered irregular in the polity.

This persistent consistent rare attribute has pitched him against the Jonathan regime which has been viewed in many quarters as the most inept administration Nigeria has ever gotten.

El-Rufai has, in airing his views, backed his assertions with facts and figures. For almost 2 years el-Rufai was writing a weekly column in some print media. The opinions expressed in the columns were like a thorn in the flesh of the Jonathan administration and too factual to be ignored. Rather than learn from the statistics and viewpoints consecutively expressed in the write-ups, the government went for an underhand tactics. They initially relied on social media guerrillas to counter el-Rufai viewpoints.

When the impact of the media guerrillas was too puerile to make any meaningful impact, they went for a harder option. That is how the machinery of the State Security Services (SSS) was deployed for the first time against the el-Rufai’s “irritant posturing”.

It was in the days of the late National Security Adviser – General Owoye Azasi. On a return from

an overseas trip in 2011, el-Rufai was accosted and taken to SSS Headquarters at the State House Annex. The major grouse of the SSS then was that el-Rufai was purportedly peddling unfounded rumours about the fact that the country was spending about N3 billion on national security daily, yet insecurity was mounting astronomically.

It was the first time the SSS goofed overtly. The assertions of elRufai on the national security issue were not only the obvious facts; the data on which the former Minister based his viewpoint were culled from indicators released by departments of government and at the time in the public domain. At the time it was not clear if the SSS was acting ignorantly or overzealously on its own without any prompting. Subsequent events have shown that the SSS must have been acting on scripts from highest echelon of government.

“

Such a manifestation became apparent as el-Rufai became an ardent vociferous voice in the emerging opposition party that appears set to sweep the political landscape in the impending electoral contest. While on monitoring of the Anambra Gubernatorial election in November, 2013 as an accredited chieftain of the opposition party – the All Progressive Congress (APC), the SSS had without any explanation detained el-Rufai in his hotel room in Awka. The event is now a matter for adjudication before the Court of Law. While the court action remains subsisting, the SSS had launched another onslaught on the Interim Deputy National Secretary of the opposition party.

The substance of the latest action of the Security outfit, according to reports, is predicated on a speech delivered by el-Rufai at a public function in Abuja on 22nd January, 2013. The former Minister was

reported to have sounded a note of warning that except the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted elections devoid of rigging in 2015, history would repeat itself with a replete for violence capable of consuming innocent citizens.

While the SSS has a mandate to ensure the security of lives and property, there is not enough material to arrive at any conclusion that the opposition politician was inciting anyone to engage in violence. A mere warning, at a public forum, without more appears in tandem with the inalienable rights of citizens to free speech within the framework of Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. At least the warning sounded by el-Rufai cannot logically be put in the same context with threats from rehabilitated militant Dokubo Asari who had sometime in 2013 threatened violence should

While the SSS has a mandate to ensure the security of lives and property, there is not enough material to arrive at any conclusion that the opposition politician was inciting anyone to engage in violence. A mere warning, at a public forum, without more appears in tandem with the inalienable rights of citizens to free speech within the framework of Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. At least the warning sounded by el-Rufai cannot logically be put in the same context with threats from rehabilitated militant Dokubo Asari who had sometime in 2013 threatened violence should the sitting President be deprived another bite at the exalted position come 2015.

Similar threats from elder statesmen like the Ijaw Leader – Pa Edwin Clark went unnoticed by the security agents who have suddenly found their fortitude when an opposition politician has made a non-acrimonious comment.

the sitting President be deprived another bite at the exalted position come 2015. Similar threats from elder statesmen like the Ijaw Leader – Pa Edwin Clark went unnoticed by the security agents who have suddenly found their fortitude when an opposition politician has made a non-acrimonious comment.

If there were to be a balanced security apparatus with rational approach to securing the Nigerian landscape, one would have thought that the SSS would have deployed their efforts and direct their arsenals to the overt and almost insurmountable challenges of terrorism instead of playing to the gallery by attempt to gag opposition politicians.

If and when free speech becomes abhorrent and the constitutional right to free assembly is ardently gagged as conspicuous in Rivers State, it is predictable that Nigeria is on a fast move to becoming a facist state that would be worse than the monstrous era of the dark military days.

For a sustainable polity devoid of slide into anarchy the constitutionally entrenched fundamental rights to free speech, assembly, religious beliefs among others have to be respected. This is the sine quanum to a stable polity.

The earlier the Security Agents retrace their steps and maintain a neutral role in the performance of their statutory duties of protecting lives and properties, the better for Nigerians of all creeds.

Ajayi Olatunji Olowo via olaajayiolowo@yahoo.com

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion Muslim Brotherhood versus the military

By Abdullahi Musa

M

ohammed Morsi, the deposed President of Egypt, is behind bars, facing the prospects of escalating charges, till they find the ones that will stick. When writing about Egypt, one is not occupying any moral high ground. The military rules in Nigeria as also another military establishment rules the Egyptians.

The Egyptians are not lucky.

They were ruled by military dictatorship for all their postmonarchy existence. When Arab spring came, they grabbed their chance for freedom and toppled Hosni Mubarak. The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) has been confronting the military since Nasser. They won the election after Mubarak’s ouster, but the military could not give up their grip on the society. Backing the youths who were the vanguard at Tahrir Square, but who came to see MB as not the answer to their dreams, they moved in to depose Morsi, and to instal an interim puppet. Now we

hear that General El Sisi is being cleared by the military to contest the presidential election.

But all these are common knowledge. What we want to bring to attention is the role of the military in the governance of nations, not only in Egypt and Nigeria, but even in materially developed nations like the USA. In its raw form, power is brute force. One

WRITE TO US Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com SMS: 08134607052

with force or superior fighting skills is able to enforce his will.

In Egypt, as in Nigeria, the military has command of the fighting arsenal, and organized body of men and women to do its bidding. What is worse in the case of Egypt is that it has a military that cannot fight a known enemy

– Israel - and is also a perpetual pupil to USA, Israel’s backer. And of certainty, neither Israel nor USA would be comfortable with a civilian administration that is guided by Islam in its dealings with the world.

The Military in any nation of the world is the main custodian of

lawful force. In a democracy, that force should be subordinated to the constitution, the civilian administration.

But in many coups in Africa, the constitution can be suspended, and the civilian president deposed and jailed by the military, while the converse is

rarely feasible.

So what happened in Egypt was that MB came to power while the military establishment was not supportive. Therefore, the military, having dominated power for very long time saw the opportunity in the fissure between the political class and MB to grab power and

retain it. Remember, the West did not detest Mubarak’s leadership, even to the point when he wanted to handover to his son.

In Nigeria, we are in the grip of the military in that they protect those who stole elections from our wrath, not giving a damn about gunning down protesters.

In the light of the foregoing, in certain nations like Nigeria and Egypt, the military affords security to the citizens only if citizens are docile. If there are first class citizens then they are in the military. If any violent action is contemplated by members of the Brotherhood then they are in the arena where the military enjoys superiority.

The lesson for MB is that it has no significant support in the military and also the youths. For a country long in bondage of the West, an Islamic state cannot be set up under their very noses. In Nigeria, APC as the opposition party ought to start talking to and understanding the military.

Abdullahi Musa can be reached on kigongabas@gmail.com

Politics of deportations

By Gimba Kakanda

R

eligion and nationalism are the most powerful forms of indoctrination and, in the name of these two, many injustices can be done so that our idea of a shared humanity [in terms of religion and nationality] is thus contradicted and ridiculed.

Nationalism is theoretically the healer of a colourfully diverse country possessed by the ghosts of hatred along the lines of the things that highlight differences, from the shapes of our places of worship to the colour of our skin. And where nationalism fails, where the love for country and appreciation of its diversity are dominated by our allegiances to personal and private interests, conflicts set in, sometimes irredeemable ones, other times those repairable through diplomacy. But where the latter fails and the former is unanimously understood, cartographers are invited to demarcate the geography of our conflicts. Like the split of India and Pakistan. Like the split of North Korea and South Korea.

Like the Split of Malaysia and Singapore. And, yes, like the attempted split of Nigeria into two unequal halves.

If our history of the last 50 years is not a memo on how not to run a country, I wonder how this growing sectionalism can be tamed. What’s happening in Nigeria today is a repeat, though reversed, of those dark years where a set of people became the scapegoats for an atrocity carried out by a few aggrieved or deluded citizens who are members of a persecuted ethnicity or region. This is what made the deportation, over the week, of

84 “northerners” by Imo State government very devastating news. On suspicion of terrorism, they said. The deportees, who were in Owerri to study at Imo College of Advanced Professional Studies, ICAPS, had reportedly camped on the premises of a newspaper house while awaiting their registration procedures before their identity became pronounced as the enemies, northerners, “terrorists”, and thus they had too be deported “for fears that they might be members of the dreaded Boko Haram.” A few days before that, it was the case of Igbo youths attacking Hausa traders in Onitsha. Their crime? “(alleged killing of a staff of the Anambra State Transport Agency, ASTA, by a trailer driver of Northern extraction (sic)” - Vanguard Newspaper (15/01/2015). Isn’t this, this careless scapegoating, the root of our deepened sectionalism?

The earth almost folded when Lagos state’s Governor Babatunde Fashola, in one of his anti-people policies, deported some Igbos to their home state.

The streak of condemnations and especially the screams of

“

marginalisation among Igbo political and intellectual elite and the compliant masses, was deafening, and I must add, frightening. The Igbo deportees have dragged the Lagos State Government to court, and this week they declared their demand for a billion naira in damages.

None of us supported Fashola.

Interestingly, none of these “human rights activists”, who had shown us the shade of their ethnic activism, bothered about the ill treatments of perceived northerners in the hands of the same Igbos. Only the empathy of a bigot functions is such a manner.

And when some of us stepped out to highlight these issues, there are murmurings about attacks on the Igbos too in the north by Boko Haram insurgents. Is Boko Haram a legitimate advocate of the north, Hausa-Fulani or the Muslims?

Isn’t it an enemy of state, against any people, organisation or interest averse to its heavily flawed and misrepresented ideals of Islam? In the lash of its many crimes against humanity, has Boko Haram not killed uncountable innocent Nigerians,

as it targets churches, mosques of non-cooperating Muslims, schools of both Muslims and Christians, boys and girls and also public institutions where religious affiliations are not tattooed on workers’ foreheads?

Permit me to ask: is the emir of Kano, a frail old man who escaped death in gun attack and now living in fear of the terrorists, a Christian - and an Igbo? Are the young men here in the north called “civilian JTF” who have risen to fight the terrorists also Igbos - and Christians? Were the murdered retired military officer and elder statesman, General Mohammad Shuwa, and all the northern elite and technocrats lost in this madness Christians and Igbos? And is the father of Kano state’s Governor Kwankwaso who was attacked just last week a Christian and an Igbo?

If Boko Haram has enjoyed the backing of the north as is being touted by hate-mongering commentators who do not even know that the north is a region of 19 expansive states, why are indigenous northerners and Muslims also targeted alongside the Christians?

Now where are the northern governors? And where are the so-called representatives of the northern interest, especially the Arewa Consultative Forum? So there is no screaming and calling for Governor Rochas Okorocha’s explanations and apologies, and, threatening to retaliate? Our Governors, especially Governor Shema from whose State the “terrorist” suspects hailed, must carry out a needful a measure, in the fashion of Anambra state’s Governor Peter Obi’s confrontations of his Lagos counterpart. They must prove to these boys that they are indeed elected to represent them. If those prospective students have been suspected to be of the Boko Haram militants and potentially considered threats by the clairvoyance of the security personnel in Owerri, why weren’t they handed over to the “appropriate authorities” as our bail-abusing policemen are called in friendliest references?

Now where are the northern governors? And where are the so-called representatives of the northern interest, especially the Arewa Consultative Forum?

So there is no screaming and calling for Governor Rochas Okorocha’s explanations and apologies, and, threatening to retaliate? Our Governors, especially Governor Shema from whose State the “terrorist” suspects hailed, must carry out a needful a measure, in the fashion of Anambra state’s Governor Peter Obi’s confrontations of his Lagos counterpart. They must prove to these boys that they are indeed elected to represent them. If those prospective students have been suspected to be of the Boko Haram militants and potentially considered threats by the clairvoyance of the security personnel in Owerri, why weren’t they handed over to the “appropriate authorities” as our bail-abusing policemen are called in friendliest references?

Well, the next election is just a calendar away, you may chant “Sai mai sallah” again in abusing your franchise having been hoodwinked into sectional alignments. What have these political “masu sallah”, those representative of your own religious values and ethnic identities, done for you now that you’re being hauled as worthless third-class citizens with no political representatives? Thank you, Governor Okorocha for exposing that the Boko Haram insurgents from the republic of northern Nigeria now carry identity cards around. We thank you, sir. May God save us from us!

Gimba Kakanda on twitter@ gimbakakanda

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 15

Comment Why is referendum not an option?

By Wumi Akintide

I

f Nigeria were operating a true democracy not dominated by one party, one could have said there is still hope for this country, but we do not have that. The opposition is muzzled and totally suppressed. In more stable societies and countries the opposition is always the Government-in-waiting should the ruling party fumble. It is not so in Nigeria where Obasanjo has categorically told the nation that his PDP was going to rule Nigeria for the next 100 years whether we like it or not.

Every Nigerian leader that ever gets voted or rigged into office as President including Obasanjo is always hell-bent on serving a third or 4th term. They all want to retain power till they turn blue in the face.

The only exception has been Nelson Mandela who quit after 5 to 6 years in office. God bless his soul. Under normal conditions a new opposition party like APC should have been doing things in a way that show that they are not the same side of the same coin with the PDP they are trying to dislodge. You can tell from some of the blunders the party already started to commit. Their leaders going cap in hand to start

begging Obasanjo to come and lead their ship of state tells me loud and clear they are not seeking to create a new order in Nigeria.

If all they are asking Obasanjo to do is to remain neutral as an elder statesman who has been President longer than any other Nigerian dead or alive, I can understand what they are doing. A fool at 40 is a fool forever. Obasanjo is a dried fish as far as I am concerned. Any attempt to straighten him is going to break him. He is a one trick pony who is going to repeat all of his dictatorial tendencies once he finds another safe haven in APC. He is even going to be more dangerous in the APC where he has to deal with his alter ego like Ahmed Tinubu who was the only Governor to survive Obasanjo’s takeover of the Southwest in 2003 by subterfuge.

The combination of Obasanjo and Ahmed Tinubu in one and the same party is going to make the APC the reincarnation of the PDP if you can believe that. It scares the hell out of me, to tell you the truth.

I can tell you nothing is going to change if Obasanjo goes into the driver’s seat in the APC as feared by Wole Soyinka one of the surviving patriots of Nigeria.

The rush by Ebele Goodluck Jonathan to now hold the national

conference he has earlier on resisted, with the persistence of a demon, should be seen as the antics of a drowning man who will cling to a snake if needed.

President Jonathan says he wants a national conference which must never ever discuss the possible break-up of Nigeria because he does not want such a schism or Tsunami occurring under his own watch. What is he afraid of? I suspect he is saying that because he has sworn to uphold the Constitution of Nigeria by all means even if it means putting the dead and the living on the same table of brotherhood.

The break-up of Nigeria is being discussed by many in the six political zones of Nigeria as we speak. All it does not currently have is the stamp and authority of the Federal Government. I should not be misunderstood. I know there is something positive to say for Nigeria remaining one entity.

I am an unrepentant federalist like Obafemi Awolowo. I just happen to know that the Nigerian marriage is not working. I would gladly support a confederal system where each unit will be allowed to develop at its own pace and where the states would be much more in control of their own

destinies than the current unitary government we have in Nigeria where the President alone is going to nominate 60 persons to the national conference including its Chairman and the Secretary.

The conferees should be allowed to pick their own Chairman and Secretary, and it should enjoy more autonomy. Its deliberations should not be macro-managed on daily basis. They should reserve the right to discuss what they want and what they consider necessary to guarantee the peace and stability of Nigeria.

The conference should not be prevented from discussing dissolution as an option if need be. Telling the conference that is a “no go” area is in of itself a big mistake in my judgment. The 1914 Amalgamation was a huge mistake that the British Imperialists adopted because it served their own purpose and administrative convenience at the time. What the Conference is being called to do now is to revisit the Amalgamation of the South and the Northern protectorates, discuss its merits and demerits and come up with a recommendation on how to proceed from now on. We have endured the Amalgamation for 100 years and it is time for us to now say if we want to retain it or change

it altogether. When Jonathan now tells us the central pillar of that proclamation should still remain sacrosanct, he is more or less asking Nigeria to continue to shoot blindfolded. That is a wrong advice to take and Nigerians are damn too smart to just accept it without asking any questions.

Jonathan can force a donkey to go to the brook, he, sure, cannot force the donkey to drink water if it doesn’t want to drink.

A referendum should have been the right way to go if it can be guaranteed it would be free and fair. An INEC that cannot conduct or guarantee a free and fair election in just one state in Anambra can hardly be relied upon to do a Referendum that the whole nation can trust. A country that is afraid or scared to death to do a realistic Census cannot be trusted to do a Referendum of that magnitude, I might add.

Forcing Nigeria to remain one country by force and by fire as demanded by Goodluck Jonathan in his rush to hold a national conference is a no brainer and totally counter-productive in a Democracy.

Dr. Wumi Akintide wrote in from Lagos

Compulsive stealing syndrome (CSS)

By Dr. Peregrino Brimah

H

ave you ever asked a friend for financial assistance and they said they couldn’t oblige, then same instance, they took you and whoever else was available to be ‘impressed’ out to buy all of you drinks, excited to spend triple what you begged for on getting you drunk and bloated?

This friend potentially has Compulsive Stealing Syndrome.

Given the opportunity, he will steal, even from you.

Characteristics of CSS include, repetitive and uncontrollable looting, quasi-ambitious positioning to steal, love of power due to its securing greater ability to steal and deprive, preference for stealing from the poor, lack of initiative and foresight, kleptophilia (love of theft) with hybristophilia (attraction to criminals) and a decreased sense of self-worth with self-appraisal being morbidly connected to the accumulation of stolen wealth or property.

CSS is a chronic and serious disorder. The CSS lack insight to their problem. Confronting them is one of the greatest mistakes people often make. The more the CSS are confronted and called thieves, the more they feel insecure and that their campaign of calumny has not yet made poor slaves of the people. These narcissists desire not simply abject poverty for all, but povertyhopelessness. That you confronted them shows power, ability and food in your belly. They will steal and kill more if confronted and called thieves. Please avoid this.

CSS is a terminal illness. We see the CSS regardless of the unbelievable wealth they have already stolen and lives they have destroyed by theft and maliciousness, are still positioning themselves in office, government, etc at 70 years, 80 years, 90 years and till they die. We are seeing many CSS dying these days, till the last minute, actively engaged in setting themselves up to steal to deprive. These rather unfortunate sufferers need professional therapy. You will do the best by getting them CSS help via stylishly recommending therapy for them for some other condition, perhaps their depression*, having already secretly advised the therapist that they suffer from CSS. [CSS patients usually have co morbid psychological conditions like depression and mania and are violent and abusive to family.]

Do not address like armed robbery. Unlike armed robbery, CSS is not solved easily by social rehabilitation. Armed robbers

“

usually steal out of need. They steal preferably from the rich.

Armed robbers give to the poor.

The CSS steal preferably from the poor and to give to and associate with the rich. They work with the rich to plot and plan how to steal from the poor and further deprive them. Theirs is not stealing out of need, it is stealing to impoverish out of a chronic dependent feeling of self-worthlessness. If the CSS sees poor in rags fetching water from a well, he plans how to put a lid and padlock on the well and have the poor pay him per bucket fetched. This is a very deadly and unique disorder, most peculiar to Africa. In the western world, power thieves steal too, but when seeking office, have a mission to do something, make life livable for the people. Those in western societies understand that healthy people with basic amenities are essential for future stealing and safety from anarchy. Not so with the CSS, an African disorder that is totally self-extirpative and

internecine.

The physician needs to handle these patients carefully. Inquire about child abuse, being ‘spoiled’ as a child. Ask about toilet control and when the patient first gained self-control and restraint. Ask about their relationship with their parents, domestic violence and abuse including incestuous rape in the house. Inquire about their parent’s profession. Being a disorder with hereditary links, the parents professions may typically be answered as ‘unknown,’ politician, or sometimes, even straight-forth, thief.

Recommend taking time to visit prisons, volunteering in charity organizations in direct contact with the poor. It is helpful sometimes to try to reconnect these people with the greater things in life. Things that can give them the happiness they have given up on finding, as wealth accumulation only brings more desire, greed, anger

Unlike armed robbery, CSS is not solved easily by social rehabilitation. Armed robbers usually steal out of need.

They steal preferably from the rich. Armed robbers give to the poor. The CSS steal preferably from the poor and to give to and associate with the rich. They work with the rich to plot and plan how to steal from the poor and further deprive them. Theirs is not stealing out of need, it is stealing to impoverish out of a chronic dependent feeling of selfworthlessness. If the CSS sees poor in rags fetching water from a well, he plans how to put a lid and padlock on the well and have the poor pay him per bucket fetched. This is a very deadly and unique disorder, most peculiar to Africa.

and frustration. The CSS hate the smile they see on the poor man’s face. It is a smile and true happiness they lost from early childhood. They will give all up to smile a true smile once. But the distance they know exists between them in their fortified cars and mansions and the poor, makes this impossible for them.

Discuss with them about a legacy. Some CSS are every intelligent. Tell them about people of old who died and their names are remembered. Let it seep into their conscience that those remembered were hardly the rich, but those who left great positive legacies. Who Did Something for the people. With this approach, you can penetrate their profligacy and greater narcissistic desires and not heal them, but convert their greed into a greed for a good post-humus legacy. We see CSS purchasing acres and buying gold plated coffins ahead of their death.

These things matter and work.

If behavioral therapy fails, quickly place them on powerful anti-psychotic meds. CSS are deadly and very dangerous.

Their reckless looting, povertyenhancing, money-wasting, policy-unfriendly, corruptioninflating, selfish policies and deprivation of the poor, lead to deaths of thousands. If high doses fail, consider straightjacketing. Many CSS fund thugs and terrorism; confer with the law, media and human rights organizations if they get out of your control.

Dr. Peregrino Brimah can be reached on drbrimah@ends. ng

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

FCTA emerges best Pilgrims’ authority for 2013 Hajj

F

or providing standard accommodation for its pilgrims during the 2013 Hajj operations, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has received an award of excellence from Eagle Eyed Hajj monitors and Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR).

The IHR 2013 inspection showed that the FCT Muslims Pilgrims Board alongside Niger and Borno states emerged as the best three states pilgrims’

board that provided standard accommodation for its pilgrims during the Hajj exercise.

Receiving the award, the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, commended the FCT Pilgrims’ Board and other coordinators for their patriotism and efforts at ensuring the safety of the pilgrims on Hajj operations.

She said the FCT administration has noted the reports and observations by the hajj coordinators, which would be looked into and carefully considered for possible

improvements.

Akinjinde assured that the 2014 Hajj exercise has been retuned and repositioned to provide better services in areas where they didn’t meet up last year.

“The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the most sacred obligations for Muslims, and it’s our duty to make it safe, pleasant and conducive for those performing this religious obligation” she said.

Speaking earlier, while presenting the award, the IHR coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim

Mohammed, disclosed that the 2013 inspection result was based on merit, as it was collected from random interviews from 110 satisfied pilgrims on their general welfare, convenience, and safety while on pilgrimage to the Holy land.

According to him, part of IHR activities is to independently monitor and report Hajj activities, using the instrumentality of the media, within and outside the country.

He said that each year, IHR deploys members to various parts of the country to monitor

preparations leading to the Hajj Exercise in the Holy land.

“They (IHR) are also on ground in Saudi Arabia, to ensure that the relevant authorities give our pilgrims value for the money paid to accomplish this religious obligation,” he said.

Similarly, coordinator of the Hajj monitors, Mallam Mohammed Gazale, said the award was in appreciation of the personal contributions of governments of participating states, towards ensuring pilgrims comfortable stay during the exercise.

He said the aim of the award presentation was multifaceted as it covers the general 2013 Hajj report of pilgrims’ proceedings and commendation of the personal contributions.

Criminal justice: NGO calls for effective communication gadgets

A

L-R: Mr. Jide Opakunle, Mrs. Christiana Opakunle, Chief Simon Ademola Bolarinwa, and Youth Matron, Faith Baptist Church, Airport Road, Lugbe, Mrs. Felicia Bolarinwa, during a thanksgiving service, yesterday at the church premises, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Healthcare: RCCG to procure N80m mobile clinic

By Stanley Onyekwere, with Agency report

T

he Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) plans to procure a mobile clinic worth a total sum of 500,000 dollars (about N80 million), to enhance healthcare delivery especially in the rural areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the country at large, an official has said.

The Pastor in charge of RCCG’s FCT 4 Province, Dele Babade, who made the

disclosure last week, noted that the move would also enhance healthcare delivery in the rural areas.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the cleric, who spoke to a team of experts from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), said the clinic would be the first in a number of mobile clinics to be purchased.

“The Church set out on the project as part of its Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) to the society.

“We will have volunteer medical personnel who will give healthcare services, and time wasted on trying to access healthcare delivery will be taken care of,’’ he said.

According to the official, the mobile clinic would be available and operational in the FCT and across the country before the end of 2014.

On his part, FCDA’s Director, Economic Planning Research and Statistics, Mr. Ari Mohammed, noted that the administration also

d had a similar scheme called ``Mailafiya’’.

He said the scheme which began in 2009, provides comprehensive healthcare using off-road d trucks equipped with essential drugs, vaccines and d laboratory equipment.

Mohammed however, commended the RCCG G mobile clinic project, saying it was a therapeutic and allencompassing facility which would help in not only the rural areas, but the urban areas also.

non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), at the W weekend, in Bwari, Federal Capital w Territory (FCT), called for an T effective means of communication in the criminal justice system in the territory. t The organisation’s Executive Director, Dr Uju Agomoh, made the t call on behalf of PRAWA in a statement issued by its Assistant Programme Officer, Mrs. Cynthia Abang.

A The statement quoted the executive director as saying; effective communication would ensure speedy delivery of justice. ``Lack of proper communication between the criminal justice sector b agencies pose a dangerous trend to speedy delivery of justice in Nigeria, and FCT in particular,’’ it said.

The statement also said the proceedings of justice delivery processes were interwoven, while lapses in communication hindered l quick delivery of justice.

“Poor communication mechanism often leads to information gaps, which fuel suspicion and mistrust. w ``Criminal justice agencies often times do not realise how working t together in a co-ordinating way will t improve the ability of all to do their work more effectively. w ``The absence of effective tools of communication causes delay in the t smooth running of the entire justice system and erodes public j trust. t The News Agency of Nigeria T (NAN) reports that the Abujabased NGO seeks to promote the b effective delivery of justice, as well as the rehabilitation of youth-atrisk and torture victims.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 17

Metro

Fund seekers watching a magician, at weekend in Millennium Park, in Abuja.

A pick-up van loaded with cow and herdsmen, yesterday along Gwagwala Road, in Abuja.

Children fetching water from a borehole, yesterday at Madalla, in Abuja.

Two wheelbarrow pushers observing siesta, on Saturday at Area 1, in Abuja.

Women selling roasted yam, last Friday at old Federal Secretariat, Area 1, Abuja.

Photos: Mahmud Isa

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Metro INSIDE FCT COURTS

Two men jailed one month for stealing diesel

A

Wuse Zone 2, Magistrates’ court, Abuja has sentenced two men to one month imprisonment each for stealing diesel from an MTN mast premises.

The Magistrate, Mr.

Anthony Ogboi, sentenced the duo, Ajina Kelechi and Cheuechiren Jasper, after pleading guilty to the act of criminal trespass and theft.

Ogboi, however, gave the convicts, who resided at Mpape village, an option of

N500 fine each.

Police prosecutor, Mr. Emmanuel Ojogo, had told the court that the convicts unlawfully entered into the MTN mast premises located on Colorado Street, Maitama, Abuja and stole diesel from the

standby power generator.

He said that they were caught by a team of police men, led by Mr. Fabiye Ademuyiwa, on January 28.The prosecutor said that their offences contravened the Penal code.

(NAN)

Labourer sentenced to 2 months in prison for assault

A

Grade 1, Area Court in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has sentenced a labourer, Awalu Hassan, 30, of Kasuwar dare, to two months in prison, for causing hurt to a man.

The judge, Alhaji Hassan Muhammed, who sentenced the accused after he had pleaded guilty to the offence, however, gave him an option to pay N 5,000 fine.

“The court hereby sentences you Awalu Hassan to two months in prison or to pay an option of N 5,000 fine.

“The court also orders you to write an undertaking that you will take charge of the medical bill of the victim’’, he said.

The police prosecutor, Cpl. Iliya Maji, earlier told the court that the convict was arraigned on one count charge of causing hurt which contravened Section 242 of the Penal code.

Maji said the convict inflicted injury on the left hand of one Isaac Akpomushi of Paiko-kore, Gwagwalada, with a shovel on January 30.

He told the court to try the convict summarily under Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) since Hassan pleaded guilty to the charge.

“Since the accused understand the content of the first information report and admitted liability; we apply under Section 157 of the CPC to try him summarily’’, he said.

The prosecutor told the court that the matter was reported at the Police Area Command Office by the nominal complainant on same date.

Awalu pleaded guilty to the charge and begged for forgiveness.

(NAN)

Police arraign trader for assault President, Rotary Club, Gwarinpa, Mr. James Ugede (right), with other members, in a road walk during the voluntary blood donation

Dry cleaner gets 3 months’ imprisonment for drug abuse

A

n Abuja Senior Magistrates’ court at Karu, has sentenced a 25-year old dry cleaner, Nasiru Lawal, to three months in prison for smoking substance suspected to be Indian hemp.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr. Bashir Alkali, convicted Lawal after he pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of unlawful possession of weed suspected to be Indian hemp.

Pronouncing the sentence, Alkali said: “The convict, looking at him, is a young man full of energy to contribute his quota towards the development of this country, but he rather chose to

destroy his carrier with drugs.

“Drug abuse is so rampant in our society today among our teeming youths. They tend to commit different crimes through the influence of the drugs they take.

“I hereby find him guilty of being in possession of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, after having tried him summarily under Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure code.

“In order to help keep the convict away from drugs for a while and to serve as rehabilitation, I hereby sentence him to three months in prison without a fine.

“I hope the convict will be a changed person after serving his prison term,’’ he said.

The magistrate said further that the convict had 30 days to appeal the judgment if not satisfied with it.

Earlier, when the case was mentioned, the prosecutor, Insp.

Andrew Aichenede, had said the convict was arrested with 10 wraps of weed and one “Tremor capsule” suspected to be hard drugs.

Aichenede said Lawal was arrested on January 8 by one DSP Mark Jef, attached to the Homicide Department of the Police Command

in Abuja, and was handed over for prosecution.

The offence, according to him, contravened the Penal code.

He explained that the convict was earlier kept in police custody for 23 days before he was brought to court.

“This was because plans were being made to transfer him to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Authority (NDLEA).

“But, while we were doing that, there was a signal that we could prosecute him,” the prosecutor told the court. (NAN)

Civil engineer docked for alleged N21m fraud

A

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senior Magistrates’ court has ordered that one Casmir Okonkwo of Garduwa Estate, in Abuja be remanded in prison custody pending a formal application for his bail.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okonkwo, a 43year old Civil engineer, is charged with two counts of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The Magistrate, Aliyu Shafa, who denied the accused bail, ordered that a formal application be made to the court, containing the details of the accused.

He then adjourned the case to February 21 for further hearing.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, DSP Auta Yusuf, told the court that sometime in October 2013, Chukwuemeka Okeke of Phase II, Site 1, Kubwa in Abuja had

submitted a petition.

He said the petition was addressed to the office of the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) in-charge of Zone 7 Police Headquarters.

Yusuf said Okeke, in the letter, had accused Okonkwo of fraudulently collecting money, goods and materials worth over N21 million but remitted only the sum of N6 million since 2011.

He said the accused subsequently refused to pay the balance of over N15 million, and instead bought a BMW 6 Series car with registration number ABJ 153 AS. The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 312 and 322 of the Penal code respectively.

After the charges were read to Okonkwo, he denied the allegations.

(NAN)

T

he police on Friday arraigned a 40-year old man, Nweze Felix, before a Grade Two A Area Court in Kado, Abuja, for allegedly causing grievous hurt.

The accused of W/H/74 Utako Market, Abuja, is a trader at the market.

The police prosecutor, Sgt. Simeon Ibrahim, told the court that one Ekweme Onyebuchi of shop STB 192, Unity Line, Utako Market, reported the matter at the Utako Police Division on January 24.

He said that the accused and tthe complainant had engaged in a quarrel which resulted in the fformer beating up the complainant. , “He forcefully used his power on me with a plyer. He stabbed me on my mouth and equally tore my cloths,’’ Ibrahim quoted Onyebuchi as saying.

He also told the court that it was by the grace of God that other traders were able to rescue tthe complainant who sustained external injury on his body.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 267 of the Penal code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Presiding Officer, Mr. Ahmed Ado, granted bail to the A accused in the sum of N50, 000 and ttwo sureties.

Ado ordered that one of the sureties must be an executive member of Utako Market Owners Association, and adjourned the case A tto March 17, for further hearing.

(NAN)

PAGE 19

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

INSIDE

EFCC, banks collaborate to eradicate crime - Pg 20

L-R: Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, General Electric (GE), Mr. Jeffrey Immelt, in a handshake with Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Industry, Ms. Evelyn Oputu, during the press briefing, last Friday at the bank’s headquarters, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

54 years after, FG adopts national quality policy

By Etuka Sunday

T

he federal government has approved a National Quality Policy (NQP) aimed at repositioning Nigeria before the international community as well as promoting economic growth in the country.

Speaking on the policy, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, said the government came up with the policy in realizing that establishment of an effective and efficient quality infrastructure contributes a lot to good governance.

“Today will go down in the annals of Nigeria’s economic developmental history. I am honoured to be

pioneering this national effort aimed at repositioning Nigeria in the comity of nations.

“The present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is committed to ushering in a period of economic growth and efficiency through the well-articulated Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan, NIRP,’’ he said.

Aganga said, “We do not have a national policy for quality standard infrastructure, we are adopting this after 54 years of independence.’’

The minister said the policy would produce a broad-based system to provide quality specification for all manufactured products in the country, saying that “the inability of the country to firmly have an export-

based economy stems from the fact that most of our products lack acceptable global quality” .”An effective and efficient quality infrastructure together with an efficient technical regulation framework can promote the rule of law at the technology level, can help in the fight against corruption, can simplify bureaucratic processes, and enhance macro-economic stability “By this initiative, the federal government is developing appropriate policy framework to reengineer the quality infrastructure and the technical regulation regimes to achieve our economic plans, and to determine the proper division of the responsibilities through a new National Quality Policy”, he said.

State of the economy: Reps rejects Okonjo-Iweala’s responses

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Finance has said that the Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has failed to provide accurate data and statistics while responding to the 50 questions send to her by the committee.

Chairman of the committee, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibril in a letter send to the Minister and made available to newsmen in Abuja, said the data and statistics provided by the minister were inconsistent with subsequent information provided while answering other questions.

“Having gone through your responses, the Committee noted that some questions were either not answered, partially answered, outrightly ignored or completely

misunderstood. The Committee further noted glaring missing gaps in your responses, absence of supporting proofs to assertions and lack of relevant documents to back up the presentation as is the practice in any legislative oversight or investigation”.

Adding that the Minister had made awide ranging comparison with other advanced and developing countries while responding to some questions but failed to apply the same in some cases that obviously require such approach.

“In some instances, you abruptly referred the Committee to relevant agencies for clarification.

The Committee is surprised at that because of its conviction that if all the questions raised are beyond the competence of the Minister of Finance, it is certainly not beyond the competence of the Coordinating

Minister for the Economy to the extent of information you must have in your possession unless you say otherwise”.

“In view of the above and ahead of the investigative hearing on the State of the economy, the Committee is obliged to forward to you additional observations and requests to be submitted to the Committee not later than 20th February, 2014.

He explained that the observations and requests are made on questions no 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 33, , 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, , 43, 44, 45, 47, and 48 while further details on the following questions will be taken at the hearing: Questions 7, 18, 19, 21, 2, 8, 29, 34, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 49 and 50.

Aganga, said objectives of the committee would become the key performance indicators at the end of the specified implementation time of five years.

“As the globalisation of the markets continues its relentless pace and as it is shaped by technological developments, more and more governments are carefully reconsidering the overall arrangement of their national quality infrastructure.

“This is coming about because enterprises in the developing economies in particular face daunting challenges in accessing markets in the more developed economies,’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu said a draft report of the committee would be ready by June, explaining that it is expected to define the role of the national standards and framework for quality in every aspect of the nation’s economy.

Blue chips drag down market by 3 .2% -Pg 21

Int’l flights commencesoon Yola airport – Oduah -Pg 22 Exchange Rates CBN as at 28th JANUARY, 2014 Buying

Selling

$

154.7

155.7

€

256.46

258.12

£

211.11

212.47

Riyal

41.26

41.52

YEN

1.50

1.51

CFA

0.303

0.323

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY How to say no to a reference request

S

aying “no” is rarely easy, but if you’re asked for a reference letter you have no interest in writing, or can’t in good conscience provide, use these tips to decline: If you don’t know the requester well enough, decline in the other person’s best interests: “I wish I could help, but I don’t think I know you well enough to provide as strong a reference

as you deserve. I think you’ll be better served with someone else who knows your work style/ product/ethic better.”

If you simply can’t provide a good reference, bow out. Tell the requester that the letter of reference you’d provide likely wouldn’t reach the level of praise he’s shooting for Source: Harvard Business Review

PAGE 20

Money Market From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

I

n an effort geared towards eradication of financial crimes in the nation’s financial sector, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged collaboration with the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers (CCO) of commercial banks.

At a meeting held by the two bodies in Lagos, both stressed the need for mutual trust and respect in sanitising the nation’s financial sector.

According to the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, the banks were not targets of investigations, but the criminals who use bank platforms to commit crime or launder

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

EFCC, banks collaborate to eradicate crime proceeds of crime.

“Unfortunately, some banks, perhaps as a result of nascent pressure to post profits, shelter criminal elements to the detriment of the law,” he said.

Lamorde noted Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) remain a partnership between law enforcement and regulators on one side and

reporting entities on the other side.

He urged banks to support law enforcement agents, adding that there was need to further expose law enforcement officers to the dynamics of AML/CFT. “It is not expected that the bank should play the role of a law enforcement officer, but at the same time, the bank must discharge all the AML/CFT

reporting obligations required by law.

“Once a bank does that, it has done everything required of it by law.

“Build capacity within your staff and appreciate that the collateral damage of noncompliance will make nonsense of any profit,” Lamorde said.

The Chairman of the committee, Mr Pattison Boleigha,

who is also the CCO of Access Bank, said that the committee was established in June 2007 to ensure that banks operated on the same platform.

Boleigha also commended the proactive character of Lamorde and expressed determination to co-operate with the AML/CFT compliance, and promised to support the war against financial crimes in the county.

Sterling Bank introduces new business initiatives From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

A

s part of efforts to facilitate real growth in the Nigerian economy, Sterling Bank Plc has resolved to invest in new business initiatives and nurture them to become viable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The bank said small businesses remain the catalyst for real economic development anywhere in the world.

The Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr. Shina Atilola in a statement explained that national economic development prospects in any country was hinged on the entrepreneurial energy of vibrant SMEs as most big business concerns grew from small scale to become big icons.

Atilola declared: “Many economies, developed and developing have come to realize the value of small businesses.

They are seen to be characterized by dynamism, witty innovations and efficiency;as their small size allows for faster decision making process. Small businesses are believed to be the engine room for the development of any economy because they form the bulk of business activities in a growing economy like that of Nigeria.”

He noted that a team of seasoned consultants were engaged by the bank to carefully scrutinize proposals received from members of the public.

The head, strategy and

...shortlists 50 qualified contestants communication said the bank decided to launch the project in order to support those who have come up with business plans as part of their New Year engagement’.

Already 50 contestants have qualified for the second round of the on-going “Meet the Executive”

Project sponsored by Sterling Bank Plc. Atilola noted that over 1,000 business plans were received from Small Business Owners (SBO) aspiring to become big entrepreneurs.

He said: “The “Meet the Executive” project is designed

to support new and aspiring entrepreneurs.This is in line with the bank’s purpose of enriching lives and also position sit as a prime supporter of small and medium sized businesses in the country.

“The 50 best entries were selected from the pool; based

L-R: Winner of N 100,000, Mrs. Mary Olowo, receiving a cheque from the Zonal Coordinator, Aim, Save and Win Promo of Unity Bank Plc, Alhaji Aminu Baffa, and Head Consumer Department of the bank, Mr. Ibrahim Giddi, during the announcement of the winners ,at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

on originality of the plans, their viability and provision of detailed information such as the required capital, cash flow and revenue projections.

“Owners of the 50 proposed business plans selected will be engaged in a training programme in Enterprise Development programming Centre (EDC) organized by the bank to further enrich their knowledge in the management of small businesses and writing of business plans.

Upon completion of the training, participants would be required to fine-tune their business plans and present same to the bank.”

Atilola said this would be followed by reviews of the business plans by the select project consultants, noting that the best 20 plans would be selected for formal presentation by their owners to the Executive Management of the bank.

He added that the top three business plans would subsequently be selected as winners of the exercise.

Sterling Bank Plc. is a leading commercial bank in Nigeria and one of the country’s fastest growing banks.

Originally incorporated in 1960 as NAL Bank (the country’s first investment banking franchise), it acquired the operations of the erstwhile Equitorial Trust Bank in November 2011 in pursuit of its growth and expansion plans.

The bank currently operates out of 165 branches, about 3,600 POS and 290 ATMs across Nigeria

Aim, Save and Win promo: Unity Bank doles out car, assorted gifts to customers

By Sunday Etuka

M

allam Siyaka Sule, a customer of Unity Bank Ajaokuta branch in Kogi state has won a new Kia Rio 1.4 litre engine vehicle having emerged winner in the bank’s Aim, Save and Win promo for North Central zone which held over the weekend in Abuja.

Incidentally, Siyaka was not present at Abuja Yar’ Adua centre, venue of the draw but

news of his victory was broken to him on phone amidst a thunderous uproar from a joyous crowd.

The event was supervised by officials from National Lottery Commission, KPF auditing firm to ensure the promo adheres to the principle of transparency.

There are four categories of accounts qualify for participation in the promo and a customer is expected to maintain a minimum deposit ranging from ,10,000,

N100,000 to N250,000 for 45 days.

The account products are, business empowerment account which entails a minimum of N100,000 for 45 days, unity kids savings account with a minimum of N100,000 for 45 days; target savings account and general savngs account which requires a minimum deposit of N10,000.

Other category of winners in promo include, Mrs. Ayali Dorcas a Beta account holder

who won N80.000 to procure empowerment tools, Olayiwola Ajekigbe , Ilorin branch customer of the bank who won N100,000 and Oluwa Mary , a customer of the bank’s Russel centre Abuja wuse branch.

In the unity kids account category, winners include, Johnson gang from wuse branch, Sadiq Bakere , Dalhatu Suliman, Muna Lisa and Nasibat Umar.

Speaking earlier, Unity Bank’ Promo Coordinator/ Central

Directorate of the bank, Alhaji Aminu Baga said the promo has added a lot of value to the bank.

He said the promo was designed to mobilise huge funds outside of banking purview noting that, the promo affords equal opportunity of participation to all customers of the bank.

He said the bank in the course of prosecuting Aims, save and win promo had given new kia cars to star winners in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port-Harcourt.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 21

Capital Market

Blue chips drag down market by 3.2% Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

E

quity transaction on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) last week just dipped as the market twin indicators depreciated.

Specifically, the NSE All-Share oIndex and Market Capitalization depreciated by 3.21% and 3.18% to close on Friday at 40,571.62 and N13.005 trillion respectively.

Likewise, all but one (NSE ASeM Index) of the NSE sector indices depreciated during the week. The NSE 30 depreciated by 3.89% to close at 1,845.56, NSE Consumer Goods by 3.55% to close at 1,051.15, NSE Banking by 6.20% to close at 415.61, NSE Insurance by 2.25% to close at 148.01, NSE Oil/Gas by 11.01% to close at 302.30, NSE Lotus II by 1.95% to close lower at 2,862.76 and the NSE Industrial Goods index by 2.13% to close at 2,613.56. See summary of Index movements below.

However, a turnover of 2.221 billion shares worth N21.045 billion in 27,855 deals were traded this week by investors in contrast to a total of 1.758 billion

shares valued at N21.024 billion that exchanged hands in 28,949 deals the previous.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.260 billion shares valued at N12.021 billion traded in 14,923 deals; thus contributing 56.72% and 57.12% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Consumer Goods Industry followed with a turnover of 564.895 million shares worth N4.837 billion in 4,199 deals.

The third place was occupied by the Conglomerates Industry with 134.091 million shares worth N799.312 million in 1,548 deals.

Trading in the top three equities namely, Champion Breweries Plc, FCMB Group Plc, and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 775.929 million shares worth N1.956 billion in 1,563 deals, contributing 34.93% and 9.30% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 545 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) valued at N1,080 million

executed in 2 deals compared with a total of 425 units of NewGold valued at N816,000.00 transacted last week in 3 deal.

Similarly, 4,295 units of FGN bonds valued at N4.772 million were thisweek traded in 10 deals compared with a total of 1,900 units of FGN bonds valued at N1.738 million transacted last week in 9 deals. (See table below).

Fifteen (15) equities appreciated in prices during the week lower than Forty four (44) equities of the preceding week. Sixty-four (64) equities depreciated in prices higher than Forty three (43) equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and nineteen (119) equities remained unchanged higher than one hundred and eleven (111) equities remained unchanged higher than one hundred and eleven (111) equities in the previous week.

Trans Nationwide Express Plc led the gainers table in percentage terms, appreciating by 48.65 per cent or N0.90 kobo to close at N2.75 kobo, Costain West Africa) Plc followed with a gain of 29.09 per cent N0.19 kobo to close at N2.13 kobo while IPWA

Plc appreciated by 10.94 per cent or N0.07 kobo to close at N0.71 kobo.

Other companies that recorded price appreciation were African Prudential Registrars Plc 6.33 per cent, Great Nigeria Insurance 5.56 per cent, Wema Bank Plc 4.76 per cent, Vono Products 4.61 per cent, Cornerstone Insurance Plc 2.00 per cent , National Salt Company Nigeria Plc 1.69 per cent and University Press Plc 1.40 per cent.

Conversely Oando Plc, topped losers chart, shedding 25.74 per cent or N6.64 kobo to close at N19.16 kobo, Evans Medical Plc trailed with aloss of 14.14 per cent or N0.57 kobo to close at N3.46 kobo while Union Bank of Nigeria Plc declined by 14.20 per cent or N1.50 kobo to close at N9.20 kobo.

The stocks that recorded price depreciation were Vitafoam Nigeria Plc 12.21 per cent, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated 10.91 per cent, West African Provincial Insurance Plc 10.81 per cent, May & Baker Nigeria Plc 10.32 per cent, Pfizer Products Plc 9.77 per cent and UBA Capital 9.70 per cent.

MD/CEO, UBA Foundation, Ijeoma Aso (2nd left), Principal, Sacred Heart Girls International School, Marian Calabar, Rev. Sister Agatha Iwegbu (2nd right), UBA Regional Bank Head, Cross Rivers Bank, Uduak Afangide (right), and students of Sacred Heart Girls International School, during the ‘Read Africa’ session and presentation of Literature books to students of the school by UBA Foundation, recently in Calabar.

Standard Alliance records N5.3bn gross premium

S

tandard Alliance has recorded a gross premium growth of 19.5 per cent for the financial year ended 31st December, 2012.

The company gross premium increased from N4.55billion in 2011 to N5.38billion recorded at the end of December 2012, while investment income rose to N208million in 2012 when compared to N176milion achieved in 2011.

Similarly, underwriting profit of N2.6billion was recorded from an underwriting income of N4.99billion against N4.25billion

recorded in the previous year of 2011, representing a growth of 17.4 per cent.

However it made a loss before tax of N1.9billion which the company said is largely from a comprehensive impairment review of its trade receivables which rose to N2.8billion in 2012 against N.783billion in the previous year.

The Chairman of the company Aliyu Yahaya Sa’ad, while addressing shareholders at the company’s 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos , stated that the firm’s plan is to

continuously provide the best possible service to its existing clients and competitively capture the interest of new clients through employing aggressive marketing strategy.

According to him the company is leveraging on the ‘NO Premium No cover, to grow its business portfolio . He said that the policy has come to stay and the company will work with NAICOM to ensure the full implementation of the policy, adding that the policy will help to eliminate the problem of unpaid premium in the industry.

On future outlook, the

chairman said we shall also strategically build on the company’s reputation as onestop general insurance service provider to remain competitive and generate a profitable after tax position as we look forward to a boisterous year ahead.

He added that investors would not be left out in these expectation of the company, adding that for a better and performance as the prospect of a reduction in credit risk would make the company attractive to potential investors and response more confidence in the management of the company.

NSE: Oando to raise $50m

O

ando Energy Resources Inc (OER) - a subsidiary of Oando Plc – a company focused on oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria, has announced its intention to raise the sum of US$50,000,000 from the nation’s capital market.

In addition, in connection with the Offering, the company intends to acquire a 5% interest in OML 131 in exchange for common shares of the Company (the “OML 131 Acquisition”).

The Offering, according to the Nigeria Stock Exchange is expected to consist of 35,070,063 common shares of the Company (the “Common Shares”) and 17,535,031 common share purchase warrants (the Warrants”) for gross proceeds of US$50,000,000 (each Common Share and half-Warrant, a “Unit”) at a price of C$1.57 per Unit.

Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of C$2.00 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of the closing of the COP Acquisition (as defined below). If, after a period of six months from the closing of the COP Acquisition, the common shares of the Company trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) at a price greater than C$3.50 for a period of at least 10 consecutive trading days, the Warrants will expire on the date which is 30 days following the last day of such 10 consecutive trading days.

Closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, including approval of the TSX. The issue price of the Units represents approximately an 11% discount on the market price of the Common Shares on the date the TSX received the Company’s request for price protection. Securities issued will be subject to a hold period, which will expire four months plus one day from the date of closing of the Offering.

It is anticipated that the proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company to satisfy a portion of the purchase price for the proposed acquisition by the Company of the Nigerian upstream oil and gas business of ConocoPhillips (the “COP Acquisition”). The Offering has been negotiated at arm’s length.

Should OER elect to issue Common Shares to Oando Plc, the 94.6% shareholder of the Company, prior to or concurrent with the closing of the Offering as repayment of all or a part of a convertible loan outstanding to Oando Plc, the Offering is not expected to affect control of the Company and no new insiders are expected to be created as a result of the Offering.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Business Int’l flights commence soon Transcorp, GE partner Yola airport, says Oduah to boost From: Umar Dankano, Yola

T

he Yola International Airport to commence the usage of the newly rehabilitated terminal before its commissioning with a view to addressing some of the major challenges facing the airport.

The Minister of Aviation Princesses Stella Oduah gave matching order on Friday in Yola, Adamawa State capital during an inspection tour of the Yola International Airport

project which has been under renovation for almost 2 years.

Oduah expressed satisfaction with the quality of work being executed saying that the airport can compete with its contemporaries in the world because all the necessary mechanism had been put in place to stand the test of time.

“The official commissioning of the airport project is only a matter of time; as the work has been completed except for some little things that need to be done

and the terminal can favourably compete with any of its kind in the world” Oduah disclosed.

Also while responding to questions from news men at the airport, the Managing Director of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) Mr. George Orisi disclosed that International operations would commence immediately after the commissioning of the airport.

He added that flight operations in Yola would grow from domestic

operations to International operations which will allow up to a million passengers to use the terminal annually.

He said the airport terminal is efficiently designed with state of the art facilities which include two laundries shopping malls and better accommodation for passengers.

He added that the cargo terminal project has also kick started just as he said the lightening of the airport will soon be finished for night operations.

L-R: Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uresi, Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, and Commissioner for Accident Investigation Bureau, Captain Mukhtar Usman, during inspection of the ongoing re-modeling of PortHarcourt International Terminal, at the weekend in Port Harcourt.

Photo: NAN

NCAT to commence Helicopter training, award degrees From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Rector, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, Captain Mrs. Chinyere Kalu says Helicopter training and Degree programmes would commence at the college this year.

Speaking in an interview on the transformation of the college in the past three years, Capt.

Kalu said training of helicopter pilots would commence as soon as the college takes delivery of its acquired Bell 206 helicopters presently in Lagos.

According to her, it became necessary to introduce helicopter training as 80

percent of helicopter pilots were foreigners being used for off shore oil rigs in the Niger Delta.

“It’s a very sensitive area and key in our economy and should be well secured. Having such operations done by foreigners, you will agree with me that it’s not in the best interest of our nation”.

“If Nigerians are in the forefront in taking over fix wings, i don’t see the reason why rotary wings should be left in the hands of foreigners especially the sensitive nature of it. We are very hopeful that it will commence this year, we are at the final stage and we will need smaller helicopters to start” Capt. Kalu also announced that the college was embarking

on refleeting of all its training aircraft in the college as the current ones were old and becoming increasingly difficult to maintain by the college.

He NCAT boss explained that the college third hangar will be put into use soon after repairs adding that it will take care of the aircraft instead of ferrying them abroad.

She said it was extremely expensive and uneconomical to have these aircraft fixed abroad and returned into the country but added that with such hangar, repairs will be carried out.

With over 500 students in the college, Capt Kalu explained that the college will commence its HND programmes which will

...opens Lagos campus soon increase the students number to about a thousand including those on short courses, three, six and twelve months.

The Rector explained that the college was pursuing and processing accreditation for its degree course with the Aviation Accreditation Board International in the USA. According to Capt Kalu, the college intends to offer courses on aerospace engineering.

“We want to offer Degree course along with flying, dispatchers’ course, aviation management and so on. So there are a lot of courses we would want to offer beyond what we are offering now and also in line with aviation training”

power supply

From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

T

ransnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) has notified Nigerian Stock Exchange that Transcorp Ughelli Power Ltd (TUPL), the power subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) and General Electric (GE) have signed an agreement to expand the capacity of TUPL’s Ughelli power plant by 1000MW over the next 3 to 5 years.

Both parties have also signed a separate agreement to rehabilitate the damaged GT 15 turbine at the Ughelli Plant, which will add 115MW to the Plant’s output.

Currently, the Transcorp Ughelli power plant generates 360MW of electricity, up from 160MW on November 1, when Transcorp took ownership of the plant. With the additional 115MW, as well as other rehabilitation works planned at the plant, output at Ughelli will increase to 700MW by December 2014.

The Ughelli power plant is Nigeria’s largest gas-fired electricity generation asset.

Purchased by Transcorp during the 2013 power privatization programme, the $300 million plant is part of the $2.5 billion investment pledge made by the Chairman of Transcorp and Heirs Holdings, Tony O. Elumelu, CON, to deliver affordable, accessible power to Africa under the Power Africa Initiative.

Heirs Holdings, Elumelu’s pan-African proprietary investment company, is Power Africa’s largest private sector investor and a major investor in Transcorp.

The agreements were signed at a closed door meeting between executivesof both companies, led by Elumelu and the Global Chairman of General Electric, Jeffrey Immelt. They follow a cooperation agreement executed

by Transcorp and GE in 2013.

A publicly listed conglomerate with strategic investments in the power, hospitality, business and energy sectors, Transcorp, through TUPL, is committed to transform and bring the plant to profitability by increasing its generating capacity to impact positively on the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

GE, one of the world’s most reputable companies is the global leader in the design, manufacture, supply, installation and maintenance of technology and services for the Power, Aviation, Oil & Gas, Healthcare and Transportation sectors.

Agreements will dramatically increase capacity at the Ughelli power plant in 2014.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 23

Stock Watch

Report as at Friday, January 31, 2014

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

Equality for women at Afghanistan’s officer academy

By Caroline Wyatt

second lieutenant, who watched us warily as we arrived. She is the first Afghan female trainer to arrive here ahead of the women officer cadets.

The Academy aims to train 100 female Afghan National Army officers per year, or about a 10th of the total, with the first intake to be chosen this April. They are due to start in June, and recruits will spend a year here before they graduate.

Sediqa told me she had joined the Afghan army because she wanted to

T

he UK’s lasting legacy in Afghanistan is likely to be the Afghan National Army Officer Academy, which took in its first male officer cadets in October last year, and will admit its initial female recruits this summer. Could it play a role in improving the position of women in Afghan society?

It was a story that was both shocking and depressingly familiar.

A young Afghan girl, forced by her brother to wear a suicide vest, and told to blow up a police checkpoint for the Taliban. It happened in Helmand, a place that even here, makes people shake their heads and give a sad shrug that suggests: “Well, what do you expect?”

The girls and women we interviewed here are often those whose lives are an extreme to others, and who symbolises all that is wrong with a place.

I wondered about that when I met two young Afghan women with very different lives, Adila and Arzoo, both university students.

Literature and language student, Adila, would not look out of place sitting in a Paris cafe - elegantly, though modestly dressed, her eyeliner making her expressive brown eyes even bigger, and her headscarf revealing just a hint of glossy long black hair.

Arzoo, in her fourth year studying physics, is more eager than the other young girl, but both are

“

A female Afgan soldier, Sediqa

keen to stress just how different their lives are to those of their mothers and their grandmothers.

Both remembered the Taliban era, when they had to study in secret.

Now Adila and Arzoo are determined to help poorer women here to get educated. They believe that remains the key to changing Afghanistan and people’s attitudes towards women.

What would they do after university, I asked them. More studies, both said. And if they got married, would they still plan to go out to work?

There was an awkward silence.

That, they eventually said, depended on their families, and what their husbands think about it. It sounded rather as if the answer was No, despite outward appearances.

A few days later, we drove east, out of Kabul,

Afgan women taking lessons in the Academy

the choking traffic thinning as we headed out of the city. But the outskirts of the city, which I remembered from previous trips were no longer there.

Now, new buildings have sprung up lining the road - massive blocks of modern glass and concrete flats had sprouted from the sandy soil until they almost blocked out the mountains on the horizon. It was not until we reached the military outpost, we were seeking that the city receded, and turned back into the plains I had remembered.

I wondered how these new blocks were built, or were they constructed with Western cash? I then chided myself for the cynicism. There are now many businesses being done here, despite the high level of dependence on outside support.

Then we arrived at

“Sandhurst in the sand”, the nickname for the new military academy, British officers are helping to develop, as the UK’s lasting legacy in Afghanistan.

We were there to meet Sediqa, a quiet, selfpossessed 28-year-old

Academy trainers in class

The Academy aims to train 100 female Afghan National Army officers per year, or about a 10th of the total, with the first intake to be chosen this April.

They are due to start in June, and recruits will spend a year here before they graduate

serve her country, as her brother and sister-in-law already did.

I asked if she was worried by the deaths and injuries her army was suffering in Helmand and elsewhere - more than 1,000 killed in 2012 alone, and more than 3,000 seriously injured. Women police officers and officials have been targeted specifically in provinces such as Helmand,

At the gym with male soldiers

though Afghanistan’s women soldiers will not be expected to perform frontline fighting roles.

Sediqa nodded thoughtfully, but said it had not put her off. Her husband was also happy for her to serve.

As for female equality in Afghanistan, her raised eyebrows said it all.

Sediqa was not sure we could even begin to talk of equality for women in Afghanistan. Even men

did not have many rights, she said, and for females, its fewer.

The TV and radio news were full of stories about violence against women most days, she said. Once you could begin to talk of human rights, then perhaps one day, she told me, women’s rights could start here too.

But Sediqa’s British mentors are keen to make sure that women are treated equally here.

In the large and airy gym, Afghan male officers and trainers are having to get used to training alongside women including British physical training instructor, Staff Sergeant Kate Lord. She has been training the men, giving orders via an interpreter.

“At first, I didn’t know how they’d take me - but after they saw me doing all the physical elements, that won me their respect.

I get on with the guys really well,” she smiles.

Kate is now focusing on training the three Afghan female sergeants who’ll be training the cadets when they arrive. She says that they have not been used to performing tough physical exercises in the past, and are taking to it - for the most part with enthusiasm.

“It feels really good to be doing the one-on-one mentoring, it’s historic to be here doing this at this time, and it feels as though I am making a difference.”

Fluent Pashto and Dari, as well as speaker, Major Claire Brown,

who have been helping to set up the women’s course, after an earlier tour of duty in Helmand Province, are realistic about the challenges that the women who study here will face within the Afghan Army - as well as the wider Afghan society.

“Anybody in the Afghan security forces has to have concerns about their own personal security. Of course, they have their own cultural issues they have to face and I hope that we can help to prepare them,” she says.

“Anybody who is joining this army as a woman is a pretty brave person to start with, and we hope to develop that during the training.”

The wider hope is that the Sandhurst ethos will translate to this very different culture, and bring the leadership Afghanistan wants from its army, and perhaps - in doing so - also help women in their long, slow march to greater equality in a deeply conservative society.

BBC Africa

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 28

Education

wallybabe2010@gmail.com, 08050639900

Group condemns attack on students From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

N Comrade Tosin Adeyanju,Executive Director Conscience Nigeria leading Save Education Rally with other Civil Society Organisations against prolong ASSU strke to Labour house, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

‘We are not insensitive to teachers’ plight over minimum wage– Suswam’s aide From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

B

enue state government has rebuffed claims that it is insensitive to the plight of teachers in the state over the payment of minimum wage.

Special Adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam on Local Government/Chieftaincy Affairs Prince Solomon Wombo, who stated this at the weekend during an interaction with newsmen in his office, also disclosed that the state government does not owe teachers in the state adding that government had commenced

By Maryam Garba Hassan

M

inister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, has called on stakeholders in the education sector to show commitment in addressing the problems facing the education sector in the country.

He made the call in Abuja on Friday at the Pre-AGM Dinner of Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), an annual event that brings together old students of the 104 unity colleges across the country to discuss ways to contribute to national development.

He said there is no substitute for good and qualitative education therefore

payment of the minimum wage to teachers on August 1st, 2013.

He said the minimum wage paid to the state civil servants is slightly higher than the one paid to the teachers, explaining that hitherto, salaries of teachers gulped over N895 million but has now shut up to over N3billion.

He said though it is the responsibility of the local governments to pay teachers’ wage but that the allocation accruing to the third of government from the Federal Allocation Account is grossly inadequate to carry out the task

and embark on developmental projects.

“It remains the priority of the local governments to pay teachers’ salaries but the monetary allocation accruing to them from FAAC is grossly inadequate to do so. The situation is really bad. We have tried hard to improve on Internally Generated Revenue for the local council but it has been extremely tough. I believe that based on the revenue that accrues to the councils we have given the teachers a good deal. It is not only Benue state problem. The Federal

Government should take over the responsibility of paying salaries of teachers”, Wombo added.

It would be recalled that primary school teachers in the state recently commenced an indefinite strike over what they described as default in agreement signed between the state government and the national body of the Nigerian Union of Teachers over payment of the minimum wage to them.

They alleged disparity in payment of the minimum wage to teachers and other civil servants.

Stakeholders urged to collectively address problems in education sector stakeholders must all agree that education is the business of all adding that to ensure any transformation, there must be functional and social infrastructure, which education is a larger part.

He said government was aware of the role of education in development and as such had made it one of the priorities of the transformation agenda of the present administration and would ensure the liberalisation of education so that people could have opportunities to improve their lives.

Chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) who is also an old boy of FCG,Okigwe, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, who said it was time Nigerians pursued the vision and mission of the establishment of unity schools added that unity schools had helped so many Nigerians to build and sustain relationships that made them believe in one country.

“In unity schools, we shared experiences because we were blessed with innocence. These relationships negate narrow

leadership and negative politics that have continued to hinder economic and social growth of this country,” he said.

Rep Nnenna Ukeje, who is also the product of FCG Owerri and the Chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said USOSA was set to take the message of unity to all corners of the country.

She said ``now more than ever before, Nigeria needs the assurance of its corporate existence for it to record any meaningful development.’’

Women’s education, key to societal development, says educationist From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

A

n Islamic educationist and proprietor of women Islamic school, Atta’awun litahfizil Qur’an, Hajiya Hauwa Adam has said that women’s education is the key to societal development.

Speaking at the schools’ first

Qur’anic graduation ceremony in Kano at the weekend, Hauwa said women’s education also enhances productivity in the society.

She urged husbands to allow their wives to go to schools in order to contribute their quota towards societal development and called on the graduating

students to impart the knowledge they acquired in the school to other women.

She also appealed to the Kano state government to provide a permanent site for the school as it is operating in a temporary one. “ Let me use this opportunity to appeal to the state government, as part of its commitment to

women development, to provide us with a permanent site as the school has been operating on rented property since establishment.” she said.

The 12 graduating women were each presented with a graduation slate which serves as a graduation certificate by the school proprietor.

igeria Youth Organisation NYO has strongly condemned and described as barbaric the incessant attacks on students of tertiary institutions and security agents by insurgents in the north-east region, The National President of the organisation, Ahmed Bature Musa, who made this position known at the weekend during the inauguration ceremony of the state chapter of the organisation and the presentation of awards to some personalities at the Zaranda Hotel in Bauchi, described the act as “barbaric” and a gross violation of human rights.

He said since the activities of insurgents started in 2009, there have been massive destruction of lives and properties as well as backwardness in the region in terms of development.

According to him, youths are builders of national development in the country because they are future leaders hence they should resist the temptation of being used as weapons of destruction and tools in the hands of greedy politicians.

Bature dismissed the insinuated that insurgent is associated with Islamic religion, saying “I don’t think any religion preaches violence and destruction of human lives, so anybody associating the activities of insurgents with Islam religion is wrong. If you monitor the attacks by the group, you will observe that they attack churches, mosques, schools and government institutions, where we have both Christians and Muslims”.

In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Ilisau Ali urged the federal government to monitor the privatisation of the power sector in order to make adequate generation jobs.

He expressed optimism that when the power sector of the country improves, over fifty percent of jobless youths in the country will be gainfully employed and shun all forms of social vices.

He therefore warns youths in the country to shun violence and embrace peace.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Indian varsity to award Kwankwaso doctorate degree

By Tobias Lengnan Daapm

A

n India University, Sharda, Noida, in Delhi, has concluded plans to award a doctorate degree to the Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state, for his tremendous achievement in human capacity building.

Disclosing this during a courtesy call to the governor at Government House at the weekend, the President, Corporate and International Relations department of the University, Ashok Daryani said the institution was excited by Kwankwaso’s use of public resources to build the future of Kano citizens.

A statement issued by the Director, Press and Public Relations to the governor, Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, quoted the University official urging Kwankwaso to accept the offer of honorary doctorate degree and not to relent in initiating programmes and policies aimed at making Kano a model of development in Nigeria.

It said Daryani told the governor that his university had offered admission to 211 indigenes of Kano indigenes on government scholarship to study medicine and other science subjects based on their qualifications.

He stated that it would be worthwhile if the Kano state government can enter into a programme of education exchange with Sharda University as the institution was doing same with many universities across the globe.

“It will be very good if we can arrange for Professors and students exchange between my university and North-West University of Kano state. This will be mutually beneficial now and in the future, he stated.

Responding, Governor Kwankwaso described the proposed award of the honourary degree as a big credit to the people of Kano and Nigeria, saying it will encourage him to do more for his people in whatever capacity he finds himself.

The governor stated that his government is investing heavily in the sector of education in order to put in place a firm knowledge based economy that will accelerate the development of the state in a changing world.

“We are offering foreign postgraduate scholarships to over 2,000 students presently, and we are also spending billions of Naira in local undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships covering thousands of students” the governor said.

PAGE 29

Education

No university thrives without ICT- Professor Qurix From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

K

aduna State University (KASU), Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Qurix has said that no university can thrive without Information C o m m u n i c a t i o n Technology (ICT) as he said that work has gone far in working on an optic fibre networking for the institute

which is 80 percent completed.

According to him, KASU have so far conducted computer based testing for JAMB to show that it has what it takes as far as ICT is concerned.

In a Media chat with selected media organizations in the state, Professor Qurix said their computer infrastructure is adequate and can be compared with that of any

university.

“Most of those assessing Universities are concerned about web presence, what materials you are able to deposit on the internet and how connected you are in respect to ICT. “Most of the universities that are rated very high are very good with their ICT and what they have been able to present. I don’t want to under rate any university, but in recent times, most

Nigerian universities have been doing very well.

“Once you have a new university, you must be able to build the capacity of your staff and we have done this effectively well.

Last year, we received approval to recruit 240 staff. We have done that successfully and they have already commenced work.

Clearly, this is an area we have been able to make some progress,” he said.

R-L: Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Governor of Central Bank, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, during the latter’s visit to the governor, last Friday at Government House, in Benin City.

College of Agric Hadeja to partner Kazaure Poly From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

T

he College of Agriculture Hadejia, Jigawa state, has said it would partner with the Federal Polytechnic Kazaure,

in both academic and non academic activities.

The College Provost, Professor Muhammad Auwal Hussaini, made this known at the weekend during a courtesy visit

on the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Kazaure, Hussaini Adamu.

Hussaini said it was necessary for the institutions in the state to collaborate and work together for the interest of the state.

He said since most of the schools in the state have things in common it would augur well for them to exploit certain resources that were obtainable within the state.

FG’s nonchalant attitude responsible for decay in education sector-ASUP

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has said that government’s unserious attitude towards education in the country was responsible for the country’s backwardness in the sector.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to Peoples Media Limited, Publishers of Peoples Daily and Peoples Daily weekend, the President of the Union, Chibuzo Asomugha, said it was necessary to inform the public about the irresponsive attitude of the government towards especially Polytechnic education.

“You will recall that Polytechnics in the country have remained closed (intermittently) for the past six (6) months occasioned by the strike action

embarked upon by our Union, to press home legitimate demands.

Regrettably, however, government has neither shown concern over the repercussions of this action nor has it been worried that the Polytechnics, which are largely responsible for training of technical manpower needs of the nation, are in a state of disarray.

“This is a clear indication of the estimation in which government holds Polytechnic education, a perception that has acerbated the discrimination and marginalization of the sector and its graduates by both the public and private sectors of the economy.

“While government is busy intervening in other sectors that have been on strike or threatening strike, it has remained nonchalant about responding to the cry of our union and to end the six month old

strike. We make bold to say that the critical state of the polytechnic sector today has significantly been encouraged by government’s attitude and approach to issues concerning it.

He said with the current attitude of government towards polytechnic education, there is no guessing why the much talked about technological development has continued to elude the country and why the country’s future is shrouded in the miasma of retrogression.

The ASUP president said in other climes, technical education has become a key driver of growth and development and countries with higher skills levels are better equipped to face new challenges and master technological discoveries.

“In the progressive

economies of Sub-Saharan Africa, governments are renewing efforts to promote technical education and training with the belief that skill formation enhances productivity and sustains competitiveness in the global economy.

“As nations respond responsibly to the need for technical and vocational education and have worked to equip their institutions to meet the challenges, Nigeria is only pretending and paying lip service to repositioning the polytechnic sector to make it respond to the challenges of our emergent civilization.

“What baffles our union and other well-meaning stakeholders in the sector is the failure of our leaders to appreciate the technological challenges posed by global trends, replicate and improve on them”.

PAGE 30

Healthy Living Reports of mercury toxicity from skin creams

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39-year old woman from Northern California sought medical attention when mercury toxicity symptoms began setting in. Found to have more than 100 times the average amount of mercury in her urine, the woman showed symptoms of mercury poisoning, including weakness, insomnia, pain in the extremities and severe headache. According to the California Department of Public Health, the woman and her husband had used an unlabeled mercury-containing face cream for three years. Brought in by a relative from Mexico, the cream was found loaded with mercury.

The husband and their four-yearold child also had high levels of mercury in their urine. The problem, mercury, was isolated.

In another case, a teen had come down with mercury poisoning symptoms. In just months, the fatigue penetrated him. The Texas Department of Health couldn’t find the source of contamination in the teen’s environment, including paint, soil and indoor air tests. The family continued to look for solutions and finally realized the answer. The teen regularly used an acne cream called “Crema de Belleza-Manning.”

After laboratory testing confirmed that the product contained 6 percent to 10 percent mercury weight (labeled as mercurous chloride), the teen stopped use and saw improvements.

NaturalNews

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

‘Cosmetic skin-lightening products are contaminated with mercury’

I

nfamous for poisoning the kidneys and brain, mercury is a potent, silent destroyer of healthy cellular function.

Mercury compounds can be readily absorbed through intact skin - inducing toxic, dermal effects. As a melanotoxin,

mercury compounds are capable of decimating melanosomes, which are tiny “balloons” in the skin that consist of melanin.

There’s a dangerous practice going around regarding the manufacture of skin-lightening,

“beauty care” cosmetics.

Many skin-lightening products, anti-aging lotions, and acne creams contain unprecedented levels of mercury. This mercury is rubbed directly into the skin, where it is readily absorbed into the body.

Mercury levels are reportedly so high in some skin products around the world that the FDA has issued a public statement warning consumers not to use skin creams, beauty products and lotions that might contain mercury.

Bleaching creams have serious health consequences

New report shows products exceeding mercury standards 10,000 to 1

California n a new report from the The FDA limits companies to removing freckles, wrinkles medical advisor at the FDA, Loma Linda University 1 ppm mercury in cosmetic and blemishes. These same states, “Exposure to mercury have serious health School of Medicine, products. Some of the products formulas are often used as acne can University hundreds of skin-lightening being tested at the Loma Linda treatments. The toxic metal consequences. It can damage products from around the University reach 10,000 ppm mercury abounds in these skin the kidneys and the nervous tests 549 skin world were found to contain of mercury! creams, labeled alternatively as system, and interfere with extraordinary levels of mercury The products are typically mercurous chloride, calomel, the development of the brain in unborn children and very as anti-aging mercuric or mercurio. exceed FDA standards marketed creams from that treatments, capable of Charles Lee, M.D., a senior young children.”

10,000 to one! around the Assessing primary health care towards making Nigerians healthy world

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any of these mercurycontaining beauty products are imported into the US and are sold online.

In the study from Loma Linda University, 549 skin-lightening products were purchased from 32 different countries. This included online sales from countries like Taiwan, Japan, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the US. Using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, the researchers screened the products for mercury exceeding 200 ppm.

Of the products purchased in the United States, 18 products were found to contain mercury levels exceeding 1,000 ppm a truly toxic dose. Overall, 6 percent of the 549 products tested from around the world contained mercury in excess of 1,000 ppm. Nearly half of those products contained over 10,000 ppm mercury!

By Abbas Aminu Bamalli

B

etween 1986 and 1992, remarkable and innovative progress was made in the development of Primary Health Care, focusing on the Local Government Areas (LGAs), resulting in Nigeria being placed in the top rank of countries in the world that have advanced the process of equitably improving the health and quality of life of its people through primary health care.

In order to capitalize on these achievements, and sustain Federal assistance to the LGAs, the National Primary Health care Development Agency was established following the recommendation of a high level World Health Organisation (WHO), review team through Decree 29 of 1992.

Analysis, editorials and commentaries often create the impression that the NPHCDA is directly in charge of delivering

PHC, therefore attributing challenges in the delivery of PHC services directly to the Agency.

Recently, during an end of the year press briefing, which focused on 2012 and 2013 activities of the agency, the Executive Secretary, NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Jimada Muhammed said, the mandate of the agency was to provide technical support for the development of Primary Health Care PHC, system in terms of development of protocols, standards and guidelines, monitoring and supervision, capacity development, resources mobilization and specifically, support for immunization service delivery.

Dr. Muhammed said, the NPHCDA has focused on consolidating recent gains in the past years, delivering on critical national priorities and effectively strengthening the PHC system to enable it deliver needed services in an integrated manner, in line with its organizational mandate

and goals.

He said, the key focus has been on interrupting the transmission of Wild Polio Virus, Strengthening Immunization Service Delivery and Improving Immunization Coverage, Transforming the Logistic System for Vaccine Delivery and on a longer term delivery of PHC commodities, Scaling up Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services, Developing Human Capacity in the Frontlines etc.

According to him, in the last two years the NPHCDA has continued to receive the support of the federal government, National Assembly, ministry of Health and relevant ministries in ensuring the release of funds for Vaccines as first charge vote, adding that, In the last two years there has been no report of stock-out of any vaccine in any State or LGA across the country.

According to him, “Nigeria has continued to sustain gains in the fight against the Wild Polio

Virus (WPV), with only 50 cases reported in 2013. This represents a 57% reduction from cases in 2012 and in addition, no case of the Type 3 WPV has been seen in 2012. These developments have clearly placed Nigeria on the path of interruption by the end of 2014.

“Building on the outcome of the National Vaccine Summit in 2012, we have significantly improved routine immunization coverage within the last 12 months through the implementation of a singular National Routine Immunization Strategic Plan. The plan which was developed in conjunction with all States and our Partners, was also formally launched in November by Mr. Bill Gates and Alhaji Dangote of the Dangote Foundation, both of whom are key private sector Partners in immunization. Today, we have achieved coverage of 83% based on administrative data. A critical part of this new strategy is the implementation of accountability framework”, Dr. Ado stated.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 31

Healthy Living Kano distributes 98,000 breast cancer kits free

K

ano state government, in conjunction with the 44 local governments in the state, have procured 98,000 breast cancer self examination kits for early detection of the disease among women in the state.

According to a statement signed

by Director of Press and Public Relations to the governor, Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, the women will be trained on the use of the kits and also made to understand the advantages associated with the practice.

The statement said, Governor Kwankwaso made the remark during the celebration of World Cancer Day and commissioning of ‘Innovative Interventions in Kano’, held at Government House on Thursday.

Kwankwaso noted that cancer is a serious public health problem affecting people all over the world, lamenting that it is among the leading causes of death in developing countries like Nigeria. This, he said, is largely due to lack of medical counseling, professional attention and facilities among others.

“Our administration has taken the health of its citizenry very important”, Kwankwaso emphasized.

NHRC to tackle issue of women detained in hospitals due to medical fees

By Abbas Aminu Bamalli

T

he National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has pledged its willingness to look at the issues of women detained with their babies in health facilities as a result of inability to pay medical fees.

A statement signed by the Communication’s Officer, White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood Nigeria, Jon Ita said, the Executive Secretary

of the Commission, Prof. Bem Angwe made the declaration while receiving a team of delegates from the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood Nigeria, led by its National Coordinator, Mr. Tonte Ibraye.

The Executive Secretary declared that he was quite elated to have the alliance to pay the commission a working visit, adding that the visit will signal the beginning of a strategic partnership that will culminate in the drafting of

a memorandum of understanding to spell out a working relationship for the implementation of respectful Maternity Care in all spheres in Nigeria.

He further reiterated that the Commission will convene a national dialogue involving all critical stakeholders to map out strategies for the implementation of Respectful Maternity Care in Nigeria.

Prof. Bem Angwe added that the Respectful Maternity Care Charter will be included as part of

the work plan for the commission, even as appropriate legislation is being drafted for the charter.

While commending the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Tonte Ibraye expressed happiness over the support the commission has been giving them, and also presented a recommendations report of the national planning meeting for the Implementation of Respectful Maternity Care held on 18th to 19th December 2013, in Abuja.

... Spend N1bn on malaria control

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ano state government, last year, spent over N1 billion in its effort to control the spread of malaria in the state. Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has said.

Speaking during launching of the innovative health interventions at Government House, Kano, he noted that malaria is a global emergency that affects children under the age of five and pregnant women.

“The State Executive Council has last week approved N176 million to ministry of environment and health, to continue their environmental malaria control programme”, the governor stated.

On sickle cell patients, Kwankwaso said that last year over N15 million was spent on providing them with free medication, promising also that the association of sickle cell patients would receive free vaccines for their members this year.

In his remarks, the chairman of Kano Sickle cell Patients Association, Muktar Musa Muqaddas appealed to government to build a clinic that would address sickle cell problems in the state.

Also speaking at the event, the representative of SuNMaP, Muktar Ibrahim Gaya said the organization has distributed over 2 million long lasting Insecticidal nets to patients while the National Coordinator of Malaria Foundation, Hajiya Yasmin Dalhatu revealed that ACT vaccines worth N 10 million was donated to the state by the foundation.

R-L WHO Country Director, Dr. Rui Gama Vaz, Director Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Wapada Balami, Dr. UmoEneObong, Director climate change and Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Dr. KoffiKouame, representative, UNFPA, at the Country Cooperation Strategy Stakeholders,s meeting organized by WHO in Abuja

Indian hospital in Abuja offers free consultancy

By Abbas Aminu Bamalli

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s part of its social responsibilities, the only Indian specialist hospital in Nigeria, Primus International Super Specialty Hospital, Abuja, is to offer free consultancy to patients, including downward review of all its investigation, medicine and surgical procedures at affordable rates, commencing 3rd to 15th of February 2014.

The hospital management said the decision to crash its fees is part of its corporate social responsibility

… Reduces medical fees

to open its services and state of- the art equipment to Nigerian patients, majority of whom could not afford to go abroad.

According to a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the Hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Umaru Jibia said, “the hospital would provide free consultation for the following department, hip joint, back pain, deafness, ENT, gynecology (fibroid), IVF cardiology, Internal medicine and Diabetes.

Others include Urology and Kidney Transplant, Dialysis, plastic and cosmetic surgery, weight loss surgery, HIV, hemorrhoids and fistula.

He said, “Nigerian patients who travel abroad for treatment are reported to cost the nation $300 to $400 million in foreign exchange annually, also during the camp. So here, we are going to do our best for patients. We are going to use the most advanced 1.5 M.R.I, C.T, scan machine”.

“The management has also allocated two million Naira as reserved fund which will be utilized for treatment for the poor and needy during this health Camp”, he added It would be recalled that earlier, the hospital conducted free Camps at Wuse, Garki, Deidei and Gudu Market for traders and the general public in conjunction with Health and Human Service Secretariat FCTA, and also distributed free drugs to flood victims. Over 7000 patients benefited from free consultation and other services in 2012.

Nigeria: US says no plans to stop HIV/AIDS funding

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he United States of America said it has no intention of withdrawing an estimated 500 million dollars new funding for HIV and AIDS programme, made to Nigeria, following the law criminalising same-sex relationships in the country.

Mr. James Entwistle, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria gave the indication in Abuja during the public viewing of a new drama series entitled “Shuga”, which depicts HIV issues in Nigeria.

Entwistle described as untrue,

earlier media reports credited to him that U.S. would halt funding on HIV and AIDS in Nigeria because of Nigeria’s law on homosexual relationships.

“Some of the reports said, I said, because of the bill, United States was going to cut back or eliminate its support for HIV and AIDS programming in this country, this is not the case, we have neither the desire nor the intent to do that”, he said.

“Let me be clear, our commitment, our pledge to

supporting the HIV and AIDS fight in this country is unwavering.

What I did say was that we, and I imagine all HIV/AIDS donors will watch carefully to see how the bill is implemented and enforced with an eye towards its potential effect on HIV programmes here”, Entwistle added.

Entwistle said that in the last 10 years the U.S. had spent more than 3.4 billion dollars on HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, adding that in 2014 the Obama administration would

contribute over 500 billion dollars to HIV and AIDS in Nigeria.

He advised Nigerian government not to relent in its commitment to reduce the prevalence of HIV cases in the country.

In his speech, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said that HIV prevention was the best way to fight the disease, insisting that treatment is important but prevention is certainly better. He said.

(NAN)

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

International

South Sudan troops burn down Machar’s hometown – Rebels

Kenyan police clash with Muslim youths in port city

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uslim youths fought street battles yesterday with Kenyan police outside a mosque where radical clerics regularly preach in the port city of Mombasa.

The p o l i c e f i r e d t e a r g a s and live rounds over the heads of taunting crowds, who hurled stones back. It was not i m m e d i a t e l y clear why the clashes had broken out.

Many Muslims in Mombasa’s poorer neighborhoods feel marginalized by the predominantly Christian Nairobi government, while a forceful crackdown on Islamist militant recruitment networks in the tourist hub is fuelling resentment.

One policeman was found sprawled in a pool of blood in a bathroom inside the Masjid Mussa mosque, located in the city’s run-down Majengo neighborhood.

“We found him locked up in a bathroom after we heard him groaning. It appears like they slaughtered him,” said one armed policeman on the rockstrewn street outside the mosque.

There was no immediate confirmation from police whether the officer had survived the attack.

Unknown gunmen have shot dead two firebrand preachers associated with Masjid Mussa mosque in the past 18 months, both times sparking riots.

Worshippers there accuse the government of operating a death squad, a charge the government denies.

South Sudan government troops

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outh Sudan government forces have recaptured Leer, an important oilproducing area and the hometown of nominal rebel leader Riek Machar in the northern oil-producing state of Unity, a spokesman for the rebels has said.

Government soldiers and allied fighters “advanced on

Leer town on February 1, 2014 destroying everything on their path. [President Salva] Kiir’s forces burned down the whole of Leer town and the entire surrounding villages,” read a statement from rebel spokesman LulRuai Koang yesterday.

He said that the the government troops were attacking their positions in a

deliberate attempt to derail peace talks, adding that the government troops were actively violating a ceasefire signed last week.

There was no independent confirmation that Leer had been seized.

Doctors without Borders (MSF), a medical charity group, reported on Friday that a team of its local health workers had

taken “several dozen of the most seriously ill patients from Leer hospital with them into the bush, fearing for their safety”.

“Other patients who were well enough to leave of their own accord also fled, and there are no longer any patients or staff left at Leer hospital,” MSF said.

Koang accused the government troops of having hunted down and killed women and children and elderly people who had gone to hide in nearby bushes and swampy areas.

“The latest destruction of Leer town... has no strategic, operational or tactical importance,” the spokesman said, He accused Kiir of having merely derived “satisfaction” from destroying Machar’s home town.

Since the South Sudan conflict started in mid-December both sides have traded accusations of abuses. The UN and rights groups report that both sides have committed atrocities.

Thousands have been killed in the conflict and more than 700,000 people have fled their homes in seven weeks of violence.

A ceasefire has theoretically been in place for almost 10 days but multiple violations have been reported.

South African mediators make proposal to end platinum strike

S

outh African government mediators have put forward a proposal designed to end a strike that has hit around 40 percent of global platinum supply, they said at the weekend.

It was not immediately clear what the proposal entails and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) declined to say what is in it.

“The mediated proposal or a variation thereof could form the basis of a final settlement in this dispute,” said Nerine Kahn, CCMA director in a statement.

Talks between South Africa’s main platinum union, AMCU, and three platinum producers - Anglo

American Platinum, Lonmin and Impala Platinum - were suspended until Tuesday, CCMA said.

The companies and AMCU also declined to disclose the content of the mediators’ proposal.

Workers downed tools a week ago, seeking a doubling of wages to 12,500 rand ($1,100)a month, a demand companies have said they can ill-afford as they struggle to recover from a wave wildcat strikes that battered the sector in 2012 and led to dozens of deaths.

“It is imperative that a resolution is affordable, achievable and sustainable,” the three companies said in a

Miners gather at Wonderkop stadium outside the Lonmin mine in Rustenburg

were arrested last summer.

Judges also cleared a cameraman working for the al-Jazeera broadcaster.

The men, most of whom have links to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, had been accused of violence during a protest in the capital, Cairo, in July 2013.

They were demonstrating against Mr Mursi’s removal from power by the military that same month.

Egypt’s first freely elected president is currently facing four separate criminal trials on various charges.

Islamists have staged regular protests demanding his reinstatement, but have been met with a heavy crackdown in which hundreds have died.

The interim government has declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation and arrested thousands of its members since last year.

Cameraman Mohamed Badr and 61 other people were being held over their alleged involvement in violence and rioting during a protest in Ramses Square in central Cairo last July.

Al-Jazeera has rejected the allegations and said MrBadr was merely reporting the protest.

A lawyer for the broadcaster said the cameraman was not facing any other charges and should be released immediately.

joint statement.

AMCU rejected a revised

9 percent wage hike offer last week.

Egypt court acquits Mursi supporters over protest

A

court in Egypt has dropped charges against more than 60 supporters of the ousted President Mohammed Mursi, who

Badr

Another al-Jazeera staff member, Abdullah al-Shami, has been in detention since August.

The media has increasingly become a target in the authorities’ crackdown on dissent, the BBC’s Bethany Bell, in Cairo, reports.

Last week, Egyptian prosecutors filed criminal charges against 20 other al-Jazeera journalists, accusing them of conspiring with the Brotherhood, our correspondent says.

They include former BBC correspondent Peter Greste who was been held for more than a month with his producers, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 33

International

A

nti-government protesters made their presence felt in Thailand’s national elections, blockading polling stations and forcing about one in 10 across the country to close.

Voting ended at 08:00 GMT yesterday. Further voting is already scheduled for February 23 after problems with advance polling last Sunday, while the ballot in some southern areas may not happen for weeks.

The vast majority of voting stations were open and polling proceeded relatively peacefully, but the risk of violence remained high a day after gun battles in north Bangkok left seven people wounded.

Supachai Somcharoen, the chairman of the country’s election commission, told Al Jazeera that about 89 percent of polling stations were able to operate normally throughout the country.

The protests were organised by opponents of the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, who decided to go ahead with the polls despite official advice not to do so in the face of widespread opposition.

Protesters want her out of power, claiming she is a puppet of her billionaire brother Thaksin, who was deposed in a coup in 2006.

The national focus on yesterday was on the capital, where the main protests were being held. Several

An anti-government protester armed with a pistol gestures during a gunfight between supporters and opponents of Thailand’s government

Thailand protesters disrupt general election skirmishes broke out between protesters and frustrated would-be voters.

In some cases, protesters formed blockades to prevent voters from entering the polling stations.

Elsewhere, protesters blocked the delivery of ballots and other election materials, preventing voting stations from opening.

The Election Commission said

that hundreds of polling stations in the south, an opposition stronghold, faced similar problems.

An election official and three soldiers were killed in a bomb attack in Pattani province on Sunday as they tried to set up a polling station, according to local officials, In the north and northeast, voting went smoothly, said Paritporn Hongthanithorn, a pro-

government “red shirt” leader from Udon Thani, a Yingluck stronghold.

“Blocking polling booths and intimidation of ordinary people who want to vote is completely unacceptable,” she said. “We condemn what is happening in Bangkok and the south. The protesters cannot block people from exercising their right to vote.”

US, Iran meet to discuss final nuclear accord

T

he foreign ministers of the United States and Iran held rare private talks in Germany yesterday to discuss the next stage in efforts to reach a definitive agreement to end a decade-old dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to talk about nuclear negotiations between six world powers and Iran that will resume in Vienna on

IAEA DG Yukiya Amano (L) and Zarif attend the annual Munich Security Conference

February 18.

The talks will aim to settle the nuclear dispute after Iran agreed, under a landmark preliminary deal last November, to halt its most sensitive nuclear operations in return for winning some relief from sanctions.

In his talks with Zarif, Kerry stressed the importance of both sides negotiating in good faith and Iran abiding by its commitments under the November interim accord, a U.S. State Department official said.

The United States and European Union suspended some sanctions on Iran under the interim deal, but Kerry made clear to Zarif that the United States will continue to enforce other sanctions.

There was no immediate comment from Iran on the talks.

Kerry and Zarif have met several times since Iranian

President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate, was elected last June, leading to a thaw in ties with the West after years of confrontation and hostile rhetoric.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who coordinates the nuclear talks with Iran on behalf of the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, welcomed the meeting between Kerry and Zarif.

“It is incredibly important that as the international community now looks to build towards the comprehensive talks, that the dialogue is taking place and that we’re working out how to develop a comprehensive approach to this,” she told reporters in Munich.

But Republican U.S. Senator John McCain sounded a cautious note, saying Iran had a long record of deception, and accusing Iran of cheating.

Al-Qaeda fighters kill Syrian rebel leaders

F

ighters linked to al-Qaeda have killed two rebel leaders in bombings in Syria, in an apparent shift of tactics to target the command structures of their rivals.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Adnan Bakour, the leader of Liwa alTawhid, was among 26 people killed in a double suicide bombing late on Saturday in Aleppo.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which has links with alQaeda, said it carried out the attack on Tawhid, a brigade aligned to the Islamic Front coalition, a group fighing the ISIL in Aleppo and beyond.

In another attack late on Saturday in Hama, the leader of the powerful Suqour al-Sham group, Abu Hussein al-Dik, was killed by the ISIL, according to sources spoken to by Al Jazeera.

Charles Lister, of the Brookings Doha Centre, told Al Jazeera that the ISIL was clearly targeting key headquarters, “strategic checkpoints and senior influential commanders” of their rival rebel groups.

The attacks are the latest in weeks of rebel infighting that has pitted a loose alliance of Syrian fighters against al-Qaida linked groups such as the ISIL.

ISIL fighters

Asia & Middle East

Afghan Presidential vote campaign begins amid violence

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ampaigning for the presidential elections in Afghanistan has begun, stained by the deaths of two aides for the front-runner in a gun attack.

The men, working for Doctor Abdullah Abdullah, were killed in the Western province of Herat.

The attack follows an attempted assassination last month on Mohammad Ismail Khan, a vice presidential candidate for Abdul Rasul Sayyaf and former water and energy minister.

In Kabul yesterday, billboards began appearing as the candidates prepared their first campaign conferences.

Sediq Sediqqi, an interior ministry spokesman, said in a tweet that the Afghan National Police was “proud to be part of these historic moments and will do everything to ensure security” as the April 5 polls near.

The spring elections mark the first time in 13 years that Hamid Karzai, the incumbent, will not be on the ballots.

The 11 candidates, whittled down from 27 in late October, include former ministers, governors, leading political opposition figures and even an ex-royal.

In the early morning hours residents of Kabul awoke to the sight of posters and billboards of the leading candidates that have already come to dot the city. In Shahr-e Now, the capital’s business district, a billboard of Doctor Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, the ex-finance minister considered to be in a tight race with Abdullah, was erected near the historic Cinema Park.

At Abdullah’s gathering at a wedding hall in Kabul, an argument erupted between rival political parties Hezb-e Islami, from which his first vice presidential pick hails, and Hezb-e Wahdat, the party of his second vice presidential pick.

Supporters of Hezb-e Islami walked out saying “Allahu Akbar” [God is great] at the start of mixedgender musical performance featuring Hezb-e Wahdat allegiant performers.

The armed wings of Hezb-e Wahdat and Hezb-e Islami were two of the key players in the civil war of the 1990s, which is blamed for the destruction of Kabul.

In the diplomatic quarter of Wazir Akbar Khan, a billboard for Abdullah’s campaign read “a friend to God and a friend to the people”.

Smaller posters for Zalmaic Rassoul, ex-foreign minister, and Gol Agha Sherzai, who had served as the governor of Nangarhar and Kandahar provinces, were spotted in the Qalai Faetullah and Shirporneighbourhoods.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 34

International Europe and Americas Scandals, inequality loom large as Costa Rica votes for new leader

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osta Rica’s centrist ruling party front-runner hoped to fend off a leftist surge fueled by voter resentment over government corruption scandals and rising inequality as voters in Central America’s second-largest economy headed to the polls yesterday.

Centrist former San Jose Mayor Johnny Araya led polls on promises to reduce poverty, while distancing himself from President Laura Chinchilla’s scandal-plagued government and painting rivals as radicals.

But voter anger over government corruption has buoyed a challenge from leftist lawmaker Jose Maria Villalta, who has also promised to tackle inequality in the coffeeproducing nation.

If none of the thirteen candidates wins more than 40 percent of votes, as expected, there will be an run-off in April for only the second time in Costa Rican history.

“I see Araya as more of the same, a misfortune for this country after all the corruption of the past,” said Maria Ines Martinez, 57, a businesswoman, lining up outside a high school to vote as polling stations opened yesterday.

A winner will have to tackle growing debt that totals more than half of gross domestic product, as generous salaries and mandatory education spending weigh on a weak tax take.

“If they don’t do something, then this somewhat negative trend on the debt could continue and that could have an impact on the credit rating,” said Joydeep Mukherji, a sovereign credit analyst with Standard & Poor’s, which rates Costa Rica at BB with a stable outlook.

Moody’s Investor Service, which rates Costa Rica just a notch above speculative grade, cut the country’s outlook to negative from stable in September over fiscal concerns.

Villalta told Reuters on Saturday he would seek to address the problem by combating waste, tax evasion, and lightening a heavy burden on the middle class if he wins.

“What we want is a progressive reform with greater tax fairness where those who have more pay more,” he said.

A lawyer by training, Villalta, 36, cut his teeth organizing against the Central American Free Trade Agreement.

He is the only member of his Broad Front party, formed in 2004, to serve in Congress during the 2010-14 term. But he proposed more than 100 bills, including one to strip high-level officials of immunity while in office.

Ukraine opposition protests target President T housands of Ukrainian protesters have gathered in Kiev’s Maidan square to demand that the president steps down.

Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko told the crowd President Viktor Yanukovych’s resignation

followed by an election was the only way out of the crisis.

The president, who has been on sick leave, will return to work today.

The Automaidan movement, whose leader Dmytro Bulatov earlier this week said he was abducted and tortured before

being released, is planning a car convoy that will head towards the president’s mansion.

The planned protests would come a day after a pan-European security conference in Munich, where the Ukraine protest movement gained the backing of

Kiev’s Maidan square

the US and EU while Russia, the traditional influence in Ukraine, said such support was “double standards”.

Yanukovych and his ruling Regions Party have passed a law granting an amnesty to activists arrested in more than two months of protests, sparked by his rejection of a partnership with the EU under Russian pressure in favour of a $15bn bailout and gas supply discounts from Moscow.

Addressing the Munich conference, VitaliKlitschko, a former boxer turned Ukraine opposition leader, said: “I leave the conference stronger because I feel huge support from friends of Ukraine. Everyone is afraid that instability in one of the largest countries in Europe could bring instability to the whole region.”

Differences between Russia and the West on Ukraine and Syria, where Russia backs President Bashar al-Assad, made for a chilly atmosphere on the Munich podium.

Kerry and other Western diplomats put the burden of responsibility for the violence in Ukraine on the government.

Greek riot police clash with anti-fascists

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iot police and anti-fascist protesters in Greece have clashed in central Athens, leaving at least two people injured.

Police said more than 3,000 supporters of the extreme-right Golden Dawn party held a rally on Saturday to commemorate a 1996 dispute over an uninhabited Aegean Sea island that brought Greece and Turkey to the brink of war.

Saturday’s rally was largely peaceful, but violent clashes were triggered by the counterdemonstration, staged by leftist groups protesting against the Golden Dawn rally.

Last November, the government began a crackdown on Golden Dawn following the fatal stabbing of an anti-fascist musician in Athens.

The fate of the party is being closely watched ahead of the May vote - where it is expected to perform strongly due to a wave of anger against government cuts amid speculation of new efforts to rein in the group, which denies it is neo-Nazi.

Despite the crackdown, the party has said it will find a way to contest local and European elections in May, a senior Golden Dawn MP told a defiant crowd of a few thousand supporters in central Athens.

“We will participate in the elections, one way or another,” Ilias Kasidiaris told about 3,000 supporters rallying in Athens.

Kasidiaris is the most prominent public face of the party since the arrest

of its leader, Nikolaos Mihaloliakos.

Golden Dawn remains Greece’s third-most popular party. Two polls published last week showed the party would get 8.9 percent to 10.3 percent of the vote if elections were held now.

Kasidiaris, who plans to run for Athens mayor in May, suggested that a new party, National Dawn, could replace Golden Dawn if it was prevented from running in the election.

Riot police block a protester

French anti- gay marriage protest draws thousands Anti- gay protesters in Paris

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housands of demonstrators gathered in Paris and Lyon yesterday in a renewed protest against France’s legalization of gay marriage, which has mobilized conservatives of all stripes.

Organizers and police expected tens of thousands of people to join the marches against the Socialist government’s “Marriage for All” law.

Ahead of the protests, Interior Minister Manuel Valls vowed that any violence against police would be dealt with severely.

Some 1,500 police officers

were deployed in Paris and 600 in the central city of Lyon.

President Francois Hollande’s government has dismissed speculation that it plans to increase access to medically assisted procreation and surrogacy for gay couples - which is nonetheless one of the protest themes.

The introduction of an “Equality ABC” program to French elementary schools has also spawned outrage among traditionalists, amid internet rumors that small children are to be taught gender theory.

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Strange World Former marine leaves everything behind to live in the forest

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT KEBBI STATE Advertisement For Request For Quotation [Rfq] For Supply And Or Installation Of Electrification Materials For Various Electrification Projects This is to request for quotation [RFQ] from electrical engineering firms.

Mick

M

ick Dodge has spent the past 25 years away from civilization, living off the land in a rainforest. The former marine gave up his 9-to-5 job as a heavy equipment mechanic at Fort Lewis to take up this alternative lifestyle. “That’s my real life passion,” he says.

Dodge is actually a native of the Hoh Rainforest, located on the Olympic Peninsula in western Washington State.

His great-grandparents settled in the region; Dodge grew

up there and in several other places around the world.

Eventually, thanks to his father’s influence, he became an extreme fitness freak.

But the 62-year-old doesn’t miss the gym in the outdoors. He has created a unique concept called the Earth Gym – a sort of YMCA in the forest with natural equipment. Dodge uses cargo nets, straps, stones and ropes to create a fitness regimen of his own. Students come to learn from him as well, and he teaches them exercises

developed on a connection with nature. His extreme techniques include running barefoot upstream in the Sol Duc River.

In fact, Dodge doesn’t use any footwear at all. Whether he’s walking, running or climbing, he does not prefer to use shoes or sandals. He has been living barefoot since 1991, a decision that he claims has cured him of plantar fasciitis, back pain and hammer toes.

He said that it has also helped him interact more intuitively with the natural world.

2. SCOPE OF WORKS The scope of works for the projects shall include the following: i. Site clearance, survey and pegging. ii. Digging of holes for HT & LT poles, dressing and stringing of alluminium conductor. iii. Construction of substation fencing and plinth, installation of transformers and other electrical materials. iv. Connection to the national grid. v. 500KVA/11KV transformers vi. 100mm (alluminium conductor steel re-enforced (ACSR) vii. 70mm alluminium conductor viii. Civil works Only registered companies currently resident in the state and currently exiting similar project are invited to submit their quotations.

3. QUALIFICATION OF FIRMS RESPONDING TO THE RFQ. Electrical Engineering firms, representatives of Manufactureres of electircal materials etc. in present quotation must show clear of; (a) Tax clearance certificate (b) Tenders Board Registration certificate (c) Letters of confirmation by applicant’s Bankers on having financial capacity to execute the contract. (d) Certification of incorporation for companies/consulting firms (e) Memorandum and Articles of Association (f) Registration with Professional/Regulatory Bodies as would be applicable. (g) List of company/consulting firms personnel including qualification and year of experience in the field. (h) List of the company/consulting firm’s machineries, equipment and instruments. (i) List of previous works/services executed and evidence of performance.

4. SUBMISSION OF QUOTATIONS Electrical engineering firms, representatives of manufacturers of electrical materials etc are to submit their quotations for the project at 2.00pm, one week after publication.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development and the General Manager Rural Electricity Board Kebbi State reserve the right to reject any quotation that does not meet its requirements.

SIGNED: ENGR. GARBA SARDAUNA General Manager (REB) For: Honourable Commissioner

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 36

Digest Why slow reactions could mean an early grave

By Fiona Macrae Science Correspondent

I

f you are slow off the mark, you won’t just get left behind. You might also die young.

A study found that men and women with slow reaction times were at higher risk than others of

People with slow reactions are more likely to be killed in accidents but they are also more likely to have heart attacks and strokes

an early grave.

Even those in their 20s and 30s were at risk.

The British researchers said that lack of alertness seems to be as dangerous as smoking.

It is thought that a slowing down of the brain could be a sign of a more general deterioration of the body.

If more research confirms the link, GPs could use a reaction time test as a quick and simple health check.

The researchers, from Glasgow and Edinburgh universities and University College London, analysed information on more than 5,000 Americans who had done a reaction time test when aged between 20 and 59.

This involved nothing more complex than sitting in front of a computer screen and pushing a button every time the number zero flashed up on it.

The volunteers did the test 50 times and their speed and consistency was measured.

Those who were slower were 25 per cent more likely to die over the next 15 years than those of average speed.

Those who were slow on some occasions and fast on others were also at higher risk of an early death,

People with slow reactions are more likely to die young - they are 25 per cent more likely to die in the next 15 years than people with quick reactions the journal plos one reports. reports Reaction time was not linked to deaths from cancer but was linked to dying from a heart attack or stroke.

Further analysis showed the results couldn’t be explained away by other factors such as those who were quick off the mark simply being brainier or younger.

Lead researcher Gareth HaggerJohnson, of UCL, said: ‘Our research shows that a simple test of reaction time in adulthood can predict survival independently of age, sex, ethnic group and socio-economic

background.

‘It is just one risk factor but it is one we don’t normally think about.

We think about smoking, we think about cholesterol, we don’t think about reaction time.’

He said that the speed at which the brain responds may mirror the general state of the body.

This means that slow reaction times could be a sign of other illnesses.

Other more simple reasons include those who are less alert being at higher risk of accidents, such as

walking out in front of traffic.

Dr Hagger-Johnson said that if the link is confirmed, GPs could use a patient’s reaction time as a measure of their health.

This could lead to them being more closely monitored or given specific treatments.

In the meantime, he advises that people eat well, exercise, stop smoking and get their five-a-day.

He said: ‘For now a healthy lifestyle is the best thing people can do in order to live longer.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk.

Mouthwashes ‘can raise risk of heart attack and strokes’

By Beezy Marsh and Stephen Adams

U

sing mouthwash is a ‘disaster’ for health, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes, scientists are warning.

Swilling kills off ‘good’ bacteria that help blood vessels relax – so increasing blood pressure.

When healthy volunteers used Corsodyl, a brand containing a powerful antiseptic, their blood pressure

rose within hours.

Professor Amrita Ahluwalia, who led the study, last night condemned the widespread use of antiseptic mouthwash.

She said: ‘Killing off all these bugs each day is a disaster, when small rises in blood pressure have significant impact on morbidity and mortality from heart disease and stroke.’

More than half of British adults regularly use mouthwash, creating a market worth £180 million a year.

The study compared blood pressure levels in 19 healthy volunteers who started using Corsodyl twice daily. Their blood pressure rose by between 2 and 3.5 units (mmgh).

This effect ‘appeared within one day’ of using the mouthwash, researchers wrote in the journal Free Radical Biology And Medicine.

For each two-point rise in blood pressure, the risk of dying from heart disease rises by seven per cent, according to separate research. Such a rise

Dangerous rinse: The study by Queen Mary University in London found that blood pressure in daily Corsodyl users rose by between 2 and 3.5 units

also increases the risk of dying from stroke by ten per cent.

Prof Ahluwalia, from Queen Mary University of London, said: ‘We are not telling people to stop using antiseptic mouthwashes if they have a gum or tooth infection – but we would ask why anyone else would want to.’

Corsodyl contains 0.2 per cent by volume of the antiseptic chlorhexidine.

Other antiseptic mouthwashes made by Boots and Superdrug contain the chemical in the ssame concentration. It kills m microbes needed to help create nitrite, essential for blood vvessels to dilate properly. But tthe mouthwash caused nitrite p production in the mouth to fall b by over 90 per cent, and blood n nitrite to fall by 25 per cent.

Not all mouthwashes contain chlorhexidine: L Listerine, for example, does n not. However, Prof Ahluwalia said: ‘Other mouthwashes ccould still disrupt the healthy b bacteria.’

Dentist Richard Guyver ssaid he would be ‘very cautious a about drawing conclusions’ ffrom such a small study.

Corsodyl makers G GlaxoSmithKline said their p product was for short-term u use to stop plaque and prevent g gum disease and it also makes another product, Corsodyl D Daily, which contains 0.06

Sharp edge: Mouthwash Corsodyl can lower blood pressure

per cent chlorhexidine for everyday use.

The spokesman said their own research had ‘not highlighted any concerns regarding the use of Corsodyl 0.2 per cent mouthwash as directed and increases in blood pressure’.

Source: Dailymail. co.uk.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 37

Gwarzo chairs Kano APC harmonization c’ttee From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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L-R: Bauchi state governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, National Chairman of PDP, Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu and Chairman, PDP, Bauchi state, Alhaji Ibrahim Yaro-Yaro, during the civic reception in honour of the national chairman of PDP, on Saturday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

2015: PDM wants Atiku to wrest power from Jonathan

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) has said former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has the capacity to wrest from power. president Goodluck Jonathan by 2015 and help the country overcome her current challenges.

PDM observed that never in the history of Nigeria has the country witnessed so much confusion and uncertainty, and therefore requires a leader who is experienced and detribalised and capable of pulling the country through the woods.

The party in a communique issued at an interactive meeting

By Umar Muhammad Puma

C

hairman of Bauchi Youth Volunteer Group, Alhaji Danladi Kwano, has dispelled the rumour that the Bauchi state Governor, Mallam Isa Yuguda, has anointed a candidate for the forthcoming 2015 governorship election in the state.

Danladi said over the weekend in Bauchi that Yuguda had not anointed any candidate ahead of the general election, and urged anybody who wants to aspire to any political post to feel free to do so as the

of its leadership, in Abuja, said it received the former Vice President, who addressed the meeting and sought opinion regarding his political future from the floor, in continuation of his nationwide consultation on political developments in the country.

The meeting had in attendance, members of the National Executive Committee, National Advisory Committee, State Chairmen and Secretaries and invited stakeholders from each of the six geo political zones.

According to a statement signed by the PDM National Publicity Secretary, Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, party leaders freely expressed their

views and offered the former Vice President constructive advice, and wished him God’s guidance as he continues to consult and prayed that whatever decision he would take will be in the best interest of the country.

“Party leaders observed that never in the history of Nigeria has the country witnessed so much confusion and uncertainty.

“Given this, therefore, the country requires a leader who is experienced and de-tribalised and capable of pulling the country through the woods. The former Vice President was identified as having the capacity to help the country overcome these challenges”, the statement said.

Bauchi 2015: Yuguda has no anointed candidate - Youth leader constitution provides.

“Yuguda, because of his sense sincerity and justice, fairness and equity for all has not anointed anybody as his candidate, whoever the people of Bauchi state want as their next governor is his candidate”.

According to him, “we are not concerned about who becomes the next governor, but our concerned is to have a person like Yuguda, who has the love of the state and

his people at heart; who care about the future of Bauchi state and its people”.

“You can see from the way the people came out in mass to welcome the National Chairman of our party; this shows how close Mallam is to his people. Because of the relative peace the state has been enjoying from Yuguda’s administration, people from neighboring states are trooping to the state”.

ano state chapter of All Progressive Party (APC) has elected former deputy governor of the state, Engr.

Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, former ACN gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 election, the chairman of APC Harmonization Committee.

The state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso who disclosed this while chairing a meeting of the stakeholders at Government House, Kano at the weekend added that Adamu Aliyu Sumaila, the erstwhile PDP Chairman in the state, is now the secretary.

Others elected, according to the governor, are Maryam Kofar Mata as Women Leader, Salisu Abba, Treasurer, Murtala Sule Garo Organizing Secretary and Rabiu Bako as the Youth Leader.

He further disclosed that the committee has as Publicity Secretary, Engr. Bashir Karaye; Deputy Secretary Abbas Sani Abbas while Sa’ad Hassan will serve as exofficio.

Kwankwaso pointed out that the committee members were selected from the four merging parties, disclosing that three are from PDP, two from ANPP and two each from ACN and CPC. According to the party manifesto, the governor explained, the PDP should have five members, ANPP two while ACN and APC are to have one member each.

He however noted that PDP decided to forfiet its two slots to ACN and APC as well as the chairmanship in order to have harmony and justice in the party.

He appealed to party followers to register their names with the party as soon as the registration exercise starts, assuring that the party membership cards would be made available at each ward in the state.

Responding, Gwarzo thanked the stakeholders for choosing him to lead the party before the party executive election, assuring that the committee would do everything possible to ensure the party’s progress in the state.

Group condemns attack on Sambo

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

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

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

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

The Vice President did not

hijack any meeting as all parties to the meeting except those who were after the VP’s job were satisfied with the outcome, DAO spokesman explained.

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

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

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

APC leading Nigeria to anarchy, instability, says group From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Patriotic Vanguard (PV) a Non-governmental youth pressure group, has warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s activities in the country may lead the nation into anarchy and instability.

PV said one of such activities was directive of the APC Interim National

Executive Committee to his National Assembly members to block all legislative proposals including the 2014 Budget and confirmation of all nominees to military and civilian positions to public office pending the resolution of the crisis in Rivers.

Speaking to newsmen after its meeting at the weekend in Lagos, PV National Coordinator, Adesina

Animashaun said that the APC recommendation is anti people and could lead to instability in the nation.

He said that the party’s plan to shut down the country using such a selfish directive must be resisted by Nigerians.

He added that Nigerians must shun any party that does not have the larger interest of the masses like

the APC going by their insensitivity in making inciting utterances.

The group also urged APC to advice the Rivers State governor to pay attention to issues of governance in his state rather than seeking unnecessary attention and creating problems in his state.

On the timetable recently released by the Secretary to the Federal

Government, Anyim Pius Anyim on the proposed National Dialogue, the group warns against politicians with selfish interests derailing the proposed conference.

The group however encourage youths to participate actively in their various zones in suggestion that would form the memoranda for the national conference.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Politics

2015: Who succeeds Dakingari in Kebbi?

As the 2015 governorship election draws nearer, there have been agitations among the four Emirate Councils in Kebbi state as to who succeeds Governor Saidu Dakingari, who is billed to serve out his tenure. In this piece, our Kebbi Correspondent, Ahmed Idris, examines the political dynamics and posits that the fate of several aspirants in the state would be determined by the zoning arrangement.

W

ith Governor Saidu Dakingari completing his two term tenure in 2015, the political atmosphere in Kebbi state has assumed a life of its own with many politicians jostling to succeed the governor.

Tension is rising dangerously as it is believed that the zoning atrangemnt put in place by stakeholders in tne state is hoing to play a detrminant role on who becomes the nect hovernor of tne state.

In the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, zoning arrangement earlier agreed to by the stakeholders would play a prominent role in the selection of its governorship candidate.

The issue of rotation of the governorship seat among the four emirate councils in the state has come to the fore as the 2015 governorship election beckons. The four emirates are Argungu, Yauri, Gwandu and Zuru. Indeed, Zuru, Arugungu and Yauri emirates are working hard to ensure that the power shifts to any of them. Zuru Emirate which is in Kebbi South is also agitating for the governorship position on the point that it is the only emirate not to have produced a governor of the state since its creation in 1991.

Previous democratically elected governors were Alhaji Abubakar Musa from Yauri Emirate (1992 to 1993); Alhaji Adamu Aliero from Gwandu (1999 to 2007) and the incumbent, Saidu Usman Dakingari also from Gwandu Emirate.

Dakingari, though from Gwandu belongs to Kebbi North Senatorial district (Argungu Emirate) which comprises of Argungu, Augie, Arewa, Dandi and Zuru Local Government Areas.

The

contention of critics of the agitation of the Zuru people who inhabit the Southern senatorial zone with the people of Yauri is that their Southern senatorial zone benefited from the governorship through the first democratically elected governor of the state in 1992.

Those against Zuru Emirate producing the next governor of the state are from tne Kebbi Central Senatorial district which currently harbours and a number of very active gubernatorial hopefuls.These include former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Gari Mallam, Senator Atiku Bagudu who is currently representing Kebbi Central in the National Assembly; the newly appointed minister of Special Duties, Alh. Kabiru Tanimu; Alh. Bello Ibrahim Gwandu and Major General Bello Sarkin Yaki (rtd).

Others are Alhaji Ibrhaim K. Aliyu who is presently the deputy to Dakingari from from Yauri emirate and Senator Bello Bunza.

It was learnt that Zuru and Yauri emirate council have decided to support a candidate, Ibrhaim K. Aliyu because his the only credible and honest person that could fit the

position and has the backing of the ruling party [PDP] from Abuja and at the state level.

Senator Bagudu is also said to be in the race but his candidature may not be the blessings of the Kebbi political strongman, Senator Adamu Aliero. A political icon in the state, Alhaji Issa Mohammed, while commenting on Bagudu’s chance of succeeding Dakingari said the Senator earned his place in Aliero’s bad books after he joined hands with the incumbent governor to frustrate Aliero’s re-election bid to the Senate in 2011 when he vied on the ticket of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. “Since then, Aliero has returned to the PDP taken his position as Dakingari’s godfather following the reconciliation between him and his successor forged by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’’ he said The general believe i the state is that Dakingari would endorse any gubernatorial candidate produced by Aliero and few believe that the former governor would go out of his way to endorse the very man who humiliated him in 2011.

Many believe that Bagudu’s past could open the way for the 2011 gubernatorial candidate of the CPC, Alhaji Gari Mallam, who is also from Kebbi Central.

Mallam was with Aliero through the dark days of trouble with Dakingari.

Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida has also shown interest in the governorship seat even though he hail from the same Kebbi North as the incumbent governor.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the zoning arrangement may be ruptured owing to current realities in the state. Recently Arugungu Emirate Council organized

“

the Zuru emirate is considering fielding a candidate on the platform of the APC as the are sensing that their candidate may not get the ticket on the platform of the ruling PDP. Alhaji Suleman Arugugun who was the former ANPP gubernatorial candidate and also the former deputy to Aliero has said that his ambition is still on. He added that as his party has merged with APC, he will be the candidate of the party in the state

Governor Saidu Dakingari

a political meeting which comprised of representatives of Zuru Emirate to strategize for the 2015 election in the zones.

Speaking at the occasion, the Co Chairman of Argungu Emirate Development Association,Alhaji Muhammed Gulma, said that every emirate in the state has the right to present candidates for the governorship poll in the interest of peace justice equity and fair play.

He said ‘’Today’s occasion is historic in the sense that apart from sons and daughters of Argungu Emirate, we have invited, Zuru, Yauri and even Gwandu emirate to chart a new course for our state because it does not belong to just one emirate; we are ready to support any credible candidate for the governorship slot for as long as we are all carried along’’, he said.

In his remarks, Hon. Samaila Biu from Arewa Local Government also emphasized that the need for the state to adopt rotational system of governance in the interest of peace in the state. Other speakers like Alh. Aliyu Augie, Alh. Musa Dan Maliki, Alh. Mohammed Sala Yarman Kebbi at the meeting also lent their voices in support of rotational system of leadership in the state.

The people of Zuru who believe in the rotational arrangement have insisted that the system be retained for democratic principles, fairness, justice and peace to reign in the culturally diverse state.

The Emirate has consistently lamented its neglect by the leadership of the state. The frustration of the Zuru people was worsened in 2012 when the ministerial nomination of Brig.

Gen. Bitrus Ushie from Zuru as minister of Defence vitiated by intrigues which later saw the zone lose out to Central which fielded Kabiru Tanimu who was later assigned the portfolio of special duties in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet.

Their agitation nonetheless, political stakeholders are frustrated by the dearth of contenders from Zuru.

Presently, only Senator Mohammed Magoro and Alhaji Bala Musa Sakaba are known to be warming up for the governorship election.

Meanwhile, the Zuru emirate is considering fielding a candidate on the platform of the APC as the are sensing that their candidate may not get the ticket on the platform of the ruling PDP. Alhaji Suleman Arugugun who was the former ANPP gubernatorial candidate and also the former deputy to Aliero has said that his ambition is still on. He added that as his party has merged with APC, he will be the candidate of the party in the state.

Incumbent Minister of Special Duties, Barrister Kabiru Taminu (SAN) is also said to be interested in succeeding Dakingari. One of his political associate has boasted that his boss would emerge he state governor by 2015. Dakingari’s deputy, Ibrhaim K. Aliyu, is also being touted as a possible successor to his boss.

PAGE 39

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

ISSUES

CONCERNED YOUTHS FORUM …Working towards democratic survival in Nigeria

No. 10 Rigasa GRA, Opposite Nabila Medical Centre, Kaduna State P.O Box 326, Kaduna State

Supreme Court verdict on Muhammad Abacha Vindicates Nigerians

T

he verdict delivered by the Supreme Court last Friday, ordering Muhammad Sani Abacha, to face trial has justified concerns by millions of Nigerians about his dubious source of stupendous wealth.

Muhammad Abacha, the eldest surviving son of late General Sani Abacha has been fighting since April 18, 2005 to evade trial after Justice Amina Augie then ordered him to be tried at the FCT High Court, on about 100 criminal charges relating to his alleged role in stealing Nigeria’s funds. He subsequently filed an appeal challenging the trial, but after almost a decade, the Supreme Court has finally affirmed Justice Augie’s decision for good reasons.

Muhammad Abacha, whose father, the late military Head of State General Sani Abacha died unexpectedly in 1998 inherited vast amount of riches that were allegedly stolen by his father who ruled Nigeria with an iron fist.

Over the years that followed the death of the dictator, successive governments have made efforts and succeeded in recovering hundreds of millions of dollars from various private foreign banks, said to have been plundered by the Abacha regime.

But in spite of the recovery of some of the looted funds, Abacha’s family, as if with the wave of a magic wand, have turned into instant billionaires, though none of them has been known to be engaged in any legitimate business that could fetch them such colossal fortunes both prior to Sani Abacha’s ascension to power and his eventual demise.

Muhammad Abacha, according to his Wikipedia page, was known to have participated in laundering public funds of up to $1.4 billion in cash to offshore accounts when his father was in power.

Since his indictment for aiding his father to plunder Nigeria’s wealth, Muhammad Abacha had been employing numerous tactics including his desperation to acquire political power by seeking the governorship of Kano state in order to secure his family’s questionable wealth.

In 2011, he tried to ride on General Muhammadu Buhari’s popularity by joining his Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) to contest for governorship elections, which he failed to win. And recently, the desperation had forced Abacha to dump the CPC (now part of the All Progressive Congress, APC) in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan’s wobbly People’s Democratic Party (PDP) all in order to maintain his ill-gotten inheritance at all cost.

And considering the fact that corruption thrives in

Jonathan’s government, there are fears that even with the Supreme Court ruling, the federal government could employ some corrupt judges to quash the charges against Muhammed to enable him contest for the governorship in Kano state, in return for supporting Jonathan’s reelection in 2015.

Nigerians still remember with much discontent the notoriety of the Presidency and its cronies in pardoning and acquitting all sorts of funny characters with the devious aim of using them to achieve its dirty political antics. The brazen misuse of presidential power to pardon a corrupt personality like Alamiesiegha who stole millions of Bayelsa’s dollars and the seeming judicial interference that led to Almustapha’s acquittal are good cases in point.

Fortunately, the people of Kano state are too politically sophisticated to allow a dubious personality, no matter his wealth or influence, to be foisted on with the purpose of using him to serve as a stooge playing nasty script for his paymasters.

In any case, there are thick suspicions of serious divisions within Abacha family because some members are opposed to the use of their wealth by Muhammad to contest for a governorship election that he would certainly lose.

But the hysterical efforts to secure the ‘Abacha loot’ by using political power is said to be an idea developed and executed by Muhammad’s mother, Mrs. Abacha, even though the family’s inheritance, according to those close to them, has not been shared to other members.

The people of Kano state have defeated such attempts in the past and are ready to defeat them once again.

They would never give a chance to funny characters that would come and deceive them.

Kano people are interested in sincere, honest, courageous, emphatic, transparent and accountable politicians who would make the state a model of development in the country.

In our opinion, it would be wise for Muhammad Abacha, to devote his time and energy proving the legitimacy of his wealth and restoring his family’s tattered image and integrity, rather than allow himself to be used for evil purposes, by unpatriotic elements that are not interested in the well being of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Simon Uduk President E-mail address: udoksimon2003@yahoo.com

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Photo Splash

Residents of Agbede Community in Ikorodu, Lagos state take turns to cross a makeshift wooden bridge on Saturday.

5. Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (middle), during the inauguration of bore-hole, yesterday in Gubio, headquarters of Gubio local government area of Borno state.

Road walk to mark the beginning of first Kwara Civil Service Games, on Saturday in Ilorin.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga (right), briefing journalists after their meeting with Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo on the need to invest in Nigeria, last Friday at the State House Abuja.

New monitoring, fire services vehicles, and an ambulance van for National Teachers Institute (NTI) commissioned by the DG/CE of NTI, Dr. Aminu Ladan Sharehu, recently at the institute’s headquarters, in Kaduna.

Photo: Joe Oroye and NAN000

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 41

Keshi thanks NFF, players for Bronze effort A

fter a memorable six weeks with home-based Super Eagles players culminating in a bronze medal effort at the just concluded SA 2014 CHAN African Nations Tourney, team’s Head Coach, N Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has anchored the t success story of the team on the support he h has received from the Nigeria Football Federation, and by extension the Sports Ministry, the players and members of staff of the team.

Addressing the team and its officials at the weekend, Keshi said that the NFF have been very supported, the players have h opportunity to lay a claim to the World Cup place in Brazil and the staff of the team have been totally committed to the job of h uplifting Nigerian football.

From the players he singled out Ejike Uzoenyi, the Most Valuable Player of the CHAN 2014 for special mention, noting that at a point the player’s form dropped t drastically but he listened to advise to

Keshi

Libya claims Lib l i first CAF trophy h

L

ibya claimed their first piece of continental silverware with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Ghana in the final of the 2014 African Nations Championship in Cape Town at the weekend.

A tepid final had finished in a goalless draw, with all the drama reserved for the shoot-out where Libya raced into a lead and then locked to have surrendered their advantage.

But a miss from Joshua Tijani in sudden death gifted the trophy to Libya, who ironically were the original hosts of this competition before the civil war in that country saw the tournament shifted to South Africa.

It is also a triumph for their Spanish coach Javier Clemente, who has only been in the job a matter of months, and already has made history with the side.

For Ghana it is a second defeat in the CHAN final after they also lost the inaugural 2009 decider against DR Congo, meaning their 32-year wait for CAF silverware

continues.

There were few chances in the game, but the best did fall to the Libyans.

A defensive slip early on from Ghana saw Black Stars goalkeeper Stephen Adams rushing off his line to clear the danger, while Ghana thought they should have had a penalty for handball soon afterwards.

Both Ahmed Kamal El Trbi and El Mutasem Abushnaf had good headed chances to give their side the lead, but the former saw his effort saved and the latter did not hit the target.

The result meant that just one goal was scored in the final four matches of the CHAN competition, with defences on top and a lack of creative ability to break them down.

Penalties looked inevitable and after Ghana missed their first two it seemed as though Libya would coast home.

But when the north Africans squandered their fourth and fifth effort it brought the Black Stars back into it, before Tijani put his effort wide of the left-hand post to blow the chances of his team.

Eagles return home with bronze Eagles

T

Libya players celebrate

improve and today, he has become the MVP of a major championship in world and particularly African football calendar.

He thanked all his technical assistants for their invaluable advice. “From Amokachi to Shorunmu and Coach Valere, we spent hours together after dinner or games just strategizing and most times I come out to speak but they have been too supportive and I want to thank them.”

Dayo Enebi Achor, team’s administrator got the plaudits on the part of the staff, with Keshi insisting that but for the near perfect professionalism of the staff and their self denial for nearly two months, success no matter how little would never have been achieved.

Keshi then made the following remarks, “It will be to my delight if four players from this team we have taken to CHAN can make it to the World Cup in Brazil, but you must be dedicated, respect your club coaches and make discipline your watchword”.

he Super Eagles returned home yesterday after a hectic three weeks of participation at the CHAN African Nations Tourney.

The first timers emerged with a bronze medal at the tourney, with skipper of the side, Chigozie Agbim, pleading with Nigerian for coming short.

“We came here with the intention to win the championship, but we could not make it, but we remain thankful to God that we came away with the bronze medal, the fair play trophy and we produced the Player of the Tournament.

The Nigerian side departed Cape Town venue of the final yesterday morning, head to Johannesburg and from there connect Lagos, from where the team will leave for its final destination in Abuja tomorrow

morning after sleeping over in Lagos.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Sunday S. Yusuf, has counseled the CHAN 2014 Super Eagles to make humility their watchword as they aspire for higher football challenges, with big money moves for some of the p[layers already looming.

The envoy who visited the team at dinner time at the Garden Court Hotel, said he was totally convinced at the prowess of the team and will stop at nothing to keep advertising the team to the highest level of governance in Nigeria.

“President Goodluck Jonathan, whom I represent here is proud of you and all Nigerians are proud of this team also but we must allow the little success we have here to get into our heads”, he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 42

Sports CHAN 2014: FA chairman, secretary hail Eagles’ performance

T

h Chairman, he Ch i FCT Football Association (FA), Musa Talle, yesterday said the Super Eagles put up an encouraging performance in their first outing at the African Nations Championship (CHAN).

Talle said in Abuja that it was a good performance for the team to have finished third at their first outing.

The Super Eagles had on Saturday in Cape Town beaten Zimbabwe 1-0 to finish in thirdplace at the competition held in South Africa, through a Chinonso Obiozor 84th minute goal.

“The home-based Super Eagles really tried. It was their first outing and coming back with bronze is not easy.

“I believe that in the next edition they will perform better, because of the experience. It was not a bad outing at all,’’ Talle said.

The Secretary of the FCT FA, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the players put in their best, and that Nigeria’s performance at the next edition in Rwanda in 2016 would be better.

He said there were better players in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) who could make up the team.

“I am not saying that the players we took to CHAN were not good, but some adjustments are needed.

“Our home-based players really tried. But I think we have some good players in the league who should have been in that team,’’

Keshi may be looking for are Egwueke, Odunlami and Uzoenyi.

“Overall, it’s been a lovely tournament for Nigeria.

Congratulations to Keshi and the CHAN Eagles,” Ekpo said.

Femi Oyelade, an Information Technology consultant, on his part said he was happy with the team’s performance, even though he was disappointed that Chigozie Agbim started in the third-place match.

“What was Keshi’s reason for taking three goalkeepers to CHAN without using at least two of them?

“I thought the third-place

match would have been a good opportunity to test their abilities ahead of the World cup.

“I seriously would have loved to see another goalkeeper challenge Agbim’s position as our thirdchoice goalkeeper in the national team,” Oyelade said.

Ernest Frank, a surveyor, said he was happy that the Eagles won the match, adding “we thank God we didn’t allow it to go to extra time, because it would have been dangerous.

“We are happy that we at least didn’t come back empty-handed.

The boys finally have something to show for their efforts,” he said.

Frank noted that the team did well in the tournament and that he had no doubts that they were going to bounce back to beat Zimbabwe in the third-place match.

Ebere Umunna, an engineer, noted that the subtitutions Keshi made won the game for Nigeria, adding that the understanding between Obiozor and Uzoenyi was also key to the Eagles’ victory.

“Uzoenyi should be considered for a place in the World Cup team after a wonderful display at CHAN,” he said.

Vivian Mensah, a Ghanian football fan, said the Eagles’ victory was commendable and the performance should be seen as worthwhile.

“Congratulations to the homebased Super Eagles and Nigerians as a whole. Clearly, half bread is better than none. We can only wish for better success in the next CHAN,” she said.

chips were down and also my family for their prayers.

“For me, this is an opportunity to further build on my career and do well in future for the national team. I want to

continue to work hard and I’m hoping that I’ll be considered for the (Fifa) World Cup and I hope the coaches will give us the players (from the Chan team) the chance,” he said.

Eagles

Abdullahi said.

Other football fans who spoke to Peoples Daily Sports expressed joy and satisfaction at the Eagles’ victory, saying third-place was a well-deserved consolation for their efforts in the competition.

Mr Paulsanctus Orji, a businessman, said the Super Eagles performed well, adding “nobody gave them the chance of getting to this stage, but they fought hard.”

Orji added that the competition had thrown up new discoveries for Keshi, who would be looking

forward to bolstering his squad ahead of the World Cup in Brazil.

Friday Ekpo, a civil servant, agreed with Orji on the new discoveries.

He said up to three players in the squad have the quality to play in the first team at the World Cup. “In games which mattered most, Kunle Odunlami and Ejike Uzoenyi came up big. Azubuike Egwueke has also been good as well, but we know his abilities already since he has been with the national team.

“Therefore, the three players

Uzoenyi happy to win CHAN MVP T

Ejike Uzoenyi

he Super Eagles attacking winger, Ejike Uzoenyi, has expressed joy at b being named the Most Valuable Players of the 2014 African N Nations Championship (CHAN).

The Super Eagles of Nigeria ffinished the championship in tthird place but Uzoenyi put up a standout performance which ssaw him chalk up three man-oftthe-match awards.

The Enugu Rangers man, w who had his career on the ropes iin recent months, has credited h his performance at the Chan tto his belief in God, his family, tteammates and coaches.

“I’m very, very grateful tto the Almighty God for this o opportunity to be named the best p player of a major competition llike the Chan. I want to also eextend my appreciation to my tteammates and coaches who a always ensured we did well and b believed in my abilities when the

…Dedicates award to God, teammates

M

eanwhile, the South Africa CHAN 2014 Player of the Tournament, Chrisantus Ejike Uzoenyi of Rangers International of Enugu, has attributed his feat to his strong believe in God, the immense support of his teammates and family members.

He also promised to ginger his teammates to battle for shirts in the coming summer World Cup in Brazil, because he believes that many of them are equal if not better than those who ply their trade outside the shores of Nigeria.

He promised that the win of the MVP will not get him distracted, because he wants to eke a name for himself in Nigeria’s football annals.

All his 22 other teammates also believed that he was deserving of the title as many of them refused to acknowledge the petit playmaker, when he was named the tournament’s best.

His teammates however were full of praises for the Nigerian side, with Keshi himself noting the suddenly we are losing our heads again, because those we dashed drinks are now coming to ask for more.

PAGE 43

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

PAGE 45

Sports

Bryan brothers beat Fleming, Inglot at Davis Cup

B

ritain will have to get the point they require in yesterday’s singles after the USA kept their Davis Cup World Group hopes alive in the doubles.

Bob and Mike Bryan beat Colin Fleming and Dom Inglot 6-2 6-3 3-6 6-1 on the San Diego clay to

Lizzy Yarnold

Sochi 2014: Yarnold calm on skeleton medal prospects

W

orld Cup champion Lizzy Yarnold says she can handle the pressure that comes with being one of Team GB’s leading Olympic medal contenders.

Yarnold, 25, won the World Cup skeleton title after achieving a British-record seven podium finishes in eight races.

The slider, recruited to the sport through the UK Sport-backed Talent Identification programme Girls4Gold in 2008, has enjoyed a rapid rise.

She won World Junior Championships gold in 2012 before claiming world bronze later that year, and was fourth in the overall World Cup standings last season.

And she admits her success over the past six months has surpassed even her own expectations.

Yarnold said qualifying for the Olympics was “a dream”, but added: “Realising that dream has been a long journey and I haven’t really believed in it until this season.

The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics opening ceremony takes place on 7 February, with Yarnold and Rudman beginning their campaigns on 13 February with the first two runs. The third and fourth runs will take place on 14 February.

leave Britain 2-1 in front going into the final day.

Wimbledon champion Andy Murray was rested from the doubles ahead of taking on Sam Querrey.

Britain has not beaten the USA in the Davis Cup since 1935.

The prospects of ending that

barren run remain good, with Murray a strong favourite against world number 45 Querrey, who suffered a shattering five-set defeat

by James Ward on Friday.

Should Querrey cause a major upset, team-mate Donald Young will go up against Ward in a decisive

fifth rubber.

Captain Smith chose to draft in Inglot for his Davis Cup debut, and the British doubles number one made a nervous start with two double faults and a smash in the net as he dropped serve straight away.

Rees considers future after Buckland loss

F

ormer world champion Gavin Rees will consider retirement after losing to fellow Welshman Gary Buckland.

Rees, 33, and Buckland fought out a thrilling and at times brutal 12-round British lightweight title eliminator at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena.

Buckland, 27, edged a split decision 116113, 113-116, 115-114 to hand former WBA light-welterweight champion Rees his third successive defeat.

Also fighting in Cardiff on Saturday was featherweight Lee Selby, who was defending his British title and fighting for the vacant European title against Leicester boxer Rendall Munroe.

Selby, 26, from Barry in south Wales, was on his opponent from the first bell, picking off Munroe with accurate shots to head and body.

The Welshman’s dominance saw the referee step in and end the fight in the sixth round as Munroe struggled to cope with the pace set by Selby.

Selby is following in the footsteps of great

Welsh featherweights such as Jim Driscoll and Howard Winstone, and a shot at a world title cannot now be too far away.

While Selby impressed in his victory, the fight of the night belonged to Rees and

Buckland.

Rees started brightly and opened a cut above his opponent’s right eye in the first round, as well as testing Buckland with some heavy body shots.

Gavin Rees (L)

NBBF positive after FIBA wildcard loss ahead 2016 Olympics

By Albert Akota

T

he President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Tijani Umar, has said that Nigeria’s loss in its bid for one of the wildcards for the 2014 world championship will rather spur it 2016 Olympics preparation.

Umar was reacting yesterday in Abuja to the selection of Brazil, Greece, Turkey and Finland for wildcards for participation at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Nigeria is one of the 15 countries which applied to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) for the four wildcards.

The four winners will join 20 others, who had qualified previously, to feature at the 24-team World Cup. The winners were on Saturday announced at the meeting of FIBA’s Central Board in Barcelona, Spain, with Nigeria not one of them.

Umar however said the loss would not affect NBBF’s programmes, but rather encourage it to work harder and ensure Nigeria qualify directly

for major competitions in 2015 and 2016.

“FIBA has already taken a decision and all the countries had earlier agreed that we will abide by the outcome of the meeting.

And, I am sure FIBA made the best selection.

“But this will not affect our programmes. We will work harder to ensure that we qualify for tournaments, instead of waiting for wildcards.

“Now, it means we have to start getting ready for the qualifiers for

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- CHAIR - SECRETARY - MEMBER

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the 2015 Afrobasket Championship which is also the qualification for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

“We were at the London Olympics in 2012, and with the way things are now going, maybe we are destined for the Olympics again.

“So, we will work hard to qualify for the 2015 Afrobasket and be at the Olympics in 2016,’’ he said.

The NBBF president added that he was however happy that Nigeria had been showcased to the world, through the application for the wildcard, and was not disturbed by

the loss.

“The most important thing is that we have been able to make a case for Nigeria and show to the world that we belong among the best teams in the world.

“We should have qualified from the African Championship last year, but sometimes it is not necessarily the best teams that will win.

“It was in order to catch up with the momentum we had in 2012 at the Olympics that we decided to apply for the wildcard and we satisfied the criteria just like the other countries.

‘So, it is a good one for us because we were even the only African country which applied for the wildcard,’’ Umar said.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup will take place in Spain from Aug. 30 to Sept. 14.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS AKINWALE RAHMATALLAH ADENIKE NOW WISHES TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ALAWODE RAHMATALLAH ADENIKE ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Sports

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l 1. Liverpool defender Kolo Toure gifted West Brom an equaliser as the Reds missed a chance to tighten their grip on fourth place in the Premier League.

2. Arsenal are back on top of the English Premier League with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace thanks to a brace from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and West Bromwich Albion held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw as a result of a defensive miscue.

4. Ireland recovers from a nervous first half to beat a disappointing Scotland 28-6 in their 2014 Six Nations opener in Dublin.

1

5. English heptathlete Louise Hazel confirms she has come out of retirement in a bid to defend her Commonwealth title Gavin Rees could retire after losing a British title eliminator to Gary Buckland, while Lee Selby adds the European belt to his British crown.

2

3

4

5

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

Some Interesting Facts

N

igeria’s population was just 16 million in 1911. It is projected to hit 444 million by 2050, surpassing the US and becoming the 4th largest in the world.

• The population of Lagos today is about more than the total population of all Eastern states combined.

• Lagos’ population in 1872 was 60,000. By 2015 it will be the third largest city in the entire world.

• Nigeria’s north (719,000 sq. km), occupies 80% of Nigeria’s land mass.

In size it is four times the South.

• 1st republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi hid former South African President, Nelson Mandela, for six months in Nigeria to evade his arrest by the apartheid regime.

• Gangsta: In 1984 under the disciplinary Buhari/Idiagbon government, there was a sophisticated attempt to kidnap and repatriate ex-civilian regime minister of transport, Umaru Dikko from the UK, anesthetized in a freight crate, for the embezzlement of $1bn under the Shagari regime.

• Valor: Part of the ‘Forgotten Army,’ Nigerians volunteered to fight with the allied forces among the 81st and 82nd West African Divisions, in the Second World War. • The Adubi war in 1918 was a major uprising by 30,000 Abeokuta Ebga warriors against the colonial government for colonization, taxation and slave labor. One British was killed and rail and telegraph lines destroyed. The British rewarded their soldiers with medals for quelling the uprising. Awape Adediran a Molashin/ Kingmaker was imprisoned for his active involvement.

• Activist Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti travelled widely, including to the Eastern bloc (Hungary, USSR and China where she met Mao Zedong). These interactions angered Nigeria, Britain and America. America called her a communist and refused her a U.S. Visa.

• Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti, legendary Fela’s mother, was one of the delegates that negotiated Nigeria’s independence in Britain.

• Once upon a time, the north was the more literate part of Nigeria.

According to Lord Luggard, there

Leisure

were 25,000 Qur’anic Arabic schools with about 250,000 pupils in the north.

• Sardauna of Sokoto said he preferred foreign workers to Igbo’s because he felt Igbo’s are domineering. This was while Nigeria existed as regions with regional administrations.

• Kaduna Nzeogwu killed Sardauna in Nigeria’s first military coup.

• In 1966, a mischievous Igbo owned bakery allegedly made a loaf of bread with a label that depicted Nzeogwu as the Saint in the ‘Saint George and the Dragon’ medieval tale, killing Sardauna, the ‘dragon,’ this labeled bread provoked deadly anti-Igbo riots.

• Idrîs Aloma (1571-1603) King of Kanem-Bornu went on pilgrimage and came across firearms. He brought some guns back, along with Turks to train his army on how to use them.

• Travel Visa was not required to travel to the United Kingdom till 1984.

• A brand new car sold for N2000 in 1975. A ticket to London was less than N100 in 1975.

Say what?

SUDODKU SUDODKU EASY 31

PHOTO OF THE DAY

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014

SPORTS LATEST

Jose calls Manchester City underachiever despite huge spending

J

ose Mourinho has continued to snipe at Manchester City by claiming the club should have won more trophies considering their huge spending.

With Chelsea travelling to the Etihad Stadium today for what could prove a crucial fixture in this season’s title race, Mourinho has already goaded Manuel Pellegrini by claiming City have been “lucky” with refereeing decisions this season.

The Blues boss has now insisted the Premier League leaders have underachieved since their takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008.

Under Pellegrini’s predecessor Roberto Mancini, City won an FA Cup in 2011 and their first Premier League title for 44 years in 2012, but twice failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

“They won one title, won a couple of cups,” Mourinho said.

“Only in Europe they didn’t do well, or close to doing well.

Speaking objectively, they did very bad in the Champions League in previous seasons, also in the Europa League.

With City through to the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time, Mourinho also joked that Pellegrini should do his research before their tie against Barcelona a reference to Pellegrini’s miscalculation at Bayern Munich when his side could have advanced as group winners had they scored one more goal.

Mourinho reiterated his belief that City are favourites for the title, and that Chelsea will be in a better position to challenge next season.

Pellegrini, though, has refused to be drawn into a war of words with Mourinho.

The Portuguese has a perceived rivalry with Pellegrini dating back to when he succeeded the City boss as Real Madrid coach in 2010 but, even when reminded of Mourinho’s celebrations after Chelsea beat City in October, which appeared to irritate him at the time, Pellegrini reacted with indifference.

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QUOTABLE QUOTE If he can’t do the job, let him quit. What do we pay him for? A perfect election makes a perfect society. We must strive to give the people what they want. It has to be a perfect election in 2015; it has to be 99.9 percent perfect –Bola Tinubu, APC chieftain to INEC Chair,

Will 2015 break the jinx?

A

political consultant writing a manual on how to contest and win elections in Nigeria must dedicate his first chapter to electoral violence. The contestant would be well advised to make adequate arrangements for murder, arson, abduction, assault, rioting, violent seizure and destruction of electoral materials, and psychological intimidation. You must be a joker if you are contesting for an office even as lowly as that of a local councillor - and yet fail to map out your strategies to engage in these criminal acts.

I was one out of four journalists selected to interact with Ambassador Howard Franklin Jeter of the United States after the 2003 elections in Nigeria. He was quite disturbed by the trend he witnessed but expressed the hope that the system would give room for judicial redress of all the irregularities that happened that year. If those fraudulent acts could not be corrected, and their perpetrators punished, there was a chance that they could become systemic and our democracy would end up a farce, he warned.

Our interaction with the top US diplomat was given wide publicity but I’am not sure his warning was taken seriously.

The greatest evidence that his warning fell on deaf ears could be gleaned from the pronouncements of President Olusegun Obasanjo who in a spontaneous demonstration of oratory counselled his PDP party members to see the 2007 election as a “do or die affair.”

Both federal and state elections in 2003 were marred by serious incidents of violence, which left scores dead and many others injured. At least one hundred people were killed and many more injured. In a number of locations, elections simply did not take place as groups of armed thugs linked to political parties and candidates intimidated and threatened voters in order to falsify results.

One year later, local government council elections

“ 311 689 292 327 454

7458 1765 9046 1969 0344

GUEST COLUMNIST Emmanuel Yawe

President Jonathan took place across Nigeria on March 27, 2004. These elections too were characterized by serious violence and intimidation, as well as widespread fraud and rigging.

There were reports of dozens of people killed before, during and after the local government elections.

There were allegations of perpetration of violence either by thugs in the presence of military and police personnel or by the military and police personnel themselves.

A frightening example of the tragedy came from Enugu State where police Sgt. Anthony Abba, one of the six policemen attached to the ANPP Gubernatorial candidate was killed by some men amongst whom was Mike Onu a PDP Stalwart. Instances of such brutal killings were numerous. These allegations were in most cases not controverter and the most tragic and disturbing aspect of the incidents is that they either happened in the presence of policemen and soldiers or immediately reported to them.

No arrests were made and no investigations.

The scenario

created from the various incidents was that some persons were, in the name of politics, licensed to destroy lives [and] properties.

Indeed, the election petition filed by Muhammudu Buhari, Chuba Okadigbo and the All Nigerian People’s Party against Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 contained numerous instances in which the security agencies were alleged to have been involved in either inflicting violence on electorates or condoning same by thugs, most often loyal to the PDP. The petitioners provided graphic details as to names of perpetrators and locations of incidence. Most graphic and tragic was the case involving soldiers and officers of the 6th Motorized Battalion, Ibagwa in Akwa Ibom State. The petitioner alleged that under financial inducement, the soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army were deployed to several LGAs. The Petitioners provided the names of 35 soldiers, along with their service numbers, who were alleged to have participated in thumb-printing ballot papers and produced false results.

The general elections of 2007 outclassed that of 2003. To say it was even an election is to dignify it; it was an ‘election like event’.

The chief beneficiary of that tragic farce, President Umaru Yar’adua was honest enough to confess that the process that brought him to office was flawed. He also had the courage to set in motion a process to reform the electoral system before his death. With his biological death, the process too died. But if the foundational elements of democracy are choice and consent, civic participation, accountability, rule of law and trust in state officials and institutions, why do people go

Tragically, as 2015 approaches, there is glaring evidence that we have not learnt anything from 2011. The zoning argument has heated up in the PDP, splinting the party down the line and causing vibrations across the land. The arguments are all high on sentiments but low on issues.

The electoral laws even where they meet the minimum requirements of the rule of law doctrine are blatantly abused by the judiciary, which as testified by some top ranking judicial officers has become a market square where politicians buy favourable judgments. There is also nothing to show that security agencies are adequately equipped to enable them adopt measures for preventing and controlling violence during political campaigns and safeguarding the security of electoral officers.

all the way out to carry out these crimes in the name of democracy?

It is as simple as this: politics and political offices are perceived as investments and as an avenue for the acquisition of extraordinary wealth through corruption.

As Ambassador Jeter warned in 2003, it has become systemic.

The foregoing pattern and trend of violence in 2003 and 2007 partly explains the post-election violence in April 2011. Worse still, the absence of effective resolution of grievances in past presidential elections may be seen as a source of frustrationaggression exhibited during the post-presidential election in April 2011.

By this time, other factors had crept in to add fuel to the inferno.

There were dubious arguments about zoning in the PDP. This meant an unprecedented activation and mobilisation of ethnic, regional and religious boundaries and prejudices during the campaign. Added to the heated atmosphere was the discrepancy between the level of turn-out and elections results in the South-South and South-East Zones. On the day of presidential election, media reported low turn-out in many states in the zones. However, the results declared a day later indicated extra-ordinarily high turn-out, 100% of voters, who also voted overwhelmingly for Jonathan. If people died in their hundreds in the 2003 and 2007 post-election violence, in 2011 they died in their thousands.

Tragically, as 2015 approaches, there is glaring evidence that we have not learnt anything from 2011. The zoning argument has heated up in the PDP, splinting the party down the line and causing vibrations across the land. The arguments are all high on sentiments but low on issues. The electoral laws even where they meet the minimum requirements of the rule of law doctrine are blatantly abused by the judiciary, which as testified by some top ranking judicial officers has become a market square where politicians buy favourable judgments. There is also nothing to show that security agencies are adequately equipped to enable them adopt measures for preventing and controlling violence during political campaigns and safeguarding the security of electoral officers; materials, polling stations and documentation of results.

And finally, if the performance of INEC in Anambara is anything to go by, Nigeria is in for bloody days ahead. (royawe@yahoo.com)

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